EP4078886A1

EP4078886A1 - Method for allocating radio signal transmission frequencies between one or more communication entities, allowing a reduction in interferences between said communication entities using the same frequency channel

Info

Publication number: EP4078886A1
Application number: EP20848807.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Isabelle Siaud; Anne-Marie Ulmer-Moll
Original assignee: Orange SA
Current assignee: Orange SA
Priority date: 2019-12-20
Filing date: 2020-12-17
Publication date: 2022-10-26
Also published as: US20230344494A1; FR3105671A1; WO2021123650A1

Abstract

Different frequency channel allocation techniques exist for transmission. These frequency channel allocation techniques do not explicitly take into account the position of the terminal devices and the antenna characteristics associated therewith. In addition, these techniques consume significant calculation power in order for the frequency channels to be allocated in the best possible way between the various terminal devices. The disclosed communication method is based on the selection of a single current transmission frequency using a metric referred to as metric representative of an overlap between pick-up surfaces. The overlap metric evaluates an interference level associated with a spatial overlap between pick-up surfaces of a first terminal device and an interfering device for a radio signal transmission frequency.

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Method for allocating radio signal transmission frequencies between one or more communication entities, allowing a reduction in interference between these communication entities using the same frequency channel

Field of the invention

The field of the invention is that of the allocation of radio signal transmission frequencies. More specifically, the invention relates to a technique for allocating transmission frequencies of radio signals between one or more communication entities allowing the reduction of interference.

Prior art and its drawbacks

There are various techniques for allocating frequency channels for transmission which use, in a given technology, mechanisms known as DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection), or DCA (Dynamic Channel Assignment).

The DFS mechanism is a mechanism associated with Wi-Fi technologies, which assigns dedicated frequency channels to Wi-Fi so as not to interfere with radar systems operating in the same frequency bands. Thus, the DFS mechanism consists in selecting a frequency that does not interfere with radar systems operating in the same frequency band, such as for example the 5 GHz band. The DFS mechanism was developed in the normative document referenced 802. llh and published by IΊEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). The Wi-Fi device detects radar pulses which induce a blocking by a Wi-Fi access point of a transmission channel whose frequency is shared with the radar system at the origin of the emission of the pulses.

The DCA mechanism is a mechanism relating to the allocation of frequency channels in a multicellular context. The DCA mechanism dynamically allocates frequency channels within a cell using frequency channels available in adjacent cells. The algorithm is based on the probability of blocking a frequency channel within a considered cell and in the adjacent cells making it possible to reallocate the frequencies of the channels in another cell. The calculation of this blocking probability within the considered cell is based on an assumption of frequency channel demands which would follow a Poisson law with a limited number of available frequency channels.

These frequency channel allocation techniques do not explicitly take into account the position of the terminal equipment and the antenna characteristics associated with them. In addition, these techniques consume significant computing power in order to be able to allocate the frequency channels as best as possible between the various terminal equipment items.

There is a need for a technique which does not have all or some of the aforementioned drawbacks.

Disclosure of the invention

The invention meets this need by proposing a method of communication between a communication equipment and at least a first terminal equipment according to a current frequency equal to a first transmission frequency of a radio signal, the communication method being implemented. implemented by the communication equipment and comprising the following steps:

- selection of at least one current transmission frequency of the radio signal as a function of a metric representative of an overlap of a first capture surface of the first terminal equipment and of a second capture surface of at least one second equipment terminal, known as interfering equipment,

- transmission of a radio signal to one of the two terminal equipment at the current frequency.

The invention further relates to a method of communication between a communication equipment and at least a first terminal equipment according to a current frequency equal to a first transmission frequency among several transmission frequencies of a radio signal, the method communication being implemented by the communication equipment. The process comprises the following steps:

- determination for a given frequency among the several transmission frequencies of a metric representative of an overlap of a first capture surface of the first terminal equipment and of a second capture surface of at least one second terminal equipment, known as interfering equipment,

- selection of a so-called current transmission frequency from among the several transmission frequencies of the radio signal as a function of the determined metric,

Such a method is an alternative to the frequency channel allocation techniques of the state of the art.

