Sidelink feedback information

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a solution for transmitting sidelink (SL) feedback information on non-contiguous resource sets. In this solution, an apparatus determines a set of contiguous resource sets mapped with a subset of multiple feedback transmission occasions; and transmits feedback information on the set of contiguous resource sets.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunications, and more particularly, to a method, device, apparatus, and computer readable storage medium for transmitting sidelink (SL) feedback information. BACKGROUND

[0002] Wireless communication networks are widely deployed and are able to support various types of service applications for terminal devices. Many communication schemes have been proposed to support the rapidly increasing data traffic. For example, a sidelink (SL) communication scheme has been proposed, in which a SL channel can be established between terminal devices in a wireless communication network, and the terminal devices can exchange signaling and data with each other directly via the established SL channel. The sidelink communication can be understood as a direct device-to-device communication, for example, proposed in the specification of cellular communication.

[0003] In a scenario where SL communication is performed in a licensed spectrum, a device transmits SL control information associated with SL data on a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), and transmits SL data on a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) based on the SL control information. Further, to ensure the reliability of SL transmission, it is specified to use a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) to carry hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback information from a receiving device to a transmitting device, or to carry a collision indication for an inter-UE coordination (IUC) scheme. SUMMARY

[0004] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a device is provided. The apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory having stored instructions. The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to determine a set of contiguous resource sets mapped with a subset of a plurality of feedback transmission occasions for sidelink transmission; and transmit feedback information on the set of contiguous resource sets.

[0005] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method is provided. The method comprises determining a set of contiguous resource sets mapped with a subset of a plurality of feedback transmission occasions for sidelink transmission; and transmitting feedback information on the set of contiguous resource sets.

[0006] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises means for determining a set of contiguous resource sets mapped with a subset of a plurality of feedback transmission occasions for sidelink transmission; and means for transmitting feedback information on the set of contiguous resource sets.

[0007] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a computer readable medium is provided. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the second aspect.

[0008] It is to be understood that the Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the disclosure. Other features, details, and BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0010] Figure 1A A duration T = 9 μβ idle channel assessment (CCA) slot is shown; sl

[0011] Figure 1B A procedure for an initiating device to acquire channel occupancy time (COT) via Type 1 LBT is shown;

[0012] Figure 2 A countdown procedure for a Type 1 LBT contention window is shown;

[0013] Figure 3 An allowed gap applicable to a Type 2 listen before talk (LBT) variant is shown;

[0014] Figure 4 An example frame structure for a sidelink slot with PSFCH is shown;

[0015] Figure 5 An example mapping between PSSCH and PSFCH is shown;

[0016] Figure 6A An example communication environment in which example embodiments of the disclosure can be implemented is shown;

[0017] Figure 6B An example of an SL transmission with feedback occasions mapped to non-contiguous RB sets is shown;

[0018] Figure 7 A signaling diagram illustrating an example communication procedure in a communication environment according to some example embodiments of the disclosure is shown;

[0019] Figures 8A to 81 An example of selection of feedback transmission occasions is shown;

[0020] Figure 9 A flow diagram illustrating a method implemented at a first device according to some example embodiments of the disclosure is shown;

[0021] Figure 10 A simplified block diagram of a device suitable for implementing example embodiments of the disclosure is shown; and

[0022] Figure 11 ​A block diagram illustrating an example computer-readable medium according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0023] Throughout the drawings, identical or similar reference numerals can designate identical or similar elements throughout the several views. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The principles of the application will now be described by reference to some example embodiments. It will be appreciated that these embodiments are described for purposes of illustration only and that the application is not limited to these embodiments. Embodiments described herein can be implemented in various ways.

[0025] In the following description and claims, unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0026] Reference throughout this disclosure to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "example embodiments", and so forth, indicates that a described embodiment can include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment can not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of those skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0027] It should be understood that although terms such as "first", "second", and the like can be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element without departing from the scope of the example embodiments. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed terms.

[0028] As used herein, "at least one of ", "one or more of " and similar phrases, where the list of two or more elements is connected by "and" or "or", means at least one of the elements, or any combination of at least two or more of the elements.

[0029] As used herein, unless expressly stated otherwise, performing a step "in response to A" does not mean that the step is performed immediately after A occurs, but can include one or more intervening steps.

[0030] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "has," "having," "includes" and / or "including" when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements and / or components etc. but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0031] As used in this application, the term "circuitry" can refer to one or more or all of the following:

[0032] (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (e.g., implementations in analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and / or programmable circuitry);

[0033] (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):

[0034] (i) combinations of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware;

[0035] (ii) portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processors); and

[0036] (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software can not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0037] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation that includes one or more processors and / or other processing circuitry to execute softw are, e.g., the term circuitry covers a general-purpose microprocessor or microcontroller that can be programmed to operate as a general purpose computer. As another example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation that includes circuitry to support "big data" (e.g., to support analysis of very large data sets).

[0038] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network that follows any suitable communication standard, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT), etc. Further, the communication between terminal devices and network devices in the communication network can be performed in accordance with any suitable generation communication protocol, including but not limited to, first generation (1G), second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, third generation (3G), fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, fifth generation (5G), sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and / or any other protocols that are currently known or developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure are applicable to various communication systems. In view of the rapid development in communications, it is clear that there will be future types of communication technologies and systems that can implement the present disclosure. The scope of the disclosure should not be considered as limited to the above-mentioned systems.

[0039] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which terminal devices access the network and receive services therefrom. The network device can refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), such as a NodeB (or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also known as gNB), a remote radio unit (RRU), a radio head (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, a low power node (such as a femto, pico, micro), a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-terrestrial network device, such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an airplane network device, etc., depending on the terminology used and the technology applied. In some example embodiments, a radio access network (RAN) split architecture includes a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU) at an IAB donor node. The IAB node includes a mobile terminal (IAB-MT) part that behaves like a UE towards a parent node, while a distributed unit (DU) part of the IAB node behaves like a base station towards a next-hop IAB node.

[0040] The term “terminal device” refers to any terminal device capable of wireless communication. By way of example, and not limitation, a terminal device can also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a subscriber station (SS), a portable subscriber station, a mobile station (MS), or an access terminal (AT). A terminal device can include, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone, a wireless local loop phone, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable computer, a desktop computer, an image capture terminal device, such as a digital camera, a game terminal device, a music storage and playback appliance, a vehicle-mounted wireless terminal device, a wireless endpoint, a mobile station, a laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), a laptop-mounted equipment (LME), a USB dongle, a smart device, a wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical appliance or application, such as a remote surgery appliance or application, an industrial appliance or application, such as a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain environment, a consumer electronics, a device operating on a business and / or a

[0041] As used herein, the terms “resource,” “transmission resource,” “resource block,” “physical resource block” (PRB), “uplink resource,” or “downlink resource” can refer to any resource used to perform communication, such as communication between a terminal device and a network device, such as a resource in a time domain, a resource in a frequency domain, a resource in a spatial domain, a resource in a code domain, or any other combination of time, frequency, spatial, and / or code domain resources that enable communication, etc. In the following, unless explicitly stated otherwise, resources in a frequency domain and a time domain will be used as examples of transmission resources for describing some example embodiments of the present disclosure. It is to be noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure equally apply to other resources in other domains.

