Methods, communications devices, and infrastructure equipment

Abstract

A communications device operates to receive, from a wireless communications network, an indication that the communications device forms part of a group of communications devices for transmitting or receiving one or more sensing signals as part of an integrated sensing and communications service to support an application, the communications device being selected to be part of the group according to one or more sensing characteristics to support the integrated sensing and communications service. The communications device receives an allocation of a pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices for use by the group of communications device to transmit and / or to receive the sensing signals, and transmits or receiving sensing signals via the group resources pool. For example, the group of communications devices may be grouped based on a sensing capability in accordance with an accuracy with which one or more sensed measurements can be determined by the transmitted or received sensing signals. In another example, the group of communications devices may be grouped based on a sensing technology comprising a use of the same type of sensing signal to determine the same sensed property. In another example, the group of communications devices may be grouped based on a sensing application, which is sensing one or more properties by transmitting or receiving sensing signals for the application. Accordingly, sensing devices for a common application may be provided with a group of communications resources which can coordinate transmitting and / or receiving the sensing signals more efficiently. The sensing communications devices may be located in the same cell of the wireless communications network.

Description

[0001] METHODS, COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE EQUIPMENT

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] Field of Disclosure

[0004] The present disclosure relates to communications devices, infrastructure equipment and methods for the more effective operation of sensing functions in wireless communications networks.

[0005] The present disclosure claims the Paris convention priority to European patent application EP24156931.8 filed on 9 February 2024, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0006] Description of Related Art

[0007] The “background” description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly or impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention.

[0008] Current and future wireless communications networks are expected to routinely and efficiently support communications with an ever-increasing range of devices associated with a wider range of data traffic profiles and types than existing systems are optimised to support. For example, it is expected future wireless communications networks will be expected to efficiently support communications with devices including reduced complexity devices, machine type communication (MTC) devices, high resolution video displays, virtual reality headsets, extended Reality (XR) and so on. Some of these different types of devices may be deployed in very large numbers, for example low complexity devices for supporting the “The Internet of Things”, and may typically be associated with the transmissions of relatively small amounts of data with relatively high latency tolerance. Other types of device, for example supporting high-definition video streaming, may be associated with transmissions of relatively large amounts of data with relatively low latency tolerance. Other types of device, for example used for autonomous vehicle communications and for other critical applications, may be characterised by data that should be transmitted through the network with low latency and high reliability. A single device type might also be associated with different traffic profiles / characteristics depending on the application(s) it is running. For example, different consideration may apply for efficiently supporting data exchange with a smartphone when it is running a video streaming application (high downlink data) as compared to when it is running an Internet browsing application (sporadic uplink and downlink data) or being used for voice communications by an emergency responder in an emergency scenario (data subject to stringent reliability and latency requirements).

[0009] In view of this there is expected to be a desire for current wireless communications networks, for example those which may be referred to as 5G or new radio (NR) systems / new radio access technology (RAT) systems, or indeed future 6G wireless communications, as well as future iterations / releases of existing systems, to efficiently support connectivity for a wide range of devices associated with different applications and different characteristic data traffic profiles and requirements.

[0010] One example of a new service is referred to as Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC) services which, as its name suggests, requires that a data unit or packet be communicated with a high reliability and with a low communications delay. Another example of a new service is enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services, which are characterised by a high capacity with a requirement to support up to 20 Gb / s. URLLC and eMBB type services therefore represent challenging examples for both LTE type communications systems and 5G / NR communications systems. 5G NR has continuously evolved and the current work plan includes 5G-NR-Advanced in which some further enhancements are expected, especially to support new use-cases / scenarios with higher requirements. The desire to support these new use-cases and scenarios gives rise to new challenges for efficiently handling communications in wireless communications systems that need to be addressed.

[0011] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0012] The present disclosure can help address or mitigate at least some of the issues discussed above.

[0013] Embodiments of the present technique can provide a method of operating a communications device. The method comprises receiving, from a wireless communications network, an indication that the communications device forms part of a group of communications devices for transmitting or receiving one or more sensing signals as part of an integrated sensing and communications service to support an application, the communications device being selected to be part of the group according to one or more sensing characteristics of the integrated sensing and communications service, receiving an allocation of a pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices for use by the group of communications device to transmit and / or to receive the sensing signals, and transmitting or receiving sensing signals via the group resources pool. For example, the group of communications devices may be grouped based on a sensing capability in accordance with an accuracy with which one or more sensed measurements can be determined by the transmitted or received sensing signals. In another example, the group of communications devices may be grouped based on a sensing technology comprising a use of the same type of sensing signal to determine the same sensed property. In another example, the group of communications devices may be grouped based on a sensing application, which is sensing one or more properties by transmitting or receiving sensing signals for the application. Accordingly sensing devices for a common application may be provided with a group of communications resources which can coordinate transmitting and / or receiving the sensing signals more efficiently. The sensing communications devices may be located in the same cell of the wireless communications network.

[0014] According to another aspect, there is provided a method of operating a wireless communications network, comprising identifying a plurality of communications devices to form a group based on one or more sensing characteristics of each of a plurality of communications devices which can operate to support an integrated sensing and communications service for an application, transmitting to each of the communications devices of the formed group an indication that each communications device forms part of a group of communications devices for transmitting or receiving one or more sensing signals as part of the integrated sensing and communications service application, and transmitting an allocation of a pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices for use by the group of communications device to transmit and / or to receive the sensing signals.

[0015] Respective aspects and features of the present disclosure are defined in the appended claims.

[0016] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the present technology. The described embodiments, together with further advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0017] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein: Figure 1 schematically represents some aspects of an LTE-type wireless telecommunication system which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 2 schematically represents some aspects of a new radio access technology (NR) wireless telecommunications system which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example infrastructure equipment and communications device which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0021] Figures 4A-D illustrate examples of monostatic and bistatic radar arrangements; Figures 5A-F show examples of different monostatic and bistatic sensing modes; Figure 6 illustrates how different UEs can be assigned separate time-domain resources; Figure 7 illustrates how different UEs can be assigned separate frequency-domain resources; Figure 8 illustrates how different UEs can be assigned separate spatial division resources;

[0022] Figure 9 is a schematic block diagram representing a deployment of a plurality of communications devices acting as sensors in which the communications devices have been grouped and provided with a group communications resource pool in accordance with embodiments of the present technique;

[0023] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram representing the deployment of the group of communications devices performing part of a sensing application service in which 2 of the communications devices are transmitting and receiving sensing signals via a group communications resource pool for the example shown in Figure 9 in accordance with embodiments of the present technique; and

[0024] Figure 11 is a part schematic block diagram plot part message exchange flow diagram illustrating an operation of this system is shown in Figures 10 and 11 in accordance with in accordance with embodiments of the present technique.

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Long Term Evolution Advanced Radio Access Technology (4G)

[0027] Figure 1 provides a schematic diagram illustrating some basic functionality of a mobile telecommunications network / system 6 operating generally in accordance with LTE principles, but which may also support other radio access technologies, and which may be adapted to implement embodiments of the disclosure as described herein. Various elements of Figure 1 and certain aspects of their respective modes of operation are well-known and defined in the relevant standards administered by the 3GPP (RTM) body, and also described in many books on the subject, for example, Holma H. and Toskala A [1], It will be appreciated that operational aspects of the telecommunications networks discussed herein which are not specifically described (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example according to the relevant standards and known proposed modifications and additions to the relevant standards.

[0028] The network 6 includes a plurality of base stations 1 connected to a core network 2. Each base station provides a coverage area 3 (i.e. a cell) within which data can be communicated to and from communications devices 4. Although each base station 1 is shown in Figure 1 as a single entity, the skilled person will appreciate that some of the functions of the base station may be carried out by disparate, inter-connected elements, such as antennas (or antennae), remote radio heads, amplifiers, etc. Collectively, one or more base stations may form a radio access network.

