Method and apparatus for configuring sidelink channel resource units

Abstract

The application discloses a method and device for configuring sidelink channel resource units, the method comprising: performing sidelink communication on a first sidelink channel resource unit of a first sidelink channel, determining a second sidelink channel resource unit of a second sidelink channel according to a first sidelink channel in a sidelink channel combination, and performing sidelink communication on the second sidelink channel resource unit; wherein the sidelink channel combination comprises the first sidelink channel and the second sidelink channel, wherein the first sidelink channel resource unit comprises a first number of first resource units in a time domain and a second number of second resource units in a frequency domain, and the second sidelink channel resource unit comprises a third number of first resource units in the time domain and a fourth number of second resource units in the frequency domain.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of Chinese patent application No. 201880098205.4, filed on September 27, 2018, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Configuring Sidelink Channel Resource Units". Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure generally relates to wireless communication, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for configuring sidelink channel resource elements for sidelink communication in a wireless communication network. Background Technology

[0003] Sidelink (SL) communication is wireless communication directly between two or more User Equipments (UEs). In this type of communication, two or more geographically proximate UEs can communicate directly without relying on base stations (e.g., eNBs in LTE systems or gNBs in newer radios) or the core network. Therefore, data transmission in sidelink communication differs from typical cellular network communication, where UEs send data to or receive data from eNBs or gNBs (i.e., uplink transmission) or receive data from eNBs or gNBs (i.e., downlink transmission). In sidelink communication, data is transmitted directly from the source UE to the target UE via a unified air interface such as the PC5 interface. Sidelink communication offers several advantages, such as reduced data transmission load on the core network, lower system resource consumption, reduced transmission power consumption, and lower network operating costs, as well as conserving radio spectrum resources and improving the spectrum utilization of cellular wireless network systems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are intended to address problems related to one or more issues presented in the prior art, and to provide additional features that will become apparent when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and referred to in the following detailed description. Exemplary systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed herein according to some embodiments. However, it should be understood that these embodiments are presented by way of example and not limitation, and that various modifications can be made to the disclosed embodiments while remaining within the scope of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art who have read this disclosure.

[0005] In 5G wireless communication systems, more finely granular and flexibly configurable resources in the time and frequency domains are utilized. Therefore, a flexible resource scheduling instruction method has been developed. Based on this flexible resource granularity, the definition and management of corresponding sidelink channel resources are proposed for sidelink communication. Furthermore, current sidelink channel resource schemes cannot be directly applied to this flexible resource configuration and scheduling method in 5G wireless communication systems. Therefore, the method and apparatus for configuring sidelink channel resource units in this disclosure can achieve efficient resource utilization, improve the flexibility of resource allocation, reduce signaling overhead, and handle complexity, etc. As used herein, a "sidelink channel resource unit" refers to a set of time and frequency domain resources on a corresponding sidelink channel where sidelink communication can be performed.

[0006] In one embodiment, a method performed by a first wireless communication device includes: performing sidelink communication on a first sidelink channel resource element of a first sidelink channel; determining a second sidelink channel resource element of a second sidelink channel based on a first sidelink channel in a sidelink channel combination; and performing sidelink communication on the second sidelink channel resource element; wherein the sidelink channel combination includes a first sidelink channel and a second sidelink channel; and wherein the first sidelink channel resource element includes a first number of first resource elements in the time domain and a second number of second resource elements in the frequency domain; and the second sidelink channel resource element includes a third number of first resource elements in the time domain and a fourth number of second resource elements in the frequency domain.

[0007] In another embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication node includes: indicating a first sidelink channel resource element of a first sidelink channel to a wireless communication device; and determining a second sidelink channel resource element of a second sidelink channel based on the first sidelink channel in a sidelink channel combination, wherein the sidelink channel combination includes the first sidelink channel and the second sidelink channel, and wherein the first sidelink channel resource element includes: a first number of first resource elements in the time domain and a second number of second resource elements in the frequency domain, and the second sidelink channel resource element includes: a third number of first resource elements in the time domain and a fourth number of second resource elements in the frequency domain.

[0008] In another embodiment, a computing device includes at least one processor and memory coupled to the processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform the method.

[0009] In another embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium stores computer-executable instructions thereon for performing the method. Attached Figure Description

[0010] The various aspects of this disclosure can be best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Note that the features are not necessarily drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions and geometries of the features can be increased or decreased at will for clarity of discussion.

[0011] Figure 1A An exemplary wireless communication network according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown, illustrating modulation that can be implemented depending on the distance from the BS.

[0012] Figure 1B A block diagram of an exemplary wireless communication system for indicating time slot structure information is shown according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0013] Figure 2A A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure in an NR wireless communication system with a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0014] Figure 2B A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure in an NR wireless communication system with a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 30 kHz according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0015] Figure 2C A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure in an NR wireless communication system with a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 60 kHz according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0016] Figure 2D A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure in an NR wireless communication system with a 120 kHz subcarrier spacing (SCS) having some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0017] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the radio frame structure of a sidelink channel resource element according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0018] Figure 4A A table illustrating the mapping relationship between the SCS in sidelink communication and the n / k value of the sidelink channel resource element used for the sidelink channel, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, is provided.

[0019] Figure 4B A table illustrating the mapping relationship between the SCS for sidelink communication and the n value of the sidelink channel resource element for sidelink channels, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, is provided.

[0020] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure having multiple sidelink resource pools according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0021] Figure 6A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure having multiple sidelink resource pools according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0022] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure having multiple sidelink resource pools according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0023] Figure 8 A sidelink channel pattern table is shown, illustrating multiple configurations of at least one sidelink channel resource element according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure having multiple sidelink resource pools according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0025] Figure 10 A sidelink channel pattern table showing multiple configurations of at least two sidelink channel resource elements in an indication slot according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0026] Figure 11 A table illustrating the mapping relationship between the SCS for sidelink communication and the k value in the sidelink channel resource unit for sidelink channels, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, is provided.

[0027] Figure 12 A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure having multiple sidelink channel resource elements according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0028] Figure 13 A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure having multiple available sidelink resource sets according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0029] Figure 14 A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure having multiple available sidelink resource sets according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0030] Figure 15 A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure having multiple available sidelink resource sets according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0031] Figure 16 A table illustrating the mapping relationship between the SCS in sidelink communication and the N value of the sidelink channel resource element used for the sidelink channel, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, is provided.

[0032] Figure 17 A table illustrating the mapping relationship between the SCS in sidelink communication and the N value of the sidelink channel resource element used for the sidelink channel, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, is provided.

[0033] Figure 18A table is shown illustrating multiple location configurations of sidelink channel resource elements in the time domain for two sidelink channels, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 19 A method for configuring a sidelink channel resource unit for sidelink communication is illustrated according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 20 A table is shown, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, illustrating the mapping relationship between n1 and n2 in two corresponding sidelink channel resource units for two corresponding sidelink channels in an associated sidelink channel combination.

[0036] Figure 21 A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure having multiple sidelink resource pools according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0037] Figure 22 A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure having multiple sidelink resource pools according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0038] Figure 23 A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure having multiple sidelink resource pools according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0039] Figure 24 A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure having multiple sidelink resource pools according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0040] Figure 25 A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure having multiple sidelink resource pools according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0041] Figure 26 A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure having multiple sidelink resource pools according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0042] Figure 27 A table showing several configurations of sidelink channel resource elements in the time and frequency domains of PSSCH are illustrated according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0043] Figure 28 A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure having multiple sidelink resource pools according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0044] Figure 29 A method for configuring a sidelink channel resource unit for sidelink communication is illustrated according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0045] Figure 30A sidelink channel resource pattern table is shown, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, for indicating multiple configurations of at least one sidelink channel resource element in a time slot.

[0046] Figure 31 A sidelink channel resource pattern table is shown, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, for indicating multiple configurations of at least one sidelink channel resource element in a time slot.

[0047] Figure 32 A method for configuring a sidelink channel resource unit for sidelink communication is illustrated according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0048] Various exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be made to the examples described herein without departing from the scope of the invention after reading this disclosure. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments and applications described or shown herein. Furthermore, the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods disclosed herein is merely exemplary. Based on design preferences, the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the disclosed methods or processes may be rearranged while remaining within the scope of the invention. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that the methods and techniques disclosed herein present various steps or actions in a sample order, and unless otherwise expressly stated, the invention is not limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

[0049] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although the same or similar components are shown in different drawings, they may be designated by the same or similar reference numerals. Detailed descriptions of structures or processes well known in the art may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the invention. Furthermore, terminology is defined in the embodiments of the invention with regard to their function, and terminology may be changed according to the intent, usage, etc., of the user or operator. Therefore, definitions should be based on the entire contents of this specification.

[0050] Figure 1AAn exemplary wireless communication network 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. In the wireless communication system, the network-side wireless communication node may be a Node B, an E-UTRAN Node B (also known as an evolved Node B, eNodeB, or eNB), a gNodeB (also known as a gNB) in New Radio (NR) technology, a picocell, a femtocell, or the like. In some embodiments, the network-side wireless communication node may also include a relay node (RN), a multi-cell coordination entity (MCE), a gateway (GW), a sidelink management / control node, a mobility management entity (MME), an EUTRAN operation / management / maintenance (OAM) device. The terminal-side wireless communication device may be a long-range communication system, such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a short-range communication system, such as, for example, a wearable device, a vehicle with a vehicle communication system, and the like. The network-side wireless communication node and the terminal-side communication device are represented by a base station (BS) 102 and a user equipment (UE) 104, respectively, and are generally referred to herein as “communication node” in all embodiments of the present disclosure. Such a communication node may be able to perform wireless and / or wired communication according to various embodiments of the present invention. Note that all embodiments are merely preferred examples and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that the system may include any desired combination of UE and BS while remaining within the scope of this disclosure.

[0051] Reference Figure 1AThe wireless communication network 100 includes a first BS 102A, a second BS 102B, a first UE 104A, and a second UE 104B. UE 104A may be a vehicle moving in a first cell 101 covered by BS 102A and a second cell 110 covered by BS 102B. In some embodiments, the first cell 101 is located in the second cell 110. In some embodiments, UE 104A has direct communication channels 103-1A and 103-1B with BS 102A and BS 102B, respectively. Similarly, UE 104B may also be a vehicle moving in the same cell 110 covered by BS 102B, but may not have a direct communication channel with BS 102A or may be outside the coverage area of ​​cell 101. Although UE 104B does not have a direct communication channel with BS 102A, it forms a direct communication channel 105 with a neighboring UE, such as UE 104A located on a side link (SL). Furthermore, UE 104B and UE 104A can be in sidelink (SL) communication group 112. The direct communication channel between UE 104 and BS 102 can be via an interface such as the Uu interface, also known as the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Air Interface). The direct communication channel 105 between UE 104 can be via the PC5 interface, which is introduced to address high-mobility and high-density applications such as vehicle-to-object (V2X) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication. Each of the first and second BSs 102-1 and 102-2 is connected to the core network (CN) 108 via an external interface 107, for example, via an Iu interface, NG interface, or S1 interface depending on the type of the first BS 102-1 and the second BS 102-2. The direct communication channel 111 between the first and second BSs 102-1 and 102-2 is via an X2 or Xn interface.

[0052] UE 104A obtains its synchronization reference from the corresponding BS 102A, which obtains its own synchronization reference from the core network 108 via an internet time server such as a Universal Time Protocol (NTP) server or an RNC (Radio Frequency Analog System Network Controller) server. This is called network-based synchronization. Alternatively, BS 102A can also obtain a synchronization reference from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) 109 via satellite signal 106, especially for large BSs in large cells with direct line of sight to the air; this is called satellite-based synchronization. The main advantage of satellite-based synchronization is that it provides a reliable synchronization signal completely independently, as long as the base station remains locked to a minimum number of GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites. Each GPS satellite contains multiple atomic clocks, which contribute very accurate time data to the GPS signal. The GPS receiver on BS 102A decodes these signals, thereby effectively synchronizing the corresponding BS 102A to the atomic clock. This allows the corresponding BS 102A to determine time within 100 billionths of a second (i.e., 100 nanoseconds) without the cost of owning and operating an atomic clock.

[0053] Similarly, UE 104B can obtain a synchronization reference from the corresponding BS 102B, which in turn obtains its own synchronization reference from core network 108 or GNSS 109, as described above. UE 104A can also obtain a synchronization reference from UE 104B in sidelink communication, where UE 104B's synchronization reference can be network-based or satellite-based, as described above.

[0054] Figure 1B A block diagram of an exemplary wireless communication system 150 for transmitting and receiving downlink, uplink, and sidelink communication signals according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. System 150 may include components and elements configured to support known or conventional operating features that do not need to be described in detail herein. In one exemplary embodiment, as described above, system 150 may be used in applications such as... Figure 1A The wireless communication network 100 transmits and receives data symbols in a wireless communication environment.

[0055] System 150 generally includes a first BS 102A, a second BS 102B, a first UE 104A, and a second UE 104B, which are collectively referred to as BS 102 and UE 104 below for ease of discussion. Each of the BS 102 includes a BS transceiver module 152, a BS antenna array 154, a BS memory module 156, a BS processor module 158, and a network interface 160, each module being coupled and interconnected with each other as needed via a data communication bus 180. UE 104 includes a UE transceiver module 162, a UE antenna 164, a UE memory module 166, a UE processor module 168, and an I / O interface 169, each module being coupled and interconnected with each other as needed via a data communication bus 190. BS 102 communicates with UE 104 via a communication channel 192, which can be any wireless channel or other medium known in the art suitable for data transmission as described herein.

[0056] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, in addition to Figure 1B In addition to the modules shown herein, system 150 may also include any number of modules. Those skilled in the art will understand that the various illustrative blocks, modules, circuits, and processing logic described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in hardware, computer-readable software, firmware, or any practical combination thereof. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability and compatibility of hardware, firmware, and software, the various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps are described generally according to their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware, firmware, or software depends on the specific application and the design constraints imposed on the system as a whole. Those skilled in the art can implement such functionality in a suitable manner for each specific application, but such implementation decisions should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0057] The wireless transmission from the transmit antenna of UE 104 to the receive antenna of the first-level BS 102 is referred to as uplink transmission, and the wireless transmission from the transmit antenna of BS 102 to the receive antenna of UE 104 is referred to as downlink transmission. According to some embodiments, UE transceiver 162 may be referred to herein as "uplink" transceiver 162, which includes RF transmitter and receiver circuitry coupled to each UE antenna 164. A duplex switch (not shown) may alternatively couple the uplink transmitter or receiver to the uplink antenna in a time-duplex manner. Similarly, according to some embodiments, BS transceiver 152 may be referred to herein as "downlink" transceiver 152, which includes RF transmitter and receiver circuitry coupled to each antenna array 154. A downlink duplex switch may alternatively couple the downlink transmitter or receiver to the downlink antenna array 154 in a time-division duplex manner. The operation of the two transceivers 152 and 162 is time-coordinated, such that the uplink receiver is coupled to the uplink UE antenna 164 to receive transmissions via the wireless communication channel 193 simultaneously with the downlink transmitter being coupled to the downlink antenna array 154. The UE transceiver 162 communicates with the BS 102 via the wireless communication channel 192 through the UE antenna 164, or with other UEs via the wireless communication channel 193 through the UE antenna 164. The wireless communication channel 193 can be any wireless channel or other medium known in the art suitable for sidelink transmission of data as described herein.

[0058] UE transceiver 162 and BS transceiver 152 are configured to communicate via wireless data communication channel 192 and cooperate with RF antenna arrangements 154 / 164 that are appropriately configured to support specific wireless communication protocols and modulation schemes. In some example embodiments, UE transceiver 162 and BS transceiver 152 are configured to support industry standards such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) and emerging 5G standards (e.g., NR). However, it should be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in application to specific standards and associated protocols. Rather, UE transceiver 162 and BS transceiver 152 can be configured to support alternative or additional wireless data communication protocols, including future standards or variations thereof.

[0059] Processor modules 158 and 168 are implemented or constructed using a general-purpose processor, content-addressable memory, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field-programmable gate array, any suitable programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof (designed to perform the functions described herein). In this way, the processor can be implemented as a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine, or the like. The processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a digital signal processor core, or any other such configuration.

