Signaling to convey monostatic sensing transmission-reception point information

Abstract

A method is provided that includes sending at least one request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point. The method includes receiving at least one response including the mono-static sensing capability information. The method includes determining an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system based on the mono-static sensing capability information. And the method includes sending the assignment of the one or more mono-static sensing operations to the at least one transmission-reception point.

Description

SIGNALING TO CONVEY MONOSTATIC SENSING TRANSMISSION-RECEPTION POINT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to telecommunications and, in particular, to integrated sensing and communication. BACKGROUND

[0002] A telecommunications system can be seen as a facility that enables communication sessions between two or more entities such as user terminals, base stations and / or other nodes by providing carriers between the various entities involved in the communications path. A telecommunications system can be provided for example by means of a communication network and one or more compatible communication devices. The communication sessions may comprise, for example, communication of data for carrying communications such as voice, video, electronic mail (email), text message, multimedia and / or content data and so on. Non-limiting examples of services provided comprise two-way or multi-way calls, data communication or multimedia services and access to a data network system, such as the Internet.

[0003] In a wireless telecommunications system at least a part of a communication session between at least two stations occurs over a wireless link. Examples of wireless systems comprise public land mobile networks (PLMN), satellite based communication systems and different wireless local networks, for example wireless local area networks (WLAN). Some wireless systems can be divided into cells, and are therefore often referred to as cellular systems.

[0004] A user can access the telecommunications system by means of an appropriate communication device or terminal. A communication device of a user may be referred to as user equipment (UE) or user device. A communication device is provided with an appropriate signal receiving and transmitting apparatus for enabling communications, for example enabling access to a communication network or communications directly with other users. The communication device may access a carrier provided by a station, forexample a base station of a cell, and transmit and / or receive communications on the carrier.

[0005] The telecommunications system and associated devices typically operate in accordance with a given standard or specification which sets out what the various entities associated with the system are permitted to do and how that should be achieved. Communication protocols and / or parameters which shall be used for the connection are also typically defined. One example of a telecommunications system is the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). Other examples of telecommunications systems are Long-Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced and the so-called 5G or New Radio (NR) networks. NR is being standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). BRIEF SUMMARY

[0006] Example implementations of the present disclosure are directed to telecommunications and, in particular, to Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) that combines sensing and communication functionalities. Example implementations provide a signaling framework to support sharing of sensing capabilities of a mono-static sensing system with a management function that supports sensing services. This may include, for example, signaling information elements and messages to allow the management function to acquire information about the capabilities of the mono- static sensing system in cellular ISAC to manage their operations in future sensing operations. The present disclosure includes, without limitation, the following example implementations.

[0007] Some example implementations provide an apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: receive a request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; gather the mono- static sensing capability information based on the request; and send a response including the mono-static sensing capability information to a management function.

[0008] Some example implementations provide an apparatus comprising: means for receiving a request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; means for gathering the mono-static sensing capability information based on the request; and means for sending a response including the mono-static sensing capability information to a management function.

[0009] Some example implementations provide a method comprising: receiving a request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; gathering the mono-static sensing capability information based on the request; and sending a response including the mono- static sensing capability information to a management function.

[0010] Some example implementations provide a computer-readable storage medium that is non-transitory and has instructions stored therein that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to at least: receive a request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; gather the mono-static sensing capability information based on the request; and send a response including the mono-static sensing capability information to a management function.

[0011] Some example implementations provide an apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: send at least one request for information regarding at least one transmission- reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono- static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; receive at least one response including the mono-static sensing capability information; determine an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system based on the mono-static sensing capability information; and send the assignmentof the one or more mono-static sensing operations to the at least one transmission- reception point.

[0012] Some example implementations provide an apparatus comprising: means for sending at least one request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; means for receiving at least one response including the mono-static sensing capability information; means for determining an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system based on the mono-static sensing capability information; and means for sending the assignment of the one or more mono-static sensing operations to the at least one transmission-reception point.

[0013] Some example implementations provide a method comprising: sending at least one request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; receiving at least one response including the mono-static sensing capability information; determining an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system based on the mono-static sensing capability information; and sending the assignment of the one or more mono-static sensing operations to the at least one transmission-reception point.

[0014] Some example implementations provide a computer-readable storage medium that is non-transitory and has instructions stored therein that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to at least: send at least one request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; receive at least one response including the mono- static sensing capability information; determine an assignment of one or more mono- static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system based on the mono-static sensing capability information; and send the assignment of the one or more mono-static sensing operations to the at least one transmission-reception point.

[0015] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description together with the accompanying figures, which are briefly described below. The present disclosure includes any combination of two, three, four or more features or elements set forth in this disclosure, regardless of whether such features or elements are expressly combined or otherwise recited in a specific example implementation described herein. This disclosure is intended to be read holistically such that any separable features or elements of the disclosure, in any of its aspects and example implementations, should be viewed as combinable unless the context of the disclosure clearly dictates otherwise.

[0016] It will therefore be appreciated that this Brief Summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example implementations so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above described example implementations are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the disclosure in any way. Other example implementations, aspects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of some described example implementations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE(S)

[0017] Having thus described example implementations of the disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a telecommunications system that includes one or more public land mobile networks (PLMNs) coupled to one or more external data networks, according to some example implementations of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates a deployment of a PLMN, according to some example implementations;

[0020] FIG. 3 more particularly depicts aspects of a 5G or 6G deployment that may correspond to the deployment of FIG. 2, according to some example implementations;

[0021] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate mono-static sensing configurations according to various example implementations;

[0022] FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are signaling charts of sharing mono-static sensing capability information from a mono-static sensing system to a management function, according to various example implementations;

[0023] FIG. 8 is a graph that illustrates a radiation pattern comparison of different sensing panels combined with a communication panel, according to various example implementations;

[0024] FIG. 9 is a graph that illustrates missed detection between two scatterers for different sensing systems with a variable sensing panel and a fixed communication panel, according to various example implementations;

[0025] FIGS. 10A and 10B are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method according to various example implementations;

[0026] FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method according to various example implementations;

[0027] FIG. 12 illustrates an apparatus according to some example implementations. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Some implementations of the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which some, but not all implementations of the disclosure are shown. Indeed, various implementations of the disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the implementations set forth herein; rather, these example implementations are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0029] Unless specified otherwise or clear from context, references to first, second or the like should not be construed to imply a particular order. A feature described as being above another feature (unless specified otherwise or clear from context) may instead be below, and vice versa; and similarly, features described as being to the left of another feature else may instead be to the right, and vice versa. Also, while reference may be made herein to quantitative measures, values, geometric relationships or the like, unless otherwise stated, any one or more if not all of these may be absolute or approximate toaccount for acceptable variations that may occur, such as those due to engineering tolerances or the like.

[0030] As used herein, unless specified otherwise or clear from context, the “or” of a set of operands is the “inclusive or” and thereby true if and only if one or more of the operands is true, as opposed to the “exclusive or” which is false when all of the operands are true. Thus, for example, “[A] or [B]” is true if [A] is true, or if [B] is true, or if both [A] and [B] are true. Further, the articles “a” and “an” mean “one or more,” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. Furthermore, it should be understood that unless otherwise specified, the terms “data,” “content,” “digital content,” “information,” and similar terms may be at times used interchangeably. The term “network” may refer to a group of interconnected computers including clients and servers; and within a network, these computers may be interconnected directly or indirectly by various means including via one or more switches, routers, gateways, access points or the like.

[0031] Reference may be made herein to terms specific to a particular system, architecture or the like, but it should be understood that example implementations of the present disclosure may be equally applicable to any of a number of systems, architectures and the like. For example, reference may be made to 3GPP technologies such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), UMTS, LTE, LTE Advanced, 5G NR, 5G Advanced and 6G; however, it should be understood that example implementations of the present disclosure may be equally applicable to non-3GPP technologies such as IEEE 802, Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy.

[0032] Further, as used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry); (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions); or (c) hardware circuit(s) and / or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or aportion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0033] The above definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates a telecommunications system 100 according to various example implementations of the present disclosure. The telecommunications system generally includes one or more telecommunications networks. As shown, for example, the system includes one or more public land mobile networks (PLMNs) 102 coupled to one or more other external data networks 104 – notably including a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet. Each of the PLMNs includes a core network (CN) 106 backbone such as the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) of LTE, the 5G core network (5GC) or the like; and each of the core networks and the Internet are coupled to one or more radio access networks (RANs) 108, air interfaces or the like that implement one or more radio access technologies (RATs). As used herein, a “network device” refers to any suitable device at a network side of a telecommunications network. Examples of suitable network devices are described in greater detail below.

[0035] In addition, the system includes one or more radio units that may be varyingly known as user equipment (UE) 110, terminal device, terminal equipment, mobile station or the like. The UE is generally a device configured to communicate with a network device or a further UE in a telecommunication network. The UE may be a portable computer (e.g., laptop, notebook, tablet computer), mobile phone (e.g., cell phone, smartphone), wearable computer (e.g., smartwatch), or the like. In other examples, the UE may be an Internet of things (IoT) device, an industrial IoT (IIoT device), a vehicle equipped with a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication technology, or the like. Insome of these examples, as referenced by 3GPP, the UE may be a reduced capability (RedCaP) device.

