Communication methods, terminal equipment, and network equipment

Abstract

The present invention provides a communication method, terminal equipment, and network equipment. The method includes the terminal equipment transmitting a first CPE having a first length before communication using a first sidelink resource. Before communication using the first sidelink communication resource, the first CPE allows the terminal equipment to occupy the channel until sidelink communication using the first sidelink resource becomes possible. For example, the first CPE prevents other communication equipment from occupying a channel on which the terminal equipment has already successfully performed LBT, thereby enabling the terminal equipment to perform sidelink communication successfully.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications technology, and more specifically to telecommunications methods, terminal equipment, and network equipment. [Background technology]

[0002] In sidelink communication based on license-free spectrum, it may still be impossible to achieve sidelink communication even after a successful listen-before-talk (LBT). For example, in some sidelink communications, the resources used for sidelink communication start from the slot boundary, meaning that sidelink signals or sidelink channels cannot be transmitted before reaching the slot boundary. Therefore, during this period between the success of the LBT and reaching the slot boundary, other communication equipment in different systems may preempt the channel, preventing the terminal equipment from performing sidelink communication upon reaching the slot boundary. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0003] This invention provides a communication method, terminal equipment, and network equipment. The following describes various aspects of the present invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The first embodiment provides a communication method in which a terminal device transmits a first cyclic prefix extension (CPE) before communication by a first sidelink resource, wherein the length of the first CPE is a first length.

[0005] A second aspect provides a communication method in which a network device transmits first information to a terminal device, the first information being used to indicate a first length, the first length being used to indicate the length of a first CPE, and the first CPE being a CPE transmitted by the terminal device before communication by a first sidelink resource.

[0006] A third aspect provides terminal equipment including a first transmitting unit used to transmit a first CPE before communication by a first sidelink resource, wherein the length of the first CPE is a first length.

[0007] A fourth aspect provides a network device including a second transmitting unit used to transmit first information to a terminal device, wherein the first information is used to indicate a first length, the first length is used to indicate the length of a first CPE, and the first CPE is a CPE transmitted by the terminal device before communication by a first sidelink resource.

[0008] A fifth embodiment provides a terminal device including a processor and memory, wherein the memory is used to store one or more computer programs, and the processor is used to call the computer programs in the memory and cause the terminal device to perform some or all of the steps in the method of the first embodiment.

[0009] A sixth aspect provides a network device including a processor, memory, and a transceiver, wherein the memory is used to store one or more computer programs, and the processor is used to call the computer programs in the memory to cause the network device to perform some or all of the steps in the method of the second aspect.

[0010] In a seventh embodiment, an embodiment of the present invention provides a communication system including the terminal and / or network equipment described above. In another possible design, the system may further include other equipment that interacts with the terminal or network equipment in the solution according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] In the eighth embodiment, an embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium in which a computer program is stored, and the computer program causes terminal equipment and / or network equipment to perform some or all of the steps of the methods of each embodiment described above.

[0012] In a ninth embodiment, an embodiment of the present invention provides a computer program product comprising a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium on which the computer program is stored, and the computer program is operable so that terminal equipment and / or network equipment can perform some or all of the steps in the methods of each embodiment described above. In some implementations, the computer program product may be a software installation package.

[0013] In a tenth embodiment, an embodiment of the present invention provides a chip comprising memory and a processor, the processor capable of calling and running a computer program from memory to implement some or all of the steps described in the methods of each embodiment described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] Before performing sidelink communication using the first sidelink communication resource, the first CPE allows the terminal device to occupy the channel until sidelink communication via the first sidelink resource becomes possible. It is understood that the first CPE prevents preemption by other communication devices on the channel, enabling the terminal device to perform sidelink communication successfully. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] It is an exemplary diagram of the system architecture of a wireless communication system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applicable. [Figure 2] It is an exemplary diagram of a sidelink communication scenario within network coverage. [Figure 3] It is an exemplary diagram of a sidelink communication scenario with partial network coverage. [Figure 4] It is an exemplary diagram of a sidelink communication scenario outside network coverage. [Figure 5] It is an exemplary diagram of a sidelink communication scenario having a central control node. [Figure 6] It is an exemplary diagram of a sidelink communication method based on broadcast. [Figure 7] It is an exemplary diagram of a sidelink communication method based on unicast. [Figure 8] It is an exemplary diagram of a sidelink communication method based on multicast. [Figure 9] It is an exemplary diagram of the slot structure of some sidelink communication systems (e.g., NR-V2X system). [Figure 10] It is an exemplary diagram in which the available OFDM symbols of PSSCH in different slots change. [Figure 11] It is an exemplary diagram of the time-frequency resource occupied by the second-stage SCI in one slot. [Figure 12] It is a schematic diagram of the DMRS pattern of PSCCH. [Figure 13] It is a schematic diagram of the time-domain positions of four DMRS symbols when PSSCH has 14 symbol numbers. [Figure 14] It is an exemplary diagram of single-symbol DMRS frequency domain type 1. [Figure 15] It is an exemplary diagram of the time-frequency position of SL CSI-RS. [Figure 16]This diagram illustrates a single channel occupancy time obtained after a successful LBT on an unlicensed spectrum channel of a communication device, and the signal transmission by the resources within that channel occupancy time. [Figure 17] This is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] This is an illustrative diagram of a method for indicating the CPE length according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] This is an illustrative diagram showing a scenario where different terminal devices select different CPE lengths. [Figure 20] This is an illustrative diagram of another method for indicating CPE length according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] This is an illustrative diagram showing the relationship between different resource pools. [Figure 22] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] This is a schematic diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] This is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] The technical aspects of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0017] Communication system Figure 1 is an illustrative diagram of the system architecture of a wireless communication system 100 to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The wireless communication system 100 may include a network device 110 and a terminal device 120. The network device 110 may be a device that communicates with the terminal device 120. The network device 110 provides communication coverage to a specific geographic area and can communicate with the terminal device 120 located within that coverage area.

[0018] The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the fact that the wireless communication system 100 may selectively include multiple network devices, and that other terminal devices may be included within the coverage range of each network device.

[0019] Selectively, the wireless communication system 100 may further include other network entities such as a network controller or a mobility management entity, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0020] It should be understood that the technical embodiments of the present invention are applicable to various communication systems, such as 5th generation (5G) systems, new radio (NR), long-term evolution (LTE®) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems, and so on. The technical embodiments of the present invention are further applicable to future communication systems, such as 6th generation mobile communication systems and satellite communication systems, and so on.

[0021] The terminal device in the embodiments of the present invention may also be called user equipment (UE), access terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user device. The terminal device in the embodiments of the present invention may be a device that provides voice and / or data communication to a user, and can be used to connect people, things, and equipment such as portable devices and in-vehicle devices that have wireless connectivity. The terminal devices in embodiments of the present invention may include mobile phones, tablets, laptops, handheld computers, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, and wireless terminals in smart homes. Optionally, the terminal devices can be used to function as base stations. For example, a terminal device can function as a scheduling entity, which provides sidelink signals between terminal devices in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) or device-to-device (D2D) communication. For example, a cellular phone and a car communicate with each other using sidelink signals. Cellular phones and smart home devices communicate without relaying communication signals through base stations. Selectively, terminal devices can be used to function as base stations.

[0022] The network equipment in the embodiments of the present invention may be equipment for communicating with terminal equipment, and the network equipment may also be called access network equipment or a wireless access network, and for example the network equipment may be a base station. The network equipment in the embodiments of the present invention may also be a radio access network (RAN) node (or equipment) that allows terminal equipment to access a wireless network. A base station can broadly cover or replace various names such as NodeB, evolved NodeB (eNB), next-generation NodeB (gNB), relay station, access point, transmitting and receiving point (TRP), transmitting point (TP), master station (MeNB), slave station (SeNB), multi-standard radio (MSR) node, home base station, network controller, access node, radio node, access point (AP), transmission node, transceiver node, base band unit (BBU), remote radio unit (RRU), active antenna unit (AAU), remote radio head (RRH), central unit (CU), distributed unit (DU), and positioning node. A base station may also be a macro base station, micro base station, relay node, donor node, or similar, or a combination thereof. A base station may be a communication module, modem, or chip installed within the aforementioned equipment or device.A base station may be a mobile switching center, a device that performs base station functions in device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, a network-side device in a 6G network, or a device that performs base station functions in a future communication system. A base station can support networks with the same or different access technologies. The embodiments of the present invention do not limit the specific technologies employed by the network equipment or the specific forms of the equipment.

[0023] Base stations may be stationary or mobile. For example, a helicopter or drone may be configured to function as a mobile base station, with one or more cells movable based on the location of the mobile base station. In another example, a helicopter or drone may be configured as equipment for communicating with another base station.

[0024] In some configurations, the network equipment in the embodiments of the present invention may be a CU or a DU, or the network equipment may include both a CU and a DU. The gNB may further include an AAU.

[0025] Network equipment and terminal equipment may be located on land, on water, or in the air, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted, or on aircraft, balloons, or satellites. The embodiments of the present invention do not limit the scenes in which network equipment and terminal equipment are located.

[0026] It should be understood that all or part of the functions of the communication equipment in this invention can also be realized by software functions running on hardware, or by virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform).

[0027] Sidelink communication in different network coverage situations Sidelink communication (or sidelink transmission) is a communication technology based on sidelink (SL). Sidelink communication may also be D2D or V2X, for example. Sidelink communication supports the direct transmission of communication data between terminal devices. Direct transmission of communication data between terminal devices can have higher spectral efficiency and lower transmission delay. For example, vehicle internet systems employ sidelink communication technology.

[0028] In sidelink communication, depending on the network coverage in which the terminal equipment is located, sidelink communication can be divided into sidelink communication within network coverage, sidelink communication with partial network coverage, sidelink communication outside network coverage, and sidelink communication by a central control node.

[0029] Figure 2 is an illustrative diagram of a sidelink communication scene within network coverage. In the scene shown in Figure 2, both terminal devices 120a are within the coverage range of network device 110. Therefore, both terminal devices 120a can receive the configuration signaling from network device 110 (configuration signaling in this invention may be replaced with configuration information) and determine the sidelink setting based on the configuration signaling from network device 110. Once both terminal devices 120a have configured the sidelink, they can perform sidelink communication over the sidelink.

[0030] Figure 3 is an illustrative diagram of a sidelink communication scene with partial network coverage. In the scene shown in Figure 3, terminal devices 120a and 120b perform sidelink communication. Since terminal device 120a is located within the coverage range of network device 110, it can receive the configuration signaling from network device 110 and determine the sidelink setting based on the configuration signaling from network device 110. Terminal device 120b is located outside the network coverage range and cannot receive the configuration signaling from network device 110. In such a case, terminal device 120b can determine the sidelink setting based on pre-configuration information and / or information contained in the physical sidelink broadcast channel (PSBCH) transmitted by terminal device 120a, which is located within the network coverage range. Once both terminal devices 120a and 120b have configured the sidelink, they can perform sidelink communication over the sidelink.

