Group Resource Sharing for Wireless Communications

Abstract

A first UE in a UE group may determine that a sidelink channel is available for data transmission and transmit an SCI reserving a COT on the sidelink channel. A second UE may receive from the first UE an SCI reserving a COT on the sidelink channel and transmit a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more resources of the inter-group shareable resources. The COT may include a first set of resources reserved for the first UE, intra-group shareable resources that may be shared by the UE group, and inter-group shareable resources that may be shared by a second UE outside the UE group. The second UE may perform a CAT1 or CAT2 LBT procedure to compete for the inter-group shareable resources. Access to the inter-group shareable resources may be limited.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17 / 150,901, filed Jan. 15, 2021, entitled "GROUP RESOURCE SHARING FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION," the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems, and more particularly to group time / frequency resource sharing for wireless communication. [Background technology]

[0003] Introduction

[0003] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various telecommunication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, and broadcasts. A typical wireless communication system may employ multiple access technologies capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources. Examples of such multiple access technologies include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) systems, and time division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA) systems.

[0004] These multiple access technologies are being adopted in various telecommunications standards to provide common protocols that enable different wireless devices to communicate on a city, national, regional, or even global scale. An exemplary telecommunications standard is 5G New Radio (NR). 5G NR is part of the continuing mobile broadband evolution promulgated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP®) to meet new requirements related to latency, reliability, security, scalability (e.g., for the Internet of Things (IoT)), and other requirements. 5G NR includes services related to enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine-type communications (mMTC), and ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC). Some aspects of 5G NR may be based on the 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE®) standard. Some aspects of wireless communications may comprise sidelink-based direct communication between devices, such as in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and / or other device-to-device (D2D) communications. Further improvements in sidelink technology are needed. These improvements may also be applicable to other multiple access technologies and telecommunications standards employing these technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an exhaustive overview of all contemplated aspects, nor is it intended to identify key or critical elements of all aspects or to delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0006] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided, which may include a first user equipment (UE) included in a UE group and a second UE outside the UE group.

[0007] The first UE may determine that a sidelink channel is available for data transmission and, in response to determining that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission, transmit sidelink control information (SCI) reserving a channel occupancy time (COT) on the sidelink channel. The COT may include a first set of resources reserved for the first UE for sidelink data transmission on the sidelink channel, a second set of resources for sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel as intra-group sharable resources that can be shared by a UE group including the first UE, and a third set of resources for sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel as inter-group sharable resources that can be shared by a second UE outside the UE group.

[0008] The first UE may determine that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission based on a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure. The first UE may determine that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission by performing a Category 4 LBT procedure.

[0009] Inter-group sharable resources may be reserved for sharing with a second UE outside the UE group. The SCI may indicate inter-group sharable resources of the COT on the sidelink channel that can be shared by a second UE outside the UE group.

[0010]

[0010] The inter-group sharable resources may overlap in time with the first set of resources, and the inter-group sharable resources may include resources that do not overlap in time with the first set of resources.

[0011]

[0011] A first UE in a UE group may contend for intra-group sharable resources based on a first type of LBT procedure, and a second UE outside the UE group may contend for intra-group sharable resources based on a second type of LBT procedure, where the first type of LBT procedure may include a CAT1 or CAT2 LBT procedure, and the second type of LBT procedure may include a CAT4 LBT procedure.

[0012] The SCI may indicate a first set of resources of the COT and intra-group sharable resources on the sidelink channel, where the inter-group sharable resources may include the remaining resources of the COT. The SCI may indicate a priority threshold value for use of the inter-group sharable resources by a second UE outside the UE group. The SCI may indicate a packet delay budget (PDB) threshold value for use of the inter-group sharable resources by a second UE outside the UE group. The SCI may include a group identifier (ID) that identifies the UE group. The SCI may include a field that may indicate whether inter-group sharing is enabled. The SCI may include a list of one or more group IDs for additional UE groups for inter-group sharing of the inter-group sharable resources.

[0013] The first UE may monitor sidelink transmissions on the intra-group sharable resources of the COT, calculate a usage ratio of resources among the intra-group sharable resources reserved for the UE group on the sidelink channel, and adjust a size of the intra-group sharable resources in the additional COT based on the usage ratio. The size of the intra-group sharable resources may be adjusted by increasing the size of the intra-group sharable resources in response to the calculated usage ratio being greater than or equal to a usage threshold value, or by decreasing the size of the intra-group sharable resources in response to the calculated usage ratio being less than the usage threshold value.

[0014]

[0014] The second UE may receive from the first UE an SCI reserving a COT on the sidelink channel, and the COT may transmit sidelink transmissions on the sidelink channel using one or more of the inter-group sharable resources, where the inter-group sharable resources include intra-group sharable resources that can be shared by a UE group that includes the first UE but not the second UE, and inter-group sharable resources that can be shared by UEs outside the UE group for sidelink transmissions on the sidelink channel.

[0015] The second UE may perform an LBT procedure before transmitting a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more of the intra-group sharable resources or the inter-group sharable resources. The second UE may compete for the intra-group sharable resources based on a different type of LBT procedure than the UE group uses to compete for the intra-group sharable resources. The second UE may also compete for the inter-group sharable resources based on the same type of LBT procedure as the UE group uses to compete for the intra-group sharable resources.

[0016] When the SCI indicates a priority threshold, the second UE may transmit a sidelink transmission on a sidelink channel using one or more resources from the inter-group sharable resources based on the priority () of the sidelink transmission satisfying the priority threshold. When the SCI indicates a PDB threshold, the second UE may transmit a sidelink transmission on a sidelink channel using one or more resources from the inter-group sharable resources based on the PDB at the second UE satisfying the PDB threshold. When the SCI includes a list of one or more group IDs for additional UE groups for inter-group sharing of the inter-group sharable resources, the second UE may transmit a sidelink transmission on a sidelink channel using one or more resources from the inter-group sharable resources based on the second UE being part of one of the additional UE groups.

[0017] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or more aspects comprise the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative features of the one or more aspects. These features are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the various aspects may be employed, and the description is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1]

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communication system and access network. [Figure 2]

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a sidelink slot structure. [Figure 3]

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a first device and a second device engaged in wireless communication, e.g., based on a sidelink. [Figure 4]

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of wireless communication between devices based on sidelink communication. [Figure 5]

[0022] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of wireless communication. [Figure 6]

[0023] 1 illustrates an example time / frequency resource structure for wireless communications. [Figure 7]

[0024] 1 is a call flow diagram of a wireless communication method. [Figure 8]

[0025] 1 is a flowchart of a method of wireless communication. [Figure 9]

[0026] 1 is a flowchart of a method of wireless communication. [Figure 10]

[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a hardware implementation for an exemplary device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019]

[0028] The detailed description, set forth below with reference to the accompanying drawings, is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details to provide a thorough understanding of the various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring such concepts.

[0020]

[0029] Next, several aspects of a telecommunications system are presented with respect to various apparatus and methods. These apparatus and methods are described in the detailed description that follows and illustrated in the accompanying drawings by various blocks, components, circuits, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as "elements"). These elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer software, or any combination thereof. Whether such elements are implemented as hardware or software depends on the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0021]

[0030] As an example, an element, or any portion of an element, or any combination of elements, may be implemented as a "processing system" including one or more processors. Examples of processors include microprocessors, microcontrollers, graphics processing units (GPUs), central processing units (CPUs), application processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors, systems-on-chips (SoCs), baseband processors, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), state machines, gate logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform various functions described throughout this disclosure. One or more processors in a processing system may execute software. Software should be interpreted broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software components, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0022]

[0031] Thus, in one or more exemplary embodiments, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or encoded as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include computer storage media. A storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media may comprise random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage, other magnetic storage devices, combinations of the above types of computer-readable media, or any other medium that can be used to store computer-executable code in the form of instructions or data structures that can be accessed by a computer.

