Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a location management function that receives, from a sensor system, a sensing-based profile that includes a sensing-based observation of a UE and receives, from a communication system, a reference-signal-based observation of the UE. The location management function may derive, from the sensing-based observation, a position hypothesis and may determine, from the reference-signal-based observation, UE identity information for the UE. By processing the reference-signal-based observation in conjunction with the sensing-based observation, the location management function may determine an association between the sensing-based observation and the reference-signal-based observation. The location management function may then transmit, to the UE having the UE identity information determined from the reference-signal-based observation, an indication of the position hypothesis derived from the sensing-based observation.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relates to systems, methods, and apparatuses for improving the orientation data of multiplicity of users. In one embodiment, the orientation data is generated from synchronous processing of phase information extracted from transmit points transmitting reference signals to multiplicity of users. The transmit points can be one or more reference points of known location and orientation and one or more users which locations and orientations are necessarily known. In another embodiment, the reference points are one or more GNSS satellites/relays that transmit/forward the GNSS signals to multiplicity of users. The users then coherently process the received signals across of plurality of array of receivers.

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 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: 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: 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: 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 location management function that receives, from a sensor system, a sensing-based profile that includes a sensing-based observation of a UE and receives, from a communication system, a reference-signal-based observation of the UE. The location management function may derive, from the sensing-based observation, a position hypothesis and may determine, from the reference-signal-based observation, UE identity information for the UE. By processing the reference-signal-based observation in conjunction with the sensing-based observation, the location management function may determine an association between the sensing-based observation and the reference-signal-based observation. The location management function may then transmit, to the UE having the UE identity information determined from the reference-signal-based observation, an indication of the position hypothesis derived from the sensing-based observation.

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 manner to enabling high-resolution sensing, localization, imaging, and environment reconstruction capabilities in a wireless communication system. A radio frequency (RF) map of the environment includes coarse location and orientation information for at least one reflector and at least one targeted device of the wireless communication system. A fine sensing procedure may involve using the information in the RF map to carry out sensing in a more limited region of the environment. The second stage may employ a sensing signal configuration provided to at least one device to be sensed in the limited region, so that the at least one device may assist in the sensing.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a location management function that receives, from a sensor system, a sensing-based profile that includes a sensing-based observation of a UE and receives, from a communication system, a reference-signal-based observation of the UE. The location management function may derive, from the sensing-based observation, a position hypothesis and may determine, from the reference-signal-based observation, UE identity information for the UE. By processing the reference-signal-based observation in conjunction with the sensing-based observation, the location management function may determine an association between the sensing-based observation and the reference-signal-based observation. The location management function may then transmit, to the UE having the UE identity information determined from the reference-signal-based observation, an indication of the position hypothesis derived from the sensing-based observation.

Abstract: Sparse reference signal-related signaling, for a wireless channel that is associated with multiple antenna ports, is communicated with a User Equipment (UE). The sparse reference signal-related signaling is consistent with a sparse signaling pattern. In an embodiment, the sparse signaling pattern includes reference signal-related signaling associated with each of the antenna ports, and has been determined based on previous reference signal-related signaling previously communicated with the UE or another UE. In another embodiment, the sparse reference signal-related signaling is consistent with a varying sparse signaling pattern that is based on previous reference signal-related signaling previously communicated with the UE or another UE.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for performing state estimation and satellite re-acquisition for a mobile satellite terminal are described. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprising: a flat-panel antenna; and a signal processing engine communicably coupled to the flat-panel antenna configured to process asynchronous sensory inputs from a plurality of sensors and generate estimates of a state of a flat-panel antenna of the satellite antenna terminal based on the sensory inputs, wherein the estimates include an estimate of the orientation.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a location management function that receives, from a sensor system, a sensing-based profile that includes a sensing-based observation of a UE and receives, from a communication system, a reference-signal-based observation of the UE. The location management function may derive, from the sensing-based observation, a position hypothesis and may determine, from the reference-signal-based observation, UE identity information for the UE. By processing the reference-signal-based observation in conjunction with the sensing-based observation, the location management function may determine an association between the sensing-based observation and the reference-signal-based observation. The location management function may then transmit, to the UE having the UE identity information determined from the reference-signal-based observation, an indication of the position hypothesis derived from the sensing-based observation.

Abstract: A method and User Equipment (UE) for estimating locations of obstacles to signal transmission in a wireless communication network is disclosed. The method involves at the UE in communication with the network, in response to receiving a reference signal from a neighboring node via a non-line-of-sight (NLoS) transmission, transmitting an identification of the neighboring node to network equipment implementing the wireless communications network to facilitate estimating locations of the obstacles to signal transmission based on estimates of the location of the UE and the neighboring node.

Abstract: A method for an apparatus comprises obtaining a frequency modulation parameter corresponding to a frequency change rate of a frequency-modulated subcarrier; generating an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)-based waveform signal comprising a plurality of frequency-modulated subcarriers, the plurality of frequency-modulated subcarriers modulated according to the obtained frequency modulation parameter; and outputting the OFDM-based waveform signal. A plurality of modulated symbols may be generated from a sequence of bits and the modulated symbols may be precoded, according to the frequency modulation parameter, to generate precoded symbols. The OFDM-based waveform signal may then be generated from the precoded symbols. A corresponding method for detecting and decoding the waveform signal is also provided.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide for configuring devices to passively identify themselves even while not actively engaged in accessing a network. Upon receipt of a sensing signal, passive device components of a given device form a backscatter signal that is an altered version of the sensing signal. The source of the sensing signal, or an appropriately configured network node, upon receipt of the backscatter, may identify the given device by the nature of the alteration. The source of the sensing signal, or the appropriately configured network node, may then be considered to have gained information on the existence of the given device as well as a general location for the given device. The network may enlist the help of other devices to sense the environment and, by doing so, may ultimately achieve a greater degree of resolution of the sensed environment.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a manner for sensing devices (UEs) to collaborate with base stations to sense an environment. The UEs may obtain observations based on sensing signals transmitted in the environment and provide the observations to a dedicated processing node. The processing node is configured to process the received observations to coherently combine the observations to generate an enhanced observation. In addition to distributing the sensing to multiple UEs, the processing of the observations may also be distributed.

Abstract: Network equipment receives, from a User Equipment (UE), an indication that the network equipment is to transition to sparse reference signaling for the UE, and the network equipment then transmits the sparse reference signaling to the UE. The sparse reference signaling is consistent with a sparse signaling pattern, which is determined at the UE based on previous reference signaling previously transmitted to the UE or another UE. At a UE, the sparse reference signaling is received from network equipment, and channel measurement and prediction are performed based on the received sparse reference signaling.

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.