Differentiated wireless charging service for ambient internet of things devices

Abstract

A method performed by an apparatus for communication is provided. The method includes receiving an activation request for activation of at least one ambient Internet of Things (IoT) device of one or more ambient IoT devices, and broadcasting an activation signal to the at least one ambient IoT device. The activation request includes information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern. The activation signal includes the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern for the at least one ambient IoT device to utilize to harvest energy to be received according to the frequency hopping pattern. The method also includes transmitting the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern for harvesting, by the at least one ambient IoT device, of the energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern.

Description

DIFFERENTIATED WIRELESS CHARGING SERVICE FOR AMBIENT INTERNET OF THINGS DEVICES TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to telecommunications and, in particular, to supporting devices such as ambient Internet of Things (loT) services in a telecommunications system.BACKGROUND

[0002] A telecommunications system can be seen as a facility that enables communication sessions between two or more entities such as user terminals, base stations and / or other nodes by providing carriers between the various entities involved in the communications path. A telecommunications system can be provided for example by means of a communication network and one or more compatible communication devices. The communication sessions may comprise, for example, communication of data for carrying communications such as voice, video, electronic mail (email), text message, multimedia and / or content data and so on. Non-limiting examples of services provided comprise two-way or multi-way calls, data communication or multimedia services and access to a data network system, such as the Internet.

[0003] In a wireless telecommunications system, at least a part of a communication session between at least two stations occurs over a wireless link. Examples of wireless telecommunications systems comprise public land mobile networks (PLMN), satellite based communication systems and different wireless local networks, for example wireless local area networks (WLAN). Some wireless systems can be divided into cells, and are therefore often referred to as cellular systems.

[0004] A user can access the telecommunications system by means of an appropriate communication device or terminal. A communication device of a user may be referred to as user equipment (UE) or user device. A communication device is provided with an appropriate signal receiving and transmitting apparatus for enabling communications, for example enabling access to a communication network or communications directly with other users. The communication device may access a carrier provided by a station, for example a base station of a cell, and transmit and / or receive communications on the carrier.

[0005] The telecommunications system and associated devices typically operate in accordance with a given standard or specification which sets out what the various entities associated with the communication system are permitted to do and how operations should be achieved. Communication protocols and / or parameters which shall be used for connection of the various entities are also typically defined. One example of a telecommunications system is the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). Other examples of telecommunications systems are Long-Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced and the so-called 5G or New Radio (NR) networks. NR is being standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).BRIEF SUMMARY

[0006] Example implementations of the present disclosure are directed to telecommunications and, in particular, to supporting devices such as ambient Internet of Things (loT) services in a telecommunications system. The present disclosure includes, without limitation, the following example implementations.

[0007] Some example implementations provide an apparatus for communication, the apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: receive an activation request for activation of at least one ambient Internet of Things (loT) device of one or more ambient loT devices, wherein the activation request comprises information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern; broadcast an activation signal to the at least one ambient loT device, wherein the activation signal comprises the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern for the at least one ambient loT device to utilize to harvest energy to be received according to the frequency hopping pattern, wherein the information is encrypted for the at least one ambient loT device; and transmit the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern.

[0008] Some example implementations provide a method performed by an apparatus for communication, the method comprising: receiving an activation request for activation of at least one ambient Internet of Things (loT) device of one or more ambient loT devices, wherein the activation request comprises information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern; broadcasting an activation signal to the at least one ambient loT device, wherein the activation signal comprises the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern for the at least one ambient loT device to utilize to harvest energy to be received according to the frequency hopping pattern, wherein the information is encrypted for the at least one ambient loT device; and transmitting the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern.

[0009] Some example implementations provide an apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: authorize at least one ambient Internet of Things (loT) device of one or more ambient loT devices associated with a reader device; determine information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern for the reader device to transmit energy for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted by the at least one ambient loT device; encrypt the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern for the at least one ambient loT device; and send, the reader device, an activation request for activation of the at least one ambient loT device, wherein the activation request comprises the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern which has been encrypted for the at least one ambient loT device.

[0010] Some example implementations provide a method comprising: authorizing at least one ambient Internet of Things (loT) device of one or more ambient loT devices associated with a reader device; determining information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern for the reader device to transmit energy for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted by the at least one ambient loT device; encrypting the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern for the at least one ambient loT device; and sending, the reader device, an activation request for activation of the at least one ambient loT device, wherein the activation request comprises the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern which has been encrypted for the at least one ambient loT device.

[0011] Some example implementations provide an apparatus for communication, the apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: receive an activation request for activation of at least one ambient Internet of Things (loT) device of one or more ambient loT devices, wherein the activation request comprises information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern; broadcast an activation signal to the at least one ambient loT device, wherein the activation signal comprises the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern for the at least one ambient loT device to utilize to harvest energy to be received according to the frequency hopping pattern; and transmit the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern.

[0012] Some example implementations provide a method performed by an apparatus for communication, the method comprising: receiving an activation request for activation of at least one ambient Internet of Things (loT) device of one or more ambient loT devices, wherein the activation request comprises information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern; broadcasting an activation signal to the at least one ambient loT device, wherein the activation signal comprises the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern for the at least one ambient loT device to utilize to harvest energy to be received according to the frequency hopping pattern; and transmitting the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern.

[0013] Some example implementations provide an apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: authorize a location of a reader device associated with one or more ambient Internet of Things (loT) devices; determine information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern for the reader device to transmit energy for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted by the at least one ambient loT device; and send, the reader device, an activation request for activation of the at least one ambient loT device, wherein the activation request comprises the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern.

[0014] Some example implementations provide a method comprising: authorizing a location of a reader device associated with one or more ambient Internet of Things (loT) devices; determining information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern for the reader device to transmit energy for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted by the at least one ambient loT device; and sending, the reader device, an activation request for activation of the at least one ambient loT device, wherein the activation request comprises the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern.

[0015] Some example implementations provide an apparatus implementing an ambient Internet of Things (loT) device, the apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: receive, from a reader device, an activation signal comprising information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern for the ambient loT device to utilize to harvest energy to be received according to the frequency hopping pattern; receive, from the reader device, the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern; and harvest the energy received according to the frequency hopping pattern.

[0016] Some example implementations provide a method performed by an ambient Internet of Things (loT) device, the method comprising: receiving, from a reader device, an activation signal comprising information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern for the ambient loT device to utilize to harvest energy to be received according to the frequency hopping pattern; receiving, from the reader device, the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern; and harvesting the energy received according to the frequency hopping pattern.

[0017] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description together with the accompanying figures, which are briefly described below. The present disclosure includes any combination of two, three, four or more features or elements set forth in this disclosure, regardless of whether such features or elements are expressly combined or otherwise recited in a specific example implementation described herein. The present disclosure is intended to be read holistically such that any separable features or elements of the disclosure, in any of its aspects and example implementations, should be viewed as combinable unless the context of the disclosure clearly dictates otherwise.

[0018] It will therefore be appreciated that this Brief Summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example implementations so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above described example implementations are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the disclosure in any way. Other example implementations, aspects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures which illustrate, by way of example, theprinciples of some described example implementations. The claimed example implementations are set forth in appended claims section of the present disclosure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE(S)

[0019] Having thus described example implementations of the disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a telecommunications system that includes one or more public land mobile networks (PLMNs) coupled to one or more external data networks, according to some example implementations of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a deployment of a PLMN, according to some example implementations;

[0022] FIG. 3 more particularly depicts aspects of the deployment of FIG. 2, according to some example implementations;

[0023] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate respective ambient Internet of Things (loT) topologies in a deployment of a PLMN, according to various example implementations;

[0024] FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C illustrate a signaling chart of one or more procedures according to various example implementations;

[0025] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method performed by an apparatus for communication, according to various example implementations;

[0026] FIGS. 7A and 7B are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method according to various example implementations;

[0027] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating various steps in a method performed by an apparatus for communication, according to various example implementations;

[0028] FIGS. 9A and 9B are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method according to various example implementations;

[0029] FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method performed by an ambient loT device, according to various example implementations; and

[0030] FIG. 11 illustrates an apparatus according to some example implementations.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Some implementations of the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which some, but not all implementations of the disclosure are shown. Indeed, various implementations of the disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the implementations set forth herein; rather, these example implementations are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully conveythe scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0032] Unless specified otherwise or clear from context, references to first, second or the like should not be construed to imply a particular order. A feature described as being above another feature (unless specified otherwise or clear from context) may instead be below, and vice versa; and similarly, features described as being to the left of another feature else may instead be to the right, and vice versa. Also, while reference may be made herein to quantitative measures, values, geometric relationships or the like, unless otherwise stated, any one or more if not all of these may be absolute or approximate to account for acceptable variations that may occur, such as those due to engineering tolerances or the like.

