communication methods and devices for sports practice

Abstract

The invention relates to a time window allocation method (50) implemented within a communication device (1, 2, 3, 4) for performing various decoding and / or encoding tasks on audio signals respectively received or to be transmitted by the communication device (1, 2, 3, 4) on a wireless communication network on which the communication device (1, 2, 3, 4) is capable of communicating with other communication devices (1, 2, 3, 4) according to a communication implementation method (60) comprising, in particular, the steps of the time window allocation method (50). The invention also relates to the communication implementation method (60) and a communication device (1, 2, 3, 4) capable of implementing the methods of the invention (50, 60). No abstract figure

Description

Title of the invention: communication methods and device for sports practice Technical field

[0001] The invention, which belongs to the field of electronics and telecommunications, relates to communication methods as well as a communication device capable of implementing said methods.

[0002] The methods and device of the invention allow a group of users to interact and communicate remotely by speech while practicing a common activity, for example an outdoor sporting activity such as cycling or climbing.

[0003] Thus, the invention allows, for example, a group of cyclists, long-distance runners, hikers, climbers or even divers, whether they are simple amateurs or professionals exercising for leisure, training or competition, to discuss and exchange information by speech in a natural and continuous manner, despite the distance separating them and the difficulties posed by the external environment (forests, relief, presence of buildings) and the atmospheric and usage conditions (rain, wind, speed). Preamble

[0004] During a joint practice of an activity carried out in a group and outdoors, individuals, amateurs or professionals, belonging to the same team or the same group, wish to be able to stay in contact and exchange information constantly.

[0005] Existing solutions, based on the use of personal mobile phones, have the disadvantage of reducing the battery life of the phones, and potentially rendering them unusable after a certain time, which is problematic in the event of an emergency situation or the need to alert the emergency services. In addition, these solutions generally limit the users' ability to move since they must hold their phone in their hand. In addition, such solutions, exclusively based on conventional mobile networks such as GSM or 3G / 4G / 5G, are rendered out of service in the absence of network coverage, as is often the case in steep and difficult-to-access areas.

[0006] Other solutions, which belong to the field of intercom for motorcycles, are particularly well adapted to the needs of motorcyclists or groups of motorcyclists who ride together. However, these solutions propose devices intended to be installed on the specific equipment worn by motorcyclists and in particular motorcycle helmets. Thus, these solutions, particularly intrusive and potentially inconvenient, are not suitable for other types of users such as athletes, because they would have the consequence of hindering the practice of sport. In addition, the range of these existing solutions, that is to say the distance between two users beyond which they cannot communicate via their respective devices, is limited, and even particularly low in an environment with little or no clear space (mountain road or crossing a forest or a city for example). Finally, and despite the aforementioned disadvantages, the price of these motorcycle intercom solutions is generally high, which makes these solutions not very accessible to the general public.

[0007] Generally speaking, existing communication devices quickly pose problems with the quality of audio signal transmission as soon as the distance between devices increases, or when the terrain becomes uneven, which results in significant data losses. In addition, they only allow simultaneous communications to be established between a limited number of devices, generally two, which makes them unsuitable for establishing simultaneous communications between a plurality of users. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0009] In particular and according to a first aspect of the invention, the present application relates to a method for allocating time windows, said method being implemented by a first communication device, said first communication device being capable of exchanging audio signals with at least one second communication device and one third communication device on a wireless communication network in which each data frame of a signal exchanged between one of said first, second and third communication devices and another of said first, second and third communication devices is transmitted during a time period corresponding to a frame interval, the time on the communication network being subdivided into a plurality of frame intervals 0, 1, 2, n-2, n-1, n, the method comprising:

[0010] - A step of dividing a frame interval n into a plurality of windows tem porelles;

[0011] - A step of allocating a first time window of the plurality of windows temporal resulting from the division of the frame interval n, with a view to carrying out, by the first communication device, a task of encoding a signal to be transmitted to one and the other of said second communication device and third communication device;

[0012] - A step of allocating a second time window of the plurality of windows temporal resulting from the division of the frame interval n, with a view to carrying out, by the first communication device, a task of decoding a signal received from the second communication device;

[0013] - A step of allocating a third time window of the plurality of windows temporal resulting from the division of the frame interval n with a view to carrying out, by the first communication device, a task of decoding a signal received from the third communication device.

[0014] Thanks to the time window allocation method, the first communication device can perform at least two distinct tasks, encoding or decoding, during the same frame interval. For example, the first communication device can perform one encoding task and at least two decoding tasks during the same frame interval.

[0015] According to one possibility, said first, second and third communication devices are of the same type, and are for example similar or even identical communication devices, and the method for allocating time windows is capable of being implemented within each of said communication devices.

[0016] Thanks to the time window allocation method, the first communication device is able to implement communication with at least two other communication devices. More specifically, the first communication device is able to exchange audio signals with at least two other communication devices.

