Detailed Description
In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more apparent, the following detailed description is given with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. In the following description, specific details such as specific configurations and components are provided only to help the full understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. Thus, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
In various embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that the sequence numbers of the following processes do not mean the execution sequence, and the execution sequence of each process should be determined by its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation to the implementation process of the embodiments of the present invention.
In addition, the terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably herein.
In the embodiments provided herein, it should be understood that "B corresponding to a" means that B is associated with a from which B can be determined. It should also be understood that determining B from a does not mean determining B from a alone, but may be determined from a and/or other information.
In a network system constructed based on an IAB node, if the minimum transmit power determined by uplink power control does not meet the requirement (or called limitation) of the power dynamic range of the IAB node, the bottom noise received by a father node DU is greatly improved, the signal quality of all child nodes (terminals) accessing the current father node is reduced, and the system performance is seriously affected. In order to solve the problem, the power dynamic range of the IAB node can be increased or the MT antenna gain can be reduced by controlling the number of MT transmitting antenna arrays, so that the signal receiving power of a father node is reduced. However, in the two schemes, the power dynamic range of the IAB node is increased, and a new radio frequency link needs to be re-developed, for example, if an adjustable attenuator is added, the equipment cost is inevitably increased; by controlling the number of MT antenna elements, an additional rf mechanism is required, which also increases the cost.
In order to solve the above problems and without increasing the cost, in the embodiments of the present invention, when the cell signal quality does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic range of the IAB node, the cell priority is adjusted, so that the IAB node selects a more appropriate cell for residence, which can solve the near-far effect caused by the power dynamic range of the IAB node, ensure good signal quality, and reduce the DU noise floor, and improve the system transmission performance.
As shown in fig. 2, an embodiment of the present invention provides a cell camping method, which is applied to an IAB node and specifically includes the following steps:
step 21: and acquiring the signal quality of the cell.
Wherein, this step can include: in the cell selection process, the cell signal quality of the current cell is obtained. Or, in the cell reselection process, the cell signal quality of the target cell is acquired. Or, in the redirection process, the cell signal quality of the different system cell is acquired. The cell signal quality may include, but is not limited to: reference Signal Received Power (Reference Signal Received Power), Reference Signal Received Quality (Reference Signal Received Quality), etc. may be used to characterize the channel performance of a cell.
Step 22: and when the cell signal quality does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic range of the IAB node, adjusting the cell priority of the corresponding cell.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the IAB node includes MT and DU, and the MT and DU use the same rf link and rf design of antenna, so the maximum transmit power of the IAB node is determined by the maximum transmit power of the DU. Further, since the IAB node is a base station device whose dynamic power range is much smaller than that of the terminal, the minimum transmit power of the IAB node is determined by the maximum transmit power and the dynamic power range of the DU. Assuming that the maximum transmit power of the DU is 33dBm and the dynamic range of the power is 43dBm, the minimum transmit power of the IAB node is-10 dBm. The cell signal quality not meeting the power dynamic range requirement of the IAB node means that: when the IAB resides in the cell with the signal quality of the cell, the transmission power of the IAB after power control falls between the maximum transmission power and the minimum transmission power of the IAB. For example, when the signal quality of the cell is good, the transmission power of the IAB node is required to be small, and at this time, it is required to satisfy that the transmission power determined by the power control calculation of the IAB node is greater than the minimum transmission power. When the signal quality of the cell is poor, the transmission power of the IAB node is required to be large, and the requirement that the transmission power determined by the power control calculation of the IAB node is smaller than the maximum transmission power is met. And if the signal quality of the cell does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic adjustment range of the IAB node, the IAB node can adjust the cell priority of the corresponding cell. The corresponding cells herein include, but are not limited to: the method comprises the steps of searching a current cell in the cell selection process, reselecting a target cell in the cell reselection process, redirecting a different system cell in the cell redirection process, determining whether a frequency point is lower than that of the current cell, the target cell or the different system cell, and determining whether the frequency point is higher than that of the current cell, the target cell or the different system cell.