[0031] Figure 4 is an illustrative diagram of a sidelink communication scenario outside of network coverage. In the scenario shown in Figure 4, both terminal devices 120b are located outside the network coverage range. In such a case, both terminal devices 120b can determine sidelink settings based on pre-configured information. Once both terminal devices 120b configure sidelink settings, they can perform sidelink communication via the sidelink.

[0032] Figure 5 is an illustrative diagram of a sidelink communication scene with a central control node. In the scene shown in Figure 5, multiple terminal devices 120b can form a single communication group. This communication group may have a central control node. In some cases, the central control node may be a cluster header (CH) terminal device. The central control node may have one or more functions, such as being responsible for establishing the communication group, adding and removing group members, coordinating resources, allocating sidelink transmission resources to other terminal devices, receiving sidelink feedback information from other terminal devices, and coordinating resources with other communication groups.

[0033] Sidelink communication mode Some standards or protocols (for example, the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP®)) define two modes of sidelink communication (or transmission modes): the first mode and the second mode.

[0034] In the first mode, the resources of the terminal device (resources as referred to in this invention may also be called transmission resources or time-frequency resources) are allocated by the network device. The terminal device can transmit data via sidelink based on the resources allocated by the network device. The network device may allocate resources for single transmission to the terminal device, or it may allocate resources for quasi-static transmission to the terminal device. The first mode is applicable to scenes covered by the network device, for example, the scene shown in Figure 2 above. In the scene shown in Figure 2, since the terminal device 120a is located within the network coverage range of the network device 110, the network device 110 can allocate resources to the terminal device 120a that will be used in the sidelink transmission process.

[0035] In the second mode, terminal devices can autonomously select one or more resources from the resource pool (RP). Based on the selected resources, the terminal devices can then perform sidelink transmission. For example, in the scenario shown in Figure 4, terminal device 120b is located outside the cell's coverage range. Therefore, terminal device 120b can autonomously select resources from the pre-configured resource pool and perform sidelink transmission. Alternatively, in the scenario shown in Figure 2, terminal device 120a can also autonomously select one or more resources from the resource pool configured on network device 110 and perform sidelink transmission.

[0036] Sidelink communication data transmission method Some sidelink communication systems (e.g., LTE-V2X) support a broadcast-based data transmission method (hereinafter abbreviated as broadcast transmission). In broadcast transmission, the receiving terminal device may be any one terminal device in the vicinity of the transmitting terminal device. Taking Figure 6 as an example, terminal device 1 is the transmitting terminal device, and the receiving terminal device corresponding to the transmitting terminal device is any one terminal device in the vicinity of terminal device 1, which may be, for example, terminal devices 2 to 6 in Figure 6.

[0037] In addition to broadcast transmission, some communication systems support unicast-based data transmission methods (hereinafter abbreviated as unicast transmission) and / or multicast-based data transmission methods (hereinafter abbreviated as multicast transmission). For example, NR-V2X is expected to support autonomous driving. Autonomous driving places higher demands on data exchange between vehicles. For example, data exchange between vehicles requires higher throughput, lower latency, higher reliability, a wider coverage range, and a more flexible resource allocation method. Therefore, to improve data exchange performance between vehicles, NR-V2X incorporates unicast and multicast transmission.

[0038] In unicast transmission, there is generally only one receiving terminal device. Taking Figure 7 as an example, unicast transmission is performed between terminal device 1 and terminal device 2. Terminal device 1 may be the transmitting terminal device, terminal device 2 may be the receiving terminal device, or terminal device 1 may be the receiving terminal device and terminal device 2 may be the transmitting terminal device.

[0039] In multicast transmission, the receiving terminal device may be a terminal device within a communication group, or it may be a terminal device within a certain transmission distance. Taking Figure 7 as an example, terminal devices 1, 2, 3, and 4 form one communication group. If terminal device 1 transmits data, the other terminal devices in the group (terminal devices 2 to 4) may all be receiving terminal devices.

[0040] Frame structure of a sidelink communication system A single slot may include channels such as a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), and a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH). These channels will be described in detail below and will not be repeated here.

[0041] Figure 9 shows illustrative diagrams of slot structures for several sidelink communication systems (e.g., NR-V2X systems). Of these, Figure 9(a) is an illustrative diagram of a slot structure that does not include a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH). Figure 9(b) is an illustrative diagram of a slot structure that includes a PSFCH channel.

[0042] As shown in Figure 9, a PSCCH can occupy two or three orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols from the second sidelink symbol of the slot in the time domain and occupy {10, 12, 15, 20, 25} physical resource blocks (PRBs / RBs) in the frequency domain. To reduce the complexity of blind detection of PSCCHs by terminal equipment, only one PSCCH symbol and one PRB can be set within a single resource pool. Furthermore, since a subchannel is the minimum granularity of PSCCH resource allocation in some sidelink communication systems (e.g., NR-V2X systems), the number of PRBs occupied by a PSCCH must be less than or equal to the number of PRBs contained in one subchannel within the resource pool, so as not to impose extra restrictions on PSCCH resource selection or allocation.

[0043] In the time domain, the PSSCH can begin with the second sidelink symbol in the slot. The last time-domain symbol in the slot is a guard period (GP) symbol (also called a gap (GAP) symbol), and the remaining symbols can be mapped to the PSSCH. The first sidelink symbol in the slot may be a repetition of the second sidelink symbol. The receiving terminal equipment may use the first sidelink symbol as an automatic gain control (AGC) symbol, and the data in this symbol is not typically for data demodulation. As shown in Figure 9(a), the PSSCH can occupy K subchannels in the frequency domain, and each subchannel may contain N consecutive PRBs, where K may be an integer greater than 0 and N may be an integer greater than 0.

[0044] As shown in Figure 9(b), if a slot contains a PSFCH channel, the second to last and third symbols in the slot are available for transmission of the PSFCH channel, and the one time-domain symbol preceding the PSFCH channel is available as a GP symbol.

[0045] PSSCH In some sidelink communication systems (e.g., NR-V2X systems), the PSSCH can be used to carry second-stage sidelink control information (SCI). The second-stage SCI may include SCI 2-A or SCI 2-B. The second-stage SCI can employ a Polar coding scheme. The second-stage SCI can permanently employ QPSK modulation. The data portion of the PSSCH can employ a low-density parity check (LDPC) code. The maximum supported modulation order for the data portion of the PSSCH is 256QAM.

[0046] In some sidelink communication systems (e.g., NR-V2X systems), the PSSCH supports the transmission of up to two streams, using a unitary precoding matrix to map data in two layers to two antenna ports, and only one TB can be transmitted per PSSCH. However, unlike the transmission method of the data portion of the PSSCH, if the PSSCH employs a dual-stream transmission method, the second-stage SCI has exactly the same modulation symbols transmitted in both streams, and such a design can guarantee the reception performance of the second-stage SCI on highly correlated channels.

[0047] In some sidelink communication systems (e.g., NR-V2X systems), the maximum number of retransmissions for a single PSSCH is 32. If a PSFCH resource exists in the resource pool and the PSFCH resource's setting cycle is 2 or 4, the available OFDM symbols in the slot where different transmissions of a single PSSCH are located may change. Figure 10 is an example diagram illustrating how the available OFDM symbols of a PSSCH change in different slots. As shown in Figure 10, because a PSFCH resource exists, the number of OFDM symbols available for the nth transmission and the n+1th transmission of the PSSCH are different. The number of symbols in a PSSCH transmission is based on the actual number of OFDM symbols in a single slot.

number

number

number

number

number

[0048] The coding rate of the second-stage SCI can be dynamically adjusted within a certain range, and the specific coding rate to be adopted can be specified by the first-stage SCI. Therefore, even if the coding rate changes, the receiver does not need to perform blind detection on the second-stage SCI. Figure 11 is an illustrative diagram of the time-frequency resources occupied by the second-stage SCI in one slot. As shown in Figure 11, the modulation symbols of the second-stage SCI can begin mapping from the symbol where the first PSSCH DMRS is located, in a manner where the frequency domain comes first and the time domain comes second, and at the OFDM symbol where the DMRS is located, the second-stage SCI can be mapped to REs that are not occupied by the DMRS.

[0049] Within a single resource pool, the data portion of a PSSCH can employ multiple different modulation and coding scheme (MCS) tables. For example, one or more of the standard 64QAM MCS table, the 256QAM MCS table, and the lower spectral efficiency 64QAM MCS table can be employed. In a single transmission, the specific MCS table employed by the data portion of the PSSCH can be indicated by the "MCS table indication" field in the first stage SCI. To control PAPR, the PSSCH must transmit using consecutive PRBs. Since the subchannels constitute the minimum frequency domain resource granularity of the PSSCH, the PSSCH must occupy consecutive subchannels.

[0050] Sidelink TBS PSSCH utilizes the TBS determination mechanism of physical downlink shared channels (PDSCH) and physical uplink shared channels (PUSCH). Specifically, it can determine the TBS based on a reference value for the number of REs used by the PSSCH in the slot where it is located, so that the actual coding rate approaches the target coding rate as closely as possible. The use of a reference value for the number of REs, rather than the actual number of REs, is intended to ensure that the number of REs used to determine the TBS during the PSSCH retransmission process remains constant, thereby maintaining the same determined TBS size. To achieve this objective, a reference value N for the number of REs occupied by the PSSCH during the TBS determination process is used. RE This can be determined according to the following formula.

number

number

number

number

number

number

number

number

number

number

number

number

number

number

[0051] [Table 1]

[0052] Sidelink DMRS In some side-link communication systems (e.g., NR-V2X systems), the DMRS pattern of the PSCCH may be the same as that of the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). That is, the DMRS can reside in the OFDM symbols of each PSCCH and, in the frequency domain, can be located at the {#1, #5, #9}th RE of a single PRB. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the DMRS pattern of the PSCCH. The DMRS sequence of the PSCCH is generated by the following formula.

number

number

number

number

number

number

[0053] Some sidelink communication systems (e.g., NR-V2X systems) employ multiple time-domain PSSCH DMRS patterns, i.e., referencing the design of the Uu interface in NR systems. The number of DMRS patterns that can be used within a single resource pool may be related to the number of PSSCH symbols in the resource pool. For a given number of PSSCH symbols (including the first AGC symbol) and PSSCH symbol count, the available DMRS patterns and the positions of each DMRS symbol within the patterns are shown in Table 2. Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the time-domain positions of four DMRS symbols when the PSSCH has 14 symbols.

[0054] [Table 2]

[0055] If multiple time-domain DMRS patterns are configured within the resource pool, the specific time-domain DMRS pattern to be adopted is selected by the transmitting terminal device and indicated in the first-stage SCI. This design ensures accuracy in channel estimation by allowing fast-moving terminal devices to select high-density DMRS patterns, and improves spectral efficiency by enabling slow-moving terminal devices to adopt low-density DMRS patterns.

