Radio signal-based sensing in a mobile network

Abstract

Methods and devices for supporting radio signal-based sensing in a mobile network. A computing device (101) receives a request for sensing a property of one or more objects (113 115ac), wherein the request comprises a condition. The computing device (101) transmits, to a transmitting radio node (103) of the mobile network, a first message comprising a first configuration of resources of the mobile network to perform the sensing. The computing device (101) obtains a value of the property based on one or more radio signals received by one or more receiving radio nodes (105, 109, 111) of the mobile network. The computing device (101) transmits, to the transmitting radio node (103), a second message comprising a second configuration of the resources to perform the sensing with increased resources of the mobile network, if the condition is fulfilled.

Description

[0001] RADIO SIGNAL-BASED SENSING IN A MOBILE NETWORK

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to a method for supporting radio signal-based sensing in a mobile network, a method for supporting radio signal-based sensing in a mobile network, a computing device for supporting radio signal-based sensing in a mobile network, a transmitting radio node for supporting radio signal-based sensing in a mobile network, corresponding computer programs, corresponding computer-readable data carriers, and corresponding data carrier signals.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Sensing capabilities as an integral part of mobile networks are one of the novel features of future sixth generation (6G) systems. Sensing is the process of detecting and tracking targets such as objects and humans, and estimating their properties, such as speed, size, shape, or material properties, using radio signals transmitted and received by nodes of the mobile network, such as base stations and user equipments (UEs). Depending on where transmitted s) and receiver(s) of the radio signals are located, sensing may be classified as monostatic or bi / multistatic. Monostatic means that a transmitter of a radio signal and a receiver of an echo of the transmitted radio signal (i.e., the signal reflected by the object) are the same or separate but co-located. Bi / multistatic means that the receiver is not the same as the transmitter and that the receiver and the transmitter are in different locations.

[0006] Sensing capabilities in a mobile network may improve the performance of the mobile network itself by providing optimization input for network steering and may be offered as a service to users or applications that are external to the mobile network.

[0007] Further details on sensing capabilities in a mobile network may be found in Thorsten Wild, Volker Braun, and Harish Viswanathan, "Joint design of communication and sensing for beyond 5G and 6G systems", IEEE Access 9, pages 30845-30857, 2021. SUMMARY

[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved alternative to the above techniques and prior art. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide improved radio signal -based sensing in a mobile network. This and other objects of the invention are achieved by means of different aspects of the invention, as defined by the independent claims. Embodiments of the invention are characterized by the dependent claims.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for supporting radio signal-based sensing in a mobile network. The method is performed by a computing device. The method comprises receiving a request for sensing a property of one or more objects. The request comprises a condition related to the property of the one or more objects. The method further comprises transmitting, to a transmitting radio node of the mobile network, a first message comprising a first configuration of resources of the mobile network to perform the sensing. The method further comprises obtaining a value of the property based on radio signals received by one or more receiving radio nodes of the mobile network. The method further comprises, if the condition is fulfilled, transmitting, to the transmitting radio node, a second message comprising a second configuration of the resources to perform the sensing with increased resources of the mobile network.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for for supporting radio signal-based sensing in a mobile network. The method is performed by a transmitting radio node of the mobile network. The method comprises receiving, from a computing device, a first message comprising a first configuration of resources of the mobile network to perform the sensing. The method further comprises performing first radio signaling based on the first configuration of the resources. The method further comprises receiving, from the computing device, a second message comprising a second configuration of the resources to perform the sensing with increased resources of the mobile network. The method further comprises performing second radio signaling based on the second configuration of the resources.

[0011] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a computing device for supporting radio signal-based sensing in a mobile network. The computing device comprises a processor and a memory. The memory has stored thereon instructions executable by the processor. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to receive a request for sensing a property of one or more objects. The request comprises a condition related to the property of the one or more objects. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to transmit, to a transmitting radio node of the mobile network, a first message comprising a first configuration of resources of the mobile network to perform the sensing. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to obtain a value of the property based on radio signals received by one or more receiving radio nodes of the mobile network. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to, if the condition is fulfilled, transmit, to the transmitting radio node, a second message comprising a second configuration of the resources to perform the sensing with increased resources of the mobile network.

[0012] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a transmitting radio node for supporting radio signal-based sensing in a mobile network. The transmitting radio node comprises a processor and a memory. The memory has stored thereon instructions executable by the processor. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the transmitting radio node to receive, from a computing device, a first message comprising a first configuration of resources of the mobile network to perform the sensing. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the transmitting radio node to perform first radio signaling based on the first configuration of the resources. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the transmitting radio node to receive, from the computing device, a second message comprising a second configuration of the resources to perform the sensing with increased resources of the mobile network. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the transmitting radio node to perform second radio signaling based on the second configuration of the resources.

[0013] According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when run in a processing unit of a computing device, cause the computing device to perform the method according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0014] According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer-readable data carrier having stored thereon the computer program according to the fifth aspect of the invention.

[0015] According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a data carrier signal carrying the computer program according to the fifth aspect of the invention. According to an eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when run in a processing unit of a receiver network node, cause the receiver network node to perform the method according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0016] According to a ninth aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer-readable data carrier having stored thereon the computer program according to the eighth aspect of the invention.

[0017] According to a tenth aspect of the invention, there is provided a data carrier signal carrying the computer program according to the eighth aspect of the invention.

[0018] Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantages:

[0019] - dynamic allocation of resources for sensing based on application requirements; and

[0020] - reduction of energy consumption of communication devices since a sensing decision, i.e., when to use more or less resources for sensing, is offloaded to the mobile network.