[0029] Data is transmitted from base stations 1 to communications devices 4 within their respective coverage areas 3 via a radio downlink (DL). Data is transmitted from communications devices 4 to the base stations 1 via a radio uplink (UL). The core network 2 routes data to and from the communications devices 4 via the respective base stations 1 and provides functions such as authentication, mobility management, charging and so on. Communications devices may also be referred to as mobile stations, user equipment (UEs), user terminals, mobile radios, mobile terminals, terminal devices, wireless transmit and receive units (WTRUs), and so forth. Services provided by the core network 2 may include connectivity to the internet or to external telephony services. The core network 2 may further track the location of the communications devices 4 so that it can efficiently contact (i.e. page) the communications devices 4 for transmitting downlink data towards the communications devices 4.

[0030] Base stations, which are an example of network infrastructure equipment, may also be referred to as transceiver stations, nodeBs, e-nodeBs, eNB, g-nodeBs, gNB and so forth. In this regard different terminology is often associated with different generations of wireless telecommunications systems for elements providing broadly comparable functionality. However, certain embodiments of the disclosure may be equally implemented in different generations of wireless telecommunications systems, and for simplicity certain terminology may be used regardless of the underlying network architecture. That is to say, the use of a specific term in relation to certain example implementations is not intended to indicate these implementations are limited to a certain generation of network that may be most associated with that particular terminology.

[0031] New Radio Access Technology (5G)

[0032] Systems incorporating NR technology are expected to support different services (or types of services), which may be characterised by different requirements for latency, data rate and / or reliability. For example, Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services are characterised by high capacity with a requirement to support up to 20 Gb / s. The requirements for Ultra Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC) services are for one transmission of a 32 byte packet to be transmitted from the radio protocol layer 2 / 3 SDU ingress point to the radio protocol layer 2 / 3 SDU egress point of the radio interface within 1 ms with a reliability of 1 - 10'5(99.999 %) or higher (99.9999%) [2],

[0033] Massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC) is another example of a service which may be supported by NR-based communications networks. In addition, systems may be expected to support further enhancements related to Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) in order to support services with new requirements of high availability, high reliability, low latency, and in some cases, high-accuracy positioning.

[0034] An example configuration of a wireless communications network which uses some of the terminology proposed for and used in NR and 5G is shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2 a plurality of transmission and reception points (TRPs) 10 are connected to distributed control units (DUs) 41, 42 by a connection interface represented as a line 16. Each of the TRPs 10 is arranged to transmit and receive signals via a wireless access interface within a radio frequency bandwidth available to the wireless communications network. Thus, within a range for performing radio communications via the wireless access interface, each of the TRPs 10, forms a cell of the wireless communications network as represented by a circle 12. As such, wireless communications devices 14 which are within a radio communications range provided by the cells 12 can transmit and receive signals to and from the TRPs 10 via the wireless access interface. Each of the distributed units 41, 42 are connected to a central unit (CU) 40 (which may be referred to as a controlling node) via an interface 46. The central unit 40 is then connected to the core network 20 which may contain all other functions required to transmit data for communicating to and from the wireless communications devices and the core network 20 may be connected to other networks 25.

[0035] The elements of the wireless access network shown in Figure 2 may operate in a similar way to corresponding elements of an LTE network as described with regard to the example of Figure 1. It will be appreciated that operational aspects of the telecommunications network represented in Figure 2, and of other networks discussed herein in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, which are not specifically described (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example according to currently used approaches for implementing such operational aspects of wireless telecommunications systems, e.g. in accordance with the relevant standards.

[0036] The TRPs 10 of Figure 2 may in part have a corresponding functionality to a base station or eNodeB of an LTE network. Similarly, the communications devices 14 may have a functionality corresponding to the UE devices 4 known for operation with an LTE network. It will be appreciated therefore that operational aspects of a new RAT network (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be different to those known from LTE or other known mobile telecommunications standards. However, it will also be appreciated that each of the core network component, base stations and communications devices of a new RAT network will be functionally similar to, respectively, the core network component, base stations and communications devices of an LTE wireless communications network.

[0037] In terms of broad top-level functionality, the core network 20 connected to the new RAT telecommunications system represented in Figure 2 may be broadly considered to correspond with the core network 2 represented in Figure 1, and the respective central units 40 and their associated distributed units / TRPs 10 may be broadly considered to provide functionality corresponding to the base stations 1 of Figure 1. The term network infrastructure equipment / access node may be used to encompass these elements and more conventional base station type elements of wireless telecommunications systems. Depending on the application at hand the responsibility for scheduling transmissions which are scheduled on the radio interface between the respective distributed units and the communications devices may lie with the controlling node / central unit and / or the distributed units / TRPs. A communications device 14 is represented in Figure 2 within the coverage area of the first communication cell 12. This communications device 14 may thus exchange signalling with the first central unit 40 in the first communication cell 12 via one of the distributed units / TRPs 10 associated with the first communication cell 12.

[0038] It will further be appreciated that Figure 2 represents merely one example of a proposed architecture for a new RAT based telecommunications system in which approaches in accordance with the principles described herein may be adopted, and the functionality disclosed herein may also be applied in respect of wireless telecommunications systems having different architectures.

[0039] Thus, certain embodiments of the disclosure as discussed herein may be implemented in wireless telecommunication systems / networks according to various different architectures, such as the example architectures shown in Figures 1 and 2. It will thus be appreciated the specific wireless telecommunications architecture in any given implementation is not of primary significance to the principles described herein. In this regard, certain embodiments of the disclosure may be described generally in the context of communications between network infrastructure equipment / access nodes and a communications device, wherein the specific nature of the network infrastructure equipment / access node and the communications device will depend on the network infrastructure for the implementation at hand. For example, in some scenarios the network infrastructure equipment / access node may comprise a base station, such as an LTE-type base station 1 as shown in Figure 1 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein, and in other examples the network infrastructure equipment may comprise a control unit / controlling node 40 and / or a TRP 10 of the kind shown in Figure 2 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein.

[0040] A more detailed diagram of some of the components of the network shown in Figure 2 is provided by Figure 3. In Figure 3, a TRP 10 as shown in Figure 2 comprises, as a simplified representation, a wireless transmitter 30, a wireless receiver 32 and a controller or controlling processor 34 which may operate to control the transmitter 30 and the wireless receiver 32 to transmit and receive radio signals to one or more UEs 14 within a cell 12 formed by the TRP 10. As shown in Figure 3, an example UE 14 is shown to include a corresponding transmitter 49, a receiver 48 and a controller 44 which is configured to control the transmitter 49 and the receiver 48 to transmit signals representing uplink data to the wireless communications network via the wireless access interface formed by the TRP 10 and to receive downlink data as signals transmitted by the transmitter 30 and received by the receiver 48 in accordance with the conventional operation.

[0041] The transmitters 30, 49 and the receivers 32, 48 (as well as other transmitters, receivers and transceivers described in relation to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure) may include radio frequency filters and amplifiers as well as signal processing components and devices in order to transmit and receive radio signals in accordance for example with the 5G / NR standard. The controllers 34, 44 (as well as other controllers described in relation to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure) may be, for example, a microprocessor, a CPU, or a dedicated chipset, etc., configured to carry out instructions which are stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-volatile memory. The processing steps described herein may be carried out by, for example, a microprocessor in conjunction with a random access memory, operating according to instructions stored on a computer readable medium. The transmitters, the receivers and the controllers are schematically shown in Figure 3 as separate elements for ease of representation. However, it will be appreciated that the functionality of these elements can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s), or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) / circuitry / chip(s) / chipset(s). As will be appreciated the infrastructure equipment / TRP / base station as well as the UE / communications device will in general comprise various other elements associated with its operating functionality.

[0042] As shown in Figure 3, the TRP 10 also includes a network interface 50 which connects to the DU 42 via a physical interface 16. The network interface 50 therefore provides a communication link for data and signalling traffic from the TRP 10 via the DU 42 and the CU 40 to the core network 20.

