Patent ID: 12200599

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a wireless communications system, base stations may use reconfigurable surfaces to transmit signals to other devices (e.g., other base stations, consumer premises equipment, user equipment (UE), etc.) via an indirect path—e.g., if a direct path between a base station and another device is blocked. A reconfigurable surface may be a device with a configurable angle of reflection. In some examples, a base station may configure an angle of reflection for a reconfigurable surface—e.g., by transmitting a message for configuring the angle of reflection. In other examples, the angle of reflection of the reconfigurable surface (which may correspond to a reflective state of the reconfigurable surface) may change in a pattern that is known to the base station. In either case, the base station may use information known about reconfigurable surfaces to transmit to other devices using one or more reconfigurable surfaces.

As the use of peer-to-peer (e.g., sidelink) communications increases, blockages between devices (e.g., UEs) may become more significant and communications between devices may be improved by using a reconfigurable surface. However, devices that use peer-to-peer communications may not have information about a reconfigurable surface, including information used to determine a presence of a reconfigurable surface in a region, a relative position of a reconfigurable surface, a reflective state of a reconfigurable surface, or any combination thereof. Without this information, devices may be unable to use reconfigurable surfaces to support peer-to-peer communications.

To enable devices to use reconfigurable surfaces to support peer-to-peer communications, enhanced procedures for discovering and acquiring information about reconfigurable surfaces may be used. In some examples, a signal may be detected (e.g., by a base station, UE, or CPE) during an operation associated with discovering a presence of reconfigurable surfaces. Based on detecting the signal, the signal may be combined with a modulation sequence associated with a reconfigurable surface to obtain a combined signal. In some examples, combining the modulation sequence with the signal may suppress components of the signal associated with other paths between a device and an originating device of the signal (e.g., a direct path, an indirect path via another reconfigurable surface, an indirect path reflected via a blockage, etc.) and emphasize a component of the signal associated with an indirect path via the reconfigurable surface. A metric (e.g., a reference signal receive power (RSRP), a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), a signal-to-interference-to-noise ratio (SINR), a channel impulse response (CIR), a signal peak, etc.) of the combined signal may be measured—e.g., using CIR estimation, peak detection, or both. In some examples, whether the reconfigurable surface associated with the applied modulation sequence is providing an indirect path to the device may be determined based on the measurement—e.g., a presence of the reconfigurable surface in an indirect path to the device may be determined if the metric is above a threshold.

In some examples, the detected signal may include a signal component modulated by a reconfigurable surface. In such cases, a sensing signal associated with discovering a presence of the reconfigurable surface may be transmitted (e.g., by a device attempting to detect reconfigurable surfaces) and arrive at a reconfigurable surface. Based on the arrival of the sensing signal at the reconfigurable surface, a modulation sequence may be applied by the reconfigurable surface to the sensing signal to obtain a modulated signal. The modulated signal may be reflected from the reconfigurable surface based on an angle of reflection configured for the reconfigurable surface—e.g., in a direction of the device that transmitted the sensing signal or another device. The detected signal may include the modulated signal.

By using modulation sequences that are unique to reconfigurable surfaces, a device may discover the presence of a reconfigurable surface within a geographic region based on receiving a signal including a signal component modulated in accordance with a modulation sequence of the reconfigurable surface. Accordingly, a device may use discovered reconfigurable surfaces to communicate with other devices (e.g., using peer-to-peer techniques, such as sidelink).

Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the context of wireless communications systems. Aspects of the disclosure are also described in the context of composite signal. Aspects of the disclosure are further illustrated by and described with reference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts that relate to discovery of reconfigurable surfaces.

FIG.1illustrates an example of a wireless communications system100that supports discovery of reconfigurable surfaces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system100may include one or more base stations105, one or more UEs115, and a core network130. In some examples, the wireless communications system100may be a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network, an LTE-A Pro network, or a New Radio (NR) network. In some examples, the wireless communications system100may support enhanced broadband communications, ultra-reliable (e.g., mission critical) communications, low latency communications, communications with low-cost and low-complexity devices, or any combination thereof.

The base stations105may be dispersed throughout a geographic area to form the wireless communications system100and may be devices in different forms or having different capabilities. The base stations105and the UEs115may wirelessly communicate via one or more communication links125. Each base station105may provide a coverage area110over which the UEs115and the base station105may establish one or more communication links125. The coverage area110may be an example of a geographic area over which a base station105and a UE115may support the communication of signals according to one or more radio access technologies.

The UEs115may be dispersed throughout a coverage area110of the wireless communications system100, and each UE115may be stationary, or mobile, or both at different times. The UEs115may be devices in different forms or having different capabilities. Some example UEs115are illustrated inFIG.1. The UEs115described herein may be able to communicate with various types of devices, such as other UEs115, the base stations105, or network equipment (e.g., core network nodes, relay devices, integrated access and backhaul (IAB) nodes, or other network equipment), as shown inFIG.1.

The base stations105may communicate with the core network130, or with one another, or both. For example, the base stations105may interface with the core network130through one or more backhaul links120(e.g., via an S1, N2, N3, or another interface). The base stations105may communicate with one another over the backhaul links120(e.g., via an X2, Xn, or other interface) either directly (e.g., directly between base stations105), or indirectly (e.g., via core network130), or both. In some examples, the backhaul links120may be or include one or more wireless links.

One or more of the base stations105described herein may include or may be referred to by a person having ordinary skill in the art as a base transceiver station, a radio base station, an access point, a radio transceiver, a NodeB, an eNodeB (eNB), a next-generation NodeB or a giga-NodeB (either of which may be referred to as a gNB), a Home NodeB, a Home eNodeB, or other suitable terminology.

A UE115may include or may be referred to as a mobile device, a wireless device, a remote device, a handheld device, or a subscriber device, or some other suitable terminology, where the “device” may also be referred to as a unit, a station, a terminal, or a client, among other examples. A UE115may also include or may be referred to as a personal electronic device such as a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a personal computer. In some examples, a UE115may include or be referred to as a wireless local loop (WLL) station, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, an Internet of Everything (IoE) device, or a machine type communications (MTC) device, among other examples, which may be implemented in various objects such as appliances, or vehicles, meters, among other examples.

The UEs115described herein may be able to communicate with various types of devices, such as other UEs115that may sometimes act as relays as well as the base stations105and the network equipment including macro eNBs or gNBs, small cell eNBs or gNBs, or relay base stations, among other examples, as shown inFIG.1.

The UEs115and the base stations105may wirelessly communicate with one another via one or more communication links125over one or more carriers. The term “carrier” may refer to a set of radio frequency spectrum resources having a defined physical layer structure for supporting the communication links125. For example, a carrier used for a communication link125may include a portion of a radio frequency spectrum band (e.g., a bandwidth part (BWP)) that is operated according to one or more physical layer channels for a given radio access technology (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR). Each physical layer channel may carry acquisition signaling (e.g., synchronization signals, system information), control signaling that coordinates operation for the carrier, user data, or other signaling. The wireless communications system100may support communication with a UE115using carrier aggregation or multi-carrier operation. A UE115may be configured with multiple downlink component carriers and one or more uplink component carriers according to a carrier aggregation configuration. Carrier aggregation may be used with both frequency division duplexing (FDD) and time division duplexing (TDD) component carriers.

Signal waveforms transmitted over a carrier may be made up of multiple subcarriers (e.g., using multi-carrier modulation (MCM) techniques such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM)). In a system employing MCM techniques, a resource element may consist of one symbol period (e.g., a duration of one modulation symbol) and one subcarrier, where the symbol period and subcarrier spacing are inversely related. The number of bits carried by each resource element may depend on the modulation scheme (e.g., the order of the modulation scheme, the coding rate of the modulation scheme, or both). Thus, the more resource elements that a UE115receives and the higher the order of the modulation scheme, the higher the data rate may be for the UE115. A wireless communications resource may refer to a combination of a radio frequency spectrum resource, a time resource, and a spatial resource (e.g., spatial layers or beams), and the use of multiple spatial layers may further increase the data rate or data integrity for communications with a UE115.

The time intervals for the base stations105or the UEs115may be expressed in multiples of a basic time unit which may, for example, refer to a sampling period of Ts=1/(Δfmax·Nf) seconds, where Δfmaxmay represent the maximum supported subcarrier spacing, and Nfmay represent the maximum supported discrete Fourier transform (DFT) size. Time intervals of a communications resource may be organized according to radio frames each having a specified duration (e.g., 10 milliseconds (ms)). Each radio frame may be identified by a system frame number (SFN) (e.g., ranging from 0 to 1023).

Each frame may include multiple consecutively numbered subframes or slots, and each subframe or slot may have the same duration. In some examples, a frame may be divided (e.g., in the time domain) into subframes, and each subframe may be further divided into a number of slots. Alternatively, each frame may include a variable number of slots, and the number of slots may depend on subcarrier spacing. Each slot may include a number of symbol periods (e.g., depending on the length of the cyclic prefix prepended to each symbol period). In some wireless communications systems100, a slot may further be divided into multiple mini-slots containing one or more symbols. Excluding the cyclic prefix, each symbol period may contain one or more (e.g., Nf) sampling periods. The duration of a symbol period may depend on the subcarrier spacing or frequency band of operation.

A subframe, a slot, a mini-slot, or a symbol may be the smallest scheduling unit (e.g., in the time domain) of the wireless communications system100and may be referred to as a transmission time interval (TTI). In some examples, the TTI duration (e.g., the number of symbol periods in a TTI) may be variable. Additionally, or alternatively, the smallest scheduling unit of the wireless communications system100may be dynamically selected (e.g., in bursts of shortened TTIs (sTTIs)).

