Enhanced resource allocation for beamforming nr link communications

Abstract

In a system, apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for enabling enhanced sidelink (SL) resource allocation, a UE device may be caused to: determine a first beam of a plurality of beams of the UE device, the first beam for transmission to a target UE device SL; determining, based on the first beam, at least one undesired SL resource, the at least one undesired SL resource being not desired for SL communications using the first beam; receiving a first set of SL transmission resources from the target UE device, the first set of SL transmission resources indicating at least one first SL resource for transmission to the target UE device; determining a second SL transmission resource set based on the first SL transmission resource set and the determined at least one undesired SL resource, the second SL transmission resource set indicating at least one second SL resource; and transmitting the second set of SL transmission resources to the at least one RAN node.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] Various example embodiments relate to methods, apparatuses, systems, and / or non-transitory computer-readable media for implementing enhanced sidelink (SL) resource allocation. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0002] In comparison to the 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard, a fifth generation (5G) standard, referred to as 5G New Radio (NR), is being developed to provide higher capacity, higher reliability, higher positioning accuracy, and lower latency communications.

[0003] The 5G NR standard provides user equipment (UE) devices (hereinafter referred to as UE devices or UEs) with the ability to perform direct UE-to-UE communications (e.g., point-to-point communications), referred to as sidelink (SL) communications, without transmitting the communications to an intermediary, such as a base station (BS), a radio access network (RAN) node, a transmission-reception point (TRP), etc. SUMMARY

[0004] At least one example embodiment relates to a user equipment (UE) device.

[0005] In at least one example embodiment, the UE device includes a memory storing computer-readable instructions and a processing circuitry configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to cause the UE device to determine a first beam of a plurality of beams of the UE device, the first beam being for a sidelink (SL) transmission to a target UE device, determine, based on the first beam, at least one undesirable SL resource, the at least one undesirable SL resource being undesirable for SL communications using the first beam, receive, from the target UE device, a first set of SL transmission resources, the first set of SL transmission resources indicating at least one first SL resource for transmission to the target UE device, determine, based on the first set of SL transmission resources and the determined at least one undesirable SL resource, a second set of SL transmission resources, the second set of SL transmission resources indicating at least one second SL resource, and transmit, to at least one radio access network (RAN) node, the second set of SL transmission resources.

[0006] Some example embodiments provide that the UE device is further caused to receive, from the RAN node, a SL grant based on the transmitted second set of SL transmission resources, the SL grant indicating at least one allocated SL transmission resource selected from the at least one second SL resource, and transmit, to the target UE device, SL data on the at least one allocated SL transmission resource using the first beam.

[0007] Some example embodiments provide that the UE device is further caused to transmit, to the target UE device, a request indicating a second beam of the plurality of beams of the target UE device, the second beam being used for receiving from the UE device SL, wherein the request enables the target UE device to determine the first set of SL transmission resources based on measurements using the indicated second beam.

[0008] Some example embodiments provide that the second set of SL transmission resources is a subset of the first set of SL transmission resources.

[0009] Some example embodiments provide that the first set of SL transmission resources includes at least one undesired SL resource, and the second set of SL transmission resources does not include the at least one undesired SL resource.

[0010] Some example embodiments provide that the UE device is further caused to determine the at least one undesired SL resource not desired for SL communication using the first beam by: detecting, using the first beam, at least one radio transmission from at least one non-target UE device, and determining the at least one undesired SL resource based on the detected at least one radio transmission.

[0011] Some example embodiments provide that the UE device is further caused to determine the second set of SL transmission resources by: measuring, using the first beam, a received signal strength of the at least one radio transmission from the at least one non-target UE device, determining whether the measured signal strength is above a received signal strength threshold, based on a result of the determining, updating the first set of SL transmission resources by excluding the at least one undesired SL resource from the first set of SL transmission resources, and setting the updated first set of SL transmission resources as the second set of SL transmission resources.

[0012] Some example embodiments provide that the at least one radio transmission from the at least one non-target UE device includes an inter-UE coordination (IUC) message, the inter-UE coordination (IUC) message indicating the at least one undesired SL resource, the at least one undesired SL resource being determined by the at least one non-target UE device.

[0013] Some example embodiments provide that the at least one radio transmission from the at least one non-target UE device is a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) transmission, and the UE device is further caused to determine the at least one undesired SL resource based on the PSFCH transmission, and a mapping between PSFCH resources and physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) resources.

[0014] At least one example embodiment relates to a user equipment (UE) device.

[0015] In at least one example embodiment, a UE device includes memory storing computer-readable instructions and processing circuitry configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to cause the UE device to receive a request from a source UE device, where the request indicates a first beam of a plurality of beams of the UE device, the first beam being for reception from the source UE device sidelink (SL); determine, based on the indicated first beam, a first set of SL transmission resources, the first set of SL transmission resources indicating at least one first SL resource for transmission to the UE device; and transmit the first set of SL transmission resources to the source UE device or a radio access network (RAN) node.

[0016] Some example embodiments provide that the UE device is further caused to receive SL data from the source UE device using the first beam on at least one allocated SL transmission resource, where the at least one allocated SL transmission resource is selected by the RAN node based on a second set of SL transmission resources determined by the source UE device, and the second set of SL transmission resources is determined based on the first set of SL transmission resources and at least one undesirable SL resource, the at least one undesirable SL resource being determined by the source UE device using a second beam of the source UE device, and the at least one undesirable SL resource being at least one SL resource that is not desirable for SL communication using the second beam.

[0017] Some example embodiments provide that the request is an inter-UE coordination (IUC) request, and the second set of SL transmission resources is a subset of the first set of SL transmission resources.

[0018] At least one example embodiment relates to a method of operating a user equipment (UE) device.

[0019] In at least one example embodiment, the method includes determining a first beam of a plurality of beams of the UE device, the first beam being for transmission to a target UE device sidelink (SL); determining, based on the first beam, at least one undesirable SL resource that is not desirable for SL communication using the first beam; receiving a first set of SL transmission resources from the target UE device, the first set of SL transmission resources indicating at least one first SL resource for transmission to the target UE device; determining, based on the first set of SL transmission resources and the determined at least one undesirable SL resource, a second set of SL transmission resources, the second set of SL transmission resources indicating at least one second SL resource; and transmitting the second set of SL transmission resources to at least one radio access network (RAN) node.

[0020] Some example embodiments provide that the method further includes receiving, from the RAN node, a SL grant based on the transmitted second set of SL transmission resources, the SL grant indicating at least one allocated SL transmission resource selected from the at least one second SL resource; and transmitting, to the target UE device, SL data on the at least one allocated SL transmission resource using the first beam.

[0021] Some example embodiments provide that the method further includes transmitting, to the target UE device, a request indicating a second beam of the plurality of beams of the target UE device, the second beam to be used for SL reception from the UE device, wherein the request enables the target UE device to determine the first set of SL transmission resources based on measurements using the indicated second beam.

[0022] Some example embodiments provide that the second set of SL transmission resources is a subset of the first set of SL transmission resources, the first set of SL transmission resources includes the at least one undesirable SL resource, and the second set of SL transmission resources does not include the at least one undesirable SL resource.

[0023] Some example embodiments provide that determining the at least one undesirable SL resource that is not desirable for SL communication using the first beam further includes detecting, using the first beam, at least one radio transmission from at least one non-target UE device; and determining the at least one undesirable SL resource based on the detected at least one radio transmission.

[0024] Some example embodiments provide that determining the second set of SL transmission resources further includes measuring, using the first beam, a received signal strength of the at least one radio transmission from the at least one non-target UE device; determining whether the measured signal strength is above a received signal strength threshold; based on a result of the determination, updating the first set of SL transmission resources by excluding the at least one undesirable SL resource from the first set of SL transmission resources; and setting the updated first set of SL transmission resources as the second set of SL transmission resources.

