Methods and network nodes for handling clutter in a communication network

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method performed by a first network node (101a, 105) for handling clutter in a communication network (100). The first network node (101a, 105) provides a request for sensing assistance information to one or more nearby second network nodes (101b, 105). The first network node (101a, 105) obtains a response with the sensing assistance information from the one or more nearby second network nodes (101b, 105). The first network node (101a, 105), based on the sensing assistance information, identifies clutter in the communication network (100). The clutter is caused by objects of non-interest comprising one or more second network nodes (101b, 105) of non-interest amongst the one or more nearby second network nodes (101b, 105). The first network node (101a, 105) handles the identified clutter by performing clutter suppression.

Description

[0001] METHODS AND NETWORK NODES FOR HANDLING CLUTTER IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to a first network node, a method performed by the first network node, a second network node, a method performed by the second network node, a computer program product and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to handling clutter in a communication network.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Integrated sensing and communication

[0006] Recently, the 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) has defined study items to identify use cases and architectural enhancements that will enable Integrated Sensing And Communication (ISAC) in cellular networks. The term ISAC corresponds to the internal term Joint Communication And Sensing (JCAS), used for the same technology.

[0007] Sensing using cellular networks can be performed in a monostatic setting when the transmitter and the receiver sensing antennas are located in the same node, and in a multi-static setting when the transmitter and the receiver sensing antennas are located in different nodes. In fig. 1, different radar settings are depicted that can be deployed using New Radio (NR) base station(s) (BS(s)) 101 , denoted by Next Generation Node B (gNB), and user equipment(s) (UE(s)) 105. The goal is to detect and localize a target object(s) 201 which is / are, in general, a non-connected object, such as a pedestrian, an animal, etc. Target objects 201 can be also connected UEs and in this case sensing is used to improve communication-based positioning of such UEs. Fig. 1 illustrates three sensing modes involving gNB(s) 101 and UE(s) 105. Mode (a) in fig. 1 illustrates a monostatic sensing. Mode (b) in fig. 1 illustrates a bi-static sensing where one base station101 is a receiver and the other base station 101 is a transmitter. Mode (c) in fig. 1 illustrates a bi-static sensing with the UE 105 is a transmitter and the base station 101 is a receiver. In general, the idea of ISAC is to have sensing and communication phases happening at the same time or during different time intervals. Fig. 1 depicts pure sensing scenarios without depicting communication UEs, the majority of which will not participate in sensing but can be requested to send sensing assistance information and where UE and network nodes participate in sensing as sensing receiver / transmitter.

[0008] Radar cross-section

[0009] The Radar Cross-Section (RCS) of an object is the measure of the object's ability to reflect radar signals in the direction of the radar. The radar cross-section measures the ratio of the backscatter power in the direction of the sensing receiver to the power density intercepted by the object. The radar cross-section modeling depends on the target's surface characteristics such as its size, shape and material characteristics as a function of radio frequency, e.g., whether it absorbs or reflects electromagnetic energy.

[0010] In radar systems, the object that needs to be sensed corresponds to a target, that is an object of interest. The object that needs to be sensed may be described as an object that needs to be detected, localized, and eventually whose certain parameters such as speed, material, heart rate, etc. need to be estimated.

[0011] Other objects present in the environment correspond to the objects of non-interest. The objects of interest might have very similar characteristics in their radar crosssections with those of the objects of non-interest. For example, in a vehicular scenario, a given car can be a target but other cars in vicinity, which have similar radar crosssection characteristics, might be considered as objects of non-interest. In this case, these objects of non-interest or communication and / or signals from these objects of non-interest can be viewed as clutter.

[0012] Radar cross-section characteristics of the target as well as of the objects of non-interest significantly impact the scattered signals and hence require appropriate design of the radar processing algorithms for target detection and localization.

[0013] Clutter Radar clutter in classical radar systems is defined as multipath signals coming from unwanted back-scattered signals from permanent or long-period static objects, such as ground, vegetation, sea, or natural objects in the sky, which constitute a nuisance to target detection by the radar. Clutter may be referred to as unwanted echo, unwanted signal etc. Clutter may be caused by objects of non-interest, interfering objects etc.

[0014] In urban scenarios, one of the main sources of land clutter signals comes from the ground echo signals, as well as from echo signals from unwanted objects such as buildings, tunnels, soundproof walls. However, moving objects such as vehicles can be a source of clutter as well, especially in high density traffic scenarios. It is known that clutter originating from motion objects can significantly degrade the inner bounds of the performance of ISAC systems.

[0015] Fig. 2 shows an example of a sensing bi-static scenario with the transmitter sensing node is denoted by TX-s and the receiver sensing node is denoted by RX-s. It illustrates different scatterers, e.g. UE1 , UE2, UE3 105, that result in unwanted clutter signals at the receiver sensing node, e.g. RX-s and a useful target signal, e.g. a cyclist / target, here is a non-connected object. The target 201 is a non-connected object, e.g. a cyclist, that needs to be sensed. The clutter sources come from connected vehicles equipped with UEs 105 in fig. 2. The clutter is composed of signals coming from radar cross-sections of objects of non-interest equipped with a UE 105.

[0016] A large number of different clutter mitigation techniques are available in the research literature. In general, clutter suppression may be performed after or before estimating the sensing parameters. Clutter removal techniques for ISAC systems are different from classical clutter radar removal techniques since the nature of the clutter can be very different from the classical systems. Indeed, the radar cross-sections of the objects of non-interest, which are part of the clutter, can be similar to the radar-cross section of the target. Moreover, radar-cross section characteristics can largely impact the scattered signals so that the detection / localization and other radar processing algorithms need to be designed according to the nature of the different clutter forms. Finally, most of the existing clutter suppression techniques require high computational complexity algorithms, e.g., large-dimensional matrix inversions and eigenvalue decompositions. Therefore, there is a strive to develop further improved technology relating to clutter in a communication network.

[0017] SUMMARY

[0018] An objective is to obviate at least one of the above disadvantages and to provide improved handling of clutter in a communication network.

[0019] According to a first aspect, the object is achieved by a method performed by a first network node for handling clutter in a communication network. The first network node provides a request for sensing assistance information to one or more nearby second network nodes. The one or more nearby second network nodes are located in a predetermined distance from the first network node. The first network node obtains a response with the sensing assistance information from the one or more nearby second network nodes. Based on the sensing assistance information, the first network node identifies clutter in the communication network. The clutter is caused by objects of noninterest comprising one or more second network nodes of non-interest amongst the one or more nearby second network nodes. The first network node handles the identified clutter by performing clutter suppression.

[0020] According to a second aspect, the object is achieved by a method performed by a second network node for handling clutter in a communication network. The second network node obtains a request for sensing assistance information from a first network node. The second network node provides a response with the sensing assistance information to the first network node.

[0021] According to a third aspect, the object is achieved by a first network node for handling clutter in a communication network. The first network node comprises processing circuitry configured to provide a request for sensing assistance information to one or more nearby second network nodes. The one or more nearby second network nodes are located in a predetermined distance from the first network node. The processing circuitry is configured to obtain a response with the sensing assistance information from the one or more nearby second network nodes. The processing circuitry is configured to, based on the sensing assistance information, identify clutter in the communication network. The clutter is caused by objects of non-interest comprising one or more second network nodes of non-interest amongst the one or more nearby second network nodes. The processing circuitry is configured to handle the identified clutter by performing clutter suppression.

[0022] According to a fourth aspect, the object is achieved by a second network node for handling clutter in a communication network. The second network node comprises processing circuitry configured to obtain a request for sensing assistance information from a first network node. The processing circuitry is configured to provide a response with the sensing assistance information to the first network node.

[0023] Thanks to the sensing assistance information, the network node is able to handle the clutter by performing clutter suppression, e.g. by identifying and thereby reducing and / or mitigating the clutter.

[0024] The present disclosure herein affords many advantages, of which a non-exhaustive list of examples follows:

[0025] An advantage of the present disclosure it that it mitigates the effects of clutter coming from unwanted objects present in the environment and allow differentiate targets from clutter occurring due to objects of non-interest equipped with a second network node.

[0026] Another advantage of the present disclosure is that it is applicable to scenarios in which a significant part of clutter energy at the receiver BS, e.g. Rx-s, comes from objects with a connected second network node, such as connected automotive vehicles, e.g. cars, trucks, bicycles. The present disclosure can apply also to automated guided vehicles in a factory scenario or human users carrying a second network node, e.g. a UE. The present disclosure can apply to dense second network node-rich scenarios.

[0027] A further advantage of the present disclosure is that it allows to mitigate clutter impacts due to connected objects present in the propagation environment.

[0028] Another advantage of the present disclosure is that it avoids and / or limits the usage of the computationally expensive signal processing techniques, such as the Space-Time Adaptive Processing (STAP). The present disclosure is not limited to the features and advantages mentioned above. A person skilled in the art will recognize additional features and advantages upon reading the following detailed description.

[0029] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The present disclosure will now be described in more detail by way of example only in the following detailed description by reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0031] Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating examples of different sensing modes.

[0032] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating examples of different scatters that result in clutter.

[0033] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a communications system.

[0034] Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method.

[0035] Fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method.

[0036] Fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method.

[0037] Fig. 7a is a schematic drawing illustrating a second network node.

[0038] Fig. 7b is a schematic drawing illustrating a second network node.

[0039] Fig. 8a is a schematic drawing illustrating a first network node.

[0040] Fig. 8b is a schematic drawing illustrating a first network node.

[0041] Fig. 9 is a schematic drawing illustrating a communication system.

[0042] Fig. 10 is a schematic drawing illustrating a second network node.

[0043] Fig. 11 is a schematic drawing illustrating a first network node.

[0044] Fig. 12 is a schematic drawing illustrating a host.

[0045] Fig. 13 is a schematic drawing illustrating a virtualization environment

[0046] Fig. 14 is a communication diagram of a host.

[0047] The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and the dimensions of certain features may have been exaggerated for the sake of clarity. Emphasis is instead placed upon illustrating the principle.

[0048] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] The present disclosure relates to a clutter mitigation mechanism for ISAC scenarios. The present disclosure considers a scenario where an object of interest, a target, needs to be sensed in an environment where the objects of non-interest, which are equipped with connected second network nodes, contribute significantly to the over-all system’s clutter. One goal is to sense, e.g. detect, localize, estimate some parameters, a target in this scenario. The objects of non-interest may be referred to as non-interest objects, nontarget objects, environmental objects etc.

[0050] The present disclosure allows to mitigate clutter due to connected objects present in the propagation environment and which significantly impacts sensing of a target using ISAC. The present disclosure is based on a characterization of different types of clutter which can be seen and modeled, e.g. utilized, by the network to mitigate its impact of interferes and improve the sensing performance.

[0051] Fig. 3 depicts a non-limiting example of a communication network 100, which may be a wireless communications network, sometimes also referred to as a wireless communications system, a communications system, a cellular radio system, or cellular network, in which the present disclosure may be implemented. The communication network 100 may be a 5G system, 5G network, NR-U or Next Gen system or network. The communication network 100 may alternatively be a younger system or older system than a 5G system, such as e.g. a 2G system, a 3G system, a 4G system, a 6G system a 7G system etc. The communication network 100 may support other technologies such as, for example, Long-Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced / LTE-Advanced Pro, e.g. LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), LTE HalfDuplex Frequency Division Duplex (HD-FDD), LTE operating in an unlicensed band, NB- loT. Thus, although terminology from 5G / NR and LTE may be used in this disclosure to exemplify, this should not be seen as limiting to only the aforementioned systems.

