UE - to - UE coordination request signal in vehicle - to - vehicle communication

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and methods described herein relate to a first UE device that transmits a request for Inter-UE Coordination (IUC) information to a second UE device. The request for the IUC information is transmitted within a set of physical resources that includes control information indicating a destination Layer 2 identifier (destination L2 ID) associated with the second UE device. The second UE device transmits the IUC information to the first UE device. The first UE device selects communication resources to be used for communication with the second UE device based at least in part on the IUC information.

Description

Claim of Priority

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 184,651, filed on May 5, 2021, with docket number TPRO - 00360US and titled "UE - to - UE Coordination Request Signal in Vehicle - to - Vehicle Communication". The U.S. Provisional Application has been assigned to the assignee of this application and is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

[0002] The present invention generally relates to wireless communication, and more particularly, to the exchange of user equipment - to - user equipment coordination information between wireless communication devices.

Background Art

[0003] The coordination of information between user equipment (UE) devices makes the communication between UE devices more efficient.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The apparatuses, systems, and methods described herein relate to a first UE device transmitting a request for inter - UE coordination (IUC) information to a second UE device. The request for IUC information is transmitted within a set of physical resources that includes control information indicating a destination layer 2 identifier (Destination Layer 2 identifier (Destination L2 ID (destination L2 ID))) associated with the second UE device. The second UE device transmits the IUC information to the first UE device. The first UE device selects communication resources to be used for communication with the second UE device based at least in part on the IUC information.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0005]

Figure 1

[0006]

Figure 2A

[0007]

Figure 2B

[0008]

Figure 3

[0009] The examples described below generally target vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication in which a vehicle transfers information that affects or has the potential to affect the vehicle to any entity. For example, V2X is a vehicle communication system that incorporates other more specific types of communication, including vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-network (V2N), vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P), vehicle-to-device (V2D), and vehicle-to-grid (V2G). V2X communication technologies include V2X based on Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.11 and cellular V2X (C-V2X), depending on the underlying technology used. Examples of V2X protocols include LTE (Long-Term Evolution) (Rel-14) V2X mode 3 and mode 4, and 5G NR (New Radio) V2X mode 1 and mode 2.

[0010] In some of the examples described here, the wireless communication device is a user equipment (UE) device or a vehicle user equipment (VUEs) device that exchanges data. Here, the data is collected via local sensors (for example, in the case of using extended sensors) or live video data between a vehicle, a roadside unit (RSU), a pedestrian's device, and a V2X application server. In some examples, vehicles equipped with an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) use sensors such as cameras, radars, and / or lidar to sense the surrounding environment and other vehicles.

[0011] However, in multiple vehicles transmitting signals within the same normal area, collisions of data transmission may occur, and the system performance may degrade due to failures in signal transmission and reception. Furthermore, delays or failures in signal transmission may also pose safety problems for vehicles and pedestrians in that area. Therefore, it may be advantageous to implement inter-UE coordination (IUC) messaging to improve the resource allocation performance in Mode 2. This is because the possibility of data transmission collisions is reduced as communication resources with a low probability of interfering with each other are allocated to UEs.

[0012] Considering data transmission collisions, there are two main scenarios. In the first scenario, a collision has already occurred between two data transmissions, and the receiving UE has detected the collision. The second scenario is when two data transmissions may collide, but the actual data transmission has not yet taken place. The second scenario occurs when the two transmitting UEs do not recognize each other and have accidentally reserved the same transmission resources for their respective future data transmissions. The first and second scenarios are referred to as "post-collision" and "potential-collision", respectively.

[0013] In NR V2X, the UE performing transmission cannot reserve an initial transmission and has a half-duplex constraint. This means that signals cannot be transmitted and received simultaneously. As a result, in the "post-collision" scenario, there is a possibility that two transmitting UEs may incorrectly select the same resource or time slot for transmission, resulting in a data collision. Similarly, there is a possibility that the transmitting UE and the receiving UE paired with each other may incorrectly select the same resource or time slot for transmission, resulting in a data reception failure.

