Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) Overhead in Sidelink Wireless Communications

Abstract

Transmitter and receiver wireless communication devices, which are configured to independently determine the same transport block size (TBS) used in conjunction with sidelink communication. In an alternative example, the transmitter device includes a transceiver; a memory; and a processor, which is configured to generate or obtain a PSFCH overhead indicator indicating whether the physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) overhead is used to determine the TBS. The processor also determines the number of DMRS resource elements (REs) associated with the demodulation reference signal (DMRS) overhead for the TBS determination. The processor determines the TBS based on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator, and then transmits a signal including the PSFCH overhead indicator to the receiver device using the sidelink wireless communication. These signals are transmitted according to the determined TBS. The PSFCH overhead indicator indicates whether the PSFCH overhead is to be used by the receiver device for TBS determination.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority based on non-provisional patent application S / N. 17 / 319,964 filed in the U.S. Patent Office on May 13, 2021, and provisional patent application S / N. 63 / 025,922 filed in the U.S. Patent Office on May 15, 2020, both of which are assigned to the assignee of this application and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth and for all applicable purposes.

[0003] Public domain

[0004] The techniques discussed below relate generally to wireless communication networks, and more particularly to determining a transport block size (TBS) for sidelink wireless communications involving a demodulation reference signal (DMRS).

[0005] Related technical description

[0006] Wireless communication between devices may be facilitated through various network configurations. In one configuration, a cellular network may enable wireless communication devices (e.g., user equipment (UE)) to communicate with each other through signaling with nearby base stations or cells. Another wireless communication network configuration is a device-to-device (D2D) network, in which wireless communication devices may signal each other directly, rather than via an intervening base station or cell. For example, a D2D communication network may utilize sidelink signaling to facilitate direct communication between wireless communication devices.

[0007] Overview

[0008] A brief summary of one or more aspects of the present disclosure is given below to provide a basic understanding of these aspects. This summary is not an exhaustive overview of all conceived features of the present disclosure, and is neither intended to identify the key or decisive elements of all aspects of the present disclosure nor to attempt to define the scope of any or all aspects of the present disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the present disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description that will be given later.

[0009] In one example, a wireless communication device for use in a sidelink wireless communication network is provided. The wireless communication device, which may be a transmitting wireless communication device, includes: a wireless transceiver; a memory; and a processor communicatively coupled to the wireless transceiver and the memory. The processor is configured to: obtain a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) overhead indicator indicating whether a PSFCH overhead is used to determine a transport block size (TBS); determine the number of DMRS resource elements (REs) associated with a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) overhead used to determine the TBS; determine the TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator; and control the wireless transceiver to transmit signals including the PSFCH overhead indicator to a receiving wireless communication device using sidelink wireless communication, wherein the signals are transmitted according to the determined TBS.

[0010] In another example, a method for performing sidelink wireless communication at a wireless communication device is provided. The method includes: obtaining a PSFCH overhead indicator indicating whether PSFCH overhead is used to determine a TBS; determining the number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead used to determine the TBS; determining the TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator; and controlling a wireless transceiver to transmit signals including the PSFCH overhead indicator to a receiving wireless communication device using sidelink wireless communication, wherein the signals are transmitted according to the determined TBS.

[0011] In yet another example, a wireless communication device for use in a sidelink wireless communication network is provided. The wireless communication device, which may be a receiving wireless communication device, includes: a wireless transceiver; a memory; and a processor communicatively coupled to the wireless transceiver and the memory. The processor is configured to: receive a PSFCH overhead indicator from a transmitting wireless communication device using the wireless transceiver on a wireless sidelink channel; determine a number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for sidelink wireless communication; determine a TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator; receive a data channel transmission from the transmitting wireless communication device; and decode the data channel transmission using the TBS.

[0012] In yet another example, a method for sidelink wireless communication at a wireless communication device is provided. The method includes: receiving a PSFCH overhead indicator from a transmitting wireless communication device on a wireless sidelink channel; determining a number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for sidelink wireless communication; determining a TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator; receiving a data channel transmission from the transmitting wireless communication device; and decoding the data channel transmission using the TBS. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless radio access network in accordance with some aspects.

[0015] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication network that employs sidelink communications in accordance with some aspects.

[0016] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication system for facilitating both cellular and sidelink communications in accordance with some aspects.

[0017] Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless communication system supporting beamforming and / or multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications in accordance with some aspects.

[0018] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frame structure for use in a wireless communication network in accordance with some aspects.

[0019] Figures 7A-7C An example of a sidelink slot structure in which a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) is communicated is illustrated.

[0020] Figure 8 Additional examples of sidelink slot structures in which DMRS are communicated are illustrated.

[0021] Fig. 9 Additional examples of sidelink slot structures are illustrated, particularly 2-symbol, 3-symbol, and 4-symbol DMRS examples for use with a 12-symbol physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH).

[0022] Fig.10 Other examples of sidelink slot structures are illustrated, particularly the 2-symbol and 3-symbol DMRS examples used with the 9-symbol PSSCH.

[0023] Fig.11is a signaling diagram illustrating an example of sidelink wireless communication in accordance with some aspects, wherein a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) overhead indicator is employed in conjunction with DMRS and determination of a transport block size (TBS).

[0024] Fig.12 is a signaling diagram illustrating another example of sidelink wireless communication in accordance with some aspects, where a PSFCH overhead indicator is employed in conjunction with DMRS and determination of TBS.

[0025] Fig.13 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for a wireless communication device employing a processing system in which a PSFCH overhead indicator is employed in conjunction with a DMRS and determination of a TBS in accordance with some aspects.

[0026] Fig.14 is a flow chart of an example method for sidelink communications in which a PSFCH overhead indicator is generated and sent by a transmitting wireless communication device in accordance with some aspects.

[0027] Fig.15 is a flow chart of another example method for sidelink communications in accordance with some aspects, wherein a PSFCH overhead indicator is received and decoded by a receiving wireless communication device.

[0028] Fig.16 is a flow chart of yet another example method for sidelink communication in accordance with some aspects, wherein an allocation size is used in conjunction with determining a number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead.

[0029] Fig.17 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for a transmitting wireless communication device employing a processing system in accordance with some aspects, wherein a PSFCH overhead indicator is generated by the transmitting device and sent to a receiving wireless communication device.

[0030] Fig.18 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for a receiving wireless communication device employing a processing system in which a PSFCH overhead indicator is received from a transmitting wireless communication device and decoded by the receiving device in accordance with some aspects.

[0031] Fig.19 is a timing diagram of sidelink communications in which a PSFCH overhead indicator is generated and sent by a transmitting wireless communication device and received and decoded by a receiving device in accordance with some aspects.

[0032] Fig. 201 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for sidelink communication for use by a transmitting wireless communication device, wherein a number of DMRS resource elements (REs) associated with DMRS overhead for determining a TBS is determined, and a PSFCH overhead indicator is generated and sent by the transmitting wireless communication device.

[0033] Fig.21 is a flow chart further illustrating an exemplary method for sidelink communication for use by a transmitting wireless communication device, wherein a number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for determining a TBS is determined, and a PSFCH overhead indicator is generated and sent by the transmitting wireless communication device.

[0034] Fig. 22 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for sidelink communication for use by a receiving wireless communication device, wherein a PSFCH overhead indicator is received and a number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for determining a TBS is determined based on the indicator.

[0035] Fig.23 is a flow chart further illustrating an exemplary method for sidelink communications for use by a receiving wireless communication device, wherein a PSFCH overhead indicator is received and a number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for determining a TBS is determined based on the indicator.

[0036] Fig.24 is a flow chart of an exemplary method for sidelink communications for use by a transmitting wireless communication device, wherein the transmitting wireless communication device generates or otherwise obtains a PSFCH overhead indicator indicating whether PSFCH overhead is used to determine a TBS and the PSFCH overhead indicator is sent to a receiving wireless communication device.

[0037] Detailed Description

[0038] The detailed description set forth below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. This detailed description includes specific details to provide a thorough understanding of the various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid diluting such concepts.

[0039] It should be understood that the above examples are not necessarily intended to limit the claimed subject matter. For example, unless specifically stated, the claimed subject matter related to wireless communications is not necessarily intended to be limited to frequency bands defined by any particular author / entity, etc.

[0040] Although various aspects and embodiments are described in this application by explanation of some examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that additional implementations and use cases can be generated in many different arrangements and scenarios. The innovation described herein can be implemented across many different platform types, devices, systems, shapes, sizes, and packaging arrangements. For example, each embodiment and / or use can be generated via an integrated chip embodiment and other devices based on non-module components (e.g., end-user devices, vehicles, communication equipment, computing equipment, industrial equipment, retail / shopping equipment, medical equipment, AI-enabled devices, etc.). Although some examples may or may not be specifically for each use case or application, the wide applicability of the described innovation may occur. The scope of each implementation can range from chip-level or module components to non-module, non-chip-level implementations, and further to aggregated, distributed or OEM devices or systems incorporating one or more aspects of the described innovation. In some practical environments, the equipment incorporating the various aspects and features described may also necessarily include additional components and features for implementing and practicing the claimed and described embodiments. For example, the transmission and reception of wireless signals necessarily include several components for analog and digital purposes (e.g., hardware components, including antennas, RF chains, power amplifiers, modulators, buffers, processors, interleavers, adders / summers, etc.). The innovations described herein are intended to be practiced in a wide variety of devices, chip-level components, systems, distributed arrangements, end-user devices, etc., of various sizes, shapes, and configurations.

[0041] Problems may arise in sidelink communications with determining an average number of demodulation reference signal (DMRS) resource elements (REs) associated with DMRS overhead to be used for determining a transport block size (TBS). Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to mechanisms for wireless communication devices to configure and determine an average number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead to be used for determining a TBS for transmissions and retransmissions, which in some examples depends on whether a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) resource overhead is to be used for TBS determination in transmissions and retransmissions.

[0042] In short, in 5G New Radio (NR) sidelink communications, some time slots may have PSFCH resources while others do not. User equipment (UE) can randomly select from available resources to transmit in time slots with or without PSFCH resources. Time slots with PSFCH resources may appear with configurable periodic (0, 1, 2, 4) time slots. Multiple time domain DMRS modes can be supported in the NR side link. 2-symbol DMRS, 3-symbol DMRS and 4-symbol DMRS can be supported. The transmitting UE can indicate which mode to use in the transmission in the sidelink control information (SCI). Each resource pool can be pre-configured with a set of enabled DMRS modes. In TBS determination, overhead due to different factors can be removed from the number of available REs available for transmitting data. A feature of the TBS determination proposed in this article is that the TBS remains the same between initial transmission and retransmission.

[0043] In some examples disclosed herein, a PSFCH overhead indicator is sent from a first wireless communication device to a second wireless communication device, indicating whether the PSFCH resource will be used for TBS determination during transmission and retransmission. The first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device may be configured to independently determine the same average number of DMRSREs associated with DMRS overhead to be used to determine the TBS. In some examples, when the PSFCH resource overhead is enabled in the TBS determination, the first (smaller) average number of DMRS REs is used for TBS determination, and when the PSFCH resource overhead is not enabled, the second (larger) average number of DMRS REs is used for TBS determination. In some examples, the average number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for determining the TBS is obtained from a corresponding lookup table maintained in both the first and second wireless communication devices. In other examples, the average number of DMRS REs associated with the DMRS overhead is independently calculated by both the first and second wireless communication devices using the same calculation rules and parameters.

[0044] Thus, in these and other examples disclosed herein, both the first and second wireless communication devices independently determine the same average number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for both transmission and retransmission. This particular determination is made based in part on an indicator sent by the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device, where the indicator can be a single-bit value within the SCI.

[0045] In some examples, the sidelink communication between the first and second wireless communication devices may be performed according to a device-to-device (D2D) communication protocol or procedure, which allows UEs to communicate with each other with or without the involvement of network infrastructure such as access points or base stations. In some examples, the D2D sidelink communication may be further performed according to a cellular V2X (CV2X) communication protocol or procedure, such as between a UE within a vehicle and a UE within another device (such as a traffic light or a mobile device held by a pedestrian).

[0046] The various concepts presented throughout this disclosure may be implemented across a wide variety of telecommunication systems, network architectures, and communication standards. Figure 1 , a schematic illustration of a radio access network 100 is provided as an illustrative example and not a limitation. The RAN 100 may implement any one or several suitable wireless communication technologies to provide radio access. As an example, the RAN 100 may operate in accordance with the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) New Radio (NR) specifications, commonly referred to as 5G. As another example, the RAN 100 may operate under a mix of 5G NR and Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (eUTRAN) standards, commonly referred to as LTE. 3GPP refers to the hybrid RAN as the Next Generation RAN, or NG-RAN. Of course, many other examples may be utilized within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0047] The geographical area covered by the radio access network 100 may be divided into a number of cellular areas (cells) which may be uniquely identified by a UE based on an identity broadcast over the geographical area from an access point or base station. Figure 1 Macro cells 102, 104, and 106, and small cells 108 are illustrated, each of which may include one or more sectors (not shown). A sector is a sub-area of ​​a cell. All sectors within one cell are served by the same base station. A radio link within a sector may be identified by a single logical identifier belonging to the sector. In a cell divided into sectors, multiple sectors within a cell may be formed by antenna groups, where each antenna is responsible for communication with UEs in a portion of the cell.

[0048] In general, a corresponding base station (BS) serves a respective cell. In a broad sense, a base station is a network element in a radio access network that is responsible for radio transmission and reception to or from a UE in one or more cells. A BS may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a base transceiver station (BTS), a radio base station, a radio transceiver, a transceiver function, a basic service set (BSS), an extended service set (ESS), an access point (AP), a B node (NB), an evolved B node (eNB), a next generation B node (gNB), or some other suitable term.

[0049] exist Figure 1 , two base stations 110 and 112 are shown in cells 102 and 104; and a third base station 114 is shown as controlling a remote radio head (RRH) 116 in cell 106. That is, the base station may have an integrated antenna, or may be connected to the antenna or RRH by a feeder cable. In the illustrated example, cells 102, 104, and 106 may be referred to as macro cells because base stations 110, 112, and 114 support cells with large sizes. In addition, base station 118 is shown in a small cell 108 (e.g., a micro cell, a pico cell, a femto cell, a home base station, a home Node B, a home evolved Node B, etc.), which may overlap with one or more macro cells. In this example, cell 108 may be referred to as a small cell because base station 118 supports cells with relatively small sizes. Cell size setting may be done according to system design and component constraints. It is to be understood that the radio access network 100 may include any number of wireless base stations and cellular cells. In addition, relay nodes may be deployed to extend the size or coverage area of ​​a given cellular cell. Base stations 110, 112, 114, 118 provide wireless access points to the core network for any number of mobile devices.

[0050] Figure 1 Further included is a quadcopter or drone 120 that can be configured to act as a base station. That is, in some examples, the cell may not necessarily be stationary, and the geographic area of ​​the cell may move depending on the location of a mobile base station (such as a quadcopter 120).

[0051] In general, a base station may include a backhaul interface for communicating with a backhaul portion of a network (not shown). The backhaul may provide a link between the base station and a core network (not shown), and in some examples, the backhaul may provide interconnection between respective base stations. The core network may be part of a wireless communication system and may be independent of the radio access technology used in the radio access network. Various types of backhaul interfaces may be employed using any suitable transport network, such as a direct physical connection, a virtual network, and the like.