[0023]

[0032] 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communication system and access network 100. The wireless communication system (also referred to as a wireless wide area network (WWAN)) includes a base station 102, a UE 104, an evolved packet core (EPC) 160, and another core network 190 (e.g., 5G core (5GC)). The base station 102 may include macrocells (high-power cellular base stations) and / or small cells (low-power cellular base stations). Macrocells include base stations. Small cells include femtocells, picocells, and microcells.

[0024]

[0033] A link between the UE 104 and the base station 102 or 180 may be established as an access link, for example, using the Uu interface. Other communications may be exchanged between wireless devices based on sidelinks. For example, several UEs 104 may communicate directly with each other using device-to-device (D2D) communication links 158. In some examples, the D2D communication links 158 may use the DL / UL WWAN spectrum. The D2D communication links 158 may use one or more sidelink channels, such as a physical sidelink broadcast channel (PSBCH), a physical sidelink discovery channel (PSDCH), a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), and a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH). D2D communications may be through various wireless D2D communication systems, such as WiMedia, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, LTE, or NR.

[0025]

[0034] Some examples of sidelink communications may include vehicle-based communications devices, which may communicate from and / or with other devices, such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) (e.g., from a vehicle-based communications device to a road infrastructure node such as a roadside unit (RSU)), vehicle-to-network (V2N) (e.g., from a vehicle-based communications device to one or more network nodes such as a base station), vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P), cellular vehicle-to-anything (C-V2X), and / or combinations thereof, which may be collectively referred to as vehicle-to-anything (V2X) communications. Sidelink communications may be based on V2X or other D2D communications, such as proximity services (ProSe). In addition to UEs, sidelink communications may also be transmitted and received by other transmitting and receiving devices, such as a roadside unit (RSU) 107. Sidelink communications may be exchanged using a PC5 interface, such as described with respect to the example in FIG. 2. The following description, including the example slot structure of FIG. 2, may provide an example for sidelink communications with respect to 5G NR, but the concepts described herein may be applicable to other similar areas, such as LTE, LTE-A, CDMA, GSM, and other wireless technologies.

[0026]

[0035] 1 , in some aspects, a UE 104 in a UE group, or other device communicating based on the sidelink, may include a group resource sharing component 198 configured to determine that a sidelink channel is available for data transmission and, in response to determining that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission, transmit an SCI reserving a COT on the sidelink channel. Again referring to FIG. 1 , in some aspects, a UE 105 outside the UE group, or other device communicating based on the sidelink, may include an inter-group resource sharing component 199 configured to receive, from a first UE, an SCI reserving a COT on the sidelink channel and transmit a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more of the inter-group sharable resources. The COT may include a first set of resources reserved for a first UE for sidelink data transmission on a sidelink channel, a second set of resources for sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel as intra-group sharable resources that can be shared by a UE group including the first UE, and a third set of resources for sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel as inter-group sharable resources that can be shared by a second UE outside the UE group. While the following description may focus on 5G NR and NR-U sidelink, the concepts described herein may be applicable to other similar areas, such as WiFi10, LTE, LTE-A, CDMA, GSM, and other wireless technologies.

[0027]

[0036] A base station 102 configured for 4G LTE (collectively referred to as Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN)) may interface with the EPC 160 through a first backhaul link 132 (e.g., an S1 interface). A base station 102 configured for 5G NR (collectively referred to as Next Generation RAN (NG-RAN)) may interface with the core network 190 through a second backhaul link 184. In addition to other functions, the base stations 102 may perform one or more of the following functions: forwarding user data, radio channel encryption and decryption, integrity protection, header compression, mobility control functions (e.g., handover, dual connectivity), inter-cell interference coordination, connection setup and release, load balancing, distribution for non-access stratum (NAS) messages, NAS node selection, synchronization, radio access network (RAN) sharing, multimedia broadcast multicast services (MBMS), subscriber and equipment tracing, RAN information management (RIM), paging, positioning, and distribution of alert messages. The base stations 102 may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., through the EPC 160 or the core network 190) over the third backhaul link 134 (e.g., an X2 interface). The first backhaul link 132, the second backhaul link 184, and the third backhaul link 134 may be wired or wireless.

[0028]

[0037] The base stations 102 may communicate wirelessly with the UE 104. Each of the base stations 102 may provide communication coverage for a respective geographic coverage area 110. There may be overlapping geographic coverage areas 110. For example, a small cell 102' may have a coverage area 110' that overlaps with the coverage area 110 of one or more macro base stations 102. A network including both small cells and macro cells may be known as a heterogeneous network. A heterogeneous network may also include a Home Evolved Node B (eNB) (HeNB) that may serve a closed group known as a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG). The communication link 120 between the base station 102 and the UE 104 may include uplink (UL) transmissions (also called reverse link) from the UE 104 to the base station 102 and / or downlink (DL) transmissions (also called forward link) from the base station 102 to the UE 104. The communication link 120 may use multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna techniques, including spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and / or transmit diversity. The communication link may be through one or more carriers. The base station 102 / UE 104 may use spectrum with up to Y MHz (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20, 100, 400 MHz, etc.) bandwidth per carrier allocated in a carrier aggregation of up to Yx MHz total (x component carriers) used for transmission in each direction. The carriers may be adjacent or non-adjacent to each other. The carrier allocation may be asymmetric with respect to DL and UL (e.g., more or fewer carriers may be allocated for DL ​​than for UL). The component carriers may include a primary component carrier and one or more secondary component carriers. The primary component carrier may be referred to as a primary cell (PCell), and the secondary component carriers may be referred to as a secondary cell (SCell).

[0029]

[0038] The wireless communication system may further include a Wi-Fi access point (AP) 150 communicating with a Wi-Fi station (STA) 152 via a communication link 154, such as in the 5 GHz unlicensed frequency spectrum. When communicating in the unlicensed frequency spectrum, the STA 152 / AP 150 may perform clear channel assessment (CCA) prior to communicating to determine whether a channel is available.

[0030]

[0039] The small cell 102' may operate in licensed and / or unlicensed frequency spectrums. When operating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the small cell 102' may employ NR and use the same unlicensed frequency spectrum (e.g., 5 GHz, etc.) used by the Wi-Fi AP 150. A small cell 102' employing NR in an unlicensed frequency spectrum may boost coverage to and / or increase capacity of the access network.

[0031]

[0040] The electromagnetic spectrum is often subdivided into various classes, bands, channels, etc. based on frequency / wavelength. For 5G NR, two initial operating bands have been identified, designated frequency ranges FR1 (410 MHz to 7.125 GHz) and FR2 (24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz). Frequencies between FR1 and FR2 are often referred to as mid-band frequencies. Although portions of FR1 are greater than 6 GHz, FR1 is often referred to (interchangeably) as the "sub-6 GHz" band in various documents and papers. A similar naming issue sometimes arises with FR2, which is often referred to (interchangeably) as the "millimeter wave" band in documents and papers, even though FR2 is different from the extremely high frequency (EHF) band (30 GHz to 300 GHz) identified as the "millimeter wave" band by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

[0032]

[0041] With the above aspects in mind, it should be understood that unless otherwise specified, terms such as "sub-6 GHz," as used herein, can broadly refer to frequencies that may be below 6 GHz, may be within FR1, or may include mid-band frequencies. Additionally, it should be understood that unless otherwise specified, terms such as "millimeter wave," as used herein, can broadly refer to frequencies that may include mid-band frequencies, may be within FR2, or may be within the EHF band.