[0052] The communication network 100 comprises one or a plurality of network nodes, whereof a first network node 101a and a second network node 101b are depicted in the nonlimiting example of fig. 3. Any of the first network node 101a, and the second network node 101b may be a radio network node, such as a radio base station, or any other network node with similar features capable of serving a user equipment, such as a wireless device or a machine type communication device, in the communication network 100. The first network node 101a may be an eNB and the second network node 101b may be a gNB. The first network node 101a may be a first eNB, and the second network node 101b may be a second eNB. The first network node 101a may be a first gNB, and the second network node 101b may be a second gNB. The first network node 101a may be a MeNB and the second network node 101b may be a gNB. The first network node 101a may be a first UE and the second network node 101b may be a second UE. The first network node 101a may be a UE and the second network node 101b may be a radio network node such as a base station or any other network node with similar features capable of serving a UE, e.g. an eNB, gNB, MeNB, just to mention some examples. The first network node 101a may be a radio network node such as a base station or any other network node with similar features capable of serving a UE, e.g. an eNB, gNB, MeNB, just to mention some examples, and the second network node 101b may be a UE. Any of the first network node 101a and the second network node 101b may be colocalized, or they may be part of the same network node. The first network node 101a may be referred to as a source node or source network node, whereas the second network node 101b may be referred to as a target node or target network node. When the reference number 101 is used herein without the letters a or b, it refers to a network node in general, i.e. it refers to any of the first network node 101 a or second network node 101b.

[0053] The communication network 100 covers a geographical area which may be divided into cell areas, wherein each cell area may be served by a network node, although, one network node may serve one or several cells. In fig. 3, the communication network 100 comprises a first cell 103a and a second cell 103b. Note that two cells are exemplified in fig. 3 only as an example, and that any n number of cells may be comprised in the communication network 100, where n is any positive integer. A cell is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the network node at a network node site. Each cell is identified by an identity within the local network node area, which is broadcast in the cell. In fig. 3, first network node 101a serves the first cell 103a, and the second network node 101b serves the second cell 103b. Any of the first network node 101a and the second network node 101b may be of different classes, such as, e.g., macro base station (BS), home BS or pico BS, based on transmission power and thereby also cell size. Any of the first network node 101a and the second network node 101b may be directly connected to one or more core networks, which are not depicted in fig. 3 for the sake of simplicity. Any of the first network node 101a and the second network node 101n may be a distributed node, such as a virtual node in the cloud, and it may perform its functions entirely on the cloud, or partially, in collaboration with another network node. The first cell 103a may be referred to as a source cell, whereas the second cell 103b may be referred to as a target cell. When the reference number 103 is used herein without the letters a or b, it refers to a cell in general, i.e. it refers to any of the first cell 103a or second cell 103b.

[0054] One or a plurality of UEs 105 is comprised in the communication network 100. Only one UE 105 is exemplified in fig. 3 for the sake of simplicity. A UE 105 may also be referred to simply as a device. The UE 105, e.g. an LTE UE or a 5G / NR UE, may be a wireless communication device which may also be known as e.g., a wireless device, a mobile terminal, wireless terminal and / or mobile station, a mobile telephone, cellular telephone, or laptop with wireless capability, just to mention some examples. The UE 105 may be a device by which a subscriber may access services offered by an operator’s network and services outside operator’s network to which the operator’s radio access network and core network provide access, e.g. access to the Internet. The UE 105 may be any device, mobile or stationary, enabled to communicate over a radio channel in the communication network 100, for instance but not limited to e.g. UE, mobile phone, smart phone, sensors, meters, vehicles, household appliances, medical appliances, media players, cameras, Machine to Machine (M2M) device, Internet of Things (IOT) device, terminal device, communication device or any type of consumer electronic, for instance but not limited to television, radio, lighting arrangements, tablet computer, laptop or Personal Computer (PC). The UE 105 may be portable, pocket storable, hand held, computer comprised, or vehicle mounted devices, enabled to communicate voice and / or data, via the radio access network, with another entity, such as another UE, a server, a laptop, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or a tablet, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) device, device equipped with a wireless interface, such as a printer or a file storage device, modem, or any other radio network unit capable of communicating over a radio link in the communication network 100. As mentioned above, the first network node 101a may be the UE 105, or the second network node 101b may be the UE 105, or both the first network node 101a and the second network node 101b are UEs.

[0055] The UE 105 is enabled to communicate wirelessly within the communication network

[0056] 100. The communication may be performed e.g. between two UEs 105, between a UE

[0057] 105 and a regular telephone, between the UE 105 and a network node, between network nodes, and / or between the UE 105 and a server via the radio access network and possibly one or more core networks and possibly the internet.

[0058] The first network node 101a may be configured to communicate in the communication network 100 with the UE 105 over a first communication link 108a, e.g., a radio link. The second network node 101b may be configured to communicate in the communication network 100 with the UE 105 over a second communication link 108b, e.g., a radio link. The first network node 101a may be configured to communicate in the communication network 100 with the second network node 101b over a third communication link 108c, e.g., a radio link or a wired link, although communication over more links may be possible. When the reference number 108 is used herein without the letters a, b or c, it refers to a communication link in general, i.e. it refers to any of the first communication link 108a, the second communication link 108b and the third communication link 108c.

[0059] It should be noted that the communication links 108 in the communication network 100 may be of any suitable kind comprising either a wired or wireless link. The link may use any suitable protocol depending on type and level of layer (e.g. as indicated by the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model) as understood by the person skilled in the art.

[0060] Clutter classification

[0061] The nature of clutter may have a significant impact on the performance in the communication network 100 and hence clutter characteristics present in the sensing environment must be taken into consideration while designing sensing algorithms. Clutter may be referred to as unwanted echo, unwanted signal etc. Clutter may be caused by objects of non-interest, interfering objects, non-target objects, environmental objects etc.

[0062] Clutter characteristics in ISAC systems, as opposed to classical radar systems, can be extended to other aspects than only radar-cross section characteristics, which are constant in type in general. Other objects parameters, which might be changing in time, such as speed, vital characteristics, can have significant impact on the sensing performance. Moreover, external conditions as well as network related parameters such as connectivity of a given object may have further impact on sensing performance. Hence, different types of clutter may be categorized which can be seen and modeled, e.g. utilized, by the network to mitigate its impact of interferes or refine the sensing performance. The clutter may be classified as following, which can depend on its physical characteristics or other external characteristics, e.g., use case:

[0063] • Level 1 : Physical characteristics -based categorization such as radar cross section, material, size. The parameters of level 1 are not changing. Level 1 may be referred to as category 1.

[0064] • Level 2: Parameter-based categorization: velocity, vital signs, position, direction, respiration rate, heart rate, pulse rate etc. The parameters are changing or might be changing. Level 2 may be referred to as category 2.

[0065] • Level 3: Ambiance-based categorization: time of the day, weather conditions.

[0066] The parameters of level 3 are changing. Level 3 may be referred to as category 3.

[0067] • Level 4: Connectivity-based categorization: connected, out of coverage, out of date. The parameters of level 4 are changing. Level 4 may be referred to as category 4.

[0068] • Level 5: Use case-based categorization: the same object can be of interest or not depending on the use case. Level 5 may be referred to as category 5.

[0069] Each object of non-interest can be categorized according to one or several levels of categorization. Each category in each level can comprise several sub-categories. For a given object of non-interest, a sub-set of different levels can be applicable. The category ID of the object comprises information on different category levels and is communicated to the network periodically or on request.

[0070] Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method. An advantage of the method is that it mitigates clutter in the communication network 100. The first network node 101a, 105 may be a sensing receiver node, or a Rx network node etc. The method comprises at least one of the following steps, which steps may be performed in any suitable order than described below:

[0071] Step 401 The first network node 101a, 105 sends a request to second network nodes 101b, 105 in its vicinity. The request is to send sensing assistance information. In an example where the first network node 101a, 105b is a base station and the second network nodes 101b, 105 are UEs, then the request may be sent in the downlink (DL) direction from the first network node 101a, 105 to the second network node 101b, 105.

[0072] The second network node(s) 101 b, 105, e.g., TX-s BS, RX-s BS, UE, may send request(s) to nearby second network nodes 101b, to send sensing assistance information, which may include uplink (UL) reference signals or pilots, the second network node’s current position, velocity, direction of movement or other information, such as radar cross section (RCS)-related information, e.g., second network node material-related information.

[0073] The request for assistance information can be sent to the connected second network nodes 101b. For example, a connected second network node 101b, 105 may be a connected UE 105 which may be described as a UE that is connected to the first network node 101a, 105. The connected second network nodes 101b, 105 can relay this request to other unconnected / out-of-coverage second network nodes 101 b, 105 in vicinity, e.g., cellular interface, e.g. Layer 2 (L2) or Layer 3 (L3) PC5 interface, repeater link, or Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) link, or non-cellular interface, e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, tethered link, etc.

[0074] The request may be sent in group cast or multicast to specific second network nodes 101b, 105 belonging to a given group. The second network nodes 101b, 105 belonging to a given group may be classified according to some parameter such a speed / material / size / position ID zone, etc.

[0075] For example, certain mobile second network nodes 101b, 105, e.g. a mobile UE 105, whose speed is >X Km / hr will be configured as part of group Gx, and if the network interested in estimating clutter corresponding to mobile UEs with speed >X Km / hr, then it will send groupcast based request to second network nodes 101b, 105 from group Gx. X may be a positive integer. The second network nodes 101b, 105 may be configured as a group if these second network nodes 101b, 105 indicated special characteristics. These characteristics can be indicated as part of capability information. For example, the second network node 101b, 105 can indicate that it is vehicle-to-everything (V2X) second network node 101b, 105, then it means, this can be associated with car / vehicle-based objects which has big clutter impact.

[0076] The request may be sent in a unicast manner.

[0077] The first network node 101a, 105 requests the second network nodes 101b, 105 in it’s vicinity to transmit pilot signals on specific predetermined resources, e.g. time, frequency, space. This will allow the first network node 101a, 105 to acquire the latest Channel State and Sensing Information (CSSI) from the corresponding second network nodes 101b, 105.

[0078] The vicinity may be determined by a geographical area, an angular range, an indoor delimited space, etc. Vicinity may be referred to as nearby. A second network node 101b, 105 may be nearby when it is located in a predetermined distance from the first network node 101a, 105.

[0079] The request may be sent to a specific set of the second network nodes 101b, 105 which are more likely cause more clutter, e.g., communication signals overlap in time / frequency / space with sensing signals.

[0080] The request may be sent in broadcast, groupcast or unicast Downlink Control Information (DCI). Sensing specific bits can be allocated in DCI. Table 1 below illustrates an example of the request and some bit fields that the request may comprise.

[0081] Table 1 - Request

[0082] The request from the first network node 101a, 105 may comprise information about the position of the second network nodes 101b, 105 that are requested to send their pilot signals. The first network node 101a, 105 may require the second network nodes 101b, 105 to send some other information such as the position, velocity, direction or other information that can be used to mitigate the clutter.

[0083] The request may be sent directly to the second network nodes 101b, 105 or it may be sent via some other node, e.g. a sensing management entity located in the cloud or in the RAN.

[0084] Step 402

[0085] The second network node 101b, 105 sends the requested information to the first network node 101a, 105. If the second network node 101b, 105 is a UE and the first network node 101a, 105 is a base station, then the requested information may be sent in a UL direction from the second network node 101b, 105 to the first network node 101a, 105,

[0086] The connected second network node 101b, 105 sends this requested information to the first network node 101a, 105 that requested this information. However, the transmitted information may be decoded by other first network nodes 1011 , 105 in the vicinity as well.

[0087] The pilot or reference signals sent by the second network nodes 101b, 105 used for communication may overlap in time and / or frequency, and / or space with the sensingspecific pilots signals.

[0088] Instead of pilot or reference signals, the second network nodes 101b, 105 may send data transmissions, which can be exploited as well for obtaining CSSI by the first network node 101a, 105.

[0089] The second network nodes 101b, 105 may send pilots periodically while a sensing service is scheduled. In this case, the step 402 is either ignored or modified to request periodic pilot transmissions, depending on the scenario or use case.