[0060] Furthermore, the steps of the methods or algorithms described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be directly embodied in hardware, firmware, software modules executed by processor modules 158 and 168 respectively, or any actual combination thereof. Memory modules 156 and 166 can be implemented as RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, removable disk, CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. In this regard, memory modules 156 and 166 can be coupled to processor modules 158 and 168 respectively, such that processor modules 158 and 168 can read information from and write information to memory modules 156 and 166 respectively. Memory modules 156 and 166 can also be integrated into their respective processor modules 158 and 168. In some embodiments, memory modules 156 and 166 may each include a cache memory for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during the execution of instructions executed by processor modules 158 and 168 respectively. Memory modules 156 and 166 may each include non-volatile memory for storing instructions executed by processor modules 158 and 168, respectively.

[0061] Network interface 160 typically represents the hardware, software, firmware, processing logic, and / or other components of BS 102 that enable bidirectional communication between BS transceiver 152 and communication nodes and other network components configured to communicate with BS 102. For example, network interface 160 may be configured to support Internet or WiMAX traffic. In a typical deployment, without limitation, network interface 160 provides an 802.3 Ethernet interface, allowing BS transceiver 152 to communicate with a conventional Ethernet-based computer network. In this way, network interface 160 may include a physical interface for connecting to a computer network (e.g., a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)). As used herein with respect to a particular operation or function, the terms "configured for" or "configured to" mean a device, component, circuit, structure, machine, signal, etc., physically constructed, programmed, formatted, and / or arranged to perform a specified operation or function. Network interface 160 may allow BS 102 to communicate with other BSs or core networks via wired or wireless connections.

[0062] Refer again Figure 1A As mentioned above, BS 102 repeatedly broadcasts system information associated with BS 102 directly to one or more UEs (e.g., 104) to allow UE 104 to access the network within the cell where BS 102 resides (e.g., 101 for BS 102A and 110 for BS 102B), and typically operates normally within the cell. Various pieces of information, such as downlink and uplink cell bandwidth, downlink and uplink configurations, and configurations for random access, can be included in the system information, which will be discussed in further detail below. Typically, BS 102 broadcasts a first signal carrying some key system information (e.g., the configuration of cell 101) via the PBCH (Physical Broadcast Channel). For clarity, this first broadcast signal is referred to herein as the "first broadcast signal." Note that BS 102 may subsequently broadcast one or more signals carrying other system information via a corresponding channel (e.g., the Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH)), referred herein as the "second broadcast signal," "third broadcast signal," and so on.

[0063] Refer again Figure 1BIn some embodiments, the primary system information carried by the first broadcast signal can be transmitted by BS102 in symbolic format via communication channel 192 (e.g., PBCH). According to some embodiments, the primary system information can be presented in its raw form as one or more sequences of digital bits, and this sequence of digital bits can be processed through multiple steps (e.g., encoding, scrambling, modulation, mapping, etc.), all of which can be performed by BS processor module 158 to become the first broadcast signal. Similarly, according to some embodiments, when UE 104 receives the first broadcast signal (in symbolic format) using UE transceiver 162, UE processor module 168 can perform multiple steps (demapping, demodulation, decoding, etc.) to estimate the primary system information, such as, for example, the bit positions and number of bits of the primary system information. UE processor module 168 is also coupled to I / O interface 169, which provides UE 104 with the ability to connect to other devices such as a computer. I / O interface 169 is the communication path between these accessories and UE processor module 168.

[0064] In some embodiments, UE 104 can operate in a hybrid / heterogeneous communication network in which UE 104 communicates with BS 102 and, for example, with other UEs between UE 104A and 104B. As described in further detail below, UE 104 supports sidelink communication with other UEs and downlink / uplink communication between BS 102 and UE 104. As described above, sidelink communication allows UEs 104A and 104B within sidelink communication group 112 to establish direct communication links between themselves or with other UEs from different cells without BS 102 relaying data between UEs.

[0065] Figure 2A A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure 200 in an NR wireless communication system having a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 15 kHz according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 2AFor illustrative purposes only and not for limitation. In some embodiments, the sidelink resource set 204 includes: five time slots 202 in the time domain, namely 202-1, 202-2, 202-3, 202-4, and 202-5, and at least one resource block (RB) 206 in the frequency domain. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the five time slots 202 includes 14 symbols 210 with a regular cyclic prefix (CP) in the time domain, and one RB 206 includes 12 subcarriers 208 in the frequency domain. Each of the 12 subcarriers 208 occupies 15 kHz in the frequency domain, i.e., SCS = 15 kHz, and one RB 206 includes 180 kHz in the frequency domain. In some other embodiments, the time slot 202 includes 12 symbols with an extended CP in the time domain. A resource element (RE) 212 occupies one symbol in the time domain and one subcarrier in the frequency domain.

[0066] Figure 2B A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure 200 in an NR wireless communication system having a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 30 kHz according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 2B This is for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. In some embodiments, the sidelink resource set 204 includes: five time slots 202 in the time domain, namely 202-1, 202-2, 202-3, 202-4, and 202-5, and at least one RB 206 in the frequency domain. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the five time slots 202 includes 14 symbols 210 with a regular CP in the time domain, and one RB 206 includes 12 subcarriers 208 in the frequency domain. Each of the 12 subcarriers 208 occupies 30 kHz in the frequency domain, i.e., SCS = 30 kHz, and one RB 206 includes 360 kHz in the frequency domain. In some other embodiments, each time slot 202 includes 12 symbols with an extended CP in the time domain.

[0067] Figure 2C A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure 200 in an NR wireless communication system having a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 60 kHz according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 2CThis is for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. In some embodiments, the sidelink resource set 204 includes: five time slots 202 in the time domain, namely 202-1, 202-2, 202-3, 202-4, and 202-5, and at least one RB 206 in the frequency domain. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the five time slots 202 includes 14 symbols 210 with a regular CP in the time domain, and one RB 206 includes 12 subcarriers 208 in the frequency domain. Each of the 12 subcarriers 208 occupies 60 kHz in the frequency domain, i.e., SCS = 60 kHz, and one RB 206 includes 720 kHz in the frequency domain. In some other embodiments, each time slot 202 includes 12 symbols with an extended CP in the time domain.

[0068] Figure 2D A schematic diagram of a wireless frame structure 200 in an NR wireless communication system having a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 120 kHz according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 2D This is for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. In some embodiments, the sidelink resource set 204 includes: five time slots 202 in the time domain, namely 202-1, 202-2, 202-3, 202-4, and 202-5, and at least one RB 206 in the frequency domain. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the five time slots 202 includes 14 symbols 210 with a regular cyclic prefix (CP) in the time domain, and one RB 206 includes 12 subcarriers 208 in the frequency domain. Each of the 12 subcarriers 208 occupies 120 kHz in the frequency domain, i.e., SCS = 120 kHz, and one RB 206 includes 1440 kHz in the frequency domain. In some other embodiments, each time slot 202 includes 12 symbols with an extended CP in the time domain.

[0069] In some embodiments, the sidelink channel can be at least one of the following: Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH), Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH), Physical Sidelink Broadcast Channel (PSBCH), and Physical Sidelink Discovery Channel (PSDCH). Specifically, PSCCH resources are used to carry sidelink control information (SCI), wherein SCI includes at least one of the following: sidelink scheduling control information, sidelink feedback control information (e.g., ACK / NACK), and channel measurement feedback information (e.g., channel state information (CSI)); PSSCH resources are used to carry sidelink data; PSBCH resources are used to carry sidelink broadcast information; and PSDCH resources are used to carry sidelink discovery signals.

[0070] The sidelink channel resource element comprises a first resource element of a first quantity (n) in the time domain and a second resource element of a second quantity (k) in the frequency domain, where n and k are non-negative integers. In some embodiments, the first resource element in the time domain can be one of the following: symbols, time slots, and micro-time slots. In some embodiments, a symbol can be one of the following: cyclic prefix-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CP-OFDM) symbols and discrete Fourier transform extended (DFT-S)-OFDM symbols. In some embodiments, a micro-time slot occupies i symbols in a time slot, where i is a non-negative integer and less than or equal to 7 in a time slot with 14 symbols. In some embodiments, the second resource element in the frequency domain is an RB.

[0071] In some embodiments, the system may predefine n and / or k values ​​for at least one sidelink channel resource element for a corresponding sidelink channel to the UE 104. In some embodiments, the n and / or k values ​​are fixed. In some embodiments, a first resource element in the time domain and a second resource element in the frequency domain of the corresponding sidelink channel are defined independently. In some embodiments, the n and / or k values ​​for different sidelink channel resource elements for different corresponding sidelink channels may be the same or different.

[0072] For example, by using PSCCH as an exemplary sidelink channel, the system pre-configures the n and / or k values ​​of a PSCCH resource element. Each PSCCH resource element includes n first resource elements in the time domain and k second resource elements in the frequency domain. UE 104 uses at least one PSCCH resource element to transmit or receive the corresponding SCI in sidelink communication. It should be noted that the time period and frequency range of a PSCCH resource element are determined by the subcarrier spacing (SCS), as described above. Figure 2A-2D As discussed in the article.

[0073] The method for configuring at least one sidelink channel resource unit of a corresponding sidelink channel with pre-configured n and / or k values ​​has several advantages. For example, it can reduce signaling overhead and complexity in sidelink communication; and it provides a simplified resource allocation process for sidelink communication under various conditions and environments.

[0074] In some embodiments, the BS 102 can configure the n and / or k values ​​for a sidelink channel resource element of a corresponding sidelink channel. In some embodiments, the n and / or k values ​​can be directly indicated from the BS 102 via signaling (e.g., higher-layer signaling or physical-layer signaling). In some embodiments, a first resource element in the time domain and a second resource element in the frequency domain of the corresponding sidelink channel are defined independently. In some embodiments, the n and / or k values ​​for different sidelink channel resource elements of different corresponding sidelink channels can be the same or different.

[0075] In some embodiments, when signaling is used to indicate the configuration of at least one sidelink channel resource element for a corresponding sidelink channel, the signaling may directly indicate the n and / or k values. In some other embodiments, the signaling may also indicate an index in a configuration table, which is pre-configured or configured by BS 102 and includes multiple indexes. Each of the multiple indexes corresponds to an n value and / or a k value.

[0076] For example, in the configuration table, index 0 corresponds to n value 5 and k value 4; index 1 corresponds to n value 4 and k value 5; index 2 corresponds to n value 8 and k value 3; and index 3 corresponds to n value 10 and k value 2. As another example, in different configuration tables, index 0 corresponds to n value 5; index 1 corresponds to n value 4; index 2 corresponds to n value 8; and index 3 corresponds to n value 10. In such cases, different methods can be used to determine the k value of the sidelink channel resource element, which will be discussed in more detail later.

[0077] In some embodiments, BS 102 may indicate the n and / or k values ​​of sidelink channel resource elements for different sidelink channels. For example, BS 102 indicates the configuration of at least one PSCCH resource element and at least one PSSCH resource element. In some embodiments, each of the at least one PSCCH resource element includes n1 first resource elements in the time domain and k1 second resource elements in the frequency domain. Furthermore, each of the at least one PSSCH resource element includes n2 first resource elements in the time domain and k2 second resource elements in the frequency domain, where n1, n2, k1, and k2 are non-negative integers. In some embodiments, BS 102 indicates the configuration to UE 104 via a system broadcast message. In some embodiments, BS 102 indicates the configuration of the first resource elements in the time domain and the second resource elements in the frequency domain to UE 104. At least one PSCCH resource is used to receive or transmit SCI, and at least one PSCCH resource is used to receive or transmit sidelink data between UE 104 in sidelink communication.

[0078] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the radio frame structure 300 of the sidelink channel resource element 304 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 3This is for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. In the illustrated embodiment, the sidelink channel resource element 304 is pre-configured by the system and includes one time slot in the time domain and two RBs in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, the sidelink channel resource element 304 is used for a sidelink channel. In some embodiments, the sidelink channel resource element 304 is used for a corresponding PSCCH to receive or transmit sidelink control information (SCI). In some embodiments, the SCI includes one of the following: a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and acknowledgment / negative acknowledgment (A / N) information.

[0079] In the illustrated embodiment, the radio frame structure 300 shows a sidelink resource set (or sidelink resource pool), which may also be pre-configured by the system. Specifically, the sidelink resource pool includes time slots 302-1, 302-2, and 302-3, wherein time slot 302-1 occupies a first time slot 202; time slot 302-2 occupies a sixth time slot 202; and time slot 302-3 occupies a seventh time slot 202. Furthermore, the sidelink resource pool includes six resource blocks (RBs) in each time slot. Therefore, the sidelink channel resource element 304 in time slot 302-1 includes one time slot in the time domain and two RBs in the frequency domain. In some other embodiments, time slots 302-2 / 302-3 may include multiple sidelink channel resource elements 304 according to various methods presented in this disclosure, which will be discussed in further detail below.

[0080] The method by which BS 102 instructs UE 104 on the configuration (n and / or k values) of at least one sidelink channel resource element for the sidelink channel has several advantages. For example, it offers high flexibility and adaptability, and improves the efficiency of sidelink resource allocation based on the actual needs of sidelink communication.

[0081] In some embodiments, the configuration of at least one sidelink channel resource element for a given sidelink channel can be determined by the corresponding sidelink subcarrier spacing (SCS). In some embodiments, a corresponding sidelink-specific SCS is configured on available resources for sidelink communication. Specifically, a sidelink-specific SCS can be configured within a sidelink resource pool. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the SCS in cellular communication can also be configured as the SCS in sidelink communication when resources are shared between sidelink communication and cellular communication. In some other embodiments, the SCS in sidelink communication can also be configured on sidelink-specific resources or on a sidelink-specific bandwidth portion (BWP).

[0082] In some embodiments, each sidelink channel resource unit (SCR) for a sidelink channel is configured to include: a first number (n) of first resource units in the time domain and a second number (k) of second resource units in the frequency domain, wherein the first resource units in the time domain can be one of: symbols and time slots. Furthermore, the second resource units in the frequency domain can be resource blocks (RBs), and n and k are non-negative integers. In some embodiments, the mapping between the SCS in sidelink communication and the n and / or k values ​​of a sidelink channel resource unit for a sidelink channel can be pre-configured by the system or configured by BS 102. In some embodiments, the first resource units in the time domain and the second resource units in the frequency domain for a corresponding sidelink channel are defined independently. In some embodiments, the n and / or k values ​​for different sidelink channel resource units for different corresponding sidelink channels can be the same or different.

[0083] Figure 4A Table 400 illustrates a mapping between the SCS (Self-Signal Classification) and the n / k value of the sidelink channel resource element (SLU) for a sidelink channel, according to some embodiments of this disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, Table 400 includes four SCS values ​​402, namely 15 kHz, 30 kHz, 60 kHz, and 120 kHz, and four configurations of the SLU for four types of sidelink channels (i.e., PSCCH 404, PSSCH 406, PSBCH 408, and PSDCH 410). Although in Figure 4A Only four SCS values ​​(402) and four sidelink channels are shown, but it should be noted that any number of SCS values ​​and any values ​​for any number of sidelink channels can be included, which is within the scope of this invention.

[0084] In the illustrated embodiment, when the SCS value is 15kHz, PSCCH resource unit 404 includes 4 first resource units in the time domain and 5 second resource units in the frequency domain; PSSCH resource unit 406 includes 8 first resource units in the time domain and 5 second resource units in the frequency domain; PSBCH resource unit 408 includes 4 first resource units in the time domain and 20 second resource units in the frequency domain; and PSDCH resource unit 410 includes 6 first resource units in the time domain and 5 second resource units in the frequency domain. When the SCS value is 30kHz, PSCCH resource unit 404 includes 4 first resource units in the time domain and 5 second resource units in the frequency domain; PSSCH resource unit 406 includes 8 first resource units in the time domain and 5 second resource units in the frequency domain; PSBCH resource unit 408 includes 4 first resource units in the time domain and 20 second resource units in the frequency domain; and PSDCH resource unit 410 includes 6 first resource units in the time domain and 5 second resource units in the frequency domain. When the SCS value is 60kHz, PSCCH resource unit 404 includes 8 first resource units in the time domain and 3 second resource units in the frequency domain. PSSCH resource unit 406 includes 14 first resource units in the time domain and 3 second resource units in the frequency domain; PSBCH resource unit 408 includes 6 first resource units in the time domain and 20 second resource units in the frequency domain; and PSDCH resource unit 410 includes 6 first resource units in the time domain and 8 second resource units in the frequency domain. When the SCS value is 120kHz, PSCCH resource unit 404 includes 8 first resource units in the time domain and 3 second resource units in the frequency domain; PSSCH resource unit 406 includes 14 first resource units in the time domain and 3 second resource units in the frequency domain; PSBCH resource unit 408 includes 6 first resource units in the time domain and 20 second resource units in the frequency domain; and PSDCH resource unit 410 includes 6 first resource units in the time domain and 8 second resource units in the frequency domain.

