First communication device, second communication device, third communication device, communication method, and communication system

Abstract

Use wireless sensing appropriately. [Solution] A first communication device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure has a transmitting unit that transmits a first sensing request to a second communication device, the first sensing request including identification information for identifying a participant in the sensing and designation information for designating a sensing method, and a receiving unit that receives from the second communication device information regarding sensing results obtained based on data sensed using the sensing method by the participant identified based on the first sensing request.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a first communication device, a second communication device, a third communication device, a communication method, and a communication system in a mobile communication system. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, wireless sensing technologies using radio frequency signals have been increasingly studied. For example, 5G wireless sensing (e.g., Non-Patent Document 1) that uses signals from the 5th generation mobile communication system New Radio (5G NR) of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP (registered trademark)) and Wi-Fi sensing that uses signals from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)) are being studied.

[0003] In addition, Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), which integrates communication and sensing functions, is being considered.

[0004] Wireless sensing may provide information about object characteristics (shape, size, orientation, speed, position, distance or relative motion between objects, etc.). [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0005] [Non-Patent Document 1] 3GPP TS 22.137 V19.1.0 (2024-03), “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group TSG SA; Service requirements for Integrated Sensing and Communication; Stage 1 (Release 19)” Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As mentioned above, wireless sensing is being considered for 3GPP 5G NR, but specific methods for controlling sensing have not yet been explored. Unless this is clearly defined, there is a risk that the accuracy (performance) of wireless sensing will be insufficient, resulting in increased communication overhead due to false object detection, and a deterioration in the quality of services provided by external application functions.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a first communication device, a second communication device, a third communication device, a communication method, and a communication system that can appropriately utilize wireless sensing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A first communication device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure has a transmitting unit that transmits a first sensing request to a second communication device, the first sensing request including identification information for identifying a participant in the sensing and designation information for designating a sensing method, and a receiving unit that receives from the second communication device information regarding sensing results obtained based on data sensed using the sensing method by the participant identified based on the first sensing request. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, wireless sensing can be appropriately utilized. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic functional configuration of each device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic hardware configuration of each device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first procedure of sensing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of management of information related to sensing capabilities in an SF according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a second procedure of sensing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this specification and the drawings, elements that can be similarly described will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted.

[0012] In this disclosure, words enclosed in "()" in a sentence may indicate an explanation of the immediately preceding wording (for example, an explanation of spelling), a paraphrase, a specific example, a supplementary explanation, etc. Also, in this disclosure, words enclosed in "[ ]" in a sentence may be interpreted including the meaning of the entire sentence, or may be interpreted excluding the meaning of the entire sentence (ignoring the meaning of the entire sentence). Note that "()" and "[ ]" may also be used for purposes / meanings other than those mentioned above.

[0013] In the present disclosure, "A / B" and "at least one of A and B" may be interpreted interchangeably. Also, in the present disclosure, "A / B / C" may mean "at least one of A, B, and C."

[0014] In the present disclosure, a Network Function (NF) may include, for example, at least one of the following: Application Function (AF) (e.g., a function that realizes an application server outside the 5G Core Network (5GC)), Access and Mobility management Function (AMF) (e.g., functions to manage UE registration, location, etc.), Data Network (DN) (e.g., the function to realize a data network outside 5GC), Location Management Function (LMF) (e.g., communication control function related to location-based services), Non-3GPP Inter-Working Function (N3IWF) (e.g., function connecting untrusted non-3GPP access networks with 5GC), Network Exposure Function (NEF) (e.g., a function that provides an application interface for 5GC NF services to the outside world), Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF) (e.g., the function that selects the network slice), Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF) (e.g., a function for analyzing network data), Operation, Administration and Maintenance (Management) (OAM) (e.g., functions that provide the means for operation, maintenance and management), Policy Control Function (PCF) (e.g., a function that controls the quality of data transfer paths, policies, etc.), Session Management Function (SMF) (e.g., a function that manages a session), Trusted Non-3GPP Gateway Function (TNGF) (e.g., a function that connects trusted non-3GPP access networks with 5GC), Trusted WLAN Interworking Function (TWIF) (e.g., for non-5G UEs, connecting trusted non-3GPP access networks with 5G via a Wireless Local Area Network (LAN)), (Radio) Access Network ((R)AN) (e.g., the functionality that provides the radio access network), User Equipment (UE) (e.g., user access to network services over the radio interface), Unified Data Management (UDM) (e.g., the ability to store and manage subscriber information, UE authentication information, etc.), Unified Data Repository (UDR) (e.g., the ability to manage authentication / authorization based on subscriber information), User Plane Function (UPF) (e.g., the function that carries packets of user data).

[0015] It should be understood that these are merely examples and that other NFs are also covered by the present disclosure.

[0016] <System> 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The system 1 includes a user equipment (UE) 10, a base station (BS) 20, a network function (NF) server 30, and an application server 40. The system 1 may also be referred to as a wireless / information communication system.

[0017] The system 1 is, for example, a system that complies with the Technical Specification (TS) of 3GPP. More specifically, the system 1 may be, for example, a system that complies with the TS of a 5th generation mobile communication system (5G) or New Radio (NR).

[0018] Note that system 1 is not limited to this example, and may also include systems that use Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 6th generation mobile communication system (6G), xth generation mobile communication system (xG (x is, for example, an integer or a decimal)), New Radio (NR), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM (registered trademark)), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and other wireless communication methods, as well as next-generation systems that are extended, modified, created, or defined based on these.

[0019] In other words, terms related to 5G in this disclosure can be replaced with terms of other technologies / systems. In addition, when this replacement is made, it is naturally understood by those skilled in the art that, for example, NF can be replaced with a function similar to that of 5G NF (or a device having a similar function).

[0020] In the system 1, the UE 10 receives a wireless communication service using a network (NW) 3000. The NW 3000 corresponds to a cellular NW to which the UE 10 can connect.

[0021] In this disclosure, the cellular network may be interchangeably referred to as a mobile network, a wireless communication network, a 5G core network (5GC), a 3GPP access network, etc. The 5GC may include, for example, an optical fiber network. In this disclosure, the 5GC, network, physical network, and core network (Core Network (CN)) may be interchangeably referred to.

[0022] UE 10 connects to NW 3000 via BS 20. UE 10 may be, for example, a mobile terminal (mobile communication terminal) such as a smartphone, tablet terminal, or wearable terminal, or may be a fixed communication terminal. UE 10 may be a device mounted on a moving object (e.g., a vehicle) that is a movable object, the moving object itself, or a device included in the moving object (held by a person riding in the moving object).

[0023] The UE 10 may be capable of using (or may be equipped with) a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) / Embedded SIM (eSIM) of an operator that provides wireless communication services using the NW 3000. The UE 10 may also switch its connection to a different NW 3000 of a different operator by switching an Access Point Name (APN) configuration profile.

[0024] In system 1, the communication link going to (received from) BS 20 / going out (transmitted from) UE 10 may be referred to as uplink (UL), and the communication link going out (transmitted from) BS 20 / going out (received from) UE 10 may be referred to as downlink (DL).

[0025] The BS 20 provides a radio access network (RAN) to the UE 10. An area where wireless communication is possible in the radio access network is also called a cell. In this disclosure, the terms BS and (Radio) Access Network ((R)AN) may be interpreted as interchangeable.

