Patent Description:
Automated or autonomous driving is a field of research and development. One concept, which is or will be further introduced relates to collecting sensor data from vehicles. For example, temperature, visual, and telemetric data may be sensed in a vehicle and then provided to a logic entity, e.g. by means of cellular wireless communication. Such information may then be used in Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS). Furthermore, sensors such as cameras are installed at critical traffic points, e.g. intersections, tunnels, crossings etc. Data obtained using these traffic monitoring cameras can be used for traffic management and to detect emergency situations after accidents.

A concept introduced for dealing with high traffic loads is platooning, in which vehicles are grouped and which may allow making more efficient use of the road capacity. The groups of vehicles, also referred to as convoys or platoons, may be used to operate the vehicles in the group with a short distance or headway between the vehicles, as the vehicles within the group may react within a short time delay or (almost) simultaneously. This is achieved by using direct communication within the group to exchange sensor and control data between the group members. Control mechanisms can be implemented among vehicles of the group.

For example, document <CIT> describes a concept for detecting objects of interest exterior to a vehicle based on hypothesis filtering of image data. Document <CIT> discloses a vehicle control system wherein a host vehicle receives speed message packets from remote vehicles and sensor data of the host vehicle is used to locate the remote vehicles to determine a lane merging decision. Document <CIT> describes a method for merging data from multiple object detectors in a vehicle.

Document <CIT> describes systems and methods that can reduce energy resources required by sensors in mobile devices. Mobile devices can be assigned groups by a sensor usage management server based on the proximity of the mobile devices to one another. Once groups have been established, one or more of the mobile devices within each group can share sensor readings with other mobile devices in its group via the server, such that each mobile device in each group can reduce the overall number of sensor readings that a particular device must take.

<NPL>, present LTE4V2X, a novel framework for a centralized vehicular network organization using LTE. It takes advantage of a centralized architecture around the eNodeB in order to optimize the clusters management and provide better performances. Its performances are studied against a decentralized organization protocol for a well-known urban sensing application, FCD (Floating Car Data) application.

Document <CIT> provides a device with a communications module to receive signals of a plurality of devices within range of the particular device and further provisioned with grouping logic. The grouping logic is executable by one or more processors to determine from each of the signals a respective identifier for each of the plurality of devices, determine, based at least in part on the identifiers, that a particular subset of the plurality of devices are also included with the particular device in a particular one of a plurality of defined groups, and converge data received from the particular subset of devices based on the particular group.

There is a demand for an improved concept for collecting data in a vehicular environment. The independent claims provide an improved for collecting data in a vehicular environment.

Embodiments are based on the finding that mobile transceivers and vehicles in particular, are equipped with more and more sensors. Hence, vehicular or mobile transceiver sensors may be used to sample a real live situation or scene. Moreover, it is a finding of embodiments that the amount of data gathered by these sensors is massive and central data processing would involve communicating these massive amounts of data consuming valuable wireless resources. It is a further finding that a group or a subset of vehicles or mobile transceivers in general can be defined for data collection and group or subset internal data processing. Processed data may then be communicated from the group to an external entity. It is a finding of embodiments that from the mobile transceivers registered in a mobile communication system a cluster, subset or group can be selected and instructed with a multi-client sampling task by a network component, e.g. to generate an image of a certain object. In the group or cluster a cluster head can be specified to collect data from other cluster members and communicate the data back to the network component.

Embodiments provide a network component of a mobile communication system. Another embodiment is a base station or server comprising an embodiment of the network component. The network component comprises one or more interfaces, which are configured to communicate with mobile transceivers of the mobile communication system. The network component further comprises a control module configured to control the one or more interfaces. The control module is further configured to receive information on a multi-client sampling request and to receive information on capabilities and status of a plurality of mobile transceivers of the mobile communication system. The control module is further configured to determine a subset of the plurality of mobile transceivers based on the information on the multi-client sampling request and based on the information on the capabilities and status, wherein the subset of mobile transceivers comprises at least one mobile transceiver as cluster head and at least one other mobile transceiver. The control module is configured to provide instructions to the mobile transceivers of the subset to perform the multi-client sampling based on the multi-client sampling request by collecting requested data at the cluster head mobile transceiver using direct communication within the subset of mobile transceivers. Embodiments enable a network component to form or determine a subset or group of mobile transceivers to carry out a multi-client sampling task and to obtain the data from an assigned cluster head. By using direct communication within the subset communication resources to the network infrastructure can be conserved.

