Communication device, communication method, and communication system

Abstract

A communication device according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a control unit and a communication unit. In response to receiving a first sensing request, the control unit acquires a quality parameter representing a requirement related to the quality of sensing for a sensing service. The communication unit transmits a second sensing request including information on the quality parameter to a participant selected from one or more communication devices connected to a wireless network, and receives sensing data collected by the participant on the basis of the quality parameter. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, wireless sensing can be used appropriately.

Description

Communication device, communication method, and communication system

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication device, a communication method, and a communication system in a mobile communication system.

[0002] In recent years, wireless sensing technologies using radio frequency signals have been increasingly studied. For example, 5G wireless sensing (e.g., Non-Patent Document 1) that uses signals from the 5th generation mobile communication system New Radio (5G NR) of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP (registered trademark)) and Wi-Fi sensing that uses signals from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)) are being studied.

[0003] Furthermore, Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), which integrates communication functions and sensing functions, is being considered.

[0004] Wireless sensing may provide information about object characteristics such as shape, size, orientation, speed, location, distance or relative motion between objects, etc.

[0005] 3GPP TS 22.137 V19.1.0 (2024-03), “3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group TSG SA; Service requirements for Integrated Sensing and Communication; Stage 1 (Release 19)”

[0006] As mentioned above, wireless sensing is being considered for 3GPP 5G NR, but specific methods for controlling sensing have not yet been explored. Unless this is clearly defined, the accuracy (performance) of wireless sensing may be insufficient, resulting in increased communication overhead due to false object detection, and a deterioration in the quality of services provided by external application functions.

[0007] Therefore, one of the objects of the present disclosure is to provide a communication device, a communication method, and a communication system that can appropriately utilize wireless sensing.

[0008] A communication device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a control unit that, in response to receiving a first sensing request, acquires quality parameters representing requirements related to the quality of sensing for a sensing service, and a communication unit that sends a second sensing request including information regarding the quality parameters to a participant selected from one or more communication devices connected to a wireless network, and receives sensing data collected by the participant based on the quality parameters.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, wireless sensing can be appropriately utilized.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic functional configuration of each device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic hardware configuration of each device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first sensing procedure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of management of information related to sensing capabilities in an SF according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a second sensing procedure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of mapping from sensing service requirements to quality parameters. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of mapping from sensing service types to quality parameters. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a third sensing procedure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a first variation of the third sensing procedure. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a second variation of the third sensing procedure. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a third variation of the third sensing procedure.

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this specification and the drawings, elements that can be similarly described will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted.

[0012] In the present disclosure, a word enclosed in "( )" in a sentence may indicate an explanation of the word immediately preceding it (for example, an explanation of spelling), a paraphrase, a specific example, a supplementary explanation, etc. Also, in the present disclosure, a word enclosed in "[ ]" in a sentence may be interpreted including the word in the meaning of the entire sentence, or may be interpreted excluding the word in the meaning of the entire sentence (ignoring the word in the meaning of the entire sentence). Note that "( )" and "[ ]" may also be used for purposes / meanings other than those mentioned above.

[0013] In the present disclosure, "A / B" and "at least one of A and B" may be interpreted interchangeably. Also, in the present disclosure, "A / B / C" may mean "at least one of A, B, and C."

[0014] In the present disclosure, the network function (NF) may include, for example, at least one of the following: - Application Function (AF) (e.g., a function for realizing an application server outside the 5G Core Network (5GC)), - Access and Mobility management Function (AMF) (e.g., a function for managing UE registration, location, etc.), - Data Network (DN) (e.g., a function for realizing a data network outside 5GC), - Location Management Function (LMF) (e.g., a function for controlling communications related to location-based services), - Non-3GPP Inter-Working Function (N3IWF) (e.g., a function for connecting an untrusted non-3GPP access network with 5GC), - Network Exposure Function (NEF) (e.g., a function for providing an application interface for 5GC NF services to the outside), - Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF) (e.g., a function for selecting a network slice), - Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF) (e.g., a function for analyzing network data), Operation, Administration and Maintenance (Management) (OAM) (e.g., a function that provides means for operation, maintenance and management), Policy Control Function (PCF) (e.g., a function that controls the quality, policy, etc. of data transfer paths), Session Management Function (SMF) (e.g., a function that manages sessions), Trusted Non-3GPP Gateway Function (TNGF) (e.g., a function that connects trusted non-3GPP access networks with 5GC),- Trusted WLAN Interworking Function (TWIF) (e.g., a function to connect a trusted non-3GPP access network with 5GC for a non-5G capable UE via a Wireless Local Area Network (LAN)), - (Radio) Access Network ((R)AN) (e.g., a function to provide a radio access network), - User Equipment (UE) (e.g., a function to provide user access to network services via the radio interface), - Unified Data Management (UDM) (e.g., a function to store / manage subscriber information, UE authentication information, etc.), - Unified Data Repository (UDR) (e.g., a function to manage authentication / authorization based on subscriber information), - User Plane Function (UPF) (e.g., a function to transmit user data packets).

[0015] It should be understood that these are merely examples and that other NFs are also covered by the present disclosure.

[0016] <System> Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The system 1 includes a user equipment (UE) 10, a base station (BS) 20, a network function (NF) server 30, and an application server 40. The system 1 may also be referred to as a [wireless / information] communication system.

[0017] The system 1 is, for example, a system that complies with the Technical Specification (TS) of 3GPP. More specifically, the system 1 may be, for example, a system that complies with the TS of a 5th generation mobile communication system (5G) or New Radio (NR).

[0018] Note that system 1 is not limited to this example, and may include systems that use Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 6th generation mobile communication system (6G), xth generation mobile communication system (xG (x is, for example, an integer or a decimal)), New Radio (NR), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM (registered trademark)), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and other wireless communication methods, as well as next-generation systems that are extended, modified, created, or defined based on these.

[0019] That is, terms related to 5G in the present disclosure can be replaced with terms of other technologies / systems. In addition, when this replacement is made, it is naturally understood by those skilled in the art that, for example, NF can be replaced with a function similar to 5G NF (or a device having a similar function).

[0020] In the system 1, the UE 10 receives a wireless communication service using a network (NW) 3000. The NW 3000 corresponds to a cellular NW to which the UE 10 can connect.

[0021] In the present disclosure, the cellular network may be interchangeably read as a mobile network, a wireless communication network, a 5G core network (5GC), a 3GPP access network, etc. The 5GC may include, for example, an optical fiber network. In the present disclosure, the 5GC, network, physical network, and core network (Core Network (CN)) may be interchangeably read as a network.

[0022] UE10 connects to NW3000 via BS20. UE10 may be, for example, a mobile terminal (mobile communication terminal) such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a wearable terminal, or may be a fixed communication terminal. UE10 may be a device mounted on a moving object (e.g., a vehicle) that is a movable object, the moving object itself, or a device included in the moving object (held by a person riding in the moving object).

[0023] The UE 10 may be able to use (or may be equipped with) a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) / Embedded SIM (eSIM) of an operator that provides wireless communication services using the NW 3000. The UE 10 may also switch its connection to a different [operator's] NW 3000 by switching an [Access Point Name (APN) configuration] profile.

[0024] In system 1, the communication link going to (received from) BS 20 / going out (transmitted from) UE 10 may be referred to as uplink (UL), and the communication link going out (transmitted from) BS 20 / going out (received from) UE 10 may be referred to as downlink (DL).

[0025] The BS 20 provides a radio access network (RAN) to the UE 10. An area where wireless communication is possible in the radio access network is also called a cell. In this disclosure, the terms BS and (Radio) Access Network ((R)AN) may be interpreted as interchangeable.

[0026] BS 20 is, for example, a gNB. The gNB provides NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE and is connected to 5GC via an NG interface. BS 20 may also be an en-gNB. The en-gNB provides NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE and operates as a secondary node in E-UTRA-NR Dual Connectivity (EN-DC).

[0027] The UE 10, the BS 20, the NF server 30, and the application server 40 may have a wireless sensing function, for example, a sensing transmitter / receiver. The UE 10 and the BS 20 may use the sensing transmitter / receiver to perform wireless sensing of the surroundings of the terminal and acquire sensing data.

[0028] The UE 10 / BS 20 / NF server 30 / application server 40 may have devices (cameras, sensors, lasers, etc.) for sensing means other than wireless sensing (e.g., image sensing, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)).

[0029] The sensing of the UE 10 / BS 20 / NF server 30 / application server 40 may correspond to at least one of monostatic sensing, bistatic sensing, and multistatic sensing.

[0030] Monostatic sensing may be sensing in which a device transmits a sensing signal (e.g., a specific reference signal) and receives an echo signal [from a target] to acquire sensing data. Bistatic sensing may be sensing in which a sensing transmitter of the device itself or an associated UE 10 / BS 20 / NF server 30 / application server 40 transmits a signal, and a sensing receiver of the associated UE 10 / BS 20 / NF server 30 / application server 40 or the device itself receives the signal [affected by the target]. Multistatic sensing may correspond to sensing in which multiple sensing transmitters / multiple sensing receivers exist for a target.

