Resource allocation for sidelink communications

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receiving a configuration indicating at least a first resource pool and a second resource pool, where the first resource pool is for a different purpose than the second resource pool; receiving downlink control information, the downlink control information including a resource allocation parameter defining a resource allocated in a first resource pool or a resource allocated in a second resource pool; and determining allocated resources in the first resource pool or the second resource pool based on the resource allocation parameters.

Description

[0001] Related Applications

[0002] This application claims the priority of Finnish Application No. 20226015 filed on November 11, 2022, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] Various example embodiments relate to resource allocation for sidelink communication (e.g., for sidelink relay). Background Art

[0004] Sidelink (SL) communication refers to direct communication between two devices (such as user equipment) without the participation of a base station. SL technology can be used in cellular communication networks, such as cellular communication networks operating according to 5G radio access technology. 5G radio access technology can also be referred to as New Radio (NR) access technology. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) develops standards for 5G / NR, and one of the topics under discussion in 3GPP is related to SL communication. According to the discussion, there is a need to provide enhanced methods, apparatuses, and computer programs related to SL communication in cellular communication networks. Such enhancements can also be beneficial to other wireless communication networks, such as in future 6G networks. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to some aspects, the subject matter of the independent claims is provided. Some example embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. The scope of protection sought for various example embodiments is set forth by the independent claims. Example embodiments and features (if any) described in this specification that do not fall within the scope of the independent claims will be construed as examples useful for understanding the various example embodiments.

[0006] According to one aspect, a method is provided, including: receiving, by a user equipment, a configuration that at least indicates a first resource pool and a second resource pool, where the first resource pool is for a different purpose than the second resource pool; receiving, by the user equipment, downlink control information that includes resource allocation parameters that define the resources allocated in the first resource pool or the resources allocated in the second resource pool; and determining, based on the resource allocation parameters, the resources allocated in the first resource pool or the second resource pool. The method can be performed by the user equipment.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the method includes: performing a transmission on the resources allocated in the first resource pool based on determining that the allocated resources are in the first resource pool; or performing a discovery on the resources allocated in the second resource pool based on determining that the allocated resources are in the second resource pool.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the device is configured to act as a sidelink relay; and the first resource pool includes at least one shared resource pool, and the second resource pool includes at least one discovery resource pool.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the resource allocation parameter is an integer; and among them, an odd resource allocation parameter corresponds to the first resource pool; and an even resource allocation parameter corresponds to the second resource pool.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the resource allocation parameter is an integer; and among them, an even resource allocation parameter corresponds to the first resource pool; and an odd resource allocation parameter corresponds to the second resource pool.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the resource allocation parameter is a value in a range, the range includes a first range and a second range; and among them, a value in the first range corresponds to the first resource pool; and a value in the second range corresponds to the second resource pool.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the sizes of the first range and the second range have been preconfigured.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the sizes of the first range and the second range depend on the channel busy rate.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the association between the resource allocation parameter and the allocated resources in the first resource pool or the second resource pool is based on a mapping that is known to the device.

[0015] According to one embodiment, if the time slot associated with the grant indicated in the downlink control information is odd, the resource allocation parameter corresponds to the first resource pool; and if the time slot associated with the grant indicated in the downlink control information is even, the resource allocation parameter corresponds to the second resource pool.

[0016] According to one embodiment, if the time slot associated with the grant indicated in the downlink control information is even, the resource allocation parameter corresponds to the first resource pool; and if the time slot associated with the grant indicated in the downlink control information is odd, the resource allocation parameter corresponds to the second resource pool.

[0017] According to one embodiment, if the time gap indicated in the downlink control information is odd, the resource allocation parameter corresponds to the first resource pool; and if the time gap indicated in the downlink control information is even, the resource allocation parameter corresponds to the second resource pool.

[0018] According to one embodiment, if the time gap indicated in the downlink control information is even, the resource allocation parameter corresponds to the first resource pool; and if the time gap indicated in the downlink control information is odd, the resource allocation parameter corresponds to the second resource pool.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the resource allocation parameter is a resource pool index in the downlink control information format 3_0.

[0020] According to one aspect, there is provided an apparatus including components for at least performing the method of the above aspect and any one of its embodiments. The apparatus may be a user equipment.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the components include at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform. The apparatus may be a user equipment.

[0022] According to one aspect, there is provided a computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to at least perform the method of the above aspect and any one of its embodiments. The apparatus may be a user equipment.

[0023] According to one aspect, there is provided a computer program including instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the method of the above aspect and any one of its embodiments. The apparatus may be a user equipment.

