WO2024128946A1

WO2024128946A1 - Method of adapting sensing procedure under cell change

Info

Publication number: WO2024128946A1
Application number: PCT/SE2022/051177
Authority: WO
Inventors: Muhammad Ali Kazmi; Gabor Fodor
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Current assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Priority date: 2022-12-14
Filing date: 2022-12-14
Publication date: 2024-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 2025-06-14

Abstract

A method, network node and wireless device (WD) for a method of adapting a sensing procedure under a cell change are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method in a first network node includes configuring a WD to adapt a sensing operation in anticipation of a cell change from a first cell to a second cell, the 5 adapting being one of stopping, suspending, continuing and restarting a sensing operation.

Description

METHOD OF ADAPTING SENSING PROCEDURE UNDER CEEE CHANGE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to wireless communications, and in particular, to a method of adapting a sensing procedure under a cell change.

BACKGROUND

The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has developed and is developing standards for Fourth Generation (4G) (also referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE)) and Fifth Generation (5G) (also referred to as New Radio (NR)) wireless communication systems. Such systems provide, among other features, broadband communication between network nodes, such as base stations, and mobile wireless devices (WD), as well as communication between network nodes and between WDs. The 3GPP is also developing standards for Sixth Generation (6G) wireless communication networks.

Radar (radio detection and ranging) is a widely used wireless sensing technology that uses radio waves to determine the distance (range), angle, or instantaneous linear velocity of objects. Oher sensing technologies including nonradio frequency (RF) sensors are also used in other devices, e.g., cameras, accelerometers, gyroscopes, etc.

Integrated Sensing and Communication (ICAS) refers to the sensing capabilities provided by the same wireless communication system and infrastructure as used for communication. This will be used in 5G-NR systems. The sensing information could be derived from RF-based and/or non-RF based sensors. In general, it could involve scenarios of communication-assisted sensing where the communication system (e.g., 5G-NR) provides sensing services, or sensing-assisted communication. In this case, the sensing information related to the communication channel or environment can be used to improve the communication service of the 5G system itself. For example, the sensing information can be used to assist radio resource management, interference mitigation, beam management, mobility, etc. The sensing can also be used for a wide range of monitoring applications such as for monitoring vehicles, traffic pattern, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), weather, pollution, real-time monitoring such as in homes, corporate environment etc. The sensing can further be used for enhancing operation of intelligent and/or autonomous transportation, UAV, industrial automation etc.

The communication and sensing may use the same or different waveforms. The sensing signals may have their own frame structure. Alternatively, they may also be based on existing signals (e.g., SS/PBCH block (SSB)) but in different timefrequency resources than used by the communication (e.g., cell defined SSB (CD- SSB). The radio resources (e.g., RBs) used for communication and sensing can be configured or allocated using time division multiplexing (TDM) or in frequency division multiplexing (FDM). In general, there can be different mechanisms for sharing the resources between communication and sensing operations, e.g., shared spectrum, shared hardware, shared baseband/processing/memory resources, sharing of protocol stacks, etc. There can be loose or tight integration of sensing and communication depending on whether the existing 5G-NR architecture is used.

The term integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) may interchangeably be called harmonized communication and sensing (HCAS), joint communication and sensing (JCAS), etc.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments advantageously provide methods, network nodes, and wireless devices for a method of adapting a sensing procedure under a cell change.

Existing solutions for ICAS/JCAS do not reveal how the sensing operation at performed at least in part by a user equipment (UE) or wireless device (WD) should be maintained in the presence of WD mobility. When the WD changes serving cells, it is problematic for the WD to know which sensing resources, sensing pattern and other sensing-related parameters it should use during or after accessing the new cell. Thus, WD mobility may lead to sensing service interruption or high interference to surrounding WDs. Also, WD mobility while the WD is performing a JCAS (sensing) operation may lead to resource shortage in the target cell, since the WD uses certain resources not only for communication purposes, but also for transmitting sensing signals.

In one example scenario, a first WD (WD1), which is served by a first cell (Celli) is configured to perform or may currently be performing an integrated communication and sensing (ICAS) operation. WD1 is further triggered to access a second cell (Cell2) or perform a cell change (e.g., cell reselection, handover, etc.) to Cell2. Celli and Cell2 are served or managed by a first network node (NN1) and a second network node (NN2) respectively. NN1 and NN2 may be the same physical and/or logical node, or they may be different physical and/or logical nodes. WD1 may be performing sensing operation with respect to an object, or it may be receiving the sensing signals from a sensing device (e.g., a second WD (WD2 22b), a base station, access point, etc.) or it may be transmitting the sensing signals to a sensing device (e.g., a third WD (WD3), a base station, access point, etc.).

According to some embodiments, a method in WD1 includes determining based at least in part on one or more rules how to perform the sensing operation during and/or after the cell access or cell change procedure to Cell2. The method in WD1 further includes adapting the ongoing sensing operation and/or adapting the cell access or cell change procedure based at least in part on the determination. The adaptation of the sensing operation may include stopping, temporarily suspending, continuing or restarting the sensing operation during and/or after the cell change to Cell2. The adaptation of the cell access or cell change procedure may include temporarily suspending or delaying the cell access or cell change procedure, in order to complete the ongoing sensing operation or part of it. For example, WD1 may stop or temporarily stop the sensing operation during and/or after the cell change to Cell2. In another example, WD1 may receive information about a new sensing signal resource pattern from Celli before or during the cell change procedure (e.g., in cell change command) and/or from Cell2 after the completion of the cell access or cell change procedure. WD1 uses the new sensing signal resource pattern when served by Cell2 after the cell change.

According to some embodiments, a method in NN1 includes determining that WD1 is going to or is required to or is expected to perform a cell change procedure from Celli to Cell2. The NN1 configures WD1 to adapt the sensing operation and/or adapt the cell change procedure based on one or more rules. For example, NN 1 may inform WD1 (e.g., in a cell change command) whether WD1 should stop, temporarily suspend, continue, or restart the sensing operation during and/or after the cell change to Cell2. NN1 may determine how WD1 will adapt the sensing operation based on one or more rules or criteria, e.g., based on the type of sensing operation or scenario (e.g., mono-static sensing or bi-static sensing), or based on an indication received from the target cell, Cell2 etc. NN1 may further inform NN2 that WD1 is performing the sensing operation while served by Celli and it may stop, temporarily suspend, continue, or restart the sensing operation during and/or after the cell change to Cell2.

According to some embodiments, a method in NN2 includes determining that WD1 is going to or is required to or is expected to perform cell change procedure from Celli to Cell2. The NN2 configures WD1 to adapt the sensing operation and/or adapt the cell change procedure based on one or more rules. NN2 may determine how WD1 will adapt the sensing operation based on one or more rules or criteria, e.g., based on type of sensing operation or scenario, based on whether Cell2 can support or is capable of ICAS, or based on whether Cell2 currently has enough resources which WD1 can use for ICAS while served by Cell2. NN2 may further inform WD1 after the cell change to Cell2, whether WD1 can continue or restart the sensing operation in Cell2. In another example, Cell2 may reject WDl’s request to access Cell2 or to perform cell change to Cell2 on the basis that WD1 is going to continue the ICAS operation in Cell2. In another example, Cell2 may transmit barring information related to ICAS in a system information (SI) (e.g., in a SIB) for enabling WD1 to determine whether a WD performing ICAS can access Cell2 or not. For example, if Cell2 does not have resources or is not capable of supporting WDs performing ICAS, then Cell2 may set a barring field in the system information (SI) as ‘barred’; otherwise, it may set the baring field in the SI as ‘not barred’ or ‘unbarred’. In the former case, WD1 cannot and does not access Cell2. In the latter case, WD1 can access Cell2.

A WD served by a cell and configured to perform an ICAS operation, upon triggering cell access or cell change procedure (e.g., from Celli to Cell2), determines based on one or more rules or criteria how the WD is going to perform the ICAS operation during and/or after the cell access or cell change procedure. For example, the WD may have to stop or suspend or may continue the ICAS during the cell access or cell change procedure. The WD may further receive a new or modified sensing signal resource pattern, which is suitable for the target cell and which the WD should use for ICAS operation after the cell access or cell change procedure, e.g., in Cell2. The rules and/or information about the new or modified sensing signal resource pattern may be pre-defined defined or configured by the network node.

Some methods disclosed herein enable the WD to perform integrated communication and sensing (ICAS) operation while accessing a cell or while performing a cell change to a target cell (e.g., handover, cell reselection). This in turn ensures that the WD can smoothly and seamless continue performing the ICAS operation regardless of whether the serving cell changes or not.

Some methods disclosed herein enable the serving cell of a WD, to control (e.g., modify, disable, etc.) the sensing operation of the WD during or after the cell change to a target cell (e.g., handover, cell reselection).

Some methods disclosed herein enable the target cell (e.g., new serving cell after cell change) to be aware that the WD is performing ICAS operation. This enables the target cell to adapt or modify the ICAS operation of the WD or reject the cell change in some scenarios.

Some methods disclosed herein enable the target cell to adequately maintain communication with respect to the WD that intends to perform or continue performing the ICAS operation after the cell change to that target cell (e.g., handover, cell reselection).

