Communication system, device and method for realizing perception and communication integration through cooperative perception and timing alignment, and non-transitory computer readable storage equipment

Abstract

A communication system, apparatus, method, and one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices that implement integration of perception and communication employ the following steps: transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal. The RF signal includes one or more communication symbols for communication and one or more perceived signal components for perceiving an object, the RF signal including timing information of the one or more perceived signal components.

Description

[0001] Cross-application of related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 463,800, filed May 3, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This invention generally relates to communication systems, apparatus, methods, and non-transient computer-readable storage devices, and more particularly to communication systems, apparatus, methods, and non-transient computer-readable storage devices that achieve integrated sensing and communication through cooperative sensing and timing alignment. Background Technology

[0004] Mobile communication systems are widely known. In mobile communication, the communication system or its devices often need or tend to be aware of their environment. For example, a communication device may need to know the direction or even the location of other devices it is communicating with in order to control the radio frequency (RF) beam to point at those devices, thereby optimizing signal transmission and / or reception. Furthermore, objects between two devices in communication may obstruct the direct propagation path between them, thus adversely affecting communication. If such objects can be detected, the communication devices can take necessary measures to mitigate or even eliminate these adverse effects.

[0005] Therefore, next-generation mobile communication systems may incorporate sensing technologies to enable various applications and bring advantages. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a communication system, apparatus, method, and one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices that achieve integrated sensing and communication through cooperative sensing and timing alignment.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a first method is provided, comprising: transmitting a radio-frequency (RF) signal, wherein the RF signal includes one or more communication symbols for communication and one or more sensing signal components for sensing an object; the RF signal includes timing information of the one or more sensing signal components.

[0008] In some embodiments of the first method, the timing information of the one or more sensed signal components includes: clock time associated with the transmission of the one or more sensed signal components.

[0009] In some embodiments of the first method, the clock time is timing information used to determine the time position of the one or more sensed signal components, a frame associated with the one or more sensed signal components, a subframe associated with the one or more sensed signal components and / or a time slot associated with the one or more sensed signal components, or timing information used for timing markers associated with the one or more sensed signal components.

[0010] In some embodiments of the first method, the clock time is the start time of transmitting the one or more sensing signal components or the end time of transmitting the one or more sensing signal components.

[0011] In some embodiments of the first method, the clock time is global time, location-dependent local time, system clock time obtained from the system clock, machine clock time obtained from the device clock, or time offset relative to a reference time.

[0012] In some embodiments of the first method, the clock time is obtained from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS).

[0013] In some embodiments of the first method, transmitting the RF signal includes transmitting the RF signal via frame timing alignment.

[0014] In some embodiments of the first method, transmitting the RF signal via frame timing alignment includes: transmitting the one or more communication symbols using timing adjusted based on timing advance (TA); and / or transmitting the one or more sensing signal components according to a timing reference point.

[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, one or more circuits (such as one or more processing units or one or more processors) are provided for performing the first method described above.

[0016] According to one aspect of the invention, one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices are provided, including computer-executable instructions, wherein, when executed, the instructions cause one or more circuits (such as one or more processing units, or one or more processors) to perform the first method described above.

[0017] According to one aspect of the present invention, a second method is provided, comprising: acquiring a common frame timing indication indicating a transmission time; transmitting an RF signal, wherein the RF signal includes one or more communication symbols for communication and one or more sensing signal components for sensing an object; the transmission of the RF signal includes: transmitting the one or more sensing signal components at the transmission time.

[0018] In some embodiments of the second method, the common frame timing indication includes clock time.

[0019] In some embodiments of the second method, the clock time is timing information used to determine the time position of the one or more sensed signal components, a frame associated with the one or more sensed signal components, a subframe associated with the one or more sensed signal components and / or a time slot associated with the one or more sensed signal components, or timing information used for timing markers associated with the one or more sensed signal components.

[0020] In some embodiments of the second method, the clock time is global time, location-dependent local time, system clock time obtained from the system clock, machine clock time obtained from the device clock, or time offset relative to the time boundaries of the one or more communication symbols.

[0021] In some embodiments of the second method, the clock time is the time obtained from GNSS.

[0022] In some embodiments of the second method, transmitting the RF signal includes transmitting the one or more communication symbols using a timing advance (TA) method.

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, one or more circuits (such as one or more processing units or one or more processors) are provided for performing the second method described above.

[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices are provided, including computer-executable instructions, wherein, when executed, the instructions cause one or more circuits (such as one or more processing units, or one or more processors) to perform the second method described above.

[0025] According to one aspect of the present invention, a third method is provided, comprising: a first device receiving an RF signal, wherein the RF signal includes one or more communication symbols for communication and one or more sensing signal components for sensing an object; and obtaining timing information of the one or more sensing signal components from the RF signal, to determine the location of a target using the timing information and the information of the one or more sensing signal components.

[0026] In some embodiments of the third method, the timing information of the one or more sensed signal components includes: clock time associated with the transmission of the one or more sensed signal components.

[0027] In some embodiments of the third method, the clock time is timing information used to determine the time position of the one or more sensed signal components, a frame associated with the one or more sensed signal components, a subframe associated with the one or more sensed signal components and / or a time slot associated with the one or more sensed signal components, or timing information used for timing markers associated with the one or more sensed signal components.

[0028] In some embodiments of the third method, the clock time is the start time of transmitting the one or more sensing signal components or the end time of transmitting the one or more sensing signal components.

[0029] In some embodiments of the third method, the clock time is global time, location-dependent local time, system clock time obtained from the system clock, machine clock time obtained from the device clock, or time offset relative to a reference time.

[0030] In some embodiments of the third method, the clock time is obtained from GNSS.

[0031] In some embodiments of the third method, the third method further includes: forwarding the timing information and information of the one or more sensed signal components to a second device to determine the location of the target.

[0032] In some embodiments of the third method, forwarding the timing information and the information of the one or more sensing signal components includes: forwarding the timing information and the information of the one or more sensing signal components to the second device according to an absolute timing reference point.

[0033] In some embodiments of the third method, the information of the one or more sensed signal components includes the power distribution of the one or more sensed signal components.

[0034] In some embodiments of the third method, the timing information includes: a timing reference point with a delay τ=0; the delay τ is the time difference between the time point of receiving the first signal path of the RF signal and the time points of receiving the other signal paths of the RF signal.

[0035] In some embodiments of the third method, the third method further includes: forwarding the delay τ of all signal paths of the RF signal to the second device.

[0036] In some embodiments of the third method, the RF signal includes a plurality of sensing signal components; the information of the plurality of sensing signal components includes: a measurement of each of the plurality of sensing signal components; the third method further includes: forwarding timing information related to the measurement of each of the plurality of sensing signal components to the second device.

[0037] In some embodiments of the third method, the timing information associated with the measurement of each sensed signal component includes timing information of the measurement of the sensed signal component, a frame associated with the measurement of the sensed signal component, a subframe associated with the measurement of the sensed signal component, and / or a time slot associated with the measurement of the sensed signal component.

[0038] In some embodiments of the third method, the timing information associated with the measurement of each sensed signal component includes a timestamp associated with the measurement of the sensed signal component.

[0039] In some embodiments of the third method, the timing information associated with the measurement of each sensed signal component includes an index of the sensed signal component.

[0040] In some embodiments of the third method, the timing information associated with the measurement of each sensed signal component includes an offset relative to a reference point.

[0041] In some embodiments of the third method, the timing information associated with the measurement of each sensed signal component includes an identifier (ID) associated with the sensed signal component.

[0042] According to one aspect of the invention, one or more circuits (such as one or more processing units or one or more processors) are provided for performing the third method described above.

[0043] According to one aspect of the invention, one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices are provided, including computer-executable instructions, wherein, when executed, the instructions cause one or more circuits (such as one or more processing units, or one or more processors) to perform the third method described above.

[0044] Therefore, the technical features and advantages of the communication systems, apparatuses, methods, and one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices disclosed herein in various embodiments may include, but are not limited to:

[0045] • In some embodiments, frame timing alignment or synchronization between Tx and Rx nodes can be used, which can improve the accuracy of the sensing results.

[0046] • In some embodiments, Rx timing alignment or synchronization between two Rx nodes can be used, which can improve the accuracy of sensing results.

[0047] • In some embodiments, sensing combinations can be used, which can improve the accuracy of sensing results. Attached Figure Description

[0048] Figure 1A and Figure 1B These are simplified schematic diagrams illustrating the structure of a communication system provided in some embodiments of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 2A yes Figure 1A A simplified schematic diagram of the user equipment (UE), terrestrial transmit-and-receive point (T-TRP), and non-terrestrial transmit-and-receive point (NT-TRP) of the communication system shown.

[0050] Figure 2B yes Figure 1A A simplified schematic diagram of a unit or module in a device (such as a UE or TRP) of a communication system shown;

[0051] Figure 3 These are some embodiments provided by the present invention. Figure 1A The diagram shows a simplified representation of the structure of a communication system that uses multiple sensing and communication (SAC) nodes to achieve integrated sensing and communication (ISAC).

[0052] Figure 4 yes Figure 1A The diagram shows a simplified illustration of the sensing management function (SMF) of a communication system, which is implemented as a physically independent entity.

[0053] Figure 5A This is provided by some embodiments of the present invention. Figure 1AA schematic diagram illustrating an example of a collaborative awareness method performed by the transmitting (Tx) node and the receiving (Rx) node in the communication system shown.

[0054] Figure 5B This is a schematic diagram of another example provided by some embodiments of the present invention, wherein a Tx node cooperates with two Rx nodes to sense objects;

[0055] Figure 6A Some embodiments of the present invention provide that Figure 1A The frequency-time diagram shows an example of the sensing communication (SAC) signal transmitted between the Tx node and Rx node of the communication system shown, in which multiple communication symbols and multiple sensing symbols (also known as "sensing signal components") are time-multiplexed using the time-division multiplexing (TDM) method.

[0056] Figure 6B Some embodiments of the present invention provide that Figure 1A The frequency-time diagram shows an example of the SAC signal transmitted between the Tx node and Rx node in the communication system shown, where multiple communication symbols and multiple sensing symbols are time-multiplexed using the frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) method.

[0057] Figure 6C Some embodiments of the present invention provide that Figure 1A The frequency-time diagram of an example of SAC signal transmitted between Tx nodes and Rx nodes in the communication system shown is provided, wherein multiple communication symbols and multiple sensing symbols are multiplexed in frequency and time using the TDM / FDM method, such that the first frequency band and the second frequency band transmit mixed symbols of communication symbols and sensing symbols multiplexed in time, respectively.

[0058] Figure 7 yes Figure 1A The frequency-time diagram of an exemplary chirped signal used by the communication system shown;

[0059] Figure 8A The illustration shows a sensing symbol including a chirped signal provided by some embodiments of the present invention;

[0060] Figure 8B The illustration shows a sensing symbol comprising two chirped signals multiplexed in frequency, provided by some embodiments of the present invention;

[0061] Figure 8C The illustration shows a sensing symbol comprising two chirped signals that are time-multiplexed, as provided in some embodiments of the present invention;

[0062] Figure 8D The illustration shows a sensing symbol comprising four chirped signals multiplexed in frequency and time, provided by some embodiments of the present invention;

[0063] Figure 9 This is a frequency-time diagram of an example of a SAC signal using OFDM symbols as communication symbols provided in some embodiments of the present invention;

[0064] Figure 10 Some embodiments of the present invention provide that Figure 1A The diagram shows the classification of Rx nodes in the communication system into various cooperative sets.

[0065] Figure 11A and Figure 11B This is a schematic diagram illustrating the misalignment of Tx timing between Tx nodes and Rx nodes;

[0066] Figure 12A and Figure 12B This is a diagram illustrating the misalignment of Rx timings between two Rx nodes;

[0067] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the misalignment of Tx timings between two Tx nodes;

[0068] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram illustrating how two Tx nodes use a common frame to periodically transmit their SAC signals, as provided in some embodiments of the present invention.

[0069] Figure 15A This is a schematic diagram of two Tx nodes transmitting their SAC signals according to some embodiments of the present invention, wherein one of the two Tx nodes uses a timing offset to synchronize its SAC signal transmission with the SAC signal transmission of the other Tx node;

[0070] Figure 15B This is a schematic diagram of two Tx nodes synchronously transmitting their respective SAC signals using corresponding timing offsets, provided in some embodiments of the present invention;

[0071] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram illustrating how two Tx nodes send their respective communication signals using conventional methods without synchronization, as provided in some embodiments of the present invention.

[0072] Figure 17 and Figure 18 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the collaborative awareness process between a Tx node and multiple Rx nodes.

[0073] Figure 19 This is an exemplary drawing of one or more signal paths of a received SAC signal or its received echo and their corresponding delays.

[0074] Figure 20 This is a schematic diagram of frame timing for determining delay provided in some embodiments of the present invention;

[0075] Figure 21 It is a schematic diagram of receiving SAC signals including multiple sensing symbols, measuring the sensing symbols and reporting the measurements of multiple Rx;

[0076] Figure 22 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the association between sensing time-frequency resources (such as sensing symbols) and unique sensing instance identifiers (IDs). Detailed Implementation

[0077] A. System Structure

[0078] A-1. Overall System Structure

[0079] refer to Figure 1A , Figure 1A This is a non-limiting illustrative example providing a simplified schematic of a communication system. Communication system 100 includes a radio access network (RAN) 104. RAN 104 can be a next-generation (e.g., sixth-generation (6G) or later) RAN, or a legacy (e.g., fifth-generation (5G), fourth-generation (4G), third-generation (3G), or second-generation (2G)) RAN. One or more user equipment (UEs) 114A to 114J (generally referred to as 114) can interconnect with each other or connect to one or more network nodes 102A in RAN 104. Core network 112 can be part of the communication system and can depend on or be independent of the radio access technology used in communication system 100. Furthermore, communication system 100 includes a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 106, the Internet 108, and other networks 110.

[0080] Figure 1BAn exemplary communication system 100 is illustrated. Generally, the communication system 100 enables multiple wireless or wired units to transmit data and other content. The purpose of the communication system 100 may be to provide content such as voice, data, video, and / or text via broadcast, multicast, and / or unicast. The communication system 100 can operate by sharing resources (such as carrier spectrum bandwidth) among its constituent units. The communication system 100 may include terrestrial communication systems and / or non-terrestrial communication systems. The communication system 100 can provide a wide variety of communication services and applications (such as earth monitoring, remote sensing, passive sensing and positioning, navigation and tracking, and / or autonomous delivery and mobility). The communication system 100 can provide high availability and robustness through the joint operation of terrestrial and non-terrestrial communication systems. For example, integrating a non-terrestrial communication system (or components thereof) into a terrestrial communication system can create a heterogeneous network comprising multiple layers. Those skilled in the art will understand that heterogeneous networks can achieve improved overall performance through efficient multi-link joint operation between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, more flexible function sharing, and faster physical layer link switching.

[0081] Terrestrial and non-terrestrial communication systems can be subsystems within communication system 100. In the example shown, communication system 100 includes UE 114, RAN 104A (also referred to as the "terrestrial communication network"), non-terrestrial communication network 104B, core network 112, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 106, Internet 108, and other networks 110. RAN 104A includes corresponding base stations (BS) 102A, which may generally be referred to as Terrestrial Transmission Receiving Point (T-TRP) 102A. Non-terrestrial communication network 104B includes access nodes 102B, which may generally be referred to as Non-Terrestrial Transmission Receiving Point (NT-TRP) 102B. T-TRP 102A and NT-TRP 102B may generally be referred to as TRPs or access nodes 102.

