Method and device for configuring an ambient IoT device as intermediate device in a wireless communication system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods (40, 50) and devices for configuring a wireless device as an intermediate device (26) between a base station, BS (30), of a radio access network, RAN, and other wireless devices (25), for example ambient-IoT devices.

Description

Method and device for configuring an ambient loT device as intermediate device in a wireless communication systemTechnical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to wireless communication systems and relates more specifically to methods and devices for configuring a wireless device as an intermediate device between a radio access network, RAN, and other wireless devices, for example wireless devices harvesting ambient energy.Background

[0002] The internet of things (loT) allows various devices to connect to the internet to send data, receive instructions, or both. Tens of billions of loT devices are already deployed and the global number of loT devices is expected to increase rapidly. Thus, massive connectivity is needed. However, powering these billions of loT devices is a critical challenge, and deploying power cables or regularly replacing / recharging batteries is not a viable solution.

[0003] 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) is investigating new loT technologies to open new markets within 3GPP systems, whose number of connections and / or device density can be orders of magnitude higher than existing 3GPP loT technologies, and which can provide complexity and power consumption orders-of-magnitude lower than existing 3GPP technologies such as narrow-band-loT (NB-loT) and long-term evolution-machine- type communications (LTE-MTC). More specifically, 3GPP is currently defining Ambient- loT (A-loT) technologies (see e.g., the technical report TR 38.848 V18.0.0) aiming at enabling ultra-low power consumption loT devices, which could be either batteryless devices with no energy storage capability (performing backscattering transmission) or devices with energy storage that do not need to be replaced or recharged manually (performing wire-free energy harvesting (EH) from one or more energy sources).

[0004] By “ultra-low power consumption” devices, or “A-loT” devices, we mean devices having a peak power consumption lower than 1 mW, or even lower than 100 pW or lower than 10 pW. For instance, Ambient-loT currently aims at enabling A-loT devices having the following characteristics: around 1 pW peak power consumption with energy storage, with neither downlink (DL) nor uplink (UL) amplification in the device (the device’s UL transmission is backscattered on a carrier wave provided externally), below a few hundred pW peak power consumption with energy storage, with DL and / or UL amplification in the device (the device’s UL transmission may be generated internally by the device or be backscattered on a carrier wave providedexternally).

[0005] In some cases, some A-loT devices may be located far from the RAN. Hence, the power required to transmit uplink data to the RAN for such A-loT devices will be important, such that these A-loT devices will be less energy efficient.Summary

[0006] The present disclosure aims at improving the situation. In particular, the present disclosure aims at addressing at least some of the limitations of the prior art discussed above. In particular, the present disclosure aims at proposing a solution for reducing the power consumption of A-loT devices located far from the RAN.

[0007] For that purpose, it is proposed that the RAN configures one of the wireless devices as an intermediate device that can trigger uplink transmissions by local wireless devices and forward information received from the local wireless devices to the RAN. By “local wireless devices”, we mean wireless devices located in the coverage of the intermediate device, i.e., wireless devices which can receive and respond to e.g. uplink transmission triggering signals transmitted by said intermediate device. Hence, the local wireless devices will be able to use a reduced transmission power for reaching the intermediate device compared to the transmission power required for directly reaching the RAN.

[0008] According to a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for exchanging data in a wireless communication system, the method being implemented by a wireless device of the wireless communication system, referred to as “intermediate device”, wherein the intermediate device comprises a communication unit configured to exchange data with a radio access network, RAN, of the wireless communication system, wherein, the intermediate device being configured to perform an uplink transmission in response to receiving from the RAN an uplink transmission triggering signal requiring the intermediate device to initiate an uplink transmission, the method comprises: receiving from the RAN an uplink transmission triggering request to transmit an uplink transmission triggering signal to local wireless devices, transmitting an uplink transmission triggering signal, receiving uplink transmissions from local wireless devices, wherein the uplink transmissions include identifiers of said local wireless devices, transmitting all or part of the received identifiers to the RAN.

[0009] In some embodiments, the method according to the first aspect can further comprise one or more of the following optional features, considered either alone or in any technically possible combination.

[0010] In some embodiments, the method according to the first aspect comprisesmeasuring a reception level of the received uplink transmissions and selecting identifiers to be transmitted to the RAN based on the measured reception levels.

[0011] In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect, the selecting of the identifiers to be transmitted to the RAN comprises comparing the measured reception levels to a reception level threshold.

[0012] In some embodiments, the method according to the first aspect comprises measuring a reception level of the received uplink transmissions and transmitting to the RAN the measured reception levels associated to the local wireless devices for which the identifiers are transmitted to the RAN.

[0013] In some embodiments, the method according to the first aspect comprises: receiving from the RAN a further uplink transmission triggering request to transmit an uplink transmission triggering signal, wherein the further uplink transmission triggering request includes at least one identifier of local wireless devices, transmitting an uplink transmission triggering signal addressed specifically to the local wireless devices identified by the at least one identifier, receiving uplink transmissions from the local wireless devices identified by the at least one identifier, wherein the uplink transmissions include information from said local wireless devices, transmitting all or part of the received information to the RAN.

[0014] In some embodiments, the method according to the first aspect comprises: receiving from the RAN a deactivation request to transmit an uplink transmission deactivating signal to local wireless devices, wherein the deactivation request includes at least one identifier of local wireless devices, transmitting an uplink transmission deactivating signal addressed specifically to the local wireless devices identified by the at least one identifier, to deactivate thereto uplink transmission in response to uplink transmission triggering signals.

[0015] In some embodiments, the method according to the first aspect comprises: receiving from the RAN a further uplink transmission triggering request to transmit an uplink transmission triggering signal to local wireless devices, transmitting an uplink transmission triggering signal, receiving uplink transmissions from local wireless devices which have not deactivated uplink transmission in response to uplink transmission triggering signals, wherein the uplink transmissions include information from said local wireless devices, transmitting all or part of the received information to the RAN.

[0016] In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect, the uplink transmission deactivating signal includes a deactivation duration during which the local wireless devices identified by the at least one identifier shall deactivate uplink transmission in response to uplink transmission triggering signals.

[0017] In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect, uplink transmission triggering requests and / or deactivation requests are received from the RAN as L1 and / or L2 and / or L3 signaling messages.

