Methods and devices for wireless sensing in a communication system

Abstract

Methods and devices of a system for integrated sensing and communication. According to one aspect, a method is carried out in a radio node of the system for sensing an environment of the radio node, wherein the method comprises: receiving (502) resource configuration of a sensing signal; receiving (504) report configuration for establishing a measurement report of measurement data obtained based on receiving the sensing signal according to the resource configuration.

Description

[0001] METHODS AND DEVICES FOR WIRELESS SENSING IN A

[0002] COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

[0003] Technical field

[0004] This disclosure relates to the concept integrated sensing and communication, wherein wireless sensing is carried out in a wireless communication system to acquire information about a remote object or environment. In this context, wireless sensing may involve transmitting a wireless signal and monitoring reception of the wireless signal as impacted by an object or environment of interest.

[0005] Background

[0006] Various protocols and technical requirements for wireless communication systems have been standardized under supervision of inter alia the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Wireless communication may in various scenarios be carried out between a wireless network and a wireless device. The wireless network typically comprises a core network and a radio access network (RAN). The RAN comprises a plurality of access nodes, also referred to as base stations (BS) or gNB. A BS comprises at least one transmission reception point (TRP). Each access node may be configured to serve one or more cells of a cellular wireless network. A variety of different types of wireless devices may be configured to communicate with the access nodes, and such wireless devices are generally referred to as User Equipment (UE). Communication which involves transmission from the UE and reception in the wireless network is generally referred to as Uplink (UL) communication, whereas communication which involves transmission from the wireless network and reception in the UE is generally referred to as Downlink (DL) communication. Moreover, various protocols and technologies for direct communication between UEs have been developed, for instance as standardized by the 3GPP under the term Sidelink communication.

[0007] It has recently been suggested to integrate wireless sensing with wireless communication. This has occasionally been referred to as Joint Communication And Sensing (JCAS) and Integrated Sensing And Communication (ISAC). In this context, both terms refer to examples on a common generic level of concept and can be used interchangeably. Throughout this document, the term ISAC is used for the sake of convenience. IS AC use-cases were e.g., described in 3GPP document TR.22.837

[0008] V.19.1.0. ISAC is a technology that involves using radio frequency (RF) signals and the radio network for environment / object detection and monitoring and is discussed as a potential new feature for coming generations of cellular mobile communications. As it is designed to be operated jointly with mobile communication, ISAC is intended to reuse the mobile communication infrastructure such as the device (e.g., UE) and basestation (e.g., gNB) to enable various applications, such as intelligent transportation, monitoring wildlife, tracking movement of objects or people, detecting the presence of unseen object, and even measuring changes in atmospheric conditions. Integrated sensing and communication may be carried out according to at least any of the following sensing modes, where TRP may refer to a transmission and reception point of a base station: TRP-TRP bi-static, TRP mono-static, TRP-UE bi-static, UE-TRP bistatic, UE-UE bi-static, UE mono-static.

[0009] To sense / monitor an environmental object, a sensing network, comprising at least one RF transmitter and at least one RF receiver, needs to perform RF signal transmission and measurement. RF transmitter, e.g., UE or gNB, emits sensing RF signals into the environment. When these RF signals encounter objects or surfaces in the environment, they are impacted in different degrees, such as reflected, refracted, diffracted or absorbed. Different materials and objects interact with RF signals in different ways, and the RF receiver captures the signals after they have interacted with, or been impacted by, the environment. The received signal may contain information about the surroundings, including the presence and properties of various objects. Once the RF signal is received, the RF receiver may perform signal processing on the received signal aiming to extract relevant information, such as amplitude, frequency and phase. This information may be indicative of a change in the channel, or channel status. As environment conditions to be sensed may change over time, a sensing system, e.g., the RF receiver, may need to report channel status and update the measurement. Such measurement reporting may be transmitted to a core network node, transparent to the RAN, for further management of the obtained information, such as further processing to obtain new sensing metrics which may require extra computation or require other information. How to report the change of channel sufficiently and efficiently becomes a challenge of protocol design for integrated sensing and communication, where minimum signaling overhead without compromising performance is a target. Summary

[0010] Therefore, a need exists for techniques of coexistence and integration of communication signaling and sensing. A solution targeting this objective relates to an enhancement on signaling protocol design for detection of the change in environment. The proposed solution is defined by the terms of the independent claims, whereas various aspects and additional features are set out in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0011] According to a first aspect, a method is carried out in a radio node of a system for integrated sensing and communication associated, wherein the method is associated with sensing of an environment of the radio node, wherein the method comprises: receiving resource configuration of a sensing signal; receiving report configuration for establishing a measurement report of measurement data obtained based on receiving the sensing signal according to the resource configuration.

[0012] According to a second aspect, a radio node of a system for integrated sensing and communication is provided, comprising: a radio transceiver; and logic circuitry configured to control the radio node to: receive resource configuration of a sensing signal; receive report configuration for establishing a measurement report of measurement data obtained based on receiving the sensing signal according to the resource configuration.

[0013] According to a third aspect, a method is carried out in a network node of a system for integrated sensing and communication, wherein the method is associated with sensing of an environment of a radio node, wherein the method comprises: transmitting report configuration for configuring the radio node to establish a measurement report of measurement data obtained based on receiving sensing signal according to a predetermined resource configuration.

[0014] According to a fourth aspect, a network node in a system for integrated sensing and communication is provided, comprising: a communication interface; and logic circuitry configured to control the network node to transmit, using the communication interface, report configuration for configuring a radio node to establish a measurement report of measurement data obtained based on receiving sensing signal according to a predetermined resource configuration.

[0015] Brief description of the drawings

[0016] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a mono-static sensing topology of a sensing measurement according to various examples.

[0017] Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a bi-static sensing topology of a sensing measurement according to various examples.

[0018] Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a system for downlink bi-static sensing topology according to various examples.

[0019] Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a system for uplink bi-static sensing topology according to various examples.

[0020] Fig. 5 provides is a flowchart of a method carried out in a radio node configured as receiver in a sensing operation according to various examples.

[0021] Fig. 6 schematically illustrates a radio node configured to operate in a sensing operation according to various examples.

[0022] Fig. 7 provides is a flowchart of a method carried out in a network node configured to manage a sensing operation according to various examples.

[0023] Fig. 8 schematically illustrates a network node configured to manage a sensing operation according to various examples.

[0024] Fig. 9 schematically illustrates object estimation according to various examples.

[0025] Fig. 10 schematically illustrates information obtained in a channel response associated with the example of Fig. 9.

[0026] Fig. 11 schematically illustrates measurement data obtained at different time occasions of receiving a sensing signal according to various examples.

[0027] Fig. 12 schematically illustrates correlation of timing of a sensing signal and of measurement reporting according to various examples.

[0028] Fig. 13 shows a signaling diagram according to various examples. Detailed description

[0029] In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, details are set forth herein related to various embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. In some instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. The functions of the various elements including functional blocks, including but not limited to those labeled or described as “computer”, “processor” or “controller”, may be provided through the use of hardware such as circuit hardware and / or hardware capable of executing software in the form of coded instructions stored on computer readable medium. Thus, such functions and illustrated functional blocks are to be understood as being either hardware-implemented and / or computer-implemented and are thus machine-implemented. In terms of hardware implementation, the functional blocks may include or encompass, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, reduced instruction set processor, hardware (e.g., digital or analog) circuitry including but not limited to application specific integrated circuit(s) [ASIC], and (where appropriate) state machines capable of performing such functions. In terms of computer implementation, a computer is generally understood to comprise one or more processors or one or more controllers, and the terms computer and processor and controller may be employed interchangeably herein. When provided by a computer or processor or controller, the functions may be provided by a single dedicated computer or processor or controller, by a single shared computer or processor or controller, or by a plurality of individual computers or processors or controllers, some of which may be shared or distributed. Moreover, use of the term “processor” or “controller” shall also be construed to refer to other hardware capable of performing such functions and / or executing software, such as the example hardware recited above.

