Methods and devices for energy saving in wireless side-chain communication

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for wireless communication resource configuration. Various configuration schemes for sidelink control resources and / or sidelink data communication resources can reduce the duration for which a user equipment needs to monitor sidelink communication resources for sidelink data, thereby providing energy savings in sidelink communication.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to wireless communication, and more particularly to sidelink communication resources and control resource allocation and configuration for energy conservation. Background Art

[0002] User equipment in a wireless network can communicate data with each other via a direct sidelink communication channel without any radio access network node relaying the data. Compared with other conventional applications involving UE-UE sidelink communication, some application scenarios of sidelink communication, such as those involving vehicle wireless network equipment, can have more stringent and unpredictable communication requirements. A resource allocation and dispatching mechanism to achieve low power consumption and efficient use of both sidelink communication resources and control resources is crucial. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present disclosure relates to methods, systems, and devices related to wireless communication, and more specifically, to energy conservation in sidelink communication between communication terminals.

[0004] In one embodiment, a method for wireless sidelink communication is disclosed. The method includes receiving, by a user equipment (UE), a plurality of radio resource configurations corresponding to a plurality of sidelink resource pools for sidelink communication, and selecting, by the UE, a sidelink resource pool for sidelink communication from the plurality of sidelink resource pools based on the service type of the sidelink communication. The service type is indicated by at least one of a destination identifier of the sidelink communication, a broadcast type, or quality of service (QoS) information.

[0005] In another embodiment, a method for wireless sidelink communication is disclosed. The method includes receiving, by the UE, a radio resource configuration for a sidelink resource pool; and selecting, by the UE, a time partition for sidelink communication from N time partitions of the sidelink resource pool, where the number N is a positive integer, and the service type is indicated by at least one of a destination identifier of the sidelink communication, a broadcast type, or QoS information.

[0006] In another embodiment, a method for wireless sidelink communication. The method includes receiving, by the UE, a radio resource configuration that includes a sidelink resource pool for sidelink communication including a first set of sidelink time and frequency resources; and a sidelink control resource configuration for indicating a second set of sidelink resources for transmitting sidelink control information. The method further includes transmitting, by the UE, sidelink communication on a first sidelink resource of the first set of sidelink time and frequency resources; and transmitting, by the UE, sidelink control information on a second sidelink resource of the second set of sidelink resources before transmitting the sidelink communication, for indicating to a receiving UE whether to monitor the sidelink resource pool during a configured time period after receiving the sidelink control information.

[0007] In another embodiment, a method for wireless sidelink communication is further disclosed. The method includes receiving, by a UE, a wireless resource configuration that includes a sidelink resource pool for sidelink communication including a first set of sidelink time and frequency resources; and a sidelink control resource configuration for indicating a second set of sidelink resources for transmitting sidelink control information. The method further includes monitoring, by the UE, the second set of sidelink resources for sidelink control information that provides an indication to the UE to monitor the sidelink resource pool for receiving the sidelink communication during a configured time period after receiving the sidelink control information; and monitoring, by the UE, the sidelink resource pool for receiving the sidelink communication during the configured time period after receiving the sidelink control information with the indication.

[0008] Various devices are also disclosed. Each of these devices includes a processor and a memory, where the processor is configured to read computer code from the memory to implement any of the above methods.

[0009] Computer-readable media are also disclosed. Such computer-readable media include instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform any of the above methods.

[0010] The above and other aspects and their implementations are described in more detail in the following drawings, description, and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 An example diagram of a wireless communication network according to various embodiments is shown.

[0012] Figure 2 An example wireless data communication and control resource allocation and configuration scheme for sidelink communication is shown.

[0013] Figure 3 An example logical flow of information exchange for unicast sidelink configuration and communication between two user devices is shown.

[0014] Figure 4 Another example logical flow of information exchange for unicast sidelink configuration and communication between two user devices is shown.

[0015] Figure 5 An example logical flow of information exchange for multicast sidelink configuration and communication between user devices is shown.

[0016] Figure 6 Another example logical flow of information exchange for multicast sidelink configuration and communication between user devices is shown.

[0017] Figure 7 An example wireless data communication resource allocation and configuration scheme for broadcast sidelink communication is shown.

[0018] Figure 8 Another exemplary wireless data communication resource allocation and configuration scheme for broadcast sidelink communication is shown.

[0019] Figure 9 Another exemplary wireless data communication resource allocation and configuration scheme for broadcast sidelink communication is shown. Detailed implementation manners

[0020] The technologies, implementation schemes, and / or examples of embodiments in this disclosure can be used to improve the performance in a wireless communication system. The term "exemplary" is used to mean "an example of...", and unless otherwise stated, it does not mean an ideal or preferred example, implementation scheme, or embodiment. The use of section headings in this disclosure is for ease of understanding, and the technologies disclosed in a section are not limited to the corresponding section. However, note that these implementation schemes can be embodied in various different forms, and thus, the scope of the subject matter of this disclosure or the claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not limited to any of the embodiments described below. Various implementation schemes can be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems. Therefore, the embodiments of this disclosure can, for example, take the form of hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.

[0021] A vehicle network refers to a network system that performs wireless communication and information exchange among vehicles, pedestrians, roadside equipment, and the Internet and other data networks according to various communication protocols and data exchange standards. Vehicle network communication helps improve road safety, enhance traffic efficiency, and provide broadband mobile data access and data exchange between network nodes. Vehicle network communication can be classified into various types according to communication endpoints, including but not limited to vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure / vehicle-to-network (V2I / V2N) communication, and vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication. These types of communication are collectively referred to as vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication.

[0022] A vehicle network can rely heavily on sidelink communication between terminal devices or user equipment (UE) in the network. Sidelink communication as used in this disclosure refers to the direct wireless information exchange between UEs. For example, V2X communication can rely on direct sidelink data exchange from a source UE to a target UE via an air interface without any radio base station for forwarding. Such a communication mode has been studied and implemented in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). An exemplary V2X subsystem based on sidelink communication technology is shown as Figure 1 part of, and can be referred to as, for example, PC5-based V2X communication or V2X sidelink communication.

[0023] The application scenarios of V2X communication are increasingly expanding and diversifying. Advanced V2X services and applications include, but are not limited to, vehicle platooning, extended sensors, semi-autonomous driving, fully autonomous driving, and remote driving. These applications and services require increasingly high network performance, including wider bandwidth, lower latency, and higher reliability. For example, these applications and services may require the underlying sidelink communication technology to support communication data packets sized from 50 to 12,000 bytes, a message transmission rate of 2 to 50 messages per second, a maximum end-to-end latency of 3 to 500 milliseconds, a transmission reliability of 90% to 99.999%, a data transmission rate of 0.5 to 1000 Mbps, and a signal range of 50 to 1000 meters, depending on the specific data services required by these applications.

[0024] Although capable of communicating with each other using the sidelink, the various UEs described above may also be connected to a radio access network and connected to a core network via the access network. The radio access network and the core network may participate in configuring and allocating the communication resources required for the transmission / reception of data and control information for sidelink communication. An exemplary radio access network may be based on, for example, cellular 4G LTE or 5G NR technology and / or formats. Figure 1 An example system diagram of a radio access communication network 100 including UEs 102, 124, and 126 and a radio access network node (WANN) 104 is shown. Each of UEs 102, 124, and 126 may include, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, in-vehicle communication equipment, roadside communication equipment, sensor equipment, smart appliances (such as a television, a refrigerator, and an oven), or other devices capable of wireless communication via a network. The UEs may communicate indirectly via the WANN 104 or directly via sidelink communication. As Figure 1 shown, for example, UE 102 may include transceiver circuitry 106 coupled to an antenna 108 to enable wireless communication with the WANN 104 or another UE (such as UE 124 or 126). The transceiver circuitry 106 may also be coupled to a processor 110, which may also be coupled to a memory 112 or other storage device. The memory 112 may store computer instructions or code therein, which, when read and executed by the processor 110, cause the processor 110 to implement the various methods described herein for sidelink resource allocation / configuration and data transmission / reception.