Optionally, after step 21, step 22 further includes: it is determined whether the cell signal quality meets the power dynamic range requirements of the IAB node. Specifically, it can be determined by, but is not limited to, the following means: determining uplink transmitting power according to the RSRP and/or the RSRQ; and if the uplink transmission power is smaller than the minimum transmission power of the IAB node, determining that the signal quality of the cell does not meet the requirement of a power dynamic range, wherein the minimum transmission power is determined according to the power dynamic range of the IAB node, namely the maximum transmission power of the DU and the power dynamic range.
Step 23: and selecting the resident cell according to the adjusted cell priority.
Therefore, the cell priority of the cell is adjusted according to whether the cell signal quality meets the requirement of the power dynamic range of the IAB node, and the resident priority of the cell can be changed, so that the IAB node finds a more proper cell to reside, and a return link is established. Therefore, the near-far effect caused by the power dynamic range of the IAB node is solved, the DU bottom noise is reduced while the signal quality is ensured, and the transmission performance of the system is improved.
In some embodiments of the present invention, step 22 comprises: and when the cell signal quality of the first cell of the first frequency point does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic range, reducing the priority of the cell of which the frequency point is equal to the first frequency point, or reducing the priority of the second cell and the cell of the first cell of which the frequency point is equal to or lower than the first frequency point in the duration. The first cell may be a current cell searched in a cell selection process, a target cell in a cell reselection process, or a heterogeneous system cell in a redirection process. And when the cell signal quality of the first cell does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic range of the IAB node, reducing the cell priority of the cells (including the first cell) of the first frequency point or all frequency points lower than the first frequency point within a certain time duration. The cell priority in the embodiment of the invention refers to the absolute priority of the frequency point, and can influence the selection and residence of a proper cell, a target cell and a cell of a different system.
Optionally, when adjusting the cell priority of the first frequency point cell or the lower frequency point cell, the cell priority of the high frequency point cell is kept unchanged. That is, the method further includes: and when the cell signal quality does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic range, keeping the cell priority of a third cell with the frequency point higher than the first frequency point unchanged.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the cell camping method further includes: after adjusting the cell priority of the corresponding cell, the cell priority of the corresponding cell is restored after a certain time (duration) has elapsed. That is, after the duration is exceeded, the cell priorities of the first cell and the second cell are restored. For example, a timer, such as T320, is maintained, and after the time timer of T320 is exceeded, the IAB node automatically restores the original priority of the corresponding cell.
The cell camping method of the embodiment of the invention can be used for a cell selection process, a cell reselection process and a cell redirection process. Step 23 above may include, but is not limited to: selecting a resident cell in the cell selection process according to the adjusted cell priority and the judgment criterion of a proper (suitable) cell; or selecting the resident cell in the cell reselection process according to the adjusted cell priority and the cell reselection criterion.
In addition, the method of the embodiment of the invention further comprises the following steps: and reporting the power dynamic range of the IAB node to the network node under the condition that the IAB node is in a connected state. The network node includes, but is not limited to, a parent node of the IAB node (i.e., an IAB node of a previous hop) or a donor node.
After this step, the method further comprises: receiving priority adjustment indication information, wherein the priority adjustment indication information is used for indicating: and reducing the frequency point to be equal to or lower than the fourth cell of the IAB node current resident cell and the cell priority of the current resident cell in the duration. Here, the cell priority may be actively adjusted by the IAB node, or may be adjusted and indicated by the network node.
Correspondingly, after receiving the priority adjustment indication information, the method further comprises the following steps: priority restoration indication information is received to restore the cell priorities of those cells whose cell priorities are adjusted.
Some implementation manners of the cell camping method according to the embodiment of the present invention are briefly introduced above, and the method is further described below based on different interaction processes.
Examples one,
When an IAB (MT in the IAB) selects a cell, if the quality of the current cell signal is judged not to meet the requirement of the power dynamic range of the MT, the IAB reduces the absolute priority of the frequency point or the frequency point and all frequency points lower than the frequency point within a certain time, and performs pilot frequency cell selection. In other words, when the MT of the IAB node performs cell selection, in addition to the judgment criterion (current criterion) for the survivable cell, the method also includes ensuring that the signal quality of the current cell meets the dynamic range capability requirement of the terminal.
