Sidelink beam reporting mechanism

Abstract

To provide a wireless communication system including a transmitting (Tx) UE that communicates with a receiving (Rx) UE using sidelink (SL) communication.SOLUTION: In a system for a sidelink (SL) beam reporting mechanism between a transmitting (Tx) UE and a receiving (Rx) UE, the TxUE transmits a combined physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH) / physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) with one or more channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) on corresponding beams to the RxUE. The RxUE performs beam measurement on the CSI-RS and transmits a beam report based on the measurement to the TxUE. To configure various aspects of beam reporting between the TxUE and the RxUE, to trigger SL beam reporting between the TxUE and the RxUE, and to perform SL beam reporting for a zone identifier (ID) for one of the TxUE and the RxUE.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates generally to wireless communication systems, including wireless communication systems that include a transmitting (Tx) UE that communicates with a receiving (Rx) UE using sidelink (SL) communication. [Background technology]

[0002] Wireless mobile communication technologies use various standards and protocols to transmit data between base stations and wireless communication devices. Wireless communication system standards and protocols can include, for example, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) (e.g., 4G), 3GPP new radio (NR) (e.g., 5G), and the IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless local area networks (WLANs), commonly known to industry groups as Wi-Fi®.

[0003] As contemplated by 3GPP®, different wireless communication system standards and protocols may use various radio access networks (RANs) for communication between base stations of the RAN (sometimes commonly referred to as RAN nodes, network nodes, or simply nodes) and wireless communication devices known as user equipment (UE). 3GPP RANs may include, for example, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) RAN (GERAN), Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), and / or Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN).

[0004] Each RAN can perform communications between base stations and UEs using one or more radio access technologies (RATs). For example, a GERAN implements a GSM and / or EDGE RAT, a UTRAN implements a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) RAT or other 3GPP RAT, an E-UTRAN implements an LTE RAT (sometimes simply referred to as LTE), and an NG-RAN implements an NR RAT (sometimes referred to herein as a 5G RAT, a 5G NR RAT, or simply NR). In certain deployments, an E-UTRAN can also implement an NR RAT. In certain deployments, an NG-RAN can also implement an LTE RAT.

[0005] A base station used by a RAN may correspond to that RAN. An example of an E-UTRAN base station is an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) Node B (also commonly referred to as an evolved Node B, enhanced Node B, eNode B, or eNB). An example of an NG-RAN base station is a next-generation Node B (sometimes referred to as a gNode B or gNB).

[0006] The RAN provides communication services with external entities via a connection to a core network (CN). For example, the E-UTRAN can utilize the evolved packet core (EPC), and the NG-RAN can utilize the 5G core network (5GC).

[0007] The 5G NR frequency band can be divided into two or more different frequency ranges. For example, Frequency Range 1 (FR1) may include frequency bands operating in sub-6 GHz frequencies, some of which may be used by previous standards and potentially extend to cover new frequency bands providing 410 MHz to 7125 MHz. Frequency Range 2 (FR2) may include the 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz frequency band. Note that in some systems, FR2 may also include the 52.6 GHz to 71 GHz (or greater) frequency band. The millimeter wave (mmWave) range bands in FR2 may have a smaller range than the FR1 bands, but the available bandwidth is potentially wider. Those skilled in the art will understand that these frequency ranges, provided as examples, may vary over time or by region.

[0008] To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit(s) of a reference number refers to the number of the figure in which that element is first introduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a method for SL CSI-RS acquisition between a Tx UE and an Rx UE according to one embodiment.

[0010] [Figure 2] 1 shows a diagram of aperiodic triggering of SL beam reporting according to an embodiment described herein.

[0011] [Figure 3] 1 shows a diagram of periodic (semi-persistent) triggering of SL beam reporting according to an embodiment described herein.

[0012] [Figure 4] 1 shows a diagram of periodic (semi-persistent) triggering of SL beam reporting according to an embodiment described herein.

[0013] [Figure 5] 1 shows a diagram of event-based triggering of SL beam reporting according to embodiments described herein.

[0014] [Figure 6] 1 is a visualization of a set of zones using zone identifiers 0-15 that may be defined by a resource pool configuration for an SL resource pool used by Tx UEs and Rx UEs to perform SL communications, according to one embodiment.

[0015] [Figure 7] 10 illustrates a method for a Tx UE to perform sidelink communication with an Rx UE according to one embodiment.

[0016] [Figure 8] 10 illustrates a method for a Tx UE to perform sidelink communication with an Rx UE according to one embodiment.

[0017] [Figure 9] 10 illustrates a method for a Tx UE to perform sidelink communication with an Rx UE according to one embodiment.

[0018] [Figure 10] 10 illustrates a method for a Tx UE to perform sidelink communication with an Rx UE according to one embodiment.

[0019] [Figure 11] 10 illustrates a method for a Tx UE to perform sidelink communication with an Rx UE according to one embodiment.

[0020] [Figure 12] 10 illustrates a method for a Tx UE to perform sidelink communication with an Rx UE according to one embodiment.

[0021] [Figure 13] 1 illustrates a method for an Rx UE to perform SL communication with a Tx UE according to one embodiment.

[0022] [Figure 14] 10 illustrates a method for a Tx UE to perform sidelink communication with an Rx UE according to one embodiment.

[0023] [Figure 15] 1 illustrates a method for an Rx UE to perform SL communication with a Tx UE according to one embodiment.

[0024] [Figure 16] 1 illustrates an example architecture of a wireless communication system according to embodiments disclosed herein.

[0025] [Figure 17] 1 illustrates a system for performing signaling between a first wireless device and a second wireless device according to embodiments disclosed herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Various embodiments are described in terms of a UE. However, reference to a UE is provided merely for purposes of illustration. The illustrative embodiments may be used with any electronic component, configured with hardware, software, and / or firmware, capable of establishing a connection to a network and exchanging information and data with the network. Accordingly, a UE as described herein is used to represent any suitable electronic component.

[0027] Sidelink (SL) CSI Acquisition Embodiment In embodiments herein, sidelink (SL) communication between two or more UEs is described. SL communication as described herein contemplates communication between two or more UEs without the use of an intermediate RAN device, such as a base station. For example, SL communication as described herein includes cases where signaling generated by a first UE is received (directly) at and used by a second UE.

[0028] 1 illustrates a method for SL Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) acquisition between a transmitting (Tx) UE 102 and a receiving (Rx) UE 104 according to one embodiment. As used herein, the term "Tx UE" may refer to a first UE that transmits a combined Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH) / Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH) to the Rx UE. Accordingly, as used herein, the term "Rx UE" may refer to a second UE that receives such a combined PSSCH / PSSCH.

[0029] 1, the Tx UE 102 is shown as part of a first mobile system 106 (e.g., a moving vehicle), and the Rx UE 104 is shown as part of a second mobile system 108. This is given by way of example and not limitation. In other words, it is contemplated that one or both of the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104 may be UEs within or not on a mobile system.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1 , a first SL transmission 110 may be sent from the Tx UE 102 to the Rx UE 104. This transmission may include CSI-RS in a combined PSCCH / PSSCH. The first SL transmission 110 may be a unicast transmission between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104. The first SL transmission 110 may have been previously configured between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104 using SL communication (e.g., PC5-Radio Resource Control (PC5-RRC) signaling with configuration sent from the Tx UE 102 to the Rx UE 104). Such configuration information may enable or disable the use of CSI-RS.

[0031] The Rx UE 104 may measure the CSI-RS upon receiving the first SL transmission 110. The Rx UE 104 may further transmit a second SL transmission 112 including a CSI report in the (second) combined PSCCH / PSSCH, whereby information regarding the CSI-RS (corresponding to the measurement of the CSI-RS by the Rx UE 104) is transmitted by the Rx UE 104 back to the Tx UE 102. The Tx UE 102 may trigger this CSI report using sidelink control information (SCI) included in the combined PSCCH / PSSCH that includes the CSI-RS.

[0032] In such an embodiment, the location of the CSI-RS in the time domain may be understood by the Rx UE 104 to be the slot in which the CSI trigger is received from the Tx UE 102. The location of the CSI-RS in the frequency domain may be understood to be within a physical resource block (PRB) scheduled for use by the combined PSCCH / PSSCH in that same slot.

