Generating channel access patterns for mutually uncoordinated networks

Abstract

An embodiment provides a controller for a participant of a communication system, wherein the communication system performs wireless communication in a frequency band used for communication by multiple communication systems, wherein the controller is used to identify a channel access mode, wherein the channel access mode indicates a frequency hopping-based and / or time hopping-based occupancy of a frequency band that can be used for communication by the communication system, wherein the controller is designed to determine the channel access mode based on individual information of the communication system and based on a state of a digital sequence generator for generating a digital sequence or a number of the digital sequence.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a controller for a participant of a communication system, a base station of the communication system, a terminal point of the communication system, and a communication system, wherein the communication system wirelessly communicates at a certain frequency in a frequency band used for communication by multiple communication systems. Some embodiments relate to the generation of channel access patterns for mutually uncoordinated networks. Background Art

[0002] In wireless communications between participants of a communication system in a frequency band used for communications by a plurality of communication systems, it is necessary to avoid interference by disturbance signals of other communication systems (=communication between participants of other communication systems).

[0003] General techniques for avoiding interference

[0004] Disturbances of participants within the own wireless network (or communication system) are usually avoided by a coordinated, conflict-free allocation of radio resources (e.g. by base stations). This is done, for example, in the mobile radio standards GSM, UMTS and LTE, where (outside the initial network entry phase) conflicts of radio participants within the same network can be completely avoided by so-called "scheduling".

[0005] Suitable radio network planning usually reduces disturbances of radio participants outside the own network. In this case, a certain usable frequency range from the entire available frequency band (possibly consisting of several frequency channels) is allocated to each network. Adjacent networks use different frequency ranges, which is why there are no direct disturbances between participants of adjacent networks. Finally, this approach also represents a type of coordination between networks.

[0006] If it is not possible or feasible to assign such frequency ranges or radio channels specifically to individual networks (as is typically the case in unlicensed bands, for example), the networks may determine unused frequency ranges, e.g. by utilization measurements, or select a least used frequency range from a set of designated frequency ranges and then occupy or switch to this frequency range.

[0007] Avoid perturbations using the TSMA approach

[0008] A further case is the transmission of messages (data packets) by the so-called telegram splitting multiple access (TSMA) method [1]. In this case, the frequency range available to the network is divided into a specified number of frequency channels, wherein the data packets are transmitted on a plurality of partial data packets, which are usually transmitted at different times and on different channels. In this case, the frequency hopping pattern (or time / frequency hopping pattern) used to transmit the partial data packets plays a particularly important role, as shown, for example, in [2]. A particularly high utilization of the network can be achieved if there are as many different frequency hopping patterns as possible, which only have as few and short overlapping sequences as possible. In order to reduce interference between the multiple networks, the networks can use different frequency hopping patterns with respect to each other. These individual frequency hopping patterns of the networks must be known to all participants in the individual networks. Furthermore, it is desirable that the frequency hopping patterns described above have only short overlapping sequences with each other in order to avoid systematic conflicts between the partial data packets of the participants of different networks.

[0009] In mutually coordinated networks, each network may be assigned an individual frequency hopping pattern which has as little overlap as possible with the frequency hopping patterns of other networks within the reception range. The total number of all available frequency hopping patterns may be tabulated into a group (frequency hopping patterns), from which the network-wide coordination instance assigns one / several individual frequency hopping patterns to each network. The calculation of a suitable set of frequency hopping patterns may be performed in advance according to suitable optimization criteria.

[0010] If the networks are not mutually coordinated in the frequency domain and may also be unsynchronized in time, the above approach (tabulated, pre-computed frequency hopping patterns) can in principle be applied, however, there is a risk that two networks will randomly use the same frequency hopping pattern. In order to reduce the probability of two (interacting) networks using the same hopping pattern to a feasible level, especially in cases with many networks, there must be a very large number of available frequency hopping patterns. Summary of the invention

[0011] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a concept which can improve the transmission reliability if several mutually uncoordinated communication systems use the same frequency band for wireless communication.

[0012] An embodiment provides a base station of a communication system, wherein the communication system performs wireless communication in a frequency band [e.g., a license-free and / or license-exempt frequency band; e.g., an ISM frequency band] used for communication by multiple communication systems, wherein the base station is configured to send a signal [e.g., a beacon signal], wherein this signal includes information about a channel access mode, wherein the channel access mode indicates frequency hopping-based and / or time hopping-based occupancy of [e.g., a time sequence of frequency resources (e.g., distributed across the entire frequency band) available for communication by the communication system], wherein the information describes a state of a digital sequence generator [e.g., a periodic digital sequence generator or a deterministic random number generator] for generating a digital sequence, or wherein the information describes a number [e.g., a time slot index and / or a beacon index] of a digital sequence [e.g., a periodic time slot index sequence and / or a periodic beacon index sequence], wherein the digital sequence determines the channel access mode.

[0013] In an embodiment, the channel access mode may be different from another channel access mode based on which at least one other communication system among the plurality of other communication systems accesses the frequency band.

[0014] In an embodiment, a base station may be configured to operate uncoordinated with respect to other communication systems.

[0015] In an embodiment, the base station may be configured to communicate with participants of the communication system by using resources or a subset thereof determined by the channel access pattern.

[0016] In an embodiment, the base station may be configured to transmit a signal having information about a channel access mode multiple times [e.g., periodically], wherein the information about the channel access mode transmitted with the continuous transmission of the signal describes different [e.g., consecutive or immediately consecutive] states of the digital sequence generator or different numbers of the digital sequence.

[0017] In an embodiment, the information transmitted along with the transmission of the signal describes only a subset of the states of the digital sequence generator or a subset of the numbering of the digital sequence [only the nth state or the nth index number is transmitted, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2].

[0018] In an embodiment, the information about the channel access mode may be a state of a digital sequence generator or information derived therefrom [eg, a portion of the digital sequence generation state (eg, the LSB of the digital sequence generation state)].

[0019] In an embodiment, the information about the channel access mode may be the number of the digital sequence or information derived therefrom [eg, a portion of the state of the digital sequence (eg, the LSB of the number of the digital sequence)].

[0020] In an embodiment, the base station may be configured to identify the channel access mode according to a state of a digital sequence generator or a number of a digital sequence derived from the state of the digital sequence generator.

[0021] In an embodiment, a state of the digital sequence generator that follows [e.g., directly] the state of the digital sequence generator is identifiable based on the state of the digital sequence generator, wherein the base station is configured to identify the channel access mode based on a subsequent state of the digital sequence generator or a subsequent number of a digital sequence derived therefrom.

[0022] In an embodiment, the base station may be configured to identify the channel access mode based on individual information of the communication system [eg, based on inherent information of the communication system, such as a network-specific identifier].

[0023] In an embodiment, the individual information of the communication system may be inherent information of the communication system.

[0024] In an embodiment, the inherent information of the communication system may be a network-specific identifier.

[0025] In an embodiment, the network-specific identifier may be an identification of the communication system.

[0026] In an embodiment, the base station may be configured to map the following onto the time information and the frequency information by using a mapping function,

[0027] - the state of the digital sequence generator or the number of the digital sequence derived from the state of the digital sequence generator, or the number of the digital sequence, and

[0028] - Individual information of said communication system, wherein said time information and said frequency information describe resources of said channel access mode.

[0029] In an embodiment, the time index information may describe a time slot or a time slot index.

[0030] In an embodiment, when mapping the time information, the mapping function takes into account an activity rate of said communication system, wherein said activity rate is specified prior to execution, or wherein said signal or a further signal sent by said base station comprises information about said activity rate.

[0031] In an embodiment, the mapping function may take into account different activity rates of the communication system when mapping onto the time information, such that the channel access pattern comprises areas of different activity rates, wherein the signal or further signal comprises information about the activity rate.

[0032] In an embodiment, the base station may be configured to dynamically adapt the activity rate based on current or predicted usage of the communication system.

[0033] In an embodiment, when mapping onto time information, the mapping function may comply with a specified minimum distance [eg, in one or several time slots or time slot indices] between [eg, directly] consecutive time slots or time slot indices of the channel access pattern.

[0034] In an embodiment, the frequency information may describe a frequency channel or a frequency channel index.

[0035] In an embodiment, the frequency information may describe the distance between [eg, directly] consecutive frequency channels or frequency channel indices of the channel access pattern.

[0036] In an embodiment, when mapping onto frequency information, the mapping function may respect a specified minimum distance between [eg, directly] consecutive frequency channels or frequency channel indices of a channel access pattern.

[0037] In an embodiment, when mapping onto frequency information, the mapping function may take into account the susceptible frequency channels or the range of susceptible channels of the frequency band so that the susceptible frequency channels or the range of susceptible frequency channels are not or less occupied by the channel access mode.

[0038] In an embodiment, the frequency information may describe a bundling of frequency resources of a frequency band including at least two directly adjacent or spaced-apart frequency channels or frequency channel indices.

[0039] In an embodiment, the base station may be configured to identify the pseudo-random number R according to:

[0040] - the state of a digital sequence generator, or the number of a digital sequence derived from the state of the digital sequence generator, or the number of a digital sequence, and

[0041] - Individual information of the communication system, where the pseudo-random number R determines the channel access mode.

[0042] In an embodiment, the base station may be configured to identify the resources [eg, frequency channel and / or time slot, or frequency channel index and / or time slot index] of the channel access pattern based on a pseudo-random number R.

[0043] In an embodiment, the signal may be a beacon signal.

[0044] In an embodiment, the digital sequence generator may be a periodic digital sequence generator for generating a periodic digital sequence.

[0045] In an embodiment, the digital sequence generator may be a deterministic random number generator for generating a pseudo-random digital sequence.

[0046] In an embodiment, the state of the digital sequence generator may be a periodic beacon index and / or a periodic time slot index,

[0047] In an embodiment, the number derived from the state of the digital sequence generator may be a periodic beacon index and / or a periodic slot index.

[0048] In an embodiment, the number of the digital sequence may be a periodic beacon index and / or a periodic time slot index.

[0049] In an embodiment, the occupation of the frequency band defined by the channel access pattern at least partially overlaps with occupation of said frequency band by another communication system.

[0050] A further embodiment provides a terminal point of a communication system, the communication system performing wireless communication in a frequency band [e.g., a license-free and / or license-free frequency band; e.g., an ISM frequency band] used for communication by multiple communication systems, wherein the terminal point is configured to receive a signal [e.g., a beacon signal], wherein the signal includes information about a channel access mode, wherein the channel access mode indicates a frequency band [a time sequence of frequency resources (e.g., distributed across the entire frequency band) available for communication by the communication system] [e.g., a resource] based on frequency hopping and / or based on time hopping occupancy, wherein the terminal point is configured to identify the channel access mode based on the information about the channel access mode, wherein the information describes a state of a digital sequence generator [e.g., a periodic digital sequence generator or a deterministic random number generator] for generating a digital sequence, or wherein the information describes a number [e.g., a time slot index and / or a beacon index] of a digital sequence [e.g., a periodic time slot index sequence and / or a periodic beacon index sequence], wherein the digital sequence determines the channel access mode.

[0051] In an embodiment, the channel access mode may be different from another channel access mode based on which at least one other communication system among the plurality of other communication systems accesses the frequency band.