[0024] According to one aspect, there is provided a method including: transmitting, by a network node, configuration to a user equipment, the configuration at least indicating a first resource pool and a second resource pool, where the first resource pool is for a different purpose than the second resource pool; and transmitting downlink control information to the user equipment, the downlink control information including a resource allocation parameter that defines resources allocated in the first resource pool or resources allocated in the second resource pool. The method may be performed by a network node.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the association between the resource allocation parameter and the resources allocated in the first resource pool or the second resource pool is based on a mapping that is known to the user equipment configured to act as a sidelink relay.

[0026] According to one aspect, there is provided an apparatus including components for performing the method of the above aspect and any one of its embodiments. The apparatus may be a network node.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the components include at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform. The apparatus may be a network node.

[0028] According to one aspect, there is provided a computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform at least the method of the above aspect and any one of its embodiments. The device may be a network node.

[0029] According to one aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform the method of the above aspect and any one of the embodiments themselves. The device may be a network node. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] Figure 1 The network architecture of a communication system is shown by way of example;

[0032] Figure 2 Sidelink communication is shown by way of example;

[0033] Figure 3a The flowchart of a method is shown by way of example;

[0034] Figure 3b The signaling between entities is shown by way of example;

[0035] Figure 4a The mapping between resource allocation parameters and at least one resource pool is shown by way of example;

[0036] Figure 4b The mapping between resource allocation parameters and at least one resource pool is shown by way of example;

[0037] Figure 5 The mapping between resource allocation parameters and at least one resource pool is shown by way of example;

[0038] Figure 6 The mapping between resource allocation parameters and at least one resource pool is shown by way of example; and

[0039] Figure 7 The block diagram of a device is shown by way of example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Figure 1The network architecture of a communication system is shown by way of example. In the following, a radio access architecture based on Advanced Long Term Evolution (LTE-A, also known as New Radio (NR) of the fifth generation (5G)) will be used as an example of an access architecture to which the present embodiment can be applied to describe different exemplary embodiments. However, the present embodiment is not limited to such an architecture. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that by appropriately adjusting parameters and procedures, the present embodiment can also be applied to other types of communication networks having suitable components. Some examples of other options for suitable systems are Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Radio Access Network (UTRAN or E-UTRAN), Long Term Evolution (LTE, the same as E-UTRA), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN or WiFi), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Personal Communication Service (PCS), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), systems using Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, sensor networks, Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANET), and Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), or any combination thereof.

[0041] Figure 1 The example of... shows a part of an exemplary radio access network. Figure 1User equipments or user equipment (UE) 100 and 102 are shown, which are configured to be wirelessly connected to an access node providing a cell (such as, a gNB (i.e., next generation NodeB) or an eNB (i.e., evolved NodeB (eNodeB)) 104) on one or more communication channels in the cell. The physical link from the user equipment to the network node is referred to as the uplink (UL) or reverse link, and the physical link from the network node to the user equipment is referred to as the downlink (DL) or forward link. It should be understood that the network node or its functionality can be implemented by any node, host, server, or access point, etc. suitable for such usage. A communication system typically includes more than one network node, in which case the network nodes can also be configured to communicate with each other on a wired or wireless link designed for this purpose. These links can be used for signaling purposes. A network node is a computing device configured to control the radio resources of the communication system to which it is coupled. A network node can also be referred to as a base station (BS), an access point, or any other type of interface device including a relay station capable of operating in a wireless environment. The network node includes or is coupled to a transceiver. A connection from the transceiver of the network node to an antenna unit is provided, and the antenna unit establishes a two-way radio link to the user equipment. The antenna unit can include multiple antennas or multiple antenna units. The network node is also connected to the core network 110 (CN or next generation core NGC). Depending on the system, the CN-side counterpart can be a serving gateway (S-GW, routing and forwarding user data packets), a packet data network gateway (P-GW, providing connectivity for the user equipment (UE) to an external packet data network), or a mobility management entity (MME), etc. An example of a network node configured to operate as a relay station is an integrated access and backhaul node (IAB). The distributed unit (DU) part of the IAB node performs the BS function of the IAB node, while the backhaul connection is performed by the mobile terminal (MT) part of the IAB node. The UE function can be performed by the IAB MT, and the BS function can be performed by the IAB DU. The network architecture can include a parent node, i.e., the IAB donor, which can have a wired connection to the CN and a wireless connection to the IAB MT.