Physical channels may be multiplexed on a carrier according to various techniques. A physical control channel and a physical data channel may be multiplexed on a downlink carrier, for example, using one or more of time division multiplexing (TDM) techniques, frequency division multiplexing (FDM) techniques, or hybrid TDM-FDM techniques. A control region (e.g., a control resource set (CORESET)) for a physical control channel may be defined by a number of symbol periods and may extend across the system bandwidth or a subset of the system bandwidth of the carrier. One or more control regions (e.g., CORESETs) may be configured for a set of the UEs115. For example, one or more of the UEs115may monitor or search control regions for control information according to one or more search space sets, and each search space set may include one or multiple control channel candidates in one or more aggregation levels arranged in a cascaded manner. An aggregation level for a control channel candidate may refer to a number of control channel resources (e.g., control channel elements (CCEs)) associated with encoded information for a control information format having a given payload size. Search space sets may include common search space sets configured for sending control information to multiple UEs115and UE-specific search space sets for sending control information to a specific UE115.

In some examples, a base station105may be movable and therefore provide communication coverage for a moving geographic coverage area110. In some examples, different geographic coverage areas110associated with different technologies may overlap, but the different geographic coverage areas110may be supported by the same base station105. In other examples, the overlapping geographic coverage areas110associated with different technologies may be supported by different base stations105. The wireless communications system100may include, for example, a heterogeneous network in which different types of the base stations105provide coverage for various geographic coverage areas110using the same or different radio access technologies.

Some UEs115, such as MTC or IoT devices, may be low cost or low complexity devices and may provide for automated communication between machines (e.g., via Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication). M2M communication or MTC may refer to data communication technologies that allow devices to communicate with one another or a base station105without human intervention. In some examples, M2M communication or MTC may include communications from devices that integrate sensors or meters to measure or capture information and relay such information to a central server or application program that makes use of the information or presents the information to humans interacting with the application program. Some UEs115may be designed to collect information or enable automated behavior of machines or other devices. Examples of applications for MTC devices include smart metering, inventory monitoring, water level monitoring, equipment monitoring, healthcare monitoring, wildlife monitoring, weather and geological event monitoring, fleet management and tracking, remote security sensing, physical access control, and transaction-based business charging.

The wireless communications system100may be configured to support ultra-reliable communications or low-latency communications, or various combinations thereof. For example, the wireless communications system100may be configured to support ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) or mission critical communications. The UEs115may be designed to support ultra-reliable, low-latency, or critical functions (e.g., mission critical functions). Ultra-reliable communications may include private communication or group communication and may be supported by one or more mission critical services such as mission critical push-to-talk (MCPTT), mission critical video (MCVideo), or mission critical data (MCData). Support for mission critical functions may include prioritization of services, and mission critical services may be used for public safety or general commercial applications. The terms ultra-reliable, low-latency, mission critical, and ultra-reliable low-latency may be used interchangeably herein.

In some examples, a UE115may also be able to communicate directly with other UEs115over a device-to-device (D2D) communication link135(e.g., using a peer-to-peer (P2P) or D2D protocol). One or more UEs115utilizing D2D communications may be within the geographic coverage area110of a base station105. Other UEs115in such a group may be outside the geographic coverage area110of a base station105or be otherwise unable to receive transmissions from a base station105. In some examples, groups of the UEs115communicating via D2D communications may utilize a one-to-many (1:M) system in which each UE115transmits to every other UE115in the group. In some examples, a base station105facilitates the scheduling of resources for D2D communications. In other cases, D2D communications are carried out between the UEs115without the involvement of a base station105.

In some systems, the D2D communication link135may be an example of a communication channel, such as a sidelink communication channel, between vehicles (e.g., UEs115). In some examples, vehicles may communicate using vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications, or some combination of these. A vehicle may signal information related to traffic conditions, signal scheduling, weather, safety, emergencies, or any other information relevant to a V2X system. In some examples, vehicles in a V2X system may communicate with roadside infrastructure, such as roadside units, or with the network via one or more network nodes (e.g., base stations105) using vehicle-to-network (V2N) communications, or with both.

The core network130may provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. The core network130may be an evolved packet core (EPC) or 5G core (5GC), which may include at least one control plane entity that manages access and mobility (e.g., a mobility management entity (MME), an access and mobility management function (AMF)) and at least one user plane entity that routes packets or interconnects to external networks (e.g., a serving gateway (S-GW), a Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), or a user plane function (UPF)). The control plane entity may manage non-access stratum (NAS) functions such as mobility, authentication, and bearer management for the UEs115served by the base stations105associated with the core network130. User IP packets may be transferred through the user plane entity, which may provide IP address allocation as well as other functions. The user plane entity may be connected to IP services150for one or more network operators. The IP services150may include access to the Internet, Intranet(s), an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), or a Packet-Switched Streaming Service.

Some of the network devices, such as a base station105, may include subcomponents such as an access network entity140, which may be an example of an access node controller (ANC). Each access network entity140may communicate with the UEs115through one or more other access network transmission entities145, which may be referred to as radio heads, smart radio heads, or transmission/reception points (TRPs). Each access network transmission entity145may include one or more antenna panels. In some configurations, various functions of each access network entity140or base station105may be distributed across various network devices (e.g., radio heads and ANCs) or consolidated into a single network device (e.g., a base station105).

The wireless communications system100may operate using one or more frequency bands, typically in the range of 300 megahertz (MHz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz). Generally, the region from 300 MHz to 3 GHz is known as the ultra-high frequency (UHF) region or decimeter band because the wavelengths range from approximately one decimeter to one meter in length. The UHF waves may be blocked or redirected by buildings and environmental features, but the waves may penetrate structures sufficiently for a macro cell to provide service to the UEs115located indoors. The transmission of UHF waves may be associated with smaller antennas and shorter ranges (e.g., less than 100 kilometers) compared to transmission using the smaller frequencies and longer waves of the high frequency (HF) or very high frequency (VHF) portion of the spectrum below 300 MHz.

The wireless communications system100may utilize both licensed and unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands. For example, the wireless communications system100may employ License Assisted Access (LAA), LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U) radio access technology, or NR technology in an unlicensed band such as the 5 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band. When operating in unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands, devices such as the base stations105and the UEs115may employ carrier sensing for collision detection and avoidance. In some examples, operations in unlicensed bands may be based on a carrier aggregation configuration in conjunction with component carriers operating in a licensed band (e.g., LAA). Operations in unlicensed spectrum may include downlink transmissions, uplink transmissions, P2P transmissions, or D2D transmissions, among other examples.

A base station105or a UE115may be equipped with multiple antennas, which may be used to employ techniques such as transmit diversity, receive diversity, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications, or beamforming. The antennas of a base station105or a UE115may be located within one or more antenna arrays or antenna panels, which may support MIMO operations or transmit or receive beamforming. For example, one or more base station antennas or antenna arrays may be co-located at an antenna assembly, such as an antenna tower. In some examples, antennas or antenna arrays associated with a base station105may be located in diverse geographic locations. A base station105may have an antenna array with a number of rows and columns of antenna ports that the base station105may use to support beamforming of communications with a UE115. Likewise, a UE115may have one or more antenna arrays that may support various MIMO or beamforming operations. Additionally, or alternatively, an antenna panel may support radio frequency beamforming for a signal transmitted via an antenna port.

The base stations105or the UEs115may use MIMO communications to exploit multipath signal propagation and increase the spectral efficiency by transmitting or receiving multiple signals via different spatial layers. Such techniques may be referred to as spatial multiplexing. The multiple signals may, for example, be transmitted by the transmitting device via different antennas or different combinations of antennas. Likewise, the multiple signals may be received by the receiving device via different antennas or different combinations of antennas. Each of the multiple signals may be referred to as a separate spatial stream and may carry bits associated with the same data stream (e.g., the same codeword) or different data streams (e.g., different codewords). Different spatial layers may be associated with different antenna ports used for channel measurement and reporting. MIMO techniques include single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO), where multiple spatial layers are transmitted to the same receiving device, and multiple-user MIMO (MU-MIMO), where multiple spatial layers are transmitted to multiple devices.

Beamforming, which may also be referred to as spatial filtering, directional transmission, or directional reception, is a signal processing technique that may be used at a transmitting device or a receiving device (e.g., a base station105, a UE115) to shape or steer an antenna beam (e.g., a transmit beam, a receive beam) along a spatial path between the transmitting device and the receiving device. Beamforming may be achieved by combining the signals communicated via antenna elements of an antenna array such that some signals propagating at particular orientations with respect to an antenna array experience constructive interference while others experience destructive interference. The adjustment of signals communicated via the antenna elements may include a transmitting device or a receiving device applying amplitude offsets, phase offsets, or both to signals carried via the antenna elements associated with the device. The adjustments associated with each of the antenna elements may be defined by a beamforming weight set associated with a particular orientation (e.g., with respect to the antenna array of the transmitting device or receiving device, or with respect to some other orientation).

A base station105or a UE115may use beam sweeping techniques as part of beam forming operations. For example, a base station105may use multiple antennas or antenna arrays (e.g., antenna panels) to conduct beamforming operations for directional communications with a UE115. Some signals (e.g., synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals) may be transmitted by a base station105multiple times in different directions. For example, the base station105may transmit a signal according to different beamforming weight sets associated with different directions of transmission. Transmissions in different beam directions may be used to identify (e.g., by a transmitting device, such as a base station105, or by a receiving device, such as a UE115) a beam direction for later transmission or reception by the base station105.

Some signals, such as data signals associated with a particular receiving device, may be transmitted by a base station105in a single beam direction (e.g., a direction associated with the receiving device, such as a UE115). In some examples, the beam direction associated with transmissions along a single beam direction may be determined based on a signal that was transmitted in one or more beam directions. For example, a UE115may receive one or more of the signals transmitted by the base station105in different directions and may report to the base station105an indication of the signal that the UE115received with a highest signal quality or an otherwise acceptable signal quality.