[0021] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] For better understanding of the present disclosure, and to show more readily how the invention may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the following drawings, in which:

[0023] Figure 1 shows an example scenario comprising a computing device for supporting radio signal-based sensing according to embodiments of the invention, transmitting radio nodes according to embodiments of the invention, receiving radio nodes, a communications device, and objects;

[0024] Figure 2 shows a flow chart illustrating a method performed by a computing device for supporting radio signal-based sensing in a mobile network, according to embodiments of the invention; Figure 3 shows a flow chart illustrating a method performed by a transmitting radio node for supporting radio signal-based sensing in a mobile network, according to embodiments of the invention;

[0025] Figure 4 shows message exchanges between a computing device for supporting radio signalbased sensing in a mobile network according to embodiments of the invention, a communications device, a transmitting radio node according to embodiments of the invention, and a receiving radio node;

[0026] Figure 5 is a block diagram depicting a computing device according to embodiments of the invention; and

[0027] Figure 6 is a block diagram depicting a transmitting radio node according to embodiments of the invention.

[0028] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Embodiments will be illustrated herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art.

[0030] Joint communications and radio signal -based sensing (JCAS) refers to the integration of communications and radio signal-based sensing into one system, e.g., a mobile network. Radio signal -based sensing refers to the detection of the presence of objects, such as persons, animals, vehicles, buildings, and the estimation of their properties, such as speed, size, shape, pose, and material, using radio signals transmitted and received by nodes of the mobile network, such as radio base stations and user equipments (UEs). Objects in an environment may be sensed by either using communication-specific signals or dedicated sensing signal. For example, a sensing signal may be a conventional communications signal as defined in 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3 GPP) specifications, such as downlink positioning reference signal (PRS), channel state information reference signal (CSLRS), demodulation reference signal (DM-RS) and uplink sounding reference signal (SRS). A dedicated sensing-signal may be a radar-like signal sent by a radio base station or a UE. Mobile networks are optimized to serve communications and not sensing. Moreover, since resources of the mobile network are scarce, how to allocate them for communications and for radio signal-based sensing needs to be addressed in an efficient way.

[0031] The invention disclosed herein makes it possible to improve radio signal-based sensing in a mobile network. Radio signal-based sensing is achieved by a method comprising receiving a request for sensing a property of one or more objects, wherein the request comprises a condition. The method further comprises transmitting, to a transmitting radio node of the mobile network, a first message comprising a first configuration of the resources of the mobile network to perform the sensing. The method further comprises obtaining a value of the property based on one or more radio signals received by one or more receiving radio node of the mobile network. The method further comprises transmitting, if the condition is fulfilled, to the transmitting radio node, a second message comprising a second configuration of the resources to perform the sensing with increased resources of the mobile network.

[0032] Figure 1 schematically shows an example of a system 100 in which embodiments of the invention may be implemented. The system 100 of Figure 1 comprises a computing device 101 for supporting radio signal -based sensing, a transmitting radio node 103, receiving radio nodes 105, 109, 111, a communications device 107, and objects 113, 115a-c.

[0033] The computing device 101 may be any device with computing, storage, and network connectivity. The computing device 101 may be a node in the mobile network or an edge node close to the mobile network, wherein the edge node is adapted to process, analyze, and store data, and may communicate with a central cloud through an access network, e.g., if further computing resources are needed because the computing resources in the edge node are not sufficient. The computing device 101 receives 201 a request for sensing a property of the one or more objects 113, 115ac, and transmits 203, to a transmitting radio node 103, a (first, second, and / or third) configuration of resources to perform the sensing. The request for sensing the property may be sent to the computing device 101 by a communications device 107.

[0034] The communications device 107 may be any device with computing, storage, and network connectivity requesting a sensing service to the mobile network. Examples of communications devices 107 may be a vehicle, an automatic street lighting system, a drone, or a mobile phone. A sensing service may, for example, be traffic monitoring or the creation of a “digital twin” of a radio network environment, i.e., a virtual representation, or model, of the radio network environment.

[0035] In the following, embodiments of a method 200 for supporting radio signal-based sensing in a mobile network are described with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2. The method 200 may be performed by a computing device 101.

[0036] The method 200 comprises receiving 201 a request for sensing a property of one or more objects 113, 115ac. The one or more objects 113, 115ac may be static objects 113, such as buildings, and / or moving objects 115ac, such as vehicles. The property of the one or more objects 113, 115ac may comprise any one of: speed, size, and shape, of the one or more objects 113, 115ac.

[0037] The request for sensing the property comprises a condition. The condition may comprise at least one of: a threshold speed, one or more values indicating a dimension, a direction of travel, and a type of material, of the one or more objects 113, 115ac. The condition may be expressed in terms of observable criteria, such as objects 115ac moving above or below a threshold speed. The condition comprised in the request allows to determine when the resources allocated for sensing need to be increased and to distinguish between different type of objects 113, 115ac and avoid a waste of resources on the detection of objects 113, 115ac that are of no interest for a communications device 107 requesting the sensing. For example, if the condition is a threshold speed of 50 km / h, the computing device 101 would increase the resources to perform the sensing if an object traveling at a speed higher than 50 km / h is detected, such an object would probably be a vehicle and not a building or a pedestrian. Further examples of conditions are: speed higher or lower than a threshold value, speed change higher or lower than a threshold value, acceleration higher or lower than a threshold value, change of direction, direction within a given sector. The condition may also be a combination of properties, e.g., position and speed conditions or size and shape (e.g., if the width of an object is larger than 1.7 meters and flat, it’s likely a van).

