RESOURCE SCHEDULING SYSTEM, RESOURCE SCHEDULING METHOD, AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE

Abstract

The present application relates to a resource scheduling system (100) for a wireless communication network (102). The system includes a first communication device (104a) and a second communication device (104b). The first and second communication devices (104a, 104b) belong to a group of communication devices (104, 104a, 104b) of the network. Each communication device (104, 104a, 104b) in the group of communication devices is configured to provide bidirectional wireless communication with at least one of the plurality of communication devices. The first communication device is configured to transmit a transmission resource configuration to the remainder of the plurality of communication devices (104, 104b). The first communication device is further configured to separately broadcast a transmission resource allocation to the remainder of the plurality of communication devices.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] TECHNICAL FIELD This application relates generally to resource scheduling systems for wireless communication networks. [Background technology]

[0002] Typically, in wireless systems where access to radio resources is controlled, transmission resources are either contention-based, where all wireless devices are satisfied with the radio resources, or scheduled (dedicated) resources, where each radio resource is assigned to a specific device for receiving or transmitting data.

[0003] The advantage of contention-based channel access to radio resources is that it requires a very limited amount of signaling. However, as resources become increasingly utilized, the probability of collisions increases, which reduces the overall throughput obtainable through the resources. Basic ALOHA, or slotted ALOHA, protocols are a common way to use such contention-based resources, and their system throughput is limited to approximately 20-40% of maximum capacity, depending on whether the unslotted or slotted version is used. Other contention-based protocols, such as Carrier-Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA-CA), improve performance but still limit the maximum achievable performance by considering maximum capacity.

[0004] The best-known wireless systems that primarily operate on contention-based wireless access are wireless local area network (WLAN) systems, such as Wi-Fi systems. WLAN / Wi-Fi uses contention-based access. 802.11ah was designed to support IoT devices. Collision issues were identified during the standardization process of 802.11ah. STAs can be grouped into smaller groups, and different groups can be assigned different contention windows. However, devices within a single group provide content to the same resource, with each group getting its own access window (time) when transmission is contention-based.

[0005] The advantage of scheduled (dedicated) resources is that they are used only by specific devices and therefore collision-free. This essentially allows for higher resource utilization when resources can be used up to 100%. In addition, better energy efficiency is achieved when there are no collisions and the need for retransmissions is minimized. However, the disadvantage is that resources must be requested and allocation must be explicitly signaled, which causes significantly higher signaling overhead compared to contention-based resources. This signaling increases the latency for transmitting actual data and significantly reduces overall effective resource consumption while increasing device power consumption. The problem becomes more severe when the requested resources are small, i.e., when individual traffic volumes are small or negligible, in which case the problem increases the relative overhead of resource allocation to a significant level.

[0006] Well-known systems that use scheduled resources are LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and cellular systems, where individual scheduling commands are sent to individual user devices, and these commands define which user devices are to transmit or receive and on which resources these transmissions are to occur.

[0007] Another known system using scheduled resources is introduced in technical specification ETSI TS 103 636-4 V0.0.8 (2020-06), DECT-2020 NR (New Radio), Part 4: MAC Layer, Release #1. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] One object of the present invention is to obviate the drawbacks of known solutions and to provide for the configuration (allocation) and separate allocation of radio transmission resources in a wireless communication network in which wireless communication devices receive and transmit only the resources that are allocated to them, improving the capacity of the network and the power consumption of the devices. The separation of dedicated resource configuration signaling and resource allocation signaling provides efficient overall signaling, i.e., minimized signaling overhead, for wireless communication networks in which the resource configuration rarely changes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One object of the present invention is achieved by providing a scheduling system, a communication device, a method, a computer program and a computer readable medium according to the independent claims.

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in a scheduling system, a communication device, a method, a computer program and a computer readable medium according to the independent claims.

[0011] One resource scheduling system for a wireless communication network includes a first communication device and a second communication device, the first and second communication devices belonging to a group of communication devices of the network, each communication device in the group of communication devices configured to provide bidirectional wireless communication with at least one of the plurality of communication devices, the first communication device configured to transmit a transmission resource configuration to the rest of the plurality of communication devices, and the first communication device further configured to separately broadcast the transmission resource allocation to the rest of the plurality of communication devices.

