Method for establishing a private mobile radio link for a measurement system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (100) for establishing a private mobile radio link for wireless data transmission from a measurement system to a data receiver. The method comprises the following steps: detecting (S1) multiple mobile radio links provided in the surroundings of the measurement system; characterizing (S2) at least some of the multiple mobile radio links provided by ascertaining technical operating criteria (110) of the mobile radio link in question and / or querying economical operating criteria (120) of the mobile radio link in question; determining (S3) the private mobile radio link on the basis of the characterization of at least some of the multiple mobile radio links provided; and establishing (S4) the private mobile radio link between the measurement system and the data receiver by means of a carrier profile (130, 140) of the private mobile radio link.

Description

[0001] Method for establishing an operational mobile radio connection for a measuring system

[0002] Reference to related applications

[0003] This application claims priority from German patent application No.

[0004] 10 2023 206 301.8, filed on July 3, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0005] background

[0006] Machines, systems, devices or sensors that can be connected to the Internet via a wireless connection in accordance with the Internet of Things are typically set up by the manufacturer so that they can be wirelessly connected to the Internet using a SIM card, based on a mobile phone contract.

[0007] Disclosure of the invention

[0008] If a device such as a machine, a piece of production equipment, or a sensor is equipped with a SIM card during production, a poor connection or no connection at all to the mobile network selected according to the mobile phone contract may be established at the device's location. Alternatively, another mobile network may offer mobile connections at the device's location, which could provide a better internet connection.

[0009] According to aspects of the invention, a method for establishing a working mobile radio connection, a measuring system, a computer program, and a machine-readable storage medium are proposed, according to the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims and the following description.

[0010] Throughout this description of the invention, the sequence of process steps is presented in such a way that the process is easily understandable. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that many of the process steps can also be performed in a different order and lead to the same result. In this sense, the sequence of the process steps can be changed accordingly and is therefore also disclosed.

[0011] According to one aspect of the invention, a method for establishing an operational mobile radio connection for wireless data transmission from a measuring system to a data receiver is provided, the method comprising the following steps:

[0012] In one step, a plurality of mobile radio connections offered in an environment of the measuring system are detected. In a further step, at least some of the plurality of offered mobile radio connections are characterized by determining technical operating criteria for the respective mobile radio connection and / or querying economic operating criteria for the respective mobile radio connection. In a further step, the operational mobile radio connection is determined based on the characterization of at least some of the plurality of offered mobile radio connections. In a further step, the operational mobile radio connection is established from the measuring system to the data receiver using an operator profile of the operational mobile radio connection.

[0013] The measuring system can be a sensor system or any device that is configured to transmit data wirelessly to a data receiver.

[0014] The operational mobile radio connection can be a mobile radio connection configured to wirelessly transmit the measurement system data to the data receiver. The data receiver can be configured with a storage unit to store the measurement system data and make it available for further analysis. The data receiver can be a user of the measurement system and / or a provider of the measurement system. Mobile radio connections whose electromagnetic radiation can be detected by the measurement system can be available in the vicinity of the measurement system.

[0015] The operator profile can include the operator data for a mobile subscription, including the operator's access data and possibly SIM-based applications from the operator or third parties. The secure element of an embedded subscriber identification module (eSIM) solution is an embedded universal integrated circuit card (eUlCC), which can store multiple operator profiles. Operator profiles can be remotely downloaded wirelessly to an eUlCC.

[0016] An eSIM card or an iSIM card can be described as a SIM card with an overwritable operator profile, allowing a change of mobile operator or mobile connection without physically replacing the SIM card.

[0017] In other words, the measuring system can be set up and configured to scan and / or determine mobile phone connections at a location in the vicinity of the measuring system that are particularly suitable for wireless data transmission from the measuring system to the data receiver. The measuring system can also be configured and set up to book, select, and / or activate the operator profile and / or a corresponding mobile phone contract from an associated provider for the particularly suitable mobile phone connection.

