Communication apparatus and communication method

Abstract

A communication device includes: a control circuit that allocates signals for each resource allocation unit configured of consecutively numbered interlaces in inter-terminal communication of an unlicensed band; and a transmission circuit that transmits a signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication device and a communication method. Background Art

[0002] The expansion of the communication system called "5th Generation Mobile Communication System (5G)" has been studied. In 5G, the flexible provision of functions for various use cases requiring increased communication services, increased number of connected terminals, high reliability and low latency has been studied.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Non-patent literature

[0005] Non-patent document 1: 3GPP, TR 38.885 V16.0.0, "Study on NR Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X)"

[0006] Non-patent document 2: RP-201385, “WID revision: NR sidelink enhancement,” LGElectronics, June 29 - July 3, 2020

[0007] Non-patent document 3: RP-213678, “New WID on NR sidelink evolution,” OPPO, LG Electronics, Dec. 6 - 17, 2021

[0008] Non-patent document 4: 3GPP, TS 38.331 V17.1.0, “NR; Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol specification (Release 17)” Summary of the invention

[0009] However, there is still room for research on the effective utilization of communication resources in unlicensed bands.

[0010] The non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure are helpful to provide a communication device and a communication method that can improve the utilization efficiency of communication resources in unlicensed frequency bands.

[0011] A communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a control circuit for allocating a signal according to a resource allocation unit composed of consecutively numbered interlaces in communication between terminals in an unlicensed frequency band; and a transmission circuit for transmitting the signal.

[0012] It should be noted that these general or specific aspects may be implemented by a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program or a recording medium, or may be implemented by any combination of systems, apparatuses, methods, integrated circuits, computer programs and recording media.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the utilization efficiency of communication resources in an unlicensed frequency band can be improved.

[0014] Further advantages and effects of one embodiment of the present disclosure will be clearly presented in the specification and the drawings. These advantages and / or effects are provided by several embodiments, and the features described in the specification and the drawings, respectively, but not necessarily all of them need to be provided in order to obtain one or more of the same features. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing an example of channel arrangement within a time slot.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing an example of channel arrangement within a time slot when the channel is busy.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing an example of regulations related to the frequency of signals in the unlicensed band.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing an example of interleaving allocation.

[0019] Figure 5 This is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a part of a base station.

[0020] Figure 6 This is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a part of a terminal.

[0021] Figure 7 This is a diagram showing a configuration example of PSCCH (physical sidelink control channel).

[0022] Figure 8 This is a diagram showing a configuration example of PSCCH.

[0023] Fig. 9 This is a diagram showing a configuration example of PSCCH.

[0024] Fig.10 This is a diagram showing an example of arrangement of VRBs (Virtual Resource Blocks) and PRBs (Physical Resource Blocks).

[0025] Fig.11 This is a block diagram showing a structural example of a terminal.

[0026] Fig.12 This is a diagram showing an example of channel arrangement within a time slot.

[0027] Fig.13 This is a diagram showing an example of channel arrangement within a time slot.

[0028] Fig.14 This is a diagram showing an example of channel arrangement within a time slot.

[0029] Fig.15 This is a diagram showing an example of channel arrangement within a time slot.

[0030] Fig.16 This is a diagram showing an example of setting parameters related to PSFCH (physical sidelink feedback channel).

[0031] Fig.17 This is a diagram showing an example of channel arrangement within a time slot.

[0032] Fig.18 is a diagram of an exemplary architecture of a 3GPP NR system.

[0033] Fig.19 It is a schematic diagram showing the functional separation between NG-RAN (Next Generation-Radio Access Network) and 5GC (5th Generation Core).

[0034] Fig. 20 This is a sequence diagram of the process of setting up / resetting an RRC (Radio Resource Control) connection.

[0035] Fig.21 It is a schematic diagram showing the utilization scenarios of large-capacity high-speed communications (eMBB: enhanced Mobile Broadband), multiple simultaneous machine-type communications (mMTC: massive Machine Type Communications) and high-reliability and ultra-low latency communications (URLLC: Ultra Reliable and Low Latency Communications).

[0036] Fig. 22 is a block diagram representing an exemplary 5G system architecture for non-roaming scenarios. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0038] 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), an international standards organization, has studied the advancement of communication systems from two aspects: the advancement of LTE (Long Term Evolution) systems and New Radio (NR). 3GPP has previously studied the support of V2X (vehicle to X) in LTE systems. It has also studied the support of V2X in NR, which can use a wider frequency band than LTE (for example, refer to non-patent document 1).

[0039] In addition, further expansion of communication using sidelink (SL) in addition to V2X is being studied (for example, see Non-Patent Document 2). V2X envisions communication between vehicles (V2V: Vehicle to Vehicle), between vehicles and infrastructure (V2I: Vehicle to Infrastructure), between vehicles and pedestrians (V2P: Vehicle to Pedestrian), and between vehicles and networks (V2N: Vehicle to Network).

[0040] In V2V, V2I, and V2P, terminals can directly send and receive signals using a side link or a link called "PC5" without going through a network with a base station (for example, a network via a base station). In V2N, communication is envisioned via a link called "Uu" between a base station and a terminal. It should be noted that a base station may be called a "gNB" in NR and an "eNB" in LTE. In addition, a terminal may also be called a "UE (User Equipment)".

[0041] In addition, the use of sidelink communication in an unlicensed band is also being studied (for example, refer to Non-Patent Document 3).

[0042] [NR Sidelink]

[0043] In the sidelink of NR, unicast, multicast and broadcast are supported in transmission and reception. As unicast, a one-to-one transmission from a transmitting terminal (e.g., also referred to as "Tx UE", "source UE" or "transmitting source terminal") to a receiving terminal (e.g., also referred to as "RxUE", "destination UE" or "destination terminal") is envisioned. As a multicast, transmission from a transmitting terminal to one or more receiving terminals included in a certain group is envisioned. As a broadcast, transmission from a transmitting terminal to an uncertain receiving terminal is envisioned.

[0044] In the sidelink of NR, a control signal called "SCI (Sidelink control information)" is sent and received. SCI is divided into first-stage SCI and second-stage SCI. The first-stage SCI is configured on the PSCCH (physical sidelink control channel). The second-stage SCI is configured on at least a part of the PSSCH (physical SL shared channel) that transmits and receives data. By dividing the SCI into two, the number of bits and size of the first-stage SCI can be reduced. In the sidelink, a terminal (for example, terminal A) has the following function, namely, receiving the PSCCH sent from other terminals different from terminal A, and after understanding the resource utilization status of other terminals, determining the resources for terminal A to send. This function is also called "sensing."

[0045] In addition, in the side link, signals are transmitted and received in the following channels.

[0046] -PSCCH (Physical Sidelink Control Channel): The first stage SCI (Sidelink Control Information) is configured in the PSCCH.

[0047] -PSSCH (Physical Sidelink Shared Channel): Data signals and the second stage SCI are configured in the PSSCH.

[0048] -PSFCH (Physical Sidelink Feedback Channel): A feedback signal for PSSCH is configured in PSFCH. The feedback signal represents, for example, ACK (Acknowledgement) or NACK (negative Acknowledgement), where ACK indicates successful reception of PSSCH and NACK indicates unsuccessful reception of PSSCH. The feedback signal can be applied to situations where PSSCH is unicast and multicast. In addition, after Release 17 (Rel.17: Release 17), for Inter-UE coordination, PSFCH is sometimes sent when a conflict is detected.

[0049] -PSBCH (physical SL broadcast channel): A broadcast signal is configured in the PSBCH. The SBCH is sent together with a synchronization signal. The synchronization signal is, for example, a sidelink primary synchronization signal (S-PSS: sidelink Primary synchronization signal) and / or a sidelink secondary synchronization signal (S-SSS: sidelink secondly synchronization signal). The SBCH sent together with the synchronization signal is also collectively referred to as an "S-SSB (sidelink synchronization signal block)".

[0050] It should be noted that the signal received and transmitted in the sidelink may also be referred to as a "sidelink signal". In addition, for example, "transmission of information (or, signal) configured on the PSCCH" is sometimes referred to as "transmission of the PSCCH" below. In addition, in the following description, the PSCCH may refer to a resource defined as the PSCCH, or may refer to information (or, signal) configured on a resource defined as the PSCCH. Other channels other than the PSCCH are sometimes referred to as the PSCCH.

[0051] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of PSCCH, PSSCH, and PSFCH within a time slot. Figure 1 The horizontal axis represents the time axis, and the vertical axis represents the frequency axis in PRB (physical resource block) units. Figure 1 Indicated in Figure 1 (a) and Figure 1 (b) These two examples.

[0052] It should be explained, such as Figure 1As shown in (a), PSFCH can also be configured. Figure 1 As shown in (b), there is also a case where PSFCH is not configured according to the setting. When PSFCH is not configured, the area of ​​PSSCH can be increased.

[0053] The number of symbols of the sidelink signal in a time slot can be changed according to the settings. In addition, the configuration of the second-stage SCI will change according to the configuration of the DMRS (demodulation reference signal) of the PSSCH (not shown). The first-stage SCI is configured starting from the lowest frequency resource among the frequency resources allocated to the PSSCH. In the symbols before the leading symbols of the PSCCH and PSSCH, copies of the leading symbols of the PSCCH and PSSCH are configured for AGC (Auto gain control). In addition, as Figure 1 As shown in (a), a copy of the PSFCH is also arranged before the codeword of the PSFCH for AGC.

[0054] In addition, Figure 1 In (a), a protection interval (also called a "guard period" or "gap") for switching between transmission and reception is configured in the interval between PSSCH and PSFCH and in the interval after the last symbol of PSFCH. Figure 1 In (b), a guard period for switching between transmission and reception is arranged in a section after the last symbol of the PSSCH. The guard period may correspond to a section in which no signal is transmitted or received.

[0055] NR's sidelink communication has two modes called "Mode 1" and "Mode 2". In Mode 1, the base station determines (schedules) the resources used by the terminal in the sidelink and indicates the scheduling result to the terminal. In Mode 2, the terminal determines (or selects) the resources used in the sidelink from the resources in a predetermined resource pool. Mode 1 is used in an environment where it is assumed that the base station and the terminal are in a connected state and the terminal communicating in the sidelink can receive instructions from the base station. Regarding Mode 2, the terminal can send in the sidelink even without instructions from the base station. Therefore, terminals under different operators and / or terminals outside the coverage of the base station can communicate in the sidelink.

[0056] For example, the resources used by the sidelink are set according to the SL BWP (Band width part) and the resource pool.

[0057] SL BWP specifies a frequency band that can be used in the sidelink, and is set separately from the downlink BWP (DL BWP: downlink BWP) and uplink BWP (UL BWP: Uplink BWP) set between the base station and the terminal (Uu). For example, the frequency band of SLBWP may overlap with UL BWP.

[0058] The resource pool is the resource in the SL BWP. The resources in the frequency direction and the time direction are specified according to the resource pool. For example, multiple resource pools can be set for one terminal. The frequency resources in the resource pool are divided into "subchannel" units, and the allocation of resources can be set in subchannel units. A subchannel contains multiple PRBs, and the PSSCH can be allocated in subchannel units that aggregate PRBs.

[0059] [NR-U: NR-Unlicensed)]

[0060] As communication capacity increases, 3GPP is also studying the use of unlicensed bands in addition to licensed bands. NR using unlicensed bands is also called "NR-U (unlicensed)". In NR-U, new and expanded actions are added to ensure fairness when mixed with other devices such as LAA (Licensed Assisted Access) based on Wifi (registered trademark) and / or LTE.

[0061] In the unlicensed band, in order to ensure fairness with other devices, the communication device (for example, the base station or terminal of NR-U) performs LBT (Listen Before Talk) and starts sending after confirming that other devices are not sending signals nearby. LBT can also be replaced by other expressions such as "carrier sensing" or "sensing". The communication device performs LBT, and after confirming that other devices are not sending signals nearby, it sets the channel occupancy time, namely COT (Channel Occupancy Time). Within the COT, the communication device can send and receive signals in DL (downlink) resources and UL (uplink) resources.