According to one aspect, a method in a wireless device, WD, configured to communicate with a network node is provided. The method includes determining, based at least in part on at least one rule, an adaptation of a sensing operation in anticipation of a cell change from a first cell to a second cell, the adaptation being one of stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting and completing a sensing operation. The method also includes adapting the sensing operation according to the determined adaptation.

According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the method also includes receiving an indication of a sensing signal resource pattern from the first cell at one of before the cell change and during the cell change. In some embodiments, the method also includes receiving an indication of a sensing signal resource pattern from the second cell at one of during the cell change and after the cell change. In some embodiments, adapting the sensing operation includes suspending the cell change until after completion of the sensing operation. In some embodiments, adapting the sensing operation includes suspending the sensing operation until after completion of the cell change. In some embodiments, the at least one rule includes stopping the sensing operation at one of during the cell change and after the cell change. In some embodiments, the at least one rule includes continuing the sensing operation after the cell change. In some embodiments, the at least one rule includes using a second sensing signal resource pattern at one of during the cell change and after the cell change that is the same as a first sensing signal resource pattern used before a start of the cell change. In some embodiments, the at least one rule includes using a second sensing signal resource pattern at one of during the cell change and after the cell change that is different from a first sensing signal resource pattern used before a start of the cell change. In some embodiments, the method also includes determining a type of cell change procedure and stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting or completing the sensing operation based at least in part on the type of the cell change. In some embodiments, a type of cell change procedure includes at least one of a cell selection, cell reselection, handover, radio resource control (RRC) connection release with direction, RRC connection re-establishment, special cell (SpCell) change and secondary cell (SCell) change. In some embodiments, the method includes obtaining barring information indicating whether the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation and adapting the cell change to the second cell based at least in part on whether the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation. In some embodiments, barring information indicates whether the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation. In some embodiments, adapting the sensing operation further includes not performing a change to the second cell when the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation and otherwise performing the cell change to the second cell.

According to another aspect, a WD is configured to communicate with a network node. The WD includes processing circuitry configured to: determine, based at least in part on at least one rule, an adaptation of a sensing operation in anticipation of a cell change from a first cell to a second cell, the adaptation being one of stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting and completing a sensing operation; and adapt the sensing operation according to the determined adaptation.

According to this aspect, in some embodiments the WD includes a radio interface in communication with the processing circuitry and configured to receive an indication of a sensing signal resource pattern from the first cell at one of before the cell change and during the cell change. In some embodiments, the WD includes a radio interface in communication with the processing circuitry and configured to receive an indication of a sensing signal resource pattern from the second cell at one of during the cell change and after the cell change. In some embodiments, adapting the sensing operation includes suspending the cell change until after completion of the sensing operation. In some embodiments, adapting the sensing operation includes suspending the sensing operation until after a completion of the cell change. In some embodiments, the at least one rule includes stopping the sensing operation at one of during the cell change and after the cell change. In some embodiments, the at least one rule includes continuing the sensing operation after the cell change. In some embodiments, the at least one rule includes using a second sensing signal resource pattern at one of during the cell change and after the cell change that is the same as a first sensing signal resource pattern used before a start of the cell change. In some embodiments, the at least one rule includes using a second sensing signal resource pattern at one of during the cell change and after the cell change that is different from a first sensing signal resource pattern used before a start of the cell change. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry is further configured to determine a type of cell change procedure and stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting or completing the sensing operation based at least in part on the type of the cell change. In some embodiments, a type of cell change procedure includes at least one of a cell selection, cell reselection, handover, radio resource control (RRC) connection release with direction, RRC connection re-establishment, special cell (SpCell) change and secondary cell (SCell) change. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry is further configured to obtain barring information indicating whether the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation and adapting the cell change to the second cell based at least in part on whether the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation. In some embodiments, barring information indicates whether the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation. In some embodiments, adapting the sensing operation further includes not performing a change to the second cell when the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation and otherwise performing the cell change to the second cell.

According to yet another aspect, a method in a first network node configured to communicate with a wireless device, WD, in a first cell is provided. The method includes configuring the WD to adapt a sensing operation in anticipation of a cell change from a first cell to a second cell, the adapting being one of stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting and completing a sensing operation.

According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the adapting is based at least in part on whether the sensing operation is one of monostatic, bistatic and multi-static. In some embodiments, the adapting is based at least in part on an indication received from the second cell. In some embodiments, the adapting is based at least in part on whether the second cell supports joint communication and sensing. In some embodiments, the method also includes configuring the WD with a sensing signal resource pattern at one of before and during the cell change. In some embodiments, the method also includes configuring the WD to one of restart and resume the sensing operation after the cell change. In some embodiments, configuring the WD to adapt the sensing operation is performed in response to a request from a second network node. In some embodiments, the method also includes disallowing the WD to access the second cell based at least in part on whether the WD is configured to perform the sensing operation after the cell change. In some embodiments, the method also includes transmitting a barring information indicating whether at least one of the first cell and the second cell are barred for performing the sensing operation.

According to another aspect, a first network node is configured to communicate with a wireless device, WD, in a first cell. The first network node comprising processing circuitry configured to: configure the WD to adapt a sensing operation in anticipation of a cell change from a first cell to a second cell, the adapting being one of stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting and completing a sensing operation.

According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the adapting being based at least in part on whether the sensing operation is one of monostatic, bistatic and multistatic. In some embodiments, the adapting is based at least in part on an indication received from the second cell. In some embodiments, the adapting is based at least in part on whether the second cell supports joint communication and sensing. In some embodiments, the adapting is based at least in part on whether the second cell supports joint communication and sensing. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry is further configured to configure the WD with a sensing signal resource pattern at one of before and during the cell change. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry is further configured to configure the WD to one of restart and resume the sensing operation after the cell change. In some embodiments, configuring the WD to adapt the sensing operation is performed in response to a request from a second network node. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry is further configured to disallow the WD to access the second cell based at least in part on whether the WD is configured to perform the sensing operation after the cell change. In some embodiments, the WD further includes a radio interface in communication with the processing circuitry and configured to transmit a barring information indicating whether the first cell and/or second cell are barred for performing the sensing operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present embodiments, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary network architecture illustrating a communication system connected via an intermediate network to a host computer according to the principles in the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a host computer communicating via a network node with a wireless device over an at least partially wireless connection according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for executing a client application at a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for receiving user data at a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for receiving user data from the wireless device at a host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for receiving user data at a host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a network node for a method of adapting a sensing procedure under a cell change;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a wireless device for a method of adapting a sensing procedure under a cell change;

FIG. 9 is an example of a sensing signal pattern;

FIG. 10 is a first scenario of a monostatic sensing operation with a cell change; FIG. 11 is a second scenario of a first bistatic sensing operation with a cell change;

FIG. 12 is a third scenario of a third bistatic sensing operation with a cell change; and

FIG. 13 is a fourth scenario of a multi-static sensing operation with a cell change.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components and processing steps related to a method of adapting a sensing procedure under a cell change. Accordingly, components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

As used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the concepts described herein. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “includes” and/or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

In embodiments described herein, the joining term, “in communication with” and the like, may be used to indicate electrical or data communication, which may be accomplished by physical contact, induction, electromagnetic radiation, radio signaling, infrared signaling or optical signaling, for example. One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that multiple components may interoperate and modifications and variations are possible of achieving the electrical and data communication. In some embodiments described herein, the term “coupled,” “connected,” and the like, may be used herein to indicate a connection, although not necessarily directly, and may include wired and/or wireless connections.

The term “network node” used herein can be any kind of network node included in a radio network which may further include any of base station (BS), radio base station, base transceiver station (BTS), base station controller (BSC), radio network controller (RNC), g Node B (gNB), evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB), Node B, multistandard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, multi-cell/multicast coordination entity (MCE), integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, relay node, donor node controlling relay, radio access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, Remote Radio Unit (RRU) Remote Radio Head (RRH), a core network node (e.g., mobile management entity (MME), self-organizing network (SON) node, a coordinating node, positioning node, MDT node, etc.), an external node (e.g., 3rd party node, a node external to the current network), nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), a spectrum access system (SAS) node, an element management system (EMS), etc. The network node may also include test equipment. The term “radio node” used herein may be used to also denote a wireless device (WD) such as a wireless device (WD) or a radio network node.

In some embodiments, the non-limiting terms wireless device (WD) or a user equipment (UE) are used interchangeably. The WD herein can be any type of wireless device capable of communicating with a network node or another WD over radio signals, such as wireless device (WD). The WD may also be a radio communication device, target device, device to device (D2D) WD, machine type WD or WD capable of machine to machine communication (M2M), low-cost and/or low-complexity WD, a sensor equipped with WD, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, or a Narrowband loT (NB-IOT) device, etc.

Also, in some embodiments the generic term “radio network node” is used. It can be any kind of a radio network node which may include any of base station, radio base station, base transceiver station, base station controller, network controller, RNC, evolved Node B (eNB), Node B, gNB, Multi-cell/multicast Coordination Entity (MCE), IAB node, relay node, access point, radio access point, Remote Radio Unit (RRU) Remote Radio Head (RRH). The term “node” can be a network node or a user equipment (WD)

Examples of network nodes are NodeB, base station (BS), multi- standard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, eNodeB, gNodeB, MeNB, SeNB, location measurement unit (LMU), integrated access backhaul (IAB) node, network controller, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), relay, donor node controlling relay, base transceiver station (BTS), Central Unit (e.g., in a gNB), Distributed Unit (e.g., in a gNB), Baseband Unit, Centralized Baseband, C-RAN, access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, transmission reception point (TRP), RRU, RRH, nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), core network node (e.g., MSC, MME etc.), O&M, OSS, SON, positioning node (e.g., E-SMLC),etc.