[0038] According to an embodiment, the request for sensing the property of the one or more objects 113, 115ac may be received from the communications device 107. The one or more objects 113, 115ac may be in an area surrounding the communications device 107. The communications device 107 may be a first vehicle and the object 113, 115ac may be a second vehicle approaching the first vehicle, a pedestrian, a building, and / or a tree. The method 200 further comprises transmitting 203, to a transmitting radio node 103 of the mobile network, a first message. The first message comprises a first configuration of resources of the mobile network to perform the sensing. The first configuration of resources comprises information on how to allocate mobile network resources to provide the sensing service. The mobile network resources may, for example, be transmission power, spectrum, time slots, antennas, or the like. The first configuration may comprise a transmission frequency of the radio signal, a transmission power of the radio signal, and / or a configuration of an antenna, such as direction, power, or frequencies of specific beams. The radio signal may be a conventional communications signal, or a specific waveform designed for sensing. The radio signal will be transmitted by the transmitting radio node 103 by using resources allocated according to the first configuration. The first configuration of the resources may be obtained based on the information in the sensing request and the available network resources.

[0039] The method 200 further comprises obtaining 205 a value of the property of the one or more objects 113, 115ac. The value is obtained based on one or more radio signals received by one or more receiving radio nodes 105, 109, 111 of the mobile network. As a first example, the property of an object 113, 115ac may be its position. The position of the object 113, 115ac may be obtained by measuring the delay of the return echo of the signal transmitted by the transmitting radio node 103 in the line-of-sight path between the transmitter radio node 103 and the object 113, 115ac. As a second example, the property of an object may be its speed. The speed may be obtained by measuring the doppler shift in the return echo of the transmitted signal compared to the transmitted signal. As a third example, the property of an object may be its shape. The shape may be obtained by measuring the delay of the signals transmitted by the transmitting radio node 103 and the signal reflected by the object, and by detecting a lack of reflected signal from some directions that indicates that the object does not continue in those directions, i.e., it is the edge of the object. These measurements are used to determine the exact position of points on the object, and these points may represent a point cloud. As a fourth example, the property of an object may be its size and / or its pose. The size and / or pose may be obtained based on the number of signals reflected by the object (e.g., bigger objects result in more points in point cloud). As a fifth example, the property of an object may be its material. The material may be obtained based on the return signal characteristics of the reflected signal (different materials absorb and / or reflect a signal in different ways). The value of the property is used to determine if the condition comprised in the request is fulfilled. If the condition is fulfilled, the method 200 further comprises transmitting 207, to the transmitting radio node 103, a second message comprising a second configuration of the resources to perform the sensing. If the condition is not fulfilled, the transmitting radio node 103 continues to perform the radio signaling based on the first configuration of the resources. The second configuration of resources comprises information on how to allocate mobile network resources. For example, the second configuration may comprise a transmission frequency of the radio signal, a transmission power of the radio signal, and / or a configuration of an antenna transmitting the radio signal, such as direction, power, or frequencies of specific beams that have different values as compared to the corresponding parameters of the first configuration. In other words, the second configuration indicates different information from the first configuration on how to allocate the resources to transmit the radio signals. The mobile network is accordingly configured to provide a higher quality (e.g., accuracy) of sensing if the condition is fulfilled. For example, a traffic monitoring system comprising a computing device 101 may estimate the speed of vehicles in a given section of a road during a given time period and a vehicle may request a higher quality of sensing if the computing device 101 detects an object 113, 115ac in the vehicle’s vicinity and the object 113, 115ac is moving at a velocity higher than a value specified in the sensing request by the vehicle, e.g., 40 km / h. A first configuration of resources is initially used for sensing the speed. If the condition is fulfilled, a second configuration of resources to perform the sensing with increased resources of the mobile network will be allocated to provide a higher quality of sensing for traffic monitoring.

[0040] A higher quality of sensing may be obtained by

[0041] - increasing the transmission frequency of the radio signals, so that spatial resolution increases, for example, frequencies around 100 GHz reach a spatial resolution below 1 cm;

[0042] - increasing how often the sensing signal is transmitted, for example every 10 ms;

[0043] - increasing the number of transmitting radio nodes 103;

[0044] - increasing the frequency of preprocessed observations (like doppler shift values, peak signal or distortion measurements) to send to the communications device 107 or to an analytical entity. Sending the preprocessed observations instead of (digital presentation of the) analog signals reduces the consumption of storage and transmitted data.

[0045] According to an embodiment, the method 200 may further comprise transmitting 209, to the communications device 107, the value of the property if the condition is fulfilled. For example, if the communications device 107 is an autonomous vehicle, it may receive speed and position of an approaching further vehicle and decide to change lane based on the received value.

[0046] The transmitting radio node 103 may keep using the second configuration of the resources to perform the sensing (i.e., sensing with higher accuracy) and transmitting the value of the property until the condition is fulfilled. For example, after the autonomous vehicle changes lane, the condition is not fulfilled anymore and the transmitting radio node 103 may perform the sensing with lower accuracy.