[0025] Some example embodiments provide that the at least one radio transmission from the at least one non-target UE device includes an inter-UE coordination (IUC) message, the inter-UE coordination (IUC) message indicating the at least one undesirable SL resource, the at least one undesirable SL resource being determined by the at least one non-target UE device.

[0026] Some example embodiments provide that the at least one radio transmission from the at least one non-target UE device is a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) transmission, and the method further includes determining the at least one undesirable SL resource based on the PSFCH transmission and a mapping between PSFCH resources and physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) resources.

[0027] At least one example embodiment relates to a user equipment (UE) device.

[0028] In at least one example embodiment, a UE device includes means for determining a first beam of a plurality of beams of the UE device, the first beam for a target UE device sidelink (SL) transmission; determining, based on the first beam, at least one undesirable SL resource, the at least one undesirable SL resource not desired for SL communication using the first beam; receiving, from the target UE device, a first set of SL transmission resources, the first set of SL transmission resources indicating at least one first SL resource for transmission to the target UE device; determining, based on the first set of SL transmission resources and the determined at least one undesirable SL resource, a second set of SL transmission resources, the second set of SL transmission resources indicating at least one second SL resource; and transmitting, to at least one radio access network (RAN) node, the second set of SL transmission resources.

[0029] Some example embodiments provide that the UE device further includes means for receiving, from the RAN node, a SL grant based on the transmitted second set of SL transmission resources, the SL grant indicating at least one allocated SL transmission resource selected from the at least one second SL resource; and transmitting, to the target UE device, SL data on the at least one allocated SL transmission resource using the first beam.

[0030] Some example embodiments provide that the UE device further includes means for transmitting, to the target UE device, a request, the request indicating a second beam of a plurality of beams of the target UE device, the second beam for SL reception from the UE device, wherein the request enables the target UE device to determine the first set of SL transmission resources based on measurements using the indicated second beam.

[0031] Some example embodiments provide that the second set of SL transmission resources is a subset of the first set of SL transmission resources.

[0032] Some example embodiments provide that the first set of SL transmission resources includes the at least one undesirable SL resource, and the second set of SL transmission resources does not include the at least one undesirable SL resource.

[0033] Some example embodiments provide that the UE device is further caused to determine the at least one undesirable SL resource not desired for SL communication using the first beam by means for: detecting, using the first beam, at least one radio transmission from at least one non-target UE device, and determining, based on the detected at least one radio transmission, the at least one undesirable SL resource.

[0034] Some example embodiments provide that the UE device is further caused to determine the second set of SL transmission resources by: measuring, using the first beam, a received signal strength of at least one radio transmission from the at least one non-target UE device, determining whether the measured signal strength is above a received signal strength threshold, based on a result of the determining, updating the first set of SL transmission resources by excluding at least one undesired SL resource from the first set of SL transmission resources, and setting the updated first set of SL transmission resources as the second set of SL transmission resources.

[0035] Some example embodiments provide that the at least one radio transmission from the at least one non-target UE device comprises an inter-UE coordination (IUC) message, the inter-UE coordination (IUC) message indicating the at least one undesired SL resource, the at least one undesired SL resource being determined by the at least one non-target UE device.

[0036] Some example embodiments provide that the at least one radio transmission from the at least one non-target UE device is a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) transmission, and the UE device is further caused to determine the at least one undesired SL resource based on the PSFCH transmission and a mapping between PSFCH resources and physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) resources.

[0037] At least one example embodiment relates to a user equipment (UE) device.

[0038] In at least one example embodiment, the UE device comprises means for: receiving a request from a source UE device, wherein the request indicates a first beam of a plurality of beams of the UE device, the first beam being used for sidelink (SL) reception from the source UE device; determining, based on the indicated first beam, a first set of SL transmission resources, the first set of SL transmission resources indicating at least one first SL resource for transmission to the UE device; and transmitting the first set of SL transmission resources to the source UE device or a radio access network (RAN) node.

[0039] Some example embodiments provide that the UE device further comprises means for receiving SL data from the source UE device on at least one allocated SL transmission resource using the first beam, wherein the at least one allocated SL transmission resource is selected by the RAN node based on a second set of SL transmission resources determined by the source UE device, and the second set of SL transmission resources is determined based on the first set of SL transmission resources and at least one undesired SL resource, the at least one undesired SL resource being determined by the source UE device using a second beam of the source UE device, and the at least one undesired SL resource being at least one SL resource that is not desired for SL communication using the second beam.

[0040] Some example embodiments provide that the request is an inter-UE coordination (IUC) request, and the second set of SL transmission resources is a subset of the first set of SL transmission resources. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0041] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more example embodiments and together with the description, explain these example embodiments. In the drawings:

[0042] Figure 1 A wireless communication system is shown in accordance with at least one example embodiment;

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an example RAN node in accordance with at least one example embodiment;

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an example UE device in accordance with at least one example embodiment; and

[0045] Figure 4A And Figure 4B An example transmission flow diagram is shown in accordance with some example embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Various example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments are illustrated. The example embodiments may, however, be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein; rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the example embodiments to those skilled in the art.

[0047] Detailed example embodiments are disclosed herein. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments. Example embodiments can, however, be embodied in many alternatives and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

[0048] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. can be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0049] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements can be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., "between" versus "directly between," "adjacent" versus "directly adjacent," etc.).

[0050] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes" and / or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0051] It should also be noted that in some alternative embodiments, the functions / acts described can occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession can in fact be executed substantially concurrently or can sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functions / acts involved.

[0052] In the following description, specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of example embodiments. However, persons having ordinary skill in the art will understand that example embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. For example, systems can be shown in block diagrams in order to avoid obscuring example embodiments. In other instances, well-known processes, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order to avoid obscuring example embodiments.

[0053] Furthermore, example embodiments can be described as a process that is depicted as a flow diagram, a flowchart, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flow diagram can describe operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel, concurrently or simultaneously. In addition, the order of the operations can be re-arranged. A process can be terminated when its operations are completed, but could also occur over longer periods of time. A process can correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination can correspond to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function.

[0054] Also, as disclosed herein, the term "memory" can refer to one or more devices for storing data, including random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, core memory, and / or other machine readable mediums for storing information. The term "storage media" can include one or more devices for storing data, including read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, core memory, magnetic disk storage mediums, optical storage mediums, flash memory devices, and / or other machine readable mediums for storing information. The term "computer-readable medium" can include, without being limited to, portable or fixed storage devices, optical storage devices, wireless channels, and various other mediums capable of storing, containing, or carrying instruction and / or data.

[0055] Furthermore, example embodiments can be implemented by hardware circuitry and / or software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, etc. combined with hardware (e.g., software executed by hardware, etc.). When implemented in software, firmware, middleware or microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the desired tasks can be stored in a machine or computer readable medium such as a non-transitory computer-readable medium and loaded into one or more processors to execute the desired tasks.

[0056] A code segment can represent a procedure, function, subprogram, program, routine, subroutine, module, software package, class, or any combination of instructions, data structures or program statements. A code segment can be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and / or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. can be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.

[0057] As used in this application, the terms "circuit" and / or "hardware circuit" can refer to one or more or all of: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) ; (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable): (i) combinations of analog and / or digital hardware circuits with software / firmware and (ii) portions of hardware circuits (e.g., a microprocessor or a portion thereof) that require software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software can not be present when it is not needed for the operation of the hardware circuit; and (c) hardware circuits and / or processors, such as a microprocessor and / or a portion thereof, that

[0058] This definition of circuit applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuit also covers an implementation that includes a hardware-only circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or a hardware-only circuit or processor portion and its accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuit also covers, for example, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in a server, cellular network device, or other computing or network device, as applicable to particular claim elements.

[0059] While various example embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed in connection with the 5G wireless communication standard for clarity and convenience, the example embodiments are not so limited, and one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the example embodiments can be applicable to other wireless communication standards, such as 4G standards, Wi-Fi standards, future 6G standards, future 7G standards, etc.