[0090] The second network nodes 101b, 105 may send its position, velocity, direction or some other, if the second network nodes 101b, 105 is in the vicinity or in the angular domain where the passive objects, e.g. that the first network node 101a, 105 tried to detect, are. 403

[0091] The first network node 101a, 105 acquires the information based on the information from the second network nodes 101 b, 105.

[0092] The sensing receiver node, e.g. Rx BS, Rx UE, etc., if it manages to successfully decode the information provided by the second network nodes 101 b, 105, uses this information for channel estimation in order to build CSSI with respect to the connected second network nodes 101 b, 105.

[0093] The CSSI may comprise:

[0094] • Channel State Information (CSI) only, or

[0095] • sensing information only, or

[0096] • both CSI and sensing information

[0097] The content of the CSSI may be dependent on capability and configurations of the second network nodes 101 b, 105.

[0098] The first network node 101 a, 105 may optionally maintain a database, where the identification and current position of potential clutterers and related pieces of information are maintained.

[0099] The first network node 101a, 105 may acquires CSSI based on the pilot signals received from the second network nodes 101 b, 105, e.g. UL pilot signals in the example where the second network node 101b, 105 is a UE 105.

[0100] The first network node 101a, 105 may receive some other information from the second network nodes 101b, 105 such as position, velocity, direction, etc.

[0101] The first network node 101a, 105 receiving the sensing assistance information, e.g. pilots, positions, etc., may be a different node from the first network node 101 a, 105 requesting this information. This can correspond to the bi-static or, more generally, multistatic sensing scenarios, as illustrated for example in fig. 1. 404

[0102] The first network node 101a, 105 uses the information from step 403 to handle the clutter. Handling the clutter may comprise identify and / or mitigate clutter.

[0103] The first network node 101a, 105, e.g. the receiver sensing node, uses the acquired CSSI(s) to accurately identify the type of clutter and its characteristics. The acquired information by the first network node 101a, 105 can be used to identify and classify the objects in the vicinity as unwanted objects contributing to the clutter and sensing targets that need to be detected and localized. Unwanted objects may be referred to as objects of non-interest.

[0104] The clutter can be categorized according to a categorization level, as described earlier.

[0105] Once the clutter is identified and characterized, the first network node 101a, 105, e.g. the receiver sensing node, performs some known clutter suppression technique to mitigate the effects of the clutter on target sensing. The first network node 101a, 105 can maintain a database where it records each second network node 101b, 105, e.g. a second network node ID or signature, and maps it to a suitable clutter pattern. For example, if the first network node 101a, 105 detects a V2X second network node 101b, 105, then based on the following non-limiting features, e.g.,

[0106] • second network node’s service type, or subscription policy, and / or

[0107] • sensing the object / UE, i.e. ISAC, and / or

[0108] • shadowing impact, etc., and / or

[0109] • knowledge about this second network node 101b, 105 from other second network nodes 101b, 105.

[0110] The first network node 101a, 105 defines or identifies or associate with most suitable clutter pattern which is describing the object / second network node 101b, 105 and records in the database which is maintained at first network node level, e.g. gNB level or Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) level or UE level, or jointly by operators, etc. Hence, when a first network node 101a, 105 detects this next time, it does not need to go through a laborious process of identify its clutter type, rather it will first look into databases for this second network node 101b, 105 first, and if no clutter pattern is recorded or present in the database, then it will sense using ISAC mechanism and other indications.

[0111] The first network node(s) 101a, 105 may request(s) all second network nodes 101b, 105 in the vicinity or within an angular region to transmit a pilot on certain predetermined resources in order for the first network node 101a, 105 to build a fresh, possibly rather coarse, CSSI. For example, to remove clutter caused by a connected second network node 101b, 105, the second network node 101b, 105 may transmit a reference signal periodically, while the sensing service is scheduled.

[0112] The second network node 101b, 105 may send its position to its serving first network node 101a, 105 if the second network node 101b, 105 is in the vicinity or in the angular domain where the passive objects are located.

[0113] The second network node 101b, 105, e.g., IIE-A, may request nearby second network nodes 101b, 105, using sidelink communication through the 3GPP PC5 interface, to send their current estimated position and RCS-related information to the requester second network node 101b, 105, e.g. IIE-A. When the first network node 101a, 105 requests second network nodes 101b, 105 to send sensing-related information, the second network node 101b, 105 may send the requested information and, in addition, also information about other second network nodes 101b, 105 and possibly sensed objects as clutter sources in its vicinity.

[0114] The method described above will now be described from the perspective of the first network node 101a, 105. The first network node 101a, 105 may be a receiver node, a sensing receiving node, a sensing base station, a receiver base station, a UE, a receiver UE, a sensing receiving UE, a sensing UE etc. The first network node 101a, 105 is a sensing receiver node where the signal processing and clutter handling is performed. A sensing receiver node may be described as an entity that receives the sensing signal which the sensing service will use in its operation. A second network node 101b, 105 may be a sensing receiver instead of the first network node 101a, 105. A sensing receiver and a sensing transmitter may be comprised in the same entity or in different entities. Fig. 5 is a flowchart describing the present method performed by the first network node 101a, 105 for handling clutter in a communication network 100. The method comprises at least one of the following steps to be performed by the first network node 101a, 105, which steps may be performed in any suitable order than described below:

[0115] Step 500

[0116] The first network node 101a, 105 may sense communication in the communication network 100. Using other words, the first network node 101a, 105 may perform sensing, i.e. it may collect and process sensing data. The sensing data comprises information indicating characteristics of the first network node’s 101a, 105 environment, i.e. the communication network 100. The sensing data may comprise information indicating an object in the environment, i.e. in the communication network 100. Based on a result of the sensing, the first network node 101a, 105 may determine one or more areas within the communication network 100. The one or more areas are areas where sensing assistance information is needed to be able to identify objects of interest.

[0117] The sensing in step 500 may be a previous sensing. The data from the previous sensing may be analyzed, and a result of the previous sensing and analysis of output from the previous sensing may provide an initial indication of the clutter and / or an initial indication of one or more areas within the communication network 100 associated with the clutter.

[0118] During the sensing phase, sensing specific signals are sent and the backscattered signals are analyzed to characterize the environment, including the objects of interest and the clutter. After this step, the first network node 101a, 105 may have an initial idea about the surrounding clutter and may identify problematic areas where some assistance information is needed.

[0119] Step 501 This step corresponds to step 401 in fig. 4. The first network node 101a, 105 provides a request for sensing assistance information to one or more nearby second network nodes 101b, 105. The one or more nearby second network nodes 101b, 105 are located in a predetermined distance from the first network node 101a, 105. Nearby refers to that the second network nodes 101b, 105 are in a predetermined distance from the first network node 101a, 105, e.g. that they are in the vicinity of the first network node 101a, 105. Providing the request may comprise transmitting the request, broadcasting the request etc.

[0120] Sensing assistance information may be described as information that may be used to derive a sensing result.

[0121] The request may be provided to one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 that are connected to the first network node 101a, 105. When a second network node 101b, 105 is connected to the first network node 101a, 105, the second network node 101b, 105 and the first network node 101a, 105 currently are in wireless communication with each other. The request may be provided by sending a group cast or multicast to one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 belonging to a group. The request may be provided by sending it in a unicast manner.

[0122] The group of second network nodes 101b, 105 requested to provide sensing information may be identified based on a sensing phase, e.g. step 500. For example, the first network node 101a, 105 may first perform sensing in all directions and identifies specific areas where some more information is needed to be able to identify / distinguish the object(s) of interest, and after that a request for assistance information is sent towards this specific area.

[0123] The request for sensing assistance information may be provided to one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 in the one or more areas determined in step 500.

[0124] The sensing assistance information may comprise one or more of: map information, area information, UL reference signals or pilots, the second network node’s current position, second network node identity, second network node velocity, second network node direction of movement or other information, such as radar cross section, RCS related information, e.g., second network nodeb material-related information.

[0125] In a sensing setting, as opposed to the communication setting, in a bi-static sensing a given node acts as a sensing transmitter and another node as a sensing receiver node. A bi-static setting is exemplified in mode 2 and 4 in fig. 2. A mode may be the same as a setting. In monostatic sensing, a given node can be simultaneously transmitter and receiver node, which assumes that the node has a full duplex capability. Monostatic sensing is exemplified in mode a in fig. 2. In the present disclosure, the same node as the sensing receiver node should be able to require sending sensing assistance information either directly by itself or through some network node interface, e.g., similar to the Ng interface in NR, so that the sensing transmitter node sends a request during the communication phase.

[0126] The request in step 501 may be sent directly to the second network nodes 101b, 105 or it may be sent via some other node, e.g. a sensing management entity located in the cloud or in the RAN.

[0127] Step 502

[0128] This step corresponds to step 402 in fig. 4. The first network node 101a, 105 obtains a response with the sensing assistance information from the one or more nearby second network nodes 101b, 105. The response may be a response to the request sent in step 501. Obtaining the response may comprise receiving the response.

[0129] Step 503

[0130] The first network node 101a, 105 may decode the sensing assistance information.

[0131] The sensing assistance information obtained in step 502 may be comprised in sensing control information, for example similar to the existing Uplink Control Information (UCI). Hence, there will be probably some information bits about e.g., its position, velocity, direction etc.

[0132] Step 504 The first network node 101a, 105 may perform channel estimation based on the sensing assistance information. The output of the channel estimation comprises CSSI associated with the one or more nearby second network nodes 101b, 105.

[0133] The CSSI may comprise:

[0134] • CSI, or

[0135] • sensing information, or

[0136] • both CSI and sensing information

[0137] The channel estimation may be based on the decoded sensing assistance information from step 503.

[0138] The channel estimation is performed for the communication channel or communication link between the first network node 101a, 105 and the second network node 101b, 105 to which the request in step 501 is provided.

[0139] Step 504 may be performed between steps 503 and 505, or step 504 may be performed after step 508, or step 504 may be performed after step 509.

[0140] Step 505

[0141] Based on the sensing assistance information, the first network node 101a, 105 identifies clutter in the communication network 100. The clutter is caused by objects of noninterest comprising one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 of non-interest amongst the one or more nearby second network nodes 101b, 105.

[0142] Step 505 may comprise the first network node 101a, 105 identifiying the second network nodes 101b, 105 of non-interest comprised in the objects of non-interest that cause the clutter.

[0143] Step 505 may comprise that the first network node 101a, 105 checks a clutter database to determine if the one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 of non-interest are recorded in the clutter database. If the one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 of non-interest are recorded in the clutter database, then the clutter may be identified based on information recorded in the clutter database and no channel estimation is performed. If the one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 of non-interest are not recorded in the clutter database, then the channel estimation in step 504 may be performed in order to identify the clutter based on the CSSI.

[0144] The first network node 101a, 105 may comprise or may access a database comprising information indicating identification of potential clutter and / or a current position of potential clutter and / or information related to potential clutter.

[0145] The identifying of the clutter in the communication network 100 may be further based on a previous sensing and analysis of communication in the communication network 100, e.g. the sensing in step 500.

[0146] The clutter identification step may be based on some prior sensing phase step, e.g. step 500. During the sensing phase, specific sensing signals are sent from the first network nodes 101a, 105 to the second network node 101b, 105 and the first network node 101a, 105 receives backscattered signals. The first network node 101a, 105 analyses the backscattered signals to characterize the environment, i.e. the communication network 100, including the objects of interest and the clutter. After step 500, i.e. before step 505 is performed, the first network node 101a, 105 may have an initial idea about the surrounding clutter and can identify problematic areas where some assistance information is needed.

[0147] Clutter may be described as undesirable returns or backscattering signals received by the network node 101 and generated in response to a signal being redirected from objects of non-interest, i.e. in response to a signal transmitted by the first network node 101a, 105 and redirected from objects of non-interest.

