Infrastructure equipment, communications device and methods for sensing

Abstract

An infrastructure equipment (gNB, gNB-DU, gNB-CU) forming part of a radio access network of a wireless communications network receives a service configuration for a sensing service for generating sensing measurements received from one or more sensing devices. The service configuration includes a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for the sensing measurements to be generated, and configuring the one or more sensing devices for the configuration service including the communications resource allocation for receiving or transmitting sensing signals to generate the sensing measurements. The sensing devices and the infrastructure equipment may also be configured to transmit sensing measurement data as part of the sensing service to a core network part of the wireless communications network, for example to an application function.

Description

[0001] INFRASTRUCTURE EQUIPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE AND METHODS FOR SENSING

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] Field of the Disclosure

[0004] The present disclosure relates to infrastructure equipment of a radio access network part of a wireless communications network, communications devices acting as sensing devices operating with a wireless communications network and methods and circuitry. In some examples the infrastructure equipment and the communications devices operating as sensing devices are configured by a core network part with allocated communications resources and the communications devices and the radio infrastructure equipment are configured to transfer sensing measurements to the core network.

[0005] The present disclosure claims the Paris convention priority to European patent application EP24159491.0 filed 23 February 2024, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0006] Description of the Related Art

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

[0008] Mobile telecommunication systems, such as those based on the 3 GPP defined UMTS and Long Term Evolution (LTE) architecture, are able to support a wider range of services than simple voice and messaging services offered by previous generations of mobile telecommunication systems. For example, with the improved radio interface and enhanced data rates provided by LTE systems, a user is able to enjoy high data rate applications such as mobile video streaming and mobile video conferencing that would previously only have been available via a fixed line data connection. The demand to deploy such networks is therefore strong and the coverage area of these networks, i.e. geographic locations where access to the networks is possible, is expected to continue to increase rapidly.

[0009] Current and future wireless communications networks are expected to routinely and efficiently support communications with an ever-increasing range of devices associated with a wider range of data traffic profiles and types than existing systems are optimised to support. For example, such wireless communications networks will be expected to efficiently support communications with devices including reduced complexity devices, machine type communication (MTC) devices, high resolution video displays, virtual reality headsets, extended Reality (XR) and so on. Some of these different types of devices may be deployed in very large numbers, for example low complexity devices for supporting the “The Internet of Things”, and may typically be associated with the transmissions of relatively small amounts of data with relatively high latency tolerance. Other types of device, for example supporting high-definition video streaming, may be associated with transmissions of relatively large amounts of data with relatively low latency tolerance. Other types of device, for example used for autonomous vehicle communications and for other critical applications, may be characterised by data that should be transmitted through the network with low latency and high reliability. A single device type might also be associated with different traffic profdes / characteristics depending on the application(s) it is running. For example, different considerations may apply for efficiently supporting data exchange with a smartphone when it is running a video streaming application (high downlink data) as compared to when it is running an Internet browsing application (sporadic uplink and downlink data) or being used for voice communications by an emergency responder in an emergency scenario (data subject to stringent reliability and latency requirements).

[0010] In view of this there is expected to be a desire for current wireless communications networks, for example those which may be referred to as 5G or new radio (NR) systems / new radio access technology (RAT) systems, or indeed future 6G wireless communications, as well as future iterations / releases of existing systems, to efficiently support connectivity for a wide range of devices associated with different applications and different characteristic data traffic profiles and requirements.

[0011] One example of a new service is referred to as Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC) services which, as its name suggests, requires that a data unit or packet be communicated with a high reliability and with a low communications delay. Another example of a new service is enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services, which are characterised by a high capacity with a requirement to support up to 20 Gb / s. URLLC and eMBB type services therefore represent challenging examples for both LTE type communications systems and 5G / NR communications systems.

[0012] 5G NR has continuously evolved and the current work plan includes 5 G-NR- Advanced in which some further enhancements are expected, especially to support new use-cases / scenarios with higher requirements. The desire to support these new use-cases and scenarios gives rise to new challenges for efficiently handling communications in wireless communications systems that need to be addressed. It is expected that whilst communications systems can provide techniques for performing remote measurements of various parameters using low-power devices. Configuring such devices and the network for providing such sensing service can represent technical problems.

[0013] SUMMARY

[0014] The present disclosure is defined by the claims. Example embodiments can provide a method of operating an infrastructure equipment (gNB, DU, CU) forming part of a radio access network of a wireless communications network, the method comprising receiving a service configuration for a sensing service for generating sensing measurements received from one or more sensing devices, the service configuration including a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for the sensing measurements to be generated, and configuring the one or more sensing devices for the configuration service including the communications resource allocation for receiving or transmitting sensing signals to generate the sensing measurements. The sensing devices and the infrastructure equipment may also be configured to transmit sensing measurement data as part of the sensing service to a core network part of the wireless communications network, for example to an application function. Example embodiments can therefore provide techniques for configuring a sensing service efficiently with communications resources and to transport sensing measurement data efficiently from either a sensing device or a radio access network infrastructure equipment to an application function for example.

[0015] Various further aspects and features are defined in the appended claims and include an infrastructure equipment, a communications device acting as a sensing device and methods.

[0016] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Non-limiting embodiments and advantages of the present disclosure are explained with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0018] Figure 1 schematically shows an example wireless communications network according to a general architecture which may operate according to an LTE technology;

[0019] Figure 2 schematically shows an example wireless communications network configured according to a 5G or New Radio architecture;

[0020] Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating parts of the wireless communications network shown in Figure 2 in more detail;

[0021] Figs. 4A-D schematically show examples of monostatic and bistatic radar arrangements;

[0022] Figs. 5A-F schematically show examples of different monostatic and bistatic sensing modes;

[0023] Figure 6 is a part flow diagram part signalling diagram illustrating operations of components of the wireless communications network shown in Figures 2 and 3 according to example embodiments; Figure 7 is a part flow diagram part signalling diagram illustrating operations of components of the wireless communications network shown in Figures 2 and 3 according to example embodiments; and

[0024] Figure 8 is a part flow diagram illustrating example embodiments.

[0025] Like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

[0026] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Long Term Evolution Advanced Radio Access Technology (4G)

[0028] Figure 1 provides a schematic diagram illustrating some basic functionality of a mobile telecommunications network / system 6 operating generally in accordance with LTE principles, but which may also support other radio access technologies, and which may be adapted to implement embodiments of the disclosure as described herein. Various elements of Figure 1 and certain aspects of their respective modes of operation are well-known and defined in the relevant standards administered by the 3GPP (RTM) body, and also described in many books on the subject, for example, Holma H. and Toskala A [1], It will be appreciated that operational aspects of the telecommunications networks discussed herein which are not specifically described (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example according to the relevant standards and known proposed modifications and additions to the relevant standards.

[0029] The network 6 includes a plurality of base stations 1 connected to a core network (CN) 2. Each base station provides a coverage area 3 (i.e. a cell) within which data can be communicated to and from communications devices 4. Although each base station 1 is shown in Figure 1 as a single entity, the skilled person will appreciate that some of the functions of the base station may be carried out by disparate, inter-connected elements, such as antennas (or antennae), remote radio heads, amplifiers, etc. Collectively, one or more base stations may form a radio access network.

[0030] Data is transmitted from base stations 1 to communications devices 4 within their respective coverage areas 3 via a radio downlink (DL). Data is transmitted from communications devices 4 to the base stations 1 via a radio uplink (UL). The core network 2 routes data to and from the communications devices 4 via the respective base stations 1 and provides functions such as authentication, mobility management, charging and so on. Communications devices may also be referred to as mobile stations, user equipment (UEs), user terminals, mobile radios, mobile terminals, terminal devices, wireless transmit and receive units (WTRUs), and so forth. Services provided by the core network 2 may include connectivity to the internet or to external telephony services. The core network 2 may further track the location of the communications devices 4 so that it can efficiently contact (i.e. page) the communications devices 4 for transmitting downlink data towards the communications devices 4.

[0031] Base stations, which are an example of network infrastructure equipment, may also be referred to as transceiver stations, nodeBs, e-nodeBs, eNB, g-nodeBs, gNBs and so forth. In this regard different terminology is often associated with different generations of wireless telecommunications systems for elements providing broadly comparable functionality. However, certain embodiments of the disclosure may be equally implemented in different generations of wireless telecommunications systems, and for simplicity certain terminology may be used regardless of the underlying network architecture. That is to say, the use of a specific term in relation to certain example implementations is not intended to indicate these implementations are limited to a certain generation of network that may be most associated with that particular terminology.