[0033] In some embodiments, the described triggering behavior for SCI reporting may be aperiodic in nature. The content of the CSI report may include one or more of a rank indicator (RI) and a channel quality index (CQI), which may then be used by the Tx UE 102 for link adaptation and / or multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) precoding for subsequent SL transmissions from the Tx UE 102 to the Rx UE 104 (as shown in FIG. 1). The CQI value may be generated, for example, based on a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) table known at the Rx UE 104. The RI and / or CQI value may be reported in a medium access control element (MAC CE) carried with the combined PSCCH / PSSCH of the second SL transmission 112.

[0034] The Tx UE 102 may not issue multiple CSI triggers within a single CSI reporting window of a unicast session between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104. A latency bound for CSI reporting (e.g., controlling the CSI reporting window length for CSI triggers) may be signaled from the Tx UE 102 to the Rx UE 102 (e.g., via PC5-RRC signaling) so that the Rx UE 104 can ensure that the Rx UE 104 transmits a CSI report to the Tx UE 104 within the CSI reporting window.

[0035] An embodiment of Uu beam reporting In some embodiments, a UE may perform Layer 1 (L1) Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) (L1-RSRP) reporting with a base station. In such cases, one or more channel measurement resources (CMRs) in the form of one or more synchronization signaling blocks (SSBs) and / or one or more CSI-RSs (e.g., a 1-port CSI-RS for beam management (BM) and / or a 2-port CSI-RS for the BM) may be included in a transmission from the base station to the UE. Each of these CMRs may correspond to (e.g., may be transmitted on) a beam used by the base station to communicate with the UE. The L1-RSRPs of these CMRs may be measured by the UE. The UE may then generate an L1-RSRP report related to the measured L1-RSRPs of one or more of the CMRs and transmit this report to the base station. In an embodiment, up to 64 CMRs may be configured to be reported in one L1-RSRP report.

[0036] Furthermore, both group-based and / or non-group-based L1-RSRP reporting may be supported. For group-based L1-RSRP reporting, L1-RSRP for two CMRs may be reported, where the UE can simultaneously receive each CMR on its corresponding beam. For non-group-based L1-RSRP reporting, the number of CMRs for which L1-RSRP measurements should be included in the L1-RSRP report may be configured by an RRC parameter (e.g., nrofReportedRsForRSRP, with possible values ​​of 1, 2, 3, or 4).

[0037] Such L1-RSRP report(s) may be triggered by the base station. Aperiodic L1-RSRP reports may be triggered using Downlink Control Information (DCI) format 0_1 ​​or 0_2. Semi-persistent L1-RSRP reports may be triggered by the MAC CE. Periodic L1-RSRP reports may be configured by the RRC.

[0038] In some embodiments, the UE may perform L1 signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR) (L1-SINR) reporting with the base station. In such cases, one or more CMRs in the form of one or more SSBs and / or one or more CSI-RSs (e.g., 1-port CSI-RS for the BM and / or 2-port CSI-RS for the BM) may be included in the transmission from the base station to the UE. Each of these CMRs may correspond to a beam used by the base station to communicate with the UE. Furthermore, the interference measurement resource (IMR) used for these CMRs may include a channel state information interference measurement resource (CSI-IM) (e.g., a zero-power (ZP) CSI-RS). In some embodiments, a 1-port non-zero-power (NZP) CSI-RS with a density of three resource elements per resource block may be used as the IMR. In these cases, there may be no interference emulation, and the UE may only be required to measure the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) as interference. The UE may calculate interference based on the RSSI for both CSI-IM and NZP CSI-RS / NZP-IMR.

[0039] Thus, the L1-SINR of a CMR (relative to an IMR) may be measured by the UE. The UE may then generate an L1-SINR report related to the measured L1-SINR of one or more of the CMRs and transmit this report to the base station. In an embodiment, up to 64 CMRs may be configured to be reported in one L1-SINR report.

[0040] Furthermore, both group-based and / or non-group-based L1-SINR reporting may be supported. For group-based L1-SINR reporting, L1-SINR for two CMRs may be reported, and the UE can receive each CMR simultaneously on its corresponding beam. For non-group-based L1-SINR reporting, the number of CMRs for which L1-SINR measurements should be included in the L1-SINR report may be configured by an RRC parameter (e.g., nrofReportedRsForSINR, with possible values ​​of 1, 2, 3, or 4).

[0041] SL Beam Report Implementation 1, embodiments disclosed herein describe aspects of SL beam reporting between Tx UE 102 and Rx UE 104. Such embodiments may go beyond RI / CQI reporting as previously described with respect to FIG. 1 in that the first SL transmission 110 is configured to enable Rx UE 104 to (also) report information that is specific to one or more of multiple Tx beams used by Tx UE 102.

[0042] For example, in some embodiments, the Tx UE 102 may generate and transmit one or more CSI-RS as part of the first SL transmission 110 (e.g., in the combined PSCCH / PSSCH). Each of these one or more CSI-RS may be transmitted within the combined PSCCH / PSSCH on a corresponding one of one or more Tx beams of the beamforming used by the Tx UE 102 used to communicate with the Rx UE 104 (note that such beam on which one or more CSI-RS are transmitted may be different from the Tx beam used by the Tx UE 102 to transmit the (remainder of) the combined PSCCH / PSSCH itself). Once received at the Rx UE 104, the one or more CSI-RS may be measured by the Rx UE 104. Examples of measurements that may be made include measuring the RSRP of the one or more CSI-RS and / or measuring the SINR for the CSI-RS, etc.

[0043] The first SL transmission 110 may include an SCI that triggers beam measurements and beam reporting by the Rx UE 104 based on the CSI-RS provided in the first SL transmission 110.

[0044] The second SL transmission 112 includes a CSI report corresponding to multiple CSI-RSs based on measurements of the multiple CSI-RSs at the Rx UE 104. For example, measured L1-RSRP and / or L1-SINR values ​​for one, some, or all of the multiple CSI-RSs may be included in this CSI report. Alternatively or additionally, an indication of one, some, or all of the X strongest CSI-RSs (e.g., the CSI-RSs with the highest measured L1-RSRP and / or L1-SINR values) may be provided.

[0045] Because of the correspondence between the beams used to transmit the CSI-RS and the CSI-RS itself, the Tx UE 102 is enabled (upon receiving the second SL transmission 112) to draw a conclusion regarding one or more of the beams. For example, if the second SL transmission 112 includes a CSI report indicating that a given CSI-RS of the one or more CSI-RS corresponds to the strongest / highest RSRP / SINR measurement, the Tx UE 102 can accordingly conclude that the beam used to transmit the given CSI-RS to the Rx UE 104 is the best beam to use for future transmissions to the Rx UE 104.

[0046] In this specification, this CSI report containing CSI-RS related information that can be associated by Tx UE 102 to one or more individual beams in the manner described herein may be referred to as a "beam report," and accordingly, an instance of such a CSI report may be referred to herein as a "beam report."

[0047] Embodiments for Configuring SL Beam Measurement and Beam Reporting In some embodiments, the configuration between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104 for beam measurements and / or beam reporting over SL may follow SL signaling (e.g., PC5-RRC messages) between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104. In some embodiments, the configuration between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104 for beam measurements and / or beam reporting over SL may be configured and / or pre-configured (e.g., by a base station or by a peer UE) in either / both the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104 according to the resource pool being used for SL communication.

[0048] In some embodiments, upper layer signaling is transmitted by the Tx UE 102 to the Rx UE 104 to enable and / or disable beam measurements and beam reporting by the Rx UE 104. In such embodiments, the upper layer signaling may control the beam measurements and beam reporting of the Rx UE 104 according to one or more parameters found in one or more information elements (IEs) of the upper layer signaling. For example, it is contemplated that one or more of the “SidelinkPreconfigNR” IE, the “SL-ConfigCommonNR” IE, and the “SL-PHY-MAC-RLC” IE may include a parameter that indicates to the UE whether to perform beam measurements and beam reporting. It is contemplated that the parameter from such an IE that the Rx UE 104 uses to determine whether to perform beam measurements and beam reporting may be, for example, an sl-CSI acquisition parameter (as may already be present in such an IE). Alternatively, another parameter (e.g., sl-BM parameter, sl-L1RSRP acquisition and / or sl-L1sinr acquisition parameter, or some other type of parameter) may be used within such IE to provide this indication to the Rx UE 104. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that using this parameter in this manner may also enable one of CQI reporting and RI reporting in parallel / along with / in addition to beam reporting.

