Concurrent Schemes for Wireless Communication and Sensing

Abstract

Techniques are described for transmitting and / or receiving signal structure designs for collaborative communication and sensing. An exemplary wireless communication method includes transmitting, by a wireless device, a waveform including a signal structure having one or more time resources or one or more frequency resources, the signal structure including a plurality of data signals, the signal structure including a plurality of sensing signals configured to reflect from objects within an area in which the wireless device is operating, and prior to transmitting, the plurality of data signals are spread using a different spreading code than that used to spread the plurality of sensing signals.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] (Technical field) TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure is directed generally to digital wireless communications. [Background technology]

[0002] (background) Mobile telecommunications technologies are moving the world towards an increasingly connected and networked society. The rapid growth of wireless communications and advances in technology are leading to greater demands for capacity and connectivity. Other aspects such as energy consumption, device cost, spectral efficiency, and latency may also be important to meet the needs of various communication scenarios. Compared to existing wireless networks, next generation systems and wireless communication techniques will need to support a much wider range of use case characteristics and provide a more complex and advanced range of access requirements and flexibility. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] (summary) Techniques are disclosed for a coexistence scheme for cooperative communication and sensing over wireless technologies.

[0004] A first exemplary wireless communication method includes transmitting, by a wireless device, a waveform including a signal structure having one or more time resources or one or more frequency resources, the signal structure including a plurality of data signals, the signal structure including a plurality of sensing signals configured to reflect from objects within an area in which the wireless device is operating, and prior to transmitting, the plurality of data signals are spread using a different spreading code than one used to spread the plurality of sensing signals.

[0005] A second wireless communication method includes receiving, by a wireless device, a reflected waveform reflected from an object in an area in which the wireless device is operating, the reflected waveform comprising at least some of a plurality of sensing signals in a signal structure transmitted by the wireless device or by another wireless device, and prior to receiving, the wireless device transmits a plurality of data signals in the signal structure that are spread using a spreading code different from that used to spread the plurality of sensing signals.

[0006] A third wireless communication method includes transmitting, by a wireless device, a waveform including a signal structure, the signal structure including a plurality of data signals, the signal structure including a plurality of sensing signals configured to reflect from an object within an area in which the wireless device is operating, resulting in a reflected waveform comprising at least some of the plurality of sensing signals to be received by the wireless device, the plurality of data signals being spread using a different spreading code than that used to spread the plurality of sensing signals; receiving, by the wireless device, the reflected waveform; and determining one or more parameters of the object by processing the reflected waveform.

[0007] In some embodiments, the one or more parameters of the object include a distance between the object and the wireless device, a velocity of the object, a period of motion of the object, or an image of the object. In some embodiments, the signal structure comprises multiple subcarriers, and a first spreading code selected for the sensing signal is different from a second spreading code selected for the data signal. In some embodiments, the multiple spreading codes used to spread the multiple data signals and the multiple sensing signals are orthogonal. In some embodiments, the multiple spreading codes used to spread the multiple data signals and the multiple sensing signals include a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) matrix, a Hadamard code, a Discrete Hartley Transform matrix, a Discrete Cosine Transform matrix, or a diagonal matrix. In some embodiments, the multiple spreading codes used to spread the multiple data signals and the multiple sensing signals are non-orthogonal.

[0008] In some embodiments, a set of spreading codes used to spread the multiple sensing signals into the multiple symbols are identical. In some embodiments, at least one symbol of the sensing signal is associated with a first spreading code that is different from a second spreading code associated with another sensing signal in at least one other symbol. In some embodiments, some spreading codes used to spread the multiple sensing signals into the multiple symbols are identical. In some embodiments, at least one symbol of the sensing signal is associated with a first number of spreading codes that is different from a second number of spreading codes associated with another sensing signal in at least one other symbol. In some embodiments, the multiple sensing signals include a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW), a pulsed signal, or a low correlation sequence. In some embodiments, the low correlation sequence includes an m-sequence, a pseudo-noise sequence, a Gold sequence, or a Zadoff-Chu sequence. In some embodiments, the wireless device includes a network device or a communication device.

[0009] In yet another exemplary aspect, the methods described above are embodied in the form of processor executable code and stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the code contained in the computer readable storage medium, when executed by the processor, causing the processor to implement the methods described in this patent document.

[0010] In yet another exemplary embodiment, a device configured or operable to perform the methods described above is disclosed.

