Reports for joint communication and sensing

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for use in a radio node (106, 108) of a cellular network (100). The method comprises providing (1510), to a management node (110) of the cellular network (100), a report (1014, 1122) including at least two sets of observables. Each set of observables is associated with a sensing signal (520-523) of a plurality of sensing signals employed by a sensing measurement for sensing a target object (114). Each set of observables is indicative of time information and power information related to the associated sensing signal (520-523). The plurality of sensing signals are multiplexed with communication signaling of the cellular network (100) and transmitted from multiple transmission points.

Description

[0001] REPORTS FOR JOINT COMMUNICATION AND SENSING

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] Various examples of the disclosure generally pertain to joint communication and sensing. Various examples specifically pertain to sensing measurements and reports of the sensing measurements.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Object sensing has been identified as a potential new feature for the sixth generation (6G) of cellular mobile communications. It is designed to operate jointly with communication and is therefore commonly referred to as Joint Communication and Sensing (JCAS) and Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC). JCAS is a framework in which communication and sensing operations are combined and optimized to share the same spectrum, hardware and signal processing capabilities, thereby increasing the efficiency and utility of 6G networks. Similarly, ISAC integrates sensing capabilities into communication systems, enabling the simultaneous transmission of communication and sensing signals, leading to new functionalities and use cases in 6G.

[0006] In general, object detection, identification and tracking of the sensing target object in the context of 3GPP ISAC may involve a sensing measurement at a sensing receiver node (e.g. user equipment, UE). This requires the transmission of sensing reference signals (SeRS) that interact with objects, including the sensing target object, producing reflected rays that are captured by the sensing receiver node. One of the objectives in ISAC is to determine whether an object is present, to identify the object and to determine the object's location. Sensing estimation, such as to estimate the presence of an object, to estimate the type of object, is performed based on the obtained sensing measurement.

[0007] According to the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) 6G vision described in IMT-2030 (International Mobile Telecommunications), sensing has been listed as a new capability for 6G. The ITU's IMT-2030 vision outlines the framework and capabilities expected in 6G networks, focusing on advanced capabilities such as high-speed connectivity, low latency, and integrated sensing.

[0008] URLLC, eMBB, and mMTC are the known usage scenarios from the 5G timeframe. URLLC (Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications) is designed for applications that require extremely reliable and low-latency communications, such as autonomous driving and industrial automation. eMBB (Enhanced Mobile Broadband) targets high-data-rate services, including extended Reality (XR) applications, such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and cloud gaming (CG). mMTC (Massive Machine Type Communications) supports large-scale loT (Internet of Things) deployments with a large number of low-complexity devices.

[0009] For 6G, ISAC is listed as one of the new usage scenarios. The operation of ISAC is expected to enable new use cases / services based on the 6G system. These services include intelligent transportation, aviation, enterprise, smart city, smart home, factories, consumer applications, telepresence, and the public sector. For example, URLLC can benefit from ISAC / JCAS through enhanced situational awareness and real-time environmental sensing. For example, in autonomous driving, ISAC can provide critical sensing information about nearbyobjects and road conditions, improving safety and decision making. eMBB can leverage ISAC / JCAS to enhance user experiences in AR and VR by integrating real-world sensing data to provide more immersive and interactive environments. mMTC may benefit from ISAC / JCAS by enabling devices to not only communicate but also sense their environment. This can enhance applications in smart cities, smart homes, and industrial loT by providing real-time sensing data for better resource management and automation.

[0010] Incorporating sensing into a radio network infrastructure, such as a base station and user equipment (UE), can pose many new challenges, such as the transmission of reference signals for sensing purposes, sensing measurement, sensing estimation, and coordination between nodes.

[0011] The 3GPP specifications define three types of sensing operations. Mono-static sensing refers to an operation where the sensing transmitter and receiver are co-located, typically within the same device. Bi-static sensing is an operation where the sensing transmitter and receiver are in different locations, allowing for wider coverage and more flexible deployment scenarios. They can be the same or different types of devices. Multi-static sensing involves multiple transmitters and receivers distributed across a network, providing enhanced sensing accuracy and robustness. These operations may be implemented by UEs and / or base stations, e.g. gNBs. A gNB can contain one or more Transmission-Reception Points (TRPs). Based on these operations, six sensing modes or topologies have been considered, i.e. TRP-TRP bistatic, TRP mono-static, TRP-LIE bi-static, LIE-TRP bi-static, UE-llE bi-static, UE mono-static.

[0012] The following sensing entities are defined within the ISAC framework:

[0013] UE (User Equipment): Capable of acting as either a SeRS (Sensing Reference Signal) transmitter or receiver. The SeRS is a specially designed signal used for sensing purposes that is transmitted by either the gNB or the UE and is critical for accurate sensing measurements.

[0014] gNB (base station): Acts as a sensing transmitter or receiver.

[0015] Sensing target: Refers to (passive) objects (e.g., vehicles, unmanned arial vehicles (UAVs), people, or more generally: target objects), typically without network connectivity, whose detection or characteristics are of interest to the network.

[0016] Environment object (EO): Refers to objects outside the network's scope of interest. SeMF (Sensing Management Function): Provides support for sensing measurements, post-processing of sensing data, and efficient computation of sensing results (e.g., sensing estimation). SeMF can be deployed as a new node in the core network or as a new function residing in another core network node. It manages sensing tasks, processes sensing data, and derives insights from the collected sensing measurements, playing a central role in the ISAC framework.

[0017] These sensing entities operate within a network, enabling various sensing use cases, including object detection and identification. In a typical downlink (DL)-like bi-static sensing ISAC deployment, the gNB serves as the SeRS transmitter, transmitting, including broadcasting, SeRS signals to its environment. These signals propagate through the air and divide into different rays. Each ray will bounce off different objects, either the target or the environment object. These interactions change the characteristics of the reflected rays.In this deployment, the UE acts as a SeRS receiver, with the goal of capturing the reflected rays and estimating the sensing channel. Sensing channel estimation is the process of evaluating the changes in the characteristics of SeRS signals as they reflect off objects, which helps determine the presence, location, velocity, and other characteristics of the sensing target. This estimation allows the UE to derive sensing measurements associated with the target, which are then reported to SeMF for further processing. The SeMF is used to perform various sensing tasks, which could also be called sensing estimation, such as object detection and localization using the received measurement report from UE. In other sensing modes / topologies, the measurement report may also come from the gNB.

[0018] The prior art techniques may have certain limitations and drawbacks. For example, it has been found that it can be difficult to accurately locate an object based on such a measurement report. It can also be difficult to estimate more detailed information such as the type or classification of the object.

[0019] SUMMARY

[0020] Accordingly, advanced techniques of joint communication and sensing are required. This need is met by the features of the independent claims. The features of the dependent claims define embodiments.

[0021] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for use in a node of a cellular network. The method comprises providing, to a management node of the cellular network, a report including at least two sets of observables. Each set of observables is associated with a sensing signal of a plurality of sensing signals employed by a sensing measurement for sensing a target object. Each set of observables indicates time information and power information related to the associated sensing signal. The sensing signals are multiplexed with communication signaling of the cellular network and are transmitted from multiple transmission points.

[0022] This method may enable improved localization of the target object. In particular, by providing at least two sets of observables, each set being indicative of time information and power information related to the associated sensing signal, it may be possible to estimate more detailed information about the target object, such as its location. Furthermore, this method may also allow for classification of the target object based on its Radar Cross Section (RCS). The RCS is a measure of how much an object scatters sensing signals in a specific direction. By analyzing the observables provided in the report, it may be possible to infer the type or class of the target object.

[0023] The target object may be a passive object, i.e. an object that does not actively transmit or receive the sensing signals. Sensing signals are reflected and / or scattered at the passive object. The target objects may include vehicles, unmanned arial vehicles (UAVs), and people, for example.

[0024] Additionally, this method may provide compact communication between the radio node and the management node. Since the report includes the time information and the power information instead of e.g. a complete Channel impulse response (CIR), the amount of data that needs to be transmitted may be reduced, resulting in more efficient use of communicationresources. This, in turn, may lead to faster processing times and lower latency in the cellular network.

[0025] In this context, a "radio node" refers to a device that transmits and receives radio signals, such as a base station or a user equipment. A "management node" is a device that manages and processes data from one or multiple radio nodes, such as a core network node. The management node may be a dedicated node, such as a Sensing Management Function (SeMF) node, or it may reside in an existing node, such as a Location Management Function (LMF) node. The management node may perform the sensing measurement based on the observables. An "observable" may be a measurable quantity that provides information about the sensing signal, such as time of arrival or received power. The observables may be determined by the radio node, e.g. based on reception and / or observation of the sensing signals. The sensing signals may be different, i.e. each of the plurality of sensing signals may be a unique or distinct sensing signals, e.g. using different resources or being transmitted from different TRPs.

[0026] According to various examples, at least one set of observables of the at least two sets of observables comprises a resource identifier of a resource associated with a transmission of the associated sensing signal.

[0027] This feature may provide additional information that can be used to simplify the determination from which node the sensing signal was sent. By including the resource identifier in at least one set of observables, it is possible to uniquely identify the resource, such as a spatial filter used to transmit the sensing signal, used to transmit the sensing signal. This, in turn, may facilitate more accurate localization of the target object, as the location of the transmission point can be taken into account when processing the observables.

[0028] According to various examples, at least one set of observables of the at least two sets of observables comprises a transmission point identifier of a transmission point transmitting the associated sensing signal. This means that the report provided by the radio node includes information about the specific transmission point that sent the sensing signal.

[0029] This feature may provide additional context for the management node to process the observables and determine the location of the target object. By knowing which transmission point transmitted the sensing signal, the management node can take into account the characteristics and position of that transmission point when processing the data. This may lead to more accurate localization of the target object.

[0030] In this context, a "transmission point identifier" may be a unique identifier (ID) assigned to a transmission point, that is used to distinguish it from other transmission points in the cellular network. A transmission point (e.g. a transmission-reception point) may be, for example, an antenna array comprised in a network node such as a base station.

[0031] According to various examples, each set of observables is determined based on observed channel characteristics of a channel between a transmission point transmitting the associated sensing signal and the radio node.

[0032] This means that the sets of observables are derived from measurements or estimates of the properties of the communication channel used for transmitting the sensing signals. These channel characteristics may include, but are not limited to, signal strength, delay spread, Doppler shift, and other factors that affect the transmission of the sensing signals. By taking intoaccount these observed channel characteristics, the method can provide more accurate and reliable sets of observables.

[0033] Using observed channel characteristics in this way may offer several advantages. For instance, it may allow for a more precise determination of the propagation conditions between the transmission point and the radio node, which in turn can lead to improved accuracy in localizing the target object. Additionally, by considering the specific characteristics of the communication channel, the method can adapt to varying environmental conditions, such as changes in temperature or humidity, that may affect signal transmission.

[0034] In this context, "observed channel characteristics" may refer to measurements or estimates of the properties of the communication channel between a transmission point and a radio node. These characteristics are typically determined based on observations of the signals transmitted over the channel and can be used to infer various aspects of the channel's behavior. For example, the channel characteristics comprise a Channel Impulse Response.

[0035] According to various examples, the time information is indicative of a time of arrival at the radio node of the associated sensing signal scattered at the target object.

[0036] This means that the time information provided by the method is related to the moment when the sensing signal, after being transmitted from a transmission point and interacting with the target object, arrives at the radio node. The scattering of the sensing signal at the target object can cause delays or modifications to the signal, which are then reflected in the time information measured or estimated by the radio node.

[0037] Using time information indicative of the time of arrival of the scattered sensing signal may offer several advantages. For instance, it allows for a more accurate determination of the distance between the transmission point and the target object, as well as the position of the target object relative to the radio node. This can be particularly useful in applications where precise localization is critical, such as in tracking or monitoring systems.

[0038] In this context, "time of arrival" refers to the moment when a signal arrives at a receiving device, in this case, the radio node. The time of arrival can provide valuable information about the propagation path and characteristics of the signal, including delays or modifications caused by interactions with objects in the environment.

[0039] According to various examples, the power information is indicative of a receive power at the radio node of the associated sensing signal scattered at the target object received.

[0040] This means that the power information provided by the method is related to the amount of power of the sensing signal received by the radio node after it has interacted with the target object. The receive power can provide valuable information about the distance between the transmission point and the target object, as well as the characteristics of the scattering process.

[0041] Using power information indicative of the receive power of the scattered sensing signal may offer several advantages. For instance, it allows for a more accurate determination of the position of the target object relative to the radio node, which can be particularly useful in applications where precise localization is critical, such as in tracking or monitoring systems.

[0042] In addition, the received power information can be used to determine the type or class of the target object. This can be achieved by analyzing the radar cross-section (RCS) of the target object, which is a measure of how much power is scattered back to the radio node by the targetobject. By comparing the measured RCS with known values for different types of objects, it may be possible to determine the type or class of the target object.