[0025] Similarly, the WANN 104 may include a base station or other wireless network access point capable of wirelessly communicating with one or more UEs over a network. For example, the WANN 104 may be implemented in the form of a 4G LTE base station, a 5G NR base station, a 5G central unit base station, or a 5G distributed unit base station. Each of these types of WANNs may be configured to perform a corresponding set of wireless network functions. The WANN 104 may include transceiver circuitry 114 coupled to an antenna 116, which may include various forms of antenna towers 118 to enable wireless communication with UEs 102, 124, and 126. The transceiver circuitry 114 may be coupled to one or more processors 120, which may also be coupled to a memory 122 or other storage device. The memory 122 may store instructions or code therein, which when read and executed by the processor 120 cause the processor 120 to implement various functions. For example, these functions may include functions related to the configuration and allocation of wireless communication resources for exchanging data and control information in sidelink communication between UEs.

[0026] For simplicity and clarity, only one WANN and three UEs are shown in the wireless communication access network 100. It should be understood that there may be one or more WANNs in the wireless communication network, and each WANN may serve one or more UEs. Although Figure 1 UEs 102, 124, and 126 are shown as being served in one serving cell, they may alternatively be served by different cells and / or not be served by a cell. Although various embodiments of sidelink communication are discussed below in the context of a particular example cellular wireless communication access network 100, the basic principles apply to other types of wireless communication networks.

[0027] Figure 1 Sidelink communication between various UEs may support the coexistence of various different communication broadcast types, including unicast, multicast (or groupcast), and broadcast. In conventional techniques, UEs deployed in the access network 100 may need to perform thorough monitoring of a wide range of sidelink wireless resources in unicast, multicast, or broadcast mode, resulting in high power consumption. For some low-power UEs, such power consumption may be at an unacceptable high level. To address these issues, the various embodiments described in the present disclosure provide methods, devices, and systems for configuring and allocating wireless communication resources to carry sidelink data and / or carry sidelink control information, so that UEs can reduce their power consumption when monitoring and receiving unicast, multicast, or broadcast sidelink data.

[0028] Wireless communication resources for transmitting data or control information can typically be allocated in the time dimension and the carrier frequency dimension. Each of these dimensions can be allocated and configured according to its smallest allocation granularity. The sidelink resource allocation can be specified as a set of time-frequency blocks. For example, the sidelink data communication resources can be configured and allocated as one or more sidelink resource pools. Each sidelink resource pool can be associated with a resource configuration. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the focus is on the time dimension of the resource allocation. In particular, the time resources can be allocated in the granularity of time slots of a predefined time length. Alternatively, the time resources can be allocated at the symbol level.

[0029] An example of a resource pool allocated to a UE for sidelink data communication is Figure 2 shown as 200. Such a resource pool can be configured and allocated to a UE for unicast, multicast, or broadcast. The sidelink communication resources allocated within the resource pool are shown as various vertical bars arranged along the time axis 202, the width of which represents the time allocation, and the height dimension of which represents the allocation of the carrier frequency. Although in Figure 2 the resource pool in, the frequency allocation for each time is shown as the same (as indicated by the same frequency range), each of these resource bars can contain any appropriate set of any number of any carrier frequencies. Each bar can occupy one or more time slots or time symbols along the time axis 202. The time interval between the bars represents the time period of the time resources not allocated for sidelink data communication. For the sake of simplicity in the description of the following embodiments, each of these bars is referred to as a sidelink data communication resource.

[0030] The sidelink resource pool for a particular UE for transmitting or receiving sidelink data can be configured from the network side (e.g., from the WANN of the serving cell of the UE). Figure 2 Such a sidelink resource pool. In particular, a control message corresponding to the sidelink resource configuration can be transmitted from the WANN to the UE. Alternatively, the sidelink resource pool can be pre-configured. In some other embodiments, the UE can receive the sidelink communication resource configuration from another UE. The UE can be allocated multiple sidelink resource pools, each sidelink resource pool being specified by a corresponding sidelink resource configuration.

[0031] For example, the sidelink resource pool 200 for a UE can be specified in the sidelink discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration sent to the UE. As Figure 2 shown in 206 and 208 in, such a resource pool 200 configured by the DRX configuration can include the sidelink resources in the repetition period, which is referred to as the sidelink resource period (SRP). Each of the periods 206 and 208 represents a sidelink resource configuration period. Such a sidelink resource configuration can include one or more resource bitmaps to indicate the positions of these allocated resources in the resource pool 200 in terms of time and frequency in the configuration period, and then repeat periodically from SRP to SRP.

[0032] As indicated by 210, the duration occupied by resources allocated for sidelink communication on the timeline 202 in Figure 2 can be referred to as the sidelink on-duration. As indicated by 212, the time interval between sidelink on-durations can be referred to as the sidelink off-duration. When the UE attempts to receive unicast, multicast, or broadcast sidelink data, it only needs to perform data monitoring during the sidelink on-duration at most, thereby reducing the power consumption of data monitoring. If the UE is configured with a sidelink resource pool, the time slots or symbols included in the sidelink resource pool constitute the sidelink on-duration. Alternatively, if the UE is configured with a sidelink DRX configuration, in the DRX cycle, the DRX on-duration represents the sidelink on-duration. The sidelink on-duration can be indicated by one or more time bitmaps.

[0033] The various example embodiments described in more detail below relate to the configuration of resources for carrying sidelink control information and / or for carrying data information, as well as some exemplary constructs of sidelink control information, enabling the UE to further reduce the power consumption in sidelink communication.

[0034] First example embodiment

[0035] In the various implementations of the present embodiment described below, it is assumed that a connection for sidelink communication in, for example, unicast mode has been established between a first UE (UE1) and a second UE (UE2). UE1 represents the sidelink data transmitter, and UE2 represents the corresponding sidelink data receiver. The following implementations are aimed at enabling UE2 to further reduce its power consumption when monitoring and receiving data from UE1.

[0036] In one implementation, UE1 and UE2 can first exchange capability information. Such capability information may include, but is not limited to, whether UE1 or UE2 supports the sidelink power saving function (SPSF). When UE1 determines that UE2 is a P-UE or otherwise supports SPSF, or the data to be transmitted by UE1 belongs to a data service having a destination identifier corresponding to the P-UE target service, UE2 can first transmit, for example, the DRX configuration of the sidelink resource pool to UE1, or alternatively transmit the configuration of the sidelink resource pool with a limited time range to UE1. Before transmitting such a sidelink resource configuration to UE2, UE1 can obtain the configuration from the network side (e.g., the WANN of its serving cell). In some other implementations, UE2 can directly obtain such a configuration from its network side (e.g., the WANN of its serving cell) instead of transmitting the sidelink resource configuration from UE1 to UE2. Then, such a configuration can be transmitted from UE2 to UE1 so that UE1 can determine the sidelink communication resources for transmitting sidelink data to UE2. The sidelink resource configuration contains the allocation of sidelink resources as the sidelink resource pool, as​​Figure 2 as shown by 200 in

[0037] Once the UE2 receives the sidechain resource configuration, it determines the sidechain activation duration as shown by Figure 2 to monitor the sidechain data from the UE1. In particular, it only needs to perform active monitoring during the sidechain activation duration and go to sleep during the sidechain deactivation duration. For example, it can monitor during all sidechain activation durations labeled 1 - 11 in Figure 2 . Since the UE1 may not transmit sidechain data during all of these sidechain activation durations, the UE2 can be further controlled to actively monitor only during a subset of the sidechain activation durations to further reduce the monitoring power consumption. In some embodiments, the time range during which the UE2 needs to monitor the sidechain data can be divided into several time partitions so that the UE2 can be controlled to over - monitor during some time partitions. To achieve this, corresponding sidechain wake - up control resources can be configured at the beginning of each time partition. The sidechain wake - up control information or signal (referred to herein as wake - up control information or wake - up control signal) can be carried on the sidechain wake - up control resources and transmitted to the UE to indicate to the UE whether it needs to monitor the sidechain duration in the subsequent time partition (after the first time point corresponding to the sidechain wake - up control resource until the second time point corresponding in time to the next wake - up control resource).