The non-limiting term WD refers to any type of wireless device communicating with a network node and/or with another WD in a cellular or mobile communication system. Examples of WD are target device, air-to-ground (ATG) WD, device to device (D2D) WD, vehicular to vehicular (V2V), machine type WD, MTC WD or WD capable of machine to machine (M2M) communication, PDA, tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded equipment (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), etc.

The term radio access technology, or RAT, may refer to any RAT e.g., UTRA, E-UTRA, narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT), WiFi, Bluetooth, next generation RAT, New Radio (NR), 4G, 5G, 6G, etc. Any of the equipment denoted by the term node, network node or radio network node may be capable of supporting a single or multiple RATs.

The term communication signal may include any type of signal or radio signal used for operation (e.g., transmission and/or reception) between a WD and a network node in any wireless communication operation e.g., cellular system such as 5G-NR etc.

The term sensing signal may include any type of signal or radio signal used for operation (e.g., transmission and/or reception) between a radio node and a sensing device or between a radio node and an object for the purpose of sensing etc. The sensing signal may also be called as radar signal. The radio node may be a WD or a network node such as a BS, access point etc.

The term signal or radio signal used herein can be any physical signal or physical channel. Examples of DL physical signals are reference signal (RS) such as PSS, SSS, CSLRS, DMRS signals in SS/PBCH block (SSB), discovery reference signal (DRS), CRS, PRS etc. RS may be periodic e.g., RS occasion carrying one or more RSs may occur with certain periodicity e.g., 20 ms, 40 ms etc. The RS may also be aperiodic. Each SSB carries NR-PSS, NR-SSS and NR-PBCH in 4 successive symbols. One or multiple SSBs are transmit in one SSB burst which is repeated with certain periodicity e.g., 5 ms, 10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms and 160 ms. The WD is configured with information about SSB on cells of certain carrier frequency by one or more SS/PBCH block measurement timing configuration (SMTC) configurations. The SMTC configuration including parameters such as SMTC periodicity, SMTC occasion length in time or duration, SMTC time offset with respect to reference time (e.g., serving cell’s SFN) etc. Therefore, SMTC occasion may also occur with certain periodicity e.g., 5 ms, 10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms and 160 ms. Examples of UL physical signals are reference signal such as SRS, DMRS, etc. The term physical channel refers to any channel carrying higher layer information e.g., data, control, etc. Examples of physical channels are physical broadcast channel (PBCH), NPBCH, physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), physical uplink control channel (sPUCCH), sPDSCH, sPUCCH, physical uplink shared channel (sPUSCH), MPDCCH, NPDCCH, NPDSCH, E-PDCCH, PUSCH, PUCCH, NPUSCH, etc.

The term time resource used herein may correspond to any type of physical resource or radio resource expressed in terms of length of time. Examples of time resources are: symbol, time slot, subframe, radio frame, TTI, interleaving time, slot, sub-slot, mini-slot, system frame number (SFN) cycle, hyper-SFN (H-SFN) cycle etc.

Note that although terminology from one particular wireless system, such as, for example, 3GPP LTE and/or New Radio (NR), may be used in this disclosure, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the disclosure to only the aforementioned system. Other wireless systems, including without limitation Wide Band Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), may also benefit from exploiting the ideas covered within this disclosure.

Note further, that functions described herein as being performed by a wireless device or a network node may be distributed over a plurality of wireless devices and/or network nodes. In other words, it is contemplated that the functions of the network node and wireless device described herein are not limited to performance by a single physical device and, in fact, can be distributed among several physical devices. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Some embodiments provide a method of adapting a sensing procedure under a cell change.

Referring now to the drawing figures, in which like elements are referred to by like reference numerals, there is shown in FIG. 1 a schematic diagram of a communication system 10, according to an embodiment, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network that may support standards such as LTE and/or NR (5G), which includes an access network 12, such as a radio access network, and a core network 14. The access network 12 includes a plurality of network nodes 16a, 16b, 16c (referred to collectively as network nodes 16), such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area 18a, 18b, 18c (referred to collectively as coverage areas 18). Each network node 16a, 16b, 16c is connectable to the core network 14 over a wired or wireless connection 20. A first wireless device (WD) 22a located in coverage area 18a is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding network node 16a. A second WD 22b in coverage area 18b is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding network node 16b. While a plurality of WDs 22a, 22b (collectively referred to as wireless devices 22) are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole WD is in the coverage area or where a sole WD is connecting to the corresponding network node 16. Note that although only two WDs 22 and three network nodes 16 are shown for convenience, the communication system may include many more WDs 22 and network nodes 16.

Also, it is contemplated that a WD 22 can be in simultaneous communication and/or configured to separately communicate with more than one network node 16 and more than one type of network node 16. For example, a WD 22 can have dual connectivity with a network node 16 that supports LTE and the same or a different network node 16 that supports NR. As an example, WD 22 can be in communication with an eNB for LTE/E-UTRAN and a gNB for NR/NG-RAN.

The communication system 10 may itself be connected to a host computer 24, which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. The host computer 24 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The connections 26, 28 between the communication system 10 and the host computer 24 may extend directly from the core network 14 to the host computer 24 or may extend via an optional intermediate network 30. The intermediate network 30 may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network. The intermediate network 30, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet. In some embodiments, the intermediate network 30 may include two or more subnetworks (not shown).

The communication system of FIG. 1 as a whole enables connectivity between one of the connected WDs 22a, 22b and the host computer 24. The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection. The host computer 24 and the connected WDs 22a, 22b are configured to communicate data and/or signaling via the OTT connection, using the access network 12, the core network 14, any intermediate network 30 and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. The OTT connection may be transparent in the sense that at least some of the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, a network node 16 may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from a host computer 24 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected WD 22a. Similarly, the network node 16 need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the WD 22a towards the host computer 24.

A network node 16 is configured to include a configuration unit 32 which is configured to configure the WD 22 to adapt a sensing operation in anticipation of a cell change from a first cell to a second cell, the adapting being one of stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting and completing a sensing operation.

A wireless device 22 is configured to include an adaptation unit 34 which is configured to determine, based at least in part on at least one rule, an adaptation of a sensing operation in anticipation of a cell change from a first cell to a second cell, the adaptation being one of stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting and completing a sensing operation. Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the WD 22, network node 16 and host computer 24 discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to FIG. 2. In a communication system 10, a host computer 24 includes hardware (HW) 38 including a communication interface 40 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 10. The host computer 24 further includes processing circuitry 42, which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. The processing circuitry 42 may include a processor 44 and memory 46. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 42 may include integrated circuitry for processing and/or control, e.g., one or more processors and/or processor cores and/or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 44 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and/or read from) memory 46, which may include any kind of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and/or buffer memory and/or RAM (Random Access Memory) and/or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and/or optical memory and/or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

Processing circuitry 42 may be configured to control any of the methods and/or processes described herein and/or to cause such methods, and/or processes to be performed, e.g., by host computer 24. Processor 44 corresponds to one or more processors 44 for performing host computer 24 functions described herein. The host computer 24 includes memory 46 that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 48 and/or the host application 50 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 44 and/or processing circuitry 42, causes the processor 44 and/or processing circuitry 42 to perform the processes described herein with respect to host computer 24. The instructions may be software associated with the host computer 24.

The software 48 may be executable by the processing circuitry 42. The software 48 includes a host application 50. The host application 50 may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as a WD 22 connecting via an OTT connection 52 terminating at the WD 22 and the host computer 24. In providing the service to the remote user, the host application 50 may provide user data which is transmitted using the OTT connection 52. The “user data” may be data and information described herein as implementing the described functionality. In one embodiment, the host computer 24 may be configured for providing control and functionality to a service provider and may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The processing circuitry 42 of the host computer 24 may enable the host computer 24 to observe, monitor, control, transmit to and/or receive from the network node 16 and or the wireless device 22. The processing circuitry 42 of the host computer 24 may include a xxx unit 54 configured to enable the service provider to [observe/monitor/ control/transmit to/receive from.... the network node 16 and or the wireless device 22.] The processing circuitry 42 of the host computer 24 may also include a xxx unit 56 configured to enable the service provider to [observe/monitor/ control/transmit to/receive from.... the network node 16 and or the wireless device 22.]

The communication system 10 further includes a network node 16 provided in a communication system 10 and including hardware 58 enabling it to communicate with the host computer 24 and with the WD 22. The hardware 58 may include a communication interface 60 for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 10, as well as a radio interface 62 for setting up and maintaining at least a wireless connection 64 with a WD 22 located in a coverage area 18 served by the network node 16. The radio interface 62 may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and/or one or more RF transceivers. The communication interface 60 may be configured to facilitate a connection 66 to the host computer 24. The connection 66 may be direct or it may pass through a core network 14 of the communication system 10 and/or through one or more intermediate networks 30 outside the communication system 10.