[0043] In this context, "radar cross-section" (RCS) may refer to an effective area that intercepts the transmitted sensing signal at a certain power level and then scatters that power back to the sensing receiver. The RCS can provide valuable information about the size, shape, and material properties of the target object. By analyzing the RCS, it may be possible to determine the type or class of the target object, which can be useful in various applications such as surveillance, tracking, and monitoring.

[0044] According to various examples, the power information is indicative of the receive power normalized to an antenna gain of an antenna of the radio node receiving the associated sensing signal.

[0045] This means that the power information provided by the method is related to the amount of power received by the radio node from the sensing signal after it has interacted with the target object, and this power may further be adjusted or scaled based on the characteristics of the antenna used in the radio node. Specifically, the receive power is normalized to take into account the gain of the antenna, which can affect the amount of power that is received by the radio node.

[0046] Normalizing the receive power to the antenna gain allows for a more accurate and consistent representation of the received power, regardless of the specific antenna being used. This can be particularly useful in applications where multiple antennas or radio nodes are used, as it enables a more direct comparison of the received power across different devices.

[0047] According to various examples, the power information is indicative of a peak power of the receive power of the associated sensing signal scattered at the target object.

[0048] This means that the power information provided by the method is related to the maximum amount of power received by the radio node from the sensing signal after it has interacted with the target object. The peak power may represent the highest level of power received during a specific period or interval.

[0049] According to various examples, the power information is indicative of an average power of the receive power of the associated sensing signal scattered at the target object during a time window.

[0050] This means that the power information provided by the method is related to the mean value of the power received by the radio node from the sensing signal after it has interacted with the target object, calculated over a specific period or interval. The average power can provide a more stable and robust indicator of the target object's characteristics compared to instantaneous measurements.

[0051] The use of a time window for calculating the average power allows for the capture of the peak power in discrete implementations, where the sampling rate may not be sufficient to accurately measure the peak power at a single point in time. By averaging over multiple samples within the time window, the method can reduce the impact of noise and outliers on the power information.

[0052] In particular, the time window may be set to 2 to 5 samples, which has been found to provide a good balance between capturing the peak power and avoiding excessive noise andinterference. This allows for more accurate and reliable target object localization and classification, as well as improved robustness against environmental factors that can affect the sensing signal. A length of the time window may be obtained from the management node.

[0053] According to various examples, the set of observables further comprises information about polarization characteristics which may include an indication of a polarization direction of an antenna arrangement of the radio node with which the associated sensing signal is received and / or any polarization changes observed in the sensing signal.

[0054] This means that in addition to other observables, such as power information and timing information, the method also takes into account the orientation or alignment of the electric field vector of the received sensing signal. The polarization direction refers to the direction in which the electric field vector of the radio wave is oscillating.

[0055] The method may consider the antenna's (configured) polarization (e.g., vertical or horizontal) and any changes in the polarization state of the received sensing signal caused by interactions with the environment or target object(s). For instance, the polarization of the transmitted signal might be vertical, but reflections, scattering, or other interactions could result in the received sensing signal exhibiting a different polarization state, such as horizontal or a mix of components.

[0056] The polarization change can be represented in terms of metrics such as the Cross-Polarization Ratio (XPR) or the phase difference between co-polarized and cross-polarized signal components. By analyzing these polarization characteristics, the method can enhance the accuracy and reliability of target object localization and classification. This is because polarization changes can provide additional insights into the interaction between the radio wave and the target object, such as the object's orientation, shape, or material properties.

[0057] For example, in scenarios where the target object has a specific symmetry or structure, the analysis of both the polarization of the receiving antenna arrangement and the measured polarization change in the received sensing signal can be used to infer additional information about the object's characteristics. This can lead to more accurate and robust results in various applications, such as object detection, tracking, and recognition.

[0058] According to various examples, the associated sensing signal comprises multiple successive sensing signals, and the power information is based on these multiple successive sensing signals.

[0059] This means that the method does not rely on a single sensing signal but rather takes into account a sequence of sensing signals received by the radio node over time. The power information is then calculated or derived from this sequence of sensing signals, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of the target object's characteristics.

[0060] By considering multiple successive sensing signals, the method can potentially improve the accuracy and reliability of target object localization and classification. This is because the sequence of sensing signals can provide additional information about the interaction between the radio wave and the target object, such as changes in the object's position or orientation over time.

[0061] For example, by analyzing the power information from multiple successive sensing signals, the method may be able to detect patterns or trends that are not apparent from a singlesensing signal. This can lead to more accurate and robust results in various applications, such as object tracking, recognition, and classification. Additionally, the use of multiple successive sensing signals can also provide a form of diversity and / or processing gain, where the noise and interference present in individual sensing signals can be reduced or mitigated through averaging or other forms of signal processing.

[0062] According to various examples, the associated sensing signal comprises multiple successive sensing signals, and the power information is based on these multiple successive sensing signals.

[0063] This means that the method does not rely on a single sensing signal but rather takes into account a sequence of sensing signals received by the radio node over time. The power information is then calculated or derived from this sequence of sensing signals, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of the target object's characteristics.

[0064] In particular, the power information may be indicative of an average of power values received at the radio node of the multiple successive sensing signals scattered at the target object. This allows for a robust estimate of the power level of the sensing signal to be obtained, which can be less sensitive to noise and interference present in individual sensing signals.

[0065] Furthermore, the set of observables may comprise statistic information of the power values received at the radio node of the multiple successive sensing signals scattered at the target object. This means that statistical properties of the power values, such as mean, variance, or standard deviation, can be extracted and used to characterize the target object's characteristics.

[0066] By analyzing these statistical properties, the method may be able to detect subtle patterns or trends in the sensing signal that are not apparent from a single sensing signal. This can lead to more accurate and robust results in various applications, such as object tracking, recognition, and classification. Additionally, the use of multiple successive sensing signals can also provide a form of diversity gain, where the noise and interference present in individual sensing signals can be reduced or mitigated through averaging or other forms of signal processing.

[0067] According to various examples, the report includes an antenna gain of an antenna of the radio node receiving the plurality of sensing signals.

[0068] This means that the sensing measurement report not only provides information about the target object's characteristics but also takes into account the properties of the antenna used to receive the sensing signals. The antenna gain is a measure of how well the antenna can focus and amplify the incoming signal, which can affect the accuracy and reliability of the sensing data.

[0069] By including the antenna gain in the report, the method can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the sensing environment and the target object's characteristics. This can be particularly useful in situations where the antenna gain is not uniform across all directions or frequencies, as it allows for more accurate modeling and compensation for these effects. For example, accounting for antenna gain may improve the accuracy of RCS calculations.Furthermore, the inclusion of antenna gain information in the report can enable advanced signal processing techniques to be applied, such as beamforming or spatial filtering, which can improve the accuracy and robustness of the sensing results.

[0070] According to various examples, the report includes position information of the radio node. The position information need not always be provided together with the report obtained from the sensing measurement. It may be provided when requested. Furthermore, if the radio node is statically placed, the position information of the radio node may be provided as part of the configuration of the radio node.

[0071] This means that the report not only provides information about the target object's characteristics but also provides context about the location of the radio node itself. The position information can include details such as the coordinates, orientation, and altitude of the radio node, which can be used to better understand the sensing environment and the relationship between the radio node and the target object.

[0072] By including the position information of the radio node in the report, the method can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the sensing scenario. This can be particularly useful in applications where the location of the radio node is critical, such as in tracking or mapping scenarios. The position information can also be used to compensate for effects such as multipath fading or shadowing, which can affect the accuracy of the sensing results.

[0073] According to various examples, the report includes time stamp information of a measuring time of the plurality of sensing signals at the radio node.

[0074] This means that the report not only provides information about the target object's characteristics but also provides context about when the sensing signals were measured by the radio node. The time stamp information can include details such as the date, time, and duration of the measurement period.

[0075] The time stamp information can also be used to synchronize data from multiple sensors and radio nodes, allowing for more accurate and robust sensing results.

[0076] According to various examples, the target object is one of a plurality of target objects, and the report comprises for each target object of the plurality of target objects corresponding at least two sets of observables. Each set of observables is associated with a sensing signal of a plurality of sensing signals employed by a sensing measurement for sensing the corresponding target object.

[0077] This means that the method may be capable of handling multiple target objects simultaneously, and for each target object, it provides at least two sets of observables that are derived from different sensing signals. This allows for a more comprehensive understanding of each target object's characteristics and behavior, as well as its interactions with other target objects in the environment.

[0078] According to various examples, the method further comprises obtaining, from the management node, a report configuration indicative of a report format to be used by the radio node for providing the report. In another example, the report configuration may be indicative of the requested observables to be reported by the radio node to the management node.

[0079] This means that the method allows for flexible and dynamic configuration of the report format used by the radio node, based on instructions received from the management node. Thereport configuration obtained from the management node specifies the desired format for the report, which can include details such as the structure and content of the report.

[0080] By obtaining a report configuration from the management node, the method enables centralized control over the reporting process, allowing the management node to tailor the report format to specific needs or requirements.

[0081] According to various examples, the method further comprises obtaining, from the management node, a measurement configuration indicative of a timing granularity of the time information and / or power granularity of the power information in the report.

[0082] This means that the method allows for flexible and dynamic configuration of the level of detail provided in the report, specifically with regards to the timing and power information. The measurement configuration obtained from the management node specifies the desired level of granularity for these types of information, which can be adjusted based on specific needs or requirements.

[0083] The ability to specify a timing granularity of the time information and / or power granularity of the power information in the report may provide advantages. For example, it allows for more efficient use of resources, as only the necessary level of detail is provided.

[0084] According to various examples, the method further comprises providing, to the management node, a capability indication indicating a capability to provide the report.

[0085] This means that the radio node informs the management node about its ability to generate and deliver the report. The capability indication is a notification from the radio node to the management node, stating whether it has the necessary resources, skills, or abilities to produce the report as requested.

[0086] By providing a capability indication to the management node, the method enables the management node to assess the radio node's capabilities before requesting a report. This can help prevent unnecessary requests and reduce the likelihood of failed reporting attempts.

[0087] The capability indication may also include additional information about the radio node's capabilities, such as which output formats it can provide in the report. This provides the management node with more detailed knowledge about the radio node's abilities, allowing for better decision-making and resource allocation.

[0088] According to various examples, at least one of the multiple transmission points and the radio node are collocated.

[0089] This means that in some embodiments, the method involves a configuration where one or more of the transmission points that transmit the sensing signals are located in close proximity to the radio node itself. This can be beneficial for several reasons. For instance, it allows for easier installation and maintenance of the system, as fewer separate units need to be deployed.

[0090] This collocation is also known as monostatic sensing. In a monostatic sensing configuration, both the transmission point and the receiving point (i.e. , the radio node) are located at the same site or very close to each other.

[0091] One benefit of monostatic sensing is that it can simplify system design and reduce costs. Since both the transmission point and the radio node are collocated, only a single location needs to be selected for installation, reducing deployment complexity.According to various examples, at least one of the multiple transmission points and the radio node are separated.

[0092] This means that in some embodiments, the method involves a configuration where the transmission points that transmit the sensing signals are located at a distance from the radio node itself. This separation can be beneficial for several reasons. For instance, it allows for more flexibility in system design, as transmission points and receiving points (i.e. , the radio node) can be placed in locations that optimize signal reception and coverage.

[0093] This separated configuration is also known as bistatic sensing. In a bistatic sensing setup, the transmission points and the receiving point are located at different sites or distances apart from each other.

[0094] One benefit of bistatic sensing is that it can improve system performance by reducing interference and increasing signal diversity. By separating the transmission points and the radio node, the system can take advantage of multipath effects and other propagation characteristics to provide more accurate and reliable sensing results. Additionally, this configuration may allow for better coverage of larger areas or more complex environments.

[0095] A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for use in a management node of a cellular network. The method involves obtaining, from a radio node of the cellular network, a report including at least two sets of observables. Each set of observables is associated with a sensing signal of a plurality of sensing signals employed by a sensing measurement for sensing a target object. Each set of observables is indicative of time information and power information related to the associated sensing signal. This means that the report obtained from the radio node includes data that describes when the sensing signals were transmitted or received, as well as the strength or amplitude of those signals. The plurality of sensing signals are multiplexed with communication signaling of the cellular network and transmitted from multiple transmission points.

[0096] This approach has several advantages. By using existing infrastructure in a cellular network to transmit sensing signals, this method can leverage the widespread coverage and reliability of modern cellular networks to enable accurate and reliable sensing results.

[0097] Additionally, by multiplexing sensing signals with communication signaling, the method can make efficient use of available spectrum and reduce interference.

[0098] Furthermore, this approach enables flexible deployment options, as transmission points and receiving points (i.e., radio nodes) can be placed in locations that optimize signal reception and coverage. This flexibility, combined with the ability to obtain accurate time and power information from multiple sensing signals, makes this method well-suited for a variety of applications, including but not limited to target tracking, surveillance, and monitoring.