The communication method is based on the selection of a single current transmission frequency using a so-called metric representative of an overlap of collection surfaces. The overlap metric evaluates an interference level associated with a spatial overlap of sensing surfaces of a first terminal equipment and of an interfering equipment for a transmission frequency of a radio signal.

The proposed solution relates to the selection of a current transmission frequency of a radio signal to spatially dissociate adjacent terminal equipment using the same transmission frequency of a radio signal to communicate with the communication equipment, which makes it possible to optimize the frequency resource in a multi-user context. The proposed solution aims to limit multi-user interference and to allow an adaptation of an antenna gain in reception for each point-to-point communication, which limits single-frequency multi-user interference and contributes to reducing the radiated powers. .

The proposed solution consists in selecting a current transmission frequency of a radio signal used to communicate between the communication equipment and at least one terminal equipment in order to avoid overlapping of the collection surfaces of the antennas of neighboring terminal equipment. An adjustment of a solid angle of a communication beam in reception is carried out using the transmission frequency of a radio signal which modifies the sensing surface of an antenna in reception. The solution described is based on the selection of the transmission frequency of a radio signal which makes it possible to generate a capture surface allowing the establishment of a communication between the communication equipment and the terminal equipment considered while limiting interference. space-frequency with antennas of neighboring terminal equipment.

In a particular implementation of the communication method, a third transmission frequency of the radio signal is selected and a radio signal is transmitted to the first terminal equipment at the current frequency and a radio signal is transmitted to the interfering equipment at the third frequency. emission different from the current frequency and possibly identical to the first frequency.

In a particular implementation of the communication method, the method further comprises: determination of the metric for another given frequency from among the several transmission frequencies, selection of another transmission frequency called another current frequency from among the several transmission frequencies of the radio signal as a function of the determined metric, transmission of a radio signal to the interfering equipment at the other current transmission frequency, and in which the transmission of a radio signal at the current frequency is carried out to the first terminal equipment

After selecting a current frequency, the terminal equipment and the interfering equipment each communicate with the communication equipment according to a transmission frequency which is specific to them. This helps to reduce the risk of interference between the two terminal equipment.

According to one characteristic of the communication method, the overlap metric is further determined as a function of the relative geometric positions of the terminal equipment and of the interfering equipment (these relative positions defining a so-called fictitious geometric sensing surface).

According to one characteristic of the communication method, the overlap metric is a ratio of a fictitious collection surface to which the first terminal equipment and the interfering equipment belong to a half sum of the first collection surface and of the second collection surface. capture.

According to one characteristic of the communication method, the overlap metric is a ratio of a so-called fictitious capture area determined as a function of a geometric area associated with the geometric positions of the first terminal equipment and of the interfering equipment over a half sum of the first capture surface and the second capture surface respectively of the first terminal equipment and of the interfering equipment.

According to another characteristic of the communication method, the capture area of the first terminal equipment, or of the interfering equipment, is determined as a function of a ratio of a value of a power of the radio signal received by the first terminal equipment. or by the interfering equipment, at the first transmission frequency of the radio signal, on a product of a value of a transmission power of the radio signal and of a parameter representative of the directivity of the radio signal transmitted by the communication equipment.

In a particular implementation of the communication method, the fictitious pick-up area is determined as a function of a geometric area, determined by means of geometric positions of the first terminal equipment and of the interfering equipment with respect to the communication equipment, and a fictitious return.

This fictitious capture surface is calculated by considering the positions of the terminal equipment and of the interfering equipment expressed in spherical coordinates and by considering the geometric surface of a spherical cap whose axes correspond to the directions of the maximum radiation of the terminal equipment and interfering equipment. The fictitious capture surface is then obtained by multiplying this geometric surface by a fictitious efficiency c _GF associated with a given type of antenna. In an exemplary embodiment, the dummy antenna is assumed to be an aperture antenna, which gives a coefficient £ _GF ~ 1.

