Method for processing a relay equipment configuration, configuration method, devices, system and corresponding computer program

Abstract

A method for processing the configuration of a relay equipment capable of receiving and retransmitting measurement data frames received from a plurality of sensors in a communication network, comprising: - obtaining (21) during an observation time period, information (MTD) representative of said measurement data frames received by said relay equipment from the plurality of sensors; - determining (25) an activity schedule (CAL) for said relay equipment, based on the information obtained, said activity schedule defining, for a given time period, time windows of activity during which said equipment listens to the network and outside of which said equipment is in standby mode; and - making said activity schedule available (26) to said relay equipment for configuration. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Method for processing a configuration of relay equipment, configuration method, corresponding devices, system and computer program Field of the invention

[0001] The field of the invention is that of a communication network, in particular a sensor network.

[0002] The invention relates in particular to the automatic configuration of relay equipment for the uploading of measurement data frames from a plurality of sensors in a communication network, for example to server equipment capable of processing them. Prior art

[0003] In the rapidly expanding field of connected objects and the Internet of Things (IoT), a large number of sensors are deployed across a territory, with a view to measuring all kinds of data, often small in size, and transmitting them to remote servers for processing.

[0004] To ensure the transmission of this data between machines, we currently use low-power wide area networks (LPWANs). Compared to short-range wireless networks, for example Wi-Fi® or Bluetooth® or conventional cellular networks, LPWANs are designed to meet the specific constraints of the IoT: a large number of objects or sensors, each with a long range (a few kilometers) and occasionally processing small amounts of information, while maintaining low power consumption, the power supply most often being provided by a battery intended to last several years.

[0005] The targeted applications are numerous. Examples include the management of parking spaces in a smart city context, the monitoring of cultivated areas in a smart farming context, water metering or, more generally, the intelligent reading of energy consumption meter measurements (smart metering).

[0006] There are several implementations of LPWAN networks that differ in terms of throughput, frequency bands used or modulation. However, there are two main categories: non-cellular LPWAN networks and cellular LPWAN networks. In particular, the main players in non-cellular LPWAN networks are SigFox® and LoRa®.

[0007] It is noted that although these networks operate with high-performance modulations, such as, for example, spread spectrum modulation or CSS (from the English, "Chirp Spread Spectrum") for LoRa®, the range achieved remains insufficient for certain uses where the sensors are placed in areas where radio connectivity is not good, such as for example in underground premises: parking lots, cellars, boiler rooms, etc. In other configurations, the sensors, such as for example gas or water meters, are difficult to access.

[0008] As a result, the quality of service currently offered by LPWAN network operators remains random, or even poor, with in particular high frame loss rates. Consequently, it is often necessary, to guarantee sufficient connectivity between the sensors and remote server equipment responsible for processing the data collected by the sensors, to use relay equipment, or repeater (in English, "extender") combining the functions of receiver and transmitter, and specifically configured to compensate for radio transmission losses by relaying the data frames, without modifying their content. Such a relay operation comprises the reception of a measurement data frame from a sensor and its retransmission with a given maximum power level, for example 14 dBm.

[0009] However, these repeaters, because they are often positioned close to the sensors, are also located in places that are difficult to access, or even not connected to the electrical network and powered by batteries. Just like the sensors, it is therefore necessary for these repeaters to be as energy-independent as possible and for periods of 4 to 5 years in order to avoid too many interventions in the field to change the batteries.

[0010] To extend the battery life of a repeater, it is known that a remote reading operator manually pre-programs it using an activity schedule defining an alternation of activity time slots, during which the repeater is active to receive, amplify and retransmit measurement data frames from the sensors and standby time slots during which it is at rest and consumes very little energy. Indeed, remote reading sensors generally take their energy consumption measurement readings at a fixed time, according to a schedule known in advance.

[0011] A first disadvantage of this solution is that it requires manual intervention, which is time-consuming and tedious. A second disadvantage is that some repeaters are difficult to access, which makes this intervention painful. A third disadvantage is that it is not suitable for use cases where sensor transmissions are irregular or even random (door opening, presence detection, etc.). However, certain LPWAN network technologies, such as LoRa technology, also address these other use cases.

[0012] The invention improves the situation. Statement of the invention

[0013] The invention proposes a method for processing a configuration of relay equipment capable of receiving measurement data frames from a plurality of sensors and retransmitting them in a communication network, said method comprising: - obtaining, during an observation time range, information representative of said measurement data frames received by said relay equipment from the plurality of sensors; - determining an activity schedule for said relay equipment, from the information obtained, said activity schedule defining, for a given time period, activity time windows, during which said equipment listens to the network and outside of which said equipment is on standby, said activity window comprising at least one time slot comprising a time of reception of a said measurement data frame from a sensor of said plurality of sensors, and - the provision of said activity schedule to said relay equipment for its configuration.

[0014] The invention proposes a completely new and inventive approach for managing the configuration of relay equipment of a communication network, which consists of relying on the observation of measurement data frames collected by the plurality of sensors connected to the relay equipment during a learning phase. For example, these are application data frames. The collected data frames are then used to automatically determine an activity schedule for the relay equipment, defining for a given time period activity windows for this equipment during which it must be active and configured to listen to the network in order to be able to receive the measurement data frames from the sensors, and standby or idle windows during which, on the contrary, it can go into energy saving or standby mode.For example, this activity schedule is established from a prediction of reception schedules for the measurement data frames received for each of these sensors. The activity schedule is then made available to the relay equipment for configuration.

[0015] Thus, in an operational phase, the relay equipment alternates periods of activity and rest in accordance with the activity schedule transmitted to it, which allows it to save its energy resources and optimize the life of its battery. With the invention, the intervention of a technician to carry out manual preprogramming of the equipment schedule is therefore no longer required, which considerably simplifies the configuration problem and frees up time for the technician who can thus devote himself to other tasks, such as maintenance operations. In addition, due to the energy savings achieved, maintenance operations to change the battery of the relay equipment are spaced out more frequently. The inventors have established that the battery life can be increased by a factor of 2 to 20, depending on the applications.

[0016] The invention applies advantageously to the case of remote reading or any other use in which the sensors periodically transmit their measurement data.

[0017] It is particularly interesting in the case of a low-power, long-distance network or LPWAN, but applies more generally to any type of sensor network.

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the method comprises predicting a schedule for receiving measurement data frames by said relay equipment from a sensor of said plurality for a given time period, based on the information obtained, and in that the activity time windows of the schedule are determined by combining the time slots of said reception schedules of the plurality of sensors.