[0026] BS 20 may be, for example, a gNB. The gNB provides NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE and is connected to 5GC via an NG interface. BS 20 may also be an en-gNB. The en-gNB provides NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE and operates as a secondary node in E-UTRA-NR Dual Connectivity (EN-DC).

[0027] The UE 10 / BS 20 / NF server 30 / application server 40 may have a wireless sensing function, for example, a sensing transmitter / receiver. The UE 10 / BS 20 may use the sensing transmitter / receiver to perform wireless sensing of the surroundings of the terminal and acquire sensing data.

[0028] The UE 10 / BS 20 / NF server 30 / application server 40 may have devices (cameras, sensors, lasers, etc.) for sensing means other than wireless sensing (e.g., image sensing, light detection and ranging (LiDAR)).

[0029] The sensing of the UE 10 / BS 20 / NF server 30 / application server 40 may correspond to at least one of monostatic sensing, bistatic sensing, and multistatic sensing.

[0030] Monostatic sensing may be sensing in which a device transmits a sensing signal (e.g., a specific reference signal) and receives an echo signal [from an object] to acquire sensing data. Bistatic sensing may be sensing in which a sensing transmitter of the device itself or its associated UE 10 / BS 20 / NF server 30 / application server 40 transmits a signal, and a sensing receiver of the associated UE 10 / BS 20 / NF server 30 / application server 40 or the device itself receives the signal [affected by the object]. Multistatic sensing may correspond to sensing in which multiple sensing transmitters / multiple sensing receivers exist for an object.

[0031] The NF server 30 provides at least one function of the above-mentioned NF. 1 illustrates an NF server 30 that provides an AMF, an NF server 30 that provides an SMF, an NF server 30 that provides a UPF, etc. In the present disclosure, the NF server 30 and the NF (e.g., AMF, NEF, NSSF, PCF, SMF, etc.) can be read as interchangeable.

[0032] In this disclosure, the NF may include a Sensing Function (SF) that manages / controls / analyzes sensing.

[0033] The application server 40 may correspond to the above-mentioned AF defined for the 5G Core Network (5GC). In the present disclosure, the application server 40, the app, the AF, etc. may be read interchangeably.

[0034] As shown in Figure 1, the application server 40 may be an external application server (external AF) belonging to a network outside the 5GC (which may be called an untrusted AF outside the operator's trust domain), and may communicate with the NF server 30 in the 5GC via the NEF. Although not shown, the application server 40 may be an internal application server (internal AF) included in the 5GC (which may be called a trusted AF within the operator's trust domain), and may communicate with the NF server 30 in the 5GC [without going through the NEF].

[0035] The application server 40 (e.g., an untrusted AF) may support the exchange of information for a service provider that is not a telecommunications carrier to provide a service related to the UE 10 using communication via an API that enables external access to 5GC services (NFs, particularly control NFs). The exchange of information may include, for example, requesting and obtaining information related to the location / status of the UE 10, specifying the quality of service (communication speed, etc.) for the UE 10, and the like.

[0036] 1 may be called a network node, a node, a server, a [wired / wireless] communication device, an information processing device, etc. The lines between devices in FIG. 1 indicate logical connections and do not necessarily have to be physically connected directly (they may be connected indirectly via another device).

[0037] <Configuration of each device> An example of the configuration of each device (UE 10, BS 20, NF server 30, and application server 40) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0038] <<Function configuration>> 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic functional configuration of each device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the UE 10 includes a control unit 110, a communication unit 120, an input / output unit 130, and a storage unit 140.

[0039] Note that the BS 20, the NF server 30, and the application server 40 may also have similar functional configurations. For this reason, in Fig. 3, the reference numerals of the functional blocks corresponding to each device are also shown with the most significant digit of the reference numeral representing each device (for example, for the BS 20, the most significant digit of "20" is "2") replaced with "1". The following describes the functional blocks related to the UE 10, but it will be understood that the same description applies to the other devices.

[0040] In this example, functional blocks of the characteristic parts of this embodiment are mainly shown, and each device may also have other functional blocks necessary for other processes. Also, a configuration may be possible in which some functional blocks are not included.

[0041] The control unit 110 controls the UE 10 and provides various functions. For example, the control unit 110 may control communication with other devices via the communication unit 120. The control unit 110 may also acquire information necessary for processing based on information received via the communication unit 120. The control unit 110 may also be referred to as a processing unit.

[0042] The communication unit 120 communicates (transmits / receives) with other devices via wired / wireless communication. The communication unit 120 may obtain information from a received signal and output it to the control unit 110, or may convert information input from the control unit 110 into a signal and transmit it. The communication unit 120 may be configured as an integrated transmitting / receiving unit (a unit capable of both transmitting and receiving), or may be configured as a separate transmitting unit and receiving unit.

[0043] The input / output unit 130 may include an input unit that receives input through human operation and acquires information by measuring (sensing) the surrounding environment. The input unit may be connected to a predetermined device, storage medium, etc., and may receive input of data. The input unit may output the input result to the control unit 110, for example.

[0044] The input / output unit 130 may also include an output unit that outputs data, content, etc. in a format that can be perceived by humans. The output unit may be configured to include a display unit that displays images, an audio output unit that outputs audio, etc.

[0045] Either the communication unit 120 or the input / output unit 130, or a combination thereof, may function as a sensing transmitter / receiver. Sensing performed via the communication unit 120 may correspond to wireless sensing, and sensing performed via the input / output unit 130 may correspond to non-wireless sensing. A unit that performs sensing may be called a sensing unit, a measurement unit, or the like. For example, the measurement unit may perform sensing using a sensing method described below and acquire sensed data.

[0046] The storage unit 140 stores (holds) various pieces of information used for processing by the UE 10. The control unit 110 may instruct the storage unit 140 to read and write data.

[0047] <<Hardware configuration>> 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic hardware configuration of each device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Each device includes an antenna 910, a radio frequency (RF) circuit 920, a processor 930, a network interface 940, an input device / output device 950, a memory 960, and a storage 970.

[0048] For example, the above-mentioned control unit X10 (X=1, 2, 3, 4; the same applies below) may be implemented by the processor 930. The communication unit X20 may be implemented by the antenna 910 / RF circuit 920 / network interface 940. The input / output unit X30 may be implemented by the input device / output device 950. The storage unit X40 may be implemented by the memory 960 / storage 970.

[0049] The hardware configuration of each device may be configured to include one or more of the elements shown in Fig. 3, or may be configured to exclude some of the elements. For example, UE 10 may not have network interface 940.

[0050] The antenna 910 converts signals into radio waves and radiates the radio waves into space. The antenna 910 also receives radio waves in space and converts the radio waves into signals. Multiple antennas 910 may be installed, may include a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna, or may include a single antenna for both transmission and reception. The antenna 910 may include a directional antenna or may include multiple antenna elements.

[0051] The RF circuitry 920 performs analog processing of signals transmitted and received via the antenna 910. The RF circuitry 920 may include filters (e.g., high frequency filters, low pass filters), amplifiers, modulators, frequency synthesizers, analog-to-digital conversion circuits, digital-to-analog conversion circuits, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) / Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT)) processing circuits, etc.