[0062] There are two application methods related to LBT. The first application method is LBE (Load Based Equipment). For LBE, the communication device implements Type 1 channel access (Type 1 channel access) (for example, also called "category 4 LBT" or "Type 1 LBT") when obtaining COT. In addition, in addition to the front end of COT, the communication device can implement Type 2 channel access (Type 2 channel access) (for example, also called "Type 2 LBT") and can start sending after implementation.

[0063] It should be noted that in the following description, a communication device (eg, a base station or a terminal) "starts transmitting after implementing LBT", which is equivalent to the communication device implementing LBT and starting transmitting after confirming that other devices are not transmitting signals nearby.

[0064] Table 1 shows an example of a sensing interval of LBT for obtaining a transmission right in DL in LBE and an applied interval.

[0065] [Table 1]

[0066]

[0067] For Type 2A, when the interval between two temporally consecutive resources is 25 μs, the terminal performs LBT within 25 μs. If the transmission of other devices is not confirmed during LBT, the terminal can start transmission.

[0068] For Type 2B, when the interval between two temporally consecutive resources is 16 μs, the terminal implements LBT within 16 μs. The terminal can start transmission without confirming transmission of other devices.

[0069] For Type 2C, when the interval between two consecutive resources in time is less than 16μs, the terminal can start sending without LBT. In addition, as an exception, for the transmission of DRS (Discovery reference signal), because the transmission time of DRS is short, it is possible to implement Type 2A LBT instead of Type 1 LBT and start sending.

[0070] The second application method is FBE (Frame Based Equipment). FBE is an application that assumes that other devices such as Wifi are not set up in the same space, fixes the frame period, and implements LBT at the front end of the frame to obtain COT. For FBE, COT can only be obtained from the front end of the frame period (Fixed Frame Period). In addition, for FBE, it is stipulated that a non-transmission interval (idle period) of more than 5% is set according to the frame period.

[0071] The above explains NR-U.

[0072] In the following embodiments, an example of performing sidelink communication in an unlicensed band is described. NR using an unlicensed band is also called "SL-U (Sidelink unlicensed)".

[0073] In an unlicensed band, a terminal implements LBT and starts transmission without confirming transmission from other devices. On the other hand, in an unlicensed band, a terminal implements LBT and detects signals from other devices, and does not start transmission if transmission from other devices is confirmed. The situation where signals from other devices are detected is also called "busy (or, channel busy)", "unavailable", or "LBT failure".

[0074] In the case of LBT failure, the terminal cannot obtain the transmission right of the allocated resources or the selected resources even in the side link, and cannot start transmission.

[0075] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing an example of channel configuration in each time slot when LBT fails.

[0076] For example, Figure 2 (a) shows an example of a case where another device has started to transmit in a time slot before the time slot in which the terminal is expected to transmit (a time slot for which resources have been reserved). Figure 2 (b) shows an example of a case where another device has started to transmit in a symbol before the time slot in which the terminal is expected to transmit. Figure 2 (a) and Figure 2 As shown in (b) of FIG. 1 , the terminal implements LBT before the time slot in which it is expected to transmit, and because LBT fails, it cannot start transmitting the sidelink signal. Figure 2 As shown in (b), even if the terminal uses continuous time slots, even if it wants to implement LBT type 2 transmission in the COT, the transmission right may still be obtained by other devices.

[0077] In addition, there is a regulation of ETSI (ETSI EN 301 893 V2.1.1 (2017-05)), that is, in the unlicensed band, the occupied channel bandwidth (OCB: Occupied Channel Bandwidth) satisfies 80% to 100% of the nominal channel bandwidth (NCB: Nominal Channel Bandwidth). Hereinafter, the regulation that OCB satisfies more than 80% of NCB is recorded as "OCB regulation". When the OCB regulation is satisfied, the signal of the unlicensed band is transmitted using a frequency of more than 80% of the band of NCB.

[0078] In addition, although the OCB requirement is that OCB satisfies 80% or more of NCB below, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The OCB requirement that OCB satisfies 80% or more of NCB is an example of bandwidth restriction related to frequency band.

[0079] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing an example of regulations related to the frequency of signals in the unlicensed band. Figure 3 The “OCB 80%” in FIG. 1 indicates that the OCB is 80% or more of the frequency band of the NCB. In addition, in the following diagrams, “OCB 80%” also indicates that the OCB is 80% or more of the frequency band of the NCB.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 3( a ), more than 80% of the NCB frequency band may be continuously used to send signals in the unlicensed frequency band. Figure 3 As shown in (b) of FIG. 1 , the signal of the unlicensed band is arranged so that the widths of both ends of the plurality of divided resources on the frequency axis reach 80% or more of the frequency band of the NCB.

[0081] In NR-U and LAA, interleaving allocation is introduced to meet the OCB regulation in the frequency domain. In the interleaving allocation of NR-U, NCB is set to a resource block set (RB set: Resource Block set) of 20 MHz. In addition, the setting of NCB is not limited to 20 MHz.

[0082] Table 2 shows an example of the relationship between SCS (subcarrier spacing) and interleaving. Figure 4 TABLE 3 M represents the number of interlaces, and N represents the number of PRBs (Physical Resource Blocks) constituting one interlace. Figure 4 This shows an example of interleaving allocation when the SCS is 30kHz. For the interleaving allocation of NR-U, as shown in Table 2 and Figure 4As shown, for example, when the SCS is 30 kHz, the 20 MHz band is divided into five (M=5) interlaces (interlaces #0 to #4), and one interlace is composed of 10 or 11 PRBs (N PRBs).

[0083] [Table 2]

[0084]

[0085] It is assumed that interleaving allocation will also be applied to sidelink communications in unlicensed bands. There is still room for research on the method of setting subchannels, which are the units for allocating PSSCHs, and interleaving mapping in sidelink communications in unlicensed bands.

[0086] In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for setting subchannels and interleave mapping in sidelink communication in an unlicensed band is described.

[0087] In addition, although the sidelink communication is exemplified in each embodiment described below, the present disclosure is not limited to the sidelink communication. In addition, although the unlicensed frequency band is exemplified in each embodiment described below, the present disclosure is not limited to the unlicensed frequency band.

[0088] [Overview of Communication System]

[0089] A communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a base station 100 and a terminal 200 .

[0090] Figure 5 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a part of the base station 100. Figure 5 In the base station 100 shown, the control unit controls the communication via the link called "Uu" between the terminal 200 and the base station 100. The communication unit transmits a signal via the link called "Uu" under the control of the control unit. In addition, the control unit may also perform control related to the side link communication between multiple terminals (for example, determining resources in mode 1).

[0091] Figure 6 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a portion of the terminal 200 (eg, corresponding to a communication device). Figure 6In the terminal 200 shown, the control unit (e.g., corresponding to the control circuit) allocates the signal according to the resource allocation unit (e.g., subchannel) composed of consecutively numbered interleavings in the inter-terminal communication using the unlicensed frequency band, and the communication unit (e.g., corresponding to the transmission circuit) transmits the signal. In addition, the communication unit (e.g., corresponding to the receiving circuit) of the terminal 200 receives the signal allocated according to the resource allocation unit (e.g., subchannel) composed of consecutively numbered interleavings in the inter-terminal communication using the unlicensed frequency band, and the control unit (e.g., corresponding to the control circuit) demodulates the signal. It should be noted that the transmission signal may be, for example, a sidelink signal or a signal different from the sidelink signal.

[0092] (Implementation Method 1)

[0093] In the present embodiment, subchannels, which are resource allocation units of the PSSCH in sidelink communication in the unlicensed band, are composed of interlaces with consecutive interlace numbers (for example, interlaces adjacent in the frequency domain).

[0094] For example, when multiple terminals transmit by frequency multiplexing (FDM: Frequency Division Multiplexing), there may be leakage of radio waves transmitted by other terminals multiplexed within the frequency band, which is called "IBE (In-band Emission)". According to the present embodiment, by forming subchannels from interleavings with consecutive interleaving numbers, PSSCH is allocated to interleavings that are consecutive in the frequency domain among multiple interleavings, thereby reducing the connection points between resources allocated to terminal 200 and resources allocated to other terminals, thereby reducing the influence of IBE (or the influence of interference with other terminals).

[0095] An operation example of this embodiment will be described below.

[0096] [Action Example 1]

[0097] In operation example 1, the interlace (for example, the interlace number) constituting each subchannel is set in the resource pool setting.

[0098] Table 3 shows an example of setting the interleaving constituting the subchannels. The example in Table 3 shows an example of setting the subchannels in each case where the SCS is 15kHz, 30kHz, and 60kHz. In addition, Table 3 shows an example of setting the subchannels in each case where the number of subchannels per RB set (for example, 20MHz) is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10. In addition, the SCS and the number of subchannels are not limited to the examples shown in Table 3.

[0099] For example, for SCS=15kHz and 30kHz, the interleaving may be set in the same manner as that used in NR-U. For example, for SCS=15kHz, 10 interleavings (for example, interleavings #0 to #9) may be set in the RB set, and for SCS=30kHz, 5 interleavings (for example, interleavings #0 to #4) may be set in the RB set. In addition, for SCS=60kHz, although there is no setting in NR-U, for example, 3 interleavings (for example, interleavings #0 to #2) may be set in the RB set.

[0100] For example, when the number of subchannels is 1 (1 subchannel / 20 MHz) for an RB set of 20 MHz, in each SCS, all interleavings constitute one subchannel.

[0101] In addition, for example, when there are two subchannels (2 subchannels / 20MHz) with respect to an RB set of 20MHz, with respect to SCS=15kHz, 10 interleavings are divided into two, and five interleavings with consecutive interleaving numbers (for example, interleavings #0 to #4 and interleavings #5 to #9) constitute one subchannel. In addition, with respect to SCS=30kHz, the number of interleavings cannot be equally distributed (equally divided) with respect to each subchannel, so, for example, five interleavings can be divided into two into three interleavings with consecutive interleaving numbers (for example, interleavings #0 to #2) and two (for example, interleavings #3 and #4), and each of the divided interleavings constitutes one subchannel. Similarly, with respect to SCS=60kHz, three interleavings can be divided into two into two interleavings with consecutive interleaving numbers (for example, interleavings #0 and #1) and one (for example, interleaving #2), and each of the divided interleavings constitutes one subchannel.

[0102] Similarly, for example, when there are three subchannels (3 subchannels / 20MHz) relative to the RB set of 20MHz, for SCS=15kHz, the number of interleavings cannot be evenly distributed to each subchannel, so 10 interleavings can be divided into three with consecutive interleaving numbers of 4 (for example, interleavings #0 to #3), 3 (for example, interleavings #4 to #6), and 3 (for example, interleavings #7 to #9), and each of the divided interleavings constitutes one subchannel. Similarly, for SCS=30kHz, the number of interleavings cannot be evenly distributed to each subchannel, so 5 interleavings can be divided into three with consecutive interleaving numbers of 2 (for example, interleavings #0 and #1), 2 (for example, interleavings #2 and #3), and 1 (for example, interleaving #4), and each of the divided interleavings constitutes one subchannel. In addition, for SCS=60kHz, 3 interleavings are divided into 3, and one interleaving constitutes one subchannel.

[0103] In Table 3, when the number of subchannels included in the 20 MHz RB set is another number (for example, when the number of subchannels is 4, 5, or 10), interleaving with consecutive interleaving numbers is similarly set for each subchannel.

[0104] For example, when the number of interleavings in the RB set is set to M and the number of subchannels set for the resource pool is set to C, the number of interleavings constituting each subchannel is M / C when it can be equally divided, and floor(M / C) and floor(M / C)+1 when it cannot be equally divided. Here, Floor() is a function that discards decimal points (floor function).

[0105] [Table 3]

[0106]

[0107] In this way, the subchannel size (or the number of subchannels) can be variably set in the resource pool, thereby setting a subchannel size suitable for the purpose of each resource pool.

[0108] For example, when more small data (e.g., data with a data volume less than a threshold) is sent, such as notification of sensing information, the subchannel size may be set to a smaller size, and when large data (e.g., data with a data volume greater than a threshold) is sent, such as sending a large-capacity video, the subchannel size may be set to a larger size.