[0018] According to a second aspect, the present disclosure relates to a wireless device comprising at least one memory and at least one processor configured to carry out a method according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect.

[0019] According to a third aspect, the present disclosure relates to a user equipment, UE, comprising a wireless device according to any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0020] According to a fourth aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for exchanging data in a wireless communication system, the method being implemented by a base station, BS, of a radio access network, RAN, of the wireless communication system, wherein the BS is configured to trigger uplink transmission by wireless devices by transmitting uplink transmission triggering signals to said wireless devices, wherein the method comprises: determining that one of the wireless devices is to be configured as an intermediate device, transmitting to the intermediate device an uplink transmission triggering request to transmit an uplink transmission triggering signal to local wireless devices, receiving, from the intermediate device, identifiers of local wireless devices, wherein said identifiers have been received by the intermediate device in uplink transmissions, from local wireless devices, triggered by the intermediate device via the transmission of an uplink transmission triggering signal.

[0021] In some embodiments, the method according to the fourth aspect can further comprise one or more of the following optional features, considered either alone or in any technically possible combination.

[0022] In some embodiments of the method according to the fourth aspect, the determining that one of the wireless devices is to be configured as an intermediate device comprises measuring a reception level of uplink transmissions received from the wireless devices and evaluating the measured reception levels.

[0023] In some embodiments of the method according to the fourth aspect, the evaluatingof the measured reception levels comprises comparing the measured reception levels to a reception level threshold.

[0024] In some embodiments, the method according to the fourth aspect comprises: transmitting to the intermediate device a further uplink transmission triggering request to transmit an uplink transmission triggering signal, wherein the further uplink transmission triggering request includes at least one identifier of local wireless devices, receiving, from the intermediate device, information from the local wireless devices identified by the at least one identifier, wherein said information has been received by the intermediate device in uplink transmissions triggered by the intermediate device via the transmission of an uplink transmission triggering signal addressed specifically to the local wireless devices identified by the at least one identifier.

[0025] In some embodiments, the method according to the fourth aspect comprises transmitting to the intermediate device a deactivation request to transmit an uplink transmission deactivating signal to local wireless devices, wherein the deactivation request includes at least one identifier of local wireless devices.

[0026] In some embodiments, the method according to the fourth aspect comprises: transmitting to the intermediate device a further uplink transmission triggering request to transmit an uplink transmission triggering signal to local wireless devices, receiving, from the intermediate device, information from local wireless devices which have not deactivated uplink transmission in response to uplink transmission triggering signals, wherein said information has been received by the intermediate device in uplink transmissions, from said local wireless devices, triggered by the intermediate device via the transmission of an uplink transmission triggering signal.

[0027] In some embodiments of the method according to the fourth aspect, the uplink transmission deactivating signal includes a deactivation duration during which the local wireless devices identified by the at least one identifier shall deactivate uplink transmission in response to uplink transmission triggering signals.

[0028] In some embodiments, the method according to the fourth aspect comprises transmitting a reception level threshold to the intermediate device, to be used by the intermediate device for selecting local wireless devices.

[0029] In some embodiments, the method according to the fourth aspect comprises: receiving, from the intermediate device, reception levels associated to the local wireless devices for which identifiers are received from the intermediate device, selecting local wireless devices of the intermediate device based on the receivedreception levels.

[0030] In some embodiments of the method according to the fourth aspect, uplink transmission triggering requests and / or deactivation requests are transmitted to the intermediate device as L1 and / or L2 and / or L3 signaling messages.

[0031] According to a fifth aspect, the present disclosure relates to a base station, BS, comprising at least one memory and at least one processor configured to carry out a method according to any one of the embodiments of the fourth aspect.

[0032] According to a sixth aspect, the present disclosure relates to a wireless communication system comprising at least one base station according to any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure and at least one wireless device according to any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0033] According to a seventh aspect, the present disclosure relates to a computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, configure said at least one processor to carry out a method for exchanging data according to any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The computer program product can use any programming language, and can be in the form of source code, object code, or in any intermediate form between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0034] According to an eighth aspect, the present disclosure relates to a (non-transitory) computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, configure said at least one processor to carry out a method for exchanging data according to any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure.Brief description of figures

[0035] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given as an example that is in no way limiting, and made in reference to the figures which show:Figure 1 : schematic representations of different possible topologies of a wireless communication system,Figure 2: a schematic representation of an example of a wireless device, Figure 3: a schematic representation of an example of a BS,Figure 4: a flow chart illustrating an example of a sequence of messages exchanged between a BS, an intermediate device, and other wireless devices,Figure 5: a flow chart illustrating an example of a sequence of messages exchanged between the BS and the wireless devices to determine whether it is required to configure one of the wireless devices as an intermediate device,Figure 6: a flow chart illustrating an example of a further sequence of messagesexchanged between the BS, the intermediate device, and the other wireless devices, Figure 7: a flow chart illustrating another example of a further sequence of messages exchanged between the BS, the intermediate device, and the other wireless devices.

[0036] In these figures, references identical from one figure to another designate identical or analogous elements. For reasons of clarity, the elements shown are not to scale, unless explicitly stated otherwise.Detailed description

[0037] The detailed description set forth below, with reference to the figures, is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. For instance, although 3GPP terminology, from e.g., 5G NR, may be used in this disclosure to exemplify embodiments herein, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure.

[0038] Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and / or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a / an / the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, the order of steps of any methods disclosed herein, in particular in the figures, is provided only for illustration purposes and is not meant to limit the present disclosure which may be applied with the same steps executed in a different order and / or with all or part of the steps executed in parallel or jointly, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and / or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. Also, in a figure, steps represented surrounded by a dashed line are to be considered as optional for the embodiment represented in this figure. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following description.

[0039] Figure 1 represents schematically an example of wireless communication system, which may be for example a 5G NR wireless communication system. More specifically, figure 1 represents a RAN of the wireless communication system, which is used exchange data with UEs 20 via radio signals. For example, the RAN may send data to the UEs 20(downlink, DL), for instance data received from a core network (CN, not represented in the figures). The RAN may also receive data from the UEs 20 (uplink, UL), which data may be forwarded to the CN.

