Power saving in reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) based sensing

Abstract

Systems, apparatus, processes, and computer-readable media for wireless communication are disclosed. For example, a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) may receive a start RIS operating mode configuration message including an indication to start a power saving mode. The RIS may configure a hyper-element configuration for hyper-elements of the RIS from a set of hyper-element configurations based on the power saving pattern.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Generally speaking, the present disclosure relates to wireless communication. For example, aspects of the present disclosure relate to power saving in sensing based on reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS). Background Art

[0002] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcasting, etc. These systems may be able to support communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multi-access systems include fourth-generation (4G) systems (such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) systems, Advanced LTE (LTE-A) systems, or LTE-A Pro systems) and fifth-generation (5G) systems (which may be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems). These systems may employ technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multi-access communication system may include one or more base stations or one or more network access nodes, each of which simultaneously supports communication for multiple communication devices (which may also be referred to as user equipment (UE)). Some wireless communication systems may support communication between UEs, which may involve direct transmission between two or more UEs.

[0003] Since larger bandwidths are allocated for wireless cellular communication systems (e.g., including 5G and beyond 5G), and more use cases are introduced into the cellular communication system, multiplexing sensing signals and communication signals for joint communication and sensing may be a necessary feature of existing or future wireless communication systems, such as to enhance the overall spectral efficiency of wireless communication networks. Summary of the Invention

[0004] A brief summary of the invention related to one or more aspects disclosed herein is given below. Accordingly, the following summary should not be considered an extensive review related to all contemplated aspects, and the following summary should neither be considered to identify key or critical elements related to all contemplated aspects nor to delineate the scope associated with any particular aspect. Thus, the sole purpose of the following summary is to present in brief form certain concepts related to one or more aspects involving the mechanisms disclosed herein prior to the detailed description presented below.

[0005] Systems and techniques for wireless communication are described. According to at least one example, a method of wireless communication at a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) is provided. The method includes: receiving, by the RIS, a start RIS operating mode configuration message that includes an indication to start a power saving mode; and configuring, by the RIS, a super-element configuration for the super-elements of the RIS from a set of super-element configurations based on the power saving mode.

[0006] In another illustrative example, a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) for wireless communication is provided. The RIS includes at least one memory and at least one processor, the at least one processor being coupled to the at least one memory and configured to: receive a start RIS operating mode configuration message that includes an indication to start a power saving mode; and configure a super-element configuration for the super-elements of the RIS from a set of super-element configurations based on the power saving mode.

[0007] In another illustrative example, a non-transitory computer-readable medium for a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) is provided, the non-transitory computer-readable medium including at least one instruction stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, may cause the one or more processors to: receive a start RIS operating mode configuration message that includes an indication to start a power saving mode; and configure a super-element configuration for the super-elements of the RIS from a set of super-element configurations based on the power saving mode.

[0008] In another illustrative example, an apparatus for wireless communication is provided. The apparatus includes: means for receiving a start RIS operating mode configuration message that includes an indication to start a power saving mode; and means for configuring a super-element configuration for the super-elements of a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) from a set of super-element configurations based on the power saving mode.

[0009] In another illustrative example, a method of wireless communication performed at a network device is provided. The method includes: receiving, by the network device, a capability report message from a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS); determining, by the network device, to start a power saving mode for the RIS based on the capability report message; and sending, by the network device, a start RIS operating mode configuration message that includes an indication to start the power saving mode for the RIS.

[0010] In another illustrative example, a network device for wireless communication is provided. The network device includes at least one memory and at least one processor, the at least one processor being coupled to the at least one memory and configured to: receive a capability report message from a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS); determine, based on the capability report message, to initiate a power saving mode for the RIS; and perform an output for transmitting a start RIS operating mode configuration message including an indication to initiate the power saving mode for the RIS.

[0011] In another illustrative example, a non-transitory computer-readable medium of a network device is provided, the non-transitory computer-readable medium including at least one instruction stored thereon, the at least one instruction, when executed by one or more processors, being capable of causing the one or more processors to: receive a capability report message from a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS); determine, based on the capability report message, to initiate a power saving mode for the RIS; and perform an output for transmitting a start RIS operating mode configuration message including an indication to initiate the power saving mode for the RIS.

[0012] In another illustrative example, a device for wireless communication is provided. The device includes: a unit for receiving a capability report message from a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS); a unit for determining, based on the capability report message, to initiate a power saving mode for the RIS; and a unit for transmitting a start RIS operating mode configuration message including an indication to initiate the power saving mode for the RIS.

[0013] In some aspects, the network device or device described herein is a UE such as, among other things, a wearable device, an extended reality (XR) device (e.g., a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, or a mixed reality (MR) device), a head-mounted display (HMD) device, a wireless communication device, a mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone and / or a mobile handset and / or a so-called "smartphone" or other mobile device), a camera, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a server computer, a vehicle or a computing device or component of a vehicle, another device, or a combination thereof. In some aspects, the device includes one or more cameras for capturing one or more images. In some aspects, the device further includes a display for displaying one or more images, notifications, and / or other displayable data. In some aspects, the above device may include one or more sensors (e.g., one or more inertial measurement units (IMUs), such as one or more gyroscopes, one or more gyro testers, one or more accelerometers, any combination thereof, and / or other sensors).

[0014] The invention content is neither intended to identify the key or essential features of the claimed subject matter nor to be used alone to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to the appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all of the drawings, and each claim.

[0015] The above and other features and aspects will become more apparent when referring to the following specification, claims, and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The drawings are provided to assist in describing various aspects of the present disclosure and are provided only for illustration of the aspects and not for limitation thereof.

[0017] Figure 1 FIG. is a diagram illustrating an example wireless communication system that can be employed by the disclosed systems and techniques for power saving in RIS-based sensing, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 2 FIG. is a diagram illustrating an example of a decomposed base station architecture that can be employed by the disclosed systems and techniques for power saving in RIS-based sensing, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 3 FIG. is a diagram illustrating an example of a frame structure that can be employed by the disclosed systems and techniques for power saving in RIS-based sensing, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0020] Figure 4 FIG. is a block diagram illustrating an example of a computing system of an electronic device that can be employed by the disclosed systems and techniques for power saving in RIS-based sensing, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 5 FIG. is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless device utilizing radio frequency (RF) monostatic sensing technology, where the RF monostatic sensing technology can be employed by the disclosed systems and techniques described herein to determine one or more characteristics of a target object.

[0022] Figure 6 FIG. is a diagram illustrating an example of a receiver utilizing RF bistatic sensing technology with one transmitter, where the RF bistatic sensing technology with one transmitter can be employed by the disclosed systems and techniques described herein to determine one or more characteristics of a target object.

[0023] Figure 7FIG. 0 is a diagram illustrating an example of a receiver utilizing RF bistatic sensing technology with multiple transmitters, where the RF bistatic sensing technology with multiple transmitters can be employed by the disclosed systems and techniques described herein to determine one or more characteristics of a target object.

[0024] Figure 8 FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example geometric structure for bistatic (or monostatic) sensing, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 9 FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the bistatic range of bistatic sensing, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 10A FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system for performing RIS-assisted communication, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 10B FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system for performing RIS-assisted sensing, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 11A FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system for sensing in the presence of line-of-sight (LOS) blockage, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 11B FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system for sensing in the presence of insufficient coverage, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 11C FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system for sensing in the presence of insufficient reference anchors, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0031] Figure 11D FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system for sensing in the presence of insufficient spatial resolution, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0032] Figure 12A FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system for power saving in RIS-based sensing for overcoming LOS blockage, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0033] Figure 12B FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system for power saving in RIS-based sensing in the presence of sufficient coverage, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 12C FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system for power saving in RIS-based sensing in the presence of sufficient reference anchors, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 12D FIG. is an example of a diagram showing a system for power saving in RIS-based sensing with sufficient spatial resolution, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 13A FIG. is an example of a diagram showing a general model of a RIS that can be employed by the disclosed systems and techniques for power saving in RIS-based sensing, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 13B FIG. is an example of a diagram showing, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure, for Figure 13A a far-field model of a RIS.

[0038] Figure 13C FIG. is an example of a diagram showing, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure, for Figures 13A to 13B a table of example phase shifts and amplitude responses for different configurations of a RIS.

[0039] Figure 13D FIG. is an example of a diagram showing a scenario in which a refractive RIS is used to direct a communication signal from a network device to a first target object and a second target object, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0040] Figure 13E FIG. is an example of a diagram showing a far-field model of a refractive (or transmissive) RIS, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0041] Figure 13F FIG. is an example of a diagram showing a near-field model of a refractive (or transmissive) RIS, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 13G FIG. is an example of a refractive / transmissive RIS that acts as an external radar to sense objects inside a building, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0043] Figure 13H and Figure 13I FIG. is an example of a diagram showing the differences between a reflective RIS and a refractive / transmissive RIS, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0044] Figure 14 FIG. is an example of a diagram showing, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure, for Figure 13A and Figure 13B a table of example states (e.g., on state and off state) of PIN diodes for different configurations of a RIS.

[0045] Figure 15FIG. is an example showing signaling of a system that can be utilized for power saving in RIS-based sensing, where the signaling is used to initiate the RIS power saving mode.

[0046] Figure 16 FIG. is an example showing signaling of a system that can be utilized for power saving in RIS-based sensing, where the signaling is used to stop the RIS power saving mode.

[0047] Figure 17 FIG. is an example showing signaling of a system that can be utilized for power saving in RIS-based sensing, where the signaling is used to configure the maximum percentage threshold.

[0048] Figure 18A FIG. is a flowchart showing an example of a process for wireless communication at a RIS according to some aspects of the present disclosure, the process utilizing a method for power saving in RIS-based sensing.

[0049] Figure 18B FIG. is a flowchart showing an example of a process for wireless communication at a network device based on a method for power saving in RIS-based sensing according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0050] Figure 19 FIG. is a block diagram showing an example of a computing system that can be adopted by the disclosed systems and technologies for power saving in RIS-based sensing according to some aspects of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] Certain aspects of the present disclosure are provided for illustrative purposes below. Alternative aspects can be designed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, well-known elements of the present disclosure will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the present disclosure. Some of the aspects described herein can be applied independently, and some of them can be applied in combination, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the following description, specific details are set forth for purposes of explanation in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects of the present application. However, it will be apparent that the various aspects can be practiced without these specific details. The drawings and the description are not intended to be restrictive.

[0052] The following description provides example aspects and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure. Rather, the following description of example aspects will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing the example aspects. It should be understood that various changes may be made to the functionality and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the present application as set forth in the appended claims.

[0053] A radar sensing system uses radio frequency (RF) waveforms to perform RF sensing to determine or estimate one or more characteristics of a target object, such as the distance, angle, and / or velocity of the target object. The target object may include a vehicle, an obstacle, a user, a building, or other objects. A typical radar system includes at least one transmitter, at least one receiver, and at least one processor. When using one receiver co-located with the transmitter, the radar sensing system may perform monostatic sensing. When using one receiver of a first device located away from a transmitter of a second device, the radar system may perform bistatic sensing. Similarly, when using multiple receivers of multiple devices all located away from at least one transmitter of at least one device, the radar system may perform multistatic sensing.

[0054] During operation of the radar sensing system, the transmitter sends an electromagnetic (EM) signal in the RF domain towards the target object. The signal reflects off the target object to generate one or more reflected signals, which provide information or attributes about the target, such as the location and velocity of the target object. At least one receiver receives the one or more reflected signals, and at least one processor associated with the at least one receiver utilizes the information from the one or more reflected signals to determine the information or attributes of the target object. The target object may also be referred to herein as the target.

[0055] Generally, RF sensing involves monitoring moving targets with different motions (e.g., a moving car or pedestrian, the body motion of a person such as breathing, and / or other micro-motions associated with the target). Measuring the phase change in the signal and the Doppler indicating the motion are important characteristics for sensing the target.

[0056] In some cases, a radar sensing signal, which may be referred to as a radar reference signal (RS) (such as a sensing reference signal (S-RS)), may be designed for and used for sensing purposes. The radar RS does not contain any communication information. In contrast, a communication RS (such as a demodulation reference signal (DMRS)) is typically designed for and used only for communication purposes, such as estimating channel parameters for communication.

[0057] Cellular communication systems are designed to transmit communication signals over a specified communication frequency band (e.g., 23 gigahertz (GHz) for 5G / NR, 3.5 GHz, etc., 2.2 GHz for LTE, etc.). RF sensing systems are designed to transmit RF sensing signals over a specified radar RF frequency band (e.g., 77 GHz for autonomous driving). The spectrum for communication and sensing is likely to be shared in future cellular communication systems, in which case communication and sensing should be considered jointly.

[0058] In some cases, since larger bandwidths are allocated for wireless communication systems (e.g., including cellular communication systems such as 4G / LTE, 5G / NR, and beyond), and more use cases are introduced into wireless communication systems, multiplexing (e.g., via time-division multiplexing and / or frequency-division multiplexing) sensing signals and communication signals for joint communication and sensing can be an essential feature of existing or future wireless communication systems. Performing wireless communication and radar sensing simultaneously can provide cost-effective deployment for both radar systems and communication systems.

[0059] Joint communication and radar sensing can provide mutual performance gains. For example, sensing information (such as Doppler measurements) can be used to improve communication link quality (e.g., sensing-assisted communication). Additionally, with respect to wireless communication networks, collaborative sensing can be more feasible (e.g., communication-assisted sensing).

[0060] Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) using multiplexed sensing signals and communication signals can be considered a key 5G and sixth-generation (6G) feature by the cellular industry. ISAC can provide cost effectiveness by leveraging shared RF and possibly baseband hardware (HW) for both sensing and communication. ISAC can also provide spectral efficiency by providing always-on availability of the spectrum for both sensing use cases and communication use cases. ISAC can be utilized for a variety of different use cases, which include but are not limited to macro sensing (e.g., weather monitoring; autonomous driving; dynamic mapping; low-altitude airspace, such as unmanned aerial vehicle, management; and intruder detection), micro sensing (e.g., gesture recognition, vital sign detection, and high-resolution imaging using terahertz signals), and sensing-assisted communication (e.g., beam management). Some proposals for ISAC have been made in 3GPP. For example, some companies have proposed some requirements and network architectures for ISAC in 3GPP Study Item 1 (SA1). Additionally, in China, International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)-2020 and IMT-2030 are promoting ISAC for 5G-A and 6G.

[0061] Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) can be employed for sensing and / or communication. Traditionally, RISs have been utilized for communication. However, RISs can also be adopted to assist in sensing one or more objects for an integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) system (e.g., to determine the orientation, location, and / or other characteristics of one or more objects). Compared to what is required for RIS-assisted communication, RIS-assisted sensing may demand a higher accuracy (e.g., higher precision) of the RIS location.

[0062] RISs can shape the wireless environment into a desirable form at low cost. In practice, RISs have three types of implementations, which include reflective (e.g., where signals can be reflected by the RIS), transmissive (e.g., where signals can penetrate the RIS), and hybrid (e.g., where the RIS can have dual functions of reflection and transmission).

[0063] RISs are programmable array structures that can be used to control the propagation of electromagnetic (EM) waves (e.g., manipulate RF beams) by changing the electrical and magnetic properties of the RIS surface. RISs include an array of metamaterial RIS elements (e.g., which can be referred to as meta-elements), which are composed of ultrathin surfaces embedded with multiple wavelength scatterers. The electromagnetic properties of the RIS elements can be dynamically controlled by applying control signals to tunable elements (e.g., PIN diodes, varactor diodes, and / or other tunable elements) on the RIS elements, which can enable active and intelligent modulation of electromagnetic waves in a programmable manner to form an electromagnetic field with controllable amplitude, phase, polarization, and / or frequency. For example, the electromagnetic response (e.g., the phase shift for manipulating the RF beam) of the RIS elements can be controlled by programmable PIN diodes.

[0064] Traditional sensing without using RISs may pose many challenges, which can include but are not limited to: limited coverage distance due to in-return transmission, coverage holes (e.g., holes in the coverage area) when there is no line-of-sight (LOS) link between a network device (e.g., a base station) and the target, and an insufficient number of positioning reference points due to a single network device (e.g., a base station) only providing a single reference point. Employing RISs to assist in sensing (e.g., RIS-based sensing) can offer many benefits, including but not limited to: extending the coverage distance by using RIS beamforming, eliminating coverage holes by RISs operating as repeaters (e.g., the RIS can be flexibly deployed to have an LOS link to the coverage hole of the base station), and adding additional reference points for the orientation of the RIS.

[0065] As previously mentioned, the RIS can operate as a repeater, reflecting and / or refracting (e.g., originally radiated from a transmitter such as a base station) sensed signals to generate reflected (for reflective RIS or hybrid RIS) beams and / or refracted (for refractive RIS or hybrid RIS) beams that are directed towards target objects for sensing by receivers (e.g., user equipment) of those target objects. For a reflective RIS, the reflection coefficient of the meta - elements of the RIS can control the direction of propagation of the reflected beam. For a refractive RIS, the refractive coefficient (also referred to as the transmissive coefficient) of the meta - elements of the RIS can control the direction of refraction / transmission of the refracted beam. The magnitude and phase of the reflection coefficient and / or refractive coefficient at each meta - element can vary with frequency. The magnitude / phase of the reflection coefficient and / or refractive coefficient with respect to the frequency characteristics can depend on the RIS hardware structure (e.g., an RIS including meta - elements implemented by PIN diodes or varactor diodes).

[0066] The RIS can operate as a passive device (e.g., where the RIS does not consume power in active radio - wave radiation). Although the RIS can operate as a passive device, the RIS can consume power in the operation of the meta - elements. A varactor - diode - based meta - element (e.g., unit cell) consumes little power. However, a PIN - diode - based meta - element can consume power depending on the PIN - diode state (e.g., on - state or off - state). When the PIN - diode state is off (e.g., the off - state), for each meta - element, the power consumed can be negligible. When the PIN - diode state is on (e.g., the on - state), the power consumed can be approximately 0.33 milliwatts (mW) per meta - element.

[0067] For the purpose of "green communication" (e.g., for reducing carbon emissions) or to extend battery usage time, a "power - saving mode" should be configured for RIS - based sensing. Conventional power saving in an antenna - array panel involves using fewer antenna elements compared to the total number of antenna elements in the antenna - array panel (e.g., by turning off some of the antenna elements within the antenna - array panel). However, adopting a similar power - saving method in the RIS (e.g., using fewer meta - elements in the RIS panel, e.g., by turning off some of the meta - elements in the RIS) will significantly reduce the beamforming gain (e.g., reducing the beamforming gain by 3 decibels (dB) for each halving of the meta - elements).

[0068] In one or more aspects of the present disclosure, systems, devices, methods (also referred to as processes), and computer-readable media that provide solutions for power savings in RIS-based sensing are described herein (collectively referred to as "systems and techniques" herein). The solution can provide a power-saving method for the meta-elements of RIS (e.g., PIN-diode-based meta-elements). This power-saving method allows all meta-elements to be utilized while avoiding large beamforming gain losses.

[0069] In some examples of these solutions, in RIS-based sensing where the RIS is constructed from diode-based meta-elements (e.g., PIN-diode-based meta-elements), each meta-element can have two operating modes (e.g., normal mode and power-saving mode) based on a power consumption value. In the normal mode, all configurations for the meta-elements of the RIS are available. For example, the normal mode can be used in the target object azimuth measurement phase. In the power-saving mode, a set of configurations for the meta-elements with a smaller number (or a certain percentage) of on-state PIN diodes is available, while another set of configurations for the meta-elements with a larger number (or a certain percentage) of on-state PIN diodes is not available. For example, the power-saving mode can be used in the target object presence detection phase.

[0070] Thus, the systems and techniques provide a RIS power-saving operating mode (e.g., a low-power configuration that only uses a smaller number or a certain percentage of on-state PIN diodes) for each meta-element of the RIS. A protocol and signaling design are provided for this RIS power-saving operating mode. Operating the RIS using this RIS power-saving operating mode can significantly reduce the RIS power consumption with only a slight beamforming gain loss (e.g., reflection beamforming gain loss).

[0071] Additional aspects of the present disclosure are described in more detail below.

[0072] As used herein, unless otherwise indicated, the terms "user equipment" (UE) and "network entity" are not intended to be specific to or otherwise limited to any particular radio access technology (RAT). In general, a UE can be any wireless communication device (e.g., a mobile phone, router, tablet computer, laptop computer, and / or tracking device, etc.) that a user uses to communicate over a wireless communication network, a wearable device (e.g., a smartwatch, smart glasses, wearable ring, and / or extended reality (XR) device such as a virtual reality (VR) headset, augmented reality (AR) headset or glasses, or mixed reality (MR) headset), a vehicle (e.g., a car, motorcycle, bicycle, etc.), and / or an Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc. The UE can be mobile or can be stationary (e.g., at certain times) and can communicate with a radio access network (RAN). As used herein, the term "UE" can be interchangeably referred to as "access terminal" or "AT", "client device", "wireless device", "subscriber device", "subscriber terminal", "subscriber station", "user terminal" or "UT", "mobile device", "mobile terminal", "mobile station", or a variant thereof. In general, a UE can communicate with a core network via a RAN, and through the core network, the UE can connect to an external network such as the Internet and to other UEs. Of course, other mechanisms for the UE to connect to the core network and / or the Internet are also possible, such as over a wired access network, a wireless local area network (WLAN) network (e.g., based on the IEEE 802.11 communication standard, etc.), and so on.

[0073] A network entity may be implemented in a centralized or monolithic base station architecture, or alternatively, in a distributed base station architecture, and may include one or more of a Central Unit (CU), a Distributed Unit (DU), a Radio Unit (RU), a Near Real-Time (Near-RT) RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), or a Non-Real-Time (Non-RT) RIC. A base station (e.g., having a centralized / monolithic base station architecture or a distributed base station architecture) may operate according to one of several Radio Access Technologies (RATs) that communicate with a UE, depending on the network in which it is deployed, and may alternatively be referred to as an Access Point (AP), a network node, Node B (NB), evolved Node B (eNB), next-generation eNB (ng-eNB), New Radio (NR) Node B (also referred to as gNB or g-node B), etc. A base station may be primarily used to support wireless access for a UE, including supporting data, voice, and / or signaling connections for the supported UE. In some systems, a base station may provide edge node signaling functions, while in other systems, it may provide additional control and / or network management functions. A communication link through which a UE may send signals to a base station is referred to as an Uplink (UL) channel (e.g., a reverse traffic channel, a reverse control channel, an access channel, etc.). A communication link through which a base station may send signals to a UE is referred to as a Downlink (DL) or Forward Link channel (e.g., a paging channel, a control channel, a broadcast channel, or a forward traffic channel, etc.). As used herein, the term Traffic Channel (TCH) may refer to an uplink, reverse, or downlink, and / or forward traffic channel.

[0074] The term "network entity" or "base station" (e.g., having a centralized / monolithic base station architecture or a distributed base station architecture) can refer to a single physical transmit-receive point (TRP) or to multiple physical transmit-receive points (TRPs) that may or may not be co-located. For example, in the case where the term "network entity" or "base station" refers to a single physical TRP, the physical TRP can be an antenna of the base station corresponding to a cell (or cell sectors) of the base station. In the case where the term "network entity" or "base station" refers to multiple co-located physical TRPs, the physical TRPs can be an antenna array of the base station (e.g., as in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system or in the case where beamforming is employed by the base station). In the case where the term "base station" refers to multiple non-co-located physical TRPs, the physical TRPs can be a distributed antenna system (DAS) (a network of spatially separated antennas connected to a common source via a transmission medium) or a remote radio head (RRH) (a remote base station connected to a serving base station). Alternatively, the non-co-located physical TRPs can be a serving base station that receives measurement reports from the UE and a neighbor base station whose reference radio frequency (RF) signal (or simply "reference signal") the UE is measuring. Since, as used herein, a TRP is the point from which a base station transmits and receives radio signals, a reference to transmission from a base station or reception at a base station should be understood to refer to a particular TRP of the base station.

[0075] In some implementations that support UE positioning, a network entity or base station may not support wireless access for the UE (e.g., may not support data, voice, and / or signaling connections for the UE), but instead may send a reference signal to the UE to be measured by the UE, and / or may receive and measure signals sent by the UE. Such a base station may be referred to as a positioning beacon (e.g., when sending a signal to the UE) and / or as a position measurement unit (e.g., when receiving and measuring signals from the UE).

[0076] An RF signal includes an electromagnetic wave having a given frequency that transmits information through the space between a transmitter and a receiver. As used herein, a transmitter may send a single "RF signal" or multiple "RF signals" to a receiver. However, due to the propagation characteristics of RF signals through a multipath channel, a receiver may receive multiple "RF signals" corresponding to each transmitted RF signal. The same transmitted RF signal on different paths between the transmitter and the receiver may be referred to as a "multipath" RF signal. As used herein, an RF signal may also be referred to as a "radio signal" or simply as a "signal", where it is clear from the context that the term "signal" refers to a radio signal or an RF signal.

