COMMUNICATION METHOD, TERMINAL DEVICE AND NETWORK DEVICE

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method, a terminal device, and a network device. The method comprises: before performing communication by means of a first sidelink resource, a terminal device sends a first CPE, wherein the length of the first CPE is a first length. Before using a first sidelink communication resource for communication, the terminal device can occupy a channel by means of the first CPE until the terminal device can perform sidelink communication by means of the first sidelink resource. For example, by means of the first CPE, other communication devices can be prevented from occupying a channel where the terminal device has succeeded in LBT, so that the terminal device can normally perform sidelink communication.

Description

1 / 78 COMMUNICATION METHOD, TERMINAL DEVICE AND DEVICE NETWORK FIELD OF TECHNIQUE

[001] This application relates to the field of communication technologies and, more specifically, to a communication method, a terminal device and a network device. BACKGROUND

[002] In license-free spectrum-based side-link communication, after listen-before-talk (LBT) is successful, side-link communication may still not be implemented. For example, in some side-link communications, a resource used for side-link communication starts from a slot boundary, i.e., a side-link signal or a side-link channel can only be transmitted from a slot boundary. Therefore, in a period of time from when LBT is successful until a slot boundary is reached, another communication device in an intersystem may anticipate a channel, causing a terminal device to be unable to perform side-link communication when the slot boundary is reached. SUMMARY

[003] This is a communication method, a terminal device, and a network device. The following are aspects related to this application.

[004] According to a first aspect, a method of communication is provided, and the method includes: transmitting, by a terminal device, a first cyclic prefix extension (CPE) before Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 8 / 215 2 / 78 perform communication using a first-side link resource, where a length of the first CPE is a first length.

[005] According to a second aspect, a communication method is provided, and the method includes: transmitting, by a network device, first information to a terminal device, where the first information is used to indicate a first length, the first length is used to indicate the length of a first CPE, and the first CPE is a CPE transmitted before the communication performed by the terminal device using a first side link resource.

[006] According to a third aspect, a terminal device is provided, and the terminal device includes: a first transmission unit, configured to transmit a first CPE before performing communication using a first side link resource, where a length of the first CPE is a first length.

[007] According to a fourth aspect, a network device is provided, and the network device includes: a second transmission unit, configured to transmit first information to a terminal device, where the first information is used to indicate a first length, the first length is used to indicate a length of a first CPE, and the first CPE is a CPE transmitted before the communication performed by the terminal device using a first side link resource.

[008] According to a fifth aspect, a terminal device is provided, and the terminal device Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 9 / 215 3 / 78 includes a processor and memory. The memory is configured to store one or more computer programs, and the processor is configured to invoke a computer program in memory to cause the terminal device to execute some or all of the steps of the method according to the first aspect.

[009] According to a sixth aspect, a network device is provided, and the network device includes a processor, a memory, and a transceiver. The memory is configured to store one or more computer programs, and the processor is configured to invoke the computer program in memory to cause the network device to execute some or all of the steps in the method according to the second aspect.

[0010] According to a seventh aspect, one embodiment of this application provides a communications system, where the system includes the aforementioned terminal device and / or network device. In another possible design, the system may additionally include another device that interacts with the terminal device or network device in the solution provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0011] According to an eighth aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and the computer program causes a terminal device and / or a network device to perform some or all of the steps in the method according to the preceding aspects.

[0012] According to a ninth aspect, a Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 10 / 215 4 / 78 embodiment of this application provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes a non-transient, computer-readable storage medium that stores a computer program, and the computer program is operable to cause a terminal device and / or a network device to perform some or all of the steps in the method according to the preceding aspects. In some implementations, the computer program product may be a software installation package.

[0013] According to a tenth aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a chip. The chip includes a memory and a processor. The processor can invoke a computer program from memory and execute the computer program to implement some or all of the steps described in the method according to the aspects mentioned.

[0014] Before side-link communication is performed using the first side-link communication resource, the terminal device may occupy a channel using the first CPE until the terminal device can perform side-link communication using the first side-link resource. It can be understood that the use of the first CPE may prevent another communication device from appropriating the channel, so that the terminal device can normally perform side-link communication. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is an example diagram of a system architecture for a wireless communications system to which embodiments of this application are applicable.

[0016] Figure 2 is an illustrative diagram of a side-link communication scenario within the Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 11 / 215 5 / 78 network coverage.

[0017] Figure 3 is an example diagram of a side-link communication scenario with partial network coverage.

[0018] Figure 4 is an example diagram of a side link communication scenario outside the network coverage area.

[0019] Figure 5 is an example diagram of a side-link communication scenario based on a central control node.

[0020] Figure 6 is an illustrative diagram of a broadcast-based side link communication mode.

[0021] Figure 7 is an illustrative diagram of a side link communication mode based on point-to-point broadcasting.

[0022] Figure 8 is an illustrative diagram of a side link communication mode based on selective diffusion.

[0023] Figure 9 includes example diagrams of slot structures for some side-link communication systems (such as an NR-V2X system).

[0024] Figure 10 is an example of a diagram in which the OFDM symbols available for PSSCHs change between different slots.

[0025] Figure 11 is an example diagram of a time-frequency resource occupied by second-stage SCIs in a window.

[0026] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a DMRS pattern of a PSCCH.

[0027] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 12 / 215 6 / 78 positions in the four-symbol DMRS time domain if the number of PSSCH symbols is 14.

[0028] Figure 14 is an example diagram of a type 1 single-symbol DMRS frequency domain.

[0029] Figure 15 is an example diagram of a time-frequency position of a CSI-RS SL.

[0030] Figure 16 is an example diagram of a channel occupancy time obtained by a communication device after successful LBT on an unlicensed spectrum channel and use of resources within the channel occupancy time for signal transmission.

[0031] Figure 17 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to one modality of this request.

[0032] Figure 18 is an illustrative diagram of a method for indicating a CPE length, according to one embodiment of this application.

[0033] Figure 19 is an example diagram of a scenario in which different end devices select different CPE lengths.

[0034] Figure 20 is an illustrative diagram of another method for indicating a CPE length, according to one embodiment of this application.

[0035] Parts (a), (b) and (c) in Figure 21 are, respectively, example diagrams of relationships between different resource pools.

[0036] Figure 22 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device, according to an embodiment of this application.

[0037] Figure 23 is a structural diagram. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 13 / 215 7 / 78 schematic of a network device, according to an embodiment of this application.

[0038] Figure 24 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device, according to one embodiment of this application. DESCRIPTION OF MODALITIES

[0039] Technical solutions in this application are described below with reference to the attached drawings. COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

[0040] Figure 1 is an example diagram of a system architecture for a wireless communications system 100 to which embodiments of this application are applicable. The wireless communications system 100 may include a network device 110 and a terminal device 120. The network device 110 may be a device that communicates with the terminal device 120. The network device 110 may provide communication coverage for a specific geographic area and may communicate with the terminal device 120 located within the coverage.

[0041] Optionally, the 100 wireless communications system may include a plurality of network devices, and another number of terminal devices may be included within the coverage of each network device, which is not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0042] Optionally, the 100 wireless communications system may additionally include other network entities, such as a network controller and a mobility management entity, which are not limited to the embodiments of this application.

[0043] It should be understood that the technical solutions Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 14 / 215 8 / 78 of the embodiments of this application may be applied to various communication systems, for example, a fifth-generation (5G) or new radio (NR) system, a long-term evolution (LTE) system, an LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, and an LTE time division duplex (TDD) system. The technical solutions provided in this application may also be applied to a future communication system, such as a 6th-generation mobile communication system or a satellite communication system.

[0044] The terminal device in embodiments of this application may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), an access terminal, a user unit, a user station, a mobile site, a mobile station (MS), a mobile terminal (MT), a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communications device, a user agent, or a user appliance. The terminal device in embodiments of this application may be a device that provides the user with voice and / or data connectivity and is capable of connecting people, objects, and machines, such as a portable device or a vehicle-mounted device that has wireless connectivity.The terminal device in embodiments of this application may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer (Pad), a notebook, a handheld computer, a mobile internet device (MID), a wearable device, a virtual reality device (VR), or an augmented reality device. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 15 / 215 9 / 78 reality, AR), a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, or similar. Optionally, the terminal device can be configured to act as a base station. For example, the terminal device can act as a scheduling entity that provides a side link signal between terminal devices in vehicle-to-everything (V2X), device-to-device (D2D), or similar communications. For example, a cell phone and a vehicle communicate with each other via a side link signal.A cell phone and a smart home device communicate with each other without relaying a communication signal through a base station. Optionally, the terminal device can be configured to act as a base station.

[0045] The network device in the embodiments of this application may be a device for communicating with the terminal device. The network device may also be referred to as an access network device or a wireless access network device. For example, the network device may be a base station. The network device in the embodiments of this application may be a radio access network (RAN) node (or device) that connects the terminal device to a wireless network. The base station may encompass broadly several names. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 16 / 215 10 / 78 following, or it may be replaced by a name from among the following, for example, a NodeB (NodeB), an evolved NodeB (eNB), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a relay station, an access point, a transmitting and receiving point (TRP), a transmitting point (TP), a primary MeNB, a secondary SeNB, a multi-pattern radio node (MSR), a home base station, a network controller, an access node, a wireless node, an access point (AP), a transmitting node, a transceiver node, a baseband unit (BBU), a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), a remote radio head (RRH), a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (distributed unit, DU), a positioning node or similar. The base station can be a macro base station, a micro base station, a relay node, a donor node, or something similar, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, the base station can be a communications module, a modem, or a chip located in the device or apparatus described above. Alternatively, the base station can be a mobile switching center, a device that functions as a base station in device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, a network-side device in a 6G network, a device that functions as a base station in a future communications system, or similar. The base station can support networks with the same technology as Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 17 / 215 11 / 78 access or different access technologies. A specific technology and a specific device form used by the network device are not limited to the modalities of this application.

[0046] The base station can be a fixed or mobile base station. For example, a helicopter or an unmanned aerial vehicle can be configured to act as a mobile base station, and one or more cells can move based on the position of the mobile base station. In another example, a helicopter or an unmanned aerial vehicle can be configured to serve as a device in communication with another base station.

[0047] In some deployments, the network device in the embodiments of this application may be a CU or a DU, or the network device may include both a CU and a DU. The gNB may additionally include an AAU.

[0048] The network device and the terminal device may be deployed on land, including in indoor or outdoor environments, portable or vehicle-mounted, may be deployed on the water surface, or may be deployed on an airplane, a balloon, or a satellite in the air. A scenario in which the network device and the terminal device are located is not limited to embodiments of this application.

[0049] It should be understood that all or part of the functions of the communications device in this application may alternatively be implemented by software functions running on hardware or by virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). Lateral Link Communication in Different Statuses Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 18 / 215 12 / 78 NETWORK COVERAGE

[0050] Sidelink communication (or sidelink transmission) refers to a communications technology based on a sidelink (SL). Sidelink communication can be, for example, D2D or V2X. Sidelink communication supports the direct transmission of communication data between terminal devices. Direct transmission of communication data between terminal devices can have higher spectral efficiency and lower transmission delay. For example, a vehicle-to-everything system uses a sidelink communication technology.