[0014] "Potential collisions" become a more difficult scenario. To avoid potential collisions, the transmitting UE must be able to predict the collision before data transmission. The main cause of potential collisions is when two transmitting UEs are in a hidden-node situation. A typical hidden-node situation occurs when there are obstacles such that the transmissions of two transmitting UEs cannot reach each other, yet still cause interference to each other's respective receiving UEs.

[0015] One solution to the hidden-node situation is to support IUC messaging from the receiving UE to notify the transmitting UE of a list of (non-)priority resources for transmission. However, the transmission of the list itself may cause interference. Furthermore, this type of adjustment only functions after a transmission collision between hidden nodes has already occurred and been detected.

[0016] The apparatus, system, and method discussed herein include a first UE device that transmits a request for UE-to-UE coordination (IUC) information to a second UE device. The request for IUC information is transmitted within a set of physical resources that includes control information indicating a destination layer 2 identifier (Destination Layer 2 identifier (Destination L2 ID (destination L2 ID))) associated with the second UE device. The second UE device transmits the IUC information to the first UE device. The first UE device selects communication resources to be used for communication with the second UE device based at least in part on the IUC information.

[0017] The different examples described herein may be discussed individually, but any feature of any example may be added to, deleted from, or combined with any other example. Similarly, any feature of any example may be implemented in parallel or in a different method / order than that described or shown herein.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a system 100 in which a first user equipment (UE) device requests inter-UE coordination (IUC) information from a second UE device, the request being transmitted within a set of physical resources that includes control information indicating a destination layer 2 identifier (destination L2 ID) associated with the second UE device. The first UE device receives the IUC information from the second UE device and selects communication resources to be used for communication with the second UE device based at least in part on the IUC information.

[0019] For simplicity, FIG. 1 shows only the first UE device 102 and the second UE device 104. However, in other examples, any number of UE devices can be used. As shown in FIG. 2B, the user equipment device (UE) 102 includes a control unit 216, a transmission unit 218, a reception unit 214, and an antenna 212, as well as other electronic devices, hardware, and software code. The first UE device 102 may also be referred to herein as the first UE or the first wireless communication device (WCD). The UE 102 is wirelessly connected to a radio access network (not shown) via a base station 106, and the base station 106 provides various radio services to the UE 102. As illustratively shown in FIG. 1, the UE 102 operates according to at least one revision of the 3GPP 5G NR (3rd Generation Partnership Project 5G New Radio) communication specification. In other examples, the UE 102 may operate according to other communication specifications. As illustratively shown in FIG. 1, both UEs have the same configuration, circuitry, and components as the UE 102 of FIG. 2B. However, in other examples, any of the UEs in FIG. 1 may have a configuration, circuitry, and components different from those of the UE 102.

[0020] UE102 is any fixed, movable, or portable device that executes the functions described herein. The various functions and operations of the blocks described with reference to UE102 may be implemented in any number of devices, circuits, or elements. Two or more functional blocks may be integrated into a single device, and the functions described as being performed by any single device may be implemented across multiple devices.

[0021] The control unit 216 includes not only any combination of hardware, software, and / or firmware for executing the functions described herein, but also for making all functions of the user equipment device more efficient. Examples of a suitable control unit 216 include software code executed on a microprocessor or an array of processors connected to a memory. The transmission unit 218 includes an electronic device configured to transmit a radio signal. In some cases, the transmission unit 218 may include a plurality of transmission units. The reception unit 214 includes an electronic device configured to receive a radio signal. In some cases, the reception unit 214 may include a plurality of reception units. The reception unit 214 and the transmission unit 218 receive and transmit signals via the antenna 212, respectively. The antenna 212 may include a separate transmission antenna and a reception antenna. In some cases, the antenna 212 may include a plurality of transmission antennas and reception antennas.

