Sensing method and apparatus

Abstract

A sensing method and an apparatus. A terminal receives first information, wherein the first information is used for instructing the terminal to use a same antenna to send an uplink reference signal. On the basis of the first information, the terminal sends, on the same antenna, the uplink reference signal for sensing. Since the terminal sends the uplink reference signal on the same antenna, the probability of occurrence of phase jump in the uplink reference signal is reduced, so that a network device can obtain a relatively accurate sensing result, thereby improving sensing precision.

Description

A sensing method and device

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411030373.3, filed on July 29, 2024, entitled "A Sensing Method and Apparatus", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of sensing technology, and in particular to a sensing method and apparatus. Background Technology

[0004] One current sensing mode involves a terminal sending a sensing signal, which, after being reflected and / or scattered by the target, reaches a base station, where the base station performs the sensing operation. The terminal can continuously send sensing signals while moving. The base station can jointly process sensing signals sent by the terminal from multiple locations to perform sensing based on the result of this joint processing.

[0005] However, when the terminal continuously sends sensing signals, the phase may change, which affects the accuracy of the joint processing results and thus reduces the sensing accuracy. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides a sensing method and apparatus to improve sensing accuracy.

[0007] Firstly, a first sensing method is provided, which can be applied to a first device. The first device is, for example, a device (which may be referred to as a first device), or other device including device functions, or a circuit, or a chip system (or chip). Optionally, the first device is, for example, a terminal-side device, which is also referred to as a terminal device. The terminal device is, for example, a terminal equipment, or other device including terminal equipment functions, or a circuit, or a chip system (or chip, such as a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a system-on-chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core, or a system-in-package (SIP) chip) or other functional module, which is capable of implementing the functions of the terminal equipment, and which is, for example, disposed in the terminal equipment. Alternatively, the first device is, for example, a network-side device, which is also referred to as a network device. The network device is, for example, an access network device, or other device including access network device functions, or a circuit, or a chip system (or chip), or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of the network device, and the chip system or functional module is, for example, disposed within the network device. The access network device can be a non-ORAN architecture or an ORAN architecture; or, the access network device can be a CU, DU, or RU under an ORAN architecture. The access network device is, for example, located on the ground, or the access network device is, for example, a satellite, or located on a satellite. In the following description, the first device is a terminal and the second device is a network device, as an example. The method includes: receiving first information, the first information being used to instruct the terminal to transmit an uplink reference signal using the same antenna; and transmitting an uplink reference signal for sensing on the same antenna according to the first information.

[0008] In this embodiment, the first information can instruct the terminal to transmit the uplink reference signal using the same antenna, thus enabling the terminal to transmit the uplink reference signal on the same antenna. Since the terminal transmits the uplink reference signal on the same antenna, the probability of a phase transition in the uplink reference signal is reduced, thereby allowing the network device to obtain more accurate sensing results and improving sensing accuracy.

[0009] In one optional implementation, transmitting uplink reference signals for sensing on the same antenna includes: the terminal transmitting the uplink reference signals on the same antenna while moving. For example, the terminal may be in the process of moving, and after moving to a new location, it can transmit the uplink reference signal, and the antenna on which the terminal transmits the uplink reference signal at different locations can remain unchanged. It can be considered that the terminal implements synthetic aperture technology. Through synthetic aperture, it can be considered that the terminal transmits the uplink reference signal through multiple antennas (for example, understanding the terminal transmitting the uplink reference signal at multiple locations as the terminal transmitting the uplink reference signal through multiple antennas), thereby increasing the strength of the sensing signal and thus improving sensing accuracy. Furthermore, since the terminal transmits the uplink reference signal on the same antenna, the probability of phase transitions in the uplink reference signal is reduced, thereby enabling the network device to obtain more accurate sensing results and improving sensing accuracy.

[0010] In one optional implementation, the first information is further used to configure uplink reference signal resources for the terminal; or, receiving second information, the second information being used to configure uplink reference signal resources for the terminal; wherein transmitting uplink reference signals for sensing on the same antenna includes: transmitting the uplink reference signals on the same antenna according to the uplink reference signal resources. The first information can also configure uplink reference signal resources, thereby saving transmission overhead. Alternatively, the uplink reference signal resources can also be configured through the second information, making the function of the first information more explicit.

[0011] In one alternative implementation, the first information is further used to indicate one or more of the following: a first duration, wherein the uplink reference signal is transmitted within the first duration; or, the terminal reports a phase transition when a phase transition occurs in the uplink reference signal. For example, the first information may indicate a first duration, enabling the terminal to clearly define how long it should adhere to the rule that the antenna transmitting the uplink reference signal remains unchanged. For example, the first information may indicate the reporting of phase transition information, thereby enabling timely notification to the network device when a phase transition occurs in the uplink reference signal.

[0012] In an optional implementation, the method further includes sending third information, the third information including the location information of the terminal when sending the uplink reference signal. The terminal may also inform the network device of its location information when sending the uplink reference signal, enabling the network device to perform sensing based on more factors, which helps improve sensing accuracy.

[0013] In one optional implementation, the uplink reference signal includes a first uplink reference signal and a second uplink reference signal, and the location information includes the absolute location information of the terminal when transmitting the first uplink reference signal, and / or includes the absolute location information of the terminal when transmitting the second uplink reference signal; or, the location information includes the relative location information of the terminal when transmitting the first uplink reference signal relative to the location when transmitting the second uplink reference signal. The terminal can report absolute location information, making the reported location information more accurate; or the terminal can also report relative location information, for example, reporting relative location information requires fewer bits than reporting absolute location information, thereby saving transmission overhead.

[0014] In one optional implementation, the third information further includes the antenna position information of the terminal when transmitting the uplink reference signal. The terminal can also inform the network device of its antenna position information when transmitting the uplink reference signal, enabling the network device to determine whether a phase transition of the uplink reference signal has occurred, thus improving sensing accuracy.

[0015] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: determining that a phase transition has occurred in the uplink reference signal; and sending fourth information, the fourth information indicating that a phase transition has occurred in the uplink reference signal. If a phase transition has occurred in the uplink reference signal, the terminal can inform the network device, enabling the network device to perform corresponding processing. For example, the network device may choose not to perform sensing based on the uplink reference signal to ensure sensing accuracy.

[0016] In one optional implementation, determining that the phase of the uplink reference signal has changed includes: switching to a different antenna to transmit the uplink reference signal; and / or, the change in the antenna angle of the terminal is greater than or equal to a first threshold. Alternatively, the terminal may determine whether the phase of the uplink reference signal has changed through other means, without limitation.

[0017] In an alternative implementation, the method further includes stopping the transmission of the uplink reference signal. For example, if the phase of the uplink reference signal changes, the terminal can stop transmitting the uplink reference signal, thereby saving transmission overhead. The network device may not use the uplink reference signal from the terminal, thus having minimal impact on the network device's perception capabilities.

[0018] Secondly, a second sensing method is provided, which can be applied to a second device. The second device is, for example, a device (which may be referred to as a second device), or other device including device functionality, or a circuit, or a chip system (or chip). Optionally, the second device is, for example, a terminal-side device. Alternatively, the second device is, for example, a network-side device. For a description of the terminal-side device and the network-side device, please refer to the first aspect. The method includes: transmitting first information, the first information being used to instruct the terminal to transmit an uplink reference signal using the same antenna; and receiving the uplink reference signal for sensing.

[0019] In one optional implementation, the first information is further used to configure uplink reference signal resources for the terminal; or, to send second information, the second information being used to configure uplink reference signal resources for the terminal; wherein, receiving the uplink reference signal for sensing includes: receiving the uplink reference signal according to the uplink reference signal resources.

[0020] In an alternative implementation, the method further includes performing sensing based on the uplink reference signal.

[0021] In one optional implementation, the uplink reference signal is a signal reflected or scattered by the sensing target, wherein performing sensing based on the at least one uplink reference signal includes: determining the transmission angle of the terminal based on the uplink reference signal; determining point cloud information of the sensing target based on the transmission angle of the terminal; and transmitting the point cloud information.

[0022] In one alternative implementation, the first information is further used to indicate one or more of the following: a first duration during which the uplink reference signal is received; or, when the phase of the uplink reference signal changes, the terminal reports a phase transition.

[0023] In one optional implementation, the method further includes receiving third information, the third information including the location information of the terminal when it sent the uplink reference signal.

[0024] In one optional implementation, the uplink reference signal includes a first uplink reference signal and a second uplink reference signal, and the location information includes the absolute location information of the terminal when transmitting the first uplink reference signal, and / or includes the absolute location information of the terminal when transmitting the second uplink reference signal; or, the location information includes the relative location information of the terminal when transmitting the first uplink reference signal relative to the location when transmitting the second uplink reference signal.

[0025] In one optional implementation, the third information further includes antenna position information of the terminal when transmitting the at least one uplink reference signal.

[0026] In an optional implementation, the method further includes receiving fifth information, the fifth information being used to instruct the terminal to transmit uplink reference signals via the same antenna.

[0027] In an alternative implementation, the fifth information is further used to indicate a first duration during which the uplink reference signal is received.

[0028] In an optional implementation, the method further includes receiving fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate that a phase transition has occurred in the uplink reference signal.

[0029] For the technical effects of the optional implementation methods of the second aspect, please refer to the introduction of the technical effects of the first aspect or corresponding implementation methods.

[0030] Thirdly, a third sensing method is provided, which can be applied to a third device. The third device is, for example, a device (which may be referred to as a second device), or other device including device functions, or a circuit, or a chip system (or chip). Optionally, the third device is, for example, a sensing network element. The implementation of the sensing network element can be referred to the implementation of the network-side device in the foregoing aspects. The method includes: sending fifth information, the third information being used to instruct the configuration terminal to send an uplink reference signal through the same antenna.

[0031] In one alternative implementation, the fifth information is further used to indicate a first duration during which the uplink reference signal is transmitted.

[0032] In an optional implementation, the method further includes receiving fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate that a phase transition has occurred in the uplink reference signal.

[0033] In an optional implementation, the method further includes receiving point cloud information, the point cloud information being determined based on the uplink reference signal.

[0034] For the technical effects of the optional implementation methods of the third aspect, please refer to the introduction of the technical effects of the first aspect or corresponding implementation methods.

[0035] Fourthly, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus can be the first apparatus described in the first aspect above. The apparatus possesses the functions of the first apparatus described above. For example, the apparatus is capable of implementing the functions described in the first aspect above. For instance, the apparatus includes modules, units, or means corresponding to performing the operations involved in the first aspect above. These modules, units, or means can be implemented through software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The apparatus is, for example, a terminal device, or other device including terminal device functions, or a chip system (or chip or circuit) or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of a terminal device, and is, for example, disposed in a terminal device. Alternatively, the apparatus is, for example, a network device, or other device including network device functions, or a chip system (or chip or circuit) or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of a network device, and is, for example, disposed in a network device. The network device includes, for example, an access network device. In an optional implementation, the apparatus includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the device includes a processing unit (sometimes also called a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also called a transceiver module). The transceiver unit is capable of both sending and receiving functions. When the transceiver unit performs the sending function, it can be called a sending unit (sometimes also called a sending module); when the transceiver unit performs the receiving function, it can be called a receiving unit (sometimes also called a receiving module). The sending unit and the receiving unit can be the same functional module, which is called the transceiver unit and can perform both sending and receiving functions; alternatively, the sending unit and the receiving unit can be different functional modules, and the transceiver unit is a collective term for these functional modules.