[0085] In some embodiments, when UE 104 performs sidelink signal transmission on a sidelink channel, UE 104 may further use Table 400 to determine the n / k value of the resource element of the sidelink channel based on the SCS of the sidelink communication. For example, UE 104 may select a PSCCH resource from the PSCCH resource pool, where a PSCCH resource element includes 4 symbols in the time domain and 5 RBs in the frequency domain when the sidelink SCS is 15 kHz. In some embodiments, UE 104 may further select at least one PSCCH resource for receiving and transmitting SCI.

[0086] Figure 4BTable 420 illustrates a mapping between the SCS (Search Channel Component) for sidelink communication and the n-value of the sidelink channel resource element for the sidelink channel, according to some embodiments of this disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, Table 420 includes four SCS values ​​402, namely 15kHz, 30kHz, 60kHz, and 120kHz, and two configurations of two sidelink channel resource elements for two types of sidelink channels (i.e., PSCCH 404 and PSSCH 406). Although in Figure 4B Only four SCS values ​​402 and two sidelink channels 404 / 406 are shown in the figure, but it should be noted that any number of SCS values ​​and any values ​​for any number of sidelink channels may be included, which is within the scope of this invention.

[0087] In the illustrated embodiment, when the SCS value is 15kHz, PSCCH resource unit 404 includes 4 first resource units in the time domain; and PSSCH resource unit 406 includes 8 first resource units in the time domain. When the SCS value is 30kHz, PSCCH resource unit 404 includes 6 first resource units in the time domain; and PSSCH resource unit 406 includes 10 first resource units in the time domain. When the SCS value is 60kHz, PSCCH resource unit 404 includes 8 first resource units in the time domain; and PSSCH resource unit 406 includes 12 first resource units in the time domain. When the SCS value is 120kHz, PSCCH resource unit 404 includes 10 first resource units in the time domain; and PSSCH resource unit 406 includes 14 first resource units in the time domain.

[0088] In some embodiments, instructions can be given via higher-level signaling from BS 102. Figure 4B The mapping relationship is shown in Table 420. UE 104 can determine the value of n for the sidelink channel resource element used for the sidelink channel based on Table 420. In some embodiments, UE 104 can further determine the value of k and the location of the sidelink channel resource element in the sidelink channel according to the methods discussed in further detail below. Once the values ​​of n and / or k and the location of the sidelink channel resource element are determined, UE 104 can further receive or transmit sidelink information.

[0089] In this method, the configuration of at least one sidelink channel resource unit for the sidelink channel is determined based on the different characteristics of the sidelink channel and the environmental conditions for signal transmission. Therefore, this method allows for improved channel transmission performance, increased resource utilization, and enhanced information transmission reliability.

[0090] In some embodiments, the configuration of a sidelink channel resource element for a sidelink channel can be determined based on available sidelink resources. In some embodiments, available sidelink resources include at least one of the following: resources in the time-frequency domain of a sidelink resource pool; resources on a frequency band specific to the sidelink; resources for sidelink communication that can also be used for cellular communication; resources in a BWP configured for sidelink communication; at least one symbol in a time slot in the time domain for sidelink communication; and at least one RB in the frequency domain for sidelink communication.

[0091] In some embodiments, the mapping relationship between the configuration of the sidelink channel resource elements (e.g., n and / or k values) of a sidelink channel and the available sidelink resources can be pre-configured by the system or indicated by BS 102. In some embodiments, when UE 104 obtains information about available sidelink resources, UE 104 can determine the configuration of the sidelink channel resource elements of the corresponding sidelink channel based on the mapping relationship. In some embodiments, BS 102 can also indicate the location of a first resource element (e.g., a symbol) in the time domain of a sidelink resource pool (e.g., a timeslot), and / or the location of a second resource element (e.g., an RB) in the frequency domain of a sidelink resource pool (e.g., a BWP).

[0092] Specifically, when available sidelink resources (e.g., sidelink resource sets and sidelink resource pools) comprise N symbols in time slots for sidelink communication in the time domain, the sidelink channel resource unit comprising n first resource units in the time domain can be determined based on the value of N. In some embodiments, the mapping relationship between the number of available sidelink resources (N) and the number of first resource units (n) in the sidelink channel resource unit is one of the following: pre-configured by the system and indicated by BS102, where 1≤N≤14, 1≤n≤N, and n and N are non-negative integers. In some embodiments, the value of n can be determined based on the value of N and one of the following: n equals N, the mapping relationship between n and the value of N, and a predefined rule.

[0093] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 500 having a sidelink resource pool 302 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 5 This is for illustrative purposes and not restrictive. Sidelink resource pool 302 may include any number of time slots and RBs at any location within sidelink resource pool 302.

[0094] In the illustrated embodiment, within the radio frame structure 500, a sidelink resource pool 302 is used for sidelink channels such as PSCCH. In the illustrated embodiment, the sidelink resource pool 302 includes three time slots: 202-1, 202-2, and 202-5. For each of the three time slots in the sidelink resource pool 302, each may include a different or the same number of symbols for sidelink communication, as shown in 302-1, 302-2, and 302-3. In some embodiments, the UE 104 may determine the number of symbols (i.e., n) in the sidelink channel resource element 304 based on the number of symbols (N) in the corresponding time slot within the sidelink resource pool 302. In the illustrated embodiment, when time slot 202-1 in the sidelink resource pool 302 includes 4 symbols for sidelink communication, the first sidelink channel resource unit 304-1 in time slot 202-1 includes 4 symbols in the time domain; when time slot 202-2 includes 8 symbols for sidelink communication, the second sidelink channel resource unit 304-2 in time slot 202-2 includes 8 symbols in the time domain; and when time slot 202-5 includes 14 symbols for sidelink communication, the third sidelink channel resource unit 304-3 in time slot 202-5 includes 14 symbols in the time domain.

[0095] Furthermore, the four symbols of the first sidelink channel resource unit 304-1 occupy symbols 10-13 in the first time slot 202-1; the eight symbols of the second resource unit 304-2 occupy symbols 6-13 in the second time slot 202-2; and the fourteen symbols of the third resource unit 304-3 occupy symbols 0-13 in the fifth time slot 202-5. In some embodiments, the mapping relationship includes: when N≤4, n=N; when 4<N≤6, n=4; when 6<N≤10, n=6; and when N<10, n=8.

[0096] In some embodiments, the location of at least one time slot used for sidelink communication and serving as a corresponding sidelink resource pool can be indicated by BS 102. The location of symbols in the time slot is pre-configured by the system or configured by BS 102.

[0097] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 600 having a sidelink resource pool 302 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 6 This is for illustrative purposes and not restrictive. The sidelink resource pool 302 can include any number of time slots and resource blocks (RBs) at any location.

[0098] In the illustrated embodiment, within the radio frame structure 600, a sidelink resource pool 302 is used for sidelink channels such as PSCCH. In the illustrated embodiment, the first sidelink resource pool 302 includes three time slots 202, namely 202-1, 202-2, and 202-5. For each of the three time slots in the sidelink resource pool 302, each may include a different or the same number of symbols for sidelink communication, as shown in 302-1, 302-2, and 302-3. In some embodiments, the UE 104 can determine the number of symbols (i.e., n) in the sidelink channel resource element 304 based on the number of symbols (N) in the corresponding time slot within the sidelink resource pool 302 and the mapping relationship. In the illustrated embodiment, when time slot 202-1 includes 4 symbols for sidelink communication in the time domain, the first sidelink channel resource unit 304-1 in time slot 202-1 includes 4 symbols in the time domain; when time slot 202-2 includes 6 symbols for sidelink communication, the second sidelink channel resource unit 304-2 in time slot 202-2 includes 6 symbols in the time domain; when time slot 202-5 includes 8 symbols for sidelink communication, the third sidelink channel resource unit 304-3 in time slot 202-5 includes 8 symbols in the time domain.

[0099] Furthermore, the four symbols of the first resource unit 304-1 occupy symbols 10-13 in the first time slot 202-1; the six symbols of the second resource unit 304-2 occupy symbols 6-11 in the second time slot 202-2; and the eight symbols of the third resource unit 304-3 occupy symbols 0-7 in the fifth time slot 202-5. In some other embodiments, the symbols in the resource pool within a time slot are consecutive. In some embodiments, the position of the symbols in the resource units within a time slot can be determined according to one of the methods detailed below.

[0100] In some embodiments, a minimum number (n0) of first resource units (e.g., symbols) exist in the sidelink channel resource unit 304 in the time domain, and n0 is pre-configured by the system or indicated by BS 102. At least one sidelink channel can be partitioned in the time domain according to the number (N) of available symbols in the time slot used for sidelink communication, wherein each of the at least one sidelink channel resource unit 304 includes a number (n0) of symbols. In this time slot, a number (M) of sidelink channel resource units 304 can be partitioned in the time domain.

[0101] middle or M, N, and n0 are non-negative integers. Each of the M-1 sidelink channel resource elements 304 includes n0 symbols in the time domain, and one sidelink channel resource element 304 includes [N-n0×(M-1)] symbols in the time domain. In some embodiments, the location of at least one sidelink channel in a time slot can be determined according to one of the methods presented in detail below.

[0102] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 700 having a sidelink resource pool 302 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 7 This is for illustrative purposes and not restrictive. Sidelink resource pool 302 may include any number of time slots and RBs at any location within the sidelink resource pool 302.

[0103] In the illustrated embodiment, in the radio frame structure 700, the sidelink resource pool 302 includes three time slots, namely 202-1, 202-2, and 202-5. Each of the three time slots in the sidelink resource pool 302 may include a different number of symbols for sidelink communication, as shown in 302-1, 302-2, and 302-3. In some embodiments, the UE 104 may determine the number (i.e., n) of the first resource element (e.g., symbols) in the sidelink channel resource element 304 based on the number of symbols (N) in the corresponding resource pool 302 and predefined rules.

[0104] In the illustrated embodiment, the minimum number of symbols in the sidelink channel resource element is 4, i.e., n0 = 4. In the illustrated embodiment, when time slot 202-1 includes 4 symbols for sidelink communication, these 4 symbols can be used for the first sidelink channel resource unit 304-1; when time slot 202-2 includes 8 symbols for sidelink communication, these 8 symbols can be divided into 2 sidelink channel resource units 304-2 / 304-3, each of which includes 4 symbols in the time domain; and when time slot 202-5 includes 14 symbols for sidelink communication, these 14 symbols can be divided into 3 sidelink channel resource units 304-4 / 304-5 / 304-6, each of the first and second sidelink channel resource units 304-4 / 304-5 including 4 symbols in the time domain, and the third sidelink channel resource unit 304-6 including 6 symbols in the time domain.

[0105] Furthermore, the four symbols of the first resource unit 304-1 occupy symbols 10-13 in the first time slot 202-1; the eight symbols of resource units 304-2 / 304-3 occupy symbols 6-13 in the second time slot 202-2; and the fourteen symbols of resource units 304-4 / 304-5 / 304-6 occupy symbols 0-13 in the fifth time slot 202-5. In some embodiments, the system pre-configures the relative positions of the three sidelink channel resource units 304-4 / 304-5 / 304-6. In some embodiments, the position of the symbols in the sidelink channel resource units within the time slot can be determined according to one of the methods presented in detail below.

[0106] This method, which determines the configuration of resource units for at least one sidelink channel based on available sidelink resources (e.g., available symbols in a time slot) for sidelink communication, allows for improved channel transmission performance, improved resource utilization, and can also prevent interference between different sidelink channels and improve sidelink communication efficiency.

[0107] In some embodiments, the configuration of the sidelink channel resource unit 304 for the sidelink channel can be determined based on the number of available resource elements (REs) in the respective sidelink channel resource unit 304. In some embodiments, the sidelink channel determination resource unit 304 includes a plurality of REs, wherein the plurality of REs includes at least one active RE and at least one inactive RE. In some embodiments, the active RE is used to map sidelink information (e.g., sidelink control and data information), while the inactive RE can be used for one of the following: mapping a reference signal (RS), serving as automatic gain control (AGC), and serving as a guard interval (GP). In some embodiments, since the sidelink channel resource unit 304 for the respective sidelink channel (e.g., PSCCH, PSBCH, and PSDCH) requires a constant number of resources for stabilization information on the sidelink channel, the minimum threshold number (K0) of active REs in each sidelink channel resource unit 304 can be fixed. In some embodiments, the number of active REs in the plurality of REs in each sidelink channel resource unit 304 is K0 and the total number of REs is K, where K ≥ K0, and K and K0 are non-negative integers.

[0108] In some embodiments, RS, AGC, and GP may each occupy at least one symbol in the time domain. In some embodiments, RS may be one of the following: demodulation reference signal (DMRS), phase tracking reference signal (PTRS), channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), and sounding reference signal (SRS).

[0109] In some embodiments, for a sidelink channel resource element, when an RE on a symbol in the time domain is used as an invalid RE, or when an RE on a subcarrier in the frequency domain is used as an invalid RE, the number of valid REs for the sidelink channel resource element can be determined as the product of the number of first valid symbols in the time domain and the number of second valid subcarriers in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, the value of K0 can be one of the following: pre-configured by the system and indicated by BS 102. In some embodiments, the configuration of the sidelink channel resource element for the corresponding sidelink channel can be determined based on the value of K0 and the number of invalid REs.

[0110] Specifically, in one embodiment, when the number (n) of the first resource units (e.g., symbols) in the time domain or the number (n) of the effective first resource units in the time domain is determined according to the embodiments shown above, the number (k) of the second resource units in the frequency domain can be determined by rounding up or down the value of K0 / (12×n).

[0111] Where k is the number of RBs, and each RB comprises 12 subcarriers. Therefore, when n is the number of effective resource units (e.g., symbols) used in the time domain for mapping sidelink control and / or data information, the total number of effective REs in each sidelink channel resource unit is 12×n×k.

[0112] Similarly, in another embodiment, when the number (k) of the second resource units (e.g., RBs) in the frequency domain is determined, the number (n) of the first resource units (e.g., symbols) in the time domain or the number of effective resource units (n) in the time domain can be determined by rounding up or down the value of K0 / (12×k).

[0113] Where k is the number of RBs, and each RB comprises 12 subcarriers. Therefore, when n is the number of valid first resource units (e.g., symbols) used in the time domain for mapping sidelink control and / or data information, the total number of symbols in each sidelink channel resource unit 304 is equal to the sum of the number of valid symbols (n) and the number of invalid symbols. Furthermore, the total number of valid REs in each of at least one sidelink channel resource unit is 12 × n × k.

[0114] In some other embodiments, when the number (n) of the first resource elements (e.g., symbols) in the time domain or the number of valid first resource elements in the time domain is determined according to the embodiments shown above, and when the number of invalid REs in the sidelink channel resource element is M, the number (k) of the second resource elements in the frequency domain of the sidelink channel resource element can be determined by rounding up or down to the value of (K0+M) / (12×n).

[0115] Where k is the number of RBs, and each RB comprises 12 subcarriers. Therefore, when n is the number of effective resource units (e.g., symbols) used in the time domain for mapping sidelink control and / or data information, the total number of effective REs in each sidelink channel resource unit 304 is 12×n×kM.

[0116] Similarly, in some other embodiments, when the number (k) of second resource elements (e.g., RBs) in the frequency domain is pre-configured by the system or indicated by BS 102, and when the number of invalid REs is M, the number (n) of valid first resource elements or first resource elements (e.g., symbols) in the time domain can be determined by rounding up or down to the value of (K0+M) / (k×12).