[0051] Side link communication can be classified, depending on the network coverage status of the terminal device, into side link communication within network coverage, side link communication with partial network coverage, side link communication outside network coverage, and side link communication based on a central control node.

[0052] Figure 2 is an illustrative diagram of a side-link communication scenario within network coverage. In the scenario shown in Figure 2, both terminal devices 120a are located within the coverage of network device 110. Therefore, both terminal devices 120a can receive configuration signaling (where configuration signaling in this application can alternatively be replaced by configuration information) from network device 110 and determine a side-link configuration based on the configuration signaling from network device 110. Then Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 19 / 215 13 / 78 to perform the side link configuration, both terminal devices 120a can perform side link communication on a side link.

[0053] Figure 3 is an example diagram of a side-link communication scenario with partial network coverage. In the scenario shown in Figure 3, a terminal device 120a performs side-link communication with a terminal device 120b. Terminal device 120a is located within the coverage of a network device 110. Therefore, terminal device 120a can receive configuration signaling from network device 110 and determine a side-link configuration based on the configuration signaling from network device 110. Terminal device 120b is located outside the network coverage and cannot receive configuration signaling from network device 110.In this case, the 120b terminal device can determine a sidelink configuration based on pre-configuration information and / or information that is carried in a physical sidelink broadcast channel. PSBCH) transmitted by terminal device 120a located within the network coverage. After performing the side link configuration, both terminal device 120a and terminal device 120b can perform side link communication on a side link.

[0054] Figure 4 is an example diagram of a side link communication scenario outside network coverage. In the scenario shown in Figure 4, two 120b terminal devices are both located outside network coverage. In this case, both 120b terminal devices Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 20 / 215 14 / 78 can determine a side link configuration based on pre-configuration information. After performing the side link configuration, both 120b terminal devices can perform side link communication on a side link.

[0055] Figure 5 is an example diagram of a side-link communication scenario based on a central control node. In the scenario shown in Figure 5, a plurality of 120b terminal devices can form a communication group. The communication group may have a central control node. In some cases, the central control node may become a cluster header (CH) terminal device. The central control node may have one or more of the following functions: being responsible for establishing the communication group; entry and exit of a group member; resource coordination; allocation of side-link transmission resources to another terminal device; receiving side-link feedback information from another terminal device; resource coordination with another communication group; and other functions. SIDE LINK COMMUNICATION MODE

[0056] Two modes (or so-called transmission modes) of side-link communication are defined in some standards or protocols (for example, the 3GPP Partnership Project): a first mode and a second mode.

[0057] In the first mode, a resource (the resource mentioned in this request may also be called a transmission resource, or a time-frequency resource) of a terminal device is allocated by a network device. The device Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 21 / 215 Terminal 15 / 78 can transmit data on a side link based on the resource allocated by the network device. The network device can allocate a resource to the terminal device for single transmission; or it can allocate a resource to the terminal device for semi-static transmission. The first mode can be applied to a scenario where there is network device coverage, for example, the scenario shown in Figure 2. In the scenario shown in Figure 2, terminal device 120a is located within the coverage of network device 110. Therefore, network device 110 can allocate a resource to terminal device 120a that is used in a side link transmission process.

[0058] In the second mode, the terminal device can independently select one or more resources from a resource pool (RP). The terminal device can then perform side-link transmission based on a selected resource. For example, in the scenario shown in Figure 4, terminal device 120b is located outside the cell coverage. Therefore, terminal device 120b can independently select a resource from a pre-configured resource pool to perform side-link transmission. Alternatively, in the scenario shown in Figure 2, terminal device 120a can independently select one or more resources from a resource pool configured by network device 110 to perform side-link transmission. MODES OF DATA TRANSMISSION FOR SIDE LINK COMMUNICATION

[0059] Some side-link communication systems (e.g., LTE-V2X) support a transmission mode Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 22 / 215 16 / 78 data based on broadcast (referred to, for simplicity, as broadcast transmission). For broadcast transmission, a receiving terminal device can be any terminal device surrounding a transmitting terminal device. For example, in Figure 6, terminal device 1 is a transmitting end terminal device, and a receiving end terminal device corresponding to the transmitting end terminal device is any terminal device surrounding terminal device 1, for example, it could be terminal device 2 through terminal device 6 in Figure 6.

[0060] In addition to broadcast transmission, some communication systems also support a point-to-point broadcast-based data transmission mode and / or a selective broadcast-based data transmission mode. For example, NR-V2X is expected to support autonomous driving. Autonomous driving places higher requirements on data interaction between vehicles. For example, data interaction between vehicles requires higher throughput, lower latency, greater reliability, greater coverage, a more flexible resource allocation method, and so on. Therefore, to improve the performance of data interaction between vehicles, NR-V2X introduces point-to-point broadcast transmission and selective broadcast transmission.

[0061] For point-to-point broadcast transmission, the receiving end terminal device usually includes only one terminal device. For example, in Figure 7, point-to-point broadcast transmission is performed between a terminal device 1 and a terminal device 2. Terminal device 1 can be a device Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 23 / 215 17 / 78 transmitting end terminal, and terminal device 2 can be a receiving end terminal device. Alternatively, terminal device 1 can be a receiving end terminal device, and terminal device 2 can be a transmitting end terminal device.

[0062] For selective broadcast transmission, the receiving end terminal device can be a terminal device in a communication group (group), or the receiving end terminal device can be a terminal device within a specific transmission distance. For example, in Figure 7, as an example, a terminal device 1, a terminal device 2, a terminal device 3, and a terminal device 4 constitute a communication group. If terminal device 1 transmits data, all other terminal devices (terminal device 2 to terminal device 4) in the group can be receiving terminal devices. FRAME STRUCTURES FOR SIDE LINK COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

[0063] A slot may include a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH), and the like. The channels will be described in detail later, and the details are not described again here.

[0064] Figure 9 includes example diagrams of slot structures for some communication systems. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 24 / 215 18 / 78 side link (as an NR-V2X system). Part (a) in Figure 9 is an example diagram of a slot structure that does not include a physical side link feedback channel (PSFCH) in a slot. Part (b) in Figure 9 is an example diagram of a range structure that includes a PSFCH channel in a slot.

[0065] As shown in Figure 9, in the time domain, a PSCCH can occupy two or three orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols starting from the second side link symbol of a slot, and can occupy {10, 12, 15, 20, 25} physical resource blocks (PRB / RB) in the frequency domain. To reduce the complexity of blind detection performed by a terminal device in the PSCCH, it may be permitted to configure only a certain number of PSCCH symbols and a certain number of PRBs in a resource pool. Furthermore, a subchannel is a minimum granularity for PSCCH resource allocation in some side-link communication systems (e.g., an NR-V2X system). Therefore, the number of PRBs occupied by the PSCCH must be less than or equal to the number of PRBs included in a subchannel in a resource pool, to avoid additional limitations in the selection or allocation of PSCCH resources.

[0066] In the time domain, the PSSCH can start from the second side link symbol of the slot. The last time domain symbol in a slot is a guard period (GP) symbol (also known as a guard period (GAP) symbol), and the remaining symbols can be used to map the PSSCH. The first side link symbol in the slot can be a repetition of the second symbol of Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 25 / 215 19 / 78 side link. The receiving terminal device may use the first side link symbol as an automatic gain control (AGC) symbol, and the data in that symbol is generally not used for data demodulation. As shown in part (a) in Figure 9, the PSSCH may occupy K subchannels in the frequency domain, and each subchannel may include N consecutive PRBs, where K may be an integer greater than 0, and N may be an integer greater than 0.

[0067] As shown in part (b) in Figure 9, when a slot includes the PSFCH channel, the second-to-last and third-to-last symbols in the slot can be used for PSFCH channel transmission, and a time-domain symbol located before the PSFCH channel can be used as a GP symbol. PSSCH

[0068] In some sidelink communication systems (e.g., an NR-V2X system), a PSSCH can be configured to carry second-stage sidelink control information (SCI). Second-stage SCIs may include SCI 2-A or SCI 2-B. Second-stage SCIs may use a Polar coding scheme. Second-stage SCIs may be adopted fixedly with QPSK modulation. A portion of the PSSCH data may use low-density parity check (LDPC). A maximum modulation order that can be supported by the data portion of the PSSCH is 256 QAM.

[0069] In some side-to-side communication systems (such as an NR-V2X system), a PSSCH supports a maximum of two streams, and the data in two layers are mapped Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 26 / 215 20 / 78 for two antenna ports using a unitary precoding matrix. At most one TB can be transmitted in a PSSCH. However, unlike a transmission mode for the data portion of the PSSCH, when a dual-stream transmission mode is used for the PSSCH, the modulation symbols of the second-stage SCI in both streams can be completely identical. Such a design can guarantee the reception performance of the second-stage SCI in a high-correlation channel.

[0070] In some side-link communication systems (such as an NR-V2X system), a maximum number of retransmissions of a PSSCH is 32. If a PSFCH resource exists in a resource pool and the configuration cycle of the PSFCH resource is 2 or 4, the available OFDM symbols may change between the slots in which different transmissions of a PSSCH are located. Figure 10 is an example diagram in which the OFDM symbols available for PSSCHs change between different slots. As shown in Figure 10, due to the existence of a PSFCH resource, the number of OFDM symbols available for the nth transmission of a PSSCH is different from the number of OFDM symbols available for the nth transmission. Rrtjfflòútú PSSCH a (n+l)ésima transmissão do PSSCH. Se uma quantidade ( ) de símbolos para transmissão do PSSCH se calcular conforme a quantidade real de símbolos OFDM em uma faixa hora, os valores de ^5σ2 podem varia devido a diferentes quantidades de símbolos para transmissãos do PSSCH em faixa hora, e uma mudança de causa um mudança no tamanho de uma TB transported por PSSCH, como acerca de abaixo. Para garantir que um tamanho de bloco de transporte (transmissão) Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, p. 27 / 215 21 / 78 block size, TBS) in multiple PSSCH transmissions remain unchanged, symbol is calculated without using the actual number of PSSCH symbols. Furthermore, it is calculated without considering the number of resource elements (REs) occupied by a PSSCH demodulation reference signal (demodulation reference symbol, DMRS) and the number of REs occupied by a phase-tracking reference signal (phase-tracking reference signals, PT-RS) that may change in a retransmission process.

[0071] A code rate of the second-stage SCIs can be dynamically adjusted within a specific range, and a specific code rate to be used can be indicated by the first-stage SCIs. Therefore, even if the code rate changes, a receiving end does not need to perform blind detection on the second-stage SCIs. Figure 11 is an example diagram of a time-frequency feature occupied by the second-stage SCIs in a window. As shown in Figure 11, a modulation symbol of the second-stage SCIs can be mapped from a symbol in which the first PSSCH DMRS is located and mapped first in the frequency domain and then in the time domain. In an OFDM symbol where a DMRS is located, the second-stage SCIs can be mapped to an RE not occupied by the DMRS.