[0060] Various example embodiments relate to implementing enhanced sidelink (SL) resource allocation, and more specifically, to implementing enhanced SL resource allocation for beamformed NR SL communications (e.g., transmissions and / or receptions) between at least two UE devices, although the example embodiments are not so limited. For example, one or more example embodiments can be implemented for use in SL Mode 1, in which a network allocates, configures, and / or determines SL resources for SL communications between two UE devices within a desired frequency range (FR), such as FR 2 (e.g., a frequency range above 24.250 GHz), although the example embodiments are not so limited.

[0061] While 4G LTE protocols support SL broadcast transmissions by UE devices, 4G LTE protocols do not support unicast and / or beamformed SL communications. 4G networks determine SL broadcast resources for a transmitting UE device based on location information of the transmitting and receiving UE devices and / or radio measurements and / or interference measurements sensed and / or determined by the transmitting UE device. As a result, due to the broadcast nature of 4G SL communications, the same and / or overlapping SL resources cannot be allocated to two or more transmitting UE devices, and thus the allocation of SL transmission resources (e.g., SL resources, SL time-frequency resources, etc.) is inefficient due to cross interference.

[0062] The concept of beamformed SL communications (e.g., in the case of unicast SL communications) is currently being researched. The implementation of beamformed SL communications can allow nearby transmitting UE to use the same and / or overlapping SL transmission resources, despite their physical proximity due to the spatially limited transmissions (e.g., transmission fields) of beams used to transmit SL data, as long as the transmission fields of two or more transmitting UE do not overlap and / or are not adjacent to each other, etc. Thus, beamformed SL communications reduce and / or eliminate the need to use location information of the transmitting and receiving UE devices during 5G network determination of SL resource allocation, although radio measurements and / or interference measurements sensed and / or determined by the transmitting UE device continue to be considered.

[0063] However, beamformed SL communications are prone to more severe "hidden node" problems in which radio measurements and / or interference measurements sensed and / or determined by a first transmitting UE device do not account for radio interference experienced by a receiving UE device, which can come from other transmitting UE devices and / or other radio transmitter devices that are outside the reception range of the first transmitting UE device but within the reception range of the receiving UE device. Additionally, beamformed SL communications are prone to more severe "exposed node" problems in which a transmitting UE device detects and / or senses beamformed SL communications from other transmitting UE devices (which a receiving UE device is unable to detect) resulting in inefficient, undesirable, and / or unnecessary exclusion of SL transmission resources from being allocated to the transmitting UE device.

[0064] Accordingly, it is desirable to improve and / or enhance allocation of SL transmission resources based on radio measurements detected, sensed, and / or determined by receiving UE devices and transmitting UE devices. According to at least one example embodiment, SL transmission resource allocation can be more efficient (e.g., more SL transmission resources can be used and / or reused simultaneously by multiple transmitting UE devices) as compared to conventional SL resource allocation techniques. Additionally, one or more example embodiments can reduce and / or eliminate the effects of hidden node problems and exposed node problems, among others.

[0065] Figure 1 A wireless communication system is shown in accordance with at least one example embodiment.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 1, a wireless communication system includes a core network 100 and a first radio access network (RAN) node 110, but is not limited thereto. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 1, the wireless communication system includes a second RAN node 120, but is not limited thereto. Figure 1 Figure 1 ​As shown, a first user equipment device (e.g., UE device or UE, etc.) A, a second UE device B, a third UE who C, and / or a fourth UE device D, etc. can connect to and / or communicate with the RAN node 110, where the UE A and the UE B are a first SL communication pair and the UE C and the UE D are a second SL communication pair, although example embodiments are not limited thereto, and example embodiments can include a greater or lesser number of constituent elements. Additionally, there can be additional UEs, such as a UE device E and / or a UE device F, a lesser number of UEs, etc. according to some example embodiments, although example embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the wireless communication system can include two or more RAN nodes, additional TRPs (e.g., base stations, routers, access points, gateways, etc.), although example embodiments are not limited thereto. According to at least one example embodiment, the UE device A can be a source UE device (e.g., a UE device that transmits SL data, etc.) and the UE device B can be a target UE device (e.g., a UE device that receives SL data, etc.), where the UE device A is configured to transmit SL data to the UE device B, etc. Further, the UE device C can also be a source UE device and the UE device D can be a target UE device, where the UE device C is also configured to transmit SL data to the UE device D, although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0067] The RAN node 110, the UE device A, the UE device B, the UE device C, the UE device D, the UE device E, the UE device F, etc. can connect through a wireless network, such as a cellular wireless access network (e.g., a 3G wireless access network, a 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, a 5G New Radio (e.g., 5G) wireless network, a 6G wireless network, a WiFi network, etc.), although example embodiments are not limited thereto. The wireless network can include a core network 100 that can be connectable to other networks, such as a data network 105, etc. The RAN node 110 can connect to other RAN nodes (not shown) and the core network 100 and / or the data network 105 through wired and / or wireless networks. The core network 100 and the data network 105 can connect to each other through wired and / or wireless networks. The data network 105 can refer to the Internet, an intranet, a private network, a wide area network, etc.

[0068] According to some example embodiments, the RAN node 110 can act as a relay node (e.g., an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node) and can communicate with at least one TRP (e.g., a base station, an Access Point (AP), a router, etc.) (not shown) in combination with the same or different radio access technology (e.g., WiFi, etc.) as the UE devices A, B, C, D, E, and / or F, etc.

[0069] The UE devices A, B, C, D, E, and / or F, etc. can be, but are not limited to, any one of the following: a mobile device, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a wearable device, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a sensor (e.g., a thermometer, a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, a motion sensor, an accelerometer, etc.), an actuator, a robotic device, a robot, a drone, a connected medical device, an eHealth device, a smart city related device, a security camera, a ground vehicle, an aerial vehicle, an autonomous device (e.g., an autonomous car, etc.), a desktop computer, and / or any other type of fixed or portable device capable of operating according to, for example, a 5G NR communication standard and / or other wireless communication standard. The UE devices A, B, C, D, E, and / or F, etc. can be configured to transmit and / or receive data according to strict latency, reliability, and / or accuracy requirements such as SL communication, SL discontinuous reception (DRX) communication, ultra-reliable, low-latency communication (URLLC), time sensitive communication (TSC), etc., although the example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0070] According to at least one example embodiment, two or more of the UE devices A, B, C, D, E, and / or F can be members of a SL communication pair, a SL group, and / or a UE group, and can be configured to perform SL communication. For example, the core network 100 and / or the RAN nodes 110, etc. can provide SL configuration information (which can include SL transmission resource allocation, etc.) to one or more of the UE devices A, B, C, D, E, and / or F, etc., and the SL configuration information configures one or more of the UE devices A, B, C, D, E, and / or F, etc. to perform SL communication based on one or more methods discussed herein, although the example embodiments are not limited thereto. Figures 4A-4B

[0071] According to at least one example embodiment, at least one UE device such as the UE devices B, D, and / or F can be a target UE device and / or a receive (RX) UE device (e.g., a UE device performing SL reception), and at least one UE device such as the UE devices A, C, and / or E can be a source UE device and / or a transmit (TX) UE device (e.g., a UE device performing SL transmission), although the example embodiments are not limited thereto. Note that the UE devices of a SL communication pair and / or a SL group can operate as a source UE or a target UE from time to time for SL communication of the SL pair and / or the SL group. For example, at a first point in time, the UE device A can be configured to operate as a source UE device and the UE device B can be configured to operate as a target UE device, but at a second point in time, the UE device A can be configured to operate as a target UE device and the UE device B can be configured to operate as a source UE device, etc.

