WO2017036327A1

WO2017036327A1 - Random access repeater, relay system and relay method therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2017036327A1
Application number: PCT/CN2016/096477
Authority: WO
Inventors: 李卓群
Original assignee: 厦门纵行信息科技有限公司
Priority date: 2015-08-31
Filing date: 2016-08-24
Publication date: 2017-03-09
Also published as: CN105357744B; GB201804967D0; JP2018535565A; JP6675422B2; GB2556844B; GB2556844A; CN105357744A

Abstract

Disclosed are a random access repeater, a relay system and a relay method therefor. The method comprises: a repeater sending a broadcast signal; a terminal receiving the broadcast signal; the terminal sending, in a random access time window of the repeater, a message to the repeater; and the repeater sending a confirmation message to the terminal after successfully receiving the message and successfully forwarding same. The coverage range expansion and large-scale networking of a low rate wireless communication network are supported by a wireless repeater in the present application. A repeater does not need to schedule the communication of the terminal, and only needs to be dormant periodically according to a certain rule. A large number of terminals can automatically adjust the sending time of an uplink message, such as an event trigger signal, according to a dormant period of the repeater, so as to ensure that the message can be received and forwarded by the repeater, and is finally received by a base station.

Description

Random access repeater, relay system and relay method thereof

Cross-reference to related applications

The present application is based on a Chinese patent application filed on Jan. 31, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Technical field

The present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a low power random access repeater, a relay system, and a relay method thereof.

Background technique

The Internet of Things, or sensor network, typically forwards packets through repeaters to extend network coverage. The forwarding of each message transmission per one repeater is called "one hop". However, traditional repeaters have many limitations in practical applications.

In particular, in order to maintain the connection with the downstream node, the conventional repeater always maintains a high power consumption receiving state. In practical applications, the repeater must be powered by the battery due to the limitation of the implementation environment. However, if the repeater that has been in the receiving state is powered by a battery, the power is quickly exhausted, resulting in a greatly shortened life span of the entire network, and the maintenance cost is greatly increased.

In order to achieve power saving, the existing design allows the repeater to allocate a time slot for each downstream node that has a message forwarding requirement. The repeater operates in a high-power receiving state in these allocated time slots and sleeps at other times.

In actual applications, the packet forwarding requirements of some downstream nodes are triggered by events, which is difficult to predict in advance. If the repeater reserves time slots for these downstream nodes, it will waste energy. When the number of downstream nodes is very For a long time, these reserved time slots will cause the repeater to have no sleep at all. However, if the repeater does not reserve time slots for these downstream nodes, when these nodes are triggered by specific events, and the packets are generated and sent to the relay for forwarding, the repeaters may be in a dormant state, and thus cannot be woken up in time. Receiving these packets that need to be forwarded, the communication stability of the entire network is greatly reduced.

Summary of the invention

The purpose of the present application is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and provide a hybrid network networking method for supporting coverage extension and large-scale networking of a low-rate wireless communication network through a wireless repeater. The wireless relay does not need to schedule the communication of the terminal, and only needs to perform periodic sleep according to a certain rule. A large number of terminals can adjust the transmission time of sending uplink packets (such as event trigger signals) according to the sleep period of the relay to ensure that the packets can be received and forwarded by the repeater, and finally can be received by the base station. The relay is only used to receive and forward the packets of one or more of the terminals, and does not schedule or specify the time slot of the packet transmission time of the terminal.

The technical solution adopted by the present application to solve its technical problems is:

A random access relay method is provided, comprising the steps of: the repeater sends a broadcast signal; the terminal receives the broadcast signal; the terminal sends a message to the repeater in a random access time window of the repeater; the repeater succeeds After receiving the packet and successfully forwarding it, send a confirmation message to the terminal.

Preferably, the repeater determines its duty cycle and broadcast period in advance.

Preferably, one duty cycle is composed of a sleep and random access time window, wherein the repeater is in a sleep or low power operation state during sleep, receives a message during a random access time window, and forwards the message.

Preferably, one broadcast period consists of a transmit signal and an idle, wherein the repeater transmits a broadcast signal during transmission of the signal and does not transmit the broadcast signal during idle periods.

Preferably, the working period of the repeater is determined by the repeater according to a certain rule, or according to a configuration instruction of the upstream base station.

Preferably, the broadcast period of the repeater is determined by the repeater according to a certain rule, or according to a configuration instruction of the upstream base station.

Preferably, the duty cycle and the broadcast cycle may have different cycle frequencies.

Preferably, the broadcast signal carries synchronization information, and based on the synchronization information, the terminal can determine the start time of the next random access time window of the repeater.

