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EP-4668789-B1 - METHOD FOR USING A USER EQUIPMENT FOR REQUESTING AND/OR INITIATING A WIRELESS SENSING SERVICE OPERATION PROVIDED BY A MOBILE COMMUNICATION NETWORK, USER EQUIPMENT, SYSTEM OR TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK, PROGRAM AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM

EP4668789B1EP 4668789 B1EP4668789 B1EP 4668789B1EP-4668789-B1

Inventors

  • ALEKSIEV, Vasil

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240621

Claims (15)

  1. Method for using a user equipment (20) for requesting and/or initiating a wireless sensing service operation provided by a mobile communication network (100), the mobile communication network (100) comprising or having a core network (120) and the user equipment (20) being connected to the mobile communication network (100) either via a radio access network (110) of the mobile communication network (100), or via a further radio access network of another mobile communication network, wherein the mobile communication network (100) and/or the radio access network (110) and/or the further radio access network comprises a sensing function,SF, wherein, in order to handle or conduct the requested wireless sensing service operation, the method comprises the following steps: -- in a first step, the user equipment (20) transmits a sensing request message, wherein by means of the sensing request message, the user equipment (20) requests to be provided with the requested wireless sensing service operation, -- in a second step, the user equipment (20) receives a sensing response message responding to the sensing request message, the sensing response message indicating an offered wireless sensing service operation that is able to be provided by the mobile communication network (100), wherein the offered wireless sensing service operation differs from the requested wireless sensing service operation, -- in a third step, the user equipment (20) transmits a sensing request confirmation message, wherein by means of the sensing request confirmation message, the user equipment (20) confirms to be provided with sensing services according to the offered wireless sensing service operation.
  2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the sensing request message comprises one or a plurality of indications or pieces of information out of the following: -- a location information of the user equipment (20) or an indication thereof, -- a identifier information of the user equipment (20) or an indication thereof, -- a sensing area information or an indication thereof, the sensing area information especially being relative to the location of the user equipment (20) and especially indicates a radius in meters around the user equipment (20) for which sensing and/or detection of obstacles is required or requested, -- a sensing capability information of the user equipment or an indication thereof, -- a duration information or an indication thereof of the requested wireless sensing service operation, -- a sensing performance information or an indication thereof, especially regarding the quality of the requested wireless sensing service operation, especially related to one of the following: the accuracy of detected objects' positioning estimates, the accuracy of velocity estimates of detected objects, the spatial resolution, the latency and the sensing refresh rate.
  3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, especially subsequent to the first step, if the user equipment (20) has specific sensing priority in the mobile communication network database, especially in the unified data management, UDM, or as a configured user equipment policy in the policy control function, PCF, the mobile communication network (100) confirms the requested wireless sensing service.
  4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, especially subsequent to the second step, the user equipment (20) receives a further sensing response message, the further sensing response message indicating a further offered wireless sensing service operation that is able to be provided by the mobile communication network (100), wherein the further offered wireless sensing service operation differs from the offered wireless sensing service operation.
  5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, especially subsequent to the third step, if the user equipment has a sufficient priority in the mobile communication network database, especially in the unified data management, UDM, or as a configured user equipment policy in the policy control function, PCF, the mobile communication network (100) cannot change, or offer a further change or modification, in the wireless sensing service operation that has already been confirmed by the user equipment (20) and is able to be provided by the mobile communication network (100).
  6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, especially subsequent to the third step, if the user equipment does not have a sufficient priority in the mobile communication network database, especially in the unified data management, UDM, or as a configured user equipment policy in the policy control function, PCF, the mobile communication network (100) can change, or offer a further change or modification, in the wireless sensing service operation that has already been confirmed by the user equipment (20).
  7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, the priority information of the user equipment is stored in the memory of the user equipment or in the USIM of the user equipment and is indicated to the mobile communication network in the sensing request.
  8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensing response message and/or the further sensing response message is initiated by the sensing function, SF, and transmitted to the user equipment (20) and/or to an application function or application server ,AF/AS, wherein especially, if the sensing request message does not comprise a duration information or an indication thereof of the requested wireless sensing service operation, a timer is started in the sensing function ,SF, for which to report the sensing results, wherein after expiry of the requested time duration or configurable default timer, the sensing function ,SF, transmits a notification to the user equipment (20) and/or to the application function or application server ,AF/AS, for ending the timer and stopping the requested wireless sensing service operation.
  9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the mobile communication network (100) comprises an access and mobility management function, AMF, wherein the sensing request message and/or the sensing request confirmation message is transmitted using a non-access stratum message, especially an UL NAS TRANSPORT message, wherein especially the interface of the access and mobility management function, AMF, is a service-based architecture, wherein especially, the sensing response message and/or the further sensing response message is transmitted using a non-access stratum message, especially an DL NAS TRANSPORT message or initiating a network triggered service request to transfer the sensing result for the requested time period.
