Sensing indications of quality of service capabilities

Abstract

A wireless device (WD 22), network node and method configured for indicating sensed quality of service capability are disclosed. According to one aspect, a WD 22 is configured to at least one of receive a sensing service capability request from the network node and send a sensing service capability request to the network node. The WD 22 is further configured to, in response to the at least one of the sending and receiving of the sensing service capability request, receive at least one of an indicator from the network node 16 indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability and send to the network node 16 an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability, the sensing service capability is one of sensing service priority, sensing resource availability, range resolution capability, range capability, velocity resolution capability, and velocity range capability.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to wireless communication, and in particular, to sensing quality of service capability indication. Methods, wireless devices, radio access network nodes, core network nodes, computer program products, and computer programs are disclosed. BACKGROUND

[0002] The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has developed and is developing standards for fourth generation (4G) (also referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE)) and fifth generation (5G) (also referred to as New Radio (NR)) wireless communication systems. Among other features, such systems provide wideband communication between network nodes (such as base stations) and mobile wireless devices (WDs), as well as communication between network nodes and between WDs. 3GPP is also developing standards for sixth generation (6G) wireless communication networks.

[0003] Sensing key performance indicators

[0004] Future wireless communication networks will provide sensing services in different application areas, such as detection and ranging of vulnerable road users, automated guided vehicles, or unmanned aerial vehicles. The SA1 group of 3GPP has identified several use cases related to sensing performed by 3GPP networks using New Radio (NR) signals and protocols. See, for example, “Enabling Joint Communications and Radar Sensing in Mobile Networks – a Survey,” IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorials, Vol. 24, No. 1, First Quarter, 2022.

[0005] Sensing services are characterized by several key performance indicators (KPIs), such as range resolution, unambiguous range, velocity resolution, unambiguous velocity, false detection probability, or missed detection probability. Based on the required sensing KPIs, prior art mechanisms can determine the power, duration, bandwidth, periodicity, and other characteristics of the sensing signal, and determine the required time, frequency, and spatial resources required to achieve the required KPIs depending on the sensing architecture.

[0006] Figure 1Different radar sensing scenarios that can be deployed using cellular base stations and user equipment (WD) devices are shown. In general, the goal is to detect and locate passive (non-connected) objects of interest:

[0007] In Figure 1 monostatic sensing” of image (a) refers to a setup where the transmit sensing antenna array denoted by TX-s is co-located at the same physical node (here the same base station) as the receiver sensing antenna array denoted by RX-s. Note that monostatic sensing can also be done using Tx / Rx antennas at the WD.

[0008] In Figure 1 the bistatic setup of image (b) corresponds to the case where the transmit sensing array antennas TX-s are located at a different node (network node (NN) and WD) compared to the receiver sensing antennas RX-s.

[0009] Figure 1 Image (c) of shows a multistatic case where there are several TX-s and several RX-s and they are all located at different nodes (NN / UE).

[0010] Communication service quality class identifier, radio resource control and radio bearer

[0011] In LTE and NR systems, communication services are classified into Quality of Service (QoS) categories, which are identified by a QoS Class Identifier (QCI). For example, conversational voice, live streaming, and real-time gaming require guaranteed rates, while buffer-based streaming and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)-based services (e.g., email) are characterized as non-guaranteed bit rate (non-GBR) services. GBR services have QCI 1-4, while non-GBR services have QCI 5-9. Other parameters associated with the standardized QCI values 1-9 include priority, packet delay budget, maximum tolerated packet loss rate, maximum data burst volume, data rate averaging window, etc. QoS and corresponding QCI handling and management for LTE and NR communication services are covered in 3GPP Technical Standard (TS) 23.302 v17.2.0.

[0012] In LTE and NR, the task of the bearer setup procedure is to allocate appropriate resources for GBR and non-GBR services (with QCI values 1-9) on end-to-end services and individual parts, including core network resources between packet gateway and serving gateway (S5 / S8 bearers) and in the radio access network (RAN) in the form of radio access bearers (RABs). A RAB is a logical association of a user data flow with radio resources that need to be allocated in the RAN to maintain the service in terms of bit rate, packet delay budget, packet error loss rate, and scheduling priority of the associated QCI. For the allocation of radio resources to the RAN, the RAN and the user device equipment (WD) use radio resource control (RRC) signaling procedures. These RAB setup procedures include messages such as "bearer setup request" (indicating the required QCI), "bearer configuration" and several other RRC messages and associated information elements. SUMMARY

[0013] It is an object of the present invention to facilitate sensing in a communication network.

[0014] Some embodiments advantageously provide methods, network nodes and wireless devices for indicating sensing quality of service capabilities.

[0015] In some embodiments, it is an object of the present disclosure to facilitate quality of service capability utilization. Some embodiments provide associating sensing quality of service (QoSS) classes with sensing quality capabilities. This has the technical effect of reducing signaling overhead and enabling more efficient use of processing resources by identifying and grouping QoSS classes, associating QoSS classes with KPI parameters and ranges, and communicating these capabilities between nodes.

[0016] Some embodiments are based on defining and grouping some sensing quality of service (QoSS) parameters into QoSS classes. QoSS classes are labeled with a class indicator (QSCI). In some embodiments, each class is associated with several sensing KPI parameters and ranges. For example, QSCI 1 identifies a sensing service that provides a distance resolution of 0.2 [m], an unambiguous distance up to 500 m, a velocity resolution of 0.2 [m / s], and an unambiguous velocity range of 0-50 [m / s].

[0017] In some embodiments, both the core network node (e.g., Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF)) and the WD can use RRC messages to indicate the required sensing service to the network node of the RAN (e.g., NN serving the WD), where the RRC messages include one or more QSCI. The RAN can then use the signaled QSCI to determine (1) whether the sensing service can be accommodated, and (2) the required radio resources that need to be allocated for the service. The RAN can use RRC signaling to indicate to the core network and / or the WD whether the requested QSCI can be provided, or whether the sensing service can be provided with a lower QSCI, or whether the sensing service is rejected.

[0018] In some embodiments, the network node determines a mapping or relationship between a set of QSCI associated with sensing QoS requirements and a set of QCI associated with communication QoS requirements. The mapping can be used to adjust the QCI and / or QSCI in scenarios where the same WD is allocated radio resources or is expected to be allocated radio resources by the network node for simultaneous sensing and communication operations (e.g., at least for a partially overlapping time period), which requires very high quality of service. Due to the limitation of radio resources, even if the radio resources for both operations are orthogonal in time and / or frequency domain, the NN can also not be able to provide all the required radio resources for the operations during the overlapping time. In some embodiments, the mapping table can be signaled by the network node in the RAN to one or more entities in the core network (CN) (e.g., network nodes such as AMF) and / or the WD.

[0019] In one example, the one or more entities in the CN and / or the WD can adjust their QSCI and / or QCI based on the mapping table, or drop one of the two service requests. In another example, the network node in the RAN, upon receiving the request to allocate radio resources for both operations, can negotiate with and / or request the one or more entities in the CN to adjust their QSCI and / or QCI based on the mapping table or drop one of the two service requests.

[0020] In some embodiments, the definition of sensing categories with associated parameters and identities is provided. The proposed RRC signaling uses these predefined QSCI values to signal to the RAN the type of sensing service requested by the core network or the WD. The predefined QSCI values make the RRC signaling efficient as there are no sensing parameters of the required resources signaled, only the QSCI in the RRC message is signaled.

[0021] For the sensing service provider, the advantage of this solution is that the RAN can allocate the right amount of resources for the required sensing service, and it can also determine whether the available resources can be provided for the sensing service.

[0022] For the sensing service consumer, an advantage is that it can indicate the type of sensing service required without the need to specify detailed sensing service parameters. Another advantage is that, if the service request is accepted, the sensing service consumer can trust that the required service is delivered, as the service provider uses the agreed QSCI parameters in that sensing class.

[0023] According to one aspect, a method in a WD comprises at least one of receiving a sensing service capability request from a network node and sending a sensing service capability request to a network node. The procedure further comprises at least one of receiving an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability from the network node and sending an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability to the network node in response to at least one of the sending and the receiving of the sensing service capability request, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

[0024] According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the indicator indicates which of a plurality of sensing Quality of Service, QoS, class the first set of at least one sensing service capability belongs to. In some embodiments, the QoS class depends on the sensing service to be provided by the WD, the sensing service comprising at least one of an object location, an object tracking, a collision avoidance, an object classification, an object shape, an object physical dimension, and an object mobility status. In some embodiments, the method comprises receiving a first indication of at least one of a sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and a sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP, from the network node in response to the indicator sent by the WD. In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving a second indication of a sensing signal repetition pattern from the network node. In some embodiments, a sensing resource allocation is received from the network node. In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving a request from the network node to configure the WD with a second set of at least one sensing service capability, the second set being one of the same set as the first set and a different set than the first set. In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving a configuration from the network node to use a communication signal for passive sensing. In some embodiments, the network node is one of a Radio Access Network, RAN, node and a Core Network, CN, node.