[0072] In a resource pool, the data portion of a PSSCH can use a plurality of different modulation and coding scheme (MCS) tables. For example, one or more of the following tables can be used: a conventional 64 QAM MCS table, a Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 28 / 215 22 / 78 table 256 QAM MCS or a low spectral efficiency table 64 QAM MCS. In a transmission, an MCS table used specifically by the data portion of the PSSCH can be indicated by an “MCS table indication” field in the first-stage SCIs. To control the PAPR, the PSSCH needs to be transmitted using consecutive PRBs. A subchannel is a minimum granularity of resources in the frequency domain for the PSSCH. Therefore, the PSSCH must occupy consecutive subchannels. TBS SIDE LINK

[0073] For a PSSCH, a TBS determination mechanism continues to be used for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), i.e., a TBS is determined based on a reference value of the number of REs used for the PSSCH in a slot where the PSSCH is located, so that the actual code rate is as close as possible to the target code rate. Note that, to ensure that the number of REs used to determine a TBS remains unchanged in a PSSCH retransmission process, a reference value of the number of REs is used instead of an actual number of REs, so that the sizes of the determined TBSs are the same. To achieve this goal, in a TBS determination process, a reference value \DC. , ...... , , __ The RE (reserve efficiency) of a quantity of REs occupied by the PSSCH can be determined according to the following formula: \ = \' .n-\'·' ,1 -\':',2 RE RElyREnPRBlyRElyRE . ____.. _ . n„„„ ... .....

[0074] In this context, PRB indicates the quantity of Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, p. 29 / 215 23 / 78 ysc ,1 PRBs occupied by PSSCH, RE indicates the number of REs (including one RE occupied by a PSCCH DMRS) occupied by NSC ,2 First-stage SCI, RE indicates the number of REs occupied by second-stage SCIs (as described above), and RE indicates the number of reference REs available to the PSSCH in a PRB, and RE can be determined according to the following formula: N' = NRB (Nsh-NPSPCff)- \'B- \DCR E= s^sc \lysymb s^symb - oh oh RE . NR

[0075] In this document, you can indicate a number of subcarriers in a PRB, for example, NRsc = 12 N±h 1, ............ symb denotes a number of symbols available for side linking in a slot, where the last GP symbol or the first symbol used for AGC is not included; PjFCFCHsymb denotes a reference value for the number of symbols occupied by a PSFCH, for example, PCPCFCH s symb ou 3, and a specific value can be indicated by the “number of PSFCH symbols” field in the first-phase SCI; Npprboh can denote a reference value for the number of REs occupied by a PT-RS and a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS), and can be configured using a control layer parameter. D IRSliS RRC); and NRE in a slot and radio resources (radio resource control, may denote an average number of DMRS REs is related to a DMRS standard allowed in a resource pool. Table 1 shows a correspondence between a standard Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 30 / 215 24 / 78 DMRS enabled on a set of resources and DfDMRS R 'RE TABLE 1 DMRS Standard {2} 12 {3} 18 {4} 24 {2,3} 15 {2,4} 18 {3,4} 21 {2, 3, 4} 18 DMRS SIDE LINK

[0076] In some side-link communication systems (e.g., an NR-V2X system), a DMRS pattern of a PSCCH may be the same as that of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). In other words, a DMRS pattern may exist in an OFDM symbol of each PSCCH and may be located in {#1, #5, #9} REs of a PRB in the frequency domain. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a DMRS pattern of a PSCCH. A DMRS sequence of the PSCCH is generated using the following formula: η (m) = J— (1 - 2 c (m)) + j (1 - 2 c (m +1)) .

[0077] A pseudorandom sequence c (m) can be initialized by cinit= (217(Nn^f +1 +1)(2NID +1) + 2NID)mod231. Here, l can denote an index of an OFDM symbol in which the DMRS is located within a range, ημτ can denote a S,I index of an interval in which a DMRS is located in a Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 31 / 215 25 / 78 Nslotarmação do sistema,symbpode denotando uma quantidade de , , ii _ NID e{0,1,-,65535}Êsímbolos OFDM em um slot,1D 1' , e um valor concreto de NIDem um conjunto de recursos é configura ou preconfiguada pela rede.

[0078] A plurality of time-domain DMRS PSSCH patterns is adopted in some side-link communication systems (e.g., an NR-V2X system), i.e., a design on an interface Uu of an NR system is used as a reference. In a feature set, the number of available DMRS patterns may be related to the number of PSSCH symbols in the feature set. For specific numbers of PSSCH symbols (including the first AGC symbol) and PSCCH symbols, an available DMRS pattern and the position of each DMRS symbol in the pattern are presented in Table 2. Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the time-domain positions of four DMRS symbols in the case where the number of PSSCH symbols is 14. TABLE 2 Number of PSCCH symbols (including the 1st AGC symbol) Position of a DMRS symbol (relative to the position of the 1st AGC symbol) Number of PSCCH symbols being 2 Number of PSCCH symbols being 3 Number of DMRS symbols Number of DMRS symbols 2 3 4 2 3 4 6 1, 5 1, 5 7 1, 5 1, 5 8 1, 5 1, 5 9 3, 8 1, 4, 7 4, 8 1, 4, 7 10 3, 8 1, 4, 7 4, 8 1, 4, 7 Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 32 / 215 26 / 78 11 3, 10 1, 5, 9 1, 4, 7, 10 4, 10 1, 5, 9 1, 4, 7, 10 12 3, 10 1, 5, 9 1, 4, 7, 10 4, 10 1, 5, 9 1, 4, 7, 10 13 3, 10 1, 6, 11 1, 4, 7, 10 4, 10 1, 6, 11 1, 4, 7, 10

[0079] If a plurality of time-domain DMRS patterns are configured in a feature set, a specific time-domain DMRS pattern to be used is selected by a transmitting terminal device and indicated in the first-stage SCIs. In this design, a high-speed terminal device can select a high-density DMRS pattern, thus ensuring channel estimation accuracy; and a low-speed terminal device can use a low-density DMRS pattern, thus improving spectral efficiency.

[0080] One way of generating a PSSCH DMRS sequence is almost the same as one way of generating a PSCCH DMRS sequence. The only difference is in an initialization formula for a pseudo-random sequence c(m), that is, where Pi can be a CRC of the eleventh bit of a PSCCH that schedules the PSSCH; and L can be a number of CRC bits of the PSCCH, for example, L=24.

[0081] In an NR communications system, a PDSCH and a PUSCH support two frequency-domain DMRS standards: frequency-domain DMRS type 1 and frequency-domain DMRS type 2. For each frequency domain type, there can be two different types: a single-symbol DMRS type and a dual-symbol DMRS type. One Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 33 / 215 27 / 78 single-symbol frequency domain DMRS type 1 supports four DMRS ports, and a single-symbol frequency domain DMRS type 2 can support six DMRS ports. In the case of type of In dual-symbol DMRS in the frequency domain, the number of supported ports is doubled. However, in some side-link communication systems (e.g., NR-V2X), such as a PSSCH, which may need to support a maximum of two DMRS ports, only single-symbol DMRS frequency domain type 1 can be supported. Figure 14 is an example diagram of a single-symbol DMRS frequency domain type 1. CSI-RS SIDE LINK

[0082] A side-link communication system can support a side-link CSI-RS (SL CSI-RS) to better support point-to-point broadcast communication. The SL CSI-RS can be transmitted when the following three conditions are met: a terminal device transmits a corresponding PSSCH, in other words, the terminal device cannot simply transmit only the SL CSI-RS; Upper-layer signaling activates the SL CSIRS report; and when upper-layer signaling activates the SL CSI-RS report, a corresponding bit in the second-stage SCIs transmitted by the terminal device triggers the SL CSI-RS report.

[0083] A maximum of two ports are supported by SL CSI-RS. When there are two ports, the SL CSI-RSs for different ports are multiplexed in a code-division manner into two adjacent REs of the same OFDM symbol, and the number of SL CSI-RSs for each port in a PRB is 1, that is, the density is 1. Therefore, in a PRB, the SL CSI-RS appears in at most one OFDM symbol. A specific position Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, p. 34 / 215 The 28 / 78 position of the OFDM symbol is determined by a transmitting terminal device. To avoid impacting the resource mapping of the PSCCH and second-stage SCIs, the SL CSI-RS cannot be located on the same OFDM symbol as the PSCCH and second-stage SCIs. An OFDM symbol in which a DMRS from a PSSCH is located has relatively high channel estimation accuracy, and two-port SL CSI-RSs occupy two consecutive REs in the frequency domain. Therefore, SL CSIRSs cannot be transmitted on the same OFDM symbol as the DMRS from the PSSCH. The position of an OFDM symbol where an SL CSI-RS is located is indicated by an sl-CSIRS-FirstSymbol parameter in the PC5 RRC.

[0084] A position of the first RE occupied by the SL CSI-RS in a PRB is indicated by an sl-CSI-RSFreqAllocation parameter in the PC5 RRC. If the SL CSI-RS corresponds to one port, the parameter can be a bitmap with a length of 12 and corresponds to 12 REs in a PRB. If the SL CSI-RS corresponds to two ports, the parameter is a bitmap with a length of 6. In this case, the SL CSI-RS occupies two _ 2f (1) 2f (1) +1 , f (1) , , . ....... REs and , where can denote a bit index with a value of 1 in the bitmap. A position in the frequency domain of the SL CSI-RS can also be determined by the transmitting terminal device. The position in the frequency domain determined for the SL CSI-RS cannot conflict with a position in the frequency domain of a PT-RS. Figure 15 is an example diagram of a time-frequency position of a CSI-RS SL.In Figure 15, the number of SL CSI-RS gates is 2, sl-CSI-RS-FirstSymbol is 8, and sl-CSI-RS-FreqAllocation is [ b5, b4, b3, b 2, b1, b0] = [0,0,0,1,0,0]. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, p. 35 / 215 29 / 78 UNLICENSED SPECTRUM COMMUNICATION

[0085] Unlicensed spectrum is spectrum classified by a country and region that can be used for radio device communication. The spectrum is generally considered shared spectrum. That is, a communication device can use the spectrum as long as a regulatory requirement defined for the spectrum by a country or region is met, without requesting a dedicated spectrum grant from a dedicated spectrum management authority of the country or region. Unlicensed spectrum may also be referred to as shared spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, unlicensed frequency band, or unlicensed frequency band.

[0086] In an LTE system, unlicensed spectrum is used as a supplementary band to the spectrum licensed for cellular networks. An NR system can achieve continuous coverage, high spectral efficiency, high peak rates, and high reliability for cellular networks. The NR system can also use unlicensed spectrum to provide a service to a user as part of a 5G cellular network technology. In the 3GPP R16 standard, an NR system operating on unlicensed spectrum is discussed, referred to as an NR-unlicensed spectrum (NR-U) system.

[0087] The NR-U system supports two network modes: licensed spectrum auxiliary access and unlicensed spectrum independent access. In licensed spectrum auxiliary access, the licensed spectrum must be used for network access and the unlicensed spectrum is used as a secondary carrier. In unlicensed spectrum independent access, the unlicensed spectrum can be used for networks. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, p. 36 / 215 30 / 78 independent, and the terminal device can directly access a network using the unlicensed spectrum. An unlicensed spectrum band used by the NR-U system introduced in 3GPP R16 is concentrated in the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands. For example, in the United States, the unlicensed spectrum ranges from 5925 MHz to 7125 MHz; and in Europe, the unlicensed spectrum ranges from 5925 MHz to 6425 MHz. In the R16 standard, band 46 (5150 MHz to 5925 MHz) is newly defined for use as unlicensed spectrum.