[0109] The number of subchannels corresponds to the number of times terminal 200 performing sidelink communication detects PSCCH within a single time. For example, the smaller the number of subchannels, the smaller the number of times terminal 200 detects PSCCH (for example, the number of blind decodings (BD)).

[0110] In addition, as shown in Table 3, the interleaving numbers of the multiple subchannels included in the RB set may be different. For example, when the number of 30kHz subchannels is 3, there may be a case where the number of interleavings is 2 and a case where the number of interleavings is 1 depending on the subchannel. Thus, even if the interleaving number and the subchannel number are not in a multiple relationship, PSCCH / PSSCH can be configured.

[0111] [Action Example 2]

[0112] It is conceivable that an intra-cell guard band is set in an unlicensed band according to a 20 MHz RB set (for example, at the boundary of the RB set). Whether to set the intra-cell guard band can be notified to the terminal 200 by resource pool or by terminal using a high-layer signaling called "pre-configured", and whether to set the intra-cell guard band can also be predetermined according to the setting.

[0113] When setting a protection band within the cell, the terminal 200 confirms through LBT that a channel is not in use for a certain 20MHz bandwidth. Even if it is confirmed through LBT that a channel is in use for a 20MHz bandwidth of an RB set adjacent to the 20MHz bandwidth, the terminal can start sending in the 20MHz bandwidth where the channel is not in use.

[0114] For example, the case where the SL BWP is 100 MHz is described. For example, when the intra-cell guard band is set, the terminal 200 performs LBT on the RB set of 20 MHz and can start transmission in the channel confirmed by LBT that the channel is not in use. On the other hand, when the intra-cell guard band is not set, the terminal 200 can start transmission for all RB sets in the SL BWP when it is confirmed by LBT that the channel is not in use.

[0115] For example, when setting the intra-cell guard band, if a continuous RB set (or an adjacent RB set) is allocated to the terminal 200, the terminal 200 may be able to transmit the PSSCH even in the PRB that becomes the intra-cell guard band. For example, when LBT is OK for two adjacent RB sets, the terminal 200 may also transmit the PSSCH in the intra-cell guard band between the two RB sets.

[0116] In addition, when terminal 200 uses the allocated continuous RB sets, it can preset whether to allocate PSSCH to the intra-cell protection band between RB sets according to resource pools, and can also indicate whether to allocate PSSCH to the intra-cell protection band between RB sets according to PSCCH.

[0117] In addition, for example, the terminal 200 determines the number of allocated RB sets based on the signal in the PSCCH. Therefore, before receiving the PSCCH, the terminal 200 does not know whether there are adjacent RB sets allocated. Therefore, for example, the PSCCH may not be configured in the guard band within the cell.

[0118] In addition, there is also an inter-cell guard band, which is a guard band configured at the edge of the SL-BWP or resource pool. In the inter-cell guard band, neither PSCCH nor PSSCH can be configured. This can suppress the impact of out-of-band radiation on other cells.

[0119] [Action Example 3]

[0120] In operation example 3, an example of configuring the PSCCH and PSSCH when interleaving mapping is set in the PSCCH and / or PSSCH (hereinafter, also referred to as “PSCCH / PSSCH”) is described.

[0121] In the case where the PSCCH is allocated to a PRB that is part of the multiple PRBs constituting the subchannel allocated to the PSSCH, the terminal 200 may allocate the PSSCH to a PRB different from the PRB to which the PSCCH is allocated in the same symbol. In this case, the transmit power of each of the multiple PRBs constituting the subchannel may be set to be the same for the PSCCH and the PSSCH. As a result, there is no difference in transmit power between symbols, and there is no need for a time called a "tangent period" for adjusting the power between symbols.

[0122] In addition, the size of the PSSCH may be preset according to the resource pool. The size of the PSSCH may be specified by the number of PRBs or the interlace number, for example.

[0123] The following describes examples of setting the PSSCH and PSCCH.

[0124] <Setting Example 3A>

[0125] In configuration example 3A, the size of the PSSCH is preset for each resource pool. For example, the size of the PSSCH can be set to be selectable from 10, 12, 15, or 20 PRBs, similar to the licensed band.

[0126] In configuration example 3A, PSCCHs are arranged in order from PRBs with lower PRB numbers in the subchannel to which PSSCHs are allocated. For example, terminal 200 arranges PSCCHs included in the transmission signal in PRBs with lower PRB numbers among the plurality of PRBs constituting the subchannel.

[0127] Figure 7 3A is a diagram showing an example of channel configuration related to setting example 3A. Figure 7 As an example, the case of SCS=30kHz is shown, and each RB set includes three subchannels (for example, divided into three). Figure 7In the example shown, subchannel #0 includes interlaces #0 and #1, subchannel #1 includes interlaces #2 and #3, and subchannel #2 includes interlace #4.

[0128] exist Figure 7 In (a), the transmission source terminal 200 selects subchannel #0 (interlace #0, #1) to transmit the PSSCH. In this case, the PSCCH can be configured in a PRB with a lower PRB number (or a lower frequency) among the multiple PRBs constituting subchannel #0. Figure 7 As shown in (a), in the PRBs constituting subchannel #0, the higher the PRB number, the less likely the PSCCH is to be configured, and only the PSSCH is configured.

[0129] exist Figure 7 In (b), the transmission source terminal 200 selects subchannel #2 (interlace #4) to transmit the PSSCH. In this case, the PSCCH can be allocated to a PRB with a lower PRB number (or a lower frequency) among the PRBs constituting the subchannel #2.

[0130] exist Figure 7 In the example, subchannel #2 contains fewer PRBs (or, fewer interleavings) than subchannel #0. Figure 7 (b) is the same as the case where subchannel #0 is assigned (for example, Figure 7 Compared with (a)), the PSCCH is arranged in a wider frequency band and transmitted. For example, when the number of PRBs in a subchannel is the same as the number of PRBs to which the PSCCH is allocated, the PSCCH is transmitted in all the PRBs in the subchannel.

[0131] It should be noted that, when the number of PRBs allocated to the PSCCH is greater than the number of PRBs in the subchannel, the transmission source terminal 200 cannot transmit all the PSCCHs. In this case, for example, a restriction that the number of PRBs allocated to the PSCCH is not set to be greater than the number of PRBs in the subchannel may be set as a resource pool setting, and the transmission source terminal 200 may not transmit a part of the PSCCH.

[0132] exist Figure 7 In (c), the transmission source terminal 200 selects subchannel #1 and subchannel #2 to transmit the PSSCH. When multiple subchannels are selected, the PSCCH can be configured in the subchannel #1 with a lower number among subchannel #1 and subchannel #2. In addition, the PSCCH can be configured in the PRB with a lower PRB number among the PRBs constituting subchannel #1. Figure 7 As shown in (c), among the PRBs constituting subchannel #1, the higher the PRB number, the less likely it is that the PSCCH will be configured, and only the PSSCH will be configured.

[0133] In addition, Figure 7 In (c), although the transmission source terminal 200 does not configure the PSCCH in the subchannel #2, Figure 7 As shown in (b), PSCCH may also be sent in subchannel #2, so other terminals (for example, destination terminal 200) may also try to receive PSCCH in subchannel #0, subchannel #1 and subchannel #2 respectively.

[0134] In addition, for example, when the number of PRBs to which PSCCH is allocated is greater than the number of PRBs in subchannel #n, the transmission source terminal 200 may transmit PSCCH using PRBs in subchannel #n+1 in addition to PRBs in subchannel #n. In this case, PSCCH may be configured in PRBs with lower PRB numbers among the PRBs constituting subchannel #n+1.

[0135] According to setting example 3A, there is an advantage that the size of the PSCCH can be determined independently of the number of PRBs contained in the subchannel and the number of PRBs contained in the interleaving. For example, even when the number of PRBs contained in each subchannel is different, the destination terminal 200 can determine the configuration of the PSCCH based on the number of PRBs to which the PSSCH is allocated.

[0136] <Setting Example 3B>

[0137] In configuration example 3B, the size of the PSSCH is preset for each resource pool. For example, the size of the PSSCH can be set to be selectable from 10, 12, 15, or 20 PRBs, similar to the licensed band.

[0138] In setting example 3B, the PSCCH is sequentially configured from the PRBs with lower PRB numbers in the interlaces with lower interlace numbers in the subchannel to which the PSSCH is allocated. For example, terminal 200 configures the PSCCH contained in the transmission signal in the PRBs with lower PRB numbers in the interlaces with lower interlace numbers among the multiple PRBs constituting the subchannel.

[0139] Figure 8 3B is a diagram showing an example of channel configuration related to setting example 3B. Figure 8 As an example, the case of SCS=30kHz is shown, and each RB set includes two sub-channels (for example, divided into two). Figure 8 In the example shown, subchannel #0 includes interlaces #0, #1, and #2, and subchannel #1 includes interlaces #3 and #4.

[0140] exist Figure 8In (a), the transmission source terminal 200 selects subchannel #0 (interlace #0, #1, #2) to transmit the PSSCH. In this case, the PSCCH is configured in the interlace #0 with the lower interlace number among the interlaces #0, #1, and #2 constituting the subchannel #0. In addition, the PSCCH is configured in the PRB with the lower PRB number (or, lower frequency) among the multiple PRBs contained in interlace #0.

[0141] It should be noted that, when the number of PRBs allocated to PSCCH is greater than the number of PRBs included in interlace #0, Figure 8 As shown in (a), the PSCCH may be arranged in interlace #1 in addition to interlace #0. In this case, the PSCCH is arranged in a PRB with a lower PRB number (or a lower frequency) among the multiple PRBs included in interlace #1.

[0142] exist Figure 8 In (b), the transmitting source terminal 200 selects subchannel #1 (interlace #3, #4) to transmit the PSSCH. In this case, the PSCCH is configured in the interlace #3 with the lower interlace number among the interlaces #3 and #4 constituting the subchannel #1. In addition, the PSCCH is configured in the PRB with the lower PRB number (or, lower frequency) among the multiple PRBs contained in the interlace #3.

[0143] It should be noted that, when the number of PRBs allocated to PSCCH is greater than the number of PRBs included in interlace #3, Figure 8 As shown in (b), the PSCCH may be arranged in interlace #4 in addition to interlace #3. In this case, the PSCCH is arranged in a PRB with a lower PRB number (or a lower frequency) among the multiple PRBs included in interlace #4.

[0144] According to setting example 3B, there is the advantage that the size of the PSCCH can be determined independently of the number of PRBs contained in the subchannel and the number of PRBs contained in the interleaving, as in setting example 3A. For example, even when the number of PRBs contained in each subchannel is different, the destination terminal 200 can determine the configuration of the PSCCH based on the interleaving and the number of PRBs to which the PSSCH is allocated.

[0145] In setting example 3B, compared with setting example 3A, the PSCCH is first configured in one interlace within the subchannel, so the PSCCH is transmitted in a dispersed manner in the frequency direction, which has the advantage of a high frequency diversity effect.

[0146] <Setting Example 3C>

[0147] In configuration example 3C, the size of the PSSCH is preset for each resource pool. For example, the size of the PSSCH can be set to be selectable from 10, 12, 15, or 20 PRBs, similar to the licensed band.

[0148] In setting example 3C, the size of the PSCCH is preset per resource pool as the number of interleavings (eg, a prescribed number).

[0149] In setting example 3C, the PSCCH is sequentially configured starting from the PRB with the lowest PRB number among the PRBs with the lowest PRB number among the PSSCHs in the subchannel to which the PSSCH is allocated. For example, the terminal 200 configures the PSCCH included in the transmission signal in the PRB with the lowest PRB number among the PRBs with the lowest PRB number among the PSSCHs in the subchannel.

[0150] Hereinafter, as an example, a case where 1 interlace is preset as the size (predetermined number) of the PSCCH will be described. It should be noted that the size of the PSCCH may be 2 interlaces or more.

[0151] Fig. 9 3C is a diagram showing an example of channel configuration related to setting example 3C. Fig. 9 As an example, the case of SCS=30kHz is shown, and each RB set includes three subchannels (for example, divided into three). Fig. 9 In the example shown, subchannel #0 includes interlaces #0 and #1, subchannel #1 includes interlaces #2 and #3, and subchannel #2 includes interlace #4.

