Architecture Considerations for ISAC in 6G

TL;DR

This paper discusses architectural strategies for integrating sensing capabilities into 6G networks, focusing on new system components, protocols, and use cases to enable sensing as a service.

Contribution

It proposes a novel 6G architecture with new network functions and protocol adaptations to support sensing, extending current standards and use case implementations.

Findings

Proposed a 6G architecture with sensing-specific network functions

Outlined protocol stack modifications for sensing integration

Presented use cases demonstrating sensing as a service

Abstract

ISAC is emerging as a foundational capability in 6G, enabling mobile networks to not only offer communication services but also to sense and perceive their environment at scale. This paper explores architectural considerations to enable sensing in 6G, extending on recent developments by (pre-)standardisation bodies such as 3GPP and ETSI. Selected ISAC use cases are presented from the European MultiX project including associated potential functional system requirements. The paper proposes a 6G system architecture that integrates newly proposed NFs for the purpose of sensing and demonstrates how they are being used in offering sensing as a service. Protocol stack adaptations for both control and a newly proposed sensing plane are discussed.