[0049] In some embodiments, higher layer signaling is sent by the Tx UE 102 to the Rx UE 104 to configure beam measurements and beam reporting to be performed by the Rx UE 104. For example, an IE in the higher layer signaling may have a parameter indicating whether the beam measurements include SINR measurements or RSRP measurements. In such a case, the "SL-CSI Reporting Config" IE may include a reportQuantity parameter that selects whether RSRP or SINR measurements are used. This reportQuantity parameter may also be used to indicate that RI and / or CQI values ​​should be reported.

[0050] As another example, an IE of higher layer signaling may specify one or more time and frequency locations for one or more CSI-RS in the combined PSCCH / PSSCH to be received, which are to be used for beam measurement and beam reporting. In such a case, the "SL-CSI-RS-Config" IE may contain this information.

[0051] As another example, one or more IEs in the higher layer signaling may specify one or more identifiers (IDs) that identify multiple CSI-RSs in a slot to be used for beam measurement. For example, each of the one or more "SL-CSI Report Config" IEs may include multiple CSI-RS resource IDs and / or one or more CSI-RS resource set IDs corresponding to the desired CSI-RSs for identification purposes.

[0052] As another example, the IE of the upper layer signaling may specify one or more of a periodicity associated with beam measurements and beam reports, a timer associated with beam measurements and beam reports, an indication of a trigger event for beam measurements and beam reports, and a reporting configuration identifier (ID) corresponding to the beam measurements and beam reports.

[0053] In some embodiments, upper layer signaling is transmitted by the Tx UE 102 to the Rx UE 104 to indicate a latency bound for beam reporting by the Rx UE 104. This latency bound may represent the maximum amount of time allowed between a transmission (e.g., the combined PSCCH / PSSCH) containing a trigger for a beam report (e.g., as may be found in the CSI of the combined PSCCH / PSSCH) and the transmission of the corresponding beam report back to the Tx UE 102. Thus, the Rx UE 104 may be enabled to ensure that the triggered beam report is transmitted to the Tx UE 102 within this amount of time.

[0054] This latency bound may be given in terms of a number of slots. This latency bound may be found in the "RRCReconfigurationSidelink" IE. In some cases, the sl-LatencyBoundCSI reporting parameter may be used to indicate this latency bound (in addition to indicating a latency bound for any CQI / RI reporting). In some cases, a different parameter may be used instead. For example, the sl-LatencyBoundRSRP reporting or sl-LatencyBoundSINR reporting parameters may be used.

[0055] Embodiments for Triggering SL Beam Reporting 2 shows a diagram 200 of aperiodic triggering of SL beam reporting in accordance with embodiments described herein. The Tx UE 102 may transmit a combined PSCCH / PSSCH 202 to the Rx UE 104. As shown, this combined PSCCH / PSSCH 202 may include an SCI that triggers the SL beam report along with one or more CSI-RS to be reported. The Rx UE 104 may correspondingly measure the one or more CSI-RS. Then, in response to the SCI in the combined PSCCH / PSSCH 202 that triggered the beam report, the Rx UE 104 may transmit a beam report 204 to the Tx UE 102 corresponding to the measurements of the one or more CSI-RS in the combined PSCCH / PSSCH 202. As shown, the beam report 204 may occur within a beam report latency bound 206 that may be specified in higher layer signaling between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104 in the manner described above.

[0056] It should be noted that while FIG. 2 illustrates the beam report latency limit 206 as being measured from the end of the combined PSCCH / PSSCH 202, it is contemplated that the beam report latency limit (e.g., as used in various embodiments herein) may otherwise be measured from the beginning of the combined PSCCH / PSSCH, may be measured from the beginning or end of the slot carrying the combined PSCCH / PSSCH, etc.

[0057] The SCI of the combined PSCCH / PSSCH 202 may include an indication for the Rx UE 104 that one or more CSI-RSs were transmitted within the combined PSCCH / PSSCH 202. This SCI may further indicate to the Rx UE 104 an SL CSI reporting configuration ID that identifies an SL CSI reporting configuration. Based on the identified SL CSI reporting configuration, the Rx UE 104 may determine the location of the one or more CSI-RSs within the combined PSCCH / PSSCH 202 and / or an appropriate method of reporting for the one or more CSI-RSs in the beam report 204. For example, the SL CSI reporting configuration may correspond to a case where the beam report 204 should be based on L1-RSRP measurements of one or more CSI-RSs, or may correspond to a case where the beam report 204 should be based on L1-SINR measurements of one or more CSI-RSs, etc.

[0058] In some cases, the SL CSI reporting configuration ID is indicated in stage 1 of the SCI of the combined PSCCH / PSSCH 202. A reserved bit of the stage 1 SCI may be used to indicate the SL CSI reporting configuration ID. The indicated SL CSI reporting configuration ID may be for one of multiple (e.g., up to four) SL CSI reporting configurations supported between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104.

[0059] In some cases, the SL CSI reporting configuration ID is indicated in stage 2 of the SCI of the combined PSCCH / PSSCH 202. In some of these cases, the SCI may be format 2-A. In such cases, the CSI_request field may be used to trigger both SL CQI / RI and / or SL beam measurements and beam reporting. In some of these cases, a different SCI format may be used (e.g., format 2-D). In such cases, it may be that the CSI_request field is used to trigger SL CQI / RI reporting, and a separate field (such as RSRP_request or SINR_request) may be used to trigger SL beam measurements and beam reporting.

[0060] In some embodiments, the SL CSI reporting configuration ID is included in the combined PSCCH / PSSCH 202 by indicating one or more CSI-RS resource sets corresponding to one or more CSI-RSs to identify one or more CSI-RSs for beam management and beam reporting. In such a case, any CSI-RSs within the same CSI-RS resource set may be transmitted by the Tx UE 102 using the same antenna port. Such an embodiment may be useful, for example, when the Rx UE 104 performs its own Rx beam refinement using one or more CSI-RSs.

[0061] In some embodiments, one or more CSI-RS for beam management and beam reporting included in the combined PSCCH / PSSCH 202 may include CSI-RS repetitions (if two or more identical CSI-RS are used). For example, one or more CSI-RS may include CSI-RS repetitions across several (two or more) symbols. Such an embodiment may be useful, for example, when the Rx UE 104 uses one or more CSI-RS to perform its own Rx beam refinement.

[0062] 3 shows a diagram 300 of periodic (semi-persistent) triggering of SL beam reporting according to embodiments described herein. A combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmission with one or more CSI-RS that may be used for beam measurement and beam reporting may be configured to be transmitted periodically between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104. In FIG. 3, a first combined PSCCH / PSSCH 302, a second combined PSCCH / PSSCH 304, and a third combined PSCCH / PSSCH 306 of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions configured between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104 are shown. These may be transmitted according to a combined PSCCH / PSSCH periodicity 318.

[0063] FIG. 3 illustrates a case where an SCI separate from a periodically configured combined PSCCH / PSSCH having one or more CSI-RS for beam measurement and beam reporting is used to activate and / or deactivate SL beam reporting by the Rx UE 104. For example, a first SCI 308 is used to activate beam reporting at the Rx UE 104. The first SCI 308 may indicate the timing of a first of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions for which beam reporting is activated using a time gap indication. In FIG. 3, this indicated timing corresponds to the timing of the first combined PSCCH / PSSCH 302. Thus, the Rx UE 104 prepares and transmits a first beam report 312 to the Tx UE 102 based on its measurements of one or more CSI-RS found in the first combined PSCCH / PSSCH 302. The first beam report 312 may be within the beam report latency limit 316 for the first combined PSCCH / PSSCH 302 indicated by higher layer signaling between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104, as described above.

[0064] Additionally, consistent with the enabling in the first SCI 308, the Rx UE 104 also prepares and transmits a second beam report 314 to the Tx UE 102 based on its measurements of one or more CSI-RS found in the second combined PSCCH / PSSCH 304. The second beam report 314 may be within a beam report latency limit applicable to the second combined PSCCH / PSSCH 304 (not shown, but which may be the same as the beam report latency limit 316 configured by higher layer signaling previously described).

[0065] As shown, after the second beam report 314, the Tx UE 102 then transmits a second SCI 310 that deactivates SL beam reporting by the Rx UE 104. The first SCI 308 may use a time gap indication to indicate the timing of a first of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions at which beam reporting is deactivated. In FIG. 3, this indicated timing corresponds to the timing of the third combined PSCCH / PSSCH 306. Thus, the Rx UE 104 does not prepare and / or transmit to the Tx UE 102 a beam report corresponding to the third combined PSCCH / PSSCH 306 that occurs after this second SCI 310.