  10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensing function, SF, checks for existing sensing operations in the target sensing service area of the requested wireless sensing service operation, wherein -- in case of existing sensing operations in the target sensing service area of the requested wireless sensing service operation, the sensing function, SF, starts sending sensing results towards the user equipment (20) or the application function or application server ,AF/AS, and -- in case of a lack of existing sensing operations in the target sensing service area of the requested wireless sensing service operation, the sensing function, SF, - prior to sending sensing results towards the user equipment (20) or the application function or application server, AF/AS, - starts sensing operation, especially by means of at least one out of the following: -- the sensing function, SF, determines the sensing transmitters and/or sensing receivers and/or their capabilities for the requested wireless sensing service operation -- the sensing function, SF, checks if there are specific constraints in the respective area, especially regarding restrictions regarding sensing operation and/or the sensing transmitters and/or sensing receivers having the required capabilities, -- the sensing function, SF, configures the sensing transmitters and/or sensing receivers.
  11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensing function, SF, is or corresponds to an integrated sensing and communication function, ISACF, wherein especially there are at least three types of base stations configurations for sensing, namely: -- the sensing function, especially located in base stations, is configured to have priority for communication and sensing capability is only working when there are free resources from communication; -- the sensing function, especially located in base stations, is configured to have a certain static percentage reserved for communication and certain percentage reserved for sensing, wherein in case that this threshold is reached, to stop further attempts for communication or for sensing; -- the sensing function, especially located in base stations, is configured to have specific percentage for communication which cannot be used for sensing and if this threshold is reached, the communication purposes preempt the sensing service if there are further communication attempts, especially except for user equipments with a sufficient sensing priority.
  12. User equipment (20) for being used for requesting and/or initiating a wireless sensing service operation provided by a mobile communication network (100), to which the user equipment (20) is connected either via a radio access network (110) of the mobile communication network (100), or via a further radio access network of another mobile communication network, wherein the user equipment (20) is configured to communicate with a sensing function, SF, of the mobile communication network (100) and/or of the radio access network (110) and/or of the further radio access network, wherein, in order to handle or conduct the requested wireless sensing service operation, the user equipment (20) is configured such that: -- the user equipment (20) transmits a sensing request message, wherein by means of the sensing request message, the user equipment (20) requests to be provided with the requested wireless sensing service operation, -- the user equipment (20) receives a sensing response message responding to the sensing request message, the sensing response message indicating an offered wireless sensing service operation that is able to be provided by the mobile communication network (100), wherein the offered wireless sensing service operation differs from the requested wireless sensing service operation, -- the user equipment (20) transmits a sensing request confirmation message, wherein by means of the sensing request confirmation message, the user equipment (20) confirms to be provided with sensing services according to the offered wireless sensing service operation.
  13. System or mobile communication network (100) for using a user equipment (20) for requesting and/or initiating a wireless sensing service operation provided by a mobile communication network (100), the mobile communication network (100) comprising or having a core network (120) and the user equipment (20) being connected to the mobile communication network (100) either via a radio access network (110) of the mobile communication network (100), or via a further radio access network of another mobile communication network, wherein the mobile communication network (100) and/or the radio access network (110) and/or the further radio access network comprises a sensing function, SF, wherein, in order to handle or conduct the requested wireless sensing service operation, the system or mobile communication network (100) is configured such that: -- the user equipment (20) transmits a sensing request message, wherein by means of the sensing request message, the user equipment (20) requests to be provided with the requested wireless sensing service operation, -- the user equipment (20) receives a sensing response message responding to the sensing request message, the sensing response message indicating an offered wireless sensing service operation that is able to be provided by the mobile communication network (100), wherein the offered wireless sensing service operation differs from the requested wireless sensing service operation, -- the user equipment (20) transmits a sensing request confirmation message, wherein by means of the sensing request confirmation message, the user equipment (20) confirms to be provided with sensing services according to the offered wireless sensing service operation.
  14. Program comprising a computer readable program code which, when executed on a computer and/or on a user equipment (20) and/or on a network node of a mobile communication network (100) and/or on an access and mobility management function ,AMF, and/or on a sensing function, SF, and/or in part on a network node of a mobile communication network (100) and/or in part on a access and mobility management function, AMF, and/or in part on a sensing function, SF, causes the computer and/or the user equipment (20) and/or the network node of the mobile communication network (100) and/or the access and mobility management function, AMF, and/or the sensing function, SF, to perform a method according one of claims 1 to 11.
  15. Computer-readable medium comprising instructions which when executed on a computer and/or on a user equipment (20) and/or on a network node of a mobile communication network (100) and/or on an access and mobility management function, AMF, and/or on a sensing function, SF, and/or in part on a network node of a mobile communication network (100) and/or in part on a access and mobility management function, AMF, and/or in part on a sensing function, SF, causes the computer and/or the user equipment (20) and/or the network node of the mobile communication network (100) and/or the access and mobility management function, AMF, and/or the sensing function, SF, to perform a method according to one of claims 1 to 11.