[0152] exist Fig. 9 In (a), the transmitting source terminal 200 selects subchannel #0 (interlace #0, #1) to transmit PSSCH. In this case, PSCCH is configured in a PRB with a lower PRB number (or a lower frequency) among multiple PRBs of an interlace #0 with a lower interlace number among interlaces #0 and #1 included in subchannel #0.

[0153] In addition, when the number of PRBs included in each interlace is different, the number of PRBs allocated to the PSCCH (e.g., the PSCCH size) may also be matched with a smaller number of PRBs (e.g., the minimum value) among the number of PRBs included in each interlace. Fig. 9 In (a), when the number of PRBs contained in interlace #0 is greater than the number of PRBs contained in other interlaces, the PSCCH size can also be set to the number of PRBs contained in other interlaces. In Figure 9 (a), the number of PRBs contained in interlace #0 is greater than the number of PRBs contained in other interlaces #1 to #4, so the PSCCH size can be set in coordination with the number of PRBs contained in each of interlaces #1 to #4. Therefore, Fig. 9 As shown in (a), the PSCCH is not allocated in a PRB with a higher PRB (or a higher frequency) among the PRBs included in interlace #0.

[0154] exist Fig. 9In (b), the transmission source terminal 200 selects subchannel #2 (interlace #4) to transmit the PSSCH. In this case, the PSCCH is allocated to the PRBs with the lowest PRB numbers of interlace #4 included in subchannel #2. Fig. 9 In the example of (b), the PSCCH is configured in all PRBs included in interlace #4.

[0155] exist Fig. 9 In (c), the transmitting source terminal 200 selects subchannel #1 (interlace #2, #3) and subchannel #2 (interlace #4) to transmit PSSCH. In this case, PSCCH is configured in subchannel #1 with a lower number among subchannels #1 and #2. In addition, PSCCH is configured in a PRB with a lower PRB number (or a lower frequency) among multiple PRBs of an interlace #2 with a lower interlace number among interlaces #2 and #3 contained in subchannel #1. Fig. 9 In the example of (c), the PSCCH is configured in all PRBs included in interlace #2.

[0156] In addition, Fig. 9 In (c), although the transmission source terminal 200 does not configure the PSCCH in the subchannel #2, Fig. 9 As shown in (b), PSCCH may also be sent in subchannel #2, so other terminals (for example, destination terminal 200) may also try to receive PSCCH in subchannel #0, subchannel #1 and subchannel #2 respectively.

[0157] According to setting example 3C, the PSCCH is configured in interleaving units. Therefore, even if the number of interleavings in a subchannel is different between subchannels, the configuration relationship between the PSCCH and the interleaving in each subchannel is the same, and the destination terminal 200 can easily receive the PSCCH. Fig. 9 In the example shown, Fig. 9 (a)~ Fig. 9 In any case of (c), the PSCCH is allocated to an interlace with a lower interlace number among the interlaces included in the subchannel to which the PSSCH is allocated.

[0158] <Setting Example 3D>

[0159] In setting example 3D, mapping (configuration) from VRB (virtual resource block) to PRB is performed.

[0160] Fig.10 It is a diagram showing an example of mapping from VRB to PRB.

[0161] In VRB, for example, RBs within a subchannel can be configured continuously. Fig.10 In the example, subchannels #0 to #2 may each include 4 consecutive VRBs.

[0162] In addition, PSCCH can be configured in consecutive VRBs, for example. Fig.10 In the example of , the PSCCH is allocated to two consecutive VRBs with lower numbers in each of the subchannels #0 to #2.

[0163] In the VRB, at least one of the subchannel structure of the sidelink in the licensed band and the structure of continuous allocation in the frequency direction without interleaving mapping in the unlicensed band may also be inherited. Regarding the configuration from VRB to PRB, the interleaving rule or the interleaving rule may be preset according to the resource pool.

[0164] Furthermore, in a PRB, subchannels may be allocated to a portion of consecutive PRBs or non-consecutive PRBs.

[0165] In this way, by mapping VRBs to PRBs, the same design can be used for both continuous and non-continuous configurations of PRBs (eg, the same configuration as interleaving).

[0166] The above describes the setting example of the PSCCH in Action Example 3.

[0167] [Structure of Terminal 200]

[0168] Fig.11 It is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the terminal 200 according to the present embodiment. Fig.11 The terminal 200 shown includes a receiving unit 201, an LBT carrier monitoring unit 202, a signal separation unit 203, a demodulation unit 204, an error correction decoding unit 205, a control signal receiving unit 206, an error correction coding unit 207, a modulation unit 208, a control signal generating unit 209, a signal distribution unit 210 and a sending unit 211.

[0169] It should be noted that at least one of the LBT carrier sensing unit 202, the signal separation unit 203, the demodulation unit 204, the error correction decoding unit 205, the control signal receiving unit 206, the error correction coding unit 207, the modulation unit 208, the control signal generating unit 209, and the signal distribution unit 210 may be included in Figure 6 In addition, at least one of the receiving unit 201 and the sending unit 211 may be included in Figure 6 Communications Department shown.

[0170] In the sidelink communication, the terminal 200 may be a transmitting terminal (or a transmission source terminal) that transmits a sidelink signal, or may be a receiving terminal (or a destination terminal) that receives a sidelink signal.

[0171] The receiving unit 201 receives the received signal via the antenna and performs receiving processing such as down-conversion on the received signal. The received signal may be, for example, a sidelink signal including PSSCH / PSCCH. It should be noted that the sidelink signal may also include PSFCH. In addition, the received signal received by the receiving unit 201 may include a non-transmission interval and a signal different from the sidelink signal (for example, a downlink signal from the base station 100). The receiving unit 201 outputs the received signal after receiving processing to the LBT carrier monitoring unit 202 and the signal separation unit 203.

[0172] The LBT carrier sensing unit 202 performs carrier sensing (or, referred to as "LBT") based on the received signal input from the receiving unit 201. The LBT carrier sensing unit 202 can determine whether the channel state is "busy" (or, LBT failure) or "idle" (or, LBT OK) based on the received signal. In other words, the LBT carrier sensing unit 202 can determine whether the channel is available based on the received signal input from the receiving unit 201. The LBT carrier sensing unit 202 outputs information indicating the determined channel state to the transmitting unit 211.

[0173] The signal separation unit 203 outputs a received data signal from the received signal input from the receiving unit 201 to the demodulation unit 204. The received data signal is configured on the PSSCH, for example. In addition, the signal separation unit 203 separates the first-stage SCI configured on the PSCCH and the second-stage SCI configured on a part of the PSSCH from the received signal input from the receiving unit 201, and outputs the separated information to the control signal receiving unit 206.

[0174] The demodulation unit 204 performs a demodulation process on the reception data signal input from the signal separation unit 203. The demodulation unit 204 outputs a demodulated signal obtained by the demodulation process to the error correction decoding unit 205.

[0175] The error correction decoding unit 205 decodes the demodulated signal input from the demodulation unit 204, and outputs it as reception data.

[0176] The control signal receiving unit 206 determines (or grasps) resource allocation information including reserved resources based on the first-stage SCI included in the signal input from the signal separation unit 203. The control signal receiving unit 206 outputs the resource allocation information to the signal allocation unit 210, for example, so as to avoid overlapping with other resources. In addition, for example, the control signal receiving unit 206 determines (or grasps) the transmission ID and the reception ID based on the second-stage SCI included in the signal input from the signal separation unit 203. The control signal receiving unit 206 determines whether there is resource allocation to the terminal 200 based on the determined transmission ID or reception ID, and instructs the signal separation unit 203 to separate the received signal if there is resource allocation to the terminal 200.

[0177] The error correction coding unit 207 inputs the data signal, performs error correction coding on the data signal, and outputs the error correction coded data signal to the modulation unit 208 .

[0178] The modulation unit 208 modulates the data signal input from the error correction coding unit 207 , and outputs the modulated signal to the signal distribution unit 210 .

[0179] The control signal generation unit 209 generates the first stage SCI and second stage SCI signals based on control information (not shown) and outputs the first stage SCI and second stage SCI signals to the signal distribution unit 210 .

[0180] The signal allocation unit 210 allocates the modulated signal input from the modulation unit 208 to the resource. At this time, the signal allocation unit 210 may also consider the signal input from the control signal generation unit 209 and allocate the signal to the resource. For example, the signal allocation unit 210 may determine the configuration of the PSCCH for transmitting the first stage SCI based on the size of the PSCCH set for each resource pool. After performing resource allocation, the signal allocation unit 210 outputs the transmission signal to the transmission unit 211.

[0181] When the sensing result obtained from the LBT carrier sensing unit 202 indicates an idle state, the transmission unit 211 performs transmission processing such as up-conversion on the transmission signal input from the signal distribution unit 210 and transmits the processed transmission signal via the antenna.

[0182] The operation example of this embodiment has been described above.

[0183] Thus, in this embodiment, the terminal 200 allocates the PSCCH / PSSCH to the subchannel composed of consecutively numbered interleavings in the sidelink communication of the unlicensed frequency band, and transmits the PSCCH / PSSCH. Thus, the terminal 200 can appropriately set the subchannel and interleaving mapping in the sidelink communication of the unlicensed frequency band. For example, by allocating the subchannel units composed of consecutively numbered interleavings, the influence of interference between the terminal 200 and other terminals can be reduced. Thus, according to this embodiment, the utilization efficiency of the sidelink communication resources in the unlicensed frequency band can be improved.

[0184] In addition, although the present embodiment describes a case where subchannels are interleaved with consecutive interleaving numbers, the present invention is not limited thereto, and subchannels may be interleaved with non-consecutive interleaving numbers, or may be interleaved with both consecutive and non-consecutive interleaving numbers.

[0185] In addition, although the present embodiment describes the case where the PSCCH is sequentially configured starting from a low PRB number, a low interleaving number, and a low subchannel number, it is not limited to this. For example, the PSCCH may be sequentially configured starting from a high number (for example, a high frequency) of at least one of the PRB, interleaving, and subchannel, or may be sequentially configured starting from a set order of numbers.

[0186] (Implementation Method 2)

[0187] In this embodiment, a resource allocation method and a transmission method are described in which a plurality of time resources (for example, symbols) for detecting the PSCCH by the destination terminal 200 are arranged in a time slot.

[0188] In the authorized frequency band, the configuration position of the PSCCH of the side link is only at the front end of the time slot. In this embodiment, for example, it is assumed that in addition to configuring the PSCCH at the front end of the time slot, the PSCCH is also configured at other positions in the time slot, and a newly added PSCCH starting position (called "Additional PSCCH starting point" or "Additional starting point") is set.

[0189] It should be noted that the number of additional start points in a time slot is not limited to one, and a plurality of additional start points may be set (or arranged) in one time slot.

[0190] An example of a case where an additional start point is set will be described.

[0191] [Scenario 1]

[0192] Case 1 is the following case, that is, if Fig.12As shown, the source terminal 200 performs LBT, the channel is used by other systems or other devices (busy state or LBT failure), cannot obtain the transmission right, and cannot send PSCCH / PSSCH from the front end of time slot N+2.

[0193] In case 1, if Fig.12 As shown, the transmission source terminal 200 can perform LBT at an additional starting point in the middle of time slot N+2, and transmit PSCCH / PSSCH when it is determined that the channel is not used by other systems or other devices and the transmission right is obtained.

[0194] In case 1, PSCCH may be allocated at the addition start point in a time slot where a pre-reserved resource is allocated (or LBT may be implemented). For example, no addition start point may be set in a time slot where a pre-reserved resource is not allocated.

[0195] In case 1, the length of the PSSCH (e.g., symbol length) is determined according to the starting position of the PSCCH. For example, when the PSCCH is configured from the leading symbol of a time slot (e.g., a sidelink time slot), the length of the PSSCH can be set to the same length as the time slot. In addition, when the PSCCH is configured from an additional starting point within the time slot, the length of the PSSCH can be set to the interval from the additional starting point of the PSCCH to the end of the time slot.