When the overlap metric is less than or equal to a threshold, the method implements said step of selecting the current transmission frequency of the radio signal.

In fact, in such a case, there is spatial overlap of the radio signals transmitted / received by the terminal equipment and the interfering equipment. Selecting a new frequency transmission of a radio signal is then necessary to dissociate the sensing surfaces of the terminal equipment and of the interfering equipment.

When the recovery metric is less than or equal to a threshold, the communication method further comprises a step of determining a new value of the recovery metric determined as a function of the value of the current transmission frequency of the radio signal. .

If this metric is greater than the fixed threshold, then the terminal equipment and the interfering equipment are spatially dissociated and therefore have little or no interference.

When the recovery metric is greater than a threshold, the communication equipment continues to communicate according to the current frequency of transmission of the radio signal.

Since the terminal equipment and the interfering equipment are spatially dissociated and therefore have little or no interference, it is not necessary to select a new transmission frequency of a radio signal.

The invention also relates to a method for determining a pick-up area of a terminal equipment communicating with a communication equipment according to a current transmission frequency equal to a first transmission frequency of a radio signal, the method being implemented by the terminal equipment and comprising the following steps:

- determination of a capture area of the terminal equipment as a function of a ratio of a value of a power of the radio signal received by the terminal equipment at the current frequency of transmission of the radio signal, on a product a value of a transmission power of the radio signal and of a parameter representative of the directivity of the radio signal transmitted by the communication equipment,

- transmission of the capture surface of the terminal equipment thus determined to the communication equipment.

An object of the invention is communication equipment capable of communicating with at least a first terminal equipment item at a current frequency equal to a first transmission frequency of a radio signal, the communication equipment comprising means for:

- select at least one current transmission frequency of the radio signal as a function of a metric representative of an overlap of a first capture surface of the first terminal device and of a second capture surface of at least one second device terminal, known as interfering equipment,

- send a radio signal to one of the two terminal devices at the current frequency.

Another object of the invention is terminal equipment capable of determining a pick-up area allowing communication with a communication equipment according to a current transmission frequency equal to a first transmission frequency of a radio signal, the equipment terminal comprising means for:

- determine a capture area of the terminal equipment as a function of a ratio of a value of a power of the radio signal received by the terminal equipment at the current transmission frequency of the radio signal, on a product of a value of a transmission power of the radio signal and of a parameter representative of the directivity of the radio signal transmitted by the communication equipment,

- transmitting the capture surface of the terminal equipment thus determined to the communication equipment.

Another object of the invention is communication equipment capable of communicating with at least a first terminal equipment according to a transmission frequency among several transmission frequencies of a radio signal, the communication equipment comprising means for:

- determine for a given frequency among the several transmission frequencies a metric representative of an overlap of a first capture surface of the first terminal equipment and of a second capture surface of at least one second terminal equipment, called interfering equipment,

- select a so-called current transmission frequency among the several transmission frequencies of the radio signal as a function of the determined metric,

- send a radio signal to one of the two terminal devices at the current frequency

Another object of the invention is terminal equipment capable of determining a pick-up area allowing communication with communication equipment according to a given transmission frequency from among several transmission frequencies of a radio signal, the terminal equipment comprising means for:

- determine a capture area of the terminal equipment as a function of a ratio of a value of a power of the radio signal received by the terminal equipment at the given transmission frequency of the radio signal, on a product of a value of a transmission power of the radio signal and of a parameter representative of the directivity of the radio signal transmitted by the communication equipment,

Finally, the invention relates to computer program products comprising program code instructions for implementing the methods as described above, when they are executed by a processor.

The invention also relates to a recording medium readable by a computer on which are recorded computer programs comprising program code instructions for the execution of the steps of the methods according to the invention as described above.