Wherein, the criterion for judging that the signal quality of the current cell meets the requirement of the MT power dynamic range is that the MT judges possible uplink transmitting power according to the received RSRP and RSRQ of the cell, and calculates the minimum transmitting power which can be realized by the MT according to the power dynamic range, if the minimum transmitting power which can be realized by the terminal limited by the power dynamic range is larger than the possible uplink transmitting power, the MT sends the signal quality of the current cell which does not meet the requirement of the MT dynamic range, at the moment, the MT generates serious near-far effect to raise the DU bottom noise, the absolute priority of the frequency point or the frequency point and all frequency points lower than the frequency point is required to be reduced, for example, the power dynamic range of the MT is 43dBm, the maximum transmitting power is 33dBm, the minimum transmitting power is-10 dBm, if the terminal judges according to the RSRP of the cell at the moment, the possible uplink power range of the terminal is-12-, because-12 dBm is lower than-10 dBm, the IAB node (MT) can not realize the method, the IAB node reduces the priority of the frequency point and the frequency point lower than the frequency point, performs pilot frequency cell selection, and selects a higher frequency cell.
And reducing the frequency point or reducing the absolute priority of the frequency point and all frequency points lower than the frequency point, thus ensuring that all frequency point priorities lower than or equal to the frequency point are sequenced according to the frequency, and ensuring that the priorities of all frequency points higher than the frequency point are kept unchanged. That is, if the current frequency point is 2.6GHz, all frequency points lower than or equal to 2.6GHz have higher priority when the frequency is higher, and the priority of the frequency point higher than 2.6GHz is unchanged.
And in a certain time, reducing the absolute priority of the frequency point or the frequency point and all frequency points lower than the frequency point, and recovering the priority of the original frequency point after the time limit is exceeded.
Examples two,
When an IAB (MT in the IAB) searches for a better cell (better cell) according to a cell reselection criterion, if the signal quality of a target cell (target cell) is judged to exceed the requirement of the dynamic range of the IAB, the IAB reduces the frequency point or reduces the frequency point and the absolute priority of all frequency points lower than the frequency point within a certain time, and performs pilot frequency cell reselection.
In the cell residing method of the embodiment of the invention, when the cell signal quality does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic range of the IAB node, the cell priority is adjusted, so that the IAB node selects a more appropriate cell to reside to establish a return link, the near-far effect caused by the power dynamic range of the IAB node can be solved, the DU bottom noise is reduced while the signal quality is ensured to be good, and the system transmission performance is improved.
The above embodiments are respectively described with respect to the cell camping method of the present invention, and the following embodiments will further describe corresponding apparatuses with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Specifically, as shown in fig. 3, the cell camping apparatus 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied to an IAB node, and includes but is not limited to the following functional modules:
an obtaining module 310, configured to obtain cell signal quality;
an adjusting module 320, configured to adjust a cell priority of a corresponding cell when the cell signal quality does not meet a requirement of a power dynamic range of an IAB node;
a selecting module 330, configured to select a camped cell according to the adjusted cell priority.
Optionally, the adjusting module 320 includes:
and the adjusting submodule is used for reducing the cell priority of the second cell and the first cell of which the frequency points are equal to or lower than the first frequency point in the duration when the cell signal quality of the first cell of the first frequency point does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic range.
Optionally, the cell camping apparatus further includes:
and the maintaining module is used for maintaining the cell priority of the third cell with the frequency point higher than the first frequency point unchanged when the cell signal quality does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic range.
Optionally, the cell camping apparatus further includes:
and the recovery module is used for recovering the cell priorities of the first cell and the second cell after the preset duration is exceeded.
Optionally, the cell signal quality includes: the reference signal received power RSRP of the cell and/or the reference signal received quality RSRQ of the cell; the device also includes:
the first determining module is used for determining uplink transmitting power according to the RSRP and/or the RSRQ;
and the second determining module is used for determining that the cell signal quality does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic range if the uplink transmitting power is less than the minimum transmitting power of the IAB node, wherein the minimum transmitting power is determined according to the power dynamic range of the IAB node.