[0025] According to another aspect, the WD comprises a radio interface configured to at least one of: receive a sensing service capability request from a network node and transmit a sensing service capability request to a network node. The radio interface is further configured to at least one of: receive an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability from the network node and transmit an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability to the network node in response to at least one of the transmission and reception of the sensing service capability request, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

[0026] According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the indicator indicates which of a plurality of sensing Quality of Service, QoS, class the first set of at least one sensing service capability belongs to. In some embodiments, the QoS class depends on a sensing service to be provided by the WD, the sensing service being one of an object location, an object tracking, a collision avoidance, an object classification. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to receive a first indication of at least one of a sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and a sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP, from the network node in response to the indicator transmitted by the WD. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to receive a second indication of a sensing signal repetition pattern from the network node. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to receive a sensing resource allocation from the network node. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to receive a request from the network node to configure the WD with a second set of at least one sensing service capability, the second set being one of the same set as the first set and a different set than the first set. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to receive a configuration from the network node to use a communication signal for passive sensing. In some embodiments, the network node is one of a Radio Access Network, RAN, node and a Core Network, CN, node.

[0027] According to another aspect, a method in a network node comprises at least one of: receiving a sensing service capability request from the CN node and transmitting a sensing service capability request to the WD. The procedure further comprises at least one of: receiving an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability from the CN node and transmitting an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability to the WD in response to at least one of the transmission and reception of the sensing service capability request, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

[0028] According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the indicator indicates which of a plurality of sensing service quality of service, QoS, categories the first set of at least one sensing service capability belongs to. In some embodiments, the QoS category depends on a sensing service to be provided by the WD, the sensing service comprising at least one of object location, object tracking, collision avoidance, object classification. In some embodiments, the sensing service priority is a priority to be applied by the WD between providing the sensing service and providing communication with at least one of the RAN node and another WD. In some embodiments, the method comprises at least one of receiving, from the CN node, an allocation of priority between different QoS categories and transmitting, to the WD, the allocation of priority between different QoS categories. In some embodiments, the method comprises at least one of receiving, from the CN node, a first indication of at least one of a sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and a sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP, and transmitting, to the WD, the first indication of at least one of a sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and a sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP. In some embodiments, the method comprises at least one of receiving, from the CN node, a second indication of a sensing signal repetition pattern and transmitting, to the WD, the second indication of a sensing signal repetition pattern. In some embodiments, the method comprises at least one of receiving, from the CN node, a sensing resource allocation and transmitting, to the WD, the sensing resource allocation. In some embodiments, the method comprises at least one of receiving, from the CN node, a second indication of an association between the indicator and a quality of service class identifier, QCI, and transmitting, to the WD, the second indication of the association between the indicator and the quality of service class identifier, QCI. In some embodiments, the indicator is based at least in part on at least one of resource availability, cell load, and a number of WDs in the cell that are capable of both sensing and communication. In some embodiments, the method comprises at least one of receiving, from the CN node, a sensing resource allocation based on the association between the indicator and the quality of service class identifier, QCI, and transmitting, to the WD, the sensing resource allocation.

[0029] According to another aspect, there is provided a Radio Access Network, RAN, node configured to communicate with a WD and a core network, CN, node. The RAN node comprises a radio interface configured to at least one of receive, from the CN node, a sensing service capability request and transmit, to the WD, the sensing service capability request. The radio interface is further configured to at least one of receive, from the CN node, in response to at least one of the transmission and reception of the sensing service capability request, an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability, and transmit, to the WD, the indicator indicating the first set of at least one sensing service capability.

[0030] According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the indicator indicates which of a plurality of sensing service quality, QoS, class the first set of at least one sensing service capability belongs to. In some embodiments, the QoS class depends on the sensing service to be provided by the WD, the sensing service comprising at least one of object location, object tracking, collision avoidance, object classification. In some embodiments, the sensing service priority is a priority to be applied by the WD between providing the sensing service and providing communication with at least one of the RAN node and another WD. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to at least one of receive from the CN node and transmit to the WD an allocation of priority between different QoS classes. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to at least one of receive from the CN node and transmit to the WD a first indication of at least one of a sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and a sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to at least one of receive from the CN node and transmit to the WD a second indication of a sensing signal repetition pattern. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to at least one of receive from the CN node and transmit to the WD a sensing resource allocation. In some embodiments, the radio interface is further configured to at least one of receive from the CN node and transmit to the WD a second indication of an association between the indicator and a quality of service class identifier, QCI. In some embodiments, the indicator is based at least in part on at least one of resource availability, cell load, and number of WDs in the cell that are capable of both sensing and communication. In some embodiments, the method comprises at least one of receiving from the CN node and transmitting to the WD a sensing resource allocation based at least in part on the association between the indicator and the quality of service class identifier, QCI.

[0031] According to another aspect, a method in a CN node comprises transmitting to a RAN node an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

[0032] According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the indicator indicates which of a plurality of sensing Quality of Service, QoS, class the first set of at least one sensing service capability belongs to. In some embodiments, the QoS class depends on the sensing service to be provided by the WD, the sensing service being one of object location, object tracking, collision avoidance, object classification. In some embodiments, the sensing service priority is a priority to be applied by the WD between providing the sensing service and providing communication with at least one of the RAN node and another WD. In some embodiments, the method comprises transmitting, to the RAN node, an allocation of priority between different QoS classes. In some embodiments, the method comprises transmitting, to the RAN node, a first indication of at least one of a sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and a sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP. In some embodiments, the method comprises transmitting, to the RAN node, a second indication of a sensing signal repetition pattern. In some embodiments, the method comprises transmitting, to the RAN node, a sensing resource allocation. In some embodiments, the method comprises transmitting, to the RAN node, a second indication of an association between the indicator and a Quality of Class Identifier, QCI. In some embodiments, the indicator is based at least in part on at least one of resource availability, cell load, and number of WDs in the cell that are capable of both sensing and communication. In some embodiments, the method comprises transmitting, to the RAN node, a sensing resource allocation based at least in part on the association between the indicator and the Quality of Class Identifier, QCI.

[0033] According to another aspect, there is provided a Core Network, CN, node configured to communicate with a Radio Access Network, RAN, node. The CN node has a radio interface configured to transmit, to the RAN node, a sensing Quality Class Indicator, QSCI, indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability, the sensing service capability being one of sensing service priority, sensing resource availability, distance resolution capability, unambiguous distance capability, speed resolution capability, and unambiguous speed range capability.

[0034] According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the QSCI indicator indicates which of a plurality of sensing service quality, QoS, class the first set of at least one sensing service capability belongs to. In some embodiments, the QoS class depends on the sensing service to be provided by the WD, the sensing service being one of object location, object tracking, collision avoidance, bio-detection, object classification. In some embodiments, the sensing service priority is a priority to be applied by the WD between providing the sensing service and providing communication with at least one of the RAN node and another WD. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to transmit, to the RAN node, an allocation of priority between different QoS classes. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to transmit, to the RAN node, a first indication of at least one of a sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and a sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to transmit, to the RAN node, a second indication of a sensing signal repetition pattern. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to transmit, to the RAN node, a sensing resource allocation. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to transmit, to the RAN node, a second indication of an association between the indicator and a quality of service class identifier, QCI. In some embodiments, the indicator is based at least in part on at least one of resource availability, cell load, and number of WDs in the cell capable of both sensing and communication. In some embodiments, the radio interface is further configured to transmit, to the RAN node, a sensing resource allocation based at least in part on the association between the indicator and the quality of service class identifier, QCI.

[0035] According to another aspect, a computer program comprises instructions which, when executed on a processor of a wireless communication device, cause the wireless communication device to at least one of: receive, from a network node, a sensing service capability request and transmit, to a network node, a sensing service capability request; and in response to at least one of the transmission and reception of the sensing service capability request, at least one of: receive, from the network node, an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability and transmit, to the network node, an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

[0036] According to another aspect, a computer program comprises instructions which, when executed on a processor of a radio access network, RAN, node, cause the RAN node to at least one of: receive, from a CN node, a sensing service capability request and transmit, to a WD, a sensing service capability request; and in response to at least one of the transmission and reception of the sensing service capability request, receive, from the CN node, and transmit, to the WD, at least one of an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

[0037] According to another aspect, a computer program comprises instructions which, when executed on a processor of a core network, CN, node, cause the CN node to transmit, to a RAN node, an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

[0038] According to another aspect, a computer program product comprising a computer program according to the above aspect and a computer readable storage medium on which the computer program is stored is provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0039] A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and the attendant advantages and features thereof will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0040] Figure 1 Three sensing scenarios are illustrated;

[0041] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example network architecture of a communication system connected via an intermediate network to a host computer in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

[0042] Figure 3 is a block diagram of a host computer communicating via a network node with a wireless device, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0043] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for executing a client application at a wireless device in a communication system including a host computer, a network node, and the wireless device, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0044] Figure 5is a flowchart illustrating an example method for receiving user data at a wireless device implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0045] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for receiving user data at a host computer from a wireless device implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0046] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for receiving user data at a host computer implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0047] Figure 8 is a flowchart of an example procedure in a wireless device for sensing quality of service management;

[0048] Figure 9 is a flowchart of an example procedure in a network node for sensing quality of service management;

[0049] Figure 10 is a flowchart of an example procedure in a core network (CN) node for sensing quality of service management;

[0050] Figure 11 two example sensing scenarios according to the principles set forth herein are illustrated;

[0051] Figure 12 is a table of key performance indicator (KPI) values and ranges for different categories of sensing services according to the principles disclosed herein;

[0052] Figure 13 is a timing diagram illustrating an example communication exchange between a wireless device (WD), a RAN node or other network node, and a core network node according to the principles disclosed herein;

[0053] Figure 14 is a table of bandwidths of sensing signals, gaps between consecutive sensing signals, and sensing frame durations according to the principles disclosed herein;

[0054] Figure 15 are examples of a computer program product and a computer program; and

[0055] Figure 16 is an example of a processing system configured to store and execute the computer program product of the computer program. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] Before describing example embodiments in detail, it should be noted that the embodiments primarily reside in combinations of apparatus components and processing steps related to sensing quality of service management. Accordingly, common or conventional elements in the drawings are numbered alike and only specific details pertinent to an understanding of the embodiments are shown and described, in order not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

[0057] As used herein, relational terms, such as“first” and“second,”“top” and “bottom,” and the like, can be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the concepts described herein. As used herein, the singular forms“a,”“an” and“the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises,”“comprising,”“includes” and / or“including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0058] In embodiments described herein, the joining term“in communication with” and the like, can be used to indicate electrical or data communication, e.g., via physical contacts, induction, electromagnetic radiation, radio signaling, infrared signaling or optical signaling. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that numerous combinations of the above are possible.