[0066] 3, a combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmission configured to be transmitted periodically between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104 may include only one or more CSI-RS that may be used for beam measurements and beam reporting during the period in which the beam reporting is being prepared and transmitted by the Rx UE 104. Otherwise, the Tx UE 102 may not include the CSI-RS in the combined PSCCH / PSSCH outside of this period.

[0067] 4 shows a diagram 400 of periodic (semi-persistent) triggering of SL beam reporting according to embodiments described herein. A combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmission with one or more CSI-RS that may be used for beam measurement and beam reporting may be configured to be transmitted periodically between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104. In FIG. 4, a first combined PSCCH / PSSCH 402, a second combined PSCCH / PSSCH 404, and a third combined PSCCH / PSSCH 406 of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions configured between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104 are shown. These may be transmitted according to a combined PSCCH / PSSCH periodicity 414.

[0068] 4 illustrates a case where a periodically configured combined PSCCH / PSSCH SCI having one or more CSI-RS for beam measurement and beam reporting is used to activate and / or deactivate SL beam reporting by the Rx UE 104. For example, the first combined PSCCH / PSSCH SCI 402 is used to indicate activation of beam reporting at the Rx UE 104. Thus, the Rx UE 104 prepares and transmits a first beam report 408 to the Tx UE 102 based on its measurements of one or more CSI-RS found in the first combined PSCCH / PSSCH 402. The first beam report 408 may be within the beam report latency limit 412 for the first combined PSCCH / PSSCH 402 indicated by higher layer signaling between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104, as described above.

[0069] Additionally, consistent with the activation in the first combined PSCCH / PSSCH 402, the Rx UE 104 also prepares and transmits a second beam report 410 to the Tx UE 102 based on its measurements of one or more CSI-RS found in the second combined PSCCH / PSSCH 404. The second beam report 410 may be within a beam report latency bound applicable to the second combined PSCCH / PSSCH 404 (not shown, but which may be the same as the beam report latency bound 412 configured by higher layer signaling previously described).

[0070] Finally, the SCI of the first combined PSCCH / PSSCH 402 is used to indicate deactivation of beam reporting at the Rx UE 104. Thus, the Rx UE 104 does not prepare and / or transmit a beam report to the Tx UE 102 corresponding to the third combined PSCCH / PSSCH 406.

[0071] 5 shows a diagram 500 of event-based triggering of SL beam reporting according to embodiments described herein. A combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmission with one or more CSI-RS that may be used for beam measurement and beam reporting may be configured to be transmitted periodically between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104. In FIG. 5, a first combined PSCCH / PSSCH 502, a second combined PSCCH / PSSCH 504, and a third combined PSCCH / PSSCH 506 of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions configured between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104 are shown. These may be transmitted according to a combined PSCCH / PSSCH periodicity 512.

[0072] Diagram 500 shows that a first combined PSCCH / PSSCH 502 and a second combined PSCCH / PSSCH 504 are transmitted on a first beam (“Beam 1”) (e.g., Beam 1 is the serving beam for the first combined PSCCH / PSSCH 502 and the second combined PSCCH / PSSCH 504), and a third combined PSCCH / PSSCH 506 is transmitted on a second beam (“Beam 2”) (e.g., Beam 2 is the serving beam for the third combined PSCCH / PSSCH 506). Note that any description herein of a combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmitted on a particular “serving” beam should be understood to refer to the portion of the combined PSCCH / PSSCH other than any CSI-RS of the combined PSCCH / PSSCH that is transmitted on a (different) corresponding beam to enable beam measurements and beam reporting as described herein. The "serving beam" of the combined PSCCH / PSSCH in such a case may be, for example, the beam used to transmit the SCI of the combined PSCCH / PSSCH and / or the beam used to transmit the part of the combined PSCCH / PSSCH that is not the CSI-RS (note that in some cases these may be the same beam).

[0073] 5, the Rx UE 104 transmits a beam report 508 in response to an event detected at the Rx UE 104 based on one or more beam measurements taken on one or more combined PSCCH / PSSCHs. For example, the beam report 508 may be transmitted by the Rx UE 104 to the Tx UE 102 in response to an event detected based on beam measurements on a second combined PSCCH / PSSCH 504. Note that the beam report 508 may be within the beam report latency bound 510 for the first combined PSCCH / PSSCH 502 indicated by upper layer signaling between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104, as described above.

[0074] A first example of an event that triggers the beam report 508 may be that the measured quality (e.g., L1-RSRP and / or L1-SINR) of the serving beam (e.g., beam 1) of the second combined PSCCH / PSSCH 504 falls below (or is below) a threshold. Thus, the beam report 508 may indicate to the Tx UE 102 that this serving beam is below (or is below) the threshold.

[0075] A second example of an event that triggers the beam report 508 may be that the measured quality (e.g., L1-RSRP and / or L1-SINR) of a non-serving beam (e.g., a beam other than beam 1) of the second combined PSCCH / PSSCH 504 exceeds (or is equal to or greater than) a threshold. Thus, the beam report 508 may indicate to the Tx UE 102 that this non-serving beam exceeds (or is equal to or greater than) a threshold.

[0076] A third example of an event that triggers the beam report 508 may be that the measured quality (e.g., L1-RSRP and / or L1-SINR) of a non-serving beam (e.g., a beam other than beam 1) for the second combined PSCCH / PSSCH 504 is greater than (or equal to) an offset amount than the second measured quality of the serving beam (e.g., beam 1) for the second combined PSCCH / PSSCH 504. Thus, the beam report 508 may indicate to the Tx UE 102 that this non-serving beam is better than the serving beam by at least the offset amount (or at least greater than the offset amount).

[0077] A fourth example of an event that triggers the beam report 508 may be that the measured quality of a serving beam (e.g., beam 1) of the second combined PSCCH / PSSCH 504 falls below (or is below) a first threshold and a second measured quality of another beam (e.g., a beam other than beam 1) that is not the current serving beam of the second combined PSCCH / PSSCH 504 exceeds (or is above) a second threshold. Thus, the beam report 508 may indicate to the Tx UE 102 that the measured quality of the serving beam falls below (or is below) the first threshold and that the second measured quality of the non-serving beam exceeds (or is above) the second threshold.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 5, based on the information provided in the beam report 508, the Tx UE 102 switches the serving beam for the combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmission from the old beam (beam 1) to another beam (beam 2) (e.g., if a new beam can be reported in the beam report 508, and if the beam report 508 includes information about the new beam in the manner described above).

[0079] Note that the Rx UE 104 may also, in some embodiments, switch its Rx beam to more closely correspond to the transmission direction of the new Tx beam to be used by the Tx UE 102. This may be based on using multiple candidate Rx beams along with the new Tx beam, with the final selected Rx beam corresponding to the strongest measurement quality value for the Tx beam, for example, as described.

[0080] The Rx UE 104 may determine to check one or more of the described events based on the resource pool being used for SL communications between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104. For example, the use of a selected event may be based on a configuration (e.g., received from the Tx UE 102) corresponding to a particular resource pool and / or a pre-configuration of the Rx UE 104 corresponding to a particular resource pool.

[0081] In other cases, the Rx UE 104 may decide to check one or more of the described events based on a received configuration (e.g., in PC5-RRC signaling from the Tx UE 102). Such a received configuration may not (necessarily) relate to the resource pool being used for SL communications between the Tx UE 102 and the Rx UE 104.

[0082] Embodiments for SL Beam Reporting Using UE Zone Information 6 is a visualization 600 of a set of zones using zone IDs 0-15 that may be defined by a resource pool configuration for the SL resource pool used by Tx UE 102 and Rx UE 104 to perform SL communications, according to one embodiment. Based on the resource pool configuration, each of Tx UE 102 and / or Rx UE 104 may be able to determine its own location among all of the zones (e.g., may be able to determine the zone ID for the zone in which it currently resides). The zone information may be used within the SL beam reporting process, as described herein.