[0018] Advantageously, the method can be used to establish the most suitable mobile radio connection for wireless data transmission, which makes it possible to establish the most suitable operational mobile radio connection at a location of the measuring system, even if a different mobile radio connection and / or a plurality of other mobile radio connections were preconfigured for the wireless data transmission of the measuring system during manufacture. By means of the other mobile radio connection(s), it can be achieved that a connection can be established in the first place in order to carry out the method based on a first connection. In this way, a mobile radio connection can be established as an operational mobile radio connection, which provides a mobile radio connection at the location of the measuring system and / or provides it in an improved manner, in particular with regard to data transmission and / or signal strength.When the measuring system is first activated at a site, the measuring system can detect local mobile phone networks, for example by scanning the mobile phone network and / or establishing a connection to the local mobile phone network. For example, the local mobile phone network can provide the operational mobile phone connection whose signal strength is maximum at the site. Using a mobile phone connection based on a standard mobile phone contract pre-installed on the measuring system, the measuring system can be set up and configured to establish the most suitable mobile phone connection possible by transferring the corresponding operator profile and / or the corresponding mobile phone contract to the measuring system and activating it. Alternatively or additionally, the measuring system can be set up so that the corresponding operator profile and / or the corresponding mobile phone contract is loaded and activated locally via an operating tool of the measuring system.

[0019] According to one aspect, the operator profile for establishing the operational mobile connection is provided to the measuring system via an established initial mobile connection. Alternatively or additionally, the operator profile is provided from a memory area of ​​the measuring system for activating the operator profile for establishing the operational mobile connection.

[0020] In other words, the measuring system can be configured to store a plurality of operator profiles and / or a plurality of identifiers and / or a plurality of mobile phone contracts in order to select and / or activate and / or establish corresponding mobile phone connections. Mobile phone connections that were previously used for wireless data transmission can be deactivated and / or "returned" to a server. By "returning" the connection to the server, the now free contract can be assigned to another device or measuring system. Alternatively or additionally, by "returning" the connection to the server, storage space in the measuring system can be made available again for storing an alternative and / or better contract. This is because storage space in the measuring system is typically limited.Alternatively or additionally, the measuring system may be configured and set up to store a plurality of passive operator profiles and / or a plurality of passive identifiers and / or a plurality of passive mobile phone contracts that are set up to establish a mobile phone connection as soon as a certain amount of data has been transmitted.

[0021] A server of the provider of the measuring system can be configured to establish a mobile radio connection with the measuring system in order to provide the plurality of operator profiles and / or the plurality of identifiers and / or the plurality of mobile radio contracts to the measuring system.

[0022] The measuring system can be configured and set up to request the operator profile for the operational mobile connection from a mobile operator for provision of the operator profile.

[0023] The measuring system can be configured and set up so that operator profiles are provided to the measuring system via the initial mobile radio connection, wherein an initial operator profile for establishing the initial mobile radio connection is stored in the measuring system.

[0024] To establish the respective mobile phone connection, a user of the measuring system may have concluded a usage contract with the service provider of the respective mobile phone connection.

[0025] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the determination of the operational mobile radio connection is additionally based on a characterization of the established operational mobile radio connection and / or the established initial mobile radio connection, using the technical operating criteria and / or the economic operating criteria. The operational mobile radio connection can be updated according to the characterization of the established operational mobile radio connection and / or the characterization of the established initial mobile radio connection and at least some of the plurality of offered mobile radio connections.

[0026] According to one aspect, the technical operating criteria for characterizing the respective mobile radio connection can include: a characteristic signal strength of the respective mobile radio connection (RSSI: Received Signal Strength Indicator); and / or a characteristic availability of data transmission via the respective mobile radio connection; and / or a characteristic maximum transmission speed via the respective mobile radio connection; and / or a characteristic quality of data transmission via the respective mobile radio connection; and / or a characteristic signal-to-noise ratio of the respective mobile radio connection; and / or a characteristic latency of the respective mobile radio connection and / or a transmission technology of the respective mobile radio connection; and / or available functionalities of the transmission technology, such as an Extended Discontinuous Reception (eDRX) power-saving technology, of the respective mobile radio connection.

[0027] The respective mobile radio connection can be based on a variety of mobile radio technologies, such as 2G, 3G, 4G, LTE, NB-loT, LTE-M1, 5G, 6G, etc., and the measuring system can be configured to execute the method based on at least some of the variety of mobile radio technologies. This means that the detection and characterization of the respective mobile radio connections can relate to both different mobile radio providers and different mobile radio technologies in order to establish the most suitable mobile radio connection as an operational mobile radio connection for wireless data transmission. In particular, the mobile radio connection with the highest possible signal strength at the location of the measuring system can be determined.

[0028] According to one aspect, to characterize the respective mobile radio connections, the respective mobile radio connections can be scanned with respect to the technical operating criteria. Alternatively or additionally, to characterize the respective mobile radio connections, the respective mobile radio connections can be established with the measurement system.