[0047] According to an embodiment, the method 200 may further comprise receiving 211 one or more further requests from one or more further communications devices for sensing one or more further properties. The method 200 may further comprise transmitting 213 a third message comprising a third configuration of the resources of the mobile network to perform a single sensing, if the one or more further communications devices share a same location. The third configuration may comprise a transmission frequency of the radio signal, a transmission power of the radio signal, and / or a configuration of an antenna. The third configuration of resources comprises information on how to allocate the mobile network resources. Single sensing means that two or more sensing requests from one or more further communications devices are served by using a same (third) configuration of resources. The two or more further requests may relate to sensing of one or more same properties of the same object 113, 115ac. For example, two vehicles may request sensing of the speed of a same third vehicle. An advantage of the single sensing is that it may reduce the resource consumption per sensing request and / or per sensing property of the object 113, 115ac.

[0048] The value of the property may be obtained by receiving 215 representations of the radio signals received by the one or more receiving radio nodes 105, 109, 111 and by processing the representations of the radio signals. In this case, the value of the property is determined by the computing device based on the representations of the radio signals received by the one or more receiving radio nodes 105, 109, 111. For example, the computing device 101 may correlate timing, doppler and phase shifts, amplitude and frequency distortions, peaks, and / or attenuations of received representations of radio signals, from the one or more receiving radio nodes 105, 109, 111 to obtain the shape of the object 113, 115ac. Alternatively, the value of the property may be obtained by receiving 219 the value of the property from the one or more receiving radio nodes 105, 109, 111. In this case, the value of the property is determined by the one or more receiving radio nodes 105, 109, 111. The transmitting radio node 103 and the receiving radio node 105, 109, 111 may be base stations and / or user equipments. The transmitting radio node 103 and the receiving radio node 105, 109, 111 used for sensing may be selected based on

[0049] - their location with regard to the location of the communications device 107,

[0050] - velocity differences between the transmitting radio node 103, the receiving radio node 105, 109, 111 and the communications device 107, and / or available resources of the transmitting radio node 103 and the receiving radio node 105, 109, 111.

[0051] The receiving radio node 105, 109, 111 may further be selected based on its sensing capabilities (e.g., capacity of detecting received signal peaks, phase shifts, distortions, doppler shift, dual / multi path detection and measurements).

[0052] It will be appreciated that the method 200 may comprise additional, alternative, or modified, steps in accordance with what is described throughout this disclosure.

[0053] In the following, embodiments of a method 300 for supporting radio signal -based sensing in a mobile network are described with reference to Figure 3. The method 300 may be performed by a transmitting radio node 103 of the mobile network.

[0054] The method 300 comprises receiving 301, from a computing device 101, a first message. The first message comprises a first configuration of resources of the mobile network to perform the sensing. The first configuration of resources may comprise information on how to allocate mobile network resources to provide the sensing service. A sensing service may, for example, be traffic monitoring or the creation of a “digital twin” of a radio network environment, i.e., a virtual representation, or model, of the radio network environment. The mobile network resources may be for example transmission power, spectrum, time slots, antennas. The first configuration may comprise for example a transmission frequency of the radio signal, a transmission power of the radio signal, and / or a configuration of an antenna.

[0055] The method 300 further comprises performing 303 a first radio signaling based on the first configuration of the resources. The first radio signaling may be performed by transmitting conventional communications signals, such as downlink PRS, CSI-RS, DM-RS and uplink SRS, or a specific waveform designed for sensing. The method 300 further comprises receiving 305, from the computing device 101, a second message. The second message comprises a second configuration of the resources to perform the sensing with increased resources of the mobile network compared to the first configuration of the resources. The second configuration of resources comprises information on how to allocate mobile network resources, wherein the amount of the mobile network resources is higher compared to the amount of mobile network resources of the first configuration of resources. The second configuration may comprise a transmission frequency of the radio signal, a transmission power of the radio signal, and / or a configuration of an antenna. The second configuration indicates different information on how to allocate the resources from the first configuration.

[0056] The method 300 further comprises performing 309 a second radio signaling based on the second configuration of the resources. The second radio signaling may be performed by transmitting conventional communications signals, such as downlink PRS, CSI-RS, DM-RS and uplink SRS, or a specific waveform designed for sensing. For example, the first radio signaling uses a frequency of 1 Hz, and the second radio signaling has a frequency of 100 Hz.

[0057] The method 300 further comprises receiving 311 a third message comprising a third configuration of the resources to perform the sensing. The third configuration may comprise a transmission frequency of the radio signal, a transmission power of the radio signal, and / or a configuration of an antenna. The third configuration may indicate different information on how to allocate the resources compared to the configuration previously in use. The third configuration of resources comprises information on how to allocate the mobile network resources and the amount of the mobile network resources of the third configuration is higher compared to the amount of mobile network resources of the first configuration of resources. The third configuration is used to serve the sensing request of two or more further communications devices. The two or more further communications devices may share a same location.

[0058] The method 300 further comprises receiving 313 radio signals. The received radio signals are radio signals reflected by an object 113 115ac. The received radio signals may be processed 215 to obtain representations of the radio signals. The representations of the radio signals may be transmitted 317 to the computing device 101. Alternatively, the method may further comprise obtaining 319 a value of a property of one or more objects 113 115ac based on the received radio signals and transmitting 321 the value of the property to the computing device 101. The property of the one or more objects 113, 115ac comprises any one of: speed, size, shape, pose, and material, of the one or more objects 113, 115ac. The one or more objects 113, 115ac may be static objects 113, such as buildings, and / or moving objects 115ac, such as vehicles. Radio signals received by multiple receiving nodes may be jointly used to determine information on the object 113, 115ac, e.g. a property of the object 113, 115ac.