[0052] The RF circuit 920 may perform amplification, filtering, demodulation to a baseband signal, etc. on the received radio frequency band signal, and output the signal to the processor 930. The RF circuit 920 may perform modulation to a radio frequency band, filtering, amplification, etc. on the baseband signal input from the processor 930, and transmit the radio frequency band signal via the transmitting / receiving antenna 910. Note that the RF circuit 920 may perform physical layer processing (e.g., processing of lower functions of the physical layer), and may perform beamforming processing such as analog beamforming processing and digital beamforming processing.

[0053] The processor 930 may control the entire device. The processor 930 may read programs (program codes), software (software modules), data, etc. from the storage 970 into the memory 960 and execute various processes in accordance with these. For example, the processor 930 may execute a program of an operating system (OS) loaded into the memory 960 to perform control.

[0054] The processor 930 may be configured by a central processing unit (CPU) including an interface with peripheral devices, a control unit, an arithmetic unit, registers, etc. The processor 930 may also include a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.

[0055] The processor 930 may perform digital processing of signals transmitted and received via the antenna 910 and the RF circuitry 920. The digital processing may include physical layer processing (e.g., processing of functions higher than the physical layer), processing of the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer or higher, modulation, demodulation, encoding, decoding, scrambling, etc. The processor 930 also processes signals transmitted and received via the network interface 940.

[0056] Processor 930 may include multiple processors or may be a single processor, which may include a baseband processor that performs the digital processing described above and one or more processors that perform other processing (e.g., overall control).

[0057] The network interface 940 may be, for example, a network adapter, which is connected to an external network via a wired connection and may transmit and receive signals.

[0058] The RF circuit 920, the processor 930, and the network interface 940 may be integrated into one unit, and may be called a network controller, a network card, a communication module, or the like.

[0059] The input device / output device 950 includes input devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, microphone, switch, button, camera, sensor, etc.) that receive input from the outside or acquire information about the surrounding environment, output devices (e.g., display, speaker, Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamp, etc.) that perform output to the outside, devices that combine these (e.g., touch panel), etc. Note that the sensor may include a locator (e.g., a receiver compatible with the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)) that acquires location information.

[0060] The memory 960 is a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium that stores programs executed by the processor 930, parameters related to the programs, and various other information. The memory 960 may include at least one of a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a random access memory (RAM), and a flash memory. All or a portion of the memory 960 may be included within the processor 930. The memory 960 may also be called a register, a cache, a main memory, etc.

[0061] Storage 970 is a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium that stores various information. Storage 970 may include, for example, at least one of a flexible disk, a floppy disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disc ROM (CD-ROM)), a digital versatile disc, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc), a removable disk, a hard disk drive (HDD), a smart card, a flash memory device (e.g., a solid state drive (SSD)), and the like. Storage 970 may also be referred to as an auxiliary storage device.

[0062] Furthermore, each device such as the processor 930, the memory 960, etc. may be connected by a bus for communicating information. A single bus may be used within the device, or different buses may be used between the devices.

[0063] The BS 20 may be separated into three elements: a Radio Unit (RU), a Distributed Unit (DU), and a Central Unit (CU). The RU performs RF processing and lower-level functions of the physical layer. The DU performs higher-level functions of the physical layer, MAC layer functions, and Radio Link Control (RLC) layer functions. The CU performs Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP), Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP), and Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer functions.

[0064] In the present disclosure, BS20 may include one device that implements all of the functions of the RU, DU, and CU, or may include multiple devices that each implement some of the functions of the RU, DU, and CU.

[0065] Other devices in the present disclosure may also be implemented by multiple devices that are physically separated from one another. Conversely, multiple different devices in the present disclosure (e.g., two or more of the UE 10, the BS 20, the NF server 30, and the application server 40) may be implemented as a single device.

[0066] Furthermore, some or all of the devices disclosed herein may refer to logical devices realized by virtual machines, containers, Docker, etc., or physical devices that operate the logical devices.

[0067] <Example of operation> An example of the operation of each device / function according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below. The communication method (wireless communication method, control method) described below may be applied to the system 1 described above.

[0068] In the following description of the present disclosure, reference numerals may be omitted. For example, the UE in the following description may refer to the UE 10.

[0069] Each device / function in the following description may be interpreted as one or more functional blocks (e.g., control unit 110, communication unit 120) or hardware configurations (e.g., RF circuit 920, processor 930) within the device / function.

[0070] In this disclosure, sensing, wireless sensing, and collaborative sensing (CS) may be interchangeable. CS may refer to sensing in which multiple BSs / UEs perform sensing in overlapping areas / times (e.g., sensing in which sensing results are calculated based on sensing data obtained from these sensing operations).

[0071] In the present disclosure, an SF may be interchangeably read as another NF (e.g., an NWDAF) in a NW, or as an SF / another NF. In the following description, one or more steps (processing) performed by one device / function may be interchangeably read as steps performed in a distributed manner by multiple devices / functions. For example, one of these devices / functions may perform part of one or more steps, and the other may perform the rest of the one or more steps. For example, in the first and second procedures described below, an SF receives a first sensing request and transmits a second sensing request, but this content may also cover content such as "one of the SF and another NF receives the first sensing request and transmits information to the other of them (e.g., a notice that the first sensing request has been received, an instruction to transmit a second sensing request, etc.), and the other of them transmits the second sensing request."

[0072] In the following procedures, UE may be interchangeably referred to as UE / BS. For example, UE information may be interchangeably referred to as BS information, and based on the BS information, a BS of a sensing participant (described later), a requesting BS or any BS, a BS included in or nearby the area to be sensed, etc. may be determined.

[0073] <<First step of sensing>> FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first procedure of sensing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0074] In step S101, a sensing requester (e.g., an AF or a UE) transmits a sensing request (which may be referred to as a first sensing request) to an SF. The sensing request may include information for identifying a sensing participant (which may be referred to as an implementer) (e.g., UE information, area information, time information, etc., or a combination thereof). The information for identifying a sensing participant may be referred to as sensing participant identification information, participant identification information, or simply identification information.

[0075] In the present disclosure, when the sensing requester is a UE / trusted AF, the transmission and reception (e.g., transmission of a sensing request) between the requester and the SF may be performed without going through the NEF (via the BS or directly). When the sensing requester is an untrusted AF, the transmission and reception between the requester and the SF may be performed via the NEF.

[0076] The UE information may be any information for identifying the UE of the sensing participant, and may include, for example, at least one of the following: ·Generic Public Subscription Identifier (GPSI), ·Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI), ·NR Cell Global Identifier (NCGI), NR Cell Identify (NCI) or Cell Identifier (ID) gNB ID, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses (e.g., Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) addresses, Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) addresses, IPv6 prefixes), MAC address, External Group Identifier, Internal Group Identifier, Any other identifier for identifying the UE (e.g., UE ID), the UE's telephone number itself, or information related to the telephone number (e.g., Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN)).

[0077] The UE information included in the sensing request may include UE information indicating the UE that requested the sensing (which may also be called a requesting UE, a requesting UE, etc.). The requesting UE may be the UE that sends the sensing request, or the UE that notifies the AF that it wishes to receive the sensing result.

[0078] The area information may be information indicating an area to be sensed, for example, an area (region / area) where the UE is currently, in the past, or in the future. The area information may be included in the UE information.

