Method, system or mobile communication network, radio frequency sensing station, sensing service node, program and computer readable medium for performing radio frequency sensing involving at least radio frequency sensing station as part of mobile communication network

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for performing radio frequency sensing involving at least a radio frequency sensing station as part of a mobile communication network, the radio frequency sensing station being able to activate a radio frequency sensing functionality and perform radio frequency sensing by:-transmitting a radio frequency sensing signal and / or-receiving a radio frequency sensing receive signal, wherein, in order to perform radio frequency sensing and / or activate radio frequency sensing functionality, the method comprises the following steps:-in a first step, the radio frequency sensing station receives or generates or determines a sensing-related indication, wherein the sensing-related indication involves or indicates whether the radio-frequency sensing station is allowed or authorized to sense or activate the radio-frequency sensing functionality at its current or current location,-in a second step the radio-frequency sensing station senses or activates the radio-frequency sensing functionality depending on the sensing-related indication or the content thereof.

Description

Background Art

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for performing radio frequency sensing involving at least a radio frequency sensing station being part of a mobile communication network, wherein the radio frequency sensing station is capable of activating radio frequency sensing functionality and performing radio frequency sensing.

[0002] Additionally, the present invention relates to a system or a mobile communication network for performing radio frequency sensing involving at least a radio frequency sensing station being part of the mobile communication network, wherein the radio frequency sensing station is operable such that radio frequency sensing functionality is activated and radio frequency sensing is performed.

[0003] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a radio frequency sensing station, which is or corresponds to a user equipment in the system of the present invention or the mobile communication network of the present invention.

[0004] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a sensing service node in or as a part of a system of the present invention or a mobile communication network of the present invention.

[0005] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a program and a computer-readable medium for performing radio frequency sensing.

[0006] A mobile communication network (such as a public land mobile network) is typically implemented as a cellular mobile communication network, i.e. comprises (or uses or is associated with or is assigned to) a radio access network, which includes radio cells. Such cellular systems are known to conform to different mobile communication standards or radio access technologies, such as 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G / 6G radio access technologies (referring to different generations of radio access technologies), and typically comprises (or consists of) one or more cells (or radio cells) of the corresponding radio access technologies, which are typically organized in a repetitive pattern of (radio) cells (and associated base station entities) belonging to a mobile network operator (MNO) (or used by or associated with or assigned to an MNO) throughout a country (or part of a country or a region within a country).

[0007] By implementing sensing capabilities in such a communication network, mainly by generating and transmitting radio frequency sensing signals by one or more radio frequency sensing stations and / or receiving radio frequency sensing reception signals by such radio frequency sensing stations, information about the characteristics of the transmission channels between different stations (for example, between base station entities and / or between user equipment), and / or information about the objects from which such radio frequency sensing signals are reflected can be obtained.

[0008] Even though such sensing capabilities enable further information about the transmission channel and / or objects, especially mobile objects, in the vicinity or vicinity of the respective RF sensing station, in particular in the case where the user equipment operates (or is capable of operating) as a RF sensing station, it should be ensured that unauthorized use of network resources should be avoided and interference should be reduced. Summary of the invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a technically simple, efficient and cost-effective solution for efficiently performing radio frequency sensing involving at least a radio frequency sensing station as part of a mobile communication network. A further object of the present invention is to provide a corresponding system or mobile communication network, a radio frequency sensing station, a sensing service node, and a corresponding program and computer readable medium.

[0010] The object of the present invention is achieved by a method for performing radio frequency sensing involving at least a radio frequency sensing station as part of a mobile communication network, wherein the radio frequency sensing station is capable of activating radio frequency sensing functionality and performing radio frequency sensing by:

[0011] -- transmit RF sensing signals and / or

[0012] --Receive RF sensing receiving signal,

[0013] In order to perform radio frequency sensing and / or activate radio frequency sensing functionality, the method comprises the following steps:

[0014] - in a first step, the RF sensing station receives or generates or determines a sensing-related indication, wherein the sensing-related indication relates to or indicates whether the RF sensing station is allowed or authorized to perform sensing or activate the RF sensing functionality at its present or current location,

[0015] In the second step, the RF sensing station performs sensing or activates the RF sensing functionality according to the sensing related indication or its content.

