Integrated sensing and communication network
Systems and methods of integrated sensing and communication are provided. These involve using a communications network for the exchange of both communications signals and sensing signals. A device on the network, which might be a user equipment or a network device, uses a first set of channels to transmit sensing signals for use in cooperative sensing involving a multiple devices, which may include user equipment and/or network devices, for sensing a target that is not registered in the network, such as a building. The device uses a second set of channels to transmit a communications signal. The second set of channels includes at least one channel not included in the first protocol stack.
1 . A method in a first device, the method comprising:
using a first set of channels to transmit, by the first device, a sensing signal for use in cooperative sensing involving a second device for sensing a target;
using a second set of channels to transmit, by the first device, a communications signal, the second set of channels including at least one channel not included in the first set of channels; and
receiving signalling to turn on or off sensing functions of using the first set of channels and using the second set of channels in response to the first device being turned on or in response to a collaborative sensing group being formed, reformed, or dismissed or in response to a sensing task being initiated or completed.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each channel in the first set of channels and each channel in the second set of channels is a logical channel, a transport channel, or a physical channel, and wherein the first set of channels comprises at least one logical channel, and the second set of channels comprises a different at least one logical channel.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting cooperation information between the first device and the second device, the cooperation information characterizing at least in part the first sensing signal.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
exchanging timing information between the first device and the second device for the purpose of synchronization, the timing information indicating a time of transmission of the sensing signal.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
transmitting, by the first device, the sensing signal comprises using a first frequency band;
transmitting, by the first device, the communications signal comprises using a second frequency band;
wherein the first frequency band is a subset of the second frequency band or wherein the second frequency band is a subset of the first frequency band or different bandwidth part (BWP) configurations apply to frequency bands for communication and sensing.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the signalling to turn on or off the sensing functions comprises signalling that is one of per cell, per sensing BWP, per group of devices, or per group of network devices.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the signalling to turn on or off the sensing functions is in the form of an on/off pattern.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the first device, a sensing input from the second device, the sensing input comprising at least one of:
first sensing data derived by the second device from a first echo of the sensing signal received by the second device;
an intermediate version of the first sensing data derived by the second device from the first echo of the sensing signal received by the second device;
a copy of the first echo of the sensing signal;
a compressed version of the first echo of the sensing signal;
coordinate information about one or more of the location, orientation, heading, and velocity of the second device; and
synchronization or timing information; and
obtaining, by the first device, second sensing data based on the received sensing input.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving sensing data or compressed sensing data from the target.
10 . A first device comprising:
at least one processor configured to execute instructions to cause the first device to perform operations including:
using a first set of channels to transmit, by the first device, a first sensing signal for use in cooperative sensing involving a second device for sensing a target;
using a second set of channels to transmit, by the first device, a communications signal, the second set of channels including at least one channel not included in the first set of channels; and
receiving signalling to turn on or off sensing functions of using the first set of channels and using the second set of channels: when the first device is turned on; or when a collaborative sensing group is formed, reformed, or dismissed; or when a sensing task is initiated or completed.
11 . The first device of claim 10 , wherein each channel in the first set of channels and each channel in the second set of channels is a logical channel, a transport channel, or a physical channel, and wherein the first set of channels comprises at least one logical channel, and the second set of channels comprises a different at least one logical channel.
12 . The first device of claim 10 , wherein the operations further include:
transmitting cooperation information between the first device and the second device, the cooperation information characterizing at least in part the first sensing signal.
13 . The first device of claim 10 , wherein the operations further include:
exchanging timing information between the first device and the second device for the purpose of synchronization, the timing information indicating a time of transmission of the sensing signal.
14 . The first device of claim 10 , wherein:
transmitting, by the first device, the sensing signal comprises using a first frequency band;
transmitting, by the first device, the communications signal comprises using a second frequency band;
wherein the first frequency band and the second frequency band do not overlap; or
wherein the second frequency band is a subset of the first frequency band; or
different bandwidth part (BWP) configurations apply to frequency bands for communication and sensing.
15 . The first device of claim 10 , wherein the signalling to turn on or off the sensing functions comprises signalling that is one of: per cell, per sensing BWP, per group of devices, or per group of network devices.
16 . The first device of claim 10 , wherein the signalling to turn on or off the sensing functions is in the form of an on/off pattern.
17 . The first device of claim 10 , wherein the operations further include:
receiving a sensing input from the second device, the sensing input comprising at least one of:
first sensing data derived by the second device from a first echo of the sensing signal received by the second device;
an intermediate version of the first sensing data derived by the second device from the first echo of the sensing signal received by the second device;
a copy of the first echo of the sensing signal;
a compressed version of the first echo of the sensing signal;
coordinate information about one or more of the location, orientation, heading, and velocity of the second device; and
synchronization or timing information; and
obtaining second sensing data based on the received sensing input.
18 . The first device of claim 10 , wherein the operations further include:
receiving sensing data or compressed sensing data from the target.
19 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming, the programming including instructions to:
use a first set of channels to transmit, by a first device, a sensing signal for use in cooperative sensing involving a second device for sensing a target;
use a second set of channels to transmit, by the first device, a communications signal, the second set of channels including at least one channel not included in the first set of channels; and
receive signalling to turn on or off sensing functions of using the first set of channels and using the second set of channels: when the first device is turned on; or when a collaborative sensing group is formed, reformed, or dismissed; or when a sensing task is initiated or completed.