[0042] For New Radio (NR) sidelink evolution in Release 18 (Rel-18), sidelink in unlicensed spectrum (SL-U) is supported. In sub-7 GHz unlicensed bands, coexistence of NR systems with other systems (e.g., Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 systems) is ensured via a listen-before-talk (LBT) channel access mechanism. With this mechanism, a user equipment (UE) intending to perform a sidelink (SL) transmission first needs to successfully complete an LBT check before being able to initiate the transmission. LBT can also be referred to as a clear channel assessment (CCA) or a channel access procedure.

[0043] If the UE passes the LBT check, it needs to observe that the channel is available for a number of consecutive CCA slots. In sub-7 GHz, as shown in Figure 1A , the duration of these slots is 9 μs, Figure 1A , a CCA slot 100A of duration T sl = 9 μs is shown. In Figure 1A , the energy detection occurs during 4 μs. If the measured power (i.e., the energy collected during the CCA slot) is below a prescribed energy detection threshold (EDT), which depends on the transmission power, the operating band, and the geographical region, the UE considers the channel available in the CCA slot.

[0044] When a UE initiates a communication (i.e., the UE assumes the role of an initiating device), it needs to acquire the “right” to access the channel for a certain period of time, referred to in the specifications as Channel Occupancy Time (COT). The COT can be acquired by applying an “extended” LBT procedure, which is commonly referred to as Type 1 LBT in the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards, such as 3GPP TS 37.213. The “extended” LBT procedure can be performed in a Contention Window (CW), and during the entire duration of the CW, the channel is considered to be idle. Figure 1B A procedure 100B is shown in which an initiating device acquires a Channel Occupancy Time (COT) via Type 1 LBT.

[0045] The duration of the COT and the CW depends on the Channel Access Priority Class (CAPC) associated with the UE’s traffic. Table 1 shows the CAPC for UL as follows.

[0046] Table 1

[0047]

[0048] In some cases, for SL communications in unlicensed spectrum, a similar table defining parameters associated with a CAPC of value p can be used. As shown in Table 1, the Contention Window length in CCA slots associated with each CAPC has a minimum value (CW min,p ) and a maximum value (CW max,p ). The Channel Occupancy Time (COT) is given by T ulmcot,p . It should be noted that while the Type 1 LBT details for the uplink (UL) case are shown in Table 1, in principle, the Type 1 LBT parameters for the downlink (DL) case can also be adopted in SL.

[0049] Figure 2An example of the countdown procedure 200 of Type 1 LBT contention window and how it can be interrupted is shown. During the countdown procedure of the contention window, if the LBT check fails at any CCA slot, the countdown will stop and will only resume when the channel is considered as idle (i.e. LBT check succeeds) during the defer time. In Type 1 LBT procedure, the following can happen: (a) neither the defer time nor the countdown is interrupted (i.e. the channel is not detected as busy during the sensing slots; (b) the defer time is interrupted (i.e. the channel is detected as busy during the defer time sensing slots; (c) the contention window countdown is interrupted (i.e. the channel is detected as busy during the sensing slots of the countdown).

[0050] After successfully completing Type 1 LBT and performing a transmission, the UE initiating the transmission (e.g. the initiating device) acquires a COT with a duration associated with the corresponding CAPC. The acquired COT is valid even if the initiating device stops the transmission. However, if the initiating device wants to perform a new transmission (within the COT), it still needs to perform a “simplified” LBT procedure, commonly referred to as, for example, Type 2 LBT as specified in 3GPP TS 37.213, with the following variants:

[0051] Type 2 LBT has the following variants: Type 2A (25μs LBT) - for SL transmissions within the COT acquired by the initiating device (in case of a gap ≥ 25μs between two SL transmissions, and for SL transmissions after another SL transmission from another device (e.g. responding device)); as shown in Figure 3 (c) and Figure 3 (f);

[0052] Type 2B (16μs LBT) - for SL transmissions within the COT acquired by the initiating device (which can also be used for SL transmissions after another SL transmission with a gap equal to 16μs); as shown in Figure 3 (b) and (e);

[0053] Type 2C (no LBT) - for SL transmissions within the COT acquired by the initiating device, and for SL transmissions after another SL transmission from another device (e.g. responding device) with a gap < 16μs and allowed SL transmission duration ≤ 584μs; as shown in Figure 3 (a) and (d).

[0054] Figure 3Allowed gaps 300 for which Type 2 variants of LBT apply are shown: (a) and (d) correspond to Type 2C LBT; (b) and (e) correspond to Type 2B LBT; (c) and (f) correspond to Type 2A LBT. (a), (b) and (c) show cases where a gap exists between two transmissions from the initiating UE, while (d), (e) and (f) show cases where a gap exists between two different transmissions from the initiating UE and the responding UE, respectively.

[0055] The initiating device can share its acquired COT with its intended receiver (responding device). For this purpose, the initiating device can inform (e.g., through control signaling) the responding device of the duration of the COT. The responding device then utilizes this information to decide which type of LBT to apply when performing the intended receiver's transmission for the initiating device. If the responding device's transmission exceeds the COT, the responding device will acquire a new COT with Type 1 LBT with the appropriate CAPC.

[0056] In NR in unlicensed spectrum (NR-U), multi-channel access procedures are supported to allow wider transmission bandwidth and improve data rates (also referred to as transmission in multiple resource block (RB) sets, where each RB set contains RBs corresponding to the channels that a UE can need to perform LBT for transmission). In NR-U, multi-channel access procedures include Type A and Type B multi-channel access procedures for dynamic channel access. In Type A multi-channel access procedure, the gNB performs the backoff procedure on each channel in parallel. When the backoff counter on a given channel reaches zero, the gNB starts transmission on that channel. If the corresponding multiple backoff counters reach zero simultaneously, it is possible to start transmission on multiple channels. In Type B multi-channel access procedure, the gNB selects one primary channel on which to perform the backoff procedure. When the backoff procedure is completed, the gNB starts transmission on the primary channel and on other channels that have been sensed to be idle for Tmc before the end of the backoff.

[0057] In NR-U, for semi-static channel access mode, independent channel access procedures on each channel are supported (similar to Type A multi-channel access procedure).

[0058] For sidelink on unlicensed spectrum for mode 1 and mode 2, channel access mechanisms from NR-U should be reused for sidelink unlicensed operation. Specifically, sidelink resource reservation in Rel-16 / Rel-17 is evaluated for its applicability to sidelink unlicensed operation within the scope of unlicensed channel access mechanisms and operation.

[0059] Further, for the physical channel design framework, NR sidelink physical channel structure and procedures need to be changed for operation on unlicensed spectrum, and existing NR sidelink and NR-U channel structure should be reused as a baseline.