[0033]

[0042] The base station 102, whether a small cell 102′ or a large cell (e.g., a macro base station), may include and / or be referred to as an eNB, gNodeB (gNB), or another type of base station. Some base stations, such as the gNB 180, may operate in the conventional sub-6 GHz spectrum, in millimeter wave frequencies, and / or at near-millimeter wave frequencies in communication with the UE 104. When the gNB 180 operates at millimeter wave or near-millimeter wave frequencies, the gNB 180 may be referred to as a millimeter wave base station. The millimeter wave base station 180 may utilize beamforming 182 with the UE 104 to compensate for path loss and short range. The base station 180 and the UE 104 may each include multiple antennas, such as antenna elements, antenna panels, and / or antenna arrays, to enable beamforming. Similarly, beamforming may be applied for sidelink communications, for example, between UEs.

[0034]

[0043] The base station 180 may transmit beamformed signals to the UE 104 in one or more transmit directions 182′. The UE 104 may receive beamformed signals from the base station 180 in one or more receive directions 182″. The UE 104 may also transmit beamformed signals to the base station 180 in one or more transmit directions. The base station 180 may receive beamformed signals from the UE 104 in one or more receive directions. The base station 180 / UE 104 may perform beam training to determine the best receive direction and transmit direction for each of the base station 180 / UE 104. The transmit direction and receive direction for the base station 180 may or may not be the same. The transmit direction and receive direction for the UE 104 may or may not be the same. Although this example is described with respect to the base station 180 and the UE 104, the aspects may similarly apply between a first device and a second device (e.g., a first UE and a second UE) for sidelink communication.

[0035]

[0044] The EPC 160 may include a mobility management entity (MME) 162, other MMEs 164, a serving gateway 166, a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) gateway 168, a broadcast multicast service center (BM-SC) 170, and a packet data network (PDN) gateway 172. The MME 162 may be in communication with a home subscriber server (HSS) 174. The MME 162 is a control node that handles signaling between the UE 104 and the EPC 160. Generally, the MME 162 provides bearer and connection management. All user Internet Protocol (IP) packets are forwarded through the serving gateway 166, which is itself connected to the PDN gateway 172. The PDN gateway 172 provides IP address allocation for the UE as well as other functions. The PDN gateway 172 and the BM-SC 170 are connected to an IP service 176. The IP services 176 may include the Internet, an intranet, an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), PS streaming services, and / or other IP services. The BM-SC 170 may provide functionality for MBMS user service provisioning and delivery. The BM-SC 170 may serve as an entry point for content provider MBMS transmissions, may be used to authorize and start MBMS bearer services within a public land mobile network (PLMN), and may be used to schedule MBMS transmissions. The MBMS gateway 168 may be used to deliver MBMS traffic to base stations 102 belonging to a multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) area that broadcasts a particular service, and may be responsible for session management (start / stop) and collecting eMBMS-related charging information.

[0036]

[0045] The core network 190 may include an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 192, another AMF 193, a Session Management Function (SMF) 194, and a User Plane Function (UPF) 195. The AMF 192 may be in communication with an Integrated Data Management (UDM) 196. The AMF 192 is a control node that handles signaling between the UE 104 and the core network 190. Generally, the AMF 192 provides QoS flow and session management. All user Internet Protocol (IP) packets are forwarded through the UPF 195. The UPF 195 provides IP address allocation for the UE as well as other functions. The UPF 195 is connected to IP services 197. The IP services 197 may include the Internet, an intranet, an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), packet-switched (PS) streaming (PSS) services, and / or other IP services.

[0037]

[0046] A base station may include and / or be referred to as a gNB, Node B, eNB, access point, base transceiver station, radio base station, radio transceiver, transceiver function, basic service set (BSS), extended service set (ESS), transmit reception point (TRP), or some other suitable terminology. The base station 102 provides an access point to the EPC 160 or core network 190 for the UE 104. Examples of the UE 104 include a cellular phone, a smartphone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a laptop, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a satellite radio, a global positioning system, a multimedia device, a video device, a digital audio player (e.g., an MP3 player), a camera, a game console, a tablet, a smart device, a wearable device, a vehicle, an electric meter, a gas pump, a large or small kitchen appliance, a healthcare device, an implant, a sensor / actuator, a display, or any other similarly functional device. Some of the UEs 104 may be referred to as IoT devices (e.g., a parking meter, a gas pump, a toaster, a vehicle, a heart monitor, etc.). The UE 104 may also be referred to as a station, mobile station, subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other suitable terminology.

[0038]

[0047] FIG. 2 includes diagrams 200 and 210 illustrating exemplary aspects of slot structures that may be used for sidelink communications (e.g., between a UE 104, an RSU 107, etc.). The slot structure may be within a 5G / NR frame structure in some examples. In other examples, the slot structure may be within an LTE frame structure. While the following description may focus on 5G NR, the concepts described herein may be applicable to other similar areas, such as LTE, LTE-A, CDMA, GSM, and other wireless technologies. The exemplary slot structure in FIG. 2 is merely an example, and other sidelink communications may have different frame structures and / or different channels for sidelink communications. A frame (10 ms) may be divided into 10 equally sized subframes (1 ms). Each subframe may include one or more time slots. A subframe may also include a minislot, which may include 7, 4, or 2 symbols. Each slot may include 7 or 14 symbols depending on the slot configuration. For slot configuration 0, each slot may include 14 symbols, and for slot configuration 1, each slot may include 7 symbols. Diagram 200 shows a single resource block for a single slot transmission, which may correspond, for example, to a 0.5 ms transmission time interval (TTI). The physical sidelink control channel may be configured to occupy multiple physical resource blocks (PRBs), for example, 10, 12, 15, 20, or 25 PRBs. The PSCCH may be limited to a single subchannel. The PSCCH duration may be configured, for example, to be two symbols or three symbols. A subchannel may comprise, for example, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75, or 100 PRBs. Resources for sidelink transmission may be selected from a resource pool containing one or more subchannels. As a non-limiting example, the resource pool may include between 1 and 27 subchannels. A PSCCH size may be established for the resource pool, for example, as between 10% and 100% of one subchannel for a duration of two or three symbols.2 illustrates an example in which the PSCCH occupies approximately 50% of the subchannel to illustrate the concept of the PSCCH occupying a portion of the subchannel. A physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) occupies at least one subchannel. In some examples, the PSCCH may include a first portion of sidelink control information (SCI), and the PSSCH may include a second portion of the SCI.

[0039]

[0048] A resource grid may be used to represent the frame structure. Each time slot may include a physical resource block (RB) (also called a PRB) spanning 12 consecutive subcarriers. The resource grid is divided into multiple resource elements (REs). The number of bits carried by each RE depends on the modulation scheme. As shown in FIG. 2, some of the REs may comprise control information in the PSCCH, and some REs may comprise demodulation signaling systems (DMRSs). At least one symbol may be used for feedback. FIG. 2 shows an example with two symbols for the physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) with adjacent gap symbols. Symbols before and / or after the feedback may be used for a turnaround between receiving data and transmitting feedback. The gap allows a device to switch from operating as a transmitting device, for example, to prepare to operate as a receiving device in a subsequent slot. Data may be transmitted in the remaining REs, as shown. The data may comprise a data message, as described herein. The location of any of the data, DMRS, SCI, feedback, gap symbols, and / or LBT symbols may differ from the example shown in Figure 2. Multiple slots may be aggregated together in some examples.

[0040]

[0049] 3 is a block diagram 300 of a first wireless communication device 310 communicating with a second wireless communication device 350 based on a sidelink. In some examples, the devices 310 and 350 may communicate based on V2X or other D2D communication. The communication may be based on a sidelink using a PC5 interface. The devices 310 and 350 may comprise a UE, an RSU, a base station, etc. Packets may be provided to a controller / processor 375 that implements Layer 3 and Layer 2 functions. Layer 3 includes a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, and Layer 2 includes a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, and a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer.