[0077] According to various aspects, Figure 1FIG. 0 shows an exemplary wireless communication system 100 that may be employed by the disclosed systems and techniques described herein for power saving in RIS-based sensing. The wireless communication system 100 (which may also be referred to as a wireless wide area network (WWAN)) may include various base stations 102 and various UEs 104. In some aspects, the base stations 102 may also be referred to as "network entities" or "network nodes". One or more of the base stations 102 may be implemented in an aggregated or monolithic base station architecture. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the base stations 102 may be implemented in a disaggregated base station architecture and may include one or more of a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a radio unit (RU), a near real-time (near-RT) RAN intelligent controller (RIC), or a non-real-time (non-RT) RIC. The base stations 102 may include macrocell base stations (high-power cellular base stations) and / or small cell base stations (low-power cellular base stations). In one aspect, the macrocell base stations may include eNBs and / or ng-eNBs (where the wireless communication system 100 corresponds to a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network) or gNBs (where the wireless communication system 100 corresponds to a New Radio (NR) network) or a combination of both, and the small cell base stations may include femtocells, picocells, microcells, etc.

[0078] The base stations 102 may collectively form a RAN and interface with a core network 170 (e.g., an evolved packet core (EPC) or a 5G core (5GC)) via a backhaul link 122 and interface to one or more location servers 172 (which may be part of the core network 170 or may be external to the core network 170) via the core network 170. Among other functions, the base stations 102 may perform functions related to one or more of the following: transmitting user data, radio channel encryption and decryption, integrity protection, header compression, mobility control functions (e.g., handover, dual connectivity), inter-cell interference coordination, connection establishment and release, load balancing, distribution of non-access stratum (NAS) messages, NAS node selection, synchronization, RAN sharing, multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS), subscriber and device tracking, radio access network information management (RIM), paging, positioning, and delivery of warning messages. The base stations 102 may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., via the EPC or 5GC) on a backhaul link 134 (which may be wired and / or wireless).

[0079] Base station 102 may communicate wirelessly with UE 104. Each base station in base station 102 may provide communication coverage for a corresponding geographical coverage area 110. In one aspect, base station 102 may support one or more cells in each coverage area 110. A "cell" is a logical communication entity used for communication with a base station (e.g., on a certain frequency resource (referred to as carrier frequency, component carrier, carrier, frequency band, etc.)), and may be associated with an identifier (e.g., physical cell identifier (PCI), virtual cell identifier (VCI), cell global identifier (CGI)) for differentiating cells operating via the same or different carrier frequencies. In some cases, different cells may be configured according to different protocol types (e.g., machine type communication (MTC), narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) or others) that may provide access for different types of UEs. Since a cell is supported by a specific base station, the term "cell" may refer to either or both of the logical communication entity and the base station supporting the entity depending on the context. Additionally, since a TRP is typically the physical transmission point of a cell, the terms "cell" and "TRP" may be used interchangeably. In some cases, the term "cell" may also refer to the geographical coverage area (e.g., sector) of a base station, in terms of the carrier frequency being detectable and used for communication within a certain part of the geographical coverage area 110.

[0080] Although the geographical coverage areas 110 of adjacent macro cell base stations 102 may partially overlap (e.g., in a handover area), some of the geographical coverage areas 110 may be substantially overlapped by a larger geographical coverage area 110. For example, a small cell base station 102' may have a coverage area 110' that substantially overlaps with the coverage areas 110 of one or more macro cell base stations 102. A network including both small cell base stations and macro cell base stations may be referred to as a heterogeneous network. A heterogeneous network may also include a home eNB (HeNB), which may provide services to a restricted group called a closed subscriber group (CSG).

[0081] The communication link 120 between base station 102 and UE 104 may include an uplink (also referred to as reverse link) transmission from UE 104 to base station 102 and / or a downlink (also referred to as forward link) transmission from base station 102 to UE 104. The communication link 120 may use MIMO antenna technology, which includes spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and / or transmit diversity. The communication link 120 may pass through one or more carrier frequencies. The allocation of carriers may be asymmetric with respect to the downlink and uplink (e.g., more or fewer carriers may be allocated for the downlink compared to the uplink).

[0082] Base station 102 may communicate with one or more reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) 123 via communication link 121. As described herein, RISs may be employed for communication and / or for sensing (e.g., to determine the orientation, location, and / or other characteristics of one or more objects). RIS 123 may include a programmable array structure that may be used to control the propagation of electromagnetic (EM) waves (e.g., by manipulating an RF beam from base station 102) by changing the electrical and magnetic properties of the surface of RIS 123. For example, RIS 123 may include an array of metamaterial RIS elements (or super elements) composed of an ultrathin surface embedded with a plurality of wavelength scatterers. The electromagnetic properties of the RIS elements may be dynamically controlled by applying control signals to tunable elements (e.g., PIN diodes, varactor diodes, and / or other tunable elements) on the RIS elements, which may enable active and intelligent modulation of electromagnetic waves in a programmable manner to form an electromagnetic field with controllable amplitude, phase, polarization, and / or frequency. For example, the electromagnetic response of the RIS elements (e.g., manipulating the phase shift of an RF beam) may be controlled by programmable PIN diodes.

[0083] Wireless communication system 100 may further include a WLAN AP 150 that communicates with a WLAN station (STA) 152 via communication link 154 in an unlicensed spectrum (e.g., 5 gigahertz (GHz)). When communicating in an unlicensed spectrum, the WLAN STA 152 and / or the WLAN AP 150 may perform a clear channel assessment (CCA) or listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure before communicating to determine whether the channel is available. In some examples, wireless communication system 100 may include devices (e.g., UEs, etc.) that communicate with one or more UEs 104, base stations 102, APs 150, etc. using the ultra-wideband (UWB) spectrum. The range of the UWB spectrum may be from 3.1 GHz to 10.5 GHz.

[0084] Small cell base station 102' may operate in a licensed spectrum and / or an unlicensed spectrum. When operating in an unlicensed spectrum, small cell base station 102' may employ LTE or NR technologies and use the same 5 GHz unlicensed spectrum as that used by, e.g., WLAN AP 150. Small cell base stations 102' employing LTE and / or 5G in an unlicensed spectrum may enhance the coverage of the access network and / or increase the capacity of the access network. NR in an unlicensed spectrum may be referred to as NR-U. LTE in an unlicensed spectrum may be referred to as LTE-U, licensed-assisted access (LAA), or MulteFire.

[0085] The wireless communication system 100 may also include a millimeter wave (mmW) base station 180, which may operate in the mmW frequency band and / or near mmW frequency to communicate with the UE 182. The mmW base station 180 may be implemented in an integrated or monolithic base station architecture, or alternatively, in a disaggregated base station architecture (e.g., including one or more of a CU, DU, RU, near RT RIC, or non-RT RIC). Extremely high frequency (EHF) is a part of RF in the electromagnetic spectrum. EHF has a range of 30 GHz to 300 GHz and a wavelength between 1 millimeter and 10 millimeters. Radio waves in this frequency band may be referred to as millimeter waves. Near mmW may extend down to a frequency of 3 GHz, which has a wavelength of 100 millimeters. The super high frequency (SHF) band extends between 3 GHz and 30 GHz and is also referred to as centimeter waves. Communication using the mmW and / or near mmW radio frequency bands has high path loss and a relatively short range. The mmW base station 180 and the UE 182 may utilize beamforming (transmission and / or reception) on the mmW communication link 184 to compensate for the extremely high path loss and short range. Additionally, it will be appreciated that in alternative configurations, one or more of the base stations 102 may also transmit using mmW or near mmW and beamforming. Thus, it will be appreciated that the foregoing description is merely exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the various aspects disclosed herein.

[0086] Transmit beamforming is a technique for focusing an RF signal in a specific direction. Conventionally, when a network node or entity (e.g., a base station) broadcasts an RF signal, it broadcasts the signal in all directions (omnidirectionally). With transmit beamforming, the network node determines where a given target device (e.g., a UE) is located (relative to the transmitting network node) and projects a stronger downlink RF signal in that specific direction, thereby providing a faster (in terms of data rate) and stronger RF signal to the receiving device. To change the direction of the RF signal during transmission, the network node can control the phase and relative amplitude of the RF signal at each of one or more transmitters that are broadcasting the RF signal. For example, the network node may use an array of antennas (referred to as a "phased array" or "antenna array") that creates a beam of RF waves that can be "steered" to point in different directions without actually moving the antennas. Specifically, the RF currents from the transmitters are fed to the individual antennas with the correct phase relationships such that the radio waves from the separate antennas add together to increase radiation in the desired direction and cancel each other out in the undesired directions to suppress radiation.

[0087] Transmission beams can be quasi - co - located, meaning that they appear to have the same parameters to a receiver (e.g., a UE), regardless of whether the transmission antennas of the network nodes are physically co - located. In NR, there are four types of quasi - co - location (QCL) relationships. Specifically, a given type of QCL relationship means that certain parameters of a second reference RF signal on a second beam can be derived based on information about a source reference RF signal on a source beam. Thus, if the source reference RF signal is of QCL type A, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, and delay spread of the second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is of QCL type B, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift and Doppler spread of the second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is of QCL type C, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift and average delay of the second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is of QCL type D, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the spatial reception parameters of the second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel.

[0088] When performing receive beamforming, the receiver uses a receive beam to amplify the RF signals detected on a given channel. For example, the receiver can increase the gain setting and / or adjust the phase setting of the antenna array in a specific direction to amplify the RF signals received from that direction (e.g., increase its gain level). Thus, when it is said that the receiver performs beamforming in a certain direction, this means that the beam gain in that direction is high relative to the beam gains in other directions, or the beam gain in that direction is the highest compared to the beam gains of other beams available to the receiver. This results in a stronger received signal strength (e.g., reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), signal - to - interference - plus - noise ratio (SINR), etc.) for the RF signals received from that direction.

[0089] The receiving beam can be spatially correlated. Spatial correlation means that the parameters for the transmit beam for the second reference signal can be derived based on information about the receiving beam for the first reference signal. For example, a UE can use a specific receiving beam to receive one or more reference downlink reference signals (e.g., positioning reference signal (PRS), tracking reference signal (TRS), phase-tracking reference signal (PTRS), cell-specific reference signal (CRS), channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), primary synchronization signal (PSS), secondary synchronization signal (SSS), synchronization signal block (SSB), etc.) from a network node or entity (e.g., a base station). Then, the UE can form a transmit beam for sending one or more uplink reference signals (e.g., uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS), sounding reference signal (SRS), demodulation reference signal (DMRS), PTR, etc.) to the network node or entity (e.g., a base station) based on the parameters of the receiving beam.

[0090] Note that a "downlink" beam can be a transmit beam or a receiving beam, depending on the entity forming it. For example, if a network node or entity (e.g., a base station) is forming a downlink beam for sending a reference signal to a UE, the downlink beam is a transmit beam. However, if the UE is forming a downlink beam, it is a receiving beam for receiving downlink reference signals. Similarly, an "uplink" beam can be a transmit beam or a receiving beam, depending on the entity forming it. For example, if a network node or entity (e.g., a base station) is forming an uplink beam, it is an uplink receiving beam, and if the UE is forming an uplink beam, it is an uplink transmit beam.

[0091] In 5G, the spectrum in which a wireless network node or entity (e.g., base station 102 / 180, UE 104 / 182) operates is divided into multiple frequency ranges: FR1 (from 450 to 6000 megahertz (MHz)), FR2 (from 24250 to 52600 MHz), FR3 (above 52600 MHz), and FR4 (between FR1 and FR2). In a multi-carrier system such as 5G, one of the carrier frequencies is referred to as the "primary carrier" or "anchor carrier" or "primary serving cell" or "PCell", and the remaining carrier frequencies are referred to as "secondary carriers" or "secondary serving cells" or "SCells". In carrier aggregation, the anchor carrier is the carrier that operates on the primary frequency (e.g., FR1) utilized by the UE 104 / 182 and the cell in which the UE 104 / 182 performs the initial radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment procedure or initiates the RRC connection reconstruction procedure. The primary carrier carries all common control channels and UE-specific control channels, and can be a carrier in a licensed frequency (however, this is not always the case). The secondary carrier is the carrier that operates on a second frequency (e.g., FR2), which can be configured once an RRC connection is established between the UE 104 and the anchor carrier, and which can be used to provide additional radio resources. In some cases, the secondary carrier can be a carrier in an unlicensed frequency. The secondary carrier can contain only the necessary signaling information and signals. For example, since both the primary uplink carrier and the downlink carrier are typically UE-specific, those UE-specific signaling information and signals may not be present in the secondary carrier. This means that different UEs 104 / 182 in a cell can have different downlink primary carriers. This also holds true for the primary uplink carrier. The network is able to change the primary carrier of any UE 104 / 182 at any time. This is done, for example, to balance the load on different carriers. Since a "serving cell" (whether it is a PCell or an SCell) corresponds to the carrier frequency and / or component carrier on which a certain base station is communicating, the terms "cell", "serving cell", "component carrier", "carrier frequency", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0092] For example, still referring to Figure 1, one of the frequencies utilized by macro cell base station 102 can be the anchor carrier (or "PCell"), and other frequencies utilized by macro cell base station 102 and / or mmW base station 180 can be secondary carriers ("SCell"). In carrier aggregation, base station 102 and / or UE 104 can use a total spectrum bandwidth of up to Yx MHz (x component carriers) with up to Y MHz (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20, 100 MHz) per carrier for transmission in each direction. The component carriers can be adjacent to each other in the spectrum or can be non-adjacent to each other. The allocation of carriers can be asymmetric with respect to downlink and uplink (e.g., more or fewer carriers can be allocated for the downlink compared to the uplink). Simultaneous transmission and / or reception on multiple carriers enables UE 104 / 182 to significantly increase its data transmission and / or reception rate. For example, compared to the data rate achieved by a single 20 MHz carrier, two 20 MHz aggregated carriers in a multi-carrier system would theoretically result in a two-fold increase in data rate (i.e., 40 MHz).

[0093] To operate on multiple carrier frequencies, base station 102 and / or UE 104 are equipped with multiple receivers and / or transmitters. For example, UE 104 can have two receivers, namely "Receiver 1" and "Receiver 2", where "Receiver 1" is a multi-band receiver that can be tuned to band (i.e., carrier frequency) 'X' or band 'Y', and "Receiver 2" is a single-band receiver that can only be tuned to band 'Z'. In this example, if UE 104 is being served in band 'X', then band 'X' will be referred to as the PCell or active carrier frequency, and "Receiver 1" will need to be tuned from band 'X' to band 'Y' (SCell) in order to measure band 'Y' (and vice versa). In contrast, regardless of whether UE 104 is being served in band 'X' or band 'Y', due to the separate "Receiver 2", UE 104 can measure band 'Z' without interrupting the service on band 'X' or band 'Y'.

[0094] Wireless communication system 100 can also include UE 164, which can communicate with macro cell base station 102 on communication link 120 and / or communicate with mmW base station 180 on mmW communication link 184. For example, macro cell base station 102 can support a PCell and one or more SCells for UE 164, and mmW base station 180 can support one or more SCells for UE 164.

[0095] The wireless communication system 100 may also include one or more UEs (such as UE 190) indirectly connected to one or more communication networks via one or more device-to-device (D2D) peer-to-peer (P2P) links (referred to as "sidelinks"). In Figure 1 the example of, UE 190 has a D2D P2P link 192 with one of the UEs 104 in UE 104 (where the one UE 104 is connected to one of the base stations 102 in base station 102 (e.g., UE 190 can indirectly obtain a cellular connection through D2D P2P link 192)) and a D2D P2P link 194 with WLAN STA 152 connected to WLAN AP 150 (UE 190 can indirectly obtain a WLAN-based Internet connection through D2D P2P link 194). In one example, any known D2D RAT (such as LTE Direct (LTE-D), Wi-Fi Direct (Wi-Fi-D), etc.) can be utilized to support D2D P2P links 192 and 194. As noted above, UE 104 and UE 190 may be configured to communicate using sidelink communication. In some cases, sidelink transmissions may include requests for feedback from the receiving UE (e.g., Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ)).

[0096] Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of a decomposed base station architecture that can be adopted by the disclosed systems and technologies for power savings in RIS-based sensing. The deployment of a communication system (such as a 5G NR system) can be arranged in various ways and have various components or constituents. In a 5G NR system or network, network nodes, network entities, mobility elements of the network, radio access network (RAN) nodes, core network nodes, network elements, or network devices (such as base stations (BSs)) or one or more units (or one or more components) performing base station functions can be implemented in an aggregated or decomposed architecture. For example, a BS (such as Node B (NB), evolved NB (eNB), NR BS, 5G NB, AP, transmit receive point (TRP), or cell, etc.) can be implemented as an aggregated base station (also referred to as a stand-alone BS or monolithic BS) or a decomposed base station.

[0097] A centralized base station can be configured to utilize a radio protocol stack physically or logically integrated within a single RAN node. A split base station can be configured to utilize a protocol stack physically or logically distributed between two or more units, such as one or more central or centralized units (CUs), one or more distributed units (DUs), or one or more radio units (RUs). In some aspects, a CU can be implemented within a RAN node, and one or more DUs can co-locate with the CU, or alternatively, can be geographically or virtually distributed across one or more other RAN nodes. A DU can be implemented to communicate with one or more RUs. Each of the CU, DU, and RU can also be implemented as a virtual unit (i.e., a virtual central unit (VCU), a virtual distributed unit (VDU), or a virtual radio unit (VRU)).

[0098] The operation of the base station type or the network design can consider the aggregation characteristics of the base station functions. For example, a split base station can be utilized in an integrated access backhaul (IAB) network, an open radio access network (O-RAN, such as a network configuration sponsored by the O-RAN Alliance), or a virtualized radio access network (vRAN, which is also referred to as a cloud radio access network (C-RAN)). The splitting can include: distributing functions between two or more units at respective physical locations, and virtually allocating functions for at least one unit, which can achieve flexibility in network design. Each unit of the split base station or the split RAN architecture can be configured for wired or wireless communication with at least one other unit.

[0099] As previously mentioned, Figure 2 A diagram showing an exemplary split base station 201 architecture. The split base station 201 architecture can include one or more central units (CUs) 211, which can communicate directly with the core network 223 via a backhaul link, or indirectly with the core network 223 through one or more split base station units, such as a near real-time (near RT) RAN intelligent controller (RIC) 227 via an E2 link, or a non-real-time (non RT) RIC 217 associated with a service management and orchestration (SMO) framework 207, or both. The CU 211 can communicate with one or more distributed units (DUs) 231 via a respective midhaul link, such as an F1 interface. The DU 231 can communicate with one or more radio units (RUs) 241 via a respective fronthaul link. The RU 241 can communicate with a respective UE 221 via one or more RF access links. In some implementations, the UE 221 can be served simultaneously by multiple RUs 241.

[0100] Each unit in the unit (i.e., CU 211, DU 231, RU 241, and the near RT RIC 227, non-RT RIC 217, and SMO framework 207) may include one or more interfaces or be coupled to one or more interfaces, and the one or more interfaces are configured to receive or transmit signals, data, or information (collectively referred to as signals) via a wired or wireless transmission medium. Each unit in the unit or the associated processor or controller that provides instructions to the communication interface of the unit may be configured to communicate with one or more units in other units via the transmission medium. For example, the unit may include a wired interface configured to receive or transmit signals on a wired transmission medium to one or more units in other units. Additionally, the unit may include a wireless interface, which may include a receiver, a transmitter, or a transceiver (such as an RF transceiver), and the receiver, transmitter, or transceiver is configured to receive signals or transmit signals or do both on a wireless transmission medium to one or more other units in other units.

[0101] In some aspects, CU 211 may host one or more high-layer control functions. Such control functions may include: Radio Resource Control (RRC), Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP), Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP), and so on. Each control function may be implemented with an interface configured to convey signals with other control functions hosted by CU 211. CU 211 may be configured to handle user plane functions (i.e., Central Unit - User Plane (CU-UP)), control plane functions (i.e., Central Unit - Control Plane (CU-CP)), or a combination thereof. In some implementations, CU 211 may be logically split into one or more CU-UP units and one or more CU-CP units. When implemented in an O-RAN configuration, the CU-UP units may communicate bidirectionally with the CU-CP units via an interface such as the E1 interface. CU 211 may be implemented to communicate with DU 231 when necessary for network control and signaling.

[0102] The DU 231 may correspond to a logical unit that includes one or more base station functions to control the operation of one or more RUs 241. In some aspects, the DU 231 may, at least in part, depending on a function split such as those defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), host one or more of the radio link control (RLC) layer, the media access control (MAC) layer, and one or more high physical (PHY) layers (such as modules for forward error correction (FEC) encoding and decoding, scrambling, modulation, and demodulation, etc.). In some aspects, the DU 231 may also host one or more low PHY layers. Each layer (or module) may be implemented with an interface configured to transmit signals to other layers (and modules) hosted by the DU 231 or to control functions hosted by the CU 211.

[0103] The low layer functions may be implemented by one or more RUs 241. In some deployments, the RUs 241 controlled by the DU 231 may correspond to logical nodes that, at least in part, based on a function split (such as a low layer function split), host RF processing functions or low PHY layer functions (such as performing fast Fourier transform (FFT), inverse FFT (iFFT), digital beamforming, physical random access channel (PRACH) extraction and filtering, etc.) or both. In such an architecture, the RUs 241 may be implemented to handle over-the-air (OTA) communications with one or more UEs 221. In some implementations, the real-time and non-real-time aspects of the control and user plane communications with the RUs 241 may be controlled by the corresponding DU 231. In some cases, this configuration may enable the DU231 and the CU 211 to be implemented in a cloud-based RAN architecture (such as a vRAN architecture).

[0104] The SMO framework 207 can be configured to support RAN deployment and provisioning for both non-virtualized and virtualized network elements. For non-virtualized network elements, the SMO framework 207 can be configured to support the deployment of dedicated physical resources for RAN coverage requirements, which can be managed via an operation and maintenance interface (such as the O1 interface). For virtualized network elements, the SMO framework 207 can be configured to interact with a cloud computing platform (such as the Open Cloud (O-Cloud) 291) to perform network element lifecycle management (such as to instantiate virtualized network elements) via a cloud computing platform interface (such as the O2 interface). Such virtualized network elements can include, but are not limited to, the CU 211, DU 231, RU 241, and the Near RT RIC 227. In some implementations, the SMO framework 207 can communicate with the hardware aspects of a 4G RAN, such as an Open eNB (O-eNB) 213, via the O1 interface. Additionally, in some implementations, the SMO framework 207 can communicate directly with one or more RUs 241 via the O1 interface. The SMO framework 207 can also include a Non-RT RIC 217 configured to support the functions of the SMO framework 207.

[0105] The Non-RT RIC 217 can be configured to include logical functions that implement non-real-time control and optimization of RAN elements and resources, artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI / ML) workflows (including model training and updating), or policy-based steering of applications / features in the Near RT RIC 227. The Non-RT RIC 217 can be coupled to the Near RT RIC 227 or communicate with the Near RT RIC 325 (such as via the A1 interface). The Near RT RIC 227 can be configured to include logical functions that implement near-real-time control and optimization of RAN elements and resources via data collection and actions on an interface (e.g., via the E2 interface) that connects one or more CUs 211, one or more DUs 231, or both, and the O-eNB 216 to the Near RT RIC 227.

[0106] In some implementations, to generate the AI / ML models to be deployed in the near-RT RIC 227, the non-RT RIC 217 may receive parameters or external enrichment information from an external server. Such information may be utilized by the near-RT RIC 227 and may be received at the SMO framework 207 or at the non-RT RIC 217 from non-network data sources or from network functions. In some examples, the non-RT RIC 217 or the near-RT RIC 227 may be configured to tune RAN behavior or performance. For example, the non-RT RIC 217 may monitor long-term trends and patterns for performance and employ an AI / ML model to perform corrective actions via the SMO framework 207 (such as reconfiguration via O1) or via the creation of RAN management policies (such as A1 policies).

[0107] Various radio frame structures may be used to support downlink transmissions, uplink transmissions, and sidelink transmissions between network nodes (e.g., base stations and UEs). Figure 3 FIG. 300 is an example of a frame structure that may be employed by the disclosed systems and techniques for power savings in RIS-based sensing. Other wireless communication technologies may have different frame structures and / or different channels.

[0108] NR (and LTE) utilizes OFDM on the downlink and single-carrier frequency-division multiplexing (SC-FDM) on the uplink. However, different from LTE, NR may also choose to use OFDM on the uplink. OFDM and SC-FDM divide the system bandwidth into multiple (K) orthogonal subcarriers, which are also commonly referred to as tones, frequency bands, etc. Each subcarrier may be modulated with data. Generally, OFDM is utilized in the frequency domain and SC-FDM is utilized in the time domain to transmit modulation symbols. The spacing between adjacent subcarriers may be fixed, and the total number (K) of subcarriers may depend on the system bandwidth. For example, the subcarrier spacing may be 15 kHz, and the minimum resource allocation (resource block) may be 12 subcarriers (or 180 kHz). Thus, for system bandwidths of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 megahertz (MHz), the nominal fast Fourier transform (FFT) size may be equal to 128, 256, 512, 1024, or 2048, respectively. The system bandwidth may also be divided into subbands. For example, a subband may cover 1.08 MHz (i.e., 6 resource blocks), and for system bandwidths of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 MHz, there may be 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 subbands, respectively.

[0109] LTE supports a single numerology (subcarrier spacing, symbol length, etc.). In contrast, NR can support multiple numerologies (μ). For example, subcarrier spacings (SCS) of 15 kHz, 30 kHz, 60 kHz, 120 kHz, and 240 kHz or greater can be available. Table 1 provided below lists some various parameters for different NR numerologies.