[0038] Such a scheme is as shown by Figure 2 . Specifically, the arrows W1 - W6 (labeled 204) indicate the time positions of the sidechain wake - up control resources. For example, they divide the sidechain communication resources 200 into three time partitions for each SRP (e.g., SRP 206). The first time partition includes sidechain activation durations 1 - 3, the second time partition includes sidechain activation durations 4 - 8, and the third time partition includes sidechain activation durations 9 - 12. Whether the UE2 needs to monitor the sidechain activation duration can be controlled on a per - time - partition basis.

[0039] One or more wake - up control resources 204 can be configured to indicate the time points (time slots or time symbol points) when the UE2 needs to monitor the Physical Sidechain Control Channel (PSCCH) to receive the wake - up control information or signal. The wake - up control information or signal indicates whether the UE should monitor the sidechain activation duration during the time partition after the wake - up control information / signal. The length of such a time partition can be referred to as the configured time period, which is equal to the time length between the time point corresponding to the current wake - up control resource and the time point corresponding to the next wake - up control resource. For example, as shown by Figure 2As shown, if UE2 receives wake-up control information or a signal at time point W1, indicating that UE2 needs to wake up to monitor side-chain data, then UE2 wakes up after W1 but before W2 to monitor side-chain on durations 1, 2, and 3 to monitor and receive side-chain data. As another example, if UE2 monitors wake-up control information or a signal at W2 and does not receive any wake-up control information or signal (or it determines that the received wake-up control information or signal indicates that UE2 does not need to wake up), then UE2 does not need to wake up after W2 and before W3 to detect side-chain on durations 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 for receiving side-chain data.

[0040] Figure 3 FIG. 4 shows an example logic flow 300 for information exchange between UE1 and UE2 according to the above-described embodiments. As Figure 3 shown, a transmitting UE1 302 and a receiving UE2 304 can establish a side-chain connection as shown at 306. As shown at 308 and as described above, they can further exchange side-chain capabilities. For energy saving, wake-up control resource configuration can be sent from UE1 to UE2 or from UE2 to UE1, as shown at 310. The exchange of wake-up control resource configuration between UE1 and UE2 can be done via, for example, the PC5-RRC (Radio Resource Control) channel and interface. The wake-up control resource configuration can be provided by the network side. For example, the network side of UE1 (e.g., the WANN of its serving cell) can provide such wake-up control resource configuration to UE1, and UE1 can obtain the wake-up control resource configuration from the network side and then send the wake-up control resource configuration to UE2. Alternatively, the network side of UE2 (e.g., the WANN of its serving cell) can provide such wake-up control resource configuration to UE2, and UE2 can obtain the wake-up control resource configuration from the network side and then send the wake-up control resource configuration to UE1. To request wake-up control resource configuration from the network side, UE1 or UE2 can first send side-chain UE information to the network side. Such UE information can include at least one of the various items in List 1 below.

[0041] List 1

[0042]

[0043]

[0044] The information elements in List 1 are used by the network side (such as WANN and / or some other network nodes in the core network) to determine the sidechain control resource allocation and configuration, including information related to, for example, the type of service for sidechain communication. The service type information may include, for example, the destination identifier (service type), the broadcast type (an indicator of the broadcast type, such as unicast, multicast, or broadcast), and the quality of service (QoS) information of the sidechain communication for which the wake-up control resources need to be determined. For example, the QoS information may be represented by the QoS flow identifier (QFI) corresponding to the sidechain communication and / or the QoS profile. Some of these information elements may be optional, while other information elements may be mandatory, and the above list is provided only as an example.

[0045] Continue Figure 3 For the logical flow, when UE1 has sidechain data to send or its sidechain data buffer is not empty, as shown in 312, it first sends wake-up control information or a signal on the wake-up control resources before the sidechain resources (e.g., Figure 2 the sidechain control time resource W1 in Figure 2 to send sidechain data to UE2 via, for example, the physical sidechain control channel (PSCCH) ( Figure 2 the resource bar or sidechain on duration 1 in Figure 2 ), as shown in 314. This signal is monitored by UE2, as shown in 316. UE2 receives the wake-up control information signal and determines that UE1 is about to send sidechain data, and wakes up to monitor the sidechain on duration (e.g., Figure 2 sidechain on durations 1, 2, and 3 in

[0046] to receive the sidechain data sent by UE1 (as shown in 318) until the time point corresponding to the next wake-up control resource (e.g., at Figure 2 W2 in ), as shown in 320. Conversely, if there is no sidechain data to be sent by UE1, or the sidechain data buffer at UE1 is empty, then UE1 will not send any wake-up control information or signal (e.g., at W1). UE2 will monitor the wake-up control resources (at W1), but will not detect any wake-up control information or signal, and thus will not wake up to monitor the sidechain resources ( Figure 2 sidechain on durations 1, 2, and 3 in

[0046] for sidechain data communication).

[0046] In this example, referring to Figure 2, although UE1 may not use all of the sidechain activation durations 1, 2, and 3 to transmit sidechain data (e.g., UE1 may only use sidechain activation duration 1 to transmit data), UE2 will monitor all of the sidechain activation durations 1, 2, and 3 after receiving the wake-up control information or signal at W1 until it is determined at W2 whether to monitor sidechain activation durations 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 during the next time division (between W2 and W3), depending on whether the sidechain control information or signal at W2 indicates that monitoring is required. Alternatively, UE1 may be configured to transmit only within one sidechain activation duration after sending the wake-up control information or signal. Thus, UE2 may only need to monitor one sidechain activation duration each time it receives the wake-up control information or signal.

[0047] For example, the wake-up control information or signal for this embodiment described above may be a single-bit signal. For example, detecting such a signal means that one or more sidechain activation durations need to be monitored during the next time division. Alternatively, the wake-up control information or signal may be transmitted as other forms of signals or messages.

[0048] Using the above solution, the receiving UE further reduces the power consumption of monitoring the sidechain resource pool by dividing the sidechain resource pool into multiple time divisions (or regions), as indicated by the time points corresponding to the wake-up control resources specified in the wake-up control resource configuration. Thus, after receiving the wake-up control information or signal, the receiving UE only needs to monitor one or more sidechain activation durations within one time division instead of monitoring the entire sidechain resource pool, thereby further reducing the power consumption of sidechain data monitoring.

[0049] The above wake-up control resource configuration may include at least one of the example information items shown in the following list for specifying and identifying the resources allocated for transmitting / receiving the wake-up control information or signal.

[0050] List 2

[0051]

[0052] As shown in Example List 2, the wake-up control resource configuration may include a sequence of resource configurations. Each configuration may include a time offset to specify the corresponding wake-up control resource along Figure 2The time position (slot position or symbol position) of the resource timeline. The wake-up control configuration may further include an identifier for the wake-up resource configuration, e.g., a frequency resource for identifying each wake-up control resource configuration. In particular, the physical layer may allocate frequency resources for wake-up control information, and these frequency resources may be provided with identifiers by a higher layer, and these identifiers may be included in the wake-up control configuration. Alternatively or additionally, a PSCCH resource ID information item for identifying the frequency allocation may be included. A wake-up identifier may further be included to identify, e.g., the sequence of the wake-up control resource configuration. Optionally, and not shown in the above list 2, the wake-up control resource configuration may further include a source identifier or a service target identifier to limit the applicability of a particular wake-up control resource configuration.

[0053] Second exemplary embodiment

[0054] The various embodiments of the second embodiment described below are similar to the embodiments of the first embodiment above. The following description focuses on their differences. In the above description of the various embodiments of the first embodiment, other aspects of the second embodiment that are not explicitly included under this current heading may be found.

[0055] For this second exemplary embodiment, it is also assumed that a connection for sidelink communication in, e.g., unicast mode has been established between a first UE (UE1) and a second UE (UE2). UE1 represents the sidelink data transmitter, and UE2 represents the corresponding sidelink data receiver. In this embodiment, the wake-up control information may be implemented as a sidelink control information (SCI) message, referred to as a power saving sidelink control information (PS-SCI) message. In the first embodiment, the PS-SCI message may be used to carry additional information rather than a simple wake-up signal (such as a single-bit indicator signal) for wake-up control information. The PS-SCI message, like other SCI information, may be carried by, e.g., the PC5 interface.