[0022] The transmission unit 218 and the reception unit 214 in the example of FIG. 2B perform radio frequency (RF) processing including modulation and demodulation. Accordingly, the reception unit 214 may include components such as low noise amplifiers (LNAs) and filters. The transmission unit 218 may include filters and amplifiers. Other components may include isolators, matching circuits, and other RF components. These components, in combination with or in cooperation with other components, execute the functions of the user equipment device. The required components may depend on the specific functions required by the user equipment device.

[0023] The transmitting unit 218 includes a modulator (not shown), and the receiving unit 214 includes a demodulator (not shown). The modulator can apply any one of a plurality of modulation orders to modulate the signal transmitted by the transmitting unit 218. The demodulator demodulates the received signal according to one of the plurality of modulation orders.

[0024] For clarity and simplicity, only one base station is shown in FIG. 1. However, in other examples, any suitable number of base stations can be utilized. In the example of FIG. 1, the base station 106 provides wireless services to UEs within the coverage area 108. Although not explicitly shown, the coverage area 108 may be composed of a plurality of cells. In the example shown in FIG. 1, it is as follows. As exemplarily shown in FIG. 1, the base station 106, sometimes referred to as a gNodeB or gNB, can receive uplink messages from the UE device and can transmit downlink messages to the UE device.

[0025] The base station 106 is connected to the network via a backhaul (not shown) according to known techniques. As shown in FIG. 2A, the base station 106 includes a controller 204, a transmitting unit 206, a receiving unit 208, and an antenna 210, as well as other electronic devices, hardware, and code. The base station 106 is any fixed, movable, or portable device that executes the functions described herein. The various functions and operations of the blocks described with reference to the base station 106 can be implemented by any number of devices, circuits, or elements. Two or more functional blocks may be integrated into a single device, and the functions described as being executed by any single device may be implemented across multiple devices.

[0026] As exemplarily shown in FIG. 2A, the base station 106 may be a fixed device or equipment installed at a specific location during system deployment. Examples of such equipment include fixed base stations or fixed transceiver stations. In some cases, the base station 106 may be a movable device temporarily installed at a specific location. Some examples of such equipment include mobile transceiver stations that can include power generation equipment such as generators, solar panels, and / or batteries. Larger and heavier versions of such equipment may be transported by trailer. In still other cases, the base station 106 may be a portable device that is not fixed to a specific location. Thus, the base station 106 may in some cases be a portable user device such as a UE device.

[0027] The controller 204 includes not only any combination of hardware, software, and / or firmware for performing the functions described herein, but also for making all functions of the base station 106 more efficient. Examples of suitable controllers 204 include software code executed on a microprocessor or array of processors connected to a memory. The transmitter 206 includes electronic equipment configured to transmit radio signals. In some cases, the transmitter 206 may include multiple transmitters. The receiver 208 includes electronic equipment configured to receive radio signals. In some cases, the receiver 208 may include multiple receivers. The receiver 208 and the transmitter 206 receive and transmit signals via the antenna 210, respectively. The antenna 210 may include separate transmit and receive antennas. In some cases, the antenna 210 may include multiple transmit and receive antennas.

[0028] In the example of FIG. 2A, the transmitter 206 and the receiver 208 perform radio frequency (RF) processing including modulation and demodulation. Accordingly, the receiver 208 can include components such as low noise amplifiers (LNAs) and filters. The transmitter 206 can include filters and amplifiers. Other components can include isolators, matching circuits, and other RF components. These components, in combination with or in cooperation with other components, perform the functions of the user equipment device. The necessary components may depend on the specific functions required by the user equipment device.

[0029] The transmitter 206 includes a modulator (not shown), and the receiver 208 includes a demodulator (not shown). The modulator can modulate the signal to be transmitted and apply any one of a plurality of modulation orders. The demodulator demodulates any uplink signal received at the base station 106 according to one of the plurality of modulation orders.