Embodiments also provide an apparatus for a mobile transceiver. Another embodiment is a mobile transceiver comprising an embodiment of the apparatus and yet another embodiment is a vehicle comprising an embodiment for the mobile transceiver or apparatus. The apparatus comprises one or more interfaces configured to communicate with a network component of a mobile communication system and configured to communicate with one or more further mobile transceivers directly. The apparatus further comprises a control module configured to control the one or more interfaces. The control module is further configured to provide information on capabilities and status to the network component of the mobile communication system, and to receive information on instructions from the network component on a multi-client sampling request. The control module is further configured to collect data based on the information on the instructions, and to enable cluster head data processing of the data based on the information on the instructions. Embodiments may enable efficient sensor data processing using direct communication in a group of mobile transceivers of a mobile communication system.

In embodiments, at the network component the information on the multi-client request may comprise information on a geographical area the multi-client request relates to, and the control module may be configured to adapt the subset of mobile transceivers based on the information on the geographical area and based on the location of the mobile transceivers. Embodiments may enable an efficient selection scheme for mobile transceivers in a certain geographical area for sensing and/or providing corresponding sensor data. Moreover, in further embodiments the control module may be configured to assign and/or reassign a role of the cluster head to a mobile transceiver based on the information on the geographical area, based on a connectivity status of the mobile transceiver, and based on the location of the mobile transceiver. Embodiments may enable to efficiently select mobile transceivers for data sensing on one side and for data communication on the other side, enabling a more efficient overall concept.

The information on the multi-client sampling request may comprise information on a request to sample one or more elements of the group of a location, an intersection, a city, a city center, a landscape, a vehicle, an object of interest, a point of interest, and a route section. Embodiments may enable efficient utilization of mobile transceivers and their sensor sets for multi-client sampling. The control module of the network component can be further configured to obtain sampled multi-client data from the cluster head. Embodiments may enable efficient data sensing and providing using a subset of mobile transceivers of the mobile communication system with an assigned cluster head. The control module may be further configured to set or configure an update rate for update provision at the cluster head. Embodiments may enable efficient cluster head role assignment, e.g. depending on the multi-client sampling request, the location of the involved mobile transceivers, and the duration of the request, etc..

In some embodiments at the apparatus for the mobile transceiver the information on the instruction comprises information on assuming the role of a cluster head of the multi-client sampling request. Hence, the apparatus is then configured to assume the role of the cluster head. The control module at the apparatus may be configured to receive information on data collected by another mobile transceiver. The control module may be configured to process the collected data and the data collected by the other mobile transceiver as cluster head. Moreover, the control module at the apparatus may then be configured to provide the processed data to the network component. Embodiments may enable a mobile transceiver to assume the role of a cluster head in line with the above.

In other embodiments another mobile transceiver may be configured as cluster head. The information on the instruction may then comprise information on another mobile transceiver assuming the role of a cluster head of the multi-client sampling request. The control module at the apparatus may then be configured to provide information on collected data to the other mobile transceiver. Embodiments may also allow configuration of a mobile transceiver as non-cluster head, e.g. in a slave mode within the subset mobile transceivers while the cluster head mobile transceiver assumes a master role. Embodiments may enable adaptively configurable mobile transceivers. The information on capabilities may comprises one or more elements of the group of information on available sensors, information on a location or position of the mobile transceiver, and information on communication capabilities of the mobile transceiver. Embodiments may base the mobile transceiver selection for the subset on such information and may enable efficient subset forming. In embodiments the control module at the apparatus may be further configured to update location information of the mobile transceiver at the network component. Embodiments may therewith be provided with a basis for efficient and adaptive subset management and cluster head assignment.