[0082] Alternatively or additionally, any UE 114 can be used to connect, access, or communicate with any other T-TRP 102A, NT-TRP 102B, Internet 108, core network 112, PSTN 106, other network 110, or any combination thereof. In some examples, UE 114 can perform uplink (UL) and / or downlink (DL) transmissions with T-TRP 102A via terrestrial interface 118A. In some examples, UE 114 can perform UL and / or DL ​​transmissions with NT-TRP 102B via non-terrestrial interface 118B. In some examples, UE 114 can also communicate directly with each other via one or more sidelink air interfaces 118C.

[0083] Air interfaces 118A and 118C can use similar communication technologies, such as any suitable wireless access technology. For example, communication system 100 can implement one or more channel access methods in air interfaces 118A and 118C, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), or single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) (also known as discrete Fourier transform spread OFDMA (DFT-s-OFDMA)). Air interfaces 118A and 118C can utilize other high-dimensional signal spaces, which may include combinations of orthogonal and / or non-orthogonal dimensions.

[0084] The non-terrestrial air interface 118B enables communication between a UE 114 and one or more NT-TRP 102Bs via a wireless link or a simple link. In some examples, the link is a dedicated connection for unicast transmission, a connection for broadcast transmission, or a connection between a group of UEs 114 and one or more NT-TRP 102Bs for multicast transmission.

[0085] RAN 104A communicates with core network 112 to provide various services, such as voice, data, and other services, to UE 114. RAN 104A and / or core network 112 can communicate directly or indirectly with one or more other RANs (not shown), which may or may not be directly served by core network 112, and may or may not use the same radio access technology as RAN 104A. Core network 112 can also serve as a gateway access between (i) RAN 104A and / or UE 114 and (ii) other networks (e.g., PSTN 106, Internet 108, and other networks 110). Additionally, some or all of the UEs in UE 114 may include functionality for communicating with different wireless networks via different radio links using different radio technologies and / or protocols. UE 114 may communicate with service providers or switches (not shown) via wired communication channels and with Internet 108, rather than wirelessly (or also wirelessly). PSTN 106 may include a circuit-switched telephone network for providing plain old telephone service (POTS). Internet 108 may include a network of computers and / or subnets (internal networks) and includes protocols such as Internet Protocol (IP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), and User Datagram Protocol (UDP). UE 114 may be a multimode device capable of operating according to various wireless access technologies and includes multiple transceivers required to support such technologies.

[0086] A-2. Basic Component Structure

[0087] Figure 2AAn example of UE 114, T-TRP 102A, and NT-TRP 102B is shown. UE 114 is used to connect people, objects, and / or machines. UE 114 can be widely used in various scenarios, such as cellular communication, device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), peer-to-peer (P2P), machine-to-machine (M2M), machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), metaverse, digital twin, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grids, smart furniture, smart offices, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart cities, drones, robots, remote sensing, passive sensing, positioning, navigation and tracking, and / or autonomous delivery and mobility, etc.

[0088] Each UE 114 represents any suitable end-user equipment for wireless operation and may include (or be referred to as): user equipment, wireless transmit / receive unit (WTRU), mobile station, fixed or mobile subscriber unit, cellular phone, station (STA), machine-type communication (MTC) device, personal digital assistant (PDA), smartphone, laptop, computer, tablet, wireless sensor, consumer electronics device, smartbook, vehicle, automobile, truck, bus, train, or IoT device, wearable device (such as watch, glasses, and / or head-mounted device), industrial equipment, robot, or devices included in or comprising the above devices (e.g., communication module, modem, or chip), etc. Next-generation UE 114 may be referred to using other terms. Each UE 114 connected to T-TRP 102A and / or NT-TRP 102B may be dynamically or semi-statically started (i.e., established, activated, or enabled), shut down (i.e., released, deactivated, or disabled), and / or configured in response to one or more of connectivity availability and connectivity necessity.

[0089] In some implementations, the T-TRP 102A can have other names, such as base station, basetransceiver station (BTS), wireless base station, network node, network device, network-side device, transmit / receive node, NodeB, evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), home eNodeB, next-generation NodeB (gNB), transmission point (TP), site controller, access point (AP) or wireless router, relay station, ground node, ground network device, or ground base station, baseband unit (BBU), remote radio unit (RRU), active antenna unit (AAU), remote radio head (RRH), central unit (CU), distributed unit (DU), location node, etc. The T-TRP 102A can be a macro BS, pico BS, relay node, or donor node, or a combination thereof. T-TRP 102A may refer to the aforementioned equipment or to a component within the aforementioned equipment (e.g., a communication module, modem, or chip).

[0090] In some embodiments, the various parts of T-TRP 102A may be distributed. For example, some modules in T-TRP 102A may be located remotely from the device housing the antenna of T-TRP 102A and may be coupled to the device housing the antenna via a communication link (not shown) sometimes referred to as a fronthaul (such as a common public radio interface (CPRI)). Therefore, in some embodiments, the term "T-TRP 102A" may also refer to network-side modules that perform processing operations such as determining the location of UE 114, resource allocation (scheduling), message generation, and encoding / decoding, which are not necessarily part of the device housing the antenna of T-TRP 102A. These modules may also be coupled to other T-TRPs. In some embodiments, T-TRP 102A may actually be multiple T-TRPs operating together to serve UE 114 through cooperative multicast or similar methods.

[0091] T-TRP 102A includes one or more circuits (such as one or more electronic circuits and / or one or more optical circuits) constituting various components. For example, T-TRP 102 may include at least one transmitter 144 and at least one receiver 146 coupled to one or more antennas 148. Only one antenna 148 is shown in the figure. One, some, or all of the antennas may also be panels. Transmitter 144 and receiver 146 may be integrated as a transceiver. T-TRP 102A also includes at least one processor 142 for performing operations related to: preparing DL transmissions to be transmitted to UE 114, processing UL transmissions received from UE 114, preparing return transmissions to be transmitted to NT-TRP 102B, and processing transmissions received from NT-TRP 102B via return. Processing operations related to preparing to transmit DL transmissions or return transmissions may include operations such as encoding, modulation, precoding (e.g., multiple input multiple output (MIMO) precoding), transmit beamforming, and generating symbols for transmission. Processing operations related to receiving transmissions in the UL or on the backhaul may include operations such as receiving beamforming, demodulation, and decoding of received symbols. Processor 142 may also perform operations related to network access (e.g., initial access) and / or DL ​​synchronization, such as generating the contents of a synchronization signal block (SSB) and / or generating system information. In some embodiments, processor 142 may also generate beam direction indications, such as BAI, that scheduler 154 can schedule for transmission. Processor 142 performs other network-side processing operations described herein, such as determining the location of UE 114 and / or determining the deployment location of NT-TRP 102B. In some embodiments, processor 142 may generate signaling to configure one or more parameters of UE 114 and / or one or more parameters of NT-TRP 102B, etc. Any signaling generated by processor 142 is transmitted by transmitter 144. It should be noted that the term "signaling" as used herein may also refer to control signaling. Dynamic signaling can be transmitted in control channels such as the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), while static or semi-static higher-layer signaling can be included in data packets that are transmitted in data channels such as the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). In this case, the signaling can be called higher-layer signaling, static signaling, or semi-static signaling.Higher-layer signaling can also refer to radio resource control (RRC) protocol signaling or media access control-control element (MAC-CE) signaling.

[0092] Scheduler 154 may be coupled to processor 142. Scheduler 154 may be included within T-TRP 102A or may operate separately from T-TRP 102A. Scheduler 154 may schedule UL transports, DL transports, and / or backhaul transports, including issuing scheduling authorizations and / or configuring schedule-free (e.g., "configuration authorization") resources. T-TRP 102A also includes memory 150 for storing information and data. Memory 150 stores instructions and data used, generated, or collected by T-TRP 102A. For example, memory 150 may store software instructions or modules for implementing some or all of the functions and / or embodiments described herein and executed by processor 142.

[0093] Processor 142 may be part of transmitter 144 and / or receiver 146, but is not shown in the figures. Additionally, processor 142 may implement scheduler 154, but is not shown in the figures. Memory 150 may be part of processor 142, but is not shown in the figures.

[0094] The processing components in processor 142, scheduler 154, transmitter 144, and receiver 146 may be implemented by the same or different processors for executing instructions stored in memory (e.g., memory 150). Alternatively, some or all of the processing components in processor 142, scheduler 154, transmitter 144, and receiver 146 may be implemented using special-purpose circuitry such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), graphics processing units (GPUs), or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

[0095] Although the NT-TRP 102B is only exemplified as a drone, it can be implemented in any suitable non-terrestrial form, such as satellites and high-altitude platforms, including mobile communication base stations and unmanned aerial vehicles. Furthermore, in some implementations, the NT-TRP 102B may have other names, such as non-terrestrial node, non-terrestrial network device, or non-terrestrial base station.

[0096] The NT-TRP 102B includes one or more circuits (such as one or more electronic circuits and / or one or more optical circuits) constituting various components and may have a similar structure to the T-TRP 102A. For example, the NT-TRP 102B may include a transmitter 144 and a receiver 146 coupled to one or more antennas 148. Only one antenna 148 is shown in the figure to avoid clutter. One, some, or all of the antennas may also be panels. The transmitter 144 and receiver 146 may be integrated as a transceiver. The NT-TRP 102B also includes at least one processor 142 for performing operations related to: preparing DL transmissions to be transmitted to the UE 114, processing UL transmissions received from the UE 114, preparing return transmissions to be transmitted to the T-TRP 102A, and processing transmissions received from the T-TRP 102A via return. Processing operations related to preparing to transmit DL transmissions or return transmissions may include operations such as encoding, modulation, precoding (e.g., MIMO precoding), transmit beamforming, and generating symbols for transmission. Processing operations related to receiving transmissions in the UL or on the backhaul may include operations such as receive beamforming, demodulation, and decoding of received symbols. In some embodiments, processor 142 performs transmit beamforming and / or receive beamforming based on beam direction information (e.g., BAI) received from T-TRP 102A. In some embodiments, processor 142 may generate signaling to configure one or more parameters of UE 114, etc. In some embodiments, NT-TRP 102B implements physical layer processing but does not implement higher-layer functions, such as those in the medium access control (MAC) layer or radio link control (RLC) layer. Since this is only an example, NT-TRP 102B typically implements higher-layer functions in addition to physical layer processing.

[0097] The NT-TRP 102B also includes a memory 150 for storing information and data. The processor 142 may be part of the transmitter 144 and / or the receiver 146, but is not shown in the figures. The memory 150 may be part of the processor 142, but is not shown in the figures.

[0098] The processing components in processor 142, transmitter 144, and receiver 146 may be implemented by the same or different processors for executing instructions stored in memory (e.g., memory 150). Alternatively, some or all of the processing components in processor 142, transmitter 144, and receiver 146 may be implemented using dedicated circuitry such as a programmable FPGA, hardware accelerator (e.g., GPU or artificial intelligence (AI) accelerator), or ASIC. In some embodiments, the NT-TRP 102B may actually be multiple NT-TRPs operating together to serve the UE 114 via cooperative multicast or similar methods.

[0099] T-TRP 102A, NT-TRP 102B and / or UE 114 may include other components, but these components are omitted for clarity.

[0100] UE 114 includes one or more circuits (such as one or more electronic circuits and / or one or more optical circuits) constituting various components. More specifically, UE 114 includes a transmitter 200 and a receiver 202 coupled to one or more antennas 204. Only one antenna 204 is shown in the figure to avoid clutter. One, some, or all of the antennas may also be panels. The transmitter 200 and receiver 202 may be integrated, for example, integrated as a transceiver. The transceiver is used to modulate data or other content for transmission through at least one antenna 204 or a network interface controller (NIC). The transceiver is also used to demodulate data or other content received through at least one antenna 204. Each transceiver includes any suitable structure for generating signals for wireless or wired transmission and / or for processing signals received wirelessly or wiredly. Each antenna 204 includes any suitable structure for transmitting and / or receiving wireless or wired signals.

[0101] UE 114 includes at least one memory 208. Memory 208 stores instructions and data used, generated, or collected by UE 114. For example, memory 208 may store software instructions or modules for implementing some or all of the functions and / or embodiments described herein and executed by at least one processing unit (e.g., at least one processor 210). Each memory 208 includes any suitable one or more volatile and / or non-volatile storage and retrieval devices. Any suitable type of memory can be used, such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), hard disk, optical disk, subscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory stick, secure digital (SD) card, and processor cache, etc.

[0102] UE 114 may also include one or more input / output devices (not shown) or interfaces (such as those connected to...). Figure 1A (Wired interface of Internet 108 in the network). Input / output devices support interaction with users or other devices on the network. Each input / output device includes any suitable structure for providing or receiving information from the user and / or for network interface communication. Suitable structures include speakers, microphones, keypads, keyboards, displays, touchscreens, and / or network interfaces, etc.

[0103] UE 114 also includes at least one processor 210 for performing the following operations: operations related to preparing UL transmissions to be transmitted to NT-TRP 102A and / or T-TRP 102B, operations related to processing DL transmissions received from NT-TRP 102A and / or T-TRP 102B, and operations related to processing sidelink transmissions transmitted to and from other UEs 114. Processing operations related to preparing UL transmissions may include operations such as encoding, modulation, transmit beamforming, and generating symbols for transmission. Processing operations related to processing DL transmissions may include operations such as receive beamforming, demodulation, and decoding of received symbols. According to an embodiment, DL transmissions may be received by receiver 202 using receive beamforming, and processor 210 may extract signaling from the DL transmissions (e.g., by detecting and / or decoding signaling). An example of signaling may be a reference signal transmitted by NT-TRP 102A and / or T-TRP 102B. In some embodiments, processor 142 performs transmit beamforming and / or receive beamforming based on beam direction indications (e.g., beam angle information (BAI)) received from T-TRP 102. In some embodiments, processor 210 may perform operations related to network access (e.g., initial access) and / or DL ​​synchronization, such as operations related to detecting synchronization sequences and / or decoding and acquiring system information. In some embodiments, processor 210 may perform channel estimation using reference signals received from NT-TRP 102A and / or T-TRP 102B.

[0104] Processor 210 may be part of transmitter 200 and / or receiver 202, but is not shown in the figure. Memory 208 may be part of processor 210, but is not shown in the figure.

[0105] The processing components in processor 210, transmitter 200, and receiver 202 may be implemented by the same or different processors, which execute instructions stored in memory (e.g., memory 208). Alternatively, some or all of the processing components in processor 210, transmitter 200, and receiver 202 may be implemented using dedicated hardware such as a programmable FPGA, ASIC, or hardware accelerator (e.g., GPU or AI accelerator).

[0106] A-3. Basic Module Structure

[0107] One or more steps of the exemplary methods provided in this document can be derived from... Figure 2B The corresponding unit or module provided will be executed. Figure 2BThe diagram illustrates units or modules within a device (such as in UE 114 or TRP 102). For example, signals may be transmitted by a transmitting unit or transmitting module. Signals may be received by a receiving unit or receiving module. Signals may be processed by a processing unit or processing module. Other steps may be performed by an AI or machine learning (ML) module. The corresponding units or modules may be implemented using hardware, one or more components or devices executing software, or a combination thereof. For example, one or more of these units or modules may be integrated circuits. Examples of integrated circuits include programmable FPGAs, GPUs, or ASICs. For example, one or more of these units or modules may be logic, such as logical functions executed by circuits, a portion of an integrated circuit, or software instructions executed by a processor. It should be understood that if these modules are implemented using software executed by a processor, etc., then these modules may be retrieved by the processor, wholly or partially, individually or collectively, for processing, in one or more instances, and these modules themselves may include instructions for further deployment and instantiation.