[0030] The drawings are to be regarded as being schematic representations and elements illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale. Rather, the various elements are represented such that their function and general purpose become apparent to a person skilled in the art. Any connection or coupling between functional blocks, devices, components, or other physical or functional units shown in the drawings or described herein may also be implemented by an indirect connection or coupling. A coupling between components may also be established over a wireless connection. Functional blocks may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.

[0031] Hereinafter, various aspects and techniques are described related to coexistence of radio communication and sensing in a wireless communication system, hereinafter referred to as ISAC. An ISAC communication system re-uses hardware and radio resources for sensing and communication, thereby saving resources and hardware implementation if compared to a reference scenario in which two separate systems are used. In the context of ISAC and the proposed solution, sensing refers estimation in an environment of radio nodes to detect or estimate objects or features which are passive, and which impact transmitted sensing signals by, inter alia, scattering or reflecting the sensing signals. The impacted signal is received by a radio node and by called an echo of the transmitted sensing signal. Sensing thus includes transmission of a sensing signal or a set of sensing signals, receiving echoes of the transmitted sensing signal, and processing these echoes to extract sensing information. Sensing can be used to support various use cases, such as object detection (presence), object tracking, object mapping, object positioning, object ranging, object counting, etc.

[0032] The sensing signal may be referred to as a sensing reference signal (SeRS). In some examples, the sensing signal may be a chirped signal, i.e., incorporating a frequency sweep over a certain allocated bandwidth. A sensing signal may be an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signal. A sensing signal may be reusing or be similar to existing signal(s) in e.g., a 5G New Radio (NR) system, such as Positioning Reference Signal (PRS), Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI- RS). A sensing signal may be Code Division Multiplexed (CDM). A base signal is sinusoidal, but a spreading code is applied. The spreading code includes a sequence of chips (e.g., +1, -1, -1, +1, +1, -1, ...). For instance, aperiodic or random or pseudorandom sequence of chips can be used. The sequence of chips is then mapped to phase values which stay constant during the chirp duration. The sensing signal that has a bandwidth that is proportional to the inverse of the chirp duration. By choosing orthogonal spreading sequences, code division multiplex of multiple sensing signals can be achieved. Thereby, a receiver radio node (RF receiver) receiving the sensing signals can separate respective information.

[0033] The sensing signal may be at least partially defined by its resource configuration in the radio communication system.

[0034] The resource configuration of the sensing signal may comprise the sensing signal transmission behavior, such as the sensing signal transmission with a certain periodicity. The periodicity may define a repetitive behavior of the sensing signal, defining reoccurrence with a first period Tse. The first period may be a certain time, such as 256 ms by way of examples, or a certain number N of radio frames, which may each be 10 ms. Within the first period, there may be a configuration of multiple occasions M for the sensing signal, i.e., radio resources having different configuration in time, wherein each occasion is configured to occupy one or more subframes (1 ms) or one or more symbols. These M occasions may be periodically configured, with a second period To within at least a portion of the first period Tse. By way of example, where M=10, the first 10 sub-frames (covering 10 ms together) of every period Tse(e.g. 256 ms) contains 10 occasions in time, where each occasion occupies 1 ms (1 subframe). In alternative resource configurations, the occasions may be evenly distributed within the first period each 1 ms subframe of first period Tse. such that se= M x To. The resource configuration of the sensing signal may further comprise a definition of bandwidth of the sensing signal. The resource configuration may further comprise a resource allocation structure of a sensing signal, such as a comb structure. In another example, the resource configuration of the signal may comprise the other sensing signal transmission behavior, such as aperiodic transmission, and semi-persistent transmission.

[0035] In some examples, the resource configuration of the sensing signal is determined by a base station of the RAN, which base station may be involved in the sensing operation. The resource configuration of the sensing signal may involve multiplexing with communication signaling of the (cellular) radio network. For instance, time multiplexing and / or frequency multiplexing can be used. It would be possible that timefrequency resources are centrally allocated by a scheduler that schedules communication signaling as well to the sensing signals. For instance, a time-frequency resource grid of a wireless link may include multiple resource elements and these resource elements may be allocated either to communication signaling or sensing signals of the sensing measurement by the scheduler. For instance, such scheduler may reside at the base station of the RAN. By multiplexing these sensing signals with the communication signaling of the cellular network, interference between the communication signaling and the sensing measurement can be mitigated. Furthermore, the sensing signals and communication signaling may be both transmitted and received by the same hardware. Hence, dedicated hardware for sensing signals only or communication signaling only can be avoided.

[0036] In some examples, the resource configuration may be determined by the base station in conjunction with a network node of the radio network, associated with or dedicated to the sensing procedure. Herein, such a network node is referred to as Sensing Management Function (SeMF), which may reside in the core network. The SeMF may be a type of server dedicated for sensing operations, which comprises the functions of sensing measurement collection, measurement processing (such as Localization algorithm), control and coordination among various other sensing entities. In some examples, the resource configuration of the sensing signal is made by the base station based on a request or instruction from the SeMF. In some examples, the aforementioned SeMF functions can be executed / reside in an existing core network node, such as Location Management Function (LMF). In this context, the LMF functions are expanded to also include sensing-related functionalities.

[0037] In some examples, the resource configuration of the sensing signal is configured based on limits or higher-level requirements of the sensing signals, e.g., based on capability of a UE involved in the sensing operation, such as a minimum number of occasions M, or a minimum time between such occasions (ToMin). In some examples, a set of different schemes of selectable configurations may be preconfigured, wherein the base station selects, or is instructed by the SeMF to select one of those schemes (or one of a subset of the different schemes) for configuration of the sensing signal.

[0038] Depending on the number and the functionalities of the radio nodes involved, there are mainly three topologies of sensing with different sensing procedures, commonly referred to as mono-static, bi-static and multi-static sensing. Mono-static means RF transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) are co-located at the same physical location. In this context, the same radio node acts as both RF transmitter and RF receiver. In this setup, the transmitter generates the sensing signal and subsequently uses the same antenna for receiving the echoes or reflections of the sensing signal after the sensing signal interacts with the object. In Bi-static sensing, transmitter and receiver are located in two separate locations, which do not share the same antenna panel. In this arrangement, a radio node configured as the RF transmitter initiates the transmission of the sensing signal and a different radio node, configured as the RF receiver, at a different location, monitors and captures the echoes from the target object.

[0039] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a mono-static sensing topology. A radio node, such as a UE or a base station (or, specifically a TRP in a base station), implements both an RF transmitter 121 (Tx radio node) configured to transmit sensing signals 191, and an RF receiver 122 (Rx radio node) configured to detect echoes of the sensing signals 192 reflected at a physical passive object 130 in the surrounding. For instance, the radio node may use the same antenna panel for transmitting the sensing signals 191 and for receiving the echoes of the sensing signals 192.

[0040] Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a bi-static sensing topology. Here, a first radio node implements the RF transmitter 121 and a second radio node implements the RF receiver 122. In this context, a base station may implement the RF transmitter whereas a UE may implement the RF receiver. In another example, a UE implements the RF transmitter 121 and a base station implements the RF receiver 122. In another example, one base station implements the RF transmitter 121 and another base station implements the RF receiver 122. In yet another example, where the sensing signal may be configured in accordance with, or multiplexed with, a Sidelink configuration, a first UE implements the RF transmitter 121 and a second UE implements the RF receiver 122. More generally, in a bi-static sensing topology, two different radio nodes participate in and cooperate to implement the sensing measurement.

[0041] In some examples according to the drawings of Figs 1 and 2, the radio node may be Sensing Reference Unit (SRU), such as a stationary UE with fixed and known location coordinates, capable of transmitting the sensing signal and / or capable of receiving and measuring sensing signal and providing measurement report.