[0016] Thus, according to the invention it is advantageously possible not only to perform radio frequency sensing in a relatively easy and straightforward manner, but also to control the use of radio frequency sensing or the activation of radio frequency sensing functionality.

[0017] In particular, according to the present invention it is advantageously possible that the use or activation of radio frequency sensing functionality within or as part of a user equipment can be controlled by the mobile communication network (or its operator) based on the location of the radio frequency sensing station, i.e. based on the location of the user equipment. In particular, it is thereby advantageously possible for the mobile communication network to control the use of network resources and / or the potential generation of a higher level of interference due to the radio frequency sensing activities of the user equipment, i.e. a potential detrimental impact of performing radio frequency sensing (in a specific area or at a specific location) on network performance can be controlled according to the present invention (e.g. because performing radio frequency sensing requires the use (by the user equipment and / or by the corresponding base station entity in the considered geographical area or location) of air interface resources or radio frequency resource blocks (which would otherwise be able to be used for (operational) communication purposes between the user equipment and / or the base station entity), and / or because performing radio frequency sensing may generate additional interference in the considered geographical area or location).

[0018] Therefore, according to the present invention, in order to perform RF sensing and / or activate RF sensing functionality (in a RF sensing station, in particular in a user equipment), the method of the present invention comprises: in a first step, the RF sensing station receives or generates or determines a sensing related indication, and in a second step, depending on the sensing related indication or its content, the RF sensing station performs sensing or activates the RF sensing functionality, or does not perform sensing or deactivates the RF sensing functionality (i.e. deactivates the RF sensing functionality or refrains from performing RF sensing).

[0019] According to the present invention, the sensing-related indication relates to or indicates whether the radio frequency sensing station is allowed or authorized to perform sensing or activate radio frequency sensing functionality at its present or current location.

[0020] According to different embodiments of the present invention, the sensing-related indications may be different or carry different information contents.

[0021] Based on the first group of embodiments according to the present invention, the RF sensing station has or receives sensing-related location information, wherein the sensing-related location information indicates or relates to where or at which locations or areas the RF sensing station is allowed or authorized to perform sensing or vice versa (i.e., the sensing-related location information indicates or relates to where or at which locations or areas the RF sensing station is not allowed or authorized to perform sensing), and also in or during the first step, the RF sensing station receives or generates or determines location information, wherein the location information indicates or relates to the present or current location or position of the RF sensing station,

[0022] and wherein the RF sensing station determines, based on both the sensing-related location information and the location information, that the sensing-related indication relates to or indicates whether the RF sensing station is allowed or authorized to perform sensing or activate RF sensing functionality at its present or current location. Thus, according to this first set of embodiments, the entity or functional sensing station determines (or generates) sensing-related information (based on the sensing-related location information and based on the location information that it itself is capable of generating or receiving (i.e., receiving from the mobile communication network, e.g., from a serving base station entity)).

[0023] Based on different embodiments according to the first group of embodiments of the present invention, the sensing-related location information includes at least one of the following:

[0024] - an indication of a location-based specific sensing service configuration, which indicates locations or geographical areas where activation of sensing or radio frequency sensing functionality is restricted or prohibited and / or locations or geographical areas where activation of sensing or radio frequency sensing functionality is authorized or permitted,

[0025] - an indication of the networks, in particular public land mobile networks, for which the radio frequency sensing station is allowed or authorized to perform or conduct sensing or activate radio frequency sensing functionality, wherein in particular the sensing-related location information comprises a list of such networks,

[0026] --Indication of location-based specific sensing service configuration related to out-of-coverage situations of radio frequency sensing stations, indicating locations or geographic areas where activation of sensing or radio frequency sensing functionality is restricted or prohibited and / or locations or geographic areas where activation of sensing or radio frequency sensing functionality is authorized or allowed in situations of out-of-coverage situations of radio frequency sensing stations.

