Radar use of communication signals in wireless devices

Abstract

A method and a wireless device (WD) for radar utilization of communication signals are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method in the WD includes configuring a first set of spatial characteristics for a first transmit signal to be transmitted to a network node. The method also includes configuring a second set of spatial characteristics for a second transmit signal to be transmitted to a network node, the second transmit signal being adapted for communication and radar sensing. The method also includes transmitting the first and second transmit signals using time-frequency resources allocated by the network node for communication with the network node.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to wireless communication, and more particularly to the use of radar for communication signals in a wireless device (WD).

Background Art

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

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a mobile device (also referred to as a wireless device (WD) or user equipment (UE) in 3GPP® specifications) and the spatial transmission characteristics of RF signals transmitted by the WD. Relevant requirements in 3GPP® for specifying transmission requirements may be relevant.

[0004] Relevant requirements are described in 3GPP® Technical Standard (TS) 38.101.

[0005] - Requirements regarding the maximum output power level (such as the absolute power level).

[0006] - The requirement to have spherical coverage of the WD. This means a requirement for the ability to cover the globe on different beams. There is no requirement for how wide or narrow the individual beams should be. The WD can adjust each beam as needed or desired.

[0007] - Beam correspondence: Beam correspondence is defined by the 3GPP® standard as the WD's ability to select the appropriate beam for uplink (UL) transmission based on downlink (DL) measurements, whether or not they rely on uplink (UL) beam sweeps. Thus, the WD can determine, based on the DL signal measurements, which spatial characteristics of the UL signal are suitable for communication with the network node.

[0008] Within cellular wireless communication systems, radio resources (combinations of time-frequency slots, also called resource elements) are often controlled by a central network node. For example, in 3GPP® systems such as LTE and NR, radio resources for each cell are controlled by a base station called an eNB or gNB.

[0009] Wireless devices may utilize transmission resources allocated for tasks assigned by a base station, such as transmitting reference signals, control signals, and / or data signals to one or more base stations (uplink transmissions) or one or more other wireless devices (sidelink transmissions). Resources may also be allocated by the network for transmissions with different purposes; for example, a control channel may be transmitted for the purpose of evaluating radio channel characteristics, managing radio resource configurations, or for radio signal-based positioning functions supported by standardized communication protocols. A promising future technological area for the use of radio resources in cellular wireless communication systems may also be for combined radar and communication purposes.

[0010] Solutions have been offered regarding how time and frequency resources can be multiplexed between radar and communication purposes, and how beams and beam directions can be shared. Specifically, when there are two different directions (beams) for radar and communication, solutions have been proposed for using one beam on one set of resources for radar and another beam using a different set of resources for communication.

[0011] However, there are also solutions for combined transmissions that use uplink signals allocated for radar transmission.

[0012] In wireless communication systems, transmission resources can be used for a variety of purposes, such as data transmission, control signaling, positioning, or radar.

[0013] The allocated network resources can be combined with properties determined by the WD to configure the transmission parameters of the wireless device. Such properties may be transmission spatial characteristics. A wireless device using network-allocated signals for communication transmission can optimize its properties to be as suitable as possible for communication. However, doing so may mean that the transmission is not optimized for radar signals. On the other hand, current solutions clearly do not allow for optimizing the transmission for radar operation, for example, because directing the irradiation energy in the direction of sensing can significantly impair the reception of communication signals by network nodes, e.g., gNBs, and associated functions. [Overview of the project]

[0014] A signal transmission method in WD is needed that enables radar signal optimization without compromising simultaneous communication capabilities. The embodiments described herein may advantageously provide a method in a wireless device for radar signal transmission.

[0015] In some embodiments, a wireless device is configured to use multiple time-frequency resources allocated by a network node for communication purposes. The device transmits communication signals through two subsets of resources. In some embodiments, the WD uses a first set of resources for communication signals. The WD uses a second set of resources for communication and radar signal transmission.

[0016] The WD determines an opportunity to adjust the signals on a second subset for improved radar operation and modifies one or more spatial transmit characteristics of the signals on this second subset. In particular, the device may control the direction of a subset of the total transmit energy of the signal for radar purposes, independently of the direction of the transmit energy which is steered according to legacy principles. In some embodiments, both spatial subsets of transmit energy (targeting radar and communications) may transmit the signal content of a communications component.

[0017] The effect of this modification of the transmission characteristics is that the WD can tune the signal to operate better as a radar signal compared to legacy behavior for communication use. The improvement can imply better radar accuracy, for example, by constructing a beam lobe that emits the required amount of energy in the intended radar direction, or by adjusting the beam width of one or more side lobes of the signal to achieve better angular granularity in radar operation. In addition, in the case of spatial radar illumination, the modification can also be used to provide an air-synchronous reference path between the transmitting and receiving nodes in bistatic radar operation.

[0018] The purpose of the communication may include either idle mode or active mode operation, meaning that the resources used for communication and radar may include, for example, random access preamble transmission, sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission, positioning reference signal (PRS) transmission such as sidelink positioning signal (SL-PRS), sidelink synchronization signal and / or control signaling such as control channel and data transmission.

[0019] In some embodiments, the WD is configured to perform both communications within a wireless network and radar operations using resources allocated for communications signaling. The WD may be configured to transmit communications signals as a sum of the two spatial configurations, using communications resources on at least one subset of a first subset of resources and a second subset of resources. The WD may also use resources from the second subset for radar transmission.

[0020] In some embodiments, the WD determines an opportunity to optimize the signals on a second subset for radar operation and modifies one or more spatial transmission characteristics of the signals on this second subset.

[0021] WD can improve radar operation compared to legacy systems, i.e., known behavior.

[0022] Control signals for WD radar functionality can be kept to a minimum. Exemplary embodiments may be transparent to the network and may not require any additional signaling between the WD and network nodes such as gNBs or eNBs to manage the functionality.

[0023] Some embodiments may provide one or more of the following:

[0024] Radar transmission offers spectral efficiency due to not requiring dedicated spectral resources, and / or Energy efficiency due to the same part of the TX chain being used simultaneously for both communication and sensing.

[0025] Beam shape modification can be performed by modifying the antenna weights in the polar region and / or the Cartesian region, and is therefore applicable to both analog and digital beamforming transmitters.

[0026] In one embodiment, a WD is provided configured to communicate with a network node. The WD includes processing circuitry configured to constitute a first set of spatial characteristics for a first transmit signal to be transmitted to the network node, and a second set of spatial characteristics for a second transmit signal to be transmitted to the network node, the second transmit signal being adapted for communication and radar detection. The WD also includes a radio interface communicating with the processing circuitry and is configured to transmit the first and second transmit signals using time-frequency resources allocated by the network node for communication with the network node.

