Conditional transmission of unlicensed sidelink communications using additional starting location

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communications. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may perform one or more measurements associated with a channel access procedure for accessing a shared or unlicensed sidelink channel. The UE may transmit a sidelink communication at a starting time domain location based at least in part on the one or more measurements satisfying an energy detection threshold, the start time domain location is aligned with a boundary of a time slot based at least in part on one or more conditions not satisfied or is used as an available start time domain location of a plurality of available start time domain locations of the time slot based at least in part on one or more conditions satisfied, the plurality of available starting time-domain localities for the time slot include one or more starting time-domain localities that are not aligned with any time slot boundary. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This patent application claims priority to Greek patent application No. 20220100589, entitled "CONDITIONAL TRANSMISSIONSUSING ADDITIONAL STARTING POSITIONS FOR UNLICENSED SIDELINK COMMUNICATIONS", filed on July 22, 2022, and assigned to the assignee of this application. The disclosure of the prior application is considered a part of this patent application and is incorporated into this patent application by reference. Technical Field

[0003] Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communications, and in particular, to techniques and apparatus associated with conditional transmission of unlicensed sidelink communications using additional starting locations. Background Art

[0004] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide a variety of telecommunication services, such as telephony, video, data, messaging, and broadcasting. Typical wireless communication systems may employ multiple access technologies that can support communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., bandwidth or transmit power). Examples of such multiple access technologies include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) systems, time division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA) systems, and long term evolution (LTE). LTE / LTE-Advanced is a set of enhancements to the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mobile standard promulgated by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

[0005] The above multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different UEs to communicate at a city, country, region or global level. New Radio (NR) (which may be referred to as 5G) is an enhancement set to the LTE mobile standard promulgated by 3GPP. NR is designed to better support mobile broadband Internet access by using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) (CP-OFDM) with a cyclic prefix (CP) on the downlink, using CP-OFDM or single carrier frequency division multiplexing (SC-FDM) (also known as discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) on the uplink, and supporting beamforming, multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna technology and carrier aggregation to improve spectrum efficiency, reduce costs, improve services, utilize new spectrum, and better integrate with other open standards. As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, further improvements in LTE, NR and other radio access technologies remain useful.

[0006] In some examples, a user equipment (UE) may use slot-based scheduling to send or receive sidelink communications. Slot-based scheduling may be associated with a slot as the minimum time unit for resource scheduling in the time domain (e.g., the minimum amount of time that can be reserved for sidelink communications is a slot). In some other examples, sidelink communications may be associated with microslot-based scheduling, which may also be referred to as scheduling based on multiple starting positions (or multiple starting positions). Microslots may include a smaller number of symbols than slots. For example, the starting position of a microslot may appear in 1, 2, 4, 7, or another amount of OFDM symbols after the start of a slot. Using microslot-based scheduling for sidelink communications may increase the flexibility of reserving sidelink resources, or may reduce the delay associated with sidelink communications. However, scheduling based on microslots may be associated with increased signaling overhead, because finer-grained resource reservations may be performed, resulting in an increase in the amount of resource reservations sent in the sidelink network or an increase in the decoding complexity of the receiving UE.

[0007] In some examples, the UE may operate using a shared or unlicensed band. In such examples, the UE may perform a channel access procedure before sending a sidelink communication via the shared or unlicensed band. The channel access procedure may include sensing or measuring a physical channel associated with the shared or unlicensed band, and determining whether the physical channel is idle or busy based at least in part on the received energy of the signal sensed or measured on the physical channel (e.g., based at least in part on whether the measurement of the signal meets a threshold). However, if the UE uses slot-based scheduling, then in the time between the time when the UE detects that the physical channel is idle and the start of the next slot (e.g., the next time the UE is permitted to transmit), another device operating using the shared or unlicensed band may sense that the physical channel is idle and begin transmitting a signal that overlaps in time with the start of the next slot. Therefore, since the UE delays the transmission of the sidelink signal until the next slot after detecting that the channel is idle, the UE may lose the opportunity to transmit.

[0008] To address the issues caused by using slot-based scheduling in shared or unlicensed bands, the UE may use mini-slot-based scheduling. For example, in some cases, the UE may use mini-slot-based scheduling to reduce the delay between the time when the UE detects that the physical channel is an idle channel and the next transmission opportunity by providing an additional starting position for the side link signal (e.g., in addition to the start of the slot, the UE may send the side link signal at the start of the mini-slot). However, as described above, the use of mini-slot-based scheduling may increase the power consumption and decoding complexity of the UE.

[0009] Additionally, the use of mini-slot-based scheduling may introduce automatic gain control (AGC) issues to the receiving UE. For example, the receiving UE may perform AGC by measuring one or more symbols (such as the first symbol of a time slot), and may configure a gain for one or more receiving components (e.g., a front-end component of the receiving UE) based on one or more signal characteristics (e.g., received signal power) associated with the one or more symbols. Thus, the receiving UE may apply the gain to process a side link signal received by the receiving UE (e.g., on a time slot). For example, the receiving UE may receive a side link signal from a first UE, and may perform an AGC operation based on the measurement of the side link signal. However, the second UE may detect that the physical channel is idle (e.g., due to a blockage or other obstacle, the second UE may not detect or measure the side link signal sent by the first UE). Therefore, the second UE may send another side link signal at the beginning of the mini-slot. If the starting time domain location of the mini-time slot is included in the time slot in which the first UE transmits the side link signal (e.g., after the starting time domain location of the time slot), the receiving UE may receive higher energy or transmit power than expected for the time slot (e.g., expected based on AGC operation). The additional received energy or power may reduce the receiving performance of the receiving UE (e.g., may cause saturation of one or more front-end components of the receiving UE).

[0010] Therefore, although the use of mini-slot based scheduling can provide additional starting locations for sidelink signals, thereby increasing the likelihood that the UE can send sidelink signals in a shared or unlicensed band, the use of mini-slot based scheduling can also increase power consumption, increase decoding complexity, or reduce the effectiveness of AGC operations of UEs operating using mini-slot based scheduling. Summary of the invention

[0011] Some aspects described herein relate to a user equipment (UE) for wireless communication. The UE may include at least one memory and at least one processor, the at least one processor being communicatively coupled to the at least one memory. The at least one processor may be configured to cause the UE to perform one or more measurements associated with a channel access process for accessing a shared or unlicensed side link channel. The at least one processor may be configured to cause the UE to send side link communications at a starting time domain location based at least in part on the one or more measurements satisfying an energy detection threshold, the starting time domain location being aligned with a boundary of a time slot at least in part based on one or more conditions not being satisfied or being one of a plurality of available starting time domain locations for the time slot based at least in part on the one or more conditions being satisfied, the plurality of available starting time domain locations for the time slot including one or more starting time domain locations that are not aligned with any time slot boundary.

[0012] Some aspects described herein relate to a method of wireless communication performed by a UE. The method may include performing one or more measurements associated with a channel access procedure for accessing a shared or unlicensed side link channel. The method may include sending side link communications at a starting time domain location based at least in part on the one or more measurements satisfying an energy detection threshold, the starting time domain location being aligned with a boundary of a time slot based at least in part on one or more conditions not being satisfied or being one of a plurality of available starting time domain locations for the time slot based at least in part on the one or more conditions being satisfied, the plurality of available starting time domain locations for the time slot including one or more starting time domain locations that are not aligned with any time slot boundary.

[0013] Some aspects described herein relate to a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing an instruction set for wireless communication performed by a UE. The instruction set, when executed by one or more processors of the UE, may cause the UE to perform one or more measurements associated with a channel access process for accessing a shared or unlicensed side link channel. The instruction set, when executed by one or more processors of the UE, may cause the UE to send side link communications at a starting time domain location based at least in part on the one or more measurements satisfying an energy detection threshold, the starting time domain location being aligned with a boundary of a time slot at least in part based on one or more conditions not being satisfied or being one of a plurality of available starting time domain locations for the time slot based at least in part on the one or more conditions being satisfied, the plurality of available starting time domain locations for the time slot including one or more starting time domain locations that are not aligned with any time slot boundary.

[0014] Some aspects described herein relate to an apparatus for wireless communication. The apparatus may include components for performing one or more measurements associated with a channel access procedure for accessing a shared or unlicensed side link channel. The apparatus may include components for transmitting side link communications at a starting time domain location based at least in part on the one or more measurements satisfying an energy detection threshold, the starting time domain location being aligned with a boundary of a time slot based at least in part on one or more conditions not being satisfied or being one of a plurality of available starting time domain locations for the time slot based at least in part on the one or more conditions being satisfied, the plurality of available starting time domain locations for the time slot including one or more starting time domain locations that are not aligned with any time slot boundary.

[0015] Aspects collectively include methods, apparatus, systems, computer program products, non-transitory computer-readable media, user equipment, base stations, network nodes, network entities, wireless communication devices, or processing systems as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings and the specification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and the specification.

[0016] The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the examples according to the present disclosure in an effort to make the following specific embodiments better understood. Additional features and advantages will be described below. The disclosed concepts and specific examples can be easily used as the basis for modifying or designing other structures for the same purpose of achieving the present disclosure. Such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the appended claims. When considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the characteristics of the concepts disclosed herein (both their organization and method of operation) and the associated advantages will be better understood according to the following description. Each of the figures in the accompanying drawings is provided for the purpose of illustration and description, and not as a definition of limitations to the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to fully understand the above features of the present disclosure, a more specific description of the invention briefly summarized above can be obtained by referring to various aspects (some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings). However, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings only illustrate some typical aspects of the present disclosure and should not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure, as the description may recognize the existence of other equally effective aspects. The same reference numerals in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.

[0018] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless network according to the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating an example network node communicating with a user equipment (UE) in a wireless network according to the present disclosure.

[0020] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example decomposed base station architecture according to the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of side link communication according to the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of side link communication and access link communication according to the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of sidelink communication in a shared or unlicensed band according to the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of channel access in a shared or unlicensed band according to the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of multiple starting points in a shared or unlicensed frequency band according to the present disclosure.

[0026] Fig. 9is a diagram of an example associated with conditional transmission of sidelink communications using additional starting positions according to the present disclosure.

[0027] Fig.10 is a diagram of an example associated with conditional transmission of sidelink communications using additional starting positions according to the present disclosure.

[0028] Fig.11 is a flow chart illustrating an example process performed, for example, by a UE supporting conditional transmission using additional starting positions for unlicensed sidelink communications in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0029] Fig.12 is an illustration of an example apparatus for wireless communications that supports conditional transmission of unlicensed sidelink communications using additional starting positions in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0030] Fig.13 is an illustration of an example apparatus for wireless communications that supports conditional transmission of unlicensed sidelink communications using additional starting positions in accordance with the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Various aspects of the present disclosure are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure can be embodied in many different forms, and should not be interpreted as being limited to any specific structure or function presented throughout the present disclosure. On the contrary, these aspects are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and the scope of the present disclosure will be fully conveyed to those skilled in the art. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover any aspect of the present disclosure disclosed herein, whether it is implemented independently or in combination with any other aspect of the present disclosure. For example, any amount of aspects set forth herein may be used to implement a device or practice method. In addition, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover such devices or methods that are practiced using other structures, functionality, or structures and functionality in addition to or different from the various aspects of the disclosure set forth herein. Any aspect of the present disclosure disclosed herein may be embodied by one or more elements of a claim.

[0032] Several aspects of telecommunication systems will now be presented with reference to various devices and techniques. These devices and techniques will be described in the following detailed description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings by various blocks, modules, components, circuits, steps, processes, or algorithms (collectively referred to as "elements"). These elements can be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Whether these elements are implemented as hardware or software depends on the specific application and the design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0033] Various aspects are generally related to the conditional use of additional starting positions (e.g., associated with mini-slots) for sidelink communications. Some aspects are more specifically related to enabling a user equipment (UE) to optionally use additional starting positions or mini-slot-based scheduling for sidelink communications associated with a shared or unlicensed sidelink channel (or frequency band) based at least in part on whether one or more conditions are met. In some aspects, the UE may perform one or more measurements associated with a channel access process for accessing a shared or unlicensed sidelink channel (e.g., a channel access process may be performed). The UE may send sidelink communications based at least in part on one or more measurements satisfying an energy detection threshold. The starting time domain positioning of the sidelink communication may be aligned with a slot boundary based at least in part on one or more conditions not being met (e.g., the UE may use slot-based scheduling based at least in part on one or more conditions not being met). The starting time domain positioning may be based at least in part on one or more conditions being met without being aligned with any slot boundary (e.g., the UE may use mini-slot-based scheduling based at least in part on one or more conditions being met). In other words, the UE may conditionally use mini-slot based scheduling for sidelink communications based at least in part on one or more conditions being satisfied.

[0034] In some aspects, one or more conditions may include a condition associated with a broadcast type of sidelink communication (e.g., wherein the condition indicates that the sidelink transmission is not permitted to use one or more broadcast types of multiple available starting time domain positioning, or indicates that the sidelink transmission is permitted to use one or more broadcast types of multiple available starting time domain positioning). Additionally or alternatively, one or more conditions may include a condition associated with a failure rate of a channel access process (e.g., wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the failure rate satisfying a threshold). Additionally or alternatively, one or more conditions may include a condition associated with a priority value associated with the sidelink communication (e.g., wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the priority value satisfying a threshold). Additionally or alternatively, one or more conditions may include a condition associated with a bandwidth size of the sidelink communication (e.g., wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the bandwidth size of the sidelink communication occupying the full bandwidth size associated with a shared or unlicensed sidelink channel). As described in more detail elsewhere herein, other conditions associated with the use of multiple starting positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling are contemplated.

[0035] Certain aspects of the subject matter described in the present disclosure may be implemented to achieve one or more of the following potential advantages. In some examples, the described techniques may be used to increase the likelihood that a UE is able to access a shared or unlicensed side link channel by increasing the amount of starting time domain positioning available for side link communications, thereby reducing the delay between the time when the UE detects that the shared or unlicensed side link channel is idle and the next available starting time domain positioning. Additionally, by limiting the use of multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling to certain scenarios (e.g., when one or more conditions are met), the decoding complexity or power consumption of the UE associated with the use of multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling may not be unnecessarily increased. In addition, the UE using multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling to send side link communications only when one or more conditions are met can reduce the likelihood that the receiving UE experiences automatic gain control (AGC) problems (e.g., based on the use of inappropriate gain values, as explained in more detail elsewhere herein). For example, one or more conditions may ensure that the UE uses multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot based scheduling only when the UE has reserved resources on a full time slot or when the sidelink communication uses the full bandwidth of a shared or unlicensed sidelink channel (e.g., thereby ensuring that the receiving UE will not receive other sidelink communications at a time that overlaps with the sidelink communication).

[0036] Figure 1 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless network according to the present disclosure. The wireless network 100 may be a 5G (e.g., NR) network or a 4G (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE)) network, or may include elements of a 5G (e.g., NR) network or elements of a 4G (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE)) network, etc. The wireless network 100 may include one or more network nodes 110 (shown as network node 110a, network node 110b, network node 110c, and network node 110d), one user equipment (UE) 120 or multiple UEs 120 (shown as UE 120a, UE 120b, UE 120c, UE 120d, and UE 120e), or other network entities. The network node 110 is an entity that communicates with the UE 120. As shown in the figure, the network node 110 may include one or more network nodes. For example, the network node 110 may be a converged network node, which means that the converged network node is configured to utilize a radio protocol stack that is physically or logically integrated within a single RAN node (e.g., within a single device or unit). For another example, the network node 110 may be a decomposed network node (sometimes referred to as a decomposed base station), which means that the network node 110 is configured to utilize a protocol stack that is physically or logically distributed between two or more nodes (such as one or more central units (CUs), one or more distributed units (DUs), or one or more radio units (RUs)).

