Sensing resource configuration and coexistence handling in cellular systems

1 . A method, comprising:

receiving, at a user equipment (UE), a time domain resource configuration indicating a time domain resource for sensing operations by the UE;

receiving, at the UE, a frequency domain resource configuration indicating a bandwidth part (BWP) for the sensing operations by the UE;

performing, at the UE, the sensing operations using the indicated time domain resource and the indicated bandwidth part;

transmitting, by the UE, assistance information relating to interference between the sensing operations by the UE and cellular communication by the UE; and

receiving an interference measurement configuration for measurement by the UE of the interference.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the time domain resource configuration includes a sensing type indicator S for the time domain resource for sensing operations by the UE,

the time domain resource configuration indicates that dynamic triggering of sensing is allowed within one or more time domain resources, and

the time domain resource configuration is one of a plurality of slot format indicators for a pattern of time domain resources allocated for one of downlink (DL) data reception by the UE, uplink (UL) data transmission by the UE, sensing transmission by the UE, or sensing reception by the UE.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the BWP for the sensing operations by the UE comprises a BWP defined by a cellular communication system,

the BWP for the sensing operations by the UE comprises one or more BWPs that may be selectively activated for the sensing operations by the UE, and

the BWP for the sensing operations by the UE overlaps a BWP used for cellular communication by the UE.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a configuration for coexistence of the sensing operations by the UE and the cellular communication by the UE.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the assistance information indicates frequencies with interference issues, an interference level, and a desired time domain multiplexing (TDM) pattern, and

wherein the configuration for coexistence of the sensing operations by the UE and the cellular communication by the UE comprises one of

a frequency domain multiplexing (FDM) operation including handover of the UE to frequencies not interfering with the sensing operations by the UE, or

a TDM operation configuring the UE with one of

a discontinuous reception (DRX) operation for UE sensing during a DRX off duration, or

a time domain resource reserved for the sensing operations by the UE.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a sensing signal configuration including waveform, cyclic shift, frequency tones, tone spacing, directionality, and time gap between successive sensing signal transmissions;

transmitting sensing signals based on the received sensing signal configuration; and

receiving, at the UE, one of a reflection of the transmitted sensing signals or a sensing report.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein:

the sensing signal configuration employs reference signal (RS) sequences used for cellular communication for the sensing operations by the UE,

sensing signals for the sensing operations by the UE are multiplexed with one or more of sensing signals for another UE or data signals,

sounding reference signals (SRSs) used for the sensing operations by the UE are transmitted on separate resources from SRSs for channel measurement, and

SRSs used for the sensing operations by the UE are transmitted with different power than SRSs for channel measurement.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein:

sounding reference signals (SRSs) used for the sensing operations by the UE are transmitted on separate beams with a time gap therebetween, and

antenna ports used for the sensing operations by the UE are different from antenna ports for channel measurement and utilize a different cyclic shift, and

the UE is configured to transmit sensing signals or receive reflected sensing signals for a fraction of a symbol duration.

9 . A user equipment (UE), comprising:

a transceiver configured to

receive a time domain resource configuration indicating a time domain resource for sensing operations by the UE, and

receive a frequency domain resource configuration indicating a bandwidth part (BWP) for the sensing operations by the UE; and

a processor operably coupled to the transceiver, the processor configured to perform the sensing operations using the indicated time domain resource and the indicated bandwidth part,

wherein the transceiver is further configured to:

transmit assistance information relating to interference between the sensing operations by the UE and cellular communication by the UE, and

receive an interference measurement configuration for measurement by the UE of the interference.

10 . The UE of claim 9 , wherein:

the time domain resource configuration includes a sensing type indicator S for the time domain resource for sensing operations by the UE,

the time domain resource configuration indicates that dynamic triggering of sensing is allowed within one or more time domain resources, and

the time domain resource configuration is one of a plurality of slot format indicators for a pattern of time domain resources allocated for one of downlink (DL) data reception by the UE, uplink (UL) data transmission by the UE, sensing transmission by the UE, or sensing reception by the UE.