In some examples, transmissions by a device (e.g., by a base station105or a UE115) may be performed using multiple beam directions, and the device may use a combination of digital precoding or radio frequency beamforming to generate a combined beam for transmission (e.g., from a base station105to a UE115). The UE115may report feedback that indicates precoding weights for one or more beam directions, and the feedback may correspond to a configured number of beams across a system bandwidth or one or more sub-bands. The base station105may transmit a reference signal (e.g., a cell-specific reference signal (CRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS)), which may be precoded or unprecoded. The UE115may provide feedback for beam selection, which may be a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) or codebook-based feedback (e.g., a multi-panel type codebook, a linear combination type codebook, a port selection type codebook). Although these techniques are described with reference to signals transmitted in one or more directions by a base station105, a UE115may employ similar techniques for transmitting signals multiple times in different directions (e.g., for identifying a beam direction for subsequent transmission or reception by the UE115) or for transmitting a signal in a single direction (e.g., for transmitting data to a receiving device).

A receiving device (e.g., a UE115) may try multiple receive configurations (e.g., directional listening) when receiving various signals from the base station105, such as synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals. For example, a receiving device may try multiple receive directions by receiving via different antenna subarrays, by processing received signals according to different antenna subarrays, by receiving according to different receive beamforming weight sets (e.g., different directional listening weight sets) applied to signals received at multiple antenna elements of an antenna array, or by processing received signals according to different receive beamforming weight sets applied to signals received at multiple antenna elements of an antenna array, any of which may be referred to as “listening” according to different receive configurations or receive directions. In some examples, a receiving device may use a single receive configuration to receive along a single beam direction (e.g., when receiving a data signal). The single receive configuration may be aligned in a beam direction determined based on listening according to different receive configuration directions (e.g., a beam direction determined to have a highest signal strength, highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), or otherwise acceptable signal quality based on listening according to multiple beam directions).

A base station105may form beams in multiple directions originating from the base station105. In some examples, a beam may be selected for communications between a base station105and a UE115. In such cases, an energy of beamformed transmissions from base station105using the beam may be focused in a direction of the beam.

Based on using beamformed transmissions and, in some examples, higher frequencies for wireless communications, an effect of objects positioned between a base station105and UE115(which may be referred to as blockages) on communications between the base station105and UE115may be increased. Accordingly, in some examples, an increased quantity of base station105may be deployed in a radio access network to ensure reliable coverage across a geographic region.

In some examples, to reduce the quantity of deployed base stations105, reconfigurable surfaces117may be deployed in the radio access network instead of base stations105. The reconfigurable surfaces117may be used to reflect signals received from a base station105—e.g. toward an intended receiving device. A reconfigurable surface117may be composed of uniformly distributed electrically controllable elements—e.g., transmissions lines or resonators whose characteristics can be changed by varying a capacitance of the transmission lines or the resonators. Each element of a reconfigurable surface117may have reconfigurable electromagnetics characteristics (e.g., a reflection coefficient). Based on the combination of configured states of the elements, a reconfigurable surface117can reflect and modify incident radio waveforms in a controlled manner—e.g., changing reflected direction, beam width, etc. Accordingly, a reconfigurable surface117may be deployed in a radio access network to alter the channel realization of the radio network in a controlled manner, increasing channel diversities and providing robustness to channel blocking/fading.

In some examples, a reconfigurable surface117is a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), a repeater (e.g., a smart repeater), or the like. An RIS may be a passive device that can be configured to have a desired angle of reflection and a repeater may be an active device that can be configured to provide a desired angle of reflection. An RIS may include passive components that change characteristics as waveforms propagate through or come into contact with the passive components (e.g., electronically controllable waveguides, electronically controllable transmission lines, adjustable reflectors, etc.). A repeater may include active components that modify received signals and retransmits the modified received signals. A reconfigurable surface117that uses passive components to modify received signals may use less energy than a reconfigurable surface117that uses active components to modify received signals. In some examples, an RIS includes an array of reflective elements (e.g., controllable transmission lines).

A base station105may use a reconfigurable surface117to transmit a signal to a UE115via an indirect path (e.g., if a direct path to the UE115is blocked). That is, based on an angle of reflection configured at the RIS and a position of a UE115relative to the RIS, the base station105may transmit a signal to the RIS such that a reflection of the signal (e.g., based on an angle of incidence of the signal) travels toward the UE115. In some examples, the base station105controls an angle of reflection configured at a reconfigurable surface117—e.g., by sending a message including a configuration for the reconfigurable surface117. In some examples, a discrete quantity of angles of arrival may be configured for a reconfigurable surface117, where each angle of arrival may be associated with a reflective state of the reconfigurable surface117. In other examples, a reconfigurable surface117may configure different angles of arrival in accordance with a preconfigured or scheduled pattern—that is, the reconfigurable surface117may cycle between different reflective states.

In some examples, a base station105is programmed with the locations of reconfigurable surfaces117and relative positions between the base station105and reconfigurable surfaces117. The base station105may also be programmed with classification information for the reconfigurable surfaces117(e.g., the type of reconfigurable surface, an operating frequency of the reconfigurable surfaces117, a control protocol for configuring the reconfigurable surfaces117, a reflective state-change pattern observed by the reconfigurable surfaces117, or any combination thereof).

In some examples, other devices (e.g., other base stations105, CPEs, UEs115) may not be programmed with information about reconfigurable surfaces117in a region. In some examples, UEs115may be unable to determine a location of a reconfigurable surface117due to mobility of the UEs115, a lack of positioning capabilities or both. The UEs115may also be unable track a time-varying relative position of a reconfigurable surface117.

As the use of peer-to-peer (e.g., sidelink) communications increases (e.g., for IoT, Industrial IOT, V2X communications, etc.), blockages between devices (e.g., UEs115) may become more significant and communications between devices may be improved by using a reconfigurable surface. However, devices that use peer-to-peer communications may not have information about a reconfigurable surface117, including information used to determine a presence of a reconfigurable surface117in a region, a relative position of a reconfigurable surface117, a reflective state of a reconfigurable surface117, or any combination thereof. Without this information, devices may be unable to use reconfigurable surfaces117to support peer-to-peer communications.

To enable devices to use reconfigurable surfaces117to support peer-to-peer communications, enhanced procedures for discovering and acquiring information about reconfigurable surfaces117in a region may be used. In some examples, a signal may be detected (e.g., by a base station, UE, or CPE) during an operation associated with discovering a presence of reconfigurable surfaces117. Based on detecting the signal, the signal may be combined with a modulation sequence associated with a reconfigurable surface117(which may also be referred to as a “watermark” of the reconfigurable surface117) to obtain a combined signal. In some examples, combining the modulation sequence with the signal may suppress components of the signal associated with other paths between a device and an originating device of the signal (e.g., a direct path, an indirect path via another reconfigurable surface117, an indirect path reflected via a blockage, etc.) and emphasize a component of the signal associated with an indirect path via the reconfigurable surface117. A metric (e.g., an RSRP, an SNR, an SINR, a CIR, a signal peak, etc.) of the combined signal may be measured—e.g., using CIR estimation, peak detection, or both. In some examples, whether the reconfigurable surface117associated with the applied modulation sequence is providing an indirect path to the device may be determined based on the measurement—e.g., a presence of the reconfigurable surface117in an indirect path to the device may be determined if the metric is above a threshold.

In some examples, the detected signal may include a signal component modulated by a reconfigurable surface117. In such cases, a sensing signal associated with discovering a presence of the reconfigurable surface117may be transmitted (e.g., by a device attempting to detect reconfigurable surfaces117) and arrive at a reconfigurable surface117. Based on the sensing signal arriving at the reconfigurable surface117, a modulation sequence may be applied by the reconfigurable surface117to the sensing signal to obtain a modulated signal. The modulated signal may be reflected from the reconfigurable surface117based on an angle of reflection configured for the reconfigurable surface117—e.g., in a direction of the device that transmitted the sensing signal or another device. The detected signal may include the modulated signal.

FIG.2Aillustrates an example of a wireless communications subsystem that supports discovery of reconfigurable surfaces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

Wireless communications subsystem200-aincludes base station205, first UE215-1, second UE215-2, third UE215-3, first reconfigurable surface217-1, and second reconfigurable surface217-2, which may be respective examples of a base station, UE, and reconfigurable surface described with reference toFIG.1. Wireless communications subsystem200-amay depict aspects of a monostatic sensing operation.

Base station205, first UE215-1, second UE215-2, and third UE215-3may communicate with one another within coverage area210using one or more of the techniques described with reference toFIG.1. For example, base station205may communicate with UEs115using one or more of first reconfigurable surface217-1and second reconfigurable surface217-2. In some examples, base station205may have information about a position and configuration of reconfigurable surfaces in a radio access network.

Base station205may send messages to first reconfigurable surface217-1via first link220-1and to second reconfigurable surface217-2via second link220-2. The messages may include signaling for configuring a reconfigurable surface to have a desired angle of reflection. In some examples, the signaling includes a set of reflection coefficients used to control one or more reflective elements of a reconfigurable surface or an index associated with a set of reflection coefficients.

The messages may also include control signaling, such as signaling used to assign a modulation sequence to a reconfigurable surface, signaling used to indicate a pattern for forming angles of reflections at a reconfigurable surface, and the like. In some examples, first reconfigurable surface217-1is assigned a first modulation sequence (or first set of modulation sequences) and second reconfigurable surface217-2is assigned a second modulation (or second set of modulation sequences). The first modulation sequence may be different than the second modulation sequence. Similarly, the first set of modulation sequences may be different than the second set of modulation sequences—e.g., such that no two sequences between the sets of modulation sequences are the same. In some examples, each modulation sequence in a set of modulation sequences corresponds to a respective angle of reflection (or reflective state) of the reconfigurable surface to which the set of modulation sequences is assigned. Links220may be wired or wireless links.