[0043] The interface 46 between the DU 42 and the CU 40 is known as the F 1 interface which can be a physical or a logical interface. The Fl interface 46 between CU and DU may operate in accordance with specifications 3GPP TS 38.470 and 3GPP TS 38.473, and may be formed from a fibre optic or other wired or wireless high bandwidth connection. In one example the connection 16 from the TRP 10 to the DU 42 is via fibre optic. The connection between a TRP 10 and the core network 20 can be generally referred to as a backhaul, which comprises the interface 16 from the network interface 50 of the TRP 10 to the DU 42 and the Fl interface 46 from the DU 42 to the CU 40. More conventionally a gNB, sometimes referred to as a base station, is formed in respect of a conventional architectural arrangement from a TRP, DU 42, and a CU 40.

[0044] In order for a UE such as UE 4 or 14 to transmit uplink data to the network (e.g. on a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) or a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH)) to, for example, base station 1 or TRP 10, the UE must first ensure it is synchronised with the network on the uplink. Since a particular eNB or gNB expects to be receiving communications from many UEs, it needs to ensure that it shares a common timing understanding with each of these UEs (i.e. they are synchronised in terms of the starting times of frames and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols). This is so that the eNB is able to schedule communication with each of them in a manner that avoids collisions and to ensure orthogonality of the uplink signals, such that inter-subcarrier interference is avoided or mitigated.

[0045] Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC)

[0046] As 5G NR evolves towards 5G-Advanced (5G-NR-Advanced), there is the possibility of new features being included in future releases. One possible new feature for 5G-Advanced and beyond is Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC). ISAC uses radio wave transmissions from a 5G wireless network to acquire information from the environment. Although positioning features in 5G, utilizing techniques including Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) and Uplink Time Difference of Arrival (UTDOA), are already available, these features are only able to determine the location of UE devices. That is, the 5G network requires information from the device that it is trying to locate, i.e., an active object (an object having a direct radio connection to the wireless communications (e.g. 5G) network), and therefore the existing positioning features cannot locate passive objects that do not have direct communications with the 5G network. In contrast, ISAC employs echolocation using radio frequency (RF) waves, similar to that used by radar and LIDAR, to detect passive objects, which does not require a direct communication between the object of interest and the 5G network. Since a cellular network, such as a 5G wireless network, may have wide coverage, covering urban, highway, rural and even indoor environments, ISAC can provide sensing services for many different applications.

[0047] ISAC is considered to be a system which combines sensing and communication functionalities by reusing the same hardware on the network side in order to save resources and reduce power consumption. Here, the new development introduced by ISAC is that sensing signals and communication signals can be practically implemented into a single system, with either the same or different transmit waveforms. 3GPP has agreed to study ISAC [3] with the justification that the current 5G-Advanced network design focuses primarily on data transmission, and the radio channel model defined to cover frequencies up to 100 GHz was developed with this in mind. Although RAT-based positioning is supported, the specifications do not offer the in-built capability to detect objects not connected to the network. If sensing capability is integrated into the design of the system, sensing may be offered as a service alongside communications.

[0048] In the new RAN study item [3], the focus is to define channel modelling aspects to support object detection and / or tracking (as per the SAI meaning in [4]). The study aims at a common modelling framework capable of detecting and / or tracking the following example objects, and to enable them to be distinguished from unintended objects:

[0049] • UAVs;

[0050] • Humans (indoors and outdoors);

[0051] • Automotive vehicles (at least outdoors);

[0052] • Automated guided vehicles (e.g., in indoor factories); and

[0053] • Objects creating hazards on roads / railways, with a minimum size dependent on frequency.

[0054] Example applications of ISAC include: intruder detection inside or in the vicinity of a building / house; rainfall monitoring that detects the intensity of rain in a wide area such as a farm (utilising the characteristics of particular frequency radio waves that experience higher attenuation due to water absorption); and pedestrian or animal detection in a motorway or railway [4], ISAC may also utilise existing sensing technology such as radar or LIDAR that may be installed in a device or area. For example, ISAC may use the sensing information from LIDAR and radar units that are installed in numerous automobiles and, together with the 5G wireless sensing, provide an accurate picture of the motorway or the traffic situation in a city.

[0055] As mentioned above, ISAC employs echolocation using radio frequency (RF) waves, similar to mechanisms that are used by radar and LIDAR, to detect passive objects. These radar techniques include at least one transmitter sending a sensing (i.e. initial) RF wave and at least one receiver receiving the reflected RF wave, where the locations and orientations of the transmitter and receiver are known. Arrangements where the transmitter and receiver are co-located (i.e. are included in the same device) are known as monostatic radar, and arrangements where the transmitter and receiver are separated in distance (i.e. not co-located) are known as bistatic radar.

[0056] Figure 4A shows an example of a monostatic radar. Here, a transceiver 420 (comprising a transmitter and receiver) emits a sensing RF wave 452 (which may simply be referred to as an RF wave or RF signal) at time to which is reflected by an object 410. The reflected RF wave (or reflected RF signal) 454 is then received at the transceiver 420 at time ti. The distance Dofrom the transceiver 420 to the object 410 may be determined based on the Round-Trip Time (RTT) of the wave when it is transmitted at time to and when the reflected wave is received at time 0, i.e., Do=c(t'2towhere c is the speed of light. That is, the detected object is located on a circle (or, in three dimensions, a sphere) with radius Dofrom the radar transceiver 420, and the location of the object can be further determined by the angle at which the reflected RF wave 454 is received at the transceiver 420, and / or the angle of departure of the transmitted wave 452 (if the radar uses a narrow beam focused at a known angle).

[0057] Figure 4B shows an example of a bistatic radar. Here, a transmitter 422 emits an RF wave 456 at time to which is reflected by an object 410 at an angle of ft. The reflected RF wave 458 is then received at a receiver 424 at time ti . The sum of the distances DTX (the distance from the transmitter 422 to the object 410) and DRX(the distance from the object 410 to the receiver 424) can be calculated using the RTT, i.e., DTX + DRX = C (ti - to). The distance between the transmitter and receiver DTX-RX can be known a-priori. The bistatic range is defined as DTx+ DRx- DTX-RX- The detected object can therefore be determined to be located on an ellipse with the foci at the locations of the transmitter 422 and receiver 424, and with a constant bistatic range. The location of the object 410 on the ellipse can be further determined by the angle of arrival of the reflected wave 458 at the receiver 424, or the angle of departure of the transmitted RF wave 456 at the transmitter 422 (if the wave is transmitted in a beam focused at a known angle).

[0058] The bistatic angle, labelled as / / in Figure 4B, is the angle subtended between the transmitter 422, the object 410 and the receiver 424. If the bistatic angle / is close to zero, the sensor resembles a monostatic radar, which may be referred to as a pseudo-monostatic radar. A pseudo-monostatic radar, where / / « 0° is shown in Figure 4C, where the numbered components correspond to those shown in Figure 4B. Conversely, if the bistatic angle / / is close to 180°, then the radar may behave as a forward scatter radar. A forward scatter radar with 180° is shown in Figure 4D, where the numbered components correspond to those shown in Figures 4B and 4C. Here, the object 410 can be detected at the receiver 424 by detecting a diffracted wave 459 using Babinet’s principle, where the silhouette 415 of the object is projected at the receiver 424 by the diffracted wave 459. Certain objects, such as an airplane with stealth capability, may absorb RF waves emitted by a radar instead of reflecting them, thereby avoiding detection using conventional radar. However, forward scatter radar is advantageous in detecting objects with such stealth capabilities, as forward scatter radar techniques rely on the target object blocking the emitted wave, thereby forming a silhouette 415 at the receiver. The drawback of forward scatter radar arrangements is that it is difficult to detect the speed of an object via the Doppler effect if the object is moving along the path between the transmitter 422 and receiver 424 of the radar.