[0083] In a first embodiment, the Tx UE 102 may determine its own location (e.g., as within a zone). The Tx UE 102 may also receive from the Rx UE 104 a zone ID for the zone in which the Rx UE 104 resides. Based on its own location and the zone ID for the Rx UE 104, the Tx UE 102 may determine one or more beams for the Rx UE 104 to measure. These beams may be one or more beams that the Tx UE 102 determines and are expected to point to the zone ID for the Rx UE 104 from the location of the Tx UE 102. The Tx UE 102 may therefore transmit a combined PSCCH / PSSCH including one or more CSI-RS corresponding to (e.g., on) these one or more determined beams. The Rx UE 104 may respond with a beam report for the one or more beams.

[0084] In a second embodiment, the Tx UE 102 may determine its own location (e.g., as within a zone). The Tx UE 102 may also provide the Rx UE 104 with a zone ID for the zone in which the Tx UE 102 resides. The Rx UE 102 may determine one or more beams to report based on its own location and the zone ID of the Tx UE 104. These beams may be one or more beams that the Rx UE 104 determines from the zone ID for the Tx UE 102 to be expected to point to the location of the Rx UE 104. When a combined PSCCH / PSSCH with one or more CSI-RS is transmitted by the Tx UE 102 to the Rx UE 104, the Rx UE 104 may measure the CSI-RS therein. The Rx UE 104 may then send a beam report to the Tx UE 102 reporting on a strong beam from among one or more beams identified based on the zone ID for the Tx UE 102 and the location of the Rx UE 104. In some cases, the measurement of the CSI-RS may involve measuring only the CSI-RS in the combined PSCCH / PSSCH corresponding to the beam previously determined by the Rx UE 104 to be reported.

[0085] Illustrative Embodiments 7 illustrates a method 700 for a Tx UE to perform SL communication with an Rx UE, according to one embodiment. The method 700 includes transmitting 702 upper layer signaling to the Rx UE, the upper layer signaling enabling beam measurement and beam reporting between the Tx UE and the Rx UE.

[0086] The method 700 further includes transmitting 704 one or more reference signals to the Rx UE to be used for beam measurement at the Rx UE.

[0087] The method 700 further includes receiving 706 a beam report from the Rx UE, the beam report corresponding to the beam measurement.

[0088] In some embodiments of method 700, beam measurements and beam reporting are enabled based on parameters in one of a SidelinkPreconfigNR information element, an SL-ConfigCommonNR information element, and an SL-PHY-MAC-RLC information element. In some of these embodiments, the parameters are further configured to enable one of a channel quality index (CQI) reporting and a rank indicator (RI) reporting by the Rx UE.

[0089] 8 illustrates a method 800 for a Tx UE to perform SL communication with an Rx UE, according to one embodiment. The method 800 includes sending 802 upper layer signaling to the Rx UE, where the upper layer signaling configures beam measurements and beam reports between the Tx UE and the Rx UE.

[0090] The method 800 further includes transmitting 804 one or more reference signals to the Rx UE to be used for beam measurement at the Rx UE.

[0091] The method 800 further includes receiving 806 a beam report from the Rx UE, the beam report corresponding to the beam measurement.

[0092] In some embodiments of the method 800, the higher layer signaling includes an information element having a parameter indicating whether the beam measurements comprise SINR measurements or RSRP measurements.

[0093] In some embodiments of method 800, the higher layer signaling includes an information element that specifies one or more time and frequency locations for one or more CSI-RS to be used for beam measurements.

[0094] In some embodiments of the method 800, the higher layer signaling includes an information element that specifies one or more identifiers that identify multiple CSI-RS in the slot to be used for beam measurement.

[0095] In some embodiments of method 800, the upper layer signaling includes information elements specifying one or more of a periodicity associated with beam measurements and beam reporting, a timer associated with beam measurements and beam reporting, an indication of a trigger event for beam measurements and beam reporting, and a reporting configuration ID corresponding to the beam measurements and beam reporting.

[0096] 9 illustrates a method 900 of a Tx user UE for performing SL communication with an Rx UE, according to one embodiment. The method 900 includes sending 902 upper layer signaling to the Rx UE, where the upper layer signaling indicates a latency bound for beam reporting between the Tx UE and the Rx UE.

[0097] The method 900 further includes transmitting 904 one or more reference signals to the Rx UE to be used for beam measurement at the Rx UE.

[0098] The method 900 further includes receiving 906 a beam report from the Rx UE, the beam report corresponding to the beam measurement within the latency bound.

[0099] In some embodiments of the method 900, the latency bound is expressed in terms of a number of slots.

[0100] In some embodiments of the method 900, the latency bound is indicated by a parameter in an RRCReconfigurationSidelink information element of higher layer signaling.

[0101] 10 illustrates a method 1000 of a Tx user UE for performing SL communication with an Rx UE, according to one embodiment. The method 1000 includes transmitting 1002 to the Rx UE a combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmission including an SCI configured to trigger a beam report by the Rx UE and one or more CSI-RS to be used at the Rx UE for beam measurements corresponding to the beam report.

[0102] The method 1000 further includes receiving 1004 a beam report from the Rx UE.

[0103] In some embodiments of the method 1000, the SCI indicates that the combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmission comprises one or more CSI-RS.

[0104] In some embodiments of method 1000, the SCI identifies a CSI reporting configuration that defines how to perform beam measurements and provide beam reporting. In some of these cases, the CSI reporting configuration is indicated using one or more bits in stage 1 of the SCI.

[0105] In some of these cases, the CSI reporting configuration is indicated in stage 2 of the SCI, and the beam reporting is triggered by a field in stage 2 of the SCI. In some such cases, the field is further configured to trigger one of a CQI report and an RI report by the Rx UE.

[0106] In some embodiments of method 1000, each of the one or more CSI-RS belongs to one of one or more CSI-RS resource sets, and each CSI-RS of a given CSI-RS resource set is transmitted on the same antenna port.

[0107] In some embodiments of the method 1000, one or more of the CSI-RS comprises a CSI-RS repetition.

[0108] 11 illustrates a method 1100 of a Tx user UE for performing SL communication with an Rx UE according to one embodiment. The method 1100 includes transmitting 1102 periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions to the Rx UE, where one or more of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions correspond to one or more beam measurements and include one or more CSI-RS to be used at the Rx UE for the one or more beam measurements.

[0109] The method 1100 further includes transmitting 1104 a first SCI to the Rx UE configured to trigger a beam report by the Rx UE.

[0110] The method 1100 further includes receiving 1106 one or more beam reports from the Rx UE, the beam report corresponding to the one or more beam measurements.

[0111] The method 1100 further includes transmitting 1108 a second SCI to the Rx UE configured to disable beam reporting by the Rx UE.

[0112] In some embodiments of the method 1100, the first SCI indicates a first in time timing of one or more of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions corresponding to one or more beam measurements.

[0113] In some embodiments of the method 1100, the second SCI indicates the timing of one of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions that does not correspond to a beam measurement.

[0114] 12 shows a method 1200 of a Tx user UE for performing SL communication with an Rx UE according to one embodiment. The method 1200 includes transmitting 1202 periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions to the Rx UE, one or more of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions corresponding to one or more beam measurements and including one or more CSI-RS to be used at the Rx UE for the one or more beam measurements, a first of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions comprising a first SCI configured to trigger beam reporting by the Rx UE, and a second of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions comprising a second SCI configured to disable beam reporting by the Rx UE.

[0115] The method 1200 further includes receiving 1204 a beam report from the Rx UE, the beam report corresponding to the one or more beam measurements.

[0116] In some embodiments of the method 1200, the first of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions is one of one or more of the periodic combined PSSCH / PSSCH transmissions corresponding to one or more beam measurements.

[0117] 13 illustrates a method 1300 for an Rx UE to perform SL communication with a Tx UE, according to one embodiment. The method 1300 includes receiving 1302 a periodic combined PSSCH / PSSCH transmission corresponding to one or more beam measurements and including one or more CSI-RS usable at the Rx UE for the one or more beam measurements.

[0118] The method 1300 further includes performing 1304 one or more beam measurements corresponding to the periodic combined PSSCH / PSSCH transmission using the one or more CSI-RS.

[0119] The method 1300 further includes determining 1306 that a beam report should be transmitted to the Tx UE based on the trigger event identified according to the one or more beam measurements.

[0120] The method 1300 further includes transmitting 1308 the beam report to the Tx UE.

[0121] In some embodiments of the method 1300, the trigger event is the measured quality of the serving beam falling below a threshold.

[0122] In some embodiments of the method 1300, the trigger event is the measured quality of an inactive beam exceeding a threshold.

