EFFICIENT SIGNALING OF JUMP PATTERNS IN ALLOCATED RESOURCES

Description

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a base station of a communication system, to an endpoint of the communication system, and to the communication system, wherein the communication system communicates wirelessly in a frequency band used by a plurality of communication systems for communication. Some embodiments relate to efficient signaling of hop patterns in allocated resources.

[0002] In wireless communication between participants of a communication system in a frequency band which is used by a plurality of communication systems for communication, it is necessary to avoid interference between the participants of the communication system as well as interference from other communication systems (= communication between participants of other communication systems). General methods of interference avoidance

[0003] Interference between subscribers within a wireless network (or communication system) is often avoided by coordinated, conflict-free allocation of radio resources (e.g., by a base station). This is done, for example, in the GSM, UMTS, and LTE mobile communications standards, where collisions between wireless subscribers within the same network (outside of the initial network registration phase) can be completely avoided through so-called "scheduling."

[0004] Interference from wireless users outside of a network is often reduced through appropriate radio network planning. This involves assigning each network a specific usable frequency range (which may itself consist of multiple frequency channels) from the entire available frequency band. Neighboring networks use different frequency ranges, thus preventing direct interference between users in neighboring networks. This method ultimately also represents a form of coordination between networks.

[0005] If such a fixed allocation of frequency ranges or radio channels to individual networks is not possible or not practical (as is often the case in unlicensed frequency bands), a network can determine an unused or, for example, the least used frequency range from a set of given frequency ranges by means of a load measurement and then occupy this or switch to it. Interference avoidance when using the TSMA method

[0006] Another case is the transmission of messages (data packets) using the so-called Telegram Splitting Multiple Access (TSMA) method [1]. Here, the frequency range usable by a network is divided into a predetermined number of frequency channels, with a data packet being transmitted divided into a plurality of partial data packets, which are typically sent at different times and on different frequency channels. The hopping pattern (or time / frequency hopping pattern) used for the transmission of the partial data packets plays a special role here, as shown, for example, in [2]. A particularly high utilization of networks can be achieved if there are as many different hopping patterns as possible, which contain as few and as short overlap sequences as possible.To reduce interference between multiple networks, the networks can use different hop patterns relative to each other. These network-specific hop patterns must be known to all participants in the respective networks. Furthermore, the hop patterns should aim to have the shortest possible overlap sequences, as described above, to avoid systematic collisions between partial data packets from participants in different networks.

[0007] In coordinated networks, it is possible to assign each network an individual hop pattern that overlaps as little as possible with the hop patterns of other networks within reception range. The totality of all available hop patterns can be tabulated as a set (of hop patterns), from which the cross-network coordinating entity assigns one or more individual hop patterns to each network. The calculation of a set of suitable hop patterns can be performed in advance according to suitable optimization criteria.

[0008] If networks are not coordinated with each other and possibly not synchronized in time and frequency domains, the above method (tabulated, pre-calculated hop patterns) can in principle be applied, but there is a risk that two networks might randomly use the same hop pattern. To reduce the probability that two (mutually influencing) networks use the same hop pattern to a reasonable level, an extraordinarily large number of available hop patterns would have to exist, especially in a scenario with many networks.

[0009] US 2015 / 023396 A1 relates to a frequency-hopping-based communication network and proposes a channel mapping that enables the nodes of the communication network to operate on different working channels. For this purpose, a working channel label is calculated for each node depending on the number of working channels the node uses in a frequency-hopping mode, a node identifier, and a temporal parameter of a superframe. Based on the thus calculated working channel label, a working channel is determined that the node uses during the current superframe.

[0010] US 2005 / 176371 A1 refers to piconets according to IEEE 802.15.3 and describes how frequency hopping patterns can be synchronized within piconets. To avoid collisions with another piconet, a piconet can determine whether another piconet is within communication range and which frequency hopping pattern the other piconet is using. The piconet can then select its own frequency hopping pattern based on the frequency hopping pattern of the other piconet.

[0011] The present invention is therefore based on the object of creating a concept which increases the transmission security between subscribers of a communication system when the subscribers of the communication system access a frequency band which is used by several mutually uncoordinated communication systems for wireless communication.

[0012] This problem is solved by the independent patent claims.

[0013] Advantageous further developments can be found in the dependent patent claims.

[0014] Embodiments provide a base station of a communication system, wherein the communication system communicates wirelessly in a frequency band [e.g. a license-free and / or authorization-free frequency band; e.g. ISM band] which is used by a plurality of communication systems for communication, wherein the base station is designed to transmit a signal [e.g. a beacon signal], wherein the signal has information about a channel access pattern, wherein the channel access pattern indicates a frequency- and / or time-hopping-based occupancy [e.g. of resources] of the frequency band usable for the communication of the communication system [e.g. a temporal sequence of frequency resources usable for the communication of the communication system (e.g. distributed over the frequency band)], wherein the information contains a state of a number sequence generator [e.g.a periodic number sequence generator or a deterministic random number generator] for generating a number sequence or wherein the information describes a number [e.g. a time slot index and / or a beacon index] of a number sequence [e.g. a periodic time slot index sequence and / or periodic beacon index sequence], wherein the number sequence determines the channel access pattern.

[0015] In embodiments, the channel access pattern may differ from another channel access pattern based on which at least one other communication system of the plurality of other communication systems accesses the frequency band.

[0016] In embodiments, the base station may be configured to operate in an uncoordinated manner with the other communication systems.

[0017] In embodiments, the base station may be configured to communicate with a subscriber of the communication system using the resources determined by the channel access pattern or a subset thereof.

[0018] In embodiments, the base station may be configured to transmit the signal with the information about the channel access pattern multiple times [e.g., periodically], wherein the information about the channel access pattern transmitted with successive transmissions of the signal describes different [e.g., consecutive or immediately consecutive] states of the number sequence generator or different numbers of the number sequence.

[0019] In embodiments, the information transmitted with the transmissions of the signal can describe only a subset of the states of the number sequence generator or the numbers of the number sequence [e.g., only every n-th state or every n-th index number is transmitted, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to two].

[0020] In embodiments, the information about the channel access pattern may be the state of the sequence generator or information derived therefrom [e.g., a part of the state of the sequence generator (e.g., LSBs of the state of the sequence generator)].

[0021] In embodiments, the information about the channel access pattern may be the number of the number sequence or information derived therefrom [e.g., a part of the number of the number sequence (e.g., LSBs of the number of the number sequence)].

[0022] In embodiments, the base station may be configured to determine the channel access pattern depending on the state of the number sequence generator or a number of the number sequence derived from the state of the number sequence generator.

[0023] In embodiments, based on the state of the number sequence generator, states of the number sequence generator that follow the state of the number sequence generator [e.g. immediately] can be determined, wherein the base station can be designed to determine the channel access pattern depending on the following states of the number sequence generator or following numbers of the number sequence derived therefrom.

[0024] In embodiments, the base station may be configured to determine the channel access pattern depending on individual information of the communication system [e.g., intrinsic information of the communication system, such as a network-specific identifier].

[0025] In embodiments, the individual information of the communication system may be intrinsic information of the communication system.

[0026] In embodiments, the intrinsic information of the communication system may be a network-specific identifier.

[0027] In embodiments, the network-specific identifier may be an identification of the communication system.

[0028] In embodiments, the base station may be configured to to map the state of the number sequence generator, or a number of the number sequence derived from the state of the number sequence generator, or the number of the number sequence, and the individual information of the communication system to time information and frequency information using a mapping function, where the time information and the frequency information describe a resource of the channel access pattern.

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

[0030] In embodiments, the mapping function may take into account an activity rate of the communication system when mapping to the time information, wherein the activity rate is determined before execution or wherein the signal or another signal sent by the base station comprises information about the activity rate.

[0031] In embodiments, the mapping function may take into account different activity rates of the communication system when mapping to the time information, so that the channel access pattern has areas of different activity rates, wherein the signal or the further signal has information about the activity rates.

[0032] In embodiments, the base station may be configured to dynamically adapt the activity rate depending on a current or predicted load situation of the communication system.

[0033] In embodiments, the mapping function may maintain a predetermined minimum distance [e.g., of one or more time slots or time slot indices] between [e.g., immediately] consecutive time slots or time slot indices of the channel access pattern when mapping to the time information.

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

[0035] In embodiments, the frequency information may describe a distance between [e.g., immediately] consecutive frequency channels or frequency channel indices of the channel access pattern.

[0036] In embodiments, the mapping function may maintain a predetermined minimum distance between [e.g., immediately] consecutive frequency channels or frequency channel indices of the channel access pattern when mapping to the frequency information.

[0037] In embodiments, the mapping function may take into account an interference-prone frequency channel or a range of interference-prone frequency channels of the frequency band when mapping to the frequency information, so that the interference-prone frequency channel or the range of interference-prone frequency channels is not occupied or is occupied to a lesser extent by the channel access pattern.

[0038] In embodiments, the frequency information may describe a bundling of frequency resources of the frequency band comprising at least two immediately adjacent or spaced-apart frequency channels or frequency channel indices.

[0039] In embodiments, the base station may be configured to the state of the number sequence generator or a number of the number sequence derived from the state of the number sequence generator, or the number of the number sequence, and an individual information of the communication system to determine a pseudorandom number R, where the pseudorandom number R determines the channel access pattern.

[0040] In embodiments, the base station may be configured to determine a resource [e.g., frequency channel and / or time slot, or frequency channel index and / or time slot index] of the channel access pattern based on the pseudorandom number R.

[0041] In embodiments, the signal may be a beacon signal.

[0042] In embodiments, the number sequence generator may be a periodic number sequence generator for generating a periodic number sequence.

[0043] In embodiments, the number sequence generator may be a deterministic random number generator for generating a pseudorandom number sequence.

[0044] In embodiments, the state of the number sequence generator may be a periodic beacon index and / or a periodic time slot index.

[0045] In embodiments, a number derived from the state of the number sequence generator may be a periodic beacon index and / or a periodic time slot index.

[0046] In embodiments, the number of the number sequence may be a periodic beacon index and / or a periodic time slot index.

[0047] In embodiments, an occupancy of the frequency band defined by the channel access pattern may at least partially overlap an occupancy of the frequency band by another communication system.

[0048] Further embodiments provide an endpoint of a communication system, wherein the communication system communicates wirelessly in a frequency band [e.g. a license-free and / or authorization-free frequency band; e.g. ISM band] which is used by a plurality of communication systems for communication, wherein the endpoint is designed to receive a signal [e.g. a beacon signal], wherein the signal has information about a channel access pattern, wherein the channel access pattern indicates a frequency- and / or time-hopping-based occupancy [e.g. of resources] of the frequency band that can be used for the communication of the communication system [e.g. a temporal sequence of usable (e.g.distributed over the frequency band) frequency resources], wherein the endpoint is designed to determine the channel access pattern based on the information about the channel access pattern, wherein the information describes a state of a number sequence generator [e.g. a periodic number sequence generator or a deterministic random number generator] for generating a number sequence or wherein the information describes a number [e.g. a time slot index and / or a beacon index] of a number sequence [e.g. a periodic time slot index sequence and / or periodic beacon index sequence], wherein the number sequence determines the channel access pattern.

[0049] In embodiments, the channel access pattern may differ from another channel access pattern based on which at least one other communication system of the plurality of other communication systems accesses the frequency band.

[0050] In embodiments, the endpoint may be configured to operate in an uncoordinated manner with the other communication systems.

[0051] In embodiments, the endpoint may be configured to communicate with a subscriber of the communication system using the resources determined by the channel access pattern or a subset thereof.

[0052] In embodiments, the endpoint may be configured to receive the signal with the information about the channel access pattern multiple times [e.g. periodically or sporadically], wherein the information about the channel access pattern transmitted with successive transmissions of the signal describes different [e.g. consecutive or immediately consecutive] states of the number sequence generator or different numbers of the number sequence, wherein the endpoint may be configured to determine the channel access pattern based on the information about the channel access pattern [e.g. based on the different states of the number sequence generator or the different numbers of the number sequence].

[0053] In embodiments, the information transmitted with the transmissions of the signal may describe only a subset of the states of the number sequence generator or the numbers of the number sequence [e.g., only every n-th state or every n-th index number is transmitted, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to two].

[0054] In embodiments, the information about the channel access pattern may be the state of the sequence generator or information derived therefrom [e.g., a part of the state of the sequence generator (e.g., LSBs of the state of the sequence generator)].

[0055] In embodiments, the information about the channel access pattern may be the number of the number sequence or information derived therefrom [e.g., a part of the number of the number sequence (e.g., LSBs of the number of the number sequence)].

[0056] In embodiments, the endpoint may be configured to determine the channel access pattern depending on the state of the number sequence generator or a number of the number sequence derived from the state of the number sequence generator.

[0057] In embodiments, based on the state of the number sequence generator, states of the number sequence generator that follow the state of the number sequence generator [e.g., immediately] can be determined, wherein the end point can be configured to determine the channel access pattern depending on the following states of the number sequence generator or following numbers of the number sequence derived therefrom.

[0058] In embodiments, the endpoint may be configured to determine the channel access pattern depending on individual information of the communication system [e.g., intrinsic information of the communication system, such as a network-specific identifier].

[0059] In embodiments, the individual information of the communication system may be intrinsic information of the communication system.

[0060] In embodiments, the intrinsic information of the communication system may be a network-specific identifier.

[0061] In embodiments, the network-specific identifier may be an identification of the communication system.

[0062] In embodiments, the end point may be configured to to map the state of the number sequence generator, or a number of the number sequence derived from the state of the number sequence generator, or the number of the number sequence, and the individual information of the communication system to time information and frequency information using a mapping function, where the time information and the frequency information describe a resource of the channel access pattern.

[0063] In embodiments, the time information may describe a time slot or a time slot index.

[0064] In embodiments, the mapping function may take into account an activity rate of the communication system when mapping to the time information, wherein the activity rate is determined before execution or wherein the signal or another received signal comprises information about the activity rate.

[0065] In embodiments, the mapping function may take into account different activity rates of the communication system when mapping to the time information, so that the channel access pattern has areas of different activity rates, wherein the signal or the further signal has information about the activity rates.

[0066] In embodiments, the signal may include information about the activity rates of the communication system.

[0067] In embodiments, the endpoint may be configured to receive a further signal, wherein the further signal comprises information about the activity rates of the communication system.

[0068] In embodiments, the mapping function may maintain a predetermined minimum distance [e.g., of one or more time slots or time slot indices] between [e.g., immediately] consecutive time slots or time slot indices of the channel access pattern when mapping to the time information.

[0069] In embodiments, the frequency information may describe a frequency channel or a frequency channel index.

[0070] In embodiments, the frequency information may describe a distance between [e.g., immediately] consecutive frequency channels or frequency channel indices of the channel access pattern.

[0071] In embodiments, the mapping function may maintain a predetermined minimum distance between [e.g., immediately] consecutive frequency channels or frequency channel indices of the channel access pattern when mapping to the frequency information.

[0072] In embodiments, the mapping function may take into account an interference-prone frequency channel or a range of interference-prone frequency channels of the frequency band when mapping to the frequency information, so that the interference-prone frequency channel or the range of interference-prone frequency channels is not occupied or is occupied to a lesser extent by the channel access pattern.

[0073] In embodiments, the frequency information may describe at least two immediately adjacent or spaced-apart frequency channels or frequency channel indices.

[0074] In embodiments, the end point may be configured to be dependent on the state of the number sequence generator or a number of the number sequence derived from the state of the number sequence generator, or the number of the number sequence, and an individual information of the communication system to determine a pseudorandom number R, where the pseudorandom number R determines the channel access pattern.

[0075] In embodiments, the endpoint may be configured to determine a resource [e.g., frequency channel and / or time slot, or frequency channel index and / or time slot index] of the channel access pattern based on the pseudorandom number R.

[0076] In embodiments, the signal may be a beacon signal.

[0077] In embodiments, the number sequence generator may be a periodic number sequence generator for generating a periodic number sequence.

[0078] In embodiments, the number sequence generator may be a deterministic random number generator for generating a pseudorandom number sequence.

[0079] In embodiments, the state of the number sequence generator may be a periodic beacon index and / or a periodic time slot index.

[0080] In embodiments, a number derived from the state of the number sequence generator may be a periodic beacon index and / or a periodic time slot index.

[0081] In embodiments, the number of the number sequence may be a periodic beacon index and / or a periodic time slot index.

[0082] In embodiments, an occupancy of the frequency band defined by the channel access pattern may at least partially overlap an occupancy of the frequency band by another communication system.

[0083] Further embodiments provide a communication system comprising one of the base stations described above and at least one of the endpoints described above.

[0084] Further embodiments provide a method for operating a base station of a communication system, wherein the communication system communicates wirelessly in a frequency band used by a plurality of communication systems for communication. The method comprises a step of transmitting a signal, wherein the signal has information about a channel access pattern, wherein the channel access pattern indicates a frequency- and / or time-hopping-based occupancy of the frequency band usable for the communication of the communication system, wherein the information describes a state of a number sequence generator for generating a number sequence or wherein the information describes a number of a number sequence, wherein the number sequence determines the channel access pattern.

