Method and arrangement for detecting a collision in a communication network

1. A method for detecting a collision in a communication network, on which data are sent in frames of variable lengths separated by inter-frame spaces, each frame including a header and a data payload field where the header includes information of the length of the frame, comprising the steps of:

estimating a noise level of a frame, the header of which being read by a receiver,

comparing said estimated noise level with a reference noise level value,

detecting a collision with another weaker frame depending on the outcome of said comparison

wherein said communication network uses a frequency band, which is used for transmissions by a primary user,

performing primary user detection measurements in inter-frame spaces separating the frames of variable lengths, and

disabling said primary user detection measurements in the inter-frame space following said frame received by said receiver provided that a collision with another weaker frame is detected.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said estimated noise level is based on constellation error measurement.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said communication network is a WLAN.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said frames are transmitted on a channel using a digital modulation technique, and said step of estimating comprises the steps of:

for each carrier used by said modulation technique estimating a channel transfer function, thereby establishing the signal constellation points of the carrier,

determining a noise level of each carrier used by said modulation technique from measurement of a distance from the received carrier signal to one, preferably the nearest one, of the signal constellation points of the carrier, and

summing said noise levels.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said communication network is a WLAN.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said frames are transmitted on a channel using a digital modulation technique, and said step of estimating comprises the steps of:

for each carrier used by said modulation technique estimating a channel transfer function, thereby establishing the signal constellation points of the carrier,

determining a noise level of each carrier used by said modulation technique from measurement of a distance from the received carrier signal to one, preferably the nearest one, of the signal constellation points of the carrier, and

summing said noise levels.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a collision with another weaker frame is detected if said estimated constellation-based noise level is higher than said reference noise level value.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said reference noise level value is determined based on statistical fluctuations in the channel estimate and the received signal, multipath spill over, and transmitter vector error, caused for example by non-linearities in a transmitting power amplifier.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said communication network uses a frequency band, which is used for transmissions by a primary user, and wherein a primary user detection measurement is performed in the inter-frame space following said frame received by said receiver provided that a collision with another weaker frame is not detected.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said primary user is a radar system.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said primary user is a radar system.

12. A method for detecting a collision in a communication network, on which data are sent in frames of variable lengths separated by inter-frame spaces, each frame including a header and a data payload field where the header includes information of the length of the frame, comprising the steps of:

estimating a noise level of a frame, the header of which being read by a receiver,

comparing said estimated noise level with a reference noise level value, and

detecting a collision with another weaker frame depending on the outcome of said comparison, wherein said receiver is an access point and said steps of estimating a noise level, comparing said estimated noise level with a reference noise level value, and detecting a collision are performed by said access point.

13. An arrangement for detecting a collision in a communication network, on which data are sent in frames of variable lengths separated by inter-frame spaces, each frame including a header and a data payload field where the header includes information of the length of the frame, comprising:

an estimator for estimating a noise level of a frame, the header of which being read by a receiver, wherein said frames are transmitted on a channel using a digital modulation technique, and said estimator is provided for:

estimating for each carrier used by the modulation technique, a channel transfer function, thereby establishing the signal constellation points of the carrier,

determining a noise level of each carrier used by the modulation technique from measurement of a distance from the received carrier signal to one, preferably the nearest one, of the signal constellation points of the carrier, and

summing said noise levels,

a comparator for comparing said estimated noise level with a reference noise level value, and

a detector for detecting a collision with another weaker frame depending on the outcome of said comparison.

14. The arrangement of claim 13 , wherein said estimated noise level is based on constellation error measurement.

15. The arrangement of claim 14 , wherein said communication network is a WLAN.

16. The arrangement of claim 13 , wherein said communication network is a WLAN.

17. The arrangement of claim 13 , wherein said detector is provided for detecting a collision with another weaker frame if said estimated constellation-based noise level is higher than said reference noise level value.

18. An arrangement for detecting a collision in a communication network, on which data are sent in frames of variable lengths separated by inter-frame spaces, each frame including a header and a data payload field where the header includes information of the length of the frame, comprising:

an estimator for estimating a noise level of a frame, the header of which being read by a receiver,

a comparator for comparing said estimated noise level with a reference noise level value and

a detector for detecting a collision with another weaker frame depending on the outcome of said comparison, wherein said communication network uses a frequency band, which is used for transmissions by a primary user, particularly a radar system, and primary user detection measurements, particularly radar detection measurements, are performed in inter-frame spaces separating the frames of variable lengths on said communication network, said arrangement further comprising means connected to said detector for disabling said primary user detection measurements in the inter-frame space following said frame received by said receiver provided that a collision with another weaker frame is detected by said detector.