Techniques for a sensing procedure based at least in part on a near-field wavefront or a near-field radiation pattern

Abstract

Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to receiving (1302) a configuration for sensing measurement and reporting, based on one or more sensing signals. Aspects of the present disclosure may relate to determining (1304) a path based at least in part on a reception and measurement of the one or more sensing signals and storing context information associated with the path, wherein the context information includes a plurality of path parameters associated with different measurement instances. Aspects of the present disclosure may further relate to determining (1306) a modification of one or more path characteristics, based at least in part on the context information, and transmitting a report based at least in part on the modification.

Description

TECHNIQUES FOR A SENSING PROCEDURE BASED AT LEAST IN PART ON A NEAR-FIELD WAVEFRONT OR A NEAR-FIELDRADIATION PATTERNTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to wireless communications, and more specifically to techniques for performing a sensing procedure based at least in part on a near-field (NF) wavefront or an NF radiation pattern of one or more sensing signals.BACKGROUND

[0002] A wireless communications system may include one or multiple network communication devices, which may be known as a network equipment (NE), supporting wireless communications for one or multiple user communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE), or other suitable terminology. The wireless communications system may support wireless communications with one or multiple user communication devices by utilizing resources of the wireless communication system (e.g., time resources (e.g., symbols, slots, subframes, frames, or the like) or frequency resources (e.g., subcarriers, carriers, or the like). Additionally, the wireless communications system may support wireless communications across various radio access technologies (RATs) including third generation (3G) radio access technology, fourth generation (4G) radio access technology, fifth generation (5G) radio access technology, among other suitable radio access technologies beyond 5G (e.g., 5G-Advanced (5G-A), sixth generation (6G), and others).SUMMARY

[0003] An article “a” before an element is unrestricted and understood to refer to “at least one” of those elements or “one or more” of those elements. The terms “a,” “at least one,” “one or more,” and “at least one of one or more” may be interchangeable. As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as “at least one of’ or “one or more of’ or “one or both of) indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Also, as used herein, the phrase “basedon” shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an example step that is described as “based on condition A” may be based on both a condition A and a condition B without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall be construed in the same manner as the phrase “based at least in part on.” Further, as used herein, including in the claims, a “set” may include one or more elements.

[0004] A radio node for wireless communication is described. In some examples, the radio node may implement, or may be implemented by, a UE or an NE. The radio node may be configured to, capable of, or operable to receive a configuration for a sensing procedure, based on one or more sensing signals; perform the sensing procedure based at least in part on an NF wavefront or an NF radiation pattern of the one or more sensing signals; and transmit a report based at least in part on the sensing procedure.

[0005] A processor for wireless communication is described. The processor may be configured to, capable of, or operable to receive a configuration for a sensing procedure, based on one or more sensing signals; perform the sensing procedure based at least in part on an NF wavefront or an NF radiation pattern of the one or more sensing signals; and transmit a report based at least in part on the sensing procedure.

[0006] A method performed or performable by a radio node is described. In some examples, the method may be implemented by a UE or an NE. The method may include receiving a configuration for a sensing procedure, based on one or more sensing signals; performing the sensing procedure based at least in part on an NF wavefront or an NF radiation pattern of the one or more sensing signals; and transmitting a report based at least in part on the sensing procedure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0008] Figure 2 illustrates an example of a protocol stack in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0009] Figure 3 illustrates an example of NF and far-field (FF) regions in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0010] Figure 4A illustrates an example of a first set of sensing scenarios for a radio sensing operation , in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0011] Figure 4B illustrates an example of a second set of sensing scenarios for a radio sensing operation, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0012] Figure 5A illustrates an example of a tight coupling Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) network architecture, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0013] Figure 5B illustrates another example of a tight coupling ISAC network architecture, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0014] Figure 5C illustrates an example of an ISAC network architecture where the sensing function (SF) is co-located with the location management function (LMF), in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0015] Figure 5D illustrates an example of a loose coupling ISAC network architecture, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0016] Figure 6 illustrates an example of a sensing scenario for a target object based on transmission and reception / measurement on two NF beams in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 7 illustrates an example of a sensing scenario for a target object based on reflection and reception / measurement on at least two NF beams in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 8 illustrates an example of a positioning scenario for a target UE based on transmission and reception / measurement on two NF beams in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 9 illustrates an example of a positioning scenario for a target UE based on reflection and reception / measurement on two NF beams in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0020] Figure 10 illustrates an example of a UE in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 11 illustrates an example of a processor in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 12 illustrates an example of a network equipment (NE) in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 13 illustrates a flowchart of a method performed by a radio node in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Radio-based environment sensing allows for improved network performance of the cellular wireless networks, as well as enabling the cellular wireless networks to serve vertical use-cases, e.g., where sensing information is obtained (and exposed to the requesting entity) by the wireless communication network. As such, a radio sensing measurement procedure intends to generate and collect measurements to obtain sensing information of the target objects / environment and / or the involved radio nodes. Examples of the acquired sensing information (also referred to as “sensing results”) includes, but is not limited to, information of position, velocity, direction / heading, orientation, radar crosssection (RCS), shape, material / composite, etc., of a target object and / or of a participating radio node.

[0025] Such sensing information may be obtained by means of a combination of the one or multiple of: z) the transmission of a sensing signal (e.g., a reference signal such as downlink (DL) channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) or a DL and / or sidelink (SL) positioning reference signal (PRS), uplink (UL) sounding reference signal (SRS) or a sensing-dedicated reference signal (RS), etc.) from a network or UE entity (hereafter referred to as the “sensing Tx node”); and it) the reception of the transmitted sensing signal impacted by the environment (e.g., reflected, refracted, scattered, blocked / attenuated, etc.) by a network or a UE entity (hereafter referred to as “sensing Rx node”); and Hi) the processing of the received reflections and inferring relevant information from the environment.

[0026] Accordingly, the sensing measurement process may include: z) one or multiple (static or mobile) sensing Tx nodes with known sensing information or with (partially) unknown sensing information (e.g., known or unknown position); it) one or multiple (static or mobile) sensing Rx nodes with known or (partially) unknown sensing information (e.g.,known or unknown position); Hi) one or multiple (static or mobile) objects / reflectors with known or (partially) unknown sensing information (e.g., known or unknown position, presence, RCS, etc.); or a combination thereof.

[0027] When the radio nodes are available and capable of performing sensing transmission and reception for a target located at the NF region of the radio nodes, then the NF focusing of the transmission / reception beams can be constructively utilized to assist the sensing measurements, e.g., for detection and / or positioning of a sensing target object. Specifically, the spherical Tx beam may generate a focus point / area. The distinction to the FF beam pattern is the fact that the NF pattern can be controlled also with distance / depth dependency (in addition to the angle, which is the usual case in FF pattern).

[0028] This feature can be useful for sensing, where the NF beam pattern, in addition to the AoD / ZoD information, also informs on the distance between the transmission point and the focus point. Hence, when sensing and / or monitoring an area at an NF of a transmitter node, the description of a spherical / NF beam, including information on the focus point / area, may also be communicated to the sensing controller (i.e., to enable interpreting the sensing measurement).

[0029] Moreover, when considering the NF beam pattern for a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) (e.g., a reconfigurable reflecting surface), the codebook describing the RIS reflection may be defined jointly for (any combination of) an FF or NF incidence beam pattern and FF or NF reflection beam pattern (e.g., a reflection codebook for a RIS for which the source is at the FF region but the destination is at the NF of the RIS). From the sensing perspective, the latter case is useful as it allows for additional information obtained when a target and / or a sensing Tx node is located at the NF region of a RIS.

[0030] In some interpretations, the NF region of a radio node is understood as an area or collection of points which are closer than a specific radius / distance to the radio node. For example, the NF region may be defined as a collection of points for the placement of a second radio node for which the perceived angle of arrival and / or angle of departure associated with the rays initiated from the first radio node and terminated at the second radio node are not identical, or differ with at least a threshold of angle difference. Alternatively, the NF region may be defined as a collection of points for the placement of a second radio node, at which the received phase-difference at two antennas (of the second radio node) of a ray initiated from the first radio node and terminated at the second radionode is not linearly dependent on the distance between the said two antennas of the second radio node, or a combination thereof.

[0031] Aspects of the present disclosure enable utilization of the additional information due to the NF wavefront of a beam for sensing / positioning of a target. In certain aspects, the sensing operation may include communication of the utilized NF beam / radiation geometry / pattem between the radio node and the controller entity of the sensing operation responsible, at least in part, for the computation of the sensing results based on the obtained sensing measurements (i.e., by the sensing measurement function (SensMF)).

[0032] In certain aspects, the sensing operation may include the description of the relevant radiation patterns (as transmission, reception) which can be shared with SensMF, including codebook parameters describing an NF beam pattern, a joint NF / FF codebook definition for reflection at a RIS.

[0033] Aspects of the present disclosure are described in the context of a wireless communications system.

[0034] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system 100 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system 100 may include one or more NE 102, one or more UE 104, and a core network (CN) 106. The wireless communications system 100 may support various radio access technologies. In some implementations, the wireless communications system 100 may be a 4G network, such as a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network or an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network. In some other implementations, the wireless communications system 100 may be aNew Radio (NR) network, such as a 5G network, a 5G- Advanced (5G-A) network, or a 5G ultrawideband (5G-UWB) network.

[0035] In other implementations, the wireless communications system 100 may be a combination of a 4G network and a 5G network, or other suitable radio access technology (RAT) including Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20. The wireless communications system 100 may support radio access technologies beyond 5G, for example, 6G. Additionally, the wireless communications system 100 may support technologies, such as time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), or code division multiple access (CDMA), etc.

[0036] The one or more NE 102 may be dispersed throughout a geographic region to form the wireless communications system 100. One or more of the NE 102 described herein may be or include or may be referred to as a network node, a base station, a network element, a network function, a network entity, a radio access network (RAN), a NodeB, an eNodeB (eNB), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), or other suitable terminology. An NE 102 and a UE 104 may communicate via a communication link, which may be a wireless or wired connection. For example, an NE 102 and a UE 104 may perform wireless communication (e.g., receive signaling, transmit signaling) over a Uu interface.

[0037] An NE 102 may provide a geographic coverage area for which the NE 102 may support services for one or more UEs 104 within the geographic coverage area. For example, an NE 102 and a UE 104 may support wireless communication of signals related to services (e.g., voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, etc.) according to one or multiple radio access technologies. In some implementations, anNE 102 may be moveable, for example, a satellite associated with a non-terrestrial network (NTN). In some implementations, different geographic coverage areas associated with the same or different radio access technologies may overlap, but the different geographic coverage areas may be associated with different NE 102.

[0038] The one or more UE 104 may be dispersed throughout a geographic region of the wireless communications system 100. A UE 104 may include or may be referred to as a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a remote device, a subscriber device, a transmitter device, a receiver device, or some other suitable terminology. In some implementations, the UE 104 may be referred to as a unit, a station, a terminal, or a client, among other examples. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE 104 may be referred to as an intemet-of-things (loT) device, an intemet-of-everything (loE) device, or machine-type communication (MTC) device, among other examples.

[0039] A UE 104 may be able to support wireless communication directly with other UEs 104 over a communication link. For example, a UE 104 may support wireless communication directly with another UE 104 over a device -to-de vice (D2D) communication link. In some implementations, such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) deployments, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) deployments, or cellular-V2X deployments, the communication link may be referred to as a sidelink. For example, a UE 104 may support wireless communication directly with another UE 104 over a PC5 interface.

[0040] An NE 102 may support communications with the CN 106, or with another NE 102, or both. For example, an NE 102 may interface with other NE 102 or the CN 106 through one or more backhaul links (e.g., SI, N2, N3, or network interface). In some implementations, the NE 102 may communicate with each other directly. In some other implementations, the NE 102 may communicate with each other or indirectly (e.g., via the CN 106). In some implementations, one or more NE 102 may include subcomponents, such as an access network entity, which may be an example of an access node controller (ANC). An ANC may communicate with the one or more UEs 104 through one or more other access network transmission entities, which may be referred to as a radio heads, smart radio heads, or transmission-reception points (TRPs).

[0041] The CN 106 may support user authentication, access authorization, tracking, connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. The CN 106 may be an evolved packet core (EPC), or a 5G core (5GC), which may include a control plane entity that manages access and mobility (e.g., a mobility management entity (MME), an access and mobility management functions (AMF)) and a user plane entity that routes packets or interconnects to external networks (e.g., a serving gateway (S-GW), a Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), or a user plane function (UPF)). In some implementations, the control plane entity may manage non-access stratum (NAS) functions, such as mobility, authentication, and bearer management (e.g., data bearers, signal bearers, etc.) for the one or more UEs 104 served by the one or more NE 102 associated with the CN 106.

[0042] The CN 106 may communicate with a packet data network over one or more backhaul links (e.g., via an SI, N2, N3, or another network interface). The packet data network may include an application server. In some implementations, one or more UEs 104 may communicate with the application server. A UE 104 may establish a session (e.g., a protocol data unit (PDU) session, or a PDN connection, or the like) with the CN 106 via an NE 102. The CN 106 may route traffic (e.g., control information, data, and the like) between the UE 104 and the application server using the established session (e.g., the established PDU session). The PDU session may be an example of a logical connection between the UE 104 and the CN 106 (e.g., one or more network functions of the CN 106).

[0043] In the wireless communications system 100, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may use resources of the wireless communications system 100 (e.g., time resources (e.g., symbols, slots, subframes, frames, or the like) or frequency resources (e.g., subcarriers,carriers)) to perform various operations (e.g., wireless communications). In some implementations, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support different resource structures. For example, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support different frame structures. In some implementations, such as in 4G, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support a single frame structure. In some other implementations, such as in 5G and among other suitable radio access technologies, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support various frame structures (i.e., multiple frame structures). The NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support various frame structures based on one or more numerologies.