[0085] Further embodiments provide a method for operating an endpoint of a communication system, wherein the communication system communicates wirelessly in a frequency band that is used by a plurality of communication systems for communication. The method comprises a step of receiving a signal, wherein the signal has information about a channel access pattern, wherein the channel access pattern indicates a frequency- and / or time-hopping-based occupancy of the frequency band that can be used for the communication of the communication system. Furthermore, the method comprises a step of determining the channel access pattern based on the information about the channel access pattern, wherein the information describes a state of a number sequence generator for generating a number sequence or wherein the information describes a number of a number sequence, wherein the number sequence determines the channel access pattern.

[0086] Further embodiments provide a controller for a subscriber of a communication system, wherein the communication system communicates wirelessly in a frequency band which is used by a plurality of communication systems for communication, wherein the controller is designed to determine a channel access pattern, wherein the channel access pattern indicates a frequency- and / or time-hopping-based occupancy of the frequency band which can be used for the communication of the communication system, wherein the controller is designed to determine the channel access pattern as a function of a state of a number sequence generator for generating a number sequence or a number of a number sequence.

[0087] In embodiments, the controller may be configured to determine the channel access pattern depending on the state of the number sequence generator or a number of the number sequence derived from the state of the number sequence generator.

[0088] In embodiments, based on the state of the number sequence generator, states of the number sequence generator that follow the state of the number sequence generator [e.g., immediately] can be determined, wherein the controller can be configured to determine the channel access pattern depending on the following states of the number sequence generator or following numbers of the number sequence derived therefrom.

[0089] In embodiments, the controller may be configured to determine the channel access pattern depending on individual information of the communication system [e.g., intrinsic information of the communication system, such as a network-specific identifier].

[0090] In embodiments, the controller may be configured to the state of the number sequence generator, or a number of the number sequence derived from the state of the number sequence generator, or the number of the number sequence, and the individual information of the communication system to map to time information and frequency information using a mapping function, wherein the time information and the frequency information describe a resource of the channel access pattern.

[0091] In embodiments, the controller may be configured to, depending on the state of the number sequence generator or a number of the number sequence derived from the state of the number sequence generator, or the number of the number sequence, and an individual information of the communication system to determine a pseudorandom number R, where the pseudorandom number R determines the channel access pattern.

[0092] In embodiments, the controller may be configured to determine a resource [e.g., frequency channel and / or time slot, or frequency channel index and / or time slot index] of the channel access pattern based on the pseudorandom number R.

[0093] Further embodiments provide a method for generating a channel access pattern. The method comprises a step of generating the channel access pattern, wherein the channel access pattern indicates a frequency- and / or time-hopping-based occupancy of the frequency band usable for communication of a communication system, wherein the communication system communicates wirelessly in a frequency band used by a plurality of communication systems for communication. The channel access pattern is generated depending on a state of a number sequence generator for generating a number sequence or a number of a number sequence.

[0094] Further embodiments provide a communication system, wherein the communication system is designed to communicate wirelessly in a frequency band [e.g. a license-free and / or authorization-free frequency band; e.g. ISM band] which is used by a plurality of communication systems for communication, wherein the communication system is designed to use different frequencies or frequency channels of the frequency band [e.g. into which the frequency band is divided] in sections [e.g. time slot by time] for communication based on a channel access pattern, regardless of whether they are used by another communication system, wherein the channel access pattern differs from another channel access pattern on the basis of which at least one other communication system of the plurality of other communication systems accesses the frequency band.

[0095] In embodiments, the channel access pattern may specify a frequency- and / or time-hopping-based occupancy [e.g., of resources] of the frequency band usable for the communication of the communication system [e.g., a temporal sequence of frequency resources usable for the communication of the communication system (e.g., distributed across the frequency band).

[0096] In embodiments, the communication system may be configured to communicate in an uncoordinated manner with the other communication systems in the frequency band.

[0097] In embodiments, the communication system may be configured to determine the channel access pattern.

[0098] In embodiments, the channel access pattern may depend on individual [e.g., inherent] information of the communication system.

[0099] In embodiments, the channel access pattern and the other channel access pattern may overlap in less than 20% of the resources specified therein.

[0100] In embodiments, participants of the communication system can transmit data to each other in sections in the different channels of the frequency band based on the channel access pattern.

[0101] In embodiments, a reception bandwidth of participants of the communication system may be narrower than a bandwidth of the frequency band.

[0102] Further embodiments provide a method for operating a communication system, wherein the communication system communicates wirelessly in a frequency band [e.g., a license-free and / or authorization-free frequency band; e.g., ISM band] that is used by a plurality of communication systems for communication. The method comprises a step of transmitting data between subscribers of the communication system based on a channel access pattern, section by section, in different channels of the frequency band, regardless of whether these or a subset thereof are used by other communication systems, wherein the channel access pattern differs from another channel access pattern based on which at least one other communication system of the plurality of other communication systems accesses the frequency band.

[0103] Further embodiments provide a communication arrangement with a first communication system and a second communication system, wherein the first communication system and the second communication system are designed to communicate wirelessly in the same frequency band [e.g. a license-free and / or authorisation-free frequency band; e.g. ISM band] [e.g. which is used by a plurality of communication systems for communication], wherein the first communication system is designed to use a first channel access pattern to access different channels of the frequency band [e.g. into which the frequency band is divided] in sections [e.g.time slot by time] for communication, regardless of whether these or a subset thereof are used by another communication system, wherein the second communication system is designed to use different channels of the frequency band [e.g. into which the frequency band is divided] in sections [e.g. time slot by time] for communication using a second channel access pattern, regardless of whether these or a subset thereof are used by another communication system, wherein the first channel access pattern and the second channel access pattern are different.

[0104] In embodiments, the first communication system and the second communication system may not be coordinated with each other.

[0105] In embodiments, participants of the first communication system can transmit data to each other based on the first channel access pattern in sections in the different channels of the frequency band.

[0106] In embodiments, participants of the second communication system can transmit data to each other based on the second channel access pattern in sections in the different channels of the frequency band.

[0107] In embodiments, the first communication system and the second communication system cannot communicate with each other.

[0108] Further embodiments provide a method for operating two communication systems in a frequency band used by a plurality of communication systems for wireless communication. The method comprises a step of transmitting data between subscribers of the first communication system based on a first channel access pattern, in sections in different channels of the frequency band, regardless of whether these or a subset thereof are used by other communication systems. Furthermore, the method comprises a step of transmitting data between subscribers of the second communication system based on a second channel access pattern, in sections in different channels of the frequency band, regardless of whether these or a subset thereof are used by other communication systems, wherein the first channel access pattern and the second channel access pattern are different.

[0109] Embodiments increase the performance of a digital radio transmission system by reducing mutual interference between participants in different and non-coordinated radio networks. According to embodiments, this effect is achieved by generating and utilizing network-specific channel access patterns that exhibit certain properties (described below). A particularly significant benefit arises when transmitting data using the telegram splitting multiple access method.

[0110] The increased performance results either in a reduced packet error rate (for a given load) or in a higher network utilization (for a given packet error rate).

[0111] Embodiments provide a base station of a communication system, wherein the communication system communicates wirelessly in a frequency band which is used by a plurality of communication systems for communication, wherein the base station is designed to transmit a signal, wherein the signal comprises information [e.g. signaling information] about a channel access pattern, wherein the channel access pattern indicates a frequency- and / or time-hopping-based allocation of resources [e.g. of the frequency band] that can be used for the communication of the communication system, wherein at least a portion of the resources of the channel access pattern [i.e. a portion of the resources specified by the channel access pattern] is assigned to a contention-free transmission section [e.g. a contention-free period] [e.g. in which the base station controls access to the resources [e.g.assigns to one or more endpoints of the communication system for exclusive use]], wherein the signal further comprises control information for controlling access to the resources of the contention-free transmission section [ie the part of the resources specified by the channel access pattern that is assigned to the contention-free transmission section].

[0112] In embodiments, resources exclusively allocated to an endpoint of the communication system may be determined from the resources of the contention-free transmission section based on a mapping function that maps the control information to the exclusively allocated resources.

[0113] In embodiments, the control information may include [e.g. exclusively] the following control parameters: IDs of endpoints of the contention-free transmission section [e.g., to which resources from the resources of the contention-free transmission section are allocated for exclusive use], wherein the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section comprise endpoints of a first class of endpoints and / or endpoints of a second class of endpoints, a number of allocated resources for each of the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section or information derived therefrom, and a number of endpoints belonging to the first class of endpoints.

[0114] In embodiments, the control information may comprise exclusively the control parameters mentioned.

[0115] In embodiments, the control information may specify the IDs of the endpoints belonging to the first class of endpoints before the IDs of the endpoints belonging to the second class of endpoints.

[0116] In embodiments, the following basic parameters can be known in advance or exchanged between the base station and the endpoint when an endpoint registers with the base station: a number of resources of the contention-free transmission section, a first relative channel access pattern for a first class of endpoints, the first relative channel access pattern specifying resources to be used for transmission from the resources of the contention-free transmission section, a second relative channel access pattern for a second class of endpoints, the second relative channel access pattern specifying resources to be used for transmission from the resources of the contention-free transmission section.

[0117] For example, the first class of endpoints may include endpoints that require low latency or send higher-priority messages. For example, the second class of endpoints may include endpoints that operate energy-efficiently (e.g., are battery-powered or powered by an energy-harvesting element) or send lower-priority messages.

[0118] In embodiments, the base parameters can be exchanged between the base station and the endpoints when they change during operation of the communication system.

[0119] In embodiments, the control information or signal may not include the base parameters or information about them.

[0120] In embodiments, resources exclusively allocated to the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section may be determined from the resources of the contention-free transmission section based on a mapping function that maps the control parameters and the base parameters to the respective exclusively allocated resources.

[0121] In embodiments, according to the mapping function, available resources from the resources of the contention-free transmission section can be exclusively allocated to the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section belonging to the first class of endpoints one after the other in an order of naming [e.g., listing] the IDs of the respective endpoints by the signaling information, the respective number of allocated resources specified by the signaling information according to the first relative channel access pattern.

[0122] In embodiments, according to the mapping function, the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section belonging to the first class of endpoints may be exclusively allocated resources from the resources of the contention-free transmission section based on the following equation: t start n = ∑ k = 0 n − 1 lenRessourceElementUsers k where k is a running index, where n is a current endpoint with n ≤ i, where i is a number of endpoints belonging to the first class of endpoints, where lenRessourceElementUsers is an array with a length of the allocated resources of each endpoint.

[0123] In embodiments, according to the mapping function, available resources from the resources of the contention-free transmission section can be allocated to the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section belonging to the second class of endpoints one after the other in an order of naming [e.g., listing] the IDs of the respective endpoints by the signaling information, the respective number of allocated resources indicated by the signaling information according to the second relative channel access pattern.

[0124] In embodiments, according to the mapping function, the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section belonging to the second class of endpoints may be exclusively allocated resources from the resources of the contention-free transmission section based on the following equation: t start n = ∑ k = 0 i − 1 lenRessourceElementUsers k + n − i % gap + + 0 if n − i ≤ gap ∑ lenRessourceElementUsers n − i % gap : n − i − 1 : gap if n − i > gap where k is a running index, where n is a current endpoint with n > i, where i is a number of endpoints belonging to the first class of endpoints, where lenRessourceElementUsers is an array with a length of the allocated resources of each endpoint, where gap are unallocated resources within the second hop pattern.

[0125] In embodiments, the first class of endpoints may include endpoints with high latency requirements [e.g., endpoints requiring low delay].

[0126] In embodiments, the second class of endpoints may include energy-efficient endpoints.

[0127] In embodiments, the first relative channel access pattern may indicate that immediately consecutive resources of the contention-free transmission section resources are to be used.

[0128] In embodiments, the second relative channel access pattern may indicate that every p-th resource of the contention-free transmission section resources is to be used, where p is a natural number greater than or equal to two.

[0129] In embodiments, the control information may further include the following control parameters: a number of endpoints of the contention-free transmission section to be parallelized.

[0130] In embodiments, according to the mapping function, available resources of the contention-free transmission section that are closer to a beginning of the contention-free transmission section may be allocated before available resources of the contention-free transmission section that are closer to an end of the contention-free transmission section.

[0131] In embodiments, an order of naming the IDs of the endpoints associated with the second class of endpoints may be sorted by the numbers of resources allocated to them, such that an endpoint allocated a higher number of resources is cited before an endpoint allocated a lower number of resources.

[0132] In embodiments, according to the mapping function, an endpoint belonging to the second class of endpoints and to which a number of resources is assigned by the signaling information, which, taking into account the second relative channel access pattern, leads to an access duration that is longer than the contention-free period, can be divided into at least two virtual endpoints, wherein the at least two virtual endpoints are each assigned a part of the respective number of resources, wherein according to the mapping function, available resources from the resources of the contention-free transmission section are successively assigned to the at least two virtual endpoints exclusively the respective part of the respective number of resources according to the second relative channel access pattern.

[0133] In embodiments, the information derived from the number of allocated resources for each of the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section may be a Huffman encoded version of the number of allocated resources for each of the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section.

[0134] In embodiments, a Huffman tree of the Huffman coding used may be known in advance or exchanged between the base station and the endpoint when an endpoint registers with the base station.

[0135] In embodiments, if a distribution function underlying the Huffman coding used changes during operation of the communication system due to a change in the number of resources allocated to one or more endpoints, an updated Huffman tree can be exchanged between the base station and at least some of the endpoints.

[0136] In embodiments, the information derived from the number of allocated resources for each of the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section may have a lower resolution than a resource element.

[0137] In embodiments, the information derived from the number of allocated resources for each of the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section may be a portion of bits [e.g., a number of MSBs; e.g., 4 MSBs] of a digital version of the number of allocated resources.

[0138] In embodiments, the control information may include the following parameters: IDs of endpoints of the contention-free link [e.g., to which resources from the contention-free link resources are allocated for exclusive use].

[0139] In embodiments, the following basic parameters can be known in advance or exchanged between the base station and the endpoint when an endpoint registers with the base station: a number of resources of the contention-free transmission section, a set of at least two different relative channel access patterns.

[0140] In embodiments, resources exclusively allocated to the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section may be determined from the resources of the contention-free transmission section based on a mapping function that maps the control parameters to and the base parameters to the respective exclusively allocated resources.

[0141] In embodiments, according to the mapping function, available resources from the resources of the contention-free transmission section can be exclusively allocated to the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section one after the other in an order of naming [e.g., listing] the IDs of the respective endpoints by the signaling information according to a respective relative channel access pattern from the set of at least two different relative channel access patterns that is assigned to the respective endpoint according to the order of naming the IDs of the endpoints.

[0142] In embodiments, another portion of the resources of the channel access pattern may be allocated to a contention-based period [e.g., contention-based access period (CAP)].

[0143] In embodiments, the information may describe a state of a number sequence generator for generating a number sequence or a number of a number sequence, wherein the number sequence determines the channel access pattern.

[0144] In embodiments, the signal may be a beacon signal.

[0145] Further embodiments provide an endpoint of a communication system, wherein the communication system communicates wirelessly in a frequency band which is used by a plurality of communication systems for communication, wherein the endpoint is designed to receive a signal, wherein the signal comprises information [e.g. signaling information] about a channel access pattern, wherein the channel access pattern indicates a frequency- and / or time-hopping-based occupancy of the frequency band which can be used for the communication of the communication system, wherein the endpoint is designed to determine the channel access pattern based on the information about the channel access pattern, wherein at least a portion of the resources of the channel access pattern [i.e. a portion of the resources specified by the channel access pattern] is allocated to a contention-free period [e.g. in which the base station controls access to the resources [e.g.assigns to one or more endpoints of the communication system for exclusive use]], wherein the signal further comprises control information for controlling access to the resources of the contention-free transmission section [ie the part of the resources indicated by the channel access pattern that is assigned to the contention-free transmission section], wherein the endpoint is configured to determine the endpoint's exclusively assigned resources from the resources of the contention-free transmission section based on a mapping function that maps the control information to the exclusively assigned resources.

[0146] In embodiments, the control information may include [e.g. exclusively] the following control parameters: IDs of endpoints of the contention-free transmission section [e.g., to which resources from the resources of the contention-free transmission section are allocated for exclusive use], wherein the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section comprise endpoints of a first class of endpoints and / or endpoints of a second class of endpoints, a number of allocated resources for each of the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section or information derived therefrom, and a number of endpoints belonging to the first class of endpoints.

[0147] In embodiments, the control information may comprise exclusively the control parameters mentioned.

[0148] In embodiments, the control information may specify the IDs of the endpoints belonging to the first class of endpoints before the IDs of the endpoints belonging to the second class of endpoints.

