DE102022000881A1 - Method for operating a communication system and communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a communication system (10), in particular in a transport system, comprising a plurality of internal participants (11, 12, 13), each of which has a communication unit (51, 52, 53), and a waveguide (20 ), the communication units (51, 52, 53) enabling wireless communication between the internal participants (11, 12, 13) via the waveguide (20), the communication units (51, 52, 53) of the internal participants ( 11, 12, 13) each have a first interface and a second interface for wireless data transmission, with each interface being able to carry out wireless data transmission over a plurality of carrier frequencies, and the communication system (10) comprises at least one external subscriber (17) which a communication device (57), wherein by means of the communication device (57) a wireless communication of the at least one n external participant (17) with at least one internal participant (11, 12, 13) outside of the waveguide (20) is made possible, with a data packet to be transmitted from a transmitting internal participant (11, 12, 13) to a switching internal participant ( 11, 12, 13) is sent, and wherein the data packet to be transmitted is forwarded by the switching internal subscriber (11, 12, 13) to the at least one external subscriber (17). The invention relates to a communication system (10) which can be operated using the method according to the invention.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a communication system, in particular in a transport system, which comprises a plurality of internal participants, each of which has a communication unit, and a waveguide, the communication units enabling wireless communication between the internal participants via the waveguide. The invention also relates to a communication system, in particular in a transport system, which can be operated using the method according to the invention.

Slotted waveguides and leaky waveguides are known transmission media for electromagnetic waves, which enable electromagnetic waves to be coupled in and out along the transmission medium. A propagation of the electromagnetic waves outside of the slotted waveguide is thereby limited. In communication systems with slotted waveguides, known radio standards, for example standardized WLAN, but also proprietary wireless technologies are used for data transmission.

Communication systems with slotted hollow conductors are used in particular in rail-bound transport systems, for example in electrified monorail systems (EMS), stacker cranes (RGB), push-skid systems or elevators. Such transport systems have one or more rails along which vehicles of the transport system can move. A slotted waveguide for data transmission is usually laid parallel to such a rail.

From the DE 10 2012 006 412 A1 a transport system is known which has a rail system on which a vehicle can be moved. The rail system has a rail profile with a slotted waveguide. The vehicle has two antennas that protrude into the slotted waveguide.

From the DE 10 2011 108 584 B4 an arrangement for data transmission between a stationary system part and a movable mobile part is known. The handset has an antenna that protrudes into a slotted waveguide.

From the DE 10 2013 002 227 B4 an arrangement for signal transmission with a slotted waveguide is known. In this case, antennas of transmitters and receivers protrude into a cavity of a slotted waveguide.

From the DE 10 2011 119 351 B4 a transport system is known which has a rail profile on which a slotted waveguide is arranged. A vehicle is movable along the rail profile and along the slotted waveguide.

From the US 6,778,100 B2 a communication system is known which comprises a plurality of participants and a waveguide. In this case, the participants can communicate with one another via the waveguide.

The invention is based on the object of further developing a method for operating a communication system, in particular in a transport system, and a corresponding communication system.

The object is achieved by a method for operating a communication system having the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous refinements and developments are the subject of the dependent claims. The object is achieved by a communication system having the features specified in claim 11.

The method according to the invention serves to operate a communication system, in particular in a transport system. In this case, the communication system comprises a plurality of internal participants, each of which has a communication unit, and a waveguide. The communication units enable wireless communication between the internal participants via the waveguide. The communication units of the internal subscribers each have a first interface and a second interface for wireless data transmission, with each interface being able to carry out wireless data transmission over a plurality of carrier frequencies. The communication system also includes at least one external participant, which has a communication device. The communication device enables wireless communication between the at least one external participant and at least one internal participant outside the waveguide. In this case, a data packet to be transmitted is sent from a sending internal subscriber to a mediating internal subscriber, and the data packet to be transmitted is forwarded by the mediating internal subscriber to the at least one external subscriber.

