Receiving 110 the information about a radiation boundary area may be performed by any suitable message, e.g., by a broadcast message, groupcast message or unicast message. Thus, the information about a radiation boundary area can be received in a desired way, e.g., using a unicast message.

Approximating 120 at least one antenna system parameter of the communication device to adjust a radiation pattern of the antenna system to the radiation boundary area may be performed by a processing unit of the communication device by calculating and/or loading data. The processing unit may calculate the at least one antenna system parameter to adjust the antenna system, e.g., based on Fourier Coefficients, for example. For example, the processing unit may load data about the at least one antenna system parameter, e.g., from a data storage media, e.g., by use of a databank, a look-up table, etc. Optionally, the communication device may consider an environment of its own to determine the radiation pattern. For example, the radiation pattern is not solely a reflection of a possible achievable/adjustable radiation pattern, but rather a reflection of the real radiation pattern influenced, e.g., by obstacles such like other communication device, infrastructure, etc., especially inside or at an edge of the radiation boundary area. For example, at an edge of the radiation boundary area may be a radiopaque structure arranged, e.g., a house. Thus, for approximating 120 the at least one antenna system parameter this radiopaque structure can be considered, e.g., a radiation energy density at this edge of the radiation boundary area can be chosen as necessary, since the radiopaque structure may block radiation at this edge and may ensure that the radiation energy density outside the radiation boundary area is below a threshold.

Configuring 130 the antenna system to generate a radiation pattern to radiate into the radiation boundary area using the at least one antenna system parameter may be done by the processing unit. The radiation pattern may be generated in a way that a radiation energy density outside the radiation boundary area is not exceeded. Optionally, the radiation pattern may be generated such that a minimal radiation energy density inside the boundary area can be achieved, especially for a predefined position in the radiation boundary area, e.g., for a position of another communication device.

Transmitting 140 information about the radiation pattern of the antenna system to a network entity can be performed by any suitable message, e.g., by a broadcast message, groupcast message or unicast message. Thus, the information about the radiation pattern can be transmitted in a desired way, e.g., using a broadcast message to transmit the information about the radiation pattern to the network entity. For example, if the network entity is a vehicle and the communication device is another vehicle the information about the radiation pattern may be transmitted via V2X communication.

In some examples, the method 100 may further comprise generating a quality metric, which indicates a match of the radiation pattern with the radiation boundary area and transmitting the quality metric to the network entity. This way, a control parameter for the quality of the radiation pattern with respect to the radiation boundary area can be determined. This control parameter can be transmitted 140 to the network entity (e.g., the control parameter may be the information about the radiation pattern transmitted 140 to the network entity) and may reduce data traffic and/or computational efforts on the side of the network entity.

The quality metric may be independent of or depend on the environment of the communication device. For example, if the quality metric may be independent of the environment the quality metric may be a measure for the match of the radiation boundary area with an achievable/adjustable radiation pattern. For example, the quality metric may depend on the environment such that the quality metric may be a measure for the match of the real radiation pattern (e.g., influenced by obstacles) with the radiation boundary area.

In some examples, the method 100 may further comprise receiving a threshold for a maximal radiation energy density outside the radiation boundary area and configuring the antenna system to generate the radiation pattern such that it does not exceed the maximal radiation energy density outside the radiation boundary area. This way, interference outside the radiation boundary area, e.g., in an adjacent radiation boundary area can be reduced or even omitted, since the radiation energy density is below the threshold. For example, the threshold may be a maximal radiation energy density which does not influence communication between other communication devices outside the radiation boundary area.

In some examples, approximating 120 the at least one antenna system parameter may comprise determining Fourier Coefficients to adjust the radiation pattern of the antenna system to the radiation boundary area. This way, the at least one antenna system parameter can be determined by a well-known method, which may improve a usability for the network entity.

In some examples, the method 100 may further comprise determining information about an environment and transmitting the information about the environment to the network entity. This way, the network entity may utilize the information about the environment to adjust the generation of the radiation boundary area. For example, the communication device (e.g., a vehicle) may use a wide variety of on-board sensor data types, including radar sensor data and lidar sensor data, but also, e.g., vision-related sensors such as camera and IR sensors, as well as ultrasound sensors to determine the positions of the communication devices to determine information used to determine information for the predicted performance. For example, the network entity may adjust a radiation boundary area such that an obstacle may be arranged outside the radiation boundary area. For example, the network entity may adjust a radiation boundary area such that a radiopaque obstacle is arranged at an edge of the radiation boundary area. This way, the configuration of the antenna system of the communication device can be eased, since the radiation pattern at this edge can be neglected because it is blocked by the radiopaque obstacle from the outside of the radiation boundary area.

More details and aspects are mentioned in connection with the embodiments described above and/or below. The example shown in FIG. 1 may comprise one or more optional additional features corresponding to one or more aspects mentioned in connection with the proposed concept or one or more examples described below (e.g., FIG. 2-8).

