Method for communicating sensing and communicating signals

Abstract

A method of communicating sensing and communication signals between a base station and a user equipment is provided. The method includes transmitting a first signal including a sensing signal during a first radio resource allocation of a radio resource allocation sequence allocated for sensing; and transmitting a second signal comprising the sensing signal and the communication signal during the further radio resource allocation of the sequence.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of communicating sensing and communication signals between a base station and user equipment.

[0002] Glossary RAN - Radio Access Network ISAC - Integrated Sensing and Communication RF - Radio Frequency AI - Artificial Intelligence MIMO - Multiple Input Multiple Output BPSK - Binary Phase Shift Keying DL - Downlink UE - User Equipment BS - Base Station ABS - Advanced Base Station BTS - Base Transceiver Station BSS - Basic Service Set ESS - Extended Service Set AP - Access Point NB - Node B (Radio Base Station Receiver) eNB - Evolved Node B gNB - Next Generation Node B TRP - Transmission and Reception Point PS - Processing Server TE - Terminal Equipment MS - Mobile Station MT - Mobile Terminal UT - User Terminal SS - Subscriber Station PDA - Personal Digital Assistant CDMA - Code Division Multiple Access FDMA - Frequency Division Multiple Access TDMA - Time Division Multiple Access OFDMA - Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access SC-FDMA - Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access MC-FDMA - Multi Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access UTRA - Universal Terrestrial Radio Access GSM - Global System for Mobile Communications GPRS - General Packet Radio Service EDGE - Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers E-UTRA - Evolved UTRA UMTS - Universal Mobile Telecommunications System E-UMTS - Evolved UMTS 3GPP - Third Generation Partnership Project DL - Downlink UL - Uplink LTE - Long Term Evolution (4G) LTE-A - LTE-Advanced NR - New Radio (5G) FDD - Frequency Division Duplex TDD - Time Division Duplex CRS - Cell-specific Reference Signal CSI-RS - Channel State Information Reference Signal FPGA - Field Programmable Gate Array ASIC - Application Specific Integrated Circuit DSP - Digital Signal Processor CD-ROM - Compact Disc Read Only Memory DVD-ROM - Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory ROM - Read Only Memory RAM - Random Access Memory EEPROM - Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory EPROM - Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. BACKGROUND

[0003] Future telecommunication or telecommunication network systems can integrate both sensing technology and communication technology. Such a network transmits both signals for sensing and signals for communication. For example, for sensing, the network can utilize radar-like signals for the purpose of detecting and tracking nearby objects. For example, for communication, the network can utilize known communication systems, such as cellular communication systems.

[0004] Signal transmission in a telecommunication network is typically multiplexed. For example, there can be a series of time slots that can be used for signal transmission. Each time slot can then be used to transmit a different signal. For example, a first time slot can be used to transmit a sensing signal. A second time slot can be used to transmit a communication signal. A third time slot can be used to transmit a different communication signal. A fourth time slot can be used to transmit a different sensing signal, and so on. Additionally or alternatively, multiplexing can be in the frequency domain. A general time or frequency slot can be referred to as a radio resource allocation.

[0005] ISAC techniques can simultaneously serve traditional wireless communication services and act as sensor nodes (e.g., by providing radar-like sensing functionality) to provide environmental sensing functionality such as intruder detection, unmanned aerial vehicle monitoring, weather forecasting, etc. ISAC techniques can facilitate communication via one or more of: beamforming with MIMO arrays; AI model creation and training; and modulation scheme adaptation. ISAC techniques can enable networks to quickly react to changing needs of their subscribers. The sensing and communication aspects of ISAC techniques can each include common elements such as beamforming and phased antenna arrays. ISAC techniques can also include channel estimation, symbol detection, and object detection functionality, where these functionalities are provided by common hardware.

[0006] In prior art methods of using such telecommunications networks, it is considered impossible to transmit multiple signals in a single radio resource allocation. For example, in prior art networks, if a sensing signal and a communication signal are transmitted in a single radio resource allocation, it is impossible for a receiver to decode the communication signal. This means that in such networks, available radio resource allocations must be divided between transmission and communication. That is, in such prior art networks, it is considered impossible to simultaneously transmit a sensing signal and a communication signal. This significantly impacts the efficiency of such networks.

[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for a method of using a telecommunications network that allows for the simultaneous transmission of both a sensing signal and a communication signal without impairing the ability of a receiver to decode the communication signal. Such a method would have the benefit of improving energy efficiency and improving the efficiency of use of limited radio resources. SUMMARY

[0008] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method of using a telecommunications network that allows for the simultaneous transmission of both a sensing signal and a communication signal without impairing the ability of a receiver to decode the communication signal. Such a method would have the benefit of improving energy efficiency and improving the efficiency of use of limited radio resources.