[0052] RAN 100 is illustrated as supporting wireless communications for multiple mobile devices. Mobile devices are generally referred to as user equipment (UE) in standards and specifications promulgated by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), but may also be referred to as mobile stations (MS), subscriber stations, mobile units, subscriber units, wireless units, remote units, mobile devices, wireless devices, wireless communication devices, remote devices, mobile subscriber stations, access terminals (AT), mobile terminals, wireless terminals, remote terminals, handsets, terminals, user agents, mobile clients, clients, or some other suitable terminology by those skilled in the art. UE may be a device that provides access to network services to a user.

[0053] In this document, a "mobile" device does not necessarily need to have mobile capabilities and can be stationary. The term mobile device or mobile device refers to a wide variety of devices and technologies. For example, some non-limiting examples of mobile devices include mobile devices, cellular (cell) phones, smart phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, laptops, personal computers (PCs), notebooks, netbooks, smartbooks, tablet devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and a wide variety of embedded systems, for example, corresponding to the "Internet of Things" (IoT). Additionally, the mobile device can be a car or other transportation vehicle, a remote sensor or actuator, a robot or robotic device, a satellite radio, a global positioning system (GPS) device, an object tracking device, a drone, a multi-axis aircraft, a quadcopter, a remote control device, a consumer and / or wearable device (such as glasses), a wearable camera, a virtual reality device, a smart watch, a health or fitness tracker, a digital audio player (e.g., an MP3 player), a camera, a game console, etc. Additionally, the mobile device may be a digital home or smart home device, such as home audio, video and / or multimedia devices, appliances, vending machines, smart lighting devices, home security systems, smart meters, etc. The mobile device may further be a smart energy device, a security device, a solar panel or solar array, municipal infrastructure devices that control power, lighting, water, etc. (e.g., smart grids); industrial automation and enterprise devices; logistics controllers; agricultural equipment; military defense equipment, vehicles, aircraft, ships and weapons, etc. Further, the mobile device may provide networked medical or telemedicine support, such as health care at a distance. Telehealth devices may include telehealth monitoring devices and telehealth supervision devices, whose communications may be given priority treatment or prioritized access over other types of information, for example, in the form of prioritized access for critical service data transmission and / or associated QoS for critical service data transmission.

[0054] Within the RAN 100, the cells may include UEs that may be in communication with one or more sectors of each cell. For example, UEs 122 and 124 may be in communication with base station 110; UEs 126 and 128 may be in communication with base station 112; UEs 130 and 132 may be in communication with base station 114 via RRH 116; UE 134 may be in communication with base station 118; and UE 136 may be in communication with mobile base station 120. Here, each base station 110, 112, 114, 118, and 120 may be configured to provide an access point to a core network (not shown) for all UEs in the corresponding cell. In another example, a mobile network node (e.g., quadcopter 120) may be configured to act as a UE. For example, quadcopter 120 may operate within cell 102 by communicating with base station 110.

[0055] Wireless communication between RAN 100 and a UE (e.g., UE 122 or 124) may be described as utilizing an air interface. Transmissions over the air interface from a base station (e.g., base station 110) to one or more UEs (e.g., UEs 122 and 124) may be referred to as downlink (DL) transmissions. According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the term downlink may refer to point-to-multipoint transmissions originating at a scheduling entity (further described below; e.g., base station 110). Another way to describe the scheme may be to use the term broadcast channel multiplexing. Transmissions from a UE (e.g., UE 122) to a base station (e.g., base station 110) may be referred to as uplink (UL) transmissions. According to further aspects of the present disclosure, the term uplink may refer to point-to-point transmissions originating at a scheduled entity (further described below; e.g., UE 122).

[0056] For example, DL transmissions may include unicast or broadcast transmissions of control information and / or traffic information (e.g., user data traffic) from a base station (e.g., base station 110) to one or more UEs (e.g., UEs 122 and 124), while UL transmissions may include transmissions of control information and / or traffic information originated at a UE (e.g., UE 122). Additionally, uplink and / or downlink control information and / or traffic information may be divided into frames, subframes, time slots, and / or symbols in time. As used herein, a symbol may refer to a time unit in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform in which each subcarrier carries one resource element (RE). A time slot may carry 7 or 14 OFDM symbols. A subframe may refer to a duration of 1 ms. Multiple subframes or time slots may be grouped together to form a single frame or radio frame. Of course, these definitions are not required, and any appropriate scheme may be utilized to organize the waveform, and the various time divisions of the waveform may have any appropriate duration.

[0057] In order to obtain a low block error rate (BLER) for transmission over the air interface while still achieving very high data rates, channel coding can be used. That is, wireless communications generally utilize suitable error-correcting block codes. In a typical block code, an information message or sequence is split into code blocks (CBs), and an encoder (e.g., CODEC) at the transmitting device then mathematically adds redundancy to the information message. Utilizing the redundancy in the encoded information message can improve the reliability of the message, thereby enabling correction of any bit errors that may occur due to noise.

[0058] In earlier 5G NR specifications, user data is encoded using quasi-cyclic low-density parity check (LDPC) with two different basemaps: one basemap is used for large code blocks and / or high code rates, and the other basemap is used for other cases. Control information and the physical broadcast channel (PBCH) are encoded using polar coding based on nested sequences. For these channels, puncturing, shortening, and repetition are used for rate matching.

[0059] However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented using any suitable channel code. Various implementations of base stations and UEs may include suitable hardware and capabilities (e.g., encoders, decoders, and / or CODECs) to utilize one or more of these channel codes for wireless communication.

[0060] The air interface in the RAN 100 may utilize one or more multiplexing and multiple access algorithms to enable simultaneous communication of various devices. For example, the 5G NR specification provides multiple access for UL or reverse link transmissions from UEs 122 and 124 to base station 110, and utilizes orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with a cyclic prefix (CP) to provide multiplexing for DL ​​or forward link transmissions from base station 110 to UEs 122 and 124. In addition, for UL transmissions, the 5G NR specification provides support for discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) with CP (also known as single carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA)). However, within the scope of the present disclosure, multiplexing and multiple access are not limited to the above schemes, and may be provided using time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), sparse code multiple access (SCMA), resource extension multiple access (RSMA), or other appropriate multiple access schemes. In addition, multiplexing of DL transmissions from base station 110 to UEs 122 and 124 may be provided using time division multiplexing (TDM), code division multiplexing (CDM), frequency division multiplexing (FDM), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), sparse code multiplexing (SCM), or other suitable multiplexing schemes.

[0061] In addition, the air interface in the RAN 100 may utilize one or more duplex algorithms. Duplex refers to a point-to-point communication link in which both endpoints can communicate with each other in two directions. Full-duplex means that both endpoints can communicate with each other at the same time. Half-duplex means that only one endpoint can send information to the other endpoint at a time. In a wireless link, a full-duplex channel generally relies on the physical isolation of the transmitter and the receiver, and suitable interference cancellation techniques. Full-duplex simulation is usually achieved for a wireless link by utilizing frequency division duplex (FDD) or time division duplex (TDD). In FDD, transmissions in different directions operate at different carrier frequencies. In TDD, transmissions in different directions on a given channel are separated from each other using time division multiplexing. That is, at some times, the channel is dedicated to transmissions in one direction, and at other times, the channel is dedicated to transmissions in another direction, where the direction can change very quickly, for example, several times per time slot.

[0062] In the RAN 100, the ability of a UE to communicate independently of its location while moving is referred to as mobility. The various physical channels between the UE and the RAN are generally established, maintained, and released under the control of an access and mobility management function (AMF), which may include a security context management function (SCMF) that manages the security context of both the control plane and the user plane functionality, and a security anchor function (SEAF) that performs authentication. In various aspects of the present disclosure, the RAN 100 may utilize DL-based mobility or UL-based mobility to achieve mobility and switching (e.g., the UE's connection is transferred from one radio channel to another radio channel). In a network configured for DL-based mobility, during a call with a scheduling entity, or at any other time, the UE may monitor various parameters of the signal from its serving cell and various parameters of neighboring cells. Depending on the quality of these parameters, the UE may maintain communication with one or more neighboring cells. If the UE moves from one cell to another, or if the signal quality from a neighboring cell exceeds the signal quality from the serving cell for a given amount of time, the UE may perform a handover or switch from the serving cell to the neighboring (target) cell. For example, UE 124 may move from a geographic area corresponding to its serving cell 102 to a geographic area corresponding to a neighbor cell 106. When the signal strength or quality from neighbor cell 106 exceeds the signal strength or quality of its serving cell 102 for a given amount of time, UE 124 may transmit a report message indicating this condition to its serving base station 110. In response, UE 124 may receive a handover command, and the UE may undergo a handover to cell 106.

[0063] In a network configured for UL-based mobility, the UL reference signal from each UE may be used by the network to select a serving cell for each UE. In some examples, base stations 110, 112, and 114 / 116 may broadcast unified synchronization signals (e.g., a unified primary synchronization signal (PSS), a unified secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and a unified physical broadcast channel (PBCH)). UEs 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, and 132 may receive the unified synchronization signals, derive carrier frequency and radio frame timing from these synchronization signals, and transmit uplink pilots or reference signals in response to the derived timing. The uplink pilot signal transmitted by a UE (e.g., UE 124) may be received concurrently by two or more cells (e.g., base stations 110 and 114 / 116) within RAN 100. Each of these cells may measure the strength of the pilot signal, and the RAN (e.g., one or more of base stations 110 and 114 / 116 and / or a central node within the core network) may determine a serving cell for UE 124. As UE 124 moves within RAN 100, the network may continue to monitor the uplink pilot signals transmitted by UE 124. When the signal strength or quality of the pilot signal measured by a neighboring cell exceeds the signal strength or quality measured by the serving cell, RAN 100 may handover UE 124 from the serving cell to the neighboring cell with or without notifying UE 124.

[0064] Although the synchronization signal transmitted by base stations 110, 112 and 114 / 116 may be uniform, the synchronization signal may not identify a specific cell, but may identify a zone including multiple cells operating on the same frequency and / or having the same timing. The use of zones in a 5G network or other next generation communication network implements an uplink-based mobility framework and may improve the efficiency of both the UE and the network because the number of mobility messages that need to be exchanged between the UE and the network may be reduced.

[0065] In various implementations, the air interface in the RAN 100 may utilize a licensed spectrum, an unlicensed spectrum, or a shared spectrum. A licensed spectrum generally provides exclusive use of a portion of the spectrum by a mobile network operator purchasing a license from a government regulator. An unlicensed spectrum provides shared use of a portion of the spectrum without the need for a government-granted license. Although some technical rules generally still need to be followed to access the unlicensed spectrum, any operator or device can obtain access. Shared spectrum may fall between licensed and unlicensed spectrum, where technical rules or restrictions may be required to access the spectrum, but the spectrum may still be shared by multiple operators and / or multiple RATs. For example, a license holder of a portion of a licensed spectrum may provide licensed shared access (LSA) to share the spectrum with other parties, for example, using conditions determined by the appropriate license holder to obtain access.

[0066] In some examples, access to the air interface may be scheduled, where a scheduling entity (e.g., a base station) allocates resources (e.g., time-frequency resources) for communication among some or all devices and equipment within its service area or cell. Within the present disclosure, as discussed further below, a scheduling entity may be responsible for scheduling, assigning, reconfiguring, and releasing resources for one or more scheduled entities. That is, for scheduled communications, a UE or scheduled entity utilizes resources allocated by the scheduling entity.

[0067] The base station is not the only entity that can be used as a scheduling entity. That is, in some examples, the UE can be used as a scheduling entity, thereby scheduling resources for one or more scheduled entities (e.g., one or more other UEs). In other examples, side link signals can be used between UEs without relying on scheduling or control information from the base station. For example, UE 138 is illustrated as communicating with UEs 140 and 142. In some examples, UE 138 is being used as a scheduling entity or a transmitter side link device, and UEs 140 and 142 can be used as scheduled entities or receiver side link devices. For example, UE 138 can be used as a scheduling entity in a device-to-device (D2D), peer-to-peer (P2P), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), and / or mesh network. In the mesh network example, UEs 140 and 142 can optionally communicate directly with each other in addition to communicating with the scheduling entity 138.

[0068] In some aspects of the present disclosure, two or more UEs (e.g., UEs 126 and 128) within the coverage area of ​​the serving base station 112 may communicate with each other using sidelink signals 127 without relaying the communication through the base station. In this example, the base station 110 or one or both of the UEs 126 and 128 may serve as a scheduling entity to schedule sidelink communications between the UEs 126 and 128. For example, the UEs 126 and 128 may communicate the sidelink signals 127 within a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) network.

[0069] In some examples, two main technologies that may be used by a V2X network include dedicated short range communications (DSRC) based on the IEEE 802.11p standard and cellular V2X based on LTE and / or 5G (New Radio) standards. Various aspects of the present disclosure may relate to New Radio (NR) cellular V2X networks, which for simplicity are referred to herein as V2X networks. However, it should be understood that the concepts disclosed herein may not be limited to a particular V2X standard or may refer to sidelink networks other than V2X networks.

[0070] Figure 2 An example of a wireless communication network 200 configured to support D2D or sidelink communication is illustrated. In some examples, the sidelink communication may include V2X communication. V2X communication involves not only direct wireless information exchange between vehicles (e.g., vehicles 202 and 204) themselves, but also direct wireless information exchange between vehicles 202 / 204 and infrastructure 206 (such as street lights, buildings, traffic cameras, toll booths or other stationary objects), vehicles 202 / 204 and pedestrians 208, and vehicles 202 / 204 and wireless communication networks (e.g., base stations 210). In some examples, V2X communication can be implemented according to the new radio (NR) cellular V2X standard defined by 3GPP (Release 15) or other suitable standards.

[0071] V2X communication enables vehicles 202 and 204 to obtain information about weather, nearby accidents, road conditions, activities of nearby vehicles and pedestrians, objects near the vehicle, and other relevant information that can be used to enhance the vehicle driving experience and improve vehicle safety. For example, such V2X data can enable autonomous driving and improve road safety and traffic efficiency. For example, V2X-connected vehicles 202 and 204 can use the exchanged V2X data to provide vehicle collision warnings, road hazard warnings, approaching emergency vehicle warnings, pre-impact / post-impact warnings and information, emergency braking warnings, forward traffic jam warnings, lane change warnings, smart navigation services, and other similar information. In addition, the V2X data received by the V2X-connected mobile device of the pedestrian / cyclist 208 can be used to trigger warning sounds, vibrations, flashing lights, etc. in situations where danger is about to occur.

[0072] Sidelink communications between vehicles 202 and 204 or between vehicles 202 or 204 and infrastructure 206 or pedestrians 208 occur over a proximity services (ProSe) PC5 interface 212. In various aspects of the present disclosure, the PC5 interface 212 may be further used to support D2D communications in other proximity use cases. Examples of other proximity use cases may include public safety or business-based (e.g., entertainment, education, office, medical, and / or interactive) proximity services. As used herein, the term proximity services (ProSe) communications refers to direct (e.g., D2D) communications between UEs in proximity use cases other than V2X. Figure 2 In the example shown in , ProSe communication may occur between UEs 214 and 216 .

[0073] ProSe communication may support different operation scenarios, such as in-coverage, out-of-coverage, and partial coverage. Out-of-coverage refers to a scenario where UEs 214 and 216 are outside the coverage area of ​​a base station (e.g., base station 210), but each UE is still configured for ProSe communication. Partial coverage refers to a scenario where one of the UEs (e.g., UE 216) is outside the coverage area of ​​a base station (e.g., base station 210), while the other UE (e.g., UE 214) is in communication with the base station 210. In-coverage refers to a scenario where UEs 214 and 216 are in communication with the base station 210 (e.g., gNB) via a Uu (e.g., cellular interface) connection to receive ProSe service authorization and provisioning information to support ProSe operation.