[0059] It will be appreciated that the method 300 may comprise additional, alternative, or modified, steps in accordance with what is described throughout this disclosure.

[0060] Figure 4 shows messages exchanged between a communications device 107, a computing device 101, a transmitting radio node (Tx) 103, and a receiving radio node (Rx) 105. An example scenario in which the present invention may be practiced is in relation to vehicle collision avoidance.

[0061] The communications device 107 may for example be a vehicle sending 201, 401 a sensing request for sensing a property of one or more objects 113, 115a-c, e.g., speed of further vehicles. The condition related to the property of the one or more objects 113, 115a-c comprised in the sensing request may be, for example, “detect objects moving with a speed higher than 50 km / h”, wherein 50 km / h is a threshold condition for increasing resources allocated for sensing. By sending the sensing request, the communications device 107 delegates to the computing device 101 monitoring and detection of objects 113, 115a-c traveling at a speed higher than 50 km / h. The sensing request may be a request message according to a request-response communications model or a subscribe message according to a publish-subscribe communications model.

[0062] The computing device 101 may comprise two entities: Sensing Services Control Function (SCF) and Sensing Services Processing Function (SPF). The two entities may be implemented as Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) or containers. SCF may implement an interface for the communications device 107 to manage sensing service requests or subscription received for example by one or more communications devices 107. The SCF may be granted access to use and coordinate the use of resources of one or more transmitting radio nodes 103 and one or more receiving radio nodes 105, such as base stations and UEs. The SPF may determine when the condition of the sensing request is fulfilled based on the obtained property of the one or more objects 113, 115ac.

[0063] After receiving the sensing request, the computing device 101 may register 403 the request. The computing device 101 may further start following location of the communications device 107 by, for example, receiving updates about the current location of the communications device 107 from the transmitting / receiving radio nodes 103, 105, or from the communications device 107. The computing device 101 may further check 405 if the mobile network has enough resources to serve the request. If so, the computing device 101 may transmit 407 to the communications device 107 a message to notify a confirmation of the request.

[0064] The computing device 101 further obtains a first configuration of resources to perform the sensing, wherein the first configuration of resources may be based on the information in the sensing request and the available mobile network resources. The first configuration of resources may for example comprise information on transmission frequency, such as 50 Hz, of sensing signals. The computing device 101 transmits 203, 409 the first configuration of resources to the transmitting radio node 103 and the resources of the transmitting radio node 103 are allocated based on the first configuration.

[0065] After receiving 301, from the computing device 101, the first configuration of resources, the transmitting radio node 103, performs 303, 411 sensing in the vicinity of the communications device 107, i.e., it performs a first radio signaling based on the first configuration of the resources. The transmitted sensing signals will be reflected by one or more objects 113, 115ac in the vicinity of the communications device 107. The speed of the object 113, 115ac in the vicinity of the communications device 107 may be obtained 205, 417 by measuring the doppler shift in the return echo (i.e., the signal reflected by the object 113, 115ac when the transmitted signal hits the object 113, 115ac) compared to the transmitted sensing signal. The doppler shift and therefore the speed of the object may be determined by the receiving radio node 105, 109, 111 or by the computing device 101. The computing device 101 may obtain the speed of the object 113, 115ac by processing one or more representations of the sensing signals received 415 from one or more receiving radio nodes 105, 109, 111. The vicinity of the communications device 107 comprises an area surrounding the communication device 107, wherein an area may be defined by coordinates and a radius from the coordinates. In the example of Figure 4, the computing device 101 obtains 205, 417 a first speed of the object 113, 115ac, e.g., 70 km / h, and detects 207, 419 that the object 113, 115ac is travelling at a speed higher than the threshold condition, e.g., 50 km / h. Since the condition in the request is fulfilled, the computing device 101 obtains a second configuration of resources and transmits 207, 425 to the transmitting radio node 103, a second message comprising the second configuration of the resources to perform the sensing with increased resources of the mobile network. For example, the second configuration of resources may comprise information on a second transmission frequency higher than the first transmission frequency comprised in the first configuration, such as 100 Hz. The computing device 101 transmits 207, 425 the second configuration of resources to the transmitting radio node 103. The mobile network resources are allocated based on the second configuration. After receiving 305, from the computing device 101, the second configuration of resources, the transmitting radio node 103, performs 309, 427 sensing in the vicinity of the communications device 107, i.e., it performs second radio signaling based on the second configuration of the resources. The doppler shift and therefore the speed of the object 113, 115ac may be determined by the receiving radio node 105, 109, 111 or by the computing device 101 as explained above. The computing device 101 may obtain the speed of the object 113, 115ac by processing one or more representations of the sensing signals received 431 from one or more receiving radio node 105, 109, 111.

[0066] The computing device 101 obtains 433 a further speed values of the object and until the speed value fulfills the condition, the second configuration of the resources is used. In the example of Figure 4, the computing device 101 obtains 433a a further speed value of 70 km / h, i.e., the speed of the object did not change. Therefore, the second configuration of the resources is still used for performing the sensing. Then, the computing device 101 obtains 433b a second speed of the object of, e.g., 30 km / h. Since the speed of the detected objects is 435 below the threshold speed, the computing devices 101 may transmit 441 to the communications device 107 the first configuration or a further configuration of the resources to perform the sensing, wherein the first configuration or the further configuration has reduced resources of the mobile network compared to the second configuration.