Such a recording medium can be any entity or device capable of storing the programs. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or else a magnetic recording means, for example a USB key or a hard disk.

On the other hand, such a recording medium can be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which can be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means, so that the programs computer it contains can be executed remotely. The programs according to the invention can in particular be downloaded over a network, for example the Internet.

Alternatively, the recording medium can be an integrated circuit in which the programs are incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the aforementioned methods of the invention.

List of Figures

Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, given by way of simple illustrative example, and not limiting, in relation to the figures, among which:

[fig. 1]: this figure represents communication equipment and terminal equipment communicating according to a first transmission frequency of a radio signal,

[fig. 2]: this figure represents the steps of the methods of communication and of calculation of a capture surface implemented by the communication equipment and the terminal equipment,

[fig. 3]: this figure represents this figure represents the capture surfaces of a terminal equipment and of an interfering equipment, [fig. 4]: this figure represents a communication device capable of implementing the different embodiments of the communication method,

[fig. 5]: this figure represents terminal equipment M, II capable of implementing the various embodiments of the method for determining a capture surface.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

The [Fig. 1] represents communication equipment S, such as a base station or an access point, and terminal equipment M communicating at a current transmission frequency equal to a first transmission frequency of a radio signal.

The sensing surface of an antenna A _M of the terminal equipment M relates to the properties of the antenna in reception and its capacity to collect the energy of the radio signal transmitted by the communication equipment S on an effective surface.

The maximum effective area of an antenna is deduced from the power of the radio signal received at the input of the receiving antenna (P _{R, M,} ) and the effective area is deduced from the power of the radio signal received at the output of this same antenna (P _{R, M, out} ) taking into account the transmission losses (E _r ) of the antenna A _M , also called mismatch losses.

This effective (maximum) area is called the (maximum) capture area of the antenna A _M , it depends on the directivity of the antenna A _M in reception, ie on the antenna gain, on the direction of the incident radio signal if the emission is not isotropic and of the angular pulsation of the transmitted signal w ₀ = 2pί ₀ where f _c is the current transmission frequency of the radio signal.

The positions of the terminal equipment M and that of the communication equipment S are given in spherical coordinates (G, q, f) = (t, y) with respect to the direction of the maximum radiation at the terminal equipment M and to the communication equipment S. These angles are represented in FIG. 1 for the communication equipment S (t, q, f ^ = (0, \ | / _s ) and for the terminal equipment M (r, Q, F) _M = (d, y _M )) where d is the distance between the communication equipment S and the terminal equipment M.

The ability of the antenna A _M to collect the energy of the transmitted radio signal depends on the direction of the incident beam, that is to say on the directivity of the antenna As of the communication equipment S and the directivity of the antenna A _M of the terminal equipment M, as well as the distance separating the communication equipment S and the terminal equipment M, of the efficiency losses of the antennas As Es and A _M e _M if the power at the inputs antennas (P _{s, in} and P _{R, M-out} ) is taken into account.

The radiated power density p _is d) is radiated power per unit area. At a distance d, the radiated power per unit area is, if the source antenna As is isotropic, given by:

Where P _s is the power radiated by the communication equipment S at the output of the antenna As, d the distance separating the communication equipment S and the terminal equipment M and pά ² the surface of the sphere with radius d on which the power is radiated. If the radiation is directional then the radiated power density will be weighted by the directivity of the transmitting antenna As Ds (\ | /), corresponding to a concentration of the radiated power in the solid beam angle of the connecting antenna the communication equipment S to the terminal equipment M. This power density at the level of the terminal equipment M is given by:

G _s (\ p) = ¾ D _s (\ p) represents the gain of the antenna As taking into account the transmission losses Es, transmission losses of the antenna connected to the RF circuit, P _{s, / n} is the power to the input of the antenna As, and D _s (\ p) is the directivity of the antenna As when transmitting in the direction.