In the embodiment shown, the hardware 58 of the network node 16 further includes processing circuitry 68. The processing circuitry 68 may include a processor 70 and a memory 72. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 68 may include integrated circuitry for processing and/or control, e.g., one or more processors and/or processor cores and/or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 70 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and/or read from) the memory 72, which may include any kind of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and/or buffer memory and/or RAM (Random Access Memory) and/or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and/or optical memory and/or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). Thus, the network node 16 further has software 74 stored internally in, for example, memory 72, or stored in external memory (e.g., database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by the network node 16 via an external connection. The software 74 may be executable by the processing circuitry 68. The processing circuitry 68 may be configured to control any of the methods and/or processes described herein and/or to cause such methods, and/or processes to be performed, e.g., by network node 16. Processor 70 corresponds to one or more processors 70 for performing network node 16 functions described herein. The memory 72 is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 74 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 70 and/or processing circuitry 68, causes the processor 70 and/or processing circuitry 68 to perform the processes described herein with respect to network node 16. For example, processing circuitry 68 of the network node 16 may include a configuration unit 32 which is configured to configure the WD 22 to adapt a sensing operation in anticipation of a cell change from a first cell to a second cell, the adapting being one of stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting and completing a sensing operation.

The communication system 10 further includes the WD 22 already referred to. The WD 22 may have hardware 80 that may include a radio interface 82 configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection 64 with a network node 16 serving a coverage area 18 in which the WD 22 is currently located. The radio interface 82 may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and/or one or more RF transceivers.

The hardware 80 of the WD 22 further includes processing circuitry 84. The processing circuitry 84 may include a processor 86 and memory 88. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 84 may include integrated circuitry for processing and/or control, e.g., one or more processors and/or processor cores and/or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 86 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and/or read from) memory 88, which may include any kind of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and/or buffer memory and/or RAM (Random Access Memory) and/or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and/or optical memory and/or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). Thus, the WD 22 may further include software 90, which is stored in, for example, memory 88 at the WD 22, or stored in external memory (e.g., database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by the WD 22. The software 90 may be executable by the processing circuitry 84. The software 90 may include a client application 92. The client application 92 may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via the WD 22, with the support of the host computer 24. In the host computer 24, an executing host application 50 may communicate with the executing client application 92 via the OTT connection 52 terminating at the WD 22 and the host computer 24. In providing the service to the user, the client application 92 may receive request data from the host application 50 and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 52 may transfer both the request data and the user data. The client application 92 may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.

The processing circuitry 84 may be configured to control any of the methods and/or processes described herein and/or to cause such methods, and/or processes to be performed, e.g., by WD 22. The processor 86 corresponds to one or more processors 86 for performing WD 22 functions described herein. The WD 22 includes memory 88 that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 90 and/or the client application 92 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 86 and/or processing circuitry 84, causes the processor 86 and/or processing circuitry 84 to perform the processes described herein with respect to WD 22. For example, the processing circuitry 84 of the wireless device 22 may include an adaptation unit 34 which is configured to determine, based at least in part on at least one rule, an adaptation of a sensing operation in anticipation of a cell change from a first cell to a second cell, the adaptation being one of stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting and completing a sensing operation.

In some embodiments, the inner workings of the network node 16, WD 22, and host computer 24 may be as shown in FIG. 2 and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 2, the OTT connection 52 has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between the host computer 24 and the wireless device 22 via the network node 16, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from the WD 22 or from the service provider operating the host computer 24, or both. While the OTT connection 52 is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network).

The wireless connection 64 between the WD 22 and the network node 16 is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to the WD 22 using the OTT connection 52, in which the wireless connection 64 may form the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of some of these embodiments may improve the data rate, latency, and/or power consumption and thereby provide benefits such as reduced user waiting time, relaxed restriction on file size, better responsiveness, extended battery lifetime, etc.

In some embodiments, a measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 52 between the host computer 24 and WD 22, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 52 may be implemented in the software 48 of the host computer 24 or in the software 90 of the WD 22, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which the OTT connection 52 passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software 48, 90 may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of the OTT connection 52 may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect the network node 16, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to the network node 16. Some such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary WD signaling facilitating the host computer’s 24 measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. In some embodiments, the measurements may be implemented in that the software 48, 90 causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using the OTT connection 52 while it monitors propagation times, errors, etc. Thus, in some embodiments, the host computer 24 includes processing circuitry 42 configured to provide user data and a communication interface 40 that is configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to the WD 22. In some embodiments, the cellular network also includes the network node 16 with a radio interface 62. In some embodiments, the network node 16 is configured to, and/or the network node’s 16 processing circuitry 68 is configured to perform the functions and/or methods described herein for preparing/initiating/maintaining/supporting/ending a transmission to the WD 22, and/or preparing/terminating/maintaining/supporting/ending in receipt of a transmission from the WD 22.

In some embodiments, the host computer 24 includes processing circuitry 42 and a communication interface 40 that is configured to a communication interface 40 configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a WD 22 to a network node 16. In some embodiments, the WD 22 is configured to, and/or includes a radio interface 82 and/or processing circuitry 84 configured to perform the functions and/or methods described herein for preparing/initiating/maintaining/supporting/ending a transmission to the network node 16, and/or preparing/terminating/maintaining/supporting/ending in receipt of a transmission from the network node 16.

Although FIGS. 1 and 2 show various “units” such as configuration unit 32, and adaptation unit 34 as being within a respective processor, it is contemplated that these units may be implemented such that a portion of the unit is stored in a corresponding memory within the processing circuitry. In other words, the units may be implemented in hardware or in a combination of hardware and software within the processing circuitry.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIGS. 1 and 2, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to FIG. 2. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (Block S100). In an optional substep of the first step, the host computer 24 provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application 50 (Block S102). In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the WD 22 (Block S104). In an optional third step, the network node 16 transmits to the WD 22 the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer 24 initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block S106). In an optional fourth step, the WD 22 executes a client application, such as, for example, the client application 92, associated with the host application 50 executed by the host computer 24 (Block s 108).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (Block SI 10). In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer 24 provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application 50. In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the WD 22 (Block S 112). The transmission may pass via the network node 16, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional third step, the WD 22 receives the user data carried in the transmission (Block S 114).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In an optional first step of the method, the WD 22 receives input data provided by the host computer 24 (Block S 116). In an optional substep of the first step, the WD 22 executes the client application 92, which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer 24 (Block S 118). Additionally or alternatively, in an optional second step, the WD 22 provides user data (Block S120). In an optional substep of the second step, the WD provides the user data by executing a client application, such as, for example, client application 92 (Block S122). In providing the user data, the executed client application 92 may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the WD 22 may initiate, in an optional third substep, transmission of the user data to the host computer 24 (Block S124). In a fourth step of the method, the host computer 24 receives the user data transmitted from the WD 22, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block s 126).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In an optional first step of the method, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the network node 16 receives user data from the WD 22 (Block S128). In an optional second step, the network node 16 initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer 24 (Block S130). In a third step, the host computer 24 receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the network node 16 (Block S132).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a network node 16 for a method of adapting a sensing procedure under a cell change. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of network node 16 such as by one or more of processing circuitry 68 (including the configuration unit 32), processor 70, radio interface 62 and/or communication interface 60. Network node 16 such as via processing circuitry 68 and/or processor 70 and/or radio interface 62 and/or communication interface 60 is configured to configure the WD 22 to adapt a sensing operation in anticipation of a cell change from a first cell to a second cell, the adapting being one of stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting and completing a sensing operation (Block S134).

In some embodiments, the adapting is based at least in part on whether the sensing operation is one of monostatic, bistatic and multi-static. In some embodiments, the adapting is based at least in part on an indication received from the second cell. In some embodiments, the adapting is based at least in part on whether the second cell supports joint communication and sensing. In some embodiments, the process includes configuring the WD 22 with a sensing signal resource pattern at one of before and during the cell change. In some embodiments, the process also includes configuring the WD 22 to one of restart and resume the sensing operation after the cell change. In some embodiments, configuring the WD 22 to adapt the sensing operation is performed in response to a request from a second network node. In some embodiments, the process includes disallowing the WD 22 to access the second cell based at least in part on whether the WD 22 is configured to perform the sensing operation after the cell change. In some embodiments, the process also includes transmitting a barring information indicating whether at least one of the first cell and the second cell are barred for performing the sensing operation.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a wireless device 22 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of wireless device 22 such as by one or more of processing circuitry 84 (including the adaptation unit 34), processor 86, radio interface 82 and/or communication interface 60. Wireless device 22 such as via processing circuitry 84 and/or processor 86 and/or radio interface 82 is configured to determine, based at least in part on at least one rule, an adaptation of a sensing operation in anticipation of a cell change from a first cell to a second cell, the adaptation being one of stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting and completing a sensing operation (Block S136). The process also includes adapting the sensing operation according to the determined adaptation (Block S138).