[0009] A first aspect of the present invention provides a method of communicating a sensing signal and a communication signal between a base station and a user equipment. The method comprises: (a) communicating a first signal comprising a sensing signal during a first radio resource allocation of a sequence of radio resource allocations allocated for sensing, and (b) communicating a second signal comprising the sensing signal and a communication signal during a further radio resource allocation of the sequence.

[0010] The method has the advantage that the second signal, comprising a sensing signal and a communication signal, can be decomposed into separate resulting sensing signal and resulting communication signal. The decomposition can be performed by, for example, a user equipment. The decomposition can use the first sensing signal. The ability to decompose the second signal allows a system using the method to transmit a communication signal (i.e. a signal that can become a resulting communication signal) during a further radio resource allocation, thereby improving energy efficiency and efficiency of use of limited radio resources.

[0011] The method can comprise repeating step (b) one or more times during the sequence of one or more radio resource allocations.

[0012] The method can comprise periodically determining the measure of the channel conditions.

[0013] The method can comprise repeating step (a) and starting a new sequence of radio resource allocations allocated for sensing if the measure of the channel conditions is outside a predetermined range.

[0014] Once the first signal comprising a sensing signal has been transmitted, a system using the method can continue to transmit further signals comprising a sensing signal and a communication signal. This can continue as long as the channel conditions are suitable. Additionally or alternatively, this can continue as long as the channel conditions remain similar. That is, as long as the channel conditions are not substantially altered, it can continue. Increasing the number of times step (b) is performed further improves energy efficiency and efficiency of use of limited radio resources by increasing the number of communication signals that can be transmitted.

[0015] The measure of the channel conditions can be one or more of the following: signal-to-noise ratio, signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio, reference signal received power, reference signal received quality, block error rate, channel quality indicator, physical downlink control channel error rate, received signal strength indicator, modulation error rate and / or error vector magnitude.

[0016] The predetermined range can be decided according to a scheduler of the base station.

[0017] The predetermined range can be a range that ensures data transmission by binary phase shift keying.

[0018] In other words, if the measure of the channel conditions indicates that the recovered signal will be corrupted to a degree at which data transmission by BPSK is prone to errors or impossible, the base station can start a new sequence by transmitting a sensing signal alone in the next resource allocation.

[0019] The method can comprise repeating step (b) a predetermined number of times.

[0020] The method can comprise repeating step (a) and starting a new sequence of radio resource allocations being allocated for sensing.

[0021] Once the first signal comprising the sensing signal has been transmitted, the system using the method can continue to transmit further signals comprising the sensing signal and the communication signal. This can continue for a predetermined number of times. The predetermined number can be determined in dependence on an expectation of how long the channel conditions will remain suitable and / or how long the channel will remain similar. Increasing the number of times step (b) is performed further improves energy efficiency and efficiency of use of the limited radio resources by increasing the number of communication signals that can be transmitted.

[0022] The first radio resource allocation can precede the further radio resource allocations in time.

[0023] The first radio resource allocation can be temporarily succeeded by one or more of the further radio resource allocations.

[0024] Thus, even if the first sensing signal is transmitted later, it can be possible to resolve and / or recover the resulting communication signal from the signals comprising the sensing signal and the communication signal.

[0025] If the sensing signal is received separately later, the UE can store the received combined signal and subtract the sensing signal once it is received.

[0026] This can be useful if the combined signal has been transmitted / scheduled at a time when the base station identifies that the channel conditions have changed. The combined signal can be transmitted in any case and the sensing signal can be provided separately later to enable the UE to retrieve the communication signal component of the combined signal.

[0027] The method can comprise subtracting the signal of step (a) of a given sequence from the signals of any performance of step (b) of the given sequence of radio resource allocations being allocated for sensing to produce a resulting communication signal.

[0028] This can be used as a resolution to recover separate sensing and communication signals from the signals comprising the sensing signal and the communication signal. The resolved communication signal can be the resulting communication signal.

[0029] A second aspect of the application provides a user equipment of an integrated sensing and communication network for performing the method.

[0030] A third aspect of the application provides a base station of an integrated sensing and communication network for performing the method.

[0031] A fourth aspect of the application provides computer software comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method.

[0032] In a fifth aspect, a method of communicating sensing signals and communication signals between a base station and a user equipment (UE) is provided. The method includes communicating wireless signals from the base station to the UE during a first allocation of radio resources. The wireless signals include a first communication signal, a second communication signal, and a sensing signal. The method also includes communicating wireless signals from the base station to the UE during a second allocation of radio resources. The method also includes communicating wireless signals from the base station to the UE during a third allocation of radio resources. Channel conditions between the base station and the UE are different between each of the first, second, and third allocations of radio resources.