[0012] One resource scheduling method for a wireless communication network presents at least first and second communication devices belonging to a group of multiple communication devices of the network. The method further provides, by each communication device in the group of multiple communication devices, bidirectional wireless communication with at least one of the multiple communication devices. The method further includes, by the first communication device, transmitting a transmission resource configuration to the rest of the multiple communication devices. The method further includes, by the first communication device, separately broadcasting the transmission resource allocation to the rest of the multiple communication devices.

[0013] A wireless communication device for a wireless communication network includes a controller and a data forwarder. The controller is configured to present a group of wireless communication devices in the wireless communication network. The data forwarder is configured to provide bidirectional wireless communication with at least one other wireless communication device belonging to the group of the communication devices. The data forwarder is configured to transmit a transmission resource configuration to the rest of the communication devices. The data forwarder is further configured to separately broadcast the transmission resource allocation to the rest of the communication devices to schedule resources in the network.

[0014] One resource scheduling method for a wireless communication device includes, by a controller of the communication device, presenting a group of multiple wireless communication devices in a wireless communication network. The method further includes, by a data forwarding unit of the communication device, providing bidirectional wireless communication with at least one other wireless communication device belonging to the group of multiple communication devices. The method further includes, by the data forwarding unit, transmitting a transmission resource configuration to the rest of the multiple communication devices. The method further includes, by the data forwarding unit, separately broadcasting the transmission resource allocation to the rest of the multiple communication devices to schedule resources in the network.

[0015] A computer program comprises instructions that, when executed by a computer in accordance with the aforementioned wireless communication device, cause the computer to perform at least the aforementioned resource scheduling method.

[0016] A tangible, non-volatile computer readable storage medium contains a computer program in accordance with the aforementioned computer program. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] A wireless communication environment for a resource scheduling system is presented. [Figure 2a] 1 presents an exemplary format for a resource configuration information element. [Figure 2b] An alternative format for the resource configuration information element and definitions of its fields are presented. [Figure 2c] An alternative format for the resource configuration information element and definitions of its fields are presented. [Figure 2d] 10 provides an exemplary format for an association acknowledgement response. [Figure 3a] Different exemplary formats for resource allocation information elements are presented. [Figure 3b] Different exemplary formats for resource allocation information elements are presented. [Figure 3c] Different exemplary formats for resource allocation information elements are presented. [Figure 3d] Different exemplary formats for resource allocation information elements are presented. [Figure 3e] Different exemplary formats for resource allocation information elements are presented. [Figure 3f] Different exemplary formats for resource allocation information elements are presented. [Figure 4] Presenting a part of a wireless communication device DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] FIG. 1 presents an environment in which a transmission resource scheduling system 100 may be applied.

[0020] The environment includes a wireless radio communication network (system) 102 that includes multiple wireless radio communication devices (nodes) 104, 104 a, 104 b. The devices 104, 104 a, 104 b, for example, operate on the same spectrum in the same geographic region within the exemplary environment. Use of the same spectrum enables bidirectional radio communication between the devices 104, 104 a, 104 b, i.e., a radio transmission transmitted by one device 104, 104 a, 104 b of the network 102 can be received by another device 104, 104 a, 104 b of the network 102, and vice versa.

[0021] The system 100 may be applied to any wireless radio communication network 102 that uses frequent signaling of node identifiers (IDs) in packet transmissions. Preferably, the system 100 may be applied to a radio communication network 102 that complies with the DECT-2020 (Digital European Cordless Telecommunications) standard. Some non-limiting examples to which the system 100 may be applied may include, but are not limited to, a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) mesh network, a Thread network, a Zigbee network, a PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network), a WLAN network, a cellular network, or a wireless mesh network, such as a wireless sensor network, and / or any other wireless network.

[0022] Typically, the devices 104, 104a, 104b of the network 102 can receive transmissions using one wireless technology, e.g., a BLE transmission or a WLAN transmission, all of which are from the same network 102. However, at least one of the devices 104, 104a, 104b of the network 102 may be capable of receiving transmissions with at least two wireless technologies, e.g., a BLE transmission and a WLAN transmission, all of which are from the same network 102.

