Bistatic detection and tracking reference signal

Abstract

In one aspect, a first wireless node and a second wireless node communicate a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure. The first wireless node transmits a set of sensing signals to one or more target objects according to the bistatic sensing procedure. The second wireless node measures a set of reflections of the set of sensing signals reflected from the one or more target objects according to the bistatic sensing procedure.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communications, and more particularly to bistatic sensing and / or tracking. [Background technology]

[0002] Wireless communication systems have evolved through various generations, including first-generation analog wireless telephone service (1G), second-generation (2G) digital wireless telephone service (including intermediate 2.5G and 2.75G networks), third-generation (3G) high-speed data, Internet-enabled wireless service, and fourth-generation (4G) service (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE) or WiMax). Currently, there are many different types of wireless communication systems in use, including cellular and personal communications services (PCS) systems. Examples of known cellular systems include the Cellular Analog Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), and digital cellular systems based on code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), etc.

[0003]

[0003] The fifth-generation (5G) wireless standard, known as New Radio (NR), requires, among other improvements, higher data rates, a greater number of connections, and better coverage. The 5G standard from the Next Generation Mobile Network Alliance is designed to provide data rates of tens of megabits per second to each of tens of thousands of users and 1 gigabit per second to dozens of workers on an office floor. To support large sensor deployments, hundreds of thousands of simultaneous connections should be supported. Therefore, the spectral efficiency of 5G mobile communications should be significantly enhanced compared to the current 4G standard. Furthermore, signaling efficiency should be enhanced and latency should be significantly reduced compared to current standards.

[0004] 5G enables the use of mmW RF signals for wireless communication between network nodes such as base stations, user equipment (UE), vehicles, factory automation machinery, etc. However, mmW RF signals can also be used for other purposes. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The following presents a simplified summary related to one or more aspects disclosed herein. As such, the following summary should not be considered an extensive overview related to all contemplated aspects, nor should it be considered to identify key or critical elements related to all contemplated aspects or to delineate the scope related to particular aspects. As such, the following summary has the sole purpose of presenting some concepts related to one or more aspects related to the mechanisms disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the detailed description presented below.

[0006]

[0006] In one aspect, a method for operating a first wireless node includes communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the first wireless node and a second wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure, and transmitting a set of sensing signals to one or more target objects in accordance with the bistatic sensing procedure.

[0007]

[0007] In some aspects, a bistatic sensing request is transmitted by a first wireless node to a second wireless node, and a response to the bistatic sensing request is received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node.

[0008] In some aspects, the bistatic sensing request is beam swept by the first wireless node across multiple transmit beams.

[0009] In some aspects, the method includes transmitting another bistatic sensing request to a third wireless node to coordinate the setup of another bistatic sensing procedure.

[0010]

[0010] In some aspects, a bistatic sensing request is received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node, and a response to the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node.

[0011]

[0011] In some aspects, the first wireless node corresponds to a user equipment (UE) and the second wireless node corresponds to a base station, or the second wireless node corresponds to a UE and the first wireless node corresponds to a base station, or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to base stations, or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to a UE.

[0012] In some aspects, the method includes communicating a reference signal for timing calibration with a second wireless node.

[0013]

[0013] In some aspects, the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node, or the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node.

[0014] In some aspects, the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, are communicated over a wireless communication link or a wired communication link.

[0015] In some aspects, the wireless or wired communication link is pre-configured before the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered or is set up in connection with the bistatic sensing procedure.

[0016]

[0016] In some aspects, the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, are communicated over a wireless communication link, and the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, are associated with downlink control information (DCI), uplink control information (UCI), sidelink control information (SCI), medium access control command element (MAC CE), physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH), or radio resource configuration (RRC) signaling.

[0017]

[0017] In some aspects, the response to the bistatic sensing request comprises an indication of the location of each wireless node transmitting the response to the bistatic sensing request, an indication of acceptance or rejection of the bistatic sensing request, or a combination thereof.

[0018] In some aspects, the method includes communicating a reference signal with a second wireless node.

[0019]

[0019] In some aspects, the response to the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node, or the response to the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node.

[0020] In some aspects, the reference signal corresponds to a reference signal for timing calibration, or the reference signal corresponds to a reference signal for positioning.

[0021] In some aspects, the timing of the reference signal is preconfigured or indicated by the bistatic sensing request.

[0022]

[0022] In some aspects, the method includes receiving a measurement report from a second wireless node comprising one or more measurements of a set of reflections of a set of detection signals from one or more target objects by the second wireless node.

[0023]

[0023] In some aspects, the one or more measurements comprise one or more time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements between a reference time and a set of times of arrival (ToAs) associated with a set of reflections at the second wireless node, at least one distance between the second wireless node and one or more target objects, at least one angle of arrival (AoA) of one or more target objects, at least one positioning estimate of one or more target objects, or a combination thereof.

[0024] In some aspects, the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered periodically, semi-persistently, or aperiodically.

[0025]

[0025] In some aspects, the bistatic detection procedure is triggered periodically or semi-persistently, and the bistatic detection procedure corresponds to one of a plurality of bistatic detection procedures, the setup for which is coordinated by communication of a bistatic detection request and a response to the bistatic detection request.

[0026]

[0026] In some aspects, reference signals for timing, positioning, or both are communicated between the first wireless node and the second wireless node for each of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures, and a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request are communicated for an initial bistatic sensing procedure of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures and then omitted for one or more subsequent bistatic sensing procedures of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures.

[0027]

[0027] In one aspect, a method for operating a second wireless node includes communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the second wireless node and a first wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure, and measuring a set of reflections of a set of sensing signals transmitted by the first wireless node and reflected from one or more target objects in accordance with the bistatic sensing procedure.

[0028]

[0028] In some aspects, a bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node, and a response to the bistatic sensing request is received at the second wireless node from the first wireless node.

[0029] In some aspects, the bistatic sensing request is beam swept by the second wireless node across multiple transmit beams.

[0030] In some aspects, the method includes transmitting another bistatic sensing request to a third wireless node to coordinate the setup of another bistatic sensing procedure.

[0031]

[0031] In some aspects, a bistatic sensing request is received at a second wireless node from a first wireless node, and a response to the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node.

[0032]

[0032] In some aspects, the first wireless node corresponds to a user equipment (UE) and the second wireless node corresponds to a base station, or the second wireless node corresponds to a UE and the first wireless node corresponds to a base station, or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to base stations, or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to a UE.

[0033] In some aspects, the method includes communicating a reference signal for timing calibration with the first wireless node.

[0034]

[0034] In some aspects, the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both received at the second wireless node from the first wireless node, or the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node.

[0035] In some aspects, the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, are communicated over a wireless communication link or a wired communication link.

[0036] In some aspects, the wireless or wired communication link is pre-configured before the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered or is set up in connection with the bistatic sensing procedure.

[0037]

[0037] In some aspects, the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, are communicated over a wireless communication link, and the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, are associated with downlink control information (DCI), uplink control information (UCI), sidelink control information (SCI), medium access control command element (MAC CE), physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH), or radio resource configuration (RRC) signaling.

[0038]

[0038] In some aspects, the response to the bistatic sensing request comprises an indication of the location of each wireless node transmitting the response to the bistatic sensing request, an indication of acceptance or rejection of the bistatic sensing request, or a combination thereof.

[0039] In some aspects, the method includes communicating a reference signal with a first wireless node.

[0040]

[0040] In some aspects, the response to the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both received at the second wireless node from the first wireless node, or the response to the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node.

[0041] In some aspects, the reference signal corresponds to a reference signal for timing calibration, or the reference signal corresponds to a reference signal for positioning.

[0042] In some aspects, the timing of the reference signal is preconfigured or indicated by the bistatic sensing request.

[0043] In some aspects, the method includes transmitting, to the device, a measurement report comprising one or more measurements based on the measuring.

[0044]

[0044] In some aspects, the one or more measurements comprise one or more time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements between a reference time and a set of times of arrival (ToAs) associated with a set of reflections at the second wireless node, at least one distance between the second wireless node and one or more target objects, at least one angle of arrival (AoA) of one or more target objects, at least one positioning estimate of one or more target objects, or a combination thereof.

[0045] In some aspects, the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered periodically, semi-persistently, or aperiodically.

[0046]

[0046] In some aspects, the bistatic detection procedure is triggered periodically or semi-persistently, and the bistatic detection procedure corresponds to one of a plurality of bistatic detection procedures, the setup for which is coordinated by communication of a bistatic detection request and a response to the bistatic detection request.

[0047]

[0047] In some aspects, reference signals for timing, positioning, or both are communicated between the first wireless node and the second wireless node for each of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures, and a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request are communicated for an initial bistatic sensing procedure of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures and then omitted for one or more subsequent bistatic sensing procedures of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures.

[0048]

[0048] In one aspect, a first wireless node includes a memory, at least one transceiver, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate bistatic sensing requests and responses to the bistatic sensing requests between the first wireless node and a second wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure, and to transmit a set of sensing signals to one or more target objects in accordance with the bistatic sensing procedure.

[0049]

[0049] In one aspect, the second wireless node includes a memory, at least one transceiver, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate bistatic sensing requests and responses to the bistatic sensing requests between the second wireless node and the first wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure, and to measure a set of reflections of a set of sensing signals transmitted by the first wireless node and reflected from one or more target objects in accordance with the bistatic sensing procedure.

[0050]

[0050] In one aspect, a first wireless node includes means for communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the first wireless node and a second wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure, and means for transmitting a set of sensing signals to one or more target objects in accordance with the bistatic sensing procedure.

[0051]

[0051] In one aspect, the second wireless node includes means for communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the second wireless node and the first wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure, and means for measuring a set of reflections of a set of sensing signals transmitted by the first wireless node and reflected from one or more target objects in accordance with the bistatic sensing procedure.

[0052]

[0052] In one aspect, a computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions includes one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a first wireless node, cause the first wireless node to communicate a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the first wireless node and a second wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure, and to transmit a set of sensing signals to one or more target objects in accordance with the bistatic sensing procedure.

[0053]

[0053] In one aspect, a computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions includes one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a second wireless node, cause the second wireless node to communicate a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the second wireless node and the first wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure, and to measure a set of reflections of a set of sensing signals transmitted by the first wireless node and reflected from one or more target objects in accordance with the bistatic sensing procedure.

[0054]

[0054] Other objects and advantages associated with the embodiments disclosed herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art based on the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

[0055]

[0055] The accompanying drawings are presented to aid in the explanation of examples of one or more aspects of the disclosed subject matter and are provided by way of illustration only and not limitation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0056] [Figure 1]

[0056] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 2A]

[0057] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network structure in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 2B] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network structure in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 3A]

[0058] 1 is a simplified block diagram of several sample aspects of components that may be employed in a wireless communication node and configured to support communication as taught herein; [Figure 3B] 1 is a simplified block diagram of several sample aspects of components that may be employed in a wireless communication node and configured to support communication as taught herein; [Figure 3C] 1 is a simplified block diagram of several sample aspects of components that may be employed in a wireless communication node and configured to support communication as taught herein; [Figure 4A]

[0059] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary monostatic radar system. [Figure 4B]

[0060] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary bistatic radar system. [Figure 5]

[0061] 1 is an exemplary graph illustrating radio frequency (RF) channel response over time. [Figure 6]

[0062] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary single target beam management use case for bistatic radio frequency sensing. [Figure 7]

[0063] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary multi-target beam management use case for bistatic radio frequency sensing. [Figure 8A]

[0064] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary scanning phase with bistatic radio frequency sensing. [Figure 8B]

[0065] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary tracking phase with bistatic radio frequency sensing. [Figure 9]

[0066] FIG. 1 illustrates an example use case for multi-target detection with bistatic radio frequency sensing. [Figure 10]

[0067] FIG. 1 illustrates an example use case for target group detection with bistatic radio frequency sensing. [Figure 11]

[0068] FIG. 1 illustrates an example use case of single-sided beam management for bistatic radio frequency sensing. [Figure 12]

[0069] FIG. 1 illustrates an example process for wireless communication according to aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 13]

[0070] FIG. 1 illustrates an example process for wireless communication according to aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 14]

[0071] 14A-14C illustrate an exemplary implementation of the processes of FIGS. 12-13, respectively, according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 15]

[0072] 14A-14D illustrate an exemplary implementation of the processes of FIGS. 12-13, respectively, according to another aspect of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0057]

[0073] Aspects of the present disclosure are provided in the following description and related drawings, directed to various examples provided for purposes of illustration. Alternative aspects may be devised without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, well-known elements of the present disclosure will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the present disclosure.

[0058]

[0074] The words "exemplary" and / or "example" are used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any aspect described herein as "exemplary" and / or "example" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects. Likewise, the term "aspects of the present disclosure" does not require that all aspects of the present disclosure include the described feature, advantage or mode of operation.

[0059]

[0075] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the information and signals described below may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the following description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof, depending in part on the particular application, in part on the desired design, in part on the corresponding technology, etc.

[0060]

[0076] Further, many aspects are described in terms of sequences of actions to be performed by, for example, elements of a computing device. It will be appreciated that various actions described herein may be performed by particular circuitry (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), by program instructions executed by one or more processors, or a combination of both. Furthermore, a sequence of actions described herein may be considered to be embodied as a whole in any form of non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a corresponding set of computer instructions that, when executed, cause or instruct associated processors of a device to perform the functions described herein. Accordingly, various aspects of the present disclosure may be embodied in a number of different forms, all of which are contemplated to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, for each aspect described herein, the corresponding form of any such aspect may be described herein, for example, as “logic configured to” perform the described actions.