[0017] According to one possibility, the first communication device is able to implement a communication, i.e. exchange audio signals, with at least three other communication devices, the method for allocating time windows being able to be implemented within each of said communication devices.

[0018] According to one possibility, the first communication device is able to implement a communication, i.e. exchange audio signals, with at least eight communication devices, the method for allocating time windows being able to be implemented within each of said communication devices.

[0019] By audio signal is meant a signal representative of a sound capable of being transported over the communication network. In the context of the invention, the audio signal corresponds to a voice signal, that is to say to a signal representative of a human voice. More precisely, the voice signal may correspond to a signal representative of a word spoken by a user of at least one of said first, second and third communication devices.

[0020] According to one possibility, the communication implemented is a bi-communication lateral. In other words, the first communication device is capable of transmitting data to the other communication devices, and of receiving data from the other communication devices.

[0021] According to one possibility, the first communication device is capable of transmitting data and receiving data simultaneously.

[0022] According to another possibility, the first communication device is able to communicate, bilaterally with each of the other communication devices, and this simultaneously.

[0023] In other words and advantageously, the method of allocating time windows allows the implementation of multilateral and simultaneous communication between at least three communication devices.

[0024] By frame interval is meant a time interval during which each of the communication devices is able to encode and send a data frame to the destination, and to receive and decode a data frame from, each of the other communication devices.

[0025] By time window is meant a time interval during which a communication device is able to carry out a task, and for example an encoding task or a decoding task. According to the invention, each time window is derived from a division of a frame interval, and each time window is generally allocated, for each communication device, to the carrying out of an encoding task or a decoding task.

[0026] According to one possibility, the method for allocating time windows comprises a step of determining the duration of the frame interval.

[0027] According to one possibility, the frame interval corresponds to a duration at least equal to 100 milliseconds (ms).

[0028] According to one possibility, the frame interval corresponds to a duration equal to 120 ms.

[0029] According to one possibility, the method comprises a step of allocating a fourth time window of the plurality of time windows for the first communication device to perform a task of decoding a signal received from a fourth communication device.

[0030] According to this possibility, the plurality of time windows resulting from the step of dividing the frame interval n comprises at least four time windows.

[0031] According to one possibility, the plurality of time windows resulting from the step of dividing the frame interval n comprises eight time windows.

[0032] According to this possibility and if the frame interval actually corresponds to a duration equal to 120ms, each of the eight time windows corresponds to a duration of 15ms. Thus, the first communication device is able to carry out, during the same frame interval of a duration of 120ms, eight distinct tasks whose duration execution time is equal to or less than 15ms.

[0033] According to one possibility, only one time slot, among the eight time slots, is allocated to the performance, by the first communication device, of an encoding task, and the other seven time slots are allocated to the performance, by the first communication device, of seven distinct decoding tasks. According to this possibility, the first communication device is able to perform, during the same frame interval, one encoding task and seven decoding tasks.

[0034] According to another possibility, two time windows, among the eight time windows, are allocated to the performance, by the first communication device, of two distinct encoding tasks, and the other six time windows are allocated to the performance, by the first communication device, of six distinct decoding tasks. According to this possibility, the first communication device is able to perform, during the same frame interval, two encoding tasks and six decoding tasks.

[0035] According to a particularly advantageous aspect of the invention, the method for allocating time windows is capable of being implemented dynamically within each of the communication devices, i.e. the number of time windows resulting from the division of successive frame intervals can vary, as can the allocation made of each of said time windows.

[0036] More specifically, the number of time windows resulting from the division of the frame intervals may in particular depend on the number of communication devices present on the wireless communication network at a given time.

[0037] According to one possibility, the number of time windows is equal to the number of communication devices present on the network, and each communication device is allocated a time window to perform an encoding task, each of the other time windows being allocated to perform a respective decoding task.

[0038] Alternatively, the number of time windows is greater than the number of communication devices present on the network.

[0039] Furthermore, depending on certain circumstances and the particular needs of each communication device, the number of time windows allocated to encoding tasks may vary, and in particular at least two time windows resulting from the division of the same frame interval may be allocated to the performance by the same communication device of two distinct encoding tasks. This may in particular be the case when the communication device concerned serves as a relay on the network, and therefore must momentarily transmit, in addition to its own data frames, data frames that it has previously received from another communication device. This may also be the case when a significant voice activity on the affected communication device, while voice activity detected on other communication devices is low or non-existent.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the encoding task comprises the encoding by the first communication device of a data frame during said first time window, the task of decoding the signal received from the second communication device comprises the decoding, during said second time window, of a data frame encoded by the second communication device during a time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n-1, the task of decoding the signal received from the third communication device comprises the decoding, during said third time window, of a data frame encoded by the third communication device during a time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n-1, at least one of said data frames comprising data representative of a speech signal.