[0032] New Radio Access Technology (5G)

[0033] Systems incorporating NR technology are expected to support different services (or types of services), which may be characterised by different requirements for latency, data rate and / or reliability. For example, Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services are characterised by high capacity with a requirement to support up to 20 Gb / s. The requirements for Ultra Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC) services are for one transmission of a 32 byte packet to be transmitted from the radio protocol layer 2 / 3 SDU ingress point to the radio protocol layer 2 / 3 SDU egress point of the radio interface within 1 ms with a reliability of 1 - 10'5(99.999 %) or higher (99.9999%) [2], Massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC) is another example of a service which may be supported by NR-based communications networks. In addition, systems may be expected to support further enhancements related to Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) in order to support services with new requirements of high availability, high reliability, low latency, and in some cases, high-accuracy positioning.

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

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

[0036] The TRPs 10 of Figure 2 may in part have a corresponding functionality to a base station or eNodeB of an LTE network. Similarly, the communications devices 14 may have a functionality corresponding to the UE devices 4 known for operation with an LTE network. It will be appreciated therefore that operational aspects of a new RAT network (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be different to those known from LTE or other known mobile telecommunications standards. However, it will also be appreciated that each of the core network component, base stations and communications devices of a new RAT network will be functionally similar to, respectively, the core network component, base stations and communications devices of an LTE wireless communications network. In terms of broad top-level functionality, the core network 20 connected to the new RAT telecommunications system represented in Figure 2 may be broadly considered to correspond with the core network 2 represented in Figure 1, and the respective central units 40 and their associated distributed units 41, 42 / TRPs 10 may be broadly considered to provide functionality corresponding to the base stations 1 of Figure 1. The term network infrastructure equipment / access node may be used to encompass these elements and more conventional base station type elements of wireless telecommunications systems. Depending on the application at hand the responsibility for scheduling transmissions which are scheduled on the radio interface between the respective distributed units and the communications devices may lie with the controlling node / central unit and / or the distributed units / TRPs. A communications device 14 is represented in Figure 2 within the coverage area of a communication cell 12. This communications device 14 may thus exchange signalling with the central unit 40 via one of the distributed units / TRPs 10 associated with the communication cell 12.

[0037] It will further be appreciated that Figure 2 represents merely one example of a proposed architecture for a new RAT based telecommunications system in which approaches in accordance with the principles described herein may be adopted, and the functionality disclosed herein may also be applied in respect of wireless telecommunications systems having different architectures.

[0038] Thus, certain embodiments of the disclosure as discussed herein may be implemented in wireless telecommunication systems / networks according to various different architectures, such as the example architectures shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will thus be appreciated the specific wireless telecommunications architecture in any given implementation is not of primary significance to the principles described herein. In this regard, certain embodiments of the disclosure may be described generally in the context of communications between network infrastructure equipment / access nodes and a communications device, wherein the specific nature of the network infrastructure equipment / access node and the communications device will depend on the network infrastructure for the implementation at hand. For example, in some scenarios the network infrastructure equipment / access node may comprise a base station, such as an LTE-type base station 1 as shown in Figure 1 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein, and in other examples the network infrastructure equipment may comprise a control unit / controlling node 40, distributed unit 41, 42 and / or a TRP 10 of the kind shown in Figure 2 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein.

[0039] A more detailed diagram of some of the components of the network shown in Figure 2 is provided by Figure 3. In Figure 3, a TRP 10 as shown in Figure 2 comprises, as a simplified representation, a wireless transmitter 30, a wireless receiver 32 and a controller or controlling processor 34 which is configured to control the transmitter 30 and the receiver 32 to transmit and receive radio signals to one or more UEs 14 within a cell 12 formed by the TRP 10. As shown in Figure 3, an example UE 14 is shown to include a corresponding wireless transmitter 49, wireless receiver 48 and controller or controlling processor 44 which is configured to control the transmitter 49 and the receiver 48 to transmit and receive radio signals to the TRP 10. Signals transmitted from the transmitter 49 to the receiver 32 may represent uplink data. Signals transmitted from the transmitter 30 to the receiver 48 may represent downlink data. These signals are transmitted via the wireless access interface of the TRP 10.

[0040] The transmitters 30, 49 and the receivers 32, 48 (as well as other transmitters, receivers and transceivers described in relation to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure) may include radio frequency filters and amplifiers as well as signal processing components and devices in order to transmit and receive radio signals in accordance for example with the 5G / NR standard(s). The controllers 34, 44 (as well as other controllers described in relation to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure) may be, for example, a microprocessor, a CPU, or a dedicated chipset, etc., configured to carry out instructions which are stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-volatile memory. The processing steps described herein may be carried out by, for example, a microprocessor in conjunction with a random access memory, operating according to instructions stored on a computer readable medium. The transmitters, the receivers and the controllers are schematically shown in Figure 3 as separate elements for ease of representation. However, it will be appreciated that the functionality of these elements can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed computers, or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) / circuitry / chip(s) / chipset(s). As will be appreciated the infrastructure equipment / TRP / base station as well as the UE / communications device will in general comprise various other elements associated with their operating functionality.

[0041] As shown in Figure 3, the TRP 10 also includes a communications interface which connects to the DU 42 via a physical interface 16. The communication interface therefore provides a communication link for data and signalling traffic from the TRP 10 via the DU 42 and the CU 40 to the core network 20.

[0042] The interface 46 between the DU 42 and the CU 40 is known as the Fl interface which can be a physical or a logical interface formed by communications circuitry forming part of the DU42. The Fl interface 46 between CU and DU may operate in accordance with specifications 3 GPP TS 38.470 and 3GPP TS 38.473, for example, and may be formed from a fibre optic or other wired or wireless high bandwidth connection. In one example the connection 16 from the TRP 10 to the DU 42 is via fibre optic. The connection between a TRP 10 and the core network 20 can be generally referred to as a backhaul, which comprises the interface 16 from the network interface 50 of the TRP 10 to the DU 42 and the Fl interface 46 from the DU 42 to the CU 40. According to the 5G architecture, functions of a gNB, which corresponds to the functions performed generally by base station shown in Figure 1, is formed from a combination of one or more TRPs 10, a DU 42 and the CU 40.

[0043] In order for a UE such as UE 4 or 14 to transmit uplink data to the network (e.g. on a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) or a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH)) to, for example, base station 1 or TRP 10, the UE must first ensure it is synchronised with the network on the uplink. Since a particular eNB or gNB expects to be receiving communications from many UEs, it needs to ensure that it shares a common timing understanding with each of these UEs (i.e. that they are synchronised in terms of the starting times of frames and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols). This is so the eNB is able to schedule communication with each UE in a manner that avoids collisions and ensures orthogonality of uplink signals such that intersubcarrier interference is avoided or mitigated.

[0044] Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC)

[0045] As 5G NR evolves towards 5G-Advanced (5 G-NR- Advanced), there is the possibility of new features being included in future releases. One possible new feature for 5G-Advanced and beyond is Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC). ISAC uses radio wave transmissions from a 5G wireless network to acquire information from the environment. Although positioning features in 5G, for example those utilizing techniques including Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) and Uplink Time Difference of Arrival (UTDOA), are already available, these features are only able to determine the location of UE devices. This is because the 5G network requires information from the device it is trying to locate. The device must therefore be an active object (i.e. an object having a direct radio connection to the wireless communications (e.g. 5G) network). The existing positioning features thus cannot locate passive objects (e.g. non-UE objects) that do not have direct communication with the 5G network.

[0046] In contrast, ISAC employs echolocation using radio frequency (RF) waves, similar to that used by radar and LIDAR, to detect passive objects. This does not require direct communication between the object of interest and the 5G network. Since a cellular network, such as a 5 G wireless network, may have wide coverage, covering urban, highway, rural and even indoor environments, ISAC can provide sensing services for many different applications.

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

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

[0049] • UAVs;

[0050] • Humans (indoors and outdoors);

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

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

[0053] • Objects creating hazards on roads / railways, with a minimum size dependent on frequency. Example applications of ISAC include: intruder detection inside or in the vicinity of a building / house; rainfall monitoring that detects the intensity of rain in a wide area such as a farm (utilising the characteristics of a particular frequency of radio waves that experience higher attenuation due to water absorption); and pedestrian or animal detection in a motorway or railway [4], ISAC may also utilise existing sensing technology such as radar or LIDAR that may be installed in a device or area. For example, ISAC may use the sensing information from LIDAR and radar units that are installed in numerous automobiles and, together with the 5G wireless sensing, provide an accurate picture of the motorway or the traffic situation in a city.