[0061]

[0077] The terms “user equipment” (UE) and “base station” (BS), as used herein, are not intended to be specific to or otherwise limited to any particular radio access technology (RAT), unless otherwise specified. Generally, a UE may be any wireless communication device (e.g., a mobile phone, a router, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a tracking device, a wearable (e.g., a smart watch, glasses, an augmented reality (AR) / virtual reality (VR) headset, etc.), a vehicle (e.g., an automobile, a motorcycle, a bicycle, etc.), an Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc.) used by a user to communicate over a wireless communication network. A UE may be mobile or (e.g., at some times) stationary and may communicate with a radio access network (RAN). As used herein, the term “UE” may be referred to interchangeably as an “access terminal” or “AT,” “client device,” “wireless device,” “subscriber device,” “subscriber terminal,” “subscriber station,” “user terminal” or UT, “mobile device,” “mobile terminal,” “mobile station,” or variations thereof. Generally, a UE may communicate with a core network via a RAN, through which the UE may be connected to external networks such as the Internet and other UEs. Of course, other mechanisms for connecting to the core network and / or the Internet are also possible for a UE, such as via a wired access network, a wireless local area network (WLAN) network (e.g., based on IEEE 802.11, etc.), etc.

[0062]

[0078] Depending on the network in which it is deployed, a base station may operate according to one of several RATs in communication with UEs and may alternatively be referred to as an access point (AP), network node, Node B, evolved Node B (eNB), next-generation eNB (ng-eNB), new radio (NR) Node B (also referred to as gNB or gNode B), etc. Base stations may be used primarily to support wireless access by UEs, including supporting data, voice, and / or signaling connections for supported UEs. In some systems, a base station may provide purely edge node signaling functionality, while in other systems, it may provide additional control and / or network management functions. A communication link through which a UE can send signals to a base station is called an uplink (UL) channel (e.g., a reverse traffic channel, a reverse control channel, an access channel, etc.). A communication link through which a base station can send signals to a UE is called a downlink (DL) or forward link channel (e.g., a paging channel, a control channel, a broadcast channel, a forward traffic channel, etc.). As used herein, the term traffic channel (TCH) can refer to either an uplink / reverse traffic channel or a downlink / forward traffic channel.

[0063]

[0079] The term "base station" may refer to a single physical transmit receiving point (TRP) or multiple physical TRPs, which may or may not be collocated. For example, when the term "base station" refers to a single physical TRP, the physical TRP may be an antenna of the base station corresponding to the base station's cell (or several cell sectors). When the term "base station" refers to multiple collocated physical TRPs, the physical TRP may be an array of antennas of the base station (e.g., as in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system or when the base station employs beamforming). When the term "base station" refers to multiple non-collocated physical TRPs, the physical TRP may be a distributed antenna system (DAS) (a network of spatially separated antennas connected to a common source via a transport medium) or a remote radio head (RRH) (a remote base station connected to a serving base station). Alternatively, the non-collocated physical TRP may be a serving base station that receives measurement reports from a UE and a neighbor base station whose reference RF signal (or simply "reference signal") the UE is measuring. A TRP is a point from which a base station transmits and receives wireless signals, and therefore, as used herein, references to transmission from or reception at a base station should be understood as referring to the particular TRP of the base station.

[0064]

[0080] In some implementations that support UE positioning, a base station may not support wireless access by the UE (e.g., may not support data, voice, and / or signaling connections for the UE), but instead may transmit reference signals to the UE to be measured by the UE and / or may receive and measure signals transmitted by the UE. Such a base station may be referred to as a positioning beacon (e.g., when transmitting signals to the UE) and / or a location measurement unit (e.g., when receiving and measuring signals from the UE).

[0065]

[0081] An "RF signal" comprises electromagnetic waves of a given frequency that transport information through space between a transmitter and a receiver. As used herein, a transmitter may transmit a single "RF signal" or multiple "RF signals" to a receiver. However, the receiver may receive multiple "RF signals" corresponding to each transmitted RF signal due to the propagation characteristics of RF signals through a multipath channel. The same transmitted RF signal on different paths between a transmitter and a receiver may be referred to as a "multipath" RF signal. As used herein, an RF signal may also be referred to as a "wireless signal" or simply a "signal" when it is clear from the context that the term "signal" refers to a wireless signal or an RF signal.

[0066]

[0082] 1, an exemplary wireless communication system 100 is shown. The wireless communication system 100 (sometimes referred to as a wireless wide area network (WWAN)) may include various base stations 102 and various UEs 104. The base stations 102 may include macrocell base stations (high-power cellular base stations) and / or small cell base stations (low-power cellular base stations). In one aspect, the macrocell base stations may include eNBs and / or ng-eNBs where the wireless communication system 100 corresponds to an LTE network, or gNBs where the wireless communication system 100 corresponds to an NR network, or a combination of both, and the small cell base stations may include femtocells, picocells, microcells, etc.

[0067]

[0083] The base stations 102 collectively form the RAN and may interface with a core network 170 (e.g., Evolved Packet Core (EPC) or 5G Core (5GC)) through backhaul links 122 and through the core network 170 to one or more location servers 172 (which may be part of the core network 170 or external to the core network 170). In addition to other functions, the base stations 102 may perform functions related to one or more of: forwarding of user data, radio channel encryption and decryption, integrity protection, header compression, mobility control functions (e.g., handover, dual connectivity), inter-cell interference coordination, connection setup and release, load balancing, distribution for Non-Access Stratum (NAS) messages, NAS node selection, synchronization, RAN sharing, Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS), subscriber and equipment tracing, RAN Information Management (RIM), paging, positioning, and delivery of alert messages. The base stations 102 may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., through EPC / 5GC) via backhaul links 134, which may be wired or wireless.

[0068]

[0084] The base stations 102 may wirelessly communicate with the UEs 104. Each of the base stations 102 may provide communication coverage for a respective geographic coverage area 110. In one aspect, one or more cells may be supported by the base station 102 in each geographic coverage area 110. A “cell” is a logical communication entity used for communication with a base station (e.g., over some frequency resource, referred to as a carrier frequency, component carrier, carrier, band, etc.) and may be associated with an identifier (e.g., a physical cell identifier (PCI), a virtual cell identifier (VCI), a cell global identifier (CGI)) to distinguish between cells operating over the same or different carrier frequencies. In some cases, different cells may be configured according to different protocol types (e.g., machine type communication (MTC), narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), or others) that may provide access to different types of UEs. Because a cell is supported by a particular base station, the term “cell” may refer to either or both the logical communication entity and the base station that supports it, depending on the context. Furthermore, the terms "cell" and "TRP" may be used interchangeably, as a TRP is generally a physical transmission point of a cell. In some cases, the term "cell" may also refer to the geographic coverage area (e.g., sector) of a base station, so long as the carrier frequency can be detected and used for communication within some portion of the geographic coverage area 110.

[0069]

[0085] The geographic coverage areas 110 of neighboring macrocell base stations 102 may partially overlap (e.g., in handover regions), but some of the geographic coverage areas 110 may be significantly overlapped by larger geographic coverage areas 110. For example, a small cell base station 102' may have a geographic coverage area 110' that significantly overlaps with the geographic coverage area 110 of one or more macrocell base stations 102. A network including both small cell base stations and macrocell base stations may be known as a heterogeneous network. A heterogeneous network may also include Home eNBs (HeNBs) that may serve restricted groups known as Closed Subscriber Groups (CSGs).

[0070]

[0086] The communication link 120 between the base station 102 and the UE 104 may include uplink transmissions from the UE 104 to the base station 102 (also called a reverse link) and / or downlink transmissions from the base station 102 to the UE 104 (also called a forward link). The communication link 120 may use MIMO antenna techniques, including spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and / or transmit diversity. The communication link 120 may be over one or more carrier frequencies. The allocation of carriers may be asymmetric with respect to the downlink and uplink (e.g., more or fewer carriers may be allocated for the downlink than for the uplink).

[0071]

[0087] The wireless communication system 100 may further include a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP) 150 communicating with a WLAN station (STA) 152 via a communication link 154 in an unlicensed frequency spectrum (e.g., 5 GHz). When communicating in the unlicensed frequency spectrum, the WLAN STA 152 and / or the WLAN AP 150 may perform a clear channel assessment (CCA) procedure or a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure before communicating to determine whether a channel is available.

[0072]

[0088] The small cell base station 102' may operate in licensed and / or unlicensed frequency spectrums. When operating in the unlicensed frequency spectrum, the small cell base station 102' may employ LTE or NR technology and use the same 5 GHz unlicensed frequency spectrum used by the WLAN AP 150. A small cell base station 102' employing LTE / 5G in the unlicensed frequency spectrum may boost coverage to and / or increase the capacity of the access network. NR in the unlicensed spectrum may be referred to as NR-U. LTE in the unlicensed spectrum may be referred to as LTE-U, Licensed Assisted Access (LAA), or MultiFire.

[0073]

[0089] The wireless communication system 100 may further include a millimeter wave (mmW) base station 180 that may operate in mmW and / or near-mmW frequencies in communication with the UE 182. Extremely high frequency (EHF) is the RF portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. EHF has a range of 30 GHz to 300 GHz and a wavelength between 1 and 10 millimeters. Radio waves in this band are sometimes referred to as millimeter waves. Near-mmW may extend down to frequencies of 3 GHz, with wavelengths of 100 millimeters. The very high frequency (SHF) band, also referred to as centimeter wave, extends between 3 GHz and 30 GHz. Communications using the mmW / near-mmW radio frequency bands have high path loss and relatively short range. The mmW base station 180 and the UE 182 may utilize beamforming (transmit and / or receive) over the mmW communication link 184 to compensate for the extremely high path loss and short range. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that in alternative configurations, one or more base stations 102 may also transmit using mmW or near mmW and beamforming. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above description is by way of example only and should not be construed as limiting various aspects disclosed herein.

[0074]

[0090] Transmit beamforming is a technique for focusing an RF signal in a particular direction. Traditionally, when a network node (e.g., a base station) broadcasts an RF signal, it broadcasts the signal in all directions (omnidirectionally). With transmit beamforming, the network node determines where a given target device (e.g., UE) is located (relative to the transmitting network node) and projects a stronger downlink RF signal in that particular direction, thereby providing a faster (in terms of data rate) and stronger RF signal to the receiving device(s). To change the directionality of the RF signal when transmitting, the network node can control the phase and relative amplitude of the RF signal at each of one or more transmitters broadcasting the RF signal. For example, the network node may use an array of antennas (called a “phased array” or “antenna array”) that creates beams of RF waves that can be “steered” to point in different directions without actually moving the antennas. In particular, RF current from the transmitter is supplied to individual antennas with the proper phase relationship so that the waves from the separate antennas add together to increase radiation in desired directions while canceling and suppressing radiation in undesired directions.

[0075]

[0091] A transmit beam may be quasi-colocated, meaning that the transmit beam appears to a receiver (e.g., a UE) to have the same parameters regardless of whether the network node's transmit antennas themselves are physically colocated. In NR, there are four types of quasi-colocation (QCL) relationships. In particular, a given type of QCL relationship means that some parameters related to a second reference RF signal on a second beam can be derived from information about the source reference RF signal on the source beam. Thus, if the source reference RF signal is QCL Type A, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift, Doppler spread, mean delay, and delay spread of the second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is QCL Type B, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift and Doppler spread of the second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is QCL Type C, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift and mean delay of the second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is QCL Type D, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate spatial reception parameters of a second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel.

[0076]

[0092] In receive beamforming, a receiver uses receive beams to amplify RF signals detected on a given channel. For example, the receiver can increase the gain setting and / or adjust the phase setting of an antenna array in a particular direction to amplify (e.g., increase its gain level) an RF signal received from that direction. Thus, when a receiver is said to beamform in a direction, it means that the beam gain in that direction is higher relative to the beam gains along other directions, or that the beam gain in that direction is highest compared to the beam gains in that direction of all other receive beams available to the receiver. This results in a stronger received signal strength (e.g., reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), etc.) of the RF signal received from that direction.

[0077]

[0093] The receive beams may be spatially related. Spatial relationship means that parameters for a transmit beam for a second reference signal may be derived from information about the receive beam for the first reference signal. For example, a UE may use a particular receive beam to receive one or more reference downlink reference signals (e.g., a positioning reference signal (PRS), a tracking reference signal (TRS), a phase tracking reference signal (PTRS), a cell-specific reference signal (CRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a primary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS), a synchronization signal block (SSB), etc.) from a base station. The UE can then form a transmit beam for sending one or more uplink reference signals (e.g., an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a PTRS, etc.) to that base station based on the parameters of the receive beam.

[0078]

[0094] Note that a "downlink" beam can be either a transmit beam or a receive beam, depending on the entity forming it. For example, if a base station forms a downlink beam to transmit a reference signal to a UE, the downlink beam is a transmit beam. However, if the UE forms a downlink beam, it is a receive beam to receive the downlink reference signal. Similarly, an "uplink" beam can be either a transmit beam or a receive beam, depending on the entity forming it. For example, if the base station forms an uplink beam, it is an uplink receive beam, and if the UE forms an uplink beam, it is an uplink transmit beam.