[0088] The use of unlicensed spectrum must meet a regulatory requirement defined for the spectrum by a country or region; for example, a communication device may implement channel access in the unlicensed spectrum through channel monitoring, so that the unlicensed spectrum is used to avoid conflict with another communication device or another communication system (e.g., a Wi-Fi system). In one implementation, a communication device may use the unlicensed spectrum following a listen-before-talk (LBT) rule. Therefore, for NR-U, NR technology needs to be correspondingly enhanced to accommodate the regulatory requirements established for an unlicensed frequency band, while efficiently providing services using the unlicensed spectrum.In the 3GPP R16 standard, NR-U technology is standardized in the following aspects: channel monitoring process; an initial access process; control channel design; HARQ and scheduling; authorization transmission without scheduling, and so on. LBT Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 37 / 215 31 / 78

[0089] A principle of LBT may include that: a communication device must perform LBT first before transmitting a signal on a channel in the unlicensed spectrum. If the LBT is successful, a channel listening result is that the channel is idle. Only when a channel is idle can the communication device transmit a signal using the channel. If the result of the communication device's channel monitoring on the channel is that the channel is busy or the LBT fails, the communication device cannot transmit a signal using the channel. Furthermore, to ensure fairness in the use of a shared spectrum resource, if the communication device successfully performs LBT on unlicensed spectrum, the duration that the communication device can use the channel for communication transmission cannot exceed a specified duration.In this mechanism, the maximum available duration for communication after a successful LBT (Long-Term Transfer) is restricted, so that different communication devices can access the shared channel and different communication systems can coexist amicably in the shared spectrum.

[0090] Signal transmission in the unlicensed spectrum involves concepts related to channel occupancy, such as channel occupancy time (COT), maximum channel occupancy time (MCOT), COT of a network device (such as a base station), and COT of a terminal device.

[0091] MCOT may mean a maximum time during which a communication device is permitted to transmit signals using a channel in an unlicensed spectrum if the LBT is successful. It should be understood that the Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 38 / 215 32 / 78 MCOT refers to the time period occupied by signal transmission. If there are different channel access priority classes for the communication device, the communication device may correspond to different MCOTs. A maximum MCOT value can be defined as, for example, 10 ms.

[0092] Figure 16 is an example diagram of a channel occupancy time obtained by a communication device after successful LBT on an unlicensed spectrum channel and use of resources within the channel occupancy time for signal transmission.

[0093] Although channel listening is not specified in a global regulation, channel listening can provide benefits such as avoiding communication and transmission interference between communication systems operating in shared spectrum and allowing for the friendly coexistence of communication systems. Therefore, in a design process for an NR system operating in unlicensed spectrum, channel listening is a feature that should be supported by communication devices in the system. CHANNEL ACCESS MODE FOR UNLICENSED SPECTRUM

[0094] A channel access mode for accessing a channel via LBT is introduced in some communication systems (such as an NR-U system).

[0095] From the point of view of network deployment for a system, the channel access mode via LBT includes two mechanisms: one is LBT for load-based equipment (LBE), also referred to as dynamic channel listening or dynamic channel occupation; and the other is LBT for frame-based equipment (FBE), also referred to as channel listening. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 39 / 215 33 / 78 semi-persistent or semi-persistent channel occupation. A principle of dynamic channel listening (LBT) is that a communication device performs LBT on a carrier in an unlicensed spectrum after a service arrives and initiates signal transmission on the carrier after the LBT is successful.

[0096] A dynamic channel listening LBT mode may include a type 1 channel access mode (Type1) and a type 2 channel access mode (Type2).

[0097] The following uses a network device as an example to describe in detail the type 1 channel access mode and the type 2 channel access mode. It can be understood that a process in which a terminal device or other communication device performs channel monitoring using type 1 channel access mode or type 2 channel access mode is similar to the following process.

[0098] Type 1 channel access mode may also be called multi-slot channel sensing with random backoff based on contention window size adjustment. In Type 1 channel access mode, a corresponding channel access priority class (Channel Access Priority Class, CAPC) p can be selected based on the priority of a service to be transmitted. A communication device can initiate channel occupancy with duration Tmcot based on a channel access priority class p. If a network device uses Type 1 channel access mode, the network device can transmit its own data during a channel occupancy time and can also share the COT with a terminal device. So-called COT sharing with a terminal device means allowing the terminal device to transmit data. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 40 / 215 34 / 78 during a time period corresponding to the COT (i.e., a COT obtained by the network device through channel access). Similarly, if the terminal device uses channel access mode type 1, the terminal device can transmit its own data during a channel occupation time and can also share the COT with the network device.

[0099] Table 3 shows the channel access priority classes and the corresponding parameters used when the terminal device is running channel access mode type 1. TABLE 3 Channel access priority class (p) mp CWmin,p CWmax,p Tmcot,p Allowed CWp values ​​1 1 3 7 2 ms {3, 7} 2 1 7 15 3 ms {7, 15} 3 3 15 63 8 or 10 ms {15, 31, 63} 4 7 15 1023 8 or 10 ms {15, 31, 63, 127, 255, 511, 1023}

[00100] A standard channel access mode on the network device side is channel access mode type 1. A channel access parameter corresponding to channel access priority class p is shown in Table 3. In Table 3, mp can denote a number of backoff slots corresponding to a channel access priority class p, CWp can denote the size of a contention window (contention window, CW) corresponding to a priority class of Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, p. 41 / 215 35 / 78 p-channel access, CWmin, p may denote the minimum value of a CWp value corresponding to a p-channel access priority class, CWmax, p may denote the maximum value of a CWp value corresponding to a p-channel access priority class, or Tmcot, p may denote the maximum length of channel occupation time corresponding to a p-channel access priority class.

[00101] Type 2 (Type2) channel access mode is also known as fixed-length channel monitoring slot-based channel access mode. Type 2 channel access mode includes Type 2A (Type2A) channel access mode, Type 2B (Type2B) channel access mode, and Type 2C (Type2C) channel access mode. In the case of a resource in a COT being shared with another communication device, the other communication device can use Type 2 channel access mode.

[00102] In type 2A channel access mode, the communication device can perform 25 ps single-slot channel detection. In other words, the communication device can initiate channel detection before data transmission at 25 ps. 25 ps channel detection may include 16 ps channel detection and 9 ps channel detection. If both detection results indicate that a channel is idle, the channel can be considered idle and channel access can be performed.

[00103] In Type 2B channel access mode, the communication device can perform 16-second single-slot channel detection. In a channel detection process, if the communication device detects that a channel has been idle for more than 4 seconds in the last 9 seconds, it can be considered idle. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, p. 42 / 215 36 / 78 that the channel is idle.

[00104] In Type 2C channel access mode, the communication device can transmit data directly through a channel without channel detection. In Type 2C channel access mode, a time difference between a current transmission and a previous transmission is less than or equal to 16 μ8. In other words, if the time difference between two transmissions is less than or equal to 16 μ8, the two transmissions can be considered as the same transmission and channel detection is not necessary. It should be noted that in Type 2C channel access mode, the transmission duration of the communication device is limited and generally cannot exceed 584 μ8.

[00105] It should be noted that, in a special case, when the network device starts occupying the channel to transmit a synchronizing signal / PBCH block (SS / PBCH block) in a discovery reference signal (DRS) window and the point-to-point broadcast data transmission from the terminal device is not included in the DRS window, if the length of the DRS window does not exceed 1 ms and the duty cycle for transmission in the DRS window does not exceed 1 / 20, the network device can start occupying the channel in type 2A channel access mode. INDICATION OF A CHANNEL ACCESS PARAMETER

[00106] In some communication systems (e.g., an NR-U system) based on unlicensed spectrum, when a terminal device is programmed to perform the transmission of a PUSCH or a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), the network device may indicate a channel access mode. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 43 / 215 37 / 78 corresponding to PUSCH or PUCCH using downlink control information (DCI) which carries an uplink grant (UL grant) or downlink grant (DL grant). Furthermore, since some channel access modes need to meet a gap requirement of 16 μs or 25 μβ, the terminal device can guarantee a gap size between two transmission moments through cyclic prefix extension (CPE) transmission. Correspondingly, the network device can specify a CPE length from the first symbol of the terminal device's uplink transmission.

[00107] In a specific indication, the network device can explicitly indicate, to the terminal device in a jointly encoded manner, a channel access parameter, such as a CPE length, a channel access mode, or a channel access priority class. The following describes the features of the ways to indicate a channel access parameter introduced in different DCI formats. 1. SCHEDULING AN UPWARD WITHDRAWAL LINK GRANT FOR PUSCH TRANSMISSION (DCI 0 0 FORMAT)

[00108] A set of joint indications of a channel access mode and a CPE length is predefined in a standard, and the set is shown in Table 4. The uplink withdrawal grant includes a 2-bit LBT indication information. The 2-bit LBT indication information is used to indicate, from the set shown in Table 4, a channel access mode and a CPE length that are encoded together. The channel access mode and the CPE length are used for the transmission of a PUSCH. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 44 / 215 38 / 78 If the channel access mode is type 1 channel access, the terminal device can select a CAPC according to a service priority. TABLE 4 LBT indication, channel access mode, CPE length 0, Channel access Type 2C C2 * Symbol length -16 μs -TA 1, Channel access Type 2A C3 * Symbol length -25 μs -TA 2, Channel access Type 2A C1 * Symbol length -25 μs 3, Channel access Type 1 0

[00109] In Table 4, a C1 value is specified in a protocol. When the subcarrier spacing is 15 kHz or 30 kHz, C1 = 1; when the subcarrier spacing is 60 kHz, C1 = 2. The C2 and C3 values ​​are configured using a higher-layer parameter. When the subcarrier spacing is 15 kHz or 30 kHz, the C2 and C3 values ​​range from 1 to 28. When the subcarrier spacing is 60 kHz, the C2 and C3 values ​​range from 2 to 28. 2. SCHEDULING A DOWNWARD LINK GRANT FOR TRANSMISSION OF A PDSCH (DCI 1 0 FORMAT)

[00110] A set of joint indications of a channel access mode and a CPE length is predefined in a standard, and the set is shown in Table 4. The downlink withdrawal grant includes 2-bit LBT indication information, and the LBT indication information of Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 45 / 215 39 / 78 bits are used to indicate, from the set shown in Table 4, a channel access mode and a CPE length that are encoded together. The channel access mode and CPE length are used for the transmission of a PUCCH, and the PUCCH can carry acknowledgment (ACK) or negative acknowledgment (NACK) information corresponding to a PDSCH. If the channel access mode is of type 1, the terminal device can determine that a CAPC for PUCCH transmission is 1. 3. SCHEDULING AN UPWARD LINK GRANT WITHOUT BACKOFF FOR PUSCH TRANSMISSION (DCI 0 1 FORMAT)

[00111] An LBT parameter indication set is configured at an upper layer. The LBT parameter indication set includes at least one type of joint encoding. Joint encoding is used to indicate a channel access mode, a CPE length, and a CAPC. Uplink grant without withdrawal includes LBT indication information. The LBT indication information is used to indicate, from the LBT parameter indication set, a channel access mode, a CPE length, and a CAPC that are jointly encoded. The channel access mode, CPE length, and CAPC are used for PUSCH transmission. If the indicated channel access mode is of type 2, the indicated CAPC is a CAPC used when the network device obtains COT. Furthermore, the LBT indication information includes a maximum of 6 bits. 4. SCHEDULING A DOWNWARD LINK GRANT WITHOUT BACKOFF FOR TRANSMISSION OF A PDSCH (DCI 1 1 FORMAT)

[00112] A set of LBT parameter indications Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 46 / 215 40 / 78 is configured in a higher layer. The LBT parameter indication set includes at least one type of joint encoding. Joint encoding is used to indicate a channel access mode and a CPE length. The downlink lease without withdrawal includes LBT indication information. The LBT indication information is used to indicate, from the LBT parameter indication set, a channel access mode and a CPE length that are jointly encoded. The channel access mode and the CPE length are used for the transmission of a PUCCH. The PUCCH can carry ACK or NACK information corresponding to a PDSCH. If the channel access mode is of type 1, the terminal device can determine that a CAPC for PUCCH transmission is 1. Furthermore, the LBT indication information includes a maximum of 4 bits.