A further embodiment is a method for a network component of a mobile communication system. The method comprises receiving information on a multi-client sampling request, and receiving information on capabilities and status of a plurality of mobile transceivers of the mobile communication system. The method further comprises determining a subset of the plurality of mobile transceivers based on the information on the multi-client sampling request and based on the information on the capabilities and status. The subset of mobile transceivers comprises at least one mobile transceiver as cluster head and at least one other mobile transceiver. The method further comprises providing instructions to the mobile transceivers of the subset to perform the multi-client sampling based on the multi-client sampling request by collecting requested data at the cluster head mobile transceiver using direct communication within the subset of mobile transceivers.

A further embodiment is a method for a mobile transceiver. The method further comprises providing information on capabilities and status to a network component of the mobile communication system, and receiving information on instructions from the network component on a multi-client sampling request. The method further comprises collecting data based on the information on the instructions, and enabling cluster head data processing of the data based on the information on the instructions.

Embodiments further provide a computer program having a program code for performing one or more of the above described methods, when the computer program is executed on a computer, processor, or programmable hardware component. A further embodiment is a computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer, processor, or programmable hardware component, cause the computer to implement one of the methods described herein.

Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternativ forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail.

As used herein, the term, "or" refers to a non-exclusive or, unless otherwise indicated (e.g., "or else" or "or in the alternative").

It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes" or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components or groups thereof.

<FIG> illustrates embodiments of a network component <NUM>, a network server <NUM>, an apparatus <NUM> for a mobile transceiver <NUM> and a mobile transceiver <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of a network component <NUM> of a mobile communication system <NUM>. The network component <NUM> is comprised in a network server <NUM>, which is configured to communicate with mobile transceivers using the mobile communication system <NUM>. In other embodiments the network component may be comprised in a base station or a network controller of the mobile communication system <NUM>. The network component <NUM> comprises one or more interfaces <NUM>, which are configured to communicate with mobile transceivers, e.g. mobile transceiver <NUM> in <FIG> and likewise mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in <FIG>, of the mobile communication system <NUM>. The network component <NUM> further comprises a control module <NUM>, which is coupled to the one or more interfaces <NUM> and which is configured to control the one or more interfaces <NUM>. The control module <NUM> is further configured to receive information on a multi-client sampling request, and to receive information on capabilities and status of a plurality of mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the mobile communication system <NUM>.

The control module <NUM> is configured to determine a subset of the plurality of mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> based on the information on the multi-client sampling request and based on the information on the capabilities and status. The subset of mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> comprises at least one mobile transceiver as cluster head <NUM> and at least one other mobile transceiver <NUM>, <NUM>. The control module <NUM> is configured to provide instructions to the mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the subset to perform the multi-client sampling based on the multi-client sampling request by collecting requested data at the cluster head <NUM> mobile transceiver using direct communication within the subset of mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

Direct communication is to be understood as transmission and reception of wireless signals between mobile devices/transceivers directly without the need to transmit signals to a base station of a mobile communication system, and to forward the information from the base station to the destination. For example, the third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specified certain mechanisms for direct communication between mobile transceivers, also referred to as Device-to-Device (D2D) communication. 3GPP also defined such mechanisms for inter-vehicular communication, which is also referred to as Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication.

The request for sampled data may have different origins. For example, some network entity may request image or other data of a certain location. An example would be server of a traffic supervision entity. Another example would we a private user requesting image data or traffic data along a certain route, e.g. for trip planning purposes. In embodiments the request may hence originate at different network entities.

<FIG> also illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus <NUM> for a mobile transceiver <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> comprises one or more interfaces <NUM>, which are configured to communicate with the network component <NUM> of the mobile communication system <NUM> and which are configured to communicate with one or more further mobile transceivers directly. The apparatus <NUM> further comprises a control module <NUM>, which is coupled to the one or more interfaces <NUM> and which is configured to control the one or more interfaces <NUM>. The control module <NUM> is further configured to provide information on capabilities and status to the network component <NUM> of the mobile communication system <NUM>, and to receive information on instructions from the network component <NUM> on a multi-client sampling request. The control module <NUM> is further configured to collect data based on the information on the instructions, and to enable cluster head <NUM> data processing of the data based on the information on the instructions.