[0060] In sidelink unlicensed operation, gNB does not perform Type 1 channel access to initiate and share channel occupancy, nor does it perform Type 2 channel access to share initiated channel occupancy, nor does it perform a semi-static channel access procedure to access the unlicensed channel.

[0061] In Rel-16 (work item “5G V2X with NR Sidelink”), PSFCH for sidelink communication is specified to carry, over the sidelink (at the physical layer), hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback from a UE (intended receiver of a PSSCH transmission, hereafter Rx UE) to a UE performing the transmission (hereafter Tx UE). The UE can be instructed by a sidelink control information (SCI) format scheduling the PSSCH reception to transmit a PSFCH with HARQ-ACK information in response to the PSSCH reception. The UE provides HARQ-ACK information including ACK or NACK, or only NACK.

[0062] Figure 4 A frame structure 400 is shown with a sidelink slot with PSFCH. Near the end of the sidelink resource in the slot, the PSFCH is transmitted in one PRB, with a two-OFDM symbol repetition of a sequence, where the first OFDM symbol can be used for AGC. Slot format examples for PSCCH, PSSCH, and PSFCH are shown below. A sequence as a base sequence is (pre)configured per sidelink resource pool.

[0063] The time resource for PSFCH is (pre)configured to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots. If the periodicity is set to 0 (refer to SL-PSFCH-Config in TS 38.331), HARQ feedback is disabled. The HARQ feedback resource (PSFCH) is derived from the resource location of PSCCH / PSSCH.

[0064] For PSSCH to HARQ timing, the gNB configures a parameter K in units of slots. The time occasion of PSFCH is determined by K. For a PSSCH transmission with the last symbol in slot n, the HARQ feedback is in slot n+a, where a is the smallest integer greater than or equal to K, with the condition that slot n+a contains PSFCH resource. As Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 500 (which shows a mapping 500 between PSSCH and PSFCH), the periodicity of PSFCH resource is configured to be 2, and K is configured to be 2.

[0065] For PSFCH transmission or reception with HARQ-ACK information, the priority value for PSFCH is equal to the priority value indicated by the SCI format 1-A associated with the PSFCH. In Figure 5In the middle, there is one subchannel per time slot for the RB set. It should be understood that in some cases, there can be more than one subchannel per time slot.

[0066] If PSSCH is from different Tx UEs to the same Rx UE, the Rx UE can need to transmit multiple PSFCHs simultaneously to reply to different UEs.

[0067] In the Rel-18 WI for SL-U, the use of multiple resource block (RB) sets for wideband operation of SL channels and multi-channel access procedures should be supported. In addition, each RB set can be associated with one LBT channel.

[0068] For wideband operation, minimum requirements for transmitter characteristics are specified for a scheduled RB set within a UE channel or for transmissions on more than or equal to 1 scheduled contiguous RB set. These requirements apply to both when a non-zero size of an UL in-cell guard band is configured and when the union of the scheduled RB set and the in-cell guard band is configured.

[0069] For dynamic channel access mode with multi-channel cases in SL-U, a UE can use (Type-A or Type-B) NR-U DL multi-channel access procedure as a baseline for multiple PSFCH transmissions on multiple channels, where each PSFCH transmission is confined within one LBT channel.

[0070] For dynamic channel access mode with multi-channel cases in SL-U, Type-A and Type-B NR-U DL multi-channel access procedures are supported for multiple PSFCH transmissions on multiple channels.

[0071] The scenario where a RX UE needs to transmit PSFCH (using the existing R16 / 17 PSFCH format 0) in multiple unlicensed channels within the SL BWP in the same time slot has been discussed. In addition, the scenario where a UE transmits sidelink synchronization signal block (S-SSB) in multiple unlicensed channels within the SL BWP in the same time slot has also been discussed.

[0072] It remains to be solved whether multiple PSFCHs (using the existing R16 / 17 PSFCH format 0) can be transmitted on non-contiguous RB sets and, if multiple PSFCHs (using the existing R16 / 17 PSFCH format 0) can be transmitted on non-contiguous RB sets, whether there are restrictions on, e.g., the number of RB sets, the maximum frequency separation between RB sets. Note that, according to existing RAN1 agreements, it is not possible to transmit a PSFCH and an S-SSB within a SL bandwidth part (BWP) in the same slot. It remains to be solved, therefore, whether multiple S-SSBs can be transmitted on non-contiguous RB sets and, if multiple S-SSBs can be transmitted on non-contiguous RB sets, whether there are restrictions on, e.g., the number of RB sets, the maximum frequency separation between RB sets.

[0073] It is to be noted that, when using the term “a set of”, this can mean one or more elements / items, which can be replaced by the term “at least one” or “a set”. For example, “a set of X” means “at least one X” or “one or more X”.

[0074] In this document, the term “contiguous resources” means that the resources are connected sequentially. For example, if contiguous resources are mapped onto the same time slot, the resources are contiguous in frequency. Further, for a set of contiguous resources, this means that the set of contiguous resources are contiguous to each other within at least one carrier.

[0075] Example environment

[0076] Figure 6A An exemplary communication environment 600A in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented is shown.

[0077] The communication environment 600A, which can be part of a communication network, includes a network device 630, a device 610, and devices 620-1 through 620-4. For purposes of discussion, the devices 620-1 through 620-4 are collectively referred to as devices 620.

[0078] Further, the network device 630 can provide one or more cells. For example, as shown, a cell 632 is provided by the network device 630. Figure 6A

[0079] ​In some example embodiments, the apparatus 610 and the apparatus 620 can be included in terminal devices / apparatuses. In the following, for the purpose of illustration, some example embodiments are described with the apparatus 610 (or the apparatus 620) operating as a terminal apparatus. As such, a link from the network apparatus 630 to the apparatus 610 (or the apparatus 620) is referred to as a downlink (DL), and a link from the apparatus 610 (or the apparatus 620) to the network apparatus 630 is referred to as an uplink (UL). In the DL, the network apparatus 630 is a transmit (TX) device (or a transmitter), and the apparatus 610 (or the apparatus 620) is a receive (RX) device (or a receiver). In the UL, the apparatus 610 (or the apparatus 620) is a TX device (or a transmitter), and the network apparatus 630 is an RX device.

[0080] Further, a link between two apparatuses is referred to as a sidelink (SL). In the SL, one of the apparatuses is a TX device (or a transmitter), and the other apparatus is an RX device (or a receiver).

[0081] It should be understood that Figure 6A The number of apparatuses and their connections shown in FIG. 6A are for illustration only and are not intended to be limiting. The communication environment 600A can include any suitable number of terminal devices and network devices configured to implement example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0082] Communications in the communication environment 600A can be implemented according to any suitable communication protocol, including but not limited to, a cellular communication protocol of first generation (1G), second generation (2G), third generation (3G), fourth generation (4G), fifth generation (5G), sixth generation (6G), etc., a wireless local area network communication protocol such as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11, and / or any other protocol that is currently known or developed in the future. Further, communications can use any suitable wireless communication techniques, including but not limited to: code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division duplexing (FDD), time division duplexing (TDD), multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM), and / or any other techniques that are currently known or developed in the future.