[00113] In addition to the explicit indication above, the network device may implicitly indicate a channel access mode on a COT. For example, when the terminal device receives an uplink lease or a downlink lease transmitted by a base station and indicates that a channel access type corresponding to PUSCH or PUCCH is channel type 1 access, if the terminal device can determine that PUSCH or PUCCH belongs to a network device COT, for example, the terminal device receives a DCI 2_0 format transmitted by the network device and determines, based on the DCI 2_0 format, that PUSCH or PUCCH belongs to the network device's COT, then the terminal device can update the channel access type corresponding to PUSCH or PUCCH to channel type 2A access without using channel type 1 access. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 47 / 215 41 / 78

[00114] In license-free spectrum-based side-link communication, after listen-before-talk (LBT) is successful, side-link communication may still not be implemented. For example, in some side-link communications, a resource used for side-link communication starts from a slot boundary, i.e., a side-link signal or a side-link channel can only be transmitted from a slot boundary. Therefore, in a period of time from when LBT is successful until a slot boundary is reached, another communication device in an intersystem may anticipate a channel, causing the terminal device to be unable to perform side-link communication when the slot boundary is reached.

[00115] Figure 17 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to one embodiment of this request, which is provided to solve the problem mentioned earlier. The method shown in Figure 17 can be implemented by a terminal device.

[00116] The method shown in Figure 17 may include step S1710. In step S1710, a terminal device may transmit a first CPE before performing communication using a first side link feature.

[00117] The first side link resource can be a resource used by the terminal device to perform side link communication. In other words, the terminal device can transmit a side link signal and / or a side link channel based on the first side link resource. Based on the first side link resource, the terminal device can transmit side link data. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 48 / 215 42 / 78 lateral to another terminal device. That is, the terminal device can be a transmitter for lateral link communication. Therefore, the first lateral link resource can also be referred to as a first lateral link transmission resource. In some embodiments, a resource for lateral link communication needs to start from a slot boundary. Therefore, the first lateral link resource can start from an initial instant of a slot.

[00118] One way to determine the first side-link resource is not limited in this request. For example, the first side-link resource can be scheduled in a first mode. In other words, the first side-link resource can be allocated by a network device. Alternatively, the first side-link resource can be determined in a second mode. In other words, the first side-link resource can be independently selected by the terminal device from a resource pool.

[00119] Furthermore, it should be noted that the first side link resource may belong to the license-free spectrum. Therefore, before performing side link communication using the first side link resource, the terminal device may perform LBT. How the terminal device performs LBT is not limited in this application. For example, the terminal device may perform LBT in a type 1 or type 2 channel access mode.

[00120] In some embodiments, the first side link feature may include one or more feature elements. The feature element may correspond to a link slot. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 49 / 215 43 / 78 lateral in the time domain. The resource element may correspond to one or more RBs in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, the resource element may also be referred to as a lateral link transmission resource. A CPE before one or more resource elements may be the first CPE, i.e., the first information may be used to indicate a CPE length before one or more resource elements. Alternatively, there may be a CPE before each of the elements of one or more resources, and each CPE may be the first CPE, i.e., the first information may be used to indicate a CPE length before any of the elements of one or more resources.

[00121] The first CPE can be transmitted before the first side link resource. In other words, before the first side link resource arrives, the terminal device can continuously transmit the first CPE. An interval between a final instant of the first CPE transmission and a starting instant of the first side link resource can be short or 0. The interval can meet a condition that a corresponding channel is difficult to preempte by another communication device within the interval. As described above, the first side link resource can start from a slot's initial instant. Therefore, the first CPE can be transmitted before a slot to transmit side link information and / or a side link channel. Furthermore, the first CPE can be transmitted after the LBT is successful.In other words, the first CPE can be used to continue occupying a channel in which the LBT performed by the terminal device is successful, so as to prevent another device from... Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 50 / 215 44 / 78 communication preemptes the channel.

[00122] Before side-link communication is performed using the first side-link communication resource, the terminal device may occupy a channel using the first CPE until the terminal device can perform side-link communication using the first side-link resource. It can be understood that the use of the first CPE may prevent another communication device from appropriating a channel on which LBT is successful, so that the terminal device can perform side-link communication normally using the first side-link resource.

[00123] In some embodiments, in a first CPE transmission process, the terminal device may still perform LBT, to confirm that the channel can be used for side-link communication. For example, before transmitting the first CPE, the terminal device may perform long LBT and, in a first CPE transmission process, the terminal device may perform short LBT.

[00124] This application further proposes a technical solution for determining the length of the first CPE. For ease of description, the length of the first CPE is referred to herein as a first length.

[00125] In some embodiments, the first length can be determined based on the first information indicated by the network device. As shown in Figure 17, the method shown in Figure 17 can be implemented by the network device. The method shown in Figure 17 may additionally include step S1702.

[00126] Step S1702: The network device can Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 51 / 215 45 / 78 transmit the first information. Similarly, the terminal device can receive the first information.

[00127] The initial information may be used to indicate the first length. One way in which the initial information indicates the first length is not limited in this application. For example, the initial information may be used to directly indicate the first length or indirectly indicate the first length.

[00128] In one implementation, the first side link resource may belong to a first resource pool, and the first resource pool may support one or more configured lengths. The configured length may be used to indicate a CPE length that can be supported by the first resource pool. The first information may be used to indicate that the first length is one of one or more configured lengths. In one implementation, the first information may be used to indicate a first index, and the first index may correspond to one of the configured lengths. In other words, the first information may be used to indicate that the first length is a length corresponding to the first index. In another implementation, the first information may include the first length. The terminal device may obtain the first length by parsing the first information.

[00129] In some modes, if a side link resource is scheduled in the first mode, the first length can be determined using the first information provided by the network device. It can be understood that when the network device allocates resources in Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 52 / 215 46 / 78 first mode, the network device can allocate and schedule side link resources in a unified manner. In this case, the network device can flexibly specify different CPE lengths to avoid mutual blocking between different terminal devices. A case of mutual blocking between terminals will be described later with reference to Figure 19, and the details are not described again in this document.

[00130] It should be noted that one or more configured lengths supported by the first resource pool can be configured by the network device. For example, the network device can configure one or more configured lengths for the first resource pool using upper-layer signaling. For example, the upper-layer signaling could be RRC signaling. For example, for the configuration of a first side-link resource pool, a set of configuration parameters might include an upper-layer parameter, where the upper-layer parameter includes a CPE length value (i.e., a configured length) that can be supported by the first configured resource pool. For example, the upper-layer parameter could be represented by CP-extension-SL, and CP-extension-SL could be {16, 25, 34, 43, 52, 61}. A value of CP-extension-SL is in a unit of microseconds. In other words, the first length can be one of {16, 25, 34, 43, 52, 61}.

[00131] The initial information can be transmitted in information or in a message indicating the first lateral link feature. In other words, the initial information can be carried in information. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 53 / 215 47 / 78 or a message used for resource allocation or scheduling. The information or messages used for resource allocation or scheduling may be, for example, DCI / a PDCCH or upper-layer signaling.

[00132] In some modes, the initial information may be carried in first ICDs or in a PDCCH corresponding to the first ICDs.

[00133] In one implementation, the first DCIs can be used to dynamically schedule the first side-link resource. In other words, in the case of side-link resource allocation mode 1, if the network device allocates the first side-link resource in a dynamically scheduled manner, the first DCIs can carry information indicating the first length.

[00134] In another implementation, the first DCIs can be used to activate a first side-link resource allocated using a configured lease (configured lease, CG) type 2. In other words, in the case of side-link resource allocation mode 1, if the network device allocates the first side-link resource in the form of resource allocation of configured lease type 2, the first DCIs used to activate configured lease type 2 can carry information indicating the first length.

[00135] Different DCIs may indicate the same length or different lengths of CPEs. For example, the second DCI may include second information, and the second information may be used to indicate a second length. The second length may be the length of a CPE transmitted before the communication performed using a Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 54 / 215 48 / 78 second side link feature. The first length can be the same as or different from the second length. The following uses a scenario shown in Figure 18 as an example for description.

[00136] In Figure 18, the first DCIs are represented by DCI 1, and the second DCIs are represented by DCI 2. A first side link feature indicated by the first DCI and used for side link transmission includes slot 1. The first DCIs further indicate a first length of a first CPE transmitted before slot 1. As shown in Figure 18, the first length is a length corresponding to a CPE 2, which is shown in bold. Therefore, a terminal device determines a starting point 1 for side link transmission; that is, the terminal device can start transmitting the first CPE at starting point 1. A second side link feature indicated by the second DCIs and used for side link transmission includes slot n, where n can be an integer greater than 1. The second DCIs further indicate a length of a second CPE used before slot n.The length of the second CPE can be the same as or different from the length of the first CPE. Figure 18 is an example where the length of the second CPE is different from the length of the first CPE. As shown in Figure 18, the length of the second CPE is a length corresponding to a CPE 3, which is shown in bold. Therefore, the terminal device can determine a starting point 2 for the side link transmission; that is, the terminal device can start transmitting the second CPE at starting point 2.

[00137] It should be noted that the first DCI and the Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 55 / 215 49 / 78 second ICDs may indicate the same TB, or they may indicate different TBs. In the case of indicating the same TB, a CPE length indicated by the first ICD may be equal to or different from a CPE length indicated by the second ICD; that is, the first length may be equal to or different from the second length. In the case of indicating different TBs, a CPE length indicated by the first ICD may be equal to or different from a CPE length indicated by the second ICD; that is, the first length may be equal to or different from the second length. The following uses three cases as examples for the description.