[0059] In some embodiments described herein, the terms“coupled,”“connected,” and the like, can be used herein to indicate a connection, although not necessarily directly, and can include wired and / or wireless connection.

[0060] The term“network node” as used herein can be any type of network node included in a radio network, which can also comprise any of: a base station (NN), a radio base station, a base transceiver station (BTS), a base station controller (NNC), a radio network controller (RNC), a g-NodeB (gNB), an evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB), a Node B, a multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as a MSR NN, a multi-cell / multicast coordination entity (MCE), an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, a relay node, a donor node controlling relays, a radio access point (AP), a transmission point, a transmission node, a remote radio unit (RRU) a remote radio head (RRH), a core network node (e.g., mobile management entity (MME), self-organizing network (SON) node, a coordinating node, positioning node, MDT node, etc.), an external node (e.g., third party node, node external to the present network), a node in a distributed antenna system (DAS), a spectrum access system (SAS) node, an element management system (EMS), etc. A network node can also include a test equipment. The term“radio node” as used herein can also be used to denote a wireless device (WD), such as a wireless device (WD) or a radio network node.

[0061] In some embodiments, the non-limiting terms wireless device (WD) or user equipment (WD) are used interchangeably. A WD herein can be any type of wireless device capable of communicating with a network node or another WD over radio signals, such as a wireless device (WD). The WD can also be a radio communication device, target device, device to device (D2D) WD, machine type WD, or WD capable of machine to machine communication (M2M), low-cost and / or low-complexity WD, sensor equipped WD, tablet, mobile terminal, smart phone, laptop embedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongle, customer premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (IoT) device, or a Narrowband

[0062] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the general term“radio network node” is used. It can be any type of radio network node, which can comprise any of: a base station, a radio base station, a base transceiver station, a base station controller, a network controller, RNC, evolved Node B (eNB), Node B, gNB, multi-cell / multicast coordination entity (MCE), IAB node, relay node, access point, radio access point, remote radio unit (RRU) remote radio head (RRH).

[0063] It is to be noted that even though terminology from one particular wireless system, such as 3GPP LTE and / or New Radio (NR), can be used in this disclosure, this does not in any way aim to limit the scope of the disclosure to only the aforementioned system but the teachings are equally applicable to other wireless systems. Other wireless systems, including but not limited to Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), can also benefit from exploiting the ideas covered in this disclosure.

[0064] It is also to be noted that the functions described herein as being carried out by wireless devices or network nodes can be distributed in a number of wireless devices and / or network nodes. In other words, it is contemplated that the functions of the network nodes and wireless devices described herein can be performed by more than one physical device working in cooperation with one another.

[0065] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0066] Some embodiments provide for sensing quality of service management. With reference again to the figures, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding, but not necessarily identical, elements throughout the figures, Figure 2The diagram illustrates a communication system 10 according to an embodiment, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network that may support standards such as LTE and / or NR (5G). It includes an access network 12, such as a radio access network, and a core network 14, including radio base stations, referred to herein as network node 15 or CN node 15. The access network 12 includes multiple network nodes 16a, 16b, 16c (collectively referred to as network node 16 or RAN node 16), such as NN, eNgNB, gNB, or other types of radio access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area 18a, 18b, 18c (collectively referred to as coverage area 18). Each network node 16a, 16b, 16c can be connected to the core network 14 via network node 15 through a wired or wireless connection 20. A first radio device (WD) 22a located in coverage area 18a is configured to wirelessly connect to or be paged by a corresponding network node 16a. A second WD 22b in coverage area 18b can wirelessly connect to a corresponding network node 16b. Although multiple WDs 22a, 22b (collectively referred to as wireless devices 22) are shown in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to situations where only one WD is located within the coverage area or where only one WD is connected to a corresponding network node 16. It should be noted that although only two WDs 22 and three network nodes 16 are shown for convenience, the communication system may include more WDs 22 and network nodes 16.

[0067] Furthermore, it is conceivable that WD 22 can communicate simultaneously and / or be configured to communicate individually with more than one network node 16 and more than one type of network node 16. For example, WD 22 can have dual connectivity with both LTE-enabled network nodes 16 and the same or different NR-enabled network nodes 16. For example, WD 22 can communicate with an eNB for LTE / E-UTRAN and a gNB for NR / NG-RAN.

[0068] The communication system 10 itself can be connected to the host computer 24, which can be embodied in the hardware and / or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server, or as a processing resource in a server farm. The host computer 24 can be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or can be operated by or on behalf of the service provider. Connections 26, 28 between the communication system 10 and the host computer 24 can extend directly from the core network 14 to the host computer 24, or can extend via an optional intermediate network 30. The intermediate network 30 can be one or a combination of public, private, or hosted networks. The intermediate network 30 (if any) can be a backbone network or the Internet. In some embodiments, the intermediate network 30 may include two or more subnetworks (not shown).

[0069] Figure 2 The communication system as a whole implements connectivity between one of the connected WDs 22a, 22b and the host computer 24. The connectivity can be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection. The host computer 24 and the connected WDs 22a, 22b are configured to use the OTT connection to communicate data and / or signaling via the core network 14, the access networks 12, and any intermediate networks 30 as intermediaries. The OTT connection can be transparent in the sense that the

[0070] The network node 16 is configured to include a RAN QoS unit 32 configured to at least one of receive, from a CN node, an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability and send, to a WD, an indicator indicating the first set of at least one sensing service capability in response to at least one of a sending and a receiving of a sensing service capability request, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

[0071] The wireless device 22 is configured to include a WD QoS unit 34 configured to at least one of receive, from a network node, an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability and send, to the network node, an indicator indicating the first set of at least one sensing service capability in response to at least one of a sending and a receiving of a sensing service capability request, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

[0072] The CN node 15 is configured to include a CN QoS unit 36 configured to send, to a RAN node, an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

[0073] Reference will now be made to Figure 3Example implementations of the WD 22, the network nodes 15 and 16, and the host computer 24 discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to a communication system 10 in accordance with an embodiment. In communication system 10, a host computer 24 comprises hardware (HW) 38 including a communication interface 40 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection to an interface of a different communication device of communication system 10. The host computer 24 further comprises processing circuitry 42, which can have storage and / or processing capabilities. The processing circuitry 42 can comprise a processor 44 and memory 46. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 42 can comprise integrated circuitry for processing and / or control, e.g., one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) and / or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 44 can be configured to access (e.g., write to and / or read from) memory 46, which can include any kind of volatile and / or nonvolatile storage, e.g., cache and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (Random Access Memory) and / or ROM (Read Only Memory) and / or optical storage and / or EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM).

[0074] The processing circuitry 42 can be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein and / or to cause such methods, and / or processes to be performed, e.g., by the host computer 24. The processor 44 corresponds to one or more processors 44 for performing the functions of the host computer 24 described herein. The host computer 24 includes memory 46 that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 48 and / or the host application 50 can include instructions that, when executed by the processor 44 and / or processing circuitry 42, enable the processor 44 and / or processing circuitry 42 to perform the processes described herein with respect to the host computer 24. The instructions can be software associated with the host computer 24.

[0075] The software 48 can be executable by the processing circuitry 42. The software 48 includes a host application 50. The host application 50 can be operable to provide services to a remote user such as a WD 22 connecting via an OTT connection 52 terminating at the WD 22 and the host computer 24. In providing services to the remote user, the host application 50 can provide user data for transmission using the OTT connection 52. The “user data” can be data and information described herein as implementing the functionality. In one embodiment, the host computer 24 can be configured as a server providing functionality for the WD 22 and / or for another host computer 24, and can be operated by the service provider or a third party providing services to users and / or to other host computers 24. The processing circuitry 42 of the host computer 24 can cause the host computer 24 to perform acts such as observing, monitoring, controlling, transmitting to and / or receiving from the network node 16 and / or the wireless device 22.