[0079]

[0095] In 5G, the frequency spectrum in which wireless nodes (e.g., base station 102 / 180, UE 104 / 182) operate is divided into multiple frequency ranges: FR1 (450 to 6000 MHz), FR2 (24250 to 52600 MHz), FR3 (above 52600 MHz), and FR4 (between FR1 and FR2). In a multi-carrier system such as 5G, one of the carrier frequencies is referred to as the “primary carrier” or “anchor carrier” or “primary serving cell” or “PCell,” and the remaining carrier frequencies are referred to as “secondary carriers” or “secondary serving cells” or “SCells.” In carrier aggregation, the anchor carrier is the carrier operating on the primary frequency (e.g., FR1) utilized by the UE 104 / 182 and the cell in which the UE 104 / 182 either performs an initial radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment procedure or initiates an RRC connection re-establishment procedure. The primary carrier carries all common and UE-specific control channels and may be a carrier in licensed frequencies (although this is not always the case). The secondary carrier is a carrier operating on a second frequency (e.g., FR2) that may be configured once an RRC connection is established between the UE 104 and the anchor carrier and may be used to provide additional radio resources. In some cases, the secondary carrier may be a carrier in unlicensed frequencies. The secondary carrier may contain only necessary signaling information and signals; for example, since both the primary uplink carrier and the primary downlink carrier are typically UE-specific, signaling information and signals that are UE-specific may not be present in the secondary carrier. This means that different UEs 104 / 182 in a cell may have different downlink primary carriers. The same is true for the uplink primary carrier. The network can change the primary carrier of any UE 104 / 182 at any time. This is done, for example, to balance the load on different carriers.Since a "serving cell" (whether a PCell or an SCell) corresponds to the carrier frequency / component carrier on which some base station is communicating, terms such as "cell," "serving cell," "component carrier," and "carrier frequency" may be used interchangeably.

[0080]

[0096] For example, still referring to FIG. 1, one of the frequencies utilized by the macrocell base station 102 may be an anchor carrier (or “PCell”), and other frequencies utilized by the macrocell base station 102 and / or the mmW base station 180 may be secondary carriers (“SCells”). Simultaneous transmission and / or reception of multiple carriers allows the UE 104 / 182 to significantly increase its data transmission and / or reception rates. For example, two 20 MHz aggregated carriers in a multi-carrier system would theoretically lead to a doubling of the data rate (i.e., 40 MHz) compared to that achieved by a single 20 MHz carrier.

[0081]

[0097] Wireless communications system 100 may further include a UE 164, which may communicate with macrocell base station 102 via communications link 120 and / or with mmW base station 180 via mmW communications link 184. For example, macrocell base station 102 may support a PCell and one or more SCells for UE 164, and mmW base station 180 may support one or more SCells for UE 164.

[0082]

[0098] The wireless communication system 100 may further include one or more UEs, such as a UE 190, that indirectly connect to one or more communication networks via one or more device-to-device (D2D) peer-to-peer (P2P) links (referred to as “sidelinks”). In the example of FIG. 1, the UE 190 has a D2D P2P link 192 with one of the UEs 104 connected to one of the base stations 102 (e.g., through which the UE 190 may indirectly obtain cellular connectivity) and a D2D P2P link 194 with a WLAN STA 152 connected to a WLAN AP 150 (through which the UE 190 may indirectly obtain WLAN-based Internet connectivity). In one example, the D2D P2P links 192 and 194 may be supported using any well-known D2D RAT, such as LTE Direct (LTE-D), WiFi Direct® (WiFi®-D), Bluetooth®, etc.

[0083]

[0099] 2A , an exemplary wireless network structure 200 is shown. For example, a 5GC 210 (also referred to as a Next Generation Core (NGC)) may be functionally considered to have control plane functions 214 (e.g., UE registration, authentication, network access, gateway selection, etc.) and user plane functions 212 (e.g., UE gateway functions, access to data networks, IP routing, etc.) that operate cooperatively to form a core network. A user plane interface (NG-U) 213 and a control plane interface (NG-C) 215 connect a gNB 222 to the 5GC 210, specifically to the control plane function 214 and the user plane function 212. In an additional configuration, an ng-eNB 224 may also be connected to the 5GC 210 via the NG-C 215 to the control plane function 214 and the NG-U 213 to the user plane function 212. Additionally, the ng-eNB 224 may communicate directly with the gNB 222 via a backhaul connection 223. In some configurations, the new RAN 220 may have only one or more gNBs 222, while other configurations include one or more of both the ng-eNB 224 and the gNB 222. Either the gNB 222 or the ng-eNB 224 may communicate with the UE 204 (e.g., any of the UEs shown in FIG. 1). Another optional aspect may include a location server 230, which may be in communication with the 5GC 210 to provide location assistance to the UE 204. The location servers 230 may be implemented as multiple separate servers (e.g., physically separate servers, different software modules on a single server, different software modules spread across multiple physical servers, etc.), or alternatively, may each correspond to a single server. The location servers 230 may be configured to support one or more location services for UEs 204 that can connect to the location server 230 via the core network, the 5GC 210, and / or the Internet (not shown). Furthermore, the location server 230 may be integrated into components of the core network or alternatively, may be external to the core network.

[0084]

[0100] 2B , another exemplary wireless network structure 250 is shown. For example, the 5GC 260 may be considered functionally as a control plane function provided by an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 264 and a user plane function provided by a User Plane Function (UPF) 262, which operate cooperatively to form a core network (i.e., the 5GC 260). A user plane interface 263 and a control plane interface 265 connect the ng-eNB 224 to the 5GC 260, specifically to the UPF 262 and the AMF 264, respectively. In an additional configuration, the gNB 222 may also be connected to the 5GC 260 via the control plane interface 265 to the AMF 264 and the user plane interface 263 to the UPF 262. Additionally, the ng-eNB 224 may communicate directly with the gNB 222 via the backhaul connection 223, with or without gNB direct connectivity to the 5GC 260. In some configurations, the new RAN 220 may have only one or more gNBs 222, while other configurations include one or more of both the ng-eNB 224 and the gNB 222. Either the gNB 222 or the ng-eNB 224 may communicate with the UE 204 (e.g., any of the UEs shown in FIG. 1). The base stations of the new RAN 220 communicate with the AMF 264 via an N2 interface and with the UPF 262 via an N3 interface.

[0085]

[0101] The AMF 264 functions include registration management, connection management, reachability management, mobility management, lawful intercept, transport for session management (SM) messages between the UE 204 and a session management function (SMF) 266, a transparent proxy service for routing SM messages, access authentication and authorization, transport for short message service (SMS) messages between the UE 204 and a short message service function (SMSF) (not shown), and a security anchor function (SEAF). The AMF 264 also interacts with an authentication server function (AUSF) (not shown) and the UE 204 to receive intermediate keys established as a result of the UE 204 authentication process. In the case of UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) subscriber identity module (USIM)-based authentication, the AMF 264 retrieves security material from the AUSF. The AMF 264 functions also include security context management (SCM). The SCM receives keys from the SEAF that it uses to derive access network-specific keys. The AMF 264 functions also include location service management for barred services, transport for location service messages between the UE 204 and the Location Management Function (LMF) 270 (acting as the location server 230), transport for location service messages between the new RAN 220 and the LMF 270, Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearer identifier allocation for interworking with EPS, and UE 204 mobility event notification. Additionally, the AMF 264 also supports functions for non-3GPP access networks.

[0086]

[0102] The functions of the UPF 262 include serving as an anchor point for intra / inter-RAT mobility (when applicable), serving as an outer protocol data unit (PDU) session point for interconnection to a data network (not shown), providing packet routing and forwarding, packet inspection, user plane policy rule enforcement (e.g., gating, redirection, traffic steering), lawful interception (user plane collection), traffic usage reporting, quality of service (QoS) handling for the user plane (e.g., uplink / downlink rate enforcement, reflective QoS marking in the downlink), uplink traffic validation (service data flow (SDF) to QoS flow mapping), transport-level packet marking in the uplink and downlink, downlink packet buffering and downlink data notification triggering, and sending and forwarding one or more "termination markers" to the source RAN node. The UPF 262 may also support the transfer of location service messages over the user plane between the UE 204 and a location server such as the Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Location Platform (SLP) 272.

[0087]

[0103] The functions of the SMF 266 include session management, UE Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation and management, selection and control of user plane functions, configuration of traffic steering in the UPF 262 to route traffic to the appropriate destination, control of policy enforcement and parts of QoS, and downlink data notification. The interface through which the SMF 266 communicates with the AMF 264 is called the N11 interface.

[0088]

[0104] Another optional aspect may include an LMF 270, which may be in communication with the 5GC 260 to provide location assistance to the UE 204. The LMF 270 may be implemented as multiple separate servers (e.g., physically separate servers, different software modules on a single server, different software modules spread across multiple physical servers, etc.), or alternatively, may each correspond to a single server. The LMF 270 may be configured to support one or more location services for UEs 204 that can connect to the LMF 270 via a core network, the 5GC 260, and / or via the Internet (not shown). The SLP 272 may support similar functions as the LMF 270, but the LMF 270 may communicate with the AMF 264, the new RAN 220, and the UE 204 on the control plane (e.g., using interfaces and protocols intended to carry signaling messages rather than voice or data), and the SLP 272 may communicate with the UE 204 and external clients (not shown in FIG. 2B) on the user plane (e.g., using protocols intended to carry voice and / or data, such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and / or IP).

[0089]

[0105] In one aspect, the LMF 270 and / or the SLP 272 may be integrated into a base station, such as the gNB 222 and / or the ng-eNB 224. When integrated into the gNB 222 and / or the ng-eNB 224, the LMF 270 and / or the SLP 272 may be referred to as a "Location Management Component," or "LMC." However, as used herein, references to the LMF 270 and the SLP 272 include both when the LMF 270 and the SLP 272 are components of a core network (e.g., the 5GC 260) and when the LMF 270 and the SLP 272 are components of a base station.

[0090]

[0106] 3A, 3B, and 3C, several example components (represented by corresponding blocks) that may be incorporated in a UE 302 (which may correspond to any of the UEs described herein), a base station 304 (which may correspond to any of the base stations described herein), and a network entity 306 (which may correspond to or perform any of the network functions described herein, including location server 230 and LMF 270) to support file transmission operations are shown. It will be appreciated that these components may be implemented in different types of devices (e.g., in an ASIC, in a system-on-chip (SoC), etc.) in different implementations. The illustrated components may also be incorporated in other devices in a communication system. For example, other devices in the system may include similar components to those described to provide similar functionality. Also, a given device may include one or more of the components. For example, a device may include multiple transceiver components that enable the device to operate on multiple carriers and / or communicate via different technologies.

[0091]

[0107] The UE 302 and the base station 304 each include a wireless wide area network (WWAN) transceiver 310 and 350, respectively, configured to communicate via one or more wireless communications networks (not shown), such as an NR network, an LTE network, a GSM network, etc. The WWAN transceivers 310 and 350 may be connected to one or more antennas 316 and 356, respectively, for communicating with other network nodes, such as other UEs, access points, base stations (e.g., eNBs, gNBs), etc., via at least one designated RAT (e.g., NR, LTE, GSM, etc.) over a wireless communications medium of interest (e.g., some set of time / frequency resources in a particular frequency spectrum). The WWAN transceivers 310 and 350 may be variously configured to transmit and encode signals 318 and 358, respectively (e.g., messages, instructions, information, etc.), and conversely, to receive and decode signals 318 and 358, respectively (e.g., messages, instructions, information, pilots, etc.), in accordance with the designated RAT. In particular, transceivers 310 and 350 each include one or more transmitters 314 and 354, respectively, for transmitting and encoding signals 318 and 358, and one or more receivers 312 and 352, respectively, for receiving and decoding signals 318 and 358.

[0092]

[0108] The UE 302 and the base station 304 also, in at least some cases, include wireless local area network (WLAN) transceivers 320 and 360, respectively. The WLAN transceivers 320 and 360 may be connected to one or more antennas 326 and 366, respectively, for communicating with other network nodes, such as other UEs, access points, base stations, etc., via at least one designated RAT (e.g., WiFi, LTE-D, Bluetooth, etc.) over the wireless communications medium in question. The WLAN transceivers 320 and 360 may be variously configured to transmit and encode signals 328 and 368, respectively (e.g., messages, instructions, information, etc.), and conversely, to receive and decode signals 328 and 368, respectively (e.g., messages, instructions, information, pilots, etc.), in accordance with the designated RAT. In particular, transceivers 320 and 360 include one or more transmitters 324 and 364, respectively, for transmitting and encoding signals 328 and 368, and include one or more receivers 322 and 362, respectively, for receiving and decoding signals 328 and 368, respectively.

[0093]

[0109] A transceiver circuit including at least one transmitter and at least one receiver may, in some implementations, comprise an integrated device (e.g., integrated as transmitter and receiver circuitry in a single communications device), in some implementations, comprise separate transmitter and receiver devices, or in other implementations, may be integrated in other ways. In one aspect, a transmitter may include or be coupled to multiple antennas (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), such as an antenna array, that enable each device to perform transmit “beamforming” as described herein. Similarly, a receiver may include or be coupled to multiple antennas (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), such as an antenna array, that enable each device to perform receive beamforming as described herein. In one aspect, a transmitter and a receiver may share the same multiple antennas (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), such that each device can only receive or transmit at a given time, rather than both receive and transmit simultaneously. The wireless communication device of the UE 302 and / or base station 304 (e.g., one or both of the transceivers 310 and 320 and / or 350 and 360) may also include a network listen module (NLM) or the like for performing various measurements.

[0094]

[0110] The UE 302 and base station 304 also, in at least some cases, include satellite positioning system (SPS) receivers 330 and 370. The SPS receivers 330 and 370 may be connected to one or more antennas 336 and 376, respectively, for receiving SPS signals 338 and 378, respectively, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) signals, Galileo signals, BeiDou signals, Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NAVIC), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), etc. The SPS receivers 330 and 370 may comprise any suitable hardware and / or software for receiving and processing the SPS signals 338 and 378, respectively. The SPS receivers 330 and 370 request information and actions from other systems as appropriate and perform the calculations necessary to determine the positions of the UE 302 and base station 304 using measurements obtained by any suitable SPS algorithms.