[0036] In operation, these UEs 110 may be configured to connect to one or more of the RANs 108 according to their particular radio access technologies to thereby access a particular CN 106 of a PLMN 102, or to access one or more of the external data networks 104 (e.g., the Internet). The external data network may be configured to provide Internet access, operator services, 3rd party services, etc. For example, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has classified 5G mobile network services into three categories: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC), and massive machine type communications (mMTC) or massive internet of things (MIoT).

[0037] Examples of radio access technologies include 3GPP radio access technologies such as GSM, UMTS, LTE, LTE Advanced, 5G NR, 5G Advanced, and 6G. Other examples of radio access technologies include IEEE 802 technologies such as IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.15 (including 802.15.1 (WPAN / Bluetooth), 802.15.4 (Zigbee) and 802.15.6 (WBAN)), Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), ultra wideband (UWB), and the like. Generally, a radio access technology may refer to any 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, 6G or higher generation mobile communication technology and their different versions, as well as to any other wireless radio access technology that may be arranged to interwork with such a mobile communication technology to provide access to the CN 106 of a mobile network operator (MNO).

[0038] In various examples, a RAN 108 may be configured as one or more macrocells, microcells, picocells, femtocells or the like. The RAN may generally include one or more radio access nodes that are configured to interact with UEs 110. In various examples, a radio access node may be referred to as a base station (BS), access point (AP), base transceiver station (BTS), Node B (NB), evolved NB (eNB), macro BS, NB (MNB) or eNB (MeNB), home BS, NB (HNB) or eNB (HeNB), next generation NB (gNB), enhanced gNB (en-gNB), next generation eNB (ng-eNB), or the like. The RAN may include some type of network controlling / governing entity responsible for control of the radio access nodes. The network controlling / governing entity and radio access node may be separate or integrated into a single apparatus. The network controlling / governingentity may include processing circuity configured to carry out various management functions, etc. The processing circuity may be associated with a memory, computer- readable storage medium or database for maintaining information required in the management functions.

[0039] A RAN 108 may be centralized or distributed. In various examples, components of a RAN may be interconnected by Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), optical fiber, dark fiber, passive wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), WDM passive optical network (WDM-PON), optical transport network (OTN), time sensitive networking (TSN) and / or any other data link layer network, possibly including radio links. The RAN may be connected to a CN 106 through one or more gateways, network functions or the like.

[0040] As will be appreciated, a PLMN 102 may be deployed in a number of different manners. FIG. 2 illustrates a deployment 200 of a PLMN, such as a 4G LTE, 5G or 6G deployment, according to some example implementations. As shown, the deployment includes a CN 106, and RAN 108 with one or more radio access nodes 202 configured to interact with UEs 110. In a 4G LTE deployment, the EPC is the CN, and the evolved UMTS terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) is the RAN; and the E- UTRAN includes one or more eNBs (radio access nodes) configured to connect UEs to the E-UTRAN to thereby access the EPC. Similarly, in a 5G deployment, the 5GC is the CN 106, and the next generation (NG) radio access network (NG-RAN) is the RAN 108; and the NG-RAN includes one or more gNBs (radio access nodes 202) configured to connect UEs 110 to the NG-RAN to thereby access the 5GC. The term ‘gNB’ in 5G may correspond to the eNB in 4G LTE.

[0041] Some deployments of 4G LTE and 5G in particular are considered standalone (SA) deployments. Other deployments combine 4G LTE and 5G technologies, and are referred to as non-standalone (NSA) deployments. In some deployments, the E-UTRAN includes one or more ng-eNBs that are configured to communicate with the 5GC, and that may also be configured to communicate with one or more gNBs. Similarly, in another deployment, the NG-RAN may include one or more en-gNBs that are configured to communicate with the EPC, and that may also be configured to communicate with one or more eNBs. In various instances, a single UE 110, a dual-mode or multimode UE, maysupport multiple (two or more) RANs—thereby being configured to connect to multiple RANs, such as 4G LTE and 5G.

[0042] In some deployments, operations of a radio access node 202 may be distributed or functionally split into components including one or more remote radio head (RRHs) or radio units (RUs), and a baseband unit (BBU); and in some architectures, the BBU may be split into a distributed unit (DU) and a central / centralized unit (CU), such as a server, host or node. In some architectures, the RRH / RU and DU may be co-located. It is also possible that node operations may be distributed among a plurality of servers, hosts or nodes. It should also be understood that the distribution of work between CN 106 operations and radio access node 202 operations may vary depending on implementation.

[0043] FIG. 3 more particularly depicts aspects of a 5G or 6G deployment 300 for a MNO, which may correspond to the deployment 200, according to some example implementations. As shown, for example, the deployment includes a 5GC 302, and NG- RAN 304 with one or more gNBs 306 configured to connect UEs 308 to the NG-RAN to thereby access the 5GC. In some NSA deployments, one or more ng-eNBs may be configured to connect the UEs to the 5GC.

[0044] The gNB 306 may be functionally split into one or more RRHs or RUs 310, one or more DUs 312, and a CU 314. The RUs are configured to perform radio frequency (RF) processing of signals to and from the UE. The DUs include some real-time baseband processing functionality, and the CU includes non-real-time baseband processing functionality. The 5GC may include a number of network functions (NFs) divided between the control plane and the user plane. In particular, the 5GC may include, for example, an access and mobility management function (AMF) 316, a session management function (SMF) 318, a user plane function (UPF) 320, and the like.

[0045] In the control plane, the AMF 316 is configured to provide UE-based authentication, authorization, mobility management, etc. The SMF 318 is configured to provide various functionality including session management (SM), UE Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation and management, selection and control of UPF(s) 320, control part of policy enforcement and Quality of Service (QoS), lawful intercept, termination of SM parts of NAS messages, Downlink Data Notification (DNN), roaming functionality, handle local enforcement to apply QoS for Service Level Agreements (SLAs), chargingdata collection and charging interface, etc. If the UE 308 has multiple sessions, different SMFs may be allocated to each session to manage them individually and possibly provide different functionalities per session.

[0046] The UPF 320 supports various user plane operations and functionalities, such as packet routing and forwarding, traffic handling (e.g., QoS enforcement), an anchor point for intra-RAT / inter-RAT mobility (when applicable), packet inspection and policy rule enforcement, lawful intercept (UP collection), traffic accounting and reporting, etc. The UPF is the point of interconnect between the 5GC and external data networks (i.e., point of ingress or egress for a data network), and routes packets to and from the data network. As explained above, the data network may be configured to provide Internet access, operator services, 3rd party services, etc.

[0047] As shown and described, for example, some 5G deployments may be based on a so-called CU-DU split including one or more DUs 312 and a CU 314. One gNB-CU (central node) may control one or more gNB-DUs. The gNB-CU may control a plurality of spatially separated gNB-DUs, acting at least as transmit / receive (Tx / Rx) nodes. In some example implementations, however, the gNB-DUs (also called DU) may include, for example, a radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC) layer and a physical (PHY) layer, whereas the gNB-CU (also called a CU) may include the layers above the RLC layer, such as a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio resource control (RRC), and an internet protocol (IP) layer. Other functional splits are also possible. It is considered that a skilled person is familiar with the open systems interconnection (OSI) model and the functionalities within each layer.

[0048] In some example implementations, the server or CU 314 may generate a virtual network through which the server communicates with the radio node. In general, virtual networking may involve a process of combining hardware and software network resources and network functionality into a single, software-based administrative entity, a virtual network. Such virtual network may provide flexible distribution of operations between the server and the radio head / node. In practice, any digital signal processing task may be performed in either the CU or the DU 312, and the boundary where the responsibility is shifted between the CU and the DU may be selected according to implementation.

[0049] In various instances, a UE 110, 308 may be configured to operate using multiple antenna panels or beams, such as via multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) technology, which may allow the UE to dramatically increase its data rate capabilities. One feature related to this capability is referred to as multi-TRP (transmission-reception point). This feature enables the network to use multiple TRPs to communicate with a UE. In this regard, a TRP may be a set of geographically co-located antennas, antenna arrays or panels supporting transmission point (TP) and / or reception point (RP) functionality. In various examples, TRPs may be radio access nodes 202 (e.g., gNBs 306, ng-eNBs), radio access node antennas, antenna arrays or panels, RRHs, RUs 310, a remote antenna, antenna array or panel of a radio access node, or the like.

[0050] It has been proposed to convert telecommunications networks to joint physical-biological networks in which a controller is capable of sensing the state and behavior of active and passive nodes, devices, and objects within its environment. The idea behind network sensing is to extend the existing telecommunications infrastructure with radar-like capabilities to gather knowledge about the surroundings, ideally with minimal overhead with respect to communication operations. In this regard, sensing services may use the same physical resources as communication services. Sensing services may be understood as services performing sensing the state and behavior of various active devices and / or objects in an environment, for example, availability of a channel prior to transmission of data. Communication services may be understood as services performing the transmission of data.

[0051] ISAC refers to technologies that combine sensing and communication functionalities in a JCAS system, which has been recognized as a promising technology for wireless networks. To extend the existing communications infrastructure with radar- like capabilities, ISAC systems may transmit, receive and process radio signals that are reflected by objects in the environment, enabling the estimation of parameters of interest such as range, angle-of-arrival, or velocity.