[00138] Case 1: K resource elements indicated by the first DCI or a PDCCH corresponding to the first DCI (hereinafter referred to as PDCCH / DCI No. 1) are used to transmit a first TB (hereinafter referred to as TB No. 1), where K can be an integer greater than or equal to 1. PDCCH / DCI No. 1 can be used to indicate a CPE length before each of the K resource elements. In Case 1, the CPE lengths before the K side link resources indicated by PDCCH / DCI No. 1 can be the same.

[00139] Case 2: K resource elements indicated by PDCCH / DCI No. 1 are used to transmit TB No. 1, and the K' resource elements indicated by the second DCI or a PDCCH corresponding to the second DCI (hereinafter referred to as PDCCH / DCI No. 2) are used to transmit TB No. 1, where K' can be an integer other than K, and a value of K' can be greater than or equal to 1. A first length indicated by PDCCH / DCI No. 1 can be equal to or different from a second length indicated by PDCCH / DCI No. 2. A scenario corresponding to Case 2 might include, for example, PDCCH / DCI Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 56 / 215 50 / 78 No. 1 indicates a resource for new transmissions and retransmissions of TB No. 1; and in the event that both the new transmission and the retransmission of PDCCH / DCI No. 1 fail, PDCCH / DCI No. 2 may indicate a resource for subsequent retransmission of TB No. 1.

[00140] Case 3: The K resource elements indicated by PDCCH / DCI No. 1 are used to transmit TB No. 1, and the K' resource elements indicated by PDCCH / DCI No. 2 are used to transmit a second TB (hereinafter referred to as TB No. 2 for short), and a first length indicated by PDCCH / DCI No. 1 may be the same as or different from a second length indicated by DCI No. 2. In other words, the CPE lengths of different TBs indicated by the use of DCI may be the same or may be different from each other.

[00141] As described above, the first information can be carried in information or a message indicating the first side link resource. In some embodiments, the first information can be configured or indicated by a configured grant. For example, the first information can be carried in the upper layer signaling, and the upper layer signaling can be used to configure a configured side link grant. In other words, the upper layer signaling that configures a configured side link grant can include the first information.

[00142] Different endpoint devices can use the same time-domain resource in the same resource pool and use the same time-domain resource in an FDM manner. If different endpoint devices have different Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 57 / 215 51 / 78 CPE lengths, CPE transmission from one or some terminal devices may be blocked. Thus, data cannot be transmitted using the time domain resource allowed to be used. The following describes specifically with reference to a scenario shown in Figure 19. As shown in Figure 19, both a terminal device 1 (represented by the use of a UE 1 in Figure 19) and a terminal device 2 (represented by the use of a UE 2 in Figure 19) can perform side-link communication using slot 1 in a resource pool, and the terminal device in the resource pool can transmit a CPE with any length from CPE 1 to CPE 4. If terminal device 1 uses CPE 1 and terminal device 2 uses CPE 2, terminal device 1 can start transmitting CPE 1 from a starting point 1 after completing the LBT and successfully accessing a channel.Since terminal device 2 uses CPE 2, terminal device 2 can transmit CPE 2 at starting point 2. Therefore, if terminal device 2 is still performing LBT between starting point 1 and starting point 2, terminal device 2 will be blocked by CPE 1 transmitted by terminal device 1, causing a channel listening fault for terminal device 2 and a data transmission failure. However, in reality, terminal device 1 does not actually perform side-link communication between starting point 1 and starting point 2, and terminal device 2 can transmit data in slot 1 in FDM mode.

[00143] For the previous problem, this request proposes that, for terminal devices in the same resource pool, the lengths of CPEs transmitted by the terminal devices be the same. For example, the first Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 58 / 215 52 / 78 side link resources may belong to a second resource pool. The second resource pool may support a first configured length. The first length may be determined based on the first configured length. All terminal devices communicating using a resource in the second resource pool may determine a CPE length based on the first configured length. In some embodiments, the second resource pool may only support the first configured length, i.e., the second resource pool may only support one CPE length, so the CPE lengths determined by the terminal devices using the second resource pool may be the same. If the second resource pool only supports the first configured length, the first configured length may be used as a default CPE length.

[00144] In some embodiments, the first length may be equal to the first configured length. In other words, all CPE lengths transmitted by terminal devices for communication using resources in the second resource pool may be the first configured length.

[00145] According to a technical solution provided in this application, where the lengths of CPEs transmitted by terminal devices in the same resource pool are the same, the starting points for CPE transmission by different terminal devices can be the same. As shown in Figure 20, in the resource pool, a CPE length corresponding to a CPE 2 is used as the first configured length. All devices Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 59 / 215 53 / 78 terminals using the second resource pool can transmit a CPE using a length corresponding to CPE 2 before transmitting a side-link signal or channel. A terminal device 1 and a terminal device 2 can transmit CPEs with the same length in the same slot (e.g., slot 0), and the starting points for transmitting the CPEs are the same. Therefore, both terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 can successfully perform LBT before transmitting the CPE, then transmit the CPE at a starting point 1 and begin performing side-link communication in the same slot (e.g., slot 1). In other words, in this technical solution, a problem where a terminal device cannot perform side-link communication due to blocking between terminal devices can be avoided.

[00146] It should be noted that, in the case of FDM existing between terminal devices, the technical solution provided in this application can be used, and in the case of time division multiplexing (TDM) existing between terminal devices, the technical solution provided in this application can also be used. In other words, in the same slot of the same resource pool, when FDM exists in different terminal devices, CPEs with the same length can be transmitted. In different slots of the same resource pool, when TDM exists between different terminal devices, different terminal devices can transmit a CPE of the same length. Still using Figure 20 as an example, the length of a CPE transmitted by terminal device 3 (represented by UE 3 in Figure 20) in slot n-1 is the same as the length of a CPE transmitted by terminal device 1 in slot 0. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 60 / 215 54 / 78

[00147] Note that the first configured length of the second resource pool can be configured by a network device, or it can be pre-configured. For example, the network device can indicate the first configured length using the first information, so as to indicate the first length. In other words, the network device can indirectly indicate the first length by indicating the first configured length.

[00148] In an implementation, the network device can configure or indicate the first configured length using upper-layer signaling. For example, when the network device configures the second resource pool, a set of configuration parameters might include an upper-layer parameter, and the upper-layer parameter might include a CPE length value that can be supported by the configured resource pool. The upper-layer parameter might be represented by CP-extension-SL, and CP-extension-SL might satisfy CP-extension-SL = {34}. The upper-layer parameter might be in a unit of microseconds.

[00149] In some modes, when the network device reconfigures the second resource pool, the first configured length may be changed or the first configured length may remain unchanged.

[00150] This application further provides a technical solution for determining, based on a relationship between different resource pools, a CPE length supported by a corresponding resource pool. The relationship between different resource pools may include, for example, the Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 61 / 215 55 / 78 following cases: being formed by different sets of resource blocks (resource block set, RB set), and some or all of the resources belong to the same RB set. This is described below with reference to Figure 21.

[00151] In some embodiments, different resource pools (for example, a second resource pool and a third resource pool) may be formed from different sets of RB. In other words, the RB sets included in the second resource pool are entirely different from the RB sets included in the third resource pool. In other words, no RB set included in the second resource pool overlaps with an RB set included in the third resource pool. Part (a) of Figure 21 is an example diagram in which a second resource pool and a third resource pool are formed from different sets of RB. As shown in part (a) of Figure 21, the second resource pool (shown in Figure 21 as resource pool 2) includes an RB set 0 and an RB set 1. The third resource pool (shown in Figure 21 as resource pool 3) includes an RB set 2 and an RB set 3.

[00152] In some embodiments, some or all of the different resource pools (for example, the second resource pool and the third resource pool) may belong to the same RB set. For example, the RB set included in the second resource pool is completely the same as the RB set included in the third resource pool. Alternatively, some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources in the third resource pool belong to one or more identical RB sets. For example, some of the RBs in an RB set belong to Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 62 / 215 56 / 78 belong to the second resource pool, and another portion of the RBs in the RB set belong to the third resource pool.

[00153] It should be noted that it is generally rare for an RB or part of RBs to belong to both the second resource pool and the third resource pool.

[00154] It should be noted that resources in the same RB set in the second resource pool or in the third resource pool can be continuous or discontinuous in the frequency domain. Frequency domain resource discontinuity can be implemented in the form of frequency domain resource allocation of the interlaced resource block (IRB).

[00155] Part (b) and part (c) of Figure 21 are described using an example where some of the resources in a second resource pool and some of the resources in a third resource pool belong to the same RB set. As shown in part (b) of Figure 21, the second resource pool includes all resources in RB set 0 and some of the contiguous resources in RB set 1; and the third resource pool includes some of the contiguous resources in RB set 1, all resources in RB set 2, and all resources in RB set 3. As shown in part (c) of Figure 21, the second resource pool includes all resources in RB set 0 and some of the discontinuous resources in RB set 1; and the third resource pool includes some of the discontinuous resources in RB set 1, all resources in RB set 2, and all resources in RB set 3.

[00156] It can be learned that the technical solution provided in this application can support a case where different Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 63 / 215 57 / 78 resources in an RB set belong to different resource pools, thus improving resource utilization efficiency.

[00157] It should be noted that the second resource pool and the third resource pool can share resources in the same RB set in an FDM manner. In other words, some or all of the resources in the second resource pool can be FDM multiplexed with some or all of the resources in the third resource pool in the same RB set.

[00158] If the second resource pool and the third resource pool are formed by different sets of RB, a CPE length supported by the second resource pool may be the same as or different from a CPE length supported by the third resource pool. For example, the third resource pool may support the second configured length. A CPE length transmitted before communication using a side link resource in the third resource pool may be a third length, and the third length is determined based on the second configured length. The second configured length may be the same as or different from the first configured length. For the scenario shown in part (a) of Figure 21, a CPE length supported by the second set of resources may be the same as or different from a CPE length supported by the third set of resources.

[00159] If some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources in the third resource pool belong to the same set of RBs, a CPE length supported by the second resource pool Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 64 / 215 58 / 78 can be the same as a CPE length supported by the third resource pool. In other words, the second configured length can be the same as the first configured length. For the scenario shown in part (b) or part (c) in Figure 21, the length of a CPE supported by the second resource pool can be equal to the length of a CPE supported by the third resource pool. It can be understood that when one terminal device uses a resource in the same RB pool using the second resource pool, another terminal device can use a resource in the same RB pool using the third resource pool. If the lengths of the CPEs transmitted by the two terminal devices are different from each other, one of the terminal devices may be blocked as mentioned above, thus causing an anomaly in the side link communication. Therefore, according to this request, blocking between terminal devices can be avoided.

[00160] It should be noted that, regardless of whether some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources in the third resource pool belong to the same set of RBs, the FDM can exist in either the second resource pool or the third resource pool. For example, in the scenarios shown in part (a), part (b), and part (c) in Figure 21, the FDM exists in both the second resource pool and the third resource pool.

[00161] It should be noted that the second resource pool can be used for resource allocation in either a first mode or a second mode. The third resource pool can be used for resource allocation in either a first mode or a second mode. In other words, in the second pool Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 65 / 215 In the 59 / 78 resource pool or the third resource pool, a terminal device can select a resource on its own, or a network device can select a resource for the terminal device. For example, the second resource pool can be used for resource allocation in the first mode, and the third resource pool can be used for resource allocation in the second mode. Alternatively, both the second and third resource pools can be used for resource allocation in the second mode.