[0095]

[0111] The base station 304 and the network entity 306 each include at least one network interface 380 and 390 for communicating with other network entities. For example, the network interfaces 380 and 390 (e.g., one or more network access ports) may be configured to communicate with one or more network entities via a wire-based or wireless backhaul connection. In some aspects, the network interfaces 380 and 390 may be implemented as transceivers configured to support wire-based or wireless signal communication. This communication may involve, for example, sending and receiving messages, parameters, and / or other types of information.

[0096]

[0112] The UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 also include other components that may be used in conjunction with the operations disclosed herein. The UE 302 includes processor circuitry implementing a processing system 332, for example, for providing functionality related to RF sensing and for providing other processing functions. The base station 304 includes a processing system 384, for example, for providing functionality related to RF sensing and for providing other processing functions disclosed herein. The network entity 306 includes a processing system 394, for example, for providing functionality related to RF sensing and for providing other processing functions disclosed herein. In an aspect, the processing systems 332, 384, and 394 may include, for example, one or more general-purpose processors, multi-core processors, ASICs, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices or processing circuits.

[0097]

[0113] The UE 302, the base station 304, and the network entity 306 include memory circuitry implementing memory components 340, 386, and 396, respectively (e.g., each including a memory device) to maintain information (e.g., information indicating reserved resources, thresholds, parameters, etc.). In some cases, the UE 302, the base station 304, and the network entity 306 may include RF sensing components 342, 388, and 398, respectively. The RF sensing components 342, 388, and 398 may be hardware circuits that are part of or coupled to the processing systems 332, 384, and 394, respectively, that, when executed, cause the UE 302, the base station 304, and the network entity 306 to perform the functions described herein. In other aspects, the RF sensing components 342, 388, and 398 may be external to the processing systems 332, 384, and 394 (e.g., part of a modem processing system, integrated with another processing system, etc.). Alternatively, the RF detection components 342, 388, and 398 may be memory modules stored in the memory components 340, 386, and 396, respectively (as shown in FIGS. 3A-3C) that, when executed by the processing systems 332, 384, and 394 (or a modem processing system, another processing system, etc.), cause the UE 302, the base station 304, and the network entity 306 to perform the functions described herein.

[0098]

[0114] The UE 302 may include one or more sensors 344 coupled to the processing system 332 to provide movement and / or orientation information that is independent of movement data derived from signals received by the WWAN transceiver 310, the WLAN transceiver 320, and / or the SPS receiver 330. By way of example, the sensor(s) 344 may include an accelerometer (e.g., a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device), a gyroscope, a geomagnetic sensor (e.g., a compass), an altimeter (e.g., a barometric altimeter), and / or any other type of movement detection sensor. Moreover, the sensor(s) 344 may include multiple different types of devices and combine their outputs to provide movement information. For example, the sensor(s) 344 may use a combination of a multi-axis accelerometer and an orientation sensor to provide the ability to calculate position in a 2D and / or 3D coordinate system.

[0099]

[0115] Additionally, the UE 302 includes a user interface 346 for providing instructions (e.g., audible and / or visual instructions) to a user and / or for receiving user input (e.g., upon user actuation of a sensing device such as a keypad, touchscreen, microphone, etc.). Although not shown, the base station 304 and the network entity 306 may also include user interfaces.

[0100]

[0116] Referring more particularly to the processing system 384, in the downlink, IP packets from the network entity 306 may be provided to the processing system 384. The processing system 384 may implement functionality for an RRC layer, a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, and a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer. The processing system 384 may provide RRC layer functions related to broadcasting of system information (e.g., Master Information Block (MIB), System Information Block (SIB)), RRC connection control (e.g., RRC connection paging, RRC connection establishment, RRC connection modification, and RRC connection release), inter-RAT mobility, and measurement configuration for UE measurement reporting; PDCP layer functions related to header compression / decompression, security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification), and handover support functions; RLC layer functions related to transfer of upper layer packet data units (PDUs), error correction via automatic repeat request (ARQ), concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC service data units (SDUs), re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functions related to mapping between logical channels and transport channels, scheduling information reporting, error correction, priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0101]

[0117] The transmitter 354 and receiver 352 may implement Layer 1 functions related to various signal processing functions. Layer 1, including the physical (PHY) layer, may include error detection on transport channels, forward error correction (FEC) coding / decoding of transport channels, interleaving, rate matching, mapping onto physical channels, modulation / demodulation of physical channels, and MIMO antenna processing. The transmitter 354 handles mapping to signal constellations based on various modulation schemes (e.g., binary phase shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), M-phase shift keying (M-PSK), multi-level quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM)). The coded and modulated symbols may then be split into parallel streams. Each stream may then be mapped to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) subcarriers, multiplexed with a reference signal (e.g., a pilot) in the time and / or frequency domain, and then combined with each other using an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to generate a physical channel carrying a time-domain OFDM symbol stream. The OFDM symbol streams are spatially precoded to generate multiple spatial streams. Channel estimates from a channel estimator may be used to determine coding and modulation schemes and for spatial processing. The channel estimates may be derived from a reference signal and / or channel condition feedback transmitted by the UE 302. Each spatial stream may then be provided to one or more different antennas 356. The transmitter 354 may modulate an RF carrier with each spatial stream for transmission.

[0102]

[0118] At the UE 302, the receiver 312 receives signals through its respective antenna(s) 316. The receiver 312 recovers the information modulated onto the RF carriers and provides the information to the processing system 332. The transmitter 314 and receiver 312 implement Layer 1 functionality related to various signal processing functions. The receiver 312 may perform spatial processing on the information to recover the spatial streams destined for the UE 302. If multiple spatial streams are destined for the UE 302, they may be combined into a single OFDM symbol stream by the receiver 312. The receiver 312 then converts the OFDM symbol stream from the time domain to the frequency domain using a fast Fourier transform (FFT). The frequency domain signal comprises a separate OFDM symbol stream for each subcarrier of the OFDM signal. The symbols on each subcarrier and the reference signal are recovered and demodulated by determining the most likely signal constellation point transmitted by the base station 304. These soft decisions may be based on channel estimates calculated by a channel estimator. The soft decisions are then decoded and deinterleaved to recover the data and control signals originally transmitted on the physical channel by the base station 304. The data and control signals are then provided to a processing system 332 that implements Layer 3 and Layer 2 functions.

[0103]

[0119] In the uplink, the processing system 332 provides demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, decryption, header recovery, and control signal processing to recover IP packets from the core network. The processing system 332 is also responsible for error detection.

[0104]

[0120] Similar to the functionality described with respect to downlink transmissions by the base station 304, the processing system 332 provides RRC layer functions related to system information (e.g., MIB, SIB) acquisition, RRC connection, and measurement reporting; PDCP layer functions related to header compression / decompression and security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification); RLC layer functions related to transfer of upper layer PDUs, error correction via ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC SDUs, re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functions related to mapping between logical channels and transport channels, multiplexing of MAC SDUs onto transport blocks (TBs), demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling information reporting, error correction via hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0105]

[0121] Channel estimates derived by the channel estimator from a reference signal or feedback transmitted by the base station 304 may be used by the transmitter 314 to select an appropriate coding and modulation scheme and to facilitate spatial processing. The spatial streams generated by the transmitter 314 may be provided to different antenna(s) 316. The transmitter 314 may modulate an RF carrier with each spatial stream for transmission.

[0106]

[0122] Uplink transmissions are processed at the base station 304 in a manner similar to that described with respect to the receiver function at the UE 302. The receiver 352 receives signals through its respective antenna(s) 356. The receiver 352 recovers the information modulated onto the RF carrier and provides the information to the processing system 384.

[0107]

[0123] In the uplink, the processing system 384 provides demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, decryption, header recovery, and control signal processing to recover IP packets from the UE 302. The IP packets from the processing system 384 may be provided to the core network. The processing system 384 is also responsible for error detection.

[0108]

[0124] For convenience, the UE 302, the base station 304, and / or the network entity 306 are illustrated in Figures 3A-3C as including various components that may be configured in accordance with various examples described herein, although it will be appreciated that the illustrated blocks may have different functions in different designs.

[0109]

[0125] The various components of the UE 302, the base station 304, and the network entity 306 may communicate with each other over data buses 334, 382, ​​and 392, respectively. The components of FIGS. 3A-3C may be implemented in various ways. In some implementations, the components of FIGS. 3A-3C may be implemented in one or more circuits, such as, for example, one or more processors and / or one or more ASICs (which may include one or more processors), where each circuit may use and / or incorporate at least one memory component for storing information or executable code used by the circuit to provide its functionality. For example, some or all of the functionality represented by blocks 310-346 may be implemented by the processor and memory component(s) of the UE 302 (e.g., by execution of appropriate code and / or by appropriate configuration of the processor components). Similarly, some or all of the functionality represented by blocks 350-388 may be implemented by the processor and memory component(s) of the base station 304 (e.g., by execution of appropriate code and / or by appropriate configuration of the processor components). Additionally, some or all of the functionality represented by blocks 390-398 may be implemented by a processor and memory component(s) of network entity 306 (e.g., by execution of appropriate code and / or by appropriate configuration of processor components). For simplicity, various operations, acts, and / or functions are described herein as being performed "by a UE," "by a base station," "by a positioning entity," etc. However, it will be appreciated that such operations, acts, and / or functions may actually be performed by particular components or combinations of components of a UE, a base station, a positioning entity, etc., such as processing systems 332, 384, 394, transceivers 310, 320, 350, and 360, memory components 340, 386, and 396, RF sensing components 342, 388, and 398, etc.

[0110]

[0126] Wireless communication signals (e.g., RF signals configured to carry OFDM symbols) transmitted between a UE and a base station may be repurposed for environmental sensing (also referred to as "RF sensing" or "radar"). Using wireless communication signals for environmental sensing may be considered, among other things, consumer-level radar with advanced detection capabilities, enabling touchless / device-free interaction with devices / systems. The wireless communication signals may be cellular communication signals, such as LTE or NR signals, WLAN signals, etc. As a particular example, the wireless communication signals may be OFDM waveforms utilized in LTE and NR. High-frequency communication signals, such as mmW RF signals, are particularly beneficial for use as radar signals because the higher frequencies provide, at least, more accurate range (distance) detection.

[0111]

[0127] Generally, there are different types of radar, particularly monostatic radar and bistatic radar. FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate two of these various types of radar. In particular, FIG. 4A is a diagram 400 illustrating a monostatic radar scenario, and FIG. 4B is a diagram 430 illustrating a bistatic radar scenario. In FIG. 4A, a base station 402 may be configured for full-duplex operation, and thus the transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) are co-located. For example, a transmitted wireless signal 406 may be reflected from a target object, such as a building 404, and a receiver on the base station 402 is configured to receive and measure the reflected beam 408. This is a common use case for legacy or conventional radar. In FIG. 4B, the base station 405 may be configured as a transmitter (Tx), and the UE 432 may be configured as a receiver (Rx). In this example, the transmitter and receiver are not co-located, i.e., they are separated. The base station 405 may be configured to transmit a beam, such as an omnidirectional downlink RF signal 406, that can be received by the UE 432. A portion of the RF signal 406 may be reflected or refracted by the building 404, and the UE 432 may receive this reflected signal 434. This is a common use case for wireless communication-based (e.g., WiFi-based, LTE-based, NR-based) RF detection. Note that while FIG. 4B illustrates the use of the downlink RF signal 406 as the RF detection signal, an uplink RF signal may also be used as the RF detection signal. In a downlink scenario, the transmitter is the base station 405 and the receiver is the UE 432, as shown, while in an uplink scenario, the transmitter is the UE and the receiver is the base station.

[0112]

[0128] 4B in more detail, a base station 405 transmits RF detection signals (e.g., PRS) to a UE 432, some of which reflect off a target object, such as a building 404. The UE 404 can measure the ToA of the RF signal 406 received directly from the base station and the ToA of the reflected signal 434 reflected off the target object (e.g., building 404).

[0113]

[0129] The base station 405 may be configured to transmit a single RF signal 406 or multiple RF signals to a receiver (e.g., a UE 432). However, the UE 432 may receive multiple RF signals corresponding to each transmitted RF signal due to the propagation characteristics of RF signals through a multipath channel. Each path may be associated with one or more clusters of channel taps. Generally, the time at which the receiver detects the first cluster of channel taps is considered the ToA of the RF signal on the line-of-sight (LOS) path (i.e., the shortest path between the transmitter and receiver). Subsequent clusters of channel taps reflect off objects between the transmitter and receiver and are therefore considered to have followed a non-LOS (NLOS) path between the transmitter and receiver.

[0114]

[0130] 4B , RF signal 406 follows an LOS path between base station 405 and UE 432, and reflected signal 434 represents an RF detection signal that follows an NLOS path between base station 405 and UE 432 by reflecting off building 404 (or another target object). Base station 405 may have transmitted multiple RF detection signals (not shown in FIG. 4B ), some of which followed an LOS path and others of which followed an NLOS path. Alternatively, base station 405 may have transmitted a single RF detection signal in a beam that is wide enough that a portion of the RF detection signal follows an LOS path and a portion of the RF detection signal follows an NLOS path.

[0115]

[0131] Based on the difference between the ToA of the LOS path and the ToA of the NLOS path and the speed of light, the UE 432 can determine the distance to the building 404. Furthermore, if the UE 432 is capable of receive beamforming, the UE 432 may be able to determine the general direction to the building 404 as the direction of the reflected signal 434, which is an RF sensing signal that follows the NLOS path as received. The UE 432 may then optionally report this information to the transmitting base station 405, an application server associated with the core network, an external client, a third-party application, or some other entity. Alternatively, the UE 432 may report the ToA measurements to the base station 405 or other entity, and the base station 405 may determine the distance to the target object, and optionally the direction to the target object.