[0052] In a telecommunications system 100 or deployment 200, 300, various entities may participate in sensing procedures either as transmitters or receivers in different possible sensing configurations. In some sensing configurations, one or more radio access nodes 202 (e.g., gNBs 306, ng-eNBs) and / or UEs 110, 308 may participate in sensingprocedures. Examples of suitable sensing configurations include a mono-static sensing configuration of a radio access node (at times more simply referred to as a mono-static RAN-based sensing configuration), a multi-static sensing configuration of a radio access node (at times referred to as a multi-static RAN-based sensing configuration), and a multi-static RAN and UE-assisted sensing configuration.

[0053] In a mono-static (RAN-based) sensing configuration, a radio access node 202 (e.g., gNBs 306, ng-eNBs) may act as a transmitter of sensing signals, as well as a receiver of reflected sensing signals. This configuration may employ a system in which transmit and receive antenna arrays are placed together. In a multi-static (RAN-based) sensing configuration, one radio access node may act as transmitter of sensing signals, while one or more other radio access nodes act as receiver(s) of reflected sensing signals. In a multi-static RAN and UE-assisted sensing configuration, a radio access node may act as transmitter of sensing signals, while one or more UEs 110, 308 receive the reflected sensing signals. Similarly, a UE may act as transmitter of sensing signals, while one or more radio access nodes receive the reflected sensing signals.

[0054] Although a number of sensing configurations are contemplated, the mono- static (RAN-based) sensing configuration may be implemented without synchronization of a radio access node 202 with other network elements (another radio access node or UE 110, 308) to operate its radar functionalities; and accordingly, take measurements. These systems may rely on a radio access node managing multiple antenna arrays, which in some examples may be implemented by a single TRP or respective TRPs. In this regard, the radio access node may manage one TRP (in downlink (DL) or uplink (UL)), plus an additional antenna array operating in dual mode (thus, in UL or DL, respectively), achieving an equivalent full duplex (FD) capability and allowing the radio access node to operate as a radar system.

[0055] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate mono-static sensing configurations 400A, 400B according to various example implementations. As shown, the mono-sensing configurations generally include a mono-static sensing system 402 that includes the at least one TRP. In FIG. 4A, the mono-static sensing system includes a single TRP 404 that is operable in a mono-static sensing mode. In this regard, the single TRP may include respective antenna arrays 406, 408 for transmission and reception (these antenna arraysalso referred to as transmitter and receiver). This single TRP may be a FD TRP used for sensing services, and may also be used for communication services.

[0056] In FIG. 4B, the mono-static sensing system 402 includes a TRP 404A (TRP1) and a co-located, sensing supporting TRP 404B (TRP2) that are jointly operable in a mono-static sensing mode; and the TRP and the sensing supporting TRP may include respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception. These co-located TRPs may be HD TRPs used for sensing services, where one of them may also be used for communication services. The TRP 404A and the sensing supporting TRP 404Bare co- located or quasi co-located (generally co-located); and in this context, co-location refers to placement of the TRP and the sensing supporting TRP in close proximity at the same physical location or within a relatively small spatial area, such as to provide sufficient antenna isolation between their antenna arrays.

[0057] As also shown, the mono-static sensing configurations 400A, 400B include a management function (MF) 410, which may at times be referred to as a sensing management function (SeMF). The MF may be configured to support sensing services in a deployment 200, 300 of a PLMN. As indicated above, these may be services performing sensing the state and behavior of various active devices (e.g., UE 308) and / or objects 412 in an environment. In this regard, the MF may be configured to communicate with the mono-static sensing system 404, including TRP(s) 404, 404A, 404B. In some examples, the MF may be provided by a network function of a CN 106, such as the 5GC in deployment 300. The MF may be a dedicated network function, or the MF may be integrated with another network function, such as the location management function (LMF) in the 5GC that supports location or positioning services.

[0058] In the context of ISAC, imaging refers to constructing an image of the environment using the transmission of radio waves and the cellular infrastructure. One important factor for the achievable imaging performance is angular resolution, determining how well two scattering devices (e.g., UE 308) or objects 412 can be discriminated. A path to achieve this is to determine joint beamforming capabilities of the transmitter and receiver antenna arrays 406, 408. This allows one to determine the achievable point spread function (PSF) of the sensing system, which is the angular impulse response of the system to a single point scatterer. In the case of mono-staticsensing, it may be possible to define a desired set of beamforming coefficients to be used to transmit and receive sensing measurements to achieve certain angular metrics (resolution and sidelobe suppression). Note that different acquisition by means of different beamforming coefficients can be combined to refine the sensing measurements, achieving the desired point spread function. These metrics directly influence the ability of the system to discriminate close targets.

[0059] The remaining task is the transfer of the coefficients from the joint system to what each antenna array should do, which can be achieved through different techniques like alternating minimization in combination with image addition. It may also be shown that sparse arrays can achieve the same angular capabilities as dense arrays under the constraint of noise enhancement effects and increased acquisition time. In contrast to currently deployed cellular systems operating in half duplex (HD), however, joint beamforming approaches make FD assumptions. As currently deployed cellular systems operate in HD, the introduction of FD concepts may complicate market acceptance and increase time-to-market.

[0060] Looking at the current state of information-flow in positioning, one can see that there is an exchange between the LMF, aggregating active positioning operations in a way similar to what the MF 410 may do with sensing, and a radio access node 202 via the NR Positioning Protocol A (NRPPa) as defined by 3GPP. The NRPPa enables an exchange of specific messages to determine the position of a connected device. In this regard, the NRPPa provides a TRP information request and TRP information response message exchange that allows the LMF to request and receive different information, e.g., with a NG-RAN Access Point Position information element (IE) containing position information for a NG-RAN node (e.g., gNB 306, ng-eNB) and its capabilities.

[0061] Although the MF 410 of the mono-static sensing configurations 400A, 400B may benefit from knowing the specific hardware capabilities of each TRP 404, 404A, 404B, in the current state of wireless standards, only limited information is shared with the MF. Some proposals have included extending NRPPa (or similar) signaling to provide the MF with information regarding TRP beamforming capabilities related to sensing. In this regard, the beamforming capabilities may indicate an achievable PSF in one or more, if not every possible, main / desired beamformed direction. This information may enrichan existing TRP Information IE that the TRP can use in the TRP information response message to inform the MF (LMF in that case) about its capabilities.

[0062] In particular, for example, the beam shape of a TRP may be determined, in terms of radiated (relative) power as function of the angle, and its offset from the main beam direction, to then determine the angular capabilities of the TRP. In NRPPa, the TRP Beam Antenna Information IE, its sub-IE TRP Beam Antenna Angles, and its sub-sub-IE TRP Beam Power List may provide the beam power gain for every positioning reference signal (PRS) resource identifier scheduled by the TRP, which may provide de-facto the radiation pattern of the TRP in the DL. As explained below, the MF 410 may also use this information to derive (some of) the UL beamforming properties of the TRP. The Spatial Direction Information IE, on the other hand, only provides the main direction of PRS resource sets, without information on the beam shape (and width).

[0063] The issue with the current NRPPa is that single TRPs operate in cellular networks with HD capabilities, thus they either operate in the DL or UL. This is clear from the definition of the TRP angular capabilities in the TRP Beam Power List IE, where NRPPa only describes and considers DL PRS. This is because DL- (or UL-) only approaches are sufficient for current active positioning and future multi-static sensing (where a transmitter is not the same entity and in the same location of the receiver, and there is no joint transmit-receive beamforming operation). In the mono-static case, however, there is the need to emulate FD capabilities, possibly with additional hardware or enhancements of it. This can be done with additional hardware deployed for sensing, but this would change the angular beamforming capabilities of the mono-static sensing system, depending on the joint capabilities of the transmitter and receiver. And current standards, which focus only on single direction TRP capabilities (in DL-PRS), do not provide a way to define joint transmit and receive beamforming capabilities (plus others) of a mono-static sensing system and to convey this information to the MF 410, and thus to operate them from the MF.

[0064] Existing standardization efforts are therefore focused on sharing capabilities of HD TRPs for positioning. These signaling methods and fields can be re-used for multi- static sensing operations in ISAC, where each TRP either operates as transmitter or receiver. In the case of the mono-static sensing system 402 of example implementationsof the present disclosure, the same entity (single TRP 404, or co-located TRPs 404A, 404B) jointly operate transmitter and receiver antenna arrays 406, 408 in the same place. This changes how and which information may be signaled to the MF 410 to handle its operations.

[0065] In view of the foregoing, example implementations of the present disclosure provide a signaling framework to support sharing of sensing capabilities of the mono- static sensing system 402 with the MF 410. This may include, for example, signaling IEs and messages to allow the MF to acquire information about the capabilities of the mono- static sensing system in cellular ISAC to manage their operations in future sensing operations. As described above, in some examples, the mono-static sensing system may include a single TRP 404 that is operable in a mono-static sensing mode. In other examples, the mono-static sensing system may include a TRP 404A and a co-located, sensing supporting TRP 404B that are jointly operable in a mono-static sensing mode. As described below, some example implementations involve use of NRPPa for positioning as a baseline to provide similar procedures to positioning. It should be understood, however, that example implementations may be equally applicable without use of NRPPa, such as in case of a new specific protocol designed for sensing purposes.