[0196] For example, when the PSCCH is detected in the leading symbol of the time slot, the destination terminal 200 can determine that the length of the PSSCH is the same as the length of the time slot. In addition, when the PSCCH is detected at the additional start point, the destination terminal 200 can determine that the length of the PSSCH is the interval from the additional start point to the end of the time slot. In this way, the destination terminal 200 can determine the length of the PSCCH (PSCCH size) based on the position of the detected PSCCH in the time slot, and therefore, the information related to the length of the PSSCH may not be notified to the destination terminal 200.

[0197] [Scenario 2]

[0198] Case 2 is the following case, that is, if Fig.13 As shown, the transmission source terminal 200 reserves the resource of the time slot N+1.

[0199] In case 2, if Fig.13 As shown, if the transmission source terminal 200 confirms that there is no transmission from the beginning of time slot N, it can perform LBT at the additional start point in the middle of time slot N and obtain the transmission right for time slot N+1.

[0200] For example, when the transmission right is obtained at the additional starting point of time slot N, the transmission source terminal 200 can transmit PSCCH / PSSCH in the reserved resources of time slot N+1 from the additional starting point of time slot N. Fig.13 As shown, the transmission source terminal 200 can arrange the PSCCH at the addition start point of the time slot N and the leading symbol of the time slot N+1.

[0201] Thus, the transmission source terminal 200 obtains the transmission right at a timing earlier than the reserved resources. Therefore, other terminals cannot transmit from a timing earlier than the reserved resources, so the possibility that the terminal 200 can transmit the PSCCH / PSSCH in the reserved resources is high. That is, the probability that the transmission source terminal 200 fails to obtain the transmission right in the reserved resources and causes the transmission of the PSCCH / PSSCH to be suspended can be reduced.

[0202] [Scenario 3]

[0203] Case 3 is the following case, that is, if Fig.14 As shown, the number of symbols that can transmit PSSCH can be set shorter than the time slot length.

[0204] In case 3, the number of transmission symbols of the PSSCH can be set to be shorter than the time slot length. For example, multiple PSSCH / PSCCHs can be configured in the time resources within one time slot.

[0205] For example, Fig.14 As shown, the sending source terminal 200 can perform LBT at one or both of the front end of time slot N and the additional starting point in the middle of time slot N, and send PSCCH / PSSCH after confirming that the channel is not used by other systems or other devices and obtaining the transmission right.

[0206] In case 3, the transmission source terminal 200 can notify the destination terminal 200 of the length of the PSSCH based on the PSCCH. For example, if the length of the PSCCH is 14 symbols, the PSSCH is configured in all symbols in the time slot, and if the length of the PSCCH is 7 symbols, the PSCCH is configured in the mini-time slot. It should be noted that the length of the PSCCH is not limited to 14 symbols or 7 symbols, and may be other lengths.

[0207] In the above, an example of the case where the additional start point is set has been described.

[0208] In the case where the PSCCH can be detected at the additional start point as in these cases, the number of times (BD times) that the destination terminal 200 detects the PSCCH in one time slot may increase. As described above, the PSCCH is detected per subchannel, so the fewer the number of subchannels (for example, if limited), the fewer the number of PSCCH detections.

[0209] Therefore, in this embodiment, the number of subchannels set for the resource pool can be determined according to the setting of the additional starting point. For example, the number of subchannels in the case of setting the additional starting point can be set to be less than the number of subchannels in the case of not setting the additional starting point. In addition, for example, the more the number of start positions (for example, the front code element and the additional starting point) of the configurable PSCCH in the time slot is, the fewer the number of subchannels that can be set in the time slot can be set. In this way, when the additional starting point is set, the number of subchannels set for the resource pool can also be limited.

[0210] Next, an operation example of the terminal 200 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0211] [Action Example 1]

[0212] In operation example 1, a setting example of a subchannel corresponding to the setting of the addition start point is described.

[0213] <Setting Example 1A>

[0214] When the additional start point is not set (or not newly added), the number of subchannels that can be set in the time slot is set to C.

[0215] For example, when the number of time resources for attempting to detect the PSCCH in one time slot including the addition start point is K, the number of subchannels that can be set in the time slot can be set (eg, limited) to C / K.

[0216] For example, Fig.15 As shown in (a), when no additional start point is set, the number of subchannels that can be set in a time slot is set to C = 4. Fig.15 In (a), the destination terminal 200 attempts to detect the PSCCH in, for example, C=4 subchannels (for example, subchannels #0 to #3) within a time slot (for example, the number of times the PSCCH is detected: 4 times).

[0217] In addition, if Fig.15 As shown in (b), when the time resources for attempting to detect PSCCH in one time slot, including the additional starting point, are K = 2 (for example, the front end of the time slot and one additional starting point), the number of subchannels that can be set in the time slot is set (limited) to C / K = 2. Fig.15 In (b), the destination terminal 200 attempts to detect the PSCCH in C / K=2 subchannels (eg, subchannels #0 and #1) at the beginning of the time slot and the addition start point in the time slot (eg, number of PSCCH detections: 4 times).

[0218] According to setting example 1A, even when a plurality of time resources for attempting to detect the PSCCH are set including the addition start point, an increase in the number of times the PSCCH is detected per time slot can be suppressed.

[0219] <Setting Example 1B>

[0220] In setting example 1B, when the number of time resources for attempting to detect PSCCH in 1 time slot is K, including an additional starting point, the number of PSCCH detections equivalent to the number of subchannels × the number of time resources can be set to a value not exceeding the following number, which is based on the number of times the terminal 200 can receive the PDCCH sent from the base station 100 in each time slot.

[0221] For example, the number of subchannels (or subchannel size) and the number of addition start points may be set according to the set value of the number of times of detection of the PSCCH.

[0222] It should be noted that the number of times the terminal 200 can receive the PDCCH transmitted from the base station 100 per time slot may be set, for example, according to the capability or specification of the terminal 200 .

[0223] <Setting Example 1C>

[0224] In setting example 1C, when setting the addition start point, one subchannel is set in the RB set. Therefore, for example, a 20 MHz band corresponding to the RB set is set as one subchannel.

[0225] In this way, when setting the addition start point, the subchannel size is set to be the same as the size of the RB set, thereby reducing the number of times of PSCCH detection.

[0226] Furthermore, as a variation of setting example 1C, when K or more additional starting points (for example, a threshold) are set, a setting (or restriction) such as setting one subchannel within an RB set may be added.

[0227] In setting example 1C, when setting the addition start point, the number of subchannels set is not limited to one, and may be another number.

[0228] The above is the description of operation example 1.

[0229] [Action Example 2]

[0230] In Example 2, an example of setting the PSFCH is described in which a plurality of PSSCHs shorter than 14 symbols, called "microslots", are transmitted in a time slot as in the above-mentioned case 3. For example, in sidelink communication, the configuration of the PSFCHs for the plurality of PSSCHs configured on the time resources in one time slot has not yet been determined.

[0231] <Setting Example 2A>

[0232] In setting example 2A, when an additional starting point is set and it is possible to transmit a plurality of PSSCHs in a time resource within a time slot, PSFCH is not set (or is not supported).

[0233] Thus, the correspondence relationship between the PSFCH and the PSSCH corresponding to the addition start point does not need to be set.

[0234] In addition, in the transmission of micro-time slots, retransmission can be performed in a short period, so it is also conceivable to retransmit based on line quality without waiting for the HARQ-ACK (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Qequest-ACKnowledge) feedback from the PSFCH. In this case, the impact of not setting up the PSFCH on retransmission control can be reduced.

[0235] <Setting Example 2B>

[0236] In setting example 2B, PSFCH resources for additional starting points can be set (prepared).

[0237] For example, the PSFCH-Config (e.g., Fig.16 ), or a newly set mapping, sets the PSFCH resources for the PSSCH allocated by the PSCCH at the front end of the time slot.

[0238] In addition, the PSFCH resources for the PSSCH allocated by the PSCCH configured at the addition starting point may be newly set. Fig.16 As shown, in the "sl-PSFCH-RB-Set" which indicates the position of the PRB resources of the PSFCH in the "sl-PSFCH-RB-Set-r16" within the "SL-PSFCH-Config", the PSFCH resources for the PSSCH allocated by the PSCCH configured at the additional starting point are set differently from the existing settings.

[0239] "sl-PSFCH-RB-Set" is, for example, a parameter indicating a PRB used for transmission and reception of a PSFCH. For example, "sl-PSFCH-RB-Set" may also indicate, in a bitmap format, whether each of a plurality of PRBs is used for transmission and reception of a PSFCH. For example, at least one of the PRBs represented by sl-PSFCH-RB-Set may also include a PSFCH resource for a PSSCH allocated by a PSCCH configured at an additional starting point.

[0240] According to setting example 2B, frequency multiplexing of PSFCHs for multiple PSSCHs arranged in a time slot can be performed.

[0241] Furthermore, the PSFCHs of a plurality of PSSCHs are not limited to being allocated to a plurality of resources on the frequency axis, and may be allocated to a plurality of resources on the time axis.

[0242] <Setting Example 2C>

[0243] like Figure 1 As shown in (a) of FIG. 1 , the PSFCH in the sidelink communication in the licensed band is arranged in the second symbol from the end of the time slot.

[0244] In setting example 2C, when setting an additional starting point, resources for configuring the PSFCH may be newly set on the time axis within the time slot.

[0245] For example, Fig.17 As shown in (a) of FIG. 1 , the PSFCH may be configured before the PSCCH configured at the additional starting point. Alternatively, Fig.17 As shown in (b), a new PSFCH may be configured before a PSFCH configured in the second symbol from the end of a time slot.

[0246] <Setting Example 2D>

[0247] In setting example 2D, when an additional starting point is set and it is possible to send multiple PSSCHs on the time resources within the time slot, regarding the PSFCH of the PSSCH allocated by the front-end PSCCH among the multiple PSSCHs, the resources can be set according to the PSFCH-related rules defined in Rel.16 or the newly defined mapping.

[0248] On the other hand, for the PSSCH corresponding to the PSCCH allocated at the addition start point among the plurality of PSSCHs in the slot, no PSFCH resources are allocated.

[0249] Thus, the transmission source terminal 200 receives feedback of HARQ-ACK for the PSSCH allocated by the front-end PSCCH, but does not receive feedback of HARQ-ACK for the PSSCH allocated by the PSCCH of the additional starting point. For example, the transmission source terminal 200 can use the PSCCH differently according to the purpose, so that the PSCCH at the front end of the time slot is used when HARQ-ACK feedback is required, and the PSCCH of the additional starting point is used when HARQ-ACK is not required.

[0250] The above describes an example of setting the PSFCH.

[0251] The operation example of this embodiment has been described above.

[0252] It should be noted that the operation example of this embodiment is applicable regardless of whether the arrangement of PRBs to which the PSSCH is allocated is continuous arrangement or interleaved mapping as in the first embodiment.

[0253] As described above, in this embodiment, the terminal 200 can increase the number of times that the PSCCH can be sent in the time slot (or the number of times that the PSCCH can be detected) by setting an additional starting point in the time slot. Thus, for example, even when the LBT result at the front end of the time slot is busy (LBT failed), the transmission source terminal 200 can perform LBT at the additional starting point in the middle of the time slot, thereby increasing the probability of obtaining the transmission right. Or, for example, the transmission source terminal 200 can send multiple PSSCHs in the time slot, such as a micro-time slot.

[0254] As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the utilization efficiency of sidelink communication resources in the unlicensed band.

[0255] Each embodiment has been described above.

[0256] [Transformation]

[0257] It should be noted that the operation examples of the above-mentioned embodiments may be used in combination.

[0258] In addition, the terminal that performs transmission and reception in the sidelink includes a terminal that performs transmission but not reception in the sidelink, a terminal that performs reception but not transmission, and a terminal that performs both transmission and reception.

[0259] In addition, when the setting related to the sidelink is preset, the setting method may be preset in the specification (standard) or in the SIM (Subscriber Identity Module). Alternatively, the setting related to the sidelink may be set in the application layer called "preset", or in the SIB (system information block) and / or other RRC (radio resource control) and other high layers called "configured", or in the MAC (Medium Access Control).

[0260] In addition, although the above embodiments show examples of sidelink communication, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in the above embodiments, PSCCH may be replaced with PDCCH, PSSCH may be replaced with PDSCH or PUSCH, PSFCH may be replaced with PUCCH, and PSBCH may be replaced with PBCH, and the present disclosure may be applied to the communication between the base station and the terminal.