[0074] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication system 300 for facilitating both cellular communication and sidelink communication. The wireless communication system 300 includes a plurality of wireless communication devices 302a, 302b, and 302c and a base station (e.g., an eNB or gNB) 306. In some examples, the wireless communication devices 302a, 302b, and 302c may be D2D-capable UEs or V2X devices within a V2X network.

[0075] The wireless communication devices 302a and 302b may communicate over the first PC5 interface 304a, and the wireless communication devices 302a and 302c may communicate over the second PC5 interface 304b. The wireless communication devices 302a, 306b, and 302c may further communicate with the base station 306 over the respective Uu interfaces 308a, 308b, and 308c. The sidelink communications over the PC5 interfaces 304a and 304b may be carried in the licensed frequency domain, for example, using radio resources operating in accordance with the 5G NR or NR sidelink (SL) specifications and / or carried in the unlicensed frequency domain using radio resources operating in accordance with the 5G unlicensed new radio (NR-U) specifications.

[0076] In some examples, a common carrier may be shared between the PC5 interfaces 304a and 304b and the Uu interfaces 308a-308c so that resources on the common carrier may be allocated for both sidelink communications between wireless communication devices 302a-302c and cellular communications (e.g., uplink and downlink communications) between the wireless communication devices 302a-302c and the base station 306. For example, the wireless communication system 300 may be configured to support a V2X network, wherein resources for both sidelink communications and cellular communications are scheduled by the base station 306. In other examples, the wireless communication devices 302a-302c may autonomously select (e.g., from one or more frequency bands or subbands designated for sidelink communications) sidelink resources for communication therebetween. In this example, the wireless communication devices 302a-302c may serve as both a scheduling entity and a scheduled entity that schedules sidelink resources for communication with each other.

[0077] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the scheduling entity and / or the scheduled entity may be configured for beamforming and / or multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) techniques. Figure 4 An example of a wireless communication system 400 supporting beamforming and / or MIMO is illustrated. In a MIMO system, a transmitter 402 includes multiple transmit antennas 404 (e.g., N transmit antennas), and a receiver 406 includes multiple receive antennas 408 (e.g., M receive antennas). Thus, there are N×M signal paths 410 from the transmit antennas 404 to the receive antennas 408. (Note that the M used with reference to MIMO should not be confused with the number of different DMRS patterns discussed below, which also uses the parameter M.) Each of the transmitter 402 and the receiver 406 may be implemented, for example, in a scheduling entity, a scheduled entity, or any other suitable device. In some examples, the transmitter and the receiver are each wireless communication devices (e.g., UEs or V2X devices) that communicate over a sidelink channel.

[0078] The use of such multi-antenna techniques enables wireless communication systems to exploit the spatial domain to support spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and transmit diversity. Spatial multiplexing can be used to transmit different data streams (also referred to as layers) simultaneously on the same time-frequency resources. These data streams can be transmitted to a single UE to increase the data rate or to multiple UEs to increase the total system capacity, the latter being referred to as multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO). The increase in capacity can be achieved by spatially precoding each data stream (e.g., multiplying the data streams by different weights and phase shifts) and then transmitting each spatially precoded stream through multiple transmit antennas on the downlink. The spatially precoded data streams arrive at the UE with different spatial signatures, which enable each UE to recover one or more data streams intended for the UE. On the uplink, each UE transmits a spatially precoded data stream, which enables the base station to identify the source of each spatially precoded data stream.

[0079] The number of data streams or layers corresponds to the rank of the transmission. In general, the rank of the MIMO system 400 is limited to the lower of the number of transmit or receive antennas 404 or 408. Additionally, the channel conditions at the UE and other considerations (such as the available resources at the base station) may also affect the transmission rank. For example, the rank (and therefore, the number of data streams) assigned to a specific UE on the downlink may be determined based on a rank indicator (RI) transmitted from the UE to the base station. The RI may be determined based on the antenna configuration (e.g., the number of transmit and receive antennas) and the measured signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) on each receive antenna. The RI may indicate, for example, the number of layers that can be supported under the current channel conditions. The base station may use the RI together with resource information (e.g., available resources and the amount of data to be scheduled for the UE) to assign a transmission rank to the UE.

[0080] In one example, if Figure 4 As shown in , a rank 2 spatial multiplexing transmission on a 2x2 MIMO antenna configuration will transmit one data stream from each transmit antenna 404. Each data stream arrives at each receive antenna 408 along a different signal path 410. The receiver 406 can then reconstruct the data streams using the signals received from each receive antenna 408.

[0081] Beamforming is a signal processing technique that may be used at a transmitter 402 or a receiver 406 to shape or steer an antenna beam (e.g., a transmit beam or a receive beam) along a spatial path between the transmitter 402 and the receiver 406. Beamforming may be achieved by combining signals communicated via antennas 404 or 408 (e.g., antenna elements of an antenna array module) so that some of these signals experience constructive interference and other signals experience destructive interference. To create the desired constructive / destructive interference, the transmitter 402 or the receiver 406 may apply an amplitude and / or phase offset to the signal transmitted or received from each of the antennas 404 or 408 associated with the transmitter 402 or the receiver 406.

[0082] In 5G New Radio (NR) systems, especially for FR2 (mmWave) systems, beamformed signals can be used for most downlink channels, including the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). In addition, broadcast control information (such as synchronization signal blocks (SSBs), slot format indicators (SFIs), and paging information) can be transmitted in a beam-sweeping manner so that all scheduled entities (UEs) in the coverage area of ​​the transmission and reception point (TRP) (e.g., gNB) can receive the broadcast control information. In addition, for UEs configured with beamforming antenna arrays, beamformed signals can also be used for uplink channels (including physical uplink control channels (PUCCH) and physical uplink shared channels (PUSCH)). However, it should be understood that beamformed signals can also be used by enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) gNBs for sub-6 GHz systems. In addition, beamformed signals can be further utilized in D2D systems that utilize FR2, such as NRSL or V2X.

[0083] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating communication between wireless communication devices 502 and 504 using beamformed side link signals in accordance with some aspects. Each of the wireless communication devices 502 and 504 may be Figures 1 to 4 Any of the UE, V2X device, transmitting device or receiving device illustrated in any of the .

[0084] exist Figure 5 In the example shown, wireless communication devices 502 and 504 may be configured to communicate sidelink signals on one or more of a plurality of beams 506a-506h. Figure 5504. In some examples, the wireless communication devices 502 and 504 are illustrated as being generated on the wireless communication device 502, but it should be understood that the same concepts described herein apply to beams generated on the wireless communication device 504. For example, each wireless communication device 502 and 504 can select one or more beams to transmit side link signals to another wireless communication device. In some examples, due to channel reciprocity, the selected beam(s) on each wireless communication device 502 and 504 can be used for both transmission and reception of side link signals. It should be noted that although some beams are illustrated as being adjacent to each other, such arrangements may be different in different aspects. In some examples, the wireless communication devices 502 and 504 can generate more or fewer beams distributed in different directions.

[0085] The number of beams on which a particular wireless communication device 502 or 504 can communicate simultaneously can be defined based on the NR SL standards and specifications and the capabilities of the wireless communication devices 502 and 504. For example, the number of beams can be determined based on the number of antenna panels configured on the wireless communication device 502 or 504. For example, the wireless communication device 502 or 504 may include one or two antenna panels and may therefore be configured to communicate on one or two beams at a time, respectively. Each beam may be used to transmit a corresponding layer to implement MIMO communication. Other numbers of simultaneous beams are also possible in the present disclosure.

[0086] In some examples, in order to select one or more beams for communication on the side link between the wireless communication devices 502 and 504, the first wireless communication device (e.g., the wireless communication device 502) may transmit a side link reference signal, such as a side link synchronization signal block (SSB) or a side link channel state information (CSI) reference signal (RS) on each of the plurality of beams 506a-506h in a beam sweeping manner toward the second wireless communication device (e.g., the wireless communication device 504). The second wireless communication device 504 searches for and identifies a beam based on the beam reference signal. The wireless communication device 502 then performs beam measurements (e.g., reference signal received power (RSRP), signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), etc.) on the beam reference signal to determine the corresponding beam quality of each beam.

[0087] The second wireless communication device 504 may then transmit a beam measurement report indicating beam quality of one or more of the measured beams to the first wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device or a radio access network (RAN) node (e.g., a base station such as a gNB) may then select specific beam(s) for communication between the first and second wireless communication devices on the sidelink based on the beam measurement report. For example, the first wireless communication device may forward the beam measurement report to the base station for selecting the beam(s). The base station may then signal the selected beam(s) via, for example, a radio resource control (RRC) message or via a media access control (MAC) control element (CE).

[0088] Each selected beam on one of the wireless communication devices (e.g., wireless communication device 502) can form a beam pair link (BPL) 504 with a corresponding selected beam on another wireless communication device. Thus, each BPL includes corresponding transmit and receive beams on wireless communication devices 502 and 504. For example, a BPL can include a first transmit / receive beam on the first wireless communication device 502 and a second transmit / receive beam on the second wireless communication device 504. To increase data rates, multiple BPLs can be used to facilitate spatial multiplexing of multiple data streams. In some examples, different BPLs can include beams from different antenna panels.

[0089] Will refer to Figure 6 Various aspects of the present disclosure are described with reference to the OFDM waveform schematically illustrated in FIG. It should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various aspects of the present disclosure can be applied to SC-FDMA waveforms in substantially the same manner as described below. That is, while some examples of the present disclosure may focus on OFDM links for clarity, it should be understood that the same principles can also be applied to SC-FDMA waveforms.

[0090] Now refer to Figure 6 , illustrates an expanded view of an exemplary subframe 602 showing an OFDM resource grid. However, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the PHY transmission structure for any particular application may differ from the examples described herein depending on any number of factors. Here, time is in the horizontal direction in units of OFDM symbols; and frequency is in the vertical direction in units of subcarriers of a carrier.

[0091] Resource grid 604 can be used to schematically represent the time-frequency resources for a given antenna port. That is, in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) implementation with multiple antenna ports available, there may be a corresponding multiple number of resource grids 604 available for communication. Resource grid 604 is divided into multiple resource elements (REs) 606. RE (which is 1 subcarrier × 1 symbol) is the smallest discrete part of the time-frequency grid and contains a single complex value representing data from a physical channel or signal. Depending on the modulation utilized in a particular implementation, each RE may represent one or more information bits. In some examples, a block of REs may be referred to as a physical resource block (PRB) or more simply a resource block (RB) 608, which contains any suitable number of consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. In one example, an RB may include 12 subcarriers, which number is independent of the parameter design used. In some examples, depending on the parameter design, an RB may include any suitable number of consecutive OFDM symbols in the time domain. In the present disclosure, it is assumed that a single RB (such as RB 608) corresponds entirely to a single communication direction (transmission or reception for a given device).

[0092] Scheduling of a UE or sidelink device (hereinafter collectively referred to as a UE) for downlink, uplink, or sidelink transmissions typically involves scheduling one or more resource elements 606 within one or more subbands. Thus, a UE typically utilizes a subset of a resource grid 604. In some examples, an RB may be the smallest resource unit that may be allocated to a UE. Thus, the more RBs scheduled for a UE and the higher the modulation scheme selected for the air interface, the higher the data rate for the UE. The RBs may be scheduled by a base station (e.g., a gNB, eNB, etc.) or may be self-scheduled by a UE / sidelink device implementing D2D sidelink communications.

[0093] exist Figure 6 In the illustration of RB 608, RB 608 is shown as occupying less than the entire bandwidth of subframe 602, with some subcarriers above and below RB 608 illustrated. In a given implementation, subframe 602 may have a bandwidth corresponding to any number of one or more RBs 608. In addition, RB 608 is shown as occupying less than the entire duration of subframe 602 (as one possible example).

[0094] Each 1 ms subframe 602 may include one or more adjacent time slots. Figure 6In the example shown in , a subframe 602 includes four time slots 610. In some examples, a time slot may be defined according to a specified number of OFDM symbols with a given cyclic prefix (CP) length. For example, with a nominal CP, a time slot may include 7 or 14 OFDM symbols. Additional examples may include mini-slots (sometimes referred to as shortened transmission time intervals (TTIs)) with shorter durations (e.g., one to three OFDM symbols). In some cases, these mini-slots or shortened transmission time intervals (TTIs) may occupy resources scheduled for ongoing time slot transmissions for the same or different UEs to transmit. Any number of resource blocks may be utilized within a subframe or time slot.

[0095] An expanded view of one of the time slots 610 illustrates that the time slot 610 includes a control region 612 and a data region 614. In general, the control region 612 may carry control channels, while the data region 614 may carry data channels. Of course, a time slot may contain full DL, full UL, or at least one DL portion and at least one UL portion. Figure 4 The simple structure illustrated in is merely exemplary in nature and different slot structures may be utilized and may include one or more of each of the control region and the data region.

[0096] Although not in Figure 6 6, but each RE 606 within the RB 608 may be scheduled to carry one or more physical channels, including a control channel, a shared channel, a data channel, etc. Other REs 606 within the RB 608 may carry pilot or reference signals. These pilot or reference signals may be used by a receiving device to perform channel estimation on the corresponding channel, which may enable coherent demodulation / detection of the control and / or data channels within the RB 608.

[0097] In some examples, time slot 610 may be used for broadcast or unicast communication. For example, broadcast, multicast, or groupcast communication may refer to point-to-multipoint transmission by one device (e.g., a base station, UE, or other similar device) to other devices. Here, broadcast communication is delivered to all devices, while multicast communication is delivered to multiple intended recipient devices. Unicast communication may refer to point-to-point transmission by one device to a single other device.

[0098] In an example of cellular communication on a cellular carrier via a Uu interface, for DL ​​transmission, a scheduling entity (e.g., a base station) may allocate one or more REs 606 (e.g., within a control region 612) to carry DL control information including one or more DL control channels (such as a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH)) to one or more scheduled entities (e.g., UEs). The PDCCH carries downlink control information (DCI), including, but not limited to, power control commands (e.g., one or more open-loop power control parameters and / or one or more closed-loop power control parameters) for DL ​​and UL transmissions, scheduling information, grants, and / or RE assignments. The PDCCH may further carry HARQ feedback transmissions, such as an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgment (NACK). HARQ is a well-known technique to those of ordinary skill in the art, wherein for accuracy, the integrity of packet transmissions may be checked at the receiving side, for example, using any suitable integrity check mechanism (such as a checksum or a cyclic redundancy check (CRC)). If the integrity of the transmission is confirmed, an ACK may be transmitted, and if it is not confirmed, a NACK may be transmitted. In response to the NACK, the transmitting device may send a HARQ retransmission, which may enable chase combining, incremental redundancy, and the like.

[0099] The base station may further allocate one or more REs 606 (e.g., in the control region 612 or the data region 614) to carry other DL signals, such as DMRS; phase tracking reference signal (PT-RS); channel state information (CSI) reference signal (CSI-RS); primary synchronization signal (PSS); and secondary synchronization signal (SSS). The UE may utilize the PSS and SSS to achieve radio frame, subframe, time slot, and symbol synchronization in the time domain, identify the center of the channel (system) bandwidth in the frequency domain, and identify the physical cell identity (PCI) of the cell. The synchronization signals PSS and SSS, and in some examples, PBCH and PBCH DMRS may be transmitted in a synchronization signal block (SSB). The PBCH may further include: a master information block (MIB), which includes various system information, together with parameters for decoding a system information block (SIB). The SIB may be, for example, System Information Type 1 (SIB1), which may include various additional system information. Examples of system information transmitted in the MIB may include, but are not limited to, subcarrier spacing, system frame number, configuration of a PDCCH control resource set (CORESET) (e.g., PDCCH CORESET0), and search space for SIB1. Examples of additional system information transmitted in SIB1 may include, but are not limited to, random access search space, downlink configuration information, and uplink configuration information. MIB and SIB1 together provide minimum system information (SI) for initial access.