[0110]

[0111]

[0112] Table 1

[0113] In one example, a numerology of 15 kHz is used. Thus, in the time domain, a 10 millisecond (ms) frame is divided into 10 equally sized subframes, each 1 ms, and each subframe includes a time slot. In Figure 3 it, time is represented horizontally (e.g., on the X axis), where time increases from left to right, while frequency is represented vertically (e.g., on the Y axis), where frequency increases (or decreases) from bottom to top.

[0114] A resource grid can be used to represent a time slot, and each time slot includes one or more time-concurrent resource blocks (RBs) (also referred to as physical RBs (PRBs)) in the frequency domain. Figure 3 An example of a resource block (RB) 302 is shown. Data or information for combined communication and sensing can be included in one or more RBs 302. RB 302 is arranged with a time domain on the horizontal (or x) axis and a frequency domain on the vertical (or y) axis. As shown, RB 302 can be 180 kilohertz (kHz) wide in frequency and one time slot (where a time slot is 1 millisecond (ms) in time). In some cases, a time slot can include fourteen symbols (e.g., in time slot configuration 0). RB 302 includes twelve subcarriers (along the y axis) and fourteen symbols (along the x axis).

[0115] The intersection of a symbol and a subcarrier can be referred to as a resource element (RE) 304 or a tone. Figure 3 The RB 302 of includes multiple REs, which include resource elements (REs) 304. For example, an RE 304 is 1 subcarrier x 1 symbol (e.g., an OFDM symbol) and is the smallest discrete part of a subframe. An RE 304 includes a single complex value representing data from a physical channel or signal. The number of bits carried by each RE depends on the modulation scheme.

[0116] In some aspects, some REs can be used to transmit downlink reference (pilot) signals (DL-RS). The DL-RS can include positioning reference signals (PRS), tracking reference signals (TRS), phase tracking reference signals (PTRS), channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS), demodulation reference signals (DM-RS), primary synchronization signals (PSS), secondary synchronization signals (SSS), etc. Figure 3 The resource grid of Figure 3 shows an exemplary position of RE 304 used to transmit DL-RS (labeled "R").

[0117] Figure 4 FIG. is a block diagram illustrating an example of a computing system 470 of an electronic device 407, which can be employed by the disclosed systems and techniques for power savings in RIS-based sensing. The electronic device 407 is an example of a device that can include hardware and software for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems using a communication network (e.g., a third-generation partnership network, such as a fifth-generation (5G) / New Radio (NR) network, a fourth-generation (4G) / Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, a WiFi network, or other communication network). For example, the electronic device 407 can include or can be a part of the following: a mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone), a wearable device (e.g., a network-connected or smart watch), an extended reality device (e.g., a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, or a mixed reality (MR) device), a personal computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a wireless access point, a router, a vehicle or a component of a vehicle, a server computer, a robotic device, and / or other devices used by a user to communicate over a wireless communication network. In some cases, the device 407 can be referred to as a user equipment (UE), such as when referring to a device configured to communicate using 5G / NR, 4G / LTE, or other telecommunications standards. In some cases, the device can be referred to as a station (STA), such as when referring to a device configured to communicate using the Wi-Fi standard.

[0118] The computing system 470 includes software and hardware components that can be electrically coupled or communicatively coupled (or can communicate in other ways as appropriate) via a bus 489. For example, the computing system 470 includes one or more processors 484. The one or more processors 484 can include one or more CPUs, ASICs, FPGAs, APs, GPUs, VPUs, NSPs, microcontrollers, dedicated hardware, any combination thereof, and / or other processing devices and / or systems. The bus 489 can be used by the one or more processors 484 to communicate between cores and / or with one or more memory devices 486.

[0119] The computing system 470 may also include one or more memory devices 486, one or more digital signal processors (DSPs) 482, one or more subscriber identity modules (SIMs) 474, one or more modems 476, one or more wireless transceivers 478, one or more antennas 487, one or more input devices 472 (e.g., a camera, a mouse, a keyboard, a touch-sensitive screen, a touchpad, a keypad, a microphone, or a microphone array, etc.), and one or more output devices 480 (e.g., a display, a speaker, a printer, etc.).

[0120] One or more wireless transceivers 478 may receive wireless signals (e.g., signal 488) from one or more other devices (such as other user devices, network devices (e.g., base stations (such as evolved Node B (eNB) and / or g Node B (gNB)), WiFi access points (APs) (such as routers, range extenders, etc.)), cloud networks, etc.) via the antenna 487. In some examples, the computing system 470 may include multiple antennas or antenna arrays, which may facilitate simultaneous transmit and receive functions. The antenna 487 may be an omnidirectional antenna such that RF signals can be received from all directions and transmitted in all directions. The wireless signal 488 may be transmitted via a wireless network. The wireless network may be any wireless network, such as a cellular or telecommunications network (e.g., 3G, 4G, 5G, etc.), a wireless local area network (e.g., a WiFi network), Bluetooth TM network, and / or other networks. In some examples, one or more wireless transceivers 478 may include an RF front end that includes one or more components such as amplifiers, mixers for signal downconversion (also referred to as signal multipliers), frequency synthesizers (also referred to as oscillators) that provide signals to the mixers, baseband filters, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), one or more power amplifiers, etc. The RF front end may generally handle the selection of the wireless signal 488 and the conversion of the wireless signal 488 to baseband or intermediate frequency, and may convert the RF signal to the digital domain.

[0121] In some cases, the computing system 470 may include an encoding / decoding device (or CODEC) configured to encode and / or decode data transmitted and / or received using one or more wireless transceivers 478. In some cases, the computing system 470 may include an encryption / decryption device or component configured to encrypt and / or decrypt data transmitted and / or received by one or more wireless transceivers 478 (e.g., according to the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and / or Data Encryption Standard (DES) standards).

[0122] One or more SIMs 474 may each securely store the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number and associated keys assigned to the user of the electronic device 407. When accessing a network provided by a network service provider or carrier associated with the one or more SIMs 474, the IMSI and keys may be used to identify and authenticate the subscriber. One or more modems 476 may modulate one or more signals to encode information for transmission using one or more wireless transceivers 478. One or more modems 476 may also demodulate signals received by the one or more wireless transceivers 478 in order to decode the transmitted information. In some examples, the one or more modems 476 may include a WiFi modem, a 4G (or LTE) modem, a 5G (or NR) modem, and / or other types of modems. The one or more modems 476 and the one or more wireless transceivers 478 may be used to convey data for the one or more SIMs 474.

[0123] The computing system 470 may also include one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media or storage devices (e.g., one or more memory devices 486) (and / or communicatively coupled thereto), which may include, but are not limited to, local and / or network-accessible storage, disk drives, drive arrays, optical storage devices, solid-state storage devices such as RAM and / or ROM (which may be programmable and flash-updateable), etc. Such storage devices may be configured to implement any suitable data storage, including but not limited to various file systems, database structures, etc.

[0124] In various aspects, functionality may be stored as one or more computer program products (e.g., instructions or code) in the memory device 486 and executed by one or more processors 484 and / or one or more DSPs 482. The computing system 470 may also include software elements (e.g., located within one or more memory devices 486) (including, for example, an operating system, device drivers, executable libraries, and / or other code (such as one or more applications, which may include computer programs implementing the functionality provided by the various aspects)), and / or may be designed to implement methods and / or configure systems as described herein.

[0125] In some aspects, the electronic device 407 may include units for performing the operations described herein. The units may include one or more of the components of the computing system 470. For example, the units for performing the operations described herein may include one or more of the input device 472, SIM 474, modem 476, wireless transceiver 478, output device 480, DSP 482, processor 484, memory device 486, and / or antenna 487.

[0126] In some aspects, the electronic device 407 may include units for providing combined communication and sensing and / or units for power savings in RI-based sensing. In some examples, any or all of these units may include one or more wireless transceivers 478, one or more modems 476, one or more processors 484, one or more DSPs 482, one or more memory devices 486, any combination thereof, or other components of the electronic device 407.

[0127] Figure 5 FIG. is an example of a wireless device 500 that uses RF monostatic sensing technology to determine one or more characteristics (e.g., position, velocity or speed, heading, etc.) of a target 502 object. In particular, Figure 5 FIG. is an example of a wireless device 500 (e.g., a transmit / receive sensing node) that uses RF sensing technology (e.g., monostatic sensing) to perform one or more functions, such as detecting the presence and location of a target 502 (e.g., an object, a user, or a vehicle), which is shown in the figure in the form of a vehicle.

[0128] In some examples, the wireless device 500 may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wearable device, a vehicle, an extended reality (XR) device, a computing device or component of a vehicle, or other devices (e.g., Figure 4 the device 407) that includes at least one RF interface. In some examples, the wireless device 500 may be a device that provides connectivity for a user device (e.g., for Figure 4 the electronic device 407), such as a base station (e.g., gNB, eNB, etc.), a wireless access point (AP), or other devices that include at least one RF interface.

[0129] In some aspects, the wireless device 500 may include one or more components for transmitting RF signals. The wireless device 500 may include at least one processor 522 for generating a digital signal or waveform. The wireless device 500 may also include a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 504 that is capable of: receiving a digital signal or waveform from the processor 522 (e.g., a microprocessor) and converting the digital signal or waveform into an analog waveform. The analog signal that is the output of the DAC 504 may be provided to an RF transmitter 506 for transmission. The RF transmitter 506 may be a Wi-Fi transmitter, a 5G / NR transmitter, a Bluetooth TM transmitter, or any other transmitter capable of transmitting RF signals.

[0130] The RF transmitter 506 can be coupled to one or more transmit antennas, such as the Tx antenna 512. In some examples, the transmit (Tx) antenna 512 can be an omnidirectional antenna capable of transmitting RF signals in all directions. For example, the Tx antenna 512 can be an omnidirectional Wi-Fi antenna that can radiate Wi-Fi signals (e.g., 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, etc.) in a 360-degree radiation pattern. In another example, the Tx antenna 512 can be a directional antenna that transmits RF signals in a specific direction.

[0131] In some examples, the wireless device 500 may also include one or more components for receiving RF signals. For example, the receiver arrangement in the wireless device 500 can include one or more receive antennas, such as the receive (Rx) antenna 514. In some examples, the Rx antenna 514 can be an omnidirectional antenna capable of receiving RF signals from multiple directions. In other examples, the Rx antenna 514 can be a directional antenna configured to receive signals from a specific direction. In additional examples, the Tx antenna 512 and / or the Rx antenna 514 can include multiple antennas (e.g., elements) configured as an antenna array (e.g., a phased antenna array).

[0132] The wireless device 500 may also include an RF receiver 510 coupled to the Rx antenna 514. The RF receiver 510 can include one or more hardware components for receiving RF waveforms, such as Wi-Fi signals, Bluetooth TM signals, 5G / NR signals, or any other RF signals. The output of the RF receiver 510 can be coupled to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 508. The ADC 508 can be configured to convert the received analog RF waveform into a digital waveform. The digital waveform, which is the output of the ADC 508, can be provided to the processor 522 for processing. The processor 522 (e.g., a digital signal processor (DSP)) can be configured to process the digital waveform.

[0133] In one example, the wireless device 500 may implement RF sensing techniques, such as monostatic sensing techniques, by transmitting the Tx waveform 516 from the Tx antenna 512. Although the Tx waveform 516 is shown as a single line, in some cases, the Tx waveform 516 may be transmitted by the omnidirectional Tx antenna 512 in all directions. In one example, the Tx waveform 516 may be a Wi-Fi waveform transmitted by a Wi-Fi transmitter in the wireless device 500. In some cases, the Tx waveform 516 may correspond to a Wi-Fi waveform transmitted at or near the same time as compared to a Wi-Fi data communication signal or a Wi-Fi control function signal (e.g., beacon transmission). In some examples, the same or similar frequency resources as compared to a Wi-Fi data communication signal or a Wi-Fi control function signal (e.g., beacon transmission) may be used to transmit the Tx waveform 516. In some aspects, the Tx waveform 516 may correspond to a Wi-Fi waveform transmitted separately from a Wi-Fi data communication signal and / or a Wi-Fi control signal (e.g., the Tx waveform 516 may be transmitted at different times and / or using different frequency resources).

[0134] In some examples, the Tx waveform 516 may correspond to a 5G NR waveform transmitted at or near the same time as compared to a 5G NR data communication signal or a 5G NR control function signal. In some examples, the same or similar frequency resources as compared to a 5G NR data communication signal or a 5G NR control function signal may be used to transmit the Tx waveform 516. In some aspects, the Tx waveform 516 may correspond to a 5G NR waveform transmitted separately from a 5G NR data communication signal and / or a 5G NR control signal (e.g., the Tx waveform 516 may be transmitted at different times and / or using different frequency resources).

[0135] In some aspects, one or more parameters associated with the Tx waveform 516 may be modified, which may be used to increase or decrease the RF sensing resolution. The parameters may include frequency, bandwidth, number of spatial streams, number of antennas configured to transmit the Tx waveform 516, number of antennas configured to receive the reflected RF signal (e.g., Rx waveform 518) corresponding to the Tx waveform 516, number of spatial links (e.g., number of spatial streams multiplied by the number of antennas configured to receive the RF signal), sampling rate, or any combination thereof. The transmitted waveform (e.g., Tx waveform 516) and the received waveform (e.g., Rx waveform 518) may include one or more RF sensing signals, which are also referred to as radar reference signals (RS).

[0136] In another example, the Tx waveform 516 can be implemented as a sequence with perfect or nearly perfect autocorrelation properties. For example, the Tx waveform 516 can include a single-carrier Zadoff sequence, or can include symbols similar to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) long training field (LTF) symbols. In some cases, the Tx waveform 516 can include a chirp signal such as that used in a frequency modulated continuous wave (FM-CW) radar system. In some configurations, the chirp signal can include a signal in which the signal frequency periodically increases and / or decreases linearly and / or exponentially.

[0137] In some aspects, the wireless device 500 can implement RF sensing techniques by performing alternating transmit and receive functions (e.g., performing half-duplex operation). For example, the wireless device 500 can alternatively enable its RF transmitter 506 to transmit the Tx waveform 516 when the RF receiver 510 is not enabled for reception (i.e., not currently receiving), and enable its RF receiver 510 to receive the Rx waveform 518 when the RF transmitter 506 is not enabled for transmission (i.e., not currently transmitting). When the wireless device 500 is performing half-duplex operation, the wireless device 500 can transmit the Tx waveform 516, which can be a radar RS (e.g., a sensing signal).

[0138] In other aspects, the wireless device 500 can implement RF sensing techniques by performing concurrent transmit and receive functions (e.g., performing sub-band or full-band full-duplex operation). For example, the wireless device 500 can enable its RF receiver 510 to receive at or near the same time as it enables its RF transmitter 506 to transmit the Tx waveform 516. When the wireless device 500 is performing full-duplex operation (e.g., sub-band full-duplex or full-band full-duplex), the wireless device 500 can transmit the Tx waveform 516, which can be a radar RS (e.g., a sensing signal).

[0139] In some examples, the transmission of the sequence or pattern included in the Tx waveform 516 can be continuously repeated such that the sequence is transmitted a specific number of times or for a specific duration. In some examples, repeating the pattern in the transmission of the Tx waveform 516 can be used to avoid losing reception of any reflected signals when the RF receiver 510 is enabled after the RF transmitter 506. In one example implementation, the Tx waveform 516 can include a sequence of sequence length L that is transmitted two or more times, which can allow the RF receiver 510 to be enabled at a time less than or equal to L to receive the reflection corresponding to the entire sequence without losing any information.

[0140] By implementing alternating or simultaneous transmit and receive functions (e.g., half-duplex or full-duplex operation), wireless device 500 can receive signals corresponding to Tx waveform 516. For example, wireless device 500 can receive signals reflected from an object or person within the range of Tx waveform 516, such as Rx waveform 518 reflected from target 502. Wireless device 500 can also receive leakage signals (e.g., Tx leakage signal 520) that are directly coupled from Tx antenna 512 to Rx antenna 514 without being reflected from any object. For example, the leakage signal can include signals transmitted from a transmitter antenna (e.g., Tx antenna 512) on the wireless device to a receiver antenna (e.g., Rx antenna 514) on the wireless device without being reflected from any object. In some cases, Rx waveform 518 can include multiple sequences corresponding to multiple copies of the sequence included in Tx waveform 516. In some examples, wireless device 500 can combine the multiple sequences received by RF receiver 510 to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

[0141] Wireless device 500 can also implement RF sensing techniques by obtaining RF sensing data associated with each received signal corresponding to Tx waveform 516. In some examples, the RF sensing data can include channel state information (CSI) data associated with the direct path of Tx waveform 516 (e.g., leakage signal 520) along with data associated with the reflected path corresponding to Tx waveform 516 (e.g., Rx waveform 518).

[0142] In some aspects, the RF sensing data (e.g., CSI data) can include information that can be used to determine the manner in which an RF signal (e.g., Tx waveform 516) propagates from RF transmitter 506 to RF receiver 510. The RF sensing data can include data corresponding to the effects on the transmitted RF signal due to scattering, fading, and / or power attenuation with distance, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the RF sensing data can include imaginary and real data (e.g., I / Q components) corresponding to each tone in the frequency domain over a particular bandwidth.

[0143] In some examples, processor 522 can use the RF sensing data to calculate the distance and angle of arrival corresponding to a reflected waveform such as Rx waveform 518. In additional examples, the RF sensing data can also be used to detect motion, determine location, detect changes in location or motion patterns, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the distance and angle of arrival of the reflected signal can be used to identify the size, orientation, movement, and / or orientation of a target (e.g., target 502) in the surrounding environment in order to detect target presence / approach.

[0144] The processor 522 of the wireless device 500 can calculate the distance and angle of arrival corresponding to the reflected waveform (e.g., the distance and angle of arrival corresponding to the Rx waveform 518) by utilizing signal processing, machine learning algorithms, any other suitable techniques, or any combination thereof. In other examples, the wireless device 500 can send the RF sensing data to at least one processor of another computing device (such as a server or a base station), and the other computing device can perform calculations to obtain the distance and angle of arrival corresponding to the Rx waveform 518 or other reflected waveforms.

[0145] In one example, the distance of the Rx waveform 518 can be calculated by measuring the time difference from the reception of the leakage signal to the reception of the reflected signal. For example, the wireless device 500 can determine a reference distance of zero based on the difference (e.g., propagation delay) between the time when the Tx waveform 516 is sent from the wireless device 500 and the time when the leakage signal 520 is received. The processor 522 of the wireless device 500 can then determine the distance associated with the Rx waveform 518 based on the difference between the time when the Tx waveform 516 is sent from the wireless device 500 and the time when the Rx waveform 518 is received (e.g., the time of flight, which is also referred to as the round-trip time (RTT)), and the distance can then be adjusted according to the propagation delay associated with the leakage signal 520. By doing so, the processor 522 of the wireless device 500 can determine the distance traveled by the Rx waveform 518, which can be used to determine the presence and movement of the target (e.g., target 502) that caused the reflection.

[0146] In additional examples, the angle of arrival of the Rx waveform 518 can be calculated by the processor 522 by measuring the difference in the arrival time of the Rx waveform 518 between individual elements of the receiving antenna array (such as antenna 514). In some examples, the difference in arrival time can be calculated by measuring the difference in the received phase at each element in the receiving antenna array.

[0147] In some cases, the processor 522 can use the distance and angle of arrival of the Rx waveform 518 to determine the distance between the wireless device 500 and the target 502 and the orientation of the target 502 relative to the wireless device 500. The distance and angle of arrival of the Rx waveform 518 can also be used to determine the presence, movement, proximity, identity, or any combination thereof of the target 502. For example, the processor 522 of the wireless device 500 can utilize the calculated distance and angle of arrival corresponding to the Rx waveform 518 to determine that the target 502 is moving towards the wireless device 500.

[0148] As noted above, the wireless device 500 can include a mobile device (e.g., an IoT device, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a tablet, etc.) or other types of devices. In some examples, the wireless device 500 can be configured to obtain device location data and device orientation data along with RF sensing data. In some cases, the device location data and device orientation data can be used to determine or adjust the distance and angle of arrival of the reflected signal (such as the Rx waveform 518). For example, when the target 502 (e.g., a vehicle) is moving towards the wireless device 500 during the RF sensing process, the wireless device 500 can be set on the ground facing the sky. In such a case, the wireless device 500 can use its location data and orientation data along with the RF sensing data to determine the direction in which the target 502 is moving.

[0149] In some examples, techniques including round-trip time (RTT) measurements, time of arrival (TOA) measurements, time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements, passive location measurements, angle of arrival (AOA) measurements, angle of departure (AoD) measurements, received signal strength indicator (RSSI) measurements, CSI data, any other suitable techniques, or any combination thereof can be used by the wireless device 500 to collect device orientation data. In additional examples, device orientation data can be obtained from electronic sensors on the wireless device 500 such as gyroscopes, accelerometers, compasses, magnetometers, barometers, any other suitable sensors, or any combination thereof.

[0150] Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of a receiver 604 utilizing RF bistatic sensing technology with a transmitter 600 for determining one or more characteristics (e.g., position, velocity or speed, heading, etc.) of a target 602 object. For example, the receiver 604 can use RF bistatic sensing to detect the presence and location of the target 602 (e.g., an object, a user, or a vehicle), where the target 602 is shown in Figure 6 in the form of a vehicle. In one example, the receiver 604 can be in the form of a base station (such as a gNB).

[0151] Figure 6 The bistatic radar system includes a transmitter 600 (e.g., a transmitting sensing node) separated by a distance comparable to the distance to the intended target (the transmitter 600 is depicted in the figure as being in the form of a base station (e.g., a gNB)) and a receiver 604 (e.g., a receiving sensing node). Compared with the Figure 5 monostatic system, Figure 6 the transmitter 600 and the receiver 604 of the bistatic radar system are located far from each other. In contrast, a monostatic radar is a radar system (e.g., Figure 5system), the radar system includes a transmitter (e.g., Figure 5 RF transmitter 506 of the wireless device 500) and a receiver (e.g., Figure 5 RF receiver 510 of the wireless device 500) that are co-located with each other.

[0152] An advantage of a bistatic radar (or more generally: a multistatic radar with more than one receiver) over a monostatic radar is the ability to collect radar echoes reflected from a scene at an angle different from the angle of the transmitted pulse. This may be of interest for some applications (e.g., vehicle applications, scenes with multiple objects, military applications, etc.), where the target can reflect the transmitted energy in many directions (e.g., where the target is specifically designed to reflect in many directions), which can minimize the energy reflected back to the transmitter. It should be noted that in one or more examples, a monostatic system can coexist with a multistatic radar system, such as when the transmitter also has a co-located receiver.

[0153] In some examples, Figure 6 the transmitter 600 and / or the receiver 604 can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wearable device, a vehicle, or other devices including at least one RF interface (e.g., Figure 4 device 407). In some examples, the transmitter 600 and / or the receiver 604 can be devices that provide connectivity for user equipment (e.g., for Figure 4 IoT device 407), such as a base station (e.g., gNB, eNB, etc.), a wireless access point (AP), or other devices including at least one RF interface).

[0154] In some aspects, the transmitter 600 can include one or more components for transmitting RF signals. The transmitter 600 can include at least one processor (e.g., Figure 5 at least one processor 522), which is capable of determining the signal to be transmitted (e.g., determining the waveform of the signal to be transmitted). The transmitter 600 can also include an RF transmitter (e.g., Figure 5 RF transmitter 506) for transmitting a Tx signal including Tx waveform 616. The RF transmitter can be a transmitter configured to transmit cellular signals or telecommunication signals (e.g., a transmitter configured to transmit 5G / NR signals, 4G / LTE signals, or other cellular signals / telecommunication signals, etc.), a Wi-Fi transmitter, a Bluetooth TM transmitter, any combination thereof, or any other transmitter capable of transmitting RF signals.

[0155] The RF transmitter can be coupled to one or more transmit antennas, such as Tx antennas (e.g., Figure 5The TX antenna 512). In some examples, the Tx antenna can be an omnidirectional antenna capable of transmitting RF signals in all directions, or a directional antenna configured to transmit RF signals in a specific direction. In some examples, the Tx antenna can include multiple antennas (e.g., elements) configured as an antenna array.

[0156] The receiver 604 can include one or more components for receiving RF signals. For example, the receiver 604 can include one or more receiving antennas, such as an Rx antenna (e.g., Figure 5 the Rx antenna 514). In some examples, the Rx antenna can be an omnidirectional antenna capable of receiving RF signals from multiple directions, or a directional antenna configured to receive signals from a specific direction. In additional examples, the Rx antenna can include multiple antennas (e.g., elements) configured as an antenna array.

[0157] The receiver 604 can also include an RF receiver coupled to the Rx antenna (e.g., Figure 5 the RF receiver 510). The RF receiver can include one or more hardware components for receiving RF waveforms (such as Wi-Fi signals, Bluetooth TM signals, 5G / NR signals, or any other RF signals). The output of the RF receiver can be coupled to at least one processor (e.g., Figure 5 the at least one processor 522). The processor can be configured to process the received waveform (e.g., the Rx waveform 618).

[0158] In one or more examples, the transmitter 600 can implement RF sensing techniques, such as bistatic sensing techniques, by causing the Tx waveform 616 to be transmitted from the Tx antenna. It should be noted that although the Tx waveform 616 is shown as a single line, in some cases, the Tx waveform 616 can be transmitted in all directions by an omnidirectional Tx antenna.