Optionally, the selection module 330 comprises one of:
the first selection submodule is used for selecting the resident cell in the cell selection process according to the adjusted cell priority and the judgment criterion of the suitable cell;
and the second selection submodule is used for selecting the resident cell in the cell reselection process according to the adjusted cell priority and the cell reselection criterion.
Optionally, the cell camping apparatus further includes:
and the reporting module is used for reporting the dynamic range of the power to the network node under the condition of being in the connected state.
Optionally, the cell camping apparatus further includes:
a first receiving module, configured to receive priority adjustment indication information, where the priority adjustment indication information is used to indicate: and reducing the frequency point to be equal to or lower than the fourth cell of the IAB node current resident cell and the cell priority of the current resident cell in the duration.
Optionally, the cell selection apparatus further includes:
and the second receiving module is used for receiving the priority recovery indication information.
The embodiment of the device of the invention is corresponding to the embodiment of the method, all the implementation means in the embodiment of the method are suitable for the embodiment of the device, and the same technical effect can be achieved. When the cell signal quality does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic range of the IAB node, the cell priority is adjusted, so that the IAB node selects a more appropriate cell to reside, the near-far effect caused by the power dynamic range of the IAB node can be solved, the DU bottom noise is reduced while the signal quality is good, and the transmission performance of the system is improved.
In the above embodiment, the cell camping method and the cell camping apparatus in the embodiments of the present invention are described from the IAB node side, and a cell processing method and a cell processing apparatus on the network node side will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in fig. 4, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a cell processing method, which is applied to a network node including but not limited to a parent node of the IAB node (i.e., an IAB node of a previous hop) or a donor node, and the method includes but not limited to:
step 41: and receiving the power dynamic range of the IAB node sent by the connected integrated access backhaul IAB node.
The IAB node includes an MT and a DU, and the MT and the DU use the same radio frequency design of the radio frequency link and the antenna, so the maximum transmit power of the IAB node is determined by the maximum transmit power of the DU. Further, since the IAB node is a base station device whose dynamic power range is much smaller than that of the terminal, the minimum transmit power of the IAB node is determined by the maximum transmit power and the dynamic power range of the DU. Assuming that the maximum transmit power of the DU is 33dBm and the dynamic range of the power is 43dBm, the minimum transmit power of the IAB node is-10 dBm.
Step 42: and when the cell signal quality of the cell where the IAB node resides currently does not meet the requirement of the dynamic range of power, adjusting the cell priority of the corresponding cell, or redirecting the IAB node to other cells of which the frequency points are higher than those of the currently residing cell.
The cell signal quality not meeting the power dynamic range requirement of the IAB node means that: when the IAB resides in the cell with the signal quality of the cell, the transmission power of the IAB after power control falls between the maximum transmission power and the minimum transmission power of the IAB. For example, when the signal quality of the cell is good, the transmission power of the IAB node is required to be small, and at this time, it is required to satisfy that the transmission power determined by the power control calculation of the IAB node is greater than the minimum transmission power. When the signal quality of the cell is poor, the transmission power of the IAB node is required to be large, and the requirement that the transmission power determined by the power control calculation of the IAB node is smaller than the maximum transmission power is met.
The network node may adjust the cell priority of the corresponding cell if the cell signal quality does not meet the power dynamic range requirements of the IAB node. The corresponding cells herein include, but are not limited to: the method comprises the steps of searching a current cell in the cell selection process, reselecting a target cell in the cell reselection process, redirecting a different system cell in the cell redirection process, determining whether a frequency point is lower than that of the current cell, the target cell or the different system cell, and determining whether the frequency point is higher than that of the current cell, the target cell or the different system cell.
Or, if the cell signal quality does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic range of the IAB node, the network node may redirect the IAB node to a different system cell with a higher frequency point for residence.