[0076] The communication system 10 also includes network nodes 16 provided in the communication system 10 and comprising hardware 58 enabling it to communicate with the host computer 24 and with the WD 22. The hardware 58 can include a communication interface 60 for

[0077] In the embodiment shown, the hardware 58 of the network node 16 further includes processing circuitry 68. The processing circuitry 68 can include a processor 70 and memory 72. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 68 can comprise integrated circuitry, such as one or more processors and / or processor cores, and / or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), and / or ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuitry), adapted to perform the functions of a processor and / or of a memory. The processor 70 can be configured to access (e.g., write into and / or read from) memory 72, which can include any kind of volatile and / or nonvolatile memory, such as cache and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (Random Access Memory) and / or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and / or optical memory and / or EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM).

[0078] Thus, the network node 16 further has software 74 stored internally, e.g., in memory 72, or in external memory (e.g., database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by the network node 16 via an external connection. The software 74 can be executable by the processing circuitry 68. The processing circuitry 68 can be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein and / or to cause such methods, and / or processes to be performed, e.g., by the network node 16. The processor 70 corresponds to one or more processors 70 for performing network node 16 functions described herein. The memory 72 is configured to store data, programmatic software code, and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 74 can include instructions executable by the processor 70 and / or processing circuitry 68 that, when executed, cause the processor 70 and / or processing circuitry 68 to perform any of the processes described herein for the network node 16. For example, the processing circuitry 68 of the network node 16 can include a RAN QoSS unit 32 configured to at least one of receive, from a CN node, an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability and transmit, to a WD, an indicator indicating the first set of at least one sensing service capability in response to at least one of a sensing service capability request being transmitted and received, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

[0079] The communication system 10 further includes a CN node 15. The CN node 15 includes processing circuitry (not shown) and a radio interface 94 configured and implemented in a manner as described above for the hardware of the network node 16, but with different or additional functionality as described below. The CN node 15 is configured to include a CN QoSS unit 36 configured to transmit, to a RAN node, an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

[0080] The communication system 10 further includes the already-mentioned WD 22. The WD 22 can have hardware 80, which can include a radio interface 82 configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection 64 with a network node 16 serving an area in which the WD 22 is currently located. The radio interface 82 can be formed as or can include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and / or one or more RF transceivers.

[0081] The hardware 80 of the WD 22 further includes processing circuitry 84. The processing circuitry 84 can include a processor 86 and memory 88. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 84 can comprise integrated circuitry for processing and / or control, e.g., one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions, hi particular, the processor 86 can be configured to access (e.g., write to and / or read from) memory 88, which can include any kind of volatile and / or nonvolatile storage and / or data repository. For example, the memory 88 can include a cache memory and / or a buffer storage and / or a RAM (Random Access Memory) and / or a ROM (Read Only Memory) and / or an optical memory and / or an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM).

[0082] Thus, the WD 22 can further comprise software 90, which is stored in, for example, memory 88 of the WD 22, or stored in external memory accessible by the WD 22 (e.g., a database, a storage array, a network storage device, etc.). The software 90 can be executable by the processing circuitry 84. The software 90 can include a client application 92. The client application 92 can be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via the WD 22, with the support of the host computer 24. In the host computer 24, an executing host application 50 can communicate with the executing client application 92 via the OTT connection 52 terminating at the WD 22 and the host computer 24. In providing the service to the user, the client application 92 can receive request data from the host application 50 and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 52 can transfer both the request data and the user data. The client application 92 can interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.

[0083] The processing circuitry 84 can be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein and / or to cause such methods, and / or processes to be performed, for example by WD 22. The processor 86 corresponds to one or more processors 86 for performing WD 22 functions described herein. The WD 22 includes memory 88 that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 90 and / or the client application 92 can include instructions that, when executed by the processor 86 and / or processing circuitry 84, enable the processor 86 and / or processing circuitry 84 to perform processes described herein with respect to WD 22. For example, the processing circuitry 84 of wireless device 22 can include a WD QoSS unit 34 configured to at least one of receive, from a network node, an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability and transmit, to the network node, an indicator indicating the first set of at least one sensing service capability in response to at least one of a sensing service capability request being transmitted and received, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

[0084] In some embodiments, the inner workings of the network nodes 16, WD 22, and host computer 24 can be as shown in FIG. 10 and independently, the surrounding network topology can be that of FIG. 9. Figure 3 Figure 2

[0085] In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the host computer 24 is connected to the WD 22 via the network 26a, 26b, 26c, and PDN gateway 28, and the network node 16, without any intermediate OTT Figure 2 connection. The OTT connection 52 is thus a direct OTT connection between the host computer 24 and the WD 22 without any intermediate OTT connection

[0086] The wireless connection 64 between the WD 22 and the network node 16 is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to the WD 22 using the OTT connection 52, in which the wireless connection 64 can form the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of some of the embodiments can improve the data rate, the delay, and / or the power consumption of the OTT connection 52, which in turn can improve the user experience when the WD 22 is using the OTT services. This can result in increased productivity, reduced costs, improved user experience, and / or improved battery lifetime of the WD 22.

[0087] ​​In some embodiments, a measurement procedure can be provided for monitoring data rate, latency, and other factors that one or more embodiments mitigate. There can also be an optional network functionality to reconfigure the OTT connection 52 between the host computer 24 and the WD 22, in response to measurements results. The measurement procedure and / or the network functionality to reconfigure the OTT connection 52 can be implemented in the software 48 of the host computer 24 or in the software 90 of the WD 22, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) can be deployed in or in association with the communication devices through which the OTT connection 52 passes; the sensors can participate in the measurement procedure by providing values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or values of other physical quantities from which the software 48, 90 can compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of the OTT connection 52 can include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing, etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect the network node 16, and can be unknown or imperceptible to the network node 16. Some such procedures and functionalities are known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, the measurement can involve proprietary WD signaling facilitating the host computer's 24 measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency, and the like. In some embodiments, the measurements can be implemented in that the software 48, 90 has the OTT connection 52 transmit messages, particularly empty messages or "dummy" messages, while the software 48, 90 monitors propagation times, errors, etc.

[0088] Thus, in some embodiments, the host computer 24 includes processing circuitry 42 configured to provide user data and a communication interface 40 configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to the WD 22. In some embodiments, the cellular network also includes a network node 16 having a radio interface 62. In some embodiments, the network node 16 is configured to, and / or the network node's 16 processing circuitry 68 is configured to perform the functions and / or methods described herein for preparing / initiating / maintaining / supporting / ending transmissions to the WD 22, and / or preparing / terminating / maintaining / supporting / ending reception of transmissions from the WD 22.

[0089] In some embodiments, the host computer 24 includes processing circuitry 42 and a communication interface 40 configured to be configured to receive user data that originated from a transmission from the WD 22 to the network node 16. In some embodiments, the WD 22 is configured to, and / or comprises a radio interface 82 and / or processing circuitry 84 configured to perform the functions and / or methods described herein for preparing / initiating / maintaining / supporting / ending transmissions to the network node 16, and / or preparing / terminating / maintaining / supporting / ending reception of transmissions from the network node 16.

[0090] Although Figure 2 and Figure 3Various“units” are shown, such as the RAN QoSS unit 32, the WD QoSS unit 34, and the CN QoSS unit 36, which are located within respective processors, but it is conceivable that these units can be implemented such that parts of this unit are stored in the corresponding memory within the processing circuitry. In other words, the units can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software within the processing circuitry.

[0091] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system (for example, a communication system of Figure 2 and Figure 3 ). The communication system can include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a WD 22 which can be those described with reference to Figure 3 Fig. 15. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (Block S100). In an optional substep of the first step, the host computer 24 provides the user data by executing a host application, such as the host application 50 (Block S102). In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the WD 22 (Block S104). In an optional third step, the network node 16 transmits to the WD 22 the user data carried in the transmission that the host computer 24 initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block S106). In an optional fourth step, the WD 22 executes a client application, such as the client application 92, associated with the host application 50 executed by the host computer 24 (Block S108).

[0092] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system (for example, a communication system of Figure 2 and Figure 2 ). The communication system can include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a WD 22 which can be those described with reference to Figure 3 Fig. 15. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (Block S110). In an optional substep (not shown), the host computer 24 provides the user data by executing a host application, such as the host application 50 (Block S112). In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the WD 22 (Block S112). The transmission can pass via the network node 16, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional third step, the WD 22 receives the user data carried in the transmission (Block S114).

[0093] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system (for example, a communication system of Figure 2FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system (e.g., the communication system of FIG. 1). The communication system can include a host computer 24, a network node 16, and a WD 22, which can be those described with reference to Figure 2 and Figure 3 FIG. 13. In an optional first step of the method, the WD 22 receives input data provided by the host computer 24 (Block S116). In an optional substep of the first step, the WD 22 executes the client application 92, which provides user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer 24 (Block S118). Additionally or alternatively, in an optional second step, the WD 22 provides user data (Block S120). In an optional substep of the second step, the WD provides the user data by executing a client application, such as the client application 92 (Block S122). In providing the user data, the executed client application 92 can further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the WD 22 can initiate, in an optional third substep, transmission of the user data to the host computer 24 (Block S124). In a fourth step of the method, the host computer 24 receives the user data transmitted from the WD 22, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block S126).

