Dynamic and flexible radio frequency (rf) node pairing for distributed sensing

A method of enabling pairing of a first sensing node and a second sensing node for radio frequency (RF) sensing, the method comprising:

• operating the second sensing node in an Rx detection mode in which the second sensing node periodically attempts to receive instances of a first reference signal (RS) transmitted by the first sensing node;
• and
• responsive to detecting a target with a received instance of the first RS transmitted by the first sensing node, transitioning operation of the second sensing node from the Rx detection mode to an Rx tracking mode in which the second sensing node:
• periodically transmits instances of a second RS, and
• periodically attempts to receive instances of a third RS transmitted by the first sensing node.

A first sensing node for radio frequency (RF) sensing, the first sensing node comprising:

• a transceiver;
• a memory;
• and
• one or more processors communicatively coupled with the transceiver and the memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
• operate in a Tx detection mode in which the first sensing node:
• periodically transmits instances of a first reference signal (RS) via the transceiver, and
• periodically attempts to receive, via the transceiver, instances of a second RS transmitted by a second sensing node;
• and
• responsive to detecting a target with a received instance of the second RS transmitted by the second sensing node, transition operation from the Tx detection mode to a Tx tracking mode in which the first sensing node:
• periodically transmits instances of a third RS via the transceiver, and
• periodically attempts to receive, via the transceiver, additional instances of the second RS transmitted by the second sensing node.

A second sensing node for radio frequency (RF) sensing, the second sensing node comprising:

• a transceiver;
• a memory;
• and
• one or more processors communicatively coupled with the transceiver and the memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
• operate in an Rx detection mode in which the second sensing node periodically attempts to receive instances of a first reference signal (RS) transmitted by the first sensing node;
• and
• responsive to detecting a target with a received instance of the first RS transmitted by the first sensing node, transition operation from the Rx detection mode to an Rx tracking mode in which the second sensing node:
• periodically transmits instances of a second RS, and
• periodically attempts to receive instances of a third RS transmitted by the first sensing node.