Practical Issues and Challenges in CSI-based Integrated Sensing and Communication

TL;DR

This paper discusses the practical and theoretical challenges in deploying CSI-based integrated sensing and communication within existing wireless networks like WiFi and 4G/5G, aiming to advance toward 6G.

Contribution

It identifies ten key challenges hindering real-world deployment of CSI-based ISAC and proposes potential solutions to overcome these obstacles.

Findings

Ten major practical and theoretical problems identified.

Possible solutions proposed for critical deployment challenges.

Work aims to inspire further research towards 6G evolution.

Abstract

Next-generation mobile communication network (i.e., 6G) has been envisioned to go beyond classical communication functionality and provide integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) capability to enable more emerging applications, such as smart cities, connected vehicles, AIoT and health care/elder care. Among all the ISAC proposals, the most practical and promising approach is to empower existing wireless network (e.g., WiFi, 4G/5G) with the augmented ability to sense the surrounding human and environment, and evolve wireless communication networks into intelligent communication and sensing network (e.g., 6G). In this paper, based on our experience on CSI-based wireless sensing with WiFi/4G/5G signals, we intend to identify ten major practical and theoretical problems that hinder real deployment of ISAC applications, and provide possible solutions to those critical challenges. Hopefully, this work will inspire further research to evolve existing WiFi/4G/5G networks into next-generation intelligent wireless network (i.e., 6G).