[0159] In one or more aspects, one or more parameters associated with the Tx waveform 616 can be used to increase or decrease the RF sensing resolution. The parameters can include frequency, bandwidth, the number of spatial streams, the number of antennas configured to transmit the Tx waveform 616, the number of antennas configured to receive the reflected RF signal corresponding to the Tx waveform 616 (e.g., the Rx waveform 618), the number of spatial links (e.g., the number of spatial streams multiplied by the number of antennas configured to receive RF signals), the sampling rate, or any combination thereof. The transmitted waveform (e.g., the Tx waveform 616) and the received waveform (e.g., the Rx waveform 618) can include one or more radar RF sensing signals (also referred to as RF sensing RS).

[0160] During operation, the receiver 604 (e.g., operating as a receiving sensing node) may receive a signal corresponding to the Tx waveform 616 transmitted by the transmitter 600 (e.g., operating as a transmitting sensing node). For example, the receiver 604 may receive a signal reflected from an object or person within the range of the Tx waveform 616, such as the Rx waveform 618 reflected from the target 602. In some cases, the Rx waveform 618 may include multiple sequences corresponding to multiple copies of the sequence included in the Tx waveform 616. In some examples, the receiver 604 may combine the multiple received sequences to improve the SNR.

[0161] In some examples, the RF sensing data may be used by at least one processor within the receiver 604 to calculate a distance, an angle of arrival, or other characteristics corresponding to the reflected waveform (such as the Rx waveform 618). In other examples, the RF sensing data may also be used to detect motion, determine a location, detect a change in a location or motion pattern, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the distance and angle of arrival of the reflected signal may be used to identify the size, location, movement, and / or orientation of a target (e.g., the target 602) in the surrounding environment in order to detect target presence / approach.

[0162] The processor of the receiver 604 may calculate the distance and angle of arrival corresponding to the reflected waveform (e.g., the distance and angle of arrival corresponding to the Rx waveform 618) by using signal processing, machine learning algorithms, any other suitable techniques, or any combination thereof. In other examples, the receiver 604 may send the RF sensing data to at least one processor of another computing device (such as a server), and the other computing device may perform calculations to obtain the distance and angle of arrival corresponding to the Rx waveform 618 or other reflected waveforms.

[0163] In one or more examples, the angle of arrival of the Rx waveform 618 may be calculated by the processor of the receiver 604 by measuring the difference in the arrival time of the Rx waveform 618 between individual elements of the receiving antenna array of the receiver 604. In some examples, the difference in arrival time may be calculated by measuring the difference in the received phase at each element of the receiving antenna array.

[0164] In some cases, the distance and angle of arrival of the Rx waveform 618 may be used by the processor of the receiver 604 to determine the distance between the receiver 604 and the target 602 and the azimuth of the target 602 relative to the receiver 604. The distance and angle of arrival of the Rx waveform 618 may also be used to determine the presence, movement, approach, identity, or any combination thereof of the target 602. For example, the processor of the receiver 604 may use the calculated distance and angle of arrival corresponding to the Rx waveform 618 to determine that the target 602 is moving towards the receiver 604.

[0165] Figure 7 FIG. is an example showing a receiver 704 in the form of a smart phone, which utilizes RF bistatic sensing technology with multiple transmitters (including transmitter 700a, transmitter 700b, and transmitter 700c). This RF bistatic sensing technology can be employed to determine one or more characteristics of a target 702 object (e.g., position, speed or velocity, heading, etc.). For example, receiver 704 can use RF bistatic sensing to detect the presence and location of target 702 (e.g., an object, a user, or a vehicle). In Figure 7 the depicted target 702 has the form of an object without communication capabilities (which can be referred to as a device-less object), such as a person, a vehicle (e.g., a vehicle without the ability to send and receive messages, such as using the C-V2X or DSRC protocol), or other device-less objects. Figure 7 The bistatic radar system of Figure 6 is similar to the Figure 7 bistatic radar system, except that Figure 6 the bistatic radar system has multiple transmitters 700a, 700b, 700c, while

[0166] Figure 7 the bistatic radar system includes multiple transmitters 700a, 700b, 700c (e.g., transmitting sensing nodes), which are shown in the form of base stations. Figure 7 The bistatic radar system of Figure 6 also includes a receiver 704 (e.g., a receiving sensing node), which is depicted in the form of a smart phone. Each of transmitters 700a, 700b, 700c is separated from receiver 704 by a distance comparable to the expected distance to target 702. Similar to the Figure 7 bistatic system,

[0167] In one or more examples, transmitters 700a, 700b, 700c and / or receiver 704 can each be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wearable device, a vehicle (e.g., a vehicle configured to send and receive communications according to C-V2X, DSRC, or other communication protocols), or other devices (e.g., Figure 4 device 407 of Figure 4The IoT device 407) provides connected devices such as base stations (e.g., gNB, eNB, etc.), wireless access points (APs), or other devices including at least one RF interface).

[0168] Transmitters 700a, 700b, 700c may include one or more components for transmitting RF signals. Each of transmitters 700a, 700b, 700c may include at least one processor (e.g., Figure 5 processor 522), which is capable of determining the signal to be transmitted (e.g., determining the waveform of the signal to be transmitted). Each of transmitters 700a, 700b, 700c may also include an RF transmitter (e.g., Figure 5 RF transmitter 506) for transmitting Tx signals including Tx waveforms 716a, 716b, 716c, 720a, 720b, 720c. In one or more examples, Tx waveforms 716a, 716b, 716c are RF sensing signals, and Tx waveforms 720a, 720b, 720c are communication signals. In one or more examples, Tx waveforms 720a, 720b, 720c are communication signals that can be used to schedule transmitters (e.g., transmitters 700a, 700b, 700c) and receivers (e.g., receiver 704) to perform RF sensing of a target (e.g., target 702) to obtain location information about the target. The RF transmitter may be a transmitter configured to transmit cellular signals or telecommunication signals (e.g., a transmitter configured to transmit 5G / NR signals, 4G / LTE signals, or other cellular / telecommunication signals, etc.), a Wi-Fi transmitter, a Bluetooth TM transmitter, any combination thereof, or any other transmitter capable of transmitting RF signals.

[0169] The RF transmitter may be coupled to one or more transmit antennas, such as Tx antennas (e.g., Figure 5 TX antenna 512). In one or more examples, the Tx antenna may be an omnidirectional antenna capable of transmitting RF signals in all directions, or a directional antenna that transmits RF signals in a specific direction. The Tx antenna may include multiple antennas (e.g., elements) configured as an antenna array.

[0170] Figure 7 Receiver 704 may include one or more components for receiving RF signals. For example, receiver 704 may include one or more receive antennas, such as Rx antennas (e.g., Figure 5The Rx antenna 514). In one or more examples, the Rx antenna can be an omnidirectional antenna capable of receiving RF signals from multiple directions, or a directional antenna configured to receive signals from a specific direction. In some examples, the Rx antenna can include multiple antennas (e.g., elements) configured as an antenna array (e.g., a phased antenna array).

[0171] The receiver 704 can also include an RF receiver coupled to the Rx antenna (e.g., Figure 5 the RF receiver 510). The RF receiver can include one or more hardware components for receiving RF waveforms such as Wi-Fi signals, Bluetooth TM signals, 5G / NR signals, or any other RF signals). The output of the RF receiver can be coupled to at least one processor (e.g., Figure 5 the processor 522). The processor can be configured to process the received waveform (e.g., the Rx waveform 718, which is a reflected (echo) RF sensing signal).

[0172] In some examples, the transmitters 700a, 700b, 700c can implement RF sensing techniques, such as bistatic sensing techniques, by transmitting the Tx waveforms 716a, 716b, 716c (e.g., radar sensing signals) from the Tx antennas associated with each of the transmitters 700a, 700b, 700c. Although the Tx waveforms 716a, 716b, 716c are shown as single lines, in some cases, the Tx waveforms 716a, 716b, 716c can be transmitted in all directions (e.g., via omnidirectional Tx antennas associated with each of the transmitters 700a, 700b, 700c).

[0173] In one or more aspects, one or more parameters associated with the Tx waveforms 716a, 716b, 716c can be used to increase or decrease the RF sensing resolution. The parameters can include, but are not limited to, frequency, bandwidth, the number of spatial streams, the number of antennas configured to transmit the Tx waveforms 716a, 716b, 716c, the number of antennas configured to receive the reflected (echo) RF signals (e.g., the Rx waveform 718) corresponding to each of the Tx waveforms 716a, 716b, 716c, the number of spatial links (e.g., the number of spatial streams multiplied by the number of antennas configured to receive RF signals), the sampling rate, or any combination thereof. The transmitted waveforms (e.g., the Tx waveforms 716a, 716b, 716c) and the received waveforms (e.g., the Rx waveform 718) can include one or more radar RF sensing signals (also referred to as RF sensing RS). It should be noted that although in Figure 7Only one reflected sensed signal (e.g., Rx waveform 718) is shown, but it should be understood that separate reflected (echo) sensed signals will be generated by each sensed signal (e.g., Tx waveforms 716a, 716b, 716c) reflected from the target 702.

[0174] During Figure 7 operation of the system, the receiver 704 (e.g., which operates as a receiving sensing node) may receive signals corresponding to the Tx waveforms 716a, 716b, 716c transmitted by the transmitters 700a, 700b, 700c (e.g., which each operate as a transmitting sensing node). The receiver 704 may receive signals reflected from an object or person within the range of the Tx waveforms 716a, 716b, 716c, such as the Rx waveform 718 reflected from the target 702. In one or more examples, the Rx waveform 718 may include multiple sequences corresponding to multiple copies of the sequences included in its corresponding Tx waveforms 716a, 716b, 716c. In some examples, the receiver 704 may combine the multiple received sequences to improve the SNR.

[0175] In some examples, the RF sensing data may be used by at least one processor within the receiver 704 to calculate distance, angle of arrival (AOA), TDOA, angle of departure (AoD), or other characteristics corresponding to the reflected waveform (e.g., Rx waveform 718). In additional examples, the RF sensing data may also be used to detect motion, determine position, detect changes in position or motion patterns, or any combination thereof. In one or more examples, the distance and angle of arrival of the reflected signal may be used to identify the size, orientation, movement, and / or orientation of a target (e.g., target 702) in order to detect target presence / approach.

[0176] The processor of the receiver 704 may calculate the distance and angle of arrival corresponding to the reflected waveform (e.g., the distance and angle of arrival corresponding to the Rx waveform 718) by using signal processing, machine learning algorithms, any other suitable techniques, or any combination thereof. In one or more examples, the receiver 704 may send the RF sensing data to at least one processor of another computing device (such as a server), and the other computing device may perform calculations to obtain the distance and angle of arrival corresponding to the Rx waveform 718 or other reflected waveforms (not shown).

[0177] In one or more examples, a processor of the receiver 704 may calculate the angle of arrival (AOA) of the Rx waveform 718 by measuring the TDOA of the Rx waveform 718 between individual elements of the receive antenna array of the receiver 704. In some examples, the TDOA may be calculated by measuring the difference in the receive phase at each element of the receive antenna array. In an illustrative example, to determine the TDOA, the processor may use one of the antenna array elements in the antenna array as a reference to determine the time difference of arrival of the Rx waveform 718 to the receive antenna array elements. The time difference is proportional to the distance difference.

[0178] In some cases, the processor of the receiver 704 may use the distance, AOA, TDOA, other measurement information (e.g., AoD, etc.), any combination thereof, of the Rx waveform 718 to determine the distance between the receiver 704 and the target 702, and to determine the azimuth of the target 702 relative to the receiver 704. In one example, the processor may use the distance, AOA, and / or TDOA information as inputs to apply multilateration or other location-based algorithms to determine the azimuth (e.g., 3D azimuth) of the target 702. In other examples, the processor may use the distance, AOA, and / or TDOA of the Rx waveform 718 to determine the presence, movement (e.g., rate or speed, heading or direction or movement, etc.), proximity, identity, any combination thereof, or other characteristics of the target 702. For example, the processor of the receiver 704 may use the distance, AOA, and / or TDOA corresponding to the Rx waveform 718 to determine that the target is moving towards the receiver 704.

[0179] Figure 8 is a diagram showing the geometry for bistatic (or monostatic) sensing. Figure 8 shows a two-dimensional bistatic radar north-reference coordinate system. In particular, Figure 8 shows the coordinate system and parameters defining the bistatic radar operation in a plane (referred to as the bistatic plane) containing the transmitter 800, the receiver 804, and the target 802. The bistatic triangle lies in the bistatic plane. The transmitter 800, the target 802, and the receiver 804 are shown relative to each other. The transmitter 800 and the receiver 804 are separated by a reference distance L. The reference is extended to continue the reference distance L beyond the transmitter 800 or the receiver 804. The target 802 is separated from the transmitter 800 by a distance R T and the target 802 is separated from the receiver 804 by a distance R R .

[0180] The angle θ T and θ R are the perspectives of the transmitter 800 and the receiver 804, respectively, and these perspectives are considered positive when measured clockwise from north (N). The angle θT and θ R Also known as the Angle of Arrival (AOA) or Line of Sight (LOS). The bistatic angle (β) is the included angle among the transmitter 800, the target 802, and the receiver 804 in the radar. In particular, the bistatic angle is the angle between the transmitter 800 and the receiver 804, with the vertex located at the target 802. The bistatic angle is equal to the viewing angle of the transmitter 800 minus the viewing angle θ of the receiver 804 R (e.g., β = θ T – θ R ).

[0181] When the bistatic angle is exactly zero (0), the radar is considered a monostatic radar; when the bistatic angle is close to zero, the radar is considered pseudo-monostatic; and when the bistatic angle is close to 180 degrees, the radar is considered a forward scatter radar. Otherwise, the radar is only considered a bistatic radar and is called a bistatic radar. The bistatic angle (β) can be used to determine the radar cross-section of the target.

[0182] Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of the bistatic range 910 of bistatic sensing. In this diagram, the transmitter (Tx) 900, the target 902, and the receiver (Rx) 904 of the radar are shown relative to each other. The transmitter 900 and the receiver 904 are separated by a reference distance L, the target 902 and the transmitter 900 are separated by a distance Rtx, and the target 902 and the receiver 904 are separated by a distance Rrx.

[0183] The bistatic range 910 (shown as an ellipse) refers to the measurement range of a radar with a separated transmitter 900 and receiver 904 (e.g., the transmitter 900 and the receiver 904 are located far from each other). The receiver 904 measures the time of arrival from when the transmitter 900 sends a signal to when the receiver 904 receives the signal from the transmitter 900 via the target 902. The bistatic range 910 defines an ellipse (called an isodistance contour) of a constant bistatic range where the target 902 is located, with foci concentrated on the transmitter 900 and the receiver 904. If the target 902 is at a range Rrx from the receiver 904 and a range Rtx from the transmitter 900, and the receiver 904 and the transmitter 900 are separated by a distance L from each other, the bistatic range is equal to Rrx + Rtx - L. It should be noted that the movement of the target 902 causes a rate of change of the bistatic range, which results in a bistatic Doppler shift.

[0184] Typically, a constant bistatic range point plots an ellipsoid, where the transmitter 900 azimuth and the receiver 904 azimuth serve as foci. The bistatic iso-range contours are where the ground slices the ellipsoid. When the ground is flat, this intercept forms an ellipse (e.g., bistatic range 910). Note that these ellipses are not centered on the specular reflection point, except when the two platforms have equal heights.

[0185] As previously mentioned, a RIS (e.g., Figure 10A the RIS 1030) can be employed for sensing and / or communication. Traditionally, RIS has been utilized for communication. However, a RIS can also be adopted to assist sensing for an ISAC system. Compared to the accuracy required for RIS-assisted communication, RIS-assisted sensing demands a higher accuracy (e.g., higher precision) of the RIS azimuth.

[0186] Figure 10A is a diagram showing an example of a system 1000 for performing RIS-assisted communication. In Figure 10A it, the system 1000 is shown to include a network device 1020 in the form of a UE that can be operating as a communication receiver. Also shown is a network device 1010 in the form of a base station (e.g., a gNB or a part of a gNB, such as a CU, DU, RU, near RTRIC, non-RT RIC, etc.) that can be operating as a communication transmitter. The system 1000 also includes a RIS 1030. In some cases, an obstacle 1040 (e.g., in the form of a building) may be obstructing the line of sight (LOS) from the network device 1010 (e.g., gNB) to the network device 1020 (e.g., UE).

[0187] The system 1000 can include more or fewer network devices than those shown, for example, in Figure 10A In addition, the system 1000 can include different types of network devices (e.g., vehicles) compared to the network devices (e.g., vehicles) shown in Figure 10A In one or more examples, the network devices 1020 (e.g., UE) and 1010 (e.g., gNB) can be equipped with heterogeneous capabilities, which can include but are not limited to 4G / 5G cellular connectivity, GPS capabilities, camera capabilities, radar capabilities, and / or LIDAR capabilities. The network device 1020, the network device 1010 can be capable of performing wireless communication with each other via communication signals (e.g., signals 1050a, 1050b).

[0188] RIS1030 can operate passively as a repeater by reflecting signals (e.g., communication signals) radiated from one network device (e.g., network device 1010 in the form of a gNB) in the direction towards another network device (e.g., network device 1020 in the form of a UE). For example, during the operation of the system 1000 for RIS-assisted communication, due to the presence of an obstacle 1040 (e.g., a building) within the LOS between network device 1010 (e.g., gNB) and network device 1020 (e.g., UE), network device 1010 (e.g., gNB) can send a communication signal (e.g., signal 1050a) towards RIS1030. The communication signal (e.g., signal 1050a) can be reflected off RIS1030 to generate a reflected communication signal (e.g., signal 1050b). The elements of RIS1030 can radiate the reflected communication signal (e.g., signal 1050b) in the direction towards network device 1020 (e.g., UE), and network device 1020 can then receive the reflected communication signal (e.g., signal 1050b).

[0189] Figure 10B is a diagram showing an example of a system 1005 for performing RIS-assisted sensing. In Figure 10B it, the system 1005 is shown as including a network device 1015 in the form of a base station (e.g., a gNB or a part of a gNB, such as a CU, DU, RU, near RT RIC, non-RT RIC, etc.). The network device 1015 (e.g., gNB) can operate as a radar transmitter (Tx) and / or a radar receiver (Rx) for sensing purposes (e.g., for monostatic or bistatic sensing of a target such as target 1080). The system 1005 also includes RIS1035. There can also be an obstacle 1045 (e.g., in the form of a building), and the obstacle 1045 is obstructing the LOS from the network device 1015 (e.g., gNB) to the target 1080 shown in the form of a vehicle.

[0190] The system 1005 can include more or fewer network devices than those shown, for example, in Figure 10B it. Additionally, the system 1005 can include different types of network devices (e.g., mobile phones and / or vehicles) compared to the network devices shown (e.g., mobile phones and / or vehicles) in Figure 10B it. In one or more examples, the network device 1015 (e.g., gNB) can be equipped with heterogeneous capabilities, which can include but are not limited to 4G / 5G cellular connectivity, GPS capabilities, camera capabilities, radar capabilities, and / or LIDAR capabilities. The network device 1015 (e.g., gNB) can be capable of performing wireless communication with other network devices via communication signals.

[0191] In one or more examples, a network device 1015 (e.g., gNB) may be capable of sending and receiving a certain type of sensing signal (e.g., camera, RF sensing signal, optical sensing signal, etc.). In some cases, the network device 1015 (e.g., gNB) may send and receive sensing signals (e.g., RF sensing signals 1060a, 1070b) for detecting nearby targets (e.g., target 1080 in the form of a vehicle) using one or more sensors. In some cases, the network device 1015 (e.g., gNB) may detect nearby targets based on one or more images or frames captured using one or more cameras.

[0192] A network device 1015 (e.g., gNB) that can operate as a radar Tx and / or radar Rx may perform RF sensing (e.g., bistatic sensing or monostatic sensing) of at least one target (e.g., target 1080) to obtain RF sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurements, RTT measurements, TOA measurements, and / or TDOA measurements) of the target (e.g., target 1080). The RF sensing measurements of the target (e.g., target 1080) may be used (e.g., by at least one processor of the network device 1015) to determine one or more characteristics (e.g., speed, position, distance, movement, heading, size, and / or other characteristics) of the target (e.g., target 1080).

[0193] The RIS 1035 may operate passively as a repeater by reflecting a signal (e.g., a sensing signal) radiated from a network device (e.g., network device 1015 in the form of a gNB) in the direction towards a target (e.g., target 1080 in the form of a vehicle). The RIS 1035 may also operate passively as a repeater by reflecting a signal (e.g., a reflected sensing signal) from a target (e.g., target 1080) in the direction towards the network device (e.g., network device 1015).

[0194] For example, during the operation of the system 1005 for RIS-assisted sensing, such as when performing monostatic sensing of a target (e.g., target 1080), due to the presence of an obstacle 1045 (e.g., a building) within the LOS between the network device 1015 (e.g., gNB) and the target 1080 (e.g., a vehicle), the network device 1015 (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Tx can send an RF sensing signal 1060a towards the RIS 1035. The RF sensing signal 1060a can be included within communication signals and sensing signals that are multiplexed (e.g., via time-division multiplexing and / or frequency-division multiplexing) together for joint communication and sensing purposes. The sensing signal 1060a can reflect off the RIS 1035 to generate a reflected sensing signal (e.g., signal 1060b). The elements of the RIS 1035 can cause the reflected sensing signal (e.g., signal 1060b) to radiate in the direction towards the target 1080.

[0195] The sensing signal 1060b can reflect off the target 1080 to generate an RF reflected sensing signal 1070a, which can be reflected back towards the RIS 1035. The sensing signal 1070a can reflect off the RIS 1035 to generate a reflected sensing signal (e.g., signal 1070b). The elements of the RIS 1035 can cause the reflected sensing signal (e.g., signal 1070b) to radiate in the direction towards the network device 1015 (e.g., gNB).

[0196] The network device 1015 (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Rx can receive the reflected sensing signal 1070b. After the network device 1015 (e.g., gNB) receives the reflected sensing signal 1070b, the network device 1015 (e.g., gNB) can obtain measurements of the reflected sensing signal 1070b (e.g., Doppler measurements, RTT measurements, TOA measurements, and / or TDOA measurements). At least one processor (e.g., processor 1810 of FIG. 18) of the network device 1015 (e.g., gNB) can then determine or calculate characteristics (e.g., speed, position, distance, movement, heading, size, etc.) of the target 1080 by using the sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurements, RTT measurements, TOA measurements, and / or TDOA measurements) based on the received reflected sensing signal 1070b.

[0197] In one or more aspects, when sensing relies solely on using a base station (e.g., gNB) and a UE (e.g., a smart phone or a drone), some problems may occur, such as but not limited to LOS blockage, insufficient coverage, insufficient reference anchors, and / or insufficient spatial resolution. Adding additional base stations (e.g., gNBs) can help improve these problems. However, adding more base stations (e.g., gNBs) may result in high costs in terms of deployment, hardware, radio resources, and network power consumption. Figure 11A , 11B , 11C and 11D respectively show examples of sensing systems with LOS blockage, insufficient coverage, insufficient reference anchors, and insufficient spatial resolution.

[0198] Figure 11A is a diagram showing an example of a system 1100 for sensing in the case of line-of-sight (LOS) blockage. In Figure 11A , the system 1100 is shown as including two buildings 1110a, 1110b and two target objects 1140a, 1140b (e.g., each target object has a human form). The system 1100 is also shown as including a network device 1120, which may be in the form of a base station (e.g., a gNB or a part of a gNB, such as a CU, DU, RU, near RT RIC, non-RT RIC, etc.) located on the building 1110a. The network device 1120 (e.g., gNB) can operate as a radar Tx and / or a radar Rx for sensing purposes (e.g., for monostatic sensing or bistatic sensing of targets such as target objects 1140a, 1140b each having a human form). The building 1110a may be blocking the LOS from the network device 1120 (e.g., gNB) to the target object 1140a shown having a human form.

[0199] The system 1100 may include more or fewer network devices than the network device shown in Figure 11A . In addition, the system 1100 may include different types of network devices (e.g., mobile phones and / or vehicles) compared to the network devices (e.g., mobile phones and / or vehicles) shown in Figure 11A . In one or more examples, the network device 1120 (e.g., gNB) may be equipped with heterogeneous capabilities, which may include but are not limited to 4G / 5G cellular connectivity, GPS capabilities, camera capabilities, radar capabilities, and / or LIDAR capabilities. The network device 1120 (e.g., gNB) may be able to perform wireless communication with other network devices via communication signals.

[0200] In one or more examples, a network device 1120 (e.g., gNB) may be capable of sending and receiving a certain type of sensing signal (e.g., camera, RF sensing signal, optical sensing signal, etc.). In some cases, the network device 1120 (e.g., gNB) may send and receive sensing signals (e.g., RF sensing signals 1130a, 1130b) for using one or more sensors to detect nearby targets (e.g., targets 1140a, 1140b). In some cases, the network device 1120 (e.g., gNB) may detect nearby targets based on one or more images or frames captured using one or more cameras.

[0201] A network device 1120 (e.g., gNB) that can operate as a radar Tx and / or radar Rx may perform RF sensing (e.g., bistatic sensing or monostatic sensing) of at least one target (e.g., targets 1140a, 1140b) to obtain RF sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurements, RTT measurements, TOA measurements, and / or TDOA measurements) of the target (e.g., targets 1140a, 1140b). The RF sensing measurements of the target (e.g., targets 1140a, 1140b) may be used (e.g., by at least one processor of the network device 1120) to determine one or more characteristics (e.g., speed, position, distance, movement, heading, size, and / or other characteristics) of the target (e.g., targets 1140a, 1140b).