[0054] As mentioned above, ISAC employs echolocation using radio frequency (RF) waves, similar to mechanisms that are used by radar and LIDAR, to detect passive objects. These radar techniques include at least one transmitter sending a sensing (i.e. initial) RF wave and at least one receiver receiving the reflected RF wave (reflected off the passive object being detected) where the locations and orientations of the transmitter and receiver are known. Arrangements where the transmitter and receiver are co-located (i.e. are included in the same device) are known as monostatic and arrangements where the transmitter and receiver are separated in distance (i.e. not co-located) are known as bistatic.

[0055] Figure 4A shows an example of a monostatic arrangement. Here, a transceiver 420 (comprising a transmitter and receiver) emits a sensing RF wave 452 (which may be referred to as an RF wave, RF signal or sensing signal) at time to which is reflected by an object 410. The reflected RF wave (which may be referred to as a reflected RF signal or reflected signal) 454 is then received at the transceiver 420 at time ti. The distance Do from the transceiver 420 to the object 410 may be determined based on the Round-Trip Time (RTT) when the sensing wave is transmitted at time to and the reflected wave is received at time fi, i.e., Do= where c is the speed of light. That is, the detected object is located on a circle (or, in three dimensions, a sphere) with radius Do from the transceiver 420. The location of the object can be further determined by the angle at which the reflected RF wave 454 is received at the transceiver 420 and / or the angle of departure of the transmitted wave 452 (e.g. if a narrow RF beam focused at a known angle is used).

[0056] Figure 4B shows an example of a bistatic arrangement. Here, a transmitter 422 emits an RF wave 456 at time to which is reflected by an object 410 at an angle of ft. The reflected RF wave 458 is then received at a receiver 424 at time ti. The sum of the distances DTX (the distance from the transmitter 422 to the object 410) and DRX (the distance from the object 410 to the receiver 424) can be calculated using the RTT, i.e., TX + DRX = c (t\ - to). The distance between the transmitter and receiver DTX-RX can be known a-priori. The bistatic range is defined as DTx+ DRX - DTX-RX. The detected object can therefore be determined to be located on an ellipse with the foci at the locations of the transmitter 422 and receiver 424, and with a constant bistatic range. The location of the object 410 on the ellipse can be further determined by the angle of arrival of the reflected wave 458 at the receiver 424 and / or the angle of departure of the transmitted RF wave 456 at the transmitter 422 (e.g. if a narrow RF beam focused at a known angle is used). The bistatic angle, labelled as in Figure 4B, is the angle subtended between the transmitter 422, the object 410 and the receiver 424. If the bistatic angle is close to zero, the sensor resembles a monostatic arrangement, which may be referred to as a pseudo-monostatic arrangement. A pseudomonostatic arrangement, where ® 0°, is shown in Figure 4C, where the numbered components correspond to those shown in Figure 4B. Conversely, if the bistatic angle is close to 180°, then the arrangement may behave as a forward scatter arrangement. A forward scatter arrangement with ® 180° is shown in Figure 4D, where the numbered components correspond to those shown in Figs. 4B and 4C. Here, the object 410 can be detected at the receiver 424 by detecting a diffracted wave 459 using Babinet’s principle, where the silhouette 415 of the object is projected at the receiver 424 by the diffracted wave 459. Certain objects, such as an airplane with stealth capability, may absorb RF waves (e.g. emitted by a radar) instead of reflecting them, thereby avoiding detection. However, forward scatter is advantageous in detecting objects with such stealth capabilities, as forward scatter techniques rely on the target object blocking the emitted wave, thereby forming a silhouette 415 at the receiver. The drawback of forward scatter, however, is that it is difficult to detect the speed of the object (e.g. via the Doppler effect) if the object is moving along the path between the transmitter 422 and receiver 424.

[0057] In [3], six sensing modes are considered, and these are shown in Figs. 5A to 5F. Figure 5A shows an example of a TRP-TRP bistatic mode scenario, in which a first TRP 511 transmits a sensing signal 514 to a device or object (which may be an active device such as a UE 512 or a passive device or object) which then reflects 515 the sensing signal to a second TRP 513. Figure 5B shows an example of a TRP monostatic mode scenario, in which a TRP 521 transmits a sensing signal 523 to a device or object (which may be an active device such as a UE 522 or a passive device or object) which then reflects 524 the sensing signal back to the TRP 521. Figure 5C shows an example of a TRP-UE bistatic mode scenario, in which a TRP 531 transmits a sensing signal 534 towards another (active or passive) device or object (such as bus 532) which then reflects 535 the sensing signal to a UE 533. Figure 5D shows an example of a UE-TRP bistatic mode scenario, in which a UE 541 transmits a sensing signal 544 towards another (active or passive) device or object (such as bus 542) which then reflects 545 the sensing signal to a TRP 543. Figure 5E shows an example of a UE-UE bistatic mode scenario, in which a first UE 551 transmits a sensing signal 554 towards another (active or passive) device or object (such as bus 552) which then reflects 555 the sensing signal to a second UE 553. Figure 5F shows an example of a UE monostatic scenario, in which a UE 561 transmits a sensing signal 563 towards another (active or passive) device or object (such as bus 562) which then reflects 564 the sensing signal back to the UE 561.

[0058] As noted above, in monostatic scenarios, such as those shown in Figs. 5B and 5F, the transmitter and receiver of the sensing signals are co-located (that is, both within the same equipment or located at the same location / site) whereas in bistatic scenarios, such as those shown in Figs. 5A, 5C, 5D, and 5F, the transmitter and receiver of the sensing signals are not co-located (that is, geographically separated).

[0059] Resource Allocation in Multi-user Scenario for ISAC

[0060] Traditionally, cellular networks are designed for multi-user scenarios, in which multiple users are served at the same time and / or different times. Therefore, by employing traditional multiplexing schemes, it is feasible that users for communication services (for transmitting data over the network) and users for sensing services (such as those using the monostatic and / or bistatic arrangements exemplified in Figs. 5A to 5F) are served simultaneously and / or in different times within the same cell by using an appropriate multiplexing method. Examples of such multiplexing methods include:

[0061] • Time division multiplexing: In this method, communication services and sensing services are provided using different slots within a radio frame or bandwidth part (BWP). In this case, the waveforms used for sensing and communication can be the same or different. In an example, a first UE may be assigned a first time resource set (e.g. time range to- ti) for either sensing or communications, a second UE may be assigned a second time resource set (e.g. time range ti- 12) for either sensing or communications, a third UE may be assigned a third time resource set (e.g. time range t2- to) for either sensing or communications, and so on.

[0062] • Frequency division multiplexing: In this method, communication services and sensing services are provided using different frequencies (e.g. different BWPs) within a slot in a radio frame. This means that different subcarriers must be allocated for sensing and communication services. Again, in this case, the waveforms used for sensing and communication can be the same or different. In an example, a first UE may be assigned a first frequency resource set (e.g. frequency range fo- fi) for either sensing or communications, a second UE may be assigned a second frequency resource set (e.g. frequency range fi- £2) for either sensing or communications, a third UE may be assigned a third frequency resource set (e.g. frequency range f2- E) for either sensing or communications, and so on.

[0063] • Spatial division multiplexing: In this method, communication services and sensing services are provided using different beams and / or in different spatial layers within a BWP. In this case, different antenna array configurations for beamforming (in which, for each configuration, the antennas of the antenna array are associated with a different set of phases to direct the beam accordingly) can be employed to provide communication services and sensing services. Once again, in this case, the waveforms used for sensing and communication can be the same or different. In an example, a first UE may be assigned a first spatial layer or beam for either sensing or communications, a second UE may be assigned a second spatial layer or beam for either sensing or communications, a third UE may be assigned a third spatial layer or beam for either sensing or communications, and so on.

[0064] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that sensing technologies may be applied differently for different applications, even within the same cell. For example, object and intruder detection may require a different construction of the sensing signals compared to rainfall monitoring. In other words, by using various properties of the received, reflected signal (i.e. the received echo), various parameters associated with the reflecting object (e.g. the UE or bus in the examples of Figs. 5A to 5 F) can be extracted (such as the object velocity, position, spatial range of the object, etc.). Example embodiments can provide an arrangement for transferring measurements generated by sensing devices to a point in the network where they are required such as for example an application function (AF). To arrange for transferring the measurements, embodiments can provide an arrangement for configure sensing services in a wireless communications network such as a 5G / NR network and include signalling between different entities (e.g., nodes, devices).