The incident power received at the input of the antenna A _M depends on the incident power density radiated by the communication equipment S and which is characterized by a directivity Ds (\ | / _s = 0 _s , f _£ ), at a distance d from the communication equipment S. The reception point being characterized by M (y _M , d), the incident power density at the level of the terminal equipment M depends on the directivity of the antenna As at transmission in the transmitter-receiver direction in the vicinity of the position of the terminal equipment M, ie D _S (I {J _m ). The incident power density at the level of the terminal equipment M Pi ^ i ^ p _Mi d), is expressed in the form:

The power received at the input of the antenna A _M is the product of the incident power density p _is (ifj _M , d) and of the maximum capture area of the antenna A _M on reception Scmax. _M (Jc * s) taking into account the direction of the radio signal emitted by the communication equipment S and the directivity of the antenna A _M. In other words, the maximum pick-up area of antenna A _M depends on the incident direction of the radio signal emitted on the effective area of antenna A _M , namely:

The sensing area of an antenna depends on the directivity of the receiving antenna and on the current transmission frequency of the radio signal where l is the wavelength of the transmitted radio signal l is linked to the current frequency of emission of the radio signal f _c and the speed of light c, fc = c / l.

The gain of an antenna G _M (xl>) is proportional to the directivity of this antenna and takes account of the mismatch losses, ie e _M for the receiving antenna when the antenna is connected to an RF circuit. efficient

The capture surface of an antenna S _{c M} (f _c , ifj _s ) in reception is linked to its directivity by the following formula:

This formula is deduced from the expression of the Poynting vector norm which gives the power density per unit of radiated area at a distance d from a source and its integration on the solid angle of a beam corresponding to the angle solid through which all the radiated power is concentrated. Equation 1-9 shows that the capture area decreases when the current frequency of transmission of a radio signal increases, for a given antenna gain. The sensing surface of an antenna depends on the directivity of the antenna, the direction of the incident radio signal and the current frequency of transmission of the radio signal and collected by the antenna. receiver. It does not explicitly depend on the distance d. The power density, on the other hand, depends on the distance d. The directivity of an antenna provides the angular distribution (y = q, f) of the intensity of the radiation from the antenna.

The total power received by the terminal equipment M is given by:

Which leads to the formula of Friis:

The sensing surface of an antenna can be connected to a geometric surface or to a geometric length of the antenna. When it is an aperture antenna, such as a horn type antenna for example, the opening efficiency of the antenna e _G in the direction of the maximum radiation y ₀ , is linked to the capture surface maximum antenna by: where e _G can vary between 1 and 0.5, depending on the geometry of the antenna and the expression of the field radiated at the geometric surface of the antenna.

The [Fig. 2] represents the steps of the methods of communication and of calculation of a pick-up area implemented by the communication equipment S and the terminal equipment M.

In a step El, the source equipment S transmits a radio signal to the terminal equipment M and to at least one second terminal equipment called interferer equipment 11. Such a radio signal is transmitted at a current frequency of emission equal to a first emission frequency / _c .

In a step E2, which can be implemented either by the communication equipment S or by each of the terminal equipment M and 11, a capture area of the terminal equipment M and of the interfering equipment 11 is calculated.

With reference to [Fig. 3], using the measurement of the power received at the level of the terminal equipment M and 11 at the input of their respective antennas A _M and An, the maximum capture surfaces of the terminal equipment M and 11 are deduced from the formula next :

When step E2 is implemented by the terminal equipment M and 11, the maximum capture areas thus calculated are transmitted to the communication equipment S.

When step E2 is implemented by the communication equipment S, the terminal equipment M and 11 transmit power measurements in reception of a received signal or RSSI (Received .Signal Strength Indication) to the communication equipment S so that the latter can calculate the maximum capture surfaces of terminal equipment M and 11.

In a step E3, knowing the positions of the terminal equipment M and 11, that is to say the angles y _M and yii, assumed to be at the same distance d from the communication equipment S, the geometric surface d is deduced therefrom '' a spherical cap connecting the terminal equipment M and h using the following formula:

The fictitious capture surface can be expressed using a mutual fictitious yield e _GF connecting the geometric surface S _{cai Mj1} (ifj _M , ifj _I1 , d) to its maximum capture surface: e _G ^ aaI, M , IΐίYM 'Yΐί' d).