[0044] One or more numerologies may be supported in the wireless communications system 100, and a numerology may include a subcarrier spacing and a cyclic prefix. A first numerology (e.g., ^=0) may be associated with a first subcarrier spacing (e.g., 15 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix. In some implementations, the first numerology (e.g., i =0) associated with the first subcarrier spacing (e.g., 15 kHz) may utilize one slot per subframe. A second numerology (e.g., ju=l) may be associated with a second subcarrier spacing (e.g., 30 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix. A third numerology (e.g., i=2) may be associated with a third subcarrier spacing (e.g., 60 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix or an extended cyclic prefix. A fourth numerology (e.g., ju=3) may be associated with a fourth subcarrier spacing (e.g., 120 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix. A fifth numerology (e.g., i=4) may be associated with a fifth subcarrier spacing (e.g., 240 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix.

[0045] A time interval of a resource (e.g., a communication resource) may be organized according to frames (also referred to as radio frames). Each frame may have a duration, for example, a 10 millisecond (ms) duration. In some implementations, each frame may include multiple subframes. For example, each frame may include 10 subframes, and each subframe may have a duration, for example, a 1 ms duration. In some implementations, each frame may have the same duration. In some implementations, each subframe of a frame may have the same duration.

[0046] Additionally, or alternatively, a time interval of a resource (e.g., a communication resource) may be organized according to slots. For example, a subframe may include a number (e.g., quantity) of slots. The number of slots in each subframe may also depend on the one or more numerologies supported in the wireless communications system 100. For instance, the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth numerologies (i.e., jU=O, ju=l, ju=2, fi=3, jU=4) associated with respective subcarrier spacings of 15 kHz, 30 kHz, 60kHz, 120 kHz, and 240 kHz may utilize a single slot per subframe, two slots per subframe, four slots per subframe, eight slots per subframe, and 16 slots per subframe, respectively.

[0047] Each slot may include a number (e.g., quantity) of symbols (e.g., orthogonal frequency domain multiplexing (OFDM) symbols). In some implementations, the number (e.g., quantity) of slots for a subframe may depend on a numerology. For a normal cyclic prefix, a slot may include 14 symbols. For an extended cyclic prefix (e.g., applicable for 60 kHz subcarrier spacing), a slot may include 12 symbols. The relationship between the number of symbols per slot, the number of slots per subframe, and the number of slots per frame for a normal cyclic prefix and an extended cyclic prefix may depend on a numerology. It should be understood that reference to a first numerology (e.g., i=0) associated with a first subcarrier spacing (e.g., 15 kHz) may be used interchangeably between subframes and slots.

[0048] In the wireless communications system 100, an electromagnetic (EM) spectrum may be split, based on frequency or wavelength, into various classes, frequency bands, frequency channels, etc. By way of example, the wireless communications system 100 may support one or multiple operating frequency bands, such as frequency range designations FR1 (410 MHz - 7.125 GHz), FR2 (24.25 GHz - 52.6 GHz), FR3 (7.125 GHz - 24.25 GHz), FR4 (52.6 GHz - 114.25 GHz), FR4a or FR4-1 (52.6 GHz - 71 GHz), and FR5 (114.25 GHz - 300 GHz). In some implementations, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may perform wireless communications over one or more of the operating frequency bands. In some implementations, FR1 may be used by the NEs 102 and the UEs 104, among other equipment or devices for cellular communications traffic (e.g., control information, data). In some implementations, FR2 may be used by the NEs 102 and the UEs 104, among other equipment or devices for short-range, high data rate capabilities.

[0049] FR1 may be associated with one or multiple numerologies (e.g., at least three numeral ogies). For example, FR1 may be associated with a first numerology (e.g., jU=O), which includes 15 kHz subcarrier spacing; a second numerology (e.g., ^ =1), which includes 30 kHz subcarrier spacing; and a third numerology (e.g., jU=2), which includes 60 kHz subcarrier spacing. FR2 may be associated with one or multiple numerologies (e.g., at least 2 numerologies). For example, FR2 may be associated with a third numerology (e.g., ^=2), which includes 60 kHz subcarrier spacing; and a fourth numerology (e.g., jU=3), which includes 120 kHz subcarrier spacing.

[0050] Wireless communication in unlicensed spectrum (also referred to as “shared spectrum”) in contrast to licensed spectrum offer some obvious cost advantages allowing communication to obviate overlaying operator’s licensed spectrum and rather use license free spectrum according to local regulation in specific geographies. From the third generation partnership project (3GPP) technology perspective, the unlicensed operation can be on the Uu interface (referred to as NR-U) or also on sidelink interface (e.g., SL-U).

[0051] For initial access, a UE 104 detects a candidate cell and performs downlink (DL) synchronization. For example, the gNB (e.g., an embodiment of the NE 102) may transmit a synchronization signal and physical broadcast channel (SS / PBCH) transmission, referred to as a synchronization signal block (SSB). In various embodiments, the SSB comprises the primary synchronization signal (PSS), the secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and the master information block (MIB). The synchronization signal (i.e., comprising the PSS and SSS) is a predefined data sequence known to the UE 104 (or derivable using information already stored at the UE 104) and is in a predefined location in time relative to frame / subframe boundaries, etc. The UE 104 searches for the SSB and uses the SSB to obtain DL timing information (e.g., symbol timing) for the DL synchronization. The UE 104 may also decode system information (SI) based on the SSB. Note that with beam -based communication, each DL beam may be associated with a respective SSB.

[0052] After performing DL synchronization and acquiring essential system information, such as the MIB and the system information block type 1 (SIB 1), the UE 104 performs uplink (UL) synchronization and resource request by performing a random -access procedure, referred to as “RACH procedure” by selecting and transmitting a preamble on the physical random access channel (PRACH). The PRACH preamble is transmitted during a random access channel (RACH) occasion, i.e., a predetermined set of time-frequency resources that are available for the reception of the PRACH preamble. Note that with beambased communication, the UE 104 may select a certain DL beam and transmit the PRACH preamble on a corresponding UL beam. In such embodiments, there may be a mapping between SSB and RACH occasion, allowing the network to determine which beam the UE 104 has selected.

[0053] In 3GPP New Radio (NR), the gNB may transmit the maximum 64 SSBs and the maximum 64 corresponding copies of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and / or physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) for delivery of SIB1 in high frequencybands (e.g., 28 GHz). This may cause significant network energy consumption even for a very low traffic load condition. According to 3GPP Technical Report (TR) 38.864 (vl8.1.0), for network energy savings, on-demand SSB and / or SIB1 (SSB / SIB1) transmissions and a cell without SSB / SIB 1 transmission were considered. When a cell does not transmit SSB / SIB 1, for a UE 104 to access the cell, the UE 104 should obtain SI of the cell from other associated carriers / cells and synchronize from other associated carriers / cells. When a cell is in a long period of cell inactivity, a UE 104 served by the cell can trigger SSB / SIB 1 transmissions by sending a request to the cell.

[0054] Figure 2 illustrates an example of a protocol stack 200, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. While Figure 2 shows a UE 206, a RAN node 208, and a 5G core network (5GC) 210 (e.g., comprising at least an AMF), these are representative of a set of UEs 104 interacting with an NE 102 (e.g., base station) and a CN 106. As depicted, the protocol stack 200 comprises a user plane protocol stack 202 and a control plane protocol stack 204. The user plane protocol stack 202 includes a physical (PHY) layer 212, a medium access control (MAC) sublayer 214, a radio link control (RLC) sublayer 216, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) sublayer 218, and a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) sublayer 220. The control plane protocol stack 204 includes a PHY layer 212, a MAC sublayer 214, an RLC sublayer 216, and a PDCP sublayer 218. The control plane protocol stack 204 also includes a radio resource control (RRC) layer 222 and a non- access stratum (NAS) layer 224.

[0055] The access stratum (AS) layer 226 (also referred to as “AS protocol stack”) for the user plane protocol stack 202 consists of at least SDAP, PDCP, RLC and MAC sublayers, and the physical layer. The AS layer 228 for the control plane protocol stack 204 consists of at least RRC, PDCP, RLC and MAC sublayers, and the physical layer. The layer-1 (LI) includes the PHY layer 212. The layer-2 (L2) is split into the SDAP sublayer 220, PDCP sublayer 218, RLC sublayer 216, and MAC sublayer 214. The layer-3 (L3) includes the RRC layer 222 and the NAS layer 224 for the control plane and includes, e.g., an internet protocol (IP) layer and / or PDU Layer (not depicted) for the user plane. LI and L2 are referred to as “lower layers,” while L3 and above (e.g., transport layer, application layer) are referred to as “higher layers” or “upper layers.”

[0056] The PHY layer 212 offers transport channels to the MAC sublayer 214. The PHY layer 212 may perform a beam failure detection procedure using energy detectionthresholds, as described herein. In certain embodiments, the PHY layer 212 may send an indication of beam failure to a MAC entity at the MAC sublayer 214. The MAC sublayer 214 offers logical channels to the RLC sublayer 216. The RLC sublayer 216 offers RLC channels to the PDCP sublayer 218. The PDCP sublayer 218 offers radio bearers to the SDAP sublayer 220 and / or RRC layer 222. The SDAP sublayer 220 offers QoS flows to the core network (e.g., the 5GC 210). The RRC layer 222 provides for the addition, modification, and release of carrier aggregation and / or dual connectivity. The RRC layer 222 also manages the establishment, configuration, maintenance, and release of signaling radio bearers (SRBs) and data radio bearers (DRBs).

[0057] The NAS layer 224 is between the UE 206 and an AMF in the 5GC 210. NAS messages are passed transparently through the RAN. The NAS layer 224 is used to manage the establishment of communication sessions and for maintaining continuous communications with the UE 206 as it moves between different cells of the RAN. In contrast, the AS layers 226 and 228 are between the UE 206 and the RAN (i.e., RAN node 208) and carry information over the wireless portion of the network. While not depicted in Figure 2, the IP layer exists above the NAS layer 224, a transport layer exists above the IP layer, and an application layer exists above the transport layer.

[0058] The MAC sublayer 214 is the lowest sublayer in the L2 architecture of the NR protocol stack. Its connection to the PHY layer 212 below is through transport channels, and the connection to the RLC sublayer 216 above is through logical channels. The MAC sublayer 214 therefore performs multiplexing and demultiplexing between logical channels and transport channels: the MAC sublayer 214 in the transmitting side constructs MAC PDUs (also known as transport blocks (TBs)) from MAC service data units (SDUs) received through logical channels, and the MAC sublayer 214 in the receiving side recovers MAC SDUs from MAC PDUs received through transport channels.

[0059] The MAC sublayer 214 provides a data transfer service for the RLC sublayer 216 through logical channels, which are either control logical channels which carry control data (e.g., RRC signaling) or traffic logical channels which carry user plane data. On the other hand, the data from the MAC sublayer 214 is exchanged with the PHY layer 212 through transport channels, which are classified as UL or downlink (DL). Data is multiplexed into transport channels depending on how it is transmitted over the air.

[0060] The PHY layer 212 is responsible for the actual transmission of data and control information via the air interface, i.e., the PHY layer 212 carries all information from the MAC transport channels over the air interface on the transmission side. Some of the important functions performed by the PHY layer 212 include coding and modulation, link adaptation (e.g., adaptive modulation and coding (AMC)), power control, cell search and random access (for initial synchronization and handover purposes) and other measurements (inside the 3 GPP system (i.e., NR and / or LTE system) and between systems) for the RRC layer 222. The PHY layer 212 performs transmissions based on transmission parameters, such as the modulation scheme, the coding rate (i.e., the modulation and coding scheme (MCS)), the number of physical resource blocks (PRBs), etc.

[0061] In some embodiments, the protocol stack 200 may be an NR protocol stack used in a 5G NR system. Note that an LTE protocol stack comprises similar structure to the protocol stack 200, with the differences that the LTE protocol stack lacks the SDAP sublayer 220 in the AS layer 226, that an EPC replaces the 5GC 210, and that the NAS layer 224 is between the UE 206 and an MME in the EPC. Also note that the present disclosure distinguishes between a protocol layer (such as the aforementioned PHY layer 212, MAC sublayer 214, RLC sublayer 216, PDCP sublayer 218, SDAP sublayer 220, RRC layer 222 and NAS layer 224) and a transmission layer in multiple -input multiple -output (MIMO) communication (also referred to as a “MIMO layer” or a “data stream”).

[0062] The NF and FF refer to regions of the electromagnetic (EM) field around an object, such as a transmitting antenna, or the result of radiation scattering off an object. Non-radiative NF behaviors dominate close to the antenna or scatterer, while electromagnetic radiation FF behaviors predominate at greater distances.

[0063] Figure 3 depicts an example of an electromagnetic signal 300 having an NF region 302, a transition zone 304, and an FF region 306 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The boundary between the NF and FF regions is not constant across all antennas, as it depends on the dominant wavelength emitted by the source and the size of the radiating element.

[0064] The NF region 302 refers to places near the antenna conductors, or inside any polarizable media surrounding it, where the generation and emission of electromagnetic waves can be interfered with while the field lines remain electrically attached to the antenna. The electric and magnetic fields can exist independently of each other in the NFregion 302, and one type of field can be disproportionately larger than the other, in different subregions.

[0065] The NF region 302 may be further divided into a reactive NF region and a radiative NF region. In the reactive NF region (nearest to the antenna), an interaction with the medium (e.g., body capacitance) can cause energy to deflect back to the source feeding the antenna. In the radiative NF region (further away from the antenna), an interaction with the medium can fail to return energy back to the source, but cause a distortion in the electromagnetic wave that deviates significantly from that found in free space.

[0066] The transition zone 304 can either be considered the furthest part of the NF region 302, or the nearest part of the FF region 306. The transition zone 304 may be defined based on antenna geometry and excitation wavelength. In some embodiments, the transition zone 304 is approximately one wavelength from the antenna. The electric and magnetic parts of the radiated waves first balance out in the transition zone 304. In one example, the electric field of a linear antenna gains its corresponding magnetic field in the transition zone 304. In another example, the magnetic field of a loop antenna gains its electric field in the transition zone 304.