[0042] A user equipment or user equipment UE, generally refers to a portable computing device, which includes a wireless mobile communication device operating with or without a subscriber identity module (SIM), including but not limited to the following types of devices: mobile station (mobile phone), smart phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular phone, device using a wireless modem (alarm or measurement device, etc.), laptop and / or touch screen computer, tablet computer, game console, notebook and multimedia device. It should be understood that the user equipment can also be an almost dedicated uplink-only device, an example of which is a camera or video camera that loads images or video clips onto the network. The user equipment can also be a device with the ability to operate in an Internet of Things (IoT) network, which is a scenario where objects are provided with the ability to transmit data over the network without the need for human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.

[0043] Additionally, although the device has been depicted as a single entity, different units, processors, and / or memory units ( Figure 1 not all shown in

[0044] 5G enables the use of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology on the UE and gNB sides, much more base stations or nodes than LTE (the so-called small cell concept), including macro sites that cooperate with smaller stations and employ various radio technologies according to service requirements, use cases, and / or available spectrum. 5G mobile communication supports a wide range of use cases and related applications, including video streaming, augmented reality, different data sharing methods, and various forms of machine type applications (such as (massive) machine type communication (mMTC)), including vehicle safety, different sensors, and real-time control. 5G is expected to have multiple radio interfaces, namely centimeter waves and millimeter waves below 7 GHz, and can also be integrated with existing traditional radio access technologies, such as LTE. The frequency range below 7 GHz can be respectively called FR1, and the frequency range above 24 GHz (or more precisely 24 - 52.6 GHz) can be called FR2. At least in the early stage, the integration with LTE can be implemented as a system where macro coverage is provided by LTE, and 5G radio interface access is through aggregation to LTE from small cells. In other words, 5G is planned to support inter-RAT interoperability (such as LTE-5G) and inter-RI interoperability (inter-radio interface interoperability, such as below 7 GHz - centimeter wave, below 7 GHz – centimeter wave – millimeter wave). One of the concepts considered to be used in 5G networks is network slicing, where multiple independent and dedicated virtual subnets (network instances) can be created within the same infrastructure to run services with different requirements for latency, reliability, throughput, and mobility.

[0045] The communication system is also capable of communicating with other networks, such as the public switched telephone network or the Internet 112, or making use of the services provided by them. The communication network may also be able to support the use of cloud services. For example, at least a part of the core network operations may be performed as cloud services (which is depicted by the "cloud" 114 in Figure 1 . The communication system may also include a central control entity, etc., which provides facilities for different operators' networks to cooperate, for example, in spectrum sharing.

[0046] Edge clouds can be introduced into the radio access network (RAN) by leveraging network function virtualization (NVF) and software-defined networking (SDN). Using edge clouds may mean that access node operations are performed at least partly in servers, hosts, or nodes that are operatively coupled to remote radio heads or base stations including radio parts. Node operations may also be distributed among multiple servers, nodes, or hosts. The application of the cloud RAN architecture enables RAN real-time functions to be executed on the RAN side (in the distributed unit, DU 104), and non-real-time functions to be executed in a centralized manner (in the centralized unit, CU 108).

[0047] 5G can also utilize satellite communication to enhance or supplement the coverage of 5G services, for example, by providing backhaul. Possible use cases are to provide service continuity for machine-to-machine (M2M) or Internet of Things (IoT) devices or for passengers on vehicles, or to ensure the service availability of critical communications and future railway / sea / air communications. Satellite communication can utilize geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite systems, but can also utilize low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems, especially megaconstellations (systems in which hundreds of (nano) satellites are deployed). Each satellite 106 in the constellation can cover multiple satellite-enabled network entities that create terrestrial cells. The terrestrial cells can be created by terrestrial relay nodes 104 or by gNBs located on the ground or in satellites.

[0048] Figure 2 Sidelink communication is shown by way of example. In sidelink (SL) communication, direct communication between UEs 220, 230 is allowed without communicating through the base station 210. Proximity-based services refer to device-to-device (D2D) technologies that allow UEs to detect and communicate with each other when they are in close proximity to each other. An SL relay is a UE that is capable of acting as a relay between the network and another UE outside the coverage area. For example, UE 220 can act as a relay, which enables indirect communication between the network 210 and the UE(s) 230 outside the coverage area 240 of the network.

[0049] The UE acting as a relay can perform discovery to find other UEs for SL communication.

[0050] Resources allocated to a UE can be indicated via Downlink Control Information (DCI), which can be sent by the network to the UE. DCI has multiple formats for different purposes. For example, DCI format 3_0 is defined for sidelink scheduling. DCI format 3_0 can be used for the scheduling of New Radio (NR) Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH) and NR Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH).