[0027] In this embodiment, in some embodiments, the processing circuit is further configured to constitute a first subset of time-frequency resources and a second subset of time-frequency resources, and the radio interface is further configured to transmit to a network node on the first subset, with the first transmit signal having a first set of configured spatial characteristics, and to transmit to a network node on the second subset, with the second transmit signal having a second set of configured spatial characteristics. In some embodiments, the processing circuit is further configured to modify the spatial characteristics of the second set of spatial characteristics to constitute a second transmit signal for radar sensing. In some embodiments, the spatial characteristics of the first set of spatial characteristics are determined before the transmission of a sounding reference signal (SRS) and maintained until the next SRS transmission. In some embodiments, the processing circuit is further configured to modify the second set of spatial characteristics while maintaining a communication beam with the first set of spatial characteristics during the sounding reference signal (SRS) period. In some embodiments, the first set of spatial characteristics is selected to provide a main lobe for communication signaling, and the second set of spatial characteristics is selected to provide a side lobe for radar sensing using communication signaling. In some embodiments, the radio interface includes a first antenna set configured to transmit a first transmit signal according to a first set of spatial characteristics, and a second antenna set configured to transmit a second transmit signal according to a second set of spatial characteristics. In some embodiments, the radio interface is configured to transmit both the first and second transmit signals from the same antenna set. In some embodiments, the second set of spatial characteristics includes a first set of beamforming weights for forming a radar beam, and the first set of spatial characteristics includes a second set of beamforming weights for forming a communication beam. In some embodiments, a processing circuit is further configured to add the beamforming weights of the first set and the beamforming weights of the second set to generate a beam pattern for transmitting a radar signal on the radar beam and a communication signal on the communication beam, wherein the radar signal and the communication signal are the same transmit signal.In some embodiments, the radar beam and the communication beam are transmitted using the same set of time-frequency resources.

[0028] According to another aspect, a method in a wireless device (WD) configured to communicate with a network node is provided. The method includes configuring a first set of spatial characteristics for a first transmission signal to be transmitted to the network node. The method includes configuring a second set of spatial characteristics for a second transmission signal to be transmitted to the network node, the second transmission signal being adapted for communication and radar sensing. The method also includes transmitting the first and second transmission signals using time-frequency resources allocated by the network node for communication with the network node.

[0029] In this embodiment, in some embodiments, the method also includes configuring a first subset of time-frequency resources and a second subset of time-frequency resources. In some embodiments, the method also includes transmitting on the first subset to a network node, the first transmit signal having a first set of configured spatial characteristics. In some embodiments, the method also includes transmitting on a second subset to a network node, the second transmit signal having a second set of configured spatial characteristics. In some embodiments, the method also includes modifying the spatial characteristics of the second set of spatial characteristics to configure a second transmit signal for radar sensing. In some embodiments, the spatial characteristics of the first set of spatial characteristics are determined before the transmission of a sounding reference signal (SRS) and maintained until the next SRS transmission. In some embodiments, the method also includes modifying the second set of spatial characteristics while maintaining a communication beam with the first set of spatial characteristics during the sounding reference signal (SRS) period. In some embodiments, the first set of spatial characteristics is selected to provide a main lobe for communication signaling, and the second set of spatial characteristics is selected to provide a side lobe for radar sensing using communication signaling. In some embodiments, the method also includes transmitting a first transmit signal according to a first set of spatial characteristics and including a second set of antennas configured to transmit a second transmit signal according to a second set of spatial characteristics. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting both the first and second transmit signals from the same set of antennas. In some embodiments, the second set of spatial characteristics includes a first set of beamforming weights for forming a radar beam, and the first set of spatial characteristics includes a second set of beamforming weights for forming a communication beam. In some embodiments, the method includes adding the beamforming weights of the first set and the beamforming weights of the second set to generate a beam pattern for transmitting a radar signal on the radar beam and a communication signal on the communication beam, wherein the radar signal and the communication signal are the same transmit signal.In some embodiments, the radar beam and the communication beam are formed using the same set of time-frequency resources.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0030] A more complete understanding of the present embodiment, as well as its attendant advantages and features, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary network architecture showing a communication system connected to a host computer via an intermediate network according to the principles of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a host computer communicating with a WD via a network node at least partially wirelessly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an exemplary method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node, and a WD for executing a client application in the WD according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an exemplary method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node, and a WD for receiving user data in the WD according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an exemplary method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node, and a WD for receiving user data from the WD in the host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an exemplary method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node, and a WD for receiving user data in the host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 7]Figure 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a WD for radar utilization of communication signals. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a flowchart of another exemplary process in WD for radar utilization of communication signals. [Figure 9] Figure 9 shows an overview of the system for using radar for communication signals in WD. [Figure 10] Figure 10 shows resource elements for radar signal transmission and communication signal transmission. [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows an example of combining a communication beam and a radar beam to produce a combined beam pattern. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0031] Before describing exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be noted that embodiments primarily concern combinations of components and processing steps for apparatus relating to the radar utilization of communication signals in wireless devices (WDs). Accordingly, components are represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, and only specific details relevant to understanding the embodiments are shown, so as not to obscure this disclosure with details that would be readily apparent to those skilled in the art who have the advantages of this description. Similar numbers refer to similar elements throughout the description.

[0032] Where used herein, relational terms such as “first” and “second,” “upper” and “lower” may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. The terms used herein are intended solely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the concepts described herein. Where used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural form unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Where used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and / or “including” identify the presence of the described feature, integer, step, action, element, and / or component, but should be understood not to exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, actions, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0033] In the embodiments described herein, “communicating with” and similar concurring terms may be used to indicate telecommunications or data communications, which may be achieved, for example, by physical contact, induction, electromagnetic radiation, radio signaling, infrared signaling, or optical signaling. Those skilled in the art will understand that multiple components can interact with each other and that modifications and variations are possible to achieve telecommunications and data communications.

[0034] In some embodiments described herein, the terms “coupled,” “connected,” and similar terms may be used herein to indicate a connection, even if not directly, and may include wired and / or wireless connections.

[0035] As used herein, the term “network node” can refer to any type of network node included in a radio network, which may further include any of the following: base stations (BS), radio base stations, base transceiver stations (BTS), base station controllers (BSC), radio network controllers (RNC), g-node B (gNB), advanced node B (eNB or e-node B), node B, multi-standard radio (MSR) radio nodes such as MSR BS, multi-cell / multicast coordinating entities (MCE), integrated access and backhaul (IAB) nodes, relay nodes, donor nodes controlling relay, radio access points (AP), transmit points, transmit nodes, remote radio units (RRU), remote radio heads (RRH), core network nodes (e.g., mobile management entities (MME), self-organizing network (SON) nodes, coordinating nodes, positioning nodes, MDT nodes, etc.), external nodes (e.g., third-party nodes, nodes outside the current network), nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS), spectrum access system (SAS) nodes, nodes within an element management system (EMS), etc. Network nodes may also include test equipment. As used herein, the term “wireless node” may also be used to refer to wireless devices (WD) such as wireless network nodes.

