Abstract:
A communications device includes a first memory for storing parameter information which defines an operation of the communications device, and a second memory for storing parameter information which defines the operation of the communications device. The parameter information stored in the first memory coincides with that stored in the second memory when a communication can take place. A control unit determines whether or not the parameter information stored in the first memory coincides with that stored in the second memory and allows a transmission operation of the communications device based on the parameter information when it is determined that the parameter information stored in the first memory coincides with that stored in the second memory.

Description:
This application is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 08/611,520, filed on Mar. 6, 1996, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/213,503, filed on Mar 16, 1994, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to communications devices, and more particularly to a radio communications device capable of varying a transmission frequency and/or a transmission power level. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A radio communications device has been practically used in which operation parameters such as the transmission frequency and the transmission power level can be varied. Conventionally, switches for setting variable parameters are attached to the panels of transmitters and receivers. A controller having the setting function, such as a central processing unit (CPU), has also been employed. Use of switches for parameter setting makes it possible for the operator to see and confirm the actual setting of a desired parameter. However, spaces for providing such switches are needed on the transmitters and receivers. This prevents down-sizing. If the controller is used together with switches for setting, the same problems as described above will take place. 
     An improved controller cooperating with an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) has been proposed. The desired parameter values are written into the EEPROM, and the controller reads the parameter values therefrom. Use of the EEPROM does not need switches for setting. However, the operator cannot directly confirm the parameter values stored in the EEPROM. With the above in mind, conventionally, the controller executes an initial program, which reads the parameter values from the EEPROM and displays these values on a display unit at the time of power on. The operator sees the parameter values on the display and determines whether or not the parameter values have been correctly set. 
     If a fault has occurred in a radio communications device, a prompt response is required. For example, a spare unit is substituted for the defective unit in the radio communications device. At this time, it is necessary to set, again, the same desired parameter values as those used before a fault occurs after the substituting operation is completed. As has been described previously, the parameter values are, for example, the transmission frequency and the transmission power level. If a large number of items should be set, an erroneous setting operation may be performed in practice. Hence, it is necessary to perform a check process in order to prevent communications from taking place with an erroneously set parameter value. This increases the load of the operator and prevents quick recovery work. 
     Hence, it is required that the parameter setting in a radio communications device operating on the variable parameters such as the variable transmission frequency and the transmission power level can be correctly carried out and that transmission can be automatically inhibited if an erroneous parameter is set. Particularly, when a defective unit is replaced by a new one, the parameter setting should be quickly and easily performed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a communications device which meets the above requirements. 
     A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a communications device having the function of automatically detecting erroneous setting and automatically inhibiting transmission when erroneous setting is detected, and having a simplified setting operation. 
     The above objects of the present invention are achieved by a communications device comprising a first memory unit storing parameter information which defines an operation of the communications device, a second memory unit storing parameter information which defines the operation of the communications device, the parameter information stored in the first memory unit coinciding with that stored in the second memory means when a communication can take place, and a control unit, operatively coupled to the first memory unit and the second memory unit, for determining whether or not the parameter information stored in the first memory unit coincides with that stored in the second memory unit and allowing a transmission operation of the communications device based on the parameter information when it is determined that the parameter information stored in the first memory unit coincides with that stored in the second memory unit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an overview of a radio communications device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 1B is a block diagram of an overview of a radio communications device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the details of the radio communications device shown in FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 3 is a sequence chart of a transmission control operation of the radio communications device shown in FIG. 1A performed at the time of power on; 
     FIG. 4 is a sequence chart of changing the contents of a ROM storing parameter information provided in the radio communications device shown in FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 5 is a sequence chart of newly writing parameter information into ROMs provided in the radio communications device shown in FIG  1 A; 
     FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the details of the radio communications device shown in FIG. 1A; 
     FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing an alternative structure which can be employed in the first and second embodiments of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the details of the radio communications device show n in FIG. 1B; and 
     FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the structure of a maintenance terminal used in the first and second embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an overview of a first embodiment of the present invention. A radio communications device according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a first unit  1  and a second unit  2 , which are, for example, an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, respectively. The indoor unit  1  includes structural parts which form, for example, a configuration between a transmission information processing part and an intermediate frequency (IF) part. The outdoor unit  2  includes structural parts which form, for example, a configuration between another intermediate frequency converting part and a radio frequency amplifying (RF) part connected to an antenna ANT. 