[0041] By data frame is meant a set of data that each communication device is able to encode and transmit on the wireless communication network to the other communication devices present on the network, which are able to receive and decode said data frame.

[0042] According to one possibility, the data included in each data frame is structured and encapsulated so that it can be correctly transmitted over the communication network.

[0043] According to one possibility, a data frame may comprise at least one of identification data of the communication device having emitted it, synchronization data, data representative of an audio signal, data representative of the identity of the other communication devices located within the range of the communication device having emitted said data frame.

[0044] According to this embodiment, the first communication device, during the same frame interval n, encodes a data frame intended to be sent to each of said second and third communication devices, and decodes two distinct data frames coming respectively from the second and third communication devices.

[0045] Advantageously, the method of the invention therefore allows an exchange of encoded data frames, during the same frame interval, by three separate communication devices. In other words, during the same frame interval, each communication device is able to encode and transmit a data frame to the other communication devices, as well as to receive and decode a data frame originating from each of the other communication devices. communication. This arrangement allows for the establishment of two-way and simultaneous communication between at least three users of three separate communication devices.

[0046] According to one possibility, the task of decoding the signal received from the fourth communication device comprises decoding, during the fourth time slot, a data frame encoded by the fourth communication device during a time slot of the plurality of time slots resulting from the division of the frame interval n-1.

[0047] According to one possibility, the first communication device, during the same frame interval n, encodes a data frame intended to be sent to each of said second, third and fourth communication devices, and decodes three distinct data frames coming respectively from the second, third and fourth communication devices.

[0048] Advantageously, the method of the invention therefore allows an exchange of encoded data frames, during the same frame interval, by four separate communication devices. In other words, during the same frame interval, each communication device is able to encode and transmit a data frame to the other communication devices, as well as to receive and decode a data frame originating from each of the other communication devices. This arrangement makes it possible to establish a bilateral and simultaneous communication between at least four users of four separate communication devices.

[0049] According to another possibility, the first communication device, during the same frame interval n, encodes a data frame intended to be sent to each of seven other communication devices, and decodes seven distinct data frames coming respectively from each of said seven other communication devices.

[0050] Advantageously, the method of the invention therefore allows an exchange of encoded data frames, during the same frame interval, by at least eight separate communication devices. In other words, during the same frame interval, each communication device is able to encode and transmit a data frame to the other communication devices, as well as to receive and decode a data frame originating from each of the other communication devices. This arrangement makes it possible to establish a bilateral and simultaneous communication between at least eight users of eight separate communication devices.

[0051] Obviously, the method of allocating time windows is not limited to a given number of communication devices, and can be extended to a number of communication devices much greater than eight.

[0052] According to a second aspect of the invention, the present application relates to a method for implementing communication on a wireless communication network. wire, between a first communication device, a second communication device and a third communication device capable of exchanging audio signals over the wireless communication network, the method comprising the following steps, implemented by the first communication device:

[0053] - The steps of the time window allocation method previously described;

[0054] - An encoding step implemented during a first time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n, of a data frame to be transmitted to the second communication device and to the third communication device;

[0055] - A step of receiving a data frame encoded by the second device communication, said data frame being encoded during a time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n-1;

[0056] - A decoding step implemented during a second time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n, of said data frame encoded by the second communication device;

[0057] - A step of receiving a data frame encoded by the third device communication, said data frame being encoded during a time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n-1;

[0058] - A decoding step implemented during a third time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n, of said data frame encoded by the third communication device;

[0059] - A sending step, to the second communication device and to the third communication device, of the data frame encoded by the first communication device.

[0060] At each frame interval n, each communication device encodes and transmits a data frame to each of the other communication devices, while it receives and decodes each of the data frames respectively encoded and transmitted by the other communication devices at the frame interval n-1.

[0061] According to one possibility, the communication implemented on the wireless communication network is a bilateral and simultaneous communication, that is to say that each communication device is able to transmit and receive data frames simultaneously.

[0062] According to one possibility, the communication implemented on the wireless communication network is a multilateral and simultaneous communication between at least three communication devices.

[0063] According to one possibility, the method of implementing a communication allows the establishment of multilateral and simultaneous communication between at least four, and for example eight, communication devices.

[0064] Obviously, the method of implementing communication is not limited to a given number of communication devices, and can be extended to a number of communication devices significantly greater than eight.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the data frame encoded by the first communication device comprises an identification data item for the first communication device, the data frame encoded by the second communication device comprises an identification data item for the second communication device, the data frame encoded by the third communication device comprises an identification data item for the third communication device, at least one of said data frames comprising data representative of a speech signal.

[0066] Thus, each data frame transmitted and / or received includes data identifying the communication device that encoded it. This advantageously allows each of the communication devices to know precisely the origin of each of the data frames that it receives.