[0056] An exemplary PS-SCI message may include at least one of the following information items.

[0057] - A wake-up indication (e.g., a 1-bit indicator / signal) for indicating to the receiving UE whether to monitor the sidelink data or the sidelink resource pool during a sidelink on-duration until the time point of the next PS-SCI resource after the time point of receiving the PS-SCI message. Such an indicator provides a function similar to the wake-up control information in the first embodiment.

[0058] - Destination identifier (or service identifier) for identifying the service corresponding to the sidelink communication. Such information helps the receiving UE to determine the destination identifier and service type and to determine whether it is interested in the service. If not interested in the service, the receiving UE may forgo monitoring the sidelink data for one or more subsequent sidelink durations.

[0059] - Secondary Cell (SCell) dormancy indication information for a multi-carrier scheme. In particular, in a multi-carrier scenario, with such an indicator, the receiving UE only needs to monitor the PS-SCI control resources on one of the carriers to obtain the wake-up control information for the other carriers. Such an indicator may be provided as a carrier bitmap, where each bit of the bitmap corresponds to one of one or more SCell groups configured by a higher layer of the radio network, and the most significant bit (MSB) to the least significant bit (LSB) of the bitmap corresponds to the first to the last configured SCell group.

[0060] Corresponding to the PS-SCI message used as wake-up control information, the wake-up control resource configuration may be specified as the identity control resources required for transmitting / receiving the PS-SCI message. Such a resource configuration is referred to as a PS-SCI resource configuration (corresponding to the wake-up control resource configuration described in the first embodiment). The PS-SCI resource allocation for sidelink communication may be specified as a PS-SCI resource configuration, and each configuration may include at least one information item shown in List 3 below.

[0061] List 3

[0062]

[0063] As shown in the example List 3, the PS-SCI resource configuration may include a sequence of PS-SCI control configurations, each corresponding to one of W1-W6 Figure 2 . An example PS-SCI resource configuration may include a time offset for specifying the time position of the corresponding PS-SCI resource used to carry the PS-SCI message (which functions as wake-up control information). Other information items that may further be included in the PS-SCI resource configuration are shown and described in List 4 below.

[0064] List 4

[0065]

[0066] For example, the wake-up configuration indicator may be selectively included in the PS-SCI configuration, represented by slps-WakeUp in List 4 above. Although it is determined whether the receiving UE wakes up to monitor the subsequent side-chain activation duration or side-chain resource pool based on the wake-up indication information or signal in the received PS-SCI message, the wake-up configuration indicator in the PS-SCI configuration can be designed to indicate to the UE whether to monitor the subsequent side-chain activation duration or side-chain resource pool when the PS-SCI message is not received at the time point of the corresponding resource allocated to the PS-SCI message. Specifically, when the wake-up configuration indicator is included in the PS-SCI configuration, the UE is required to monitor the side-chain data when the PS-SCI message is not received, and otherwise, if the wake-up configuration indicator is not included in the PS-SCI configuration, the UE is not required to monitor the side-chain data. Alternatively, when the wake-up configuration indicator is not included in the PS-SCI configuration, the UE is required to monitor the side-chain data when the PS-SCI message is not received, otherwise, if the wake-up configuration indicator is included in the PS-SCI configuration, the UE is not required to monitor the side-chain data. Such a configuration scheme will allow optional configuration parameters to force the UE to monitor the side-chain data when the transmitted PS-SCI message is not received, so that the side-chain data can still be received in the case where the corresponding PS-SCI message is sent but lost during its transmission.

[0067] For this second embodiment, Figure 4 an example logic flow 400 for information exchange between UE1 and UE2 is shown. The example logic flow 400 is similar to Figure 3 the logic flow 300 for the first embodiment in, except that the wake-up control resource configuration and the wake-up control information or signal are replaced by the PS-SCI resource configuration and the PS-SCI message, respectively. For example, the details of steps 406, 408, and 410 can be found in the descriptions of steps 306, 308, and 310, respectively, and will not be repeated here.

[0068] In Figure 4 , UE2 monitors the PS-SCI resources for the PS-SCI message (e.g., Figure 2 W1-W6 of ). Once the PS-SCI message is detected, UE2 determines the wake-up indicator included therein to decide whether to monitor the subsequent side-chain activation duration or side-chain resource pool until the next time point corresponding to the next PS-SCI resource ( Figure 2 the next W in ). Specifically, when indicated by the wake-up indicator, UE2 continues to monitor the subsequent side-chain activation duration or side-chain resource pool of the side-chain data, otherwise it does not monitor. In addition to Figure 4 , when at the time point configured as the PS-SCI resource (e.g., Figure 2When UE2 does not receive a PS-SCI message (W1-W6), whether UE2 needs to monitor the sidechain activation duration or sidechain pool is determined by the above-mentioned wake-up configuration indicator (e.g., the slps-wake indicator in List 4).

[0069] In the first and second embodiments, UE 1 sends wake-up control information / signal or PS-SCI message only when there is sidechain data to be transmitted subsequently. Otherwise, no wake-up control information / signal or PS-SCI message will be sent. In addition, the UE is configured to always monitor the wake-up control resources or PS-SCI resources allocated and configured by the wake-up control resource configuration or PS-SCI resource configuration (e.g., Figure 2 the W1-W6 resources in).

[0070] Third exemplary embodiment

[0071] The following various implementation schemes for the third exemplary embodiment focus on the sidechain control resource configuration for multicast sidechain communication. Assume that a first UE (UE1) and a second UE (UE2) have established a connection for sidechain communication in multicast mode. UE1 represents the sidechain data transmitter, and UE2 represents the corresponding sidechain data receiver. UE1 and UE2 are among a group of UEs forming a multicast UE group, alternatively referred to as a sidechain communication group. The sidechain communication group may also include a head UE (referred to as the group head), and the head UE is represented as UE3. The following implementation schemes aim to enable the UEs in the side communication group to reduce their power consumption when monitoring and receiving multicast sidechain data.

[0072] In some implementation schemes, if UE2 has an energy-saving requirement (e.g., if UE2 is a P-UE), after UE2 joins the sidechain communication group, the NAS layer signaling notifies UE3 (the head UE) that there is at least one P-UE in the sidechain communication group and an energy-saving policy / configuration needs to be started. For example, a sidechain resource pool or sidechain DRX with a limited sidechain activation duration as shown in Figure 2 may be allocated and configured for the UEs in the sidechain communication group (such as UE2) for sidechain data communication.

[0073] In some implementation schemes of this embodiment, and similar to the above-mentioned implementation schemes in the first embodiment, the time range for which UE2 is required to monitor sidechain data can be divided into multiple time partitions, and the corresponding sidechain wake-up control resources can be configured at the beginning of each time partition. The sidechain wake-up control information or signal can be carried on the sidechain wake-up control resources to indicate to UE2 whether UE2 is required to monitor the sidechain activation duration from after the first time point corresponding to the sidechain wake-up control resources until before the second time point corresponding to the next time point associated with the next wake-up control resource.

[0074] Figure 5 Logic flow 500 showing the information exchange between UE1 (502), UE2 (504) and head UE3 (505) is for the sidelink control configuration of UE1 and UE2 and the sidelink data communication from UE1 to UE2. As Figure 5 shown, the transmitting UE1 502, the receiving UE2 504 and the head UE 3 505 may establish a sidelink connection at step 506. As shown in 508 and as described above, UE group members may further exchange sidelink capabilities. For example, such an exchange of capabilities will inform UE3 that UE2 has energy saving requirements (e.g., UE2 is a P-UE).