In some embodiments, the process includes receiving an indication of a sensing signal resource pattern from the first cell at one of before the cell change and during the cell change. In some embodiments, the process includes receiving an indication of a sensing signal resource pattern from the second cell at one of during the cell change and after the cell change. In some embodiments, adapting the sensing operation includes suspending the cell change until after completion of the sensing operation. In some embodiments, adapting the sensing operation includes suspending the sensing operation until after completion of the cell change. In some embodiments, the at least one rule includes stopping the sensing operation at one of during the cell change and after the cell change. In some embodiments, the at least one rule includes continuing the sensing operation after the cell change. In some embodiments, the at least one rule includes using a second sensing signal resource pattern at one of during the cell change and after the cell change that is the same as a first sensing signal resource pattern used before a start of the cell change. In some embodiments, the at least one rule includes using a second sensing signal resource pattern at one of during the cell change and after the cell change that is different from a first sensing signal resource pattern used before a start of the cell change. In some embodiments, the process includes determining a type of cell change procedure and stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting or completing the sensing operation based at least in part on the type of the cell change. In some embodiments, a type of cell change procedure includes at least one of a cell selection, cell reselection, handover, radio resource control (RRC) connection release with direction, RRC connection re-establishment, special cell (SpCell) change and secondary cell (SCell) change. In some embodiments, the method also includes obtaining barring information indicating whether the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation and adapting the cell change to the second cell based at least in part on whether the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation. In some embodiments, barring information indicates whether the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation. In some embodiments, adapting the sensing operation further includes not performing a change to the second cell when the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation and otherwise performing the cell change to the second cell.

Having described the general process flow of arrangements of the disclosure and having provided examples of hardware and software arrangements for implementing the processes and functions of the disclosure, the sections below provide details and examples of arrangements for a method of adapting a sensing procedure under a cell change. Scenario description

An example scenario includes a first WD 22 (WD1) engaged in an integrated communication and sensing operation in a wireless communication network. For example, WD1 22a may be served by or expected to be served by a first cell (Celli), which may be managed or served by a first network node (NN1 16a). WD1 22a may be engaged or expected to be engaged in communication between itself and at least Celli by operating communication signal (CS). The operating of the CS or operation of the CS may include WD1 22a receiving the CS from Celli and/or WD1 22a transmitting the CS to Celli. WD1 22a may further operate the CS between itself and one or more additional cells, e.g., another serving cell, a neighbor cell, etc. Examples of CS are physical signals (e.g., reference signals (RS)), physical channel (e.g., data, control, broadcast, paging channels, etc.). WD1 22a may be further configured by a network node and/or autonomously to perform a sensing operation. Examples of sensing operations in which WD1 22a may be involved are as follows:

• WD1 22a may be performing or expected to perform or configured to perform a mono-static sensing operation with respect to an object (e.g., vehicle, cycle, human, etc.). In this case, WD1 22a transmits a sensing signal (SSt), which is reflected by the object. WD1 22a receives the sensing signal (SS_r), which is the reflected part or reflected component or reflected path of the transmitted sensing signal (SSt);

• The sensing operation includes WD1 22a transmitting or configured to transmit a first sensing signal (SSI) to a first sensing device (SD1 16, 22);

• The sensing operation includes WD1 22a receiving or expecting to receive or being configured to receive a second sensing signal (SS2) from a second sensing device (SD2 16, 22); and/or

• The sensing operation includes WD1 22a transmitting or being configured to transmit SSI to SD1 16, 22 and further receiving or expecting to receive or being configured to receive SS2 from a SD2 16, 22.

SSI may therefore refer to a sensing signal transmitted by WD1 22a and SS2 may therefore refer to a sensing signal received or expected to be received by WD1 22a. The sensing signal (e.g., SSI, SS2, etc.) may be a reference signal, e.g., any physical signal, synchronization signal and physical broadcast channel block (SSB), positioning reference signal (PRS), etc.

WD1, while configured to perform the sensing operation, may be further triggered to perform a cell access procedure or a cell change procedure. The cell access procedure may include WD1 22a accessing Celli during an initial access procedure, e.g., cell selection to Celli. The cell change procedure may include WD1 22a performing cell change from Celli to a second cell (Cell2), e.g., from old serving cell, Celli, to a new or target serving cell, Cell2. Cell2 may be served by NN1 16a or by a second network node (NN2 16b). In some embodiments Celli and Cell2 operate on or belong to the same carrier frequency, e.g., a first carrier frequency (Fl). In some embodiments Celli and Cell2 operate on or belong to different carrier frequencies, e.g., Celli on Fl and Cell2 on a second carrier frequency (F2).

The WD may be triggered to perform access to Celli or cell change from Celli to Cell2 based on one or more rules, which may be pre-defined or configured by a network node, e.g., by NN1 16a. Examples of cell change procedures are cell reselection, handover, handover with PSCell change, secondary serving cell change, (e.g., PSCell change, SCell change, etc.), radio resource control (RRC) connection release with redirection, RRC connection re-establishment, etc. The cell access or the cell change procedure may be performed by the WD operating in low activity RRC state or in high activity RRC state. Examples of low activity RRC state are RRC idle, RRC inactive, etc. An example of high activity RRC state is RRC connected state.

In some embodiments, SD1 16, 22 and SD2 16, 22 are different physical and/or 1 logical nodes. In some embodiments, SD1 16, 22 and SD2 16, 22 are the same node, e.g., SD1=SD2. SD1 16, 22 and/or SD2 16, 22 may be a WD 22 and/or a network node. For example, in some embodiments, SD1 16, 22 is another WD 22, a second WD (WD2 22b), whereas in some embodiments, SD1 16, 22 is a network node, a first sensing network node (SN1 16, 22). Furthermore, in some embodiments, SD222 is another WD, a third WD (WD222b), whereas in some embodiments, SD2 16, 22 is a network node, a second sensing network node (SN2 16, 22). Examples of SN1 16,22 and SN2 16, 22 are base station, access point, etc.

In some embodiments, the sensing signal transmitted by WD1 22a to an object (e.g., in mono-static sensing operation) or to SD1 16, 22 may include of a pattern of transmission resources in which the sensing signal may be transmitted by WD1 22a. The sensing signal transmission pattern (SSTP) may be aperiodic or periodic or semi- persistent. Also, in some embodiments the sensing signal received by WD1 22a may include a pattern of reception resources in which the sensing signal may be received by WD1 22a. The sensing signal reception pattern (SSRP) may also be aperiodic or periodic or semi-persistent. The parameters defining SSTP and SSRP may be predefined or configured by a network node (e.g., NN1 16a). Examples of such parameters are starting reference time (Tr), periodicity (if it is periodic), duration of the pattern, ending time of the pattern, etc. Examples of Tr are absolute time or universal time such as Coordinated universal time (UTC) time, system time such as SFN number, hyper SFN number, etc. The periodicities of SSTP and SSRP may be the same or may be different. An example of periodic pattern of sensing signal transmission resources (SSTR) used by WD1 22a for transmitting sensing signal (e.g., to SD1 16, 22 or an object) is shown in FIG. 9. The resources not configured for the sensing operation may be used by WD1 22a for operating communication signals (e.g., such as SSB, data/control channel between WD1 22a and Celli). Examples of resources are timefrequency resources such as resource blocks, resource elements and/or time resources such as symbols, slots, subframes etc.

Some non-limiting examples of scenarios for performing a sensing operation when a cell change is occurring are illustrated in FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13 and described below:

1. FIG. 10. In this scenario, WD1 22a transmits a sensing signal (SSt) and receives a sensing signal (SS_r), which is reflected by the object. WD1 22a, while performing or while configured to perform this sensing operation, may be triggered to perform a cell change (e.g., handover) from a current serving cell, Celli, to a target serving cell, Cell2. This is an example of a monostatic sensing operation;

2. FIG. 11. In this scenario, WD1 22a transmits a sensing signal (SS I) to a sensing device (SD1 16, 22). WD1 22a, while transmitting or while configured to transmit SSI to SD1 16, 22, may be triggered to perform a cell change (e.g., handover) from a current serving cell, Celli, to a target serving cell, Cell2. This is an example of a bi-static sensing operation;

3. FIG. 12. In this scenario, WD1 22a receives a sensing signal (SS2) from a sensing device (SD2 16, 22). WD1 22a, while receiving or while configured to receive SS2 from SD2 16, 22, may be triggered to perform a cell change (e.g., handover) from Celli to Cell2. This is also an example of a bi-static sensing operation.

4. FIG. 13. In this scenario, WD1 22a transmits SSI and receives SS2 from SD2 16, 22. WD1 22a, while transmitting or while configured to transmit SSI to SD1 16, 22 and receiving or while configured to receive SS2 from SD2 16, 22, may be triggered to perform a cell change (e.g., handover) from Celli to Cell2. This is an example of a multi-static sensing operation.

Method of adapting sensing operation in a first WD (WD1 22a)

Some embodiments include a method in WD1 22a operating in any of the scenarios described herein. According to some embodiments, WD1 22a, upon triggering a cell access procedure or a cell change procedure (e.g., handover, cell reselection, RRC re-establishment, etc.) performs at least one of: determining, based on one or more rules, how WD1 22a is going to perform the sensing operation during and/or after the cell access or the cell change procedure; and performing the sensing operation and/or the cell access or the cell change procedure based on the above determination.