[0037] In some examples, the network node 110 is or includes a network node (such as an RU) that communicates with the UE 120 via a radio access link. In some examples, the network node 110 is or includes a network node (such as a DU) that communicates with other network nodes 110 via a fronthaul link or a midhaul link. In some examples, the network node 110 is or includes a network node (such as a CU) that communicates with other network nodes 110 via a midhaul link or communicates with a core network via a backhaul link. In some examples, the network node 110 (such as an aggregated network node 110 or a decomposed network node 110) may include multiple network nodes, such as one or more RUs, one or more CUs, or one or more DUs. For example, the network node 110 may include an NR network node, an LTE network node, a Node B, an eNB (e.g., in 4G), a gNB (e.g., in 5G), an access point, a transmit receive point (TRP), a DU, a RU, a CU, a mobility element of a network, a core network node, a network element, a network equipment, a RAN node, or a combination thereof. In some examples, network nodes 110 may be interconnected to each other or to one or more other network nodes 110 in wireless network 100 via various types of fronthaul interfaces, midhaul interfaces, or backhaul interfaces (such as direct physical connections, air interfaces, or virtual networks) using any suitable transport network.

[0038] Each network node 110 may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area. In the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the term "cell" may refer to a coverage area of ​​a network node 110 or a network node subsystem serving the coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used.

[0039] The network node 110 may provide communication coverage for a macro cell, a pico cell, a femto cell, or another type of cell. A macro cell may cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., a radius of several thousand meters) and may allow unrestricted access by a UE 120 with a service subscription. A pico cell may cover a relatively small geographic area and may allow unrestricted access by a UE 120 with a service subscription. A femto cell may cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a residence) and may allow restricted access by a UE 120 associated with the femto cell (e.g., a UE 120 in a closed subscriber group (CSG)). A network node 110 for a macro cell may be referred to as a macro network node. A network node 110 for a pico cell may be referred to as a pico network node. A network node 110 for a femto cell may be referred to as a femto network node or a home network node.

[0040] The wireless network 100 may be a heterogeneous network that includes different types of network nodes 110, such as macro network nodes, pico network nodes, femto network nodes, or relay network nodes. These different types of network nodes 110 may have different transmit power levels, different coverage areas, or different effects on interference in the wireless network 100. For example, a macro network node may have a high transmit power level (e.g., 5 watts to 40 watts), while a pico network node, a femto network node, and a relay network node may have a lower transmit power level (e.g., 0.1 watt to 2 watts). Figure 1 In the example shown in , network node 110a may be a macro network node for macro cell 102a, network node 110b may be a pico network node for pico cell 102b, and network node 110c may be a femto network node for femto cell 102c. The network node may support one or more (e.g., three) cells. In some examples, the cells may not necessarily be stationary, and the geographic area of ​​the cells may move according to the positioning of the mobile network node 110 (e.g., a mobile network node).

[0041] In some aspects, the term "base station" or "network node" may refer to a converged base station, a decomposed base station, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, a relay node, or one or more components thereof. For example, in some aspects, a "base station" or "network node" may refer to a CU, a DU, a RU, a near real-time (near RT) RAN intelligent controller (RIC), or a non-real-time (non-RT) RIC, or a combination thereof. In some aspects, the term "base station" or "network node" may refer to a device configured to perform one or more functions (such as those described herein in conjunction with the network node 110). In some aspects, the term "base station" or "network node" may refer to a plurality of devices configured to perform one or more functions. For example, in some distributed systems, each of a certain number of different devices (which may be located in the same geographic location or different geographic locations) may be configured to perform at least a portion of a function, or to repeat the execution of at least a portion of the function, and the term "base station" or "network node" may refer to any one or more of these different devices. In some aspects, the term "base station" or "network node" may refer to one or more virtual base stations or one or more virtual base station functions. For example, in some aspects, two or more base station functions may be instantiated on a single device. In some aspects, the term "base station" or "network node" may refer to one of the base station functions but not another base station function. In this way, a single device may include more than one base station.

[0042] The network controller 130 may be coupled to or in communication with a set of network nodes 110 and may provide coordination and control for the network nodes 110. The network controller 130 may communicate with the network nodes 110 via a backhaul communication link. The network nodes 110 may also communicate directly with each other or indirectly via a wireless backhaul communication link or a wired backhaul communication link. In some aspects, the network controller 130 may be a CU or a core network device, or the network controller 130 may include a CU or a core network device.

[0043] In some examples, the cells may not necessarily be stationary, and the geographic area of ​​the cells may move depending on the location of the mobile network node 110 (e.g., the mobile network node). In some examples, the network nodes 110 may be interconnected with each other or to one or more other network nodes 110 or network nodes (not shown) in the wireless network 100 using any suitable transport network through various types of backhaul interfaces (such as direct physical connections or virtual networks).

[0044] The wireless network 100 may include one or more relay stations. A relay station is an entity that can receive data transmissions from an upstream station (e.g., a network node 110 or a UE 120) and transmit the data transmissions to a downstream station (e.g., a UE 120 or a network node 110). A relay station may be a UE 120 that is capable of relaying transmissions for other UEs 120. Figure 1 In the example shown, network node 110d (e.g., a relay network node) may communicate with network node 110a (e.g., a macro network node) and UE 120d to facilitate communications between network node 110a and UE 120d. A network node 110 that relays communications may be referred to as a relay station, relay network node, or relay.

[0045] UE 120 can be distributed throughout the wireless network 100, and each UE 120 can be stationary or mobile. UE 120 can include, for example, an access terminal, a terminal, a mobile station, or a subscriber unit. UE 120 can be a cellular phone (e.g., a smart phone), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a tablet device, a camera, a gaming device, a netbook, a smartbook, an ultrabook, a medical device, a biometric device, a wearable device (e.g., a smart watch, smart clothing, smart glasses, a smart wristband, smart jewelry (e.g., a smart ring or a smart bracelet)), an entertainment device (e.g., a music device, a video device, or a satellite radio), a vehicle component or sensor, a smart meter / sensor, an industrial manufacturing equipment, a global positioning system device, a UE function of a network node, or any other suitable device configured to communicate via a wireless medium.

[0046] Some UEs 120 may be considered as machine type communication (MTC) or evolved or enhanced machine type communication (eMTC) UEs. MTC UEs or eMTC UEs may include, for example, robots, drones, remote devices, sensors, meters, monitors, or positioning tags, which may communicate with a network node, another device (e.g., a remote device), or some other entity. Some UEs 120 may be considered as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, or may be implemented as NB-IoT (narrowband IoT) devices. Some UEs 120 may be considered as customer premises equipment. UE 120 may be included inside a housing that houses components of UE 120, such as a processor component or a memory component. In some examples, the processor component and the memory component may be coupled together. For example, a processor component (e.g., one or more processors) and a memory component (e.g., a memory) may be operably coupled, communicatively coupled, electronically coupled, or electrically coupled.

[0047] In general, any amount of wireless networks 100 may be deployed in a given geographic area. Each wireless network 100 may support a specific radio access technology (RAT) and may operate on one or more frequencies. RAT may also be referred to as a radio technology or air interface. Frequency may also be referred to as a carrier or frequency channel. Each frequency may support a single RAT in a given geographic area to avoid interference between wireless networks of different RATs. In some cases, NR or 5G RAT networks may be deployed.

[0048] In some examples, two or more UEs 120 (e.g., shown as UE 120a and UE 120e) may communicate directly (e.g., without using network node 110 as an intermediary to communicate with each other) using one or more sidelink channels. For example, UE 120 may communicate using peer-to-peer (P2P) communication, device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) protocols (e.g., which may include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) protocols, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) protocols, or vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) protocols), or mesh networks. In such examples, UE 120 may perform scheduling operations, resource selection operations, or other operations described elsewhere herein as being performed by network node 110.

[0049] Devices of the wireless network 100 may communicate using an electromagnetic spectrum, which may be subdivided into various categories, bands, or channels by frequency or wavelength. For example, devices of the wireless network 100 may communicate using one or more operating bands. In 5G NR, two initial operating bands have been identified as frequency ranges designated FR1 (410 MHz–7.125 GHz) and FR2 (24.25 GHz–52.6 GHz). Although a portion of FR1 is greater than 6 GHz, FR1 is often (interchangeably) referred to as the “below 6 GHz” band in various documents and articles. Similar naming issues sometimes arise in conjunction with FR2, which is often (interchangeably) referred to as the “millimeter wave” band in various documents and articles, although it is different from the extremely high frequency (EHF) band (30 GHz-300 GHz) identified as the “millimeter wave” band by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

[0050] Frequencies between FR1 and FR2 are generally referred to as mid-band frequencies. Recent 5G NR research has identified the operating bands for these mid-band frequencies as frequency range designation FR3 (7.125GHz–24.25GHz). The bands falling within FR3 can inherit FR1 characteristics or FR2 characteristics, and thus the features of FR1 or FR2 can be effectively extended to mid-band frequencies. In addition, higher frequency bands are currently being explored to extend 5G NR operations to more than 52.6GHz. For example, three higher operating bands have been identified as frequency range designations FR4a or FR4-1 (52.6GHz–71GHz), FR4 (52.6GHz–114.25GHz), and FR5 (114.25GHz–300GHz). Each of these higher frequency bands falls within the EHF band.

[0051] Considering the above examples, unless otherwise specifically stated, if the term "sub-6 GHz" is used herein, it may broadly refer to frequencies that may be less than 6 GHz, may be within FR1, or may include mid-band frequencies. In addition, unless otherwise specifically stated, if the term "millimeter wave" is used herein, it may broadly refer to frequencies that may include mid-band frequencies, may be within FR2, FR4, FR4-a or FR4-1 or FR5, or may be within the EHF band. It is contemplated that the frequencies included in these operating bands (e.g., FR1, FR2, FR3, FR4, FR4-a, FR4-1, or FR5) may be modified, and the techniques described herein are applicable to those modified frequency ranges.

[0052] In some aspects, UE 120 may include a communications manager 140. As described in greater detail elsewhere herein, communications manager 140 may perform one or more measurements associated with a channel access procedure for accessing a shared or unlicensed sidelink channel; and based at least in part on the one or more measurements satisfying an energy detection threshold, transmit a sidelink communication at a starting time domain location that is aligned with a boundary of a time slot based at least in part on one or more conditions not being satisfied or as one of a plurality of available starting time domain locations for a time slot based at least in part on one or more conditions being satisfied, the plurality of available starting time domain locations for a time slot including one or more starting time domain locations that are not aligned with any time slot boundary. Additionally or alternatively, communications manager 140 may perform one or more other operations described herein.

[0053] In some aspects, the network node 110 may include a communication manager 150. As described in more detail elsewhere herein, the communication manager 150 may send configuration information intended for the UE, the configuration information indicating one or more conditions associated with using multiple available starting time domain positioning or multi-slot based scheduling in a shared or unlicensed frequency band. Additionally or alternatively, the communication manager 150 may perform one or more other operations described herein.

[0054] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating an example network node communicating with a UE in a wireless network according to the present disclosure. The network node may correspond to Figure 1 Similarly, the UE may correspond to a network node 110. Figure 1 UE 120. Network node 110 may be equipped with a set of antennas 234a to 234t, such as T antennas (T ≥ 1). UE 120 may be equipped with a set of antennas 252a to 252r, such as R antennas (R ≥ 1). Figure 2 The depicted network node 110 includes one or more radio frequency components, such as an antenna 234 and a modem 254. In some examples, the network node 110 may include an interface, a communication component, or another component that facilitates communication with the UE 120 or another network node. Some network nodes 110 may not include radio frequency components that facilitate direct communication with the UE 120, such as one or more CUs or one or more DUs.

[0055] At the network node 110, the transmit processor 220 may receive data intended for the UE 120 (or a set of UEs 120) from the data source 212. The transmit processor 220 may select one or more modulation and coding schemes (MCS) for the UE 120 based at least in part on one or more channel quality indicators (CQI) received from the UE 120. The network node 110 may process (e.g., encode and modulate) the data for the UE 120 based at least in part on the MCS selected for the UE 120, and may provide data symbols for the UE 120. The transmit processor 220 may process system information (e.g., for semi-static resource partitioning information (SRPI)) and control information (e.g., CQI requests, grants, or upper layer signaling), and provide overhead symbols and control symbols. The transmit processor 220 may generate reference symbols for reference signals (e.g., cell-specific reference signals (CRS) or demodulation reference signals (DMRS)) and synchronization signals (e.g., primary synchronization signals (PSS) or secondary synchronization signals (SSS)). The transmit (TX) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processor 230 may perform spatial processing (e.g., pre-coding) on ​​data symbols, control symbols, overhead symbols, or reference symbols, where applicable, and may provide a set of output symbol streams (e.g., T output symbol streams) to a corresponding set of modems 232 (e.g., T modems) (shown as modems 232a to 232t). For example, each output symbol stream may be provided to a modulator component (shown as MOD) of the modem 232. Each modem 232 may process a corresponding output symbol stream (e.g., for OFDM) using a corresponding modulator component to obtain an output sample stream. Each modem 232 may also process (e.g., convert to analog, amplify, filter, or up-convert) the output sample stream using a corresponding modulator component to obtain a downlink signal. The modems 232a to 232t may transmit a set of downlink signals (e.g., T downlink signals) via a corresponding set of antennas 234 (e.g., T antennas) (shown as antennas 234a to 234t).

[0056] At the UE 120, a set of antennas 252 (shown as antennas 252a to 252r) may receive downlink signals from the network node 110 or other network nodes 110, and may provide a set of received signals (e.g., R received signals) to a set of modems 254 (e.g., R modems) (shown as modems 254a to 254r). For example, each received signal may be provided to a demodulator component (shown as DEMOD) of the modem 254. Each modem 254 may use a corresponding demodulator component to condition (e.g., filter, amplify, downconvert, or digitize) the received signal to obtain input samples. Each modem 254 may use a demodulator component to further process the input samples (e.g., for OFDM) to obtain received symbols. A MIMO detector 256 may obtain received symbols from the modem 254, may perform MIMO detection on the received symbols where applicable, and may provide detected symbols. The receive processor 258 may process (e.g., demodulate and decode) the detected symbols, may provide decoded data for the UE 120 to the data sink 260, and may provide decoded control information and system information to the controller / processor 280. The term "controller / processor" may refer to one or more controllers, one or more processors, or a combination thereof. The channel processor may determine a reference signal received power (RSRP) parameter, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) parameter, a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) parameter, or a CQI parameter, among other things. In some examples, one or more components of the UE 120 may be included in the housing 284.

[0057] The network controller 130 may include a communication unit 294, a controller / processor 290, and a memory 292. The network controller 130 may include, for example, one or more devices in a core network. The network controller 130 may communicate with the network node 110 via the communication unit 294.

[0058] One or more antennas (e.g., antennas 234a to 234t or antennas 252a to 252r) may include or may be included in one or more antenna panels, one or more antenna groups, one or more sets of antenna elements, or one or more antenna arrays, etc. An antenna panel, antenna group, set of antenna elements, or antenna array may include one or more antenna elements (in a single housing or multiple housings), a set of coplanar antenna elements, a set of non-coplanar antenna elements, or coupled to one or more transmit or receive components (such as Figure 2 One or more antenna elements of one or more components).