[0033] As used herein, unless specified otherwise or clear from context, the "or” of a set of operands is the "inclusive or” and thereby true if and only if one or more of the operands is true, as opposed to the "exclusive or” which is false when all of the operands are true. Thus, for example, "[A] or [B]” is true if [A] is true, or if [B] is true, or if both [A] and [B] are true. Further, the articles "a” and "an” mean "one or more,” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. Furthermore, it should be understood that unless otherwise specified, the terms "data,” "content,” "digital content,” "information,” and similar terms may be at times used interchangeably. The term "network” may refer to a group of interconnected computers including clients and servers; and within a network, these computers may be interconnected directly or indirectly by various means including via one or more switches, routers, gateways, access points or the like.

[0034] Reference may be made herein to terms specific to a particular system, architecture or the like, but it should be understood that example implementations of the present disclosure may be equally applicable to any of a number of systems, architectures and the like. For example, reference may be made to 3GPP technologies such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), UMTS, LTE, LTE Advanced, 5G NR, 5G Advanced and 6G; however, it should be understood that example implementations of the present disclosure may be equally applicable to non-3GPP technologies such as IEEE 802, Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy.

[0035] Further, as used in this application, the term "circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry); (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions); or (c) hardware circuit(s) and / or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0036] The above definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0037] FIG. 1 illustrates a telecommunications system 100 according to various example implementations of the present disclosure. The telecommunications system generally includes one or more telecommunications networks. As shown, for example, the system includes one or morePLMNs 102 coupled to one or more other external data networks 104 - notably including a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet. Each of the PLMNs includes a core network (CN) 106 backbone such as the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) of LTE, the 5G core network (5GC) or the like; and each of the core networks and the Internet are coupled to one or more RANs 108, air interfaces or the like that implement one or more radio access technologies (RATs). As used herein, a "network device” refers to any suitable device at a network side of a telecommunications network. Examples of suitable network devices are described in greater detail below.

[0038] In addition, the system includes one or more radio units that may be varyingly known as user equipment (UE) 110, terminal device, terminal equipment, mobile station or the like. The UE is generally a device configured to communicate with a network device or a further UE in a telecommunications network. The UE may be a portable computer (e.g., laptop, notebook, tablet computer), mobile phone (e.g., cell phone, smartphone), wearable computer (e.g., smartwatch), or the like. In other examples, the UE may be an Internet of things (loT) device, an industrial loT (I loT device), a vehicle equipped with a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication technology, or the like. In some examples, as referenced by 3GPP, the UE may be a narrowband loT (NB-loT) device, an enhanced machine-type communication (eMTC) device, a reduced capability (RedCap) device, an ambient loT device, or the like.

[0039] In operation, these UEs 110 may be configured to connect to one or more of theRANs 108 according to their particular radio access technologies to thereby access a particular CN 106 of a PLMN 102, or to access one or more of the external data networks 104 (e.g., the Internet). The external data network may be configured to provide Internet access, operator services, 3rd party services, etc. For example, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has classified 5G mobile network services into three categories: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC), and massive machine type communications (mMTC) or massive internet of things (MIoT).

[0040] Examples of radio access technologies include 3GPP radio access technologies such as GSM, UMTS, LTE, LTE Advanced, 5G NR, 5G Advanced, and 6G. Other examples of radio access technologiesinclude IEEE 802 technologies such as IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.15 (including 802.15.1 (WPAN / Bluetooth), 802.15.4 (Zigbee) and 802.15.6 (WBAN)), Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), ultra wideband (UWB), and the like. Generally, a radio access technology may refer to any 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, 6G or higher generation mobile communication technology and their different versions, as well as to any other wireless radio access technology that may be arranged to interwork with such a mobile communication technology to provide access to the CN 106 of a mobile network operator (MNO).

[0041] In various examples, a RAN 108 may be configured as one or more macrocells, microcells, picocells, femtocells or the like. The RAN may generally include one or more radio access nodes that are configured to interact with UEs 110. In various examples, a radio access node may be referred to as a base station (BS), access point (AP), base transceiver station (BTS), Node B (NB), evolved NB (eNB), macro BS, NB (MNB) or eNB (MeNB), home BS, NB (HNB) or eNB (HeNB), next generation NB (gNB), enhanced gNB (en-gNB), next generation eNB (ng-eNB), or the like. The RAN may include some type of network controlli ng / governing entity responsible for control of the radio access nodes. The network controlling / governing entity and radio access node may be separate or integrated into a single apparatus. The network controlling / governing entity may include processing circuity configured to carry out various management functions, etc. The processing circuity may be associated with a memory, computer-readable storage medium or database for maintaining information required in the management functions.

[0042] A RAN 108 may be centralized or distributed. In various examples, components of a RAN may be interconnected by Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), optical fiber, dark fiber, passive wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), WDM passive optical network (WDM-PON), optical transport network (OTN), time sensitive networking (TSN) and / or any other data link layer network, possibly including radio links. The RAN may be connected to a CN 106 through one or more gateways, network functions or the like.

[0043] As will be appreciated, a PLMN 102 may be deployed in a number of different manners. In a 4G LTE deployment, the EPC is the CN 106, and the evolved UMTS terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) is the RAN 108; and the E-UTRAN includes one or more eNBs (radio access nodes) configured to connect UEs 110 to the E-UTRAN to thereby access the EPC. FIG. 2 illustrates a deployment 200, such as a 5G or 6G deployment. As shown, the 5GC 202 is the CN, and the next generation (NG) radio access network (NG-RAN) 204 is the RAN; and the NG-RAN includes one or more gNBs 206 (radio access nodes) configured to connect UEs 208 to the NG-RAN to thereby access the 5GC (at times referred to as the NGC). The term 'gNB' in 5G may correspond to the eNB in 4G LTE.

[0044] Some deployments of 4G LTE and 5G in particular are considered standalone (SA) deployments. Other deployments combine 4G LTE and 5G technologies, and are referred to as non-standalone (NSA) deployments. In some deployments, the E-UTRAN includes one or more ng-eNBs that are configured to communicate with the 5GC, and that may also be configured to communicate with one or more gNBs.Similarly, in another deployment, the NG-RAN may include one or more en-gNBs that are configured to communicate with the EPC, and that may also be configured to communicate with one or more eNBs. In various instances, a single UE 110, a dual-mode or multimode UE, may support multiple (two or more) RANs— thereby being configured to connect to multiple RANs, such as 4G LTE and 5G.

[0045] FIG. 3 more particularly depicts aspects of the deployment 200 for a MNO, according to some example implementations. As shown, the deployment includes the 5GC 202, and NG-RAN 204 with one or more gNBs 206 configured to connect UEs 208 to the NG-RAN to thereby access the 5GC. The 5GC may include a number of network functions (NFs) divided between the control plane and the user plane. In particular, the 5GC may include, for example, an access and mobility management function (AMF) 302, a session management function (SMF) 304, a user plane function (UPF) 306, and the like. As also shown, for example, the 5GC may include a unified data management (UDM) 308, unified data repository (UDR) 310, network data analytics function (NWDAF) 312, a network exposure function (NEF) 314. The 5GC may also include an application function (AF) 316 and / or the application function may external to the 5GC and in an external data network (DN) 320. The 5GC may also include one or more other NFs, such as an ambient loT function (AloTF) 318 to support ambient loT services, as described in greater detail below relative to various example implementations of the present disclosure.

[0046] In the control plane, the AMF 302 is configured to provide UE-based authentication, authorization, mobility management, etc. The SMF 304 is configured to provide various functionality including session management (SM), UE Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation and management, selection and control of UPF(s) 306, control part of policy enforcement and Quality of Service (QoS), lawful intercept, termination of SM parts of network access stratum (NAS) messages, Downlink Data Notification (DNN), roaming functionality, local enforcement to apply QoS for Service Level Agreements (SLAs), charging data collection and charging interface, etc. If the UE 208 has multiple sessions, different SMFs may be allocated to each session to manage the sessions individually and possibly provide different functionalities per session.