[0066] Some example implementations provide signaling in cellular networks, from the mono-static sensing system 402 with the MF 410, mono-static sensing capability information. FIG. 5 is a signaling chart 500 of sharing mono-static sensing capability information from the mono-static sensing system to the MF, according to some example implementations. As shown at steps 501 and 502, the MF sends a request for mono-static sensing capability information to the mono-static sensing system, and receives a response including the mono-static sensing capability information from the mono-static sensing system. As described below, this message exchange may be the same as or similar to the above-described TRP information request and TRP information response. In some examples, the mono-static sensing capability information may include one or more of the following information about the transmitter and receiver antenna arrays 406, 408 and their joint capabilities: joint transmitter and receiver beamforming capabilities, degree of synchronization among them, and / or information about their isolation (e.g., antenna isolation, radio front-end isolation, digital isolation).

[0067] The signaling provided by example implementations of the present disclosure may allow the mono-static sensing system 402 to announce itself and its mono-static sensing capabilities to the MF 410. The MF may then use the mono-static sensing capabilities to provision sensing measurements and infer or otherwise derive information about the resulting sensing quality of service (QoS), such as its angular and range accuracy and resolution, as shown at step 503.

[0068] According to some example implementations of the present disclosure, then, the MF 410 is configured to send at least one request for information regarding at least one TRP, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system 402 including the at least one TRP. This may include a request to the single TRP 404, or separate requests to the TRP 404A and sensing supporting TRP 404B. The TRP may be configured to receive the request, gather the mono-static sensing capability information based on the request, and send a response including the mono- static sensing capability information. The MF may be configured to receive at least one response from the TRP(s) including the mono-static sensing capability information. The MF may be configured to determine an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system based on the mono-static sensing capability information, and send the assignment to the TRP(s). The TRP may in turn be configured to receive the assignment, and perform the one or more mono-static sensing operations based on at least one of the assignment or one or more mono-static sensing capabilities of the mono-static sensing system (which may include proprietary solutions).

[0069] In some examples in which the mono-static sensing system 402 includes the single TRP 404 that is operable in a mono-static sensing mode, the mono-static sensingcapability information may include joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the single transmission-reception point. In some of these examples, the mono-static sensing capability information may further include information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between its respective antenna arrays 406, 408 for transmission and reception. Additionally or alternatively, the mono-static sensing capability information may include other relevant information. And as described below, in some examples using NRRPa, the TRP information IE in NRRPa may be enhancedwith one or more additional IEs that include the mono-static sensing capability information.

[0070] In some examples in which the mono-static sensing system 402 includes the TRP 404 and the co-located, sensing supporting TRP 404B that are jointly operable in a mono-static sensing mode, the mono-static sensing capability information from the TRP may identify the sensing supporting TRP. Additionally or alternatively, the mono-static sensing capability information from the sensing supporting TRP may identify the TRP. In this regard, the mono-static sensing capability information from the TRP may include an identifier (ID) or equivalent of the sensing supporting TRP, and / or the mono-static sensing capability information from the sensing supporting TRP may include an ID of the TRP.

[0071] The MF 410 in some of these examples may be configured to receive responses with respective mono-static sensing capability information related to the TRP 404A and the sensing supporting TRP 404B. The MF may then be configured to aggregate the respective mono-static sensing capability information of each of the TRP and the sensing supporting TRP into the mono-static sensing capability information based on which the assignment is determined.

[0072] In some examples, the mono-static sensing capability information from the TRP 404A and / or the sensing supporting TRP 404B may include joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the TRP and the sensing supporting TRP. In some other examples, the responses from the TRP and the sensing supporting TRP may include respective (first and second) capabilities of the TRP and the sensing supporting TRP 404B. In some of these other examples, the MF 410 may be configured to derive the joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the TRP and the sensing supporting TRP, based on the respective (first and second) capabilities. The assignment of the one or more mono-static sensing operations, then, may also be based on derived mono-static sensing capability information including the joint transmission and reception capabilities.

[0073] Similar to before, the mono-static sensing capability information may further include information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between therespective antenna arrays 406, 408 of the TRP 404A and the sensing supporting TRP 404B. Additionally or alternatively, the mono-static sensing capability information may include other relevant information. In some examples using NRRPa, the mono-static sensing capability information may be shared by the TRPs the TRP Information IE may include one or more additional IEs with the mono-static sensing capability information to signal the MF 410 that the TRPs belong to a single mono-static system. Both TRPs may then use these new IE(s) to signal the MF that they can operate together as a mono-static system and their corresponding capabilities.

[0074] To further illustrate some example implementations in which the mono-static sensing system 402 includes the single TRP 404, FIG. 6 is a signaling chart 600 of sharing mono-static sensing capability information from the TRP to the MF 410 using NRRPa (or similar protocol). As shown at step 601, the MF sends a TRP information request for TRP-related information, including mono-static sensing capability information, to the TRP 404. The TRP gathers the information; and at step 602, the TRP sends a TRP information response with the TRP-related information including the mono- static sensing capability information. The TRP information response may include the TRP Information IE with one or more IEs or fields that include mono-static sensing capability information.

[0075] In particular, for example, the TRP Information IE may include a Boolean indicator (e.g., IsMonoStaticSensingCapable) that signals the TRP is operable in a mono- static sensing mode. Additionally or alternatively, for example, the TRP Information IE may include an IE or field (e.g., MonoStaticSensingAngularCapabilities) to indicate the angular capabilities of the mono-static sensing system 402. This field may include, for example, angular beam information about the (absolute / relative) power radiated as function of angle. This can be done for one or more, if not every possible, main / desired beamformed direction.

[0076] The IE / field that conveys the angular capabilities may be added in a number of different manners. In some examples, the sub-IE TRP Beam Antenna Angles may be enhanced with an IE (e.g., TRP Beam Power List for Mono-Static Sensing), similar to the TRP Beam Power List IE, but including relative beam power (and – optionally – its “fine” granularity information according to currently used terminology in NRPPa) formono-static sensing. In other examples, TRP Beam Antenna Angles may be enhanced with one or more IEs in the TRP Beam Power List IE, associating to each PRS transmission a TRP Mono-static Beam Relative Power (and – optionally – its fine information) for mono-static sensing.

[0077] In the presence of the aforementioned IE(s) to convey the angular capabilities, the MF 410 may be made aware the TRP 404 is operable in the mono-static sensing mode, making the above-mentioned Boolean operator redundant. Also, in case multiple acquisitions are used to fully leverage the joint transmit and receive sensing capabilities, a minimum and / or maximum number of beamformed acquisitions at the MF may be signaled in the proper IE(s) that convey the mono-static sensing angular capabilities. This may be useful, for example, to provision the number of PRS transmissions for on-demand PRS (sensing) transmissions, e.g., allowing the MF to better determine Allowed Resource Number of Symbol Values in On-Demand PRS TRP Information in NRPPa.

[0078] Additionally or alternatively, the TRP Information IE may include an IE or field (e.g., MonoStaticIsolationProperties) to convey isolation between transmitter and receiver antenna arrays 406, 408. This information may be provided as a scalar (e.g., referred to boresight radiation and reception), or as function of a beamformed transmission on a particular direction. In the latter case, the isolation may be conveyed by adding an IE (e.g., Mono-Static Isolation) associated to a PRS resource ID in the TRP Beam Antenna Angles IE, such as described above in the context of conveying the angular capabilities.

[0079] Additionally or alternatively, the TRP Information IE may include an IE or field (e.g., DegreeTxRxSynchronization) indicating the confidence of synchronization (e.g., standard deviation of time error) between transmitter and receiver antenna arrays 406, 408 of the TRP 404, impacting the range estimation. Even further, the TRP Information IE may additionally or alternatively include one or more of the following: an IE or field (e.g., ExpectedRangingAccuracy) indicating the accuracy of range measurements, an IE or field (e.g., ExpectedAngularAccuracy) indicating the accuracy of angular measurements), and / or an IE or field (e.g., MaximumMonoStaticSensingBandwidth) that may convey if the TRP is limited by the bandwidth. Moreover, an IE or field (e.g., Maximum Angular Aperture) may be used tosignal a maximum angular aperture to the MF 410, such as by a min / max azimuth and elevation angle that the TRP can cover.

[0080] Regardless of the exact content of the mono-static capability information received in the TRP information response, the MF 410 may at step 603 use the mono- static sensing capabilities to provision sensing measurements and infer or otherwise derive information about the resulting sensing QoS (e.g., angular and range accuracy and resolution). The MF may instruct sensing measurements to the TRP 404, that will determine its transmit and receive operations (beamforming).

[0081] To further illustrate some example implementations in which the mono-static sensing system 402 includes the TRP 404A and the co-located, sensing supporting TRP 404B, FIG. 7 is a signaling chart 700 of sharing mono-static sensing capability information from the TRPs to the MF 410. As shown at step 701, the MF sends TRP information requests for TRP-related information, including mono-static sensing capability information, to the TRP and the sensing supporting TRP. The TRP and the sensing supporting TRP gather respective information; and at step 702, the TRP and the sensing supporting TRP send TRP information responses with respective TRP-related information including the mono-static sensing capability information.