[0059] In [3], six sensing modes are considered, and these are shown in Figures 5A to 5F. Figure 5A shows an example of a TRP-TRP bistatic mode scenario, in which a first TRP 511 transmits a sensing signal 514 to a device or object (which may be an active device such as a UE 512 or a passive device or object) which then reflects 515 the sensing signal to a second TRP 513. Figure 5B shows an example of a TRP monostatic mode scenario, in which a TRP 521 transmits a sensing signal 523 to a device or object (which may be an active device such as a UE 522 or a passive device or object) which then reflects 524 the sensing signal back to the TRP 521. Figure 5C shows an example of a TRP-UE bistatic mode scenario, in which a TRP 531 transmits a sensing signal 534 towards another (active or passive) device or object (such as bus 532) which then reflects 535 the sensing signal to a UE 533. Figure 5D shows an example of a UE-TRP bistatic mode scenario, in which a UE 541 transmits a sensing signal 544 towards another (active or passive) device or object (such as bus 542) which then reflects 545 the sensing signal to a TRP 543. Figure 5E shows an example of a UE-UE bistatic mode scenario, in which a first UE 551 transmits a sensing signal 554 towards another (active or passive) device or object (such as bus 552) which then reflects 555 the sensing signal to a second UE 553. Figure 5F shows an example of a UE monostatic scenario, in which a UE 561 transmits a sensing signal 563 towards another (active or passive) device or object (such as bus 562) which then reflects 564 the sensing signal back to the UE 561.

[0060] As noted above, in monostatic scenarios such as those shown in Figures 5B and 5F, the transmitter and receiver of the sensing signals are both within the same equipment / location / site, whereas in bistatic scenarios such as those shown in Figures 5A, 5C, 5D, and 5F, the transmitter and receiver of the sensing signals are geographically separated (i.e., non-co-located).

[0061] Data Scheduling Methods in NR (5G)

[0062] Traditionally, cellular networks are designed for multi-user scenarios, in which multiple users are served at the same time and / or in different times. Therefore, by employing traditional multiplexing schemes, it is feasible that users for communication services and targets / users for sensing services are served simultaneously and / or in different times within the same cell, by using one or more of the multiplexing methods as follows:

[0063] • Time division multiplexing: In this method, users for communication services and targets for sensing services are served within different slots within a radio frame or bandwidth part (BWP). In this case, the waveforms used for sensing and communication can be the same or different. As shown in the example of Figure 6, a first UE may be assigned a first time resource set 601 (i.e. time range to- ti) for either sensing or communications, a second UE2 may be assigned a second time resource set 602 (i.e. time range ti- fi) for either sensing or communications, a third UE may be assigned a third time resource set 603 (i.e. time range t2- G) for either sensing or communications, and a fourth UE may be assigned a fourth time resource set 604 (i.e. time range ts- fi) for either sensing or communications;

[0064] • Frequency division multiplexing: Similarly to time division multiplexing, users for communication services and targets for sensing services can be served in different frequencies (e.g. different BWPs) within a slot in a radio frame. This means that different subcarriers must be allocated for sensing and communication services. Again, in this case, the waveforms used for sensing and communication can be the same or different. As shown in the example in Figure 6, a first UE may be assigned a first frequency resource set 701 (i.e. frequency range fi- fi) for either sensing or communications, a second UE may assigned a second frequency resource set 702 (i.e. frequency range fi - fi) for either sensing or communications, a third UE may assigned a third frequency resource set 703 (i.e. frequency range f2- fs) for either sensing or communications, and a fourth UE may assigned a fourth frequency resource set 704 (i.e. frequency range fs- fi) for either sensing or communications; and; and

[0065] • Spatial division multiplexing: Similarly to both time and frequency division multiplexing, users for communication services and targets for sensing services can be served using different beams, or in different spatial layers within a BWP. In this case, different antenna-arrays for beamforming can be employed to serve users for communication services and targets for sensing services. Once again, in this case, the waveforms used for sensing and communication can be the same or different. As shown in the example in Figure 8, a first UE may be assigned a first spatial layer 801 (or beam) for either sensing or communications, a second UE may be assigned a second spatial layer 802 (or beam) for either sensing or communications, a third UE may be assigned a third spatial layer 803 (or beam) for either sensing or communications, and a fourth UE may be assigned a fourth spatial layer 804 (or beam) for either sensing or communications.

[0066] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that sensing technologies may be applied differently for different applications, even within the same cell. Furthermore, a plurality of sensors may be deployed for a particular application which may require communication of sensing signals either between the communications devices acting as sensors or from the communications devices to a wireless communications network or indeed for bistatic sensing, transmitting and receiving sensing signals reflected from another device. For an application, as indicated above, communications devices may be grouped in respect of a common function albeit sensing different parameters or the group of devices may be sensing the same parameter. In such scenarios it is desirable for the group of communications devices to communicate between each other and for communication to be coordinated with the network entities such as an application function, AF, for example where such devices are engaged to provide an Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) application service. For example, devices may be deployed over a wide area such as a farming application or transport application or may be monitoring an airport security purposes. For example, object and intruder detection may require different construction of the sensing signals compared to rainfall monitoring. In other words, by using various properties of the reflected signals (i.e., received echoes), many parameters can be extracted, such as velocity or range, etc.

[0067] Resource allocation is a technical problem in ISAC, for example where and how to manage the resource allocation between sensing and communication, between UEs and a wireless communications network as well as among UEs. For example, it is desirable to support the following configurations:

[0068] 1. If a UE supports multiple services, then a network may configure common or a dedicated resource pool per service. If a common pool is configured, then a UE’s response for one service should be known to the network. If a dedicated pool is configured, then a network / receiver will know the selected resource pool.

[0069] 2. A resource pool may be configured for a group of UEs either for a group of services or per service. If one pool is configured for all UEs in a group, then UE measurements for sensing should be understood on the receiver side.

[0070] 3. If sensing measurements / reports are the same for different services and a UE is configured with multiple services, then UE identification may be required at the receiver to map reported measurements to a service.

[0071] Embodiments of the present disclosure seek to provide solutions to such technical issues.

[0072] ISAC Resource Allocation for a Group of UEs According to example embodiments, communications devices engaged in sensing parameters as part of one or more common services may form a group and may be allocated a group resource pool with which to transmit and receive sensing signals. According to example embodiments, there is provided therefore a method of operating a communications device comprising receiving, from a wireless communications network, an indication that the communications device forms part of a group of communications device transmitting or receiving one or more sensing signals as part of an integrated sensing service application, receiving an allocation of a pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices for use by the group of communications device to transmit and / or to receive the sensing signals, and transmitting or receiving sensing signals via the group resources pool.

[0073] According to example embodiments therefore, a wireless communications network forms groups of communications devices based on for example a common sensing service, or a common sensing type or other reason which would make communications via a group of communications resources more efficient for an application.

[0074] According to example embodiments a grouping of UEs can depend on one or more characteristics of each of the UEs. One UE could belong to different groups. The UEs may be grouped based on one or multiple sensing characteristics listed as below:

[0075] 1. Sensing capabilities, e.g., sensing accuracy, minimum sensing distance. The UEs with similar sensing capabilities will be grouped together.

[0076] 2. Sensing technology, e.g., radar, Lidar. Different sensing technologies may have different sensing results, and this may impact the sensing outcome. Then it makes sense to group the UEs using the same / similar sensing technology.

[0077] 3. Sensing application / service, e.g., Automotive Manoeuvring and Navigation, UAV tracking, city landscape map construction. The UEs who are involved in a specific sensing application will be organized in the same group. a. As one alternative, the grouping of UEs can be per service, which means the UEs with the same service will be grouped and the resource pool could be per service as well. Of course, it doesn’t preclude that as a gNB implementation, multiple services will share the same resource pool. b. As another alternative, the grouping of UEs can be based on a group of services, which means the UEs with the services in that group will be grouped and the resource pool could be based on the group of multiple services.