[0040] In the example illustrated by figure 1 , the RAN comprises one base station, BS, 30. Of course, the RAN may comprise more than one BS 30 to increase the coverage of the wireless communication system. Each of these BSs may be referred to as NB, eNodeB (or eNB), gNodeB (or gNB, in the case of a 5G NR wireless communication system), an access point or the like, depending on the wireless communication standard(s) implemented.

[0041] In the example illustrated by figure 1 , only one UE 20 is represented, which includes a wireless device 25 that provides the UE 20 with wireless connectivity to the RAN of the wireless communication system. Part a) of figure 1 represents schematically an example in which the UE 20 exchanges data (useful data and control data) directly with a BS 30 of the RAN (referred to as Topology 1 in TR 38.848 V18.0.0). Part b) of figure 1 represents schematically an example in which the UE 20 exchanges data (useful data and control data) indirectly with a BS 30 of the RAN, via one or more intermediate devices 26 (referred to as Topology 2 in TR 38.848 V18.0.0). Each intermediate device 26 may be e.g., a relay, an integrated access and backhaul (I AB) device, another UE 20, a repeater, a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), etc. TR 38.848 V18.0.0 defines also other topologies, in particular a Topology 3 which also uses an intermediate device (referred to as “assisting node” in TR 38.848 V18.0.0) but only in the uplink or in the downlink.

[0042] Figure 2 represents schematically an example of a wireless device 25 suitable for implementing any method, discussed in the present disclosure, performed at a UE 20. Basically, the wireless device 25 corresponds to an apparatus that provides wireless connectivity with the RAN of the wireless communication system, and that can be used to exchange data with said RAN. The wireless device 25 is for example an A-loT device, i.e. , a wireless device having a peak power consumption lower than 1 mW, or even lower than 100 pW, or even lower than 10 pW.

[0043] Such a wireless device 25 may be included in a UE 20, as illustrated by figure 2. The UE 20 may for instance be a cellular phone, a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a laptop computer, or the like. In preferred examples, the UE 20 may also be an Internet of Things (loT) equipment, like a wireless camera, a smart sensor, a smart meter, smart glasses, a vehicle (manned or unmanned), a global positioning system device, etc., or any other equipment that may run applications that need to exchange data with remote recipients, via the wireless device 25.

[0044] As illustrated by figure 2, the wireless device 25 comprises one or more processors250 and one or more memories 251. The one or more processors 250 may include for instance a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field- programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. The one or more memories 251 may include any type of computer readable volatile and nonvolatile memories (magnetic hard disk, solid-state disk, optical disk, electronic memory, etc.). The one or more memories 251 may store a computer program product 252, in the form of a set of program-code instructions to be executed by the one or more processors 250 to implement all or part of the steps of a method for exchanging data, performed at a UE’s side, according to any one of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0045] As illustrated by figure 2, the wireless device 25 comprises also a (wireless) communication unit 253 adapted to exchange data (directly or indirectly) with BSs 30 of the RAN using radio signals and also, in some cases, with other wireless devices 25. The communication unit 253 may implement one or more wireless communication protocols, and may for instance be a 3G, 4G, 5G, NR, WiFi, WiMax, etc. transceiver or the like. In preferred embodiments, the (wireless) communication unit 253 comprises a 5G NR wireless communication unit, for example with A-loT capabilities.

[0046] As discussed above, the communication unit 253 may comprise in some examples neither downlink (DL) nor uplink (UL) amplification capabilities (the UL transmission is backscattered on a carrier wave provided externally). In other examples, the communication unit 253 may comprise DL and / or UL amplification (the UL transmission may be generated internally by the wireless device or be backscattered on a carrier wave provided externally).

[0047] In the non-limitative example illustrated by figure 2, the wireless device 25 comprises also an energy harvesting unit 254 and an energy storage unit 255 of the wireless device.

[0048] The energy storage unit 255 may be any type of electrical energy accumulator, and may comprise e.g., one or more capacitors, one or more batteries, etc. The energy storage unit 255 is used to provide electrical energy to the other equipment of the wireless device 25 which require electrical energy, such as the one or more processors 250, the one or more memories 251 and, in some examples, the (wireless) communication unit 253.

[0049] The energy harvesting unit 254 is configured to convert ambient energy into electrical energy that is stored in the energy storage unit 255. By “ambient energy” we mean energy from energy sources that are external to the wireless device 25, which is received at the wireless device 25 without any wires between the energy sources and the wireless device 25. Hence, the energy harvesting unit 254 is such that the wireless device 25 may operate in an autonomous manner, without having to replace or recharge manually the energy storage unit 255. The energy harvesting unit 254 may for example collect energyfrom various energy sources including solar, thermal, motion or vibration, radiofrequency (RF), etc.

[0050] In preferred embodiments, the energy harvesting unit 254 comprises at least a radio unit configured to convert RF signals into electrical energy that is stored in the energy storage unit 255. These RF signals may for instance be external RF signals, i.e., RF signals which do not originate from within the wireless communication system itself but from RF sources which are external to the wireless communication system. For example, external RF signals may originate from external 3G, 4G, 5G, NR, WiFi, WiMax, Bluetooth, DAB, etc., devices located in the vicinity of the wireless device 25. Alternatively, or in combination thereof, the RF signals may originate from within the wireless communication system, for example from BSs 30 of the RAN which may transmit an energy harvesting (RF) signal to (A-loT) wireless devices 25 in their coverage, and / or from equipment separate from the BSs 30 but deployed to enable energy harvesting at the (A-loT) wireless devices 25 of the wireless communication system. In some examples, when RF signals are used to collect electrical energy into the energy storage unit 255, the energy harvesting unit 254 may be included in the (wireless) communication unit 253.

[0051] In some examples, the electrical energy collected by the energy harvesting unit 254 may be provided directly to the other equipment of the wireless device 25, in which case the energy storage unit 255 is optional and needs not to be included in the wireless device.

[0052] Figure 3 represents schematically an example of a BS 30 suitable to implement any method, discussed in the present disclosure, performed by the RAN.