[0148] Clutter may be described as undesirable signals. Clutter may correspond to reflected and / or scattered signals from objects of non-interest, which may be connected and / or non-connected second network nodes 101b, 105 that are present in the propagation environment and received by the first network node 101a, 105. The signals causing the clutter may come from the transmitter sensing node, i.e. the node participating in the ongoing sensing operation as a transmitter node, or from other network nodes transmitting in the vicinity. Step 506

[0149] The first network node 101a, 105 may map the one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 of non-interest with a clutter pattern from multiple candidate clutter patterns.

[0150] Step 507

[0151] The first network node 101a, 105 may store second network node identity of the one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 of non-interest associated with the mapped clutter pattern in a clutter database. The database is comprised in the first network node 101a, 105 or accessible by the first network node 101a, 105.

[0152] Step 508

[0153] The first network node 101a, 105 may classify the identified clutter in a clutter type. The clutter type may be a category or level, for example the list of levels or categories described earlier herein.

[0154] The clutter may be identified based on the CSSI from step 504.

[0155] Step 509

[0156] The first network node 101a, 105 may identify clutter characteristics of the identified clutter.

[0157] Step 508 may be performed before step 509, or step 509 may be performed before step 508.

[0158] Step 510

[0159] The first network node 101a, 105 handles, e.g. at least partly removes and / or mitigates, the identified clutter by performing clutter suppression.

[0160] The Space-Time Adaptive Techniques (STAP) and Moving target indication (MTI) are some examples of clutter suppression methods that are based on spatial and temporal filtering. However, these methods are done in a blind way, without any assistance information. The clutter type and clutter characteristics from steps 508 and 509 may be used when performing the clutter suppression.

[0161] The first network node 101a, 105 removes and / or mitigates as much as possible of the identified clutter. An optimal scenario may comprise removing and / or mitigating all clutter, however the first network node 101a, 105 may instead remove and / or mitigate x% of the clutter, where x is a positive integer.

[0162] Step 511

[0163] The first network node 101a, 105 may determine one or more target objects 301 based on the identified clutter. The one or more target objects 201 do not cause clutter. The one or more target objects 201 are objects of interest to be detected and localized by the first network node 101a, 105.

[0164] The method described above will now be described from the perspective of the second network node 101b, 105. The second network node 101b, 105 may be a connected second network node 101b, 105. The second network node 101b, 105 may be comprised in an object, and the object may be an object of interest or an object of noninterest, i.e. the object may be of interest to the first network node 101a, 105 or noninterest to the first network node 101a, 105. The object may be of interest to the first network node 101a, 105 for example for communication purposes. Fig. 6 is a flowchart describing the present method performed by the second network node 101b, 105 for handling clutter in a communication network 100. The method comprises at least one of the following steps to be performed by the second network node 101b, 105, which steps may be performed in any suitable order than described below:

[0165] Step 601

[0166] The second network node 101b, 105 obtains a request for sensing assistance information from the first network node 101a, 105.

[0167] The request may be obtained directly from the first network nodes 101a, 105 or it may be obtained via some other node, e.g. a sensing management entity located in the cloud or in the RAN. Step 602

[0168] The second network node 101b, 105 may relay the request to one or more other second network nodes 101b, 105 that are unconnected and / or out-of-coverage of the first network node 101a, 105.

[0169] Step 603

[0170] The second network node 101b, 105 may obtain a response with the sensing assistance information from the one or more other second network nodes 101b, 105 that are unconnected and / or out-of-coverage of the first network node 101a, 105.

[0171] Step 604

[0172] The second network node 101b, 105 provides a response with the sensing assistance information to the first network node 101a, 105.

[0173] The details of sensing assistance information are asked by the first network node 101a, 105 in the DCI, as exemplified in Table 1 - Request.

[0174] The sensing assistance information provided to the first network node 101a, 105 may comprises the sensing assistance from the one or more other second network nodes 101b, 105 from step 603.

[0175] The sensing assistance information may comprise one or more of: UL reference signals or pilot signals, the second network node’s current position, second network node identity, second network node velocity, second network node direction of movement or other information, such as radar cross section, RCS related information, e.g., second network node material-related information.

[0176] A computer program product comprises program code for performing, when executed by a processing circuitry, the methods described herein.

[0177] A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform the methods described herein. To perform the method steps shown in fig. 4 and 6 for handling clutter in a communication network 100, the second network node 101b, 105 may comprise an arrangement as shown in fig. 7.

[0178] Fig. 7a and fig. 7b depict two different examples in panels a) and b), respectively, of the arrangement that the second network node 101b, 105 may comprise. The second network node 101b, 105 may comprise the following arrangement depicted in fig 7a.

[0179] The present disclosure related to the second network node 101b, 105 may be implemented through one or more processors, such as a processor 701 in the second network node 101b, 105 depicted in fig. 7a, together with computer program code for performing the functions and actions described herein. A processor, as used herein, may be understood to be a hardware component. The program code mentioned above may also be provided as a computer program product, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing the present disclosure when being loaded into the second network node 101b, 105. One such carrier may be in the form of a CD ROM disc. It is however feasible with other data carriers such as a memory stick. The computer program code may be provided as pure program code on a server and downloaded to the second network node 101b, 105.

[0180] The second network node 101b, 105 may comprise a memory 703 comprising one or more memory units. The memory 1003 is arranged to be used to store obtained information, store data, configurations, schedulings, and applications etc. to perform the methods herein when being executed in the second network node 101b, 105.

[0181] The second network node 101b, 105 may receive information from, e.g. the first network node 101a, 105, through a receiving port 705. The receiving port 1005 may be, for example, connected to one or more antennas in second network node 101b, 105. The second network node 101b, 105 may receive information from another structure in the communication network 100 through the receiving port 705. Since the receiving port 705 may be in communication with the processor 701 , the receiving port 705 may then send the received information to the processor 701. The receiving port 705 may also be configured to receive other information. The processor 701 in the second network node 101b, 105 may be configured to transmit or send information to e.g. network node 101 or another structure in the communication network 100, through a sending port 708, which may be in communication with the processor 701 and the memory 703.

[0182] The second network node 101b, 105 is arranged to, e.g. by means of an obtaining module 710 and / or a processing circuitry, obtain a request for sensing assistance information from a second network node 101a, 105. The obtaining module 710 may also be referred to as an obtaining unit, an obtaining means, an obtaining circuit, means for obtaining etc. The obtaining module 710 may be a processor 701 of the second network node 101b, 105 or comprised in the processor 701 of the second network node 101b, 105.

[0183] The second network node 101b, 105 may be arranged to, e.g. by means of a relaying module 713 and / or a processing circuitry, relay the request to one or more other second network nodes 101b, 105 that are unconnected and / or out-of-coverage of the network node 101. The relaying module 713 may also be referred to as a relaying unit, a relaying means, a relaying circuit, means for relaying etc. The relaying module 713 may be a processor 701 of the second network node 101b, 105 or comprised in the processor 701 of the second network node 101b, 105.

[0184] The second network node 101b, 105 may be arranged to, e.g. by means of the obtaining module 1010, obtain a response with the sensing assistance information from the one or more other second network nodes 101b, 105 that are unconnected and / or out-of- coverage of the first network node 101a, 105.

[0185] The second network node 101b, 105 may be arranged to, e.g. by means of a providing module 715 and / or a processing circuitry, provide a response with the sensing assistance information to the network node 101. The providing module 715 may also be referred to as a providing unit, a providing means, a providing circuit, means for providing etc. The providing module 715 may be a processor 701 of the second network node 101b, 105 or comprised in the processor 701 of the second network node 101b, 105. The sensing assistance information provided to the first network node 101a, 105 may comprises the sensing assistance from the one or more other second network nodes 101b, 105 from step 603.

[0186] The sensing assistance information may comprise one or more of: UL reference signals or pilots, the second network node’s current position, second network node identity, second network node velocity, second network node direction of movement or other information, such as radar cross section, RCS related information, e.g., second network node material-related information.

[0187] The second network node 101b, 105 may comprise the obtaining module 710, the relaying module 713m, the providing module 715, other module(s) 718 etc.

[0188] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the obtaining module 710, the relaying module 713, the providing module 715, other module(s) 718 described above may refer to a combination of analogue and digital circuits, and / or one or more processors configured with software and / or firmware, e.g., stored in memory, that, when executed by the one or more processors such as the processor 1001, perform as described above. One or more of these processors, as well as the other digital hardware, may be comprised in a single Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or several processors and various digital hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a System-on-a-Chip (SoC).

[0189] The different units 710-718 described above may be implemented as one or more applications running on one or more processors such as the processor 701.

[0190] Thus, the methods described herein for the second network node 101b, 105 may be respectively implemented by means of a computer program 720 product, comprising instructions, i.e. , software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processor 701 , cause the at least one processor 701 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the second network node 101b, 105. The computer program 720 product may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 723. The computer-readable storage medium 723, having stored thereon the computer program 720, may comprise instructions which, when executed on at least one processor 701 , cause the at least one processor 701 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the UE 105. The computer-readable storage medium 723 may be a non- transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as a CD ROM disc, or a memory stick. The computer program 720 product may be stored on a carrier containing the computer program 720 just described, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or the first computer-readable storage medium 723, as described above.

[0191] The second network node 101b, 105 may comprise a communication interface configured to facilitate communications between the second network node 101b, 105 and other nodes or devices, e.g., the first network node 101a, 105, or another structure. The interface may comprise a transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio signals over an air interface in accordance with a suitable standard.

[0192] The second network node 101b, 105 may comprise the following arrangement depicted in fig. 7b. The second network node 101b, 105 may comprise a processing circuitry 725, e.g., one or more processors such as the processor 701 , in the second network node 101b, 105 and the memory 703. The second network node 101b, 105 may also comprise a radio circuitry 728, which may comprise e.g., the receiving port 705 and the sending port 708. The processing circuitry 725 may be configured to, or operable to, perform the method actions according to fig. 4-fig.6, in a similar manner as that described in relation to fig. 7a. The radio circuitry 728 may be configured to set up and maintain at least a wireless connection with the second network node 101b, 105. Circuitry may be understood herein as a hardware component.

[0193] Hence, the present disclosure also relates to the second network node 101b, 105 operative to operate in the communication network 100. The second network node 101b, 105 may comprise the processing circuitry 725 and the memory 703. The memory 703 comprises instructions executable by said processing circuitry 701. The second network node 101b, 105 is operative to perform the actions described herein in relation to the second network node 101b, 105, e.g., in fig.4-6. Figs. 8a and fig. 8b depict two different examples in panels a) and b), respectively, of the arrangement that the first network node 101a, 105 may comprise. The first network node 101a, 105 may comprise the following arrangement depicted in fig. 8a.

[0194] The present disclosure associated with the first network node 101a, 105 may be implemented through one or more processors, such as a processor 801 in the first network node 101a, 105 depicted in fig. 8a, together with computer program code for performing the functions and actions described herein. A processor, as used herein, may be understood to be a hardware component. The program code mentioned above may also be provided as a computer program product, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing the present disclosure when being loaded into the first network node 101a, 105. One such carrier may be in the form of a CD ROM disc. It is however feasible with other data carriers such as a memory stick. The computer program code may be provided as pure program code on a server and downloaded to the first network node 101a, 105.

[0195] The first network node 101a, 105 may comprise a memory 803 comprising one or more memory units. The memory 803 is arranged to be used to store obtained information, store data, configurations, schedulings, and applications etc. to perform the methods herein when being executed in the first network node 101a, 105.

[0196] The first network node 101a, 105 may receive information from, e.g., the second network node 101b, 105, through a receiving port 804. The receiving port 804 may be, for example, connected to one or more antennas in network node 101. The first network node 101a, 105 may receive information from another structure in the communication network 100 through the receiving port 804. Since the receiving port 804 may be in communication with the processor 801 , the receiving port 804 may then send the received information to the processor 801. The receiving port 804 may also be configured to receive other information.