[0108] Further details regarding UE 114 and TRP 102 are known to those skilled in the art. Therefore, these details are omitted here.

[0109] A-4. Intelligent Air Interface

[0110] An air interface typically includes numerous components and associated parameters that collectively specify how transmissions are sent and / or received between two or more communication devices via a wireless communication link. For example, an air interface may include one or more waveforms, one or more frame structures, one or more multiple access schemes, one or more protocols, one or more coding schemes, and / or one or more modulation schemes that define the transmission of information (e.g., data) via a wireless communication link. Wireless communication links may support links between the RAN and the UE (e.g., a "Uu" link), and / or wireless communication links may support links between devices, such as links between two user equipment units (e.g., a "sidelink"), and / or wireless communication links may support links between non-terrestrial (NT) communication networks and the UE. Below are some examples of the components mentioned above:

[0111] The waveform component allows you to specify the shape and form of the signal being transmitted. Waveform options can include orthogonal multiple access (OFDM) and non-orthogonal multiple access (NOA) waveforms. Non-limiting examples of such waveform options include orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), filtered OFDM (f-OFDM), time-domain windowed OFDM, filter bank multicarrier (FBMC), universal filtered multicarrier (UFMC), generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM), wavelet packet modulation (WPM), faster than Nyquist (FTN) waveforms, frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW), chip waveforms, and low peak to average power ratio (LPPR) waveforms (WF).

[0112] The frame structure component can specify the configuration of a single frame or a group of frames. It can indicate one or more of the following parameters: time, frequency, pilot signature, encoding, or other parameters for a single frame or a group of frames. The frame structure will be discussed in detail below.

[0113] The multiple access scheme component can specify multiple access technology options, including technologies that limit how communication devices share common physical channels, such as: TDMA, FDMA, CDMA, SC-FDMA, low-density signature multicarrier code division multiple access (LDS-MC-CDMA), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), pattern division multiple access (PDMA), lattice partition multiple access (LPMA), resource spread multiple access (RSMA), and sparse code multiple access (SCMA). Furthermore, multiple access technology options can include: scheduled access versus unscheduled access, also known as configured licensed access or unlicensed access; non-orthogonal multiple access versus orthogonal multiple access, for example, through dedicated channel resources (e.g., not shared between multiple communication devices); contention-based shared channel resources versus non-contention-based shared channel resources; and radio-based cognitive access.

[0114] The Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) protocol component can specify how transmissions and / or retransmissions are performed. Non-limiting examples of transmission and / or retransmission mechanism options include specifying the scheduling data pipeline size, the signaling mechanism used for transmission and / or retransmission, and examples of the retransmission mechanism.

[0115] The coding and modulation components can specify how the information being transmitted is encoded / decoded and modulated / demodulated for transmission / reception. Encoding can refer to methods of error detection and forward error correction. Non-limiting examples of coding options include Reed-Muller (RM) codes, turbine lattice codes, turbine product codes, fountain codes, low-density parity-check codes, and polar codes. Modulation can simply refer to a constellation (e.g., including modulation techniques and orders), or more specifically to various types of advanced modulation methods such as layered modulation and low PAPR modulation.

[0116] In some embodiments, the air interface may be a "one-size-fits-all" concept. For example, once the air interface is defined, the components within it cannot be changed or adjusted. In some implementations, only a limited set of parameters or modes of the air interface can be configured, such as cyclic prefix (CP) length or MIMO mode. In some embodiments, the air interface design can provide a unified or flexible framework to support licensed and unlicensed access in frequency bands below 6 GHz and above 6 GHz (e.g., mmWave). For example, the flexibility of a configurable air interface provided by scalable parameter sets and symbol durations can enable optimization of transmission parameters for different spectrum bands and different services / devices. Furthermore, a unified air interface may be self-contained in the frequency domain; a self-contained frequency domain design can support more flexible RAN slicing through channel resource sharing between different services in terms of frequency and time.

[0117] A-5. Frame Structure

[0118] The frame structure is a feature of the physical layer of wireless communication, defining the time-domain signal transmission structure to achieve timing reference and timing alignment of basic time-domain transmission units, etc. Wireless communication between communication devices can take place on time-frequency resources controlled by the frame structure. The frame structure is sometimes also referred to as the wireless frame structure.

[0119] Depending on the frame structure and / or the frame configuration within the frame structure, frequency division duplex (FDD) communication, time division duplex (TDD) communication, and / or full-duplex (FD) communication (including sub-band FD) communication are possible. FDD communication refers to transmissions in different directions (e.g., UL and DL) occurring in different frequency bands. TDD communication refers to transmissions in different directions (e.g., UL and DL) occurring within different durations. FD communication refers to transmission and reception occurring on the same time-frequency resources; that is, a device can simultaneously transmit and receive on the same frequency resources.

[0120] An example of a frame structure is the frame structure in Long-Term Evolution (LTE), which has the following specifications: each frame is 10 milliseconds (ms) long; each frame has 10 subframes, each of which is 1 ms long; each subframe includes two time slots, each of which is 0.5 ms long; each time slot is used to transmit seven (7) OFDM symbols (assuming normal CP); each OFDM symbol has a symbol duration and a specific bandwidth (or partial bandwidth or bandwidth partition) associated with the number of subcarriers and the subcarrier spacing; the frame structure is based on OFDM waveform parameters such as subcarrier spacing and CP length (wherein, the CP has a fixed length or finite length option); the handover gap between UL and DL under TDD must be an integer time of the OFDM symbol duration.

[0121] Another example of a frame structure is the frame structure in New Radio (NR), which has the following specifications: support for multiple subcarrier spacings, each corresponding to a specific parameter set; the frame structure depends on the parameter set, but in any case, the frame length is set to 10 ms, consisting of 10 subframes, each 1 ms long; the defined time slots include 14 OFDM symbols; and the time slot length depends on the parameter set. For example, the NR frame structure for a standard CP with a 15 kHz subcarrier spacing (“Parameter Set 1”) differs from the NR frame structure for a standard CP with a 30 kHz subcarrier spacing (“Parameter Set 2”). For the 15 kHz subcarrier spacing, the time slot length is 1 ms; for the 30 kHz subcarrier spacing, the time slot length is 0.5 ms. The NR frame structure can be more flexible than the LTE frame structure.

[0122] Another example of a frame structure is the exemplary flexible frame structure, for example, for 6G networks or next-generation networks. In a flexible frame structure, a symbol block can be defined as a minimum time period that can be scheduled within the flexible frame structure. A symbol block can be a transmission unit with optional redundant portions (e.g., a CP portion) and information portions (e.g., data). An OFDM symbol is an example of a symbol block. A symbol block can also be referred to as a symbol. Embodiments of flexible frame structures include various configurable parameters, such as frame length, subframe length, and / or symbol block length. A non-exhaustive list of possible configurable parameters in some embodiments of flexible frame structures includes:

[0123] (1) Frame: The frame length is not limited to 10 ms; it can be configurable and vary over time. In some embodiments, each frame includes one or more DL synchronization channels and / or one or more DL broadcast channels, each of which can be transmitted in different directions using different beamforming. The frame length can have more than one possible value and can be configured according to the application scenario. For example, autonomous vehicles may require relatively fast initial access, in which case the frame length for autonomous vehicle applications can be set to 5 ms. As another example, home smart meters may not require fast initial access, in which case the frame length for smart meter applications can be set to 20 ms.

[0124] (2) Subframe duration: Subframes may or may not be defined within a flexible frame structure, depending on the implementation. For example, a frame may be defined to include time slots but not subframes. In frames with defined subframes, for example, for temporal alignment, the duration of the subframes may be configurable. For example, subframes may be configured to have lengths of 0.1 ms, 0.2 ms, 0.5 ms, 1 ms, 2 ms, or 5 ms. In some embodiments, if subframes are not needed in a particular scenario, the subframe length may be defined to be the same as the frame length, or it may not be defined at all.

[0125] (3) Time Slot Configuration: Time slots may or may not be defined within a flexible frame structure, depending on the implementation. In frames with defined time slots, the limitations of the time slots (e.g., in terms of duration and / or number of symbol blocks) can be configurable. In one embodiment, the time slot configuration is common to all UEs or a group of UEs. In this case, the time slot configuration information can be sent to the UE on a broadcast channel or one or more common control channels. In other embodiments, the time slot configuration can be UE-specific, in which case the time slot configuration information can be sent on a UE-specific control channel. In some embodiments, time slot configuration signaling can be sent together with frame configuration signaling and / or subframe configuration signaling. In other embodiments, time slot configuration can be sent independently of frame configuration signaling and / or subframe configuration signaling. Generally, time slot configuration can be system-wide, base station-wide, UE group-wide, or UE-specific.

[0126] (4) Subcarrier Spacing (SCS): SCS is a parameter in a scalable parameter set that allows the SCS to range from 15 kHz to 480 kHz. The SCS may vary with the spectral frequency and / or maximum UE velocity to minimize the effects of Doppler frequency offset and phase noise. In some examples, separate transmit and receive frames may exist, and the SCS of symbols in the receive frame structure can be configured independently of the SCS of symbols in the transmit frame structure. The SCS in the receive frame may differ from the SCS in the transmit frame. In some examples, the SCS of each transmit frame may be half the SCS of each receive frame. If there is a difference in the SCS between the receive and transmit frames, this difference does not necessarily need to be scaled by a factor of 2, for example, when using the inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) instead of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) to achieve a more flexible symbol duration. Other examples of frame structures can be used with different SCS.

[0127] (5) Flexible transmission duration of the basic transmission unit: The basic transmission unit can be a symbol block (also called a symbol), which typically includes a redundant portion (called CP) and an information (e.g., data) portion. However, in some embodiments, the CP can be omitted from the symbol block. The CP length can be flexible and configurable. The CP length can be fixed within a frame or can be flexibly varied within a frame, and the CP length may change with frame changes, with frame group changes, with subframe changes, with time slot changes, or dynamically with scheduling changes. The information (e.g., data) portion can be flexible and configurable. Another possible parameter related to the configurable symbol block is the ratio of the CP duration to the information (e.g., data) duration. In some embodiments, the symbol block length can be adjusted based on channel conditions (e.g., multipath delay, Doppler) and / or delay requirements and / or available duration. For example, the symbol block length can be adjusted to accommodate the available duration in a frame.

[0128] (6) Flexible handover gap: A frame may include a DL portion for DL ​​transmission of the base station and a UL portion for UL transmission of the UE. A gap may exist between each UL portion and DL portion, which is called a handover gap. The handover gap length (duration) can be configurable. The handover gap duration can be fixed within the frame or can be flexibly varied within the frame, and the handover gap duration may change with the frame, with the frame group, with the subframe, with the time slot, or dynamically with the scheduling method.

[0129] A-6. Cell, Carrier, Partial Bandwidth, and Occupied Bandwidth

[0130] Base stations and other equipment can provide cell coverage. Wireless communication with the equipment can take place on one or more carrier frequencies. A carrier frequency is called a carrier. A carrier can also be called a component carrier (CC). Characteristics of a carrier can include its bandwidth and reference frequency, such as the center frequency, minimum frequency, or maximum frequency of the carrier. A carrier can be in licensed or unlicensed spectrum. Wireless communication with the equipment can also, alternatively, take place on one or more bandwidth parts (BWPs) or comprising one or more physical resource blocks (PRBs) or other basic units of the frequency domain. For example, a carrier can have one or more BWPs. Generally, wireless communication with the equipment can take place on a spectrum. A spectrum can include one or more carriers and / or one or more BWPs.

[0131] A cell may include one or more DL resources, and optionally one or more UL resources, or a cell may include one or more UL resources, and optionally one or more DL resources, or a cell may include both one or more DL resources and one or more UL resources. For example, a cell may include only one DL carrier / BWP, or only one UL carrier / BWP, or multiple DL carriers / BWP, or multiple UL carriers / BWP, or one DL carrier / BWP and one UL carrier / BWP, or one DL carrier / BWP and multiple UL carriers / BWP, or multiple DL carriers / BWP and one UL carrier / BWP, or multiple DL carriers / BWP and multiple UL carriers / BWP. In some embodiments, a cell may alternatively or additionally include one or more sidelink resources, including sidelink transmit and receive resources.

[0132] A BWP is a set of continuous or discontinuous frequency subcarriers on a carrier, or a set of continuous or discontinuous frequency subcarriers on multiple carriers, or a set of discontinuous or continuous frequency subcarriers, which may include one or more carriers.

[0133] In some embodiments, a carrier may have one or more BWPs. For example, a carrier may have a bandwidth of 20 MHz and consist of one BWP and / or have a bandwidth of 80 MHz and consist of two adjacent consecutive BWPs, and so on. In other embodiments, a BWP may have one or more carriers. For example, a BWP may have a bandwidth of 40 MHz and consist of two adjacent consecutive carriers, each with a bandwidth of 20 MHz. In some embodiments, a BWP may include discontinuous spectrum resources consisting of multiple discontinuous carriers, wherein a first carrier of the multiple discontinuous carriers may be in the mmWave band, a second carrier may be in a low-frequency band (such as the 2 GHz band), a third carrier (if present) may be in the terahertz (THz) band, and a fourth carrier (if present) may be in the visible light band. Resources within a carrier belonging to a BWP may be contiguous or discontinuous. In some embodiments, a BWP has discontinuous spectrum resources on a single carrier.

[0134] Wireless communication can be performed on occupied bandwidth. Occupied bandwidth can be defined as the width of a frequency band such that the average transmitted power below the lower limit and above the upper limit (partially) of the band is equal to a specified percentage β / 2 of the total average transmitted power, for example, β / 2 is 0.5%.

[0135] The carrier, BWP, or occupied bandwidth can be dynamically indicated by network devices (e.g., base stations) in physical layer control signaling such as downlink control information (DCI), or semi-statically indicated in RRC signaling or MAC layer, or predefined according to the application scenario; or determined by the UE as a function of other parameters known to the UE, or fixed through standards, etc.

[0136] A-7. Timing Reference Point

[0137] In current networks, frame timing and synchronization are established based on synchronization signals such as the primary synchronization signal (PSS) and the secondary synchronization signal (SSS). It is worth noting that known frame timing and synchronization strategies involve adding timestamps to frame boundaries, for example, (xx0:yy0:zz), where xx0, yy0, and zz in the timestamp can represent time formats such as hours, minutes, and seconds, respectively.

[0138] It is anticipated that various applications and use cases in future networks may require the use of frames, time slots, and symbols of varying durations to meet different requirements, functions, and quality of service (QoS) types. Therefore, using frames of different durations to meet these applications may pose challenges to frame timing alignment across various frame structures. For example, consider the TDD configuration between adjacent carrier bands or subbands (or portions) of a channel or carrier bandwidth, where frame timing alignment is crucial.

