Communication devices and methods for synchronous communication channels, and applications of such devices

Abstract

This invention relates to a communication device (10) for vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) communication, comprising a first interface (10-1) for V2X communication on a first communication channel, a second interface (10-2) for V2X communication on a second communication channel, and a computing device (10-5) for processing received and / or transmitted V2X messages. The device is configured to trigger the transmission of a second V2X message via the second interface by transmitting a first V2X message via the first interface. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a corresponding method and the application of this communication device in a vehicle or mobile device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a communication device for vehicle-to-external information exchange and communication, a method for a communication channel of a communication device for synchronous vehicle-to-external information exchange and communication, and the application of the device. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, relevant standards for vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication include IEEE 802.11(p), IEEE 1609, SAE 2735, SAE 2945, and ETSI ITS-G5. Furthermore, new 3GPP standards are currently being developed for C-V2X, LTE-V2X, and 5G V2X. ETSI is currently developing technologies for using ITS-G5, LTE-V2X, and 5G V2X in the same frequency band.

[0003] If a transmitter is sending on a vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) channel, it cannot simultaneously receive on any existing V2X channel. Therefore, asynchronous transmission across multiple channels can result in a relatively long period of unreceived V2X messages. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a way to effectively utilize multiple vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) communication channels and reduce the time periods during which V2X messages cannot be received.

[0005] This objective is achieved through the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous design solutions, for example, are described in the dependent claims. The content of the claims constitutes the content of the specification through explicit reference.

[0006] This invention describes a communication device for vehicle-to-the-world communication (V2X communication). The communication device includes a first interface for V2X communication on a first communication channel, a second interface for V2X communication on a second communication channel, and a computing device for processing V2X messages received and / or to be transmitted, particularly via the first and second interfaces. The communication device is configured to trigger the transmission of a second V2X message via the second interface by transmitting a first V2X message via the first interface.

[0007] According to the ITS-G5 / DSRC V2X specification, each corresponding frequency band includes multiple communication channels. For example, according to ETSI TS102 724 V1.1.1 (2012-10), the ITS G5A band (5.875 GHz to 5.905 GHz) has a so-called Control Channel (CCH), a so-called Service Channel 1 (SCH1), and a so-called Service Channel 2 (SCH2). Furthermore, the ITS-G5 / DSRC specification currently requires that the relevant communication devices can transmit and receive information on at least the Control Channel (ITS-G5) or the Safety Channel (DSRC).

[0008] The present invention is based on the idea of ​​using one of the communication channels, particularly a control or security channel, as the basis for synchronizing at least one other communication channel and / or, if necessary, all other existing communication channels. Therefore, vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) messages can be transmitted substantially simultaneously via the first and second communication channels, and, if necessary, via other channels. This synchronizes the transmission of V2X messages across all or more V2X communication channels in V2X communication. Thus, in addition to transmitting the relevant V2X messages to be transmitted, the first communication channel serves as a synchronization channel for at least one other communication channel of the communication device. Consequently, as a result of transmitting messages on the first channel, one or more other channels will also transmit the messages to be transmitted if necessary. This eliminates the need for relatively complex synchronization by means of an external synchronization source if necessary. This improves the effective utilization of multiple communication channels. Furthermore, synchronization of multiple communication channels can be achieved without imposing additional requirements on the accuracy of absolute time synchronization typically achieved through global satellite navigation systems. Here, the first and second communication channels, for example, are contained in the same frequency band. Depending on the intended use, communication devices for sending and receiving vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) messages include antennas configured for this purpose.

[0009] It should be understood that other communication channels for vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) communication may be provided within the frequency band used for V2X communication, in which case the communication device is also configured to perform V2X communication through these other communication channels. Correspondingly, the device may be configured to implement the method steps on all and / or a portion of the communication channels within a frequency band. As mentioned above, one of the channels is used to synchronize the other channels. In particular, if only a portion of the communication channels within a frequency band is used, more efficient utilization of the bandwidth of the first communication channel may be achieved. For example, particularly long and / or particularly frequent messages can be transmitted independently of synchronization via channels not synchronized with the first communication channel.