[0041]

[0050] The transmit (TX) processor 316 and receive (RX) processor 370 implement Layer 1 functions related to various signal processing functions. Layer 1, which includes the physical (PHY) layer, may include error detection on transport channels, forward error correction (FEC) coding / decoding of transport channels, interleaving, rate matching, mapping onto physical channels, modulation / demodulation of physical channels, and MIMO antenna processing. The TX processor 316 handles mapping to signal constellations based on various modulation schemes (e.g., binary phase shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), M-phase shift keying (M-PSK), M-quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM)). The coded and modulated symbols may then be split into parallel streams. Each stream may then be mapped to an OFDM subcarrier, multiplexed with a reference signal (e.g., a pilot) in the time and / or frequency domain, and then combined with each other using an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to generate a physical channel carrying a time-domain OFDM symbol stream. The OFDM streams are spatially precoded to generate multiple spatial streams. Channel estimates from a channel estimator 374 may be used to determine coding and modulation schemes and for spatial processing. The channel estimates may be derived from a reference signal and / or channel condition feedback transmitted by the device 350. Each spatial stream may then be provided to a different antenna 320 via a separate transmitter 318TX. Each transmitter 318TX may modulate an RF carrier with the respective spatial stream for transmission.

[0042]

[0051] In the device 350, each receiver 354RX receives a signal through its respective antenna 352. Each receiver 354RX recovers the information modulated onto the RF carrier and provides the information to a receive (RX) processor 356. The TX processor 368 and the RX processor 356 implement Layer 1 functions related to various signal processing functions. The RX processor 356 may perform spatial processing on the information to recover the spatial streams destined for the device 350. If multiple spatial streams are destined for the device 350, they may be combined into a single OFDM symbol stream by the RX processor 356. The RX processor 356 then converts the OFDM symbol stream from the time domain to the frequency domain using a fast Fourier transform (FFT). The frequency-domain signal comprises a separate OFDM symbol stream for each subcarrier of the OFDM signal. The symbols on each subcarrier and the reference signal are recovered and demodulated by determining the most likely signal constellation point transmitted by the device 310. These soft decisions may be based on channel estimates calculated by a channel estimator 358. The soft decisions are then decoded and deinterleaved to recover the data and control signals originally transmitted by the device 310 on the physical channel. The data and control signals are then provided to a controller / processor 359, which implements Layer 3 and Layer 2 functions.

[0043]

[0052] The controller / processor 359 may be associated with a memory 360 that stores program codes and data. The memory 360 may be referred to as a computer-readable medium. The controller / processor 359 may provide demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, decryption, header decompression, and control signal processing. The controller / processor 359 is also responsible for error detection using an ACK and / or NACK protocol to support HARQ operations.

[0044]

[0053] Similar to the functions described with respect to transmission by device 310, the controller / processor 359 may provide RRC layer functions related to system information (e.g., MIB, SIB) collection, RRC connection, and measurement reporting, as well as PDCP layer functions related to header compression / decompression and security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification), as well as RLC layer functions related to transfer of upper layer PDUs, error correction via ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC SDUs, re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs, as well as MAC layer functions related to mapping between logical channels and transport channels, multiplexing and demultiplexing of MAC SDUs onto and from the TB, scheduling information reporting, error correction via HARQ, priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0045]

[0054] Channel estimates derived by the channel estimator 358 from a reference signal or feedback transmitted by the device 310 may be used by the TX processor 368 to select an appropriate coding and modulation scheme and to enable spatial processing. The spatial streams generated by the TX processor 368 may be provided to different antennas 352 via separate transmitters 354TX. Each transmitter 354TX may modulate an RF carrier with a respective spatial stream for transmission.

[0046]

[0055] Transmissions are processed in device 310 in a manner similar to that described with respect to the receiver functions in device 350. Each receiver 318RX receives a signal through its respective antenna 320. Each receiver 318RX recovers the information modulated onto the RF carrier and provides the information to RX processor 370.

[0047]

[0056] The controller / processor 375 may be associated with a memory 376 that stores program codes and data. The memory 376 may be referred to as a computer-readable medium. The controller / processor 375 provides demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, decryption, header decompression, and control signal processing. The controller / processor 375 is also responsible for error detection using an ACK and / or NACK protocol to support HARQ operations.

[0048]

[0057] At least one of the TX processor 368, the RX processor 356, and the controller / processor 359 may be configured to implement aspects related to the group resource sharing component 198 of Figure 1. At least one of the TX processor 316, the RX processor 370, and the controller / processor 375 may be configured to implement aspects related to the inter-group resource sharing component 199 of Figure 1.

[0049]

[0058] FIG. 4 illustrates an example 400 of wireless communication between devices based on sidelink communication. The communication may be based on a slot structure comprising aspects described with respect to FIG. 2. For example, a transmitting UE 402 may transmit a transmission 414 comprising, for example, a control channel and / or a corresponding data channel that may be received by receiving UEs 404, 406, 408. The control channel may include information for decoding the data channel and may also be used by the receiving device to avoid interference by refraining from transmitting on occupied resources during the data transmission. The number of TTIs and the RBs to be occupied by the data transmission may be indicated in a control message from the transmitting device. The UEs 402, 404, 406, 408 may each be capable of operating as a transmitting device in addition to operating as a receiving device. Thus, the UEs 406, 408 are shown transmitting transmissions 416, 420. The transmissions 414, 416, 420 may be broadcast or multicast to nearby devices. For example, the UE 414 may transmit a communication intended for reception by other UEs within range 401 of the UE 414. Additionally / alternatively, the RSU 407 may receive communications from and / or transmit communications 418 to the UEs 402, 404, 406, 408.

[0050]

[0059] In some aspects, sidelink communications may include congestion control algorithms to avoid congestion between various devices and to support resource sharing between devices. Multiple sidelink UEs may compete with each other to use a limited amount of time / frequency resources for communicating transmissions. In some examples, sidelink devices may compete with other technologies to use wireless resources in the unlicensed spectrum. As an example of a type of sidelink transmission, eMBB traffic may be transmitted between UEs via the NR-U sidelink. Congestion control for the sidelink may not provide adequate network performance in the case of heavy loads or bursty traffic.

[0051]

[0060] In contention-based sidelink communication, every UE configured to communicate on the sidelink channel may contend for a channel occupation time (COT) to communicate a data transmission. In response to the UE successfully securing a COT to communicate a data transmission, the UE may transmit an SCI indicating the time / frequency resources allocated for the data transmission by the UE. The UE may communicate the data transmission on the allocated time / frequency resources.

[0052]

[0061] For example, one or more UEs configured to communicate on a sidelink channel may perform a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure to contend for a COT to communicate a data transmission. That is, each sidelink UE with data to transmit on the sidelink channel may perform a clear channel assessment (CCA) procedure to determine whether a channel measurement value of received power is greater than a threshold value to determine whether the channel is available for data transmission by the UE. The UE may determine that the channel is available if the channel measurement value of received power is lower than the threshold value, and the UE may determine that the sidelink channel is not available for data transmission if the channel measurement value is higher than the threshold value.

[0053]

[0062] The LBT performed by UEs configured to communicate over the sidelink channel may have different categories or types of procedures. For example, CAT1 LBT may refer to no LBT, CAT2 LBT may refer to LBT without random backoff, CAT3 LBT may refer to LBT with random backoff with a fixed-size contention window, and CAT4 LBT may refer to LBT with random backoff with a variable-size contention window. CAT4 LBT or CAT3 LBT may be defined with random backoff with a contention window to provide a lower probability of collision with other data transmissions. While CAT1 or CAT2 LBT may have a better chance to secure the COT and communicate a data transmission, a UE may be configured to contend for the COT using CAT3 or CAT4 LBT to reduce data transmission collisions.