[0083] Considering the lack of definition for non-contiguous RB set transmission, it is believed that RX UEs can not be able to transmit PSFCH in non-contiguous RB sets, at least when they do not succeed LBT on all RB sets. In order to transmit in non-contiguous RB sets, in some cases, the UE will have to adapt the RF filter and / or DSP settings based on the LBT outcome. Such adaptation encompasses multiple sides depending on the implementation, and some UE / chipset companies are reluctant to implement this (based on NR-U discussions). Some front-ends are not able to dynamically tune the filter to the RB set it will transmit on. At least it will require the UE to succeed LBT on all RB sets, even those unallocated RB sets.

[0084] The lack of support for non-contiguous RB set transmission can cause problems for SL communication in unlicensed spectrum.

[0085] RX UEs have no control over the resources they receive PSSCH with HARQ feedback enabled from possibly multiple TX UEs. Therefore, the PSFCH resources associated with these PSSCH receptions can often be mapped to non-contiguous RB sets, thus causing unpredictable behavior on the UE. Note that enhanced IUC scheme 1, if supported and (pre-)configured in the resource pool, can have some impact on the RX UE’s resource selection for TX UEs, but this typically cannot solve the problem as IUC can not be supported by all UEs. In Figure 6B an example of this problem is shown in Figure 6B SL transmission 600B is shown to be mapped to non-contiguous RB sets.

[0086] In Figure 6B , five RB sets (i.e., RB set 1 to 5) are on a multi-channel BWP (such as 100 MHz). In Figure 6B , SL Tx1 transmits on RB set 1, SL Tx2 transmits on RB set 3, and SL Tx3 transmits on RB set 4. Further, SL Tx1 to SL Tx3 are configured to require feedback information. As Figure 6B shown, the feedback information (which can also be referred to as sidelink feedback information) is mapped on multiple feedback transmission occasions, where the multiple feedback transmission occasions are mapped on RB set 1, RB set 3, and RB set 4. In Figure 6B , RB set 2 (and RB set 5) is an empty RB set, which results in a non-contiguous resource set.

[0087] If a SL transmission is configured to require feedback information, the SL transmission can correspond to a SL feedback occasion (or more than one feedback occasion). In other words, one or more feedback occasions can be configured for a SL transmission that requires feedback information.

[0088] According to the present disclosure, a set of rules is proposed, in which these rules allow the RX UE to preferentially select PSFCH transmission occasions that are mapped to a set of contiguous RB sets (i.e., formed by one or more RB sets that are contiguous in the frequency domain, hereinafter also referred to as “a set of contiguous resource sets”). Any remaining PSFCH transmission occasions that do not belong to the determined set of contiguous RB sets will be dropped / degraded.

[0089] In Figure 6B In the example of a multi-channel BWP comprising five RB sets that are mapped with candidate feedback transmission occasions, a set of contiguous resource sets that comprises a subset of multiple feedback transmission occasions can be any of the following (according to different rules):

[0090] In the case of one contiguous resource set, the set of contiguous resource sets can be: {RB set 1}, {RB set 3}, {RB set 4};

[0091] In the case of two contiguous resource sets, the set of contiguous resource sets can be: {RB set 1, RB set 2}, {RB set 2, RB set 3}, {RB set 3, RB set 4}, {RB set 4, RB set 5};

[0092] In the case of three contiguous resource sets, the set of contiguous resource sets can be: {RB set 1, RB set 2, RB set 3}, {RB set 2, RB set 3, RB set 4}, {RB set 3, RB set 4, RB set 5};

[0093] In the case of four contiguous resource sets, the set of contiguous resource sets can be: {RB set 1, RB set 2, RB set 3, RB set 4}, {RB set 2, RB set 3, RB set 4, RB set 5};

[0094] In the case of five contiguous resource sets, the set of contiguous resource sets can be: {RB set 1, RB set 2, RB set 3, RB set 4, RB set 5}.

[0095] It is to be clarified that the set of contiguous resource sets listed above are given for the purpose of illustration only, without implying any limitation. In other words, the set of contiguous resource sets listed above is intended to list all possible selection results. When the application scenario changes, for example, when the number of resource sets changes, the final selection of the set of contiguous resource sets will also change accordingly.

[0096] It is to be noted that multiple rules that are applied in a specific order can be implemented and configured, resulting in a single set of contiguous RB sets in which the transmission occasions should be transmitted.

[0097] Furthermore, in some example embodiments, the determination of the rules can be performed before the LBT process used for transmission in the corresponding RB set.

[0098] Alternatively, in some example embodiments, this determination may be performed on each RB set after the LBT process, such that only the RB sets that successfully underwent LBT are considered for selection. While this requires faster UE processing, it also reduces the chance of discarding PSFCHs present in previous options when selecting a PSFCH from RB sets that did not pass LBT.

[0099] In this way, feedback information can be transmitted on a continuous set of resources. In other words, the RX UE can obtain a single set of continuous resource blocks (RBs) from which the transmission timing should be followed. This single set of continuous RBs is a subset of the non-contiguous RB set. Figure 6B In this context, the non-contiguous RB set can be {RB set 1, RB set 2, RB set 3, RB set 4, RB set 5}, and the single group can be determined as any one of the groups listed above, based on one or more rules.

[0100] Working principles and example signaling for communication

[0101] refer to Figure 7 This illustrates a signaling flow 700 of communication according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For purposes of discussion, reference will be made to... Figure 6A and Figure 6B For example, signaling flow 700 can be discussed by using device 610, device 620 and network device 630.

[0102] Furthermore, in the following description, examples of message types (such as SC1, RRC, MAC CE) are for illustrative purposes only and do not imply any limitation. In other example embodiments, any suitable message type may be used for interaction between device 610, device 620, and network device 630.

[0103] exist Figure 7 In the example, devices 610 and 620 can be used as terminal devices. Further, device 610 can be a sidelink transmission receiver and a feedback information transmitter, and device 620 can be a sidelink transmission transmitter and a feedback information receiver.

[0104] Furthermore, the following discussion of feedback information can be applied to UEs intended to transmit other types of channels, such as S-SSBs with multiple RBs. For the sake of brevity, identical or similar content is omitted here.

[0105] In some example implementations, sidelink transmissions are received on unlicensed resources.

[0106] In operation, the apparatus 610 receives 720 a sidelink transmission from the apparatus 620. The apparatus 610 then determines whether the plurality of feedback transmission occasions for the sidelink transmission are mapped onto a set of non-contiguous resources. If it is determined that the plurality of feedback transmission occasions for the sidelink transmission are mapped onto a set of non-contiguous resources, the apparatus 610 determines 730 a set of contiguous resource sets mapped to a subset of the plurality of feedback transmission occasions. Next, the apparatus 610 transmits 740 feedback information on the set of contiguous resource sets. In this way, the apparatus 610 can transmit feedback information on contiguous resource sets that are a subset (e.g., a larger group of resource sets) of the set of non-contiguous resource sets. Thus, by selecting the subset, the apparatus 610 can cause the set of resources used (i.e., the set of resources used to transmit the sidelink feedback information) to be contiguous.