[0029] The respective mobile radio connection can be characterized by roaming based on the initial mobile radio connection. Alternatively or additionally, the mobile radio connection can be characterized by the currently active and / or established operational mobile radio connection. According to one aspect, the economic operating criteria for characterizing the respective mobile radio channel can include: costs per volume of data transmitted using the respective mobile radio channel; and / or costs per duration of a data transmission using the respective mobile radio channel; and / or flat-rate costs for data transmissions using the respective mobile radio channel.

[0030] According to one aspect, the technical operating criteria for characterizing the respective mobile radio connection can be determined using a determination module of the measurement system; and / or the economic operating criteria for characterizing the respective mobile radio connection can be determined by querying an external database using the starting mobile radio connection and / or the operating mobile radio connection. The external database can be a database in the cloud that is signal-linked to the Internet via a server, wherein data for the economic operating criteria can be stored in the database.

[0031] According to one aspect, the determination module can have a determination storage module in order to determine and / or store the signal strength and / or the signal-to-noise ratio and / or the latency and / or the availability of the respective mobile radio connection as a time sequence in order to determine from the respective time sequence the characteristic signal strength of the respective mobile radio connection; and / or the characteristic availability of data transmission via the respective mobile radio connection; and / or the characteristic maximum transmission speed via the respective mobile radio connection; and / or the characteristic quality of data transmission via the respective mobile radio connection; and / or the characteristic signal-to-noise ratio of the respective mobile radio connection; and / or the characteristic latency of the respective mobile radio connection;and / or a transmission technology of the respective mobile connection; and / or available functionalities of the transmission technology of the respective mobile connection.;

[0032] According to one aspect, the determination of the operational mobile radio connection may be based on an overall assessment of the operational criteria, wherein the overall assessment comprises individually weighted technical operational criteria and / or individually weighted economic operational criteria.

[0033] The sum of the weights of the technical operating criteria may be greater than the sum of the weights of the economic operating criteria. In particular, the signal strength of the respective mobile connection may be given greater weight than other economic operating criteria.

[0034] According to one aspect, the measuring system can be configured and set up to adapt the individual weights of the overall evaluation depending on interruptions in data transmissions, and / or fluctuations in operating criteria, and / or changes in the operating criteria of the respectively established operational mobile radio connection, wherein the interruptions in the data transmissions are determined by means of the determination module in order to achieve the most uninterrupted data transmission possible.

[0035] The measuring system can be set up and configured to determine a cause for at least part of the data transmission interruption and to adjust individual weightings of the overall assessment based on the determined cause of the data transmission interruption. For example, the weighting of the technical operating criterion “signal strength” of the respective mobile phone connection can be reduced if the number of data transmission interruptions exceeds a threshold. For this purpose, the measuring system can be configured and set up to store data transmission interruptions and, in particular, to determine the causes of the interruptions. The measuring system can also be configured and set up to track interruptions and, in particular, to report the occurrence of a respective interruption of the respective mobile phone connection to the external database described above.

[0036] The measurement system can be configured and set up to determine the individual weights of the overall assessment using artificial intelligence and / or machine learning methods. When determining the operational mobile connection, the measurement system can be set up to query the external database to retrieve a measure of tracked interruptions from other measurement systems in the vicinity of the measurement system in order to determine the operational mobile connection.

[0037] According to one aspect, the respective operator profile can be stored by means of an embedded Subscriber Identity Module; and / or a Subscriber Identity Module; and / or a Soft Subscriber Identity Module.

[0038] The measuring system can be configured to store the respective operator profile using the embedded Subscriber Identity Module and / or the Subscriber Identity Module and / or the Soft-Subscriber Identity Module.

[0039] The electronic Subscriber Identity Module; and / or the Subscriber Identity Module; and / or the Soft-Subscriber Identity Module can have the start operator profile, in particular already during commissioning.

[0040] The embedded Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM) can be based on an embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUlCC) that is permanently integrated into the measurement system. Alternatively or additionally, the Subscriber Identity Module can be emulated as a soft SIM in software. The eSIM and / or the soft SIM can be configured to accommodate a variety of mobile phone contracts and / or operator profiles, which can be exchanged both via an operating tool for the measurement system and via the mobile connection.