[0123] In some embodiments of method 1300, the trigger event is a first measured quality of the first beam being greater than a second measured quality of the serving beam by an offset amount.

[0124] In some embodiments of method 1300, the trigger event is a first measured quality of a serving beam falling below a first threshold and a second measured quality of another beam rising above a second threshold.

[0125] In some embodiments of the method 1300, the trigger event is determined according to a resource pool used for SL communication.

[0126] In some embodiments of the method 1300, the trigger event is configured in the Rx UE via SL RRC signaling performed with the Tx UE.

[0127] 14 illustrates a method 1400 of a Tx user UE for performing SL communication with an Rx UE, according to one embodiment. The method 1400 includes receiving 1402, from the Rx UE, a zone ID of the Rx UE.

[0128] The method 1400 further includes determining 1404 one or more beams for the Rx UE to measure based on the location of the Tx UE and the zone ID for the Rx UE.

[0129] The method 1400 further includes transmitting 1406, to the Rx UE, one or more CSI-RS corresponding to the one or more beams.

[0130] The method 1400 further includes receiving 1408 a beam report for the one or more beams from the Rx UE.

[0131] 15 illustrates a method for an Rx UE to perform SL communication with a Tx UE according to one embodiment. The method 1500 includes receiving 1502, from the Tx UE, a zone ID of the Tx UE.

[0132] The method 1500 further includes performing 1504 beam measurements using the one or more CSI-RS received from the Tx UE.

[0133] The method 1500 further includes selecting 1506 one or more beams for beam reporting based on the beam measurements, the location of the Rx UE, and the zone ID of the Tx UE.

[0134] The method 1500 further includes transmitting 1508 the beam report to the Tx UE.

[0135] Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising means for performing one or more elements of method 700, method 800, method 900, method 1000, method 1100, method 1200, method 1300, method 1400, and / or method 1500. The apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a UE (e.g., one of first wireless device 1702 or second wireless device 1718, which is a UE as described herein).

[0136] Embodiments contemplated herein include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media containing instructions that, upon execution by one or more processors of the electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform one or more elements of method 700, method 800, method 900, method 1000, method 1100, method 1200, method 1300, method 1400, and / or method 1500. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may be, for example, a memory of a UE (e.g., memory 1706 or memory 1722 of one of first wireless device 1702 or second wireless device 1718, which are UEs as described herein).

[0137] Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising logic, modules, or circuitry for performing one or more elements of method 700, method 800, method 900, method 1000, method 1100, method 1200, method 1300, method 1400, and / or method 1500. The apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a UE (e.g., one of first wireless device 1702 or second wireless device 1718, which is a UE as described herein).

[0138] Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus including one or more processors and one or more computer-readable media containing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform one or more elements of method 700, method 800, method 900, method 1000, method 1100, method 1200, method 1300, method 1400, and / or method 1500. The apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a UE (e.g., one of first wireless device 1702 or second wireless device 1718, which is a UE as described herein).

[0139] Embodiments contemplated herein include signals described in or associated with one or more elements of method 700, method 800, method 900, method 1000, method 1100, method 1200, method 1300, method 1400, and / or method 1500.

[0140] Embodiments contemplated herein include a computer program or computer program product including instructions, where execution of the program by a processor causes the processor to perform one or more elements of method 700, method 800, method 900, method 1000, method 1100, method 1200, method 1300, method 1400, and / or method 1500. The processor may be a processor of a UE (such as processor(s) 1704 or processor(s) 1720 of one of first wireless device 1702 or second wireless device 1718, which are UEs as described herein). These instructions may be located, for example, within the processor and / or on a memory of the UE (e.g., memory 1706 or memory 1722 of one of first wireless device 1702 or second wireless device 1718, which are UEs, as described herein).

[0141] 16 illustrates an example architecture of a wireless communication system 1600 according to embodiments disclosed herein. The following description is provided for the example wireless communication system 1600 operating in conjunction with LTE system standards and / or 5G or NR system standards, as provided by the 3GPP technical specifications.

[0142] 16, the wireless communication system 1600 includes a UE 1602 and a UE 1604 (although any number of UEs may be used). In this example, the UEs 1602 and 1604 are shown as smartphones (e.g., handheld touchscreen mobile computing devices capable of connecting to one or more cellular networks), but may comprise any mobile or non-mobile computing devices configured for wireless communication.

[0143] The UEs 1602 and 1604 may be configured to be communicatively coupled to a RAN 1606. In an embodiment, the RAN 1606 may be an NG-RAN, an E-UTRAN, etc. The UEs 1602 and 1604 utilize connections (or channels) with the RAN 1606 (shown as connection 1608 and connection 1610, respectively), each of which comprises a physical communication interface. The RAN 1606 may include one or more base stations, such as base station 1612 and base station 1614, that facilitate the connections 1608 and 1610.

[0144] In this example, connection 1608 and connection 1610 are air interfaces for enabling such communication coupling and may correspond to the RAT(s) used by RAN 1606, such as, for example, LTE and / or NR.

[0145] In some embodiments, the UE 1602 and the UE 1604 can also directly exchange communication data via the sidelink interface 1616. The UE 1604 is configured to access an access point (shown as AP 1618) via a connection 1620, as shown. By way of example, the connection 1620 can include a local wireless connection, such as a connection conforming to any IEEE 802.11 protocol, and the AP 1618 can include a Wi-Fi router. In this example, the AP 1618 can be connected to another network (e.g., the Internet) without going through the CN 1624.

[0146] In an embodiment, the UEs 1602 and 1604 may be configured to communicate with each other or with the base stations 1612 and / or 1614 using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication signals over multi-carrier communication channels according to various communication technologies, such as, but not limited to, an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) communication technology (e.g., for downlink communication) or a single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) communication technology (e.g., for uplink and ProSe or sidelink communication), and the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect. An OFDM signal may include multiple orthogonal subcarriers.

[0147] In some embodiments, all or a portion of the base station 1612 or the base station 1614 may be implemented as one or more software entities executing on a server computer as part of a virtual network. Additionally or in other embodiments, the base station 1612 or the base station 1614 may be configured to communicate with each other via the interface 1622. In embodiments where the wireless communication system 1600 is an LTE system (e.g., where the CN 1624 is the EPC), the interface 1622 may be an X2 interface. The X2 interface may be defined between two or more base stations (e.g., two or more eNBs) connecting to the EPC and / or between two eNBs connecting to the EPC. In embodiments where the wireless communication system 1600 is an NR system (e.g., where the CN 1624 is the 5GC), the interface 1622 may be an Xn interface. The Xn interface may be defined between two or more base stations (e.g., two or more gNBs) connecting to 5GC, between the base station 1612 (e.g., a gNB) and an eNB connecting to 5GC, and / or between two eNBs connecting to 5GC (e.g., the CN 1624).

[0148] The RAN 1606 is shown communicatively coupled to the CN 1624. The CN 1624 may comprise one or more network elements 1626 configured to provide various data and telecommunications services to customers / subscribers (e.g., users of UEs 1602 and 1604) connected to the CN 1624 via the RAN 1606. The components of the CN 1624 may be implemented in a single physical device or separate physical devices, including components for reading and executing instructions from a machine-readable or computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium).

[0149] In an embodiment, the CN 1624 may be an EPC, and the RAN 1606 may be connected to the CN 1624 via an S1 interface 1628. In an embodiment, the S1 interface 1628 may be divided into two parts: an S1 user plane (S1-U) interface that carries traffic data between the base station 1612 or 1614 and a serving gateway (S-GW), and an S1-MME interface that is a signaling interface between the base station 1612 or 1614 and a mobility management entity (MME).

[0150] In an embodiment, the CN 1624 may be a 5GC, and the RAN 1606 may be connected to the CN 1624 via an NG interface 1628. In an embodiment, the NG interface 1628 may be divided into two parts: an NG-User Plane (NG-U) interface that carries traffic data between the base station 1612 or 1614 and a User Plane Function (UPF), and an S1-Control Plane (NG-C) interface that is a signaling interface between the base station 1612 or 1614 and an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF).

[0151] In general, the application server 1630 may be an element that provides applications that use Internet Protocol (IP) bearer resources (e.g., packet-switched data services) with the CN 1624. The application server 1630 may also be configured to support one or more communication services (e.g., VoIP sessions, group communication sessions, etc.) for the UEs 1602 and 1604 via the CN 1624. The application server 1630 may communicate with the CN 1624 via an IP communication interface 1632.