[0056] The generation methods for PSSCH DMRS sequences and PSCCH DMRS sequences are almost identical, with the only difference being the initialization formula c for the pseudo-random sequence c(m). init In,

number

[0057] In NR communication systems, PDSCH and PUSCH support two types of frequency-domain DMRS patterns: DMRS frequency-domain type 1 and DMRS frequency-domain type 2. Each frequency-domain type has two forms: single DMRS symbol and dual DMRS symbol. Single-symbol DMRS frequency-domain type 1 supports four DMRS ports, while single-symbol DMRS frequency-domain type 2 can support six DMRS ports. In the case of dual DMRS symbols, the number of supported ports doubles in both cases. However, in side-link communication systems (e.g., NR-V2X), PSSCH only needs to support a maximum of two DMRS ports, and therefore, only single-symbol DMRS frequency-domain type 1 may be supported. Figure 14 is an example of single-symbol DMRS frequency-domain type 1.

[0058] Sidelink CSI-RS Sidelink communication systems can support sidelink CSI-RS (SL CSI-RS) to better support unicast communication. SL CSI-RS can be transmitted if three conditions are met: the terminal device transmits the corresponding PSSCH, meaning the terminal device cannot transmit only SL CSI-RS; the SL CSI-RS report is activated by upper-layer signaling; and if the SL CSI-RS report is activated by upper-layer signaling, the SL CSI-RS report is triggered by the corresponding bit in the second-stage SCI transmitted from the terminal device.

[0059] SL CSI-RS supports a maximum of 2 ports. SL CSI-RS, consisting of two distinct ports, is multiplexed using a code-decomposition scheme across two adjacent REs of the same OFDM symbol. Within a single PRB, each port has only one SL CSI-RS, i.e., a density of 1. Therefore, within a single PRB, SL CSI-RS appears in at most one OFDM symbol. The specific location of this OFDM symbol can be determined by the transmitting terminal equipment. To avoid affecting the resource mapping of the PSCCH and second-stage SCI, SL CSI-RS cannot be located on the same OFDM symbol as the PSCCH and second-stage SCI. Because the channel estimation accuracy of the OFDM symbol where the PSSCH DMRS is located is high, and because SL CSI-RS from two ports occupies two consecutive REs in the frequency domain, SL-CSI-RS cannot transmit on the same OFDM symbol as the PSSCH DMRS. The location of the OFDM symbol where SL CSI-RS is located is indicated by the sl-CSI-RS-FirstSymbol parameter in PC5 RRC.

[0060] The position of the first RE occupied by an SL CSI-RS within a single PRB can be specified by the sl-CSI-RS-FreqAllocation parameter in the PC5 RRC. If the SL CSI-RS has one port, the parameter may be a bitmap of length 12 corresponding to 12 REs within a single PRB. If the SL CSI-RS has two ports, the parameter may be a bitmap of length 6, in which case the SL CSI-RS can occupy two REs, 2f(1) and 2f(1)+1, where f(1) can represent the index of a bit with a value of 1 in the aforementioned bitmap. The frequency domain position of the SL CSI-RS can also be determined by the transmitting terminal equipment. The determined frequency domain position of the SL CSI-RS must not conflict with the PT-RS. Figure 15 is an illustrative diagram of the time-frequency position of the SL CSI-RS. In Figure 15, the number of SL CSI-RS ports is 2, sl-CSI-RS-FirstSymbol is 8, and sl-CSI-RS-FreqAllocation is [b5,b4,b3,b2,b1,b0]=[0,0,0,1,0,0,].

[0061] Unlicensed Spectrum Communications An unlicensed spectrum is a spectrum that can be used for radio communications by country or region. This spectrum is generally considered a shared spectrum, meaning that communication equipment can use the spectrum without needing to apply for a dedicated spectrum license from a country or region's dedicated spectrum management body, as long as it meets the legal requirements set by the country or region for that spectrum. An unlicensed spectrum may also be called a shared spectrum, license-free spectrum, unlicensed band, or license-free band.

[0062] In LTE systems, the use of unlicensed spectrum as a complementary band to licensed spectrum in cellular networks has already been realized. NR systems can achieve seamless coverage, high spectral efficiency, high peak rates, and high reliability in cellular networks. NR systems can also use unlicensed spectrum to serve users as part of 5G cellular network technology. The 3GPP R16 standard discusses NR systems used in unlicensed spectrum and refers to them as NR-unlicensed (NR-U) systems.

[0063] The NR-U system can support two types of networking methods: licensed spectrum-assisted access and unlicensed spectrum-independent access. Licensed spectrum-assisted access requires network access via the licensed spectrum, with the unlicensed spectrum used as a secondary carrier. Unlicensed spectrum-independent access allows networking independently using the unlicensed spectrum, and terminal devices can directly access the network via the unlicensed spectrum. The range of the unlicensed spectrum used by the NR-U system introduced in 3GPP R16 is concentrated in the 5GHz and 6GHz bands. For example, in the United States, the range of the unlicensed spectrum is 5925-7125MHz, and in Europe, it is 5925-6425MHz. The R16 standard newly defines band 46 (5150MHz-5925MHz) to be used as the unlicensed spectrum.

[0064] The use of unlicensed spectrum must meet the specific legal requirements of each country and region. For example, communication equipment can achieve channel access on the unlicensed spectrum through channel monitoring, avoiding conflicts with other communication equipment and other communication systems (e.g., WiFi systems). One implementation method is for communication equipment to use the unlicensed spectrum according to the "listen-before-talk" (LBT) principle. Therefore, for NR-U, NR technology needs to be extended accordingly to adapt to the legal requirements of the unlicensed band and to efficiently utilize the unlicensed spectrum to provide services. The 3GPP R16 standard completes the standardization of NR-U technology, mainly in aspects such as the channel monitoring process, initial access process, control channel design, HARQ and scheduling, and scheduled grant-free transmission.

[0065] LBT The LBT principle may include requiring communication equipment to perform a Limit Break (LBT) before transmitting signals using a channel in the unlicensed spectrum. If the LBT is successful, the channel monitoring result will be that the channel is free. Only if the channel is free can the communication equipment transmit signals over that channel. If the channel monitoring result of the communication equipment on that channel is that the channel is busy, or if the LBT fails, the communication equipment cannot transmit signals over that channel. Furthermore, to ensure fairness in the use of spectral resources in the shared spectrum, if a communication equipment successfully performs an LBT on a channel in the unlicensed spectrum, the time it can use that channel for communication transmission must not exceed a certain duration. By limiting the maximum duration of communication after a single successful LBT, this mechanism ensures that different communication equipment all have an opportunity to access the shared channel and that different communication systems can coexist amicably on the shared spectrum.

[0066] Signal transmission in the unlicensed spectrum involves concepts related to channel occupancy, such as channel occupancy time (COT), maximum channel occupancy time (MCOT), COT of network equipment (e.g., base stations), and COT of terminal equipment.

[0067] MCOT (Maximum Communication Time Out) may be the maximum time that a communication device is permitted to transmit signals using an unlicensed spectrum channel, provided that LBT (Language Breakthrough) is successful. It should be understood that MCOT is the time that signal transmission occupies. Communication devices have different channel access priority classes, and therefore, the MCOT corresponding to a communication device may differ. The maximum value of MCOT can be set to, for example, 10ms.

[0068] Figure 16 illustrates the channel occupancy time obtained after a successful LBT on an unlicensed spectrum channel of a communication device, and the signal transmission by the resources within that channel occupancy time.

[0069] Although channel monitoring is not mandated by global regulations, it is a function that communication equipment in an unlicensed spectrum should support during the design process of such a system, as it can provide the advantages of interference avoidance and friendly coexistence in communication transmission between communication systems in the shared spectrum.

[0070] Unlicensed spectrum channel access method Some communication systems (such as the NR-U system) employ a channel access method that uses LBT (Loop Beam Test) for channel access.

[0071] From a system networking perspective, a channel access scheme that uses LBT for channel access may include two mechanisms. One is LBT for load-based equipment (LBE), also known as dynamic channel monitoring or dynamic channel occupancy, and the other is LBT for frame-based equipment (FBE), also known as semi-persistent channel monitoring or semi-persistent channel occupancy. Of these, the LBT principle for dynamic channel monitoring is that the communication equipment performs LBT on an unlicensed spectrum carrier after the arrival of traffic, and begins transmitting signals on that carrier after the LBT is successful.

[0072] The LBT method for dynamic channel monitoring may include Type 1 channel access methods and Type 2 channel access methods.

[0073] The following provides a detailed explanation of Type 1 and Type 2 channel access methods using network equipment as an example. It will be clear that the process of channel monitoring using either Type 1 or Type 2 channel access methods is similar for other communication devices such as terminal equipment.

[0074] A Type 1 channel access scheme may also be called a multi-slot channel detection with random backoff that adjusts based on the contention window size. A Type 1 channel access scheme allows for the selection of a corresponding channel access priority class (CAPC) p based on the priority of traffic waiting to be transmitted. A communication device can initiate a channel occupancy of length Tmcot based on the channel access priority class p. If a network device uses a Type 1 channel access scheme, it can share the COT with terminal devices, in addition to transmitting its own data during the channel occupancy period. In other words, sharing the COT with terminal devices means that terminal devices are permitted to transmit data for a time length corresponding to the COT (i.e., the COT obtained by the network device through channel access). Accordingly, if a terminal device uses a Type 1 channel access scheme, it can share the COT with network devices, in addition to transmitting its own data during the channel occupancy period.

[0075] Table 3 shows the channel access priority classes and corresponding parameters when terminal equipment uses a Type 1 channel access scheme.

[0076] [Table 3]

[0077] The default channel access method on the network device side is the Type 1 channel access method. The channel access parameters corresponding to channel access priority class p are shown in Table 3. In Table 3, m p This may also be the number of backoff slots corresponding to channel access priority class p, CW p This may be the contention window (CW) size corresponding to channel access priority class p, and CW min,p This refers to the CW corresponding to channel access priority class p.p may also be the minimum value of the取值, and CW max,p and CW corresponding to the channel access priority class p p may also be the maximum value of the取值, and T mcot,p and T is the maximum channel occupancy time length corresponding to the channel access priority class p

[0078] The channel access method of Type 2 (Type2) may be called a channel access method based on a fixed-length channel monitoring slot. The channel access method of Type 2 includes the channel access method of Type 2A (Type2A), the channel access method of Type 2B (Type2B), and the channel access method of Type 2C (Type2C). When sharing the resources in COT with other communication devices, other communication devices can use the channel access method of Type 2

[0079] In the channel access method of Type 2A, the communication device can adopt single-slot detection of the channel for 25 us. That is, the communication device can start channel detection 25 us before the start of data transmission. The 25-us channel detection may include one 16-us channel detection and one 9-us channel detection. If the detection results of both times indicate that the channel is idle, the channel is considered to be idle and channel access is possible

[0080] In the channel access method of Type 2B, the communication device can adopt single-slot channel detection of 16 us. In the process of channel detection, if it is detected by the communication device that the channel is idle for more than 4 us in the last 9 us, the channel is considered to be idle

[0081] In the Type 2C channel access scheme, communication devices can transmit data directly over a channel without performing channel detection. In the Type 2C channel access scheme, the time difference between the current transmission and the previous transmission is 16us or less. In other words, if the time difference between two transmissions is 16us or less, they are considered to be the same transmission, and channel detection is unnecessary. However, in the Type 2C channel access scheme, the transmission time of communication devices is limited and should not exceed 584us.