[0107] In some example embodiments, the apparatus 610 can refrain from transmitting feedback information on one or more feedback transmission occasions that are not mapped onto the set of contiguous resource sets.

[0108] In some example embodiments, the apparatus 610 can deprioritize the operation of transmitting feedback information on one or more feedback transmission occasions that are not mapped onto the set of contiguous resource sets.

[0109] In some example embodiments, the apparatus 610 can determine the set of contiguous resource sets based on one or more rules associated with at least one of:

[0110] an amount of feedback information carried on the set of resources in the set of non-contiguous resources,

[0111] priority information of the sidelink transmission associated with the feedback information carried on the set of resources in the set of non-contiguous resources,

[0112] priority information of the set of resources in the set of non-contiguous resources,

[0113] a feedback type of a feedback occasion in the plurality of feedback transmission occasions,

[0114] a propagation type of the feedback information carried on the set of resources in the set of non-contiguous resources,

[0115] listen-before-talk (LBT) related information of the set of non-contiguous resources, or

[0116] a received power strength of the sidelink transmission associated with the feedback information carried on the set of resources in the set of non-contiguous resources.

[0117] In some cases, multiple rules need to be applied because applying a single rule can result in multiple sets of contiguous RBs that satisfy the rule criteria (e.g., there are multiple sets of contiguous RBs that have the same amount of feedback information or the same associated priority). As such, other rules should be applied until it results in a set of contiguous RBs.

[0118] In some example embodiments, the apparatus 610 can determine the set of contiguous resource sets by sequentially applying one or more rules according to the rule order.

[0119] Alternatively, in some example embodiments, the rule order can be defined as a default configuration. As an example, the rule order can be predefined by a communication organization (such as 3GPP) or predefined by a network operator or service provider. In this way, no additional signaling exchange is needed.

[0120] Alternatively, in some example embodiments, the rule order can be dynamically or semi-statically configured. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the network apparatus 630 can configure the rule order and transmit 710-1 (and 710-2) the rule order to the apparatus 610 (and the apparatus 620). Figure 7

[0121] As an example procedure, the apparatus 610 can load the configuration of the rules for determining the set of contiguous resource sets and the rule order for applying the rules. Then, the apparatus 610 can apply a first rule for determining the set of contiguous resource sets according to the rule order. After applying the first rule, the apparatus 610 determines whether it results in a single set of contiguous RBs. If it results in a single set of contiguous RBs, the apparatus 610 transmits the feedback information on the determined single set of contiguous RBs.

[0122] If it does not result in a single set of contiguous RBs, the apparatus 610 applies a next rule (i.e., a second rule). After applying the second rule, the apparatus 610 determines whether it results in a single set of contiguous RBs. If yes, the apparatus 610 transmits the feedback information on the determined single set of contiguous RBs. If no, the apparatus 610 continues to apply a next rule (i.e., a third rule). In short, the apparatus 610 repeats the procedure until it determines a single set of contiguous RBs.

[0123] In the following, details will be described on how to apply the rules to determine the set of contiguous resource sets. Figures 8A to 81

[0124] In some example embodiments, the apparatus 610 can determine the set of contiguous resource sets based on the amount of feedback information to maximize the amount of feedback information transmitted by using the contiguous resource set.

[0125] ​​In other words, the apparatus 610 can select PSFCHs in contiguous RB sets to maximize the amount of PSFCHs to be transmitted (or equivalently, minimize the number of PSFCHs dropped).

[0126] Referring now to Figure 8A In Figure 8A In this example, the candidate contiguous resource set groups can be {RB Set 1} and {RB Set 3, RB Set 4}. Thus, the group {RB Set 3, RB Set 4} is determined.

[0127] As discussed above, in some example embodiments, the apparatus 610 can determine the contiguous resource set group based on priority information associated with sidelink transmissions carrying feedback information on the resource sets of the non-contiguous resource set.

[0128] In some example embodiments, the apparatus 610 can select PSFCHs in contiguous RB sets to maximize a function of priority values associated with PSFCHs mapped onto the RB sets. The function can be the average or weighted average of the priority values. In this example, it is assumed that higher priority information is associated with a high priority value. In another example, it is assumed that lower priority values are mapped to higher priority information, then the function to maximize can be the number of minimum priority values associated with PSFCHs mapped onto the RB sets.

[0129] Referring now to Figure 8B In Figure 8B In this example, the candidate contiguous resource set groups can be {RB Set 1} and {RB Set 3, RB Set 4}. Thus, the group {RB Set 3, RB Set 4} is determined.

[0130] As discussed above, in some example embodiments, the apparatus 610 can determine the contiguous resource set group based on priority information associated with sidelink transmissions carrying feedback information on the resource sets of the non-contiguous resource set.

[0131] In some example embodiments, the apparatus 610 can select PSFCHs in contiguous RB sets in a (pre)configured / predefined order of preferred RB sets (i.e., configured by RRC signaling, or indicated by MAC-CE or SCI, or preconfigured with resource pool or BWP configuration, or predefined according to specification). For example, RB sets with lower indices can be configured as preferred.

[0132] Referring now to Figure 8C In Figure 8C In this example, RB Set 1 and / or RB Set 2 are preferred compared to RB Set 4 and / or RB Set 5. Thus, the group {RB Set 1, RB Set 2} is determined.

[0133] In some example embodiments, the timing of feedback transmission can be either the primary feedback transmission timing or the secondary feedback transmission timing.

[0134] In some example embodiments, the primary feedback transmission timing and the secondary feedback transmission timing (also referred to as "additional feedback transmission timing") are mapped to two different resource sets in the same time slot. In this case, the device 610 can transmit feedback information on a target feedback timing, which is either the primary feedback transmission timing or the secondary feedback transmission timing, and the target feedback timing is mapped to that set of consecutive resource sets.

[0135] In some example embodiments, the secondary (or additional) PSFCH is (pre)configured / indicated in different RB sets, and the UE selects between the primary PSFCH or the secondary PSFCH such that the selected PSFCH is in N consecutive RB sets.

[0136] For reference Figure 8D .exist Figure 8D In this process, the feedback information of SL Tx1 is mapped to the main feedback transmission timing and the secondary feedback transmission timing. The secondary feedback transmission timing can, together with RB set 4 and RB set 5, constitute a preferred continuous resource set. Thus, the group {RB set 3, RB set 4, RB set 5} is determined.

[0137] In some example embodiments, the primary feedback transmission timing and the secondary feedback transmission timing are mapped to two different time slots. In this case, based on the determination that feedback information transmission failed on the primary feedback transmission timing, device 610 can determine that the set of consecutive resources includes a resource set with the secondary feedback transmission timing mapping.

[0138] In other words, device 610 can select PSFCH in a continuous RB set to maximize the number of secondary PSFCHs to be transmitted (i.e., prioritize secondary PSFCHs to minimize the dropping of PSFCHs that have been dropped / degraded (e.g., due to LBT failure) before HARQ-ACK).