[0023] DECT-2020 is a radio access technology developed by ETSI. DECT-2020 supports mMTC (massive machine-type communication) and URLLC (ultra-reliable low latency communication). At the physical (PHY) layer, the key technological components of DECT-2020 are Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM), modulation and coding schemes (MCS), modern channel coding methods (Turbo, LDPC, convolutional coding), HARQ for both scheduled and contention-based transmissions, and support for multi-antenna transmission using different MIMO (Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output) streams. At the MAC (Medium access) layer, and from a systems perspective, the key technology components of DECT-2020 are support for a large number of IoT (Internet of Things) sensors, actuators, and other industrial applications, support for mesh network topologies, support for URLLC communications with very low latency (a typical application would be wireless microphones), operation on license-exempt frequencies, and support for multiple overlapping uncooperative networks with cognitive radio capabilities to share spectrum resources between multiple networks.

[0024] A scheduling method is used for scheduling wireless transmission resources in the previously described systems and networks 100, 102. The method is mainly explained by using two devices 104a, 104b, namely a first wireless communication device 104a and a second wireless communication device 104b, belonging to the network 102 and operating in the system 100. These two devices 104a, 104b form a group (cluster) of devices 104a, 104b. The network 102 may also comprise multiple other devices 104 that also participate in forming a group, in which case the group comprises the devices 104, 104a, 104b.

[0025] Each device 104, 104a, 104b, by means of its data transfer unit 426, is capable of providing bidirectional wireless communication with at least one other device 104, 104a, 104b, i.e., transmitting at least one data packet 208 to the other device 104, 104a, 104b and receiving at least one data packet 208 from the other device 104, 104a, 104b in the network 102, as explained above. In other words, each device 104, 104a, 104b may act as a transmitter and / or a receiver.

[0026] In this method, at the start, device 104a acts as a transmitter and device 104b acts as a receiver, and these roles change between devices 104a, 104b during their communication with each other. Preferably, the transmitting and receiving devices 104, 104a, 104b may be identical to each other, although the invention is not limited thereto.

[0027] The device 104a broadcasts a beacon (message) to enable association with other devices 104, 104b by means of the data transfer unit 426. Before and after broadcasting its beacon, the device 104a listens to the wireless communications of the other devices 104, 104b and can detect the environment by means of its data transfer unit 426 in order to receive beacons from the other devices 104, 104b in the same way as the other devices 104, 104b operate.

[0028] When one of the other devices 104, 104b, in this example device 104b, receives the broadcasted beacon from device 104a by means of its data forwarding unit 426, device 104b determines by means of its controller 424 an association request (message) if it intends to associate with device 104a and does not prevent the association from that point of view. Then device 104b transmits the determined association request to device 104a by means of its data forwarding unit 426 (unicast transmission).

[0029] If the device 104a receives, by means of its data forwarding unit 426, an association request from the device 104b and does not prevent the association from its point of view, the device 104a determines (generates) by means of its controller 424 an association acknowledgement (message) that completes the association between the devices 104a, 104b. The device 104a includes, by means of its controller 424, as part of the association acknowledgement, a transmission resource configuration (transmission resource allocation) in the association acknowledgement. The included resource configuration includes at least information regarding the timing (validity time) of the resources, at least one frequency channel of the resources, and the amount of the resources.

[0030] FIG. 2a illustrates an example of a resource configuration (RC, resource allocation) information element used to inform a receiver, eg, device 104, 104b, about the configuration of transmission resources in the system 100 described above.

[0031] The RC information element may be included in an association acknowledgement, as described above, or in other types of messages, such as cluster beacons or other broadcast messages, if the resource configuration changes during the time that the devices 104, 104a, 104b are already associated.

[0032] The RC information element indicates two portions for a single transmission resource, where a first portion can be used for transmission and reception and a second portion can be used for reception and transmission (e.g., for data acknowledgment communication between devices 104a, 104b in the uplink and downlink directions when device 104a operates as a cluster head of a cluster and device 104b operates as a cluster member of a cluster). The RC information element also indicates how the resource can be repeated, allowing for configuration of multiple resources and at least one channel used for the resource.

[0033] The direction indicated by the RC information element, ie, uplink and downlink, as well as the resource allocation, are dynamically allocated using the resource allocation described below.