[0079] The area may be indicated by at least one of a latitude and longitude range [from a reference point], a distance [from a reference point], a geographical area, a Tracking Area (TA), etc., or may be predefined in the requester / SF / NEF. The area information may include at least one of a reference point, a latitude and longitude range [from a reference point], a distance [from a reference point], an address / shape indicating the geographical area, a [list of] Tracking Area Identities (TAIs), a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) ID, an Area Identifier (ID) predefined in the requester / SF / NEF, etc. The reference point may be predefined in the requester / SF / NEF, or may be the current location of the UE.

[0080] The time information may be information indicating the time of the sensing target, or may include information regarding the time when the UE is located in the region / area. The time may be determined based on at least one of a start time, an end time, a duration from the start time, a time period, a period, an offset from a specific time, etc. The time may be expressed in units of seconds, minutes, hours, etc.

[0081] If the UE information is an external (unique) ID different from the 3GPP domain ID (under 5GS management) (e.g., GPSI), the requester / NEF may have information on the mapping (correspondence) between the 3GPP domain ID and the external ID. In the present disclosure, the UE information may be interchangeably read as UE information converted into the 3GPP domain ID by the NEF or another NF.

[0082] Furthermore, in the present disclosure, UE information may be information in a list format or any information (e.g., information in an array format, a vector format, etc.). That is, information in the present disclosure may be interchangeably read as information (list), information (for identifying), information (for specifying), etc. Note that UE information may include one or more values ​​indicating an individual UE (e.g., one IP address), or may include one or more values ​​indicating multiple UEs (e.g., a range of IP addresses, the above-mentioned area information).

[0083] The requester may derive the remaining information based on one or two of the UE information, area information, time information, etc. The requester may also derive at least one of the UE information, area information, and time information based on a predetermined setting / value (which may be referred to as a default setting / value, for example). For example, the default value of the time information may indicate a predetermined time from the current time.

[0084] The requester may derive the remaining information based on one or two of the UE information, area information, time information, etc. Furthermore, the SF / NEF may derive at least one of the UE information, area information, time information, etc. that is not included in the sensing request based on one or two of the UE information, area information, time information, etc. included in the sensing request. For example, the requester / SF / NEF may grasp in advance the correspondence between UEs and areas, and may derive the area information from the UE information or the UE information from the area information based on the correspondence.

[0085] The requester / SF / NEF may also derive at least one of the UE information, area information, and time information based on a predetermined setting / value (which may be referred to as a default setting / value, for example). For example, the default value of the time information may indicate a predetermined time from the current time.

[0086] In step S102, the SF discovers participants (hereinafter also referred to as participants) of the sensing [based on the first sensing request]. Note that in this disclosure, discover, determine, identify, etc. may be read interchangeably. A participant may be one or more devices (BS / UE). If multiple participants are discovered, the sensing may correspond to a CS or individual sensing.

[0087] For example, the SF may identify a [requester or any] UE based on the UE information in the first sensing request in step S101 and determine BSs / UEs in the vicinity of the [requester or any] UE as participants. Also, the SF may determine at least one of the UEs indicated by the UE information in the first sensing request in step S101 as participants. Also, the SF may determine BSs / UEs included in or in the vicinity of the area based on area information in the first sensing request in step S101 as participants.

[0088] The determination of whether a BS / UE is in the vicinity of the [requesting or any] UE, included in the area / nearby, etc. may be based on the location information of each device (requesting UE, each BS, each UE), or based on the communication / connection status of each device. The SF may determine as participants the BS / UEs that are expected to be included in / nearby the area at a time specified based on the time information.

[0089] The first sensing request may include information that explicitly / implicitly specifies a CS, and the SF may determine to perform control for the CS (for example, to discover multiple participants) for the first sensing request based on the information. The information that implicitly specifies a CS may be the above-mentioned UE information, area information, etc., or may be information indicating sensing accuracy, etc.

[0090] The SF may receive information about sensing capabilities (which may also be called sensing functions) from the BSs / UEs in advance. The SF may determine which BSs / UEs are potential participants based on the sensing capabilities of each BS / UE, and then select a participant from the potential participants in step S102. The information about the sensing capabilities may include information indicating whether the device supports / has (or does not support / have) a sensing function / capability, or may include information indicating available sensing means of the device. The information about the sensing capabilities may be included in UE capability information or in any message / signaling between devices.

[0091] In the present disclosure, the terms sensing means and sensing method may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0092] Before step S102, the SF may send a query to the BS / UE to request the BS / UE to report information about its sensing capabilities. In response to the query, the BS / UE may send the information about its sensing capabilities to the SF. The transmission and reception of the query, the information about its sensing capabilities, etc. may be controlled via a specific NF (e.g., AMF).

[0093] In addition, the BS / UE may transmit information about its sensing capabilities to the SF at any timing. The timing may occur at a specific cycle / length / frequency. The specific cycle / length / frequency may be predetermined, or information indicating the specific cycle / length / frequency may be notified from the SF to the BS / UE.

[0094] When the SF receives information about a sensing capability [for a certain BS / UE that is new / different from the previous one], it may store the current timing as the timing at which the information about this sensing capability will be updated (which may also be called the update timing).

[0095] The update timing may be before step S101 (which may be called step S100, for example), before step S102, or at any other timing.

[0096] The SF preferably controls the sending of the inquiry so as to update the information about the sensing capabilities immediately before step S102.

[0097] The SF / the specific NF (e.g., AMF) may store the sensing capability of the BS / UE in association with at least one of information for identifying the BS / UE (e.g., UE information), the update timing, etc. (e.g., in the form of a [lookup] table). Note that the SF may store this information in association using any format, such as a list or an array, and is not limited to a table.

[0098] 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of management of information related to sensing capabilities in an SF according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. This example illustrates how UE information (e.g., UE ID), the timing of the last update (year, month, and date), and available sensing means are managed in a table format. In FIG. 5, for example, it is stored that UE1 can use terahertz waves and millimeter waves as sensing means, and the last update timing was June 20, 2024.

[0099] In step S103, the SF transmits a sensing request to the participant [via a BS / UE near the participant]. The sensing request of step S103 (which may be referred to as a second sensing request) may include information similar to or different from the first sensing request of step S101. For example, the UE information (or area information or time information) included in the second sensing request may indicate a portion (e.g., a portion of the UE, a portion of the area, or a portion of the time) of the content included in the UE information (or area information or time information) included in the first sensing request. The second sensing requests to multiple participants may be configured so that the UE information (or area information or time information) included therein, when combined, is the same as or corresponds to the content included in the UE information (or area information or time information) included in the first sensing request.

[0100] The second sensing request from the SF to the participant may be transmitted using, for example, RRC signaling (for example, an RRC reconfiguration message).

[0101] In step S104, each participant who received the sensing request in step S103 may perform sensing based on the sensing request and collect sensing data. For example, the participant may perform sensing at the time indicated by the time information in the sensing request / in the area indicated by the area information in the sensing request.

[0102] In addition, the second sensing request may include information that explicitly / implicitly specifies a CS, and based on that information, the participant may determine that the sensing to be performed is a CS, and may perform control that is different from individual sensing that is not a CS.