[0011] These and other aspects and their implementations are described in further detail in the drawings, description, and claims. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1-6 show techniques for separating communication and sensing signals by different spreading codes within a symbol. [Diagram 2] 1-6 show techniques for separating communication and sensing signals by different spreading codes within a symbol. [Diagram 3] 1-6 show techniques for separating communication and sensing signals by different spreading codes within a symbol. [Figure 4] 1-6 show techniques for separating communication and sensing signals by different spreading codes within a symbol. [Diagram 5] 1-6 show techniques for separating communication and sensing signals by different spreading codes within a symbol. [Figure 6] 1-6 show techniques for separating communication and sensing signals by different spreading codes within a symbol.

[0013] [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a receiver for sensing signals with M=4 orthogonal codes.

[0014] [Figure 8] FIG. 8 illustrates a time-domain receive window setting for one orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol for a sensing signal.

[0015] [Figure 9] FIG. 9 illustrates an example block diagram of a hardware platform that may be part of a network or communication device.

[0016] [Figure 10] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a wireless communication system including a base station (BS) and a user equipment (UE) in accordance with some implementations of the disclosed technology.

[0017] [Figure 11] FIG. 11 shows an exemplary flow chart for transmitting a waveform comprising joint communication and sensing signals.

[0018] [Figure 12] FIG. 12 shows an exemplary flow chart for receiving a reflected waveform that comprises one or more sensing signals.

[0019] [Figure 13] FIG. 13 shows an exemplary flow chart for processing one or more sensing signals within a reflected waveform. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] (Detailed Description) Cooperative communication and sensing are promising 6G technologies. However, one of the technical challenges is how to integrate them effectively and / or efficiently. Frequency division and time division coexistence can hardly bring integration gain. Direct use of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and sensing requires complex in-band full-duplex (FD) to cancel self-interference (SI). To solve at least these technical problems, this patent document proposes an exemplary coexistence scheme that, in some embodiments, can increase spectral efficiency and remove the requirement of full-duplex.

[0021] The example headings for the various sections below are used to facilitate understanding of the disclosed subject matter and do not limit the scope of the claimed subject matter in any way. Thus, one or more features of one example section can be combined with one or more features of another example section. Furthermore, although 5G or 6G terminology is used for clarity of explanation, the techniques disclosed herein are not limited to only 5G or 6G technology and may also be used in wireless systems implementing other protocols.

[0022] I. Introduction

[0023] 6G is not only evolving in terms of spectrum efficiency, latency, and connectivity, but is also exploring the delivery of services beyond communication. Joint Communication and Sensing (JCS) can provide sensing services through communication devices. The RF convergence of these two functions (i.e., JCS) also allows for efficient cooperative schemes to be realized to share resources, including spectrum and hardware.

[0024] Although a unified design is always preferred to save costs, the two functions themselves have different working principles. Communications aims to obtain information from the transmitted signal itself, while sensing focuses on channel information. Communications usually employs Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) because it offers robustness against multipath channels, simple equalization, and flexible resource allocation. In radar sensing, widely used solutions are based on Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) or chirp signals due to their large bandwidth, simple processing schemes, and importantly, simple self-interference (SI) cancellation.

[0025] OFDM can be used for sensing. Data transmission efficiency and flexibility can be ensured, and sensing overhead can be reduced through reusing data symbols for sensing. The problem is that a complex in-band full-duplex transceiver is required. Since SI is much stronger than echo, full-duplex usually cancels SI in multiple domains, including spatial domain, RF / analog domain, and digital domain. When a multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) system is used, all transmitting antennas generate SI, which makes SI cancellation much more complicated than a single antenna situation.

[0026] FMCW has also been considered for communication within the JCS. The simplest method is to modulate the amplitude, frequency, or phase of a chirp signal, which is for low-rate communication only. The OFDM chirp method was designed to generate orthogonal FMCW signals for MIMO radar. Furthermore, orthogonal chirp division multiplexing replaces the Fourier transform kernel in OFDM with a Fresnel transform and uses a DFT-spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) receiver. FMCW and OFDM can be combined, but these methods lose the advantages of the multipath robustness of OFDM as well as the efficient SI suppression of FMCW.