[0082] In one special case, if a network device initiates channel occupancy to transmit a synchronization signal / PBCH block (SS / PBCH block) within a discovery reference signal (DRS) window, and the DRS window does not include the transmission of unicast data from a terminal device, the network device may initiate channel occupancy using Type 2A channel access, provided that the length of the DRS window does not exceed 1 ms and the duty cycle of transmission within the DRS window does not exceed 1 / 20.

[0083] Instructions for channel access parameters In some unlicensed spectrum-based communication systems (e.g., NR-U systems), when terminal equipment is scheduled to transmit a PUSCH or physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), network equipment can specify the channel access method corresponding to the PUSCH or PUCCH via downlink control information (DCI) carrying an uplink grant (UL grant) or downlink grant (DL grant). Furthermore, since some channel access methods require a 16μs or 25μs free time requirement, terminal equipment can ensure sufficient free time between two transmissions by transmitting a cyclic prefix extension (CPE). Accordingly, network equipment can specify the CPE length of the first symbol in the terminal equipment's uplink transmission.

[0084] When providing specific instructions, network devices can explicitly instruct terminal devices of channel access parameters such as CPE length, channel access method, or channel access priority class using concatenation coding. The following describes the characteristics of channel access parameter instruction methods implemented in different DCI formats.

[0085] 1. PUSCH transmission scheduling fall backup link grant (DCI format 0_0) The standard pre-configures a set of parameters that jointly indicate the channel access scheme and CPE length, as shown in Table 4. This fall backup link grant includes 2 bits of LBT instruction information. This 2-bit LBT instruction information is used to indicate the channel access scheme and CPE length, which are combined and encoded from the set shown in Table 4. The channel access scheme and CPE length are used for PUSCH transmission. If the channel access scheme is type 1 channel access, the terminal equipment may select the CAPC itself based on traffic priority.

[0086] [Table 4]

[0087] In Table 4, the values ​​of C1 are defined by the protocol. When the subcarrier interval is 15 kHz and 30 kHz, C1=1, and when the subcarrier interval is 60 kHz, C1=2. The values ​​of C2 and C3 are set by the upper layer parameters. When the subcarrier interval is 15 kHz and 30 kHz, the range of values ​​for C2 and C3 is 1 to 28, and when the subcarrier interval is 60 kHz, the range of values ​​for C2 and C3 is 2 to 28.

[0088] 2. Fallback downlink grant for scheduling PDSCH transmission (DCI format 1_0) The standard pre-configures a set of parameters that jointly indicate the channel access scheme and CPE length, as shown in Table 4. This fallback downlink grant includes 2 bits of LBT instruction information, which is used to indicate the channel access scheme and CPE length, combined and encoded from the set shown in Table 4. The channel access scheme and CPE length are used for PUCCH transmission, which can carry acknowledgment (ACK) or negative acknowledgment (NACK) information corresponding to the PDSCH. If the channel access scheme is type 1 channel access, the terminal equipment can determine the CAPC for transmitting the PUCCH to be 1.

[0089] 3. Non-fall backup link grant (DCI format 0_1) for scheduling push transmissions. The upper layer sets the LBT parameter instruction set. The LBT parameter instruction set includes at least one combined encoded term. The combined encoded term is used to indicate the channel access scheme, CPE length, and CAPC. The non-fall backup link grant includes LBT instruction information. This LBT instruction information is used to indicate the combined encoded channel access scheme, CPE length, and CAPC from the above LBT parameter instruction set. The channel access scheme, CPE length, and CAPC are used for PUSCH transmission. If the indicated channel access scheme is a type 2 channel access, the simultaneously indicated CAPC is the CAPC that the network equipment uses when obtaining the COT. The LBT instruction information also includes up to 6 bits.

[0090] 4. Non-fallback downlink grant for scheduling PDSCH transmission (DCI format 1_1) The upper layer sets the LBT parameter instruction set. The LBT parameter instruction set includes at least one combined coded term. The combined coded term is used to indicate the channel access scheme and CPE length. The non-fallback downlink grant includes LBT instruction information. This LBT instruction information is used to indicate the combined coded channel access scheme and CPE length from the above LBT parameter instruction set. The channel access scheme and CPE length are used for PUCCH transmission. Of these, the PUCCH may carry ACK or NACK information corresponding to the PDSCH. If the channel access scheme is type 1 channel access, the terminal equipment can determine the CAPC for transmitting the PUCCH to be 1. The LBT instruction information also includes up to 4 bits.

[0091] In addition to the explicit instructions above, network equipment can implicitly indicate the channel access scheme within the COT. For example, if terminal equipment receives an uplink grant or downlink grant transmitted from a base station indicating that the channel access type corresponding to the PUSCH or PUCCH is a type 1 channel access, it can determine that the PUSCH or PUCCH belongs within the network equipment's COT. Similarly, if terminal equipment receives a DCI format 2_0 transmitted from network equipment and can determine, based on the DCI format 2_0, that the PUSCH or PUCCH belongs within the network equipment's COT, it can stop adopting type 1 channel access and update the channel access type corresponding to the PUSCH or PUCCH to type 2A channel access.

[0092] In sidelink communication based on license-free spectrum, it may still be impossible to achieve sidelink communication even after a successful listen-before-talk (LBT). For example, in some sidelink communications, the resources used for sidelink communication start from the slot boundary; that is, sidelink signals or sidelink channels cannot be transmitted before the slot boundary. Therefore, during this period between the success of the LBT and reaching the slot boundary, other communication equipment in a different system may preempt the channel, preventing the terminal equipment from performing sidelink communication upon reaching the slot boundary.

[0093] Figure 17 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method for solving the above-mentioned problems according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method shown in Figure 17 can be implemented by terminal equipment.

[0094] The method shown in Figure 17 may include step S1710. In step S1710, the terminal device may transmit the first CPE before communication via the first sidelink resource.

[0095] The first sidelink resource may be a resource used for sidelink communication between terminal devices. That is, a terminal device can transmit sidelink signals and / or sidelink channels based on the first sidelink resource. Based on the first sidelink resource, a terminal device can transmit sidelink data to other terminal devices. That is, a terminal device may be the transmitter of sidelink communication. Therefore, the first sidelink resource may also be called the first sidelink transmission resource. In some embodiments, the resources performing sidelink communication must start from the slot boundary. Therefore, the first sidelink resource may start from the start time of one slot.

[0096] The present invention does not limit the mode in which the first side-link resource is determined. For example, the first side-link resource can be scheduled in the first mode. In other words, the first side-link resource may be allocated by network equipment. Alternatively, the first side-link resource can be determined in the second mode. That is, the first side-link resource may be independently selected by terminal equipment from the resource pool.

[0097] Furthermore, the first sidelink resource may belong to the license-free spectrum. Therefore, terminal equipment can perform LBT before using the first sidelink resource to perform sidelink communication. The present invention does not limit how terminal equipment performs LBT. For example, terminal equipment can perform LBT using a Type 1 or Type 2 channel access scheme.

[0098] In some embodiments, the first sidelink resource may include one or more resource units. A resource unit may correspond to one sidelink slot in the time domain. A resource unit may correspond to one or more RBs in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, a resource unit may be called a sidelink transmit resource. The CPE preceding one or more resource units may be the first CPE, i.e., the first information may indicate the length of the CPE preceding one or more resource units. Alternatively, a CPE may exist before any one resource unit of one or more resource units, and each CPE may be the first CPE, i.e., the first information may indicate the length of the CPE preceding any one resource unit of one or more resource units.

[0099] The first CPE can be transmitted before the first sidelink resource. In other words, the terminal device can continuously transmit the first CPE before the arrival of the first sidelink resource. The interval between the end time of the first CPE transmission and the start time of the first sidelink resource can be very short or zero. This interval can satisfy the requirement that the corresponding channel is unlikely to be preempted by other communication devices. As described above, the first sidelink resource can start from the start time of one slot. Therefore, the first CPE can be transmitted before the slot that transmits the sidelink signal and / or sidelink channel. The first CPE can also be transmitted after the success of the LBT. That is, the first CPE can avoid preemption of the channel by other communication devices by continuing to occupy the channel on which the terminal device's LBT was successful.

[0100] Before performing sidelink communication using the first sidelink communication resource, the first CPE allows the terminal device to occupy the channel until sidelink communication using the first sidelink resource becomes possible. It can be understood that the first CPE prevents preemption by other communication devices on channels where LBT has already been successful, enabling the terminal device to successfully perform sidelink communication using the first sidelink resource.

[0101] In some embodiments, the terminal device can still perform LBT during the transmission of the first CPE to confirm that sidelink communication is possible over the channel. For example, the terminal device can perform a long LBT before transmitting the first CPE, or a short LBT during the transmission of the first CPE.

[0102] The present invention further proposes a technical embodiment for determining the length of the first CPE. For the sake of clarity, the length of the first CPE will hereafter be referred to as the first length.

[0103] In some embodiments, the first length may be determined based on first information indicated by the network equipment. As shown in Figure 17, the method shown in Figure 17 may further be carried out by the network equipment. The method shown in Figure 17 may further include step S1702.

[0104] In step S1702, the network device can transmit the first information. Correspondingly, the terminal device can receive the first information.

[0105] The first information can be used to indicate a first length. The present invention does not limit the manner in which the first information indicates a first length. For example, the first information can directly indicate a first length or can indirectly indicate a first length.

[0106] In one implementation, the first sidelink resource may belong to a first resource pool, which may support one or more configured lengths. The configured length can be used to indicate the CPE length that the first resource pool can support. The first information can be used to indicate that the first length is one of the one or more configured lengths. In one implementation, the first information may indicate a first index, which may correspond to one of the one or more configured lengths. That is, the first information may indicate that the first length is the length corresponding to the first index. In another implementation, the first information may include the first length. A terminal device can obtain the first length by parsing the first information.

[0107] In some embodiments, when scheduling sidelink resources in the first mode, the first length can be determined by first information instructed by the network device. It can be understood that when the network device allocates resources in the first mode, it can uniformly allocate and schedule sidelink resources. In such cases, the network device can flexibly instruct different CPE lengths, thereby avoiding situations where different terminal devices interfere with each other. Situations of mutual interference between terminals are explained below with reference to Figure 19 and will not be repeated here.

[0108] Furthermore, one or more configuration lengths supported by the first resource pool may be configured by network equipment. For example, network equipment may configure one or more configuration lengths for the first resource pool through upper-layer signaling. Upper-layer signaling may be, for example, RRC signaling. For example, when configuring the first sidelink resource pool, the configuration parameter set may include one upper-layer parameter, which contains a numerical value of the CPE length (i.e., configuration length) that the configured first resource pool can support. For example, the upper-layer parameter may be represented by CP-extension-SL, which may be {16, 25, 34, 43, 52, 61}. Of these, the numerical unit of CP-extension-SL is microseconds. In other words, the first length may be one of {16, 25, 34, 43, 52, 61}.