[0031] The NF server 30 provides at least one of the above-described NF functions. In FIG. 1 , an NF server 30 that provides AMF, an NF server 30 that provides SMF, an NF server 30 that provides UPF, etc. are shown. In the present disclosure, the NF server 30 and the NF (e.g., AMF, NEF, NSSF, PCF, SMF, etc.) are interchangeable.

[0032] In the present disclosure, the NF may include a sensing function (SF) that manages / controls / analyzes sensing.

[0033] The application server 40 may correspond to the above-mentioned AF defined for the 5G Core Network (5GC). In the present disclosure, the application server 40, the app, the AF, etc. may be read as interchangeable terms.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, the application server 40 may be an external application server (external AF) belonging to a network outside the 5GC (which may be called an untrusted AF outside the operator's trust domain), and may communicate with the NF server 30 within the 5GC via the NEF. Although not shown, the application server 40 may be an internal application server (internal AF) included in the 5GC (which may be called a trusted AF within the operator's trust domain), and may communicate with the NF server 30 within the 5GC [without going through the NEF].

[0035] The application server 40 (e.g., untrusted AF) may support, via an API for making 5GC services (NFs, particularly control NFs) accessible from the outside, the exchange of information for a service provider that is not a telecommunications carrier to provide a service related to the UE 10 using communication. The exchange of information may include, for example, requesting and obtaining information related to the location / status of the UE 10, specifying the quality of service (communication speed, etc.) for the UE 10, etc.

[0036] 1 may be referred to as a network node, a node, a server, a [wired / wireless] communication device, an information processing device, etc. The lines between devices in FIG. 1 indicate logical connections and do not necessarily have to be physically connected directly (they may be connected indirectly via another device).

[0037] <Configuration of Each Device> An example of the configuration of each device (UE 10, BS 20, NF server 30, application server 40) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0038] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic functional configuration of each device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the UE 10 includes a control unit 110, a communication unit 120, an input / output unit 130, and a storage unit 140.

[0039] Note that the BS 20, the NF server 30, and the application server 40 may also have similar functional configurations. For this reason, in Fig. 3, the symbols of the functional blocks corresponding to each device are also shown by replacing the highest digit of the symbol indicating each device (for example, the highest digit of "20" for the BS 20 is "2") with "1". The following describes the functional blocks related to the UE 10, but it will be understood that the same description applies to other devices.

[0040] In this example, functional blocks of the characteristic parts of this embodiment are mainly shown, and each device may also have other functional blocks necessary for other processes. Also, a configuration may be possible in which some functional blocks are not included.

[0041] The control unit 110 controls the UE 10 and provides various functions. For example, the control unit 110 may control communication with other devices via the communication unit 120. The control unit 110 may also acquire information necessary for processing based on information received via the communication unit 120. The control unit 110 may also be referred to as a processing unit.

[0042] The communication unit 120 communicates (transmits / receives) with other devices via wired / wireless communication. The communication unit 120 may obtain information from a received signal and output it to the control unit 110, or may convert information input from the control unit 110 into a signal and transmit it. The communication unit 120 may be configured as an integrated transmitting / receiving unit (a unit capable of both transmitting and receiving), or may be configured as a separate transmitting unit and receiving unit.

[0043] The input / output unit 130 may include an input unit that receives input through human operation and acquires information by measuring (sensing) the surrounding environment. The input unit may be connected to a predetermined device, storage medium, etc., and may receive input of data. The input unit may output the input result to the control unit 110, for example.

[0044] The input / output unit 130 may also include an output unit that outputs data, content, etc. in a format that can be perceived by humans. The output unit may include a display unit that displays images, an audio output unit that outputs audio, etc.

[0045] Either the communication unit 120 or the input / output unit 130, or a combination thereof, may function as a sensing transmitter / receiver. Sensing performed via the communication unit 120 may correspond to wireless sensing, and sensing performed via the input / output unit 130 may correspond to non-wireless sensing. A unit that performs sensing may be called a sensing unit, a measurement unit, or the like. For example, the measurement unit may perform sensing using a sensing method described below and acquire sensed data.

[0046] The storage unit 140 stores (holds) various pieces of information used for processing by the UE 10. The control unit 110 may instruct the storage unit 140 to read and write data.

[0047] 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic hardware configuration of each device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Each device includes an antenna 910, a radio frequency (RF) circuit 920, a processor 930, a network interface 940, an input device / output device 950, a memory 960, and a storage 970.

[0048] For example, the above-mentioned control unit X10 (X=1, 2, 3, 4; the same applies below) may be implemented by the processor 930. The communication unit X20 may be implemented by the antenna 910 / RF circuit 920 / network interface 940. The input / output unit X30 may be implemented by the input device / output device 950. The storage unit X40 may be implemented by the memory 960 / storage 970.

[0049] The hardware configuration of each device may be configured to include one or more of the elements shown in Fig. 3, or may be configured to exclude some of the elements. For example, the UE 10 may not have the network interface 940.

[0050] The antenna 910 converts signals into radio waves and radiates the radio waves into space. The antenna 910 also receives radio waves in space and converts the radio waves into signals. Multiple antennas 910 may be installed, may include a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna, or may include a single antenna for both transmission and reception. The antenna 910 may include a directional antenna or may include multiple antenna elements.

[0051] The RF circuitry 920 performs analog processing of signals transmitted and received via the antenna 910. The RF circuitry 920 may include filters (e.g., high frequency filters, low pass filters), amplifiers, modulators, frequency synthesizers, analog-to-digital conversion circuits, digital-to-analog conversion circuits, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)) / Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT)) processing circuits, and the like.

[0052] The RF circuit 920 may perform amplification, filtering, demodulation to a baseband signal, etc. on the received radio frequency band signal, and output the signal to the processor 930. The RF circuit 920 may perform modulation to a radio frequency band, filtering, amplification, etc. on the baseband signal input from the processor 930, and transmit the radio frequency band signal via the transmitting / receiving antenna 910. Note that the RF circuit 920 may perform physical layer processing (e.g., processing of lower functions of the physical layer), and may perform beamforming processing such as analog beamforming processing and digital beamforming processing.

[0053] The processor 930 may control the entire device. The processor 930 may read programs (program codes), software (software modules), data, etc. from the storage 970 into the memory 960 and execute various processes in accordance with these. For example, the processor 930 may execute a program of an operating system (OS) loaded into the memory 960 to perform control.

[0054] The processor 930 may be configured by a central processing unit (CPU) including an interface with peripheral devices, a control unit, an arithmetic unit, a register, etc. The processor 930 may also include a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.

[0055] The processor 930 may perform digital processing of signals transmitted and received via the antenna 910 and the RF circuitry 920. The digital processing may include physical layer processing (e.g., processing of functions higher than the physical layer), processing of the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer or higher, modulation, demodulation, encoding, decoding, scrambling, etc. The processor 930 also processes signals transmitted and received via the network interface 940.

[0056] The processor 930 may include multiple processors or may be a single processor, which may include a baseband processor that performs the digital processing and one or more processors that perform other processing (e.g., overall control).

[0057] The network interface 940 is, for example, a network adapter, and may be connected to an external network via a wired connection to send and receive signals.

[0058] The RF circuit 920, the processor 930, and the network interface 940 may be integrated into one unit, and may be called a network controller, a network card, a communication module, or the like.

[0059] The input device / output device 950 includes input devices (e.g., keyboards, mice, microphones, switches, buttons, cameras, sensors, etc.) that receive input from the outside or acquire information about the surrounding environment, output devices (e.g., displays, speakers, light emitting diode (LED) lamps, etc.) that perform output to the outside, devices that combine these (e.g., touch panels), etc. Note that the sensor may also include a locator (e.g., a receiver compatible with the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)) that acquires location information.

[0060] The memory 960 is a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium that stores programs executed by the processor 930, parameters related to the programs, and various other information. The memory 960 may include at least one of a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a random access memory (RAM), and a flash memory. All or a portion of the memory 960 may be included within the processor 930. The memory 960 may also be called a register, a cache, a main memory, or the like.

[0061] Storage 970 is a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium and stores various information. Storage 970 may include, for example, at least one of a flexible disk, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disc ROM (CD-ROM)), a digital versatile disc, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc), a removable disk, a hard disc drive (HDD), a smart card, a flash memory device (e.g., a solid state drive (SSD)), and the like. Storage 970 may also be referred to as an auxiliary storage device.

[0062] Furthermore, each device such as the processor 930 and the memory 960 may be connected by a bus for communicating information. A single bus may be used within the device, or different buses may be used between the devices.

[0063] The BS 20 may be separated into three elements: a radio unit (RU), a distributed unit (DU), and a central unit (CU). The RU performs RF processing and lower-level functions of the physical layer. The DU performs higher-level functions of the physical layer, MAC layer functions, and Radio Link Control (RLC) layer functions. The CU performs Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP), and Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer functions.

[0064] In the present disclosure, BS20 may include one device that implements all of the functions of the RU, DU, and CU, or may include multiple devices that each implement some of the functions of the RU, DU, and CU.

[0065] Other devices in the present disclosure may also be implemented by multiple devices that are physically separated from one another. Conversely, multiple different devices in the present disclosure (e.g., two or more of the UE 10, the BS 20, the NF server 30, and the application server 40) may be implemented as a single device.

