Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a user equipment (UE) having active device components and passive device components. Responsive to receiving downlink (DL) transmissions in time division duplexing (TDD) mode, the active device components perform DL decoding while the passive device components perform passive transmission of ACK/NACK data. Such passive transmission may involve encoding the ACK/NACK data in an altered version of received radio frequency (RF) signals and using so-called backscatter communications to reflect the received RF signals, with alteration, using the same frequency resources used to receive the DL transmissions.

Abstract: According to aspects of the disclosure, there is provided a method for a UE to select or be assigned or configured with a spreading sequence that is based on one or more communication parameters such as receiver type, receiver capability, SE, TBS, MCS, traffic load, PAPR requirement, MCL, number of layers, overloading, reliability requirement, transmission power consumption, number of active UEs, and transmission latency constraint, etc. In some embodiments, the spreading sequence may be related to a performance metric associated with an above parameter (PAPR, BLER, etc.). In some embodiments, this is achieved by associating spreading sequences with parameters or performance metrics, or both. In some instances the spreading sequences may be arranged or ordered in a manner to reduce signaling overhead (e.g., signaling an index is more efficient than signaling a value of a metric, and ordering correlates the index to the value).

Abstract: Aspects of the present application relate to mobile communication devices having active device components and passive device components and, more particularly, to operation of the passive device components to form a backscatter signal from a received forward signal. Forming the backscatter signal may include generating the backscatter signal from the received forward signal without decoding a plurality of sub-signals in the received forward signal, the backscatter signal being a time-domain function of a contiguous subset of the time-domain plurality of sub-signals in the received forward signal. Upon receipt of the backscatter signal, a reception point may obtain information about the mobile communication device that contains the passive device components. Such information may relate to timing, position and identity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating locations of signal shadowing obstructions in a wireless communication network are disclosed. The method involves at a network equipment, receiving from User Equipments (UEs), an identification of neighboring UEs from which the UEs have received a reference signal via a non-line-of-sight (NLoS) sidelink transmission. The method also involves estimating locations of signal shadowing obstructions based on location information of UEs associated with the NLoS sidelink transmissions, and configuring communications between the network equipment and at least one UE based on an estimated location of at least one signal shadowing obstruction.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide for use of a linear chirp signal as a basis for a sensing signal. Modification of the linear chirp signal by a signature function can allow a receiver of the sensing signal to determine an identity for a source of the sensing signal. Accordingly, upon processing the received sensing signal to obtain path parameter estimates, the receiver can direct a transmission of an indication of the path parameter estimates to the source of the sensing signal. Aspects of the present application relate to performing multi-node, multi-path channel estimation on the basis of processing the received sensing signal. Conveniently, the processing is performed with low complexity.

Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure provide a transmission point (e.g., a base station) with an ability to enlist a user equipment to help sense an environment. The transmission point may configure the user equipment to use specific sensing hardware and specific sensing signal parameters, including bandwidth and duration. Furthermore, the transmission point may configure the user equipment to use specific resources to report sensing results to the transmission point.

Abstract: According to aspects of the disclosure, there is provided a method for a UE to select or be assigned or configured with a spreading sequence that is based on one or more communication parameters such as receiver type, receiver capability, SE, TBS, MCS, traffic load, PAPR requirement, MCL, number of layers, overloading, reliability requirement, transmission power consumption, number of active UEs, and transmission latency constraint, etc. In some embodiments, the spreading sequence may be related to a performance metric associated with an above parameter (PAPR, BLER, etc.). In some embodiments, this is achieved by associating spreading sequences with parameters or performance metrics, or both. In some instances the spreading sequences may be arranged or ordered in a manner to reduce signaling overhead (e.g., signaling an index is more efficient than signaling a value of a metric, and ordering correlates the index to the value).

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the selection of a waveform for an integrated communications and sensing (ICS) signal, where the waveform is suitable for both communication applications and sensing applications. In view of the sensing applications, the waveform selection can be, at least in part, adapted based on capabilities of hardware of nodes involved in the sensing applications. In view of the communication applications, the waveform selection can be, at least in part, adapted based on the extent to which data is to be embedded.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide for use of a linear chirp signal as a basis for a sensing signal. Modification of the linear chirp signal by a signature function can allow a receiver of the sensing signal to determine an identity for a source of the sensing signal. Accordingly, upon processing the received sensing signal to obtain path parameter estimates, the receiver can direct a transmission of an indication of the path parameter estimates to the source of the sensing signal. Aspects of the present application relate to performing multi-node, multi-path channel estimation on the basis of processing the received sensing signal. Conveniently, the processing is performed with low complexity.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a transmit point that transmits a downlink chirp sensing waveform (DL CSW) signal. A device receives the DL CSW signal and obtains a cloned chirp sensing waveform. The cloned chirp sensing waveform includes a parameter that can be uniquely associated with the device. The device transmits a UL cloned CSW signal based on the cloned chirp sensing waveform. The transmit point receives the UL cloned CSW signal and processes the UL cloned CSW signal to estimate a pose for the device and associate the estimated pose with the identity of the device.