[0065] As will be understood from the above explanation, a transmitter may support one or more than one method for sensing signal / waveform transmission using the spatial domain, whereby a spatial signal may be transmitted per service or direction of users, the time domain, with a time division for transmitting sensing signal per service or coverage area, and the frequency domain with overlapping signals in time but using different frequency per service or coverage area. A receiver may be on the same location / node or different location / node. So, resource coordination between different end points (transmitter and receiver) is needed. Furthermore, sensing device types per service may include active devices in which a service supported by active devices only. Active devices can be those that are configured with communications resource proactively with the radio access network to transmit and to receive under the control of a controller. Sensing device types per service may also include, passive devices, in which a service is supported by passive devices only (those that only reflect incident sensing signals), and a combination of active and passive devices, which are used for a service or combination of services supported by a combination of active and passive devices.

[0066] There are also different measurement scenarios. For example, measurements can be collected at a receiver for a group of UEs or devices, for an individual UE or combination of a group of UEs devices or an individual device and individual UE. These measurements then need to be transferred to an application server so that the measures can be analysed and analytics can be performed. This requires support of a radio access network for transferring the measurements to an application function server or a server within core network.

[0067] For a service using passive devices only i.e., no active components and no UE capability, sensing configuration could be provided as groupcast or MBS broadcast configuration. For example, a scope or an area scope for this service could be either a complete cell or multiplexed spatial / time / frequency region such that a receiving sensing device simply reflects the received signal and this reflected signal is picked up by any neighbouring device / node. An area scope could be for example a complete cell or multiplexed spatial / time / frequency region or UE group.

[0068] For a service using active devices only, which are devices having a UE capability and most likely in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) state where the UE can transmit data directly to the gNB, different options are available as disclosed in our co-pending European patent application 24156932.6 [5], the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Furthermore, multi-media Broadcast and Multicast (MBMS) could be used for grouping UEs. According to these techniques sensing devices can receive a sensing signal, derive measurements based on this signal and report these measurements back to the gNB.

[0069] For a service using a group of passive and active devices, a passive device will simply reflect the signal, whereas an active device will perform measurements and report these measurements. It is also possible that an active device acts as a passive device, in that the device just reflects the received sensing signal. However a passive device will not be able to act as an active device, because it is not configured with a capability to request and to receive communications resources of a wireless access interface provided by wise communications network.

[0070] Example embodiments can provide a method of operating an infrastructure equipment (gNB, DU, CU) forming part of a radio network of a wireless communications network, the method comprising receiving a service configuration for a sensing service for generating sensing measurements received from one or more sensing devices, the service configuration including a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for the sensing measurements to be generated, and configuring the one or more sensing devices for the configuration service including the communications resource allocation for receiving or transmitting sensing signals to generate the sensing measurements.

[0071] Considering an example of a bistatic sensing arrangement such as that shown in Figure 5A, and as explained above a TRP 511 can transmit a sensing signal 514 to a target sensing device 512 which reflects the signal in a passive sense 515 to be detected by a second TRP 513. This is referred to as a gNB-UE-gNB bistatic case. Therefore in this scenario, a gNB transmits the sensing signal 514 and the sensing device or UE 512 reflects this signal back 515 towards another gNB 513. Figure 6 provides a signal flow diagram for the sensing configuration for the gNB-UE-gNB bistatic case shown in Figure 5A.

[0072] For the example of Figure 6 a UE acting as a sensing device 512 reflects the RF wave of a sensing RF wave transmitted by the gNBl 511, and gNB2 (an example of TRP 513) receives the reflected RF wave. Figure 6 also shows an Application Function (AF) 600. The AF 600 is an example of a Network Function (NF) of the network and is implemented by appropriate hardware and / or software of the network (e.g. a suitably configured processor, memory and computer-readable medium of one or more nodes of the network). In one example, the AF 600 is implemented as part of the core network 20.

[0073] At step 601, the AF 600 configures a sensing service to gNBl 511 (either directly or via the core network, the core network not being shown in Figure 6 for simplicity) as represented by an arrow 601. This procedure is carried out in a similar way to that of Multicast-Broadcast Services (MBS) service configuration, for example. In the sensing service configuration, the AF 600 may include service parameters such as an area scope of the sensing service, a type of device to which the sensing service may be applied (e.g. active and / or passive devices), whether measurement reports are to be marked with a UE ID or Group ID and / or any resource configuration if resources for sensing are centrally managed by the AF 600 or a sensing spectrum is allocated to an entity outside the mobile network operator.

[0074] According example embodiments therefore an application function configures a sensing service in the radio access network (RAN) and provide parameters to RAN, like area scope, type of devices (active / passive), whether measurement reports to be marked with UE ID or group id, and any resource configuration if resources for sensing are centrally managed by the AF.

[0075] At step 602, gNBl provides its sensing resource configuration information to gNB2 and, in turn, gNB2 provides its sensing resource configuration information to gNBl. This information also indicates, for example, if gNB2 and gNB 1 should act as a receiver for a particular sensing resource configuration. According to example embodiments therefore gNB2 provides configuration information to gNBl to configure gNB 1 in accordance with the service configuration for transmitting sensing signals to the one or more sensing devices or receiving sensing signals or sensing measurements from the one or more sensing devices or from gNB2. As such for example, each gNB exchanges its sensing resource configuration with its neighbouring gNB. This information may additionally include if the other gNB acts as a receiver for a particular set of resource configuration.

[0076] A gNB (cell) scheduler may use a full set of resources for transmitting or receiving normal data and hence improving spectrum utilisation, if no sensing service is configured yet. Once a new sensing service is configured or deconfigured then the scheduler needs to either vacate or start utilising a part of spectrum for sensing signal transmission and reflection, which was reserved earlier and also exchanged between neighbouring cells. So, an update of resource configuration will be more frequent between gNBs.

[0077] According to example embodiments therefore, gNB2 can transmit an indication of an allocation of communications resources for the configured sensing service to gNB 1 with an indication of whether gNBl should receive the sensing measurements, the sensing signals or to transmit the sensing signals. According to some examples gNBs may frequently exchange resource reservation including the role of target gNB for a sensing service.

[0078] At step 603, gNBl provides the UE 512 (which is, in this case, is an active rather than passive device to be detected) with the sensing service configuration. This is done using access stratum (AS) signalling. For example, radio resource control (RRC), medium access control (MAC), radio link control (RCL) and / or physical layer (PHY) signalling may be used. Alternatively, if the core network is involved, then sensing service configuration can be provided to the UE 512 using non- access stratum (NAS) signalling as that of step 1. After step 603, configuration of the sensing service is complete.

[0079] At step 604, the AF 600 may determine that the sensing service should be started. Accordingly gNBl 511 transmits a radio frequency signal, which is reflected back by UE 512 to the second gNB2 513 which detects the reflected signal. The second gNB2 513 may expect a reflected signal based on the received resource reservation configuration message along with the role for gNB2.

[0080] At step 605 the second gNB2 513 transfers measurement results to AF as explained in more detail below.

[0081] According to some example embodiments, a UE operates by receiving configuration information for configuring the UE as a sensing device to provide a sensing service for generating sensing measurements. The configuration information includes a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for sensing signals to be transmitted or received for generating the sensing measurements. The receiving the configuration information comprises receiving the configuration information using Access Stratum (AS) signalling or Non Access Stratum (NAS) signalling. Accordingly an Active UE is provided with service configuration via AS or NAS signalling. CU-DU split case

[0082] As explained above, according to a 5G / NR architecture, a gNB is comprised of TRP, a DU, and a CU. Accordingly, architecturally functionality of gNB in respect of processing of control and signalling is divided into DU and CU. Accordingly, Figure 6 can be represented in respect of the operations of configuring sensing devices to acquire measurements to be that shown in Figure 7 in more detail in respect of the radio network architecture as illustrated with the CU-DU split. As shown in Figure 7, the first gNBl 511 and the second gNB2 513 are shown with respective CUs and DUs 5 l id, 513d, 511c, 513c. Therefore, the service configuration according to step 601 above is divided into service configuration of a CUI 511c, represented by an arrow 601.1 followed by service configuration by the CU 511c of one or more DUs 5 l id as represented by an arrow 601.2. As shown in Figure 7, service configuration by the AF 25 may be transferred either directly to DU or alternatively CU configures a service via Fl -C path. Accordingly in step 602, resource allocation information may be shared between DUs 51 Id, 513d belonging to gNBl and gNB2 511, 513 for the example scenario of gNBl-UE-gNB2 bistatic case. The path and communication between DUs may be either direct between DUs or exist via involving CUs.