[0152] 17 illustrates a system 1700 for performing signaling 1734 between a first wireless device 1702 and a second wireless device 1718 according to embodiments disclosed herein. The system 1700 may be part of a wireless communication system as described herein. The first wireless device 1702 may be, for example, a UE of the wireless communication system. The second wireless device 1718 may be, for example, a UE of the wireless communication system.

[0153] The first wireless device 1702 may include one or more processor(s) 1704. The processor(s) 1704 may execute instructions to cause various operations of the first wireless device 1702 to be performed, as described herein. The processor(s) 1704 may include, for example, one or more baseband processors implemented using a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a controller, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) device, another hardware device, a firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform the operations described herein.

[0154] The first wireless device 1702 may include a memory 1706. The memory 1706 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions 1708 (e.g., may include instructions being executed by the processor(s) 1704). The instructions 1708 may also be referred to as program code or computer programs. The memory 1706 may also store data used by the processor(s) 1704 and results computed by the processor(s) 1704.

[0155] The first wireless device 1702 may include one or more transceiver(s) 1710, which may include radio frequency (RF) transmitter and / or receiver circuitry using an antenna 1712 of the first wireless device 1702 to facilitate signaling (e.g., signaling 1734) to and / or from the first wireless device 1702 with other devices (e.g., a second wireless device 1718) according to a corresponding RAT.

[0156] The first wireless device 1702 may include one or more antennas 1712 (e.g., one, two, four, or more). In embodiments with multiple antenna(s) 1712, the first wireless device 1702 may exploit the spatial diversity of such multiple antennas 1712 to transmit and / or receive multiple different data streams over the same time and frequency resources. This behavior is sometimes referred to, for example, as multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) behavior (referring to the multiple antennas used at each of the transmitting and receiving devices that enable this aspect). MIMO transmission by the first wireless device 1702 may be achieved in accordance with precoding (or digital beamforming) applied at the first wireless device 1702 that multiplexes data streams across the antennas 1712 according to known or assumed channel characteristics such that each data stream is received at a desired location in the spatial domain (e.g., the location of a receiver associated with that data stream) with an appropriate signal strength relative to the other streams. Some embodiments may use Single-User MIMO (SU-MIMO) methods (in which data streams are all directed to a single receiver) and / or Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) methods (in which individual data streams may be directed to individual (different) receivers in different locations in the spatial domain).

[0157] In particular embodiments having multiple antennas, the first wireless device 1702 may implement analog beamforming techniques, whereby the phases of the signals transmitted by the antennas 1712 are adjusted relatively so that the (joint) transmissions of the antennas 1712 can be directed (this may be referred to as beam steering).

[0158] The first wireless device 1702 may include one or more interfaces 1714. The interfaces 1714 may be used to provide input to or output from the first wireless device 1702. For example, a first wireless device 1702 that is a UE may include an interface 1714 such as a microphone, speaker, touchscreen, buttons, etc. to enable a user of the UE to provide input and / or output to the UE. Other interfaces of such a UE may consist of transmitters, receivers, and other circuitry (e.g., other than the transceiver 1710 / antenna 1712 already described) that enable communication between the UE and other devices and may operate according to known protocols (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.).

[0159] The first wireless device 1702 may include a sidelink module 1716. The sidelink module 1716 may be implemented via hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, the sidelink module 1716 may be implemented as a processor, circuitry, and / or instructions 1708 stored in the memory 1706 and executed by the processor(s) 1704. In some examples, the sidelink module 1716 may be integrated within the processor(s) 1704 and / or transceiver(s) 1710. For example, the sidelink module 1716 may be implemented by a combination of software components (e.g., executed by a DSP or general-purpose processor) and hardware components (e.g., logic gates and circuits) within the processor 1704 or transceiver 1710.

[0160] The sidelink module 1716 may be used for various aspects of the disclosure, such as those of FIGS. 1-15. For example, the sidelink module 1716 may be configured to perform embodiments for configuring various aspects of beam reporting (and associated beam measurements) as described herein, trigger SL beam reporting as described herein, and / or perform SL beam reporting for a zone ID as described herein. The sidelink module 1716 may be configured to define the functionality of one of the Tx UE 102 and / or Rx UE 104 as described herein.

[0161] The second wireless device 1718 may include one or more processor(s) 1720. The processor(s) 1720 may execute instructions such that various operations of the second wireless device 1718 are performed, as described herein. The processor(s) 1720 may include, for example, one or more baseband processors implemented using a CPU, a DSP, an ASIC, a controller, an FPGA device, another hardware device, a firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform the operations described herein.

[0162] The second wireless device 1718 may include a memory 1722. The memory 1722 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions 1724 (e.g., may include instructions being executed by the processor(s) 1720). The instructions 1724 may also be referred to as program code or computer programs. The memory 1722 may also store data used by the processor(s) 1720 and results computed by the processor(s) 1720.

[0163] The second wireless device 1718 may include one or more transceiver(s) 1726 that may include RF transmitter and / or receiver circuitry using an antenna 1728 of the second wireless device 1718 to facilitate signaling (e.g., signaling 1734) to and / or from the second wireless device 1718 with other devices (e.g., the first wireless device 1702) according to a corresponding RAT.

[0164] The second wireless device 1718 may include one or more antennas 1728 (e.g., one, two, four, or more). In embodiments with multiple antennas 1728, the second wireless device 1718 may perform MIMO, digital beamforming, analog beamforming, beamsteering, etc., as described.

[0165] The second wireless device 1718 may include one or more interfaces 1730. The interfaces 1730 may be used to provide input to or output from the second wireless device 1718. For example, the second wireless device 1718, being a UE, may include interfaces 1730 such as a microphone, speaker, touchscreen, buttons, etc. to enable a user of the UE to provide input and / or output to the UE. Other interfaces of such a UE may consist of transmitters, receivers, and other circuitry (e.g., other than the transceiver 1726 / antenna 1728 already described) that enable communication between the UE and other devices and may operate according to known protocols (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.).

[0166] The second wireless device 1718 may include a sidelink module 1732. The sidelink module 1732 may be implemented via hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, the sidelink module 1732 may be implemented as a processor, circuitry, and / or instructions 1724 stored in memory 1722 and executed by the processor(s) 1720. In some examples, the sidelink module 1732 may be integrated within the processor(s) 1720 and / or transceiver(s) 1726. For example, the sidelink module 1732 may be implemented by a combination of software components (e.g., executed by a DSP or general-purpose processor) and hardware components (e.g., logic gates and circuits) within the processor 1720 or transceiver(s) 1726.

[0167] The sidelink module 1732 may be used for various aspects of the disclosure, such as those of FIGS. 1-15. For example, the sidelink module 1732 may be configured to perform embodiments for configuring various aspects of beam reporting (and associated beam measurements) as described herein, trigger SL beam reporting as described herein, and / or perform SL beam reporting for a zone ID as described herein. The sidelink module 1732 may be configured to define functionality for one of the Tx UE 102 and / or Rx UE 104 (e.g., the opposite of the functionality currently defined by the sidelink module 1716) as described herein.

[0168] For one or more embodiments, at least one of the components depicted in one or more of the foregoing figures may be configured to perform one or more operations, techniques, processes, and / or methods as described herein. For example, a baseband processor described above in connection with one or more of the figures herein may be configured to operate according to one or more of the examples described herein. As another example, circuitry associated with a UE, a base station, a network element, etc., as described above in connection with one or more of the foregoing figures, may be configured to operate according to one or more of the examples described herein.

[0169] Any of the above embodiments can be combined with any other embodiment (or combination of embodiments) unless otherwise stated. The foregoing description of one or more implementations provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of various embodiments.

[0170] Embodiments and implementations of the systems and methods described herein may include various operations that may be embodied in machine-executable instructions executed by a computer system. The computer system may include one or more general-purpose or special-purpose computers (or other electronic devices). The computer system may include hardware components that contain specific logic for performing the operations, or may include a combination of hardware, software, and / or firmware.

[0171] It should be appreciated that the systems described herein include descriptions of specific embodiments. These embodiments may be combined into a single system, partially combined into other systems, divided into multiple systems, or otherwise divided or combined. Additionally, it is contemplated that parameters, attributes, aspects, etc. of one embodiment may be used in another embodiment. It is recognized that parameters, attributes, aspects, etc. are described in one or more embodiments for clarity only, and that parameters, attributes, aspects, etc. may be combined with or substituted for parameters, attributes, etc. of other embodiments, unless specifically disclaimed herein.