[0109] The first information can be carried in information or messages that indicate the first sidelink resource. In other words, the first information can be carried in information or messages for resource allocation or scheduling. The information or messages for resource allocation or scheduling may be, for example, DCI / PDCCH or higher-layer signaling.

[0110] In some embodiments, the first information can be carried on a first DCI or a PDCCH corresponding to the first DCI.

[0111] One possible implementation is that the first DCI can be used to dynamically schedule the first sidelink resource. In other words, in sidelink resource allocation mode 1, if network equipment allocates the first sidelink resource using a dynamically scheduling resource allocation method, the first DCI can carry information indicating the first length.

[0112] Alternatively, the first DCI can be used to activate the first sidelink resource allocated by configured grant (CG) type 2. In other words, in sidelink resource allocation mode 1, if the network equipment allocates the first sidelink resource using the configured grant type 2 resource allocation method, the first DCI for activating configured grant type 2 can carry information indicating the first length.

[0113] The CPE lengths indicated by different DCIs may be the same or different. For example, a second DCI may include second information, which can be used to indicate a second length. The second length may be the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by the second sidelink resource. The first and second lengths may be the same or different. The following explanation will use the scene shown in Figure 18 as an example.

[0114] In Figure 18, the first DCI is represented by DCI1 and the second DCI by DCI2. The first sidelink resource for sidelink transmission indicated by the first DCI includes slot 1. The first DCI further indicates the first length of the first CPE to be transmitted before slot 1. As shown in Figure 18, the first length corresponds to the length of CPE2, which is shown in bold. Thus, the terminal device can determine the starting point 1 for sidelink transmission, i.e., the terminal device can start transmitting the first CPE at starting point 1. The second sidelink resource for sidelink transmission indicated by the second DCI may include slot n. n may be an integer greater than 1. The second DCI further indicates the length of the second CPE to be used before slot n. The length of the second CPE may be the same as or different from the length of the first CPE. In Figure 18, an example is given where the length of the second CPE is different from the length of the first CPE. As shown in Figure 18, the length of the second CPE corresponds to the length of CPE3, which is shown in bold. Therefore, the terminal device can determine the starting point 2 for sidelink transmission, that is, the terminal device can start transmitting the second CPE at starting point 2.

[0115] Note that the first DCI and the second DCI may indicate the same TB, or they may indicate different TBs. If they indicate the same TB, the lengths of the CPE indicated by the first DCI and the second DCI may be the same or different, i.e., the first length and the second length may be the same or different. If they indicate different TBs, the lengths of the CPE indicated by the first DCI and the second DCI may be the same or different, i.e., the first length and the second length may be the same or different. Three situations will be explained below as examples.

[0116] In Situation 1, K resource units indicated by the first DCI or the PDCCH corresponding to the first DCI (hereinafter abbreviated as PDCCH / DCI#1) are available to transmit the first TB (hereinafter abbreviated as TB#1). Of these, K may be an integer of 1 or more. PDCCH / DCI#1 can be used to indicate the CPE length in front of each of the K resource units. In Situation 1, the CPE lengths in front of these K sidelink resources indicated by PDCCH / DCI#1 may be the same.

[0117] In Situation 2, K resource units indicated by PDCCH / DCI#1 are used to transmit TB#1, and K' resource units indicated by the second DCI or the PDCCH corresponding to the second DCI (hereinafter abbreviated as PDCCH / DCI#2) are available to transmit TB#1. Of these, K' may be an integer different from K, and the value of K' may be 1 or greater. The first length indicated by PDCCH / DCI#1 and the second length indicated by PDCCH / DCI#2 may be the same or different. A scene corresponding to Situation 2 may include, for example, that PDCCH / DCI#1 indicates resources for a new transmission of TB#1 and a certain number of retransmissions, and that if both the new transmission and retransmission by PDCCH / DCI#1 fail, PDCCH / DCI#2 can indicate resources for subsequent retransmissions of TB#1.

[0118] In Situation 3, the K resource units indicated by PDCCH / DCI#1 are used to transmit TB#1, and the K' resource units indicated by PDCCH / DCI#2 are used to transmit the second TB (hereinafter abbreviated as TB#2). The first length indicated by PDCCH / DCI#1 and the second length indicated by DCI#2 may be the same or different. In other words, the CPE lengths may be the same or different when different TBs are indicated by DCI.

[0119] As described above, the first information can be carried in information or messages that indicate the first sidelink resource. In some embodiments, the first information can be set or indicated by a configured grant. For example, the first information can be carried in a higher-layer signaling, which can be used to set a sidelink configured grant. That is, a higher-layer signaling that sets a sidelink configured grant may include the first information.

[0120] Different terminal devices can use the same time-domain resource within the same resource pool and can use this same time-domain resource using the FDM method. If the CPE lengths of different terminal devices are different, the CPE transmission of one or more of the terminal devices may be interfered with, and if the time-domain resource is available, it may result in the inability to transmit data using that time-domain resource. The following describes the scene shown in Figure 19 in detail. As shown in Figure 19, both terminal device 1 (shown as UE1 in Figure 19) and terminal device 2 (shown as UE2 in Figure 19) can perform sidelink communication using slot 1 in the resource pool, and terminal devices in the resource pool can transmit CPE of any length from CPE1 to CPE4. If terminal device 1 uses CPE1 and terminal device 2 uses CPE2, terminal device 1 can start transmitting CPE1 from start point 1 once it completes LBT and successfully accesses the channel. Since terminal device 2 uses CPE2, it may not be able to transmit CPE2 unless it is at start point 2. Therefore, if terminal device 2 is still performing LBT between starting point 1 and starting point 2, it will be interfered with by CPE1 transmitted by terminal device 1, causing terminal device 2's channel monitoring to fail and preventing data transmission. However, in reality, terminal device 1 is not performing sidelink communication between starting point 1 and starting point 2, and terminal device 2 can transmit data in slot 1 using the FDM method.

[0121] To address the above problem, the present invention proposes that the length of the CPE transmitted by terminal devices within the same resource pool be the same. For example, a first sidelink resource may belong to a second resource pool. The second resource pool may support a first set length. The first length may be determined based on the first set length. Any terminal device communicating using resources in the second resource pool can determine the length of the CPE based on the first set length. In some embodiments, the second resource pool may support only the first set length, i.e., the second resource pool may support only one type of CPE length, thereby ensuring that the CPE lengths determined by terminal devices using the second resource pool are the same. If the second resource pool supports only the first set length, the first set length may be the default CPE length.

[0122] In some embodiments, the first length may be equal to the first set length. That is, the length of any CPE transmitted by a terminal device communicating using resources in the second resource pool may be the first set length.

[0123] The proposed technical embodiment of the present invention, in which terminal devices within the same resource pool transmit the same length of CPE, allows different terminal devices to have the same starting point for transmitting CPE. As shown in Figure 20, the resource pool sets the CPE length corresponding to CPE2 as the first set length. All terminal devices using the second resource pool can transmit a CPE of the length corresponding to CPE2 before transmitting a sidelink signal or channel. Terminal devices 1 and 2 can transmit the same length of CPE in the same slot (e.g., slot 0), and have the same starting point for transmitting the CPE. Therefore, both terminal devices 1 and 2 can successfully perform LBT before transmitting the CPE, thereby allowing both to start transmitting the CPE at starting point 1 and further initiate sidelink communication in the same slot (e.g., slot 1). In other words, this technical embodiment can avoid the problem of a terminal device being unable to perform sidelink communication due to interference between terminal devices.

[0124] Furthermore, the proposed technical embodiment can be used when FDM exists between terminal devices, and also when time division multiplex (TDM) exists between terminal devices. In other words, if FDM exists in different terminal devices in the same slot of the same resource pool, the same length of CPE can be transmitted. If TDM exists in different terminal devices in different slots of the same resource pool, the different terminal devices can transmit the same length of CPE. Continuing with Figure 20 as an example, the length of the CPE transmitted by terminal device 3 (shown as UE3 in Figure 20) in slot n-1 is the same as the length of the CPE transmitted by terminal device 1 in slot 0.

[0125] Furthermore, the first configured length of the second resource pool described above may be set by the network device or may be pre-configured. For example, the network device can specify the first length by indicating the first configured length in the first information. In other words, the network device can indirectly specify the first length by indicating the first configured length.

[0126] One implementation method allows network devices to set or instruct a first configuration length via upper-layer signaling. For example, when a network device configures a second resource pool, the configuration parameter set may include one upper-layer parameter, which may include a numerical value representing the CPE length that the configured resource pool can support. The upper-layer parameter can be represented by CP-extension-SL, and CP-extension-SL can satisfy CP-extension-SL={34}. The numerical unit of the upper-layer parameter may be microseconds.

[0127] In some embodiments, when a network device reconfigures the second resource pool, the first configuration length may be changed or left unchanged.

[0128] The present invention further provides a technical embodiment for determining the CPE length supported by a corresponding resource pool based on the relationships between different resource pools. The relationships between different resource pools may include, for example, situations where they belong to different resource block sets (RB sets), or situations where some or all resources belong to the same RB set. This will be explained below with reference to Figure 21.

[0129] In some embodiments, different resource pools (e.g., the second resource pool and the third resource pool) may belong to different RB sets. In other words, the RB sets included in the second resource pool and the third resource pool are all different. Alternatively, the RB sets included in the second resource pool and the third resource pool do not overlap. Figure 21(a) is an illustrative diagram where the second resource pool and the third resource pool belong to different RB sets. As shown in Figure 21(a), the second resource pool (referred to as resource pool 2 in Figure 21) includes RB set 0 and RB set 1. The third resource pool (referred to as resource pool 3 in Figure 21) includes RB set 2 and RB set 3.

[0130] In some embodiments, some or all resources in different resource pools (e.g., a second resource pool and a third resource pool) may belong to the same RB set. For example, the RB set in the second resource pool and the RB set in the third resource pool may be exactly the same. Alternatively, some or all resources in the second resource pool and some or all resources in the third resource pool may belong to the same one or more RB sets. For example, some RBs in an RB set may belong to the second resource pool, and other RBs in the same RB set may belong to the third resource pool.

[0131] In general, it is unlikely that a particular RB, or a portion of RBs, would belong to both the second and third resource pools.

[0132] Furthermore, resources in the same RB set of the second or third resource pool may or may not be contiguous in the frequency domain. Non-contiguous frequency domain resources can be achieved through the interlaced resource block (IRB) frequency domain resource allocation method.

[0133] Figures 21(b) and (c) illustrate the case where some resources in the second resource pool and some resources in the third resource pool belong to the same RB set. As shown in Figure 21(b), the second resource pool includes all resources in RB set0 and some contiguous resources in RB set1, while the third resource pool includes some contiguous resources in RB set1, all resources in RB set2, and all resources in RB set3. As shown in Figure 21(c), the second resource pool includes all resources in RB set0 and some non-contiguous resources in RB set1, while the third resource pool includes some non-contiguous resources in RB set1, all resources in RB set2, and all resources in RB set3.

[0134] As will be seen from this, the technical aspects proposed by the present invention can improve resource utilization efficiency by supporting situations in which different resources within a single RB set belong to different resource pools.