[0072] ​The wireless communication system also includes at least one RAN node (e.g., TRP, base station, wireless access point, etc.), such as RAN node 110, etc. The RAN node 110, etc., can operate in accordance with at least one base cellular and / or wireless radio access technology (RAT), such as 5G NR, LTE, Wi-Fi, etc. For example, the RAN node 110 can be a 5G gNB node, an LTE eNB node, or an LTE ng-eNB node, etc., although example embodiments are not limited thereto. The RAN node 110 can provide wireless network service to one or more UE devices within one or more cells (e.g., cell service areas, broadcast areas, service areas, coverage areas, etc.) around a respective physical location of the RAN node, such as cell 110A around the RAN node 110, etc.

[0073] For example, the UE devices A, B, C, D, E, and / or F are located within the cell service area 110A and can connect to the RAN node 110 (e.g., a source RAN node serving the UE devices, etc.), receive broadcast messages from the RAN node 110, receive paging messages from the RAN node 110, receive / transmit signaling messages to / from the RAN node 110, etc., although example embodiments are not limited thereto. According to other example embodiments, one or more UE devices, such as UE devices E and / or F, etc., can not be located within the cell service area 110A, can connect to a different RAN node than the RAN node 110, can use a different RAT than the RAN node 110, etc.

[0074] Although Figure 1 A single cell of the RAN node 110 is shown, although example embodiments are not limited thereto and the RAN node can provide multiple cells, etc., for example.

[0075] Additionally, the RAN node 110 can be configured to operate in a multi-user (MU) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) mode and / or massive MIMO (mMIMO) mode, in which the RAN node 110 uses multiple antennas (e.g., antenna panels, antenna elements, antenna arrays, etc.) and beamforming and / or beamsteering techniques to transmit multiple beams (e.g., radio channels, data streams, streams, etc.) in different spatial and / or frequency domains.

[0076] The RAN nodes 110 can be connected to at least one core network device (not shown) residing on the core network 100, such as a core network element, a core network server, an access point, a switch, a router, a node, etc., although example embodiments are not limited thereto. The core network 100 and / or the at least one core network device can provide network functions, such as a location management function (LMF), an access and mobility management function (AMF), a session management function (SMF), a policy control function (PCF), a unified data management (UDM), a user plane function (UPF), an authentication server function (AUSF), an application function (AF), and / or a network slice selection function (NSSF), etc., and / or equivalent functions, but are not limited thereto.

[0077] While certain components of the wireless communication network are shown as part of the wireless communication system of Figure 1 , example embodiments are not limited thereto, and the wireless communication network can include components in addition to those shown in Figure 1 , which are desirable, necessary, and / or beneficial for operation of the underlying network within the wireless communication system, such as access points, switches, routers, nodes, servers, gateways, etc.

[0078] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an example RAN node, in accordance with at least one example embodiment. The RAN node of FIG. 2 can correspond to the RAN node 110 of Figure 1 , although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0079] Referring to FIG. 2, the RAN node 2000 can include processing circuitry 2100, at least one communication bus 2200, memory 2300, at least one core network interface 2400, and / or at least one wireless antenna array 2500, etc., although example embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the core network interface 2400 and the wireless antenna array 2500 can be combined into a single network interface, etc., or the RAN node 2000 can include multiple wireless antenna arrays, multiple core network interfaces, etc., and / or any combination thereof. The memory 2300 can include various specialized program code including computer-executable instructions that can cause the RAN node 2000 to perform one or more of the methods discussed in connection with Figures 4A-4B .

[0080] In at least one example embodiment, processing circuitry 2100 can include at least one processor (and / or processor core, distributed processor, networked processor, etc.) that can be configured to control one or more elements of RAN node 2000, thereby enabling RAN node 2000 to perform various operations. Processing circuitry 2100 is configured to perform the processes of the entire RAN node 2000 by retrieving and executing program code stored in memory 2300 (e.g., computer-readable instructions), and processing data. Once the dedicated program instructions are loaded into processing circuitry 2100, the processing circuitry 2100 executes the dedicated program instructions, thereby converting the processing circuitry 2100 into a specific machine / computerized device customized to perform the program instructions.

[0081] In at least one example embodiment, memory 2300 can be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, and can include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), and / or a permanent mass storage device such as a disk drive or solid state drive. Stored in memory 2300 are program code (i.e., computer-readable instructions) related to operating RAN node 2000, such as the methods discussed above, at least one core network interface 2400, and / or at least one wireless antenna array 2500, etc. Such software elements can be loaded into memory 2300 using a drive mechanism (not shown) connected to RAN node 2000, or via at least one core network interface 2400 and / or at least one wireless antenna array 2500, etc., from a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium independent of RAN node 2000. Figures 4A-4B

[0082] In at least one example embodiment, communication bus 2200 can enable communication and data transfer between elements of RAN node 2000. Bus 2200 can be implemented using a high speed serial bus, a parallel bus, and / or any other appropriate communication technology. According to at least one example embodiment, RAN node 2000 can include multiple communication buses (not shown), such as an address bus, a data bus, etc.

[0083] RAN node 2000 can operate as, for example, a 4G RAN node, a 5G RAN node, etc., and can be configured to schedule time domain resource allocation (TDRA) for UE devices connected to RAN node 2000, e.g., orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, physical resource blocks (PRBs), resource elements, etc., although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0084] ​For example, the RAN node 2000 can allocate time-frequency resources (e.g., resource blocks with time and frequency dimensions) of a carrier based on operation in the time domain (e.g., time division duplexing) and / or the frequency domain (e.g., frequency division duplexing). In the time domain context, the RAN node 2000 will allocate a carrier (or sub-bands of a carrier) to one or more UEs (e.g., UE A, etc.) connected to the RAN node 2000 during designated on (e.g., uplink (UL)) time periods and designated off (e.g., downlink (DL)) time periods or during designated special (S) time periods that can be used for UL and / or DL, but example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0085] When there are multiple UEs connected to the RAN node 2000, the carrier is shared in time, such that each UE is scheduled by the RAN node 2000 and the RAN node 2000 allocates their own uplink time and / or downlink time to each UE. In the frequency domain context and / or when performing spatial domain multiplexing of UEs (e.g., MU MIMO, etc.), the RAN node 2000 allocates separate frequency sub-bands of a carrier to UEs being simultaneously served by the RAN node 2000 for uplink and / or downlink transmissions. Data transmissions between a UE and the RAN node 2000 can occur based on radio frames in both the time domain and the frequency domain context. The smallest resource unit allocated and / or assigned by the RAN node 2000 to a particular UE device corresponds to a particular downlink / uplink time interval (e.g., one OFDM symbol, one time slot, one mini-slot, one subframe, etc.) and / or a particular downlink / uplink resource block (e.g., twelve adjacent subcarriers, a frequency sub-band, etc.).

[0086] For the sake of clarity and consistency, example embodiments will be described using the time domain, but example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0087] Additionally, the RAN node 2000 can transmit scheduling information to one or more UE devices located within a cell service area of the RAN node 2000 via physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) information, which can configure the one or more UE devices to transmit (e.g., UL transmissions via physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) information and / or physical uplink shared channel information (PUSCH), etc.) and / or receive (e.g., DL transmissions via PDCCH and / or physical downlink shared channel information (PDSCH), etc.) data packets to and / or from the RAN node 2000. Additionally, the RAN node 2000 can transmit control messages to UE devices using downlink control information (DCI) messages via physical (PHY) layer signaling, medium access control (MAC) layer control element (CE) signaling, radio resource control (RRC) signaling, etc., but example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0088] The RAN node 2000 can also include at least one core network interface 2400 and / or at least one wireless antenna array 2500, among other things. The at least one wireless antenna array 2500 can include an associated array of radio units (not shown) and can be used to transmit wireless signals to at least one UE device (such as UE A, among others) in accordance with a radio access technology (such as 4G LTE wireless signals, 5G NR wireless signals, among others). The wireless antenna array 2500 can be a single antenna, or can be a plurality of antennas, among other examples, in accordance with some example embodiments. For example, the wireless antenna array 2500 can be configured as a grid of beams (GoB) that transmit a plurality of beams in different directions, angles, frequencies, and / or with different delays, among other examples, although the example embodiments are not limited as such.