In embodiments the one or more interfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, may correspond to any means for obtaining, receiving, transmitting or providing analog or digital signals or information, e.g. any connector, contact, pin, register, input port, output port, conductor, lane, etc. which allows providing or obtaining a signal or information. An interface may be wireless or wireline and it may be configured to communicate, i.e. transmit or receive signals, information with further internal or external components. The one or more interfaces <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise further components to enable according communication in the mobile communication system <NUM>, such components may include transceiver (transmitter and/or receiver) components, such as one or more Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNAs), one or more Power-Amplifiers (PAs), one or more duplexers, one or more diplexers, one or more filters or filter circuitry, one or more converters, one or more mixers, accordingly adapted radio frequency components, etc. The one or more interfaces <NUM>, <NUM> may be coupled to one or more antennas, which may correspond to any transmit and/or receive antennas, such as horn antennas, dipole antennas, patch antennas, sector antennas etc. The antennas may be arranged in a defined geometrical setting, such as a uniform array, a linear array, a circular array, a triangular array, a uniform field antenna, a field array, combinations thereof, etc. In some examples the one or more interfaces <NUM>, <NUM> may serve the purpose of transmitting or receiving or both, transmitting and receiving, information, such as information related to capabilities, application requirements, requests, message interface configurations, feedback, information related to control commands etc..

As shown in <FIG> the respective one or more interfaces <NUM>, <NUM> are coupled to the respective control modules <NUM>, <NUM> at the network component <NUM> and the apparatus <NUM>. In embodiments the control modules <NUM>, <NUM> may be implemented using one or more processing units, one or more processing devices, any means for processing, such as a processor, a computer or a programmable hardware component being operable with accordingly adapted software. In other words, the described functions of the control modules <NUM>, <NUM> may as well be implemented in software, which is then executed on one or more programmable hardware components. Such hardware components may comprise a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a micro-controller, etc..

<FIG> also shows an embodiment of a system <NUM> comprising embodiments of the network component <NUM> and a mobile transceiver apparatus <NUM>, network controller/server or base station <NUM> and mobile transceiver <NUM>, respectively. In embodiments, communication, i.e. transmission, reception or both, make take place among mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM> directly and/or between mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM> and a network infrastructure component. Such communication may make use of a mobile communication system <NUM>. In other words such communication may be carried out directly, e.g. by means of Device-to-Device (D2D) communication, which may also comprise Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication in case the mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM> are implemented in vehicles as will be detailed subsequently. Such communication may be carried out using the specifications of a mobile communication system <NUM>.

The mobile communication system <NUM> may, for example, correspond to one of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-standardized mobile communication networks, where the term mobile communication system is used synonymously to mobile communication network. The mobile or wireless communication system may correspond to a mobile communication system of the 5th Generation (<NUM>) and may use mm-Wave technology. The mobile communication system may correspond to or comprise, for example, a Long-Term Evolution (LTE), an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) or a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), an evolved-UTRAN (e-UTRAN), a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) or Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) network, a GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN), or mobile communication networks with different standards, for example, a Worldwide Inter-operability for Microwave Access (WIMAX) network IEEE <NUM> or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) IEEE <NUM>, generally an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) network, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Wideband-CDMA (WCDMA) network, a Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) network, a Spatial Division Multiple Access (SDMA) network, etc..