[0036] In some embodiments, the non-limiting terms wireless device (WD) or user equipment (UE) are used interchangeably. A WD as used herein may be any type of wireless device capable of communicating with a network node or another WD via radio signals, such as a wireless device (WD). A WD may also be a wireless communication device, a target device, a device-to-device (D2D) WD, a machine-type WD or WD capable of machine-to-machine communication (M2M), a low-cost and / or low-complexity WD, a sensor equipped with a WD, a tablet, a mobile terminal, a smartphone, an embedded laptop (LEE), a laptop-based equipment (LME), a USB dongle, customer premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (IoT) device, or a narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) device.

[0037] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the general term “wireless network node” is used. It can be any type of wireless network node, which may comprise any of the following: base station, wireless base station, base station transceiver, base station controller, network controller, RNC, advanced node B (eNB), node B, gNB, multicell / multicast cooperative entity (MCE), IAB node, relay node, access point, wireless access point, remote radio unit (RRU), remote radio head (RRH).

[0038] The general term "beam" can refer to the main lobe of a directed beam with side lobes. The term "beam" can refer to a beam pattern having both a main lobe and side lobes. The term "beam" can generally refer to a beam pattern. A beam pattern can refer to a communications beam pattern, a radar beam pattern, or a combined communications and radar beam pattern.

[0039] For example, while terminology from a particular wireless system, such as 3GPP® LTE and / or New Radio (NR), may be used in this disclosure, it should be noted that this should not be considered to limit the scope of this disclosure to the aforementioned systems only. Other wireless systems, including but not limited to Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA®), Global Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM®), may also benefit from leveraging the ideas covered within this disclosure.

[0040] Furthermore, it should be noted that the functions described herein as being performed by wireless devices or network nodes may be distributed across multiple wireless devices and / or network nodes. In other words, the functions of network nodes and wireless devices described herein are not limited to the performance of a single physical device, but are intended to be distributed across several physical devices.

[0041] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as those generally understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Terms used herein should be construed to have meanings consistent with their meanings in the context of this specification and related art, and it will be further understood that they should not be construed in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined herein.

[0042] Some embodiments provide radar utilization of communication signals in wireless devices (WDs).

[0043] Referring here to drawings where similar elements are referenced by similar reference numerals, Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system 10 in an embodiment such as a 3GPP® type cellular network capable of supporting standards such as LTE and / or NR (5G), comprising an access network 12 such as a wireless access network and a core network 14. The access network 12 comprises a plurality of network nodes 16a, 16b, 16c (collectively referred to as network nodes 16), such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs, or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area 18a, 18b, 18c (collectively referred to as coverage area 18). Each network node 16a, 16b, 16c is connectable to the core network 14 via a wired or wireless connection 20. A first wireless device (WD) 22a located in coverage area 18a is configured to wirelessly connect to or be paged by a corresponding network node 16a. A second WD 22b within coverage area 18b can wirelessly connect to the corresponding network node 16b. Although multiple WDs 22a, 22b (collectively referred to as wireless devices 22) are shown in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to situations where the sole WD is within a coverage area or where the sole WD is connected to the corresponding network node 16. For convenience, only two WDs 22 and three network nodes 16 are shown, but it should be noted that the communication system may include more WDs 22 and network nodes 16.

[0044] Furthermore, the WD 22 may be in simultaneous communication and / or may be configured to communicate separately with two or more network nodes 16 and two or more types of network nodes 16. For example, the WD 22 may have dual connectivity with a network node 16 that supports LTE and the same or different network nodes 16 that support NR. As an example, the WD 22 can communicate with an eNB for LTE / E-UTRAN and a gNB for NR / NG-RAN.

[0045] The communication system 10 itself may be connected to a host computer 24, which may be embodied in the hardware and / or software of a standalone server, a cloud implementation server, a distributed server, or as a processing resource in a server farm. The host computer 24 may be owned or under the control of a service provider, or may be operated by or on behalf of a service provider. The connections 26, 28 between the communication system 10 and the host computer 24 may extend directly from the core network 14 to the host computer 24, or may extend through an arbitrary intermediate network 30. The intermediate network 30 may be one or more combinations of a public network, a private network, or a hosted network. The intermediate network 30 may be a backbone network or the internet, if any. In some embodiments, the intermediate network 30 may comprise two or more subnets (not shown).

[0046] The communication system in Figure 1, as a whole, enables a connection between one of the connected WDs 22a and 22b and the host computer 24. The connectivity can be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection. The host computer 24 and the connected WDs 22a and 22b are configured to communicate data and / or signals over the OTT connection using the access network 12, the core network 14, an optional intermediate network 30, and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. The OTT connection can be transparent in the sense that at least some of the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection passes are unaware of the routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, network node 16 does not need to be aware of, or is not required to be aware of, the past routing of incoming downlink communications that have data originating from the host computer 24 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to the connected WD 22a. Similarly, network node 16 does not need to be aware of the future routing of outgoing uplink communications from the WD 22a to the host computer 24.

[0047] The wireless device 22 is configured to include a beam configuration unit 34 configured to constitute a first set of spatial characteristics for a first transmit signal to be transmitted to a network node, and a second set of spatial characteristics for a second transmit signal to be transmitted to a network node, the second transmit signal being configured for communication and radar detection.

[0048] An exemplary implementation of the WD 22, network node 16, and host computer 24, as described in the preceding paragraph, will be described with reference to Figure 2. The communication system 10 includes hardware (HW) 38, including a communication interface 40 configured on the host computer 24 to set up and maintain wired or wireless connections with the interfaces of different communication devices of the communication system 10. The host computer 24 further includes a processing circuit 42 which may have storage and / or processing capabilities. The processing circuit 42 may include a processor 44 and memory 46. In particular, in addition to a processor such as a central processing unit and memory, or instead, the processing circuit 42 may include integrated circuits for processing and / or control, such as one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGAs (field-programmable gate arrays) and / or ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 44 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and / or read from) memory 46 which may have any kind of volatile and / or nonvolatile memory, such as cache and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (random access memory) and / or ROM (read-only memory) and / or optical memory and / or EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory).

[0049] The processing circuit 42 may be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein and / or to cause a host computer 24, for example, to execute such methods and / or processes. The processor 44 corresponds to one or more processors 44 for performing the functions of the host computer 24 described herein. The host computer 24 includes memory 46 configured to store data, program software code, and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, when the software 48 and / or host application 50 is executed by the processor 44 and / or processing circuit 42, it may include instructions that cause the processor 44 and / or processing circuit 42 to execute the processes described herein with respect to the host computer 24. The instructions may be software associated with the host computer 24.

[0050] The software 48 may be executable by the processing circuit 42. The software 48 includes a host application 50. The host application 50 may be able to operate to provide services such as the WD 22 connected via an OTT connection 52 terminating at the host computer 24 to a remote user. When providing services to a remote user, the host application 50 may provide user data transmitted using the OTT connection 52. "User data" may be data and information described herein as implementing the described functions. In one embodiment, the host computer 24 may be configured to provide control and functionality to a service provider and may be operated by or on behalf of the service provider.