[0082] Similar to FIG. 6, each of the TRP information responses in FIG. 7 may include the TRP Information IE with one or more IEs or fields that include mono-static sensing capability information. In examples including the two TRPs, though, a TRP can signal the TRP is jointly operable with one or more other TRPs in a mono-static sensing mode. In this regard, the TRP Information from the TRP may include a list of associated TRPs for mono-static sensing operations. This may include an IE / field (e.g., Associated TRP ID) including the ID of the associated TRP that can form, with the currently signaling TRP, a mono-static sensing system 402. An enumeration field (e.g., Mono- Static Sensing Direction) may describe whether the associated TRP (or, conversely, the currently signaling TRP) can operate as transmitter, receiver, or both.

[0083] Additionally or alternatively, the TRP Information IE may include, for each associated TRP, an IE or field (e.g., MonoStaticIsolationProperties) to convey antenna isolation between the currently signaling TRP and the associated TRP, either as a scalar (e.g., referred to boresight radiation and reception), or as function of a beamformedtransmission on a particular direction. As described above, in the latter case, the isolation may be conveyed by adding an IE (e.g., Mono-Static Isolation) associated to a PRS resource ID in the TRP Beam Antenna Angles IE.

[0084] The TRP Information IE may include, for each associated TRP, an IE or field (e.g., MonoStaticSensingAngularCapabilities) to indicate the angular capabilities of the mono-static sensing system 402. Similar to above, this field may include, for example, angular beam information about the (absolute / relative) power radiated as function of angle. This can be done for one or more, if not every possible, main / desired beamformed direction. Also similar to above, the IE / field that conveys the angular capabilities may be added in a number of different manners.

[0085] In some examples, the angular capabilities may be added with an IE (e.g., TRP Beam Power List for Mono-static Sensing), similar to TRP Beam Power List, but including relative beam power (and – optionally – its “fine” information) for mono-static sensing when operated by the currently signaling TRP and the associated TRP. Note that two beam power (and corresponding fine) values can be given, depending on which is the transmitter and receiver). In other examples, the MF 410 can use the TRP Beam Antenna Angles and the Beam Relative Power IE in it of each TRP to infer or otherwise derive the corresponding mono-static sensing information. In particular, the MF can multiply the gains (or add in dB scale) at the same angle for both TRPs to get the resulting gain of the mono-static system. Even without the added IE to convey the angular capabilities, then, the MF may derive the beam information by combining the information from the TRP Beam Antenna Angles and the Beam Relative Power IE of both TRPs.

[0086] Moreover, similar to above, in case multiple acquisitions are used to fully leverage the joint transmit and receive sensing capabilities, a minimum and / or maximum number of beamformed acquisitions at the MF may be signaled in the proper IE(s) that convey the mono-static sensing angular capabilities. This may be useful, for example, to provision the number of PRS transmissions for on-demand PRS (sensing) transmissions, e.g., allowing the MF to better determine Allowed Resource Number of Symbol Values in On-Demand PRS TRP Information in NRPPa.

[0087] Additionally or alternatively, the TRP Information IE may include an IE or field (e.g., DegreeTxRxSynchronization) indicating the confidence of synchronization(e.g., standard deviation of time error) between respective transmitter and receiver antenna arrays 406, 408 of the currently signaling TRP and the associated TRP, impacting the range estimation. Even further, the TRP Information IE may additionally or alternatively include one or more of the following: an IE or field (e.g., Maximum Angular Aperture) to signal a maximum angular aperture to the MF 410, such as by a min / max azimuth and elevation angle that the TRP can cover, an IE or field (e.g., ExpectedRangingAccuracy) indicating the accuracy of range measurements when taken by the currently signaling TRP and the associated TRP (note that two values can be given, depending on which is the transmitter and receiver), an IE or field (e.g., ExpectedAngularAccuracy) indicating the accuracy of angular measurements), and / or an IE or field (e.g., MaximumMonoStaticSensingBandwidth) that may convey if one of the two TRPs involved is limited by the bandwidth.

[0088] Regardless of the exact content of the mono-static capability information received in the TRP information responses, the MF 410 may at step 703 associate the TRPs 404A, 404B into the monostatic sensing system, and aggregate their respective mono-static sensing capabilities. Then at step 704, the MF may use the mono-static sensing capabilities to provision sensing measurements and infer or otherwise derive information about the resulting sensing QoS (e.g., angular and range accuracy and resolution). The MF may instruct sensing measurements to the TRP 404, that will determine its transmit and receive operations (beamforming).

[0089] To further illustrate the design of one or more of the TRPs of the mono-static sensing system 402, consider again examples including the two TRPs 404A, 404B. In some examples, the TRP 404A may be implemented by a communication TRP with antenna spacing typically used for communications, thus, typically lower or equal than half the wavelength; and the co-located, sensing supporting TRP 404B may be added. As described below, the sensing supporting TRP is chosen as the transmitter, but in other examples, the sensing TRP may be the receiver. An image in scan direction ^ can be retrieved from the convolution of the original scatterer scene ^(^) with the scatterer directions ^ and the PSF ψ^^^of the joint TRP system. ^^ = ^ ^ ^^= ^ ^(^)ψ^(^, ^)ψ^(^, ^)^^ (E1)^!^^

[0090] Theto a single point respect to resolution and sidelobe suppression capabilities. The joint PSF can be expressed as the multiplication of the two subpanel PSFs (sensing part: ψ^, communication part: ψ^) with corresponding beamforming coefficients wTand wR. In the example described by formula (E1), one may assume a sensing array with 3^elements and a communication array with 3^elements. Then the PSFs are expressed as the summation over all the elements and their corresponding beamforming coefficients w combined with a steering factor depending on the directions ^, ^ and the antenna location indicated by 4. The overall set of points spanned by xT, xRand (xT+ xR) defines the array aperture of the transmitter, receiver and joint, respectively. The joint aperature may also be referred to as the sum co-array aperature. In case of incoherent imaging, what would matter is the expected value of the acquisitions' power and the joint capabilities will be dictated by the difference co-array. For more details, see Hoctoret al., “The Unifying Role of the Coarray in Aperture Synthesis for Coherent and Incoherent Imaging,” Proceedings of the IEEE 78.4 (1990): 735-752.

[0091] To derive the beamforming coefficients of each array one can utilize the alternating minimization algorithm, but with consideration of systems including arrays with different numbers of elements and element spacing.

[0092] Typically, phased arrays designed with an element spacing greater than λ / 2 show the undesirable effect of grating lobes. This effect greatly reduces the ability of the system to unambiguously resolve the relative angular position of a target. FIG 8 illustrates an example of the radiation pattern of a single uniform rectangular array(URA) sensing panel with 3 × 3 elements and 2: spacing with a dotted curve. Thegrating lobes are clearly visible as replicas of the original main beam, creating angular aliases and making the extracted angular information from it irrelevant (also impairing communications performance).

[0093] At the same time, the joint PSF from the combination of the previously-mentioned 3 × 3 elements and 2: spacing with a URA communication panel of 11 × 11elements with λ / 2 spacing can achieve a PSF (solid curve) derived from a Chebyshev window with 45dB sidelobe attenuation, extremely low main lobe width (high resolution) and no grating lobes. Comparing the sparse 2λ TRP to another TRP configuration with the same number of elements but using λ / 2 element spacing (dashed curve), one can observe a wider main lobe for the monostatic system including the sensing supporting TRP 404B with smaller antenna spacing. Therefore, just by increasing the spacing of the elements a gain in resolution is realized, which results in better performance of the mono- static sensing system 402 in discriminating close targets. In some examples, then, the sensing supporting TRP may be implemented by the sparse array with increased spacing.The TRP 404A may be implemented by 11 × 11 elements with λ / 2 spacing, and mayalso be used for legacy communications purposes. In examples including the single TRP404, the 11 × 11 elements with λ / 2 spacing may be used to implement the transmitter(or receiver) part, and the sensing receiver (or transmitter).

[0094] FIG. 9 illustrates probability of missed target detection curves for different TRP setups, which can be used to analyze the target separation capabilities of the different TRP setups. One can note that by increasing the number of elements of the sensing panels (from darker to lighter shading) the probability of missed detection reduces as expected. Furthermore, within a group of panels with the same number of elements (same shading), one can see the same progression from smaller to greater element spacing. Considering both effects together, it is noteworthy that arrays with fewer elements but larger spacing may outperform arrays with more elements but smaller spacing.

[0095] FIGS. 10A and 10B are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method 1000 according to various example implementations. The method includes receiving a request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point, as shown at block 1002 of FIG. 10A. The method includes gathering the mono-static sensing capability information based on the request, asshown at block 1004. And the method includes sending a response including the mono- static sensing capability information to a management function, as shown at block 1006.

[0096] In some examples, the method 1000 further includes receiving an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system, the assignment determined at the management function based on the mono-static sensing capability information, as shown at block 1008 of FIG. 10B. In some of these examples, the method also includes performing the one or more mono-static sensing operations based on at least one of the assignment or one or more mono-static sensing capabilities of the mono-static sensing system, as shown at block 1010.

[0097] In some examples, the at least one transmission-reception point is a single transmission-reception point that is operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information (sent in the response at block 1006) includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the single transmission-reception point.