[0047] The UDM 308 serves as a centralized repository for user-related subscription and authentication data. The UDM manages user authentication, authorization, and profile information, ensuring secure and authorized access to the 5GC 202. The UDR 310 is responsible for storing and managing user-related data, including session and policy information. The UDR facilitates functions such as data storage, retrieval, and update, ensuring the maintenance of user-related information across the 5G network. The NWDAF 312 collects and analyzes network data to provide insights into the performance, optimization, and overall health of the 5GC. This information may be used for network management, optimization, and decisionmaking processes to enhance the network's efficiency.

[0048] The UPF 306 supports various user plane operations and functionalities, such as packet routing and forwarding, traffic handling (e.g., QoS enforcement), an anchor point for intra-RAT / inter-RAT mobility (when applicable), packet inspection and policy rule enforcement, lawful intercept (UP collection), trafficaccounting and reporting, etc. The UPF is the point of interconnect between the 5GC and at least one external data network (DN) 320 (i.e., point of ingress or egress for a DN), and routes packets to and from the DN. The DN may be configured to provide Internet access, operator services, 3rd party services, etc.

[0049] The AF 316 may interact with the 5GC 202 to enable the deployment of specific services and applications. The AF communicates with other NFs to request and manage network resources, ensuring that the network adapts to the requirements of different applications and services. The NEF 314 allows authorized third-party applications and services to access specific network functions and services in a controlled manner. The NEF enables the exposure of network capabilities to external entities, fostering innovation and the development of new services.

[0050] In some deployments, such as deployment 200, operations of the gNB 206 or other radio access node may be carried out, at least partly, in a central / centralized unit (CU), such as a server, host or node, operationally coupled to a distributed unit (DU), such as a radio head / node. It is also possible that node operations may be distributed among a plurality of servers, hosts or nodes. It should also be understood that the distribution of work between 5GC 202 (or other CN) operations and gNB (or other radio access node) operations may vary depending on implementation.

[0051] A 5G network architecture may be based on a so-called CU-DU split. One gNB-CU (central node) may control one or more gNB-DUs. The gNB-CU may control a plurality of spatially separated gNB-DUs, acting at least as transmit / receive (Tx / Rx) nodes. In some example implementations, however, the gNB-DUs (also called DU) may include, for example, a radio link control (RLC) layer, medium access control (MAC) layer and a physical (PHY) layer, whereas the gNB-CU (also called a CU) may include the layers above the RLC layer, such as a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio resource control (RRC) layer, and an internet protocol (IP) layer. Other functional splits are also possible. It is considered that a skilled person is familiar with the open systems interconnection (OSI) model and the functionalities within each layer.

[0052] In some example implementations, the server or CU may generate a virtual network through which the server communicates with the radio node. In general, virtual networking may involve a process of combining hardware and software network resources and network functionality into a single, softwarebased administrative entity, a virtual network. Such virtual network may provide flexible distribution of operations between the server and the radio head / node. In practice, any digital signal processing task may be performed in either the CU or the DU, and the boundary where the responsibility is shifted between the CU and the DU may be selected according to implementation.

[0053] Some deployments support loT devices, and the number loT devices is anticipated to be greatly increase, with the lifespan of many of these devices being very long (e.g., five years or more). In many cases, charging or regularly replacing batteries that power these loT devices is becoming increasingly impractical, considering the significant consumption of manpower and materials.

[0054] Ambient loT devices are loT devices powered by energy harvesting, making them either batteryless or equipped with limited energy storage capabilities (e.g., using a capacitor). In some of these deployments, ambient loT complements other loT technologies such as NB-loT I eMTC and RedCap. Ambient loT aims to cover additional use cases that demand more cost-effective, power-efficient, and particularly battery-less functionalities. In particular, for example, ambient loT may be used in ID tags (replacing radio frequency (RF) identification with a wider range), sensors (e.g., temperature sensors, humidity sensors), healthcare (e.g., monitoring personal medical information), logistics (e.g., tracking objects), and the like.

[0055] An ambient loT device may be passive or active. An ambient loT device may harvest energy and then use an active circuit to transmit. An active ambient loT device may include, for example, active components such as amplifiers, while a passive ambient loT device generally does not include active components. Rather, a passive ambient loT device uses a communication technique known as backscattering, in which an external RF signal is used for activation I excitation of the device, and in which the RF signal is modulated with information by the passive device before being reflected I backscattered. In various examples, the modulating of information on the reflected I backscattering signal may be referred to as transmitting the backscattered signal. In some examples, an ambient device may have capability to switch between being active or passive.

[0056] An ambient loT system architecture may include the ambient loT device, as well as an activator (also referred to as an illuminator or AloT activator) and a reader (also at times referred to as a reader device or an AloT reader). As explained above, an ambient loT device may include a passive radio, and the activator is a device configured to send an activation signal (external RF signal) to provide energy to wakeup the passive radio, and thereby allow the ambient loT device to transmit one or more signals (backscattered signals) that carry messages. The reader is a device configured to listen and detect the signal(s) from the ambient loT device. The activator and reader may be co-located or separate devices.

[0057] In 3GPP, an ambient loT device may be categorized by type as a Device A, Device B or Device C. In this regard, Device A (passive) are pure battery-less devices with no energy storage capability at all, incapable of independent signal generation / amplification (only capable of backscattering). Device A type devices rely completely on the availability of an external source of energy. Device B (semi-passive) are devices with limited energy storage capability that do not require manual replacement or recharging. Device B type devices do not generate independent signals but may utilize backscattering with potential reflection gain. Device C (active) are actively-transmitting devices with limited energy storage capabilities based on ambient energy sources.

[0058] A deployment of a PLMN, such as deployment 200, may support IOT (e.g., ambient loT) in a number of different topologies. FIGS. 4Aand 4B illustrate respective loT topologies (in particular, ambient loT topologies) 400A and 400B, according to various example implementations of the present disclosure.As shown, the illustrated topologies include a gNB 206 (or other radio access node) and an ambient loT device 402 (at times referred to as an AloT device), and may also include a UE 208. In ambient loT topology 400A, the ambient loT device is configured to directly and bidirectionally communicate with the gNB. The communication may include may include ambient loT data and / or signaling between the gNB and the ambient loT device. In ambient loT topology 400B, the ambient loT device is configured to bidirectionally communicate with the gNB via the UE. The UE is an intermediate node, and is configured to transfer ambient loT data and / or signaling between the gNB and the ambient loT device.

[0059] In various ambient loT topologies, the activator and reader for the ambient loT device are colocated. In particular, in ambient loT topology 400A, the gNB 206 may operate as both an activator and a reader for the ambient loT device 402. In ambient loT topology 400B, the UE 208 may operate as both an activator and a reader for the ambient loT device. In other ambient loT topologies, the activator and reader for the ambient loT device are separate devices. In particular, for example, in another ambient loT topology, the gNB may operate as an activator, and the UE may operate as a reader. Likewise, in yet another ambient loT topology, the UE may operate as an activator, and the gNB may operate as a reader.

[0060] As indicated above, ambient loT devices 402 are loT devices powered by energy harvesting.Example implementations of the present disclosure enables greater differentiation with respect to wireless charging of ambient loT devices, such as while considering a number of different (operator AloT) use cases. Some use cases relate to monetization in which a premium, paid service may be offered to devices to be able to harvest energy more efficiently, and may also gather and transmit more data, with lower latency. This may be similar to how people pay more to buy a next generation smartphone with longer battery life.

[0061] Another use case relates to a walled garden in which a manufacturer may prefer their ambient loT devices 402 are able to more efficiently charge when they are providing the wireless charging hardware, or a free wireless charging service. In another, similar use case, a particular location or business (e.g., coffee shop, hotel,... ) may contract with a particular AloT vendor to provide higher speed wireless charging for AloT devices from that vendor.

[0062] In another use case, ambient loT devices 402 that are past their end of life may be provided with only limited charging. If a device is particularly old (e.g., no longer taking software updates, it may be preferred that the device no longer be wirelessly charged, as it might otherwise provide malicious actors of an attack vector type 4 (unpatched software). As such, only the new devices within recent software updates will be able to wirelessly charge without limitation.

[0063] Another use case addressed by some example implementations is to avoid charging ambient loT devices 402 that are not authorized in a particular location or home. In this regard, a homeowner, business owner, military or the like may wish to allow full wireless charging provided on its premises to the devices which it has authorized, and otherwise limit wireless charging on its premises for any potential maliciousdevices (or devices about which it is not aware). In this use case, if someone places a malicious device on their premises in order to surreptitiously gather data or monitor the homeowner, then the homeowner would prefer to limit wireless charging of this device.