[0103] In step S105, each participant may transmit sensing data to the SF. Note that in step S105, the participant may calculate a sensing result based on the sensing data and transmit the sensing result to the SF together with or instead of the sensing data. Note that in the present disclosure, the participant may transmit the sensing data / sensing result to another device (e.g., an edge server [inside / outside the operator's trust domain], any NF, another AF, etc.).

[0104] In step S106, the SF may calculate a sensing result based on the received sensing data / sensing result from each participant (for example, by integrating this data / result). Note that in the present disclosure, the SF may receive the sensing data / sensing result directly from the participants, or may receive (acquire) the sensing data / sensing result received by another device (for example, an edge server [inside / outside the operator's trust domain], any NF, another AF, etc.) via the other device.

[0105] In step S107, the SF may transmit sensing results (e.g., at least one of the sensing results transmitted from the participants in step S105 and the sensing results calculated by the SF in step S106) to the sensing requester (requesting AF or requesting UE). The SF may transmit part or all of the sensing data from each participant to the requester together with or instead of the sensing results. In the present disclosure, the SF may transmit the sensing data / sensing results to another device (e.g., an edge server [inside / outside the operator's trust domain], an arbitrary NF, another AF, etc.). In the present disclosure, the sensing requester may receive the sensing data / sensing results directly from the SF, or may receive (acquire) the sensing data / sensing results received by another device (e.g., an edge server [inside / outside the operator's trust domain], an arbitrary NF, another AF, etc.) via the other device. If the AF is notified by the requesting UE that it wishes to receive the sensing result, the AF may further transmit the sensing result / sensing data to the requesting UE.

[0106] The requester may also perform sensing and derive sensing results / sensing data, and may calculate a final sensing result based on the sensing results / sensing data and the received sensing results / sensing data (e.g., by integrating these results / data).

[0107] In the present disclosure, sensing results / sensing data may be interchangeably read as information related to sensing results.

[0108] According to the first sensing procedure described above, sensing can be performed on UEs in appropriate areas and at appropriate times. According to the first procedure, for example, sensing from multiple UEs (such as cars) can be integrated to detect the overall situation (such as road conditions). The drawback of sensing by only one UE, such as the presence of areas that cannot be detected due to obstacles, can be expected to be improved by performing CS in the first procedure.

[0109] <<Second step of sensing>> 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a second sensing procedure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the second sensing procedure, it is possible to specify the sensing method to be used for sensing.

[0110] Steps S200-S207 of the second procedure may correspond to steps S100-S107 of the first procedure, respectively. Differences between the second procedure and the first procedure will be described below. Contents of the second procedure [step S20X (where X=0-7)] that are not described may include the same content as the first procedure [step S10X].

[0111] In step S200, the BS / UE may transmit information about supported sensing methods to the SF. The SF may store (pre-register) the sensing methods supported by each BS / UE in association with the corresponding BS / UE information. The information about supported sensing methods may indicate at least one of the supported sensing methods, or may indicate that sensing is not supported (no sensing function).

[0112] Here, the sensing method may include, for example, at least one of 3GPP sensing, non-3GPP sensing, and the like.

[0113] 3GPP sensing may be sensing defined in the 3GPP standard or sensing using the wireless communication technology / frequency of the 3GPP standard. 3GPP sensing can detect effects (such as reflection, refraction, and diffraction) on 3GPP wireless signals caused by target objects, environments, etc.

[0114] The non-3GPP sensing may be sensing defined by a standard other than the 3GPP standard, may be sensing using a wireless communication technology / frequency of a non-3GPP standard such as Wi-Fi, or may be sensing using a technology other than a wireless communication technology. The non-3GPP sensing may include at least one of Wi-Fi sensing, image sensing, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), camera, radar, sonar, ultrasonic, infrared, etc.

[0115] The sensing method may include a frequency used for sensing, and the information about the supported sensing methods may include information about the frequency used for sensing. The frequency used for sensing may be expressed as an absolute value or a relative value [Hz] from some reference value, or may be expressed by a predefined range or a name corresponding to the range (e.g., terahertz wave, sub-terahertz wave, millimeter wave, centimeter wave, frequency range (FR), frequency band). FR may indicate at least one frequency range defined in 3GPP, such as FR1, FR2, FR2-1, FR2-2, and FR3. The frequency band may indicate at least one frequency band defined in 3GPP, such as n257-n263 for FR2. For example, n257 corresponds to the 26.5-29.5 GHz band. The frequency band is suitable for specifying a frequency at an intermediate granularity that is finer than the entire millimeter wave (30-300 GHz band) but coarser than the frequency value. Note that the information on the supported sensing methods may include only information on the frequency used for sensing (for example, in the case of 3GPP sensing).

[0116] The information about supported sensing methods may include information about targets that can be preferably sensed / are desired to be sensed, information about supported / desired sensing services, etc. The information about the targets may include, for example, information indicating the target's gas / liquid / solid (e.g., ice). The information about sensing services may include, for example, information indicating sensing services such as detection of specific gases / liquids / solids (e.g., ice), intruder detection, human / animal detection on roads, rain monitoring, autonomous vehicle driving / navigation, and collision avoidance for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Such information may be explicitly or implicitly associated with the sensing methods and may be referred to as auxiliary information about the sensing methods (auxiliary information for identifying the sensing methods).

[0117] The information on the supported sensing methods may be included in the information on sensing capabilities. Before step S202, the SF may transmit a query to the BS / UE to request that the BS / UE report information on the supported sensing methods (including information on sensing capabilities). In response to the query, the BS / UE may transmit information on the supported sensing methods (including information on sensing capabilities) to the SF. Transmission and reception of the query, information on the supported sensing methods (including information on sensing capabilities), etc. may be controlled via a specific NF (e.g., AMF).

[0118] The timing for registering / updating the information about the supported sensing methods may be before step S201 (step S200), before step S202, or at any other timing.

[0119] It is preferable that the SF controls the transmission of the above query so as to update information about the sensing methods it supports (including information about sensing capabilities) immediately before step S202. This is expected to enable the SF to select a participant that can perform appropriate sensing even if the BS / UE varies the sensing means that it can use depending on the environment.

[0120] In step S201, the first sensing request sent by the sensing requester (AF or UE) may include information about a sensing method for which the sensing results are desired, in addition to any one or a combination of UE information, area information, time information, etc. The information about the sensing method for which the sensing results are desired may be called sensing method specification information, desired sensing method information, or simply specification information. The sensing specification information may indicate multiple sensing methods.

[0121] The sensing requester may obtain information about sensing methods supported by each BS / UE from the SF in advance. In this case, the sensing requester can, for example, include sensing specification information including only sensing methods supported by BSs / UEs in a certain area in a first sensing request including area information indicating the area, thereby ensuring that sensing is performed using the specified method.

[0122] The sensing designation information may include information / auxiliary information about the sensing method, similar to that described above in the information about supported sensing methods. For example, the sensing designation information may be information indicating a specific sensing method (millimeter wave, LiDAR, etc.), or may be auxiliary information about the sensing method (for example, information indicating a desire (request) for ice detection).

[0123] If the first sensing request includes auxiliary information about the sensing method, the SF may determine the actual sensing method (to be performed by the participant) based on the auxiliary information.

[0124] In step S202, the SF may determine participants from among the BSs / UEs that support the sensing method indicated by the sensing specification information in step S201 based on the sensing methods supported by each BS / UE that have been registered / updated in advance, and determine participants from among the candidate participants.