In some examples, the modulation sequences are orthogonal to one another (e.g., if phase modulation is used), where each modulation sequence may correspond to a respective column vector of an Nx N DFT matrix or Hadamard matrix. In some examples, an “all-one” sequence (which may correspond to no phase modulation being applies) is not assigned to any reconfigurable surfaces.

In some examples, the modulation sequences assigned to reconfigurable surfaces are broadcast to devices (e.g., UEs, CPEs, base stations, etc.) in a radio access network. In some examples, base station205broadcasts a mapping between reconfigurable surfaces and modulation sequences, e.g., in a system information message. Additionally, or alternatively, reconfigurable surfaces, or a UE, may broadcast the modulation sequences assigned to reconfigurable surfaces—e.g., in sidelink broadcast information.

As described herein, a reconfigurable surface may improve a performance of peer-to-peer communications between devices (e.g., UEs). For example, after detecting a blockage (e.g., object235) between first UE215-1and third UE215-3(e.g., in a direct path between first UE215-1and third UE215-3), first UE215-1may desire to use a reconfigurable surface that can provide an indirect path to third UE215-3(e.g., an indirect path around object235). However, unlike base station205, for example, first UE215-1may not have information indicating a presence or position of nearby reconfigurable surfaces, a relative position of first UE215-1to nearby reconfigurable surfaces, an identity of nearby reconfigurable surfaces, a reflectivity state pattern used by the reconfigurable surfaces, a configuration of the reconfigurable surfaces, or any combination thereof.

Thus, first UE215-1may perform an operation associated with detecting whether any reconfigurable surfaces are in a vicinity of first UE215-1—e.g., to detect a presence of nearby reconfigurable surfaces. To detect reconfigurable surfaces, first UE215-1may transmit sensing signal230-a. In some examples, first UE215-1transmits sensing signal230-ain multiple directions—e.g., first UE215-1may sweep sensing signal230-aacross a set of directions. Sensing signal230-amay include a set of portions, where the set of portions may be symbols, segments, resources, slots, etc. For examples, sensing signal230-amay include N symbols. In some examples, each symbol may be a repetition of a same symbol. In other examples, each symbol may be a different, known signal (e.g., a PRS, a sensing reference signal that supports reconfigurable surface discovery, a CSI-RS, etc.). In some examples (e.g., when monostatic sensing is used), each symbol may be a data symbol that is transmitted to another device (e.g., second UE215-2) and, thus, known to the transmitting device (e.g., first UE215-1).

Based on obtaining (e.g., receiving or detecting) sensing signal230-a, first reconfigurable surface217-1may apply a modulation sequence to the obtained version of sensing signal230-a. In some examples, the modulation sequence includes phase modulation, amplitude modulation (e.g., on/off keying), polarization, spatial modulation, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the modulation sequence modulates a received signal without changing an angle with which the signal is reflected (e.g., by applying a uniform amplitude shift or a uniform phase shift to a received symbol by each reflective elements). In some examples, before applying the modulation sequence, first reconfigurable surface217-1detects boundaries of the portions of the received version of sensing signal230-a.

After applying the modulation sequence, first reconfigurable surface217-1may output (e.g., transmit or reflect) first modulated signal225-a-1. First modulated signal225-a-1may also be referred to as a reflection or modulated reflection of sensing signal230-a. A propagation direction of first modulated signal225-a-1may be based on an angle of incidence of sensing signal230-aand an angle of reflection configured at first reconfigurable surface217-1. In some examples, first reconfigurable surface217-1reflects first modulated signal225-a-1back towards first UE215-1.

Based on transmitting sensing signal230-aand first reconfigurable surface217-1modulating and reflecting sensing signal230-a, first UE215-1may receive a composite signal including first modulated signal225-a-1. In some examples, the composite signal received at first UE215-1may also include interference (e.g., from reflections off of object235, other transmissions in a vicinity of first UE215-1, etc.).

First UE215-1may combine the received composite signal with the modulation sequence assigned to first reconfigurable surface217-1. To combine the composite signal with the modulation sequence, first UE215-1may correlate the received composite signal with the modulation sequence assigned to first reconfigurable surface217-1. Based on combining the received composite signal with the modulation sequence, a component of the composite signal corresponding to first modulated signal225-a-1may be emphasized—e.g., by suppressing the other components of the composite signal, such as components of the composite signal corresponding to reflections from object235(which may be referred to as “clutter”) or interference from other transmissions.

Based on combining the composite signal with the modulation sequence assigned to first reconfigurable surface217-1, first UE215-1may obtain a combined signal and determine metrics of the combined signal. In some examples, first UE215-1determines metrics of the combined signal, such as RSRP, SINR, SNR. In some examples, first UE215-1determines metrics of the combined signal using CIR estimation techniques, peak detection techniques, or both.

In some examples, if one or more metrics of the combined signal meet or exceed a threshold, first UE215-1may determine a presence of first reconfigurable surface217-1. In other examples, if one or more (or all) of the metrics are below the threshold, first UE215-1may determine that first reconfigurable surface217-1is not in a vicinity of first UE215-1. In some examples, when a same symbol is retransmitted in sensing signal230-a, first UE215-1may combine the composite signal with the modulation sequence assigned to first reconfigurable surface217-1before performing per-symbol CIR estimation to the combined signal. When different symbols are transmitted in sensing signal230-a, first UE215-1may perform per-symbol CIR estimation before combining the composite signal with the modulation sequence assigned to first reconfigurable surface217-1.

First UE215-1may also combine the received composite signal with modulation sequences assigned to other reconfigurable surfaces (excluding second reconfigurable surface217-2in this example). In such examples, first UE215-1may determine that the other reconfigurable surfaces are not in a vicinity of first UE215-1based on metrics for corresponding combined signals failing to satisfy the threshold—e.g., because no modulated signals may be received from the other reconfigurable surfaces. Techniques that involve a single UE (e.g., first UE215-1) transmitting a sensing signal (sensing signal230-a) and receiving and processing reflections of the sensing signal to determine a location of nearby objects (e.g., first reconfigurable surface217-1) may be referred to as monostatic sensing techniques.

In some examples described herein, a presence of multiple reconfigurable surfaces may be determined based on a received composite signal.

For example, second reconfigurable surface217-2may also obtain a version of sensing signal230-a(e.g., a lower energy version than first reconfigurable surface217-1). Second reconfigurable surface217-2may apply a modulation sequence to the obtained version of sensing signal230-a, as similarly described with reference to first reconfigurable surface217-1. The modulation sequence applied by second reconfigurable surface217-2may be different than the modulation sequence applied by first reconfigurable surface217-1. In some examples, modulation sequence applied by second reconfigurable surface217-2is orthogonal to the modulation sequence applied by first reconfigurable surface217-1—e.g., if phase modulation is used.

After applying the modulation sequence, second reconfigurable surface217-2may output (e.g., transmit or reflect) second modulated signal225-a-2, as similarly described with reference to first reconfigurable surface217-1. A propagation direction of second modulated signal225-a-2may be based on an angle of incidence of sensing signal230-aat second reconfigurable surface217-2and an angle of reflection configured at second reconfigurable surface217-2. In some examples, second reconfigurable surface217-2reflects second modulated signal225-a-2back towards first UE215-1.

Based on transmitting sensing signal230-aand second reconfigurable surface217-2also modulating and reflecting sensing signal230-a, first UE215-1may receive a composite signal including first modulated signal225-a-1and second modulated signal225-a-2, in addition to interference from other transmissions and reflections from object235. As similarly described above, first UE215-1may combine the received composite signal with the modulation sequence assigned to first reconfigurable surface217-1. Based on combining the received composite signal with the modulation sequence, a component of the composite signal corresponding to first modulated signal225-a-1may be emphasized—e.g., by suppressing or canceling a component of the composite signal corresponding to second modulated signal225-a-2and suppressing the other components of the composite signal. Based on combining the composite signal with the modulation sequence assigned to first reconfigurable surface217-1, first UE215-1may determine a presence of first reconfigurable surface217-1, as similarly described above.

First UE215-1may also combine the received composite signal with the modulation sequence assigned to second reconfigurable surface217-2. Based on combining the received composite signal with the modulation sequence, a component of the composite signal corresponding to second modulated signal225-a-2may be emphasized—e.g., by suppressing or canceling a component of the composite signal corresponding to first modulated signal225-a-1and suppressing the other components of the composite signal. Based on combining the composite signal with the modulation sequence assigned to second reconfigurable surface217-2, first UE215-1may determine a presence of second reconfigurable surface217-2, as similarly described above.

After determining a presence of first reconfigurable surface217-1, second reconfigurable surface217-2, or both, first UE215-1may use one or both of first reconfigurable surface217-1or second reconfigurable surface217-2to communicate with third UE215-3. In some examples, based on determining the presence of first reconfigurable surface217-1, first UE215-1sends a message to first reconfigurable surface217-1that is used to configure an angle of reflection for first reconfigurable surface217-1that support communications to third UE215-3.

In some examples described herein, a presence of one or more reconfigurable surfaces and reflective states of the one or more reconfigurable surfaces may be determined based on a received composite signal.

For example, first reconfigurable surface217-1and second reconfigurable surface217-2may each be assigned respective sets of modulation sequences, where each modulation sequence may be associated with different reflective states (which correspond to different angles of reflection. In some examples, the initial modulation sequence in a set of modulation sequences may correspond to an initial angle of reflection (e.g., 15 degrees), the next modulation sequence may correspond to a next angle of reflection (e.g., 30 degrees), a following modulation sequence may correspond to a following angle of reflection (e.g., 45 degrees), and so on. In such examples, first reconfigurable surface217-1may apply a modulation sequence to the received version of sensing signal230-athat is both unique to first reconfigurable surface217-1and indicative of a reflective state configured at first reconfigurable surface217-1before transmitting first modulated signal225-a-1. Second reconfigurable surface217-2may also apply a modulation sequence to the received version of sensing signal230-athat is both unique to second reconfigurable surface217-2and indicative of a reflective state configured at second reconfigurable surface217-2before transmitting second modulated signal225-a-2.