[0027] II.(a). Embodiment 1 - Subcarrier-by-subcarrier code spreading

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the communication and sensing signals are separated by different spreading codes in symbols by a network device (e.g., a base station) or a communication device (e.g., a user equipment (UE)). In some embodiments, the sensing signals can be transmitted by a wireless device (e.g., a network device or a communication device) using the communication (or data) signals in a waveform, and at least some of the sensing signals can be reflected from one or more objects (e.g., another wireless device or a building or a person, etc.) such that a reflected waveform comprising at least some of the sensing signals can be received by at least one of the same wireless device or other wireless devices. A wireless device receiving one or more sensing signals can use the one or more sensing signals to obtain information about the environment. Examples of information about the environment can include spatial information (e.g., the location of one or more objects in an area in which the wireless device is operating), speed information of a moving target, vital signals of a person (e.g., when the object is moving, e.g., one or more motion cycles of the object), imaging information (e.g., images of the object) within wireless coverage, etc. The wireless device can calculate the delay of the sensing signal to determine distance information between the wireless device and the object reflecting the sensing signal, or the wireless device can calculate the Doppler frequency of the sensing signal to determine the velocity information of the object reflecting the sensing signal. The spreading is subcarrier-wise, and in some embodiments, there are M=4 orthogonal spreading codes. In such an exemplary embodiment, if the length of the spreading code is M, the spreading is performed within M subcarriers. It is assumed that the total number of subcarriers is N. Before spreading, in some embodiments, these four vectors with a length of N / 4 can be used for communication or sensing by the network device or communication device.

[0029] II.(b) Embodiment 2 - Specific Code Sets and Technical Effects

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the communication and sensing signals are separated by different spreading codes within a symbol. The spreading is still subcarrier-wise, and there are M=4 orthogonal spreading codes. The total number of subcarriers is assumed to be N. Before spreading, these four vectors with a length of N / 4 can be used for communication or sensing. In this embodiment, a specific spreading code set and sensing signal are used to achieve a specific technical effect. The spreading code set in FIG. 2 is a modified version of the DFT matrix. The sensing signal is a chirp signal, which is a common form of FMCW signal. For example, if the code index l is selected for sensing, [a l1 , a l2 , ..., a lN / 4 ] is the N / 4-dimensional Fourier transform of the chirp signal with N / 4 sampling points. Assume l=3. The technical effect is that the time-domain chirp signal focuses its energy into occasion 3, which can be approximated by a time-division chirp signal within an OFDM symbol. This approximation helps to simplify the receiver processing.

[0031] II.(c). Embodiment 3 - DFT Codebook and Offset DFT Codebook

[0032] As shown in Fig. 3, the spreading code set of the DFT matrix and its variant are represented. The code length and the number of codes are M (M>1). Each column vector is a spreading code vector, where the power of each vector is normalized to 1. The column vectors are mutually orthogonal according to the nature of the DFT matrix. When these column vectors are the dot product of the DFT vector and a constant vector, the orthogonality is still preserved. The variant of the DFT matrix is ​​shown in Fig. 3, and this variant has the technical effect of focusing the sensing energy as described in embodiment 2.

[0033] II.(d). Embodiment 4 - Random spreading code within each symbol

[0034] As shown in FIG. 4, the communication and sensing signals are separated by different spreading codes in a symbol. There are M=4 orthogonal codes. In each subframe, a wireless device transmitting a sensing signal randomly selects one spreading code to transmit the sensing signal. The random selection can be realized via a pseudo-noise algorithm or according to a pseudo-noise sequence. The remaining resources other than the resources used for the sensing signal are used for communication. In this embodiment, the code index for sensing in each symbol is uniformly random within the range of 1 to 4. Different types of sensing signals can be used in one symbol. For example, a first spreading code is used for at least one symbol for a sensing signal, and a second spreading code is used for at least one other symbol for another sensing signal, and the first spreading code and the second spreading code are different. In this embodiment, it is assumed that an m-sequence is used as the sensing signal in one symbol.

[0035] II.(e). Embodiment 5 - Multiple Spreading Codes within Each Symbol

[0036] As shown in FIG. 5, the communication and sensing signals are separated by different spreading codes in a symbol. There are M=8 orthogonal codes. In each subframe, the wireless device transmitting the sensing signal randomly selects one spreading code to transmit the sensing signal. The random selection can be realized via a pseudo-noise algorithm or according to a pseudo-noise sequence. The remaining resources other than the resources used for the sensing signal are used for communication. In this embodiment, the number of spreading codes for sensing is variable (or different), and the spreading codes for sensing are randomly selected by the wireless device. For example, at least one symbol for the sensing signal is associated with a first number of spreading codes (e.g., two spreading codes for symbol 1 shown in FIG. 5) different from a second number of spreading codes (e.g., three spreading codes for symbol 3 shown in FIG. 5) associated with another sensing signal in at least one other symbol. Different types of sensing signals can be used in one symbol. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a Gold sequence is used as the sensing signal in one symbol. In some embodiments, the number of spreading codes for sensing may be the same for the sensing signal within multiple symbols.