[0051] The communication system 10 further includes a network node 16, which is provided within the communication system 10 and includes hardware 58 that enables communication with the host computer 24 and the WD 22. The hardware 58 may include a communication interface 60 for setting up and maintaining wired or wireless connections with the interfaces of different communication devices of the communication system 10, and a wireless interface 62 for setting up and maintaining at least a wireless connection 64 with the WD 22 located in the coverage area 18 served by the network node 16. The wireless interface 62 may be formed, or include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and / or one or more RF transceivers. The communication interface 60 may be configured to facilitate a connection 66 to the host computer 24. The connection 66 may be direct, or it may pass through the core network 14 of the communication system 10, and / or it may pass through one or more intermediate networks 30 outside the communication system 10.

[0052] In the illustrated embodiment, the hardware 58 of the network node 16 further includes a processing circuit 68. The processing circuit 68 may include a processor 70 and memory 72. In particular, in addition to a processor such as a central processing unit and memory, or instead, the processing circuit 68 may include integrated circuits for processing and / or control, such as one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGAs (field-programmable gate arrays) and / or ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 70 may include any kind of volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as cache memory and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (random access memory) and / or ROM (read-only memory) and / or optical memory and / or EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory), and may be configured to access (e.g., write and / or read) memory 72.

[0053] Therefore, the network node 16 further has software 74 stored internally, for example, in memory 72, or stored in external memory (e.g., a database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by the network node 16 via an external connection. The software 74 may be executable by a processing circuit 68. The processing circuit 68 may be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein, and / or to cause such methods and / or processes to be executed, for example, by the network node 16. The processor 70 corresponds to one or more processors 70 for performing the functions of the network node 16 described herein. Memory 72 is configured to store data, program software code, and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, when the software 74 is executed by the processor 70 and / or the processing circuit 68, it may include instructions that cause the processor 70 and / or the processing circuit 68 to execute the processes described herein with respect to the network node 16.

[0054] The communication system 10 further includes the WD 22 already mentioned. The WD 22 may have hardware 80 which may include a radio interface 82 configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection 64 with a network node 16 serving the coverage area 18 in which the WD 22 is located at that time. The radio interface 82 may be formed as, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and / or one or more RF transceivers, or may include them.

[0055] The WD 22 hardware 80 further includes a processing circuit 84. The processing circuit 84 may include a processor 86 and memory 88. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor such as a central processing unit and memory, the processing circuit 84 may include integrated circuits for processing and / or control, such as one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGAs (field-programmable gate arrays) and / or ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 86 may be configured to access (e.g., write and / or read) memory 88 which may include any kind of volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as cache memory and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (random access memory) and / or ROM (read-only memory) and / or optical memory and / or EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory).

[0056] Therefore, the WD 22 may further include software 90, which is stored in the WD 22's memory 88 or in external memory accessible by the WD 22 (e.g., a database, storage array, network storage device, etc.). The software 90 may be executable by the processing circuit 84. The software 90 may include a client application 92. The client application 92 may be able to operate to provide services to human or non-human users via the WD 22 with the support of the host computer 24. On the host computer 24, the host application 50 to be executed may communicate with the client application 92 to be executed via an OTT connection 52 that terminates at the WD 22 and the host computer 24. While providing services to a user, the client application 92 may receive request data from the host application 50 and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 52 may transport both the request data and the user data. The client application 92 may interact with the user and generate the user data it provides. Furthermore, the wireless interface 82 may include a plurality of antenna panels 94 configured to form beams separately or together, having spatial characteristics that can be optimized to facilitate simultaneous communication and radar signaling.

[0057] The processing circuit 84 may be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein, and / or to cause such methods and / or processes to be performed, for example, by the WD 22. The processor 86 corresponds to one or more processors 86 for performing the WD 22 functions described herein. The WD 22 includes a memory 88 configured to store data, program software code, and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 90 and / or client application 92 may include instructions that cause the processor 86 and / or processing circuit 84 to perform the processes described herein with respect to the WD 22 when executed by the processor 86 and / or processing circuit 84. For example, the processing circuit 84 of the wireless device 22 may include a beam configuration unit 34 configured to constitute a first set of spatial characteristics for a first transmit signal to be transmitted to a network node, and a second set of spatial characteristics for a second transmit signal to be transmitted to a network node, the second transmit signal being adapted for communication and radar detection.

[0058] In some embodiments, the internal operation of the network node 16, WD 22, and host computer 24 may be as shown in Figure 2, and independently, the surrounding network topology may be as shown in Figure 1.

[0059] In Figure 2, the OTT connection 52 is abstractly depicted to illustrate communication between the host computer 24 and the wireless device 22 via the network node 16, without any explicit reference to any intermediate devices or the precise routing of messages through those devices. The network infrastructure can determine the routing, and the routing can be configured to be hidden from the WD 22, or from the service provider operating the host computer 24, or both. While the OTT connection 52 is active, the network infrastructure can make further decisions to dynamically change the routing (for example, based on load balancing considerations or network reconfiguration).

[0060] In some embodiments, the host computer 24 includes a processing circuit 42 configured to provide user data and a communication interface 40 configured to transfer the user data to a cellular network for transmission to the WD 22. In some embodiments, the cellular network also includes a network node 16 having a radio interface 62. In some embodiments, the network node 16, and / or the processing circuit 68 of the network node 16, are configured to perform the functions and / or methods described herein for preparing / starting / maintaining / assisting / terminating transmissions to the WD 22 and / or preparing / stopping / maintaining / assisting / terminating transmissions from the WD 22.

[0061] In some embodiments, the host computer 24 includes a processing circuit 42 and a communication interface 40 configured to receive user data originating from transmissions from the WD 22 to the network node 16. In some embodiments, the WD 22 includes a radio interface 82 and / or processing circuit 84 configured to perform the functions and / or methods described herein for preparing / starting / maintaining / assisting / terminating transmissions to the network node 16 and / or preparing / stopping / maintaining / assisting / terminating transmissions from the network node 16.

[0062] Figures 1 and 2 show various "units," such as the beam configuration unit 34, as being located within their respective processors, but these units are intended to be implemented such that parts of the unit are stored in corresponding memory within the processing circuit. In other words, the units can be implemented in hardware within the processing circuit, or in a combination of hardware and software.

[0063] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as the communication system in Figures 1 and 2, according to one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16, and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to Figure 2. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (block S100). In an optional substep of the first step, the host computer 24 provides user data by executing a host application, such as host application 50 (block S102). In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission to the WD 22 that carries the user data (block S104). In an optional third step, the network node 16 transmits the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the host computer 24 to the WD 22, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described through this disclosure (block S106). In an optional fourth step, the WD 22 executes a client application, such as a client application 92 related to a host application 50 executed by the host computer 24 (block S108).