[0099] According to various examples, the method further comprises providing a length of a time window to the radio node. The power information is indicative of an average of a receive power received at the radio node during the time window of the associated sensing signal scattered at the target object.

[0100] In this context, the time window may refer to a specified period of time during which the radio node measures and averages the receive power of the sensing signals that have beenscattered by the target object. This averaging process helps to reduce the effects of noise and interference on the received signals, resulting in more accurate and reliable power information.

[0101] By providing the length of the time window to the radio node, the method can control the duration over which the receive power is averaged, allowing for flexible trade-offs between accuracy and latency. For example, a longer time window may provide more accurate results but at the cost of increased latency, while a shorter time window may provide faster results but with potentially reduced accuracy.

[0102] Additionally, by controlling the length of the time window, the method can be adapted to different use cases and environments, further increasing its versatility and applicability.

[0103] According to various examples, the method further comprises providing, to the radio node, a report configuration indicative of a report format to be used by the radio node for providing the report.

[0104] In this context, the report configuration is a set of parameters that define the structure and content of the report that the radio node will provide. This includes information such as the type of data to be included in the report, the format of the data, and any specific requirements or constraints on the report's contents.

[0105] By providing the report configuration to the radio node, the method can ensure that the report is generated in a consistent and predictable manner, which simplifies processing and analysis of the report at the management node.

[0106] According to various examples, the method further comprises providing, to the radio node, a measurement configuration indicative of a timing granularity of the time information and / or power granularity of the power information in the report.

[0107] In this context, the measurement configuration may be a set of parameters that define the level of detail or precision at which the time information and / or power information are measured and reported by the radio node. The timing granularity may refer to the smallest unit of time at which the time information is measured, while the power granularity may refer to the smallest unit of power at which the power information is measured.

[0108] By providing the measurement configuration to the radio node, the method can control the level of detail or precision at which the report is generated, allowing for flexible trade-offs between accuracy and complexity. For example, a finer timing granularity may provide more accurate results but at the cost of increased computational resources, while a coarser power granularity may reduce the amount of data to be processed but potentially sacrifice some accuracy.

[0109] Furthermore, this approach may enable optimized use of resources, as the measurement configuration can be adjusted to balance accuracy with computational complexity and data storage / transmission requirements.

[0110] According to various examples, the method further comprises obtaining, from the radio node, a capability indication indicating a capability to provide the report.

[0111] In this context, the capability indication is a signal or message received from the radio node that indicates its ability to provide the report as requested. This capability indication may be based on various factors, such as the radio node's current workload, available resources, or compatibility with the request.By obtaining the capability indication, the method can determine whether the radio node is capable of providing the report before sending a request for the report. This allows for more efficient use of resources and reduces the likelihood of failed requests or unnecessary communication overhead.

[0112] According to various examples, the method further comprises determining the position of the target object based on the at least two sets of observables.

[0113] In this context, determining the position of the target object involves using the collected observables from multiple radio nodes to estimate or calculate the location of the target object in a three-dimensional space. This may involve applying various algorithms or techniques, such as trilateration or multilateration, to process the observables and determine the target object's position.

[0114] According to various examples, the method further comprises at least one of detecting the presence of the target object based on the power information, classifying the target object based on the power information, and / or determining a spatial position of the target object based on the time information.

[0115] In this context, detecting the presence of the target object may involve analyzing the power information to identify patterns or signatures that indicate the presence of the target object. This may involve applying various algorithms or techniques, such as statistical analysis, to process the power information and determine whether the target object is present.

[0116] Classifying the target object based on the power information may involve using the power information to identify the type or characteristics of the target object. This may involve comparing the power information with pre-stored patterns or signatures associated with different types of objects based on its power characteristics.

[0117] Determining a spatial position of the target object based on the time information may involve using the time information to estimate or calculate the location of the target object in a three-dimensional space. This may involve applying various algorithms or techniques, such as trilateration or multilateration, to process the time information and determine the target object's position.

[0118] According to various examples, the method further comprises obtaining a transmission point configuration associated with the transmission of the associated sensing signal.

[0119] In this context, obtaining a transmission point configuration may involve retrieving or determining information related to the spatial arrangement and characteristics of the transmission points used for transmitting the sensing signal. This may include information about the position, orientation, and transmission power of each transmission point, as well as any other relevant parameters that may affect the propagation of the sensing signal, for example the antenna configuration, beam configuration, sensing signal configuration such as used resources, coding, frequencies, time slots etc.

[0120] The transmission point configuration is associated with the transmission of the associated sensing signal, meaning that it is specific to the particular sensing signal being used for detecting or tracking the target object.

[0121] A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a radio node of a cellular network. The radio node comprises compute circuitry configured to provide, to a management node ofthe cellular network, a report including at least two sets of observables. Each set of observables is associated with a sensing signal of a plurality of sensing signals employed by a sensing measurement for sensing a target object. The plurality of sensing signals employed by the sensing measurement are multiplexed with communication signaling of the cellular network and transmitted from multiple transmission points.

[0122] A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a management node of a cellular network. The management node comprises compute circuitry configured to obtain, from a radio node of the cellular network, a report including at least two sets of observables.

[0123] In this context, the management node receives a report from the radio node that includes multiple sets of observables. Each set of observables is associated with a specific sensing signal used for detecting or tracking the target object. These sets of observables are indicative of time information and power information related to the associated sensing signals.

[0124] The report obtained by the management node may contain data that reflects how long it took for the sensing signals to travel from their transmission points to the radio node via the target object, as well as information about the strength or power of these signals. This information is valuable for determining the location and movement of the target object.

[0125] The plurality of sensing signals employed by the sensing measurement are multiplexed with communication signaling of the cellular network and transmitted from multiple transmission points. This means that the management node can leverage existing infrastructure to gather data about the target object, rather than relying on dedicated sensing systems.

[0126] By obtaining a report including at least two sets of observables associated with different sensing signals, the management node can determine accurate and reliable location information for the target object.

[0127] It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below may be used not only in the respective combinations indicated, but also in other combinations or in isolation without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0128] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a mono-static sensing topology of a sensing measurement according to various examples.

[0129] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a bi-static sensing topology of a sensing measurement according to various examples.

[0130] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a multi-static sensing topology of a sensing measurement according to various examples.

[0131] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a system for JCAS / ISAC according to various examples. FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a system for JCAS / ISAC in a cellular network during a sensing measurement according to various examples.

[0132] FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a system for JCAS / ISAC during a sensing measurement according to various examples.

[0133] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates evaluation of channel impulse responses of a sensing measurement according to various examples.FIG. 8 schematically illustrates evaluation of channel impulse responses of a sensing measurement according to various examples.

[0134] FIGs. 9A to 90 schematically illustrate reports including at least two sets of observables of JCAS / ISAC sensing measurements according to various examples.

[0135] FIG. 10 is a signaling diagram according to various examples.

[0136] FIG. 11 is a signaling diagram according to further examples.

[0137] FIG. 12 schematically illustrates an apparatus according to various examples.

[0138] FIG. 13 schematically illustrates an apparatus according to various examples.

[0139] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a method according to various examples.

[0140] FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a method according to various examples.

[0141] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0142] Some examples of the present disclosure generally provide for a plurality of circuits or other electrical devices. All references to the circuits and other electrical devices and the functionality provided by each are not intended to be limited to encompass only that which is illustrated and described herein. While particular labels may be assigned to the various circuits or other electrical devices disclosed, such labels are not intended to limit the scope of operation for the circuits and the other electrical devices. Such circuits and other electrical devices may be combined with each other and / or separated in any manner based on the particular type of electrical implementation that is desired. It is recognized that any circuit or other electrical device disclosed herein may include any number of microcontrollers, a graphics processor unit (GPU), integrated circuits, memory devices (e.g., FLASH, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), or other suitable variants thereof), and software, which interact with each other to perform the operation(s) disclosed herein. In addition, any one or more of the electrical devices may be configured to execute a program code that is embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium programmed to perform any number of the functions as disclosed.

[0143] In the following, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the following description of embodiments is not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited by the embodiments described hereinafter or by the drawings, which are taken to be illustrative only.

[0144] The drawings are to be regarded as being schematic representations and elements illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale. Rather, the various elements are represented such that their function and general purpose become apparent to a person skilled in the art. Any connection or coupling between functional blocks, devices, components, or other physical or functional units shown in the drawings or described herein may also be implemented by an indirect connection or coupling. A coupling between components may also be established over a wireless connection. Functional blocks may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.

[0145] Hereinafter, aspects related to JCAS are disclosed. JCAS corresponds to a communication system that additionally offers sensing functionality. JCAS communicationsystems re-use hardware for sensing, thereby saving resources if compared to a reference scenario in which two separate systems are used. The aspects disclosed herein can be similarly applied to ISAC.

[0146] While positioning refers to the estimation of the position of (active) radio nodes connected to the cellular network, e.g., wireless terminals (UEs), sensing, on the other hand, enables to additionally sense passive objects in a surrounding of radio nodes connected to the cellular network. A passive object does not actively transmit or receive the sensing signals. Sensing signals are reflected and / or scattered at the passive objects. Sensing includes a transmission of a sensing signal or a set of sensing signals and reception I processing these sensing signals to extract sensing information.

[0147] A sensing signal may be a chirped signal, i.e., incorporating a frequency sweep over a certain allocated bandwidth. A sensing signal may be an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing signal. A sensing signal may be Code Division Multiplexed. A base signal is sinusoidal, but a spreading code is applied. The spreading code includes a sequence of chips (e.g., +1, -1, -1, +1, +1, -1, ...). For instance, aperiodic or random or pseudo-random sequence of chips can be used. The sequence of chips is then mapped to phase values which stay constant during the chirp duration. Furthermore, a sensing signal may be an OFDM modulated signal in which it occupies the radio resources in the time and frequency resource grid. The sensing signal may be generated by a certain sequence generator, such as Gold sequence, M-sequence, Zadoff-Chu sequence. The sensing signal that has a bandwidth that is proportional to the inverse of the chirp duration. By choosing orthogonal spreading sequences, code division multiplexing (CDM) of multiple sensing signals can be achieved. Thereby, a receiver radio node (RX radio node) (e.g. the UE or the base station) receiving the sensing signals can separate respective information. A sensing signal can be the same as, similar to, or associated with the existing reference signal in 5G NR (New Radio), such as positioning reference signal (PRS), Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS), Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS), Sounding Reference Signal (SRS), etc. A sensing signal can be the same as, similar to, or associated with the existing synchronization signal in 5G NR, such as Primary Synchronization Signal, Secondary Synchronization Signal, Synchronization Signal / Physical Broadcast Channel block (SS / PBSH block (SSB)), etc. A sensing signal can be associated to a certain frequency range or a certain frequency band. A sensing signal in frequency range 1, frequency range 2 and / or any other frequency range can be multiplexed using OFDM. Sensing signals in different frequency ranges or different frequency bands may have different configurations, such as sub-carrier spacing (SCS) or bandwidth. A sensing signal may be in a different form if it is operated in sub tera Hertz frequencies in which non-OFDM is expected to be deployed.

[0148] The sensing measurements of joint communication and sensing may employ sensing signals that are multiplexed with communication signaling of the cellular network. For instance, time multiplexing and / or frequency multiplexing can be used. It would be possible that timefrequency resources are centrally allocated by a scheduler (e.g. by a function in a base station) that schedules communication signaling as well to the sensing signals. For instance, a timefrequency resource grid of a wireless link may include multiple resource elements and theseresource elements may be allocated either to communication signaling or sensing signals of the sensing measurement by the scheduler (e.g. the base station). For instance, such a scheduler may reside at a base station of a radio-access network of the cellular network. By multiplexing these sensing signals with the communication signaling of the cellular network, interference between the communication signaling and the sensing measurement can be mitigated.

[0149] Furthermore, the sensing signals and communication signaling may be both transmitted and received by the same hardware in a radio node (e.g. a base station or a UE). In some examples, sensing and communication may use the exact same signal, such as one signal for both sensing and communication instead of two independent sequences / signals multiplexed in different spectrum.

[0150] Sensing can be used to support various use cases, such as object detection (presence), object identification, object classification (type), object tracking, object mapping, object positioning, object ranging, object counting, object velocity, environment monitoring, gesture recognition, motion monitoring, etc.

[0151] JCAS / ISAC can employ various sensing topologies. Among varies topologies, three commonly discussed configurations are mono-static, bi-static and multi-static sensing.

[0152] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a mono-static sensing topology. A user equipment (UE) 106 implements, both, a transmitter radio node (TX radio node) transmitting sensing signals 124; as well as a receiver radio node (RX radio node) detecting echoes 144 of the sensing signals 124 reflected and / or scattered at a physical (passive) target object 114 in the surrounding. For instance, the UE 106 may use the same antenna panel for transmitting the sensing signals 124 and for receiving the echoes of the sensing signals 144. In another example, a base-station (BS) such as the base station 108 in FIG 2., can also perform monostatic sensing topology.