[0030] As exemplarily shown in FIG. 1, the base station 106 can notify the UE devices within the coverage area 108 of the signal 110. In some examples, the network can configure the UE devices within the coverage area 108 via the signal 110 notified by the base station 106. The first UE device 102 and the second UE device 104 are connected by a sidelink communication link 112. This allows both UEs to communicate directly with each other via a direct channel. In other examples, other suitable types of communication links may be utilized in the system 100.

[0031] In operation, the first UE device 102 transmits a request for inter-UE coordination (IUC) information to the second UE device 104 via its transmitter 218 and antenna 212. However, in some examples, before transmitting the request for IUC information, the first UE device 102 requests physical resources from its gNB 106 and indicates to the gNB 106 that the resource request is associated with a destination layer 2 identifier. When the first UE device 102 is in the radio resource control connected (RRC CONNECTED) state with respect to the gNB 106, the first UE device 102 can use a sidelink UE information NR (SidelinkUEInformationNR) message or a UE assistance information (UEAssistancelnformation) message that includes the destination layer 2 identifier to transmit an IUC resource request to the gNB 106.

[0032] In the case of dedicated signaling, the first UE device 102 will receive an IUC resource allocation from the gNB 106 within a radio resource control reconfiguration (RRCReconfiguration) message. Alternatively, when the first UE device 102 is in any RRC state, the IUC resources may be set in SIB12 as a resource pool, whereby the destination layer 2 identifier may be indicated as an initial value of the destination layer 2 identifier that can be mapped to one or more services or one or more users. This means that any UE device can use the resources for transmitting IUC to a destination UE device within the range of the initial value of the destination layer 2 identifier. Since the first UE device 102 may be outside the coverage area, the IUC resources may be pre-configured.

[0033] In some examples, the first UE device 102 transmits a request for IUC information within a set of physical resources that includes control information indicating a destination layer 2 identifier (destination L2 ID) associated with the second UE device 104. For example, in some examples, the request for IUC information may be transmitted within a physical resource block (PRB) mapped to the destination L2 ID associated with the second UE device 104. In these examples, the receiving unit 214 of the first UE device 102 may further be configured to receive a message including PRB index allocation information for one or more UE devices including the second UE device 104. Similarly, in some examples, the receiving unit 214 of the first UE device 102 may further be configured to receive a message including the destination L2 ID of one or more UE devices including the second UE device 104.

[0034] In other examples, the first UE device 102 includes a destination L2 ID associated with the second UE device 104 within an upper layer (e.g., application layer) message. Thus, in some examples, the destination L2 ID may not be directly encoded within the sidelink control information (SCI).

[0035] In some examples, the request for IUC information includes a 1-bit signal. In other examples, the request for IUC information includes a signal including a plurality of bits.

[0036] In some examples, the request for IUC information is transmitted using a set of communication resources dedicated for transmitting the request for IUC information. In other examples, the request for IUC information is transmitted via the physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH).

[0037] In a further example, the request for IUC information is sent at least an integer number of slots before the first UE device 102 attempts to transmit data to the second UE device 104. In some examples, the first UE device 102 receives that integer from the network (e.g., via signal 110 transmitted from base station 106) via antenna 212 and receiver 214.

[0038] The second UE device 104 receives the request for IUC information via its antenna 212 and receiver 214. In response to this request, the second UE device 104 prepares the IUC information. In some examples, the prepared IUC information includes one or more of the following, as described above: a list of priority communication resources, a list of non-priority communication resources, an indication of expected / potential and / or detected resource contention in the resources indicated by the SCI of the first UE device 102, and the potential / detected hidden node situation of the first UE device 102. In other examples, the prepared IUC information can include any information that enables efficient direct communication between the first UE device 102 and the second UE device 104.

[0039] Regardless of the specific content of the IUC information, the second UE device 104 transmits the IUC information to the first UE device 102 via its transmitter 218 and antenna 212. The first UE device 102 receives the IUC information via its antenna 212 and receiver 214. In some examples, the first UE device 102 receives the IUC information on the next available Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH) resource.