[0034] The RC information element, for example, consists of the following fields: Repeat (size 2 bits), SFN (1 bit), Channel (1 bit), Start subslot 1 (9 bits), Length type 1 (1 bit), Length 1 (6 bits), Start subslot 2 (9 bits), Length type 2 (1 bit), Length 2 (6 bits), Repetition (8 bits), Validity (8 bits), SFN offset (8 bits), Channel 1 (13 bits), and Channel 2 (13 bits). The number of bits in each field is an example, and other numbers of bits in these fields can be used.

[0035] The bits in the Repeat field may be provided such that a value of bit 00 indicates that the resource configuration is a one-shot (single-use) allocation and that the Repetition and Validity fields are not present, a value of 01 indicates that the resource configuration is indicated in the Repetition field to repeat in subsequent frames with periodicity until the validity indicated in the Validity field expires, a value of 10 indicates that the resource configuration is indicated in the Repetition field to repeat in subsequent sub-slots with periodicity until the validity indicated in the Validity field expires, and a value of 11 indicates that it is reserved, in which case the value is ignored by the receiving device 104, 104b.

[0036] A single bit in the SFN field may be provided such that a value of 0 indicates that the resource configuration is valid immediately from this frame onwards and no SFN offset field is present in the RC information element, and a value of 1 indicates that the resource configuration is valid from the frame indicated in the SFN offset field onwards.

[0037] A single bit in the channel field may be provided where a value of 0 indicates that the resource configuration is valid for the channel, an RC information element is received and channel fields 1 and 2 are not present in the RC information element, and a value of 1 indicates that the channel for which the resource configuration is valid is indicated in channel fields 1 and 2 of the RC information element.

[0038] A bit in the Start Subslot 1 field indicates the first subslot, where the first portion of the resource configuration is valid within the frame. A single bit in the Length Type 1 field indicates whether the length of the first portion of the resource configuration is indicated in subslots or slots. For example, if the Length Type 1 field is set to the value 0, the length is given in subslots. A bit in the Length 1 field indicates the length of the first portion of the resource configuration in subslots or slots. The transmitting device 104a may divide the resources into multiple physical layer packet transmissions.

[0039] A bit in the Start Subslot 2 field indicates the first subslot in which the second portion of the resource configuration is valid within a frame. A single bit in the Length Type 2 field indicates whether the length of the second portion of the resource configuration is indicated in subslots or slots. For example, if the Length Type 1 field is set to the value 0, the length is given in subslots. A bit in the Length 2 field indicates the length of the second portion of the resource configuration in subslots or slots. The transmitting device 104a may divide the resources into multiple physical layer packet transmissions.

[0040] The bits in the Repetition field indicate the repetition of the resource configuration (first and second parts) within a frame or subslot.

[0041] The bits in the Validity field indicate how long the resource configuration is valid within the frame: a value of 0xFF indicates that the resource configuration is persistent and valid until explicitly removed.

[0042] The bit in the SFN offset field indicates that the resource allocation (configuration) is valid from the frame indicated after the SFN offset field.

[0043] The bits in the Channel 1 and Channel 2 fields indicate the absolute carrier center frequencies of the first and second portions, respectively, of the resource allocation.

[0044] Figure 2b shows another example of an RC information element that is used to inform its receiver, e.g., device 104, 104b, about the configuration of transmission resources in the previously described system 100 and Figure 2c. Figure 2c shows the definitions of the fields of this RC information element, as described in the context of the previous figures.

[0045] 2d presents an exemplary format of the determined association acknowledgement when resource allocation is performed by means of a resource tag, indicating the resource tag and group identifier, i.e., Resource tag and Group ID fields, as described below, whereby several groups can be formed by means of a group identifier, each group comprising several devices 104, 104b.

[0046] The Group ID field is determined to be 7 bits long and indicates a single bit in the Reserved field in the same octet, so that this single bit can be used in the resource allocation of Figures 3c to 3f.

[0047] When resource allocation is performed using short wireless device identifiers (short RD ID, short ID, S-ID, short address) according to Finnish patent application No. 20205231, these fields, i.e. Group ID and Resource TAG, are not required.

[0048] Then, the device 104a transmits (unicasts) an association acknowledgement including the resource configuration as a response to the association request to the device 104b by means of its data forwarding unit 426, so that the association between the devices 104a and 104b is completed. Furthermore, the device 104b recognizes the available transmission resources after the device 104b receives the association acknowledgement by means of its data forwarding unit 426.