[0053] As illustrated by figure 3, the BS 30 comprises one or more processors 300 and one or more memories 301. The one or more processors 300 may include for instance a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. The one or more memories 301 may include any type of computer readable volatile and non-volatile memories (magnetic hard disk, solid-state disk, optical disk, electronic memory, etc.). The one or more memories 301 may store a computer program product 302, in the form of a set of programcode instructions to be executed by the one or more processors 300 to implement all or part of the steps of a method for exchanging data, performed at the RAN’s side, according to any one of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0054] As illustrated by figure 3, the BS 30 comprises also a wireless communication unit 303, configured to exchange data with UEs 20 using radio signals, and more specifically with (wireless) communication units 253 of wireless devices 25 included in these UEs 20. The wireless communication unit 303 may for instance be a 3G, 4G, 5G, NR, WiFi, WiMax,etc. transceiver or the like. In preferred embodiments, the wireless communication unit 303 of the BS 30 comprises a 5G NR transceiver, for example with A-loT capabilities. In some examples, the wireless communication unit 303 may also transmit carrier waves to the wireless devices 25 which perform uplink backscattering transmissions.

[0055] As illustrated by figure 3, the BS 30 may comprise also, in some examples, a network communication unit 304, configured to exchange data with other base stations of the RAN and / or with the CN. The network communication unit 305 may support one or more suitable communication protocols, which may be wired (including optical) and / or wireless.

[0056] As illustrated by figure 3, the BS 30 may comprise also, in some examples, an energy harvesting signal generator 305, which generates energy harvesting (RF) signals which enable wireless devices 25 in its coverage to collect electrical energy in their energy storage units 255, via their energy harvesting units 254. The energy harvesting (RF) signals may take any suitable form enabling the energy harvesting units 254 to store electrical energy in the energy storage units 255 of the wireless devices 25. The choice of a specific energy harvesting (RF) signal format consists in a specific and non-limitative embodiment of the present disclosure. As mentioned above, when present, such energy harvesting (RF) signals may alternatively, or in combination thereof, be generated by other equipment separate from BSs 30 of the RAN.

[0057] As discussed above, the present disclosure aims at proposing a solution for reducing the power consumption of wireless devices 25, for example A-loT devices, located far from a BS 30 of the RAN. For that purpose, it is proposed that the BS 30 configures one of the wireless devices 25 as an intermediate device 26 that can trigger uplink transmissions by local wireless devices 25 and forward information received from the local wireless devices 25 to the RAN. As indicated above, “local wireless devices” correspond to wireless devices 25 located in the coverage of the intermediate device, i.e., wireless devices which can receive and respond to e.g. uplink transmission triggering signals transmitted by said intermediate device. Hence, the local wireless devices 25 will be able to use a reduced transmission power for reaching the intermediate device compared to the transmission power required for directly reaching the RAN.

[0058] Hence, the BS 30 configures at least one of the wireless devices 25 as an intermediate device 26, thereby switching from a Topology 1 as discussed above to e.g. a Topology 2 (or possibly to a Topology 3 with the intermediate device 26 being used mainly on the uplink), for at least some of the local wireless devices 25 of the intermediate device 26. However, the BS 30 may remain in communication according to the Topology 1 with some wireless devices 25 in its coverage, and in particular with the intermediate device 26which is a wireless device 25 configured to further act as an intermediate device 26 for its local wireless devices 25.

[0059] We now present examples of signaling strategies that may be implemented to configure a wireless device 25 as an intermediate device 26.

[0060] Figure 4 represents an example of a sequence of messages exchanged between a BS 30, a wireless device 25 configured as intermediate device 26, and local wireless devices 25 of the intermediate device 26. Figure 4 also represents the steps of a method 40 for exchanging data which is implemented by the BS 30 and the steps of a method 50 for exchanging data which is implemented by the wireless device 25 acting as an intermediate device 26 for its local wireless devices 25.

[0061] As illustrated by Figure 4, the method 40 for exchanging data comprises a step S40 of determining that one of the wireless devices 25 in its coverage is to be configured as an intermediate device 26 for other wireless devices 25.

[0062] It should be noted any method may be used for determining that one of the wireless devices 25 should be configured as an intermediate device 26, and the choice of a specific method corresponds to a specific but non-limitative of the present disclosure.

[0063] Figure 5 represents a non-limitative embodiment of step S40. In the non-limitative example of figure 5, step S40 comprises a step S402 of measuring a reception (power) level of uplink transmissions from all the wireless devices 25 in its coverage (including from the wireless device 25 that will be subsequently configured as an intermediate device 26).

[0064] In the non-limitative example illustrated by figure 5, the uplink transmissions from the wireless devices 25 are triggered by the transmission, by the BS 30, of an uplink transmission triggering signal during a step S401.

[0065] Basically, an uplink transmission triggering signal corresponds to a signaling message that is sent by the BS 30 to trigger an uplink transmission by one or more wireless devices 25 in its coverage.

[0066] It should be noted that any suitable format may be used for the uplink transmission triggering signal, and that the choice of a specific format corresponds to a specific but non- limitative embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the uplink transmission triggering signal may correspond to a paging signal.

[0067] In some cases, the BS 30 may transmit a wake-up signal that transitions the wireless devices 25 from a sleep mode to an active mode. Indeed, to reduce its electrical power consumption, a wireless device 25 may be placed in a sleep mode. In such a case, the wireless device 25 needs to transition to an active mode to be able to exchange data with the BS 30. Such a transition may be triggered by the BS 30, by sending a wake-up signalto the wireless device 25. In such a case, the uplink transmission triggering signal may correspond to the wake-up signal which transitions the wireless device 25 from a sleep mode to an active mode, or it may be transmitted by the BS 30 after it has transmitted a wake-up signal to the wireless device 25. Using a same signal for the wake-up signal and the uplink transmission triggering signal reduces the signaling overhead for the BS 30, compared to using separate signals.

[0068] In some examples, the uplink transmission triggering signal may be a unicast signal which is addressed specifically to a specific wireless device 25, in which case the uplink transmission triggering signal may include a recipient identifier which corresponds to a specific device identifier of the specific wireless device 25. In some cases, the uplink transmission triggering signal may include a plurality of specific device identifiers associated respectively to different specific wireless devices 25, to trigger uplink transmissions by a plurality of specific wireless devices 25.