[0052] In an embodiment, a terminal point may be configured to operate uncoordinated with respect to other communication systems.

[0053] In an embodiment, a terminal point may be configured to communicate with participants of the communication system by using the resources or a subset thereof determined by the channel access pattern.

[0054] In an embodiment, the terminal point may be configured to receive a signal having information about a channel access mode multiple times [e.g., periodically], wherein the information about the channel access mode transmitted with the continuous transmission of the signal describes different [e.g., consecutive or immediately consecutive] states of a digital sequence generator or different numbers of a digital sequence, wherein the terminal point may be configured to identify the channel access mode based on the information about the channel access mode [e.g., based on different states of a digital sequence generator or different numbers of a digital sequence].

[0055] In an embodiment, the information transmitted with the transmission of the signal may describe only a subset of the states of the digital sequence generator or a subset of the numbers of the digital sequence [only the nth state or the nth index number is transmitted, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2].

[0056] In an embodiment, the information about the channel access mode may be a state of a digital sequence generator or information derived therefrom [e.g., a portion of the digital sequence generation state (e.g., the LSB of the digital sequence generation state)],

[0057] In an embodiment, the information about the channel access mode may be the number of the digital sequence or information derived therefrom [eg, a portion of the state of the digital sequence (eg, the LSB of the number of the digital sequence)].

[0058] In an embodiment, the terminal point may be configured to identify the channel access mode according to the state of the digital sequence generator or the number of the digital sequence derived from the state of the digital sequence generator.

[0059] In an embodiment, the state of the digital sequence generator that follows [e.g., directly] the state of the digital sequence generator may be identifiable based on the state of the digital sequence generator, wherein the terminal point may be configured to identify the channel access mode based on a subsequent state of the digital sequence generator or a subsequent digit of a digital sequence derived therefrom.

[0060] In an embodiment, the terminal point may be configured to identify the channel access mode based on individual information of the communication system [eg, inherent information of the communication system, such as a network-specific identifier].

[0061] In an embodiment, the individual information of the communication system may be inherent information of the communication system.

[0062] In an embodiment, the inherent information of the communication system may be a network-specific identifier.

[0063] In an embodiment, the network-specific identifier may be an identification of the communication system.

[0064] In an embodiment, the terminal point may be configured to map the following to time information and frequency information by using a mapping function,

[0065] - the state of the digital sequence generator or the number of the digital sequence derived from the state of the digital sequence generator, or the number of the digital sequence, and

[0066] - Individual information of the communication system, wherein the time information and the frequency information describe resources of the channel access mode.

[0067] In an embodiment, the time index information may describe a time slot or a time slot index.

[0068] In an embodiment, when mapping the time information, the mapping function may take into account an activity rate of the communication system, wherein the activity rate is specified prior to execution, or wherein the signal or further received signal comprises information about said activity rate.

[0069] In an embodiment, the mapping function may take into account different activity rates of the communication system when mapping onto the time information, such that the channel access pattern comprises areas with different activity rates, wherein the signal or further signal comprises information about the activity rate.

[0070] In an embodiment, the signal comprises information about an activity rate of the communication system.

[0071] In an embodiment, the terminal point may be configured to receive a further signal, wherein the further signal comprises information about an activity rate of the communication system.

[0072] In an embodiment, when mapping onto time information, the mapping function may comply with a specified minimum distance [eg, within one or several time slots or time slot indices] between [eg, directly] consecutive time slots or time slot indices of the channel access pattern.

[0073] In an embodiment, the frequency information may describe a frequency channel or a frequency channel index.

[0074] In an embodiment, the frequency information may describe the distance between [eg, directly] consecutive frequency channels or frequency channel indices of the channel access pattern.

[0075] In an embodiment, when mapping onto frequency information, the mapping function may respect a specified minimum distance between [eg, directly] consecutive frequency channels or frequency channel indices of a channel access pattern.

[0076] In an embodiment, when mapping onto frequency information, the mapping function may take into account the susceptible frequency channels or the range of susceptible frequency channels of the frequency band, so that the susceptible frequency channels or the range of susceptible frequency channels are not or less occupied by the channel access mode.

[0077] In an embodiment, the frequency information may describe at least two directly adjacent or spaced-apart frequency channels or frequency channel indices.

[0078] In an embodiment, the endpoint may be configured to identify the pseudo-random number R according to the following function:

[0079] - the state of the digital sequence generator, or the number of the digital sequence derived from the state of the digital sequence generator, or the number of the digital sequence, and

[0080] - individual information of the communication system,

[0081] Among them, the pseudo-random number R determines the channel access mode.

[0082] In an embodiment, the terminal point may be configured to identify the resource [eg, frequency channel and / or time slot, or frequency channel index and / or time slot index] of the channel access pattern based on a pseudo-random number R.

[0083] In an embodiment, the signal may be a beacon signal.

[0084] In an embodiment, the digital sequence generator may be a periodic digital sequence generator for generating a periodic digital sequence.

[0085] In an embodiment, the digital sequence generator may be a deterministic random number generator for generating a pseudo-random digital sequence.

[0086] In an embodiment, the state of the digital sequence generator may be a periodic beacon index and / or a periodic slot index.

[0087] In an embodiment, the number derived from the state of the digital sequence generator may be a periodic beacon index and / or a periodic slot index.

[0088] In an embodiment, the number of the digital sequence may be a periodic beacon index and / or a periodic time slot index.

[0089] In an embodiment, the occupation of the frequency band defined by the channel access pattern at least partially overlaps with occupation of said frequency band by another communication system.

[0090] A further embodiment provides a communication system having any one of the above base stations and at least one of the above terminal points.

[0091] A further embodiment provides a method for operating a base station of a communication system, wherein the communication system performs wireless communications in a frequency band used for communications by a plurality of communication systems. The method comprises the step of sending a signal, wherein the signal comprises information about a channel access mode, wherein the channel access mode indicates a frequency hopping-based and / or time hopping-based occupancy of a frequency band available for communications by the communication system, wherein the information describes a state of a digital sequence generator for generating digital sequences, or wherein the information describes a number of digital sequences, wherein the digital sequence determines the channel access mode.

[0092] A further embodiment provides a method for operating a terminal point of a communication system, wherein the communication system performs wireless communication in a frequency band used for communication by a plurality of communication systems. The method comprises the step of receiving a signal, wherein the signal comprises information about a channel access mode, wherein the channel access mode indicates a frequency hopping-based and / or time hopping-based occupancy of a frequency band available for communication by the communication system. Additionally, the method comprises the following: identifying the channel access mode based on the information about the channel access mode, wherein the information describes a state of a digital sequence generator for generating a digital sequence, or wherein the information describes a number of the digital sequence, wherein the digital sequence determines the channel access mode.

[0093] A further embodiment provides a controller for a participant of a communication system, wherein the communication system performs wireless communications in a frequency band used for communications performed by multiple communication systems, wherein the controller is used to identify a channel access mode, wherein the channel access mode indicates a frequency hopping-based and / or time hopping-based occupancy of a frequency band available for communications by the communication systems, wherein the controller is configured to identify the channel access mode based on a state of a digital sequence generator for generating digital sequences or based on a number of the digital sequence.

[0094] In an embodiment, the controller may be configured to identify the channel access mode according to a state of the digital sequence generator or a number of a digital sequence derived from the state of the digital sequence generator.

[0095] In an embodiment, a state of the digital sequence generator subsequent to [e.g., directly after] said state of the digital sequence generator is identifiable based on said state of the digital sequence generator, wherein the controller may be configured to identify a channel access mode based on a subsequent state of the digital sequence generator or a subsequent number of a digital sequence derived therefrom.

[0096] In an embodiment, the controller may be configured to identify the channel access mode based on individual information of the communication system [eg, inherent information of the communication system, such as a network-specific identifier].

[0097] In an embodiment, the controller may be configured to map the following onto the time information and the frequency information by using a mapping function,

[0098] - the state of the digital sequence generator or the number of the digital sequence derived from the state of the digital sequence generator, or the number of the digital sequence, and

[0099] - individual information of the communication system,

[0100] The time information and the frequency information describe the resources of the channel access mode.

[0101] In an embodiment, the controller may be configured to identify the pseudo-random number R according to:

[0102] - the state of the digital sequence generator, or the number of the digital sequence derived from the state of the digital sequence generator, or the number of the digital sequence, and

[0103] - individual information of the communication system,

[0104] Among them, the pseudo-random number R determines the channel access mode.

[0105] In an embodiment, the controller may be configured to identify a resource [eg, a frequency channel and / or a time slot, or a frequency channel index and / or a time slot index] of a channel access pattern based on a pseudo-random number R. As shown in FIG.

[0106] A further embodiment provides a method for generating a channel access pattern. The method comprises the step of generating a channel access pattern, wherein the channel access pattern indicates a frequency hopping-based and / or time hopping-based occupation of a frequency band that can be used for communication by a communication system, wherein the communication system performs wireless communication in a frequency band that is used for communication by a plurality of communication systems, wherein the channel access pattern is generated according to a state of a digital sequence generator for generating a digital sequence or a number of a digital sequence.

[0107] A further embodiment provides a communication system, wherein the communication system is configured to conduct wireless communications in a frequency band [e.g., a license-free and / or license-exempt frequency band; e.g., an ISM frequency band] used for communication by multiple communication systems, wherein the communication system is configured to use the frequency band for communication based on a channel access mode [e.g., divide the frequency band into] different frequencies or frequency channels per part [e.g., per time slot], regardless of whether they are used by another communication system, wherein the channel access mode is different from another channel access mode based on which at least one other communication system among the multiple other communication systems accesses the frequency band.

[0108] In an embodiment, the channel access pattern may indicate frequency hopping-based and / or time hopping-based occupancy of a frequency band [a time sequence of frequency resources (e.g., distributed across the entire frequency band)) available for communication by the communication system] [e.g., resources].

[0109] In an embodiment, a communication system may be configured to communicate uncoordinated with respect to other communication systems in a frequency band.

[0110] In an embodiment, the communication system is configured to identify a channel access pattern.

[0111] In an embodiment, the channel access mode may depend on individual [eg, inherent] information of the communication system.

[0112] In an embodiment, a channel access pattern and another channel access pattern may overlap in less than 20% of the resources specified therein.

[0113] In an embodiment, in each part of the frequency band in different channels, participants of the communication system may transmit data between themselves based on a channel access pattern.

[0114] In an embodiment, the reception bandwidth of a participant of the communication system may be narrower than the bandwidth of the frequency band.

[0115] A further embodiment provides a method for operating a communication system, wherein the communication system is configured to perform wireless communications in a frequency band [e.g., a license-free and / or license-exempt frequency band; e.g., an ISM frequency band] used for communications by a plurality of communication systems. The method comprises: for each portion of different channels of the frequency band, whether or not they or a subset of them are used by another communication system, transmitting data between participants of the communication system based on a channel access mode, wherein the channel access mode is different from another channel access mode based on which at least one other communication system of the plurality of other communication systems accesses the frequency band.