[0054]

[0063] In a dense deployment of sidelink UEs, a large number of collisions may occur when all UEs attempt to access the shared time / frequency resource. Under such a large number of collisions, existing congestion algorithms may collapse, causing long delays and larger packet error rates (PER).

[0055]

[0064] In some aspects, a sidelink UE may communicate with a limited number of UEs within a particular group of UEs. In one example, a user may be playing an online game with several UEs. In another example, in an industrial application, a group of sensors / actuators controlled by the same programmable logic controller (PLC) may communicate exclusively within the same group of sensors / actuators. When a limited number of UEs are communicating within a particular group of UEs, the group of sidelink UEs may be configured to share group time / frequency resources to mitigate collision issues.

[0056]

[0065] In some aspects, a group of sidelink UEs may be configured to share group time / frequency resources within the group of sidelink UEs. During a channel contention phase, multiple sidelink UEs may individually compete to reserve a COT. A first UE group may include a first UE, and the first UE may individually compete to reserve a COT. In response to reserving the COT, the first UE may share the COT with other UEs in the first UE group. The first UE may transmit an SCI to indicate the group COT and UEs that may share the group COT. The UEs included in the UE group and the UEs addressed by the SCI may share the group COT and use at least a portion of the group COT for sidelink transmissions.

[0057]

[0066] Multiple UEs in the same group may be configured with the same group index to indicate that the multiple UEs belong to the same group. Multiple UEs may configure a group index to indicate which group each UE is included in. The group index may be configured through an RRC message. The SCI may include an explicit group ID to identify UEs that may share the group COT. UEs that may share the group COT may forward group information to form a UE group. In other examples, different UEs or devices may form a UE group. A sidelink UE may be configured with a list of group UE IDs in its UE group. When a UE receives an SCI, the UE may compare the group UE ID list of the UE with the source / destination ID to the group ID list to determine whether the received SCI is for a UE in the same UE group. The UE may determine whether to share a COT based on whether the received SCI is for a UE in the same UE group.

[0058]

[0067] The group configuration may be determined at an application level, for example, the group configuration may include UEs in a service group or UEs associated with services belonging to a particular operator and / or owner.

[0059]

[0068] FIG. 5 illustrates a wireless communication example 500 showing a COT shared among different groups of UEs. The example 500 may include four super groups, including group 0 502, group 1 504, group 2 506, and group 3 508, and a smaller group, group 4 510. Each super group may include a large number of UEs, e.g., 20 UEs, and group 4 510 may have a smaller number of UEs, e.g., 2 UEs, compared to the super groups. Because UEs within a group individually compete for the COT, groups with more UEs have a higher likelihood of clearing the CAT4 LBT and having access to the COT. Larger groups may then share the group COT with UEs within their respective groups. Because super groups have a large number of UEs, the super groups may have a better chance of clearing the LBT to reserve the group COT. Smaller groups with fewer UEs are less likely to reserve the group COT. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, Group 0 502 may reserve and share COT0, Group 1 504 may reserve and share COT1, Group 2 506 may reserve and share COT2, and Group 3 508 may reserve and share COT4. The smaller group of UEs in Group 4 510 may continue to fail to clear CCA because they contend with the larger group of UEs, which may continually leave Group 4 510 without access to wireless resources. For example, Groups 0-3 may time-division multiplex (TDM) their group COTs back-to-back without providing Group 4 510 an opportunity to access the medium until the UEs in Groups 0-3 have finished their transmissions. The delay for UEs in Group 4 510 to access the medium to send sidelink transmissions may result in unacceptable delays for sidelink communication. Similarly, the length of the COT reserved by one of groups 0-3 may also affect time-sensitive packets from UEs in group 4 510.

[0060]

[0069] Referring to example 500, group 0 502, group 1 504, group 2 506, and group 3 508 may reserve COTs consecutively, one after the other. That is, one of the UEs in group 0 502 may first clear its CAT4 LBT and share COT0 for the UEs in group 0 502. The UEs in group 0 502 may compete for time / frequency resources in group 0 502 using CAT1 or CAT2 LBT. After COT0, one of the UEs in group 1 504 may clear its CAT4 LBT and share COT1 for the UEs in group 1 504. The UEs in group 1 504 may compete for time / frequency resources in group 1 504 using CAT1 or CAT2 LBT. After COT1, one of the UEs in group 2 506 may clear its CAT4 LBT and share COT2 for the UEs in group 2 506. The UEs in group 2 506 may compete for time / frequency resources in group 2 506 using CAT1 or CAT2 LBT. After COT2, one of the UEs in group 3 508 may first clear its CAT4 LBT and share COT3 for the UEs in group 3 508. The UEs in group 3 508 may compete for time / frequency resources in group 3 508 using CAT1 or CAT2 LBT. Group 4 510, which has a smaller number of UEs, may need to wait for groups 0-3 to finish their transmissions before group 4 510 can clear its CAT4 LBT to reserve COT4. In other examples, the UEs in group 4 510 may continue to fail to access resources for sidelink transmissions. However, this may not result in unacceptable delays for time-sensitive data or control signaling for group 4 510.

[0061]

[0070] In some aspects, the group COT may be configured for a long period of time, e.g., 6 ms, and the group COT may be configured to include reserved resources and allow UEs outside the UE group to compete for the reserved resources using different categories of LBT. That is, the group COT may be configured to include reserved resources, and UEs within the UE group may compete for the reserved resources using CAT1 or CAT2 LBT, and UEs outside the UE group may compete for the reserved resources using CAT4 LBT. Thus, UEs in other groups may be unable to deliver time-sensitive packets within the UE group using CAT4 LBT and rely on CAT4 LBT and compete with CAT2 LBT in the group COT. Aspects presented herein enable the group COT sharing scheme to further allow other UEs from outside the group to share at least a portion of the resources of the group COT.

[0062]

[0071] In some aspects, inter-group COT sharing may be introduced to address low latency signaling / traffic. The SCI may include a new COT-SI signaling field to enable inter-group COT sharing.

[0063]

[0072] 6 illustrates an example time / frequency resource structure 600 for wireless communication. The example time / frequency resource structure 600 illustrates a shared COT 600 cleared by a first UE (UE0) for a first UE group including a first UE (UE0), a second UE (UE1), and a third UE (UE2). The example time / frequency resource structure 600 may include UE0 transmission resources 610 and first intra-group sharable resources 620.

[0064]

[0073] UE0 may clear the CAT4 LBT for the first UE group and reserve the COT for the first UE group. UE0 may determine UE0 transmission resources 610 for communicating a data transmission and configure the UE0 transmission resources 610 and reserved resources 620. UE0 may use subchannel #0 in the used COT shared region to communicate the UE0 transmission and configure subchannel #1 614 and subchannel #2 616 in the used COT as second intra-group sharable resources 612 reserved for UEs in the first UE group. UE0 may transmit SCI 602 indicating the configuration of the shared COT 600. UE1 and UE2 of the first UE group may receive SCI 602 and determine to communicate data transmissions within the used COT shared region. UE1 and UE2 may contend for time / frequency resources using CAT1 or CAT2 LBT. In one aspect, under CAT1 LBT, SCI 602 may allocate UE1 and UE2 transmissions for UE1 and UE2. In one aspect, UE1 may contend for time / frequency resources using CAT2 LBT and reserve UE1 transmission resources 614 for UE1 data transmission within the second intra-group sharable resources 612. UE2 may contend for time / frequency resources using CAT2 LBT and reserve UE2 transmission resources 616 for UE2 data transmission within the second intra-group sharable resources 612.