[0059] On the uplink, at the UE 120, the transmit processor 264 may receive and process data from the data source 262 and control information from the controller / processor 280 (e.g., for reports including RSRP, RSSI, RSRQ, or CQI). The transmit processor 264 may generate reference symbols for one or more reference signals. The symbols from the transmit processor 264 may be pre-decoded by the TX MIMO processor 266, where applicable, further processed by the modem 254 (e.g., for DFT-s-OFDM or CP-OFDM), and sent to the network node 110. In some examples, the modem 254 of the UE 120 may include a modulator and a demodulator. In some examples, the UE 120 includes a transceiver. The transceiver may include any combination of an antenna 252, a modem 254, a MIMO detector 256, a receive processor 258, a transmit processor 264, or a TX MIMO processor 266. The transceiver may be used by a processor (eg, controller / processor 280) and memory 282 to perform aspects of any of the methods described herein.

[0060] At the network node 110, uplink signals from the UE 120 or other UEs may be received by the antenna 234, processed by the modem 232 (e.g., a demodulator component of the modem 232, shown as DEMOD), detected by the MIMO detector 236 where applicable, and further processed by the receive processor 238 to obtain decoded data and control information transmitted via the UE 120. The receive processor 238 may provide the decoded data to the data sink 239 and provide the decoded control information to the controller / processor 240. The network node 110 may include a communication unit 244 and may communicate with the network controller 130 via the communication unit 244. The network node 110 may include a scheduler 246 to schedule one or more UEs 120 for downlink or uplink communication. In some examples, the modem 232 of the network node 110 may include a modulator and a demodulator. In some examples, the network node 110 includes a transceiver. The transceiver may include any combination of antenna 234, modem 232, MIMO detector 236, receive processor 238, transmit processor 220, or TX MIMO processor 230. The transceiver may be used by a processor (e.g., controller / processor 240) and memory 242 to perform aspects of any of the methods described herein.

[0061] The controller / processor 240 of the network node 110, the controller / processor 280 of the UE 120, and / or Figure 2Any other component of the controller / processor 240 of the network node 110, the controller / processor 280 of the UE 120, or the like may perform one or more techniques associated with conditional transmission of unlicensed sidelink communications using additional starting positions, as described in greater detail elsewhere herein. Figure 2 Any other component of the Fig.11 1100 or other processes as described herein. Memory 242 and memory 282 may store data and program codes for network node 110 and UE 120, respectively. In some examples, memory 242 or memory 282 may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions (e.g., code or program code) for wireless communication. For example, the one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors of network node 110 or UE 120 (e.g., directly executed, or executed after compilation, conversion, or interpretation), may cause one or more processors, UE 120, or network node 110 to perform or direct, for example, Fig.11 The operations of the process 1100 or other processes as described herein. In some examples, executing instructions may include running instructions, converting instructions, compiling instructions, or interpreting instructions, etc.

[0062] In some aspects, the UE 120 includes components for performing one or more measurements associated with a channel access procedure for accessing a shared or unlicensed sidelink channel; or components for transmitting a sidelink communication at a starting time domain location based at least in part on the one or more measurements satisfying an energy detection threshold, the starting time domain location being aligned with a boundary of a time slot based at least in part on one or more conditions not being satisfied or being one of a plurality of available starting time domain locations for a time slot based at least in part on one or more conditions being satisfied, the plurality of available starting time domain locations for a time slot including one or more starting time domain locations that are not aligned with any time slot boundary. The components for the UE 120 to perform the operations described herein may include, for example, one or more of the following: the communication manager 140, the antenna 252, the modem 254, the MIMO detector 256, the receive processor 258, the transmit processor 264, the TX MIMO processor 266, the controller / processor 280, or the memory 282.

[0063] The deployment of a communication system (such as a 5G NR system) can be arranged with various components or components in a variety of ways. In a 5G NR system or network, a network node, a network entity, a mobility element of a network, a RAN node, a core network node, a network element, a base station or network equipment can be implemented in an aggregated or decomposed architecture. For example, a base station (such as a node B (NB), an evolved NB (eNB), an NR base station, a 5G NB, an access point (AP), a TRP or a cell, etc.) or one or more units (or one or more components) performing base station functionality can be implemented as an aggregated base station (also called an independent base station or a monolithic base station) or a decomposed base station. "Network entity" or "network node" may refer to a decomposed base station or one or more units of a decomposed base station (such as one or more CUs, one or more DUs, one or more RUs or a combination thereof).

[0064] An aggregated base station (e.g., an aggregated network node) may be configured to utilize a radio protocol stack that is physically or logically integrated within a single RAN node (e.g., within a single device or unit). A decomposed base station (e.g., a decomposed network node) may be configured to utilize a protocol stack that is physically or logically distributed between two or more units (such as one or more CUs, one or more DUs, or one or more RUs). In some examples, a CU may be implemented within a network node, and one or more DUs may be co-located with the CU, or alternatively, may be geographically or virtually distributed across one or more other network nodes. A DU may be implemented to communicate with one or more RUs. Each of a CU, a DU, and a RU may also be implemented as a virtual unit, such as a virtual central unit (VCU), a virtual distributed unit (VDU), or a virtual radio unit (VRU), and the like.

[0065] Base station type operations or network designs may take into account the aggregated nature of base station functionality. For example, a decomposed base station may be utilized in an IAB network, an open radio access network (O-RAN (such as a network configuration initiated by the O-RAN Alliance)), or a virtualized radio access network (vRAN, also known as a cloud radio access network (C-RAN)) to facilitate the scaling of a communication system by separating base station functionality into one or more units that can be deployed separately. A decomposed base station may include functionality implemented across two or more units at various physical locations, as well as functionality implemented virtually for at least one unit, which may enable flexibility in network design. Various units of a decomposed base station may be configured for wired or wireless communication with at least one other unit of the decomposed base station.

[0066] Figure 33 is a diagram illustrating an example decomposed base station architecture 300 according to the present disclosure. The decomposed base station architecture 300 may include a CU 310, which may communicate directly with a core network 320 via a backhaul link, or indirectly with the core network 320 through one or more decomposed control units (such as a near-RT RIC 325 via an E2 link, or a non-RT RIC 315 associated with a service management and orchestration (SMO) framework 305, or both). The CU 310 may communicate with one or more DUs 330 via respective midhaul links, such as via an F1 interface. Each of the DUs 330 may communicate with one or more RUs 340 via respective fronthaul links. Each of the RUs 340 may communicate with one or more UEs 120 via respective radio frequency (RF) access links. In some implementations, a UE 120 may be served simultaneously by multiple RUs 340.

[0067] Each of the units (including CU 310, DU 330, RU 340) and the near-RT RIC 325, non-RT RIC 315, and SMO framework 305 may include or be coupled to one or more interfaces configured to receive or transmit signals, data, or information (collectively referred to as signals) via a wired or wireless transmission medium. Each of the units or an associated processor or controller that provides instructions to one or more communication interfaces of the corresponding unit may be configured to communicate with one or more of the other units via a transmission medium. In some examples, each of the units may include a wired interface and a wireless interface, the wired interface being configured to receive signals or transmit signals to one or more of the other units via a wired transmission medium, and the wireless interface being configured to receive signals or transmit signals to one or more of the other units via a wireless transmission medium, or both.

[0068] In some aspects, the CU 310 may host one or more higher-layer control functions. Such control functions may include radio resource control (RRC) functions, packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) functions, or service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) functions, etc. Each control function may be implemented using an interface that is configured to communicate signals with other control functions hosted by the CU 310. The CU 310 may be configured to handle user plane functionality (e.g., central unit-user plane (CU-UP) functionality), control plane functionality (e.g., central unit-control plane (CU-CP) functionality), or a combination thereof. In some specific implementations, the CU 310 may be logically divided into one or more CU-UP units and one or more CU-CP units. When implemented in an O-RAN configuration, the CU-UP unit may communicate bidirectionally with the CU-CP unit via an interface (such as an E1 interface). As needed, the CU 310 may be implemented to communicate with the DU 330 for network control and signaling.

[0069] Each DU 330 may correspond to a logical unit that includes one or more base station functions for controlling the operation of one or more RUs 340. In some aspects, the DU 330 may host one or more of a radio link control (RLC) layer, a MAC layer, and one or more high physical (PHY) layers, at least in part, according to a functional partitioning (such as that defined by 3GPP). In some aspects, one or more high PHY layers may be implemented by one or more modules for forward error correction (FEC) encoding and decoding, scrambling, modulation and demodulation, etc. In some aspects, the DU 330 may also host one or more low PHY layers, such as one or more modules for fast Fourier transform (FFT), inverse FFT (iFFT), digital beamforming or physical random access channel (PRACH) extraction and filtering, etc. Each layer (which may also be referred to as a module) may be implemented using an interface that is configured to communicate signals with other layers (and modules) hosted by the DU 330 or with control functions hosted by the CU 310.

[0070] Each RU 340 may implement lower layer functionality. In some deployments, the RU 340 controlled by the DU 330 may correspond to a logical node that hosts RF processing functions, or low PHY layer functions (such as performing FFT, performing iFFT, digital beamforming, or PRACH extraction and filtering, etc.) based on functional splitting (e.g., functional splitting defined by 3GPP). In this architecture, each RU 340 may be operated to handle over-the-air (OTA) communications with one or more UEs 120. In some specific implementations, real-time and non-real-time aspects of control plane communications and user plane communications with the RU 340 may be controlled by the corresponding DU 330. In some scenarios, this configuration may enable each DU 330 and CU 310 to be implemented in a cloud-based RAN architecture such as a vRAN architecture.

[0071] The SMO framework 305 may be configured to support RAN deployment and provisioning of non-virtualized network elements and virtualized network elements. For non-virtualized network elements, the SMO framework 305 may be configured to support the deployment of dedicated physical resources for RAN coverage requirements, which may be managed via an operation and maintenance interface (such as an O1 interface). For virtualized network elements, the SMO framework 305 may be configured to interact with a cloud computing platform (such as an open cloud (O-Cloud) platform 390) to perform network element lifecycle management (such as instantiating virtualized network elements) via a cloud computing platform interface (such as an O2 interface). Such virtualized network elements may include, but are not limited to, CU 310, DU 330, RU 340, non-RT RIC 315, and near-RT RIC 325. In some specific implementations, the SMO framework 305 may communicate with hardware aspects of the 4G RAN (such as an open eNB (O-eNB) 311) via the O1 interface. Additionally, in some implementations, the SMO framework 305 can communicate directly with each of the one or more RUs 340 via a corresponding O1 interface. The SMO framework 305 can also include a non-RT RIC 315 configured to support the functionality of the SMO framework 305.

[0072] The non-RT RIC 315 may be configured to include logic functions that enable non-real-time control and optimization of RAN elements and resources, artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI / ML) workflows including model training and updating, or policy-based guidance of applications / features in the near-RT RIC 325. The non-RT RIC 315 may be coupled to or in communication with the near-RT RIC 325 (such as via an A1 interface). The near-RT RIC 325 may be configured to include logic functions that enable near-real-time control and optimization of RAN elements and resources via data collection and actions through an interface (such as via an E2 interface) that connects one or more CUs 310, one or more DUs 330, or both, and the O-eNB with the near-RT RIC 325.

[0073] In some implementations, in order to generate an AI / ML model to be deployed in the near-RT RIC 325, the non-RT RIC 315 may receive parameters or external enrichment information from an external server. Such information may be utilized by the near-RT RIC 325 and may be received from a non-network data source or from a network function at the SMO framework 305 or the non-RT RIC 315. In some examples, the non-RT RIC 315 or the near-RT RIC 325 may be configured to tune RAN behavior or performance. For example, the non-RT RIC 315 may monitor long-term trends and patterns of performance and employ AI / ML models to perform corrective actions through the SMO framework 305 (such as via reconfiguration of the O1 interface) or via the creation of RAN management policies (such as A1 interface policies).

[0074] Figure 4 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of side link communication 400 according to the present disclosure. Figure 4 As shown, the first UE 405-1 can communicate with the second UE 405-2 (and one or more other UEs 405) via one or more side link channels 410. UEs 405-1 and 405-2 can communicate using one or more side link channels 410 for P2P communication, D2D communication, V2X communication (e.g., which may include V2V communication, V2I communication, or V2P communication) or mesh networking. In some examples, UE 405 (e.g., UE 405-1 or UE 405-2) may correspond to one or more other UEs described elsewhere herein, such as UE120. In some examples, one or more side link channels 410 may use a PC5 interface, or may operate in a high frequency band (e.g., a 5.9 GHz band). Additionally or alternatively, UE 405 may use global navigation satellite system (GNSS) timing to synchronize the timing of a transmit time interval (TTI) (e.g., a frame, subframe, time slot, or symbol).

[0075] like Figure 4 As further shown, the one or more sidelink channels 410 may include a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH) 415, a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) 420, or a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) 425. The PSCCH 415 may be used to communicate control information, similar to a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) used for cellular communication with the network node 110 via an access link or access channel. The PSSCH 420 may be used to communicate data, similar to a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) used for cellular communication with the network node 110 via an access link or access channel. For example, the PSCCH 415 may carry sidelink control information (SCI) 430, which may indicate various control information for sidelink communication, such as one or more resources (e.g., time resources, frequency resources, or space resources), where a transport block (TB) 435 may be carried on the PSSCH 420. The TB 435 may include data. The PSFCH 425 may be used to communicate sidelink feedback 440, such as hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback (eg, acknowledgement or negative acknowledgement (ACK / NACK) information), transmit power control (TPC), or scheduling request (SR).

[0076] Although shown on PSCCH 415, in some examples, SCI 430 may include multiple communications in different stages, such as first stage SCI (SCI-1) and second stage SCI (SCI-2). SCI-1 may be sent on PSCCH 415. SCI-2 may be sent on PSSCH 420. SCI-1 may include, for example, an indication of one or more resources (e.g., time resources, frequency resources, or space resources) on PSSCH 420, information for decoding sidelink communications on PSSCH, quality of service (QoS) priority value, resource reservation period, PSSCH demodulation reference signal (DMRS) mode, SCI format for SCI-2, beta offset for SCI-2, amount of PSSCH DMRS ports, or modulation and coding scheme (MCS). SCI-2 may include information associated with data transmission on PSSCH 420, such as HARQ process ID, new data indicator (NDI), source identifier, destination identifier, or channel state information (CSI) report trigger.

[0077] In some examples, one or more sidelink channels 410 may use a resource pool. For example, a scheduling assignment (e.g., included in SCI 430) may be sent in a subchannel using specific resource blocks (RBs) across time. In some examples, data transmissions associated with the scheduling assignment (e.g., on PSSCH 420) may occupy adjacent RBs in the same subframe as the scheduling assignment (e.g., using frequency division multiplexing). In some examples, the scheduling assignment and the associated data transmission are not sent on adjacent RBs.