The transport system is, for example, an electric monorail system, a storage and retrieval device, a push-skid system or an elevator. The communication system is preferably based on the 5G mobile radio standard, which is also used in particular in modern mobile radio networks. The first interface is, for example, a 5G new radio interface and is used in particular for direct wireless communication tion between a terminal and a base station. The second interface is a C-V2X interface, for example, and is used in particular for direct wireless communication between a terminal and a base station and for direct wireless communication between two terminals. The first interface and the second interface of a communication unit of a subscriber are independent of one another. The carrier frequencies used for wireless data transmission are preferably in a frequency range between 5 GHz and 6 GHz.

The method according to the invention permits rapid wireless data transmission between the sending internal subscriber and the external subscriber, with the switching mobile internal subscriber serving as a relay station. Thus, a wireless data transmission between the sending internal participant and the external participant is possible, even if no direct communication of the sending internal participant with the external participant is possible due to a spatial separation.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a data packet to be transmitted is also sent from the at least one external subscriber to a switching internal subscriber, and the data packet to be transmitted is forwarded by the switching internal subscriber to a receiving internal subscriber. The switching internal subscriber thus also serves as a relay station for data transmission in the opposite direction, namely from the external subscriber to the receiving internal subscriber.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the communication device of the external subscriber also has a first interface and a second interface for wireless data transmission, with each interface being able to carry out wireless data transmission over a plurality of carrier frequencies. For example, the communication device of the external participant is designed identically to a communication unit of an internal participant. The first interface is a 5G New Radio interface, for example, and the second interface is a C-V2X interface, for example.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the communication device of the external participant and at least one communication unit of at least one internal participant have a further interface for wireless data transmission, which is different from the first interface and the second interface. The additional interface is, for example, a WLAN interface or a Bluetooth interface. The internal subscriber whose communication unit has the additional interface then acts as the switching internal subscriber.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one subscriber is in the form of a stationary base station, and at least one subscriber is in the form of a mobile terminal device that can be moved along the waveguide. Such a mobile terminal is, for example, a rail vehicle. The waveguide is, for example, a slotted waveguide or a leaky waveguide. The internal subscriber designed as a mobile terminal, which can be moved along the waveguide, acts in particular as a switching internal subscriber.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one external participant can be moved along the waveguide together with an internal participant designed as a mobile terminal device. The external participant is, for example, a product to be manufactured, in particular a motor vehicle. During movement along the rail and along the waveguide, the manufacture of the external participant takes place and at the same time wireless data transmission to and from the external participant takes place.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, a data packet to be transmitted is sent at least twice by the sending internal subscriber. This enables fast redundant wireless data transmission in a more reliable medium. Compared to communication in a conventional communication system, a number of lost data packets is significantly reduced. This advantageously increases the reliability of the communication system.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the data packet to be transmitted is sent by the sending internal subscriber via the same interface via a first carrier frequency and via a second carrier frequency, which differs from the first carrier frequency, within the waveguide.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the data packet to be transmitted is sent by the sending internal subscriber via the first interface and via the second interface using the same carrier frequency within the waveguide.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention to be transmitted Data packet sent from the sending internal participants via the first interface via a first carrier frequency and via the second interface via a second carrier frequency, which is different from the first carrier frequency within the waveguide.

A communication system according to the invention is located in particular in a transport system and includes a plurality of internal participants, each of which has a communication unit, and a waveguide. The communication units enable wireless communication between the internal participants via the waveguide. The communication system also includes at least one external participant, which has a communication device. The communication device enables wireless communication between the at least one external participant and at least one internal participant outside the waveguide. The communication system according to the invention can be operated with the method according to the invention. A data packet to be transmitted is therefore sent from a sending internal subscriber to a mediating internal subscriber, and the data packet to be transmitted is forwarded by the mediating internal subscriber to the at least one external subscriber.

The transport system is, for example, an electric monorail system, a storage and retrieval device, a push-skid system or an elevator. The communication system is preferably based on the 5G mobile radio standard, which is also used in particular in modern mobile radio networks. The first interface is a 5G new radio interface, for example, and is used in particular for direct wireless communication between a terminal device and a base station. The second interface is a C-V2X interface, for example, and is used in particular for direct wireless communication between a terminal and a base station and for direct wireless communication between two terminals. The first interface and the second interface of a communication unit of a subscriber are independent of one another. The carrier frequencies used for wireless data transmission are preferably in a frequency range between 5 GHz and 6 GHz.