[0098] In some examples, the single transmission-reception point includes respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information (sent in the response at block 1006) further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0099] In some examples, the at least one transmission-reception point is a transmission-reception point and a co-located, sensing supporting transmission-reception point that are jointly operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information (sent in the response at block 1006) identifies the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0100] In some examples, the mono-static sensing capability information (sent in the response at block 1006) includes an identifier of the sensing supporting transmission- reception point, and includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0101] In some examples, the response (sent at block 1006) further includes first capabilities of the transmission-reception point based on which, along with second capabilities of the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, the managementfunction is configured to derive joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0102] In some examples, the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point include respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information (sent in the response at block 1006) further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0103] FIGS. 11A – 11C are flowcharts illustrating various steps in a method 1100 according to various example implementations. The method includes sending at least one request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point, as shown at block 1102 of FIG. 11A. The method includes receiving at least one response including the mono-static sensing capability information, as shown at block 1104. The method includes determining an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono- static sensing system based on the mono-static sensing capability information, as shown at block 1106. And the method includes sending the assignment of the one or more mono-static sensing operations to the at least one transmission-reception point, as shown at block 1108.

[0104] In some examples, the at least one transmission-reception point is a single transmission-reception point that is operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information (received in the at least one response at block 1104) includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the single transmission-reception point.

[0105] In some examples, the single transmission-reception point includes respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information (received in the at least one response at block 1104) further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0106] In some examples, the at least one transmission-reception point is a transmission-reception point and a co-located, sensing supporting transmission-reception point that are jointly operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information (received in the at least one response at block 1104) identifies the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0107] In some examples, the at least one response (received at block 1104) includes responses with respective mono-static sensing capability information related to the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point. In some of these examples, the method 1100 further includes aggregating the respective mono-static sensing capability information into the mono-static sensing capability information based on which the assignment is determined, as shown at block 1110 of FIG. 11B.

[0108] In some examples, the mono-static sensing capability information (received in the at least one response at block 1104) includes an identifier of the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, and includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0109] In some examples, the at least one response (received at block 1104) further includes first and second capabilities of respective ones of the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point. In some of these examples, the method 1100 further includes deriving joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, based on the first and second capabilities, as shown at block 1112 of FIG. 11C. In some of these examples, the assignment is determined at block 1106 further based on derived mono-static sensing capability information including the joint transmission and reception capabilities.

[0110] In some examples, the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point include respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information (receivedin the at least one response at block 1104) further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0111] According to example implementations of the present disclosure, a telecommunications system 100 or PLMN 102, and its components such as a UE 110, CN 106, RAN 108, radio access node 202, 5GC 302, NG-RAN 304, gNB 306, 308, RH / RU 310, DU 312, CU 314, AMF 316, SMF 318, UPF 320, mono-static sensing system 402, TRP 404, 404A, 404B and / or MF 410, may be implemented by various means. Means for implementing the system and its components may include hardware, firmware, software, or combinations thereof. In some examples, one or more apparatuses may be configured to function as or otherwise implement the system and its components shown and described herein. In examples involving more than one apparatus, the respective apparatuses may be connected to or otherwise in communication with one another in a number of different manners, such as directly or indirectly via a wired or wireless network or the like.

[0112] According to some example implementations, at least some of the method 1000 described with respect to FIGS. 10A and 10B may be carried out by an apparatus comprising means for performing functions corresponding steps of the method. Similarly, at least some of the method 1100 described with respect to FIGS. 11A-11C may be carried out by an apparatus comprising means for performing functions corresponding steps of the method. Examples of a suitable apparatus may include a TRP, MF (e.g., SeMF, LMF) or any suitable apparatus, such as a server, host or node; and in some examples in which the apparatus is a TRP or LMF, the apparatus may include an interface such as NRPPa between the TRP and LMF.

[0113] FIG. 12 illustrates an apparatus 1200 in which means for performing various functions includes hardware, alone or under direction of one or more computer programs from a computer-readable storage medium or other memory, such as computer memory, according to some example implementations of the present disclosure. The apparatus may include one or more of each of a number of components such as, for example, processing circuitry 1202 connected to computer-readable storage medium or other memory 1204.

[0114] The processing circuitry 1202 may be composed of one or more processors alone or in combination with one or more computer-readable storage media. Theprocessing circuitry is generally any piece of computer hardware that is capable of processing information such as, for example, data, computer programs and / or other suitable electronic information. The processing circuitry is composed of a collection of electronic circuits some of which may be packaged as an integrated circuit or multiple interconnected integrated circuits (an integrated circuit at times more commonly referred to as a “chip”). The processing circuitry may be configured to execute computer programs, which may be stored onboard the processing circuitry or otherwise stored in the memory 1204 (of the same or another apparatus).

[0115] The processing circuitry 1202 may be a number of processors, a multi-core processor or some other type of processor, depending on the particular implementation. Further, the processing circuitry may be implemented using a number of heterogeneous processor systems in which a main processor is present with one or more secondary processors on a single chip. As another illustrative example, the processing circuitry may be a symmetric multi-processor system containing multiple processors of the same type. In yet another example, the processing circuitry may be embodied as or otherwise include one or more ASICs, FPGAs or the like. Thus, although the processing circuitry may be capable of executing a computer program to perform one or more functions, the processing circuitry of various examples may be capable of performing one or more functions without the aid of a computer program. In either instance, the processing circuitry may be appropriately programmed to perform functions or operations according to example implementations of the present disclosure.

[0116] The memory 1204 is generally any piece of computer hardware that is capable of storing information such as, for example, data, computer programs, instructions 1206 (e.g., computer-readable program code) and / or other suitable information either on a temporary basis and / or a permanent basis. The memory may include volatile and / or non- volatile memory, and may be fixed or removable. Examples of suitable memory include recording media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a hard drive, a flash memory, a thumb drive, a removable computer diskette, an optical disk or some combination thereof.

[0117] The memory 1204 is a non-transitory device capable of storing information. One example of a suitable memory is a computer-readable storage medium, which isdistinguishable from a computer-readable transmission medium capable of carrying information from one location to another. Examples of suitable computer-readable transmission media comprise electronic carrier signals, telecommunications signals, software distribution packages, or some combination thereof. As used herein, the term “non-transitory” is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM versus ROM). A computer-readable medium as described herein generally refers to a computer-readable storage medium or computer-readable transmission medium. A computer-readable medium is any entity or device capable in which information, such as one or more computer programs or portions thereof, may be stored and carried.

[0118] In addition to the memory 1204 (e.g., computer-readable storage medium), the processing circuitry 1202 may also be connected to one or more interfaces for displaying, transmitting and / or receiving information. The interfaces may include a communications interface 1208 and / or one or more user interfaces (e.g., display, user input interface). The communications interface may be configured to transmit and / or receive information, such as to and / or from other apparatus(es), network(s) or the like. The communications interface may be configured to transmit and / or receive information by physical (wired) and / or wireless communications links. Examples of suitable communication interfaces include a network interface controller (NIC), wireless NIC (WNIC) or the like.

[0119] Execution of the instructions 1206 by the processing circuitry 1202, or storage of the instructions in the memory 1204, supports combinations of operations for implementing example implementations of the present disclosure. In this manner, an apparatus 1200 may comprise at least one processing circuitry and at least one memory coupled to the at least one processing circuitry, where the at least one processing circuitry is configured to execute instructions stored in the at least one memory. It will also be understood that one or more functions, and combinations of functions, may be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems and / or processing circuitry which perform the specified functions, or combinations of special purpose hardware and program code instructions.

[0120] Some example implementations of the present disclosure may also be carried out in the form of a computer process defined by one or more computer programs orportions thereof. Example implementations of the present disclosure may be carried out by executing at least one portion of a computer program comprising instructions. The computer program may be in source code form, object code form, or in some intermediate form. The computer program may be stored in a computer-readable medium that is readable by a computer, processing circuitry or other suitable apparatus. As indicated above, for example, the computer program may be stored in a memory, such as a computer-readable storage medium. Additionally or alternatively, for example, the computer program may be stored in a computer-readable transmission medium. The coding of software for carrying out example implementations of the present disclosure is well within the scope of a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0121] As will be appreciated, any suitable instructions may be loaded onto a computer, a processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus from a memory or a computer-readable medium (e.g., computer-readable storage medium, computer-readable transmission medium) to produce a particular machine, such that the particular machine becomes a means for implementing the functions specified herein. The instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can direct a computer, a processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus to function in a particular manner to thereby generate a particular machine or particular article of manufacture. In some examples, the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium may produce an article of manufacture, where the article of manufacture becomes a means for implementing functions described herein. The instructions may be retrieved from a computer-readable medium and loaded into a computer, processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus to configure the computer, processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus to execute operations to be performed on or by the computer, processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus.

[0122] Retrieval, loading and execution of instructions comprising program code instructions may be performed sequentially such that one instruction is retrieved, loaded and executed at a time. In some example implementations, retrieval, loading and / or execution may be performed in parallel such that multiple instructions are retrieved, loaded, and / or executed together. Execution of the program code instructions may produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions executed by thecomputer, processing circuitry or other programmable apparatus provide operations for implementing functions described herein.

[0123] As explained above and reiterated below, the present disclosure includes, without limitation, the following example implementations.

[0124] Clause 1. An apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: receive a request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; gather the mono-static sensing capability information based on the request; and send a response including the mono-static sensing capability information to a management function.