[0139] In some embodiments, frame timing alignment and / or realignment may include timing alignment and / or realignment based on symbols, time slots, or subframes within a frame, or the boundaries of a frame (therefore, frame timing alignment / realignment has a broader meaning here and is not limited to timing alignment / realignment based solely on frame boundaries). Furthermore, relative timing with respect to a frame or frame boundary can be interpreted in a broader sense, that is, a frame boundary refers to the timing point of a frame element having a frame, such as a symbol, time slot, or subframe within a frame, or the start or end of a frame. In the following text, phrases such as “(frame) timing alignment or timing realignment” and “relative timing with respect to frame boundaries” are used in the broader sense described above.

[0140] In some embodiments, a network device such as base station 102 (hereinafter referred to as TRP 102) may transmit signaling carrying a timing realignment indication message. The timing realignment indication message includes information that enables the receiving UE 114 to determine a timing reference point. Based on the timing reference point, frame transmission by UE 114 can achieve alignment. In some embodiments, the aligned frames are located in different subbands of a carrier frequency band. In other embodiments, aligned frames are found in adjacent carrier frequency bands.

[0141] On the TRP 102 side, one or more types of signaling can be used to indicate timing realignment (or / and timing correction) messages. Two exemplary types of signaling are provided here to illustrate these schemes. The first exemplary type of signaling may be referred to as cell-specific signaling, for example, including group common signaling and broadcast signaling. The second exemplary type of signaling may be referred to as UE-specific signaling. One or a combination of these two types of signaling can be used to transmit timing realignment indication messages. Timing realignment indication messages can notify one or more UEs 114 of the configuration of timing reference points. In the following text, the term "UE" can be understood to refer generally to common wireless communication devices (i.e., network receiving nodes, such as wireless devices, sensors, gateways, or routers) within the cell served by TRP 102. A timing reference point is a timing reference time point that can be represented by relative timing compared to timing points in a frame (such as symbols, time slots, or subframes within a frame, or the start or end boundary of a frame). For simplicity, the term "frame boundary" is used below to refer to the boundary of possible symbols, time slots, or subframes within a frame, or the boundary of a frame. Therefore, a timing reference point can be represented by relative timing relative to the current frame boundary (e.g., the start of the current frame). Alternatively, a timing reference point can be represented by absolute timing based on some standard timing reference such as a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS)) and / or Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). In the absolute timing version of the timing reference point, the timing reference point can be explicitly specified.

[0142] The timing reference point can support timing adjustments on the UE 114 side. Timing adjustments can be implemented to improve the clock accuracy on the UE 114 side. Alternatively or additionally, the timing reference point can support adjustments in future transmissions originating from the UE 114. These adjustments may result in realignment of transmission frames at the timing reference point. It should be noted that realignment of transmission frames at the timing reference point can include timing realignment at the timing reference point for one or more UE 114s and one or more BS 102s (in a cell or a group of cells) based on symbols, time slots, or subframes within the frame, or the start boundary of the frame.

[0143] On the UE 114 side, UE 114 can monitor timing realignment indication messages. In response to receiving a timing realignment indication message, UE 114 can obtain a timing reference point and perform steps to achieve frame realignment at the timing reference point. For example, these steps may include starting the transmission of subsequent frames at the timing reference point.

[0144] Alternatively, before monitoring the timing realignment indication message, UE 114 can send a timing realignment request, i.e., a timing realignment request message, to TRP 102, causing TRP 102 to send a timing realignment indication message. In response to receiving the timing realignment request message, TRP 102 can send a timing realignment indication message to UE 114 including information about the timing reference point, thereby enabling UE 114 to perform timing realignment (or / and timing adjustment including clock timing error correction), wherein timing realignment is performed for the UE and one or more base stations in a cell (or a group of cells) based on the symbols, time slots, or subframes or the start boundary of the frame (e.g.).

[0145] In some embodiments, the TRP 102 associated with a particular cell may transmit a timing realignment indication message. The timing realignment indication message may include sufficient information to enable the message receiver to obtain a timing reference point. The timing reference point may be used by one or more UEs 114 in the particular cell when performing timing realignment (or / and timing adjustments including clock timing error correction).

[0146] In some embodiments, the timing reference point can be represented in the timing realignment indication message relative to a frame boundary (wherein the frame boundary can be a symbol, time slot, or subframe within a frame, or the boundary of a frame). The timing realignment indication message may include a relative timing indication. Relative timing indication The timing reference point is represented as a specific duration that occurs after the frame boundary of a specific frame, i.e. Since frame boundaries are crucial for UE 114 to determine its timing reference point, UE 114 must know the specific frames with the boundaries of interest. Accordingly, the timing realignment indication message may also include the system frame number (SFN) of the specific frame.

[0147] In 5G NR, the value of SFN is known to be in the range of 0 to 1023 (inclusive). Accordingly, 10 bits can be used to represent SFN. When SFN is carried through SSB, 6 of the 10 bits of SFN can be carried through the master information block (MIB), while the remaining 4 bits of SFN can be carried through the physical broadcast channel (PBCH) payload.

[0148] Optionally, the timing realignment indication message may also include other parameters. These other parameters may include the minimum time offset, etc. The minimum time offset determines the duration prior to the timing reference point. UE 114 may use the minimum time offset as an indication that the DL signaling including the timing realignment indication message provides UE 114 with sufficient time to detect the timing realignment indication message and thus obtain information about the timing reference point.

[0149] A-8. Precoding

[0150] As used in this paper, precoding can refer to any one or more encoding or modulation operations that transform an input signal into an output signal. Precoding can be performed in different domains, and typically transforms an input signal in a first domain into an output signal in a second domain. Precoding can include linear operations.

[0151] A-9. Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO)

[0152] MIMO technology enables antenna arrays consisting of multiple antennas to perform signal transmission and reception to meet high transmission rate requirements. UE 114 and / or TRP 102 can use MIMO to communicate over radio resource blocks. MIMO utilizes multiple antennas at the transmitter and / or receiver to transmit radio resource blocks via parallel radio signals. MIMO can beamform parallel radio signals to achieve reliable multipath transmission of radio resource blocks. MIMO can also bond parallel radio signals carrying different data to increase the data rate of radio resource blocks.

[0153] In recent years, MIMO (Massive MIMO) wireless communication systems equipped with a large number of antennas using the aforementioned TRP 102 have received widespread attention from academia and industry. In massive MIMO systems, the TRP 102 can typically be configured with more than 10 antenna elements (e.g., Figure 2AThe antenna 148 shown simultaneously serves dozens of UEs 114. The large number of antenna elements in the TRP 102 significantly increases the spatial freedom of wireless communication, greatly improving transmission rate, spectral efficiency, and power efficiency, and largely eliminating inter-cell interference. The increased number of antennas allows for smaller and lower-cost antenna elements per unit. Utilizing the spatial freedom provided by the large number of antenna elements, each TRP 102 in a cell can simultaneously communicate with multiple UEs 114 in the cell on the same time-frequency resources, thus significantly improving spectral efficiency. The large number of antenna elements in the TRP 102 also enables each user to have improved spatial directivity in both UL and DL transmissions, resulting in a significant reduction in the transmit power of the TRP 102 and / or UE 114 and a substantial increase in power efficiency. When the number of antennas in the TRP 102 is sufficiently large, the random channels between each UE 114 and the TRP 102 can be nearly orthogonal, eliminating interference and noise between cells and users. These numerous advantages make large-scale MIMO a promising technology for widespread applications.

[0154] A MIMO system may include a receiver connected to a receive (Rx) antenna, a transmitter connected to a transmit (Tx) antenna, and a signal processor connected to both the transmitter and receiver. Both Rx and Tx antennas can include multiple antennas. For example, an Rx antenna may include a uniform linear array (ULA) antenna array, in which multiple antennas are arranged in rows at uniform intervals. When a radio frequency (RF) signal is transmitted through a Tx antenna, the Rx antenna can receive signals reflected and returned from a forward target.

[0155] A non-exhaustive list of possible units or possible configurable parameters or MIMO systems in some embodiments includes:

[0156] Panel: A unit of an antenna group, antenna array, or antenna subarray that can independently control its Tx beam or Rx beam.

[0157] Beam: A beam is formed by performing amplitude and / or phase weighting on data transmitted or received at least one antenna port, or it can be formed by other methods, such as adjusting relevant parameters of the antenna elements. A beam can include a Tx beam and / or an Rx beam. The transmit beam represents the distribution of signal strength in different directions in space after the signal is transmitted through the antenna. The receive beam represents the distribution of signal strength in different directions in space of the wireless signal received from the antenna. Beam information can be a beam identifier, antenna port identifier, channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource identifier, SSB resource identifier, sounding reference signal (SRS) resource identifier, codebook indicator, beam direction indicator, or other reference signal resource identifier.

[0158] A-10. Integration of Terrestrial Network (TN) and Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN)

[0159] Terrestrial communication systems can also be called land-based or ground-based communication systems, but they can also be implemented on or under water, alternatively. Non-terrestrial communication systems can extend the coverage of cellular networks by using non-terrestrial nodes, bridging coverage gaps in underserved areas. This is crucial for ensuring seamless global coverage and providing mobile broadband service to areas with no or insufficient service. In this context, deploying ground access points / base station infrastructure in oceans, mountains, forests, or other remote areas is virtually impossible.

[0160] Terrestrial communication systems can be wireless communications using 5G technology and / or next-generation wireless technologies (e.g., 6G or higher). In some examples, terrestrial communication systems may also support some traditional wireless technologies (e.g., 3G or 4G). Non-terrestrial communication systems can be communication systems using satellite constellations such as traditional geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites, which broadcast public / popular content to local servers. Non-terrestrial communication systems can be communication systems using low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, which strike a better balance between large coverage areas and propagation path loss / latency. Non-terrestrial communication systems can be communication systems using very low earth orbit (VLEO) stabilized satellite technology, which significantly reduces the cost of launching satellites into low orbit. Non-terrestrial communication systems can be communication systems using high altitude platforms (HAPs), which provide low path loss air interfaces for users with limited power budgets. Non-terrestrial communication systems can be communication systems using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) (or unmanned aerial systems (UAS)). UAVs can be densely deployed because their coverage can be limited to local areas, such as airborne, balloon, quadcopter, and / or drone vehicles. In some embodiments, GEO satellites, LEO satellites, UAVs, HAPs, and VLEOs can be horizontal and two-dimensional. In some examples, UAVs, HAPs, and VLEOs can be coupled to integrate satellite communications into cellular networks. Emerging 3D vertical networks consist of numerous mobile (excluding geostationary satellites) and high-altitude access points such as UAVs, HAPs, and VLEOs.

[0161] A-11. Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning (AI / ML)

[0162] AI technology can be applied to communications, including AI / ML-based communications at the physical layer and / or at higher levels such as the MAC layer. For example, at the physical layer, AI / ML-based communications can aim to optimize component design and / or improve algorithm performance. For the MAC layer, AI / ML-based communications can leverage AI / ML capabilities to learn, predict, and / or make decisions to solve complex optimization problems using potentially better strategies and / or optimal solutions, such as optimizing functions in the MAC layer, such as intelligent TRP management, intelligent beam management, intelligent channel resource allocation, intelligent power control, intelligent spectrum utilization, intelligent modulation and coding scheme (MCS), intelligent HARQ strategy, and / or intelligent transmit / receive (Tx / Rx) mode adaptation.

[0163] Here are some terms used in the AI / ML field:

[0164] • Data collection:

[0165] Data is a crucial component of AI / ML technology. Data collection refers to the process by which network nodes, management entities, or user-defined users (UEs) gather data for AI / ML model training, data analysis, and inference.

[0166] • AI / ML model training:

[0167] AI / ML model training refers to the process of training an AI / ML model by learning the input / output relationship in a data-driven manner and then using the trained AI / ML model for inference.

[0168] •AI / ML model inference:

[0169] The process of using a trained AI / ML model to produce a set of outputs from a set of inputs.

[0170] • AI / ML model validation:

[0171] As a sub-process of training, validation is used to evaluate the quality of the AI / ML model using a different dataset than the one used for model training. Validation can help in selecting model parameters that generalize well beyond the dataset used for model training. The trained model parameters can be further tuned through the validation process.

[0172] • AI / ML model testing:

[0173] Similar to validation, testing is also a sub-process of training. It is used to evaluate the performance of the final AI / ML model using a different dataset than the datasets used for model training and validation. Unlike AI / ML model validation, testing does not assume subsequent model tuning.

[0174] • Online training:

[0175] Online training refers to the AI / ML training process in which the model used for inference is typically trained continuously (nearly in real time) as new training samples arrive.

[0176] • Offline training:

[0177] Offline training is an AI / ML training process in which a model is trained on a collected dataset, and the trained model is then used or passed to inference.

[0178] •AI / ML model delivery / transfer:

[0179] The term "transferring AI / ML models from one entity to another in any way" is a general term. Transmitting AI / ML models over the air includes transferring parameters of the model structure known to the receiving end, as well as transferring new models with parameters. The transfer may include a complete model or a partial model.

[0180] • Lifecycle Management (LCM):

[0181] When training and / or inferring AI / ML models on a device, the entire AI / ML process needs to be monitored and managed to ensure the performance gains achieved through AI / ML technology. For example, due to the randomness of wireless channels and the mobility of UEs, the propagation environment of wireless signals changes frequently. However, it is difficult for AI / ML models to maintain optimal performance in all scenarios, and performance may even degrade sharply in some scenarios. Therefore, lifecycle management (LCM) of AI / ML models is crucial for the sustainable operation of AI / ML over the NR air interface.

[0182] Lifecycle management encompasses the entire process of applying AI / ML technologies across one or more nodes. Specifically, lifecycle management includes at least one of the following sub-processes: data collection, model training, model identification, model registration, model deployment, model configuration, model inference, model selection, model activation, deactivation, model switching, model rollback, model monitoring, model update, model transmission / delivery, and UE capability reporting.

[0183] Model monitoring can be based on inference accuracy, including metrics related to key performance indicators (KPIs), or on system performance, including metrics related to system performance KPIs, such as accuracy and relevance, overhead, complexity (computational and memory costs), latency (timeliness of monitoring results, from model failure to recovery), and power consumption. Furthermore, data distribution may change after deployment due to environmental variations; therefore, models based on input or output data distribution should also be considered.

[0184] •Supervised learning:

[0185] The goal of supervised learning algorithms is to train a model that maps feature vectors (inputs) to labels (outputs) based on training data that includes exemplary feature-label pairs. Supervised learning analyzes the training data and produces an inference function that can be used to map inference data.

[0186] Supervised learning can be further divided into two types: classification and regression. Classification is used when the output of the AI / ML model is categorical data (i.e., with two or more categories). Regression is used when the output of the AI / ML model is real numbers or continuous values.

[0187] • Unsupervised learning:

[0188] Unlike supervised learning, where AI / ML models learn to map inputs to target outputs, unsupervised methods learn concise representations of input data without labeled data. These representations can be used for data exploration, analysis, or the generation of new data. A typical example of unsupervised learning is clustering, which explores the hidden structure of the input data and provides classification results.

[0189] • Reinforcement learning:

[0190] Reinforcement learning is used to solve sequential decision-making problems. It is the process of training an agent's actions based on inputs (states) and feedback signals (rewards) from the environment. In reinforcement learning, the agent interacts with the environment by performing actions to maximize cumulative rewards. Each time the agent performs an action, the current state of the environment may transition to a new state, which in turn brings a corresponding reward. The agent can then perform the next action based on the received reward and the new state in the environment. During the training phase, the agent interacts with the environment to accumulate experience. Because direct interaction with real systems is costly, the environment is typically simulated by a simulator. During the inference phase, the agent can use the optimal decision rules learned from the training phase to achieve the maximum cumulative reward.