[0049] Similarly, if any of these devices 104 requests association by means of its data transfer unit 426 and there is nothing preventing it from doing so, device 104a will send by means of its data transfer unit 426 an association acknowledgment with the included resource configuration to the other devices 104 in network 102.

[0050] The associated devices 104, 104a, 104b form a group, a cluster, with the device 104a acting as a cluster head, the device 104b acting as a cluster member, and at least one other device 104 if associated with the device 104a as a cluster member.

[0051] After the resource configuration association and transmission, the device 104a observes by means of its data forwarding unit 426 the resource usage, i.e. the amount of messages sent and received by each associated device 104, 104b in the cluster by means of the data forwarding unit 426, and determines by means of its controller 424 the resource needs of each device 104, 104b, or determines by means of its controller 424 whether any associated device 104, 104b does not use all of its resources, which in such case means that the associated device 104, 104b has at least one unused resource. The observation performed by the device 104a also includes receiving, by means of the data forwarding unit 426, an additional resource request (message) from at least one device 104, 104b belonging to the cluster, and the device 104a examines by means of its controller 424 the content of the additional resource request received by means of its controller 424 in order to determine the additional resource requirements of the associated device 104, 104b.

[0052] If observation indicates that at least one of the devices 104, 104b in the cluster requires more resources than it currently has, or if there are unused resources in the cluster, or if other devices 104 notify the device 104 of additional resources, the device 104a changes its resource configuration by means of its controller 424. The device 104a then broadcasts the changed (new) resource configuration to the devices 104, 104b by means of its data forwarding unit 426, as described above, if the change occurs during existing associations of the devices 104, 104b.

[0053] Next, in the method, after the resource configuration is transmitted to the device 104b, the device 104a, by means of its controller 424, determines (generates) a beacon (message), e.g., a cluster beacon or other broadcast message, which is listened to by all devices 104, 104b of the cluster. The device 104a, by means of its controller 424, includes a transmission resource allocation, which as part of the beacon informs the device 104, 104b about the available resources and when these resources should be used. The included resource allocation includes at least allocation information indicating which portions of the resources are allocated to which devices 104, 104b in the cluster, and direction information indicating whether the allocated resource portions are meant for the uplink or downlink direction.

[0054] The device 104a, by means of its controller 424, can allocate resources equally or unevenly to the devices 104, 104b in the resource allocation, which can temporarily leave at least one device 104, 104b in the cluster without resources if deemed relevant, and can allocate additional resources to at least one device 104, 104b each in the cluster.

[0055] FIG. 3a shows an example of a resource allocation (RA) information element used to inform its receiver, e.g., device 104, 104b, about resource allocation in the system 100 described above when the system 100 uses short RD IDs.

[0056] The RA information element, ie, resource allocation, may be included in a beacon or other broadcast message, as previously described.

[0057] The RA information element includes, for example, at least the following fields: a direction (Direct) field and an RD ID field.

[0058] A single bit in each Direct field may be provided to indicate whether the dedicated resource is an uplink resource, i.e., from the perspective of the cluster member, for transmitting data and receiving acknowledgments, or a downlink resource, i.e., for receiving data and sending acknowledgments, from the perspective of the cluster member. There is one direction bit per assigned resource. The direction bits may be mapped to a resource configuration such that a first bit indicates the direction of a first resource in the resource configuration, a second bit indicates the direction of a second resource in the resource configuration, and so on.

[0059] The bits in the short RD ID field (list) indicate the RD IDs of the cluster members to which the dedicated resources are assigned. There is one short RD ID per assigned resource. The devices 104, 104b acting as cluster members transmit their short RD IDs to the device 104a acting as the cluster head during association. It is assumed that the short RD IDs are unique to the devices 104, 104a, 104b in a wireless neighborhood. The RD IDs may be mapped to resource configurations such that the first RD ID in the resource configuration is assigned to the first resource in the resource configuration, the second RD ID in the list is assigned to the second resource in the resource configuration, and so on.

[0060] Additionally, a specific short RD ID value, e.g., 0xFFFF, may be reserved for downlink broadcast from device 104a, cluster head, to all associated devices 104, 104b that are cluster members, to indicate that the dedicated resource is allocated as a broadcast resource.