[0036] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the receiving unit) is configured to receive first information, the first information being used to instruct the terminal to transmit an uplink reference signal using the same antenna; the transceiver unit (or the transmitting unit) is configured to transmit an uplink reference signal for sensing on the same antenna according to the first information.

[0037] In an alternative embodiment, the device further includes a storage unit (sometimes also called a storage module), the processing unit being coupled to the storage unit and executing programs or instructions in the storage unit to enable the device to perform the functions of the first device described in the first aspect above.

[0038] Fifthly, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus can be the second apparatus described in the second aspect above. The apparatus possesses the functions of the second apparatus described above. For example, the apparatus is capable of implementing the functions described in the second aspect above. For instance, the apparatus includes modules, units, or means corresponding to performing the operations involved in the second aspect above. These modules, units, or means can be implemented through software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The apparatus is, for example, a terminal device, or other device including terminal device functions, or a chip system (or chip or circuit) or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of a terminal device, and is, for example, disposed in a terminal device. Alternatively, the apparatus is, for example, a network device, or other device including network device functions, or a chip system (or chip or circuit) or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of a network device, and is, for example, disposed in a network device. The network device includes, for example, an access network device. In an optional implementation, the apparatus includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another alternative implementation, the apparatus includes a processing unit (sometimes also called a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also called a transceiver module). For details on the implementation of the transceiver unit, please refer to the relevant description in the fourth aspect.

[0039] In one optional implementation, the transceiver unit (or the transmitting unit) is configured to transmit first information, the first information being used to instruct the terminal to transmit an uplink reference signal using the same antenna; the transceiver unit (or the receiving unit) is configured to receive the uplink reference signal for sensing.

[0040] In an alternative embodiment, the device further includes a storage unit (sometimes also called a storage module), the processing unit being coupled to the storage unit and executing programs or instructions in the storage unit to enable the device to perform the functions of the second device described in the second aspect above.

[0041] Sixthly, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus can be the third apparatus described in the third aspect above. The apparatus possesses the functions of the third apparatus described above. For example, the apparatus is capable of implementing the functions described in the third aspect above. For instance, the apparatus includes modules, units, or means corresponding to performing the operations involved in the third aspect above. These modules, units, or means can be implemented through software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The apparatus is, for example, a terminal device, or other device including terminal device functions, or a chip system (or chip or circuit) or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of a terminal device, and is, for example, disposed in a terminal device. Alternatively, the apparatus is, for example, a network device, or other device including network device functions, or a chip system (or chip or circuit) or other functional module capable of implementing the functions of a network device, and is, for example, disposed in a network device. The network device includes, for example, an access network device. In an optional implementation, the apparatus includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another alternative implementation, the apparatus includes a processing unit (sometimes also called a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also called a transceiver module). For details on the implementation of the transceiver unit, please refer to the relevant description in the fourth aspect.

[0042] In one alternative implementation, the transceiver unit (or the transmitting unit) is configured to transmit fifth information, wherein the third information is configured to instruct the configuration terminal to transmit an uplink reference signal through the same antenna.

[0043] In an alternative embodiment, the device further includes a storage unit (sometimes also called a storage module), the processing unit being coupled to the storage unit and executing programs or instructions in the storage unit to enable the device to perform the functions of the third device described in the third aspect above.

[0044] A seventh aspect provides an apparatus comprising a memory and one or more processors. The memory is used to store part or all of a computer program or instructions necessary for implementing the functions described in the first aspect. The one or more processors are executable to carry out the computer program or instructions, such that, when executed, the apparatus implements the methods in any possible design or implementation of the first aspect.

[0045] In one possible design, the device may further include interface circuitry, wherein the processor is configured to communicate with other devices or components via the interface circuitry.

[0046] In one possible design, the device may also include the memory.

[0047] The aforementioned device may be a terminal, or a communication module in the terminal, or a chip in the terminal responsible for communication functions such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip) or a SoC or SIP chip containing a modem module.

[0048] Eighthly, an apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising a memory and one or more processors. The memory is used to store part or all of a computer program or instructions necessary for implementing the functions described in the first or second aspect above. The one or more processors are executable to carry out the computer program or instructions, such that, when executed, the apparatus implements the methods in any possible design or implementation of the second or third aspect above.

[0049] In one possible design, the device may further include interface circuitry, wherein the processor is configured to communicate with other devices or components via the interface circuitry.

[0050] In one possible design, the device may also include the memory.

[0051] The aforementioned device may be a network device, a communication module in a network device, or a chip in a network device that is responsible for communication functions, such as a modem chip (also known as a baseband chip) or a SoC or SIP chip that contains a modem module.

[0052] A ninth aspect provides a communication system comprising a second device and a third device, wherein the second device is configured to perform the method described in the second aspect and the third device is configured to perform the method described in the third aspect. For example, the second device may be implemented using the devices described in the fifth, seventh, or eighth aspects; the third device may be implemented using the devices described in the fifth, seventh, or eighth aspects.

[0053] Optionally, the communication system further includes a first device, wherein the first device is used to perform the method described in the first aspect above. For example, the first device can be implemented using the device described in the fourth, seventh, or eighth aspects.

[0054] In a tenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided for storing a computer program or instructions that, when executed, cause the method performed by the first, second, or third means described above to be implemented.

[0055] In the eleventh aspect, a computer program product containing instructions is provided, which, when the computer program or instructions are run on a computer, enables the methods described in the above aspects to be implemented.

[0056] In a twelfth aspect, a chip system is provided, including a processor and an interface, the processor being configured to call and execute instructions from the interface to enable the chip system to implement the methods of the above aspects. Attached Figure Description

[0057] Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of the access network equipment structure under the ORAN architecture;

[0058] Figure 1B is a schematic diagram of one structure of the RAN chip;

[0059] Figures 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams of single-station sensing mode and dual-station sensing mode, respectively.

[0060] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the sensing process of the terminal synthetic aperture;

[0061] Figures 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams of two network architectures applied in the embodiments of this application;

[0062] Figures 6, 8, and 9 are flowcharts of several sensing methods provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0063] Figure 7 is an example of a UE transmitting an uplink reference signal within a first duration and transmitting an uplink reference signal outside the first duration in an embodiment of this application.

[0064] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of a device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0065] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of another device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0066] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0067] In this application embodiment, the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, refers to "singular nouns or plural nouns," that is, "one or more." "At least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0068] The ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the size, content, order, timing, priority, or importance of the multiple objects. Furthermore, the numbering of steps in the various embodiments described in this application is only to distinguish different steps and is not used to limit the order in which the steps are performed.

[0069] The following explanations of some terms or concepts used in the embodiments of this application are provided to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0070] In this embodiment, the terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, which can be a fixed device, a mobile device, a handheld device (e.g., a mobile phone), a wearable device, an in-vehicle device, or a wireless device (e.g., a communication module, a modem, or a chip system, etc.) built into the aforementioned devices. The terminal device is used to connect people, objects, machines, etc., and can be widely used in various scenarios, including but not limited to the following: sensing scenarios, cellular communication, device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-to-machine / machine-type communications (M2M / MTC) communication, Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, self-driving, remote medical care, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart city, drones, robots, and indoor commercial scenarios (such as mobile phone screen mirroring, file sharing, and mobile phone to VR glasses video transmission). When the terminal equipment is applied to V2X, it can also be called a V2X device, such as a smart car, digital car, unmanned car, driverless car, pilotless car, or automobile, self-driving car, or autonomous car, pure electric vehicle (EV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), range-extended electric vehicle (REEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), new energy vehicle, or roadside unit (RSU). The terminal equipment can also be a device used in D2D communication, such as an electricity meter or water meter.

[0071] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the application, the terminal device can also be a terminal device in an Internet of Things (IoT) system. IoT is an important component of the future development of information technology. Its main technical feature is to connect objects to the network through communication technology, thereby realizing an intelligent network of human-machine interconnection and object-to-object interconnection.

[0072] The various terminal devices described above, if located in a vehicle (e.g., placed inside or installed inside a vehicle), can all be considered in-vehicle terminal devices, also known as on-board units (OBUs). The terminal device of this application can also be an in-vehicle module, in-vehicle component, in-vehicle chip, or in-vehicle unit built into a vehicle as one or more components or units. The vehicle can implement the methods of this application through the built-in in-vehicle module, in-vehicle component, in-vehicle chip, or in-vehicle unit.

[0073] The terminal equipment may sometimes be referred to as user equipment (UE), terminal, access station, UE station, remote station, wireless communication equipment, or user device, etc.

[0074] In this application embodiment, the communication device used to implement the terminal device function can be a terminal device, which can be a terminal device or a device capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the function, such as a chip system. This device can be installed in the terminal device. In the technical solutions provided in this application embodiment, the example of a terminal device being used to implement the terminal device function is used to describe the technical solutions provided in this application embodiment.

[0075] The network devices in this application embodiment include, for example, access network devices (or access network elements) and / or core network devices (or core network elements). The access network devices are devices with wireless transceiver capabilities, used to communicate with the terminal devices. The access network devices include, but are not limited to, base stations (base transceiver stations, BTS, Node B, evolved Node B (eNodeB) / eNB, or the next generation Node B (gNodeB) / gNB), transmission reception points (TRPs), base stations evolved from the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP), access nodes in wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) systems, wireless relay nodes, wireless backhaul nodes, etc. The base stations can be: macro base stations, micro base stations, pico base stations, small cells, relay stations, etc. Multiple base stations can support networks using the same access technology or networks using different access technologies. A base station can contain one or more co-located or non-co-located transmission and reception points. The access network equipment can also be a radio controller, centralized unit (CU), and / or distributed unit (DU) in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario. The access network equipment can also be a server, etc. For example, the network equipment in V2X technology can be a roadside unit (RSU). The following description uses a base station as an example to illustrate the access network equipment. A base station can communicate with a terminal device, or it can communicate with a terminal device through a relay station. A terminal device can communicate with multiple base stations in different access technologies. The core network equipment is used to implement functions such as mobility management, data processing, session management, policy and billing. The names of the equipment implementing core network functions may differ in systems using different access technologies; this application does not limit this.Taking the 5th generation (5G) mobile communication technology system as an example, the core network equipment includes, for example, access and mobility management function (AMF), session management function (SMF), policy control function (PCF), or user plane function (UPF), etc.