[0100] In an UL transmission, a scheduled entity (e.g., a UE) may utilize one or more REs 606 to carry UL control information (UCI) to a scheduling entity, the UL control information comprising one or more UL control channels, such as a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH). The UCI may include various packet types and categories, including pilots, reference signals, and information configured to enable or assist in decoding uplink data transmissions. In some examples, the UCI may include a scheduling request (SR), for example, a request to a scheduling entity to schedule an uplink transmission. Here, in response to the SR transmitted on the UCI, the scheduling entity may transmit downlink control information (DCI), which may schedule resources for uplink packet transmissions. The UCI may also include HARQ feedback, channel state feedback (CSF) (such as a CSI report), or any other suitable UCI.

[0101] In addition to control information, one or more REs 606 (e.g., within the data region 614) may also be allocated for data traffic. Such data traffic may be carried on one or more traffic channels, such as a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) for DL ​​transmissions or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) for UL transmissions. In some examples, one or more REs 606 within the data region 614 may be configured to carry other signals, such as one or more SIBs and DMRS.

[0102] In an example of sidelink communication on a sidelink carrier via a PC5 interface, the control region 612 of the time slot 610 may include a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), which includes an SCI transmitted by an initiator (transmitter) sidelink device (e.g., V2X or other sidelink device) toward a set of one or more other receiver sidelink devices. The data region 614 of the time slot 610 may include a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), which includes sidelink data traffic transmitted by the transmitter sidelink device within resources reserved by the initiator (transmitter) sidelink device via the SCI on the sidelink carrier. Other information may be further transmitted on each RE 606 within the time slot 610. For example, HARQ feedback information may be transmitted from the receiver sidelink device to the transmitter sidelink device in the PSFCH within the time slot 610. In addition, one or more reference signals, such as reference signals for PSSCH DMRS, or sidelink SSB and / or sidelink CSI-RS, may be transmitted within the time slot 610.

[0103] These physical channels are generally multiplexed and mapped to transport channels for handling by the medium access control (MAC) layer. The transport channels carry information blocks, which are called transport blocks (TBs). The TBS (which may correspond to the number of information bits) may be a controlled parameter based on the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and the number of RBs in a given transmission.

[0104] Figure 6 The channels or carriers illustrated in are not necessarily all channels or carriers that may be utilized between devices, and one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other channels or carriers may be utilized in addition to those illustrated, such as other traffic, control, and feedback channels.

[0105] In 5G NR, there can be four resource allocation operation modes for sidelink (e.g., PC5) communications. In the first mode (Mode 1), a radio access network (RAN) node (e.g., gNB) can allocate resources to wireless communication devices for sidelink communications between wireless communication devices. In the second mode (Mode 2), wireless communication devices can autonomously select sidelink resources for sidelink communications between them. The signaling on the sidelink is the same between the two modes. Modes 3 and 4 are generally targeted at LTE V2X, while Mode 4 is targeted at self-scheduling of resources. Although Modes 3 and 4 are targeted at V2X, the disclosures made herein may apply to Mode 2 or Mode 4. From the receiver's perspective, there is no difference between the four modes.

[0106] In Mode 1, the RAN node may allocate sidelink resources in various ways. For example, the RAN node may dynamically (e.g., dynamically grant) allocate sidelink resources to the wireless communication device in response to a request for sidelink resources from the wireless communication device. The RAN node may further activate preconfigured sidelink grants for sidelink communications between wireless communication devices. In Mode 1, sidelink feedback may be reported back to the RAN node by the transmitting wireless communication device.

[0107] In mode 2, the wireless communication device may schedule sidelink communications (e.g., PC5) by using SCI. The SCI may include two SCI phases. Phase 1 sidelink control information (first phase SCI) may be referred to herein as SCI-1. Phase 2 sidelink control information (second phase SCI) may be referred to herein as SCI-2.

[0108] SCI-1 may be transmitted on a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH). SCI-1 may include resource allocation for sidelink resources and information for decoding sidelink control information (e.g., SCI-2) of the second phase. SCI-1 may identify the priority level (e.g., quality of service (QoS)) of PSSCH. For example, ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) traffic may have a higher priority than short message traffic (e.g., short message service (SMS) traffic). SCI-1 may also include physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) resource assignment and resource reservation period (if enabled). Additionally, SCI-1 may include PSSCH DMRS mode (if more than one mode is configured). DMRS may be used by a receiver for radio channel estimation for demodulating associated physical channels. As indicated, SCI-1 may also include information about SCI-2, for example, SCI-1 may disclose the size of SCI-2 by indicating the amount of time-frequency resources allocated to SCI-2, the number of (all) PSSCH DMRS ports, and the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) index. SCI-1 may include other information useful for setting up and decoding PSSCH resources.

[0109] SCI-2 may also be transmitted on the PSCCH and may include information for decoding the PSSCH. According to some aspects, SCI-2 includes a 16-bit layer 1 (L1) destination identifier (ID), an 8-bit L1 source ID, a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process ID, a new data indicator (NDI), and a redundancy version (RV). For unicast communications, SCI-2 may further include a CSI report trigger. For multicast communications, SCI-2 may further include a zone identifier and a maximum communication range for NACK. SCI-2 may include other information useful for establishing and decoding PSSCH resources. Further information about an exemplary SCI format can be found in, for example, 3GPP TS 36.213 Version 14.3.0 Release 14.

[0110] Fig. 7A -7C illustrates an example of a sidelink time slot structure according to some aspects. The sidelink time slot structure can be utilized, for example, in a V2X or other D2D network implementing a sidelink. Fig. 7A In the example shown in FIG. 7C , time is in the horizontal direction, in units of symbols 702 (e.g., OFDM symbols); and frequency is in the vertical direction. Here, a carrier bandwidth 704 allocated for sidelink communication is illustrated along the frequency axis. The carrier bandwidth 704 may include multiple subchannels, each of which may include a configurable number of PRBs (e.g., 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75, or 100 PRBs).

[0111] Fig. 7AEach of -7C illustrates an example of a time slot 700a-700c that includes 14 symbols 702 that can be used for sidelink communication. However, it should be understood that the sidelink communication can be configured to occupy less than 14 symbols in the time slot 700a-700c, and the present disclosure is not limited to any particular number of symbols 702. Each sidelink time slot 700a-700c includes a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH) 706 that occupies the control region 720 of the time slot 700a-700c and a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) 708 that occupies the data region 722 of the time slot 700a-700c. The PSCCH 706 and the PSSCH 708 are each transmitted on one or more symbols 702 of the time slot 700a. The PSCCH 706 includes, for example, SCI-1, which schedules the transmission of data traffic on the time-frequency resources corresponding to the PSSCH 708. As explained elsewhere herein, the PSCCH SCI may include a PSFCH overhead indicator, such as Figure 7C As indicated by arrow 707 in FIG. SCI is discussed in detail above. One or more previously reserved bits within the SCI format may be used to insert a PSFCH overhead indicator. Fig. 7A As shown in FIG. 7C , a PSCCH 706 and a corresponding PSSCH 708 are transmitted in the same time slot 700 a - 700 c .

[0112] In some examples, the PSCCH 706 duration is configured as two or three symbols. In addition, the PSCCH 706 may be configured to span a configurable number of PRBs, limited to a single subchannel. For example, the PSCCH 706 may span 10, 12, 15, 20, or 25 PRBs of a single subchannel. The DMRS may further be present in each PSCCH symbol. In some examples, the DMRS may be placed on every fourth RE of the PSCCH 706. Frequency domain orthogonal cover codes (FD-OCC) may further be applied to the PSCCH DMRS to reduce the impact of conflicting PSCCH transmissions on the side link channel. For example, the transmitting wireless communication device may randomly select a FD-OCC from a set of predefined FD-OCCs. Fig. 7A In each of the examples shown in FIG. 7C , the starting symbol of the PSCCH 706 is the second symbol of the corresponding slot 700 a - 700 c , and the PSCCH 706 spans three symbols 702 .

[0113] PSSCH 708 may be time division multiplexed (TDM) with PSCCH 706 and / or frequency division multiplexed (FDM) with PSCCH 706. Fig. 7A and 7CIn the example shown, the PSSCH 708 includes a first portion 708a that is TDM-ed with the PSCCH 706 and a second portion 708b that is FDM-ed with the PSCCH 706 .

[0114] One layer transmission and two layer transmission of PSSCH 708 can be supported by various modulation orders (e.g., QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM, and 256-QAM). In addition, PSSCH 708 may include DMRS 714 configured with a two-symbol, three-symbol, or four-symbol DMRS pattern. For example, Fig. 7A and 7C The time slots 700a and 700c shown in FIG. 7 illustrate a two-symbol DMRS pattern, while Figure 7B The time slot 700b shown in illustrates a three-symbol DMRS pattern. In some examples, the transmitting wireless communication device can select a DMRS pattern based on the channel conditions and indicate the selected DMRS pattern in SCI-1. The DMRS pattern can be selected, for example, based on the number of PSSCH 708 symbols in the time slots 700a-700c. In addition, in each time slot 700a-700c, there is a gap symbol 716 after the PSSCH 708.

[0115] Each time slot 700a-700c further includes SCI-2 712, which is mapped to consecutive RBs in PSSCH 708 starting from the first codeword containing PSSCH DMRS. Figure 7C In the example shown, the first symbol containing the PSSCH DMRS is the fifth symbol that occurs immediately after the last symbol carrying the PSCCH 706. Therefore, SCI-2 712 is mapped to the RB within the fifth symbol. Figure 7B In the example shown, the first symbol containing the PSSCH DMRS is the second symbol, which also includes the PSCCH 706. In addition, the SCI-2 / PSSCH DMRS 712 is shown spanning symbols 2 through 5. As a result, the SCI-2 / PSSCH DMRS 712 may be FDMed with the PSCCH 706 in symbols 2 through 4 and TDMed with the PSCCH 706 in symbol 5.

[0116] SCI-2 can be scrambled separately from the side link shared channel. In addition, SCI-2 can utilize QPSK. When PSSCH transmission spans two layers, SCI-2 modulation symbols can be replicated on two layers. SCI-1 in PSCCH 706 can be blind decoded at the receiving wireless communication device. However, since the format, starting position and number of REs of SCI-2 712 can be derived from SCI-1, blind decoding of SCI-2 is not required at the receiver (receiving wireless communication device).

[0117] exist Figures 7A-7C In each of the time slots 700a-700c, the second symbol of each time slot 700a-700c is copied to (repeated on) its first symbol 710 for automatic gain control (AGC) stabilization. Fig. 7A and 7C In each of the first and second symbols, the second symbol including the PSCCH 706 FDMed with the PSSCH 708b may be transmitted on both the first and second symbols. Figure 7B In the example shown, the second symbol containing the PSCCH 706 FDMed with the SCI-2 / PSSCH DMRS 712 may be transmitted on both the first symbol and the second symbol.

[0118] like Figure 7C As shown in , HARQ feedback may be transmitted on PSFCH 718 in a configurable resource period of 0, 1, 2, or 4 slots. In a sidelink slot (e.g., slot 700c) containing PSFCH 718, one symbol 702 may be allocated to PSFCH 718, and PSFCH 718 may be copied to (repeated on) the previous symbol for AGC stabilization. Figure 7C In the example shown, the PSFCH 718 is transmitted on the thirteenth symbol and is copied on the twelfth symbol in the slot 700c. A gap symbol 716 may be further placed after the PSFCH symbol 718.

[0119] For FR2 sidelink operation, SCI-1 (PSCCH 706), SCI-2 (SCI-2 / PSSCH DMRS 712), and sidelink data traffic (PSSCH 708) may each be transmitted on a selected beam. In some examples, SCI-1, SCI-2, and sidelink data traffic may each be transmitted on the same beam. In other examples, one or more of SCI-1, SCI-2, and sidelink data traffic may be transmitted on different beams. In addition, feedback information (PSFCH 718) corresponding to the sidelink data traffic may further be received on the same or different beam as the sidelink data traffic. Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to configuration and indication of selected beams for transmitting SCI-1, SCI-2, data traffic, and feedback information.

[0120] In the side link network, as mentioned above, Figure 5As described, beam selection may be performed by a base station or a wireless communication device based on beams identified by a side link beam search and measurement procedure. For example, a receiving wireless communication device may identify and measure multiple beams of a transmitting wireless communication device. The receiving wireless communication device may then generate and transmit a beam measurement report indicating the beam quality (e.g., RSRP, SINR, or RSRQ) of one or more beams in the measured beams to the transmitting wireless communication device. The transmitting wireless communication device may select one or more beams based on the beam measurement report to communicate with the receiving wireless communication device, or forward the beam measurement report to a serving base station (or RAN) to select beam(s).

[0121] Figure 8 An exemplary time slot 800 is illustrated that is transmitted from a first wireless communication device (WCD1) to a second wireless communication device (WCD2) and includes twelve PSSCH information symbols. Figure 8 Also illustrated is an exemplary time slot 802 transmitted from the first wireless communication device (WCD2) to the first wireless communication device (WCD1) that includes two PSFCH information symbols separated by a gap from the PSSCH information symbols. As such, the number of PSSCH information symbols in time slot 802 is only nine.

[0122] Fig. 9 An exemplary 12-symbol time slot transmitted by a first wireless communication device (WCD1) to a second wireless communication device (WCD2) for three different DMRS modes is illustrated. More specifically, the figure illustrates a 2-symbol time slot 902, a 3-symbol time slot 904, and a 4-symbol time slot 906. Different wireless communications in different regulatory jurisdictions may be configured to use different combinations of these symbol time slots. For example, in one jurisdiction (e.g., in a region or according to a mobile network operator), all three configurations may be enabled (e.g., pre-configured on the device, or configured via RRC signaling), while in another jurisdiction, only the 2-symbol 902 and 3-symbol configurations may be implemented, thereby affecting the amount of overhead to be considered when determining the TBS. In this regard, although the return time slots (which may include the PSFCH) sent back from WCD2 to WCD1 are not shown in the figure, such time slots have less space available for DMRS symbols due to the presence of the PSFCH symbols.

[0123] Fig.10An exemplary 9-symbol time slot transmitted by a first wireless communication device (WCD1) to a second wireless communication device (WCD2) for two different DMRS modes is illustrated. More specifically, the figure illustrates a 2-symbol time slot 1002 and a 3-symbol time slot 1004. A 4-symbol time slot is not used because a 4-symbol time slot cannot be accommodated with only 9 symbols, thus affecting the amount of overhead to be considered when determining the TBS. It is worth noting that when only 2-symbol and 3-symbol time slots are available, the overhead associated with the time slot is different from the overhead associated with the time slot when 2-symbol, 3-symbol, and 4-symbol time slots are available. Again, although the return time slot (which may include a PSFCH) sent back from WCD2 to WCD1 is not shown in the figure, such a time slot has less space available for DMRS symbols due to the PSFCH symbols.