[0051] Multiple Information Elements (IEs) can be sent via DCI format 3_0, e.g., with a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) scrambled by a Sidelink Radio Network Temporary Identifier (SL-RNTI) or a Sidelink-Configured Scheduling Radio Network Temporary Identifier (SL-CS-RNTI). For example, a resource pool index or resource allocation parameters can define a resource pool for a transmission configured by higher layer parameters. As another example, a time gap can define multiple time slots between DCI reception and the first SL transmission scheduled by the DCI.

[0052] The network can allocate resources to a UE for different purposes. For example, the higher layer parameter sl-TxPoolScheduling refers to a shared resource pool. As another example, the higher layer parameter sl-DiscTxPoolScheduling refers to a discovery resource pool. The shared resource pool can be used for transmission purposes. The resources of the shared resource pool can be used for the transmission of any data. In at least some embodiments, the resources of the shared resource pool are not used for the transmission of discovery messages. For example, if both a shared resource pool and a discovery resource pool have been configured, the resources of the shared resource pool are not used for the transmission of discovery messages. The discovery resource pool can be used for discovery purposes. The resources of the discovery resource pool can be dedicated to the transmission of discovery messages, e.g., only for the transmission of discovery messages.

[0053] If sl-DiscTxPoolScheduling has not been configured, the shared resource pool can send any data, e.g., discovery messages.

[0054] Two resource pools (a shared resource pool and a discovery resource pool) can be configured simultaneously. Thus, the UE may need to know which resources have been allocated for the shared resource pool and which resources have been allocated for the discovery resource pool, so that the UE knows what type of transmission it can convey via the allocated resources. However, DCI format 3_0 has one IE for indicating the allocated resource(s), and thus, it can be ambiguous for the UE. It may not be clear to the UE whether the resource pool index applies to the shared resource pool or the discovery resource pool.

[0055] When both a shared resource pool and a discovery resource pool have been configured, a method is provided to enable the UE to determine the scheduling resource pool corresponding to the resource pool index of DCI format 3_0.

[0056] Figure 3a A flowchart of a method is shown by way of example. The stages of the method shown may be performed by a device (e.g., a UE) or by a control device configured to control its functions when installed therein. The UE may be, for example, Figure 2 device 220, which is configured to perform at least method 300. The UE may be configured to act as an SL relay. Method 300 includes: receiving 310, by a user equipment, a configuration that at least indicates a first resource pool and a second resource pool, wherein the first resource pool is for a different purpose than the second resource pool. Method 300 includes: receiving 320, by the user equipment, downlink control information, the downlink control information including resource allocation parameters that define allocated resources in the first resource pool or allocated resources in the second resource pool. Method 300 includes: determining 330, based on the resource allocation parameters, the allocated resources in the first resource pool or the second resource pool.

[0057] When both shared and dedicated pools are configured, the method disclosed herein enables mapping of resource allocation parameters (e.g., resource pool index) indicated in DCI to allocated resources. The DCI may be DCI format 3_0. The method disclosed herein enables a unique mapping between resource allocation parameters and allocated resources without a change to the Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) of DCI format 3_0, and without introducing new information elements into the DCI, and without introducing new DCI formats. Backward compatibility with previous definitions of DCI format 3_0 is maintained by the method disclosed herein.

[0058] Figure 3b Signaling between entities is shown by way of example. UE 350 may receive a configuration 352 that at least indicates a first resource pool and a second resource pool. The first resource pool may be for a different purpose than the second resource pool. For example, the first resource pool may be a shared resource pool, and the second resource pool may be a discovery resource pool. UE 350 may be configured to be used as an SL relay.

[0059] The UE may receive DCI including resource allocation parameters, e.g., DCI format 3_0 354. The resource allocation parameters may be, for example, a resource pool index in DCI format 3_0. A single resource allocation parameter defines, according to a mapping, the allocated resources in the first resource pool or the allocated resources in the second resource pool. The mapping may be predetermined and known to the UE.

[0060] The UE may determine 356 the allocated resources in the first resource pool (shared resource pool) or the second resource pool (discovery resource pool) based on the resource allocation parameters (resource pool index).

[0061] The first resource pool may include a shared resource pool, such as shared RP1, shared RP2, shared RP3, etc. The second resource pool may include dedicated resource pools, such as dedicated RP1, dedicated RP2, dedicated RP3, etc.

[0062] The association between the resource allocation parameter and the allocated resource may be based on a mapping that is known to the UE. The mapping may have been pre-configured such that the UE can associate the resource allocation parameter to the correct resource pool. When resources for different purposes have been configured, a single resource allocation parameter may be used to indicate to the UE the allocated resource.