[0075] For energy saving using sidelink time division, the wake-up control resource configuration of the sidelink communication group may be sent from UE3 to UE1 and UE2 (and Figure 5 other members of the group not shown), as Figure 5 shown in 510 and 511. The wake-up control resource configuration may be transmitted via, for example, the PC5-RRC channel and interface. The wake-up control resource configuration may be provided by the network side. For example, the network side of UE3 (e.g., the WANN of its serving cell) may provide such a wake-up control resource configuration, and UE3 may obtain the wake-up control resource configuration from the network side and then send the wake-up control resource configuration to the members of the sidelink control group (such as UE1 and UE2). For UE3, in order to obtain such a configuration from its network side, UE3 may send a request containing sidelink UE information to its network side. For example, such sidelink UE information may include at least one of the various items in the above list 1. Such UE information may also optionally include information about the members of the sidelink control group, such as member identifiers and the number of group members. In some other embodiments, the wake-up control resource configuration may be obtained by the group members rather than from the head UE from the network side.

[0076] The wake-up control resource configuration of the sidelink communication group may include at least one of the example information items shown in the above list 2. For example, the wake-up control resource configuration may include a sequence of resource configurations. Each configuration may include a time offset to specify the corresponding wake-up control resource along Figure 2The time position (time slot position or symbol position) of the resource timeline. The wake-up control resource configuration may further include an identifier for the wake-up resource configuration, e.g., a frequency resource for identifying each wake-up control resource configuration. In particular, the physical layer may allocate frequency resources for wake-up control information, and these frequency resources may be provided with identifiers by a higher layer, and these identifiers may be included in the wake-up control configuration. Alternatively or additionally, a PSCCH resource ID information item for identifying the frequency allocation may be included. A wake-up identifier may further be included to identify, e.g., the sequence of the wake-up control resource configuration. Optionally, and not shown in the above list 2, the wake-up control resource configuration may further include a source identifier or a service target identifier to restrict the applicability of a particular wake-up control resource configuration.

[0077] Continue Figure 5 , member UEs in the group, such as UE2 and UE1, receive the wake-up control resource configuration from UE3, as shown at 510 and 511. In step 512, when UE1 has sidelink data to transmit or its sidelink data buffer is not empty, it first transmits wake-up control information or a signal on a wake-up control resource before the sidelink resource (e.g., Figure 2 the sidelink control time resource W1 in ) so as to transmit, e.g., as shown at 514, sidelink data to UE2 via a sidelink control channel (PSCCH) (monitored by UE2, as shown at 516) ( Figure 2 the resource bar or sidelink activation duration 1 in ). UE2 receives the wake-up control information signal and determines that UE1 is going to transmit multicast sidelink data, and wakes up to monitor the sidelink activation duration to receive the sidelink data transmitted by UE1 (as shown at 518) until the time point corresponding to the next wake-up control resource, as shown at 520. In contrast, if there is no multicast sidelink data to be transmitted by UE1, or the sidelink data buffer at UE1 is empty, UE1 does not transmit any wake-up control information or signal. UE2 will monitor the wake-up control resource but will not detect any wake-up control information or signal and thus will not wake up to monitor the sidelink resources for sidelink data communication.

[0078] The content of the wake-up control information or signal is similar to that of the first embodiment described above.

[0079] In the multicast sidechain application, the member UEs in the sidechain communication group can share the same wake-up control resources specified in the above wake-up control resource configuration. Under such wake-up resource sharing, after the UE sends the wake-up control information or signal and continues to transmit sidechain data, it may not be able to monitor the wake-up control resources simultaneously to obtain the wake-up control information or signal. In some embodiments, to avoid data reception loss, the transmitting UE can be configured to monitor the sidechain data during the sidechain on-duration in the next time division or in the sidechain resource pool all the time after it transmits the wake-up control information and the sidechain data in the previous time division.

[0080] Alternatively, the member UEs of the sidechain communication group can be configured with separate wake-up control resources instead of sharing the wake-up control resources. For example, the group head UE3 can configure different wake-up control resources for each UE in the group. Thus, each wake-up control resource configuration in the sequence of wake-up control resource configurations in List 2 can be adapted to include a group member ID that indicates the group member of the sidechain communication group to which the specific wake-up control resource configuration applies. The following List 5 shows an example modified sequence of wake-up control resource configurations.

[0081] List 5

[0082]

[0083] The group wake-up control resource configuration in List 5 includes a sequence of wake-up control resource configurations, each wake-up control resource configuration for a member in the group. Each wake-up control resource configuration can include a time offset set to specify the time slot or symbol position of one or more wake-up control resources. The information item "wakeUpResrarchId" or "PSCCH-ResourceId" relates to the identification of the frequency resources allocated for carrying the wake-up control information or signal and is the same as the corresponding information item in List 2, which will be explained in more detail in conjunction with the first embodiment. Each wake-up control resource configuration in List 5 specifically includes the identifier ("GroupMember ID") of the corresponding group member, which is used to indicate the member UE to which the specific wake-up control resource in the wake-up control resource configuration is allocated.

[0084] In some other embodiments, particularly when the number of group members is large and it becomes impractical to provide a different wake-up control resource configuration for each group member, a set of wake-up control resource configurations may be allocated, and one or more wake-up control resource configurations may be shared by more than one group member. For these embodiments, the "GroupMemberID" in the list 5 of the above-mentioned specific wake-up control resource configurations may include a set of IDs of the group members sharing this specific wake-up control resource allocation (instead of a single group member ID). Alternatively, a group member bitmap may be implemented instead to indicate the group members sharing this specific wake-up control resource allocation (e.g., a 0 bit and a 1 bit corresponding to a member in the bitmap indicate that the member shares and does not share this specific resource, respectively). A group member sharing a wake-up control resource with others may be configured to monitor the sidechain data during the sidechain on-duration or the sidechain resource pool in the next time division after transmitting the sidechain data during the previous time division. A group member not sharing a wake-up control resource with other members may not be required to monitor the sidechain data during the sidechain on-duration or the sidechain resource pool in the next time division after transmitting the sidechain data during the previous time division. Thus, the wake-up control resource configuration may optionally include an indicator indicating whether the UE should monitor the sidechain on-duration or the sidechain resource pool during the next time division after transmitting the wake-up control information or signal.

[0085] Other aspects not explicitly described for the third embodiment can be found in the description of the first embodiment.

[0086] Fourth Embodiment

[0087] In combination with the second embodiment, the various embodiments of the fourth embodiment for multicast sidechain described below are similar to the embodiments of the third embodiment above. Other aspects of this fourth embodiment not explicitly included under this current heading can be found in the descriptions of the various embodiments of the third and second embodiments above.

[0088] Similar to the third embodiment, for this fourth exemplary embodiment, it is assumed that a first UE (UE1) and a second UE (UE2) have established a connection for sidechain communication in multicast mode. UE1 represents the sidechain data transmitter, and UE2 represents the corresponding sidechain data receiver. UE1 and UE2 are among a group of UEs forming a multicast UE group, alternatively referred to as a sidechain communication group. The sidechain communication group may also include a head UE (referred to as the group head), and the head UE is represented as UE3. The following embodiments are aimed at enabling the UEs in the side communication group to reduce their power consumption when monitoring and receiving multicast sidechain data.

[0089] Aspects of the fourth embodiment are similar to those of the third embodiment, where the wake-up control information is replaced by the PS-SCI message described in the second embodiment. The content of the PS-SCI message is similar to that described above in the second embodiment. Additionally, the wake-up control resource configuration of the third embodiment is replaced by a PS-SCI resource configuration, which can be implemented in a manner similar to that of the second embodiment.

[0090] Figure 6 A logical flow 600 showing information exchange between UE1 (602), UE2 (604), and the head UE3 (605) is for side-chain control configuration of UE1 and UE2 and side-chain data communication from UE1 to UE2. The example logical flow 600 is similar to Figure 5 the logical flow 500 of the third embodiment in [reference], again, where the wake-up control resource configuration and the wake-up control information or signal are replaced by the PS-SCI resource configuration and the PS-SCI message, respectively. For example, the details of steps 606, 608, 610, and 611 can be found in the descriptions of steps 506, 508, 510, and 511 above, respectively, and will not be repeated here.