[0067] According to one possibility, at least two of said data frames comprise at least one data item representative of a speech signal.

[0068] According to one possibility, each of said data frames comprises at least one data item representative of a speech signal.

[0069] According to this possibility, each data frame comprises data representative of words spoken by the user of the communication device which encoded it.

[0070] According to one possibility, the first data frame encoded and sent by each of the communication devices to the other communication devices comprises synchronization data.

[0071] According to this possibility, said communication devices are able to synchronize with each other at the start of the communication.

[0072] According to one possibility, after a predetermined number i of frame intervals have elapsed, each data frame encoded and sent by each of the communication devices to the other communication devices again comprises synchronization data.

[0073] According to one possibility, each data frame encoded and sent by each of the communication devices to the other communication devices includes synchronization data every 10 frame intervals, or every 1.2 seconds in the case where each of the frame intervals lasts 120 ms.

[0074] According to this possibility, said communication devices are able to syn- to chronologize between them, periodically.

[0075] According to one embodiment, the data frame encoded by the first communication device comprises data representing the reception, by the first communication device, of the data frame encoded by the second communication device, and data representing the reception, by the first communication device, of the data frame encoded by the third communication device.

[0076] According to this embodiment, the data frame encoded by the first communication device at frame interval n indicates that the first communication device has actually received the frames transmitted at frame interval n-1 by the second communication device and the third communication device respectively.

[0077] According to one embodiment, the data frame encoded by the second communication device comprises data representing a reception or an absence of reception, by the second communication device, of a data frame encoded by the third communication device during a time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n-2, and the data frame encoded by the third communication device comprises data representing a reception or an absence of reception, by the third communication device, of a data frame encoded by the second communication device during a time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n-2.

[0078] According to these provisions and in general, each data frame, encoded by a communication device during a time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n, comprises data representing a reception or an absence of reception of the data frame encoded by each of the other communication devices during a time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n-1.

[0079] At each frame interval n, each communication device therefore declares, in the data frame that it encodes, the identity of the communication devices from which it has received a data frame, as well as the identity of the communication devices from which it has not received a data frame.

[0080] In other words, at each frame interval n, each communication device communicates to each of the other communication devices the identity of the communication devices with which it is able to exchange data frames (i.e., those located within its range), and the identity of the communication devices with which it is unable to exchange data frames. (i.e. those located beyond its reach).

[0081] Thus, the method of the invention eliminates the need to continuously determine the location of each of the communication devices. In other words, it is not necessary to permanently geolocate each of the communication devices during the implementation of the communication. This advantageously makes it possible to reduce the volume of data transmitted in each data frame transmitted by the communication devices, since it is not necessary or planned to send data representative of the geographical position occupied by each of the communication devices. In addition, these arrangements make it possible to eliminate the use and even the presence, within each of the communication devices, of a geolocation device of the GPS chip type, since it is not necessary for the communication devices to share their respective geographical locations.

[0082] According to one embodiment, if said representative data indicates an absence of reception by the second communication device, the method comprises a step of transferring from the first communication device to the second communication device the data frame encoded by the third communication device during the third time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n-1, and if said representative data indicates an absence of reception by the third communication device, the method comprises a step of transferring from the first communication device to the third communication device the data frame encoded by the second communication device during the second time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n-1.

[0083] This embodiment is advantageous in that it allows the implementation and activation of a relay mode between the communication devices, which in particular makes it possible to indirectly increase the range of each communication device, i.e. the maximum distance beyond which two communication devices will not be able to exchange data frames.

[0084] According to this embodiment, if the first communication device receives information that the third communication device is located out of range of the second communication device, then the first communication device transfers to the second (respectively third) communication device the data frames that it has received from the third (respectively second) communication device and that the latter cannot transmit directly.

[0085] Obviously, the first communication device activating the relay mode can only serve as a relay to the extent that the second communication device and the third communication device are within its range.

[0086] Generally, each of the communication devices is capable of serving as a relay for the purpose of transferring the data frames respectively encoded by two other communication devices located out of range of each other, from the moment when said two other communication devices are within its range.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the first, second and third communication devices exchange signals between them within the wireless communication network, said signals being transmitted in a frequency band between 865 MHz and 928 MHz.

[0088] The inventors noticed, surprisingly and unexpectedly, that the use of the frequency band around 900 MHz allowed increased performance compared to the frequency band centered around 2.4 GHz used by certain existing solutions.

[0089] During field tests, the inventors have in fact noted that the signals transmitted in a frequency band centered on 2.4 GHz were easily disturbed by various factors linked to the transmission environment. In particular, if the latter is not or only slightly clear, significant transmission losses have been observed in the field, which suggests poor communication quality as soon as the environment is no longer clear.

[0090] Furthermore, the maximum distance beyond which two communication devices can no longer communicate is of the order of 500 meters in a perfectly clear environment.