After step 41, step 42 further includes: calculating the uplink transmitting power of the IAB node according to a power control algorithm; and if the uplink transmission power is less than the minimum transmission power of the IAB node, determining that the signal quality of the cell does not meet the requirement of a power dynamic range, wherein the minimum transmission power is determined according to the power dynamic range of the IAB node, and the minimum transmission power is determined according to the maximum transmission power of the DU and the power dynamic range.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the step of adjusting the cell priority of the corresponding cell includes: and reducing the frequency point to be equal to or lower than the fourth cell of the IAB node current resident cell and the cell priority of the current resident cell in the duration. And when the cell signal quality of the current resident cell does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic range of the IAB node, reducing the cell priority of cells (including the current resident cell) of all frequency points which are equal to or lower than the frequency point of the current resident cell within a duration (a certain time).
The method further comprises the following steps: sending priority adjustment indication information to the IAB node, wherein the priority adjustment indication information is used for indicating that: and reducing the frequency point to be equal to or lower than the fourth cell of the current resident cell and the cell priority of the current resident cell in the duration. Correspondingly, the method further comprises: and sending priority recovery indication information to the IAB node, wherein the IAB node is informed that the previously adjusted cell priority is recovered.
The method is further explained below based on different interaction processes:
examples III,
And the IAB node (MT in the IAB node) in a connected state reports the dynamic range capability of the IAB node to the network, and if the network node judges that the uplink transmission power of the MT is smaller than the lowest transmission power required by the dynamic range capability according to a power control algorithm, the IAB node is redirected to a cell with a higher frequency point by a previous-stage network node (a father node or a donor node).
The selection criterion of the higher frequency point cell is to ensure that the corresponding cell frequency point can meet the requirement of the dynamic range capability of the terminal, that is, the actual transmission power of the MT is greater than the minimum transmission power that can be realized by the dynamic range capability at the corresponding cell frequency point.
Example four,
An IAB node (MT in an IAB node) in a connected state reports its dynamic range capability to a network, and if the network node determines, according to a power control algorithm, that uplink transmission power of the MT is smaller than a minimum transmission power required by its dynamic range capability, the network node reduces the frequency point or reduces the frequency point and absolute priorities (such as cell reselection priority) of all frequency points lower than the frequency point within a period of time, and informs the IAB node through system messages and dedicated information, such as an RRC release message, and restores the original priority of the frequency point after exceeding a time limit, where the specific manner includes, but is not limited to: and after the time limit is exceeded, updating the system information again to recover the original priority of the frequency point. Or, setting a special signaling time timer T320, and after the time timer T320 is exceeded, the IAB automatically restores the original priority of the frequency point.
In the cell processing method of the embodiment of the invention, the network node receives the power dynamic range of the IAB node, and when the cell signal of the cell where the IAB node currently resides does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic range, the cell priority is adjusted so that the IAB node reselects a more appropriate cell to reside, or the IAB node is redirected to a cell with higher frequency point, thus the near-far effect caused by the power dynamic range of the IAB node can be solved, the signal quality is ensured, the DU bottom noise is reduced, and the transmission performance of the system is improved.
The above embodiments are described with respect to the cell processing method of the present invention, and the following embodiments will further describe corresponding apparatuses with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Specifically, as shown in fig. 5, the cell processing apparatus 500 according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a network node, and includes but is not limited to the following functional modules:
a receiving module 510, configured to receive a dynamic power range of an IAB node sent by an integrated access backhaul IAB node in a connected state;
a processing module 520, configured to adjust the cell priority of the corresponding cell or redirect the IAB node to another cell with a frequency higher than that of the currently camped cell when the cell signal quality of the cell where the IAB node currently camps on does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic range.
Optionally, the processing module 520 comprises:
and the processing submodule is used for reducing the frequency point of a fourth cell which is equal to or lower than the frequency point of the current resident cell of the IAB node and the cell priority of the current resident cell in the duration.
Optionally, the cell processing apparatus further includes:
a first sending module, configured to send priority adjustment indication information to the IAB node, where the priority adjustment indication information is used to indicate: and reducing the cell priority of a fourth cell with the frequency point equal to or lower than the frequency point of the current resident cell of the IAB node and the cell priority of the current resident cell in the duration.
Optionally, the cell processing apparatus further includes:
and the second sending module is used for sending the priority recovery indication information to the IAB node.
Optionally, the cell processing apparatus further includes:
the calculation module is used for calculating the uplink transmitting power of the IAB node according to the power control algorithm;
and the determining module is used for determining that the cell signal quality does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic range if the uplink transmitting power is less than the minimum transmitting power of the IAB node, wherein the minimum transmitting power is determined according to the power dynamic range of the IAB node.