FIG. 2 shows an example of another method 200 for a communication device. The method 200 for controlling a radiation boundary area comprises transmitting 210 information about an antenna system capability of the communication device to a network entity and receiving 220 information about a radiation boundary area. The information about the boundary area comprises information about at least one antenna system parameter of the communication device. Further, the method 200 comprises configuring 230 the antenna system with the received at least one antenna system parameter. This way, the communication device can be enabled to utilize a radiation boundary area without being informed about the radiation boundary area, rather being informed about the at least one antenna system parameter, which may reduce a data traffic and/or may omit an approximation of the at least one antenna system parameter on the side of the communication device.

Optionally, the communication device may further receive information about a usage time of the at least one antenna system parameter. For example, the network entity may inform the communication device that the at least one antenna system parameter can be used for a predefined time, e.g., 5 s, 10 s, 15 s, etc. The predefined time may depend on the environment of the communication device and/or on a dynamic information about the environment (e.g., a movement of the communication device, a movement speed of a mobile obstacle, a planned route of the communication device, etc.). For example, the communication device may further transmit information needed to determine the predefined time to the network entity (e.g., the communication device may transmit a movement speed of its own, a planned route of its own, etc.).

More details and aspects are mentioned in connection with the embodiments described above and/or below. The example shown in FIG. 2 may comprise one or more optional additional features corresponding to one or more aspects mentioned in connection with the proposed concept or one or more examples described above (FIG. 1) and/or below (e.g., FIG. 3-8).

FIG. 3 shows an example of a method 300 for a network entity. The method 300 for improving a radiation boundary area comprises receiving 310 information from a communication device and generating 320 a radiation boundary area for the communication of the communication device with another communication device based on the received information. Further, the method 300 may further comprise transmitting 330 information about the radiation boundary area to the communication device. This way, the network entity may generate a radiation boundary area which is adjusted to the communication device. For example, the information from the communication may comprise information about a radiation pattern which can be achieved/adjusted by an antenna system of the communication device, an antenna system capability, a quality metric, a combination thereof, etc. The network entity may be the counterpart of the communication device described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

For example, the network entity may receive 310 from the communication device information about an achieved radiation pattern of the antenna system of the communication device. The radiation pattern may differ from an originally transmitted radiation boundary area and thus the network entity may adjust the radiation boundary area by generating 320 a (new/improved) radiation boundary area. This (new/improved) radiation boundary area may better match the achievable radiation pattern of the communication device and may be transmitted 330 to the communication device. This way, the radiation boundary area can be improved to the specific communication device, e.g., the antenna system of the communication device.

In some examples, the received information may comprise information about an antenna system capability of the communication device. Further, the radiation boundary area may be generated based on the antenna system capability of the communication device. This way, the network entity can directly adjust the radiation boundary area to the antenna system capability of the communication device. Optionally or alternatively, the information about the antenna system capability may be information about a model/type of the communication device, which enables the network entity to determine the antenna system capability (e.g., using a databank). This way, data traffic can be reduced.

In some examples, the received information may comprise information about a radiation pattern of the communication device. Further, the radiation boundary area may be generated based on the radiation pattern of the communication device. This way, the network entity can directly adjust the radiation boundary area to the radiation pattern of the communication device.

In some examples, the received information may comprise information about a movement speed of the communication device. Further, the radiation boundary area may be generated based on the movement speed of the communication device. This way, the radiation boundary area can be adjusted, e.g., to increase a usage time, a reliability, etc. For example, for a communication with a lower movement speed a size of the radiation boundary area may be decreased in comparison to the size of the radiation boundary area for a communication device with a higher movement speed. For example, the size of the radiation boundary area may be increased for a moving communication device to increase a usage time of the radiation boundary area. Optionally or alternatively, the radiation boundary area may be generated based on a movement speed of the desired communication partner of the communication device using the radiation boundary area.

In some examples, the received information comprises information about an environment of the communication device. Further, the radiation boundary area is generated based on the environment of the communication device. This way, the network entity can directly adjust the radiation boundary area to the radiation pattern of the communication device.

More details and aspects are mentioned in connection with the embodiments described above and/or below. The example shown in FIG. 3 may comprise one or more optional additional features corresponding to one or more aspects mentioned in connection with the proposed concept or one or more examples described above (FIGS. 1-2) and/or below (e.g., FIGS. 4-8).

FIG. 4 shows an example of another method for a communication device. The method 400 for a communication device connected to another communication device for improving a device-to-device communication comprises receiving 410 from the other communication device a radiation boundary area to communicate with the other and/or a further communication device and communicating 420 using the received radiation boundary area. This way, the communication device can be informed about the radiation boundary area allocated by a (controlling) network entity without a need for a communicative connection to the network entity.

More details and aspects are mentioned in connection with the embodiments described above and/or below. The example shown in FIG. 4 may comprise one or more optional additional features corresponding to one or more aspects mentioned in connection with the proposed concept or one or more examples described above (FIGS. 1-3) and/or below (e.g., FIG. 5-8).