Preferably, after receiving the broadcast signal, the terminal further comprises: the terminal adjusting the clock of the terminal to synchronize with the time count of the repeater, and determining that the repeater ends the sleep according to a known duty cycle configuration of the repeater. Or a low-power operating state, and the moment of entering the random access time window.

Preferably, the terminal selects a random access time window in the working period to send a message to the repeater according to the determined working period.

Preferably, after the repeater successfully receives one or more messages, it immediately forwards to the upstream base station or another repeater.

Preferably, after the repeater successfully receives one or more messages, it waits until the random access time window of the upstream base station or another repeater arrives.

Preferably, after successfully receiving one or more packets, the repeater performs forwarding according to the time slot scheduling of the upstream base station or another repeater when a specified access time slot arrives.

The application also provides a random access repeater, including:

The wireless transceiver transmits a broadcast signal according to the determined broadcast period, receives the message from the terminal, and forwards the message;

The controller determines the wireless transceiver and its own duty cycle and broadcast period to control the reception and forwarding of the wireless transceiver within a random time window.

Preferably, the repeater comprises at least two wireless transceivers; two or more wireless transceivers and their controllers directly forward messages through a wired data interface or a control signal interface, or indirectly through a controller Forward the message.

Preferably, clock synchronization is performed between two or more wireless transceivers and their controllers through a clock signal interface or a control signal interface; the clock synchronization includes clock frequency synchronization or clock phase synchronization.

Preferably, the sleep or wake-up of each wireless transceiver and its controller can be independent of other wireless transceivers and their controllers, and the wireless transceiver and its controller can also use the control signal interface to wake up other wireless transceivers through external control signals. And its controller.

Preferably, one duty cycle consists of a sleep and random access time window, wherein the wireless transceiver and its controller are in a sleep or low power operating state during sleep, operating during a random access time window.

Preferably, one broadcast period consists of a transmit signal and an idle, wherein the controller controls the wireless transceiver to transmit a broadcast signal during transmission of the signal and not to transmit the broadcast signal during idle periods.

Preferably, the duty cycle is determined by the controller according to a certain rule, or according to a configuration instruction of the upstream base station.

Preferably, the broadcast period is determined by the controller according to a certain rule, or according to a configuration instruction of the upstream base station.

Preferably, after the wireless transceiver successfully receives one or more messages, it is immediately forwarded to the upstream base station or another repeater.

Preferably, after the wireless transceiver successfully receives one or more messages, it waits until the random access time window of the upstream base station or another repeater arrives.

Preferably, after successfully receiving one or more messages, the wireless transceiver performs forwarding according to the time slot scheduling of the upstream base station or another repeater when a specified access time slot arrives.

Finally, the present application further provides a random access relay system, comprising: a repeater as described above; and a terminal, receiving a broadcast signal sent by the relay, and relaying in a random access time window of the repeater The device sends a message.

The beneficial effects of the present application are: by dividing the working period of the repeater and broadcasting through the broadcast signal, thereby realizing intelligent switching of the entire network, thereby optimizing network scheduling, reducing network power consumption, and improving network communication stability. effect.

The present application is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments; however, a hybrid network networking method of the present application is not limited to the embodiments.

DRAWINGS

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings to be used in the embodiments or the prior art description will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only These are some of the embodiments described in this application, and other figures can be obtained from those of ordinary skill in the art in view of these drawings.

1 is a structural diagram of a random access relay system of the present application;

2 is a structural diagram of another random access relay system of the present application;

3 is a structural diagram of a random access repeater having a wireless transceiver and a controller thereof according to the present application;

4 is a flowchart of a method for a random access relay method of the present application;

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the cycle of the duty cycle and the broadcast cycle.

detailed description

In order to make those skilled in the art better understand the technical solutions in the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. The examples are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments in the present application should fall within the scope of the present application.

The specific implementation of the present application is further described below in conjunction with the drawings of the present application.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the present application provides a random access relay system, which includes: a base station 101, a random access repeater 102, and a terminal 103.

The base station 101 establishes a connection with a random relay 102 in the network; the random relay 102 can establish a connection with one or more terminals 103; the random access repeater 102 only arrives at the random access time window described herein. The message of the terminal 103 can be received before being forwarded to the base station 101. The terminal 103 receives the broadcast signal transmitted by the random access repeater 102, and transmits a message to the random access repeater 102 within the random access time window of the repeater.

Referring to FIG. 2, another networking method with a random access repeater includes: a base station 201, a plurality of random access repeaters, and a plurality of terminals 204. Three logical nodes. The only difference from FIG. 1 is that the system includes a plurality of random access repeaters.