As similarly described above, first UE215-1may combine the composite signal received at first UE215-1with the first set of modulation sequences assigned to first reconfigurable surface217-1and determine metrics of the resulting combined signals with a threshold. Based on the combining, first UE215-1may determine both a presence of first reconfigurable surface217-1and angle of reflection configured at first reconfigurable surface217-1. First UE215-1may use the determined angle of reflection to determine a position of first reconfigurable surface217-1relative to first UE215-1—e.g., based on knowing the angle at which sensing signal230-awas transmitted, the angle of reflection of first reconfigurable surface217-1, and, in some examples, an angle of arrival of first modulated signal225-a-1. First UE215-1may similar combine the composite signal received at first UE215-1to determine a presence of second reconfigurable surface217-2, an angle of reflection configured at second reconfigurable surface217-2, and a position of second reconfigurable surface217-2relative to first UE215-1.

FIG.2Billustrates an example of a wireless communications subsystem that supports discovery of reconfigurable surfaces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

Wireless communications subsystem200-bincludes base station205, first link220-1, second link220-2, first UE215-1, second UE215-2, third UE215-3, first reconfigurable surface217-1, second reconfigurable surface217-2, and object235, which may perform aspects of the operations described with reference toFIG.2A. Wireless communications subsystem200-bmay depict aspects of a bistatic sensing operation.

First UE215-1may transmit sensing signal230-b, as similarly described with reference toFIG.2A. In some examples, first reconfigurable surface217-1may output first modulated signal225-b-1, as similarly described with toFIG.2A. However, first modulated signal225-b-1may propagate in a direction of second UE215-2, where direct path240-bmay connect first UE215-1and second UE215-2. In some examples, first UE215-1and second UE215-2may communicate with one another via direct path240-b.

Second UE215-2may receive a composite signal that includes first modulated signal225-b-1. In some examples, second UE215-2may combine the composite signal with a modulated sequence assigned to first reconfigurable surface217-1to obtain a combined signal, as similarly described with reference to first UE215-1inFIG.2A. As similarly described with reference to first UE215-1inFIG.2A, second UE215-2may also determine metrics of the combined signal.

In some examples, second UE215-2may determine a presence (and, in some examples, reflective state) of first reconfigurable surface217-1based on comparing the metrics of the combined signal with a threshold, as similarly described with reference toFIG.2A. Second UE215-2may report the presence (and, in some examples, reflective state) of first reconfigurable surface217-1first UE215-1via direct path240-b. In other examples, instead of determining the presence (and, in some examples, reflective state) of first reconfigurable surface217-1, second UE215-2may transmit the metrics of the combined signal to first UE215-1. Based on receiving the metrics, first UE215-1may use the reported metrics to determine the presence (and, in some examples, reflective state) of first reconfigurable surface217-1, as similarly described with reference toFIG.2A.

In some examples, the composite signal may also include second modulated signal225-b-2. Second UE215-2may similarly combine the composite signal with a modulated sequence assigned to second reconfigurable surface217-2and determine metrics of the resulting combined signal. Second UE215-2may determine the presence (and, in some examples, reflective state) of second reconfigurable surface217-2based on the metrics and report the presence (and, in some examples, reflective state) of second reconfigurable surface217-2to first UE215-1via direct path240-b. Or second UE215-2may report the metrics to first UE215-1via direct path240-b, and first UE215-1may use the reported metrics to determine the presence (and, in some examples, reflective state) of first reconfigurable surface217-1.

FIG.3illustrates an example of a composite signal associated with the discovery of reconfigurable surfaces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

Composite signal300depicts an example of a composite signal received at a device, such as first UE215-1or second UE215-2ofFIGS.2A and2B. Composite signal may include multiple portions305(which may also be referred to as segments). In some examples, the portions305correspond to a symbol period, a slot, or a communication resource (e.g., a resource block). Composite signal300may include N portions (e.g., N may equal four), where the quantity of portions305may be based on a quantity of reconfigurable surfaces in a geographic region—e.g., the quantity of portions305may be equal to or greater than the quantity of reconfigurable surfaces.

Composite signal300may include direct component310and one or more reflected components (e.g., one or more of first reflected component315-1through Mth reflected component315-M). In some examples, M may equal two. In some examples, when monostatic sensing is used, direct component310may be omitted or may correspond to a reflection from an object in a vicinity of the UE that transmits the sensing signal. In some examples, composite signal300additionally includes components associated with interference from other transmissions or reflections of nearby objects.

Direct component310may correspond to a signal received via a direct path between the UE that transmits the sensing signal (e.g., first UE215-1ofFIG.2A or2B) and the UE that receives composite signal300(e.g., second UE215-2ofFIG.2A or2B). In some examples, other than or additionally to the direct path, direct component310may correspond to reflections of the sensing signal off of objects between the UE that transmitted the sensing signal and the UE that receives composite signal300. In some examples, a modulation of direct component310may be the same as the modulation used by the transmitting UE to transmit the sensing signal.

First reflected component315-1may correspond to a modulated signal received from a first reconfigurable surface (e.g., first reconfigurable surface217-1ofFIG.2A or2B). In some examples, a modulation of first reflected component315-1may be based on a modulation sequence assigned to the first reconfigurable surface, as similarly described with reference toFIG.2A or2B. In some examples, the modulation of first reflected component315-1is orthogonal to the modulation of direct component310.

Mth reflected component315-M may correspond to a modulated signal received from an Mth reconfigurable surface (e.g., second reconfigurable surface217-2ofFIG.2A or2B). In some examples, a modulation of Mth reflected component315-M may be based on a modulation sequence assigned to the Mth reconfigurable surface, as similarly described with reference toFIG.2A or2B. In some examples, the modulation of Mth reflected component315-M is orthogonal to the modulation of direct component310and the modulation of first reflected component315-1.

In some examples, the modulation applied to the symbols of the different components is a phase modulation, an amplitude modulation (e.g., on/off keying), polarization, or spatial modulation. On/off keying at a reconfigurable surface may include switching between a configuration that reflects a received signal in a focused direction and a configuration that disperses a received signal across many directions.

In some examples, Nis equal to four and direct component310is modulated (e.g., phase modulated) based on the sequence (+, +, +, +), first reflected component315-1is modulated based on the sequence (+, −, +, −), and Mth reflected component is modulated based on the sequence (+, +, −, −). In some examples, the sequence (+, +, +, +) may be associated with no phase modulation being applied to the signal.

FIG.4shows a block diagram400of a device405that supports discovery of reconfigurable surfaces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device405may be an example of aspects of a UE115as described herein. The device405may include a receiver410, a transmitter415, and a communications manager420. The device405may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver410may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to discovery of reconfigurable surfaces). Information may be passed on to other components of the device405. The receiver410may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter415may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device405. For example, the transmitter415may transmit information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to discovery of reconfigurable surfaces). In some examples, the transmitter415may be co-located with a receiver410in a transceiver module. The transmitter415may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The communications manager420, the receiver410, the transmitter415, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of discovery of reconfigurable surfaces as described herein. For example, the communications manager420, the receiver410, the transmitter415, or various combinations or components thereof may support a method for performing one or more of the functions described herein.

In some examples, the communications manager420, the receiver410, the transmitter415, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., in communications management circuitry). The hardware may include a processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure. In some examples, a processor and memory coupled with the processor may be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., by executing, by the processor, instructions stored in the memory).

Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the communications manager420, the receiver410, the transmitter415, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in code (e.g., as communications management software or firmware) executed by a processor. If implemented in code executed by a processor, the functions of the communications manager420, the receiver410, the transmitter415, or various combinations or components thereof may be performed by a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a central processing unit (CPU), an ASIC, an FPGA, or any combination of these or other programmable logic devices (e.g., configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure).

In some examples, the communications manager420may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver410, the transmitter415, or both. For example, the communications manager420may receive information from the receiver410, send information to the transmitter415, or be integrated in combination with the receiver410, the transmitter415, or both to receive information, transmit information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager420may support wireless communication at a device in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager420may be configured as or otherwise support a means for detecting a signal during an operation associated with discovering a presence of reconfigurable surfaces. The communications manager420may be configured as or otherwise support a means for combining the signal with a modulation sequence to obtain a combined signal, the modulation sequence being associated with a reconfigurable surface. The communications manager420may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring a metric of the combined signal, where a presence of the reconfigurable surface in a geographic region is determined based on the metric.

By including or configuring the communications manager420in accordance with examples as described herein, the device405(e.g., a processor controlling or otherwise coupled to the receiver410, the transmitter415, the communications manager420, or a combination thereof) may support techniques for discovering reconfigurable surfaces, enabling devices to discover and use reconfigurable surfaces to improve sidelink communications between devices (e.g., UEs, CPEs, etc.).

FIG.5shows a block diagram500of a device505that supports discovery of reconfigurable surfaces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device505may be an example of aspects of a device405, a UE115, a CPE, or base station105as described herein. The device505may include a receiver510, a transmitter515, and a communications manager520. The device505may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver510may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to discovery of reconfigurable surfaces). Information may be passed on to other components of the device505. The receiver510may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter515may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device505. For example, the transmitter515may transmit information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to discovery of reconfigurable surfaces). In some examples, the transmitter515may be co-located with a receiver510in a transceiver module. The transmitter515may include one or more phase shifters555and one or more antenna elements560. The transmitter515may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

A phase shifter555may provide a configurable phase shift or phase offset to a corresponding radio frequency signal to be transmitted on a respective antenna element560. The settings of each of the phase shifters555may be independent, meaning that each can be set to provide a desired amount of phase shift or the same amount of phase shift or some other configuration. A modem or other processor may have at least one control line connected to each of the phase shifters555and which may be used to configure the phase shifters555to provide a desired amounts of phase shift or phase offset between antenna elements560.