[0191] • Federated learning:

[0192] Federated learning (FL) is a machine learning technique that uses centralized nodes (e.g., servers) and multiple distributed edge nodes (e.g., UEs, next-generation base stations (gNBs)) to train AI / ML models.

[0193] Based on wireless FL technology, the server can provide edge nodes with a set of model parameters (e.g., weights, biases, gradients) describing the global AI / ML model. Edge nodes can use these received global AI / ML model parameters to initialize a local AI / ML model. Then, the edge nodes can use local data samples to train the local AI / ML model, resulting in a trained local AI / ML model. Subsequently, the edge nodes can provide the server with a set of AI / ML model parameters describing the local AI / ML model.

[0194] Upon receiving multiple sets of AI / ML model parameters describing the corresponding local AI / ML models at multiple edge nodes, the server can aggregate the local AI / ML model parameters reported from multiple UEs and update the global AI / ML model accordingly. Subsequent iterations proceed very similarly to the first iteration. The server can then send the aggregated global model to multiple edge nodes. This process iterates multiple times until the global AI / ML model is finally determined, for example, when the AI / ML model converges or meets the training stopping condition.

[0195] It is worth noting that wireless FL technology does not involve the exchange of local data samples. In fact, local data samples are retained at the corresponding edge nodes.

[0196] AI technologies (including ML technologies) can be applied to communications, including AI-based communications at the physical layer and / or the MAC layer. At the physical layer, AI communication can be used to optimize component design and / or improve algorithm performance. For example, AI can be used to achieve: channel coding, channel modeling, channel estimation, channel decoding, modulation, demodulation, MIMO, waveform generation, multiple access, physical layer unit parameter optimization and updating, beamforming, tracking, sensing and / or localization, etc. At the MAC layer, AI communication can leverage AI capabilities to learn, predict, and / or make decisions to solve complex optimization problems using potentially better strategies and / or optimal solutions, such as optimizing functions within the MAC layer. For example, AI can be used to achieve: intelligent TRP management, intelligent beam management, intelligent channel resource allocation, intelligent power control, intelligent spectrum utilization, intelligent MCS, intelligent HARQ strategies, and / or intelligent transmit / receive mode adaptation, etc.

[0197] AI architectures can include multiple nodes, which may be organized in either a centralized or distributed mode, both of which can be deployed in access networks, core networks, edge computing systems, or third-party networks. Centralized training and computing architectures are limited by potentially high communication overhead and strict user data privacy. Distributed training and computing architectures can include several frameworks, such as distributed machine learning and federated learning. In some embodiments, the AI ​​architecture may include an intelligent controller that can act as a single agent or multiple agents based on joint or individual optimization. New protocols and signaling mechanisms are needed to personalize the corresponding interface links using customized parameters to meet specific requirements, while minimizing signaling overhead and maximizing the overall system's spectral efficiency through personalized AI technologies.

[0198] The new protocols and signaling mechanisms are provided to operate within and switch between different operating modes, including switching between AI and non-AI modes, and also to provide measurement and feedback to accommodate different possible measurements and information that may require feedback, depending on the implementation.

[0199] An air interface that uses AI as part of its implementation (e.g., optimizing one or more components of the air interface) is referred to herein as an "AI-enabled air interface". In some embodiments, AI operations in an AI-enabled air interface can be of two types: both the network and the UE learn; or only the network learns.

[0200] B. Sensing in communication systems

[0201] As mentioned above, communication system 100 or its communication devices often need or tend to understand their environment, which can be achieved through sensing.

[0202] Perception is a technology for acquiring information about one's surroundings, such as information about objects, including their position, speed, distance, orientation, shape, and / or texture. Generally, perception can be broadly categorized as follows:

[0203] • RF sensing: sending RF signals and acquiring information about the surrounding environment by receiving and processing those RF signals, or their echoes or other reflections.

[0204] • Non-RF sensing: Acquiring information about the surroundings by using non-RF signals (such as cameras or other sensors).

[0205] RF sensing can be further classified as:

[0206] • Active sensing (also known as “device-based sensing”): The sensing device sends an RF signal to the target device. The target device detects the RF signal, obtains sensing information from the RF signal or by measuring some intermediate information within it, and then feeds the sensing information back to the sensing device.

[0207] • Passive sensing (also known as “device-free sensing”): The sensing device sends an RF signal to an object, detects the echo of the RF signal (i.e., the reflected RF signal), and obtains the sensed information from the echo.

[0208] An example of passive sensing is a radar system, where sensing devices can transmit RF signals to locate, detect, and track target objects. Radar systems are typically implemented as standalone systems for specific applications.

[0209] In passive sensing, objects such as environmental IoT devices (which are smaller and less expensive than traditional IoT devices) may or may not include certain identifier (ID) information (such as RF tags).

[0210] Generally, from the perspective of the transmitter and receiver, there are three types of perception:

[0211] • Unibase sensing, in which the transmitter and receiver are the same device;

[0212] • Bistatic sensing, in which the transmitter and receiver are different devices; for example, TRP 102 can be used as a transmitter and transmit RF signals for sensing, while UE 114 can be used as a receiver and receive RF signals.

[0213] • Multi-base sensing can be decomposed into multiple bi-base Tx-Rx pairs; for example, TRP 102 can transmit RF signals for sensing, and two UEs 114 (such as UE1 and UE2) can receive RF signals, thereby forming a first Tx-Rx pair between TRP 102 and UE1, and a second Tx-Rx pair between TRP 102 and UE2.

[0214] C. Integrated Sensing and Communication

[0215] C-1. Radio Detection and Ranging (RADAR)

[0216] The term RADAR originates from the phrase "radio detection and ranging"; however, both uppercase and lowercase forms (i.e., Radar and radar) are equally valid and are currently more common. Radar is typically used to detect the presence and location of objects. A radar system radiates radio frequency energy and receives the echoes of energy reflected from one or more targets. The system identifies a specific target based on the echo returned from that target. The radiated energy can be in the form of energy pulses or continuous waves, which can be represented or defined by specific waveforms. Waveforms used in radar include frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) and ultra-wideband (UWB) waveforms, among others.

[0217] Radar systems can be monostatic, bistatic, or multistatic. In a monostatic radar system, the radar transmitter and receiver are located in the same location, for example, integrated into a single transceiver. In a bistatic radar system, the transmitter and receiver are spatially separated by a distance equal to or greater than the expected target distance (often referred to as the range). In a multistatic radar system, two or more radar components are spatially distributed but share a common coverage area. Multistatic radar is also known as multisite or networked radar.

[0218] Ground-based radar applications face challenges such as multipath propagation and shadow attenuation. Another challenge is identifiability, as ground targets share similar physical properties. Integrating sensing into communication systems is likely to encounter similar, or even more, challenges.

[0219] C-2. Introduction

[0220] In cellular communication networks, UE location information is frequently used to improve various network performance metrics. These metrics can include capacity, agility, and efficiency, among others. These improvements can be achieved when network units utilize the UE's location, behavior, and / or mobility patterns within a priori information describing the radio environment in which the UE 114 operates.

[0221] A sensing system can be used to help collect UE information, including the UE's position in a reference frame, such as a global coordinate system, a local coordinate system, or a reference frame relative to one or more reference points; the UE's speed and direction of movement in the reference frame; orientation information; and information about the wireless environment. Here, "position" can be either "location" or "position," and these terms are used interchangeably in this document. Well-known sensing systems include radio detection and ranging (RADAR) and light detection and ranging (LIDAR), among others. While sensing systems can be separated from communication systems, using an integrated system to collect information may be more advantageous because it reduces the hardware (and cost) in the system and the time, frequency, or spatial resources required to perform both functions. However, using communication system hardware to sense objects (such as sensing objects and their location, shape, orientation, and / or attitude) and environmental information is a highly challenging open problem. The difficulty of this problem is related to factors such as the limited resolution of the communication system, the dynamic nature of the environment, and the large number of objects whose electromagnetic properties and positions need to be estimated.

[0222] Therefore, sensor-communication integration (also known as communication-sensing integration) is one of the ideal features in existing and future communication systems.

[0223] C-3. Sensing Nodes and Sensing Management Functions

[0224] like Figure 3 As shown, any or all UE 114 and TRP 102 can be sensing nodes in system 100. A sensing node is a network entity that senses by sending and receiving sensing signals. Some sensing nodes are communication devices that simultaneously communicate and sense. However, some sensing nodes may not communicate but are dedicated solely to sensing. Sensing agent 232 is an example of a sensing node dedicated solely to sensing. Unlike UE 114 and TRP 102, sensing agent 232 does not send or receive communication signals. However, sensing agent 232 can transmit configuration information, sensing information, signaling information, or other information within communication system 100. Sensing agent 232 can communicate with core network 112 to transmit information with the rest of communication system 100. For example, sensing agent 232 can determine the location of UE 114 and send this information to TRP 102 via core network 112. Although Figure 3 Only one sensing agent 232 is shown in the diagram, but any number of sensing agents can be implemented in the communication system 100. In some embodiments, one or more sensing agents can be implemented in one or more RANs 104.

[0225] A sensing node can combine sensing-based technologies with reference signal-based technologies to enhance the determination of UE-related information. This type of sensing node can also be called a sensing management function (SMF). In some networks, the SMF can also be called a location management function (LMF). In some embodiments, the SMF can be implemented as a physically independent entity located in the core network 112 and connected to multiple TRPs 102. In other embodiments, the SMF can be implemented as a logical entity co-located within the TRPs 102 through logic executed by the processor 142.

[0226] like Figure 4 As shown, when implemented as a physically independent entity, the SMF 176 includes at least one processor 290, at least one transmitter 282, at least one receiver 284, one or more antennas 286, and at least one memory 288. Transceivers (not shown) may be used instead of transmitters 282 and receivers 284. A scheduler 283 may be coupled to the processor 290. The scheduler 283 may be included within the SMF 176 or may operate separately from the SMF 176. The processor 290 implements various processing operations of the SMF 176, such as signal encoding, data processing, power control, input / output processing, or any other functions. The processor 290 may also be used to implement some or all of the functions and / or embodiments detailed above. Each processor 290 includes any suitable processing or computing device for performing one or more operations. For example, each processor 290 may include a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, FPGA, or ASIC.

[0227] Object determination techniques based on reference signals can involve "active" pose estimation modes. In active pose estimation modes, the querier of pose information (i.e., UE 114) participates in the process of determining its own pose. The querier can send or receive (or send and receive) signals related to the pose determination process. GNSS-based (such as GPS) positioning techniques are other examples of active pose estimation modes.

[0228] In contrast, perception technologies based on radar and the like can be considered as involving a "passive" pose determination mode. In a passive pose determination mode, the target is completely unaware of the pose determination process.

[0229] By integrating sensing and communication into a single system, the system no longer needs to operate according to a single mode. Therefore, combining sensing-based technologies with reference signal-based technologies can produce enhanced object determination capabilities.

[0230] For example, enhanced object determination capabilities can include acquiring UE channel subspace information, which is particularly useful for reconstructing UE channels in sensing nodes, especially for beam-based operations and communications. The UE channel subspace is a subset of the entire algebraic space defined in the spatial domain, containing the entire channel from the TP to the UE. Therefore, the UE channel subspace can very accurately define the TP-to-UE channel. Signals transmitted in other subspaces contribute negligibly to the UE channel. Understanding the UE channel subspace helps reduce the workload required for UE-side channel measurements and network-side channel reconstruction. Therefore, combining sensing-based techniques with reference signal-based techniques can significantly reduce the overhead of UE channel reconstruction compared to traditional methods. Subspace information can also facilitate subspace-based sensing, thereby reducing sensing complexity and improving sensing accuracy.

[0231] C-4. Sensing Channel

[0232] In some embodiments of integrated sensing and communication, sensing and communication use the same radioaccess technology (RAT). This avoids multiplexing two different RATs under a single carrier spectrum, or avoids providing two different carrier spectrums for two different RATs.

[0233] In embodiments that integrate sensing and communication into a single RAT, a first set of channels can be used to transmit sensing signals, while a second set of channels can be used to transmit communication signals. In some embodiments, each channel in the first set of channels and each channel in the second set of channels is a logical channel, a transport channel, or a physical channel.

[0234] At the physical layer, communication and sensing can be performed through different physical channels. For example, a first physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH-C) can be designated for data communication, while a second physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH-S) can be designated for sensing, such as for sensing data sharing and / or sensing reference signals in cooperative sensing. Similarly, different physical uplink shared channels (PUSCH), PUSCH-C, and PUSCH-S can be designated for UL communication and sensing. For example, sensing result reporting and sensing data sharing can use PUSCH-S.

[0235] For example, communication and sensing can use the same PDSCH and PUSCH, where different logical layer channels and / or transport layer channels are defined for communication and sensing. It should also be noted that one or more control channels and one or more data channels used for sensing can have the same or different channel structures (formats), occupying the same or different frequency bands or portions of the bandwidth.

[0236] For example, the common physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and the common physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) are used to carry control information for both sensing and communication. Alternatively, different physical layer control channels can be used to carry different control information for communication and sensing. For instance, PUCCH-S and PUCCH-C can be used for UL control in sensing and communication, respectively, and PDCCH-S and PDCCH-C can be used for DL ​​control in sensing and communication, respectively.

[0237] Sensing and communication can be performed using different combinations of shared channels and dedicated channels at the physical layer, transport layer, and logic layer.

[0238] C-5. Half-duplex and full-duplex

[0239] Communication nodes can be half-duplex or full-duplex. Half-duplex nodes cannot use the same physical resources (time and / or frequency, etc.) to simultaneously transmit and receive; conversely, full-duplex nodes can use the same physical resources for both transmission and reception. Existing commercial wireless communication networks are all half-duplex networks. Even if full-duplex communication networks become a reality in the future, it is expected that at least some nodes in the network will still be half-duplex nodes because half-duplex devices are less complex, less expensive, and consume less power. Specifically, achieving full-duplex at high frequencies (e.g., millimeter-wave bands) is more challenging, and also very challenging for small, low-cost devices (such as femtocell base stations and UEs).

[0240] Half-duplex nodes present limitations in communication networks, posing further challenges to integrating sensing and communication into network devices and systems. For example, both half-duplex and full-duplex nodes can perform bistatic or multistatic sensing, but monostatic sensing typically requires full-duplex capability. Half-duplex nodes can perform monostatic sensing under certain constraints, such as in pulse radars with specific duty cycles and ranging capabilities.

[0241] C-6. Sensing signal waveforms and frame structure

[0242] The properties of a sensing signal, or a signal used for both sensing and communication, include the signal's waveform and frame structure. The frame structure defines the signal's time-domain boundaries. The waveform describes the shape of the signal as a function of time and frequency. Waveforms that can be used for sensing signals include UWB pulses, FMCW or "chirp," OFDM, CP-OFDM, Discrete Fourier transform spread (DFT-s)-OFDM, and so on.

[0243] C-7. Sensor-Communication Integration (ISAC) System and Sensor-Communication (SAC) Signals

[0244] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 is a sensor-communication integrated (ISAC) system used for simultaneous sensing and communication using RF signals transmitted between various devices, such as between TRP 102 and UE 114, between different TRPs 102, and between different UEs 114. Therefore, the communication system 100 is a networked cooperative sensing system, rather than a standalone radar system. Cooperative sensing can be achieved through integrated communication protocols.