[0117] Therefore, when n is the number of valid first resource units (e.g., symbols) used in the time domain for mapping sidelink control and / or data information, the total number of symbols in each of at least one sidelink channel resource unit is equal to the sum of the number of valid symbols (n) and the number of invalid symbols. Furthermore, the total number of valid REs in each of at least one sidelink channel resource unit is 12 × n × kM.

[0118] For example, the available sidelink resource set can be determined based on a pre-configured sidelink BWP, which includes all RBs in the frequency domain and all time slots in the time domain within the BWP. The DMRS pattern of the PSCCH in the available sidelink resource set is indicated by BS102, and the number of valid REs (i.e., K) is equal to 240 in each corresponding PSCCH resource unit. When a PSCCH resource unit comprises 5 symbols and one of the 5 symbols is used for DMRS, the number (n) of valid first resource units (e.g., symbols) in the time domain is 4. The number (k) of RBs in each PSCCH resource unit can be determined by rounding up K / (n×12), resulting in a value of k of 5. Similarly, when a PSCCH resource unit comprises 4 RBs in the frequency domain and 2 symbols in the time domain are used for DMRS, the number (n) of valid symbols in a PSCCH resource unit can be determined by rounding up the value of K / (k×12), resulting in a value of n of 5. Since there are 2 symbols used for DMRS, at least one PSCCH resource unit comprises 7 symbols each in the time domain.

[0119] In some embodiments, the configuration of a sidelink channel resource element for at least one sidelink channel can be determined based on a pattern table. In some embodiments, the sidelink channel pattern table is predefined by the system or configured by BS 102. In some embodiments, the sidelink channel pattern table includes multiple configurations, each configuration of at least one sidelink channel resource element including: the number (n) of first resource elements in the time domain and the number (k) of second resource elements in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, each of the multiple configurations corresponds to an index. In some embodiments, BS 102 can configure one of the multiple sidelink channel pattern tables, and BS 102 also indicates the index in one of the multiple sidelink channel pattern tables to UE 104 to determine the corresponding configuration of at least one sidelink channel resource element for at least one corresponding sidelink channel. In some embodiments, the same index in the sidelink channel pattern table can be used to indicate the configuration of different sidelink channels.

[0120] Figure 8 A sidelink channel pattern table 800, illustrating multiple configurations of at least one sidelink channel resource element according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, table 800 includes four columns: pattern index 802, number of available resources (N) 804 in the time domain, number of first resource elements (n) 806 in the time domain of the sidelink channel resources, and number of second resource elements (k) 808 in the frequency domain of the sidelink channel resource elements. Pattern index 802 includes 16 indices. Specifically, in Table 800, when the drawing index is 0, N = 4, n = 4, k = 5; when the drawing index is 1, N = 6, n = 4, and k = 5; when the drawing index is 2, N = 6, n = 6, and k = 4; when the drawing index is 3, N = 8, n = 4, and k = 5; when the drawing index is 4, N = 8, n = 8, and k = 3; when the drawing index is 5, N = 10, n = 4, and k = 5; when the drawing index is 6, N = 10, n=10 and k=3; when the drawing index is 7, N=12, n=4 and k=5; when the drawing index is 8, N=12, n=10 and k=3; when the drawing index is 9, N=14, n=4 and k=5; when the drawing index is 10, N=14, n=10 and k=3; when the drawing index is 11, N=14, n=14 and k=2; when the drawing index is 12-15, the values ​​of N, n and k can be reserved.

[0121] In some embodiments, the sidelink channel pattern table 800 is predefined by the system. In some embodiments, the sidelink channel pattern table 800 is used for PSCCH resource elements. In some embodiments, the BS 102 may also indicate an index to the UE 104 via higher-layer signaling and / or physical-layer signaling. Based on the received index and the sidelink channel pattern table, the UE 104 may further determine the number of available sidelink resources for sidelink communication and the n and / or k values ​​of the PSCCH resource elements.

[0122] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 900 having a sidelink resource pool 302 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 9 This is for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. BS 102 can indicate the number and location of the sidelink resource pool 302 via higher-layer signaling. It should be noted that the sidelink resource pool 302 can include any number of sidelink channel resource elements, wherein the sidelink channel resource elements can include any number of first resource elements (e.g., symbols) at any location in the time domain, and the time slot can include 12 or 14 symbols, which is within the scope of this invention.

[0123] In the illustrated embodiment, within the radio frame structure 900, the sidelink resource pool 302 includes two time slots, namely 202-1 and 202-10. Each of the two time slots included in the sidelink resource pool 302 may include a different number of available symbols for sidelink communication. In the illustrated embodiment, the first time slot 202-1 includes 4 available symbols for sidelink communication; and the second time slot 202-10 includes 14 available symbols for sidelink communication.

[0124] In the illustrated embodiment, BS 102 indicates multiple indices, each of which logically corresponds to a time slot in the sidelink resource pool in chronological order. In some embodiments, UE 104 can determine multiple configurations of the PSCCH for the corresponding time slots corresponding to the multiple indices based on the sidelink channel pattern table 800. Specifically, the first time slot 202-1 corresponds to index 0, wherein the number of available symbols in the first time slot 202-1 is 4, and the first PSCCH resource element 304-1 in the first time slot occupies 4 symbols in the time domain and 5 RBs in the frequency domain. Similarly, the tenth time slot 202-10 corresponds to index 9 in table 800, wherein the number of available symbols in the tenth time slot 202-10 is 14, and the second PSCCH resource element 304-2 in the tenth time slot 202-10 occupies 4 symbols in the time domain and 5 RBs in the frequency domain.

[0125] In the illustrated embodiment, the four symbols of the first PSSCH resource unit 304-1 occupy symbols 10-13 in the first time slot 202-1; the four symbols of the second PSSCH resource unit 304-2 occupy symbols 0-3 in the tenth time slot 202-10. In some other embodiments, the symbols in the resource pool within a time slot are contiguous. In some embodiments, the location of available symbols in a time slot and the location of the sidelink resource units 304-1 / 304-2 within the time slot can be determined using one of the methods discussed in detail below.

[0126] Figure 10 A sidelink channel pattern table 1000 is shown, illustrating multiple configurations of at least two sidelink channel resource elements in an indication time slot according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, table 1000 includes three columns: pattern index 1002, a first number (n1) 1004 of first resource elements in the time domain in a first sidelink channel (e.g., PSCCH) resource element, and a second number (n2) 1006 of first resource elements in the time domain in a second sidelink channel (e.g., PSSCH) resource element. The pattern index column 1002 includes eight indices. Specifically, in Table 1000, when the pattern index is 0, n1 = 4 and n2 = 0; when the pattern index is 1, n1 = 4 and n2 = 2; when the pattern index is 2, n1 = 4 and n2 = 4; when the pattern index is 3, n1 = 6 and n2 = 2; when the pattern index is 4, n1 = 6 and n2 = 6; when the pattern index is 5, n1 = 6 and n2 = 8; and when the pattern indices are 6 and 7, n1 and n2 values ​​can be reserved. In the illustrated embodiment, the number of available symbols in a time slot can also be determined by the sum of the corresponding values ​​of n1 and n2 in the same time slot. Specifically, when the pattern index is 0, N = 4 in the time slot. When the pattern index is 1, N = 6 in the time slot; when the pattern index is 2, N = 8 in the time slot; when the pattern index is 3, N = 8 in the time slot; when the pattern index is 4, N = 12 in the time slot; when the pattern index is 5, N = 14 in the time slot; and when the pattern index is 5 and 6, N can be determined by the reserved n1 and n2.

[0127] In some embodiments, the sidelink channel pattern table 1000 is pre-configured by the system, wherein the sidelink channel pattern table 1000 includes multiple (i.e., eight) configurations of at least two sidelink channel resource elements. Each of the multiple configurations corresponds to an index that can be used to indicate to the UE 104 the configuration of at least two sidelink channel resource elements, the corresponding PSCCH, and the number of symbols in the time domain within the PSSCH resource element (i.e., n1 and n2). The BS 102 can indicate this index to the UE 104 via higher-layer signaling and / or physical-layer signaling.

[0128] In some embodiments, the sidelink channel pattern table may further indicate the corresponding attributes of the available symbols in the time slot. For example, the sidelink channel pattern table may indicate that the symbols in the time slot are one of the following: symbols of the first resource element in the time domain of the sidelink channel resource element, symbols for carrying reference signals, symbols for carrying AGC, and symbols used as GP.

[0129] In some embodiments, the system can pre-configure the number (n) of the first resource elements in the time domain within the sidelink channel resource element, while the number (k) of the second resource elements in the frequency domain within the sidelink channel resource element can be determined based on the SCS of the sidelink channel. For example, a PSCCH resource element includes 4 symbols in the time domain (i.e., n = 4), which is pre-configured by the system. The PSCCH resource element also includes k RBs in the frequency domain, where the value of k can be determined by the SCS of the PSCCH.

[0130] Figure 11 Table 1100 illustrates a mapping between the SCS (Search Channel Components) used for sidelink communication and k values ​​in the sidelink channel resource element (SCL) used for sidelink channels, according to some embodiments of this disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, Table 1100 includes: four SCS values ​​1102, namely 15 kHz, 30 kHz, 60 kHz, and 120 kHz, and four k values ​​1104, namely 5, 8, 10, and 10. Figure 11 The figure shows four SCS values ​​1102 and four k values ​​1104, but it should be noted that any number of SCS values ​​and any number of sidelink channel values ​​may be included, which is within the scope of the invention.

[0131] In the illustrated embodiment, when the SCS value is 15kHz, the PSCCH resource unit includes 5 RBs in the frequency domain; when the SCS value is 30kHz, the PSCCH resource unit includes 8 RBs in the frequency domain; when the SCS value is 60kHz, the PSCCH resource unit includes 10 RBs in the frequency domain; and when the SCS value is 120kHz, the PSCCH resource unit includes 10 RBSs in the frequency domain.

[0132] In some embodiments, the foregoing embodiments can be combined to provide an efficient method for determining at least one sidelink channel resource element. In some embodiments, the system can pre-configure the number (k) of second resource elements in the frequency domain of the sidelink channel resource element, while the number (n) of first resource elements in the time domain of the sidelink channel resource element can be determined based on the number of available sidelink resources for sidelink communication. For example, a PSCCH resource element includes 5 RBs in the frequency domain (i.e., k = 5), which is pre-configured by the system. The PSCCH resource element also includes n symbols in the time domain, where the value of n can be determined by the number of available symbols (i.e., N) in the time slot for sidelink communication. For example, when N equals 8, the PSCCH resource element includes 6 symbols in the time domain according to a predefined mapping. In some embodiments, the mapping includes: n = N when N ≤ 4; n = 4 when 4 < N ≤ 6; n = 6 when 6 < N ≤ 10; and n = 8 when N < 10.

[0133] In some embodiments, the sidelink resource pool is configured by BS 102. BS 102 is further configured to include a PSCCH resource element comprising n symbols in the time domain, and each PSCCH resource element includes a minimum number (K0) of available REs. Each PSCCH resource element includes a symbol for DMRS, which occupies all subcarriers in the frequency domain within the PSCCH resource element. UE 104 can also determine the number (k) of second resource elements in the frequency domain within each PSCCH resource element based on the above configuration. For example, when n=5 and K0=240 are configured by BS 102, since the PSCCH resource element also includes 1 symbol for DMRS, the PSCCH resource element includes 4 valid symbols in the time domain. The value of k can be determined by rounding up the value of K0 / (n×12), which equals 5. Therefore, each PSCCH resource element includes: 5 symbols in the time domain, 4 valid symbols in the time domain for sidelink communication, and 5 RBs in the frequency domain.

[0134] In some embodiments, the position of the first resource element (e.g., a symbol) in a sidelink channel resource element is determined by the position of the starting symbol (e.g., N) in the time slot and the number (n) of the first resource elements in the sidelink channel resource element, where 1 ≤ N ≤ 14 or 0 ≤ N ≤ 13. In some embodiments, the first resource elements in a sidelink channel resource element are consecutive. In some embodiments, the position of the first resource element (e.g., a symbol) in a sidelink channel resource element is determined by the position of the starting symbol (e.g., N) of the available sidelink resources in the time slot and the number (n) of the first resource elements in the sidelink channel resource element, where 1 ≤ N ≤ 14 or 0 ≤ N ≤ 13.

[0135] In some embodiments, the values ​​of N and n can be one of the following: pre-configured to UE 104 by the system and indicated by signaling. In some embodiments, signaling can be transmitted from BS 102 to UE 104 as higher-layer signaling or physical-layer signaling, such as system broadcast messages, radio resource control (RRC) messages, downlink control information (DCI), etc. In some other embodiments, signaling can also be transmitted from UE 104 in the form of higher-layer signaling or physical-layer signaling, such as sidelink broadcast messages, RRC messages, sidelink control information (SCI), etc., during sidelink communication.

[0136] In some embodiments, the position of the corresponding start symbol in the corresponding sidelink channel resource unit of the corresponding sidelink channel can be defined independently. In some embodiments, the positions of the corresponding start symbols for different corresponding sidelink channel resource units can be the same or different. In some embodiments, the time slot is one of the time slots in a sidelink resource set. There exists at least one time slot in a sidelink resource pool or an available sidelink resource set. At least one symbol in the at least one time slot is an available symbol for sidelink communication.

[0137] Figure 12 A schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 1200 having multiple sidelink channel resource elements 304 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 12 This is for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. In some embodiments, BS 102 may pre-configure or indicate the number and location of multiple time slots 202 containing resources for sidelink communication via higher-layer signaling. It should be noted that the radio frame structure 1200 may include any number of time slots 202 containing resources for sidelink communication at arbitrary locations, and the multiple time slots 202 may further include any number of sidelink channel resource elements, wherein the sidelink channel resource elements may include any number of first resource elements (e.g., symbols) at any location in the time domain, and the time slot may include 12 or 14 symbols, which is within the scope of the invention.

[0138] In the illustrated embodiment, the radio frame structure 1200 includes four sidelink channel resource elements (SRORs) for two sidelink channels (e.g., PSCCH and PSSCH) in three corresponding time slots 202. In some embodiments, each of these three time slots 202 includes 14 symbols with a conventional CP. In the illustrated embodiment, the first PSCCH resource element 304-1 is located in the first time slot 202-1; the first PSSCH resource element 304-2 is located in the second time slot 202-2; and the second PSCCH resource element 304-3 and the second PSSCH resource element 304-4 are located in the fifth time slot 202-5. Each of these four SRORs (i.e., 304-1, 304-2, 304-3, and 304-4) may include a different number of first resource elements (symbols), which can be determined by one of the methods discussed above. In the illustrated embodiment, the first PSCCH resource element 304-1 includes 7 first resource elements in the time domain; the first PSSCH resource element 304-2 includes 4 first resource elements in the time domain; the second PSCCH resource element 304-3 includes 4 first resource elements in the time domain; and the second PSSCH resource element 304-4 includes 10 first resource elements in the time domain. In some other embodiments, the symbols in the resource pool within the time slot are contiguous. In some embodiments, one of the methods discussed in detail above can be used to determine the number of symbols in the time domain within the sidelink channel resource element 304.

[0139] In some embodiments, when the start symbol of the first PSCCH resource unit 304-1 in the first time slot 202-1 is 7 (i.e., N=7), the first PSCCH resource unit 304-1 occupies symbols 7-13 of the first time slot. When the start symbol of the first PSCCH resource unit 304-2 in the second time slot 202-2 is also 7 (i.e., N=7), the first PSCCH resource unit 304-2 occupies symbols 7-10 of the second time slot 202-2. When the start symbol of the second PSCCH resource unit 304-3 is 0 and the start symbol of the second PSCCH resource unit 304-4 is 4, the second PSCCH resource unit 304-3 occupies symbols 0-3 and the second PSCCH resource unit 304-4 occupies symbols 4-13 in the fourth time slot 202-4.