[0078] In some examples, UE 405 may operate using a sidelink transmission mode (e.g., Mode 1) in which resource selection or scheduling is performed by network node 110 (e.g., base station, CU, or DU). For example, UE 405 may receive a grant (e.g., in downlink control information (DCI) or in an RRC message, such as for a configured grant) from network node 110 (e.g., directly or via one or more network nodes) for sidelink channel access or scheduling. In some examples, UE 405 may operate using a transmission mode (e.g., Mode 2) in which resource selection or scheduling is performed by UE 405 (e.g., instead of network node 110). In some examples, UE 405 may perform resource selection or scheduling by sensing channel availability for transmission. For example, UE 405 may measure received signal strength indicator (RSSI) parameters associated with various side link channels (e.g., side link RSSI (S-RSSI) parameters), may measure reference signal received power (RSRP) parameters associated with various side link channels (e.g., PSSCH-RSRP parameters), or may measure reference signal received quality (RSRQ) parameters associated with various side link channels (e.g., PSSCH-RSRQ parameters), and may select a channel for sending side link communications based at least in part on the measurements.

[0079] Additionally or alternatively, the UE 405 may perform resource selection or scheduling using the SCI 430 received in the PSCCH 415, which may indicate occupied resources or channel parameters. Additionally or alternatively, the UE 405 may perform resource selection or scheduling by determining a channel busy rate (CBR) associated with various sidelink channels, which may be used for rate control (e.g., by indicating a maximum number of resource blocks that the UE 405 may use for a particular set of subframes).

[0080] In a transmission mode in which resource selection or scheduling is performed by the UE 405, the UE 405 may generate sidelink grants and may transmit these grants in the SCI 430. The sidelink grant may indicate, for example, one or more parameters (e.g., transmission parameters) to be used for an upcoming sidelink transmission, such as one or more resource blocks (e.g., for TB 435) to be used for an upcoming sidelink transmission on the PSSCH 420, one or more subframes to be used for an upcoming sidelink transmission, or a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) to be used for an upcoming sidelink transmission. In some examples, the UE 405 may generate a sidelink grant indicating one or more parameters for semi-persistent scheduling (SPS), such as the periodicity of the sidelink transmission. Additionally or alternatively, the UE 405 may generate a sidelink grant for event-driven scheduling, such as for an on-demand sidelink message.

[0081] In some examples, sidelink communication may be associated with slot-based scheduling. Slot-based scheduling may use slots as the minimum time unit for resource scheduling in the time domain (e.g., the minimum amount of time that can be reserved for sidelink communication is a slot). In some other examples, sidelink communication may be associated with microslot-based scheduling, which may also be referred to as scheduling based on multiple starting positions (or multiple starting positions). Microslots may include a smaller amount of symbols than the amount of OFDM symbols included in a slot. For example, the starting position of a microslot may appear 1, 2, 4, 7, or another amount of OFDM symbols after the start of a slot. Microslots may be located asynchronously with the start of a slot (e.g., the start of a microslot may not be aligned with a slot boundary). In some other examples, the start of a microslot may be aligned with a slot boundary. A microslot may be a scheduling unit smaller than a slot (e.g., a microslot may be a portion of a slot). In some examples, a microslot may include one or more data symbols representing data. Additionally or alternatively, the mini-slot may include one or more control symbols representing control information associated with the mini-slot. In some examples, the one or more control symbols may be located at or near the beginning of the mini-slot (e.g., in the first two symbols of the mini-slot) or at or near the end of the mini-slot (e.g., in the last symbol of the mini-slot). Alternatively, the mini-slot may not include a control symbol.

[0082] Using mini-slot based scheduling for sidelink communications may increase flexibility in reserving sidelink resources or may reduce latency associated with sidelink communications. However, mini-slot based scheduling may be associated with increased signaling overhead because more fine-grained resource reservations may be made, thereby increasing the amount of resource reservations sent in the sidelink network.

[0083] Figure 55 is a diagram illustrating an example 500 of side link communication and access link communication according to the present disclosure. Figure 5 As shown, the transmitter (Tx) / receiver (Rx) UE 505 and the Rx / Tx UE 510 can communicate with each other via a side link, as described above in conjunction with Figure 4 As further shown, in some sidelink modes, the network node 110 may communicate with the Tx / Rx UE 505 (e.g., directly or via one or more network nodes), such as via a first access link. Additionally or alternatively, in some sidelink modes, the network node 110 may communicate with the Rx / Tx UE 510 (e.g., directly or via one or more network nodes), such as via a first access link. The Tx / Rx UE 505 or Rx / Tx UE 510 may correspond to one or more UEs described elsewhere herein, such as Figure 1 120. Thus, a direct link between UEs 120 (e.g., via a PC5 interface) may be referred to as a side link, and a direct link between network node 110 and UE 120 (e.g., via a Uu interface) may be referred to as an access link. Side link communications may be sent via a side link (e.g., via a PC5 interface), and access link communications may be sent via an access link (e.g., via a Uu link). Access link communications may be downlink communications (from network node 110 to UE 120) or uplink communications (from UE 120 to network node 110).

[0084] Figure 6 600 in a shared or unlicensed frequency band according to the present disclosure. Various techniques may be used to increase the data rate associated with the sidelink network. For example, a wireless network may support carrier aggregation for sidelink communications. As another example, a wireless network may support sidelink communications via an unlicensed frequency band or a shared frequency band (e.g., an unlicensed or shared spectrum), thereby providing additional frequency domain resources available for sidelink communications. A shared or unlicensed frequency band may be a frequency band associated with non-exclusive use associated with various operators, devices, or RATs, etc.

[0085] For example, in a shared or unlicensed band, devices using different RATs may communicate using the same band (e.g., the same channel). In order for two different types of devices (e.g., using different RATs) to coexist while using a common carrier frequency, a mechanism is needed to efficiently utilize resource allocations made by the two RATs without negatively affecting the operation of each RAT. For example, in a shared or unlicensed band, a transmitting device may contend for channel access with other devices before transmitting on a shared or unlicensed channel to reduce or prevent conflicts on a shared or unlicensed channel. In order to contend for channel access, the transmitting device may perform a channel access procedure for shared or unlicensed band channel access, such as a listen-before-talk (or listen-before-send) (LBT) procedure or another type of channel access procedure. A channel access procedure may be performed to determine whether a physical channel (e.g., a radio resource of a channel) is free for use or busy (e.g., being used by another wireless communication device such as a UE, an IoT device, or a wireless local area network (WLAN) device, etc.).

[0086] The channel access process may include sensing or measuring a physical channel (e.g., performing an RSRP measurement, detecting an energy level, or performing another type of measurement) during a channel access gap (which may also be referred to as a contention window (CW)), and determining whether a shared or unlicensed channel is idle or busy based at least in part on a sensed or measured signal on the physical channel (e.g., based at least in part on whether the measurement satisfies a threshold such as an energy detection threshold). If the transmitting device determines that the channel access process is successful (e.g., if the measurement of the physical channel satisfies the energy detection threshold), the transmitting device may perform one or more transmissions on the shared or unlicensed channel during the transmission opportunity, which may last for a channel occupancy time (COT). If the transmitting device determines that the channel access process is unsuccessful (e.g., if the measurement of the physical channel does not satisfy the energy detection threshold), the transmitting device may refrain from performing one or more transmissions on the shared or unlicensed channel.

[0087] For example, Figure 6 As shown, UE 120 may attempt to send a sidelink communication (e.g., sidelink data or sidelink TB) using a first transmission opportunity 605. A transmission opportunity may be a time-frequency resource in which a UE (or another wireless communication device) has an opportunity to send a signal. "Transmission opportunity" and "transmission opportunity" are used interchangeably herein. UE 120 may perform a channel access procedure (e.g., as an example, before sending a sidelink communication) Figure 6 As shown in the figure, it is the LBT process. Figure 6 As shown, the channel access procedure may be unsuccessful (eg, the shared or unlicensed band may be busy). As a result, UE 120 may refrain from using first transmit opportunity 605 to transmit sidelink communications.

[0088] like Figure 6 As shown, UE 120 may be associated with the second transmission opportunity 610 or the third transmission opportunity 615. For example, in some cases, based at least in part on the inability to use the first transmission opportunity 605 to transmit the sidelink communication (e.g., due to a channel access procedure failure), UE 120 may send a request to network node 110 for additional time-frequency resources to be used for transmitting retransmissions of the sidelink communication. Network node 110 may send an indication of the second transmission opportunity 610 or the third transmission opportunity 615 to UE 120 (e.g., directly or via one or more network nodes). This may consume additional radio resources and signaling overhead associated with UE 120 sending a request for additional resources and network node 110 sending a grant indicating the additional resources.

[0089] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of channel access 700 in a shared or unlicensed frequency band according to the present disclosure. Figure 7 As shown, UE 120 may communicate in a shared or unlicensed frequency band. For example, UE 120 may transmit one or more sidelink signals in a shared or unlicensed frequency band. Figure 7 As shown, UE 120 may be configured with one or more sidelink time slots 710. For example, UE 120 may transmit or receive one or more sidelink signals using time slot-based scheduling. In other words, UE 120 may only transmit signals starting at a time slot boundary.

[0090] One or more other devices, such as device 705, may operate in a shared or unlicensed band. Device 705 may be associated with a different RAT (e.g., different from the RAT used by UE 120), a different slot format, a different transmit timing, or a different scheduling technique, etc. (e.g., compared to UE 120). For example, device 705 may be associated with asynchronous transmit timing (e.g., the device may not have to wait for scheduling to transmit a signal).

[0091] In a first operation 715, UE 120 may perform a channel access procedure, such as an LBT procedure (e.g., as described elsewhere herein, such as in conjunction with Figure 6710 ). In a similar manner as described in more detail above). In a second operation 720, UE 120 may detect that a channel (e.g., a shared or unlicensed band) is idle (e.g., based at least in part on the channel access process being successful). However, the timing at which UE 120 detects that the channel is idle may occur in the middle of the sidelink timeslot 710. In other words, the timing at which UE 120 detects that the channel (e.g., a shared or unlicensed band) is idle may be arbitrary (e.g., may occur at any time). However, UE 120 may need to wait until the next sidelink timeslot 710 (e.g., until the next timeslot boundary) before sending the sidelink communication. For example, since the sidelink communication is synchronous, the timing of the transmission of the sidelink communication may be defined as the start of the sidelink timeslot 710. Therefore, UE 120 may wait (e.g., after detecting that the channel is idle) until the next timeslot before sending the sidelink communication.

[0092] However, in the time between the time when UE 120 detects that the channel is idle and the start of the next time slot, the device 705 may sense the channel (e.g., is idle) and start sending a signal. For example, in a third operation 725, the device 705 may perform a channel access procedure. The device 705 may detect that the channel (e.g., a shared or unlicensed band) is idle (e.g., because UE 120 is waiting until the next time slot to send a side link signal). Therefore, in a fourth operation 730, the device 705 may send a signal. Since the device 705 may be an asynchronous device or may be associated with a different time slot format or different time slot timing than the UE 120, the device 705 may start sending a signal before the start of the next side link time slot 710 (e.g., in the fourth operation 730).

[0093] In the fifth operation 735, the UE 120 may perform a channel access procedure (e.g., an LBT procedure) shortly before the start of the next side link time slot 710 (e.g., one or more OFDM symbols before) to ensure that the channel is still idle. However, since the device 705 may have started to send a signal on the channel (e.g., in the fourth operation 730), the UE 120 (e.g., in the fifth operation 735) may detect that the channel is busy. Therefore, in the sixth operation 740, the UE 120 may prohibit the transmission of the side link signal at the next time slot boundary. In other words, due to the signal sent by the device 705, the UE 120 may not be able to transmit at the next time slot boundary. Since the UE 120 delays the transmission of the side link signal until the next side link time slot 710 after detecting that the channel is idle (e.g., in the second operation 720), the UE 120 may lose the opportunity to transmit. This may increase the delay associated with the side link signal transmitted in the shared or unlicensed band.

[0094] This problem may be prevalent in sidelink configurations associated with low subcarrier spacing (SCS), such as 15 kHz or 30 kHz, etc. (e.g., because the slot duration may be longer for the lower SCS). For example, the slot duration for a 15 kHz SCS may be approximately 72 microseconds, and the slot duration for a 30 kHz SCS may be approximately 36 microseconds. In some examples, a channel access procedure (such as an LBT procedure) may be completed in as fast as 16 microseconds. Thus, in a low SCS scenario, while UE 120 is waiting for the next sidelink slot 710, another device (such as device 705) may complete a channel access procedure.

[0095] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of multiple starting points in a shared or unlicensed frequency band according to the present disclosure. Figure 8 As shown, the sidelink configuration may be associated with multiple starting positions for sidelink transmission (e.g., in addition to the time slot boundaries). Multiple starting positions may be associated with mini-slots. For example, where the sidelink configuration is associated with multiple starting positions for sidelink transmission, the UE 120 may be enabled to start transmission of a sidelink signal at the beginning of the sidelink time slot 810 or at the beginning of the mini-slot 815. For example, in some cases, mini-slot scheduling may be used to reduce the delay between the time when the UE 120 detects an idle channel (e.g., based on performing an LBT process) and the next transmission opportunity by providing an additional starting position for sidelink communication (e.g., in addition to the start of the time slot, the UE 120 may send a sidelink communication at the beginning of the mini-slot).

[0096] In some examples, the receiving UE may perform automatic gain control (AGC). For example, a time slot may include fourteen OFDM symbols, and at least one OFDM symbol (e.g., the first OFDM symbol in the time slot) may be dedicated to AGC training at the receiving UE. The AGC symbol may be received by the receiving UE, which may configure a gain for one or more receiving components (e.g., of the receiving UE) based on one or more signal characteristics (e.g., received signal power) associated with the AGC symbol. Thus, when the transmitting UE transmits sidelink data in the remaining symbols or time slots that are subsequent in time with respect to the AGC symbol, the receiving UE may apply the configured gain to process the sidelink data.

[0097] In a first operation 820, the first UE 120 may perform a channel access procedure (e.g., an LBT procedure). The first UE 120 may detect that a channel (e.g., a shared or unlicensed band) is idle based at least in part on performing the channel access procedure. Thus, the first UE 120 may send a signal 825. The signal may be a slot-based signal (e.g., may be located at the beginning of a sidelink slot). The receiving UE (at Figure 8) may perform AGC operations based at least in part on symbols of signal 825 (eg, the first (in time) one or more symbols of signal 825).

[0098] In the second operation 830, the second UE 120 may perform a channel access procedure (e.g., an LBT procedure). The first UE 120 may detect that the channel (e.g., a shared or unlicensed band) is idle. For example, the first UE 120 may not detect or measure the signal 825 (e.g., the signal 825 is hidden from the second UE 120 due to a blockage or other obstacle). Therefore, the second UE 120 may send a signal 835. The signal 835 may start at a starting position included in a time slot associated with the signal 825. For example, the signal 835 may occupy a mini-slot included in the time slot in which the signal 825 is sent.

[0099] In some cases, a receiving UE (e.g., that is receiving signal 825) may also receive signal 835 (e.g., the receiving UE may be geographically or spatially positioned such that the receiving UE also receives signal 835). However, since the receiving UE may be applying gain control based on the received power of signal 825 (e.g., instead of signal 835), the additional received power caused by the receiving UE receiving signal 835 may degrade reception of signal 825 (e.g., may cause saturation of one or more front-end components of the receiving UE). Therefore, introducing mini-slots or additional (multiple) starting positions for sidelink signals may introduce problems for AGC performed by the receiving UE.

[0100] Additionally or alternatively, the introduction of mini-slots or additional (multiple) starting positions for sidelink signals may introduce additional decoding complexity. For example, a UE in a sidelink network associated with mini-slot-based scheduling may perform additional blind decoding attempts for additional transmission opportunities introduced by the mini-slots. For example, a resource pool may include resources associated with a given transmission opportunity. For slot-based scheduling, a resource pool may include resources associated with a given slot. For mini-slot-based scheduling, a resource pool may include resources associated with a given mini-slot. Therefore, if a mini-slot is one-quarter the size of a slot, the receiving UE may perform 4 times the decoding attempts when using mini-slot-based scheduling compared to slot-based scheduling.