[0066] Furthermore, some or all of the devices disclosed herein may refer to logical devices realized by virtual machines, containers, Dockers, etc., or physical devices that operate the logical devices.

[0067] <Operation Example> An example of the operation of each device / function according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below. The communication method (wireless communication method, control method) described below may be applied to the system 1 described above.

[0068] In the following description of the present disclosure, reference numerals may be omitted. For example, the UE in the following description may refer to the UE 10.

[0069] Each device / function in the following description may be interpreted as one or more functional blocks (e.g., control unit 110, communication unit 120) or hardware configurations (e.g., RF circuit 920, processor 930) within the device / function.

[0070] In this disclosure, sensing, wireless sensing, and collaborative sensing (CS) may be interchangeable. CS may refer to sensing in which multiple BSs / UEs perform sensing in overlapping areas / times [and obtain sensing results based on the sensing data].

[0071] In the present disclosure, the SF may be interchangeably read as another NF (e.g., NWDAF) in the NW, or as the SF / another NF. In the following description, one or more steps (processing) performed by one device / function may be interchangeably read as steps performed in a distributed manner by multiple devices / functions. For example, one of these devices / functions may perform part of the one or more steps, and the other may perform the rest of the one or more steps. For example, in the first and second procedures described below, the SF will be described as receiving a first sensing request and transmitting a second sensing request, but this content may also cover the content that "one of the SF and another NF receives the first sensing request [and transmits information to the other (e.g., a notice that the first sensing request has been received, an instruction to transmit a second sensing request, etc.)], and the other transmits the second sensing request."

[0072] In the following procedures, the UE may be interchangeably referred to as the UE / BS. For example, the UE information may be interchangeably referred to as the BS information, and the BS to be sensed may be determined based on the BS information.

[0073] <<First Sensing Procedure>> FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first sensing procedure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0074] In step S101, a sensing requester (e.g., an AF or a UE) transmits a sensing request (which may be referred to as a first sensing request) to an SF. The sensing request may include information (e.g., UE information, area information, time information, etc., or a combination thereof) for identifying a sensing participant (which may be referred to as a subject, an implementer, etc.). The information for identifying a sensing participant may be referred to as sensing participant identification information, participant identification information, or simply identification information, etc.

[0075] In the present disclosure, when the sensing requester is a UE / trusted AF, the transmission and reception (e.g., transmission of a sensing request) between the requester and the SF may be performed without going through the NEF (via the BS or directly), and when the sensing requester is an untrusted AF, the transmission and reception between the requester and the SF may be performed via the NEF.

[0076] The UE information may be any information for identifying the UE [to be sensed], and may include, for example, at least one of the following: Generic Public Subscription Identifier (GPSI), Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI), NR Cell Global Identifier (NCGI), NR Cell Identify (NCI) or cell identifier (ID), gNB ID, Internet Protocol (IP) address (e.g., Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) address, Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) address, IPv6 prefix), MAC address, External Group Identifier, Internal Group Identifier, any other identifier for identifying the UE (e.g., UE ID), the UE's telephone number itself or information related to the telephone number (e.g., Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN)).

[0077] The UE information included in the sensing request may include UE information indicating the UE that has requested the sensing (which may also be called a requesting UE, a requesting UE, etc.). The requesting UE may be the UE that sends the sensing request, or may be the UE that notifies the AF that it wishes to receive the sensing result.

[0078] The area information may be information indicating an area to be sensed, for example, an area (region / area) where the UE is currently, in the past, or in the future. The area information may be included in the UE information.

[0079] The area may be indicated by at least one of a latitude / longitude range [from a reference point], a distance [from a reference point], a geographical area, a Tracking Area (TA), etc., or may be predefined in the requester / SF / NEF. Area information may include at least one of a reference point, a latitude / longitude range [from a reference point], a distance [from a reference point], an address / shape indicating the geographical area, [a list of] Tracking Area Identities (TAIs), a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) ID, an Area Identifier (ID) predefined in the requester / SF / NEF, etc. The reference point may be preconfigured in the requester / SF / NEF, or may be the current location of the UE.

[0080] The time information may be information indicating the time of the sensing target, or may include information regarding the time when the UE is located in the region / area. The time may be determined based on at least one of a start time, an end time, a duration from the start time, a time period, a period, an offset from a specific time, etc. The time may be expressed in units of seconds, minutes, hours, etc.

[0081] If the UE information is an external (unique) ID different from a 3GPP domain (5GS managed) ID (e.g., GPSI), the requester / NEF may have information on the mapping (correspondence) between the 3GPP domain ID and the external ID. In the present disclosure, the UE information may be interchangeably read as UE information converted into a 3GPP domain ID by the NEF or another NF.

[0082] Furthermore, in the present disclosure, UE information may be information in a list format or any information (e.g., information in an array format, a vector format, etc.). That is, information in the present disclosure may be interchangeably read as information (list), information (for identifying), information (for specifying), etc. Note that the UE information may include one or more values ​​indicating an individual UE (e.g., one IP address), or may include one or more values ​​indicating multiple UEs (e.g., a range of IP addresses, the above-mentioned area information).

[0083] The requester may derive the remaining information based on any one or two of the UE information, area information, time information, etc. Furthermore, the requester may derive at least one of the UE information, area information, and time information based on a predetermined setting / value (which may be referred to as a default setting / value, for example). For example, the default value of the time information may indicate a predetermined time from the current time.

[0084] The requester may derive the remaining information based on one or two of the UE information, area information, time information, etc. Furthermore, the SF / NEF may derive at least one of the UE information, area information, time information, etc. that is not included in the sensing request based on one or two of the UE information, area information, time information, etc. included in the sensing request. For example, the requester / SF / NEF may grasp in advance the correspondence relationship between UEs and areas, and may derive the area information from the UE information or the UE information from the area information based on the correspondence relationship.

[0085] The requester / SF / NEF may also derive at least one of the UE information, the area information, and the time information based on a predetermined setting / value (which may be referred to as a default setting / value, for example). For example, the default value of the time information may indicate a predetermined time from the current time.

[0086] In step S102, the SF discovers sensing participants (hereinafter also referred to as participants) [based on the first sensing request]. Note that in this disclosure, discover, determine, identify, etc. may be read interchangeably. A participant may be one or more devices (BS / UE). If multiple participants are discovered, the sensing may correspond to a CS or individual sensing.

[0087] For example, the SF may identify the requesting UE based on the UE information of the first sensing request in step S101 and determine the BS / UEs in the vicinity of the requesting UE as participants. Also, the SF may determine the BS / UEs included in or in the vicinity of the area based on the area information of the first sensing request in step S101 as participants.

[0088] The determination of whether a BS / UE is in the vicinity of the requesting UE, included in the area / nearby, etc. may be based on location information of each device (the requesting UE, each BS, each UE) or on the communication / connection status of each device. The SF may determine, as participants, BSs / UEs that are expected to be included in / nearby the area at a time specified based on time information.

[0089] Note that the first sensing request may include information that explicitly / implicitly specifies a CS, and the SF may determine to perform control for the CS regarding the first sensing request (for example, to discover multiple participants) based on the information. The information that implicitly specifies a CS may be the above-mentioned UE information, area information, etc., or may be information indicating sensing accuracy, etc.

[0090] The SF may receive information about sensing capabilities (which may also be called sensing functions) from the BSs / UEs in advance. The SF may determine which BSs / UEs are potential participants based on the sensing capabilities of each BS / UE, and then select a participant from the potential participants in step S102. The information about the sensing capabilities may include information indicating whether the BS / UE supports / has (or does not support / have) a sensing function / capability, or may include information indicating available sensing means of the BS / UE. The information about the sensing capabilities may be included in UE capability information or in any message / signaling between the devices.

[0091] In the present disclosure, the terms sensing means and sensing method may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0092] Before step S102, the SF may send a query to the BS / UE to request it to report information about its sensing capabilities. In response to the query, the BS / UE may send information about its sensing capabilities to the SF. The transmission and reception of the query, information about its sensing capabilities, etc. may be controlled via a specific NF (e.g., AMF).

[0093] Furthermore, the BS / UE may transmit information about its sensing capabilities to the SF at any timing, which may occur at a specific period / length / frequency. The specific period / length / frequency may be predetermined, or information indicating the specific period / length / frequency may be notified to the BS / UE from the SF.

[0094] When the SF receives information about a sensing capability (for a certain BS / UE that is new / different from the previous one), it may store the current timing as the timing at which the information about this sensing capability will be updated (which may also be called the update timing).

[0095] The update timing may be before step S101 (which may be called step S100, for example), before step S102, or at any other timing.

[0096] The SF preferably controls the sending of the inquiry so as to update the information about the sensing capabilities immediately before step S102.

[0097] The SF / the specific NF (e.g., AMF) may store the sensing capability of the BS / UE in association with at least one of information for identifying the BS / UE (e.g., UE information), the update timing, etc. (e.g., in the form of a [lookup] table). Note that the SF is not limited to a table, and may store this information in association using any format such as a list or an array.