[0042] There are further sensing topologies, beyond those illustrated in Figs 1 and 2. These include joint mono-static and bi-static sensing topology (not shown), which can be seen as a combination of the topologies of Figs 1 and 2 of Fig. Herein, both a base station and a UE may be configured to detect echoes, based on reference signals from the base station. Multi-static sensing is a further extended concept from mono- and bi- static, where multiple geographically separated nodes capable of form a sensing system capable of both the former two types of sensing. Based on the general topology concept of Fig. 2, two more specific topologies are shown in Figs 3 and 4.

[0043] Fig. 3 illustrates an example of a system 100 arranged according to an ISAC network topology for DL-based bi-static sensing operation. The system 100 includes a cellular wireless network 90. The wireless network 90 includes a RAN including one more base station 91. The cellular network 90 also includes a network node 93 implementing a sensing management function, herein referred to as the SeMF 93, which may be arranged in the core network of the cellular wireless network. An application server 96 may be coupled to the cellular wireless network 90, e.g., the Internet or another data network. UEs 92 may be connected to the cellular network 90 via the RAN.

[0044] In an example of this arrangement, the base station 91 is configured as RF transmitter and the UE 92 is configured as RF receiver. The SeMF 93 may be responsible for both DL-SeRS resource configuration, i.e., the sensing signal configuration, and for measurement and report configuration. This configuration may be identified by means of the measurement and report configuration.

[0045] In a configuration phase, through higher layer signaling, SeMF 93 may indicate to the UE 92 and the base station 91 where to receive / transmit DL-SeRS and assign measurement gap for the UE 92 in which the UE 92 should prioritize DL-SeRS monitoring over the other physical channel. During the measurement gap, the UE may expect to not be mandated to process any operations other than DL-SeRS reception and measurement. The configuration phase may comprise provision of a resource configuration 194 of the sensing signal, and a report configuration 195 which provides instruction for measurement and reporting to the network node 92 configured to act as RF receiver. The configuration phase may thus comprise different stages of configuration. As noted above, specific resource configuration of the sensing signal may be made by the base station 91.

[0046] The base station 91 transmits 191 DL-SeRS s on one or multiple different spatial filter, according to the resource configuration. The transmission with multiple different spatial filter is aiming to scan the environment from different angle. The UE 93 monitors the corresponding DL-SeRS resource and records the DL-SeRS echo 192, which is to be further processed into data associated with the target object 130. In practice, the UE may receive a line of sight (LoS) component and one or more DL- SeRS echo. One of the DL-SeRS echoes can be from the target object while the rest are echoes from the environment / other objects (e.g., tree, wall, etc).

[0047] Fig. 4 shows an example of the system 100 instead being arranged according to an ISAC network topology for UL-based bi-static sensing operation. Herein, the opposite sensing signaling direction is employed, where the UE 92 transmits UL-SeRS 191 and the base station 91 measures the echo 192. Unlike DL operation, UL-SeRS configuration may be done by the base station 91 and conveyed to the UE 92 via RRC signaling.

[0048] By measurement based on a sensing signal, it is possible to determine or estimate object-related information for a passive object such as the object 130. This may be done by investigating multiple multipath components of the radio channel. The multipath components stem from radio signals reaching the RF receiver through various spatial paths due to reflections, diffraction, and scattering caused by the objects (obstacles) in the environment, such as buildings, trees, terrain, vehicles, persons, etc. Each spatial path is associated with a respective distance between RF transmitter and RF receiver; typically, those distances are different for different spatial paths and thus a given sensing signal (or, more precisely, multiple echoes of the sensing signal) arrives at the RF receiver node at slightly different times for the different multipath components. This temporal spread, known as delay spread, leads to each multipath component having its own delay, amplitude or power, angle-of-arrival, angle-of-departure, and phase shift. Also, different Doppler characteristics (e.g., Doppler shifts) can be observed for moving objects. For example, the first spatial path may be a line-of-sight path or, at least, a path within minimum distance of the electromagnetic waves between the RF transmitter and the RF receiver. The first spatial path may have higher amplitude or power of the electromagnetic waves at the RF receiver if compared to higher-order spatial paths, e.g., the second or third spatial paths. Higher order spatial paths are typically associated with reflections at physical objects. These different characteristics of the respective multipath component, determined by the RF receiver upon reception and measurement of the sensing signal, are referred to herein as measurement characteristics.

[0049] The environment condition may change for example due to object movement. Sensing the environment may thus comprise monitoring the channel over time. This involves analyzing changes in the measurement characteristics, such as amplitude, frequency, and phase. Any changes in the measurement characteristics may indicate a corresponding change in the environment. However, to constantly capture the variation of the environment, the system is required to continuously transmit sensing signals and report measurement information. This may involve reporting obtained measurement data, comprising one or more of the measurement characteristics, to the SeMF 93, which further interprets the channel and translates data into environmental conditions.

[0050] One plausible way of arranging this is for the RF receiver to always report the measurement data of the sensing regardless of whether there is a change or not. However, this operation may result in excessive and unnecessary reporting. Furthermore, providing raw sensing measurement, e.g., a channel impulse response (OR) means that the recipient, such as the SeMF, of the measurement data would still need to process the information. This can be a burden for the SeMF, particularly if the SeMF receives a bulky raw sensing measurement data from many UEs.

[0051] Before describing various features related to sensing measurement and reporting, general flowcharts of various examples of methods according to the proposed solution will be described below, as well as devices for carrying out such methods. Fig. 5 relates to methods carried out by a radio node configured to act as RF receiver in a method for sensing, whereas Fig. 6 provides a description of various features and examples of such a radio node. Fig. 7 relates to methods carried out by a network node configured to manage a method for sensing, and Fig. 8 provides a description of various features and examples of such a network node.

[0052] Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a method according to one aspect of the proposed solution. Fig. 5 generally relates to implementation of the method in a radio node of a system for integrated sensing and communication. According to some examples, the radio node is a UE 92 configured to act as RF receiver in a bi-static DL sensing configuration. In another example, the radio node is a base station 91 configured to act as RF receiver of a bi-static UL sensing configuration. In yet another example, the radio node is configured to act as RF transmitter and RF receiver in a mono- static sensing configuration, wherein the radio node may be a UE 92 or a base station 91.

[0053] Step 500 may comprise transmission of capability information associated with integrated sensing and communication. The capability is associated with the radio node capability in performing sensing measurements and / or reporting thereof.

[0054] In one example, where the radio node is the UE 92, the capability may be conveyed as UE radio capability information. The capability information may be transmitted as a message including parameters and feature sets of the UE 92. In alternative embodiments, the capability information may be transmitted as a capability ID, which may be mapped in the wireless network to obtain the relevant parameters and feature sets related to at least integrated sensing and communication.

[0055] The capability can be indicative of whether the radio node is capable of executing a sensing measurement, e.g., using a certain topology. The capability can be indicative of whether the radio node is capable of using a certain type of sensing signal, e.g., a chirped signal or an OFDM signal. In another example, the capability can be indicative of the multiplexing scheme via which the sensing signal can be multiplexed with other communication signal, e.g., frequency division multiplexing, time division multiplexing or code division multiplexing. The capability can be indicative of whether the radio node is capable of performing a certain type of sensing measurement technique. The capability may be indicative of timing requirements associated with sensing, such as minimum periodicity (To) between successive measurement occasions, a minimum time between scheduled communication and scheduled sensing, or minimum time for transmitting a measurement report. The capability can be indicative of whether the respective radio node is capable of supporting a certain reporting procedure for reporting on a sensing measurement. For instance, the capability can be indicative of whether the respective radio node can provide a measurement report that includes certain information. In this context, the capability may be indicative of pre-processing capability for providing pre-processed measurement data based on the sensing. The capability associated with integrated sensing and communication may be communicated upon connection to the wireless network.

[0056] Step 502 comprises receiving resource configuration of a sensing signal. The resource configuration may identify radio resources in time and frequency domain, to be used for transmission of a sensing signal. The resource configuration thus provides information, to the radio node, of which resources to monitor in a sensing operation in the integrated sensing and communication system.