In at least one embodiment, changing or receiving a transmit or receive beam comprises adjusting relative phase shifts for signals on different antenna elements560. The relative phase shifts may be achieved by the modem adjusting the phase shift of the one or more phase shifters555. The set of phases for different phase shifters555(and corresponding antenna elements560) may comprise the spatial receive parameters or spatial transmit parameters for a respective beam. To receive or transmit on a beam, the spatial parameters may need to be set before the beginning of the transmitting or receiving.

The device505, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of discovery of reconfigurable surfaces as described herein. For example, the communications manager520may include a signal detector525, a signal combiner530, a signal analyzer535, or any combination thereof. The communications manager520may be an example of aspects of a communications manager420as described herein. In some examples, the communications manager520, or various components thereof, may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver510, the transmitter515, or both. For example, the communications manager520may receive information from the receiver510, send information to the transmitter515, or be integrated in combination with the receiver510, the transmitter515, or both to receive information, transmit information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager520may support wireless communication at a device in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The signal detector525may be configured as or otherwise support a means for detecting a signal during an operation associated with discovering a presence of reconfigurable surfaces. The signal combiner530may be configured as or otherwise support a means for combining the signal with a modulation sequence to obtain a combined signal, the modulation sequence being associated with a reconfigurable surface. The signal analyzer535may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring a metric of the combined signal, where a presence of the reconfigurable surface in a geographic region is determined based on the metric.

FIG.6shows a block diagram600of a communications manager620that supports discovery of reconfigurable surfaces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager620may be an example of aspects of a communications manager420, a communications manager520, or both, as described herein. The communications manager620, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of discovery of reconfigurable surfaces as described herein. For example, the communications manager620may include a signal detector625, a signal combiner630, a signal analyzer635, a sensing signal transmitter640, a discovery component645, a report processing component650, a reporting component655, or any combination thereof. Each of these components may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The communications manager620may support wireless communication at a device in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The signal detector625may be configured as or otherwise support a means for detecting a signal during an operation associated with discovering a presence of reconfigurable surfaces. The signal combiner630may be configured as or otherwise support a means for combining the signal with a modulation sequence to obtain a combined signal, the modulation sequence being associated with a reconfigurable surface. The signal analyzer635may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring a metric of the combined signal, where a presence of the reconfigurable surface in a geographic region is determined based on the metric.

In some examples, the sensing signal transmitter640may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting a second signal during the operation associated with discovering the presence of reconfigurable surfaces, where the signal is a reflection of the second signal.

In some examples, the discovery component645may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining, based on the metric of the combined signal exceeding a threshold, that the reconfigurable surface is present within the geographic region.

In some examples, the report processing component650may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from a second device, the metric of the combined signal. In some examples, the discovery component645may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining, based on the metric of the combined signal exceeding a threshold, that the reconfigurable surface is present within the geographic region.

In some examples, the discovery component645may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to a second device, an indication of a duration for performing the operation associated with discovering the presence of reconfigurable surfaces.

In some examples, the reporting component655may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to a second device, the metric of the combined signal.

In some examples, the signal detector625may be configured as or otherwise support a means for detecting, during the operation associated with discovering the presence of reconfigurable surfaces, a second signal that is detected via a direct path with a second device and interferes with the signal detected during the operation, where combining the signal with the modulation sequence reduces an interference from the second signal on the signal.

In some examples, the signal combiner630may be configured as or otherwise support a means for combining the signal with a second modulation sequence to obtain a second combined signal, the second modulation sequence being associated with a second reconfigurable surface. In some examples, the signal analyzer635may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring a metric of the second combined signal, where a presence of the second reconfigurable surface in the geographic region is determined based on the metric of the second combined signal.

In some examples, the discovery component645may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, in a broadcast message, a mapping between a set of multiple modulation sequences and a set of multiple reconfigurable surfaces, the set of multiple modulation sequences including the modulation sequence and the set of multiple reconfigurable surfaces including the reconfigurable surface.

In some examples, the discovery component645may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining a correspondence between the signal and the reconfigurable surface based on the mapping between the set of multiple modulation sequences and the set of multiple reconfigurable surfaces.

In some examples, the discovery component645may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining a correspondence between the signal, the reconfigurable surface, and an angle of reflection configured at the reconfigurable surface based on the mapping between the set of multiple modulation sequences and the set of multiple reconfigurable surfaces.

In some examples, the signal includes a set of multiple portions. In some examples, a quantity of portions of the set of multiple portions is based on a quantity of reconfigurable surfaces in the geographic region. In some examples, the set of multiple portions includes a set of multiple repetitions of a symbol or a set of multiple symbols used to represent data for a second device. In some examples, the set of multiple portions includes a set of multiple symbols, a set of multiple slots, or a set of multiple resources. In some examples, the set of multiple portions includes a set of multiple symbols, the set of multiple symbols including a reference signal associated with discovering reconfigurable surfaces, a phase reference signal, or a channel state information reference signal.

FIG.7shows a diagram of a system700including a device705that supports discovery of reconfigurable surfaces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device705may be an example of or include the components of a device405, a device505, or a UE115as described herein. The device705may communicate wirelessly with one or more base stations105, UEs115, or any combination thereof. The device705may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, such as a communications manager720, an input/output (I/O) controller710, a transceiver715, an antenna725, a memory730, code735, and a processor740. These components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more buses (e.g., a bus745).

The I/O controller710may manage input and output signals for the device705. The I/O controller710may also manage peripherals not integrated into the device705. In some cases, the I/O controller710may represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral. In some cases, the I/O controller710may utilize an operating system such as iOS®, ANDROID®, MS-DOS®, MS-WINDOWS®, OS/2®, UNIX®, LINUX®, or another known operating system. Additionally, or alternatively, the I/O controller710may represent or interact with a modem, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, or a similar device. In some cases, the I/O controller710may be implemented as part of a processor, such as the processor740. In some cases, a user may interact with the device705via the I/O controller710or via hardware components controlled by the I/O controller710.

In some cases, the device705may include a single antenna725. However, in some other cases, the device705may have more than one antenna725, which may be capable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions. The transceiver715may communicate bi-directionally, via the one or more antennas725, wired, or wireless links as described herein. For example, the transceiver715may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver715may also include a modem to modulate the packets, to provide the modulated packets to one or more antennas725for transmission, and to demodulate packets received from the one or more antennas725. The transceiver715, or the transceiver715and one or more antennas725, may be an example of a transmitter415, a transmitter515, a receiver410, a receiver510, or any combination thereof or component thereof, as described herein.

The memory730may include random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). The memory730may store computer-readable, computer-executable code735including instructions that, when executed by the processor740, cause the device705to perform various functions described herein. The code735may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as system memory or another type of memory. In some cases, the code735may not be directly executable by the processor740but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform functions described herein. In some cases, the memory730may contain, among other things, a basic I/O system (BIOS) which may control basic hardware or software operation such as the interaction with peripheral components or devices.

The processor740may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processor740may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into the processor740. The processor740may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory730) to cause the device705to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting discovery of reconfigurable surfaces). For example, the device705or a component of the device705may include a processor740and memory730coupled to the processor740, the processor740and memory730configured to perform various functions described herein.

The communications manager720may support wireless communication at a device in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager720may be configured as or otherwise support a means for detecting a signal during an operation associated with discovering a presence of reconfigurable surfaces. The communications manager720may be configured as or otherwise support a means for combining the signal with a modulation sequence to obtain a combined signal, the modulation sequence being associated with a reconfigurable surface. The communications manager720may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring a metric of the combined signal, where a presence of the reconfigurable surface in a geographic region is determined based on the metric.

In some examples, the communications manager720may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the transceiver715, the one or more antennas725, or any combination thereof. Although the communications manager720is illustrated as a separate component, in some examples, one or more functions described with reference to the communications manager720may be supported by or performed by the processor740, the memory730, the code735, or any combination thereof. For example, the code735may include instructions executable by the processor740to cause the device705to perform various aspects of discovery of reconfigurable surfaces as described herein, or the processor740and the memory730may be otherwise configured to perform or support such operations.

FIG.8shows a block diagram800of a device805that supports discovery of reconfigurable surfaces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device805may be an example of aspects of a reconfigurable surface as described herein. The device805may include a receiver810, a transmitter815, and a communications manager820. The device805may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver810may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to discovery of reconfigurable surfaces). Information may be passed on to other components of the device805. The receiver810may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter815may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device805. For example, the transmitter815may transmit information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to discovery of reconfigurable surfaces). In some examples, the transmitter815may be co-located with a receiver810in a transceiver module. The transmitter815may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The communications manager820, the receiver810, the transmitter815, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of discovery of reconfigurable surfaces as described herein. For example, the communications manager820, the receiver810, the transmitter815, or various combinations or components thereof may support a method for performing one or more of the functions described herein.

In some examples, the communications manager820, the receiver810, the transmitter815, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., in communications management circuitry). The hardware may include a processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure. In some examples, a processor and memory coupled with the processor may be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., by executing, by the processor, instructions stored in the memory).

Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the communications manager820, the receiver810, the transmitter815, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in code (e.g., as communications management software or firmware) executed by a processor. If implemented in code executed by a processor, the functions of the communications manager820, the receiver810, the transmitter815, or various combinations or components thereof may be performed by a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, or any combination of these or other programmable logic devices (e.g., configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure).