[0019] An advantage is that the activity schedule takes into account and integrates into a single schedule the predicted reception times for the plurality of sensors.

[0020] According to another aspect of the invention, said activity time window is centered on at least one said time slot and has a duration greater than said at least one slot.

[0021] An advantage is to keep a margin of error for receiving the measurement signals from the sensors, even if they are not exactly received in the predicted time slot. In an exemplary implementation, the activity time window includes a first guard interval at the beginning of the window and a second guard interval at the end of the window.

[0022] According to yet another aspect of the invention, the method comprises, following the configuration of the relay equipment from said activity calendar, the reception of a notification of reception of a said frame of measurement data from a said sensor at a time instant offset, relative to the activity time window defined by the calendar, the correction of the calendar by resetting the activity window according to said offset reception time instant and the transmission to said relay equipment of an updated calendar, comprising the reset activity window.

[0023] Advantageously, during the operational phase, the invention makes it possible to locally correct the activity schedule accordingly, without having to systematically restart the observation / learning phase.

[0024] Thus, thanks to this automatic correction capacity, the invention can operate for all types of applications, even when the captured measurement data frames are not transmitted regularly to the relay equipment, such as in a smart building context, involving sensors such as door opening, presence detection, etc.

[0025] According to another aspect of the invention, the method comprises the decision to repeat the steps of obtaining, predicting and determining a schedule of activities, as a function of at least one decision criterion, said decision criterion belonging to a group comprising: - the expiry of a given period, - achieving a given number of corrections; - the reception of an order from a communications network operator.

[0026] Advantageously, the learning phase is restarted when necessary (for example periodically), after a given number of corrections, at the request of the network, for example from the server equipment, etc., which makes it possible to guarantee the maintenance of a satisfactory level of quality of service over time.

[0027] According to yet another aspect of the invention, the time period being divided into a sequence of time slots of duration equal to a given time unit, the activity schedule is transmitted in a coded message comprising a sequence of binary elements, at least one binary element of said sequence being associated with said time slot and valued at a first value for the presence of a reception time in the slot, at a second value otherwise.

[0028] For example, a unit time slot is coded on 1 bit. One advantage is to transmit the schedule with a very short message, therefore in a very efficient manner and suitable for long-distance and low-power networks. According to one variant, it is coded on several bits, which makes it possible to distinguish the reception channel and therefore the sensor which transmitted the measurement data frame. According to yet another variant, a different granularity can be defined for a given number of bits assigned to the coding of a unit time slot, which makes it possible to define a schedule covering a more or less long time period or cycle. For example, 1 bit can represent 10, 20, 30 min or any other duration.

[0029] Correlatively, the invention also relates to a device for processing a configuration of relay equipment capable of receiving and retransmitting measurement data frames received from a plurality of sensors in a communication network, the device being configured to implement: - obtaining, during an observation time range, information representative of said measurement data frames received by said relay equipment from the plurality of sensors; - the determination of an activity schedule for said relay equipment, based on the in formations obtained, said activity schedule defining, for a given time period, activity time windows, during which said equipment listens to the network and outside of which said equipment is on standby, said activity window comprising at least one time slot comprising a time of reception of a said measurement data frame from a sensor of said plurality of sensors, and - the provision of said activity schedule to said relay equipment for its configuration.

[0030] The aforementioned device implements the aforementioned method of processing a configuration in its various embodiments.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the aforementioned configuration processing device is integrated into a piece of equipment of a communication network, to which a plurality of sensors are connected, capable of transmitting measurement data frames in said network via relay equipment capable of receiving said measurement data frames and retransmitting them in the communication network. This is, for example, network equipment such as server equipment.

[0032] The invention also relates to a method for configuring relay equipment of a communication network, said relay equipment being capable of receiving measurement data frames transmitted by a plurality of sensors and of retransmitting them in the communication network, said method being implemented at the level of said relay equipment and comprising: - the collection during an observation time range, of information representative of measurement data frames received by said relay equipment from said plurality of sensors, said information comprising times of reception of said measurement signals; - the transmission of said information to a device for processing a configuration of the relay equipment, said device being configured to determine, from said information, an activity schedule defining, for a given time period, time windows of activity, during which said equipment listens to the network and outside of which said equipment is on standby, - receiving said activity schedule from the relay equipment configuration processing device, and - the configuration of said relay equipment from said activity schedule.

[0033] An advantage of the invention is to automatically configure the activity periods and standby periods of the relay equipment, in a manner adapted to the operation of the plurality of sensors.

[0034] According to one aspect of the invention, the method comprises: - the detection of a moment of reception of a measurement data frame in origin of said sensor, offset from said activity window, - the transmission of a notification message of receipt of a measurement data frame at a delayed reception time to the processing device of a configuration of the relay equipment, - receipt of a corrected calendar, including the rescheduled activity window, and - updating the configuration from the corrected calendar.

[0035] An advantage is being able to correct the configuration of the relay equipment in the event of drift.

[0036] Correlatively, the invention also relates to a device for configuring relay equipment of a communication network, said relay equipment being capable of receiving measurement data frames transmitted by a plurality of sensors and of retransmitting them in the communication network, said device being configured to implement at the level of said relay equipment: - collecting during an observation time range, information representative of measurement data frames received by said relay equipment from said plurality of sensors, said information comprising times of reception of said measurement data frames; - the transmission of said information to a device for processing a configuration of the relay equipment, said device being configured to determine, from said information, an activity schedule defining, for a given time period, activity time windows, during which said equipment listens to the network and outside of which said equipment is on standby, said activity window comprising at least one time slot comprising a time of reception of a said measurement data frame from a sensor of said plurality of sensors; - obtaining said activity schedule from the device for processing a configuration of the relay equipment, and - the configuration of said relay equipment from said activity schedule.

[0037] The aforementioned device implements the aforementioned configuration method in its various embodiments.

[0038] According to one embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned configuration device is integrated into relay equipment of a communication network, capable of receiving measurement data frames transmitted by a plurality of sensors and retransmitting them in the communication network.

[0039] According to another embodiment, the aforementioned configuration device is integrated into the equipment of a aforementioned communication network.

[0040] The invention also relates to a system comprising a plurality of sensors, capable of transmitting measurement data frames in a communication network, a relay equipment capable of receiving said measurement data frames and retransmitting them in the communication network, the device for processing a configuration of a aforementioned relay equipment and the device for configuring a aforementioned relay equipment.