A base station transceiver can be operable or configured to communicate with one or more active mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and a base station transceiver can be located in or adjacent to a coverage area of another base station transceiver, e.g. a macro cell base station transceiver or small cell base station transceiver. Hence, embodiments may provide a mobile communication system <NUM> comprising two or more mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and one or more base station transceivers, wherein the base station transceivers may establish macro cells or small cells, as e.g. pico-, metro-, or femto cells. A mobile transceiver may correspond to a smartphone, a cell phone, user equipment, a laptop, a notebook, a personal computer, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Universal Serial Bus (USB) -stick, a car, a vehicle etc. A mobile transceiver may also be referred to as User Equipment (UE) or mobile in line with the 3GPP terminology. A vehicle may correspond to any conceivable means for transportation, e.g. a car, a bike, a motorbike, a van, a truck, a bus, a ship, a boat, a plane, a train, a tram, etc..

A base station transceiver can be located in the fixed or stationary part of the network or system. A base station transceiver may correspond to a remote radio head, a transmission point, an access point, a macro cell, a small cell, a micro cell, a femto cell, a metro cell etc. A base station transceiver can be a wireless interface of a wired network, which enables transmission of radio signals to a UE or mobile transceiver. Such a radio signal may comply with radio signals as, for example, standardized by 3GPP or, generally, in line with one or more of the above listed systems. Thus, a base station transceiver may correspond to a NodeB, an eNodeB, a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), an access point, a remote radio head, a relay station, a transmission point etc., which may be further subdivided in a remote unit and a central unit.

A mobile transceiver <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> can be associated with a base station transceiver or cell. The term cell refers to a coverage area of radio services provided by a base station transceiver, e.g. a NodeB (NB), an eNodeB (eNB), a remote radio head, a transmission point, etc. A base station transceiver may operate one or more cells on one or more frequency layers, in some embodiments a cell may correspond to a sector. For example, sectors can be achieved using sector antennas, which provide a characteristic for covering an angular section around a remote unit or base station transceiver. In some embodiments, a base station transceiver may, for example, operate three or six cells covering sectors of <NUM>° (in case of three cells), <NUM>° (in case of six cells) respectively. A base station transceiver may operate multiple sectorized antennas. In the following a cell may represent an according base station transceiver generating the cell or, likewise, a base station transceiver may represent a cell the base station transceiver generates.

Mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may communicate directly with each other, i.e. without involving any base station transceiver, which is also referred to as Device-to-Device (D2D) communication. An example of D2D is direct communication between vehicles, also referred to as Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication (V2V). In order to do so radio resources are used, e.g. frequency, time, code, and/or spatial resources, which may as well be used for wireless communication with a base station transceiver. The assignment of the radio resources may be controlled by the base station transceiver, i.e. the determination which resources are used for D2D and which are not. Here and in the following radio resources of the respective components may correspond to any radio resources conceivable on radio carriers and they may use the same or different granularities on the respective carriers. The radio resources may correspond to a Resource Block (RB as in LTE/LTE-A/LTE-unlicensed (LTE-U)), one or more carriers, sub-carriers, one or more radio frames, radio sub-frames, radio slots, one or more code sequences potentially with a respective spreading factor, one or more spatial resources, such as spatial sub-channels, spatial precoding vectors, any combination thereof, etc..

For example, direct Cellular Vehicle-to-Anything (C-V2X), where V2X includes at least V2V, V2-Infrastructure (V2I), etc., transmission according to 3GPP Release <NUM> can be managed by infrastructure (so-called mode <NUM>) or run in a User Equipment (UE) Autonomous mode (UEA), (so-called mode <NUM>). In embodiments the two or more mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> as indicated by <FIG> and <FIG> may be registered in the same mobile communication system <NUM>. In other embodiments one or more of the mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be registered in different mobile communication systems <NUM>. The different mobile communication systems <NUM> may use the same access technology but different operators or they may use different access technologies as outlined above.

<FIG> shows further embodiments of a network component and mobile transceivers forming a subset with a cluster head. <FIG> shows a base station <NUM> of a mobile communication system comprising an embodiment of the network component <NUM> as described in <FIG>. <FIG> further illustrates five mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, which all provide information on their capabilities and status to the base station <NUM> as indicated by the solid line arrows in <FIG>. For example, the mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are vehicles all being located in the same area, e.g. around a certain object <NUM> as indicated in <FIG>. The object <NUM> may for example, correspond to an intersection. In embodiments the information on the multi-client sampling request may, for example, comprise information on a request to sample one or more elements of the group of a location, an intersection, a city, a city center, a landscape, a vehicle, an object of interest, a point of interest, and a route section.