[0067] In contrast, the FF region 306 is the region in which the field has settled into "normal" electromagnetic radiation. The FF region 306 is dominated by transverse electric or magnetic fields with electric dipole characteristics. In the FF region of an antenna, radiated power decreases as the square of distance, and absorption of the radiation does not feed back to the transmitter. In some embodiments, the FF region 306 begins approximately two wavelengths from the antenna and extends to infinity.

[0068] To improve the sensing procedure, the present disclosure describes techniques and procedures for performing a sensing procedure based at least in part on an NF wavefront or an NF radiation pattern of one or more sensing signals.

[0069] Regarding network-based and UE-based (i.e., SL-based) radio sensing operations, different scenarios for radio sensing are presented in Figures 4A and 4B. In some scenarios of radio sensing, the network configures the participating sensing entities, i.e., network and UE nodes acting as sensing Tx nodes, network and UE nodes acting as sensing Rx nodes, as well as the configuration of sensing RS and necessary measurements and reporting procedures from the nodes. In this regard, the functional split between thenetwork and the UE nodes for a specific sensing task may take various forms, depending on the availability of sensing-capable devices and the requirements of the specific sensing operation.

[0070] Figure 4A depicts possibilities for sensing scenarios for a radio sensing operation 400 where a RAN entity performs a sensing RS transmission, according to embodiments of the disclosure. In the scenarios of Figure 4A, sensing RS reception is performed by one or more UEs, one or more RAN entities, or a combination thereof. The radio sensing operation 400 may involve a first RAN entity 402 (e.g., a gNB or network TRP node), a second RAN entity 404 (e.g., a gNB or a network TRP node), and / or a set of at least one UE (represented by the first UE 406).

[0071] In various embodiments, the radio sensing operation 400 is used to detect and locate an object of interest 408. In general, a Radio-based sensing transmission 410 is performed by the first RAN entity 402. While the below examples describe the Radiobased sensing transmission 410 using a sensing reference signal (“sensing RS”) 412, in other embodiments the Radio-based sensing transmission 410 may be a transmission of another RS or instead may be a transmission of the data / control channels known to the network TRP nodes.

[0072] In a first sensing scenario (also referred to herein as “Case I”), the Radio-based sensing transmission 410 is performed by a first network node (i.e., the first RAN entity 402) and the Radio-based sensing reception 416 is performed by a separate network node (i.e., the second RAN entity 404). In this case, the sensing RS 412 (or another RS used for sensing) is transmitted and a reflection / backscatter signal 414 is received by network entities. The network does not utilize UEs for sensing assistance in this scenario. Rather, the involvement of UE nodes (i.e., first UE 406) is limited to the aspects of interference management, when necessary.

[0073] In a second sensing scenario (also referred to herein as “Case II”), the Radiobased sensing transmission 410 is performed by a first network node (i.e., the first RAN entity 402) and the Radio-based sensing reception 418 is performed by the same network node. In this case, the sensing RS 412 (or another RS used for sensing) is transmitted and a reflection / backscatter signal 414 is received by the same network entity. The network does not utilize UEs for sensing assistance in this scenario. Rather, the involvement of UEnodes (i.e., first UE 406) is limited to the aspects of interference management, when necessary.

[0074] In a third sensing scenario (also referred to herein as “Case III”), the Radiobased sensing transmission 410 is performed by a first network node (i.e., the first RAN entity 402) and the Radio-based sensing reception 420 is performed by a UE node (i.e., the first UE 406). In this case, the sensing RS 412 (or other RS used for sensing) is transmitted by a network entity and a reflection / backscatter signal 414 is received by one or multiple UE nodes, including the first UE 406. The network configures the UEs to act as a sensing Rx node, according to the UE capabilities for sensing, as well as desired sensing task.

[0075] Figure 4B depicts possibilities for sensing scenarios for a radio sensing operation 430 where a UE performs a sensing RS transmission, according to embodiments of the disclosure. In the scenarios of Figure 4B, sensing RS reception is performed by one or more UEs, one or more RAN entities, or a combination thereof. The radio sensing operation 430 may involve the first UE 406, a set of at least one peer UE (represented by the second UE 432), and / or a set of at least one TRP (represented by the first RAN entity 402).

[0076] In various embodiments, the radio sensing operation 430 is used to detect and locate an object of interest 408. In general, a Radio-based sensing transmission 434 is performed by the first UE 406. While the below examples describe the Radio-based sensing transmission 434 using a sensing RS 436, in other embodiments the Radio-based sensing transmission 434 may be a transmission of another RS or instead may be a transmission of the data / control channels.

[0077] In a fourth sensing scenario (also referred to herein as “Case IV”), the Radiobased sensing transmission 434 is performed by a first UE 406 and the Radio-based sensing reception 440 is performed by a RAN entity (i.e., the first RAN entity 402). In this case, the sensing RS 436 (or another RS transmitted for sensing) is transmitted by a UE node and a reflection / backscatter signal 438 is received by one or multiple network entities. The network configures the transmitting UE (i.e., the first UE 406) to act as a sensing Tx node, according to the UE nodes’ capabilities for sensing, as well as the nature of the desired sensing task.

[0078] In a fifth sensing scenario (also referred to herein as “Case V”), the Radio-based sensing transmission 434 is performed by a first UE 406 and the Radio-based sensing reception 442 is performed by a separate UE (i.e., the second UE 432). In this case, the sensing RS 436 (or another RS transmitted for sensing) is transmitted by a UE node and a reflection / backscatter signal 438 is received by one or multiple UE nodes. The network, or potentially the first UE 406, may decide on configuration of the sensing scenario. In one instance, the network configures the UEs to act as a sensing Tx node and / or sensing Rx nodes, according to the UE nodes capabilities for sensing, as well as the nature of the desired sensing task.

[0079] In a sixth sensing scenario (also referred to herein as “Case VI”), the Radiobased sensing transmission 434 is performed by a first UE 406 and the Radio-based sensing reception 444 is performed by the same UE. In this case, the sensing RS 436 (or another RS transmitted for sensing) is transmitted by a UE node and a reflection / backscatter signal 438 is received by the same UE node. The UE or the network configures the sensing scenario, according to the UE nodes capabilities for sensing, as well as the nature of the desired sensing task.

[0080] The above radio sensing scenarios are described in further detail in U.S. Application 17 / 538,978 entitled “CONFIGURING A SENSING REFERENCE SIGNAL” and filed on November 30, 2021 for Seyedomid Taghizadeh Motlagh, Ali Ramadan Ali, Ankit Bhamri, Sher Ah Cheema, Razvan-Andrei Stoica, Hyejung Jung and Vijay Nangia, and also described in further detail in U.S. Application 17 / 538,998 entitled “SENSING REFERENCE SIGNAL CONFIGURATION” and filed on November 30, 2021 for Seyedomid Taghizadeh Motlagh, Ah Ramadan Ah, Ankit Bhamri, Sher Ah Cheema, Razvan-Andrei Stoica, Hyejung Jung and Vijay Nangia, which applications are incorporated herein by reference.

[0081] Moreover, the above scenarios are not intended to be restricted to a specific UE type, and may include any UE category. In any of the above scenarios, and of the roles elaborated for gNB and / or UE may be replaced (with equal validity for any example of a radio sensing scenario) with any UE or RAN node, e.g., a smart repeater node, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a roadside unit (RSU), etc. In some examples, the set of sensing Tx nodes of a sensing measurement process (and similarly, but may be independently, a sensing Rx nodes of a sensing measurement process) include one or moreof a TRP associated with a gNB-CU / DU, a gNB distributed unit (gNB-DU), a gNB control unit (gNB-CU), a UE, a network controlled repeater (NCR), an IAB node, an RSU, or a dedicated sensing radio. In some embodiments, a sensing Rx node may as well be a non- 3GPP sensor with capability of providing non-3GPP sensing data, or a 3GPP node (e.g., a UE or a RAN node) connected to the non-3GPP sensor and can obtain, process, and transfer the non-3GPP sensing data of the non-3GPP sensor to other 3GPP nodes / entities.

[0082] Integrated sensing and communication may enhance 5G core architecture by introducing a new Sensing Function (SF). Figures 5A-5D present possible combinations leading to the network impact.

[0083] Figure 5A illustrates an example of a tight coupling ISAC network architecture 500 with a unified SF (i.e., where the SF is not split between the control plane (CP) and user plane (UP) domains. As depicted, the SF is communicatively coupled to the Access and Mobility management Function (AMF), the Unified Data Management node (UDM), the Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF), the Location Management Function (LMF), the Policy Control Function (PCF), the Network Exposure Function (NEF), and to the (radio) access network ((R)AN), optionally via the User Plane Function (UPF).

[0084] In the tight coupling ISAC network architecture 500, the SF appears as a dedicated network function handling both: z) the sensing control plane aspects such as the interaction with the sensing consumer via NEF and information exchange with other network functions, forgathering UE information, (i.e., from the AMF, the UDM, the LMF), for gathering UE related policies from the PCF, and for gathering analytics from the NWDAF; and it) the sensing radio signals for performing the analysis or prediction for determining the sensing target.

[0085] Figure 5B illustrates another example of a tight coupling ISAC network architecture 510, where the SF is functionally split / distributed among the CP and UP domains. As depicted, a CP split of the SF (SF-C) is communicatively coupled to the AMF, the UDM, the NWDAF, the LMF, the PCF, and the NEF. Additionally, a UP split of the SF (SF-C) is communicatively coupled to the (R)AN, optionally via the UPF.

[0086] In the tight coupling ISAC network architecture 510 with CP / UP split, the SF has two dedicated network function counter parts: z) SF-C that handles the control plane aspects as described above and zz) SF-U that is responsible for collecting the sensing radiosignals via the user plane, i.e., via the (R)AN and the UPF. The idea of this architecture is to split and offload heavy data volumes associated with sensing radio signals to the user plane to ensure light traffic, i.e., only signaling, in the control plane.

[0087] Figure 5C illustrates an example of an ISAC network architecture 520, where the SF is co-located with the LMF. The SF is communicatively coupled with the LMF, where the co-located nodes are also coupled with the Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) and the AMF. As depicted, the GMLC is additionally coupled with the UDM, the AMF and the NEF. The AMF is additionally coupled with the UDM, the NEF, the (R)AN, and the UE. The NEF is additionally coupled with the application function (AF). The (R)AN is additionally coupled with the UE. The inter-function interfaces (i.e., reference points) are labeled in Figure 5C. In the network architecture 520, the SF (i.e., colocated with the LMF) appears as a logical network function embedded in the LMF to perform sensing taking advantage of the knowledge of a UE location.

[0088] Figure 5D illustrates an example of a loose coupling ISAC network architecture 530, where the SF is communicatively coupled with the (R)AN and with the AF, optionally via the NEF. The SF may optionally be coupled with one or more of: the AMF (directly or via the (R)AN), the NWDAF, the NEF, and the UE (via the (R)AN). The inter-function interfaces (i.e., reference points) are labeled in Figure 5C.

[0089] In the loose coupling ISAC network architecture 530, the SF is independent of the 5G core, i.e., typically used for local field scenarios or private networks, and the interaction with the 5G core is minimal. The main idea is to use SF close to the RAN, i.e., collect and process the sensing radio signals locally, and interact with 5G core for the purpose of exposure via NEF, for getting the UE location from the AMF and for analytics (i.e., NWDAF interaction).

[0090] In another description of controlling a sensing operation, in some example implementations, a sensing controller entity / function (SensMF) is defined which comprises one or multiple of a UE, a RAN node, a gNB / gNB-CU, an LMF, an SF, or a combination thereof, wherein the SensMF performs one or multiple of: A) Receives request for sensing information from a service consumer (e.g., a requesting third party application); B) Determines selection and / or configuration of a sensing operation, including configuration of one or more of a sensing Tx node, sensing Rx node; C) Selects and / or configures the involved nodes for sensing transmission and sensing reception and sensing measurementand reporting of the conducted measurements; D) Collects the sensing measurements; E) Performs or configures or requests computation of the sensing measurements and thereby determines the required sensing information based on the obtained sensing measurements; and / or F) Reports / exposes an obtained sensing information to the entity requesting the sensing information.

[0091] In some examples wherein the SensMF is comprised of multiple nodes / entities, one part of the above-mentioned steps may be implemented by the first part of the SensMF, and the second part of the above steps may be implemented by the second part of the SensMF, e.g., implemented in the SF and gNB. In some examples wherein the SensMF is comprised of multiple nodes / entities, the communication among the SensMF entities is transparent to the outside entities and also not discussed in the related handover procedure embodiments, nevertheless, the communication among the SensMF entities is assumed to be implicit to the overall procedure.

[0092] In some examples, wherein a SensMF is comprised of an SF and a gNB (e.g., serving / head gNB of a related UE to the sensing task or a selected serving gNB for a sensing task), the SF performs the steps A, F, E, D whereas the steps B, C are performed by the selected gNB node. In some other examples, the step B, D are jointly performed by the SF and the selected gNB, wherein a first part of the configuration / configuration determination are performed by the SF and a second part of the configuration / configuration determination is performed by the selected gNB. The SensMF may be a RAN node (e.g., a selected gNB node acting as serving gNB of a sensing task), may be a sensing function (SF) residing in core network, may be a UE, or a combination thereof.

[0093] The following LI measurements are relevant to sensing operation in accordance with the present disclosure: UE Rx-TX time difference; gNB Rx-Tx time difference, DL PRS reference signal received path power (RSRPP), UL SRS RSRPP.

[0094] The UE Rx-Tx time difference is defined as TUE-RX - TUE-TX, where TUE-RX is the UE received timing of downlink subframe #i from a Transmission Point (TP) , defined by the first detected path in time, and where TUE-TX is the UE transmit timing of uplink subframe #j that is closest in time to the subframe #i received from the TP. Note that multiple DL PRS or CSI-RS for tracking resources, as instructed by higher layers, can be used to determine the start of one subframe of the first arrival path of the TP.