[0091] This limited range and lack of resilience to the environment prompted the inventors to test other transmission frequencies.

[0092] According to one embodiment, the first, second and third communication devices exchange signals between them within the wireless communication network, said signals being transmitted in a frequency band between 866 MHz and 870 MHz.

[0093] In particular, the inventors discovered that a transmission frequency of around 868 MHz made it possible to double the range of the transmitting communication device compared to 2.4 GHz, since a range of at least 1000 meters, and even beyond, was observed in an open environment. In addition, the use of a transmission frequency of around 865-928 MHz also makes it possible to considerably reduce packet losses when the environment is not very open or not at all, which offers better performance and good quality of communication.

[0094] According to one possibility, the transmitted signals are centered on a frequency substantially equal to 868 MHz, with a bandwidth of approximately 250 kHz.

[0095] According to another possibility, the emitted signals are centered on a frequency between between 868MHz and 870MHz, with a bandwidth of approximately 250kHz.

[0096] According to yet another possibility, the signals are transmitted in a frequency band ranging from 869.4 MHz to 869.65 MHz.

[0097] According to one possibility, the signals are transmitted according to LoRa (Long Range) communication technology.

[0098] According to a third aspect of the invention, the present application relates to a communication device capable of implementing the methods of allocating time windows and implementing a communication previously described.

[0099] According to one possibility, the communication device comprises means for capturing an audio signal, means for converting an analog signal into a digital signal, means for converting a digital signal into an analog signal, calculation means, signal transmission means, signal reception means and means for reproducing an audio signal.

[0100] According to one possibility, the means for capturing an audio signal comprise a microphone.

[0101] According to one possibility, the microphone is integrated into the communication device.

[0102] According to one possibility, the means for capturing an audio signal make it possible to capture a user's words without the user having to manipulate their communication device.

[0103] According to a possibility complementary to the previous one, the means for restoring an audio signal make it possible to restore the audio streams coming from other communication devices without the user having to manipulate his communication device.

[0104] These arrangements allow the user to communicate by means of his communication device while keeping his hands free throughout the communication.

[0105] According to one possibility, the means for converting an analog signal into a digital signal comprise an analog-to-digital converter.

[0106] According to one possibility, the means for converting a digital signal into an analog signal comprise a digital-to-analog converter.

[0107] According to one possibility, the calculation means comprise audio signal compression means.

[0108] According to one possibility, the calculation means comprise audio signal encoding means.

[0109] According to one possibility, the calculation means comprise audio signal decoding means.

[0110] According to one possibility, the calculation means comprise audio signal decompression means.

[0111] According to one possibility, the calculation means comprise a time window allocation module, which is capable of implementing the time window allocation method previously described.

[0112] According to one possibility, the means for transmitting a signal comprise a transmission module capable of transmitting signals according to the LoRa communication technology.

[0113] According to one possibility, the means for receiving a signal comprise a reception module capable of receiving signals transmitted according to the LoRa communication technology.

[0114] According to one possibility, the communication device comprises an antenna capable of transmitting and receiving radiofrequency signals in a frequency band ranging from 865 to 928 MHz.

[0115] According to one possibility, the audio signal restitution means comprise a loudspeaker, for example a loudspeaker integrated into the communication device. This possibility makes it possible to dispense with the use of a headset and / or earphones, for greater comfort during sports practice.

[0116] According to one possibility, the communication device comprises audio signal amplification means.

[0117] According to one possibility, the audio signal restitution means comprise an audio headset and / or earphones.

[0118] According to one possibility, said audio headset and / or said earphones comprise a Bluetooth communication module.

[0119] According to this possibility, the communication device comprises a Bluetooth communication module capable of exchanging Bluetooth signals with the Bluetooth communication module of said headset and / or said earphones.

[0120] These arrangements allow the use of a headset and / or wireless earphones, which has the advantage of not hindering the user's sporting activity.

[0121] According to one possibility, the communication device comprises means for reducing ambient noise. According to this possibility, the means for reducing ambient noise are capable of guaranteeing a satisfactory signal-to-noise ratio, in particular when capturing the user's speech, which may take place in particularly difficult conditions: speed, wind, rain.

[0122] According to one possibility, the communication device comprises two microphones, a first microphone capable of picking up the user's speech and the signal corresponding to the ambient noise, and a second microphone capable of picking up only the signal corresponding to the ambient noise. According to this possibility, the ambient noise reduction means are capable of implementing a comparison of the signals picked up by each of the two microphones, as well as a cancellation of the signal corresponding to the ambient noise so as to retain only the user's speech in the signal which will eventually be encoded and emitted.

[0123] These provisions make it possible to improve the quality of sound reproduction, and therefore the quality of communication whatever the conditions of use.

[0124] According to one possibility, the communication device comprises speech detection means.

[0125] According to one possibility, the speech detection means comprise a voice activity detection module, or VAD module (for Voice Activity Detection, in English).