[0153] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a bi-static sensing topology. Here, a base station (BS) 108, e.g. a gNB or a 6G Node B, implements the TX radio node and a UE 106 implements the RX radio node. In another example, a UE 106 implements the TX radio node and a BS 108 implements the RX radio node. More generally, in a bi-static sensing topology, two different radio nodes participate in the sensing measurement and cooperate to implement the sensing measurement.

[0154] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a multi-static sensing topology. Generally, in multi-static sensing topologies a plurality of TX radio nodes and / or a plurality of RX radio nodes are involved. The example of FIG. 3 can be seen as a combination of the mono-static sensing topology of FIG. 1 and the bi-static sensing topology of FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, the BS 108 implements, both, a TX radio node as well as a RX radio node, i.e. , a TX / RX radio node. A further BS 118 implements a TX radio node transmitting a further sensing signal 160 causing an echo 162 at the target object 114. The UE 106 implements a RX radio node. Multiple echoes 144, 302, 162 of the sensing signals 124, 160 are detected.

[0155] There are further sensing topologies, beyond those illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG.

[0156] 3. For example, in a multi-static sensing topology in which more than three different radio nodes participate in and cooperate to implement the sensing measurement. For instance, multiple UEs can participate in the sensing measurement. The RX radio node may be different than the TXradio node. In another example, multiple BSs may act as TX radio nodes and a UE may act as RX radio node, participating in sensing measurement by receiving the sensing signals from the multiple BSs.

[0157] By using a sensing measurement based on a sensing signal, it is possible to determine object-related information for a passive object such as the target object 114. This is done by investigating multiple multipath components of the radio channel. The multipath components stem from radio signals reaching the RX radio node through various spatial paths due to reflections, diffraction, and scattering caused by the objects (obstacles) in the environment, such as buildings, trees, terrain, vehicles, persons, etc. Each spatial path is associated with a respective distance between TX radio node and RX radio node; typically, those distances are different for different spatial paths and thus a given sensing signal (or, more precisely, multiple echoes of the sensing signal) arrives at the RX radio node at slightly different times for the different multipath components. This temporal spread, known as delay spread, leads to each multipath component having its own delay, amplitude or power, angle-of-arrival, angle-of-departure, and phase shift. Also, different Doppler characteristics (e.g., Doppler shifts) can be observed for moving objects. For example, a first spatial path may be a line-of-sight path or, at least, a path within minimum distance of the electromagnetic waves between the TX radio node and the RX radio node. The first spatial path may have higher amplitude or power of the electromagnetic waves at the RX radio node if compared to higher-order spatial paths, e.g., second or third spatial paths. Higher order spatial paths are typically associated with reflections at physical objects.

[0158] FIG. 4 illustrates a scenario in a cellular network 100 in which the BS 108 and the UE 106 participate in a sensing measurement. While the specific scenario of FIG. 4 corresponds to the bi-static sensing topology of FIG. 2, different configurations of sensing measurements are generally conceivable, such as mono-static and multi-static sensing topologies.

[0159] For example, a node 110 implementing a Sensing Management Function (SeMF) can configure the BS 108 and / or the UE 106 or, more generally, one or more radio nodes, to participate in a sensing measurement. In another example, a node 110 implementing a SeMF can receive the BS 108 configuration and configure the UE 106 or, more generally, one or more radio nodes, to participate in a sensing measurement. This can include configurations to transmit sensing signals and / or attempt to receive sensing signals and perform measurement and / or to provide measurement reports associated with the sensing signals. Different radio nodes engaging in the sensing measurement can be configured with specific types of measurement techniques, types of measurement reports or, more generally, specific reporting procedures. The measurement report may depend on the type of radio node. For instance, mobile radio nodes may be configured with a different reporting procedure if compared to static radio nodes. Radio nodes dedicated to the sensing measurement can be configured with a specific reporting procedure. In this example, BS 108 transmits sensing signals 120-126 (e.g., Sensing Reference Signals, SeRSs) and UE 106 is expected to receive the reflected / scattered sensing signals 140, 144,146 as well as sensing signal 122 transmitted along the direct line of sight (LOS) without being reflected or scattered. A communication 128 between the UE 106, BS 108 and the node 110 may be accomplished via wired or wireless communication of the cellular network 100, including e.g. LTE, 5G or6G data communication or the Internet.

[0160] In detail, FIG. 4 illustrates a downlink(DL)-like bi-static sensing, i.e. the BS 108 acts as a SeRS transmitter, transmitting SeRSs to its environment, and the UE 106 receives the reflected / scattered SeRSs and may also receive the direct LOS component. The SeRSs may be transmitted in different beams and reflected / scattered by different objects (such as the unmanned arial vehicle 114). The characteristics of the reflected signal change as the sensing channel interacts with multiple objects.

[0161] In this deployment, the UE 106 works as a SeRS receiver to capture the reflected signals and estimate the sensing channel. This estimation allows the UE 106 to derive sensing measurements associated with the target object 114, which are then reported to SeMF 110 for further processing. SeMF 110, optionally in cooperation with the application layer or proprietary processing, may perform various sensing tasks such as object detection, localization, and identification using the measurement report received from UE 106. In addition to the measurement processing, SeMF 110 may also communicate with the UE 106 via the 3GPP layer, for example for receiving sensing measurement reports and providing assistance information to support the UE 106 in the sensing measurement.

[0162] An SeRS may comprise an omnidirectional signal, or one or more spatially directed components. An SeRS may be transmitted in a specific spatial filter, also known as beam which has a spatial orientation or direction. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a plurality of SeRSs may be transmitted in different directions using different transmit beams 130, 132, 134, 136 at the SeRS transmitter, e.g. the gNB or 6G NodeB 108. The SeSRs may be received using different receive beams 150, 152, 154, 156 at the SeRS receiver, e.g. the UE 106.

[0163] Here, each such SeRS can be referred to as a 'ray'. Three rays 120, 124, 126 in different directions to objects 102, 114 and 104 are illustrated. Each ray then bounces off the various passive objects as reflected beams 140, 144, 146, either the target object 114 or the surrounding objects 102 or 104. These interactions change the properties of the reflected rays 140, 144, 146. In addition, a fourth ray 122 is illustrated which is not reflected at any object but propagates along the line of sight (LOS) from the gNB 108 to the UE 106. The UE 106, in this deployment, works as a SeRS receiver aimed at capturing the reflected rays 140, 144, 146 as well as the LOS ray 122 and estimating the sensing channels. The reflected rays may be referred to as non-LOS (NLOS) rays. This estimation allows the UE 106 to derive sensing measurements associated with the target object 114, which may then be reported to the SeMF 110 for further processing.

[0164] It is to be noticed that the rays 120, 122, 124, 126 indicate the main directions of the beams 130, 132, 134, 136. However, each SeRS transmitted in a specific spatial filter, i.e. in a beam 130, 132, 134, 136, does not only comprise a component in this main direction, but may comprise also further components in other directions. The further components may have lower power than the component in the main direction. The further components may be reflected at objects 102, 104, 114 and may be received at the UE 106 and may contribute to estimating thesensing channels. Likewise, receive beams 150, 152, 154, 156 at the SeRS receiver, e.g. the UE 106, may be sensitive not only in the main direction of the receive beams 150, 152, 154, 156, but also in other directions, e.g. with less sensitivity than in the main direction.

[0165] Generally, in positioning, e.g. in downlink (DL) New Radio (NR) positioning, the gNB may perform transmit beam sweeping for reference signal transmissions, e.g. positioning reference signals (PRSs), with a certain periodicity. For example, the same DL PRS sequence may be repeatedly transmitted over multiple transmit beams / resources in a Time Division Duplex (TDD) manner. Each transmit beam is steered in a different azimuth and zenith direction by applying different precoders or filters to the signal. For example, according to LPP specification 3GPP TS 37.355 ver. 18.3.0, the gNB can support up to 64 transmit beams / resources per resource set. The target UE receives the PRS and performs a positioning measurement. It is then up to the UE implementation to identify and select the best beam from these 64 beams. Typically, the UE identifies the best beam by measuring the DL-PRS-RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power) of each beam and selecting the one with the highest RSRP. The UE then reports positioning measurements of the best beam and optionally up to three adjacent beams to the Location Management Function (LMF). Thus, a direction of the UE with respect to the gNB may be determined. Based on, for example, triangulation I trilateration I multilateration from a plurality of gNBs, a position of the UE may be determined. However, this positioning requires active reception and measurement of the PRSs at the target object whose position is to be determined, for example the UE, as the active object.

[0166] The following describes techniques for determining the position of passive objects or objects that are at least not actively involved in the positioning and measurement of reference signals. The techniques enable the sensing receiver to determine a beam direction information for identifying the target object. The techniques may be realized in an ISAC framework, utilizing SeRS as sensing signals.

[0167] For example, a transmitter node, e.g. a gNB or 6G NodeB, transmits SeRS in different beams and each SeRS in a beam has its own identifier (ID), such as an SeRS resource ID.

[0168] A receiver node, e.g. a UE, may perform sensing measurement for each SeRS reception (or basically for each beam). The sensing measurement may comprise one or more measurements, in which one of the measurements may be a Channel Impulse Response (CIR) measurement as will be described in more detail below. In other examples, the sensing measurement may comprise a measurement of a Power Delay Profile (PDP) or other channel characteristics. However, each of the sensing measurements may be associated with the SeRS resource ID.

[0169] Sensing signal measurements may include the LOS path and other non-LOS (NLOS) paths. However, the power of the LOS path is normally dominant in LOS condition. It reaches its peak power when the beam is aligned with the LOS direction toward the UE, making it a good indicator for the UE to identify the LOS beam. However, in the ISAC framework the UE is expected to find the best ISAC beam(s) based on the power of the transmitter-target-receiver path which is an NLOS path.

[0170] The use of a single BS 108 may not be sufficient to determine the location and estimate the radar cross section (RCS) of the target object 114. The use of multiple gNBs in the mobilenetwork may be considered to perform sensing measurements for location and RCS determination and to improve accuracy.

[0171] FIG. 5 illustrates a cellular network 500 including a plurality of cells (visualized as hexagons) operated by a plurality of BSs 108, 502, 504, and 506. The UE 106 (or any other positioning reference unit, PRU, e.g., another BS) may receive sensing signals, e.g., SeRS#1 (reference signs 520, 521) and SeRS#2 (reference signs 522, 523), from the serving cell BS, e.g. gNB#1 (reference sign 108), and the neighboring cell BS, e.g. gNB#2 (reference sign 502). These sensing signals 520-523 can be multiplexed in the frequency domain and transmitted simultaneously. However, any other transmission scheme may be used, such as time or code multiplexing. Assuming that the sensing signals 520-523 from both BSs 108, 502 include specular / diffuse reflection components 521, 523 from the target object 114, such as the UAV, a (not shown) SeMF communicating with the UE 106 and the BSs 108, 502 may jointly estimate the location of the target object 114 based on timing information and distinguish the target object 114 from other unintended objects, such as birds, based on a power and RCS estimate.

[0172] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary sensing of a target object 114 in more detail. The sensing RX radio node, e.g. UE 106, receives and uses the SeRSs from multiple transmission points, e.g. BSs 108 and 502, to perform the sensing measurement. For the object identification and localization, the UE 106 may determine both power and timing measurement. In one example, sensing measurement at UE 106 may include correlating the received SeRSs with replica of the transmitted SeRSs, e.g. self-generated at the UE 106. Based on this, a Channel Impulse Response (CIR) may be estimated. Essentially, the CIR provides a time-domain representation of the multi-path of the channel, showing how the SeRS is reflected through different objects. The objects may include environmental objects and the target object(s), e.g., UAV, human, etc. The UE 106 may identify and select the path representing the reflection from the target object 114 among the multiple paths. In the example of FIG. 6, the UE 106 may identify and select path 520, 521 as the SeRS#1 from BS 108 and reflected at the target object 114. Other paths of the SeRS#1 from BS 108 may include LOS path 606 and further (not shown) paths reflected at other objects. Similarly, the UE 106 may identify and select path 522, 523 as the SeRS#2 from BS 502 and reflected at the target object 114. Other paths of the SeRS#2 from BS 502 may include LOS path 602 and further (not shown) paths reflected at other objects. This procedure can be done individually on both SeRS#1 and SeRS#2, resulting in CIR#1 and CIR#2. Further SeRS from further BSs may be considered in the same way by UE 106.

[0173] UE 106 may extract timing and power information of the selected path from the estimated CIR#1 and CIR#2 and may report this information to SeMF 110 for sensing estimation. The path representing the reflection at the target object 114 may be identified and selected based on the Cl Rs as explained below in connection with FIG. 7.