[0041] The invention finally relates to computer program products comprising program code instructions for the respective implementation of the aforementioned configuration processing and configuration methods, when they are executed by a processor.

[0042] Such a program may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0043] The invention also relates to at least one computer-readable recording medium on which are recorded the computer programs comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of the methods according to the invention as described above.

[0044] Such a recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or a magnetic recording means, for example a mobile medium (memory card) or a hard disk or an SSD.

[0045] On the other hand, such a recording medium may be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which may be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means, so that the computer programs it contains can be executed remotely. The programs according to the invention may in particular be downloaded over a network, for example the Internet.

[0046] Alternatively, the recording medium(s) may be one or more integrated circuits in which each program is incorporated, the circuit(s) being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the aforementioned methods.

[0047] According to an exemplary embodiment, the present technique is implemented by means of software and / or hardware components. In this regard, the term "module" may correspond in this document to a software component, a hardware component or a set of hardware and software components.

[0048] A software component corresponds to one or more computer programs, one or more sub-programs of a program, or more generally to any element of a program or software capable of implementing a function or a set of functions, as described below for the module concerned. Such a software component is executed by a data processor of a physical entity (terminal, server, gateway, set-top-box, router, etc.) and is likely to access the hardware resources of this physical entity (memory, recording media, communication buses, electronic input / output cards, user interfaces, etc.). Subsequently, resources are understood to mean all sets of hardware and / or software elements supporting a function or service, whether individual or combined.

[0049] In the same way, a hardware component corresponds to any element of a hardware assembly capable of implementing a function or a set of functions, as described below for the module concerned. It may be a programmable hardware component or one with an integrated processor for executing software, for example an integrated circuit, a smart card, a memory card, an electronic card for executing firmware, etc.

[0050] Each component of the system described above of course implements its own software modules.

[0051] The different embodiments mentioned above can be combined with each other for the implementation of the present technique. Brief description of the drawings

[0052] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description given below, with reference to the appended drawings which illustrate an exemplary embodiment thereof without any limiting character. In the figures:

[0053] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates an example of the architecture of a system for managing the configuration of equipment for relaying measurement data frames collected by sensors in a communication network according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0054] [Fig.2]: [Fig.2] describes in the form of a flowchart the steps of a method for processing a configuration of such relay equipment, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0055] [Fig.3]: [Fig.3] schematically illustrates the construction of an activity schedule for the relay equipment and an example of a message format encoding an activity schedule of the relay equipment, according to an example embodiment of the invention;

[0056] [Fig.4]: [Fig.4] describes in the form of a flowchart the steps of a method for configuring such relay equipment, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0057] [Fig.5]: [Fig.5] schematically describes an example of construction of an activity time window of an activity calendar according to the invention;

[0058] [Fig.6]: [Fig.6] describes in the form of a flow diagram, the messages exchanged between the relay equipment and a piece of equipment in the communication network, in the phase learning, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0059] [Fig.7]: [Fig.7] describes in the form of a flow diagram, the messages exchanged between the relay equipment and equipment of the communication network, in the operational phase, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0060] [Fig.8]: [Fig.8] describes an example of hardware structure of a device for processing a configuration of relay equipment according to the invention; and

[0061] [Fig.9]: [Fig.9] describes an example of hardware structure of a configuration device for relay equipment according to the invention. Description of the invention

[0062] The general principle of the invention consists in collecting, during a learning phase, metadata relating to measurement data frames received by relay equipment of a communication network from a plurality of sensors and intended for remote equipment, such as client terminals or server equipment, and in using them to generate an activity schedule for this relay equipment, said schedule comprising activity windows during which the relay equipment is intended to be active to receive measurement data frames transmitted by the sensors and outside of which it is intended to be on standby. The activity schedule thus generated is made available to the relay equipment for configuration.In other words, the relay equipment is configured to operate in a scheduled mode (in English, "scheduler on"), in which it is alternately active or in standby, in accordance with the received activity schedule. Once the configuration is complete, the relay, or scheduled, operating mode can be activated in the operational phase.

[0063] The invention thus makes it possible to automatically program relay equipment so that it is only active when necessary, and therefore to optimize the use of its resources. In particular, when the relay equipment is powered by batteries, the invention thus contributes to increasing their lifespan.

[0064] By optimizing the operation of the relay equipment, the invention also contributes to improving radio coverage, the connection between the sensors and the server equipment which processes the measurement data and therefore the quality of the service provided.

[0065] The invention relates to any type of communication network, called a sensor network, capable of connecting a plurality of sensors to a remote server device configured to collect and process the data measured by the plurality of sensors, and comprising at least one relay device, capable of receiving the measurement data from the sensors in the form of frames, repeating them and retransmitting them in the network to the remote server device. It applies in particular to a low-power, long-distance network or LPWAN, designed specifically to meet the constraints of the IoT. In the following, examples of embodiments of the invention will be described for a LoRa® network, without loss of generality.

[0066] Here, the term sensor refers to any object connected to a communication network, generally using radio technology and configured to take measurements or capture data in its environment. This includes, for example, but not limited to, a temperature, pressure, or hygrometry sensor, an energy consumption meter, a motion detector, a light detector, etc.

[0067] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates an example of architecture of a system S for managing a configuration of relay equipment ER of a communication network RC, for example a radio repeater EXT (in English, “extender”).

[0068] The RC network is for example an LPWAN type network, for example compliant with Lora® technology. A plurality of sensors EDI, ED2, .. .EDN, with N being a non-zero integer, here equal to 4, is connected to said network via the relay equipment ER, EXT, configured to relay the measurement data frames from the sensors to a remote equipment ES, for example a network equipment, also called a “back-end”, such as the server equipment BED or other equipment in the network. For example, these are application frames (in English, “applicative payload”), which are ultimately intended for a client application and the useful part (in English, “payload”) of which contains measurement data from the plurality of sensors, for example water consumption readings from a water meter. In this case, they are usually routed via the remote ES equipment to the client terminal on which the client application is activated.

[0069] It is noted that the remote equipment ES, BED can be configured to process the measurement data collected by the sensors and relayed by the relay equipment ER, EXT. Alternatively, it can be a network supervisory equipment in charge of programming the various relay equipment of the network, or more broadly of optimizing the energy consumption of the RC network. In this case, the supervisory equipment is not necessarily the recipient of the measurement data frames transmitted by the sensors.