[0197] The processor 801 in the first network node 101a, 105 may be configured to transmit or send information to e.g., the second network node 101b, 105, or another structure in the communication network 100, through a sending port 805, which may be in communication with the processor 801 , and the memory 803. The first network node 101a, 105 may be arranged to, e.g. by means of a sensing module 808 and / or a processing circuitry, sense communication in the communication network 100. Based on a result of the sensing, the first network node 101a, 105 may determine one or more areas within the communication network 100. The one or more areas are areas where sensing assistance information is needed to be able to identify objects of interest. The sensing module 808 may also be referred to as a sensing unit, a sensing means, a sensing circuit, means for sensing etc. The sensing module 808 may be a processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105 or comprised in the processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105.

[0198] The sensing may be a previous sensing. The data from the previous sensing may be analyzed, and a result of the previous sensing and analysis of output from the previous sensing may provide an initial indication of the clutter and / or an initial indication of one or more areas within the communication network 100 associated with the clutter.

[0199] The first network node 101a, 105 is arranged to, e.g. by means a providing module 810, provide a request for sensing assistance information to one or more nearby second network nodes 101b, 105. The one or more nearby second network nodes 101b, 105 are located in a predetermined distance from the first network node 101a, 105. Providing the request may comprise transmitting the request, broadcasting the request etc. The providing module 810 may also be referred to as a providing unit, a providing means, a providing circuit, means for providing etc. The providing module 810 may be a processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105 or comprised in the processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105.

[0200] The request may be provided to one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 that are connected to the first network node 101a, 105. When a second network node 101b, 105 is connected to the first network node 101a, 105, the second network node 101b, 105 and the first network node 101a, 105 currently are in wireless communication with each other. The request may be provided by sending a group cast or multicast to one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 belonging to a group. The request may be provided by sending it in a unicast manner. The request for sensing assistance information may be provided to one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 in the one or more areas previously determined.

[0201] The sensing assistance information may comprise one or more of: UL reference signals or pilots, the second network node’s current position, second network node identity, second network node velocity, second network node direction of movement or other information, such as radar cross section, RCS related information, e.g., second network node material-related information.

[0202] The first network node 101a, 105 is arranged to, e.g. by means of an obtaining module 813 and / or a processing circuitry, obtain a response with the sensing assistance information from the one or more nearby second network nodes 101b, 105. The response may be a response to the request sent in step 501. Obtaining the response may comprise receiving the response. The obtaining module 813 may also be referred to as an obtaining unit, an obtaining means, an obtaining circuit, means for obtaining etc. The obtaining module 813 may be a processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105 or comprised in the processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105.

[0203] The first network node 101a, 105 may be arranged to, e.g. by means of a decoding module 815 and / or a processing circuitry, decode the sensing assistance information. The decoding module 815 may also be referred to as a decoding unit, a decoding means, a decoding circuit, means for decoding etc. The decoding module 815 may be a processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105 or comprised in the processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105.

[0204] The first network node 101a, 105 may be arranged to, e.g. by means of a performing module 818 and / or a processing circuitry, perform channel estimation based on the sensing assistance information. An output of the channel estimation comprises CSSI, associated with the one or more nearby second network nodes 101b, 105. The performing module 818 may also be referred to as a performing unit, a performing means, a performing circuit, means for performing etc. The performing module 818 may be a processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105 or comprised in the processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105. The CSSI may comprise:

[0205] • CSI, or

[0206] • sensing information, or

[0207] • both CSI and sensing information

[0208] The channel estimation may be based on the decoded sensing assistance information.

[0209] The first network node 101a, 105 is arranged to, e.g. by means of an identifying module 820 and / or a processing module, based on the sensing assistance information, identify clutter in the communication network 100. The clutter is caused by objects of non-interest comprising one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 of non-interest amongst the one or more nearby second network nodes 101b, 105. The identifying module 820 may also be referred to as an identifying unit, an identifying means, an identifying circuit, means for identifying etc. The identifying module 820 may be a processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105 or comprised in the processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105.

[0210] The first network node 101a, 105 may be arranged to, e.g. by means of an identifying module 820 and / or a processing module, identify the second network nodes 101b, 105 of non-interest comprised in the objects of non-interest that cause the clutter.

[0211] The first network node 101a, 105 may be arranged to, e.g. by means of an identifying module 820 and / or a processing module, check a clutter database to determine if the one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 of non-interest are recorded in the clutter database. If the one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 of non-interest are recorded in the clutter database, then the clutter may be identified based on information recorded in the clutter database and no channel estimation is performed. If the one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 of non-interest are not recorded in the clutter database, then the channel estimation may be performed in order to identify the clutter based on the CSSI.

[0212] The first network node 101a, 105 may comprise or may access a database comprising information indicating identification of potential clutter and / or a current position of potential clutter and / or information related to potential clutter. The identifying of the clutter in the communication network 100 may be further based on a previous sensing and analysis of communication in the communication network 100, e.g. the sensing that has been previously performed.

[0213] The first network node 101a, 105 may be arranged to, e.g. by means of a mapping module 823 and / or a processing module, map the one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 of non-interest with a clutter pattern from multiple candidate clutter patterns. The mapping module 823 may also be referred to as a mapping unit, a mapping means, a mapping circuit, means for mapping etc. The mapping module 823 may be a processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105 or comprised in the processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105.

[0214] The first network node 101a, 105 may be arranged to, e.g. by means of a storing module 825 and / or a processing module, store second network node identity of the one or more second network nodes 101b, 105 of non-interest associated with the mapped clutter pattern in a clutter database. The database is comprised in the first network node 101a, 105 or accessible by the first network node 101a, 105. The storing module 825 may also be referred to as a storing unit, a storing means, a storing circuit, means for storing etc. The storing module 825 may be a processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105 or comprised in the processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105.

[0215] The first network node 101a, 105 may be arranged to, e.g. by means of a classifying module 828 and / or a processing module, classify the identified clutter in a clutter type. The clutter type may be a category or level, for example the list of levels or categories described earlier herein. The classifying module 828 may also be referred to as a classifying unit, a classifying means, a classifying circuit, means for classifying etc. The classifying module 828 may be a processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105 or comprised in the processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105.

[0216] The clutter may be identified based on the CSSI from step 504.

[0217] The first network node 101a, 105 may be arranged to, e.g. by means of the identifying module 820 and / or a processing module, identify clutter characteristics of the identified clutter. The first network node 101a, 105 is arranged to, e.g. by means of a handling module 830 and / or a processing module handles, e.g. at least partly remove or mitigate, the identified clutter by performing clutter suppression. The handling module 830 may also be referred to as a handling unit, a handling means, a handling circuit, means for handling etc. The handling module 830 may be a processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105 or comprised in the processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105.

[0218] The clutter type and clutter characteristics may be used when performing the clutter suppression.

[0219] The first network node 101a, 105 may be arranged to, e.g. by means of a determining module 833 and / or a processing module, determine one or more target objects 301 based on the identified clutter. The one or more target objects 201 do not cause clutter. The one or more target objects 201 are objects of interest to be detected and localized by the first network node 101a, 105. The determining module 833 may also be referred to as a determining unit, a determining means, a determining circuit, means for determining etc. The determining module 833 may be a processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105 or comprised in the processor 801 of the first network node 101a, 105.

[0220] The first network node 101a, 105 may comprise a sensing module 808, the providing module 810, the obtaining module 813, the decoding module 815, the performing module 818, the identifying module 820, the mapping module 823, the storing module 825, the classifying module 828, the handling module 830, the determining module 822, other module(s) 835 etc.

[0221] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the sensing module 808, the providing module 810, the obtaining module 813, the decoding module 815, the performing module 818, the identifying module 820, the mapping module 823, the storing module 825, the classifying module 828, the handling module 830, the determining module 822, other module(s) 835 etc. described above may refer to a combination of analog and digital circuits, and / or one or more processors configured with software and / or firmware, e.g., stored in memory, that, when executed by the one or more processors such as the processor 801 , perform as described above. One or more of these processors, as well as the other digital hardware, may be comprised in a single ASIC, or several processors and various digital hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a SoC.

[0222] Also, the different units 808-835 described above may be implemented as one or more applications running on one or more processors such as the processor 801.

[0223] Thus, the methods described herein for the first network node 101a, 105 may be respectively implemented by means of a computer program 840 product, comprising instructions, i.e. , software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processor 801 , cause the at least one processor 801 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the first network node 101a, 105. The computer program 840 product may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 843. The computer- readable storage medium 843, having stored thereon the computer program 840, may comprise instructions which, when executed on at least one processor 801 , cause the at least one processor 801 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the network node 101. The computer-readable storage medium 843 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as a CD ROM disc, or a memory stick. The computer program 840 product may be stored on a carrier containing the computer program 840 just described, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or the second computer-readable storage medium 843, as described above.

[0224] The first network node 101a, 105 may comprise a communication interface configured to facilitate communications between the first network node 101a, 105 and other nodes or devices, e.g., the second network node 101b, 105, or another structure. The interface may, for example, comprise a transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio signals over an air interface in accordance with a suitable standard.

[0225] The first network node 101a, 105 may comprise the following arrangement depicted in fig.200b. The first network node 101a, 105 may comprise a processing circuitry 845, e.g., one or more processors such as the processor 801 , in the first network node 101a, 105 and the memory 803. The first network node 101a, 105 may also comprise a radio circuitry 848, which may comprise e.g., the receiving port 804 and the sending port 805. The processing circuitry 845 may be configured to, or operable to, perform the method actions according to fig. 4-6 in a similar manner as that described in relation to fig. 8a. The radio circuitry 843 may be configured to set up and maintain at least a wireless connection with the first network node 101a, 105. Circuitry may be understood herein as a hardware component.

[0226] The first network node 101a, 105 may be operative to operate in the communication network 100. The first network node 101a, 105 may comprise the processing circuitry 840 and the memory 803. The memory 803 comprises instructions executable by the processing circuitry 845. The first network node 101a, 105 is operative to perform the actions described herein in relation to the network node 101, e.g., in figs. 4-6.

[0227] Fig. 9 shows an example of a communication system 900 in accordance with some embodiments. The communication system 900 may be the same as the communication network 100 illustrated in fig. 3, or the communication system 900 may be comprised in the communication network 100, or the communication network 100 may be comprised in the communication system 900

[0228] In the example, the communication system 900 includes a telecommunication network 902 that includes an access network 904, such as a radio access network (RAN), and a core network 906, which includes one or more core network nodes 908. The access network 904 includes one or more access network nodes, such as network nodes 910a and 910b (one or more of which may be generally referred to as network nodes 910), or any other similar 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) access nodes or non-3GPP access points. Moreover, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, a network node is not necessarily limited to an implementation in which a radio portion and a baseband portion are supplied and integrated by a single vendor. Thus, it will be understood that network nodes include disaggregated implementations or portions thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the telecommunication network 902 includes one or more Open-RAN (ORAN) network nodes. An ORAN network node is a node in the telecommunication network 902 that supports an ORAN specification (e.g., a specification published by the O-RAN Alliance, or any similar organization) and may operate alone or together with other nodes to implement one or more functionalities of any node in the telecommunication network 902, including one or more network nodes

[0229] 910 and / or core network nodes 908.