[0037] II.(f). Embodiment 6 - Fixed spreading code within each symbol

[0038] As shown in FIG. 6, the communication and sensing signals are separated by different spreading codes in a symbol. There are M=4 orthogonal codes. In each subframe, the wireless device transmitting the sensing signal randomly selects one spreading code to transmit the sensing signal. The random selection can be realized through a pseudo-noise algorithm or according to a pseudo-noise sequence. The remaining resources other than the resources used for the sensing signal are used for communication. In this embodiment, the sensing signal uses a fixed (or the same) spreading code in multiple symbols. Different types of sensing signals can be used in one symbol. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a pulse signal is used as the sensing signal in one symbol.

[0039] II.(g). Embodiment 7 - Receiver for sensing signal

[0040] FIG. 7 is a receiver for sensing signals with M=4 orthogonal codes. The main feature of the receiver is that it uses analog processing to cancel SI from both communication and sensing signals. Mixers and filters are used to cancel SI of chirp signals, which are widely used in FMCW radar systems. In addition, the mixer automatically provides multiplication of the conjugate time domain coefficient for the chirp. The filtered signal is then delayed to obtain the sum of the signals in M ​​occasions. In the sum signal, the SI of the communication signal can also be cancelled through analog processing. The advantage of this receiver is that since SI is cancelled by analog processing, the dynamic range of the echo (or reflected) signal after analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) can be preserved.

[0041] II.(h). Embodiment 8 - Two Receiving Windows

[0042] FIG. 8 shows the time domain receive window setting of one OFDM symbol for sensing signal. The receive window for sensing has the same length as the OFDM communication receiver because the delay and sum operation depends on the characteristics of OFDM. A single receive window can be at any position. There can also be two receive windows, one starting from the end of the CP, while the other starting from the beginning of the CP. The SI cancellation in the seventh embodiment works for both windows. Also, the two receptions can provide redundant information for sensing. Please note that the two receive windows are from the perspective of delay and sum operation. That is, the receiver can use one large receive window, containing the entire OFDM symbol, and two sum signals are obtained from this large window, which represents sampling at different points.

[0043] The following sections describe example techniques and / or design structures described in this patent document. · A signal structure in which the sensing signal and the communication signal use different spreading codes. · Code domain spreading exists in the frequency domain. · Code domain spreading is subcarrier-by-subcarrier. The spreading code sets are orthogonal. The code set is a DFT matrix, a Hadamard code, a discrete Hartley transform matrix, a discrete cosine transform matrix, a diagonal matrix, or one of their variants. The spreading code sets are non-orthogonal. The spreading codes used by the sensing signals among the different symbols may be fixed (or the same) or may be variants (or different (e.g., at least one symbol for a sensing signal uses a first spreading code that is different from a second spreading code used for another sensing signal in at least one other symbol)). The number of spreading codes used by the sensing signals among the different symbols may be fixed (or the same) or may vary (or may be different (e.g., at least one symbol for a sensing signal is associated with a first number of spreading codes that differs from a second number of spreading codes associated with another sensing signal in at least one other symbol)). The sensing signal can be FMCW, pulsed, and low correlation sequences. Low correlation sequences include m-sequences, pseudo-noise sequences, Gold sequences, and Zadoff-Chu sequences. The transmitter transmits the signal structure described in this patent document. The receiver receives the signal structure described in this patent document. The receiver uses analog processing to remove SI from both communication and sensing signals. The analog processing can be at least one of a mixer, a filter, a delay, and a summation. The receiver uses at least one receive window of one OFDM symbol with a cyclic prefix.

[0044] FIG. 9 illustrates an example block diagram of a hardware platform 900, which may be part of a network device (e.g., a base station) or a communication device (e.g., a user equipment (UE)). The hardware platform 900 includes at least one processor 910 and a memory 905 having instructions stored thereon. The instructions, upon execution by the processor 910, configure the hardware platform 900 to perform the operations described in FIGS. 1-8 and 10-13 and in various embodiments described in this patent document. The transmitter 915 transmits or transmits information or data to another device. For example, a network device transmitter can transmit a message to a user equipment. The receiver 920 receives information or data transmitted or transmitted by another device. For example, a user equipment can receive a message from a network device.