[0116] A further embodiment provides a communication device having a first communication system and a second communication system, wherein the first communication system and the second communication system are configured to communicate wirelessly [e.g., for communication by multiple communication systems] in the same frequency band [e.g., a license-free and / or license-exempt frequency band; e.g., an ISM frequency band], wherein the first communication system is configured to communicate by using a first channel access mode to use different channels in each part [e.g., each time slot] of the frequency band, regardless of whether they or a subset of them are used by another communication system, and wherein the second communication system is configured to communicate by using a second channel access mode to use different channels in each part [e.g., each time slot] of the frequency band [e.g., where the frequency band is divided into], regardless of whether they or a subset of them are used by another communication system, wherein the first channel access mode and the second channel access mode are different.

[0117] In an embodiment, the first communication system and the second communication system may be uncoordinated with each other.

[0118] In an embodiment, participants of said first communication system transmit data between themselves based on a first channel access pattern for each portion of different channels of said frequency band.

[0119] In an embodiment, participants of said second communication system transmit data between themselves based on a second channel access pattern for each portion of different channels of said frequency band.

[0120] In an embodiment, the first communication system and the second communication system may not communicate with each other.

[0121] A further embodiment provides a method for operating two communication systems in a frequency band used for wireless communication by a plurality of communication systems. The method comprises the following: for each portion of different channels of the frequency band used for communication, regardless of whether they or a subset of them are used by another communication system, transmitting data between participants of the first communication system based on a first channel access mode. In addition, the method comprises the following: for each portion of different channels of the frequency band used for communication, regardless of whether they or a subset of them are used by another communication system, transmitting data between participants of the second communication system based on a second channel access mode, wherein the first channel access mode and the second channel access mode are different.

[0122] Embodiments improve the performance of digital radio transmission systems by reducing mutual disturbances between participants of different and mutually uncoordinated wireless networks. According to embodiments, this effect is achieved by generating and using network-individual channel access patterns with certain characteristics (as described below). A particularly large benefit is the use of telegram splitting multiple access methods for data transmission.

[0123] The increased performance results either in a reduced packet error rate (at a given load) or in a higher utilization of the network (at a given packet error rate). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0124] Embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0125] Figure 1 shows a schematic circuit principle block diagram of a communication device having a first communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0126] Figure 2 A schematic circuit principle block diagram of a communication device of two mutually uncoordinated networks according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the two mutually uncoordinated networks each have a base station and four associated terminal devices.

[0127] Figure 3 The diagram shows the division of a frequency band into resources and the occupation of resources based on frequency hopping and time hopping of a frequency band defined by two different channel access modes according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0128] Figure 4 FIG. 4 shows a schematic circuit principle block diagram of a communication system having a base station and multiple terminal points according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0129] Figure 5 FIG. 4 shows a schematic circuit principle block diagram of a controller for generating a channel access mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0130] Figure 6 shows a schematic circuit principle block diagram of a controller for generating a channel access mode according to a further embodiment of the present invention,

[0131] Figure 7 FIG. 1 shows a schematic circuit block diagram of a part of a controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0132] Figure 8 A histogram of the variable Δfi based on Monte Carlo simulation is shown in schematic form,

[0133] Fig. 9 The diagram shows the occupation of resources based on frequency hopping and time hopping of a frequency band defined by a channel access mode and the projection of the channel access mode on the time axis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0134] Fig.10 The following diagram shows the resource elements of the channel access mode projected onto the time axis according to an embodiment of the present invention, thereby resulting in unused time slots.

[0135] Fig.11 The resource elements of the channel access mode projected onto the time axis with an activity rate A=1 / 4 according to one embodiment of the present invention are shown in the form of a schematic diagram.

[0136] Fig.12 The resource elements of a channel access pattern with an activity rate A=1 / 4 and a specified minimum distance between consecutive time slots of the channel access pattern projected onto a time axis according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown in the form of a schematic diagram,

[0137] Fig.13 1 shows the time distribution of the channel access mode 110 into regions with different activity rates A1, A2 and A3 according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0138] Fig.14 The occupancy of resources based on frequency hopping and time hopping of resources of a frequency band defined by a channel access mode according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in the form of a schematic diagram, wherein the channel access mode further includes resources that can be activated on demand,

[0139] Fig.15 The occupancy of resources based on frequency hopping and time hopping of a frequency band defined by a channel access mode according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in the form of a schematic diagram, wherein the frequency range of the frequency band that is often subject to large disturbances is not occupied by the channel access mode.

[0140] Fig.16 The occupancy of resources based on frequency hopping and time hopping of a frequency band defined by a channel access mode according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in the form of a schematic diagram, wherein resources in the frequency domain are bound,

[0141] Fig.17 A flow chart showing a method for operating a base station of a communication system for wireless communication in a frequency band used for communication by a plurality of communication systems according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0142] Fig.18 A flowchart showing a method for operating a terminal point of a communication system for wireless communication in a frequency band used for communication by a plurality of communication systems according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0143] Fig.19 A flow chart of a method for generating a channel access mode according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0144] Fig. 20 A flow chart showing a method for operating a communication system for wireless communication in a frequency band used for communication by a plurality of communication systems, and

[0145] Fig.21 A flow chart of a method for operating two communication systems in a frequency band used for wireless communications by a plurality of communication systems is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0146] In the subsequent description of the embodiments of the present invention, the same elements or elements having the same effects are provided with the same reference numerals in the drawings so that their descriptions can be interchanged.

[0147] Figure 1 A schematic circuit principle block diagram of a communication device 100 having a first communication system 102_1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0148] The first communication system 102_1 may include a base station 104_1 and one or more terminal points 106_1-106_n, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to one. Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, for illustration purposes, the first communication system 102_1 includes four endpoints 106_1-106_4, however, the first communication system 102_1 may also include 1, 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000, or even 100,000 endpoints.

[0149] The first communication system 102_1 may be configured to communicate wirelessly in a frequency band used for communication by multiple communication systems (e.g., a license-free and / or license-exempt frequency band such as an ISM band). In this case, the frequency band may include a bandwidth that is much larger than a receive filter of a participant of the first communication system 102_1 (e.g., at least twice as large).

[0150] like Figure 1 As shown in , the second communication system 102_2 and the third communication system 102_3 may be within the range of the first communication system 102_1 , for example, wherein the three communication systems 102_1 , 102_2 , and 102_3 may use the same frequency band for wireless communication.

[0151] In an embodiment, the first communication system 102_1 can be used to communicate using different frequencies or frequency channels in portions (e.g., in time slots) of a frequency band (e.g., the frequency bands into which the frequency band is divided) based on a channel access mode, regardless of whether these modes are used by another communication system (e.g., the second communication system 102_2 and / or the third communication system 102_3), wherein the channel access mode is different from another channel access mode based on which at least one other communication system of a plurality of other communication systems (e.g., the second communication system 102_2) accesses the frequency band.

[0152] Therefore, in Figure 1In the communication device 100 shown in FIG. 1 , signals of mutually uncoordinated communication systems (eg, the first communication system 102_1 and the second communication system 102_2 ) may be separated from each other through different channel access modes, thereby avoiding or reducing mutual disturbance caused by interference.

[0153] For example, participants of a first communication system 102_1, such as a base station 104_1 and several terminal points 106_1-106_4, may perform wireless communication between themselves based on a first channel access pattern (e.g., indicating a frequency hopping-based occupation (e.g., occupation of resources) of a frequency band that may be used for communication of the first communication system 102_1). Participants of a second communication system 102_2, such as a base station 104_2 and several terminal points 106_5-106_8, may perform wireless communication between themselves based on a second channel access pattern (e.g., indicating a frequency hopping-based occupation (e.g., occupation of resources) of a frequency band that may be used for communication of the second communication system 102_2), wherein the first channel access pattern and the second channel access pattern are different (e.g., the overlap in the used resources is less than 20%, and ideally there is no overlap).

[0154] As described above, the communication systems (eg, the first communication system 102_1 and the second communication system 102_2 ) are not coordinated with each other.

[0155] Mutually uncoordinated communication systems 102_1, 102_2, 102_3 refer to the fact that the communication systems do not exchange any information with each other (= between the communication systems) about the channel access mode used by each, or in other words, the communication systems are not aware of the channel access mode used by the other communication systems. Thus, the first communication system 102_1 does not know which channel access mode is used by another communication system (e.g. the second communication system 102_2).

[0156] Thus, the embodiment relates to a communication device 100 of wireless networks (or communication systems) 102_1, 102_2 that are not coordinated and possibly synchronized with each other, for transmitting data accessing frequency bands used by each other. In other words, there are at least two wireless networks 102_1, 102_2 that operate independently of each other. The two networks 102_1, 102_2 use the same frequency band.

[0157] In an embodiment, it is assumed that in each individual data transmission, only a (small) part of the frequency band is used, for example, a frequency channel or a partial frequency channel. For example, the frequency band can be divided into (partial) frequency channels, wherein a frequency channel is an actual subset of the entire frequency band. The sum of all available frequency channels constitutes the used frequency band. For example, in the telegram segmentation method, the transmission of messages (data packets) can be carried out continuously via a series of different frequency channels. In this case, the embodiment is particularly useful.

[0158] Typically, the networks (or communication systems) 102_1, 102_2 are arranged so that the transmitted signals of the participants of a network (e.g. the communication system 102_2) can also be received by the participants of other nearby networks (e.g. the communication system 102_1). There, they act as disturbing signals (interference) which in principle may significantly degrade the performance of the radio transmission system, e.g. Figure 2 shown.

[0159] In detail, Figure 2 The schematic diagram shows two uncoordinated networks 102_1 , 102_2 , each having a base station (BS 1) 104_1 , (BS 2) 104_2 , and each having four associated terminal devices 106_1 - 106_4 , 106_5 - 106_8 . In other words, Figure 2 An exemplary network topology of two networks 102_1, 102_2, each with a base station (BS 1) 104_1, (BS 2) 104_2 and four terminal devices 106_1-106_4, 106_5-106_8, is shown. The dashed arrow 108 exemplarily represents a potential disturbance signal, i.e. a radio participant can receive a transmission signal of a receiver from the respective other network as a disturbance signal. Depending on the situation, multiple networks may be within the range of mutual reception, so that a participant (base station or terminal device) may be subject to a large amount of disturbance from other networks.

[0160] If (as described above) the frequency band, which is a frequently used resource, is divided into individual non-overlapping frequency channels, the impact of disturbing signals can be significantly reduced. In mutually coordinated networks, a part of the frequency band (a set of frequency channels) can be exclusively allocated to each network, so that mutual disturbances (interference) can be minimized. In completely uncoordinated networks, this is not possible.

[0161] Therefore, in an embodiment, access to the physical conversion medium (ie, the physical radio channel) is achieved in each network such that at least one of the following conditions is met:

[0162] a) the channel access in the network, i.e. the frequency occupancy and time occupancy of the radio channel, has as little overlap in time and frequency as possible with the channel access in another network of the same standard (high degree of "orthogonality"),

[0163] b) channel access has a (pseudo) random character ("randomness") within a desired specification (e.g., average access frequency per access),

[0164] c) this is avoided as long as it is within the specification so that there are no longer sequences of identical (in time and frequency) channel accesses between networks ("avoidance of system overlap"),

[0165] d) using all frequency channels within the band as regularly as possible, with the aim of achieving the highest possible frequency diversity and, possibly, complying with official regulatory specifications ("uniform distribution of used frequency channels"),

[0166] e) Information about the frequency occupancy and time occupancy of a radio channel, for example for new participants joining the network, can be transmitted with the smallest possible signaling effort ("reduction of signaling information").