[0149] In embodiments, the following basic parameters can be known in advance or exchanged between the base station and the endpoint when an endpoint registers with the base station: a number of resources of the contention-free transmission section, a first relative channel access pattern for a first class of endpoints, the first relative channel access pattern specifying resources to be used for transmission from the resources of the contention-free transmission section, a second relative channel access pattern for a second class of endpoints, the second relative channel access pattern specifying resources to be used for transmission from the resources of the contention-free transmission section.

[0150] In embodiments, the base parameters can be exchanged between the base station and the endpoints when they change during operation of the communication system.

[0151] In embodiments, the control information or signal may not include the base parameters or information about them.

[0152] In embodiments, the endpoint may be configured to determine resources exclusively allocated to the endpoint by the signaling information from the resources of the contention-free transmission section based on the mapping function that maps the control parameters according to claim 33 and the base parameters according to claim 36 to the respective exclusively allocated resources.

[0153] In embodiments, according to the mapping function, available resources from the resources of the contention-free transmission section can be exclusively allocated to the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section belonging to the first class of endpoints one after the other in an order of naming [e.g., listing] the IDs of the respective endpoints by the signaling information, the respective number of allocated resources specified by the signaling information according to the first relative channel access pattern.

[0154] In embodiments, according to the mapping function, the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section belonging to the first class of endpoints may be exclusively allocated resources from the resources of the contention-free transmission section based on the following equation: t start n = ∑ k = 0 n − 1 lenRessourceElementUsers k where k is a running index, where n is a current endpoint with n ≤ i, where i is a number of endpoints belonging to the first class of endpoints, where lenRessourceElementUsers is an array with a length of the allocated resources of each endpoint.

[0155] In embodiments, according to the mapping function, available resources from the resources of the contention-free transmission section can be allocated to the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section belonging to the second class of endpoints one after the other in an order of naming [e.g., listing] the IDs of the respective endpoints by the signaling information, the respective number of allocated resources indicated by the signaling information according to the second relative channel access pattern.

[0156] In embodiments, according to the mapping function, the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section belonging to the second class of endpoints may be exclusively allocated resources from the resources of the contention-free transmission section based on the following equation: t start n = ∑ k = 0 i − 1 lenRessourceElementUsers k + n − i % gap + + 0 if n − i ≤ gap ∑ lenRessourceElementUsers n − i % gap : n − i − 1 : gap if n − i > gap where k is a running index, where n is a current endpoint with n > i, where i is a number of endpoints belonging to the first class of endpoints, where lenRessourceElementUsers is an array with a length of the allocated resources of each endpoint, where gap are unallocated resources within the second hop pattern.

[0157] In embodiments, the first class of endpoints may include endpoints with high latency requirements [e.g., endpoints requiring low delay].

[0158] In embodiments, the second class of endpoints may include energy-efficient endpoints.

[0159] In embodiments, the first relative channel access pattern may indicate that immediately consecutive resources of the contention-free transmission section resources are to be used.

[0160] In embodiments, the second relative channel access pattern may indicate that every p-th resource of the contention-free transmission section resources is to be used, where p is a natural number greater than or equal to two.

[0161] In embodiments, the control information may further include the following control parameters: a number of endpoints of the contention-free transmission section to be parallelized.

[0162] In embodiments, according to the mapping function, available resources of the contention-free transmission section that are closer to a beginning of the contention-free transmission section may be allocated before available resources of the contention-free transmission section that are closer to an end of the contention-free transmission section.

[0163] In embodiments, an order of naming the IDs of the endpoints associated with the second class of endpoints may be sorted by the numbers of resources allocated to them, such that an endpoint allocated a higher number of resources is cited before an endpoint allocated a lower number of resources.

[0164] In embodiments, according to the mapping function, an endpoint belonging to the second class of endpoints and to which a number of resources is allocated by the signaling information, which, taking into account the second relative channel access pattern, leads to an access duration that is longer than the contention-free period, can be divided into at least two virtual endpoints, wherein the at least two virtual endpoints are each allocated a portion of the respective number of resources, wherein, according to the mapping function, resources available to the at least two virtual endpoints from the resources of the contention-free transmission section are successively allocated exclusively the respective portion of the respective number of resources according to the second relative channel access pattern.

[0165] In embodiments, the information derived from the number of allocated resources for each of the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section may be a Huffman encoded version of the number of allocated resources for each of the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section.

[0166] In embodiments, a Huffman tree of the Huffman coding used may be known in advance or exchanged between the base station and the endpoint when an endpoint registers with the base station.

[0167] In embodiments, if a distribution function underlying the Huffman coding used changes during operation of the communication system due to a change in the number of resources allocated to one or more endpoints, an updated Huffman tree can be exchanged between the base station and at least some of the endpoints.

[0168] In embodiments, the information derived from the number of allocated resources for each of the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section may have a lower resolution than a resource element.

[0169] In embodiments, the information derived from the number of allocated resources for each of the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section may be a portion of bits of a digital version of the number of allocated resources.

[0170] In embodiments, the control information may include the following parameters: IDs of endpoints of the contention-free link [e.g., to which resources from the contention-free link resources are allocated for exclusive use].

[0171] In embodiments, the following basic parameters can be known in advance or exchanged between the base station and the endpoint when an endpoint registers with the base station: a number of resources of the contention-free transmission section, a set of at least two different relative channel access patterns.

[0172] In embodiments, the endpoint may be configured to determine resources exclusively allocated to the endpoint by the signaling information from the resources of the contention-free transmission section based on a mapping function that maps the control parameters and the base parameters to the respective exclusively allocated resources.

[0173] In embodiments, according to the mapping function, available resources from the resources of the contention-free transmission section can be exclusively allocated to the endpoints of the contention-free transmission section one after the other in an order of naming [e.g., listing] the IDs of the respective endpoints by the signaling information according to a respective relative channel access pattern from the set of at least two different relative channel access patterns that is assigned to the respective endpoint according to the order of naming the IDs of the endpoints.

[0174] In embodiments, another portion of the resources of the channel access pattern may be allocated to a contention-based period [e.g., contention-based access period (CAP)].

[0175] In embodiments, the information may describe a state of a number sequence generator for generating a number sequence or a number of a number sequence, wherein the number sequence determines the channel access pattern.

[0176] In embodiments, the signal may be a beacon signal.

[0177] Further embodiments provide a communication system comprising a base station according to any of the embodiments described herein and at least one endpoint according to any of the embodiments described herein.

[0178] Further embodiments provide a method. The method comprises a step of transmitting a signal in a communication system, wherein the communication system communicates wirelessly in a frequency band which is used by a plurality of communication systems for communication, wherein the signal has information [e.g. signaling information] about a channel access pattern, wherein the channel access pattern indicates a frequency- and / or time-hopping-based allocation of resources [e.g. of the frequency band] usable for the communication of the communication system, wherein at least a portion of the resources of the channel access pattern (i.e. a portion of the resources specified by the channel access pattern) is assigned to a contention-free period [e.g. in which the base station controls access to the resources [e.g.assigns to one or more endpoints of the communication system for exclusive use]], wherein the signal further comprises control information for controlling access to the resources of the contention-free transmission section [ie the part of the resources specified by the channel access pattern that is assigned to the contention-free transmission section].

[0179] Further embodiments provide a method. The method comprises a step of receiving a signal in a communication system, wherein the communication system communicates wirelessly in a frequency band which is used by a plurality of communication systems for communication, wherein the signal has information [e.g. signaling information] about a channel access pattern, wherein the channel access pattern indicates a frequency- and / or time-hopping-based occupancy of resources [e.g. of the frequency band] usable for the communication of the communication system, wherein at least a portion of the resources of the channel access pattern (i.e. a portion of the resources specified by the channel access pattern) is assigned to a contention-free period [e.g. in which the base station controls access to the resources [e.g.assigns to one or more endpoints of the communication system for exclusive use]], wherein the signal further comprises control information for controlling access to the resources of the contention-free transmission section [ie, the part of the resources specified by the channel access pattern that is assigned to the contention-free transmission section]. The method further comprises a step of determining the channel access pattern based on the information about the channel access pattern. The method further comprises a step of determining exclusively assigned resources from the resources of the contention-free transmission section based on a mapping function that maps the control information to the exclusively assigned resources.

[0180] Embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a communication arrangement with a first communication system, according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a communication arrangement of two mutually uncoordinated networks, each with a base station and four associated terminals, according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a division of the frequency band into resources and a frequency- and time-hopping-based occupancy of the resources of the frequency band defined by two different channel access patterns, according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a communication system with a base station and a plurality of endpoints, according to an embodiment of the present invention,5 shows a schematic block diagram of a controller for generating a channel access pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 shows a schematic block diagram of a controller for generating a channel access pattern according to a further embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of a section of the controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 shows a diagram of a histogram based on a Monte Carlo simulation over the variable Δfi. Fig. 9 shows a diagram of a frequency- and time-hop-based occupancy of the resources of the frequency band defined by a channel access pattern, as well as a projection of the channel access pattern onto a time axis, according to an embodiment of the present invention.10 shows a diagram of resource elements of a channel access pattern projected onto a time axis, resulting in unused time slots, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 shows a diagram of resource elements of a channel access pattern with an activity rate A=1 / 4, projected onto a time axis, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 shows a diagram of resource elements of a channel access pattern with an activity rate A=1 / 4 and a predetermined minimum distance between successive time slots of the channel access pattern, projected onto a time axis, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 shows a temporal division of a channel access pattern 110 into areas of different activity rates A1, A2 and A3, according to an embodiment of the present invention.14 in a diagram, a frequency and time-hop based allocation of the resources of the frequency band defined by a channel access pattern, wherein the channel access pattern additionally has resources that can be activated as needed, according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 15 in a diagram, a frequency and time-hop based allocation of the resources of the frequency band defined by a channel access pattern, wherein a frequency range of the frequency band that is regularly subject to greater interference is not occupied by the channel access pattern, according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 16 in a diagram, a frequency and time-hop based allocation of the resources of the frequency band defined by a channel access pattern, wherein resources are bundled in the frequency range, according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig.17 is a diagram showing a temporal sequence of data transmissions within a coordinated communication system, Fig. 18a is a diagram showing a resource frame consisting of time resources, Fig. 18b is a diagram showing a resource frame consisting of frequency resources, Fig. 18c is a diagram showing a resource frame consisting of time and frequency resources, Fig. 19 is a diagram showing the occupancy of a resource frame with 19 (time) resources by three endpoints, wherein the first three resources are exclusively assigned to a first endpoint, the following six resources to a second endpoint 106_2, and the following resource to a third endpoint, Fig. 20 is a schematic block diagram of a communication system with a base station and a plurality of endpoints, according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig.21 in a diagram an occupancy of a resource frame with 20 (time) resources by four endpoints, wherein a first endpoint and a second endpoint have high latency requirements (low delay), and wherein a third endpoint and a fourth endpoint are energy-efficient endpoints, Fig. 22 a schematic view of a mapping function that maps the control information transmitted with the beacon (e.g. control parameters) and previously known parameters (e.g. base parameters) to output parameters, based on which the resources of the contention-free period exclusively allocated to the respective endpoints can be determined, Fig. 23 in a diagram an occupancy of a resource frame 20 (time) resources by a first group of four endpoints and three further endpoints, wherein the group of four endpoints and a second endpoint of the three further endpoints have high latency requirements (low delay).low delay), and wherein a third endpoint and a fourth endpoint are energy-efficient endpoints, Fig. 24 in a diagram an occupancy of a resource frame having 20 time resources and 16 frequency resources (of which 3 are used) per time resource by four endpoints, wherein three of the four endpoints are to be parallelized, wherein a first endpoint and a second endpoint have high latency requirements (low delay), and wherein a third endpoint and a fourth endpoint are energy-efficient endpoints, wherein the fourth endpoint has a low power budget, Fig.25 shows a diagram illustrating the allocation of a resource frame with 20 (time) resources by four energy-efficient endpoints, wherein a first endpoint of the four endpoints is assigned a number of resources which, taking into account the second relative channel access pattern, results in an access duration that is longer than the contention-free period, so that a resource assigned to the first endpoint lies outside the resource frame. Fig. 26 shows a diagram illustrating the allocation of a resource frame with 20 (time) resources by an energy-efficient endpoint, wherein the endpoint is assigned a number of resources which, according to the second relative channel access pattern, results in an allocation of resources in which a resource lies outside the resource frame, so that this one resource is regarded as belonging to a second virtual endpoint and is thus moved into the resource frame.27 shows a diagram of the allocation of a resource frame 20 (time) resources by four energy-efficient endpoints, wherein during the allocation of the resources the first endpoint to which a number of resources is allocated which, according to the second relative channel access pattern, leads to an allocation of resources in which a resource lies outside the resource frame, was regarded as two (virtual) endpoints, Fig. 28 shows a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 29 shows a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0181] In the following description of the embodiments of the present invention, identical or equivalent elements in the figures are provided with the same reference numerals so that their description is interchangeable.

[0182] First, it is explained how communication systems that communicate in the same frequency band, which may be used by a plurality of communication systems for communication, can be separated from each other by different channel access patterns, before subsequently explaining how resources of a contention-free access period for exclusive use can be efficiently allocated to one or more participants of the communication system. A. Network-specific channel access patterns

[0183] Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication arrangement 100 with a first communication system 102_1, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0184] The first communication system 102_1 may include a base station 104_1 and one or more endpoints 106_1-106J, where j is a natural number greater than or equal to one. In the Fig. 1In the embodiment shown, the first communication system 102_1 has four endpoints 106_1-106_4 for illustrative purposes, but the first communication system 104_1 may equally well have 1, 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000, or even 100,000 endpoints.

[0185] The first communication system 102_1 can be configured to communicate wirelessly in a frequency band (e.g., a license-free and / or authorization-free frequency band, e.g., ISM band) that is used by a plurality of communication systems for communication. The frequency band can have a significantly larger bandwidth (e.g., at least a factor of two) than the reception filters of the subscribers of the first communication system 102_1.

[0186] Within range of the first communication system 102_1, as shown in Fig. 1is indicated - for example, a second communication system 102_2 and a third communication system 102_3, whereby these three communication systems 102_1, 102_2 and 102_3 can use the same frequency band for wireless communication.

[0187] In embodiments, the first communication system 102_1 can be configured to use different frequencies or frequency channels of the frequency band (e.g. into which the frequency band is divided) in sections (e.g. time slot by time) for communication based on a channel access pattern, regardless of whether they 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 pattern differs from another channel access pattern based on which at least one other communication system of the plurality of other communication systems (e.g. the second communication system 102_2) accesses the frequency band.

[0188] In such a communication arrangement 100 as shown in Fig. 1As shown, the signals of mutually uncoordinated communication systems (e.g. the first communication system 102_1 and the second communication system 102_2) can thus be separated from one another by different channel access patterns, so that mutual disturbance by interference is avoided or minimized.

[0189] For example, subscribers of the first communication system 102_1, such as a base station 104_1 and a plurality of endpoints 106_1-106_4, can communicate wirelessly with each other based on a first channel access pattern (e.g., which specifies a frequency-hopping-based allocation (e.g., of resources) of the frequency band usable for the communication of the first communication system 102_1), while subscribers of the second communication system 102_2, such as a base station 104_2 and a plurality of endpoints 106_5-106_8, can communicate wirelessly with each other based on a second channel access pattern (e.g., which specifies a frequency-hopping-based allocation (e.g., of resources) of the frequency band usable for the communication of the second communication system 102_2), wherein the first channel access pattern and the second channel access pattern are different (e.g.,have an overlap in the resources used of less than 20%, ideally have no overlap).

[0190] As already mentioned, the communication systems (e.g. the first communication system 102_1 and the second communication system 102_2) are uncoordinated with each other.

[0191] The fact that the communication systems 102_1, 102_2, 102_3 are uncoordinated with each other refers here to the fact that the communication systems do not exchange information among themselves (= between the communication systems) about the respective channel access pattern used, or in other words, that one communication system has no knowledge of the channel access pattern used by another communication system. The first communication system 102_1 is therefore unaware of which channel access pattern is used by another communication system (e.g., the second communication system 102_2).

[0192] Embodiments thus relate to a communication arrangement 100 of mutually uncoordinated and possibly also unsynchronized radio networks (or communication systems) 102_1, 102_2 for data transmission, which access a shared frequency band. In other words, there are at least two radio networks 102_1, 102_2, each operating independently of one another. Both networks 102_1, 102_2 use the same frequency band.

[0193] In exemplary embodiments, it is assumed that only a (small) part of the frequency band is used for each individual data transmission, such as a frequency channel or a sub-frequency channel. For example, the frequency band can be divided into (sub-)frequency channels, with a frequency channel being a true subset of the entire frequency band. The totality of all available frequency channels constitutes the used frequency band. The transmission of a message (data packet) can take place sequentially over a series of different frequency channels, for example, using the telegram splitting method. In this case, exemplary embodiments are particularly useful.

[0194] Networks (or communication systems) 102_1, 102_2 are often arranged in such a way that transmission signals from participants in one network (e.g., the communication system 102_2) can also be received by participants in other, nearby networks (e.g., the communication system 102_1). Consequently, they appear there as interference signals, which can fundamentally significantly impair the performance of a radio transmission system, as described in Fig. 2 is shown.