[0064] Yet other use suitable use cases relate to emergency scenarios where particular devices or authorized devices may be permitted full wireless charging while other devices are not.

[0065] Example implementations of the present disclosure therefore provide a solution that enables control and differentiation for the charging of ambient loT devices 402 based on authorization information and / or their location. Some example implementations may enable billable wireless charging service messaging for further limiting wireless charging to subscribers (i.e., going beyond just beamforming). Some example implementation may provide a frequency hopping pattern, seed or other guidance to authorized ambient loT devices, so that those devices may harvest more energy than would otherwise be possible. In this regard, ambient loT devices that do not know the frequency hopping pattern, etc., then those devices are unable to as efficiently harvest energy that is transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern, etc.

[0066] According to some example implementations, the energy may be transmitted on a carrier frequency (of a frequency channel), and the frequency hopping pattern may include a sequence of frequencies (of respective frequency channels) that the carrier frequency is switched between at determined intervals. In some of these example implementations, information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern may include the sequence of frequencies or a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals.

[0067] Information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern may be shared between a group of ambient loT devices 402, such as in a network scenario. Instead of UE triggering, the network may trigger all ambient loT devices in a group (e.g., where the group should follow the same billing policy). This may remove the assumption that all AloT devices within coverage of an AloT reader (e.g., UE 110, gNB 206) would receive the same activation request along with sufficient energy for communication from an activator (separate or co-located with a reader).

[0068] According to some example implementations, a reader (with an activator) or a separate activator (e.g., UE 110, gNB 206) may initially transmit an activation signal with limited energy, which may be primarily for the purpose of authorization, to all ambient loT devices 402 within its coverage. Any ambient loT devices in coverage may respond with their identifiers (IDs). The network may check the device IDs, and determine the ambient loT devices are authorized based on information provided by an AF 316. The network may alternatively check the location of the reader which forwarded the AloT device IDs to determine if any devices in the location can be considered authorized.

[0069] The network may derive or otherwise determine a frequency hopping pattern based on local configuration, the device identifier, and / or a seed for a pre-agreed pseudo random generator. The ambient loT devices that are authorized may receive an additional signal from the network that includes informationindicative of the frequency hopping pattern / seed or other guidance. The network and authorized ambient loT devices may synchronize to the frequency hopping pattern for the transmission of energy by the network for harvesting by the authorized ambient loT devices. And by having the knowledge of the frequency pattern or any other guidance, the authorized ambient loT devices may more efficiently harvest energy transmitted by the network.

[0070] On the network-side in some examples, the network may receive information from an AF 316 about the service. The network may have charging information based on configuration or information provisioned by the third-party AF about the service, and determine a priority level for the activation / energy harvesting services. The network may then provide this priority level to the NG-RAN 204 which may take further action on the priority level (which may include information indicative of the hopping frequency pattern / seed, and perhaps other parameters). In some examples, a mapping between service and its charging may not be fixed. For example, a service may be charging higher rates to provide the service at daytime and lower rates for providing the service at night. Thus, every time a service is requested, the network may map a new charging rate to determine its priority.

[0071] FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C illustrate a signaling and operations chart 500 of one or more procedures according to various example implementations. As shown in FIG. 5A, an AF 316 may at step 0 provide information to the UDM 3081 UDR 310 via NEF 314 that may be utilized by the 5GC 202 to authorize ambient loT devices 402. This information may include, for example, a list of permitted ambient loT device IDs, and may optionally also include specific location data for one or more locations. This information enables the 5GC to authorize ambient loT devices by either comparing their IDs with the list of allowed ambient loT device IDs or verifying their presence in the specified location (s) (if provided).

[0072] An NF responsible for handling AloT services (e.g., AloTF 318, AMF 302) in the 5GC 202 may at step 501a request an AloT reader 520 to discover any available ambient loT devices 402 in coverage by sending a discovery request message. The discovery request message may be triggered in a number of different manners, such as by request from the AloT reader 520 or AF 316, or by local configuration. The AloT reader may be, for example, a UE 110 or a gNB 206. In case the AloT reader is a UE, the message may be sent to the UE via a gNB. The AloT reader may then at steps 501b, 501c broadcast an activation signal on a default carrier frequency (of a default frequency channel), containing limited energy sufficient only for the ambient loT devices 402A, 402B within its coverage area to respond.

[0073] Any ambient loT devices 402A, 402B that receive the broadcast message may at steps 502a, 502b send response messages back to the AloT reader 520 (e.g., UE 110, gNB 206) on the same default carrier frequency. These response messages may include IDs of the devices and / or pre-configured security keys, which may be used to secure subsequent communication between the network and the ambient loT devices. In this context, the security keys may be cryptographic keys of the devices, which may be used to encrypt and decrypt communication between the network and the ambient loT devices.

[0074] The AloT reader 520 may at step 503 wait for a period of time to aggregate all the received response messages during this time, and then prepare a single response to be sent to the 5GC 202. The AloT reader may then at step 504 forward the received response / s from step 502 or, if available, the aggregated single response prepared in step 503, to the AloTF 318 / AMF 302. The response message may also include the location information of the AloT reader.

[0075] The AloTF 318 / AMF 302 may at step 505 authorize the received ambient loT device IDs or the location of the AloT reader 520 if they match the information provided by the AF 316 at step 0. The AloTF / AMF may then at step 506 derive or otherwise determine a frequency hopping pattern based on preconfigured information, the device identifier, and / or a seed for a pre-agreed pseudo random generator. The frequency hopping pattern may include, for example, a sequence of frequencies that a carrier frequency for energy to be transmitted is switched between at determined intervals.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 5B, assuming one or more of the received ambient loT device IDs are authorized, the AloTF 318 / AMF 302 may at step 507 request the AloT reader 520 to activate the authorized ambient loT device(s) (e.g., ambient loT device 402A), such as by sending an activation request message. This message may include, for example, information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern (e.g., sequence of frequencies, determined intervals) determined in step 506, encrypted with the security keys of only the authorized ambient loT device(s). Alternatively, the AloTF / AMF may provide only one derived frequency hopping pattern along with information about specific, authorized ambient loT device(s) to the AloT reader. The message may also include a list of authorized ambient loT device(s). This information may be used by the AloT reader to anticipate responses from the AloT devices and to identify the frequency hopping pattern.

[0077] The AloT reader 520 may at step 508 broadcast an activation signal on the default carrier frequency, and the activation signal may include the information indicative of the encrypted frequency hopping pattern with limited energy sufficient only for the ambient loT devices 402A, 402B within the AloT reader's coverage area to process the message. In some examples in which an AloT reader receives the frequency hopping pattern from the AloTF 318 / AMF 302 in plain text, the AloT reader may encrypt the information with the keys of the authorized ambient loT device(s).

[0078] As shown at step 509a, any unauthorized ambient loT devices (e.g., ambient loT device 402B) cannot decrypt the information in the activation signal broadcast at step 508. Only the authorized device(s) (e.g., ambient loT device 402A) having the same key(s) are able decrypt the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern to determine the frequency hopping pattern, and tune their reception frequency according to the frequency hopping pattern to receive energy more efficiently, as shown at 509b.

[0079] The AloT reader 520 (or any other entity from the network side) may at steps 510a, 510b provide energy using indicated frequency hopping pattern, which may be more than the limited energy of the activation signal broadcast at step 508. In this regard, the AloT reader (or other entity) may transmit energyon a carrier frequency that switches between different frequencies (of respective frequency channels) at determined intervals according to the frequency hopping pattern. And as shown at 511a, 511b, only authorized ambient loT device(s) (e.g., ambient loT device 402A) that have tuned their reception frequency according to the frequency hopping pattern can get energy in the indicated frequencies.

[0080] In some examples, the frequency hopping pattern includes a sequence of frequencies that the carrier frequency is switched between at the determined intervals. The authorized ambient loT device(s) (e.g., ambient loT device 402A) may receive the energy on a first frequency of the sequence of frequencies. The authorized ambient loT device(s) may switch from the first frequency to a second frequency of the sequence of frequencies after expiry of a determined time interval of the determined time intervals, and then receive the energy on the second frequency of the sequence of frequencies. In some of these examples, the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern may include a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals. The authorized ambient loT device(s) may then generate the first frequency and the second frequency of the sequence of frequencies based on the seed value, and determine the determined interval based on the hop rate or dwell time.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 5C, it may be assumed one or more ambient loT devices (e.g., ambient loT devices 402A, 402B) are in a location allowed to harvest energy. As shown at 512, the AloTF 318 / AMF 302 may provide the derived or otherwise determined frequency hopping pattern without any encryption to the AloT reader, which may convey the frequency hopping pattern to ambient loT devices within its coverage. Similar to earlier described, the AloT reader 520 (or any other entity from the network side) may at steps 513a, 513b provide energy using indicated frequency hopping pattern, such as by transmitting energy on a carrier frequency that switches between different frequencies according to the frequency hopping pattern. And as shown at 514a, 514b, the ambient loT device(s) that have tuned their reception frequency according to the frequency hopping pattern can get energy in the indicated frequencies.