[0027] According to the second group of embodiments of the present invention, the RF sensing station receives the sensing-related indication by means of at least one of the following items (i.e., contrary to the first group of embodiments of the present invention, the RF sensing station does not determine the sensing-related indication based on both the sensing-related location information and the location information, but the RF sensing station receives the sensing-related indication):

[0028] - when a radio frequency sensing station issues a request towards a sensing service node of a mobile communication network (or an application server) or a sensing service node assigned by the mobile communication network (or an application server), wherein the sensing-related indication is transmitted by the sensing service node and received by the radio frequency sensing station after the radio frequency sensing station provides position information of its present or current position or location (in particular as part of the request) or after the mobile communication network determines the present or current position or location of the radio frequency sensing station,

[0029] as an information element, in particular as part of a system information block, in particular transmitted or broadcasted by a base station entity (in this case the (exact) location of the radio frequency sensing station will in particular be of limited relevance since such information element, in particular as part of a system information block, can in any case only be received over a rather limited geographical area (of the respective radio cell of the base station entity)).

[0030] According to the present invention, it is advantageously possible and preferred that in or during the first step, the radio frequency sensing station has or receives sensing-related location information, wherein the sensing-related location information indicates or relates to where or at which locations or areas the radio frequency sensing station is allowed or authorized to perform sensing or where or at which locations or areas the radio frequency sensing station is not allowed or authorized to perform sensing, and that also in or during the first step, the radio frequency sensing station receives or generates or determines location information, wherein the location information indicates or relates to the present or current location or position of the radio frequency sensing station,

[0031] The RF sensing station determines, based on both the sensing-related location information and the location information, that the sensing-related indication relates to or indicates whether the RF sensing station is allowed or authorized to sense or activate RF sensing functionality at its present or current location.

[0032] Advantageously, the method and system of the present invention can thereby be implemented in a particularly efficient manner.

[0033] According to the present invention, it is further advantageously possible and preferred that the sensing-related position information includes at least one of the following:

[0034] - an indication of a location-based specific sensing service configuration, which indicates locations or geographical areas where activation of sensing or radio frequency sensing functionality is restricted or prohibited and / or locations or geographical areas where activation of sensing or radio frequency sensing functionality is authorized or permitted,

[0035] - an indication of the networks, in particular public land mobile networks, for which the radio frequency sensing station is allowed or authorized to perform or conduct sensing or activate radio frequency sensing functionality, wherein in particular the sensing-related location information comprises a list of such networks,

[0036] --Indication of location-based specific sensing service configuration related to out-of-coverage situations of radio frequency sensing stations, indicating locations or geographic areas where activation of sensing or radio frequency sensing functionality is restricted or prohibited and / or locations or geographic areas where activation of sensing or radio frequency sensing functionality is authorized or allowed in situations of out-of-coverage situations of radio frequency sensing stations.

[0037] Advantageously, the method and system of the present invention can thereby be implemented in a particularly efficient manner.

[0038] According to another embodiment of the present invention, it is further advantageously possible and preferred that the radio frequency sensing station receives the sensing-related indication by means of at least one of the following:

[0039] - when a radio frequency sensing station issues a request towards a sensing service node of a mobile communication network or a sensing service node assigned by the mobile communication network, wherein the sensing-related indication is transmitted by the sensing service node and received by the radio frequency sensing station after the radio frequency sensing station has provided position information of its present or current position or location (in particular as part of the request) or after the mobile communication network has determined the present or current position or location of the radio frequency sensing station,

[0040] --An information element that is part of a system information block (especially broadcast by a base station entity).

[0041] Advantageously, the method and system of the present invention can thereby be implemented in a particularly efficient manner.

[0042] Furthermore, it is advantageously possible and preferred according to the present invention that the sensing-related location information and / or the sensing-related indication comprises specific sensing service configuration information, in particular an indication of radio resources allowed for sensing.

[0043] Thus, advantageously according to the present invention it may be possible to enable the mobile communication network to have even stronger control or more fine-grained control over how radio frequency sensing is actually performed. Of course, according to the present invention it is possible that the specific sensing service configuration information can differ depending on the location where radio frequency sensing is (to be) performed; i.e. in a first geographical area or first location it may be possible or desirable to use a first set of sensing parameters, and in a second geographical area or second location it may be possible or desirable to use a second set of sensing parameters.

