Sensing Assistance Information

Description

Sensing assistance information is a concept introduced in 3GPP Release 19 to support integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) in 5G networks. It refers to information that is provided to the 5G system from a trusted third-party source and can be used to assist in the derivation of sensing results. Importantly, this information does not contain 3GPP sensing data itself; rather, it is supplementary data that helps the network interpret or improve sensing measurements. For example, a third-party could provide environmental data, maps, or object characteristics that aid in processing radar-like reflections or channel state information to detect objects or motion.

The 5G system, as part of its sensing capabilities, can perform radio-based sensing by analyzing reflections of transmitted signals. However, the accuracy and reliability of sensing can be enhanced with external context. Sensing assistance information serves this purpose by providing additional inputs that are not available from the 3GPP network alone. This could include information about the physical environment (e.g., building layouts, terrain), known object properties, or even data from non-3GPP sensors (e.g., cameras, LiDAR) that are fused with 3GPP sensing data. The trusted third-party could be an application server, an edge computing node, or a dedicated sensing service provider.

The architecture for sensing assistance information involves interfaces between the 5G system and the trusted third-party. The 5G system may request or subscribe to such information, and the third-party provides it via APIs, possibly through the NEF (Network Exposure Function) or directly to a sensing function. Security and trust are paramount; the third-party must be authenticated and authorized to provide assistance information, and the data must be validated to prevent malicious inputs. The 3GPP specifications (e.g., TS 22.137, TS 22.837) define the requirements and procedures for handling sensing assistance information.

Key components include the sensing function (which may reside in the RAN or core network), the interface to the third-party, and the fusion logic that combines assistance information with 3GPP sensing data. The assistance information can be static (e.g., a map) or dynamic (e.g., real-time traffic data). It can be used for various sensing applications, such as object detection, localization, and environment mapping.

The introduction of sensing assistance information reflects the growing interest in ISAC and the need to leverage external data sources to enhance sensing performance. It enables the 5G system to benefit from rich context without burdening the network with additional sensing tasks. This concept is part of the broader 3GPP effort to integrate sensing as a native service in 5G-Advanced and 6G.

Purpose & Motivation

Sensing assistance information exists to improve the accuracy, reliability, and scope of 5G sensing by incorporating external data from trusted third parties. 5G sensing, based on radio signals, has inherent limitations such as clutter, limited resolution, and inability to detect certain object properties. By allowing third-party assistance information, the 5G system can overcome these limitations and provide more robust sensing results.

The motivation for this concept arises from the emerging use cases of ISAC, such as autonomous driving, smart cities, and industrial automation, where sensing requirements are stringent. For instance, detecting pedestrians in urban environments can be enhanced with map data and camera feeds. Without assistance information, the 5G system would rely solely on radio sensing, which may not suffice for safety-critical applications.

Historically, 3GPP sensing was self-contained, using only network-generated data. Release 19 marked a shift by recognizing the value of external data and defining how it can be securely integrated. This approach aligns with the trend of network openness and multi-access edge computing, where the network collaborates with external entities to deliver enhanced services. Sensing assistance information thus represents a step towards a more holistic sensing ecosystem, where 5G is one of many sensors, and data fusion is key.