In a step E4, the communication equipment S determines a first value of a metric a _RFSC representative of an overlap of the sensing surface of the terminal equipment M and of the sensing surface of the interfering equipment 11 to the current transmission frequency / _c . It is assumed that the fictitious antenna connecting the terminal equipment M and 11 is lossless, that is to say that the equivalent capture area is equal to the equivalent maximum capture area. On the other hand, it is assumed that the opening efficiency of the dummy antenna is equal to 1, in accordance with an aperture antenna. However, depending on the transmission conditions, the coefficient 8 _G may be less than 1. The recovery metric a _RFSC can therefore be calculated by taking into account the power levels received at the output of the antennas A _M and An, ie at the input RF (Radio Frequency) circuits as follows:

Which can still be written, given equation 1-6:

The numerical value of the recovery metric a _RFSC is deduced simply from the location of the terminal equipment M and 11 (Q _M and 0n), from the knowledge of the input power P _{s, i} n of the communication equipment S , of the antenna gain of the communication equipment S in the direction and of a measurement of the power received at the input of the RF circuits of the terminal equipment M and 11 and of a value set arbitrarily for 8 _G.

In a step E5, the value of the recovery metric a _RFSC determined during step E4 is compared with a threshold b.

When the value of the overlap metric a _RFSC is strictly greater than the threshold b then, the terminal equipment M and the interfering equipment 11 are spatially dissociated and therefore have little or no interference. In other words, their capture surfaces do not overlap.

Thus, the terminal devices M and 11 can both receive the same radio signal transmitted at the same current transmission frequency / _c .

When the value of the overlap metric a _RFSC is less than or equal to the threshold b then the terminal equipment M and the interfering equipment 11 interfere spatially.

It is therefore necessary to modify the current transmission frequency of the radio signal from the terminal M so as to reduce the pick-up area of the terminal equipment M.

Thus, in a step E6, a new current transmission frequency of a radio signal f _{c, i} is selected from a set of possible transmission frequencies. The possible transmission frequencies can belong to different spectral bands, for example the spectral bands V and E if it is a radio signal transmitted in millimeter band.

This current transmission frequency f _{c, i} is used for a communication between the source equipment S and the terminal equipment M. In other words, when the current transmission frequency f _{c, i} is used for a communication between the source equipment S and the terminal equipment M, the communication equipment S and the interfering equipment 11 communicate for example at the transmission frequency / _c .

In a particular embodiment, a transmission frequency f _cj of the radio signal is selected in addition to the transmission frequency f _{c, i} during step E6. In this embodiment, the current transmission frequency f _cj is used for communication between the source equipment S and the terminal equipment M while the communication equipment S and the interfering equipment 11 communicate with each other at the transmission frequency f _{c, i} . Once the new transmission frequency f _cj of the radio signal has been selected, called the current frequency, a new value of the recovery metric a _RFSC is calculated during a step E7.

The new value of the overlay metric at _RFSC is obtained using the following equivalent formula:

(2-7)

In a step E8, the new value of the recovery metric a _RFSC determined during step E7 is compared to the threshold b.

When the new value of the overlap metric a _RFSC is less than the threshold b then the terminal equipments M and 11 interfere spatially. In such a scenario, at least one new transmission frequency of a radio signal f _{c, k} is selected, called the current frequency, from among the set of possible transmission frequencies during a step E9. Steps E7 to E9 are repeated until the new value of the recovery metric a _RFSC is strictly greater than the threshold b.

When the value of the overlap metric a _RFSC is strictly greater than the threshold b then, then the terminal equipment M and the interfering equipment 11 are spatially dissociated and therefore have little or no interference.

Steps E1 to E9 are carried out repeatedly over time.

