Device-Centric Bistatic and Multistatic Radar

A method of performing a multi-device radar sensing, wherein the method is performed by a sensing device and comprises:

• transmitting a radar illumination assistance request from the sensing device;
• receiving a response to the radar illumination assistance request from a set of one or more responding devices;
• determining a relative position of each member of a set of candidate devices, wherein the set of candidate devices consists of one or more members of the set of one or more responding devices;
• selecting one of the responding devices from the set of candidate devices for use as an illuminating device, wherein the selecting is based at least in part on the determined relative positions;
• configuring the illuminating device to perform radar illumination;
• and
• sensing reflections of illumination signals transmitted by the illuminating device, wherein
• determining the relative position of each member of the set of candidate devices comprises receiving, from each member of the set of candidate devices, at least one ranging transmission that is configured for use as a basis for estimating a range between the sensing device and the member of the set of candidate devices.

A method of performing a multi-device radar sensing in an arrangement that comprises a plurality of devices including an illuminating device and a sensing device, wherein the method is performed by the illuminating device and comprises:

• receiving a radar illumination assistance request from the sensing device;
• transmitting, to the sensing device, a response to the radar illumination assistance request;
• receiving, from the sensing device, configuration parameters for performing radar illumination;
• and
• transmitting a radar illumination signal according to the configuration parameters.

An apparatus for performing a multi-device radar sensing among a plurality of devices including an illuminating device and a sensing device, wherein the apparatus comprises circuitry configured to cause the sensing device to:

• transmit a radar illumination assistance request from the sensing device;
• receive a response to the radar illumination assistance request from a set of one or more responding devices;
• determine a relative position of each member of a set of candidate devices, wherein the set of candidate devices consists of one or more members of the set of one or more responding devices;
• select one of the responding devices from the set of candidate devices for use as an illuminating device, wherein the selecting is based at least in part on the determined relative positions;
• configure the illuminating device to perform radar illumination;
• and
• sense reflections of illumination signals transmitted by the illuminating device;
• wherein, to determine the relative position of each member of the set of candidate devices, the circuitry is configured to cause the sensing device to determine, for each member of the set of candidate devices, an angle of arrival of the at least one ranging transmission received from the member of the set of candidate devices.

An apparatus for performing a multi-device radar sensing among a plurality of devices including an illuminating device and a sensing device, wherein the apparatus comprises circuitry configured to cause the illuminating device to:

• receive a radar illumination assistance request from the sensing device;
• transmit, to the sensing device, a response to the radar illumination assistance request;
• receive, from the sensing device, configuration parameters for performing radar illumination;
• and
• transmit a radar illumination signal according to the configuration parameters;
• wherein the response to the radar illumination assistance request comprises a sequence configured for use as a basis for estimating a range between the sensing device and the illuminating device.