[0057] In some examples, the resource configuration is indicative of one or more of a periodicity Tseof the sensing signal, a number M of time occasions of transmission of the sensing signal in each period according to the periodicity of the sensing signal, a bandwidth of the sensing signal, and resource allocation structure of a sensing signal. The resource configuration may be obtained by determination of the configuration in the radio node, in an example of a mono-static sensing configuration. In other examples, the resource configuration of the sensing signal may be received, in the radio node, from another radio node acting as RF transmitter of the sensing signal, such as a base station. The resource configuration of the sensing signal may thus be received in the radio node in an RRC (Radio Resource Control) message from the wireless network, such as from the base station 91 configured to transmit the sensing signal according to the resource configuration. The resource configuration may alternatively be obtained as broadcast information transmitted by the wireless network.

[0058] In other examples, the radio node may receive the resource configuration of the sensing signal from a network node implementing the SeMF 93. This can include the resource configuration of other base station, such as the neighbor gNBs.

[0059] In some examples, the resource configuration associated with the sensing signal may be obtained in different types of messages and / or at different times. Each message may be obtained by broadcast or by dedicated signaling (e.g., RRC, DO). By way of example, a first message item may be indicative of resources in time and frequency allocated for transmission of the sensing signal. A second message item may be indicative of a periodicity Tseof the sensing signal. A third message item may be indicative of a number M of time occasions of transmission of the sensing signal in each period according to the periodicity. The first, second and third messages items may be transmitted, as one, two or three messages. This way, the resource configuration may e.g., be defined according to a first configuration, whereas a later message may be transmitted to adjust the first configuration, such as to change periodicity.

[0060] Step 504 comprises receiving report configuration for establishing a measurement report of measurement data obtained based on receiving the sensing signal according to the resource configuration.

[0061] According to some aspects, the report configuration may provide instructions indicative of measurements to be carried out by the radio node, based on the sensing signal, and / or form of measurement reporting, or information to be included in measurement reports. The report configuration may comprise information on e.g., topology, radio nodes included in a sensing operation, and their roles. Various examples will be provided below, regarding the report configuration. In some examples, the report configuration is received in conjunction with, or together with, the resource configuration at step 502. As noted, the configuration phase may comprise different stages of configuration, such as steps 502 and 504. In this context, the acts comprised in steps 502 and 504 may alternatively be carried out in opposite order.

[0062] The report configuration may be received from the SeMF 93. In some examples where the radio node is the UE 92, the report configuration may be received in the radio node in an RRC message from the wireless network, such as from the base station 91 configured to transmit the sensing signal according to the resource configuration. In some examples where the radio node is the base station 91, the report configuration may be received in the radio node, from the network node 93 implementing the SeMF, over a communication protocol, such as NR Positioning Protocol A (NRPPa).

[0063] Step 506 may comprise receiving a request for sensing. This request may indicate a request to initiate sensing, and / or a request to transmit a measurement report based on sensing. In some examples, the request may be indicative of one or more requirements associated with the sensing request, such as a requirement of timing for transmitting the measurement report by the radio node. The request may in various examples be received from the SeMF 93, or from the radio node acting as RF transmitter, or from an application residing in the application server 96, or from an application client in the radio node. In some examples of the proposed solution, the request is comprised in the report configuration or received in a message received in association with report configuration. In other examples, the request for sensing may be received in a separate message. According to such an example, the network node may configure the radio node to transmit the measurement responsive to the measurement request. In some examples, the request for sensing is received in conjunction with, or together with, the report configuration at step 504.

[0064] Step 507 indicates sensing and object detection, based on receiving echoes of the sensing signal transmitted according to the resource configuration. This may involve determining measurement characteristics upon receiving the sensing signal according to the resource allocation. This may further comprise object detection based on the report configuration, as will be described in further detail below.

[0065] Step 508 comprises transmitting at least one measurement report based on the report configuration. The measurement report(s) may be transmitted to the SeMF 93. Fig. 6 schematically illustrates a radio node 600 configured to carry out the method according to the examples outlined with reference to Fig. 5 in the role as RF receiver, and as further described herein. In some examples, the radio node 600 may be a base station 91 of the wireless network. In other examples, the radio node 600 may be a UE 92 which is capable of connecting with the wireless network by wireless communication.

[0066] The radio node 600 may comprise a wireless transceiver 613, such as a radio transceiver for communicating with other entities of the system 100. The transceiver 613 may thus include a radio receiver and transmitter for communicating through at least an air interface.

[0067] The radio node 600 may further comprise, or be connected to, an antenna 614 which may comprise a plurality of antennas (antenna elements) in an array configuration. The antenna array 614 is connected to the transceiver 613.

[0068] The radio node 600 further comprises logic circuitry 610 configured to control the radio node 600 to monitor a sensing signal via the radio transceiver 613. The logic circuitry is further configured to carry out integrated sensing and communication, so as to additionally communicate with further radio nodes on a physical channel. The logic circuitry 610 may be configured for resource allocation and may realize a scheduler for scheduling communication of a data.

[0069] The logic circuitry 610 may include a processing device 611, including one or multiple processors, microprocessors, data processors, co-processors, and / or some other type of component that interprets and / or executes instructions and / or data. Processing device 611 may be implemented as hardware (e.g., a microprocessor, etc.) or a combination of hardware and software (e.g., a system-on-chip (SoC), an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.). The processing device 611 may be configured to perform one or multiple operations based on an operating system and / or various applications or programs.

[0070] The logic circuitry 610 may further include memory storage 612, which may include one or multiple memories and / or one or multiple other types of storage mediums. For example, memory storage 612 may include a random access memory (RAM), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a cache, a read only memory (ROM), a programmable read only memory (PROM), flash memory, and / or some other type of memory. Memory storage 612 may include a hard disk (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optic disk, a solid state disk, etc.). The memory storage 612 is configured for holding computer program code, which may be executed by the processing device 611, wherein the logic 610 is configured to control the radio node 600 to carry out any of the method steps as provided herein. Software defined by said computer program code may include an application or a program that provides a function and / or a process. The software may include device firmware, an operating system (OS), or a variety of applications that may execute in the logic 610.

[0071] The radio node 600 may further, when configured as a base station 91, comprise an interface 615, configured for communication with the core network.

[0072] Fig. 7 is a flowchart of a method according to one aspect of the proposed solution. Fig. 7 generally relates to implementation of the method in a network node, such as an SeMF 93, of a wireless network in a communication system for integrated sensing of an environment by a radio node 91, 92. According to some examples, dependent on topology, the radio node is a UE 92 configured to act as RF receiver in a bi- static DL sensing configuration. In another example, the radio node is a base station 91 configured to act as RF receiver of a bi-static UL sensing configuration. In yet another example, the same radio node is configured to act as RF transmitter and RF receiver in a mono-static sensing configuration, wherein the radio node may be a UE 92 or a base station 91.

[0073] Step 700 may comprise obtaining capability information associated with integrated sensing and communication capability of at least the radio node which will be configured to act as RF receiver in integrated sensing and communication. The capability information may be received from that radio node, or from a central network node in a core network of the wireless network, configured to store capability information, such as a network node implementing a UE radio Capability Management Function (UCMF). The capability information may provide any of the information outlined with reference to step 500.

[0074] Step 702 comprises determining resource configuration of a sensing signal. This step may be included where the resource configuration is determined by the network node. In other examples, the network node may be informed, by a radio node configured to be included in a sensing operation of a certain topology, such as a base station 91. The resource configuration may comprise information according to the description related to step 502. Step 704 comprises transmitting report configuration for establishing a measurement report of measurement data obtained based on receiving the sensing signal according to the resource configuration. According to some aspects, the report configuration may provide instructions indicative of measurements to be carried out by the radio node, based on the sensing signal, and / or form of measurement reporting, or information to be included in measurement reports. Various examples will be provided below, regarding the report configuration. In some examples, the report configuration is received in conjunction with, or together with, the resource configuration at step 702.