[0044] Furthermore, it is advantageously possible and preferred according to the present invention that the sensing-related position information is transmitted to the radio frequency sensing station and received by the radio frequency sensing station by means of at least one of the following:

[0045] --OTA air transmission mechanism, which is especially initiated by the mobile communication network,

[0046] - By pre-configuring the sensing-related location information in a memory location of or in the radio frequency sensing station, in particular in a universal integrated circuit card of the radio frequency sensing station or in a mobile device of the radio frequency sensing station.

[0047] Advantageously, the method and system of the present invention can thereby be implemented in a particularly efficient manner.

[0048] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the radio frequency sensing station is or corresponds to a user equipment, wherein the mobile communication network in particular corresponds to a home network of the user equipment, in particular a public land mobile network or a non-public network.

[0049] Advantageously, the method and system of the present invention can thereby be implemented in a particularly efficient manner.

[0050] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system or a mobile communication network for performing radio frequency sensing involving at least a radio frequency sensing station as part of the mobile communication network, wherein the radio frequency sensing station is operable such that radio frequency sensing functionality is activated and radio frequency sensing is performed by means of

[0051] -- transmit RF sensing signals and / or

[0052] --Receive RF sensing receiving signal,

[0053] Therein, in order to perform radio frequency sensing and / or activate radio frequency sensing functionality, the system or mobile communication network is configured such that:

[0054] a sensing-related indication is transmitted to and received by the RF sensing station, or is generated or determined by the RF sensing station, wherein the sensing-related indication relates to or indicates whether the RF sensing station is allowed or authorized to perform sensing or activate RF sensing functionality at its present or current location, wherein, depending on the sensing-related indication or its content, sensing is performed or the RF sensing functionality is activated, or sensing is not performed or the RF sensing functionality is deactivated,

[0055] The mobile communication network particularly corresponds to a home network of the radio frequency sensing station or the user equipment, particularly a public land mobile network or a non-public network.

[0056] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a radio frequency sensing station which is or corresponds to a user equipment in or as part of the system or mobile communication network according to the present invention.

[0057] Furthermore, the invention relates to a sensing service node in or as part of a system or a mobile communication network according to the invention.

[0058] Additionally, the present invention relates to a program comprising a computer-readable program code, which, when executed on a computer, and / or on a radio frequency sensing station, and / or on a network node of a mobile communication network, and / or on a sensing service node of a mobile communication network, or partly on a radio frequency sensing station, and / or partly on a network node of a mobile communication network, and / or partly on a sensing service node, causes the computer and / or the radio frequency sensing station and / or the network node of the mobile communication network and / or the sensing service node to perform the method of the present invention.

[0059] Additionally, the present invention relates to a computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, and / or on a radio frequency sensing station, and / or on a network node of a mobile communication network, and / or on a sensing service node of a mobile communication network, or partly on a radio frequency sensing station, and / or partly on a network node of a mobile communication network, and / or partly on a sensing service node, cause the computer and / or the radio frequency sensing station and / or the network node of the mobile communication network and / or the sensing service node to perform the method of the present invention.

[0060] These and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the principles of the present invention are illustrated in an exemplary manner. This description is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The reference figures cited below are referenced to the accompanying drawings.

[0061] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] Figure 1 Schematically illustrated is a mobile communication network comprising or interworking with at least one radio frequency sensing station, which at least one radio frequency sensing station is capable of activating radio frequency sensing functionality and is therefore capable of performing radio frequency sensing, wherein the radio frequency sensing functionality, if activated, is performed by means of transmitting radio frequency sensing signals and / or by means of receiving radio frequency sensing reception signals. Specific implementation plan

[0063] The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings, but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are merely schematic and non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes.

[0064] When referring to a singular noun an indefinite or definite article is used, for example "a", "an", "the" include plural forms of that noun unless something else is stated.

[0065] In addition, the terms first, second, third, etc. in the specification and claims are used to distinguish between similar elements and not necessarily to describe a sequential or chronological order. It should be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances, and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operating in a sequence different from that described or illustrated herein.

[0066] exist Figure 1In the figure, a mobile communication network 100 is schematically illustrated which includes at least one RF sensing station 20 or interacts with at least one RF sensing station 20, which is capable of activating RF sensing functionality and is therefore capable of performing RF sensing, wherein the RF sensing functionality, if activated, is performed by transmitting RF sensing signals 410 and / or by receiving RF sensing reception signals 420.