[0076] In a CU-DU architecture, or in an open RAN (ORAN) system, access network equipment can include one or more logical network elements such as a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU). CUs and DUs can be separate entities or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). RUs can be included in radio equipment or radio units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs). One possible structure for access network equipment is shown in Figure 1A. In this structure, core network equipment and access network equipment can communicate via a backhaul link; within the access network equipment, CUs and DUs can communicate via a midhaul link, and DUs and RUs can communicate via a fronthaul link.

[0077] Alternatively, another architecture for the access network device can be seen in Figure 1B, which illustrates an access network device implemented using a chip, such as a RAN chip. The RAN chip may include a CU, DU, and RU. The CU can perform L2 and L3 functions, etc.; the DU can perform L1 functions and some L2 functions, etc.; and the RU can perform L1 computation and radio frequency (RF) digital functions, etc. The CU communicates with the core network device through a backhaul interface, which carries the traffic between the CU and the core network device. The CU may include a central processing unit (CPU) based on x86 architecture or advanced instruction set computing (RISC) machine (ARM) architecture, as well as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), graphics processing units (GPUs), or other accelerators. The CPU can communicate with the FPGA, GPU, or other accelerators via a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) interface.

[0078] The CU and DU communicate via a midhaul interface, which carries the traffic between the CU and DU. The DU may include an x86 or ARM architecture CPU, as well as FPGAs, GPUs, or other accelerators, which can communicate with the FPGA, GPU, or other accelerators via a PCIe interface.

[0079] The DU and RU communicate via a fronthaul interface, which carries the traffic between the DU and RU. If the access network equipment uses an integrated DU, the integrated DU can include the functions of both the DU and RU, and the RAN may no longer need to include a separate RU. The RU may include a RAN fronthaul processing unit, a digital processing unit, and an RF processing unit. The RAN fronthaul processing unit is implemented, for example, using an FPGA or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The digital processing unit is implemented, for example, using an FPGA or an ASIC.

[0080] The RU can be connected to an antenna to communicate with the UE via the antenna.

[0081] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an ORAN system, CU can also be called an open CU (O-CU), DU can also be called an open DU (O-DU), CU-CP can also be called an open CU-CP (O-CU-CP), CU-UP can also be called an open CU-UP (O-CU-CP), and RU can also be called an open RU (O-RU). For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples in its embodiments. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in the embodiments of this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software modules and hardware modules.

[0082] The CU and DU can be configured according to the protocol layer functions of the wireless network they implement. For example, the CU can be configured to implement the functions of the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer and above (such as the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer and / or the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer); the DU can be configured to implement the functions of protocol layers below the PDCP layer (such as one or more of the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, Media Access Control (MAC) layer, or Physical (PHY) layer). As another example, the CU can be configured to implement the functions of protocol layers above the PDCP layer (such as the RRC and / or SDAP layers), and the DU can be configured to implement the functions of protocol layers below the PDCP layer (such as one or more of the RLC, MAC, or PHY layers).

[0083] The above CU and DU configurations are merely examples; the functions of the CU and DU can be configured as needed. For instance, the CU or DU can be configured to have more protocol layer functions, or only some protocol layer processing functions. For example, some RLC layer functions and protocol layer functions above the RLC layer can be placed in the CU, while the remaining RLC layer functions and protocol layer functions below the RLC layer can be placed in the DU. Furthermore, the functions of the CU or DU can be divided according to service type or other system requirements, such as by latency. Functions that require low latency can be placed in the DU, while functions that do not require low latency can be placed in the CU.

[0084] DU and RU can cooperate to implement the functions of the PHY layer. A DU can be connected to one or more RUs. The functions of DU and RU can be configured in various ways depending on the design. For example, a DU can be configured to implement baseband functions, and an RU can be configured to implement mid-RF functions. Another example is that a DU can be configured to implement higher-level functions in the PHY layer, and an RU can be configured to implement lower-level functions in the PHY layer, or to implement both lower-level and RF functions. Higher-level functions in the physical layer can include a portion of the physical layer's functions that are closer to the MAC layer, while lower-level functions in the physical layer can include another portion of the physical layer's functions that are closer to the mid-RF side.

[0085] In this application embodiment, the communication device used to implement the functions of a network device can be called a network device. This network device can be a network element, a network device, or a device capable of supporting the network device or network element to implement the function, such as a chip system. This device can be installed in the network device. In the technical solutions provided in this application embodiment, the device used to implement the functions of a network device is described as a network device (for example, the device used to implement the functions of an access network device is an access network device, and the device used to implement the functions of a core network device is a core network device).

[0086] A sensing signal is a signal used to sense (or detect) a target (or object). Sensing signals can also be called detection signals, linear frequency modulated signals, radar signals, radar sensing signals, radar detection signals, or environmental sensing signals, etc. Sensing signals can be pulse signals or signals from wireless communication systems. For example, a sensing signal can be an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal obtained by modulating a specific sequence on a subcarrier. This specific sequence can be any of the following sequences: Zadoff-Chu sequence (ZC sequence), pseudo-random sequence, or predefined sequence. Pseudo-random sequences include any of the following sequences: longest linear feedback shift register sequence (m-sequence) or Gold sequence. Predefined sequences can be, for example, random data symbols, such as random data symbols modulated by quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM).

[0087] An echo signal is a signal generated when a sensed signal is reflected by a target. Both the echo signal and the sensed signal can reflect the parameters of the target. For example, the time delay of the echo signal relative to the sensed signal can reflect the distance of the target relative to the transmitter, and the Doppler shift of the echo signal relative to the sensed signal can reflect the velocity of the target.

[0088] Communication-sensing fusion signals, also known as synthetic-sensing fusion signals, synthetic signals, or integrated synthetic-sensing signals, are signals used for both communication and sensing. When used for communication, the fusion signal carries the communication data or reference signal sequence that needs to be transmitted between communication devices. When used for sensing, the fusion signal can be understood as being used to sense (or detect) targets.

[0089] For example, the signals used for sensing described herein (such as the uplink reference signal mentioned later) may include sensing signals and / or synesthetic fusion signals.

[0090] The target can be any tangible object in the environment that can reflect electromagnetic waves, such as mountains, forests, or buildings, and can also include mobile objects such as vehicles, drones, pedestrians, and terminal devices. The target can also be referred to as a sensing target, detection target, perceived target, detected target, perceived object, detected object, or sensed device, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not limit it.

[0091] For a long time, wireless sensing has been an independently developed technology. Sensing services are provided by various specialized sensing devices, such as conventional radar, lidar, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In 5G and earlier communication systems, positioning was the sensing service that mobile communication systems could provide. In future mobile communication systems, general sensing services other than positioning will be integrated into the communication system, becoming a completely new function, thereby opening up entirely new services, such as high-precision positioning, environmental reconstruction, and gesture and motion recognition.

[0092] Among them, sensing network elements can reconstruct the environment of a target area through means such as lasers, radars, or base stations. For example, sensing network elements can reconstruct the real physical environment based on the measurement results reported by devices such as lasers, radars, or base stations. For example, based on the measurement results, sensing network elements can reconstruct environmental information using methods such as scattering polygons to characterize various scattering objects in the environment, such as walls and furniture (also known as sensing targets, targets, or target objects).

[0093] For sensing, based on the different senders and receivers of the sensing signal, sensing modes can be divided into two types: single-site sensing and dual-site sensing. Single-site sensing mode, also known as self-transmitting and self-receiving mode, single-end sensing mode, or monocentric sensing mode, refers to the same device transmitting the sensing signal and receiving the echo signal reflected from the target, as shown in Figure 2A, where both the transmitting and receiving devices are device 1. Dual-site sensing mode, also known as A-transmitting and B-receiving mode or self-transmitting and other-receiving mode, refers to different devices transmitting the sensing signal and receiving the echo signal reflected from the target, as shown in Figure 2B, where the transmitting device is device 2 and the receiving device is device 3. Figures 2A and 2B both use a vehicle as an example of the sensing target. For example, in Figure 2A, device 1 is a base station or UE. In single-site sensing mode, device 1 transmits the sensing signal, and device 1 receives the echo signal generated by the reflection, scattering, or diffraction of the sensing signal by a sensing target in the environment (e.g., the vehicle in Figure 2A) for environmental sensing. For example, in Figure 2B, device 2 is a base station or UE, and device 3 is a base station or UE. In the dual-station sensing mode, device 1 sends a sensing signal, and device 2 receives the echo signal generated by the reflection, scattering or diffraction of the sensing signal by a scatterer in the environment (such as a vehicle in Figure 2B) to perform environmental sensing.

[0094] In the UE-involved sensing process, if the UE is in a mobile state during sensing, it can continuously transmit sensing signals, such as a channel sounding reference signal (SRS), during the movement. The base station can jointly process multiple sensing signals transmitted by the UE and perform sensing based on the result of the joint processing, which helps improve sensing accuracy. The sensing signal transmitted by the UE on a certain beam can correspond to a point on the sensing target. The UE's continuous transmission of sensing signals on that beam during movement is equivalent to the UE transmitting the sensing signal through multiple antennas (e.g., each time the UE moves to a new location, it is considered that the UE has adopted a new antenna). This enhances the energy corresponding to that point on the sensing target (similar to the UE performing beamforming), thereby improving the network device's sensing accuracy for that point. This processing method is also called synthetic aperture, and the embodiments of this application may involve a synthetic aperture sensing process. Synthetic aperture is a technique that simulates a larger aperture by combining multiple small apertures. In the fields of optical imaging or radar, synthetic aperture technology can utilize multiple sensors or antennas to work together to improve resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. By utilizing the relative motion between the radar and the target, a radar with a larger equivalent antenna aperture is synthesized from the smaller actual antenna apertures through data processing methods; this is also known as synthetic aperture radar. This technology is widely used in fields such as long-range imaging, geological exploration, and meteorological monitoring. For example, when a UE (User Equipment) moves, it can transmit sensing signals at each location it moves to. Each location can be considered a "small aperture," and multiple locations are equivalent to simulating a "larger aperture."

[0095] Referring to Figure 3, an example of the synthetic aperture sensing process is shown. For instance, a UE moves along a fixed path and can send a sensing signal when it reaches a new location. The solid and dashed lines in Figure 3 can correspond to different transmission paths, such as two scattering paths. These two scattering paths can correspond to the same beam or different beams. Taking the solid line as an example, the scattering path represented by the solid line corresponds to beam 1. The UE sends signals on beam 1 at all six locations. The scattering paths represented by the solid line all point to a certain point of the sensing target (e.g., point "a" in Figure 3), which enhances the energy at that point and improves the sensing accuracy of the network device at that point.

[0096] It is evident that synthetic aperture can improve sensing accuracy. However, when the UE continuously transmits sensing signals, the phase may jump, which affects the accuracy of the joint processing results and thus reduces sensing accuracy.