[0167] In short, in an embodiment, mutual disturbances between several networks (inter-network interference) are reduced by channel accessing mutually used frequency bands differently in frequency and time, preferably as "orthogonal" as possible and with a (pseudo) random character.

[0168] In the following, for illustration purposes, in addition to the division of the frequency band into discrete frequency channels (indexed c0, c1, c2, ...), it is assumed that a time discretization of accesses within the individual networks is to be performed. The associated time resources are called time slots and are Figure 3 The indices t0, t1, t2, ... are provided in . However, these two requirements (discretization in frequency and time) are not necessary prerequisites for the application of the embodiments.

[0169] In detail, Figure 3 The schematic diagram shows the division of a frequency band into resources and the occupation of resources based on frequency hopping and time hopping of a frequency band defined by two different channel access modes. Here, the ordinate describes the frequency channel index and the abscissa describes the time slot index.

[0170] For example, based on a first channel access mode 110_1, participants of a first communication system 102_1 may conduct wireless communications among themselves, the first channel access mode 110_1 indicating occupation of frequency hopping-based resources of a frequency band used for communication of the first communication system 102_1, wherein, based on a second channel access mode 110_2, participants of a second communication system 102_2 may conduct wireless communications among themselves, the second channel access mode 110_2 indicating occupation of frequency hopping-based resources of a frequency band available for communication of the second communication system 102_2, wherein the first channel access mode and the second channel access mode are different (e.g., containing less than 20% overlap, and ideally containing no overlap).

[0171] in other words, Figure 3An overview of all essentially available resources in frequency and time (schematic representation of frequency channels and time slots as well as exemplary channel access patterns) is shown in grid form, where individual resource elements in the first communication network 102_1 are determined by assigning frequency channel indices and time slot indices. For example, the resources that can be occupied by the first communication network 102_1 are resource elements denoted by reference numeral 112_1. The set of all resources that can be occupied within the communication network represents the first channel access pattern 110_1. For the first communication network 102_1, these are all resource elements denoted by reference numeral 112_1 and connected via arrows. Equivalently, the channel access pattern of another communication network, for example the second communication network 102_2, is Figure 3 exemplarily drawn in (all resource elements are denoted by reference numeral 112_2 and connected by arrows), which are not anchored in the same frequency grid and time grid as the first communication network 102_1 (the resource elements are transferred into frequency and time from the base grid of the first communication system 102_1).

[0172] It is important to distinguish between

[0173] • All substantially (maximally) available resource elements, i.e. the total number of all resource elements from which the channel access mode selects a suitable subset (e.g. Figure 3 All elements of the grid in

[0174] • All resource elements actually included in the channel access pattern (in Figure 3 , all resource elements provided with reference numeral 112_1), and

[0175] • The number of resource elements (of the channel access pattern) that can actually be occupied in the network for data transmission (eg with a small amount of data only every third resource element available can actually be used in the channel access pattern).

[0176] Therefore, the design of the channel access pattern also means determining the effectively usable resource provision of this communication network (or communication system).

[0177] Embodiments of base stations, terminal points and / or communication systems using a channel access pattern that meets at least one of the above criteria a) to e) for communication are described below. In addition, embodiments of the generation of such a channel access pattern are described below.

[0178] Figure 4 A schematic circuit block diagram of a communication system 102 having a base station 104 and a plurality of terminal points 106_1 - 106_4 according to an embodiment is shown.

[0179] like Figure 4As shown, according to an embodiment, the communication system 102 may include one base station and four terminal points 106_1-106_4. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, but the communication system may include one or more terminal points 106_1-106_n, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1. For example, the communication system may include 1, 10, 100, 1000, 10,000 or even 100,000 terminal points.

[0180] Figure 4 The participants of the communication system shown in FIG. 1 (= base station 104 and terminal points 106_1-106_4) are used to communicate with each other, and a frequency band (eg, an unlicensed and / or license-free frequency band such as an ISM band) is used for communication by a plurality of communication systems, with reference to Figures 1 to 3 As described above, in this case, the communication system 102 operates in an uncoordinated manner relative to other communication systems using the same frequency band.

[0181] In an embodiment, the base station 104 may be configured to send a signal 120, wherein the signal 120 includes information about a channel access mode 110, wherein the channel access mode indicates a frequency hopping-based and / or time hopping-based occupancy (e.g., of resources) of a frequency band usable for communication of the communication system 102 (e.g., a time sequence of frequency resources (e.g., distributed across the frequency band) usable for communication of the communication system), wherein the above information describes a state of a digital sequence generator for generating a digital sequence, wherein the digital sequence determines the channel access mode.

[0182] For example, the state of the digital sequence generator may be an internal state of the digital sequence generator, wherein the number of the digital sequence may be derived from the internal state of the digital sequence generator. Based on the internal state of the digital sequence generator, the internal state of the digital sequence generator of the internal state of a subsequent digital sequence generator may be identified, and the subsequent number of the digital sequence may also be derived therefrom. For example, the number of the digital sequence may be derived directly from the internal state of the digital sequence generator (e.g., state = number), e.g. in an implementation of the digital sequence generator as a counter, or via a mapping function, e.g. in an implementation of the digital sequence generator as a shift register, possibly with feedback.

[0183] In an embodiment, at least one of the terminal points 106_1-106_4 can be configured to receive a signal 120 having information about a channel access mode 110, and identify the channel access mode 110 based on the information about the channel access mode, wherein the information describes a state of a digital sequence generator for generating a digital sequence, wherein the digital sequence determines the channel access mode.

[0184] For example, the base station 104 and / or at least one of the terminal points 106_1-106_4 may be operable to pseudo-randomly identify a channel access pattern based on a state of a digital sequence generator, for example, by using a pseudo-random mapping function.

[0185] In addition, at least one of the base station 104 and / or the terminal points 106_1-106_4 may be configured to pseudo-randomly identify a channel access pattern based on individual information of the communication system (eg, inherent information of the communication system, such as a network-specific identifier).

[0186] An embodiment of the generation of the channel access pattern is described below. In this case, the channel access pattern is generated by the base station 104 and can be generated by the base station 104 based on the signal 120 with information via the channel access pattern. Figure 4 One (or all) of the terminal points 106_1-106_4 shown is identified, for example, by a controller (control device, control unit) 130, implemented in the base station 104 and / or in the terminal points 106_1-106_4. In this case, the provision of the channel access mode is done (exclusively) by the base station 104, while the terminal points 106_1-106_4 only "know" the channel access mode, i.e., they generate the same channel access mode according to the same method as the base station 104.

[0187] The following description assumes that the radio transmission system (or communication device) has several independent, uncoordinated communication networks whose participants are within the range of each other, so that the transmission signals from the participants of one network may be seen as disturbance signals by the participants of other networks. For the application of the embodiment, it is not necessary to exchange information (data or signaling information) between the different networks. Likewise, it does not matter whether the networks are synchronized with each other in time and / or frequency.

[0188] Additionally, it is assumed that within each network there is a coordination instance (hereinafter referred to as a "base station") which can send to the non-coordinated participants of the network (hereinafter referred to as "terminal devices" or "terminal points") information about the channel access pattern applied within the network. This information can be sent, for example, via regularly transmitted beacon signals, but it can also be transmitted to individual terminal devices or groups of terminal devices at irregular intervals or possibly in a dedicated manner.

[0189] Additionally, it is assumed that the entire frequency band available for transmission is divided into a plurality of individual frequency channels, each of which can be accessed individually or in subsets (groups of frequency channels).

[0190] Without limiting the generality and for the sake of better illustration, the following assumes that there exists a fixed, discrete time pattern within each network, with which channel access can be performed (see Figure 3 ). Channel access in the form of transmission of signals can be performed by terminal devices as well as by base stations. However, if, for example, no data or other information is to be transmitted, channel access need not be performed in the resources provided for this purpose in the channel access mode.

[0191] Figure 5 A schematic circuit block diagram of a controller 130 for generating a channel access mode according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0192] like Figure 5 As shown, the controller 130 may include a memory 132 , a periodic digital sequence generator 134 for generating a periodic digital sequence Z, a randomizer mapper 136 , and a frequency / time mapper 138 .

[0193] The memory (e.g., register) 132 may be configured to store a network-specific identifier ID 140, e.g., a (individually) non-changing bit sequence. The periodic digital sequence generator 134 may be configured to provide its state 142 or a number 142' of a periodic digital sequence derived from its state. The randomization mapper 136 may be configured to identify a pseudo-random number R 144 based on the state 142 of the digital sequence generator 134 or a number 142' of a periodic digital sequence derived therefrom and the network-specific identifier ID 140. The frequency / time mapper 138 may be configured to identify frequency information f 146 and time information t 148 based on the pseudo-random number R 144. For example, the frequency information f 146 and the time information t 148 may describe or define a frequency channel and a time slot (or a frequency channel index and a time slot index), and thus describe or define a resource of a channel access pattern.

[0194] For example, Figure 4 As shown, the controller 130 may be implemented in the base station 104 and / or in one or more of the endpoints 106_1 - 106_4 to calculate individual (or network-individual) channel access patterns used by the communication system 102 .

[0195] in other words, Figure 5 A basic structure for generating a channel access mode according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0196] The generation of channel access patterns is done iteratively, i.e., a call is made once for each channel access information generated. Figure 5 The block shown in FIG. 4 generates a channel access pattern with N channel accesses by calling N times.

[0197] The functions of some of the blocks will be described in detail below. The term "digital" is used. This is usually discrete information, which can exist in different forms (eg in decimal form, as a binary sequence, or similar).

[0198] Network-specific identifier "ID"

[0199] The network-specific identifier is a fixed number determined by an external instance (e.g. when configuring the network or coordinating base stations). Ideally, it varies from network to network. For example, it can be an unambiguous, sufficiently long base station ID, an unambiguous network ID, or a sufficiently long hash of them, respectively. This variable is fixed and is the only variable that does not vary from call to call in the arrangement shown.

[0200] Periodic number generator "Z"

[0201] The periodic number generator 134 generates a sequence of periodically repeated numbers Z with a periodicity P. It has an internal state S n , according to this internal state S n The next generated number and the next internal state S can be determined unambiguously n + 1 . The distinctive feature is that the entire periodic sequence at each time step can already be derived from the individual internal states (which exist at an arbitrary time step). For example, a simple embodiment is a modulo P counter, which periodically delivers the number sequence 0,1,2…(P-1). A further embodiment is a deterministic random number generator (pseudo-random number generator), for example, implemented in the form of a feedback shift register (LFSR). A third embodiment is a finite field with P elements (Galois field).

[0202] Randomize Mapper

[0203] The randomization mapper 136 generates an output number R from two input numbers ID and Z, namely R= map_rand (ID, Z), where map_rand Denotes the mapping function. In this case, the mapping has a character that is as random as possible, i.e., a mathematically related input sequence (consisting of ID, Z) generates an output sequence R that is itself as uncorrelated as possible.

[0204] An example of a randomized mapping is:

[0205] • Link two input numbers

[0206] • Apply a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) to the input quality ID, Z, to get the number R with a random machine character,

[0207] • Apply hash functions

[0208] • Application encryption, such as AES encryption, where the associated keys are known to all authorized participants, thus also representing a method for embedding Transport Layer Security (TLS).