In a communication system according to the invention, fast wireless data transmission is possible between the sending internal subscriber and the external subscriber, with the switching internal subscriber serving as a relay station. Thus, a wireless data transmission between the sending internal participant and the external participant is possible, even if no direct communication of the sending internal participant with the external participant is possible due to a spatial separation.

The invention is not limited to the combination of features of the claims. For the person skilled in the art, there are further meaningful combinations of claims and/or individual claim features and/or features of the description and/or the figures, in particular from the task and/or the task posed by comparison with the prior art.

• 1: eine schematische Darstellung eines Kommunikationssystems in einer Transportanlage.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to figures. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. The figures represent the subject matter of the invention only schematically. It shows:

• 1 : a schematic representation of a communication system in a transport system.

1 shows a schematic representation of a communication system 10 in a transport system. In the present case, the transport system is an electric monorail system. Alternatively, the transport system can be a stacker crane, a push-skid system or an elevator. The communication system 10 is largely based on the 5G mobile radio standard, which is also used in modern mobile radio networks in particular.

In the present case, the communication system 10 comprises a first internal subscriber 11, a second internal subscriber 12 and a third internal subscriber 13. The first internal subscriber 11 is embodied in the present case as a mobile terminal device, in particular as a rail-bound vehicle. In the present case, the second internal subscriber 12 and the third internal subscriber 13 are embodied as stationary base stations.

The first internal subscriber 11 has a first communication unit 51 . The second internal subscriber 12 has a second communication unit 52 . The third internal subscriber 13 has a third communication unit 53 . The communication units 51, 52, 53 of the internal participants 11, 12, 13 each have a first interface and a second interface for wireless data transmission. The first interface is in each case a 5G new radio interface and is used in particular for direct wireless communication between a terminal device and a base station. The second interface is a C-V2X interface and is used in particular for direct wiring loose communication between a terminal and a base station as well as for direct wireless communication between two terminals.

The communication system 10 also includes a waveguide 20. The communication units 51, 52, 53 enable wireless communication between the internal participants 11, 12, 13 via the waveguide 20. The transport system has a rail along which rail-bound vehicles can be moved. The waveguide 20 for data transmission is laid parallel to the rail. The first internal participant 11 can thus be moved along the rail and along the waveguide 20 . The waveguide 20 is designed, for example, as a slotted waveguide or as a leaky waveguide.

The first interface and the second interface of the communication units 51, 52, 53 of the internal participants 11, 12, 13 are each independent of one another. Wireless data transmission can be carried out over a plurality of carrier frequencies with the first interface as well as with the second interface. In the present case, the carrier frequencies used for wireless data transmission are in a frequency range between 5 GHz and 6 GHz. However, other frequency ranges are also conceivable.

The second internal subscriber 12 and the third internal subscriber 13, each of which is in the form of a stationary base station, are connected to a core network 25. The core network 25 is a data network. Said connection of the second internal subscriber 12 and the third internal subscriber 13 to the core network 25 is wired in the present case.

The communication system 10 also includes an application server 27. The application server 27 is designed as a digital computer and is also connected to the core network 25. Said connection of the application server 27 to the core network 25 is also wired in the present case. The application server 27 can communicate with the second internal subscriber 12 and with the third internal subscriber 13 via the core network 25 .

The second internal subscriber 12 and the third internal subscriber 13, which are designed as stationary base stations, each include an antenna 32. Said antenna 32 protrudes into the waveguide 20. FIG. The first internal subscriber 11, which is designed as a mobile terminal device, also includes an antenna 32 which protrudes into the waveguide 20. The first internal subscriber 11 also includes an external antenna 33. Said external antenna 33 is located completely outside of the waveguide 20, ie it does not protrude into it.