[0078] Figure 9 provides a schematic representation of a wireless communications network which is providing wireless access interface for supporting a communications service using a group of communications devices (UEs) according to example embodiments. Figure 9 corresponds substantially to the system diagrams provided in Figures 1 and 2 and so only the differences will be described for brevity. According to the example shown in Figure 9, a group of five UEs 114, are operating within a cell with a representative boundary 12 formed by a gNB 900. For this example, the group of five UEs 114 are shown to be within the same cell. However, in other examples it is possible that one or more the UEs 114 may be deployed in a different cell. The gNB 900 is connected to the core network 20 via an interface 910. The core network is connected to an Application Function (AF) 920, via an interface 912. According to example embodiments, the AF 920 hosts an application providing an Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) service using the group of UEs 114.

[0079] As indicated above, the wireless communications network can access information identifying a capability of each of the communications devices (UE). The wireless communications network can form each of the UEs into one or more groups comprising one or more UEs based on their capability according to the above explanation. The capability of the UE may be stored as part of an application within the application function AF 920, which may perform a grouping of UEs 114.

[0080] According to example embodiments, the wireless communications network controls the gNB 900 to transmit configuration information to each of the UEs 114 within the group. A transmission of configuration information is represented by downlink arrows 940. The configuration information provides an indication of communications resources for the group of UEs 114. The communications resources are represented as time and frequency resources in a block 930. The block 930 is therefore a set of dedicated communications resources in time and frequency for the group of UEs 114 to transmit and to receive sensing signals with each other and as appropriate transmitting and receiving information via the wireless access interface formed by the gNB 900 within the cell 12. Although the group communications resources are shown as a solid block in time and frequency in Figure 9 (and Figure 10) the group may comprise a collection of one or more discrete sets of communications resources so that the group communications resources may not form a contiguous time and frequency block.

[0081] As a result of the grouping, the UEs share the same or one or more communications resource pools referred to as group communications resources. The size of the resource pool may depend on for example a size of the group, sensing application / service and a frequency of sensing etc. A signalling mechanism such as that represented by the downlink arrows 940, which transmits the configuration information can be implemented in various ways to signal an allocation of a resource pool to the group of UEs:

[0082] 1. Broadcast signalling; in this case, some of the resources are reserved for certain type of groups only e.g., for emergency automotive manoeuvring, emergency UAV tracking etc. An allocation can at least include the allocated resource pools and / or its group name / membership, broadcasted in the system information, for example. The group name / membership may come from higher layer or be preconfigured.

[0083] 2. Dedicated signalling; after UEs go to connected mode, the network may allocate more or different resource pools to a certain group of UEs, and in this case, dedicated signalling can be used to indicate to the UEs what the resource pools are. It could be in the RRC message, or as an alternative, the preconfigured resource pools can be included in the RRC message and additionally the activated resource pools can be indicated in a L1 / L2 signalling.

[0084] 3. Groupcast signalling; the UEs that are grouped can be allocated a group identifier, for example a G- RNTI, and the resource pool allocation will be addressed by using the group identifier to the same group UEs.

[0085] Depending on whether a resource allocation is by service or by a group of services, signalling 940 may also include the service name / grouping of service name to the UE.

[0086] Once the group of UEs 114 have been configured with the group communications resources 930, then the UEs within the group can access the group communications resources 930 in order to transmit sensing signals to and receive sensing signals from the communications devices in the group or transmit sensing signals to or receive sensing signals from the gNB 900. As shown in Figure 10, which shows the example arrangement of Figure 9 adapted to illustrate a communication of sensing signals between two of the UEs of the group 114.1, 114.2. According to the example shown in Figure 10, a first of the UEs 114.1 determines according to a predetermined procedure (explained below) that it can use a set of communications resources 955 from the group to transmit sensing signals to a second of the UEs 114.2 as represented by an arrow 955. Correspondingly, the second UE 114.2 which receives the sensing signals 955 can transmit sensing signals which may be a reflection of the received sensing signals 955 to the first UE 114.1 using a set of communications resources 960 which may be related to or determined from the first set of communications resources 955. The reflected sensing signal or returned sensing signal is represented by an arrow 965.

[0087] For a reflected sensing signal 965, either from a UE back to a gNB as in monostatic, or from a UE to another gNB or UE as in bistatic, the communications resources 960 can be selected by the UE 114.2 itself from the group resources pool 930. There are different ways to perform the selection as follows:

[0088] 1. Based on UE ID

[0089] The UEs in one group will be allocated with a UE identifier (ID), and this UE ID could be cell specific as C-RNTI, or group specific. The selection of the time / frequency index within the allocated resource pool can be calculated based on this UE ID. The receiving entity, the gNB or other UEs can also calculate in the ways as the transmitting UE is going to use based on this UE ID. It also indicates that in bistatic sensing, the original transmitter needs to share the possible reflector’s UE ID with other entities in order forthem to figure out where to receive the reflected signal.

[0090] 2. Based on a UE group ID or service ID

[0091] This is the same principle as UE ID, but based on group ID or service ID (if the service ID can be mapped / correlated to group ID). From receiver side, it can identify which sensing group / service, the received signal belongs to.

[0092] 3. Random or sensing based resource selection but adding additional data

[0093] The UE can perform random resource selection or perform listen-before-talk resource selection as in legacy D2D, but the UE can modify the reflected signal by adding additional information for example, scrambled with UE ID / group ID / service ID, or add additional user information in addition to the reflected signal. In the case that the message size is changed, UE may need to send the message size to the potential receiver e.g., network or other UEs in the form of a control message e.g., UCI. Also, the reflected signal can be transmitted with a delay e.g., when with additional user data, it should follow the time advance principle in order to be time aligned at the receiver side.

[0094] If sensing measurements are the same for different services and a network knows a list of services configured for a UE, then a UE can pick up a resource from a pool and transmit these measurements to a receiver. The receiver then needs to know that these measurements belong to which services, so a UE ID is required along with the measurements.

[0095] 4. From the allocated resource pools

[0096] If the allocated resource pool is per service, then the receiver can implicitly know which service the received signal is correlated with, from the resource pool it receives the sensing signal.

[0097] In some example arrangements the transmitting or the receiving the sensing signals via the group resources pool the comprises receiving an identifier of the communications device, selecting, based on the identifier of the communications device, communications resources within the group resources pool for transmitting or receiving the sensing signals, and transmitting or receiving the sensing signals in the determined communications resources.

[0098] In some example arrangements a reflected signalled may be delayed for transmitting, in order to get an accurate sensing result, information concerning a required delay should be shared with the gNB and / core network / application, or on the other hand, the allowed transmission delay by the reflected entity could be configured by gNB / core network / application. As such, according to example arrangements an application function (AF) may determine a delay which should be applied by the group of communications devices of the group between receiving a sensing signals and transmitting the received sensing signals to another communications device of the group or the wireless communications network. The delay may be determined based on the sensing service being supported. The wireless communications network is then configured to transmit using a gNB an indication of the delay which should be applied to transmitting the received sensing signals to one or more of the communications devices of the group.

[0099] Figure 11 shows a part schematic, part message flow diagram representation of a wireless communications system comprising two communications devices 114.1, 114.2 forming part of a group (e.g. a UE as shown in Figures 9 and 10) and an infrastructure equipment 900 (e.g. a gNB / TRP 900 as shown in Figures 9 and 10) in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present technique. The communications devices 114.1, 114.2 are configured to transmit signals to and / or receive signals from a wireless communications network, for example, to and from the infrastructure equipment 900, which forms part of the wireless communications network. The communications devices 114.1, 114.2 91 and the infrastructure equipment 900 each comprise a transceiver (or transceiver circuitry) 991.1, 992.1, and a controller (or controller circuitry) 991.2, 992.2. Each of the controllers 991.2, 992.2 may be, for example, a microprocessor, a CPU, or a dedicated chipset, etc. The controllers 991.2, 992.2 may also each be equipped with a memory unit (which is not shown in Figure 9).