[0195] In detail, Fig. 2 a schematic view of two mutually uncoordinated networks 102_1, 102_2, each with a base station (BS 1) 104_1, (BS 2) 104_2 and four associated terminals 106_1-106_4, 106_5-106_8. In other words, Fig. 2shows an example network topology for two networks 102_1, 102_2 with base stations (BS 1) 104_1, (BS 2) 104_2, and four terminal devices 106_1-106_4, 106_5-106_8. The red dashed arrows 108 symbolize potential interference signals, i.e., the radio subscribers can receive the transmission signals of the subscribers from the other network as interference signals. Depending on the circumstances, a large number of networks may be within reception range of one another, meaning that the subscribers (base stations or terminal devices) may be exposed to a significant number of interference sources from other networks.

[0196] If (as mentioned above) the frequency band is divided into individual, non-overlapping frequency channels as a shared resource, the impact of interference can be significantly reduced. In coordinated networks, each network can be assigned a portion of the frequency band (a set of frequency channels) exclusively, thus minimizing mutual interference. This is not possible in completely uncoordinated networks.

[0197] In embodiments, therefore, access to the physical transmission medium (ie the physical radio channel) in each network is designed such that at least one of a) the channel access, i.e. the frequency and time occupancy of the radio channel, in a network, has as little overlap in time and frequency as possible with the channel access in other networks of the same standard (high degree of "orthogonality"), b) the channel access has a (pseudo-)random character within desired specifications (e.g. average access frequency per time period) ("randomness"), c) to the extent that the specifications allow, no longer sequences of identical (in time and frequency) channel access occur between networks ("avoidance of systematic overlaps"), d) all frequency channels within the frequency band are used as evenly as possible in order to achieve the highest possible frequency diversity and, if applicable, compliance with official regulatory requirements ("equal distribution of frequency channel usage"), e) the information on the frequency and time occupancy of the radio channel, e.g.for new participants joining a network with the least possible signaling effort ("reduction of signaling information"), . is fulfilled.

[0198] In simple terms, in embodiments, mutual interference between multiple networks (inter-network interference) is reduced by channel access to the shared frequency band being different in frequency and time, preferably as "orthogonal" as possible and with (pseudo-)random character.

[0199] For illustrative purposes, it is assumed below that, in addition to the division of the frequency band into discrete frequency channels (indices c0, c1, c2,...), a temporal discretization of accesses within each network also takes place. The associated temporal resources are referred to as timeslots and are Fig. 3with the indices t0, t1, t2,... However, both requirements (discretization in frequency and time) are not necessary prerequisites for the application of the implementation examples.

[0200] In detail, Fig. 3 A diagram showing the division of the frequency band into resources and a frequency- and time-hopping-based allocation of the frequency band's resources defined by two different channel access patterns. The ordinate represents the frequency channel indices, and the abscissa represents the time slot indices.

[0201] For example, subscribers of the first communication system 102_1 can communicate wirelessly with each other based on the first channel access pattern 110_1, which specifies a frequency-hopping-based allocation of resources of the frequency band usable for the communication of the first communication system 102_1, while subscribers of the second communication system 102_2 can communicate wirelessly with each other based on the second channel access pattern 110_2, which specifies a frequency-hopping-based allocation of resources of the frequency band usable for the communication of the second communication system 102_2, wherein the first channel access pattern and the second channel access pattern are different (e.g., have an overlap of less than 20%, ideally have no overlap).

[0202] In other words, Fig. 3shows, in the form of a grid, an overview of all fundamentally available resources in frequency and time (schematic representation of the frequency channels and time slots as well as exemplary channel access patterns), wherein an individual resource element in the first communication network 102_1 is determined by assigning a frequency channel index and a time slot index. By way of example, the resources that can be allocated by the first communication network 102_1 are the resource elements identified by reference symbol 112_1. The set of all resources that can be allocated within a communication network represents a channel access pattern 110_1. For the first communication network 102_1, these are all resource elements identified by reference symbol 112_1, which are connected by arrows. In an equivalent manner, the channel access pattern of a further communication network (e.g., the second communication network 102_2) is in Fig. 3entered as an example (all resource elements identified by reference numeral 112_2, which are connected by arrows), which is not anchored in the same frequency and time grid as the first communication network 102_1 (resource elements are shifted in frequency and time from the basic grid of the first communication network 102_1).

[0203] It is important to distinguish between all fundamentally (maximally) available resource elements, ie the total set of all resource elements from which the channel access pattern selects a suitable subset (in Fig. 3 e.g. all elements of the grid), all resource elements actually included in the channel access pattern (in Fig. 3all resource elements marked with reference number 112_1) and the quantity of resource elements (of the channel access pattern) that are actually used in the network for data transmission (for example, with a low data volume, only every third resource element present in the channel access pattern could actually be used).

[0204] The design of the channel access pattern therefore also means determining the actively usable resource pool for this communication network (or communication system).

[0205] The following describes embodiments of base stations, endpoints, and / or communication systems that use channel access patterns for communication that satisfy at least one of the above-mentioned criteria a) to e). Furthermore, the following describes embodiments of generating such channel access patterns. A.1. Base station, endpoint and communication system

[0206] Fig. 4shows a schematic block diagram of a communication system 102 with a base station 104 and a plurality of endpoints 106_1-106_4, according to an embodiment.

[0207] As in Fig. 4 According to one embodiment, the communication system 102 may include a base station and four endpoints 106_1-106_4. However, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments; rather, the communication system may include one or more endpoints 106_1-106J, where j is a natural number greater than or equal to one. For example, the communication system may include 1, 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000, or even 100,000 endpoints.

[0208] The participants (= base station 104 and endpoints 106_1-106_4) of the Fig. 4The communication system shown uses a frequency band (e.g. a license-free and / or authorisation-free frequency band, e.g. ISM band) for mutual communication, which is used by a plurality of communication systems for communication, as described above with regard to the Fig. 1 to 3 The communication system 102 operates in an uncoordinated manner with respect to the other communication systems that use the same frequency band.

[0209] In embodiments, the base station 104 may be configured to transmit a signal 120, wherein the signal 120 comprises information about a channel access pattern 110, wherein the channel access pattern indicates a frequency- and / or time-hopping-based occupancy (e.g. of resources) of the frequency band usable for the communication of the communication system 102 (e.g. a temporal sequence of frequency resources usable for the communication of the communication system (e.g. distributed over the frequency band), wherein the information describes a state of a number sequence generator for generating a number sequence, wherein the number sequence determines the channel access pattern.

[0210] For example, the state of the number sequence generator can be an internal state of the number sequence generator, whereby a number in the number sequence can be derived from the internal state of the number sequence generator. Based on the internal state of the number sequence generator, internal states of the number sequence generator that follow the internal state of the number sequence generator can also be determined, from which the following numbers in the number sequence can also be derived. For example, the number in the number sequence can be derived directly from the internal state of the number sequence generator (e.g. state = number), e.g. when implementing the number sequence generator as a counter, or via a mapping function, e.g. when implementing the number sequence generator as a shift register, possibly with feedback.

[0211] In embodiments, at least one of the endpoints 106_1-106_4 may be configured to receive the signal 120 with the information about the channel access pattern 110 and to determine the channel access pattern 110 based on the information about the channel access pattern, wherein the information describes a state of a number sequence generator for generating a number sequence, wherein the number sequence determines the channel access pattern.

[0212] For example, the base station 104 and / or at least one of the endpoints 106_1-106_4 may be configured to pseudorandomly determine the channel access pattern depending on the state of the number sequence generator, such as using a pseudorandom mapping function.

[0213] Furthermore, the base station 104 and / or at least one of the endpoints 106_1-106_4 can be configured to pseudorandomly determine the channel access pattern depending on individual information of the communication system (e.g., intrinsic information of the communication system, such as a network-specific identifier).

[0214] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the generation of channel access patterns are described. The channel access patterns are generated by the base station 104 and can be based on the signal with the information 120 about the channel access pattern of at least one (or all) of the Fig. 4The channel access patterns are determined by the endpoints 106_1-106_4 shown, for example, by a controller (control device, control unit) 130 implemented in the base station 104 and / or in the endpoints 106_1-106_4. The channel access patterns are specified (exclusively) by the base station 104, while the endpoints 106_1-106_4 only "know" the channel access pattern, i.e., they generate it using the same method as the base station 104.

[0215] The following description assumes a radio transmission system (or a communication arrangement) with several independent, uncoordinated communication networks whose participants are within mutual reception range, so that transmission signals from participants in one network can potentially be considered interference signals for participants in other networks. For the application of the exemplary embodiments, it is not necessary for information (data or signaling information) to be exchanged between different networks. It is also irrelevant whether the networks are synchronized with each other in terms of time and / or frequency.

[0216] Furthermore, it is assumed that within each network there is a coordinating entity (hereinafter referred to as the "base station") that can transmit information about the channel access pattern used within the network to the non-coordinating participants in the network (hereinafter referred to as "end devices" or "endpoints"). This information can be transmitted, for example, via regularly transmitted beacons, but can also be transmitted at irregular intervals or, if necessary, specifically to individual end devices or groups of end devices.

[0217] Furthermore, it is assumed that the entire frequency band available for transmission is divided into a large number of individual frequency channels, each of which can be accessed individually or in subsets (groups of frequency channels).

[0218] Without limiting the generality and for the sake of clarity, the following explanations assume that within each network there is a fixed, discrete time frame at which channel accesses can occur (see also Fig. 3 Channel access in the form of transmitting a signal can be performed by both end devices and the base station. However, channel access does not necessarily have to occur in a resource designated for this purpose in the channel access pattern, for example, if no data or other information is pending transmission.

[0219] Fig. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of a controller 130 for generating a channel access pattern, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0220] As in Fig. 5As can be seen, the controller 130 may include a memory 132, a periodic number generator 134 for generating a periodic number sequence Z, a randomizing allocator 136, and a frequency / time allocator 138.

[0221] The memory (e.g., a register) 132 can be configured to hold a network-specific identifier ID 140, e.g., an (individual) bit sequence that does not change. The periodic number generator 134 can be configured to provide its state 142 or a number 142' derived from its state of the periodic number sequence. The randomizing assigner 136 can be configured to determine a pseudorandom number R 144 depending on the state 142 of the number sequence generator 134 or the number 142' derived therefrom of the periodic number sequence and the network-specific identifier ID 140. The frequency / time assigner 138 can be configured to determine frequency information f 146 and time information t 148 based on the pseudorandom number R 144.For example, the frequency information f 146 and the time information t 148 can describe or define a frequency channel and a time slot (or a frequency channel index and a time slot index) and thus a resource of the channel access pattern.

[0222] The controller 130 can, for example, as shown in Fig. 4 indicated - be implemented in the base station 104 and / or in the one or more endpoints 106_1-106-4 to calculate the individual (or network-individual) channel access pattern used by the communication system 102.

[0223] In other words, Fig. 5 shows the basic structure for generating channel access patterns according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0224] The generation of the channel access patterns is iterative, ie the Fig. 5The blocks shown are called once per generation of a single channel access information. Calling them N times thus generates a channel access pattern with N channel accesses.

[0225] The function of the subblocks is explained in detail below. The term "number" is used. This generally refers to discrete information that can be represented in various ways (e.g., in decimal form, as a binary sequence, or similar). Network-specific identifier "ID"

[0226] The network-specific identifier is a fixed number that is determined by an external entity (e.g., during network configuration or the coordinating base station). Ideally, it varies from network to network. For example, it could be a unique, sufficiently long base station ID, a unique network ID, or a sufficiently long hash of each of them. This value is fixed and, in the arrangement shown, is the only one that does not vary from call to call. Periodic number generator "Z"

[0227] The periodic number generator 134 generates a sequence of numbers Z that repeats periodically with periodicity P. It has an internal state S n , from which the next generated number and the next internal state S n+1 can be uniquely determined. The crucial feature is that the entire periodic sequence for any time step can be derived from a single internal state (which exists at any time step). A simple embodiment is, for example, a modulo-P counter that periodically produces the number sequence 0, 1, 2... (P-1). Another embodiment is a deterministic random number generator (pseudo-random number generator), e.g., implemented in the form of a feedback shift register (LFSR). A third embodiment is a finite field (Galois field) with P elements. Randomizing assigner

[0228] The randomizing allocator 136 generates an output number R from the two input numbers ID and Z, ie R= map_rand (ID, Z), where map_rand represents the assignment function. The assignment is as random as possible, ie a mathematically correlated input sequence (consisting of ID, Z) produces an output sequence R that is as uncorrelated as possible.

[0229] Examples of implementation of a random assignment are Concatenation of the two input numbers, the application of a cyclic redundancy check (CRC for short) to the input variables ID, Z, which leads to the number R and has a randomizing character, the application of a hash function, the application of an encryption, e.g. AES encryption, whereby the associated key is known to all authorized participants and which thus also represents a method for introducing "transport layer security" (TLS for short).

[0230] The sequence of elements of the number R is pseudorandom in nature according to the above criteria. It should vary from network to network to avoid overlaps in channel access patterns as much as possible. Frequency / time allocator

[0231] The frequency / time allocator 138 allocates to each input number R a 2-tuple of frequency information (radio frequency f) and time information (access time t) by means of a mapping, ie (f,t)= map_ft (R), where " map_ft " represents the assignment function. While the sequence of frequencies can in principle be arbitrary within the given frequency band, the times must be in a monotonically increasing form from call to call, since "jumps back" in time are not permitted.

[0232] Of particular importance as an embodiment is the case where the channel access is discretized in frequency and time directions (as described above), i.e., in the form of discrete frequency channels and discrete time slots. In this case, the frequency / time allocator assigns a 2-tuple of frequency channel index fi and time slot index ti to each input number R, i.e., (fi,ti)= map_ft (R). The time slots are indexed in ascending chronological order, since "backwards" in time are not permitted. Further details on the allocation of time slots can be found in Section 3.

[0233] 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.

[0234] The precise design of the frequency / time allocator, together with the probability function of the number R, determines the access statistics to the channel. State signaling and predictability

[0235] The Fig. 5 The arrangement shown generates a channel access pattern that depends on both a time-invariant, network-specific identifier and a state-dependent (and thus time-varying) periodic number generator (periodicity P). The network-specific identifier ensures 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 identical channel access patterns and thus, in the worst case, experience a "permanent collision" of channel accesses.

[0236] To determine the channel access pattern used in the network, a terminal device requires both the network-specific identifier and the current state of the periodic number generator.

[0237] The network-specific identifier The device receives this identifier upon initial network registration. This is preferably transmitted via beacon signals regularly transmitted by the base station and made accessible to all authorized devices. Alternatively, the network-specific identifier can also be made known to the device during initial configuration (at delivery), i.e., before initial network operation.

[0238] The condition of the periodic number generator can be transmitted either in a regular beacon signal and / or in dedicated state signaling resources. A number generator with periodicity P has P internal states, so that to transmit the respective state ⌈ log 2 P ⌉ Bits must be transmitted. The amount of information transmitted per status signal (number of bits) can thus be controlled on demand by the selected periodicity of the number generator.

[0239] The information transmitted for status signaling can be transmitted in the form of multiple pieces of information, with transmission occurring at different frequencies. For example, if the periodic number generator (Z) is a counter, the most significant bits (MSBs) of the counter could be transmitted separately from the least significant bits (LSBs) and at a different frequency (e.g., less frequently). Even if it is not a counter, the entire status information could be transmitted in the form of multiple pieces of status information with different transmission frequencies.

[0240] Due to the periodicity of the number generator, a terminal device that knows the state of the number generator at at least one point in time can determine the entire channel access pattern for any point in time / time slot in the future. This allows the terminal device, for example, to deactivate the transmit / receive unit in a power-saving idle state and, upon subsequent activation of the transmit / receive unit, to predict the then-valid section of the channel access pattern from the last previously known state. The base station can thus transmit the state information at comparatively long intervals.

[0241] In summary, the method described here has the advantage that the combination of a network-specific identifier and a periodic number generator creates a comparatively large state space for the (pseudo-random) number R. This prevents the channel access patterns of networks with different network-specific identifiers from being identical, thus minimizing systematic collisions between channel accesses of different, uncoordinated networks. This proves particularly advantageous in the Telegram Splitting Multiple Access (TSMA) method.

[0242] Advantageous features of the frequency-time mapper are explained in more detail in the following sections. Another embodiment of the controller

[0243] According to Fig. 5 and the above description, a periodic number generator 134 is required. This is replaced in the following embodiment as follows.

[0244] Real-world radio networks are often operated with a beacon signal that is transmitted regularly. Each beacon transmission can be assigned a counter that corresponds to a beacon sequence index. This beacon sequence index is referred to here as the "beacon index."

[0245] It is also common for time slots in a time slot based system to be provided with a time slot index counter (ascending in time direction) (see also Fig. 3 ). This is referred to here as the "time slot index." The beacon index is reset to zero at certain intervals specified by the system, thus exhibiting a periodicity. The same applies to the time slot index (which, for example, starts again at zero after a beacon transmission).