[0230] Examples of an ORAN network node include an open radio unit (0-Rll), an open distributed unit (0-Dll), an open central unit (O-CU), including an O-CU control plane (O- CLI-CP) or an O-CU user plane (O-CU-UP), a RAN intelligent controller (near-real time or non-real time) hosting software or software plug-ins, such as a near-real time control application (e.g., xApp) or a non-real time control application (e.g., rApp), or any combination thereof (the adjective “open” designating support of an ORAN specification). The network node may support a specification by, for example, supporting an interface defined by the ORAN specification, such as an A1, F1 , W1 , E1 , E2, X2, Xn interface, an open fronthaul user plane interface, or an open fronthaul management plane interface. Moreover, an ORAN access node may be a logical node in a physical node. Furthermore, an ORAN network node may be implemented in a virtualization environment (described further below) in which one or more network functions are virtualized. For example, the virtualization environment may include an O-Cloud computing platform orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an O-2 interface defined by the O-RAN Alliance or comparable technologies. The network nodes 910 facilitate direct or indirect connection of user equipment (UE), such as by connecting UEs 912a, 912b, 912c, and 912d (one or more of which may be generally referred to as UEs 912) to the core network 906 over one or more wireless connections.

[0231] Example wireless communications over a wireless connection include transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and / or other types of signals suitable for conveying information without the use of wires, cables, or other material conductors. Moreover, in different embodiments, the communication system 900 may include any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, UEs, and / or any other components or systems that may facilitate or participate in the communication of data and / or signals whether via wired or wireless connections. The communication system 900 may include and / or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, radio network, and / or other similar type of system. The UEs 912 may be any of a wide variety of communication devices, including wireless devices arranged, configured, and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with the network nodes 910 and other communication devices. Similarly, the network nodes 910 are arranged, capable, configured, and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with the UEs 912 and / or with other network nodes or equipment in the telecommunication network 902 to enable and / or provide network access, such as wireless network access, and / or to perform other functions, such as administration in the telecommunication network 902.

[0232] In the depicted example, the core network 906 connects the network nodes 910 to one or more hosts, such as host 916. These connections may be direct or indirect via one or more intermediary networks or devices. In other examples, network nodes may be directly coupled to hosts. The core network 906 includes one more core network nodes (e.g., core network node 908) that are structured with hardware and software components. Features of these components may be substantially similar to those described with respect to the UEs, network nodes, and / or hosts, such that the descriptions thereof are generally applicable to the corresponding components of the core network node 908. Example core network nodes include functions of one or more of a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Mobility Management Entity (MME), Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Subscription Identifier Deconcealing function (SIDF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP), Network Exposure Function (NEF), and / or a User Plane Function (UPF).

[0233] The host 916 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider other than an operator or provider of the access network 904 and / or the telecommunication network 902, and may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The host 916 may host a variety of applications to provide one or more service.

[0234] Examples of such applications include live and pre-recorded audio / video content, data collection services such as retrieving and compiling data on various ambient conditions detected by a plurality of UEs, analytics functionality, social media, functions for controlling or otherwise interacting with remote devices, functions for an alarm and surveillance center, or any other such function performed by a server. As a whole, the communication system 900 of Figure 9 enables connectivity between the UEs, network nodes, and hosts. In that sense, the communication system may be configured to operate according to predefined rules or procedures, such as specific standards that include, but are not limited to: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM); Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); Long Term Evolution (LTE), and / or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G standards, or any applicable future generation standard (e.g., 6G); wireless local area network (WLAN) standards, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards (WiFi); and / or any other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave, Near Field Communication (NFC) ZigBee, LiFi, and / or any low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) standards such as LoRa and Sigfox.

[0235] In some examples, the telecommunication network 902 is a cellular network that implements 3GPP standardized features. Accordingly, the telecommunications network 902 may support network slicing to provide different logical networks to different devices that are connected to the telecommunication network 902. For example, the telecommunications network 902 may provide Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) services to some UEs, while providing Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services to other UEs, and / or Massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC) / Massive loT services to yet further UEs.

[0236] In some examples, the UEs 912 are configured to transmit and / or receive information without direct human interaction. For instance, a UE may be designed to transmit information to the access network 904 on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the access network 904. Additionally, a UE may be configured for operating in single- or multi-RAT or multistandard mode. For example, a UE may operate with any one or combination of Wi-Fi, NR (New Radio) and LTE, i.e. being configured for multi-radio dual connectivity (MR- DC), such as E-UTRAN (Evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) New Radio - Dual Connectivity (EN-DC).

[0237] In the example, the hub 914 communicates with the access network 904 to facilitate indirect communication between one or more UEs (e.g., UE 912c and / or 912d) and network nodes (e.g., network node 910b). In some examples, the hub 914 may be a controller, router, content source and analytics, or any of the other communication devices described herein regarding UEs. For example, the hub 914 may be a broadband router enabling access to the core network 906 for the UEs. As another example, the hub 914 may be a controller that sends commands or instructions to one or more actuators in the UEs. Commands or instructions may be received from the UEs, network nodes 910, or by executable code, script, process, or other instructions in the hub 914. As another example, the hub 914 may be a data collector that acts as temporary storage for UE data and, in some embodiments, may perform analysis or other processing of the data. As another example, the hub 914 may be a content source. For example, for a UE that is a VR headset, display, loudspeaker or other media delivery device, the hub 914 may retrieve VR assets, video, audio, or other media or data related to sensory information via a network node, which the hub 914 then provides to the UE either directly, after performing local processing, and / or after adding additional local content. In still another example, the hub 914 acts as a proxy server or orchestrator for the UEs, in particular if one or more of the UEs are low energy loT devices.

[0238] The hub 914 may have a constant / persistent or intermittent connection to the network node 910b. The hub 914 may also allow for a different communication scheme and / or schedule between the hub 914 and UEs (e.g., UE 912c and / or 912d), and between the hub 914 and the core network 906. In other examples, the hub 914 is connected to the core network 906 and / or one or more UEs via a wired connection. Moreover, the hub 914 may be configured to connect to an M2M service provider over the access network 904 and / or to another UE over a direct connection. In some scenarios, UEs may establish a wireless connection with the network nodes 910 while still connected via the hub 914 via a wired or wireless connection. In some embodiments, the hub 914 may be a dedicated hub - that is, a hub whose primary function is to route communications to / from the UEs from / to the network node 910b. In other embodiments, the hub 914 may be a non-dedicated hub - that is, a device which is capable of operating to route communications between the UEs and network node 910b, but which is additionally capable of operating as a communication start and / or end point for certain data channels. Fig. 10 shows an example of the second network node 101b, 105, in accordance with some embodiments. The second network node 101b, 105 is exemplified with a UE 1000. As used herein, a UE refers to a device capable, configured, arranged and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and / or other UEs. Examples of a UE include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, mobile phone, cell phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phone, wireless local loop phone, desktop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless cameras, gaming console or device, music storage device, playback appliance, wearable terminal device, wireless endpoint, mobile station, tablet, laptop, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), smart device, wireless customer-premise equipment (CPE), vehicle, vehicle-mounted or vehicle embedded / integrated wireless device, etc. Other examples include any UE identified by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including a narrow band internet of things (NB-loT) UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and / or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE.

[0239] A UE may support device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication, Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), or vehicle-to-everything (V2X). In other examples, a UE may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and / or operates the relevant device. Instead, a UE may represent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which may not, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific human user (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, a UE may represent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, an end user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit of a user (e.g., a smart power meter).

[0240] The UE 1000 includes processing circuitry 1002 that is operatively coupled via a bus 1004 to an input / output interface 1006, a power source 1008, a memory 1010, a communication interface 1012, and / or any other component, or any combination thereof. Certain UEs may utilize all or a subset of the components shown in Figure 10. The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE to another UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc. The processing circuitry 1002 is configured to process instructions and data and may be configured to implement any sequential state machine operative to execute instructions stored as machine-readable computer programs in the memory 1010. The processing circuitry 1002 may be implemented as one or more hardware-implemented state machines (e.g., in discrete logic, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc.); programmable logic together with appropriate firmware; one or more stored computer programs, general-purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or digital signal processor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combination of the above. For example, the processing circuitry 1002 may include multiple central processing units (CPUs).

[0241] In the example, the input / output interface 1006 may be configured to provide an interface or interfaces to an input device, output device, or one or more input and / or output devices. Examples of an output device include a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another output device, or any combination thereof. An input device may allow a user to capture information into the UE 1000. Examples of an input device include a touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smartcard, and the like. The presence-sensitive display may include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. A sensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, a biometric sensor, etc., or any combination thereof. An output device may use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port may be used to provide an input device and an output device.

[0242] In some embodiments, the power source 1008 is structured as a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic device, or power cell, may be used. The power source 1008 may further include power circuitry for delivering power from the power source 1008 itself, and / or an external power source, to the various parts of the UE 1000 via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Delivering power may be, for example, for charging of the power source 1008. Power circuitry may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to the power from the power source 1008 to make the power suitable for the respective components of the UE 1000 to which power is supplied.

[0243] The memory 1010 may be or be configured to include memory such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, flash drives, and so forth. In one example, the memory 1010 includes one or more application programs 1014, such as an operating system, web browser application, a widget, gadget engine, or other application, and corresponding data 1016. The memory 1010 may store, for use by the UE 1000, any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

[0244] The memory 1010 may be configured to include a number of physical drive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc (HD- DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray optical disc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), external micro-DIMM SDRAM, smartcard memory such as tamper resistant module in the form of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) including one or more subscriber identity modules (SIMs), such as a USIM and / or ISIM, other memory, or any combination thereof. The UICC may for example be an embedded UICC (eUlCC), integrated UICC (iUICC) or a removable UICC commonly known as ‘SIM card.’ The memory 1010 may allow the UE 1000 to access instructions, application programs and the like, stored on transitory or non- transitory memory media, to off-load data, or to upload data. An article of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system may be tangibly embodied as or in the memory 1010, which may be or comprise a device-readable storage medium.

[0245] The processing circuitry 1002 may be configured to communicate with an access network or other network using the communication interface 1012. The communication interface 1012 may comprise one or more communication subsystems and may include or be communicatively coupled to an antenna 1022. The communication interface 1012 may include one or more transceivers used to communicate, such as by communicating with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication (e.g., another UE or a network node in an access network). Each transceiver may include a transmitter 1018 and / or a receiver 1020 appropriate to provide network communications (e.g., optical, electrical, frequency allocations, and so forth). Moreover, the transmitter 1018 and receiver 1020 may be coupled to one or more antennas (e.g., antenna 1022) and may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively be implemented separately.

[0246] In the illustrated embodiment, communication functions of the communication interface 1012 may include cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication, LPWAN communication, data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short-range communications such as Bluetooth, near-field communication, locationbased communication such as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine a location, another like communication function, or any combination thereof. Communications may be implemented in according to one or more communication protocols and / or standards, such as IEEE 802.11 , Code Division Multiplexing Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), GSM, LTE, New Radio (NR), UMTS, WiMax, Ethernet, transmission control protocol / internet protocol (TCP / IP), synchronous optical networking (SONET), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), QUIC, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and so forth.

[0247] Regardless of the type of sensor, a UE may provide an output of data captured by its sensors, through its communication interface 1012, via a wireless connection to a network node. Data captured by sensors of a UE can be communicated through a wireless connection to a network node via another UE. The output may be periodic (e.g., once every 15 minutes if it reports the sensed temperature), random (e.g., to even out the load from reporting from several sensors), in response to a triggering event (e.g., when moisture is detected an alert is sent), in response to a request (e.g., a user initiated request), or a continuous stream (e.g., a live video feed of a patient).

[0248] As another example, a UE comprises an actuator, a motor, or a switch, related to a communication interface configured to receive wireless input from a network node via a wireless connection. In response to the received wireless input the states of the actuator, the motor, or the switch may change. For example, the UE may comprise a motor that adjusts the control surfaces or rotors of a drone in flight according to the received input or to a robotic arm performing a medical procedure according to the received input.

