Method for providing energy information of a wireless device in a communication network

Abstract

A method for providing energy information to a wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14), preferably an Ambient-IoT (Internet of Things) device in a communication network (10), wherein the method comprises: - Determine, by the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14), whether a condition for transmitting a message that includes energy information of the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14) is met; and - Transmitted, by the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14), the message based on a result of determining to a node (12) of the communication network (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for providing energy information of a wireless device, preferably an Ambient IoT (Internet of Things) device, in a communication network. The invention further relates to a wireless device, preferably an Ambient IoT device, a computer program, and a non-volatile, computer-readable medium. background

[0002] The state of the art for ambient IoT devices, as currently investigated by 3GPP, comprises low-complexity, low-power wireless devices designed for various use cases, such as inventory management, localization, and sensor data exchange in indoor and outdoor environments. These wireless devices are categorized into three main groups, each with different power consumption and transmission characteristics.

[0003] Type 1 devices have a peak power consumption of approximately 1 µW, include an energy storage device, and have an initial sampling frequency offset (SFO) of up to 10X ppm. They have no in-device gain for either downlink (DL) or uplink (UL) transmission, and their UL transmission is based on backscattering an externally provided carrier wave.

[0004] Devices of types 2a and 2b have a peak power consumption of a few hundred µW, include an energy storage device, and exhibit an initial SFO of up to 10X ppm. Both types feature amplification for DL ​​and / or UL transmission, with type 2a devices generating UL transmissions by backscattering externally supplied carrier waves and type 2b devices generating UL transmission internally.

[0005] The ambient IoT device can be designed to communicate directly and bidirectionally with a user device or base station. Alternatively, the ambient IoT device can be designed to communicate indirectly and bidirectionally with a base station via at least one intermediate node, such as a user device (UE), a reader, or a relay.

[0006] The ambient IoT device can also be configured to receive downlink transmissions directly from a base station and to receive uplink transmissions to the base station via at least one auxiliary node. Alternatively, the ambient IoT device can be configured to receive a downlink transmission from the base station via at least one auxiliary node and to transmit uplink transmissions directly to the base station.

[0007] When an ambient IoT device is triggered by the network or a reader to initiate a random access procedure, the device's current energy level may not be sufficient to transmit the initial message of the random access procedure, or at least not for subsequent transmissions, such as payload transmissions of buffered messages. Therefore, triggering an ambient IoT device with such an energy level may not be efficient. Disclosure of the invention

[0008] According to a first aspect, a method for providing energy information of a wireless device, preferably an Ambient-IoT (Internet of Things) device, in a communication network is provided.

[0009] The procedure according to the first aspect includes: - Determine, by the wireless device, whether a condition for transmitting a message that includes energy information of the wireless device is met; and - Transmitted, through the wireless device, the message based on a result of determining a node in the communication network.

[0010] The method according to the first aspect can be understood as a method for wireless communications, in particular for operating the wireless device, preferably the ambient IoT device, of the communication network.

[0011] According to a second aspect, a wireless device, preferably an Ambient IoT device, of a communication network is provided. The wireless device is designed to perform the method according to the first aspect or its embodiments.

[0012] According to a third aspect, a computer program is provided which includes machine-readable instructions that cause the wireless device, as defined by the second aspect, to perform the procedure according to the first aspect and / or its embodiments.

[0013] According to a fourth aspect, a non-volatile, computer-readable medium is provided on which the computer program, as defined by the third aspect, is stored.

[0014] The communication network can comprise a wireless network and a core network. The communication network can be configured as a cellular network, preferably according to 3GPP specifications, e.g., 3GPP Release 18 or later, or as a wireless local area network (LAN), preferably according to IEEE specifications. The communication network includes at least the wireless device and the node.

[0015] The wireless device can be configured as a low-energy or low-power device. The wireless device can have a peak power consumption of less than 1 mW, preferably less than 500 µW, particularly less than 100 µW, and according to one embodiment less than 10 µW, e.g., approximately 1 µW.

[0016] The wireless device is preferably configured for energy harvesting, thereby utilizing ambient energy sources, such as radio waves, thermal radiation, mechanical vibrations, etc., as a power source. The wireless device may or may not include an energy storage device, such as a battery.

[0017] In particular, the wireless device differs from a reduced-capability device (redcap device), a narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) device, or an enhanced machine-type communication (eMTC) device, for example, due to its lower hardware complexity, lower cost, and / or smaller form factors. Additionally, communication between the wireless device and the node may not be controlled by a radio resource control (RRC) layer. Specifically, a hybrid automated retry request (HARQ) procedure may not be used or may not be applicable for communication between the wireless device and the node.