[0067] The computing device 101 may inform 421, 423, 437a, 439a, 437b, 439b the communications device 107 about the speed detection event with additional information such as location and velocity vector of the object 113, 115ac, and uncertainty of the measurement. The communications device 107 may send a message to terminate the sensing service by sending 443 for example a “terminate subscription” message. The computing device 101 may acknowledge 445 the subscription termination.

[0068] The computing device 101, the communications device 107, the transmitting radio node 103 and the receiving radio node 105, 109, 111 may communicate through a subscription protocol, such as message queuing telemetry transport, MQTT, protocol, Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC-UA), Data Distribution Service (DDS), or utilizing any one of a number of transfer protocols, e.g., frame relay, internet protocol (IP), transmission control protocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), or by using Remote Procedure Call (RPC) protocols, such as gRPC.

[0069] Figure 5 shows a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a computing device 101, comprising processor circuitry 501, a computer-readable data carrier, such as the memory 502, and the network interface circuitry 503.

[0070] The processing circuitry 501 may comprise one or more processors, such as Central Processing Units (CPUs), microprocessors, application processors, application-specific processors, Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), and Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) including image processors, or a combination thereof, and the memory 502 may comprise a computer program comprising instructions. When executed by the processor(s), the instructions cause the computing device 101 to become operative in accordance with embodiments of the invention described herein, in particular with reference to Figure 2. More specifically, the computing device 101 becomes operative to receive a request for sensing a property of one or more objects 113, 115ac, wherein the request comprises a condition related to the property of the one or more objects 113, 115ac. The computing device 101 becomes further operative to transmit, to a transmitting radio node 103 of the mobile network, a first message comprising a first configuration of resources of the mobile network to perform the sensing. The computing device 101 becomes further operative to obtain a value of the property based on radio signals received by one or more receiving radio nodes 105, 109, 111 of the mobile network. The computing device 101 becomes further operative to transmit, to the transmitting radio node 103, a second message comprising a second configuration of the resources to perform the sensing with increased resources of the mobile network, if the condition is fulfilled. The request for the sensing may be received from a communications device 107 and the one or more objects 113, 115ac are in an area surrounding the communications device 107. If the condition is fulfilled, the computing device 101 may become further operative to transmit 209, to the communications device 107, the value of the property.

[0071] According to an embodiment, the computing device 101 may become further operative to receive 211 one or more further requests from one or more further communications devices for sensing one or more further properties. The computing device 101 may become further operative to transmit 213 a third message comprising a third configuration of the resources of the mobile network to perform a single sensing, if the one or more further communications devices share a same location.

[0072] The computing device 101 may for example become further operative to obtain the value of the property based on the radio signals by receiving 215 representations of the radio signals received by the one or more receiving radio nodes 105, 109, 111; and by obtaining 217 the value of the property by analyzing the representations of the radio signals.

[0073] The computing device 101 may for example become further operative to obtain the value of the property based on the radio signals by receiving 219 the value of the property from the one or more receiving radio nodes 105, 109, 111.

[0074] According to an embodiment, the property of the one or more objects 113, 115ac may comprise any one of: speed, size, shape, pose, and material, of the one or more objects 113, 115ac. The condition may comprise at least one of: a threshold speed, one or more values indicating a dimension, a direction of travel, and a type of material, of the one or more objects 113, 115ac.

[0075] The transmitting radio node 103 and the receiving radio node 105, 109, 111 may be base stations and / or mobile terminals. The transmitting radio node 103 and the receiving radio node 105, 109, 111 may be selected for sensing based on a location of the communications device 107, sensing and processing capabilities, and available resources of the transmitting radio node 103 and the receiving radio node 105, 109, 111. The first configuration of resources, the second configuration of resources, and the third configuration of resources may indicate at least one of a transmission frequency of the radio signal, a transmission power of the radio signal, and / or a configuration of an antenna.

[0076] The computer program 504 may be stored in a computer-readable data carrier, such as a memory 502. Alternatively, the computer program 504 may be carried by a data carrier signal, e.g., downloaded to the memory 502 via a network interface circuitry 503. The memory 502 may, e.g., be a Random-Access Memory (RAM), a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Flash memory, or the like. The computer program 504 may be downloaded to the memory 502 by means of the network interface circuitry 503, as a data carrier signal carrying the computer program 504. The network interface circuitry 503 may comprise one or more of a cellular modem (e.g., GSM, UMTS, LTE, 5G, or higher generation), a WLAN / Wi-Fi modem, a Bluetooth modem, an Ethernet interface, an optical interface, or the like, for exchanging data between the computing device 101 and other computing devices, communications devices 107, a radio-access network, and / or the Internet. The processing circuitry 501 may alternatively or additionally comprise one or more Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field- Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), or the like, which are operative to cause the computing device 101 to become operative in accordance with embodiments of the invention described herein.

[0077] Figure 6 shows a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a transmitting radio node 103, comprising processor circuitry 601, a computer-readable data carrier, such as the memory 602, and the network interface circuitry 603.

[0078] The processing circuitry 601 may comprise one or more processors, such as CPUs, microprocessors, application processors, application-specific processors, GPUs, and DSPs including image processors, or a combination thereof, and the memory 502 may comprise a computer program comprising instructions. When executed by the processor(s), the instructions cause the transmitting radio node 103 to become operative in accordance with embodiments of the invention described herein, in particular with reference to Figure 3. More specifically, the transmitting radio node 103 becomes operative to receive, from a computing device 101, a first message comprising a first configuration of resources of the mobile network to perform the sensing. The transmitting radio node 103 becomes further operative to perform first radio signaling based on the first configuration of the resources. The transmitting radio node 103 becomes further operative to receive, from the computing device 101, a second message comprising a second configuration of the resources to perform the sensing with increased resources of the mobile network. The transmitting radio node 103 becomes further operative to perform second radio signaling based on the second configuration of the resources.