[0202] During operation of the system 1100 for sensing, e.g., when performing monostatic sensing of a target (e.g., targets 1140a, 1140b), the network device 1120 (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Tx may send an RF sensing signal 1130b towards the target 1140a. The RF sensing signal 1130b may be included within a communication signal and a sensing signal that are multiplexed (e.g., via time division multiplexing and / or frequency division multiplexing) together for joint communication and sensing purposes. However, since the LOS from the network device 1120 to the target 1140a is blocked by the building 1110a, the sensing signal 1130b may not reach the target 1140a.

[0203] Also during operation of the system 1100, the network device 1120 (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Tx may send an RF sensing signal 1130a towards the target 1140b. The RF sensing signal 1130a may be included within a communication signal and a sensing signal that are multiplexed (e.g., via time division multiplexing and / or frequency division multiplexing) together for joint communication and sensing purposes. The sensing signal 1130a may reflect off the target 1140b to generate a reflected sensing signal that radiates in a direction towards the back to the network device 1120.

[0204] A network device 1120 (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Rx can receive a reflected sensing signal. After the network device 1120 (e.g., gNB) receives the reflected sensing signal, the network device 1120 (e.g., gNB) can obtain measurements of the reflected sensing signal (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement). At least one processor of the network device 1120 (e.g., processor 1810 in FIG. 18) can then determine or calculate characteristics (e.g., speed, position, distance, movement, heading, size, etc.) of the target 1140b by using sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement) based on the received reflected sensing signal.

[0205] Figure 11B FIG. is an example of a system 1102 for sensing in the case of insufficient coverage. In Figure 11B , the system 1102 is shown as including two target objects 1142a, 1142b (e.g., each target object has a human form). The system 1102 is also shown as including a network device 1152, which can be in the form of a base station (e.g., gNB or a part of a gNB, such as CU, DU, RU, near RT RIC, non-RT RIC, etc.). The network device 1152 (e.g., gNB) can operate as a radar Tx and / or radar Rx for sensing purposes (e.g., for monostatic sensing or bistatic sensing of targets (such as target objects 1142a, 1142b each having a human form)). The target object 1142a can be located inside the boundary 1162 of the antenna coverage area of the network device 1152. However, the target object 1142b can be located outside the boundary 1162 of the antenna coverage area of the network device 1152. Thus, the system 1102 does not provide sufficient coverage for sensing the target 1142b.

[0206] The system 1102 can include more or fewer network devices than the network device shown, for example, in Figure 11B . Additionally, the system 1102 can include different types of network devices (e.g., mobile phones and / or vehicles) compared to the network devices shown, for example, in Figure 11B (e.g., mobile phones and / or vehicles). In one or more examples, the network device 1152 (e.g., gNB) can be equipped with heterogeneous capabilities, which can include but are not limited to 4G / 5G cellular connectivity, GPS capabilities, camera capabilities, radar capabilities, and / or LIDAR capabilities. The network device 1152 (e.g., gNB) is capable of performing wireless communication with other network devices via communication signals.

[0207] In one or more examples, the network device 1152 (e.g., gNB) is capable of sending and receiving a certain type of sensing signal (e.g., camera, RF sensing signal, optical sensing signal, etc.). In some cases, the network device 1152 (e.g., gNB) may send and receive sensing signals (e.g., RF sensing signals 1132a, 1132b) for using one or more sensors to detect nearby targets (e.g., targets 1142a, 1142b). In some cases, the network device 1152 (e.g., gNB) may detect nearby targets based on one or more images or frames captured using one or more cameras.

[0208] The network device 1152 (e.g., gNB) that can operate as a radar Tx and / or radar Rx may perform RF sensing (e.g., bistatic sensing or monostatic sensing) of at least one target (e.g., targets 1142a, 1142b) to obtain RF sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurements, RTT measurements, TOA measurements, and / or TDOA measurements) of the target (e.g., targets 1142a, 1142b). The RF sensing measurements of the target (e.g., targets 1142a, 1142b) may be used (e.g., by at least one processor of the network device 1152) to determine one or more characteristics (e.g., speed, position, distance, movement, heading, size, and / or other characteristics) of the target (e.g., targets 1142a, 1142b).

[0209] During operation of the sensing system 1102, for example, when performing monostatic sensing of a target (e.g., targets 1142a, 1142b), the network device 1152 (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Tx may send an RF sensing signal 1132b towards the target 1142b. The RF sensing signal 1132b may be included in communication signals and sensing signals that are multiplexed (e.g., via time division multiplexing and / or frequency division multiplexing) together for joint communication and sensing purposes. However, since the target object 1142b may be located outside the boundary 1162 of the antenna coverage area of the network device 1152, the sensing signal 1132b may not reach the target 1142b.

[0210] Also during operation of the system 1102, the network device 1152 (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Tx may send an RF sensing signal 1132a towards the target 1142a. The RF sensing signal 1132a may be included in communication signals and sensing signals that are multiplexed (e.g., via time division multiplexing and / or frequency division multiplexing) together for joint communication and sensing purposes. The sensing signal 1132a may reflect off the target 1142a to generate a reflected sensing signal that radiates in the direction back towards the network device 1152.

[0211] A network device 1152 (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Rx can receive a reflected sensing signal. After the network device 1152 (e.g., gNB) receives the reflected sensing signal, the network device 1152 (e.g., gNB) can obtain measurements of the reflected sensing signal (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement). At least one processor of the network device 1152 (e.g., processor 1810 of FIG. 18) can then determine or calculate characteristics (e.g., speed, position, distance, movement, heading, size, etc.) of the target 1142a by using sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement) according to the received reflected sensing signal.

[0212] Figure 11C is a diagram showing an example of a system 1104 for sensing in the case of insufficient reference anchors. In Figure 11C it, the system 1104 is shown as including two target objects 1174a, 1174b (e.g., each having the form of a drone). The system 1104 is also shown as including two network devices 1154a, 1154b, which can each have the form of a base station (e.g., gNB or a part of a gNB, such as CU, DU, RU, near RT RIC, non-RT RIC, etc.). The network devices 1154a, 1154b (e.g., gNB) can each operate as a radar Tx and / or radar Rx for sensing purposes (e.g., for monostatic or bistatic sensing of targets (such as target objects 1174a, 1174b each having the form of a drone)).

[0213] When using the TOA sensing method as discussed previously, in monostatic sensing, one network device (e.g., network device 1154a or 1154b, such as gNB) can determine a circle (e.g., circle 1164a or 1164b) for a possible target azimuth (e.g., each of the targets 1174a or 1174b can be at a point on its corresponding circle). For example, in Figure 11C it, the target 1174a can be at a point on the circle 1164a, and the target 1174b can be at a point on the circle 1164b. Since there are many positions where each target may be located (e.g., many points on each circle), the system 1104 provides an insufficient number of reference anchors (e.g., network devices 1154a, 1154b) for each target object to narrow down the number of possible positions for each target object.

[0214] The system 1104 can include more or fewer network devices than those shown in Figure 11C it. Additionally, the system 1104 can include the same as those shown inFigure 11C The network devices shown (e.g., mobile phones and / or vehicles) compared to different types of network devices (e.g., mobile phones and / or vehicles). In one or more examples, network devices 1154a, 1154b (e.g., gNB) can each be equipped with heterogeneous capabilities, which can include but are not limited to 4G / 5G cellular connectivity, GPS capabilities, camera capabilities, radar capabilities, and / or LIDAR capabilities. Network devices 1154a, 1154b (e.g., gNB) can be capable of performing wireless communication with other network devices via communication signals.

[0215] In one or more examples, network devices 1154a, 1154b (e.g., gNB) can each be capable of sending and receiving a certain category of sensing signals (e.g., camera, RF sensing signals, optical sensing signals, etc.). In some cases, network devices 1154a, 1154b (e.g., gNB) can each send and receive sensing signals (e.g., RF sensing signals 1134a, 1134b) for using one or more sensors to detect nearby targets (e.g., targets 1174a, 1174b). In some cases, network devices 1154a, 1154b (e.g., gNB) can detect nearby targets based on one or more images or frames captured using one or more cameras.

[0216] Network devices 1154a, 1154b (e.g., gNB) that can each operate as a radar Tx and / or radar Rx can perform RF sensing (e.g., bistatic sensing or monostatic sensing) of at least one target (e.g., targets 1174a, 1174b) to obtain RF sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurements, RTT measurements, TOA measurements, and / or TDOA measurements) of the target (e.g., targets 1174a, 1174b). The RF sensing measurements of the target (e.g., targets 1174a, 1174b) can be used (e.g., by at least one processor of network devices 1154a, 1154b) to determine one or more characteristics (e.g., speed, position, distance, movement, heading, size, and / or other characteristics) of the target (e.g., targets 1174a, 1174b).

[0217] During operation of the sensing system 1104, for example, when performing monostatic sensing of a target (e.g., targets 1174a, 1174b), the network device 1154a (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Tx can send an RF sensing signal 1134a towards the target 1174a. The RF sensing signal 1134a can be included within communication signals and sensing signals multiplexed (e.g., via time division multiplexing and / or frequency division multiplexing) together for joint communication and sensing purposes. The sensing signal 1134a can reflect off the target 1174a to generate a reflected sensing signal 1144a radiating in a direction towards the network device 1154a back.

[0218] The network device 1154a (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Rx can receive the reflected sensing signal 1144a. After the network device 1154a (e.g., gNB) receives the reflected sensing signal 1144a, the network device 1154a (e.g., gNB) can obtain measurements of the reflected sensing signal 1144a (e.g., Doppler measurements, RTT measurements, TOA measurements, and / or TDOA measurements). At least one processor (e.g., processor 1810 of FIG. 18) of the network device 1154a (e.g., gNB) can then determine or calculate characteristics of the target 1174a (e.g., speed, position, distance, movement, heading, size, etc.) by using the sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurements, RTT measurements, TOA measurements, and / or TDOA measurements) based on the received reflected sensing signal 1144a. The network device 1154a (e.g., gNB) can determine a circle 1164a for possible target azimuths (e.g., the target 1174a can be at a point on the circle 1164a).

[0219] Similarly, also during operation of the sensing system 1104, the network device 1154b (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Tx can send an RF sensing signal 1134b towards the target 1174b. The RF sensing signal 1134b can be included within communication signals and sensing signals multiplexed (e.g., via time division multiplexing and / or frequency division multiplexing) together for joint communication and sensing purposes. The sensing signal 1134b can reflect off the target 1174b to generate a reflected sensing signal 1144b radiating in a direction towards the network device 1154b back.

[0220] A network device 1154b (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Rx can receive a reflected sensing signal 1144b. After the network device 1154b (e.g., gNB) receives the reflected sensing signal 1144b, the network device 1154b (e.g., gNB) can obtain measurements of the reflected sensing signal 1144b (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement). At least one processor of the network device 1154a (e.g., gNB) (e.g., processor 1810 of FIG. 18) can then determine or calculate characteristics (e.g., speed, position, distance, movement, heading, size, etc.) of the target 1174b by using the sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement) according to the received reflected sensing signal 1144b. The network device 1154b (e.g., gNB) can determine a circle 1164b for possible target bearings (e.g., the target 1174b can be at a point on the circle 1164b).

[0221] Figure 11D FIG. is an example of a system 1106 for sensing with insufficient spatial resolution. In Figure 11D FIG., the system 1106 is shown as including a target object 1146 (e.g., in human form). The system 1106 is also shown as including two network devices 1126, 1176. The network device 1126 can be in the form of a base station (e.g., gNB or a part of a gNB, such as CU, DU, RU, near RT RIC, non-RT RIC, etc.). The network device 1176 can be in the form of a UE, such as a smart phone. The network device 1126, the network device 1176 can each operate as a radar Tx and / or a radar Rx for sensing purposes (e.g., for monostatic sensing or bistatic sensing of a target, such as the target 1146 in human form). The network device 1126 operating as a radar Tx can send a sensing signal 1136 with a wide beam 1166 towards the target 1146 for sensing the target 1146. Since the sensing signal 1136 is a wide beam 1166, the resolution of the sensing of the target 1146 will be low, such that the shape and hand and / or body posture of the target object 1146 may not be distinguishable.

[0222] The system 1106 can include more or fewer network devices than those shown in Figure 11D FIG. Additionally, the system 1106 can include network devices different from those shown in Figure 11DThe network devices (e.g., vehicles) shown in are compared to different types of network devices (e.g., vehicles). In one or more examples, network devices 1126, 1176 may each be equipped with heterogeneous capabilities, which may include but are not limited to 4G / 5G cellular connectivity, GPS capabilities, camera capabilities, radar capabilities, and / or LIDAR capabilities. Network devices 1126, 1176 may each be capable of performing wireless communication with each other and / or with other network devices via communication signals.

[0223] In one or more examples, network devices 1126, 1176 may each be capable of sending and receiving a certain type of sensing signal (e.g., camera, RF sensing signal, optical sensing signal, etc.). In some cases, network devices 1126, 1176 may each send and receive sensing signals (e.g., RF sensing signal 1136) for using one or more sensors to detect nearby targets (e.g., target 1146). In some cases, network devices 1126, 1176 may each detect nearby targets based on one or more images or frames captured using one or more cameras.

[0224] Network devices 1126, 1176, which may each operate as a radar Tx and / or radar Rx, may perform RF sensing (e.g., bistatic sensing or monostatic sensing) of at least one target (e.g., target 1146) to obtain RF sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurements, RTT measurements, TOA measurements, and / or TDOA measurements) of the target (e.g., target 1146). The RF sensing measurements of the target (e.g., target 1146) may be used (e.g., by at least one processor of network devices 1126, 1176) to determine one or more characteristics (e.g., speed, position, distance, movement, heading, size, and / or other characteristics) of the target (e.g., target 1146).

[0225] During operation of the sensing system 1106, e.g., when performing bistatic sensing of a target (e.g., target 1146), network device 1126 (e.g., gNB), operating as a radar Tx, may send an RF sensing signal 1136 towards target 1146. The RF sensing signal 1136 may be included within communication signals and sensing signals that are multiplexed (e.g., via time division multiplexing and / or frequency division multiplexing) together for joint communication and sensing purposes. Since the sensing signal 1136 is a wide beam 1166, the resolution of the sensing of target 1146 will be low, such that the shape and pose (e.g., hand and / or body pose) of target 1146 (e.g., a person) may not be distinguishable.

[0226] The sensing signal 1136 can reflect off the target 1146 to generate a reflected sensing signal 1156 that radiates in the direction towards the network device 1176 (e.g., UE). The network device 1176 (e.g., UE) operating as a radar Rx can receive the reflected sensing signal 1156. After the network device 1176 (e.g., UE) receives the reflected sensing signal 1156, the network device 1176 (e.g., UE) can obtain measurements of the reflected sensing signal 1156 (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement). At least one processor of the network device 1176 (e.g., processor 1810 of FIG. 18) can then determine or calculate characteristics (e.g., velocity, position, distance, movement, heading, size, etc.) of the target 1146 by using the sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement) based on the received reflected sensing signal 1156.

[0227] In one or more aspects, RIS-aided sensing (e.g., adding an RIS to a sensing system, such as Figure 10B shown) can be employed to address the problems of LOS blockage, insufficient coverage, insufficient reference anchors, and / or insufficient spatial resolution. Figure 12A 、 12B Figures 12C and 12D respectively show examples of RIS-aided sensing (e.g., a system that employs an RIS for sensing) that overcome the problems of LOS blockage, insufficient coverage, insufficient reference anchors, and insufficient spatial resolution. Adding an RIS to the system (e.g., as compared to adding a gNB to the system) is low-cost in terms of deployment, hardware, radio resources, and network power consumption.

[0228] Figure 12A is a diagram showing an example of a system 1200 for power saving in RIS-based sensing that overcomes LOS blockage. In Figure 12AIn the figure, system 1200 is shown as including two buildings 1210a, 1210b and a target object 1240 (e.g., in the form of a person). System 1200 is also shown as including a network device 1220, which may be in the form of a base station (e.g., a gNB or a part of a gNB, such as a CU, DU, RU, near RT RIC, non-RT RIC, etc.) located on building 1210a. The network device 1220 (e.g., gNB) can operate as a radar Tx and / or radar Rx for sensing purposes (e.g., for monostatic sensing or bistatic sensing of a target such as the target 1240 in the form of a person). System 1200 is also shown as including a RIS 1280 located on one side of building 1210b. Building 1210a can obstruct the LOS from the network device 1220 (e.g., gNB) to the target 1240 shown in the form of a person.

[0229] System 1200 may include more or fewer network devices than the network device shown, for example, in Figure 12A the figure. Additionally, system 1200 may include different types of network devices (e.g., mobile phones and / or vehicles) compared to the network devices (e.g., mobile phones and / or vehicles) shown in Figure 12A the figure. In one or more examples, the network device 1220 (e.g., gNB) may be equipped with heterogeneous capabilities, which may include but are not limited to 4G / 5G cellular connectivity, GPS capabilities, camera capabilities, radar capabilities, and / or LIDAR capabilities. The network device 1220 (e.g., gNB) is capable of performing wireless communication with other network devices via communication signals.

[0230] In one or more examples, the network device 1220 (e.g., gNB) is capable of sending and receiving a certain type of sensing signal (e.g., camera, RF sensing signal, optical sensing signal, etc.). In some cases, the network device 1220 (e.g., gNB) may send and receive sensing signals (e.g., RF sensing signals 1230a, 1230b) for using one or more sensors to detect nearby targets (e.g., target 1240). In some cases, the network device 1220 (e.g., gNB) may detect nearby targets based on one or more images or frames captured using one or more cameras.

[0231] A network device 1220 (e.g., gNB) that can operate as a radar Tx and / or a radar Rx can perform RF sensing (e.g., bistatic sensing or monostatic sensing) of at least one target (e.g., target 1240) to obtain RF sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurements, RTT measurements, TOA measurements, and / or TDOA measurements) of the target (e.g., target 1240). The RF sensing measurements of the target (e.g., target 1240) can be used (e.g., by at least one processor of the network device 1220) to determine one or more characteristics (e.g., speed, position, distance, movement, heading, size, and / or other characteristics) of the target (e.g., target 1240).

[0232] The RIS 1280 can operate passively as a repeater by reflecting a signal (e.g., a sensing signal) radiated from a network device (e.g., the network device 1220 in the form of a gNB) in a direction towards a target (e.g., target 1240 in the form of a person). The RIS 1280 can also operate passively as a repeater by reflecting a signal (e.g., a reflected sensing signal) from a target (e.g., target 1240) in a direction towards the network device (e.g., network device 1220).

[0233] During operation of the system 1200 for sensing, for example, when performing monostatic sensing of a target (e.g., target 1240), the network device 1220 (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Tx can send an RF sensing signal 1230b towards the target 1240. The RF sensing signal 1230b can be included within a communication signal and a sensing signal that are multiplexed (e.g., via time division multiplexing and / or frequency division multiplexing) together for the purposes of joint communication and sensing. However, since the LOS from the network device 1220 to the target 1240 is blocked by the building 1210a, the sensing signal 1230b may not reach the target 1240.

[0234] Also during operation of the system 1200, the network device 1220 (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Tx can send an RF sensing signal 1230a towards the RIS 1280. The RF sensing signal 1230a can be included within a communication signal and a sensing signal that are multiplexed (e.g., via time division multiplexing and / or frequency division multiplexing) together for the purposes of joint communication and sensing. The sensing signal 1230a can reflect off the RIS 1280 to generate a reflected sensing signal 1250. Elements of the RIS 1280 can cause the reflected sensing signal 1250 to radiate in a direction towards the target 1240.

[0235] The reflected sensing signal 1250 can reflect off the target 1240 to generate a target - reflected sensing signal that radiates in a direction towards the back - towards RIS 1280. The target - reflected signal can reflect off the RIS 1280 to generate an RIS - reflected sensing signal. The elements of the RIS 1280 can cause the RIS - reflected sensing signal to radiate in a direction towards the network device 1220.

[0236] The network device 1220 (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Rx can receive the RIS - reflected sensing signal. After the network device 1220 (e.g., gNB) receives the RIS - reflected sensing signal, the network device 1220 (e.g., gNB) can obtain measurements of the RIS - reflected sensing signal (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement). At least one processor of the network device 1220 (e.g., the processor 1810 of FIG. 18) can then determine or calculate characteristics of the target 1240 (e.g., velocity, position, distance, movement, heading, size, etc.) by using the sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement) based on the received RIS - reflected sensing signal.

[0237] Figure 12B FIG. is an example of a system 1202 showing power savings in RIS - based sensing for sufficient coverage. In Figure 12B FIG., the system 1202 is shown to include a target object 1242 (e.g., in human form). The system 1202 is also shown to include a network device 1252, which can be in the form of a base station (e.g., gNB or a part of a gNB, such as CU, DU, RU, near - RT RIC, non - RT RIC, etc.). The network device 1252 (e.g., gNB) can operate as a radar Tx and / or radar Rx for sensing purposes (e.g., for monostatic sensing or bistatic sensing of a target such as the target 1242 in human form). The system 1202 is also shown to include an RIS 1282. The target object 1242 can be located outside the antenna coverage area boundary 1262 of the network device 1252, and thus, the system 1202 may not provide sufficient coverage for sensing the target 1242.

[0238] The system 1202 can include more or fewer network devices than the network device shown, for example, in Figure 12B FIG.. Additionally, the system 1202 can include an RIS different from the one shown, for example, in Figure 12BThe network devices shown (e.g., mobile phones and / or vehicles) compared to different types of network devices (e.g., mobile phones and / or vehicles). In one or more examples, the network device 1252 (e.g., gNB) may be equipped with heterogeneous capabilities, which may include but are not limited to 4G / 5G cellular connectivity, GPS capabilities, camera capabilities, radar capabilities, and / or LIDAR capabilities. The network device 1252 (e.g., gNB) may be able to perform wireless communication with other network devices via communication signals.

[0239] In one or more examples, the network device 1252 (e.g., gNB) may be able to send and receive certain types of sensing signals (e.g., camera, RF sensing signals, optical sensing signals, etc.). In some cases, the network device 1252 (e.g., gNB) may send and receive sensing signals (e.g., RF sensing signals 1232a, 1232b) for using one or more sensors to detect nearby targets (e.g., target 1242). In some cases, the network device 1252 (e.g., gNB) may detect nearby targets based on one or more images or frames captured using one or more cameras.

[0240] The network device 1252 (e.g., gNB) that can operate as a radar Tx and / or radar Rx may perform RF sensing (e.g., bistatic sensing or monostatic sensing) of at least one target (e.g., target 1242) to obtain RF sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurements, RTT measurements, TOA measurements, and / or TDOA measurements) of the target (e.g., target 1242). The RF sensing measurements of the target (e.g., target 1242) may be used (e.g., by at least one processor of the network device 1252) to determine one or more characteristics (e.g., speed, position, distance, movement, heading, size, and / or other characteristics) of the target (e.g., target 1242).

[0241] The RIS 1282 may operate passively as a repeater by reflecting signals (e.g., sensing signals) radiated from a network device (e.g., network device 1252 in the form of a gNB) in the direction towards a target (e.g., target 1242 in the form of a person). The RIS 1282 may also operate passively as a repeater by reflecting signals (e.g., reflected sensing signals) from a target (e.g., target 1242) in the direction towards the network device (e.g., network device 1252).

[0242] During the operation of the sensing system 1202, for example, when performing monostatic sensing of a target (e.g., target 1242), the network device 1252 (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Tx can send an RF sensing signal 1232b towards the target 1242. The RF sensing signal 1232b can be included within communication signals and sensing signals that are multiplexed (e.g., via time division multiplexing and / or frequency division multiplexing) together for joint communication and sensing purposes. However, since the target object 1242 may be located outside the boundary 1262 of the antenna coverage area of the network device 1252, the sensing signal 1232b may not reach the target 1242 for sensing the target 1242.

[0243] Also during the operation of the system 1202, the network device 1252 (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Tx can send an RF sensing signal 1232a towards the RIS 1282. The RF sensing signal 1232a can be included within communication signals and sensing signals that are multiplexed (e.g., via time division multiplexing and / or frequency division multiplexing) together for joint communication and sensing purposes. The sensing signal 1232a can reflect off the RIS 1282 to generate a reflected sensing signal 1272. The elements of the RIS 1282 can cause the reflected sensing signal 1272 to radiate in the direction towards the target 1242.

[0244] The reflected sensing signal 1272 can reflect off the target 1242 to generate a target - reflected sensing signal that radiates in the direction towards the RIS 1282 again. The target - reflected signal can reflect off the RIS 1282 to generate a RIS - reflected sensing signal. The elements of the RIS 1282 can cause the RIS - reflected sensing signal to radiate in the direction towards the network device 1252.

[0245] The network device 1252 (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Rx can receive the RIS - reflected sensing signal. After the network device 1252 (e.g., gNB) receives the RIS - reflected sensing signal, the network device 1252 (e.g., gNB) can obtain measurements of the RIS - reflected sensing signal (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement). At least one processor (e.g., processor 1810 of FIG. 18) of the network device 1252 (e.g., gNB) can then determine or calculate characteristics (e.g., velocity, position, distance, movement, heading, size, etc.) of the target 1242 by using sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement) based on the received RIS - reflected sensing signal.