[0094] Figure 7 FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system (e.g., the communication system of FIG. 1). The communication system can include a host computer 24, a network node 16, and a WD 22, which can be those described with reference to Figure 2 and Figure 2 and Figure 3 FIG. 14. In an optional first step of the method, the network node 16 receives user data from the WD 22, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block S128). In an optional second step, the network node 16 initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer 24 (Block S130). In a third step, the host computer 24 receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the network node 16 (Block S132).

[0095] Figure 8is a flowchart representation of an example procedure in a wireless device 22 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more of the blocks described herein can be performed by one or more elements of the wireless device 22, for example by one or more of the processing circuitry 84 (including the WD QoS unit 34), the processor 86, the radio interface 82, and / or the communications interface 60. The wireless device 22 is configured, such as via the processing circuitry 84 and / or the processor 86 and / or the radio interface 82, to at least one of receive, from a network node, a sensing service capability request and transmit, to the network node, the sensing service capability request (block S134). The procedure further includes at least one of receiving, from the network node, an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability and transmitting, to the network node, the indicator indicating the first set of at least one sensing service capability in response to at least one of the receiving and the transmitting of the sensing service capability request, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability (block S136).

[0096] In some embodiments, the indicator indicates which of a plurality of sensing service quality, QoS, classes the first set of at least one sensing service capability belongs to. In some embodiments, the QoS class depends on a sensing service to be provided by the WD 22, the sensing service including at least one of an object location, an object tracking, a collision avoidance, an object classification, an object shape, an object physical dimension, and an object mobility status. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving, from the network node, a first indication of at least one of a sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and a sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP, in response to the indicator transmitted by the WD 22. In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving, from the network node, a second indication of a sensing signal repetition pattern. In some embodiments, sensing resource allocation is received from the network node. In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving, from the network node, a request to configure the WD 22 with a second set of at least one sensing service capability, the second set being one of the same set as the first set and a different set than the first set. In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving, from the network node, a configuration to use a communication signal for passive sensing. In some embodiments, the network node is one of a radio access network, RAN, node and a core network, CN, node 15.

[0097] Figure 9is a flowchart of an example procedure for sensing quality of service management in the network node 16. One or more of the blocks described herein can be performed by one or more elements of the network node 16, e.g., by one or more of the RAN QoSS unit 32, the processor 70, the radio interface 62, and / or the communications interface 60, e.g., via the processing circuitry 68 and / or the processor 70 and / or the radio interface 62 and / or the communications interface 60. The network node 16 is configured to, e.g., via the processing circuitry 68 and / or the processor 70 and / or the radio interface 62 and / or the communications interface 60, at least one of receive a sensing service capability request from the CN node 15 and transmit a sensing service capability request to the WD 22 (block S138). The procedure further includes at least one of receiving an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability from the CN node 15 and transmitting an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability to the WD 22 in response to at least one of the transmission and the reception of the sensing service capability request, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability (block S140).

[0098] In some embodiments, the indicator indicates which of a plurality of sensing service quality, QoS, categories the first set of at least one sensing service capability belongs to. In some embodiments, the QoS category depends on the sensing service to be provided by the WD 22, the sensing service comprising at least one of object location, object tracking, collision avoidance, object classification. In some embodiments, the sensing service priority is a priority to be applied by the WD 22 between providing the sensing service and providing communication with at least one of the RAN node and another WD 22. In some embodiments, the method comprises at least one of receiving, from the CN node 15, an allocation of priority between different QoS categories and transmitting, to the WD 22, the allocation of priority between different QoS categories. In some embodiments, the method comprises at least one of receiving, from the CN node 15, a first indication of at least one of a sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and a sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP, and transmitting, to the WD 22, the first indication of at least one of the sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and the sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP. In some embodiments, the method comprises at least one of receiving, from the CN node 15, a second indication of a sensing signal repetition pattern and transmitting, to the WD 22, the second indication of the sensing signal repetition pattern. In some embodiments, the method comprises at least one of receiving, from the CN node 15, a sensing resource allocation and transmitting, to the WD 22, the sensing resource allocation. In some embodiments, the method comprises at least one of receiving, from the CN node 15, a second indication of an association between the indicator and a quality of service class identifier, QCI, and transmitting, to the WD 22, the second indication of the association between the indicator and the quality of service class identifier, QCI. In some embodiments, the indicator is based at least partly on at least one of resource availability, cell load, and number of WDs in the cell that are capable of both sensing and communication. In some embodiments, the method comprises at least one of receiving, from the CN node 15, a sensing resource allocation based at least partly on the association between the indicator and the quality of service class identifier, QCI, and transmitting, to the WD 22, the sensing resource allocation.

[0099] Figure 10 is a flowchart of an example process in a CN node 15 for sensing service quality management. One or more blocks described herein can be performed by one or more elements of the CN node 15, for example by one or more of the radio interface 94 (including the CN QoS unit 36). The process comprises transmitting, to a RAN node, an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability, the sensing service capability being one of sensing service priority, sensing resource availability, distance resolution capability, distance capability, speed resolution capability, and speed range capability (block S142).

[0100] In some embodiments, the indicator indicates which of a plurality of sensing service quality of service, QoS, categories the first set of at least one sensing service capability belongs to. In some embodiments, the QoS category depends on the sensing service to be provided by the WD 22, the sensing service being one of object location, object tracking, collision avoidance, object classification. In some embodiments, the sensing service priority is a priority to be applied by the WD 22 between providing the sensing service and providing communication with at least one of the RAN node and another WD 22. In some embodiments, the method comprises transmitting, to the RAN node, an allocation of priority between different QoS categories. In some embodiments, the method comprises transmitting, to the RAN node, a first indication of at least one of a sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and a sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP. In some embodiments, the method comprises transmitting, to the RAN node, a second indication of a sensing signal repetition pattern. In some embodiments, the method comprises transmitting, to the RAN node, a sensing resource allocation. In some embodiments, the method comprises transmitting, to the RAN node, a second indication of an association between the indicator and a quality of service category identifier, QCI. In some embodiments, the indicator is based at least in part on at least one of resource availability, cell load, and number of WDs in the cell that are capable of both sensing and communication. In some embodiments, the method comprises transmitting, to the RAN node, a sensing resource allocation based at least in part on the association between the indicator and the quality of service category identifier, QCI.

[0101] Having described the general process flow of the arrangements of the present disclosure and provided examples of hardware and software arrangements for implementing the processes and functions of the present disclosure, the following sections provide details and examples of arrangements for indicating sensing quality of service capabilities.

[0102] Embodiment #1 : Method for allocating radio resources based on QSCI sensing

[0103] In some embodiments, a network node 16 in the RAN, e.g., a serving network node 16 of the WD 22, allocates radio resources to the WD 22 to perform sensing operations, thereby satisfying quality of service requirements for sensing based on an associated sensing quality class identifier (QSCI).

[0104] As Figure 11 illustrated, sensing in the JCAS method can use single-station, double-station, or multi-station architectures, and each of these sensing mechanisms must be characterized by some quality parameters, such as distance resolution, unambiguous distance, velocity resolution, and unambiguous velocity, as shown in the table of Figure 12 Other examples of sensing quality parameters are the probability of false or missed detection of an active or passive object. These parameters can be added to the table as shown in Figure 12

[0105] ​In a two-station case, a WD 22 or a network node 16 such as a cellular network node 16 can act as a transmitter of a sensing signal. Similarly, either a network node 16 or a WD 22 can act as a receiver of a sensing signal. For example, when a WD 22 is a sensing transmitter (Tx) and a serving network node 16 is a sensing receiver (Rx), the WD 22 can use UL resources (e.g., one or more UL resource elements and / or resource blocks within one or more time resources such as symbols, slots, subframes, frames, etc.) for sensing signal transmission. Such UL sensing signals can be multiplexed in time, frequency, or spatial domain with UL communication signals (e.g., physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) or physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) transmissions). In a one-station case, a cellular network node 16 can act as both a Tx entity and an Rx entity of a sensing signal.

[0106] More generally, the term “communication signal” can include any type of signal or radio signal used for operation (e.g., transmission and / or reception) between a WD 22 and a network node 16 in any wireless communication operation (e.g., a cellular system such as 5G-NR, etc.).

[0107] More generally, the term “sensing signal” can include any type of signal or radio signal used for operation (e.g., transmission and / or reception) between a radio node and a sensing device or between a radio node and an object for sensing purposes, etc. A sensing signal can also be referred to as a radar signal. A radio node can be a WD 22 or a network node 16 (e.g., a network node 16, an access point, etc.).

[0108] According to some embodiments, Figure 13 An example sequence diagram for management of sensing quality of service is shown in FIG. 3. The procedure starts with a WD 22 application or an entity in the core network (CN) (e.g., an AMF) requesting a particular sensing service. In the former case, the WD 22 sends a request to an entity in the CN. In the latter case, the entity in the CN sends a request to the WD 22 to initiate a sensing service. For example, a vehicle or a human user can initiate certain applications on a device (e.g., a WD 22). Such a WD 22 can currently be served by a first network node 16 (NW1 16) (e.g., a base station) within a RAN or it can be remotely connected to a second network node 16 (NW2 16) (e.g., an AMF, MME, etc.) in the CN (a third party). In one example, such a sensing service request sent by the WD 22 or by the entity can use the same non-access stratum (NAS) signaling as used for requesting a communication or connection service for communication between the WD 22 and the NW2 16. In another example, the sensing service request can use a different signaling mechanism or protocol that can be dedicated for requesting a sensing service for communication between the WD 22 and the NW2 16.