[0033] In other words, the channel conditions are different between the first and second allocations of radio resources, the channel conditions are different between the first and third allocations of radio resources, and the channel conditions are different between the second and third allocations of radio resources.

[0034] The allocations of radio resources can include time slots and frequency channels.

[0035] Multiple allocations of radio resources can be designated for sensing.

[0036] The first, second, and third allocations can be ordered in time as first, second, and third.

[0037] The method can be performed by the UE.

[0038] The method can also include processing, by the UE, the wireless signals received during the first, second, and third allocations of radio resources, and isolating the first and second communication signals.

[0039] Processing the wireless signals can include solving a system of equations based on the wireless signals received during the first, second, and third allocations of radio resources and the respective first channel conditions during the first allocation of radio resources, the second channel conditions during the second allocation of radio resources, and the third channel conditions during the third allocation of radio resources.

[0040] The method can also include determining a first channel condition metric during the first allocation of radio resources, a second channel condition metric during the second allocation of radio resources, and a third channel condition metric during the third allocation of radio resources.

[0041] The first, second and / or third channel condition metrics can be one or more of the following: a signal-to-noise ratio, a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio, a reference signal received power, a reference signal received quality, a block error rate, a channel quality indicator, a physical downlink control channel error rate, a received signal strength indicator, a modulation error rate and / or an error vector magnitude.

[0042] The method can be performed by a base station.

[0043] The method can further comprise modifying the channel condition between the first radio resource allocation and the second radio resource allocation and / or between the second radio resource allocation and the third radio resource allocation.

[0044] The method can further comprise determining a first channel condition metric during the first radio resource allocation and a second channel condition metric during the second radio resource allocation, determining whether a measure of a difference in channel between the first radio resource allocation and the second radio resource allocation exceeds a threshold value, and if not, modifying the channel condition of the second radio resource allocation.

[0045] The method can further comprise determining a second channel condition metric during the second radio resource allocation and a third channel condition metric during the third radio resource allocation, determining whether a measure of a difference in channel between the second radio resource allocation and the third radio resource allocation exceeds a threshold value, and if not, modifying the channel condition of the third radio resource allocation.

[0046] Modifying the channel condition can comprise one or more of the following: transmitting the wireless signal using different transmit and / or receive antennas of the base station; and steering radio frequency components at the transmitter and / or receiver of the base station.

[0047] The combined wireless signal can comprise a first communication signal (C1), a second communication signal (C2) and a sensing signal (S).

[0048] The combined signal (C1+C2+S) can be transmitted from the entire antenna array. Alternatively, some antennas can transmit S+C1 and other antennas can transmit C2. Alternatively, some antennas can transmit S+C2 and other antennas can transmit C1. Alternatively, the arrangement can be a mixture of these options.

[0049] The method can further comprise receiving reflections of the sensing signal at the base station. The received signals can be different between time slots. The difference between the received reflections between one time slot and the next can be used to determine information about the environment.

[0050] In a sixth aspect, there is also provided a UE configured to perform any of the methods described above.

[0051] In a seventh aspect, there is also provided a base station configured to perform any of the methods described above.

[0052] In an eighth aspect, there is also provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform any of the methods described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0053] Figure 1 An exemplary telecommunications system is shown.

[0054] Figure 2 An exemplary radio resource allocation multiplex diagram is shown.

[0055] Figure 3 An exemplary telecommunications method is shown.

[0056] Figure 4 An exemplary radio resource allocation multiplex diagram is shown.

[0057] Figure 5 An exemplary telecommunications method is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] Figure 1 An exemplary telecommunications system 100 is shown, comprising a base station 101, one or more sensing targets 102A, 102B, 102C, and one or more communication targets or user equipment (UE) 103A, 103B. The system also comprises sensing channels 111A, 111B, 111C and communication channels 112A and 112B.

[0059] Although the channels are depicted as being between the base station 101 and the sensing or communication targets, the sensing and communication signals transmitted along such channels can be received by any of the targets. In particular, the sensing signals transmitted along the channels 111A, 111B and 111C can be received by the UE 103A or 103B. Thus, if a communication signal is transmitted along a communication channel (e.g. channel 112A) at the same time as a sensing signal is transmitted along a sensing channel, the receiving UE (e.g. UE 103A) can not be able to decode the communication signal due to interference from the sensing signal.

[0060] Figure 2 An exemplary radio resource allocation multiplex diagram 200 is shown, having a frequency axis 201 and a time axis 202. The time axis 202 is divided into a sequence of time slots 210, each of which is a radio resource allocation.

