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EP-4740287-A1 - REQUEST-BASED POWERING BY WIRELESS SIGNAL

EP4740287A1EP 4740287 A1EP4740287 A1EP 4740287A1EP-4740287-A1

Abstract

A wireless communication device (30) sends at least one first wireless signal (201). In response to the at least one first wireless signal (201), the wireless communication device (30) receives at least one second wireless signal (202, 203). From the at least one second wireless signal (202, 203), the wireless communication device (30) extracts energy for powering the wireless communication device (30).

Inventors

  • ARVIDSON, Pontus
  • SUNDMAN, Dennis
  • WILHELMSSON, LEIF

Assignees

  • Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20230704

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A method of controlling wireless communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: a wireless communication device (30; 800) sending at least one first wireless signal (201 ; 301 , 302, 303; 401 , 501); in response to the at least one first wireless signal (201 ; 301 , 302, 303; 401 , 501), the wireless communication device (30; 800) receiving at least one second wireless signal (202, 203; 304, 305, 306; 402, 403, 404; 503, 504, 505); and the wireless communication device (30; 800) extracting energy from the at least one second wireless signal for powering the wireless communication device (30; 800).
  2. 2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication device sends the at least one first wireless signal (201 ; 301 , 302, 303; 401 , 501) in response to a level of stored energy in a power source of the wireless communication device falling below a threshold.
  3. 3. The method according to claim 2, comprising: wherein the threshold is based on an amount of energy required to send the first wireless signal (201 ; 301 , 302, 303; 401 , 501).
  4. 4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: based on the extracted energy, the wireless communication device (30; 800) sending one or more third wireless signals (204; 307; 406; 507), wherein the one or more third wireless signals (204; 307; 406; 507) carry data from the wireless communication device (30; 800) to one or more further wireless communication devices (10; 800).
  5. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the wireless communication device (30; 800) sends at least one of the one or more third wireless signals (204; 307; 406; 507) in response to receiving the at least one second wireless signal (202, 203; 304, 305, 306; 402, 403, 404; 503, 504, 505).
  6. 6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless communication device (30; 800) sends the first wireless signal (201 ; 301 , 302, 303; 401 , 501) in a license-exempt frequency spectrum.
  7. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the wireless communication device (30; 800) sends the at least one first wireless signal (201 ; 301 , 302, 303; 401 , 501) without performing a listen-before-talk, LBT, procedure.
  8. 8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the at least one second wireless signal (202, 203; 304, 305, 306; 402, 403, 404; 503, 504, 505) grants the wireless communication device (30; 800) access to the license-exempt spectrum.
  9. 9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one first wireless signal (201 ; 301, 302, 303; 401, 501) has a bandwidth of less than 20 MHz.
  10. 10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one first wireless signal (201 ; 301 , 302, 303; 401, 501) has a duration of less than 100 ps.
  11. 11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one first wireless signal (201 ; 301, 302, 303; 401 , 501) is sent based on frequency hopping.
  12. 12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless communication device (30; 800) sends the at least one first wireless signal (201 ; 301 , 302, 303; 401 , 501) with a duty cycle of less than 5%.
  13. 13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless communication device (30; 800) sends the at least one first wireless signal (201 ; 301 , 302, 303; 401 , 501) with a transmit power of less than 1 mW.
  14. 14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: the wireless communication device (30; 800) feeding a power source (830) of the wireless communication device (30; 800) with the extracted energy.
  15. 15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless communication system is based on a Wireless Local Area Network technology according to the IEEE 802.11 standards family.
  16. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the wireless communication device (30; 800) receives the at least one second wireless signal (202, 203; 304, 305, 306; 402, 403, 404; 503, 504, 505) from an access point, AP, device.
  17. 17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the wireless communication device (30; 800) receives the at least one second wireless signal (202, 203; 304, 305, 306; 402, 403, 404; 503, 504, 505) from a non-AP device.
  18. 18. A method of controlling wireless communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: a wireless communication device (10; 20; 800) receiving at least one first wireless signal (201 ; 301 , 302, 303; 401 , 501) from a further wireless communication device (30; 800); and in response to the at least one first wireless signal, the wireless communication device initiating sending of at least one second wireless signal (202, 203; 304, 305, 306; 402, 403, 404; 503, 504, 505), wherein the at least one second wireless signal (202, 203; 304, 305, 306; 402, 403, 404; 503, 504, 505) carries energy for powering the further wireless communication device (30; 800).
  19. 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the wireless communication device (10; 20; 800) sends the at least one second wireless signal (202, 203; 304, 305, 306; 402, 403, 404; 503, 504, 505).
  20. 20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the wireless communication (10; 800) device instructs another wireless communication device (20; 800) to send the at least one second wireless signal (202, 203; 304, 305, 306; 402, 403, 404; 503, 504, 505).