[0140] Figure 13 A schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 1300 having an available set of sidelink resources 302 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 13This is for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. In some embodiments, BS102 can be pre-configured or indicated via higher-layer signaling to determine the number and location of available sidelink resource sets 302 in the corresponding time slot 202 for sidelink communication. It should be noted that the radio frame structure 1300 may include any number of time slots 202, which are included in the available sidelink resource sets 302 for sidelink communication at any location. Multiple time slots 202, wherein the available sidelink resource sets 302 may include any number of sidelink channel resource elements 304. Each sidelink channel resource element 304 may include any number of first resource elements (e.g., symbols) at any location in the time domain, and a time slot may include 12 or 14 symbols, which is within the scope of this invention.

[0141] In the illustrated embodiment, within the radio frame structure 1300, the available sidelink resource set 302 comprises two time slots, namely 202-1 and 202-10, and each time slot contains a sidelink channel resource element 304 for a sidelink channel (e.g., PSCCH). In some embodiments, each of the two time slots 202 includes 14 symbols with a conventional CP. In the illustrated embodiment, the position of the available sidelink resource set 302 within the corresponding time slot is pre-configured by the system or configured by the BS 102 via higher-layer signaling. In the illustrated embodiment, symbols 7-13 in the first time slot 202-1 are used for sidelink communication; and symbols 4-13 in the tenth time slot 202-10 are available sidelink resources. In the first time slot 202-1, the first PSCCH resource element 304-1 begins with the third available symbol (N=2) of the sidelink communication within time slot 202-1, occupying 5 symbols (n=5) in the time domain, i.e., the first PSCCH resource element 304-1 occupies symbols 9-13 of the first time slot 202-1; and the second PSCCH resource element 304-2 begins with the first available symbol (N=0) of the sidelink communication, i.e., the second PSCCH resource element 304-2 occupies symbols 4-8 in the tenth time slot 202-10, where N is the position of the starting symbol of the sidelink channel resource element 304 in the available sidelink resource set 302. Each of the two sidelink channel resource elements 304 (i.e., 304-1 and 304-2) may include a different number of first resource elements (symbols), which can be determined by one of the methods described above.

[0142] In some embodiments, when the sum of the number of first resource units of multiple sidelink channel resource units in the time domain is equal to or less than the number of symbols in the time slot, i.e., ∑n i ≤14 or ∑n i ≤12, where i≥1 and is a positive integer, a time slot may include multiple sidelink channels for sidelink channels. The start symbol of each of the multiple sidelink channel resource elements is N+i×n.i Defined as follows, where N is the position of the first symbol in the time slot used for sidelink communication, n i It is the number of first resource units in the i-th side link channel resource unit, and i is a non-negative integer.

[0143] In some embodiments, N and n i The value can be one of the following: pre-configured to UE 104 by the system, or indicated by signaling. In some embodiments, the signaling can be transmitted from BS 102 to UE 104 as higher-layer signaling or physical-layer signaling, such as system broadcast messages, radio resource control (RRC) messages, downlink control information (DCI), etc. In some other embodiments, the signaling can also be transmitted from UE 104 in the form of higher-layer signaling or physical-layer signaling, such as sidelink broadcast messages, RRC messages, sidelink control information (SCI), etc., during sidelink communication.

[0144] When each of the multiple sidelink channel resource units includes n first resource units in the time domain, n0 = (N0 - N) mod n, where N0 is the total number of symbols in the time slot, i.e., 14 or 12, N is the position of the first symbol in the time slot used for sidelink communication, and n is the number of first resource units in the sidelink channel resource unit. The time slot can include a sidelink channel resource unit, which includes n0 first resource units in the time domain.

[0145] Figure 14 A schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 1400 having an available set of sidelink resources 302 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 14 This is for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. In some embodiments, BS102 may be pre-configured or indicated via higher-layer signaling to determine the number and location of multiple time slots 202 for sidelink communication. It should be noted that the radio frame structure 1400 may include any number of time slots 202, which are included in the available sidelink resource set 302 at any location. The multiple time slots 202 may further include any number of sidelink channel resource elements 304. Each sidelink channel resource element 304 may include any number of first resource elements (e.g., symbols) at any location in the time domain, and the time slot may include 12 or 14 symbols, which is within the scope of the invention.

[0146] exist Figure 14 In the illustrated embodiment, all symbols in the three time slots are available symbols for sidelink communication, namely 302-1, 302-2, and 302-3. Each of the time slots 202 includes at least one sidelink channel resource element 304.

[0147] In the illustrated embodiment, the first time slot 202-1 includes two PSCCH resource units 304, wherein the first PSCCH resource unit 304-1 begins at symbol 2 and occupies symbols 2-7, and the second PSCCH resource unit 304-2 occupies symbols 8-13 of the first time slot 202-1. The second time slot 202-2 includes a third PSCCH resource unit 304-3, which begins at symbol 2 and occupies symbols 2-9 of the second time slot 202-2. Similarly, the fifth time slot 202-5 includes three PSCCH resource units 304, wherein the fourth PSCCH resource unit 304-4 begins at symbol 2 and occupies symbols 2-5; the fifth PSCCH resource unit 304-5 occupies symbols 6-9; and the sixth PSCCH resource unit 304-6 occupies symbols 10-13 of the fifth time slot 202-5.

[0148] In some embodiments, when the sum of the number of first resource units of multiple sidelink channel resource units in the time domain is equal to or less than the number of symbols in the time slot, i.e., ∑n i ≤14 or ∑n i ≤12, where i≥1 and i is a positive integer, a time slot may include multiple sidelink channel resource elements for multiple corresponding sidelink channels. The start symbol of each of the multiple sidelink channel resource elements is N+i×n. i Defined as follows: where N is the position of the first symbol in the available sidelink resource set for sidelink communication, ni is the number of first resource units in the i-th sidelink channel resource unit, and i is a non-negative integer. The position of the available sidelink resource set in the time slot is pre-configured by the system.

[0149] In some embodiments, N and n i The value can be one of the following: pre-configured to UE 104 by the system, or indicated by signaling. In some embodiments, the signaling can be transmitted from BS 102 to UE 104 as higher-layer signaling or physical-layer signaling, such as system broadcast messages, radio resource control (RRC) messages, downlink control information (DCI), etc. In some other embodiments, the signaling can also be transmitted from UE 104 in the form of higher-layer signaling or physical-layer signaling, such as sidelink broadcast messages, RRC messages, sidelink control information (SCI), etc., during sidelink communication.

[0150] Figure 15 A schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 1500 having an available set of sidelink resources 302 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 15This is for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. In some embodiments, BS102 may pre-configure or indicate the number and location of multiple time slots 202 for sidelink communication via higher-layer signaling. It should be noted that the radio frame structure 1500 may include any number of time slots 202, which are included in the available sidelink resource set 302 at any location. The multiple time slots 202 may further include any number of sidelink channel resource elements 304. Each sidelink channel resource element 304 may include any number of first resource elements (e.g., symbols) at any location in the time domain, and the time slot may include 12 or 14 symbols, which is within the scope of the invention.

[0151] exist Figure 15 In the illustrated embodiment, the four symbols in the first time slot 202-1, the eight symbols in the second time slot 202-2, and the fourteen symbols in the fifth time slot 202-5 are available symbols for side link communication.

[0152] In the illustrated embodiment, the first time slot 202-1 includes a first PSCCH resource unit 304-1, which begins at symbol 10 and occupies symbols 10-13 of the first time slot 202-1. A second PSCCH resource unit 304-2 occupies symbols 6-9 of the second time slot 202-2, and a third PSCCH resource unit 304-3 occupies symbols 10-13 of the second time slot 202-2. Similarly, the fifth time slot 202-5 includes three PSCCH resource units 304, where a fourth PSCCH resource unit 304-4 occupies symbols 0-3; a fifth PSCCH resource unit 304-5 occupies symbols 4-7; and, since the last six symbols are not divisible by 4, a sixth PSCCH resource unit 304-6, comprising six symbols, occupies symbols 8-13 of the fifth time slot 202-5.

[0153] In some embodiments, the configuration of at least one sidelink channel resource element for a given sidelink channel can be determined by the corresponding sidelink subcarrier spacing (SCS). In some embodiments, a corresponding sidelink-specific SCS is configured on available resources for sidelink communication. Specifically, a sidelink-specific SCS can be configured within a sidelink resource pool. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the SCS in cellular communication can also be configured as the SCS in sidelink communication when resources are shared between sidelink communication and cellular communication, or when resources are used for multiple processes (e.g., multiplexing). In some other embodiments, the SCS in sidelink communication can also be configured on sidelink-specific resources or on a sidelink-specific bandwidth portion (BWP).

[0154] In some embodiments, each of at least one sidelink channel resource element for a sidelink channel is configured with: a first number (n) of first resource elements in the time domain and a second number (k) of second resource elements in the frequency domain, wherein the first resource element in the time domain can be one of: a symbol and a time slot, and wherein the second resource element in the frequency domain can be a resource block (RB), and wherein n and k are non-negative integers. In some embodiments, the mapping between the SCS in sidelink communication and the position (i.e., N value) of the starting symbol in the time slot or in the available sidelink resource set for the sidelink channel can be pre-configured by the system or configured by BS 102. In some embodiments, the position of the starting symbol in at least one sidelink channel resource element for different sidelink channels can be configured independently. In some embodiments, the N value for different corresponding sidelink channels can be the same or different. In some embodiments, the mapping between the SCS value and the N value can be one-to-one, i.e., each of a plurality of SCS values ​​corresponds to one N value, wherein the N value can be directly used to determine the position of the corresponding sidelink channel resource element. In some other embodiments, each of the multiple SCS values ​​corresponds to multiple N values, and the location of the corresponding side channel resource element can be determined based on additional conditions, which will be discussed in detail below.

[0155] Figure 16 Table 1600 illustrates a mapping between the SCS in sidelink communication and the N value of the sidelink channel resource element for the sidelink channel, according to some embodiments of this disclosure. In some embodiments, the N value is the position of the starting symbol of the sidelink channel resource element in one of the following: time slot and available sidelink resource set. In the illustrated embodiment, Table 1600 includes four SCS values ​​1602, namely 15kHz, 30kHz, 60kHz, and 120kHz, and four N values ​​for the sidelink channel resource elements of four sidelink channels (i.e., PSCCH 1604, PSSCH 1606, PSBCH 1608, and PSDCH 1610). Although in Figure 16 Only four SCS values ​​(1602) and four sidelink channels are shown in the figure, but it should be noted that any number of SCS values ​​and any number of sidelink channel values ​​may be included, which is within the scope of this invention.

[0156] In the illustrated embodiment, when the SCS value is 15kHz, PSCCH resource unit 1604 starts with N=1; PSSCH resource unit 1606 starts with N=0; PSBCH resource unit 1608 starts with N=1; and PSDCH resource unit 1610 starts with N=1. When the SCS value is 30kHz, PSCCH resource unit 1604 starts with N=1; PSSCH resource unit 1606 starts with N=0; PSBCH resource unit 1608 starts with N=2; and PSDCH resource unit 1610 starts with N=2. When the SCS value is 60kHz, PSCCH resource unit 1604 starts with N=2; PSSCH resource unit 1606 starts with N=1; PSBCH resource unit 1608 starts with N=2; and PSDCH resource unit 1610 starts with N=2. When the SCS value is 120kHz, PSCCH resource unit 1604 starts with N=2; PSSCH resource unit 1606 starts with N=1; PSBCH resource unit 1608 starts with N=3; and PSDCH resource unit 1610 starts with N=2.

[0157] In some embodiments, when UE 104 performs the transmission of sidelink signals on the sidelink channel, UE 104 may also use Table 1600 to determine the location of the first resource element in the time domain of the sidelink channel resource element according to the SCS of the sidelink communication. For example, UE 104 may determine the PSCCH resource element starting with time slot N=1. The number of first resource elements (symbols) in the PSCCH resource element may be determined according to one of the methods discussed in detail above. For example, based on Table 400, when the sidelink SCS is 15kHz, the PSCCH resource element includes 4 symbols in the time domain. In some embodiments, UE 104 selects the PSCCH resource element occupying symbols 1-4 in the time slot for receiving and transmitting SCI. Similarly, under the same SCS setting (e.g., 15kHz), according to Table 400, the PSCCH resource element starts at time slot N=0 and occupies 8 symbols in the time domain, and UE 104 may receive and / or transmit sidelink data on symbols 0-7 of the time slot.

[0158] Figure 17 Table 1700 illustrates a mapping between the SCS in sidelink communication and the N value of a sidelink channel resource element for a sidelink channel, according to some embodiments of this disclosure. In some embodiments, the N value is the position of the starting symbol of the sidelink channel resource element in one of the following: time slot and available sidelink resource set. In the illustrated embodiment, Table 1700 includes four indices 1702 for two corresponding SCS values ​​1704 (i.e., 15 kHz and 60 kHz), and 8N values ​​1706 for the sidelink channel resource element. Although in Figure 17 Only two SCS values, 1704 and eight N values, 1706 are shown in the figure, but it should be noted that any number of SCS values ​​and any values ​​for any number of sidelink channels can be included, which is within the scope of this invention.

[0159] In the illustrated embodiment, when the index is 0 and the SCS value is 15kHz, the sidelink channel resource unit 1706 starts with N=0; and when the index is 0 and the SCS value is 60kHz, the sidelink channel resource unit 1706 starts with N=1. When the index is 1 and the SCS value is 15kHz, the sidelink channel resource unit 1706 starts with N=1; and when the index is 1 and the SCS value is 60kHz, the sidelink channel resource unit 1706 starts with N=2. When the index is 2 and the SCS value is 15kHz, the sidelink channel resource unit 1706 starts with N=2; and when the index is 2 and the SCS value is 60kHz, the sidelink channel resource unit 1706 starts with N=2. When the index is 3 and the SCS value is 15kHz, the sidelink channel resource unit 1706 starts with N=4; and when the index is 3 and the SCS value is 60kHz, the sidelink channel resource unit 1706 starts with N=6.

[0160] In some embodiments, when UE 104 performs the transmission of sidelink signals on a sidelink channel, UE 104 may also use Table 1700 and index values ​​to determine the location of the first resource element in the time domain of the sidelink channel resource element based on the SCS of the sidelink communication. For example, UE 104 receives index 0 in an RRC message from BS 102, and based on the SCS value of 15 kHz, UE 104 can determine the PSCCH resource element starting with N=0 of the available sidelink resource set. The number of first resource elements (symbols) in the PSCCH resource element can be determined according to one of the methods discussed in detail above. For example, based on Table 400, when the sidelink SCS is 15 kHz, the PSCCH resource element includes 4 symbols in the time domain. In some embodiments, UE 104 selects the PSCCH resource element occupying symbols 0-3 in the available sidelink resource set to receive or transmit SCI. Similarly, under the same SCS settings (e.g., 15kHz), when index 3 is received from BS 102 in an RRC message, the PSSCH resource element starts with N=4 of the available sidelink resource set and occupies 8 symbols in the time domain according to Table 400. UE 104 can receive or transmit sidelink data on symbols 3-10 of the available sidelink resource set.

[0161] In some embodiments, the location of the second resource unit (e.g., RB) in the frequency domain within a sidelink channel resource unit can be determined based on the location of the starting RB in the available sidelink resource set in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, the number of RBs (i.e., the k value) is determined according to one of the methods discussed above. In some embodiments, the location of the starting RB in the available sidelink resource set in the frequency domain is one of the following: the RB with the smallest index in the available sidelink resource set (hereinafter referred to as "RB index min#"), the RB with the smallest index + K (hereinafter referred to as "RB index min# + K"), and the RB with the largest index (hereinafter referred to as "RB index max#"), where K is a non-negative integer. In some embodiments, the K value can be pre-configured by the system or indicated by BS 102 via higher-layer signaling. In some embodiments, the available sidelink resource set in the frequency domain includes one of the following: at least one RB in a sidelink resource pool or sidelink resource set and determined by the configuration of the sidelink resource pool or sidelink resource set; at least one RB in a BWP for sidelink communication and determined by the configuration of the BWP; and at least one RB in the system's BWP and determined by the system's configuration.