[0125] When it is determined that control for CS is to be performed based on the first sensing request in step S201 and the sensing specification information indicates multiple sensing methods, the SF may determine multiple participants by associating them with different sensing methods. Note that the SF may also determine multiple sensing methods by associating one participant with multiple sensing methods. In other words, the SF may determine which participant will be assigned which sensing method.

[0126] In step S203, the second sensing request transmitted by the SF may include sensing specification information. The SF may transmit the second sensing request including specification information that specifies a corresponding sensing method for each participant.

[0127] In step S203, the second sensing request may be transmitted to the participant by another NF (e.g., NWDAF) instead of the SF. For example, the source of the second sensing request (one of the SF and the other NF) may be different from or the same as the destination of the information about the supported sensing method in step S200 (the other of the SF and the other NF).

[0128] In step S204, each participant who received the second sensing request in step S203 may perform sensing based on the second sensing request to collect sensing data. For example, the participant may perform sensing using the sensing method indicated by the sensing specification information in the second sensing request.

[0129] The sensing data may include 3GPP sensing data obtained by 3GPP sensing, non-3GPP sensing data obtained by non-3GPP sensing, and the like.

[0130] In step S204, if a participant is already performing sensing [based on a previously received second sensing request] (in other words, sensing based on an old sensing request), the participant may perform sensing based on the [newly received] second sensing request in addition to the previous sensing, or may stop sensing based on the old sensing request and perform sensing based on the [newly received] second sensing request. For example, when a participant performing 3GPP sensing receives a second sensing request including sensing designation information that designates non-3GPP sensing, the participant may control the participant to perform only the non-3GPP sensing, or may control the participant to perform both the 3GPP sensing and the non-3GPP sensing.

[0131] The second procedure may be used to switch the sensing method of a participant when it is assumed (predicted) that the sensing accuracy (performance) of the participant will deteriorate or has deteriorated due to bad weather (rain, etc.), radio wave interference, etc. Sensing methods whose sensing accuracy deteriorates in bad weather include cameras (image sensing) and LiDAR. Sensing methods whose sensing accuracy deteriorates in the event of radio wave interference include sensing that uses electromagnetic waves (e.g., 3GPP sensing and Wi-Fi sensing). Even in bad weather, the sensing accuracy of cameras (image sensing), LiDAR, etc. is unlikely to deteriorate if the sensing method is indoors, where it is not directly affected by rain and wind.

[0132] Here, information about the environment (e.g., weather, location, radio wave environment) related to a certain device (or around a certain device) may be referred to as environmental information. Weather information may include, for example, current, past, and future weather information / meteorological elements (temperature, air pressure, humidity, wind direction, precipitation, etc.) in the area where the device is located or nearby. Location information may include latitude, longitude, altitude, speed, direction of travel, etc. of the device. Radio wave environment information may include channel state, channel quality, received power, etc. related to a certain device.

[0133] In step S201, when environmental information of a certain participant / candidate participant is (predicted to) change or has changed, the sensing requester may determine an appropriate sensing method for at least one of the certain participant / candidate participant and another participant / candidate participant based on the environmental information, and transmit a first sensing request including sensing designation information that specifies the appropriate sensing method. For example, when the radio wave environment of a participant performing 3GPP sensing deteriorates, the requester may transmit a first sensing request including sensing designation information that specifies camera sensing so that the requester can request the participant to use a camera as the sensing method.

[0134] In step S203, when environmental information of a certain participant / candidate participant changes or is predicted to change, the SF may determine an appropriate sensing method for at least one of the certain participant / candidate participant and another participant / candidate participant based on the environmental information, and may send a second sensing request including sensing specification information that specifies the appropriate sensing method.

[0135] The sensing requester / SF may determine the appropriate sensing method and / or transmit the first / second sensing request including sensing specification information specifying the appropriate sensing method when it is determined that the sensing accuracy of a specific sensing method of a certain participant / candidate participant is deteriorating or improving (e.g., is below / above a certain threshold, or fluctuates by more than a certain threshold). The certain threshold may be specified in advance in a standard, or may be set for the sensing requester / SF / participant / candidate participant.

[0136] The sensing requester / SF may obtain its own environmental information by its own sensing, or may obtain it using the Internet (for example, a website that provides weather information), etc. The sensing requester / SF may obtain the environmental information of a participant / candidate participant based on signals / information transmitted from the participant / candidate participant, or may obtain it using the Internet (for example, a website that provides weather information), etc.

[0137] The sensing requester / SF may determine on its own that the environmental information of a certain participant / candidate participant is changing (is predicted to change) or has changed based on the above-mentioned information it has acquired (its own environmental information, the environmental information of the participant / candidate participant, etc.), signals / information sent from the participant / candidate participant, information obtainable from the Internet, etc., or it may determine this based on information sent by the SF / sensing requester indicating that the environmental information of a certain participant / candidate participant is changing (is predicted to change) or has changed.

[0138] In addition, the sensing requester / SF may determine for itself whether the sensing accuracy of a particular sensing method for a certain participant / candidate participant will deteriorate or improve based on the above-mentioned information it has acquired (its own environmental information, the participant / candidate participant's environmental information, etc.), signals / information sent from the participant / candidate participant, information obtainable from the Internet, etc., or it may determine this based on information sent from the SF / sensing requester indicating that the sensing accuracy of a particular sensing method for a certain participant / candidate participant will deteriorate or improve.

[0139] If the first sensing request sent by the sensing requester in step S201 does not include sensing specification information, the SF may autonomously determine sensing specification information for each participant and include it in the second sensing request for each participant and send it in step S203. The autonomous determination of the sensing specification information for the participants may be performed based on environmental information regarding the participants / candidate participants.

[0140] According to the second sensing procedure described above, it is possible to achieve more accurate sensing by, for example, combining the results of multiple sensing methods (e.g., 3GPP sensing and non-3GPP sensing). The second procedure is expected to improve upon the drawbacks of using a single sensing method, such as limited accuracy and degradation of sensing performance in bad weather (rain, fog, snow, etc.).