[00162] Note that the resource pool can be a link-side resource pool configured by the network device or it can be a pre-configured link-side resource pool. For example, the second resource group can be configured by the network device or it can be pre-configured.

[00163] The first length or the first configured length can be determined based on one or more of the following: whether the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates a COT, whether the terminal device is a terminal device that shares a COT, or whether it shares a subcarrier spacing. If a side-link COT exists, the terminal device that initiates the COT can obtain the COT through a channel access procedure and share the COT with the terminal device that shares the COT, so that the terminal device that shares the COT can transmit data on the COT.

[00164] In an implementation, if the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates a COT, in the case of a subcarrier spacing of less than 30 kHz, the first length or the first configured length Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 66 / 215 60 / 78 can meet the following: be greater than 0 and less than or equal to one OFDM symbol length. If the terminal device is a terminal device initiating a COT, in the case of a subcarrier spacing greater than or equal to 30 kHz, the first length or the first configured length can meet the following: be greater than 0 and less than or equal to two OFDM symbol lengths. The subcarrier spacing can include, for example, at least one of 15 kHz, 30 kHz, or 60 kHz. For example, when the terminal device is a terminal device initiating a COT, in the case of a subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz, a range of values ​​of the first configured length of the second resource pool (i.e., a standard CPE length of the second resource pool) can be greater than 0 and less than one OFDM symbol.Alternatively, when the terminal device is a terminal device initiating a COT, in the case of subcarrier spacing being 30 kHz or 60 kHz, a range of values ​​for the first configured length of the second resource pool (i.e., a standard CPE length of the second resource pool) may be greater than 0 and less than two OFDM symbols.

[00165] In another implementation, if the terminal device is a terminal device that shares a COT, the first length or the first configured length will meet the following: being greater than 0 and less than or equal to an OFDM symbol length. For example, when the terminal device is a terminal device that shares a COT, in the case of the subcarrier spacing being 15 kHz, 30 kHz, or 60 kHz, a range of values ​​of the first configured length of the second resource pool (i.e., a Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 67 / 215 61 / 78 (standard CPE length of the second resource pool) can be greater than 0 and less than an OFDM symbol.

[00166] In the event of blocking between terminal devices, the present application proposes that the lengths of the CPEs transmitted by the terminal devices may differ from each other. The length of a CPE transmitted by a terminal device may be determined based on a first condition. In other words, the first length may be determined based on the first condition.

[00167] The first condition may be related to one or more of the following information: a priority of a first CPE, information about the start of a COT by the terminal device, or information about the occupation of a COT by the terminal device.

[00168] The priority of the first CPE can be represented by information that can reflect a priority level of the first CPE. For example, the priority of the first CPR may include a priority indicated by a physical layer (layer 1), or a CAPC corresponding to the first CPE.

[00169] Information about the initiation of a COT by the terminal device may include whether the terminal device initiates the COT. For example, when the terminal device initiates the COT, a corresponding CPE length can be determined.

[00170] Information about the occupancy of a COT by the terminal device may include whether the terminal device occupies the COT. For example, when the terminal device occupies a COT initiated by another device. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 68 / 215 62 / 78 communication, a corresponding CPE length can be determined.

[00171] According to the first condition, a corresponding CPE length can be defined so that some terminal devices may not be blocked in a case where blocking is difficult to avoid. For example, the length of a CPE transmitted by a terminal device with a higher priority can be determined based on a first condition so as to prevent the terminal device with a higher priority from being blocked.

[00172] In one embodiment, a side-link resource pool, for example, the second resource pool, can support N configured lengths, that is, it can support N CPE lengths, where N can be greater than 1. For all terminal devices using the second resource pool, the CPE lengths that are transmitted before a slot to transmit information or side-link channel can be different from each other. The lengths of the transmitted CPEs can be selected from the N configured lengths. A selection condition can satisfy the first previous condition. For example, the terminal device can correspondingly select a configured length a as the CPE length according to the priority indicated by layer 1. Alternatively, the terminal device can correspondingly select a configured length b as the CPE length according to the CAPC.Alternatively, the terminal device can select a corresponding CPE c length when initiating a COT. Alternatively, when sharing a resource. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, p. 69 / 215 63 / 78 of side link in a COT, the terminal device can correspondingly select a CPE length d. Here, a, b, ced can be one of the N configured lengths, and a, b, ced can be the same or different from each other.

[00173] It should be noted that the N configured lengths can be configured using upper-layer signaling, i.e., upper-layer signaling can be used to configure a configured length supported by a resource pool. For example, for the configuration of a side-link resource pool, a set of configuration parameters can include an upper-layer parameter, where the upper-layer parameter includes CPE length values ​​(i.e., the N configured lengths) that can be supported by the configured resource pool. For example, the upper-layer parameter can be represented by CP-extension-SL. The CP-extension-SL can satisfy CP-extension-SL = {16, 25, 34, 43, 52, 61}, where the values ​​can be in a unit of microseconds.

[00174] It should be noted that the previous methods can be implemented separately or they can be implemented in combination.

[00175] The above describes the method embodiments provided in this application. The apparatus embodiments provided in this application are described below with reference to Figures 22 to 25. It should be understood that the descriptions of the method embodiments correspond to the descriptions of the apparatus embodiments and, therefore, for parts not described in detail, reference may be made to the previous method embodiments. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, p. 70 / 215 64 / 78

[00176] Figure 22 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device 2200, according to one embodiment of this application. The terminal device 2200 may include a first transmission unit 2210.

[00177] The first transmission unit 2210 is configured to transmit a first cyclic prefix extension (CPE) before performing communication using a first side link resource, where a length of the first CPE is a first length.

[00178] In some modes, the first length is determined based on the first information provided by a network device.

[00179] In some modes, the first information is carried in the first DCI of downlink control information, and the first DCI is used to indicate the first side link resource that is dynamically programmed or the first DCI is used to activate the first side link resource allocated by the configured lease type 2.

[00180] In some embodiments, the second DCI includes second information, the second information is used to indicate a second length, the second length is a length of a CPE transmitted before the communication performed using a second side link resource, and the second length is equal to or different from the first length.

[00181] In some embodiments, in the case where the first side link resource and the second side link resource are used to transmit the same TB, the second length is equal to or different from the first. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 71 / 215 65 / 78 length.

[00182] In some modes, the first information is carried in the upper layer signaling and the upper layer signaling is used to set up a configured side link grant.

[00183] In some embodiments, the first side link resource belongs to a first resource pool, the first resource pool supports one or more configured lengths, and the first information is used to indicate that the first length is one of the configured lengths.

[00184] In some modes, one or more configured lengths are configured using the network device's upper layer signaling.

[00185] In some embodiments, the first side link resource belongs to a second resource pool and the second resource pool supports a first configured length; and the first length is determined based on the first configured length.

[00186] In some modes, the first configured length is configured or pre-configured by the network device.

[00187] In some embodiments, a third resource pool supports a second configured length, a length of a CPE transmitted before communication performed using a side link resource in the third resource pool is a third length, and the third length is determined based on the second configured length. In a case where the resources included in the second resource pool and the third resource pool belong to different resource block sets (RB sets), the first Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 72 / 215 The configured length of 66 / 78 is equal to or different from the second configured length.

[00188] In some embodiments, a third resource pool supports a second configured length, a length of a CPE transmitted before communication performed using a side link resource in the third resource pool is a third length, and the third length is determined based on the second configured length. If some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources in the third resource pool belong to the same set of RBs, the first configured length is the same as the second configured length.

[00189] In some embodiments, some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources in the third resource pool share the same set of RB in a frequency division multiplexing (FDM) manner.

[00190] In some embodiments, the second resource pool is used for resource allocation in either a first mode or a second mode, and the third resource pool is used for resource allocation in either a first mode or a second mode.

[00191] In some embodiments, the first length is determined based on a first condition, and the first condition relates to one or more of the following: a priority of the first CPE; information about the start of a COT of channel occupancy time by the terminal device; or

[00192] Information about sharing a COT by the terminal device.

[00193] In some modalities, priority Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 73 / 215 67 / 78 includes a priority indicated by a physical layer of the terminal device or a CAPC channel access priority class of a channel access procedure corresponding to the first CPE.

[00194] In some embodiments, when the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates a COT, in the case of a subcarrier spacing being less than 30 kHz, the first length meets the following: being greater than 0 and less than or equal to one orthogonal frequency division multiplexing OFDM symbol length; when the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates a COT, in the case of a subcarrier spacing being greater than or equal to 30 kHz, the first length meets the following: being greater than 0 and less than or equal to two OFDM symbol lengths.

[00195] In some embodiments, if the terminal device is a terminal device that shares a COT, the first length meets the following: being greater than 0 and less than or equal to an OFDM symbol length.

[00196] In some embodiments, the first side link resource includes one or more resource elements, and the resource element meets the following criteria: it corresponds to a side link slot in the time domain and / or corresponds to one or more resource block RBs in the frequency domain.

[00197] In some modes, the first side link resource belongs to the license-free spectrum.

[00198] Figure 23 is a schematic structural diagram of a 2300 network device, according to one embodiment of this application. The 2300 network device may include a second 2310 transmission unit. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, p. 74 / 215 68 / 78

[00199] The second transmission unit 2310 is configured to transmit the first information to a terminal device. The first information is used to indicate a first length, the first length is used to indicate the length of a first cyclic prefix extension CPE, and the first CPE is a CPE transmitted before communication performed by the terminal device using a first side link feature.

[00200] In some modes, the first information is carried in the first DCI of downlink control information, and the first DCI is used to indicate the first side link resource that is dynamically programmed or the first DCI is used to activate the first side link resource allocated by the configured lease type 2.

[00201] In some embodiments, the second DCI includes second information, the second information is used to indicate a second length, the second length is a length of a CPE transmitted before the communication performed using a second side link resource, and the second length is equal to or different from the first length.

[00202] In some embodiments, in the case where the first side link resource and the second side link resource are used to transmit the same TB, the second length is equal to or different from the first length.

[00203] In some modes, the first information is carried in the upper layer signaling and the upper layer signaling is used to Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 75 / 215 69 / 78 configure a side link configured concession.

[00204] In some embodiments, the first side link resource belongs to a first resource pool, the first resource pool supports one or more configured lengths, and the first information is used to indicate that the first length is one of the configured lengths.

[00205] In some modes, one or more configured lengths are configured using the network device's upper layer signaling.

[00206] In some embodiments, the first side link resource belongs to a second resource pool and the second resource pool supports a first configured length; and the first configured length is configured using the first information, and the first length is determined based on the first configured length.

[00207] In some embodiments, a third resource pool supports a second configured length, a length of a CPE transmitted before communication performed using a side link resource in the third resource pool is a third length, and the third length is determined based on the second configured length. In a case where the resources included in the second resource pool and the third resource pool belong to different resource block sets (RB sets), the first configured length is equal to or different from the second configured length.

