Dynamic and Resource-Efficient ISAC Operations in Sensing-Enabled 6G Systems

To realize the objectives of Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) in 6G, there is a need to introduce new functionalities in 6G core (6GC) architecture that are dynamic and resource-efficient. In ISAC, sensing signals are used by a Sensing Receiver (SRx) to measure and report Sensing Data Points (SDPs) to the network. However, a direct approach involving the measurement of all SDPs for each ISAC use case is resource-intensive and incurs significant signaling overhead. Addressing this challenge requires a shift towards a more dynamic and resource-efficient approach that selectively configures SDPs based on the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) requirements of each use case. Building on recent research efforts and prestandardization activities, which envision a dedicated Sensing Coordination Function (SCF) to coordinate sensing tasks, this paper proposes enhancements to the SCF for the 6GC architecture. We introduce a method for the selective configuration of SRx with SDPs, based on the KPI requirements of the sensing task. The proposed approach ensures optimized resource utilization while maintaining the flexibility required for diverse ISAC use cases.