[0070] According to this embodiment of the invention, the system S therefore comprises the plurality of sensors EDI, ED2,..., EDN, the relay equipment ER and the server equipment ES, BED. In this example, the server equipment BED comprises a device 100 for processing a configuration of the relay equipment ER, configured to obtain data (or metadata) representative of measurement signals received by said relay equipment from the plurality of sensors, determine an activity schedule of said equipment, from the metadata obtained for the plurality of sensors, and transmit said activity schedule to said relay equipment so that it can configure itself.

[0071] The device 100 thus implements the method of processing a configuration of relay equipment according to the invention which will be detailed below in relation to [Fig.2],

[0072] In this example, the device 100 is integrated into the server equipment ES, BED. In this case, the activity schedule determined by the invention is transmitted to the relay equipment ER via the communication network RC. An advantage is that this server equipment is generally equipped with significant computing and storage resources, good connectivity and is powered by energy. It is therefore not subject to energy saving constraints, unlike the relay equipment. Nevertheless, the invention is not limited to this implementation example, the device 100 being able, as an alternative, to be integrated into the relay equipment ER. In this case, the schedule determined by the invention is stored in a memory of the device 100 or of the relay equipment ER. An advantage is to avoid exchanges of data and messages between the relay equipment and the server equipment and therefore to preserve network resources.

[0073] According to the example of [Fig.l], the system S also comprises a device 200 for configuring a relay equipment ER, EXT of a communication network, said device 200 being configured to collect during an observation time range, measurement data frames received by said equipment from said plurality of sensors, transmit information or metadata representative of said measurement signals to the device 100 for processing a configuration of said relay equipment, obtain an activity schedule from the device 100 and configure the relay equipment in accordance with the activity schedule.

[0074] The device 200 thus implements the method of configuring relay equipment according to the invention which will be detailed below in relation to [Fig.4].

[0075] In this example, the device 200 is integrated into the relay equipment ER. Alternatively, it can be independent of this relay equipment but connected to it. Advantageously, the relay equipment ER, EXT comprises a programming module SCHD, configured to take into account the activity schedule obtained, comprising activity time windows, and to program the operation of the relay equipment so that it is in active mode during the activity time windows defined by the activity schedule and in standby mode outside these windows. Advantageously, the programming module is configured to operate according to a first mode “SCHD_OFF” according to which the relay equipment is always in active mode (no schedule is applied) and according to a second mode called programmed mode “SCHD_ON”, according to which the operation of the relay equipment is determined by the schedule.

[0076] We now present, in relation to [Fig.2], in the form of a flowchart, an example of implementation of a method for processing a configuration of relay equipment according to an embodiment of the invention. Advantageously, the method is implemented by the device 100. Alternatively, the method could be implemented by the device 200 provided that the latter has sufficient memory and computing resources.

[0077] At 20, a configuration message is sent to the relay equipment indicating the start of a new learning phase.

[0078] At 21, during the learning phase, the device 100 receives from the relay equipment ER, EXT information or metadata representative of measurement data frames that it has received from the sensors. This metadata, which describes measurement data received by the relay equipment ER, EXT, comprises at least one identifier of the sensor that transmitted the measurement data frames, a time instant of reception of the measurement data frame by the relay equipment (in English, “time stamp”). They may also comprise an identifier of the transmission channel allocated to the sensor. They may finally comprise one or more radio parameters, such as for example the spreading factor (in English, “spreading factor”). The metadata is transmitted to the server equipment ES, BED by the relay equipment in one or more messages.

[0079] At 22, the device 100 decides to stop the acquisition of metadata, because it has enough metadata to generate an activity schedule. According to a first option, a time range for acquiring the metadata is predetermined and the learning phase ends at the end of this time range. Ideally, in the case of periodic collections by the plurality of sensors, this time range must be chosen to be long enough to include several collection periods or cycles. For example, for a cyclical collection period of one day, the acquisition range can be chosen to be equal to a few days, or even a week.

[0080] According to a second option, no acquisition time range is predetermined, the device 100 analyzes the metadata received as it goes along and evaluates whether it has enough metadata to move on to the calculation phase.

[0081] The choice of one or other of these options is for example specified in an application profile filled in by an operator, as well as, respectively, the duration of the learning period or the quantity of metadata required.

[0082] Whatever the option, once its decision has been made, the device 100 sends at 23 a configuration message to the relay equipment ER, EXT specifying that the learning phase is complete.

[0083] At 24, the received metadata are used to predict, for each sensor, a schedule for receiving measurement data frames for a time period. given, to come. For example, this period corresponds to a one-day (24-hour) collection cycle. This prediction step aims to define a statistical law governing the times of reception of measurement data frames from a given sensor. Different techniques, more or less complex, can be implemented. According to a first example, the average and / or median times of reception of measurement data frames are calculated from the acquired metadata. This very simple technique may be sufficient in the case of sensors that carry out measurement readings at regular intervals. According to a second example, the times of reception of measurement signal frames relating to the detection of arrivals of people in a meeting room are represented by a Gaussian law with a mean corresponding to the start time of a meeting and a standard deviation of the order of a few minutes.Of course, other laws can be applied, such as a gamma law, depending on the intended application.

[0084] Advantageously, a unit reception time window is defined, for example of duration equal to 10 min and such a unit window is positioned on either side of each predicted reception time so that it is placed in the center. It is understood that thus the reception schedule can comprise reception time windows of various sizes, obtained by the concatenation of several adjacent unit windows.

[0085] For other types of sensors, such as for example presence detectors, subject to more variable and random environments, the measurement readings are not necessarily regular and other techniques known per se can be implemented to define the statistical law and predict time windows for receiving the next measurement data frames over the period considered. For a presence detection application, the prediction could be done by regular sampling several times per hour, with short listening windows and reduced guard intervals.

[0086] Once a reception schedule PLN1 to PLNN is available for each of the sensors EDI to EDN, an activity schedule CAL of the relay equipment ER, EXT is determined at 25, taking into account the time windows defined in each of these reception schedules. For example, a union of the predicted time windows is made for each sensor. An example of an activity schedule thus generated is illustrated by [Fig.3].