In some examples, the communications manager820may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver810, the transmitter815, or both. For example, the communications manager820may receive information from the receiver810, send information to the transmitter815, or be integrated in combination with the receiver810, the transmitter815, or both to receive information, transmit information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager820may support wireless communication at a reconfigurable surface in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager820may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from a transmitting device, a signal during an operation associated with discovering a presence of the reconfigurable surface. The communications manager820may be configured as or otherwise support a means for applying a modulation sequence to the signal to obtain a modulated signal, the modulation sequence being associated with the reconfigurable surface. The communications manager820may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting the modulated signal based on applying the modulation sequence.

By including or configuring the communications manager820in accordance with examples as described herein, the device805(e.g., a processor controlling or otherwise coupled to the receiver810, the transmitter815, the communications manager820, or a combination thereof) may support techniques for enabling a device to discover which reconfigurable surfaces are in a vicinity of the device.

FIG.9shows a block diagram900of a device905that supports discovery of reconfigurable surfaces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device905may be an example of aspects of a device805or a reconfigurable surface117as described herein. The device905may include a receiver910, a transmitter915, and a communications manager920. The device905may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver910may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to discovery of reconfigurable surfaces). Information may be passed on to other components of the device905. The receiver910may utilize a single reflector or a set of multiple reflectors.

The transmitter915may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device905. For example, the transmitter915may transmit information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to discovery of reconfigurable surfaces). In some examples, the transmitter915may be co-located with a receiver910in a transceiver module. The transmitter915may include one or more phase shifters945and one or more reflective elements950. The transmitter915may utilize a single reflector or a set of multiple reflectors.

A phase shifter945may provide a configurable phase shift or phase offset to a corresponding radio frequency signal to be transmitted on a respective reflective element950. The settings of each of the phase shifters945may be independent, meaning that each can be set to provide a desired amount of phase shift or the same amount of phase shift or some other configuration. A modem or other processor may have at least one control line connected to each of the phase shifters945and which may be used to configure the phase shifters945to provide a desired amounts of phase shift or phase offset between reflective elements950.

In at least one embodiment, changing or receiving a transmit or receive beam comprises adjusting relative phase shifts for signals on different reflective elements950. The relative phase shifts may be achieved by the modem adjusting the phase shift of the one or more phase shifters945. The set of phases for different phase shifters945(and corresponding reflective elements950) may comprise the spatial receive parameters or spatial transmit parameters for a respective beam. To receive or transmit on a beam, the spatial parameters may need to be set before the beginning of the transmitting or receiving.

The device905, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of discovery of reconfigurable surfaces as described herein. For example, the communications manager920may include a signal detector925, a modulator930, a signal transmitter935, or any combination thereof. The communications manager920may be an example of aspects of a communications manager820as described herein. In some examples, the communications manager920, or various components thereof, may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver910, the transmitter915, or both. For example, the communications manager920may receive information from the receiver910, send information to the transmitter915, or be integrated in combination with the receiver910, the transmitter915, or both to receive information, transmit information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager920may support wireless communication at a reconfigurable surface in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The signal detector925may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from a transmitting device, a signal during an operation associated with discovering a presence of the reconfigurable surface. The modulator930may be configured as or otherwise support a means for applying a modulation sequence to the signal to obtain a modulated signal, the modulation sequence being associated with the reconfigurable surface. The signal transmitter935may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting the modulated signal based on applying the modulation sequence.

FIG.10shows a block diagram1000of a communications manager1020that supports discovery of reconfigurable surfaces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager1020may be an example of aspects of a communications manager820, a communications manager920, or both, as described herein. The communications manager1020, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of discovery of reconfigurable surfaces as described herein. For example, the communications manager1020may include a signal detector1025, a modulator1030, a signal transmitter1035, a modulation manager1040, or any combination thereof. Each of these components may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The communications manager1020may support wireless communication at a reconfigurable surface in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The signal detector1025may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from a transmitting device, a signal during an operation associated with discovering a presence of the reconfigurable surface. The modulator1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for applying a modulation sequence to the signal to obtain a modulated signal, the modulation sequence being associated with the reconfigurable surface. The signal transmitter1035may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting the modulated signal based on applying the modulation sequence.

In some examples, the signal detector1025may be configured as or otherwise support a means for detecting boundaries of portions of the signal, where applying the modulation sequence includes applying a first modulation to a first portion of the signal and a second modulation to a second portion of the signal based on detecting the boundaries of the portions of the signal.

In some examples, to support applying the modulation sequence to the signal, the modulator1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for applying a phase modulation, an amplitude modulation, a polarization, or a spatial modulation to the signal.

In some examples, the modulation manager1040may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving a message assigning the modulation sequence to the reconfigurable surface, the modulation sequence being one of a set of multiple modulation sequences and being unique to the reconfigurable surface. In some examples, the set of multiple modulation sequences are orthogonal to one another.

In some examples, the modulation manager1040may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving a message assigning a set of multiple modulation sequences to the reconfigurable surface, the set of multiple modulation sequences being unique to the reconfigurable surface and each modulation sequence of the set of multiple modulation sequences associated with a different angle of reflection for the reconfigurable surface.

FIG.11shows a diagram of a system1100including a device1105that supports discovery of reconfigurable surfaces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device1105may be an example of or include the components of a device805, a device905, or a reconfigurable surface as described herein. Device1105may be configured to direct reflections of transmissions from one device1101(e.g., a base station or UE) in the direction of another device1105(e.g., a base station or UE).

The device1105may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, such as a communications manager1120, a transceiver1110, a reflector1115, a memory1125, code1130, and a processor1135. These components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more buses (e.g., a bus1140).

In some cases, the device1105may include a reflector1115. The reflector1115may include one or more reflective elements and may be referred to as a reflective surface, reconfigurable surface, or reconfigurable intelligent surface. In some examples, the reflector1115includes one or more reflective elements (which may include transmission lines, reflectors, antennas, etc.). The transceiver1110may be used to relay communications between devices, via the reflector1115. In some examples, the transceiver1110may be coupled with one or more antennas used to received signals and may relay the received signal by transmitting modified versions of the received signals through the reflector1115. In some examples, the transceiver1110applies reflection coefficients to the received signals before transmitting the received signals from the reflector1115. The transceiver1110may be an example of a transmitter815, a transmitter915, a receiver810, a receiver910, or any combination thereof or component thereof, as described herein.

The memory1125may include RAM and ROM. The memory1125may store computer-readable, computer-executable code1130including instructions that, when executed by the processor1135, cause the device1105to perform various functions described herein. The code1130may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as system memory or another type of memory. In some cases, the code1130may not be directly executable by the processor1135but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform functions described herein. In some cases, the memory1125may contain, among other things, a BIOS which may control basic hardware or software operation such as the interaction with peripheral components or devices.

The processor1135may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processor1135may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into the processor1135. The processor1135may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory1125) to cause the device1105to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting discovery of reconfigurable surfaces). For example, the device1105or a component of the device1105may include a processor1135and memory1125coupled to the processor1135, the processor1135and memory1125configured to perform various functions described herein.

The communications manager1120may support wireless communication at a reconfigurable surface in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager1120may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from a transmitting device, a signal during an operation associated with discovering a presence of the reconfigurable surface. The communications manager1120may be configured as or otherwise support a means for applying a modulation sequence to the signal to obtain a modulated signal, the modulation sequence being associated with the reconfigurable surface. The communications manager1120may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting the modulated signal based on applying the modulation sequence.

In some examples, the communications manager1120may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the transceiver1110, the reflector1115, or any combination thereof. Although the communications manager1120is illustrated as a separate component, in some examples, one or more functions described with reference to the communications manager1120may be supported by or performed by the processor1135, the memory1125, the code1130, or any combination thereof. For example, the code1130may include instructions executable by the processor1135to cause the device1105to perform various aspects of discovery of reconfigurable surfaces as described herein, or the processor1135and the memory1125may be otherwise configured to perform or support such operations.

FIG.12shows a flowchart illustrating a method1200that supports discovery of reconfigurable surfaces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1200may be implemented by a UE (e.g., first UE215-1ofFIG.2A or2B) or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1200may be performed by a UE115as described with reference toFIGS.1through7. In some examples, a UE may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At1205, the method may include detecting a signal during an operation associated with discovering a presence of reconfigurable surfaces. The operations of1205may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1205may be performed by a signal detector625as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1210, the method may include combining the signal with a modulation sequence to obtain a combined signal, the modulation sequence being associated with a reconfigurable surface. The operations of1210may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1210may be performed by a signal combiner630as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1215, the method may include measuring a metric of the combined signal, where a presence of the reconfigurable surface in a geographic region is determined based on the metric. The operations of1215may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1215may be performed by a signal analyzer635as described with reference toFIG.6.

FIG.13shows a flowchart illustrating a method1300that supports discovery of reconfigurable surfaces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1300may be implemented by a UE (e.g., first UE215-1ofFIG.2A or2B) or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1300may be performed by a UE115as described with reference toFIGS.1through7. In some examples, a UE may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At1305, the method may include transmitting a second signal during the operation associated with discovering the presence of reconfigurable surfaces. The operations of1305may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1305may be performed by a sensing signal transmitter640as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1310, the method may include detecting a signal during an operation associated with discovering a presence of reconfigurable surfaces, where the signal is a reflection of the second signal. The operations of1310may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1310may be performed by a signal detector625as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1315, the method may include combining the signal with a modulation sequence to obtain a combined signal, the modulation sequence being associated with a reconfigurable surface. The operations of1315may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1315may be performed by a signal combiner630as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1320, the method may include measuring a metric of the combined signal, where a presence of the reconfigurable surface in a geographic region is determined based on the metric. The operations of1320may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1320may be performed by a signal analyzer635as described with reference toFIG.6.