[0097] Therefore, in this embodiment of the application, the first information can instruct the UE to transmit the uplink reference signal using the same antenna, so that the UE can transmit the uplink reference signal on the same antenna. Since the UE transmits the uplink reference signal on the same antenna, the probability of the uplink reference signal undergoing phase transition is reduced, thereby enabling the network device to obtain more accurate sensing results and improving sensing accuracy.

[0098] Referring to Figure 4, which is a schematic diagram of a potential sensing network architecture, Figure 4 is based on a 5G core network (5G core, 5GC). The network architecture shown in Figure 4 can also be an application scenario of the embodiments of this application.

[0099] In the architecture shown in Figure 4, a new sensing function (SF) network element has been added, which can also be simply referred to as the sensing network element. This SF can be a device or component that provides sensing functionality to the network; it can also be called a sensing management function (SMF), or have other names. The SF can be deployed on the core network side or the RAN side; Figure 4 shows an example of deployment on the core network. In the network architecture shown in Figure 4, the SF can reuse the interfaces between the location management function (LMF) and other 5GC network elements such as the AMF, network exposure function (NEF), unified data management (UDM), network data analytics function (NWDAF), and PCF for sensing interaction. Sensing signaling between the SF and the radio access network (RAN) or UE can be transmitted through the AMF; sensing measurement data acquired by the RAN or UE can be transmitted to the SF via the control plane, for example, by using the reused long term evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) or new radio (NR) positioning protocol annex (NRPPa) protocol, or it can be transmitted through the user plane, forwarded to the SF via the UPF, or directly transmitted to the SF.

[0100] The newly added SF in this network architecture can realize basic sensing functions, such as sensing authorization, sensing control, sensing measurement data processing, or result output. Specifically, interfaces are set up and interaction is established between the SF and 5GC network elements such as AMF, NEF, UDM, NWDAF, PCF, LMF, and UPF, as defined below.

[0101] NS1: A new interface between SF and AMF, which can transmit sensing and control signaling. Additionally, this interface can also transmit sensing measurement data in scenarios where sensing measurement data is uploaded to the control plane.

[0102] NS2: A new interface between SF and NEF. This interface can transmit signaling messages between sensing network elements relayed through NEF and application functions (AF) on the service side, and at the same time open the sensing results to the AF.

[0103] NS3: A new interface between SF and UDM. This interface can be used for authentication or authorization, and to obtain UE-aware subscription information, service AMF information, or other information.

[0104] NS4: A new interface between SF and NWDAF. Through this interface, SF and NWDAF can jointly complete artificial intelligence (AI) processing related to perception services.

[0105] NS5: A new interface between SF and PCF. Through this interface, SF can transmit information such as sensing requirements, quality of service (QoS) requirements, or sensing results of sensing services to PCF. PCF can then make decisions to generate policy control and charging (PCC) policies related to sensing services.

[0106] NS6: A new interface between SF and LMF. Through this interface, SF can obtain location-related information, such as the sensing area, the RAN information of the sensing target, and the location information of the sensed UE.

[0107] NS7: A new interface between SF and UPF. Sensing measurement data can be directly transmitted from (R)AN to SF via UPF, or indirectly forwarded to SF via UPF. In scenarios where (R)AN performs sensing, forwarding via UPF can improve the functionality of UPF to support data transmission at the (R)AN granularity.

[0108] In addition to the newly added interfaces mentioned above, existing interfaces (such as N1, N2, N5, N8, N33, etc.) can also support the transmission of information related to sensing services, such as authentication information, sensing service type, sensing service quality requirements, sensing measurement data, or sensing results, etc.

[0109] Figure 4 illustrates an example where the SF (Sensitive Detection) is an independent device. Alternatively, the SF and LMF (Local Management Detector) can be co-located, meaning the network element handling sensing services and the network element handling location services can be the same. Alternatively, the SF can be co-located with other core network elements, such as the AMF (Auxiliary Location Detector). The LMF is the core network element in the 5GC that provides control plane positioning. It can calculate and feedback location information in the 5G network, providing functions such as positioning process management, UE capability acquisition, auxiliary data provision, and UE location estimation. Optionally, if the SF and LMF are co-located, the LMF and the gateway mobile location center (GMLC) can be functionally enhanced to support basic sensing functions. The GMLC can be the first network element within the operator's network to process sensing requests, performing privacy checks or authorization functions, routing sensing requests to the AMF, or performing LMF selection, etc.

[0110] For example, if the SF and LMF are co-located, an additional interface can be added between the LMF and GMLC to transmit information related to awareness services, such as adding an NL9 interface. Additionally, interfaces related to the LMF and GMLC (such as one or more of the following: NL1 interface between AMF and LMF, NL2 interface between AMF and GMLC, NL5 interface between NEF and GMLC, or NL6 interface between UDM and GMLC) can also support the transmission of information related to awareness services, as detailed below.

[0111] N33: The interface between AF and NEF, through which information such as the type of sensing business, business requirements, and sensing results can be transmitted.

[0112] NL5: The interface between NEF and GMLC, through which information such as the type of sensing business, business requirements, and sensing results can be transmitted.

[0113] NL6: The interface between GMLC and UDM, through which privacy inspection data can be transmitted.

[0114] NL2: The interface between NEF and AMF, through which information such as the perceived business type, business requirements, and perceived results can be transmitted.

[0115] NL1: The interface between AMF and LMF, through which information such as perceived service type, service requirements, and perceived results can be transmitted.

[0116] NL9: A new interface between GMLC and LMF, through which information such as the type of sensing business, business requirements, and sensing results can be transmitted.

[0117] Referring again to Figure 5, which is a schematic diagram of another potential sensing network architecture based on 5GC, the network architecture shown in Figure 5 can also be another application scenario of the embodiments of this application.

[0118] In the network architecture shown in Figure 5, the SF (Sensitive Detection) is relatively independent of the existing core network elements. The SF does not need to interact with the core network elements, or only needs to perform minimal interaction. For scenarios where there is only a sensing requirement within a specific area, or scenarios where there is only a sensing requirement, this network architecture can provide sensing services without requiring 5GC control or only requiring some network elements to participate in control. Furthermore, by deploying the SF locally, sensing measurement data or results can remain within the campus, thus meeting the enterprise's requirements for the security and privacy of sensing measurement data or results, and reducing sensing latency. This network architecture is relatively simple, flexible, efficient, has few transmission nodes, and is easy to deploy. Optionally, this network architecture can support UE-related sensing requirements, and implementation schemes for functions such as authorization, mobility management, and billing can be considered as needed.

[0119] In this network architecture, the SF can directly establish a connection with the RAN node. Control plane sensing signaling and user plane sensing measurement data can be transmitted via the newly defined interface NS1. When the UE participates in sensing, control plane signaling can be forwarded to the SF via the AMF, and sensing measurement data can be transmitted via NS1. Furthermore, there can also be an interface between the SF and 5GC network elements (such as AMF, NEF, or NWDAF) to control the AF to provide sensing service requirements to the SF through core network functions. The interface between the SF and 5GC network elements is described below.

[0120] NS1: A new interface between the SF and (R)AN, which can transmit sensing control signaling or sensing measurement data. In one implementation, the SF can also be deployed on the RAN side; for example, the SF can be co-located with access network equipment (e.g., a base station), or the SF can be a standalone device within the access network.

[0121] NS2: A new interface that may be added between SF and AMF. This interface can receive awareness service requirements from UE, or transmit signaling between SF and other network elements in the core network, such as transmitting interaction messages between SF and UDM.

[0122] NS3: A potential new interface between SF and NEF. This interface can transmit signaling between SF and the service-side AF via NEF, and can also expose the sensing results to the AF. The interaction between SF and AF may not go through NEF. In actual deployment, NS2 and NS3 may be chosen as one of the two options. That is, the AF can send sensing service requests indirectly to SF or directly to SF (without NEF) via NS2 (NEF); or, the AF can send sensing service requests to SF via N33 (NEF) and NS2 (AMF).

[0123] NS4: A potential new interface between SF and NWDAF, through which SF and NWDAF can jointly perform intelligent analysis and prediction to generate perception results.

[0124] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to fourth-generation (4G) mobile communication systems, such as LTE systems, or to 5G systems, such as NR systems, or to next-generation mobile communication systems or other similar communication systems, such as 6G systems, or to existing satellite mobile communication technology systems. No specific limitations are imposed. For example, Figures 4 and 5 are based on 5GC. In addition, SF can also be deployed in other networks, such as 6G networks, or other future communication networks.

[0125] The embodiments of this application can be applied to the scenarios shown in Figure 2B, Figure 3, Figure 4 or Figure 5, or can also be used in other scenarios, such as any scenario involving sensing services.

[0126] The method provided in the embodiments of this application is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In various embodiments of this application, the signal transmitting end can transmit a signal for sensing. The signal reaches the signal receiving end after being reflected, scattered, or diffracted by the sensing target in the environment. The signal receiving end can determine the relevant characteristics of the sensing target based on the received signal. For example, the signal receiving end can perform sensing based on the signal and obtain a sensing result. For example, the signal receiving end can estimate time delay, Doppler, or angular spectrum information based on the signal to determine the distance, angle, velocity, or point cloud information of the sensing target. In addition, the sensing signal receiving end can also send the sensing result, such as the point cloud information, distance, angle, or velocity information of the sensing target, to the sensing network element. In the accompanying drawings corresponding to the various embodiments of this application, all steps indicated by dashed lines are optional steps.

[0127] The various embodiments described herein can be applied to the network architectures shown in Figures 2B, 3, 4, or 5. For example, the UE described in the various embodiments of this document can be device 2 shown in Figure 2B, and the network device described in the various embodiments of this document can be device 3 shown in Figure 2B. As another example, the UE described in the various embodiments of this document can be the UE shown in Figures 3, 4, or 5; the network device described in the various embodiments of this document can be the network device shown in Figure 3, or the (R)AN shown in Figures 4 or 5. Furthermore, in the description of this document, the scenario in which the UE sends a signal for sensing, which reaches the network device after being reflected, scattered, or diffracted by the sensing target, and the network device performs the sensing is taken as an example. Alternatively, the scenario in which the various embodiments of this application are applied can also be that UE1 sends a signal for sensing, which reaches UE2 after being reflected, scattered, or diffracted by the sensing target, and UE2 performs the sensing. That is, the steps performed by the network device in the following text can be replaced by being performed by another UE. Alternatively, the scenarios in which the various embodiments of this application are applied can also be that the network device sends a signal for sensing, which reaches the UE after being reflected, scattered or diffracted by the sensing target, and the UE performs sensing. Optionally, the UE can be in a mobile state.

[0128] This application provides a first sensing method, please refer to Figure 6, which is a flowchart of the method.

[0129] S601, The network device sends the first information. Correspondingly, the UE receives the first information.

[0130] The network device can be either a non-ORAN architecture or an ORAN architecture. Optionally, if the network device is an ORAN architecture network device, such as the network device including a RU, or the network device being a RU, then S601 can be executed by the RU.