[0174] FIG. 7 depicts a CIR#1 of a channel between BS 108 and UE 106 as determined by UE 106 based on a sensing measurement of SeRS#1. Different rays of the SeRS#1 reach UE 106 via LOS and different scattering points at the target object 114 and further environmental objects. The rays are separated / resolved in a delay spectrum 700. Each sample in the CIR#1 represents a sum of rays sharing the same propagation delay. A sample may comprise acomplex value including magnitude and phase of the received sensing signals. In FIG. 7 the absolute value of the complex value is plotted against the delay time.

[0175] A first peak at time 702 in the delay spectrum 700 represents the ray along direct LOS path 606 from the BS 108 to UE 106. A second peak at time 704 in the delay spectrum 700 indicates the specular reflection at the target object 114, i.e. the ray along path 520, 521 from the BS 108 to the UE 106 via target object 114. Additional rays from different scattering points are separated / resolved in the delay spectrum 700.

[0176] FIG. 7 further depicts a CIR#2 of a channel between BS 502 and UE 106 as determined by UE 106 based on a sensing measurement of SeRS#2. Different rays of the SeRS#2 reach UE 106 via LOS and different scattering points at the target object 114 and further environmental objects. The rays are separated / resolved in a delay spectrum 710. Each sample in the CIR#2 represents a sum of rays sharing the same propagation delay. A sample may comprise a complex value including magnitude and phase of the received sensing signals. In FIG. 7 the absolute value of the complex value is plotted against the delay time.

[0177] A first peak at time 712 in the delay spectrum 710 represents the ray along direct LOS path 602 from the BS 502 to UE 106. A second peak at time 714 in the delay spectrum 710 indicates the specular reflection at the target object 114, i.e. the ray along path 522, 523 from the BS 502 to the UE 106 via target object 114. Additional rays from different scattering points are separated / resolved in the delay spectrum 710.

[0178] Characteristics of the delay spectrum 700 and the delay spectrum 710 may be used to identify, classify, and locate the target object 114, as described in more detail below. In particular, power information and time information of peaks in the delay spectra 700, 710 associated with the arrays reflected by the target object 114 may be considered.

[0179] The time information can be an absolute time, such as the time of arrival (TOA).

[0180] However, it should be noted that in this context the time information is associated with the reflected path of the sensing channel via the target object and not with the (direct) LOS path between the BS and the UE. Therefore, in the following, the time information associated with the reflected path of the sensing channel is referred to as Sensing Time of Arrival (STOA).

[0181] In some examples, the time information may be represented as the relative TOA between the reflected path and the LOS path, in the following referred to as Sensing Relative Time of Arrival (SRTOA), see reference signs 706 and 716 in FIG. 7. In some examples, the time information associated with the peak of the reflected path may be relative to a predefined reference time, e.g. relative to a start of a System Frame Number (SFN), or relative to a start of a subframe, or relative to a start of a slot, with or without an offset value.

[0182] The time information may also be a relative time between signal reception from two BSs. Again, it should be noted that in this context the time information is associated with the reflected path of the sensing channel, not the LOS path. Therefore, in the following, the time information associated with the relative time between the reflected paths of the sensing channels between two BSs and the UE is referred to as Sensing Time Difference of Arrival (STDOA). FIG. 8 illustrates the STDOA 802 for the scenario discussed in connection with FIG. 7.

[0183] The power information may refer to the absolute path power of the selected path reflected at the target object, i.e. it may indicate how much SeRS power can be received at adelay of the selected path. In the following, this measurement will be referred to as Sensing Absolute Path Power (SAPP).

[0184] The SAPP may be determined as the receive power of the sensing signal at the peak in the CIR associated with the reflected path reflected at the target object.

[0185] For example, the SAPP may represent the power value of one specific sample of the sensing signal at the peak in the CIR associated with the reflected path, e.g. the largest sample of the peak associated with the reflected path.

[0186] In some examples, the SAPP may be determined as an average power value of the sensing signal at or around the peak in the CIR associated with the reflected path. The receive power of the sensing signal may be averaged during a time window, e.g. 2 to 5 samples, covering the peak in the CIR associated with the reflected path. The time window may be configurable, for example configured by the SeMF or configured upon registering at the network. In contrast, SAPP is not the same as the legacy RSRP. The legacy RSRP is essentially the total power that is equivalent to the accumulated power of LOS and NLOS components. Hence, legacy RSRP may not be used for sensing the passive object.

[0187] In some further examples, the SAPP may be determined as an average of power values of several successive sensing signals at the peaks in the corresponding Cl Rs associated with the reflected path. For example, for each of the several successive sensing signals a corresponding sample of the sensing signal at the peak in the corresponding CIR associated with the reflected path may be determined. The average of these samples may be determined as the SAPP.

[0188] In addition, statistics regarding the SAPP may be determined. For example, a standard deviation may be determined based on the samples of the sensing signals at the peaks in the corresponding Cl Rs associated with the reflected path.

[0189] Based on the STOA / STDOA / SRTOA and SAPP measurement from the UE 106, the SeMF 110 may perform target object identification / classification and localization.

[0190] Target localization may be performed by calculating the range I relative distance between the target object 114 and the BSs 108, 502, see FIG. 6.

[0191] For example, the radar equation can be used to estimate the location of a target. The radar equation is used in radar technology to relate the power of a transmitted signal to the power of the received signal after it is reflected from a target. The radar equation can be expressed as:

[0192] > &

[0193]

[0194] where

[0195] Pr#iis the SAPP measurement at SeRS#j,

[0196] Pt#iis the transmit power of j-th BS, typically it can be up to 46dBm,

[0197] GBS#iis the antenna gain of the j-th BS focusing on a particular direction, which may comprise both the antenna radiation gain and the beam forming gain,

[0198] GUEis the antenna gain of the UE,

[0199] ostis the RCS of the target object, e.g. described in units of m2,TBs#i-st is the propagation time delay between the j-th BS and the target object,TuE-st is the propagation time delay between the UE and the target object,

[0200] c is the speed of light, and

[0201] fcis the carrier frequency.

[0202] The STOAt for SeRS#j is according to FIG. 6

[0203] ST0A T'BSUi-st + ^UE-st

[0204] Thus, the following equations can be set up for the case of multiple transmission points, e.g. two BSs, based on SAPP and STOA with four unknown variables: ost(RCS), TBs#i-st. TBS#2- standTuE-st (the propagation delay from sensing target to BS#1, BS#2 and UE):

[0205] >

[0206]

[0207] This system of equations has only one solution (since the RCS value is always positive) with the following closed form:

[0208] >

[0209] >

[0210] >

[0211]

[0212] where Ai is

[0213]

[0214] To calculate the RCS and the range, SeMF 110 may need not only the SAPP and STOA, but also some other parameters, such as BS transmit power Pt#i, BS antenna gain GBS#iand UE antenna gain GUE. This radio transmitter / receiver information may be provided to SeMF 110, e.g. explicitly via communication between SeMF and UE / BS, or implicitly by system configuration.

[0215] To localize the target object and calculate the (x,y,z) coordinates, SeMF may use positioning algorithms such as triangulation / trilateration / multilateration with the range / delayinformation (TBS#i-st >TBs#2-st and TU£-st) and the coordinates of the BSs and UE as inputs to the positioning algorithm.

[0216] As for the target identification or classification, the SeMF may compare the RCS estimate (ast) to a look-up table. This look-up table may list various target object types and their corresponding typical RCS values. The SeMF may identify the target object by matching the measured RCS value to one of the object types in the look-up table. The following are the examples of the RCS values of different sensing objects from M. Skolnik, “Introduction to radar systems", 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, Inc 1980, page 44. The reflective area of the corner reflector is given for an example with edge lengths of 1.5 m.

[0217]

[0218] Regarding identification of UAVs, the following look-up table may be considered. The RCS mean and standard deviation values are just examples.

[0219]

[0220] As can be seen from these look-up tables, the RCS values are quite different and unique for different types of objects, allowing the SeMF to identify the target. For example, the RCS of a UAV (V-V polarized) is significantly larger than that of a bird. This means that if a SeMF detects an object in the sky (z coordinate > 25 m) with an RCS measurement of e.g. -8 dBsm, the SeMF can determine that this object is likely a UAV rather than a bird by referring to the look-up tables. The standard deviation may be determined based on the standard deviation of the SAPP that may be determined based on the samples of the peak powers of the Cl Rs of several successive sensing signals associated with the reflected path as explained above.

[0221] The time information such as STOA, STDOA or SRTOA and the power information such as SAPP may be communicated in a report from the UE to the SeMF. For example, the report may include the resource identifier (ResID) and a gNB I TRP identifier (TRPID). This makes it easier for the SeMF to process the measurement report.

[0222] FIGs. 9A to 9C show exemplary data structures which may be used for forming the report.According to the data structure shown in FIG. 9A, multiple records may be provided for each detected target object. Each record may be associated with a SeRS TX radio node such as a gNB or TRP. The SeRS TX radio nodes may be identified in the record by respective identifiers TRPID#Y1 and TRPID#Y2. If there are more than two SeRS TX radio nodes, additional records may be provided with corresponding identifiers. Each record may also indicate a corresponding resource identifier ReslD#X1 of the radio resource on which observables regarding the detected target object are determined. The observables may indicate power information and time information. For example, each record may indicate a corresponding SAPP as the power information and STOA as the time information. As discussed above, the SAPP may indicate the power value of one specific sample of the sensing signal at the peak in the CIR associated with the reflected path, the average power value of the sensing signal at or around the peak in the CIR associated with the reflected path, or the average of power values of several successive sensing signals at the peaks in the corresponding Cl Rs associated with the reflected path. Furthermore, statistics regarding the SAPP may be provided in the record. Additionally or instead of the STOA, STDOA and / or SRTOA may be provided in the record.

[0223] The report may contain such a data structure for each detected target object, or a respective report may be generated with such a data structure for each detected target object.

[0224] A SeRS TX radio node may provide multiple resources for sensing a target object, e.g. multiple radio resources of multiple beams, see FIG. 4. In this case, a data structure like the one described above in connection with FIG. 9A may be used, but each record may comprise observables for each resource. In detail, as shown in FIG. 9B, each record may be associated with a SeRS TX radio node. The SeRS TX radio nodes may be identified in the record by respective identifiers TRPID#Y1 and TRPID#Y2. If there are more than two SeRS TX radio nodes, additional records may be provided with corresponding identifiers. For each resource provided by the respective SeRS TX radio node, the corresponding record may indicate a corresponding resource identifier ReslD#X1, ReslD#X2 of the radio resource on which the observables regarding the detected target object are determined. For example, assigned to each radio resource, each record may indicate a corresponding SAPP and STOA. As discussed above, the SAPP may indicate the power value of one specific sample of the sensing signal at the peak in the CIR associated with the reflected path, the average power value of the sensing signal at or around the peak in the CIR associated with the reflected path, or the average of power values of several successive sensing signals at the peaks in the corresponding Cl Rs associated with the reflected path. Furthermore, statistics regarding the SAPP may be provided in the record per radio resource. Additionally or instead of the STOA, STDOA and / or SRTOA may be provided in the record.

[0225] The report may contain such a data structure for each detected target object, or a respective report may be generated with such a data structure for each detected target object.

[0226] When multiple target objects are identified, also the data structure shown in FIG. 9C may be utilized. Each record may be associated with a SeRS TX radio node such as a gNB or TRP. The SeRS TX radio nodes may be identified in the record by respective identifiers TRPID#Y1 and TRPID#Y2. If there are more than two SeRS TX radio nodes, additional records may beprovided with corresponding identifiers. Each record may also indicate a corresponding resource identifier ReslD#X1 of the radio resource on which observables regarding the detected target objects are determined. For each identified target object, a set of corresponding observables may be provided. Each set of observables may indicate power information and time information for the respective target object. For example, each record may indicate a corresponding SAPPi as the power information and STOAi as the time information for target object #1, a corresponding SAPP2 as the power information and STOA2 as the time information for target object #2 and so on. As discussed above, for each target object #i, the SAPP; may indicate the power value of one specific sample of the sensing signal at the peak in the CIR associated with the reflected path, the average power value of the sensing signal at or around the peak in the CIR associated with the reflected path, or the average of power values of several successive sensing signals at the peaks in the corresponding Cl Rs associated with the reflected path. Furthermore, statistics regarding the SAPP; may be provided in the record.

[0227] Additionally or instead of the STOAi, STDOAj and / or SRTOAj may be provided in the record.

[0228] In the above description it is assumed that the SeRS Tx radio node is a network node, for example a BS or TRP, and the SeRS Rx radio node is a UE. However, in other scenarios the SeRS Tx radio node may be a UE and the SeRS Rx radio node may be a network node, or the SeRS Tx radio node may be a UE and the SeRS Rx radio node may be the same or another UE, or the SeRS Tx radio node may be a network node and the SeRS Rx radio node may be the same or another network node. In any case, the report may include an identifier of the node transmitting the sensing signal, e.g. TRPID or an ID of a transmitting BS or UE.