[0246] Fig. 6shows a schematic block diagram of a controller 130 for generating a channel access pattern, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0247] The controller 130 may include a memory 132, a first buffer 135_1, a second buffer 135_2, a randomizing mapper 136, and a frequency / time mapper 138.

[0248] The memory (e.g., a register) 132 can be configured to hold a network-specific identifier ID 140, e.g., an (individual) bit sequence that does not change. The first buffer (e.g., a register) 135_1 can be configured to hold a periodic beacon index Z1 143_1. The second buffer (e.g., a register) 135_2 can be configured to hold a periodic time slot index Z2 143_2. The randomizing allocator 136 can be configured to determine a pseudorandom number R 144 depending on the periodic beacon index Z1 143_1, the periodic time slot index Z2 143_2, and the network-specific identifier ID 140. The frequency / time allocator 138 may be configured to determine frequency information f 146 and time information t 148 based on the pseudorandom number R 144.For example, the frequency information f 146 and the time information t 148 can describe or define a frequency channel and a time slot (or a frequency channel index and a time slot index) and thus a resource of the channel access pattern.

[0249] In other words, Fig. 6 shows a modified basic structure for generating channel access patterns with beacon index and time slot index. In Fig. 6 An embodiment is shown in which, compared to the one in Fig. 5 In the illustrated embodiment, the periodic number generator (output Z) 134 has been replaced by the two blocks "periodic beacon index" (output Z1) 135_1 and "periodic time slot index" (output Z2) 135_2. All other blocks are functionally unchanged (the randomizing allocator now has three inputs).

[0250] The Fig. 5 and 6The controllers 130 shown enable the generation of network-specific channel access patterns, which have at least one of the following properties: The channel access patterns contain as few overlapping subsequences as possible, there is (e.g. in areas with high network density) a large supply of channel access patterns, the channel access patterns are designed in such a way that they have a very high periodicity, the channel access patterns lead (if corresponding requirements exist) to an averagely uniform use of the available frequency channels, the signaling of the applied pattern is carried out by the coordinating instance with as little signaling information as possible, and terminal devices can, even after receiving the complete signaling of the channel access pattern once, determine the content of the channel access pattern at any future point in time (this enables terminal devices, e.g.to insert longer reception pauses for energy saving reasons and to determine the then valid channel access pattern on the basis of information received before the reception pause when switching on again. A.2. Control of channel access in the frequency domain

[0251] To simplify the following illustration, it is assumed that the frequency range (or frequency band) is divided into discrete frequency channels and that transmission is carried out using the TSMA method.

[0252] Mobile radio channels typically exhibit signal attenuation that varies with frequency. If a data packet is transmitted as multiple sub-packets according to the TSMA method, and the underlying mobile radio channel is unknown at the transmitter, the average transmission error rate can be reduced or even minimized by distributing the individual sub-packets across the entire frequency range (utilizing frequency diversity).

[0253] For this reason, it can be advantageous (especially if a data packet consists of only a few partial data packets) to ensure that the frequency channels on which the partial data packets are transmitted have a certain (minimum) distance in the frequency range relative to each other.

[0254] Since the channel access pattern within a network significantly determines the frequency hopping behavior in TSMA, a suitable procedure can be used to ensure that there is a minimum distance between two consecutive frequency channels of the channel access pattern.

[0255] In embodiments, the frequency / time allocator 138 (see Fig. 5 or 6 ) can therefore be designed to determine frequency information f and time information t based on the pseudorandom number R, wherein the frequency information f indicates a distance between two consecutive frequency channels.

[0256] The frequency / time allocator 138 in Fig. 5 or 6 , which determines absolute frequency channels independently from access to access based on the pseudorandom number R, can therefore alternatively also determine distances between two consecutive frequency channels.

[0257] Fig. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of a section of the controller 130, according to an embodiment. As in Fig. 7 can be seen, the frequency / time allocator 138 (see Fig. 5 or 6 ) be designed to determine frequency information and time information based on the pseudorandom number R, wherein the frequency information indicates a distance Δfi n between two consecutive frequency channels.

[0258] As in Fig. 7As can also be seen, the controller 130 may comprise a mapper 150, which may be configured to map the distance Δfi n between two consecutive frequency channels to a frequency channel index fi, for example by means of a combiner (e.g. adder) 152 and a delay element 154.

[0259] In other words, Fig. 7 shows the generation of frequency jumps with minimum and / or maximum jump width. In Fig. 7 It is illustrated that the frequency / time allocator 138 of Fig. 5 or 6 is now replaced by a frequency difference / time allocator 138, which no longer provides absolute frequency channel indices at its immediate output, but rather frequency channel index differences.

[0260] By means of a suitable mapping function (Δfi,t)=map_Δft(R) in the frequency difference / time allocator, it can be ensured that only frequency channel index jumps Δfi n =fi n+1 -fi n (from channel access n to channel access n+1) occur which, for example, lie within a desired range, e.g., Δfi max ≥Δfi≥Δfi min for Δfi>0 and Δfi max ≥(-Δfi)≥Δfi min for Δfi<0. There are numerous methods for implementing such a restriction, which themselves are not the subject of the invention. An exemplary implementation in the form of a corresponding program code for MATLAB (with which Fig. 8 was generated) can be found in the appendix.

[0261] Fig. 8 shows a diagram of a histogram based on a Monte Carlo simulation of the variable Δfi (difference of the frequency channel index Δfi between temporally adjacent channel accesses).

[0262] In the example shown, 72 frequency channels are available. The parameters associated with the simulation results are Δfi min =21, Δfi max =51, i.e., the spacing between two consecutive accesses in the channel access pattern is between 21 and 51 frequency channels.

[0263] By suitable modifications of the exemplary program code, which are easily understood by the person skilled in the art, other distribution forms for Δfi can be generated (e.g. uniform distribution in the range from -Δfi min to -Δfi max or +Δfi min to +Δfi max ) than in Fig. 8 shown. A.3. Specification of the temporal channel access activity

[0264] In a heavily loaded system, all available time slots can be included in the channel access pattern. In less heavily loaded systems, not every time slot needs to be available for channel access. This is illustrated in the following figure.

[0265] Fig. 9shows a diagram of a frequency- and time-hopping-based allocation of the resources 112 of the frequency band defined by a channel access pattern 110, as well as a projection of the channel access pattern 110 onto a time axis, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ordinate represents the frequency channel indices, and the abscissa represents the time slot indices.

[0266] In other words, Fig. 9 The upper part shows an example of a channel access pattern 110 in the dimensions of frequency and time (resource elements 112), and the lower part shows its projection onto the time dimension. It can be seen that not every time slot is part of the channel access pattern 110.

[0267] Thus, in addition to the frequency dimension (in the form of the frequency channel index), the time dimension (in the form of the time slot index) is also available for generating a pseudorandom channel access pattern 110. When generating a channel access pattern, an average activity rate A can thus be specified. This is defined here as the average ratio of time slots used for channel access to the total maximum available time slots. If every time slot is used, the activity rate A is thus 1 (100%). If, on average, only every third time slot is included in the channel access pattern, the average activity rate A is 1 / 3.

[0268] The activity rate therefore determines the (temporal) density of the resources 112 offered in the channel access pattern 110.

[0269] In embodiments, the time slots selected for channel access at a predetermined activity rate may be pseudorandomly selected from a suitable portion of the pseudorandom number R (see Fig. 5 or 6 ) can be determined. Example 1

[0270] In each step n, an integer rn can be derived from the corresponding pseudorandom number R n , which can assume values ​​between r min and r max , i.e., r min ≤ rn ≤ r max . After each time slot active in the channel access pattern 110, a number of rn time slots can be skipped, which are thus not used for channel access. This process is exemplified in Fig. 10 shown.

[0271] In detail, Fig. 10 in a diagram projected onto a time axis, resource elements 112 of a channel access pattern 110 resulting in unused time slots, according to an embodiment.

[0272] In other words, Fig. 10 shows an exemplary sequence of used and unused time slots, according to an embodiment.

[0273] If the number r is derived from the number R in such a way that the elements of r occur with equal frequency between r min and r max (uniform distribution), the following activity rate results: A = 2 / 2 + r min + r max .

[0274] The method presented in the above embodiment has the advantage that minimum and maximum intervals can be specified between the time slots active in channel access pattern 110. Specifying minimum intervals can be particularly advantageous for battery-operated devices, where transmission pauses of a certain minimum length between two consecutive transmissions (recovery phase) increase battery life.

[0275] In a comparable approach, it can be specified that a minimum number of active time slots follow one another directly. Example 2

[0276] In an implementation according to Example 1, longer areas with locally significantly higher or lower activity rates than desired can theoretically occur. This effect is avoided in the following example.

[0277] Here, groups of consecutive time slots are periodically specified, within each of which an active time slot of the channel access pattern is placed. This is for an activity rate of 1 / 4 (25%) in Fig. 11 shown as an example.

[0278] In detail, Fig. 11 in a diagram projected onto a time axis, resource elements 112 of a channel access pattern 110 with an activity rate A=1 / 4, according to an embodiment.

[0279] In other words, Fig. 11 shows an exemplary sequence of used and unused time slots, according to an embodiment.

[0280] As in Fig. 11 As can be seen, the time slots can be clustered into 114 (in the example of Fig. 11 of length 4). Exactly one time slot of the channel access pattern 110 is placed in each cluster 114. The position of the time slots included in the channel access pattern 110 within the cluster 114 can be determined by a shift vn, which is derived from the pseudorandom number Rn and can assume integer values ​​between 0 and (cluster length - 1).

[0281] In the event that a minimum distance between two consecutive time slots of the channel access pattern 110 is to be ensured, non-occupyable areas can be introduced between the clusters 114. These can consist of one or more time slots, as shown in Fig. 12 is illustrated.

[0282] In detail, Fig. 12in a diagram projected onto a time axis, resource elements 112 of a channel access pattern 110 with an activity rate A=1 / 4 and a predetermined minimum distance between successive time slots of the channel access pattern 110, according to an embodiment.

[0283] In other words, Fig. 12 shows an exemplary sequence of used and unused time slots with unassignable time slots, according to an embodiment.

[0284] As in Fig. 12 As can be seen, due to the unassignable time slots, the permissible range of the shift variable vn is reduced to the value range from 0 to (cluster length-1-length of the unassignable range).

[0285] Depending on the selected activity rate, clusters 114 may need to have different lengths to achieve the desired activity rate. In this case, the value range of vn varies according to the respective cluster length. For example, to set an activity rate of 40%, clusters of length two and length three can alternate. A.4. Channel access patterns with areas of different activity rates

[0286] Data packets that are to reach the receiver as quickly as possible (short latency) require channel accesses that are as close together as possible during transmission, i.e. a comparatively high activity rate in the channel access pattern.

[0287] For data packets where transmission reliability (e.g., high robustness against external interference) is paramount, spreading the transmission over a longer period of time can be advantageous, thus resulting in a comparatively low activity rate in the channel access pattern. The same applies to devices where temporally equalized energy consumption from the battery (time-stretched transmission activity) is desired.

[0288] As shown above, the activity rate, ie the frequency of channel access, can be specified by appropriate measures. In order to meet the possibly different requirements in a network, a channel access pattern can be designed in such a way that it has areas with different activity rates. This is Fig. 13 shown as an example. Depending on individual requirements, end devices can then transmit in the range most suitable for them.

[0289] In detail, Fig. 13 a temporal division of a channel access pattern 110 into areas of different activity rates A 1 , A 2 and A 3 , according to an embodiment.

[0290] In other words, Fig. 13 shows an example of a channel access pattern with three areas of different activity rates within the channel access pattern 110. A.5. Demand-dependent (dynamic) adjustment of the activity rate of the channel access pattern

[0291] In networks (or communication systems) 102, different load situations may exist at different times. As explained above, the actively usable resource pool for this network can be determined by designing the channel access pattern 110 (ie, its activity rate or average temporal density).

[0292] Providing a high resource reserve (high activity rate) with a low actual load can be disadvantageous, especially for battery-powered devices. An example of this is a battery-powered base station (e.g., in a PAN network, possibly in repeater mode), which operates the receiver and thus consumes energy during all active resources of the channel access pattern.

[0293] Therefore, it may be useful to dynamically adapt the average activity rate, i.e., the temporal density of the resources offered by channel access pattern 110, to the prevailing load conditions. If the activity rate of channel access pattern 110 changes, this is signaled accordingly to the participants in the network, for which, for example, the beacon signal (or dedicated signaling resources) can be used.

[0294] If a terminal device 106 is in a prolonged idle state (energy-saving mode), it may not receive the signaling information transmitted by the base station 104 during the idle state via a possibly modified channel access pattern. In such a scenario, it may be useful for a channel access pattern 110 to provide a minimum pool of (basic) resources that is available at all times and without special signaling, as well as an additional pool of resources that can be added depending on the load and is subject to appropriate signaling.

[0295] In the above sense, additional resources added to the channel access pattern can, for example, be arranged after the basic resources in time or can be arranged interleaved with them in the time / frequency grid, as shown in Fig. 14 is shown.

[0296] In detail, Fig. 141 shows a diagram of a frequency- and time-hopping-based allocation of resources 112 of the frequency band defined by a channel access pattern 110, wherein the channel access pattern 110 additionally comprises resources 112* that can be activated as needed, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ordinate represents the frequency channel indices, and the abscissa represents the time slot indices.

[0297] In other words, Fig. 14 shows an example of entangled basic and additional resources. A.6. Adaptive frequency range allocation

[0298] In certain unlicensed frequency bands, users may be able to decide for themselves, without regulatory restrictions, which frequency ranges they use within the frequency band. This may result in certain areas of the available frequency band being more heavily occupied by external users than others and thus being more exposed to interference.

[0299] If a base station 104 detects such medium- or long-term asymmetric utilization of the frequency band (e.g., through frequency-channel-by-frequency signal-to-interference power estimates based on received signals), the above-average occupied area of ​​the frequency band can be avoided for use by its own network by not including the associated frequency channels in the channel access pattern. This is implemented in the frequency / time allocator (see Fig. 5 or 6 ) and is signaled to all network participants in an appropriate manner.

[0300] The group of excluded frequency channels can be described, for example, by a corresponding start and end frequency channel index or by a start frequency channel index and a following channel number.

[0301] Fig. 15shows a diagram of a frequency- and time-hopping-based allocation of resources 112 of the frequency band defined by a channel access pattern 110, wherein a frequency range 115 of the frequency band that is regularly subject to greater interference is not occupied by the channel access pattern 110, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ordinate represents the frequency channel indices, and the abscissa represents the time slot indices.

[0302] As in Fig. 15 As can be seen, a frequency range 115 that is regularly subject to greater interference (e.g., heavily occupied by external networks) is taken into account when generating the channel access pattern 110. Frequency channels in this frequency range 115 are therefore not included in the channel access pattern 110.

[0303] In other words, Fig. 15 shows an example of excluding heavily disturbed frequency channels from the channel access pattern.

[0304] By avoiding interference-prone frequency ranges for data transmission in your own network, a certain load balancing across the frequency band is achieved by ensuring that other networks in the already heavily used frequency ranges do not experience additional interference. A.7. Bundling of resource elements in the frequency domain (frequency channel bundling)

[0305] Depending on the hardware and software used, it is possible for a base station 104 to receive on multiple frequency channels simultaneously (frequency channel bundling). In this case, it is particularly advantageous for systems with higher loads to increase the number of resource elements offered within the network in the frequency dimension accordingly and to include multiple frequency channels within a time slot in the channel access pattern, as described in Fig. 16 is shown.

[0306] In detail, Fig. 161 shows a diagram illustrating frequency- and time-hopping-based allocations of resources 112 of the frequency band, defined by a channel access pattern 110, wherein resources 112 are bundled in the frequency domain, according to one embodiment. The ordinate represents the frequency channel indices, and the abscissa represents the time slot indices.

[0307] In other words, Fig. 16 shows an example of the channel access pattern 110 when bundling three adjacent frequency channels into resource clusters. Fig. 16 The bundling of three frequency channels is shown as an example. Each group of resource elements of a time slot can be referred to as a "resource cluster." The channel access pattern 110 can be supplemented with information about the number of frequency channels that constitute a resource cluster.

[0308] As a further embodiment, it should be mentioned that the frequency channels grouped into resource clusters do not necessarily have to be directly adjacent.

[0309] The following shows how one or more participants of a communication system 102 can access a selection of the resources released for the communication system 102 by the network-specific channel access pattern 110 using a relative channel access pattern. 8. Efficient signaling of jump patterns in allocated resources

[0310] It is assumed below that within the network 102_1 (or communication system) there is a coordinating instance (hereinafter referred to as base station 104) as well as non-coordinating participants (hereinafter referred to as terminal devices or endpoints).

[0311] To enable endpoints 106_1-106J to coordinate with base station 104, base station 104 transmits a beacon 120 (or beacon signal) at known (e.g., regular) intervals, as explained in Section A. Endpoints 106_1-106J can receive this beacon 120, coordinate with it, and, if necessary, receive and transmit data at the times signaled in beacon 120.