The proposed communication method can advantageously be implemented by communication equipment S having a multiple antenna made up of several groups of elementary antennas, capable of transmitting at different frequencies. Each group of elementary antennas can transmit at a given transmission frequency called the current frequency, making it possible to implement a known beam adjustment technique for the transmission frequency considered.

The proposed communication method can be combined with a method of adapting the weighting of elementary antennas which modifies the pick-up area of the multiple antenna on reception.

The beam is adjusted by modifying the wavelength determining the capture area, that is to say the transmission frequency using a multi-transmission frequency allocation process. -bandaged. Such a weighting adaptation method consists in selecting the transmission frequency, called the current frequency, in a wide frequency range in connection with a calculation of the pick-up area of a receiving antenna.

A massive multifrequency MIMO antenna made up of N elementary antennas distributed into N _G groups of antennas operating on at most N _G distinct transmission frequencies can be used to effect the change in transmission frequency and the modification of the capture surface. Thus, according to the invention, different frequencies can be selected as a function of an overlap between sensing surfaces in order to simultaneously transmit by the communication equipment radio signals at these different frequencies to different terminals. To transmit simultaneously at different frequencies, the radio equipment communication includes different RF (radio frequency) circuits. The number of different RF circuits determines the number of different frequencies that can be transmitted simultaneously.

A SISO antenna can also be used with N _G frequencies included in the antenna bandwidth.

The [fig. 4] represents a communication equipment S capable of implementing the different embodiments of the communication method according to FIG. 3.

Communication equipment S can comprise at least one hardware processor 401, a storage unit 402, an interface 403, and at least one network interface 404 which are connected to each other through a bus 405. Of course, the elements components of the communication equipment S can be connected by means of a connection other than a bus. Of course, the communication equipment S comprises at least one transmit / receive antenna and its RF circuit. For an antenna of the MIMO type, the communication equipment can include several RF circuits to transmit simultaneously at different frequencies.

The processor 401 controls the operations of the communication equipment S. The storage unit 402 stores at least one program for the implementation of the method according to an embodiment to be executed by the processor 401, and various data, such as as parameters used for calculations performed by processor 401, intermediate data from calculations performed by processor 401, etc. The processor 401 can be formed by any known and suitable hardware or software, or by a combination of hardware and software. For example, the processor 401 can be formed by dedicated hardware such as a processing circuit, or by a programmable processing unit such as a Central Processing Unit which executes a program stored in a memory of this one.

The storage unit 402 may be formed by any suitable means capable of storing the program or programs and data in a computer readable manner. Examples of storage unit 402 include computer readable non-transient storage media such as solid-state memory devices, and magnetic, optical, or magneto-optical recording media loaded in a read and write unit. 'writing.

The interface 403 provides an interface between the communication equipment S of other equipment not shown in the figures.

At least one network interface 404 provides a connection between the communication equipment S and the terminal equipment M and 11.

The [fig. 5] represents terminal equipment M, II capable of implementing the various embodiments of the method for determining a capture surface according to FIG. 3.

Terminal equipment M, It can comprise at least one hardware processor 501, a storage unit 502, an interface 503, and at least one network interface 504 which are connected to each other through a bus 505. Of course, the components of the communication equipment S can be connected by means of a connection other than a bus. Of course, the terminal equipment M, It comprises at least one transmit / receive antenna and its RF circuit.

The processor 501 controls the operations of the terminal equipment M, 11. The storage unit 502 stores at least one program for the implementation of the method according to an embodiment to be executed by the processor 501, and various data, such as parameters used for calculations performed by processor 501, intermediate data from calculations performed by processor 501, and the like. The processor 501 can be formed by any known and suitable hardware or software, or by a combination of hardware and software. For example, the processor 501 can be formed by dedicated hardware such as a processing circuit, or by a programmable processing unit such as a Central Processing Unit which executes a program stored in a memory thereof.

The storage unit 502 may be formed by any suitable means capable of storing the program or programs and data in a computer readable manner.