[0245] Those skilled in the art will understand that a first communication node (such as TRP 102) can send RF signals to one or more second communication nodes (such as UE 114) and use the RF signals for different purposes, such as for signaling interaction or data transmission. In these embodiments, the RF signal or a portion thereof can also be used for sensing. In the following description, the RF signal used for both sensing and communication may be referred to as a "Sensing Communication (SAC) signal," and the communication node using the SAC signal (such as TRP 102, UE 114, sensing device, or relay, etc.) is also referred to as a "SAC node." Here, the SAC signal is or includes a physical signal or channel used for communication (referred to as a "signal / channel," such as a reference signal). Alternatively, the SAC signal is or includes a physical signal / channel used for sensing (wherein the signal / channel uses OFDM waveforms or other waveforms (such as chirps)). Alternatively, the SAC signal is or includes a signal / channel used for both communication and sensing.

[0246] Depending on the specific role, if a SAC node sends a SAC signal, it can be a transmitting node (also known as a "Tx node"), or if a SAC node receives a SAC signal and / or its echo (i.e., a reflected SAC signal), it can be a receiving node (also known as a "Rx node"). Furthermore, a communication node can act as a Tx node (when it is sending a SAC signal) or an Rx node (when it is receiving a SAC signal and / or its echo), or both (when it is sending a SAC signal and simultaneously receiving other SAC signals and / or their echoes).

[0247] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 may use a cooperative sensing method to detect objects (also referred to as “targets”). Figure 5AThis is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a collaborative sensing method. As shown, Tx node 302 sends a SAC signal 312. Rx node 304 receives the SAC signal 312 and its echo 314 reflected from the target object 306 (or simply "object"). Rx node 304 can detect and measure the received SAC signal 312 and / or echo 314, and report its measurement parameters to Tx node 302. Alternatively, Rx node 304 can detect and measure the received SAC signal 312 and / or echo 314, and can also measure parameters of object 306 (such as azimuth, size, and / or velocity) based on the received SAC signal 312 and / or its echo 314, and then report the detected object 306 and its parameters to Tx node 302. As long as Rx node 304 can detect and measure the parameters of object 306, object 306 can be located near Rx node 304 or at a certain distance from Rx node 304. In the following text, the term "measurement result" is generally used to refer to the measurement parameters of the received SAC signal 312, one or more measurement parameters of the echo 314, and / or one or more measurement parameters of the object 306.

[0248] Figure 5B This is a schematic diagram of another example of Tx node 302 cooperating with two Rx nodes 304 to sense object 306. More specifically, Rx node 304 receives the echo 314 of SAC signal 312 and reports the measurement results to Tx node 302, so that Tx node 302 can determine the position of object 306 by means of triangulation or other methods.

[0249] Similarly, Rx node 304 can collaborate with two Tx nodes 302 for object perception.

[0250] In various embodiments, the measurement results may include one or more channel-related measurements (i.e., measurements of the received SAC signal 312 and / or echo 314) and / or one or more object-related measurements (i.e., measurements of object 306). Some examples of channel-related measurements are listed below:

[0251] • Delay of the first path between Tx node 302 and Rx node 304;

[0252] • The delay of the most powerful path among all paths between Tx node 302 and Rx node 304; and / or

[0253] • The power of the received reflected signal (e.g., the reference signal received power (RSRP) of the reflected signal).

[0254] Below are some examples of object-related measurements:

[0255] • The distance between Rx node 304 and object 306;

[0256] • The azimuth or angle of object 306;

[0257] • The elevation angle of the object at 306;

[0258] • The range of values ​​for the distance to object 306 (i.e., the upper and / or lower bounds).

[0259] • The range of values ​​for the azimuth angle of object 306 (i.e., the upper and / or lower bounds).

[0260] • The range of values ​​for the elevation angle of object 306 (i.e., the upper and / or lower bounds).

[0261] • The linear span (such as length or width) of object 306.

[0262] • The azimuth or angular span (e.g., angular size) of object 306;

[0263] • The elevation span (e.g., height) of object 306;

[0264] • The radial velocity of object 306;

[0265] • The azimuth or angular velocity of object 306;

[0266] • The elevation velocity of the object at 306; and / or

[0267] • The number of objects 306 (e.g., no objects detected (i.e., zero (0) objects), one (1) detected object, or two (2) detected objects, etc.).

[0268] The first path typically represents the shortest path between Tx node 302 and Rx node 304, or the path with the shortest time required for data transmission or SAC signal propagation. The azimuth or angle of object 306 typically represents the absolute value of the orientation of object 306 relative to Rx node 304, the orientation of Rx node 304 relative to object 306, or the orientation relative to the Earth or other stationary objects. The elevation angle of object 306 typically represents the altitude of object 306 relative to Rx node 304, or the absolute value of altitude (e.g., elevation). Other parameters can be relative to Rx node 304 or other objects, or they can be absolute values.

[0269] In some embodiments, the SAC signal 312 may include one or more communication symbols for communication and one or more sensing symbols for sensing. In various embodiments, the communication symbols and sensing symbols may be OFDM symbols (in the OFDM-based SAC signal 312) or non-OFDM symbols (in the OFDM-free SAC signal 312). Here, the symbols are generally signal components or transmission opportunities that form part of the SAC signal 312. For example, in the OFDM-free SAC signal 312 (i.e., the non-OFDM-based SAC signal), the symbols may be signal components carrying information (i.e., communication symbols) or signal components for sensing (i.e., sensing symbols, such as chirps).

[0270] When transmitting and receiving SAC signal 312, the sensing symbols and communication symbols are aligned in time and / or frequency, allowing the sensing symbols to be transmitted and received like communication symbols. Therefore, Tx node 302 and Rx node 304 can use existing transmission and reception technologies to transmit and receive sensing symbols, and / or follow the transmission and reception specifications of existing wireless communication standards. Its advantage lies in achieving efficient resource utilization in both sensing and communication. For example, resources not used for communication can be used for sensing without creating resource fragmentation.

[0271] Here, the concept of "signal alignment in time" means that when multiple symbols (which can be sensing symbols and / or communication symbols) are transmitted in the SAC signal 312, the duration of each symbol is T. s ≤T, each symbol at t s +nT and t s Transmission between +(n+1)T, where T is a predefined or configured duration, and t s The time offset is n, where n≥0 is an integer.

[0272] Similarly, the concept of "signal alignment on frequency" refers to the frequency bandwidth BW of each symbol when transmitting multiple symbols (which can be sensing symbols and / or communication symbols). s ≤BW, each symbol in f s +mBW to f s Transmission within the frequency band of +(m+1)BW, where BW is a predefined or configured bandwidth (which can be one or more physical resource blocks (PRBs)), f sThe frequency offset is m, where m ≥ 0 is an integer. In some embodiments, bandwidth configuration can be based on BWPs. For example, in some embodiments, TRP 102 can allocate one BWP for communication and other BWPs for sensing. In some embodiments, communication and sensing can use the same BWP. Alternatively, the BWP for communication can be within the BWP for sensing, or the BWP for sensing can be within the BWP for communication. In various embodiments, to switch between communication and sensing, UE 114 can switch to the corresponding BWP, where the BWP switching delay is zero.

[0273] Accordingly, the concept of "signal alignment in time and frequency" means that when multiple symbols (which can be sensing symbols and / or communication symbols) are transmitted in the SAC signal 312,

[0274] • The duration of each symbol is T s ≤T, each symbol at t s +nT and t s Transmission between +(n+1)T;

[0275] • Frequency bandwidth per symbol (BW) s ≤BW, each symbol in f s +mBW to f s Transmission within the frequency band of +(m+1)BW.

[0276] For example, in some embodiments, the sensing symbol may have the same duration T as the communication symbol. s =T (which may include unused time periods) and the same bandwidth BW s =BW (can include unused frequency ranges).

[0277] In SAC signal 312, sensing symbols and communication symbols can be multiplexed using any suitable multiplexing method.

[0278] For example, Figure 6A This is an example frequency-time diagram of SAC signal 312, in which multiple communication symbols 320 and multiple sensing symbols 322 are time-multiplexed using a suitable time division multiplexing (TDM) method.

[0279] For example, Figure 6B SAC signal 312 is shown, wherein multiple communication symbols 320 and multiple sensing symbols 322 are multiplexed in frequency using a suitable frequency division multiplexing (FDM) method, such that multiple communication symbols 320 are transmitted in a first frequency band 324 and multiple sensing symbols 322 are transmitted in a second frequency band 326.

[0280] For example, Figure 6CSAC signal 312 is shown, wherein multiple communication symbols 320 and multiple sensing symbols 322 are multiplexed in frequency and time using a suitable TDM / FDM method, such that a mixed signal of time-multiplexed communication symbols 320 and sensing symbols 322 is transmitted in a first frequency band 324 and a second frequency band 326, respectively.

[0281] For example, the SAC signal 312 may include multiple communication symbols 320 and multiple sensing symbols 322 multiplexed in frequency, time, space and / or coding using appropriate methods such as TDM, FDM, special division multiplexing (SDM) or code division multiplexing (CDM).

[0282] In various embodiments, the parameters of the sensing symbol 322 of the SAC signal 312 may be predefined (e.g., according to one or more communication standards) and / or configured by the Tx node 302 (e.g., TRP 102) to ensure that the sensing symbol 322 is aligned with the communication symbol 320. In other words, in various embodiments, the parameters of the sensing symbol 322 may not be determined by the Tx node 302, or may be determined wholly or partially by the Tx node 302; correspondingly, the parameters of the sensing symbol 322 may not be predefined, or may be partially or entirely predefined.

[0283] When configuring sensing symbols 322, Tx node 302 can individually determine a set of parameters for each of the one or more sensing symbols 322, such that each of the one or more sensing symbols 322 can use a different set of parameters. Tx node 302 can also, alternatively, determine a set of parameters for one or more other sensing symbols 322, such that the one or more other sensing symbols 322 can use the same set of parameters. Similarly, each of the one or more sensing symbols 322 can use a specific set of predefined parameters, and / or one or more other sensing symbols 322 can use the same set of predefined parameters.

[0284] Tx node 302 or TRP 102 may notify Rx node 304 of the parameters of its configured sensing symbol 322 (if any). Tx node 302 may not need to notify Rx node 304 of the predefined parameters of sensing symbol 322, as such parameters may already be known to Rx node 304 (e.g., according to the specifications of one or more communication standards).

[0285] The following are examples of parameters for the perception symbol 322 that can be predefined and / or configured by the Tx node 302:

[0286] • The frequency band of sensing symbol 322; and / or

[0287] • An index for each perceptual symbol 322 or an index for each perceptual burst having multiple perceptual symbols 322.

[0288] In some embodiments, the sensing symbol 322 may include a symbol for time T. s and bandwidth BW s One or more sensing signals, such as one or more chirped signals, are transmitted internally. Those skilled in the art will understand that a chirped signal is a signal whose frequency increases (up-chirp) or decreases (down-chirp) over time. One type of chirped signal is a linear chirped signal, whose frequency changes linearly with time. For example... Figure 7 As shown, the linear chirped signal 330 can be represented in the frequency domain as:

[0289]

[0290] Where t0≤t≤t1, t0 is the start time point (i.e., the start time position) of the linear chirped signal 330, t1 is the end time point (i.e., the end time position) of the linear chirped signal 330, and T c =t1–t0 is the duration of the linear chirped signal 330, T c ≤T s f0 is the starting frequency at time t=t0, f1 is the ending frequency at time t=t1, and u0 is a constant called the chirp rate (also known as the slope of the chirped signal). The bandwidth BW of a linear chirped signal 330 c For BW c =f1–f0=u0T c BW c ≤BW s In other words, the chirping duration T c =BW c / u0.

[0291] The time-domain expression of the linear chirped signal 316 is as follows:

[0292]

[0293] Where t0≤t≤t1.

[0294] like Figure 8A As shown, in some embodiments, the sensing symbol 322 may include a chirp signal 330. In this example, the duration T of the chirp signal 330 is... c Less than or equal to the duration of the perceived symbol T s That is, T c ≤T s (When T) c <T s At that time, the duration T of partial perception of symbols s(Not used). The slope u0 is u0=BW c / T c Tx node 302 or TRP 102 can be configured with the bandwidth (BW) of the chirp signal 330. c And notify the Rx node 304 of this configuration. Alternatively, the Tx node 302 can do so in BW. c ≤BW s (When BW) c <BW s At that time, the partial sensing symbol bandwidth BW s Configure the slope u0 of the chirp signal 330 under the condition that it is not used, and notify the Rx node 304 of the configuration.

[0295] In some embodiments, the sensing symbol 322 may include a plurality of chirped signals 330, wherein the plurality of chirped signals 330 are multiplexed in frequency using FDM and / or in time using TDM.

[0296] In some embodiments, the sensing symbol 322 may include a plurality of chirped signals 330 aligned in time and / or frequency, wherein the plurality of chirped signals 330 are multiplexed in frequency using FDM and / or in time using TDM. Here, the concept of the plurality of chirped signals 330 of the sensing symbol 322 being aligned in time and / or frequency is similar to the concept described above, but the plurality of chirped signals 330 are within the duration and frequency band of the sensing symbol 322.

[0297] For example, Figure 8B A sensing symbol 322 is shown with two chirped signals 330 multiplexed in frequency. The Tx node 302 can configure the bandwidth BW of each chirped signal 330. c The start frequency f0, end frequency f1, and / or slope u0 are specified, and this configuration is notified to the Rx node 304 as needed. In this example, the duration of each chirp signal 330 is T. c ≤T s The sum of the bandwidths of the two chirped signals 330 must satisfy the following condition:

[0298]

[0299] For example, Figure 8C A perceptual symbol 322 is shown having M chirped signals 330 multiplexed in time, where M>1 is an integer (e.g., in...). Figure 8C In the middle, M=2). Tx node 302 can be configured with the bandwidth BW of each chirped signal 330. c The start frequency f0, end frequency f1, slope u0, start time point t0, and / or end time point t1 are specified, and this configuration is notified to Rx node 304 as needed. In this example, the bandwidth of each chirp signal 330 is BW.c ≤BW s The sum of the durations of the two chirped signals 330 must satisfy the following condition:

[0300]

[0301] For example, Figure 8D A sensing symbol 322 is shown with four chirped signals 330 multiplexed in frequency and time. The Tx node 302 can configure the bandwidth BW of each chirped signal 330. c The start frequency f0, end frequency f1, slope u0, start time point t0, and / or end time point t1 are specified, and this configuration is notified to Rx node 304 as needed. In this example, the bandwidth of each chirp signal 330 is BW. c ≤BW s The total duration of chirp signal 330 (some chirp signals 330 may overlap in time) must be less than or equal to T. s The total bandwidth of the chirped signal 330 (some chirped signals 330 may overlap in frequency) needs to be less than or equal to BW. s .

[0302] In various embodiments, Tx node 302 or TRP 102 may be configured with the number of chirp signals 330 in sensing symbol 322 and / or use a predefined number of chirp signals 330 in sensing symbol 322 for sensing.

[0303] In various embodiments, Tx node 302 or TRP 102 may configure parameters of chirp signal 330 and / or use its predefined parameters to ensure that sensing symbol 322 is aligned with communication symbol 320.

