Loss of page synchronization

• US 20060227737A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Outdoor Wireless Networks LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Bauman, Donald R., Mitchell, William J., Hedin, John M., Hermel, Michael J., Cannon, Jeffrey J., Weaver, Douglas D., Toms, Jerry Edward, Sonbarse, Santosh K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0605 Special codes used as synchronising signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/042 Detectors therefor, e.g. correlators, state machines digital correlators in general G06F17/15

Abstract

Systems and methods for maintaining data stream synchronization are provided. A system comprises one or more radio head interface modules and a call processing software module each adapted to communicate with each other. The call processing software module performs modulation and demodulation of voice and data streams using one or more air interface standards. The call processing software module communicates a forward data stream to a first radio head interface module. The forward data stream comprises a plurality of data samples representing voice and data streams and a plurality of fixed synchronization words. When the first radio head interface module does not observe the receipt of a first fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words word from the call processing software module when expected, the first radio head interface module concludes that it has lost synchronization with the call processing software module.

Claims

1. A communications system, the system comprising:

one or more radio head interface modules; and

a call processing software module, the one or more radio head interface modules adapted to communicate with the call processing software module;

wherein the call processing software module performs modulation and demodulation of voice and data streams using one or more air interface standards;

wherein the call processing software module communicates a forward data stream to a first radio head interface of the one or more radio head interface modules;

wherein the forward data stream comprises a plurality of data samples representing voice and data streams and a plurality of fixed synchronization words;

wherein when the first radio head interface module does not observe the receipt of a first fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words word from the call processing software module when expected, the first radio head interface module concludes that it has lost synchronization with the call processing software module.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more interface devices, wherein the one or more radio head interface modules communicate with the call processing software module over the one or more interface devices.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more interface devices includes at least one of a PCI-X interface, an ATCA interface, a PCI Express interface, a Gigabit Ethernet interface, a SCSI interface, a Rocket I/O interface, a UDP/IP link interface, a TCP/IP link interface, a Serial ATA interface, a Card bus for PCMIA card interface, a high speed serial interface and a high speed parallel interface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more air interface protocols include at least one of Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), code division multiple access (CDMA), Wide-band CDMA, time division multiple access (TDMA), Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM).

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the forward data stream further comprises a plurality of quadwords, wherein one or more quadwords of the plurality of quadwords each contain two data samples.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein each data sample is a complex RF data sample.

7. The system of claim 5, one or more quadwords of the plurality of quadwords contain a page header, wherein a fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words is contained within the page header.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more quadwords containing the page header precede the one or more quadwords containing the two data samples to define a page of data samples.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein each quadword is 64 bits long.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first radio head interface module further comprises:

a transmit buffer, the transmit buffer adapted to receive the forward data stream from the call processing software module, the transmit buffer adapted to store the forward data stream as a page of data samples having the fixed synchronization word within a page header;

a transmit engine; and

a digital upconverter;

the transmit engine adapted to transfer the data samples of the page of data samples from the transmit buffer to the digital upconverter;

the radio head interface module adapted to observe a first fixed synchronization word at an expected position within a first page of data samples.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the radio head interface module further adapted to stop transferring the data samples of the page of data samples from the transmit buffer to the digital upconverter when the first fixed synchronization word is not found at the expected position.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the radio head interface module further adapted to observe a second fixed synchronization word within a second page of data samples received from the call processing software module.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein upon observation of the second fixed synchronization word, the radio head interface module resumes transferring the data samples of the page of data samples from the transmit buffer to the digital upconverter.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first radio head interface module communicates a reverse data stream to the call processing software module;

wherein the reverse data stream comprises a plurality of data samples representing voice and data streams and a plurality of fixed synchronization words;

wherein when the call processing software module does not observe the receipt of a first fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words from the first radio head interface module when expected, then the call processing software module concludes that it has lost synchronization with the first radio head interface module.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the forward data stream further comprises a plurality of quadwords, wherein one or more quadwords of the plurality of quadwords each contain two data samples.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein each data sample is a complex RF data sample.