[0209] According to the above, the sequence of elements of the number R is of pseudo-random nature. Each network should be different to avoid overlapping of channel access patterns.

[0210] Frequency / Time Mapper

[0211] The frequency / time mapper 138 maps the 2-tuple of frequency information (radio frequency f) and time information (access time t) to each input number R by mapping, that is, (f, t) = map_ft (R), where " map_ft " represents a mapping function. Although in principle the order of frequencies within the specified frequency band can be arbitrary, the points in time may appear in monotonically increasing form from call to call, because time is not allowed to "go back".

[0212] As an embodiment, of particular importance is the case where channel access is discrete in the time / frequency direction (as described above), i.e., in the form of discrete frequency channels and discrete time slots. In this case, the frequency / time mapper assigns to each input number R a 2-tuple of a frequency channel index fi and a time slot index ti, i.e., (fi, ti) = map_ft (R). Since "returning" in time is not allowed, the time slots are indexed in ascending order in time. Further discussion on the occupancy of time slots can be found in Section 3.

[0213] The sequence of 2-tuples (f, t) or (fi, ti) is based on the sequence of elements of R and defines the channel access pattern.

[0214] The exact implementation of the frequency / time mapper together with the probability function of the number R determines the access statistics with respect to the channel.

[0215] State Signaling and Predictability

[0216] Figure 5 The arrangement shown in generates a channel access pattern that depends both on a time-invariant network-specific identifier and on a state-dependent (and therefore time-variable) periodic number generator (periodicity P). By means of the network-specific identifier, it is ensured that networks with different network-specific identifiers always generate different sequences of R, even if their number generators are in the same state. This ensures that different networks do not generate any identical channel access patterns and, therefore, in the worst case, fall into a "continuous conflict" of channel access.

[0217] In order to identify the channel access mode used in the network, the terminal device requires a network-specific identifier and the corresponding state of the periodic number generator.

[0218] The terminal device has obtained the Network-specific identifier Advantageously, the same network-specific identifier is transmitted via beacon signals regularly emitted by the base station and made available to all authorized terminal devices. Alternatively, the network-specific identifier can also be made known to the terminal devices during initial configuration (with transmission), ie before the first operation in the network.

[0219] The states of the periodic digital generator can be transmitted in the regular beacon signal and / or in different dedicated state signaling resources. A digital generator with a periodicity of P has P internal states so that a bit is used for the transmission of the transmission of the respective state. Therefore, the amount of information (number of bits) transmitted by each state signaling can be controlled as needed by the selected periodicity of the number generator.

[0220] The information transmitted for the status signaling may be transmitted in the form of several fragments of partial information, wherein the transmission may be performed at different frequencies. Thus, as an embodiment of the case where the periodic digital generator (Z) is a counter, the higher value bits (most significant bits (MSBs)) of the counter may be transmitted separately from the lower value bits (least significant bits (LSBs)) and transmitted at different frequencies (e.g., lower frequencies). Even if it is not a counter, the entire status information may be transmitted in the form of several fragments of partial status information with different transmission frequencies.

[0221] By virtue of the periodicity of the digital generator, a terminal device which knows the state of the digital generator at least at one point in time can determine the entire channel access pattern for any point in time / time slot in the future. This enables a terminal device which is in an energy-saving idle state to deactivate, for example, a transmitting / receiving unit and, when subsequently activating the transmitting / receiving unit, to predetermine the then valid part of the channel access pattern based on the most recent previously known state. Thus, the transmission of the state information by the base station can be carried out at relatively large time intervals.

[0222] In summary, the method described herein has the following advantages: A relatively large state space of (pseudo-random) numbers R is covered by the combination of a network-specific identifier and a periodic number generator. This prevents the channel access pattern of networks with different network-specific identifiers from being identical, which can minimize systematic conflicts of channel access of different mutually uncoordinated networks. This proves to be particularly advantageous for the Telegram Splitting Multiple Access (TSMA) method.

[0223] The advantageous features of the frequency / time mapper are discussed in more detail in the following sections.

[0224] Further embodiments of the controller

[0225] according to Figure 5 As described above, a periodic number generator 134 is required. In the following embodiment, it is replaced as follows.

[0226] Actual wireless networks usually operate using periodically transmitted beacon signals. In this case, each beacon transmission can be equipped with a counter corresponding to a beacon sequence index. Here, this beacon sequence index is referred to as a "beacon index."

[0227] The slots in a slot-based system are set with a slot index counter (incrementing in the time direction) (see Figure 3 ) is also common practice. This is referred to herein as "slot indexing". The beacon index is reset to zero at certain time intervals specified in the system to make it periodic. The same applies to the slot index (e.g., restarting from zero after a beacon is transmitted).

[0228] Figure 6 A schematic circuit block diagram of a controller 130 for generating a channel access mode according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0229] The controller 130 may include a memory 132 , a first buffer 135_1 , a second buffer 135_2 , a randomizer mapper 136 , and a frequency / time mapper 138 .

[0230] The memory (e.g., register) 132 may be configured to store a network-specific identifier ID 140, e.g., an invariant (individual) bit sequence. The first buffer (e.g., register) 135_1 may be configured to store a periodic beacon index Z1 143_1. The second buffer (e.g., register) 135_2 may be configured to store a periodic time slot index Z2 143_2. The randomization mapper 136 may be configured to identify a pseudo-random number R 144 based on the periodic beacon index Z1 143_1, the periodic time slot index Z2 143_2, and the network-specific identifier ID 140. Based on the pseudo-random number R 144, the frequency / time mapper 138 may be configured to identify frequency information f 146 and time information t 148. For example, the frequency information f 146 and the time information t 148 may describe or define a frequency channel and a time slot (or a frequency channel index and a time slot index), and thus describe or define a resource of a frequency channel access pattern.

[0231] in other words, Figure 6 A modified basic structure for generating a channel access pattern with beacon index and slot index is shown. Figure 6 An embodiment is shown in which Figure 5Compared to the embodiment shown in , the periodic number generator (output Z) 134 is replaced by two blocks "periodic beacon index" (output Z1) 135_1 and "periodic time slot index" (output Z2) 135_2. The functionality of all other blocks remains unchanged (the randomizer mapper now has three inputs).

[0232] Figure 5 and Figure 6 The controller 130 shown in FIG. 1 may generate a channel access pattern for a network entity, including at least one of the following features:

[0233] • The channel access patterns contain as few overlapping partial sequences as possible,

[0234] • Provide a large number of channel access modes (for example, in areas with high network density),

[0235] • Design channel access patterns so that they are highly periodic,

[0236] • a channel access pattern that (if required) results in the use of an even distribution of available frequency channels,

[0237] • signaling of the application mode through coordinated instances with as little signaling information as possible, and

[0238] • When signalling of channel access is received once or completely, the terminal device may already determine the content of the access mode at any future time (this enables the terminal device, when switched on again, to introduce a longer reception pause and determine a valid channel access mode based on information received before the reception pause, e.g. for energy saving reasons).

[0239] In order to simplify the following illustration, it is assumed that the frequency range (or frequency band) is divided into discrete frequency channels and transmission is performed according to the TSMA method.

[0240] Mobile radio channels usually include frequency-dependent signal attenuations. If a data packet is transmitted in the form of several partial data packets according to the TSMA method and if the underlying mobile radio channel is not known in the transmitter, the transmitted bit error rate can be reduced on average or even minimized by transmitting the individual partial data packets in such a way that they are distributed as far as possible over the entire frequency domain (using frequency diversity).

[0241] For this reason, it may be advantageous to ensure that the frequency channels on which the partial data packets are transmitted have a certain (minimum) distance from each other in the frequency domain (especially if a data packet consists of only a few partial data packets).

[0242] Since the channel access pattern significantly determines the frequency hopping behavior in TSMA within the network, suitable methods can be used to ensure that there is a minimum distance between two consecutive frequency channels of the channel access pattern.

[0243] Therefore, in an embodiment, the frequency / time mapper 138 (see Figure 5 or Figure 6 ) may be configured to determine frequency information f and time information t based on a pseudo-random number R, wherein the frequency information f indicates a distance between two consecutive frequency channels.

[0244] therefore, Figure 5 or Figure 6 The frequency / time mapper 138 in φt determines the absolute frequency channel independently between each access based on the pseudo-random number R and may alternatively also determine the distance between two consecutive frequency channels.

[0245] Figure 7 FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a portion of the controller 130 according to one embodiment. Figure 7 As can be seen, the frequency / time mapper 138 (see Figure 5 or Figure 6 ) may be configured to determine frequency information and time information based on a pseudo-random number R, wherein the frequency information indicates a distance Δfi between two consecutive frequency channels n .

[0246] from Figure 7 It can also be seen that the controller 130 may include a mapper 150 configured to convert the distance Δfi between two consecutive frequency channels into n Mapped onto a frequency channel index fi, for example, via a combiner (eg, adder) 152 and a delay element 154.

[0247] in other words, Figure 7 The generation of frequency hops with minimum and / or maximum frequency hop widths is shown. Figure 7 Shows Figure 5 and Figure 6 The frequency / time mapper 138 in is now replaced by a frequency difference / time mapper 138 which no longer provides absolute frequency channel indices at its immediate output, but frequency channel index differences.

[0248] By using a suitable mapping function (∆fi, t) = map_∆ft(R) in the frequency difference / time mapper, it can be ensured that only the frequency channel index jumps ∆fi n = fi n + 1 -fi n(from channel access n to channel access n+1) is implemented, for example, in the desired range, for example, for ∆fi>0, ∆fimax≥∆fi≥∆fimin, and for ∆fi<0, ∆fimax≥(−∆fi)≥∆fimin. There are many ways to implement such restrictions, which are not the subject of the present invention. An exemplary implementation in the form of corresponding program code for MATLAB can be found in the Appendix (for generating Figure 8 ).

[0249] Figure 8 A histogram based on a Monte Carlo simulation is shown in schematic form, which relates to the variable Δfi (the difference in frequency channel index Δfi between temporally adjacent channel accesses).

[0250] In the example shown, 72 frequency channels are available. The parameter relevant to the simulation results is Δfi min = 21, Δfi max = 51, that is, the distance between two consecutive accesses in the channel access mode is between 21 and 51 frequency channels.

[0251] By making appropriate modifications to the exemplary program code, which modifications are easy for those skilled in the art, for Δfi, the Figure 8 Other distribution forms than those shown in (e.g., from -Δfi min to - ∆fi max , or + ∆fi min to + ∆fi max ).

[0252] In highly utilized systems, all available time slots can be included in the channel access pattern. In less utilized systems, not every time slot can be used for channel access. The following figure illustrates this.

[0253] According to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 9 The schematic diagram shows the frequency-hopping-based and time-hopping-based occupation of resources 112 of a frequency band defined by a channel access pattern 110 and the projection of the channel access pattern 110 onto a time axis. The ordinate represents the frequency channel index and the abscissa represents the time slot index.

[0254] In other words, Fig. 9 As shown, Fig. 9 The channel access pattern 110 (resource elements 112 ) is exemplarily shown in the frequency and time dimensions at the top thereof, and its projection in the time dimension is shown at the bottom thereof. It can be seen that not every time slot is part of the channel access pattern 110 .