[0065]

[0074] UEs in the first UE group may clear the CAT4 LBT to allocate at least a portion of the first intra-group sharable resources 620 and the second intra-group sharable resources 612 for communicating data transmissions on the sidelink channel. UEs outside the first UE group may not access the first intra-group sharable resources 620 and the second intra-group sharable resources 612 of UE0 COT using CAT1 or CAT2 LBT. UEs outside the first UE group may attempt to access the first intra-group sharable resources 620 of UE0 COT and communicate data transmissions using the CAT4 LBT. The initiating UE, UE0, may maintain continuous transmission with an optional gap of 16 microseconds (μs), and UEs outside the first UE group may have little opportunity to clear CAT4 if they are close to UE0. Within the intra-group sharable resources 620 of the remaining COT region, UEs in the first UE group may leave a gap, e.g., one empty slot. Therefore, UEs outside the first UE group may still have the opportunity to access the COT using CAT4 LBT in the intra-group sharable resources.

[0066]

[0075] However, in the case of a heavy load, UEs in the first UE group may TDM one after the other in the remaining COT. UEs outside the first UE group may not easily clear the CAT4 LBT. Also, if the COT sharing region used is long, e.g., 4 ms, compared to the time-sensitive data (e.g., associated with a time less than 4 ms), UEs outside the first group may not be able to access wireless resources to transmit time-sensitive traffic within the time window for the time-sensitive data.

[0067]

[0076] A COT initiating UE may reserve resources used by UEs outside the shared UE group. The COT initiating UE may indicate another set of resources in addition to the non-sharable and group-sharable resources for outside UEs to join. That is, UE0 may configure the inter-group sharable resources 630. Referring to the example time / frequency resource structure 600, UE0 may configure the inter-group sharable resources 630 in subchannel #3. The inter-group sharable resources 630 may overlap in time with the used COT region and the remaining COT region. UEs outside the shared group may contend for resources in the inter-group sharable resources using the same type of LBT as UEs in the shared group. For example, UEs outside the shared group may contend for resources in the inter-group sharable resources using CAT1 or CAT2 LBT.

[0068]

[0077] In some aspects, the size of the inter-group sharable resources 630 may be configured to accommodate high priority and / or time-sensitive data transmissions for UEs outside the shared UE group. Because any UE may access the inter-group sharable resources, a large amount of collisions may occur in the inter-group sharable resources for UEs outside the group. UE0 may configure some access control to reduce the large amount of collisions of data transmissions.

[0069]

[0078] In some aspects, an out-group UE may participate in the COT on the inter-group sharable resources 630 for out-group UEs if its priority is higher than a threshold priority value or its remaining packet delay budget (PDB) is less than the threshold PDB value. The threshold priority value and threshold PDB value may be preconfigured. UE0 may configure the threshold priority value and threshold PDB value. The SCI transmitted by UE0 may indicate the threshold priority value and threshold PDB value. Some high priority traffic and packets that have exhausted the PDB may utilize the inter-group sharable resources despite not being in the shared UE group. Restrictions on traffic priority and PDB constraints may limit or reduce collision problems.

[0070]

[0079] In some aspects, the COT sharing information (SI) (COT-SI) may include a threshold for UEs outside the shared UE group. The SCI of UE0 may include the COT-SI for the SCI. The COT-SI may include a group ID of the shared UE group, and UEs with the same group ID as specified in the COT-SI may use reserved shared COT resources in the time / frequency resource grid of the first intra-group sharable resources 620 and the second intra-group sharable resources 612 for in-the-group UEs in the used COT sharing region and the remaining COT region. The COT-SI may also include an on / off field for enabling inter-group sharing. That is, the on / off field may indicate whether to include the inter-group sharable resources 630.

[0071]

[0080] The COT-SI may include a list of group IDs for inter-group sharing to limit inter-group sharing to specific groups. That is, UE0 may decide to limit access to the inter-group sharable resource 630 to a list of specific groups, and the COT-SI may include a list of group IDs of the specific groups that are allowed to access the inter-group sharable resource 630.

[0072]

[0081] The COT-SI may indicate the time / frequency resource grid of inter-group sharable resources 630 for the rest of the UEs outside the shared UE group and / or for the particular group indicated in the COT-SI.

[0073]

[0082] Priority threshold or PDB threshold for UEs from other / indicated groups to join the COT. An out-group UE may access the inter-group sharable resources 630 if its packets exceed a certain priority threshold or if its PDB is almost depleted. That is, a UE outside the first UE group may receive a COT-SI in an SCI transmitted by UE0 indicating a threshold priority value and a threshold PDB value and decide to contend for the inter-group sharable resources to communicate a data transmission having a priority greater than the threshold priority value and / or a remaining PDB less than the threshold PDB value.

[0074]

[0083] In some aspects, the size of the inter-group sharable resources 630 may be adjusted based on channel usage to reduce the time-frequency cost relative to the intra-group sharable resources. Thus, the inter-group sharable resources 630 may be scaled up / down based on channel usage. While the group UEs are in RX mode in the shared COT, the group UEs may actively listen for SCIs in the sharable resources. The group UEs may determine whether the sharable resources are used by UEs from the same group based on the group ID of the SCI. That is, the UEs of the UE group may track whether the sharable resources in the channel are used by UEs in the shared UE group. The UEs may calculate a usage rate for the sharable time / frequency resources and determine whether to scale up / down the inter-group sharable resources. In some aspects, the inter-group sharable resources may be scaled up for the next collected group COT in response to the usage rate exceeding a certain threshold. The inter-group sharable resources may be scaled down for the next collected group COT if the usage rate is below a certain threshold.

[0075]

[0084] 7 shows a call flow diagram 700 of a method of wireless communication. The call flow diagram 700 may include a first UE 702 in a UE group and a second UE 704 outside the UE group.

[0076]

[0085] At 706, the first UE 702 may determine that a sidelink channel is available for data transmission. The first UE 702 may determine that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission based on an LBT procedure. In one aspect, the first UE 702 may determine that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission by performing a CAT4 LBT procedure.

[0077]

[0086] At 708, the first UE 702 may transmit an SCI reserving the COT on the sidelink channel in response to determining that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission, and the second UE 704 may receive from the first UE 702 the SCI reserving the COT on the sidelink channel.

[0078]

[0087] The COT may include: a first set of resources reserved for the first UE 702 for sidelink data transmission on a sidelink channel; a second set of resources for sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel as intra-group sharable resources that can be shared by a UE group including the first UE 702; and a third set of resources for sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel as inter-group sharable resources that can be shared by one or more UEs outside the UE group.

[0079]

[0088] The intra-group sharable resources may be shared by a UE group including the first UE 702. The UE group may compete for the intra-group sharable resources based on a first type of LBT procedure. The first type of LBT procedure may include a CAT1 or CAT2 LBT procedure. One or more UEs outside the UE group may compete for the intra-group sharable resources based on a second type of LBT procedure. The second type of LBT procedure may include a CAT4 LBT procedure.

[0080]

[0089] The inter-group sharable resources are reserved for sharing with one or more UEs outside the UE group. In one aspect, the SCI may indicate inter-group sharable resources of the COT on the sidelink channel that can be shared by one or more UEs outside the UE group. In another aspect, the SCI may indicate a first set of resources of the COT and the intra-group sharable resources on the sidelink channel, and the inter-group sharable resources may include the remaining resources of the COT. The inter-group sharable resources may overlap in time with the first set of resources, and at least some of the inter-group sharable resources may not overlap in time with the first set of resources.

[0081]

[0090] The SCI may indicate a priority threshold for use of inter-group sharable resources by one or more UEs outside the UE group. The SCI may indicate a PDB threshold for use of inter-group sharable resources by one or more UEs outside the UE group. The SCI may include a group ID that identifies the UE group. The SCI may include a field that indicates whether inter-group sharing is enabled. The SCI may include a list of one or more group IDs for additional UE groups for inter-group sharing of a third set of resources.

[0082]

[0091] At 710, the second UE 704 may perform an LBT procedure prior to transmitting a sidelink transmission on a sidelink channel using one or more of the intra-group sharable resources or the inter-group sharable resources.