[0261] In addition, the above-mentioned embodiments may be applied to mode 2 but not to mode 1, may be applied to both mode 1 and mode 2, or may be applied to mode 1 but not to mode 2. In addition, in each action example of the above-mentioned embodiments, the action example applied to mode 1 and the action example applied to mode 2 may be the same or different. For example, there may be an action example applied to mode 2 but not to mode 1.

[0262] In addition, when the above-mentioned embodiments are applied to Mode 1, the base station may instruct which type 2A, 2B, or 2C of the Type 2 LBT is to be selected in the licensed band.

[0263] In addition, although the above embodiments show examples of operations in the unlicensed band, the frequency band of the unlicensed band may vary from country to country or region to region. The frequency band of the unlicensed band illustratively includes the 5 GHz band (5150 MHz-5925 MHz), the 6 GHz band (5925 MHz-7125 MHz), and 52.6 GHz to 71 GHz.

[0264] In addition, whether or not the above-mentioned embodiments or operation examples can be used may be changed according to SCS.

[0265] In addition, Type 1 LBT and Type 2 LBT may also be referred to by other names in sidelink communication.

[0266] The SCI format transmitted in the PSCCH may be SCI format 1-A or a newly added SCI format.

[0267] In addition, the above-mentioned embodiments can also be applied to S-PSS / SSS / PSBCH.

[0268] Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, in the case of multicast or broadcast, the destination terminal may be a plurality of terminals.

[0269] In addition, the guard band may also be referred to as an "intra-cell guard band".

[0270] In addition, the allocation of resources for sidelink communication illustrated in the above embodiments is an example, and the present disclosure is not limited to these allocations. For example, the resources for sidelink communication may also include signals, channels, and non-transmission intervals that are not illustrated. In addition, the width of the signals in the time direction and frequency direction shown in each figure is not limited to the illustrated examples. In addition, the size of the time slot, the size of the resource, the size of the channel, the size of the signal, etc. are not limited to the above examples.

[0271] In addition, although the above-mentioned embodiments show an example in which the CP length of the sidelink signal is lengthened by CP extension to adjust the length of the sidelink signal, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Instead of lengthening the CP length, the length may be adjusted by adding a known signal.

[0272] In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments, confirmation of the channel idle state may be replaced by expressions such as sensing (or monitoring) the channel idle state. In addition, the "channel" in this case may be replaced by other terms such as "carrier" or "resource".

[0273] In addition, the method of notifying the terminal 200 of control information from the base station 100 is not limited to the above example, and may be notified (or broadcast, indicated, set) by at least one of system information such as MIB and SIB, RRC control information, MAC control information, and downlink control information (DCI: Downlink Control Information), or may be pre-set to the terminal 200 or pre-specified in the standard.

[0274] The base station may be referred to as a “gNodeB” or a “gNB.” In addition, the terminal may also be referred to as a “UE.”

[0275] The resource allocation unit in the sidelink communication in the unlicensed band may be a unit different from a subchannel, or may have a name different from a subchannel.

[0276] The time resource unit of time slot can also be replaced by other units such as system frame, time slot, mini-time slot, frame, subframe, block, etc.

[0277] In addition, the expression "...part" in the above-mentioned embodiments may be replaced by other expressions such as "...circuitry", "...device", "...unit" or "...module".

[0278] It should be noted that terms such as "interpret", "determine", "judge", "determine", "decide", "calculate", "grasp", "recognize", "confirm" or "understand" can be used interchangeably.

[0279] (Replenish)

[0280] The information indicating whether the terminal 200 supports the functions, actions or processes shown in the above-mentioned embodiments may be sent (or notified) by the terminal 200 to the base station 100 as capability information or capability parameters of the terminal 200, for example.

[0281] The capability information may also include the following information elements (IE: Information Element), which individually indicate whether the terminal 200 supports at least one of the functions, actions, and processes shown in the above embodiments. Alternatively, the capability information may also include the following information elements, which indicate whether the terminal 200 supports a combination of two or more of the functions, actions, and processes shown in the above embodiments.

[0282] The base station 100 may, for example, determine (or determine or assume) a function, action or process supported (or not supported) by the terminal 200 that sends the capability information based on the capability information received from the terminal 200. The base station 100 may implement an action, process or control corresponding to the result of the determination based on the capability information. For example, the base station 100 may control the sidelink communication between the terminals 200 based on the capability information received from the terminal 200.

[0283] It should be noted that the terminal 200 does not support a part of the functions, actions or processes shown in the above embodiments, which may also be replaced by limiting such a part of the functions, actions or processes in the terminal 200. For example, information or requests related to such limitations may also be notified to the base station 100.

[0284] The information related to the capability or limitation of the terminal 200 may be defined in the standard, for example, or may be implicitly notified to the base station 100 by being associated with information known to the base station 100 or information transmitted to the base station 100 .

[0285] (Control signal)

[0286] In the present disclosure, a downlink control signal (or downlink control information) associated with an embodiment of the present disclosure may be, for example, a signal (or information) sent in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH: Physical Downlink Control Channel) of the physical layer, or a signal (or information) sent in a medium access control control element (MAC CE: Medium Access Control Control Element) or a radio resource control (RRC: Radio Resource Control) of a higher layer. In addition, the signal (or information) is not limited to the case of being notified by a downlink control signal, and may be pre-defined in a specification (or standard), or may be pre-set in a base station and a terminal.

[0287] In the present disclosure, an uplink control signal (or uplink control information) associated with an embodiment of the present disclosure may be, for example, a signal (or information) sent in a PUCCH of a physical layer, or a signal (or information) sent in a MAC CE or RRC of a higher layer. In addition, the signal (or information) is not limited to the case where it is notified by an uplink control signal, and may be pre-defined in a specification (or standard), or may be pre-set in a base station and a terminal. In addition, the uplink control signal may be, for example, changed to uplink control information (UCI: uplink control information), first stage (1st stage) sidelink control information (SCI: sidelink control information), or second stage (2nd stage) SCI.

[0288] (Base Station)

[0289] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the base station may also be a transceiver point (TRP: Transmission Reception Point), a cluster head, an access point, a remote radio head (RRH: Remote Radio Head), an eNodeB (eNB), a gNodeB (gNB), a base station (BS: Base Station), a base transceiver station (BTS: Base Transceiver Station), a mother machine, a gateway, etc. In addition, in the sidelink communication, the terminal may also assume the role of the base station. In addition, the base station may also be replaced by a relay device that relays the communication between the high-level node and the terminal. In addition, the base station may also be replaced by a roadside device.

[0290] (Uplink / Downlink / Sidelink)

[0291] An embodiment of the present disclosure may also be applied to any link in the uplink, downlink and sidelink. For example, an embodiment of the present disclosure may also be applied to the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH: Physical Uplink Shared Channel), physical uplink control channel (PUCCH: Physical UplinkControl Channel), physical random access channel (PRACH: Physical Random Access Channel) of the uplink, physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH: Physical Downlink Shared Channel), PDCCH, physical broadcast channel (PBCH: Physical Broadcast Channel) of the downlink, or physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH: Physical Sidelink Shared Channel), physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH: Physical Sidelink Control Channel), physical sidelink broadcast channel (PSBCH: Physical SidelinkBroadcast Channel) of the sidelink.

[0292] It should be noted that PDCCH, PDSCH, PUSCH and PUCCH are examples of downlink control channels, downlink data channels, uplink data channels and uplink control channels, respectively. In addition, PSCCH and PSSCH are examples of sidelink control channels and sidelink data channels. In addition, PBCH and PSBCH are examples of broadcast channels, and PRACH is an example of a random access channel.

[0293] (Data Channel / Control Channel)

[0294] An embodiment of the present disclosure may also be applied to any channel in a data channel and a control channel. For example, the channel in an embodiment of the present disclosure may also be changed to one of PDSCH, PUSCH, PSSCH of a data channel, or PDCCH, PUCCH, PBCH, PSCCH, PSBCH of a control channel.

[0295] (Reference signal)

[0296] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the reference signal is, for example, a signal known to both the base station and the mobile station, and is sometimes referred to as a "Reference Signal (RS)" or a "pilot signal". The reference signal may also be any one of a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS), a tracking reference signal (TRS), a phase tracking reference signal (PTRS), a cell-specific reference signal (CRS), and a sounding reference signal (SRS).

[0297] (Time interval)

[0298] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the unit of time resources is not limited to one of a time slot and a symbol or a combination thereof, and may be, for example, a frame, a superframe, a subframe, a time slot, a time slot subslot, a minislot, or a symbol, an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) symbol, a single carrier-frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) symbol, or other time resource units. In addition, the number of symbols contained in one time slot is not limited to the number of symbols exemplified in the above-mentioned embodiment, and may be other numbers of symbols.

[0299] (frequency band)

[0300] An embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to any of a licensed band and an unlicensed band.

[0301] (communication)

[0302] An embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to any communication between a base station and a terminal (Uu link communication), between terminals (sidelink communication), and in-vehicle wireless communication technology (V2X: Vehicle to Everything). For example, the channel in an embodiment of the present disclosure may be changed to one of PSCCH, PSSCH, physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH: Physical Sidelink Feedback Channel), PSBCH, PDCCH, PUCCH, PDSCH, PUSCH, and PBCH.

[0303] In addition, an embodiment of the present disclosure can be applied to any network in a terrestrial network and a non-terrestrial network (NTN: Non-Terrestrial Network) using a satellite or a high altitude pseudo satellite (HAPS: High Altitude Pseudo Satellite). In addition, an embodiment of the present disclosure can also be applied to a terrestrial network such as a network with a large cell size and an ultra-wideband transmission network where the transmission delay is greater than the symbol length or the time slot length.

[0304] (Antenna port)

[0305] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an antenna port refers to a logical antenna (antenna group) composed of one or more physical antennas. For example, an antenna port does not necessarily refer to a physical antenna, but sometimes refers to an array antenna composed of multiple antennas. For example, it may be that the antenna port is not specified to be composed of several physical antennas, but is specified as the minimum unit that the terminal can send a reference signal (reference signal). In addition, an antenna port is sometimes also specified as the minimum unit multiplied by the weight of a precoding vector.

[0306] <5G NR system architecture and protocol stack>

[0307] 3GPP is continuing work to implement the next version of fifth generation mobile technology (also referred to simply as "5G"), including the development of new radio access technology (NR) operating in the frequency range up to 100 GHz. The first version of the 5G standard was completed in late 2017, which enabled the transition to trial production of terminals (e.g., smartphones) compliant with the 5G NR standard and commercial deployment.

[0308] For example, the system architecture as a whole envisions a NG-RAN (Next Generation Radio Access Network) including gNBs. The gNB provides the UE-side termination of the protocols of the user plane (SDAP (Service Data Adaptation Protocol) / PDCP (Packet Data Convergence Protocol) / RLC (Radio Link Control) / MAC / PHY (Physical Layer)) and control plane (RRC) of the NG radio access. The gNBs are connected to each other through an Xn interface. In addition, the gNB is connected to the NGC (Next Generation Core) through a Next Generation (NG) interface, more specifically, to the AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) (e.g., a specific core entity that executes the AMF) through an NG-C interface, and in addition, to the UPF (User Plane Function) (e.g., a specific core entity that executes the UPF) through an NG-U interface. Fig.18 Represents the NG-RAN architecture (for example, refer to 3GPP TS 38.300 v15.6.0, section 4).

[0309] The protocol stack of the user plane of NR (e.g., refer to 3GPP TS 38.300, Section 4.4.1) includes the PDCP (Packet Data Convergence Protocol (see Section 6.4 of TS 38.300)) sublayer, the RLC (Radio Link Control (see Section 6.3 of TS 38.300)) sublayer and the MAC (Media Access Control (see Section 6.2 of TS 38.300)) sublayer terminated on the network side in the gNB. In addition, a sublayer (SDAP: Service Data Adaptation Protocol) of the new access stratum (AS: Access Stratum) has been introduced on PDCP (e.g., refer to Section 6.5 of 3GPP TS 38.300). In addition, a protocol stack of the control plane is defined for NR (e.g., refer to TS 38.300, Section 4.4.2). An overview of the functions of Layer 2 is described in Section 6 of TS 38.300. The functions of the PDCP sublayer, RLC sublayer and MAC sublayer are listed in Sections 6.4, 6.3 and 6.2 of TS 38.300 respectively. The functions of the RRC layer are listed in Section 7 of TS 38.300.