[0095] For frequency range #1 (FR1), the reference point for TUE-RX measurement is the Rx antenna connector of the UE and the reference point for TUE-IX measurement is the Tx antenna connector of the UE. For frequency range #2 (FR2), the reference point for TUE-RX measurement is the Rx antenna of the UE and the reference point for TUE-TX measurement is the Tx antenna of the UE. The UE Rx-Tx time difference is applicable to a UE in the RRC CONNECTED state and in the RRC INACTIVE state.

[0096] The gNB Rx-Tx time difference is defined as TSNB-RX - TgNB-ix, where TSNB-RX is the Transmission and Reception Point (TRP) received timing of uplink subframe #i containing SRS associated with UE, defined by the first detected path in time, and where TgNB-Tx is the TRP transmit timing of downlink subframe #j that is closest in time to the subframe #i received from the UE. Multiple SRS resources can be used to determine the start of one subframe containing SRS .

[0097] The reference point for the TSNB-RX shall be: the Rx antenna connector for a type 1-C base station (e.g., as described in 3GPP TS 38.104); the Rx antenna (i.e., the center location of the radiating region of the Rx antenna) for a type 1-0 or 2-0 base station (e.g., as described in 3GPP TS 38. 104), or the Rx Transceiver Array Boundary connector for a type 1-H base station (e.g., as described in 3GPP TS 38.104).

[0098] Similarly, the reference point for the TgNB-ix shall be: the Tx antenna connector for atype 1-C base station (e.g., as described in 3GPP technical specification (TS) 38.104); the Tx antenna (i.e., the center location of the radiating region of the Tx antenna) for a type 1-0 or 2-0 base station (e.g., as described in 3GPP TS 38.104), or the Tx Transceiver Array Boundary connector for a type 1-H base station (e.g., as described in 3GPP TS 38. 104).

[0099] The DL PRS-RSRPP is defined as the power of the linear average of the channel response at the i -th path delay of the resource elements that carry DL PRS signal configured for the measurement, where DL PRS-RSRPP for the 1st path delay is the power contribution corresponding to the first detected path in time.

[0100] For FR1, the reference point for the DL PRS-RSRPP shall be the antenna connector of the UE. For FR2, DL PRS-RSRPP shall be measured based on the combined signal from antenna elements corresponding to a given receiver branch. The UE Rx-Tx time difference is applicable to a UE in the RRC CONNECTED state and in the RRC IN ACTIVE state.

[0101] The UL SRS-RSRPP is defined as the power of the linear average of the channel response at the z-th path delay of the resource elements that carry the received UL SRS signal configured for the measurement, where UL SRS-RSRPP for 1st path delay is the power contribution corresponding to the first detected path in time.

[0102] The reference point for UL SRS-RSRPP shall be: the Rx antenna connector for a type 1-C base station (e.g., as described in 3GPP TS 38.104); based on the combined signal from antenna elements corresponding to a given receiver branch for a type 1-0 or 2- O base station (e.g., as described in 3GPP TS 38.104), or the Rx Transceiver Array Boundary connector for a type 1-H base station (e.g., as described in 3GPP TS 38. 104).

[0103] For FR1 and FR2, if receiver diversity is in use by the gNB for UL SRS-RSRPP measurements, then: 1) The reported UL SRS-RSRPP value for the first and additional paths shall be provided for the same receiver branch(es) as applied for UL SRS-RSRP measurements, or 2) The reported UL SRS-RSRPP value for the first path shall not be lower than the corresponding UL SRS-RSRPP for the first path of any of the individual receiver branches and the reported UL SRS-RSRPP for the additional paths shall be provided for the same receiver branch(es) as applied UL SRS-RSRPP for the first path.

[0104] A SensMF derives sensing results of a sensing task (e.g., of detecting an intruder in a smart home) based on at least a measurement report of a sensing Rx node from a sensing signal transmission of a sensing Tx node. In various embodiments, the sensing results are derived based on an NF beam pattern resulting from spherical wavefront for transmission and / or reception of the sensing signal or reflection of the sensing signal, the location of the sensing Tx node, the location of the sensing Rx node, and the location of the reflection point, wherein the sensing signal is transmitted by the sensing Tx node or reflected by a reflector device utilizing the spherical / NF beam pattern.

[0105] It is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the single embodiment and / or implementation elements individually, and one or more elements from one or more implementations and / or embodiments may be combined to construct a new embodiment. Moreover, applicability / utilization of any of the proposed message exchange, architecture, configuration, measurement, capability information elements within this disclosure is not intended to be restricted to the particularly defined scenario and is intended to be interpreted as applicable for any alternate application / scenario, e.g., not being limited to a sensing measurement scenario and / or a positioning measurement scenario.

[0106] In accordance with aspects of a first solution, a radio node (e.g., UE or NE) is configured to perform a transmission of a signal, a reception of a signal, a reflection of a signal (e.g., of an impinging signal transmitted by a second radio node), according to an outgoing (e.g., transmission, reflecting) beam pattern and / or radiation pattern (hereinafter “beam / radiation pattern”) and / or an incoming (e.g., reception, impinging) beam / radiation pattern. In some embodiments, the second node (i.e., transmitting the impinging signal) may be a RIS that reflects the impinging signal, or an NCR that re-transmits a received signal.

[0107] According to some aspects of the first solution, the transmission / reflection beam / radiation pattern and / or reception / impinging beam / radiation pattern may comprise one or more of the following parameters:

[0108] A transmission and / or reflection angle-of departure (AoD), including a peak and / or center of the transmission / reflection AoD (e.g., a mean angle, a median angle, and / or an average of the highest and lowest AoD values). Also, a beamwidth of AoD, e.g., around the center AoD of E% energy.

[0109] A transmission and / or reflection zenith-of-departure (ZoD), including a peak and / or a center of the transmission / reflection ZoD (e.g., a mean angle, a median angle, and / or an average of the highest and lowest ZoD values). Also, a beamwidth of ZoD, e.g., around the center ZoD of E% energy.

[0110] A joint transmission / reflection beamwidth in azimuth and elevation. In one example, the joint transmission / reflection beam width is defined as the radius of a 2 dimensional (2D) circle with radius R perpendicular to the direction defined via AoD and ZoD covering E% of the transmission / reflection energy.

[0111] A reception and / or incidence angle -of-arrival (AoA), including a peak and / or center of the reception / incidence AoA (e.g., a mean angle, a median angle, and / or an average of the highest and lowest AoA values). Also, a beamwidth of AoA, e.g., around the center AoA of E% energy.

[0112] A reception and / or incidence zenith-of arrival (ZoA), including a peak and / or center of the reception / incidence ZoA (e.g., a mean angle, a median angle, and / or an average of the highest and lowest ZoA values). Also, a beamwidth of ZoA, e.g., around the center ZoA of E% energy.

[0113] A joint reception / incidence beamwidth in azimuth and elevation. In one example, the joint reception / incidence beam width is defined as the radius of a 2D circle with radius R perpendicular to the direction defined via AoA and ZoA covering E% of the reception / incidence energy.

[0114] A transmission and / or reflection focus point (i.e., a point or region of maximum radio frequency (RF) energy). Also, a transmission and / or reflection focus margin (e.g., a 1 dimensional (ID), 2D, or 3-dimensional (3D) area at which the transmission / reflection of a signal from the radio node is received with at least an energy not lower than a difference (e.g., absolute E energy or relative E percentage) to the maximum energy).

[0115] A reception and / or incidence focus point. Also, a reception and / or / reflection focus margin (e.g., a ID, 2D, or 3D area at which the reception / incidence of a signal from the radio node is received with at least an energy not lower than a difference (e.g., absolute E energy or relative E percentage) to the maximum energy).

[0116] An isolation, interference, and / or leakage level between two transmission beams (or reflection beams) from the radio node.

[0117] An isolation, interference, and / or leakage level between two reception beams (or incidence beams) from the radio node.

[0118] Note that the above beam / radiation pattern parameters may be communicated using one or multiple codebook types, according to which the / radiation pattern parameters may be indicated.

[0119] Regarding the NF focus point, this is the point at which the NF beam focusing happens for the transmitter or reflector side (i.e., the point of maximum RF energy). Using polar coordinates, the focus point can be represented with a pair (r, 0). where r is the radial distance from the transmitter and 6 (theta) is the angle (e.g., ZoA / AoA / AoD / ZoD according to a global or local coordinate system).

[0120] As an example, the transmission and / or reflection focus point may be defined as one or multiple points at which the received energy is at maximum (e.g., is greater compared to the points in the neighborhood of the focus point within a distance), as received from transmission / reflection of a signal from the radio node according to the beam / radiation pattern. As another example, the focus point may be defined as one or multiple points of the space wherein the transmission or reflection of the all or subset ofthe elements of the radio node are phase-aligned or coherently combined towards the transmission focus point.

[0121] The reception and / or incidence focus point maybe defined as one or multiple points from which the received energy is at maximum (e.g., is greater compared to the points in the neighborhood of the focus point within a distance), as observed at reception / incidence of a signal at the radio node according to the beam / radiation pattern, a one or multiple points of the space wherein the reception or incidence / reflection of the all or subset of the elements of the radio node are phase-aligned or coherently combined according to the reception focus point).

[0122] According to some aspects of the first solution, the beam / radiation pattern may be defined using one or more of the following descriptions:

[0123] In some embodiments, a beam / radiation pattern is described via a combination of at least two beam / radiation patterns, wherein the combination of the patterns generates the beam / radiation pattern. In some such embodiments, an indication of energy / strength of each radiation pattern is further indicated, e.g., power El for the pattern A and energy E2 for the pattern B, which combined generate the pattern P.

[0124] In some embodiments, at least one pattern of the multiple patterns is associated with a dominant pattern, and the other one or multiple patterns are associated with a sidelobe pattern.

[0125] In some embodiments, one or more patterns of the plurality of patterns define (e.g., are associated with) NF radiation patterns and one or more other patterns of the plurality of patterns define (e.g., are associated with) FF radiation patterns. In some such embodiments, for each of the patterns with NF description and the patterns with FF description or both, an energy / power level is further indicated which defines the portion of the energy / power radiated via the corresponding pattern.

[0126] In some embodiments, a power / energy indication is associated with a combination of at least one NF and one FF pattern, e.g., a radiation with an indicated NF pattern and an indicated FF radiation pattern wherein the NF and FF descriptions are two property / description of the same wave / energy propagation.

[0127] In a first example (Example A), a beam / radiation pattern may be described as a first beam pattern comprising both an NF pattern N1 and an FF pattern Fl with energyportion El, and a second beam pattern comprising an NF pattern N2 and energy portion / level E2, and a third beam pattern comprising an FF pattern F2 and energy / portion level E3. As such, when the indicated beam / radiation pattern is used for transmission, the transmission is performed via the three beam patterns and according to the indicated energy split according to the El, E2, E3.

[0128] In various embodiments, a second beam / radiation pattern may be defined in relation to first beam / radiation pattern, i.e., via a beam relation. In some embodiments, the beam relation includes indication of similarity of the second beam pattern to the first beam pattern, in one or more of (as defined / indicated via a beam relation type, e.g., a quasi-co- location (QCL) type D-NF or QCL type D-NFFF) their FF pattern, their NF pattern, jointly for their NF and FF pattern.

[0129] In some embodiments, the beam relation (or the beam relation type) further indicates a similarity level (e.g., distance of the first (energy-normalized) beam pattern and second (energy-normalized) beam pattern as a function of their angle azimuth / zenith, depth or both, is smaller than a known threshold).

[0130] In some embodiments, when a beam pattern is defined via a plurality of the beam patterns (as defined above), a beam relation / beam relation type may be defined only for one or subset of the beam patterns of the plurality of the beam patterns. For instance, in the above Example A, the beam pattern N 1 may be defined via a beam relation to a first beam pattern or to the NF pattern of the first beam pattern, or to a beam element XI (as a beam pattern of plurality of beam patterns that define the first beam pattern) of a first beam pattern.

[0131] In some embodiments, one or multiple of the above-described beam relations are defined as one or more new QCL types defining the beam relation type as described above.

[0132] In some embodiments, any of the above-mentioned parameters of outgoing or incoming beam / radiations descriptions are indicated (i.e., defined or reported or indicated or configured) via A) the parameters / measurement quantities which explicitly define one or more of the beam description parameters and / or B) the parameters / measurement quantities which implicitly define one or more of the beam description parameters.

[0133] As an example of parameters / measurement quantities that explicitly define the beam description parameters, a SensMF (or sensing procedure controller) may explicitly indicate, to a radio node, a relative or absolute position of the focus point of a beam as parameters defining a Tx beam description. As another example of parameters / measurement quantities that explicitly define the beam description parameters, a radio node may explicitly report the relative or absolute position of the focus point of a beam as parameters defining a Tx beam description.

[0134] As an example of parameters / measurement quantities that implicitly define the beam description parameters, a SensMF (or sensing procedure controller) may explicitly indicate, to a radio node, a Tx beam index, wherein the Tx beam index correspond to one or more of a beam direction, beam width, beam focus point, beam focus area, or a combination thereof. As another example of parameters / measurement quantities that explicitly define the beam description parameters, a radio node may explicitly report the Tx beam index, thereby implicitly defining the beam direction, beam width, beam focus point, beam focus area, or a combination thereof.

[0135] In some embodiments, the parameters describing transmission / reception position, or transmission / reception area, or transmission / reception beam pattern (e.g., focus point / depth, angle, etc.) are defined / indicated according to a global coordinate system. Alternatively, these descriptive parameters may be defined / indicated according to a coordinate system locally known (to the radio node). In other embodiments, these descriptive parameters may be defined / indicated according to a previously known (e.g., measured, or reported, or configured) beam / signal direction, area, focus point, or a combination thereof.