11 . The UE of claim 9 , wherein:

the BWP for the sensing operations by the UE comprises a BWP defined by a cellular communication system,

the BWP for the sensing operations by the UE comprises one or more BWPs that may be selectively activated for the sensing operations by the UE, and

the BWP for the sensing operations by the UE overlaps a BWP used for cellular communication by the UE.

12 . The UE of claim 9 , wherein the transceiver is further configured to:

receive a configuration for coexistence of the sensing operations by the UE and the cellular communication by the UE.

13 . The UE of claim 9 , wherein the assistance information indicates frequencies with interference issues, an interference level, and a desired time domain multiplexing (TDM) pattern, and

wherein the configuration for coexistence of the sensing operations by the UE and the cellular communication by the UE comprises one of

a frequency domain multiplexing (FDM) operation including handover of the UE to frequencies not interfering with the sensing operations by the UE, or

a TDM operation configuring the UE with one of

a discontinuous reception (DRX) operation for UE sensing during a DRX off duration, or

a time domain resource reserved for the sensing operations by the UE.

14 . The UE of claim 9 , wherein the transceiver is further configured to:

receive a sensing signal configuration including waveform, cyclic shift, frequency tones, tone spacing, directionality, and time gap between successive sensing signal transmissions;

transmit sensing signals based on the received sensing signal configuration; and

receive, at the UE, one of a reflection of the transmitted sensing signals or a sensing report.

15 . The UE of claim 14 , wherein:

the sensing signal configuration employs reference signal (RS) sequences used for cellular communication for the sensing operations by the UE,

sensing signals for the sensing operations by the UE are multiplexed with one or more of sensing signals for another UE or data signals,

sounding reference signals (SRSs) used for the sensing operations by the UE are transmitted on separate resources from SRSs for channel measurement, and

SRSs used for the sensing operations by the UE are transmitted with different power than SRSs for channel measurement.

16 . The UE of claim 14 , wherein:

sounding reference signals (SRSs) used for the sensing operations by the UE are transmitted on separate beams with a time gap therebetween, and

antenna ports used for the sensing operations by the UE are different from antenna ports for channel measurement and utilize a different cyclic shift, and

the UE is configured to transmit sensing signals or receive reflected sensing signals for a fraction of a symbol duration.

17 . A base station (BS), comprising:

a transceiver configured to

transmit a time domain resource configuration indicating a time domain resource for sensing operations by a user equipment (UE), and

transmit a frequency domain resource configuration indicating a bandwidth part (BWP) for the sensing operations by the UE,

wherein sensing operations are performed using the indicated time domain resource and the indicated bandwidth part, and

wherein the transceiver is further configured to:

receive assistance information relating to interference between the sensing operations by the UE and cellular communication by the UE, and

transmit an interference measurement configuration for measurement by the UE of the interference.

18 . The BS of claim 17 , wherein:

the time domain resource configuration includes a sensing type indicator S for the time domain resource for sensing operations by the UE,

the time domain resource configuration indicates that dynamic triggering of sensing is allowed within one or more time domain resources, and

the time domain resource configuration is one of a plurality of slot format indicators for a pattern of time domain resources allocated for one of downlink (DL) data reception by the UE, uplink (UL) data transmission by the UE, sensing transmission by the UE, or sensing reception by the UE.

19 . The BS of claim 17 , wherein:

the BWP for the sensing operations by the UE comprises a BWP defined by a cellular communication system,

the BWP for the sensing operations by the UE comprises one or more BWPs that may be selectively activated for the sensing operations by the UE, and

the BWP for the sensing operations by the UE overlaps a BWP used for cellular communication by the UE.

20 . The BS of claim 17 , wherein the transceiver is further configured to:

transmit a configuration for coexistence of the sensing operations by the UE and the cellular communication by the UE.