[0075] Step 706 may comprise determining a request for sensing. This request may indicate a request to initiate sensing, and / or a request to transmit a measurement report based on sensing, as outlined with reference to step 506. In some examples, the request may be transmitted by the network node. In other examples, the transmission of the request, to the radio node, may be made by another entity, such as a further node included in an associated sensing operation according to a certain topology, or by an application, at which the determining of steep 706 comprises receiving information associated with the request, such as e.g., timing of the request. In some examples, the transmission of the request is in conjunction with, or together with, the transmission of the report configuration at step 704

[0076] Step 708 comprises receiving at least one measurement report based on the report configuration, from the radio node configured as RF receiver.

[0077] Fig. 8 schematically illustrates a network node 800 configured to carry out the method according to the examples outlined with reference to Fig. 7 in the role as a management function for a sensing operation. In some examples, the network node 800 implements an SeMF 93. The network node 800 may be connected in a core network of a wireless network 90, in a system for integrated sensing and communication system. In some examples, the network node 800 is any legacy network node, such as LMF, with additional functions to be able to perform SeMF functionalities.

[0078] The network node 800 may comprise an interface 81, configured for communication within the wireless network 90, and by extension for communication with wireless devices, such as UEs 92. Communication with UE 92 may be arranged via the RAN, such as the base station 91. The network node 800 further comprises logic circuitry 810 configured to control the network node 800 to manage integrated sensing and communication as described herein, in communication with one or more radio nodes 91, 92.

[0079] The logic circuitry 810 may include a processing device 811, including one or multiple processors, microprocessors, data processors, co-processors, and / or some other type of component that interprets and / or executes instructions and / or data. Processing device 811 may be implemented as hardware (e.g., a microprocessor, etc.) or a combination of hardware and software (e.g., a system-on-chip (SoC), an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.). The processing device 811 may be configured to perform one or multiple operations based on an operating system and / or various applications or programs.

[0080] The logic circuitry 810 may further include memory storage 812, which may include one or multiple memories and / or one or multiple other types of storage mediums. For example, memory storage 812 may include a random access memory (RAM), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a cache, a read only memory (ROM), a programmable read only memory (PROM), flash memory, and / or some other type of memory. Memory storage 812 may include a hard disk (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optic disk, a solid state disk, etc.). The memory storage 812 is configured for holding computer program code, which may be executed by the processing device 811, wherein the logic 810 is configured to control the radio node 800 to carry out any of the method steps as provided herein. Software defined by said computer program code may include an application or a program that provides a function and / or a process. The software may include device firmware, an operating system (OS), or a variety of applications that may execute in the logic 810.

[0081] Based on the foregoing, the environment condition may change for example due to object movement, which may be determined by a radio node configured as RF receiver, monitoring the channel over time in a sensing operation. By way of example, a sensing scenario is shown in Figs 9 and 10, which are useful as an example for describing various aspects of the proposed solution.

[0082] Fig. 9 shows a pair or radio devices configured for a sensing operation, including a base station BS and an SRU. A BS here can refer to a TRP in a base station 91. For reasons of simplicity and ease of understanding, the drawing only shows one BS and one SRU (representing a UE 92). It shall be noted, though, that other types of constellations of the pair of radio nodes are possible, as exemplified herein. In practice, the sensing operation may involve multiple devices, such as several BSs and / or several UEs, known as multi-static sensing. The radio nodes are configured for sensing, wherein one radio node transmits sensing signals according to a resource configuration, and wherein the other radio node monitors the sensing echoes of the sensing signals, as impacted by objects in the environment. Such echoes may be detected from objects in the environment.

[0083] Fig. 10 shows an example of simplified OR snapshots, identifying estimated objects in the scenario of Fig. 9, in an example of DL-bistatic sensing using a BS-to- SRU link. Object 1 (01) is moving in a certain direction of travel (DoT) while Object 2 (02) and Object 3 (03) stay constant, i.e., stationary. While 01 is moving, the SRU monitors sensing signals according to the resource configuration, and generates consecutively three OR snapshots captured at time stamps Tl, T2 and T3, respectively, as shown in Fig. 10. Based on three OR snapshots, the SRU can observe incremental changes from one OR to another OR. In the shown example, the delay tap corresponding to object 01 (full line) traverses across the delay spectrum as the 01 moves. The other delay taps (dashed and dash-dotted, respectively) stay unchanged over these time stamps. In this context, the delay may correspond to a time of arrival (TOA) of a channel component in the RF receiver (SRU in this example), in relation to a scheduled time of transmission according to the resource configuration of the sensing signal.

[0084] As noted, allowing the RF receiver (the SRU in the shown example of Figs 9 and 10) to always report measurement data obtained in the sensing operation regardless of whether a change in the environment is detected or not, may result in excessive and unnecessary reporting. Based on this notion, it is proposed that report configuration is provided to at least the radio node operating as RF receiver in a sensing operation, to enable reporting of only useful information. How to report the change of channel sufficiently and efficiently becomes a challenge of IS AC protocol design. Being sufficient means that the sensing entities, in particular the RF receiver, need to extract and provide sufficient features / measurement data from sensing signal echoes such that the network node implementing the SeMF can estimate the change in environment with sufficient accuracy. Being efficient means the measurement report should be reported with minimum signaling overhead without compromising performance. High signaling overhead can be seen as, for example, high number of transactions / number of signaling between nodes, excessive size of reporting size, and high number of involving nodes. In various examples, this is obtained by configuring the radio node acting as RF receiver to pre-process obtained measurement characteristics, and to report measurement data, in accordance with the report configuration.

[0085] According to one aspect, the report configuration controls the radio node acting as RF receiver to establish the measurement report based on multiple occasions of reception of the sensing signal. This way, the report configuration can be designed to generate measurement reports, to the SeMF, with a certain desired repetition frequency. In some examples, a further measurement can be performed based on multiple occasions or a part of multiple occasions of reception of the sensing signal. The further measurement results are later to be reported.

[0086] In some examples, the report configuration may be indicative of a period TR of a periodicity for reporting measurements. In some examples, the report configuration may be indicative of a number N of said multiple of occasions, either specifically as a measurement time or a number of measurement occasions covered by the period TR. In some examples, the period TR or the number N may be configured by reference to the resource configuration of the sensing signal. The period TR or the number N of multiple occasions may thus be configured to align with e.g., the period Tseof the sensing signal, or with the number M at which the sensing signal is configured in that period. In some examples, the number N of multiple occasions may correspond to a given integer multiple k (e.g., k=l or k>l) times a parameter associated with the resource configuration of the sensing signal, such as the number M of transmission occasions, or the period Tse. According to these examples, a measurement periodicity may be configured which is separately determined, such that it need not be the same as the periodicity of the sensing signal as such. This provides a degree of freedom for configuring the sensing operation, e.g., by the SeMF, for instance for the purpose of leveraging undue signaling with required latency in obtaining measurement reporting.

[0087] Fig. 11 schematically illustrates repeated measurements made by the RF receiver at N occasions at which the RF receiver is configured to receive the sensing signals. For each occasion, the RF receiver performs signal processing to resolve different propagating echoes, i.e., paths, associated with different channel components, in delay domain. Subsequently, the RF receiver measures one or more measurement characteristic, such as Reference Signal Relative Path Power (RSRPP), Time of Arrival (ToA), Angle of Arrival (AoA), and Doppler for each path. The RF receiver may perform such measurements at the configured N time occasions, and which may yield N sets of measurement as indicated in Fig. 11.

[0088] In some examples, the report configuration configures the RF receiver to include, in the measurement report, determined object identity of estimated objects in the environment based on the measurement. This is based on the notion that reporting a raw measurement result, as indicated in Fig. 11, as such does not provide specific information related to any object. It could be the case that Path 1 in Time-Occasion 1, Path 3 in Time-Occasion 2 and Path 3 in Time-Occasion 3 are associated with one moving object, like the example shown in Figs 9 and 10. According to various examples of the proposed solution, the RF receiver is therefore configured, by the report configuration, to perform the coupling between objects and the respective measurement data, such that the object identity is coupled to a measurement characteristics obtain for a certain path. In some examples, a time stamp may further be included in the measurement report, associated with obtainment of the measurement data comprised in the measurement report. In this context, the time stamp may be indicated for each measurement obtained since a last measurement report, or only for a last measurement re obtained since the last measurement report, as will be exemplified below.