[0136] In some embodiments, one or more parameters of the transmission / reflection beam / radiation pattern and / or reception / impinging beam / radiation pattern are communicated (i.e., defined, or reported, or indicated, or configured) to / by a radio node via one or more indices from a codebook, where the codebook comprise different possible / supported beam / radiation condition / pattems. In further embodiments, the various parameters described herein may be defined using one or multiple codebooks.

[0137] In some embodiment, the indication / reporting of a beam / radiation pattern further comprises an indication of one or more of a codebook type (e.g., codebook of one or more of NF, FF beams, narrow or wide beam width, beam direction of outgoing,incoming, transmission, reception, reflection, incidence, or a combination thereof) from which the beam is indicated (e.g., via a beam ID X from an indicated / selected codebook type Y). As such, the indication of a beam, in some embodiments, comprises an indication of a beam ID and / or one or multiple of beam -defining parameters, in addition to the indication of a codebook type and / or codebook-defining parameters (e.g., a codebook typeX with N number of beams).

[0138] In some embodiments, the codebook type is indicated via an index of a known / pre -configured or a priori communicated table with the radio node. In some embodiments, in addition to one or more index from the table, one or more parameters of the codebook are further indicated (in addition to the indicated codebook) . One example of such a table is depicted as Table 1.Table 1: codebook types and / or the additional parameters defining a codebook

[0139] In some embodiments, some codebook types may be indicated implicitly. For example, when a beam initiation is associated with a transmission, the transmission codebook type may be assumed by the radio node or the controller entity.

[0140] In some embodiments, for each of the indicated codebook types, the expected additional parameter and the parameter format are indicated implicitly, i.e., shall be assumed by the radio node and / or the controller entity. In one example, when the index 7 of the depicted example table in Table 1 is indicated to define the codebook type, the additional parameters are assumed to include beam center focus point of incidence, beam center angle of reflection, number of incidence beams, number of reflection beams, codebook beam angle span / coverage of reflection (e.g., reflection beams covering the range of + / - 60 degrees of AoD, and + / - 40 degrees of ZoD from the center AoD and center ZoD of reflection).

[0141] In some embodiments, the transmission and reception beams are assumed to be identical. In such embodiments, the transmission / reception aspect of a beam / radiation pattern is not indicated.

[0142] In some embodiments, a codebook type may include a joint description of the NF and FF patterns of the beams. For example, a beam of the codebook may be associated with an NF pattern (e.g., focus point / depth) X and an FF pattern (e.g., beam direction azimuth / elevation) Y.

[0143] In some embodiments, the incidence / reception beam / radiation pattern of a radio node and the reflection / transmission beam / radiation pattern of the radio node may be described jointly via a codebook type / ID (e.g., a codebook type of the incidence and reflection beam radiation patterns of a RIS) and / or the joint radiation pattern ID (e.g., an index of the codebook type describing jointly the incidence and reflection radiation patterns of the RIS).

[0144] In some embodiments, the index and / or the codebook type / ID jointly describe: A) the FF beam pattern of the reception / incidence; B) the NF beam pattern of the reception / incidence; C) the FF beam pattern of the transmission / reflection; D) NF beampatern of the transmission / reflection; E) the energy / strength indication of the FF beam patern of the reception / incidence; F) the energy / strength indication of the NF beam patern of the reception / incidence; G) the energy / strength indication of the FF beam patern of the transmission / reflection; H) the energy / strength indication of the NF beam patern of the transmission / reflection; or a combination thereof.

[0145] In one example, where the radio node is a RIS, the beam / radiation index and / or the codebook type / ID jointly describe the NF patern (focus point XI) of the incidence and FF patern of the incidence (incidence beam angle of Yl), one or more power / strength indication of incidence (e.g., separately for NF and FF, or as a ratio between the FF and NF) as well as the NF patern (e.g., focus point X2) of the reflection and FF patern of the reflection (e.g., reflection beam angle of Y2), one or more power / strength indication for reflection (e.g., separately for NF and FF, or as a ratio between the FF and NF), including a power / atenuation level of reflection.

[0146] In some embodiments, for a beam / radiation patern (e.g., transmission / reflection and / or reception / incidence), the indicated / reported one or more parameters may define one or more TRP position / locations associated with the beam / radiation paterns (e.g., one or more position of a RIS / NCR, one or more position of a sensing Tx / Rx nodes).

[0147] In some embodiments, the parameters described above may be communicated from a controller entity (e.g., a gNB, a SensMF, SF, LMF etc.) to the radio node, e.g., as part of the configuration of a one or more of a signal transmission, reflection, reception and / or measurement associated with a sensing procedure.

[0148] In some embodiments, the parameters described above may be communicated from the radio node to a controller entity (e.g., an LMF, SensMF), e.g., as part of the reporting of a measurement, wherein the signal transmission / reception / reflection is done utilizing the indicated beam / radiation patern. In some embodiments, the beam / radiation patern may be utilized at the controller entity for computation of a target UE location, and / or for obtaining sensing information of an object (e.g., object presence, object location, object velocity, etc.).

[0149] In some embodiments, the parameters described above may be communicated from a gNB (or the RAN entity configuring a transmission, reception of the beam / radiation patern) to the controller entity. For example, this may occur when the signal transmissionand reception configurations of one or more radio nodes are done by a RAN node / entity, and then the obtained measurements and assistance information for sensing or positioning are communicated to the SensMF and / or LMF, including description of the NF beam / radiation patterns.

[0150] In some embodiments, a radio node (e.g., TRP, gNB, UE) or a configuring node of the radio node (a gNB configuring a UE, a second gNB, a TRP), transmits capability information to a controller entity (e.g., a sensing controller residing in RAN or in Core or combined, a gNB, a SensMF, SF, LMF etc.). In one embodiment, the capability information indicates the supported transmission / reflection beam / radiation pattern and / or reception / impinging beam / radiation pattern (i.e., the beam / radiation pattem(s) that can be generated and / or processed and / or understood by the radio node.

[0151] In some embodiments, the capability information includes the set of the supported codebooks and / or the associated parameters of the supported codebooks (e.g., as described in Table 1). In one example, the capability information of the radio nodes comprises an indication of the codebooks Cl for the NF beam patterns, and of the codebooks C2, C3 for the FF beam patterns, and of the codebook C4 for the joint NF and FF beam patterns, i.e., with an indicated number of beams, beam / area width parameter for each codebook. As such, the controller entity may select one or more of the radio nodes, and a radiation pattern to be utilized by the radio node(s), at least in part based on the received information of the supported beam / radiation patterns from the radio node(s).

[0152] In some embodiments, as part of the capability information, a radio node may indicate the supported beam angle resolution (i.e., in azimuth), the supported beam resolution (i.e., in zenith), the supported focus point resolution (with “resolution” in this context being interchangeable with bandwidth, focus point area, etc.) in one dimension, focus point resolution in a 2D plane (e.g., according to the radio node’s local coordinate system (LCS)), focus point resolution in a 3D plane (e.g., according to the radio node’s LCS), or number of supported beams are indicated.

[0153] In some embodiments, the capability information may be defined separately for the different properties / parameters (e.g., angle resolution in zenith of resolution R1 and focus point of the x-axis according to the radio node LCS of R2). In some other embodiments, the resolution is defined jointly, for example by defining (e.g., as a resolution class A) a combination of possible resolutions (e.g., enabling a tradeoff between theresolution in zenith and in azimuth, or between the azimuth and focus point resolution in 2D plane of the radio node at distance dl).

[0154] In some embodiments, the transmission / reporting / configuration of a beam pattern to or from the radio node or the node configuring the radio node for transmission / reception via the beam pattern, to the sensing controller entity is done via an interface between two RAN nodes (e.g., an Xn, X2 interface or a logical interface defined for transmission of the configuration / reporting information between a sensing controller residing in RAN and the radio node), or via an interface between a RAN node and the sensing controller entity residing in core (e.g., an enhanced NR positioning protocol A (NRPPa) for sensing, a logical interface (via the AMF or independent to AMF, directly) between the sensing controller entity to the SF). In other embodiments, the transmission / reporting / configuration is done via a DL / UL / SL physical data / control channel (e.g., when the radio node and / or the sensing controller entity is / residing in a UE), or via an interface between a UE and the sensing controller entity residing in core (e.g., a NAS signaling, a signaling via the AMF to the SF).

[0155] In some embodiments, a plurality of beam / radiation patterns (e.g., beam / radiation patterns of a beam sweeping) are described / communicated (e.g., indicated from a controller entity to the radio node, or reported from a radio node to the controller entity) by communicating plurality of the individual beam / radiation patterns, e.g., plurality of transmission beam IDs wherein a beam ID defines a beam illuminating a point / area at an NF of the transmitter node according to a known codebook of NF transmission beams;

[0156] In other embodiments, a plurality of beam / radiation patterns (e.g., beam / radiation patterns of a beam sweeping) are described / communicated (e.g., indicated from a controller entity to the radio node, or reported from a radio node to the controller entity) by communicating a definition / indication of the group of beam / radiation patterns.

[0157] In some embodiments, the description of the group of beams comprises: A) an indication of the end points defining a beam sweep, e.g., the first and last focus point location of the NF beam / radiation patterns (i.e., in a known or indicated direction); B) a number of beams (e.g., total number of beams, or number in a specific direction) of the beam group; C) a beam angle width and / or beam focus area size; and / or D) the end points / vertices / edges of an area where the group of the focus points of the beam group shall be directed to.

[0158] In one embodiment, a group NF beam / radiation paterns is defined with two or multiple focus points defining the end points / edges of the beam focus areas, and the number of the beam / radiation paterns. As such, the beam / radiation paterns of the group may be determined as the NF beam / radiation patterns, placed with equal distance from each other, located in the convex combination of the edges of the focusing area.

[0159] In another embodiment, the number of the focus points are defined per-direction, and wherein the beam / radiation paterns of the beam group are the NF radiation paterns with the focus points within the convex combination of the edges of the focusing area, which are placed according to the expected number of the focus points in the potential dimensions.

[0160] In accordance with aspects of a second solution, a sensing Tx node transmits multiple sensing signals via multiple NF beam / radiation patern, wherein each beam / radiation patern differs in the focus point illuminated by the beam. In such embodiments, the group of transmissions covers a potential area for presence of a sensing target object (e.g., covering a road segment for pedestrian or vehicle monitoring which is located at the NF of the transmiter node).

[0161] As such, the position / presence / velocity (and other sensing information) of the target object is determined at the SensMF, at least in part, based on the received / reported measurement of the sensing Rx node of the configured multiple (e.g., the depicted two) transmissions from the sensing Tx node, and the beam / radiation patem / information of the transmited NF beams, including at least the focus area of each beam at the target area located at the NF.

[0162] Figure 6 depicts an exemplary sensing scenario 600 where the presence and / or position of a target object is determined based on transmission and reception / measurement on two NF beams illuminating the highlighted focus point / areas, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The sensing scenario 600 involves a sensing Tx node 602 that transmits at least a first beam 604 and a second beam 606 having an NF radiation paterns, where each beam / radiation patern differs in the focus point illuminated by the beam. Accordingly, the first beam 604 corresponds to a first focus area 608 and the second beam 606 corresponds to a second focus area 610. A sensing Rx node 612 receives the reflected signals 614 corresponding to the first beam 604 and the second beam 606. The sensing Rx node 612 reports its received measurements to the SensMF 616. Based on thereceived / reported measurement of the sensing Rx node 612, the SensMF 616 determines the presence and additional sensing information of the target object 618, located near the focus areas of the first beam 604 and the second beam 606.

[0163] In accordance with aspects of a third solution, a sensing transmitter node transmits one or multiple sensing signals towards a RIS which are then reflected, via multiple NF beam / radiation pattern at separated time occasions (an NF beam sweeping at the RIS via updating RIS reflection strategy), wherein each reflection beam / radiation pattern differs in the focus point illuminated by the beam, and the group of reflections cover a potential area for presence of a sensing target object (covering a road segment for pedestrian or vehicle monitoring which is located at the NF of the transmitter node).

[0164] As such, the position / presence / velocity (and other sensing information) of the target object is determined at the SensMF, at least in part, based on the received / reported measurement of the sensing Rx node of the configured multiple transmissions from the sensing Tx node, and the reflection strategy of the RIS at one or multiple time resources (e.g., each resource may be multiple symbol / slots), the time pattern corresponding to the different RIS reflection pattem / strategies, beam / radiation pattem / information of the RIS NF reflection beams, including at least the focus area of each beam at the target area located at the NF.

[0165] Figure 7 depicts an exemplary sensing scenario 700 where the presence and / or position of a target object is determined based on transmission of sensing signal (by the sensing Tx node), reflection by the RIS with an NF beam pattern at one or multiple occasions, and reception / measurement on at least two NF beams illuminating the highlighted focus point / areas, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0166] The sensing scenario 700 involves a sensing Tx node 702 that transmits multiple incident signals 704 towards the RIS 706. A RIS / NCR controller 708 implements the reflection strategy of the RIS 706 at one or multiple time resources to reflect at least a first beam 710 and a second beam 712 having an NF radiation patterns, where each beam / radiation pattern differs in the focus point illuminated by the beam. The first beam 710 corresponds to a first focus area 714 and the second beam 712 corresponds to a second focus area 716. A sensing Rx node 718 receives the reflected signals 720 corresponding to the first beam 710 and the second beam 712. The sensing Rx node 718 reports its received measurements to the SensMF 722. Based on the received / reported measurement of thesensing Rx node 718, the SensMF 722 determines the presence and additional sensing information of the target object 724, located near the focus areas of the first beam 710 and the second beam 712.

[0167] In accordance with aspects of a fourth solution, a transmitter node transmits multiple signals via multiple NF beam / radiation pattern, wherein each beam / radiation pattern differs in the focus point illuminated by the beam, and the group of transmissions covers a potential area for presence of a target UE. The configuration of the transmission, reception / measurements and the NF radiation patterns may be determined after an initial determination (e.g., by the gNB and / or by the LMF) that a target UE is located at the NF of the sensing Tx radio node, e.g., based on an approximate initial position of the target UE.