[0045] The implementation as discussed above may be applied to wireless communication. Figure 10 shows an example of a wireless communication system (e.g., a 5G or 6G or NR cellular network) including a base station 1020 and one or more user equipment (UE) 1011, 1012, and 1013. In some embodiments, the UE accesses a BS (e.g., a network) using a communication link to the network (as depicted by dashed arrows 1031, 1032, 1033, sometimes referred to as the uplink direction), which then enables subsequent communication from the BS to the UE (as depicted by arrows 1041, 1042, 1043, sometimes referred to as the downlink direction, shown in the direction from the network to the UE). In some embodiments, the BS transmits information to the UE (sometimes referred to as the downlink direction, as depicted by arrows 1041, 1042, 1043), which then enables subsequent communication from the UE to the BS (e.g., shown in the UE to BS direction, sometimes referred to as the uplink direction, as indicated by dashed arrows 1031, 1032, 1033). The UE may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a mobile computer, a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc.

[0046] 11 shows an example flowchart for transmitting a waveform comprising a joint communication and a sensing signal. Operation 1102 includes transmitting, by a wireless device, a waveform including a signal structure having one or more time resources or one or more frequency resources, the signal structure including a plurality of data signals, the signal structure including a plurality of sensing signals configured to reflect from objects in an area in which the wireless device is operating, and prior to transmitting, the plurality of data signals are spread using a different spreading code than that used to spread the plurality of sensing signals.

[0047] 12 shows an example flowchart for receiving a reflected waveform comprising one or more sensing signals. Operation 1202 includes receiving, by a wireless device, a reflected waveform reflected from an object in an area in which the wireless device is operating, the reflected waveform comprising at least some of the sensing signals in a signal structure transmitted by the wireless device or by another wireless device, and prior to receiving, the wireless device transmits in the signal structure a plurality of data signals that are spread using a spreading code different from that used to spread the plurality of sensing signals.

[0048] 13 shows an example flow chart for processing one or more sensing signals in a reflected waveform. Operation 1302 includes transmitting, by a wireless device, a waveform including a signal structure, the signal structure including a plurality of data signals, the signal structure including a plurality of sensing signals configured to reflect from an object in an area in which the wireless device is operating, resulting in a reflected waveform comprising at least some of the plurality of sensing signals to be received by the wireless device, the plurality of data signals being spread using a spreading code different from that used to spread the plurality of sensing signals. Operation 1304 includes receiving, by the wireless device, the reflected waveform. Operation 1306 includes determining one or more parameters of the object by processing the reflected waveform.

[0049] In some embodiments, the one or more parameters of the object include a distance between the object and the wireless device, a velocity of the object, a period of motion of the object, or an image of the object. In some embodiments, the signal structure comprises a plurality of subcarriers, and a first spreading code selected for the sensing signal is different from a second spreading code selected for the data signal. In some embodiments, the plurality of spreading codes used to spread the plurality of data signals and the plurality of sensing signals are orthogonal. In some embodiments, the plurality of spreading codes used to spread the plurality of data signals and the plurality of sensing signals include a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) matrix, a Hadamard code, a Discrete Hartley Transform matrix, a Discrete Cosine Transform matrix, or a diagonal matrix. In some embodiments, the plurality of spreading codes used to spread the plurality of data signals and the plurality of sensing signals are non-orthogonal. In some embodiments, the set of spreading codes used to spread the plurality of sensing signals into the plurality of symbols is identical.

[0050] In some embodiments, at least one symbol of the sensing signal is associated with a first spreading code that is different from a second spreading code associated with another sensing signal in at least one other symbol. In some embodiments, some spreading codes used to spread the multiple sensing signals into the multiple symbols are identical. In some embodiments, at least one symbol of the sensing signal is associated with a first number of spreading codes that is different from a second number of spreading codes associated with another sensing signal in at least one other symbol. In some embodiments, the multiple sensing signals include a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW), a pulsed signal, or a low correlation sequence. In some embodiments, the low correlation sequence includes an m-sequence, a pseudo-noise sequence, a Gold sequence, or a Zadoff-Chu sequence. In some embodiments, the wireless device includes a network device or a communication device.

[0051] The term "exemplary" is used herein to mean "an example of," and does not imply an ideal or preferred embodiment, unless otherwise stated.

[0052] Some of the embodiments described herein are described in the general context of a method or process that may be implemented by a computer program product embodied in a computer-readable medium, including computer-executable instructions, such as program code, executed by a computer in a networked environment, in one embodiment. The computer-readable medium may include removable and non-removable storage devices, including, but not limited to, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVDs), and the like. Thus, the computer-readable medium may include non-transitory storage media. Generally, program modules may include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, and the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Computer or processor executable instructions, associated data structures, and program modules represent examples of program code for executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions described in such steps or processes.