[0018] The wireless device can be located on or be part of the following: - an environmental sensor used, for example, in smart buildings, industrial plants and urban infrastructure to enable environmental monitoring and control, - a smart home device to enable remote monitoring and control of residential environments for energy efficiency, security and comfort, - a wearable health and / or fitness tracker to enable personal health and fitness tracking as well as remote patient monitoring in healthcare applications, - an asset tracking device to enable monitoring of the location and status of assets, vehicles and inventory in logistics, transportation and supply chain applications, - an industrial IoT sensor and / or actuator to enable the monitoring and control of machines, devices and processes, - an intelligent agricultural device to enable the optimization of resource use and improvement of crop yields, - a smart city infrastructure unit to enable intelligent street lighting, traffic monitoring, waste management, public safety and environmental monitoring.

[0019] The node of the communication network can be a radio or wireless node, or a core network node. The radio node can be a base station, a user device configured, for example, as a reader for Ambient IoT devices, a relay, or an IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul).

[0020] The proposed solution enables an ambient IoT device to make independent decisions based on its energy status, ensuring it can effectively communicate its energy information without requiring external intervention. By autonomously determining whether the condition for transmitting the energy information message is met, the wireless device can effectively manage its power sources. This self-regulating capability allows the device to transmit the energy information message to the network node as needed, thus enabling proactive energy management within the communication network. This is particularly advantageous for low-power or low-energy wireless devices, such as ambient IoT devices, where resources must be carefully managed.In particular for these ambient IoT devices, the invention provides a procedure for reporting their energy status to the reader or another node of the network.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the condition represents a relationship between an energy level of the wireless device and a requirement for that energy level. The energy level can be a current or predicted energy level of the device. The energy level can be a relative or absolute fill level of an energy storage device of the device. The energy level requirement can be an energy threshold for the energy level of the device, particularly the current or predicted energy level. The condition requires that the energy level be less than, equal to, or greater than the energy threshold. This allows the device to signal energy depletion and ensure its operational capability for future communication activities.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the requirement is based on a minimum energy level necessary for transmission by the wireless device. Here, the requirement may stipulate that the energy level be less than, equal to, or greater than a minimum energy level necessary for at least one, preferably a defined number, transmission(s) by the wireless device. The requirement may also stipulate that the energy level be sufficient for the transmission of all or a defined subset of messages contained in a buffer of the wireless device. Furthermore, the requirement may stipulate that at least a defined energy level be maintained after the one or more transmissions. The message can be transmitted if the requirement is met, or preferably if the requirement is not met.This ensures that the network is informed about devices with low energy levels, enabling the respective devices to perform their communication tasks without the risk of energy depletion.

[0023] According to one embodiment - the message is transmitted periodically through the wireless device, and - a transmission periodicity is preconfigured or configured by the node or another node of the communication network.

[0024] The additional node can be a radio node, such as an intermediate or auxiliary device like a relay or a UE, or a core network node of the communication network. Configuration information provided to the wireless device can include instructions for the device regarding the timing and / or periodicity of the periodic transmissions.

[0025] By transmitting the message containing energy information at regular intervals, the network can maintain up-to-date information about the device's energy resources. This allows the network to adjust its operations based on the real-time energy status of the devices, resulting in more efficient energy management and improved overall network performance.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises: - Receiving, by the wireless device, a trigger message from the node or another node of the communication network, wherein the determining step is performed in response to the receipt of the trigger message.

[0027] Here, the trigger message can include a configuration of the message transmission period, which contains the energy information. The trigger message can be part of a paging message transmitted during a paging occasion. The other node can be a radio node, e.g., an intermediate or auxiliary device such as a relay or a UE, or a core network node of the communication network.

[0028] In other words, the wireless device can be instructed by the node or other nodes to report its power information or status. For this purpose, a control message or a trigger message can be transmitted to the wireless device. For example, a paging message can include trigger information or a configuration to instruct the wireless device to report its power information or status. Additionally or alternatively, the condition can also depend on a use case of the wireless device and / or be defined by higher layers, such as an application layer. This allows power information to be requested from dedicated wireless devices on the network, thereby improving resource utilization efficiency.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the step to determine is performed as follows: - before and / or during and / or after a random access procedure of the wireless device, and / or - in response to monitoring by the wireless device, a paging occasion and / or receiving by the wireless device, a paging message; and / or - after the transmission of user data by the wireless device.