For example, the base station <NUM> receives a request to provide image data of said intersection <NUM> and now determines a subset of mobile transceivers, e.g. a cluster of mobile transceivers, based on the capability and status information. In the present embodiment the base station <NUM> determines that mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are in line of sight of the intersection <NUM> and hence configures or selects these mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> for the cluster or subset. Within the subset direct communication (D2D, V2V) is used as indicated by the broken line arrows in <FIG>. In some embodiments multi-hop communication is also conceivable. In some embodiments mobile transceivers may use direct communication with another mobile transceiver, which in turn uses direct communication to forward or relay signals to a further mobile transceiver, e.g. with a cluster head as will be detailed subsequently.

Embodiments may enable an efficient method to sample given entities (such as intersections, cities, landscapes) with multiple vehicular clients. Embodiments may avoid a high amount of traffic to be sent to the network component <NUM> (backend server/base station <NUM>), which hosts and controls the service, by using direct communication within the subset or cluster. Embodiments may allow provision of a sampled entity with low delay (e.g. "live view" of an intersection or important part of the city center). Embodiments may hence provide important information when self-driving vehicles enter a scene.

Embodiments may hence use both direct communication between vehicles (PC5 interface) and communication with the backend (Uu interface, mobile-to-base station communication) to create a multi-party sampling of given entities. As an example, a visualization of an intersection <NUM> may be generated using multiple cameras on multiple vehicles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. In the following embodiments a central backend server <NUM> is assumed, and multiple vehicles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in the field as depicted in <FIG>. Further, it is assumed that there is a cellular connection between the backend server <NUM> and each vehicle <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> as indicated by the solid line arrows in <FIG>. There may also be a direct connection between each pair of vehicles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and there may be multi-hop communication as indicated above. This connection may be spotty, i.e. it might exist or not.

In an embodiment each vehicle <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> that supports multi-client vehicular sampling informs the central backend-server <NUM> about its existence and its capabilities (including sensors, positioning, and other technical details). The vehicle <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the server <NUM> agree on an update rate at which the vehicle <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> updates the central backend server <NUM> on its position.

For example, a participant has requested the sampling of a given entity <NUM>. The backend server <NUM> identifies or determines possible contributors to a multi-sampling view of the entity. For example, the information on the multi-client request comprises information on a geographical area the multi-client request relates to. The control module <NUM> is configured to adapt the subset of mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> based on the information on the geographical area and based on the location of the mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. In some embodiments such subset adaptation may be carried out by multicasting information on the sampling request in a certain geographical area, e.g. a cell or a sector in which the object <NUM> is located. Mobile transceiver leaving or entering the geographical area may hence automatically be added or removed from the subset. In embodiments the geographical area can also be defined by means of certain coordinates and the mobile transceiver may determine whether they are in the geographical area or not by evaluating their own location. In embodiments, instructions may be provided by a broadcast or multicast messaging, which may also comprise information on a cluster head to forward data to.

Based on the number of available contributors, their position, and their capabilities, the server <NUM> may decide whether a multi-client vehicular sampling of this entity is currently possible. As indicated in <FIG> in the present embodiment it is assumed that such a sampling is possible. The information on capabilities may comprise one or more elements of the group of information on available sensors, information on a location or position of the mobile transceiver, and information on communication capabilities of the mobile transceiver. The communication capabilities may comprise capabilities (e.g. data rate, latency, etc.) for communication with the network infrastructure as well as information on capabilities with other mobile transceivers. The control module <NUM> may be configured to update location information of the mobile transceiver <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> at the network component <NUM>.

The backend server <NUM> may instruct all vehicles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> that are required for multi-client vehicular sampling. These instructions may include.