The first interface as well as the second interface of the communication units 51, 52, 53 of the internal participants 11, 12, 13 each use the antenna 32 for wireless data transmission. The first interface as well as the second interface of the first communication unit 51 of the first designed as a mobile terminal Participants 11 also use the external antenna 33 for wireless data transmission if required.

The communication system 10 also includes an external participant 17. In the present case, the external participant 17 can be moved along the waveguide 20 together with the first internal participant 11, which is designed as a mobile terminal. The external participant 17 is, for example, a product to be manufactured, in particular a motor vehicle. During a movement along the rail and along the waveguide 20, the production of the external participant 17 takes place.

The external participant 17 has a communication device 57 . The communication device 57 of the external participant 17 and the first communication unit 51 of the first internal participant 11 enable wireless communication between the external participant 17 and the first internal participant 11 outside of the waveguide 20 .

The communication device 57 of the external participant 17 has, for example, a first interface and a second interface for wireless data transmission. The first interface is a 5G New Radio interface, for example, and the second interface is a C-V2X interface, for example. The communication device 57 is, for example, configured identically to the first communication unit 51 of the first internal subscriber 11 .

It is also conceivable that the communication device 57 of the external participant 17 alternatively or additionally has a further interface. The additional interface is, for example, a WLAN interface or a Bluetooth interface. Other interfaces for wireless data transmission are also conceivable. In this case, the first communication unit 51 of the first internal participant 11 has, in addition to the first interface and the second interface, a further interface for wireless data transmission of the same type as the communication device 57 of the external participant 17.

The external participant 17 also includes an external antenna 35. Said external antenna 35 is located completely outside the waveguide 20, ie it does not protrude into it. The interfaces of the communication device 57 of the external participant 17 each use the external antenna 35 for wireless data transmission.

There is a first wireless communication connection 41 between the first internal participant 11 and the second internal participant 12. The first communication connection 41 exists, for example, between the first interfaces of the communication units 51, 52 of said internal participants 11, 12, or between the second interfaces of the communication units 51 , 52 of the said internal participants 11, 12. The said first or second interfaces each use the antennas 32 of the said internal participants 11, 12 for wireless data transmission.

There is a second wireless communication connection 42 between the first internal participant 11 and the external participant 17. The second communication connection 42 exists, for example, between the first interface of the first communication unit 51 of the first internal participant 11 and the first interface of the communication device 57 of the external participant 17, or between the second interface of the first communication unit 51 of the first internal participant 11 and the second interface of the communication device 57 of the external participant 17. It is also conceivable that the second communication connection 42 between a further interface of the first communication unit 51 of the first internal participant 11 and a further interface of the communication device 57 of the external participant 17 exists. Said first or second or wide interfaces use the external antenna 33 of the first internal participant 11 and the external antenna 35 of the external participant 17 for wireless data transmission.

The external participant 17 can be moved along the waveguide 20 together with the first internal participant 11 embodied as a mobile terminal. Due to their spatial arrangement in the transport system, there is no direct communication connection between the external subscriber 17 and one of the second internal subscribers 12 or third internal subscribers 13 designed as a stationary base station.

For example, a data packet is to be transmitted from the application server 27 to the external participant 17 . This is, for example, configuration data that is to be stored in the external subscriber 17 during the production of the external subscriber 17 .

The application server 27 first sends the data packet to be transmitted via the core network 25 to the second internal subscriber 12. The data packet to be transmitted is then sent by the sending second internal subscriber 12 via the first communication link 41 to the switching first internal subscriber 11. The data packet to be transmitted is then forwarded by the switching first internal subscriber 11 to the external subscriber 17 via the second communication link 42 .

For example, a data packet is to be transmitted from the external participant 17 to the application server 27 . This is, for example, information about the current production status of the external participant 17 that is to be stored in a database of the application server 27 .

The data packet to be transmitted is first sent from the external subscriber 17 via the second communication link 42 to the switching first internal subscriber 11 . The data packet to be transmitted is then forwarded by the switching first internal user 11 via the first communication link 41 to the receiving second internal user 12 . The second internal participant 12 then sends the data packet to be transmitted via the core network 25 to the application server 27.