[0010] In principle, the communication device may also be configured to perform vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) communication via other frequency bands with multiple communication channels when necessary.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the apparatus is configured to determine, using a method or protocol for media access control, the timing of transmitting a first vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message via a first communication channel. The media access control method or protocol is specifically used to check whether the relevant communication channel is idle and available for transmitting the V2X message. If, within the check framework, it is determined that the first communication channel is idle, the first V2X message is transmitted on the first communication channel via a first interface. Since transmitting a message on a second channel via a second interface is triggered by transmission via the first channel, the starting time for transmitting the message via the second interface is not specified according to one embodiment of the invention regarding the implementation of the media access control method. In other words, according to the invention, given that other communication channels are triggered by transmitting a message via the first interface, the media access control method is implemented specifically only for the first communication channel. For other communication channels not triggered by transmitting information via the first interface, the media access control method may still be specified accordingly.

[0012] Exemplary methods of Media Access Control (MAC) are based on CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access), such as CSMA / CA, CSMA / CD, and CSMA / CR. In principle, messages are transmitted at different times on different channels without any synchronization. Because of MAC, each transmission is preceded by a random waiting period, sideband transmissions on one channel will be interpreted on other channels as if those channels were already occupied by another communication device.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the communication device is configured to store messages to be transmitted in at least one data memory of at least one transceiver included in the communication device. Depending on the intended use, the transceiver is designed using an integrated circuit (“radio chipset”). Thus, the device is configured to store a first vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message and a second vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message in the transceiver's data memory before transmission.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the communication device is configured to store the first vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message and the second vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message respectively in waiting queues allocated to their respective first and second interfaces, i.e., so-called "queues," before transmission. This allows for advantageous simultaneous message transmission on all communication channels. The waiting queues are conveniently stored using the transceiver's data storage.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the device is configured to sign vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) messages to be transmitted, particularly a first V2X message and a second V2X message, before storing them in their respective waiting queues. Therefore, the V2X messages to be transmitted are signed before being stored in the transceiver's data storage or the corresponding waiting queue. This approach has the advantage of avoiding delays caused by performance limitations of the signing device when transmitting individual messages, compared to signing directly before transmission.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the device is designed such that the length of a first vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message is equal to or greater than the length of a second vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message. An improvement proposes that the device is configured to extend the duration of the first V2X message and / or, in the presence of multiple communication channels, split the second V2X message across the multiple communication channels other than the first communication channel to shorten the transmission time compared to the first V2X message. This splitting is such that retransmission can be performed on all channels when the first communication channel is no longer occupied. This advantageously avoids the situation where, when the media access control method is implemented only on the first channel, another communication device within the receiving range of the communication device identifies that the first communication channel is idle based on the result of the media access control method on the first channel and begins transmission, for example, on the second channel, even though message transmission through the communication device on that channel is still in progress. In principle, within the framework of this invention, the problem can also be circumvented by simultaneously checking media access control on the second or other channels. However, this is not a particularly advantageous implementation of the invention, as it requires more implementation work and / or is more prone to errors by comparison.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the device is configured to send an empty message via a first communication channel through a first interface after a predetermined duration has elapsed. An empty message should be understood in particular as a message without any relevant important information content. The predetermined duration is defined, in particular, by a predetermined maximum time limit for sending messages via a second communication channel, for example, a predetermined maximum time limit for sending messages via the second communication channel from the moment the message is stored in the transceiver's data memory. One advantage of this is that unacceptable delays are avoided in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication because, regardless of whether a message containing relevant information is sent via the first interface, the sending of that other message via the second interface, triggered by sending the message via the first interface, is ensured, taking into account the maximum tolerable time limit of the other message.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the communication device is configured to form at least two channel groups, each having multiple communication channels, and to assign vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) messages of similar length and frequency to the same channel group. Here, each channel group has at least two communication channels with respect to a first and a second communication channel, and two interfaces with respect to a first and a second interface, so that each channel group can be synchronized substantially independently of each other via the first interface included in the relevant channel group. Thus, each channel group can be configured according to improved schemes as described in the respective embodiments of the invention. This allows for further optimization of bandwidth utilization, for example, by avoiding unnecessary waiting time when sending messages, thereby further reducing latency.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the communication device, the first communication channel is designed as a specific control channel (“Control Channel”) in accordance with ITS-G5 and / or as a specific security channel (“Safety Channel”) in accordance with DSRC.

[0020] The vehicle may be a motor vehicle, especially a car, truck, motorcycle, electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle, water vehicle or air vehicle.

[0021] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for a communication channel for a synchronous vehicle to interact with external information communication devices, the method comprising the following steps:

[0022] - The first vehicle-to-the-outside information exchange (V2X) message is sent via the first interface on the first communication channel.