Abstract: Aspects of the present application relate to mobile communication devices having active device components and passive device components and, more particularly, to operation of the passive device components to form a backscatter signal from a received forward signal. Upon receipt of the backscatter signal, a reception point may obtain information about the mobile communication device that contains the passive device components. Such information may relate to timing, position and identity.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a user equipment (UE) having active device components and passive device components. Responsive to receiving downlink (DL) transmissions in time division duplexing (TDD) mode, the active device components perform DL decoding while the passive device components perform passive transmission of ACK/NACK data. Such passive transmission may involve encoding the ACK/NACK data in an altered version of received radio frequency (RF) signals and using so-called backscatter communications to reflect the received RF signals, with alteration, using the same frequency resources used to receive the DL transmissions.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to integration of sensing and wireless communications. Wireless communication networks can configure and implement both sensing signals and communication signals. Sensing signals, or sensing reference signals, can be used to determine properties of the environment, and do not carry any information or data for the purpose of communications. Communication signals, on the other hand, are signals that carry information or data between network entities. Sensing agents can be used for both passive and active sensing. Sensing agents may be dedicated devices capable of performing passive sensing, active sensing, or both. Sensing agents can also be existing networks device such as user equipment or transmit receive points. Methodologies described here may be particularly beneficial for half-duplex systems, but could also be implemented in full duplex systems.

Abstract: Methods and devices utilizing downlink channel measurements for customization of downlink positioning reference signals (DL PRs) are provided. A serving base station (BS) for a targeted device and one or more non-serving BSs transmit respective downlink reference signals (DL RSs) to the targeted device. The targeted device reports respective downlink channel measurement information for each BS based on the received DL RSs. The BSs each transmit a respective DL PRS to the targeted device for downlink positioning measurement, wherein the respective DL PRS for each BS is configured based in part on the respective downlink channel measurement information reported by the targeted device for that BS. This allows the DL PRS for each BS to be configured taking into account downlink channel conditions between the BS and the targeted device, which can potentially improve positioning measurement accuracy by improving reception of the DL PRS at the targeted device.

Abstract: A system and method of non-orthogonal multiple access (NoMA) transmission using a configurable NoMA scheme is provided. A bit level processor, a modulation block, a phase and amplitude adjuster, and a symbol to resource element mapper collectively produce a NoMA signal for output or transmission. A NoMA scheme implemented by the system and method is configurable through one or more NoMA configuration inputs that configure one or more of the bit level processor, the modulation block, the phase and amplitude adjustment block and the symbol to resource element mapper. A multiple access (MA) signature produced by the apparatus once configured for the particular NoMA scheme is selectable through one or more MA signature inputs.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to integration of sensing and wireless communications. Wireless communication networks can configure and implement both sensing signals and communication signals. Sensing signals, or sensing reference signals, can be used to determine properties of the environment, and do not carry any information or data for the purpose of communications. Communication signals, on the other hand, are signals that carry information or data between network entities. Sensing agents can be used for both passive and active sensing. Sensing agents may be dedicated devices capable of performing passive sensing, active sensing, or both. Sensing agents can also be existing networks device such as user equipment or transmit receive points. Methodologies described here may be particularly beneficial for half-duplex systems, but could also be implemented in full duplex systems.

Abstract: User Equipment (UE) mobility in Ultra Dense Networks (UDNs) is based on communication signal layers, which could include respective data streams in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) domain, a code domain using respective codebooks, and/or a spatial domain, for example. A UE uses candidate layer decoding parameters in applying layer-based decoding to communication signals that it received from network nodes. Layers could be allocated to UEs and transition between network nodes as UEs move between different network service areas. Layers could instead be allocated to network nodes. Layer-based decoding provides for UE mobility without requiring explicit handover processing every time a UE moves between different service areas.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided that may simplify and enhance the location of nodes in a network, including ED and mobile TPs, even if all or many of the nodes are mobile. The methods may be used to enable single TP positioning, and may be used to reduce synchronization error. The provided methods make use of smart reflectors having known location. By processing a combination of signals, which may include an original transmitted signal, and/or one or more reflected signals, the location of a receiving node can be determined. Media tagging may be employed to allow a receiver to detect the identity of the nearby reflectors (with known locations) and based on the identity determine the locations of the reflectors. Using this information, the receiving node can detect its location regardless of knowing the transmission source and/or location.

Abstract: Aspects of the present application use a linear transformation of a sparse mapped single carrier transmission at a transmitter, for which a comparable inverse transform of the linear transform applied at the transmitter can be applied at the receiver. The linear transform reduces the sparsity of sparse mapped symbols. The use of the linear transform to reduce the sparsity enables peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) and/or cubic metric to be reduced as compared to if the linear transform is not used. The linear transforms may be implemented in a block-wise manner, element-wise manner or combination thereof.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for integrated communication and sensing. For example, an electronic device may transmit a radio frequency (RF) pulse signal in the active phase of a periodic sensing cycle, and sense in the passive phase of the sensing cycle, a reflection of the RF pulse signal reflected from an object. The RF pulse signal is defined by a waveform for carrying communication data between electronic devices. The sensed RF pulse signal is at least a portion of the transmitted or reflected RF pulse signal, wherein the portion is equal to or greater than a threshold value for the object being within a sensing range of the first electronic device. The electronic device may also receive a communication signal from another electronic device during the passive phase.