[0063] If the resource allocation parameter points to a resource in the shared resource pool, UE 350 may perform a 358a transmission on the allocated resource in the shared resource pool. If the resource allocation parameter points to a resource in the discovery resource pool, UE 350 may perform a 358b discovery on the allocated resource in the discovery resource pool.

[0064] Figure 4a By way of example, the mapping between the resource allocation parameter and at least one resource pool is shown. For example, the resource allocation parameter may be an integer. The resource allocation parameter may be configured in a pattern where odd resource allocation parameters correspond to the first resource pool 410 and even resource allocation parameters correspond to the second resource pool 420. For example, indices 1, 3, 5, 7, … may refer to the first resource pool 410 and shared resource pools 411, 412, 413, 414; and indices 2, 4, 6, 8, … may refer to the second resource pool 420 and dedicated resource pools 421, 422, 423, 424. Index 1 may refer to shared RP1, index 3 may refer to shared RP3, index 5 may refer to shared RP5, and index 7 may refer to shared RP7. Index 2 may refer to dedicated RP2, index 4 may refer to dedicated RP4, index 6 may refer to dedicated RP6, and index 8 may refer to dedicated RP8.

[0065] Let us consider an example where the DCI 430 received by the UE indicates the resource allocation parameter or resource pool index “2”. Thus, the index is even and corresponds to dedicated RP2 421 in the second resource pool 420, i.e., the discovery resource pool.

[0066] Figure 4b By way of example, the mapping between the resource allocation parameter and at least one resource pool is shown. In this example, even resource allocation parameters correspond to the first resource pool 450 and odd resource allocation parameters correspond to the second resource pool 460. For example, indices 1, 3, 5, 7, … may refer to the first resource pool 450 and shared resource pools 451, 452, 453, 454; and indices 2, 4, 6, 8, … may refer to the second resource pool 460 and dedicated resource pools 461, 462, 463, 464.

[0067] Let us consider an example where the DCI 470 received by the UE indicates the resource allocation parameter or the resource pool index "2". Thus, the index is even and corresponds to the shared RP2 451 in the first resource pool 450, i.e., the shared resource pool.

[0068] Alternatively, for a pattern or sequence of odd and even parameters, the pattern can be based on another sequence, such as a modulo operation. For example, if the pattern is based on a modulo 3 operation, depending on the pre-configuration, resource pools 0, 3, 6 can be determined as the discovery resource pool or the shared resource pool. As another example, if the pattern is based on a modulo 4 operation, depending on the pre-configuration, resource pools 0, 4 can be determined as the discovery resource pool or the shared resource pool.

[0069] Figure 5 The mapping between the resource allocation parameter and at least one resource pool is shown by way of example. The resource allocation parameter can be a value in a range including a first range and a second range. For example, the value can be an integer. For example, the range can include integer values from 1 to M, where M is the maximum number of transmission resource pools for sidelink communication and discovery. For example, M can be 8, and the range can include the values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. For example, the first range can cover the first half of the resource pools, i.e., 1 to 4. For example, the second range can cover the second half of the resource pools, i.e., 5 to 8. Then, the values in the first range can correspond to the first resource pool 510, and the values in the second range can correspond to the second resource pool 520. For example, the indices 1, 2, 3, 4 can refer to the first resource pool 410 and the shared resource pools 511, 512, 513, 514; and the indices 5, 6, 7, 8 can refer to the second resource pool 520 and the dedicated resource pools 521, 522, 523, 524.

[0070] Alternatively, the values in the first range can correspond to the second resource pool, and the values in the second range can correspond to the first resource pool.

[0071] Let us consider an example where the DCI 530 received by the UE indicates the resource allocation parameter or the resource pool index "2". Thus, the index is a value in the first range and corresponds to the shared RP2 512 in the first resource pool 510, i.e., the shared resource pool.

[0072] The sizes of the first range and the second range can be predetermined or preconfigured. For example, as described above, the size of the first range can be the first 50% of the entire range, and the size of the second range can be the last 50% of the entire range. Alternatively, the size of the first range can be, for example, the first 25% of the entire range, and the size of the second range can be the remaining 75% of the entire range. The first 25% of the entire range will correspond to resource pools 1 and 2. The remaining 75% of the entire range will correspond to resource pools 3 to 8. Thus, resource pool index 2 will correspond to the first resource pool, and resource pool 4 will correspond to the second resource pool.