[0023] - Using the second interface, a second vehicle-to-the-outside (V2X) message is sent on the second communication channel, wherein,

[0024] Sending a first vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message via the first interface triggers the sending of a second vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message via the second interface.

[0025] Other embodiments of the method according to the present invention can be derived from the description of embodiments of the communication device according to the present invention.

[0026] According to another aspect of the present invention, the communication device according to the present invention is configured to implement the corresponding method.

[0027] In the proposed improved communication device, the device has at least one memory and at least one processor. Here, the proposed method is stored in the memory as a computer program, which is then loaded into the processor to execute the method.

[0028] According to another aspect of the invention, the computer program includes program code means for performing all steps of one of the proposed methods when the computer program is run on a computer or one of the proposed devices.

[0029] According to another aspect of the invention, the computer program product includes program code stored on a computer-readable data carrier, which executes one of the proposed methods when run on a data processing device.

[0030] Furthermore, the present invention also relates to the application of at least one embodiment of the communication device according to the present invention in a vehicle or in a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet computer.

[0031] Some particularly advantageous designs of the invention are given in the dependent claims. Other preferred embodiments can also be derived from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0032] As shown in the schematic diagram only:

[0033] Figure 1 Embodiments of the communication device according to the present invention are shown, and

[0034] Figure 2 An embodiment of the method according to the present invention is shown.

[0035] Figure 3 An exemplary timing diagram is shown for the synchronous transmission of vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) information interaction messages according to an embodiment of the communication device or method of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0036] Figure 1This illustration shows an embodiment of a vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) communication device 10 according to the present invention. The communication device includes a transceiver 10-4 for transmitting and receiving V2X messages via an antenna 10-6 through multiple communication channels, using a first interface 10-1 for V2X communication via a first communication channel, a second interface 10-2 for V2X communication via a second communication channel, and a third interface 10-3 for V2X communication via a third communication channel. Furthermore, the communication device 10 also includes a computing device 10-5 for processing the V2X messages to be transmitted and received via the transceiver 10-4. Communication device 1 is configured to trigger the transmission of a second vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message via a second interface 10-2 and a third vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message via a third interface 10-3 by transmitting a first vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message via a first interface 10-1. Therefore, the triggering of the transmission of the V2X message via the first communication channel is substantially simultaneous with the transmission of the V2X message via the second communication channel and the transmission of the V2X message via the third communication channel. According to the example, the first communication channel refers to the so-called "control channel" (CCH), the second communication channel refers to the so-called "service channel 1" (SCH1), and the third communication channel refers to the so-called "service channel 2" (SCH2) in the ITS G5A band (5.875 GHz to 5.905 GHz) according to the ETSI TS 102 724 V1.1.1 (2012-10) specification. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the "control channel" serves not only to transmit relevant vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) messages, but also as the synchronization basis for "service channel 1" and "service channel 2". Using data transmission devices 10-7, such as a data bus, the communication device can be configured to communicate with at least one other electronic device, such as an electronic control unit controlling the vehicle.

[0037] Figure 2 The timing diagram illustrates an embodiment of a method for synchronizing a communication channel of a vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) communication device according to the present invention. Here, in step 1, a first V2X message is transmitted on the first communication channel, for example, the aforementioned "control channel," via a first interface. Triggering the transmission of the first V2X message via the first interface, and particularly substantially simultaneously in step 2, a second V2X message is transmitted on the second communication channel via a second interface. (See reference...) Figure 1The communication device, when executing this method, triggers the transmission of messages through "service channel 1" and "service channel 2" by sending a message through the "control channel".

[0038] Figure 3 This diagram illustrates an exemplary timing diagram of the synchronous transmission of vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) messages according to an embodiment of the communication device or method of the present invention, wherein the signal S of the V2X message transmitted on the respective channel is plotted relative to time t. As an example, communication channels “Control Channel” (CCH), “Service Channel 1” (SCH1), and “Service Channel 2” (SCH2) are used as described above. The signal of the V2X message on each respective channel is shown in... Figure 3 The figure is shown in shaded areas. If a first vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message is sent on the "Control Channel" CCH at the start time T1, V2X messages are also sent via "Service Channel 1" SCH1 and "Service Channel 2" SCH2 for transmission, triggered by this transmission. Therefore, as shown, all messages are sent substantially simultaneously. At the end time T2, all messages have been sent, wherein, according to the example, the message sent on "Service Channel 1" SCH1 is shorter than the other messages, reflected in its shorter transmission duration. Generally, within the framework of this invention, it can also be predetermined that after the start time of sending the first message, a predetermined duration will be waited until at least one other message is sent. Referring to the transmission duration of the first message, due to the overlapping transmission periods, in this embodiment, all messages are triggered by the first message and sent substantially simultaneously.