[0249] A UE, when in the form of an Internet of Things (loT) device, may be a device for use in one or more application domains, these domains comprising, but not limited to, city wearable technology, extended industrial application and healthcare. Non-limiting examples of such an loT device are a device which is or which is embedded in: a connected refrigerator or freezer, a TV, a connected lighting device, an electricity meter, a robot vacuum cleaner, a voice controlled smart speaker, a home security camera, a motion detector, a thermostat, a smoke detector, a door / window sensor, a flood / moisture sensor, an electrical door lock, a connected doorbell, an air conditioning system like a heat pump, an autonomous vehicle, a surveillance system, a weather monitoring device, a vehicle parking monitoring device, an electric vehicle charging station, a smartwatch, a fitness tracker, a head-mounted display for Augmented Reality (AR) or Virtual Reality (VR), a wearable for tactile augmentation or sensory enhancement, a water sprinkler, an animal- or item-tracking device, a sensor for monitoring a plant or animal, an industrial robot, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and any kind of medical device, like a heart rate monitor or a remote controlled surgical robot. A UE in the form of an loT device comprises circuitry and / or software in dependence of the intended application of the loT device in addition to other components as described in relation to the UE 1000 shown in fig. 10.

[0250] As yet another specific example, in an loT scenario, a UE may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and / or measurements, and transmits the results of such monitoring and / or measurements to another UE and / or a network node. The UE may in this case be an M2M device, which may in a 3GPP context be referred to as an MTC device. As one particular example, the UE may implement the 3GPP NB-loT standard. In other scenarios, a UE may represent a vehicle, such as a car, a bus, a truck, a ship and an airplane, or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and / or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation.

[0251] In practice, any number of UEs may be used together with respect to a single use case. For example, a first UE might be or be integrated in a drone and provide the drone’s speed information (obtained through a speed sensor) to a second UE that is a remote controller operating the drone. When the user makes changes from the remote controller, the first UE may adjust the throttle on the drone (e.g. by controlling an actuator) to increase or decrease the drone’s speed. The first and / or the second UE can also include more than one of the functionalities described above. For example, a UE might comprise the sensor and the actuator, and handle communication of data for both the speed sensor and the actuators.

[0252] Fig. 11 shows a first network node 101a, 105 in accordance with some embodiments. The first network node 101a, 105 is exemplified with a network node 1100. As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured, arranged and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with a UE and / or with other network nodes or equipment, in a telecommunication network. Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), base stations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)), O-RAN nodes or components of an O-RAN node (e.g., O-RU, O-DU, O-CU).

[0253] Base stations may be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, their transmit power level) and so, depending on the provided amount of coverage, may be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations. A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay. A network node may also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralized digital units, distributed units (e.g., in an O-RAN access node) and / or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of a distributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS).

[0254] Other examples of network nodes include multiple transmission point (multi-TRP) 5G access nodes, multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes, multi- cell / multicast coordination entities (MCEs), Operation and Maintenance (O&M) nodes, Operations Support System (OSS) nodes, Self-Organizing Network (SON) nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., Evolved Serving Mobile Location Centers (E-SMLCs)), and / or Minimization of Drive Tests (MDTs).

[0255] The network node 1100 includes a processing circuitry 1102, a memory 1104, a communication interface 1106, and a power source 1108. The network node 1100 may be composed of multiple physically separate components (e.g., a NodeB component and a RNC component, or a BTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their own respective components. In certain scenarios in which the network node 1100 comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components), one or more of the separate components may be shared among several network nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeBs. In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in some instances be considered a single separate network node. In some embodiments, the network node 1100 may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some components may be duplicated (e.g., separate memory 1104 for different RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., a same antenna 1110 may be shared by different RATs). The network node 1100 may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node 1100, for example GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, Zigbee, Z-wave, LoRaWAN, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or Bluetooth wireless technologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chip or set of chips and other components within network node 1100.

[0256] The processing circuitry 1102 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software and / or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other network node 1100 components, such as the memory 1104, to provide network node 1100 functionality.

[0257] In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 1102 includes a system on a chip (SOC). In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 1102 includes one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 1112 and baseband processing circuitry 1114. In some embodiments, the radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 1112 and the baseband processing circuitry 1114 may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 1112 and baseband processing circuitry 1114 may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units.

[0258] The memory 1104 may comprise any form of volatile or non-volatile computer-readable memory including, without limitation, persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), readonly memory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removable storage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and / or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device-readable and / or computerexecutable memory devices that store information, data, and / or instructions that may be used by the processing circuitry 1102. The memory 1104 may store any suitable instructions, data, or information, including a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, and / or other instructions capable of being executed by the processing circuitry 1102 and utilized by the network node 1100. The memory 1104 may be used to store any calculations made by the processing circuitry 1102 and / or any data received via the communication interface 1106. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 1102 and memory 1104 is integrated.

[0259] The communication interface 1106 is used in wired or wireless communication of signaling and / or data between a network node, access network, and / or UE. As illustrated, the communication interface 1106 comprises port(s) / terminal(s) 1116 to send and receive data, for example to and from a network over a wired connection. The communication interface 1106 also includes radio front-end circuitry 1118 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, the antenna 1110. Radio front-end circuitry 1118 comprises filters 1120 and amplifiers 1122. The radio front-end circuitry 1118 may be connected to an antenna 1110 and processing circuitry 1102. The radio front-end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna 1110 and processing circuitry 1102. The radio front-end circuitry 1118 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or UEs via a wireless connection. The radio front-end circuitry 1118 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters 1120 and / or amplifiers 1122. The radio signal may then be transmitted via the antenna 1110. Similarly, when receiving data, the antenna 1110 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by the radio front-end circuitry 1118. The digital data may be passed to the processing circuitry 1102. In other embodiments, the communication interface may comprise different components and / or different combinations of components.

[0260] In certain alternative embodiments, the network node 1100 does not include separate radio front-end circuitry 1118, instead, the processing circuitry 1102 includes radio frontend circuitry and is connected to the antenna 1110. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of the RF transceiver circuitry 1112 is part of the communication interface 1106. In still other embodiments, the communication interface 1106 includes one or more ports or terminals 1116, the radio front-end circuitry 1118, and the RF transceiver circuitry 1112, as part of a radio unit (not shown), and the communication interface 1106 communicates with the baseband processing circuitry 1114, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).

[0261] The antenna 1110 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and / or receive wireless signals. The antenna 1110 may be coupled to the radio front-end circuitry 1118 and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and / or signals wirelessly. In certain embodiments, the antenna 1110 is separate from the network node 1100 and connectable to the network node 1100 through an interface or port.

[0262] The antenna 1110, communication interface 1106, and / or the processing circuitry 1102 may be configured to perform any receiving operations and / or certain obtaining operations described herein as being performed by the network node. Any information, data and / or signals may be received from a UE, another network node and / or any other network equipment. Similarly, the antenna 1110, the communication interface 1106, and / or the processing circuitry 1102 may be configured to perform any transmitting operations described herein as being performed by the network node. Any information, data and / or signals may be transmitted to a UE, another network node and / or any other network equipment. The power source 1108 provides power to the various components of network node 1100 in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). The power source 1108 may further comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry to supply the components of the network node 1100 with power for performing the functionality described herein. For example, the network node 1100 may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., the power grid, an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry of the power source 1108. As a further example, the power source 1108 may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry. The battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail.

[0263] Embodiments of the network node 1100 may include additional components beyond those shown in fig. 11 for providing certain aspects of the network node’s functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and / or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, the network node 1100 may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into the network node 1100 and to allow output of information from the network node 1100. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for the network node 1100.

[0264] Fig. 12 is a block diagram of a host 1200, which may be an embodiment of the host 916 of fig. 9, in accordance with various aspects described herein. As used herein, the host 1200 may be or comprise various combinations hardware and / or software, including a standalone server, a blade server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server, a virtual machine, container, or processing resources in a server farm. The host 1200 may provide one or more services to one or more UEs.

[0265] The host 1200 includes processing circuitry 1202 that is operatively coupled via a bus 1204 to an input / output interface 1206, a network interface 1208, a power source 1210, and a memory 1212. Other components may be included in other embodiments. Features of these components may be substantially similar to those described with respect to the devices of previous figs., such as figs. 10 and 11 , such that the descriptions thereof are generally applicable to the corresponding components of host 1200.

[0266] The memory 1212 may include one or more computer programs including one or more host application programs 1214 and data 1216, which may include user data, e.g., data generated by a UE for the host 1200 or data generated by the host 1200 for a UE. Embodiments of the host 1200 may utilize only a subset or all of the components shown. The host application programs 1214 may be implemented in a container-based architecture and may provide support for video codecs (e.g., Versatile Video Coding (VVC), High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), Advanced Video Coding (AVC), MPEG, VP9) and audio codecs (e.g., FLAG, Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), MPEG, G.711), including transcoding for multiple different classes, types, or implementations of UEs (e.g., handsets, desktop computers, wearable display systems, heads-up display systems). The host application programs 1214 may also provide for user authentication and licensing checks and may periodically report health, routes, and content availability to a central node, such as a device in or on the edge of a core network. Accordingly, the host 1200 may select and / or indicate a different host for over-the-top services for a UE. The host application programs 1214 may support various protocols, such as the HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) protocol, Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP), Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP), Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (MPEG-DASH), etc.

[0267] Fig. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment 1300 in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creating virtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may include virtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networking resources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to any device described herein, or components thereof, and relates to an implementation in which at least a portion of the functionality is implemented as one or more virtual components. Some or all of the functions described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines (VMs) implemented in one or more virtual environments 1300 hosted by one or more of hardware nodes, such as a hardware computing device that operates as a network node, UE, core network node, or host. Further, in embodiments in which the virtual node does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node or host), then the node may be entirely virtualized. In some embodiments, the virtualization environment 1300 includes components defined by the O-RAN Alliance, such as an O- Cloud environment orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an 0-2 interface.

[0268] Applications 1302 (which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) are run in the virtualization environment Q400 to implement some of the features, functions, and / or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0269] Hardware 1304 includes processing circuitry, memory that stores software and / or instructions executable by hardware processing circuitry, and / or other hardware devices as described herein, such as a network interface, input / output interface, and so forth. Software may be executed by the processing circuitry to instantiate one or more virtualization layers 1306 (also referred to as hypervisors or virtual machine monitors (VMMs)), provide VMs 1308a and 1308b (one or more of which may be generally referred to as VMs 1308), and / or perform any of the functions, features and / or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein. The virtualization layer 1306 may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to the VMs 1308.

[0270] The VMs 1308 comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by a corresponding virtualization layer 1306. Different embodiments of the instance of a virtual appliance 1302 may be implemented on one or more of VMs 1308, and the implementations may be made in different ways. Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to as network function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high volume server hardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be located in data centers, and customer premise equipment.

[0271] In the context of NFV, a VM 1308 may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they were executing on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each of the VMs 1308, and that part of hardware 1304 that executes that VM, be it hardware dedicated to that VM and / or hardware shared by that VM with others of the VMs, forms separate virtual network elements. Still in the context of NFV, a virtual network function is responsible for handling specific network functions that run in one or more VMs 1308 on top of the hardware 1304 and corresponds to the application 1302.

[0272] Hardware 1304 may be implemented in a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware 1304 may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware 1304 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such as in a data center or CPE) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration 1310, which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications 1302. In some embodiments, hardware 1304 is coupled to one or more radio units that each include one or more transmitters and one or more receivers that may be coupled to one or more antennas. Radio units may communicate directly with other hardware nodes via one or more appropriate network interfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or a base station. In some embodiments, some signaling can be provided with the use of a control system 1312 which may alternatively be used for communication between hardware nodes and radio units.

[0273] Fig. 14 shows a communication diagram of a host 1402 communicating via a network node 1404 with a UE 1406 over a partially wireless connection in accordance with some embodiments. Example implementations, in accordance with various embodiments, of the UE (such as a UE 912a of fig. 9 and / or UE 1000 of fig. 10), network node (such as network node 910a of fig. 9 and / or network node 1100 of fig. 11), and host (such as host 916 of fig. 9 and / or host 1200 of fig. 12) discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to fig. 14.