     More particularly, the indoor unit  1  includes a digital control unit  3 , which includes a read only memory (ROM)  5 , and a transmission controller  7 . The outdoor unit  2  includes a digital control unit  4 , which includes a read only memory (ROM)  6 , and a transmission controller  8 . The digital control unit  3  controls the operation of the overall indoor unit  1 . The ROM  5  formed with, for example, an EEPROM, stores operation parameters such as the transmission frequency and the transmission power level. The transmission control unit  7  has the function of setting the desired values of the predetermined parameters. 
     More particularly, the transmission control unit  7  compares the contents of the ROM  5  with the contents of the ROM  6  in the outdoor device  2 . The transmission control unit  7  reads the contents of the ROM  6  via one of two commutations paths  9 . When the contents of the ROM  5  coincide with those of the ROM  6 , the transmission control unit  7  performs an operation control based on the parameter values stored in the ROM  5 . The unit  7  outputs data indicating the parameter values to the relevant structural parts (not shown) of the indoor unit  1 , and outputs the above data to the relevant structural parts (not shown) of the outdoor unit  1  via the communications path  9  and the transmission control unit  8 . Alternatively, the transmission control unit  8  receives an instruction signal indicating that the contents of the ROM  5  coincide with those of the ROM  6 , and reads data indicating the parameter values from the ROM  6 . Then, the transmission control unit  6  sends the read data to the relevant structural parts of the outdoor unit  2 . 
     If the contents of the ROM  5  do not coincide with those of the ROM  6 , the transmission control unit  7  does not set the parameter values nor initiate the transmission operation. That is, the parameter values are not output to the relevant structural parts of the indoor unit  1  and the outdoor unit  2 . 
     The contents of the ROM 5  coincide with those of the ROM  6  in the normal operation. If a fault has occurred in a digital controller  3  and the controller  3  is replaced by a new one, the new transmission control unit  7  compares the contents of the ROM  5  with those of the ROM  6 . When the contents of the ROM  5  coincide with those of the ROM 6 , the indoor unit  1  can operate in the same manner as previously. If the contents of the ROM  5  do not coincide with those of the ROM  6 , the indoor unit  1  cannot start the transmission operation. 
     FIG. 1B shows an overview of a radio communications device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The radio communications device shown in FIG. 1B includes the indoor unit  1  and the outdoor unit  2 , but the internal structures of these units differ from those of the units  1  and  2  shown in FIG.  1 A. More particularly, the indoor unit  1  includes the ROM  6  provided in the digital control unit  3 . It is to be noted that the ROM  6  is provided in the outdoor unit  2  in the configuration shown in FIG.  1 A. The digital control unit  4  of the outdoor unit  2  shown in FIG. 1B does not have the ROM  6 . 
     The operation of the radio communications device shown in FIG. 1B is almost the same as that of the radio communications device shown in FIG.  1 A. That is, the transmission control unit  7  compares the contents of the ROM  5  with the contents of the ROM  6  both provided in the indoor device  1 . The transmission control unit  7  reads the contents of the ROM  6 . When the contents of the ROM  5  coincide with those of the ROM  6 , the transmission control unit  7  performs an operation control based on the parameter values stored in the ROM  5 . The unit  7  outputs data indicating the parameter values to the relevant structural parts (not shown) of the indoor unit  1 , and outputs the above data to the relevant structural parts (not shown) of the outdoor unit  1  via the communications path  9  and the transmission control unit  8 . 
     If the contents of the ROM  5  do not coincide with those of the ROM  6 , the transmission control unit  7  does not set the parameter values nor initiate the transmission operation. That is, the parameter values are not output to the relevant structural parts of the indoor unit  1  and the outdoor unit  2 . 
     In practice, the indoor device  1  is made up of a plurality of replaceable cards, boards, units or the like on which relevant circuits are formed. The above holds true for the outdoor device  1 . Under the above circumstance, it is required that the ROMs  5  and  6  are mounted on different cards. If a fault has occurred in the card having the ROM  5 , this is replaced by a new one. In this case, the contents of the ROM mounted on the new card are compared with the contents of the ROM  6 . If the ROM  5  stores the correct parameter values, these values will coincide with those stored in the ROM  6 . 