[0246] Figure 12CFIG. is an example of a system 1204 showing power savings in RIS-based sensing with sufficient reference anchors. In Figure 12C , the system 1204 is shown as including two target objects 1274a, 1274b (e.g., each having the form of a drone). The system 1204 is also shown as including two network devices 1254a, 1254b, each of which may have the form of a base station (e.g., a gNB or a part of a gNB, such as a CU, DU, RU, near RT RIC, non-RT RIC, etc.). The network devices 1254a, 1254b (e.g., gNBs) may each operate as a radar Tx and / or a radar Rx for sensing purposes (e.g., for monostatic or bistatic sensing of targets such as target objects 1274a, 1274b each having the form of a drone). The system 1204 is also shown as including RIS 1284.

[0247] When using the TOA sensing method as discussed previously, in monostatic sensing, one network device (e.g., network device 1254a or 1254b, such as a gNB) can determine a circle (e.g., circle 1264a or 1264b) for a possible target azimuth (e.g., each of the target objects 1274a or 1274b can be at a point on its corresponding circle). For example, in Figure 12C , the target object 1274a can be at a point on circle 1264a, and the target object 1274b can be at a point on circle 1264b. Since there are many positions where each of the target objects 1274a, 1274b can be located (e.g., many points on each circle), the system 1204 provides an insufficient number of reference anchors (e.g., network devices 1254a, 1254b) for each of the target objects 1274a, 1274b to narrow down the number of possible positions for each of the target objects 1274a, 1274b.

[0248] The system 1204 may include more or fewer network devices than those shown, for example, in Figure 12C . Additionally, the system 1204 may include different types of network devices (e.g., mobile phones and / or vehicles) compared to the network devices shown, for example, in Figure 12C . In one or more examples, the network devices 1254a, 1254b (e.g., gNBs) may each be equipped with heterogeneous capabilities, which may include but are not limited to 4G / 5G cellular connectivity, GPS capabilities, camera capabilities, radar capabilities, and / or LIDAR capabilities. The network devices 1254a, 1254b (e.g., gNBs) may be able to perform wireless communication with other network devices via communication signals.

[0249] In one or more examples, network devices 1254a, 1254b (e.g., gNBs) may each be capable of transmitting and receiving a certain type of sensing signal (e.g., camera, RF sensing signal, optical sensing signal, etc.). In some cases, network devices 1254a, 1254b (e.g., gNBs) may each transmit and receive sensing signals (e.g., RF sensing signals 1234a, 1234b) for using one or more sensors to detect nearby targets (e.g., targets 1274a, 1274b). In some cases, network devices 1254a, 1254b (e.g., gNBs) may detect nearby targets based on one or more images or frames captured using one or more cameras.

[0250] Network devices 1254a, 1254b (e.g., gNBs) that may each operate as a radar Tx and / or radar Rx may perform RF sensing (e.g., bistatic sensing or monostatic sensing) of at least one target (e.g., targets 1274a, 1274b) to obtain RF sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurements, RTT measurements, TOA measurements, and / or TDOA measurements) of the target (e.g., targets 1274a, 1274b). The RF sensing measurements of the target (e.g., targets 1274a, 1274b) may be used (e.g., by at least one processor of network devices 1254a, 1254b) to determine one or more characteristics (e.g., speed, position, distance, movement, heading, size, and / or other characteristics) of the target (e.g., targets 1274a, 1274b).

[0251] RIS 1284 may operate passively as a repeater by reflecting signals (e.g., sensing signals) radiated from a network device (e.g., network devices 1254a, 1254b, each having the form of a gNB) in a direction towards a target (e.g., targets 1274a, 1274b, each having the form of a drone). RIS 1284 may also operate passively as a repeater by reflecting signals (e.g., reflected sensing signals) from a target (e.g., targets 1274a, 1274b) in a direction towards a network device (e.g., network devices 1254a, 1254b).

[0252] During operation of the system 1204 for performing sensing, for example, when performing monostatic sensing of a target (e.g., targets 1274a, 1274b), a network device 1254a (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Tx can transmit an RF sensing signal 1234a towards the target 1274a. The RF sensing signal 1234a can be included within communication signals and sensing signals that are multiplexed (e.g., via time division multiplexing and / or frequency division multiplexing) together for joint communication and sensing purposes. The sensing signal 1234a can reflect off the target 1274a to generate a reflected sensing signal 1244a that radiates in a direction towards the back to the network device 1254a.

[0253] A network device 1254a (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Rx can receive the reflected sensing signal 1244a. After the network device 1254a (e.g., gNB) receives the reflected sensing signal 1244a, the network device 1254a (e.g., gNB) can obtain measurements of the reflected sensing signal 1244a (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement). At least one processor (e.g., processor 1810 of FIG. 18) of the network device 1254a (e.g., gNB) can then determine or calculate characteristics (e.g., velocity, position, distance, movement, heading, size, etc.) of the target 1274a by using the sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement) based on the received reflected sensing signal 1244a. The network device 1254a (e.g., gNB) can determine a circle 1264a for possible target azimuths (e.g., the target 1274a can be at a point on the circle 1264a).

[0254] Similarly, also during operation of the system 1204 for sensing, a network device 1254b (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Tx can transmit an RF sensing signal 1234b towards the target 1274b. The RF sensing signal 1234b can be included within communication signals and sensing signals that are multiplexed (e.g., via time division multiplexing and / or frequency division multiplexing) together for joint communication and sensing purposes. The sensing signal 1234b can reflect off the target 1274b to generate a reflected sensing signal 1244b that radiates in a direction towards the back to the network device 1254b.

[0255] A network device 1254b (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Rx can receive a reflected sensing signal 1244b. After the network device 1254b (e.g., gNB) receives the reflected sensing signal 1244b, the network device 1254b (e.g., gNB) can obtain measurements of the reflected sensing signal 1244b (e.g., Doppler measurements, RTT measurements, TOA measurements, and / or TDOA measurements). At least one processor of the network device 1254b (e.g., processor 1810 of FIG. 18) can then determine or calculate characteristics of the target 1274b (e.g., speed, position, distance, movement, heading, size, etc.) by using the sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurements, RTT measurements, TOA measurements, and / or TDOA measurements) according to the received reflected sensing signal 1244b. The network device 1254b (e.g., gNB) can determine a circle 1264b for possible target bearings (e.g., the target 1274b can be at a point on the circle 1264b).

[0256] Additionally, during operation of the system 1204, a network device 1254a (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Tx can send an RF sensing signal 1234c towards the RIS 1284. The RF sensing signal 1234c can be included within communication signals and sensing signals that are multiplexed (e.g., via time division multiplexing and / or frequency division multiplexing) together for joint communication and sensing purposes. The sensing signal 1234c can reflect off the RIS 1284 to generate a reflected sensing signal 1244c. Elements of the RIS 1284 can radiate the reflected sensing signal 1244c in a direction towards the target 1274a.

[0257] The reflected sensing signal 1244c can reflect off the target 1274a to generate a target reflected sensing signal that radiates in a direction towards the RIS 1284. The target reflected signal can reflect off the RIS 1284 to generate a RIS reflected sensing signal. Elements of the RIS 1284 can radiate the RIS reflected sensing signal in a direction towards the network device 1254a.

[0258] A network device 1254a (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Rx can receive a RIS reflected sensing signal. After the network device 1254a (e.g., gNB) receives the RIS reflected sensing signal, the network device 1254a (e.g., gNB) can obtain measurements of the RIS reflected sensing signal (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement). At least one processor of the network device 1254a (e.g., processor 1810 of FIG. 18) can then determine or calculate characteristics of the target 1274a (e.g., speed, position, distance, movement, heading, size, etc.) by using the sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement) according to the received RIS reflected sensing signal. The network device 1254a (e.g., gNB) can determine a circle 1264c for possible target azimuths (e.g., the target 1254a can be at a point on the circle 1264c).

[0259] Similarly, during operation of the system 1204, a network device 1254b (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Tx can send an RF sensing signal 1234d towards the RIS 1284. The RF sensing signal 1234d can be included in communication signals and sensing signals multiplexed (e.g., via time division multiplexing and / or frequency division multiplexing) together for joint communication and sensing purposes. The sensing signal 1234d can reflect off the RIS 1284 to generate a reflected sensing signal 1244d. The elements of the RIS 1284 can radiate the reflected sensing signal 1244d in the direction towards the target 1274b.

[0260] The reflected sensing signal 1244d can reflect off the target 1274b to generate a target reflected sensing signal radiating in the direction towards the RIS 1284. The target reflected signal can reflect off the RIS 1284 to generate a RIS reflected sensing signal. The elements of the RIS 1284 can radiate the RIS reflected sensing signal in the direction towards the network device 1254b.

[0261] A network device 1254b (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Rx can receive a RIS reflected sensing signal. After the network device 1252b (e.g., gNB) receives the RIS reflected sensing signal, the network device 1252b (e.g., gNB) can obtain measurements of the RIS reflected sensing signal (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement). At least one processor of the network device 1254b (e.g., the processor 1810 in FIG. 18) can then determine or calculate characteristics (e.g., velocity, position, distance, movement, heading, size, etc.) of the target 1274b by using the sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurement, RTT measurement, TOA measurement, and / or TDOA measurement) according to the received RIS reflected sensing signal. The network device 1254b (e.g., gNB) can determine a circle 1264c for a possible target azimuth (e.g., the target 1274b can be located at a point on the circle 1264c).

[0262] By determining two circles for each target (e.g., circles 1264a, 1264c for target 1274a and circles 1264b, 1264c for target 1274b), the position of each target can be narrowed down to fewer possible positions. For example, the target 1274a can be determined to be located within the intersection area of circles 1264a, 1264c, and the target 1274b can be determined to be located within the intersection area of circles 1264b, 1264c.

[0263] Figure 12D FIG. is an example of a system 1206 showing power saving in RIS-based sensing with sufficient spatial resolution. In Figure 12D it, the system 1206 is shown as including a target object 1246 (e.g., in human form). The system 1206 is also shown as including two network devices 1226, 1276. The network device 1226 can be in the form of a base station (e.g., gNB or a part of gNB, such as CU, DU, RU, near RT RIC, non-RT RIC, etc.), and the network device 1276 can be in the form of a UE (such as a smart phone). The network devices 1226, 1276 can each operate as a radar Tx and / or radar Rx for sensing purposes (e.g., for monostatic sensing or bistatic sensing of a target (such as the target 1246 in human form)). The system is also shown as including a RIS 1286.

[0264] The network device 1226 operating as a radar Tx can send a sensing signal with a wide beam 1266 towards the RIS 1286 for sensing the target 1246. The sensing signal with the wide beam 1266 will reflect off the RIS 1286 to generate an RIS-reflected sensing signal 1236 with a narrow beam 1296 radiating in the direction towards the target 1246. Since the RIS 1286 focuses the wide beam 1266 of the sensing signal into the RIS-reflected sensing signal 1236 with a narrow beam 1296, the resolution of the sensing of the target 1246 will be high, enabling the shape and / or pose (e.g., hand and / or body pose) of the target 1246 to be identified.

[0265] The system 1206 may include more or fewer network devices compared to the network devices shown in Figure 12D In addition, the system 1206 may include different types of network devices (e.g., vehicles) compared to the network devices (e.g., vehicles) shown in Figure 12D In one or more examples, the network device 1226, the network device 1276 may each be equipped with heterogeneous capabilities, which may include but are not limited to 4G / 5G cellular connectivity, GPS capabilities, camera capabilities, radar capabilities, and / or LIDAR capabilities. The network device 1226, the network device 1276 may each be capable of performing wireless communication with each other and / or with other network devices via communication signals.

[0266] In one or more examples, the network device 1226, the network device 1276 may each be capable of sending and receiving a certain type of sensing signal (e.g., camera, RF sensing signal, optical sensing signal, etc.). In some cases, the network device 1226, the network device 1276 may each send and receive sensing signals (e.g., sensing signals 1266, 1256) for using one or more sensors to detect nearby targets (e.g., target 1246). In some cases, the network device 1226, the network device 1276 may each detect nearby targets based on one or more images or frames captured using one or more cameras.

[0267] Network devices 1226, 1276 that can each operate as a radar Tx and / or a radar Rx can perform RF sensing (e.g., bistatic sensing or monostatic sensing) of at least one target (e.g., target 1246) to obtain RF sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurements, RTT measurements, TOA measurements, and / or TDOA measurements) of the target (e.g., target 1246). The RF sensing measurements of the target (e.g., target 1246) can be used (e.g., by at least one processor of network device 1226, network device 1276) to determine one or more characteristics (e.g., speed, position, distance, movement, pose, heading, size, and / or other characteristics) of the target (e.g., target 1246).

[0268] The RIS 1286 can operate passively as a repeater by reflecting a signal (e.g., a sensing signal) radiated from a network device (e.g., network device 1226 in the form of a gNB) in a direction towards a target (e.g., target 1246 in the form of a person). The RIS 1286 can also operate passively as a repeater by reflecting a signal (e.g., a reflected sensing signal) from a target (e.g., target 1246 in the form of a person) in a direction towards the network device (e.g., network device 1226 in the form of a gNB).

[0269] During operation of the system 1206 for performing sensing, e.g., when performing bistatic sensing of a target (e.g., target 1246), the network device 1226 (e.g., gNB) operating as a radar Tx can transmit an RF sensing signal with a wide beam 1266 towards the target 1246. The RF sensing signal with the wide beam 1266 can be included within a communication signal and a sensing signal multiplexed (e.g., via time division multiplexing and / or frequency division multiplexing) together for joint communication and sensing purposes. The sensing signal with the wide beam 1266 can reflect off the RIS 1286 to generate a reflected sensing signal 1236. The elements of the RIS 1286 can cause the sensing signal with the wide beam 1266 to generate a reflected sensing signal 1236 with a concentrated narrow beam 1296 radiated in the direction towards the target 1246.

[0270] The reflected sensing signal 1236 can reflect off the target 1246 to generate a target reflected sensing signal 1256 that radiates in a direction towards the network device 1276 (e.g., UE). The network device 1276 (e.g., UE) operating as a radar Rx can receive the target reflected sensing signal 1256. After the network device 1276 (e.g., UE) receives the target reflected sensing signal 1256, the network device 1276 (e.g., UE) can obtain measurements of the target reflected sensing signal 1256 (e.g., Doppler measurements, RTT measurements, TOA measurements, and / or TDOA measurements). At least one processor of the network device 1276 (e.g., the processor 1810 of FIG. 18) can then determine or calculate characteristics of the target 1246 (e.g., velocity, position, distance, movement, pose, heading, size, etc.) by using the sensing measurements (e.g., Doppler measurements, RTT measurements, TOA measurements, and / or TDOA measurements) based on the received target reflected sensing signal 1256. The network device 1276 (e.g., UE) can use the sensing measurements of the target reflected sensing signal 1256 to determine or calculate the shape and / or pose (e.g., hand and / or body pose) of the target 1246 in the form of a person.

[0271] In one or more aspects, Figure 13A 、 13B and 13C show models (e.g., general model and far - field model) and configurations (e.g., Configuration 1, Configuration 2, Configuration 3, and Configuration 4) for reflective beamforming by the RIS. In particular, Figure 13A is a diagram showing an example of the general model 1300 for the RIS, which can be adopted by the disclosed systems and techniques for power saving in RIS - based sensing. As previously mentioned, the RIS can shape the wireless environment into a desirable form at low cost. In practice, the RIS has three types of implementations, which include reflective (e.g., where signals can be reflected by the RIS), transmissive (e.g., where signals can penetrate the RIS), and hybrid (e.g., where the RIS can have dual functions of reflection and transmission).

[0272] The RIS is a programmable array structure that can be used to control the propagation of electromagnetic (EM) waves (e.g., manipulate RF beams) by changing the electrical and magnetic properties of the surface of the RIS. In Figure 13AIn this case, the RIS includes an array of metamaterial RIS elements 1310, which consists of an ultra-thin surface embedded with a plurality of wavelength scatterers. The electromagnetic characteristics of the RIS element 1310 can be dynamically controlled by applying a control signal to a tunable element (e.g., a PIN diode, a varactor diode, and / or other tunable elements) on the RIS element 1310, which can achieve active and intelligent modulation of electromagnetic waves in a programmable manner to form an electromagnetic field with controllable amplitude, phase, polarization, and / or frequency. For example, the electromagnetic response of the RIS element 1310 (e.g., the phase shift for manipulating the RF beam) can be controlled by a programmable PIN diode.

[0273] The RIS can operate passively as a repeater by reflecting a signal (e.g., signal 1350a). The signal (e.g., signal 1350a) can be incident on the RIS from a transmitter 1330 (e.g., a network device, e.g., in the form of a base station such as a gNB) at an incident angle with respect to the distance d i,n and sent towards the RIS. The signal (e.g., signal 1350a) can be reflected off the RIS to generate a reflected signal (e.g., signal 1350b), which can be reflected at a reflection angle with respect to the distance d r,n and reflected. The RIS element 1310 can radiate the reflected signal (e.g., signal 1350b) in a specific direction (e.g., in the direction towards the receiver 1340, where the receiver 1340 can be in the form of a UE such as a smart phone).

[0274] For the general model 1300 of the RIS, the transmitter 1330 and the receiver 1340 can be in the far field of the RIS or in the near field of the RIS. For this general model 1300 of the RIS, the distances between the transmitter 1330 and the receiver 1340 for each meta-element 1310 of the RIS can be calculated. The leftmost meta-element 1310 can be assigned as meta-element zero. The calculated distances of each of the other meta-elements 1310 can be compared with the calculated distance of meta-element zero.

[0275] For the general model 1300, for the incident angle {θ i,n} and the reflection angle {θ r,n}, the reflection gain of the RIS can be:

[0276]

[0277] where is the reflection coefficient of meta-element n.

[0278] Figure 13B is a diagram showing an example of the far-field model 1302 of the RIS for Figure 13A For Figure 13BThe far - field model 1302 of the RIS is for Figure 13A a simplification of the general model 1300 of the RIS. The RIS can operate passively as a repeater by reflecting signals (e.g., Figure 13B the signal 1320a in i ). The signal (e.g., signal 1320a) can be sent towards the RIS from a transmitter 1330 (e.g., a network device such as a base station, e.g., a gNB) at an incident angle θ Figure 13B The signal (e.g., signal 1320a) can be reflected off the RIS to generate a reflected signal (e.g., r the signal 1320b in

[0279] which can be reflected at a reflection angle θ Figure 13B ). The RIS element 1310 can radiate the reflected signal (e.g., signal 1320b) in a specific direction (e.g., in the direction of a receiver 1340 (such as a UE, e.g., a smart phone)).

[0280] For i this far - field model of the 1302 for the RIS, for the incident angle θ r and the reflection angle θ

[0281]

[0282] Preferably, α n ≡α, In fact, {α n , φ n} is derived from an enumerated set based on the super - element implementation, where α n is the amplitude response and φ n is the phase shift.

[0283] Figure 13C is Table 1304 showing example phase shifts and amplitude responses for different configurations of the RIS for Figure 13A and Figure 13B . Figure 13C is Table 1304 showing example phase shifts 1362 and amplitude responses 1364 for different configurations 1360 of the RIS for Figure 13A and Figure 13B . In particular, at Figure 13CIn Table 1304, corresponding phase shifts 1362 and magnitude responses 1364 (e.g., magnitude or channel response) are shown for each of four different exemplary configurations 1360 for the RIS (e.g., Configuration 1, Configuration 2, Configuration 3, and Configuration 4). In some aspects, the configuration with the magnitude response closest to the determined channel response θ (or h in some cases) is determined to be used for the RIS. n )

[0284] As previously mentioned, the RIS can operate as a passive device (e.g., where the RIS may not consume power in active radio wave radiation). Although the RIS can operate as a passive device, the RIS can consume power in hyper-element operation. A varactor-based hyper-element (e.g., a unit cell) consumes little power. However, a PIN diode-based hyper-element can consume power depending on the PIN diode state (e.g., on state or off state). When the PIN diode state is off (e.g., the off state), for each hyper-element, the power consumed can be negligible. When the PIN diode state is on (e.g., the on state), the power consumed can be about 0.33 mW per hyper-element. Thus, the total power consumed in the RIS can be about 0.33N on mW (e.g., if the number of on-state PIN diodes is N on = 10,000, then their total consumed power will be about 3.3 W). The PIN diode-based hyper-element can have a lower cost than the varactor-based hyper-element, and thus, the PIN diode-based hyper-element can be widely applied in economical RIS implementations.

[0285] In one or more aspects, for the purpose of "green communication" (e.g., for reducing carbon emissions) or to extend battery usage time, a "power saving mode" can be configured for RIS-based sensing. Conventional power saving in an antenna array panel involves using fewer antenna elements compared to the total number of antenna elements in the antenna array panel (e.g., by turning off some of the antenna elements in the antenna array panel). However, adopting a similar power saving method in the RIS (e.g., using fewer hyper-elements in the RIS panel, e.g., by turning off some of the hyper-elements in the RIS) can greatly reduce the beamforming gain (e.g., the beamforming gain can be reduced by 3 decibels (dB) for each decreasing half of the hyper-elements).

[0286] In one or more aspects, a solution for power saving in RIS-based sensing can provide a power saving method for PIN diode-based metasurfaces of a RIS. This power saving method can allow all metasurfaces to be utilized while avoiding a large beamforming gain loss.

[0287] In one or more examples of these solutions, in RIS-based sensing where the RIS is composed of PIN diode-based metasurfaces, each metasurface can have two operating modes (e.g., normal mode and power saving mode) based on a power consumption value. In the normal mode, all configurations for the metasurfaces of the RIS are available. For example, this mode (e.g., the normal mode) can be used in the target object azimuth measurement phase. In the power saving mode, a set of configurations for metasurfaces with a smaller number (or a certain percentage) of on-state PIN diodes may be available, while another set of configurations for metasurfaces with a larger number (or a certain percentage) of on-state PIN diodes may not be available. For example, this mode (e.g., the power saving mode) can be used in the target object presence detection phase.

[0288] In one or more aspects, these solutions can provide a RIS power saving operating mode (e.g., a low-power configuration using only a smaller number or a certain percentage of on-state PIN diodes) for each metasurface of the RIS. Protocol and signaling designs are also provided for this RIS power saving operating mode. Operating the RIS using the RIS power saving operating mode can greatly reduce the RIS power consumption with only a slight reflection beamforming gain loss.

[0289] In one or more aspects, in RIS-based sensing where the RIS is composed of PIN diode-based metasurfaces, each RIS metasurface can have two operating modes (e.g., "normal mode" and "power saving mode") based on a power consumption value. In the "normal mode", all configurations are available. In one or more examples, this "normal mode" can be used in the "target object azimuth measurement phase". In the "power saving mode", a set of configurations with a smaller number (or a certain percentage) of "on-state" PIN diodes may be available, while another set of configurations with a larger number (or a certain percentage) of "on-state" PIN diodes may not be available. In one or more examples, this "power saving mode" can be used in the "target object presence detection phase".

[0290] As previously pointed out, RIS has three types of implementation methods, including reflective (e.g., where signals can be reflected by the RIS), transmissive (e.g., where signals can penetrate the RIS), and hybrid (e.g., where the RIS can have the dual functions of reflection and transmission). Transmissive RIS can also be referred to as refractive RIS or penetrative RIS. In some cases, in scenarios where a network device (e.g., a base station such as a gNB) is outside a closed space (e.g., a room, a vehicle, a building, etc.) and a device (e.g., a UE) is inside the closed space, when the network device is on one side of a wall or panel and the device is on the other side of the wall or panel, and / or in other scenarios, refractive RIS can be used. Figure 13D is a diagram showing an example of a scenario where a refractive RIS 1367 is used to direct a communication signal 1366 from a network device 1365 (e.g., a gNB) to a first target object 1368 (e.g., a first UE) and a second target object 1369 (e.g., a second UE).

[0291] 13E is a diagram showing an example of a far - field model 1370 for refractive (or transmissive) RIS. As Figure 13E shown, both the network device 1372 (e.g., a base station such as a gNB) and the target object 1374 (e.g., a UE or other object) are in the far - field of an RIS surface including a plurality of RIS elements 1375. The network device 1372 can send a signal towards the RIS at an incident angle θ i The equivalent channel response value of the n - th RIS element of the RIS at the transmissive (or refractive) angle θ t can be expressed as where, is the transmissive (or refractive) coefficient of the n - th RIS element, d n is the distance between the n - th RIS element and the first RIS element (e.g., the RIS element 1 shown in Figure 13E ), and λ is the wavelength.

[0292] The overall equivalent channel response value of all the RIS elements of the RIS at the transmissive angle θ t can be expressed as Theoretically, if the transmissive coefficient / refractive coefficient satisfies α n ≡α, then the transmissive beam can be directed towards the direction θ t . In practice, through different configurations, the coefficient magnitude and phase values of each super - element are from a finite set (e.g., represented as {(a1,φ1),(a2,φ2),…,(a M ,φ M)} in this case, the actual beam shape may have a specific deviation from the ideal beam (in the direction θ t ). As the number of RIS elements becomes larger, the actual beam shape becomes closer to the ideal beam, and the beam direction is more accurate.