[0124] Fig.11 is a signaling diagram illustrating an example of sidelink PSFCH overhead indication processing according to some aspects, wherein the above-mentioned problem regarding determining an average number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for determining a TBS for both transmission and retransmission is addressed. Fig.11 In the example shown, a first wireless communication device (WCD1) 1102 is in wireless communication with a second wireless communication device (WCD2) 1104 via a side link channel. Each of WCD1 1102 and WCD2 1104 may correspond to Figure 1-5 Or any of the scheduled entities, UEs, V2X devices or D2D devices shown in other figures of this document.

[0125] At 1106, WCD1 1102 (which may be a transmitting wireless communication device) transmits an SCI to WCD2 114, the SCI including, for example, a bit indicating whether PSFCH resource overhead is to be used for TBS determination during transmission and retransmission between the two devices. The SCI may contain further information related to the sidelink data traffic. The SCI may be transmitted, for example, within the PSCCH, such as Figure 7C shown.

[0126] At 1108, WCD1 1102 receives a DMRS symbol according to a preconfigured DMRS symbol protocol (eg, Fig. 9 and Fig.10 1104) using a time slot including a DMRS symbol to transmit a PSSCH carrying sidelink data traffic to WCD2 1104. Note that Figure 7C As shown, PSCCH and PSSCH can be transmitted in the same time slot.

[0127] At 1110, WCD2 1104 transmits PSFCH according to the preconfigured PSFCH symbol protocol. Note that in some examples, WCD2 may transmit PSFCH only when PSFCH transmission is enabled or requested.

[0128] although Fig.11 Not shown, but Fig.12 As shown in FIG. 1 , both WCD1 1102 and WCD2 1104 independently determine the same average number of DMRS REs associated with the DMRS overhead for determining the TBS for transmission.

[0129] Fig.12 is a signaling diagram illustrating an example of sidelink PSFCH overhead processing in accordance with some aspects. Fig.12 In the example shown, a first wireless communication device (WCD1) 1202 is in wireless communication with a second wireless communication device (WCD2) 1204 via a side link channel. Each of WCD1 1202 and WCD2 1204 may also correspond to Figure 1-5 Or any of the scheduled entities, UEs, V2X devices or D2D devices shown in other figures of this document.

[0130] At 1206, WCD1 1202 (which may be a transmitting wireless communication device) determines the PSFCH overhead, and then finds or calculates the average number of DMRS REs associated with the DMRS overhead based on the preconfigured DMRS pattern and determines the TBS. For example, see 3GPP TS 38.214 V16.1.0 (2020-03), Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; Physical Layer Procedures for Data; (Release 16) for a discussion of some physical channel side link procedures.

[0131] At 1208, WCD1 1202 receives a DMRS symbol according to a preconfigured DMRS symbol protocol (eg, Fig. 9 and Fig.10 At 1210, WCD1 1202 transmits a PSSCH carrying sidelink data traffic to WCD2 1204 using a time slot including DMRS symbols as in FIG. 1210. At 1210, WCD1 1202 transmits a PSFCH indicator. As explained above, the PSFCH indicator (also referred to herein as a PSFCH overhead indicator) may be provided within the SCI. Figure 7C As shown, SCI can be transmitted in the same time slot as PSSCH. Fig.12Operations 1208 and 1210 may be performed concurrently. At 1212, WCD2 1204 receives and processes the PSFCH indicator, finds or calculates the same average number of DMRS REs associated with the DMRS overhead based on the preconfigured DMRS pattern and determines the same TBS. At 1214, WCD2 1204 transmits data, and at 1218, WCD2 1202 receives and processes the data using the TBS.

[0132] In this way, the above-mentioned problem of determining the average number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for determining TBS for both transmission and retransmission is solved, at least in part, by providing a PSFCH indicator in the SCI, and further by providing the same table or the same calculation procedure in both WCD1 and WCD2.

[0133] Table 1 is an exemplary table that can be stored in the transmitting and receiving wireless communication devices for finding the average number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for determining TBS. The first column lists the number of DMRS symbols according to the mode configured for a specific mode used in the side link system. The second column provides the appropriate average number of DMRS REs for use when the PSFCH overhead indicator is 0 (indicating that PSFCH is not used for TBS determination and therefore more symbols can be used for DMRS REs). The third column provides the appropriate average number of DMRS REs for use when the PSFCH overhead indicator is 1 (indicating that PSFCH is used and therefore fewer symbols can be used for DMRS REs).

[0134] As an example, as shown in the first row, when the system is configured for 2-symbol, 3-symbol, or 4-symbol mode (e.g. Fig. 9 ), the average number of DMRS REs to be used is 18 per PRB per slot if there is no PSFCH and 15 per PRB per slot if there is PSFCH. As another example, as shown in the second row, when the system is configured for 2-symbol or 3-symbol mode (such as Fig.10 As shown in FIG. 1 , the average number of DMRS REs to be used is 15 per PRB per time slot if there is no PSFCH and 15 per PRB per time slot if there is PSFCH. In this regard, since the 4-symbol mode is not allowed, the maximum number of DMRS REs allowed is smaller and therefore requires less overhead.

[0135]

[0136] Table I

[0137] Instead of providing a table, the first and second wireless communication devices may instead be configured to calculate the same values ​​as in Table 1 based on a specific DMRS pattern configured within the system. For example, if the system is configured for 2-symbol, 3-symbol, or 4-symbol mode, the device calculates the values ​​shown in the first row. If the system is instead configured for only 2-symbol and 3-symbol modes, the device calculates the values ​​shown in the second row.

[0138] As an example, the calculation may be based on the following parameters and considerations: Assume that M DMRS patterns are pre-configured for PSSCH, and for each of the M patterns, there is an associated DMRS overhead (number of REs) n0, n1, ..., n (M-1) When PSFCH is not used for TBS determination, the associated DMRS overhead may be the actual number of REs occupied by the DMRS (e.g., 12 for 2-symbol DMRS, 18 for 3-symbol DMRS, and 24 for 4-symbol DMRS without PSFCH). When PSFCH is used, the average is then calculated by averaging these values ​​together.

[0139] For examples where 2-symbol, 3-symbol, or 4-symbol modes are permitted, the device averages the numbers 12, 18, and 24 together, calculating 18 (which is shown in the first row of the table) as the average to be used when PSFCH is not used. For examples where 2-symbol, 3-symbol, or 4-symbol modes are permitted and PSFCH is used, the device averages the numbers 12 and 18 together, calculating 15 (which is also shown in the first row of the table) as the average to be used when PSFCH is used. In examples with 4-symbol modes (when PSFCH is used), there is less overhead available because the system needs to account for the possibility of using 4-symbol modes (which can transmit a larger number of DMRS REs), and therefore less overhead is available when some symbols are dedicated to PSFCH.

[0140] For the example where 2-symbol or 3-symbol modes are permitted (but 4-symbol is not), the device averages the numbers 12 and 18 together, calculating 15 as the average to use (which is shown in the second row of the table). Here, 15 is calculated regardless of whether PSFCH is used because the system does not need to consider 4-symbol mode and therefore the same overhead value can be used with or without PSFCH.

[0141] Table I and the calculations associated therewith represent a first set of examples by which the average number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead can be determined by both the receiving and transmitting devices based on a pre-configured DMRS pattern in order to determine the same TBS. In other examples, additional factors may be considered, such as the specific modulation used (e.g., PSK and QAM), the specific frequency domain DMRS pattern used (e.g., comb-2, comb-4, etc.), the number of side subchannels (if any) or the number of PRBs, and PSFCH resource overhead (e.g., whether the overhead is used for TBS determination, etc.). In general, any of a variety of calculation schemes or table entries may be used, as long as both the receiving and transmitting devices use the same calculation scheme or table entry in order to determine (substantially) the same average value, thereby determining the same TBS.

[0142] In some examples, the system uses other "reference" values ​​instead of the values ​​in Table I, for example, the listed average is lower than the value in Table I. That is, alternatively, the associated DMRS overhead can be a reference number of REs occupied by the DMRS, which can be different from the actual DMRS overhead (e.g., 10 REs for a 2-symbol DMRS pattern), and where the reference value is different for each DMRS pattern. As long as both the receiving device and the transmitting device use the same table (or the same calculation algorithm), the receiving and transmitting devices can determine the same TBS. That is, as long as both the receiving and transmitting devices determine the same TBS (and the TBS is otherwise satisfactory for sidelink communication), other values ​​can be used as the average or mean number of DMRS REs associated with the DMRS overhead.

[0143] In other examples, the average number of DMRS REs to be used is determined at least in part by the allocation size specified by the transmitting UE. In general, when the allocation size is larger, the average DMRS overhead is slightly higher. Therefore, in one example, the allocation size is compared with a threshold, and if the allocation size exceeds the threshold, the average number of DMRS REs for use with / without PSFCH is selected or calculated from a first set of (higher) values, and if the allocation size does not exceed the threshold, the average number of DMRS REs for use with / without PSFCH is selected or calculated from a second set of (lower) values.

[0144] As an example, when the system is configured for 2-symbol, 3-symbol, or 4-symbol mode (e.g. Fig. 9), when the allocation size does not exceed the threshold, the average number of DMRS REs to be used without PSFCH may be set to 16, but when the allocation size exceeds the threshold, it may be set to 18 (as in Table I). In this example, when the allocation size does not exceed the threshold, the average number of DMRS REs to be used with PSFCH may be set to 12, but when the allocation size exceeds the threshold, it may be set to 15 (as in Table I). In an example where the allocation size may range from 20 RBs to 40 RBs, the threshold may be specified as a threshold number of RBs, with a specific exemplary threshold of 20 RBs. Thus, if the allocation size is 20 RBs or more, a first value for the average number of DMRS REs is used, and if the allocation size is less than 20 RBs, a second value is used (while also taking into account whether PSFCH resources are being used).

[0145] Fig.13 13 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation of a wireless communication 1300 employing a processing system 1314. For example, the wireless communication device 1300 may correspond to a UE, a V2X device, a D2D device, or other scheduled entity, as described above with reference to Figures 1 to 5 and / or Figures 8 to 10 Or as shown and described in other figures herein.

[0146] The wireless communication device 1300 may be implemented using a processing system 1314 including one or more processors 1304. Examples of the processor 1304 include a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), a state machine, a gated logic, a discrete hardware circuit, and other suitable hardware configured to perform various functionalities described throughout this disclosure. In various examples, the wireless communication device 1300 may be configured to perform any one or more of the functions described herein. That is, as utilized in the wireless communication device 1300, the processor 1304 may be used to implement any one or more of the processes and procedures described below.

[0147] exist Fig.13 In the example of , the processing system 1314 may be implemented with a bus architecture generally represented by bus 1302. Depending on the specific application and overall design constraints of the processing system 1314, the bus 1302 may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges. The bus 1302 links together various circuits including one or more processors (generally represented by processor 1304), memory 1305, and computer readable media (generally represented by computer readable media 1306). The bus 1302 may also link various other circuits, such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be described further.

[0148] The bus interface 1308 provides an interface between the bus 1302 and the transceiver 1310 and one or more antenna arrays 1320 (e.g., one or more antenna panels). The transceiver 1310 provides a means for communicating with various other devices via a transmission medium (e.g., an air interface). Depending on the characteristics of the device, a user interface 1312 (e.g., a keypad, display, touch screen, speaker, microphone, control knob, etc.) may also be provided. Of course, such a user interface 1312 is optional and may be omitted in some examples.

[0149] The processor 1304 is responsible for managing the bus 1302 and general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium 1306. Software should be broadly interpreted to mean instructions, instruction sets, codes, code segments, program codes, programs, subroutines, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether described in software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or other terms. The software, when executed by the processor 1304, causes the processing system 1314 to perform the various functions described below for any particular equipment. The computer-readable medium 1306 and memory 1305 may also be used to store data manipulated by the processor 1304 when executing the software.

[0150] Computer readable medium 1306 may be a non-transitory computer readable medium. As examples, non-transitory computer readable media include magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disks, floppy disks, magnetic tapes), optical disks (e.g., compact disks (CDs) or digital versatile disks (DVDs)), smart cards, flash memory devices (e.g., card, stick, or key-type drives), random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), registers, removable disks, and any other suitable medium for storing software and / or instructions that can be accessed and read by a computer. Computer readable medium 1306 may reside in processing system 1314, external to processing system 1314, or distributed across multiple entities including processing system 1314. Computer readable medium 1306 may be implemented in a computer program product. As an example, a computer program product may include a computer readable medium in packaging materials. In some examples, computer readable medium 1306 may be part of memory 1305. Those skilled in the art will recognize how to best implement the described functionality presented throughout this disclosure depending on the particular application and the overall design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0151] In some aspects of the present disclosure, processor 1304 may include circuitry configured for various functions. For example, processor 1304 may include communication and processing circuitry 1342 configured to communicate with a RAN node (e.g., a base station such as a gNB) via a cellular (e.g., Uu) interface and to communicate with one or more other wireless communication devices via a sidelink (e.g., PC5) interface. In some examples, communication and processing circuitry 1342 may include one or more hardware components that provide a physical structure for performing processes associated with wireless communication (e.g., signal reception and / or signal transmission) and signal processing (e.g., processing received signals and / or processing signals for transmission).

[0152] In some examples, the communication and processing circuit system 1342 can be configured to generate a reference signal (e.g., a sidelink SSB and / or a sidelink CSI-RS) and transmit the reference signal to a receiving wireless communication on one or more sidelink beams in a beam-sweeping manner using the transceiver 1310 and the antenna array(s) 1320, and receive a beam measurement report from the receiving wireless communication device in response to the beam reference signal. In some examples, the communication and processing circuit system 1342 can be configured to receive a beam reference signal from a transmitting wireless communication device using the transceiver 1310 and the antenna array(s) 1320, measure the corresponding beam quality (e.g., RSRP, SINR, or RSRQ) of each beam reference signal, and generate a beam measurement report including the respective beam quality of one or more beams and transmit the beam measurement report to the transmitting wireless communication device via the transceiver 1310.

[0153] The communication and processing circuitry 1342 may be further configured to transmit a PSCCH including an SCI, one or more DMRS, and sidelink data traffic to a receiving wireless communication device on one or more beams using the transceiver 1310 and the antenna array(s) 1320.

[0154] The processor 1304 additionally includes a PSFCH processing component 1344, which is configured to control the generation and processing of PSFCH symbols (which may depend on whether the device 1300 is operated as a transmitting device or a receiving device). The processor 1304 additionally includes an average number of DMRS REs for TBS determination controller 1346, which is configured to determine the average number of DMRS REs to be used for determining the TBS using the procedures already explained. In some examples, the controller 1346 accesses a table 1322 in the memory 1305, which stores the average number values ​​(as in Table I). In some examples, the controller 1346 uses one or more thresholds 1318 in the memory 1305, such as the allocation size threshold described above. In some examples, the controller 1346 uses one or more calculation parameters 1316 in the memory 1305, such as the aforementioned calculation parameters for calculating the same values ​​that may have been originally stored in the table 1322 (assuming that these tables do not exist). As already explained, the calculation can use a threshold 1318, such as an allocation size threshold.

[0155] At least some functions and operations of the processor 1304 may be embodied in instructions within the computer-readable medium 1306. For example, as shown, the computer-readable medium may include communication and processing instructions 1352 to transmit a PSCCH including SCI, one or more DMRS, and sidelink data traffic to a receiving wireless communication device on one or more beams using the transceiver 1310 and the antenna array (s) 1320. Additionally, the medium 1306 may include PSFCH processing instructions 1354, which are configured to control the generation and processing of PSFCH symbols (which may depend on whether the device 1300 is operating as a transmitting device or a receiving device). The processor 1304 additionally includes instructions 1356 for determining the average number of DMRS REs for TBS determination, which are configured to determine the average number of DMRS REs for determining the TBS using the procedures that have been explained.