[0064] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as the communication system of Figure 1, according to one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16, and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (block S110). In an optional substep (not shown), the host computer 24 provides user data by running a host application, such as host application 50. In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission to the WD 22 that carries the user data (block S112). The transmission may pass through the network node 16, as taught in the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional third step, the WD 22 receives the user data carried in the transmission (block S114).

[0065] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as the communication system of Figure 1, according to one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16, and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. In an optional first step of the method, the WD 22 receives input data provided by the host computer 24 (block S116). In an optional substep of the first step, the WD 22 runs a client application 92 that provides user data in response to the received input data provided by the host computer 24 (block S118). In an optional second step, either additionally or alternatively, the WD 22 provides user data (block S120). In an optional substep of the second step, the WD provides user data by running a client application, such as the client application 92 (block S122). When providing user data, the runnable client application 92 may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data is provided, WD 22 may initiate transmission of the user data to the host computer 24 in any third substep (block S124). In a fourth step of the method, the host computer 24 receives the user data transmitted from WD 22 in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (block S126).

[0066] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as the communication system of Figure 1, according to one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16, and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. In any first step of the method, the network node 16 receives user data from the WD 22, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (block S128). In any second step, the network node 16 initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer 24 (block S130). In a third step, the host computer 24 receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the network node 16 (block S132).

[0067] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process in a wireless device 22 according to several embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of the wireless device 22, such as one or more of the processing circuit 84 (including beam configuration unit 34), processor 86, radio interface 82, and / or communication interface 60. The wireless device 22, via the processing circuit 84 and / or processor 86 and / or radio interface 82, etc., is configured to constitute a first set of spatial characteristics for a first transmit signal to be transmitted to a network node (block S134). The method includes composing a second set of spatial characteristics for a second transmit signal to be transmitted to a network node, the second transmit signal being adapted for communication and radar detection (block S136). The method also includes transmitting the first and second transmit signals using time and frequency resources allocated by the network node for communication with the network node (block S138).

[0068] In this embodiment, in some embodiments, the method also includes configuring a first subset of time and frequency resources and a second subset of time and frequency resources. In some embodiments, the method also includes transmitting on the first subset to a network node, the first transmit signal having a first set of configured spatial characteristics. In some embodiments, the method also includes transmitting on a second subset to a network node, the second transmit signal having a second set of configured spatial characteristics. In some embodiments, the method also includes modifying the spatial characteristics of the second set of spatial characteristics to configure a second transmit signal for radar detection. In some embodiments, the spatial characteristics of the first set of spatial characteristics are determined before the transmission of a sounding reference signal SRS and maintained until the next SRS transmission. In some embodiments, the method also includes modifying the second set of spatial characteristics while maintaining a communication beam with the first set of spatial characteristics during the sounding reference signal SRS period. In some embodiments, the first set of spatial characteristics is selected to provide a main lobe for communication signaling, and the second set of spatial characteristics is selected to provide a side lobe for radar detection using communication signaling. In some embodiments, the method also includes transmitting a first transmit signal according to a first set of spatial characteristics and including a second set of antennas configured to transmit a second transmit signal according to a second set of spatial characteristics. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting both the first and second transmit signals from the same set of antennas. In some embodiments, the second set of spatial characteristics includes a first set of beamforming weights for forming a radar beam, and the first set of spatial characteristics includes a second set of beamforming weights for forming a communication beam. In some embodiments, the method includes adding the first set of beamforming weights and the second set of beamforming weights to generate a beam pattern for transmitting a radar signal on the radar beam and a communication signal on the communication beam, wherein the radar signal and the communication signal are the same transmit signal.In some embodiments, the radar beam and the communication beam are formed using the same set of time-frequency resources.

[0069] Figure 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a wireless device 22 according to several embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of the wireless device 22, such as one or more of the processing circuit 84 (including the beam configuration unit 34), the processor 86, the wireless interface 82, and / or the communication interface 60. The process performed by the wireless device 22, the processing circuit 84, the wireless interface 82, and / or the communication interface 80 may include initiating a radar mode and initiating a beam sweep operation (S140). The exemplary process in Figure 8 allows the WD 22 to explore appropriate radar adjustments for its transmit beam during ongoing communication with the network. The WD can also perform radar operations by adjusting its transmit spatial characteristics and determining the need to switch between different options of such adjustments. Such adjustments may be performed between SRS cycles in communication with the network in one or more examples. In this way, the network can perform analyses such as channel sensing on signals transmitted from devices by WDs having the same transmission characteristics as the communication, while the devices can adjust their transmission characteristics for incoming SRS transmissions.

[0070] The process in Figure 8 includes determining whether an acceptable radar-tuned spatial characteristic has been identified (block S142). If an acceptable radar-tuned spatial characteristic has been identified, the identified acceptable radar-tuned spatial characteristic is used for transmission for radar operation (block S144). On the other hand, if an acceptable radar-tuned spatial characteristic has not been identified, the time for beam correction is determined (block S146). Methods for determining whether an acceptable radar-tuned spatial characteristic has been identified are disclosed herein. Some methods may be performed by communication with one or more other wireless devices, such as by receiving one or more indicators of radar sensing performance or detected signal strength from different wireless devices. Such communication may be performed, for example, by utilizing communication protocols other than cellular technology protocols, such as Bluetooth®, IEEE 802.11, or local connectivity communication between devices via other local or short-range communications. In one or more examples, the determination may be performed by the WD itself by analyzing one or more transmit or receive characteristics, such as energy transmitted in a certain direction relative to device movement.

[0071] For example, the determined time for beam correction may be before the transmission of the sounding reference signal (SRS). The spatial characteristics of the beam may be adjusted to select one of a set of radar beam alternatives (block S148). The SRS may be transmitted, and the radar beam may be evaluated for radar operation (block S150). The process then proceeds to block S152 to determine whether the radar mode has ended. If not, the process proceeds to block S142. If the radar mode has ended, the process ends.

[0072] Some embodiments include a WD configured to communicate control signals and / or data in a wireless communication network on the allocated transmit resources for the WD's uplink and / or sidelink transmits. When an opportunity arises to utilize its expected transmit for radar sensing operations, the WD can temporarily adjust its spatial transmit characteristics, so that energy from the WD's control and / or data transmits for uplink and / or sidelink communications can also be utilized for radar sensing in a better manner than if there were no adjusted spatial characteristics. This may involve temporarily adding transmit energy via side lobes from the transmitter chain in a direction suitable for radar sensing when performing control and / or data communications with the wireless network. Thus, radar sensing operations can be performed by using transmit signals that are expected to be generated according to the communication protocol with the wireless network. Using one or more of these signals and / or channels generated for communication with the wireless network via uplink and / or sidelink, the use of transmits for radar sensing in addition to communication can be performed without specific configuration or additional control signaling by the network.