Examples of rules to determine how WD1 22a is going to perform the sensing operation during and/or after the cell access or the cell change procedure may be predefined or configured by a network node (e.g., NN1 16a) as described below:

1. In one example of a rule, WD1 22a stops performing the sensing operation during and/or after the cell access or the cell change procedure. This rule may further include of one or more of the following sub-rules or additional aspects: a. In one example, this rule may be applicable for any type of sensing operation. In another example, this rule may be applicable only for sensing operation in certain scenarios. For example, the rule may be applicable for sensing involving transmission of sensing signals by WD1 22a (e.g., SSI in scenario in figure 2), multi-static sensing operation (e.g., SSI in scenario in figure 2) etc.; b. In another example, this rule may be applicable for WDs 22 with limited WD capability, e.g., in terms of antenna capabilities or power class. For example, a vehicle may continue the sensing operation while the rule may be applied to a smart phone; c. WD1 22a may further inform a network node 16 that it has stop performing the sensing operation due to the triggering of the cell access or the cell change procedure, e.g., to NN1 16a, NN2 16b, etc.;

2. In another example of the rule, WD1 22a continues performing the ongoing sensing operation during and/or after the cell access or the cell change procedure. This rule may further include of one or more of the following sub-rules or additional aspects: a. WD1 may continue the ongoing sensing operation until the sensing operation is completed or deconfigured by a network node or over a limited duration (e.g., until certain time period (Ti l) after WD1 22a has triggered the cell access or the cell change procedure); b. In one example, WD1 22a continues performing the sensing operation using the same sensing signal resource pattern (e.g., sensing signal transmission pattern (SSTP), sensing signal reception pattern (SSRP)) used by WD1 22a before the triggering of the cell access or the cell change procedure. In another example, WD1 22a continues performing the sensing operation using a modified version of the sensing signal resource pattern which WD1 22a was using before the triggering of the cell access or the cell change procedure. For example, the periodicity (Tm) of the modified SSTP may be shorter than the periodicity (Ta) of the original SSTP, e.g., Tm may be KI times shorter than Ta such as Ta=L*Tm. WD1 22a may determine the modified version of the sensing signal pattern based on pre-defined information or by receiving a configuration message from a network node e.g., NN1 16a, NN2 16b, etc.; c. In one example, this rule may be applicable for any type of sensing operation. In another example, this rule may be applicable only for sensing operation in certain scenarios. For example, the rule may be applicable for sensing involving reception of sensing signals by WD1 22a (e.g., SS2 in scenario in figure 2), mono-static sensing operation (e.g., scenario in figure 1), etc.; d. WD1 22a may further inform a network node that it has been performing the sensing operation before the cell access or the cell change and is continuing or going to continue the sensing operation also after the cell access or the cell change procedure, e.g., WD1 22a informs NN1 16a, NN2 16b, etc.;

3. In another example of the rule, WD1 22a restarts the ongoing sensing operation during and/or after the cell access or the cell change procedure. This rule may further include of one or more of the following sub-rules or additional aspects: a. After the restart of the sensing operation, WD1 22a may use another (new) sensing signal pattern which is different than the original sensing signal pattern used by WD1 22a (i.e., before the restart of the sensing operation). WD1 22a may determine the new sensing signal pattern based on pre-defined information or by receiving a configuration message from a network node e.g., NN1 16a, NN2 16b, etc.; b. WD1 may restart the sensing operation immediately or after certain time period (T12) from the moment it has been triggered to perform the cell access or the cell change. WD1 22a may not combine, or average measurement samples obtained on sensing signal before and after the restarting of the sensing operation. The node receiving the sensing signals transmitted by WD1 22a may also not combine, or may average measurement samples obtained before and after the restarting of the sensing operation. The new sensing pattern may have properties which are feasible for the target cell (e.g., Cell2) after the cell change; c. In one example, this rule may be applicable for any type of sensing operation. In another example, this rule may be applicable only for sensing operation in certain scenarios. For example, the rule may be applicable for sensing involving reception of sensing signals by WD1 22a (e.g., SS2 in scenario in FIG. 10), mono-static sensing operation (e.g., scenario in FIG. 9), etc. d. WD1 may further inform a network node that it has been performing the sensing operation before the cell access or cell change and is restarting or is going to restart the sensing operation after the cell access or the cell change procedure e.g., WD1 22a informs NN1 16a, NN2 16b, etc.;

4. In another example of the rule, WD1 22a temporary suspends or stops the sensing operation at least over a time period (T13) starting from the moment, the cell access or the cell change procedure has been triggered until the moment the cell access or the cell change procedure has been completed. WD1 22a may resume the sensing operation after the suspended period, T13. In one example, the cell access or the cell change procedure is considered to be complete if the WD has successfully sent an uplink signal (e.g., random access) in the target cell e.g., in Cell2. In another example, the cell access or the cell change procedure is considered to be complete if the WD has received an acknowledge message from the target cell (e.g., from Cell2) indicating that the cell access or the cell change procedure is successfully completed. This rule may further include of one or more of the following sub-rules or additional aspects: a. In one example, WD1 22a may use the same or a different sensing signal resource pattern after resuming the sensing operation after the cell access or the cell change procedure has been completed. The sensing signal resource pattern to be used after the completion of the cell access or cell change procedure may be predefined or determined by WD1 22a by receiving it from a network node; b. In another example, WD1 22a may be restricted to transmit the sensing signal with some power limitation, determined by Cell2; c. In another example, whether WD1 22a is going to resume the sensing operation after the cell access or cell change procedure has been completed depends on an indication received from a network node (e.g., NN1 16a, NN2 16b, etc.). In one example, WD1 22a resumes the sensing operation provided that NN 1 16a permits WD1 22a to perform the sensing operation after the completion of the cell access or cell change procedure; otherwise WD1 22a does not resume the sensing operation. NN1 16a may send the indication in cell change command or in a separate message. In another example, WD1 22a resumes the sensing operation provided that NN2 16b permits WD1 22a to perform the sensing operation after the completion of the cell access or cell change procedure. WD1 22a may further be configured with the same or new sensing signal resource pattern to be used for the sensing operation after the cell access or the cell change procedure has been completed; d. In another example, WD1 22a transmits information (e.g., timing, periodicity, resource blocks (RBs), etc.) about the sensing signal resource pattern used while served by Celli, to Cell2 after the cell the cell access or the cell change procedure has been completed. It may be up to Cell2 whether it allows WD1 22a to resume the sensing operation in Cell2. For example, NN2 16b may configure WD1 22a to allow WD1 22a to resume the sensing operation in Cell2 using the old sensing signal resource pattern (i.e., the one used while served by Celli). In another example, NN2 16b may configure WD1 22a to allow WD1 22a to resume the sensing operation in Cell2, but using a new sensing signal resource pattern (i.e., the one more suitable for Cell2);

5. In another example of the rule, WD1 22a delays the execution of the cell access or the cell change procedure for certain time period (T15) from the moment the cell access or cell change procedure has been triggered at the WD. In other words, the cell access or the cell change procedure may be temporarily halted or suspended over T15. During T15, WD1 22a may partially or fully complete the sensing operation, or it may complete certain component or part of the sensing procedure, e.g., transmits at least K2 number of sensing signals to another device or towards an object and/or receiving K3 number of sensing signals from another device. For example, T15 may be a duration over which WD1 22a or the other device obtains samples of the sensing signals to derive a combine value, e.g., average value to enhance the measurement result. WD1 22a may further resume and complete the cell access or the cell change procedure after T15. WD1 22a may further inform a network node (e.g., NN1 16a) that it has or is going to suspend the cell access or the cell change procedure during T15 due to the sensing operation;

6. In another example of the rule, any of the above rules may further depend on the type of cell access or cell change procedure performed by WD1 22a. This is explained with examples below: a. If the cell access procedure is cell selection for the selected public land mobile network (PLMN), then WD1 22a may stop performing the sensing operation during and/or after the cell selection for the selected PLMN. This will enable WD1 22a to speed up cell selection and reduce power consumption; b. If the cell change is cell reselection, then WD1 22a may continue the sensing operation during and/or after the cell reselection; c. If the cell change is handover, then WD1 22a may restart the sensing operation during and/or after the handover; and/or d. If the cell change is RRC connection re-establishment, then WD1 22a may stop performing the sensing operation during and/or after the RRC connection re-establishment.

The relation or mapping between any of the above rules and the type of sensing operation and/or the type of cell access or cell change operation may be pre-defined or configured by a network node e.g., by receiving a message from NN1 16a, etc. Method in a first network node (NN1 16a) of controlling sensing operation of WD1 22a Some embodiment includes a method in NN1 16a serving or managing Celli, which in turn is serving WD1 22a operating in any of the scenarios described herein. According to this embodiment, NN1 16a: determines that WD1 22a is going to or is required to or is expected to perform cell change procedure from Celli to Cell2; and/or configures WD1 22a to adapt the sensing operation and/or adapt the cell change procedure based on one or more rules.

NN1 16a may further transmit a cell change message (e.g., handover command) to enable WD1 22a to perform the cell change to Cell2.

NN1 16a may further inform NN2 16b or sensing device (e.g., SD1 16, 22, SD2 16, 22) about the adaptation of the sensing operation of WD1 22a.