[0100] As shown in the example of Figure 9, the controller 991.2 of the communications devices 114.1, 114.2 are configured to control the communications devices 114.1, 114.2 to receive, from the infrastructure equipment 900, configuration information 940 indicating communications resources dedicated for use by UEs of the same group of which the two UEs 114. 1, 114.2 form part. The configuration information may also provide an indication of predetermined rules which may be used to access the group communications resources. Thus, in a first operation 1101, the infrastructure equipment 900 transmits configuration information to each of the UEs in the group using one of the techniques explained above.

[0101] Once the group of UEs have been configured with the group communications resources, then a controller 991.2 controls the transceiver 991. 1 to transmit sensing signals 955 from the first UE 114.1 which are received by the second UE 114.2, which controls its transceiver 991.1 to transmit a reflected version of the received sensing signal 965. Therefore an operation 1102 provides an arrangement for the UEs to transmit and to receive sensing signals via the group communications resources.

[0102] As a further operation, the infrastructure equipment 900 can transmit a sensing signal to each of the UEs 141.1, 114.2 as represented by arrows 1110, 1112. In response, the UEs 114.1, 114.2 transmit response signals which may be based on the sensing signals received from the infrastructure equipment 900. Therefore in a further operation 1104, sensing signals are transmitted by the infrastructure equipment 900 and returned by the UEs 114.1, 114.2 using the group communications resources.

[0103] Those skilled in the art would further appreciate that such infrastructure equipment and / or communications devices as herein defined may be further defined in accordance with the various arrangements and embodiments discussed in the preceding paragraphs. It would be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that such infrastructure equipment and communications devices as herein defined and described may form part of communications systems other than those defined by the present disclosure. The following numbered paragraphs provide further example aspects and features of the present technique:

[0104] Paragraph 1. A method of operating a communications device, the method comprising receiving, from a wireless communications network, an indication that the communications device forms part of a group of communications devices for transmitting or receiving one or more sensing signals as part of an integrated sensing and communications service to support an application, the communications device being selected to be part of the group according to one or more sensing characteristics to support the integrated sensing and communications service, receiving an allocation of a pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices for use by the group of communications device to transmit and / or to receive the sensing signals, and transmitting or receiving sensing signals via the group resources pool.

[0105] Paragraph 2. A method of paragraph 1, wherein the one or more sensing characteristics for selecting the communications devices to form a group includes a sensing capability in accordance with an accuracy with which one or more sensed measurements can be determined by the transmitted or received sensing signals.

[0106] Paragraph 3. A method of paragraph 1, wherein the one or more sensing characteristics for selecting the communications devices to form a group includes a sensing technology comprising a use of the same type of sensing signal to determine the same sensed property.

[0107] Paragraph 4. A method of paragraph 1, wherein the one or more sensing characteristics for selecting the communications devices to form a group includes a sensing application, which is sensing one or more properties by transmitting or receiving sensing signals for the application.

[0108] Paragraph 5. A method of any of paragraphs 1 to 4, wherein the receiving the allocation of a pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices comprises receiving a broadcast signal comprising system information identifying the group of communications devices, and an indication of the group resource pool.

[0109] Paragraph 6. A method of paragraph 5, wherein the indication of the group resource pool identifies one of a group of pre-configured communications resources for use as a group resources pool.

[0110] Paragraph 7. A method of paragraph 5 or 6, wherein the system information identifies the group of communications devices from a group identifier, the communications device having been pre-configured with the group identifier.

[0111] Paragraph 8. A method of paragraph 5 or 6, wherein the receiving the indication that the communications device forms a group of communications devices comprises receiving an identifier for the group of communications devices of which the communications device forms part of.

[0112] Paragraph 9. A method of any of paragraphs 1 to 4, wherein the receiving the allocation of the pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices comprises receiving via dedicated signalling from an infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network an indication of the group resources pool.

[0113] Paragraph 10. A method of paragraph 9, wherein the dedicated signalling identifies that the communications device is part of group of communications device and indicates a group identifier for the group.

[0114] Paragraph 11. A method of paragraph 9 or 10, wherein the dedicated signal is provided in a radio resource control, RRC, message.

[0115] Paragraph 12. A method of paragraph 9 or 10, wherein the dedicated signal is provided as layer 1, LI or layer 2, L2 signalling.

[0116] Paragraph 13. A method of paragraph 9, wherein the dedicated signalling comprises an RRC message which configures the group resources pool, and layer 1, LI, or layer 2, L2, indicates an activation or deactivation of the group resources pool Paragraph 14. A method of any of paragraphs 1 to 4, wherein the communications device is configured with a group identifier, and the receiving the allocation of the pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices comprises receiving downlink control information from an infrastructure equipment, the downlink control information identifying the group resources pool using the group identifier.

[0117] Paragraph 15. A method of paragraph 14, wherein the group identifier is a group radio network temporary identifier, G-RNTI.

[0118] Paragraph 16. A method of any of paragraphs 1 to 15, wherein the transmitting or the receiving the sensing signals via the group resources pool the comprises receiving an identifier of the communications device, selecting, based on the identifier of the communications device, communications resources within the group resources pool for transmitting or receiving the sensing signals, and transmitting or receiving the sensing signals in the determined communications resources.

[0119] Paragraph 17. A method of paragraph 16, wherein the identifier of the communications device is cellspecific received from an infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network.

[0120] Paragraph 18. A method of paragraph 17, wherein the cell-specific identifier is a cell radio network temporary identifier, C-RNTI.

[0121] Paragraph 19. A method of paragraph 16, wherein the receiving the identifier of the communications device comprises receiving the identifier of the communications device with the sensing signals transmitted by one of the other communications devices of the group, and the transmitting or the receiving the sensing signals in the determined communications resources comprises transmitting the sensing signals in the communications resources of the group resource pool identified using the identifier of the communications device, the sensing signals being a reflection of the sensing signals received from the other communications device.

[0122] Paragraph 20. A method of paragraph 16 or 19, wherein the identifier of the communications device is an identifier of the group of the communications devices.

[0123] Paragraph 21. A method of paragraph 16 or 19, wherein the identifier of the communications device is an identifier of the integrated sensing service application.

[0124] Paragraph 22. A method of any of paragraphs 1 to 15, wherein the transmitting or the receiving the sensing signals via the group resources pool the comprises performing a contentious access procedure to access a selection of communications resources of the group communications resources by determining that the selection of communications resources are not being used by another communications device, and if not being used, transmitting in the selection of communications resources, and if the selection of communications resources are being used, waiting until the selection of communications resources are not being used or reselecting different communications resources from the group of communications resources.

[0125] Paragraph 23. A method of any of paragraphs 1 to 15, wherein the transmitting or the receiving the sensing signals via the group resources pool the comprises determining, based on the integrated sensing service application, communications resources within the group resources pool for transmitting or receiving the sensing signals, the group of communications resources being divided between different integrated sensing services, and transmitting or receiving the sensing signals in the determined communications resources.

[0126] Paragraph 24. A method of any of paragraphs 1 to 15, wherein the transmitting the sensing signals via the group resources pool the comprises receiving the sensing signals from a set of communications resources in the group resources pool, selecting communications resources from the group resource pool, the communications resources being selected from a set of communications resources related to the communications resources from which the sensing signals were received, and transmiting the received sensing signals in the selected set of communications resources related to the communications resources from which the sensing signals were received.

[0127] Paragraph 25. A method of paragraph 24, wherein the transmiting the received sensing signals in the set of communications resources, comprises combining the received sensing signal with additional information identifying the communications device or the integrated sensing service or the group, and transmiting the received sensing signals in a set of communications resources related to the communications resources from which the sensing signals were received.

[0128] Paragraph 26. A method of any of paragraphs 1 to 15, wherein the transmiting the sensing signals via the group resources pool the comprises receiving the sensing signals from a set of communications resources in the group resources pool, and transmiting the received sensing signals in a set of communications resources identified from the identifier of the communications device or the integrated sensing service or the group.