[0156] In one configuration, the wireless communication device 1300 includes an apparatus for sidelink beam configuration and indication as described in the present disclosure. In one aspect, the aforementioned apparatus may be Fig.13 The processor 1304 shown in the figure is configured to perform the functions described by the aforementioned means. On the other hand, the aforementioned means may be a circuit or any equipment configured to perform the functions described by the aforementioned means. Of course, in the above examples, the circuit system included in the processor 1304 is only provided as an example, and other means for performing the described functions may be included in various aspects of the present disclosure, including but not limited to instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium 1306, or in Figure 1-5 and / or any of 8-10 and using, for example, the present invention with respect to Figure 12-14 (discussed in previous specification) and about Figure 14-16 Any other suitable apparatus or device for implementing the described processes and / or algorithms (discussed in the subsequent description).

[0157] Fig.14 1400 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for sidelink communication according to some aspects. Some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted in certain implementations within the scope of the present disclosure, and some of the illustrated features may not be required for implementation of all embodiments. In some examples, the method may be as described above and in Fig.13 The wireless communication device 1300 illustrated in FIG. 1 is executed by a processor or a processing system, or by any suitable means for performing the described functions.

[0158] At block 1402, the first wireless communication device determines PSFCH overhead. As explained above, the determination of PSFCH overhead may include determining whether PSFCH resources are to be used for sidelink communications. Thus, in some aspects, the determination of PSFCH overhead is a determination of whether PSFCH overhead is required in conjunction with sidelink communications, and the determination at block 1402 does not require quantifying the amount of PSFCH overhead.

[0159] At block 1404, the first wireless communication device may further determine a number of DMRS REs associated with the DMRS overhead for transmission based in part on the PSFCH overhead. At block 1406, the first wireless communication device may further determine a TBS for transmission based in part on the number of DMRS REs. At block 1408, the first wireless communication device may transmit a signal to the second wireless communication device using the sidelink wireless communication according to the determined TBS and transmit a PSFCH overhead indicator. The PSFCH overhead indicator may be set to a first value to indicate that the sidelink wireless communication system utilizes the PSFCH resources, and set to a second different value to indicate that the sidelink wireless communication system does not utilize the PSFCH resources.

[0160] Fig.15 1500 is a flowchart of another exemplary method for sidelink communication according to some aspects. Likewise, some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted in certain implementations within the scope of the present disclosure, and some of the illustrated features may not be required for implementation of all embodiments. In some examples, the method may be as described above and in Fig.11 The wireless communication device 1100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is executed by a processor or a processing system, or by any suitable means for performing the described functions.

[0161] In box 1502, a second wireless communication device (e.g., a receiving wireless communication device) may decode the SCI to obtain a PSFCH overhead indicator. In box 1504, the second wireless communication device may determine the number of DMRS REs associated with the DMRS overhead for transmission based on the PSFCH overhead indicator. For example, if the PSFCH overhead indicator is set to a first value, the above-mentioned lookup table may be used to find a first average number of DMRS REs, and if the PSFCH overhead indicator is set to a second different value, the above-mentioned lookup table may be used to find a second different average number of DMRS REs. In box 1506, the second wireless communication device may determine a TBS for further transmission with the first device based at least on the number of DMRS REs. For example, the TBS may be determined while using the average number of DMRS REs obtained at 1504 (in combination with other parameters). In box 1508, the second wireless communication device may process and decode the data channel signal received from the first device according to the determined TBS.

[0162] Fig.16 1600 is a flowchart of another exemplary method for sidelink communication according to some aspects. Likewise, some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted in certain implementations within the scope of the present disclosure, and some of the illustrated features may not be required for implementation of all embodiments. In some examples, the method may be as described above and in Fig.11 The wireless communication device 1100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is executed by a processor or a processing system, or by any suitable means for performing the described functions.

[0163] At block 1602, the wireless communication device may determine an allocation size (as a number of RBs) for sidelink communication and compare it against a threshold value (T). Following decision block 1604, if the allocation size does not exceed the threshold, the wireless communication device may select or calculate a first lower average number of DMRS REs for determining the TBS based on a first set of values ​​or parameters at block 1606. Conversely, if the allocation size exceeds the threshold, the wireless communication device may select or calculate a second higher average number of DMRS REs for determining the TBS based on a second set of values ​​or parameters at block 1608. See above for examples of threshold-based techniques.

[0164] Fig.17 The wireless communication device 1700 (eg, a transmitting side UE configured for sidelink wireless communication with a receiving side UE, such as Fig.18 A block diagram of an example of a hardware implementation of a UE shown in FIG. Fig.17 Emphasis is placed on the transmit side components, but it should be understood that the wireless communication device may additionally be provided with a receive side component (in Fig.18), for use when it is the recipient of side link communication.

[0165] The wireless communication device 1700 employs a processing system 1714 capable of controlling and executing sidelink communications, wherein, in some aspects, a PSFCH overhead indicator is used to indicate whether the sidelink wireless communication uses PSFCH resources. The transmitting side UE 1700 may be one or more of a scheduling entity, a UE, a CPE, a relay, a sidelink node, and an IAB node. The transmitting side UE 1700 may be implemented with a processing system 1714 including one or more processors 1704. Examples of processors 1704 include microprocessors, microcontrollers, DSPs, FPGAs, PLDs, state machines, gating logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform various functionalities described throughout the present disclosure. In various examples, the transmitting side UE 1700 may be configured to perform any one or more of the transmitting side functions described herein. That is, the processor 1704 as utilized in the transmitting side UE 1700 may be used to implement any one or more of the transmitting side processes and procedures described elsewhere herein, such as Fig.14 Those shown in .

[0166] exist Fig.17 In the example of FIG. 1 , the processing system 1714 may be implemented using a bus architecture, such as the one described above with reference to FIG. Fig.13 The bus architecture described in Fig.17 1702. The bus 1702 communicatively couples together various circuits including one or more processors (generally represented by processor 1704), memory 1705, and computer readable media (generally represented by computer readable media 1706). A bus interface 1708 provides an interface between the bus 1702 and a transceiver 1710. The transceiver 1710 provides a communication interface or means for communicating with various other equipment over a transmission medium. The transceiver 1710 includes one or more receivers 1711 and one or more transmitters 1713. The receiver(s) 1711 are coupled to an antenna set 1715. The transmitter(s) 1713 are coupled to the same or different antenna sets 1717. The antenna sets may be used for beamforming. Depending on the characteristics of the equipment, a user interface 1712 (e.g., keypad, display, speaker, microphone, joystick) may also be provided.

[0167] In some aspects of the present disclosure, processor 1704 may include circuitry configured to implement one or more functions described elsewhere herein. Processor 1704 may include, for example, a transmit side PSFCH overhead determination circuit 1740 configured to determine whether to use PSFCH overhead when determining the TBS. In some aspects, this may include generating or otherwise obtaining a PSFCH overhead indicator that indicates whether to use PSFCH overhead when determining the TBS. In some aspects, the transmit side PSFCH overhead determination circuit 1740 is configured to determine whether to use PSFCH overhead when determining the TBS based on whether PSFCH resources are used for sidelink communications. In some aspects, the transmit side PSFCH overhead determination circuit 1740 may be based at least in part on a received PSFCH resource from a base station ( Fig.17 This determination is made based on signals or information received regarding the allocated side link resources (not shown).

[0168] The processor 1704 may also include, for example, a transmit side DMRS RE determination circuit 1742 configured to determine the number of DMRS REs associated with the DMRS overhead for determining the TBS. In some aspects, the transmit side DMRS RE determination circuit 1742 is configured to determine an average number of DMRS REs to be used as the average number of DMRS REs associated with the DMRS overhead for determining the TBS. (The number of DMRS REs to be used for other purposes may be different.) In some aspects, the transmit side DMRS RE determination circuit 1742 determines the average number of DMRS REs used to determine the TBS based on the number of DMRS patterns available for sidelink wireless communications.

[0169] In some aspects, the transmit side DMRS RE determination circuit 1742 determines the average number of DMRS REs based on a lookup table as indicated within the memory 1705. For example, see the exemplary Table I discussed above, which provides different average numbers of DMRS REs (for determining TBS) depending on whether the sidelink wireless communication utilizes PSFCH resources (which may be indicated by a PSFCH overhead indicator). However, as described above, Table I is only an example. There is no requirement that the table store different values ​​for the average number of DMRS REs (for determining TBS) depending on whether the sidelink wireless communication utilizes PSFCH resources. In other examples, the same average number of DMRS REs may be used to determine the TBS regardless of the PSFCH indicator. That is, in some examples, the table may have only two columns: the first column lists the configured mode; and the second column lists the average number of DMRS REs used to determine the TBS for a particular configuration mode (regardless of whether the indicator is 1 or 0). The memory 1705 may also store thresholds or other calculation parameters (similar to Fig.13In some aspects, the transmit-side DMRS RE determination circuit 1742 determines the average number of DMRS REs based at least in part on the allocation size. See, e.g. Fig.16 and its description.

[0170] The processor 1704 may additionally include, for example, a transmit-side TBS determination circuit 1744 configured to determine the TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator determined by the circuit 1742. The processor 1704 may include, for example, a transmission control circuit 1746 for sending an SCI with a PSFCH overhead indicator, wherein the circuit 1746 is configured to control the wireless transceiver 1710 to transmit the SCI to a receiving wireless communication device (e.g., Fig.18 UE 1800) transmits signals including a PSFCH overhead indicator, wherein the signals are transmitted based on the determined TBS. In some aspects, the PSFCH overhead indicator is configured to indicate whether PSFCH resources are to be used by the receiving wireless communication device for TBS determination. In some aspects, the transmission control circuit 1746 is configured to set or configure the PSFCH overhead indicator to a first value (e.g., binary 1) to indicate that the sidelink wireless communication utilizes PSFCH resources to determine the TBS, or to set or configure it to a second different value (e.g., binary 0) to indicate that the sidelink wireless communication does not utilize PSFCH resources to determine the TBS. As already explained, the PSFCH overhead indicator can be transmitted within the SCI within the PSCCH together with the time slot of the PSSCH, such as Figure 7C shown.

[0171] The transmitting side UE 1700 and the receiving side UE (eg Fig.18 1800) uses one or more identical predetermined procedures to determine the average number of DMRS REs so that the two UEs determine the same value. In this regard, the two UEs may include the same lookup table storing the same information so that the two UEs obtain the same value of the number of DMRS REs associated with the DMRS overhead. In some aspects, the same calculation procedure is programmed into the two UEs. In some aspects, the same threshold is programmed into the two UEs. In some examples, a first predetermined procedure is used when the sidelink wireless communication utilizes PSFCH resources to determine the TBS (and then the indicator is set to a first value), and a second predetermined procedure is used when the sidelink wireless communication does not utilize PSFCH resources to determine the TBS (and then the indicator is set to a second value).

[0172] The processor 1704 is also responsible for managing the bus 1702 and general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium 1706. The software, when executed by the processor 1704, causes the processing system 1714 to perform the various transmit-side functions described herein for any particular device. The computer-readable medium 1706 and memory 1705 may also be used to store data manipulated by the processor 1704 when executing the software.

[0173] One or more processors 1704 in the processing system can execute the software. The software can reside on a computer readable medium 1706. The computer readable medium 1706 can be a non-transitory computer readable medium, such as the one described above in conjunction with Fig.13 The computer readable medium 1706 may reside in the processing system 1714, external to the processing system 1714, or distributed across multiple entities including the processing system 1714. The computer readable medium 1706 may be implemented in a computer program product. As an example, a computer program product may include a computer readable medium in packaging materials. Those skilled in the art will recognize how to best implement the described functionality presented throughout this disclosure depending on the specific application and the overall design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0174] The computer-readable storage medium 1706 may include software configured to implement one or more transmit-side functions described elsewhere herein. For example, the computer-readable storage medium 1706 may include: transmit-side PSFCH overhead determination code 1752 configured to determine whether to use PSFCH overhead when determining the TBS and / or configured to generate or otherwise obtain a PSFCH overhead indicator indicating whether to use PSFCH overhead when determining the TBS; transmit-side DMRS RE determination code 1754 configured to determine the number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for determining the TBS; transmit-side TBS determination code 1756 configured to determine the TBS for transmission based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator; and transmission control code 1758 for sending an SCI with a PSFCH indicator, wherein the code 1758 is configured to control the wireless transceiver 1710 to transmit a transmission to a receiving wireless communication device (e.g., a wireless communication device) using a sidelink wireless communication. Fig.18UE 1800) transmits signals including a PSFCH overhead indicator, and wherein the signals are transmitted based on the determined TBS. In some aspects, the PSFCH overhead indicator is configured to indicate whether the PSFCH resources are to be used by the receiving wireless communication device for TBS determination. In some aspects, the transmission control code 1758 is configured to set the PSFCH overhead indicator to a first value (e.g., binary 1) to indicate that the sidelink wireless communication utilizes the PSFCH resources to determine the TBS, or to a second different value (e.g., binary 0) to indicate that the sidelink wireless communication does not utilize the PSFCH resources to determine the TBS.

[0175] In some aspects, the transmit side PSFCH overhead determination circuit 1740 provides a device for determining whether to use the PSFCH overhead when determining the TBS and / or a device for obtaining a PSFCH overhead indicator indicating whether to use the PSFCH overhead when determining the TBS. The transmit side DMRS RE determination circuit 1742 provides a device for determining the number of DMRS REs associated with the DMRS overhead for determining the TBS. In some aspects, the transmit side DMRS RE determination circuit 1742 provides a device for determining the average number of DMRS REs, and the average number of DMRS REs is to be used as the number of DMRS REs associated with the DMRS overhead. In some aspects, the transmit side DMRS RE determination circuit 1742 provides a device for determining the average number of DMRS REs based on the number of DMRS patterns that can be used for sidelink wireless communication for determining the TBS. In some aspects, the transmit side DMRS RE determination circuit 1742 provides a device for determining the average number of DMRS REs according to a lookup table. In some aspects, the transmit side DMRS RE determination circuit 1742 provides a device for determining the average number of DMRS REs based at least in part on the allocation size.

[0176] In some aspects, the transmitting side TBS determination circuit 1744 provides a device for determining the TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator. The transmission control circuit 1746 for sending the SCI with the PSFCH indicator provides a device for controlling the wireless transceiver to transmit a signal including the PSFCH overhead indicator to the receiving wireless communication device using the side link wireless communication, wherein these signals are transmitted according to the determined TBS. In some aspects, the transmission control circuit 1746 provides a device for setting or configuring the PSFCH overhead indicator to indicate whether the PSFCH resource is to be used by the receiving wireless communication device for TBS determination. In some aspects, the transmission control circuit 1746 provides a device for setting the PSFCH overhead indicator to a first value (e.g., binary 1) to indicate that the side link wireless communication utilizes the PSFCH resource to determine the TBS or sets it to a second different value (e.g., binary 0) to indicate that the side link wireless communication does not utilize the PSFCH resource to determine the TBS.

[0177] Fig.18 The wireless communication device 1800 (eg, a transmitting side UE configured for sidelink wireless communication with a transmitting side UE, such as Fig.18 A block diagram of an example of a hardware implementation of a UE shown in FIG. Fig.18 Emphasis is placed on receiving side components, but it should be understood that the wireless communication device may additionally be provided with transmitting side components (in Fig.17 ), for use when it is the transmitter of the side link communication.