[00208] In some modes, a third resource pool supports a second configured length, a CPE length transmitted before communication. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 76 / 215 A 70 / 78 link performed using a side link resource in the third resource pool is a third length, and the third length is determined based on the second configured length. If some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources in the third resource pool belong to the same set of RBs, the first configured length is the same as the second configured length.

[00209] In some embodiments, some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources in the third resource pool share the same set of RB in a frequency division multiplexing (FDM) manner.

[00210] In some embodiments, the second resource pool is used for resource allocation in a first mode or in a second mode, and the third resource pool is used for resource allocation in the first mode or in the second mode.

[00211] In some embodiments, the first length is determined based on a first condition, and the first condition is related to one or more of the following information: a priority of the first CPE; information about the start of a channel occupation time (COT) by the terminal device; or information about the sharing of a COT by the terminal device.

[00212] In some embodiments, priority includes a priority indicated by a physical layer of the terminal device or a CAPC channel access priority class of a channel access procedure corresponding to the first CPE.

[00213] In some embodiments, when the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates a Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 77 / 215 71 / 78 In the case of a subcarrier spacing less than 30 kHz, the first length meets the following condition: it must be greater than 0 and less than or equal to one orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFM) symbol length; when the terminal device is a terminal device initiating a COT, in the case of a subcarrier spacing greater than or equal to 30 kHz, the first length must meet the following condition: it must be greater than 0 and less than or equal to two OFDM symbol lengths.

[00214] In some embodiments, if the terminal device is a terminal device that shares a COT, the first length meets the following: being greater than 0 and less than or equal to an OFDM symbol length.

[00215] In some embodiments, the first side link resource includes one or more resource elements, and the resource element meets the following criteria: it corresponds to a side link slot in the time domain and / or corresponds to one or more resource block RBs in the frequency domain.

[00216] In some modes, the first side link resource belongs to the license-free spectrum.

[00217] In an optional embodiment, the first transmission unit 2210 and the second transmission unit 2310 may be a transceiver 2440, 4. The terminal device 2200 or the network device 2300 may additionally include a processor 2410 and a memory 2420, which are specifically shown in Figure 24.

[00218] Figure 24 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to one embodiment of this application. Dashed lines in Figure 24 indicate that a unit or module is optional. The 2400 device can be Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 78 / 215 72 / 78 configured to implement the methods described in the method embodiments above. The 2400 device can be a chip, a terminal device, or a network device.

[00219] The 2400 device may include one or more 2410 processors. The 2410 processor may support the 2400 device in implementing the methods described in the preceding method embodiments. The 2410 processor may be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor. For example, the processor may be a central processing unit (CPU). Alternatively, the processor may be another general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate logic device or transistor, a discrete hardware component, or similar. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor or similar.

[00220] The 2400 device may additionally include one or more 2420 memories. The 2420 memory stores a program, which can be executed by the 2410 processor, causing the 2410 processor to execute the methods described in the method embodiments. The 2420 memory may be separate from the 2410 processor or may be integrated into the 2410 processor.

[00221] The 2400 device may additionally include a 2430 transceiver. The 2410 processor may communicate with another device or chip using the transceiver. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, p. 79 / 215 73 / 78 2430. For example, the 2410 processor can transmit data to and receive data from another device or chip via the 2430 transceiver.

[00222] One embodiment of this application additionally provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a program. The computer-readable storage medium may be applied to a terminal or network device provided in the embodiments of this application, and the program causes a computer to execute the methods performed by the terminal or network device in the various embodiments of this application.

[00223] One embodiment of this application additionally provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes a program. The computer program product can be applied to the terminal or network device provided in the embodiments of this application, and the program causes a computer to execute the methods performed by the terminal or network device in the various embodiments of this application.

[00224] One embodiment of this application additionally provides a computer program. The computer program can be applied to the terminal or network device provided in the embodiments of this application, and the computer program causes the computer to execute the methods performed by the terminal or network device in the embodiments of this application.

[00225] It should be understood that the terms system and network in this application may be used interchangeably. Furthermore, the terms used in this application are used only to illustrate specific embodiments of this application, but not Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 80 / 215 74 / 78 are intended to limit this application. The terms first, second, third, fourth and similar terms in the descriptive report, claims and drawings of this application are used to distinguish between different objects, rather than to describe a specific order. Furthermore, the terms include and have and any variations thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion.

[00226] In the modalities of this application, the indication mentioned herein may refer to a direct indication, or it may refer to an indirect indication, or it may mean that there is an association relationship. For example, if A indicates B, this may mean that A directly indicates B, for example, B can be obtained from A. Alternatively, it may mean that A indicates B indirectly, for example, A indicates C, and B can be obtained from C. Alternatively, it may mean that there is an association relationship between A and B.

[00227] In the modalities of this request, B corresponding to A means that B is associated with A, and B can be determined based on A. However, it should be further understood that determining B based on A does not mean determining B based solely on A, but rather that B can be determined based on A and / or other information.

[00228] In forms of this application, the term "correspond" may mean that there is a direct or indirect correspondence between the two, or it may mean that there is an associative relationship between the two, or it may mean that there is a relationship such as indicating and being indicated, or configuring and being configured.

[00229] In the modalities of this request, predefined Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, p. 81 / 215 75 / 78 or pre-configured may be implemented by pre-storing corresponding code, tables, or other forms that can be used to indicate related information on devices (for example, including a terminal device and a network device), and a specific implementation thereof is not limited in this application. For example, being pre-defined may refer to being defined in a protocol.

[00230] In the embodiments of this application, the protocol may refer to a standard protocol in the field of communications, and may include, for example, an LTE protocol, an NR protocol and a related protocol applied to a future communications system, which is not limited to in this application.

[00231] In the modalities of this request, the term and / or is merely an association relation that describes associated objects, and represents that there can be three types of relations. For example, A and / or B can represent three cases: only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists. Furthermore, the character “ / ” in this specification generally indicates an “or” relationship between the associated objects.

[00232] In the forms of this application, the term "include" may refer to direct inclusion or indirect inclusion. Optionally, the term "include" mentioned in the forms of this application may be replaced by "indicate" or used to determine. For example, "A including B" may be replaced by "A indicates B," or "A is used to determine B."

[00233] In the modalities of this request, the sequence numbers of previous processes do not signify execution orders. The execution order of the processes must be Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, p. 82 / 215 76 / 78 determined based on the functions and internal logic of the processes, and should not be interpreted as any limitation on the implementation of the modalities of this request.

[00234] In the various embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus, and method may be implemented in another manner. For example, the apparatus embodiments described are merely examples. For instance, the division of units is merely a logical function division, and there may be another division in the actual implementation. For example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted or not implemented. Furthermore, the mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections exhibited or discussed may be implemented as indirect couplings or communication connections through some interfaces, apparatus, or units, and may be implemented in electronic, mechanical, or other forms.

[00235] The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and the parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, and may be located in a single position or may be distributed across a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to the actual needs to achieve the objective of the modal solutions.

[00236] In addition, functional units in the modalities of this application may be integrated into a processing unit, or each of the units may physically exist alone, or two or more units may be Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 83 / 215 77 / 78 integrated into one unit.

[00237] All or some of the above embodiments may be implemented through the use of software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When software is used to implement the embodiments, the above embodiments may be implemented wholly or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the procedures or functions according to the embodiments of this application are generated wholly or partially. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, a computer network, or other programmable apparatus. The computer instructions may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium.For example, computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center in a wired manner (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, and digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wirelessly (e.g., infrared, wireless, and microwave). Computer-readable storage media can be any usable media readable by a computer, or a data storage device, such as a server or data center, integrating one or more usable media. Usable media can be magnetic media (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, or magnetic tape), or other media. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 84 / 215 78 / 78 optical media (e.g., a digital video disc (DVD)), a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid-state drive (SSD)), or similar.

[00238] The descriptions above are merely specific implementations of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited to this. Any variation or substitution readily determined by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the art disclosed in this application shall be within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application will be subject to the scope of protection of the claims. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 85 / 215

Claims

1 / 4 CLAIMS 1. COMMUNICATION METHOD characterized by comprising: transmitting, by a terminal device, a first cyclic prefix extension CPE before performing communication using a first side link resource, wherein a length of the first CPE is a first length.

2. METHOD, according to claim 1, characterized in that the first length is determined based on initial information indicated by a network device.

3. METHOD, according to claim 2, characterized in that the first side link resource belongs to a first resource pool, the first resource pool supports one or more configured lengths, and the first information is used to indicate that the first length is one of one or more configured lengths.

4. METHOD, according to claim 3, characterized in that one or more configured lengths are configured using the upper layer signaling of the network device.

5. METHOD, according to claim 1, characterized in that the first side link resource belongs to a second resource pool and the second resource pool supports a first configured length; and the first length is determined based on the first configured length.

6. METHOD, according to claim 5, Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 86 / 215 2 / 4 characterized in that the first configured length is configured by a network device or pre-configured.

7. METHOD, according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that a third resource pool supports a second configured length, a length of a CPE transmitted before communication using a side link resource in the third resource pool being a third length, the third length being determined based on the second configured length, and in the case where the resources comprised in the second resource pool and the third resource pool belong to different sets of resource blocks, the first configured length being equal to or different from the second configured length.

8. METHOD, according to claim 7, characterized in that the second resource pool is used for resource allocation in a first mode or in a second mode, and the third resource pool is used for resource allocation in the first mode or in the second mode.

9. COMMUNICATION METHOD characterized by comprising: transmitting, by a network device, initial information to a terminal device, wherein the initial information is used to indicate a first length, the first length is used to indicate a length of a first cyclic prefix extension (CPE), and the first CPE is a CPE transmitted before the communication performed by the terminal device using a first side link resource.

10. METHOD, according to claim 9, characterized in that the first length is determined based on a first condition, and the first condition relates to one or more of the following: a priority of the first CPE; information about the start of a COT of channel occupancy time by the terminal device; or information about the sharing of a COT by the terminal device.

11. METHOD, according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that when the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates a COT, in the case of a subcarrier spacing being less than 30 kHz, the first length meets the following: being greater than 0 and less than or equal to one orthogonal frequency division multiplexing OFDM symbol length; when the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates a COT, in the case of a subcarrier spacing being greater than or equal to 30 kHz, the first length meets the following: being greater than 0 and less than or equal to two OFDM symbol lengths.

12. METHOD, according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized by the first side link feature comprising one or more feature elements, and the feature element meeting the following: corresponding to a side link slot in the time domain and / or corresponding to one or more RB feature blocks in the frequency domain.

13. METHOD, according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the first side link feature belongs to the license-free spectrum.

14. TERMINAL DEVICE characterized by Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, page 88 / 215 4 / 4 comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory is configured to store a program, and the processor is configured to invoke the program in memory, to cause the terminal device to execute the method, as defined in any of claims 1 to 8.

15. NETWORK DEVICE characterized by comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory is configured to store a program, and the processor is configured to invoke the program in memory, to cause the network device to execute the method, as defined in any one of claims 9 to 13. Petition 870250082186, dated 12 / 09 / 2025, pp. 89 / 215

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