[0073] In one example, M can be 6. It can be defined that the first one-third of the entire range (i.e., resource pools 1 to 2) corresponds to the second resource pool, and the remaining two-thirds (i.e., resource pools 3 to 6) corresponds to the first resource pool.

[0074] As an example, the sizes of the first range and the second range can depend on the channel busy rate. If the channel is very congested due to data traffic, multiple resource pools dedicated to discovery (resource pools in the second resource pool) can be set small by the network. If the congestion is lower, more resource pools can be dedicated to discovery.

[0075] Figure 6 The mapping between the resource allocation parameters and at least one resource pool is shown by way of example. This mapping can be preconfigured. Let's consider that multiple resource pools dedicated to discovery have been preconfigured. For example, it can be decided that there is a single discovery pool, i.e., only a single discovery pool, and it is always dedicated RP1 621. Then, all the remaining resource pools can be allocated for the shared resource pool. In other words, if the dedicated resource pool is configured, it is always dedicated RP1. In the case where the resource pool index of DCI 630 is "2", it will correspond to shared RP2 612 in the shared resource pool.

[0076] As another example, a known number (such as 1, 2, or 3) of resource pools dedicated to the discovery pool have been configured, and the corresponding dedicated RPs for discovery have been decided and preconfigured. For example, it can be decided that if dedicated resources are configured, the number of resource pools is 2, and these two resource pools are dedicated RPs 1 and 2. In a scenario with over-relay support, such as in a public safety scenario, for example, four dedicated resource pools can be configured, and these four resource pools can be dedicated RPs 1, 2, 3, 4.

[0077] The mapping between resource allocation parameters and the (multiple) configured resource pools can be at least partially based on another existing IE of the DCI. The expected resource pool can be indicated to the UE via another existing IE of the DCI rather than a resource pool index, which can point to one of a set of resource pools. The correct group of resource pools can be indicated by another existing IE of the DCI. For example, the time slot associated with this grant indicated in DCI format 3_0 can be used for this purpose. For example, if the time slot associated with the grant indicated in the DCI is odd, the resource allocation parameters can correspond to the first resource pool; and if the time slot associated with the grant indicated in the DCI is even, the resource allocation parameters can correspond to the second resource pool.

[0078] Alternatively, if the time slot associated with the grant indicated in the DCI is even, the resource allocation parameters can correspond to the first resource pool; if the time slot associated with the grant indicated in the DCI is odd, the resource allocation parameters can correspond to the second resource pool.

[0079] As another example, the time gap indicated in DCI format 3_0 can be used to indicate the expected resource pool to the UE. The time gap is the number of time slots between DCI reception and the first SL transmission scheduled by the DCI. For example, if the time gap indicated in the DCI is odd, the resource allocation parameters can correspond to the first resource pool; if the time gap indicated in the DCI is even, the resource allocation parameters can correspond to the second resource pool.

[0080] Alternatively, if the time gap indicated in the DCI is even, the resource allocation parameters can correspond to the first resource pool; and if the time gap indicated in the DCI is odd, the resource allocation parameters can correspond to the second resource pool.

[0081] Figure 7 A block diagram of an apparatus capable of performing the methods disclosed herein is shown by way of example. Apparatus 700 is shown, which can include, for example, a mobile communication device, such as Figure 2 UE 220 or Figure 3b UE 350, or a network node, such as Figure 2 network node 210 or Figure 3bThe network node 360. The processor 710 is included in the device 700. The processor 710 may include, for example, a single-core or multi-core processor, where a single-core processor includes one processing core and a multi-core processor includes more than one processing core. The processor 710 may generally include a control device. The processor 710 may include more than one processor. The processor 710 may be a control device. The processing core may include, for example, a Cortex-A8 processing core manufactured by ARM Holdings or a Steamroller processing core designed by Advanced Micro Devices. The processor 710 may include at least one Qualcomm Snapdragon and / or Intel Atom processor. The processor 710 may include at least one application-specific integrated circuit ASIC. The processor 710 may include at least one field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The processor 710 may be a component for executing method steps in the device 700. The processor 710 may be at least partially configured by computer instructions to perform actions.

[0082] The processor may include circuitry or be configured as one or more circuitry, the one or more circuitry being configured to perform stages of a method according to example embodiments described herein. As used in this application, the term "circuitry" may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) only hardware circuit implementations, such as only implementations in analog and / or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as, as applicable: (i) combinations of (multiple) analog and / or digital hardware circuits with software / firmware, and (ii) any portions of (multiple) hardware processors with software (including (multiple) digital signal processors), software, and (multiple) memories that work together to cause a device to perform various functions, such as a mobile phone or a network node; and (c) (multiple) hardware circuits and / or (multiple) processors, such as (multiple) microprocessors or portions of (multiple) microprocessors, that require software (e.g., firmware) to operate, but the software may be absent when not needed for operation.