[0069] In some examples, the uplink transmission triggering signal may be a multicast signal which is addressed specifically to a specific group of wireless devices 25, in which case the uplink transmission triggering signal may include a recipient identifier which corresponds to a specific group identifier of the specific group of wireless devices 25. In some cases, the uplink transmission triggering signal may include a plurality of specific group identifiers associated respectively to different specific groups of wireless devices 25, to trigger uplink transmissions by a plurality of specific groups of wireless devices 25.

[0070] In some examples, the uplink transmission triggering signal may be both unicast and multicast, i.e., it may include one or more specific device identifiers and one or more specific group identifiers.

[0071] In some examples, the uplink transmission triggering signal may be a broadcast signal, aiming at triggering uplink transmissions by all wireless devices 25 in the coverage of the BS 30. In such a case, the uplink transmission triggering signal may include a recipient identifier which corresponds to a broadcast identifier (i.e., a recipient identifier interpreted by the wireless devices 25 as indicating that the uplink transmission triggering signal is a broadcast uplink transmission triggering signal) or it may include no recipient identifier at all (wherein the absence of recipient identifier is interpreted by the wireless devices 25 as indicating that the uplink transmission triggering signal is a broadcast uplink transmission triggering signal). In the following, a broadcast uplink transmission triggering signal is also referred to as “global uplink transmission triggering signal”.

[0072] In the example of figure 5, the uplink transmission triggering signal transmitted by the BS 30 during step S401 is for example a global uplink transmission triggering signal,such that all the wireless devices 25 located in the coverage of the BS 30 (i.e., able to decode the global uplink transmission triggering signal) respond with an uplink transmission.

[0073] As illustrated by figure 5, step S40 further comprises in this example a step S403 of evaluating the measured reception levels. In other words, the BS 30 determines that (at least one) one of the wireless devices 25 should be configured as an intermediate device based on the measured reception levels. For example, the evaluation of the measured reception levels comprises comparing the measured reception levels to a predetermined reception level threshold. For example, this reception level threshold corresponds to a minimum reception level that is allowed for the wireless devices 25. In other words, if the reception level measured for a given wireless device 25 is below this reception level threshold, this implies that the wireless device 25 is too far from the BS 30 and should be handled via an intermediate device 26. Hence, if at least one of the measured reception levels is below the reception level threshold, the BS 30 determines that a wireless device 25 should be configured as an intermediate device 26.

[0074] How the BS 30 selects which wireless device 25 should be configured as an intermediate device 26 is out of scope of the present disclosure. Of course, if a reception level threshold is used in step S403, the wireless device 25 selected should have a measured reception level that is greater than the reception level threshold. For example, the wireless device 25 selected should have a measured reception level that is only slightly greater than the reception level threshold, since this would mean that the corresponding wireless device 25 is likely located close to a border of the area defined by said reception level threshold (i.e., area from which the measured reception levels are expected to be greater than the reception level threshold).

[0075] As illustrated by figure 4, the method 40 for exchanging data comprises a step S41 of transmitting to the selected intermediate device 26 an uplink transmission triggering request. Basically, the uplink transmission triggering request is a signaling message whereby the BS 30 asks the intermediate device 26 to transmit an uplink transmission triggering signal to the local wireless devices 25. Initially, the BS 30 may desire to identify all wireless devices 25 which are in the coverage of the intermediate device 26, such that the uplink transmission triggering signal to be transmitted by the intermediate device 26 is for example a global uplink transmission triggering signal.

[0076] It should be noted that any suitable format may be used for the uplink transmission triggering request, and that the choice of a specific format corresponds to a specific but non-limitative embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the uplink transmission triggering request may correspond to an L1 (layer 1 , i.e., PHY) or to an L2 (layer 2, e.g.,MAC) or to an L3 (layer 3, e.g., RRC) signaling message.

[0077] As illustrated by figure 4, the method 50 for exchanging data, implemented by the intermediate device 26, comprises a step S500 of receiving from the BS 30 the uplink transmission triggering request and a step S501 of transmitting an uplink transmission triggering signal, as requested by the BS 30. It should be noted that the uplink transmission triggering signal transmitted by the intermediate device 26 has typically the same format as the format used by the BS 30 for transmitting uplink transmission triggering signals.

[0078] As indicated above, the uplink transmission triggering signal transmitted during step S501 is preferably a global uplink transmission triggering signal such that all local wireless devices 25 may respond.

[0079] As illustrated by figure 4, the method 50 for exchanging data, implemented by the intermediate device 26, comprises a step S502 of receiving uplink transmissions from the local wireless devices 25, wherein the uplink transmissions include (e.g., device) identifiers of said local wireless devices 25. Then, the intermediate device 26 transmits, during a step S503, all or part of the received identifiers which are received by the BS 30 during a step S42. Hence, based on the received identifiers, the BS 30 knows which wireless devices 25 are in the coverage of the intermediate device 26. In the non-limitative example illustrated by figure 5 in which the BS 30 has received uplink transmissions from all wireless devices 25 (with their identifiers) in its coverage, the BS 30 may further identify e.g. the local wireless devices 25 of the intermediate device 26 which correspond to wireless devices 25 for which the measured reception level was below the reception level threshold. If there are wireless devices 25 for which the measured reception level was below the reception level threshold which are not local wireless devices 25 of the intermediate device 26, the BS 30 may e.g. configure another wireless device 25 as an intermediate device 26, as described above.

[0080] In some examples, the step S502 of receiving the uplink transmissions from the local wireless devices 25 by the intermediate device 26 may comprise measuring a reception (power) level of the received uplink transmissions.

[0081] Such measured reception levels may for example be used to identify those local wireless devices 25 which are located far from the intermediate device 26.

[0082] For example, such a determination (identifying the local wireless devices 25 which are located far from the intermediate device 26) may be carried out by the BS 30, in which case the intermediate device 26 may transmit to the BS 30 the measured reception levels associated to the local wireless devices 25 for which the identifiers are transmitted to the BS 30 (in such a case, the intermediate device 26 may for example transmit all the received identifiers to the BS30). For example, the BS 30 may compare the received measuredreception levels to a reception level threshold (which, in some examples, may be identical to the reception level threshold discussed for step S403, if any), to select only the local wireless devices 25 for which the intermediate device 26 has measured a reception level greater than the reception level threshold.