[0172] It is well understood that use of personal information should comply with generally recognized privacy policies and practices that meet or exceed industry or government requirements for maintaining user privacy. In particular, personal information data should be managed and handled in a manner that minimizes the risk of unintended or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly indicated to users.

[0173] While the foregoing has been described in some detail for clarity, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications can be made without departing from the principles thereof. It should be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing both the processes and apparatus described herein. Accordingly, the present embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the description is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. 1. A method of a transmitting (Tx) user equipment (UE) for performing side link (SL) communication with a receiving (Rx) UE, comprising: sending higher layer signaling to the Rx UE, the higher layer signaling enabling beam measurement and beam reporting between the Tx UE and the Rx UE; transmitting one or more reference signals to the Rx UE to be used for the beam measurements at the Rx UE; receiving, from the Rx UE, a beam report of the beam report corresponding to the beam measurement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the beam measurement and the beam reporting are enabled based on parameters in one of a SidelinkPreconfigNR information element, an SL-ConfigCommonNR information element, and an SL-PHY-MAC-RLC information element.

3. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the parameter is further configured to enable one of a channel quality index (CQI) reporting and a rank indicator (RI) reporting by the Rx UE.

4. 1. A method of a transmitting (Tx) user equipment (UE) for performing side link (SL) communication with a receiving (Rx) UE, comprising: sending higher layer signaling to the Rx UE, the higher layer signaling configuring beam measurement and beam reporting between the Tx UE and the Rx UE; transmitting one or more reference signals to the Rx UE to be used for the beam measurements at the Rx UE; receiving, from the Rx UE, a beam report of the beam report corresponding to the beam measurement.

5. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the higher layer signaling includes an information element having a parameter indicating whether the beam measurements comprise signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR) measurements or reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements.

6. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the higher layer signaling includes an information element that specifies one or more time and frequency locations for one or more channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) to be used for the beam measurement.

7. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the higher layer signaling includes an information element that specifies one or more identifiers that identify multiple channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) in a slot to be used for the beam measurement.

8. The higher layer signaling includes an information element, the information element comprising: a periodicity associated with said beam measurements and said beam reports; a timer associated with the beam measurement and the beam report; an indication of a trigger event for the beam measurement and the beam reporting; The method of claim 4 , further comprising specifying one or more of the beam measurements and the beam reports corresponding reporting configuration identifiers (IDs).

9. 1. A method of a transmitting (Tx) user equipment (UE) for performing side link (SL) communication with a receiving (Rx) UE, comprising: sending upper layer signaling to the Rx UE, the upper layer signaling indicating a latency bound for beam reporting between the Tx UE and the Rx UE; transmitting one or more reference signals to the Rx UE to be used for beam measurement at the Rx UE; receiving, from the Rx UE, a beam report of the beam report corresponding to the beam measurement within the latency bound.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the latency bound is expressed in terms of a number of slots.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the latency bound is indicated by a parameter in an RRCReconfigurationSidelink information element of the higher layer signaling.

12. 1. A method of a transmitting (Tx) user equipment (UE) for performing side link (SL) communication with a receiving (Rx) UE, comprising: transmitting a combined physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH) / physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) transmission to the Rx UE, the transmission comprising: Sidelink control information (SCI) configured to trigger a beam report by the Rx UE; and one or more channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) to be used at the Rx UE for beam measurements corresponding to the beam report; receiving the beam report from the Rx UE.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the SCI indicates that the combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmission comprises the one or more CSI-RS.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the SCI identifies a channel state information (CSI) reporting configuration that defines how the beam measurements and the beam reports are performed.

15. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the CSI reporting configuration is indicated using one or more bits in stage 1 of the SCI.

16. 1. A method comprising: The CSI reporting configuration is shown in stage 2 of the SCI; 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the beam reporting is triggered by a field in the stage 2 of the SCI.

17. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the field is further configured to trigger one of a channel quality index (CQI) report and a rank indicator (RI) report by the Rx UE.

18. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the one or more CSI-RS belongs to one of one or more CSI-RS resource sets, and each CSI-RS of a given CSI-RS resource set is transmitted on the same antenna port.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein one or more of the CSI-RS comprises a CSI-RS repetition.

20. 1. A method of a transmitting (Tx) user equipment (UE) for performing side link (SL) communication with a receiving (Rx) UE, comprising: transmitting, to the Rx UE, periodic combined physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH) / physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) transmissions, one or more of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions corresponding to one or more beam measurements and including one or more channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) to be used at the Rx UE for the one or more beam measurements; transmitting first sidelink control information (SCI) to the Rx UE, the SCI being configured to trigger a beam report by the Rx UE; receiving, from the Rx UE, one or more of the beam reports, the beam reports corresponding to the one or more beam measurements; transmitting a second SCI to the Rx UE, the second SCI configured to disable the beam reporting by the Rx UE.

21. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first SCI indicates timing of the first time of the one or more of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions corresponding to the one or more beam measurements.

22. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the second SCI indicates a timing of one of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions that does not correspond to a beam measurement.

23. 1. A method of a transmitting (Tx) user equipment (UE) for performing side link (SL) communication with a receiving (Rx) UE, comprising: transmitting, to the Rx UE, periodic combined physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH) / physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) transmissions, one or more of the periodic combined PSSCH / PSSCH transmissions corresponding to one or more beam measurements and including one or more channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) to be used at the Rx UE for the one or more beam measurements; a first of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions comprising first sidelink control information (SCI) configured to trigger a beam report by the Rx UE; transmitting, wherein a second one of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions comprises a second SCI configured to disable the beam reporting by the Rx UE; receiving, from the Rx UE, a beam report of the beam report, the beam report corresponding to the one or more beam measurements.

24. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first of the periodic combined PSCCH / PSSCH transmissions is one of the one or more of the periodic combined PSSCH / PSSCH transmissions corresponding to the one or more beam measurements.

25. 1. A method for a receiving (Rx) user equipment (UE) for performing side link (SL) communication with a transmitting (Tx) UE, comprising: receiving a periodic combined physical sidelink control channel (PSSCH) / physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) transmission corresponding to one or more beam measurements and including one or more channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) usable at the Rx UE for the one or more beam measurements; performing the one or more beam measurements corresponding to the periodic combined PSSCH / PSSCH transmissions using the one or more CSI-RS; determining, based on a trigger event identified according to the one or more beam measurements, that a beam report should be sent to the Tx UE; transmitting the beam report to the Tx UE.

26. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the trigger event is a measured quality of a serving beam falling below a threshold.

27. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the trigger event is a measured quality of an inactive beam exceeding a threshold.

28. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the trigger event is a first measured quality of a first beam being greater than a second measured quality of a serving beam by an offset amount.

29. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the trigger event is a first measured quality of a serving beam falling below a first threshold and a second measured quality of another beam rising above a second threshold.

30. The method of claim 25 , wherein the trigger event is determined according to a resource pool used for the SL communication.

31. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the trigger event is configured for the Rx UE via SL Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling performed with the Tx UE.

32. 1. A method of a transmitting (Tx) user equipment (UE) for performing side link (SL) communication with a receiving (Rx) UE, comprising: receiving a zone identifier (ID) of the Rx UE from the Rx UE; determining one or more beams for the Rx UE to measure based on the location of the Tx UE and the zone ID of the Rx UE; transmitting, to the Rx UE, one or more channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) corresponding to the one or more beams; receiving a beam report for the one or more beams from the Rx UE.

33. 1. A method for a receiving (Rx) user equipment (UE) for performing side link (SL) communication with a transmitting (Tx) UE, comprising: receiving a zone identifier (ID) of the Tx UE from the Tx UE; performing beam measurement using one or more channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) received from the Tx UE; selecting one or more beams for beam reporting based on the beam measurements, the location of the Rx UE, and the zone ID of the Tx UE; transmitting the beam report to the Tx UE.

34. Apparatus comprising means for carrying out the method of any one of claims 1 to 33.

35. 34. A computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 33.

36. 34. An apparatus comprising logic, modules or circuitry for carrying out the method of any one of claims 1 to 33.

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