[0139] For reference Figure 8E .exist Figure 8E In this case, the feedback information transmission at the primary feedback transmission timing in RB set 2 fails, and the secondary feedback transmission timing is mapped to RB set 2. Thus, the group {RB set 1, RB set 2} is determined.

[0140] In some example embodiments, the feedback type for the timing of the feedback is an indication of inter-UE coordination (IUC). Device 610 can select a continuous RB set that includes an IUC indication.

[0141] In some example embodiments, device 610 may determine a set of consecutive resources with a low probability of LBT failure based on LBT-related information.

[0142] In some example embodiments, device 610 may determine that the LBT failure probability of the resource set is low in response to at least one of the following:

[0143] The resource set is associated with the initiated Channel Occupancy Time (COT).

[0144] The resource set is associated with type 2C LBT.

[0145] The duration of no LBT failures exceeds or equals the threshold duration.

[0146] The resource set is not used by other radio access technologies (RATs).

[0147] In some example embodiments, device 610 may select a PSFCH from a continuous set of RBs with a low probability of LBT failure (e.g., a set of RBs with an initiated COT, or a set of RBs that can use type 2C LBT, or a set of RBs that have not declared consistent LBT failures over a period of time, or a set of RBs that do not have other RATs).

[0148] For reference Figure 8F .exist Figure 8F In this context, RB set 4 and / or RB set 5 are identified as having a lower LBT failure probability, such as no other RAT transmissions being performed on RB set 4 and / or RB set 5. Thus, the group {RB set 4, RB set 5} is determined.

[0149] In some exemplary embodiments, the propagation type of SL transmission is one of the following: unicast or multicast.

[0150] In some exemplary embodiments, device 610 may select PSFCH from a consecutive RB set according to a (pre)configured / predefined propagation type priority order (e.g., unicast takes precedence over multicast (ACK / NACK or NACK only), or vice versa).

[0151] For reference Figure 8G .exist Figure 8G In this context, SL Tx1 and SL Tx2 are multicast SL transmissions, while SL Tx3 and SL Tx4 are unicast SL transmissions. When unicast type is prioritized, group {RB set 4, RB set 5} is determined. Correspondingly, when multicast type is prioritized, group {RB set 1, RB set 2} is determined.

[0152] In some example embodiments, the apparatus 610 may perform the LBT process on at least a non-contiguous set of resources and also determine the set of resources based on the LBT monitoring results of the LBT process.

[0153] In some example embodiments, device 610 can perform LBT on all configured RB sets and select the PSFCH located in the consecutive RB set where LBT was successfully performed. Alternatively, other rules can be used to select a consecutive RB set from the consecutive RB set group.

[0154] For reference Figure 8H .exist Figure 8H In the analysis, the LBT procedures on RB sets 1, 3, 4, and 5 succeeded, while the LBT procedure on RB set 2 failed. Therefore, the group {RB set 3, RB set 4, RB set 5} is determined.

[0155] As described above, in some exemplary embodiments, the apparatus 610 may determine the set of continuous resource sets based on the received power intensity of the sidelink transmission associated with feedback information carried on a resource set of non-contiguous resource sets.

[0156] In some example embodiments, device 610 may select PSFCH from consecutive RB sets to maximize the average reference signal received power (RSRP) associated with transmissions on each RB set. In the example below, the average power of PSSCH / PSSCH received in consecutive RB sets 1 and 2 is greater than the average power in consecutive RB sets 4 and 5. Here, device 610 may prioritize PSFCH transmissions for Tx1 and Tx2 over consecutive RB sets 1 and 2 because higher transmission power ensures better channel conditions, a smaller Tx-Rx UE distance, and a better probability of successful PSFCH reception at the Tx UE.

[0157] In addition to RSRP, other metrics can be used that allow an Rx UE to estimate how well its feedback signal is received by a Tx UE (e.g., if an Rx UE knows that a Tx UE transmitting in a certain RB set will not receive the associated feedback based on the IUC, it may lower the priority of the associated PSFCH in the decision used to determine the consecutive RB sets).

[0158] In summary, RSRP, as an example of received power strength, is used to describe some specific exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. The exemplary embodiments described with respect to RSRP can be equivalently applied to other types of received power strength, including but not limited to signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), received signal strength indicator (RSSI), reference signal reception quality (RSRQ), etc. This disclosure is not limited in this respect.

[0159] For reference Figure 8I .existFigure 8I In this diagram, the received power intensities of RB sets 1, 2, 4, and 5 are represented as P1, P2, P3, and P4, where P1 > P2 > P3 > P4. Thus, the group {RB set 1, RB set 2} is determined.

[0160] Alternatively, in some embodiments, device 620 (i.e., feedback information receiver) always monitors feedback information at configured feedback transmission times.

[0161] Alternatively, device 620 can apply the same rules and logic to determine the set of contiguous resources. This determination allows device 620 to decide whether it needs to monitor relevant feedback information. For brevity, identical or similar content is omitted here.

[0162] Example method

[0163] Figure 9 A flowchart of an example method 900 implemented at a first device according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. For the purposes of discussion, [the following will be discussed...] Figure 6A Method 900 is described by the angle of device 610 in the middle.

[0164] At box 910, the device determines whether multiple feedback transmission opportunities for sidelink transmission are mapped to a non-contiguous resource set.

[0165] At box 920, the device maps multiple feedback transmission opportunities for sidelink transmission onto a non-contiguous resource set, and determines a set of contiguous resources that are a subset of the mapped multiple feedback transmission opportunities.

[0166] At frame 930, the device transmits feedback information on the set of contiguous resources.

[0167] In some example embodiments, the device can prevent the transmission of feedback information at one or more feedback transmission times that are not mapped to the contiguous resource set.

[0168] In some example embodiments, the device may de-prioritize operations that transmit feedback information at one or more feedback transmission times that are not mapped to the set of contiguous resources.

[0169] In some example embodiments, the apparatus may determine the set of contiguous resource sets based on one or more rules. These one or more rules are associated with at least one of the following: the amount of feedback information carried on a resource set within a non-contiguous resource set; priority information of sidelink transmissions associated with the feedback information carried on the resource set within a non-contiguous resource set; priority information of the resource set within a non-contiguous resource set; feedback type of a feedback timing among multiple feedback transmission timings; propagation type of feedback information carried on the resource set within a non-contiguous resource set; listen-before-speak LBT-related information on the non-contiguous resource set; or received power intensity of sidelink transmissions associated with the feedback information carried on the resource set within a non-contiguous resource set.

[0170] In some example embodiments, the apparatus may determine a set of consecutive resources based on the amount of feedback information to maximize the amount of feedback information transmitted by using the consecutive resource set.

[0171] In some example embodiments, the feedback timing is one of the following: the main feedback transmission timing of the feedback information or the secondary feedback transmission timing of the feedback information.