[0083] In other examples, such a determination (identifying the local wireless devices 25 which are located far from the intermediate device 26) may be carried out by the intermediate device 26. In such a case, the method 50 for exchanging data may comprise a step (not represented in the figures) of selecting identifiers to be transmitted to the BS 30 based on the measured reception levels. For example, the intermediate device 26 may compare the measured reception levels to a reception level threshold (which, in some examples, may be identical to the reception level threshold discussed for step S403, if any), to select only the local wireless devices 25 for which the intermediate device 26 has measured a reception level greater than the reception level threshold. Hence, the intermediate device 26 transmits, to the BS 30, only the identifiers of the local wireless devices 25 for which the intermediate device 26 has measured a reception level greater than the reception level threshold. For example, the reception level threshold may be predefined (e.g., specified by a standard) or received beforehand from the BS 30, e.g., in system information broadcasted by the BS 30, in any signaling message (for example in the uplink transmission triggering request).

[0084] The sequence of messages represented by figure 4 corresponds typically to the initial configuration of one of the wireless devices 25 as an intermediate device 26, and the initial collection by said intermediate device 26 and by the BS 30 of the identifiers of the local wireless devices 25 of the intermediate device 26.

[0085] Figures 6 and 7 represent examples of sequences of messages exchanged between the BS 30, the intermediate device 26, and the local wireless devices 25 of the intermediate device 26. These examples of sequences of messages occur after the sequence of messages depicted by figure 4, i.e., after the initial configuration of the intermediate device 26 and after the initial collection by said intermediate device 26 and by the BS 30 of the identifiers of the local wireless devices 25 of the intermediate device 26.

[0086] As illustrated by figure 6, the method 40 for exchanging data comprises a step S43 of transmitting, by the BS 30, a further uplink transmission triggering request to the intermediate device 26. In this non-limitative example, the uplink transmission triggering signal to be transmitted by the intermediate device 26 is a unicast or multicast uplink transmission triggering signal, and the further uplink transmission triggering request includes at least one (recipient) identifier of local wireless devices 25 of the intermediatedevice 26.

[0087] It should be noted that any suitable format may be used for the further uplink transmission triggering request, and that the choice of a specific format corresponds to a specific but non-limitative embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the further uplink transmission triggering request may correspond to an L1 or to an L2 or to an L3 signaling message. For example, the same format is used for the uplink transmission triggering request and the further uplink transmission triggering request.

[0088] As illustrated by figure 6, the method 50 for exchanging data, implemented by the intermediate device 26, comprises a step S504 of receiving from the BS 30 the further uplink transmission triggering request and a step S505 of transmitting an uplink transmission triggering signal addressed specifically to the local wireless devices 25 identified by the at least one identifier received in the further uplink transmission triggering request. Hence, only the local wireless devices 25 identified by the at least one identifier are required to respond to this uplink transmission triggering signal.

[0089] As illustrated by figure 6, the method 50 for exchanging data, implemented by the intermediate device 26, comprises a step S506 of receiving uplink transmissions from the local wireless devices 25 identified by the at least one identifier, wherein the uplink transmissions include information from said local wireless devices 25.

[0090] For example, the information received from a local wireless device 25 includes the identifier of this local wireless device 25, and optionally other data, such as data measured or collected by said local wireless device 25.

[0091] Then, the intermediate device 26 transmits, during a step S507, all or part of the received information (e.g. at least the received identifiers) which is received by the BS 30 during a step S44.

[0092] Hence, in the example illustrated by figure 6, the BS 30 may selectively trigger, via the intermediate device 26, uplink transmissions by specific local wireless devices 25 of said intermediate device 26.

[0093] Figure 7 represents another example of sequence of messages exchanged between the BS 30, the intermediate device 26, and the local wireless devices 25 of the intermediate device 26, which occurs after the sequence of messages depicted by figure 4.

[0094] As illustrated by figure 7, the method 40 for exchanging data comprises a step S45 of transmitting, by the BS 30, a deactivation request to the intermediate device 26, wherein the deactivation request includes at least one identifier of local wireless devices 25.

[0095] Basically, the deactivation request is a signaling message whereby the BS 30 asks the intermediate device 26 to transmit an uplink transmission deactivating signal addressedspecifically to the local wireless devices 25 identified by the at least one identifier, to deactivate thereto uplink transmission in response to uplink transmission triggering signals.

[0096] It should be noted that any suitable format may be used for the deactivation request, and that the choice of a specific format corresponds to a specific but non-limitative embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the deactivation request may correspond to an L1 or to an L2 or to an L3 signaling message.

[0097] As illustrated by figure 7, the method 50 for exchanging data, implemented by the intermediate device 26, comprises a step S508 of receiving from the BS 30 the deactivation request and a step S509 of transmitting an uplink transmission deactivating signal addressed specifically to the local wireless devices 25 identified by the at least one identifier received in the deactivation request, to deactivate thereto uplink transmission in response to uplink transmission triggering signals.

[0098] It should be noted that any suitable format may be used for the uplink transmission deactivating signal, and that the choice of a specific format corresponds to a specific but non-limitative embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0099] For example, the uplink transmission deactivating message may correspond to a type of signaling message specifically used for conveying deactivation information. In such a case, it is sufficient to indicate a specific device identifier of the specific local wireless device 25 to be deactivated, or a specific group identifier of the specific group of local wireless devices 25 to be deactivated.

[0100] In other examples, the signaling message may also be used to convey other information, in which case it may comprise an activation / deactivation field, used to convey activation information or deactivation information, associated to one or more specific identifiers of the local wireless devices 25 which shall apply the information included in the activation / deactivation field. For example, the activation / deactivation field may correspond to a single bit. For example, a value ‘0’ corresponds to activation information (meaning that uplink transmission in response to uplink transmission triggering signals is to be (re)activated) and a value T corresponds to deactivation information (meaning that uplink transmission in response to uplink transmission triggering signals is to be deactivated).