[0083]

[0092] At 712, the second UE 704 may transmit a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more resources of the inter-group sharable resources. The second UE 704 may transmit a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more resources of the inter-group sharable resources based on the priority of the sidelink transmission satisfying the priority threshold indicated in the SCI received at 708. The second UE 704 may transmit a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more resources of the inter-group sharable resources based on the PDB at the first UE 702 satisfying the PDB threshold indicated in the SCI received at 708. The second UE 704 may transmit a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more resources of the inter-group sharable resources based on the second UE 704 being part of an additional UE group for inter-group sharing indicated in the SCI received at 708.

[0084]

[0093] The first UE 702 may monitor sidelink transmissions on the intra-group sharable resources of the COT at 714. At 716, the first UE 702 may calculate resource usage of the intra-group sharable resources reserved for the UE group on the sidelink channel.

[0085]

[0094] At 718, the first UE 702 may adjust the size of the intra-group sharable resources in the additional COT based on the usage rate. The first UE 702 may increase the size of the intra-group sharable resources in response to the calculated usage rate being greater than or equal to a usage threshold. The first UE 702 may decrease the size of the intra-group sharable resources in response to the calculated usage rate being less than a usage threshold.

[0086]

[0095] 8 is a flowchart 800 of a method of wireless communication. The method may be performed by a UE included in a UE group (e.g., the UE 104, the first UE 702, the device 1002).

[0087]

[0096] At 802, the UE may be configured to determine that a sidelink channel is available for data transmission (i.e., as in 706). The UE may determine that a sidelink channel is available for data transmission based on an LBT procedure. In one aspect, the UE may determine that a sidelink channel is available for data transmission by performing a CAT4 LBT procedure. For example, 802 may be performed by the LBT component 1042.

[0088]

[0097] At 804, the UE may be configured to transmit an SCI reserving a COT on the sidelink channel in response to determining that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission (i.e., as in 708). The COT may include a first set of resources reserved for the UE for sidelink data transmission on the sidelink channel, a second set of resources for sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel as intra-group sharable resources that can be shared by a UE group including the UE, and a third set of resources for sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel as inter-group sharable resources that can be shared by one or more UEs outside the UE group. The intra-group sharable resources may be shared by a UE group including the UE. The UE group may compete for the intra-group sharable resources based on a first type LBT procedure. The first type LBT procedure may include a CAT1 or CAT2 LBT procedure. One or more UEs outside the UE group may compete for the intra-group sharable resources based on a second type LBT procedure. The second type LBT procedure may include a CAT4 LBT procedure. The inter-group sharable resources may be reserved for sharing with one or more UEs outside the UE group. One or more UEs outside the UE group may compete for the inter-group sharable resources based on a first type of LBT procedure, including a CAT1 or CAT2 LBT procedure. In one aspect, the SCI may indicate inter-group sharable resources of the COT on the sidelink channel that may be available for sharing by one or more UEs outside the UE group. In another aspect, the SCI may indicate a first set of resources of the COT and intra-group sharable resources on the sidelink channel, and the inter-group sharable resources may include the remaining resources of the COT. The inter-group sharable resources may overlap in time with the first set of resources, and at least some of the inter-group sharable resources may not overlap in time with the first set of resources.The SCI may indicate a priority threshold for use of the inter-group sharable resources by one or more UEs outside the UE group. The SCI may indicate a PDB threshold for use of the inter-group sharable resources by one or more UEs outside the UE group. The SCI may include a group ID that identifies the UE group. The SCI may include a field that indicates whether inter-group sharing is enabled. The SCI may include a list of one or more group IDs for additional UE groups for inter-group sharing of the third set of resources. For example, 804 may be implemented by the group resource sharing component 1040.

[0089]

[0098] At 806, the UE may be configured (i.e., as at 714) to monitor sidelink transmissions on the intra-group sharable resources of the COT. For example, 806 may be implemented by the group resource sharing component 1040.

[0090]

[0099] At 808, the UE may be configured (i.e., as in 716) to calculate a resource usage rate of the intra-group sharable resources reserved for the UE group on the sidelink channel. For example, 808 may be performed by the group resource sharing component 1040.

[0091]

[0100] At 810, the UE may be configured (i.e., as in 718) to adjust the size of the intra-group sharable resources in the additional COT based on the utilization rate. The UE may increase the size of the intra-group sharable resources in response to the calculated utilization rate being greater than or equal to a utilization threshold. The UE may decrease the size of the intra-group sharable resources in response to the calculated utilization rate being less than a utilization threshold. For example, 810 may be implemented by group resource sharing component 1040.

[0092]

[0101] 9 is a flowchart 900 of a method of wireless communication. The method may be performed by a UE outside the UE group (e.g., the UE 104, the second UE 704, the device 1002).

[0093]

[0102] At 902, a UE outside the UE group may be configured to receive (i.e., as in 708) from another UE of the UE group a SCI reserving a COT on a sidelink channel. The COT may include a first set of resources for sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel as intra-group sharable resources that can be shared by the UE group including the UE, and a second set of resources for sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel as inter-group sharable resources that can be shared by one or more UEs outside the UE group. UEs outside the UE group may compete for the intra-group sharable resources based on a second type LBT procedure, including a CAT4 LBT procedure. The inter-group sharable resources may be reserved for sharing with UEs outside the UE group. UEs outside the UE group may compete for the inter-group sharable resources based on a first type LBT procedure, including a CAT1 or CAT2 LBT procedure. The SCI may indicate inter-group sharable resources of the COT on the sidelink channel that may be able to be shared by UEs outside the UE group. The inter-group sharable resources may overlap in time with the inter-group sharable resources. The SCI may indicate a priority threshold for use of the inter-group sharable resources by one or more UEs outside the UE group. The SCI may indicate a PDB threshold for use of the inter-group sharable resources by one or more UEs outside the UE group. The SCI may include a group ID that identifies the UE group. The SCI may include a field that indicates whether inter-group sharing is enabled. The SCI may include a list of one or more group IDs for additional UE groups for inter-group sharing of the third set of resources. For example, 804 may be implemented by the group resource sharing component 1040.

[0094]

[0103] At 904, the UE may be configured (i.e., as in 710) to perform an LBT procedure prior to transmitting a sidelink transmission on a sidelink channel using one or more of the intra-group sharable resources or the inter-group sharable resources. UEs outside the UE group may contend for the intra-group sharable resources based on a second type LBT procedure, including a CAT4 LBT procedure. UEs outside the UE group may contend for the inter-group sharable resources based on a first type LBT procedure, including a CAT1 or CAT2 LBT procedure. For example, 904 may be performed by the LBT component 1042.

[0095]

[0104] At 906, the UE may be configured (i.e., as in 712) to transmit a sidelink transmission on a sidelink channel using one or more resources of the inter-group sharable resources. The UE may transmit a sidelink transmission on a sidelink channel using one or more resources of the inter-group sharable resources based on the priority of the sidelink transmission satisfying the priority threshold indicated in the SCI received at 902. The UE may transmit a sidelink transmission on a sidelink channel using one or more resources of the inter-group sharable resources based on the PDB at the first UE satisfying the PDB threshold indicated in the SCI received at 902. The UE may transmit a sidelink transmission on a sidelink channel using one or more resources of the inter-group sharable resources based on the UE being part of an additional UE group for inter-group sharing indicated in the SCI received at 902. For example, 906 may be implemented by the group resource sharing component 1040.

