RIS Collaborative Sensing Signal Reflection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing collaborative sensing solutions face delays and inefficiencies due to long response times from secondary devices and the need for these devices to process and forward sensing signals, especially when distances are large or obstacles are present.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a collaborative sensing method utilizing a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) in a secondary device, which supports either reflection or refraction capabilities, allowing the secondary device to directly reflect or generate and send sensing signals to a target without processing, thereby reducing delay.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the second device processes and forwards the sensing signal in the next slot, then the sensing can be performed collaboratively, but the sensing delay increases and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaborative sensing capabilityVSAvoidsensing delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The RIS configuration information is prepared and configured in advance before the sensing signal transmission. The second device pre-configures the RIS parameters and reflection characteristics, so that when the sensing signal arrives, the RIS is already ready to immediately reflect the signal without requiring processing delay. This preliminary configuration enables the sensing operation to occur within the same time slot, reducing the sensing delay while maintaining collaborative sensing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the second device processes the sensing signal, then collaborative sensing can be achieved, but the processing time increases the overall sensing delay

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaborative sensing functionVSAvoidsensing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical signal processing operation in the second device with a passive electromagnetic wave reflection function performed by the RIS. Instead of the second device actively processing the sensing signal through computational operations, the RIS passively reflects the electromagnetic wave according to pre-configured parameters. This substitution eliminates the processing time requirement while maintaining the collaborative sensing function, thereby improving sensing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If the second device forwards the sensing signal in the next slot, then the target can be sensed, but the response time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget sensing capabilityVSAvoidsensing response speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The RIS acts as an intermediary between the first device and the target, enabling direct signal reflection without requiring the second device to actively forward the signal in a subsequent time slot. The RIS configuration information is transmitted to the second device, which then uses the RIS to reflect the sensing signal immediately. This intermediary mechanism allows the sensing operation to complete within the same time slot, significantly improving the sensing response speed while maintaining reliable target detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach significantly reduces sensing delay and improves the efficiency of collaborative sensing by enabling the secondary device to respond quickly and send signals directly to the target, enhancing both speed and accuracy of sensing results.

Implementation Method 1

the second device supports reflection of a sensing signal from the first device to the target

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

the second device supports refraction of a sensing signal from the first device to the target

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP4221274B1Method for collaborative sensing, electronic device, and readable storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.04.30 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD

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Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a collaborative sensing method, an electronic device, and a readable storage medium, where a second device includes a reconfigurable intelligent surface RIS, and the method includes: sensing, by a first device, a target in collaboration with the second device based on a RIS capability of the second device, where the RIS capability is a RIS reflection capability and/or a RIS refraction capability, the RIS reflection capability is used for representing that the second device supports reflection of a sensing signal from the first device to the target, and the RIS refraction capability is used for representing that the second device supports generation of the sensing signal and sending of the sensing signal to the target. In this application, based on the RIS capability, the second device may reflect the sensing signal from the first device to the target without processing the sensing signal, so that the sensing delay is short; or the second device may generate the sensing signal and directly send the sensing signal to the target without the need to act as an intermediate apparatus for forwarding the sensing signal between the first device and the target, so that the sensing delay is short. The efficiency of collaborative sensing can be improved in both cases.