[0087] At 26, the activity schedule CAL is transmitted to the relay equipment ER, EXT. According to one embodiment, it is previously coded in the form of a binary sequence of length at least equal to the number of unit time windows included in the time period considered. For example, a unit time window is therefore coded on 1 bit (we speak of granularity equal to 1 bit). Thus, a A time period of a day, therefore 24 hours, has 24x6 = 144 unit time windows of 10 min. For example, the corresponding bit of the sequence is set to 1 for a unit window included in a reception time window, otherwise to zero. An example of a message coded using this technique is shown in [Fig.3]. It includes 144 bits. The coded message is therefore 18 bytes long. An advantage of this embodiment is that the coded message is short.

[0088] According to an implementation variant, the chosen granularity is 2 bits to code the same duration of 10 minutes. For example, the following sequence 00 01 10 11 means “no activity, reception on channel Chl, reception on channel Ch2, reception on channel Ch3”. Of course, the invention makes it possible to generalize the coding of a sequence to N channels, with N non-zero integer, using N+1 bits. An advantage is therefore to be able to distinguish the reception channel (and consequently the corresponding sensor provided that a different channel has been previously allocated to them).

[0089] Note that a maximum size of useful information (in English, "payload") is generally fixed. For example, the LoRaWan specifications limit it to 51 bytes for a spreading parameter between 9 and 12. Knowing that it is necessary to subtract 15 bytes of optional fields and 1 byte of application coding (CBOR), 35 bytes remain. With 35 bytes, it is possible to use a granularity of 6 min per bit to code a 24-hour calendar in a single frame.

[0090] On the other hand, the coded message is twice as long as in the previous embodiment. If necessary, two messages can be transmitted, a first covering the first 12 hours of the day and a second the following 12. In this case, the second message indicates the offset, here 12 hours, to be applied relative to an initial time.

[0091] According to yet another implementation variant, the same amount of bits, for example 1 bit, is allocated to a unit time window, but it does not represent the same duration for all activity schedules. In this case, the message carrying the activity schedule includes the granularity value to be used, for example 10, 20 minutes or any other duration.

[0092] According to one embodiment, a notification message is received at 27 from the relay equipment ER, EXT by the device 100, indicating the reception of a measurement data frame at a reception time offset from an activity time window defined in the calendar CAL. This message comprises at least the actual reception time instant and a start and / or end time of the activity window concerned or any other information making it possible to identify the activity window concerned.

[0093] At 28, a correction of the calendar is made so as to reposition / recenter the window in question on the actual reception time. The new calendar CAL' is transmitted in 29 to the relay equipment for updating its configuration.

[0094] At 30, the device 100 evaluates whether it is necessary to trigger a new learning phase. To do this, it can take into account one or more decision criteria including a time elapsed since the previous learning phase, reaching or exceeding a threshold of the number of notifications received from the relay equipment since the start of the operational phase, the deployment of new sensors, etc.

[0095] We now present, in relation to [Fig.4], in the form of a flowchart, an example of implementation of a method for configuring relay equipment according to an embodiment of the invention. Advantageously, the method is implemented by the device 200.

[0096] It is assumed that before the implementation of the configuration method, the relay equipment ER, EXT is in a default configuration mode, according to which it is always active (“ReceiverON” mode). It is also noted that during the implementation of the configuration method, the relay equipment no longer relays the measurement data frames transmitted by the plurality of sensors to a remote equipment of the network ES, which may be the BED equipment or another equipment of the network, not shown in [Fig.l]. Indeed, the learning and relaying operating modes are not superimposable, in particular because the frame relaying time must not exceed a maximum authorized response time and because the relaying would induce losses of information for the preparation of the schedule.During the implementation of the configuration method, the measurement data frames, for example application data frames, received from the plurality of sensors, are advantageously stored in memory and made available to the arrangement 200 so that it can use them as described below.

[0097] At 40, a message is received from the device 200 indicating the start of a learning phase. In response, the device 200 begins at 41 the acquisition of MTD metadata relating to the measurement data frames that it records as it receives them from the plurality of EDI to EDN sensors to which it is connected, for example in a memory M2, for example organized as a database. As indicated previously, the MTD metadata comprise at least one identifier of the EDi sensor, with I being an integer between 1 and N and a time instant of reception of the measurement signal.

[0098] According to an implementation example, at 42, it detects that its memory M2 is full and it triggers at 43 the transmission of the metadata MTD stored in M1 to the device 100. It therefore triggers this transmission in order to be able to delete the metadata from its memory M2.

[0099] According to another example, the transmission of metadata is triggered upon expiration of a predetermined acquisition time period.

[0100] According to a second embodiment of the invention (not shown), it transmits the metadata (step 43) to the device 100 as and when it receives a message from the device 100 asking it to stop the acquisition, because it has received enough metadata, the device 200 ends the learning phase and the acquisition of metadata.

[0101] At 44, the device 200 receives an activity schedule CAL, comprising activity time windows during which the relay equipment is intended to be active to receive measurement data frames from the sensors and outside of which it is intended to be passive, i.e. on standby or at rest.

[0102] Advantageously, this CAL schedule is received in a message, in coded form, for example, in the form of a binary sequence, such as that shown in [Fig.3] and previously described. Advantageously, this message also includes a command for configuring the relay equipment ER, EXT from this activity schedule.

[0103] At 45, the relay equipment receives a command to activate the programmed mode (“SCHD_ON”) according to the alternation (active mode / standby mode) defined by the CAL schedule received and which it has injected into the SCHD programming module of the relay equipment ER, EXT. The reception of this command marks the start of the operational phase.

[0104] According to an embodiment of the invention, at 46, the device 200 detects a drift between the actual time of reception of a measurement data frame and its activity time window provided by the calendar CAL. For example, it detects, after a certain number of cycles (one cycle corresponding to the time period of the calendar, for example equal to one day), for example after one week, that a measurement data frame is received at the start or end of the activity time window. To prevent a next measurement data frame from being received outside the activity time window, the device 200 sends a notification message to the device 100, in order to alert it. This message includes the actual time of reception detected as offset and, for example, the start and end times of the activity window defined by the calendar CAL. If it is a unitary window, only one of the two times is sufficient.In another example, activity windows are indexed and the notification message includes the index of the affected window.