[0310] For example, the media access control layer handles multiplexing of logical channels, and scheduling including processing of various parameter sets and various functions associated with the scheduling.

[0311] For example, the physical layer (PHY) is responsible for coding, PHY HARQ (Physical Layer Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) processing, modulation, multi-antenna processing, and mapping signals to appropriate physical time-frequency resources. In addition, the physical layer handles the mapping of transport channels to physical channels. The physical layer provides services to the MAC layer in the form of transport channels. A physical channel corresponds to a set of time-frequency resources used to send a specific transport channel, and each transport channel is mapped to a corresponding physical channel. For example, in the physical channel, the uplink physical channels include PRACH (Physical Random Access Channel), PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel), PUCCH (Physical Uplink Control Channel), and the downlink physical channels include PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel), PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel), and PBCH (Physical Broadcast Channel).

[0312] The use cases / extended scenarios of NR may include enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC), and massive machine type communications (mMTC), which have various requirements in terms of data rate, latency, and coverage. For example, eMBB is expected to support peak data rates (20 Gbps in the downlink and 10 Gbps in the uplink) and effective (user-experienced) data rates that are about 3 times the data rates provided by IMT-Advanced (International Mobile Telecommunications-Advanced). On the other hand, in the case of URLLC, more stringent requirements are proposed for ultra-low latency (the latency of the user plane is 0.5 ms in UL and DL, respectively) and high reliability (within 1 ms, 1-10-5). Finally, in mMTC, preferably, a high connection density is required (1,000,000 devices / km in an urban environment). 2 ), wide coverage in harsh environments and extremely long battery life (15 years) for a cheap device.

[0313] Therefore, sometimes the parameter set of OFDM that is suitable for one use case (for example, subcarrier spacing (SCS: SubCarrier Spacing), OFDM codeword length, cyclic prefix (CP: Cyclic Prefix) length, number of codewords per scheduling interval) is invalid for other use cases. For example, in low-latency services, it is preferred that the codeword length is shorter than that of mMTC services (therefore, the subcarrier spacing is larger) and / or the number of codewords per scheduling interval (also called "TTI (Transmission Time Interval)") is small. Moreover, in extended scenarios where the delay spread of the channel is large, it is preferred that the CP length is longer than that of scenarios where the delay spread is short. The subcarrier spacing can also be optimized according to the situation to maintain the same CP overhead. The value of the subcarrier spacing supported by NR can be more than one. Correspondingly, subcarrier spacings of 15kHz, 30kHz, 60kHz... are currently considered. The codeword length Tu and the subcarrier spacing Δf are directly related according to the formula Δf=1 / Tu. Similar to the LTE system, the term “resource element” can be used to represent the minimum resource unit composed of one subcarrier with a length of one OFDM / SC-FDMA (Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access) symbol.

[0314] In the new wireless system 5G-NR, for each parameter set and each carrier, a resource grid of subcarriers and OFDM symbols is defined in the uplink and downlink. Each element of the resource grid is called a "resource element", which is determined based on the frequency index in the frequency domain and the symbol position in the time domain (refer to 3GPP TS 38.211 v15.6.0).

[0315] <Functional separation between NG-RAN and 5GC in 5G NR>

[0316] Fig.19 Indicates the functional separation between NG-RAN and 5GC. The logical node of NG-RAN is gNB or ng-eNB. 5GC has logical nodes AMF, UPF and SMF (Session Management Function).

[0317] For example, gNB and ng-eNB host the following main functions:

[0318] - Radio Bearer Control, Radio Admission Control, Connection Mobility Control, and Radio Resource Management functions such as dynamically allocating (scheduling) resources to UEs in both uplink and downlink;

[0319] -IP (Internet Protocol) header compression, encryption and integrity protection of data;

[0320] - Selection of the AMF when attaching the UE in case the routing towards the AMF cannot be decided based on the information provided by the UE;

[0321] - Routing of user plane data towards UPF;

[0322] - Routing of control plane information towards the AMF;

[0323] -Set up and disconnect connections;

[0324] - Scheduling and sending of paging messages;

[0325] - Scheduling and sending of system broadcast information (AMF or operation, admission, maintenance function (OAM) as the originator);

[0326] - Settings for measurements and measurement reports for mobility and scheduling;

[0327] - Packet marking of the transmission class in uplink;

[0328] -Session management;

[0329] - Network slicing support;

[0330] - Management of QoS (Quality of Service) flows and mapping to data radio bearers;

[0331] - Support of UE in RRC_INACTIVE state;

[0332] -NAS (Non Access Stratum) message distribution function;

[0333] -Sharing of wireless access networks;

[0334] -Dual connection;

[0335] -Close collaboration between NR and E-UTRA (Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access).

[0336] The access and mobility management function (AMF) hosts the following main functions:

[0337] - Functionality to terminate non-access stratum (NAS) signaling;

[0338] -Security of NAS signaling;

[0339] - Security control of the access layer (AS);

[0340] -Core Network (CN) inter-node signaling for mobility between 3GPP access networks;

[0341] - the possibility of reaching the UE in idle mode (including the control and execution of paging retransmission);

[0342] - Management of the registration area;

[0343] -Support for intra-system and inter-system mobility;

[0344] -Access authentication;

[0345] - Access permission including roaming permission check;

[0346] -Mobility management control (subscription and policy);

[0347] - Network slicing support;

[0348] - Selection of Session Management Function (SMF).

[0349] In addition, the User Plane Function (UPF) hosts the following main functions:

[0350] - Anchor point for intra-RAT (Radio Access Technology) mobility / inter-RAT (Inter-RAT) mobility (where applicable);

[0351] - External PDU (Protocol Data Unit) session point for interconnection with data networks;

[0352] -Packet routing and forwarding;

[0353] -Policy rule enforcement for packet inspection and user plane;

[0354] - Business usage reporting;

[0355] - Uplink classifier for supporting routing of traffic towards data networks;

[0356] - Branching Point for supporting multi-homed PDU session;

[0357] - QoS processing for the user plane (e.g., packet filtering, gating, UL / DL rate enforcement);

[0358] - Verification of uplink services (mapping of SDF (Service Data Flow) to QoS flows);

[0359] - Downlink packet buffering and downlink data notification triggering function.

[0360] Finally, the Session Management Function (SMF) hosts the following main functions:

[0361] -Session management;

[0362] -Allocation and management of UE IP addresses;

[0363] - UPF selection and control;

[0364] - Traffic steering configuration function in the user plane function (UPF) for directing traffic to the appropriate destination;

[0365] - Enforcement of policies and QoS in the control part;

[0366] -Notification of downlink data.

[0367] <RRC connection setup and re-setup process>

[0368] Fig. 20 Represents several interactions between the UE, gNB and AMF (5GC entity) when the NAS part of the UE transitions from RRC_IDLE (RRC Idle) to RRC_CONNECTED (RRC Connected) (refer to TS 38.300 v15.6.0).

[0369] RRC is a high-layer signaling (protocol) used for the configuration of UE and gNB. Through this transition, AMF prepares UE context data (which includes, for example, PDU session context, security keys, UE radio capabilities (UE Radio Capability), UE security capabilities (UE Security Capabilities), etc.), and sends it to gNB together with the initial context setup request (INITIAL CONTEXTSETUP REQUEST). Next, the gNB activates AS security together with the UE. The gNB sends a Security Mode Command (SecurityModeCommand) message to the UE, and the UE responds to the gNB with a Security Mode Complete (SecurityModeComplete) message to activate AS security. Then, the gNB sends an RRC Reconfiguration (RRCReconfiguration) message to the UE, and the gNB receives an RRC Reconfiguration Complete (RRCReconfigurationComplete) from the UE for the RRC Reconfiguration message, thereby reconfiguring the Signaling Radio Bearer 2 (SRB2) and the Data Radio Bearer (DRB). For signaling-only connections, since SRB2 and DRB are not configured, the steps related to RRC reconfiguration can be omitted. Finally, the gNB notifies the AMF of the completion of the setup process using the INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP RESPONSE.

[0370] Therefore, the present disclosure provides the following fifth generation core network (5GC) entity (e.g., AMF, SMF, etc.), which includes: a control circuit, which, when in action, establishes a next generation (Next Generation, NG) connection with a gNodeB (gNodeB); and a sending unit, which, when in action, sends an initial context setting message to the gNodeB via the NG connection to set a signaling radio bearer between the gNodeB and the user equipment (UE: User Equipment). Specifically, the gNodeB sends a radio resource control (RRC) signaling containing a resource allocation setting information element (IE: Information Element) to the UE via the signaling radio bearer. Then, the UE sends in the uplink or receives in the downlink based on the resource allocation setting.

[0371] <Application scenarios of IMT after 2020>

[0372] Fig.21Indicates several use cases for 5G NR. In the 3rd generation partnership project new radio (3GPP NR), three use cases supporting a wide range of services and applications conceived through IMT-2020 have been studied. The planning and development of the first phase of specifications for large-capacity high-speed communications (eMBB: enhanced mobile broadband) has been completed. In current and future work, in addition to gradually expanding support for eMBB, it also includes standardization for ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC: ultra-reliable and low-latency communications) and multiple simultaneous machine-type communications (mMTC: massive machine-type communications). Fig.21 Several examples of the conceptual use scenarios of IMT after 2020 are shown (for example, see ITU-R M.2083 Figure 2 ).

[0373] The use cases of URLLC have strict requirements related to performance such as throughput, latency (delay) and availability. The use cases of URLLC are conceived as an element technology for realizing future applications such as wireless control of industrial production processes or manufacturing processes, remote medical surgery, automation of power transmission and distribution in smart grids, and traffic safety. The ultra-high reliability of URLLC is supported by determining technologies that meet the requirements set by TR38.913. In version 15 of NR URLLC, as an important requirement, the target user plane latency is 0.5ms in UL (uplink) and 0.5ms in DL (downlink). The overall URLLC requirement for a packet transmission is that the block error rate (BLER) is 1E-5 for a packet size of 32 bytes when the user plane latency is 1ms.

[0374] Considering the physical layer, a number of possible approaches can be used to improve reliability. Current scope for improving reliability includes defining additional CQI (Channel Quality Indicator) tables for URLLC, more compact DCI formats, repetition of PDCCH, etc. However, as NR (an important prerequisite for NR URLLC) becomes more stable and further developed, the scope can be expanded to achieve ultra-high reliability. Specific use cases for NR URLLC in Release 15 include Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality (AR / VR), e-Health, e-Safety and critical applications.

[0375] In addition, the technical enhancements of the NR URLLC target are aimed at improving latency and increasing reliability. Technical enhancements for improving latency include configurable parameter sets, non-slot-based scheduling with flexible mapping, unauthorized (configured authorized) uplink, slot-level repetition in the data channel, and preemption in the downlink. Preemption means stopping the transmission of allocated resources and using the allocated resources for other transmissions that are requested later and must meet the necessary conditions of lower latency / higher priority. Therefore, the transmission that has been allowed will be replaced by the subsequent transmission. Preemption can be applied regardless of the specific service type. For example, the transmission of service type A (URLLC) can also be replaced by the transmission of service type B (eMBB, etc.). Technical enhancements related to reliability improvement include a dedicated CQI / MCS table for a target BLER of 1E-5.

[0376] The use case of mMTC (Massive Machine Type Communications) is characterized by the fact that typically there are a very large number of connected devices that send relatively small amounts of data that are not susceptible to latency. The devices are required to be low-priced and have very long battery life. From the NR point of view, utilizing very narrow bandwidth portions is one solution that can save power in the UE and extend its battery life.

[0377] As mentioned above, it is predicted that the room for reliability improvement in NR will be further expanded. It is one of the important requirements for all situations. For example, the important requirement related to URLLC and mMTC is high reliability or ultra-high reliability. From the wireless point of view and the network point of view, reliability can be improved in several mechanisms. In general, there are two to three important areas that may help improve reliability. These areas include compact control channel information, repetition of data channels / control channels, and diversity related to frequency domain, time domain and / or space domain. These areas can be used universally to improve reliability regardless of the specific communication scenario.

