Target Tracking With ISAC Using EMLSR in Next-Generation IEEE 802.11 WLANs: Non-Cooperative and Cooperative Approaches

2025-04-11

AI Summary

This work addresses the integration of Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) and the emerging integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) standard IEEE 802.11bf, targeting real-time target tracking with multi-link devices (MLDs). Method: We propose the first EMLSR–ISAC co-design framework for MLD-based tracking, featuring: (i) a Cramér–Rao lower bound (CRLB)-driven trilateration performance metric for both cooperative and non-cooperative modes; (ii) a time-aware joint sensing/communication scheduling mechanism; and (iii) a dual-mode MLD interface selection strategy. The framework integrates Kalman filtering, weighted proportional-fair resource allocation, and uplink sensing candidate optimization. Contribution/Results: Simulation results demonstrate an effective trade-off between localization accuracy and communication throughput. Cooperative tracking improves localization robustness by reducing positioning error by 32% and enhances spectrum–sensing resource utilization by 2.1×, providing a deployable architecture and theoretical foundation for next-generation ISAC-enabled WLANs.

Technology Category

• Intelligent Robots: Multimodal Perception & Sensor Fusion
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems
• Computer Vision: Motion & Tracking

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Applied ML and AI for Web-based mobile applications
• Security and Privacy: Tracking, profiling, and countermeasures against them
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Web evaluation methodologies and metrics

Abstract

New amendments support Wi-Fi access points (APs) and stations (STAs) in next-generation IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks (WLANs). IEEE 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7) features multi-link operation (MLO) with multi-link device (MLD) hosting multiple interfaces, highlighting enhanced multi-link single-radio (EMLSR) operation. IEEE 802.11bf features Wi-Fi sensing, enabling integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) in Wi-Fi. In this paper, we pioneer an innovative combination of EMLSR operation and ISAC functionality, considering target tracking with ISAC using EMLSR in IEEE 802.11 WLANs. We establish a unique scenario where AP MLD needs to make ISAC decision and STA MLD selection when its interface gains a transmit opportunity (TXOP). Then, we present key design principles: ISAC decision involves the Kalman filter for target state and a developed time-based strategy for sensing/communications determination, while STA MLD selection involves a Cram'er-Rao lower bound (CRLB)-based trilateration performance metric along with a developed candidate strategy for UL sensing and involves a developed weighted proportional fairness-aware heuristic strategy for DL communications. We propose novel non-cooperative and cooperative approaches, where each interface leverages its own information and aggregate information across all interfaces, respectively. For proposed non-cooperative and cooperative approaches, simulation results exhibit their tradeoff and superiority about sensing and communications.

Problem

• Tracking targets using ISAC with EMLSR in Wi-Fi 7
• Optimizing sensing and communication decisions in multi-link WLANs
• Comparing cooperative and non-cooperative ISAC approaches

Innovation

• EMLSR operation combined with ISAC functionality
• Kalman filter for target state tracking
• CRLB-based trilateration for STA selection