[0061] Although time domain multiplexing is shown, it is contemplated herein that frequency domain multiplexing can additionally or alternatively be employed. For example, the frequency axis 201 can additionally or alternatively be divided into a sequence of frequency time slots, each of the sequence of frequency time slots being a radio resource allocation. If both frequency domain multiplexing and time domain multiplexing are employed, then a combined time-frequency time slot can be a radio resource allocation.

[0062] With continued reference to Figure 2 The shaded time slots (e.g., time slots 211A, 211B, 211F, and 211O) are communication only time slots. The partially shaded time slot (e.g., time slot 212) is a sensing only time slot. The fully shaded time slots (e.g., time slots 213A and 213B) are combined sensing and communication time slots.

[0063] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present application is not limited to the particular arrangement of communication only, sensing only, and combined time slots depicted, but can work with any suitable temporal or frequency-space arrangement of radio resource allocations.

[0064] Figure 3 A method 300 of communicating sensing and communication signals between a base station and a user equipment is shown.

[0065] At step 301, a first sensing signal is communicated. For example, the base station 101 can transmit a sensing signal. The sensing signal can be communicated over a first sensing channel (e.g., sensing channel 111A). The communication of the sensing signal can occur in a first radio resource allocation. The first radio resource allocation can be a first time slot, e.g., time slot 212. The communication of the sensing signal can be a broadcast. That is, the sensing signal can not be communicated with a specific target in mind. Alternatively, the sensing signal can be directed to a specific target, e.g., target 102A. The sensing signal can be received by one or more UEs (e.g., UE 103A and / or UE 103B). For example, the UE 103A can receive the first sensing signal via a first communication channel 112A.

[0066] At step 302, the combined sensing and communication signal is transmitted. The signal can comprise transmitting the second sensing signal along the second sensing channel and transmitting the first communication signal along the first communication channel. Preferably, the second sensing channel is substantially similar to the first sensing channel. The base station 101 can transmit the sensing and communication signal. The first communication signal can be transmitted to a UE, such as the UE 103A. The second sensing signal can also be received by the same UE, such as the UE 103A. The UE 103A can receive the first communication signal and the second sensing signal over a second communication channel. Preferably, the second communication channel is substantially similar to the first communication channel. More preferably, the second communication channel is the same as the first communication channel. Step 302 can occur during a second radio resource allocation. This second radio resource allocation can be a second time slot, such as time slot 213A.

[0067] At step 303, the first sensing signal is subtracted from the combined sensing and communication signal. This can occur at the UE that receives the combined sensing and communication signal, such as the UE 103A. This allows the first communication signal to be recovered at step 304, provided that the first communication channel and the second communication channel are substantially similar.

[0068] The method can then repeat from step 302. The method can repeat an unlimited number of times, provided that the third, fourth, fifth etc. sensing channels used in the communication of the second, third, fourth etc. combined sensing and communication signals are substantially similar to the first sensing channel. If it is found that the sensing channels used in the communication of the combined sensing and communication signals are not substantially similar to the first sensing channel, the method can instead repeat from step 301 (i.e. the base station can broadcast a sensing signal without a communication signal in the resource allocation, and the UE can receive the sensing signal from the base station over a new channel). Alternatively, the method can repeat from step 302 a predetermined number of times before repeating from step 301.

[0069] The method 300 can greatly increase the communication signal rate in the telecommunications network 100. For example, instead of time slots 213A and 213B being used for sensing only, as in prior art networks, time slots 213A and 213B can be used for both sensing and communication. This can increase the communication signal rate depending on the number of times the method 300 is repeated from step 302.

[0070] To ensure that the communication signal is recovered from the combined sensing and communication signal, it is preferred that the second communication channel of the combined signal is substantially similar to the first communication channel (when only the sensing signal is received). Furthermore, it is preferred that the channel characteristics are substantially similar. Channel characteristics can vary from one time slot to the next even if the same channel is used. Channel characteristics can vary due to changes in the environment. Channel characteristics can vary due to movement of the target.

[0071] Thus, the system 100 can continuously and / or periodically monitor one or more metrics of the channel conditions. This can be used to determine whether the recovered communication signal matches the expected or control communication signal. Additionally or alternatively, this can be used to determine the channel similarity. For example, it can be used to determine the similarity of the communication channel of step 301 to the communication channel of step 302. The metrics of the channel conditions can be a signal-to-noise ratio, a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio, a reference signal received power, a reference signal received quality, a block error rate, a channel quality indicator, a physical downlink control channel error rate, a received signal strength indicator, a modulation error rate, and / or a measurement of an error vector magnitude.