[0061] Figure 3b presents another example of an RA information element used to notify its receiver, e.g., device 104, 104b, of resource allocation in the system 100 described above when the system 100 uses resource tags, which reduces the size of the RA information element when compared to the RA information element in the previous figure.

[0062] The RA information element, ie, resource allocation, may be included in a beacon or other broadcast message, as previously described.

[0063] The RA information element includes at least the following fields: for example, Group ID, direction (Direct, 1 bit), and Resource TAG (7 bits).

[0064] The bits in the Group ID field indicate the identifier (ID) of the group to which the resources are assigned. The Group ID is assigned to the device 104, 104a, 104b, for example, during association, allowing for a larger membership amount than allowed by the size of the resource tag, described below.

[0065] The bits in the list of Direction and Resource TAG fields (octets) indicate whether a single bit in each Direction field indicates whether the dedicated resource is an uplink resource, i.e., whether it transmits data and receives acknowledgments from the perspective of the cluster member, or whether it is a downlink resource, i.e., whether it receives data and sends acknowledgments from the perspective of the cluster member.

[0066] The direction bit relates to the resource tag that follows the direction bit. The bits in the Resource TAG field indicate the ID assigned to the cluster member device 104, 104b during association by the cluster head device 104a. Both the cluster head device 104a and the associated cluster member device 104, 104b maintain the mapping of resource tags to short RD IDs in memory 432 for as long as the device 104, 104b is associated with the cluster, i.e., operating as a cluster member. When a device 104, 104b disassociates or is removed from the cluster, for example, due to a timeout, the cluster head device 104a can reassign the resource tag value to the new device 104, 104b during a new association.

[0067] The list of Direction and Resource TAG fields may be mapped to a resource configuration such that the first octet indicates the direction via the direction bit of the first resource in the resource configuration, via the resource tag the 104, 104b (member) assignment of the second resource in the resource configuration indicates the direction via the direction bit, via the resource tag the device 104, 104b assignment of the second resource in the resource configuration, and so on.

[0068] Additionally, a specific resource tag value, e.g., 0x7F, may be reserved for downlink broadcast from device 104a, the cluster head, to all associated devices 104, 104b, the cluster members, to indicate that the dedicated resource is allocated as a broadcast resource.

[0069] Figures 3c and 3e present another example of an RA information element, which is used to inform its receiver about resource allocation in the previously described system 100 when the system 100 uses a short RD ID and the RA information element includes a single bit as presented in the context of Figure 2d.

[0070] Figures 3d and 3f show another example of an RA information element, which is used to inform its receiver about resource allocation in the system 100 described above when the system 100 uses the resource tag and single bit presented in the context of Figure 2d.

[0071] A single bit (indicator) indicates the RA information element in Figures 3c to 3f. When its value is set to 1, all repetitions are given to the single device 104, 104b that signaled the Group ID and Resource TAG. When the value of the single bit is set to 0, there are multiple Resource TAGs and the position of the Resource TAG gives the index number of the resource being repeated.

[0072] The Indication Type field of the elements in Figures 3e and 3f indicates whether it is a paging, random access response, or resource allocation. If the element is indicated as a resource allocation, the ID Type field may indicate whether the Direct bit is used separately for short RD IDs or whether a resource tag is used.

[0073] The use of runtime allocation tags optimizes resource allocation signaling in the system 100 and methods thereof.

[0074] Then, in the method, the device 104a, by means of its data forwarding unit 426, broadcasts a beacon containing a resource allocation separately from the resource configuration to the devices 104, 104b of the cluster, and after receiving the broadcasted beacon by means of the data forwarding unit 426 and examining its contents by means of the controller 424, each device 104, 104b in the cluster knows the transmission resources assigned to it and starts sending and receiving its data (messages), or vice versa, by means of its data forwarding unit 426, according to the known separately received resource configuration and allocation.

[0075] The device 104a may have more associated devices 104, 104b as cluster members than there are resources in the resource configuration, and may multiplex the resources to the devices 104, 104b by means of resource allocation. Thus, the device 104a notifies all devices 104, 104b in the cluster of the resource allocation by using several beacons. The device 104a, by means of its controller 424, divides the devices 104, 104b of the cluster into at least two device groups, each device group comprising at least one device 104, 104b.