[0082] Similar to before, the ambient loT device(s) (e.g., ambient loT devices 402A, 402B) in the location allowed to harvest energy may receive the energy on a first frequency of the sequence of frequencies, switch to a second frequency of the sequence of frequencies after expiry of a determined time interval, and then receive the energy on the second frequency. In some of these examples involving a seed value, and a hop rate or dwell time, the ambient loT device(s) may generate the first frequency and the second frequency of the sequence of frequencies based on the seed value, and determine the determined interval based on the hop rate or dwell time.

[0083] FIGS. 6A- 6C are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method 600 performed by an apparatus for communication, according to various example implementations. The method includes receiving an activation request for activation of at least one ambient Internet of Things (loT) device of one or more ambient loT devices, where the activation request includes information indicative of a frequency hoppingpattern, as shown at block 602 of FIG. 6A. The method includes broadcasting an activation signal to the at least one ambient loT device. The activation signal includes the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern for the at least one ambient loT device to utilize to harvest energy to be received according to the frequency hopping pattern, In some of these examples, the information is encrypted for the at least one ambient loT device, as shown at block 604. And the method includes transmitting the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern, as shown at block 606.

[0084] In some examples, the energy is transmitted at block 606 on a carrier frequency, and the frequency hopping pattern includes a sequence of frequencies that the carrier frequency is switched between at determined intervals. In some of these examples, the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern includes the sequence of frequencies or a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals.

[0085] In some examples, the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is encrypted with a security key that is shared by the at least one ambient loT device.

[0086] In some examples, the apparatus includes a reader device associated with the one or more ambient loT devices.

[0087] In some examples, the method 600 further includes sending one or more identifiers of the one or more ambient loT devices to a network function for authorization of the at least one ambient loT devices. In some of these examples, the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is encrypted by the network function based on the authorization of the at least one ambient loT device.

[0088] In some examples, the method 600 further includes broadcasting at a first activation signal to discover the one or more ambient loT devices associated with the apparatus, as shown block 608 of FIG.6B. In some of these examples, the method also includes receiving one or more response messages to the first activation signal from the one or more ambient loT devices, where the one or more response messages include the one or more identifiers of the one or more ambient loT devices, as shown at block 610.

[0089] In some examples, the first activation signal and the activation signal are broadcast on a default carrier frequency. In some of these examples, the first activation signal is broadcast at block 608 with a lesser amount of energy than the amount of energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern at block 606. Also in some of these examples, transmitting the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern at block 606 includes transmitting the energy on a carrier frequency that switches between different frequencies at determined intervals according to the frequency hopping pattern.

[0090] In some examples, the one or more response messages further include one or more security keys of the one or more ambient loT devices, including at least one security key of the at least one ambient loT device. In some of these examples, the method 600 further includes sending the one or more security keysto the network function for encryption of information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern with at least one security key of the at least one ambient loT device.

[0091] In some examples, the activation request identifies the at least one ambient loT device that is authorized to harvest the energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern. In some of these examples, the method further includes identifying, from the one or more security keys, the at least one security key of the at least one ambient loT device that is authorized, as shown at block 612 of FIG. 6C. Also in some of these examples, the method includes decrypting the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern using the at least one security key of the at least one ambient loT device, as shown at block 614.

[0092] FIGS. 7A and 7B are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method 700 according to various example implementations. The method includes authorizing at least one ambient Internet of Things (loT) device of one or more ambient loT devices associated with a reader device, as shown at block 702 of FIG.7A. The method includes determining information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern for the reader device to transmit energy for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted by the at least one ambient loT device, as shown at block 704. The method includes encrypting the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern for the at least one ambient loT device, as shown at block 706. And the method includes sending, the reader device, an activation request for activation of the at least one ambient loT device, where the activation request includes the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern which has been encrypted for the at least one ambient loT device, as shown at block 708.

[0093] In some examples, the energy is to be transmitted on a carrier frequency, and the frequency hopping pattern includes a sequence of frequencies that the carrier frequency is switched between at determined intervals. In some of these examples, the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern includes the sequence of frequencies or a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals.

[0094] In some examples, the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is encrypted at block 706 with a security key that is shared by the at least one ambient loT device.

[0095] In some examples, the method 700 further includes receiving at least one identifier of the at least one ambient loT device from an application function, as shown at block 710 of FIG. 7B. In some of these examples, the method also includes receiving one or more identifiers of the one or more ambient loT devices from the reader device, as shown at block 712. Also in some of these examples, authorizing the at least one ambient loT device at block 702 includes determining the at least one identifier of the at least one ambient loT device among the one or more identifiers of the one or more ambient loT devices.

[0096] In some examples, the method 700 further includes receiving one or more security keys of the one or more ambient loT devices, including at least one security key of the at least one ambient loT device. Insome of these examples, the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is encrypted at block 706 with the at least one security key of the at least one ambient loT device.

[0097] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating various steps in a method 800 performed by an apparatus for communication, according to various example implementations. The method includes receiving an activation request for activation of at least one ambient Internet of Things (loT) device of one or more ambient loT devices, In some of these examples, the activation request includes information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern, as shown at block 802. The method includes broadcasting an activation signal to the at least one ambient loT device, where the activation signal includes the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern for the at least one ambient loT device to utilize to harvest energy to be received according to the frequency hopping pattern, as shown at block 804. And the method includes transmitting the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern, as shown at block 806.

[0098] In some examples, the energy is transmitted at block 806 on a carrier frequency, and the frequency hopping pattern includes a sequence of frequencies that the carrier frequency is switched between at determined intervals. In some of these examples, the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern includes the sequence of frequencies or a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals.

[0099] In some examples, the apparatus includes a reader device associated with the one or more ambient loT devices.

[0100] In some examples, the method 800 further includes sending information indicative of a location of the apparatus to a network function for authorization of the location of the apparatus. In some of these examples, the activation request including the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is received based on the authorization of the location of the apparatus.

[0101] In some examples, the method 800 further includes broadcasting a first activation signal to discover the one or more ambient loT devices associated with the apparatus.

[0102] in some examples, the first activation signal and the activation signal are broadcast on a default carrier frequency. In some of these examples, the first activation signal is broadcast with a lesser amount of energy than the amount of energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern. Also in some of these examples, transmitting the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern at block 806 includes transmitting the energy on a carrier frequency that switches between different frequencies at determined intervals according to the frequency hopping pattern.

[0103] FIGS. 9A and 9B are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method 900 according to various example implementations. The method includes authorizing a location of a reader device associated with one or more ambient Internet of Things (loT) devices, as shown at block 902 of FIG. 9A. The method includes determining information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern for the reader device to transmitenergy for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted by the at least one ambient loT device, as shown at block 904. And the method includes sending, the reader device, an activation request for activation of the at least one ambient loT device, In some of these examples, the activation request includes the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern, as shown at block 906.

[0104] In some examples, the energy is to be transmitted on a carrier frequency, and the frequency hopping pattern includes a sequence of frequencies that the carrier frequency is switched between at determined intervals. In some of these examples, the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern includes the sequence of frequencies or a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals.

[0105] in some examples, the method 900 further includes receiving an indication of an authorized location from an application function, as shown at block 908 of FIG. 9B. In some of these examples, the method also includes receiving an indication of a location of the reader device, as shown at block 910. Also in some of these examples, authorizing the location of the reader device at block 902 includes determining that the authorized location matches the location of the reader device.

[0106] FIGS. 10A- 10D are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method 1000 performed by an ambient Internet of Things (loT) device, according to various example implementations. The method includes receiving, from a reader device, an activation signal including information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern for the ambient loT device to utilize to harvest energy to be received according to the frequency hopping pattern, as shown at block 1002 of FIG. 10A. The method includes receiving, from the reader device, the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern, as shown at block 1004. And the method includes harvesting the energy received according to the frequency hopping pattern, as shown at block 1006.