     In the configurations shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, it is possible to control the transmission operation based on the contents of the remaining ROM rather than the replaced ROM even if the contents of both the ROMs do not coincide with each other. Further, the ROMs  5  and  6  are formed with programmable ROMs, correct data can be written into the newly provided ROM when the contents of the newly provided ROM do not coincide with those of the remaining ROM. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram which shows, in more detail, the radio communications device shown in FIG.  1 A. In FIG. 2, parts that are the same as those shown in FIG. 1A are given the same reference numerals. The indoor unit  1  labeled IDU includes a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit (DPU)  10 , a modem unit (MODEM)  11 , and an intermediate frequency conversion unit (IF)  12 . The multiplexer/demultiplexer unit  10  multiplexes and demultiplexes transmit and receive data. The modem unit  11  performs a modulation and demodulation operation. The digital control unit  3  includes a CPU  15 , a Communications interface circuit (also called a universal receiver/transmitter: URT)  17  and a local oscillator  19  for achieving an intermediate frequency amplifying operation. The CPU  15  controls the operation of the overall digital control unit  3 . The interface circuit  17  communicates with the outdoor unit  2  via the communications path  9 . The ROM  5  is formed with an EEPROM, and stores the values of the predetermined operation parameters and a control program for defining the operation of the CPU  15 . A maintenance person terminal (MPT)  23  is connected to the indoor unit  1 . 
     The outdoor unit  2  labeled ODU includes an intermediate frequency conversion unit (IF)  13  and a radio frequency amplifying unit (RF)  14 . The intermediate frequency conversion unit  13  performs an intermediate frequency amplifying operation. The radio frequency unit  14  performs a radio frequency amplifying operation. The digital control unit  4  of the outdoor unit  2  includes a CPU  16 , a communications interface circuit (URT)  18 , a local oscillator  20  for the radio frequency amplifying operation, and an output controller  21 . The ROM  6  is formed with an EEPROM, and stores the value of the predetermined operation parameters and a control program for defining the operation of the CPU  16 . A digital-to-analog (D/A) converter  22  is connected between the output controller  21  and the radio frequency amplifying unit  14 , and converts a digital control signal from the output controller  21  into an analog signal sent to the radio frequency amplifying unit  14 . 
     FIG. 3 is a sequence chart of a transmission control sequence performed in the radio communications device shown in FIG. 2 at the time of power on. Some of the essential parts shown in FIG. 2 are illustrated in the upper portion of FIG. 3, and the contents of the operations thereof are depicted below the relevant parts in FIG.  3 . 
     In response to power on caused by turning ON a power switch (not shown for the sake of simplicity), a confirmation operation for setting the operation parameters is mutually carried out between the CPU  15  and the CPU  16 . The CPU  16  reads the contents (one or a plurality of operation parameters) A′ of the EEPROM  6 , and transfers the parameter information A′ to the CPU  15 . The CPU  15  reads the contents (one or a plurality of operation parameters) A of the EEPROM  5 , and compares it with the parameter information A′. If the parameter information A does not coincide with the parameter information A′, the CPU  15  informs the maintenance terminal  23  (labeled MPT in FIG. 3) that there is erroneous setting. 
     When the comparison result shows A=A′, the CPU  15  causes the local oscillator  19  for the intermediate frequency amplifying operation to have the relevant intermediate frequency, and informs the CPU  16  that the setting should be initiated. Then the CPU  16  causes the local oscillator  20  to have the relevant radio frequency, and causes the output controller  21  to generate a control signal indicating the relevant transmission power level. Then, the CPU  15  informs the maintenance terminal  23  that the setting has been completed (it is ready to start transmission). In this case, it is possible to display the details of the operation parameters set in the above manner on the maintenance terminal  23  and to request the operator to input an acknowledge signal. When the operator of the maintenance terminal  23  manipulates a relevant switch for instructing start of transmission, a corresponding signal is applied to the CPU  15 , which informs the CPU  16  that transmission should be started. Then, the CPU  16  causes the output controller  21  to start the transmission control for controlling the radio frequency amplifying unit  14 . 
     FIG. 4 is a sequence chart of writing the parameter values of one EEPROM into the other EEPROM. In the sequence shown in FIG. 4, the maintenance terminal  23  sends a request for setting to the indoor unit  1  and the outdoor unit  2 , and reads the contents (parameter information A′) of the EEPROM  5  and the contents (parameter information B′) of the EEPROM  6 . Then, the maintenance terminal  23  compares the contents of the EEPROM  5  with the contents of the EEPROM  6 . When the contents of the EEPROMs  5  and  6  do not coincide with each other, a loading process is initiated. In the sequence shown in FIG. 4, the parameter information B′ of the EEPROM  6  are correct. In this case, the maintenance terminal  23  initiates the loading process in which the parameter information B′ stored in the EEPROM  6  is written into the EEPROM  5 . In FIG. 4, the parameter information B′ written into the EEPROM  5  is indicated as parameter information B. 