Description

BACKGROUND The present invention relates a method for using a user equipment for requesting and/or initiating a wireless sensing service operation provided by a mobile communication network, the mobile communication network comprising or having a core network and the user equipment being connected to the mobile communication network either via a radio access network of the mobile communication network, or via a further radio access network of another mobile communication network, wherein the mobile communication network and/or the radio access network and/or the further radio access network comprises a sensing function. Additionally, the present invention relates to a user equipment for being used for requesting and/or initiating a wireless sensing service operation provided by a mobile communication network, to which the user equipment is connected either via a radio access network of the mobile communication network, or via a further radio access network of another mobile communication network, wherein the user equipment is configured to communicate with a sensing function of the mobile communication network and/or of the radio access network and/or of the further radio access network. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system or to a telecommunications network for using a user equipment for requesting and/or initiating a wireless sensing service operation provided by a mobile communication network, the mobile communication network comprising or having a core network and the user equipment being connected to the mobile communication network either via a radio access network of the mobile communication network, or via a further radio access network of another mobile communication network, wherein the mobile communication network and/or the radio access network and/or the further radio access network comprises a sensing function. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a program and to a computer-readable medium for using a user equipment for requesting and/or initiating a wireless sensing service operation provided by a mobile communication network according to the inventive method. In conventionally known mobile communication networks - especially regarding 5G networks (or 5G systems, 5GS) -, it is known to use, or to provide, an integrated sensing and communication, ISAC, service, cf. e.g. TS 22.137. According to such an integrated sensing and communication service, subject to (network) operator's policy, the 5G network shall provide secure means for a trusted third-party to request 5G wireless sensing service based on specific parameters (e.g., refresh rate, period of time, sensing KPIs, geographical location) and to receive the corresponding sensing results. Furthermore subject to (network) operator's policy, the 5G network may enable secure means for a trusted third party to provide sensing assistance information. In this respect, sensing assistance information especially corresponds to information that is provided to the 5G system from a trusted third-party and can be used to support the derivation of a sensing result. Especially, examples of sensing assistance information might be map information, area information, a user equipment identifier information attached to or in the proximity of the sensing target, user equipment position information, user equipment velocity information, etc. However, in conventionally known mobile communication networks, it is not clear, or, it cannot be assured, that the 5G network (or event 6G network) is actually able to provide the requested sensing service quality and whether such quality can be negotiated. WO 2023/159488 A1 describes a 5G system with an SF in the core that can be invoked by a UE or AF, AMF selects an SF, the SF selects RAN/UE and the sensing method, performs sensing, returns a sensing service response (with the sensing result) to the UE. WO 2024/022986 A1 discloses in Fig 4 a complete sensing service flow involving UE, AMF, and a sensing function (SF). Specifically, step 401b directly addresses UE-initiated sensing requests, and step 407b concerns UE receiving the sensing service response. SUMMARY An object of the present invention is to provide a technically simple, effective and cost-effective solution for providing a wireless sensing service operation by a mobile communication network. A further object of the present invention is to provide a corresponding user equipment, a corresponding system or telecommunications network, and a corresponding program and computer-readable medium. The object of the present invention is achieved by a method for using a user equipment for requesting and/or initiating a wireless sensing service operation provided by a mobile communication network, the mobile communication network comprising or having a core network and the user equipment being connected to the mobile communication network either via a radio access network of the mobile communication network, or via a further radio access network