[0030] The random access procedure preferably comprises at least the transmission of a first message of the random access procedure from the wireless device to a node of the communication network and the transmission of a second message of the random access procedure from the node to the wireless device. The first message may include or consist of the random access preamble. The random access preamble may include a random number and / or device identification information. The second message may include or consist of the random access response. The random access response may be an echo of the random number and / or device identification information contained in the random access preamble.

[0031] Random-access procedure messages transmitted between the node and the wireless device—that is, messages transmitted by the wireless device and received by the node, and / or messages transmitted by the node and received by the wireless device—can be transmitted either directly, specifically on the physical random-access channel (PRACH), or indirectly via an intermediate or auxiliary node of the communication network. For example, a message received by the wireless device can be transmitted from a core node of the communication network to the wireless device via a radio node, such as a base station, of the communication network, and vice versa.

[0032] By considering the random access procedure, paging occasions, and payload data transmission, the method optimizes the timing of energy information transmissions and aligns them with device operating states and network signaling. This adaptability improves the efficiency of energy management within the communication network, enabling improved dissemination of energy information.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the message - configured as an energy alert message specifically for reporting energy information, and / or - a message from a random access procedure of the wireless device, in particular a first message and / or a third message from the random access procedure, and / or - a notification message to inform the node that the wireless device is refraining from at least one future, in particular planned, transmission.

[0034] The notification message can consist of or include a statement that the wireless device will refrain from at least one future, particularly planned, transmission. A single bit can be used for this purpose.

[0035] By tailoring the message format to serve as a dedicated energy reporting mechanism and / or integrating it into the random access procedure, the method optimizes the communication of energy-related data while minimizing additional signaling overhead. Furthermore, the notification capability enables proactive energy management, improving the overall efficiency of energy use within the network.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the first message of the random access procedure comprises a random value and a defined number of bits representing energy information. The random value is preferably used to request access to a transmission medium of the communication network, in particular to request transmission resources. Integrating the defined number of bits representing energy information into the first message of the random access procedure allows the wireless device to transmit its energy status as part of the initial communication exchange during the random access procedure, thereby optimizing communication between the wireless device and the corresponding node of the wireless communication network.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the energy information comprises at least one bit, preferably a bit sequence, representing: - a number and / or size of data blocks and / or messages that can be transmitted by the wireless device based on the energy level of the wireless device, and / or - a number of competing attempts and / or a number of failed attempts by the wireless device to access a transmission medium of the communication network by initiating the random access procedure, and / or - whether (requested) user data can be transmitted or not, and / or - the energy level of the wireless device.

[0038] The number and / or size of data blocks and / or messages that the wireless device can transmit based on its energy level indicates the device's data transmission capacity and allows the network to adjust its resource allocation based on the device's energy reserves.

[0039] The number of competing attempts and / or the number of failed attempts by the wireless device to access the communication network's transmission medium via the random access procedure indicates the device's interaction with the network and its energy expenditure during access attempts.

[0040] Whether or not (requested) user data can be transmitted indicates the device's ability to handle user data transmission based on its energy status. The wireless device's energy level provides a direct representation of its remaining energy reserves.

[0041] By transmitting these details, the wireless device enables the network to make informed decisions regarding resource allocation and access prioritization.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the energy information represents - a capability of the wireless device for energy harvesting, - and, optionally, what type(s) of energy harvesting the wireless device is capable of.

[0043] The capability can be binary information (yes / no). The type of energy harvesting can be selected from a group that includes: solar, kinetic, thermal, or radio frequency energy. By transmitting its energy harvesting capability and the specific types of energy it can harvest, the wireless device enables the network to optimize resource allocation based on energy harvesting potential, thereby ensuring that energy-constrained devices can effectively utilize available ambient energy sources to support their communication activities.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises: - To forgo, through the wireless device, the transmission of the message based on a result of determining, - Determine, via the wireless device, whether a condition for transmitting an unavailability message is met, - Transmitting the unavailability message to the node based on a result of determining, and - optional, changing the operating mode of the wireless device, preferably to an energy-saving or energy-harvesting mode.

[0045] By refraining from unnecessary, impossible, or unfavorable transmissions of energy information, transmitting unavailability messages, and potentially switching to energy-saving or energy-harvesting modes, the device contributes to proactive energy management within the network. These actions enable the network to adapt its operation based on the device's energy constraints.

[0046] According to another aspect of the invention, a (wireless) communication network is provided which includes at least the wireless device and the node.