[0116]

[0132] It should be noted that if the RF detection signal is an uplink RF signal transmitted by the UE 432 to the base station 405, the base station 405 will perform object detection based on the uplink RF signal, just as the UE 432 performs object detection based on the downlink RF signal.

[0117]

[0133] Referring to FIG. 5, an exemplary graph 500 illustrating RF channel response at a receiver (e.g., either a UE or a base station described herein) over time is shown. In the example of FIG. 5, the receiver receives multiple (four) clusters of channel taps. Each channel tap represents a multipath taken by an RF signal between a transmitter (e.g., either a UE or a base station described herein) and the receiver. That is, the channel tap represents the arrival of an RF signal on a multipath. Each cluster of channel taps indicates that the corresponding multipaths followed essentially the same path. There may be different clusters because the RF signals are transmitted on different transmit beams (and therefore at different angles), or because of the propagation characteristics of the RF signals (potentially following widely different paths due to reflections), or both.

[0118]

[0134] Under the channel shown in FIG. 5, the receiver receives a first cluster of two RF signals on the channel taps at time T1, a second cluster of five RF signals on the channel taps at time T2, a third cluster of five RF signals on the channel taps at time T3, and a fourth cluster of four RF signals on the channel taps at time T4. In the example of FIG. 5, because the first cluster of RF signals at time T1 arrives first, it is inferred to be a line-of-sight (LOS) data stream (i.e., a data stream arriving on the line-of-sight (LOS) or shortest path) and may correspond to the LOS path (e.g., RF signal 406) shown in FIG. 4B. The third cluster at time T3 is composed of the strongest RF signals and may correspond to the non-LOS path (e.g., reflected signal 434) shown in FIG. 4B. Note that while FIG. 5 shows clusters of two to five channel taps, it should be appreciated that the clusters may have more or fewer channel taps than shown.

[0119]

[0135] Referring to FIG. 6, an exemplary single-target beam management use case 600 for bistatic radio frequency sensing is shown. The use case 600 includes a base station 602, such as a 5G NR gNB, configured to transmit multiple beamformed signals along different azimuth and / or elevation angles and a UE 610 configured to utilize receive beamforming to improve signal gain based on the angle of arrival. The base station 602 may be configured to generate N different reference beams with various azimuth, elevation, and / or beamwidths. In one example, the beams transmitted by the base station 602 may be based on SS block, CSI-RS, TRS, or PRS resource sets. Other sensing and tracking reference signals may also be used. The UE 610 may be configured to utilize phase shifters and other software and hardware techniques to generate receive beams, such as a first receive beam 612, a second receive beam 614, and a third receive beam 616. The UE 610 may also be configured to utilize beamforming for the transmitted beams. The base station 602 may transmit a first reference signal 604 in the direction of a target object, such as a building 404, which may be reflected, and the UE 610 may receive a reflected signal 606 on a first receive beam 612. The reflected signal 606 represents the NLOS path of the first reference signal 604 to the UE 610. The base station 602 also transmits a second reference signal 608 on a second beam. In one example, the second reference signal 608 may be quasi co-located (QCLed) with the first reference signal 604. The UE 610 receives the second reference signal 608 on a second receive beam 614. The second reference signal 608 is an LOS path to the UE 610.

[0120]

[0136] During operation, the UE 610 may be configured to report a channel response for each of the first reference signal 604 and the second reference signal 608 to the base station 602 or another serving cell, and the base station 602 may be configured to manage transmit and receive beam pairs for object detection. For example, the base station 602 may be configured to provide transmit and receive beam identification information to the UE 610 to track an object such as a building 404. The beam identification information may be a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) sent in a DCI message that includes configurations such as QCL relationships between transmit and receive beams.

[0121]

[0137] With reference to FIG. 7 and with further reference to FIG. 6, an exemplary multi-target use case 700 for bistatic radio frequency sensing is shown. Use case 700 extends the single-target use case 600 of FIG. 6 by including a second target. The second target may be, by way of example and not limitation, a second building 704. The number and nature of targets may vary based on the environment and radio sensing application. In use case 700, a base station 602 transmits a third reference signal 702, which is reflected by the second building 704, and the resulting reflected signal 708 is detected by a second receive beam 614 of a UE 610. The UE 610 may report a channel response for the third reference signal 702 with an indication that measurements were obtained on the second receive beam 614. The base station 602 is configured to manage a beam pair (i.e., the third reference signal 702 and the second receive beam 614) associated with the second target. Additional targets and corresponding beam pairs may also be managed by the base station 602. The base station 602 may be configured to track one or more of the targets and may therefore provide corresponding beam pair information to the UE 610 as QCL / TCI for the respective targets.

[0122]

[0138] Referring to FIG. 8A, an example scanning phase 800 involving bistatic radio frequency sensing is shown. The base station 802 is an example of a base station 304 and is configured to transmit multiple beamformed reference signals at varying azimuth, elevation, and / or beamwidths. The reference signals may be SS blocks, CSI-RS, TRS, PRS, or sensing-scanning reference signals (SSRS) configured for RF sensing applications. The UE 810 is an example of a UE 302 and may be configured to perform receive beam scanning along different azimuth, elevation, and / or beamwidths relative to the orientation of the UE 810. During operation, the base station 802 may sequentially transmit one or more of the reference signals (i.e., beam sweeping), and the UE 810 is configured to beam sweep through different receive beams. The scanning phase 800 may initially be used to detect potential objects to be tracked via RF sensing. For example, a first reference signal 804 may be reflected by a first object 820a, and the first reflected reference signal 804a may be detected by the UE 810. The UE 810 may cycle through different receive beams, such as a first receive beam 812, a second receive beam 814, and a third receive beam 816. As shown in FIG. 8A , the first reflected reference signal 804a may be received on the first receive beam 812. The UE 810 may also detect a second reference signal 805 via the LOS path on the second receive beam 814. Beam sweeping on the base station 802 may generate a third reference signal 806, which is reflected on a second object 820b, and the third reflected reference signal 806a is received by the UE 810 on the third receive beam 816.

[0123]

[0139] In one aspect, the UE 810 may be configured to detect targets based on the RSRP of received signals. For example, the UE 810 may report that the RSRP values ​​associated with the first reference signal 804 and the third reference signal 806 are above a threshold. The threshold may be a fixed value, or the threshold may be scaled based on the RSRP of a LOS signal, such as the second reference signal 805. The UE 810 is configured to report one or more channel measurements (e.g., RSRP, RSRQ, SINR) associated with the received reference signals to the base station 802 or other network node. The measurements obtained during the scanning phase 800 may be used for a subsequent tracking phase.

[0124]

[0140] With reference to FIG. 8B and with further reference to FIG. 8A, an example tracking phase 850 involving bistatic radio frequency sensing is shown. Continuing with the example of FIG. 8A, the base station 802 (or another network node in the communication system 100) may decide to track one or more of the objects detected in the scanning phase 800. For example, the base station 802 may select to track the first object 820a and will send beam configuration information to the UE 810 to enable the UE 810 to track the first object 820a. The beam configuration information may include reference signal information and receive beam configuration information for the UE 810. The base station 802 may utilize a detection-tracking reference signal (STRS) based on the first reference signal 804 to track or refine measurements related to the first object. In one example, the STRS may be QCL'd with the corresponding SSRS (i.e., the first reference signal 804). The SS block, CSI-RS, TRS, and PRS may be used as the STRS. Other reference signals may also be deployed and used as the STRS. The beam configuration information sent to the UE 810 may be sent via RRC, a medium access control control element (MAC-CE), DCI, or other signaling protocol. Upon receiving the beam configuration information, the UE 810 uses, for example, the first receive beam 812 with the STRS to detect the first object 820a.

[0125]

[0141] The base station 802 may be configured to track multiple targets based on the number of reference signals the base station 802 may generate. In one aspect, the base station 802 may be configured to track one object for each reference signal. For example, the base station 802 may track the second object 820b by generating a second STRS based on the third reference signal 806. The beam configuration information sent to the UE 810 may include beam parameters for the second STRS and corresponding receive beam information (e.g., the third receive beam 816) provided by the UE 810 during the scanning phase 800. Thus, the UE 810 may be configured to track both the first object 820a and the second object 820b. Additional objects, up to the number of reference signals generated by the base station 802, may be tracked.

[0126]

[0142] Referring to FIG. 9, an exemplary use case 900 for multi-target detection with bistatic radio frequency sensing is shown. In contrast to the examples in FIGS. 8A-8B, where each target can be identified using a single reference signal, use case 900 highlights a scenario when multiple targets are detected using a single reference signal. For example, base station 902, an example of base station 304, is configured to transmit multiple beamformed reference signals at varying angles, elevation angles, and / or beam widths. A first reference signal 904 may be configured as an SSRS and / or STRS and is received by UE 910 via multiple paths. For example, first reference signal 904 may be reflected from first target 920a and received by first receive beam 912. First reference signal 904 may be received via a line-of-sight path by second receive beam 914. First reference signal 904 may also be reflected from second target 920b and received via a third receive beam 916. Because the first target 920a and the second target 920b are associated with the same reference signal, the first reference signal 904 may not be sufficient to uniquely identify each target. In this use case, the UE 910 may be configured to assign explicit target identifications to distinguish between the targets. The UE 910 may be configured to distinguish between targets based on different receive beams. For example, the RSRP for the first reference signal 904 may exceed a threshold when received on the first receive beam 912 and when received on the third receive beam 916. The UE 910 may assign a first identification (e.g., Target 1) to the first target 920a and a second identification (e.g., Target 2) to the second target 920b. The target identifications and corresponding reference signal identification information may be reported to the base station 902.

[0127]

[0143] Referring to FIG. 10, an exemplary use case 1000 for target group detection with bistatic radio frequency sensing is shown. In contrast to the examples in FIGS. 8A-8B, where each target can be identified using a single reference signal, and the use case in FIG. 9, where each target can be identified by a different receive beam, use case 1000 highlights a scenario when multiple targets are detected using a single reference signal and a single receive beam. For example, base station 1002, an example of base station 304, is configured to transmit multiple beamformed reference signals at varying angles, elevation angles, and / or beam widths. A first reference signal 1004 may be configured as an SSRS and / or STRS and is received by UE 1010 via multiple paths. For example, the first reference signal 1004 may be reflected from a first target 1020a and a second target 1020b and received by a first receive beam 1012. The first reference signal 1004 may also be received via an LOS path by a second receive beam 1014. Because the first target 1020a and the second target 1020b are associated with the same reference signal and the same receive beam, the combination of the first reference signal 1004 and the first receive beam 1012 is insufficient to uniquely identify each of the targets 1020a-b. In this use case, the UE 1010 may be configured to assign a target group identification to identify the first target 1020a and the second target 1020b as a target group. The RSRP for the first reference signal 1004 may exceed a threshold when received on the first receive beam 1012. In one example, the UE 1010 may be configured to decompose the target group into separate targets based on the cluster and channel tap. The UE 1010 may assign a target group identification (e.g., target group 1) for the first target 1020a and the second target 1020b. The target group identification and corresponding reference signal identification information may be reported to the base station 1002.

[0128]

[0144] Referring to FIG. 11, an example use case 1100 for single-sided beam management for bistatic radio frequency sensing is shown. In contrast to the example in FIGS. 8A-8B, where each target can be identified using a single reference signal, use case 1100 highlights a scenario when multiple target groups are detected using a single reference signal. For example, base station 1102, an example of base station 304, is configured to transmit multiple beamformed reference signals at varying angles, elevation angles, and / or beam widths. A first reference signal 1104 may be configured as an SSRS and / or STRS and is received by UE 1110 via multiple paths. For example, first reference signal 1104 may be reflected from first target 1105a and second target 1105b and received by first receive beam 1112. First reference signal 1104 may be received by second receive beam 1114 via an LOS path and via an NLOS path including a reflection from third target 1106. The first reference signal 1104 may also be reflected from a fourth target 1108 and received via a third receive beam 1116. Because all of the targets in FIG. 11 are associated with the same reference signal (i.e., the first reference signal 1104), the first reference signal 1104 may not be sufficient to uniquely identify each target. In this use case, the UE 1110 may be configured to assign explicit target group identifications to distinguish between target groups. In one aspect, the target groups may be based on receive beams 1112, 1114, 1116. For example, the first target group includes the first target 1105a and the second target 1105b, the second target group includes the third target 1106, and the third target group includes the fourth target 1108. The relative locations and numbers of objects in the target groups are by way of example only and not limitation. The UE 1110 may utilize wider or narrower receive beams and may be configured to distinguish between targets based on the different receive beams and corresponding reference signal measurements.For example, the RSRP for the first reference signal 1104 may exceed a threshold when received on the first receive beam 1112, the second receive beam 1114, and the third receive beam 1116. As shown in FIG. 11 , the first reference signal 1104 is not detected (or the RSRP is below the threshold) on the fourth receive beam 1118. The UE 1110 may assign a first target group identification (e.g., target group 1) to the first target 1105a and the second target 1105b, a second target group identification (e.g., target group 2) to the target 1106, and a third target group identification (e.g., target group 3) to the fourth target 1108. The target group identifications and corresponding reference signal identification information may be reported to the base station 1102. In one aspect, the UE 1110 may be configured to provide the RSRP value and an indication of the corresponding receive beam to the base station 1102, and the base station 1102 (or other network node) may be configured to assign a target group identification.