[0125] Clause 2. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the at least one processing circuitry is configured to execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to further at least: receive an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system, the assignment determined at the management function based on the mono-static sensing capability information; and perform the one or more mono-static sensing operations based on at least one of the assignment or one or more mono-static sensing capabilities of the mono-static sensing system.

[0126] Clause 3. The apparatus of clause 1 or clause 2, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a single transmission-reception point that is operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the single transmission-reception point.

[0127] Clause 4. The apparatus of clause 3, wherein the single transmission-reception point includes respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono- static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0128] Clause 5. The apparatus of any of clauses 1 to 4, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a transmission-reception point and a co-located, sensing supporting transmission-reception point that are jointly operable in a mono-static sensingmode, and the mono-static sensing capability information identifies the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0129] Clause 6. The apparatus of clause 5, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information includes an identifier of the sensing supporting transmission- reception point, and includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0130] Clause 7. The apparatus of clause 5 or clause 6, wherein the response further includes first capabilities of the transmission-reception point based on which, along with second capabilities of the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, the management function is configured to derive joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0131] Clause 8. The apparatus of any of clauses 5 to 7, wherein the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point include respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0132] Clause 9. An apparatus comprising: means for receiving a request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; means for gathering the mono-static sensing capability information based on the request; and means for sending a response including the mono-static sensing capability information to a management function.

[0133] Clause 10. The apparatus of clause 9, wherein the apparatus further comprises: means for receiving an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system, the assignment determined at the management function based on the mono-static sensing capability information; and means for performing the one or more mono-static sensing operations based on at least one of the assignment or one or more mono-static sensing capabilities of the mono-static sensing system.

[0134] Clause 11. The apparatus of clause 9 or clause 10, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a single transmission-reception point that is operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the single transmission-reception point.

[0135] Clause 12. The apparatus of clause 11, wherein the single transmission- reception point includes respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0136] Clause 13. The apparatus of any of clauses 9 to 12, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a transmission-reception point and a co-located, sensing supporting transmission-reception point that are jointly operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information identifies the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0137] Clause 14. The apparatus of clause 13, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information includes an identifier of the sensing supporting transmission- reception point, and includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0138] Clause 15. The apparatus of clause 13 or clause 14, wherein the response further includes first capabilities of the transmission-reception point based on which, along with second capabilities of the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, the management function is configured to derive joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0139] Clause 16. The apparatus of any of clauses 13 to 15, wherein the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point include respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0140] Clause 17. A method comprising: receiving a request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; gathering the mono-static sensing capability information based on the request; and sending a response including the mono-static sensing capability information to a management function.

[0141] Clause 18. The method of clause 17, wherein the method further comprises: receiving an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono- static sensing system, the assignment determined at the management function based on the mono-static sensing capability information; and performing the one or more mono- static sensing operations based on at least one of the assignment or one or more mono- static sensing capabilities of the mono-static sensing system.

[0142] Clause 19. The method of clause 17 or clause 18, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a single transmission-reception point that is operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the single transmission-reception point.

[0143] Clause 20. The method of clause 19, wherein the single transmission- reception point includes respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0144] Clause 21. The method of any of clauses 17 to 20, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a transmission-reception point and a co-located, sensing supporting transmission-reception point that are jointly operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information identifies the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0145] Clause 22. The method of clause 21, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information includes an identifier of the sensing supporting transmission- reception point, and includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0146] Clause 23. The method of clause 21 or clause 22, wherein the response further includes first capabilities of the transmission-reception point based on which, along with second capabilities of the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, the management function is configured to derive joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0147] Clause 24. The method of any of clauses 21 to 23, wherein the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point include respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0148] Clause 25. A computer-readable storage medium that is non-transitory and has instructions stored therein that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to at least: receive a request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; gather the mono-static sensing capability information based on the request; and send a response including the mono-static sensing capability information to a management function.

[0149] Clause 26. The computer-readable storage medium of clause 25, wherein the computer-readable storage medium has further instructions stored therein that, in response to execution by the at least one processing circuitry, causes the apparatus to further at least: receive an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system, the assignment determined at the management function based on the mono-static sensing capability information; and perform the one or more mono-static sensing operations based on at least one of the assignment or one or more mono-static sensing capabilities of the mono-static sensing system.

[0150] Clause 27. The computer-readable storage medium of clause 25 or clause 26, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a single transmission-reception point that is operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, withcorresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the single transmission- reception point.

[0151] Clause 28. The computer-readable storage medium of clause 27, wherein the single transmission-reception point includes respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0152] Clause 29. The computer-readable storage medium of any of clauses 25 to 28, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a transmission-reception point and a co-located, sensing supporting transmission-reception point that are jointly operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information identifies the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0153] Clause 30. The computer-readable storage medium of clause 29, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information includes an identifier of the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, and includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0154] Clause 31. The computer-readable storage medium of clause 29 or clause 30, wherein the response further includes first capabilities of the transmission-reception point based on which, along with second capabilities of the sensing supporting transmission- reception point, the management function is configured to derive joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0155] Clause 32. The computer-readable storage medium of any of clauses 29 to 31, wherein the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission- reception point include respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0156] Clause 33. An apparatus comprising means for performing the method of any of clauses 17 to 24.

[0157] Clause 34. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable program code that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 17 to 24.

[0158] Clause 35. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer- readable program code that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 17 to 24.

[0159] Clause 36. A computer program comprising computer-readable program code that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 17 to 24.

[0160] Clause 37. An apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory, and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: send at least one request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; receive at least one response including the mono-static sensing capability information; determine an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system based on the mono-static sensing capability information; and send the assignment of the one or more mono-static sensing operations to the at least one transmission-reception point.

[0161] Clause 38. The apparatus of clause 37, wherein the at least one transmission- reception point is a single transmission-reception point that is operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the single transmission-reception point.

[0162] Clause 39. The apparatus of clause 38, wherein the single transmission- reception point includes respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0163] Clause 40. The apparatus of any of clauses 37 to 39, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a transmission-reception point and a co-located, sensing supporting transmission-reception point that are jointly operable in a mono-static sensingmode, and the mono-static sensing capability information identifies the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0164] Clause 41. The apparatus of clause 40, wherein the at least one response includes responses with respective mono-static sensing capability information related to the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, and wherein the at least one processing circuitry is configured to execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to further aggregate the respective mono-static sensing capability information into the mono-static sensing capability information based on which the assignment is determined.

[0165] Clause 42. The apparatus of clause 40 or clause 41, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information includes an identifier of the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, and includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0166] Clause 43. The apparatus of any of clauses 40 to 42, wherein the at least one response further includes first and second capabilities of respective ones of the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, wherein the at least one processing circuitry is configured to execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to further derive joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, based on the first and second capabilities, and wherein the assignment is determined further based on derived mono-static sensing capability information including the joint transmission and reception capabilities.

[0167] Clause 44. The apparatus of any of clauses 40 to 43, wherein the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point include respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0168] Clause 45. The apparatus of any of clauses 37 to 44, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of aminimum or a maximum number of beamformed acquisitions, and wherein the apparatus caused to determine the assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations includes the apparatus caused to provision a number of positioning reference signal (PRS) transmissions for on-demand PRS transmissions.

[0169] Clause 46. An apparatus comprising: means for sending at least one request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; means for receiving at least one response including the mono-static sensing capability information; means for determining an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system based on the mono-static sensing capability information; and means for sending the assignment of the one or more mono-static sensing operations to the at least one transmission-reception point.

[0170] Clause 47. The apparatus of clause 46, wherein the at least one transmission- reception point is a single transmission-reception point that is operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the single transmission-reception point.

[0171] Clause 48. The apparatus of clause 47, wherein the single transmission- reception point includes respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0172] Clause 49. The apparatus of any of clauses 46 to 48, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a transmission-reception point and a co-located, sensing supporting transmission-reception point that are jointly operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information identifies the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0173] Clause 50. The apparatus of clause 49, wherein the at least one response includes responses with respective mono-static sensing capability information related to the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, and wherein the apparatus further comprises means for aggregating the respective mono-static sensing capability information into the mono-static sensing capability information based on which the assignment is determined.

[0174] Clause 51. The apparatus of clause 49 or clause 50, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information includes an identifier of the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, and includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0175] Clause 52. The apparatus of any of clauses 49 to 51, wherein the at least one response further includes first and second capabilities of respective ones of the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for deriving joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, based on the first and second capabilities, and wherein the assignment is determined further based on derived mono-static sensing capability information including the joint transmission and reception capabilities.

[0176] Clause 53. The apparatus of any of clauses 49 to 52, wherein the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point include respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0177] Clause 54. The apparatus of any of clauses 46 to 53, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of a minimum or a maximum number of beamformed acquisitions, and wherein the means for determining the assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations includes means for provisioning means for provisioning a number of positioning reference signal (PRS) transmissions for on-demand PRS transmissions.

[0178] Clause 55. A method comprising: sending at least one request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; receiving at least one response including the mono-staticsensing capability information; determining an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system based on the mono-static sensing capability information; and sending the assignment of the one or more mono-static sensing operations to the at least one transmission-reception point.