[0107] In some examples, the energy is transmitted on a carrier frequency, and the frequency hopping pattern includes a sequence of frequencies that the carrier frequency is switched between at determined intervals. In some of these examples, the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern includes the sequence of frequencies or a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals.

[0108] In some examples, the method 1000 further includes receiving, from the reader device, a first activation signal for discovery of the ambient loT device.

[0109] In some examples, the first activation signal and the activation signal are received on a default carrier frequency. In some of these examples, the first activation signal is received with a lesser amount of energy than the amount of energy received according to the frequency hopping pattern. Also in some of these examples, the receiving the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern at block 1004includes receiving the energy on a carrier frequency that switches between different frequencies at determined intervals according to the frequency hopping pattern.

[0110] In some examples, the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is encrypted for the ambient loT device, and the method 1000 further includes decrypting the information to determine the frequency hopping pattern.

[0111] In some examples, the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is encrypted with a security key of the ambient loT device, and the information is decrypted using the security key.

[0112] In some examples, the method 1000 further includes receiving, from the reader device, a first activation signal for discovery of the ambient loT device, as shown at block 1008 of FIG. 10B. In some of these examples, the method also includes sending, to the reader device, a response message including an identifier of the ambient loT device for authorization of the ambient loT device, as shown at block 1010.Also in some of these examples, the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is encrypted based on the authorization of the ambient loT device.

[0113] In some examples, the response message further includes a security key of the ambient loT device for encryption of information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern.

[0114] In some examples, the energy is transmitted on a carrier frequency, and the frequency hopping pattern includes a sequence of frequencies that the carrier frequency is switched between at determined intervals. In some of these examples, the receiving the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern at block 1004 includes receiving the energy on a first frequency of the sequence of frequencies, as shown at block 1012 of FIG. 10C. The receiving the energy also includes switching from the first frequency to a second frequency of the sequence of frequencies after expiry of a determined time interval of the determined time intervals, as shown at block 1014. And the receiving the energy includes receiving the energy on the second frequency of the sequence of frequencies, as shown at block 1016.

[0115] In some examples, the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern includes a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals. In some of these examples, the receiving the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern at block 1004 includes generating the first frequency and the second frequency of the sequence of frequencies based on the seed value, as shown at block 1018 of FIG. 10D. And the the receiving the energy includes determining the determined interval based on the hop rate or dwell time, as shown at block 1020.

[0116] According to example implementations of the present disclosure, a telecommunications system 100 or PLMN 102, and its components such as a UE 110, GN 106, RAN 108, 5GC 202, NG-RAN 204, gNB 206, UE 208, NF (e.g, AMF 302, SMF 304, UPF 306, UDM 308, UDR 310, NWDAF 312, NEF 314, AF 316, AiOTF 318), ambient loT device 402, 402A, 402B and / or AIOT reader 520, may be implemented by various means. Means for implementing the system and its components may include hardware, firmware,software, or combinations thereof, in some examples, one or more apparatuses may be configured to function as or otherwise implement, the system and its components shown and described herein, in examples involving more than one apparatus, the respective apparatuses may be connected to or otherwise in communication with one another in a number of different manners, such as directly or indirectly via a wired or wireless network or the like.

[0117] According to some example implementations, at least some of one or more of the methods 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000 described with respect to FIGS, 6A-6C, 7A and 7B, 8, 9. A and 9B, and 10A-10D may be carried out by one or more apparatuses comprising means for performing functions corresponding operations of the method. Examples of a suitable apparatus may include an NF (e.g., AMF, NEF, AF, AIOTF), a gNB (e.g., gNB-DU, gNB-CU), ng-eNB or any suitable apparatus, such as a server, host or node. Other examples of a suitable apparatus may include a user equipment, user device, user terminal, ambient lo'T device or the like.

[0118] FIG. 11 illustrates an apparatus 1100 in which means for performing various functions includes hardware, alone or under direction of one or more computer programs from a computer-readable storage medium or other memory, such as computer memory, according to some example implementations of the present disclosure. Generally, an apparatus of example implementations of the present disclosure may comprise, include or be embodied in one or more fixed or portable electronic devices. Examples of suitable electronic devices include a wearable computer, mobile phone, portable computer, desktop computer, workstation computer, server (server computer) or the like. The apparatus may include one or more of each of a number of components such as, for example, processing circuitry 1102 connected to computer-readable storage medium or other memory 1104.

[0119] The processing circuitry 1102 may be composed of one or more processors alone or in combination with one or more computer-readable storage media. The processing circuitry is generally any piece of computer hardware that is capable of processing information such as, for example, data, computer programs and / or other suitable electronic information. The processing circuitry is composed of a collection of electronic circuits some of which may be packaged as an integrated circuit or multiple interconnected integrated circuits (an integrated circuit at times more commonly referred to as a “chip”). The processing circuitry may be configured to execute computer programs, which may be stored onboard the processing circuitry or otherwise stored in the memory 1104 (of the same or another apparatus).

[0120] The processing circuitry 1102 may be a number of processors, a multi-core processor or some other type of processor, depending on the particular implementation. Further, the processing circuitry may be implemented using a number of heterogeneous processor systems in which a main processor is present with one or more secondary processors on a single chip. As another illustrative example, the processing circuitry may be a symmetric multi-processor system containing multiple processors of the same type, in yet another example, the processing circuitry may be embodied as or otherwise include one or moreASICs, FPGAs or the like. Thus, although the processing circuitry may be capable of executing a computer program to perform one or more functions, the processing circuitry of various examples may be capable of performing one or more functions without the aid of a computer program. In either instance, the processing circuitry may be appropriately programmed to perform functions or operations according to example implementations of the present disclosure.

[0121] The memory 1104 is generally any piece of computer hardware that is capable of storing information such as, for example, data, computer programs, instructions 1106 (e.g., computer-readable program code) and / or other suitable information either on a temporary basis and / or a permanent basis. The memory may include volatile and / or non-volatile memory, and may be fixed or removable. Examples of suitable memory include recording media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a hard drive, a flash memory, a thumb drive, a removable computer diskette, an optical disk or some combination thereof.

[0122] The memory 1104 is a non-transitory device capable of storing information. One example of a suitable memory' is a computer-readable storage medium, which is distinguishable from a computer-readable transmission medium capable of carrying information from one location to another. Examples of suitable computer-readable transmission media comprise electronic carrier signals, telecommunications signals, or some combination thereof. As used herein, the term “non-transitory” is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM versus ROM). A computer-readable medium as described herein generally refers to a computer-readable storage medium or computer-readable transmission medium. A computer-readable medium is any entity or device capable in which information, such as one or more computer programs or portions thereof, may be stored and carried.

[0123] in addition to the memory 1104 (e.g., computer-readable storage medium), the processing circuitry 1102 may also be connected to one or more interfaces for displaying, transmitting and / or receiving information, The interfaces may include a communications interface 1108 and / or one or more user interfaces. The communications interface may be configured to transmit and / or receive information, such as to and / or from other apparatus(es), network(s) or the like. The communications interface may be configured to transmit and / or receive information by physical (wired) and / or wireless communications links. Examples of suitable communication interfaces include a network interface controller (NIC), wireless MIC (WNIC) or the like.

[0124] The user interfaces may include a display 1110 and / or one or more user input interfaces 1112. The display may be configured to present or otherwise display information to a user, suitable examples of which include a liquid crystal display (LCD), light-emitting diode (LED) display, organic LED (OLED) display, active-matrix OLED (AMOLED) or the like. The user input interfaces may be wired or wireless, and may be configured to receive information from a user into the apparatus, such as for processing, storage and / ordisplay. Suitable examples of user input interfaces include a microphone, image or video capture device, keyboard or keypad, joystick, touch-sensitive surface (separate from or integrated into a touchscreen), biometric sensor or the like. The user interfaces may further include one or more interfaces for communicating with peripherals such as printers, scanners or the like.

[0125] Execution of the instructions 1106 by the processing circuitry 1102, or storage of the instructions in the memory 1104, supports combinations of operations for implementing example implementations of the present disclosure, in this manner, an apparatus 1100 may comprise at least one processing circuitry and at least one memory coupled to the at least one processing circuitry, where the at least one processing circuitry is configured to execute instructions stored in the at least one memory, it will also be understood that one or more functions, and combinations of functions, may be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems and / or processing circuitry which perform the specified functions, or combinations of special purpose hardware and program code instructions.