[0089] The RAN node 2000 can communicate with a core network (e.g., a backend network, a backhaul network, a backbone network, a data network, among others) of a wireless communication network via the core network interface 2400. The core network interface 2400 can be a wired and / or wireless network interface and can enable the RAN node 2000 to communicate data to and / or from network devices on the backend network, such as a core network gateway (not shown), a data network (e.g., data network 105) (such as the Internet, an intranet, a wide-area network, a telephone network, a VoIP network, among others).

[0090] While FIGURE 2 depicts an example embodiment of the RAN node 2000, the RAN node is not limited to the embodiment shown and can include additional and / or alternative architectures as can serve a particular purpose. For example, the functionality of the RAN node 2000 can be divided among multiple physical, logical, and / or virtual network elements, such as a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a remote radio head (RRH), and / or a remote radio unit (RRU), among others. Additionally, the RAN node 2000 can operate in standalone (SA) mode and / or non-standalone (NSA) mode using interfaces (not shown) between the RAN node 2000 and other RAN nodes of the wireless network (such as X2, Xn, among others), interfaces (such as S1, NG, among others) between the RAN node 2000 and a core network (e.g., core network 100), interfaces between network functions operating in a distributed and / or virtual RAN mode (not shown) (such as Fl, El, among others), and / or interfaces (such as Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI), enhanced CPRI (eCPRI), among others) between a physical layer (e.g., a baseband unit, among others) and a radio layer (e.g., a remote radio head (RRH), core network interface 2400, among others), although the example embodiments are not limited to such.

[0091] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an example UE device, in accordance with at least one example embodiment. The example UE device 3000 of FIG. 3 can correspond to one or more of the UE devices A, B, C, D, E, and / or F of FIG. 1, although example embodiments are not limited as such. Figure 1

[0092] Referring to FIG. 3, the UE 3000 can include processing circuitry 3100, at least one communication bus 3200, memory 3300, a plurality of wireless antennas and / or wireless antenna panels 3400, at least one input / output (I / O) device 3600 (e.g., a keyboard, a touchscreen, a mouse, a microphone, a camera, a speaker, etc.), and / or a display panel 3700 (e.g., a monitor, a touchscreen, etc.), although example embodiments are not limited as such. According to some example embodiments, the UE 3000 can include a greater or lesser number of constituent components, and for example, the UE 3000 can also include at least one sensor 3500, such as one or more proximity sensors (e.g., infrared proximity sensors, capacitive proximity sensors, etc.), one or more location sensors (e.g., GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, etc.), other sensors (e.g., a thermometer, a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, a motion sensor, an accelerometer, etc.), a battery, an actuator, one or more wireless antennas and / or one or more wireless antenna panels, etc. Additionally, the display panel 3700 and / or the I / O device 3600, etc., of the UE 3000 can be optional.

[0093] In at least one example embodiment, the processing circuitry 3100 can include at least one processor (and / or processor cores, distributed processors, networked processors, etc.) that can be configured to control one or more elements of the UE 3000, thereby causing the UE 3000 to perform various operations. The processing circuitry 3100 is configured to perform processes by retrieving program code (e.g., computer-readable instructions) and data from the memory 3300 to process them, thereby performing dedicated control and functions of the entire UE 3000. Once the dedicated program instructions are loaded into the processing circuitry 3100, the processing circuitry 3100 executes the dedicated program instructions, thereby converting the processing circuitry 3100 into a special-purpose processor / special-purpose processing circuitry.

[0094] In at least one example embodiment, the memory 3300 can be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, and can include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), and / or a permanent mass storage device such as a disk drive or solid state drive. Program code (i.e., computer-readable instructions) related to operating the UE 3000 is stored in the memory 3300, such as in conjunction with Figures 4A-4B ​Such software elements can be loaded into the memory 3300 from a non-transitory computer readable storage medium (e.g., a storage device of a mobile node) using a drive mechanism (not shown) connected to the UE 3000, or via a wireless antenna 3400, etc. connected to the UE 3000, etc. Additionally, the memory 3300 can store network configuration information, such as system information, resource block schedules, SL configurations, SL resource allocations, etc., for communicating with at least one RAN node (e.g., RAN node 110), at least one UE device (e.g., UE devices A, B, C, D, E, F, etc.) communicating with the access wireless network, etc., but the example embodiments are not limited to this.

[0095] In at least one example embodiment, the at least one communication bus 3200 can enable communication and data transfer / reception between elements of the UE 3000. The bus 3200 can be implemented using a high speed serial bus, a parallel bus, and / or any other appropriate communication technology. According to at least one example embodiment, the UE 3000 can include multiple communication buses (not shown), such as an address bus, a data bus, etc.

[0096] The UE 3000 can also include at least one wireless antenna panel 3400, but is not limited to this. The at least one wireless antenna panel 3400 can include at least one associated radio (not shown) and can be used to transmit wireless signals according to at least one desired radio access technology, such as 4G LTE, 5G NR, Wi-Fi, etc. Additionally, the at least one wireless antenna panel 3400 can be configured to transmit and / or receive SL communications from one or more UE devices, etc. on one or more SL resources (such as a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH), a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), and / or a SL slot, etc.) allocated to an associated SL group and / or SL pair, but the example embodiments are not limited to this. Additionally, a first UE device can act as a relay for at least one second UE device, for example, where the first UE device receives data from the RAN node 110 destined for the at least one second UE device and then forwards the received data to the at least one second UE device, etc., thereby improving the reliability of wireless transmissions and / or extending the range of wireless transmissions, but the example embodiments are not limited to this. For example, there can be more than one UE device, and a relay UE device can receive data from a UE device destined for the RAN node and / or core network, etc. When two or more wireless antenna panels 3400 are included in the UE 3000, the two or more wireless antenna panels 3400 can be located at different physical locations on the body of the UE 3000, can have the same or different orientations, can operate in the same or different frequency ranges, can operate according to the same or different radio access technologies, etc.

[0097] According to some example embodiments, the UE 3000 can detect, measure, and / or sense one or more radio signal power and / or signal quality metrics using at least one wireless antenna panel 3400 corresponding to SL control information (SCI), synchronization signal block (SSB), and / or channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), etc., transmitted by one or more RAN nodes, such as a source RAN node (e.g., RAN node 110) and / or one or more source UE devices (e.g., UE devices A, C, E, and / or F, etc.), although example embodiments are not limited thereto. More specifically, the UE 3000 can measure radio signal power and / or cell quality metrics, such as reference signal received power (RSRP) (e.g., SS-RSRP and / or CSI-RSRP, etc.), reference signal received quality (RSRQ) (e.g., SS-RSRQ and / or CSI-RSRQ, etc.), received signal strength indicator (RSSI) (e.g., NR-RSSI, CSI-RSSI, etc.), signal to interference noise ratio (SINR) (e.g., SS-SINR, CSI-SINR, etc.), etc., although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0098] While FIG. 3 depicts example embodiments of the UE 3000, the UE device is not limited thereto and can include additional and / or alternative architectures that can be suitable for the purposes illustrated.

[0099] Figure 4A A first example transmission flow diagram is shown in accordance with some example embodiments. Reference will be made to Figure 1 an example wireless system diagram discussed in Figure 4A , although example embodiments are not limited thereto and can use other wireless systems and / or configurations.