[0179] Clause 56. The method of clause 55, wherein the at least one transmission- reception point is a single transmission-reception point that is operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the single transmission-reception point.

[0180] Clause 57. The method of clause 56, wherein the single transmission- reception point includes respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0181] Clause 58. The method of any of clauses 55 to 57, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a transmission-reception point and a co-located, sensing supporting transmission-reception point that are jointly operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information identifies the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0182] Clause 59. The method of clause 58, wherein the at least one response includes responses with respective mono-static sensing capability information related to the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, and wherein the method further comprises aggregating the respective mono-static sensing capability information into the mono-static sensing capability information based on which the assignment is determined.

[0183] Clause 60. The method of clause 58 or clause 59, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information includes an identifier of the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, and includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0184] Clause 61. The method of any of clauses 58 to 60, wherein the at least one response further includes first and second capabilities of respective ones of thetransmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, wherein the method further comprises deriving joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, based on the first and second capabilities, and wherein the assignment is determined further based on derived mono-static sensing capability information including the joint transmission and reception capabilities.

[0185] Clause 62. The method of any of clauses 58 to 61, wherein the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point include respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0186] Clause 63. The method of any of clauses 55 to 62, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of a minimum or a maximum number of beamformed acquisitions, and wherein determining the assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations includes provisioning a number of positioning reference signal (PRS) transmissions for on-demand PRS transmissions.

[0187] Clause 64. A computer-readable storage medium that is non-transitory and has instructions stored therein that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to at least: send at least one request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; receive at least one response including the mono-static sensing capability information; determine an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system based on the mono-static sensing capability information; and send the assignment of the one or more mono-static sensing operations to the at least one transmission-reception point.

[0188] Clause 65. The computer-readable storage medium of clause 64, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a single transmission-reception point that is operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capabilityinformation includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the single transmission-reception point.

[0189] Clause 66. The computer-readable storage medium of clause 65, wherein the single transmission-reception point includes respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0190] Clause 67. The computer-readable storage medium of any of clauses 64 to 66, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a transmission-reception point and a co-located, sensing supporting transmission-reception point that are jointly operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information identifies the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0191] Clause 68. The computer-readable storage medium of clause 67, wherein the at least one response includes responses with respective mono-static sensing capability information related to the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, and wherein the computer-readable storage medium has further instructions stored therein that, in response to execution by the at least one processing circuitry, causes the apparatus to further aggregate the respective mono-static sensing capability information into the mono-static sensing capability information based on which the assignment is determined.

[0192] Clause 69. The computer-readable storage medium of clause 67 or clause 68, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information includes an identifier of the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, and includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

[0193] Clause 70. The computer-readable storage medium of any of clauses 67 to 69, wherein the at least one response further includes first and second capabilities of respective ones of the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, wherein the computer-readable storage medium has furtherinstructions stored therein that, in response to execution by the at least one processing circuitry, causes the apparatus to further derive joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, based on the first and second capabilities, and wherein the assignment is determined further based on derived mono-static sensing capability information including the joint transmission and reception capabilities.

[0194] Clause 71. The computer-readable storage medium of any of clauses 67 to 70, wherein the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission- reception point include respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

[0195] Clause 72. The computer-readable storage medium of any of clauses 64 to 71, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of a minimum or a maximum number of beamformed acquisitions, and wherein the apparatus caused to determine the assignment of one or more mono- static sensing operations includes the apparatus caused to provision a number of positioning reference signal (PRS) transmissions for on-demand PRS transmissions.

[0196] Clause 73. An apparatus comprising means for performing the method of any of clauses 55 to 63.

[0197] Clause 74. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable program code that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 55 to 63.

[0198] Clause 75. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer- readable program code that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 55 to 63.

[0199] Clause 76. A computer program comprising computer-readable program code that, in response to execution by at least one processing circuitry, causes an apparatus to perform the method of any of clauses 55 to 63.

[0200] Many modifications and other implementations of the disclosure set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains havingthe benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated figures. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specific implementations disclosed and that modifications and other implementations are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing description and the associated figures describe example implementations in the context of certain example combinations of elements and / or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and / or functions may be provided by alternative implementations without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and / or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An apparatus comprising: means for receiving a request for information regarding at least one transmission- reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono- static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; means for gathering the mono-static sensing capability information based on the request; and means for sending a response including the mono-static sensing capability information to a management function.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises: means for receiving an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system, the assignment determined at the management function based on the mono-static sensing capability information; and means for performing the one or more mono-static sensing operations based on at least one of the assignment or one or more mono-static sensing capabilities of the mono- static sensing system.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one transmission- reception point is a single transmission-reception point that is operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the single transmission-reception point.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the single transmission-reception point includes respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

5. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a transmission-reception point and a co-located, sensingsupporting transmission-reception point that are jointly operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information identifies the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information includes an identifier of the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, and includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the response further includes first capabilities of the transmission-reception point based on which, along with second capabilities of the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, the management function is configured to derive joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

8. The apparatus of any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point include respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

9. A method comprising: receiving a request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; gathering the mono-static sensing capability information based on the request; and sending a response including the mono-static sensing capability information to a management function.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises: receiving an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system, the assignment determined at the management function based on the mono-static sensing capability information; and performing the one or more mono-static sensing operations based on at least one of the assignment or one or more mono-static sensing capabilities of the mono-static sensing system.

11. The method of claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the at least one transmission- reception point is a single transmission-reception point that is operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the single transmission-reception point.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the single transmission-reception point includes respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

13. The method of any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a transmission-reception point and a co-located, sensing supporting transmission-reception point that are jointly operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information identifies the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information includes an identifier of the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, and includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

15. The method of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the response further includes first capabilities of the transmission-reception point based on which, along with second capabilities of the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, the management function is configured to derive joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

16. The method of any of claims 13 to 15, wherein the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point include respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

17. An apparatus comprising: means for sending at least one request for information regarding at least one transmission-reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono-static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; means for receiving at least one response including the mono-static sensing capability information; means for determining an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system based on the mono-static sensing capability information; and means for sending the assignment of the one or more mono-static sensing operations to the at least one transmission-reception point.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a single transmission-reception point that is operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the single transmission-reception point.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the single transmission-reception point includes respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

20. The apparatus of any of claims 17 to 19, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a transmission-reception point and a co-located, sensing supporting transmission-reception point that are jointly operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information identifies the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one response includes responses with respective mono-static sensing capability information related to the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, and wherein the apparatus further comprises means for aggregating the respective mono-static sensing capability information into the mono-static sensing capability information based on which the assignment is determined.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 or claim 21, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information includes an identifier of the sensing supporting transmission- reception point, and includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

23. The apparatus of any of claims 20 to 22, wherein the at least one response further includes first and second capabilities of respective ones of the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for deriving joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception,for the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, based on the first and second capabilities, and wherein the assignment is determined further based on derived mono-static sensing capability information including the joint transmission and reception capabilities.

24. The apparatus of any of claims 20 to 23, wherein the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point include respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

25. The apparatus of any of claims 17 to 24, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of a minimum or a maximum number of beamformed acquisitions, and wherein the means for determining an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations includes means for provisioning a number of positioning reference signal (PRS) transmissions for on-demand PRS transmissions.

26. A method comprising: sending at least one request for information regarding at least one transmission- reception point, including mono-static sensing capability information related to a mono- static sensing system including the at least one transmission-reception point; receiving at least one response including the mono-static sensing capability information; determining an assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations for the mono-static sensing system based on the mono-static sensing capability information; and sending the assignment of the one or more mono-static sensing operations to the at least one transmission-reception point.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a single transmission-reception point that is operable in a mono-static sensingmode, and the mono-static sensing capability information includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the single transmission-reception point.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the single transmission-reception point includes respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

29. The method of any of claims 26 to 28, wherein the at least one transmission-reception point is a transmission-reception point and a co-located, sensing supporting transmission-reception point that are jointly operable in a mono-static sensing mode, and the mono-static sensing capability information identifies the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one response includes responses with respective mono-static sensing capability information related to the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, and wherein the method further comprises aggregating the respective mono-static sensing capability information into the mono-static sensing capability information based on which the assignment is determined.

31. The method of claim 29 or claim 30, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information includes an identifier of the sensing supporting transmission- reception point, and includes joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point.

32. The method of any of claims 29 to 31, wherein the at least one response further includes first and second capabilities of respective ones of the transmission- reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point,wherein the method further comprises deriving joint transmission and reception capabilities, with corresponding beamforming upon transmission and reception, for the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point, based on the first and second capabilities, and wherein the assignment is determined further based on derived mono-static sensing capability information including the joint transmission and reception capabilities.

33. The method of any of claims 29 to 32, wherein the transmission-reception point and the sensing supporting transmission-reception point include respective antenna arrays for transmission and reception, and the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of isolation or synchronization between the respective antenna arrays.

34. The method of any of claims 26 to 33, wherein the mono-static sensing capability information further includes information that conveys at least one of a minimum or a maximum number of beamformed acquisitions, and wherein determining the assignment of one or more mono-static sensing operations includes provisioning a number of positioning reference signal (PRS) transmissions for on-demand PRS transmissions.

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