[0129] Paragraph 27. A method of any of paragraphs 24, 25 or 26, comprising receiving an indication of a delay which should be applied to transmiting the received sending signal, and after the delay has expired since receiving the sensing signals, transmiting the sensing signals. Paragraph 28. A method of any of paragraphs 24, 25 or 26, comprising determining a delay which should be applied between receiving the sensing signal, and transmiting the received sensed signals to another communications device or the wireless communications network, and transmiting an indication of the delay which should be applied to transmiting the received sensing signals.

[0130] Paragraph 29. A method of operating a wireless communications network, comprising identifying a plurality of communications devices to form a group based on one or more sensing characteristics of each of a plurality of communications devices which can operate to support an integrated sensing and communications service for an application, transmiting to each of the communications devices of the formed group an indication that each communications device forms part of a group of communications devices for transmiting or receiving one or more sensing signals as part of the integrated sensing and communications service application, and transmiting an allocation of a pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices for use by the group of communications device to transmit and / or to receive the sensing signals.

[0131] Paragraph 30. A method of paragraph 29, wherein the one or more sensing characteristics identifying communications devices to form the group include a sensing capability in accordance with an accuracy with which one or more sensed measurements can be determined by the transmited or received sensing signals.

[0132] Paragraph 31. A method of paragraph 29, wherein the one or more sensing characteristics identifying communications devices to form the group include a sensing technology comprising a use of the same type of sensing signal to determine the same sensed property.

[0133] Paragraph 32. A method of paragraph 29, wherein the one or more sensing characteristics identifying communications devices to form the group include a sensing application, which is sensing one or more properties by transmiting or receiving sensing signals for the application.

[0134] Paragraph 33. A method of any of paragraphs 29 to 32, wherein the transmiting the allocation of the pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices comprises transmiting a broadcast signal comprising system information identifying the group of communications devices, and an indication of the group resource pool.

[0135] Paragraph 34. A method of paragraph 33, wherein the indication of the group resource pool identifies one of a group of pre-configured communications resources for use as a group resources pool. Paragraph 35. A method of paragraph 33 or 34, wherein the system information identifies the group of communications devices from a group identifier, the communications devices having been pre-configured with the group identifier.

[0136] Paragraph 36. A method of paragraph 33 or 34, wherein the transmitting the indication that the communications device forms a group of communications devices comprises transmitting an identifier for the group of communications devices to each of the communications devices.

[0137] Paragraph 37. A method of any of paragraphs 29 to 33, wherein the transmitting the allocation of the pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices comprises transmitting dedicated signalling indicating the group resources pool.

[0138] Paragraph 38. A method of paragraph 37, wherein the dedicated signalling identifies that a communications device is part of the group of communications devices and indicates a group identifier for the group.

[0139] Paragraph 39. A method of paragraph 37 or 38, wherein the dedicated signal is provided in a radio resource control, RRC, message.

[0140] Paragraph 40. A method of paragraph 37 or 38, wherein the dedicated signal is provided as layer 1, LI or layer 2, L2 signalling.

[0141] Paragraph 41. A method of paragraph 37, wherein the dedicated signalling comprises an RRC message which configures the group resources pool, and layer 1, LI, or layer 2, L2, indicates an activation of deactivation of the group resources pool

[0142] Paragraph 42. A method of any of paragraphs 29 to 33, wherein the transmitting the allocation of the pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices comprises transmitting downlink control information identifying the group resources pool using the group identifier.

[0143] Paragraph 43. A method of paragraph 42, wherein the group identifier is a group radio network temporary identifier, G-RNTI.

[0144] Paragraph 44. A method of any of paragraphs 29 to 43, comprising determining a delay which should be applied by the group of communications devices of the group between receiving a sensing signals and transmitting the received sensing signals to another communications device of the group or the wireless communications network, and transmitting an indication of the delay which should be applied to transmitting the received sensing signals to one or more of the communications devices of the group.

[0145] Paragraph 45. A communications device for operating with a wireless communications network, the communications device comprising transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless communications network, receiver circuitry configured to receive signals transmitted via the wireless access interface, and controller circuitry configured to control the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to receive, from a wireless communications network, an indication that the communications device forms part of a group of communications devices for transmitting or receiving one or more sensing signals as part of an integrated sensing and communications service to support an application, the communications device being selected to be part of the group according to one or more sensing characteristics of the integrated sensing and communications service, receiving an allocation of a pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices for use by the group of communications device to transmit and / or to receive the sensing signals, and transmitting or receiving sensing signals via the group resources pool.

[0146] Paragraph 46. An infrastructure equipment for forming part of a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment comprising transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless communications network to one or more communications devices, receiver circuitry configured to receive signals transmitted by the one or more communications devices via the wireless access interface, and controller circuitry configured to control the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to transmit to each of a plurality of communications devices an indication that each communications device forms part of a group of communications devices for transmitting or receiving one or more sensing signals as part of an integrated sensing and communications service application, the communications devices being selected to form the group based on one or more sensing characteristics to support the integrated sensing and communications service, and to transmit an allocation of a pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices for use by the group of communications device to transmit and / or to receive the sensing signals.

[0147] It will be appreciated that the above description for clarity has described embodiments with reference to different functional units, circuitry and / or processors. However, it will be apparent that any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional units, circuitry and / or processors may be used without detracting from the embodiments.

[0148] Described embodiments may be implemented in any suitable form including hardware, software, firmware or any combination of these. Described embodiments may optionally be implemented at least partly as computer software running on one or more data processors and / or digital signal processors. The elements and components of any embodiment may be physically, functionally and logically implemented in any suitable way. Indeed, the functionality may be implemented in a single unit, in a plurality of units or as part of other functional units. As such, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in a single unit or may be physically and functionally distributed between different units, circuitry and / or processors.

[0149] Although the present disclosure has been described in connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Additionally, although a feature may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art would recognise that various features of the described embodiments may be combined in any manner suitable to implement the technique.

[0150] References

[0151] [1] Holma H. and Toskala A, “LTE for UMTS OFDMA and SC-FDMA based radio access”, John Wiley and Sons, 2009.

[0152] [2] TR 38.913, “3rdGeneration Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Study on Scenarios and Requirements for Next Generation Access Technologies (Release 14)”, 3GPP, vl4.3.0, August 2017.

[0153] [3] RP -234069, “New SID: Study on channel modelling for Integrated Sensing And Communication (ISAC) for NR”, Nokia, Nokia Shanghai Bell, 3GPP TSG RAN Meeting #102, December 2023.

[0154] [4] TR 22.837, “Feasibility Study on Integrated Sensing and Communication (Release 19)”, 3GPP, vl9.2.0, December 2023.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a communications device, the method comprising receiving, from a wireless communications network, an indication that the communications device forms part of a group of communications devices for transmitting or receiving one or more sensing signals as part of an integrated sensing and communications service to support an application, the communications device being selected to be part of the group according to one or more sensing characteristics to support the integrated sensing and communications service, receiving an allocation of a pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices for use by the group of communications device to transmit and / or to receive the sensing signals, and transmitting or receiving sensing signals via the group resources pool.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensing characteristics for selecting the communications devices to form a group includes a sensing capability in accordance with an accuracy with which one or more sensed measurements can be determined by the transmitted or received sensing signals.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensing characteristics for selecting the communications devices to form a group includes a sensing technology comprising a use of the same type of sensing signal to determine the same sensed property.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensing characteristics for selecting the communications devices to form a group includes a sensing application, which is sensing one or more properties by transmitting or receiving sensing signals for the application.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the allocation of a pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices comprises receiving a broadcast signal comprising system information identifying the group of communications devices, and an indication of the group resource pool.

6. A method of claim 5, wherein the indication of the group resource pool identifies one of a group of pre -configured communications resources for use as a group resources pool.

7. A method of claim 5, wherein the system information identifies the group of communications devices from a group identifier, the communications device having been pre-configured with the group identifier.

