Data transmission on a contention based physical data channel

A method for data transmission on a contention-based physical data channel (PDCH), the method being performed by an access node, the method comprising:

• receiving a first data transmission on the contention-based PDCH from at least one wireless device;
• sending a single response to the first data transmission to the at least one wireless device;
• receiving a second data transmission on the contention-based PDCH from the at least one wireless device;
• determining a correlation between the first data transmission and the second data transmission;
• and
• acting as if the first data transmission was either received from only a single wireless device or from at least two wireless devices depending on a comparison between the correlation and a threshold.

A wireless device for data transmission on a contention-based physical data channel (PDCH), the wireless device comprising:

• processing circuitry;
• and
• a computer program product storing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, causes the wireless device to:
• send a first data transmission on the contention-based PDCH to an access node;
• receive a response to the first data transmission from the access node;
• determine a signal strength of the response;
• and
• act as the first data transmission either was collision-free or collided with another data transmission of another wireless device, depending on a comparison between the signal strength and a threshold defined by an expected signal strength of the response.

An access node for data transmission on a contention-based physical data channel (PDCH) the access node comprising:

• processing circuitry;
• and
• a computer program product storing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, causes the access node to:
• receive a first data transmission on the contention-based PDCH from at least one wireless device;
• send a single response to the first data transmission to the at least one wireless device;
• receive a second data transmission on the contention-based PDCH from the at least one wireless device;
• determine a correlation between the first data transmission and the second data transmission;
• and
• act as if the first data transmission was either received from only a single wireless device or from at least two wireless devices depending on a comparison between the correlation and a threshold.