[0072] Although it is shown that the communication of the sensing signal at step 301 occurs before the communication of the combined signal at step 302, it will be appreciated by the skilled person that the communication signal can still be recovered if the steps are reversed. Thus, the steps can be reversed. For example, one or more combined signals can be transmitted before the first sensing signal.

[0073] Blind interference alignment (BIA) of ISAC.

[0074] Another problem addressed by the present disclosure is how to efficiently use radio resources for communication while providing sensing functionality, where the channel conditions between the BS and the UE change between resource allocations.

[0075] To address this problem, the present disclosure provides a blind interference alignment (BIA) technique. In this technique, the sensing signal is combined with two communication signals, and the combined signal is received at the UE side during three resource allocations. This technique can more efficiently utilize radio resources compared to allocating dedicated radio resources for the sensing functionality.

[0076] Figure 4 Another exemplary radio resource allocation multiplexing diagram 200 is shown with a frequency axis 201 and a time axis 202. The time axis 202 is divided into a sequence of time slots 210, each of which is a radio resource allocation.

[0077] As with Figure 2 the time domain multiplexing is shown, it is contemplated that additionally or alternatively, frequency domain multiplexing can be employed.

[0078] As with Figure 2 the Figure 4 unshielded slots in the middle are only communication slots, and the fully shielded slots (e.g. slots 214A, 214B and 214C) are combined sensing and communication slots.

[0079] As compared to the embodiment described with reference to Figure 2 each of the sensing slots is a combined sensing and communication slot. There are no only sensing slots. This embodiment therefore further improves the communication efficiency of the network.

[0080] The skilled person will appreciate that the invention is not limited to the specific arrangement of only communication, only sensing and combined slots depicted, but can work with any suitable time or frequency-space arrangement of radio resources.

[0081] In some examples, the radio resource allocation of the technique can be as follows: At a first radio resource allocated for sensing functionality (e.g. 214A), a sensing signal and two communication signals (C1 + C2 + S) can be transmitted; At a second radio resource allocated for sensing functionality (e.g. 214B), the same previous sensing signal and two communication signals (C1 + C2 + S) can be transmitted; and At a third radio resource allocated for sensing functionality (e.g. 214C), the same previous sensing signal and two communication signals (C1 + C2 + S) can be transmitted.

[0082] The channel conditions of the received signals between the radio resource allocations should be different.

[0083] The channel conditions can be ensured to be different by knowing that the channel has changed, or by using different transmission or / and reception antennas, or manipulating the radio frequency components at the transmitter or / and receiver, or any other method.

[0084] In some examples, the combined sensing and communication signal C1 + C2 + S can be transmitted from the entire antenna array. Alternatively, some antennas can transmit S + C1 and others will transmit C2. Alternatively, some antennas will transmit S + C2 and others will transmit C1. Depending on how the antennas in the antenna array are divided, the signal transmitted by each antenna can not include any of each of the signal components, can include some or all of each of the signal components.

[0085] To remove the interference caused by the sensing signal, the UE can perform the following steps: receive a combined sensing and communication signal over a first channel; receive a combined sensing and communication signal over a second channel; receive a combined sensing and communication signal over a third channel; save the received signals; and find the values of the component communication signals by solving the saved equations.

[0086] To solve the equations, it is important to have different channel conditions between the received signals. For each received signal, the UE can derive an equation with three variables, where each variable is a component of the signal: the sensing signal; the first communication signal; and the second communication signal. If the channel conditions are the same for each allocation, the UE will derive three identical equations, which will result in redundant equations and will not allow the UE to recover the original communication signals.

[0087] If the channel conditions between allocations are similar, the equations solved by the UE can be ill-conditioned. Thus, ensuring that the channel conditions are different can include ensuring that a measure of channel difference is above a threshold.

[0088] The UE receiver can have a priori knowledge of the wireless channel between the BS and the UE. The UE can use the a priori knowledge of the wireless channel to derive equations with variables that can be solved to derive the communication signal components of the combined signal.

[0089] The base station will already know the transmitted sensing signal and communication signals. Thus, detecting the reflected sensing signal from the combined signal should not be a problem.

[0090] The base station can send a header of the rules to the UE, which includes information about where to find the resource allocations and what will be communicated in each resource allocation (e.g., it is a control channel). In the proposed method, this header can be modified to indicate to the UE when it can expect to receive a signal of combined communication and sensing signals (and when it can expect to receive a signal that is a communication-only signal, such as 211A-211O). The base station can also inform the UE when the communication signals in the combined signal will be the same, and when they will be changed, so that the UE can correctly formulate the simultaneous equations. The base station can also inform the UE how often the scheduling parameters will be changed.