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a mobile communication system. The mobile communication system comprises three apparatuses 30a, 30b, 30c. Each apparatus 30a, 30b, 30c comprises one or more interfaces 32a, 32b, 32c configured to communicate with a communication device or user equipment. Each apparatus 30a, 30b, 30c further comprises processing circuitry 34a, 34b, 34c configured to control the one or more interfaces and to perform the methods for the (first) communication device 30b (connection established to the network entity) as described above (e.g., described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2), the method for the network entity 30a as described above (e.g., described with reference to FIG. 3) and/or the method for the (second) communication device 30c (no connection established to the network entity) as described above (e.g., described with reference to FIG. 4).

For example, the apparatus 30a, 30b, 30c can be comprised by a vehicle. For example, the vehicle may be a land vehicle, such a road vehicle, a car, an automobile, an off-road vehicle, a motor vehicle, a bus, a robo-taxi, a van, a truck or a lorry. Alternatively, the vehicle may be any other type of vehicle, such as a train, a subway train, a boat or a ship. For example, the proposed concept may be applied to public transportation (trains, bus) and future means of mobility (e.g., robo-taxis).

The network entity 30a may be communicatively coupled to the first communication device 30b. The network entity 30a may allocate a radiation boundary area to the first communication device 30b and may transmit 41 information about the allocated radiation boundary area to the first communication device 30b. The first communication device 30b may transmit 42 information about the allocated radiation boundary area to the second communication device 30c. The first communication device 30b and the second communication device 30c may communicate 44 with each other using the allocated radiation boundary area.

As shown in FIG. 5, the respective one or more interfaces 32a, 32b, 32c are coupled to the respective processing circuitry 34a, 34b, 34c at the apparatus 30a, 30b, 30c. In examples the processing circuitry 34a, 34b, 34c 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. Similar, the described functions of the processing circuitry 34a, 34b, 34c 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. The processing circuitry 34a, 34b, 34c is capable of controlling the interface 32a, 32b, 32c, so that any data transfer that occurs over the interface and/or any interaction in which the interface may be involved may be controlled by the processing circuitry 34a, 34b, 34c. For example, the apparatus 30a, 30b, 30c can be comprised by a vehicle. For example, the vehicle may be a land vehicle, such a road vehicle, a car, an automobile, an off-road vehicle, a motor vehicle, a bus, a robo-taxi, a van, a truck or a lorry. Alternatively, the vehicle may be any other type of vehicle, such as a train, a subway train, a boat or a ship. For example, the proposed concept may be applied to public transportation (trains, bus) and future means of mobility (e.g., robo-taxis).

In some examples, the apparatus 30a, 30b, 30c may comprise a memory and at least one processing circuitry 34a, 34b, 34c operably coupled to the memory and configured to perform the below mentioned method.

In some examples, the one or more interfaces 32a, 32b, 32c 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, e.g., transmit or receive signals, information with further internal or external components. The one or more interfaces 32a, 32b, 32c may comprise further components to enable communication between vehicles. 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.

More details and aspects are mentioned in connection with the embodiments described above and/or below. The example shown in FIG. 5 may comprise one or more optional additional features corresponding to one or more aspects mentioned in connection with the proposed concept or one or more examples described above (FIGS. 1-4) and/or below (e.g., FIGS. 6-8).

FIG. 6 shows an example for communication between a plurality of communication devices 30b, 30c.

A base station (BS), e.g., the network entity described with reference to FIG. 3, may manage the scheduling and resource allocation of multiple communication device 30b, 30c communicating via Device-to-Device (D2D) (e.g., a sidelink) (e.g., the communication devices as described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 4) or even to infrastructure or the BS itself. The communication devices 30b, 30c may be equipped with multi-element antenna systems capable of shaping, steering and tuning the directivity/beamwidth of the radiation pattern that they communicate with. Further, the communication devices 30b, 30c may be equipped with M antenna system elements. The BS may allocate to each communication device 30b, 30c a radiation boundary area 60, e.g., a specific area in space based on an antenna footprint (or an angular region in space), determined by e.g., by power constraints, an antenna system capability, etc. Further the BS may allocate a time resource (a time frame/slot) for communication between two communication devices 30b, 30c using the radiation boundary area. Further, the BS may allocate a frequency resource (e.g., a channel/subchannel) for communication between two communication devices 30b, 30c using the radiation boundary area.

The (first) communication device 30b may receive an allocation in time, frequency and/or a space (e.g., a radiation boundary area 60) for a link intended to be established, e.g., to the other (second) communication device 30c. The information about the radiation boundary area (the allocation in space) (and/or a time resource, a frequency resource) may be transmitted to the communication device 30b. Optionally, a power threshold may be transmitted with the information about the allocation in space. The power threshold in dBm should not be exceeded outside of the allocated space, e.g., the radiation boundary area