The base station 201 establishes a connection with the random access repeater 202 in the network; the random repeater 202 establishes a connection with another random access repeater in the network; the random repeater 203 can follow one or more The terminal 204 establishes a connection; the random access repeater 203 can receive the packet of the terminal 204 only when the random access time window described in the present application arrives, and then forwards the packet to the upstream random access repeater; After the relay 203 successfully receives one or more messages, it can have three forwarding mechanisms, namely:

The first type: wait until the random access time window of the upstream base station or another random access repeater arrives.

Second: according to the slot scheduling of the upstream base station or another random access repeater, forwarding is performed when a specified access slot arrives.

Third: Immediately forwarded to the upstream base station or another random access repeater.

The structure of the random access repeater shown in Figs. 1 and 2 will be described in detail below with reference to Fig. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, a random access repeater for implementing the above random access relay system includes a wireless transceiver 301 and a controller 302.

The wireless transceiver 301 is configured to implement transmission and reception of wireless signals to a terminal, a base station, and another random access repeater; it transmits a broadcast signal according to a determined broadcast period under the control of the controller 302, and is in control The device 302 receives the message from the terminal within the random access time window and forwards it, thereby performing sleep or low power operation during sleep.

The controller 302 determines the wireless transceiver 301 and its own duty cycle and broadcast period, controls the reception and forwarding of the wireless transceiver 301 within a random time window, and the processing of messages received/transmitted to the terminal.

Another type of random access repeater for implementing the present application includes a wireless transceiver 401, a controller 402, a second controller 403, and a second wireless transceiver 404.

The wireless transceiver 401 transmits a broadcast signal according to the determined broadcast period, receives the message from the terminal, and forwards the message.

The controller 402 determines the wireless transceiver and its own duty cycle and broadcast period, controls the reception and forwarding of the wireless transceiver, and the processing of messages received/sent to the terminal within a random time window.

One of the above duty cycles is composed of a sleep and random access time window, wherein the wireless transceiver and its controller are in a sleep or low power operation state during sleep, and the wireless transceiver receives the message during the random access time window. And forward the message. A broadcast period consists of a transmit signal and an idle, wherein the wireless transceiver transmits a broadcast signal during transmission of the signal and does not transmit the broadcast signal during idle periods.

The wireless transceiver 404 is for transmitting and receiving wireless signals to a base station or another random access repeater.

The controller 403 is configured to control the working state of the wireless transceiver 404 to wake up from the sleep state according to the opening time of the random access time window of another random access repeater, and to receive/send to the base station or another Processing of a random access relay message.

Those skilled in the art can appreciate that the above is only for the purpose of illustration. In practice, a plurality of wireless transceivers and controllers that can communicate with each other can be integrated in the repeater, and the two work together.

Two or more wireless transceivers and their controllers can directly forward packets through a wired data interface or a control signal interface, or indirectly through a controller.

Further, clock synchronization is performed between two or more wireless transceivers and their controllers through a clock signal interface or a control signal interface; the clock synchronization includes clock frequency synchronization or clock phase synchronization.

Alternatively, the sleep or wake-up of each wireless transceiver and its controller can be independent of other wireless transceivers and their controllers, and the wireless transceiver and its controller can also be externally controlled using a control signal interface. Signals to wake up other wireless transceivers and their controllers.

After the wireless transceiver successfully receives one or more packets, it can be forwarded in the following three ways, namely:

First: Immediately forwarded to the upstream base station or another repeater.

Second: Wait until the random access time window of the upstream base station or another repeater arrives.

Third, after successfully receiving one or more messages, the wireless transceiver performs forwarding according to the time slot scheduling of the upstream base station or another repeater when a specified access time slot arrives.

The configuration of the random access repeater is described above in connection with FIG. 3, and the workflow of the random access relay system will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, the method includes the following steps:

Step S1: The repeater sends a broadcast signal.

The repeater predetermines its duty cycle and broadcast period. A duty cycle consists of a sleep and random access time window, wherein the repeater is in a sleep or low power mode during sleep, receives messages during the random access time window, and forwards the message. A broadcast period consists of a transmit signal and an idle, wherein the repeater transmits a broadcast signal during transmission of the signal and does not transmit the broadcast signal during idle periods. Among them, FIG. 5 shows the duty cycle and broadcast period of the repeater. The transmitting synchronization signal is broadcasted as a transmission signal period, and an idle period is between another transmission signal period.

The duty cycle and broadcast period of the repeater are determined by the repeater according to certain rules, or according to configuration instructions of the upstream base station. And the duty cycle and the broadcast cycle can have different cycle frequencies.