[0135] Furthermore, the second and third resource pools can share resources within the same RB set using the FDM method. In other words, some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources in the third resource pool can be multiplexed within the same RB set using the FDM method.

[0136] If the second and third resource pools belong to different RB sets, the CPE lengths supported by the second resource pool and the CPE lengths supported by the third resource pool may be the same or different. For example, the third resource pool may support a second set length, and the length of the CPE before communication by the sidelink resources within the third resource pool may be the third length, which can be determined based on the second set length. The second set length may be the same or different from the first set length. In the scene shown in Figure 21(a), the CPE lengths supported by the second and third resource pools may be the same or different.

[0137] If some or all resources in the second resource pool and some or all resources in the third resource pool belong to the same RB set, the CPE length supported by the second resource pool and the CPE length supported by the third resource pool may be the same. In other words, the second setting length may be the same as the first setting length. In the scenes shown in Figure 21(b) or (c), the CPE lengths supported by the second and third resource pools may be the same. When a terminal device uses resources in the same RB set via the second resource pool, another terminal device may use resources in the same RB set via the third resource pool. If the CPE lengths transmitted by the two terminal devices are different, the aforementioned interference situation will also exist for one of the terminal devices, which can lead to abnormal sidelink communication. Therefore, the present invention can avoid interference between terminal devices.

[0138] Furthermore, regardless of whether some or all resources in the second resource pool and some or all resources in the third resource pool belong to the same RB set, FDM can exist in both the second and third resource pools. For example, in the three scenes (a), (b), and (c) of Figure 21, FDM exists in both the second and third resource pools.

[0139] The second resource pool can be used for resource allocation in either mode 1 or mode 2. The third resource pool can be used for resource allocation in either mode 1 or mode 2. In other words, within the second or third resource pool, terminal devices can select resources themselves, or network devices can select resources for terminal devices. For example, the second resource pool can be used for resource allocation in mode 1, and the third resource pool can be used for resource allocation in mode 2. Alternatively, both the second and third resource pools can be used for resource allocation in mode 2.

[0140] The resource pool mentioned above may be a side-link resource pool configured by a network device, or it may be a pre-configured side-link resource pool. For example, the second resource pool may be configured by a network device, or it may be pre-configured.

[0141] The first length or first set length can be determined based on one or more of the following pieces of information: whether the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates a COT, whether the terminal device is a terminal device that shares a COT, and the subcarrier interval. If a sidelink COT exists, the terminal device that initiates the COT can obtain the COT through the channel access process and share the COT with terminal devices that share the COT, thereby enabling the terminal devices that share the COT to transmit data within the COT.

[0142] One implementation is that if the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates COT, then if the subcarrier interval is less than 30 kHz, the first length or first setting length can satisfy the condition that it is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of one OFDM symbol. If the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates COT, then if the subcarrier interval is 30 kHz or more, the first length or first setting length can satisfy the condition that it is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of two OFDM symbols. The subcarrier interval may include at least one of, for example, 15 kHz, 30 kHz, and 60 kHz. For example, if the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates COT and the subcarrier interval is 15 kHz, then the range of values ​​for the first setting length of the second resource pool (i.e., the default CPE length of the second resource pool) may be greater than 0 and less than the length of one OFDM symbol. Alternatively, if the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates COT and the subcarrier spacing is 30 kHz or 60 kHz, the range of values ​​for the first setting length of the second resource pool (i.e., the default CPE length of the second resource pool) may be greater than 0 and less than two OFDM symbols.

[0143] Alternatively, if the terminal device is a terminal device that shares a COT, the first length or first setting length satisfies the condition that it is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of one OFDM symbol. For example, if the terminal device is a terminal device that shares a COT and the subcarrier spacing is 15kHz, 30kHz, or 60kHz, the range of values ​​for the first setting length of the second resource pool (i.e., the default CPE length of the second resource pool) may be greater than 0 and less than the length of one OFDM symbol.

[0144] In response to a possible situation where terminals interfere with each other, the present invention proposes that the length of the CPE transmitted by terminal devices may differ. The length of the CPE transmitted by terminal devices can be determined based on a first condition. That is, the first length can be determined based on a first condition.

[0145] The first condition may relate to one or more of the following: the priority of the first CPE, the information that the terminal device initiates a COT, or the information that the terminal device occupies a COT.

[0146] The priority of the first CPE can be represented by information that reflects the degree of priority of the first CPE. For example, the priority of the first CPR may include the priority indicated by the physical layer (Layer 1) and the CAPC corresponding to the first CPE.

[0147] Information indicating whether a terminal device initiates a COT may include whether or not the terminal device initiates a COT. For example, if a terminal device initiates a COT, it is possible to determine the length of the corresponding CPE.

[0148] Information regarding a terminal device's occupancy of a COT may include whether or not the terminal device occupies the COT. For example, if a terminal device occupies a COT initiated by another communication device, the length of the corresponding CPE can be determined.

[0149] By setting the corresponding CPE length based on the first condition, it is possible to prevent some terminal devices from being interfered with when interference is difficult to avoid. For example, by determining the length of the CPE transmitted by terminal devices with relatively high priority based on the first condition, it is possible to prevent high-priority terminal devices from being interfered with.

[0150] As one embodiment, a sidelink resource pool, for example, a second resource pool, can support N configuration lengths, i.e., N CPE lengths, where N may be greater than 1. The length of the CPE transmitted before the transmission of sidelink information or the slot where the channel is located may differ for all terminal devices using the second resource pool. The length of the CPE to be transmitted can be selected from N configuration lengths. The selection conditions can satisfy the first condition above. For example, a terminal device may select one configuration length a as the CPE length based on the priority indicated by Layer 1. Alternatively, a terminal device may select one configuration length b as the CPE length based on the CAPC level. Alternatively, a terminal device may select one CPE length c when initiating a COT. Alternatively, a terminal device may select one CPE length d when sharing and using sidelink resources within a single COT. Of these, a, b, c, and d may all be one of the N configuration lengths. a, b, c, and d may be the same or different.

[0151] Furthermore, the N configuration lengths can be configured by upper-layer signaling, meaning that upper-layer signaling can be used to configure the configuration lengths supported by the resource pool. For example, when configuring a single sidelink resource pool, the configuration parameter set may include one upper-layer parameter, which may include the numerical values ​​of the CPE lengths that the configured resource pool can support (i.e., N configuration lengths). For example, the upper-layer parameter can be represented by CP-extension-SL. CP-extension-SL can satisfy CP-extension-SL={16,25,34,43,52,61}, where the numerical unit may be microseconds.

[0152] The above embodiments may be implemented individually or in combination.

[0153] The above describes embodiments of the method according to the present invention. Below, an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention will be introduced with reference to Figures 22 to 25. Since the description of the method embodiment and the description of the apparatus embodiment correspond to each other, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments of the method can be used to refer to parts that are not described in detail.

[0154] Figure 22 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device 2200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The terminal device 2200 may also include a first transmission unit 2210.

[0155] The first transmitting unit 2210 is used to transmit a first extended cyclic prefix CPE before communication by the first sidelink resource, the length of which the first CPE is a first length.

[0156] In some embodiments, the first length is determined based on first information indicated by the network device.

[0157] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in first downlink control information DCI, which is used to direct the dynamically scheduled first sidelink resource or to activate the first sidelink resource allocated by configured grant type 2.

[0158] In some embodiments, the second DCI includes second information used to indicate a second length, the second length being the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by the second sidelink resource, and the second length being the same as or different from the first length.

[0159] In some embodiments, when the first and second sidelink resources are used for the transmission of the same TB, the second length may be the same as or different from the first length.

[0160] In some embodiments, the first information is carried on an upper layer signaling, which is used to configure the side link configured grant.

[0161] In some embodiments, the first sidelink resource belongs to a first resource pool, the first resource pool supports one or more setting lengths, and the first information is used to indicate that the first length is one of the one or more setting lengths.

[0162] In some embodiments, the one or more setting lengths are configured by the higher-layer signaling of the network device.

[0163] In some embodiments, the first sidelink resource belongs to a second resource pool, the second resource pool supports a first set length, and the first length is determined based on the first set length.

[0164] In some embodiments, the first setting length is set by the network device or is pre-set.

[0165] In some embodiments, the third resource pool supports a second set length, the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by the sidelink resources in the third resource pool is the third length, the third length is determined based on the second set length, and the first and second set lengths are different or the same if the resources in the second resource pool and the resources in the third resource pool belong to different resource block sets (RB sets).

[0166] In some embodiments, the third resource pool supports a second set length, the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by the sidelink resources in the third resource pool is the third length, the third length is determined based on the second set length, and the first and second set lengths are the same if some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources in the third resource pool belong to the same RB set.

[0167] In some embodiments, some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources in the third resource pool share the same RB set using frequency division multiplexing (FDM).

[0168] In some embodiments, the second resource pool is used to perform resource allocation in either the first or second mode, and the third resource pool is used to perform resource allocation in either the first or second mode.

[0169] In some embodiments, the first length is determined based on a first condition, the first condition relating to one or more of the following: the priority of the first CPE, information that the terminal device initiates channel occupancy time (COT), and information that the terminal devices share COT with.

[0170] In some embodiments, the priority includes the priority indicated by the physical layer of the terminal device and the channel access priority class CAPC of the channel access process corresponding to the first CPE.

[0171] In some embodiments, if the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates COT, then when the subcarrier interval is less than 30 kHz, the first length is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of one orthogonal frequency division multiplexing OFDM symbol, and if the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates COT, then when the subcarrier interval is 30 kHz or more, the first length is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of two OFDM symbols.

[0172] In some embodiments, if the terminal device is a terminal device that shares a COT, then the first length is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of one OFDM symbol.

[0173] In some embodiments, the first sidelink resource comprises one or more resource units, each of which corresponds to one sidelink slot in the time domain and / or to one or more resource blocks RB in the frequency domain.

[0174] In some embodiments, the first sidelink resource belongs to the license-free spectrum.

[0175] Figure 23 is a schematic diagram of the network device 2300 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The network device 2300 may include a second transmission unit 2310.

[0176] The second transmitting unit 2310 is used to transmit first information to a terminal device, of which the first information is used to indicate a first length, the first length is used to indicate the length of a first extended cyclic prefix CPE, and the first CPE is a CPE that the terminal device transmits before communication via the first sidelink resource.

[0177] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in first downlink control information DCI, which is used to direct the dynamically scheduled first sidelink resource or to activate the first sidelink resource allocated by configured grant type 2.

[0178] In some embodiments, the second DCI includes second information used to indicate a second length, the second length being the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by the second sidelink resource, and the second length being the same as or different from the first length.

[0179] In some embodiments, when the first and second sidelink resources are used for the transmission of the same TB, the second length may be the same as or different from the first length.

[0180] In some embodiments, the first information is carried on an upper layer signaling, which is used to configure the side link configured grant.

[0181] In some embodiments, the first sidelink resource belongs to a first resource pool, the first resource pool supports one or more setting lengths, and the first information is used to indicate that the first length is one of the one or more setting lengths.