[0047] The non-volatile, computer-readable medium is preferably designed to store the computer program to be executed by a processor of the first LAN element and / or the second LAN element and / or the communication network. The non-volatile, computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, and any other persistent storage device. Description of the characters

[0048] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the figures, which are not to be regarded as limiting the claims, and are explained in more detail below. Fig. Figure 1 schematically illustrates a communication network according to embodiments of the invention; and Fig. Figure 2 schematically illustrates a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0049] Fig. Figure 1 schematically illustrates a communication network 10 according to one aspect of the invention. The communication network 10 is configured as a cellular communication network 10, preferably according to 3GPP specifications. The communication network 10 can comprise a core network and a wireless network.

[0050] The communication network 10 comprises a radio node 12 configured as a user device 12, or a reader 12 for an Ambient IoT (Internet of Things) device, or a relay node acting as a reader, and a plurality of wireless devices 14a, 14b, 14c, preferably configured as Ambient IoT devices 14a, 14b, 14c, particularly according to 3GPP specifications. The wireless devices 14a, 14b, 14c are collectively represented by reference numerals 14. The communication network 10 further comprises a radio node 16 configured as a base station 16.

[0051] To request access to a transmission medium of the communication network 10, the wireless devices 14 are designed to perform a method for initiating a preferably slot-based random access procedure. Here, the random access procedure can be based on a slotted ALOHA random access MAC protocol. That is, the wireless devices 14 are designed to begin a transmission only at the beginning of a slot. The length of the slot is preferably equal to the sum of a packet transmission time and a maximum propagation delay in the network 10 to ensure that both transmission and reception of a data packet can be completed within a slot.

[0052] The random access procedure can be set up between the respective wireless devices 14a, 14b, 14c and the reader 12, or between the respective wireless devices 14a, 14b, 14c and the base station 16. In the latter case, transmission between the wireless devices 14 and the base station 16 can be routed or forwarded via the reader 12.

[0053] According to an alternative embodiment, the base station 16 can be configured as a reader for the wireless devices 14. Accordingly, messages of the random access procedure are transmitted directly between the base station 16 and the wireless devices 14a, 14b, 14c (i.e., without routing them via the radio node 12).

[0054] The wireless devices 14 are for providing energy information to the respective wireless device 14 by carrying out the method according to the first aspect of the invention and / or its embodiments, as described in Fig. 2 described, configured.

[0055] The energy information can be provided before, during, or after the random access procedure. Here, the wireless device(s) 14 can be instructed or configured by the reader 12, for example, using a second message from the random access procedure (access response message), to transmit their energy status. Appropriate resources can be allocated by the reader node for such (message) transmission, preferably also using the second message.

[0056] Fig.Figure 2 schematically illustrates a method 100 for providing energy information of a wireless device 14a, preferably an Ambient IoT (Internet of Things) device 14a, in a communication network according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0057] The method 100 includes an optional step 110 for receiving, by the wireless device 14a, a trigger message from a node or another node of the communication network.

[0058] Method 100 comprises a step 120 for determining, by the wireless device 14a, preferably in response to the trigger message, whether a condition for transmitting a message comprising energy information of the wireless device 14a is met.

[0059] Method 100 includes a step 130 for transmitting, via the wireless device 14a, the message to a node of the communication network based on the result of a determination. In other words, in step 130, based on the result of the determination, the message is either transmitted to the node or not transmitted to the node.

[0060] In particular, the procedure can include 100 optional steps for - To waive, by means of the wireless device 14a, the transmission of the message based on a result of determining, - Determine, by means of the wireless device 14a, whether a condition for transmitting an unavailability message is met, - Transmitted, through the wireless device 14a, the unavailability message to the node based on a result of determining, and - optional, changing an operating mode of the wireless device 14a, preferably to an energy-saving or energy-harvesting mode.

[0061] In other words, the proposed solution introduces a power status reporting procedure in wireless devices, preferably Ambient IoT devices. To report the power status to a reader or another network node, the wireless device can use at least one of the following options: The energy status report or energy information can be transmitted via the wireless device: - periodically, in particular based on a preconfiguration or a configuration received from a reader or another network node, e.g. an intermediate device such as a relay or any other UE, - after receiving a trigger message from the reader or another network node, e.g. a relay or a UE, - the energy status in a device meets a specific requirement, e.g., the energy status is below a predefined or configured threshold, - if the remaining energy level of the device is insufficient to transmit a (specific) block of data, - when instructed by higher layers or a core network node, e.g. depending on a use case.