[0131] The first information may instruct the UE to transmit an uplink reference signal using the same antenna. This uplink reference signal can be used for sensing. Optionally, the uplink reference signal in this embodiment may be, for example, an SRS, or other uplink reference signals capable of realizing sensing functions. Taking SRS as an example, the uplink reference signal resource can be an SRS resource.

[0132] Optionally, if the scheme of this application embodiment is applied to a scenario where UE1 sends a signal for sensing, and the signal reaches UE2 after being reflected, scattered, or diffracted by the sensing target, and UE2 performs the sensing, then the steps performed by the UE in the various embodiments of this application can be replaced by UE1, and some or all of the steps performed by the network device can be replaced by UE2 (for example, S601 can be performed by the network device or UE2, S602 can be performed by the network device, and S603 can be performed by the UE), and the uplink reference signal can be replaced by a sidelink (SL) reference signal. For example, the SL reference signal may include an SL-position reference signal (PRS), etc.

[0133] Alternatively, if the solution of this application embodiment is applied to a scenario where a network device sends a signal for sensing, and the signal reaches the UE after being reflected, scattered, or diffracted by the sensing target, and the UE performs the sensing, then the steps performed by the UE in the various embodiments of this application can be replaced by the network device performing the steps, and some or all of the steps performed by the network device can be replaced by the UE performing the steps (for example, S601 can be performed by the network device or the UE, S602 can be performed by the network device, and S603 can be performed by the UE). The uplink reference signal can be replaced by a downlink reference signal, for example, the downlink reference signal may include a position reference signal (PRS). In addition, in this scenario, the first information can still be sent by the network device to the UE, and the first information can instruct the UE to use the same antenna to receive the downlink reference signal.

[0134] It can be understood that the embodiments of this application can be executed by a first device and a second device. In the description of the embodiments of this application, the first device is a UE and the second device is a network device as an example. Optionally, if the scheme of the embodiments of this application is applied to a scenario where UE1 sends a signal for sensing, and the signal reaches UE2 after being reflected, scattered, or diffracted by the sensing target, and UE2 performs the sensing, then the first device can be UE1 and the second device can be UE2. Alternatively, if the scheme of the embodiments of this application is applied to a scenario where a network device sends a signal for sensing, and the signal reaches the UE after being reflected, scattered, or diffracted by the sensing target, and the UE performs the sensing, then the first device can be a network device and the second device can be a UE.

[0135] Optionally, the first information can also be used to configure uplink reference signal resources for the UE. For example, the first information may be configuration information for the uplink reference signal resources. For instance, when configuring uplink reference signal resources for the UE, the network device may also instruct the same antenna to transmit the uplink reference signal corresponding to the uplink reference signal resources. The uplink reference signal resources may include M uplink reference signal resources (for distinction, the uplink reference signal resources including these M uplink reference signal resources can be referred to as the first uplink reference signal resources. That is, the first uplink reference signal resources may include M uplink reference signal resources), where M is an integer greater than or equal to 2. If the first information is also used to configure the first uplink reference signal resources, then the first information instructs the same antenna to be used to transmit the uplink reference signal. An optional instruction method includes that the first information configures the same antenna for the M uplink reference signal resources. For example, the first information configures the M uplink reference signal resources, where the antennas configured for the M uplink reference signal resources are all the same. Therefore, it can be considered that this configuration instructs the use of the same antenna to transmit the uplink reference signal corresponding to the M uplink reference signal resources.

[0136] Alternatively, if the first information is also used to configure the first uplink reference signal resource, then the first information indicates that the same antenna is used to transmit the uplink reference signal. Another optional indication method includes that the first information configures the first uplink reference signal resource, and the first information also includes first indication information, which can indicate that the same antenna is used to transmit the uplink reference signal. Optionally, the first uplink reference signal resource may include M uplink reference signal resources, and the antennas configured by the first information for the M uplink reference signal resources can be the same. It can be understood that, in addition to configuring the M uplink reference signal resources with the same corresponding antennas, the first information can also additionally indicate that the same antenna is used to transmit the uplink reference signal through the first indication information, making the transmission method of the uplink reference signal clearer for the UE.

[0137] Alternatively, the first information may not be used to configure the first uplink reference signal resource, but may be dedicated to instructing the use of the same antenna to transmit the uplink reference signal, or dedicated to instructing that the antenna not be switched when transmitting the uplink reference signal. In this case, optionally, the network device may also transmit second information, which the UE can receive and use to configure the first uplink reference signal resource. Optionally, if the network device is a network device under an ORAN architecture, such as the network device including an RU, or the network device being an RU, then the second information may be transmitted by the RU.

[0138] Optionally, the antennas configured for the first uplink reference signal resource in the second information can be the same. The first uplink reference signal resource may include M uplink reference signal resources. This can be understood as follows: in addition to configuring M uplink reference signal resources with the same antennas through the second information, the network device can also additionally indicate through the first information that the same antennas are used to transmit the uplink reference signal, making the transmission method of the uplink reference signal more clear to the UE. Wherein, if this embodiment of the application is applied to a scenario where the network device transmits a third uplink reference signal, and the third uplink reference signal reaches the UE after being reflected, scattered, or diffracted by the sensing target, and the UE performs sensing, the second information can still be sent to the UE by the network device.

[0139] Optionally, the first information and / or the second information may also indicate a first duration, and / or indicate that the UE reports transition information when a phase transition occurs in the uplink reference signal. The first duration may indicate the transmission time of the uplink reference signal, or the uplink reference signal (e.g., the uplink reference signal related to the first information) may be transmitted within the first duration. The UE may continuously transmit the uplink reference signal corresponding to the first uplink reference signal resource within the first duration. For example, the first duration may be short, and / or the transmission period of the uplink reference signal may be short. Continuously transmitting the uplink reference signal within a short time is beneficial for maintaining a relatively stable phase of the uplink reference signal. The transmission period of the uplink reference signal can be configured through configuration information of the first uplink reference signal, such as the first information or the second information.

[0140] Optionally, the first and / or second information indicating the first duration may simply indicate a duration without specifying the start and / or end times. In this case, the start time of the first duration can be determined by the UE, providing greater flexibility for the UE. Alternatively, the first and / or second information indicating the first duration may include both an indication of the start and duration of the first duration, or both an indication of the start and end times of the first duration. This would help maintain consistency between the network device and the UE in transmitting and receiving uplink reference signals.

[0141] The instruction in the first and / or second information to report a phase transition when a phase transition occurs in the uplink reference signal can be understood as follows: Although the network device instructs the use of the same antenna to transmit the uplink reference signal, unexpected situations may still occur during the transmission process, causing a phase transition in the uplink reference signal. For example, there may be an antenna failure in the same antenna, causing the antenna used by the UE to transmit the uplink reference signal to switch, in which case a phase transition is still possible; or, if the change in the UE's antenna angle is large, a phase transition may also occur. Therefore, the network device can instruct the UE to report a phase transition when a phase transition occurs, so that the network device and / or SF clearly understand that a phase transition has occurred in the uplink reference signal from the UE. Here, the UE's antenna angle refers to, for example, the angle between the UE's antenna and a reference plane, such as a horizontal plane or the ground, or other planes.

[0142] Optionally, the first and / or second information can also be used to configure N uplink reference signal resources, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 0. Alternatively, the network device can also configure N uplink reference signal resources through other information (e.g., sixth information). The uplink reference signal resources corresponding to these N uplink reference signal resources can be used for sensing, for example, as sensing signals; or, the uplink reference signal resources corresponding to these N uplink reference signal resources can be used for sensing and communication, for example, as sensing fusion signals; or, the uplink reference signal resources corresponding to these N uplink reference signal resources can be used for communication, for example, as communication signals. The antennas configured by the network device for these N uplink reference signal resources can be the same or different. Optionally, if the network device indicates a first duration for the first uplink reference signal resource, then the N uplink reference signal resources may not correspond to the first duration; for example, the uplink reference signals corresponding to these N uplink reference signal resources can be transmitted at other times outside the first duration. Optionally, the transmission period of the uplink reference signals corresponding to these N uplink reference signal resources can be greater than the transmission period of the uplink reference signals corresponding to the first uplink reference signal resource. This can be understood as follows: the first uplink reference signal resource can be used for the UE's sensing process, or for the UE to participate in the synthetic aperture sensing process; the N uplink reference signal resources can be used for the UE's other sensing processes and / or communication processes. Therefore, through the first uplink reference signal resource and the N uplink reference signal resources, various needs of the UE and / or the network can be met.

[0143] The information indicated by the network device to the UE (such as one or more of the following: indicating to use the same antenna to transmit uplink reference signals, first duration, or report hopping information) may be decided by the network device or indicated by the SF to the network device.

[0144] If the decision is made by the network device, optionally, the network device can make the decision based on information such as the UE's capabilities. This capability information includes, for example, information indicating the UE's phase-keeping capability and / or clock drift stability.

[0145] If the SF instructs the network device, the SF can send the fifth information to the network device, and the network device can receive the fifth information accordingly. This step, for example, occurs before S601. If the network device is an ORAN architecture network device, such as including a CU, or the network device is a CU, then the CU can receive the fifth information. The fifth information may indicate one or more of the following: configuring uplink reference signal resources for the UE, configuring the UE to transmit uplink reference signals through the same antenna (or configuring uplink reference signal resources on the same antenna), a first duration, or the UE reporting transition information when a phase transition occurs in the uplink reference signal. Optionally, the SF can send the fifth information to the network device based on information such as the UE's capabilities. For example, if the UE's capability information indicates that the UE has phase-keeping capability and / or relatively stable clock drift, the SF can send the fifth information to the network device.

[0146] S602. The UE transmits an uplink reference signal on the same antenna according to the first information. Correspondingly, the network device receives this uplink reference signal. For example, this uplink reference signal may be referred to as a third uplink reference signal, which may include at least two uplink reference signals. The third uplink reference signal can be used for sensing. The third uplink reference signal received by the network device may be the signal that arrives at the network device after the third uplink reference signal transmitted by the UE has been reflected, scattered, or diffracted by the sensing target. Optionally, if the network device is a network device under an ORAN architecture, such as the network device including an RU, or the network device being an RU, then S602 can be executed by the RU.

[0147] For example, the first uplink reference signal resource and the uplink reference signals included in the third uplink reference signal resource can be in one-to-one correspondence. Here, we take one uplink reference signal resource corresponding to one uplink reference signal as an example. In fact, the UE can send one or more uplink reference signals based on one uplink reference signal resource.

[0148] In the first uplink reference signal resource, different uplink reference signal resources can be configured with the same antennas. "Same antennas" here can be understood as the same number of antennas and the same antennas used. For example, each uplink reference signal resource in the first uplink reference signal resource can be transmitted using UE's antenna 1, or all can be transmitted using UE's antennas 1 and 2. The number of antennas configured for an uplink reference signal resource can be one or more, as long as the antennas corresponding to different uplink reference signal resources in the first uplink reference signal resource are the same; there are no restrictions on the number of antennas or the specific antennas used.