[0126] According to one possibility, the communication device comprises synchronization means capable of enabling synchronization between the communication device and the other communication devices with which it communicates.

[0127] According to one possibility, the synchronization means comprise an atomic clock of the communication device. Brief description of the figures

[0128] The invention will be better understood upon reading the detailed description, which is given below in relation to the figures, among which:

[0129] [Fig.l] represents an allocation of time windows obtained by means of an exemplary embodiment of the time window allocation method.

[0130] [Fig.2] represents an example of the realization of a data frame transmitted and / or received by communication devices.

[0131] [Fig.3a] and [Fig.3b] represent a first particular communication situation according to a first example of embodiment of the method for implementing a communication.

[0132] [Fig.4a] and [Fig.4b] represent a second particular communication situation according to the first example of embodiment of the method for implementing a communication.

[0133] [Fig.5] represents an exemplary embodiment of a communication device according to the invention.

[0134] [Fig.6] schematically represents a second example of implementation of the time window allocation method.

[0135] [Fig.7] schematically represents a second example of embodiment of the process of implementing a communication. Detailed description

[0136] [Fig.l] represents, by way of example and without limitation, the allocation of time windows obtained by the implementation of the time window allocation method within a communication device of the invention.

[0137] In this exemplary embodiment, a frame interval is, in a first step, divided into eight time windows of equal duration.

[0138] Then, a time window, numbered 0 in [Fig.l], is allocated to the performance of an encoding task, while seven time windows, numbered respectively 1 to 7, are respectively allocated to the performance of seven distinct decoding tasks.

[0139] Such an allocation makes the communication device within which it is implemented capable of communicating bilaterally and simultaneously with seven other communication devices.

[0140] The data frames exchanged by the communication devices communicating on the wireless communication network are illustrated in [Fig. 2]. Thus, the data frame 10 of [Fig. 2] represents, by way of example and without limitation, a structure of the data frames transmitted on the wireless communication network by the communication devices of the invention.

[0141] Obviously, other types of data may be included in the data frames transmitted by the communication devices of the invention. Furthermore, some of the data shown in [Fig. 2] will not necessarily be present in every transmitted data frame. For example, some transmitted data frames will not include synchronization data.

[0142] The data frame 10 comprises at least one identification data 11, which indicates the identity of the communication device having transmitted the data frame 10.

[0143] The data frame 10 also comprises at least one audio data 13, which is representative of an audio signal captured by at least one audio signal capture means of the communication device having transmitted the data frame 10.

[0144] The data frame 10 also comprises at least one synchronization data item 14, which allows the communication device having transmitted the data frame 10 to synchronize with the other devices present on the wireless communication network.

[0145] The data frame 10 also comprises at least one data item 12 representative of a reception, or of an absence of reception of data frames encoded by the other communication devices at the previous frame interval.

[0146] In other words, the at least one representative data item 12 indicates the identity of the communication devices located within the range of the communication device having emitted said data frame 10, as well as the identity of the communication devices located outside the range of the communication device having emitted said data frame 10.

[0147] For example, the at least one representative data 12 corresponds to a virtual map, or “bitemap”, indicating in particular the identities of the communication devices located within the range of the communication device having transmitted the frame of data 10.

[0148] Observing figures 3a and 4a, which schematically represent the at least one representative data item 12 of a reception or absence of reception of data frames coming from the other communication devices, allows a better understanding of the concept of virtual card.

[0149] Figures 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b represent a communication established on the wireless communication network between four communication devices, namely respectively a communication device 1, a communication device 2, a communication device 3 and a communication device 4.

[0150] To aid understanding of figures 3b and 4b in particular, the communication device 1 is designated by “device A”, the communication device 2 by “device B”, the communication device 3 by “device C” and the communication device 4 by “device D”.

[0151] Obviously, the method for allocating time windows, illustrated in [Fig.l], is capable of being implemented within each of said communication devices 1, 2, 3, 4.

[0152] Furthermore, it is understood that each of said communication devices 1, 2, 3, 4 is capable of executing the method for implementing a communication according to the invention.

[0153] Figures 3a and 3b on the one hand, and Figures 4a and 4b on the other hand, correspond to two different situations which can occur on the wireless communication network, when the four communication devices communicate with each other in a multilateral and simultaneous manner.

[0154] Figures 3a and 3b illustrate a situation in which each communication device 1, 2, 3, 4 is located within range of each of the other three communication devices. For example, communication device 1, or device A, is able to communicate directly with communication devices 2, 3, 4.

[0155] In this situation, each communication device is able to communicate directly with the three other communication devices, that is to say it is able to send them a data frame directly, and to receive a data frame coming from each of the three other communication devices.

[0156] In this situation, it is not necessary for one of the communication devices to act as a relay.