[0091] The PS-SCI resource configuration may include a sequence of PS-SCI control configurations that are similar to the sequence specified in List 4 and those described above for the second embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0092] PS-SCI resource sharing among group member UEs can be implemented similarly to the third embodiment described above. For example, each member of the side-chain communication group can be individually configured with separate PS-SCI resources. Alternatively, one or more members can share PS-SCI resources. Such sharing can be indicated by an additional information item in the PS-SCI resource configuration that shows the sharing group members of a particular PS-SCI resource. In such an implementation, a UE sharing PS-SCI resources with other UEs in the group can be configured to monitor side-chain data during the side-chain on-duration or the side-chain resource pool in the next time division after transmitting the PS-SCI message and side-chain data in the previous time division. A group member not sharing PS-SCI resources with others may not need to monitor side-chain data during the side-chain on-duration or the side-chain resource pool in the next time division after transmitting the PS-SCI message and side-chain data in the previous time division. Therefore, the PS-SCI resource configuration can optionally include an indicator indicating whether the UE should monitor the side-chain on-duration or the side-chain resource pool in the next time division after transmitting the PS-SCI message and side-chain data. These optional information items that can be included in the PS-SCI resource configuration are similar to the corresponding optional information items for the wake-up control resource configuration in the third embodiment described above.

[0093] Other aspects not explicitly described in the fourth embodiment can be found in the descriptions of the third and second embodiments.

[0094] Fifth Embodiment

[0095] This embodiment provides various exemplary implementation schemes for configuring side-chain resources. In this embodiment, the side-chain resource configuration can be pre-configured for the UE, or the UE can obtain it from the network side (e.g., the WANN of its serving cell). This resource configuration combines the configuration of both side-chain resources for data transmission and side-chain control resources for energy saving. The side-chain control resources can include the wake-up control resources or PS-SCI resources described above in the first and third embodiments.

[0096] For example, the side-chain resource configuration can include a side-chain resource pool, as Figure 2 shown. The side-chain resource configuration can also include a wake-up control resource configuration that indicates one or more wake-up control resources for transmitting wake-up control information or signals. The side-chain resource configuration can optionally include an energy-saving indicator for indicating that the side-chain resource pool included in the side-chain resource configuration can be used by energy-saving UEs (such as P-UEs).

[0097] Such side-chain resource configurations can be used, for example, in side-chain broadcasts. The receiving UE can be pre-configured with such side-chain resource configurations or obtain such side-chain resource configurations from its network side. The receiving UE can be configured to always monitor the wake-up control resources for wake-up control information or signals. When the receiving UE detects wake-up control information or signals, it wakes up to monitor the side-chain resource pool for receiving side-chain data until the time point corresponding to the next wake-up control resource. If the receiving UE does not detect any wake-up control information or signals, there is no need to wake up to monitor the side-chain resource pool for side-chain data. Referring to Figure 2 , for example, if the receiving UE receives wake-up control information or signals at time point W1, indicating that the receiving UE needs to wake up to monitor side-chain data, it wakes up after W1 but before W2 to monitor the side-chain resource pool (side-chain resources 1, 2, and 3) to monitor and receive side-chain data. As another example, if the receiving UE monitors the wake-up control resources at W2 and does not receive any wake-up control information or signals, the receiving UE does not need to wake up after W2 and before W3 to monitor the side-chain resource pool for receiving side-chain data (e.g., side-chain resources 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8).

[0098] The transmitting UE may also be pre-configured with such sidelink resource configurations or obtain such sidelink resource configurations from its network side. When the transmitting UE determines that there is sidelink data to be transmitted (e.g., to be broadcasted), it first transmits wake-up control information or signals on the wake-up control resources indicated in the wake-up control resource configuration. For example, the transmitting UE may use the next available wake-up control resource in a timely manner after determining the need to transmit data. Then, the transmitting UE uses the sidelink resource pool between the time points corresponding to the wake-up resource and the next wake-up control resource that it uses to transmit the wake-up control information / signals to transmit the sidelink data. In other words, before transmitting the sidelink data on the sidelink resource pool, the transmitting UE always transmits wake-up control information or signals on the wake-up control resources. Refer to Figure 2 , for example, if the transmitting UE determines that it has sidelink data to be transmitted before W1, it may first transmit sidelink control information or signals at W1, and then transmit the sidelink data on the sidelink resources (1, 2, and 3) as needed. If the transmitting UE requires more sidelink resources than resources 1, 2, and 3 to transmit the sidelink data, it may further transmit another wake-up control information or signal at W2 and continue to use one or more of the sidelink resources 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 to transmit additional sidelink data.

[0099] Sixth Embodiment

[0100] This embodiment provides various exemplary implementation schemes for configuring one or more sidelink resource pools to save energy in sidelink communication.

[0101] One or more resource pools may be configured for the sidelink. Some of these sidelink resource pools may be associated with energy-saving purposes. For example, a smaller time resource range compensated by a larger frequency resource range may be provided for such energy-saving sidelink resource pools, so that the energy-saving UE only needs to monitor such sidelink resource pools for sidelink data for a short time.

[0102] In some implementation schemes, one or more energy-saving sidelink resource pools may be further divided into sidelink resource time divisions. Each sidelink time division may be a part of a sidelink resource pool, one sidelink resource pool, or multiple sidelink resource pools. For example, one or more energy-saving sidelink resource pools may be divided into N sidelink resource time divisions. In some implementation schemes, the number N may be explicitly or implicitly indicated in one or more sidelink resource configurations corresponding to one or more energy-saving sidelink resource pools. The time division methods of one or more energy-saving sidelink resource pools are described in the following various exemplary implementation schemes.

[0103] The UE can select these sidelink resource time partitions for sidelink communication based on the service type. Such service types can include, but are not limited to, service destination identifier, broadcast type (broadcast, multicast, or unicast), and QoS type (e.g., represented by QFI or QoS profile). For example, if an energy-saving UE is interested in a sidelink broadcast service corresponding to a specific service type, it can monitor the sidelink resource time partition corresponding to that service type. For example, the UE can use such sidelink resource time partitions based on the destination identifier of the sidelink communication. Only as an example implementation, for a sidelink broadcast service destination identifier = x, the broadcast UE can select the y-th sidelink resource time partition from N time partitions according to y = MOD(X, N). For another example, assuming m = log2N, the broadcast UE can select the y-th sidelink resource time partition from N time partitions according to y, where y is the value of the most significant bit (MSB) or the least significant bit (LSB) of m of the service destination identifier. Consider other ways of mapping the destination identifier to N time partitions of one or a set of sidelink resource pools.

[0104] For sidelink resource configuration, UEs within the coverage of the serving cell can be configured by the WANN. UEs not covered by the serving cell can be pre-configured. Multiple sidelink resource pools can be configured. Each sidelink resource pool can correspond to a sidelink resource configuration. For a specific sidelink resource pool, the corresponding sidelink resource configuration can include an energy-saving indicator for indicating whether the sidelink resource pool is designated for energy-saving purposes (in some implementations, the absence of such an indicator indicates that the resource pool is designated for normal purposes rather than energy-saving purposes). The sidelink resource configuration can also optionally include a number N to indicate the number of resource time partitions of one or a set of energy-saving sidelink resource pools. The sidelink resource configuration can also optionally include a service type indicator such as a service destination indicator for indicating whether the sidelink resource pool allocated in this configuration will be used by the UE based on the service type of the sidelink communication. Figures 7 - 9 Various example implementations for sidelink resource configuration are shown and described in more detail below.