[0229] Exemplary scenarios of the interaction between the SeRS Tx radio node, SeRS Rx radio node and management node will be described in the following in connection with FIGs. 10 and 11.

[0230] The sensing measurement may be performed by a terminal node, for example by the UE 106. In this scenario the gNB 108 may transmit the SeRS as downlink (DL) signals, e.g. sensing signals multiplexed with DL communication signaling. Such a UE-assisted downlink based sensing is illustrated in FIG. 10.

[0231] In the signaling diagram of FIG. 10, the UE 106 is the RX radio node that receives the reflected and / or scattered sensing signals, e.g. signals 521, 523, and the gNBs 108 are the TX radio nodes that transmit the sensing signals, e.g. signals 520, 522. However, this is only an example and in other examples, the gNB 108 may be the Rx radio node and UEs may be the Tx radio nodes (see FIG. 11), or in further examples, gNBs 108 may be the Tx radio nodes and another gNB may be the Rx radio node.

[0232] In general, the sensing receiver, i.e. UE 106, may perform a sensing measurement on a target object 114 as described above in connection with FIGs. 5-8 to determine the observables to be communicated in the report to the SeMF 110 as described above in connection with FIGs.

[0233] 9A to 9C.

[0234] Thus, apart from transmitting the report 1014, all other signaling may be optional.

[0235] In more detail, the UE 106 may transmit a capability indication 1002 to the SeMF 110. The UE may provide its capability in terms of the ability to perform sensing measurement and reporting.For example, supported values for the above-mentioned time window, and a number of supported beams which can be monitored may be indicated in the capability indication 1002. Also, supported measurements (e.g., power measurement, timing measurement, etc.) and / or supported concurrent measurements within a time window may be indicated in the capability indication 1002. Supported frequency bands (e.g., FR1, FR2 of 5G NR etc.) and / or a number of sensing measurements (e.g., for each report, for each sensing pair (Tx-Rx)) may be indicated in the capability indication 1002. A state of the UE 106 in performing sensing measurements (IDLE, INACTIVE, CONNECTED mode) may be indicated in the capability indication 1002. An antenna configuration and information indicative of location (e.g., static, dynamic, current location) may be indicated in the capability indication 1002.

[0236] The capability indication 1002 may also indicate a number of objects that can be analyzed within one measurement or a certain time duration, and supported measurements such as CIR or PDP.

[0237] The sensing signal TX radio nodes, in this example the gNBs 108 and 502 (or Transmission-Reception Points (TRPs) in gNBs 108, 502, may transmit their SeRS transmission (SeRS Tx) configurations 1004 to the SeMF 110. Each SeRS Tx configuration 1004 may be indicative of characteristics of the SeRS, for example frequency, power, modulation, timeslots, etc., and in particular directions of associated transmit beams and identifiers such as resource IDs. SeMF 110 may also receive a similar SeRS Tx configuration from other gNBs, e.g. gNBs 504, 506 of FIG. 5. Hence, SeMF 110 may be a central node collecting the SeRS Tx configuration from multiple gNBs.

[0238] Based on the capabilities of the UE 106 and the SeRS Tx configurations, the SeMF 110 may decide that the UE 106 shall perform the object detection and identification. The SeMF 110 may determine and transmit a sensing configuration 1006, including e.g. the SeRS Tx configurations, to the UE 106, e.g. frequency, timeslots, identifiers, waveform, sequence and resource mapping, etc. The sensing configuration 1006 may also be transmitted to the gNBs 108, 502 for confirming the SeRS Tx configurations of 1004 or (re-)configuring the SeRS Tx, and / or triggering the transmission of the SeSRs.

[0239] To assist the UE 106, the SeMF 110 may provide the following supporting measurement configuration / assistance information 1008.

[0240] For example, a specific or a combination of the time information types to be reported may be configured in 1008, e.g. STOA, STDOA and / or SRTOA.

[0241] A delay measurement gate duration where the UE should “gate” the CIR measurements for SAPP calculation may be configured in 1008. In practical signal processing, the UE may not be able to measure the signal power arriving at each arbitrary time in CIR due to the limited sampling frequency. Instead, the UE may measure the sum of path power of the signal arriving within a certain delay duration in a CIR. This “gate” duration can be configured by SeMF and should be consistent across different Cl Rs, e.g. 2 to 5 samples.

[0242] A timing and power granularity of the measurement report may also be configured in 1008.

[0243] When triggered by the SeMF 110, the UE 106 receives one or more measurement requests 1010 to perform sensing measurement. The measurement request 1010 mayrepresent the trigger for the UE 106 to start performing the sensing measurement 1012. The sensing measurement 1012 may start immediately or according to a (pre-)defined schedule.

[0244] Transmitting the sensing configuration 1006, the measurement configuration / assistance information 1008 and / or measurement request 1010 may be combined in a single transmission or may comprise two or more separate transmissions. For example, the sensing configuration 1006 and the measurement configuration / assistance information 1008 may be combined and transmitted only once for a plurality of measurement requests 1010. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the sensing configuration 1006, the measurement configuration / assistance information 1008, or the measurement requests 1010 may be transmitted in a different layer from another one (other ones) of the sensing configuration 1006, the measurement configuration / assistance information 1008, or the measurement requests 1010.

[0245] In some examples, the measurement configuration / assistance information 1008 may include a timing for performing the sensing measurements.

[0246] Including the above information in the measurement configuration / assistance information 1008 is only an example and in other examples this information may be included in the measurement request 1010, or the sensing configuration 1006. Further, the measurement configuration / assistance information 1008 may comprise a plurality of messages each including parts of the information.

[0247] Some or all of the information of measurement configuration / assistance information 1008 may be either communicated per measurement request, or it may be pre-communicated by SeMF to facilitate multiple measurements. Pre-communicating this information may be provided via LPP-like or NRPPa-like protocols. In other examples, the configuration information may be predefined in the network and communicated to the UE 106 upon registering at the network.

[0248] A sensing measurement operation 1012 may be performed at the UE 106 based on the SeRS received at the UE 106. The SeRS 520, 522 are transmitted by the gNBs 108, 502 and may be scattered and reflected by the target object 114 and other objects in the environment, or may propagate along the LOS, see paths 602, 606 in FIG. 6.

[0249] Based on the received SeRS, including reflected SeRS 521, 523 and also SeRSs along paths 602, 606, and as part of the sensing measurement operation 1012, the UE 106 may estimate the Channel Impulse Responses (Cl Rs). Each CIR represents the multipath characteristics of the environment between the respective transmitting gNB and the UE including the target object 114.

[0250] Furthermore, as part of the sensing measurement operation 1012, the UE 106 may implement the techniques described above in connection with FIG. 5-9. Thus, for each potential target object, the UE 106 may provide for each gNB 108, 502 a set of observables each indicative of time information and power information of the SeRSs 521 , 523 reflected at the target object 114.

[0251] A sensing measurement result report 1014 transmitted from the UE 162 the SeMF 110 may include for each gNB 108, 502 the set of observables as discussed above in connection with FIGs 9A to 9C. In addition or as an alternative, the report 1014 may include for each of the received SeRS a CIR measurement of the corresponding channel impulse response containing a vector of complex parameters. The report 1014 may include information of the measurementquality / reliability of the CIR measurement. This information may be provided via a LPP-like protocol

[0252] Based on the observables, the SeMF 110 may perform a sensing estimation 1016 for determining the position of the target object 114 based on the sensing measurement results (e.g., range / delay information) and the coordinates of the gNBs and / or UE as inputs to a positioning algorithm such as triangulation I trilateration I multilateration.

[0253] The SeMF 110 may further identify or classify the target object based on an RCS estimate and a look-up table as described above.

[0254] According to various examples, the sensing measurement may be performed by a network node, for example by the gNB 108. In this scenario multiple UEs may transmit the SeRS as uplink (UL) signals, e.g. sensing signals multiplexed with UL communication signaling. Such a network-assisted uplink based sensing is illustrated in FIG. 11.

[0255] The UE-assisted downlink based sensing illustrated in FIG. 10 may be complemented with the network-assisted uplink based sensing illustrated in FIG. 11 or vice versa.

[0256] In the signaling diagram of FIG. 11, the gNB 108 is the Rx radio node that receives the reflected and / or scattered sensing signals, e.g. signals 521, 523 and the UEs 106 are the Tx radio nodes that transmit the sensing signals, e.g. signals 520, 522.

[0257] In general, the sensing receiver, i.e. gNB 108, may perform a sensing measurement on a target object 114 as described above in connection with FIGs. 5-8 to determine the observables to be communicated in the report to the SeMF 110 as described above in connection with FIGs. 9A to 9C.

[0258] Thus, apart from transmitting the report 1122, all other signaling may be optional.

[0259] In more detail, the UEs 106 may transmit a capability indication 1102 to the SeMF 110. The UEs 106 may provide its capability in terms of the ability to provide sensing signals, e.g. SeRSs. The capability may indicate characteristics of the SeRS, for example supported frequencies, power, timeslots, identifiers such as resource IDs etc.. SeMF 110 may also receive similar capability indications from other UEs. Hence, SeMF 110 may be a central node collecting the capabilities from multiple UEs.

[0260] The gNB 108 also may transmit a capability indication 1104 to the SeMF 110. The gNB 108 may provide its capability in terms of the ability to perform measurement and reporting. For example, supported values for the above-mentioned time window, and a number of supported beams which can be monitored may be indicated in the capability indication 1104. Supported measurements (e.g., power measurement, timing measurement, etc.) and / or supported concurrent measurements within a time window may be indicated in the capability indication 1104. Supported frequency bands (e.g., FR1 , FR2 of 5G NR etc.) and / or a number of sensing measurements (e.g., for each report, for each sensing pair (Tx-Rx)) may be indicated in the capability indication 1104.

[0261] The capability indication 1104 may indicate a number of target objects that can be analyzed within one measurement or a certain time duration, and supported types of measurements such as CIR or PDP.

[0262] The SeMF 110 may transmit a sensing information request 1106 to the gNB 108. The sensing information request 1106 may include information on the capabilities of the UEs 106,for example obtained from the capability indication 1102. The sensing information request 1106 may include a request to the gNB 108 to provide the SeRS configuration to be used by the UEs 106. This information may be provided via an NRPPa-like protocol.

[0263] Based on the sensing information request 1106, the gNB 108 may determine a configuration of the UL SeRSs to be transmitted by the UEs 106 in box 1108. A sensing configuration 1110 including the UL SeRSs TX configuration may be transmitted to the UEs 106. This information may be provided via higher layer signaling, such as an RRC protocol. The sensing configuration 1110 may comprise characteristics of the SeRS, for example frequency, power, modulation, timeslots, and identifiers such as resource IDs to be used by the UEs 106. The gNB 108 may also transmit the UL SeRS TX configuration 1112 to the SeMF 110. This information may be provided via an NRPPa-like protocol.

[0264] The UL SeRS TX configuration 1112 may indicate which UEs are configured to transmit SeRS and characteristics of the corresponding SeRS, e.g. the configured identifiers. The SeMF 110 may also receive a similar SeRS Tx configuration from other gNBs. Hence, SeMF 110 may be a central node collecting the SeRS Tx configuration from multiple gNBs.

[0265] The SeMF 110 may transmit an activation request 1114 to the gNB 108 (e.g., via a NRPPa-like protocol) and based thereon, the gNB 108 may transmit an UL ReRS TX activation 1116 to the UEs 106 to activate the transmission of UL ReRS 520, 522 at the UEs 106. This information may be provided via RRC, MAC, or Downlink Control Information (DCI) depending on the nature of SeRS operation. A periodic SeRS transmission is typically done via RRC I MAC. An aperiodic operation with low-latency may be typically done via DCI.

[0266] To assist the gNB 108, the SeMF 110 may provide supporting measurement configuration / assistance information 1118. For example, supporting measurement configuration / assistance information 1118 may comprise of the information described above in connection with the supporting measurement configuration / assistance information 1008. In one example, the assistance information may provide information to assist the sensing measurement operation / reporting in a given condition / time, for example, the subsequent measurement opportunity after receiving the assistance information.

[0267] When triggered by the SeMF 110, the gNB 108 receives one or more measurement requests 1120 to perform sensing measurement. The measurement request 1120 may represent the trigger for the gNB 108 to start performing a sensing measurement 1012. The sensing measurement 1012 may start immediately or according to a (pre-)defined schedule.

[0268] Transmitting the sensing information request 1106, the activation request 1114, the measurement configuration / assistance information 1118 and / or measurement request 1120 may be combined in a single transmission or may comprise two or more separate transmissions.