     The following steps of the sequence are the same as those of the sequence shown in FIG.  3 . That is, the confirmation operation for setting the operation parameters is mutually carried out between the CPU  15  and the CPU  16 . The CPU  16  reads the parameter information B′ from the EEPROM  6 , and transfers the read parameter information B to the CPU  15 . The CPU  15  reads the parameter information B from the EEPROM  5 , and compares it with the parameter information B′. If the parameter information B does not coincide with the parameter information B′, the CPU  15  informs the maintenance terminal  23  (labeled MPT in FIG. 3) that there is erroneous setting. 
     When the comparison result shows B=B′, the CPU  15  causes the local oscillator  19  for the intermediate frequency amplifying operation to have the relevant intermediate frequency, and informs the CPU  16  that the setting should be initiated. Then the CPU  16  causes the local oscillator  20  to have the relevant radio frequency, and causes the output controller  21  to generate the control signal indicating the relevant transmission power level. Then, the CPU  15  informs the maintenance terminal  23  that the setting has been completed (it is ready to start transmission). In this case, it is possible to display the details of the operation parameters set in the above manner on the maintenance terminal  23  and to request the operator to input the acknowledge signal. When the operator of the maintenance terminal  23  manipulates the relevant switch for instructing start of transmission, the corresponding signal is applied to the CPU  15 , which informs the CPU  16  that transmission should be started. Then, the CPU  16  causes the output controller  21  to start the transmission control for controlling the radio frequency amplifying unit  14 . 
     The sequence shown in FIG. 4 is used when a unit is replaced by another new unit that has an EEPROM storing parameter information different with that used before the replacement is performed. In this case, the contents of the EEPROM mounted on the new unit are rewritten by the sequence shown in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 5 is a sequence chart of newly writing parameter information into both the EEPROMs  5  and  6 . The basic operation of the sequence shown in FIG. 5 is the same as the sequence shown in FIG.  4 . In the sequence shown in FIG. 5, the contents of the EEPROMs  5  and  6  are confirmed and new parameter information input by the maintenance terminal  23  is written into the EEPROMs  5  and  6 . 
     FIG. 6 shows the details of the structure shown in FIG. 1A in which the two ROMs are respectively provided in the indoor unit  1  and the outdoor unit  2 . In FIG. 6, parts that are the same as those shown in the previously described figures are given the same reference numerals as previously. The radio communications device made up of the indoor unit  1  and the outdoor unit  2  shown in FIG. 6 two 2 Mbps input interfaces and two 2Mbps output interfaces. A microwave radio signal is generated by multiplexing the two interfaces. The indoor unit  1  includes a transmitter system and a receiver system, and the outdoor unit  2  includes a transmitter system and a receiver system. 
     The indoor unit  1  includes the digital unit  10  and a modem unit MODEM, which unit MODEM includes the modem unit  11  and the intermediate frequency amplifying unit  12  shown in FIG.  2 . The digital unit  10  includes two multiplexer (2M→8M) for generating an 8 Mbps signal from 2Mbps input signals, a multiplexer MUX for a multiplexed transmission signal obtained by multiplexing 8 Mbps signals, a demultiplexer for generating 8 Mbps signals from a received multiplexed signal, two demultiplexers (8M→2M) for generating 2 Mbps signals from the 8 Mbps signals. The indoor unit  1  includes an alarm unit ALM for collecting supervisory signals generated by supervising predetermined parts of the indoor unit  1 , and sends the collected supervisory signals to the CPU  15 . The modem unit MODEM includes a modulator MOD, mixers MIX, a demodulator DEM, and a hybrid circuit H. 
     In practice, the indoor unit  1  is made up of a plurality of cards or the like inserted into slots in a shell of the indoor unit  1 . In the structure shown in FIG. 6, the CPU  15 , the EEPROM  5 , the interface unit  17 , and an interface unit URT for interfacing with the maintenance terminal  23  are mounted on one card, as indicated by a block depicted by a broken line. 
     The outdoor unit  2  includes the intermediate frequency amplifying unit  13 , the radio frequency (microwave: μ) amplifying unit  14  and the digital control unit  4  shown in FIG.  2 . The intermediate frequency amplifying unit  13  includes a hybrid circuit H and two mixers MIX. The microwave amplifying unit  14  includes a power amplifier A and an antenna sharing unit S connected to the antenna ANT. In practice, the outdoor unit  2  is made up of a plurality of cards or the like inserted into slots in a shell of the outdoor unit  2 . In the structure shown in FIG. 6, the EEPROM  6 , the CPU  16  and the interface unit  18  are mounted on one card, as indicated by a block depicted by a broken line. 