[0100] Reference is now made to Figure 4A , Figure 4A is an example transmission flow diagram showing SL communications between a first source UE device A configured to transmit beamformed SL data to a first target UE device B, a second source UE device C configured to transmit beamformed SL data to a second target UE device D, and a RAN node (e.g., RAN node 110), although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0101] According to at least one example embodiment, in operation S4010, the source UE device A transmits a request to the target UE device B for a set of SL transmission resources (e.g., a recommended set of SL transmission resources, a preferred set of SL transmission resources, etc.) to be used in SL communications with the target UE device B. According to some example embodiments, the source UE device A determines a desired, selected, and / or preferred transmit beam (TX beam) of a plurality of beams associated with and / or corresponding to the source UE device A, such as Figure 1The beam a' shown is used for SL communication with the target UE device B, but the example embodiment is not limited to this. Furthermore, the request can be an inter-UE coordination (IUC) request, which can also indicate the desired, selected, and / or preferred receive beam (RX beam) among multiple beams of the target UE device B, such as... Figure 1 The beam b' shown is used for SL communication with the source UE device A, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. According to some example embodiments, the selection of the desired TX beam and / or RX beam can be performed by UE device A, can be performed collaboratively by UE device A and UE device B, or can be performed by RAN node 110 and / or core network 100, etc., and transmitted to UE device A, etc.

[0102] In operation S4020, UE device B uses the desired RX beam b' to detect, measure, scan, and / or sense radio transmissions (e.g., potential interference radio transmissions, interfering radio transmissions, etc.) from one or more UE devices (e.g., non-target UEs, etc.), UE device B is not configured to receive SL communications from such one or more UE devices. For example, as Figure 1 As shown, UE device B can use the RX beam b' to determine, sense, and / or detect radio transmissions from UE device C, UE device E, etc., such as PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions, and can perform SCI decoding on PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions to determine SL transmission resources associated with potential interference and / or interfering PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions, and measure RSRP (and / or SINR, etc.) associated with PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions, etc., but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. As another example, UE device B can detect, measure, sense, and / or scan for any noise, interference, and / or other indications that a particular SL resource is undesirable, unavailable, and / or unexpected. More specifically, the UE device B can detect, measure, sense and / or scan available SL resources, determine and / or measure the energy (e.g., RSRP, etc.) and / or noise (e.g., SINR, etc.) present in the SL resources, and compare the determined energy and / or noise with desired received energy thresholds and / or desired noise thresholds, etc., to determine whether the SL resources are undesirable, unavailable and / or undesirable, etc.

[0103] In addition, the UE device B determines a first set of SL transmission resources S1 based on the detected radio transmissions. The first set of SL transmission resources includes at least one recommended SL transmission resource and / or at least one preferred SL transmission resource, etc., for use by the transmitting UE device A for SL communication with the receiving UE device B, but is not limited thereto. The UE device B initially identifies a plurality of candidate SL resources, such as SL resources r0, r1, r2, and r3, etc., for SL communication with the UE device A, but the example embodiments are not limited thereto. Assuming that the previously detected potentially interfering and / or interfering radio transmissions are transmitted using the SL resource r0, the UE device B then determines whether the RSRP (and / or SINR, etc.) of the previously detected potentially interfering and / or interfering radio transmissions exceeds an expected RSRP threshold (and / or an expected received signal power threshold, an expected energy threshold, an expected noise threshold, an expected SINR threshold, etc.), and determines whether to exclude the associated SL transmission resource r0 from the set of the first set of SL transmission resources S1 based on the result of the determination. For example, if the RSRP of the detected potentially interfering radio transmissions exceeds the expected RSRP threshold, the UE device B can exclude, remove, and / or omit the SL transmission resource r0 from the first set of SL transmission resources, etc.

[0104] In operation S4030, the UE device B transmits a response to the UE device A and / or the RAN node 110, where the response includes the first set of SL transmission resources S1. According to some example embodiments, the response can be an IUC information MAC CE message, a SCI format 2-C containing IUC information, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0105] In operation S4040, the second source UE device C transmits a SCI to the second target UE device D. The SCI message can indicate that the SL resource r1 is reserved and / or will be used for SL communication between the UE device C and the UE device D, but is not limited thereto. As Figure 1As shown, UE device D can be within and / or located in the acceptance field of TX beam a' of UE device A, etc., and in operation S4050, target UE device D transmits IUC information, which is received by source UE device A using TX beam a'. In addition, according to some example embodiments, the IUC information transmitted by UE device D indicates a set of SL transmission resources (e.g., a set of non-preferred SL transmission resources, a set of occupied SL transmission resources, a set of un-desired SL transmission resources, a set of unavailable SL transmission resources, etc.) for use in SL communications between UE device C and UE device D, which are thus not desired (e.g., non-preferred, unavailable, etc.) for use in SL communications between source UE device A and target UE device B using TX beam a'. However, according to one or more example embodiments, due to the directionality of TX beam a' (e.g., the transmission field of a') with respect to UE devices C and D, the un-desired SL resources are non-preferred, un-desired, and / or unavailable with respect to TX beam a' of source UE device A, and the un-desired SL resources can be allocated for use by source UE device A on a different TX beam, etc., thereby increasing and / or improving the efficiency of SL resource management and usage. In addition, according to at least one example embodiment, target UE device D determines the set of non-preferred resources, e.g., based on the condition "1-B-1 Option 2" (if configured by slThresholdRSRP-Conditionl-B-l-Option2List) standardized in Clause 8.1.4A of 3GPP TS 38.214, which includes SL resources in which SL data is expected to be received from source UE device C, although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0106] In operation S4060, UE device A determines at least one un-desired SL resource indicated in the set of SL transmission resources transmitted by UE device D, e.g., r1, etc. UE device A also determines whether the received signal strength (e.g., RSRP, etc.) of the at least one un-desired SL resource r1 exceeds a desired received signal strength threshold (e.g., RSRP threshold), and determines and / or confirms whether to exclude the at least one un-desired SL resource r1 based on the result determined from the second set of SL transmission resources S2. For example, if the RSRP of r1 exceeds the desired RSRP threshold, UE device A can exclude, remove, and / or omit SL transmission resource r1, but if the RSRP of r1 is below and / or equal to the desired RSRP threshold, UE device A can continue to use un-desired SL resource r1 since the interference caused to r1 by SL communications transmitted by UE device C is within a tolerable range.

[0107] In operation S4070, the UE device A determines a second set of SL transmission resources S2 based on the first set of SL transmission resources S1 transmitted by the UE device B and the determined at least one undesirable SL resource, etc. More specifically, the UE device A determines whether the identified at least one undesirable SL resource r1 is included in the first set of SL transmission resources S1, and if r1 is present in S1, the UE device A determines and / or sets the second set of SL transmission resources S2 by updating, adjusting and / or modifying the first set of SL transmission resources S1 to remove, omit and / or exclude the at least one undesirable SL resource, e.g., S2 = S1 - r1 = {r2, r3}, although example embodiments are not limited thereto. In other words, the second set of SL transmission resources can be a subset of the first set of SL transmission resources.

[0108] In operation S4080, the UE device A reports the second set of SL transmission resources S2, e.g., {r2, r3}, to the RAN node 110 and / or the core network 100, etc. In operation S4090, the RAN node 110 selects and / or allocates at least one of the SL resources included in the second set of SL transmission resources S2 for use by the UE device A in SL communication with the UE device B, e.g., r2, although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0109] Additionally, in operation S4090, the RAN node 110 and / or the core network 110, etc., transmits a SL grant to the UE device A and / or the UE device B, and the SL grant includes SL configuration information indicating the allocation of the at least one SL transmission resource, e.g., r2, although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0110] In operation S4100, the source UE device A uses the desired TX beam a’ and the desired RX beam b’, respectively, for SL communication with the UE device B on the at least one allocated SL resource r2, e.g., PSCCH / PSSCH, etc., although example embodiments are not limited thereto. Furthermore, in optional operation S4110, the source UE device C uses the desired TX beam c’ and the desired RX beam d’, respectively, for SL communication with the target UE device D using the previously indicated SL resource r1.