[0162] In some embodiments, the positions of the RBs in the sidelink channel resource elements are one of the following: [RB index#min+i×k, RB index#min+i×k+k-1], [RB index#min+K+i×k, RB index#min+K+i×k+k-1], and [RB index#max-Ki×k, RB index#max-Ki×k-k+1], where i is a non-negative integer. For example, when there are 100 RBs in a BWP for sidelink communication and k=5, the BWP for sidelink communication includes 20 sidelink channel resource elements, and each of the 20 sidelink channel resource elements includes 5 RBs in the frequency domain. The first sidelink channel resource element occupies RBs 0-4, the second sidelink channel resource element occupies RBs 5-9, ..., and the twentieth sidelink channel resource element occupies RBs 95-99.

[0163] In some embodiments, the location of a sidelink channel resource element can be determined according to a location configuration table, wherein the location configuration table includes multiple configurations for the location of sidelink channel resource elements for a corresponding sidelink channel. Specifically, the location configuration table includes information on the location of a first resource element in the time domain and / or the location of a second resource element in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, each of the multiple configurations corresponds to an index, and when the UE 104 receives the index from the BS 102, it can further determine the location of the sidelink channel resource element in the time domain and / or frequency domain according to the location configuration table. In some embodiments, each of the multiple configurations can be used to determine the location of multiple sidelink channels.

[0164] In some embodiments, the index can be indicated from BS 102 to UE 104 via higher-layer signaling. In some embodiments, the signaling can be transmitted from BS 102 to UE 104 as higher-layer signaling or physical-layer signaling, such as system broadcast messages, radio resource control (RRC) messages, downlink control information (DCI), etc. In some other embodiments, the signaling can also be transmitted from UE 104 in the form of higher-layer signaling or physical-layer signaling, such as sidelink broadcast messages, RRC messages, sidelink control information (SCI), etc., during sidelink communication.

[0165] Figure 18 Table 1800 is shown, illustrating multiple location configurations of sidelink channel resource elements in the time domain for two sidelink channels according to some embodiments of this disclosure. In some embodiments, each of the multiple location configurations includes an N value, wherein the N value is the position of the starting symbol of the sidelink channel resource element in one of: a timeslot and an available set of sidelink resources. In the illustrated embodiment, Table 1800 includes eight indices 1802 for the N values ​​of the two sidelink channels, namely, N1 for PSCCH resource element 1804 and N2 for PSSCH resource element 1806. Although in Figure 18 The diagram shows only eight indices and eight N values ​​for two sidelink channels, but it should be noted that any number of location configurations and any N values ​​can be included for any number of sidelink channels, which is within the scope of this invention.

[0166] In the illustrated embodiment, at index 0, N1 of PSCCH resource unit 1804 is 0, and N2 of PSSCH resource unit 1806 is 0; at index 1, N1 of PSCCH resource unit 1804 is 0, and N2 of PSSCH resource unit 1806 is 4; at index 2, N1 of PSCCH resource unit 1804 is 2, and N2 of PSSCH resource unit 1806 is 2; at index 3, N1 of PSCCH resource unit 1804 is 2, and N2 of PSSCH resource unit 1806 is 6; at index 4, only N2 is defined, and N2 of PSSCH resource unit 1806 is 7; at index 5, only N1 is defined, and N1 of PSCCH resource unit 1804 is 10; at indices 6 and 7, N1 and N2 values ​​are reserved.

[0167] In some embodiments, when UE 104 performs the transmission of sidelink signals on the sidelink channel, UE 104 can further determine the location of the first resource element in the time domain of the sidelink channel resource element according to the location configuration table 1800. For example, UE 104 can determine the PSCCH resource element starting with the time slot N=0. The number of first resource elements (symbols) in the PSCCH resource element can be determined according to one of the methods discussed in detail above. For example, based on Table 1000, when UE 104 receives an index of 1, the PSCCH resource element includes 4 symbols in the time domain. In some embodiments, UE 104 selects the PSCCH resource element occupying symbols 0-3 in the time slot to receive and transmit SCI. Similarly, the same index value can be used to determine the number of first resource elements (symbols) in the time domain of the PSSCH. According to Table 1000, the PSSCH resource element starts with the time slot N=4 and occupies 2 symbols in that time slot. UE 104 can receive or transmit sidelink data on symbols 4-5 of the time slot. In some other embodiments, when the N value in Table 1800 is the position of the starting symbol of the sidelink channel resource element in the available sidelink resource set, the position of the starting symbol of the sidelink channel resource element can be determined according to the position configuration of the available sidelink resource set in the time slot.

[0168] Figure 19 A method 1900 for configuring a sidelink channel resource element for sidelink communication according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be understood that... Figure 19 Additional operations are provided before, during, and after method 1900, and some operations may be omitted or reordered. The communication system in the illustrated embodiment includes BS 102 and UE 104.

[0169] Method 1900 begins with operation 1902, in which, according to some embodiments, a first message is sent from BS 102 to UE 104. In some embodiments, the first message includes a configuration of sidelink channel resource elements. In some embodiments, the configuration of sidelink channel resource elements includes a plurality of first resource elements in the time domain and second resource elements in the frequency domain. The configuration also includes the positions of the first resource elements in the time domain and / or the positions of the second resource elements in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, the configuration of the number of first resource elements in the time domain and second resource elements in the frequency domain can be one of the following: pre-configured by the system, configured by BS 102, determined by the corresponding sidelink subcarrier spacing (SCS), the available sidelink resource set, the number of available sidelink resource elements, and determined by a configuration table, as discussed in detail above. In some embodiments, the configuration of the positions of the first resource elements in the time domain and the second resource elements in the frequency domain can be one of the following: the starting positions of the first and second resource elements, determined by the corresponding sidelink subcarrier spacing (SCS), and determined by a position configuration table, as discussed in detail above. In some embodiments, BS 102 sends a configuration of the number and location of sidelink channel resource elements to UE 104 via an RRC signal, wherein the RRC signal can be one of the following: a system broadcast message and a UE-specific RRC signal.

[0170] Method 1900 continues to operation 1904, in which UE 104 determines the number and location of sidelink channel resource elements for the corresponding channel based on the received configuration for sidelink communication received in the RRC signal.

[0171] Method 1900 continues to operation 1906, in which UE 104 performs sidelink communication on the determined sidelink channel resource elements. In some embodiments, the configuration of sidelink channel resource elements for different sidelink channels may be determined. In some embodiments, the sidelink channel may be at least one of the following: Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH), Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH), Physical Sidelink Broadcast Channel (PSBCH), and Physical Sidelink Discovery Channel (PSDCH). Specifically, the PSCCH resource is used to carry sidelink control information (SCI), wherein the SCI includes at least one of the following: sidelink scheduling control information, sidelink feedback control information (e.g., ACK / NACK), and channel measurement feedback information (e.g., channel state information (CSI)); the PSSCH resource is used to carry sidelink data; the PSBCH resource is used to carry sidelink broadcast information; and the PSDCH resource is used to carry sidelink discovery signals.

[0172] In some embodiments, the configuration of the first sidelink channel resource element for a corresponding first sidelink channel can be determined based on the configuration of the second sidelink channel resource element for the corresponding second sidelink channel. In some embodiments, there are multiple sidelink channels for sidelink communication, and different sidelink channels can be associated with other sidelink channels. In some embodiments, any two of the multiple sidelink channels can be grouped together as a correlated sidelink channel couple, wherein the correlated sidelink channel couple includes the first sidelink channel and the second sidelink channel. In some embodiments, the correlated sidelink channel couple includes one of the following sidelink channel groups: PSCCH / PSSCH, PSSCH / PSCCH, PSBCH / PSCCH, and PSDCH / PSCCH.

[0173] In some embodiments, the configuration of the first sidelink channel resource element of the first sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination can be determined based on the configuration of the second sidelink channel resource element of the second sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination. In one embodiment, the configuration of the second sidelink channel resource element of the second sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination (n2 and / or k2) is determined according to the configuration (n1 and / or k1) of the first sidelink channel resource element of the first sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination, i.e., n1 = n2, k1 = k2. In another embodiment, the number (n1) of the first resource elements in the time domain of the first sidelink channel resource element of the first sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination is equal to the number (n2) of the first resource elements in the time domain of the second sidelink channel resource element of the second sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination. The number (k1) of the second resource elements in the frequency domain of the first sidelink channel resource element of the first sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination can be determined according to other embodiments of this disclosure. Furthermore, in another embodiment, the number (k1) of second resource units in the frequency domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit of the first sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination is equal to the number (k2) of second resource units in the frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination. The number (n1) of first resource units in the time domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit of the first sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination can be determined according to other embodiments of this disclosure.

[0174] In some embodiments, the configuration (n and / or k value) of the second sidelink channel resource unit of the associated sidelink channel combination can be determined based on the configuration (n and / or k value) of the first sidelink channel resource unit of the first sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination and a predefined relationship. In some embodiments, the predefined relationship can be obtained from a predefined relationship table. In some embodiments, the predefined relationship table can be indicated by predefined rules. For example, when the number of available symbols for sidelink communication in a time slot is N, n2 = N - n1.

[0175] Figure 20 Table 2000 illustrates a mapping relationship between n1 and n2 in two corresponding sidelink channel resource units of two corresponding sidelink channels in an associated sidelink channel combination, according to some embodiments of this disclosure. Although each of n1 in the first column 2002 and n2 in the second column 2004 of Table 2000 includes four values, it should be noted that n1 and n2 can include any number of values, and within the scope of this invention, n1 and n2 are non-negative integers. In some embodiments, for time slots with a regular CP, (n1, n2) ≤ 14, and for time slots with an extended CP, (n1, n2) ≤ 12. Figure 8 In the illustrated embodiment, each of the four n1 values ​​corresponds to a corresponding n2 value. For example, when n1 = 8, n2 = 4; when n1 = 10, n2 = 6; when n1 = 12, n2 = 8; and when n1 = 14, n2 = 10.

[0176] Figure 21 A schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 2100 with a sidelink resource pool 302 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 21 This is for illustrative purposes only and not for limitation. BS 102 indicates the number and location of resource pools 302 via higher-layer signaling. The higher-layer signaling also indicates the number (N) of available symbols in the time slots used for sidelink communication. The higher-layer signaling from BS 102 also indicates associated sidelink channel combinations, i.e., including PSCCH and PSSCH. Furthermore, the higher-layer signaling from BS 102 indicates the relationship between the configuration (n2) of PSCCH resource elements and the configuration (n1) of PSSCH resource elements. In the illustrated embodiment, n1 = N - n2. It should be noted that the radio frame structure 2100 may include different numbers of first resource elements (e.g., symbols) at any location in the time domain, and the time slot may include 12 or 14 symbols, which is within the scope of the invention.

[0177] In the illustrated embodiment, the sidelink resource pool 302 includes three time slots, namely 202-1, 202-2, and 202-5. In some embodiments, each time slot 202 includes 14 symbols with a regular CP. Each of the three time slots 202 may include a different number of symbols for sidelink communication, as shown in 302-1, 302-2, and 302-3. In the illustrated embodiment, the first time slot 202-1 includes 4 symbols for sidelink communication; the second time slot 202-2 includes 8 symbols for sidelink communication; and the fifth time slot 202-5 includes 14 symbols for sidelink communication. Furthermore, the PSCCH resource element includes 4 (n1) symbols in the time domain and 5 RBs in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, the UE 104 may determine n2 based on N and n1.

[0178] In the illustrated embodiment, since the first time slot 302-1 includes 4 symbols and the first PSCCH resource unit 304-1 occupies 4 symbols in the time domain in the first time slot 202-1, the PSSCH of the first time slot 202-1 does not include any symbols used for PSSCH (n2 = 0). Similarly, the second time slot 302-2 includes: a second PSCCH resource unit 304-2 including 4 symbols in the time domain in the second time slot 202-2, and a first PSSCH resource unit 304-3 including 4 (n2 = 4) symbols in the time domain; and the third time slot 302-3 includes: a third PSCCH resource unit 304-4 including 4 symbols in the time domain in the fifth time slot 202-5, and a second PSSCH resource unit 304-5 including 10 (N2 = 10) symbols in the time domain.

[0179] Furthermore, the four symbols of the first PSCCH resource unit 304-1 occupy symbols 10-13 in the first time slot 202-1; the four symbols of the second PSCCH resource unit 304-2 and the four symbols of the first PSSCH resource unit 304-3 occupy symbols 6-13 in the second time slot 202-2; and the four symbols of the third PSCCH resource unit 304-4 and the ten symbols of the second PSSCH resource unit 304-5 occupy symbols 0-13 in the fifth time slot 202-5. In some embodiments, the position of the symbols in the resource units within a time slot can be determined by one of the methods discussed in detail below.

[0180] This method of determining the configuration of the first resource element for the first sidelink channel based on the second resource element for the second sidelink channel in an associated sidelink channel combination allows for the multiplexing of available resources in the time domain. This method is particularly useful when corresponding signals need to be transmitted at different times to meet the transmission delay and complexity requirements when the UE receives and processes sidelink signals.

[0181] In some embodiments, the configuration of the second sidelink channel resource elements of the second sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination can be determined based on an indication on the first sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination. For example, the first sidelink channel carries indication information that can be used to indicate the number of first resource elements (n2) in the time domain and / or the number of second resource elements (k2) in the frequency domain in the second sidelink.

[0182] In some other embodiments, the configuration of the second sidelink channel resource element of the second sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination can be determined based on the location of resources in the time and / or frequency domains for the first sidelink channel, according to predefined rules. For example, when the system predefines the associated sidelink channel combination, the first sidelink channel is PSSCH and the second sidelink channel is PSCCH. In some embodiments, when the first resource element (e.g., symbol) in the time domain of the PSSCH resource element is included in the first t1 symbols in the time slot, the PSCCH resource element includes n1 first resource elements (e.g., symbols) in the time domain. In some other embodiments, when the first resource element (e.g., symbol) in the time domain of the PSSCH is included in the last t2 symbols in the time slot, the PSCCH resource element includes n2 first resource elements (e.g., symbols) in the time domain.

[0183] Figure 22 A schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 2200 with a sidelink resource pool 302 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 22 This is for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. BS 102 indicates the number and location of the sidelink resource pool 302 via higher-layer signaling. It should be noted that the radio frame structure 2200 may include a different number of first resource elements (e.g., symbols) at any location in the time domain, and time slots may include 12 or 14 symbols, which is within the scope of this invention.

[0184] In the illustrated embodiment, the sidelink resource pool 302 includes three time slots 202, namely 202-1, 202-2, and 202-4. Each of these three time slots 202 may include a different number of symbols for sidelink communication, as shown in 302-1, 302-2, and 302-3. In the illustrated embodiment, the first time slot 202-1 includes 8 symbols for sidelink communication; the second time slot 202-2 includes 6 symbols for sidelink communication; and the fourth time slot 202-4 includes 2 symbols for sidelink communication.

[0185] In the illustrated embodiment, based on the system's predefined rules, where n1 = 4 when t1 = 8 and n2 = 2 when t2 = 6, PSCCH resource unit 304-1 occupies symbols 2-5 in the first time slot 202-1, therefore PSCCH resource unit 304-2 includes 4 symbols in the time domain in the first time slot 202-1. Since PSCCH resource unit 304-3 occupies symbols 8-13 in the second time slot 202-2, PSCCH resource unit 304-4 includes 2 symbols in the time domain in the fourth time slot 202-4. In some embodiments, the first and second PSCCH resource units 304-1 / 304-3 are used to transmit feedback information A / N for the corresponding signals on the corresponding first and second PSCCH 304-2 / 304-4.

[0186] In the illustrated embodiment, the first PSSCH resource unit 304-1 occupies symbols 2-5 in the first time slot s0; the first PSCCH resource unit 304-2 occupies symbols 10-13 in the first time slot s0; the second PSSCH resource unit 304-3 occupies symbols 8-13 in the second time slot s1; and the second PSCCH resource unit 304-4 occupies symbols 12-13 in the fourth time slot s3. In some embodiments, the positions of the symbols in the resource units within a time slot are pre-configured by the system or configured by BS 102.