[0083] Operations shown in Figure 7 corresponding to those shown in Figure 6 have the same designated references to those shown in Figure 6.

[0084] In some embodiments, a CU may reserve a set of resources across different DUs and inform DU about resource allocation.

[0085] In some embodiments, a static configuration of communications resources can ensure that a CU has central control of reserving resources in different DUs and provides an improvement for interference management and ease of resource reservation. CUI 511c, in this case, may transfer resource allocation to another CU2 513c as shown in step 602 by arrows. According to example embodiments, a procedural sequence for resource allocation information can be adapted to a distribution of functionality based on which entity, CU or DU, will decide the resource allocation. A resource allocation within a gNB may also be adapted in accordance with resources allocated in a nearby gNB.

[0086] According to example embodiments, a DU is configured to communicate to a CU of the radio access network an indication of the allocated communications resources, which are reserved for transmitting sensing signals to the one or more sensing devices or for receiving sensing signals from the one or more sensing devices by the distributed unit. As such, a DU can reserve a set of resources and informs the CU of this set of resources as a distributed resource allocation.

[0087] Transferring Measurements

[0088] According to example embodiments as illustrated in Figure 7, following service configuration of UE 512 step 603, the sensing measurements are generated in step 604 and in step 605 the measurements received at a second DU 513d are transferred to the AF in step 605. For transferring sensing measurement results, both control-plane (C-plane) and user plane (U -plane) based solutions are possible. Embodiments address two aspects relating to problem transferring measurements collected by a radio access network, the first of which concerns measurements collected at the gNB DU 513d at a PHY layer as mentioned in Figures 6 and 7 above. A second aspect concerns collection of sensing measurements by a UE 512 based on reflected signal from an object / passive UE and whereby this UE needs to transfer measurements to the AF. This second aspect corresponds to the example shown in Figures 5 C? and 5E, in which reflected measuring signals received by the UE 533 in Figure 5c and the UE 553 in Figure 5E that need to be transferred to an application server AF via the wireless network. Example embodiments can provide techniques for transferring measurements received at a UE to an application function attached to a core network for either a C-plane or a U-plane which are explained in the following paragraphs:

[0089] Control-plane Based Embodiments

[0090] An Fl interface Application Protocol (Fl-AP) provides a sensing service between a gNB-CU and gNB-DU of a gNB within a 5G or NG-RAN, or between gNB-CU and g B-DU of an en-g B within an E-UTRAN. The services provided by the Fl-AP are divided into UE-associated and non UE-associated. According to example embodiments utilising the C-plane, an Fl-C between the DU and the CU will be used to transport data from DU to CU. Accordingly, Fl-AP messages which carry the measurements are adapted to include Fl-AP messages for transporting physical layer measurements collected at the DU PHY layer to the CU. Accordingly, a control plane entity within the CU2 513c is configured to receive measurements from the DU 513d and forward them to AF as shown in Figure 7 as step 605.

[0091] According to example embodiments a DU transmits the sensing measurement data via a physical interface to a central unit of the radio access network as control plane data. This can be a new message in an Fl-AP, which is created to transport sensing measurements collected at the DU PHY layer to the CU-CP. Current Fl-AP messages are of two categories: In a first category Fl-AP messages are used to transfer UE specific information. In a second category Fl-AP messages are used to transfer node specific information. According to example embodiments a third category of Fl-AP messages transfer sensing measurements data.

[0092] In one embodiment, Radio Resource Control (RRC) signalling can be used to transport data from UE to CU. Using an RRC message has an advantage that RRC security can be reused to transfer the signalling measurements. Some of the known frameworks for signalling and control message such as for example Minimisation of drive tests (MDT) or QoE measurements utilise an existing or new Signalling Radio Bearer (SRB), which can also be used for carrying sensing measurements, such as those carried by L3 measurement report or LI measurements container. The sensing measurements can be transferred as part of AI / ML data collection framework. Alternatively UE assistance information framework or positioning framework of using LTE Positioning Protocols (LPP / LPPa) can be used to collect measurements at the gNB, which are then transported to AF. That is the sensing measurements are transferred in a similar way to LMF in positioning using a protocol like LPP. For measurements collected at the UE, these are transported to AF or LMF like entity using LPPa protocol. Alternatively, MAC-CE, RLC control PDU or PDCP control PDU is used to transfer these measurements.

[0093] This can be used to transfer both active and passive device sensing measurements. According to example embodiments therefore CU-CP entity manages data collection and forward to AF. According to these example embodiments, a UE receives configuration information for configuring the UE as a sensing device to provide a sensing service for generating sensing measurements. The configuration information includes a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for sensing signals to be transmitted or received for generating the sensing measurements. The UE generates sensing measurement data based on received sensing signals, and transmits sensing measurement data to a gNB of a radio access network part of a wireless communications network for communication to an application function. In some examples, a Uu signaling mechanism is used to transfer active and passive device sensing measurements being collected at the UE to a gNB / AF.

[0094] User-Plane Based Embodiments

[0095] According to example embodiments, the sensing measurements are transferred using an Fl-U tunnelling protocol from a DU to a CU, which utilise GTP-U tunnels between CU and DU over Fl- U protocol stack and a PDU session / QoS flow. However, a separate tunnel for sensing measurement data transfer, even for active devices, will be required because sensing service will not be required for a PDU session or QoS flow to be setup. A separate tunnel can also be needed for transferring measurements from a group of passive devices. These tunnels may exist for a fixed or predetermined duration or simply established as a response to a transmitted signal or once created stay until a sensing feature is supported by the gNB.

[0096] For a similar reason, that a tunnel is created per QoS flow, according to example embodiments a tunnel can be established between a gNB and an AF (via UPF or directly) to transfer the sensing measurement data without an associated QoS flow / PDU session.

[0097] According to example embodiments therefore the transmitting the sensing measurement data is by creating a General Packet Radio Service, GPRS, Tunnelling Protocol for User plane data, GTP-U, tunnel with ends points at the central unit and the distributed unit, and transmitting the sensing measurement data for all of the one or more sensing devices via the GTP-U tunnel for all of the one or more sensing devices. According to this arrangement a new set of GTP-U tunnels is created with end points as CU and DU and further between gNB and AF (or AF via UPF) for transferring sensing measurements for an active device. This tunnel is not per PDU session / QoS flow / UE.

[0098] For a UE reporting sensing measurements, a new MAC transport block may be prepared specifically for transferring sensing measurement data. For security reasons, sensing measurement data is sent to PDCP layer in order to create PDCP Service Data Unit SDU within the UE based on UE Uu data transfer security credentials, if security is important. A MAC transport block (TB) is transported by DU to CU-UP. MAC TB is locally generated without any input from upper layers and is established and set up from PHY / sensing layer.

[0099] According example embodiments a communications device operates to transmit sensing measurement data to the gNB by forming the sensing measurement data into a transport block dedicated for the sensing data, and transmitting the transport block via the physical layer. The sensing measurement data may also be transmitted to the gNB by forming the sensing measurement data into Service Data Units, SDU, according to a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, layer, forming transport blocks dedicated for the sensing data from the PDCP SDU, and transmitting the transport blocks via the physical layer. . Direct Interface DU-AF

[0100] According to other example embodiments a DU transfers sensing measurement data or interact directly with AF. According to example embodiments, a DU may transfer sensing measurement data using an Internet protocol via an Internet protocol connection with the AF. This arrangement accepts that sensing measurement data may be communicated without any security protocols. Such an arrangement accepts a compromise that sensing measurement data may not be security sensitive or at least it would be very difficult for third-party to interpret the sensing measurement data. Accordingly by using a direct Internet protocol connection without going via a core network part of the wireless communications network, overheads associated with security and other signalling to set up a bearer with appropriate QoS flows can be avoided. However in some examples, security may be provided with IPSec although UE security will not be applied. For a scenario where a UE transfer sensing measurements, the UE can transfer the sensing measurement data like Ll-RSRP, with an accepted risk associated with not using security protocols, as already identified for LI measurements. Furthermore an Fl -like interface can be defined between DU and AF and corresponding changes made for an Fl interface should be applicable to this Fl -like protocol as well.