[0304] When configuring chirp signals 330, Tx node 302 can individually determine a set of parameters for each of the one or more chirp signals 330, such that the one or more chirp signals 330 can use different parameters, or it can additionally or alternatively determine a set of parameters for one or more other chirp signals 330, such that the one or more chirp signals 330 can use the same set of parameters. Similarly, each of the one or more chirp signals 330 can use a specific set of predefined parameters, and / or one or more other sensing symbols 322 can use the same set of predefined parameters.

[0305] Tx node 302 may notify Rx node 304 of the number of chirps 330 it has configured and / or the parameters of the chirps 330 (if any). Tx node 302 may not need to notify Rx node 304 of the predefined parameters of the chirps 330, as such parameters may already be known to Rx node 304 (e.g., according to the specifications of one or more communication standards).

[0306] The following are examples of parameters for the chirp signal 330 that can be predefined and / or configured by the Tx node 302:

[0307] • The bandwidth (BW) of the chirped signal is 330. c ;

[0308] • The starting frequency f of the chirp signal 330 start ;

[0309] • The end frequency f of the chirp signal 330 end ; and / or

[0310] • The slope of the chirped signal 330 (i.e., the chirped rate u0).

[0311] For example, in some embodiments, the entire carrier bandwidth can be predefined or configured for sensing using one or more chirped signals, etc. In these embodiments, Tx node 302 may not need to configure the start frequency f of the chirped signal 330. start For example, in some embodiments, the starting frequency f of the chirp signal 330 is... start This is predefined as the lowest frequency of the carrier. In these embodiments, Tx node 302 may not need to configure the start frequency f of the chirp signal 330. start .

[0312] For example, in Figure 8C In the example shown, the sensing symbol 322 includes two chirped signals 330 that are time-multiplexed. The bandwidth BW of each chirped signal 330 can be configured individually for the Tx node 302. c Initial frequency f start Or the ending frequency f end The slope u0 and / or the start or end time position (i.e., the start or end time point). Alternatively, Tx node 302 can be configured with the same set of slope u0 and / or start frequency f for both chirped signals. start / End frequency f end And configure the start or end time position of each chirp signal 330 individually. For example, when there are multiple chirp signals multiplexed in frequency (see...). Figure 8B (etc.), TRP 102 can configure the start frequency f0A of the first chirp signal 330A, while the start frequency f1A of the second chirp signal 330B is predefined as the end frequency f0B of the first chirp signal 330A.

[0313] Using the parameters described above, sensing symbol 322 and communication symbol 320 are aligned in time. More specifically, when sensing symbol 322 and communication symbol 320 are multiplexed (and aligned) in frequency, the start time boundary of sensing symbol 322 is aligned (i.e. the same) with the start time boundary of communication symbol 320, and / or the end time boundary of sensing symbol 322 is aligned (i.e. the same) with the end time boundary of communication symbol 320.

[0314] When sensing symbol 322 and communication symbol 320 are time-multiplexed, the start time boundary of sensing symbol 322 is aligned with (i.e. the same as) the end time boundary of the previous communication symbol 320, and / or the end time boundary of sensing symbol 322 is aligned with (i.e. the same as) the start time boundary of the next communication symbol 320.

[0315] In some embodiments that comply with 5G NR or similar standards, communication symbol 320 is an OFDM symbol. Figure 9 This is an example frequency-time diagram of SAC signal 312 using OFDM symbols as communication symbols 320.

[0316] Each OFDM symbol 320 includes an information portion 342, which comprises multiple information items 344 (such as data items) arranged on multiple subcarriers. The information items 344 are transformed into a time-domain signal using inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) and similar methods. The tail portion of the time-domain signal is then copied to the front as a cyclic prefix (CP) 346 to compensate for channel distortion. Therefore, the duration T of the OFDM symbol 320 is... s It is the total duration of CP 346 and information section 342, while the start time boundary of OFDM symbol 320 is the start time boundary of its CP 346.

[0317] Sensing symbol 322 and communication symbol 320 are time-multiplexed and have the same duration. Therefore, the start time boundary of sensing symbol 322 is time-aligned with the end time boundary of the previous communication symbol 320, and / or the end time boundary of sensing symbol 322 is time-aligned with the start time boundary of the next communication symbol 320.

[0318] like Figure 10 As shown, Rx node 304 can be categorized into various collaboration sets, such as:

[0319] • The sensing transceiver set 352 includes one or more Rx nodes (such as Rx node 304A) configured for sensing cooperation, and the sensing transceiver determination process has been completed (described in detail later); therefore, Rx node 304A in the sensing transceiver set 352 is receiving or preparing to receive SAC signal 312 from Tx node 302 for cooperative sensing.

[0320] • The sensing activation set 354 includes one or more Rx nodes (such as Rx nodes 304A and 304B) configured for sensing collaboration and has established communication with Tx node 302 (e.g., the initial access process has been completed); some Rx nodes in the sensing activation set 354 (such as Rx node 304A) may have completed the initial access process and the sensing transmit / receive determination process, while other Rx nodes in the sensing activation set 354 (such as Rx node 304B) may have completed the initial access process but have not yet completed or started the sensing transmit / receive determination process;

[0321] • Aware collaboration set 356 includes one or more Rx nodes (such as Rx nodes 304A to 304C) configured for awareness collaboration; some nodes (such as nodes 304A and 304B) may have completed the initial access process, but others (such as node 304C) may not have.

[0322] Therefore, the sensing transceiver set 352 can be a subset of the sensing activation set 354, and the sensing activation set 354 (including the sensing transceiver set 352) can be a subset of the sensing cooperation set 356. In other words, the Rx nodes in the sensing cooperation set 356 are candidate nodes for sensing reception. When an Rx node in the sensing cooperation set 356 completes the initial access process and establishes communication with a Tx node, that Rx node becomes a node in the sensing activation set 354. When an Rx node in the sensing activation set 354 completes the sensing initialization process, that Rx node becomes a node in the sensing transceiver set 352.

[0323] like Figure 10 As shown, the communication system 100 may also include some Rx nodes 304D (referred to as "non-cooperative Rx nodes") that are not configured for sensing cooperation.

[0324] For ease of explanation, Figure 10 Only a single Tx node 302 is shown. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the communication system 100 may include multiple Tx nodes 302.

[0325] In some embodiments, Tx node 302 may be configured with a sensing cooperation set 356 and a sensing activation set 354 (i.e., determining which Rx node 304 should be included in the sensing cooperation set 356 and which Rx node 304 should be included in the sensing activation set 354). In other embodiments, Tx node 302 (such as TRP 102) may be configured with only the sensing activation set 354. In these embodiments, other suitable methods may be used to configure the sensing cooperation set 356. For example, Rx nodes may be predefined as cooperative Rx nodes (subsequently included in the sensing cooperation set 356) or non-cooperative Rx nodes (subsequently not included in the sensing cooperation set 356) based on their capacity, type, and / or manufacturer, etc.

[0326] The following description focuses primarily on Rx nodes 304A in the sensing transceiver set 352. For ease of description, the suffix "A" in the reference numerals for such Rx nodes is omitted, and instead, reference numeral 304 is used to identify such Rx nodes.

[0327] Based on the Rx node classification described above, Tx node 302 can collaborate with one or more Rx nodes 304 in the sensing transceiver set 352. Similarly, Rx node 304 can collaborate with one or more Tx nodes 302 for object perception.

[0328] In communication system 100, UE 114 typically needs to determine the timing of SAC signal 312 (e.g., downlink (DL) timing and uplink (UL) timing) in order to successfully communicate with TRP 102 (i.e. synchronize with RAN 104).

[0329] However, if the UE 114 used as Tx node 302 is not synchronized, the UL timing (also known as "Tx timing") between different UE 114 may differ. For example, as Figure 11A and Figure 11B As shown, UE 114-1 acts as Tx node 302 and, based on the resources allocated to it by TRP 102 (notified to UE 114-1 via DL channel 382), at time point T... A Send UL SAC signal 312 to transmit data to TRP 102 and perform sensing.

[0330] UE 114-2 acts as Rx node 304 and receives SAC signal 312 and / or its echo 314. Rx node 304 needs information about the transmission time of SAC signal 312, for example, to calculate the distance to an object (not shown). However, if UEs 114-1 and 114-2 are out of sync, Rx node 304 does not know the transmission time of SAC signal 312 and can assume that the SAC signal is transmitted at different time points T. BThe transmission of the signal causes an error in calculating the propagation delay of the sensing symbol in the SAC signal 312, which in turn leads to errors in calculating object distances and other aspects.

[0331] Similarly, if UE 114-2, used as Rx node 304, is out of sync, the DL timing (also known as "Rx timing") between different UEs 114 may differ. For example, as Figure 12A and Figure 12B As shown, TRP 102 acts as Tx node 302 and transmits DLSAC signal 312. The first UE 114-1 acts as the first Rx node 304-1 and transmits DLSAC signal 312 at time point T. C Receive SAC signal 312 or its echo 314-1. The second UE 114-2 acts as the second Rx node 304-2, and at time point T... E Receive SAC signal 312 or its echo 314-2.

[0332] The first Rx node 304-1 can send the information of the SAC signal 312 or its echo 314-1 that it receives to the second Rx node 304-2 via signal 384.

[0333] The second Rx node 304-2 needs information about when the first Rx node received the SAC signal 312 or its echo 314-1, for example, to calculate the distance to an object (not shown). However, if Rx nodes 304-1 and 304-2 are out of sync, the second Rx node 304-2 will not know when the first Rx node received the SAC signal 312 or its echo 314-1, and it can be assumed that the first Rx node 304-1 received the signal at a different time point T. D The receipt of SAC signal 312 or its echo 314-1 causes an error in calculating the propagation delay of the perceived symbol of SAC signal 312, which in turn leads to errors in calculating object distance, etc.

[0334] Figure 13 Another example is shown, in which UEs 114-1 and 114-2 act as Tx nodes 302-1 and 302-2 respectively and transmit SAC signals 306-1 and 306-2, while TRP 102 acts as Rx node 304, receiving the transmitted SAC signals 306-1 and 306-2 and / or their echoes. Because the propagation delays of different UEs 114-1 and 114-2 are different, the timing may differ; for example, the Tx symbol boundaries between the two UEs 114-1 and 114-2 may be misaligned.

[0335] Therefore, asynchronous Tx timing and / or Rx timing may lead to errors in calculating the propagation delay of sensing symbols, which in turn may lead to errors in calculating target distance, etc.

[0336] In some embodiments, Tx node 302 may embed or otherwise include the clock time (also referred to as a “timing reference point,” which may be configured or otherwise set by Tx node 302 or TRP 102) of each of one or more sensing symbols in the SAC signal 312, such as the clock time of the start boundary of the sensing symbol (i.e., the start time of transmitting the sensing symbol) or the clock time of the end boundary of the sensing symbol (i.e., the end time of transmitting the sensing symbol). Rx node 304 can then use the clock time embedded in the received SAC signal 312 and / or its echo 314, and the clock time at which the Rx node receives the SAC signal 312 and / or its echo 314, to calculate the propagation delay of the SAC signal 312 and / or its echo 314.

[0337] Clock time can be timing information used to determine the time position (i.e., time point) of a sensing symbol, timing information used to determine the time position of a frame, subframe, and / or time slot of a carrier or cell associated with a sensing symbol, or timing information used for timing markers associated with a sensing symbol. In various embodiments, clock time can be global time (also known as "absolute time"), such as GPS time (e.g., the origin of the time field is January 6, 1980, 00:00:00 (i.e., the starting point of GPS time)); time offset relative to other reference times (wherein the time offset may have a granularity of several nanoseconds, microseconds, or milliseconds); local time, such as the local time of the time zone where the communication system 100 is located (i.e., location-dependent local time); system clock time obtained from the system clock; and / or machine clock time obtained from the clock of Tx node 302 (however, when multiple Tx nodes 302 participate in sensing cooperation, machine clock time may not be preferred), etc.

[0338] In some embodiments, Tx node 302 may be configured with a common frame timing (i.e., Tx timing) (predefined or configured by TRP 102) to transmit its SAC signal 312. For example, as Figure 14 As shown, a device (such as TRP 102, not shown) can use group common signaling (i.e., signaling shared by devices (such as TRP 102, and Tx nodes 302-1 and 302-2) in the same group (such as sensing transceiver set 352, sensing activation set 354, or sensing cooperation set 356)) to set a common frame timing T for multiple Tx nodes 302-1 and 302-2 (such as multiple UEs 114-1 and 114-2). F To synchronously transmit SAC signals 312-1 and 312-2 of multiple Tx nodes 302-1 and 302-2, and frames 402-1 and 402-2 of 312-1 and 312-2 (i.e., at time point T). F(Frames 402-1 and 402-2 are transmitted). In some embodiments, this group common timing signal may include clock time for determining the time position of the boundaries of frames, subframes, and / or time slots, etc., of a sensing symbol or a carrier or cell associated with the sensing symbol, or timing information for timing marks associated with the sensing symbol. In these embodiments, the sensing symbol may not include the aforementioned timing information.

[0339] In some embodiments, the device (such as TRP 102) may indicate one or more timing offsets relative to the end boundary of communication symbols 320 (such as OFDM symbols) of one or more Tx nodes 302 to transmit sensing symbols 322 of one or more Tx nodes 302. For example, as Figure 15A As shown, Tx node 302-1 sends communication symbol 320-1A after Tx node 302-2 sends communication symbol 320-2A. Devices (such as TRP 102, not shown) can be configured to notify Tx node 302-2 of the timing offset T. Offset To send the sensing symbol 322-2 from node Tx 302-2 with a delay of T Offset This allows the sensing symbol 322-1 sent by Tx node 302-1 to be synchronized with the sensing symbol 322-2 sent by Tx node 302-2. The subsequent symbols 320-1B and 320-2B sent by Tx nodes 302-1 and 302-2 respectively can also be synchronized.

[0340] For example, such as Figure 15B As shown, a device (such as TRP 102, not shown) can be configured to notify the first timing offset T of the Tx node 302-1. Offset1 To send the sensing symbol 322-1 from node Tx 302-1 with a delay T Offset1 And set and notify the timing offset T to node Tx 302-2 Offset2 To send the sensing symbol 322-2 from node Tx 302-2 with a delay of T Offset2 This enables Tx node 302-1 to synchronize the transmission of sensing symbol 322-1 with Tx node 302-2 to synchronize the transmission of sensing symbol 322-2.

[0341] In these embodiments, the boundaries of the communication symbols 320 of different UEs 114 may not be aligned. Therefore, the timing offset indication may be UE-specific signaling.

[0342] In some embodiments, Tx node 302 (such as UE 114) can select and use frame timing based on symbol type (i.e., whether the symbol is a communication symbol or a sensing symbol). For example, as Figure 16As shown, when Tx nodes 302-1 and 302-2 send communication signals 404-1 and 404-2 (i.e. without any sensing symbols), Tx nodes 302-1 and 302-2 can use conventional methods (e.g., according to timing advance (TA) adjustment) to send their respective communication signals without synchronization.

[0343] When Tx nodes 302-1 and 302-2 send sensing signals 312-1 and 312-2, Tx nodes 302-1 and 302-2 can use the aforementioned timing synchronization method to send SAC signal 312 (see above). Figures 14 to 15B ).

[0344] By employing the aforementioned timing synchronization method to send the SAC signal 312, a timing reference point for sensing transmission is set to ensure accurate sensing measurements.