[0126] Some example implementations of the present disclosure may also be carried out in the form of a computer process defined by one or more computer programs or portions thereof. Example implementations of the present disclosure may be carried out by executing at least one portion of a computer program comprising instructions. The computer program may be in source code form, object code form, or in some intermediate form. The computer program may be stored in a computer-readable medium that is readable by a computer, processing circuitry or other suitable apparatus. As indicated above, for example, the computer program may be stored in a memory, such as a computer-readable storage medium. Additionally or alternatively, for example, the computer program may be stored in a computer-readable transmission medium. The coding of software for carrying out example implementations of the present disclosure is well within the scope of a person of ordinary skill in the art,

[0127] As will be appreciated, any suitable instructions may be loaded onto a computer, a processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus from a memory or a computer-readable medium (e g., computer-readable storage medium, computer-readable transmission medium) to produce a particular machine, such that the particular machine becomes a means for implementing the functions specified herein. The instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can direct a computer, a processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus to function in a particular manner to thereby generate a particular machine or particular article of manufacture. In some examples, the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium may produce an article of manufacture, where the article of manufacture becomes a means for implementing functions described herein, The instructions may be retrieved from a computer-readable medium and loaded into a computer, processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus to configure the computer, processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus to execute operations to be performed on or by the computer, processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus.

[0128] Retrieval, loading and execution of instructions comprising program code instructions may be performed sequentially such that one instruction is retrieved, loaded and executed at a time. In some example implementations, retrieval, loading and / or execution may be performed in parallel such that multiple instructions are retrieved, loaded, and / or executed together. Execution of the program code instructions may produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions executed by the computer, processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus provide operations for implementing functions described herein.

[0129] As explained above and reiterated below, the present disclosure includes, without limitation, the following example implementations.

[0130] Clause 1. A method performed by an apparatus for communication, the method comprising: receiving an activation request for activation of at ieast one ambient Internet of Things (IoT) device of one or more ambient loT devices, wherein the activation request comprises information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern; broadcasting an activation signal to the at least one ambient loT device, wherein the activation signal comprises the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern for the at least one ambient loT device to utilize to harvest energy to be received according to the frequency hopping pattern, wherein the information is encrypted for the at least one ambient loT device; and transmitting the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern.

[0131] Clause 2. The method of clause 1, wherein the energy is transmitted on a carrier frequency, and the frequency hopping pattern comprises a sequence of frequencies that the carrier frequency is switched between at determined intervals, and wherein the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern comprises the sequence of frequencies or a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals.

[0132] Clause 3. The method of clause 1 or clause 2, wherein the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is encrypted with a security key that is shared by the at least one ambient loT device.

[0133] Clause 4. The method of any of clauses 1 to 3, wherein the apparatus comprises a reader device associated with the one or more ambient IoT devices.

[0134] Clause 5. The method of any of clauses 1 to 4 further comprising sending one or more identifiers of the one or more ambient loT devices to a network function for authorization of the at least one ambient ioT devices, and wherein the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is encrypted by the network function based on the authorization of the at least one ambient IoT device.

[0135] Clause 6. The method of clause 5 further comprising: broadcasting a first activation signal to discover the one or more ambient IoT devices associated with the apparatus; and receiving one or more response messages to the first activation signal from the one or more ambient IoT devices, wherein theone or more response messages comprise the one or more identifiers of the one or more ambient IoT devices.

[0136] Clause 7. The method of clause 6. wherein the first activation signal and the activation signal are broadcast on a default carrier frequency, and the first activation signal is broadcast with a lesser amount of energy than the amount of energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern, and wherein transmitting the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern comprises transmitting the energy on a carrier frequency that switches between different frequencies at determined intervals according to the frequency hopping pattern.

[0137] Clause 8. The method of clause 6 or clause 7, wherein the one or more response messages further comprise one or more security keys of the one or more ambient loT devices, including at least one security key of the at least one ambient loT device, and wherein the method further comprises sending the one or more security keys to the network function for encryption of information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern with at least one security key of the at least one ambient loT device,

[0138] Clause 9. The method of clause 8, wherein the activation request identifies the at least one ambient loT device that is authorized to harvest the energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern, and the method further comprises: identifying, from the one or more security keys, the at least one security key of the at least one ambient loT device that is authorized; and decrypting the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern using the at least one security key of the at least one ambient loT device.

[0139] Clause 10, An apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 1 to 9.

[0140] Clause 11. An apparatus comprising means for performing the method of any of clauses 1 to 9,

[0141] Clause 12. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 1 to 9.

[0142] Clause 13, A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 1 to 9.

[0143] Clause 14. A computer program comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 1 to 9.

[0144] Clause 15. A method comprising: authorizing at least one ambient Internet of Things (IoT) device of one or more ambient loT devices associated with a reader device: determining information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern for the reader device to transmit energy for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted by the at least one ambient loT device; encrypting the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern for the at least one ambient loT device; and sending, the reader device, an activation request for activation of the at least one ambient ioT device,wherein the activation request comprises the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern which has been encrypted for the at least one ambient ioT device.

[0145] Clause 16. The method of clause 15, wherein the energy is to be transmitted on a carrier frequency, and the frequency hopping pattern comprises a sequence of frequencies that the carrier frequency is switched between at determined intervals, and wherein the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern comprises the sequence of frequencies or a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals.

[0146] Clause 17. The method of clause 15 or clause 16, wherein the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is encrypted with a security key that is shared by the at least one ambient IoT device.

[0147] Clause 18. The method of any of clauses 15 to 17, wherein the method further comprises: receiving at least one identifier of the at least one ambient IoT device from an application function; and receiving one or more identifiers of the one or more ambient loT devices from the reader device, and wherein authorizing the at least one ambient loT device comprises determining the at least one identifier of the at least one ambient loT device among the one or more identifiers of the one or more ambient loT devices.

[0148] Clause 19. The method of any of clauses 15 to 18, wherein the method further comprises receiving one or more security keys of the one or more ambient loT devices, including at least one security key of the at least one ambient loT device, and wherein the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is encrypted with the at least one security key of the at least one ambient loT device.

[0149] Clause 20. An apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 15 to 19.

[0150] Clause 21. An apparatus comprising means for performing the method of any of clauses 15 to 19.

[0151] Clause 22. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 15 to 19.

[0152] Clause 23. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 15 to 19.

[0153] Clause 24. A computer program comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry', causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 15 to 19.

[0154] Clause 25, A method performed by an apparatus for communication, the method comprising: receiving an activation request for activation of at least one ambient Internet of Things (loT) device of one or more ambient loT devices, wherein the activation request comprises information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern; broadcasting an activation signal to the at least one ambient loT device, wherein the activation signal comprises the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern for theat least one ambient loT device to utilize to harvest energy to be received according to the frequency hopping pattern; and transmitting the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern.

[0155] Clause 26. The method of clause 25, wherein the energy is transmitted on a carrier frequency, and the frequency hopping pattern comprises a sequence of frequencies that the carrier frequency is switched between at determined intervals, and wherein the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern comprises the sequence of frequencies or a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals.

[0156] Clause 27. The method of clause 25 or clause 26, wherein the apparatus comprises a reader device associated with the one or more ambient loT devices.

[0157] Clause 28. The method of any of clauses 25 to 27 further comprising sending information indicative of a location of the apparatus to a network function for authorization of the location of the apparatus, and wherein the activation request comprising the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is received based on the authorization of the location of the apparatus.

[0158] Clause 29. The method of clause 28 further comprising broadcasting a first activation signal to discover the one or more ambient loT devices associated with the apparatus.

[0159] Clause 30. The method of clause 29, wherein the first activation signal and the activation signal are broadcast on a default carrier frequency, and the first activation signal is broadcast with a lesser amount of energy than the amount of energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern, and wherein transmitting the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern comprises transmitting the energy on a carrier frequency that switches between different frequencies at determined intervals according to the frequency hopping pattern.

[0160] Clause 31. An apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions: and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory', and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 25 to 30.

[0161] Clause 32. An apparatus comprising means for performing the method of any of clauses 25 to 30.

[0162] Clause 33. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 25 to 30.

[0163] Clause 34. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry', causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 25 to 30.

[0164] Clause 35. A computer program comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 25 to 30.

[0165] Clause 36. A method comprising: authorizing a location of a reader device associated with one or more ambient Internet of Things (loT) devices; determining information indicative of a frequency hoppingpattern for the reader device to transmit energy for harvesting, by the at ieast one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted by the at ieast one ambient loT device; and sending, the reader device, an activation request for activation of the at least one ambient loT device, wherein the activation request comprises the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern.