[0255] Therefore, in order to generate the pseudo-random channel access pattern 110, in addition to the dimension frequency (in the form of frequency channel index) in the frequency channel index, the dimension time (in the form of time slot index) can also be used. Therefore, when generating the channel access pattern, the average activity rate A can be specified. Here, this activity rate is defined as the average ratio of the time slots used for channel access to the maximum available time slots. Therefore, when every time slot is used, the activity rate A is 1 (100%). However, if on average every third time slot is included in the channel access pattern, the average activity rate A=1 / 3.

[0256] Hence, the activity rate determines the (temporal) density of the resources 112 provided in the channel access pattern 110 .

[0257] In an embodiment, the time slot selected for channel access at a specified activity rate may be determined in a pseudo-random manner from an appropriate portion of a pseudo-random number R (see Figure 5 or Figure 6 ). Example

[0258] In each step n, the associated pseudo-random number R n The integer r is obtained from n , which can be done using r min and r max The value between min ≤r n ≤r max After each time slot is active in the channel access mode 110, several r n time slots, therefore, they are not used for channel access. Fig.10 This process is shown exemplarily in .

[0259] In detail, according to one embodiment, Fig.10 Schematically shown are resource elements 112 of a channel access pattern 110 projected onto a time access, resulting in unused time slots.

[0260] in other words, Fig.10 An exemplary sequence of used and unused time slots according to an embodiment is shown.

[0261] If a number r is derived from a number R such that the elements of r are in r min and r max (equal distribution) occur with equal frequency, the following activity rates are obtained:

[0262] A=2 / (2+r min + r max ).

[0263] An advantage of the method presented in the above embodiments is that it is possible to specify minimum and maximum distances between time slots active in the channel access mode 110. The specified minimum distance is particularly advantageous for battery-powered devices, in which case a transmission pause of a certain minimum length between two consecutive transmissions (recovery phase) prolongs the battery life.

[0264] A comparable approach may be specified, where the minimum number of active time slots directly follow each other. Example

[0265] In the embodiment according to Example 1, it can happen that longer regions locally have a significantly higher or lower activity rate than expected. This effect is avoided in the following examples.

[0266] In this case, groups of consecutive time slots are periodically specified, in which an active time slot of the channel access mode is respectively placed. Fig.11 In the example, the case where the activity rate is 1 / 4 (25%) is shown here.

[0267] In detail, Fig.11 Schematically, resource elements 112 of a channel access pattern 110 projected onto a time access with an activity rate A=1 / 4 according to an embodiment are shown.

[0268] in other words, Fig.11 An exemplary sequence of used and unused time slots is shown according to one embodiment.

[0269] from Fig.11 As can be seen from the diagram, the time slots can be grouped into clusters 114 (in Fig.11 1 has a length of 4 in the example of 114). Exactly one time slot of the channel access pattern 110 is placed into each cluster 114. The position of the time slots included in the channel access pattern 110 within the cluster 114 may be determined by the pseudo-random number R n The displacement v obtained from n is determined and can take an integer between 0 and (cluster length - 1).

[0270] If a minimum distance between two consecutive time slots of the channel access pattern 110 is to be ensured, non-occupiable areas can be introduced between the clusters 114. Fig.12 As shown, they can consist of one or several time slots.

[0271] In detail, according to the embodiment, Fig.12 A resource element 112 is schematically shown, which is projected onto a time access of a channel access pattern 110 with an activity rate A=1 / 4 and a specified minimum distance between consecutive time slots of the channel access pattern 110.

[0272] in other words, Fig.12 An exemplary sequence of used and unused time slots with unoccupiable time slots according to an embodiment is shown.

[0273] from Fig.12 As can be seen in the figure, since non-time slots cannot be occupied, the displacement variable v n The allowed range is reduced to a value range from 0 to (cluster length – 1 – length of the unoccupiable region).

[0274] Depending on the activity rate selected, clusters 114 may have to include different lengths in order to achieve the desired activity rate. n The value range of will be based on the corresponding cluster length. For example, to set the activity rate to 40%, clusters of length 2 and clusters of length 3 can be used alternately.

[0275] Data packets that are to arrive at the receiver as quickly as possible (short latency) require channel accesses that follow each other as closely as possible during transmission, i.e., a relatively high activity rate in the channel access mode.

[0276] On the other hand, for packets where transmission reliability (e.g. high robustness to external perturbations) is crucial, a distribution of longer transmissions may be advantageous, i.e. a relatively low activity rate in the channel access pattern may be advantageous. The same operation can be applied to devices that require temporally equal energy extraction from the battery (temporally extended transmission activity).

[0277] As mentioned above, the activity rate, i.e. the frequency of channel access, can be specified by appropriate measures. In order to meet different requirements in the network, the channel access pattern can be designed so that it includes areas with different activity rates, if any. This is Fig.13 For example, depending on individual needs, the terminal devices can then transmit in an area suitable for them.

[0278] In detail, according to the embodiment, Fig.13 The temporal distribution of the channel access pattern 110 into regions of different activity rates A1 , A2 and A3 is shown.

[0279] in other words, Fig.13 An example of a channel access pattern having three areas with different activity rates within the channel access pattern 110 is shown.

[0280] In the network (or communication system) 102, at different times, there may be different usage scenarios. As mentioned above, the resource provision for active usage of this network may be determined by the design of the channel access pattern 110, ie its activity rate or average time density.

[0281] Providing a large amount of resource provisioning (high activity rate) at a lower actual utilization rate may be disadvantageous, especially for battery-powered devices. An example of this is a battery-powered base station (e.g., possibly of a PAN network in so-called repeater operation), which operates the receiver during all active resource periods in channel access mode and thus uses energy.

[0282] Therefore, it may be useful to dynamically adjust the average activity rate, i.e. the time density of the resources provided by the channel access pattern 110, relative to the existing utilization conditions. If the activity rate of the channel access pattern 110 is changed, this is signaled accordingly to the participants in the network, which may result in the possible use of beacon signals (or dedicated signaling resources), for example.

[0283] If the terminal device 106 is in an extended idle state (energy saving mode), it may not receive signaling information about a possibly changing channel access mode transmitted by the base station 104 during the idle state. In this case, it is useful to provide a minimum amount of (basic) resources for the channel access mode 110, which are available at any time without special signaling, and additional provision of resources may be added depending on the utilization and subject to appropriate signaling.

[0284] In the above sense, for example, Fig.14 As shown, the resources additionally added to the channel access pattern may be arranged in time after the basic resources, or they may be staggered with the time / frequency grid.

[0285] In detail, according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig.14 The schematic diagram shows the frequency-hopping and time-hopping-based occupation of resources 112 of a frequency band defined by a channel access pattern 110, wherein the channel access pattern 110 additionally includes resources 112* that can be activated on demand. The ordinate represents the frequency channel index and the abscissa represents the time slot index.

[0286] in other words, Fig.14 Examples of basic and additional resources for interleaving are shown.

[0287] In some unlicensed frequency bands, users may decide for themselves which frequency range they use within the band without regulatory restrictions. This may lead to the fact that some areas of the available frequency band are occupied by more external users than others and are therefore subject to greater disturbances.

[0288] If the base station 104 determines such a medium-term or long-term asymmetric utilization of the frequency band (e.g. by signal-to-interference power estimation for each channel based on received signals), then the range above the average occupancy of the frequency band can be avoided for use by the own network by not including the relevant frequency channels in the frequency access pattern. This will be taken into account in the frequency / time mapper (see Figure 5 or Figure 6 ) and appropriately signaled to all network participants.

[0289] For example, the excluded frequency channel groups may be described by respective starting and ending frequency channel indices or by a starting frequency channel index followed by a channel number.

[0290] Fig.15 The occupancy of resources 112 based on frequency hopping and time hopping of a frequency band defined by a channel access pattern 110 is schematically shown, wherein a frequency domain 115 of the frequency band that is often disturbed does not occupy a large amount of resources according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the ordinate describes the frequency channel index, and the abscissa describes the time slot index.

[0291] from Fig.15 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , when generating the channel access pattern 110 , the frequency domain 115 that is often subject to greater disturbances (eg, heavily occupied by external networks) may be considered. Therefore, the frequency channels of this frequency domain 115 are not included in the channel access pattern 110 .

[0292] in other words, Fig.15 An example of excluding severely disturbed frequency channels from the channel access pattern is shown.

[0293] In order to avoid the frequency domain that is easily disturbed when transmitting data in its own network, other networks have a certain utilization balance on the entire frequency band, while other networks are not subject to any other disturbance in the frequency domain that has been heavily utilized.

[0294] Depending on the hardware and software used, it is possible for the base station 104 to receive on several frequency channels simultaneously (frequency channel bonding). In this case, especially in systems with more frequent use, such as Fig.16 As shown, it is advantageous to increase the number of resource elements provided within the network in the frequency dimension accordingly and to include several frequency channels within a time slot in the channel access pattern.

[0295] In detail, Fig.16 The schematic diagram shows the occupation of resources 112 based on frequency hopping and time hopping of a frequency band defined by a channel access pattern 110, wherein, according to an embodiment, the resources 112 are bundled in the frequency domain. Here, the ordinate describes the frequency channel index and the abscissa describes the time slot index.

[0296] in other words, Fig.16 An exemplary diagram of a channel access mode 110 is shown, in which three adjacent frequency channels are respectively bound into a resource cluster. In this case, Fig.16 The bundling of three frequency channels is shown exemplarily. Each group of resource elements of a time slot may be referred to as a "resource cluster." The channel access pattern 110 may be extended by information about the numbers of the frequency channels constituting the resource cluster.

[0297] In further embodiments, frequency channels grouped into resource clusters do not necessarily have to be immediately adjacent.

[0298] Fig.17 A method 200 for operating a base station of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the communication system performs wireless communication in a frequency band used for communication by a plurality of communication systems. The method 200 comprises a step 202 of sending a signal, wherein the signal comprises information about a channel access mode, wherein the channel access mode indicates a frequency hopping-based and / or time hopping-based occupancy of a frequency band available for communication by the communication system, wherein the information describes a state of a digital sequence generator for generating a digital sequence, or wherein the information describes a number of a digital sequence, wherein the digital sequence determines the channel access mode.

[0299] Fig.18 A method 210 for operating a terminal point of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the communication system performs wireless communication in a frequency band used for communication by a plurality of communication systems. The method 210 comprises a step 212 of receiving a signal, wherein the signal comprises information about a channel access mode, wherein the channel access mode indicates a frequency hopping-based and / or time hopping-based occupancy of a frequency band available for communication by the communication system. In addition, the method 210 comprises a step 214 of identifying a channel access mode based on the information about the channel access mode, wherein the information describes a state of a digital sequence generator for generating a digital sequence, or wherein the information describes a number of a digital sequence, wherein the digital sequence determines the channel access mode.

[0300] Fig.19 A method 300 for generating a channel access pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The method 300 comprises a step 302 of generating a channel access pattern, wherein the channel access pattern indicates a frequency hopping-based and / or time hopping-based occupation of a frequency band that can be used for communication of a communication system, wherein the communication system wirelessly communicates in a frequency band that is used for communication by a plurality of communication systems, wherein the channel access pattern is generated according to a state of a digital sequence generator for generating a digital sequence or a number of a digital sequence.