[0111] Figure 4B A second example transmission flow diagram is shown in accordance with some example embodiments. Reference will be made to the example wireless system diagram of Figure 1 will be discussed Figure 4B , although example embodiments are not limited thereto and other wireless systems and / or configurations can be used.

[0112] Reference is now made to Figure 4B , Figure 4BThis is an example transmission flowchart illustrating SL communication between a first source UE device A configured to transmit beamforming SL data to a first target UE device B, a second source UE device C configured to transmit beamforming SL data to a second target UE device D, and a RAN node (e.g., RAN node 110), but the example embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0113] According to at least one example embodiment, in operation S4510, with Figure 4A Similar to operation S4010, source UE device A transmits a request to target UE device B for a set of SL transport resources (e.g., a recommended set of SL transport resources, a preferred set of SL transport resources, etc.) to be used in SL communication with target UE device B. According to some example embodiments, source UE device A determines a desired, selected, and / or preferred transmit beam (TX beam) from a plurality of beams associated with and / or corresponding to source UE device A, such as... Figure 1 The beam a' shown is used for SL communication with the target UE device B, but the example embodiment is not limited to this. Furthermore, the request can be an inter-UE coordination (IUC) request, which can further indicate the desired, selected, and / or preferred receive beam (RX beam) among multiple beams of the target UE device B, such as... Figure 1 The beam b' shown is used for SL communication with the source UE device A, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. According to some example embodiments, the selection of the desired TX beam and / or RX beam can be performed by UE device A, can be performed collaboratively by UE device A and UE device B (e.g., through beam scanning and feedback), or can be performed by RAN node 110 and / or core network 100, etc., and transmitted to UE device A, etc.

[0114] In operating S4520, with Figure 4A Similar to operation S4020, UE device B uses the desired RX beam b' to detect, measure, scan, and / or sense radio transmissions (e.g., potential interference radio transmissions, interfering radio transmissions, etc.) from one or more UE devices (e.g., non-target UEs, etc.), UE device B is not configured to receive SL communications from such one or more UE devices. For example, as Figure 1As shown, UE device B can use the RX beam b' to determine, sense, scan, and / or detect radio transmissions from UE device C and / or UE device E, such as PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions, etc. It can perform SCI decoding of PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions to determine SL transmission resources associated with potential interference and / or interfering PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions, and measure RSRP (and / or SINR, etc.) associated with PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions, etc. However, the example embodiment is not limited thereto. As another example, UE device B can detect, measure, sense, and / or scan for any noise, interference, and / or other indications that a particular SL resource is undesirable, unavailable, and / or unexpected. More specifically, the UE device B can detect, measure, sense and / or scan available SL resources, determine and / or measure the energy (e.g., RSRP, etc.) and / or noise (e.g., SINR, etc.) present in the SL resources, and compare the determined energy and / or noise with desired received energy thresholds and / or desired noise thresholds, etc., to determine whether the SL resources are undesirable, unavailable and / or undesirable, etc.

[0115] Additionally, UE device B can determine a first SL transmission resource set S1 based on detected radio transmissions. The first SL transmission resource set may include at least one recommended SL transmission resource and / or at least one preferred SL transmission resource, etc., for SL communication between the transmitting UE device A and the receiving UE device B, but is not limited thereto. UE device B may initially identify multiple candidate SL resources for SL communication with UE device A, such as SL resources r0, r1, r2, and r3, etc., but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. Assuming that previously detected potential interference and / or interfering radio transmissions are transmitted using SL resource r0, UE device B can then determine whether the RSRP (and / or SINR, etc.) of the previously detected potential interference and / or interfering radio transmissions exceeds a desired RSRP threshold (and / or a desired received signal power threshold, a desired noise threshold, etc.), and based on the result of this determination, determine whether to exclude the associated SL transmission resource r0 from the SL transmission resource set S1. For example, if the RSRP of a potential interfering radio transmission exceeds the expected RSRP threshold, the UE device B can exclude, remove, and / or omit SL transmission resource r0 from the first SL transmission resource set.

[0116] In operating S4530, with Figure 4A Similar to operation S4030, UE device B transmits a response to UE device A and / or RAN node 110, wherein the response includes a first SL transport resource set S1. According to some example embodiments, the response may be an IUC information MACCE message, an SCI format 2-C containing IUC information, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0117] In operating S4540, with Figure 4A Similar to operation S4040, the second source UE device C transmits a first SCI to the second target UE device D in the first PSCCH / PSSCH resource r1-2T, where T is the time period, period, and / or resource reservation interval associated with the periodic SL transmission of the second UE device C (e.g., the first PSCCH / PSSCH resource appearing in the 2T time slot before resource r1). The first SCI may indicate that periodic SL resources r1-T, r1, r1+T, etc., are reserved for and / or will be used for SL communication between UE device C and UE device D, but are not limited thereto. In operation S4545, the target UE device D transmits a first PSFCH transmission (PSFCH1), which is received by the source UE device A using the TX beam a'.

[0118] Subsequently, in operation S4550, the second source UE device C transmits a second SCI to the second target UE device D in the second PSCCH / PSSCH resource (e.g., the second PSCCH / PSSCH resource appearing T times prior to resource r1). The second SCI may indicate that periodic SL resources r1, r1+T, etc., are reserved for and / or will be used for SL communication between UE device C and UE device D, but are not limited thereto. In operation S4555, the target UE device D transmits a second PSFCH transmission (PSFCH2), which is received by the source UE device A using TX beam a'.

[0119] In operating S4560, with Figure 4AThe operation S4060 is similar to the operation S4060 of FIG. 46, the UE device A determines at least one undesired SL resource, e.g., r1, based on the first and / or second PSFCH transmissions (PSFCH1, PSFCH2) received from the UE device D using the desired TX beam a’. Depending on the resource mapping between the PSFCH resources and the PSCCH / PSSCH resources, the UE device A determines the first and / or second PSCCH / PSSCH resources used by the second source UE device C based on the PSFCH resources used by the second target UE device D for the first and / or second PSFCH transmissions (PSFCH1, PSFCH2), respectively. From the determined first and / or second PSCCH / PSSCH resources, and under the assumption that the second source UE device C uses periodic PSCCH / PSSCH resources for transmission, the UE device A infers, determines, and / or computes the periodicity or resource reservation interval T, and determines a third PSCCH / PSSCH resource occurring at T time slots after the second PSCCH / PSSCH resource, which corresponds to the undesired SL resource r1. Additional implementation details related to the above operation(s) are found in PCT / EP2022 / 084717 filed on December 7, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein.

[0120] In operation S4570, similar to the operation S4070 of FIG. 41, Figure 4A In operation S4070, similar to the operation S4060 of FIG. 40, the UE device A determines a second SL transmission resource set S2 based on the first SL transmission resource set S1 transmitted by the UE device B and the determined at least one undesired SL resource, etc. More specifically, the UE device A determines whether the at least one undesired SL resource r1 is included in the first SL transmission resource set S1, and if r1 exists in S1, the UE device A determines and / or sets the second SL transmission resource set S2 by updating, adjusting, and / or modifying the first SL transmission resource set S1 to remove, omit, and / or exclude the at least one undesired SL resource, e.g., S2 = S1 - r1 = {r2, r3}, although example embodiments are not limited thereto. In other words, the second SL transmission resource set can be a subset of the first SL transmission resource set.