The duty cycle and the broadcast cycle can be flexibly configured according to the power consumption of the relay, the battery life requirement, and the technical specifications of the crystal of the terminal. The general configuration principle is that the higher the battery life requirement, the longer the sleep period in one working cycle; the worse the technical index of the crystal oscillator, the shorter the broadcast period, that is, the wide emission The frequency of the broadcast signal is higher. The broadcast signal carries synchronization information, or clock information of the repeater, or both. Based on the synchronization information or clock information carried by the broadcast signal, the terminal can determine the start time of the next random access time window of the repeater.

Step S2: The terminal receives the broadcast signal.

After receiving the broadcast signal, the terminal adjusts its own clock according to the synchronization information or clock information carried in the broadcast signal, and synchronizes with the time counting of the repeater, and determines according to the known duty cycle configuration of the repeater. The repeater ends the sleep or low power operation state and the moment of entering the random access time window.

Step S3: The terminal sends a message to the repeater in a random access time window of the repeater.

Once an event triggers, the terminal needs to send a message to the repeater, and the terminal chooses to send a message to the repeater within the random access time window of the repeater.

Step S4: After the repeater successfully receives the packet and successfully forwards the packet, it sends a confirmation message to the terminal.

After the repeater successfully receives one or more packets, the forwarding opportunity can be in three ways:

The first type: Wait until the random access time window of the upstream base station or another repeater arrives.

Second: According to the slot scheduling of the upstream base station or another repeater, the forwarding is performed when a specified access slot arrives.

Third: Immediately forwarded to the upstream base station or another repeater.

After the repeater successfully forwards, the repeater sends a confirmation message to the terminal.

After receiving the acknowledgement message, the terminal may determine that the packet is successfully forwarded. If the terminal waits for a predetermined duration or receives a failure message, the terminal selects a random access time window to resend the message or send a message to other repeaters.

The above embodiments are only used to further illustrate specific implementations of the methods described herein. But this application The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and any simple modifications, equivalent changes and modifications made to the above embodiments in accordance with the technical spirit of the present application fall within the protection scope of the technical solutions of the present application.

Claims

A random access relay method, comprising the following steps:

The repeater sends a broadcast signal;

The terminal receives the broadcast signal;

The terminal sends a message to the repeater in a random access time window of the repeater;

After the repeater successfully receives the packet and successfully forwards the packet, it sends a confirmation message to the terminal.
A random access relay method according to claim 1, wherein the repeater determines its duty cycle and broadcast period in advance.
A random access relay method according to claim 2, wherein: one duty cycle is composed of a sleep and random access time window, wherein the repeater is in a sleep or low power operation state during sleep, Receives a message during the random access time window and forwards the message.
A random access relay method according to claim 2, wherein: one broadcast period is composed of a transmission signal and an idle, wherein the repeater transmits a broadcast signal during transmission of the signal, and does not transmit the broadcast signal during idle period. .
The random access relay method according to claim 2, wherein the duty cycle of the repeater is determined by the repeater according to a certain rule, or according to a configuration instruction of the upstream base station.
The random access relay method according to claim 2, wherein the broadcast period of the repeater is determined by the repeater according to a certain rule or according to a configuration instruction of the upstream base station.
A random access relay method according to claim 2, wherein the duty cycle and the broadcast cycle can have different cycle frequencies.
A random access relay method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that: The broadcast signal carries synchronization information, and based on the synchronization information, the terminal can determine the start time of the next random access time window of the repeater.
The random access relay method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein after receiving the broadcast signal, the terminal further comprises: the terminal adjusting the clock of the terminal to implement time counting with the repeater. Synchronization, and according to the known duty cycle configuration of the repeater, determine whether the repeater ends the sleep or low power operation state, and enters the random access time window.
The random access relay method according to claim 9, wherein the terminal sends a message to the relay according to the start time of the random access time window of the determined working period.
A random access relay method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that after the relay successfully receives one or more messages, it immediately forwards it to the upstream base station or another repeater.
A random access relay method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that after the repeater successfully receives one or more messages, it waits until the upstream base station or another repeater is randomly connected. Forward when the time window arrives.
A random access radio relay according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that after the repeater successfully receives one or more messages, according to the time slot of the upstream base station or another repeater Scheduling, which is forwarded when a specified access slot arrives.
A random access repeater, comprising:

The wireless transceiver transmits a broadcast signal according to the determined broadcast period, receives the message from the terminal, and forwards the message;

a controller that determines the wireless transceiver and its own duty cycle and broadcast period, at random times The receiving and forwarding of the wireless transceiver is controlled within the window.
A random access repeater according to claim 14, wherein said repeater comprises at least two wireless transceivers; wired data is passed between two or more wireless transceivers and their controllers The interface or control signal interface directly forwards the packet, or indirectly forwards the packet through a controller.
A random access repeater according to claim 15, wherein clock synchronization is performed between two or more wireless transceivers and their controllers through a clock signal interface or a control signal interface; Clock synchronization includes clock frequency synchronization or clock phase synchronization.
A random access repeater according to claim 15, wherein the sleep or wake-up of each wireless transceiver and its controller can be independent of other wireless transceivers and their controllers, the wireless transceiver and The controller can also wake up other wireless transceivers and their controllers with external control signals using a control signal interface.
A random access repeater according to any of claims 14-17, wherein: one duty cycle is comprised of a sleep and random access time window, wherein the wireless transceiver and its controller are dormant during sleep or Low power operation, working during random access time windows.
A random access repeater according to any of claims 14-17, wherein: one broadcast period consists of a transmit signal and an idle, wherein the controller controls the wireless transceiver to transmit a broadcast signal during the transmission of the signal, in idle No broadcast signal is transmitted during the period.
The random access repeater according to any one of claims 14-17, characterized in that the duty cycle is determined by the controller according to a certain rule or according to a configuration instruction of the upstream base station.
The random access repeater according to any one of claims 14-17, characterized in that: the broadcast period is determined by the controller according to a certain rule, or according to the configuration instruction of the upstream base station. set.
The random access repeater according to any one of claims 14-17, characterized in that the broadcast period is determined by the controller according to a certain rule or according to a configuration instruction of the upstream base station.
A random access repeater according to any of claims 14-17, characterized in that the duty cycle and the broadcast period can have different periodic frequencies.
The random access repeater according to any one of claims 14-17, characterized in that: the broadcast signal carries synchronization information, and based on the synchronization information, the terminal can determine the next random access time window of the repeater. The beginning moment.
A random access repeater according to any of claims 14-17, characterized in that the wireless transceiver immediately forwards one or more messages to the upstream base station or to another repeater.
A random access repeater according to any of claims 14-17, characterized in that after the wireless transceiver successfully receives one or more messages, it waits until the random access time of the upstream base station or another repeater Forward the window when it arrives.
The random access repeater according to any one of claims 14-17, characterized in that after the wireless transceiver successfully receives one or more messages, according to the time slot scheduling of the upstream base station or another repeater, Forwarding occurs when a specified access slot arrives.
A random access relay system comprising:

a repeater according to any of claims 14-17;

The terminal receives the broadcast signal sent by the repeater, and sends a message to the repeater in the random access time window of the repeater.
A relay system according to claim 28, wherein: one duty cycle is A sleep and random access time window is formed in which the wireless transceiver and its controller are in a sleep or low power operating state during sleep, operating during a random access time window.
The relay system according to claim 28, wherein one broadcast period is composed of a transmission signal and an idle, wherein the controller controls the wireless transceiver to transmit the broadcast signal during the transmission of the signal, and does not transmit the broadcast signal during the idle period.
The relay system according to claim 28, wherein the duty cycle is determined by the controller according to a certain rule.
The relay system according to claim 28, wherein the broadcast period is determined by the controller according to a certain rule.
The relay system according to claim 28, wherein the broadcast period is set according to a configuration command of the upstream base station.
The relay system of claim 28 wherein the duty cycle and the broadcast cycle can have different periodic frequencies.
The relay system according to claim 28, wherein the synchronization information is carried in the broadcast signal.
The relay system according to claim 28, wherein the wireless transceiver immediately forwards to the upstream base station or another repeater after successfully receiving one or more messages.
The relay system according to claim 28, wherein after the wireless transceiver successfully receives one or more messages, it waits until the random access time window of the upstream base station or another repeater arrives.
The relay system according to claim 28, wherein the duty cycle is set according to a configuration command of the upstream base station.
A relay system according to claim 35, characterized in that: based on said synchronization signal The terminal can determine the start time of the next random access time window of the repeater.
The relay system according to claim 28, wherein after the wireless transceiver successfully receives one or more messages, according to the time slot scheduling of the upstream base station or another repeater, at a specified access time Forward when the gap arrives.
The relay system according to claim 28, wherein after receiving the broadcast signal, the terminal further comprises: the terminal adjusting the clock of the terminal to synchronize the time count with the repeater, according to the known repeater. The duty cycle configuration determines whether the repeater ends the sleep or low power operation state and enters the random access time window.
The relay system according to claim 28, wherein the terminal selects a random access time window in the working period to send a message to the repeater according to the determined working period.