[0067] According to the present invention, preferably (but not mandatory), the radio frequency sensing station 20 is or corresponds to a user equipment 20 within or connected to the mobile communication network 100, and the user equipment 20 corresponds to, for example, a smart phone device or a machine type communication device or a specific sensing user equipment device. The mobile communication network 100 generally includes a radio access network 110 and a core network 120 (or at least the radio access network 110 and / or the core network 120 are assigned to the mobile communication network 100), and the radio access network 110 includes at least one base station entity 111, such as in particular a gNB station, but generally the mobile communication network 100 includes a plurality of such base station entities. The base station entity 111 has a plurality of base station entities 111, such as a gNB station 111, and a plurality of base station entities 111. Figure 1 The reference numeral 11 and the dashed line in FIG. 1 indicate a radio coverage area (or radio cell). Figure 1 In the exemplary scenario shown, a radio frequency sensing station 20 (or user equipment 20) is shown as being located within a radio cell 11, and another radio frequency sensing station 21 (or other user equipment 21) is shown as being located outside the radio cell 11, i.e. outside the coverage with respect to the base station entity 111. Figure 1 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the telecommunications network 100, in particular the core network 120, comprises a sensing service node 140 which is particularly concerned with or used to control activation or deactivation of sensing functionality of the radio frequency sensor stations 20, 21 (typically based on their respective locations).

[0068] It may happen that as a result of the RF sensing signal 410 being transmitted by the RF sensing station 20, the RF sensing reception signal 420 is received by the same RF sensing station 20 (this is schematically indicated by means of two arrows with reference numerals 410 and 420, respectively); however, it may also happen that as a result of another RF sensing signal ( Figure 1 ) by another RF sensing station 21 ( Figure 1 As a result of the transmission (also schematically shown in FIG. 1 ), the radio frequency sensing reception signal 420 is received by the radio frequency sensing station 20, as another radio frequency sensing station 21 is depicted as not having the radio coverage provided by the base station entity 111, ie outside the radio cell 11.

[0069] Although the RF sensing station 20 may transmit the RF sensing signal 410 in a direction-dependent manner (e.g., by using active antenna techniques, such as beamforming antennas, such as to achieve angular resolution or variation in the transmit power of the RF sensing signal 410), as one exemplary implementation, Figure 1 Mainly a fairly classical transmission of a radio frequency sensing signal 410 in various directions is shown.

[0070] The RF sensing signal 410 may correspond to a direct transmission (or direct path transmission) of the RF sensing signal 410 between different sensor stations 20, 21, but it may also correspond to a transmission of the RF sensing signal 410 toward or near another object ( Figure 1 All those possibilities (where the RF sensing signal is transmitted between the RF sensing stations 20, 21 and / or involves only one RF sensing station 20) can also (and in many cases will be) implemented cumulatively, i.e., the RF sensing signal 410 is transmitted (e.g., by the RF sensing station 20), and as a result thereof, the RF sensing reception signal 420 is received by the RF sensing station 20 or the other RF sensing station 21 (or vice versa) - however, for simplicity, this is not illustrated in FIG. Figure 1 Not explicitly shown.

[0071] In the context of the present invention, the terms RF sensing signal 410 and RF sensing received signal 420 are used in order to indicate that a (RF) signal (i.e., RF sensing signal 410) once transmitted by a RF sensing station 20 (or transmitted by another RF sensing station 21) is necessarily modified (such as distorted, attenuated, reflected, etc.), and thus arrives at (or is received at) a receiving side (i.e., the same RF sensing station 20 (i.e., the RF sensing station that has transmitted the RF sensing signal) or another RF sensing station 21) as an at least somewhat or slightly different (RF) signal (i.e., RF sensing received signal 420). However, the RF sensing received signal 420 is not inherently different from the RF sensing signal 410, but carries the signal modifications that occurred when it propagated between its transmission and reception (by any RF sensing station 20, 21).