[0168] As such, the position / velocity (and other sensing / positioning information) of the target UE is determined at the SensMF or LMF, at least in part, based on the received / reported measurement of the target UE node of the configured multiple (e.g., the depicted two) transmissions from the sensing Tx node, and the beam / radiation pattem / information of the transmitted NF beams, including at least the focus area of each beam at the target UE located at the NF of the sensing Tx node.

[0169] Figure 8 depicts an exemplary sensing scenario 800 where the position of a target UE is determined at the LMF based on transmission and reception / measurement (by the target UE) on two NF beams illuminating the highlighted focus point / areas, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The sensing scenario 800 involves a sensing Tx node 802 that transmits at least a first beam 804 and a second beam 806 having an NF radiation patterns, where each beam / radiation pattern differs in the focus point illuminated by the beam. Accordingly, the first beam 804 corresponds to a first focus area 808 and the second beam corresponds to a second focus area 810. The target UE 812 receives signals corresponding to the first beam 804 and the second beam 806. The target UE 812 reports its received measurements to the SensMF co-located with the LMF (depicted as combined entity “LMF / SensMF” 814). Based on the received / reported measurement of the target UE 812, the LMF / SensMF 814 determines the position of the target UE 812, located near the focus areas of the first beam 804 and the second beam 806.

[0170] In accordance with aspects of a fifth solution, a sensing transmitter node transmits one or multiple sensing signals towards a RIS which are then reflected, via multiple NF beam / radiation pattern at separated time occasions (an NF beam sweeping atthe RIS via updating RIS reflection strategy), wherein each reflection beam / radiation pattern differs in the focus point illuminated by the beam, and the group of reflections cover a potential area for presence of a target UE.

[0171] As such, the position / velocity of the target UE is determined at the LMF, at least in part, based on the received / reported measurement of the target UE device of the configured multiple (e.g., the depicted two) transmissions from the sensing Tx node, and the reflection strategy of the RIS at one or multiple time resources (e.g., each resource may be multiple symbol / slots), the time pattern corresponding to the different RIS reflection pattem / strategies, beam / radiation pattem / information of the RIS NF reflection beams, including at least the focus area of each beam at the target area located at the NF.

[0172] Figure 9 depicts an exemplary sensing scenario 900 where the position of a target UE is determined based on transmission of sensing signal (by the sensing Tx node), reflection by the RIS with an NF beam pattern at one or multiple occasions, and reception / measurement on at least two NF beams illuminating the highlighted focus point / areas by the target UE, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0173] The sensing scenario 900 involves a sensing Tx node 902 that transmits multiple incident signals 904 towards the RIS 906. A RIS / NCR controller 908 implements the reflection strategy of the RIS 906 at one or multiple time resources to reflect at least a first beam 910 and a second beam 912 having an NF radiation patterns, where each beam / radiation pattern differs in the focus point illuminated by the beam. The first beam 910 corresponds to a first focus area 914 and the second beam 912 corresponds to a second focus area 916. The target UE 918 receives signals corresponding to the first beam 910 and the second beam 912. The target UE 918 reports its received measurements to the to the SensMF co-located with the LMF (depicted as combined entity “LMF / SensMF” 920). Based on the received / reported measurement of the target UE 918, the SensMF 920 determines the position of the target UE 918, located near the focus areas of the first beam 910 and the second beam 912.

[0174] Note that in the above embodiments, including the positioning of a target UE, the terms “sensing signal” refers to the signals by which measurements for positioning (e.g., of a target UE) is done. Moreover, the terms “sensing transmitter” and “sensing receiver” refer to the radio nodes transmitting and receiving the sensing signals.

[0175] Figure 10 illustrates an example of a UE 1000 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The UE 1000 may include a processor 1002, a memory 1004, a controller 1006, and a transceiver 1008. The processor 1002, the memory 1004, the controller 1006, or the transceiver 1008, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of the present disclosure as described herein. These components may be coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more interfaces.

[0176] The processor 1002, the memory 1004, the controller 1006, or the transceiver 1008, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., circuitry). The hardware may include a processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other programmable logic device, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure.

[0177] The processor 1002 may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general- purpose processor, a DSP, a central processing unit (CPU), an ASIC, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or any combination thereof). In some implementations, the processor 1002 may be configured to operate the memory 1004. In some other implementations, the memory 1004 may be integrated into the processor 1002. The processor 1002 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory 1004 to cause the UE 1000 to perform various functions of the present disclosure.

[0178] The memory 1004 may include volatile or non-volatile memory. The memory 1004 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code including instructions that, when executed by the processor 1002, cause the UE 1000 to perform various functions described herein. The code may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such the memory 1004 or another type of memory. Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A non-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that may be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0179] In some implementations, the processor 1002 and the memory 1004 coupled with the processor 1002 may be configured to cause the UE 1000 to perform variousfunctions (e.g., operations, signaling) described herein (e.g., executing, by the processor 1002, instructions stored in the memory 1004). In some implementations, the processor 1002 may include multiple processors and the memory 1004 may include multiple memories. One or more of the multiple processors may be coupled with one or more of the multiple memories, which may be individually or collectively, configured to perform various functions (e.g., operations, signaling) of the UE 1000 as disclosed herein.

[0180] The processor 1002 coupled with the memory 1004 may be configured to, capable of, or operable to cause the UE 1000 to receive a configuration for a sensing procedure, based on one or more sensing signals. In some implementations, the configuration indicates a plurality of NF wavefronts or NF radiation patterns for performing the sensing procedure. In some implementations, the configuration for the sensing procedure is received from a configuring entity, such as a SF or a SensMF.

[0181] In certain implementations, the configuration may be received from a RAN node associated with the radio node (e.g., the serving gNB of a UE (i.e., when the radio node is a UE), or a gNB CU / DU associated with a TRP (i.e., when the radio node is a TRP). In other implementations, the configuration for the sensing procedure may instead be determined by the radio node.

[0182] The processor 1002 coupled with the memory 1004 may be configured to, capable of, or operable to cause the UE 1000 to perform the sensing procedure based at least in part on an NF wavefront or an NF radiation pattern of the one or more sensing signals. The processor 1002 coupled with the memory 1004 may be configured to, capable of, or operable to cause the UE 1000 to transmit a report based at least in part on the sensing procedure. In some implementations, the report may be transmitted to a controller entity of the sensing operation that is different than the configuring entity.

[0183] In certain implementations, the configuration may be received from a RAN node associated with the radio node, but the report is transmitted to the SF / SensMF (e.g., a core network sensing function, or a sensing controller entity residing in RAN which may be associated with the same or a different gNB of the radio node, or being a separate logical entity acting as a sensing controller / management entity residing in RAN). In other implementations, the report may be transmitted from the radio node to the configuring entity. In such implementations, the configuring entity may forward the report to the controller entity.

[0184] In some implementations, the processor 1002 coupled with the memory 1004 may be configured to, capable of, or operable to cause the UE 1000 to transmit capability information indicating a set of supported beam patterns or radiation patterns, including a set of supported NF radiation patterns, a set of supported FF radiation patterns, a set of supported joint FF and NF radiation patterns, or a combination thereof. In certain implementations, the capability information indicates a focus point area, or a focus point resolution associated with the set of supported NF radiation patterns.

[0185] In certain implementations, the capability information indicates beam pattern properties, including one or more of a beam pattern accuracy, a beam pattern resolution, a beam pattern separation, a beam pattern distance, or a beam pattern isolation, or a combination thereof. In further implementations, the beam pattern properties may be defined separately for a respective NF beam description and a respective FF description. In other implementations, the beam pattern properties may be defined jointly for a respective NF beam pattern and a respective FF beam pattern. For example, the joint indication of NF and FF beam patterns may signal a class of beam width for the FF pattern, also indicative of the of focus point area / radius of the NF pattern. Here, a single indication is used to define an FF beam pattern (i.e., sidelobe, interference, leakage, and / or isolation parameters) and an NF beam pattern (i.e., sidelobe, leakage, interference, and / or isolation parameters).

[0186] In certain implementations, the capability information includes an indication of a respective beam pattern. In such implementations, the respective beam pattern includes one or more of: a reception beam pattern, a transmission beam pattern, an incidence beam pattern, a reflection beam pattern, or a combination thereof. In further implementations, the capability information may utilize a codebook to indicate the respective beam pattern. In such implementations, the capability information indicates a codebook type. Moreover, the capability information may further include one or more parameters corresponding to the indicated codebook type.

[0187] In some implementations, to perform the sensing procedure, the processor 1002 coupled with the memory 1004 may be configured to, capable of, or operable to cause the UE 1000 to receive a respective sensing signal utilizing a reception beam associated with the NF wavefront or the NF radiation pattern and to determine at least one sensingmeasurement based on the respective sensing signal. In certain implementations, the configuration includes an indication of the reception beam.

[0188] In some implementations, to perform the sensing procedure, the processor 1002 coupled with the memory 1004 may be configured to, capable of, or operable to cause the UE 1000 to transmit a respective sensing signal utilizing a transmission beam associated with the NF wavefront or the NF radiation pattern. Moreover, in further implementations, the (NF) transmission and (NF) reception are performed by the same radio node (e.g., via a full-duplex operation operated at an extremely large-scale MIMO (XL-MIMO) system).

[0189] In some implementations, to perform the sensing procedure, the processor 1002 coupled with the memory 1004 may be configured to, capable of, or operable to cause the UE 1000 to reflect an incidence sensing signal associated with an incidence beam pattern into a reflected sensing signal associated with a reflection beam pattern. In such implementations, the incidence beam pattern is associated with the NF radiation pattern, or the reflection beam pattern is associated with the NF radiation pattern, or both. Accordingly, a beam pattern may be associated with a different (e.g., separately indicated) beam pattern.

[0190] In some implementations, the report or the configuration, or both, includes an indication of a respective beam pattern including one or more of: a reception beam pattern, a transmission beam pattern, an incidence beam pattern, a reflection beam pattern, or a combination thereof. Accordingly, the reporting of a radiation pattern and the configuring a radiation pattern may utilize the same elements to define the radiation pattern, e.g., in terms of the codebook, type, energy level, and related parameters.

[0191] In certain implementations, the indication of a respective beam pattern indicates a first energy level corresponding to a first beam pattern and a second energy level corresponding to a second beam pattern. In one implementation, the first and second energy levels are indicated using absolute values. In another implementation, the first energy level may be indicated relative to the second energy level, e.g., by using a ratio of an energy level of one beam compared to another beam (or compared to all other beams).

[0192] In certain implementations, the respective beam pattern includes a combination of a first beam pattern and a second beam pattern. In further implementations, the firstbeam patern may be an NF radiation patern, and the second beam patern may be an FF radiation patern.

[0193] In some implementations, wherein the report (or the configuration, or both) utilizes a codebook to indicate the respective beam patern. In certain implementations, the report (or the configuration, or both) may indicate a codebook type. In further implementations, the report (or the configuration, or both) may further include one or more parameters corresponding to the indicated codebook type.

[0194] In some implementations, the report (or the configuration, or both) may include includes one or more parameters associated with: A) a first FF beam patern associated with a transmission or a reflection of the one or more sensing signals; B) a second FF beam patern associated with a reception or an incidence of the one or more sensing signals; C) a first NF beam patern associated with the transmission or the reflection of the one or more sensing signals; D) a second NF beam patern associated with the reception or the incidence of the one or more sensing signals; E) a first energy level (i.e., an absolute or relative energy level indication, e.g., as a ratio to one or more of other beam paterns) associated with the first FF beam patern; F) a second energy level (i.e., an absolute or relative energy level indication, e.g., as a ratio to one or more of other beam paterns) associated with the second FF beam patern; G) a third energy level (i.e., an absolute or relative energy level indication, e.g., as a ratio to one or more of other beam paterns) associated with the first NF beam patern; H) a fourth energy level (i.e., an absolute or relative energy level indication, e.g., as a ratio to one or more of other beam paterns) associated with the second NF beam patern; I) a first relative energy level associated with a ratio of the first FF beam patern to the first NF beam patern; J) a second relative energy level associated with a ratio of the first F beam patern to the second NF beam patern; K) a third relative energy level associated with a ratio of the second F beam patern to the first NF beam patern; L) a fourth relative energy level associated with a ratio of the second FF beam patern to the second NF beam patern; or a combination thereof.

[0195] In some implementations, the report (or the configuration, or both) may include includes one or more parameters associated with: A) a first AoD associated with a transmission of a respective sensing signal; B) a second AoD associated with a reflection of the respective sensing signal; C) a first ZoD associated with the transmission of the respective sensing signal; D) a second ZoD associated with the reflection of the respectivesensing signal; E) a first AoA associated with a reception of the respective sensing signal; F) a second AoA associated with an incidence of reflection for the respective sensing signal; G) a first ZoA associated with the incidence of reflection for the respective sensing signal; H) a second ZoA associated with the reception of the respective sensing signal; I) a first joint beamwidth associated with the transmission of the respective sensing signal; J) a second joint beamwidth associated with the reflection of the respective sensing signal; K) a third joint beamwidth associated with the reception of the respective sensing signal; L) a fourth joint beam width associated with the incidence of reflection for the respective sensing signal; or a combination thereof.

[0196] In some implementations, the report (or the configuration, or both) may define a first beam pattern relative to a second beam pattern. In such implementations, the report (or the configuration, or both) may further indicate a beam relation type associated with the first beam pattern and the second beam pattern. In certain implementations, the beam relation type indicates a relation of a first NF radiation pattern associated with the first beam pattern to a second NF radiation pattern associated with the second beam pattern.

[0197] In certain implementations, the beam relation type indicates a relation of a first FF radiation pattern of the first beam pattern to a second FF radiation pattern associated with the second beam pattern. In certain implementations, the beam relation type indicates a joint relation of a first NF radiation pattern and a first FF radiation pattern associated with the first beam pattern to a second NF radiation pattern and a second FF radiation pattern associated with the second beam pattern.