[0172] In some example embodiments, the primary feedback transmission timing and the secondary feedback transmission timing are mapped to two different resource sets in the same time slot. The device can transmit feedback information at a target feedback timing, which is either the primary feedback transmission timing or the secondary feedback transmission timing, and the target feedback timing is mapped to the set of consecutive resource sets.

[0173] In some example embodiments, the primary feedback transmission timing and the secondary feedback transmission timing are mapped to two different time slots. Based on the determination that the feedback information transmission failed at the primary feedback transmission timing, the device can determine that the set of continuous resources includes a resource set with the secondary feedback transmission timing mapping.

[0174] In some example embodiments, the feedback type for the timing of the feedback is an indication of inter-UE coordination (IUC). The device can select the set of consecutive RBs that includes the IUC indication.

[0175] In some example embodiments, the device can determine a set of consecutive resources with a low probability of LBT failure based on LBT-related information.

[0176] In some example embodiments, the device may determine that the LBT failure probability of the resource set is low in response to at least one of the following: the resource set is associated with an initiated Channel Occupancy Time (COT), the resource set is associated with a Type 2C LBT, the duration without LBT failure exceeds or equals a threshold duration, and the resource set is not used by other Radio Access Technologies (RATs).

[0177] In some exemplary embodiments, the propagation type of SL transmission is one of the following: unicast or multicast.

[0178] In some example embodiments, the device may perform an LBT process at least on the discontinuous resource set; and further determine the resource set based on the LBT monitoring results of the LBT process.

[0179] In some example embodiments, the apparatus can determine the set of contiguous resources by sequentially applying one or more rules according to a rule order.

[0180] In some example implementations, sidelink transmissions are received on unlicensed resources.

[0181] Example apparatus, device and medium

[0182] In some exemplary embodiments, a first device capable of performing any of the methods 900 (e.g., Figure 6A The device 610 in the first method may include a component for performing the corresponding operation of method 900. This component may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the component may be implemented in a circuit or software module. The first device may be implemented as... Figure 6A The device 610 or included in Figure 6A In device 610.

[0183] In some exemplary embodiments, the apparatus includes: a component for determining a set of continuous resources to which a subset of the multiple feedback transmission opportunities for sidelink transmission is mapped, based on determining that multiple feedback transmission opportunities for sidelink transmission are mapped onto a non-contiguous resource set; and a component for transmitting feedback information on the set of continuous resource sets.

[0184] In some exemplary embodiments, the apparatus further includes a component for preventing the transmission of feedback information at one or more feedback transmission times that are not mapped to the contiguous resource set.

[0185] In some example embodiments, the device further includes a component for deprioritizing operations that transmit feedback information at one or more feedback transmission times not mapped to the set of contiguous resources.

[0186] In some example embodiments, the apparatus further includes components for determining the set of contiguous resource sets based on one or more rules. The one or more rules are associated with at least one of the following: the amount of feedback information carried on a resource set within a non-contiguous resource set; priority information of a sidelink transmission associated with the feedback information carried on the resource set within a non-contiguous resource set; priority information of the resource set within the non-contiguous resource set; feedback type of a feedback timing among multiple feedback transmission timings; propagation type of the feedback information carried on the resource set within a non-contiguous resource set; listen-before-speak LBT-related information on the non-contiguous resource set; or received power intensity of a sidelink transmission associated with the feedback information carried on the resource set within a non-contiguous resource set.

[0187] In some example embodiments, the apparatus further includes a component for determining a set of consecutive resources based on the amount of feedback information to maximize the amount of feedback information transmitted by using the consecutive resource set.

[0188] In some example embodiments, the feedback type of the feedback timing is one of the following: a primary feedback transmission timing or a secondary feedback transmission timing of the feedback information. In some example embodiments, the primary feedback transmission timing and the secondary feedback transmission timing are mapped to two different resource sets in the same time slot, and the apparatus further includes: a component for transmitting feedback information at a target feedback timing, which is either a primary feedback transmission timing or a secondary feedback transmission timing, and the target feedback timing is mapped to the set of consecutive resource sets.

[0189] In some example embodiments, the primary feedback transmission timing and the secondary feedback transmission timing are mapped to two different time slots, and the apparatus further includes a component for determining, based on the determination that the feedback information transmission at the primary feedback transmission timing has failed, that the set of continuous resources includes a resource set with the secondary feedback transmission timing mapping.

[0190] In some example embodiments, the feedback type for the timing of the feedback is an indication of inter-UE coordination (IUC). The device may select the set of consecutive RBs that includes the IUC indication.

[0191] In some example embodiments, the apparatus further includes a component for determining a set of consecutive resources with a low LBT failure probability based on LBT-related information.

[0192] In some example embodiments, the apparatus further includes: a component for determining that the LBT failure probability of the resource set is low in response to at least one of the following: the resource set is associated with an initiated Channel Occupancy Time (COT), the resource set is associated with a Type 2C LBT, the duration without LBT failure exceeds or equals a threshold duration, and the resource set is not used by other Radio Access Technologies (RATs).

[0193] In some exemplary embodiments, the propagation type of SL transmission is one of the following: unicast or multicast.

[0194] In some example embodiments, the apparatus further includes: components for performing an LBT process at least on the non-contiguous resource set; and components for further determining a set of resources based on LBT monitoring results of the LBT process.

[0195] In some example embodiments, the apparatus further includes a component for determining the set of consecutive resources by sequentially applying one or more rules according to a rule order.

[0196] In some example implementations, sidelink transmissions are received on unlicensed resources.

[0197] In some exemplary embodiments, the apparatus further includes components for performing other operations in some exemplary embodiments of method 900 or apparatus 610. In some example embodiments, the apparatus includes at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus to perform.

[0198] Figure 10 This is a simplified block diagram of a device 1000 suitable for implementing exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 1000 may be configured to implement a communication device, for example, Figure 6A The device 610 is shown in the figure. The device 1000 includes one or more processors 1010, one or more memories 1020 coupled to the processors 1010, and one or more communication modules 1040 coupled to the processors 1010.

[0199] Communication module 1040 is used for bidirectional communication. Communication module 1040 has one or more communication interfaces that facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interface can represent any interface necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, communication module 1040 may include at least one antenna.

[0200] Processor 1010 can be any type suitable for a local technology network and may include one or more of the following as non-limiting examples: general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, microprocessor, digital signal processor (DSP), and processor based on a multi-core processor architecture. Device 1000 may have multiple processors, such as application-specific integrated circuit chips that are time-dependent on a clock that synchronizes the main processor.

[0201] Memory 1020 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, read-only memory (ROM) 1024, electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, hard disk, compact disc (CD), digital video disc (DVD), optical disc, laser disc, and other magnetic and / or optical memories. Examples of volatile memories include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM) 1022 and other volatile memories that will not persist for the duration of power loss.

[0202] Computer program 1030 includes computer-executable instructions that are executed by an associated processor 1010. The instructions of program 1030 may include instructions for performing operations / actions of some example embodiments of this disclosure. Program 1030 may be stored in memory (e.g., ROM 1024). Processor 1010 can perform any suitable actions and processes by loading program 1030 into RAM 1022.