[0121] In operation S4580, similar to the operation S4080 of FIG. 42, Figure 4A In operation S4080, similar to the operation S4070 of FIG. 41, the UE device A reports the second SL transmission resource set S2, e.g., {r2, r3}, to the RAN node 110 and / or the core network 100, etc. In operation S4090, similar to the operation S4080 of FIG. 42, Figure 4A In operation S4090, similar to the operation S4080 of FIG. 42, the RAN node 110 selects and / or allocates at least one of the SL resources included in the second SL transmission resource set S2 for use by the UE device A in SL communication with the UE device B, e.g., r2, although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0122] Additionally, in operation S4590, the RAN node 110 and / or the core network 110, etc., transmits a SL grant to the UE device A and / or the UE device B, and the SL grant includes SL configuration information indicating an allocation of at least one SL transmission resource, e.g., r2, but example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0123] In operation S4600, similar to operation S4100 of FIG. 4A, the source UE device A performs SL communication with the UE device B on the at least one allocated SL resource r2 using the desired TX beam a’ and the desired RX beam b’, respectively, e.g., PSCCH / PSSCH, etc., but is not limited thereto. Figure 4A In operation S4600, similar to operation S4100 of FIG. 4A, the source UE device A performs SL communication with the UE device B on the at least one allocated SL resource r2 using the desired TX beam a’ and the desired RX beam b’, respectively, e.g., PSCCH / PSSCH, etc., but is not limited thereto. Figure 4A In operation S4610, similar to operation S4110 of FIG. 4A, the source UE device C performs SL communication with the target UE device D using the desired TX beam c’ and the desired RX beam d’, respectively, using the previously indicated SL resource r1.

[0124] This written description uses examples of the disclosed subject matter to enable a person skilled in the art to practice the subject matter including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the subject matter is defined by the claims and can include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A user equipment (UE) device, comprising: a memory storing computer-readable instructions; and processing circuitry configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to cause the UE device to: determine a first beam of a plurality of beams of the UE device, the first beam to be used for a target UE device sidelink (SL) transmission, based on the first beam, determine at least one undesired SL resource that is not desired to be used for SL communication using the first beam, receive, from the target UE device, a first set of SL transmission resources, the first set of SL transmission resources indicating at least one first SL resource for transmission to the target UE device, based on the first set of SL transmission resources and the determined at least one undesired SL resource, determine a second set of SL transmission resources, the second set of SL transmission resources indicating at least one second SL resource, and transmit, to at least one radio access network (RAN) node, the second set of SL transmission resources.

2. The UE device of claim 1, wherein the UE device is further caused to: receive, from the RAN node, a SL grant based on the transmitted second set of SL transmission resources, the SL grant indicating at least one allocated SL transmission resource selected from the at least one second SL resource; and transmit, to the target UE device, SL data on the at least one allocated SL transmission resource using the first beam.

3. The UE device of any one of claims 1-2, wherein the UE device is further caused to: transmit, to the target UE device, a request, the request indicating a second beam of a plurality of beams of the target UE device, the second beam to be used for SL reception from the UE device, wherein the request enables the target UE device to, determine the first set of SL transmission resources based on measurements using the indicated second beam.

4. The UE device of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the second set of SL transmission resources is a subset of the first set of SL transmission resources.

5. The UE device of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the first set of SL transmission resources includes the at least one undesired SL resource; and the second set of SL transmission resources does not include the at least one undesired SL resource.

6. The UE device of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the UE device is further caused to determine the at least one undesired SL resource that is not desired to be used for SL communication using the first beam by: detecting, using the first beam, at least one radio transmission from at least one non-target UE device; and determining, based on the detected at least one radio transmission, the at least one undesired SL resource.

7. The UE device of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the UE device is further caused to determine the second set of SL transmission resources by: measure, using the first beam, a received signal strength of the at least one radio transmission from the at least one non-target UE device; determine whether the measured signal strength is above a received signal strength threshold; update the first set of SL transmission resources based on a result of the determination by excluding the at least one undesired SL resource from the first set of SL transmission resources; and set the updated first set of SL transmission resources as the second set of SL transmission resources.

8. The UE device of any of claims 1-7, wherein the at least one radio transmission from the at least one non-target UE device comprises an inter-UE coordination (IUC) message, the inter-UE coordination (IUC) message indicating the at least one undesired SL resource, the at least one undesired SL resource determined by the at least one non-target UE device.

9. The UE device of any of claims 1-8, wherein the at least one radio transmission from the at least one non-target UE device is a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) transmission; and the UE device is further caused to, determine the at least one undesired SL resource based on the PSFCH transmission and a mapping between PSFCH resources and physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) resources.

10. A user equipment (UE) device comprising: a memory storing computer-readable instructions; and processing circuitry configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to cause the UE device to, receive a request from a source UE device, wherein the request indicates a first beam of a plurality of beams of the UE device, the first beam for receiving sidelink (SL) from the source UE device, determine, based on the indicated first beam, a first set of SL transmission resources, the first set of SL transmission resources indicating at least one first SL resource for transmission to the UE device; and transmit the first set of SL transmission resources to the source UE device or a radio access network (RAN) node.

11. The UE device of claim 10, wherein the UE device is further caused to: receive SL data from the source UE device on at least one allocated SL transmission resource using the first beam, wherein the at least one allocated SL transmission resource is selected by the RAN node based on a second set of SL transmission resources determined by the source UE device; and the second set of SL transmission resources is determined based on the first set of SL transmission resources and at least one undesired SL resource, the at least one undesired SL resource determined by the source UE device using a second beam of the source UE device, and the at least one undesired SL resource being at least one SL resource that is not desired for SL communication using the second beam.

12. The UE device of any of claims 10-11, wherein the request is an inter-UE coordination (IUC) request; and the first set of SL transmission resources is determined based on the IUC request. The second set of SL transmission resources is a subset of the first set of SL transmission resources.

13. A method of operating a user equipment (UE) device, comprising: determining a first beam of a plurality of beams of the UE device, the first beam for a target UE device sidelink (SL) transmission; based on the first beam, determining at least one undesired SL resource that is not desired for SL communication using the first beam; receiving, from the target UE device, a first set of SL transmission resources, the first set of SL transmission resources indicating at least one first SL resource for transmission to the target UE device; based on the first set of SL transmission resources and the determined at least one undesired SL resource, determining a second set of SL transmission resources, the second set of SL transmission resources indicating at least one second SL resource; and transmitting, to at least one radio access network (RAN) node, the second set of SL transmission resources.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: receiving, from the RAN node, a SL grant based on the transmitted second set of SL transmission resources, the SL grant indicating at least one allocated SL transmission resource selected from the at least one second SL resource; and transmitting, to the target UE device, SL data on the at least one allocated SL transmission resource using the first beam.

15. The method of any of claims 13-14, further comprising: transmitting, to the target UE device, a request, the request indicating a second beam of a plurality of beams of the target UE device for SL reception from the UE device, wherein the request enables the target UE device to, determine the first set of SL transmission resources based on measurements using the indicated second beam.

16. The method of any of claims 13-15, wherein the second set of SL transmission resources is a subset of the first set of SL transmission resources; the first set of SL transmission resources includes the at least one undesired SL resource; and the second set of SL transmission resources does not include the at least one undesired SL resource.

17. The method of any of claims 13-16, wherein determining the at least one undesired SL resource that is not desired for SL communication using the first beam further comprises: detecting, using the first beam, at least one radio transmission from at least one non-target UE device; and based on the detected at least one radio transmission, determining the at least one undesired SL resource.

18. The method of any of claims 13-17, wherein determining the second set of SL transmission resources further comprises: measuring, using the first beam, a received signal strength of the at least one radio transmission from the at least one non-target UE device; determining whether the measured signal strength is above a received signal strength threshold; ​ based on a result of the determining, updating the first set of SL transmission resources by excluding the at least one undesired SL resource from the first set of SL transmission resources; and setting the updated first set of SL transmission resources as the second set of SL transmission resources.

19. The method of any one of claims 13-18, wherein the at least one radio transmission from the at least one non-target UE device comprises an inter-UE coordination (IUC) message indicating the at least one undesired SL resource, the at least one undesired SL resource being determined by the at least one non-target UE device.

20. The method of any one of claims 13-19, wherein the at least one radio transmission from the at least one non-target UE device is a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) transmission; and the method further comprises, determining the at least one undesired SL resource based on the PSFCH transmission and a mapping between PSFCH resources and physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) resources.

Images