[0098] 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of management of information related to sensing capabilities in an SF according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. This example illustrates how UE information (e.g., UE ID), the timing of the last update (year, month, and date), and available sensing means are managed in a table format. In FIG. 5, for example, it is stored that UE1 can use terahertz waves and millimeter waves as sensing means, and that the timing of the last update was June 20, 2024.

[0099] In step S103, the SF transmits a sensing request to the participant [via a BS / UE near the participant]. The sensing request in step S103 (which may be referred to as a second sensing request) may include information similar to or different from the first sensing request in step S101. For example, the UE information (or area information or time information) included in the second sensing request may indicate a portion (e.g., some UEs, some areas, some times) of the content included in the UE information (or area information or time information) included in the first sensing request. The second sensing requests to multiple participants may be configured so that the UE information (or area information or time information) included therein, when combined, is the same as or corresponds to the content included in the UE information (or area information or time information) included in the first sensing request.

[0100] In addition, the second sensing request from the SF to the participant may be transmitted, for example, using RRC signaling (for example, an RRC reconfiguration message).

[0101] In step S104, each participant who received the sensing request in step S103 may perform sensing based on the sensing request and collect sensing data. For example, the participant may perform sensing at the time indicated by the time information in the sensing request / in the area indicated by the area information in the sensing request.

[0102] In addition, the second sensing request may include information that explicitly / implicitly specifies CS, and based on that information, the participant may determine that the sensing to be performed is CS, and may perform control that is different from individual sensing that is not CS.

[0103] In step S105, each participant may transmit sensing data to the SF. Note that in step S105, the participant may calculate a sensing result based on the sensing data and transmit the sensing result to the SF together with or instead of the sensing data. Note that in the present disclosure, the participant may transmit the sensing data / sensing result to another device (e.g., an edge server [inside / outside the operator's trust domain], any NF, another AF, etc.).

[0104] In step S106, the SF may calculate a sensing result based on the received sensing data / sensing result from each participant (for example, by integrating this data / result). Note that in the present disclosure, the SF may receive the sensing data / sensing result directly from the participants, or may receive (acquire) the sensing data / sensing result received by another device (for example, an edge server [inside / outside the operator's trust domain], any NF, another AF, etc.) via the other device.

[0105] In step S107, the SF may transmit sensing results (e.g., at least one of the sensing results transmitted from the participants in step S105 and the sensing results calculated by the SF in step S106) to the sensing requester (requesting AF or requesting UE). The SF may transmit part or all of the sensing data from each participant to the requester together with or instead of the sensing results. In the present disclosure, the SF may transmit the sensing data / sensing results to another device (e.g., an edge server [inside / outside the operator's trust domain], any NF, another AF, etc.). In the present disclosure, the sensing requester may receive the sensing data / sensing results directly from the SF, or may receive (acquire) the sensing data / sensing results received by another device (e.g., an edge server [inside / outside the operator's trust domain], any NF, another AF, etc.) via the other device. Furthermore, if the AF has been notified by the requesting UE that it wishes to receive the sensing result, the AF may further transmit the sensing result / sensing data to the requesting UE.

[0106] The requester may also perform sensing and derive sensing results / sensing data, and may calculate a final sensing result based on the sensing results / sensing data and the received sensing results / sensing data (e.g., by integrating these results / data).

[0107] In the present disclosure, sensing results / sensing data may be interchangeably read as information related to sensing results.

[0108] According to the first sensing procedure described above, sensing can be performed on UEs in appropriate areas / times. According to the first procedure, for example, sensing from multiple UEs (such as cars) can be integrated to detect the overall situation (such as road conditions). The drawback of sensing by only one UE, such as the presence of areas that cannot be detected due to obstacles, can be expected to be improved by performing CS in the first procedure.

[0109] 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a second sensing procedure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the second sensing procedure, it is possible to specify a sensing method to be used for sensing.

[0110] Steps S200-S207 of the second procedure may correspond to steps S100-S107 of the first procedure, respectively. Differences between the second procedure and the first procedure will be described below. The content of step S20X (where X = 0-7) of the second procedure that is not described may include the same content as step S10X of the first procedure.

[0111] In step S200, the BS / UE may transmit information about supported sensing methods to the SF. The SF may store (pre-register) the supported sensing methods of each BS / UE in association with corresponding BS / UE information. The information about supported sensing methods may indicate at least one supported sensing method, or may indicate that sensing is not supported (no sensing function).

[0112] Here, the sensing method may include, for example, at least one of 3GPP sensing, non-3GPP sensing, and the like.

[0113] The 3GPP sensing may be sensing defined in the 3GPP standard or sensing using a wireless communication technology / frequency of the 3GPP standard. 3GPP sensing can detect effects (such as reflection, refraction, and diffraction) on a 3GPP wireless signal caused by a target object, an environment, or the like.

[0114] The non-3GPP sensing may be sensing defined by a standard other than the 3GPP standard, may be sensing using a wireless communication technology / frequency of a non-3GPP standard such as Wi-Fi, or may be sensing using a technology other than a wireless communication technology. The non-3GPP sensing may include at least one of Wi-Fi sensing, image sensing, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), camera, radar, sonar, [ultrasonic] wave, infrared, etc.

[0115] The sensing method may include a frequency used for sensing, and the information on the supported sensing methods may include information on the frequency used for sensing. The frequency used for sensing may be indicated as an absolute value or a relative value [Hz] from some reference value, or may be indicated by a predefined range or a name corresponding to the range (e.g., terahertz wave, sub-terahertz wave, millimeter wave, centimeter wave, frequency range (FR), frequency band). FR may indicate at least one of the frequency ranges defined in 3GPP, such as FR1, FR2, FR2-1, FR2-2, and FR3. The frequency band may indicate at least one of the frequency bands defined in 3GPP, and for example, for FR2, n257-n263 may be used. For example, n257 corresponds to the 26.5-29.5 GHz band. The frequency band is suitable for specifying frequencies at an intermediate granularity that is finer than the entire millimeter wave (30-300 GHz band) but coarser than the frequency value. Note that the information on the supported sensing methods may include only information on the frequencies used for sensing [for example, in the case of 3GPP sensing].

[0116] The information about supported sensing methods may include information about targets that can be preferably sensed / are desired to be sensed, information about sensing services that are supported / desired, etc. The information about the targets may include, for example, information indicating the gas / liquid / solid (e.g., ice) that is the target. The information about sensing services may include, for example, information indicating sensing services such as detection of specific gases / liquids / solids (e.g., ice), intruder detection, human / animal detection on roads, rain monitoring, autonomous vehicle driving / navigation, and collision avoidance for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Such information may be explicitly or implicitly associated with the sensing methods and may be referred to as auxiliary information about the sensing methods (auxiliary information for identifying the sensing methods).

[0117] The information on the supported sensing methods may be included in the information on sensing capabilities. Before step S202, the SF may send a query to the BS / UE to request that the BS / UE report information on the supported sensing methods (including information on sensing capabilities). In response to the query, the BS / UE may send information on the supported sensing methods (including information on sensing capabilities) to the SF. Transmission and reception of the query, information on the supported sensing methods (including information on sensing capabilities), etc. may be controlled via a specific NF (e.g., AMF).

[0118] The timing for registering / updating the information about the supported sensing methods may be before step S201 (step S200), before step S202, or at any other timing.

[0119] The SF preferably controls the transmission of the inquiry so as to update information about the sensing methods it supports (including information about sensing capabilities) immediately before step S202. This is expected to allow the SF to select a participant that can perform appropriate sensing even when the BS / UE varies the sensing means available depending on the environment.

[0120] In step S201, the first sensing request sent by the sensing requester (AF or UE) may include information about a sensing method for which the sensing result is desired, in addition to any one or a combination of UE information, area information, time information, etc. The information about the sensing method for which the sensing result is desired may be called sensing method specification information, desired sensing method information, or simply specification information. Multiple sensing methods may be indicated by the sensing specification information.

[0121] The sensing requester may obtain information on sensing methods supported by each BS / UE from the SF in advance. In this case, the sensing requester may include, for example, sensing designation information including only sensing methods supported by BSs / UEs in a certain area in the first sensing request including area information indicating the area, so that sensing can be reliably performed using the designated method.

[0122] The sensing designation information may include information / auxiliary information related to the sensing method, similar to that described above in the information related to the supported sensing methods. For example, the sensing designation information may be information indicating a specific sensing method (millimeter wave, LiDAR, etc.) or auxiliary information related to the sensing method (for example, information indicating a desire (request) for ice detection).

[0123] If the first sensing request includes auxiliary information about the sensing method, the SF may determine the actual sensing method (to be performed by the participant) based on the auxiliary information.

[0124] In step S202, the SF may determine the BS / UEs that support the sensing method indicated by the sensing specification information in step S201 as potential participants based on the sensing methods supported by each BS / UE that have been registered / updated in advance, and may determine participants from among the potential participants.

[0125] When it is determined that control for CS is to be performed based on the first sensing request in step S201 and the sensing specification information indicates multiple sensing methods, the SF may determine multiple participants by associating them with different sensing methods. Note that the SF may also determine one participant by associating it with multiple sensing methods. In other words, the SF may determine which participant will be assigned which sensing method.