[0062] The energy status report or energy information can be transmitted from the wireless device to the reader or another network node, e.g., a relay or a UE, using one of the following formats: - An independent message type that is sent through the wireless device ◯ after a random-access procedure, if the device wins the random-access competition, or ◯ within the random access procedure, e.g., after the transmission of a random identifier that is transmitted by the device to the reader or another network, or ◯ using dedicated transmission resources, such as one or more scheduled time slots, specifically allocated to the power status reporting device, either as part of or after the random access procedure. - A message transmitted from the wireless device to the reader, relay, network, or any UE after the transmission of a device ID. - A message transmitted in response to receiving a paging message or following a paging occasion. - A message that is transmitted following a data or user data transmission, preferably of messages contained in a buffer of the device. - As a defined number of n bits of a random identifier that is transmitted through the device during the random access procedure, e.g., n least significant or most significant bits of the identifier. - As a sequence of n bits, or a short message or short notification, e.g., a notification to inform the reader or another network node that the transmission of a pending data block or requested data or buffer messages is not possible due to the device's power status.

[0063] The energy status report or energy information can be represented by at least one of the following options or types of reports / information: - A number of possible data blocks, e.g., a number of messages that can be transmitted by the device using the remaining energy, or - A size of data that can be transferred using the remaining energy, or - A number of competitive attempts for channel access / participation, or - A number of failures to be endured, or - A binary status report on a possibility of transferring requested data blocks, or - A bit sequence of N bits indicating a level of remaining energy in the device, e.g., low, medium, high, or high, preferably based on a predefined definition of each energy level, or - A single bit to indicate a low energy level in the device or to indicate that the next transmission is impossible.

[0064] In addition, further information may be included in the energy status report or energy information, e.g., a bit to indicate that the device can perform energy harvesting to increase its energy level, and / or multiple bits to further specify a type of energy harvesting.

[0065] Preferably, if the energy status report does not correspond to any remedial measures to maintain the wireless device, an "out of order" message or report or indication may be provided, in particular as the last message before power-off. A standardized bit sequence may be used for this purpose.

Claims

[1] Method (100) for providing energy information to a wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14), preferably an Ambient IoT (Internet of Things) device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14) in a communication network (10), wherein the method (100) comprises: - Determine (120) by the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14) whether a condition for transmitting a message comprising energy information of the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14) is satisfied; and - Transmitted (130), by the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14), the message based on a result of determining (120) to a node (12) of the communication network (10). [2] Method (100) according to claim 1, wherein the condition represents a relationship between an energy level of the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14) and a requirement for the energy level of the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14). [3] Method (100) according to claim 2, wherein the requirement is based on a minimum energy level necessary for transmission of the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14). [4] Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein - the message is transmitted periodically through the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14), and - a periodicity of transmission is preconfigured or configured by the node (12) or another node (16) of the communication network (10). [5] Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - Receiving (130) by the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14) a trigger message from the node (12) or a further node (16) of the communication network (10), wherein the determining step (120) is performed in response to the reception (130) of the trigger message. [6] Method (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the step to determine (120) is performed - before and / or during and / or after a random access procedure of the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14), and / or - in response to monitoring by the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14), a paging occasion and / or receiving by the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14), a paging message; and / or - after the transmission of user data by the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14). [7] Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the message - is configured as an energy alert message specifically to report energy information, and / or - a message of a random access procedure of the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14) is, in particular a first message and / or a third message of the random access procedure, and / or - a notification message to notify the node (12) is that the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14) is waiving at least one future, in particular planned, transmission. [8] Method (100) according to claim 7, wherein the first message of the random access procedure comprises a random value and a defined number of bits representing the energy information. [9] Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the energy information comprises at least one bit, preferably a bit sequence, representing: - a number and / or size of data blocks and / or messages that can be transmitted by the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14) based on a / the energy level of the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14), and / or - a number of competing attempts and / or a number of failed attempts by the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14) to access a transmission medium of the communication network (10) by initiating a random access procedure, and / or - whether (requested) user data can be transmitted or not, and / or - the energy level of the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14). [10] Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the energy information further represents: - a capability of the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14) for energy harvesting, - and, optionally, what type(s) of energy harvesting the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14) is capable of. [11] Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - To refrain from transmitting the message by means of the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14) based on a result of determining (120), - Determine, by means of the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14), whether a condition for transmitting an unavailability message is met, - Transmitted, through the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14), the unavailability message to the node (12) based on a result of determining, and - optional, changing an operating mode of the wireless device (14a, 14b, 14c; 14), preferably to an energy-saving or energy-harvesting mode. [12] Wireless device of a communication network designed to perform the method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11. [13] Computer program comprising machine-readable instructions to cause the wireless device of claim 12 to perform the method (100) of any one of claims 1 to 11. [14] Non-volatile computer-readable medium on which the computer program according to claim 13 is stored.

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