[0091] Figure 5 A method 500 of communicating sensing and communication signals between a base station and user equipment is shown.

[0092] At step 501, the base station 101 transmits a first combined sensing and communication signal. The first combined sensing and communication signal can include a sensing signal and one or more communication signals. The communication of the combined sensing and communication signal can occur in a first radio resource allocation. This first radio resource allocation can be a first time slot, such as time slot 214A. The combined sensing and communication signal can be received by one or more UEs, such as UE 103A or UE 103B.

[0093] At step 502, the UE saves the combined signal. If the UE only receives one copy of the first combined sensing and communication signal, the UE can not be able to recover the one or more communication signals from the combined signal. In order to recover the one or more communication signals, the UE needs to receive the signal a sufficient number of times via different channels. For example, if the first combined sensing and communication signal includes a sensing signal and two communication signals, the UE must receive the combined signal three times via three different communication channels. Thus, if the UE is not able to recover the communication signals, it will wait until more combined signals are received.

[0094] For the UE, in order to successfully recover the communication signals, the communication channels (e.g., communication channel 112A) must be different between transmissions. This can be because, if the communication channels are the same, the received signals are the same and thus do not provide new information. However, if the communication channels are different, the UE can derive new equations related to the component signals of the combined signal. Once the UE has derived a sufficient number of equations such that the component signals are uniquely defined, the UE can proceed to solve the equations and recover the communication signals.

[0095] At step 503, the system ensures that the channel conditions for transmitting the next combined signal are different from the channel conditions for transmitting the previous combined signal. Ensuring that the channel conditions are different can include actively modifying the channel conditions. Alternatively, ensuring that the channel conditions are different can include testing the channels. Due to many factors such as UE mobility, or due to changes in physical obstructions and / or atmospheric conditions caused by weather, the channel conditions can change between time slots. If the channel conditions do not change sufficiently compared to the previous channel(s) through which the combined signal was transmitted, these channel conditions can be actively modified (e.g., by antenna adjustment). In some examples, the base station 101 can change the channel conditions by using different portions of the transmission antenna or modifying the RF components of the carrier signal. In some other examples, the UE can change the channel conditions by using one or more different antennas.

[0096] Once a sufficient number of combined signals have been received and saved, at step 504, the UE solves the simultaneous equations and recovers the communication signals. This can occur on the UE (e.g., UE 103A) that received the combined sensing and communication signals.

[0097] The method can then repeat from step 501 with a different communication signal. The method can repeat an unlimited number of times. The sensing signal must be the same for each signal in the set of transmissions used to solve the simultaneous equations, but can change between sets (i.e. when the communication signal also changes).

[0098] The method can greatly increase the communication signal rate in a telecommunications network. For example, instead of time slots 214A, 214B, and 214C being used for sensing only, as in prior art networks, time slots 214A, 214B, and 214C can be used for both sensing and communication. This can increase the communication signal rate.

[0099] As mentioned above, the standard inference alignment method requests channel conditions / characteristics between allocations to be substantially similar. In contrast, in the blind interference alignment method, recovering the communication signal from the combined sensing and communication signal requires the communication channel of the combined signal to be substantially different between each transmission of the combined signal. Therefore, in cases where channel conditions / characteristics are highly variable, the blind interference alignment method can be preferred to the standard inference alignment method.

[0100] In the blind interference alignment method, as with the standard inference alignment method, system 100 can continuously and / or periodically monitor one or more metrics of channel conditions. This can be used to determine whether modification of the channel is required before transmitting the signal. The metrics of channel conditions can be a signal-to-noise ratio, a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio, a reference signal received power, a reference signal received quality, a block error rate, a channel quality indicator, a physical downlink control channel error rate, a received signal strength indicator, a modulation error rate, and / or a measurement of an error vector magnitude.

[0101] While the examples provided in this disclosure combine the transmitted signal with two communication signals, the present invention is not limited to two communication signals. Alternatively, the sensing signal can be combined with only one other communication signal, and received during two resource allocations, and the like. As long as the UE is able to derive enough different equations at the receiver (because of the different channel conditions between resource allocations), the proposed ISAC BIA technique can be generalized.

[0102] The skilled person can envisage many combinations of the described embodiments. For example, while the present disclosure is described with respect to existing network architectures, it will be appreciated that changes to the architecture (and / or nomenclature) are possible, but the present disclosure remains applicable in such cases. All features disclosed herein can be combined in any combination, even if this is not explicitly described, except where such a combination is not technically feasible. In particular, preferred features of the application apply to all aspects of the application and can be used in any combination. Likewise, features described in non-essential combinations can be used alone (not in combination).