[0101] Various aspects are generally related to conditional transmission of sidelink communications using additional starting positions (e.g., associated with mini-slots). Some aspects are more specifically related to enabling a UE to use additional starting positions or mini-slot-based scheduling for sidelink communications associated with a shared or unlicensed sidelink channel (or frequency band) based at least in part on whether one or more conditions are met. In some aspects, the UE may perform one or more measurements associated with a channel access process for accessing a shared or unlicensed sidelink channel (e.g., a channel access process may be performed). The UE may send sidelink communications based at least in part on one or more measurements satisfying an energy detection threshold. The starting time domain positioning of the sidelink communication may be aligned with a time slot boundary based at least in part on one or more conditions not being met (e.g., the UE may use time slot-based scheduling based at least in part on one or more conditions not being met). The starting time domain positioning of the sidelink communication may be included in a plurality of available starting time domain positionings, the plurality of available starting time domain positionings including one or more starting time domain positionings that are not aligned with any time slot boundary based at least in part on one or more conditions being met. In other words, the UE may utilize mini-slot based scheduling for sidelink communications based at least in part on one or more conditions being satisfied.

[0102] In some aspects, one or more conditions may include a condition associated with a broadcast type of sidelink communication (e.g., wherein the condition indicates that the sidelink transmission is not permitted to use one or more broadcast types of multiple available starting time domain positioning, or indicates that the sidelink transmission is permitted to use one or more broadcast types of multiple available starting time domain positioning). Additionally or alternatively, one or more conditions may include a condition associated with a failure rate of a channel access process (e.g., wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the failure rate satisfying a threshold). Additionally or alternatively, one or more conditions may include a condition associated with a priority value associated with the sidelink communication (e.g., wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the priority value satisfying a threshold). Additionally or alternatively, one or more conditions may include a condition associated with a bandwidth size of the sidelink communication (e.g., wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the bandwidth size of the sidelink communication occupying the full bandwidth size associated with a shared or unlicensed sidelink channel). As described in more detail elsewhere herein, other conditions associated with the use of multiple starting positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling are contemplated.

[0103] Certain aspects of the subject matter described in the present disclosure may be implemented to achieve one or more of the following potential advantages. In some examples, the described techniques may be used to increase the likelihood that a UE is able to access a shared or unlicensed side link channel by increasing the amount of starting time domain positioning available for side link communications, thereby reducing the delay between the time when the UE detects that the shared or unlicensed side link channel is idle and the next available starting time domain positioning. Additionally, by limiting the use of multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling to certain scenarios (e.g., when one or more conditions are met), the decoding complexity or power consumption of the UE associated with the use of multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling may not be unnecessarily increased. In addition, the UE using multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling to send side link communications only when one or more conditions are met can reduce the likelihood that the receiving UE experiences AGC problems (e.g., using an inappropriate power gain value, as explained in more detail elsewhere herein). For example, one or more conditions may ensure that the UE uses multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot based scheduling only when the UE has reserved resources on a full time slot or when the sidelink communication uses the full bandwidth of a shared or unlicensed sidelink channel (e.g., thereby ensuring that the receiving UE will not receive other sidelink communications at a time that overlaps with the sidelink communication).

[0104] Fig. 9 is a diagram of an example associated with conditional transmission of side link communication 900 using additional starting positions according to the present disclosure. Fig. 9 As shown, one or more network nodes 110 (e.g., CU, DU, RU, or base station) can communicate with a first UE 905 (e.g., first UE 120) and a second UE 910 (e.g., second UE 120). In some aspects, the network node 110, the first UE 905, and the second UE 910 can be part of a wireless network (e.g., wireless network 100). The first UE 905 and the network node 110 can be in Fig. 9 The wireless connection has been established before the operation shown. Similarly, the second UE 910 and the network node 110 may be Fig. 9 The first UE 905 and the second UE 910 may use a side link (e.g., to connect to the wireless communication interface) to establish a wireless connection. Figure 4 and Figure 5 The method described above is similar to the method described above) to communicate with each other.

[0105] The first UE 905 and the second UE 910 may operate in an unlicensed or shared side link channel (e.g., in an unlicensed or shared frequency band). In some aspects, the first UE 905 and the second UE 910 may communicate via an unlicensed or shared side link frequency band (e.g., sometimes referred to as a side link unlicensed (SL-U) frequency band). For example, the first UE 905 and the second UE 910 may communicate via one or more SL-U processes (e.g., as defined by a wireless communication standard such as 3GPP or otherwise fixed).

[0106] As used herein, a network node 110 "sending" a communication to a UE 120 (e.g., a first UE 905 or a second UE 910) may refer to direct transmission (e.g., from the network node 110 to the UE 120) or to indirect transmission via one or more other network nodes or devices. For example, if the network node 110 is a DU, indirect transmission to the UE 120 may include the DU sending the communication to the RU and the RU sending the communication to the UE 120. Similarly, a UE 120 (e.g., a first UE 905 or a second UE 910) "sending" a communication to the network node 110 may refer to direct transmission (e.g., from the UE 120 to the network node 110) or to indirect transmission via one or more other network nodes or devices. For example, if the network node 110 is a DU, indirect transmission to the network node 110 may include the UE 120 sending the communication to the RU and the RU sending the communication to the DU. In some aspects, references herein to "network node 110" or "the network node 110" may refer to multiple network nodes.

[0107] In some aspects, in the first operation 915, the network node 110 may send and the first UE 905 or the second UE 910 may receive configuration information. In some aspects, the first UE 905 or the second UE 910 may receive the configuration information via one or more of RRC signaling, one or more medium access control (MAC) control elements (CEs) or DCI, etc. In some aspects, the configuration information may include an indication of one or more configuration parameters for selection by the first UE 905 or the second UE 910, or explicit configuration information for the first UE 905 or the second UE 910 to configure itself, etc. The first UE 905 or the second UE 910 may receive the configuration information via a Uu interface or an access link.

[0108] In some aspects, the configuration information may be associated with the side link configuration. For example, the first UE 905 or the second UE 910 may be configured to perform one or more operations associated with the side link or PC5 interface described herein. In some aspects, the configuration information may be a SL-U configuration or may be associated with a SL-U configuration. For example, the first UE 905 or the second UE 910 may be configured to perform one or more operations described herein via a shared or unlicensed band. For example, the configuration information may indicate one or more shared or unlicensed bands to be used by the first UE 905 or the second UE 910 for side link communication. Additionally or alternatively, the configuration information may indicate one or more resource pool configurations to be used by the first UE 905 or the second UE 910 for side link communication.

[0109] In some aspects, the configuration information may indicate that the first UE 905 or the second UE 910 may conditionally use multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling for side link communications associated with a shared or unlicensed side link channel. For example, the configuration information may indicate one or more conditions that must be met or satisfied in order for the first UE 905 or the second UE 910 to use multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling for side link communications. The configuration information may indicate that if one or more conditions are met, the first UE 905 or the second UE 910 may use multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling (e.g., may be permitted to use starting time domain positioning that is not aligned with a time slot boundary). The configuration information may indicate that if one or more conditions are not met, the first UE 905 or the second UE 910 may not use multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling (e.g., may be permitted to use only starting time domain positioning aligned with a time slot boundary, or may only use slot-based scheduling). The configuration information may indicate one or more (or all) of the conditions to be considered by the first UE 905 or the second UE 910, as described in more detail elsewhere herein.

[0110] As used herein, a "starting time domain location" may refer to the time when a communication is first transmitted (e.g., the first (or earliest) OFDM symbol in time associated with the communication). As described elsewhere herein, "multiple available starting time domain locations" may refer to multiple or additional opportunities (e.g., in addition to the configured time slot boundaries) for a UE (e.g., the first UE 905 or the second UE 910) to initiate sidelink communications. Multiple available starting time domain locations may be associated with mini-slot-based scheduling. For example, multiple available starting time domain locations may include one or more starting time domain locations that are not aligned with time slot boundaries. As an example, multiple available starting time domain locations may be associated with mini-slots. For example, multiple available starting time domain locations may include the start of a time slot (e.g., a configured side link time slot) and the start of a mini-slot. In other words, multiple available starting time domain locations may be associated with one or more mini-slots.

[0111] In some aspects, the first UE 905 may send and the network node 110 may receive a capability report. The capability report may indicate that the first UE 905 supports sidelink communications in a shared or unlicensed channel or frequency band. Additionally, the capability report may indicate that the first UE 905 supports conditional use of multiple start positioning or scheduling based on mini-slots. The network node 110 may configure the first UE 905 to use a shared or unlicensed channel or frequency band or conditionally use multiple start positioning or scheduling based on mini-slots based at least in part on receiving the capability report. In a similar manner to the above, the second UE 910 may send and the network node 110 may receive a capability report.

[0112] The first UE 905 may configure itself based at least in part on the configuration information. In some aspects, the second UE 910 may configure itself based at least in part on the configuration information. In some aspects, the first UE 905 or the second UE 910 may be configured to perform one or more operations described herein based at least in part on the configuration information.

[0113] In the second operation 920, the first UE 905 may determine whether one or more conditions are met. The second UE 910 may determine whether one or more conditions are met in a manner similar to that described herein. One or more conditions may be associated with (by the first UE 905) using multiple available starting time domain positioning or scheduling based on micro-time slots in a shared or unlicensed band for side link communication. In some aspects, one or more conditions may be indicated by configuration information (e.g., received by the first UE 905 in the first operation 915). Additionally or alternatively, an indication of one or more (or all) of these conditions may be stored by the first UE 905. For example, one or more (or all) of the conditions may be defined or otherwise fixed by a wireless communication standard such as 3GPP. In such examples, one or more conditions may be stored by the first UE 905 (e.g., as part of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) configuration).

[0114] In some aspects, one or more conditions may include conditions associated with the broadcast type of the sidelink communication. For example, the condition may indicate that the first UE 905 is not allowed to use one or more broadcast types of multiple available starting time domain positioning or micro-time slot scheduling. In such examples, the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the broadcast type of the sidelink communication being included in one or more broadcast types. In other words, for some broadcast types, micro-time slot transmission may not be allowed. The broadcast type may include one-to-many or one-to-all broadcast types, such as broadcast or multicast, etc. In some examples, the broadcast type may include a multicast associated with only negative acknowledgment (NACK) distance-based feedback (e.g., which may be referred to as multicast option 1). By not allowing the first UE 905 to use multiple available starting time domain positioning or micro-time slot scheduling for broadcast or certain multicast transmission, UEs that do not support multiple available starting time domain positioning or micro-time slot scheduling can receive sidelink communications (e.g., because the first UE 905 may be limited to using slot-based scheduling, slot-based scheduling may be supported by all UEs or most UEs receiving broadcast or certain multicast transmissions). This enables UEs that do not support multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot scheduling to receive data from the RRC connectionless link (e.g., in sidelink Mode 2 operating mode), which may be important for certain types of data that are typically sent using broadcast or multicast transmissions, such as security applications, etc.

[0115] In some aspects, a condition (e.g., associated with a broadcast type) may indicate that the first UE 905 is permitted to use one or more broadcast types of multiple available starting time domain locations. In such an example, if the broadcast type of the side link communication is included in one or more broadcast types, the condition may be satisfied. For example, the condition may indicate that mini-slot transmission may be optionally (e.g., depending on one or more other conditions described herein) used only for certain transmission broadcast types by the first UE 905. The first UE 905 may be permitted to use one or more broadcast types of multiple available starting time domain locations, including unicast or multicast (e.g., which may be referred to as multicast option 2) associated with HARQ confirmation (ACK) or NACK (ACK / NACK) feedback, etc. For example, mini-slot transmission may not be allowed for broadcast and multicast option 1 (e.g., as described above), but may be optionally used by the first UE 905 for unicast and multicast option 2. This may enable RRC-connected nodes (e.g., the first UE 905 and the second UE 910) to optionally communicate via mini-slots. In some aspects, one or more broadcast types that the first UE 905 is permitted to use with the multiple available starting time domain locations may be indicated in configuration information received by the first UE 905 (eg, in a first operation 915 ) or stored by the first UE 905 .

[0116] In some aspects, the first UE 905 may use multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling depending on one or more other conditions described herein and at least in part based on one or more other UEs associated with a given side link communication supporting mini-slot-based scheduling. For example, the first UE 905 may receive a capability report from the second UE 910 indicating whether the second UE 910 supports mini-slot-based scheduling. If the second UE 910 indicates support for mini-slot-based scheduling, the first UE 905 may use multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling depending on one or more other conditions described herein being met. If the second UE 910 indicates that the second UE 910 does not support mini-slot-based scheduling, the first UE 905 may use slot-based scheduling for communications associated with the second UE 910.

[0117] For example, the first UE 905 may determine to use multiple available starting time domain locations or mini-slot-based scheduling based at least in part on one or more conditions being satisfied (e.g., even if the side link is associated with multiple available starting time domain locations or mini-slot-based scheduling) to avoid unnecessarily increasing the power consumption or decoding complexity of the receiving UE. For example, as described herein, one or more conditions may reflect the degree to which non-side link activity is dominant on a shared or unlicensed band (e.g., used by the first UE 905 and the second UE 910). For example, if there is no or little non-side link activity on a shared or unlicensed band, there may be no need to use mini-slot-based scheduling because the side link communication can be adequately conveyed using slot-based scheduling (e.g., without introducing the disadvantages of mini-slot-based scheduling described elsewhere herein).

[0118] For example, one or more conditions may include a condition associated with a failure rate of a channel access procedure (e.g., an LBT procedure). For example, the first UE 905 may track a failure rate associated with attempted sidelink transmissions on a shared or unlicensed band (e.g., the amount of channel access procedure failures within a given amount of time). The failure rate may indicate the degree of dominance of non-sidelink activity on a shared or unlicensed band (e.g., a higher failure rate may indicate that non-sidelink activity is more dominant or present on a shared or unlicensed band). In such examples, the condition associated with the failure rate of a channel access procedure may be satisfied based at least in part on the failure rate satisfying a threshold.

[0119] In some aspects, the one or more conditions may include a condition associated with a channel busy rate associated with a shared or unlicensed band associated with one or more RATs other than the RAT used by the first UE 905. For example, the condition may be satisfied based at least in part on the channel busy rate satisfying a threshold. The CBR may be a modified CBR indicating other RAT activities on the shared or unlicensed band (e.g., activities associated with a RAT other than the RAT used by the first UE 905 or activities other than sidelink activities). In some aspects, the first UE 905 may measure the channel busy rate and determine whether the condition is satisfied (e.g., whether the measured channel busy rate satisfies the threshold).

[0120] In some aspects, the condition may be satisfied based at least in part on the condition being satisfied for a certain amount of UEs including the UE associated with the sidelink associated with the sidelink communication, where the amount satisfies a threshold. In other words, the condition may be satisfied based at least in part on K UE identifications out of a total of N associated with the sidelink or determining that a condition associated with a busy rate of other RAT channels is satisfied (e.g., where N is greater than or equal to two, and where K is greater than one and less than or equal to N). In some aspects, the N UEs (e.g., the amount of UEs) may be transmitting UEs associated with the sidelink. Additionally or alternatively, the N UEs (e.g., the amount of UEs) may be receiving UEs associated with the sidelink.