FIG.14shows a flowchart illustrating a method1400that supports discovery of reconfigurable surfaces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1400may be implemented by a UE (e.g., first UE215-1ofFIG.2A or2B) or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1400may be performed by a UE115as described with reference toFIGS.1through7. In some examples, a UE may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At1405, the method may include detecting a signal during an operation associated with discovering a presence of reconfigurable surfaces. The operations of1405may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1405may be performed by a signal detector625as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1410, the method may include combining the signal with a modulation sequence to obtain a combined signal, the modulation sequence being associated with a reconfigurable surface. The operations of1410may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1410may be performed by a signal combiner630as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1415, the method may include receiving, from a second device, the metric of the combined signal. The operations of1415may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1415may be performed by a report processing component650as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1420, the method may include measuring a metric of the combined signal, where a presence of the reconfigurable surface in a geographic region is determined based on the metric. The operations of1420may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1420may be performed by a signal analyzer635as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1425, the method may include determining, based on the metric of the combined signal exceeding a threshold, that the reconfigurable surface is present within the geographic region. The operations of1425may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1425may be performed by a discovery component645as described with reference toFIG.6.

FIG.15shows a flowchart illustrating a method1500that supports discovery of reconfigurable surfaces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1500may be implemented by a UE (e.g., second UE215-2ofFIG.2A or2B) or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1500may be performed by a UE115as described with reference toFIGS.1through7. In some examples, a UE may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At1505, the method may include detecting a signal during an operation associated with discovering a presence of reconfigurable surfaces. The operations of1505may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1505may be performed by a signal detector625as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1510, the method may include combining the signal with a modulation sequence to obtain a combined signal, the modulation sequence being associated with a reconfigurable surface. The operations of1510may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1510may be performed by a signal combiner630as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1515, the method may include measuring a metric of the combined signal, where a presence of the reconfigurable surface in a geographic region is determined based on the metric. The operations of1515may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1515may be performed by a signal analyzer635as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1520, the method may include transmitting, to a second device, the metric of the combined signal. The operations of1520may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1520may be performed by a reporting component655as described with reference toFIG.6.

FIG.16shows a flowchart illustrating a method1600that supports discovery of reconfigurable surfaces in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1600may be implemented by a reconfigurable surface or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1600may be performed by a reconfigurable surface as described with reference toFIGS.1through3and8through11. In some examples, a reconfigurable surface may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the reconfigurable surface to perform the described functions. Additionally, or alternatively, the reconfigurable surface may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At1605, the method may include receiving, from a transmitting device, a signal during an operation associated with discovering a presence of the reconfigurable surface. The operations of1605may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1605may be performed by a signal detector1025as described with reference toFIG.10.

At1610, the method may include applying a modulation sequence to the signal to obtain a modulated signal, the modulation sequence being associated with the reconfigurable surface. The operations of1610may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1610may be performed by a modulator1030as described with reference toFIG.10.

At1615, the method may include transmitting the modulated signal based on applying the modulation sequence. The operations of1615may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1615may be performed by a signal transmitter1035as described with reference toFIG.10.

The following provides an overview of aspects of the present disclosure:

Aspect 1: A method for wireless communication at a device, comprising: detecting a signal during an operation associated with discovering a presence of reconfigurable surfaces; combining the signal with a modulation sequence to obtain a combined signal, the modulation sequence being associated with a reconfigurable surface; and measuring a metric of the combined signal, wherein a presence of the reconfigurable surface in a geographic region is determined based at least in part on the metric.

Aspect 2: The method of aspect 1, further comprising: transmitting a second signal during the operation associated with discovering the presence of reconfigurable surfaces, wherein the signal is a reflection of the second signal.

Aspect 3: The method of any of aspects 1 through 2, further comprising: determining, based at least in part on the metric of the combined signal exceeding a threshold, that the reconfigurable surface is present within the geographic region.

Aspect 4: The method of any of aspects 1 through 3, further comprising: receiving, from a second device, the metric of the combined signal; and determining, based at least in part on the metric of the combined signal exceeding a threshold, that the reconfigurable surface is present within the geographic region.

Aspect 5: The method of any of aspects 1 through 4, further comprising: transmitting, to a second device, an indication of a duration for performing the operation associated with discovering the presence of reconfigurable surfaces.

Aspect 6: The method of aspects 1, further comprising: transmitting, to a second device, the metric of the combined signal.

Aspect 7: The method of any of aspects 1 or 6, further comprising: detecting, during the operation associated with discovering the presence of reconfigurable surfaces, a second signal that is detected via a direct path with a second device and interferes with the signal detected during the operation, wherein combining the signal with the modulation sequence reduces an interference from the second signal on the signal.

Aspect 8: The method of any of aspects 1 through 7, further comprising: combining the signal with a second modulation sequence to obtain a second combined signal, the second modulation sequence being associated with a second reconfigurable surface; and measuring a metric of the second combined signal, wherein a presence of the second reconfigurable surface in the geographic region is determined based at least in part on the metric of the second combined signal.

Aspect 9: The method of any of aspects 1 through 8, further comprising: receiving, in a broadcast message, a mapping between a plurality of modulation sequences and a plurality of reconfigurable surfaces, the plurality of modulation sequences comprising the modulation sequence and the plurality of reconfigurable surfaces comprising the reconfigurable surface.

Aspect 10: The method of aspect 9, further comprising: determining a correspondence between the signal and the reconfigurable surface based at least in part on the mapping between the plurality of modulation sequences and the plurality of reconfigurable surfaces.

Aspect 11: The method of any of aspects 9 through 10, further comprising: determining a correspondence between the signal, the reconfigurable surface, and an angle of reflection configured at the reconfigurable surface based at least in part on the mapping between the plurality of modulation sequences and the plurality of reconfigurable surfaces.

Aspect 12: The method of any of aspects 1 through 11, wherein the signal comprises a plurality of portions, and a quantity of portions of the plurality of portions is based at least in part on a quantity of reconfigurable surfaces in the geographic region.

Aspect 13: The method of aspect 12, wherein the plurality of portions comprises a plurality of repetitions of a symbol or a plurality of symbols used to represent data for a second device.

Aspect 14: The method of aspect 12, wherein the plurality of portions comprises a plurality of symbols, a plurality of slots, or a plurality of resources.

Aspect 15: The method of aspect 12, wherein the plurality of portions comprises a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols comprising a reference signal associated with discovering reconfigurable surfaces, a phase reference signal, or a channel state information reference signal.

Aspect 16: A method for wireless communication at a reconfigurable surface, comprising: receiving, from a transmitting device, a signal during an operation associated with discovering a presence of the reconfigurable surface; applying a modulation sequence to the signal to obtain a modulated signal, the modulation sequence being associated with the reconfigurable surface; and transmitting the modulated signal based at least in part on applying the modulation sequence.

Aspect 17: The method of aspect 16, further comprising: detecting boundaries of portions of the signal, wherein applying the modulation sequence comprises applying a first modulation to a first portion of the signal and a second modulation to a second portion of the signal based at least in part on detecting the boundaries of the portions of the signal.

Aspect 18: The method of any of aspects 16 through 17, wherein applying the modulation sequence to the signal comprises: applying a phase modulation, an amplitude modulation, a polarization, or a spatial modulation to the signal.

Aspect 19: The method of any of aspects 16 through 18, further comprising: receiving a message assigning the modulation sequence to the reconfigurable surface, the modulation sequence being one of a plurality of modulation sequences and being unique to the reconfigurable surface.

Aspect 20: The method of aspect 19, wherein the plurality of modulation sequences are orthogonal to one another.

Aspect 21: The method of any of aspects 16 through 20, further comprising: receiving a message assigning a plurality of modulation sequences to the reconfigurable surface, the plurality of modulation sequences being unique to the reconfigurable surface and each modulation sequence of the plurality of modulation sequences associated with a different angle of reflection for the reconfigurable surface.

Aspect 22: An apparatus for wireless communication at a device, comprising a processor; memory coupled with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform a method of any of aspects 1 through 15.

Aspect 23: An apparatus for wireless communication at a device, comprising at least one means for performing a method of any of aspects 1 through 15.

Aspect 24: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a device, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform a method of any of aspects 1 through 15.

Aspect 25: An apparatus for wireless communication at a reconfigurable surface, comprising a processor; memory coupled with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform a method of any of aspects 16 through 21.

Aspect 26: An apparatus for wireless communication at a reconfigurable surface, comprising at least one means for performing a method of any of aspects 16 through 21.

Aspect 27: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a reconfigurable surface, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform a method of any of aspects 16 through 21.

It should be noted that the methods described herein describe possible implementations, and that the operations and the steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible. Further, aspects from two or more of the methods may be combined.

Although aspects of an LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR system may be described for purposes of example, and LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR terminology may be used in much of the description, the techniques described herein are applicable beyond LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR networks. For example, the described techniques may be applicable to various other wireless communications systems such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDM, as well as other systems and radio technologies not explicitly mentioned herein.

Information and signals described herein may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

The various illustrative blocks and components described in connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, a CPU, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration).

The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of the disclosure and appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, functions described herein may be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, or combinations of any of these. Features implementing functions may also be physically located at various positions, including being distributed such that portions of functions are implemented at different physical locations.

Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A non-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that may be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, compact disk (CD) ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transitory medium that may be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions or data structures and that may be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of computer-readable medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, include CD, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media.

As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as “at least one of” or “one or more of”) indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Also, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an example step that is described as “based on condition A” may be based on both a condition A and a condition B without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall be construed in the same manner as the phrase “based at least in part on.”

The term “determine” or “determining” encompasses a wide variety of actions and, therefore, “determining” can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (such as via looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, “determining” can include receiving (such as receiving information), accessing (such as accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also, “determining” can include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing and other such similar actions.

In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If just the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label, or other subsequent reference label.

The description set forth herein, in connection with the appended drawings, describes example configurations and does not represent all the examples that may be implemented or that are within the scope of the claims. The term “example” used herein means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred” or “advantageous over other examples.” The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques. These techniques, however, may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the described examples.

The description herein is provided to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein but is to be accorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.