[0178] The wireless communication device 1800 employs a processing system 1814 capable of controlling and executing sidelink communications, wherein, in some aspects, a PSFCH overhead indicator is received from a transmitting side UE to indicate whether the sidelink wireless communication utilizes PSFCH resources to determine the TBS. The receiving side UE 1800 may be one or more of a scheduled entity, a UE, a CPE, a relay, a sidelink node, and an IAB node. The receiving side UE 1800 may be implemented with a processing system 1814 including one or more processors 1804. Examples of processors 1804 include microprocessors, microcontrollers, DSPs, FPGAs, PLDs, state machines, gating logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform various functionalities described throughout the present disclosure. In various examples, the receiving side UE 1800 may be configured to perform any one or more of the receiving side functions described herein. That is, the processor 1804 utilized in the receiving side UE 1800 may be used to implement any one or more of the receiving side processes and procedures described elsewhere herein, such as Fig.15 Those shown in .

[0179] exist Fig.18In the example of FIG. 1 , the processing system 1814 may be implemented using a bus architecture, such as the one described above with reference to FIG. Fig.13 The bus architecture described in Fig.18 1802. The bus 1802 communicatively couples together various circuits including one or more processors (generally represented by processor 1804), memory 1805, and computer readable media (generally represented by computer readable media 1806). A bus interface 1808 provides an interface between the bus 1802 and a transceiver 1810. The transceiver 1810 provides a communication interface or means for communicating with various other equipment over a transmission medium. The transceiver 1810 includes one or more receivers 1811 and one or more transmitters 1813. The receiver(s) 1811 are coupled to an antenna set 1815. The transmitter(s) 1813 are coupled to the same or different antenna sets 1817. The antenna sets may be used for beamforming. Depending on the characteristics of the equipment, a user interface 1812 (e.g., keypad, display, speaker, microphone, joystick) may also be provided.

[0180] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the processor 1804 may include a circuit system configured to implement one or more functions described elsewhere herein. The processor 1804 may include, for example, an SCI / PSFCH overhead indicator receiving circuit 1840, which is configured to receive and decode an SCI including a PSFCH overhead indicator. The processor 1804 may also include, for example, a receiving side DMRSRE determination circuit 1842, which is configured to determine the number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for determining a TBS. In some aspects, the receiving side DMRS RE determination circuit 1842 is configured to determine the average number of DMRS REs, which are to be used as the number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for determining a TBS. (The number of DMRS REs to be used for other purposes may be different.) In some aspects, the receiving side DMRS RE determination circuit 1842 determines the average number of DMRS REs based on the number of DMRS patterns that can be used for sidelink wireless communications. In some aspects, the receiving side DMRS RE determination circuit 1842 determines that the sidelink wireless communication utilizes PSFCH resources to determine the TBS in response to the PSFCH overhead being set to a first value, and determines that the sidelink wireless communication does not utilize PSFCH resources to determine the TBS in response to the PSFCH overhead indicator being set to a second value.

[0181] In some aspects, the receive side DMRS RE determination circuit 1842 determines the average number of DMRS REs based on a lookup table as indicated in the memory 1805. For example, see the exemplary table discussed above, which provides different average numbers of DMRS REs (for determining TBS) based on whether the sidelink wireless communication utilizes PSFCH resources (as indicated by the PSFCH overhead indicator). However, there is no requirement that the table store different values ​​for the average number of DMRS REs to be used to determine the TBS based on whether the sidelink wireless communication utilizes PSFCH resources. Instead, in some examples, the same average number of DMRS REs can be used to determine the TBS regardless of whether the value of PSFCH feedback is to be used. The memory 1805 may also store thresholds or other calculation parameters (similar to Fig.13 In some aspects, the receive-side DMRS RE determination circuit 1842 determines the average number of DMRS REs based at least in part on the allocation size, as described above in Fig.16 discussed in .

[0182] As already explained, the transmitting side UE (eg, Fig.17 The receiving side UE 1700) and the receiving side UE 1800 use the same predetermined procedure to determine the average number of DMRS REs used for TBS determination so that the two UEs determine the same value. As explained, the two UEs may include the same lookup table storing the same information so that the two UEs obtain the same value for the number of DMRS REs used to determine the TBS. In some examples, a first predetermined procedure is used when the sidelink wireless communication utilizes PSFCH resources (and the received indicator is therefore set to a first value), and a second predetermined procedure is used when the sidelink wireless communication does not utilize PSFCH resources (and the received indicator is therefore set to a second value).

[0183] Processor 1804 may further include, for example, a receive-side TBS determination circuit 1844 configured to determine the TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs determined by circuit 1842 and the indicator received by circuit 1840. Processor 1804 may also include, for example, a receive control circuit 1846 for receiving and decoding a data transmission from a transmitting UE using the TBS.

[0184] The processor 1804 is also responsible for managing the bus 1802 and general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium 1806. The software, when executed by the processor 1804, causes the processing system 1814 to perform the various receive-side functions described herein for any particular device. The computer-readable medium 1806 and memory 1805 may also be used to store data manipulated by the processor 1804 when executing the software.

[0185] One or more processors 1804 in the processing system may execute the software. The software may reside on a computer readable medium 1806. The computer readable medium 1806 may be a non-transitory computer readable medium, such as the one described above in conjunction with Fig.13 The computer readable medium 1806 may reside in the processing system 1814, external to the processing system 1814, or distributed across multiple entities including the processing system 1814. The computer readable medium 1806 may be implemented in a computer program product. As an example, a computer program product may include a computer readable medium in packaging materials. Those skilled in the art will recognize how to best implement the described functionality presented throughout this disclosure depending on the specific application and the overall design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0186] The computer-readable storage medium 1806 may include software configured to implement one or more receive-side functions described elsewhere herein. For example, the computer-readable storage medium 1806 may include: SCI / PSFCH overhead indicator reception code 1852, which is configured to receive and decode SCI including a PSFCH overhead indicator; a receive-side DMRS RE determination code 1854, which is configured to determine the number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for determining a TBS; a receive-side TBS determination code 1856, which is configured to determine the TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator; and a receive control code 1858, which is used to receive and decode data transmissions from a transmitting UE using the TBS.

[0187] In some aspects, the SCI / PSFCH overhead indicator receiving circuit 1840 provides a device for receiving and decoding an SCI including a PSFCH overhead indicator. The receiving side DMRS RE determination circuit 1842 provides a device for determining the number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for sidelink wireless communication. In some aspects, the receiving side DMRS RE determination circuit 1842 provides a device for determining the average number of DMRS REs, which is used as the number of DMRS REs for determining the TBS. In some aspects, the receiving side DMRS RE determination circuit 1842 provides a device for determining the average number of DMRS REs based on the number of DMRS patterns that can be used for sidelink wireless communication. In some aspects, the receiving side DMRS RE determination circuit 1842 provides a device for determining the average number of DMRS REs according to a lookup table. In some aspects, the receiving side DMRS RE determination circuit 1842 provides a device for determining the average number of DMRS REs based at least in part on the allocation size.

[0188] In some aspects, receive-side TBS determination circuitry 1844 provides means for determining the TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs. Receive control circuitry 1846 provides means for receiving and decoding data transmissions from a transmitting UE using the TBS.

[0189] Fig.19 is a signaling diagram 1900 illustrating an example of sidelink wireless communication in accordance with some aspects. Fig.19 In the example shown, a first UE (UE-1) 1902 is configured to wirelessly communicate with a second UE (UE-2) 1904 via a sidelink channel. Each of UE-1 1902 and UE-2 1904 may correspond to various wireless devices described above. For example, UE-1 1902 may correspond to Fig.17 The wireless device 1700, and UE-2 1904 may correspond to Fig.18 Wireless device 1800. At 1906, UE-1 1902 determines whether to use PSFCH overhead when determining a TBS. As explained above, in a first mode (Mode 1), a RAN node (e.g., a gNB) may allocate resources to a UE for sidelink communications between the UEs. In a second mode (Mode 2), the UEs may autonomously select sidelink resources for sidelink communications between them. Thus, in at least some examples, UE-1 determining whether to use PSFCH overhead when determining a TBS may include receiving information about the allocated sidelink resources (such as PSFCH overhead) from a base station. At 1908, UE-1 1902 determines a value for an average number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for sidelink transmissions for determining the TBS. The determination of the average number may employ a lookup table or other suitable procedure, as already described.

[0190] At 1910, UE-1 1902 determines a TBS for sidelink transmission based on the number of DMRS REs determined at 1908, and at 1912, UE-1 1902 sets a PSFCH overhead indicator within the SCI to notify UE-2 1904 to use PSFCH resources when determining the TBS at UE-2. The PSFCH overhead indicator may be set to a first value (e.g., binary 1) to notify UE-2 1904 that the PSFCH resources will be used for TBS determination at UE-2, or set to a second different value (e.g., binary 0) to notify UE-2 1904 that the PSFCH resources will not be used for TBS determination at UE-2. At 1914, UE-1 1902 transmits a PSSCH / PSCCH signal including the SCI PSFCH overhead indicator to UE-2 1904, wherein the PSSCH / PSCCH signals are sent according to the TBS determined by UE-1 at 1910.

[0191] At 1916, UE-2 1904 receives and decodes the PSSCH / PSCCH signal including the SCI PSFCH overhead indicator transmitted from UE-1 1902. At 1918, UE-2 1904 determines the same value as determined by UE-1 at 1908 for the average number of DMRS REs associated with the DMRS overhead by using matching lookup table information stored in UE-1 or other appropriate matching procedure that is the same as the specific procedure used by UE-1 1902. At 1920, UE-2 1904 determines a TBS based on the determined average number of DMRS REs, and, since UE-2 1904 has calculated the same average number as the average number of DMRS REs calculated by UE-1 1902, UE-2 1904 thereby obtains the same TBS.

[0192] At 1922, UE-1 1902 transmits data channel signals according to the TBS previously determined by UE-1 at 1910, which are received and decoded by UE-2 1904 at 1924 according to the same TBS (as previously determined by UE-2 at 1920). At 1926, if data needs to be retransmitted, UE-1 1902 retransmits the data channel signals according to the TBS determined by UE-1 at 1910, which are then received and decoded by UE-2 1904 at 1928 according to the same TBS (as previously determined by UE-2 at 1920). Although Fig.19 As not shown, UE-2 1904 may transmit a PSFCH signal to UE-1 1902 according to a preconfigured PSFCH symbol protocol, such as Fig.11 As shown. In some aspects, UE-2 1904 may transmit PSFCH to UE-1 1902 only when PSFCH transmission is enabled or requested. In addition, note that in some aspects, at least some data or signals may be sent from UE-1 1902 to UE-2 1904 via a sidelink channel (such as a sidelink data channel) before the PSFCH overhead indicator is sent. It should also be understood that in some systems, the PSFCH overhead indicator feature may be disabled and not used.

[0193] Fig. 20 is a flow chart 2000 outlining a method that may be performed by a transmitting wireless communication device such as Fig.17Aspects of an exemplary method for sidelink communication performed by a wireless device 1700 of the present invention. At 2002, the wireless communication device determines whether to use PSFCH overhead when determining a TBS for sidelink communication. At 2004, the wireless communication device determines the number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for determining the TBS. As explained above, reference may be made to a table that lists the average number of DMRS REs used to determine the TBS, wherein the table lists specific average numbers to be used with various different configurations (e.g., represented by the number of DMRS symbols in the configuration mode). In some examples, different values ​​of the average number may be specified depending on whether PSFCH overhead is to be used when determining the TBS (as shown by the two "average number" columns in Table I). In other examples, the same average number may be used regardless of whether PSFCH overhead is to be used when determining the TBS. For example, only a single "average number" column (such as the middle column of Table I) may be used.

[0194] At 2006, the wireless communication device determines a TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs. At 2008, the wireless communication device controls a wireless transceiver to transmit signals including the PSFCH overhead indicator to a receiving wireless communication device using sidelink wireless communication, wherein the signals are transmitted based on the determined TBS. As explained above, the PSFCH overhead indicator can be set to inform the receiving wireless communication device whether to use PSFCH resources when determining the TBS. See above for detailed examples.

[0195] Fig.21 is a flow chart 2100, which further summarizes the process that may be performed by a transmitting UE or other wireless communication device (such as Fig.17 1700) for sidelink communication. At 2102, the transmitting UE determines to use a receiving UE (such as Fig.18 The UE determines whether to use PSFCH overhead when determining TBS for sidelink communication of the UE 1800), where the determination can be based on, for example, whether PSFCH resources are to be used during sidelink communication. At 2104, the UE determines a value for the average number of DMRS REs for determining TBS for transmissions (and retransmissions) to the receiving UE based on the number of DMRS patterns available for sidelink wireless communication, using a pre-stored lookup table, an allocation size, a pre-determined calculation procedure, or other matching determination procedures provided in both the transmitting and receiving UEs. See above for detailed examples.

[0196] At 2106, the UE determines a TBS based in part on the average number of DMRS REs. At 2108, the UE sets a PSFCH overhead indicator within an SCI (e.g., SCI-1) to a first value (e.g., 1) to indicate that the sidelink wireless communication utilizes PSFCH resources, or to a second different value (e.g., 0) to indicate that the sidelink wireless communication does not utilize PSFCH resources. At 2110, the UE controls a wireless transceiver of the UE to transmit PSSCH / PSCCH signals including the SCI PSFCH overhead indicator to a receiving UE using the sidelink wireless communication, wherein the signals are transmitted according to the determined TBS.

[0197] Fig. 22 is a flow chart 2200 outlining a method that may be performed by a receiving wireless communication device such as Fig.18 Various aspects of an exemplary method for sidelink communication performed by a wireless device 1800 of the wireless communication system. At 2202, a wireless communication device receives a signal from a transmitting wireless communication device (such as a wireless device 1800) on a wireless sidelink channel. Fig.18 At 2204, the wireless communication device determines the number of DMRS REs associated with the DMRS overhead for sidelink wireless communication. As already explained, in some examples, the determination may be based on whether the PSFCH resources are to be used during the sidelink communication, while in other examples, the determination is made without regard to whether the PSFCH resources are to be used. At 2206, the wireless communication device determines the TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator. In this regard, if the PSFCH overhead indicator is set to indicate that the PSFCH overhead is being used, the resulting TBS determined at 2206 may be different from the TBS determined when the PSFCH overhead is not used. This difference may occur even if the number of DMRS REs determined at 2202 does not explicitly depend on whether the PSFCH overhead indicator is set to on (1) or off (0). At 2208, the wireless communication device receives a data channel transmission from the transmitting wireless communication device. At 2210, the wireless communication device uses the TBS to decode the data channel transmission.

[0198] Fig.23 is a flow chart 2300, which further summarizes the process that can be performed by a receiving UE or other wireless communication device (such as Fig.18Aspects of an exemplary method for sidelink communication performed by a UE 1800 of the present invention. At 2302, the UE receives a PSSCH / PSCCH signal from a transmitting UE and decodes the signal to obtain a PSFCH overhead indicator from within the SCI. At 2304, the UE determines that the sidelink wireless communication utilizes PSFCH resources in response to finding that the PSFCH overhead is set to a first value (e.g., 1), or determines that the sidelink wireless communication does not utilize PSFCH resources in response to finding that the PSFCH overhead indicator is set to a second value (e.g., 0). At 2306, the UE determines the value of the average number of DMRS REs associated with the DMRS overhead for determining the TBS for the sidelink transmission (and retransmission) from the transmitting UE based on the number of DMRS patterns that can be used for the sidelink wireless communication, using a pre-stored lookup table, an allocation size, a pre-determined calculation procedure, or other matching determination procedures provided in both the transmitting and receiving UEs. See above for detailed examples. As already explained, in some examples, the average number of DMRS REs used for TBS determination may depend on whether the PSFCH overhead indicator is set to on (1) or off (0). In other examples, the average number of DMRS REs used for TBS determination may be the same regardless of the setting of the PSFCH overhead indicator. (The number of DMRS REs used for other purposes may be different from the value used to determine the TBS.) At 2308, the UE determines the TBS based in part on the average number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator. At 2310, the UE receives and decodes data channel signaling transmissions (and retransmissions) in accordance with the TBS.