[0166] Clause 37. The method of clause 36, wherein the energy is to be transmitted on a carrier frequency, and the frequency hopping pattern comprises a sequence of frequencies that the carrier frequency is switched between at determined intervals, and wherein the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern comprises the sequence of frequencies or a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals.

[0167] Clause 38. The method of clause 36 or clause 37, wherein the method further comprises: receiving an indication of an authorized location from an application function; and receiving an indication of a location of the reader device, and wherein authorizing the location of the reader device comprises determining that the authorized location matches the location of the reader device,

[0168] Clause 39. An apparatus comprising: at ieast one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 36 to 38.

[0169] Clause 40. An apparatus comprising means for performing the method of any of clauses 36 to 38.

[0170] Clause 41. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at ieast one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 36 to 38.

[0171] Clause 42. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 36 to 38.

[0172] Clause 43. A computer program comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry', causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 36 to 38.

[0173] Clause 44. A method performed by an ambient Internet of Things (loT) device, the method comprising: receiving, from a reader device, an activation signal comprising information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern for the ambient loT device to utilize to harvest energy to be received according to the frequency hopping pattern; receiving, from the reader device, the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern; and harvesting the energy received according to the frequency hopping pattern.

[0174] Clause 45. The method of clause 44, wherein the energy is transmitted on a carrier frequency, and the frequency hopping pattern comprises a sequence of frequencies that the carrier frequency is switched between at determined intervals, and wherein the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern comprises the sequence of frequencies or a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals,

[0175] Clause 46, The method of clause 44 or clause 45 further comprising receiving, from the reader device, a first activation signal for discovery of the ambient loT device.

[0176] Clause 47. The method of clause 46, wherein the first activation signal and the activation signal are received on a default carrier frequency, and the first activation signal is received with a lesser amount of energy than the amount of energy received according to the frequency hopping pattern, and wherein the receiving the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern comprises receiving the energy on a carrier frequency that switches between different frequencies at determined intervals according to the frequency hopping pattern.

[0177] Clause 48. The method of any of clauses 44 to 47, wherein the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is encrypted for the ambient loT device, and wherein the method further comprises decrypting the information to determine the frequency hopping pattern.

[0178] Clause 49. The method of clause 48, wherein the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is encrypted with a security key of the ambient loT device, and the information is decrypted using the security key.

[0179] Clause 50. The method of clause 48 or clause 49, wherein the method further comprises: receiving, from the reader device, a first activation signal for discovery of the ambient ioT device: and sending, to the reader device, a response message comprising an identifier of the ambient IoT device for authorization of the ambient IoT device, and wherein the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is encrypted based on the authorization of the ambient IoT device.

[0180] Clause 51. The method of clause 50, wherein the response message further comprises a security key of the ambient IoT device for encryption of information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern.

[0181] Clause 52. The method of any of clauses 44 to 51, wherein the energy is transmitted on a carrier frequency, and the frequency hopping pattern comprises a sequence of frequencies that the carrier frequency is switched between at determined intervals, and wherein the receiving the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern comprises: receiving the energy on a first frequency of the sequence of frequencies; switching from the first frequency to a second frequency of the sequence of frequencies after expiry of a determined time interval of the determined time intervals; and receiving the energy on the second frequency of the sequence of frequencies.

[0182] Clause 53. The method of clause 52, wherein the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern comprises a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals, and wherein the receiving the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern comprises: generating the first frequency and the second frequency of the sequence of frequencies based on the seed value: and determining the determined interval based on the hop rate or dwell time,

[0183] Clause 54, An apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions: and at ieast one processing circuitry configured to access the at ieast one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 44 to 53.

[0184] Clause 55. An apparatus comprising means for performing the method of any of clauses 44 to 53,

[0185] Clause 56. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 44 to 53.

[0186] Clause 57, A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 44 to 53.

[0187] Clause 58. A computer program comprising instructions that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 44 to 53.

[0188] Many modifications and other implementations of the disclosure set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated figures. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specific implementations disclosed and that modifications and other implementations are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing description and the associated figures describe example implementations in the context of certain example combinations of elements and / or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and / or functions may be provided by alternative implementations without departing from the scope of the appended claims. I this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and / or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An apparatus for communication, the apparatus comprising:at least one memory configured to store instructions; andat least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least:receive an activation request for activation of at least one ambient Internet of Things (loT) device of one or more ambient loT devices, wherein the activation request comprises information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern;broadcast an activation signal to the at least one ambient loT device, wherein the activation signal comprises the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern for the at least one ambient loT device to utilize to harvest energy to be received according to the frequency hopping pattern; and transmit the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy is transmitted on a carrier frequency, and the frequency hopping pattern comprises a sequence of frequencies that the carrier frequency is switched between at determined intervals, andwherein the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern comprises the sequence of frequencies or a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a reader device associated with the one or more ambient loT devices.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one processing circuitry is configured to execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to further send information indicative of a location of the apparatus to a network function for authorization of the location of the apparatus, and wherein the activation request comprising the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is received based on the authorization of the location of the apparatus.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one processing circuitry is configured to execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to further broadcast a first activation signal to discover the one or more ambient loT devices associated with the apparatus.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first activation signal and the activation signal are broadcast on a default carrier frequency, and the first activation signal is broadcast with a lesser amount of energy than the amount of energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern, and wherein the apparatus caused to transmit the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern includes the apparatus caused to transmit the energy on a carrier frequency that switches between different frequencies at determined intervals according to the frequency hopping pattern.

7. A method performed by an apparatus for communication, the method comprising: receiving an activation request for activation of at least one ambient Internet of Things (loT) device of one or more ambient loT devices, wherein the activation request comprises information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern;broadcasting an activation signal to the at least one ambient loT device, wherein the activation signal comprises the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern for the at least one ambient loT device to utilize to harvest energy to be received according to the frequency hopping pattern; and transmitting the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the energy is transmitted on a carrier frequency, and the frequency hopping pattern comprises a sequence of frequencies that the carrier frequency is switched between at determined intervals, andwherein the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern comprises the sequence of frequencies or a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the apparatus comprises a reader device associated with the one or more ambient loT devices.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7 further comprising sending information indicative of a location of the apparatus to a network function for authorization of the location of the apparatus, and wherein the activation request comprising the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern is received based on the authorization of the location of the apparatus.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising broadcasting a first activation signal to discover the one or more ambient loT devices associated with the apparatus.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first activation signal and the activation signal are broadcast on a default carrier frequency, and the first activation signal is broadcast with a lesser amount of energy than the amount of energy transmitted according to the frequency hopping pattern, and wherein transmitting the energy according to the frequency hopping pattern comprises transmitting the energy on a carrier frequency that switches between different frequencies at determined intervals according to the frequency hopping pattern.

13. An apparatus comprising:at least one memory configured to store instructions; andat least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least:authorize a location of a reader device associated with one or more ambient Internet of Things (loT) devices;determine information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern for the reader device to transmit energy for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted by the at least one ambient loT device; andsend, the reader device, an activation request for activation of the at least one ambient loT device, wherein the activation request comprises the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the energy is to be transmitted on a carrier frequency, and the frequency hopping pattern comprises a sequence of frequencies that the carrier frequency is switched between at determined intervals, andwherein the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern comprises the sequence of frequencies or a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one processing circuitry is configured to execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to further at least:receive an indication of an authorized location from an application function; andreceive an indication of a location of the reader device, andwherein the apparatus caused to authorize the location of the reader device includes the apparatus caused to determine that the authorized location matches the location of the reader device.

16. A method comprising:authorizing a location of a reader device associated with one or more ambient Internet of Things (loT) devices;determining information indicative of a frequency hopping pattern for the reader device to transmit energy for harvesting, by the at least one ambient loT device, of the energy transmitted by the at least one ambient loT device; andsending, the reader device, an activation request for activation of the at least one ambient loT device, wherein the activation request comprises the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the energy is to be transmitted on a carrier frequency, and the frequency hopping pattern comprises a sequence of frequencies that the carrier frequency is switched between at determined intervals, andwherein the information indicative of the frequency hopping pattern comprises the sequence of frequencies or a seed value from which to generate the sequence of frequencies, and a hop rate or dwell time that indicates the determined intervals.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the method further comprises: receiving an indication of an authorized location from an application function; andreceiving an indication of a location of the reader device, andwherein authorizing the location of the reader device comprises determining that the authorized location matches the location of the reader device.

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