[0083] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of the term in this application, including in any claims. As another example, as used in this application, the term "circuitry" also encompasses implementations of only hardware circuits or processors (or multiple processors) or portions of hardware circuits or processors and their (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. For example, if applicable to a particular claim element, the term "circuitry" also encompasses a baseband integrated circuit or a processor integrated circuit for a mobile device, or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0084] Device 700 may include a memory 720. The memory 720 may include a random access memory and / or a permanent memory. The memory 720 may include at least one RAM chip. The memory 720 may include, for example, solid state, magnetic, optical, and / or holographic memory. The memory 720 may be at least partially accessible by a processor 710. The memory 720 may be at least partially included in the processor 710. The memory 720 may be a component for storing information. The memory 720 may include instructions that the processor 710 is configured to execute, such as computer instructions or computer program code. When instructions configured to cause the processor 700 to perform certain actions are stored in the memory 720 and the device 700 as a whole is configured to operate using the instructions from the memory 720 under the guidance of the processor 710, the processor 710 and / or at least one of its processing cores may be considered to be configured to perform the said certain actions. The memory 720 may be at least partially external to the device 700 but accessible by the device 700.

[0085] Device 700 may include a transmitter 730. Device 700 may include a receiver 740. The transmitter 730 and the receiver 740 may be configured to send and receive information according to at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. The transmitter 730 may include more than one transmitter. The receiver 740 may include more than one receiver. The transmitter 730 and / or the receiver 740 may be configured to operate according to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), 5G Long Term Evolution (LTE IS-95), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Ethernet, and / or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) standards.

[0086] Device 700 may include a Near Field Communication (NFC) transceiver 750. The NFC transceiver 750 may support at least one NFC technology, such as NFC, Bluetooth, broadband, or similar technologies.

[0087] Device 700 may include a user interface UI 760. The UI 760 may include at least one of a display, a keyboard, a touch screen, a vibrator arranged to signal the user by causing the device 700 to vibrate, a speaker, and a microphone. The user may be able to operate the device 700 via the UI 760, for example, to accept an incoming phone call, initiate a phone call or a video call, browse the Internet, manage digital files stored in the memory 720 or accessible via the cloud through the transmitter 730 and the receiver 740, or via the NFC transceiver 750, and / or play games.

[0088] Device 700 may include or be arranged to receive a user identification module 770. The user identification module 770 may include, for example, a subscriber identification module SIM card that may be installed in the device 700. The user identification module 770 may include information identifying the subscription of the user of the device 700. The user identification module 770 may include password information that may be used to authenticate the identity of the user of the device 700, and / or to facilitate encryption of transmitted information and to bill the user of the device 700 for communications implemented via the device 700.

[0089] The processor 710 may be equipped with a transmitter that is arranged to output information from the processor 710 to other devices included in the device 700 via wires internal to the device 700. Such a transmitter may include a serial bus transmitter that is arranged to output information, for example, to the memory 720 via at least one wire for storage therein. As an alternative to a serial bus, the transmitter may include a parallel bus transmitter. Similarly, the processor 710 may include a receiver that is arranged to receive information in the processor 710 from other devices included in the device 700 via electrical transmission lines internal to the device 700. Such a receiver may include a serial bus receiver that is configured to receive information, for example, from the receiver 740 via at least one electrical transmission line for processing in the processor 710. As an alternative to a serial bus, the receiver may include a parallel bus receiver.

[0090] The processor 710, the memory 720, the transmitter 730, the receiver 740, the NFC transceiver 750, the UI 760, and / or the user identification module 770 may be interconnected in a variety of different ways via wires internal to the device 700. For example, each of the foregoing devices may be separately connected to a main bus internal to the device 700 to allow the devices to exchange information. However, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, this is merely an example and depending on the embodiment, various ways of interconnecting at least two of the foregoing devices may be selected.

[0091] As used herein, the term "non-transitory" is a limitation on the medium itself, i.e., tangible, rather than on the persistence of data storage (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0092] As may be used herein, "at least one of the following: <list of two or more elements>" and "at least one of <list of two or more elements>" and similar phrases, when the list of two or more elements is joined by "and" or "or", mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all of the elements.