[0312] Such an approach is also used in [6].

[0313] In communication systems, in addition to contention-based access (e.g., at specified time intervals), exclusive access to assigned resources (contention-free access) is often offered. The advantage of allocating resources is reduced susceptibility to interference, as interference from other endpoints in the same communication system can be excluded. The throughput of the communication system can also be increased, as all participants (e.g., base station and / or endpoints) can now use the resources without conflicts with other participants.

[0314] However, the allocation of exclusive resources also has disadvantages. For example, all endpoints 106_1-106_j to which exclusive resources are to be made available must be informed in the beacon 120 of the respective user identifier (e.g., ID (ID = identification) or EUI (EUI = Extended Unique Identifier)), the length of the allocated resources, the start time index, a frequency index (if applicable), a hop pattern (if applicable), and other parameters.

[0315] In conventional communication systems, these parameters are transmitted in the beacon 120. However, this beacon 120 must be received by all endpoints 106_1-106J, since the endpoints 106_1-106J can only evaluate whether the transmitted information is relevant to the respective endpoints 106_1-106J after receiving the beacon 120 (e.g., due to data encryption). The more endpoints 106_1-106J that need to be coordinated within the beacon 120, the longer the transmission time of the beacon 120 and thus also the power consumption of the endpoints 106_1-106J.

[0316] This is where the following examples of implementation come into play.

[0317] In exemplary embodiments, the size of the data to be transmitted is reduced within the beacon 120. This also reduces the transmission time and thus also the power consumption in the endpoints 106_1-106J.

[0318] This represents a significant advantage, especially in large communication systems 102_1 (e.g., networks) with a large number of endpoints 106_1-106J, if the endpoints 106_1-106J are only battery-operated. For example, if j = 100,000 endpoints 106_1-106J are connected to a base station 104, of which the base station 104 wants to allocate fixed resources to three endpoints, for example, after the next beacon 120, the 99,997 other endpoints must also receive the beacon 120, even though the information is not intended for these endpoints. If the duration of the beacon 120 can be reduced by, for example, 25%, a not significantly small saving in power consumption results at the endpoints 106_1-106J.

[0319] To explain the reduction of the amount of data that is transmitted in the beacon 120 for signaling the resources to specific endpoints, made possible by exemplary embodiments, the following will first be explained using the Fig. 17the timing of data transmissions within a coordinated communication system and the logic behind them are explained.

[0320] In detail, Fig. 17 in a diagram, a temporal sequence of data transmissions within a coordinated communication system. The ordinate represents the frequency and the abscissa represents time. In other words, Fig. 17 shows an example temporal structure of a coordinated communication system for data transmission.

[0321] After the beacon 120, a period 160 (contention-free period; CFP) follows, during which the base station 104 assigns resources to selected endpoints (or a group of endpoints (e.g., in multicast)) (contention-free access). These resources can then only be used by the respective endpoints. Typically, resources are assigned to more than one of the endpoints during this period 160, so that the resources are distributed among the endpoints. This distribution is signaled in advance in the beacon 120 to prevent collisions between the endpoints.

[0322] The contention-free period 160 can be followed by a contention-based access period 162, during which contention-based access occurs. The order and duration of periods 160 and 162 after the beacon 120 are interchangeable and dynamically adjustable.

[0323] The resources of the beacon 120 as well as resources of the contention-free access period 160 (contention-free access period (CFP)) and the contention-based access period (CAP)) can be defined using a channel access pattern 110 according to Section A. This channel access pattern 110 defines the resources provided, which are distributed among the endpoints 106_1-106J (so-called hierarchical telegram splitting).

[0324] The resources provided by the communication system 102 in the contention-free period 160 can also be referred to as a resource frame. This resource frame can consist of pure time, pure frequency, or a combination of time and frequency resources. These possibilities are shown for an exemplary size in the Fig. 18a-c shown.

[0325] In detail, Fig. 18ain a diagram a resource framework 165 consisting of time resources, while Fig. 18b in a diagram a resource frame 165 consisting of frequency resources, and while Fig. 18c shows a resource framework 165 consisting of time and frequency resources in a diagram. The ordinate represents frequency and the abscissa represents time. In other words, Fig. 18a-c show different possibilities of a resource framework 165.

[0326] In the case of a compact transmission in one piece (without frequency hopping, time hopping or TSMA (Telegram Splitting Multiple Access) a simple linear allocation can be made according to the required lengths of the end points (e.g. in GSM in eight time slots), which is illustrated in Fig. 19 shown graphically.

[0327] In detail, Fig. 19in a diagram, an occupancy of a resource frame 165 with l = 19 (time) resources 112_1-112_1 by three endpoints 106_1-106_3, with the first three resources 112_1-112_3 being exclusively assigned to a first endpoint 106_1, the following six resources 112_4-112_9 being exclusively assigned to a second endpoint 106_2, and the following resource 112_10 being exclusively assigned to a third endpoint 106_3. The ordinate represents the frequency and the abscissa represents time.

[0328] In other words, Fig. 19 shows a linear division of the resource frame 165 into three endpoints 106_1, 106_2, and 106_3. A similar structure would be possible for a pure frequency resource frame 165 or a combined time and frequency resource frame 165.

[0329] When using a hierarchical frequency hopping procedure or hierarchical telegram splitting (jump pattern within the contention-free period 164), a division according to Fig. 19Typically not possible if endpoints 106_1-106_j are battery-powered, as these endpoints require a transmit / receive pause between resources (or resource elements) to charge the capacitors. The necessary pauses between the used resource elements of an endpoint depend on several parameters. These include, for example, the activity index from Section A and the minimum pause an endpoint requires to charge the capacitors.

[0330] In addition to the parameters mentioned above, other parameters influence the allocation of resources (or resource elements) to the endpoints 106_1-106J, including the following: Number of available resource elements in the time direction, number of available resource elements in the frequency direction, number of endpoints that are assigned 165 resource elements within the resource frame, delay requirements of the application, and SNR of the respective endpoints to the base station.

[0331] To cover all these possibilities, a large set of hop patterns is conventionally defined, which is known to both the endpoints 106_1-106J and the base station 104. The hop pattern used is transmitted in the beacon 120 along with a start time index and / or, if applicable, a frequency index.

[0332] Fig. 20 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication system 102_1 with a base station 104 and a plurality of endpoints 106_1-106_j, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0333] As already explained in detail above (see e.g. Fig. 4 ), the base station 104 and the endpoints 106_1-106J of the communication system 102_1 use a frequency band (e.g., a license-free and / or authorization-free frequency band, e.g., ISM band) for mutual communication, which is used by a plurality of communication systems for communication. The communication system 102_1 operates in an uncoordinated manner with respect to other communication systems 102_2, 102_3 (see Fig. 1 ) that use the same frequency band.

[0334] As was also explained in detail above, the base station 104 is configured to transmit a signal 120 (e.g., a beacon signal), wherein the signal 120 comprises information (e.g., signaling information) about a (network-specific) channel access pattern 110, wherein the (network-specific) channel access pattern 110 indicates a frequency- and / or time-hopping-based allocation of resources 112_1-112_m of the frequency band that can be used for the communication of the communication system 102. The endpoints 106_1-106J are configured to receive the signal 120 and to determine the (network-specific) channel access pattern 110 based on the information about the (network-specific) channel access pattern 110 (see, e.g., Fig. 5 and 6 ).

[0335] At least a part of the resources 112_1-112_m specified by the channel access pattern 110 is assigned to a contention-free transmission section 160, in which the base station 104 controls access to the resources 112_1-112_l (l ≤ m), ie assigns one or more endpoints 106_1-106J of the communication system 102_1 for exclusive use.

[0336] For this purpose, the signal 120 transmitted by the base station 104 further comprises control information for controlling access to the resources 112_1-112_l of the contention-free transmission section 160, ie the part of the resources 112_1-112_m specified by the channel access pattern 110 that is assigned to the contention-free period 160.

[0337] In embodiments, the contention-free transmission section 160 may be a single contention-free period. Alternatively, the contention-free transmission section 160 may also comprise multiple contention-free periods. Furthermore, it is possible for the contention-free transmission section 160 to be composed of multiple sub-transmission sections that are distributed in time and / or frequency (e.g., spaced apart from each other by a time and / or frequency interval).

[0338] In the following description, it is assumed, for example, that the contention-free transmission section 160 is a single contention-free period. However, the following description is equally applicable to other embodiments in which the contention-free transmission section 160 comprises multiple contention-free periods or is composed of multiple partial transmission sections.

[0339] In embodiments, only a portion of the information actually required (e.g., IDs of the endpoints, length of the contention-free period 160, number of resources for each of the endpoints, hop pattern for each of the endpoints, start time offset and frequency offset for each of the endpoints, etc.) is transmitted in the signaling information to determine the resources 112_1-112_7 of the contention-free period 160 exclusively allocated to the respective endpoints in order to reduce the required overhead for allocating the resources 112_1-112_l of the contention-free period 160.

[0340] According to the concept of the present invention, the resources exclusively allocated to one of the endpoints 106_1-106J of the communication system 102_1 from the resources 112_1-112_l of the contention-free period 160 can be determined based on a mapping function that maps the control information to the respective exclusively allocated resources.

[0341] Instead of transmitting the complete information, which is actually required to determine the resources 112_1-112_l of the contention-free period 160 exclusively allocated to the respective endpoints 106_1-106_j, only a part of this information is transmitted by means of the control information, wherein based on the mapping function that maps the control information to the exclusively allocated resources, the resources exclusively allocated to the respective endpoints 106_1-106J of the communication system 102_1 can be determined from the resources 112_1-112_l of the contention-free period 160.

[0342] In Fig. 20For example, it is assumed that the first l = 7 resources 112_1-112_l (l = 7) of the channel access pattern 110 are assigned to the contention-free period 160, while the resources 112_l+1-112_m of the channel access pattern 110 are assigned to a contention-based period 162. Of course, any other number of resources can also be assigned to the contention-free period.

[0343] Furthermore, Fig. 20For example, it is assumed that the mapping function that maps the control information to the exclusively assigned resources results in a first endpoint 106_1 being exclusively assigned resources 112_1 and 112_2 of the contention-free period 160, while a second endpoint 106_2 being exclusively assigned resources 112_3, 112_5, and 112_7 of the contention-free period 160 according to a second relative channel access pattern 116_2. Resources 112_4 and 112_6 of the contention-free period 160 may be exclusively assigned to other endpoints, such as a third endpoint 106_3 and / or a fourth endpoint 106_4.

[0344] As in Fig. 20As can be seen by way of example, the first endpoint 106_1 may be assigned the resources 112_1 and 112_2 according to a first channel access pattern 116_1, while the second endpoint 106_2 may be assigned the resources 112_3, 112_5 and 112_7 according to a second channel access pattern 116_2. The first relative channel access pattern 116_1 can specify a time- and / or frequency-hopping-based allocation of resources to be used of the resources 112_1-112_l of the contention-free period 160, while the second relative channel access pattern 116_2 can specify a time- and / or frequency-hopping-based allocation of resources to be used of the resources 112_1-112_l of the contention-free period 160, wherein the first relative channel access pattern 116_1 and the second relative channel access pattern 116_2 are different.For example, the first relative channel access pattern 116_1 may indicate that immediately consecutive resources of the resources 112_1-112_l of the contention-free period 160 are to be used, while the second relative channel access pattern 116_2 may indicate that every p-th resource of the resources 112_1-112_l of the contention-free period 160 is to be used, where p is a natural number greater than or equal to two, p ≥ 2.

[0345] For transmitting data (e.g. by means of a data signal 170_1) between the base station 104 and the first endpoint 106_1 (e.g. from the base station 104 to the first endpoint 106_1 and / or from the first endpoint 106_1 to the base station 104), the exclusively allocated resources 112_1 and 112_2 are used during the contention-free period 160, while for transmitting data (e.g. by means of a data signal 170_2) between the base station 104 and the second endpoint 106_2 (e.g. from the base station 104 to the second endpoint 106_2 and / or from the second endpoint 106_2 to the base station 104), the exclusively allocated resources 112_3, 112_5 and 112_7 are used.

[0346] The contention-based period 162 following the contention-free period 160 can theoretically be used by all endpoints 106_1-106J of the communication system 102_1 to transmit data, whereby typically only a subset of the endpoints 106_1-106J (e.g., randomly or pseudorandomly) accesses the respective contention-based period 162. Thus, in the contention-based period 162, the base station 104 and the endpoints 106_1-106J of the communication system 102_1 can use a relative channel access pattern (e.g., a randomly or pseudo-randomly selected relative channel access pattern from a set of relative channel access patterns) for mutual communication, ie, for mutual transmission of data, which indicates which of the resources 112_8-112_m specified by the channel access pattern 110 are actually to be used for transmitting the data.

[0347] The channel access pattern 110 and also the resources exclusively allocated to a respective endpoint from the resources 112_1-112_l of the contention-free period 160 (and optionally also the relative channel access pattern for the contention-based period 162 and the respective resources to be used) can be determined, for example, by a controller 130 (see Section A), which can be implemented in the base station 104 and / or the endpoints 106_1-106J.

[0348] As already mentioned, in embodiments, resources exclusively allocated to a respective endpoint of the communication system 102_1 can be determined from the resources 112_1-112_l of the contention-free period 164 based on a mapping function that maps the control information to the exclusively allocated resources.

[0349] Detailed embodiments of the exclusive allocation of resources of the contention-based period 160 based on the control information and the mapping function that maps the control information to the exclusively allocated resources are described below. B.1. Use of a mapping function in the transmitter and receiver

[0350] Three criteria can be derived when allocating resources 112_1-112_l of resource framework 165 to the endpoints: Latency requirements, energy requirements, available duty cycle in the base station 104 (maximum allowed on air time).

[0351] The requirement for low latency during transmission is offset by low energy requirements at the endpoint, so that an endpoint operates either energy-efficiently or with low latency. This results in two classes of hopping patterns for resource allocation.

[0352] The criterion of the maximum permitted transmission time of base station 104 has no influence on the required classes of hopping patterns. However, to reduce the duty cycle of base station 104, so-called carrier aggregation can be implemented if multiple parallel frequency channels are supported. This means that multiple subscribers are served on different frequencies at the same time.

[0353] By reducing the hop patterns to two classes, a reduction of the hop patterns to effectively two hop patterns can be achieved. For example, the first hop pattern for low latency requirements occupies every time index in resource frame 165. The second hop pattern for low energy requirements occupies every p-th time index, where p is a natural number greater than or equal to two, p ≥ 2. The definition of the two hop patterns is known to both the endpoints 106_1-106J and the base station 104 and can either be known globally or transmitted when a new endpoint registers in the communication system.

[0354] Fig. 21shows, in a diagram, the occupancy of a resource frame 165 with l = 20 (time) resources 112_1-112_l by four endpoints 106_1-106_4, where a first and a second endpoint 106_1 and 106_2 of the four endpoints 106_1-106_4 are endpoints with high latency requirements (low delay), and where a third and a fourth endpoint 106_3 and 106_4 of the four endpoints 106_1-106_4 are energy-efficient endpoints. The ordinate represents the frequency and the abscissa represents time.

[0355] As in Fig. 21As can be seen, the first endpoint 106_1 is assigned the first three resources 112_1-112_3 of the resources 112_1-112_l of the resource frame 165 according to the first relative channel access pattern 116_1, the second endpoint 106_2 is assigned the following six resources 112_4-112_9 of the resources 112_1-112_l of the resource frame 165 according to the first relative channel access pattern 116_1, the third endpoint 106_3 is assigned the three resources 112_10, 112_13 and 112_16 of the resources 112_1-112_l of the resource frame 165 according to the second relative channel access pattern 116_2, and the fourth endpoint 106_4 is assigned the following resources 112_1-112_l of the resource frame 165 according to the second relative channel access pattern 116_2 the four resources 112_11, 112_14, 112_17 and 112_20 of the resources 112_1-112_l of the resource frame 165 are assigned.

[0356] In other words, Fig. 21shows an exemplary allocation of resources of resource framework 165 to four endpoints 106_1-106_4, where two endpoints 106_1 and 106_2 have high latency requirements (low delay) and two endpoints 106_3 and 106_4 have low energy requirements. In the allocation, the endpoints 106_1 and 106_2 with high latency requirements are introduced first, followed by the endpoints 106_3 and 106_4 with low energy requirements.

[0357] Conventionally, no parameters need to be known to the endpoints in advance. Therefore, in the beacon 120, for the example from Fig. 21 The following parameters are usually signaled: IDs of all endpoints in the resource frame, length of allocated resource elements of each endpoint, hop pattern for each endpoint, and start time offset for each endpoint.

[0358] By reducing the hop patterns to effectively two hop patterns (relative channel access patterns 116_1 and 116_2), the signaling of the endpoints in the beacon 120 can be significantly shortened by creating a mapping function that generates the above-mentioned parameters from the transmitted parameters and the previously known parameters. An overview of such a mapping function is shown in Fig. 22 illustrated graphically.