[0126] In step S203, the second sensing request transmitted by the SF may include sensing designation information. The SF may transmit the second sensing request including designation information that designates a corresponding sensing method for each participant.

[0127] In step S203, the second sensing request may be sent to the participant by another NF (e.g., NWDAF) instead of the SF. For example, the sender of the second sensing request (one of the SF and the other NF) may be different from or the same as the destination of the information about the supported sensing method in step S200 (the other of the SF and the other NF).

[0128] In step S204, each participant who received the second sensing request in step S203 may perform sensing based on the second sensing request to collect sensing data. For example, the participant may perform sensing using the sensing method indicated by the sensing specification information in the second sensing request.

[0129] In addition, the sensing data may include 3GPP sensing data obtained by 3GPP sensing, non-3GPP sensing data obtained by non-3GPP sensing, and the like.

[0130] In step S204, if the participant is already performing sensing [based on a previously received second sensing request] (in other words, sensing based on an old sensing request), the participant may perform sensing based on the [newly received] second sensing request in addition to the previous sensing, or may stop sensing based on the old sensing request and perform sensing based on the [newly received] second sensing request. For example, when a participant performing 3GPP sensing receives a second sensing request including sensing designation information that designates non-3GPP sensing, the participant may control the participant to perform only the non-3GPP sensing, or may control the participant to perform both the 3GPP sensing and the non-3GPP sensing.

[0131] The second procedure may be used to switch the sensing method of a participant when, for example, it is assumed (predicted) that the sensing accuracy (performance) of the participant will deteriorate or has deteriorated due to bad weather (rain, etc.), radio wave interference, etc. Possible sensing methods whose sensing accuracy deteriorates in bad weather include cameras (image sensing) and LiDAR. Possible sensing methods whose sensing accuracy deteriorates in the event of radio wave interference include sensing that uses electromagnetic waves (e.g., 3GPP sensing and Wi-Fi sensing). Even in bad weather, it is thought that the sensing accuracy of cameras (image sensing), LiDAR, etc. is unlikely to deteriorate if the location is indoors, where the location is not directly affected by rain and wind.

[0132] Here, information about the environment (e.g., weather, location, radio wave environment) related to a certain device (or around a certain device) may be referred to as environmental information. Weather information may include, for example, current, past, and future weather information / meteorological elements (temperature, air pressure, humidity, wind direction, precipitation, etc.) in an area where the device is located or nearby. Radio wave environment information may include channel state, channel quality, received power, etc. related to a certain device.

[0133] In step S201, when environmental information of a certain participant / candidate participant is (predicted to) change or has changed, the sensing requester may determine an appropriate sensing method for at least one of the certain participant / candidate participant and another participant / candidate participant based on the environmental information, and transmit a first sensing request including sensing designation information that specifies the appropriate sensing method. For example, when the radio wave environment of a participant performing 3GPP sensing deteriorates, the requester may transmit a first sensing request including sensing designation information that specifies camera sensing so that the requester can request the participant to use a camera as the sensing method.

[0134] In step S203, when the environmental information of a certain participant / candidate participant changes or is predicted to change, the SF may determine an appropriate sensing method for at least one of the certain participant / candidate participant and another participant / candidate participant based on the environmental information, and may send a second sensing request including sensing specification information that specifies the appropriate sensing method.

[0135] The sensing requester / SF may determine the appropriate sensing method and / or transmit the first / second sensing request including sensing specification information specifying the appropriate sensing method when it is determined that the sensing accuracy of a specific sensing method of the certain participant / candidate participant deteriorates or improves (e.g., becomes below / above a certain threshold, or fluctuates by more than a certain threshold). The certain threshold may be specified in advance in a standard or may be set for the sensing requester / SF / participant / candidate participant.

[0136] The sensing requester / SF may acquire its own environmental information by its own sensing, or may acquire it using the Internet (for example, a website that provides weather information), etc. The sensing requester / SF may acquire the environmental information of a participant / candidate participant based on signals / information transmitted from the participant / candidate participant, or may acquire it using the Internet (for example, a website that provides weather information), etc.

[0137] The sensing requester / SF may determine for itself that the environmental information of a certain participant / candidate participant is changing (is predicted to change) or has changed based on the above-mentioned information it has acquired (its own environmental information, the environmental information of the participant / candidate participant, etc.), signals / information sent from the participant / candidate participant, information obtainable from the Internet, etc., or may determine this based on information sent from the SF / sensing requester indicating that the environmental information of a certain participant / candidate participant is changing (is predicted to change) or has changed.

[0138] In addition, the sensing requester / SF may determine for itself whether the sensing accuracy of a particular sensing method of a certain participant / candidate participant will deteriorate or improve based on the above-mentioned information it has acquired (its own environmental information, the participant / candidate participant's environmental information, etc.), signals / information sent from the participant / candidate participant, information obtainable from the Internet, etc., or it may determine this based on information sent from the SF / sensing requester indicating that the sensing accuracy of a particular sensing method of a certain participant / candidate participant will deteriorate or improve.

[0139] If the first sensing request sent by the sensing requester in step S201 does not include sensing designation information, the SF may autonomously determine sensing designation information for each participant and include it in the second sensing request for each participant and send it in step S203. The autonomous determination of the sensing designation information for the participants may be performed based on environmental information regarding the participants / candidate participants.

[0140] According to the second sensing procedure described above, for example, the results of multiple sensing methods (e.g., 3GPP sensing and non-3GPP sensing) can be combined to achieve more accurate sensing. The second procedure is expected to improve upon the drawbacks of using a single sensing method, such as limited accuracy and degradation of sensing performance in bad weather (rain, fog, snow, etc.).

[0141] <<Third Sensing Procedure>> As described above, a sensing service can be realized by the SF 30 instructing the UE 10 / BS 20 to perform sensing. In recent years, various sensing services have become possible due to increased network speeds and / or improved communication device capabilities. Meanwhile, it is conceivable that users (including the AF 40 or the UE 10) will request a wide variety of sensing services. For example, 3GPP TR22.837 V19.4.0 describes numerous use cases. Specifically, sensing services such as intruder detection, human / animal detection on roads, rainfall monitoring, autonomous vehicle driving / navigation, and collision avoidance for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are envisioned. In addition, non-3GPP sensing technologies are also improving. Note that the "sensing service" in this disclosure is not limited to these examples and relates generally to collecting and processing data through sensing.

[0142] Here, it is considered that different sensing services require corresponding requirements (especially quality-related requirements). For example, sensing for autonomous driving of vehicles has strict requirements regarding delay. Sensing for detecting specific substances (e.g., ice on the road surface) requires a sensing signal with a specific frequency. However, to date, there is no established method for notifying the requirements for realizing each sensing service between NFs or between an NF and a UE / BS. Therefore, the third procedure includes a procedure for notifying the requirements for realizing the requested sensing service.

[0143] 7 shows an example of mapping from sensing service requirements to quality parameters. The sensing service requirements may be specified by a user (including the AF 40 or the UE 10). For example, the sensing service requirements may be "detect the distance to an object" or "detect the speed of an object."

[0144] However, simply specifying the sensing service requirements may not allow the sensing participants (UE 10 / BS 20 in the examples shown in Figures 4 and 6) to recognize what sensing should be performed. Therefore, each sensing service requirement is mapped to sensing-related Quality of Service (QoS) parameters for realizing the sensing service. The sensing-related QoS parameters represent requirements related to the quality of sensing (i.e., quality conditions and requirements for realizing the specified sensing service) and may be referred to as sensing QoS characteristics. For example, the sensing-related QoS parameters may include the frequency / frequency band of the sensing signal, the allocation of radio resources (resource blocks, reference signals), the estimated time for object detection, the sensing delay, the sensing accuracy, the acceptable false detection rate, etc. In this case, a predetermined value or range may be set for each parameter. In the following description, the sensing-related QoS parameters may be simply referred to as "quality parameters."

[0145] 7, sensing service requirements are mapped to quality parameters. However, it may be easier for a user to specify the type of sensing service required (e.g., intruder detection, human / animal detection on roads, rainfall monitoring, autonomous vehicle driving / navigation, UAV collision avoidance, etc.) rather than individual sensing service requirements. Therefore, mapping from sensing service types to quality parameters may be performed.

[0146] FIG. 8 shows an example of mapping from sensing service types to quality parameters. In this example, for each sensing service type, quality conditions for realizing the sensing service are set as quality parameters. The quality conditions may represent values ​​or ranges determined by simulation or the like for each sensing service type. For example, a relatively large delay value is set for "rainfall monitoring," while a small delay value is set for "autonomous driving."

[0147] A service ID is assigned to each sensing service type. The service ID is an example of information (which may be called identification information) related to the requested sensing service, and in this embodiment, identifies the sensing service type. Note that a service ID may be assigned to each sensing service requirement shown in FIG. 7.

[0148] The mapping information shown in Fig. 8 (or Fig. 7) is preferably shared by each NF. In addition, each UE 10 and each BS 20 may also be aware of the mapping information shown in Fig. 8 (or Fig. 7).