8. A method of claim 5, wherein the receiving the indication that the communications device forms a group of communications devices comprises receiving an identifier for the group of communications devices of which the communications device forms part of.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the allocation of the pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices comprises receiving via dedicated signalling from an infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network an indication of the group resources pool.

10. A method of claim 9, wherein the dedicated signalling identifies that the communications device is part of group of communications device and indicates a group identifier for the group.

11. A method of claim 9, wherein the dedicated signal is provided in a radio resource control, RRC, message.

12. A method of claim 9, wherein the dedicated signal is provided as layer 1, LI or layer 2, L2 signalling.

13. A method of claim 9, wherein the dedicated signalling comprises an RRC message which configures the group resources pool, and layer 1, LI, or layer 2, L2, indicates an activation or deactivation of the group resources pool14. A method of claim 1, wherein the communications device is configured with a group identifier, and the receiving the allocation of the pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices comprises receiving downlink control information from an infrastructure equipment, the downlink control information identifying the group resources pool using the group identifier.

15. A method of claim 14, wherein the group identifier is a group radio network temporary identifier, G-RNTI.

16. A method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting or the receiving the sensing signals via the group resources pool the comprises receiving an identifier of the communications device, selecting, based on the identifier of the communications device, communications resources within the group resources pool for transmitting or receiving the sensing signals, and transmitting or receiving the sensing signals in the determined communications resources.

17. A method of claim 16, wherein the identifier of the communications device is cell-specific received from an infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network.

18. A method of claim 17, wherein the cell-specific identifier is a cell radio network temporary identifier, C-RNTI.

19. A method of claim 16, wherein the receiving the identifier of the communications device comprises receiving the identifier of the communications device with the sensing signals transmitted by one of the other communications devices of the group, and the transmitting or the receiving the sensing signals in the determined communications resources comprises transmitting the sensing signals in the communications resources of the group resource pool identified using the identifier of the communications device, the sensing signals being a reflection of the sensing signals received from the other communications device.

20. A method of claim 16, wherein the identifier of the communications device is an identifier of the group of the communications devices.

21. A method of claim 16, wherein the identifier of the communications device is an identifier of the integrated sensing service application.

22. A method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting or the receiving the sensing signals via the group resources pool the comprisesperforming a contentious access procedure to access a selection of communications resources of the group communications resources by determining that the selection of communications resources are not being used by another communications device, and if not being used, transmitting in the selection of communications resources, and if the selection of communications resources are being used, waiting until the selection of communications resources are not being used or reselecting different communications resources from the group of communications resources.

23. A method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting or the receiving the sensing signals via the group resources pool the comprises determining, based on the integrated sensing service application, communications resources within the group resources pool for transmitting or receiving the sensing signals, the group of communications resources being divided between different integrated sensing services, and transmitting or receiving the sensing signals in the determined communications resources.

24. A method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the sensing signals via the group resources pool the comprises receiving the sensing signals from a set of communications resources in the group resources pool, selecting communications resources from the group resource pool, the communications resources being selected from a set of communications resources related to the communications resources from which the sensing signals were received, and transmitting the received sensing signals in the selected set of communications resources related to the communications resources from which the sensing signals were received.

25. A method of claim 24, wherein the transmitting the received sensing signals in the set of communications resources, comprises combining the received sensing signal with additional information identifying the communications device or the integrated sensing service or the group, and transmitting the received sensing signals in a set of communications resources related to the communications resources from which the sensing signals were received.

26. A method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the sensing signals via the group resources pool the comprises receiving the sensing signals from a set of communications resources in the group resources pool, and transmitting the received sensing signals in a set of communications resources identified from the identifier of the communications device or the integrated sensing service or the group.

27. A method of claim 24, comprising receiving an indication of a delay which should be applied to transmitting the received sending signal, and after the delay has expired since receiving the sensing signals, transmitting the sensing signals.

28. A method of claim 24, comprising determining a delay which should be applied between receiving the sensing signal, and transmitting the received sensed signals to another communications device or the wireless communications network, and transmitting an indication of the delay which should be applied to transmitting the received sensing signals.

29. A method of operating a wireless communications network, comprisingidentifying a plurality of communications devices to form a group based on one or more sensing characteristics of each of a plurality of communications devices which can operate to support an integrated sensing and communications service for an application, transmitting to each of the communications devices of the formed group an indication that each communications device forms part of a group of communications devices for transmitting or receiving one or more sensing signals as part of the integrated sensing and communications service application, and transmitting an allocation of a pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices for use by the group of communications device to transmit and / or to receive the sensing signals.

30. A method of claim 29, wherein the one or more sensing characteristics identifying communications devices to form the group include a sensing capability in accordance with an accuracy with which one or more sensed measurements can be determined by the transmitted or received sensing signals.

31. A method of claim 29, wherein the one or more sensing characteristics identifying communications devices to form the group include a sensing technology comprising a use of the same type of sensing signal to determine the same sensed property.

32. A method of claim 29, wherein the one or more sensing characteristics identifying communications devices to form the group include a sensing application, which is sensing one or more properties by transmitting or receiving sensing signals for the application.

33. A method of claim 29, wherein the transmitting the allocation of the pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices comprises transmitting a broadcast signal comprising system information identifying the group of communications devices, and an indication of the group resource pool.

34. A method of claim 33, wherein the indication of the group resource pool identifies one of a group of pre -configured communications resources for use as a group resources pool.

35. A method of claim 33, wherein the system information identifies the group of communications devices from a group identifier, the communications devices having been pre -configured with the group identifier.

36. A method of claim 33, wherein the transmitting the indication that the communications device forms a group of communications devices comprises transmitting an identifier for the group of communications devices to each of the communications devices.

37. A method of claim 29, wherein the transmitting the allocation of the pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices comprises transmitting dedicated signalling indicating the group resources pool.

38. A method of claim 37, wherein the dedicated signalling identifies that a communications device is part of the group of communications devices and indicates a group identifier for the group.

39. A method of claim 37, wherein the dedicated signal is provided in a radio resource control, RRC, message.

40. A method of claim 37, wherein the dedicated signal is provided as layer 1, LI or layer 2, L2 signalling.

41. A method of claim 37, wherein the dedicated signalling comprises an RRC message which configures the group resources pool, and layer 1, LI, or layer 2, L2, indicates an activation of deactivation of the group resources pool42. A method of claim 29, wherein the transmitting the allocation of the pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices comprises transmitting downlink control information identifying the group resources pool using the group identifier.

43. A method of claim 42, wherein the group identifier is a group radio network temporary identifier, G-RNTI.

44. A method of claim 29, comprising determining a delay which should be applied by the group of communications devices of the group between receiving a sensing signals and transmitting the received sensing signals to another communications device of the group or the wireless communications network, and transmitting an indication of the delay which should be applied to transmitting the received sensing signals to one or more of the communications devices of the group.

45. A communications device for operating with a wireless communications network, the communications device comprising transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless communications network, receiver circuitry configured to receive signals transmitted via the wireless access interface, and controller circuitry configured to control the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to receive, from a wireless communications network, an indication that the communications device forms part of a group of communications devices for transmitting or receiving one or more sensing signals as part of an integrated sensing and communications service to support an application, the communications device being selected to be part of the group according to one or more sensing characteristics of the integrated sensing and communications service, receiving an allocation of a pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices for use by the group of communications device to transmit and / or to receive the sensing signals, and transmitting or receiving sensing signals via the group resources pool.

46. An infrastructure equipment for forming part of a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment comprising transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless communications network to one or more communications devices, receiver circuitry configured to receive signals transmitted by the one or more communications devices via the wireless access interface, and controller circuitry configured to control the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to transmit to each of a plurality of communications devices an indication that each communications device forms part of a group of communications devices for transmitting or receiving one or more sensing signals as part of an integrated sensing and communications service application, the communications devices being selected to form the group based on one or more sensing characteristics to support the integrated sensing and communications service, andto transmit an allocation of a pool of communications resources for the group of communications devices for use by the group of communications device to transmit and / or to receive the sensing signals.

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