[0274] Like host 1200, embodiments of host 1402 include hardware, such as a communication interface, processing circuitry, and memory. The host 1402 also includes software, which is stored in or accessible by the host 1402 and executable by the processing circuitry. The software includes a host application that may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as the UE 1406 connecting via an over-the-top (OTT) connection 1450 extending between the UE 1406 and host 1402. In providing the service to the remote user, a host application may provide user data which is transmitted using the OTT connection 1450.

[0275] The network node 1404 includes hardware enabling it to communicate with the host 1402 and UE 1406. The connection 1460 may be direct or pass through a core network (like core network 906 of fig. 9) and / or one or more other intermediate networks, such as one or more public, private, or hosted networks. For example, an intermediate network may be a backbone network or the Internet.

[0276] The UE 1406 includes hardware and software, which is stored in or accessible by UE 1406 and executable by the UE’s processing circuitry. The software includes a client application, such as a web browser or operator-specific “app” that may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via UE 1406 with the support of the host 1402. In the host 1402, an executing host application may communicate with the executing client application via the OTT connection 1450 terminating at the UE 1406 and host 1402. In providing the service to the user, the UE's client application may receive request data from the host's host application and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 1450 may transfer both the request data and the user data. The UE's client application may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides to the host application through the OTT connection 1450.

[0277] The OTT connection 1450 may extend via a connection 1460 between the host 1402 and the network node 1404 and via a wireless connection 1470 between the network node 1404 and the UE 1406 to provide the connection between the host 1402 and the UE 1406. The connection 1460 and wireless connection 1470, over which the OTT connection 1450 may be provided, have been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between the host 1402 and the UE 1406 via the network node 1404, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices.

[0278] As an example of transmitting data via the OTT connection 1450, in step 1408, the host 1402 provides user data, which may be performed by executing a host application. In some embodiments, the user data is associated with a particular human user interacting with the UE 1406. In other embodiments, the user data is associated with a UE 1406 that shares data with the host 1402 without explicit human interaction. In step 1410, the host 1402 initiates a transmission carrying the user data towards the UE 1406. The host 1402 may initiate the transmission responsive to a request transmitted by the UE 1406. The request may be caused by human interaction with the UE 1406 or by operation of the client application executing on the UE 1406. The transmission may pass via the network node 1404, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. Accordingly, in step 1412, the network node 1404 transmits to the UE 1406 the user data that was carried in the transmission that the host 1402 initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step 1414, the UE 1406 receives the user data carried in the transmission, which may be performed by a client application executed on the UE 1406 associated with the host application executed by the host 1402.

[0279] In some examples, the UE 1406 executes a client application which provides user data to the host 1402. The user data may be provided in reaction or response to the data received from the host 1402. Accordingly, in step 1416, the UE 1406 may provide user data, which may be performed by executing the client application. In providing the user data, the client application may further consider user input received from the user via an input / output interface of the UE 1406. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the UE 1406 initiates, in step 1418, transmission of the user data towards the host 1402 via the network node 1404. In step 1420, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the network node 1404 receives user data from the UE 1406 and initiates transmission of the received user data towards the host 1402. In step 1422, the host 1402 receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the UE 1406.

[0280] One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to the UE 1406 using the OTT connection 1450, in which the wireless connection 1470 forms the last segment.

[0281] In an example scenario, factory status information may be collected and analyzed by the host 1402. As another example, the host 1402 may process audio and video data which may have been retrieved from a UE for use in creating maps. As another example, the host 1402 may collect and analyze real-time data to assist in controlling vehicle congestion (e.g., controlling traffic lights). As another example, the host 1402 may store surveillance video uploaded by a UE. As another example, the host 1402 may store or control access to media content such as video, audio, VR or AR which it can broadcast, multicast or unicast to UEs. As other examples, the host 1402 may be used for energy pricing, remote control of non-time critical electrical load to balance power generation needs, location services, presentation services (such as compiling diagrams etc. from data collected from remote devices), or any other function of collecting, retrieving, storing, analyzing and / or transmitting data.

[0282] In some examples, a measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 1450 between the host 1402 and UE 1406, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and / or the network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection may be implemented in software and hardware of the host 1402 and / or UE 1406. In some embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with other devices through which the OTT connection 1450 passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of the OTT connection 1450 may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not directly alter the operation of the network node 1404. Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling that facilitates measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like, by the host 1402. The measurements may be implemented in that software causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using the OTT connection 1450 while monitoring propagation times, errors, etc.

[0283] Although the computing devices described herein (e.g., UEs, network nodes, hosts) may include the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise computing devices with different combinations of components. It is to be understood that these computing devices may comprise any suitable combination of hardware and / or software needed to perform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein. Determining, calculating, obtaining or similar operations described herein may be performed by processing circuitry, which may process information by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored in the network node, and / or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination. Moreover, while components are depicted as single boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multiple boxes, in practice, computing devices may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component, and functionality may be partitioned between separate components. For example, a communication interface may be configured to include any of the components described herein, and / or the functionality of the components may be partitioned between the processing circuitry and the communication interface. In another example, non- computationally intensive functions of any of such components may be implemented in software or firmware and computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.

[0284] In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein may be provided by processing circuitry executing instructions stored on in memory, which in certain embodiments may be a computer program product in the form of a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by the processing circuitry without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device-readable storage medium, such as in a hardwired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium or not, the processing circuitry can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to the processing circuitry alone or to other components of the computing device, but are enjoyed by the computing device as a whole, and / or by end users and a wireless network generally.

[0285] Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and / or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a / an / the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and / or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step.

[0286] In general, the usage of “first”, “second”, “third”, “fourth”, and / or “fifth” herein may be understood to be an arbitrary way to denote different elements or entities and may be understood to not confer a cumulative or chronological character to the nouns they modify, unless otherwise noted, based on context.

[0287] The present disclosure is not limited to the above. Various alternatives, modifications and equivalents may be used. Therefore, disclosure herein should not be taken as limiting the scope. A feature may be combined with one or more other features.

[0288] The term “at least one of A and B” should be understood to mean “only A, only B, or both A and B.”, where A and B are any parameter, number, indication used herein etc.

[0289] It should be emphasized that the term “comprises / comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. It should also be noted that the words “a” or “an” preceding an element do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

[0290] The term “configured to” used herein may also be referred to as “arranged to”, “adapted to”, “capable of” or “operative to”.

[0291] The steps of the methods may be performed in another order than the order in which they appear herein.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method performed by a first network node (101a, 105) for handling clutter in a communication network (100), the method comprising: providing (401 , 501) a request for sensing assistance information to one or more nearby second network nodes (101b, 105), wherein the one or more nearby second network nodes (101b, 105) are located in a predetermined distance from the first network node (101a, 105); obtaining (402, 502) a response with the sensing assistance information from the one or more nearby second network nodes (101b, 105); based on the sensing assistance information, identifying (505) clutter in the communication network (100), wherein the clutter is caused by objects of non-interest comprising one or more second network nodes (101b, 105) of non-interest amongst the one or more nearby second network nodes (101b, 105); and handling (510) the identified clutter by performing clutter suppression.

2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising: classifying (508) the identified clutter in a clutter type; and identifying (509) clutter characteristics of the identified clutter, wherein the clutter type and clutter characteristics are used when performing the clutter suppression.

3. The method of any of the preceding claims, comprising: determining (511) one or more target objects (201) based on the identified clutter, wherein the one or more target objects (201) do not cause clutter, and wherein the one or more target objects (201) are objects of interest to be detected and localized by the first network node (101a, 105).

4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising: performing (504) channel estimation based on the sensing assistance information, wherein an output of the channel estimation comprises channel and sensing state information, CSSI, associated with the one or more nearby second network nodes (101b, 105); and wherein the clutter is identified based on the CSSI.

5. The method of claims 4, comprising: decoding (503) the sensing assistance information, and wherein the channel estimation is based on the decoded sensing assistance information.

6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the identifying (505) clutter in the communication network (100) comprises: identifying (505) the second network nodes (101b, 105) of non-interest comprised in the objects of non-interest that cause the clutter.

7. The method of any of the preceding claims, comprising; mapping (506) the one or more second network nodes (101b, 105) of noninterest with a clutter pattern, and storing (507) a second network node identity of the one or more second network nodes (101b, 105) of non-interest associated with the mapped clutter pattern in a clutter database, and wherein the clutter database is comprised in the first network node (101a, 105) or accessible by the first network node (101a, 105).

8. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the identifying (505) clutter in the communication network (100) comprises: checking (505) a clutter database to determine if the one or more second network nodes (101b, 105) of non-interest are recorded in the clutter database; if the one or more second network nodes (101b, 105) of non-interest are recorded in the clutter database, then the clutter is identified based on information recorded in the clutter database and no channel estimation is performed; and if the one or more second network nodes (101b, 105) of non-interest are not recorded in the clutter database, then the channel estimation is performed in order to identify the clutter based on channel and sensing state information CSSI.

9. The method of any of the preceding claims, comprising: sensing (500) communication in the communication network (100); based on a result of the sensing, determining (500) one or more areas within the communication network (100), wherein the one or more areas are areas where sensing assistance information is needed to be able to identify objects of interest; andand wherein request for sensing assistance information is provided to one or more second network nodes (101b, 105) in the one or more areas.

10. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the sensing assistance information comprises one or more of: UL reference signals or pilots, the second network node’s current position, second network node identity, second network node velocity, second network node direction of movement or other information.

11. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the identifying (505) clutter in the communication network (100) is further based on a previous sensing and analysis of communication in the communication network (100), wherein a result of the previous sensing and analysis provides an initial indication of the clutter and / or an initial indication of one or more areas within the communication network (100) associated with the clutter, and wherein the request for the sensing assistance information is provided to one or more nearby second network nodes (101b, 105) in the one or more areas.

12. A method performed by a second network node (101b, 105) for handling clutter in a communication network (100), the method comprising: obtaining (601) a request for sensing assistance information from a first network node (101a, 105); and providing (604) a response with the sensing assistance information to the first network node (101a, 105).

13. The method of claim 12, comprising relaying (602) the request to one or more other second network nodes (101b, 105) that are unconnected and / or out-of-coverage of the first network node (101a, 105); and obtaining (603) a response with the sensing assistance information from the one or more other second network nodes (101b, 105); and wherein the sensing assistance information provided to the first network node (101a, 105) comprises the sensing assistance from the one or more other second network nodes (101b, 105).

14. The method of any of claims 12-13, wherein the sensing assistance information comprises one or more of: UL reference signals or pilots, the second network node’s current position, second network node identity, second network node velocity, second network node direction of movement or other information, such as radar cross section, RCS related information, e.g., second network node material-related information.

15. A computer program product comprising program code for performing, when executed by a processing circuitry, the method of any of claims 1-11 and / or 12-14.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform the method of any of claims 1-11 and / or 12-14.

17. A first network node (101a, 105) for handling clutter in a communication network (100), the first network node (101a, 105) comprising processing circuitry configured to: provide a request for sensing assistance information to one or more nearby second network nodes (101b, 105), wherein the one or more nearby second network nodes (101b, 105) are located in a predetermined distance from the first network node (101a, 105); obtain a response with the sensing assistance information from the one or more nearby second network nodes (101b, 105); based on the sensing assistance information, identify clutter in the communication network (100), wherein the clutter is caused by objects of non-interest comprising one or more second network nodes (101b, 105) of non-interest amongst the one or more nearby second network nodes (101b, 105); and to handle the identified clutter by performing clutter suppression.

18. A second network node (101b, 105) for handling clutter in a communication network (100), comprising processing circuitry configured to obtain a request for sensing assistance information from a first network node (101a, 105); and to provide a response with the sensing assistance information to the first network node (101a, 105).

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