[0198] In some implementations, the report or the configuration, or both, includes an indication of a group of beam patterns or radiation patterns, the indication including one or more of: A) an NF description the group of beam patterns or radiation patterns; B) a group description defining a group of radiation patterns; C) a set of FF descriptions and an NF description associated with the set of FF descriptions; D) a set of NF descriptions and an FF description associated with the set of NF descriptions; E) a set of beam pattern descriptions associated with a set ofjointNF and FF descriptions; or a combination thereof.

[0199] In some implementations, a group of NF radiation patterns may be defined (or indicated, or both) via a group of focus points associated with the group of NF radiation patterns. In some implementations, a group of NF radiation patterns may be defined (or indicated, or both) via one or more vertices / comer points of a shape (e.g., as indicated in 1,2, or 3 dimensions), where the focus points of the group of NF patterns are located in the convex combination of the vertices / comer points.

[0200] In some implementations, a group of NF radiation patterns may be defined (or indicated, or both) via a number of the distinct NF radiation patterns in the group of the radiation patterns. In some implementations, a group of NF radiation patterns may be defined (or indicated, or both) via a distance (e.g., separation) of two neighboring focus points corresponding to the group of NF radiation patterns (i.e., specific to an indicated dimension, or angle, or direction).

[0201] The controller 1006 may manage input and output signals for the UE 1000. The controller 1006 may also manage peripherals not integrated into the UE 1000. In some implementations, the controller 1006 may utilize an operating system (OS) such as iOS®, ANDROID®, WINDOWS®, or other operating systems. In some implementations, the controller 1006 may be implemented as part of the processor 1002.

[0202] In some implementations, the UE 1000 may include at least one transceiver 1008. In some other implementations, the UE 1000 may have more than one transceiver 1008. The transceiver 1008 may represent a wireless transceiver. The transceiver 1008 may include one or more receiver chains 1010, one or more transmitter chains 1012, or a combination thereof.

[0203] A receiver chain 1010 may be configured to receive signals (e.g., control information, data, packets) over a wireless medium. For example, the receiver chain 1010 may include one or more antennas for receiving the signal over the air or wireless medium. The receiver chain 1010 may include at least one amplifier (e.g., a low-noise amplifier (LNA)) configured to amplify the received signal. The receiver chain 1010 may include at least one demodulator configured to demodulate the received signal and obtain the transmitted data by reversing the modulation technique applied during transmission of the signal. The receiver chain 1010 may include at least one decoder for decoding / processing the demodulated signal to receive the transmitted data.

[0204] A transmitter chain 1012 may be configured to generate and transmit signals (e.g., control information, data, packets). The transmitter chain 1012 may include at least one modulator for modulating data onto a carrier signal, preparing the signal for transmission over a wireless medium. The at least one modulator may be configured tosupport one or more techniques such as amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), or digital modulation schemes like phase -shift keying (PSK) or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). The transmitter chain 1012 may also include at least one power amplifier configured to amplify the modulated signal to an appropriate power level suitable for transmission over the wireless medium. The transmitter chain 1012 may also include one or more antennas for transmitting the amplified signal into the air or wireless medium.

[0205] Figure 11 illustrates an example of a processor 1100 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The processor 1100 may be an example of a processor configured to perform various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. The processor 1100 may include a controller 1102 configured to perform various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. The processor 1100 may optionally include at least one memory 1104, which may be, for example, an L1 / L2 / L3 cache. Additionally, or alternatively, the processor 1100 may optionally include one or more arithmetic-logic units (ALUs) 1106. One or more of these components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more interfaces (e.g., buses).

[0206] The processor 1100 may be a processor chipset and include a protocol stack (e.g., a software stack) executed by the processor chipset to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, obtaining, retrieving, transmitting, outputting, forwarding, storing, determining, identifying, accessing, writing, reading) in accordance with examples as described herein. The processor chipset may include one or more cores, one or more caches (e.g., memory local to or included in the processor chipset (e.g., the processor 1100) or other memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), static RAM (SRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), resistive RAM (RRAM), flash memory, phase change memory (PCM), and others).

[0207] The controller 1102 may be configured to manage and coordinate various operations (e.g., signaling, receiving, obtaining, retrieving, transmitting, outputting, forwarding, storing, determining, identifying, accessing, writing, reading) of the processor 1100 to cause the processor 1100 to support various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. For example, the controller 1102 may operate as a control unit of the processor 1100, generating control signals that manage the operation of variouscomponents of the processor 1100. These control signals include enabling or disabling functional units, selecting data paths, initiating memory access, and coordinating timing of operations.

[0208] The controller 1102 may be configured to fetch (e.g., obtain, retrieve, receive) instructions from the memory 1104 and determine subsequent instruction(s) to be executed to cause the processor 1100 to support various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. The controller 1102 may be configured to track memory address of instructions associated with the memory 1104. The controller 1102 may be configured to decode instructions to determine the operation to be performed and the operands involved. For example, the controller 1102 may be configured to interpret the instruction and determine control signals to be output to other components of the processor 1100 to cause the processor 1100 to support various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, the controller 1102 may be configured to manage flow of data within the processor 1100. The controller 1102 may be configured to control transfer of data between registers, arithmetic logic units (ALUs), and other functional units of the processor 1100.

[0209] The memory 1104 may include one or more caches (e.g., memory local to or included in the processor 1100 or other memory, such RAM, ROM, DRAM, SDRAM, SRAM, MRAM, flash memory, etc. In some implementations, the memory 1104 may reside within or on a processor chipset (e.g., local to the processor 1100). In some other implementations, the memory 1104 may reside external to the processor chipset (e.g., remote to the processor 1100).

[0210] The memory 1104 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code including instructions that, when executed by the processor 1100, cause the processor 1100 to perform various functions described herein. The code may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as system memory or another type of memory. The controller 1102 and / or the processor 1100 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory 1104 to cause the processor 1100 to perform various functions. For example, the processor 1100 and / or the controller 1102 may be coupled with or to the memory 1104, the processor 1100, the controller 1102, and the memory 1104 may be configured to perform various functions described herein. In some examples, the processor 1100 may include multiple processors and the memory 1104 may includemultiple memories. One or more of the multiple processors may be coupled with one or more of the multiple memories, which may, individually or collectively, be configured to perform various functions herein.

[0211] The one or more ALUs 1106 may be configured to support various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, the one or more ALUs 1106 may reside within or on a processor chipset (e.g., the processor 1100). In some other implementations, the one or more ALUs 1106 may reside external to the processor chipset (e.g., the processor 1100). One or more ALUs 1106 may perform one or more computations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division on data. For example, one or more ALUs 1106 may receive input operands and an operation code, which determines an operation to be executed. One or more ALUs 1106 be configured with a variety of logical and arithmetic circuits, including adders, subtractors, shifters, and logic gates, to process and manipulate the data according to the operation. Additionally, or alternatively, the one or more ALUs 1106 may support logical operations such as AND, OR, exclusive-OR (XOR), not-OR (NOR), and not-AND (NAND), enabling the one or more ALUs 1106 to handle conditional operations, comparisons, and bitwise operations.

[0212] In various implementations, the processor 1100 may support various functions (e.g., operations, signaling) of a radio node (e.g., a sensing Tx node and / or a sensing Rx node), in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the controller 1102 coupled with the memory 1104 may be configured to, capable of, or operable to cause the processor 1100 to receive a configuration for a sensing procedure, based on one or more sensing signals; perform the sensing procedure based at least in part on an NF wavefront or an NF radiation pattern of the one or more sensing signals; and transmit a report based at least in part on the sensing procedure.

[0213] Additionally, the controller 702 coupled with the memory 704 may be configured to, capable of, or operable to cause the processor 700 to perform one or more functions (e.g., operations, signaling) of the UE as described herein. Alternatively, the controller 702 coupled with the memory 704 may be configured to, capable of, or operable to cause the processor 700 to perform one or more functions (e.g., operations, signaling) of the base station as described herein.

[0214] Figure 12 illustrates an example of a NE 1200 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The NE 1200 may include a processor 1202, a memory 1204, acontroller 1206, and a transceiver 1208. The processor 1202, the memory 1204, the controller 1206, or the transceiver 1208, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of the present disclosure as described herein. These components may be coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more interfaces.

[0215] The processor 1202, the memory 1204, the controller 1206, or the transceiver 1208, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., circuitry). The hardware may include a processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other programmable logic device, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure.

[0216] The processor 1202 may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general- purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, or any combination thereof). In some implementations, the processor 1202 may be configured to operate the memory 1204. In some other implementations, the memory 1204 may be integrated into the processor 1202. The processor 1202 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory 1204 to cause the NE 1200 to perform various functions of the present disclosure.

[0217] The memory 1204 may include volatile or non-volatile memory. The memory 1204 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code including instructions when executed by the processor 1202 cause the NE 1200 to perform various functions described herein. The code may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such the memory 1204 or another type of memory. Computer-readable media includes both non- transitory computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A non-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that may be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0218] In some implementations, the processor 1202 and the memory 1204 coupled with the processor 1202 may be configured to cause the NE 1200 to perform various functions (e.g., operations, signaling) described herein (e.g., executing, by the processor 1202, instructions stored in the memory 1204). In some implementations, the processor1202 may include multiple processors and the memory 1204 may include multiple memories. One or more of the multiple processors may be coupled with one or more of the multiple memories, which may be individually or collectively, configured to perform various functions (e.g., operations, signaling) of the NE 1200 as disclosed herein.

[0219] The processor 1202 coupled with the memory 1204 may be configured to, capable of, or operable to cause the NE 1200 may be configured to support a means for receiving a configuration for a sensing procedure, based on one or more sensing signals. In some implementations, the configuration indicates a plurality of NF wavefronts or NF radiation patterns for performing the sensing procedure.

[0220] In some implementations, the configuration for the sensing procedure is received from a configuring entity, such as a SF or a SensMF. In certain implementations, the configuration may be received from a RAN node associated with the radio node. In other implementations, the configuration for the sensing procedure may instead be determined by the radio node.

[0221] The processor 1202 coupled with the memory 1204 may be configured to, capable of, or operable to cause the NE 1200 to perform the sensing procedure based at least in part on an NF wavefront or an NF radiation pattern of the one or more sensing signals. The processor 1202 coupled with the memory 1204 may be configured to, capable of, or operable to cause the NE 1200 to transmit a report based at least in part on the sensing procedure. In some implementations, the report may be transmitted to a controller entity of the sensing operation that is different than the configuring entity.

[0222] In certain implementations, the configuration may be received from a RAN node associated with the radio node, but the report is transmitted to the SF / SensMF. In other implementations, the report may be transmitted from the radio node to the configuring entity. In such implementations, the configuring entity may forward the report to the controller entity.

[0223] In some implementations, the processor 1202 coupled with the memory 1204 may be configured to, capable of, or operable to cause the NE 1200 to transmit capability information indicating a set of supported beam patterns or radiation patterns, including a set of supported NF radiation patterns, a set of supported FF radiation patterns, a set of supported joint FF and NF radiation patterns, or a combination thereof. In certainimplementations, the capability information indicates a focus point area or a focus point resolution associated with the set of supported NF radiation patterns.

[0224] In certain implementations, the capability information indicates beam pattern properties, including one or more of a beam pattern accuracy, a beam pattern resolution, a beam pattern separation, a beam pattern distance, or a beam pattern isolation, or a combination thereof. In further implementations, the beam pattern properties may be defined separately for a respective NF beam description and a respective FF description. In other implementations, the beam pattern properties may be defined jointly for a respective NF beam pattern and a respective FF beam pattern. For example, the joint indication of NF and FF beam patterns may signal a class of beam width for the FF pattern, also indicative of the of focus point area / radius of the NF pattern. Here, a single indication is used to define an FF beam pattern and an NF beam pattern.

[0225] In certain implementations, the capability information includes an indication of a respective beam pattern. In such implementations, the respective beam pattern includes one or more of: a reception beam pattern, a transmission beam pattern, an incidence beam pattern, a reflection beam pattern, or a combination thereof. In further implementations, the capability information may utilize a codebook to indicate the respective beam pattern. In such implementations, the capability information indicates a codebook type. Moreover, the capability information may further include one or more parameters corresponding to the indicated codebook type.

[0226] In some implementations, to perform the sensing procedure, the processor 1202 coupled with the memory 1204 may be configured to, capable of, or operable to cause the NE 1200 to receive a respective sensing signal utilizing a reception beam associated with the NF wavefront or the NF radiation pattern and to determine at least one sensing measurement based on the respective sensing signal. In certain implementations, the configuration includes an indication of the reception beam.

[0227] In some implementations, to perform the sensing procedure, the processor 1202 coupled with the memory 1204 may be configured to, capable of, or operable to cause the NE 1200 to transmit a respective sensing signal utilizing a transmission beam associated with the NF wavefront or the NF radiation pattern. Moreover, in further implementations, the NF transmission and NF reception are performed by the same radio node.

[0228] In some implementations, to perform the sensing procedure, the processor 1202 coupled with the memory 1204 may be configured to, capable of, or operable to cause the NE 1200 to reflect an incidence sensing signal associated with an incidence beam pattern into a reflected sensing signal associated with a reflection beam pattern. In such implementations, the incidence beam pattern is associated with the NF radiation pattern, or the reflection beam pattern is associated with the NF radiation pattern, or both. Accordingly, a beam pattern may be associated with a different beam pattern.

[0229] In some implementations, the report or the configuration, or both, includes an indication of a respective beam pattern including one or more of: a reception beam pattern, a transmission beam pattern, an incidence beam pattern, a reflection beam pattern, or a combination thereof. Accordingly, the reporting of a radiation pattern and the configuring a radiation pattern may utilize the same elements to define the radiation pattern, e.g., in terms of the codebook, type, energy level, and related parameters.