[0149] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a third sensing procedure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. It is assumed that at least the SF 30 holds the mapping information shown in FIG. 7 or 8 . In addition, the SF 30 may hold information regarding sensing methods supported by each UE 10. The information regarding the sensing methods supported by the UE 10 may be included in information regarding the sensing capabilities of the UE 10. The information regarding the sensing capabilities of each UE 10 may be, for example, the information shown in FIG. 5 used in the second procedure. Furthermore, the SF 30 may hold information regarding sensing methods supported by each BS 20. The information regarding the sensing methods supported by the BS 20 may be included in information regarding the sensing capabilities of the BS 20. The information regarding the sensing capabilities of the BS 20 may be substantially the same as the information regarding the sensing capabilities of the UE 10.

[0150] In S301, the AF 40 determines the type of sensing service required. The AF 40 may determine the type of sensing service required based on an instruction from a user. For example, when the driver of the vehicle launches an autonomous driving application, the sensing service type is determined to be "autonomous driving" as shown in FIG. 8 . The AF 40 may also autonomously determine the type of sensing service required. Furthermore, the type of sensing service may be specified by any device (e.g., NWDAF, etc.) within the NW 3000, rather than by the AF 40, or may be autonomously specified by the SF 30. Therefore, in the present disclosure, the terms "requested sensing service," "sensing service determined / specified [by any device within the NW 3000 or the SF 30]," and the like may be interchangeable.

[0151] S302 corresponds to S101 shown in FIG. 4 or S201 shown in FIG. 6. That is, in S302, AF40 transmits a first sensing request to SF30. The first sensing request preferably includes the UE information, area information, and time information described above. The first sensing request may also include identification information (e.g., a service ID) that identifies the sensing service type determined in S301. For example, when "Autonomous Driving" shown in FIG. 8 has been determined, a first sensing request including "Service ID=001" is transmitted from AF40 to SF30.

[0152] The service ID may be realized, for example, by using a 5QI (5G QoS Identifier) ​​value described in 3GPP TR23.501 5.7.4 V18.6.0. 5QI values ​​are assigned to various communication services. For example, a "5QI value = 1" is assigned to existing voice communication, and a "5QI value = 2" is assigned to existing video communication. In this case, an unused 5QI value may be assigned to each sensing service, and corresponding quality parameters may be set.

[0153] The service ID may be defined by another scheme. In this case, a QoS scheme for sensing may be created in the SF 30 or PCF. For example, mapping information between an index other than 5QI (which may also be called quality parameter designation information) and a quality parameter may be stored in the SF 30 / PCF and used in the AF / UE / BS, etc.

[0154] In S303, in response to receiving the first sensing request from AF 40, SF 30 determines quality parameters corresponding to the requested sensing service. At this time, SF 30 may determine the quality parameters based on the service ID included in the first sensing request. For example, assume that SF 30 holds the mapping information shown in FIG. 8 and the service ID included in the first sensing request is "001." In this case, SF 30 recognizes that the requested sensing service is autonomous driving and acquires quality parameters corresponding to autonomous driving.

[0155] In this embodiment, the SF 30 determines the quality parameter in response to the first sensing request, but the present disclosure is not limited to this scheme. For example, the SF 30 may receive the quality parameter from another node (e.g., a PCF). That is, in S303, the SF 30 may obtain the quality parameter. In this case, "obtain" includes "determine" and "receive."

[0156] In addition, the SF 30 may determine the quality parameters based on other information (e.g., identification information) included in the first sensing request. For example, if the first sensing request does not include a service ID, the SF 30 may determine the requested sensing service / corresponding quality parameters based on UE subscription data (subscriber information) such as the requesting UE and the UE / BS (or participant candidate) identified by the identification information. In addition, if the first sensing request does not include a service ID, the SF 30 may use a predetermined default value as the quality parameter. In addition, if the first sensing request does not include a service ID, the SF 30 or another node (e.g., PCF) may determine the quality parameters based on the content of the first sensing request.

[0157] S304 corresponds to S102 shown in FIG. 4 or S202 shown in FIG. 6. That is, in S304, SF30 selects (or discovers) participants in sensing for the requested sensing service. At this time, SF30 discovers participants, for example, from among UEs 10 / BSs 20 located near the UE that requested the sensing service. Note that UEs 10 / BSs 20 are examples of communication devices connected to the wireless network (NW3000). SF30 may also select participants in sensing based on the quality parameters determined in S303. Specifically, SF30 may refer to information on the sensing capabilities of each UE 10 / BSs 20 shown in FIG. 5 and select UEs 10 / BSs 20 that can satisfy the quality represented by the quality parameters. That is, SF30 may select, for example, UEs 10 / BSs 20 that are located near the UE that requested the sensing service and can satisfy the quality represented by the quality parameters. In this embodiment, information about sensing capabilities is managed by, for example, the SF 30, but the present disclosure is not limited to this scheme. That is, information about sensing capabilities may be managed in an NF other than the SF 30.

[0158] S305 corresponds to S103 shown in Fig. 4 or S203 shown in Fig. 6. That is, in S305, SF30 transmits a second sensing request to the participant selected in S304. The second sensing request may include information on the quality parameter determined in S304 (for example, it may include the value of the quality parameter or may include a service ID corresponding to the quality parameter).

[0159] In S306, the participant (selected UE 10 / BS 20) may determine radio resources required for sensing based on the quality parameters in response to receiving the second sensing request from the SF 30. In this case, the participant allocates the determined radio resources to sensing. For example, when the quality parameters specify the frequency of the sensing signal, the participant allocates the specified frequency to the sensing signal. When the quality parameters specify the sensing frequency, the participant reserves radio resources (e.g., resource blocks) at a period corresponding to the specified sensing frequency. In addition, the participant may set the priority of transmission and reception of the sensing signal or the priority related to scheduling of radio resources for sensing based on the quality parameters. Note that when the quality parameters specify the allocation of radio resources (resource blocks / reference signals) for sensing, the participant reserves the specified radio resources.

[0160] When the selected participant is a BS 20, the BS 20 may allocate the radio resources (and set the priority). When the selected participant is a UE 10, the BS 20 that accommodates the UE 10 may allocate the radio resources (and set the priority).

[0161] S307 corresponds to S104 shown in Fig. 4 or S204 shown in Fig. 6. That is, in S307, the participant may perform sensing in accordance with the quality parameters included in the second sensing request. At this time, the participant may perform sensing using the wireless resources allocated in S306. Furthermore, the participant may perform sensing in accordance with the priority set in S306.

[0162] S308 corresponds to S105 shown in Fig. 4 or S205 shown in Fig. 6. That is, in S308, the participant transmits the sensing data acquired by the sensing in S307 to SF30. At this time, the participant may transmit the acquired sensing data as is (i.e., raw data) to SF30, or may transmit the acquired sensing data to SF30 after processing it.

[0163] S309 corresponds to S106 shown in Fig. 4 or S206 shown in Fig. 6. That is, in S309, SF30 generates a sensing result from the sensing data received from the participants. In a case where sensing data is received from multiple participants, SF30 may generate a sensing result by integrating the sensing data.

[0164] S310 corresponds to S107 shown in Fig. 4 or S207 shown in Fig. 6. That is, in S310, the SF 30 transmits the sensing result generated in S309 to the AF 40. This allows the AF 40 or the UE that requested the sensing service to receive the sensing result.

[0165] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 , the first sensing request is transmitted from the AF 40, but the first sensing request may also be transmitted from the UE 10. That is, the SF 30 may receive the first sensing request from the AF 40 or the UE 10. Furthermore, the SF 30 may receive the first sensing request from another NF (e.g., an NWDAF). The AF 40 in the descriptions of FIGS. 9 to 12 may be interchangeably referred to as the UE 10, a sensing request source, or the like. Furthermore, the sensing service is not necessarily used only by the AF 40 and the UE 10 (or a user); for example, the NWDAF may act as a requester and request the SF 30 to provide the sensing service. That is, any NF in the core network may be the service requester.

[0166] In the example shown in FIG. 9 , the AF 40 notifies the SF 30 of a service ID, and the SF 30 determines quality parameters based on the service ID. However, the third procedure is not limited to this scheme. For example, the AF 40 may determine the quality parameters, and the AF 40 may notify the SF 30 of the quality parameters via a first sensing request. In this case, the quality parameters are an example of information related to the requested sensing service. The second sensing request may also serve to transfer the quality parameters received from the AF 40 to the participants. Alternatively, the SF 30 may identify a service ID corresponding to the quality parameters, and the SF 30 may notify the participants of the service ID via the second sensing request, allowing the participants to recognize the quality parameters based on the service ID.

[0167] 10 to 12 show variations of the third sensing procedure. Note that the processes of S301 to S310 are substantially the same in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 to Fig. 12.

[0168] In the example shown in FIG. 10 , in S321, SF30 determines whether the sensing data received from the participant satisfies the requirements represented by quality parameters. At this time, SF30 may determine whether the sensing data satisfies the requirements for each of multiple quality parameters. Then, in S310, SF30 transmits to AF40 a determination result indicating whether the sensing data satisfies the requirements for each quality parameter. For example, a determination result indicating that "the sensing accuracy satisfies the requirements, but the sensing delay does not satisfy the requirements" may be transmitted to AF40. Alternatively, a determination result may be transmitted to AF40 when the sensing data does not satisfy the requirements. In this case, a determination result may be transmitted to AF40 only for the quality parameters for which the sensing data does not satisfy the requirements.