[0199] Fig.24 is a flow chart 2400 outlining a method that may be performed by a transmitting wireless communication device such as Fig.17Aspects of an exemplary method for sidelink communication performed by a wireless device 1700 of the present invention. At 2402, the wireless communication device generates or otherwise obtains a PSFCH overhead indicator, which indicates whether the PSFCH overhead is used when determining the TBS. At 2404, the wireless communication device determines the number of DMRS REs associated with the DMRS overhead for determining the TBS. As explained above, reference may be made to a table that lists the average number of DMRS REs used to determine the TBS, wherein the table lists specific average numbers to be used with various different configurations (e.g., as represented by the number of DMRS symbols in the configuration mode). In some examples, different values ​​of the average number may be specified depending on whether the PSFCH overhead is to be used when determining the TBS (as shown by the two "average number" columns in Table I). In other examples, the same average number may be used regardless of whether the PSFCH overhead is to be used when determining the TBS. For example, only a single "average number" column (such as the middle column of Table I) may be used. At 2406, the wireless communication device determines the TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator. At 2408, the wireless communication device controls the wireless transceiver to transmit signals including a PSFCH overhead indicator to a receiving wireless communication device using sidelink wireless communication, wherein the signals are transmitted based on the determined TBS. The PSFCH overhead indicator can be set to inform the receiving wireless communication device whether to use the PSFCH overhead when determining the TBS. See above for detailed examples.

[0200] An overview of various examples of the disclosure is provided below.

[0201] Example 1: A wireless communication device for use in a sidelink wireless communication network, comprising: a wireless transceiver; a memory; and a processor communicatively coupled to the wireless transceiver and the memory. The processor is configured to: generate a PSFCH overhead indicator indicating whether PSFCH overhead is used to determine a TBS; determine the number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead used to determine the TBS; determine the TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator; and control the wireless transceiver to transmit a signal including the PSFCH overhead indicator to a receiving wireless communication device using sidelink wireless communication, wherein the signal is transmitted according to the determined TBS.

[0202] Example 2: The wireless communication device of Example 1, wherein the processor is further configured to generate the PSFCH overhead indicator.

[0203] Example 3: The wireless communication device of Example 1 or 2, wherein the processor is further configured to generate the PSFCH overhead indicator based in part on information received from a base station.

[0204] Example 4: The wireless communication device of Example 1, 2, or 3, wherein the processor is further configured to set the PSFCH overhead indicator to a single bit.

[0205] Example 5: A wireless communication device as in Example 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the processor is further configured to determine an average number of DMRS REs for use as the number of DMRS REs associated with the DMRS overhead based on the number of DMRS patterns available for the sidelink wireless communication.

[0206] Example 6: The wireless communication device of Example 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the average number of DMRS REs from a table.

[0207] Example 7: The wireless communication device of Example 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the number of DMRS REs based on whether the PSFCH overhead is used.

[0208] Example 8: A wireless communication device as described in Example 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the processor is further configured to control the wireless transceiver to transmit the PSFCH overhead indicator within sidelink control information SCI.

[0209] Example 9: A wireless communication device as in Example 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein the processor is further configured to apply the determined number of DMRS REs to both transmissions and retransmissions to the receiving wireless communication device, so that the TBS is the same for both the transmission and the retransmission.

[0210] Example 10: A method for performing sidelink wireless communication at a wireless communication device, comprising: generating a PSFCH overhead indicator indicating whether PSFCH overhead is used to determine a TBS; determining the number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead used to determine the TBS; determining the TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator; and controlling a wireless transceiver to transmit a signal including the PSFCH overhead indicator to a receiving wireless communication device using sidelink wireless communication, wherein the signal is transmitted based on the determined TBS.

[0211] Example 11: The method of Example 10 further includes generating the PSFCH overhead indicator.

[0212] Example 12: The method of Example 10 or 11, wherein the PSFCH overhead indicator is generated based in part on information received from a base station.

[0213] Example 13: The method of Example 10, 11 or 12, further comprising setting the PSFCH overhead indicator to a single bit.

[0214] Example 14: The method of Example 10, 11, 12 or 13 further includes determining an average number of DMRS REs for use as the number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead based on the number of DMRS patterns available for sidelink wireless communication.

[0215] Example 15: The method of Example 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 further comprises determining the average number of DMRS REs from a table.

[0216] Example 16: The method of Example 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 further includes determining the number of DMRS REs based on whether the PSFCH overhead is used.

[0217] Example 17: The method of Example 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16, wherein the PSFCH overhead indicator is transmitted within the SCI.

[0218] Example 18: The method of Example 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or 17 further includes applying the determined number of DMRSREs to both transmissions and retransmissions to the receiving wireless communication device, so that the TBS is the same for both the transmission and the retransmission.

[0219] Example 19: A wireless communication device for use in a sidelink wireless communication network, comprising: a wireless transceiver; a memory; and a processor communicatively coupled to the wireless transceiver and the memory. The processor is configured to: receive a PSFCH overhead indicator from a transmitting wireless communication device using the wireless transceiver on a wireless sidelink channel; determine a number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for sidelink wireless communication; determine a TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator; receive a data channel transmission from the transmitting wireless communication device; and decode the data channel transmission using the TBS.

[0220] Example 20: A wireless communication device as in Example 19, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the sidelink wireless communication utilizes PSFCH resources to determine the TBS in response to the PSFCH overhead indicator being set to a first value, and to determine that the sidelink wireless communication does not utilize PSFCH resources to determine the TBS in response to the PSFCH overhead indicator being set to a second value.

[0221] Example 21: The wireless communication device of Example 19 or 20, wherein the processor is further configured to determine an average number of DMRS REs for use as the number of DMRS REs for determining the TBS.

[0222] Example 22: The wireless communication device of Example 19, 20 or 21, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the number of DMRS REs based on whether PSFCH overhead is used.

[0223] Example 23: A wireless communication device as in Example 19, 20, 21 or 22, wherein the processor is further configured to decode the PSFCH overhead indicator from sidelink control information (SCI) received from the transmitting wireless communication device.

[0224] Example 24: A method for performing sidelink wireless communication at a wireless communication device, comprising: receiving a PSFCH overhead indicator from a transmitting wireless communication device on a wireless sidelink channel; determining the number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead for sidelink wireless communication; determining a TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator; receiving a data channel transmission from the transmitting wireless communication device; and using the TBS to decode the data channel transmission.

[0225] Example 25: The method as in Example 24 further includes determining that the sidelink wireless communication utilizes PSFCH resources to determine the TBS in response to the PSFCH overhead indicator being set to a first value, and determining that the sidelink wireless communication does not utilize PSFCH resources to determine the TBS in response to the PSFCH overhead indicator being set to a second value.

[0226] Example 26: The method of Example 24 or 25, further comprising determining an average number of DMRS REs for use as the number of DMRS REs for determining the TBS.

[0227] Example 27: The method of Example 24, 25 or 26 further includes determining the average number of DMRS REs based on the number of DMRS patterns available for the sidelink wireless communication, depending on whether the sidelink wireless communication utilizes PSFCH resources.

[0228] Example 28: The method of Example 24, 25, 26 or 27 further comprises determining an average number of the DMRS REs from a table.

[0229] Example 29: The method of Example 24, 25, 26, 27 or 28 further includes determining the number of DMRS REs based on whether the PSFCH overhead is used.

[0230] Example 30: The method of Example 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 or 29, further comprising decoding the PSFCH overhead indicator from within an SCI received from the transmitting wireless communication device.

[0231] Several aspects of wireless communication networks have been presented with reference to exemplary implementations. As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the various aspects described throughout this disclosure may be extended to other telecommunication systems, network architectures and communication standards.

[0232] As an example, various aspects may be implemented within other systems defined by 3GPP, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), Evolved Packet System (EPS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), and / or Global System for Mobile (GSM). Various aspects may also be extended to systems defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2), such as CDMA2000 and / or Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO). Other examples may be implemented within systems employing IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Ultra Wideband (UWB), Bluetooth, and / or other suitable systems. The actual telecommunication standard, network architecture, and / or communication standard employed will depend on the specific application and the overall design constraints imposed on the system.

[0233] Within the present disclosure, the wording "exemplary" is used to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any implementation or aspect described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as superior or superior to other aspects of the present disclosure. Likewise, the term "aspect" does not require that all aspects of the present disclosure include the features, advantages, or modes of operation discussed. The term "coupled" is used herein to refer to a direct or indirect coupling between two objects. For example, if object A physically contacts object B, and object B contacts object C, objects A and C may still be considered to be coupled to each other - even if they are not in direct physical contact with each other. For example, a first object may be coupled to a second object, even if the first object never directly contacts the second object physically. The terms "circuit" and "circuitry" are used broadly and are intended to include both hardware implementations of electronic devices and conductors and software implementations of information and instructions, which, when connected and configured, enable the functions described in the present disclosure to be performed without limitation on the type of electronic circuits, which, when executed by a processor, enable the functions described in the present disclosure to be performed.

[0234] Figure 1-23 One or more of the components, features, and / or functions described herein may be rearranged and / or combined into a single component, feature, or function, or may be implemented in several components or functions. Additional elements, components, and / or functions may also be added without departing from the features disclosed herein. Figure 1-5 The devices, apparatuses and / or components illustrated in and / or 8-11 and / or 17-18 may be configured to perform one or more of the methods, features, or functions described herein. The algorithms described herein may also be efficiently implemented in software and / or embedded in hardware.

[0235] It should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of the blocks in the disclosed methods is an illustration of an exemplary process. Based on design preferences, it will be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of the blocks in these methods can be rearranged. The attached method claims present elements in a sample order and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented unless specifically stated herein.

[0236] The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the universal principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the various aspects shown herein, but should be granted the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein the singular reference to the element is not intended to mean "there is and only one" - unless specifically stated, but intended to mean "one or more". Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term "some" refers to one or more. The phrase "at least one" of a list of items refers to any combination of these items, including a single member. As an example, "at least one of a, b or c" is intended to cover: a; b; c; a and b; a and c; b and c; and a, b and c. The elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure are all structurally and functionally equivalent solutions currently or hereafter known to those of ordinary skill in the art, and are expressly incorporated herein by reference, and are intended to be covered by the claims. In addition, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be donated to the public, regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recorded in the claims.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device for use in a sidelink wireless communication network, comprising: Wireless transceiver; Memory; as well as a processor communicatively coupled to the wireless transceiver and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to: obtaining a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) overhead indicator indicating whether a PSFCH overhead is used to determine a transport block size (TBS); determining a number of demodulation reference signal (DMRS) resource elements (REs) associated with DMRS overhead for determining the TBS; determining the TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator; as well as The wireless transceiver is controlled to transmit a signal including the PSFCH overhead indicator to a receiving wireless communication device using sidelink wireless communication, wherein the signal is transmitted according to the determined TBS.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to generate the PSFCH overhead indicator.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to generate the PSFCH overhead indicator based in part on information received from a base station.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to set the PSFCH overhead indicator to a single bit.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine an average number of DMRS REs for use as the number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead based on a number of DMRS patterns available for the sidelink wireless communication. 6 . The wireless communication device of claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the average number of DMRS REs from a table. 7 . The wireless communication device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the number of DMRS REs based on whether the PSFCH overhead is used.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to control the wireless transceiver to transmit the PSFCH overhead indicator within a sidelink control information (SCI).

9. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to apply the determined number of DMRS REs to both transmissions and retransmissions to the receiving wireless communication device such that the TBS is the same for both the transmissions and the retransmissions.

10. A method for sidelink wireless communication at a wireless communication device, the method comprising: obtaining a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) overhead indicator indicating whether a PSFCH overhead is used to determine a transport block size (TBS); determining a number of demodulation reference signal (DMRS) resource elements (REs) associated with DMRS overhead for determining the TBS; determining the TBS based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator; as well as The wireless transceiver is controlled to transmit a signal including the PSFCH overhead indicator to a receiving wireless communication device using sidelink wireless communication, wherein the signal is transmitted according to the determined TBS.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating the PSFCH overhead indicator.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the PSFCH overhead indicator is generated based in part on information received from a base station.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising setting the PSFCH overhead indicator to a single bit.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining an average number of DMRS REs for use as the number of DMRS REs associated with DMRS overhead based on a number of DMRS patterns available for the sidelink wireless communication. The method of claim 14 , further comprising determining the average number of DMRS REs from a table.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining the number of the DMRS REs based on whether the PSFCH overhead is used.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the PSFCH overhead indicator is transmitted within sidelink control information (SCI).

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising applying the determined number of DMRS REs to both transmissions and retransmissions to the recipient wireless communication device such that the TBS is the same for both the transmissions and the retransmissions.

19. A wireless communication device for use in a sidelink wireless communication network, comprising: Wireless transceiver; Memory; as well as a processor communicatively coupled to the wireless transceiver and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to: receiving a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) overhead indicator from a transmitting wireless communication device using the wireless transceiver on a wireless sidelink channel; determining a number of demodulation reference signal (DMRS) resource elements (REs) associated with DMRS overhead for sidelink wireless communication; determining a transport block size (TBS) based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator; receiving a data channel transmission from the transmitting wireless communications device; and The data channel transmission is decoded using the TBS.

20. A wireless communication device as described in claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the sidelink wireless communication utilizes PSFCH resources to determine the TBS in response to the PSFCH overhead indicator being set to a first value, and to determine that the sidelink wireless communication does not utilize PSFCH resources to determine the TBS in response to the PSFCH overhead indicator being set to a second value.

21. The wireless communication device of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to determine an average number of DMRS REs for use as the number of DMRS REs for determining the TBS.

22. The wireless communication device of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the number of DMRS REs based on whether PSFCH overhead is used.

23. The wireless communication device of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to decode the PSFCH overhead indicator from within sidelink control information (SCI) received from the transmitting wireless communication device.

24. A method for sidelink wireless communication at a wireless communication device, the method comprising: receiving a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) overhead indicator from a transmitting wireless communication device on a wireless sidelink channel; determining a number of demodulation reference signal (DMRS) resource elements (REs) associated with DMRS overhead for sidelink wireless communication; determining a transport block size (TBS) based in part on the number of DMRS REs and the PSFCH overhead indicator; receiving a data channel transmission from the transmitting wireless communications device; and The data channel transmission is decoded using the TBS.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining that the sidelink wireless communication utilizes PSFCH resources to determine the TBS in response to the PSFCH overhead indicator being set to a first value, and determining that the sidelink wireless communication does not utilize PSFCH resources to determine the TBS in response to the PSFCH overhead indicator being set to a second value.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining an average number of DMRS REs for use as the number of DMRS REs for determining the TBS.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising determining the average number of DMRS REs based on a number of DMRS patterns available for the sidelink wireless communication, depending on whether the sidelink wireless communication utilizes PSFCH resources.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising determining the average number of DMRS REs from a table.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining the number of DMRS REs based on whether PSFCH overhead is used.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising decoding the PSFCH overhead indicator from within sidelink control information (SCI) received from the transmitting wireless communication device.

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