[0141] <Additional Notes> The following inventions are added regarding one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Appendix 1] a transmitting unit that transmits a first sensing request to a second communication device (e.g., SF30), the first sensing request including identification information for identifying participants in the sensing and designation information for designating a sensing method; A first communication device (e.g., a source of sensing (AF40 or UE10)) having a receiving unit that receives, from the second communication device, information regarding sensing results obtained based on data sensed using the sensing method by the participant identified based on the first sensing request. [Appendix 2] the specific information includes information indicating an area, The participant is a first communication device according to Supplementary Note 1, which corresponds to a third communication device (e.g., UE 10 or BS 20) included in or nearby the area. [Appendix 3] The first communication device according to Supplementary Note 1 or Supplementary Note 2, wherein the designation information designates at least one of 3GPP sensing and non-3GPP sensing defined in a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard. [Appendix 4] the receiving unit receives information on sensing methods supported by one or more third communication devices from the second communication device; The first communication device described in any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 3, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the first sensing request to the second communication device, the first sensing request including the specification information determined based on information regarding the supported sensing method. [Appendix 5] A first communication device described in any of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 4, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the first sensing request to the second communication device, the first sensing request including designation information for specifying an appropriate sensing method determined based on environmental information when environmental information regarding a participant's environment changes. [Appendix 6] a receiving unit that receives a first sensing request from a first communication device, the first sensing request including identification information for identifying a participant in the sensing and designation information for designating a sensing method; a control unit that identifies the participants from one or more third communication devices based on the first sensing request; a sending unit that sends a second sensing request including designation information for designating the sensing method to the participant; the receiving unit receives, from the participant, data sensed using the sensing method based on the second sensing request; The control unit calculates a sensing result based on the sensed data, The transmission unit is a second communication device that transmits information related to the sensing result to the first communication device. [Appendix 7] the specific information includes information indicating an area, The participant is a second communication device according to Supplementary Note 6, which corresponds to the one or more third communication devices included in or in the vicinity of the area. [Appendix 8] The second communication device according to Supplementary Note 6 or Supplementary Note 7, wherein the designation information designates at least one of 3GPP sensing and non-3GPP sensing defined in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard. [Appendix 9] the receiving unit receives information about supported sensing methods from the one or more third communication devices; The second communication device according to any one of Supplementary Note 6 to Supplementary Note 8, wherein the control unit identifies the participants based on the first sensing request and information regarding the supported sensing methods. [Appendix 10] A second communication device described in any of Supplementary Note 6 to Supplementary Note 9, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the second sensing request to a participant when environmental information regarding the environment of the participant changes, the second sensing request including designation information for specifying an appropriate sensing method determined based on the environmental information. [Appendix 11] a transmitter that transmits information about supported sensing methods; a receiving unit that receives a second sensing request including designation information for designating a sensing method; a measurement unit that performs sensing using the sensing method based on the second sensing request and acquires sensed data, The transmission unit is a third communication device that transmits the sensed data. [Appendix 12] transmitting a first sensing request to a second communication device, the first sensing request including identification information for identifying participants in the sensing and designation information for designating a sensing method; A communication method for a first communication device, comprising: a step of receiving, from the second communication device, information regarding sensing results obtained based on data sensed using the sensing method by the participant identified based on the first sensing request. [Appendix 13] receiving a first sensing request from a first communication device, the first sensing request including identification information for identifying participants in the sensing and designation information for designating a sensing method; identifying the participants from one or more third communication devices based on the first sensing request; sending a second sensing request to the participant, the second sensing request including designation information for designating the sensing method; receiving data sensed using the sensing method based on the second sensing request from the participant; calculating a sensing result based on the sensed data; and transmitting information relating to the sensing result to the first communication device. [Appendix 14] transmitting information about supported sensing methods to a second communication device; receiving a second sensing request including designation information for designating a sensing method from the second communication device; performing sensing using the sensing method based on the second sensing request and acquiring sensed data; and transmitting the sensed data to the second communication device. [Appendix 15] A communication system including a first communication device, a second communication device, and one or more third communication devices, the first communication device, a transmitting unit that transmits a first sensing request to the second communication device, the first sensing request including identification information for identifying a participant in the sensing and designation information for designating a sensing method; a receiving unit that receives, from the second communication device, information regarding a sensing result obtained based on data sensed by the participant identified based on the first sensing request using the sensing method; the second communication device, a receiving unit that receives the first sensing request from the first communication device; a control unit that identifies the participant from the one or more third communication devices based on the first sensing request; a sending unit that sends a second sensing request including designation information for designating the sensing method to the participant; The participant: a receiving unit that receives the second sensing request from the second communication device; a measurement unit that performs sensing using the sensing method based on the second sensing request and acquires the sensed data; a transmitting unit that transmits the sensed data to the second communication device, a control unit of the second communication device that calculates the sensing result based on the sensed data; A communication system in which a transmitting unit of the second communication device transmits information relating to the sensing result to the first communication device.

[0142] <Modification> In addition, terms explained in this disclosure and terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings.

[0143] In the present disclosure, the terms apparatus, circuit, device, section, unit, etc. may be read interchangeably.

[0144] The information, parameters, etc. described in the present disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, relative values ​​from a predetermined value, or other corresponding information. For example, a radio resource may be indicated by a predetermined index.

[0145] The names used for parameters and the like in this disclosure are not limiting in any way, and furthermore, the formulas and the like using these parameters may differ from those explicitly disclosed in this disclosure.

[0146] The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

[0147] Input and output information, signals, etc. may be stored in a specific location (for example, memory) or may be managed using a management table. Input and output information, signals, etc. may be overwritten, updated, or added. Output information, signals, etc. may be deleted. Input information, signals, etc. may be transmitted to another device.

[0148] Any information (e.g., variables, constants, parameters) described in the present disclosure may be notified from any first device (e.g., UE / BS) to any second device (e.g., BS / UE) even if not specifically stated in the above embodiments. Note that notification of any information may be interchangeably read as notification of information indicating / specifying (or relating to) the value of the any information.

[0149] In this disclosure, terms such as "notify," "request," "activate," "deactivate," "indicate," "select," "configure," "update," "determine," etc. may be read interchangeably.

[0150] In this disclosure, terms such as "support," "control / operate / utilize," "control / operate / available," etc. may be read interchangeably.

[0151] In the present disclosure, the notification of information is not limited to the aspects / embodiments described in the present disclosure and may be performed using other methods. For example, the notification of information in the present disclosure may be performed by radio access-related signaling, RAN-related signaling, core network-related signaling, other signals, or a combination thereof. Note that in the present disclosure, signaling, message, parameter, field, information element (IE), setting, etc. may be interchangeable.

[0152] The radio access-related signaling may be signaling related to radio access (radio interface) between the UE and the RAN, and may correspond to Access Stratum (AS) signaling. The radio access-related signaling may include physical layer signaling, higher layer signaling, etc.

[0153] The physical layer signaling may include, for example, Downlink Control Information (DCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI), etc. The higher layer signaling may include, for example, Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, etc.

[0154] RRC signaling may include broadcast information (e.g., Master Information Block (MIB), System Information Block (SIB)). MAC signaling may include MAC Control Elements (MAC CE), MAC Protocol Data Units (MAC PDUs), etc.

[0155] The RAN-related signaling may include signaling for control between RANs, for example, Xn Application Protocol (XnAP) signaling.

[0156] The core network-related signaling may include signaling for control between UE and CN, such as Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling, and signaling for control between CNs, such as Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) messages.

[0157] Furthermore, notification of specified information (e.g., notification that "it is X") is not limited to explicit notification, but may be made implicitly (e.g., by not notifying the specified information or by notifying other information).

[0158] Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0159] Software, instructions, information, etc. may also be transmitted or received over a transmission medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using wired technologies (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), and / or wireless technologies (such as infrared, microwave), then these wired and / or wireless technologies are included within the definition of transmission media.