17. The system of claim 15, one or more quadwords of the plurality of quadwords contain a page header, wherein a fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words is contained within the page header.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the one or more quadwords containing the page header precede the one or more quadwords containing the two data samples to define a page of data samples.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein each quadword is 64 bits long.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the radio head interface module further comprises:

a receive buffer;

a receive engine; and

a digital downconverter;

the receive engine adapted to transfer a data stream from the digital downconverter to the receive buffer, the receive buffer adapted to store the data stream as a page of data samples having a fixed synchronization word within a page header, the receive buffer further adapted to output the data stream as the page of data samples to the call processing software;

the call processing software module adapted to look for a first fixed synchronization word at an expected position within a first page of data samples;

the call processing software module further adapted to stop processing the data stream received from the radio head interface module when the first fixed synchronization word is not found at the expected position;

the call processing software further adapted to observe a second fixed synchronization word within a second page of data samples received from the radio head interface module;

upon observation of the second fixed synchronization word, the call processing software resume processing of the data stream received from the radio head interface module.

21. A radio head interface for a communications system, the radio head interface comprising:

a transmit buffer, the transmit buffer adapted to receive a forward data stream from a call processing software module, wherein the forward data stream comprises a plurality of data samples representing voice and data streams and a plurality of fixed synchronization words;

the transmit buffer adapted to store the forward data stream as a page of data samples;

a transmit engine; and

a digital upconverter;

the transmit engine adapted to transfer the data samples of the page of data samples from the transmit buffer to the digital upconverter;

the radio head interface module adapted to observe a first fixed synchronization word at an expected position within a first page of data samples;

the radio head interface module further adapted to stop processing the forward data stream received when the first fixed synchronization word is not found at the expected position;

the radio head interface module further adapted to observe a second fixed synchronization word within a second page of data samples received from the call processing software module;

upon observation of the second fixed synchronization word, the radio head interface module resumes processing of the forward data stream.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein each data sample is a complex RF data sample.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the forward data stream further comprises a plurality of quadwords, wherein one or more quadwords of the plurality of quadwords each contain two data samples.

24. The system of claim 23, one or more quadwords of the plurality of quadwords contain a page header, wherein a fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words is contained within the page header.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the one or more quadwords containing the page header precede the one or more quadwords containing the two data samples to define a page of data samples.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein each quadword is 64 bits long.

27. A method of page resynchronization, the method comprising:

communicating a data stream between a radio head interface module and a call processing software module, wherein the data stream comprises a plurality of data samples representing voice and data streams and a plurality of fixed synchronization words;

observing the receipt of a first fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words at an expected position within the data stream; and

when the first fixed synchronization word does not occur when expected on a first logical channel, concluding that a loss of synchronization has occurred on the first logical channel between the radio head interface module and the call processing software module.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein observing the receipt of a first fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words at an expected position within the data stream further comprises:

expecting to observe the first fixed synchronization word within the Nth word of a page of data samples.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein observing the receipt of a first fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words at an expected position within the data stream further comprises:

expecting to observe the first fixed synchronization word within the Nth quadword of a page of data samples having a plurality of quadwords.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein observing the receipt of a first fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words at an expected position within the data stream further comprises:

expecting to observe the first fixed synchronization word within the first quadword of a page of data samples having a plurality of quadwords.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein when the first logical channel is a forward logical channel, the method further comprising:

transmitting the data stream to a digital upconverter;

discontinuing transmitting the data stream to the digital upconverter upon concluding that a loss of synchronization has occurred between the radio head interface module and the call processing software module;

observing the receipt of a second fixed synchronization word; and

upon observation of the second fixed synchronization word, resuming transmitting the data stream to the digital upconverter.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein when the first logical channel is a reverse logical channel, the method further comprising:

transmitting the data stream to a communications network;

discontinuing transmitting the data stream to the communications network upon concluding that a loss of synchronization has occurred between the radio head interface module and the call processing software module;

observing the receipt of a second fixed synchronization word; and

upon observation of the second fixed synchronization word, resuming transmitting the data stream to the communications network.

33. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for page resynchronization, the method comprising:

communicating a data stream between a radio head interface module and a call processing software module, wherein the data stream comprises a plurality of data samples representing voice and data streams and a plurality of fixed synchronization words;

observing the receipt of a first fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words at an expected position within the data stream; and

when the first fixed synchronization word does not occur when expected on a first logical channel, concluding that a loss of synchronization has occurred on the first logical channel between the radio head interface module and the call processing software module.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein when the first logical channel is a forward logical channel, the method further comprising:

transmitting the data stream to a digital upconverter;

discontinuing transmitting the data stream to the digital upconverter upon concluding that a loss of synchronization has occurred between the radio head interface module and the call processing software module;

observing the receipt of a second fixed synchronization word; and

upon observation of the second fixed synchronization word, resuming transmitting the data stream to the digital upconverter.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein when the first logical channel is a reverse logical channel, the method further comprising:

transmitting the data stream to a communications network;

discontinuing transmitting the data stream to the communications network upon concluding that a loss of synchronization has occurred between the radio head interface module and the call processing software module;

observing the receipt of a second fixed synchronization word; and

upon observation of the second fixed synchronization word, resuming transmitting the data stream to the communications network.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein observing the receipt of a first fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words at an expected position within the data stream further comprises:

expecting to observe the first fixed synchronization word within the Nth word of a page of data samples.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein observing the receipt of a first fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words at an expected position within the data stream further comprises:

expecting to observe the first fixed synchronization word within the Nth quadword of a page of data samples having a plurality of quadwords.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein observing the receipt of a first fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words at an expected position within the data stream further comprises:

expecting to observe the first fixed synchronization word within the first quadword of a page of data samples having a plurality of quadwords.

39. A communications system, the system comprising:

one or more radio head interface modules;

means for modulating and demodulating voice and data streams using one or more air interface standards;

means for communicating a forward data stream to a first radio head interface module of the one or more radio head interface modules, wherein the forward data stream comprises a plurality of data samples representing voice and data streams and a plurality of fixed synchronization words;

the first radio head interface module including;

means for observing the receipt of a first fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words sent from the means for modulating and demodulating voice and data streams at an expected position,

means to stop processing the forward data stream when the first fixed synchronization word is not observed at the expected position;

means to observe a second fixed synchronization word sent from the means for modulating and demodulating voice and data streams;

means to resume processing of the forward data stream upon observation of the second fixed synchronization word.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the one or more air interface protocols include at least one of Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), code division multiple access (CDMA), Wide-band CDMA, time division multiple access (TDMA), Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM).

41. The system of claim 39, wherein each data sample is a complex RF data sample.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein the forward data stream further comprises a plurality of quadwords, wherein one or more quadwords of the plurality of quadwords each contain two data samples.

43. The system of claim 42, one or more quadwords of the plurality of quadwords contain a page header, wherein a fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words is contained within the page header.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the one or more quadwords containing the page header precede the one or more quadwords containing the two data samples to define a page of data samples.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein each quadword is 64 bits long.

46. A communications system, the system comprising:

one or more radio head interface modules;

means for modulating and demodulating voice and data streams using one or more air interface standards;

means for communicating a reverse data stream from a first radio head interface module of the one or more radio head interface modules to the means for modulating and demodulating voice and data streams, wherein the reverse data stream comprises a plurality of data samples representing voice and data streams and a plurality of fixed synchronization words;

the means for modulating and demodulating voice and data streams including;

means for observing the receipt of a first fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words sent from the first radio head interface module at an expected position,

means to stop processing the forward data stream when the first fixed synchronization word is not observed at the expected position;

means to observe a second fixed synchronization word sent from the first radio head interface module;

means to resume processing of the reverse data stream upon observation of the second fixed synchronization word.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the one or more air interface protocols include at least one of Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), code division multiple access (CDMA), Wide-band CDMA, time division multiple access (TDMA), Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM).

48. The system of claim 46, wherein each data sample is a complex RF data sample.

49. The system of claim 46, wherein the forward data stream further comprises a plurality of quadwords, wherein one or more quadwords of the plurality of quadwords each contain two data samples.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein one or more quadwords of the plurality of quadwords contain a page header, wherein a fixed synchronization word of the plurality of fixed synchronization words is contained within the page header.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the one or more quadwords containing the page header precede the one or more quadwords containing the two data samples to define a page of data samples.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein each quadword is 64 bits long.