[0103] A base station (BS) generally refers to a fixed station that communicates with the UE and / or another BS and exchanges various kinds of data and control information with the UE and the other BS. The BS can be referred to as an advanced base station (ABS), a base transceiver station (BTS), a radio base station, a radio transceiver, a transceiver function, a basic service set (BSS), an extended service set (ESS), an access point (AP), a node B (NB), an eNode B (eNB), a gNode B (gNB), a transmission and reception point (TRP), a processing server (PS), or some other suitable terminology depending on the protocol, standard, context, or technique. In some examples, the base station can include two or more transceivers that can or can not be collocated. Each transceiver can communicate on the same or different carrier frequencies, within the same or different frequency bands.

[0104] For example, when the present application refers to a server or network entity, this can actually be a pair of servers or network entities (a primary and a failover entity) for redundancy.

[0105] Examples of mobile devices include various devices that transmit and receive user data and / or various kinds of control information to and from a base station. The mobile device can be referred to as user equipment (UE), terminal equipment (TE), a mobile station (MS), a mobile terminal (MT), a user terminal (UT), a subscriber station (SS), a wireless device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a handheld device, etc.

[0106] While the above methods are described in some examples with respect to a specific network, such as a 4G / LTE or 5G / NR network, the methods, techniques, apparatuses, and systems can be applied to various wireless multiple access systems. Examples of multiple access systems include CDMA, FDMA, TDMA, OFDMA, SC-FDMA, and MC-FDMA. CDMA can be embodied on radio technologies such as UTRA or CDMA2000. TDMA can be embodied on radio technologies such as GSM, GPRS, or EDGE. OFDMA can be embodied on radio technologies such as IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, or E-UTRA. UTRA is a part of the UMTS. 3GPP LTE is a part of the E-UMTS using E-UTRA. 3GPP LTE employs OFDMA in DL and SC-FDMA in UL. LTE-A is an evolved version of 3GPP LTE. 3GPP NR employs OFDMA for both downlink and uplink, and can operate in both FDD and TDD. For the purpose of description, it is assumed that the present application is applied to 3GPP NR. However, technical features of the present application are not limited thereto. For example, although the following detailed description is given based on a mobile communication system corresponding to the 3GPP NR system, aspects of the present application that are not specific to 3GPP NR are also applicable to other mobile communication systems.

[0107] A cellular communication system includes a plurality of cells. A cell refers to a geographical area to which one or more nodes provide communication services. Thus, communicating with a particular cell can mean communicating with a gNB or node that provides communication services to the particular cell. Also, a channel state / quality of a particular cell refers to a channel state / quality of a channel or communication link formed between a gNB or node that provides communication services to the particular cell and a UE. The UE can measure a DL channel state received from a particular node using a particular cell-specific reference signal (CRS) transmitted on a CRS resource and / or a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) transmitted on a CSI-RS resource, which are allocated to the particular node by an antenna port(s) of the particular node. Meanwhile, the 3GPP system uses the concept of a cell in order to manage radio resources, and a cell associated with a radio resource is distinguished from a cell of a geographical area.

[0108] The examples can be executed on any suitable data processing device, such as a personal computer, a laptop computer, a mobile phone, a server, a virtual machine, etc. The above description of systems and methods has been simplified for purposes of discussion and is intended to provide specific examples to illustrate the application. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that different types of systems and methods can be used. It will be appreciated that the boundaries between logic blocks are merely illustrative and alternative embodiments can merge logic blocks or elements, or can impose an alternate decomposition of functionality onto various logic blocks or elements.

[0109] It will be appreciated that the above-mentioned functionality can be implemented as one or more corresponding modules as hardware and / or software. For example, the above-mentioned functionality can be implemented as one or more software components executed by a processor of the system. Alternatively, the above-mentioned functionality can be implemented as hardware, such as on one or more FPGAs, and / or one or more ASICs, and / or one or more DSPs, and / or other hardware arrangements. Method steps implemented in the flowcharts contained herein, or as described above, can each be implemented by a corresponding respective module. Furthermore, multiple method steps implemented in the flowcharts contained herein, or as described above, can be implemented together by a single module.

[0110] The examples can be implemented by computer software or "computer programs". Storage media and transmission media carrying computer software are also provided. The computer software can include one or more instructions or code, which, when executed by a computer, cause the described methods to be performed. The computer software can be a sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system, and can include subroutines, functions, procedures, modules, object methods, object implementations, executable applications, applets, servlets, source code, object code, shared libraries, dynamic linked libraries, and / or other sequences of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. The storage media can be a magnetic disk (such as a hard disk drive or floppy disk), an optical disk (such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or Blu-ray disk), or a memory (such as a ROM, RAM, EEPROM, EPROM, flash memory, or a portable / removable memory device), etc. The transmission media can be a communications signal, data broadcast, a communications link between two or more computers, etc.