[0157] Figures 4a and 4b illustrate a situation in which only communication device 2 is located within the range of communication device 1, and in which only communication device 3 is located within the range of communication device 4. In other words, communication devices 3 and 4 are located out of range of communication device 1, and communication devices 1 and 2 are located out of range of communication device 4.

[0158] Furthermore, in the situation shown in Figures 4a and 4b, only communication devices 1 and 3 are within the range of communication device 2, and only communication devices 2 and 4 are within the range of communication device 3.

[0159] In this situation and as illustrated schematically in [Fig.4b], the communication device 1 and the communication device 3, in particular, cannot communicate directly, and the communication device 2 therefore serves as a relay for them and transmits the data frame transmitted by the communication device 1 to the communication device 3. In other words, the communication device 2 mixes its own data frame and the data frame that it received from the communication device 1 at the previous frame interval in order to generate a new data frame that it sends to the communication device 3.The communication device 3 then itself serves as a relay between the communication device 2 and the communication device 4, and transmits said new data frame resulting from the mixing to the communication device 4, which therefore indirectly receives a data frame originating from the communication device 2, although it is located outside its range. The communication device 3 also serves as a relay in the other direction, i.e. it transmits to the communication device 2 the data frame originating from the communication device 4 by means of a mixing of the latter with its own data frame. Finally, the communication device 2 then itself serves as a relay between the communication device 3 and the communication device 1.

[0160] Thanks to the implementation of the relay mode illustrated in [Fig.4b], the four communication devices 1, 2, 3, 4 can continue to communicate despite the fact that some of them are out of range.

[0161] The communication device 1 shown schematically, as an example and not as a limitation, in [Fig.5] is capable of implementing the methods of allocating time windows and implementing a communication described above.

[0162] The communication device 1 comprises in particular means for capturing an audio signal, means for converting an analog signal into a digital signal, means for converting a digital signal into an analog signal, calculation means, signal transmission means, signal reception means, means for restoring an audio signal and synchronization means.

[0163] Only the communication device 1 is shown in [Fig.5], it being understood that the communication devices 2, 3 and 4 are structurally similar to the communication device 1, and in particular comprise identical means allowing them to also implement the methods of the invention.

[0164] The means for capturing an audio signal comprise an integrated microphone 101 at the communication device 1.

[0165] The means for converting an analog signal into a digital signal comprise an analog-to-digital converter 102.

[0166] The means for converting a digital signal into an analog signal comprise a digital-to-analog converter 103.

[0167] The calculation means comprise a time window allocation module 104, which is capable of implementing the time window allocation method within the communication device 1.

[0168] Furthermore, the calculation means comprise in particular a microcontroller 105, audio signal compression means 106, audio signal encoding means 107, audio signal decompression means 108, audio signal decoding means 109.

[0169] The signal transmission means comprise a first LORA module 110.

[0170] The signal receiving means comprise a second LORA module 111.

[0171] The means for reproducing an audio signal comprise a speaker 112 integrated into the communication device 1.

[0172] The synchronization means comprise an atomic clock 113 of the communication device 1.

[0173] [Fig.6] schematically represents a second example of an embodiment of the time window allocation method implemented within a first communication device according to the invention.

[0174] In [Fig.6], the time window allocation method 50 is implemented when three communication devices are present on the wireless communication network.

[0175] The method for allocating time windows 50, implemented within the first communication device conforming to that shown in [Fig.5], comprises:

[0176] A step 51 of dividing a frame interval into three time windows;

[0177] A step 52 of allocating a first time window (numbered 0) to the realization performing a task of encoding a signal to be transmitted to a second communication device conforming to that represented in [Fig.5] and to a third communication device conforming to that represented in [Fig.5];

[0178] A step 53 of allocating a second time window (numbered 1) to the performance of a task of decoding a signal received from the second communication device;

[0179] A step 54 of allocating a third time window (numbered 2) to carry out a task of decoding a signal received from the third communication device.

[0180] Following on from [Fig.6], [Fig.7] schematically represents a second exemplary embodiment of the method for implementing a communication, which is implemented by the first communication device according to the invention.

[0181] In [Fig.7], the method of implementing a communication 60 comprises the steps 51, 52, 53, 54 of the time window allocation method 50 shown in [Fig.6]. The method for implementing a communication 60 also comprises:

[0182] A step 61 of encoding implemented by the first communication device of a data frame to be transmitted to the second communication device and to the third communication device;

[0183] A step 62 of receiving a data frame encoded by the second communication device;

[0184] A step 63 of decoding said data frame encoded by the second communication device;

[0185] A step 64 of receiving a data frame encoded by the third communication device;

[0186] A step 65 of decoding said data frame encoded by the third communication device;

[0187] A step 66 of sending, to the second communication device 2 and to the third communication device 3, the data frame encoded by the first communication device.