[0101] According to example embodiments therefore DU can operate by forming an internet protocol connection with the application function, and transmitting the sensing measurement data via the internet protocol connection to the application function. As such, a DU can transfer data or interact directly with AF.

[0102] Summary

[0103] Figure 8 provides a schematic representation illustrating example embodiments, which have been described above. As shown in Figure 8 message flow diagram is provided in which the various operations of functions required for configuring resources for a sensing service and communicating measurement data is represented. In Figure 8 an application function (AF) 25, a CU 40, a DU 42 and a UE 14 is shown. As a first stage corresponding to step 601 in Figures 6 and 7, the AF 25 transmits configuration information for configuring the sensing service to the CU 40 at step SI and the CU 40 configures a DU 42 at step S2 and the DU 42 configures or transport message generated by CU towards one or more UEs 14 to act as sensing devices to provide the sensing service. Once measurement results have been gathered, these be communicated back to the AF 25. The measured results could be gathered by the UE 14, if acting as a sensing target in a different scenario or by a different UE or the DU 42. A communication of the measurement resource results are represented by steps S4, S5 and S6. The step S4 represents a transmission of the measurement data from the UE 14 to the DU 42 via the wireless access network interface. As explained above, this can be achieved using various techniques including AS and NAS signalling as well as C-plane and U-plane communication. The DU 42 then transmits the measurement data to the CU 40 at step S5 and then from the CU 40 to the AF 25. In some examples measurement data collected by the DU 42 is transmitted directly AF using an Internet protocol link which bypasses security protocols.

[0104] Further example embodiments of the present disclosure are defined by the following numbered paragraphs: Paragraph 1. A method of operating an infrastructure equipment forming part of a radio network of a wireless communications network, the method comprising receiving a service configuration for a sensing service for generating sensing measurements received from one or more sensing devices, the service configuration including a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for the sensing measurements to be generated, and configuring the one or more sensing devices for the configuration service including the communications resource allocation for receiving or transmitting sensing signals to generate the sensing measurements.

[0105] Paragraph 2. A method of paragraph 1, comprising receiving the sensing measurements from the one or more sensing devices.

[0106] Paragraph 3. A method of paragraph 2, comprising configuring one or more other infrastructure equipment of the radio network to receive the sensing measurement for communication to an application function, and transmitting the sensing measurements to the one or more other infrastructure equipment for communication to the application function.

[0107] Paragraph 4. A method of any of paragraphs 1 to 3, wherein the service configuration includes an area scope defining the one or more sensing devices and an area of operation of the one or more sensing devices as one or more cells of the wireless communications network. Paragraph 5. A method of any of paragraphs 1 to 4, wherein the one or more sensing devices are either active or passive.

[0108] Paragraph 6. A method of any of paragraphs 1 to 5, wherein the one or more sensing devices are configured to include an identifier of the sensing device or a group identifier of a group of one or more of the sensing devices.

[0109] Paragraph 7. A method of any of paragraphs 1 to 6, comprising receiving the service configuration from an application function.

[0110] Paragraph 8. A method of any of paragraphs 1 to 7, comprising configuring one or more other infrastructure equipment of the radio network in accordance with the service configuration for transmitting sensing signals to the one or more sensing devices or receiving sensing signals or sensing measurements from the one or more sensing devices or from the infrastructure equipment.

[0111] Paragraph 9. A method of paragraph 8, comprising transmitting an indication of an allocation of communications resources for the configured sensing service to the one or more other infrastructure equipment, and an indication of whether the one or more other infrastructure equipment are to receive the sensing measurements, the sensing signals or to transmit the sensing signals.

[0112] Paragraph 10. A method of paragraph 1, wherein the infrastructure equipment is a distributed unit of the radio access network, and the distributed unit is configured to communicate to a central unit of the radio access network an indication of the allocated communications resources, which are reserved for transmitting sensing signals to the one or more sensing devices or for receiving sensing signals from the one or more sensing devices by the distributed unit.

[0113] Paragraph 11. A method of paragraph 1, wherein the infrastructure equipment is a distributed unit of the radio access network, and the distributed unit is configured to receive an indication from a central unit of the radio access network indicating communications resources reserved for transmitting sensing signals to the one or more sensing devices or for receiving sensing signals from the one or more sensing devices by the distributed unit.

[0114] Paragraph 12. A method of paragraph 1 or 2, wherein the infrastructure equipment is a distributed unit of the radio access network, and the method comprises transmitting the sensing measurement data via a physical interface to a central unit of the radio access network as control plane data.

[0115] Paragraph 13. A method of paragraph 12, wherein the transmitting the sensing measurement data comprises transmitting the sensing measurement data via an Fl-AP interface between the distributed unit and the central unit.

[0116] Paragraph 14. A method of paragraph 13, wherein the sensing measurement data is transported in Fl-AP messages.

[0117] Paragraph 15. A method of paragraph 13, wherein the Fl-AP messages which are used to transport the sensing measurement data Fl-AP message is not UE or node specific, and associated with a group of UEs acting as sensing devices.

[0118] Paragraph 16. A method of paragraph 12, wherein the transmitting the sensing measurement data comprises creating a General Packet Radio Service, GPRS, Tunnelling Protocol for User plane data, GTP-U, tunnel with ends points at the central unit and the distributed unit, and transmitting the sensing measurement data for all of the one or more sensing devices via the GTP-U tunnel without a packet data session and quality of service parameters for transmission of the sensing measurement data.

[0119] Paragraph 17. A method of paragraph 12, wherein the transmitting the sensing measurement data comprises creating a General Packet Radio Service, GPRS, Tunnelling Protocol for User plane data, GTP-U, tunnel with ends points at the central unit and the distributed unit, and transmitting the sensing measurement data for all of the one or more sensing devices via the GTP-U tunnel without a packet data session and quality of service parameters for transmission of the sensing measurement data.

[0120] Paragraph 18. A method of paragraph 1 or 2, comprising creating a General Packet Radio Service, GPRS, Tunnelling Protocol for User plane data, GTP-U, tunnel with ends points at the infrastructure equipment and the application function, and transmitting the sensing measurement data for all of the one or more sensing devices via the GTP-U tunnel without a packet data session and quality of service parameters for transmission of the sensing measurement data to the application function.

[0121] Paragraph 19. A method of paragraph 1 or 2, wherein the infrastructure equipment is a distributed unit of the radio access network, and the method comprises forming an internet protocol connection with the application function, and transmitting the sensing measurement data via the internet protocol connection to the application function.

[0122] Paragraph 20. A method of operating a communications device with a wireless communications network, the method comprising receiving configuration information for configuring the communications device as a sensing device to provide a sensing service for generating sensing measurements, the configuration information including a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for sensing signals to be transmitted or received for generating the sensing measurements, wherein the receiving the configuration information comprises receiving the configuration information using access stratum signalling.

[0123] Paragraph 21. A method of paragraph 20, wherein the access stratum signalling includes communication using one or more of Radio Resource Control, RRC, signalling, Medium Access Control, MAC, signalling, Radio Link Control, RLC, signalling, and physical layer communication.

[0124] Paragraph 22. A method of operating a communications device with a wireless communications network, the method comprising receiving configuration information for configuring the communications device as a sensing device to provide a sensing service for generating sensing measurements, the configuration information including a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for sensing signals to be transmitted or received for generating the sensing measurements, wherein the receiving the configuration information comprises receiving the configuration information using non-access stratum signalling from a core network function.

[0125] Paragraph 23. A method of paragraph 22, wherein the core network function is an application function.

[0126] Paragraph 24. A method of operating a communications device with a wireless communications network, the method comprising receiving configuration information for configuring the communications device as a sensing device to provide a sensing service for generating sensing measurements, the configuration information including a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for sensing signals to be transmitted or received for generating the sensing measurements, generating sensing measurement data based on received sensing signals, and transmitting sensing measurement data to an infrastructure equipment of a radio access network part of a wireless communications network for communication to an application function.

[0127] Paragraph 25. A method of paragraph 24, wherein the transmitting sensing measurement data to the infrastructure equipment comprises using a positioning signalling mechanism.

[0128] Paragraph 26. A method of paragraph 24, wherein the transmitting sensing measurement data to the infrastructure equipment comprises forming the sensing measurement data into a transport block dedicated for the sensing data, and transmitting the transport block via the physical layer.

[0129] Paragraph 27. A method of paragraph 24, wherein the transmitting sensing measurement data to the infrastructure equipment comprises forming the sensing measurement data into Service Data Units, SDU, according to a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, layer, forming transport blocks dedicated for the sensing data from the PDCP SDU, and transmitting the transport blocks via the physical layer.