[0089] In various examples, the object identity may be an object ID determined by the RF receiver according to a certain numbering rule, as will be exemplified below. Said numbering rule may be preconfigured or determined based on the report configuration.

[0090] In various examples, the RF receiver may be configured, by the report configuration or by pre-configuration, with rules or thresholds related to requirements for determining whether a detected path of a channel component is to be estimated as an object or not. Character or details of such rules or thresholds are as such not described further herein.

[0091] According to some examples, the RF receiver may be configured, by means of the report configuration, to report sensing measurements according to different options, wherein the report configuration may indicate the report option to employ. In some embodiments only one option is possible, or one of a plurality of report options are employed by default unless otherwise specified by the report configuration. According to at least some report options, the report configuration controls the radio node acting as RF receiver to include, in the measurement report, a measurement characteristic detected upon receiving the sensing signal. In various examples, two different options may be referred to as Time Series Object Estimation report and Selected Object Estimation Report.

[0092] In a Time Series Object Estimation report, the RF receiver is configured to include, in the measurement report, measurement characteristic detected upon receiving the sensing signal at each of the configured multiple occasions N. The measurement report may thus comprise measurement characteristics observed from different objects at different timestamps, with an association of each measurement occasion with a specific object ID and timestamp. In some examples, the report format includes object identity (Object ID), Timestamp, Path index, and related measurement characteristics (sensing measurements). An example of such a report is shown in table 1 below.

[0093] Table 1: Sensing measurement format alternative 1

[0094] In the particular example represented in Table 1, the RF receiver only observes / estimates three objects with object ID 01, 02 and 03. For each object, the RF receiver is configured to measure the sensing signal echo at configured N=3 measurement occasions consecutively at time stamp Tl, T2 and T3. In total 9 measurements are thus captured in the measurement report.

[0095] In a Selected Object Estimation type of report, the RF receiver reports measurements only based on a selected timestamp. The time stamp information to be included and / or a rule providing when, if, or how the time stamp information shall be indicated, may be provided / indicated to the radio node as part of the report configuration. In one example, the selected time stamp refers to a latest timestamp according to a configuration of N measurement occasions. In other examples, the selected timestamp refers to a measurement time at which a significant change is detected by the RF receiver. According to some examples, detection of a significant change is determined based on a threshold criterion associated with a measurement characteristic of the measurement data, indicative of a detection of change in the environment. In some examples, the threshold criterion may comprise a differential threshold, wherein a change meeting or exceeding said differential threshold controls the RF receiver to transmit the measurement report. In other examples, the report configuration configures the RF receiver to include the measurement data of an estimated object, upon determining that the measurement data related to that object meets the threshold criterion, such as a change detected for that object meeting or exceeding the differential threshold.

[0096] In some examples, the report configuration controls the RF receiver to include, in the measurement report, a determined difference of a measurement characteristic detected at different occasions of receiving the sensing signal. Such determined difference may be referred to as differential information. One example is provided in Table 2 below.

[0097] Table 2: Sensing measurement format alternative 2

[0098] The differential information may comprise one or more of a differential of RSRP, TO A, AO A and Doppler. In the example of Table 2, the differential information is associated with a configured N=3 measurement occasions, related to during the period from T1 - T3. The differential information is, by way of example, denoted as ARSRP, ATOA, AAOA and ADoppler. As an example, ATOA = TO A3 - T0A1, where TO A3 denotes TO A measurement at T3 and TO Al denotes TO A measurement at Tl. Where the differential information (column 5 of Table 2) is included in the measurement report, the associated absolute values (column 4 of Table 2) may be left out of the measurement report in various examples. In such embodiments, the amount of information to be reported may be minimized.

[0099] In a report according to an example of the second option, i.e., Selected Object Estimation type of report, the RF receiver does not need to report all the detected / estimated objects every time. For the first option, i.e., Time Series Object Estimation report, the RF receiver is configured to report measurement data for all detected objects.

[0100] In some examples, the control information configures the radio node to transmit a first measurement report comprising the measurement data of any estimated object detected in the environment, and a second measurement report, having an association with the first measurement report, comprising measurement data only for estimated objects for which the measurement data meets the threshold criterion. In this context, the first measurement report may refer to a first report after the RF receiver being triggered to transmit a measurement report, such as by receiving a measurement request or upon first detecting that the threshold criterion is met. The first measurement report may be configured according to either a Selected Object Estimation type of report or a Time Series Object Estimation report. The second measurement report, on the other hand only need to include measurement data for objects whose differential information meets the threshold criterion, such as ATOA > THTOA. The second measurement report may also be configured according to either a Selected Object Estimation type of report or a Time Series Object Estimation report. For an example where the second measurement report is configured according to Selected Object Estimation type, and with specific reference to the example of Figs 9 and 10, the report configuration may control the RF receiver to only report the absolute and / or differential information of the measurement characteristics related to 01 in the second report and onwards. This rule which configures the RF receiver to compile a second measurement report associated with a first measurement report (which can be referred to as a reference measurement report), as configured by the report configuration, may be valid within a pre-defined time duration, such as for a configured time following a measurement request or the first measurement report.

[0101] According to some examples, the report configuration configures the RF receiver to maintain object identity of estimated objects in the environment based on the measurement data in successive measurement reports. This may be configured for any of the two reporting types outlined above.

[0102] In some examples, the report configuration comprises an object identity criterion comprising one or more of: a number limit of object identities in the measurement report, an object identity validity time, a number of measurement occasions, and a number of measurement reports, wherein the radio node is configured to refresh object identities upon meeting the object identity criterion. In this context, object ID may in some examples be determined in the following way:

[0103] 1. For the first measurement report, Object ID numbering can be assigned as the same as the path index of a OR observed at the first timestamp, such as 01 -> {Tl, Path 1 } and 02-> {Tl, Path 2}. In some examples, Path 1 can be interpreted as the path resulting with higher power level and smaller Tl. Path 2 is interpreted as the second highest power level and with T2 > Tl. In one example, the object can be associated to a path as long as the path is with a power level above certain threshold. In another example, the association between object to the path and timing information can be up to UE implementation.

[0104] 2. For the second and further measurement report onward, Object ID should align with the previous measurement report if the object still exists in the OR. For example, The Object ID 01 in a previous report and the Object ID 01 in a current report should refer to the same estimated object.

[0105] 3. In the event of an object no longer being detected, upon establishing a new measurement report, the corresponding object ID and measurement fields shall be removed.

[0106] 4. In the event of estimated presence of new objects, add new object IDs and measurement field.

[0107] 5. The object ID is only valid for a given set of time occasions which could be defined by a time duration T.

[0108] In this context, and by way of example, assume that objects 01-04 are estimated and reported in a first measurement report. Upon making further measurements at some stage before a second measurement report (which may be the next report or a later report), 02 is no longer detected but a new object is detected. The identification of 02 is then left out upon establishing the second measurement report. In addition, the new object is labelled 05 and is identified in the second measurement report with its associated measurement data.

[0109] According to some examples of the proposed solution, format and timing of the measurement report is determined by the report configuration, which may be issued by the SeMF. The measurement report may prescribe one or more report option as described above, parameters for which to report measurement characteristics, and threshold criteria which may comprise one or more thresholds for different parameters.

[0110] According to some examples, the report configuration comprises a timing criterion for transmitting the report. The timing criterion may be indicative of a maximum time from reception of the measurement request to transmission of the measurement report. The maximum time may refer to timing of a message, which may be associated with the measurement request. In some examples, the maximum time may refer to timing of a message, which may be associated with the reception of sensing reference signal. In some examples, the maximum time may refer to timing of a message, which may be associated with the measurement computation, such as the measurement report shall be transmitted within a maximum time after the radio node obtains the measurement result. The measurement request 506 may be separately obtained or be comprised in the report configuration 504.