The process of sampling itself may be defined such that its output can be readily sent to the backend server <NUM>. There are various ways for specifying the processing in embodiments. In an illustrative example, the server <NUM> may compile an executable for the cluster head's <NUM> computer platform and sends the executable to the cluster head <NUM>. The control module <NUM> of the network component may then be configured to obtain the sampled multi-client data from the cluster head <NUM>. Furthermore, in embodiments the control module <NUM> may be further configured to configure or set an update rate for update provision at the cluster head <NUM>.

An incentive to serve as a client or cluster head would be to retrieve credits from the server. These credits could be used to request sampling of entities from the server. In embodiments the control modules <NUM>, <NUM> of the network component <NUM> and the apparatus <NUM> may be configured to enable a credit based incentive system. At the network component <NUM> the control module <NUM> may be configured to provide credits to participants of the subset and to deduct credits for providing the result to a multi-client sampling request. At the apparatus <NUM> the control module <NUM> may be configured to correspondingly provide credit for a request and to receive credits for its participation.

<FIG> shows a block diagram of a flow chart of an embodiment of a method <NUM> for a network component <NUM> of a mobile communication system <NUM>. The method <NUM> comprises receiving <NUM> information on a multi-client sampling request, and receiving <NUM> information on capabilities and status of a plurality of mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the mobile communication system <NUM>. The method <NUM> further comprises determining <NUM> a subset of the plurality of mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> based on the information on the multi-client sampling request and based on the information on the capabilities and status. The subset of mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> comprises at least one mobile transceiver as cluster head <NUM> and at least one other mobile transceiver <NUM>, <NUM>. The method <NUM> further comprises providing <NUM> instructions to the mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the subset to perform the multi-client sampling based on the multi-client sampling request by collecting requested data at the cluster head <NUM> mobile transceiver using direct communication within the subset of mobile transceivers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a block diagram of a flow chart of an embodiment of a method <NUM> for a mobile transceiver <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The method <NUM> comprises providing <NUM> information on capabilities and status to a network component <NUM> of the mobile communication system <NUM>, and receiving <NUM> information on instructions from the network component <NUM> on a multi-client sampling request. The method <NUM> further comprises collecting <NUM> data based on the information on the instructions, and enabling <NUM> cluster head <NUM> data processing of the data based on the information on the instructions.

As already mentioned, in embodiments the respective methods may be implemented as computer programs or codes, which can be executed on a respective hardware. Hence, another embodiment is a computer program having a program code for performing at least one of the above methods, when the computer program is executed on a computer, a processor, or a programmable hardware component. A further embodiment is a computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer, processor, or programmable hardware component, cause the computer to implement one of the methods described herein.

The description and drawings merely illustrate the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention as defined by the appended claims and are included within its scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.

Furthermore, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, where each claim may stand on its own as a separate embodiment.

Claim 1:
A network component (<NUM>) of a mobile communication system (<NUM>), the network component (<NUM>) comprising
one or more interfaces (<NUM>) configured to communicate with mobile transceivers (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) of the mobile communication system (<NUM>); and
a control module (<NUM>) configured to control the one or more interfaces (<NUM>), wherein the control module (<NUM>) is further configured to
receive information on a multi-client sampling request, wherein the information on the multi-client sampling request comprises information on a request to provide image data on one or more elements of the group of a location, an intersection, a city, a city center, a landscape, a vehicle, an object of interest, a point of interest, and a route section,
receive information on capabilities and status of a plurality of mobile transceivers (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) of the mobile communication system (<NUM>),
determine a subset of the plurality of mobile transceivers (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) based on the information on the multi-client sampling request and based on the information on the capabilities and status, wherein the subset of mobile transceivers (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) comprises at least one mobile transceiver as cluster head (<NUM>) and at least one other mobile transceiver (<NUM>; <NUM>), and
provide instructions to the mobile transceivers (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) of the subset to perform the multi-client sampling based on the multi-client sampling request by collecting requested data at the cluster head (<NUM>) mobile transceiver using direct communication within the subset of mobile transceivers (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>).