[0079] The transmitting radio node 103 may become further operative to receive 211 a third message comprising a third configuration of the resources to perform the sensing.

[0080] According to an embodiment, the transmitting radio node 103 may become further operative to receive radio signals. The transmitting radio node 103 may become further operative to process 215 the received radio signals to obtain representations of the radio signals; and to transmit 217 the representations of the radio signals to the computing device 101.

[0081] According to an embodiment, the transmitting radio node 103 may become further operative to receive 213 radio signals, obtain 219 a value of a property of one or more objects 113, 115ac based on the received radio signals; and transmit 221 the value of the property to the computing device 101. The property of the one or more objects 113, 115ac may comprise any one of speed, size, shape, pose, and material, of the one or more objects 113, 115ac.

[0082] The computer program 604 may be stored in a computer-readable data carrier, such as a memory 602. Alternatively, the computer program 604 may be carried by a data carrier signal, e.g., downloaded to the memory 602 via a network interface circuitry 603. The memory 602 may, e.g., be a RAM, a ROM, a Flash memory, or the like. The computer program 604 may be downloaded to the memory 502 by means of the network interface circuitry 603, as a data carrier signal carrying the computer program 604. The network interface circuitry 603 may comprise one or more of a cellular modem (e.g., GSM, UMTS, LTE, 5G, or higher generation), a WLAN / Wi-Fi modem, a Bluetooth modem, an Ethernet interface, an optical interface, or the like, for exchanging data between the transmitting radio node 103 and other computing devices, communications devices, a radio-access network, and / or the Internet. The processing circuitry 601 may alternatively or additionally comprise one or more ASICs, FPGAs, or the like, which are operative to cause the transmitting radio node 103 to become operative in accordance with embodiments of the invention described herein.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method (200) for supporting radio signal -based sensing in a mobile network, the method (200) performed by a computing device (101) and comprising:- receiving (201) a request for sensing a property of one or more objects (113, 115a-c), wherein the request comprises a condition related to the property of the one or more objects (113, 115a-c);- transmitting (203), to a transmitting radio node (103) of the mobile network, a first message comprising a first configuration of resources of the mobile network to perform the sensing;- obtaining (205) a value of the property based on radio signals received by one or more receiving radio nodes (105, 109, 111) of the mobile network; and- if the condition is fulfilled, transmitting (207), to the transmitting radio node (103), a second message comprising a second configuration of the resources to perform the sensing with increased resources of the mobile network.

2. The method (200) according to claim 1, wherein the request for the sensing is received from a communications device (107) and the one or more objects (113, 115a-c) are in an area surrounding the communications device (107).

3. The method (200) according to claim 2, further comprising:- if the condition is fulfilled, transmitting (209), to the communications device (107), the value of the property.

4. The method (200) according to any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:- receiving (211) one or more further requests from one or more further communications devices (107) for sensing one or more further properties; and- transmitting (213) a third message comprising a third configuration of the resources of the mobile network to perform a single sensing, if the one or more further communications devices (107) share a same location.

5. The method (200) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the obtaining the value of the property based on the radio signals comprises:- receiving (215) representations of the radio signals received by the one or more receiving radio nodes (105, 109, 111); and- obtaining (217) the value of the property by analyzing the representations of the radio signals.

6. The method (200) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the obtaining the value of the property based on the radio signals comprises:- receiving (219) the value of the property from the one or more receiving radio nodes (105, 109, 111).

7. The method (200) according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the property of the one or more objects (113, 115a-c) comprises any one of: speed, size, shape, pose, and material, of the one or more objects (113, 115a-c).

8. The method (200) according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the condition comprises at least one of: a threshold speed, one or more values indicating a dimension, a direction of travel, and a type of material, of the one or more objects (113, 115a-c).

9. The method (200) according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the transmitting radio node (103) and the receiving radio node (105) are base stations and / or mobile terminals of the mobile network.

10. The method (200) according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the transmitting radio node (103) and the receiving radio node (105) are selected for sensing based on a location of the communications device (107), sensing and processing capabilities, and available resources of the transmitting radio node and the receiving radio node (105).

11. The method (200) according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first configuration of resources, the second configuration of resources, and the third configuration of resources, indicate at least one of a transmission frequency of the radio signal, a transmission power of the radio signal, and / or a configuration of an antenna.

12. A method (300) for supporting radio signal-based sensing in a mobile network, the method performed by a transmitting radio node (103) of the mobile network and comprising:- receiving (301), from a computing device (101), a first message comprising a first configuration of resources of the mobile network to perform the sensing;- performing (303) first radio signaling based on the first configuration of the resources;- receiving (305), from the computing device (101), a second message comprising a second configuration of the resources to perform the sensing with increased resources of the mobile network; and- performing (309) second radio signaling based on the second configuration of the resources.

13. The method (300) according to claim 12, further comprising:- receiving (311) a third message comprising a third configuration of the resources to perform the sensing; and- performing (312) third radio signaling based on the third configuration of the resources.

14. The method (300) according to any of claims 11 or 13, further comprising:- receiving (313) radio signals;- processing (315) the received radio signals to obtain representations of the radio signals; and- transmitting (317) the representations of the radio signals to the computing device (101).