[0073] In other words, the first and second transmit signals may both be signals constructed to be expected by the network node transmitted by the WD and specified by the communication protocol used in communication with the network node. For example, the first and second transmit signals may be two control signals of the same type transmitted by the WD at different times. Or they may be data transmission opportunities in which the WD is sending payload data to the network or another WD. For example, the first and second transmit signals may be two opportunities for SRS transmission, two opportunities for random access preamble transmission, two opportunities for PRS transmission, two opportunities for sidelink synchronization signals, or any data and / or control channels or signals to be transmitted by the WD according to the communication protocol being utilized. Adapting the second transmit signal for additional use for radar signaling may involve a WD that serves a dual purpose (both communication and radar) along with the transmission of the second transmit signal. On the other hand, there may be no changes to the channel coding, data generation, signal generation, modulation, or other protocol or signal generation modifications of the second transmit signal. This is compared to the first transmit signal. The only change may be a change in the spatial characteristics utilized. Therefore, a second set of spatial characteristics may be used by the WD for transmission when the WD decides to use the next transmission for radar sensing in addition to communication purposes, and the second set of transmission spatial characteristics supports additional use for radar sensing. In other words, adaptation of the transmission signal to be additionally used for radar signaling may be performed, for example, by applying different spatial transmission characteristics to generate side lobes of transmission energy in the direction targeted for radar sensing when transmitting the signal.

[0074] The WD may be configured to modify a second set of spatial characteristics to constitute a second transmit signal for radar detection. For example, the WD may apply different spatial transmit characteristics that result in a different angular output power transmit pattern when transmitting the second transmit signal compared to when the WD transmits the first transmit signal. In this case, the emitted energy may be more suitable for the use of the transmit for both intended communication and radar detection. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the first and second transmit signals may be the same type of signal having the same information and the same signal characteristics. Signal characteristics can include modulation, coding, sequence generation, or any characteristics of the radio protocol layer that affect the signal. In other words, the second transmit signal may be formed by adding transmit energy in a different direction to the WD when transmitting the second signal compared to when transmitting the first signal. This may be done so that more energy is transmitted in the sidelobe direction compared to the energy transmission of the first signal. The WD may have a dual purpose for the transmit to take advantage of the next known transmit of the second signal for radar detection and communication. Configuring a second transmit signal may include configuring the WD to use the second transmit signal for combined communications and radar detection. In some embodiments, configuring a second transmit signal may imply that signal generation in all other beans in different transmit directions from the WD is the same for the first and second transmits.

[0075] Furthermore, the WD may be configured to comprise a first subset of time and frequency resources and a second subset of time and frequency resources. This may include configuring the WD to identify a first subset of time and frequency resources allocated to the network, which is suitable for use solely for communication purposes. The WD may also be configured to identify a second subset of time and frequency resources allocated to the network, which is suitable for use for combined communication and radar detection. Furthermore, the WD may apply a first set of spatial transmission characteristics to the next transmission on the first subset of resources, and a second set of spatial transmission characteristics to the next transmission on the second subset of resources. In this way, a transmission on the second subset of resources may require, for example, more energy to be transmitted in the sidelobe direction compared to a transmission on the first subset of resources. The reflected RF signal from this additional energy can then be used for radar detection by the WD or another WD in the vicinity of the WD.

[0076] While the general process flow of the arrangements of this disclosure has been described and examples of hardware and software arrangements for implementing the processes and functions of this disclosure have been provided, the following sections provide details and examples of arrangements for radar use of communication signals in wireless devices (WDs).

[0077] Figure 9 shows a high-level schematic diagram of a scenario for this proposal. The basic assumption in the example in Figure 9 is that the WD 22 can be configured to operate as a communications device in a cellular radio system and simultaneously perform radar / sensing operations. The network node allocating communications resources does not need to be aware of the simultaneous radar configuration of the WD 22. In other words, one or more radio resource elements can be shared to be used for communication with other entities in the network and also for radar functions. An example of such resource allocation sharing is shown in Figure 10.

[0078] In some embodiments, when the WD 22 transmits over a coupled resource, one or more spatial transmission characteristics of the signal can be modified to form different beam patterns to improve radar functionality.

[0079] In some embodiments, the modification is made during a specific period in which WD 22 is engaged in radar operation. In some embodiments, WD 22 can join a radar operation session, which can then be started in several different ways. Such radar function initiation can be performed in at least one of the following ways:

[0080] - User initiation via a user interface to trigger the WD 22 and start the radar function. This can initiate the WD 22 coordination function, which can identify multiple WDs in proximity as suitable WDs for supporting bistatic or multistatic radar operation. Such coordination can be performed via a separate communication link, such as WD22-WD22 (sidelink) communication over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth local connectivity, or cellular connectivity; - Starting with another WD 22, similar to the alternative above, requests to perform radar operation, and / or - The network node initiates radar operation, including the WD 22, via the signaling protocol used between the WD 22 and the cellular network.

[0081] WD 22 can extract the desired radar signal transmit beam power and direction from the radar function initiation described above. Once WD 22 determines that radar operation will soon be performed, WD 22 can begin adjusting its spatial characteristics for the expected radar operation. For example, the desired radar illumination direction and air-synchronous reference path (for bistatic radar operation) between the transmit (TX) node and the (RX) node. In some embodiments, it can be assumed that the network node 16 has a beam correspondence function enabled for WD 22, meaning that the main lobe should be maintained to ensure that WD 22 can determine the best transmit beam for communication using the received beam characteristics, independently of the adjustment of spatial characteristics and independently of the adjustment of side lobes for radar operation.

[0082] Furthermore, the WD 22 may be permitted to transmit a sounding reference signal (SRS), or other transmissions that may be used to maintain a good communication link evaluation between the WD 22 and the network on the uplink.

[0083] In some embodiments, the WD 22 can, for example, adjust the spatial characteristics of the beam before an SRS transmission and then maintain the same spatial characteristics until the next SRS transmission. In this way, the WD 22 can perform radar beam sweeps over multiple SRS transmission cycles while simultaneously maintaining the transmission characteristics from the SRS transmission to the data transmission of each SRS cycle. In this manner, the network node 16 can evaluate the complete transmission properties of the WD 22 for each SRS transmission and reliably estimate the communication contribution of the radar lobe configured according to a subset of the spatial characteristics of the beam for communication and radar signaling. The network node 16 can estimate and consider the possible interference effects of the radar lobe on other transmit / receive points (TRPs) or cells.

[0084] In some embodiments, the WD 22 may perform multiple different spatial transmissions over time during a single SRS cycle. If the SRS sounding procedure is infrequent, the WD 22 may perform radar detection in multiple directions between two SRS transmissions. In this way, the WD 22 may modify the transmissions over time to ensure that different side lobes can be used for the radar beam while still maintaining the same main lobe for communication transmission purposes. In an alternative embodiment, the WD 22 may therefore perform a transmission (e.g., an SRS sounding transmission) concerning communications that network node 16 will use to determine channel conditions and possible link adaptations using only a second dedicated communication lobe (a second subset of spatial characteristics) while the radar lobe is deactivated. In this case, network node 16 does not need to rely on the energy contained in the radar lobe, and the communication transmission is robust to any radar transmission direction.