[0121] In some aspects, one or more conditions may include a condition associated with a level or amount of other RAT activity on a shared or unlicensed band. For example, the first UE 905 may include a module associated with a second RAT (such as a WiFi module) that is configured to measure activity associated with the second RAT on a shared or unlicensed band. For example, if the module is a WiFi module, the WiFi module may detect the amount of WiFi headers sent via a shared or unlicensed band. If the amount of WiFi headers meets a threshold, the first UE 905 may determine that the condition is met. In other words, if the WiFi module of the first UE 905 detects a large number of WiFi headers on a shared or unlicensed band, this may be an indication of significant other RAT activity (e.g., significant WiFi activity). The module associated with the second RAT may pass information associated with the level of activity associated with the second RAT on a shared or unlicensed band to a module associated with a RAT used by the first UE 905 to communicate via a side link (e.g., a 5G or NR module). The first UE 905 may include other modules associated with other RATs that can detect the level of activity of other RATs on shared or unlicensed bands in a similar manner. This can enable modules associated with the RAT used by the first UE 905 to communicate via the sidelink to identify or detect the level or amount of other RAT activity on the shared or unlicensed band.

[0122] In some aspects, one or more conditions may be based at least in part on the type of data to be sent on the side link (e.g., throughout the duration of the side link). For example, the first UE 905 may be permitted to use mini-slot-based scheduling or multiple available starting time domain positioning for links dedicated to the transmission of high priority data or data associated with a small packet delay budget (PDB). In other examples, the first UE 905 may not be permitted to use mini-slot-based scheduling or multiple available starting time domain positioning for links dedicated to the transmission of lower priority data or data associated with a larger PDB.

[0123] For example, the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a priority value associated with the sidelink communication or data to be sent via the sidelink. The priority value may be a ProSe per-packet priority (PPPP), etc. The condition associated with the priority value may be satisfied based at least in part on the priority value satisfying a threshold. For example, if the priority value (e.g., PPPP value) of the sidelink transmission is less than a threshold (e.g., because a lower priority value may indicate a higher priority transmission), the first UE 905 may be permitted to use mini-slot-based scheduling or multiple available starting time domain positioning.

[0124] As another example, one or more conditions may include conditions associated with a packet delay budget associated with side link communication or data to be sent via the side link. In such examples, the condition may be satisfied based at least in part on the packet delay budget satisfying a threshold. For example, if the packet delay budget is less than a threshold, the first UE 905 may be permitted to use scheduling based on microslots or multiple available starting time domain positioning (e.g., the first UE 905 may use scheduling based on microslots or multiple available starting time domain positioning for delay-sensitive or low packet delay budget data). For example, conditions associated with a packet delay budget or priority may assume (e.g., by the first UE 905 or other UEs) that the transmission on the side link has a fixed value (e.g., a fixed priority or a fixed packet delay budget). If the packet delay budget or priority of the transmission on the side link may change over time, the first UE 905 may not use conditions associated with a packet delay budget or priority to determine whether to use multiple available starting time domain positioning or use scheduling based on microslots.

[0125] As another example, one or more conditions may include conditions associated with applications associated with sidelink communications. For example, the first UE 905 may be configured (e.g., in a first operation 915) with one or more applications (or lists) to be associated with scheduling based on mini-slots or multiple available starting time domain positioning. For example, the condition may be associated with one or more applications for which the first UE 905 is permitted to use multiple available starting time domain positioning. The first UE 905 may determine that the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the application associated with a given sidelink communication being included in one or more applications. In some aspects, the first UE 905 may apply conditions associated with applications associated with sidelink communications (or all transmissions on the sidelink), wherein the packet delay budget or priority of the transmission on the sidelink may change over time. In some aspects, if the sidelink is associated with multiple applications, the first UE 905 may be permitted to use multiple available starting time domain positioning or scheduling based on mini-slots based on all applications (from multiple applications) being included in one or more applications (or lists) to be associated with scheduling based on mini-slots or multiple available starting time domain positioning.

[0126] In some aspects, as described in more detail elsewhere herein, introducing mini-slot based scheduling or multiple available starting time domain locations may introduce AGC issues to the receiving UE. Thus, in some aspects, one or more conditions may include a condition associated with the first UE 905 being more conservative in selecting a starting time domain location for sidelink communication that is not aligned with a slot boundary.

[0127] For example, one or more conditions may include a condition associated with an energy detection threshold of a channel access process. In such examples, the condition is satisfied based at least in part on one or more measurements based on the quantity X satisfying the energy detection threshold. In other words, the condition may indicate that the energy detection threshold is a modified energy detection threshold (e.g., when accessing or selecting a starting time domain positioning for sidelink communication that is not aligned with a time slot boundary), and the modified energy detection threshold is modified by the quantity X from another energy detection threshold associated with the channel access process (e.g., from a typical or configured energy detection threshold for the channel access process on a time slot). In such examples, the first UE 905 may determine that the condition is satisfied based at least in part on one or more measurements associated with the channel access process satisfying the modified energy detection threshold. For example, if mini-slot-based scheduling is enabled for the first UE 905, accessing the channel at an additional starting position (e.g., not at a regular full time slot boundary) may require the channel access process or LBT to use an energy detection threshold that is X decibel-milliwatts (dBm) less than the ("normal") energy detection threshold for accessing on a regular full time slot boundary in order to determine that the channel is idle.

[0128] In some aspects, the value associated with the amount X may be stored by the first UE 905 or indicated in a configuration received by the first UE 905 (e.g., in the first operation 915). Additionally or alternatively, the first UE 905 may select a value associated with the amount X from a range of values ​​or a list of values. In some aspects, the condition associated with the energy detection threshold may be applicable based at least in part on one or more other conditions from the one or more conditions being satisfied. For example, one or more other conditions may include a first condition associated with a channel busy rate (e.g., a conventional channel busy rate, or a modified channel busy rate described elsewhere herein) of a side link channel (e.g., if the channel busy rate satisfies the first threshold, the first condition may be satisfied), and a second condition associated with an average duty cycle associated with the side link (e.g., if the average duty cycle satisfies the second threshold, the second condition may be satisfied), or a third condition associated with the bandwidth occupancy of the side link (e.g., if the bandwidth occupancy (bandwidth occupancy rate) satisfies the third threshold, the third condition may be satisfied), and the like.

[0129] In some aspects, one or more conditions may include a dynamic condition based at least in part on a condition associated with a given side link communication (e.g., sent by the first UE 905 in the sixth operation 940 described below). For example, one or more conditions may include a condition associated with a reservation status of a time slot in which the side link communication is to be sent. In such an example, the condition may be satisfied based at least in part on a reservation status indicating that no other UE has reserved resources associated with a time slot in which the starting time domain location of the side link communication is included. This ensures that the receiving UE will not receive another side link communication in the time slot, thereby reducing the likelihood that the receiving UE will experience AGC problems, as described elsewhere herein.

[0130] As another example, the one or more conditions may include a condition associated with the bandwidth size of the sidelink communication. In such an example, the condition may be satisfied based at least in part on the bandwidth size of the sidelink communication occupying the full bandwidth size associated with the sidelink channel. This may ensure that the receiving UE will not receive another sidelink communication at a time that overlaps with the sidelink communication because there may be no available bandwidth for the other communication (e.g., because the sidelink communication occupies the full bandwidth size), thereby reducing the likelihood that the receiving UE will experience AGC issues, as described elsewhere herein.

[0131] As another example, one or more conditions may include a condition associated with a shared channel occupancy time associated with a sidelink channel. In such an example, the first UE 905 may determine that the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the occurrence of a start time domain positioning of the sidelink communication outside the shared channel occupancy time. In other words, transmissions occurring during an active or ongoing channel occupancy time may occur only on full time slot boundaries (e.g., may be limited to time slot-based scheduling). For example, the channel occupancy time may be the time reserved for communications of a given RAT on a shared or unlicensed band. For example, during the channel occupancy time, devices associated with other RATs may not be permitted to transmit on a shared or unlicensed band. Thus, during a channel occupancy time (e.g., a channel occupancy time associated with the first UE 905 or shared among multiple UEs including the first UE 905), the first UE 905 may not be permitted to use multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling because the channel occupancy time may ensure that there is no activity of other RATs on the shared or unlicensed band (e.g., thereby reducing the need to use multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling). Sidelink transmissions initiated outside of the shared channel occupancy time associated with the sidelink channel may be permitted to use multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling because there may be activity associated with other devices (e.g., using different RATs) on the shared or unlicensed band.

[0132] In some aspects, one or more conditions may include a condition associated with a subcarrier spacing associated with a sidelink communication or resource pool configured for the first UE 905. In such an example, the first UE 905 may determine that the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the subcarrier spacing satisfying a threshold. For example, due to the shorter time slot duration associated with the high subcarrier spacing, communications associated with high subcarrier spacing may benefit less from using multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling. The first UE 905 may be configured (e.g., in a first operation 915) with one or more resource pools. Each resource pool may be associated with a subcarrier spacing. For sidelink operations on a resource pool associated with a subcarrier spacing from a set of one or more subcarrier spacings, the first UE 905 may not be permitted to use multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling. For example, the configuration information (e.g., received by the first UE 905 in the first operation 915) may indicate that the first UE 905 is permitted to use one or more subcarrier spacings of multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling, or may indicate that the first UE 905 is not permitted to use one or more subcarrier spacings of multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling. For example, the first UE 905 may not be permitted to use multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling for sidelink communications associated with subcarrier spacing greater than or equal to 60 kHz.

[0133] In a third operation 925, the first UE 905 or the second UE 910 may operate using mini-slot based scheduling or slot based scheduling based at least in part on whether one or more conditions (e.g., one or more or all of the conditions described herein) are met. In some aspects, each UE (e.g., the first UE 905 and the second UE 910) may individually determine whether one or more conditions are met.

[0134] Additionally or alternatively, in the fourth operation 930, the first UE 905 may send and the second UE 910 may receive an indication of using time slot-based scheduling or mini-time slot-based scheduling. For example, the first UE 905 may determine whether one or more conditions are met (e.g., as described in more detail elsewhere herein). If the first UE 905 determines that one or more conditions are met, the first UE 905 may send and the second UE 910 may receive an indication of using mini-time slot-based scheduling (e.g., this may cause the second UE 910 to monitor the SCI in the resource pool associated with the mini-time slot-based scheduling). If the first UE 905 determines that one or more conditions are not met, the first UE 905 may send and the second UE 910 may receive an indication of using time slot-based scheduling (e.g., this may cause the second UE 910 to monitor the SCI in the resource pool associated with the time slot-based scheduling and prohibit monitoring the SCI in the resource pool associated with the mini-time slot-based scheduling). The indication sent by the first UE 905 in the fourth operation 930 may be a layer 3 (L3) signal or a layer 1 (L1) signal. For example, as part of the fourth operation 930, the first UE 905 may send a sidelink RRC communication indicating whether to use slot-based scheduling or mini-slot-based scheduling. For another example, as part of the fourth operation 930, the first UE 905 may send a sidelink MAC-CE communication indicating whether to use slot-based scheduling or mini-slot-based scheduling. For another example, as part of the fourth operation 930, the first UE 905 may send an SCI communication indicating whether to use slot-based scheduling or mini-slot-based scheduling.

[0135] In a fifth operation 935, the first UE 905 may perform one or more measurements associated with a channel access process for accessing a shared or unlicensed side link channel (e.g., a shared or unlicensed band). For example, the channel access process may be an LBT process. In a sixth operation 940, based at least in part on one or more measurements satisfying an energy detection threshold associated with the channel access process, the first UE 905 may send and the second UE 910 (or one or more other UEs) may receive side link communications. For example, if one or more measurements satisfy the energy detection threshold, the first UE 905 may determine that the shared or unlicensed side link channel (e.g., a shared or unlicensed band) is idle. If one or more measurements do not satisfy the energy detection threshold, the first UE 905 may determine that the shared or unlicensed side link channel (e.g., a shared or unlicensed band) is busy (e.g., the channel access process may be associated with a failure), and the first UE 905 may prohibit performing the sixth operation 940.

[0136] Based at least in part on determining that the shared or unlicensed sidelink channel is idle, the first UE 905 may determine a starting time domain location for sidelink communication. For example, if the first UE 905 determines that one or more conditions (e.g., as described elsewhere herein) are met, the first UE 905 may determine the starting time domain location for sidelink communication from the configured time slot boundary and from multiple available starting time domain locations including one or more starting time domain locations that are not aligned with the time slot boundary (e.g., the first UE 905 may use mini-slot-based scheduling). If the first UE 905 determines that one or more conditions (e.g., as described elsewhere herein) are not met, the first UE 905 may determine the starting time domain location for sidelink communication only from the configured time slot boundary (e.g., and not from multiple available starting time domain locations that may not be aligned with the time slot boundary). For example, the first UE 905 may send (e.g., as part of the sixth operation 940) a sidelink communication at a starting time domain location (e.g., the earliest OFDM symbol associated with the sidelink location) aligned with a time slot boundary based at least in part on one or more conditions not being met. Alternatively, the first UE 905 may send (e.g., as part of the sixth operation 940) a sidelink communication at a starting time domain location (e.g., the earliest OFDM symbol associated with the sidelink location) included in a plurality of available starting time domain locations including one or more starting time domain locations that are not aligned with any time slot boundary based at least in part on one or more conditions being met. In other words, if the first UE 905 determines that one or more conditions are met, the first UE 905 may send a sidelink communication at a starting time domain location that is aligned with a time slot boundary or not aligned with a time slot boundary. However, if the first UE 905 determines that one or more conditions are not met, the first UE 905 may only send a sidelink communication at a starting time domain location that is aligned with a time slot boundary.

[0137] In this way, the mini-slot based scheduling feature may be conditionally or optionally enabled for the UE based at least in part on one or more conditions. In some examples, the described techniques may be used to increase the likelihood that the first UE 905 is able to access a shared or unlicensed side link channel by increasing the amount of starting time domain positioning available for side link communication, thereby reducing the delay between the time when the first UE 905 detects that the shared or unlicensed side link channel is idle (e.g., in the fifth operation 935) and the next available starting time domain positioning. Additionally, by limiting the use of multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot based scheduling to certain scenarios (e.g., when one or more conditions are met), the decoding complexity or power consumption associated with using multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot based scheduling may not be unnecessarily increased. In addition, the first UE 905 uses multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot based scheduling to send side link communications only when one or more conditions are met, which can reduce the likelihood that the receiving UE experiences AGC problems (e.g., using inappropriate power gain values, as explained in more detail elsewhere herein).

[0138] Fig.10 is a diagram of an example associated with conditional transmission of side link communications using additional starting positions according to the present disclosure. Fig.10 As shown, UE 120 (e.g., first UE 905) UE 120 can communicate in a shared or unlicensed frequency band. For example, UE 120 can transmit one or more side link signals in a shared or unlicensed frequency band. Fig.10 As shown, UE 120 may be configured with one or more sidelink time slots 1010 and one or more mini-time slots 1015. For example, UE 120 may use mini-time slot-based scheduling to send or receive one or more sidelink signals. In other words, UE 120 may start sending a signal at the beginning of sidelink time slot 1010 or at the beginning of mini-time slot 1015.