[0345] In some embodiments, Tx node 302 can collaborate with multiple Rx nodes 304 for collaborative awareness. For example, as Figure 17 and Figure 18 As shown, Tx node 302 (e.g., TRP 102) sends SAC signal 312 to two Rx nodes 304-1 and 304-2 (e.g., two UEs UE-1 and UE-2). Rx node 304-1 receives the echo 314-1 of SAC signal 312, and Rx node 304-2 receives the echo 314-2 of SAC signal 312. Then, Rx node 304-2 uses signal 384 to send information about echo 314-2 to Rx node 304-1 to assist Rx node 304-1 in combining echoes 314-1 and 314-2, thereby obtaining a perception result with improved accuracy. In some embodiments, signal 384 used to send information about echo 314-2 from Rx node 304-2 to Rx node 304-1 may include the delay and received power distribution of echo 314-2, wherein the reference point at delay τ=0 is the DL time slot boundary at Rx node 304-1.

[0346] Rx nodes 304-1 and 304-2 may not have achieved DL synchronization. In other words, the DL time slots or symbol boundaries of the SAC signals received by Rx nodes 304-1 and 304-2 are misaligned. When Rx node 304-2 reports echo 314-2 to Rx node 304-1, due to the asynchrony between Rx nodes 304-1 and 304-2, Rx node 304-1 is unaware of the DL frame timing at Rx node 304-2 (e.g., Rx node 304-1 is unaware of the reference point at Rx node 304-2 with delay τ=0). Those skilled in the art will understand that Rx node 304 can receive SAC signals from one or more signal paths, where delay τ is the time difference between the time point of receiving the SAC signal from the first signal path and the time points of receiving the SAC signal from other signal paths. If the received SAC signal has only one signal path, then delay τ=0. Alternatively, delay τ can also be defined as the time difference between the timing reference point and the time point of receiving the SAC signal.

[0347] In some embodiments, the device (such as TRP 102) can configure a uniform timing reference point for Rx node 304 with a delay τ=0. In the UE measurement report of Rx node 304, one or more signal paths 412 and their corresponding delays are reported (see...). Figure 19 The timing reference point configured is the time at a delay τ=0.

[0348] For example, in these embodiments, the device may configure or otherwise set the same frame timing (e.g., via group common signaling) for one or more Tx nodes 302 as described above to send SAC signals 312 for one or more Tx nodes 302.

[0349] like Figure 20 As shown, when Rx node 304 receives the echo of SAC signal 312, which includes a sensing symbol 322 with symbol number k (e.g., k=3), Rx node 304 can use the timing of sensing symbol k in frame 404 to determine the delay, for example, by using the starting boundary of sensing symbol k as a timing reference point under delay τ=0.

[0350] Then, Rx node 304 reports the time of delay τ=0 to Tx node 302 or other Rx nodes (e.g., as an absolute time or a time offset relative to a timing reference point).

[0351] In some embodiments, Rx node 304 may include one or more signal paths and their corresponding delays in its measurement report (see [link to measurement report]). Figure 19 Furthermore, it also reports timing information about the time point when the delay τ=0.

[0352] Therefore, as described above, aligning the delay measurements between Rx nodes 304 enables collaborative awareness.

[0353] exist Figure 21 In some embodiments shown, the SAC signal 312 emitted from Tx node 302 (e.g., TRP 102) may include multiple sensing symbols (e.g., sensing symbols S1 and S2). Multiple Rx nodes 304 (e.g., UE-1 and UE-2) receive the SAC signal 312 and perform sensing measurements M1 and M2 on sensing symbols S1 and S2. When Rx node 304-2 sends measurement reports R1 and R2 to Rx node 304-1, Rx node 304-2 needs to indicate the correspondence between the measurement reports (R1 and R2) and the sensing measurements (M1 and M2). Here, the measurement reports are sent from Rx node 304 to one or more Tx nodes 302. Depending on the type of Tx node 302 and Rx node 304, measurement reports can be sent from UE 114 (used as Rx node 304) to one or more TRP 102 (used as one or more Tx node 302), from UE 114 (used as Rx node 304) to one or more other UE 1114 (used as one or more Tx node 302), or from TRP 102 (used as Rx node 304) to one or more UE 114 (used as one or more Tx node 302), and so on.

[0354] In these embodiments, the measurement report may include time information about the time at which each sensing measurement was performed. For example, the time information included in the measurement report may include the time information for each sensing measurement, such as the frame, time slot, or symbol index used for the sensing measurement. Alternatively, the time information included in the measurement report may include an offset relative to a reference point (e.g., the time slot in which the report was sent), where the offset may be the number of time slots or symbols relative to the reference point. Furthermore, the time information included in the measurement report may include a timestamp used for the sensing measurement, where the timestamp may be an absolute time.

[0355] exist Figure 22 In some embodiments shown, a device (such as TRP 102) may associate each sensing time-frequency resource 422 (such as each sensing symbol 322) with a unique sensing instance ID 424 (or sensing measurement ID). When Rx node 304 measures sensing symbol 322, Rx node 304 retrieves the corresponding sensing instance ID 424 and includes the retrieved sensing instance ID 424 in the measurement report of sensing symbol 322, so that a receiver (e.g., TRP 102 or other UE 114) can obtain information that associates the received measurement report with the corresponding sensing symbol 322.

[0356] In some embodiments where multiple Tx nodes 302 send their SAC signals (mutually orthogonal) to Rx node 304, when Rx node 304 generates a measurement report for the sensing symbols of the SAC signals, it may include the ID of the corresponding Tx node 302 in the measurement report. When a sensing symbol 322 of the SAC signal is assigned or otherwise associated with its unique ID, the ID of the corresponding sensing symbol 322 may be additionally or alternatively included in the measurement report.

[0357] Through the above measurement and reporting method, multiple Rx nodes can perform their sensing measurements and send their sensing measurement results to the processing node for collaborative sensing, enabling the processing node to obtain sensing results with improved accuracy.

[0358] In the above embodiments, the communication system 100 is a mobile communication system that includes a terrestrial communication network and / or a non-terrestrial communication network (such as a combination of cellular networks and satellite communication networks). In some embodiments, the communication system 100 may include or alternatively include other RANs, such as Wi-Fi. ® Wi-Fi (a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance of Austin, Texas, USA).

[0359] In the above embodiments, Rx node 304 detects the SAC signal and its echo to detect the object reflecting the echo and determine the object's parameters. In some embodiments, Rx node 304 may also use the detected SAC signal to determine its own parameters. In some embodiments, Rx node 304 may not detect any echo of the SAC signal and can only determine its own parameters. The above description can be applied to Rx node 304 in these embodiments, but any description related to echoes should be considered as relating to SAC signals.

[0360] In the above embodiments, the sensing symbol 322 includes one or more sensing signals, such as one or more chirp signals 330. In other embodiments, the sensing symbol 322 may include other types of sensing signals, such as pulses, unmodulated continuous waves, frequency-modulated continuous waves, and / or OFDM signals.

[0361] As described above, in some embodiments, one or more Tx nodes 302 and one or more Rx nodes 304 can detect one or more objects through cooperative sensing using one or more SAC signals 312. In other embodiments, the communication nodes can send SAC signals 312 and receive their echoes to detect objects.

[0362] In some embodiments, frame timing alignment or synchronization between Tx nodes and Rx nodes 302 and 304 can be used to improve the accuracy of sensing results. For example, Tx node 302 (such as UE 114) can use timing based on TA adjustment to transmit communication symbols. Alternatively, Tx node 302 (such as UE 114) can transmit sensing symbols according to a timing reference point.

[0363] In some embodiments, Rx timing alignment or synchronization can be used between two Rx nodes 304, wherein the first Rx node can report measurement results to the second Rx node based on an absolute timing reference point (e.g., the timing reference point can be the time when the measurement delay τ=0 at the first Rx node). Therefore, perception results with improved accuracy can be obtained.

[0364] In some embodiments, a sensing combination can be used, wherein a first Rx node can send a sensing report or a measurement report to a processing node (such as a second Rx node). The sensing report may include time information about when the measurement was performed. For example, such time information may include the time information of the measurement, such as the frame, time slot, or symbol index used for the sensing measurement. Alternatively, such time information may include an offset relative to a reference point. Yet another example is that such time information may include a timestamp used for the measurement. In some embodiments, the sensing report may include a unique sensing instance ID associated with the measured sensing time-frequency resource (such as a sensing symbol).

[0365] Then, the processing node combines the perception report or measurement report received from the first Rx node with one or more of its own perception report or measurement report and the perception report or measurement report received from other Rx nodes to obtain perception results with improved accuracy.

[0366] In the above description, it is mentioned that Tx node 302 can perform configuration. Those skilled in the art will understand that it is not necessary for Tx node 302 to perform configuration; TRP 102 (which may or may not be Tx node 302) performs the configuration and may notify Tx node 302 and / or Rx node 304 as needed. Alternatively or additionally, Rx node 304 can perform configuration and may notify Tx node 302 and / or TRP 102 as needed.

[0367] Various embodiments of a cooperative sensing method for achieving integrated sensing and communication are described herein. In some embodiments, the cooperative sensing method disclosed herein can be implemented as one or more circuits (such as one or more processing units, or one or more processors) of a module, device, apparatus, and / or system. In some embodiments, the cooperative sensing method disclosed herein can be implemented as computer-executable instructions stored in one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices, such that, when executed, the instructions cause one or more circuits (such as one or more processing units, or one or more processors) to perform the cooperative sensing method disclosed herein. The technical features and advantages of the above embodiments may include:

[0368] • In some embodiments, frame timing alignment or synchronization between Tx and Rx nodes can be used, which can improve the accuracy of the sensing results.

[0369] • In some embodiments, Rx timing alignment or synchronization between two Rx nodes can be used, which can improve the accuracy of sensing results.

[0370] • In some embodiments, sensing combinations can be used, which can improve the accuracy of sensing results.

[0371] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above embodiments and / or their features can be customized and / or combined as needed or required. Furthermore, while embodiments have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method comprising: transmitting a radio frequency, RF, signal, wherein the RF signal comprises one or more communication symbols for communication and one or more sensing signal components for sensing an object; the RF signal comprises timing information of the one or more sensing signal components.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, the timing information of the one or more sensing signal components comprises: a clock time related to transmitting the one or more sensing signal components.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, the clock time is timing information for determining a time position of the one or more sensing signal components, a frame associated with the one or more sensing signal components, a subframe associated with the one or more sensing signal components, and / or a time slot associated with the one or more sensing signal components, or timing information for a timing marker related to the one or more sensing signal components.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein, the clock time is a start time of transmitting the one or more sensing signal components or an end time of transmitting the one or more sensing signal components.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, the clock time is a global time, a location dependent local time, a system clock time obtained from a clock of a system, a machine clock time obtained from a clock of a device, or a time offset relative to a reference time.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, the clock time is a time obtained from a global navigation satellite system, GNSS.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, the transmitting the RF signal comprises: transmitting the RF signal by frame timing alignment.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, the transmitting the RF signal by frame timing alignment comprises: transmitting the one or more communication symbols using timing adjusted based on a timing advance, TA; and / or transmitting the one or more sensing signal components according to a timing reference point.

9. One or more circuits configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices comprising computer-executable instructions, wherein, the instructions, when executed, cause one or more circuits to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. A method comprising: obtaining a common frame timing indication indicating a transmission time; transmitting a radio frequency, RF, signal, wherein the RF signal comprises one or more communication symbols for communication and one or more sensing signal components for sensing an object; the transmitting the RF signal comprises: transmitting the one or more sensing signal components at the transmission time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, the common frame timing indication comprises a clock time.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, the clock time is timing information for determining a time position of the one or more sensing signal components, a frame associated with the one or more sensing signal components, a subframe associated with the one or more sensing signal components, and / or a time slot associated with the one or more sensing signal components, or timing information for a timing marker related to the one or more sensing signal components.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, the clock time is a global time, a location dependent local time, a system clock time obtained from a clock of a system, a machine clock time obtained from a clock of a device, or a time offset relative to a time boundary of the one or more communication symbols.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, the clock time is a time obtained from a global navigation satellite system, GNSS.

16. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that, the transmitting the RF signal comprises: transmitting the one or more communication symbols using a timing advance, TA, method.

17. One or more circuits to perform the method of any of claims 11-16.

18. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices comprising computer-executable instructions, wherein, The instructions, when executed, cause one or more circuits to perform the method of any of claims 11-16.

19. A method comprising: receiving, by a first device, an RF signal, wherein the RF signal comprises one or more communication symbols for communication and one or more sensing signal components for sensing an object; obtaining timing information of the one or more sensing signal components from the RF signal to determine a position of a target using the timing information and information of the one or more sensing signal components.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, The timing information of the one or more sensing signal components comprises: a clock time related to transmitting the one or more sensing signal components.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein, The clock time is timing information for determining a time position of the one or more sensing signal components, a frame associated with the one or more sensing signal components, a subframe associated with the one or more sensing signal components, and / or a time slot associated with the one or more sensing signal components, or timing information for a timing marker related to the one or more sensing signal components.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein, The clock time is a start time of transmitting the one or more sensing signal components or an end time of transmitting the one or more sensing signal components.

23. The method of any one of claims 20-22, wherein, The clock time is a global time, a location-dependent local time, a system clock time obtained from a clock of a system, a machine clock time obtained from a clock of a device, or a time offset relative to a reference time.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein, The clock time is a time obtained from a global navigation satellite system, GNSS.

25. The method of any of claims 19-24, further comprising: forwarding, to a second device, the timing information and the information of the one or more sensing signal components to determine the position of the target.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein, The forwarding the timing information and the information of the one or more sensing signal components comprises: forwarding the timing information and the information of the one or more sensing signal components to the second device according to an absolute timing reference point.

27. The method of claim 25 or 26, wherein, The information of the one or more sensing signal components comprises: a power profile of the one or more sensing signal components.

28. The method of any one of claims 25-27, wherein, The timing information comprises: a timing reference point at a delay τ = 0; The delay τ is a time difference between a time point of a first signal path of receiving the RF signal and a time point of other signal paths of receiving the RF signal.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising: forwarding, to the second device, the delay τ of all signal paths of the RF signal.

30. The method of any one of claims 19-29, wherein, The RF signal comprises a plurality of sensing signal components; The information of the plurality of sensing signal components comprises: a measurement of each sensing signal component of the plurality of sensing signal components; The method further comprises: forwarding, to the second device, timing information related to the measurement of each sensing signal component of the plurality of sensing signal components.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein, The timing information related to each measurement of a perceived signal component comprises timing information of the measurement of the perceived signal component, a frame associated with the measurement of the perceived signal component, a subframe associated with the measurement of the perceived signal component and / or a slot associated with the measurement of the perceived signal component.

32. The method of claim 30 or 31, wherein, The timing information related to each measurement of a perceived signal component comprises a timestamp related to the measurement of the perceived signal component.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein, The timing information related to each measurement of a perceived signal component comprises an index of the perceived signal component.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein, The timing information related to each measurement of a perceived signal component comprises an offset relative to a reference point.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein, The timing information related to each measurement of a perceived signal component comprises an identifier, ID, associated with the perceived signal component.

36. One or more circuits to perform the method of any of claims 19-35.

37. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices comprising computer-executable instructions, wherein, The instructions, when executed, cause one or more circuits to perform the method of any of claims 19-35.

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