[0041] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the measuring system be configured and set up to determine a respective deployment location of the measuring system by means of the determination module and to store it together with the last used operational mobile radio connection in order to establish the last used operational mobile radio connection for wireless data transmission from the measuring system to the data receiver upon recurring use of the measuring system at the respective deployment location. The measuring system can be set up to store the mobile radio connections available at the respective deployment location, in particular together with the respective signal strength, and in particular to transfer them to a cloud database so that other measuring systems can use this information to determine the operational mobile radio connection.To determine the respective location, a Bluetooth connection and / or a WLAN connection present there or by means of other location-related features, such as an identifier of a radio mast of a mobile phone connection and / or an identifier of a provider of the respective mobile phone connection and / or a country identifier and / or an indication of the coverage of a radio mast of the respective mobile phone connection, can be used. The measuring device can be configured and / or set up, in particular by means of the determination module, to determine the respective location using GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, etc.). Alternatively or additionally, the measuring device can be configured and / or set up, in particular by means of the determination module, based on a physical connection, ieto be coupled with another sensor and / or device via a wired connection, for example by means of a plug-in module, in order to determine the location of use for selecting the operational mobile radio connection.

[0042] The measuring system can be configured and set up to identify a deployment location with location-related characteristics and to redefine a stored operational mobile radio connection that was previously successfully established at the respective deployment location as an operational mobile radio connection.

[0043] According to one aspect, the method can be executed when the measuring system is switched on and / or repeated cyclically during operation of the measuring system. Alternatively or additionally, it can be executed when a data transmission is interrupted via a current operational mobile radio connection.

[0044] The measuring system can be configured so that a change of an operator profile for a changed mobile phone connection is carried out using a current mobile phone connection by means of a server and / or by means of an operator.

[0045] A measuring system is proposed which has a sensor unit for generating measurement data. Furthermore, the measuring system has a wireless transmitting and receiving unit for establishing an operational mobile radio connection, which is signal-coupled to the sensor unit. In addition, the measuring system has a determination module for characterizing the respective mobile radio connection based on technical operating criteria and / or economic operating criteria. In addition, the measuring system can have an electronic subscriber identity module, and the measuring system can be configured and set up to carry out one of the methods described above. In this case, the measuring system can be a sensor system and, in particular, can be signal-coupled to the external database based on a mobile radio connection.

[0046] A computer program is proposed which comprises instructions which, when the computer program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out one of the methods described above.

[0047] With such a computer program, the method can be easily implemented in different environments and / or applications and / or platforms.

[0048] A machine-readable storage medium is proposed on which the computer program described above is stored.

[0049] This allows the procedure to be easily implemented on different control and monitoring devices.

[0050] It is proposed to use the measuring system for the acquisition of sensor data in a production facility, whereby the acquired sensor data is transmitted wirelessly to a data receiver.

[0051] Examples of implementation

[0052] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated with reference to Figure 1 and explained in more detail below. It shows:

[0053] Figure 1 shows a method for establishing a business mobile radio connection.

[0054] Figure 1 outlines a flowchart of a method 100 for establishing an operational mobile radio connection. During production, the measuring system may have been configured and / or equipped with an operator profile for a starting mobile radio connection, wherein the starting mobile radio connection may have a minimal data volume and / or a minimal cost framework. To establish an operational mobile radio connection for wireless data transmission from a measuring system to a data receiver, the measuring system can detect S1 a plurality of mobile radio connections at a site of use that are offered in an environment of the measuring system. In a further step S2, at least some of the plurality of offered mobile radio connections can be characterized by means of the measuring system by determining technical operating criteria 110 of the respective mobile radio connection and / or querying economic operating criteria 120 of the respective mobile radio connection.In a further step S3, the operational mobile radio connection can be determined based on the characterization of at least some of the plurality of offered mobile radio connections. And in a step S4, the operational mobile radio connection can be established from the measurement system to the data receiver using an operator profile 130, 140 of the operational mobile radio connection.

[0055] Based on the initial mobile radio connection that can be established, the operator profile for establishing the operational mobile radio connection 130 can be provided to the measuring system. Alternatively or additionally, the operator profile can be provided from a memory area of ​​the measuring system 140 for activation to establish the operational mobile radio connection.

[0056] This method 100 for establishing a working mobile radio connection can be executed either when the measuring system is switched on or put into operation and / or cyclically 150 during operation of the measuring system in order to go through steps S1 to S4. Alternatively or additionally, the method 100 for establishing the working mobile radio connection can be executed when a data transmission via a current working mobile radio connection is interrupted.

Claims

Claims 1. A method (100) for establishing an operational mobile radio connection for wireless data transmission from a measuring system to a data receiver, comprising: Detecting (S1) a plurality of mobile radio connections offered in an environment of the measuring system; Characterizing (S2) at least some of the plurality of offered mobile radio connections by determining technical operating criteria (110) of the respective mobile radio connection and / or querying economic operating criteria (120) of the respective mobile radio connection; Determining (S3) the operational mobile radio connection based on the characterization of at least part of the plurality of offered mobile radio connections; and Establishing (S4) the operational mobile radio connection from the measuring system to the data receiver by means of an operator profile (130,140) of the operational mobile radio connection.