[0359] Fig. 22 shows a schematic view of a mapping function 180 which maps the control information 182 (e.g. control parameters) transmitted with the beacon 120 (e.g. beacon signal) and previously known parameters 184 (e.g. base parameters) to output parameters 186, based on which the resources exclusively allocated to the respective endpoints can be determined from the resources 112_1-112_l of the contention-free period 160.

[0360] Since there are effectively only two hop patterns (e.g. relative channel access patterns 116_1 and 116_2), whereby the first class of hop patterns (e.g. for endpoints with high latency requirements (low delay)) are always introduced at the beginning (of the contention-free period 160) in order to meet the latency requirements, the signaling of the hop patterns (e.g. relative channel access patterns 116_1 and 116_2) is not necessary.

[0361] Instead of the hop pattern (relative channel access pattern) for each endpoint, the number of endpoints using the first class of hop patterns (e.g. for endpoints with high latency requirements) is now transmitted.

[0362] From the number of endpoints, the known jump pattern (e.g. channel access pattern 116_1) for the first class and the length of each endpoint, the mapping function 180 can now calculate the start time offset, so that this also no longer needs to be transmitted.

[0363] The following mapping function results for the start time of the participants who use the first class of jump patterns (low-delay): t start n = ∑ k = 0 n − 1 lenRessourceElementsUsers k with i = number of low delay participants k = running index n = current participant, where n ≤ i lenResourceElementsUsers = Array with length of allocated resource elements each Participant

[0364] The following applies to participants who use the energy-efficient jump pattern: t start n = ∑ k = 0 i − 1 lenRessourceElementsUsers k + n − i % gap + + { 0 if n − i ≤ gap ∑ lenRessourceElementsUsers n − i % gap : n − i − 1 : gap if n − i > gap with gap = empty elements within the energy-efficient jump pattern

[0365] After all start times and lengths for the endpoints of the first class are known, the start time offsets for the remaining endpoints of the second class can also be determined using the hop pattern (relative channel access pattern) and the lengths.

[0366] In case the mapping function 180 is used, the following parameters (basic parameters) 184 should be known in advance: Resource frame size 165, low delay hopping pattern (first relative channel access pattern 116_1), and energy efficient hopping pattern (second relative channel access pattern 116_2).

[0367] The minimum parameters (control parameters) 182 transmitted in the beacon 120 are: IDs of all endpoints in the resource frame 165, length of allocated resource elements of each endpoint, and number of endpoints with low delay requirements.

[0368] In embodiments, instead of the complete transmission of the parameters, a mapping function is used which derives the necessary parameters from the transmitted parameters.

[0369] In exemplary embodiments, the mapping function 182 obtains only the number of endpoints of the first class (high latency requirements (low delay)) and the length of the allocated resource elements of all endpoints from the transmitted data in the beacon 120. In addition, the mapping function knows the hop patterns of the classes (first and second relative channel access patterns 116_1 and 11_6) and the size of the resource frame 165; these were either defined globally or transmitted during registration.

[0370] The principle of reducing the transmitted parameters and subsequently extracting the parameters using the mapping function 180 can also be applied if there are more than two classes of hop patterns (relative channel access patterns). In the case of q-class systems, q-1 numbers of endpoints would have to be transmitted per q-th class of parameters.

[0371] If a group (of endpoints) is to be signaled instead of individual endpoints, the total length of all endpoints in the group is signaled instead of the length of all endpoints in the group. The distribution of resources within the group is either known (e.g., linear among all endpoints) or has been signaled in advance (e.g., in a previous message). Such an example with linear distribution within a group with four endpoints is shown in Fig. 23 to see.

[0372] Fig. 23shows, in a diagram, the occupancy of a resource frame 165 with I = 20 (time) resources 112_1-112_l by a first group 107_1 of four endpoints and three further endpoints 106_2-106_4, wherein the group 107_1 of four endpoints and a second endpoint of the three further endpoints 106_2-106_4 are endpoints with high latency requirements (low delay), and wherein a third and a fourth endpoint 106_3 and 106_4 of the three further endpoints 106_2-106_4 are energy-efficient endpoints. The ordinate represents the frequency and the abscissa represents time.

[0373] As in Fig. 23As can be seen, the first group 107_1 of endpoints is assigned the first four resources 112_1-112_4 of the resources 112_1-112_l of the resource frame 165, the second endpoint 106_2 being assigned the following five resources 112_5-112_9 of the resources 112_1-112_l of the resource frame 165 according to the first relative channel access pattern 116_1, the third endpoint 106_3 being assigned the three resources 112_10, 112_13 and 112_16 of the resources 112_1-112_l of the resource frame 165 according to the second relative channel access pattern 116_2, and the fourth endpoint 106_4 being assigned the four resources 112_11, 112_14, 112_17 and 112_20 of the resources 112_1-112_l of the resource frame 165 are assigned.

[0374] In other words, Fig. 23shows an exemplary allocation of resources to a group 107_1 of endpoints and three endpoints 106_2-106_4, where the group 107_1 of endpoints and one endpoint 106_2 have high latency requirements (low delay) and two endpoints 106_3 and 106_4 have low energy requirements. B.2. Mapping function taking into account multiple parallel frequency channels

[0375] As in Fig. 18c As shown, there are also communication systems in which several frequency channels can be used for transmission in one time slot.

[0376] Due to the parallel transmission of multiple resource elements (or in multiple resources (or resource elements)), the received power at the receiver (e.g., endpoint) decreases if the total transmission power of base station 104 cannot be increased. This is the case, for example, when using the ISM bands, since the maximum transmission power is limited in these bands.

[0377] Therefore, it only makes sense to supply endpoints in parallel if the link budget (e.g. the received power at the receiver) still offers sufficient reserve.

[0378] This scheme is exemplified in Fig. 24 for the four endpoints Fig. 21 to see.

[0379] Fig. 24 shows, in a diagram, an occupancy of a resource frame 165, which has 20 time resources and 16 frequency resources (of which three are used) per time resource, by four endpoints 106_1-106_4, wherein a first and a second endpoint 106_1 and 106_2 of the four endpoints 106_1-106_4 are endpoints with high latency requirements (low delay), and wherein a third and a fourth endpoint 106_3 and 106_4 of the four endpoints 106_1-106_4 are energy-efficient endpoints, wherein the fourth endpoint 106_4 has a low power transmission budget. The ordinate describes the frequency and the abscissa describes the time.

[0380] As in Fig. 24 As can be seen, the first endpoint 106_1 is assigned the first three resources 112_1,1-112_3,1 of a first frequency channel of the resource frame 165 according to the first relative channel access pattern 116_1, the second endpoint 106_2 is assigned the first six resources 112_1,2-112_6,2 of a second frequency channel of the resource frame 165 according to the first relative channel access pattern 116_1, the third endpoint 106_3 is assigned the first three resources 112_1,3, 112_4,3 and 112_7,3 of a third frequency channel of the resource frame 165 according to the second relative channel access pattern 116_2, and the fourth endpoint 106_4, which does not have sufficient power transmission budget for parallel transmission, is assigned the four resources according to the second relative channel access pattern 116_2 112_8,1, 112_12,1, 112_15,1 and 112_18,1, which follow the parallel transmission of the three endpoints 106_1-106_3.

[0381] In other words, Fig. 24 shows an example allocation of resources to four endpoints 106_1-106_4, where two endpoints 106_1 and 106_2 have high latency requirements (low delay) and two endpoints 106_3 and 106_4 have low energy requirements. Three endpoints 106_1, 106_2, and 106_3 have their resources concurrently on multiple channels. Endpoints 106_1, 106_2, and 106_3 have sufficient receive power to allow for a temporally overlapped transmission. Endpoint 106_4 does not have sufficient link budget, so this transmission occurs after the end of the three parallel transmissions.

[0382] So that the mapping function 180 can additionally take into account the desired parallel resources for the endpoints, the number of desired parallel endpoints is additionally signaled in the beacon 120.

[0383] The parameters (control parameters) transmitted at least in the beacon 120 are: IDs of all endpoints in the resource frame 165, length of allocated resource elements of each endpoint, number of endpoints with low delay requirements, and number of endpoints to be parallelized.

[0384] The maximum number of supported parallel endpoints is equal to the maximum defined channels (c0, c1, ... in Fig. 24 If more endpoints can be parallelized than there are channels available, nesting is also carried out here as per Section B.1.

[0385] The frequency channel used is not transmitted in the beacon 120, it results from the mapping function 180.

[0386] In embodiments, in addition to the parameters from section B.1, the number of endpoints to be parallelized is transmitted in the beacon 120.

[0387] In embodiments, the mapping function maps the endpoints to be parallelized to the beginning of the resource frame 165. B.3. Mapping function taking into account data sets that are larger than the maximum number of resource elements per endpoint

[0388] It can often happen that more resource elements are to be made available to an endpoint than are available according to the definition of the hop pattern (e.g., relative channel access pattern). According to sections B.1 and B.2, it would therefore not be possible to allocate sufficient resource elements.

[0389] With the exception of the first class of hop patterns (first relative channel access pattern 116_1) (for high latency (low delay) requirements where each resource element is occupied in the time direction), there are empty (e.g., unoccupied) resource elements between the used resource elements that can be assigned to other endpoints.

[0390] If the endpoints (of the contention-free period 160) are sorted according to their required lengths when allocating resource elements, then in the event that the first endpoint requires more resources than those available according to the hop pattern (e.g., relative channel access pattern), there is still space between the allocated resources for other endpoints according to Section B.1. The scheme shown in Section B.1. is shown as an example in Fig. 25 to see.

[0391] In detail, Fig. 25in a diagram, an occupancy of a resource frame 165 with l = 20 (time) resources 112_1-112_l by four energy-efficient endpoints 106_1-106_4, wherein a first endpoint 106_1 of the four endpoints 106_1-106_4 is assigned a number of resources which, taking into account the second relative channel access pattern 116_2, results in an access duration that is longer than the contention-free period, so that a resource 112_21 assigned to the first endpoint 106_1 lies outside the resource frame 165. The ordinate describes the frequency and the abscissa the time.

[0392] In other words, Fig. 25 shows an exemplary allocation of resources to four endpoints 106_1-106_4 according to section B.1., where the first endpoint 106_1 with the last resource element 112_21 exceeds the permissible resource frame 165. All endpoints from Fig. 25the energy-optimized case and were reordered according to their required length. The first endpoint 106_1 requires six resource elements 112_1, 112_5, 112_9, 112_13, 112_17, and 112_21. However, according to the hop pattern (e.g., relative second channel access pattern 116_2), only five resource elements 112_1, 112_5, 112_9, 112_13, and 112_17 can be provided, so the last resource element 112_21 falls outside the valid range of the resource frame 165.

[0393] This one resource element 112_21 from the example in Fig. 25 , which has fallen out of the valid range (resource frame 165), can be brought back into the valid range (resource frame 165) by means of a known rule by the mapping function 180 in embodiments.

[0394] After all endpoints have already been sorted according to their length, it makes sense to first introduce the first endpoint 106_1 according to the jump pattern (second relative channel access pattern 116_1) and to check whether resource elements from this endpoint are outside the valid range (resource frame 165).

[0395] If this is the case, all resource elements that lie outside the valid range (resource frame 165) are considered a virtual second endpoint and subsequently incorporated into the resource frame 165. If, after the inclusion of the remaining resource elements according to the virtual second participant, resource elements still lie outside the valid range (resource frame 165), these can be considered a third virtual endpoint. This is explained below using Fig. 26 illustrated.

[0396] Fig. 26shows, in a diagram, an occupancy of a resource frame 165 with I = 20 (time) resources 112_1-112_l by an energy-efficient endpoint 106_1, wherein the endpoint 106_1 is assigned a number of resources which, according to the second relative channel access pattern 116_2, leads to an occupancy of resources in which a resource 112_21 lies outside the resource frame 165, so that this one resource 112_21 is considered to belong to a second virtual endpoint 106_1' and is thus shifted into the resource frame 165. The ordinate describes the frequency and the abscissa the time.

[0397] As in Fig. 26As can be seen, the first endpoint 106_1 actually requires seven resources, which according to the first relative channel access pattern 116_1 would result in the occupancy of resources 112_1, 112_5, 112_9, 112_13, 112_17, and 112_21. The resource 112_21, which lies outside the resource frame 165, is considered to belong to a second virtual endpoint 106_1', wherein the second virtual endpoint 106_1' is allocated available resources from the resources 112_1-112_1 according to the second relative channel access pattern 116_1. Fig. 26 the resource 112_2 is the first available resource, which is accordingly assigned to the second virtual endpoint 106_1'.

[0398] In other words, Fig. 26 shows a shift of the resource elements 112_21, which have fallen out of the valid resource frame 165, as a virtual second endpoint 106_1'.

[0399] Now that the first endpoint 106_1 (including the virtual second endpoint 106_1') has been introduced, the second endpoint 106_2 can be introduced according to the jump pattern (second relative channel access pattern 116_2). Since the first endpoint 106_1 has also allocated the resource elements of the second endpoint 106_2 from Section B.1, the second endpoint is now treated as the third endpoint in the mapping function. The third endpoint 106_3 as the fourth, etc. This diagram shows Fig. 27 exemplary for the initial case from Fig. 25 .

[0400] In detail, Fig. 27in a diagram, an occupancy of a resource frame 165 with l = 20 (time) resources 112_1-112_l by four energy-efficient endpoints 106_1-106_4, wherein during the allocation of the resources, the first endpoint 106_1, to which a number of resources is assigned which, according to the second relative channel access pattern 116_2, leads to an occupancy of resources in which one resource lies outside the resource frame 165, was regarded as two (virtual) endpoints (cf. Fig. 26 ). The ordinate represents the frequency and the abscissa represents time.

[0401] As in Fig. 27As can be seen, the first endpoint 106_1 is assigned the resources 112_1, 112_5, 112_9, 112_13, and 112_17. Additionally, the first endpoint 106_1 is assigned the resource 112_2. The second endpoint 106_2 is assigned the resources 112_3, 112_7, 112_11, and 112_15, the third endpoint 106_3 is assigned the resources 112_4, 112_8, and 112_12, and the fourth endpoint 106_4 is assigned the resources 112_6, 112_10, and 112_15.

[0402] In other words, Fig. 27 shows an insertion of the remaining three endpoints 106_2-106_4 after Fig. 26 the first endpoint 106_1 was introduced.

[0403] In the examples, the endpoints are sorted by their length.

[0404] In embodiments, if an endpoint occupies more than the available resources, it is divided into several virtual endpoints and then introduced according to the hop pattern (second relative channel access pattern). B.4. Definition of jump patterns with periodic access methods

[0405] As an alternative to the previous sections B.1. to B.3., with a constant size of the resource frame 165, there can also be a fixed definition of N hop patterns known in advance to the subscriber and the base station. There can be a set of hop patterns (relative channel access patterns) used / reserved for the contention-free period 160. This set can be fixed or transmitted once when an endpoint attaches to the base station 104 or changes. For each time slot, for example, one endpoint can then start per hop pattern (relative channel access pattern) (or every second, etc.), depending on how the orthogonality of the hop patterns allows without generating (too many) collisions.

[0406] With a few endpoints, there are no collisions. The more endpoints are scheduled, the more collisions are accepted. However, the endpoints know where the collisions occur because all allocations are known. The endpoints do not send in resource elements that are already occupied by another endpoint (only the first endpoint sends).

[0407] To better manage the different data lengths, it makes sense to design the jump patterns with different lengths within the defined jump patterns (relative channel access patterns). Depending on the number of resource elements required by the respective endpoint or provided to the respective endpoint, the endpoint is moved to the correct position (number in the signaling list). This ensures the most efficient use of the resource elements.

[0408] In other words, if, for example, three jump patterns with lengths of 3, 56, and 17 resource elements are defined, participants are assigned jump patterns according to their required length. For example, a participant with only 2 required resource elements would use the first jump pattern and not the other two with more possible elements.

[0409] The necessary parameters for transmission in beacon 120 are the same as in the previous sections B.1 to B.3. This eliminates any additional transmission overhead; the determination of the respective resources used per endpoint is performed using a mapping function 180, as in the previous sections B.1 to B.3.

[0410] In exemplary embodiments, a definition of N-hop patterns (relative channel access patterns) is specified, which are (if possible) orthogonal. By arranging the signaled endpoints (order), a resource frame 165 can be utilized as efficiently as possible. B.5. Huffman coding of the lengths of the endpoints transmitted in the beacon

[0411] In addition to using the mapping function 180 to reduce the amount of data in the beacon 120, Huffman coding [5] of the transmitted lengths of the endpoints can be performed.

[0412] For meaningful Huffman coding, a distribution function for the various data lengths must be known. This can either be determined in advance from data from other networks or based on the deployed sensors (endpoints) and their typically transmitted data lengths.

[0413] A Huffman tree [6] can be calculated from the distribution function. This tree must be known to both the base station 104 and the endpoints 106_1-106J and can either be known globally or communicated during the registration process.