[0149] The UE can determine the antenna configured for the first uplink reference signal resource based on the configuration information (e.g., first information or second information), and then transmit the third uplink reference signal on the corresponding antenna. Since the UE transmits the third uplink reference signal on the same antenna, the probability of phase transitions in the third uplink reference signal is reduced, enabling the network device to obtain more accurate sensing results. Optionally, if the UE is instructed with a first duration, the first uplink reference signal can be transmitted within that first duration. Optionally, the UE can use a narrow beam to transmit the third uplink reference signal, making the energy of the third uplink reference signal more concentrated, which is beneficial for improving the received signal quality of the first uplink reference signal.

[0150] As mentioned above, the network device can also configure N uplink reference signal resources for the UE. Referring to Figure 7, consider an example where the UE transmits a third uplink reference signal based on the first uplink reference signal resource and an uplink reference signal (e.g., a fourth uplink reference signal) based on the N uplink reference signal resources. The fourth uplink reference signal may include at least one uplink reference signal. For example, the network device may configure the UE with the first uplink reference signal resource, a first duration, and the N uplink reference signal resources. Within the first duration, the UE can transmit the third uplink reference signal based on the first uplink reference signal resource. Figure 7 uses an example where the third uplink reference signal includes 6 uplink reference signals and has a transmission period of 2.5 milliseconds (ms). Optionally, when the UE transmits adjacent uplink reference signals included in the third uplink reference signal, the distance between their locations is, for example, 0.5 times the wavelength. When transmitting the third uplink reference signal, the UE can try to keep the antenna unchanged. Beyond the initial duration, the UE can transmit a fourth uplink reference signal based on the N uplink reference signal resources. Figure 7 illustrates an example where the fourth uplink reference signal includes two uplink reference signals and has a transmission period of 20ms. When transmitting the fourth uplink reference signal, the UE can switch antennas or not. Figure 7 uses an example where the uplink reference signal is SRS.

[0151] Optionally, the UE can also send third information, such as to a network device or other device, like the LMF. If the third information is sent to the LMF, the LMF can then send the third information to the network device. Optionally, the SF can send a first request message to the LMF, requesting the LMF to send the UE's location information to the network device. After receiving the first request message, if the LMF receives the third information, it can send the third information to the network device. If the network device is an ORAN architecture network device (e.g., the network device includes an RU or is an RU), and the third information received by the network device comes from the UE, then the RU can receive the third information. Alternatively, if the network device is an ORAN architecture network device, and the third information received by the network device comes from the LMF, then the CU in the network device can receive the third information.

[0152] The third information may include the location information of the UE when it transmits the third uplink reference signal. The UE may be in a fixed state or a moving state when transmitting the third uplink reference signal. If the UE is in a fixed state, the third information may include the UE's location information. Alternatively, if the UE is in a moving state, the UE may transmit the third uplink reference signal while moving; for example, the UE's location may be the same or different when transmitting different uplink reference signals. The third information may include the location information of the UE when transmitting some or all of the uplink reference signals, allowing the network device to perform sensing by combining the UE's location information and the third uplink reference signal. In this sensing method, the network device obtains more parameters from the UE side (e.g., the UE's location information and the third uplink reference signal from the UE), which helps improve sensing accuracy. The UE may transmit the third information after transmitting one uplink reference signal, allowing the UE to transmit multiple pieces of third information, each indicating the UE's current location. Alternatively, the UE may transmit third information after completing the transmission of the third uplink reference signal. The third information may indicate the location information of the UE when transmitting some or all of the uplink reference signals in the third uplink reference signal. For example, the third uplink reference signal includes the first uplink reference signal and the second uplink reference signal, and the third information may include the location information of the UE when transmitting the first uplink reference signal, and / or include the location information of the UE when transmitting the second uplink reference signal.

[0153] Optionally, the location information of the UE when transmitting any of the third uplink reference signals, indicated or included in the third information, can be absolute location information. For example, the third information can indicate the longitude and / or latitude corresponding to the location. Indicating absolute location information can make the indicated location more accurate.

[0154] Alternatively, the location information of the UE indicated or included in the third information when transmitting any of the third uplink reference signals can also be relative location information. For example, the location information of the UE indicated in the third information when transmitting the first uplink reference signal in the third uplink reference signals can be the relative location information of the UE when transmitting the first uplink reference signal relative to the location when transmitting the second uplink reference signal. The second uplink reference signal is also a type of third uplink reference signal; for example, the second uplink reference signal can be the last uplink reference signal transmitted before the first uplink reference signal. Essentially, the UE can report the relative value between its current location and its previous location, and the network device can determine the current location based on this relative value. Alternatively, the location information of the UE indicated in the third information when transmitting the first uplink reference signal in the third uplink reference signals can also be the relative location information of the UE when transmitting the first uplink reference signal relative to a reference location. The reference location can be the location of any of the third uplink reference signals transmitted by the UE, the location of the first of the third uplink reference signals transmitted by the UE, or a geographical location unrelated to the UE's transmission of the third uplink reference signals. Therefore, the method for determining relative location information is quite flexible. Furthermore, compared to indicating absolute location, the amount of information included in the third information can be smaller, thus saving on the overhead of the third information. Optionally, regardless of whether the relative location information represents the relative position between the current position and any other position, the UE can determine this relative location information through real-time kinematic (RTK) or inertial navigation systems.

[0155] Optionally, the third information may also include the antenna position information of the UE when transmitting the third uplink reference signal. Optionally, the UE's antenna position can be measured by the UE's antenna angle; for an introduction to antenna angles, please refer to the previous text. For example, the UE can determine its antenna position information based on information such as degrees of freedom (DOF). The UE can transmit the third information after transmitting one uplink reference signal, indicating the UE's current antenna position. Alternatively, the UE can transmit the third information after transmitting at least one uplink reference signal, in which case the UE can transmit multiple pieces of third information, each indicating the UE's current antenna position. If the UE's antenna angle changes too much, it may also cause a phase jump in the uplink reference signal. Therefore, the UE reporting its antenna position information helps the network device determine whether the phase of the obtained uplink reference signal is stable.

[0156] In a scenario where the network device sends a third uplink reference signal, and the third uplink reference signal reaches the UE after being reflected, scattered, or diffracted by the sensing target, and the UE performs the sensing, then since it is the UE that is moving rather than the network device, the network device may optionally not need to send the third information to the UE.

[0157] During the transmission of the uplink reference signal, the UE may still experience phase transitions. If the UE determines that a phase transition has occurred in the uplink reference signal, it can transmit fourth information, which indicates that a phase transition has occurred. This fourth information may also be called transition information or transition indication. The fourth information may be sent to the network device and / or SF. Upon receiving the fourth information, the network device and / or SF can determine that a phase transition has occurred in the uplink reference signal from the UE. Optionally, if the network device is an ORAN architecture network device, such as including an RU or being an RU, and the UE transmits the fourth information to the network device, then the RU can receive the fourth information from the UE. The UE determines that a phase transition has occurred in the uplink reference signal, for example, by one or more of the following: the initial phase of the antenna used to transmit the third uplink reference signal changes; the UE switches to a different antenna to transmit the third uplink reference signal; or the change in the UE's antenna angle is greater than or equal to a first threshold. The first threshold may be predefined by the protocol, configured by the network device, or set by the UE.

[0158] For example, if the UE, after transmitting one of the uplink reference signals in the third uplink reference signal, switches to a different antenna to transmit the remaining uplink reference signal, the UE can determine that a phase transition has occurred in the uplink reference signal. This could be due to a malfunction in some or all of the antennas configured to transmit the third uplink reference signal, or for other reasons, requiring the UE to switch to another antenna to transmit the remaining uplink reference signal. Optionally, the UE is considered to have switched antennas if it transmits the remaining uplink reference signal in the third uplink reference signal on some of the originally configured antennas, or on an antenna different from the originally configured antennas. The initial phases of different antennas may be different, which may result in different phases of the uplink reference signal transmitted by the UE through different antennas. Therefore, when the UE switches antennas, a phase transition in the uplink reference signal may occur. Therefore, if the UE switches to a different antenna to transmit the remaining uplink reference signal in the third uplink reference signal, the UE can transmit fourth information.

[0159] Alternatively, the antenna used by the UE to transmit the third uplink reference signal may not have changed, but even if it is the same antenna, the initial phase of that antenna may have changed. If the initial phase of the antenna used by the UE to transmit the third uplink reference signal has changed, or if the change in the initial phase of that antenna is greater than or equal to the second threshold, then the UE can consider that a phase jump has occurred in the uplink reference signal.

[0160] If the change in the UE's antenna angle is significant, for example, if the change is greater than or equal to the first threshold, it may cause a phase jump in the uplink reference signal. Therefore, if the change in the UE's antenna angle is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the UE can transmit fourth information.

[0161] Optionally, if the UE determines that the phase of the uplink reference signal has changed, it can continue to transmit the remaining uplink reference signal in the third uplink reference signal, or it can stop transmitting the remaining uplink reference signal.

[0162] If this application embodiment is applied to a scenario where a network device sends a third uplink reference signal, and the third uplink reference signal reaches the UE after being reflected, scattered, or diffracted by the sensing target, and the UE performs sensing, then the UE can still determine whether a phase transition has occurred in the received downlink reference signal. The UE determines that a phase transition has occurred in the downlink reference signal for example, by the UE switching to a different antenna to receive the downlink reference signal, and / or by the change in the UE's antenna angle being greater than or equal to a first threshold.

[0163] Optionally, the method may further include S603, whereby the network device performs sensing based on a third uplink reference signal. Optionally, if the network device is an ORAN architecture network device, for example, if the network device includes a CU, or if the network device is a CU, then S603 may be performed by the CU.

[0164] For example, the network device can perform joint processing on the third uplink reference signal to obtain a joint processing result. This joint processing result may indicate, for example, the transmission angle of the UE, or it may also indicate other information. Based on this transmission angle, the network device can determine the point cloud information of the sensing target, etc. The point cloud information of the sensing target may include, for example, the coordinates of points on the sensing target. Because the network device performs joint processing, the accuracy of the transmission angle determined by the network device can be improved. Moreover, the network device references information from the UE side when performing sensing, such as the transmission angle, which can be considered as UE-side information, thereby improving sensing accuracy. Optionally, the network device may also reference the location information of the UE when transmitting the third uplink reference signal, and / or the antenna position information of the UE when transmitting the third uplink reference signal, when determining the transmission angle. This makes the UE-side information referenced by the network device during sensing richer, further improving sensing accuracy.

[0165] Optionally, the network device can also send the obtained sensing results (such as point cloud information) to the SF, which can then perform sensing operations based on them. For example, the SF can reconstruct the sensing target based on this information.