[0085] Exemplary methods for spatial transmission correction WD 22 can perform spatial characterization modifications in multiple ways while maintaining compliance with wireless requirements.

[0086] In some embodiments, the WD 22 may be modified for radar optimization by using multiple antenna panels 94 for the same transmission. In this way, the WD 22 transmits the main beam from the first antenna panel 94 and, in addition, a second radar-optimized beam transmitted by the second antenna panel 94 can be added.

[0087] In some embodiments, the WD 22 may be configured to combine a communication beam and a radar beam for transmission from the same antenna panel 94. For each of the two beams, beam / precoding weights may be determined separately. For a communication lobe (which may be a main beam or lobe with desired signal power in the beam direction for communication signaling), precoding coefficients may be determined according to a legacy algorithm based on previously received signals or measurements and / or configuration information from the network node 16. For a radar lobe, the lobe direction and configuration may be determined based on a desired illumination area / direction relative to the position and orientation of the WD 22. The weights for forming the radar lobe may be based on a given position and radiation pattern of the WD 22 antenna element. The position and orientation may be based on previous detection and / or positioning information, input from an inertial motion unit (IMU), etc.

[0088] The desired direction can be determined, for example, based on objects detected in a previously sensed or imaged area, to perform a high-resolution scan of a portion of a region, or to complete a scan of the environment, for example, for a spatial region to be sensed. For each antenna element, corresponding weights for the two beams can be added to obtain a weight for the combined transmission pattern. In a beamformer with Cartesian antenna element weights, e.g., a digital beamformer, the I and Q coordinates are added separately. In a beamformer with polar antenna element weights, e.g., an analog beamformer, the amplitude and phase of the added vector must be calculated. For example, this may be obtained by converting both weights to Cartesian coordinates I and Q, which may then be added separately, and the result then converted to polar coordinates. Without quantization, the result can be the complete sum of the two beam patterns. However, analog beamformers with polar weights tend to have significant quantization of amplitude and phase weights, which can affect the result. For this reason, simulations were performed to investigate the effect of quantization when adding a low-power radar beam to a main communication beam.

[0089] Example of beam correction simulation Figure 11 shows an exemplary MATLAB® simulation illustrating the beamforming effect when using antenna weights in the form of amplitude and phase, when adding a stronger beam pattern with a weaker beam pattern, with all phase and amplitude weights quantized. In the example in Figure 11, the stronger pattern is the angular power spectrum of a communications transmit (communications beam), and the weaker pattern is the angular power spectrum of a radar transmit (radar beam). The quantized amplitude and phase are common in analog beamforming circuits.

[0090] In Figure 11, the combined beam pattern follows the two main lobes very well. All amplitudes are quantized at equally spaced levels of 10, and the phase is quantized in 10-degree steps. In other words, array patterns can be successfully added with reasonable quantization requirements.

[0091] In the simulation results in Figure 11, the sum of the amplitudes of the two array patterns is clipped to the maximum value for antenna element weights exceeding the maximum value, rather than reducing the entire array amplitude to fit all amplitude weights within the range. Even with such clipping, the summation pattern follows the two main lobes well.

[0092] Figure 11 shows a simulation of a linear array with eight antenna elements spaced one wavelength apart. The 90-degree angle on the x-axis in Figure 3 corresponds to the boresite.

[0093] As disclosed above, in some embodiments, the radar lobe and communication lobe may have signal content in common time and frequency resource elements. In some embodiments, the radar lobe content may differ from the communication lobe content, and to improve ranging performance, the radar lobe signal may be a different sequence having autocorrelated or cross-correlated properties, or a shorter signal that occupies only a portion of the assigned symbols to reduce full-duplex leakage. Some embodiments may be employed when the radar lobe direction does not contribute to the signal received by the network node 16 (for example, when the WD 22 is in the line of sight (LOS) and / or the radar lobe is in a direction away from the direction toward the network node 16). Any pre-signals used by the network node 16 to configure the WD 22 transmission, such as preparatory UL sensing or DL ​​RS reception and evaluation, as well as beam correspondence applications, may then be performed with only the communication lobe active and the radar lobe inactive.

[0094] Some embodiments may include one or more of the following: Embodiment 1. A method in WD 22 for radar signal transmission, A first transmit lobe is configured for transmitting radar signals, a second transmit lobe is configured for transmitting communication signals, and the first and second lobes are transmitted simultaneously.

[0095] Embodiment 2. The method according to Embodiment 1, wherein the first lobe and the second lobe include a second [communication] signal.

[0096] Embodiment 3. The method according to Embodiment 1, wherein the first lobe includes a first [radar] signal and the second lobe includes a second [communication] signal.

[0097] Embodiment 4. The method of Embodiment 2, wherein the first lobe and the second lobe are transmitted by summing the first lobe precoding / beamforming weight and the second lobe precoding / beamforming weight on two or more antenna elements of the first antenna panel.

[0098] Embodiment 5. The method according to Embodiment 2, wherein the first and second lobes are transmitted by applying a first lobe precoding / beamforming weight on the first antenna panel and a second lobe precoding / beamforming weight on the second antenna panel.

[0099] Embodiment 6. The method according to Embodiment 1, wherein the first lobe precoding / beamforming weight is configured based on the desired radar scanning direction relative to the WD 22, and the second lobe precoding / beamforming weight is configured based on optimized communication signal transmission [legacy].

[0100] Embodiment 7. The method of Embodiment 1, further comprising performing a readiness signal reception / transmission (1) with only the second lobe activated, or (2) with the first and second lobes activated, in order for the NW to enable scheduling / configuring communication transmissions. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the concepts described herein may be embodied as methods for storing executable computer programs, data processing systems, computer program products, and / or computer storage media. Thus, the concepts described herein may take the form of entirely hardware embodiments, entirely software embodiments, or embodiments combining software and hardware aspects, all of which are generally referred to herein as “circuits” or “modules,” and any process, step, action, and / or function described herein may be performed and / or associated therewith by a corresponding module which may be implemented in software and / or firmware and / or hardware. Furthermore, this disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a tangible computer-usable storage medium having computer program code embodied in a medium that can be executed by a computer. Any suitable tangible computer-readable medium may be used, including hard disks, CD-ROMs, electronic storage devices, optical storage devices, or magnetic storage devices.

[0101] Several embodiments are described herein with reference to flowcharts and / or block diagrams of methods, systems, and computer program products. It should be understood that each block in a flowchart and / or block diagram, as well as any combination of blocks in a flowchart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a general-purpose computer processor (thus creating a dedicated computer), a dedicated computer, or other programmable data processing device, so that instructions executed via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device create means for performing functions / operations specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram blocks or blocks.