[0230] In certain implementations, the indication of a respective beam pattern indicates a first energy level corresponding to a first beam pattern and a second energy level corresponding to a second beam pattern. In one implementation, the first and second energy levels are indicated using absolute values. In another implementation, the first energy level may be indicated relative to the second energy level.

[0231] In certain implementations, the respective beam pattern includes a combination of a first beam pattern and a second beam pattern. In further implementations, the first beam pattern may be an NF radiation pattern, and the second beam pattern may be an FF radiation pattern.

[0232] In some implementations, wherein the report (or the configuration, or both) utilizes a codebook to indicate the respective beam pattern. In certain implementations, the report (or the configuration, or both) may indicate a codebook type. In further implementations, the report (or the configuration, or both) may further include one or more parameters corresponding to the indicated codebook type.

[0233] In some implementations, the report (or the configuration, or both) may include includes one or more parameters associated with: A) a first FF beam pattern associated with a transmission or a reflection of the one or more sensing signals; B) a second FF beam pattern associated with a reception or an incidence of the one or more sensing signals; C) afirst NF beam pattern associated with the transmission or the reflection of the one or more sensing signals; D) a second NF beam pattern associated with the reception or the incidence of the one or more sensing signals; E) a first energy level associated with the first FF beam pattern; F) a second energy level associated with the second FF beam pattern; G) a third energy level associated with the first NF beam pattern; H) a fourth energy level associated with the second NF beam pattern; I) a first relative energy level associated with a ratio of the first FF beam pattern to the first NF beam pattern; J) a second relative energy level associated with a ratio of the first FF beam pattern to the second NF beam pattern; K) a third relative energy level associated with a ratio of the second FF beam pattern to the first NF beam pattern; L) a fourth relative energy level associated with a ratio of the second FF beam pattern to the second NF beam pattern; or a combination thereof.

[0234] In some implementations, the report (or the configuration, or both) may include includes one or more parameters associated with: A) a first AoD associated with a transmission of a respective sensing signal; B) a second AoD associated with a reflection of the respective sensing signal; C) a first ZoD associated with the transmission of the respective sensing signal; D) a second ZoD associated with the reflection of the respective sensing signal; E) a first AoA associated with a reception of the respective sensing signal; F) a second AoA associated with an incidence of reflection for the respective sensing signal; G) a first ZoA associated with the incidence of reflection for the respective sensing signal; H) a second ZoA associated with the reception of the respective sensing signal; I) a first joint beamwidth associated with the transmission of the respective sensing signal; J) a second joint beamwidth associated with the reflection of the respective sensing signal; K) a third joint beamwidth associated with the reception of the respective sensing signal; L) a fourth joint beam width associated with the incidence of reflection for the respective sensing signal; or a combination thereof.

[0235] In some implementations, the report (or the configuration, or both) may define a first beam pattern relative to a second beam pattern. In such implementations, the report (or the configuration, or both) may further indicate a beam relation type associated with the first beam pattern and the second beam pattern. In certain implementations, the beam relation type indicates a relation of a first NF radiation pattern associated with the first beam pattern to a second NF radiation pattern associated with the second beam pattern.

[0236] In certain implementations, the beam relation type indicates a relation of a first FF radiation pattern of the first beam pattern to a second FF radiation pattern associated with the second beam pattern. In certain implementations, the beam relation type indicates a joint relation of a first NF radiation pattern and a first FF radiation pattern associated with the first beam pattern to a second NF radiation pattern and a second FF radiation pattern associated with the second beam pattern.

[0237] In some implementations, the report or the configuration, or both, includes an indication of a group of beam patterns or radiation patterns, the indication including one or more of: A) an NF description the group of beam patterns or radiation patterns; B) a group description defining a group of radiation patterns; C) a set of FF descriptions and an NF description associated with the set of FF descriptions; D) a set of NF descriptions and an FF description associated with the set of NF descriptions; E) a set of beam pattern descriptions associated with a set ofjointNF and FF descriptions; or a combination thereof.

[0238] In some implementations, a group of NF radiation patterns may be defined (or indicated, or both) via a group of focus points associated with the group of NF radiation patterns. In some implementations, a group of NF radiation patterns may be defined (or indicated, or both) via one or more vertices / comer points of a shape, where the focus points of the group of NF patterns are located in the convex combination of the vertices / comer points.

[0239] In some implementations, a group of NF radiation patterns may be defined (or indicated, or both) via a number of the distinct NF radiation patterns in the group of the radiation patterns. In some implementations, a group of NF radiation patterns may be defined (or indicated, or both) via a distance (e.g., separation) of two neighboring focus points corresponding to the group of NF radiation patterns.

[0240] The controller 1206 may manage input and output signals for the NE 1200. The controller 1206 may also manage peripherals not integrated into the NE 1200. In some implementations, the controller 1206 may utilize an operating system such as iOS®, ANDROID®, WINDOWS®, or other operating systems. In some implementations, the controller 1206 may be implemented as part of the processor 1202.

[0241] In some implementations, the NE 1200 may include at least one transceiver 1208. In some other implementations, the NE 1200 may have more than one transceiver1208. The transceiver 1208 may represent a wireless transceiver. The transceiver 1208 may include one or more receiver chains 1210, one or more transmitter chains 1212, or a combination thereof.

[0242] A receiver chain 1210 may be configured to receive signals (e.g., control information, data, packets) over a wireless medium. For example, the receiver chain 1210 may include one or more antennas for receiving the signal over the air or wireless medium. The receiver chain 1210 may include at least one amplifier (e.g., a low-noise amplifier (LNA)) configured to amplify the received signal. The receiver chain 1210 may include at least one demodulator configured to demodulate the received signal and obtain the transmitted data by reversing the modulation technique applied during transmission of the signal. The receiver chain 1210 may include at least one decoder for decoding / processing the demodulated signal to receive the transmitted data.

[0243] A transmitter chain 1212 may be configured to generate and transmit signals (e.g., control information, data, packets). The transmitter chain 1212 may include at least one modulator for modulating data onto a carrier signal, preparing the signal for transmission over a wireless medium. The at least one modulator may be configured to support one or more techniques such as amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), or digital modulation schemes like phase -shift keying (PSK) or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). The transmitter chain 1212 may also include at least one power amplifier configured to amplify the modulated signal to an appropriate power level suitable for transmission over the wireless medium. The transmitter chain 1212 may also include one or more antennas for transmitting the amplified signal into the air or wireless medium.

[0244] Figure 13 depicts one embodiment of a method 1300 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the operations of the method 1300 may be implemented by a radio node, such as the UE or NE, as described herein. In some implementations, the UE may execute a set of instructions to control the function elements of the UE to perform the described functions. In other implementations, the NE may execute a set of instructions to control the function elements of the NE to perform the described functions.

[0245] At step 1302, the method 1300 may include receiving a configuration for a sensing procedure, based on one or more sensing signals. The operations of step 1302 may be performed in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations,aspects of the operation of step 1302 may be performed by a UE, as described with reference to Figure 10. In other implementations, aspects of the operations of step 1302 may be performed by an NE, as described with reference to Figure 12.

[0246] At step 1304, the method 1300 may include performing the sensing procedure based at least in part on an NF wavefront or an NF radiation pattern of the one or more sensing signals. The operations of step 1304 may be performed in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operation of step 1304 may be performed by a UE, as described with reference to Figure 10. In other implementations, aspects of the operations of step 1304 may be performed by an NE, as described with reference to Figure 12.

[0247] At step 1306, the method 1300 may include transmitting a report based at least in part on the sensing procedure. The operations of step 1306 may be performed in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, aspects of the operation of step 1306 may be performed by a UE, as described with reference to Figure 10. In other implementations, aspects of the operations of step 1306 may be performed by an NE, as described with reference to Figure 12.

[0248] It should be noted that the method 1300 described herein describes one possible implementation, and that the operations and the steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible.

[0249] The description herein is provided to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein but is to be accorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A UE for wireless communication, comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the UE to: receive a configuration for a sensing procedure, based on one or more sensing signals; perform the sensing procedure based at least in part on a near-field wavefront or a near-field radiation pattern of the one or more sensing signals; and transmit a report based at least in part on the sensing procedure.

2. The UE of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to transmit capability information indicating a set of supported beam patterns or radiation patterns, including a set of supported near-field radiation patterns, a set of supported far-field radiation patterns, a set of supported joint far-field and near-field radiation patterns, or a combination thereof.

3. The UE of claim 2, wherein the capability information indicates beam pattern properties, including one or more of a beam pattern accuracy, a beam pattern resolution, a beam pattern separation, a beam pattern distance, or a beam pattern isolation, or a combination thereof.

4. The UE of claim 2, wherein the capability information indicates a focus point area or a focus point resolution associated with the set of supported near-field radiation patterns.

5. The UE of claim 2, wherein the capability information comprises an indication of a respective beam pattern comprising one or more of: a reception beam pattern, a transmission beam pattern, an incidence beam pattern, a reflection beam pattern, or a combination thereof.

6. The UE of claim 1, wherein the configuration indicates a plurality of near-field wavefronts or near-field radiation patterns for performing the sensing procedure.

7. The UE of claim 1, wherein to perform the sensing procedure, the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to transmit a respective sensing signal utilizing a transmission beam associated with the near-field wavefront or the near- field radiation pattern.

8. The UE of claim 1, wherein to perform the sensing procedure, the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to: receive a respective sensing signal utilizing a reception beam associated with the near-field wavefront or the near-field radiation pattern; and determine at least one sensing measurement based on the respective sensing signal.

9. The UE of claim 1, wherein to perform the sensing procedure, the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to: reflect an incidence sensing signal associated with an incidence beam pattern into a reflected sensing signal associated with a reflection beam pattern, wherein the incidence beam pattern is associated with the near-field radiation pattern, or the reflection beam pattern is associated with the near-field radiation pattern, or both.

10. The UE of claim 1, wherein the report or the configuration, or both, comprises an indication of a respective beam pattern comprising one or more of: a reception beam pattern, a transmission beam pattern, an incidence beam pattern, a reflection beam pattern, or a combination thereof.

11. The UE of claim 10, wherein the indication indicates a first energy level corresponding to a first beam pattern and a second energy level corresponding to a second beam pattern.

12. The UE of claim 10, wherein the respective beam pattern comprises a combination of a near-field radiation pattern and a far-field radiation pattern.

13. The UE of claim 1, wherein the report comprises one or more parameters associated with: a first far-field beam pattern associated with a transmission or a reflection of the one or more sensing signals; a second far-field beam pattern associated with a reception or an incidence of the one or more sensing signals; a first near-field beam pattern associated with the transmission or the reflection of the one or more sensing signals; a second near-field beam pattern associated with the reception or the incidence of the one or more sensing signals; a first energy level associated with the first far-field beam pattern; a second energy level associated with the second far-field beam pattern; a third energy level associated with the first near-field beam pattern; a fourth energy level associated with the second near-field beam pattern; a first relative energy level associated with a ratio of the first far-field beam pattern to the first near-field beam pattern; a second relative energy level associated with a ratio of the first far-field beam pattern to the second near-field beam pattern; a third relative energy level associated with a ratio of the second far-field beam pattern to the first near-field beam pattern; a fourth relative energy level associated with a ratio of the second far-field beam pattern to the second near-field beam pattern; or a combination thereof.

14. The UE of claim 1, wherein the report comprises one or more parameters associated with: a first angle-of-departure (AoD) associated with a transmission of a respective sensing signal; a second AoD associated with a reflection of the respective sensing signal; a first zenith-of-departure (ZoD) associated with the transmission of the respective sensing signal; a second ZoD associated with the reflection of the respective sensing signal;a first angle-of-arrival (AoA) associated with a reception of the respective sensing signal; a second AoA associated with an incidence of reflection for the respective sensing signal; a first zenith-of-arrival (ZoA) associated with the incidence of reflection for the respective sensing signal; a second ZoA associated with the reception of the respective sensing signal; a first joint beamwidth associated with the transmission of the respective sensing signal; a second joint beam width associated with the reflection of the respective sensing signal; a third joint beamwidth associated with the reception of the respective sensing signal; a fourth joint beam width associated with the incidence of reflection for the respective sensing signal; or a combination thereof.

15. The UE of claim 1, wherein the report defines a first beam pattern relative to a second beam pattern, wherein the report further indicates a beam relation type associated with the first beam pattern and the second beam pattern.

16. The UE of claim 15, wherein the beam relation type indicates: a relation of a first near-field radiation pattern associated with the first beam pattern to a second near-field radiation pattern associated with the second beam pattern; a relation of a first far-field radiation pattern of the first beam pattern to a second far-field radiation pattern associated with the second beam pattern; or a joint relation of a first near-field radiation pattern and a first far-field radiation pattern associated with the first beam pattern to a second near-field radiation pattern and a second far-field radiation pattern associated with the second beam pattern.

17. The UE of claim 1, wherein the report or the configuration, or both, comprises an indication of a group of beam patterns or radiation patterns, the indication comprising one or more of: a near-field description the group of beam patterns or radiation patterns; a group description defining a group of radiation patterns; a set of far-field descriptions and a near-field description associated with the set of far-field descriptions; a set of near-field descriptions and a far-field description associated with the set of near-field descriptions; a set of beam pattern descriptions associated with a set of joint near-field and far-field descriptions; or a combination thereof.

18. A base station for wireless communication, comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the base station to: receive a configuration for a sensing procedure, based on one or more sensing signals; perform the sensing procedure based at least in part on a near-field wavefront or a near-field radiation pattern of the one or more sensing signals; and transmit a report based at least in part on the sensing procedure.

19. A method performed by a radio node, the method comprising: receiving, from a second node, a configuration for a sensing procedure, based on one or more sensing signals; performing the sensing procedure based at least in part on a near-field wavefront or a near-field radiation pattern of the one or more sensing signals; and transmitting a report based at least in part on the sensing procedure.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the radio node comprises a user equipment (UE) or a base station.

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