The switching first internal subscriber 11 serves as a relay station between the second internal subscriber 12 and the external subscriber 17.

Reference List

10

communication system

11

first internal participant

12

second internal participant

13

third internal participant

17

external participants

20

waveguide

25

core network

27

application server

32

antenna

33

outdoor antenna

35

external antenna

41

first communication link

42

second communication link

51

first communication unit

52

second communication unit

53

third communication unit

57

communication device

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 102012006412 A1 [0004]
• DE 102011108584 B4 [0005]
• DE 102013002227 B4 [0006]
• DE 102011119351 B4 [0007]
• US 6778100 B2 [0008]

Claims (11)

Method for operating a communication system (10), in particular in a transport system, comprising a plurality of internal participants (11, 12, 13), each having a communication unit (51, 52, 53), and a waveguide (20), wherein by means of the communication units (51, 52, 53) enables wireless communication between the internal participants (11, 12, 13) via the waveguide (20), characterized in that the communication units (51, 52, 53) of the internal participants (11 , 12, 13) each have a first interface and a second interface for wireless data transmission, with each interface being able to carry out wireless data transmission over a plurality of carrier frequencies, and that the communication system (10) comprises at least one external subscriber (17) which a communication device (57), wherein by means of the communication device (57) a wireless communication of the at least ei NEN external subscriber (17) with at least one internal subscriber (11, 12, 13) outside the waveguide (20) is made possible, with a data packet to be transmitted from a transmitting internal subscriber (11, 12, 13) to a switching internal subscriber ( 11, 12, 13) is sent, and that the data packet to be transmitted is forwarded by the switching internal subscriber (11, 12, 13) to the at least one external subscriber (17). procedure after claim 1 , characterized in that a data packet to be transmitted is sent from the at least one external subscriber (17) to a switching internal subscriber (11, 12, 13), and in that the data packet to be transmitted is transmitted by the switching internal subscriber (11, 12, 13 ) is forwarded to a receiving internal subscriber (11, 12, 13). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication device (57) of the external subscriber (17) has a first interface and a second interface for wireless data transmission, with each interface being able to carry out wireless data transmission via a plurality of carrier frequencies. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication device (57) of the external participant (17) and at least one communication unit (51, 52, 53) of at least one internal participant (11, 12, 13) have a further interface for wireless data transmission have, which is different from the first interface and from the second interface. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one internal subscriber (11, 12, 13) is designed as a stationary base station, and in that at least one internal subscriber (11, 12, 13) is designed as a mobile terminal which is Waveguide (20) is movable. procedure after claim 5 , characterized in that the at least one external subscriber (17) can be moved along the waveguide (20) together with an internal subscriber (11, 12, 13) designed as a mobile terminal. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a data packet to be transmitted is sent at least twice by the sending internal subscriber (11, 12, 13). procedure after claim 7 , characterized in that the data packet to be transmitted is sent by the sending internal subscriber (11, 12, 13) via the same interface via a first carrier frequency and via a second carrier frequency, which differs from the first carrier frequency, within the waveguide (20). becomes. procedure after claim 7 , characterized in that the data packet to be transmitted is sent by the sending internal subscriber (11, 12, 13) via the first interface and via the second interface via the same carrier frequency within the waveguide (20). procedure after claim 7 , characterized in that the data packet to be transmitted from the sending internal subscriber (11, 12, 13) via the first interface via a first carrier frequency and via the second interface via a second carrier frequency, which is different from the first carrier frequency, within the waveguide (20) is sent. Communication system (10), in particular in a transport system, comprising a plurality of internal participants (11, 12, 13), each of which has a communication unit (51, 52, 53). and a waveguide (20), the communication units (51, 52, 53) enabling wireless communication between the internal participants (11, 12, 13) via the waveguide (20), characterized in that the communication system ( 10) comprises at least one external participant (17), which has a communication device (57), using the communication device (57) wireless communication of the at least one external participant (17) with at least one internal participant (11, 12, 13) outside of the waveguide (20) is made possible, wherein the communication system (10) can be operated with the method according to one of the preceding claims.

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