[0414] In embodiments, the lengths of the allocated resources of the endpoints may be Huffman encoded.

[0415] If it is detected during operation that the distribution function of the data lengths has changed, a new Huffman tree can be calculated. This can then be distributed to all endpoints 106_1-106J via multicast. New endpoints receive the new Huffman tree directly upon registration.

[0416] In embodiments, if the distribution function changes during operation, a new Huffman tree can be calculated and communicated to all participants. B.6. Partial signaling of lengths in the beacon

[0417] The lengths do not have to be completely in the beacon 102, e.g. only 4 MSB in the beacon so that the mapping function 180 knows approximately the end (for the allocation of resources), 4 LSB in the respective individual transmission so that the addressee knows the exact length.

[0418] In embodiments, the length information in the beacon is only partially (not completely) transmitted. C. More Examples of implementation

[0419] Fig. 28shows a flowchart of a method 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method 200 comprises a step 202 of transmitting a signal in a communication system, wherein the communication system communicates wirelessly in a frequency band which is used by a plurality of communication systems for communication, wherein the signal comprises information about a channel access pattern, wherein the channel access pattern indicates a frequency- and / or time-hopping-based allocation of resources usable for the communication of the communication system, wherein at least a portion of the resources of the channel access pattern are assigned to a contention-free period, wherein the signal further comprises control information for controlling access to the resources of the contention-free period.

[0420] Fig. 29shows a flowchart of a method 210 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method 210 comprises a step of receiving a signal in a communication system, wherein the communication system communicates wirelessly in a frequency band which is used by a plurality of communication systems for communication, wherein the signal comprises information about a channel access pattern, wherein the channel access pattern indicates a frequency- and / or time-hopping-based allocation of resources usable for the communication of the communication system, wherein at least a portion of the resources of the channel access pattern are assigned to a contention-free period, wherein the signal further comprises control information for controlling access to the resources of the contention-free period.Furthermore, the method 210 comprises a step 214 of determining the channel access pattern based on the information about the channel access pattern. Furthermore, the method 210 comprises a step 216 of determining exclusively allocated resources from the resources of the contention-free period based on a mapping function that maps the control information to the exclusively allocated resources. Embodiments find application in systems for the radio transmission of data from terminal devices to a base station or from one or more base stations to terminal devices. For example, a system may be a personal area network (PAN) or a low-power wide area network (LPWAN), wherein the terminal devices may be, for example, battery-operated sensors (sensor nodes).

[0421] Embodiments are aimed at application cases in which a message (data packet) is transmitted in a radio network in several partial data packets (so-called telegram splitting method, English: Telegram Splitting [1]) and in which several mutually uncoordinated radio networks access common radio resources (e.g. common frequency band).

[0422] As already mentioned, the embodiments described herein can be used to transmit data based on the telegram splitting method between the subscribers of the communication system. In the telegram splitting method, data, such as a telegram or data packet, is divided into a plurality of sub-data packets (or partial data packets, or sub-packets) and the sub-data packets are transmitted from one subscriber to another subscriber (e.g. from the base station to the end point, or from the end point to the base station) of the communication system using a time and / or frequency hopping pattern, wherein the subscriber who receives the sub-data packets reassembles (or combines) them to obtain the data packet. Each of the sub-data packets contains only a part of the data packet.The data packet may also be channel-coded so that only a portion of the sub-data packets is required to decode the data packet error-free.

[0423] When transmitting data based on the telegram splitting method, the sub-data packets can be transmitted distributed among a subset (e.g., a selection) of the available resources of the network-specific channel access pattern. Specifically, the sub-data packets can be transmitted based on the relative channel access pattern, i.e., within the resources of the relative channel access pattern. For example, one sub-data packet can be transmitted per resource.

[0424] Although some aspects have been described in the context of a device, it should be understood that these aspects also represent a description of the corresponding method, so that a block or component of a device can also be understood as a corresponding method step or as a feature of a method step. Analogously, aspects described in the context of or as a method step also represent a description of a corresponding block, detail, or feature of a corresponding device. Some or all of the method steps may be performed by (or using) a hardware apparatus, such as a microprocessor, a programmable computer, or an electronic circuit. In some embodiments, some or more of the key method steps may be performed by such an apparatus.

[0425] Depending on specific implementation requirements, embodiments of the invention may be implemented in hardware or software. The implementation may be performed using a digital storage medium, such as a floppy disk, a DVD, a Blu-ray Disc, a CD, a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, or a FLASH memory, a hard disk, or other magnetic or optical storage device storing electronically readable control signals that can interact or cooperate with a programmable computer system to perform the respective method. Therefore, the digital storage medium may be computer-readable.

[0426] Some embodiments according to the invention thus comprise a data carrier having electronically readable control signals capable of interacting with a programmable computer system such that one of the methods described herein is carried out.

[0427] In general, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as a computer program product having a program code, wherein the program code is effective to perform one of the methods when the computer program product is run on a computer.

[0428] The program code can, for example, also be stored on a machine-readable medium.

[0429] Other embodiments include the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein, wherein the computer program is stored on a machine-readable carrier.

[0430] In other words, an embodiment of the method according to the invention is thus a computer program which has a program code for carrying out one of the methods described herein when the computer program runs on a computer.

[0431] A further embodiment of the method according to the invention is thus a data carrier (or a digital storage medium or a computer-readable medium) on which the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein is recorded. The data carrier, the digital storage medium, or the computer-readable medium is typically physical and / or non-perishable or non-transient.

[0432] A further embodiment of the method according to the invention is thus a data stream or a sequence of signals that represents the computer program for carrying out one of the methods described herein. The data stream or the sequence of signals can be configured, for example, to be transferred via a data communication connection, for example, via the Internet.

[0433] A further embodiment comprises a processing device, for example a computer or a programmable logic device, which is configured or adapted to carry out one of the methods described herein.

[0434] A further embodiment comprises a computer on which the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein is installed.

[0435] A further embodiment according to the invention comprises a device or system designed to transmit a computer program for performing at least one of the methods described herein to a recipient. The transmission can be electronic or optical, for example. The recipient can be, for example, a computer, a mobile device, a storage device, or a similar device. The device or system can, for example, comprise a file server for transmitting the computer program to the recipient.

[0436] In some embodiments, a programmable logic device (e.g., a field-programmable gate array, an FPGA) may be used to perform some or all of the functionalities of the methods described herein. In some embodiments, a field-programmable gate array may interact with a microprocessor to perform any of the methods described herein. In general, in some embodiments, the methods are performed by any hardware device. This may be general-purpose hardware such as a computer processor (CPU) or method-specific hardware such as an ASIC.

[0437] The devices described herein may be implemented, for example, using a hardware apparatus, or using a computer, or using a combination of a hardware apparatus and a computer.

[0438] The devices described herein, or any components of the devices described herein, may be implemented at least partially in hardware and / or in software (computer program).

[0439] The methods described herein may be implemented, for example, using a hardware apparatus, or using a computer, or using a combination of a hardware apparatus and a computer.

[0440] The methods described herein, or any components of the methods described herein, may be implemented at least partially by hardware and / or by software.

[0441] The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. It is understood that modifications and variations of the arrangements and details described herein will be apparent to others skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the following claims and not by the specific details presented in the description and explanation of the embodiments herein. Bibliography

[0442] [1] DE 10 2011 082 098 B4 [2] IEEE Std. 802.15.4 - 2015 - IEEE Standard for Low-Rate Wireless Networks, 2015 [3] G. Kilian, H. Petkov, R. Psiuk, H. Lieske, F. Beer, J. Robert, and A. Heuberger, "Improved coverage for low-power telemetry systems using telegram splitting," in Proceedings of 2013 European Conference on Smart Objects, Systems and Technologies (SmartSysTech), 2013 [4] G. Kilian, M. Breiling, H. H. Petkov, H. Lieske, F. Beer, J. Robert, and A. Heuberger, "Increasing Transmission Reliability for Telemetry Systems Using Telegram Splitting," IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 63, no. 3, pp. 949-961, Mar. 2015 [5] Huffman-Codierung, http: / / www.ziegenbalg.ph-karlsruhe.de / materialienhomepage-jzbg / cc-interaktiv / huffman / codierung.htm, zuletzt geöffnet: 03.04.2019 [6] IEEE 802.15.4w Specification [7] ETSI TS 103 357 Specification List of abbreviations

[0443] CRC:Cyclic Redundancy Check LPWAN:Low Power Wide Area Network LSB:Least Significant Bit(s) MSB:Most Significant Bit(s) PAN:Personal Area Network TLS:Transport Layer Security TSMA:Telegram-Splitting-Multiple-Access

Claims

1. Base station (104) of a communication system (102_1), wherein the communication system (102_1) communicates wirelessly in a frequency band used for communication by a plurality of communication systems (102_2, 102_3), wherein the base station (104) is configured to transmit a signal (120), wherein the signal (120) comprises information about a channel access pattern (110), wherein the channel access pattern (110) indicates a frequency-hop-based and / or time-hop-based occupancy of resources (112_1-112_m) of the frequency band that is usable for the communication of the base station (104) and several end points (106_1-106J) of the communication system (102_1), wherein at least part of the resources (112_1-112_m) of the channel access pattern (110) are allocated to a contention-free transmission portion (160) in which the base station controls access to the resources (112_1-112_l) of the contention-free transmission portion (160) and allocates one or more end points (106_1-106J) of the communication system (102_1) for exclusive use, wherein the signal (120) further comprises control information for controlling the access of the one or more end points (106_1-106J) to the resources (112_1-112_I), allocated for exclusive use, of the contention-free transmission portion (160) , wherein resources exclusively allocated to an end point of the communication system (102_2) are determinable from the resources (112_1-112_l) of the contention-free transmission portion (160) based on a mapping function (180) that maps control parameters of the control information and previously known base parameters to the exclusively allocated resources.

2. Base station (104) according to the preceding claim, wherein the control information includes the following control parameters (182): - IDs of end points of the contention-free transmission portion (160), wherein the end points of the contention-free transmission portion (160) include end points of a first class of end points and / or end points of a second class of end points, - a number of allocated resources for each of the end points of the contention-free transmission portion (160) or information derived therefrom, and - a number of end points associated with the first class of end points.

3. Base station (104) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the following base parameters (184) are previously known or are exchanged between the base station and the end point upon registration of an end point with the base station (104): - a number of resources (112_1-112_l) of the contention-free transmission portion (160), - a first relative channel access pattern (116_1) for a first class of end points, wherein the first relative channel access pattern (116_1) indicates resources to be used for transmission from the resources (112_1-112_l) of the contention-free transmission portion (160), - a second relative channel access pattern (116_2) for a second class of end points, wherein the second relative channel access pattern (116_2) indicates resources to be used for transmission from the resources (112_1-112_l) of the contention-free transmission portion (160).

4. Base station (104) according to one of claims 2 to 3, wherein resources exclusively allocated to the end points of the contention-free transmission portion (160) are determinable from the resources (112_1-112_l) of the contention-free transmission portion (160) based on a mapping function (180) that maps the control parameters (182) according to claim 2 and the base parameters (184) according to claim 3 to the respective exclusively allocated resources.

5. Base station (104) according to claim 4, wherein, according to the mapping function (180), available resources from the resources (112_1-112_l) of the contention-free transmission portion (160) are exclusively allocated to the end points of the contention-free transmission portion (160) that are associated with the first class of end points, one after the other in an order of naming the IDs of the respective end points by the signaling information, wherein the respective number of allocated resources, indicated by the signaling information, is exclusively allocated to the end points corresponding to the first relative channel access pattern (116_1).

6. Base station (104) according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the information derived from the number of allocated resources for each of the end points of the contention-free transmission portion (160) has a lower resolution than a resource element.

7. End point (106_1) of a communication system (102_1), wherein the communication system (102_1) communicates wirelessly in a frequency band used for communication by a plurality of communication systems (102_2, 102_3), wherein the end point (106_1) is configured to receive a signal (120), wherein the signal (120) comprises information about a channel access pattern (110), wherein the channel access pattern (110) indicates a frequency-hop-based and / or time-hop-based occupancy of resources (112_1-112_m) of the frequency band that is usable for the communication of a base station (104) and several end points (106_1-106_j) of the communication system (102_1), wherein the end point (106_1) is configured to determine the channel access pattern (110) based on the information about the channel access pattern (110), wherein at least part of the resources (112_1-112_l) of the channel access pattern (110) are allocated to a contention-free transmission portion (160), wherein the signal (120) further comprises control information for controlling access to the resources (112_1-112_l), allocated for exclusive use, of the contention-free transmission portion (160), wherein the end point (106_1) is configured to determine resources exclusively allocated to the end point (106_1) from the resources (112_1-112_l) of the contention-free transmission portion (160) based on a mapping function (180) that maps control parameters of the control information and previously known base parameters to the exclusively allocated resources.

8. End point (106_1) according to claim 7, wherein the control information includes the following control parameters (182): - IDs of end points of the contention-free transmission portion (160), wherein the end points of the contention-free transmission portion (160) include end points of a first class of end points and / or end points of a second class of end points, - a number of allocated resources for each of the end points of the contention-free transmission portion (160) or information derived therefrom, and - a number of end points associated with the first class of end points.

9. End point (106_1) according to one of claims 7 to 8, wherein the following base parameters (184) are previously known or are exchanged between the base station (104) and the end point upon registration of an end point with the base station (104): - a number of resources (112_1-112_l) of the contention-free transmission portion (160), - a first relative channel access pattern (116_1) for a first class of end points, wherein the first relative channel access pattern (116_1) indicates resources to be used for transmission from the resources (112_1-112_l) of the contention-free transmission portion (160), - a second relative channel access pattern (116_2) for a second class of end points, wherein the second relative channel access pattern (116_2) indicates resources to be used for transmission from the resources (112_1-112_l) of the contention-free transmission portion (160).

10. End point (106_1) according to one of claims 8 to 9, wherein the end point (106_1) is configured to determine resources exclusively allocated to the end point (106_1) by the signaling information from the resources (112_1-112_l) of the contention-free transmission portion (160) based on the mapping function (180) that maps the control parameters (182) according to claim 8 and the base parameters (184) according to claim 9 to the respective exclusively allocated resources.

11. End point (106_1) according to claim 10, wherein, according to the mapping function (180), available resources from the resources (112_1-112_l) of the contention-free transmission portion (160) are exclusively allocated to the end points of the contention-free transmission portion (160) that are associated with the first class of end points, one after the other in an order of naming the IDs of the respective end points by the signaling information, wherein the respective number of allocated resources, indicated by the signaling information, is exclusively allocated to the end points corresponding to the first relative channel access pattern (116_1).

12. Communication system (102_1), having the following features: a base station (104) according to one of claims 1 to 6, and at least one end point (106_1) according to one of claims 7 to 11.

13. Method (200) carried out by a base station (104), the method (200) comprising: transmitting (202) a signal (120) in a communication system (102_1), wherein the communication system (102_1) communicates wirelessly in a frequency band used for communication by a plurality of communication systems (102_2, 102_3), wherein the signal (120) comprises information about a channel access pattern (110), wherein the channel access pattern (110) indicates a frequency-hop-based and / or time-hop-based occupancy of resources (112_1-112_m) of the frequency band that is usable for the communication of the base station and several end points of the communication system, wherein at least part of the resources (116_1-116_m) of the channel access pattern (110) are allocated to a contention-free transmission portion (160) in which the base station controls access to the resources (112_1-112_l) of the contention-free transmission portion (160) and allocates one or more end points (106_1-106J) of the communication system (102_1) for exclusive use, wherein the signal (120) further comprises control information for controlling the access of the one or more end points (106_1-106J) to the resources (112_1-112_I), allocated for exclusive use, of the contention-free transmission portion (160), wherein resources exclusively allocated to an end point of the communication system are determinable from the resources of the contention-free transmission portion based on a mapping function that maps control parameters of the control information and previously known base parameters to the exclusively allocated resources.

14. Method (210) carried out by an end point (106_1), the method (210) comprising: receiving (212) a signal (120) in a communication system (102_1), wherein the communication system (102_1) communicates wirelessly in a frequency band used for communication by a plurality of communication systems (102_2, 102_3), wherein the signal (120) comprises information about a channel access pattern (110), wherein the channel access pattern (110) indicates a frequency-hop-based and / or time-hop-based occupancy of resources (112_1-112_m) of the frequency band that is usable for the communication of a base station and several end points of the communication system (102_1), wherein at least part of the resources (112_1-112_m) of the channel access pattern (110) are allocated to a contention-free transmission portion (160), wherein the signal further comprises control information for controlling access to the resources (112_1-112_l), allocated for exclusive use, of the contention-free transmission portion (160), determining (214) the channel access pattern (110) based on the information about the channel access pattern (110), and determining (216) exclusively allocated resources from the resources (112_1-112_l) of the contention-free transmission portion (160) based on a mapping function (180) that maps control parameters of the control information and previously known base parameters to the exclusively allocated resources.

15. Computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the same to carry out the method according to one of claims 13 and 14.