[0139] One or more other devices, such as device 1005, may operate in a shared or unlicensed band. Device 1005 may be associated with a different RAT (e.g., different from the RAT used by UE 120), a different slot format, a different transmit timing, or a different scheduling technique, etc. (e.g., compared to UE 120). For example, device 1005 may be associated with asynchronous transmit timing (e.g., the device may not have to wait for scheduling to transmit a signal).

[0140] In a first operation 1015, UE 120 may perform a channel access procedure, such as an LBT procedure (e.g., in a manner similar to that described in greater detail elsewhere herein). In a second operation 1020, UE 120 may detect that a channel (e.g., a shared or unlicensed band) is idle (e.g., based at least in part on the channel access procedure being successful). However, the timing at which UE 120 detects that the channel is idle may occur in the middle of sidelink timeslot 1010. In other words, the timing at which UE 120 detects that the channel (e.g., a shared or unlicensed band) is idle may be arbitrary (e.g., may occur at any time). However, in a third operation 1025, UE 120 may begin sending a sidelink signal at the beginning of a mini-timeslot. For example, as Fig.10 As shown, the UE 120 may not need to wait until the start of the next time slot (eg, after detecting that the channel is idle in the second operation 1020) before sending the side link signal in the third operation 1025.

[0141] This may reduce the likelihood that device 1005 will be able to sense the channel (e.g., a shared or unlicensed band) and initiate a transmission before the next transmit opportunity of UE 120. For example, in fourth operation 1030, device 1005 may perform a channel access procedure. However, due to the transmission of the sidelink signal by UE 120 in third operation 1025, device 1005 may detect that the channel is busy and may refrain from transmitting on the channel.

[0142] Therefore, UE 120's use of mini-slot based scheduling may increase the likelihood that UE 120 is able to send a sidelink signal, or may reduce the latency associated with the sidelink signal. However, as described in more detail elsewhere herein, UE 120's use of mini-slot based scheduling may increase power consumption or decoding complexity. For example, a receiving UE may need to monitor or receive SCI at least once in each mini-slot (e.g., compared to at least once in each slot for slot-based scheduling). Therefore, when mini-slot based scheduling is used, the overhead associated with monitoring or receiving SCI may increase because mini-slots may occur more frequently in time than slots. Therefore, UE 120 may conditionally use scheduling such as Fig.10 The mini-slot based scheduling shown (e.g., depending on one or more conditions being met, as described elsewhere in this document such as in conjunction with Fig. 9 described in more detail).

[0143] Fig.111 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process 1100 performed, for example, by a UE supporting conditional transmission of unlicensed sidelink communications using additional starting positions in accordance with the present disclosure. Example process 1100 is an example of operations in which a UE (e.g., UE 120) performs conditional transmission of unlicensed sidelink communications using additional starting positions.

[0144] like Fig.11 As shown, in some aspects, process 1100 may include performing one or more measurements associated with a channel access procedure for accessing a shared or unlicensed sidelink channel (block 1110). For example, a UE (such as by using Fig.12 The depicted communications manager 140 or measurement component 1208) may perform one or more measurements associated with a channel access procedure for accessing a shared or unlicensed sidelink channel, as described above.

[0145] like Fig.11 As further shown, in some aspects, process 1100 may include transmitting the sidelink communication at a starting time domain location based at least in part on one or more measurements satisfying an energy detection threshold, the starting time domain location being aligned with a boundary of the time slot based at least in part on one or more conditions not being satisfied or being one of a plurality of available starting time domain locations for the time slot based at least in part on one or more conditions being satisfied, the plurality of available starting time domain locations for the time slot including one or more starting time domain locations that are not aligned with any time slot boundary (block 1120). For example, the UE (such as by using Fig.12 The depicted communication manager 140 or transmitting component 1204) may transmit side link communications at a starting time domain location based at least in part on one or more measurements satisfying an energy detection threshold, the starting time domain location being aligned with a boundary of a time slot based at least in part on one or more conditions not being satisfied or being one of a plurality of available starting time domain locations for a time slot based at least in part on one or more conditions being satisfied, the plurality of available starting time domain locations for a time slot including one or more starting time domain locations that are not aligned with any time slot boundary, as described above.

[0146] Process 1100 may include additional aspects, such as any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below or in combination with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein.

[0147] In a first additional aspect, a plurality of available starting time domain locations are aligned with corresponding mini-slot boundaries within one or more time slots.

[0148] In a second additional aspect, either alone or in combination with the first aspect, the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a broadcast type of the sidelink communication.

[0149] In a third additional aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the condition indicates that the UE is not permitted to use one or more broadcast types of multiple available starting time domain positioning, and the condition is at least partially based on the broadcast type of the sidelink communication being included in the one or more broadcast types and not being met.

[0150] In a fourth additional aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to third aspects, the condition indicates that the UE is permitted to use one or more broadcast types with multiple available starting time domain positioning, and the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the broadcast type of the sidelink communication being included in the one or more broadcast types.

[0151] In a fifth additional aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fourth aspects, one or more broadcast types that the UE is permitted to use of the multiple available starting time domain locations are indicated in a configuration received by the UE or stored by the UE.

[0152] In a sixth additional aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fifth aspects, the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a failure rate of a channel access process, wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on a failure rate satisfying a rate threshold.

[0153] In a seventh additional aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to sixth aspects, the UE communicates using a first RAT, wherein one or more conditions include a condition associated with a channel busy rate (CBR) associated with one or more RATs other than the first RAT, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the CBR satisfying a CBR threshold.

[0154] In an eighth additional aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to seventh aspects, process 1100 includes measuring a channel busy rate.

[0155] In a ninth additional aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of aspects one to eight, the CBR threshold is a first threshold, wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the condition being satisfied for a certain amount of UEs including the UE associated with a side link associated with the side link communication, wherein the amount satisfies a second threshold.

[0156] In a tenth additional aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to ninth aspects, the UE is a transmitting UE associated with a sidelink.

[0157] In an eleventh additional aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to tenth aspects, the UE is a receiving UE associated with a sidelink.

[0158] In a twelfth additional aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of aspects one to eleven, one or more conditions include a condition associated with a priority value associated with side link communications, wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the priority value satisfying a priority value threshold.

[0159] In a thirteenth additional aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of aspects one to twelfth, one or more conditions include a condition associated with a packet delay budget (PDB) associated with side link communications, wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the PDB satisfying a PDB threshold.

[0160] In a fourteenth additional aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of aspects one to thirteen, one or more conditions include a condition associated with an application associated with side link communications, wherein the condition indicates that the UE is permitted to use one or more applications with multiple available starting time domain positioning, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the application being included in the one or more applications.

[0161] In a fifteenth additional aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of aspects one to fourteen, the starting time domain position is included in one or more starting time domain positions that are not aligned with any time slot boundary, wherein one or more conditions include a condition associated with an energy detection threshold, wherein the condition indicates that the energy detection threshold is a modified energy detection threshold modified by a certain amount from another energy detection threshold associated with a channel access process, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on one or more measurements satisfying the modified energy detection threshold.

[0162] In a sixteenth additional aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fifteenth aspects, a value associated with the quantity is stored by the UE or indicated in a configuration received by the UE.

[0163] In a seventeenth additional aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first to sixteenth aspects, process 100 includes selecting a value associated with the amount from a range of values ​​or a list of values.

[0164] In an eighteenth additional aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to seventeenth aspects, a condition associated with an energy detection threshold is applicable based at least in part on one or more other conditions from the one or more conditions being satisfied.

[0165] In a nineteenth additional aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of aspects one to eighteen, the one or more other conditions include at least one of: a first condition associated with a channel busy rate of a side link channel, a second condition associated with an average duty cycle associated with a side link associated with side link communications, or a third condition associated with bandwidth occupancy of the side link.

[0166] In an additional aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of aspects 1 to 19, one or more conditions include a condition associated with a reservation status of a time slot in which side link communications are to be sent, and the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the reservation status indicating that no other UE has reserved resources associated with the time slot.

[0167] In a twenty-first additional aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of aspects one to twentieth, one or more conditions include a condition associated with a bandwidth size transmitted for side link communications, and the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the bandwidth size occupying a full bandwidth size associated with the side link channel.

[0168] In an additional twenty-second aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of aspects one to twenty-first, one or more conditions include a condition associated with a shared channel occupancy time associated with a side link channel, and the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the starting time domain positioning occurring outside the shared channel occupancy time.

[0169] In a twenty-third additional aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of aspects one to twenty-second, one or more conditions include a condition associated with a transmitted subcarrier spacing (SCS) of sidelink communications, and the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the SCS satisfying an SCS threshold.

[0170] although Fig.11 An example block diagram of process 1100 is shown, but in some aspects, the same Fig.11 The process 1100 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than those depicted. Additionally or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of the process 1100 may be performed in parallel.

[0171] Fig.121 is a diagram of an example apparatus 1200 for wireless communication that supports conditional transmission of unlicensed sidelink communication using additional starting positions according to the present disclosure. The apparatus 1200 may be a UE, or the UE may include the apparatus 1200. In some aspects, the apparatus 1200 includes a receiving component 1202, a transmitting component 1204, and a communication manager 140, which may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses). As shown, the apparatus 1200 may communicate with another apparatus 1206 (such as a UE, a network node, or another wireless communication device) using the receiving component 1202 and the transmitting component 1204.

[0172] In some aspects, the apparatus 1200 may be configured to perform Figures 9 and 10 Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus 1200 may be configured to perform one or more processes described herein, such as Fig.11 In some aspects, the apparatus 1200 may include the process 1100 described above in combination with Figure 2 One or more components of the UE.

[0173] The receiving component 1202 may receive communications from the device 1206, such as reference signals, control information, data communications, or combinations thereof. The receiving component 1202 may provide the received communications to one or more other components of the device 1200, such as the communications manager 140. In some aspects, the receiving component 1202 may perform signal processing (such as filtering, amplification, demodulation, analog-to-digital conversion, demultiplexing, deinterleaving, demapping, equalization, interference cancellation, or decoding, etc.) on the received communications and may provide the processed signals to one or more other components. In some aspects, the receiving component 1202 may include the above in combination with Figure 2 One or more antennas, modems, demodulators, MIMO detectors, receiving processors, controllers / processors, memories or combinations thereof of the UE.

[0174] The transmission component 1204 may transmit communications, such as reference signals, control information, data communications, or combinations thereof, to the device 1206. In some aspects, the communication manager 140 may generate communications and may transmit the generated communications to the transmission component 1204 for transmission to the device 1206. In some aspects, the transmission component 1204 may perform signal processing (such as filtering, amplification, modulation, digital-to-analog conversion, multiplexing, interleaving, mapping, or encoding, etc.) on the generated communications and may transmit the processed signals to the device 1206. In some aspects, the transmission component 1204 may include the above in combination with Figure 2One or more antennas, modems, modulators, transmit MIMO processors, transmit processors, controllers / processors, memories, or combinations thereof of the UE. In some aspects, the transmit component 1204 can be co-located with the receive component 1202 in a transceiver.

[0175] The communication manager 140 may perform one or more measurements associated with a channel access procedure for accessing a shared or unlicensed side link channel. The communication manager 140 may transmit or may cause the transmitting component 1204 to transmit the side link communication at a starting time domain location based at least in part on one or more measurements satisfying an energy detection threshold, the starting time domain location being aligned with a boundary of a time slot based at least in part on one or more conditions not being satisfied or being one of a plurality of available starting time domain locations for a time slot based at least in part on one or more conditions being satisfied, the plurality of available starting time domain locations for the time slot including one or more starting time domain locations that are not aligned with any time slot boundary. In some aspects, the communication manager 140 may perform one or more operations described elsewhere herein as being performed by one or more components of the communication manager 140.

[0176] The communication manager 140 may include the above combined Figure 2 Controller / processor, memory, or combination thereof of the UE described. In some aspects, the communication manager 140 includes a collection of components, such as a measurement component 1208, a determination component 1210, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, the collection of components may be separate and distinct from the communication manager 140. In some aspects, one or more components in the collection of components may include the above-mentioned combination Figure 2 The controller / processor, memory, or a combination thereof of the UE, or may be implemented therein. Additionally or alternatively, one or more components in the set of components may be at least partially implemented as software stored in the memory. For example, a component (or a portion of a component) may be implemented as an instruction or code stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and can be executed by a controller or processor to perform the function or operation of the component.

[0177] Measuring component 1208 can perform one or more measurements associated with a channel access procedure for accessing a shared or unlicensed sidelink channel. Transmitting component 1204 can transmit the sidelink communication at a starting time domain location based at least in part on the one or more measurements satisfying an energy detection threshold, the starting time domain location being aligned with a time slot boundary based at least in part on one or more conditions not being satisfied or being included in a plurality of available starting time domain locations including one or more starting time domain locations that are not aligned with any time slot boundary based at least in part on one or more conditions being satisfied.

[0178] The determination component 1210 can determine whether one or more conditions are satisfied.

[0179] The measuring component 1208 can measure a channel busy rate associated with one or more conditions.

[0180] Fig.12 The quantities and arrangements of the components shown are provided as examples. Fig.12 There may be additional components, fewer components, different components, or differently arranged components than those shown. Fig.12 Two or more components shown may be implemented in a single component, or Fig.12 The single component shown may be implemented as multiple distributed components. Additionally or alternatively, Fig.12 The assembly of (one or more) components shown may be described as being executable by Fig.12 Another collection of components shown performs one or more functions.

[0181] Fig.13 1 is a diagram of an example apparatus 1300 for wireless communication that supports conditional transmission of unlicensed sidelink communication using additional starting positions in accordance with the present disclosure. Apparatus 1300 may be a network node, or a network node may include apparatus 1300. In some aspects, apparatus 1300 includes a receiving component 1302, a transmitting component 1304, and a communication manager 150, which may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses). As shown, apparatus 1300 may communicate with another apparatus 1306 (such as a UE, a network node, or another wireless communication device) using receiving component 1302 and transmitting component 1304.

[0182] In some aspects, the apparatus 1300 may be configured to perform Figures 9 and 10 Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus 1300 may be configured to perform one or more of the processes described herein or a combination thereof. In some aspects, the apparatus 1300 may include the apparatus described above in combination with Figure 2 One or more components of the network node.

[0183] The receiving component 1302 may receive communications from the device 1306, such as reference signals, control information, data communications, or combinations thereof. The receiving component 1302 may provide the received communications to one or more other components of the device 1300, such as the communications manager 150. In some aspects, the receiving component 1302 may perform signal processing (such as filtering, amplification, demodulation, analog-to-digital conversion, demultiplexing, deinterleaving, demapping, equalization, interference cancellation, or decoding, etc.) on the received communications and may provide the processed signals to one or more other components. In some aspects, the receiving component 1302 may include the above in combination with Figure 2One or more antennas, modems, demodulators, MIMO detectors, receiving processors, controllers / processors, memories or combinations thereof of the network node.

[0184] The transmitting component 1304 may transmit communications, such as reference signals, control information, data communications, or combinations thereof, to the device 1306. In some aspects, the communication manager 150 may generate communications and may transmit the generated communications to the transmitting component 1304 for transmission to the device 1306. In some aspects, the transmitting component 1304 may perform signal processing (such as filtering, amplification, modulation, digital-to-analog conversion, multiplexing, interleaving, mapping, or encoding, etc.) on the generated communications and may transmit the processed signals to the device 1306. In some aspects, the transmitting component 1304 may include the above in combination with Figure 2 One or more antennas, modems, modulators, transmit MIMO processors, transmit processors, controllers / processors, memories, or combinations thereof of the network node. In some aspects, the transmit component 1304 can be co-located with the receive component 1302 in a transceiver.