[0169] Note that S321 may be performed after S309. In addition, in S321, it may be determined whether the sensing results satisfy the requirements represented by the quality parameters together with or instead of the sensing data.

[0170] The determination result is preferably associated with the sensing result and transmitted to the AF 40. According to this sequence, the AF 40 can recognize whether the quality of the sensing result received from the SF 30 meets a desired standard level.

[0171] In the example shown in FIG. 11 , SF30 determines in S322 whether the sensing data received from the participants satisfies the requirements represented by the quality parameters. The determination process in S322 is substantially the same as S321 shown in FIG. 10 . However, in this case, if the sensing data does not satisfy the requirements represented by the quality parameters, the process in SF30 may return to S303. That is, SF30 may re-determine new quality parameters. In this case, the processes in S303 to S308 may be executed until sensing data satisfying the requirements represented by the quality parameters is obtained. Alternatively, if the sensing data does not satisfy the requirements represented by the quality parameters, the process in SF30 may return to S304. That is, SF30 may re-select participants for sensing without changing the quality parameters. In this case, the processes in S304 to S308 may be executed until sensing data satisfying the requirements represented by the quality parameters is obtained.

[0172] Note that S322 may be performed after S309. In addition, in S322, it may be determined whether the sensing results satisfy the requirements represented by the quality parameters together with or instead of the sensing data.

[0173] According to this sequence, the SF 30 can collect sensing data of a quality level specified by the AF 40. Therefore, the AF 40 can obtain sensing results based on sensing data of a desired quality level. Note that when the quality parameters are re-determined, the SF 30 may notify the AF 40 of the contents of the re-determined quality parameters.

[0174] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 , the determination of whether the quality parameters are satisfied is performed by SF30, but the third procedure is not limited to this scheme. For example, a participant may determine whether the requirements represented by the quality parameters are satisfied. Then, when the requirements represented by the quality parameters are not satisfied, the participant may notify SF40 of that fact. When the requirements represented by the quality parameters are satisfied, the participant may notify SF40 of that fact. When the requirements represented by the quality parameters are satisfied, the participant may notify SF40 of that fact and transmit sensing data to SF40. When the requirements represented by the quality parameters are satisfied, the participant may transmit sensing data to SF40 without notifying SF40 of that fact.

[0175] 12, in S323, SF30 determines whether or not a participant (UE 10 / BS 20) that satisfies the requirements represented by the quality parameters has been found. At this time, SF30 may determine whether or not a participant that is located near the UE that requested the sensing service and that satisfies the requirements represented by the quality parameters has been found. As a result, when a participant that satisfies the requirements represented by the quality parameters has been found, SF30 transmits a second sensing request to that participant in S305.

[0176] If SF30 is unable to find a participant that satisfies the requirements represented by the quality parameters, it may negotiate with AF40 regarding the sensing service. In this case, SF30 and AF40 may negotiate to lower the quality of sensing. For example, if a participant that satisfies the maximum sensing delay value is not found, SF30 notifies AF40 of this fact. If the maximum sensing delay value can be increased, AF40 notifies SF30 of a new maximum delay value (or a new service ID corresponding to this). SF30 then executes steps S303 to S304 to search for a participant that satisfies the new requirements. This sequence ensures that sensing can be performed at a level acceptable to the sensing requester, even if a suitable participant is not found. SF30 and AF40 may also negotiate whether to discontinue sensing. SF30 may discontinue sensing when it receives information indicating that sensing will be discontinued from AF40 or when a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of negotiation. The certain period of time may be predefined in the standard, or may be set / specified in the SF.

[0177] Note that S323 may be performed before or after S309. Also, in S323, it may be determined whether the sensing data / sensing results satisfy the requirements represented by the quality parameters, and if satisfactory sensing data / sensing results are not obtained, negotiations regarding the sensing service may be performed with AF 40. As a result, S303 to S309 may be performed again, or sensing may be stopped.

[0178] According to the third procedure described above, sensing data is collected based on quality parameters set for each sensing service, for example, and it is therefore believed that accurate sensing results can be obtained for the required sensing service.

[0179] <Supplementary Notes> The following inventions are supplemented with respect to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Supplementary Note 1] A communication device comprising: a control unit that, in response to receiving a first sensing request, acquires quality parameters that indicate requirements related to the quality of sensing for a sensing service; and a communication unit that transmits a second sensing request including information about the quality parameters to a participant selected from one or more communication devices connected to a wireless network, and receives sensing data collected by the participant based on the quality parameters. [Supplementary Note 2] The communication device according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the information related to the sensing service is identification information that indicates a type of the sensing service. [Supplementary Note 3] The communication device according to Supplementary Note 1 or Supplementary Note 2, wherein the information related to the sensing service is set using 5QI (5G QoS Identifier) ​​defined in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project standard. [Supplementary Note 4] The communication device according to any one of Supplements 1 to 3, wherein the control unit selects the participant that will perform sensing for the sensing service from the one or more communication devices based on the quality parameters. [Supplementary Note 5] The communication device according to any one of Supplements 1 to 4, wherein the control unit acquires sensing method information related to sensing methods supported by each of one or more communication devices connected to the wireless communication network, and the control unit selects the participant who will perform sensing for the sensing service from among the one or more communication devices based on the quality parameters and the sensing method information. [Supplementary Note 6] The communication device according to any one of Supplements 1 to 5, wherein the communication unit transmits, to a source of a request for the sensing service, information indicating whether the sensing data satisfies the requirements represented by the quality parameters. [Supplementary Note 7] The communication device according to any one of Supplements 1 to 6, wherein, when the sensing data does not satisfy the requirements represented by the quality parameters, the control unit redetermines the quality parameters, and the communication unit transmits the second sensing request to the participant, the second sensing request including the quality parameters redetermined by the control unit.[Supplementary Note 8] The communication device according to any one of Supplements 1 to 7, wherein the control unit, when unable to find a participant that satisfies the requirements represented by the quality parameters, negotiates regarding the sensing service with a source of a request for the sensing service. [Supplementary Note 9] A communication method comprising: acquiring quality parameters that represent requirements related to sensing quality for the sensing service in response to receiving a first sensing request; transmitting a second sensing request including information related to the quality parameters to a participant selected from one or more communication devices connected to a wireless network; and receiving sensing data collected by the participant based on the quality parameters. [Supplementary Note 10] A communication system including a first communication device, a second communication device, and one or more third communication devices connected to a wireless network, wherein the first communication device transmits a first sensing request to the second communication device, the first sensing request including information related to a requested sensing service; the second communication device, in response to receiving the first sensing request, obtains quality parameters representing requirements related to the quality of sensing for the sensing service; and transmits a second sensing request including information related to the quality parameters to a participant selected from the one or more third communication devices; the participant selected from the one or more third communication devices, in response to receiving the second sensing request, collects sensing data based on the quality parameters and transmits it to the second communication device; and the second communication device generates a sensing result based on the sensing data and transmits it to the first communication device. [Supplementary Note 11] The communication system according to Supplementary Note 10, wherein the third communication device determines resources to be allocated to the sensing service based on the quality parameters, and collects the sensing data using the determined resources. [Supplementary Note 12] The communication system according to Supplementary Note 10 or Supplementary Note 11, wherein the participants determine whether or not the requirements expressed by the quality parameters are satisfied.[Supplementary Note 13] The communication system described in any one of Supplementary Note 10 to Supplementary Note 12, wherein the participant, when not satisfying the requirements represented by the quality parameters, transmits information indicating that the requirements represented by the quality parameters are not satisfied to the second communication device, and, when satisfying the requirements represented by the quality parameters, collects sensing data based on the quality parameters and transmits it to the second communication device. [Supplementary Note 14] In a communication system including a first communication device, a second communication device, and a plurality of third communication devices connected to a wireless network, there is provided a terminal device selected from the plurality of third communication devices, wherein the first communication device transmits a first sensing request including information related to a requested sensing service to the second communication device, and the second communication device, in response to receiving the first sensing request, acquires quality parameters representing requirements related to quality of sensing for the sensing service, and transmits a second sensing request including information related to the quality parameters to the terminal device selected from the plurality of third communication devices, the terminal device comprising: a control unit that, in response to receiving the second sensing request, collects sensing data based on the quality parameters; and a transmission unit that transmits the sensing data or a sensing result generated based on the sensing data to the second communication device.

[0180] <Modifications> Note that terms explained in this disclosure and terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings.

[0181] In the present disclosure, the terms apparatus, circuit, device, section, unit, etc. may be read interchangeably.

[0182] The information, parameters, etc. described in the present disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, relative values ​​from a predetermined value, or other corresponding information. For example, a radio resource may be indicated by a predetermined index.

[0183] The names used for parameters and the like in this disclosure are not limiting in any way, and furthermore, the formulas and the like using these parameters may differ from those explicitly disclosed in this disclosure.

[0184] The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

[0185] Input and output information, signals, etc. may be stored in a specific location (for example, memory) or may be managed using a management table. Input and output information, signals, etc. may be overwritten, updated, or added. Output information, signals, etc. may be deleted. Input information, signals, etc. may be transmitted to another device.