     In the structure shown in FIG. 6, the operation parameters are the intermediate frequency generated by the local oscillator  19 , the intermediate frequency generated by the local oscillator  20 , and the transmission power level regulated by the power amplifier A. The EEPROMs  5  and  6  store the above operation parameters. 
     Instead of actually storing the values of the operation parameters, it is possible to employ an alternative structure which uses a table managed by the CPU  15 . Such a table is stored in, for example, the CPU  15 . 
     The CPU  15  stores and manages a table TBL shown in FIG.  7 A. The table TBL stores item numbers and the values of the relevant operation parameters to be set in the indoor unit  1  and the outdoor unit  2  shown in FIG.  6 . When the operation parameters are the intermediate frequency generated by the local oscillator  19 , the intermediate frequency generated by the local oscillator  20 , and the transmission power level regulated by the power amplifier A, the table TBL stores the values of these operation parameters associated with the item numbers. Each of the EEPROMs  5  and  6  stores the item numbers to be set in the indoor unit  1  and the outdoor unit  2 , as shown in FIG.  7 B. If the above-mentioned three operation parameters are assigned item numbers  1 ,  2  and  3 , each of the EEPROMs  5  and  6  store the above item numbers  1 ,  2  and  3 . 
     When the CPU  15  compares the contents of the EEPROMs  5  and  6  with each other, the CPU  15  determines whether or not all the item numbers of the EEPROM  5  completely coincide with those of the EEPROM  6 . The above-mentioned alternative can reduce the storage capacity of each of the EEPROMs  5  and  6 . 
     FIG. 8 shows the details of the structure shown in FIG.  1 B. In FIG. 8, parts that are the same as those shown in the previously described figures are given the same reference numerals. The indoor unit  1  includes a card  25  on which the EEPROM  6 , the card  25  being provided separately from a card  24  having the EEPROM  5 . The card on which the CPU  16  and the interface unit  18  does not have the EEPROM  6 . If a fault has occurred in the card  24 , the card  24  is replaced with a new one. Then, the CPU mounted on the new card  24  compares the parameter information stored in the EEPROM  5  mounted thereon with that stored in the EEPROM  6  mounted on the card  25 . 
     FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the maintenance terminal  23  used in the previously-described embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the maintenance terminal  23  includes a CPU unit  26 , an alarm indication/control unit  27 , a communications processing unit  28 , an input/output unit  29  and a memory unit  30 . The CPU unit  26  includes a CPU and an EEPROM  35 . The alarm indication/control unit  27  includes a display DISP and switches or keys SW. The memory unit  30  includes an EEPROM  36 . The communications processing unit  28  includes a universal receiver/transmitter URT. The input/output unit  29  includes an input interface I and an output interface O. The above structural elements are connected together by means of a CPU bus  37 . Instructions and data can be input to the maintenance terminal  23  by the unit  27 . The maintenance unit  23  shown in FIG. 9 can communicates with another maintenance unit (not shown in FIG.  9 ). The input interface I of the input/output unit  29  receives the supervisory signals from the alarm unit ALM shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, and the output interface O thereof outputs control signals from the CPU unit  26  to the indoor unit  1 . 
     It will be noted that the EEPROMs  35  and  36  correspond to the aforementioned EEPROMs  5  and  6 . When a card or unit having either the EEPROM  35  or EEPROM  36  is replaced by a new one due to a fault or updating of the software version, the contents of the EEPROMs  35  and  36  are compared at the time of power on. Only when the contents of the EEPROMs  35  and  36  coincide with each other, the parameter information is allowed to be set in the relevant parts of the maintenance terminal  23 . If the contents of the EEPROMs  35  and  36  do not coincide with each other, a process is performed which makes the EEPROMs  35  and  36  have the same contents. It is possible to write the contents of the remaining EEPROM into the newly provided card or vice versa. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically check whether or not the variable parameters are correctly set in a communications device such as a radio communications device and to prevent transmission if an erroneous setting of parameter information is detected, so that reliability of the operation of the communications device is improved. Further, resetting of parameter information to be performed after a unit or card is replaced by a new one can be quickly performed with ease. Furthermore, since parameter information is stored in non-volatile memories, the communications device does not need a larger hardware structure even if a large number of operation parameters is used. 
     The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.