[0076] The device 104a then determines, by means of its controller 424, a beacon or other broadcast message for each device group, including transmission resource allocations for all beacons, as explained above, by means of its controller 424. Finally, the device 104a, by means of its data forwarding unit 426, continuously broadcasts the determined beacon with the resource allocations to the devices 104, 104b in the cluster, so that each device 104, 104a knows the received resource configuration and allocation.

[0077] The device 104a may broadcast the resource allocation, for example, to the first one of the device groups that receives every other beacon and to the second one of the device groups that receives every other beacon.

[0078] The multiplexing of dedicated resources by means of grouping as described above allows resources to be scheduled to a larger number of devices 104, 104b than is possible using resource tags.

[0079] FIG. 4 presents devices 104, 104a, 104b capable of communicating within the network 102 and capable of performing the aforementioned features (steps) of the scheduling method.

[0080] The device 104, 104a, 104b includes a controller 424 that controls the operation of its parts 426, 432, 448, 450, 452 so that the device 104, 104a, 104b operates as described in the context of the previous figures.

[0081] The controller 424 includes a processor 448 that executes operator-initiated instructions and / or computer program-initiated instructions and processes data to run applications. The processor 448 may include at least one processor, such as one, two, three, or more processors.

[0082] The controller 424 also includes a memory 432 for storing and maintaining data. The data may be instructions, computer programs, and data files. The memory 432 may include at least one memory, such as one, two, three, or more memories.

[0083] The device 104, 104a, 104b also includes a data transfer means (data transfer unit) 426 and an antenna (antenna unit) 450 that the controller 424 uses to transmit commands, requests, and data to at least one of the entities in the system 100, e.g., the device 104, 104a, 104b, via the antenna 450. The data transfer unit 426 also receives commands, requests, and data from at least one entity in the system 100, e.g., the device 104, 104a, 104b, via the antenna. Communication between the data transfer unit 426 of the device 104, 104a, 104b and other entities in the system 100 is provided wirelessly via the antenna 450.

[0084] The device 104, 104a, 104b also includes a power supply 452. The power supply 452 includes components, such as a battery and a regulator, for providing power to the device 104, 104a, 104b.

[0085] The memory 432 stores at least a data transfer application 454 for operating (controlling) the data transfer unit 426, an antenna application 456 for operating the antenna 450, and a power supply application 458 for operating the power supply 452.

[0086] The memory 432 also stores a computer program (computer software, computer application) 460 which, when executed by means of the controller 424, for example on a computer in the device 104, 104a, 104b, uses at least one of the portions 426, 448, 450, 452 to perform at least the operations of the device 104, 104a, 104b described above in this specification and in the figures.

[0087] The computer program 460 may be stored on a tangible, non-volatile computer readable storage medium, for example, a compact disc (CD) or a universal serial bus (USB) type storage device.

[0088] The present invention and some of its advantages have been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments described above. It is clear that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments alone, but includes all possible embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A resource scheduling system (100) for a wireless communication network (102), comprising: a first communication device (104a); a second communication device (104b); Equipped with the first communication device and the second communication device (104a, 104b) belong to a group of a plurality of communication devices (104, 104a, 104b) of the wireless communication network; each of the communication devices (104, 104a, 104b) of the group of communication devices is configured to provide bidirectional wireless communication with at least one other of the plurality of communication devices; the first communication device is configured to transmit a transmission resource configuration including information informing of a transmission resource allocation as part of a response to an association request of the second communication device belonging to the plurality of communication devices; the first communication device is further configured to broadcast a transmission resource allocation to the rest of the plurality of communication devices, separate from the transmission resource configuration, the transmission resource allocation including allocation information informing the other communication devices of the plurality of communication devices which portions of transmission resources are allocated to which communication devices of the group of the plurality of communication devices. Resource scheduling system.

2. the transmission resource configuration is part of an association acknowledgement that completes the association between the first communication device and the second communication device. The resource scheduling system of claim 1 .

3. the first communication device broadcasts the transmission resource configuration to the plurality of communication devices if the transmission resource configuration changes during an existing association with the plurality of communication devices; The resource scheduling system of claim 1 .