Description

Request-based powering by wireless signal Technical Field The present invention relates to methods for controlling wireless communication and to corresponding devices, systems, and computer programs. Background A possibility of powering devices involves usage of wireless signals to provide electrical energy to a device. Such devices are also denoted as AMP (ambient powered) devices. For example, a Topic Interest Group (TIG) in IEEE targets standardization of such AMP devices, with the aim of including AMP related functionalities to the IEEE 802.11 standard, as currently specified in "IEEE Standard for Information Technology-Telecommunications and Information Exchange between Systems - Local and Metropolitan Area Networks-Specific Requirements - Part 11 : Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications," in IEEE Std 802.11-2020 (Revision of IEEE Std 802.11-2016), pp.1-4379, 26 Feb. 2021. In “Draft Technical Report on support of AMP loT devices in WLAN”, various use cases of AMP devices are listed, for example including smart home scenarios. In a smart home environment, there may be one or more APs (Access Points) and non-AP STAs (stations) which could support AMP related functionalities. Typically, an AMP device will only communicate when energized and polled for data by another node in the network. This may have the effect that such AMP device could not be able to immediately send data when it is not polled by the network. Accordingly, the AMP device would only be able to send data when the network expects data from the AMP device and thus the network energizes and polls the AMP device for data. Such behavior may be undesirable for certain applications, such as light switches or alarm sensors implemented as an AMP device. Accordingly, there is a need for techniques which allow for efficiently and flexibly operating AMP devices in a wireless communication system environment. Summary According to an embodiment, a method of controlling wireless transmissions in a wireless communication system is provided. According to the method, a wireless communication device sends at least one first wireless signal. In response to the at least one first wireless signal, the wireless communication device receives at least one second wireless signal. From the at least one second wireless signal, the wireless communication device extracts energy for powering the wireless communication device. According to a further embodiment, a method of controlling wireless transmissions in a wireless communication system is provided. According to the method, a wireless communication device receives at least one first wireless signal from a further wireless communication device. In response to the at least one first wireless signal, the wireless communication device initiates sending of at least one second wireless signal. The at least one second wireless signal carries energy for powering the further wireless communication device. According to a further embodiment, a wireless communication device for a wireless communication system is provided. The wireless communication device is configured to send at least one first wireless signal. Further, the wireless communication device is configured to, in response to the at least one first wireless signal, receive at least one second wireless signal. Further, the wireless communication device is configured to, from the at least one second wireless signal, extract energy for powering the wireless communication device. According to a further embodiment, a wireless communication device for a wireless communication system is provided. The wireless communication device comprises at least one processor and a memory. The memory contains instructions executable by said at least one processor, whereby the wireless communication device is operative to send at least one first wireless signal. Further, the memory contains instructions executable by said at least one processor, whereby the wireless communication device is operative to, in response to the at least one first wireless signal, receive at least one second wireless signal. Further, the memory contains instructions executable by said at least one processor, whereby the wireless communication device is operative to, from the at least one second wireless signal, extract energy for powering the wireless communication device. According to a further embodiment, a wireless communication device for a wireless communication system is provided. The wireless communication device is configured to receive at least one first wireless signal from a further wireless communication device. Further, the wireless communication device is configured to, in response to the at least one first wireless signal, initiate sending of at least one second wireless signal. The at least one second wireless signal carries energy for powering the further wireless communication device. According to a further embodiment, a wireless communication devi