[0105] According to another embodiment of the invention, illustrated by [Fig. 5], it is assumed that the FTA activity time windows defined by the CAL schedule include a guard interval IGA preceding the start of the first FTU unit time window of a sequence of adjacent unit time windows and a guard interval IGB following the last FTU unit time window of the sequence. In this In this case, drift detection occurs as soon as a measurement data frame is received in one of the IGA, IGB guard intervals. For example, these guard intervals have a duration at least equal to that of a FTU unit window. In this respect, the duration of the guard intervals may vary depending on the constraints of the application or the minimum battery life. A high requirement on autonomy could lead to imposing intervals of the size of a maximum FTU window. For a meeting room occupancy detection application, frame uploads fluctuate around a specific time, which could require increasing the guard times to 2 or 3 FTU to ensure that all arrivals, including early or late arrivals, of occupants are detected.The possibility of adapting the duration of the guard intervals to the intended application makes it possible to adapt and adjust the listening / relaying periods to other applications than the TV monitor for which the event / frame uploads are not periodic.

[0106] In return, it receives at 47 a corrected CAL' calendar, in which the time window in question has been repositioned so that it is centered on the shifted reception time instant. At 48, the configuration of the relay equipment ER, EXT is updated by replacing the CAL calendar injected into the SCHD programming module with the corrected CAL' calendar.

[0107] In relation to [Fig.6], the messages exchanged between the equipment of the system S during the learning phase are now described in more detail according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. It is assumed here that the device 100 is integrated into the server equipment BED and that the device 200 is integrated into the relay equipment ER, EXT. For simplicity, only a first sensor EDI and a second sensor ED2 are considered. Of course, the invention is not limited to this example and applies with a larger number N of sensors.

[0108] At 20, the device 100 of the server equipment BED sends a message CNF_MSG(LRN_ON) to the device 200 of the relay equipment ER, EXT to indicate to it the start of a learning phase. From the reception of this message at 40, the device 200 of the relay equipment ER, EXT begins to collect information or metadata MTD relating to the measurement data frames that it receives from the sensors EDI and ED2 in messages UPL_MSG(ED1, TS1), UPL_MSG(ED2, TS2) and to store them in memory at 4L. According to this exemplary embodiment of the invention, it continues to collect data for a given period, for example of the order of a few days or weeks, depending on the intended application, and it triggers the transmission at 43 of the metadata at the end of this period or when it detects at 42 that its memory is full. Advantageously, the device 200 transmits the metadata to the device 100 in one or more REC_MSG(ED1, MTD1), REC_MSG(ED2, MTD2) messages.Such a message includes at least one identifier. of the sensor EDI, ED2, and as metadata MTD1, MTD2, the reception time TS1, TS2 of the measurement data frame. It may also include a transmission channel identifier, a transmission parameter, such as, for example, a spreading factor SF, etc.

[0109] The device 100 receives them at 21. In this example, at 22, it decides to end the learning phase because it has sufficient data and indicates this to the device 200 by sending it, at 23, a CNF_MSG(LRN_OFF) message.

[0110] Then, the device 100 triggers a calculation phase during which it uses the received metadata to determine a CAL activity schedule for the relay equipment ER, EXT. At 24, the received metadata are used to predict, for each sensor EDI, ED2, a PLN reception schedule for measurement data frames from the sensors for a given time period. For example, this period corresponds to a one-day (24-hour) collection cycle. At 5, a CAL activity schedule for the relay equipment ER, EXT is determined from the reception schedules obtained for each of the sensors EDI, ED2. The calculation phase ends.

[0111] In relation to [Fig.7], we now describe in more detail the messages exchanged between the equipment of the system S during the operational phase.

[0112] At 26, the device 100 transmits the CAL activity schedule to the device 200. Advantageously, it is sent in a CAL_MSG(ON, CAL_BMP) message in the form of a coded CAL_BMP sequence, for example as previously described in relation to [Fig.2].

[0113] Upon receipt, at 44, the device 200 configures the SCHD programming module of the relay equipment ER, EXT so that, in a programmed mode (“SCHD_ON”), the relay equipment ER, EXT alternates listening periods and standby periods, as defined by the received CAL activity schedule. In this example, the device 100 sends a CNF_MSG(SCHD_ON) message to the device 200 comprising an order to switch to the programmed mode “SCHD_ON”. Upon receipt at 45, the device 200 places the relay equipment ER, EXT in programmed mode. The relay equipment ER, EXT executes and begins to alternate listening and standby periods as defined by the CAL schedule. In [Fig.7], the sending of measurement data frames from the sensors to the BED network equipment has been shown as an example of implementation, but, as already mentioned above, the invention is not limited to this example, i.e. the uploading of the measurement data frames from the sensors can be done to another back-end equipment (or "back end") of the RC communication network.

[0114] At 46, the device 200 detects a drift between the actual reception time TS of at least one frame of measurement data coming from a sensor EDI, ED2 and an activity window of the CAL calendar. It notifies the device 100 of this drift by transmitting to it a message NTF_MSG(ED1, TS1, DFT). This message indicates at least one identifier of the EDI sensor, the value of the drift and the effective reception time TS1. Alternatively, it comprises the start of the activity window or an index of the unit time window FTU initially provided by the CAL calendar for the reception of measurement data frames from this sensor. Upon receipt, at 28, the device 100 commands the device 200 to return to unscheduled mode (“RECVR_ON”), corrects the activity window so that it includes the effective reception time of the measurement data frame concerned, determines an updated calendar CAL' and transmits it at 29 to the device 200. Advantageously, it then transmits to it a command to switch to programmed mode (with the CAL' calendar).

[0115] Advantageously, at 30, the device 100 decides to restart a learning phase, for example at the end of a given time phase, for example equal to several days or several months depending on the intended application or following the exceeding of a threshold of number of corrections. Indeed, exceeding this threshold may indicate a change in behavior of the sensors, which makes it necessary to completely restart the learning. Thus, the invention implements an updating of the calendar, regularly or as needed, which guarantees maintaining a satisfactory level of quality of service.

[0116] The invention which has just been presented provides numerous advantages. On the one hand, it makes it possible to automatically generate an activity schedule for a relay device, which can then be used by a programming module of this device to make it operate according to an alternation of listening periods (active mode) and standby (passive mode) and thus optimize its energy consumption.

[0117] The invention thus contributes to facilitating the configuration of a sensor network in a given environment, by eliminating the need for manual intervention on the relay equipment(s) of this network.

[0118] The invention finds its application in many fields. It is particularly suitable for remote reading services according to which sensor measurements are made regularly, but because it integrates a correction and calendar mechanism, it is also intended for other uses for which sensor measurements are more random and conditioned by the environment (motion detection, presence, etc.).