[0101] In some examples, the uplink transmission deactivating signal may correspond to an uplink transmission triggering signal, i.e. , the deactivation information may be included in an uplink transmission triggering signal. As indicated above, the deactivation information is addressed specifically to one or more specific local wireless devices 25 and / or to one or more specific groups of local wireless devices 25. In such a case, the uplink transmissiontriggering signal may for example be used to trigger an uplink transmission by the local wireless devices 25 to be deactivated before they are deactivated (i.e., the recipient local wireless devices 25 first respond with an uplink transmission and subsequently deactivate uplink transmission triggering by the intermediate device 26 / BS 30). According to another example, the uplink transmission triggering signal may be used to immediately deactivate the local wireless devices 25 specifically designated (by a specific device identifier or by a specific group identifier) and to trigger an uplink transmission by the other local wireless devices 25 which are not explicitly deactivated in the uplink transmission triggering signal.

[0102] Hence, the local wireless devices 25 of the intermediate device 26, which are designated by an identifier in the uplink transmission deactivating signal, deactivate uplink transmission triggering by the intermediate device 26 / BS 30, such that these local wireless devices 25 stop responding to (at least some) uplink transmission triggering signals.

[0103] By “deactivating uplink transmission triggering”, we mean that the local wireless device 25 stops responding to at least some of the uplink transmission triggering signals transmitted by the BS 30 and / or the intermediate device 26, to which the local wireless device 25 would have to respond if it had not received deactivation information.

[0104] For example, uplink transmission triggering by the intermediate device 26 and / or by the BS 30 may be deactivated only for global uplink transmission triggering signals. Hence, when deactivated, the local wireless device 25 will not respond to global uplink transmission triggering signals, but it may still respond to an uplink transmission triggering signal addressed specifically to said local wireless device 25 (via a specific device identifier of the local wireless device 25 or a specific group identifier of the group of local wireless devices which includes said local wireless device 25).

[0105] In other examples, uplink transmission triggering by the intermediate device 26 and / or by the BS 30 may be deactivated for all uplink transmission triggering signals (unicast, multicast, broadcast). In such a case, the local wireless device 25 may stop monitoring uplink transmission triggering signals. In some cases, the local wireless device 25 may further transition to a sleep mode, to reduce power consumption.

[0106] For example, a local wireless device 25 may remain deactivated until a predetermined reactivation criterion is verified. It should be noted that any suitable reactivation criterion may be used, and that the choice of a specific reactivation criterion corresponds to a specific but non-limitative embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0107] In some examples, the reactivation criterion may be verified in response to receiving activation information from the BS 30, in a signaling message. As indicated above, the activation information may be, in some examples, included in an activation / deactivationfield associated to one or more specific identifiers of the local wireless devices 25 which shall apply the information included in the activation / deactivation field.

[0108] Alternatively, or in combination thereof, the local wireless device 25 may be configured to remain deactivated for a predetermined duration, referred as “deactivation duration” in the present disclosure. Hence, when uplink transmission triggering by the intermediate device 26 and / or by the BS 30 is deactivated at the local wireless device 25, it may start a timer that is set to the deactivation duration, and the reactivation criterion is verified once said timer expires. Since the deactivation duration is predetermined, the local wireless device 25 may stop monitoring the uplink transmission triggering signals for the deactivation duration, and it may even go to a sleep mode for the deactivation duration to reduce power consumption (and it may return to an active mode once the timer set to the deactivation duration has expired).

[0109] For example, the deactivation duration may be predefined (e.g., specified by a standard). In other examples, the deactivation duration may be received beforehand from the BS 30 (e.g., in system information broadcasted by the BS 30), or from the intermediate device 26 (e.g., in the uplink transmission deactivating signal), etc.

[0110] For example, the deactivation duration may be greater than or equal to 10 minutes, or greater than or equal to 1 hour, or greater than or equal to 1 day, etc.

[0111] In the non-limitative example of figure 7, the method 40 for exchanging data comprises a step S46 of transmitting, by the BS 30, a further uplink transmission triggering request to transmit an uplink transmission triggering signal to local wireless devices 25. In this non-limitative example, the uplink transmission triggering signal to be transmitted by the intermediate device 26 is a global uplink transmission triggering signal.

[0112] As discussed above, any suitable format may be used for the further uplink transmission triggering request, and that the choice of a specific format corresponds to a specific but non-limitative embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0113] As illustrated by figure 7, the method 50 for exchanging data, implemented by the intermediate device 26, comprises a step S510 of receiving from the BS 30 the further uplink transmission triggering request and a step S511 of transmitting a global uplink transmission triggering signal to the local wireless devices 25.

[0114] In the non-limitative example illustrated by figure 7, some of the local wireless devices 25 have been previously deactivated by the uplink transmission deactivating signal transmitted by the intermediate device 26 during step S509. Hence, these deactivated local wireless devices 25 do not respond to the uplink transmission triggering signal, such that the intermediate device 26 receives, during a step S512, uplink transmissions only fromlocal wireless devices 25 which have not deactivated uplink transmission in response to uplink transmission triggering signals. The uplink transmissions received include information from said local wireless devices 25. For example, the information received from a local wireless device 25 includes the identifier of this local wireless device 25, and optionally other data, such as data measured or collected by said local wireless device 25.

[0115] Then, the intermediate device 26 transmits, during a step S513, all or part of the received information (e.g. at least the received identifiers), which is received by the BS 30 during a step S47.

[0116] Hence, in the example illustrated by figure 7, the BS 30 may selectively deactivate, via the intermediate device 26, uplink transmissions by specific local wireless devices 25 of said intermediate device 26. This reduces power consumption at the deactivated local wireless devices 25. This also reduces collision probability between uplink transmissions initiated by (non-deactivated) local wireless devices 25 in response to (e.g., global) uplink transmission triggering signals, thereby reducing the need for retransmissions for the nondeactivated local wireless devices 25, which enables power savings.

[0117] It is emphasized that the present disclosure is not limited to the above exemplary embodiments. Variants of the above exemplary embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0118] For example, the present disclosure has been made by considering mainly the case of A-loT devices. However, the present disclosure can also be used for non-A-loT devices.

[0119] It should also be noted that there can be a coexistence in the wireless communication system between wireless devices 25 which apply the present disclosure and wireless devices which do not apply the present disclosure. For example, the present disclosure may apply e.g. only to A-loT devices and not to non-A-loT devices.