[0188] The invention is obviously not limited to the embodiments described above, nor to those shown in the figures. On the contrary, the invention encompasses all the variant embodiments that a person skilled in the art would be led to envisage.

Claims

Claims

1. A method of allocating time slots (50), said method being implemented by a first communication device (1), said first communication device (1) being capable of exchanging audio signals with at least a second communication device (2) and a third communication device (3) over a wireless communication network in which each data frame of a signal exchanged between one of said first, second and third communication devices (1, 2, 3) and another of said first, second and third communication devices (1, 2, 3) is transmitted during a time period corresponding to a frame interval, the time on the communication network being subdivided into a plurality of frame intervals 0, 1, 2, n-2, n-1, n, the method comprising: • A step (51) of dividing a frame interval n into a plurality of time windows; • A step (52) of allocating a first time window from the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n, with a view to carrying out, by the first communication device (1), a task of encoding a signal to be transmitted to one and the other of said second communication device (2) and third communication device (3); • A step (53) of allocating a second time window from the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n, with a view to carrying out, by the first communication device (1), a task of decoding a signal received from the second communication device (2); • A step (54) of allocating a third time window from the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n with a view to carrying out, by the first communication device (1), a task of decoding a signal received from the third communication device (3).

2. A method of allocating time windows (50) according to claim 1, wherein: • The encoding task comprises the encoding by the first communication device (1) of a data frame during said first time window; • The task of decoding the signal received from the second communication device (2) comprises decoding, during said second time window, a data frame encoded by the second communication device (2) during a time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n-1; • The task of decoding the signal received from the third communication device (3) comprises the decoding, during said third time window, of a data frame encoded by the third communication device (3) during a time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n-1; • At least one of said data frames comprising data representative of a speech signal.

3. Method for implementing a communication (60), on a wireless communication network, between a first communication device (1), a second communication device (2) and a third communication device (3) capable of exchanging audio signals on the wireless communication network, the method comprising the following steps, implemented by the first communication device (1): • The steps of the time window allocation method of claim 1 or claim 2; • An encoding step (61) implemented during a first time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n, of a data frame to be transmitted to the second communication device (2) and to the third communication device (3) • A step (62) of receiving a data frame encoded by the second communication device (2), said data frame being encoded during a time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n-1; • A decoding step (63) implemented during a second time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n, of said data frame encoded by the second communication device (2); • A step (64) of receiving a data frame encoded by the third communication device (3), said data frame being encoded during a time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n-1; • A decoding step (65) implemented during a third time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n, of said data frame encoded by the third communication device (3); • A step (66) of sending, to the second communication device (2) and to the third communication device (3), the data frame encoded by the first communication device (1).

4. A method of implementing a communication (60) according to claim 3, wherein: • The data frame encoded by the first communication device (1) comprises an identification data (11) of the first communication device (1); • The data frame encoded by the second communication device (2) comprises identification data (11) of the second communication device (2); • The data frame encoded by the third communication device (3) comprises an identification data (11) of the third communication device (3); • At least one of said data frames comprising

5.

6.

7. data representative of a speech signal. Method of implementing a communication (60) according to the res dication 3 or claim 4 wherein the data frame encoded by the first communication device comprises: A data representative (12) of the reception, by the first communication device (1), of the data frame encoded by the second communication device (2); A data representative (12) of the reception, by the first communication device (1), of the data frame encoded by the third communication device (3). Method for implementing a communication (60) according to one of claims 3 to 5, in which: The data frame encoded by the second communication device (2) comprises data representative (12) of a reception or absence of reception, by the second communication device (2), of a data frame encoded by the third communication device (3) during a time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n-2; The data frame encoded by the third communication device (3) comprises data representative (12) of a reception or absence of reception, by the third communication device (3), of a data frame encoded by the second communication device (2) during a time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n-2. A method of implementing a communication (60) according to claim 6, which comprises: If said representative data (12) indicates an absence of reception by the second communication device (2), a step of transferring from the first communication device (1) to the second communication device (2) the data frame encoded by the third communication device communication (3) during the third time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n-1; • If said representative data (12) indicates an absence of reception by the third communication device (3), a step of transferring from the first communication device (1) to the third communication device (3) the data frame encoded by the second communication device (2) during the second time window of the plurality of time windows resulting from the division of the frame interval n-1.

8. Method for implementing a communication (60) according to one of claims 3 to 7, in which the first, second and third communication devices (1, 2, 3) exchange signals between them within the wireless communication network, said signals being transmitted in a frequency band between 865 MHz and 928 MHz.

9. Method for implementing a communication (60) according to one of claims 3 to 8, in which the first, second and third communication devices (1, 2, 3) exchange signals between them within the wireless communication network, said signals being transmitted in a frequency band between 866 MHz and 870 MHz.

10. Communication device (1, 2, 3, 4) capable of implementing the method (50, 60) of any one of the preceding claims.

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