[0119] We then present, in relation to [Fig.8], an example of hardware structure of a device 100 for processing a configuration of relay equipment capable of receiving and retransmitting in a communication network frames of measurement data coming from a plurality of sensors and associating a time instant with them. receiving device, said device comprising a module for obtaining information or metadata representative of measurement data frames from the plurality of sensors relayed by said equipment from said plurality of sensors, said information comprising times of reception of said frames, a module for determining an activity schedule for said equipment, from the metadata obtained for the plurality of sensors, said schedule defining, for the given time period, activity time windows, during which said equipment listens to the network and outside of which said equipment is on standby, said activity window comprising at least one said time slot of said schedule, and a module for transmitting said activity schedule for configuring said relay equipment.

[0120] Advantageously, the device 100 comprises a module for predicting a schedule for receiving measurement data frames by said equipment from a said sensor of said plurality for a given time period, from the obtained metadata and the module for determining an activity schedule is configured to determine the schedule from the predicted reception schedules for the plurality of sensors. Advantageously, the device 100 also comprises a module for detecting a shifted reception of a measurement data frame by said relay equipment from a said sensor, correcting said activity window as a function of said effective reception time instant and transmitting an updated schedule, comprising the shifted activity window.

[0121] The term "module" can correspond to a software component as well as to a hardware component or a set of hardware and software components, a software component itself corresponding to one or more computer programs or sub-programs or more generally to any element of a program capable of implementing a function or a set of functions.

[0122] More generally, such a device 100 comprises a random access memory 103 (for example a RAM memory), a processing unit 102 equipped for example with a processor, and controlled by a computer program Pgl, representative of the aforementioned modules, stored in a read-only memory 101 (for example a ROM memory or a hard disk). At initialization, the code instructions of the computer program are for example loaded into the random access memory 103 before being executed by the processor of the processing unit 102. The random access memory 103 can also contain for example the information (or metadata) obtained from the relay equipment, the predicted reception schedules for the plurality of sensors and the determined calendar. It can further comprise one or more decision criteria relating to the end of the learning phase or the triggering of a new learning phase.

[0123] [Fig. 8] illustrates only one particular way, among several possible ways, of producing the device 100 so that it performs the steps of the method for processing a configuration of relay equipment as detailed above, in relation to FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, in its different embodiments. Indeed, these steps can be carried out indifferently on a reprogrammable computing machine (a PC computer, a DSP processor or a microcontroller) executing a program comprising a sequence of instructions, or on a dedicated computing machine (for example a set of logic gates such as an FPGA or an ASIC, or any other hardware module).

[0124] In the case where the device 100 is produced with a reprogrammable computing machine, the corresponding program (i.e. the sequence of instructions) may be stored in a removable storage medium (such as for example an SD card, a USB key, a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM) or not, this storage medium being partially or totally readable by a computer or a processor.

[0125] The various embodiments have been described above in relation to a device 100 integrated into BED network equipment, for example a back-end equipment of the RC sensor network, such as a server equipment. The BED equipment in question may or may not be the final recipient of the measurement data frames collected by the plurality of sensors.

[0126] Finally, in relation to [Fig. 9], an example of a hardware structure of a device 200 for configuring relay equipment capable of receiving and retransmitting in a communication network measurement data frames from a plurality of sensors and associating with them a reception time instant, said device comprising a module for collecting, during an observation time range, time-stamped measurement data frames received by said equipment from said plurality of sensors, a module for transmitting information representative of said measurement signals to a device for processing a configuration of said equipment, said device being configured to determine, from said information (or metadata), an activity calendar defining, for a given time period, activity time windows,during which said equipment listens to the network and outside of which said equipment is on standby, a module for obtaining said activity schedule, and a module for configuring said equipment from said activity schedule.

[0127] Advantageously, the device 200 comprises a module for detecting a shift in the reception of a measurement data frame from said sensor in said activity window, a module for transmitting an alert message to the device for processing a configuration of the relay equipment, a module for updating the configuration from a received corrected calendar.

[0128] The term "module" can correspond to a software component as well as to a hardware component or a set of hardware and software components, a software component itself corresponding to one or more computer programs or sub-programs or more generally to any element of a program capable of implementing a function or a set of functions.

[0129] More generally, such a device 200 comprises a random access memory 203 (for example a RAM memory), a processing unit 202 equipped for example with a processor, and controlled by a computer program Pg2, representative of the aforementioned modules, stored in a read-only memory 201 (for example a ROM memory or a hard disk). At initialization, the code instructions of the computer program are for example loaded into the random access memory 203 before being executed by the processor of the processing unit 202. The random access memory 203 can also contain for example the information (or metadata) obtained from the relay equipment, the predicted reception schedules for the plurality of sensors and the determined calendar. It can further comprise one or more decision criteria relating to the end of the learning phase or the triggering of a new learning phase.

[0130] [Fig. 9] illustrates only one particular way, among several possible ways, of producing the device 200 so that it performs the steps of the method for configuring relay equipment as detailed above, in relation to FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, in its different embodiments. Indeed, these steps can be carried out indifferently on a reprogrammable computing machine (a PC computer, a DSP processor or a microcontroller) executing a program comprising a sequence of instructions, or on a dedicated computing machine (for example a set of logic gates such as an FPGA or an ASIC, or any other hardware module).

[0131] In the case where the device 200 is produced with a reprogrammable computing machine, the corresponding program (i.e. the sequence of instructions) may be stored in a removable storage medium (such as for example an SD card, a USB key, a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM) or not, this storage medium being partially or totally readable by a computer or a processor.

[0132] The different embodiments have been described above in relation to a device 200 integrated into relay equipment ER, for example an EXT repeater. Of course, the invention also applies when the device is independent of the relay equipment, but connected to it.

[0133] The embodiments which have just been described can be combined with each other.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for processing a configuration of relay equipment (ER, EXT) capable of receiving measurement data frames transmitted by a plurality of sensors (EDI, ED2, ..., EDN) and retransmitting them in a communication network (RC, LPWAN), characterized in that it comprises: - obtaining (21) during an observation time range, information (MTD) representative of said measurement data frames received by said relay equipment from the plurality of sensors; - determining (25) an activity schedule (CAL) for said relay equipment, from the information obtained, said activity schedule defining, for a given time period, activity time windows, during which said relay equipment listens to the network and outside of which said relay equipment is on standby, said activity window comprising at least one time slot comprising a time of reception of a said measurement data frame from a sensor of said plurality of sensors, and - making said activity schedule available (26) to said relay equipment for the purpose of configuring it, and in that it comprises the prediction (24) of a reception schedule (PLN) for measurement data frames by said relay equipment from a sensor of said plurality for a given time period, from the information obtained,and in that the activity time windows of the schedule are determined by union of the time slots (FTU) of said reception schedules of the plurality of sensors, said activity time window being centered on at least one of said time slots and having a duration greater than said at least one slot.,

2. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises, following the configuration of the relay equipment from said activity calendar, the reception (27) of a notification of reception of a said frame of measurement data from a said sensor at a time instant offset, relative to the activity time window defined by the calendar, the correction (28) of the calendar by resetting the activity window according to said reception time instant shifted and the transmission (29) to said relay equipment of an updated schedule (CAL'), including the recalibrated activity window.

3. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises the decision (30) to repeat the steps of obtaining, predicting and determining a schedule of activities, as a function of at least one decision criterion, said decision criterion belonging to a group comprising: - the expiration of a given time limit, - the achievement of a given number of corrections; - the reception of an order from a communication operator (RC).

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the time period being divided into a sequence of time slots (CTU) of duration equal to a given time unit, the activity schedule (CAL, CAL') is transmitted in a coded message comprising a sequence of binary elements, at least one binary element of said sequence being associated with said time slot (CTU) and valued at a first value for the presence of a reception time in the slot, at a second value otherwise.

5. Method for configuring relay equipment (ER, EXT) of a communication network (RC, LPWAN), said relay equipment being capable of receiving measurement data frames transmitted by a plurality of sensors (EDI, ED2, ..., EDN) and retransmitting them in the communication network, characterized in that it is implemented at the level of said relay equipment and comprises: - the collection (41) during an observation time range, of information (MTD) representative of measurement data frames received by said relay equipment from said plurality of sensors, said information comprising reception times (TS) of said measurement signals; - the transmission (43) of said information (MTD) to a device for processing a configuration of the relay equipment, said processing device being configured to determine, from said information, an activity calendar (CAL) defining, for a given time period, activity time windows, during which said relay equipment listens to the network and outside of which said relay equipment is on standby. - receiving (44) said activity schedule from the device for processing a configuration of the relay equipment, and - configuring (45) said relay equipment from said activity schedule, and characterized in that it comprises predicting (24) a reception schedule (PLN) of measurement data frames by said relay equipment from a sensor of said plurality for a given time period, from the information obtained, the activity time windows of the schedule being determined by union of the time slots (FTU) of said reception schedules of the plurality of sensors, said activity time window being centered on at least one of said time slots and having a duration greater than said at least one slot.

6. Configuration method according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises: - the detection of a time of reception of a measurement data frame from said sensor, offset relative to said activity window, - the transmission (46) of a notification message of reception of a measurement data frame at an offset reception time to the device for processing a configuration of the relay equipment, - the reception (47) of a corrected calendar (CAL'), comprising the recalibrated activity window, and - the updating (48) of the configuration from the corrected calendar (CAL').

7. Device (100) for processing a configuration of a relay equipment (ER, EXT) capable of receiving measurement data frames from a plurality of sensors (EDI, ED2, ..., EDN) and retransmitting them in a communication network (RC, LPWAN), characterized in that said processing device is configured to implement: - obtaining during an observation time range, information (MTD) representative of said measurement data frames received by said relay equipment from the plurality of sensors; - determining an activity schedule (CAL) of said relay equipment, from the information obtained, said activity schedule de-

8. ending, for a given time period, activity time windows, during which said relay equipment listens to the network and outside of which said relay equipment is on standby, said activity window comprising at least one time slot comprising an instant of reception of a said measurement data frame from a sensor of said plurality of sensors, and - the provision (25) of said activity schedule to said relay equipment for the purpose of its configuration; and the prediction (24) of a reception schedule (PLN) of measurement data frames by said relay equipment from a sensor of said plurality for a given time period, from the information obtained, the activity time windows of the schedule being determined by union of the time slots (FTU) of said reception schedules of the plurality of sensors, said activity time window being centered on at least one of said time slots and having a duration greater than said at least one slot. Device (200) for configuring relay equipment (ER, EXT) of a communication network (RC, LPWAN), said relay equipment being capable of receiving measurement data frames transmitted by a plurality of sensors (EDI, ED2, ..., EDN and retransmitting them in the communication network, characterized in that it is configured to implement at said relay equipment: - the collection (41) during an observation time range, of information (MTD) representative of measurement data frames received by said relay equipment from said plurality of sensors, said information comprising reception times (TS) of said measurement data frames; - the transmission (43) of said information (MTD) to a device for processing a configuration of the relay equipment, said processing device being configured to determine, from said information, an activity schedule (CAL) defining, for a given time period, activity time windows, during which said relay equipment listens to the network and outside of which said relay equipment is on standby, said activity window comprising at least one time slot comprising a time of reception of a said measurement data frame from a sensor of said plurality of sensors; - obtaining (44) said activity schedule from the device for processing a configuration of the relay equipment, and - configuring (45) said relay equipment from said activity schedule, and for implementing the prediction (24) of a reception schedule (PLN) of measurement data frames by said relay equipment from a sensor of said plurality for a given time period, from the information obtained, the activity time windows of the schedule being determined by union of the time slots (FTU) of said reception schedules of the plurality of sensors, said activity time window being centered on at least one of said time slots and having a duration greater than said at least one slot.

9. Relay equipment (ER, EXT) of a communication network, capable of receiving measurement data frames transmitted by a plurality of sensors (EDI, ED2, ..., EDN), and of retransmitting them in the communication network, characterized in that it comprises a device (200) of configuration according to claim 8.

10. Relay equipment (ER, EXT) according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises a device (100) for processing a configuration according to claim 7.

11. Equipment (ES, BED) of a communication network (RC, LPWAN), to which is connected a plurality of sensors capable of transmitting measurement data frames in said network via relay equipment (RC, LPWAN) capable of receiving said measurement data frames and retransmitting them in the communication network, characterized in that it comprises a device (100) for processing a configuration according to claim 7.

12. System (S) comprising a plurality of sensors, capable of transmitting measurement data frames in a communication network (RC, LPWAN), relay equipment (ER, EXT) capable of receiving said measurement data frames and retransmitting them in the communication network, characterized in that said system comprises a device (100) for processing a configuration of relay equipment according to claim 7 and a device (200) for configuring relay equipment according to claim 8.

13. Computer program product comprising code instructions program for implementing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, when executed by a processor.

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