Claims

Claims1. A method (50) for exchanging data in a wireless communication system, the method being implemented by a wireless device (25) of the wireless communication system, referred to as “intermediate device” (26), wherein the intermediate device comprises a communication unit configured to exchange data with a radio access network, RAN, of the wireless communication system, wherein, the intermediate device being configured to perform an uplink transmission in response to receiving from the RAN an uplink transmission triggering signal requiring the intermediate device to initiate an uplink transmission, the method comprises:(S500) receiving from the RAN an uplink transmission triggering request to transmit an uplink transmission triggering signal to local wireless devices,(S501) transmitting an uplink transmission triggering signal,(S502) receiving uplink transmissions from local wireless devices, wherein the uplink transmissions include identifiers of said local wireless devices,(S503) transmitting all or part of the received identifiers to the RAN.

2. The method (50) according to claim 1 , comprising measuring a reception level of the received uplink transmissions and selecting identifiers to be transmitted to the RAN based on the measured reception levels.

3. The method (50) according to claim 2, wherein the selecting of the identifiers to be transmitted to the RAN comprises comparing the measured reception levels to a reception level threshold.

4. The method (50) according to claim 1 , comprising measuring a reception level of the received uplink transmissions and transmitting to the RAN the measured reception levels associated to the local wireless devices for which the identifiers are transmitted to the RAN.

5. The method (50) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: receiving from the RAN a further uplink transmission triggering request to transmit an uplink transmission triggering signal, wherein the further uplink transmission triggering request includes at least one identifier of local wireless devices, transmitting an uplink transmission triggering signal addressed specifically to the local wireless devices identified by the at least one identifier, receiving uplink transmissions from the local wireless devices identified by the at least one identifier, wherein the uplink transmissions include information from said local wireless devices, transmitting all or part of the received information to the RAN.

6. The method (50) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: receiving from the RAN a deactivation request to transmit an uplink transmission deactivating signal to local wireless devices, wherein the deactivation request includes at least one identifier of local wireless devices, transmitting an uplink transmission deactivating signal addressed specifically to the local wireless devices identified by the at least one identifier, to deactivate thereto uplink transmission in response to uplink transmission triggering signals.

7. The method (50) according to claim 6, further comprising: receiving from the RAN a further uplink transmission triggering request to transmit an uplink transmission triggering signal to local wireless devices, transmitting an uplink transmission triggering signal, receiving uplink transmissions from local wireless devices which have not deactivated uplink transmission in response to uplink transmission triggering signals, wherein the uplink transmissions include information from said local wireless devices, transmitting all or part of the received information to the RAN.

8. The method (50) according to any one of claims 6 to 7, wherein the uplink transmission deactivating signal includes a deactivation duration during which the local wireless devices identified by the at least one identifier shall deactivate uplink transmission in response to uplink transmission triggering signals.

9. The method (50) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein uplink transmission triggering requests and / or deactivation requests are received from the RAN as L1 and / or L2 and / or L3 signaling messages.

10. A wireless device (25) comprising at least one memory and at least one processor configured to carry out a method (50) according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. A user equipment, UE (20), comprising a wireless device according to claim 10.

12. A method (40) for exchanging data in a wireless communication system, the method being implemented by a base station, BS (30), of a radio access network, RAN, of the wireless communication system, wherein the BS is configured to trigger uplink transmission by wireless devices (25) by transmitting uplink transmission triggering signals to said wireless devices, wherein the method comprises:(540) determining that one of the wireless devices is to be configured as an intermediate device,(541) transmitting to the intermediate device an uplink transmission triggering request to transmit an uplink transmission triggering signal to local wireless devices,(S42) receiving, from the intermediate device, identifiers of local wireless devices, wherein said identifiers have been received by the intermediate device in uplink transmissions, from local wireless devices, triggered by the intermediate device via the transmission of an uplink transmission triggering signal.

13. The method (40) according to claim 12, wherein the determining that one of the wireless devices is to be configured as an intermediate device comprises measuring a reception level of uplink transmissions received from the wireless devices and evaluating the measured reception levels.

14. The method (40) according to claim 13, wherein the evaluating of the measured reception levels comprises comparing the measured reception levels to a reception level threshold.

15. The method (40) according to any one of claims 12 to 14, comprising: transmitting to the intermediate device a further uplink transmission triggering request to transmit an uplink transmission triggering signal, wherein the further uplink transmission triggering request includes at least one identifier of local wireless devices, receiving, from the intermediate device, information from the local wireless devices identified by the at least one identifier, wherein said information has been received by the intermediate device in uplink transmissions triggered by the intermediate device via the transmission of an uplink transmission triggering signal addressed specifically to the local wireless devices identified by the at least one identifier.

16. The method (40) according to any one of claims 12 to 15, comprising transmitting to the intermediate device a deactivation request to transmit an uplink transmission deactivating signal to local wireless devices, wherein the deactivation request includes at least one identifier of local wireless devices.

17. The method (40) according to claim 16, further comprising: transmitting to the intermediate device a further uplink transmission triggering request to transmit an uplink transmission triggering signal to local wireless devices, receiving, from the intermediate device, information from local wireless devices which have not deactivated uplink transmission in response to uplink transmission triggering signals, wherein said information has been received by the intermediate device in uplink transmissions, from said local wireless devices, triggered by the intermediate device via the transmission of an uplink transmission triggering signal.

18. The method (40) according to any one of claims 16 to 17, wherein the uplink transmission deactivating signal includes a deactivation duration during which the localwireless devices identified by the at least one identifier shall deactivate uplink transmission in response to uplink transmission triggering signals.

19. The method (40) according to any one of claims 12 to 18, comprising transmitting a reception level threshold to the intermediate device, to be used by the intermediate device for selecting local wireless devices.

20. The method (40) according to any one of claims 12 to 18, comprising: receiving, from the intermediate device, reception levels associated to the local wireless devices for which identifiers are received from the intermediate device, selecting local wireless devices of the intermediate device based on the received reception levels.

21. The method (40) according to any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein uplink transmission triggering requests and / or deactivation requests are transmitted to the intermediate device as L1 and / or L2 and / or L3 signaling messages.

22. A base station, BS (30), comprising at least one memory and at least one processor configured to carry out a method (40) according to any one of claims 12 to 21.

23. A wireless communication system comprising at least one base station (30) according to claim 22 and at least one wireless device (25) according to claim 10.

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