[0129]

[0145] The RF sensing described above can be considered as consumer-level radar with advanced detection capabilities that can enable touchless / device-free interaction with devices / systems and can leverage (or reuse) RF waveforms used for communications (e.g., 3GPP NR), such as mmWave RF signals (e.g., 3GPP NR FR2, FR2x, FR4, etc.), which can be suitable for accurate range (distance) sensing. Various use cases for RF sensing include health monitoring (e.g., heart rate detection, respiration rate monitoring, etc.), gesture recognition (e.g., human activity recognition, keystroke detection, sign language recognition, etc.), context information acquisition (e.g., location detection / tracking, direction finding, range estimation, etc.), automotive radar (e.g., smart cruise control, collision avoidance, etc.), etc.

[0130]

[0146] Like conventional radar, NR air interface-based radar can estimate the range (distance), velocity (Doppler), and angle (e.g., angle of arrival (AoA)) of a target. Various monostatic and bistatic RF sensing techniques suitable for NR-based RF sensing are described above.

[0131]

[0147] Monostatic sensing generally requires full-duplex capability of the sensing node, as described above with respect to FIG. 4A. For a nearby target object, the round-trip delay of the reflected sensing signal is short. Therefore, the sensing node may be required to transmit the sensing signal and simultaneously monitor for reflections.

[0132]

[0148] In some applications, such as NR air-interface-based sensing, the sensing node may be a UE device (e.g., a smartphone, an industrial sensor, etc.) or a base station (e.g., a TRP, an IAB node, etc.) with only half-duplex capabilities. For example, in some designs, implementing full-duplex functionality may be extremely difficult even for a base station.

[0133]

[0149] For classes of devices lacking full-duplex capability, bistatic sensing may be used for environmental sensing in some designs, as described above with respect to Figures 4B and 6-11. Unlike monostatic sensing, which may be performed autonomously by a single node, bistatic sensing requires some coordination between two (or more) counterparts. In NR, peer-to-peer (or sidelink (SL)) communication is supported between UEs.

[0134]

[0150] Aspects of the present disclosure are therefore directed to cooperation between wireless nodes to facilitate bistatic sensing procedures. Such cooperation may be implemented between various types of wireless nodes (e.g., gNB-gNB, UE-UE, UE-gNB, etc.). Such aspects may provide various technical advantages, such as more accurate target object detection and tracking, more accurate environment scanning, etc.

[0135]

[0151] 12 illustrates an example process 1200 for wireless communication according to one aspect of the present disclosure. The process 1200 of FIG. 12 is performed by a first wireless node, which may correspond to either the UE 302 or the BS 304, as an example.

[0136]

[0152] At 1210, the first wireless node (e.g., receiver 312 or 322 or 352 or 362, transmitter 314 or 324 or 354 or 364, network interface(s) 380, processing system 332 or 384, etc.) communicates a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the first wireless node and the second wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure. In some designs, the bistatic sensing request is sent by the first wireless node to the second wireless node at 1210, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node. In other designs, the bistatic sensing request is received at 1210 from the second wireless node at the first wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is sent by the first wireless node to the second wireless node.

[0137]

[0153] At 1220, the first wireless node (e.g., transmitter 314 or 324 or 354 or 364, network interface(s) 380, etc.) transmits a set of sensing signals to one or more target objects according to a bistatic sensing procedure. As mentioned above, the set of sensing signals may, in some designs, be configured for both sensing and communication (e.g., reference signals such as PRS, TRS, CSI-RS, etc.).

[0138]

[0154] 13 illustrates an example process 1300 for wireless communication according to one aspect of the present disclosure. The process 1300 of FIG. 13 is performed by a second wireless node, which may correspond to either the UE 302 or the BS 304, by way of example.

[0139]

[0155] At 1310, the second wireless node (e.g., receiver 312 or 322 or 352 or 362, transmitter 314 or 324 or 354 or 364, network interface(s) 380, processing system 332 or 384, etc.) communicates a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the second wireless node and the first wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure. In some designs, the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node at 1310, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is received from the first wireless node at the second wireless node. In other designs, the bistatic sensing request is received from the first wireless node at the second wireless node at 1310, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node.

[0140]

[0156] At 1320, the second wireless node (e.g., receiver 312 or 322 or 352 or 362, transmitter 314 or 324 or 354 or 364, RF sensing component 342 or 388, processing system 332 or 384, etc.) measures a set of reflections of a set of sensing signals transmitted by the first wireless node and reflected from one or more target objects according to a bistatic sensing procedure.

[0141]

[0157] As described in more detail below, processes 1200-1300 may execute in parallel at the first wireless node and the second wireless node, respectively.

[0142]

[0158] 12-13 , as described above, either the first wireless device or the second wireless device may initiate a bistatic sensing procedure collaboration via transmission of a bistatic sensing request. In some designs, each wireless node transmitting the bistatic sensing request may beam sweep the bistatic sensing request across multiple transmit beams (e.g., transmit in different spatial directions) as described above. In some designs, the set of sensing signals may include bursts of sensing signals transmitted close to each other in time, such as sensing RSs. In some designs, each wireless node transmitting the bistatic sensing request may also transmit one or more bistatic sensing requests to one or more other wireless nodes to coordinate the setup of the bistatic sensing procedure(s). In this context, each wireless node receiving the bistatic sensing request may be considered a supplementary node of the initiating node. In some designs, the communication link between the first wireless node and the second wireless node may be unicast, broadcast, or multicast. For example, in a scenario where multiple "auxiliary" wireless nodes are configured, a multicast or broadcast link may be used to coordinate with these multiple auxiliary nodes in a concurrent manner.

[0143]

[0159] 12-13 , in some designs, any combination of wireless node types may be deployed as the first and second wireless nodes (or, as described above, additional “auxiliary” wireless nodes). For example, the first wireless node may correspond to a UE and the second wireless node may correspond to a base station, or the second wireless node may correspond to a UE and the first wireless node may correspond to a base station, or the first and second wireless nodes may both correspond to a base station, or the first and second wireless nodes may both correspond to a UE. If both wireless nodes are base stations, these base stations may correspond to integrated access and backhaul (IAB) gNBs in some designs.

[0144]

[0160] 12-13 , in some designs, a reference signal for timing calibration may be communicated between a first wireless node and a second wireless node. In particular, in some designs, each wireless node transmitting a bistatic sensing request may also transmit a reference signal for timing calibration (e.g., to be used as a reference time for the bistatic sensing procedure). For example, the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration may both be sent from the first wireless node to the second wireless node, or the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration may both be sent from the second wireless node to the first wireless node.

[0145]

[0161] 12-13 , in some designs, the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both may be communicated over a wireless communication link or a wired communication link. For example, the wired communication link may comprise a backhaul link in a scenario where the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to gNBs. In some designs, the wireless communication link or the wired communication link may be pre-configured before the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered or alternatively set up in association with the bistatic sensing procedure.

[0146]

[0162] 12-13 , in an example in which the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both are communicated over a wireless communication link, the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both may be related to downlink control information (DCI), uplink control information (UCI), sidelink control information (SCI), a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH), a medium access control command element (MAC CE), or radio resource configuration (RRC) signaling. In some designs, the bistatic sensing request may include the configuration of the sensing signal(s) sent at 1220 and / or received at 1320.

[0147]

[0163] 12-13 , in some designs, the response to the bistatic sensing request at 1210 or 1310 may include an indication of the location of the respective wireless node transmitting the response to the bistatic sensing request, an indication of acceptance or rejection of the bistatic sensing request, or a combination thereof. For example, the response to the bistatic sensing request at 1210 or 1310 may include an indication of the location of the respective wireless node if the respective wireless node has self-positioning capability (e.g., GPS or NR positioning).

[0148]

[0164] 12-13 , in some designs, a reference signal for timing calibration (e.g., PSS / SSS, CSI-RS, etc.) may be communicated between a first wireless node and a second wireless node. In particular, in some designs, each wireless node transmitting a response to a bistatic sensing request may also transmit a reference signal. In some designs, the reference signal may correspond to a reference signal for timing calibration (e.g., for timing calibration associated with a bistatic sensing procedure). In other designs, the reference signal may correspond to a reference signal for positioning. In some designs, the timing of the reference signal may be preconfigured or alternatively indicated by the bistatic sensing request (e.g., offset by an indicated amount of time from the bistatic sensing request). For example, in some designs, a response to a bistatic sensing request may be used at each wireless node sending the bistatic sensing request to measure a round-trip time (RTT) between the first wireless node and the second wireless node to estimate a distance between the first wireless node and the second wireless node (e.g., the response to the bistatic sensing request may include information such as Rx-Tx measurements, hardware group delay, etc. to facilitate the RTT measurement).

[0149]

[0165] 12-13 , in some designs, the second wireless node may optionally transmit a measurement report including one or more measurements based on measuring at 1320. In some designs, the one or more measurements comprise one or more time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements between a reference time (e.g., based on ToA(s) of the sensed signal(s) arriving at the second wireless node over the LOS link) and a set of time of arrivals (ToAs) associated with a set of reflections at the second wireless node, at least one range between the second wireless node and one or more target objects, at least one angle of arrival (AoA) of the one or more target objects, at least one positioning estimate of the one or more target objects, or a combination thereof. In some designs, the second wireless node may transmit the measurement report to the first wireless node. In other designs, the second wireless node may transmit the measurement report to another entity, such as an LMF, a core network component, a centralized sensing component, etc. For example, in some designs, if the distance between the first wireless node and the second wireless node is known at the second wireless node, the second wireless node may calculate position(s) of the target object(s). In this case, the measurement report may include the calculated position(s). In other designs, the second wireless node may report TDOA value(s) in the measurement report (e.g., in which case the entity to which the measurement report is sent may perform the target object position calculation(s)). In some designs, some or all of the measurement information from the measurement may be further disseminated (e.g., cooperative sensing).

[0150]

[0166] 12-13 , in some designs, the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered periodically, semi-persistently, or aperiodically. In an example where the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered periodically or semi-persistently, in some designs, the bistatic sensing procedure at 1220 or 1320 may correspond to one of multiple bistatic sensing procedures whose setup is coordinated by the communication at 1210 or 1320. In other words, multiple bistatic sensing procedures may be set up via a single setup phase. However, certain reference signal(s) may still be exchanged for a bistatic sensing procedure that omits this setup phase. In particular, in some designs, reference signals for timing, positioning, or both may be communicated between the first wireless node and the second wireless node for each of the multiple bistatic sensing procedures, whereby a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request may be communicated for an initial bistatic sensing procedure of the multiple bistatic sensing procedures and then omitted for one or more subsequent bistatic sensing procedures of the multiple bistatic sensing procedures.

[0151]

[0167] FIG. 14 illustrates an example implementation of processes 1200-1300 according to an aspect of the present disclosure. In FIG. 14, a first wireless node corresponds to a bistatic sensing procedure originator or initiator. At 1402, the first wireless node transmits a bistatic sensing request to a second wireless node (e.g., as in 1210 of FIG. 12 or 1310 of FIG. 13). At 1404, the first wireless node optionally transmits a reference signal for timing calibration to the second wireless node, which may optionally be measured and used for timing calibration at the second wireless node. At 1406, the second wireless node transmits a response to the bistatic sensing request from 1402 (e.g., as in 1210 of FIG. 12 or 1310 of FIG. 13). At 1408, the second wireless node optionally transmits a reference signal (e.g., for timing and / or positioning) to the first wireless node, which may optionally be measured and used for timing calibration and / or positioning (e.g., RTT for distance calibration) at the first wireless node. At 1410 (e.g., as in 1220 of FIG. 12 ), the first wireless node transmits bursts of detection signals (e.g., across multiple beams, at different times, etc.). At least some of the transmitted detection signals contact one or more target objects 1412, which generate reflected signals. These reflected signals are received and measured by the second wireless node at 1414 (e.g., as in 1320 of FIG. 13 ). At 1416, the second wireless node optionally transmits a measurement report to the first wireless node (and / or one or more other components, such as the LMF, as described above).

[0152]

[0168] FIG. 15 illustrates an example implementation of processes 1200-1300 according to another aspect of the present disclosure. Unlike FIG. 14, in FIG. 15, the second wireless node corresponds to the bistatic sensing procedure originator or initiator. At 1502, the second wireless node transmits a bistatic sensing request to the second wireless node (e.g., as in 1210 of FIG. 12 or 1310 of FIG. 13). At 1504, the second wireless node optionally transmits a reference signal for timing calibration to the first wireless node, which may optionally be measured and used for timing calibration at the first wireless node. At 1506, the first wireless node transmits a response to the bistatic sensing request from 1502 (e.g., as in 1210 of FIG. 12 or 1310 of FIG. 13). At 1508, the first wireless node optionally transmits a reference signal (e.g., for timing and / or positioning) to the second wireless node, which may optionally be measured and used for timing calibration and / or positioning (e.g., RTT for distance calibration) at the second wireless node. At 1510 (e.g., as in 1220 of FIG. 12 ), the first wireless node transmits bursts of detection signals (e.g., across multiple beams, at different times, etc.). At least some of the transmitted detection signals contact one or more target objects 1512, which generate reflected signals. These reflected signals are received and measured by the second wireless node at 1514 (e.g., as in 1320 of FIG. 13 ). At 1516, the second wireless node optionally transmits a measurement report to the first wireless node (and / or one or more other components, such as the LMF, as described above). In some designs, the transmission of 1516 may be skipped (e.g., because the second wireless node is the source interested in the measurement data). Alternatively, the measurement report at 1516 may be sent to a separate entity (e.g., a centralized entity such as an LMF instead of and / or in addition to being reported to the first wireless node).