[0187] In some embodiments, the position of the first resource unit in the time domain (e.g., the position of the starting symbol in the time slot) of the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination can be determined based on the position of the first resource unit in the time domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit of the first sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination. In some embodiments, when the first sidelink channel resource unit starts at symbol N1 in the time slot and occupies n1 first resource units (e.g., symbols) in the time domain, the second sidelink channel resource unit starts at symbol N1+n1 and occupies n2 symbols in the corresponding time slot. In some embodiments, when the first sidelink channel resource unit starts at symbol N1 in the time slot and occupies n1 first resource units (e.g., symbols) in the time domain, the second sidelink channel resource unit starts at symbol N1 and occupies n2 symbols in the same time slot (occupying different RBs). In some embodiments, the position of the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination can be determined based on indication information on the first sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination. In some embodiments, the indication information can be implicit or explicit. In some embodiments, the indication information includes the position of the start symbol of the second sidelink channel resource element in a time slot and the position of that time slot. For example, the first sidelink channel of an associated sidelink channel combination includes sidelink control information (SCI), wherein the SCI includes information about the position of the sidelink channel resource element of the second sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination. In some embodiments, the information includes at least one of the following: the position of the start symbol of the sidelink channel resource element of the second channel in time slot (#N) and the position of that time slot.

[0188] Figure 23 A schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 2300 with a sidelink resource pool 302 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 23 This is for illustrative purposes and not restrictive. BS 102 indicates the number and location of the sidelink resource pool 302 via higher-level signaling.

[0189] In the illustrated embodiment, the sidelink resource pool 302 includes three time slots, namely 202-1, 202-2, and 202-5. In some embodiments, each time slot 202 includes 14 symbols with a conventional CP. Each of the three time slots 202 may include a different number of symbols for sidelink communication, as shown in 302-1, 302-2, and 302-3. In the illustrated embodiment, the first time slot 202-1 includes 10 symbols for sidelink communication; the second time slot 202-2 includes 4 symbols for sidelink communication; and the fifth time slot 202-5 includes 8 symbols for sidelink communication.

[0190] In the illustrated embodiment, when N1 of the first sidelink channel (e.g., PSCCH) resource element 304-1 is 4, it occupies 4 symbols in the first time slot 202-1, and the second sidelink channel (e.g., PSSCH) resource element 304-2 of the first associated sidelink channel combination occupies 6 symbols in the first time slot 202-1. The first PSCCH resource element 304-1 of the first associated sidelink channel combination occupies symbols 4-7 in the time slot 202-1, while the first PSSCH resource element 304-2 of the first associated sidelink channel combination occupies symbols 8-13 in the first time slot 202-1. In the illustrated embodiment, when N1 of the second PSCCH resource element 304-3 in the second associated sidelink channel combination is 0 and it occupies 4 symbols in the second time slot 202-2, N2 of the second PSCCH resource element 304-4 in the second associated sidelink channel combination is equal to N1, and the second PSCCH resource element 304-4 occupies symbols 0-7 in the fifth time slot 202-5. In some other embodiments, the second PSCCH resource element 304-4 in the second associated sidelink channel combination may be in the same time slot (e.g., the second time slot 202-2) and occupy a different RB in the frequency domain than the RB occupied by the second PSCCH resource element 304-3.

[0191] Figure 24 A schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 2400 having a sidelink resource pool 302 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 24 This is for illustrative purposes, not restrictive. BS 102 indicates the number and location of resource pool 302 via higher-level signaling.

[0192] In some embodiments, the sidelink channel resource elements of the first sidelink channel and the sidelink channel resource elements of the second sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination may be in different time slots. The time slots containing the sidelink channel resource elements for the associated sidelink channel combination can be configured by the system. For example, the sidelink channel resource elements of the first sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination are in time slot #s, while the sidelink channel resource elements of the second sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination are in time slot #s+Ns, and the starting symbol is symbol N, where N is the position of the starting symbol of the sidelink channel resource element in the time slot of the second sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination. In the illustrated embodiment, the sidelink channel resource elements of the first sidelink channel (e.g., PSSCH) in the associated sidelink channel combination occupy symbols 0-3 in the first time slot 202-1, and the sidelink channel resource elements of the second sidelink channel (e.g., PSCCH) in the associated sidelink channel combination occupy symbols 10-13 in the fifth time slot 202-5, i.e., Ns = 4, N = 10. In some embodiments, the PSCCH resource unit 304-2 in the fifth time slot 202-5 is used to send a reception status acknowledgment after receiving the side link data on the corresponding PSCCH resource unit 304-1 received in the first time slot 202-1.

[0193] In some embodiments, the position of the second resource unit in the frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination can be determined based on the position of the second resource unit in the frequency domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit of the first sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination. In some embodiments, the first and second sidelink channel resource units occupy the same RB. In some embodiments, the position of the starting RB (e.g., the RB with the smallest RB index) in the frequency domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit of the first sidelink channel is the same as the position of the starting RB in the frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel. In some embodiments, the starting position of the second sidelink channel resource unit in the frequency domain is the sum of the largest RB index in the first sidelink channel resource unit and 1, i.e., RB index#k1+1, where RB index k1 is the largest RB index in the first sidelink channel resource unit of the first sidelink channel. In some embodiments, the position of the second sidelink channel resource unit can be determined when the number of RBs is determined using one of the methods described above.

[0194] Figure 25 A schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 2500 having a sidelink resource pool 302 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 25This is for illustrative purposes, not restrictive. BS 102 indicates the number and location of resource pool 302 via higher-level signaling.

[0195] In the illustrated embodiment, the sidelink resource pool 302 includes two time slots 202, namely 202-1 and 202-5. In the illustrated embodiment, the first time slot 202-1 includes four symbols for sidelink communication; and the fifth time slot 202-5 includes four symbols for sidelink communication.

[0196] In some embodiments, the first sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination is PSCCH, and the second sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination is PSSCH. The system pre-configures the relationship between the two sidelink channel resource elements in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, when the system pre-configures Ns = 5, PSCCH resource element 304-1 is in the first time slot 202-1 (i.e., #s = 0), and PSSCH resource element 304-2 is in the #s+Ns time slot, i.e., the fifth time slot 202-5. Furthermore, PSCCH resource element 304-1 occupies the same RB as PSSCH resource element 304-2. In the illustrated embodiment, PSSCH resource element 304-1 occupies symbols 0-3 in the first time slot 202-1 and occupies RB0-1 in the BWP; PSCCH resource element 304-2 occupies symbols 10-13 in the fifth time slot 202-5 and occupies RB0-1 in the BWP.

[0197] Figure 26 A schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 2600 having a sidelink resource pool 302 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 26 This is for illustrative purposes, not restrictive. BS 102 indicates the number and location of resource pool 302 via higher-level signaling.

[0198] In the illustrated embodiment, the sidelink resource pool 302 includes one time slot 202. In some embodiments, time slot 202 includes 14 symbols with a conventional CP. The sidelink resource pool 302 includes two sidelink channel resource elements 304-1 and 304-2 for two different sidelink channels.

[0199] In some embodiments, the first sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination is PSCCH, and the second sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination is PSSCH. The system pre-configures the relationship between the two sidelink channel resource elements in the frequency domain of the two sidelink channels. In some embodiments, PSCCH resource element 304-1 occupies symbols 2-5 in the first time slot 202-1, while PSSCH resource element 304-2 occupies symbols 6-13 in the same time slot. Furthermore, PSCCH resource element 304-1 starts with the same RB as PSSCH resource element 304-2, i.e., K=0. In the illustrated embodiment, PSSCH resource element 304-1 occupies symbols 2-5 in the first time slot 202-1 and occupies RB 0-1 in BWP; while PSCCH resource element 304-2 occupies symbols 6-13 in the first time slot 202-1 and occupies RB 0-3 in BWP.

[0200] Figure 27 Table 2700 illustrates multiple configurations of sidelink channel resource elements in the time and frequency domains for PSSCH, according to some embodiments of this disclosure. In some embodiments, each of the multiple configurations includes an N value, a K value, and multiple second resource elements (k) in the frequency domain within the sidelink channel resource element. In some embodiments, the N value is the position of the starting symbol of the sidelink channel resource element in one of the following: time slot and available sidelink resource set; the K value is the position of the starting RB of the sidelink channel resource element. In the illustrated embodiment, Table 2700 includes 16 indices 2702, 16 N values ​​2704, 16 K values ​​2706, and 16 k values ​​2708. It should be noted that any number of position configurations for any number of N, K, and k values ​​can be included for any number of sidelink channels, which is within the scope of this invention.

[0201] In the illustrated embodiment, at index 0, N is N1, K is K1+k1, and k is 8; at index 1, N is N1+n1, K is K1, and k is 8; at index 2, N is N1, K is K1+k1, and k is 10; at index 3, N is N1+n1, K is K1, and k is 10; at index 4, N is 0, K is K1+k1, and k is 8; at index 5, N is 4, K is K1+k1, and k is 12; at index 6, N is 7, K is K1, and k is 8; and at indices 7-15, the values ​​of N, K, and k are reserved, where N1 is the starting position of the first sidelink channel in the time domain, K1 is the starting position of the first sidelink channel in the frequency domain, n1 is the first number of the first unit of the first sidelink channel in the time domain, and k1 is the second number of the second unit of the first sidelink channel in the frequency domain.

[0202] Figure 28A schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 2800 having a sidelink resource pool 302 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be noted that... Figure 28 This is for illustrative purposes, not restrictive. BS 102 indicates the number and location of resource pool 302 via higher-level signaling.

[0203] In the illustrated embodiment, the sidelink resource pool 302 includes two time slots 202, namely 202-1 and 202-5. Each of the two time slots 202 includes one sidelink channel resource element 304 for two different sidelink channels used for correlation channel sidelink channel combination.

[0204] In some embodiments, the PSSCH resource element in the first time slot 202-1 used to carry the SCI occupies symbols 0-4 in the time domain, i.e., N1=0 and n1=4, and RBs 5-6 in the frequency domain, i.e., K1=5. When the SCI further indicates an index of 1, the PSSCH resource element 304-2 starts at symbol 4 (N2=N1+n1) in the time slot and at RB 5 (K2=5) in the frequency domain. The PSSCH resource element further occupies 8 RBs (k2=8) in the frequency domain and occupies a number of symbols (n2=5) in the time domain, wherein the number of symbols in the time domain can be pre-configured by the system. In some embodiments, when the first UE 104-A indicates an index to the second UE 104-B in the SCI on the PSSCH resource element, the second UE 104-B can determine the location of the PSSCH resource element in the time and frequency domains based on the received index, the location configuration table, and the location information of the PSSCH resource element.

[0205] Figure 29 A method 2900 for configuring a sidelink channel resource element for sidelink communication according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. It should be understood that... Figure 29 Additional operations are provided before, during, and after method 2900, and some operations may be omitted or reordered. The communication system in the illustrated embodiment includes a first UE 104-A and a second UE 104-B. In the illustrated embodiment, the first UE 104-A and the second UE 104-B are located in at least one of the serving cells (not shown) covered by BS 102.

[0206] Method 2900 begins with operation 2902, in which, according to some embodiments, a first message is sent from a first UE 104-A to a second UE 104-B. In some embodiments, the first message is a sidelink broadcast message. In some embodiments, the first message indicates a first sidelink channel and a second sidelink channel in an associated sidelink channel combination. The first message also includes a relationship between the number of resource elements in the time and frequency domains of the first and second sidelink channels in the associated sidelink channel combination. In some embodiments, the configuration (n and / or k values) of the second sidelink channel resource elements of the second sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination may be determined based on the configuration (n and / or k values) of the first sidelink channel resource elements of the first sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination and a predefined relationship. In some embodiments, the configuration of the second sidelink channel resource elements of the second sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination may be determined based on an indication on the first sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination.

[0207] In some embodiments, the first message further includes a positional relationship between the first sidelink channel and the second sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination, wherein the positional relationship includes one of the following: the first and second sidelink channel resource units occupy the same RB; the position of the starting RB (e.g., the RB with the smallest RB index) in the frequency domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit of the first sidelink channel is the same as the position of the starting RB in the frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel; the starting position of the second sidelink channel resource unit in the frequency domain is the sum of the largest RB index in the first sidelink channel resource unit and 1, i.e., RB index#k1+1, where RB index k1 is the largest RB index in the first sidelink channel resource unit. In some embodiments, the positional relationship further includes one of the following: when a first sidelink channel resource unit starts at symbol N1 in a time slot and occupies n1 first resource units (e.g., symbols) in the time domain, a second sidelink channel resource unit starts at symbol N1+n1 and occupies n2 symbols in the corresponding time slot; when a first sidelink channel resource unit starts at symbol N1 in a time slot and occupies n1 first resource units (e.g., symbols) in the time domain, a second sidelink channel resource unit starts at symbol N1 and occupies n2 symbols in the same time slot.

[0208] Method 2900 continues to operation 2904, in which, according to some embodiments, a second message is sent from a first UE 104-A to a second UE 104-B. In some embodiments, the second message is sent on a first sidelink channel resource element. In some embodiments, the second message is sent to UE 104-B to determine the configuration (e.g., number and location) of the first sidelink channel resource elements. In some embodiments, the second message is a sidelink signal on the first sidelink channel resource element. For example, the first sidelink channel of an associated sidelink channel combination includes sidelink control information (SCI), wherein the SCI includes information on the location of the sidelink channel resource elements of the second sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination. In some embodiments, this information includes at least one of the following: the location of the start symbol of the sidelink channel resource element of the second channel in a time slot (#N) and the location of that time slot.

[0209] Method 2900 continues to operation 2906, in which the second UE 104-B determines the number and location of sidelink channel resource elements for the second sidelink channel based on the configuration of the sidelink channel resource elements for the first sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination.

[0210] Method 2900 continues to operation 2908, wherein the first UE 104-1 and the second UE 104-2 perform sidelink communication on the determined sidelink channel resource units. In some embodiments, the configuration of sidelink channel resource units for different sidelink channels may be determined. In some embodiments, the sidelink channel may be at least one of the following: Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH), Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH), Physical Sidelink Broadcast Channel (PSBCH), and Physical Sidelink Discovery Channel (PSDCH). Specifically, the PSCCH resource is used to carry sidelink control information (SCI), wherein the SCI includes at least one of the following: sidelink scheduling control information, sidelink feedback control information (e.g., ACK / NACK), and channel measurement feedback information (e.g., channel state information (CSI)); the PSSCH resource is used to carry sidelink data; the PSBCH resource is used to carry sidelink broadcast information; and the PSDCH resource is used to carry sidelink discovery signals.

[0211] In some embodiments, the configuration of at least one sidelink channel resource element for at least one corresponding sidelink channel can be determined based on a sidelink channel pattern table. In some other embodiments, the sidelink channel pattern table may also indicate the number of symbols in the time domain and the number of RBs in the frequency domain within a time slot available for sidelink communication. In this case, the sidelink channel pattern table may also be used to indicate the configuration of available resources for sidelink communication.

[0212] Figure 30 A sidelink channel resource pattern table 3000 is shown, illustrating multiple configurations of at least one sidelink channel resource element in a time slot according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, table 3000 includes 15 columns, pattern index 3002, and second columns 3004 to fourteenth columns 3030 representing 14 symbols in a time slot with a regular CP. Furthermore, table 3000 includes i indices corresponding to i configurations of at least one sidelink channel in the time slot. Each of the i configurations of the time slot includes 14 symbols and their corresponding attributes, where i is a positive integer. In some embodiments, the 14 symbols in the time slot include at least one of the following: symbols in a PSCCH resource element (“C”), symbols in a PSSCH resource element (“S”), symbols for AGC (“A”), symbols for GP (“G”), symbols for RS (“R”), and symbols for non-sidelink communication (“N”).

[0213] In some embodiments, the sidelink channel pattern table 3000 is pre-configured by the system. Each of the plurality of configurations corresponds to an index, which can be used to indicate: the configuration of at least one sidelink channel resource element, the location of at least one sidelink channel resource element in a time slot, the attributes of each symbol in the time slot, and the configuration of symbols used for DMRS and AGC. BS 102 can indicate this index to UE 104 via higher-layer signaling and / or physical-layer signaling.