[0293] Figure 13F FIG. is a diagram showing an example of a near-field model 1380 for a refractive (or transmissive) RIS. As Figure 13F shown, at least one of the network device 1382 (e.g., a base station such as a gNB) or the target object 1384 (e.g., a UE or other object) is in the near field of the RIS surface including a plurality of RIS elements 1385. The network device 1382 may transmit a signal toward the RIS at an incident angle θ i . If the network device 1382 (as a transmitter) or the target object 1384 (as a receiver) is located in the near field of the RIS surface, the incident angles θ i,n or the transmissive (or refractive) angles θ t,n of the plurality of super elements are different.

[0294] The incident angle and the transmissive angle θ i,n and θ t,n can be calculated based on the azimuth of the super element, the orientation of the RIS, and the azimuths of the network device 1382 (transmitter) and the target object 1384 (receiver) relative to the RIS. The selected coefficient magnitudes and phases α n and φ n of each super element should thus be related to the distances d i,n , d t,n of the network device 1382 (transmitter) and the target object 1384 (receiver) relative to the RIS, respectively.

[0295] Sensing can be performed based on the refractive / transmissive RIS (e.g., as a supplement or alternative to using the RIS for communication). Figure 13G FIG. is an example of a refractive / transmissive RIS 1388 that is used as an external radar to sense an object 1389 within a building. As shown, the network device 1386 (e.g., a base station such as a gnB) transmits a sensing signal 1387a. The sensing signal 1387a is refracted from the RIS 1388 in the direction toward the object 1389. The refracted signal is reflected from the object 1389 in the direction toward the RIS 1388. The reflected signal is refracted by the RIS 1388, causing the network device 1386 to receive the reflected signal 1387b.

[0296] In some cases, in addition to being used for communication, RIS can also be used for sensing (e.g., gNB or UE in an integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) system). Such solutions can be used for various applications, such as indoor security (e.g., for intruder detection), safety (e.g., human monitoring), behavior detection (e.g., detecting behaviors such as walking, running, sitting, standing, etc.), status detection (e.g., whether a space is full or empty), etc.

[0297] There are various differences between reflective RIS and refractive / transmissive RIS. Figure 13H and Figure 13I is a diagram showing the differences between reflective RIS and refractive / transmissive RIS. For example, Figure 13H shows a reflective RIS 1393 that reflects a signal from a network device 1390 in the direction towards an object 1392. For a reflective RIS, the radar (e.g., a transmitter such as network device 1390) is typically far from the line-of-sight direction, in which case the angle of incidence (shown as the angle of incidence θ1 in Figure 13H is much greater than zero. Figure 13I shows a refractive RIS 1397 (or transmissive RIS) that refracts a signal from a network device 1394 in the direction towards an object 1396. For a refractive / transmissive RIS, the radar (e.g., a transmitter such as network device 1394) can be within or near the line-of-sight direction, and thus the angle of incidence (shown as the angle of incidence θ2 in Figure 13I can be equal to or slightly greater than zero. Since the reflection / transmission coefficient gain of each super-element is proportional to cosθ, the transmissive RIS has a higher super-element radiation power than the reflective RIS.

[0298] Figure 14 shows examples of PIN diode states for different configurations 1410 used for RIS (e.g., reflective RIS, refractive / transmissive RIS, or hybrid RIS). In particular, Figure 14 is Table 1400, which shows example states 1420 and 1430 (e.g., "on state" and "off state") of PIN diodes for different configurations of RIS for Figure 13A and 13B . In Figure 14In Table 1400, for example, a super element can include five (5) PIN diodes. For Configurations 1 and 2, PIN diodes 3, 4, and 5 can be in the "on" state. For Configurations 3 and 4, PIN diodes 3, 4, and 5 can be in the "off" state. Thus, in the "power saving mode", Configurations 3 and 4 with a smaller number (e.g., 1) or a certain percentage (e.g., 20%) of "on-state" PIN diodes are available, while Configurations 1 and 2 with a larger number (e.g., 4) or a certain percentage (e.g., 80%) of "on-state" PIN diodes are not available.

[0299] In one or more aspects, various different signaling can be employed to start the "power saving mode" for the RIS (e.g., Figure 15 signaling 1500) and to stop the "power saving mode" for the RIS (e.g., Figure 16 signaling 1600). In particular, Figure 15 is a diagram showing an example of signaling 1500 that can be utilized for power saving in RIS-based sensing (e.g., using reflective RIS, refractive / transmissive RIS, or hybrid RIS), where signaling 1500 is used to start the RIS power saving mode. In Figure 15 , the RIS 1520 (e.g., Figure 12D the RIS 1286) can send a "capability report message" 1540 to the gNB 1510 (e.g., Figure 12D the network device 1226). The "capability report message" 1540 can indicate the power saving capability (e.g., whether the gNB can support this mode). Additionally, the RIS 1520 can include in the "capability report message" 1540 the type of power saving (e.g., using partial super elements or partial configurations) and / or the effect of power saving (e.g., what percentage of power is to be saved).

[0300] After the gNB 1510 receives the "capability report message" 1540, the gNB 1510 can determine 1550 to start the RIS power saving mode. After determining to start the RIS power saving mode, the gNB 1510 can send a "RIS operating mode configuration message" 1560 to the RIS 1520. The "RIS operating mode configuration message" 1550 can instruct the RIS 1520 to configure itself to start the power saving mode.

[0301] In one or more examples, there can be various different reasons for starting the RIS power saving mode, which can include but are not limited to: a low likelihood of a target object appearing (e.g., when sensing a target vehicle on a road at night); and only the presence of the target object needs to be sensed, but its orientation does not need to be measured (e.g., therefore, a lower beamforming gain, a wider beamwidth, and / or more side lobes are permissible). In one or more examples, if RIS 1520 can support two or more different types of power saving modes, then gNB 1510 can configure which type of power saving mode will be used by RIS 1520.

[0302] After RIS 1520 receives the "RIS operating mode configuration message" 1560, RIS 1502 can (1570) use only the set of super-element configurations corresponding to the power saving mode (e.g., Figure 14 configuration 3 or 4 in Table 1400 of ) that has a smaller number (or a certain percentage) of PIN diodes in the on state (referred to as "on-state" PIN diodes) for reflecting (in the case of a reflective RIS) and / or refracting (in the case of a refractive or transmissive RIS) the sensing signal. The PIN diodes can also have an off state (referred to as "off-state" PIN diodes). After RIS 1520 has configured its super-elements for the power saving mode, gNB 1510 can send a sensing signal 1575 towards RIS 1520, and RIS 1520 can generate a sensing signal 1580. In the case of a reflective RIS, the sensing signal 1575 can reflect off RIS 1520 to generate a reflected sensing signal (as an example of the sensing signal 1580) radiated in the direction towards the target object 1530 (e.g., Figure 12D the target 1246 in the form of a person in ). In the case of a refractive / transmissive RIS, the sensing signal 1575 can refract from RIS 1520 to generate a refracted sensing signal (as an example of the sensing signal 1580) radiated in the direction towards the target object 1530 (e.g., Figure 12D the target 1246 in the form of a person in ). The sensing signal 1580 (as a reflected sensing signal or a refracted sensing signal) can reflect off the target object 1530 to generate a target reflected sensing signal 1585 radiated in the direction towards RIS 1520. The target reflected sensing signal 1585 can be reflected or refracted from RIS 1520 to generate a RIS sensing signal 1590 radiated in the direction towards gNB 1510 (which can be a reflected sensing signal in the case of a reflective RIS or a refracted sensing signal in the case of a refractive RIS), and gNB 1510 can use the RIS sensing signal 1590 to determine the characteristics of the target object 1530.

[0303] Figure 16 FIG. is an example of signaling 1600 showing a system that can be utilized for power saving in RIS-based sensing (e.g., using reflective RIS, refractive / transmissive RIS, or hybrid RIS), where the signaling 1600 is for stopping the RIS power saving mode. In Figure 16 , the gNB 1510 may determine to stop the RIS power saving mode. After the gNB 1510 determines to stop the RIS power saving mode, the gNB 1510 may send a "RIS operating configuration mode" message 1610 to the RIS 1520. The "RIS operating mode configuration message" 1610 may instruct the RIS 1520 to configure itself to stop the power saving mode.

[0304] In one or more examples, there may be various different reasons for stopping the RIS power saving mode, which may include, but are not limited to: a high likelihood of the target object appearing (e.g., sensing a target vehicle on a road during the day); and the need to measure the azimuth or speed of the target object, or to identify or distinguish the target object (e.g., thus a higher beamforming gain, a narrower beam width, and / or fewer side lobes may be required).

[0305] After the RIS 1520 receives the "RIS operating mode configuration message" 1610, the RIS 1520 may (1620) use all super-element configurations (e.g., Figure 14 configurations 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Table 1400 of ) for reflecting and / or refracting sensing signals. The gNB 1510 may then send a sensing signal 1630 towards the RIS 1520. The sensing signal 1630 may reflect off the RIS 1520 to generate a sensing signal 1640 radiated in the direction towards the target object 1530 (which may be a reflected sensing signal in the case of a reflective RIS or a refracted sensing signal in the case of a refractive RIS). The sensing signal 1640 may reflect off the target object 1530 to generate a target reflected sensing signal 1650 radiated in the direction towards the RIS 1520. The target reflected sensing signal 1650 may be reflected or refracted from the RIS 1520 to generate a RIS sensing signal 1660 radiated in the direction towards the gNB 1510 (which may be a reflected sensing signal in the case of a reflective RIS or a refracted sensing signal in the case of a refractive RIS), and the gNB 1510 may use the RIS sensing signal 1660 to determine the characteristics of the target object 1530.

[0306] In one or more examples, simulations are utilized to evaluate the beamforming gain and power consumption of traditional “fewer elements” power saving methods and the disclosed “fewer configurations” power saving methods. For the simulations, the baseline consists of 32 super-elements, each with 2-bit phase quantization, where all configurations (e.g., Figure 14 configurations 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Table 1400) are available. The “fewer configurations” power saving method consists of 32 super-elements, each with 1-bit phase quantization, where limited configurations (e.g., Figure 14 configurations 3 and 4 of Table 1400) are available. The traditional “fewer elements” power saving method consists of 16 super-elements, each with 2-bit phase quantization, where all configurations (e.g., Figure 14 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Table 1400) are available. The simulations show that the beamforming gain of the “fewer configurations” power saving method (e.g., which has an average of 13.2 dB) is between that of the baseline (e.g., which has an average of 14.6 dB) and the traditional “fewer elements” power saving method (e.g., which has an average of 11.6 dB). The RIS power consumption of the “fewer configurations” power saving method (e.g., which has an average N on = 32) (e.g., which can be equivalent to the total number of “on-state” PIN diodes in the RIS) is much less than the baseline (e.g., which has an average N on = 82.2) and very much less than the traditional “fewer elements” power saving method (e.g., which has an average N on = 42.2). In summary, the disclosed “fewer configurations” power saving method can greatly reduce the RIS power consumption (e.g., by 32 / 82.2 = 39%), where the reflection and / or refraction beamforming gain loss (e.g., 14.6 - 13.2 = 1.4 dB) is slight. Thus, the simulation results show that the RIS power saving mode allows for a significant reduction in RIS power consumption, with only a small loss in reflection and / or refraction beamforming gain.

[0307] In one or more aspects, in some use cases, the gNB can configure a maximum percentage threshold γ max for the RIS, which means that the RIS should keep the power consumption below (or not higher than) this percentage threshold compared to the baseline. When all super-elements are utilized and all super-element configurations are available, the baseline refers to the average power consumption. Typically, each super-element configuration can have an equal probability of use. The RIS can report the power consumption value under the baseline (e.g., the total power consumed).

[0308] Figure 17 Show gNB 1710 (e.g., Figure 12DExample signaling between the network device 1226) and the RIS 1720 (e.g., the RIS 1286 in FIG. 12) for the gNB 1710 to configure the maximum percentage threshold for power consumption. In particular, Figure 17 is a diagram showing an example of the signaling 1700 of a system that can be utilized for power saving in RIS-based sensing, where the signaling 1700 is used to configure the maximum percentage threshold. In Figure 17 , the RIS 1720 can send a "power consumption value report message" 1730 to the gNB 1710. After the gNB 1710 receives the "power consumption value report message" 1730 from the RIS 1720, the gNB 1710 can send a "configuration message for the maximum percentage threshold" 1740 to the RIS 1720. The "configuration message for the maximum percentage threshold" 1740 can indicate the maximum percentage threshold γ max to the RIS such that the RIS should keep its power consumption below (or not higher than) the maximum percentage threshold compared to the reference average power consumption. Based on this maximum percentage threshold, the RIS 1720 can determine two sets of super-elements (e.g., it can include Set 1 of super-elements with all available configurations and Set 2 of super-elements with only low-power configurations) in order to maximize the reflection and / or refraction beamforming gain while keeping the power consumption meeting the requirements.

[0309] In one or more examples, the gNB can configure γ max = 50%. Then, the RIS 1720 can determine the quantities in the two sets. The RIS 1720 can calculate that the average number of "on-state" PIN diodes for all super-element configurations (e.g., assuming each configuration has an equal probability) is (4 + 4 + 1 + 1) / 4 = 2.5, and thus, the RIS has a total of 32 x 2.5 = 80 on-state PIN diodes. For each super-element in Set 1, the maximum number of "on-state" PIN diodes can be equal to 4. For each super-element in Set 2, the number of "on-state" PIN diodes can be equal to 1. Thus, in order to keep the number of "on-state" PIN diodes among the total 32 super-elements not greater than 80 x 50% = 40, the number of super-elements in Set 1 and Set 2 are N1 = 2 and N2 = 30 respectively. The number of super-elements in Set 1 and Set 2 can be calculated using the following formulas:

[0310] N1 + N2 = 32

[0311] 4N1 + N2 ≤ 40

[0312] RIS1720 can correctly select N1 hyper-elements (e.g., those hyper-elements whose optimal phase shift value is closest to the phase shift value of Configuration 1 or 2 in Table 1400 of FIG. 1400 (each hyper-element having 4 “on-state” PIN diodes)) to be able to use all configurations. These two configurations can result in N1 hyper-elements having improved phase shift.

[0313] Figure 18A is a flowchart illustrating an example of process 1800 for wireless communication for a method of utilizing to report a minimum amount of reflected beam in a RIS-based sensing system. Process 1800 can be performed by a RIS (e.g., Figure 1 RIS123) or by a component or system of the RIS (e.g., a chipset). Operations of process 1800 can be implemented as software components executed and run on one or more processors (e.g., Figure 4 processor 484, Figure 19 processor 1910, and / or other processors). Additionally, the sending and receiving of signals by a wireless communication device in process 1800 can be implemented, for example, by one or more antennas (e.g., Figure 4 antenna 487, and / or other antennas) and / or one or more transceivers, such as one or more wireless transceivers (e.g., Figure 4 wireless transceiver 478, Figure 19 communication interface 1940, and / or other transceivers).

[0314] At block 1810, the RIS (or its component) can receive a start RIS operating mode configuration message that includes an indication to start a power saving mode.

[0315] At block 1820, the RIS (or its component) can configure a hyper-element configuration for a plurality of hyper-elements of the RIS from a set of hyper-element configurations based on the power saving mode. In some aspects, for each of the plurality of hyper-elements of the RIS, the hyper-element configuration indicates a lower number of PIN diodes in the on-state and / or a lower percentage of PIN diodes in the on-state. In some cases, the RIS (or its component) can receive a stop RIS operating mode configuration message that includes an indication to stop the power saving mode.

[0316] In some aspects, the RIS (or its components) may send a capabilities report message. For example, the capabilities report message may include an indication of whether the RIS is capable of operating in a power saving mode. Additionally or alternatively, in some cases, the capabilities report message may include an indication of: the type of power saving mode that can be supported by the RIS, and / or the effect of the power saving mode. In some examples, the type of power saving mode is using a portion of the meta - elements of the RIS and / or using a portion of the configuration for the RIS. In some examples, the effect of the power saving mode is the percentage of power saved.

[0317] In some aspects, the RIS (or its components) may configure an additional meta - element configuration for multiple meta - elements of the RIS from a set of all possible meta - element configurations. In some cases, the number of PIN diodes having an on - state in the meta - element configuration is lower than the number of PIN diodes having an on - state in the additional meta - element configuration, or the percentage of PIN diodes having an on - state in the meta - element configuration is lower than the percentage of PIN diodes having an on - state in the additional meta - element configuration.

[0318] In some cases, the RIS (e.g., at least one of the multiple meta - elements of the RIS) may reflect a sensing signal to generate a reflected sensing signal radiated in the direction towards the target object. In some examples, the RIS (e.g., at least one of the multiple meta - elements of the RIS) may reflect a target - reflected sensing signal to generate a RIS - reflected sensing signal radiated in the direction towards the network device. The network device may be a base station or a part of a base station (e.g., Figure 2 the CU 211, DU 231, RU 241, non - RT RIC 217, and / or near - RT RIC 227 of the split base station 201). In some cases, the RIS (e.g., at least one of the multiple meta - elements of the RIS) may refract a sensing signal to generate a refracted sensing signal radiated in the direction towards the target object. In some cases, the RIS (e.g., at least one of the multiple meta - elements of the RIS) may refract a target - reflected sensing signal to generate a RIS - refracted sensing signal radiated in the direction towards the network device. The target object may include a person, a computing device, a building, or any other object (e.g., the target object 1530 (e.g., Figure 12D the target 1246 in the form of a person in

[0319] In some cases, the RIS (or its components) may send a report of a power consumption value message that includes an indication of a power consumption value relative to a baseline of the total power consumed by the RIS. Additionally or alternatively, in some cases, the RIS (or its components) may receive a configuration of a maximum percentage threshold message that includes an indication of a maximum percentage threshold for the power consumption of the RIS.

[0320] Figure 18B is a flowchart illustrating an example of process 1850 for wireless communication that uses a method for reporting a minimum amount of reflected beams in a RIS-based sensing system. Process 1850 may be performed by a network device or by a component or system of a network device (e.g., a chipset). The network device may include a base station (e.g., Figure 1 base station 102), a part of a base station with a split architecture (e.g., Figure 2 CU 211, DU 231, RU 241, non-RT RIC 217, and / or near-RT RIC 227 of split base station 201), a UE, or other network devices. Operations of process 1850 may be implemented as software components executed and run on one or more processors (e.g., Figure 19 processor 1910, and / or other processors). Additionally, the sending and receiving of signals by a wireless communication device in process 1850 may be performed, for example, by one or more antennas (e.g., Figure 4 antenna 487, and / or other antennas) and / or one or more transceivers, such as one or more wireless transceivers (e.g., Figure 4 wireless transceiver 478, Figure 19 communication interface 1940, and / or other transceivers).

[0321] At block 1860, the network device (or its component) may receive a capabilities report message from a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS). In some aspects, the capabilities report message includes an indication of whether the RIS is capable of operating in a power saving mode. Additionally or alternatively, in some cases, the capabilities report message includes the type of power saving mode and / or the effect of the power saving mode. In some examples, the type of power saving mode is using a partial super-element of the RIS and / or using a partial configuration for the RIS. In some examples, the effect of the power saving mode is the percentage of power saved.

[0322] At block 1870, the network device (or its component) may determine to start a power saving mode for the RIS based on the capabilities report message.

[0323] At block 1880, a network device (or its component) may send a start RIS operating mode configuration message that includes an indication to start a power saving mode for the RIS. In some aspects, the network device (or its component) may receive a report of a power consumption value message that includes an indication of a power consumption value relative to a baseline of the total power consumed by the RIS. In some cases, the network device (or its component) may send a configuration of a maximum percentage threshold message that includes an indication of a maximum percentage threshold for power consumption of the RIS. In some examples, the network device (or its component) may send a stop RIS operating mode configuration message to the RIS that includes an indication to stop the power saving mode for the RIS.

[0324] In some aspects, the network device (or its component) may send a sensing signal towards the RIS. In some cases, the network device (or its component) may receive a RIS reflected sensing signal from the RIS.

[0325] Figure 19 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a computing system 1900 that may be employed by the disclosed systems and techniques for power saving in RIS-based sensing. In particular, Figure 19 illustrates an example of a computing system 1900 that may be any computing device, such as one that constitutes an internal computing system, a remote computing system, a camera, or any of its components, where components of the system communicate with each other using connection 1905. Connection 1905 may be a physical connection using a bus or a direct connection into a processor 1910 (such as in a chipset architecture). Connection 1905 may also be a virtual connection, a networking connection, or a logical connection.

[0326] In some aspects, the computing system 1900 is a distributed system where the functions described in this disclosure may be distributed within a data center, multiple data centers, a peer-to-peer network, etc. In some aspects, one or more of the described system components represent many such components, each of which performs some or all of the functions described for the component. In some aspects, the components may be physical devices or virtual devices.

[0327] Example system 1900 includes at least one processing unit (CPU or processor) 1910 and a connection 1905 that communicatively couples various system components including system memory 1915 (such as read only memory (ROM) 1920 and random access memory (RAM) 1925) to the processor 1910. Computing system 1900 may include a cache 1912 of high-speed memory that is directly connected to, in proximity to, or integrated as part of the processor 1510.

[0328] Processor 1910 may include any general-purpose processor as well as a dedicated processor configured to control hardware services or software services (such as services 1932, 1934, and 1936 stored in storage device 1930) for the processor 1910, and in which software instructions are incorporated into the actual processor design. Processor 1910 may be substantially a self-contained computing system, including multiple cores or processors, buses, memory controllers, caches, etc. A multi-core processor may be symmetric or asymmetric.

[0329] To enable user interaction, computing system 1900 includes an input device 1945, which may represent any number of input mechanisms, such as a microphone for voice, a touch-sensitive screen for gesture or graphical input, a keyboard, a mouse, motion input, voice, etc. Computing system 1900 may also include an output device 1935, and the output device 1935 may be one or more of a plurality of output mechanisms. In some instances, a multimodal system may enable a user to provide multiple types of input / output in order to communicate with the computing system 1900.

[0330] Computing system 1900 may include a communication interface 1940, which generally may manage and control user input and system output. The communication interface may perform or facilitate receiving and / or transmitting wired or wireless communications using a wired and / or wireless transceiver, where the wired and / or wireless transceiver includes: using an audio jack / plug, a microphone jack / plug, a universal serial bus (USB) port / plug, Apple TM Lightning TM port / plug, an Ethernet port / plug, a fiber optic port / plug, a proprietary wired port / plug, 3G, 4G, 5G, and / or other cellular data network wireless signal transmission, BLUETOOTH TM wireless signal transmission, BLUETOOTH TM low energy (BLE) wireless signal transmission, iBeacon TMThose wired and / or wireless transceivers for wireless signal transmission, radio frequency identification (RFID) wireless signal transmission, near field communication (NFC) wireless signal transmission, dedicated short range communication (DSRC) wireless signal transmission, 802.11 Wi-Fi wireless signal transmission, wireless local area network (WLAN) signal transmission, visible light communication (VLC), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), infrared (IR) communication wireless signal transmission, public switched telephone network (PSTN) signal transmission, integrated services digital network (ISDN) signal transmission, ad-hoc network signal transmission, radio wave signal transmission, microwave signal transmission, infrared signal transmission, visible light signal transmission, ultraviolet light signal transmission, wireless signal transmission along the electromagnetic spectrum, or some combination thereof.

[0331] Communication interface 1940 may also include one or more ranging sensors (e.g., LIDAR sensors, laser rangefinders, RF radars, ultrasonic sensors, and infrared (IR) sensors) configured to collect data and provide measurements to processor 1910 such that processor 1910 may be configured to perform determinations and calculations needed to obtain various measurements for one or more of the distance sensors. In some examples, the measurements may include time of flight, wavelength, azimuth, elevation, range, linear velocity, and / or angular velocity, or any combination thereof. Communication interface 1940 may also include one or more global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers or transceivers used to determine the location of computing system 1900 based on reception of one or more signals from one or more satellites associated with one or more GNSS systems. GNSS systems include, but are not limited to, the U.S.-based GPS, the Russian-based global navigation satellite system (GLONASS), the Chinese-based BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS), and the European-based Galileo GNSS. There is no limitation on the operation for any particular hardware arrangement, and thus the basic features here can be easily replaced with improved hardware or firmware arrangements that are developed.

[0332] Storage device 1930 may be a non-volatile and / or non-transitory and / or computer-readable memory device, and may be a hard disk or other type of computer-readable medium that can store data accessible by a computer, such as cassette tapes, flash memory cards, solid state memory devices, digital versatile disks, cassette tapes, floppy disks, flexible disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, magnetic strips / magnetic stripes, any other magnetic storage medium, flash memory, memristor memory, any other solid state memory, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) optical discs, rewritable compact discs (CD) optical discs, digital video discs (DVD) optical discs, Blu-ray discs (BDD) optical discs, holographic optical discs, another optical medium, secure digital (SD) cards, micro secure digital (microSD) cards, Memory Cards, smart card chips, EMV chips, subscriber identity module (SIM) cards, mini / micro / nano / pico SIM cards, other integrated circuit (IC) chips / cards, random access memory (RAM), static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash EPROM (FLASHPROM), cache memory (e.g., level 1 (L1) cache, level 2 (L2) cache, level 3 (L3) cache, level 4 (L4) cache, level 5 (L5) cache, or other (L#) cache), resistive random access memory (RRAM / ReRAM), phase change memory (PCM), spin transfer torque RAM (STT-RAM), other memory chips or cartridges, and / or combinations thereof.