Examples of storage unit 502 include computer readable non-transient storage media such as solid-state memory devices, and magnetic, optical, or magneto-optical recording media loaded in a read and write unit. 'writing. The interface 503 provides an interface between the terminal equipment M, II other equipment not shown in the figures.

At least one network interface 504 provides a connection between the terminal equipment M, II and the communication equipment S.

Claims

1. Method of communication between a communication equipment and at least a first terminal equipment according to a transmission frequency among several transmission frequencies of a radio signal, the communication method being implemented by the communication equipment and comprising the following steps:

- determination for a given frequency (fc) among the several transmission frequencies of a metric representative of an overlap of a first capture surface of the first terminal equipment and of a second capture surface of at least a second terminal equipment, called interfering equipment,

- selection of a _{so-called current transmission frequency (f c, i} ) from among the several transmission frequencies of the radio signal as a function of the determined metric,

2. The communication method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises: determining the metric for another given frequency (fc, j) among the several transmission frequencies, selection of another transmission frequency (f _cj ) said other current frequency among the several transmission frequencies of the radio signal as a function of the determined metric, transmission of a radio signal to the interfering equipment at the other current transmission frequency, and in which the transmission of a radio signal at the current frequency is sent to the first terminal equipment.

3. Communication method according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the overlap metric is further dependent on the relative geometric positions of the terminal equipment and the interfering equipment.

4. The communication method according to claim 3, wherein the overlap metric is a ratio of a so-called fictitious sensing area determined as a function of a geometric area associated with the geometric positions of the first terminal equipment and of the interfering equipment on a half sum of the first capture surface and of the second capture surface, respectively, of the first terminal equipment and of the interfering equipment.

5. Communication method according to one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the sensing surface of the first terminal equipment, respectively of the interfering equipment, is determined as a function of a ratio of a value of a signal power. radio received by the first terminal equipment, respectively by the interfering equipment on a product of a value of a transmission power of the radio signal and of a parameter representative of the directivity of the radio signal emitted by the communication equipment , at the given transmission frequency of the radio signal.

6. Communication method according to claim 4 wherein the fictitious capture surface is determined as a function of a geometric surface, determined as a function of geometric positions of the first terminal equipment and of the interfering equipment with respect to the communication equipment. , and a fictitious return.

7. The communication method according to claim 1 wherein when the overlap metric is less than or equal to a threshold, the current frequency selected from among the several frequencies is different from the given frequency.

8. The communication method according to claim 1 wherein when the overlap metric is greater than a threshold, the current frequency selected from among the several frequencies is equal to the given frequency.

9. Method for determining a pick-up area of a terminal equipment communicating with a communication equipment according to a transmission frequency among several transmission frequencies of a radio signal, the method being implemented by the terminal equipment. and comprising the following steps:

- determination of a sensing area of the terminal equipment as a function of a ratio of a value of a power of the radio signal received by the terminal equipment to the transmission frequency of the radio signal, on a product of 'a value of a transmission power of the radio signal and of a parameter representative of the directivity of the radio signal transmitted by the communication equipment,

10. Communication equipment capable of communicating with at least a first terminal equipment according to a transmission frequency among several transmission frequencies of a radio signal, the communication equipment comprising means for:

- determining for a given frequency (fc) among the several transmission frequencies a metric representative of an overlap of a first capture surface of the first terminal equipment and of a second capture surface of at least one second terminal equipment , called interfering equipment,

- select a so-called current transmission frequency (f _{c, i} ) among the several transmission frequencies of the radio signal as a function of the determined metric,

11. Terminal equipment capable of determining a pick-up area allowing communication with communication equipment according to a given transmission frequency from among several transmission frequencies of a radio signal, the terminal equipment comprising means for:

12. A computer program product comprising program code instructions for implementing a method according to claim 1, when it is executed by a processor.

13. A computer program product comprising program code instructions for implementing a method according to claim 9, when it is executed by a processor.