[0185] The communication manager 150 may send or may cause the sending component 1304 to send configuration information intended for the UE, the configuration information indicating one or more conditions associated with using multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot-based scheduling in a shared or unlicensed frequency band. In some aspects, the communication manager 150 may perform one or more operations described elsewhere herein as being performed by one or more components of the communication manager 150.

[0186] The communication manager 150 may include the above combined Figure 2 The controller / processor, memory, scheduler, communication unit, or combination thereof of the network node described herein. In some aspects, the communication manager 150 includes a collection of components, such as determining component 1308, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, the collection of components may be separate and distinct from the communication manager 150. In some aspects, one or more components in the collection of components may include the components described above in conjunction with Figure 2 The controller / processor, memory, scheduler, communication unit or combination thereof of the network node, or may be implemented therein. Additionally or alternatively, one or more components in the set of components may be at least partially implemented as software stored in the memory. For example, a component (or a portion of a component) may be implemented as an instruction or code stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and can be executed by a controller or processor to perform the function or operation of the component.

[0187] Transmitting component 1304 can transmit configuration information intended for the UE indicating one or more conditions associated with using multiple available starting time domain positioning or mini-slot based scheduling in a shared or unlicensed frequency band.Determining component 1308 can determine one or more conditions.

[0188] Fig.13 The quantities and arrangements of the components shown are provided as examples. Fig.13 There may be additional components, fewer components, different components, or differently arranged components than those shown. Fig.13 Two or more components shown may be implemented in a single component, or Fig.13 The single component shown may be implemented as multiple distributed components. Additionally or alternatively, Fig.13 The illustrated set of component(s) may be described as being executable by Fig.13 Another collection of components shown performs one or more functions.

[0189] The following provides an overview of some aspects of the disclosure:

[0190] Aspect 1: A method for wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: performing one or more measurements associated with a channel access process for accessing a shared or unlicensed side link channel; and sending side link communications at a starting time domain location based at least in part on the one or more measurements satisfying an energy detection threshold, wherein the starting time domain location is aligned with a boundary of a time slot at least in part based on one or more conditions not being satisfied or is at least in part based on the one or more conditions being satisfied as one of a plurality of available starting time domain locations for the time slot, the plurality of available starting time domain locations for the time slot including one or more starting time domain locations that are not aligned with any time slot boundary.

[0191] Aspect 2: The method according to aspect 1, wherein the multiple available starting time domain locations are aligned with corresponding mini-slot boundaries within one or more time slots.

[0192] Aspect 3: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 2, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a broadcast type of the sidelink communication.

[0193] Aspect 4: A method according to aspect 3, wherein the condition indicates that the UE is not permitted to use one or more broadcast types of the multiple available starting time domain positioning, and wherein the condition is at least partially based on the broadcast type of the sidelink communication being included in the one or more broadcast types and not being satisfied.

[0194] Aspect 5: A method according to any one of Aspects 3 to 4, wherein the condition indicates that the UE is permitted to use one or more broadcast types of the multiple available starting time domain positioning, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the broadcast type of the sidelink communication being included in the one or more broadcast types.

[0195] Aspect 6: The method according to aspect 5, wherein the one or more broadcast types that the UE is permitted to use the multiple available starting time domain positions are indicated in a configuration received by the UE or stored by the UE.

[0196] Aspect 7: A method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 6, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a failure rate of the channel access procedure, wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the failure rate satisfying a rate threshold.

[0197] Aspect 8: A method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7, wherein the UE communicates using a first radio access technology (RAT), wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a channel busy rate (CBR) associated with one or more RATs other than the first RAT, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the channel busy rate satisfying a CBR threshold.

[0198] Aspect 9: The method according to Aspect 8 further includes: measuring the CBR.

[0199] Aspect 10: A method according to any one of Aspects 8 to 9, wherein the CBR threshold is a first threshold, wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the condition being satisfied for a certain amount of UEs including the UE associated with the side link associated with the side link communication, wherein the amount satisfies a second threshold.

[0200] Aspect 11: The method according to aspect 10, wherein the UE is a transmitting UE associated with the sidelink.

[0201] Aspect 12: A method according to any one of Aspects 10 to 11, wherein the UE is a receiving UE associated with the sidelink.

[0202] Aspect 13: A method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 12, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a priority value associated with the side link communication, wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the priority value satisfying a priority value threshold.

[0203] Aspect 14: A method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a packet delay budget (PDB) associated with the side link communication, wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the packet delay budget satisfying a PDB threshold.

[0204] Aspect 15: A method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 14, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with an application associated with the sidelink communication, wherein the condition indicates that the UE is permitted to use one or more applications of the multiple available starting time domain positioning, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the application being included in the one or more applications.

[0205] Aspect 16: A method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 15, wherein the starting time domain positioning is included in the one or more starting time domain positionings that are not aligned with any time slot boundary, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with the energy detection threshold, wherein the condition indicates that the energy detection threshold is a modified energy detection threshold modified by a certain amount from another energy detection threshold associated with the channel access process, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the one or more measurements satisfying the modified energy detection threshold.

[0206] Aspect 17: The method according to Aspect 16, wherein a value associated with the quantity is stored by the UE or indicated in a configuration received by the UE.

[0207] Aspect 18: The method according to any one of aspects 16 to 17, further comprising: selecting a value associated with the amount from a range of values ​​or a list of values.

[0208] Aspect 19: The method according to any one of aspects 16 to 18, wherein the condition associated with the energy detection threshold applies based at least in part on one or more other conditions from the one or more conditions being satisfied.

[0209] Aspect 20: A method according to Aspect 19, wherein the one or more other conditions include at least one of the following: a first condition associated with a channel busy rate of the side link channel, a second condition associated with an average duty cycle associated with a side link associated with the side link communication, or a third condition associated with bandwidth occupancy of the side link.

[0210] Aspect 21: A method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 20, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a reservation status of the time slot in which the sidelink communication is to be sent, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the reservation status indicating that no other UE has reserved resources associated with the time slot.

[0211] Aspect 22: A method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 21, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with the bandwidth size of the transmission of the side link communication, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the bandwidth size occupying the full bandwidth size associated with the side link channel.

[0212] Aspect 23: A method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 22, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a shared channel occupancy time associated with the side link channel, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the starting time domain positioning occurring outside the shared channel occupancy time.

[0213] Aspect 24: A method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 23, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with the transmitted subcarrier spacing (SCS) of the sidelink communication, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the SCS satisfying an SCS threshold.

[0214] Aspect 25: An apparatus for wireless communication at a device, comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform one or more of the methods described in Aspects 1 to 24.

[0215] Aspect 26: An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: a memory and one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to perform the method according to one or more of aspects 1 to 24.

[0216] Aspect 27: An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: at least one component for performing the method according to one or more of aspects 1 to 24.

[0217] Aspect 28: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the method according to one or more of aspects 1 to 24.

[0218] Aspect 29: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing an instruction set for wireless communication, the instruction set comprising one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the device to perform one or more of the methods described in aspects 1 to 24.

[0219] The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the aspects to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications and variations may be made in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the various aspects.

[0220] As used herein, the term "component" is intended to be broadly interpreted as a combination of hardware or hardware and software. "Software" should be broadly interpreted as meaning instructions, instruction sets, codes, code segments, program codes, programs, subroutines, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable programs, threads of execution, procedures or functions, etc., whether it is described in software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language or other terms. As used herein, "processor" is implemented by hardware or a combination of hardware and software. It will be apparent that the system or method described herein can be implemented in different forms of hardware or a combination of hardware and software. The actual dedicated control hardware or software code used to implement these systems or methods does not limit various aspects. Therefore, the operation and behavior of these systems or methods are described herein without reference to specific software codes, because those skilled in the art will understand that software and hardware can be designed to implement these systems or methods based at least in part on the description herein.

[0221] As used herein, "satisfying a threshold" may refer to a value being greater than a threshold, greater than or equal to a threshold, less than a threshold, less than or equal to a threshold, equal to a threshold, not equal to a threshold, etc., depending on the context.

[0222] Although the specific combination of features is stated in the claims or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of various aspects. Many of these features can be combined in a manner not specifically described in the claims or not disclosed in the specification. The disclosure of various aspects includes each dependent claim combined with each other claim in the claim set. As used herein, the phrase "at least one of" the list of items refers to any combination of these items (which includes a single member). As an example, "at least one of the following: a, b or c" is intended to cover a, b, c, a+b, a+c, b+c and a+b+c, and any combination with multiple identical elements (e.g., a+a, a+a+a, a+a+b, a+a+c, a+b+b, a+c+c, b+b, b+b+b, b+b+c, c+c and c+c+c, or any other ordering of a, b and c).

[0223] Any element, action or instruction used herein should not be interpreted as critical or necessary unless clearly stated. Moreover, as used herein, the article "one" is intended to include one or more items, and can be used interchangeably with "one or more". In addition, as used herein, the article "said" is intended to include one or more items connected to the article "said", and can be used interchangeably with "one or more". In addition, as used herein, the terms "set" and "group" are intended to include one or more items, and can be used interchangeably with "one or more". If you only want to refer to an item, the phrase "only one" or similar terms will be used. Moreover, as used herein, the terms "having", "containing", "including" and similar terms are intended to be open terms, which do not limit the elements they modify (for example, the element "including" A can also contain B). In addition, the phrase "based on" is intended to mean "based at least in part", unless explicitly stated otherwise. Furthermore, as used herein, the term "or" when used consecutively is intended to be inclusive and can be used interchangeably with "and / or" unless explicitly stated otherwise (e.g., if used in conjunction with "either" or "only one of").

Claims

1. A user equipment (UE) for wireless communication, comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor, the at least one processor being communicatively coupled to the at least one memory, the at least one processor being configured to cause the UE to: performing one or more measurements associated with a channel access procedure for accessing a shared or unlicensed sidelink channel; as well as Sending side link communications at a starting time domain location based at least in part on the one or more measurements satisfying an energy detection threshold, the starting time domain location being aligned with a boundary of a time slot based at least in part on one or more conditions not being satisfied or being one of a plurality of available starting time domain locations for the time slot based at least in part on the one or more conditions being satisfied, the plurality of available starting time domain locations for the time slot including one or more starting time domain locations that are not aligned with any time slot boundary.

2. The UE of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a broadcast type of the sidelink communication.

3. The UE of claim 2, wherein the condition indicates that the UE is not permitted to use one or more broadcast types of the multiple available starting time-domain positionings, and wherein the condition is not satisfied based at least in part on the broadcast type of the sidelink communication being included in the one or more broadcast types.

4. The UE of claim 2 , wherein the condition indicates that the UE is permitted to use one or more broadcast types of the multiple available starting time-domain positionings, and wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the broadcast type of the sidelink communication being included in the one or more broadcast types.

5. The UE of claim 4, wherein the one or more broadcast types that the UE is permitted to use the multiple available starting time domain positions are indicated in a configuration received by the UE or stored by the UE.

6. The UE of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a failure rate of the channel access procedure, wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the failure rate satisfying a rate threshold.

7. The UE of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a priority value associated with the sidelink communication, wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the priority value satisfying a priority value threshold.

8. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a packet delay budget associated with the sidelink communication, wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the packet delay budget (PDB) satisfying a PDB threshold.

9. A UE according to claim 1, wherein the starting time domain positioning is included in the one or more starting time domain positionings that are not aligned with any time slot boundary, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with the energy detection threshold, wherein the condition indicates that the energy detection threshold is a modified energy detection threshold modified by a certain amount from another energy detection threshold associated with the channel access process, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the one or more measurements satisfying the modified energy detection threshold.

10. The UE of claim 9, wherein at least one processor is further configured to cause the UE to select a value associated with the amount from a range of values ​​or a list of values.

11. The UE of claim 9, wherein the condition associated with the energy detection threshold is applicable based at least in part on one or more other conditions from the one or more conditions being satisfied, wherein the one or more other conditions include at least one of the following: a first condition associated with a channel busy rate of the side link channel, and a second condition associated with an average duty cycle associated with a sidelink associated with said sidelink communications, or A third condition associated with bandwidth occupancy of the side link.

12. A UE according to claim 1, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a reservation status of the time slot in which the sidelink communication is to be sent, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the reservation status indicating that no other UE has reserved resources associated with the time slot.

13. A UE according to claim 1, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with the transmitted bandwidth size of the sidelink communication, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the bandwidth size occupying a full bandwidth size associated with the sidelink channel.

14. A UE according to claim 1, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a shared channel occupancy time associated with the side link channel, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the starting time domain positioning occurring outside the shared channel occupancy time.

15. A UE according to claim 1, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with the transmitted subcarrier spacing (SCS) of the sidelink communication, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the subcarrier spacing satisfying an SCS threshold.

16. A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: performing one or more measurements associated with a channel access procedure for accessing a shared or unlicensed sidelink channel; as well as Sending side link communications at a starting time domain location based at least in part on the one or more measurements satisfying an energy detection threshold, the starting time domain location being aligned with a boundary of a time slot based at least in part on one or more conditions not being satisfied or being one of a plurality of available starting time domain locations for the time slot based at least in part on the one or more conditions being satisfied, the plurality of available starting time domain locations for the time slot including one or more starting time domain locations that are not aligned with any time slot boundary.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of available starting time domain locations are aligned with corresponding mini-slot boundaries within one or more time slots.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a broadcast type of the sidelink communication.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the condition indicates that the UE is not permitted to use one or more broadcast types of the plurality of available starting time-domain positionings, and wherein the condition is not satisfied based at least in part on the broadcast type of the sidelink communication being included in the one or more broadcast types.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the condition indicates that the UE is permitted to use one or more broadcast types of the plurality of available starting time-domain locations, and wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the broadcast type of the sidelink communication being included in the one or more broadcast types.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the UE communicates using a first radio access technology (RAT), wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a channel busy rate (CBR) associated with one or more RATs other than the first RAT, and wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the channel busy rate satisfying a CBR threshold.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising: The CBR is measured.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the CBR threshold is a first threshold, wherein the condition is satisfied based at least in part on the condition being satisfied for a certain amount of UEs associated with a side link associated with the side link communication, including the UE, the amount satisfying a second threshold.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the UE is a transmitting UE associated with the sidelink.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the UE is a receiving UE associated with the sidelink.

26. A method according to claim 16, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with an application associated with the sidelink communication, wherein the condition indicates that the UE is permitted to use one or more applications of the multiple available starting time domain positioning, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the application being included in the one or more applications.

27. A method according to claim 16, wherein the starting time domain positioning is included in the one or more starting time domain positionings that are not aligned with any time slot boundary, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with the energy detection threshold, wherein the condition indicates that the energy detection threshold is a modified energy detection threshold modified by a certain amount from another energy detection threshold associated with the channel access process, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the one or more measurements satisfying the modified energy detection threshold.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the condition associated with the energy detection threshold applies based at least in part on one or more other conditions from the one or more conditions being satisfied.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the one or more other conditions include at least one of the following: a first condition associated with a channel busy rate of the side link channel, and a second condition associated with an average duty cycle associated with a sidelink associated with said sidelink communications, or A third condition associated with bandwidth occupancy of the side link.

30. A method according to claim 16, wherein the one or more conditions include a condition associated with a reservation status of a time slot in which the sidelink communication is to be sent, and wherein the condition is satisfied at least in part based on the reservation status indicating that no other UE has reserved resources associated with the time slot.

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