NN 1 16a may determine that WD1 22a is going to or is required to or is expected to perform the cell change based on one or more criteria, e.g., based on obtained results of measurements (e.g., reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), etc.) performed by WD1 22a, WD1 22a location in Celli, etc. For example, if a RSRP measured by WD1 22a on Celli is less than the RSRP measured by WD1 22a on Cell2 by certain margin or threshold (e.g., XldB) then NN1 16a may determine that WD1 22a is required to perform cell change to Cell2.

Some examples of rules for configuring WD1 22a to adapt the sensing operation and/or adapt the cell change procedure are described below:

1. In one example of the rule, NN1 16a informs WD1 22a whether WD1 22a should continue, stop, suspend or restart the sensing operation during or after the cell change procedure. NN1 16a may determine this based on one or more mechanisms. For example: a. NN1 16a may acquire information from NN2 16b concerning whether WD1 22a should continue, stop, suspend or restart the sensing operation during or after the cell change procedure. For example, in some scenario (e.g., time-sensitive communication service, limited resources in Cell2, high traffic load in Cell2), NN2 16b may not allow WD1 22a to continue the sensing operation during or after the cell change. In another example, in some scenarios (e.g., best effort communication service), it may be acceptable for NN2 16b that WD1 22a continues the sensing operation during or after the cell change. In another example, NN2 16b may not support WDs performing integrated communication and sensing operations. In this case NN2 16b may require WD1 22a to stop the sensing operation during or after the cell change; b. NN1 16a may acquire information from sending device (e.g.,

SD1 16, 22, SD2 16, 22, etc.) whether WD1 22a should continue, stop, suspend or restart the sensing operation during or after the cell change procedure. For example, in some scenario (e.g., time- sensitive monitoring), the sensing device WD1 22a may maintain the sensing operation during or after the cell change. In another example, in some scenarios (e.g., traffic monitoring), it may be acceptable for the sensing device WD1 22a to temporarily stop the sensing operation during or after the cell change;

2. NN 1 16a may determine a new or modified pattern of sensing resources (e.g., SSTP, SSRP) which may be used by WD1 22a for performing the sensing operation during or after the cell change. NN1 16a may further configure WD1 22a with the determined new or modified pattern of sensing resources, e.g., in the cell change message or in another message. NN1 16a may further configure or informs the sensing device (e.g., SD1 16, 22, SD2 16, 22) information about the new or modified pattern of sensing resources to be used by WD1 22a e.g., due to the cell change procedure to Cell2. a. In one example, the new or modified SSTP and/or SSRP may be determined by NN1 16a autonomously. For example, the periodicity of SS resources of the new or modified SSTP and/or SSRP may be shorter than that of the original/previously configured SSTP and/or SSRP. This will allow WD1 22a to use more resources to complete the ongoing communication during the cell change; b. In another example, the new or modified SSTP and/or SSRP may be determined by NN1 16a by receiving the information or recommendation from NN2 16b. For example, NN2 16b may transmit information about the SSTP and/or SSRP, which are suitable for WD1 22a operation in Cell2 after the cell change; and/or

3. In another example, NN 1 16a may inform NN2 16b that WD1 22a is performing a sensing operation and may also continue performing the sensing operation during the cell change to Cell2. NN1 16a may further inform NN2 16b details about the sensing operation, e.g., information about SSTP and/or SSRP used by WD1 22a, type of sensing operation expected during, etc.

Method in a second network node (NN2 16b) of controlling sensing operation of WD1 22a Some embodiments include a method in NN2 16b serving or managing Cell2, which in turn is the target serving cell for WD1 22a operating in any of the scenarios described herein. According to this embodiment, NN2 16b: determines that WD1 22a is going to perform or has performed cell change procedure from Celli to Cell2; requests or informs NN1 16a that WD1 22a should adapt the sensing operation and/or adapt the cell change procedure based on one or more rules; and/or configures WD1 22a to adapt the sensing operation and/or adapt the cell change procedure based on one or more rules.

In one example, NN2 16b may determine that WD1 22a is going to perform or has performed the cell change procedure from Celli to Cell2 based on information received from a network node, e.g., from old serving cell such as from NN 1 16a serving Celli.

In another example, NN2 16b may determine that WD1 22a has performed cell change procedure from Celli to Cell2 based on information received from WD1 22a, e.g., random access in Cell2, cell change request message from WD1 22a such as RRC connection re-establishment request message, etc.

In another example, NN2 16b may further inform NN1 16a or a sensing device (e.g., SD1 16, 22, SD2 16, 22) about the adaptation of the sensing operation and/or the adaptation of the cell change procedure of WD1 22a.

Some examples of rules for requesting or informing NN1 16a to adapt the sensing operation and/or adapt the cell change procedure of WD1 22a are described below:

1. NN2 16b may request NN1 16a to inform WD1 22a whether WD1 22a should continue, stop, suspend or restart the sensing operation during or after the cell change procedure;

2. NN2 16b may request NN 1 16a to inform WD1 22a that WD1 22a is allowed to use the old sensing signal resource pattern (as used in Celli) also in Cell2 after the cell change in case WD1 22a is allowed to continue or restart the sensing operation after the cell change procedure i.e., when served by Cell2;

3. NN2 16b may transmit information about a new sensing signal resource pattern to NN 1 16a that may be used by WD1 22a in Cell2 after the cell change procedure, i.e., when served by Cell2. The new sensing signal resource pattern may be considered more suitable for WD1 22a and/or for Cell2 when WD1 22a is served by Cell2; and/or

4. NN2 16b may request NN 1 16a not to perform cell change to Cell2 if WD1 22a has to continue performing the sensing operation after the cell change procedure, i.e., when served by Cell2. For example, Cell2 may not be capable of supporting or serving WDs which perform integrated communication and sensing operation. In another example, Cell2 may have high traffic load of WDs 22 (e.g., number of WDs 22 above threshold) and/or usage of resource blocks (RB) (e.g., over X2% RBs are being used). Due to this, Cell2 may decide not to support or serve the WD which wants to perform integrated communication and sensing operation.

Some examples of rules for configuring WD1 22a to adapt the sensing operation and/or adapt the cell change procedure of WD1 22a are described below:

1. NN2 16b may inform WD1 22a in a message sent (e.g., after or during the cell change procedure) indicating whether WD1 22a may use the old sensing signal resource pattern or a new sensing signal resource pattern for performing the sensing operation in Cell2 after the completion of the cell change procedure. If WD1 22a is allowed to use only the new sensing signal resource pattern, then NN2 16b further configures WD1 22a with information about the new sensing signal resource pattern. WD1 22a starts using the old or the new sensing signal resource pattern (whichever is allowed) for performing the sensing operation in Cell2 after the cell change to Cell2. The criteria to allow an old or new sensing signal resource pattern after the cell change to Cell2 may further depend on the type of the sensing operation, e.g., new pattern if the sensing operation includes transmission of SS by WD1 22a, old pattern if the sensing operation includes reception of SS by WD1 22a;

2. NN2 16b may reject WDl’s request on cell change to Cell2 on the basis that WD1 22a intends to continue performing the sensing operation after the cell change to Cell2. Another reason for rejecting the cell change request may be because WD1 22a intends to continue performing the sensing operation in Cell2 using the old sensing signal resource pattern (i.e., one used in Celli before the cell change). For example, NN2 16b may send a cell change reject message including the reason for the rejection. The cell change rejection may further depend on the type of the sensing operation e.g., if the sensing operation includes transmission of synchronization signals (SS) by WD1 22a; and/or

3. In another example, Cell2 may allow or prevent WD1 22a from accessing Cell2 based on whether WD1 22a is going to continue performing the 31 sensing (e.g., ICAS) operation in Cell2 after accessing Cell2. This may be realized by Cell2 transmitting barring information related to ICAS in a system information (SI) (e.g., in a system information block (SIB)). In one example, the transmitted barring information may be related to any type of ICAS. In another example, the transmitted barring information may be related to or linked to each type or group of different types of ICAS operations, e.g., separate barring information for mono-static sensing and bi-static sensing, or separate barring information for WD1 22a receiving sensing signals and for WD1 22a transmitting sensing signals, etc. WD1 22a, upon acquiring the SI of Cell2, determines whether WD1 22a while performing ICAS (or certain type of ICAS) may access Cell2. For example, if Cell2 does not have resources or is not capable of supporting WDs performing ICAS, then Cell2 may set barring field in the SI as ‘barred’; otherwise it may set the baring field in the SI as ‘not barred’ or ‘unbarred’. In the former case, WD1 22a may not be able to access Cell2. In the latter case, WD1 22a may access Cell2.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the concepts described herein may be embodied as a method, data processing system, computer program product and/or computer storage media storing an executable computer program. Accordingly, the concepts described herein may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects all generally referred to herein as a “circuit” or “module.” Any process, step, action and/or functionality described herein may be performed by, and/or associated to, a corresponding module, which may be implemented in software and/or firmware and/or hardware. Furthermore, the disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a tangible computer usable storage medium having computer program code embodied in the medium that can be executed by a computer. Any suitable tangible computer readable medium may be utilized including hard disks, CD- ROMs, electronic storage devices, optical storage devices, or magnetic storage devices.

