Joint Communication-Sensing Waveforms Using Spreading Code Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication technologies face challenges in efficiently integrating communication and sensing functions, particularly in next-generation systems, due to the complexity of self-interference cancellation in full-duplex transceivers and the loss of multi-path robustness when combining orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) with frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) signals.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves separating communication and sensing signals using different spreading codes, specifically through sub-carrier-wise orthogonal or non-orthogonal spreading codes, including DFT matrices and low-correlation sequences, and employing analog processing to cancel self-interference, allowing for efficient resource sharing and reduced overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If communication and sensing signals are combined in the same waveform using OFDM and FMCW, then resource sharing is improved, but self-interference cancellation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource sharing efficiencyVSAvoidself-interference cancellation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication and sensing signals by assigning different spreading codes to each signal type within the same waveform. This code-domain separation allows the receiver to distinguish and process communication signals and sensing signals independently, avoiding the need for complex full-duplex self-interference cancellation while maintaining resource sharing efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces spreading codes as an intermediary mechanism to separate communication and sensing signals in the code domain. These spreading codes act as mediators that enable the receiver to identify and process different signal types without requiring complex hardware-based self-interference cancellation, thus resolving the contradiction between resource sharing and complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If OFDM and FMCW signals are combined for joint communication and sensing, then spectrum efficiency is improved, but multi-path robustness is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectrum efficiencyVSAvoidmulti-path robustness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different signal processing characteristics to different parts of the waveform by assigning specific spreading codes to sensing signals while maintaining OFDM structure for communication signals. This local differentiation preserves the multi-path robustness properties of OFDM for communication while enabling sensing functionality, thus maintaining both spectrum efficiency and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If full-duplex transceivers are used for simultaneous communication and sensing, then functional integration is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional integrationVSAvoidtransceiver complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables a single transceiver to perform both communication and sensing functions by using the same hardware infrastructure with code-domain signal separation. Different spreading codes allow the same transceiver to transmit and process both communication and sensing signals, achieving multi-functionality without requiring separate full-duplex transceiver architectures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces spreading codes as an intermediary that enables functional integration without full-duplex complexity. The spreading codes allow the transceiver to distinguish between communication and sensing signals in the code domain, achieving versatile functionality while avoiding the need for complex full-duplex self-interference cancellation hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If the same spreading code is used for both communication and sensing signals, then processing simplicity is improved, but signal separation becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing simplicityVSAvoidsignal separation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by assigning different spreading codes to communication and sensing signals. This asymmetric code assignment creates distinct signal characteristics that enable easy separation at the receiver while maintaining relatively simple processing through standard correlation-based spreading code detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS12506527B2Coexistence schemes for wireless communication and sensing

Publication Date: 2025.12.23 ZTE CORP

AI summary

Techniques are described for transmission and/or reception of signal structure designs for joint communications and sensing. An example wireless communication method includes transmitting, by a wireless device, a waveform that includes a signal structure having one or more time resources or one or more frequency resources, where the signal structure includes a plurality of data signals, where the signal structure includes a plurality of sensing signal configured to reflect from an object in an area where the wireless device is operating, and where, before the transmitting, the plurality of data signals are spread using different spreading codes than that used to spread the plurality of sensing signals.