2. The method (100) according to claim 1, wherein the operator profile for establishing the operational mobile radio connection is provided to the measuring system by means of an established initial mobile radio connection (130); and / or the operator profile is provided from a memory area of the measuring system for activating the operator profile (140) for establishing the operational mobile radio connection.

3. Method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the determination of the operational mobile radio connection is additionally based on a characterization of the established operational mobile radio connection and / or the established start mobile radio connection by means of the technical operating criteria (110) and / or the economic operating criteria (120); and the operational mobile radio connection is established according to the characterization of the established operational mobile radio connection and / or the characterization of the established Start mobile connection and at least part of the multitude of mobile connections offered is updated.

4. The method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the technical operating criteria (110) for characterizing the respective mobile radio connection comprise: a characteristic signal strength of the respective mobile radio connection; and / or a characteristic availability of data transmission by means of the respective mobile radio connection; and / or a characteristic maximum transmission speed by means of the respective mobile radio connection; and / or a characteristic quality of data transmission by means of the respective mobile radio connection; and / or a characteristic signal-to-noise ratio of the respective mobile radio connection; and / or a characteristic latency of the respective mobile radio connection and / or a transmission technology of the respective mobile radio connection; and / or available functionalities of the transmission technology of the respective mobile radio connection.

5. The method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, to characterize the respective mobile radio connections, the respective mobile radio connections are scanned with respect to the technical operating criteria (110); and / or, to characterize the respective mobile radio connections, the respective mobile radio connections are established with the measuring system.

6. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the economic operating criteria (120) for characterizing the respective mobile radio channel comprise: Costs per quantity of data transmitted via the respective mobile radio channel; and / or costs per duration of data transmission via the respective mobile radio channel; and / or flat-rate costs for data transmissions via the respective mobile radio channel.

7. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the technical operating criteria (110) for characterizing the respective mobile radio connection are determined by means of a determination module of the measuring system; and / or the economic operating criteria (120) for characterizing the respective mobile radio connection are determined by means of a query to an external database using the starting mobile radio connection and / or the operating mobile radio connection.

8. The method (100) according to claim 6, wherein the determination module comprises a determination storage module for determining and / or storing the signal strength and / or the signal-to-noise ratio and / or the latency and / or the availability of the respective mobile radio connection as a time sequence in order to determine from the respective time sequence the characteristic signal strength of the respective mobile radio connection; and / or the characteristic availability of data transmission by means of the respective mobile radio connection; and / or the characteristic maximum transmission speed by means of the respective mobile radio connection; and / or the characteristic quality of data transmission by means of the respective mobile radio connection; and / or the characteristic signal-to-noise ratio of the respective mobile radio connection; and / or the characteristic latency of the respective mobile radio connection;and / or a transmission technology of the respective mobile connection; and / or available functionalities of the transmission technology of the respective mobile connection.; 9. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the determination of the operational mobile radio connection is based on an overall evaluation of the operational criteria (110, 120), wherein the overall evaluation comprises individually weighted technical operational criteria (110) and / or individually weighted economic operational criteria (120).

10. The method (100) according to claim 9, wherein the measuring system is configured and set up to adapt the individual weights of the overall evaluation of the operating criteria (110, 120) depending on interruptions in data transmissions, and / or fluctuations in operating criteria and / or changes in the operating criteria of the respectively established operational mobile radio connection, wherein the interruptions in the data transmissions are determined by means of the determination module in order to achieve the most uninterrupted data transmission possible.

11. The method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the respective operator profile is stored by means of an electronic subscriber identity module; and / or a subscriber identity module; and / or a soft subscriber identity module.

12. The method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11 is executed when the measuring system is switched on; and / or the method (100) is repeated cyclically during operation of the measuring system; and / or the method (100) is executed when a data transmission via a current operational mobile radio connection is interrupted.

13. A measuring system comprising: a sensor unit for generating measurement data; a wireless transmitting and receiving unit for establishing an operational mobile radio connection, which is signal-coupled to the sensor unit; a determination module for characterizing the respective mobile radio connection based on technical operating criteria (110) and / or economic operating criteria (120); and an electronic subscriber identity module, wherein the measuring system is configured to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out a method according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

15. A machine-readable storage medium on which the computer program according to claim 14 is stored.

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