[0111] According to some examples, the RF receiver (e.g., BS 91, UE 92 or SRU) is configured to report sensing object estimation either periodically or triggered by specific events (e.g., aperiodic report, or semi- static report).

[0112] In one example, the report configuration may configure a radio node to act as RF receiver to perform periodic or triggered measurement reports, conveyed explicitly by a 1 -bit flag, e.g., nr-DL-SeRS-PeriodicReport = 1 for enabling periodic reporting.

[0113] According to some examples, the report configuration comprises a timing criterion, wherein the timing criterion comprises a periodicity. In one example, the report configuration may configure a radio node to act as RF receiver to report sensing measurement periodically by configuring parameter, e.g., nr-DL-SeRS- ReportPeriodicity, having an associated period TR. AS noted, this period TR, need not necessarily be as same as the period Tseof the sensing signal transmission periodicity. In some examples, the timing criterion is indicative of a number N of occasions of reception of the sensing signal, as described. In some examples, the report configuration may be obtained in different types of messages and / or at different times. Each message of the report configuration may be obtained by broadcast or by dedicated signaling (e.g., RRC, DO). The report configuration may comprise parameters or instructions associated with establishing a measurement report of measurement data, which may be related to instructions regarding the sensing and / or instructions regarding the reporting of the measurement data. By way of example, a first message item may be indicative of a report periodicity. A second message item may be indicative of parameters to provide measurement characteristics for (such as ToA, AoA, etc. as described) in the measurement report. A third message item may be indicative of a measurement criterion, such as a threshold criterion. A fourth message item may be indicative of a report criterion, such as a threshold criterion or a timing criterion. A fifth message item may be indicative of an object numbering instruction or format. A sixth message item may be indicative of report format, e.g., related to time series or selected object estimation reporting. A seventh message item may be indicative of a measurement request to establish and send a measurement report. An eighth message item may be indicative of sensing topology. Any of these message items may, in various examples, be transmitted in combination or separately.

[0114] Fig. 12 illustrates, by way of example, that a measurement report of sensing object estimation can be sparsely established and transmitted by configuring the period Tsein the resource configuration of the sensing signal, and a relatively longer period TR in the report configuration. In the example of Fig. 12, the period Tseof the sensing signal is set as nr-DE-SeRS -Periodicity = 5ms, whereas the period TR is set as nr-DE-SeRS- ReportPeriodicity = 20ms. This configuration allows RF receiver, such as the UE 92, to transmit the measurement report N=4 SeRS receptions. This way, the report configuration controls the radio node acting as RF receiver to establish the measurement report based on multiple occasions of reception of the sensing signal.

[0115] According to some examples, the periodicity of measurement report can be dynamically modified, by the SeMF, based on how fast the environment change. If prior measurement report from UE shows presence of new objects, SeMF may apply more resources in order to monitor the new object. According to some examples, this can be done by configuring more frequent measurement reporting, such as transmitting updated report configuration which reconfigures SeRS-ReportPeriodicity, such as from 20 ms to 10 ms. In contrast, SeMF may also want to relax the report frequency, if no moving objects are in the environment.

[0116] According to some examples, as already indicated, the report configuration may set the RF receiver to operate based on triggered reporting. One radio node, configured as RF transmitter, may thus be configured to transmit the sensing signal continuously according to the resource configuration, whereas the radio node configured as RF receiver is configured to only report the measurement when needed according to the report configuration. In this context, the report configuration comprises a threshold criterion associated with a detection of change in the environment, wherein the report configuration configures the RF receiver to transmit the measurement report upon determining that the threshold criterion is met. The report criterion thus acts as a trigger to transmit a measurement report.

[0117] According to some examples, the report criterion may comprise detection of presence of a new object or absence of a previously detected object.

[0118] Additionally, or alternatively, some examples, the report criterion may comprise detection of a change in obtained measurement characteristics of a previously detected object. In such an example, the report configuration may indicate a threshold criterion that defines whether an object changes, such as based on the measured value differential between a measurement based on current sensing signal reception and a previous sensing signal reception. As an example, for ease of understanding, at first and second occasions in time (T1 and T2), the RF receiver measures TOA of one object, wherein TO Al at T1 and TOA2 at T2 are individually determined. If the differential ATOA = TOA2 - TOA1 is larger than a threshold THTOA, the triggering event is active and subsequently the RF receiver is triggered to transmit a measurement report. The report configuration may correspondingly define thresholds for triggering events based on changes in measurements for timing (TOA, TDOA), angle (AoA, AoD, azimuth and zenith), and power (RSRP, RSRPP and OR power spectrum).

[0119] Fig. 13 shows a signaling procedure according to an example of the proposed solution, related to sensing with periodic sensing and object estimation in a DL-bi-static topology configuration in a system 100 for integrated sensing and communication. In this topology, sensing is carried out by sensing signal transmission from a first radio node configured as RF transmitter (Tx) 1301, wherein a second radio node is configured to act as RF receiver (Rx) 1302. These radio nodes may be configured in accordance with the description provided with reference to Fig. 6. In the example configured for DL-bi-static topology, the first radio node 1301 is a base station 91 of a radio network 90, whereas the second radio node 1302 is a UE 92 or an SRU. A network node 1303 of the wireless network 100, which network node may implement SeMF, manages the sensing operation. The procedures of Fig. 13 correlate with what has been described in the foregoing with reference to the preceding drawings.

[0120] At 1301, a capability exchange is carried out. This may correspond to steps 500 and 700. The capability exchange may serve to ensure that the network node 1303 is made aware of the UE capability, particularly in term of supporting the sensing and object estimation technique and reporting.

[0121] 1320 indicates resource configuration, provided by the network node 1303 to the radio nodes 1301, 1302, with regard to sensing signals. This may correspond to steps 502 and 702. The resource configuration 1320 enables the radio nodes to understand which resources will or may be used in a sensing operation. In some examples, the resource configuration 1320 may also trigger the radio node 1301 to act as RF transmitter and the radio node 1302 to act as RF receiver. In some examples, the resource configuration 1320 may further trigger the RF transmitter 1301 to initiate transmission of sensing signals according to the resourced configuration. In some examples, the resource configuration 1320 may further trigger the RF receiver 1302 to initiate monitoring of the resources allocated for the sensing signals according to the resourced configuration, and optionally to start obtaining measurement data upon reception of echoes of the sensing signal. The resource configuration may identify a configuration M occasions with a certain periodicity Tse.

[0122] 1330 indicates report configuration, provided by the network node 1303 to the radio node 1302. This may correspond to steps 504 and 704. The report configuration 1303 may configure the radio node 1302 to operate as RF receiver in a sensing operation. The report configuration 1303 may provide information to the radio node 1302 on performing sensing measurement and reporting object estimation result, for which various aspects and details have been outlined in the foregoing. The report configuration may, inter alia, be indicative of format and / or frequency of measurement reporting.

[0123] 1340 indicates reception, in the radio node 1302, of a message indicative of a measurement request for sensing the environment, i.e., to receive echoes of the sensing signal as transmitted by according to the resource configuration 1320 and to obtain measurement based on the reception. The measurement request may in some examples be issued in the measurement configuration 1330, and in alternative embodiments as a separate message. This may correspond to steps 506 and 706.

[0124] 1350 indicates sensing signal transmission by the radio node 1301 configured as RF transmitter and reception in the RF receiver 1302 of echoes of the sensing signal.

[0125] 1360 indicates measurement carried out to, based on receiving the sensing signal. This step may involve obtaining measurement characteristics, which may be obtained based on a channel impulse response. Step 1360 may comprise measurement upon reception based on multiple occasions of reception of the sensing signal. The measurements may be carried out based on measurement instructions in the report configuration 1330.

[0126] 1370 indicates object estimation, which may involve detection of objects or changes related to detected objects, based on the measurement at 1360. The object estimation may be carried out in accordance with the report configuration.