[0153]

[0169] As mentioned above, although a single bistatic sensing procedure is shown in each of Figures 14-15, the coordination at 1402-1408 or 1502-1508 may be used to configure multiple bistatic sensing procedures (e.g., periodic or semi-persistent) in other examples (e.g., in which case the signaling at 1402 and 1406 or 1502 and 1506 may be omitted for such additional bistatic sensing procedures, but the signaling at 1404 and 1408 or 1504 and 1508 may still be optionally implemented in each bistatic sensing procedure).

[0154]

[0170] In the above detailed description, it can be seen that different features are grouped together in examples. This mode of disclosure should not be understood as an intention that the exemplary clauses have more features than are expressly set forth in each clause. Rather, various embodiments of the present disclosure may include fewer than all features of each disclosed exemplary clause. Accordingly, the following clauses should be considered incorporated herein, with each clause standing as a separate example by itself. While each dependent clause may refer to a specific combination with one of the other clauses in the clause, the aspect(s) of that dependent clause are not limited to that specific combination. It will be appreciated that other exemplary clauses may also include combinations of the dependent clause(s) aspect(s) with the subject matter of any other dependent clause or independent clause, or any combination of features with other dependent and independent clauses. The various embodiments disclosed herein expressly include combinations of specific combinations (e.g., inconsistent aspects, such as defining an element as both an insulator and a conductor) unless these combinations are expressly expressed or can be readily inferred to be unintended. Furthermore, it is also contemplated that aspects of a clause may be included in any other independent clause, even if that clause is not directly dependent on that independent clause.

[0155]

[0171] Example implementations are described in the following numbered clauses.

[0156]

[0172] Clause 1. A method of operating a first wireless node, the method comprising: communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the first wireless node and a second wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure; and transmitting a set of sensing signals to one or more target objects in accordance with the bistatic sensing procedure.

[0157]

[0173] Clause 2. The method of clause 1, wherein a bistatic sensing request is transmitted by a first wireless node to a second wireless node, and a response to the bistatic sensing request is received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node.

[0158]

[0174] Clause 3. The method of clause 2, wherein the bistatic sensing request is beam swept by the first wireless node across multiple transmit beams.

[0159]

[0175] Clause 4. The method of any of clauses 2 to 3, further comprising sending another bistatic sensing request to a third wireless node to coordinate the setup of another bistatic sensing procedure.

[0160]

[0176] Clause 5. The method of any of clauses 1 to 4, wherein a bistatic sensing request is received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node, and a response to the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node.

[0161]

[0177] Clause 6. The method of any of clauses 1 to 5, wherein the first wireless node corresponds to a user equipment (UE) and the second wireless node corresponds to a base station, or the second wireless node corresponds to a UE and the first wireless node corresponds to a base station, or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to base stations, or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to a UE.

[0162]

[0178] Clause 7. The method of any of clauses 1 to 6, further comprising communicating a reference signal for timing calibration with a second wireless node.

[0163]

[0179] Clause 8. The method of clause 7, wherein the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node, or the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node.

[0164]

[0180] Clause 9. The method of any of clauses 1 to 8, wherein the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, are communicated over a wireless communications link or a wired communications link.

[0165]

[0181] Clause 10. The method of clause 9, wherein the wireless or wired communication link is pre-configured before the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered or is set up in connection with the bistatic sensing procedure.

[0166]

[0182] Clause 11. The method of any of clauses 9 to 10, wherein the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, is communicated over a wireless communications link, and the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, is associated with downlink control information (DCI), uplink control information (UCI), sidelink control information (SCI), medium access control command element (MAC CE), physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH), or radio resource configuration (RRC) signaling.

[0167]

[0183] Clause 12. The method of any of clauses 1 to 11, wherein the response to the bistatic sensing request comprises an indication of the location of each wireless node transmitting the response to the bistatic sensing request, an indication of acceptance or rejection of the bistatic sensing request, or a combination thereof.

[0168]

[0184] Clause 13. The method of any of clauses 1 to 12, further comprising communicating a reference signal with a second wireless node.

[0169]

[0185] Clause 14. The method of clause 13, wherein the response to the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node, or the response to the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node.

[0170]

[0186] Clause 15. The method of any of clauses 13 to 14, wherein the reference signal corresponds to a reference signal for timing calibration or the reference signal corresponds to a reference signal for positioning.

[0171]

[0187] Clause 16. The method of any of clauses 13 to 15, wherein the timing of the reference signal is preconfigured or indicated by a bistatic sensing request.

[0172]

[0188] Clause 17. The method of any of clauses 1 to 16, further comprising receiving, from a second wireless node, a measurement report comprising one or more measurements, by the second wireless node, of a set of reflections of a set of sensed signals from one or more target objects.

[0173]

[0189] Clause 18. The method of clause 17, wherein the one or more measurements comprise one or more Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) measurements between a reference time and a set of Times of Arrival (ToAs) associated with a set of reflections at the second wireless node, at least one distance between the second wireless node and one or more target objects, at least one Angle of Arrival (AoA) of one or more target objects, at least one positioning estimate of one or more target objects, or a combination thereof.

[0174]

[0190] Clause 19. The method of any of clauses 1 to 18, wherein the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered periodically, semi-persistently, or aperiodically.

[0175]

[0191] Clause 20. The method of clause 19, wherein the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered periodically or semi-persistently, and corresponds to one of a plurality of bistatic sensing procedures, the setup for which is coordinated by communication of a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request.

[0176]

[0192] Clause 21. The method of clause 20, wherein a reference signal for timing, positioning, or both is communicated between the first wireless node and the second wireless node for each of a plurality of bistatic sensing procedures, and a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request are communicated for an initial bistatic sensing procedure of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures and then omitted for one or more subsequent bistatic sensing procedures of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures.

[0177]

[0193] Clause 22. A method of operating a second wireless node, the method comprising: communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the second wireless node and a first wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure; and measuring a set of reflections of a set of sensing signals transmitted by the first wireless node and reflected from one or more target objects in accordance with the bistatic sensing procedure.

[0178]

[0194] Clause 23. The method of clause 22, wherein a bistatic sensing request is transmitted by a second wireless node to the first wireless node, and a response to the bistatic sensing request is received at the second wireless node from the first wireless node.

[0179]

[0195] Clause 24. The method of clause 23, wherein the bistatic sensing request is beam swept by the second wireless node across multiple transmit beams.

[0180]

[0196] Clause 25. The method of any of clauses 23-24, further comprising sending another bistatic sensing request to a third wireless node to coordinate the setup of another bistatic sensing procedure.

[0181]

[0197] Clause 26. The method of any of clauses 22 to 25, wherein a bistatic sensing request is received at a second wireless node from a first wireless node, and a response to the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node.

[0182]

[0198] Clause 27. The method of any of clauses 22 to 26, wherein the first wireless node corresponds to a user equipment (UE) and the second wireless node corresponds to a base station, or the second wireless node corresponds to a UE and the first wireless node corresponds to a base station, or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to base stations, or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to a UE.

[0183]

[0199] Clause 28. The method of any of clauses 22 to 27, further comprising communicating a reference signal for timing calibration with the first wireless node.

[0184]

[0200] Clause 29. The method of clause 28, wherein the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both received at the second wireless node from the first wireless node, or the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node.

[0185]

[0201] Clause 30. The method of any of clauses 22 to 29, wherein the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, are communicated over a wireless communications link or a wired communications link.

[0186]

[0202] Clause 31. The method of clause 30, wherein the wireless or wired communication link is pre-configured before the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered or is set up in connection with the bistatic sensing procedure.

[0187]

[0203] Clause 32. The method of any of clauses 30 to 31, wherein the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, is communicated over a wireless communications link, and the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, is associated with downlink control information (DCI), uplink control information (UCI), sidelink control information (SCI), medium access control command element (MAC CE), physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH), or radio resource configuration (RRC) signaling.

[0188]

[0204] Clause 33. The method of any of clauses 22 to 32, wherein the response to the bistatic sensing request comprises an indication of the location of each wireless node transmitting the response to the bistatic sensing request, an indication of acceptance or rejection of the bistatic sensing request, or a combination thereof.

[0189]

[0205] Clause 34. The method of any of clauses 22 to 33, further comprising communicating a reference signal with the first wireless node.

[0190]

[0206] Clause 35. The method of clause 34, wherein the response to the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both received at the second wireless node from the first wireless node, or the response to the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node.

[0191]

[0207] Clause 36. The method of any of clauses 34 to 35, wherein the reference signal corresponds to a reference signal for timing calibration or wherein the reference signal corresponds to a reference signal for positioning.

[0192]

[0208] Clause 37. The method of any of clauses 34 to 36, wherein the timing of the reference signal is preconfigured or indicated by a bistatic sensing request.

[0193]

[0209] Clause 38. The method of any of clauses 22 to 37, further comprising transmitting to the device a measurement report comprising one or more measurements based on the measuring.

[0194]

[0210] Clause 39. The method of clause 38, wherein the one or more measurements comprise one or more time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements between a reference time and a set of times of arrival (ToAs) associated with a set of reflections at the second wireless node, at least one distance between the second wireless node and one or more target objects, at least one angle of arrival (AoA) of one or more target objects, at least one positioning estimate of one or more target objects, or a combination thereof.

[0195]

[0211] Clause 40. The method of any of clauses 22 to 39, wherein the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered periodically, semi-persistently, or aperiodically.

[0196]

[0212] Clause 41. The method of clause 40, wherein the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered periodically or semi-persistently, and corresponds to one of a plurality of bistatic sensing procedures, the setup for which is coordinated by communication of a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request.

[0197]

[0213] Clause 42. The method of clause 41, wherein a reference signal for timing, positioning, or both is communicated between the first wireless node and the second wireless node for each of a plurality of bistatic sensing procedures, and a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request are communicated for an initial bistatic sensing procedure of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures and then omitted for one or more subsequent bistatic sensing procedures of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures.

[0198]

[0214] Clause 43. An apparatus comprising: a memory; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the memory and the at least one processor are configured to perform the method of any of clauses 1 to 42.

[0199]

[0215] Clause 44. An apparatus comprising means for carrying out the method according to any one of clauses 1 to 42.

[0200]

[0216] Clause 45. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable comprising at least one instruction for causing a computer or processor to perform a method according to any of clauses 1 to 42.

[0201]

[0217] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, the data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0202]

[0218] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability between hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends on the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Those skilled in the art may implement the described functionality in various ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0203]

[0219] The various example logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented or performed using a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but alternatively, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0204]

[0220] The methods, sequences, and / or algorithms described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in software modules executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. The software modules may reside in random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, hard disk, removable disk, CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal (e.g., UE). Alternatively, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in the user terminal.

[0205]

[0221] In one or more exemplary aspects, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media, including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Storage media may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. As used herein, disk and disc include compact discs (CDs), laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs (DVDs), floppy discs, and Blu-ray discs, where disks typically reproduce data magnetically and discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0206]