[0111] A computer program can be configured to control a network entity and / or a mobile device to perform any of the methods according to the present disclosure. A network entity of a telecommunication network (e.g., a cellular network) can also be provided, which is configured to operate according to certain methods disclosed herein. For example, the network entity can comprise a processor and at least one communication interface, in particular comprising one or both of a transmitter and a receiver. A mobile device (e.g., a UE) can also be provided, which is configured to operate according to certain methods disclosed herein. The mobile device can likewise comprise a processor and at least one communication interface, in particular comprising one or both of a transmitter and a receiver.

[0112] Unless otherwise stated, each feature disclosed in this specification, unless stated otherwise, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose. Thus, unless stated otherwise, no feature disclosed in this specification is essential.

[0113] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. can be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the present application. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0114] The terminology used in the description herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application. As used in this description, including in the claims, the term "comprises" and variations thereof, such as "comprising" and "comprises", unless otherwise stated, are not intended to exclude other

[0115] The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language ("for instance", "such as", "for example" and like language) provided herein only is intended to better illuminate the application and does not reflect a limitation on the scope of the application unless otherwise claimed. Any language of limitation provided in this specification should not be construed as indicating any element is essential to the practice of the application.

[0116] Any steps described in this specification can be performed in any order or simultaneously, unless otherwise specified or required by context. Furthermore, where steps are described as being performed after another step, this does not preclude the performance of intervening steps.

[0117] 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 application 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.

[0118] Throughout this disclosure, like numbers refer to like elements. Thus, the same or similar numbers can be referred to in other figures even if they are not mentioned or described in connection with those other figures. Furthermore, elements that are not labeled with a reference number can be described with reference to other figures.

[0119] Methods of making and / or operating any of the devices disclosed herein are also provided. The methods can include the steps of providing each of the disclosed features and / or configuring or using the corresponding features for their described functions.

[0120] In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical embodiments of the application, although specific terminology has been employed, merely for the sake of providing a thorough understanding of the application. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that substantial modifications and alterations can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the application, which is defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting sensing and communication signals between a base station and a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: During the first radio resource allocation, a radio signal is transmitted from the base station to the UE, wherein the radio signal includes a first communication signal, a second communication signal, and a sensing signal; During the second radio resource allocation, the radio signal is transmitted from the base station to the UE; as well as During the third radio resource allocation, the radio signal is transmitted from the base station to the UE. The channel conditions between the base station and the UE are different between each of the first radio resource allocation, the second radio resource allocation, and the third radio resource allocation.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The UE processes the radio signals received during the first radio resource allocation, the second radio resource allocation, and the third radio resource allocation, and isolates the first communication signal and the second communication signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the wireless signal includes solving a series of equations based on the wireless signal received during the first radio resource allocation, the second radio resource allocation, and the third radio resource allocation, and corresponding first channel conditions during the first radio resource allocation, second channel conditions during the second radio resource allocation, and third channel conditions during the third radio resource allocation.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: A first channel condition metric is determined during the first radio resource allocation, a second channel condition metric is determined during the second radio resource allocation, and a third channel condition metric is determined during the third radio resource allocation.

5. The method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein, The first channel condition metric, the second channel condition metric, and / or the third channel condition metric are one or more of the following measurements: signal-to-noise ratio, signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio, reference signal received power, reference signal received quality, block error rate, channel quality indicator, physical downlink control channel error rate, received signal strength indicator, modulation error rate, and / or error vector magnitude.

6. The method according to any of the preceding claims further comprises: Modify the channel conditions between the first radio resource allocation and the second radio resource allocation and / or between the second radio resource allocation and the third radio resource allocation.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: Determine a first channel condition metric during the first radio resource allocation and a second channel condition metric during the second radio resource allocation; determine whether the metric of the channel difference between the first radio resource allocation and the second radio resource allocation exceeds a threshold; and if not, modify the channel condition of the second radio resource allocation. and / or Determine a second channel condition metric during the second radio resource allocation and a third channel condition metric during the third radio resource allocation; determine whether the metric of the channel difference between the second radio resource allocation and the third radio resource allocation exceeds a threshold; and if not, modify the channel condition of the third radio resource allocation.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein modifying the channel conditions comprises one or more of the following: The wireless signal is transmitted using different transmit and / or receive antennas of the base station; and Manipulate the radio frequency components at the transmitter and / or receiver of the base station.

9. A UE configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

10. A base station configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 or 6 to 8.

11. A computer program comprising instructions that, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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