[0130] Paragraph 28. An infrastructure equipment forming part of a radio network of a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment comprising transceiver circuitry configured for receiving signals transmitted by communications devices acting as sensing devices via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless communications network, and for transmitting signals to the sensing devices via the wireless access interface, communications interface circuitry configured to transmit or to receive data with one or more other infrastructure equipment, and controller circuitry configured with the transceiver circuitry and the communications interface circuitry, to receive a service configuration for a sensing service for generating sensing measurements received from one or more of the sensing devices, the service configuration including a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for the sensing measurements to be generated, and configuring the one or more sensing devices for the configuration service including the communications resource allocation for receiving or transmitting sensing signals to generate the sensing measurements.

[0131] Paragraph 29. An infrastructure equipment of paragraph 28, wherein the controller circuitry configured with the transceiver circuitry and the communications interface circuitry are configured to configure one or more other infrastructure equipment of the radio network to receive the sensing measurement for communication to an application function, and to transmit the sensing measurements to the one or more other infrastructure equipment for communication to the application function.

[0132] Paragraph 30. An infrastructure equipment of paragraph 28 or 29, wherein the service configuration includes an area scope defining the one or more sensing devices and an area of operation of the one or more sensing devices as one or more cells of the wireless communications network. Paragraph 31. An infrastructure equipment of paragraph 28, 29 or 30, wherein the controller circuitry configured with the transceiver circuitry and the communications interface circuitry are configured to configure one or more other infrastructure equipment of the radio network in accordance with the service configuration for transmitting sensing signals to the one or more sensing devices or receiving sensing signals or sensing measurements from the one or more sensing devices or from the infrastructure equipment.

[0133] Paragraph 32. An infrastructure equipment of paragraph 31 , wherein the controller circuitry configured with the transceiver circuitry and the communications interface circuitry are configured to transmit an indication of an allocation of communications resources for the configured sensing service to the one or more other infrastructure equipment, and an indication of whether the one or more other infrastructure equipment are to receive the sensing measurements, the sensing signals or to transmit the sensing signals.

[0134] Paragraph 33. An infrastructure equipment of paragraph 31 or 32, wherein the infrastructure equipment is a distributed unit of the radio access network, and the transceiver circuitry cooperates with a Transmitter and Receiver Point, TRP, and distributed unit is configured to communicate to a central unit of the radio access network an indication of the allocated communications resources, which are reserved for transmiting sensing signals to the one or more sensing devices or for receiving sensing signals from the one or more sensing devices by the distributed unit.

[0135] Paragraph 34. A communications device for operating with a wireless communications network acting as a sensing device, the communications device comprising transceiver circuitry configured for transmiting signals via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless communications network, and for receiving signals transmiter from the infrastructure equipment via the wireless access interface, and controller circuitry configured with the transceiver circuitry to receive configuration information for configuring the communications device as a sensing device to provide a sensing service for generating sensing measurements, the configuration information including a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for sensing signals to be transmited or received for generating the sensing measurements, wherein the configuration information is received using access stratum or using non-access stratum signalling from a core network function.

[0136] Paragraph 35. A communications device for operating with a wireless communications network acting as a sensing device, the communications device comprising transceiver circuitry configured for transmiting signals via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless communications network, and for receiving signals transmiter from the infrastructure equipment via the wireless access interface, and controller circuitry configured with the transceiver circuitry to receive configuration information for configuring the communications device as a sensing device to provide a sensing service for generating sensing measurements, the configuration information including a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for sensing signals to be transmited or received for generating the sensing measurements, to generate sensing measurement data based on received sensing signals, and to transmit sensing measurement data to an infrastructure equipment of a radio access network part of a wireless communications network for communication to an application function.

[0137] Paragraph 36. A communications device of paragraph 35, wherein the controller circuitry is configured with the transceiver circuitry to transmit sensing measurement data to the infrastructure equipment using a positioning signalling mechanism.

[0138] Paragraph 37. A communications device of paragraph 35, wherein the controller circuitry is configured with the transceiver circuitry to transmit sensing measurement data to the infrastructure equipment by forming the sensing measurement data into a transport block dedicated for the sensing data, and transmiting the transport block via the physical layer.

[0139] Paragraph 38. A communications device of paragraph 35, 36 or 37, wherein the controller circuitry is configured with the transceiver circuitry to transmit sensing measurement data to the infrastructure equipment by forming the sensing measurement data into Service Data Units, SDU, according to a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, layer, forming transport blocks dedicated for the sensing data from the PDCP SDU, and transmitting the transport blocks via the physical layer.

[0140] Numerous modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the claims, the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

[0141] In so far as embodiments of the disclosure have been described as being implemented, at least in part, by one or more software-controlled information processing apparatuses, it will be appreciated that a machine-readable medium (in particular, a non-transitory machine-readable medium) carrying such software, such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, semiconductor memory or the like, is also considered to represent an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the present disclosure should be understood to include a non-transitory storage medium comprising code components which cause a computer to perform any of the disclosed method(s).

[0142] It will be appreciated that the above description for clarity has described embodiments with reference to different functional units, circuitry and / or processors. However, it will be apparent that any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional units, circuitry and / or processors may be used without detracting from the embodiments.

[0143] Described embodiments may be implemented in any suitable form including hardware, software, firmware or any combination of these. Described embodiments may optionally be implemented at least partly as computer software running on one or more computer processors (e.g. data processors and / or digital signal processors). The elements and components of any embodiment may be physically, functionally and logically implemented in any suitable way. Indeed, the functionality may be implemented in a single unit, in a plurality of units or as part of other functional units. As such, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in a single unit or may be physically and functionally distributed between different units, circuitry and / or processors.

[0144] Although the present disclosure has been described in connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to these embodiments. Additionally, although a feature may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art would recognize that various features of the described embodiments may be combined in any manner suitable to implement the present disclosure.

[0145] REFERENCES

[0146] [1] Holma H. and Toskala A, “LTE for UMTS OFDMA and SC-FDMA based radio access”, John Wiley and Sons, 2009.

[0147] [2] TR 38.913, “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Study on Scenarios and Requirements for Next Generation Access Technologies (Release 14)”, 3GPP, vl4.3.0, August 2017. [3] RP -234069, “New SID: Study on channel modelling for Integrated Sensing And Communication (ISAC) for NR”, Nokia, Nokia Shanghai Bell, 3 GPP TSG RAN Meeting #102, December 2023.

[0148] [4] TR 22.837 V19.2.0 (2023-12), “Feasibility Study on Integrated Sensing and Communication (Release 19)”.

[0149] [5] Co-pending European patent application number 24156932.6.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of operating an infrastructure equipment forming part of a radio network of a wireless communications network, the method comprising receiving a service configuration for a sensing service for generating sensing measurements received from one or more sensing devices, the service configuration including a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for the sensing measurements to be generated, and configuring the one or more sensing devices for the configuration service including the communications resource allocation for receiving or transmitting sensing signals to generate the sensing measurements.

2. A method of claim 1, comprising receiving the sensing measurements from the one or more sensing devices.

3. A method of claim 2, comprising configuring one or more other infrastructure equipment of the radio network to receive the sensing measurement for communication to an application function, and transmitting the sensing measurements to the one or more other infrastructure equipment for communication to the application function.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the service configuration includes an area scope defining the one or more sensing devices and an area of operation of the one or more sensing devices as one or more cells of the wireless communications network.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensing devices are either active or passive.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensing devices are configured to include an identifier of the sensing device or a group identifier of a group of one or more of the sensing devices.

7. A method of claim 1, comprising receiving the service configuration from an application function.

8. A method of claim 1, comprising configuring one or more other infrastructure equipment of the radio network in accordance with the service configuration for transmitting sensing signals to the one or more sensing devices or receiving sensing signals or sensing measurements from the one or more sensing devices or from the infrastructure equipment.

9. A method of claim 8, comprising transmitting an indication of an allocation of communications resources for the configured sensing service to the one or more other infrastructure equipment, and an indication ofwhether the one or more other infrastructure equipment are to receive the sensing measurements, the sensing signals or to transmit the sensing signals.

10. A method of claim 1, wherein the infrastructure equipment is a distributed unit of the radio access network, and the distributed unit is configured to communicate to a central unit of the radio access network an indication of the allocated communications resources, which are reserved for transmitting sensing signals to the one or more sensing devices or for receiving sensing signals from the one or more sensing devices by the distributed unit.