[0203] The exemplary embodiments of this disclosure can be implemented through program 1030, enabling device 1000 to perform as described in the reference. Figures 7 to 9 Any processing discussed in this disclosure. Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure may also be implemented using hardware or a combination of software and hardware.

[0204] In some exemplary embodiments, program 1030 may be tangibly contained in a computer-readable medium, which may be contained in device 1000 (such as in memory 1020) or in other storage devices accessible by device 1000. Device 1000 may load program 1030 from the computer-readable medium into RAM 1022 for execution. In some exemplary embodiments, the computer-readable medium may include any type of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, flash memory, hard disk, CD, DVD, etc. As used herein, the term "non-transitory" is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not tactile) and a limitation of the persistence of data storage (e.g., RAM versus .rom).

[0205] Figure 11 An example of a computer-readable medium 1100 is shown, which may be in the form of a CD, DVD, or other optical storage disc. A program 1030 is stored on the computer-readable medium 1100.

[0206] Generally, the various embodiments of this disclosure can be implemented in hardware or dedicated circuitry, software, logic, or any combination thereof. Some aspects can be implemented in hardware, and others can be implemented in firmware or software, which can be executed by a controller, microprocessor, or other computing device. While various aspects of the embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other graphical representation, it should be understood that, as non-limiting examples, the blocks, apparatuses, systems, techniques, or methods described herein can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, dedicated circuitry or logic, general-purpose hardware or controllers or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0207] Some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer-readable medium (such as a non-volatile computer-readable medium). The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in the program module that execute in a device on a target physical or virtual processor to perform any of the methods described above. Typically, a program module includes routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, etc., that perform a particular task or implement a particular abstract data type. The functionality of the program module can be combined or split among program modules as needed in different embodiments. The machine-executable instructions for the program module can execute within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, the program module can reside in both local and remote storage media.

[0208] Program code for performing the methods of this disclosure can be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that, when executed by the processor or controller, the program code causes the implementation of the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams. The program code may be executed entirely on a machine, partially on a machine, as a stand-alone software package, partially on a machine, partially on a remote machine, or entirely on a remote machine or server.

[0209] In the context of this disclosure, computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable a device, apparatus, or processor to perform the various processes and operations described above. Examples of carriers include signals, computer-readable media, etc.

[0210] Computer-readable media can be computer-readable signal media or computer-readable storage media. Computer-readable media can be, but is not limited to, electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor systems, devices, or any suitable combination thereof. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media will include electrical connections having one or more wires, portable computer disks, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), optical fiber, portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, or any suitable combination thereof.

[0211] Furthermore, although operations are described in a specific order, this should not be construed as requiring these operations to be performed in the specific order shown or in a sequential order, or to perform all the described operations to achieve the desired result. In some cases, multitasking and parallel processing can be advantageous. Similarly, although several specific implementation details are included in the above discussion, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of this disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Unless expressly stated otherwise, certain features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, unless expressly stated otherwise, different features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented individually or in any suitable sub-combination in multiple embodiments.

[0212] Although this disclosure has been described using language specific to structural features and / or methodological actions, it is to be understood that the disclosure as defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or actions described above. Rather, the specific features and actions described above are disclosed as examples of implementing the claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: determine, in accordance with a determination that a plurality of feedback transmission occasions for a sidelink transmission are mapped onto a set of non-contiguous resources, a set of contiguous resource sets mapped with a subset of the plurality of feedback transmission occasions; and transmit feedback information on the set of contiguous resource sets.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is not capable of transmitting a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) in a non-contiguous set of resources.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the apparatus to: prevent transmission of feedback information on one or more feedback transmission occasions not mapped onto the set of contiguous resource sets.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the apparatus to: de-prioritize an operation of transmitting feedback information on one or more feedback transmission occasions not mapped onto the set of contiguous resource sets.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the apparatus to: select a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) in the contiguous set of resources to maximize a function of a priority value associated with the PSFCH.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the apparatus to: determine the set of contiguous resource sets based on one or more rules associated with at least one of: priority information of a sidelink transmission associated with feedback information carried on a set of resources, or priority information of a set of resources.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the apparatus to: determine the set of contiguous resource sets based on one or more rules associated with at least one of: an amount of feedback information carried on a set of resources in the set of non-contiguous resources, priority information of a sidelink transmission associated with feedback information carried on a set of resources in the set of non-contiguous resources, priority information of a set of resources in the set of non-contiguous resources, a feedback type of a feedback occasion in the plurality of feedback transmission occasions, a propagation type of feedback information carried on a set of resources in the set of non-contiguous resources, listen-before-talk (LBT) related information on the set of non-contiguous resources, or a received power strength of a sidelink transmission associated with feedback information carried on a set of resources in the set of non-contiguous resources.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the apparatus to: determine the set of contiguous resource sets based on the amount of feedback information to maximize an amount of feedback information transmitted using contiguous resource sets.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the feedback type of the feedback occasion is one of: a primary feedback transmission occasion of feedback information, or a secondary feedback transmission occasion of feedback information. The secondary feedback transmission occasion of the feedback information.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the primary feedback transmission occasion and the secondary feedback transmission occasion are mapped onto two different sets of resources in a same time slot, and wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the apparatus to: transmit feedback information on a target feedback occasion, wherein the target feedback occasion is the primary feedback transmission occasion or the secondary feedback transmission occasion, and wherein the target feedback occasion is mapped onto the set of contiguous sets of resources.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the primary feedback transmission occasion and the secondary feedback transmission occasion are mapped onto two different time slots, and wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the apparatus to: determine, in accordance with a determination that feedback information transmission on the primary feedback transmission occasion fails, that the set of contiguous sets of resources includes a set of resources mapped with the secondary feedback transmission occasion.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the apparatus to: determine, based on the LBT-related information, the set of contiguous sets of resources with a lower LBT failure probability.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the apparatus to: determine that the set of resources has a lower LBT failure probability in response to at least one of: the set of resources being associated with an initiated channel occupancy time (COT), the set of resources being associated with a 2C-type LBT, a duration of LBT failure being above or equal to a threshold duration, the set of resources not being used by other radio access technologies (RATs).

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the propagation type of the sidelink transmission is one of: unicast or groupcast.

15. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the apparatus to: perform an LBT procedure on at least the non-contiguous set of resources; and determine at least one set of resources further based on an LBT monitoring result of the LBT procedure.

16. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the apparatus to: determine the set of contiguous sets of resources by sequentially applying the one or more rules in an order according to a rule.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sidelink transmission is received on unlicensed resources.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a terminal device or the apparatus is comprised in a terminal device.

19. A method for an apparatus, comprising: determining, in accordance with a determination that a plurality of feedback transmission occasions for a sidelink transmission are mapped onto non-contiguous sets of resources, a set of contiguous sets of resources mapped with a subset of the plurality of feedback transmission occasions; and transmitting feedback information on the set of contiguous sets of resources.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method of claim 19.

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