[0222] While the above disclosure sets forth exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be noted that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. The functions, steps and / or actions of the method claims according to the embodiments of the present disclosure described herein need not be performed in any particular order. Furthermore, although elements of the present disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. The inventions described in the claims of the present application as originally filed are set forth below. [C1] 1. A method of operating a first wireless node, comprising: communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the first wireless node and the second wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure; transmitting a set of sensing signals to one or more target objects according to the bistatic sensing procedure; A method comprising: [C2] The method of claim 1, wherein the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node. [C3] The method of C2, wherein the bistatic sensing request is beam swept by the first wireless node across multiple transmit beams. [C4] sending another bistatic sensing request to a third wireless node to coordinate the setup of another bistatic sensing procedure; The method of C2, further comprising: [C5] The method of claim 1, wherein the bistatic sensing request is received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node. [C6] the first wireless node corresponds to a user equipment (UE) and the second wireless node corresponds to a base station; or the second wireless node corresponds to a UE and the first wireless node corresponds to a base station; or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to base stations; or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to a UE; The method described in C1. [C7] The method of C1, further comprising: communicating a reference signal for timing calibration with the second wireless node. [C8] the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node; or the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node. The method described in C7. [C9] The method of C1, wherein the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, are communicated over a wireless communications link or a wired communications link. [C10] The method of C9, wherein the wireless communication link or the wired communication link is pre-configured before the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered or is set up in connection with the bistatic sensing procedure. [C11] the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, are communicated over the wireless communications link; the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, are related to downlink control information (DCI), uplink control information (UCI), sidelink control information (SCI), medium access control command element (MAC CE), physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH), or radio resource configuration (RRC) signaling. The method described in C9. [C12] CI , the method of CI , wherein the response to the bistatic sensing request comprises an indication of the location of each wireless node transmitting the response to the bistatic sensing request, an indication of acceptance or rejection of the bistatic sensing request, or a combination thereof. [C13] communicating a reference signal with the second wireless node; The method of C1, further comprising: [C14] the response to the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node; or the response to the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node. The method described in C13. [C15] the reference signal corresponds to a reference signal for timing calibration; or the reference signal corresponds to a reference signal for positioning; The method described in C13. [C16] The method of C13, wherein the timing of the reference signal is pre-configured or indicated by the bistatic sensing request. [C17] receiving, from the second wireless node, a measurement report comprising one or more measurements by the second wireless node of a set of reflections of the set of sensed signals from the one or more target objects; The method of C1, further comprising: [C18] The method of C17, wherein the one or more measurements comprise one or more Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) measurements between a reference time and a set of Times of Arrival (ToAs) associated with the set of reflections at the second wireless node, at least one distance between the second wireless node and the one or more target objects, at least one Angle of Arrival (AoA) of the one or more target objects, at least one positioning estimate of the one or more target objects, or a combination thereof. [C19] The method of C1, wherein the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered periodically, semi-persistently, or aperiodically. [C20] The bistatic sensing procedure is triggered periodically or semi-persistently, and the bistatic sensing procedure corresponds to one of a plurality of bistatic sensing procedures, the setup for which is coordinated by the communication of the bistatic sensing request and the response to the bistatic sensing request. Method according to C19. [C21] a reference signal for timing, positioning, or both is communicated between the first wireless node and the second wireless node for each of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures; The method of C20, wherein the bistatic sensing request and the response to the bistatic sensing request are communicated for an initial bistatic sensing procedure of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures and then omitted for one or more subsequent bistatic sensing procedures of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures. [C22] 1. A method of operating a second wireless node, comprising: communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the second wireless node and the first wireless node to coordinate setup of a bistatic sensing procedure; measuring a set of reflections of a set of sensing signals transmitted by the first wireless node and reflected from one or more target objects according to the bistatic sensing procedure; A method comprising: [C23] The method of C22, wherein the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is received at the second wireless node from the first wireless node. [C24] The method of C23, wherein the bistatic sensing request is beam swept by the second wireless node across multiple transmit beams. [C25] sending another bistatic sensing request to a third wireless node to coordinate the setup of another bistatic sensing procedure; The method of C23, further comprising: [C26] The method of C22, wherein the bistatic sensing request is received at the second wireless node from the first wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node. [C27] the first wireless node corresponds to a user equipment (UE) and the second wireless node corresponds to a base station; or the second wireless node corresponds to a UE and the first wireless node corresponds to a base station; or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to base stations; or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to a UE; The method described in C22. [C28] The method of C22, further comprising: communicating a reference signal for timing calibration with the first wireless node. [C29] the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both received at the second wireless node from the first wireless node; or the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node. The method described in C28. [C30] The method of C22, wherein the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, are communicated over a wireless communications link or a wired communications link. [C31] The method of C30, wherein the wireless communication link or the wired communication link is pre-configured before the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered or is set up in connection with the bistatic sensing procedure. [C32] the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, are communicated over the wireless communications link; the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, are related to downlink control information (DCI), uplink control information (UCI), sidelink control information (SCI), medium access control command element (MAC CE), physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH), or radio resource configuration (RRC) signaling. The method described in C30. [C33] The method of C22, wherein the response to the bistatic sensing request comprises an indication of a location of each wireless node transmitting the response to the bistatic sensing request, an indication of acceptance or rejection of the bistatic sensing request, or a combination thereof. [C34] communicating a reference signal with the first wireless node; The method of C22, further comprising: [C35] the response to the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both received at the second wireless node from the first wireless node; or the response to the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node. The method described in C34. [C36] the reference signal corresponds to a reference signal for timing calibration; or the reference signal corresponds to a reference signal for positioning; The method described in C34. [C37] The method of C34, wherein the timing of the reference signal is pre-configured or indicated by the bistatic sensing request. [C38] transmitting to the device a measurement report comprising one or more measurements based on said measuring; The method of C22, further comprising: [C39] The method of C38, wherein the one or more measurements comprise one or more Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) measurements between a reference time and a set of Times of Arrival (ToAs) associated with the set of reflections at the second wireless node, at least one distance between the second wireless node and the one or more target objects, at least one Angle of Arrival (AoA) of the one or more target objects, at least one positioning estimate of the one or more target objects, or a combination thereof. [C40] The method of C22, wherein the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered periodically, semi-persistently, or aperiodically. [C41] The bistatic sensing procedure is triggered periodically or semi-persistently, and the bistatic sensing procedure corresponds to one of a plurality of bistatic sensing procedures, the setup for which is coordinated by the communication of the bistatic sensing request and the response to the bistatic sensing request. The method described in C40. [C42] a reference signal for timing, positioning, or both is communicated between the first wireless node and the second wireless node for each of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures; The method of claim 41, wherein the bistatic sensing request and the response to the bistatic sensing request are communicated for an initial bistatic sensing procedure of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures and then omitted for one or more subsequent bistatic sensing procedures of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures. [C43] Memory and at least one transceiver; at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver; a first wireless node, the at least one processor comprising: communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the first wireless node and a second wireless node to coordinate a setup of a bistatic sensing procedure; transmitting a set of sensing signals to one or more target objects according to the bistatic sensing procedure; a first wireless node configured to: [C44] A first wireless node as described in C43, wherein the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node. [C45] A first wireless node as described in C43, wherein the bistatic sensing request is received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node. [C46] the first wireless node corresponds to a user equipment (UE) and the second wireless node corresponds to a base station; or the second wireless node corresponds to a UE and the first wireless node corresponds to a base station; or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to base stations; or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to a UE; The first wireless node according to C43. [C47] Memory and at least one transceiver; at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver; a second wireless node, the at least one processor comprising: communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the second wireless node and the first wireless node to coordinate a setup of a bistatic sensing procedure; measuring a set of reflections of a set of sensing signals transmitted by the first wireless node and reflected from one or more target objects according to the bistatic sensing procedure; a second wireless node configured to: [C48] A second wireless node as described in C47, wherein the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is received at the second wireless node from the first wireless node. [C49] A second wireless node as described in C47, wherein the bistatic sensing request is received at the second wireless node from the first wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node. [C50] the first wireless node corresponds to a user equipment (UE) and the second wireless node corresponds to a base station; or the second wireless node corresponds to a UE and the first wireless node corresponds to a base station; or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to base stations; or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to a UE; A second wireless node as described in C47. [C51] a first wireless node, means for communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the first wireless node and the second wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure; means for transmitting a set of sensing signals to one or more target objects in accordance with said bistatic sensing procedure; a first wireless node comprising: [C52] A first wireless node as described in C51, wherein the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node. [C53] A first wireless node as described in C51, wherein the bistatic sensing request is received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node. [C54] the first wireless node corresponds to a user equipment (UE) and the second wireless node corresponds to a base station; or the second wireless node corresponds to a UE and the first wireless node corresponds to a base station; or The first wireless node of C51, wherein the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to base stations. [C55] a second wireless node, means for communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the second wireless node and the first wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure; means for measuring a set of reflections of a set of sensing signals transmitted by the first wireless node and reflected from one or more target objects in accordance with the bistatic sensing procedure; a second wireless node comprising: [C56] A second wireless node as described in C55, wherein the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is received at the second wireless node from the first wireless node. [C57] A second wireless node as described in C55, wherein the bistatic sensing request is received at the second wireless node from the first wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node. [C58] the first wireless node corresponds to a user equipment (UE) and the second wireless node corresponds to a base station; or the second wireless node corresponds to a UE and the first wireless node corresponds to a base station; or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to base stations; or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to a UE; A second wireless node as described in C55. [C59] 1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions, the set of instructions comprising one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a first wireless node, cause the first wireless node to: communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the first wireless node and the second wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure; transmitting a set of sensing signals to one or more target objects according to the bistatic sensing procedure; A non-transitory computer-readable medium for causing [C60] The non-transitory computer-readable medium of C59, wherein the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node. [C61] The non-transitory computer-readable medium of C59, wherein the bistatic sensing request is received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node. [C62] the first wireless node corresponds to a user equipment (UE) and the second wireless node corresponds to a base station; or the second wireless node corresponds to a UE and the first wireless node corresponds to a base station; or The non-transitory computer-readable medium of C59, wherein the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to base stations. [C63] 1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions, the set of instructions comprising one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a second wireless node, cause the second wireless node to: communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the second wireless node and the first wireless node to coordinate setup of a bistatic sensing procedure; measuring a set of reflections of a set of sensing signals transmitted by the first wireless node and reflected from one or more target objects according to the bistatic sensing procedure; A non-transitory computer-readable medium for causing [C64] The non-transitory computer-readable medium of C63, wherein the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is received at the second wireless node from the first wireless node. [C65] The non-transitory computer-readable medium of C63, wherein the bistatic sensing request is received at the second wireless node from the first wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the second wireless node to the first wireless node. [C66] the first wireless node corresponds to a user equipment (UE) and the second wireless node corresponds to a base station; or the second wireless node corresponds to a UE and the first wireless node corresponds to a base station; or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to base stations; or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to a UE; A non-transitory computer-readable medium as described in C63.

Claims

1. 1. A method of operating a first wireless node, comprising: communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the first wireless node and a second wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure; transmitting a set of sensing signals to one or more target objects according to the bistatic sensing procedure; communicating with the second wireless node a reference signal for timing, positioning, or both; wherein the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered periodically or semi-persistently; the bistatic sensing procedure corresponds to one of a plurality of bistatic sensing procedures, the setup for which is coordinated by the communication of the bistatic sensing request and the response to the bistatic sensing request; a reference signal for timing, positioning, or both is communicated between the first wireless node and the second wireless node for each of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures; A method comprising:

2. the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node, or the bistatic sensing request is received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node, and the response to the bistatic sensing request is transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node; and optionally the bistatic sensing request is beam swept by the first wireless node across multiple transmit beams; and / or The method comprises: sending another bistatic sensing request to a third wireless node to coordinate the setup of another bistatic sensing procedure; The method of claim 1 further comprising:

3. the first wireless node corresponds to a user equipment (UE) and the second wireless node corresponds to a base station; or the second wireless node corresponds to a UE and the first wireless node corresponds to a base station; or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to base stations; or the first wireless node and the second wireless node correspond to a UE; The method of claim 1.

4. the reference signal corresponds to a reference signal for timing calibration; the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node; or the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal for timing calibration are both transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node. The method of claim 1.

5. the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, are communicated over a wireless or wired communications link; and optionally The wireless or wired communication link is pre-configured before the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered or is set up in connection with the bistatic sensing procedure; or the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, are communicated over the wireless communications link; the bistatic sensing request, the response to the bistatic sensing request, or both, are related to downlink control information (DCI), uplink control information (UCI), sidelink control information (SCI), medium access control command element (MAC CE), physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH), or radio resource configuration (RRC) signaling. The method of claim 1.

6. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the response to the bistatic sensing request comprises an indication of a location of each wireless node transmitting the response to the bistatic sensing request, an indication of acceptance or rejection of the bistatic sensing request, or a combination thereof.

7. the response to the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal are both received at the first wireless node from the second wireless node; or the response to the bistatic sensing request and the reference signal are both transmitted by the first wireless node to the second wireless node; the reference signal corresponds to a reference signal for timing calibration; or the reference signal corresponds to a reference signal for positioning; and / or the timing of the reference signal is pre-configured or indicated by the bistatic sensing request; The method of claim 1.

8. receiving, from the second wireless node, a measurement report comprising one or more measurements by the second wireless node of a set of reflections of the set of sensed signals from the one or more target objects; Furthermore, 2. The method of claim 1, wherein optionally, the one or more measurements comprise one or more Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) measurements between a reference time and a set of Times of Arrival (ToAs) associated with the set of reflections at the second wireless node, at least one distance between the second wireless node and the one or more target objects, at least one Angle of Arrival (AoA) of the one or more target objects, at least one positioning estimate of the one or more target objects, or a combination thereof.

9. The bistatic sensing request and the response to the bistatic sensing request are communicated for an initial bistatic sensing procedure of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures, and then omitted for one or more subsequent bistatic sensing procedures of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures. The method of claim 1.

10. 1. A method of operating a second wireless node, comprising: communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the second wireless node and the first wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure; measuring a set of reflections of a set of sensing signals transmitted by the first wireless node and reflected from one or more target objects according to the bistatic sensing procedure; communicating with the first wireless node a reference signal for timing, positioning, or both; wherein the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered periodically or semi-persistently; the bistatic sensing procedure corresponds to one of a plurality of bistatic sensing procedures, the setup for which is coordinated by the communication of the bistatic sensing request and the response to the bistatic sensing request; a reference signal for timing, positioning, or both is communicated between the first wireless node and the second wireless node for each of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures; A method comprising:

11. Memory and at least one transceiver; at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver; a first wireless node comprising: The at least one processor communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the first wireless node and a second wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure; transmitting a set of sensing signals to one or more target objects according to the bistatic sensing procedure; communicating with the second wireless node a reference signal for timing, positioning, or both; wherein the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered periodically or semi-persistently; the bistatic sensing procedure corresponds to one of a plurality of bistatic sensing procedures, the setup for which is coordinated by the communication of the bistatic sensing request and the response to the bistatic sensing request; a reference signal for timing, positioning, or both is communicated between the first wireless node and the second wireless node for each of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures; a first wireless node configured to:

12. The first wireless node of claim 11, further configured to perform the method of any one of claims 2 to 9.

13. Memory and at least one transceiver; at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver; a second wireless node comprising: The at least one processor communicating a bistatic sensing request and a response to the bistatic sensing request between the second wireless node and the first wireless node to coordinate the setup of a bistatic sensing procedure; measuring a set of reflections of a set of sensing signals transmitted by the first wireless node and reflected from one or more target objects according to the bistatic sensing procedure; communicating with the first wireless node a reference signal for timing, positioning, or both; wherein the bistatic sensing procedure is triggered periodically or semi-persistently; the bistatic sensing procedure corresponds to one of a plurality of bistatic sensing procedures, the setup for which is coordinated by the communication of the bistatic sensing request and the response to the bistatic sensing request; a reference signal for timing, positioning, or both is communicated between the first wireless node and the second wireless node for each of the plurality of bistatic sensing procedures; a second wireless node configured to:

14. 10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions, the set of instructions comprising one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a first wireless node, cause the first wireless node to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 9.

15. 11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions, the set of instructions comprising one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a second wireless node, cause the second wireless node to perform the method of claim 10.

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