Some embodiments are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, systems and computer program products. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer (to thereby create a special purpose computer), special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable memory or storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

It is to be understood that the functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the operational illustrations. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. Although some of the diagrams include arrows on communication paths to show a primary direction of communication, it is to be understood that communication may occur in the opposite direction to the depicted arrows.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the concepts described herein may be written in an object oriented programming language such as Python, Java® or C++. However, the computer program code for carrying out operations of the disclosure may also be written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C" programming language. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.

Abbreviations that may be used in the preceding description include:

CSI-RS Channel state information reference signals

DCI Downlink control information

DL Downlink

FDD Frequency division duplex

FR1 Frequency range 1

FR2 Frequency range 2

FR3 Frequency range 3 gNB Next generation Node B (5G base station)

HARQ Hybrid automatic repeat request

HCAS Hybrid communication and sensing

ICAS Integrated communication and sensing

JCAS Joint communication and sensing

MAC Medium access control

NR New radio (5G)

PBCH Physical broadcast channel

PCell Primary Cell

PDCCH Physical downlink control channel

PDSCH Physical downlink shared channel

PRS Positioning reference signals

PSC Primary secondary carrier

PS Cell Primary secondary cell

PUCCH Physical uplink control channel

PUSCH Physical uplink shared channel

RAT Radio access technology RRC Radio resource control

RRM Radio resource management

SCS Subcarrier spacing

SFN System frame number

SMTC SSB measurement timing configuration

SpCell Special cell

SRS Sounding reference signal

SS Sensing signal

SSB Synchronization signal and PBCH block

SSRP Sensing signal reception pattern

SSTP Sensing signal transmission pattern

TDD Time division duplex

UE User equipment

UL Uplink

WD Wireless device

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein are not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method in a wireless device, WD (22), configured to communicate with a network node (16), the method comprising: determining (S136), based at least in part on at least one rule, an adaptation of a sensing operation in anticipation of a cell change from a first cell to a second cell, the adaptation being one of stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting and completing a sensing operation; and adapting (S138) the sensing operation according to the determined adaptation.

2. The method of Claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication of a sensing signal resource pattern from the first cell at one of before the cell change and during the cell change.

3. The method of Claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication of a sensing signal resource pattern from the second cell at one of during the cell change and after the cell change.

4. The method of any of Claims 1-3, wherein adapting the sensing operation includes suspending the cell change until after completion of the sensing operation.

5. The method of any of Claims 1-4, wherein adapting the sensing operation includes suspending the sensing operation until after completion of the cell change.

6. The method of any of Claims 1-5, wherein the at least one rule includes stopping the sensing operation at one of during the cell change and after the cell change.

7. The method of any of Claims 1-6, wherein the at least one rule includes continuing the sensing operation after the cell change.

8. The method of any of Claims 1-7, wherein the at least one rule includes using a second sensing signal resource pattern at one of during the cell change and after the cell change that is the same as a first sensing signal resource pattern used before a start of the cell change.

9. The method of any of Claims 1-7, wherein the at least one rule includes using a second sensing signal resource pattern at one of during the cell change and after the cell change that is different from a first sensing signal resource pattern used before a start of the cell change

10. The method of any of Claims 1-9, further comprising determining a type of cell change procedure and stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting or completing the sensing operation based at least in part on the type of the cell change.

11. The method of any of Claims 1-10, wherein a type of cell change procedure includes at least one of a cell selection, cell reselection, handover, radio resource control (RRC) connection release with direction, RRC connection reestablishment, special cell (SpCell) change and secondary cell (SCell) change.

12. The method of any of Claims 1-11, further comprising obtaining barring information indicating whether the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation and adapting the cell change to the second cell based at least in part on whether the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation.

13. The method of any of Claims 1-12, wherein barring information indicates whether the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation.

14. The method of any of Claims 1-13, wherein adapting the sensing operation further includes not performing a change to the second cell when the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation and otherwise performing the cell change to the second cell.

15. A wireless device, WD (22), configured to communicate with a network node (16), the WD (22) comprising processing circuitry (84) configured to: determine, based at least in part on at least one rule, an adaptation of a sensing operation in anticipation of a cell change from a first cell to a second cell, the adaptation being one of stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting and completing a sensing operation; and adapt the sensing operation according to the determined adaptation.

16. The WD (22) of Claim 15, further comprising a radio interface in communication with the processing circuitry (84) and configured to receive an indication of a sensing signal resource pattern from the first cell at one of before the cell change and during the cell change.

17. The WD (22) of Claim 15, further comprising a radio interface in communication with the processing circuitry (84) and configured to receive an indication of a sensing signal resource pattern from the second cell at one of during the cell change and after the cell change.

18. The WD (22) of any of Claims 15-17, wherein adapting the sensing operation includes suspending the cell change until after completion of the sensing operation.

19. The WD (22) of any of Claims 15-18, wherein adapting the sensing operation includes suspending the sensing operation until after a completion of the cell change.

20. The WD (22) of any of Claims 15-19, wherein the at least one rule includes stopping the sensing operation at one of during the cell change and after the cell change.

21. The WD (22) of any of Claims 15-20, wherein the at least one rule includes continuing the sensing operation after the cell change.

22. The WD (22) of any of Claims 15-21, wherein the at least one rule includes using a second sensing signal resource pattern at one of during the cell change and after the cell change that is the same as a first sensing signal resource pattern used before a start of the cell change.

23. The WD (22) of any of Claims 15-22, wherein the at least one rule includes using a second sensing signal resource pattern at one of during the cell change and after the cell change that is different from a first sensing signal resource pattern used before a start of the cell change

24. The WD (22) of any of Claims 15-23, wherein the processing circuitry (84) is further configured to determine a type of cell change procedure and stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting or completing the sensing operation based at least in part on the type of the cell change.

25. The WD (22) of any of Claims 15-24, wherein a type of cell change procedure includes at least one of a cell selection, cell reselection, handover, radio resource control (RRC) connection release with direction, RRC connection reestablishment, special cell (SpCell) change and secondary cell (SCell) change.

26. The WD (22) of any of Claims 15-25, wherein the processing circuitry (84) is further configured to obtain barring information indicating whether the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation and adapting the cell change to the second cell based at least in part on whether the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation.

27. The WD (22) of any of Claims 15-26, wherein barring information indicates whether the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation.

28. The WD (22) of any of Claims 15-27, wherein adapting the sensing operation further includes not performing a change to the second cell when the second cell is barred from performing the sensing operation and otherwise performing the cell change to the second cell.

29. A method in a first network node (16) configured to communicate with a wireless device, WD (22), in a first cell, the method comprising: configuring (S134) the WD (22) to adapt a sensing operation in anticipation of a cell change from a first cell to a second cell, the adapting being one of stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting and completing a sensing operation.

30. The method of Claim 29, wherein the adapting is based at least in part on whether the sensing operation is one of monostatic, bistatic and multi-static.

31. The method of any of Claims 29 and 30, wherein the adapting is based at least in part on an indication received from the second cell.

32. The method of any of Claims 29-31, wherein the adapting is based at least in part on whether the second cell supports joint communication and sensing.

33. The method of any of Claims 29-32, further comprising configuring the WD (22) with a sensing signal resource pattern at one of before and during the cell change.

34. The method of any of Claims 29-33, further comprising configuring the WD (22) to one of restart and resume the sensing operation after the cell change.

35. The method of any of Claims 29-34, wherein configuring the WD (22) to adapt the sensing operation is performed in response to a request from a second network node (16).

36. The method of any of Claims 29-35, further comprising disallowing the WD (22) to access the second cell based at least in part on whether the WD (22) is configured to perform the sensing operation after the cell change.

37. The method of any of Claims 29-36, further comprising transmitting a barring information indicating whether at least one of the first cell and the second cell are barred for performing the sensing operation.

38. A first network node (16) configured to communicate with a wireless device, WD (22), in a first cell, the first network node (16) comprising processing circuitry (68) configured to: configure the WD (22) to adapt a sensing operation in anticipation of a cell change from a first cell to a second cell, the adapting being one of stopping, suspending, continuing, restarting and completing a sensing operation.

39. The first network node (16) of Claim 38, wherein the adapting being based at least in part on whether the sensing operation is one of monostatic, bistatic and multi-static.

40. The first network node (16) of any of Claims 38 and 39, wherein the adapting is based at least in part on an indication received from the second cell.

41. The first network node (16) of any of Claims 38-40, wherein the adapting is based at least in part on whether the second cell supports joint communication and sensing.

42. The first network node (16) of any of Claims 38-41, wherein the processing circuitry (68) is further configured to configure the WD (22) with a sensing signal resource pattern at one of before and during the cell change.

43. The first network node (16) of any of Claims 38-42, wherein the processing circuitry (68) is further configured to configure the WD (22) to one of restart and resume the sensing operation after the cell change.

44. The first network node (16) of any of Claims 38-43, wherein configuring the WD (22) to adapt the sensing operation is performed in response to a request from a second network node (16).

45. The first network node (16) of any of Claims 38-44, wherein the processing circuitry (68) is further configured to disallow the WD (22) to access the second cell based at least in part on whether the WD (22) is configured to perform the sensing operation after the cell change.

46. The first network node (16) of any of Claims 38-45, further comprising a radio interface in communication with the processing circuitry (68) and configured to transmit a barring information indicating whether the first cell and/or second cell are barred for performing the sensing operation.