[0333] The storage device 1930 may include software services, servers, services, etc., which, when the code defining such software is executed by the processor 1910, cause the system to perform functions. In some aspects, the hardware services that perform specific functions may include software components stored in a computer-readable medium that are connected to the necessary hardware components (such as the processor 1910, the connection 1905, the output device 1935, etc.) to perform the functions. The term "computer-readable medium" includes, but is not limited to, portable or non-portable storage devices, optical storage devices, and various other media that can store, contain, or carry instructions and / or data. The computer-readable medium may include non-transitory media in which data can be stored, and the non-transitory media do not include carrier waves and / or transient electrical signals that propagate wirelessly or over a wired connection. Examples of non-transitory media may include, but are not limited to: magnetic disks or tapes, optical storage media (such as compact discs (CDs) or digital versatile discs (DVDs)), flash memory, memory, or memory devices. The computer-readable medium may have code and / or machine-executable instructions stored thereon (which may represent a process, a function, a subroutine, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements). By passing and / or receiving information, data, parameters, arguments, or memory contents, a code segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit. The information, parameters, arguments, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or sent via any suitable means, and these any suitable means include memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.

[0334] Specific details are provided in the above description to provide a thorough understanding of the aspects and examples provided herein, but those skilled in the art will recognize that this application is not limited thereto. Thus, although illustrative embodiments of this application have been described in detail herein, it should be understood that these inventive concepts may be otherwise variously implemented and employed, and the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations, except as limited by the prior art. The various features and aspects of the above applications can be used individually or in combination. Additionally, aspects can be utilized in any number of environments and applications other than those described herein, without departing from the broader scope of this specification. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. For purposes of illustration, methods are described in a particular order. It should be understood that in alternative aspects, the methods can be performed in an order different from that described.

[0335] For clarity of explanation, in some instances, the present technology may be presented as including separate functional blocks that include devices, device components, steps, or routines in a method embodied in software or a combination of hardware and software. In addition to the components shown and / or described herein, additional components may be used. For example, circuits, systems, networks, processes, and other components may be shown as components in block diagram form so as not to obscure aspects with unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail to avoid obscuring aspects.

[0336] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0337] Each aspect can be described above as a process or method depicted as a flowchart, flow diagram, data flow diagram, structure diagram, or block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe operations as a sequential process, many operations can be performed in parallel or simultaneously. Additionally, the order of these operations can be rearranged. When the operations of a process are completed, the process terminates, but it may have additional steps not included in the figures. A process can correspond to a method, function, procedure, subroutine, subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination can correspond to the function returning to the calling function or the main function.

[0338] The processes and methods according to the above examples can be implemented using computer-executable instructions stored or otherwise retrievable from a computer-readable medium. For example, such instructions can include instructions and data that cause or otherwise configure a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or a processing device to perform a particular function or a group of functions. It can be a portion of computer resources accessible over a network. Computer-executable instructions can be, for example, binary, intermediate format instructions (such as assembly language), firmware, source code. Examples of computer-readable media that can be used to store instructions, information used, and / or information created during the methods according to the described examples include magnetic or optical disks, flash memory, USB devices with non-volatile memory, networked storage devices, and so on.

[0339] In some aspects, computer-readable storage devices, media, and memories can include cables or wireless signals that contain bitstreams, etc. However, when mentioned, non-transitory computer-readable storage media explicitly exclude media such as energy, carrier signals, electromagnetic waves, and signals themselves.

[0340] Those skilled in the art will realize that information and signals can be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, the data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chipsets that may be referred to throughout the above description can be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof, in some cases depending in part on the particular application, in part on the desired design, in part on the corresponding technology, and so on.

[0341] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented or performed using hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or any combination thereof, and may take any of a variety of form factors. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware, or microcode, the program code or code segments for performing the necessary tasks (e.g., a computer program product) may be stored in a computer-readable or machine-readable medium. A processor may perform the necessary tasks. Examples of form factors include laptop computers, smart phones, mobile phones, tablet devices, or other small form factor personal computers, personal digital assistants, rack-mounted devices, stand-alone devices, etc. The functions described herein may also be implemented in peripheral devices or add-on cards. By further example, such functions may also be implemented among different processes executed on a circuit board in different chips or in a single device.

[0342] Instructions, the medium for conveying such instructions, the computing resources for executing them, and other structures for supporting such computing resources are exemplary units for providing the functions described in this disclosure.

[0343] The techniques described herein may also be implemented in electronic hardware, computer software, firmware, or any combination thereof. Such techniques may be implemented in any of a variety of devices, such as general-purpose computers, wireless communication device handhelds, or integrated circuit devices with multiple uses, including applications in wireless communication device handhelds and other devices. Any features described as modules or components may be implemented together in an integrated logic device or separately as discrete but interoperable logic devices. If implemented in software, the techniques may be at least partially implemented by a computer-readable data storage medium including program code including instructions that, when executed, perform one or more of the methods, algorithms, and / or operations described above. The computer-readable data storage medium may form part of a computer program product, which may include packaging material. The computer-readable medium may include a memory or data storage medium, such as random access memory (RAM) (such as synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM)), read-only memory (ROM), non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), FLASH memory, magnetic or optical data storage media, and the like. Additionally or alternatively, the techniques may be at least partially implemented by a computer-readable communication medium that carries or transmits program code in the form of instructions or data structures that are accessible, readable, and / or executable by a computer, such as a propagated signal or wave.

[0344] The program code can be executed by a processor, which can include one or more processors, such as one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), general-purpose microprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other equivalent integrated logic circuits or discrete logic circuits. Such a processor can be configured to perform any of the techniques described in this disclosure. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor; however, in an alternative, the processor can be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with DSP cores, or any other such configuration. Thus, as used herein, the term "processor" can refer to any of the foregoing structures, any combination of the foregoing structures, or any other structure or apparatus suitable for implementing the techniques described herein.

[0345] One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the less than (“<”) and greater than (“>”) symbols or terms used herein can be replaced, respectively, with less than or equal to (“≤”) and greater than or equal to (“≥”) symbols without departing from the scope of this specification.

[0346] In cases where a component is described as “configured to” perform certain operations, such configuration can be achieved, for example, by designing electronic circuitry or other hardware to perform the operation, programming a programmable electronic circuit (e.g., a microprocessor or other suitable electronic circuit) to perform the operation, or any combination thereof.

[0347] The phrase “coupled to” or “communicatively coupled to” refers to any component that is physically connected, directly or indirectly, to another component and / or that communicates, directly or indirectly, with another component (e.g., is connected to the other component over a wired or wireless connection and / or other suitable communication interface).

[0348] Claim language that recites "at least one" of a set and / or "one or more" in a set, or other language, indicates that one member of the set or multiple members of the set (in any combination) satisfy the claim. For example, claim language that recites "at least one of A and B" or "at least one of A or B" means A, B, or A and B. In another example, claim language that recites "at least one of A, B, and C" or "at least one of A, B, or C" means A, B, C, or A and B, or A and C, or B and C, A and B and C, or any repeated information or data (e.g., A and A, B and B, C and C, A and A and B, etc.), or any other ordering, repetition, or combination of A, B, and C. The language "at least one" of a set and / or "one or more" in a set does not limit the set to the items listed in the set. For example, claim language that recites "at least one of A and B" or "at least one of A or B" can mean A, B, or A and B, and can additionally include items not listed in the set of A and B. The phrases "at least one" and "one or more" are used interchangeably herein.

[0349] Claim language that recites "at least one processor, configured to", "at least one processor, being configured to", "one or more processors, configured to", "one or more processors, being configured to", etc., or other language, indicates that one processor or multiple processors (in any combination) can perform the associated operations. For example, claim language that recites "at least one processor, configured to: X, Y, and Z" means that a single processor can be used to perform operations X, Y, and Z; or each of multiple processors has a subset of operations X, Y, and Z such that the multiple processors together perform X, Y, and Z; or a group of multiple processors work together to perform operations X, Y, and Z. In another example, claim language that recites "at least one processor, configured to: X, Y, and Z" can mean that any single processor can perform at least one subset of operations X, Y, and Z.

[0350] In the case of referring to one or more elements (e.g., steps of a method) that perform a function, one element may perform all of the functions, or more than one element may perform the functions jointly. When more than one element performs the functions jointly, each function need not be performed by each of those elements (e.g., different functions may be performed by different elements) and / or each function need not be performed only by one element as a whole (e.g., different elements may perform different sub-functions of the function). Similarly, in the case of referring to one or more elements that are configured to cause another element (e.g., a device) to perform a function, one element may be configured to cause another element to perform all of the functions, or more than one element may be configured jointly to cause another element to perform the function.

[0351] In the case of referring to an entity (e.g., any entity or device described herein) that performs a function or is configured to perform a function (e.g., a step of a method), the entity may be configured to cause one or more elements (individually or jointly) to perform the function. One or more components of the entity may include at least one memory, at least one processor, at least one communication interface, another component configured to perform one or more (or all) of the functions, and / or any combination thereof. In the case of referring to the entity performing a function, the entity may be configured to cause one component to perform all of the functions, or cause more than one component to perform the functions jointly. When the entity is configured to cause more than one component to perform the functions jointly, each function need not be performed by each of those components (e.g., different functions may be performed by different components) and / or each function need not be performed only by one component as a whole (e.g., different components may perform different sub-functions of the function).

[0352] Exemplary aspects of the present disclosure include:

[0353] Aspect 1. A reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) for wireless communication, the RIS including: at least one memory; and at least one processor, the at least one processor being coupled to the at least one memory and being configured to: receive a start RIS operating mode configuration message, the start RIS operating mode configuration message including an indication for starting a power saving mode; and configure a super-element configuration for a plurality of super-elements of the RIS from a set of super-element configurations based on the power saving mode.

[0354] Aspect 2. The RIS according to aspect 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to output for transmitting a capability report message.

[0355] Aspect 3. The RIS according to aspect 2, wherein the capability report message includes an indication as to whether the RIS is capable of operating in the power saving mode.

[0356] Aspect 4. The RIS according to any one of Aspects 2 or 3, wherein the capability report message further includes an indication of at least one of the type of the power saving mode that can be supported by the RIS or the effect of the power saving mode.

[0357] Aspect 5. The RIS according to Aspect 4, wherein the type of the power saving mode is at least one of the following: using a part of the meta - elements of the RIS or using a part of the configuration for the RIS.

[0358] Aspect 6. The RIS according to any one of Aspects 4 or 5, wherein the effect of the power saving mode is the percentage of the power saved.

[0359] Aspect 7. The RIS according to any one of Aspects 1 to 6, wherein for each of the plurality of meta - elements of the RIS, the meta - element configuration indicates at least one of a lower number of PIN diodes in the on - state or a lower percentage of PIN diodes in the on - state.

[0360] Aspect 8. The RIS according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive a stop RIS operating mode configuration message, and the stop RIS operating mode configuration message includes an indication for stopping the power saving mode.

[0361] Aspect 9. The RIS according to Aspect 8, wherein the at least one processor is configured to configure an additional meta - element configuration for the plurality of meta - elements of the RIS from a set of all possible meta - element configurations.

[0362] Aspect 10. The RIS according to Aspect 9, wherein the number of PIN diodes in the on - state in the meta - element configuration is lower than the number of PIN diodes in the on - state in the additional meta - element configuration, or wherein the percentage of PIN diodes in the on - state in the meta - element configuration is lower than the percentage of PIN diodes in the on - state in the additional meta - element configuration.

[0363] Aspect 11. The RIS according to any one of Aspects 1 to 10, further including the plurality of meta - elements, wherein at least one of the plurality of meta - elements is configured to reflect a sensing signal to generate a reflected sensing signal radiated in a direction towards a target object.

[0364] Aspect 12. The RIS according to any one of Aspects 1 to 11 further includes the plurality of meta - elements, wherein at least one of the plurality of meta - elements is configured to reflect a target reflected sensing signal to generate a RIS - reflected sensing signal radiated in a direction towards the network device.

[0365] Aspect 13. The RIS according to Aspect 12, wherein the network device is a base station.

[0366] Aspect 14. The RIS according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13 further includes the plurality of meta - elements, wherein at least one of the plurality of meta - elements is configured to refract a sensing signal to generate a refracted sensing signal radiated in a direction towards the target object.

[0367] Aspect 15. The RIS according to any one of Aspects 1 to 14 further includes the plurality of meta - elements, wherein at least one of the plurality of meta - elements is configured to refract a target reflected sensing signal to generate a RIS - refracted sensing signal radiated in a direction towards the network device.

[0368] Aspect 16. The RIS according to any one of Aspects 1 to 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform an output for sending a report of a power consumption value message, the power consumption value message including an indication of a power consumption value under a reference of the total power consumed by the RIS.

[0369] Aspect 17. The RIS according to any one of Aspects 1 to 16, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive a configuration of a maximum percentage threshold message, the maximum percentage threshold message including an indication of a maximum percentage threshold for the power consumption of the RIS.

[0370] Aspect 18. A method for wireless communication performed at a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), the method comprising: receiving, by the RIS, a start RIS operating mode configuration message, the start RIS operating mode configuration message including an indication for starting a power - saving mode; and configuring, by the RIS, a meta - element configuration of a plurality of meta - elements for the RIS from a set of meta - element configurations based on the power - saving mode.

[0371] Aspect 19. The method according to Aspect 18, further comprising: sending, by the RIS, a capability report message.

[0372] Aspect 20. The method according to Aspect 19, wherein the capability report message includes an indication of whether the RIS is capable of operating in the power - saving mode.

[0373] Aspect 21. The method according to any one of Aspects 19 or 20, wherein the capability report message further includes an indication of at least one of the type of the power saving mode that can be supported by the RIS or the effect of the power saving mode.

[0374] Aspect 22. The method according to Aspect 21, wherein the type of the power saving mode is at least one of the following: using a partial super-element of the RIS or using a partial configuration for the RIS.

[0375] Aspect 23. The method according to any one of Aspects 21 or 22, wherein the effect of the power saving mode is the percentage of the power saved.

[0376] Aspect 24. The method according to any one of Aspects 18 to 23, wherein for each of the plurality of super-elements of the RIS, the super-element configuration indicates at least one of a lower number of PIN diodes in the on state or a lower percentage of PIN diodes in the on state.

[0377] Aspect 25. The method according to any one of Aspects 18 to 24, further comprising: receiving, by the RIS, a stop RIS operating mode configuration message, the stop RIS operating mode configuration message including an indication for stopping the power saving mode.

[0378] Aspect 26. The method according to Aspect 25, further comprising: configuring, by the RIS, an additional super-element configuration for the plurality of super-elements of the RIS from a set of all possible super-element configurations.

[0379] Aspect 27. The method according to Aspect 26, wherein the number of PIN diodes in the on state in the super-element configuration is lower than the number of PIN diodes in the on state in the additional super-element configuration, or wherein the percentage of PIN diodes in the on state in the super-element configuration is lower than the percentage of PIN diodes in the on state in the additional super-element configuration.

[0380] Aspect 28. The method according to any one of Aspects 18 to 27, further comprising: reflecting a sensing signal using at least one of the plurality of super-elements of the RIS to generate a reflected sensing signal radiated in a direction towards a target object.

[0381] Aspect 29. The method according to any one of Aspects 18 to 28, further comprising: reflecting a target reflected sensing signal using at least one of the plurality of super-elements of the RIS to generate a RIS reflected sensing signal radiated in a direction towards a network device.

[0382] Aspect 30. The method according to aspect 29, wherein the network device is a base station.

[0383] Aspect 31. The method according to any one of aspects 18 to 30, further comprising: refracting a sensing signal using at least one of the plurality of meta - elements of the RIS to generate a refracted sensing signal radiated in a direction towards a target object.

[0384] Aspect 32. The method according to any one of aspects 18 to 31, further comprising: refracting a target - reflected sensing signal using at least one of the plurality of meta - elements of the RIS to generate a RIS - refracted sensing signal radiated in a direction towards the network device.

[0385] Aspect 33. The method according to any one of aspects 18 to 32, further comprising: transmitting, by the RIS, a report of a power consumption value message, the power consumption value message including an indication of a power consumption value relative to a reference of the total power consumed by the RIS.

[0386] Aspect 34. The method according to any one of aspects 18 to 33, further comprising: receiving, by the RIS, a configuration of a maximum percentage threshold message, the maximum percentage threshold message including an indication of a maximum percentage threshold for the power consumption of the RIS.

[0387] Aspect 35. A network device for wireless communication, the network device comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory and configured to: receive a capability report message from a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS); determine, based on the capability report message, to initiate a power - saving mode for the RIS; and output a start RIS operating mode configuration message for transmission, the start RIS operating mode configuration message including an indication to start the power - saving mode for the RIS.

[0388] Aspect 36. The network device according to aspect 35, wherein the network device is a base station.

[0389] Aspect 37. The network device according to any one of aspects 35 or 36, wherein the capability report message includes an indication of whether the RIS is capable of operating in the power - saving mode.

[0390] Aspect 38. The network device according to any one of aspects 35 to 37, wherein the capability report message further includes at least one of the type of the power - saving mode or the effect of the power - saving mode.

[0391] Aspect 39. The network device according to any one of Aspects 35 to 38, wherein the at least one processor is configured to output a sensing signal for transmission towards the RIS.

[0392] Aspect 40. The network device according to any one of Aspects 35 to 39, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive a RIS reflected sensing signal from the RIS.

[0393] Aspect 41. The network device according to any one of Aspects 35 to 40, wherein the at least one processor is configured to output for transmitting a stop RIS operating mode configuration message, the stop RIS operating mode configuration message including an indication to stop the power saving mode for the RIS.

[0394] Aspect 42. The network device according to any one of Aspects 35 to 41, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: receive a report of a power consumption value message, the power consumption value message including an indication of a power consumption value based on a reference of the total power consumed at the RIS.

[0395] Aspect 43. The network device according to any one of Aspects 35 to 42, wherein the at least one processor is configured to output for transmitting a configuration of a maximum percentage threshold message, the maximum percentage threshold message including an indication of a maximum percentage threshold for the power consumption of the RIS.

[0396] Aspect 44. A method for wireless communication performed at a network device, the method comprising: receiving, by the network device, a capability report message from a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS); determining, by the network device, to start a power saving mode for the RIS based on the capability report message; and transmitting, by the network device, a start RIS operating mode configuration message including an indication to start the power saving mode for the RIS.

[0397] Aspect 45. The method according to Aspect 44, wherein the network device is a base station.

[0398] Aspect 46. The method according to any one of Aspects 44 or 45, wherein the capability report message includes an indication of whether the RIS is capable of operating in the power saving mode.

[0399] Aspect 47. The method according to any one of Aspects 44 to 46, wherein the capability report message further includes at least one of a type of the power saving mode or an effect of the power saving mode.

[0400] Aspect 48. The method according to any one of aspects 44 to 47 further includes: sending a sensing signal from the network device towards the RIS.

[0401] Aspect 49. The method according to any one of aspects 44 to 48 further includes: receiving, by the network device, a RIS-reflected sensing signal from the RIS.

[0402] Aspect 50. The method according to any one of aspects 44 to 49 further includes: sending, by the network device, a stop RIS operating mode configuration message, the stop RIS operating mode configuration message including an indication to stop the power saving mode for the RIS.

[0403] Aspect 51. The method according to any one of aspects 44 to 50 further includes: receiving, by the network device, a report of a power consumption value message, the power consumption value message including an indication of a power consumption value relative to a reference of the total power consumed at the RIS.

[0404] Aspect 52. The method according to any one of aspects 44 to 51 further includes: sending, by the network device, a configuration of a maximum percentage threshold message, the maximum percentage threshold message including an indication of a maximum percentage threshold for the power consumption at the RIS.

[0405] Aspect 53. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform the operations according to any one of aspects 18 to 34.

[0406] Aspect 54. A device for wireless communication, the device including one or more units for performing the operations according to any one of aspects 18 to 34.

[0407] Aspect 55. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform the operations according to any one of aspects 44 to 52.

[0408] Aspect 56. A device for wireless communication, the device including one or more units for performing the operations according to any one of aspects 44 to 52.

[0409] The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other aspects as well. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, where the reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" (unless specifically so stated) but rather "one or more".

Claims

1. A reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) for wireless communication, the RIS comprising: At least one memory; And At least one processor, which is coupled to the at least one memory and is configured to: Receive a start RIS operating mode configuration message, the start RIS operating mode configuration message including an indication for starting a power saving mode; and Based on the power saving mode, configure a super-element configuration for a plurality of super-elements of the RIS from a set of super-element configurations.

2. The RIS according to claim 1, wherein The at least one processor is configured to perform an output for sending a capability report message.

3. The RIS according to claim 2, wherein, The capability report message includes an indication of whether the RIS is capable of operating in the power saving mode.

4. The RIS according to claim 3, wherein, The capability report message further includes an indication of at least one of the type of the power saving mode supported by the RIS or the effect of the power saving mode.

5. The RIS according to claim 4, wherein, The type of the power saving mode is at least one of the following: using a partial number of PIN diodes of the RIS or using a partial configuration for the RIS.

6. The RIS according to claim 1, wherein, For each of the plurality of super-elements of the RIS, the super-element configuration indicates at least one of a lower number of PIN diodes in an on state or a lower percentage of PIN diodes in an on state.

7. The RIS according to claim 1, wherein The at least one processor is configured to receive a stop RIS operating mode configuration message, the stop RIS operating mode configuration message including an indication for stopping the power saving mode.

8. The RIS according to claim 7, wherein, The at least one processor is configured to configure an additional super-element configuration for the plurality of super-elements of the RIS from a set of all possible super-element configurations.

9. The RIS according to claim 8, wherein The number of PIN diodes in an on state in the super-element configuration is lower than the number of PIN diodes in an on state in the additional super-element configuration, or the percentage of PIN diodes in an on state in the super-element configuration is lower than the percentage of PIN diodes in an on state in the additional super-element configuration.

10. The RIS according to claim 1, further comprising the plurality of super-elements, wherein at least one of the plurality of super-elements is configured to reflect a sensing signal to generate a reflected sensing signal radiated in a direction towards a target object.

11. The RIS according to claim 1, further comprising the plurality of super-elements, wherein at least one of the plurality of super-elements is configured to reflect a target reflected sensing signal to generate a RIS reflected sensing signal radiated in a direction towards a network device.

12. The RIS according to claim 1, further comprising the plurality of super-elements, wherein at least one of the plurality of super-elements is configured to reflect a sensing signal to generate a reflected sensing signal radiated in a direction towards a target object.

13. The RIS according to claim 1, further comprising the plurality of super-elements, wherein at least one of the plurality of super-elements is configured to reflect a target reflected sensing signal to generate a RIS reflected sensing signal radiated in a direction towards a network device.

14. The RIS according to claim 1, wherein The at least one processor is configured to output a report for sending a power consumption value message, the power consumption value message including an indication of a power consumption value based on a reference of a total consumed power of the RIS.

15. The RIS according to claim 1, wherein, The at least one processor is configured to receive a configuration of a maximum percentage threshold message, the maximum percentage threshold message including an indication of a maximum percentage threshold for power consumption of the RIS.

16. A method of wireless communication performed at a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), the method comprising: receiving, by the RIS, a start RIS operating mode configuration message, the start RIS operating mode configuration message including an indication for starting a power saving mode; and configuring, by the RIS, a super-element configuration for a plurality of super-elements of the RIS from a set of super-element configurations based on the power saving mode.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: sending, by the RIS, a capability report message.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, The capability report message includes an indication of whether the RIS is capable of operating in the power saving mode.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein The capability report message further includes an indication of at least one of a type of the power saving mode supported by the RIS or an effect of the power saving mode.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, The type of the power saving mode is at least one of the following: using a partial number of super-elements of the RIS or using a partial configuration for the RIS.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein, For each of the plurality of super-elements of the RIS, the super-element configuration indicates at least one of a lower number of PIN diodes in an on state or a lower percentage of PIN diodes in an on state.

22. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: receiving, by the RIS, a stop RIS operating mode configuration message, the stop RIS operating mode configuration message including an indication for stopping the power saving mode.

23. The method according to claim 22 further comprises: configuring, by the RIS, an additional super-element configuration for the plurality of super-elements of the RIS from a set of all possible super-element configurations.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein, The number of PIN diodes in an on state in the super-element configuration is lower than the number of PIN diodes in an on state in the additional super-element configuration, or the percentage of PIN diodes in an on state in the super-element configuration is lower than the percentage of PIN diodes in an on state in the additional super-element configuration.

25. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: using at least one of the plurality of super-elements of the RIS to reflect a sensing signal to generate a reflected sensing signal radiated in a direction towards a target object.

26. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: using at least one of the plurality of super-elements of the RIS to reflect a target reflected sensing signal to generate a RIS reflected sensing signal radiated in a direction towards a network device.

27. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: using at least one of the plurality of super-elements of the RIS to refract a sensing signal to generate a refracted sensing signal radiated in a direction towards a target object.

28. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: using at least one of the plurality of super-elements of the RIS to refract a target reflected sensing signal to generate a RIS refracted sensing signal radiated in a direction towards a network device.

29. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: The RIS sends a report of the power consumption value message, and the power consumption value message includes an indication of the power consumption value based on the total consumed power of the RIS.

30. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: The RIS receives a configuration of the maximum percentage threshold message, and the maximum percentage threshold message includes an indication of the maximum percentage threshold for the power consumption of the RIS.

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