11. A method of claim 1, wherein the infrastructure equipment is a distributed unit of the radio access network, and the distributed unit is configured to receive an indication from a central unit of the radio access network indicating communications resources reserved for transmitting sensing signals to the one or more sensing devices or for receiving sensing signals from the one or more sensing devices by the distributed unit.

12. A method of claim 1, wherein the infrastructure equipment is a distributed unit of the radio access network, and the method comprises transmitting the sensing measurement data via a physical interface to a central unit of the radio access network as control plane data.

13. A method of claim 12, wherein the transmitting the sensing measurement data comprises transmitting the sensing measurement data via an Fl-AP interface between the distributed unit and the central unit.

14. A method of claim 13, wherein the sensing measurement data is transported in Fl-AP messages.

15. A method of claim 13, wherein the Fl-AP messages which are used to transport the sensing measurement data Fl-AP message is not UE or node specific, and associated with a group of UEs acting as sensing devices.

16. A method of claim 12, wherein the transmitting the sensing measurement data comprises creating a General Packet Radio Service, GPRS, Tunnelling Protocol for User plane data,GTP-U, tunnel with ends points at the central unit and the distributed unit, and transmitting the sensing measurement data for all of the one or more sensing devices via the GTP-U tunnel without a packet data session and quality of service parameters for transmission of the sensing measurement data.

17. A method of claim 12, wherein the transmitting the sensing measurement data comprises creating a General Packet Radio Service, GPRS, Tunnelling Protocol for User plane data,GTP-U, tunnel with ends points at the central unit and the distributed unit, and transmitting the sensing measurement data for all of the one or more sensing devices via the GTP-U tunnel without a packet data session and quality of service parameters for transmission of the sensing measurement data.

18. A method of claim 1 , comprising creating a General Packet Radio Service, GPRS, Tunnelling Protocol for User plane data, GTP-U, tunnel with ends points at the infrastructure equipment and the application function, and transmitting the sensing measurement data for all of the one or more sensing devices via the GTP-U tunnel without a packet data session and quality of service parameters for transmission of the sensing measurement data to the application function.

19. A method of claim 1, wherein the infrastructure equipment is a distributed unit of the radio access network, and the method comprises forming an internet protocol connection with the application function, and transmitting the sensing measurement data via the internet protocol connection to the application function.

20. A method of operating a communications device with a wireless communications network, the method comprising receiving configuration information for configuring the communications device as a sensing device to provide a sensing service for generating sensing measurements, the configuration information including a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for sensing signals to be transmitted or received for generating the sensing measurements, wherein the receiving the configuration information comprises receiving the configuration information using access stratum signalling.

21. A method of claim 20, wherein the access stratum signalling includes communication using one or more of Radio Resource Control, RRC, signalling, Medium Access Control, MAC, signalling, Radio Link Control, RLC, signalling, and physical layer communication.

22. A method of operating a communications device with a wireless communications network, the method comprising receiving configuration information for configuring the communications device as a sensing device to provide a sensing service for generating sensing measurements, the configuration information including a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for sensing signals to be transmitted or received for generating the sensing measurements, wherein the receiving the configuration information comprises receiving the configuration information using non-access stratum signalling from a core network function.

23. A method of claim 22, wherein the core network function is an application function.

24. A method of operating a communications device with a wireless communications network, the method comprising receiving configuration information for configuring the communications device as a sensing device to provide a sensing service for generating sensing measurements, the configuration information including a communications resource allocation of a wireless accessinterface for sensing signals to be transmitted or received for generating the sensing measurements, generating sensing measurement data based on received sensing signals, and transmitting sensing measurement data to an infrastructure equipment of a radio access network part of a wireless communications network for communication to an application function.

25. A method of claim 24, wherein the transmitting sensing measurement data to the infrastructure equipment comprises using a positioning signalling mechanism.

26. A method of claim 24, wherein the transmitting sensing measurement data to the infrastructure equipment comprises forming the sensing measurement data into a transport block dedicated for the sensing data, and transmitting the transport block via the physical layer.

27. A method of claim 24, wherein the transmitting sensing measurement data to the infrastructure equipment comprises forming the sensing measurement data into Service Data Units, SDU, according to a Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, layer, forming transport blocks dedicated for the sensing data from the PDCP SDU, and transmitting the transport blocks via the physical layer.

28. An infrastructure equipment forming part of a radio network of a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment comprising transceiver circuitry configured for receiving signals transmitted by communications devices acting as sensing devices via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless communications network, and for transmitting signals to the sensing devices via the wireless access interface, communications interface circuitry configured to transmit or to receive data with one or more other infrastructure equipment, and controller circuitry configured with the transceiver circuitry and the communications interface circuitry, to receive a service configuration for a sensing service for generating sensing measurements received from one or more of the sensing devices, the service configuration including a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for the sensing measurements to be generated, and configuring the one or more sensing devices for the configuration service including the communications resource allocation for receiving or transmitting sensing signals to generate the sensing measurements.

29. An infrastructure equipment of claim 28, wherein the controller circuitry configured with the transceiver circuitry and the communications interface circuitry are configuredto configure one or more other infrastructure equipment of the radio network to receive the sensing measurement for communication to an application function, and to transmit the sensing measurements to the one or more other infrastructure equipment for communication to the application function.

30. An infrastructure equipment of claim 28, wherein the service configuration includes an area scope defining the one or more sensing devices and an area of operation of the one or more sensing devices as one or more cells of the wireless communications network.

31. An infrastructure equipment of claim 28, wherein the controller circuitry configured with the transceiver circuitry and the communications interface circuitry are configured to configure one or more other infrastructure equipment of the radio network in accordance with the service configuration for transmitting sensing signals to the one or more sensing devices or receiving sensing signals or sensing measurements from the one or more sensing devices or from the infrastructure equipment.

32. An infrastructure equipment of claim 31, wherein the controller circuitry configured with the transceiver circuitry and the communications interface circuitry are configured to transmit an indication of an allocation of communications resources for the configured sensing service to the one or more other infrastructure equipment, and an indication of whether the one or more other infrastructure equipment are to receive the sensing measurements, the sensing signals or to transmit the sensing signals.

33. An infrastructure equipment of claim 31, wherein the infrastructure equipment is a distributed unit of the radio access network, and the transceiver circuitry co-operates with a Transmitter and Receiver Point, TRP, and distributed unit is configured to communicate to a central unit of the radio access network an indication of the allocated communications resources, which are reserved for transmitting sensing signals to the one or more sensing devices or for receiving sensing signals from the one or more sensing devices by the distributed unit.

34. A communications device for operating with a wireless communications network acting as a sensing device, the communications device comprising transceiver circuitry configured for transmitting signals via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless communications network, and for receiving signals transmitter from the infrastructure equipment via the wireless access interface, and controller circuitry configured with the transceiver circuitry to receive configuration information for configuring the communications device as a sensing device to provide a sensing service for generating sensing measurements, the configuration information including a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for sensing signals to be transmitted or received for generating the sensing measurements, wherein the configuration information is received using access stratum or using non-access stratum signalling from a core network function.

35. A communications device for operating with a wireless communications network acting as a sensing device, the communications device comprising transceiver circuitry configured for transmitting signals via a wireless access interface provided by the wireless communications network, and for receiving signals transmitter from the infrastructure equipment via the wireless access interface, and controller circuitry configured with the transceiver circuitry to receive configuration information for configuring the communications device as a sensing device to provide a sensing service for generating sensing measurements, the configuration information including a communications resource allocation of a wireless access interface for sensing signals to be transmitted or received for generating the sensing measurements, to generate sensing measurement data based on received sensing signals, and to transmit sensing measurement data to an infrastructure equipment of a radio access network part of a wireless communications network for communication to an application function.

36. A communications device of claim 35, wherein the controller circuitry is configured with the transceiver circuitry to transmit sensing measurement data to the infrastructure equipment using a positioning signalling mechanism.

37. A communications device of claim 35, wherein the controller circuitry is configured with the transceiver circuitry to transmit sensing measurement data to the infrastructure equipment by forming the sensing measurement data into a transport block dedicated for the sensing data, and transmitting the transport block via the physical layer.

38. A communications device of claim 35, wherein the controller circuitry is configured with the transceiver circuitry to transmit sensing measurement data to the infrastructure equipment by forming the sensing measurement data into Service Data Units, SDU, according to aPacket Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP, layer, forming transport blocks dedicated for the sensing data from the PDCP SDU, and transmitting the transport blocks via the physical layer.

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