[0072] Thus, according to the present invention, a method for performing radio frequency sensing involves at least a radio frequency sensing station 20 as part of a mobile communication network 100. The radio frequency sensing station 20 (as well as another radio frequency sensing station) is able to activate radio frequency sensing functionality and perform radio frequency sensing by means of transmitting a radio frequency sensing signal 410 and / or by means of receiving a radio frequency sensing reception signal 420. In order to perform such radio frequency sensing and / or activate radio frequency sensing functionality, the method comprises the following steps:

[0073] In a first step, the RF sensing station 20 receives or generates or determines a sensing-related indication, wherein the sensing-related indication relates to or indicates whether the RF sensing station 20 is allowed or authorized to perform sensing or activate the RF sensing functionality at its present or current location,

[0074] In a second step, the radio frequency sensing station (20) performs sensing or activates the radio frequency sensing functionality, or vice versa (ie, it does not perform sensing or it deactivates the radio frequency sensing functionality) depending on the sensing-related indication or its content.

[0075] According to the invention, it is thereby advantageously possible to perform (or activate, or conversely, deactivate) radio frequency sensing (or radio frequency sensing functionality) based on the location of the radio frequency sensing stations 20, 21. In particular, it is thereby possible to achieve control of the mobile communication network (i.e. its network operator) to have greater or even complete control over the radio frequency sensing behavior of the radio frequency sensing stations 20, 21, in particular the user equipment 20, 21. In particular, it is thereby advantageously possible to prohibit the user equipment 20, 21 from using network resources or spectrum without authorization (of the mobile communication network 100 or its network operator). From the perspective of the mobile network operator, it may be important to have the possibility to avoid unauthorized use of network resources (in particular use of radio frequency spectrum, in particular licensed spectrum or radio frequency air interface resources) and to reduce interference between user equipments and to reserve sufficient resources for communication. Therefore, it is advantageously possible according to the invention that in a certain geographical area, certain radio resources are not currently occupied by communications and can therefore be successfully and beneficially used for sensing purposes, while in certain other parts of the network, there may be an expectation of a higher traffic load and therefore sensing can be restricted; thereby, protection of communication resources of the mobile communication network can be achieved.

[0076] According to the present invention, the mobile communication network 100 (or its operator) can control network resources based on the location of the radio frequency sensing station 20 (i.e., based on the location of the user equipment 20, 21), and can configure and reconfigure the user equipment 20, 21, for example, via an over-the-air mechanism (i.e., an OTA mechanism). The user equipment 20, 21 is preferably pre-configured with saved information, for example, in a user equipment memory. When turned on, the user equipment 20, 21 can load or use a specific sensing configuration, for example, based on its location. In addition, according to the present invention, it is also possible that sensing can also be used outside of coverage (i.e., in the case where the user equipment 21 is outside of coverage with respect to the mobile communication network 100), and correspondingly it is also possible to control the user equipment 20, 21 (or the radio frequency sensing station 20, 21) without network coverage.

[0077] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the home network (especially the home public land mobile network, i.e., HPLMN) of the user equipment 20, 21 (for example, by means of a configuration server or a sensing service function or a sensing service node 140) pre-configures the user equipment 20, 21 (as a radio frequency sensing station 20, 21) with authorization information for a list of networks (or public land mobile networks, i.e., PLMNs), wherein the user equipment 20, 21 is authorized to perform radio frequency sensing or to be part of a radio frequency sensing service.

[0078] In particular, the home network (or HPLMN) pre-configures the user equipment 20, 21 with a specific sensing service configuration based on location, since in some locations radio frequency sensing may be restricted, whereas in other locations radio frequency sensing is allowed.

[0079] In particular, the home network or HPLMN pre-configures the user equipment 20, 21 with "out of coverage" usage of location based sensing.

[0080] When the user equipment 20, 21 turns on or declares to start using the RF sensing service (i.e., activates its RF sensing functionality to perform RF sensing), it preferably determines its location via different possible ways (e.g., by means of a global navigation satellite system (such as GPS) and / or by means of a network location obtained via user equipment registration and / or a specific tracking area TA), and based on the location, the user equipment 20, 21 loads a specific configuration from the user equipment memory (e.g., pre-saved in the user equipment terminal (mobile equipment ME) or UICC). In the absence of a specific configuration for the specific location where the user equipment 20, 21 is located, the user equipment 20, 21 may use a default configuration for the sensing service.