[0040] The first UE device 102 uses its control unit 216 to select communication resources to be used for communication with the second UE device 104 based at least in part on the IUC information. The first UE device 102 and the second UE device 104 communicate with each other using the selected communication resources.

[0041] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an example of a method in which a first user equipment (UE) device requests inter-UE coordination (IUC) information from a second UE device. Here, this request is transmitted within a set of physical resources that includes control information indicating a destination layer 2 identifier (destination L2 ID) associated with the second UE device. In some examples, method 300 begins, in step 301, with the first UE device 102 transmitting a request for physical resources to the base station 106. The request for physical resources indicates to the base station 106 that the request for physical resources is associated with a destination L2 ID associated with the second UE device 104. Method 300 continues, in step 302, with the first UE device 102 transmitting a request for inter-UE coordination (IUC) information to the second UE device 104. The request for IUC information is transmitted within a set of physical resources that includes control information indicating a destination layer 2 identifier (destination L2 ID) associated with the second UE device 104. In step 304, the first UE device 102 receives IUC information from the second UE device 104. In step 306, the first UE device 102 selects communication resources to be used for communication with the second UE device 104, at least in part based on the IUC information. In other examples, one or more of the steps of method 300 may be omitted, combined, executed in parallel, or executed in a different order than described herein or shown in FIG. 3. In yet another example, additional steps not explicitly described in connection with the example shown in FIG. 3 may be added to method 300.

[0042] Obviously, other forms and modifications of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in view of these teachings. The foregoing description is illustrative, not limiting. The present invention is limited only by the claims, including all such forms and modifications when viewed in conjunction with the above specification and the accompanying drawings. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should not be determined with reference to the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the full scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A first UE (User Equipment) device, A transmission unit that transmits a request for IUC (UE - to - UE coordination) information to a second UE device, wherein the request for the IUC information includes control information indicating a destination L2 ID (destination layer 2 identifier) associated with the second UE device, the transmission unit, A reception unit that receives the IUC information from the second UE device, A control unit that selects communication resources to be used for communication with the second UE device based at least in part on the IUC information, comprising, The request for the IUC information includes a 1 - bit signal, The reception unit receives information indicating that a predetermined resource for transmitting the request for the IUC information can be used from a base station, The transmission unit transmits the request for the IUC information using the predetermined resource based on the information received from the base station The first UE device.

2. The transmission unit transmits the request for the IUC information via a Physical Sidelink Feedback Channel (PSFCH: Physical Sidelink Feedback Channel) The first UE device according to claim 1.

3. The reception unit receives a message including Physical Resource Block (PRB: Physical Resource Block) index allocation information for one or more UE devices The first UE device according to claim 1.

4. The reception unit further receives a message including destination L2 IDs of one or more UE devices The first UE device according to claim 1.

5. The receiving unit receives the IUC information using a next available Physical SideLink Control Channel (PSCCH) resource selected from an adjustment message resource pool. The first UE device according to claim 1.

6. The transmitting unit transmits a request for the IUC information at least an integral number of slots before the first UE device attempts to transmit data to the second UE device. The first UE device according to claim 1.

7. The receiving unit further receives the integer from the network. The first UE device according to claim 6.

8. The transmitting unit further transmits a request for a physical resource associated with the destination L2 ID associated with the second UE device to the base station. The first UE device according to claim 1.

9. A method performed by a first UE (User Equipment) device, comprising: transmitting a request for IUC (UE-to-UE coordination) information to a second UE device, the request for IUC information including control information indicating a destination L2 ID (destination layer 2 identifier) associated with the second UE device; receiving the IUC information from the second UE device; selecting communication resources to be used for communication with the second UE device based at least in part on the IUC information. The request for the IUC information includes a 1-bit signal. The method further includes receiving, from a base station, information indicating that a predetermined resource can be used to transmit the request for the IUC information. The step of transmitting the request for the IUC information includes the step of transmitting the request for the IUC information using the predetermined resource based on the information received from the base station. Method.

10. A program for causing a user equipment to execute the method according to claim 9.

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