[0109] Next, NW2 15 in CN, either alone or using, for example, from Figure 11 The network node 16 (e.g., a base station (network node)) in the RAN requests a Radio Access Bearer (RAB) and, according to the specified extended existing signaling procedure, requests a sensed Radio Access Bearer from NW1 16 in the RAN. At this time, NW1 16 in the RAN extracts the QSCI transmitted with the signal and consults... Figure 12 and Figure 14 The table in the middle.

[0110] like Figure 12 As indicated in the table, the QSCI value can indicate at least priority, distance resolution, unambiguous distance, velocity resolution, and unambiguous velocity. The RAN can use priority values ​​similar to the priority values ​​associated with the standardized QCI values ​​of radio access bearers used for communication purposes in cellular systems such as LTE, NR, etc.

[0111] For example, when scheduling WD 22 for sensing purposes using radio resources (e.g., number of resource blocks, time resources, transmit power, bandwidth, etc.) in the uplink and / or downlink, the scheduler for NW1 16 (e.g., NN, gNB, etc.) in the RAN can use priority values. NW1 16 (e.g., NN, gNB, etc.) in the RAN can also use... Figure 12 The table is used to semi-statically allocate radio resources to the WD 22 for periodic or semi-persistent sense signal transmit mode (SSTP) and / or for sense signal receive mode (SSRP).

[0112] In some embodiments, radio resources in the SSTP and SSRP are allocated for transmitting and receiving sensing signals at specific periods (e.g., every 40ms). The SSTP and SSRP can be configured to begin at a specific reference time (Tr), such as the current time of WD 22, a specific UTC time, or cell timing such as SFN#X1, slot number #X2, subframe number #X3, etc. The SSTP and SSRP can also end after a specific time period (Te) relative to Tr and / or after a specific number of periodic intervals. WD 22 can use the radio resources scheduled or allocated within the SSTP to transmit sensing signals (e.g., reference signals such as SSB, channels containing higher-layer data or control, etc.). WD 22 can also use the radio resources scheduled or allocated within the SSRP to receive sensing signals.

[0113] The distance and velocity parameters (e.g., specific QSCI) associated with the requested sensing service can be used by the NW116 (e.g., NN, gNB, etc.) in the RAN to determine the appropriate parameters. Figure 14from a table in the configuration message to determine the required radio resources for sensing (e.g., resources within the configured SSRP, SSTP, etc.).

[0114] Embodiment #2: Method for adapting radio resources based on QCI and QSCI

[0115] In some embodiments, assume that the NW1 16 in the RAN has been requested (e.g., by the NW2 15 in the CN) to allocate: a first set of radio resources (RR1) to the WD 22 for a legacy or traditional QCI-based communication service, and a second set of radio resources (RR2) to the WD 22 for a QSCI-based sensing service (as described above for embodiment #1). Here, QCI refers to the QoS class identifier for the communication service:

[0116] • In a first scenario, the NW1 16 can receive the requests to allocate RR1 and RR2 at different times:

[0117] o In one example, the NW1 16 receives a request to allocate RR2 while the WD 22 has already been allocated RR1 for performing communication operations (e.g., receiving and / or transmitting communication signals such as physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), etc.). The WD 22 can have already started or will start a communication service based on the allocated RR1;

[0118] o In another example, the NW1 16 receives a request to allocate RR1 while the WD 22 has already been allocated RR2 for performing sensing operations (e.g., receiving and / or transmitting sensing signals). The WD 22 can have already started or will start a sensing service based on the allocated RR2;

[0119] • In a second scenario, the requests to allocate RR1 and RR2 can be received by the NW1 16 at the same time or during partially overlapping time periods, e.g., from the same or different entities or nodes in the CN.

[0120] In the above scenarios, the WD 22 can perform communication and sensing operations during at least partially overlapping time periods. For simplicity, this is referred to as simultaneous sensing and communication operations. The radio resources allocated for the two services can still be orthogonal in time and / or frequency domain.

[0121] In the above scenarios, the QCI and / or QSCI of the requested communication and sensing services can be associated with very high quality of service, respectively. In this case, NW1 16 (e.g., a base station serving WD 22) can not always be able to allocate the necessary radio resources to enable both the communication and sensing services to meet their respective high quality of service requirements. For example, allocating radio resources to WD 22 can depend on one or more factors for NW1 16: available radio resources (e.g., cell capacity), current or expected available radio resources for a next particular time period, number of users served by NW1 16, etc.

[0122] In some embodiments, NW1 16 can adapt the radio resources allocated for the communication service and / or the sensing service based on one or more rules. The rules can be predefined or semi-statically configured by a network node 16 (e.g., by NW2 15). The rules can define a relationship or association between QCI and QSCI when both the communication and sensing services are performed during at least partially overlapping time periods. This can also require negotiation (e.g., exchange of signaling messages) between NW1 16 and one or more entities, such as NW2 15 in the CN, or between WD 22 and one or more entities, such as NW2 15 in the CN, etc.

[0123] In some embodiments, WD 22 requesting the communication and sensing services and / or one or more entities in the CN (e.g., NW2 15) can adapt the QCI and / or QSCI of the ongoing service or the service(s) to be requested based on one or more rules. As mentioned above, the rules can define a relationship or association between QCI and QSCI when both the communication and sensing services are performed during at least partially overlapping time periods. This can also require negotiation (e.g., exchange of signaling messages) between multiple entities in the CN (e.g., nodes managing QCI and QSCI) or between WD 22 and one or more entities in the CN, such as NW2 15.

[0124] An example of rules associating a set of QSCI and a set of QCI is shown below in Table 1.

[0125] Table 1

[0126]

[0127] Table 1 correlates QSCI values (based on their requirements on maximum distance, distance resolution, maximum speed, speed resolution, etc.) for sensing services and QCI values (based on their requirements on packet delay budget, maximum packet loss rate tolerated, maximum data burst volume, data rate averaging window, etc.) for communication services. This mapping can be used for QCI and / or QSCI adaptation during simultaneous sensing and communication operation scenarios.

[0128] It is assumed that the smallest QSCI value corresponds to the most stringent QoS requirement associated with sensing services, and the largest QSCI value corresponds to the least stringent (or most relaxed) QoS requirement associated with sensing services. This is also shown in Table 1. Figure 12 and Figure 14 It can be assumed that the smallest QCI value corresponds to the most stringent QoS requirement associated with communication services (e.g., GBR for high resolution video), and the largest QCI value corresponds to the least stringent (or most relaxed) QoS requirement associated with communication services (e.g., non-GBR for best effort packet transmission). Table 1 shows that NW1 16 can allocate radio resources to WD 22 for sensing operation, enabling WD 22 to meet sensing service requirements associated with QSCI = 1, but can allocate limited radio resources to the same WD 22 for communication operation, enabling WD 22 to at most meet communication service requirements associated with QCI = 1.

[0129] In one example, the rules (e.g., mapping table) can be predefined (e.g., it can be static based on base station radio resource capacity). In another example, the rules (e.g., mapping table) can be semi-statically or even dynamically updated based on available radio resources, cell load (such as the number of WDs 22 served by the cell), the number of WDs 22 in the cell that use radio resources for both sensing and communication services, etc. The mapping table, for example, can be created by NW1 16, and information related to the mapping table can be signaled to one or more entities in the CN and / or WD 22. In another example, one or more entities in the CN can send information related to the mapping table to WD 22.

[0130] In one example, the WD 22 and / or one or more entities in the CN can determine or adapt (if already in use) the QSCI and / or QCI based on the mapping table, taking into account the limitation of radio resources in the cell. Thus, in this case, the NW1 16 can generally receive a request from one or more entities in the CN to allocate radio resources, possibly provided by the NW1 16, to the WD 22. Upon receiving the request, the NW1 16 also allocates the radio resources to the WD 22 for both sensing operations and communication operations in accordance with the QoS requirements of the two types of services requested.

[0131] In another example, the WD 22 and / or one or more entities in the CN can request the NW1 16 to allocate radio resources without considering any relationship / mapping between the QSCI and the QCI. In this case, depending on the amount of radio resources needed, the NW1 16 can not directly allocate radio resources to the WD 22 for sensing operations and communication operations. For example, the NW1 16 can suggest that it can allocate radio resources for sensing operations and communication operations to the WD 22 according to a mapping between a set of QSCI and a set of QCI. In one example, one or more entities in the CN can adapt the values of the QSCI and / or QCI and send an updated request to the NW1 16 for allocating radio resources based on the adapted values. In another example, one or more entities in the CN can decide to drop one of the two services (sensing or communication) and inform the NW1 16 to allocate radio resources only for the service that has been reserved. In the latter example, the service that can not be managed with a lower QCI or QSCI can be reserved while the other service can be dropped. In both cases, one or more entities in the CN can adapt the values of the QSCI and / or QCI or drop one of the two services autonomously or after communicating with the WD 22 (e.g., via non-access stratum (NAS) signaling).