[0269] Furthermore, the sensing information request 1106, the activation request 1114, and the measurement configuration / assistance information 1118 may be transmitted only once for a plurality of measurement, i.e., after transmitting the sensing information request 1106, the activation request 1114, and the measurement configuration / assistance information 1118, a plurality of measurement request 1120 may be transmitted for performing a plurality of sensing measurements using the same configuration and assistance information.In some examples, the measurement configuration / assistance information 1120 may include a timing for performing the sensing measurements.

[0270] Including the above information in the measurement configuration / assistance information 1120 is only an example and in other examples this information may be included in the measurement request 1120, or the sensing information request 1106. Further, the measurement configuration / assistance information 1118 may comprise a plurality of messages each including parts of the information.

[0271] Some or all of the information of measurement configuration / assistance information 1118 may be either communicated per measurement request, or it may be pre-communicated by SeMF to facilitate multiple measurements. Pre-communicating this information may be provided via LPP-like or NRPPa-like protocols. In other examples, the configuration information may be predefined in the network.

[0272] Based on SeRSs 520, 522 transmitted by the UEs 106, the sensing measurement 1012 may be performed by receiving SeRSs 521, 523 scattered and reflected by the target object 114 at the gNB 108.

[0273] Based on the received SeRSs 521, 523 (and also SeRSs along paths 602, 606), the gNB 108 may estimate the Channel Impulse Responses (CIRs). Each CIR represents the multipath characteristics of the environment between the respective transmitting UE and the gNB including the target object 114.

[0274] The gNB 108 may execute techniques in a similar way as described above in connection with FIG. 5-9. Thus, for each potential target object, the gNB 108 may provide for each UE 106 a set of observables each indicative of time information and power information of the SeRSs 521 , 523 reflected at the target object 114.

[0275] A sensing measurement result report 1122 may be transmitted from the gNB 108 to the SeMF 110 (e.g., via a NRPPa-like protocol). The sensing measurement result report 1122 may include for each UE 106 the set of observables as discussed above in connection with FIGs 9A to 9C.

[0276] Based on the observables, the SeMF 110 may perform a measurement estimation 1124 for determining the position of the target object 114 based on the range / delay information and the coordinates of the gNB and UEs as inputs to a positioning algorithm such as triangulation I trilateration I multilateration.

[0277] The SeMF 110 may further identify or classify the target object based on an RCS estimate and a look-up table as described above.

[0278] FIG. 12 schematically illustrates an apparatus 1200, e.g., a node or a device. For instance, the apparatus 1200 can implement the SeMF 110. The apparatus 1200 includes a processor 1202 and a memory 1204. The processor 1202 and the memory 1204 form a compute circuitry. The apparatus 1200 also includes a communication interface 1206. The processor 1202 can communicate with other apparatuses via the communication interface 1206. The processor 1202 can load program code from the memory 1204 and execute the program code. The processor 1202 can perform techniques as disclosed herein upon loading and executing the program code. For instance, the processor 1202 can execute the method of FIG. 14.FIG. 13 schematically illustrates an apparatus 1300, e.g., a node or a device. For instance, the apparatus 1300 can implement the UE 106 or the gNB 108. The apparatus 1300 includes a processor 1302 and a memory 1304. The processor 1302 and the memory 1304 form a compute circuitry. The apparatus 1300 also includes a communication interface 1306 that supports wireless communication via one or more antennas 1308. The processor 1302 can communicate with other apparatuses via the communication interface 1306. The processor 1302 can receive and / or transmit SeRS via the interface 1306 and the antenna(s) 1308. The processor 1302 can load program code from the memory 1304 and execute the program code. The processor 1302 can perform techniques as disclosed herein upon loading and executing the program code. The processor 1302 can perform techniques for processing received SeRS. For instance, the processor 1302 can execute the method of FIG. 15.

[0279] FIG. 14 is a flowchart 1400 of a method according to various examples. FIG. 14 generally relates to implementation of a sensing measurement. FIG. 14 specifically relates to the management of a sensing measurement executed by one or more nodes.

[0280] The method of FIG. 14 can be executed by a node of a cellular network. For example, the method can be executed by a compute circuitry of the node of the cellular network. For instance, the method can be executed by a processor upon loading and executing program code that is stored in a memory. For example, the method of FIG. 14 may be executed by a node that is located in a core network of the cellular network. The node may be the apparatus 1200 of FIG. 12. The node may be a management node, i.e. , execute a management function for managing a plurality of sensing measurements at multiple radio nodes. For instance, such node may be labeled Sensing Management Function (SeMF). The SeMF can implement a collection of measurement reports, processing of measurement reports, e.g., for localization and / or control / coordination amongst various radio nodes executing sensing measurements. In another example, SeMF can be a new function of the legacy location management function (LMF) as in 5G core network.

[0281] At optional box 1402, the node obtains information indicative of a capability of one or more radio nodes, e.g., one or more UEs 106 and / or one or more base stations, such as gNB 108. The capability is associated with performing sensing measurements and / or reporting thereof. For instance, box 1402 can include receiving a higher-layer control message such as sensing-protocol message, ora positioning protocol message (e.g., Third Generation Partnership, 3GPP, Long Term Evolution, LTE, Positioning Protocol, LPP, message ora message having a format related to the LPP message format). In other examples, the capabilities of the one or more radio nodes may be predefined in the network or otherwise provided by the one or more radio nodes, e.g., upon registration with the cellular network, and thus known to the node.

[0282] The capability can be indicative of whether the respective radio node is capable of executing a sensing measurement, e.g., using a certain topology. The capability can be indicative of whether the respective radio node is capable of using a certain type of sensing signal, e.g., a chirped signal or a CDM signal. The capability can be indicative of whether the respective radio node is capable of performing a certain type of sensing measurement technique. Alternatively or additionally, the capability can be indicative of whether the respectiveradio node is capable of supporting a certain reporting procedure for reporting on a sensing measurement and type identification. For instance, the capability can be indicative of whether the respective radio node can provide a measurement report that includes certain information. The capability can be indicative of whether the respective radio node is capable of determining and reporting at least two sets of observables, wherein each set of observables is associated with a sensing signal of a plurality of sensing signals from multiple transmission points. Each set of observables is employed by the sensing measurement for sensing a target object and each set of observables is indicative of time information and power information related to the associated sensing signal.

[0283] The capability may be received from several radio nodes involved in the sensing measurement. For example, a transmission point configuration associated with the transmission of the associated sensing signals may be obtained. For example, an antenna configuration, beam configuration, transmission point location, supported or configured sensing signal configurations such as resources may be obtained.

[0284] At optional box 1404, the node provides information indicative of a configuration of the sensing measurement to each of one or more radio nodes. For instance, box 1404 can be responsive to obtaining the information indicative of the capability at box 1402. It would be possible that box 1404 is responsive to a respective sensing request obtained from an application. For instance, the application may implement a target object counting, target object tracking, target object identification or target object positioning use case. The application can then request execution of a respective sensing measurement; this can trigger providing the configuration to the one or more radio nodes. In another example, configuration information may contain the SeRS configuration in which the SeRS is to be used for sensing measurement at the sensing receiver. The node may further provide a report configuration indicative of a report for format to be used by the radio node for providing the report. The node may provide details on determining and providing the report, e.g. a timing granularity of the time information and / or power granularity of the power information in the report. The node may provide a configuration on a time window to be used for averaging of a receive power value.

[0285] In some examples, the configuration information may be predefined in the network or otherwise provided to the one or more radio nodes, e.g., upon registration with the cellular network, and thus known to the one or more radio nodes.

[0286] The configuration can select between different sensing topologies. For example, the configuration message or the configuration messages can be indicative of a selected one of mono-static sensing topology (cf. FIG. 1), bi-static sensing topology (cf. FIG. 2), and multi-static sensing topology (cf. FIG. 3).

[0287] It would be possible that the configuration determines the radio resources and properties, such as a frequency bandwidth of a transmission of a sensing signal. For instance, it would be possible to specify a number of subcarriers or resource blocks that are to be employed for transmitting the sensing signal. Alternatively or additionally, it would be possible to indicate one or more bandwidth parts I frequency layers that are to be used for transmitting the sensing signal.It would be possible that the configuration is indicative of the specific radio resources -e.g., timing information and / or timeslots and / or frequency resources and / or time-frequency resources such as resource blocks or resource elements - to be used for transmitting the sensing signals. As a general rule, the configuration can be determined in accordance with the capabilities of the one or more radio nodes (cf. box 1402).

[0288] At optional box 1406, a configuration triggering an allocation of sensing signals is provided to the radio nodes that are expected to transmit the sensing signals. For example, if a UE is expected to transmit the sensing signals, this configuration may be provided to the gNB at which the UE is registered and the gNB may instruct the UE to transmit sensing signals using specific radio resources. Hence, the UE may receive the resource grant from gNB prior to the sensing signals transmission. If the gNB is expected to transmit the sensing signals, this configuration may trigger the transmission of the sensing signals. Additionally or as an alternative, the sensing signals may be transmitted according to a predefined scheme defined in the network or upon provision of the sensing configuration (cf. box 1404). For example, the gNB has been configured to transmit signal signals with certain periodicity at configured resources.

[0289] At optional box 1408, a sensing measurement request (trigger) is provided to the receiving radio nodes to start the sensing measurement.

[0290] The optional box 1408 can also be provided prior to box 1406. In some examples, the sensing measurement may be started autonomously by the radio nodes, e.g., according to a predefined schedule provided in the network or otherwise provided to the radio nodes, e.g., upon registration with the cellular network.

[0291] At box 1410, one or more reports are obtained from the radio node. The one or more reports include at least two sets of observables. Each set of observables is associated with a sensing signal of a plurality of sensing signals employed by a sensing measurement for sensing the target object. Each set of observables is indicative of time information and power information related to the associated sensing signal. The plurality of sensing signals are multiplexed with communication signaling of the cellular network and transmitted from multiple transmission points.

[0292] It would be possible that the one or more reports are transparent to a radio-access network of the cellular network. An end-to-end protocol between the node (e.g., implementing a SeMF) and the reporting radio nodes may be established. For instance, higher-layer control messages can be signaled on logical links established between each of the radio nodes and the SeMF. Therefore, other nodes in the radio-access network do not need to process such reports. The reports are transparent to the radio-access network of the cellular network. For example, it can be in the form of sensing protocol message or LPP-like protocol message.

[0293] At optional box 1412, the indication of the at least two sets of observables (each including time and power information) may be used to perform a measurement estimation for determining the position of the target object. An identification or at least classification such as a type of the target object may also be determined based on the at least two sets of observables.

[0294] For example, the presence of the target object may be detected based on the power information. The target object may be classified based on the power information and the RSCas discussed above. A spatial position of the target object may be determined based on the time information by using triangulation, trilateration or multilateration.

[0295] FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a method 1500 according to various examples. The method of FIG. 15 generally pertains to actions associated with a sensing measurement. FIG. 15 is for use in a radio node participating in a sensing measurement using sensing signals being multiplexed with communication signaling. The node may be the apparatus 1300 of FIG. 13. For instance, the method 1500 of FIG. 15 can be executed by a receiver radio node. The method 1500 can be executed by a processor upon loading and executing program code from a memory. For instance, the method 1500 can be executed by the processor 1302 of the apparatus 1300 upon loading and executing program code from the memory 1304. The method 1500 can be executed by a UE such as the UE 106 or can be executed by a base station such as the gNB 108.

[0296] The method 1500 of FIG. 15 can be inter-related to the method 1400 of FIG. 14.

[0297] At optional box 1502, a capability associated with the sensing measurement is provided to a node of a cellular network to which the radio node is connected. For instance, the capability can be provided to a node implementing a SeMF. Aspects with respect to such signaling of the capability have been previously discussed in connection with FIG. 14 box 1402.

[0298] At optional box 1504, a configuration of the sensing measurement is obtained. For example, one or more configuration messages may be obtained. Box 1504 can be responsive to providing a capability at box 1502. Aspects with respect to such configuration have been previously discussed in connection with FIG. 14: box 1404.

[0299] At optional box 1506, a sensing measurement request may be obtained, for example from SeMF 110. In another example, box 1506 can be performed prior to box 1504. In various examples, box 1504 can be performed each time the radio node obtains the measurement request 1506, or as a just one-time configuration. Aspects with respect to such sensing measurement request have been previously discussed in connection with FIG. 14: box 1408.

[0300] At box 1508, the radio node performs a sensing measurement in accordance with the sensing information obtained in box 1504. For example, the node can perform multiple sensing measurements. Based on the sensing measurement(s), the radio node may determine at least two sets of observables. Each set of observables is associated with a sensing signal of a plurality of sensing signals employed by a sensing measurement for sensing a target object. Each set of observables indicates time information and power information related to the associated sensing signal. The plurality of sensing signals are multiplexed with communication signaling of the cellular network and transmitted from multiple transmission points. In practice, the multiple transmission points can be located at different locations. This may result in different channel characteristics that could result in rich data collections that can improve sensing estimation.