[0166] When the UE determines a phase transition of the uplink reference signal, the UE can either continue transmitting the remaining uplink reference signal in the third uplink reference signal, or it can stop transmitting the remaining uplink reference signal. Taking the UE transmitting fourth information to the network device as an example: If the UE continues to transmit the remaining uplink reference signal, the network device can continue to receive the remaining uplink reference signal; or, even if the UE continues to transmit the remaining uplink reference signal, since the network device has already received the fourth information, the network device can stop detecting the remaining uplink reference signal. If the network device continues to detect the remaining uplink reference signal, optionally, after receiving the remaining uplink reference signal, the network device can choose not to execute S603; for example, the network device can discard the third uplink reference signal. Alternatively, after receiving the remaining uplink reference signal, the network device can execute S603, but the network device can consider the obtained sensing result invalid, and the network device will not send the sensing result to the SF. Alternatively, if the network device does not continue to detect the remaining uplink reference signal, optionally, the network device can choose not to execute S603, and the network device can discard the already received uplink reference signal in the third uplink reference signal. Alternatively, if the network device does not continue to detect the remaining uplink reference signal, the network device may optionally execute S603. For example, the network device may execute S603 based on the uplink reference signal already received in the third uplink reference signal, and may send the obtained sensing result to the SF. Optionally, if the SF receives the sensing result, the SF may use the sensing result for sensing, or the SF may consider the sensing result invalid (for example, the SF may consider the sensing result invalid if it has also received the fourth information).

[0167] Alternatively, the UE may send the fourth information to the SF but not to the network device, in which case the network device may not be aware that the uplink reference signal has undergone a phase transition. In this case, if the UE continues to send the remaining uplink reference signal when it determines that the uplink reference signal has undergone a phase transition, the network device will continue to receive the remaining uplink reference signal and execute S603, and may also send the obtained sensing result to the SF. Alternatively, if the UE stops sending the remaining uplink reference signal when it determines that the uplink reference signal has undergone a phase transition, the network device will not detect the remaining uplink reference signal, and the network device can use the uplink reference signal already received in the third uplink reference signal to execute S603, and may also send the obtained sensing result to the SF; or, if the UE stops sending the remaining uplink reference signal when it determines that the uplink reference signal has undergone a phase transition, the network device will not detect the remaining uplink reference signal, and may not execute S603, for example, the network device may discard the uplink reference signal already received in the third uplink reference signal. If the SF receives the sensing result from the network device, since the SF has already received the fourth information, the SF considers the sensing result invalid and may discard it.

[0168] In a scenario where the network device sends a third uplink reference signal, and the third uplink reference signal reaches the UE after being reflected, scattered or diffracted by the sensing target, and the UE performs the sensing, then S603 can be performed by the UE.

[0169] In this embodiment, for example, if the UE is in a moving state, it can transmit uplink reference signals at multiple locations during its movement, which is equivalent to utilizing synthetic aperture technology. Through the UE's synthetic aperture, the network device can obtain sensing results (e.g., the sensing results include the UE's transmission angle) using the phase information of the uplink reference signals transmitted by the UE at different locations, thereby improving sensing accuracy. The first information can indicate that the same antenna is used to transmit the uplink reference signal, so that the UE can transmit the uplink reference signal on the same antenna. Since the UE transmits the uplink reference signal on the same antenna, the probability of a phase jump in the uplink reference signal is reduced, thereby enabling the network device to obtain a more accurate sensing result and improving sensing accuracy. If the UE believes that a phase jump has occurred in the uplink reference signal, the UE can instruct the network device and / or SF through the fourth information, so that the network device and / or SF can perform sensing without relying on at least one uplink reference signal, thereby ensuring sensing accuracy.

[0170] This application provides a second sensing method, which can be considered as an example of the sensing method provided in the embodiment shown in FIG6. Therefore, each step in this embodiment can be regarded as an example, and the steps are no longer represented by dashed lines in FIG8. Please refer to FIG8, which is a flowchart of the method.

[0171] S801, the UE interacts with network devices and SF to exchange the UE's capability information.

[0172] For example, the UE can send its capability information to the network device and / or to the SF. This capability information can indicate the UE's sensing capabilities, such as its phase-keeping capability and / or clock drift stability.

[0173] The UE and the network may not need to exchange the UE's capability information. For example, network devices and / or SF can obtain the UE's capability information through other means. Therefore, S801 is an optional step.

[0174] S802 and SF send the fifth message to the network device. The network device then receives this fifth message.

[0175] The fifth information may indicate one or more of the following: configuring uplink reference signal resources for the UE, configuring the UE to transmit uplink reference signals through the same antenna (or configuring uplink reference signal resources on the same antenna), a first duration, or the UE reporting transition information when a phase transition occurs in the uplink reference signal. Optionally, the SF may send the fifth information to the network device based on information such as the UE's capabilities. For example, if the UE's capability information indicates that the UE has phase-keeping capability and / or relatively stable clock drift, the SF may send the fifth information to the network device.

[0176] Optionally, the fifth piece of information may be included in the perception request message or the perception measurement request message, or it may be included in other messages.

[0177] S803, the network device sends the first information to the UE, and the UE receives the first information accordingly.

[0178] For more information on S803, please refer to S601 of the embodiment shown in FIG6.

[0179] S804. The UE transmits an uplink reference signal on the same antenna based on the first information. Correspondingly, the network device receives the uplink reference signal. This uplink reference signal is, for example, referred to as the third uplink reference signal.

[0180] For more information on S804, please refer to S602 of the embodiment shown in FIG6.

[0181] S805, network devices perform sensing based on the third uplink reference signal.

[0182] For more information on S805, please refer to S603 of the embodiment shown in FIG6.

[0183] In this embodiment, the first information may indicate that the same antenna is used to transmit the uplink reference signal, so that the UE can transmit the uplink reference signal on the same antenna. Since the UE transmits the uplink reference signal on the same antenna, the probability of phase transition of the uplink reference signal is reduced, thereby enabling the network device to obtain more accurate sensing results and improving sensing accuracy.

[0184] As mentioned in the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the phase of the uplink reference signal may still change. Therefore, this application provides a third sensing method to describe the processing method when the phase of the uplink reference signal changes. This method can be regarded as another example of the method provided in the embodiment shown in Figure 6. Therefore, each step in this embodiment can be regarded as an example, and the steps are no longer represented by dashed lines in the corresponding figure (Figure 9). Please refer to Figure 9, which is a flowchart of the method.

[0185] S901, the UE interacts with network devices and SF to exchange the UE's capability information.

[0186] For example, the UE can send its capability information to the network device and / or to the SF. This capability information can indicate the UE's sensing capabilities, such as its phase-keeping capability and / or clock drift stability.

[0187] The UE and the network may not need to exchange the UE's capability information. For example, network devices and / or SF can obtain the UE's capability information through other means. Therefore, S901 is an optional step.

[0188] S902 and SF send the fifth message to the network device. The network device then receives this fifth message.

[0189] The fifth information may indicate one or more of the following: configuring uplink reference signal resources for the UE, configuring the UE to transmit uplink reference signals through the same antenna (or configuring uplink reference signal resources on the same antenna), a first duration, or the UE reporting transition information when a phase transition occurs in the uplink reference signal. Optionally, the SF may send the fifth information to the network device based on information such as the UE's capabilities. For example, if the UE's capability information indicates that the UE has phase-keeping capability and / or relatively stable clock drift, the SF may send the fifth information to the network device.

[0190] Optionally, the fifth piece of information may be included in the perception request message or the perception measurement request message, or it may be included in other messages.

[0191] S903, the network device sends the first information to the UE, and the UE receives the first information accordingly.

[0192] For more information on S903, please refer to S601 of the embodiment shown in FIG6.

[0193] S904. The UE transmits an uplink reference signal on the same antenna based on the first information. Correspondingly, the network device receives the uplink reference signal. This uplink reference signal is, for example, a third uplink reference signal.

[0194] For more information on S904, please refer to S602 of the embodiment shown in FIG6.

[0195] S905, UE sends the fourth message.

[0196] For example, during the transmission of the third uplink reference signal, if the UE determines that the phase of the uplink reference signal has changed, the UE can send fourth information, which indicates that the uplink reference signal has changed phase. The fourth information may be sent to the network device and / or the SF. This embodiment of the application uses the sending of the fourth information to the network device as an example, so the network device can receive the fourth information. Upon receiving the fourth information, the network device can determine that the uplink reference signal from the UE has changed phase. For details on how the UE determines that the uplink reference signal has changed phase, please refer to the relevant description of the embodiment shown in Figure 6.

[0197] S906, Network devices do not perform sensing based on third uplink reference signals.

[0198] Optionally, if the UE determines that the phase of the uplink reference signal has changed, the UE may continue to transmit the remaining uplink reference signal in the third uplink reference signal, or it may stop transmitting the remaining uplink reference signal. If the UE continues to transmit the remaining uplink reference signal, the network device may continue to receive the remaining uplink reference signal; or, even if the UE continues to transmit the remaining uplink reference signal, since the network device has already received the fourth information, the network device may no longer detect the remaining uplink reference signal. If the network device continues to detect the remaining uplink reference signal, optionally, after receiving the remaining uplink reference signal, the network device may not perform sensing based on the third uplink reference signal, as illustrated in Figure 9. For example, the network device may discard the third uplink reference signal.

[0199] Alternatively, after receiving the remaining uplink reference signal, the network device may perform sensing based on the third uplink reference signal, but the network device may consider the obtained sensing result invalid and not send the sensing result to SF.

[0200] Alternatively, if the network device does not continue to detect the remaining uplink reference signal, the network device may optionally not perform sensing based on the uplink reference signal already received in the third uplink reference signal, or the network device may discard the uplink reference signal already received in the third uplink reference signal.

[0201] In this embodiment of the application, if the UE believes that the uplink reference signal has undergone a phase transition, the UE can instruct the network device and / or SF through the fourth information, so that the network device and / or SF can perform sensing without relying on the third uplink reference signal, thereby ensuring sensing accuracy.

[0202] Figure 10 shows a schematic diagram of a device provided in an embodiment of this application. The device 1000 can be a UE or its circuit system as described in any of the embodiments shown in Figures 6, 8, or 9, used to implement the method corresponding to the UE in the above method embodiments. Alternatively, the device 1000 can be a network device or its circuit system as described in any of the embodiments shown in Figures 6, 8, or 9, used to implement the method corresponding to the network device in the above method embodiments. Alternatively, the device 1000 can be an SF or its circuit system as described in any of the embodiments shown in Figures 6, 8, or 9, used to implement the method corresponding to the SF in the above method embodiments. For example, one type of circuit system is a chip system.

[0203] The device 1000 includes at least one processor 1001. The processor 1001 can be used for internal processing within the device to implement certain control processing functions. Optionally, the processor 1001 includes instructions. Optionally, the processor 1001 can store data. Optionally, different processors can be independent devices, located in different physical locations, or located on different integrated circuits. Optionally, different processors can be integrated into one or more processors, for example, integrated onto one or more integrated circuits.

[0204] Optionally, the device 1000 includes one or more memories 1003 for storing instructions. Optionally, the memories 1003 may also store data. The processor and the memories may be separate or integrated together.