4. The transmission resource configuration comprises: at least the timing of said transmission resource and at least one frequency channel of said transmission resource; or The transmission resource configuration comprises: comprising at least a timing of the transmission resource, at least one channel of the transmission resource, and an amount of the transmission resource; The resource scheduling system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the first communication device broadcasting the transmission resource allocation as part of a beacon; The resource scheduling system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The transmission resource allocation further comprises: direction information indicating whether the allocated transmission resource portion is for communication in the uplink or downlink direction; Equipped with The resource scheduling system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. If the first communication device cannot notify all of the plurality of communication devices of the transmission resource allocation in a single message, the first communication device divides the group of the plurality of communication devices into at least two device groups and broadcasts the transmission resource allocation of each device group to the plurality of communication devices in sequence. The resource scheduling system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. To determine the resource needs of each communication device or at least one unused transmission resource, the first communication device can observe the amount of messages transmitted by each communication device (104, 104a, 104b) in the group of the plurality of communication devices, or the first communication device can receive an additional resource request from one communication device (104, 104b) belonging to the group of the plurality of communication devices; modifying the transmission resource configuration if the observation or the received request for additional resources indicates such a need; The resource scheduling system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. the wireless communication network is a Digital European Cordless Telecommunication 2020 based network, a wireless mesh network, a wireless Bluetooth® Low Energy based wireless network, a wireless local area network, a Thread network, a Zigbee® network, a Public Land Mobile network, or a cellular network; The resource scheduling system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. When the wireless communication network is a wireless mesh network, a group of the plurality of communication devices forms a cluster, the first communication device acts as a cluster head (104a) of the cluster and schedules and allocates the transmission resources to cluster members (104, 104b) of the cluster, and the second communication device is one of the cluster members. The resource scheduling system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A resource scheduling method for a wireless communication network (102), comprising: presenting at least a first communication device (104a) and a second communication device (104b) belonging to a group of a plurality of communication devices (104, 104a, 104b) of the wireless communication network; providing, by each communication device (104, 104a, 104b) in said group of said plurality of communication devices, two-way wireless communication with at least one other of said plurality of communication devices; transmitting, by the first communication device, a transmission resource configuration as part of a response to an association request of the second communication device belonging to the plurality of communication devices; broadcasting, by the first communication device, a transmission resource allocation separately from the transmission resource configuration to the remainder of the plurality of communication devices; the transmission resource configuration includes information informing the transmission resource allocation; the transmission resource allocation includes allocation information indicating which portions of transmission resources are allocated to which communication devices of the group of communication devices; Resource scheduling methods.

12. A wireless communication device (104a), a controller (424); A data transfer unit (426); Equipped with the controller is configured to present a group of a plurality of wireless communication devices (104, 104a, 104b) in a wireless communication network (102); the data transfer unit is configured to provide bidirectional wireless communication with at least one other wireless communication device (104, 104b) belonging to the group of the plurality of wireless communication devices; the data forwarding unit is configured to transmit a transmission resource configuration including information indicating a transmission resource allocation as part of a response to an association request of a second communication device belonging to the plurality of wireless communication devices; the data forwarding unit is further configured to broadcast a transmission resource allocation to the remainder of the plurality of wireless communication devices, separate from the transmission resource configuration, for scheduling resources in the wireless communication network, the transmission resource allocation including allocation information informing which portions of transmission resources are allocated to which communication devices of the group of the plurality of wireless communication devices. Wireless communication devices.

13. A resource scheduling method for a wireless communication device (104a), comprising: a controller (424) of the wireless communication device presenting a group of a plurality of wireless communication devices (104, 104a, 104b) in a wireless communication network (102); a data transfer unit (426) of the wireless communication device providing bidirectional wireless communication with at least one other wireless communication device (104, 104b) belonging to the group of the plurality of wireless communication devices; the data forwarding unit transmitting a transmission resource configuration as part of a response to an association request of a second communication device belonging to the plurality of wireless communication devices; the data forwarding unit broadcasting a transmission resource allocation, separate from the transmission resource configuration, to the remainder of the plurality of wireless communication devices to schedule resources within the wireless communication network; the transmission resource configuration includes information informing transmission resource allocation; the transmission resource allocation includes allocation information indicating which portions of transmission resources are allocated to which communication devices of the group of wireless communication devices; Resource scheduling methods.

14. A computer program (460) comprising:

14. The method according to claim 13, comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform at least the resource scheduling method of claim 13. Computer program.

15. 15. A tangible, non-volatile computer readable medium containing the computer program (460) of claim 14.

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