[0301] At box 1510, a report message indicative of the at least two sets of observables is provided. Aspects with respect to such messages have been previously discussed in connection with FIG. 14: box 1410.

[0302] Summarizing, the proposed techniques involve several steps and improvements for object positioning in wireless networks using ISAC.The principal operation and signaling flows may involve the UE estimating Channel Impulse Responses (Cl Rs) from different received sensing reference signals (SeRS) and extracting timing and power information. For each object identified in the CIR, the UE may report various measurements to the SeMF, including one or more Sensing Time of Arrival (STOA) measurements associated with a specific gNB ID, resource ID, and resource set ID, as well as one or more Sensing Absolute Path Power (SAPP) measurements. The SAPP can be reported in scalar units or dB scale, and may be normalized to the antenna gain.

[0303] The UE's measurement reports may also include time-stamps of the measurement. Before reporting these measurements, the SeMF may provide measurement configuration to the UE, specifying which STOA measurement types to report, a delay measurement gate duration for SAPP calculation, and the timing and power granularity of the measurement report.

[0304] Prior to this operation, the radio node (UE or gNB) may provide its capability and supported configuration, including frequency operation, number of sensing measurements, UE state, supported measurements, concurrent measurements within a time window, and antenna configuration and location.

[0305] Summarizing, at least the following EXAMPLES have been disclosed:

[0306] EXAMPLE 1: A method for use in a radio node of a cellular network, the method comprising:

[0307] providing (1510), to a management node (110) of the cellular network (100), a report (1014, 1122) including at least two sets of observables, each set of observables being associated with a sensing signal (520-523) of a plurality of sensing signals employed by a sensing measurement for sensing a target object (114), each set of observables being indicative of time information and power information related to the associated sensing signal (520-523), wherein the plurality of sensing signals are multiplexed with communication signaling of the cellular network (100) and transmitted from multiple transmission points.

[0308] EXAMPLE 2: The method of EXAMPLE 1 , wherein at least one set of observables of the at least two sets of observables comprises a resource identifier of a resource associated with a transmission of the associated sensing signal (520-523).

[0309] EXAMPLE 3: The method of EXAMPLE 1 or EXAMPLE 2, wherein at least one set of observables of the at least two sets of observables comprises a transmission point identifier of a transmission point transmitting the associated sensing signal (520-523).

[0310] EXAMPLE 4: The method of any one of the preceding EXAMPLES, wherein each set of observables is determined based on observed channel characteristics of a channel between a transmission point transmitting the associated sensing signal (520-523) and the radio node (106, 108).

[0311] EXAMPLE 5: The method of EXAMPLE 4, wherein the channel characteristics comprise a Channel Impulse Response (700, 710).

[0312] EXAMPLE 6: The method of any one of the preceding EXAMPLES, wherein the time information is indicative of a time of arrival at the radio node (106, 108) of the associated sensing signal (520-523) scattered at the target object (114).EXAMPLE 7: The method of any one of the preceding EXAMPLES, wherein the power information is indicative of a receive power at the radio node (106, 108) of the associated sensing signal (520-523) scattered at the target object (114).

[0313] EXAMPLE 8: The method of EXAMPLE 7, wherein the power information is indicative of the receive power normalized to an antenna gain of an antenna (1308) of the radio node (106, 108) receiving the associated sensing signal (520-523).

[0314] EXAMPLE 9: The method of EXAMPLE 7 or EXAMPLE 8, wherein the power information is indicative of a peak power of the receive power of the associated sensing signal (520-523) scattered at the target object (114).

[0315] EXAMPLE 10: The method of any one of EXAMPLES 7-9, wherein the power information is indicative of an average power of the receive power of the associated sensing signal (520-523) scattered at the target object (114) during a time window.

[0316] EXAMPLE 11: The method of EXAMPLE 10, wherein the method further comprises: obtaining (1504) a length of the time window from the management node (110).

[0317] EXAMPLE 12: The method of any one of the preceding EXAMPLES, wherein the set of observables further comprises information about polarization characteristics associated with the sensing signal (520-523).

[0318] EXAMPLE 13: The method of any one of the preceding EXAMPLES, wherein the associated sensing signal (520-523) comprises multiple successive sensing signals, wherein the power information is based on the multiple successive sensing signals.

[0319] EXAMPLE 14: The method of EXAMPLE 13, wherein the power information is indicative of an average of power values received at the radio node (106, 108) of the multiple successive sensing signals scattered at the target object (114).

[0320] EXAMPLE 15: The method of EXAMPLE 13 or EXAMPLE 14, wherein the set of observables comprises a statistic information of the power values received at the radio node (106, 108) of the multiple successive sensing signals (520-523) scattered at the target object (114).

[0321] EXAMPLE 16: The method of any one of the preceding EXAMPLES, wherein the report includes an antenna gain of an antenna (1308) of the radio node (106, 108) receiving the plurality of sensing signals (520-523).

[0322] EXAMPLE 17: The method of any one of the preceding EXAMPLES, wherein the report includes position information of the radio node (106, 108).

[0323] EXAMPLE 18: The method of any one of the preceding EXAMPLES, wherein the report includes time stamp information of a measuring time of the plurality of sensing signals (520-523) at the radio node (106, 108).

[0324] EXAMPLE 19: The method of any one of the preceding EXAMPLES, wherein the target object (114) is a target object of a plurality of target objects, wherein the report comprises for each target object of the plurality of target objects corresponding at least two sets of observables, each set of observables being associated with a sensing signal (520-523) of a plurality of sensing signals employed by a sensing measurement for sensing the corresponding target object.EXAMPLE 20: The method of any one of the preceding EXAMPLES, wherein the method further comprises:

[0325] obtaining (1504), from the management node (114), a report configuration indicative of a report format to be used by the radio node (106, 108) for providing the report.

[0326] EXAMPLE 21 : The method of any one of the preceding EXAMPLES, wherein the method further comprises:

[0327] obtaining (1504), from the management node (114), a measurement configuration indicative of a timing granularity of the time information and / or power granularity of the power information in the report.

[0328] EXAMPLE 22: The method of any one of the preceding EXAMPLES, wherein the method further comprises:

[0329] providing (1502), to the management node (114), a capability indication indicating a capability to provide the report.

[0330] EXAMPLE 23: The method of any of the previous EXAMPLES, wherein at least one of the multiple transmission points and the radio node (106, 108) are collocated.

[0331] EXAMPLE 24: The method of any of the previous EXAMPLES, wherein at least one of the multiple transmission points and the radio node (106, 108) are separated.

[0332] EXAMPLE 25: A method for use in a management node of a cellular network, the method comprising:

[0333] obtaining (1410), from a radio node (106, 108) of the cellular network (100), a report including at least two sets of observables, each set of observables being associated with a sensing signal (520-523) of a plurality of sensing signals employed by a sensing measurement for sensing a target object (114), each set of observables being indicative of time information and power information related to the associated sensing signal (520-523), wherein the plurality of sensing signals are multiplexed with communication signaling of the cellular network (100) and transmitted from multiple transmission points.

[0334] EXAMPLE 26: The method of EXAMPLE 25, wherein the method further comprises: providing (1404) a length of a time window to the radio node (106, 108), wherein the power information is indicative of an average of a receive power received at the radio node (106, 108) during the time window of the associated sensing signal scattered at the target object (114).

[0335] EXAMPLE 27: The method of EXAMPLE 25 or EXAMPLE 26, wherein the method further comprises:

[0336] providing (1404), to the radio node (106, 108), a report configuration indicative of a report format to be used by the radio node (106, 108) for providing the report.

[0337] EXAMPLE 28: The method of any one of EXAMPLES 25-27, wherein the method further comprises:

[0338] providing (1404), to the radio node (106, 108), a measurement configuration indicative of a timing granularity of the time information and / or power granularity of the power information in the report.

[0339] EXAMPLE 29: The method of any one of EXAMPLES 25-28, wherein the method further comprises:obtaining (1402), from the radio node (106, 108), a capability indication indicating a capability to provide the report.

[0340] EXAMPLE 30: The method of any one of EXAMPLES 25-29, wherein the method further comprises:

[0341] determining (1412) the position of the target object (106, 108) based on the at least two sets of observables.

[0342] EXAMPLE 31 : The method of any one of EXAMPLES 25-30, further comprising at least one of:

[0343] detecting the presence of the target object (114) based on the power information, classifying the target object (114) based on the power information, and / or determining a spatial position of the target object (114) based on the time information. EXAMPLE 32: The method of any one of EXAMPLES 25-31 , wherein the method further comprises:

[0344] obtaining a transmission point configuration (1004, 1112) associated with the transmission of the associated sensing signal (520-523).

[0345] EXAMPLE 33: A radio node of a cellular network, the radio node (106, 108) comprising compute circuitry (1302) configured to:

[0346] provide (1510), to a management node (110) of the cellular network (100), a report including at least two sets of observables, each set of observables being associated with a sensing signal (520-523) of a plurality of sensing signals employed by a sensing measurement for sensing a target object (114), each set of observables being indicative of time information and power information related to the associated sensing signal (520-523), wherein the plurality of sensing signals are multiplexed with communication signaling of the cellular network (100) and transmitted from multiple transmission points.

[0347] EXAMPLE 34: The radio node of EXAMPLE 33, wherein the compute circuitry (1302) is configured to execute the method of any one of EXAMPLES 1 to 24.

[0348] EXAMPLE 35: A management node of a cellular network, the management node (110) comprising compute circuitry (1202) configured to:

[0349] obtain, from a radio node (106, 108) of the cellular network (100), a report including at least two sets of observables, each set of observables being associated with a sensing signal (520-523) of a plurality of sensing signals employed by a sensing measurement for sensing a target object (114), each set of observables being indicative of time information and power information related to the associated sensing signal, wherein the plurality of sensing signals are multiplexed with communication signaling of the cellular network (100) and transmitted from multiple transmission points.

[0350] EXAMPLE 36: The management node of EXAMPLE 35, wherein the compute circuitry (1202) is configured to execute the method of any one of EXAMPLES 25 to 32.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method for use in a radio node of a cellular network, the method comprising:providing, to a management node of the cellular network, a report including at least two sets of observables, each set of observables being associated with a sensing signal of a plurality of sensing signals employed by a sensing measurement for sensing a target object, each set of observables being indicative of time information and power information related to the associated sensing signal, wherein the plurality of sensing signals are multiplexed with communication signaling of the cellular network and transmitted from multiple transmission points.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one set of observables of the at least two sets of observables comprises a resource identifier of a resource associated with a transmission of the associated sensing signal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one set of observables of the at least two sets of observables comprises a transmission point identifier of a transmission point transmitting the associated sensing signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each set of observables is determined based on observed channel characteristics of a channel between a transmission point transmitting the associated sensing signal and the radio node.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the channel characteristics comprise a Channel Impulse Response.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the time information is indicative of a time of arrival at the radio node of the associated sensing signal scattered at the target object.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power information is indicative of a receive power at the radio node of the associated sensing signal scattered at the target object.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the power information is indicative of the receive power normalized to an antenna gain of an antenna of the radio node receiving the associated sensing signal.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the power information is indicative of a peak power of the receive power of the associated sensing signal scattered at the target object.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the power information is indicative of an average power of the receive power of the associated sensing signal scattered at the target object during a time window.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:obtaining a length of the time window from the management node.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of observables further comprises information about polarization characteristics associated with the sensing signal.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the associated sensing signal comprises multiple successive sensing signals, wherein the power information is based on the multiple successive sensing signals.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the power information is indicative of an average of power values received at the radio node of the multiple successive sensing signals scattered at the target object.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the set of observables comprises a statistic information of the power values received at the radio node of the multiple successive sensing signals scattered at the target object.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the report includes an antenna gain of an antenna of the radio node receiving the plurality of sensing signals.

17. A method for use in a management node of a cellular network, the method comprising:obtaining, from a radio node of the cellular network, a report including at least two sets of observables, each set of observables being associated with a sensing signal of a plurality of sensing signals employed by a sensing measurement for sensing a target object, each set of observables being indicative of time information and power information related to the associated sensing signal, wherein the plurality of sensing signals are multiplexed with communication signaling of the cellular network and transmitted from multiple transmission points.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:determining the position of the target object based on the at least two sets of observables.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising at least one of:detecting the presence of the target object based on the power information, classifying the target object based on the power information, and / ordetermining a spatial position of the target object based on the time information.

20. A radio node of a cellular network, the radio node comprising compute circuitry configured to:provide, to a management node of the cellular network, a report including at least two sets of observables, each set of observables being associated with a sensing signal of a plurality of sensing signals employed by a sensing measurement for sensing a target object, each set of observables being indicative of time information and power information related to the associated sensing signal, wherein the plurality of sensing signals are multiplexed with communication signaling of the cellular network and transmitted from multiple transmission points.

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