[0205] Optionally, the device 1000 includes a communication line 1002 and at least one communication interface 1004. Since the memory 1003, communication line 1002, and communication interface 1004 are all optional, they are all represented by dashed lines in FIG10.

[0206] Optionally, device 1000 may further include a transceiver and / or an antenna. The transceiver can be used to send information to or receive information from other devices. The transceiver may be referred to as a transceiver unit, transceiver circuit, input / output interface, etc., and is used to implement the transmission and reception functions of device 1000 via the antenna. Optionally, the transceiver includes a transmitter and a receiver. For example, the transmitter can be used to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal from a baseband signal, and the receiver can be used to convert the RF signal back into a baseband signal.

[0207] The processor 1001 may include a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of programs according to the present application.

[0208] The communication line 1002 may include a path for transmitting information between the aforementioned components.

[0209] Communication interface 1004 uses any transceiver-like device for communicating with other devices or communication networks, such as Ethernet, radio access network (RAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), wired access network, etc.

[0210] The memory 1003 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device capable of storing static information and instructions, random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device capable of storing information and instructions, or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital universal optical discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible by a computer, but not limited thereto. The memory 1003 may exist independently and be connected to the processor 1001 via communication line 1002. Alternatively, the memory 1003 may be integrated with the processor 1001.

[0211] The memory 1003 stores computer execution instructions for implementing the scheme of this application, and the processor 1001 controls the execution of these instructions. The processor 1001 executes the computer execution instructions stored in the memory 1003 to implement the steps performed by the UE, network device, or SF as shown in any of the embodiments shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 8, or FIG. 9.

[0212] Optionally, the computer execution instructions in the embodiments of this application may also be referred to as application code, and the embodiments of this application do not specifically limit this.

[0213] In a specific implementation, as one embodiment, the processor 1001 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in FIG10.

[0214] In a specific implementation, as one embodiment, device 1000 may include multiple processors, such as processor 1001 and processor 1005 in FIG. 10. Each of these processors may be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. Here, a processor may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0215] When the device shown in Figure 10 is a chip, such as a UE chip, a network device chip, or an SF chip, the chip includes a processor 1001 (which may also include a processor 1005), a communication line 1002, and a communication interface 1004. Optionally, it may include a memory 1003. Specifically, the communication interface 1004 may be an input interface, pins, or circuits, etc. The memory 1003 may be a register, cache, etc. The processor 1001 and processor 1005 may be a general-purpose CPU, microprocessor, ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of a program for the sensing method of any of the above embodiments.

[0216] This application embodiment can divide the device into functional modules according to the above method embodiments. For example, each function can be divided into a separate functional module, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be implemented in hardware or software. It should be noted that the module division in this application embodiment is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, when dividing each functional module according to each function, Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a device. The device 1100 can be the UE, network device, or SF involved in the above method embodiments, or a chip in the UE, network device, or SF. The device 1100 includes a processing unit 1102 and a transceiver unit 1101.

[0217] It should be understood that the device 1100 can be used to implement the steps performed by the UE, network device or SF in the sensing method of the embodiments of this application. The relevant features can be referred to the embodiments shown in any of the above figures 6, 8 or 9, and will not be repeated here.

[0218] Optionally, the functions / implementation processes of the transceiver unit 1101 and processing unit 1102 in Figure 11 can be implemented by the processor 1001 in Figure 10 calling computer execution instructions stored in memory 1003. Alternatively, the functions / implementation processes of the processing unit 1102 in Figure 11 can be implemented by the processor 1001 in Figure 10 calling computer execution instructions stored in memory 1003, and the functions / implementation processes of the transceiver unit 1101 in Figure 11 can be implemented by the communication interface 1004 in Figure 10.

[0219] Optionally, when the device 1100 is a chip or circuit, the function / implementation process of the transceiver unit 1101 can also be implemented through pins or circuits. Optionally, the transceiver unit 1101 may include a transmitting unit and / or a receiving unit, wherein the transmitting unit is used to implement the transmitting function and the receiving unit is used to implement the receiving function; or, the transceiver unit 1101 may be an integral module capable of implementing the transmitting and / or receiving functions. Optionally, the transceiver unit 1101 may be implemented using a transceiver.

[0220] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions that, when executed, implement the methods performed by the UE, network device, or SF in the aforementioned method embodiments. Thus, the functions described in the above embodiments can be implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to it, or a part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0221] This application also provides a computer program product comprising: computer program code, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method executed by the UE, network device, or SF in any of the foregoing method embodiments.

[0222] This application also provides a processing apparatus, including a processor and an interface; the processor is used to execute the methods performed by the UE, network device, or SF involved in any of the above method embodiments.

[0223] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved entirely or partially through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented entirely or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., solid-state disk (SSD)).

[0224] The various illustrative logic units and circuits described in the embodiments of this application can be implemented or operate the described functions using a general-purpose processor, digital signal processor (DSP), ASIC, field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor; alternatively, it can be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor can also be implemented using a combination of computing devices, such as a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a digital signal processor core, or any other similar configuration.

[0225] The steps of the methods or algorithms described in the embodiments of this application can be directly embedded in hardware, software units executed by a processor, or a combination of both. The software units can be stored in RAM, flash memory, ROM, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), EEPROM, registers, hard disks, removable disks, CD-ROMs, or any other form of storage medium in the art. Exemplarily, the storage medium can be connected to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium can also be integrated into the processor. The processor and storage medium can be disposed in an ASIC, which can be disposed in the terminal device. Optionally, the processor and storage medium can also be disposed in different components of the terminal device.

[0226] These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process, such that the instructions, which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus, provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more flowcharts and / or one or more block diagrams.

[0227] The contents of the various embodiments of this application can be referenced to each other. Unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0228] It is understood that in the embodiments of this application, the UE and / or network device and / or SF can perform some or all of the steps in the embodiments of this application. These steps or operations are merely examples. In the embodiments of this application, other operations or variations of various operations can also be performed. Furthermore, the steps can be performed in different orders as presented in the embodiments of this application, and it is not necessary to perform all the operations in the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A perception method, comprising: The method comprises: receiving first information, the first information being used to instruct a terminal to use a same antenna to send an uplink reference signal; sending, according to the first information, the uplink reference signal for sensing on the same antenna.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The sending of the uplink reference signal for sensing on the same antenna comprises: The terminal sends the uplink reference signal on the same antenna during movement.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein The first information is further used to configure uplink reference signal resources for the terminal; or receiving second information, the second information being used to configure uplink reference signal resources for the terminal; The sending of the uplink reference signal for sensing on the same antenna comprises: sending the uplink reference signal on the same antenna according to the uplink reference signal resources.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first information is further used to instruct one or more of the following: a first time length, wherein the uplink reference signal is sent within the first time length; or The terminal reports jump information when a phase of the uplink reference signal jumps.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The method further comprises: sending third information, the third information comprising location information of the terminal when sending the uplink reference signal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The uplink reference signal comprises a first uplink reference signal and a second uplink reference signal, The location information comprises absolute location information of the terminal when sending the first uplink reference signal, and / or absolute location information of the terminal when sending the second uplink reference signal; or The location information comprises relative location information of the terminal when sending the first uplink reference signal relative to a location of the terminal when sending the second uplink reference signal.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The third information further comprises antenna location information of the terminal when sending the uplink reference signal.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The method further comprises: determining that a phase of the uplink reference signal jumps; sending fourth information, the fourth information being used to instruct that the uplink reference signal jumps in phase.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, The determination that the phase of the uplink reference signal jumps comprises: switching to a different antenna to send the uplink reference signal; and / or A change in an antenna angle of the terminal is greater than or equal to a first threshold.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, The method further comprises: stopping sending the uplink reference signal.

11. A perception method comprising: The method comprises: sending first information, the first information being used to instruct a terminal to use a same antenna to send an uplink reference signal; receiving an uplink reference signal for sensing.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein The first information is further used to configure uplink reference signal resources for the terminal; or sending second information, the second information being used to configure uplink reference signal resources for the terminal; The receiving of the uplink reference signal for sensing comprises: receiving the uplink reference signal according to the uplink reference signal resources.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The method further comprises: performing sensing according to the uplink reference signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, The uplink reference signal is a signal that is reflected or scattered by a sensing target, and wherein the performing of sensing according to the at least one uplink reference signal comprises: determining a sending angle of the terminal according to the uplink reference signal; determining point cloud information of the sensing target according to the sending angle of the terminal; sending the point cloud information.

15. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that, The first information is further used for indicating one or more of the following: a first time length, the uplink reference signal being received within the first time length; or reporting jump information when a phase of the uplink reference signal jumps.

16. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that, The method further comprises: receiving third information, the third information comprising position information of the terminal when sending the uplink reference signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, The uplink reference signal comprises a first uplink reference signal and a second uplink reference signal, The position information comprises absolute position information of the terminal when sending the first uplink reference signal, and / or absolute position information of the terminal when sending the second uplink reference signal; or The position information comprises relative position information of the terminal when sending the first uplink reference signal relative to a position of the terminal when sending the second uplink reference signal.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that The third information further comprises antenna position information of the terminal when sending the at least one uplink reference signal.

19. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that, The method further comprises: receiving fifth information, the fifth information being used for indicating that the terminal is configured to send uplink reference signals through the same antenna.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, The fifth information is further used for indicating a first time length, the uplink reference signal being received within the first time length.

21. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 20, characterized in that, The method further comprises: receiving fourth information, the fourth information being used for indicating that the uplink reference signal jumps in phase.

22. A perception method comprising: The method comprises: sending fifth information, the third information being used for indicating that the terminal is configured to send uplink reference signals through the same antenna.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein, The fifth information is further used for indicating a first time length, the uplink reference signal being sent within the first time length.

24. The method of claim 22 or 23, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving fourth information, the fourth information being used for indicating that the uplink reference signal jumps in phase.

25. The method of any one of claims 22-24, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving point cloud information, the point cloud information being determined according to the uplink reference signal.

26. An apparatus comprising: The apparatus comprises a module for performing the method of any one of claims 1-10, or a module for performing the method of any one of claims 11-21, or a module for performing the method of any one of claims 22-25.

27. An apparatus, comprising: The apparatus comprises a processor configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1-10, or to perform the method of any one of claims 11-21, or to perform the method of any one of claims 22-25.

28. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium is configured to store a computer program which, when executed on a computer, causes the method of any one of claims 1-10 to be performed, or causes the method of any one of claims 11-21 to be performed, or causes the method of any one of claims 22-25 to be performed.

29. A computer program product, characterised in that, The computer program product comprises a computer program which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1-10, or causes the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 11-21, or causes the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 22-25.

30. A perception system, comprising: The perception system comprises a network device and a perception network element, wherein The network device is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 11-21; The perception network element is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 22-25.

31. The perception system of claim 30, wherein, The perception system further comprises a terminal, wherein The terminal is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1-10.

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