[0301] Fig. 20 A method 400 for operating a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the communication system is configured to perform wireless communication in a frequency band used for communication by a plurality of communication systems. The method 400 comprises a step 402 of transmitting data between participants of each part of the communication system in different channels of the frequency band based on a channel access mode, regardless of whether they or a subset of them are used by another communication system, wherein the channel access mode is different from another channel access mode based on which at least one other communication system of the plurality of other communication systems accesses the frequency band.

[0302] Fig.21 A method 500 for operating two communication systems in a frequency band for wireless communication by a plurality of communication systems is shown. The method 500 includes a step 502 of transmitting data between participants of a first communication system based on each portion of a first channel access pattern in different channels of the frequency band, regardless of whether they or a subset of them are used by another communication system. In addition, the method includes a step 504 of transmitting data between participants of a second communication system based on each portion of a second channel access pattern in different channels of the frequency band, regardless of whether they or a subset of them are used by another communication system, wherein the first channel access pattern and the second channel access pattern are different.

[0303] Embodiments relate to generation and application of network individual channel access patterns, including at least one of the following features:

[0304] • The channel access patterns contain as few overlapping partial sequences as possible,

[0305] • Provide a large number of channel access modes (for example, in areas with high network density),

[0306] • Design channel access patterns so that they are highly periodic,

[0307] • a channel access pattern that (if required) results in the use of an even distribution of available frequency channels,

[0308] • signaling of the application mode through coordinated instances with as little signaling information as possible, and

[0309] • When signalling of channel access is received once or completely, the terminal device may already determine the content of the access mode at any future time (this enables the terminal device, when switched on again, to introduce a longer reception pause and determine a valid channel access mode based on information received before the reception pause, e.g. for energy saving reasons).

[0310] Embodiments are used in a system for wireless transmission of data from a terminal device to a base station and from one / several base stations to a terminal device. For example, the system may be a personal area network (PAN) or a low power wide area network (LPWAN), wherein the terminal device may be, for example, a battery-powered sensor (sensor node).

[0311] Embodiments relate to application cases in which multiple mutually uncoordinated radio-based networks are operated in a common frequency band, wherein participants of the different networks are in mutual reception range and their signals are therefore a source of potential mutual disturbance (see Figure 2 ).

[0312] As described above, the embodiments described herein can be used to transmit data between participants of a communication system based on a telegram splitting method. In the telegram splitting method, data, such as a telegram or a data packet, is divided into a plurality of sub-packets (or partial data packets or partial packets), and the sub-packets are transmitted by using a time hopping pattern and / or a frequency hopping pattern, which are distributed in time and / or frequency, from one participant of the communication system to another participant (e.g., from a base station to a terminal point, or from a terminal point to a base station), wherein the participant receiving the sub-packets rejoins (or merges) them to obtain a data packet. Each sub-packet contains only a portion of the data packet. In addition, the data packet can be channel coded so that not all sub-packets are required to decode the data packet without error, but only a portion of the sub-packets.

[0313] In the transmission of data based on the telegram segmentation method, sub-data packets can be transmitted, distributed among a subset (eg, selection) of available resources in a network-specific channel access mode. For example, one sub-data packet can be transmitted per resource.

[0314] In other words, the exemplary embodiments can advantageously be used in systems in which messages (data packets) are transmitted in several partial data packets (so-called telegram splitting, see DE 10 2011 082 098).

[0315] Although certain aspects have been described in the context of an apparatus, it should be understood that the aspects also represent a description of a corresponding method, and therefore, a block or structural component of an apparatus should also be understood as a corresponding method step or as a feature of a method step. By analogy, aspects that have been described in the context of a method step or as a method step also represent a description of a corresponding block or detail or feature of a corresponding apparatus. Some or all of the method steps may be performed while using a hardware device such as a microprocessor, a programmable computer, or an electronic circuit. In some embodiments, some or several of the most important method steps may be performed by such a device.

[0316] Depending on the specific implementation requirements, embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in hardware or software. When using a digital storage medium, such as a floppy disk, DVD, Blu-ray disc, CD, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM or flash memory, the implementation can be realized, a hard disk or any other storage medium with electronically readable control signals stored thereon, a magnetic or optical memory and a programmable computer system can cooperate or cooperate so as to perform the corresponding method. This is why the digital storage medium can be computer-readable.

[0317] Some embodiments according to the invention comprise a data carrier comprising electronically readable control signals, which are capable of cooperating with a programmable computer system, such that the system performs one of the methods described herein.

[0318] Generally, embodiments of the present invention can be implemented as a computer program product with a program code, the program code being operative for performing one of the methods when the computer program product runs on a computer.

[0319] For example, the program code can also be stored on a machine-readable carrier.

[0320] A further embodiment comprises the computer program for performing any of the methods described herein, stored on a machine readable carrier.

[0321] In other words, an embodiment of the inventive method is, therefore, a computer program having a program code for performing any of the methods described herein, when the computer program runs on a computer.

[0322] Therefore, a further embodiment of the inventive method is a data carrier (or a digital storage medium or a computer-readable medium) on which is recorded the computer program for performing any of the methods described herein. The data carrier, the digital storage medium or the recorded medium are generally tangible or non-volatile.

[0323] Therefore, a further embodiment of the inventive method is a data stream or a sequence of signals representing the computer program for performing any of the methods described herein.The data stream or the sequence of signals may be configured to be sent, for example, via a data communication link, for example via the Internet.

[0324] A further embodiment comprises a processing unit, for example a computer or a programmable logic device, configured or adapted to perform any of the methods described herein.

[0325] A further embodiment comprises a computer having installed thereon the computer program for performing any of the methods described herein.

[0326] A further embodiment according to the invention comprises a device or system configured to send a computer program for performing at least one of the methods described herein to a receiver. The sending may be electronic or optical, for example. The receiver may be, for example, a computer, a mobile device, a storage device or the like. The device or system may comprise, for example, a file server for sending the computer program to the receiver.

[0327] In some embodiments, a programmable logic device (e.g., a field programmable gate array, FPGA) may be used to perform some or all of the functions of the methods described herein. In some embodiments, a field programmable gate array may collaborate with a microprocessor to perform any of the methods described herein. Typically, in some embodiments, the method is performed by any hardware device. The hardware device may be any general-purpose hardware, such as a computer processor (CPU), or may be hardware specific to the method, such as an ASIC.

[0328] For example, the apparatus described herein may be implemented using a hardware device, or using a computer, or using a combination of a hardware device and a computer.

[0329] The apparatus described herein or any component of an apparatus described herein may be implemented at least partly in hardware and / or software (computer program).

[0330] For example, the methods described herein may be implemented using a hardware device or using a computer or using a combination of a hardware device and a computer.

[0331] The methods described herein or any component of the methods described herein may be implemented at least in part by execution and / or software (computer program).

[0332] The above-described embodiments represent only illustrations of the principles of the present invention. It should be understood that other persons skilled in the art will appreciate modifications and variations of the arrangements and details described herein. This is why the present invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by the specific details provided herein through the description and discussion of the embodiments.

[0333] References

[0334] [1] DE 10 2011 082 098 B4

[0335] [2] DE 10 2017 206 236

[0336] Abbreviations

[0337] CRC: Cyclic Redundancy Check

[0338] LPWAN: Low Power Wide Area Network

[0339] LSB: Least Significant Bit

[0340] MSB: Most Significant Bit

[0341] PAN: Personal Area Network

[0342] TLS: Transport Layer Security

[0343] TSMA: Telegraph Splitting Multiple Access

[0344] appendix

[0345] MATLAB code for part 2:

[0346] N_freq=72;

[0347] N_time=1500000;

[0348] N_low=21;

[0349] N_high=51;

[0350] rand('state',0);

[0351] fc=zeros(1,N_time);

[0352] R_f=randint(1,10*N_time,2*N_high+1);

[0353] R_f=R_f-N_high;

[0354] idx=find(R_f>-N_low&R_f <N_low);

[0355] R_f(idx)=[];

[0356] R_f=R_f(1:N_time);

[0357] fc(1)=30;

[0358] for p=1:N_time-1;

[0359] fc(p+1)=mod(fc(p)+R_f(p),N_freq); % Frequency channel index

[0360] end

[0361] Delt_fc1 = (fc(2:end)-fc(1:end-1));% Index difference of consecutive accesses

[0362] figure(1); hist(Delt_fc1,-72:72);

[0363] h=gca; set(h,'XLim', [-72 72]);

[0364] xlabel('\Deltafi'); ylabel('number of results');

[0365] title('histogram of \Deltafi');

Claims

1. A base station (104) of a communication system (102), wherein: The communication system (102) performs wireless communication in a frequency band used for communication performed by a plurality of communication systems. The base station (104) is configured to send a signal (120), wherein the signal (120) includes information about a channel access mode (110), wherein the channel access mode (110) indicates a frequency hopping-based and / or time hopping-based occupation of the frequency band that can be used for communication of the communication system, wherein the information describes a state (142) of a digital sequence generator (134) for generating a digital sequence, or wherein the information describes a number (143_1, 143_2) of a digital sequence, wherein the digital sequence determines the channel access mode (110), wherein the base station (104) is configured to communicate with participants of the communication system by using a real subset of resources determined by the channel access pattern; The base station (104) is configured to identify the pseudo-random number R according to: - the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134), or the number (142') of the digital sequence derived from the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134), or the number (143_1, 143_2) of the digital sequence, and - individual information of the communication system (102), Therein, the pseudo-random number R determines the channel access mode (110).

2. The base station (104) according to claim 1, in, The channel access mode is different from another channel access mode based on which at least one other communication system among a plurality of other communication systems accesses the frequency band.

3. The base station (104) according to claim 1, in, The base station (104) is configured to operate uncoordinated with respect to other communication systems.

4. The base station (104) according to claim 1, in, The base station (104) is configured to transmit the signal (120) having the information about the channel access mode (110) a plurality of times, The information about the channel access mode (110) transmitted with the successive transmissions of the signal (120) describes different states (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) or different numbers (143_1, 143_2) of the digital sequences.

5. The base station (104) according to claim 4, in, The information transmitted with the emission of the signal (120) describes only a subset of the state (142) of the digital sequence generator or a subset of the numbers (143_1, 143_2) of the digital sequences.

6. The base station (104) according to claim 1, wherein the information about the channel access mode (110) is a state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) or information derived therefrom, Or wherein the information about the channel access mode (110) is the number (143_1, 143_2) of the digital sequence or information derived therefrom.

7. The base station (104) according to claim 1, in, The base station (104) is configured to identify the channel access mode (110) based on a state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) or a number (142') of the digital sequence derived from the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134).

8. The base station (104) according to claim 7, in, a state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) subsequent to the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) being identifiable based on the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134), The base station (104) is configured to identify the channel access mode (110) based on a subsequent state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) or a subsequent number (142') of the digital sequence derived therefrom.

9. The base station (104) according to claim 1, in, The base station (104) is configured to identify the channel access mode (110) based on individual information of the communication system (102).

10. The base station (104) according to claim 9, in, The individual information of the communication system (102) is inherent information of the communication system (102).