Claims

1. A device, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the device to at least: receive a configuration that at least indicates a first resource pool and a second resource pool, wherein the first resource pool includes at least one shared resource pool, and the second resource pool includes at least one dedicated resource pool; configure a unique mapping between a resource pool index and resources allocated in the first resource pool and the second resource pool; receive downlink control information including a resource pool index, wherein the downlink control information has a downlink control information format 3_0; and determine, based on the received resource pool index and the mapping, the resources allocated in the first resource pool or the second resource pool.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is further caused to perform at least one of the following: perform a transmission on the resources allocated in the first resource pool based on determining that the allocated resources are in the first resource pool; or perform a discovery on the resources allocated in the second resource pool based on determining that the allocated resources are in the second resource pool.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to act as a sidelink relay.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one dedicated resource pool includes at least one discovery resource pool.

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the resource pool index is an integer; and wherein an odd resource pool index corresponds to the first resource pool; and an even resource pool index corresponds to the second resource pool.

6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the resource pool index is an integer; and wherein an even resource pool index corresponds to the first resource pool; and an odd resource pool index corresponds to the second resource pool.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the resource pool index is a value in a range, the range including a first range and a second range; and wherein values in the first range correspond to the first resource pool; and values in the second range correspond to the second resource pool.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the sizes of the first range and the second range have been preconfigured or depend on a channel busy rate.

9. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein if a time slot associated with the grant indicated in the downlink control information is odd, the resource pool index corresponds to the first resource pool; and if a time slot associated with the grant indicated in the downlink control information is even, the resource pool index corresponds to the second resource pool.

10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein if a time slot associated with the grant indicated in the downlink control information is even, the resource pool index corresponds to the first resource pool; and If the time slot associated with the grant indicated in the downlink control information is odd, the resource pool index corresponds to the second resource pool.

11. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein if the time gap indicated in the downlink control information is odd, the resource pool index corresponds to the first resource pool; and if the time gap indicated in the downlink control information is even, the resource pool index corresponds to the second resource pool.

12. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein if the time gap indicated in the downlink control information is even, the resource pool index corresponds to the first resource pool; and if the time gap indicated in the downlink control information is odd, the resource pool index corresponds to the second resource pool.

13. A method, comprising: receiving a configuration that at least indicates a first resource pool and a second resource pool, wherein the first resource pool includes at least one shared resource pool and the second resource pool includes at least one dedicated resource pool; configuring a unique mapping between a resource pool index and resources allocated in the first resource pool and the second resource pool; receiving downlink control information that includes a resource pool index, wherein the downlink control information has a downlink control information format 3_0; and determining, based on the received resource pool index and the mapping, resources allocated in the first resource pool or the second resource pool.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the method further comprises: performing a transmission on the resources allocated in the first resource pool based on determining that the allocated resources are in the first resource pool; or performing a discovery on the resources allocated in the second resource pool based on determining that the allocated resources are in the second resource pool.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one dedicated resource pool includes at least one discovery resource pool.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the resource pool index is a value in a range that includes a first range and a second range; and wherein values in the first range correspond to the first resource pool; and values in the second range correspond to the second resource pool.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the sizes of the first range and the second range have been pre-configured or depend on a channel busy rate.

18. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein if the time slot associated with the grant indicated in the downlink control information is odd, the resource pool index corresponds to the first resource pool; and if the time slot associated with the grant indicated in the downlink control information is even, the resource pool index corresponds to the second resource pool.

19. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein If the time slot associated with the grant indicated in the downlink control information is even, the resource pool index corresponds to the first resource pool; and If the time slot associated with the grant indicated in the downlink control information is odd, the resource pool index corresponds to the second resource pool.

20. An apparatus, comprising: At least one processor; And At least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: Transmit a configuration that at least indicates a first resource pool and a second resource pool, where the first resource pool includes at least one shared resource pool and the second resource pool includes at least one dedicated resource pool; Configure a unique mapping between a resource pool index and resources allocated in the first and second resource pools; Transmit downlink control information that includes a resource pool index, where the downlink control information has a downlink control information format 3_0; And Receive data on resources allocated in the first resource pool or the second resource pool, where the allocated resources are determined by a user equipment based on the resource pool index and the mapping.

21. An apparatus, comprising: Means for receiving (310) a configuration that at least indicates a first resource pool and a second resource pool, where the first resource pool includes at least one shared resource pool and the second resource pool includes at least one dedicated resource pool; Means for configuring a unique mapping between a resource pool index and resources allocated in the first and second resource pools; Means for receiving (320) downlink control information that includes a resource pool index, where the downlink control information has a downlink control information format 3_0; And Means for determining (330) resources allocated in the first resource pool or the second resource pool based on the received resource pool index and the mapping.

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