[0039] If, during the proceedings, it is proven that a certain feature or set of features is not absolutely necessary, then the applicant has sought to formulate at least one independent claim in a manner that excludes that feature or set of features. This may, for example, involve sub-combinations of claims existing on the filing date or sub-combinations of claims existing on the filing date defined by other features. Such newly formulated claims or combinations of features shall be considered to be covered by the disclosure of this patent application.

[0040] Furthermore, it should be noted that the designs, features, and variations described and / or shown in the accompanying drawings of different design schemes or embodiments of the present invention can be arbitrarily combined with each other. Single or multiple features can be arbitrarily substituted for each other. The resulting combination of features should be considered as covered by the disclosure of this patent application.

[0041] A reverse reference in a dependent claim should not be construed as a waiver of independent, objective protection of the features of the referred dependent claim. These features may also be combined with other features in any way.

[0042] Features disclosed solely in the specification, or features disclosed in the specification or claims in combination with other features, can in principle have independent significance to the invention. Therefore, they can also be included individually in the claims to distinguish them from the prior art.

[0043] Generally, it should be noted that vehicle-to-the-world communication refers specifically to direct communication between vehicles and / or between a vehicle and infrastructure. This can be, for example, vehicle-to-vehicle communication or vehicle-to-infrastructure communication. If vehicle-to-vehicle communication is mentioned within the framework of this patent application, it can, in principle, be implemented within the scope of vehicle-to-vehicle communication, which typically does not require mediation via mobile radio networks or similar external infrastructure, and is therefore distinct from other solutions, such as those based on mobile radio networks. For example, vehicle-to-the-world communication can be implemented using the IEEE 802.11p standard, the IEEE 1609.4 standard, or 4G or 5G standards. Vehicle-to-the-world communication can also be referred to as C2X communication or V2X communication. Sub-scopes can be referred to as C2C (vehicle-to-vehicle) communication, V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) communication, C2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure) communication, or V2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure) communication. However, this invention does not explicitly exclude vehicle-to-the-world communication using intermediaries, such as those via mobile radio networks, and such communication is considered to be included.

Claims

1. A communication device (10) for vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) information interaction communication, the communication device comprising: A first interface (10-1) for vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) communication on a first communication channel that serves as a control channel or safety channel. The second interface (10-2) is used for vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) communication on the second communication channel. A computing device (10-5) for processing received and / or transmitted vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) messages. The device is characterized in that, when using a media access control method, it is configured to determine the time point at which a first vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message is sent via a first interface, and in response to the determination, triggers the simultaneous sending of a second vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message via a second interface by sending the first V2X message via the first interface without using a media access control method, wherein the first V2X message provides synchronization for starting the sending of the second V2X message.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to store the vehicle-to-the-outside information interaction (V2X) messages to be sent in the data memory of the transceiver (10-4) included in the communication device.

3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to store the first vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message and the second vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message respectively in waiting queues allocated for their respective first and second interfaces before sending.

4. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the communication device is configured to sign the vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) information exchange messages to be sent before storage.

5. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication device is configured such that the length of the first vehicle-to-the-outside information exchange (V2X) message is equal to or greater than the length of the second vehicle-to-the-outside information exchange (V2X) message.

6. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication device is configured to send an empty message via a first interface after a predetermined duration has elapsed.

7. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication device is configured to form at least two channel groups, each having a plurality of communication channels, and to assign vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) messages of similar length and similar frequency to the same channel group.

8. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The first communication channel is designed as a specific control channel ("Control Channel") according to ITS-G5 and / or as a specific security channel ("Safety Channel") according to DSRC.

9. The application of the communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in a vehicle or mobile device.

10. A method for a communication channel for a synchronous vehicle to interact with external information communication devices, the method comprising the following steps: -When using a media access control method on a first communication channel that serves as a control channel or a security channel, determine the timing of sending the first vehicle-to-the-outside information interaction (V2X) message via the first interface. - In response to the determination, without using the method for media access control, a second vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message is triggered to be sent simultaneously via a second interface by sending a first vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) message via a first interface, wherein the first V2X message provides synchronization for starting to send the second V2X message.

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