15. The method (300) according to any of claims 11 or 13, further comprising:- receiving (313) radio signals;- obtaining (319) a value of a property of one or more objects (113, 115a-c) based on the received radio signals; and- transmitting (321) the value of the property to the computing device (101).

16. The method (300) according to claim 15, wherein the property of the one or more objects (113, 115a-c) comprises any one of: speed, size, shape, pose, and material, of the one or more objects (113, 115a-c).

17. A computing device (101) for supporting radio signal-based sensing in a mobile network, the computing device (101) comprising a processor and a memory, the memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device (101) to:- receive a request for sensing a property of one or more objects (113, 115a-c), wherein the request comprises a condition related to the property of the one or more objects (113, 115a- c);- transmit, to a transmitting radio node (103) of the mobile network, a first message comprising a first configuration of resources of the mobile network to perform the sensing;- obtain a value of the property based on radio signals received by one or more receiving radio nodes (105, 109, 111) of the mobile network; and- if the condition is fulfilled, transmit, to the transmitting radio node (103), a second message comprising a second configuration of the resources to perform the sensing with increased resources of the mobile network.

18. The computing device (101) according to claim 17, wherein the request for the sensing is received from a communications device (107) and the one or more objects (113, 115a-c) are in an area surrounding the communications device (107).

19. The computing device (101) according to claim 18, wherein the instructions further cause the computing device (101) to:- if the condition is fulfilled, transmit, to the communications device (107), the value of the property.

20. The computing device (101) according to any of claims 17 to 19, wherein the instructions further cause the computing device (101) to:- receive one or more further requests from one or more further communications devices (107) for sensing one or more further properties; and- transmit a third message comprising a third configuration of the resources of the mobile network to perform a single sensing, if the one or more further communications devices (107) share a same location.

21. The computing device (101) according to any of claims 17 to 20, wherein the instructions cause the computing device (101) to obtain a value of the property based on radio signals received by one or more receiving radio nodes (105, 109, 111) of the mobile network by:- receiving representations of the radio signals received by the one or more receiving radio nodes (105, 109, 111); and- obtaining the value of the property by analyzing the representations of the radio signals.

22. The computing device (101) according to any of claims 17 to 20, wherein the instructions cause the computing device (101) to obtain the value of the property based on the radio signals by:- receiving the value of the property from the one or more receiving radio nodes (105, 109, 111).

23. The computing device (101) according to any of claims 17 to 22, wherein the property of the one or more objects (113, 115a-c) comprises any one of: speed, size, shape, pose, and material, of the one or more objects (113, 115a-c).

24. The computing device (101) according to any of claims 17 to 23, wherein the condition comprises at least one of: a threshold speed, one or more values indicating a dimension, a direction of travel, and a type of material, of the one or more objects (113, 115a-c).

25. The computing device (101) according to any of claims 17 to 24, wherein the transmitting radio node (103) and the receiving radio node (105) are base stations and / or mobile terminals of the mobile network.

26. The computing device (101) according to any of claims 17 to 25, wherein the transmitting radio node (103) and the receiving radio node (105) are selected for sensing based on a location of the communications device (107), sensing and processing capabilities, and available resources of the transmitting radio node (103) and the receiving radio node (105).

27. The computing device (101) according to any of claims 17 to 26, wherein the first configuration of resources, the second configuration of resources, and the third configuration of resources, indicate at least one of a transmission frequency of the radio signal, a transmission power of the radio signal, and / or a configuration of an antenna.

28. A transmitting radio node (103) for supporting radio signal-based sensing in a mobile network, the transmitting radio node (103) comprising a processor and a memory, the memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the transmitting radio node (103) to:- receive, from a computing device (101), a first message comprising a first configuration of resources of the mobile network to perform the sensing;- perform first radio signaling based on the first configuration of the resources;- receive, from the computing device (101), a second message comprising a second configuration of the resources to perform the sensing with increased resources of the mobile network; and- perform second radio signaling based on the second configuration of the resources.

29. The transmitting radio node (103) according to claim 28, wherein the instructions further cause the transmitting radio node (103) to:- receive a third message comprising a third configuration of the resources to perform the sensing.

30. The transmitting radio node (103) according to any of claims 28 or 29, wherein the instructions further cause the transmitting radio node (103) to:- receive radio signals;- process the received radio signals to obtain representations of the radio signals; and- transmit the representations of the radio signals to the computing device (101).

31. The transmitting radio node (103) according to any of claims 28 or 29, wherein the instructions further cause the transmitting radio node (103) to:- receive radio signals;- obtain a value of a property of one or more objects (113, 115a-c) based on the received radio signals; and- transmit the value of the property to the computing device (101).

32. The transmitting radio node (103) according to claim 31, wherein the property of the one or more objects (113, 115a-c) comprises any one of: speed, size, shape, pose, and material, of the one or more objects (113, 115a-c).

33. A computer program (504) comprising instructions which, when run in a processing unit of a computing device (101), cause the computing device (101) to perform the method according to any of claims 1 to 11.

34. A computer-readable data carrier (502) having stored thereon the computer program (504) according to claim 33.

35. A data carrier signal carrying the computer program (504) according to claim 33.

36. A computer program (604) comprising instructions which, when run in a processing unit of a transmitting radio node (103), cause the transmitting radio node (103) to perform the method according to any of claims 12 to 16.

37. A computer-readable data carrier (602) having stored thereon the computer program (604) according to claim 36.

38. A data carrier signal carrying the computer program (604) according to claim 36.

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