[0186] Any information (e.g., variables, constants, parameters) described in the present disclosure may be notified from any first device (e.g., UE / BS) to any second device (e.g., BS / UE) even if not specifically stated in the above embodiments. Note that notification of any information may be interchangeably read as notification of information indicating / specifying (or relating to) the value of the any information.

[0187] In this disclosure, terms such as "notify," "request," "activate," "deactivate," "indicate," "select," "configure," "update," "determine," etc. may be read interchangeably.

[0188] In this disclosure, terms such as "support," "control / operate / utilize," "control / operate / available," etc. may be read interchangeably.

[0189] In the present disclosure, the notification of information is not limited to the aspects / embodiments described in the present disclosure and may be performed using other methods. For example, the notification of information in the present disclosure may be performed by radio access-related signaling, RAN-related signaling, core network-related signaling, other signals, or a combination thereof. Note that in the present disclosure, signaling, message, parameter, field, information element (IE), setting, etc. may be interchangeable.

[0190] The radio access-related signaling may be signaling related to radio access (radio interface) between the UE and the RAN, and may correspond to Access Stratum (AS) signaling. The radio access-related signaling may include physical layer signaling, higher layer signaling, etc.

[0191] The physical layer signaling may include, for example, Downlink Control Information (DCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI), etc. The higher layer signaling may include, for example, Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, etc.

[0192] RRC signaling may include broadcast information (e.g., Master Information Block (MIB), System Information Block (SIB)). MAC signaling may include MAC Control Elements (MAC CE), MAC Protocol Data Units (MAC PDUs), etc.

[0193] RAN-related signaling may include signaling for control between RANs, for example, Xn Application Protocol (XnAP) signaling.

[0194] The core network related signaling may include UE-CN control signaling, such as Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling, and CN-CN control signaling, such as Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) messages.

[0195] Furthermore, notification of specified information (e.g., notification that "it is X") is not limited to explicit notification, but may be made implicitly (e.g., by not notifying the specified information or by notifying other information).

[0196] Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0197] Software, instructions, information, etc. may also be transmitted or received over a transmission medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using wired technologies (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), and / or wireless technologies (such as infrared, microwave), these wired and / or wireless technologies are included within the definition of transmission media.

[0198] In the present disclosure, terms such as "Base Station (BS)," "Radio Base Station," "Relay Station," "Fixed Station," "NodeB," "eNB (eNodeB)," "gNB (gNodeB)," "Access Point," "Transmission Point (TP)," "Reception Point (RP)," "Transmission / Reception Point (TRP)," "Panel," "Cell," "Sector," "Cell Group," "Carrier," "Component Carrier," etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0199] In this disclosure, the terms "Mobile Station (MS)," "user terminal," "User Equipment (UE)," "terminal," etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0200] Any device in the present disclosure may be referred to as a server, device, transmitting device, receiving device, wireless communication device, information processing device, etc., and these terms may be interchangeable. Any device in the present disclosure may be a device mounted on a moving object, which is a movable object, a device contained within the moving object (held by a person riding the moving object), or the moving object itself. Examples of such moving objects include, but are not limited to, vehicles, transport vehicles, automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, connected cars, excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders, dump trucks, forklifts, trains, buses, handcarts, rickshaws, ships and other watercraft, airplanes, rockets, satellites, drones, multicopters, quadcopters, balloons, and objects mounted thereon. Furthermore, such moving objects may be autonomous / automatically driven. Note that the term "moving object" in the present disclosure may be interchangeable with a non-moving object (e.g., a non-moving object that a person can ride on).

[0201] Each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or switched depending on the implementation. Furthermore, the processing procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc. of each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be rearranged, or some procedures / steps may be omitted, unless inconsistent. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present elements of various steps using an example order, and are not limited to the specific order presented.

[0202] As used in this disclosure, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based only on," unless expressly stated otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least on."

[0203] As used in this disclosure, any reference to an element using a designation such as "first," "second," etc. does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed or that the first element must in some way precede the second element.

[0204] As used in this disclosure, the terms "connected," "coupled," or any variation thereof, refer to any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements, and may include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" to each other. The coupling or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. The coupling or connection between elements may be via wired and / or wireless connections.

[0205] In the present disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "coupled" may also be interpreted in the same way as "different."

[0206] When the terms "include," "including," and variations thereof are used in this disclosure, these terms are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising." Furthermore, when the term "or" is used in this disclosure, it is not intended to be an exclusive or.

[0207] In this disclosure, where articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, the disclosure may include that the nouns following these articles are in the plural form.

[0208] In the present disclosure, terms such as "decide," "judge," "assess," "select," "identify," "calculate," "calculate," "process," "derive," "search," "confirm," "assume," and "expect" may be read interchangeably.

[0209] In the present disclosure, terms such as "less than or equal to," "less than," "greater than," "more than," "equal to," etc. may be interchangeable. Furthermore, in the present disclosure, terms meaning "good," "bad," "big," "small," "high," "low," "fast," "slow," "wide," "narrow," etc. may be interchangeable, not limited to the positive, comparative, and superlative. Furthermore, in the present disclosure, terms meaning "good," "bad," "big," "small," "high," "low," "fast," "slow," "wide," "narrow," etc. may be interchangeable, not limited to the positive, comparative, and superlative, as expressions with "i-th" (i is an arbitrary integer) attached (for example, "highest" may be interchangeable with "i-th highest").

[0210] In this disclosure, the terms "of," "for," "regarding," "related to," "associated with," etc. may be read interchangeably.

[0211] Although the invention according to the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the invention according to the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described in the present disclosure. The description of the present disclosure is for illustrative purposes only and does not impose any limiting meaning on the invention according to the present disclosure.

[0212] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-146964, filed on August 28, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising: a control unit that, in response to receiving a first sensing request, acquires quality parameters representing requirements related to the quality of sensing for a sensing service; and a communication unit that sends a second sensing request including information regarding the quality parameters to a participant selected from one or more communication devices connected to a wireless network, and receives sensing data collected by the participant based on the quality parameters.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the information relating to the sensing service is identification information that indicates the type of the sensing service.

3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the information relating to the sensing service is set using 5QI (5G QoS Identifier) ​​defined in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project standard.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit selects the participant to perform sensing for the sensing service from among the one or more communication devices based on the quality parameter.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the control unit acquires sensing method information regarding sensing methods supported by each of one or more communication devices connected to the wireless communication network, and selects the participant who will perform sensing for the sensing service from among the one or more communication devices based on the quality parameters and the sensing method information.

6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit transmits, to a requester of the sensing service, information indicating whether the sensing data satisfies the requirements represented by the quality parameters.

7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein, when the sensing data does not satisfy the requirements represented by the quality parameters, the control unit redetermines the quality parameters, and the communication unit transmits the second sensing request including the quality parameters redetermined by the control unit to the participants.

8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit negotiates the sensing service with the requester of the sensing service when the control unit cannot find a participant that satisfies the requirements represented by the quality parameters.

9. A communication method comprising: in response to receiving a first sensing request, acquiring quality parameters representing requirements related to the quality of sensing for a sensing service; and sending a second sensing request including information about the quality parameters to a participant selected from one or more communication devices connected to a wireless network, and receiving sensing data collected by the participant based on the quality parameters.

10. A communication system including a first communication device, a second communication device, and one or more third communication devices connected to a wireless network, wherein the first communication device sends a first sensing request to the second communication device, the first sensing request including information related to a requested sensing service; the second communication device, in response to receiving the first sensing request, obtains quality parameters representing requirements related to the quality of sensing for the sensing service; and sends a second sensing request including information related to the quality parameters to a participant selected from the one or more third communication devices; the participant selected from the one or more third communication devices, in response to receiving the second sensing request, collects sensing data based on the quality parameters and transmits it to the second communication device; and the second communication device generates sensing results based on the sensing data and transmits them to the first communication device.

11. The communication system according to claim 10, wherein the third communication device determines resources to be allocated to the sensing service based on the quality parameter, and collects the sensing data using the determined resources.

12. The communication system of claim 10, wherein the participants determine whether they satisfy the requirements represented by the quality parameters.

13. The communication system described in claim 10, wherein the participant, when not satisfying the requirements represented by the quality parameters, transmits information indicating that the requirements represented by the quality parameters are not satisfied to the second communication device, and when satisfying the requirements represented by the quality parameters, collects sensing data based on the quality parameters and transmits it to the second communication device.

14. In a communication system including a first communication device, a second communication device, and a plurality of third communication devices connected to a wireless network, a terminal device selected from the plurality of third communication devices, wherein the first communication device transmits a first sensing request including information related to a requested sensing service to the second communication device, and the second communication device, in response to receiving the first sensing request, acquires quality parameters representing requirements related to the quality of sensing for the sensing service, and transmits a second sensing request including information related to the quality parameters to the terminal device selected from the plurality of third communication devices, the terminal device comprising: a control unit that, in response to receiving the second sensing request, collects sensing data based on the quality parameters; and a transmission unit that transmits the sensing data or sensing results generated based on the sensing data to the second communication device.

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