[0214] Figure 31 A sidelink channel resource pattern table 3100 is shown, illustrating multiple configurations of at least one sidelink channel resource element in a time slot according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, table 3100 includes 15 columns, pattern index 3102, and second columns 3104 to fourteenth columns 3130 representing 14 symbols in a time slot with a regular CP. Furthermore, table 3100 includes i indices corresponding to i configurations of at least one sidelink channel in a time slot. Each of the i configurations of a time slot includes 14 symbols and their corresponding attributes, where i is a positive integer. In some embodiments, each of the 14 symbols in a time slot is one of the following: a non-sidelink symbol (N) and Sf, where Sf represents a symbol in sidelink channel resource element #f, and f is a non-negative integer.

[0215] For example, at index 0, the first sidelink channel resource unit s0 occupies symbols 10-13 in the time slot, and symbols 0-9 are used for non-sidelink communication; at index 1, the first sidelink channel resource unit s0 occupies symbols 8-13 in the time slot, and symbols 0-7 are used for non-sidelink communication; at index 2, the first sidelink channel resource unit s0 occupies symbols 8-10, the second sidelink channel resource unit occupies symbols 11-13, and symbols 0-7 in the time slot are used for non-sidelink communication; at index 3, the first sidelink channel resource unit s0 occupies symbols 6-8, the second sidelink channel resource unit occupies symbols 8-13, and symbols 0-5 in the time slot are used for non-sidelink communication; at index 4, the first sidelink channel resource unit s0 occupies symbols 5-8, the second sidelink channel resource unit s0 occupies symbols 6 ... Resource units occupy symbols 9-11, and symbols 0-4 and 12-13 in time slots are used for non-sidelink communication; at index 5, the first sidelink channel resource unit s0 occupies symbols 4-7, the second sidelink channel resource unit occupies symbols 10-13, and symbols 0-3 and 8-9 in time slots are used for non-sidelink communication; at index 6, the first sidelink channel resource unit s0 occupies symbols 4-7, the second sidelink channel resource unit occupies symbols 8-11, the third sidelink channel resource unit occupies symbols 12-13, and symbols 0-3 in time slots are used for non-sidelink communication; at index i-2, in time slots, the first sidelink channel resource unit s0 occupies symbols 0-3, the second sidelink channel resource unit occupies symbols 4-7, and the third sidelink channel resource unit occupies symbols 8-13. At index i-1, all symbols are reserved.

[0216] In some embodiments, the sidelink channel pattern table 3100 is pre-configured by the system. Each of the plurality of configurations corresponds to an index that can be used to indicate: the number of symbols of at least one sidelink channel resource element, the location of at least one sidelink channel resource element in a time slot, and the number of at least one sidelink channel resource elements in a time slot.

[0217] In some embodiments, the index can be indicated by BS 102 to UE 104 via DCI. For example, when UE 104 receives index 0 from BS 102, UE 104 can determine that the time slot includes one sidelink channel resource element, which includes four available symbols for sidelink communication. The sidelink channel resource element occupying symbols 10-13 is used for the sidelink channel. UE 104 can also perform sidelink communication based on the configured sidelink channel resource element and the corresponding sidelink channel to transmit or receive sidelink signals on symbols 10-13 in the time slot.

[0218] Figure 32A method 3200 for configuring the number and location of sidelink channel resource elements for sidelink communication, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, is illustrated. It should be understood that... Figure 32 Additional operations are provided before, during, and after method 3200, and some operations may be omitted or reordered. The communication system in the illustrated embodiment includes BS 102 and UE 104.

[0219] Method 3200 begins with operation 3202, in which, according to some embodiments, a first message is sent from BS 102 to UE 104. In some embodiments, the first message includes downlink control information (DCI). In some embodiments, the first message includes at least one pattern index for indicating the configuration of at least one corresponding sidelink channel resource element in a time slot.

[0220] Method 3200 continues to operation 3204, wherein at least one configuration of at least one sidelink channel resource element in the time domain for the second sidelink channel is determined by UE 104 based on the configuration of the second sidelink channel resource element for at least one corresponding sidelink channel.

[0221] Method 3200 continues to operation 3206, in which UE 104 performs sidelink communication on at least one sidelink channel resource element. In some embodiments, at least one configuration for at least one sidelink channel resource element for different sidelink channels may be determined. In some embodiments, the sidelink channel may be at least one of the following: Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH), Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH), Physical Sidelink Broadcast Channel (PSBCH), and Physical Sidelink Discovery Channel (PSDCH). Specifically, the PSCCH resource is used to carry sidelink control information (SCI), wherein the SCI includes at least one of the following: sidelink scheduling control information, sidelink feedback control information (e.g., ACK / NACK), and channel measurement feedback information (e.g., channel state information (CSI)); the PSSCH resource is used to carry sidelink data; the PSBCH resource is used to carry sidelink broadcast information; and the PSDCH resource is used to carry sidelink discovery signals.

[0222] Although various embodiments of the invention have been described above, it should be understood that they are presented by way of example only and not by way of limitation. Similarly, various figures may depict exemplary architectures or configurations, provided to enable those skilled in the art to understand the exemplary features and functionality of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the invention is not limited to the exemplary architectures or configurations shown, but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Furthermore, as those skilled in the art will understand, one or more features of one embodiment may be combined with one or more features of another embodiment described herein. Therefore, the breadth and scope of this disclosure should not be limited to any of the exemplary embodiments described above.

[0223] It should also be understood that any reference to elements in this document using names such as "first," "second," etc., generally does not restrict the number or order of those elements. Rather, these names serve as a convenient means of distinguishing two or more elements or instances of elements. Therefore, a reference to the first element and the second element does not imply that only two elements can be used, or that the first element must somehow precede the second element.

[0224] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that information and signals can be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and processes. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, and symbols referenced in the above description can be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, light fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0225] Those skilled in the art will further understand that any of the illustrative logic blocks, modules, processors, devices, circuits, methods, and functions described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein can be implemented by electronic hardware (e.g., a digital implementation, analog implementation, or a combination of both, designed using source code encoding or some other technique), various forms of program or design code incorporating instructions (which, for convenience, may be referred to herein as "software" or "software module"), or a combination of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally according to their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware, firmware, or software, or a combination of these techniques, depends on the specific application and the design constraints imposed on the system as a whole. Those skilled in the art can implement the described functionality in various ways for each specific application, but such implementation decisions should not be construed as departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0226] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that the various illustrative logic blocks, modules, devices, components, and circuits described herein may be implemented within or executed by integrated circuits (ICs), including general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, or any combination thereof. Logic blocks, modules, and circuits may further include antennas and / or transceivers for communication with various components within a network or device. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but alternatively, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a DSP core, or any other suitable configuration to perform the functions described herein.

[0227] If implemented as software, the functionality can be stored as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Therefore, the steps of the methods or algorithms disclosed herein can be implemented as software stored on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include computer storage media and communication media, with communication media including any medium that enables the transfer of computer programs or code from one place to another. Storage media can be any available medium that is accessible to a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and is accessible to a computer.

[0228] In this document, the term "module" as used herein refers to software, firmware, hardware, and any combination of such elements for performing the related functions described herein. Furthermore, for the purposes of discussion, various modules are described as discrete modules; however, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that two or more modules can be combined to form a single module that performs the associated functions according to embodiments of the invention.

[0229] Additionally, in embodiments of the present invention, memory or other memory and communication components may be employed. It should be understood that, for clarity, embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to different functional units and processors. However, it will be apparent that any suitable functional distribution among different functional units, processing logic elements, or domains may be used without departing from the present invention. For example, functions shown to be performed by a separate processing logic element or controller may be performed by the same processing logic element or controller. Therefore, references to specific functional units are merely references to suitable means for providing the described functions and not indications of a strict logical or physical structure or organization.

[0230] Various modifications to the embodiments described in this disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be endowed with the broadest scope consistent with the novel features and principles disclosed herein, as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A method performed by a wireless communication device, comprising: performing sidelink communication on a first sidelink channel resource unit of a first sidelink channel; determining a second sidelink channel resource unit of a second sidelink channel according to the first sidelink channel in a sidelink channel combination; performing sidelink communication on the second sidelink channel resource unit; and determining a first starting position in a time domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit as a starting symbol in a slot according to a third starting position in the time domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit, wherein the sidelink channel combination comprises the first sidelink channel and the second sidelink channel, and wherein the first sidelink channel resource unit comprises a first number of first resource units in a time domain and a second number of second resource units in a frequency domain, and the second sidelink channel resource unit comprises a third number of first resource units in the time domain and a fourth number of second resource units in the frequency domain. the first sidelink channel is a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH) and the second sidelink channel is a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, the determining further comprises:

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, determining the fourth number of second resource units in the frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit according to an indication in the first sidelink channel, wherein the indication in the first sidelink channel is a sidelink control information (SCI). the determining further comprises:

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, determining at least one of the following for the second sidelink channel resource unit according to the first sidelink channel: the first starting position in the time domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit and a second starting position in the frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit. the third starting position comprises a position of a starting symbol, and the position of the starting symbol in the time domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit of the first sidelink channel is the same as the position of the starting symbol in the time domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, the determining further comprises:

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, determining at least one of the following for the second sidelink channel resource unit according to the first sidelink channel: the first starting position in the time domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit and a second starting position in the frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit; and determining the second starting position in the frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit as a starting resource block (RB) for sidelink communication according to a fourth starting position in the frequency domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit. the fourth starting position comprises a position of a starting RB, and the position of the starting RB in the frequency domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit of the first sidelink channel is the same as the position of the starting RB in the frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, the first sidelink channel is a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) and the second sidelink channel is a physical sidelink channel carrying sidelink feedback control information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, 9. A method performed by a wireless communication node, comprising: indicating a first sidelink channel resource unit of a first sidelink channel to a wireless communication device; ​ determine, according to the first sidelink channel in the sidelink channel combination, a second sidelink channel resource unit of a second sidelink channel; and determine, according to a third starting position of the first sidelink channel resource unit in a time domain, a first starting position of the second sidelink channel resource unit in the time domain as a starting symbol in a slot, wherein the sidelink channel combination comprises the first sidelink channel and the second sidelink channel, and wherein the first sidelink channel resource unit comprises a first number of first resource units in a time domain and a second number of second resource units in a frequency domain, and the second sidelink channel resource unit comprises a third number of first resource units in the time domain and a fourth number of second resource units in the frequency domain.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein, the first sidelink channel is a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), and the second sidelink channel is a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH).

11. The method of claim 9, wherein, the determining further comprises: determining, according to the first sidelink channel, at least one of the following for the second sidelink channel resource unit: the first starting position of the second sidelink channel resource unit in the time domain and a second starting position of the second sidelink channel resource unit in the frequency domain.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein, the third starting position comprises a position of a starting symbol, and the position of the starting symbol in the time domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit of the first sidelink channel is the same as the position of the starting symbol in the time domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein, the determining further comprises: determining, according to the first sidelink channel, at least one of the following for the second sidelink channel resource unit: the first starting position of the second sidelink channel resource unit in the time domain and a second starting position of the second sidelink channel resource unit in the frequency domain; and determining, according to a fourth starting position of the first sidelink channel resource unit in the frequency domain, the second starting position of the second sidelink channel resource unit in the frequency domain, wherein the second starting position of the second sidelink channel resource unit in the frequency domain is a starting resource block (RB) for sidelink communication.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, the fourth starting position comprises a position of a starting RB, and the position of the starting RB in the frequency domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit of the first sidelink channel is the same as the position of the starting RB in the frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein, the first sidelink channel is a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), and the second sidelink channel is a physical sidelink channel carrying sidelink feedback control information.

16. A wireless communication device comprising: a memory to store instructions; and a processor in communication with the memory, wherein, when the processor executes the instructions, the processor is configured to cause the wireless communication device to: perform a sidelink communication on a first sidelink channel resource unit of a first sidelink channel, determine, according to the first sidelink channel in the sidelink channel combination, a second sidelink channel resource unit of a second sidelink channel; perform a sidelink communication on the second sidelink channel resource unit; and determine, according to a third starting position in time domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit, a first starting position in time domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit as a starting symbol in a slot, wherein the sidelink channel combination comprises the first sidelink channel and the second sidelink channel, and wherein the first sidelink channel resource unit comprises a first number of first resource units in time domain and a second number of second resource units in frequency domain, and the second sidelink channel resource unit comprises a third number of first resource units in time domain and a fourth number of second resource units in frequency domain.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein, the first sidelink channel is a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), and the second sidelink channel is a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH).

18. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein, when the processor is configured to cause the wireless communication device to determine the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel, the processor is further configured to cause the wireless communication device to: determine, according to an indication in the first sidelink channel, the fourth number of second resource units in frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit, wherein the indication in the first sidelink channel is a sidelink control information (SCI).

19. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein, when the processor is configured to cause the wireless communication device to determine the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel, the processor is further configured to cause the wireless communication device to: determine, according to the first sidelink channel, at least one of the following for the second sidelink channel resource unit: the first starting position in time domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit and a second starting position in frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein, the third starting position comprises a position of a starting symbol, and the position of a starting symbol in time domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit of the first sidelink channel is the same as the position of a starting symbol in time domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel.

21. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein, when the processor is configured to cause the wireless communication device to determine the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel, the processor is further configured to cause the wireless communication device to: determine, according to the first sidelink channel, at least one of the following for the second sidelink channel resource unit: the first starting position in time domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit and a second starting position in frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit; and determine, according to a fourth starting position in frequency domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit, the second starting position in frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit, wherein the second starting position in frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit is a starting resource block (RB) for sidelink communication.

22. The wireless communication device of claim 21, wherein, the fourth starting position comprises a position of a starting RB, and the position of a starting RB in frequency domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit of the first sidelink channel is the same as the position of a starting RB in frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel.

23. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein, the first sidelink channel is a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), and the second sidelink channel is a physical sidelink channel carrying sidelink feedback control information.

24. A wireless communication node, comprising: a memory to store instructions; and a processor in communication with the memory, wherein, when the processor executes the instructions, the processor is configured to cause the wireless communication node to: indicate, to a wireless communication device, a first sidelink channel resource unit of a first sidelink channel; determine, from the first sidelink channel, a second sidelink channel resource unit of a second sidelink channel in a sidelink channel combination; and determine, from a third starting position in a time domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit, a first starting position in the time domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit to be a starting symbol in a slot, wherein the sidelink channel combination comprises the first sidelink channel and the second sidelink channel, and wherein the first sidelink channel resource unit comprises a first number of first resource units in the time domain and a second number of second resource units in a frequency domain, and the second sidelink channel resource unit comprises a third number of first resource units in the time domain and a fourth number of second resource units in the frequency domain.

25. The wireless communication node of claim 24, wherein, the first sidelink channel is a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH) and the second sidelink channel is a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH).

26. The wireless communication node of claim 24, wherein, when the processor is configured to cause the wireless communication node to determine the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel, the processor is further configured to cause the wireless communication node to: determine, from the first sidelink channel, at least one of the following for the second sidelink channel resource unit: the first starting position in the time domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit and a second starting position in the frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit.

27. The wireless communication node of claim 24, wherein, the third starting position comprises a position of a starting symbol, and the position of the starting symbol in the time domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit of the first sidelink channel is the same as the position of the starting symbol in the time domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel.

28. The wireless communication node of claim 24, wherein, when the processor is configured to cause the wireless communication node to determine the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel, the processor is further configured to cause the wireless communication node to: determine, from the first sidelink channel, at least one of the following for the second sidelink channel resource unit: the first starting position in the time domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit and a second starting position in the frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit; and determine, from a fourth starting position in the frequency domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit, the second starting position in the frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit, wherein the second starting position in the frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit is a starting resource block (RB) for sidelink communication.

29. The wireless communication node of claim 28, wherein, the fourth starting position comprises a position of a starting RB, and the position of the starting RB in the frequency domain of the first sidelink channel resource unit of the first sidelink channel is the same as the position of the starting RB in the frequency domain of the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel.

30. The wireless communication node of claim 24, wherein, The first sidelink channel is a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) and the second sidelink channel is a physical sidelink channel carrying sidelink feedback control information.

31. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for implementing the method of any one of claims 1 to 15.

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