[0182] In some embodiments, the one or more setting lengths are configured by the higher-layer signaling of the network device.

[0183] In some embodiments, the first sidelink resource belongs to a second resource pool, the second resource pool supports a first set length, the first set length is set by the first information, and the first length is determined based on the first set length.

[0184] In some embodiments, the third resource pool supports a second set length, and the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by the sidelink resources in the third resource pool is the third length, the third length is determined based on the second set length, and the first and second set lengths are different or the same if the resources in the second resource pool and the resources in the third resource pool belong to different resource block sets (RB sets).

[0185] In some embodiments, the third resource pool supports a second setting length, and the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by the sidelink resources in the third resource pool is the third length, the third length is determined based on the second setting length, and the first and second setting lengths are the same if some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources in the third resource pool belong to the same RB set.

[0186] In some embodiments, some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources in the third resource pool share the same RB set using frequency division multiplexing (FDM).

[0187] In some embodiments, the second resource pool is used to perform resource allocation in either the first or second mode, and the third resource pool is used to perform resource allocation in either the first or second mode.

[0188] In some embodiments, the first length is determined based on a first condition, the first condition relating to one or more of the following: the priority of the first CPE, information that the terminal device initiates channel occupancy time (COT), and information that the terminal devices share COT with.

[0189] In some embodiments, the priority includes the priority indicated by the physical layer of the terminal device and the channel access priority class CAPC of the channel access process corresponding to the first CPE.

[0190] In some embodiments, if the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates COT, then when the subcarrier interval is less than 30 kHz, the first length is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of one orthogonal frequency division multiplexing OFDM symbol, and if the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates COT, then when the subcarrier interval is 30 kHz or more, the first length is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of two OFDM symbols.

[0191] In some embodiments, if the terminal device is a terminal device that shares a COT, then the first length is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of one OFDM symbol.

[0192] In some embodiments, the first sidelink resource comprises one or more resource units, each of which corresponds to one sidelink slot in the time domain and / or to one or more resource blocks RB in the frequency domain.

[0193] In some embodiments, the first sidelink resource belongs to the license-free spectrum.

[0194] In an optional embodiment, the first transmitting unit 2210 and the second transmitting unit 2310 may be transceivers 2440. The terminal equipment 2200 or network equipment 2300 may further include a processor 2410 and memory 2420, as specifically shown in Figure 24.

[0195] Figure 24 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The dotted lines in Figure 24 indicate that the unit or module is selective. The device 2400 can be used to implement the method described in the embodiment of the method described above. The device 2400 may be a chip, terminal equipment, or network equipment.

[0196] The apparatus 2400 may include one or more processors 2410. The processors 2410 are capable of supporting the apparatus 2400 in implementing the methods described in the embodiments of the above-described methods. The processors 2410 may be general-purpose processors or dedicated processors. For example, the processor may be a central processing unit (CPU). Alternatively, the processor may be another general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor, etc.

[0197] The device 2400 may further include one or more memories 2420. A program is stored in the memory 2420, which is executable by the processor 2410, thereby causing the processor 2410 to perform the method described in the embodiment of the above method. The memory 2420 may be independent of the processor 2410 or may be integrated with the processor 2410.

[0198] The device 2400 may further include a transceiver 2430. The processor 2410 can communicate with other devices or chips via the transceiver 2430. For example, the processor 2410 can send and receive data with other devices or chips via the transceiver 2430.

[0199] Embodiments of the present invention further provide a computer-readable storage medium for storing a program. The computer-readable storage medium is applicable to a terminal or network device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the program causes a computer to execute the method performed by the terminal or network device in each embodiment of the present invention.

[0200] Embodiments of the present invention further provide a computer program product. The computer program product includes a program. The computer program product is applicable to a terminal or network device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the program causes a computer to execute a method performed by the terminal or network device in each embodiment of the present invention.

[0201] Embodiments of the present invention further provide a computer program. The computer program is applicable to a terminal or network device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the computer program causes a computer to execute a method performed by the terminal or network device in each embodiment of the present invention.

[0202] It should be understood that the terms “system” and “network” in this invention are interchangeable. Furthermore, the terms used in this invention are merely for the purpose of interpreting specific embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention. Terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” and “fourth” in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this invention are for the purpose of distinguishing different subjects and are not intended to describe a particular order. Furthermore, the terms “include,” “have,” and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0203] In embodiments of the present invention, the "instruction" referred to may be a direct instruction, an indirect instruction, or an indication of a related relationship. For example, A instructing B may mean that A directly instructs B, for example, indicating that B is obtainable by A; or A indirectly instructs B, for example, that A instructs C, indicating that B is obtainable by C; or it may indicate that a related relationship exists between A and B.

[0204] In embodiments of the present invention, "B corresponding to A" indicates that B is associated with A and that B can be determined based on A. However, it should be understood that determining B based on A does not mean determining B based solely on A, and that B can be determined based on A and / or other information.

[0205] In embodiments of the present invention, the term "correspondence" may indicate that there is a direct or indirect corresponding relationship between the two, or that there is a related relationship between the two, or that there is a relationship such as that which indicates and that which is indicated, or that which sets and that which is set.

[0206] In embodiments of the present invention, “pre-definition” or “pre-configuration” can be achieved by pre-storing a corresponding code, table, or other method that can be used to indicate relevant information in a device (including, for example, terminal devices and network devices). The present invention does not limit the specific method of implementation. For example, pre-definition may be defined in a protocol.

[0207] In embodiments of the present invention, the term "protocol" as described may refer to standard protocols in the field of communications, and may include, for example, LTE protocols, NR protocols, and related protocols applicable to future communication systems, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0208] In the embodiments of this invention, the terms "and / or" are merely used to describe the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships are possible. For example, A and / or B may represent three situations: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. In addition, the character " / " in this paper generally indicates that the preceding and succeeding related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0209] In embodiments of the present invention, the term "includes" may mean directly or indirectly. Optionally, the term "includes" used in embodiments of the present invention can be replaced with "indicates" or "used to determine." For example, "A includes B" can be replaced with "A indicates B" or "A is used to determine B."

[0210] In the various embodiments of the present invention, the relative order of the above numbers does not indicate the order of execution, and the execution order should be determined by its function and inherent logic, and should not impose any restrictions on the implementation of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0211] In some embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods may be implemented in other ways. For example, the embodiments of the devices described above are schematic, and the division of the units is merely a division of logic functions; other division methods are possible in actual implementation, for example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not performed. Furthermore, the combinations, direct combinations, or communication connections shown or discussed may be indirect combinations or communication connections by some interfaces, devices, or units, and may be electrical, mechanical, or of other forms.

[0212] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units can be selected as needed to achieve the objectives of the embodiment described herein.

[0213] Furthermore, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present invention may be integrated into a single processing unit, each unit may exist physically independently, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit.

[0214] In the embodiments described above, the embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, the embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the flows or functions described in the embodiments of the present invention are generated in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored on a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, radio, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can read, or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes an integration of one or more available media. The usable media may be magnetic media (e.g., flexible disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes), optical media (e.g., digital video discs, DVDs), or semiconductor media (e.g., solid state disks, SSDs).

[0215] The above describes only specific embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any modifications or substitutions that a person skilled in the art can easily conceive within the technical scope disclosed herein should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of protection of the present invention should be in accordance with the scope of protection of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Prior to communication via the first sidelink resource, the terminal device transmits a first extended cyclic prefix (CPE) having a first length, A communication method characterized by the following features.

2. The first length is determined based on first information indicated by the network device. The method according to feature 1.

3. The first information is carried in the first downlink control information (DCI), The first DCI is, Used to direct the dynamically scheduled first sidelink resource, Alternatively, used to activate the first side link resource allocated by Configured Grant Type 2, The method according to feature 2.

4. The second DCI includes second information, which is used to indicate a second length, the second length being the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by the second sidelink resource, and the second length being the same as or different from the first length. The method according to feature 3.

5. When the first side link resource and the second side link resource are used for the transmission of the same TB, the second length may be the same as or different from the first length. The method according to feature 4.

6. The first information is carried on a higher layer signaling, and the higher layer signaling is used to set the side link configured grant. The method according to feature 2.

7. The first sidelink resource belongs to a first resource pool, the first resource pool supports one or more set lengths, and the first information is used to indicate that the first length is one of the one or more set lengths. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized by...

8. The one or more of the aforementioned setting lengths are set by the higher-layer signaling of the network device. The method according to feature 7.

9. The first sidelink resource belongs to the second resource pool, the second resource pool supports a first set length, and the first length is determined based on the first set length. The method according to feature 1.

10. The first setting length is set by the network device or is pre-set. The method according to feature 9.

11. The third resource pool supports a second setting length, and the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by the sidelink resources in the third resource pool is the third length, the third length is determined based on the second setting length, and if the resources included in the second resource pool and the resources included in the third resource pool belong to different resource block sets, the first setting length and the second setting length may be different or the same. The method according to 9 or 10, characterized by the features described herein.

12. The third resource pool supports a second setting length, and the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by sidelink resources in the third resource pool is the third length, the third length is determined based on the second setting length, and the first setting length and the second setting length are the same if some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources included in the third resource pool belong to the same resource block set. The method according to 9 or 10, characterized by the features described herein.

13. Some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources included in the third resource pool share the same resource block set using frequency division multiplexing (FDM). The method according to 12, characterized by the features described above.

14. The second resource pool is used to perform resource allocation in either the first or second mode, and the third resource pool is used to perform resource allocation in either the first or second mode. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized by...

15. The first length is determined based on the first condition, The first condition is, The priority of the first CPE mentioned above, The information that the terminal device uses to initiate channel occupancy time (COT), The information shared by the terminal device with COT, and related to one or more of the following items: The method according to feature 1.

16. The aforementioned priority includes the priority indicated by the physical layer of the terminal device and the channel access priority class (CAPC) of the channel access process corresponding to the first CPE. The method according to the present invention, characterized by the present invention.

17. If the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates COT, then when the subcarrier spacing is less than 30 kHz, the first length satisfies the condition that it is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of one orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol. If the terminal device is a terminal device that generates a COT, then when the subcarrier interval is 30 kHz or more, the first length satisfies the condition that it is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of two OFDM symbols. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized by...

18. If the terminal device is a terminal device that shares a COT, then the first length satisfies the condition that it is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of one OFDM symbol. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized by...

19. The first sidelink resource includes one or more resource units, each resource unit corresponding to one sidelink slot in the time domain and / or one or more resource blocks (RBs) in the frequency domain. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized by...

20. The first sidelink resource belongs to the license-free spectrum. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized by...

21. This includes the network device transmitting first information to the terminal device, The first information is used to indicate a first length, the first length is used to indicate the length of a first extended cyclic prefix (CPE), and the first CPE is a CPE transmitted by the terminal device before communication by the first sidelink resource. A communication method characterized by the following features.

22. The first information is carried in the first downlink control information (DCI), The first DCI is, Used to direct the dynamically scheduled first sidelink resource, Alternatively, used to activate the first side link resource allocated by Configured Grant Type 2, The method according to feature 21.