[0105] As Figure 7 shown, a specific sidelink resource pool 702 can be configured for sidelink communication. The corresponding sidelink resource configuration can include, for example, a resource bitmap 704 for indicating the sidelink resources included in the sidelink resource pool 702. The sidelink resource configuration can include a positive number N for indicating the number of sidelink source time partitions of the sidelink resource pool 702, as shown at 706. In some implementations, the sidelink resources can be partitioned in time in an interleaved manner. As Figure 7For illustration purposes only, the sequence of time resources in the sidelink resource pool is represented by 1, 2, ……, 10. These time resources are divided into N = 5 time partitions, including time resources (1, 6), (2, 7), (3, 8), (4, 9), and (5, 10). Other partitioning rules can be considered. Such partitioning rules can be predefined. The sidelink resource configuration can also include an energy-saving indicator for indicating that the sidelink resource pool 702 can be used by energy-saving UEs. Alternatively, the presence of the positive number N in the sidelink resource configuration can be used as such an indicator. The sidelink resource configuration can also optionally include a service type indicator for indicating the service types that the sidelink resource pool 702 can be used by UEs, including but not limited to the service destination identifier, broadcast type, and QoS type as described above.

[0106] In some other embodiments, as Figure 7 shown, a specific sidelink resource pool 802 can be configured for sidelink communication. The corresponding sidelink resource configuration can include, for example, N individual resource bitmaps 804, 806, ……, and 808 for indicating the time partitioning of the sidelink resources within the sidelink resource pool 802. The sidelink resource configuration can optionally include a positive number N for indicating the number of time partitions of the sidelink resources. Alternatively, the positive number N may not be explicitly included in the configuration because it can be implicitly derived from the bitmaps 804, 806, ……, and 808. The sidelink resource configuration can also include an energy-saving indicator for indicating that the sidelink resource pool 702 can be used by energy-saving UEs. Alternatively, the presence of the positive number N or the presence of multiple bitmaps 804, 806, ……, and 808 can be used to indicate that the sidelink resource pool 802 can be used for energy saving. The sidelink resource configuration can also optionally include a service type indicator for indicating the service types that the sidelink resource pool 702 can be used by UEs, including but not limited to the service destination identifier, broadcast type, and QoS type as described above.

[0107] In some other embodiments, N sidelink resource pools can be configured together to form N time partitions. Figure 9Side-chain resource pools 902, 904, 906, and 908 are shown for forming N time partitions for energy-saving purposes. Each side-chain resource pool is a time division of side-chain resources. Each pool is associated with a side-chain resource configuration. Each side-chain resource configuration may include a resource bitmap, as shown by 912, 914, 926, and 918. The set of side-chain resource pools 902, 904, 9076, and 908 may be selected for use by energy-saving UEs. The side-chain resource configuration for each side-chain resource pool (e.g., side-chain resource pool 902) may optionally include a positive number N indicating the number of pools (or time divisions) participating in energy-saving purposes. The side-chain resource configuration may also include an energy-saving indicator for indicating that side-chain resource pool 702 can be used by energy-saving UEs, and for indicating that the side-chain resource pool corresponding to the side-chain resource configuration is part of a set of resource pools forming N time divisions. The side-chain resource configuration may also optionally include a service type indicator for indicating the service types that side-chain resource pool 702 can be used by UEs, including but not limited to service destination identification, broadcast type, and QoS type as described above. Thus, the energy-saving side-chain resource pools 902, 904, 906, and 908 can be configured for service type-specific or general-purpose energy-saving side-chain communication.

[0108] Using the above-described various side-chain resource configurations and allocations of resource pools, a transmitting (e.g., broadcasting) UE can perform the following steps when transmitting side-chain data. The transmitting UE can first receive the side-chain resource configuration through pre-configuration or from its network side (e.g., the WANN of its serving cell). When the transmitting UE needs to transmit side-chain data, it selects a time division from the side-chain resources according to the service type of the side-chain communication. For example, the transmitting UE can select one or more of the N time divisions of the side-chain resources for transmission based on the destination identification of the side-chain communication.

[0109] Similarly, a receiving UE receiving broadcast side-chain data can perform the following steps when receiving side-chain data. The receiving UE can first receive the side-chain resource configuration through pre-configuration or from its network side (e.g., the WANN of its serving cell). Then, the receiving end monitors the side-chain resources of interest. For example, if the receiving UE is interested in a broadcast data service with a specific destination identification, it then selects one or more corresponding time divisions of the side-chain resources to monitor the side-chain data. According to the various schemes and embodiments of the above resource allocation and configuration, the side-chain data corresponding to the destination identification of interest will be transmitted in one or more time divisions of the side-chain resources monitored by the receiving UE.

[0110] In some embodiments, if the UE receives a sidelink resource allocation from its serving WANN, the UE can obtain the sidelink resource configuration using the following example procedure. The UE can first send a buffer status report (BSR) to the WANN to request sidelink resource allocation. The BSR can include traffic type (such as service destination identifier) information (e.g., as an index), logical channel group (LCG) identifier, and buffer size. The WANN can allocate sidelink resources based on these parameters in the BSR and transmit one or more sidelink resource configurations to the UE. The sidelink resource configuration can include the allocation of sidelink resources and the traffic type index. Then, the UE can transmit data of the traffic type (e.g., service destination) through the sidelink resources according to the various embodiments described above.

[0111] Seventh Embodiment

[0112] The various embodiments of this embodiment combine the embodiments of the above fifth and sixth embodiments for a sidelink resource configuration embedded with an additional wake-up control resource configuration to further reduce the power consumption of the UE in sidelink communication.

[0113] For example, the wake-up control resource configuration described above in the fifth embodiment can be embedded in the various sidelink resource configurations described in the sixth embodiment. The wake-up control resource configuration indicates one or more wake-up control resources for transmitting wake-up control information or signals. Before sidelink data transmission, the UE can transmit wake-up control information or signals to instruct the receiving UE to monitor the sidelink resources of the sidelink data after a first time point corresponding to the wake-up control resource for transmitting the wake-up control information and a second time point corresponding to the next wake-up control resource specified in the wake-up control configuration.

[0114] Each sidelink resource pool can be associated with a sidelink resource configuration. Each sidelink resource configuration can include one or more wake-up control resource configurations. Each wake-up control resource configuration can include one or more wake-up control resources.

[0115] According to such sidelink resource configuration, when the transmitting UE determines that there is sidelink data to be transmitted (e.g., to be broadcast), it first transmits wake-up control information or a signal on the wake-up control resource indicated in the wake-up control resource configuration. For example, the transmitting UE may use the next available wake-up control resource after determining the need to transmit data. Then, the transmitting UE uses the sidelink resource pool to transmit the sidelink data between the time points corresponding to the wake-up resource used for transmitting the wake-up control information / signal and the next wake-up control resource. In other words, before transmitting the sidelink data on the sidelink resource pool, the transmitting UE always transmits the wake-up control information or a signal on the wake-up control resource. The selection of the sidelink resources for transmitting the sidelink data may be based on the various implementation manners described in the sixth embodiment. For example, the UE may use the sidelink resources in a time division selected based on the service type of the sidelink communication.

[0116] The receiving UE may be configured to always monitor the wake-up control resource for the wake-up control information or a signal. When the receiving UE detects the wake-up control information or a signal, it wakes up to monitor the sidelink resource pool for receiving the sidelink data until the time point corresponding to the next wake-up control resource. If the receiving UE does not detect any wake-up control information or a signal, there is no need to wake up to monitor the sidelink resource pool for the sidelink data. The selection of the sidelink resources for monitoring the sidelink data may be based on the various implementation manners described in the sixth embodiment. For example, the receiving UE may use the sidelink resources in a time division selected based on the service type of the sidelink communication (e.g., the destination identifier corresponding to the sidelink broadcast service that the receiving UE is interested in).

[0117] Eighth Embodiment

[0118] This embodiment provides an example implementation manner for establishing a unicast sidelink connection between UEs in an energy-saving manner.