[0127] Steps 1360 and 1370 may correspond to step 507.

[0128] 1380 indicates establishment and transmission of a measurement report, in accordance with the report configuration. This may correspond to steps 508 and 708.

[0129] It may be noted that Fig. 13 relates to a scenario where the report configuration prescribes reporting based on a report periodicity TR where object estimation is carried out based on a configured number of occasions of the sensing signal. In an alternative embodiment, wherein the report configuration prescribes triggered reporting, object estimation 1370 may be carried out upon each occasion of reception and measurement 1360, wherein transmission of the measurement report 1380 is dependent on the respective measurement 1360 based on a report criterion, as described.

[0130] Various aspects and examples related to the proposed solution have been described in the foregoing. It shall be noted that the proposed solution has been exemplified for a few topologies for integrated sensing and communication. Nevertheless, various examples of the proposed solution as described herein are equally applicable to other topologies. The proposed solution may be configured in accordance with any of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method carried out in a radio node of a system for integrated sensing and communication, wherein the method is associated with sensing of an environment of the radio node, wherein the method comprises: receiving (502) resource configuration of a sensing signal; receiving (504) report configuration for establishing a measurement report of measurement data obtained based on receiving the sensing signal according to the resource configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the report configuration controls the radio node to establish the measurement report based on multiple occasions of reception of the sensing signal.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the report configuration configures the radio node to include, in the measurement report, a time stamp associated with obtainment of the measurement data comprised in the measurement report.

4. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the report configuration configures the radio node to include, in the measurement report, determined object identity of estimated objects in the environment based on the measurement data.

5. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the report configuration controls the radio node to include, in the measurement report, a measurement characteristic detected upon receiving the sensing signal.

6. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the report configuration controls the radio node to include, in the measurement report, a determined difference of a measurement characteristic detected at different occasions of receiving the sensing signal.

7. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the report configuration configures the radio node to maintain object identity, of estimated objects in the environment based on the measurement data, in successive measurement reports.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the report configuration comprises an object identity criterion comprising one or more of: a number limit of object identities in the measurement report, an object identity validity time, a number of measurement occasions, and a number of measurement reports, wherein the radio node is configured to refresh object identities upon meeting the object identity criterion.

9. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the report configuration comprises a threshold criterion associated with a measurement characteristic of the measurement data, indicative of a detection of change in the environment.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the report configuration configures the radio node to transmit the measurement report upon determining that the threshold criterion is met.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the report configuration configures the radio node to include the measurement data of an estimated object upon determining that the measurement data meets the threshold criterion.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the control information configures the radio node to transmit: a first measurement report comprising the measurement data of any estimated object detected in the environment; and a second measurement report, having an association with the first measurement report, comprising measurement data only for estimated objects for which the measurement data meets the threshold criterion.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said association is valid within a pre-defined time duration.

14. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the report configuration configures the radio node to transmit the measurement responsive to a measurement request.

15. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the report configuration comprises a timing criterion for transmitting the report.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the timing criterion comprises a report timing or periodicity.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the timing criterion is indicative of a number of occasions of reception of the sensing signal.

18. The method of claim 14 and 15, wherein the timing criterion is indicative of a maximum time from reception of the measurement request to transmission of the measurement report.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the report configuration comprises the measurement request.

20. The method of claim 18, comprising: receiving (506) the measurement request for transmitting the measurement report.

21. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the resource configuration comprises one or more of the following:- a periodicity of the sensing signal- a number of time occasions of transmission of the sensing signal in a period according to the periodicity of the sensing signal;- a bandwidth of the sensing signal;- resource allocation structure of a sensing signal.

22. The method of any preceding claim, comprising:determining (507) measurement characteristics upon receiving the sensing signal according to the resource allocation.

23. The method of any preceding claim, comprising: transmitting (508) at least one measurement report based on the report configuration.

24. The method of any preceding claim, comprising: transmitting (500), to a wireless network of the communication system, capability information of the radio node related to integrated sensing and communication.

25. A radio node of a system for integrated sensing and communication, comprising: a radio transceiver (613); and logic circuitry (610) configured to control the radio node to: receive resource configuration of a sensing signal; receive report configuration for establishing a measurement report of measurement data obtained based on receiving the sensing signal according to the resource configuration.

26. The radio node of claim 25, wherein the logic circuitry is further configured to control the radio node to carry out the steps in accordance with any of claims 2-24.

27. A method carried out in a network node of a system for integrated sensing and communication, wherein the method is associated with sensing of an environment of a radio node, wherein the method comprises: transmitting (704) report configuration for configuring the radio node to establish a measurement report of measurement data obtained based on receiving sensing signal according to a predetermined resource configuration.

28. The method of claim 27, comprising: obtaining (700) capability information of the radio node related to integrated sensing and communication,wherein the report configuration is configured based on the capability information.

29. The method of claim 27 or 28, comprising: determining (702) the resource configuration for the sensing signal.

30. The method of any of claims 27-29, comprising: determining (706) a request for sensing to the radio node.

31. The method of any of claims 27-30, comprising: receiving (708) at least one measurement report, configured based on the report configuration, from the radio node.

32. The method of any of claims 27-31, wherein the report configuration is configured to control the radio node to establish the measurement report based on multiple occasions of reception of the sensing signal.

33. The method of any of claims 27-32, wherein the report configuration is configured to control the radio node to include, in the measurement report, a time stamp associated with obtainment of the measurement data comprised in the measurement report.

34. The method of any of claims 27-33, wherein the report configuration is configured to control the radio node to include, in the measurement report, determined object identity of estimated objects in the environment based on the measurement data.

35. The method of any of claims 27-34, wherein the report configuration is configured to control the radio node to include, in the measurement report, a measurement characteristic detected upon receiving the sensing signal.

36. The method of any of claims 27-35, wherein the report configuration is configured to control the radio node to include, in the measurement report, a determineddifference of a measurement characteristic detected at different occasions of receiving the sensing signal.

37. The method of any of claims 27-36, wherein the report configuration is configured to control the radio node to maintain object identity, of estimated objects in the environment based on the measurement data, in successive measurement reports.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the report configuration comprises an object identity criterion comprising one or more of: a number limit of object identities in the measurement report, an object identity validity time, a number of measurement occasions, and a number of measurement reports, wherein the radio node is configured to refresh object identities upon meeting the object identity criterion.

39. The method of any of claims 27-38, wherein the report configuration comprises a threshold criterion associated with a measurement characteristic of the measurement data, indicative of a detection of change in the environment.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the report configuration is configured to control the radio node to transmit the measurement report upon determining that the threshold criterion is met.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the report configuration is configured to control the radio node to include the measurement data of an estimated object upon determining that the measurement data meets the threshold criterion.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the control information is configured to control the radio node to transmit: a first measurement report comprising the measurement data of any estimated object detected in the environment; and a second measurement report, having an association with the first measurement report, comprising measurement data only for estimated objects for which the measurement data meets the threshold criterion.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said association is valid within a pre-defined time duration.

44. The method of any of claims 27-43, wherein the report configuration is configured to control the radio node to transmit the measurement responsive to a measurement request.

45. The method of any of claims 27-44, wherein the report configuration comprises a timing criterion for transmitting the report.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the timing criterion comprises a report timing or periodicity.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the timing criterion is indicative of a number of occasions of reception of the sensing signal.

48. The method of claim 44 and 45, wherein the timing criterion is indicative of a maximum time from reception of the measurement request to transmission of the measurement report.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the report configuration comprises the measurement request.

50. A network node (800) in a system for integrated sensing and communication, comprising: a communication interface (813); and logic circuitry (810) configured to control the network node to transmit, using the communication interface, report configuration for configuring a radio node to establish a measurement report of measurement data obtained based on receiving sensing signal according to a predetermined resource configuration.

51. The network node of claim 50, wherein the logic circuitry is further configured to control the network node to carry out the steps in accordance with any of claims 28-49.

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