[0053] Some of the disclosed embodiments can be implemented as devices or modules using hardware circuits, software, or a combination thereof. For example, hardware circuit implementations can include discrete analog and / or digital components integrated, for example, as part of a printed circuit board. Alternatively or additionally, the disclosed components or modules can be implemented as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and / or as field programmable gate array (FPGA) devices. Some implementations may additionally or alternatively include digital signal processors (DSPs), which are specialized microprocessors with architectures optimized for the operational needs of digital signal processing associated with the disclosed functionality of the present application. Similarly, various components or subcomponents within each module may be implemented in software, hardware, or firmware. Connectivity between modules and / or components within a module may be provided using any one of the connectivity methods and mediums known in the art, including, but not limited to, communication via the Internet, wired, or wireless networks using appropriate protocols.

[0054] Although this document contains many details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the claimed invention or the subject matter that may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments. Certain features described herein in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Furthermore, although features may be described above as acting in a combination and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from the claimed combination may, in some cases, be deleted from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or a variation of the subcombination. Similarly, although operations are depicted in the figures in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring such operations to be performed in the particular order shown, or in a sequential order, or that all of the illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desired results.

[0055] Only some implementations and examples have been described; other implementations, enhancements, and variations can be made based on what is described and illustrated in this disclosure.

Claims

1. 1. A wireless communication method, comprising: transmitting, by a wireless device, a waveform including a signal structure having one or more time resources or one or more frequency resources; the signal structure includes a plurality of data signals; the signal structure includes a plurality of sensing signals configured to reflect from objects within an area in which the wireless device is operating; A method according to claim 1, wherein prior to said transmitting, said plurality of data signals are spread using a spreading code different from that used to spread said plurality of sensing signals.

2. 1. A wireless communication method, comprising: receiving, by a wireless device, a reflected waveform reflected from an object within an area in which the wireless device is operating; the reflected waveform comprises at least some of a plurality of sensing signals within a signal structure transmitted by the wireless device or by another wireless device; Prior to said receiving, said wireless device transmits a plurality of data signals within said signal structure that are spread using a spreading code different from that used to spread said plurality of sensing signals.

3. 1. A wireless communication method, comprising: transmitting, by a wireless device, a waveform including a signal structure, the signal structure includes a plurality of data signals; the signal structure includes a plurality of sensing signals configured to reflect off objects within an area in which the wireless device is operating, resulting in a reflected waveform comprising at least some of the plurality of sensing signals to be received by the wireless device; the plurality of data signals are spread using a spreading code different from that used to spread the plurality of sensing signals; and receiving, by the wireless device, the reflected waveform; determining one or more parameters of the object by processing the reflected waveform; A method comprising:

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the one or more parameters of the object include a distance between the object and the wireless device, a velocity of the object, a period of motion of the object, or an image of the object.

5. the signal structure comprises a plurality of subcarriers; The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first spreading code selected for the sensing signal is different from the second spreading code selected for the data signal.

6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the spreading codes used to spread the data signals and the sensing signals are orthogonal.

7. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spreading codes used to spread the plurality of data signals and the plurality of sensing signals comprises a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) matrix, a Hadamard code, a Discrete Hartley Transform matrix, a Discrete Cosine Transform matrix, or a diagonal matrix.

8. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the spreading codes used to spread the data signals and the sensing signals are non-orthogonal.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the set of spreading codes used for spreading the multiple sensing signals into multiple symbols is identical.

10. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one symbol relating to a sensing signal is associated with a first spreading code that is different from a second spreading code associated with another sensing signal in at least one other symbol.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein some spreading codes used for spreading the sensing signals into symbols are identical.

12. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one symbol for a sensing signal is associated with a first number of spreading codes that is different from a second number of spreading codes associated with another sensing signal in at least one other symbol.

13. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of sensing signals include a Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW), a pulsed signal, or a low correlation sequence.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the low correlation sequence comprises an m-sequence, a pseudo-noise sequence, a Gold sequence, or a Zadoff-Chu sequence.

15. The method of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the wireless device comprises a network device or a communication device.

16. An apparatus for wireless communication comprising a processor configured to implement a method according to one or more of the claims 1 to 15.

17. A non-transitory computer readable program storage medium having code stored thereon, the code, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to implement a method according to one or more of claims 1 to 15.

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