[0119] For example, if UE1 does not establish any sidelink connection for unicast sidelink communication with UE2, it cannot communicate with UE2 according to the energy-saving scheme described in the previous embodiments. During this period, UE2 can monitor the messages broadcast by UE1. For example, UE2 can monitor the Direct Communication Request (DCR) message from UE1. Since the DCR message is carried in the broadcast signal, the energy-saving scheme for broadcast sidelink communication in the above embodiments can be used. Specifically, since UE1 uses the source layer 2 ID and the destination layer 2 ID to send the DCR message via PC5 broadcast, the broadcast data can be monitored based on the above fifth, sixth, and seventh embodiments. In addition, because the DCR message also includes other information, including but not limited to optional information such as target user information (for example, if the broadcasting UE can determine the target user information of the receiving UE, it can optionally include the target user information, otherwise it does not include the target user information), and if the broadcast message does carry the target user information of the receiving UE2, it can use the target user information as the destination identifier to calculate the time position of the resource pool for transmission, thereby determining the time position for transmitting the wake-up control information. The receiving UE2 can correspondingly use its application layer ID as the destination identifier to calculate the time position of the resource for receiving the broadcast data. If the broadcast message does not carry the target user information of the receiving UE2, other information such as the initial application layer ID or V2X service information can be used as the destination identifier of UE1 to calculate the time position of the resources for transmitting the wake-up control information and the broadcast message. Correspondingly, for UE2, if it is interested in this type of unicast service, it can calculate the time position of the resource using these parameters.

[0120] Ninth Embodiment

[0121] This embodiment provides an exemplary implementation for establishing a multicast sidelink connection between UEs in an energy-saving manner.

[0122] For example, a P-UE may be interested in services associated with multicast. The P-UE may not yet be a group member and may not have established any PC5 RRC group connection with the UEs in the group. If all UEs in the group support the energy-saving sidelink function, the sidelink resource pool of the P-UE can be time-divided according to the service type (such as service destination identifier) as described above in the sixth embodiment. For example, the energy-saving resource pool can be divided into N time divisions. For the multicast data transmission with the destination identifier x, the time division index y can be selected according to, for example, y = mod(x, N). For another example, assuming m = log2N, y is the value of the most significant bit (MSB) or the least significant bit (LSB) of m of the service target identifier. Correspondingly, for each resource pool, the wake-up or PS SCI control resources can be further configured. Then, if a UE needs to send a multicast message, it first sends the wake-up or PS SCI information or signal before sending the multicast message. For the UEs covered by the serving cell, the energy-saving sidelink resources can be configured by the WAN. For example, when configuring the resource pool for the P-UE, an indicator can be included in the configuration to indicate whether the resource pool supports the energy-saving function. The number N can be optionally included. A service type indicator can also be included to indicate whether the resource pool can be used based on the service type. For each resource pool, the wake-up or PS-SCI resource configuration indicating the wake-up or PS-SCI resources can also be included.

[0123] In addition, and as described in the second embodiment, if the PS-SCI method is used, the PS-SCI message can also carry the service type such as the service destination identifier, which is used to indicate which service / service type will be sent in the next sidelink resource. Then, the UEs interested in this type of service or service type will wake up and monitor the sidelink resources for sidelink data. The UE further calculates the time division index y according to the service type such as the destination identifier. Different y may correspond to different PS-SCIs, thereby further reducing the number of wake-ups. If a wake-up signal is used instead, the wake-up control resources can be determined by calculating y based on the service type such as the destination identifier, thereby reducing the number of wake-ups.

[0124] If different wake-up or PS-SCI resources are configured in different serving cells, the transmitting and receiving UEs may misunderstand each other. Such a configuration may require coordination between the serving cells. Such coordination may involve the OAM (Operation, Administration, and Maintenance) function of the radio network.

[0125] If the P-UE also needs to receive data from a traditional sidelink UE that never sends wake-up control signals (a UE that does not support the energy-saving function), the P-UE may miss the monitoring of sidelink data (because it does not receive any wake-up control signals). To avoid such situations, the transmission resources and reception resources of the traditional UE and the P-UE can be separated. The transmission resources for the traditional UE and the reception resources for the P-UE can be configured separately.

[0126] Throughout the specification and claims, terms may have nuances that are implied or implicit in the context, beyond the explicitly stated meanings. Similarly, the phrase "in one embodiment / implementation" as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, and the phrase "in another embodiment / implementation" as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. For example, the claimed subject matter includes combinations of all or part of the example embodiments.

[0127] Generally speaking, terms can be understood, at least in part, from their usage in the context. For example, terms such as "and", "or", or "and / or" as used herein can have multiple meanings, which depend, at least in part, on the context in which these terms are used. Generally, "or" if used in connection with a list, such as A, B, or C, means A, B, and C when used in an inclusive sense, as well as A, B, or C when used in an exclusive sense. Additionally, the term "one or more" as used herein, depending at least in part on the context, can be used to describe any feature, structure, or property in a singular sense, or can be used to describe a combination of features, structures, or properties in a plural sense. Similarly, terms such as "a", "an", or "the" can be understood to denote a singular usage or a plural usage, at least in part, depending on the context. Moreover, the term "based on" can be understood to not necessarily intend to convey a set of exclusive factors and can allow for additional factors that are not necessarily explicitly described, at least in part, depending on the context.

[0128] References in this specification to features, advantages, or similar language do not mean that all features and advantages that can be implemented by the solution should or are included in any single embodiment thereof. On the contrary, language referring to features and advantages is understood to mean that a particular feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the solution. Thus, discussions of features and advantages and similar language throughout the specification can, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

[0129] In addition, in one or more embodiments, the features, advantages, and characteristics of the present solution may be combined in any suitable manner. Based on the description herein, those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will recognize that the present solution may be practiced without one or more specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other cases, additional features and advantages may be identified in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the present solution.

Claims

1. A method for wireless sidechain communication, comprising: Receiving, by a user equipment (UE), a wireless resource configuration for a sidechain resource pool, wherein the sidechain resource pool is divided into N time divisions, and the wireless resource configuration includes an energy saving indicator for indicating that the sidechain resource pool can be used by the UE for sidechain communication in an energy saving mode; and Selecting, by the UE, a time division for sidechain communication from the N time divisions of the sidechain resource pool based on a service type of the sidechain communication, wherein N is a positive integer, and the service type is indicated by at least one of a destination identifier of the sidechain communication and QoS information, and the QoS information includes at least one of a QoS flow identifier corresponding to the sidechain communication and a QoS profile.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The wireless resource configuration includes: A first information element for identifying sidechain resources allocated to the wireless resource configuration; and A second information element including a positive integer equal to N.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The wireless resource configuration includes: A first information element including N time bitmaps for identifying the N time divisions of the sidechain resource pool; and A second information element for indicating frequency allocation information for all N time divisions of the sidechain resource pool.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the wireless resource configuration further includes at least one of the following: A wireless resource configuration identifier; and A service type indicator for indicating one or more service types.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The wireless resource configuration includes one or more sidechain control resource configurations for indicating a set of sidechain control resources used to transmit one or more sidechain control information.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, The method further includes, before transmitting the sidechain communication through a selected time division of the sidechain resource pool, transmitting, by the UE, sidechain control information through one of the sidechain control resource sets to indicate to a receiving UE whether to monitor the sidechain resource pool or the selected time division of the sidechain resource pool during a configured time period after receiving the sidechain control information.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein The method further includes, before monitoring, by the UE, the selected time division of the sidechain resource pool for receiving the sidechain communication, monitoring, by the UE, one or more sidechain control information on the sidechain control resource set to receive sidechain control information, the sidechain control information indicating to the receiving UE whether to monitor the sidechain resource pool or the selected time division of the sidechain resource pool during a configured time period after receiving the sidechain control information.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein Each sidechain resource pool includes one or more sidechain on durations.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein Each of the one or more sidechain control resource configurations corresponds to one or more time points corresponding to the one or more sidechain control information.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein: The sidechain control information is transmitted at a time point among the one or more time points; and The configured time period corresponds to a time between the time point and a next time point among the one or more time points.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein The sidelink control information includes a wake-up indicator for indicating to the receiving UE whether to monitor the sidelink resource pool or a selected time division of the sidelink resource pool during a configured time period after receiving the sidelink control information.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein The sidelink control information includes a sidelink control message containing the wake-up indicator.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The one or more sidelink control information is associated with the service type of the sidelink transmission, and correspondingly, the sidelink control information transmitted by the UE further includes service type information associated with the service type of the sidelink communication.

14. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to read computer code from the memory to implement the method according to any one of claims 1-13.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-13.

Images