[0378] For NR URLLC, further use cases with stricter requirements are envisioned, such as factory automation, transportation, and power transmission. The strict requirements are high reliability (up to 10-6 reliability), high availability, packet size up to 256 bytes, time synchronization up to a few microseconds (μs) (the value can be set to 1μs or a few microseconds depending on the frequency range and short latency of around 0.5ms to 1ms (for example, 0.5ms latency in the user plane is set as the target) for the use case.

[0379] Moreover, regarding NR URLLC, from the perspective of the physical layer, there may be several technical enhancements. These technical enhancements include the enhancement of PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) related to compact DCI, repetition of PDCCH, and increased monitoring of PDCCH. In addition, the enhancement of UCI (Uplink Control Information) is related to the enhancement of enhanced HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) and CSI feedback. In addition, there may be enhancement of PUSCH related to frequency hopping at the mini-slot level and enhancement of retransmission / repetition. The term "mini-slot" refers to a transmission time interval (TTI) that contains fewer symbols than a slot (a slot has 14 symbols).

[0380] <QoS Control>

[0381] The 5G QoS (Quality of Service) model is based on QoS flows, supporting both QoS flows that require guaranteed bit rate (GBR: Guaranteed Bit Rate QoS flows) and QoS flows that do not require guaranteed bit rate (non-GBR QoS flows). Therefore, at the NAS level, QoS flows are the most fine-grained QoS divisions in a PDU session. QoS flows are determined within a PDU session based on the QoS flow ID (QFI: QoS Flow ID) transmitted by the encapsulation header via the NG-U interface.

[0382] For each UE, 5GC establishes one or more PDU sessions. For each UE, in conjunction with the PDU session, NG-RAN, for example, as described in the previous reference Fig. 20 As described above, at least one data radio bearer (DRB) is established. In addition, the DRB added to the QoS flow of the PDU session can also be set later (when to set it depends on NG-RAN). NG-RAN maps packets belonging to various PDU sessions to various DRBs. NAS-level packet filters in UE and 5GC are used to associate UL packets and DL packets with QoS flows, and AS-level mapping rules in UE and NG-RAN associate UL QoS flows and DL QoS flows with DRBs.

[0383] Fig. 22 Represents the non-roaming reference architecture of 5G NR (see TS 23.501 v16.1.0, section 4.23). Application Function (AF) (e.g., host Fig.21The 3GPP core network (an external application server for the 5G service illustrated) interacts with the 3GPP core network to provide services. For example, accessing the Network Exposure Function (NEF) to support applications that affect the routing of services, or interacting with the policy framework (refer to the Policy Control Function (PCF)) for policy control (for example, QoS control). Based on the operator's deployment, the operator considers that trusted application functions can interact directly with the associated network function (Network Function). Application functions that are not allowed by the operator to directly access network functions interact with associated network functions via NEF using an open framework to the outside.

[0384] Fig. 22 It also represents further functional units of the 5G architecture, namely, Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF), Network Repository Function (NRF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF) and Data Network (DN: Data Network, such as services provided by operators, Internet access or services provided by third parties). All or part of the core network functions and application services can also be deployed and operated in a cloud computing environment.

[0385] Therefore, the present disclosure provides the following application server (for example, AF of 5G architecture), which includes: a sending unit, which, in action, sends a request for QoS requirements for at least one of URLLC service, eMMB service and mMTC service to at least one of the functions of 5GC (for example, NEF, AMF, SMF, PCF, UPF, etc.) in order to establish a PDU session of a wireless bearer between a g-node B and a UE corresponding to the QoS requirements; and a control circuit, which, in action, uses the established PDU session to provide service.

[0386] The present disclosure can be implemented by software, hardware, or software in cooperation with hardware. The functional blocks used in the description of the above embodiments are partially or entirely implemented as LSI (Large Scale Integration) as an integrated circuit, and the processes described in the above embodiments may also be partially or entirely controlled by one LSI or a combination of LSIs. LSI can be composed of individual chips, or it can be composed of one chip in a manner that includes part or all of the functional blocks. LSI may also include data input and output. LSI may also be referred to as "IC (Integrated Circuit)", "System LSI", "Super LSI", "Ultra LSI" depending on the degree of integration.

[0387] The method of integrated circuitization is not limited to LSI, and can also be implemented by a dedicated circuit, a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor. In addition, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) that can be programmed after LSI manufacturing, or a reconfigurable processor (Reconfigurable Processor) that can reconfigure the connection or setting of the circuit block inside the LSI can also be used. The present disclosure can also be implemented as digital processing or analog processing.

[0388] Furthermore, if integrated circuit technology that replaces LSI emerges as semiconductor technology advances or other technologies are derived, it is of course possible to use this technology to achieve integration of functional blocks. There is also the possibility of applying biotechnology, etc.

[0389] The present disclosure can be implemented in all kinds of devices, equipment, and systems (collectively referred to as "communication devices") with communication functions. The communication device may also include a wireless transceiver and a processing / control circuit. The wireless transceiver may also include a receiving unit and a transmitting unit, or perform the functions of these parts. The wireless transceiver (transmitting unit, receiving unit) may also include an RF (Radio Frequency) module and one or more antennas. The RF module may also include an amplifier, an RF modulator / demodulator, or a device similar to these. Non-limiting examples of communication devices include: phones (mobile phones, smart phones, etc.), tablet computers, personal computers (PCs) (laptops, desktops, notebook computers, etc.), cameras (digital cameras, digital video cameras, etc.), digital players (digital audio / video players, etc.), wearable devices (wearable cameras, smart watches, tracking devices, etc.), game consoles, e-book readers, telehealth / telemedicine (telehealth / medical prescription) equipment, vehicles with communication functions or transportation vehicles (cars, airplanes, ships, etc.), and combinations of the above-mentioned various devices.

[0390] Communication devices are not limited to portable or mobile devices, but also include all kinds of devices, equipment, and systems that cannot be carried or fixed. Examples include: smart home devices (home appliances, lighting equipment, smart meters or meters, control panels, etc.), vending machines, and all other "things" that can exist on the IoT (Internet of Things) network.

[0391] The communication includes data communication performed by a cellular system, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) system, a communication satellite system, etc., and also includes data communication performed by a combination of these systems.

[0392] In addition, the communication device also includes devices such as controllers or sensors connected or linked to the communication device that performs the communication function described in the present invention. For example, it includes a controller or sensor that generates a control signal or data signal used by the communication device that performs the communication function of the communication device.

[0393] In addition, the communication device includes infrastructure equipment that communicates with the above-mentioned non-limiting various devices or controls the above-mentioned various devices, such as base stations, access points, and all other devices, equipment, and systems.

[0394] A communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a control circuit for allocating a signal according to a resource allocation unit composed of consecutively numbered interlaces in communication between terminals in an unlicensed frequency band; and a transmission circuit for transmitting the signal.

[0395] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the resource allocation unit is a subchannel, and the number of interleavings constituting each of the multiple subchannels is different.

[0396] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the signal includes a control signal and a data signal whose resource allocation is indicated by the control signal. When the control signal is allocated to a part of the multiple resource blocks constituting the resource allocation unit to which the data signal is allocated, the control circuit allocates the data signal to a resource block different from the resource block to which the control signal is allocated among the multiple resource blocks in the same codeword, and sets the transmission power among the multiple resource blocks in such a way that the transmission power averaged to each resource block is the same between the control signal and the data signal.

[0397] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control circuit allocates the control signal included in the signal to a resource block with a lower number among a plurality of resource blocks constituting the resource allocation unit.

[0398] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the resource allocation unit is a subchannel, and when the signal is allocated to a plurality of the subchannels, the control circuit configures the control signal to a subchannel with a lower number among the plurality of subchannels.

[0399] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control circuit allocates the control signal included in the signal to a resource block with a lower number included in an interleave with a lower number among a plurality of resource blocks constituting the resource allocation unit.

[0400] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control circuit allocates the control signal included in the signal to resource blocks with lower numbers in a predetermined number of interlaces with lower numbers among a plurality of interlaces included in the resource allocation unit.

[0401] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the resource allocation unit is a subchannel, and when the number of candidate time resources for configuring the control signal contained in the signal within the time slot is one, the number of subchannels that can be set is C; when the number of candidate time resources within the time slot is K, the number of subchannels that can be set is set to C / K.

[0402] A communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a receiving circuit for receiving a signal allocated in a resource allocation unit composed of consecutively numbered interlaces in inter-terminal communication in an unlicensed frequency band; and a control circuit for demodulating the signal.

[0403] In a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication device performs the following processing: in inter-terminal communication in an unlicensed frequency band, allocating a signal in a resource allocation unit consisting of consecutively numbered interlaces; and transmitting the signal.

[0404] In a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication device performs the following processing: in inter-terminal communication in an unlicensed frequency band, receives a signal allocated in a resource allocation unit consisting of consecutively numbered interlaces; and demodulates the signal.

[0405] The disclosed contents of the specification, drawings, and abstract contained in the Japanese patent application No. 2022-128348 filed on August 10, 2022 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0406] Industrial Applicability

[0407] One aspect of the present disclosure is useful for a wireless communication system.

[0408] Description of Reference Numerals

[0409] 100 Base Stations

[0410] 200 Terminal

[0411] 201 Receiving Department

[0412] 202 LBT Carrier Monitoring Unit

[0413] 203 Signal separation unit

[0414] 204 Demodulation Unit

[0415] 205 Error Correction Decoding Unit

[0416] 206 control signal receiving unit

[0417] 207 Error Correction Coding Unit

[0418] 208 Modulation Department

[0419] 209 control signal generating unit

[0420] 210 Signal Distribution Department

[0421] 211 Sending Department

Claims

1. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A control circuit allocates signals according to resource allocation units consisting of consecutively numbered interlaces in inter-terminal communications in an unlicensed frequency band; as well as The sending circuit sends the signal.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein: The resource allocation unit is a subchannel, The numbers of the interleavings constituting each of the plurality of subchannels are different.

3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein: The signal includes a control signal and a data signal indicating resource allocation by the control signal. In a case where the control signal is allocated to a part of the multiple resource blocks constituting the resource allocation unit to which the data signal is allocated, the control circuit allocates the data signal to a resource block different from the resource block to which the control signal is allocated among the multiple resource blocks in the same codeword, and sets the transmission power among the multiple resource blocks in such a manner that the transmission power averaged to each resource block is the same between the control signal and the data signal.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein: The control circuit allocates the control signal included in the signal to a resource block with a lower number among a plurality of resource blocks constituting the resource allocation unit.

5. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein: The resource allocation unit is a subchannel, When the signal is allocated to a plurality of the sub-channels, the control circuit allocates the control signal to a sub-channel with a lower number among the plurality of sub-channels.

6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein: The control circuit allocates the control signal included in the signal to a resource block with a lower number included in an interleave with a lower number among a plurality of resource blocks constituting the resource allocation unit.

7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein: The control circuit allocates the control signal included in the signal to resource blocks with lower numbers in a predetermined number of interlaces with lower numbers among a plurality of interlaces included in the resource allocation unit.

8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein: The resource allocation unit is a subchannel, When there is one candidate time resource in a time slot for configuring a control signal included in the signal, the number of subchannels that can be set is C. When there are K candidate time resources in the time slot, the number of subchannels that can be set is set to C / K.

9. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A receiving circuit receives a signal allocated in a resource allocation unit consisting of consecutively numbered interlaces in inter-terminal communication in an unlicensed frequency band; as well as The control circuit demodulates the signal.

10. A communication method, characterized in that: The communication device performs the following processing: In inter-terminal communication in an unlicensed frequency band, allocating signals in resource allocation units consisting of consecutively numbered interlaces; and The signal is transmitted.

11. A communication method, characterized in that: The communication device performs the following processing: In inter-terminal communication in an unlicensed frequency band, receiving a signal allocated in a resource allocation unit consisting of consecutively numbered interlaces; as well as The signal is demodulated.

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