[0132] As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the concepts described herein can be embodied as a method, data processing system, computer program product, and / or computer storage media storing an executable computer program. Figure 15An example of a computer program product 96 including a computer-readable device is shown. On this computer-readable device, a computer program 98 may be stored in non-transient memory. The computer program can cause processing circuitry to perform methods according to the embodiments described herein. In this example, the computer program product 96 takes the form of a removable solid-state memory, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive. As explained above, the computer program product may also be embodied in the memory of a device. Although the computer program 98 is schematically shown herein as part of a removable solid-state memory, the computer program may be stored in any manner suitable for a computer program product, such as another type of removable solid-state memory, or an optical disc, such as a CD (compressed disc), DVD (digital versatile disc), or Blu-ray disc.

[0133] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram illustrating components of a processing system 100 configurable to read and execute instructions of a computer program 98 according to one embodiment. The processing system 100 may include... Figure 3 All or part of the corresponding elements of the network node 16 and / or wireless device 22 shown herein, or may be implemented in other system elements. The processing circuitry 102 may be provided using any combination of one or more of a suitable central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), multiprocessor, neural processing unit (NPU), microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), etc., capable of executing software instructions 104 stored in memory 106, and thus may be a computer program product 96. The processing circuitry 102 may optionally be implemented using an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. The processing circuitry 102 may be configured to perform embodiments of the methods described herein. The processing circuitry may also be configured to access remote, local, or other memory 108, which may include operating system instructions. Memory 106 and / or memory 108 may be any combination of random access memory (RAM) and / or read-only memory (ROM). Memory 106 may also include non-transient persistent memory, for example, which may be any one or a combination of magnetic storage, optical storage, solid-state storage, or even remotely mounted memory. Processing circuitry 102 can also communicate with input / output (I / O) interface 110 to enable a user to interact with processing system 100. Therefore, some embodiments include computer program product 96 and computer program 98, as well as a computer-readable device including non-transient memory in which the computer program (98) is stored. Computer program 98 includes computer instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform any of the methods disclosed herein.

[0134] Accordingly, the concepts described herein can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects all generally referred to herein as a "circuit" or "module". Any process, step, action and / or functionality described herein can be performed by, and / or associated to, a corresponding module, which can be implemented in software and / or firmware and / or hardware. Furthermore, the disclosure can take the form of a computer program product on a tangible computer readable storage medium having computer program code embodied in the medium that can be executed by a computer. Any suitable computer readable medium can be utilized including hard disks, CD-ROMs, electronic storage devices, optical storage devices, or magnetic storage devices.

[0135] The computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions that are executed on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram block or blocks.

[0136] The computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions that are executed on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram block or blocks.

[0137] The computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions that are executed on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram block or blocks.

[0138] It should be understood that the functions / acts noted in the blocks can occur out of the order noted in the operational illustrations. For example, two blocks noted in succession can in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks can sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality / acts involved. Although some diagrams include arrows on communication paths to show the primary direction of communication, it is to be understood that communication can occur in the opposite direction to the arrows.

[0139] Computer program code for carrying out operations of the concepts described herein can be written in an object oriented programming language, such as Python, Java®, or C++. However, the computer program code for carrying out operations of the disclosure can also be written in a conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C" programming language. The program code can execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer. In the latter scenario, the remote computer can be connected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection can be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

[0140] Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein with respect to the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings. It can be understood that each combination and sub-combination of the embodiments literally described and illustrated would be an excessive repetition and obfuscation. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any manner and / or combination, this specification, including the drawings, should be interpreted as constituting a full written description of all combinations and sub-combinations of the embodiments described herein, as well as a full written description of the manner and process of making and using them, and should support claims to any such combinations or sub-combinations.

[0141] Abbreviations that can be used in the preceding description include:

[0142] AMF Access and Mobility Management Function

[0143] JCAS Joint Communication and Sensing

[0144] NAS Non-Access Stratum

[0145] PUSCH Physical Uplink Shared Channel

[0146] QoSS Quality of Sensing Service

[0147] QSCI Quality of Sensing Class Identifier

[0148] RSRP Reference Signal Received Power

[0149] SFN System Frame Number

[0150] SL Sidelink

[0151] SNR Signal to Noise Ratio

[0152] UE User Equipment

[0153] UL Uplink

[0154] WD Wireless Device

[0155] Those skilled in the art can understand that the embodiments described herein are not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein. In addition, unless otherwise noted, it is noted that all drawings are not drawn to scale. Various modifications and changes can be made as apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A method performed by a wireless device, WD (22) configured to communicate with a network node (16), the method comprising: receiving, from the network node (16), and transmitting, to the network node (16), at least one of a sensing service capability request; and receiving, from the network node (16), and transmitting, to the network node (16), at least one of an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability in response to the at least one of the transmitting and the receiving (S136) of the sensing service capability request, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The indicator indicates which of a plurality of sensing Quality of Service, QoS, categories the first set of at least one sensing service capability belongs to.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, The QoS category depends on a sensing service to be provided by the WD (22), the sensing service comprising at least one of an object location, an object tracking, a collision avoidance, an object classification, an object shape, an object physical dimension, and an object mobility status.

4. The method of any of claims 1-3, comprising: receiving, from the network node (16), a first indication of at least one of a sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and a sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP, in response to the indicator transmitted by the WD (22).

5. The method of any of claims 1-4, comprising: receiving, from the network node (16), a second indication of a sensing signal repetition pattern.

6. The method of any of claims 1-5, comprising: receiving, from the network node (16), a sensing resource allocation.

7. The method of any of claims 1-6, comprising: receiving, from the network node (16), a request to configure the WD (22) with a second set of at least one sensing service capability, the second set being one of the same set as the first set and a different set than the first set.

8. The method of any of claims 1-7, comprising: receiving, from the network node (16), a configuration to use a communication signal for passive sensing.

9. The method of any one of claims 1-8, wherein, The network node (16) is one of a Radio Access Network, RAN, node and a Core Network, CN, node (15).

10. A wireless device, WD (22), configured to communicate with a Radio Access Network node (16), the WD (22) comprising a radio interface (82), the radio interface (82) being configured to: receive, from the network node, and transmit, to the network node, at least one of a sensing service capability request; and receive, from the network node (16), and transmit, to the network node (16), at least one of an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability in response to the at least one of the transmitting and the receiving of the sensing service capability request, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

11. The WD (22) of claim 10, wherein The indicator indicates which of a plurality of sensing Quality of Service, QoS, categories the first set of at least one sensing service capability belongs to.

12. The WD (22) of Claim 11, wherein The QoS class depends on a sensing service to be provided by the WD (22), the sensing service being one of object location, object tracking, collision avoidance, object classification.

13. The WD (22) of any of claims 10-12, wherein, The radio interface (82) is configured to receive, from the network node (16), a first indication of at least one of a sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and a sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP, in response to the indicator transmitted by the WD (22).

14. The WD (22) of any of claims 10-13, wherein, The radio interface (82) is configured to receive, from the network node (16), a second indication of a sensing signal repetition pattern.

15. The WD (22) of any of claims 10-14, wherein The radio interface (82) is configured to receive, from the network node (16), a sensing resource allocation.

16. The WD (22) of any of claims 10-15, wherein The radio interface (82) is configured to receive, from the network node (16), a request to configure the WD (22) with a second set of at least one sensing service capability, the second set being one of the same set as the first set and a different set than the first set.

17. The WD (22) of any of claims 10-16, wherein The radio interface (82) is configured to receive, from the network node (16), a configuration to use a communication signal for passive sensing.

18. The WD (22) of any of claims 10-17, wherein, The network node (16) is one of a radio access network, RAN, node (16) and a core network, CN, node (15).

19. A method in a radio access network, RAN, node (16) configured to communicate with a WD (22) and a core network, CN, node (15), the method comprising: receiving (S138), from the CN node (15), and transmitting, to the WD (22), at least one of a sensing service capability request; and receiving (S140), from the CN node (15), and transmitting, to the WD (22), at least one of an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability in response to the at least one of the transmitting and the receiving of the sensing service capability request, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, The indicator indicates which of a plurality of Quality of Sensing Service, QoSS, classes the first set of at least one sensing service capability belongs to.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein, The QoS class depends on a sensing service to be provided by the WD (22), the sensing service including at least one of object location, object tracking, collision avoidance, object classification.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein, The sensing service priority is a priority to be applied by the WD (22) between providing the sensing service and providing communication with at least one of the RAN node (16) and another WD (22).

23. The method of any of claims 20-22, comprising: receiving, from the CN node (15), and transmitting, to the WD (22), at least one of an allocation of priority between different QoSS classes. The QoS class depends on a sensing service to be provided by the WD (22), the sensing service being one of object location, object tracking, collision avoidance, object classification. The radio interface (82) is configured to receive, from the network node (16), a first indication of at least one of a sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and a sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP, in response to the indicator transmitted by the WD (22). The radio interface (82) is configured to receive, from the network node (16), a second indication of a sensing signal repetition pattern. The radio interface (82) is configured to receive, from the network node (16), a sensing resource allocation. The radio interface (82) is configured to receive, from the network node (16), a request to configure the WD (22) with a second set of at least one sensing service capability, the second set being one of the same set as the first set and a different set than the first set. The radio interface (82) is configured to receive, from the network node (16), a configuration to use a communication signal for passive sensing. The network node (16) is one of a radio access network, RAN, node (16) and a core network, CN, node (15).