[0102] These computer program instructions may also be stored in computer-readable memory or storage medium that can instruct a computer or other programmable data processing device to function in a particular way, resulting in a product that includes instruction means for implementing specified functions / operations in flowcharts and / or block diagram blocks or blocks.

[0103] Computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device to generate a computer-executed process by causing the computer or other programmable data processing device to execute a series of action steps, such that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide steps for performing a function / operation specified in a block or block of a flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0104] Please understand that the functions / actions described in a block may occur outside the order shown in the operation diagram. For example, two blocks shown consecutively may actually be executed substantially simultaneously, or they may be executed in reverse order depending on the functions / actions the blocks are involved in. Some diagrams include arrows on the communication path to indicate the main direction of communication, but please understand that communication may occur in the opposite direction to the depicted arrow.

[0105] Computer program code for performing the operations of the concepts described herein may be written in an object-oriented programming language such as Python, Java®, or C++. However, computer program code for performing the operations of the disclosure may also be written in a conventional procedural programming language such as the C programming language. The program code can run entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as a standalone software package, partially on the user's computer, partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer via a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN), or it may be connected to an external computer (for example, via the Internet using an Internet service provider).

[0106] This specification has disclosed many different embodiments in connection with the above description and drawings. It will be understood that a literal description and illustration of all combinations and subcombinations of these embodiments would be excessively repetitive and obfuscated. Therefore, all embodiments can be combined in any way and / or combination, and this specification, including the drawings, shall be construed as constituting a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, as well as the methods and processes for making and using them, and shall support the claims for any such combination or subcombination.

[0107] Abbreviations that may be used in the above explanation 3GPP Third Generation Partnership Project DL Downlink eNB Advanced Node B gNB Next Generation Node B SRS Sounding Reference Signal LTE Long-Term Evolution NR New Radio UL Uplink WD Wireless Devices Those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments described herein are not limited to those specifically shown and described above. In addition, it should be noted that, unless otherwise stated above, all accompanying drawings are not to a constant scale. Various modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the following claims.

Claims

1. A wireless device (WD) (22) configured to communicate with a network node (16), wherein the WD (22) is Processing circuit (84), A first set of spatial characteristics for a first transmission signal to be transmitted to the network node (16) is configured, A second transmission signal transmitted to the network node (16), comprising a second set of spatial characteristics for the second transmission signal adapted for communication and radar sensing, A processing circuit (84) configured as follows, A wireless interface (82) is configured to communicate with the processing circuit (84) and to transmit the first and second transmission signals using time-frequency resources allocated by the network node (16) for communication with the network node (16), WD (22) equipped with

2. The WD(22) according to claim 1, The processing circuit (84) is further configured to constitute a first subset of the time-frequency resources and a second subset of the time-frequency resources, The aforementioned wireless interface (82) further, A first transmission signal having the first set of spatial characteristics configured is transmitted to the network node (16) on the first subset. A second transmission signal having the second set of spatial characteristics is transmitted to the network node (16) on the second subset. WD(22) is configured as follows.

3. WD(22) according to either claim 1 or 2, wherein the processing circuit(84) is further configured to modify the spatial characteristics of the second set of spatial characteristics to constitute the second transmit signal for radar sensing.

4. WD(22) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the spatial characteristics of the second set of spatial characteristics are determined before the transmission of a sounding reference signal (SRS) and maintained until the next SRS transmission.

5. WD(22) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the processing circuit(84) is further configured to modify a second set of spatial characteristics while maintaining the communication beam in a first set of spatial characteristics during a sounding reference signal (SRS) period.

6. WD(22) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a first set of spatial characteristics is selected to provide a main lobe for communication signaling, and a second set of spatial characteristics is selected to additionally provide side lobes for radar sensing using the communication signaling.

7. A WD(22) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the wireless interface(82) includes a first antenna set configured to transmit a first transmit signal according to a first set of spatial characteristics, and a second antenna set configured to transmit a second transmit signal according to a second set of spatial characteristics.

8. A WD(22) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the wireless interface(82) is configured to transmit both the first transmission signal and the second transmission signal from the same antenna set.

9. A WD(22) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second set of spatial characteristics includes a first set of beamforming weights for forming a radar beam, and the first set of spatial characteristics includes a second set of beamforming weights for forming a communication beam.

10. WD(22) according to claim 9, wherein the processing circuit(84) is further configured to add the beamforming weights of the first set and the beamforming weights of the second set to generate a beam pattern for transmitting a radar signal on the radar beam and a communication signal on the communication beam, wherein the radar signal and the communication signal are the same transmission signal.

11. A WD(22) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the radar beam and the communication beam are transmitted using the same set of time-frequency resources.

12. A method in which a wireless device (WD) (22) is configured to communicate with a network node (16), To constitute a first set of spatial characteristics for a first transmission signal to be transmitted to the network node (16) (S134), A second transmission signal to be transmitted to the network node (16), comprising a second set of spatial characteristics for a second transmission signal adapted for communication and radar sensing (S136), Transmitting the first and second transmission signals using the time-frequency resources allocated by the network node (16) for communication with the network node (16) (S138), Methods that include...

13. The method according to claim 12, Constituting a first subset of the time-frequency resources and a second subset of the time-frequency resources, Transmitting the first transmission signal having the configured first set of spatial characteristics to the network node (16) on the first subset, A method comprising transmitting the second transmission signal having the configured second set of spatial characteristics to the network node (16) on the second subset.

14. A method according to any one of claims 12 and 13, further comprising modifying the spatial characteristics of a second set of spatial characteristics to constitute the second transmit signal for radar sensing.

15. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the spatial characteristics of a first set of spatial characteristics are determined before the transmission of a sounding reference signal (SRS) and maintained until the next SRS transmission.

16. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, further comprising modifying a second set of spatial characteristics while maintaining a communication beam with a first set of spatial characteristics during a sounding reference signal (SRS) period.

17. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein a first set of spatial characteristics is selected to provide a main lobe for communication signaling, and a second set of spatial characteristics is selected to provide a side lobe for radar sensing using the communication signaling.

18. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 17, further comprising transmitting the first transmit signal according to a first set of spatial characteristics, and comprising a second set of antennas configured to transmit the second transmit signal according to a second set of spatial characteristics.

19. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 17, further comprising transmitting both the first transmission signal and the second transmission signal from the same antenna set.

20. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 19, wherein the second set of spatial characteristics includes a first set of beamforming weights for forming a radar beam, and the first set of spatial characteristics includes a second set of beamforming weights for forming a communication beam.

21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising adding the beamforming weights of a first set and the beamforming weights of a second set to generate a beam pattern for transmitting a radar signal on the radar beam and a communication signal on the communication beam, wherein the radar signal and the communication signal are the same transmitted signal.

22. The method according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the radar beam and the communication beam are transmitted using the same set of time-frequency resources.

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