The embodiment of the device of the invention is corresponding to the embodiment of the method, all the implementation means in the embodiment of the method are suitable for the embodiment of the device, and the same technical effect can be achieved. And when the cell signal of the cell where the IAB node currently resides does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic range, the power dynamic range of the IAB node adjusts the priority of the cell so that the IAB node reselects a more appropriate cell to reside, or redirects the IAB node to a cell with a higher frequency point, thereby solving the near-far effect caused by the power dynamic range of the IAB node, ensuring good signal quality, reducing DU bottom noise and improving the transmission performance of the system.
To better achieve the above object, as shown in fig. 6, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a network device, including: a processor 600; a memory 620 connected to the processor 600 through a bus interface, and a transceiver 610 connected to the processor 600 through a bus interface; the memory 620 is used for storing programs and data used by the processor in performing operations; transmitting data information or pilot frequency through the transceiver 610, and receiving an uplink control channel through the transceiver 610; when the processor 600 calls and executes the programs and data stored in the memory 620, the following functions are implemented:
in the case where the network device is an IAB node, the processor 600 is configured to read the program in the memory 620 and execute the following processes: acquiring the signal quality of a cell; when the cell signal quality does not meet the requirement of the power dynamic range of the IAB node, adjusting the cell priority of the corresponding cell; and selecting the resident cell according to the adjusted cell priority.
A transceiver 610 for receiving and transmitting data under the control of the processor 600.
In the case where the network device is a network node, which may be a parent or donor node of an IAB node, transceiver 610 is configured to receive and transmit data under the control of processor 600, and in particular, to receive a power dynamic range of the IAB node transmitted by the integrated access backhaul IAB node in a connected state.
The processor 600 is used to read the program in the memory 620 and execute the following processes: and when the cell signal quality of the cell where the IAB node resides currently does not meet the requirement of the dynamic range of power, adjusting the cell priority of the corresponding cell, or redirecting the IAB node to other cells of which the frequency points are higher than those of the currently residing cell.
Where in fig. 6, the bus architecture may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, with various circuits being linked together, particularly one or more processors represented by processor 600 and memory represented by memory 620. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits such as peripherals, voltage regulators, power management circuits, and the like, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 610 may be a number of elements including a transmitter and a transceiver providing a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. The processor 600 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 620 may store data used by the processor 600 in performing operations.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that all or part of the steps for implementing the above embodiments may be performed by hardware, or may be instructed to be performed by associated hardware by a computer program that includes instructions for performing some or all of the steps of the above methods; and the computer program may be stored in a readable storage medium, which may be any form of storage medium.
Furthermore, it is to be noted that in the device and method of the invention, it is obvious that the individual components or steps can be decomposed and/or recombined. These decompositions and/or recombinations are to be regarded as equivalents of the present invention. Also, the steps of performing the series of processes described above may naturally be performed chronologically in the order described, but need not necessarily be performed chronologically, and some steps may be performed in parallel or independently of each other. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that all or any of the steps or elements of the method and apparatus of the present invention may be implemented in any computing device (including processors, storage media, etc.) or network of computing devices, in hardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof, which can be implemented by those skilled in the art using their basic programming skills after reading the description of the present invention.
Thus, the objects of the invention may also be achieved by running a program or a set of programs on any computing device. The computing device may be a general purpose device as is well known. The object of the invention is thus also achieved solely by providing a program product comprising program code for implementing the method or the apparatus. That is, such a program product also constitutes the present invention, and a storage medium storing such a program product also constitutes the present invention. It is to be understood that the storage medium may be any known storage medium or any storage medium developed in the future. It is further noted that in the apparatus and method of the present invention, it is apparent that each component or step can be decomposed and/or recombined. These decompositions and/or recombinations are to be regarded as equivalents of the present invention. Also, the steps of executing the series of processes described above may naturally be executed chronologically in the order described, but need not necessarily be executed chronologically. Some steps may be performed in parallel or independently of each other.
While the foregoing is directed to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.