[0160] In the present disclosure, terms such as "Base Station (BS)," "Radio Base Station," "Relay Station," "Fixed Station," "NodeB," "eNB (eNodeB)," "gNB (gNodeB)," "Access Point," "Transmission Point (TP)," "Reception Point (RP)," "Transmission / Reception Point (TRP)," "Panel," "Cell," "Sector," "Cell Group," "Carrier," "Component Carrier," etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0161] In this disclosure, the terms "Mobile Station (MS)," "user terminal," "User Equipment (UE)," "terminal," etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0162] Any device in the present disclosure may be referred to as a server, device, transmitting device, receiving device, wireless communication device, information processing device, etc., and these terms may be interchangeable. Any device in the present disclosure may be a device mounted on a moving object, which is a movable body, a device contained within the moving object (held by a person riding the moving object), or the moving object itself. Examples of such moving objects include, but are not limited to, vehicles, transport vehicles, automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, connected cars, excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders, dump trucks, forklifts, trains, buses, handcarts, rickshaws, ships and other watercraft, airplanes, rockets, artificial satellites, drones, multicopters, quadcopters, balloons, and objects mounted thereon. The moving object may also be autonomous / automatically driven. Note that the term "moving object" in the present disclosure may be interchangeable with a non-moving object (e.g., an object that does not move but can be ridden by a person).

[0163] Each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or switched depending on the implementation. Furthermore, the processing procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc. of each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be rearranged, or some procedures / steps may be omitted, unless inconsistent. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present elements of various steps in an exemplary order, and are not limited to the specific order presented.

[0164] As used in this disclosure, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based only on," unless expressly stated otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least on."

[0165] As used in this disclosure, any reference to an element using a designation such as "first," "second," etc. does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed or that the first element must in some way precede the second element.

[0166] As used in this disclosure, the terms "connected," "coupled," or any variation thereof, refer to any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements, and may include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" to each other. The coupling or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. The coupling or connection between elements may be via wired and / or wireless connections.

[0167] In the present disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "coupled" may also be interpreted in the same way as "different."

[0168] When used in this disclosure, the terms "include," "including," and variations thereof are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising." Furthermore, when used in this disclosure, the term "or" is not intended to be an exclusive or.

[0169] In this disclosure, where articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, the disclosure may include that the nouns following these articles are in the plural form.

[0170] In the present disclosure, terms such as "decide," "judge," "assess," "select," "identify," "calculate," "calculate," "process," "derive," "search," "confirm," "assume," and "expect" may be read interchangeably.

[0171] In the present disclosure, terms such as "less than or equal to," "less than," "greater than," "more than," "equal to," etc. may be interchangeable. Furthermore, in the present disclosure, terms meaning "good," "bad," "big," "small," "high," "low," "fast," "slow," "wide," "narrow," etc. may be interchangeable, not limited to the positive, comparative, and superlative. Furthermore, in the present disclosure, terms meaning "good," "bad," "big," "small," "high," "low," "fast," "slow," "wide," "narrow," etc. may be interchangeable, not limited to the positive, comparative, and superlative, as expressions with the prefix "i-th" (i is any integer) (for example, "highest" may be interchangeable as "i-th highest").

[0172] In this disclosure, the terms "of," "for," "regarding," "related to," "associated with," etc. may be read interchangeably.

[0173] Although the invention according to the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the invention according to the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described in the present disclosure. The description of the present disclosure is for illustrative purposes only and does not impose any limiting meaning on the invention according to the present disclosure.

Claims

1. a transmitting unit that transmits a first sensing request to a second communication device, the first sensing request including identification information for identifying participants in the sensing and designation information for designating a sensing method; A first communication device having a receiving unit that receives, from the second communication device, information regarding sensing results obtained based on data sensed using the sensing method by the participant identified based on the first sensing request.

2. the specific information includes information indicating an area, The first communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the participant corresponds to a third communication device included in or located in the area.

3. The first communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the designation information designates at least one of 3GPP sensing and non-3GPP sensing defined in a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard.

4. the receiving unit receives, from the second communication device, information on sensing methods supported by one or more third communication devices; The first communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the transmitting unit transmits the first sensing request including the designation information determined based on information about the supported sensing methods to the second communication device.

5. The first communication device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the first sensing request to the second communication device, the first sensing request including designation information for specifying an appropriate sensing method determined based on environmental information when environmental information regarding a participant's environment changes.

6. a receiving unit that receives a first sensing request from a first communication device, the first sensing request including identification information for identifying a participant in the sensing and designation information for designating a sensing method; a control unit that identifies the participant from one or more third communication devices based on the first sensing request; a sending unit that sends a second sensing request including designation information for designating the sensing method to the participant; the receiving unit receives data sensed using the sensing method based on the second sensing request from the participant; The control unit calculates a sensing result based on the sensed data, The transmission unit is a second communication device that transmits information related to the sensing result to the first communication device.

7. the specific information includes information indicating an area, The second communication device according to claim 6 , wherein the participants correspond to the one or more third communication devices included in or nearby the area.

8. The second communication device according to claim 6 , wherein the designation information designates at least one of 3GPP sensing and non-3GPP sensing defined in a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard.

9. the receiving unit receives information about supported sensing methods from the one or more third communication devices; The second communication device according to claim 6 , wherein the control unit identifies the participant based on the first sensing request and information about the supported sensing methods.

10. The second communication device according to claim 6, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the second sensing request to a participant when environmental information regarding the environment of the participant changes, the second sensing request including designation information for specifying an appropriate sensing method determined based on the environmental information.

11. a transmitter that transmits information about supported sensing methods; a receiving unit that receives a second sensing request including designation information for designating a sensing method; a measurement unit that performs sensing using the sensing method based on the second sensing request and acquires sensed data, The transmitting unit is a third communication device that transmits the sensed data.

12. transmitting a first sensing request to a second communication device, the first sensing request including identification information for identifying participants in the sensing and designation information for designating a sensing method; A communication method for a first communication device, comprising: a step of receiving from the second communication device information regarding sensing results obtained based on data sensed using the sensing method by the participant identified based on the first sensing request.

13. receiving a first sensing request from a first communication device, the first sensing request including identification information for identifying participants in the sensing and designation information for designating a sensing method; identifying the participants from one or more third communication devices based on the first sensing request; sending a second sensing request to the participant, the second sensing request including designation information for designating the sensing method; receiving data sensed using the sensing method based on the second sensing request from the participant; calculating a sensing result based on the sensed data; and transmitting information relating to the sensing result to the first communication device.

14. transmitting information about supported sensing methods to a second communication device; receiving a second sensing request from the second communication device, the second sensing request including designation information for designating a sensing method; performing sensing using the sensing method based on the second sensing request and acquiring sensed data; and transmitting the sensed data to the second communication device.

15. 1. A communication system including a first communication device, a second communication device, and one or more third communication devices, the first communication device, a transmitting unit that transmits a first sensing request to the second communication device, the first sensing request including identification information for identifying participants in the sensing and designation information for designating a sensing method; a receiving unit that receives, from the second communication device, information regarding a sensing result obtained based on data sensed by the participant identified based on the first sensing request using the sensing method; the second communication device a receiving unit that receives the first sensing request from the first communication device; a control unit that identifies the participant from the one or more third communication devices based on the first sensing request; a sending unit that sends a second sensing request including designation information for designating the sensing method to the participant; The participant: a receiving unit that receives the second sensing request from the second communication device; a measurement unit that performs sensing using the sensing method based on the second sensing request and acquires the sensed data; a transmitting unit that transmits the sensed data to the second communication device, a control unit of the second communication device that calculates the sensing result based on the sensed data; A communication system in which a transmitting unit of the second communication device transmits information relating to the sensing result to the first communication device.

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