23. The second DCI includes second information, which is used to indicate a second length, the second length being the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by the second sidelink resource, and the second length being the same as or different from the first length. The method according to the feature of 22.

24. When the first side link resource and the second side link resource are used for the transmission of the same TB, the second length may be the same as or different from the first length. The method according to the feature of 23.

25. The first information is carried on a higher layer signaling, and the higher layer signaling is used to set the side link configured grant. The method according to feature 21.

26. The first sidelink resource belongs to a first resource pool, the first resource pool supports one or more set lengths, and the first information is used to indicate that the first length is one of the one or more set lengths. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 25, characterized by...

27. The one or more of the aforementioned setting lengths are set by the higher-layer signaling of the network device. The method according to the feature of 26.

28. The first sidelink resource belongs to the second resource pool, the second resource pool supports a first set length, the first set length is set by the first information, and the first length is determined based on the first set length. The method according to feature 21.

29. The third resource pool supports a second setting length, and the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by the sidelink resources in the third resource pool is the third length, the third length is determined based on the second setting length, and if the resources included in the second resource pool and the resources included in the third resource pool belong to different resource block sets, the first setting length and the second setting length may be different or the same. The method according to feature 28.

30. The third resource pool supports a second setting length, and the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by sidelink resources in the third resource pool is the third length, the third length is determined based on the second setting length, and the first setting length and the second setting length are the same if some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources included in the third resource pool belong to the same resource block set. The method according to feature 28.

31. Some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources included in the third resource pool share the same resource block set using frequency division multiplexing (FDM). The method according to the present invention, characterized by the present invention.

32. The second resource pool is used to perform resource allocation in either the first or second mode, and the third resource pool is used to perform resource allocation in either the first or second mode. The method according to any one of claims 29 to 31, characterized by...

33. The first length is determined based on the first condition, The first condition is, The priority of the first CPE mentioned above, The information that the terminal device uses to initiate channel occupancy time (COT), The information shared by the terminal device with COT, and related to one or more of the following items: The method according to feature 21.

34. The aforementioned priority includes the priority indicated by the physical layer of the terminal device and the channel access priority class (CAPC) of the channel access process corresponding to the first CPE. The method according to feature 33.

35. If the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates COT, then when the subcarrier spacing is less than 30 kHz, the first length satisfies the condition that it is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of one orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol. If the terminal device is a terminal device that generates a COT, then when the subcarrier interval is 30 kHz or more, the first length satisfies the condition that it is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of two OFDM symbols. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 34, characterized by...

36. If the terminal device is a terminal device that shares a COT, then the first length satisfies the condition that it is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of one OFDM symbol. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 34, characterized by...

37. The first sidelink resource includes one or more resource units, each resource unit corresponding to one sidelink slot in the time domain and / or one or more resource blocks (RBs) in the frequency domain. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 36, characterized by...

38. The first sidelink resource belongs to the license-free spectrum. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 37, characterized by...

39. The system includes a first transmitting unit configured to transmit a first extended cyclic prefix (CPE) of a first length before communication by a first sidelink resource, A terminal device characterized by the following features.

40. The first length is determined based on first information indicated by the network device. The terminal device according to feature 39.

41. The first information is carried in the first downlink control information (DCI), The first DCI is, Used to direct the dynamically scheduled first sidelink resource, Alternatively, used to activate the first side link resource allocated by Configured Grant Type 2, The terminal device according to feature 40.

42. The second DCI includes second information, which is used to indicate a second length, the second length being the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by the second sidelink resource, and the second length being the same as or different from the first length. The terminal device according to feature 41.

43. When the first side link resource and the second side link resource are used for the transmission of the same TB, the second length may be the same as or different from the first length. The terminal device according to feature 42.

44. The first information is carried on a higher layer signaling, and the higher layer signaling is used to set the side link configured grant. The terminal device according to feature 40.

45. The first sidelink resource belongs to a first resource pool, the first resource pool supports one or more set lengths, and the first information is used to indicate that the first length is one of the one or more set lengths. A terminal device according to any one of claims 40 to 44.

46. The one or more of the aforementioned setting lengths are set by the higher-layer signaling of the network device. The terminal device according to feature 45.

47. The first sidelink resource belongs to the second resource pool, the second resource pool supports a first set length, and the first length is determined based on the first set length. The terminal device according to feature 39.

48. The first setting length is set by the network device or is pre-set. The terminal device according to feature 47.

49. The third resource pool supports a second setting length, and the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by the sidelink resources in the third resource pool is the third length, the third length is determined based on the second setting length, and if the resources included in the second resource pool and the resources included in the third resource pool belong to different resource block sets, the first setting length and the second setting length may be different or the same. The terminal device according to feature 47 or 48.

50. The third resource pool supports a second setting length, and the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by sidelink resources in the third resource pool is the third length, the third length is determined based on the second setting length, and the first setting length and the second setting length are the same if some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources included in the third resource pool belong to the same resource block set. The terminal device according to feature 47 or 48.

51. Some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources included in the third resource pool share the same resource block set using frequency division multiplexing (FDM). The terminal device according to claim 50.

52. The second resource pool is used to perform resource allocation in either the first or second mode, and the third resource pool is used to perform resource allocation in either the first or second mode. The terminal device according to any one of claims 49 to 51.

53. The first length is determined based on the first condition, The first condition is, The priority of the first CPE mentioned above, The information that the terminal device uses to initiate channel occupancy time (COT), The information shared by the terminal device with COT, and related to one or more of the following items: The terminal device according to feature 39.

54. The aforementioned priority includes the priority indicated by the physical layer of the terminal device and the channel access priority class (CAPC) of the channel access process corresponding to the first CPE. The terminal device according to claim 53.

55. If the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates COT, then when the subcarrier spacing is less than 30 kHz, the first length satisfies the condition that it is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of one orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol. If the terminal device is a terminal device that generates a COT, then when the subcarrier interval is 30 kHz or more, the first length satisfies the condition that it is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of two OFDM symbols. The terminal device according to any one of claims 39 to 54.

56. If the terminal device is a terminal device that shares a COT, then the first length satisfies the condition that it is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of one OFDM symbol. The terminal device according to any one of claims 39 to 54.

57. The first sidelink resource includes one or more resource units, each resource unit corresponding to one sidelink slot in the time domain and / or one or more resource blocks (RBs) in the frequency domain. The terminal device according to any one of claims 39 to 56.

58. The first sidelink resource belongs to the license-free spectrum. The terminal device according to any one of claims 39 to 57, characterized by the following:

59. Includes a second transmission unit configured to transmit first information to a terminal device, The first information is used to indicate a first length, the first length is used to indicate the length of a first extended cyclic prefix (CPE), and the first CPE is a CPE transmitted by the terminal device before communication by the first sidelink resource. Network equipment characterized by the following features.

60. The first information is carried in the first downlink control information (DCI), The first DCI is, Used to direct the dynamically scheduled first sidelink resource, Alternatively, used to activate the first side link resource allocated by Configured Grant Type 2, The network device according to claim 59.

61. The second DCI includes second information, which is used to indicate a second length, the second length being the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by the second sidelink resource, and the second length being the same as or different from the first length. The network device according to claim 60.

62. When the first side link resource and the second side link resource are used for the transmission of the same TB, the second length may be the same as or different from the first length. The network device according to feature 61.

63. The first information is carried on a higher layer signaling, and the higher layer signaling is used to set the side link configured grant. The network device according to claim 59.

64. The first sidelink resource belongs to a first resource pool, the first resource pool supports one or more set lengths, and the first information is used to indicate that the first length is one of the one or more set lengths. The network device according to any one of claims 59 to 63.

65. The one or more of the aforementioned setting lengths are set by the higher-layer signaling of the network device. The network device according to feature 64.

66. The first sidelink resource belongs to the second resource pool, the second resource pool supports a first set length, the first set length is set by the first information, and the first length is determined based on the first set length. The network device according to claim 59.

67. The third resource pool supports a second setting length, and the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by the sidelink resources in the third resource pool is the third length, the third length is determined based on the second setting length, and if the resources included in the second resource pool and the resources included in the third resource pool belong to different resource block sets, the first setting length and the second setting length may be different or the same. The network device according to claim 66.

68. The third resource pool supports a second setting length, and the length of the CPE transmitted before communication by sidelink resources in the third resource pool is the third length, the third length is determined based on the second setting length, and the first setting length and the second setting length are the same if some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources included in the third resource pool belong to the same resource block set. The network device according to claim 66.

69. Some or all of the resources in the second resource pool and some or all of the resources included in the third resource pool share the same resource block set using frequency division multiplexing (FDM). The network device according to feature 68.

70. The second resource pool is used to perform resource allocation in either the first or second mode, and the third resource pool is used to perform resource allocation in either the first or second mode. The network device according to any one of claims 67 to 69, characterized by the features described herein.

71. The first length is determined based on the first condition, The first condition is, The priority of the first CPE mentioned above, The information that the terminal device uses to initiate channel occupancy time (COT), The information shared by the terminal device with COT, and related to one or more of the following items: The network device according to claim 59.

72. The aforementioned priority includes the priority indicated by the physical layer of the terminal device and the channel access priority class (CAPC) of the channel access process corresponding to the first CPE. The network device according to feature 71.

73. If the terminal device is a terminal device that initiates COT, then when the subcarrier spacing is less than 30 kHz, the first length satisfies the condition that it is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of one orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol. If the terminal device is a terminal device that generates a COT, then when the subcarrier interval is 30 kHz or more, the first length satisfies the condition that it is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of two OFDM symbols. A network device according to any one of claims 59 to 72, characterized by the features described herein.

74. If the terminal device is a terminal device that shares a COT, then the first length satisfies the condition that it is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of one OFDM symbol. A network device according to any one of claims 59 to 72, characterized by the features described herein.

75. The first sidelink resource includes one or more resource units, each resource unit corresponding to one sidelink slot in the time domain and / or one or more resource blocks (RBs) in the frequency domain. A network device according to any one of claims 59 to 74.

76. The first sidelink resource belongs to the license-free spectrum. A network device according to any one of claims 59 to 75, characterized by the following features.

77. Including memory and processor, The memory is configured to store a program, The processor is configured to call a program in the memory and cause the terminal device to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 20. A terminal device characterized by the following features.

78. Including memory and processor, The memory is configured to store a program, The processor is configured to call a program in the memory and cause the network device to execute the method described in any one of claims 21 to 38. Network equipment characterized by the following features.

79. A device including a processor, The processor is configured to call a program from memory and cause the device to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 38. A device characterized by the following features.

80. A chip including a processor, The processor is configured to call a program from memory and cause the device on which the chip is mounted to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 38. A chip characterized by the following features.

81. A program is stored in which a computer is instructed to perform the method described in any one of claims 1 to 38. A computer-readable storage medium characterized by the following features.

82. A program that causes a computer to perform the method described in any one of claims 1 to 38, A computer program product characterized by the following features.

83. To cause a computer to perform the method described in any one of claims 1 to 38, A computer program characterized by the following features.

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