11. The base station (104) according to claim 10, in, The inherent information of the communication system (102) is a network-specific identifier (140).

12. The base station (104) according to claim 11, in, The network-specific identifier is an identification of the communication system (102).

13. The base station (104) according to claim 1, in, The base station (104) is configured to map the following to the time information (148) and the frequency information (146) by using a mapping function: - the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) or the number (142') of the digital sequence derived from the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134), or the number (143_1, 143_2) of the digital sequence, and - individual information of the communication system (102), The time information (148) and the frequency information (146) describe resources (112) of the channel access pattern (110).

14. The base station (104) according to claim 13, in, The time information (148) describes a time slot or a time slot index.

15. The base station (104) according to claim 13 in, When mapping the time information (148), the mapping function takes into account the activity rate of the communication system (102), wherein the activity rate is specified prior to execution, or wherein the signal (120) or another signal sent by the base station (104) includes information about the activity rate.

16. The base station (104) according to claim 15, in, When mapped onto the time information (148), the mapping function takes into account different activity rates of the communication system (102), such that the channel access pattern (110) includes regions having different activity rates, Therein, the signal (120) or the further signal comprises information about the activity rate.

17. The base station (104) according to claim 15, in, The base station (104) is configured to dynamically adapt the activity rate based on current or predicted usage of the communication system (102).

18. The base station (104) according to claim 14, in, When mapping onto the time information (148), the mapping function adheres to a specified minimum distance between consecutive time slots or time slot indices of the channel access pattern (110).

19. The base station (104) according to claim 13, in, The frequency information (146) describes a frequency channel or a frequency channel index.

20. The base station (104) according to claim 13, in, The frequency information (146) describes the distance between consecutive frequency channels or frequency channel indices of the channel access pattern (110).

21. The base station (104) according to claim 19, in, When mapping onto the frequency information (146), the mapping function complies with a specified minimum distance between consecutive frequency channels or frequency channel indices of the channel access pattern (110).

22. The base station (104) according to claim 13, in, When mapping onto the frequency information (146), the mapping function takes into account the interference-prone frequency channels or the range of interference-prone frequency channels of the frequency band, so that the interference-prone frequency channels or the range of interference-prone frequency channels are not or less occupied by the channel access mode (110).

23. The base station (104) according to claim 13, in, The frequency information (146) describes a bundling of frequency resources of a frequency band including at least two directly adjacent or spaced-apart frequency channels or frequency channel indices.

24. The base station (104) according to claim 1, in, The base station (104) is configured to identify a resource (112) of the channel access pattern (110) based on a pseudo-random number R.

25. The base station (104) of claim 1, The signal (120) is a beacon signal.

26. The base station (104) of claim 1, in, The digital sequence generator (134) is a periodic digital sequence generator for generating a periodic digital sequence.

27. The base station (104) of claim 1, in, The digital sequence generator (134) is a deterministic random number generator for generating a pseudo-random digital sequence.

28. The base station (104) of claim 1, in, The state (142) of the digital sequence generator is a periodic beacon index and / or a periodic time slot index, Or wherein the number (142') derived from the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) is a periodic beacon index and / or a periodic time slot index.

29. The base station (104) of claim 1, in, The numbers (143_1, 143_2) of the digital sequence are periodic beacon indices and / or periodic time slot indices.

30. The base station (104) of claim 1, in, The occupation of the frequency band defined by the channel access pattern at least partially overlaps with occupation of the frequency band by another communication system.

31. A terminal point (106_1) of a communication system (102), wherein: The communication system (102) performs wireless communication in a frequency band used for communication performed by a plurality of communication systems. The terminal point (106_1) is configured to receive a signal (120), wherein the signal (120) includes information about a channel access mode (110), wherein the channel access mode (110) indicates a frequency hopping-based and / or time hopping-based occupation of the frequency band that can be used for communication of the communication system (102), wherein the terminal point (106_1) is configured to identify the channel access mode (110) based on the information about the channel access mode (110), wherein the information describes a state (142) of a digital sequence generator (134) for generating a digital sequence, or wherein the information describes a number (143_1, 143_2) of a digital sequence, wherein the digital sequence determines the channel access mode (110), wherein the terminal point (106_1) is configured to communicate with participants of the communication system by using a real subset of resources determined by the channel access mode; The terminal point (106_1) is configured to identify the pseudo-random number R according to: - the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134), or the number (142') of the digital sequence derived from the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134), or the number (143_1, 143_2) of the digital sequence, and - individual information of the communication system (102), Therein, the pseudo-random number R determines the channel access mode (110).

32. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 31, in, The channel access mode is different from another channel access mode based on which at least one other communication system among a plurality of other communication systems accesses the frequency band.

33. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 31, in, The terminal point (106_1) is configured to operate uncoordinated with respect to other communication systems.

34. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 31, in, The terminal point (106_1) is configured to receive a signal (120) having information about the channel access mode (110) a plurality of times, wherein the information about the channel access mode (110) transmitted with the successive transmissions of the signal (120) describes different states (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) or different numbers (143_1, 143_2) of the digital sequence, The terminal point (106_1) is configured to identify the channel access mode (110) based on the information about the channel access mode (110).

35. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 34, in, The information transmitted with the emission of the signal (120) describes only a subset of the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) or a subset of the numbers (143_1, 143_2) of the digital sequences.

36. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 31, wherein the information about the channel access mode (110) is a state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) or information derived therefrom, Or wherein the information about the channel access mode (110) is the number (143_1, 143_2) of the digital sequence or information derived therefrom.

37. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 31, in, The terminal point (106_1) is configured to identify the channel access mode (110) based on the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) or the number (142') of the digital sequence derived from the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134).

38. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 31, wherein a state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) subsequent to the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) is identifiable based on the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134), in, The terminal point (106_1) is configured to identify the channel access mode (110) based on a subsequent state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) or a subsequent number (142') of the digital sequence derived therefrom.

39. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 31, in, The terminal point (106_1) is configured to identify the channel access mode (110) according to individual information of the communication system (102).

40. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 39, in, The individual information of the communication system (102) is inherent information of the communication system (102).

41. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 40, in, The inherent information of the communication system (102) is a network-specific identifier.

42. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 41, in, The network-specific identifier is an identification of the communication system (102).

43. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 31, in, The terminal point (106_1) is configured to map the following to the time information (148) and the frequency information (146) by using a mapping function: - the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) or the number (142') of the digital sequence derived from the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134), or the number (143_1, 143_2) of the digital sequence, and - Individual information of the communication system (102) Therein, the time information (148) and the frequency information (146) describe resources (112) of the channel access mode (110).

44. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 43, in, The time information (148) describes a time slot or a time slot index.

45. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 43, in, When mapping the time information (148), the mapping function takes into account the activity rate of the communication system (102), wherein the activity rate is specified prior to execution, or wherein the signal (120) or another received signal comprises information about the activity rate.

46. ​​The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 45, in, When mapped onto the time information (148), the mapping function takes into account different activity rates of the communication system (102), such that the channel access pattern (110) includes regions having different activity rates, Therein, the signal (120) or the further signal comprises information about the activity rate.

47. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 45, in, said signal comprising information about an activity rate of said communication system, Or wherein the terminal point (106_1) is configured to receive a further signal, wherein the further signal comprises information about the activity rate of the communication system.

48. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 44, in, When mapping onto the time information (148), the mapping function adheres to a specified minimum distance between consecutive time slots or time slot indices of the channel access pattern (110).

49. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 43, in, The frequency information (146) describes a frequency channel or a frequency channel index.

50. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 43, in, The frequency information (146) describes the distance between consecutive frequency channels or frequency channel indices of the channel access pattern (110).

51. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 49, in, When mapping onto the frequency information (146), the mapping function complies with a specified minimum distance between consecutive frequency channels or frequency channel indices of the channel access pattern (110).

52. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 43, in, When mapping onto the frequency information (146), the mapping function takes into account the interference-prone frequency channels or the range of interference-prone frequency channels of the frequency band, so that the interference-prone frequency channels or the range of interference-prone frequency channels are not or less occupied by the channel access mode (110).

53. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 43, in, The frequency information describes at least two directly adjacent or spaced-apart frequency channels or frequency channel indices.

54. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 31, in, The terminal point (106_1) is configured to identify a resource (112) of the channel access pattern (110) based on a pseudo-random number R.

55. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 31, The signal (120) is a beacon signal.

56. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 31, in, The digital sequence generator (134) is a periodic digital sequence generator for generating a periodic digital sequence.

57. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 31, in, The digital sequence generator (134) is a deterministic random number generator for generating a pseudo-random digital sequence.

58. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 31, in, The state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) is a periodic beacon index and / or a periodic time slot index, Or wherein the number (142') derived from the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134) is a periodic beacon index and / or a periodic time slot index.

59. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 31, in, The numbers (143_1, 143_2) of the digital sequence are periodic beacon indices and / or periodic time slot indices.

60. The terminal point (106_1) according to claim 31, in, The occupation of the frequency band defined by the channel access pattern at least partially overlaps with occupation of the frequency band by another communication system.

61. A communication system (102), comprising: The base station (104) according to claim 1, and At least one terminal point (106_1) according to claim 31.

62. A method (200) for operating a base station (104) of a communication system (102), wherein: The communication system (102) performs wireless communication in a frequency band used for communication performed by a plurality of communication systems, the method comprising: sending (202) a signal (120), wherein the signal (120) comprises information about a channel access pattern (110), wherein the channel access pattern (110) indicates a frequency hopping-based and / or time hopping-based occupancy of the frequency band that can be used for communication of the communication system (102), wherein the information describes a state (142) of a digital sequence generator (134) for generating a digital sequence, or wherein the information describes a number (143_1, 143_2) of a digital sequence, wherein the digital sequence determines the channel access mode, communicating with participants of the communication system by using a real subset of resources determined by the channel access pattern; Among them, the pseudo-random number R is identified according to the following: - the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134), or the number (142') of the digital sequence derived from the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134), or the number (143_1, 143_2) of the digital sequence, and - individual information of the communication system (102), Therein, the pseudo-random number R determines the channel access mode (110).

63. A method (210) for operating a terminal point (106_1) of a communication system (102), wherein: The communication system (102) performs wireless communication in a frequency band used for communication performed by a plurality of communication systems, the method comprising: receiving (212) a signal (120), wherein the signal (120) comprises information about a channel access pattern (110), wherein the channel access pattern (110) indicates a frequency hopping-based and / or time hopping-based occupancy of the frequency band that can be used for communication of the communication system (102), identifying (214) the channel access mode (110) based on the information about the channel access mode, wherein the information describes a state (142) of a digital sequence generator (134) for generating a digital sequence, or wherein the information describes a number (143_1, 143_2) of a digital sequence, wherein the digital sequence determines the channel access mode, communicating with participants of the communication system by using a real subset of resources determined by the channel access pattern; Among them, the pseudo-random number R is identified according to the following: - the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134), or the number (142') of the digital sequence derived from the state (142) of the digital sequence generator (134), or the number (143_1, 143_2) of the digital sequence, and - individual information of the communication system (102), Therein, the pseudo-random number R determines the channel access mode (110).

64. A computer program product having a computer program stored thereon, for executing the method according to claim 62 or claim 63 when the computer program is run on a computer or a microprocessor.

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