[0081] Furthermore, in particular the home network or HPLMN may be able to reconfigure these settings, eg due to a planned change regarding eg the configuration of all user equipment (eg via an over-the-air mechanism, ie OTA mechanism).

[0082] When received by the user equipment 20, 21, such information (provided by the home network) can be saved in the memory (ME, USIM) of the user equipment and further used when needed and whenever the user equipment 20, 21 is in the area. This also includes the use of specific radio frequency signals to be used and / or the use of specific spectrum or specific radio frequency air interface resources - i.e. which frequency band, how many user equipment 20, 21 can be part of such service and up to what distance, which specific measurements the user equipment 20, 21 can perform for sensing.

[0083] Alternatively, according to other embodiments of the present invention, the user equipment 20, 21 may first connect to the sensing service node 140 in order to receive a configuration on whether and how to use the radio frequency sensing service in the corresponding area where such radio frequency sensing service is currently available. Such configuration or configuration information may be received via an application programming interface API or via non-access stratum NAS communication (an alternative to the OTA mechanism) from the sensing service node 140 as a specific configuration server and after the corresponding (considered) user equipment 20, 21 has contacted it. When the user equipment 20, 21 is turned on or when the user equipment 20, 21 declares to start using the radio frequency sensing service, the user equipment 20, 21 must request the network (configuration server or sensing service node 140) for a specific sensing service configuration and radio resources allowed for radio frequency sensing. The user equipment 20, 21 may send its location, or the mobile communication network 100 may check the location of the user equipment and send a specific configuration for the area (i.e. the corresponding area where the corresponding user equipment 20, 21 is considered) based on the location. Such configuration server / sensing function (ie, sensing service node 140 or sensing service entity or functionality) can be a network function or an application function; however, such transmission of configuration information requires that the user equipment 20, 21 (at least at the time of the transmission) has network coverage.

Claims

1. A method for performing radio frequency sensing involving at least a radio frequency sensing station (20) being part of a mobile communication network (100), wherein the radio frequency sensing station (20) is capable of activating radio frequency sensing functionality and performing radio frequency sensing by: -- transmit a radio frequency sensing signal (410) and / or -- receiving a radio frequency sensing reception signal (420), in, In order to perform the radio frequency sensing and / or activate the radio frequency sensing functionality, the method comprises the following steps: - in a first step, the radio frequency sensing station (20) receives or generates or determines a sensing related indication, wherein the sensing related indication relates to or indicates whether the radio frequency sensing station (20) is allowed or authorized to perform sensing or activate the radio frequency sensing functionality at the present or current location of the radio frequency sensing station, - In a second step, the radio frequency sensing station (20) performs sensing or activates the radio frequency sensing functionality depending on the sensing-related indication or the content of the sensing-related indication.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in or during the first step, the radio frequency sensing station (20) has or receives sensing-related location information, wherein: The sensing-related location information (20) indicates or relates to where or at which locations or areas the radio frequency sensing station (20) is allowed or authorized to perform sensing or where or at which locations or areas the radio frequency sensing station (20) is not allowed or authorized to perform sensing, and also in or during the first step, the radio frequency sensing station (20) receives or generates or determines location information, wherein the location information indicates or relates to a present or current location or position of the radio frequency sensing station (20), The RF sensing station (20) determines, based on both the sensing-related location information and the location information, that the sensing-related indication relates to or indicates whether the RF sensing station (20) is allowed or authorized to sense or activate the RF sensing functionality at the RF sensing station's present or current location.

3. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensing-related position information comprises at least one of: an indication of a location-based specific sensing service configuration, the indication being an indication of a location or geographical area where sensing or activation of the radio frequency sensing functionality is restricted or prohibited and / or a location or geographical area where sensing or activation of the radio frequency sensing functionality is authorized or permitted, - an indication of which networks, in particular public land mobile networks, the radio frequency sensing station (20) is allowed or authorized to perform or conduct sensing or activate the radio frequency sensing functionality, wherein: In particular, the sensing-related location information comprises a list of such networks, - an indication of a location-based specific sensing service configuration associated with an out-of-coverage situation of the radio frequency sensing station (20), the indication being an indication of a location or geographical area where sensing or activation of the radio frequency sensing functionality is restricted or prohibited and / or a location or geographical area where sensing or activation of the radio frequency sensing functionality is authorized or permitted in the event of an out-of-coverage situation of the radio frequency sensing station (20).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the radio frequency sensing station (20) receives the sensing-related indication by means of at least one of: --When the radio frequency sensing station (20) sends a request to a sensing service node (140) of the mobile communication network (100) or a sensing service node (140) assigned by the mobile communication network (100), wherein: The sensing-related indication is transmitted by the sensing service node (140) and received by the RF sensing station (20) after the RF sensing station (20) provides location information of the present or current location or position of the RF sensing station (20), in particular as part of a request, or after the present or current location or position of the RF sensing station (20) is determined by the mobile communication network (100), -- as an information element, in particular as an information element that is part of a system information block, in particular as an information element broadcasted by a base station entity.

5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sensing-related location information and / or the sensing-related indication comprises specific sensing service configuration information, in particular an indication of radio resources allowed for sensing.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensing-related location information is transmitted to the radio frequency sensing station (20) and received by the radio frequency sensing station (20) by means of at least one of the following: -- an OTA air transmission mechanism, wherein the OTA transmission mechanism is initiated in particular by the mobile communication network (100), - by pre-configuring the sensing-related location information in a memory location of the radio frequency sensing station (20) or in the radio frequency sensing station (20), in particular in a universal integrated circuit card of the radio frequency sensing station (20).

7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the radio frequency sensing station (20) is or corresponds to a user equipment (20), wherein the mobile communication network (100) corresponds in particular to a home network of the user equipment (20), in particular a public land mobile network or a non-public network.

8. A system or mobile communication network (100) for performing radio frequency sensing involving at least a radio frequency sensing station as part of the mobile communication network (100), wherein the radio frequency sensing station (20) is operable such that radio frequency sensing functionality is activated and radio frequency sensing is performed by: -- transmit a radio frequency sensing signal (410) and / or -- receiving a radio frequency sensing reception signal (420), in, In order to perform the radio frequency sensing and / or activate the radio frequency sensing functionality, the system or mobile communication network (100) is configured such that: a sensing-related indication is transmitted to the RF sensing station (20) and received by the RF sensing station (20), or is generated or determined by the RF sensing station (20), wherein the sensing-related indication relates to or indicates whether the RF sensing station (20) is allowed or authorized to perform sensing or activate the RF sensing functionality at the present or current location of the RF sensing station, wherein, depending on the sensing-related indication or the content of the sensing-related indication, sensing is performed or the RF sensing functionality is activated, or sensing is not performed or the RF sensing functionality is deactivated, The mobile communication network (100) corresponds in particular to a home network of the radio frequency sensing station (20) or the user equipment (20), in particular a public land mobile network or a non-public network.

9. A radio frequency sensing station (140), the radio frequency sensing station being or corresponding to a user equipment (20) in or as part of the system or mobile communication network according to claim 8, or being used in a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A sensing service node (140) used in or as part of a system or a mobile communication network according to claim 8 or in a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

11. A program comprising a computer-readable program code, which, when executed on a computer, and / or on a radio frequency sensing station (20), and / or on a network node of a mobile communication network (100), and / or on a sensing service node (140) of the mobile communication network (100), or partly on the radio frequency sensing station (20), and / or partly on the network node of the mobile communication network (100), and / or partly on the sensing service node (140), causes the computer and / or the radio frequency sensing station (20), and / or the network node of the mobile communication network (100), and / or the sensing service node (140) to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

12. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which instructions, when executed on a computer, and / or on a radio frequency sensing station (20), and / or on a network node of a mobile communication network (100), and / or on a sensing service node (140) of the mobile communication network (100), or partially on the radio frequency sensing station (20), and / or partially on the network node of the mobile communication network (100), and / or partially on the sensing service node (140), cause the computer and / or the radio frequency sensing station (20), and / or the network node of the mobile communication network (100), and / or the sensing service node (140) to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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