19. A method in a radio access network, RAN, node (16) configured to communicate with a WD (22) and a core network, CN, node (15), the method comprising: receiving (S138), from the CN node (15), and transmitting, to the WD (22), at least one of a sensing service capability request; and receiving (S140), from the CN node (15), and transmitting, to the WD (22), at least one of an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability in response to the at least one of the transmitting and the receiving of the sensing service capability request, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability. The indicator indicates which of a plurality of Quality of Sensing Service, QoSS, classes the first set of at least one sensing service capability belongs to. The QoS class depends on a sensing service to be provided by the WD (22), the sensing service including at least one of object location, object tracking, collision avoidance, object classification. The sensing service priority is a priority to be applied by the WD (22) between providing the sensing service and providing communication with at least one of the RAN node (16) and another WD (22). receiving, from the CN node (15), and transmitting, to the WD (22), at least one of an allocation of priority between different QoSS classes.

24. The method of any of claims 19-23, comprising: receiving, from the CN node (15), and transmitting, to the WD (22), at least one of a first indication of at least one of a sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and a sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP.

25. The method of any of claims 19-24, comprising: receiving, from the CN node (15), and transmitting, to the WD (22), at least one of a second indication of a sensing signal repetition pattern.

26. The method of any of claims 19-25, comprising: receiving, from the CN node (15), and transmitting, to the WD (22), at least one of a sensing resource allocation.

27. The method of any of claims 19-26, comprising: receiving, from the CN node (15), and transmitting, to the WD (22), at least one of a second indication of an association between an indicator and a quality of service class identifier, QCI.

28. The method of any one of claims 19-27, wherein, The indicator is based at least in part on at least one of resource availability, cell load, and a number of WDs (22) in the cell that are capable of both sensing and communicating.

29. The method of any of claims 19-28, comprising: receiving, from the CN node (15), and transmitting, to the WD (22), at least one of the sensing resource allocation based at least in part on the association between the indicator and the quality of service class identifier, QCI.

30. A radio access network, RAN, node (16) configured to communicate with a WD (22) and a core network, CN, node, the RAN node (16) comprising a radio interface (62), the radio interface (62) configured to: receive, from the CN node (15), and transmit, to the WD (22), at least one of a sensing service capability request; and receive, from the CN node (15), and transmit, to the WD (22), at least one of an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability in response to the at least one of the transmitting and the receiving of the sensing service capability request, a sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

31. The RAN node (16) of claim 30, wherein, The indicator indicates which of a plurality of sensing quality of service, QoS, class categories the first set of at least one sensing service capability belongs to.

32. The RAN node (16) of claim 31, wherein, The QoS class category depends on a sensing service to be provided by the WD (22), a sensing service comprising at least one of object location, object tracking, collision avoidance, object classification.

33. The RAN node (16) of claim 32, wherein, The sensing service priority is a priority to be applied by the WD (22) between providing the sensing service and providing communication with at least one of the RAN node (15) and another WD (22).

34. The RAN node (16) of any of claims 31-33, wherein, The radio interface (62) is configured to receive, from the CN node (15), and transmit, to the WD (22), at least one of an allocation of priority between different QoS class categories.

35. The RAN node (16) of any of claims 30-34, wherein, The radio interface (62) is configured to at least one of receive, from the CN node (15), and transmit, to the WD (22), a first indication of at least one of a sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and a sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP.

36. The RAN node (16) of any of claims 30-35, wherein, The radio interface (62) is configured to at least one of receive, from the CN node (15), and transmit, to the WD (22), a second indication of a sensing signal repetition pattern.

37. The RAN node (16) of any of claims 30-36, wherein, The radio interface (62) is configured to at least one of receive, from the CN node (15), and transmit, to the WD (22), a sensing resource allocation.

38. The RAN node (16) of any of claims 30-37, wherein, The radio interface (62) is configured to at least one of receive, from the CN node (15), and transmit, to the WD (22), a second indication of an association between an indicator and a quality of service class identifier, QCI.

39. The RAN node (16) of any of claims 30-38, wherein, The indicator is based at least in part on at least one of resource availability, cell load, and a number of WDs (22) in the cell that are capable of both sensing and communicating.

40. The RAN node (16) of any of claims 30-39, comprising: At least one of receiving, from the CN node (15), and transmitting, to the WD (22), the sensing resource allocation is based at least in part on the association between the indicator and the quality of service class identifier, QCI.

41. A method in a core network, CN, node (15) configured to communicate with a radio access network, RAN, node (16), the method comprising: transmitting (S142), to the RAN node (16), an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability, a sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein, The indicator indicates which of a plurality of quality of sensing, QoS, class categories the first set of at least one sensing service capability belongs to.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein, The QoS class category depends on a sensing service to be provided by the WD (22), a sensing service being one of an object location, an object tracking, a collision avoidance, an object classification.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein, The sensing service priority is a priority to be applied by the WD (22) between providing the sensing service and providing communication with at least one of the RAN node (16) and another WD (22).

45. The method of any of claims 41-43, comprising: transmitting, to the RAN node (16), an allocation of priorities between different QoS class categories.

46. The method of any of claims 40-44, comprising: transmitting, to the RAN node (16), a first indication of at least one of a sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and a sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP.

47. The method of any one of claims 40-45, comprising: transmitting, to the RAN node (16), a second indication of a sensing signal repetition pattern.

48. The method of any one of claims 40-46, comprising: transmitting, to the RAN node (16), a sensing resource allocation.

49. The method of any one of claims 40-47, comprising: transmitting, to the RAN node (16), a second indication of an association between an indicator and a quality of service class identifier, QCI.

50. The method of any one of claims 47-48, wherein, The indicator is based at least in part on at least one of resource availability, cell load, and a number of WDs (22) in the cell that are capable of both sensing and communicating.

51. The method of any of claims 47-48, comprising: The sensing resource allocation is sent to the RAN node (16) based at least in part on the association between the indicator and a quality of service class identifier, QCI.

52. A core network, CN, node (15) configured to communicate with a radio access network, RAN, node (16), the CN node (15) comprising a radio interface (94) configured to: send, to the RAN node (16), an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability, a sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

53. The CN node (15) of claim 51, wherein, The indicator indicates which of a plurality of sensing quality of service, QoS, classes the first set of at least one sensing service capability belongs to.

54. The CN node (15) of claim 52, wherein, The QoS class depends on a sensing service to be provided by the WD (22), a sensing service being one of object location, object tracking, collision avoidance, object classification.

55. The CN node (15) of claim 53, wherein The sensing service priority is a priority to be applied by the WD (22) between providing the sensing service and providing communication with at least one of the RAN node (16) and another WD (22).

56. The CN node (15) of any of claims 52-54, wherein, The radio interface (94) is configured to send, to the RAN node (16), an allocation of priority between different QoS classes.

57. The CN node (15) of any of claims 51-55, wherein, The radio interface (94) is configured to send, to the RAN node (16), a first indication of at least one of a sensing signal transmission pattern, SSTP, and a sensing signal reception pattern, SSRP.

58. The CN node (15) of any of claims 51-56, wherein, The radio interface (94) is configured to send, to the RAN node (16), a second indication of a sensing signal repetition pattern.

59. The CN node (15) of any of claims 51-57, wherein, The radio interface (94) is configured to send, to the RAN node (16), a sensing resource allocation.

60. The CN node (15) of any of claims 51-58, wherein, The radio interface (94) is configured to send, to the RAN node (16), a second indication of an association between the indicator and a quality of service class identifier, QCI.

61. The CN node (15) of any of claims 51-59, wherein, The indicator is based at least in part on at least one of resource availability, cell load, and a number of WDs (22) in the cell that are capable of both sensing and communicating.

62. The CN node (15) of any of claims 51-60, comprising: The sensing resource allocation is sent to the RAN node (16) based at least in part on the association between the indicator and a quality of service class identifier, QCI.

63. A computer program (98) comprising instructions which, when executed on a processor of a wireless communication device, cause the wireless communication device to: at least one of receive, from a network node (16), a sensing service capability request and send (S134), to the network node (16), a sensing service capability request; and at least one of receive, from a network node (16), a sensing service capability request and send (S134), to the network node (16), a sensing service capability request; and transmitting, to the network node (16), and receiving, from the network node (16), at least one of an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

64. A computer program (98) comprising instructions, which when executed on a processor of a Radio Access Network, RAN, node (16), causes the RAN node (15) to: receive (S138), from a core network, CN, node (15), and transmit, to a wireless device, WD, (22), at least one of a sensing service capability request; and in response to the at least one of the transmitting and the receiving of the sensing service capability request, receive (S140), from the CN node (15), and transmit, to the WD (22), at least one of an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed range capability.

65. A computer program (98) comprising instructions, which when executed on a processor of a core network, CN, node (15), causes the CN node (15) to: transmit (S142), to a Radio Access Network, RAN, node (16), an indicator indicating a first set of at least one sensing service capability, the sensing service capability being one of a sensing service priority, a sensing resource availability, a distance resolution capability, a distance capability, a speed resolution capability, and a speed distance capability.

66. A computer program product (96) comprising a computer program (98) according to any of claims 63-65 and a computer readable storage medium on which the computer program (98) is stored.

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