[0096]

[0105] 10 is a diagram 1000 illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an apparatus 1002. The apparatus 1002 is a UE and includes a cellular baseband processor 1004 (also referred to as a modem) coupled to a cellular RF transceiver 1022 and one or more subscriber identity module (SIM) cards 1020, an application processor 1006 coupled to a secure digital (SD) card 1008 and a screen 1010, a Bluetooth module 1012, a wireless local area network (WLAN) module 1014, a global positioning system (GPS) module 1016, and a power supply 1018. The cellular baseband processor 1004 communicates with the UE 104 and / or the BS 102 / 180 through the cellular RF transceiver 1022. The cellular baseband processor 1004 may include computer-readable media / memory. The computer-readable media / memory may be non-transitory. The cellular baseband processor 1004 is responsible for general processing, including the execution of software stored in a computer-readable medium / memory. The software, when executed by the cellular baseband processor 1004, causes the cellular baseband processor 1004 to perform the various functions described above. The computer-readable medium / memory may also be used to store data manipulated by the cellular baseband processor 1004 when executing the software. The cellular baseband processor 1004 further includes a receiving component 1030, a communications manager 1032, and a transmitting component 1034. The communications manager 1032 includes one or more of the illustrated components. The components in the communications manager 1032 may be stored in a computer-readable medium / memory and / or configured as hardware within the cellular baseband processor 1004. The cellular baseband processor 1004 may be a component of the UE 350 and may include the memory 360 and / or at least one of the TX processor 368, the RX processor 356, and the controller / processor 359.In one configuration, the device 1002 may be a modem chip and include only the baseband processor 1004, and in another configuration, the device 1002 may be the entire UE (e.g., see 350 in FIG. 3) and include the additional modules previously described for the device 1002.

[0097]

[0106] The communications manager 1032 includes a group resource sharing component 1040 configured to: send and receive an SCI reserving a COT on the sidelink channel, monitor sidelink communications in the intra-group sharable resources of the COT, calculate a utilization rate of resources among the intra-group sharable resources reserved for the UE group on the sidelink channel, adjust the size of the intra-group sharable resources in the additional COT based on the utilization rate, and transmit a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more resources among the inter-group sharable resources, e.g., as described with reference to 804, 806, 808, 810, 902, and 906. The communications manager 1032 further includes an LBT component 1042 configured to: determine that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission, and perform an LBT procedure before transmitting a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more resources among the intra-group sharable resources or the inter-group sharable resources, e.g., as described with reference to 802 and 904. 1040 and 1042 are configured to communicate with each other.

[0098]

[0107] An apparatus may include additional components that implement each of the blocks of the algorithms in the above-described flowcharts of Figures 7, 8, and 9. Thus, each block in the above-described flowcharts of Figures 7, 8, and 9 may be implemented by one component, and an apparatus may include one or more of those components. The components may be one or more hardware components specifically configured to perform the described processes / algorithms, implemented by a processor configured to perform the described processes / algorithms, stored in a computer-readable medium for implementation by a processor, or some combination thereof.

[0099]

[0108] In one configuration, the apparatus 1002, and in particular the cellular baseband processor 1004, includes means for determining that a sidelink channel is available for data transmission and means for transmitting an SCI reserving a COT on the sidelink channel in response to determining that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission. The apparatus 1002 includes means for monitoring sidelink transmissions in a second set of resources of the COT, means for calculating a utilization rate of resources of the second set of resources reserved for a group of UEs on the sidelink channel, and means for adjusting a size of the second set of resources in the additional COT based on the utilization rate, the adjusting means including means for increasing a size of the second set of resources in response to the calculated utilization rate being greater than or equal to a utilization threshold, and means for decreasing a size of the second set of resources in response to the calculated utilization rate being less than the utilization threshold. The apparatus 1002 also includes means for receiving an SCI reserving a COT on the sidelink channel from a second UE, and means for transmitting a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more resources of the second set of resources. The apparatus 1002 includes means for performing an LBT procedure prior to transmitting a sidelink transmission on a sidelink channel using one or more resources from the first set of resources or the second set of resources. The aforementioned means may be one or more of the aforementioned components of the apparatus 1002 configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means. As described above, the apparatus 1002 may include the TX processor 368, the RX processor 356, and the controller / processor 359. Thus, in one configuration, the aforementioned means may be the TX processor 368, the RX processor 356, and the controller / processor 359 configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means.

[0100]

[0109] 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , and 10 , wireless communication may involve a first UE included in a UE group and a second UE outside the UE group. The first UE may determine that a sidelink channel is available for data transmission and, in response to determining that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission, transmit an SCI reserving a COT on the sidelink channel. The COT may include a first set of resources reserved for the first UE for sidelink data transmission on the sidelink channel, a second set of resources as intra-group sharable resources that can be shared by a UE group including the first UE for sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel, and a third set of resources as inter-group sharable resources that can be shared by a second UE outside the UE group for sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel.

[0101]

[0110] The first UE may determine that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission based on the LBT procedure. The first UE may determine that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission by performing a CAT4 LBT procedure.

[0102]

[0111] The inter-group sharable resources may be reserved for sharing with a second UE outside the UE group. The SCI may indicate the inter-group sharable resources of the COT on the sidelink channel that can be shared by a second UE outside the UE group.

[0103]

[0112] The inter-group sharable resources may overlap in time with the first set of resources, and the inter-group sharable resources may include resources that do not overlap in time with the first set of resources.

[0104]

[0113] A first UE in a UE group may compete for intra-group sharable resources based on a first type of LBT procedure, and a second UE outside the UE group may compete for intra-group sharable resources based on a second type of LBT procedure, where the first type of LBT procedure may include a CAT1 or CAT2 LBT procedure, and the second type of LBT procedure may include a CAT4 LBT procedure.

[0105]

[0114] The SCI may indicate a first set of resources of the COT and intra-group sharable resources on the sidelink channel, where the inter-group sharable resources may include the remaining resources of the COT. The SCI may indicate a priority threshold for use of the inter-group sharable resources by a second UE outside the UE group. The SCI may indicate a PDB threshold for use of the inter-group sharable resources by a second UE outside the UE group. The SCI may include a group ID that identifies the UE group. The SCI may include a field that may indicate whether inter-group sharing is enabled. The SCI may include a list of one or more group IDs for additional UE groups for inter-group sharing of the inter-group sharable resources.

[0106]

[0115] The first UE may monitor sidelink transmissions in the intra-group sharable resources of the COT, calculate a utilization rate of resources among the intra-group sharable resources reserved for the UE group on the sidelink channel, and adjust the size of the intra-group sharable resources in the additional COT based on the utilization rate. The size of the intra-group sharable resources may be adjusted by increasing the size of the intra-group sharable resources in response to the calculated utilization rate being greater than or equal to a utilization threshold, or by decreasing the size of the intra-group sharable resources in response to the calculated utilization rate being less than the utilization threshold.

[0107]

[0116] The second UE may receive from the first UE an SCI reserving a COT on the sidelink channel, and the COT may transmit sidelink transmissions on the sidelink channel using one or more of the inter-group sharable resources, where the inter-group sharable resources include intra-group sharable resources that may be shared by a UE group that includes the first UE and does not include the second UE, and inter-group sharable resources that may be shared by UEs outside the UE group for sidelink transmissions on the sidelink channel.

[0108]

[0117] The second UE may perform an LBT procedure before transmitting a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more of the intra-group sharable resources or the inter-group sharable resources. The second UE may contend for the intra-group sharable resources based on a different type of LBT procedure than the UE group uses to contend for the intra-group sharable resources. The second UE may also contend for the inter-group sharable resources based on the same type of LBT procedure as the UE group uses to contend for the intra-group sharable resources.

[0109]

[0118] When the SCI indicates a priority threshold, the second UE may transmit a sidelink transmission on a sidelink channel using one or more resources from the inter-group sharable resources based on the priority of the sidelink transmission satisfying the priority threshold. When the SCI indicates a PDB threshold, the second UE may transmit a sidelink transmission on a sidelink channel using one or more resources from the inter-group sharable resources based on the PDB at the second UE satisfying the PDB threshold. When the SCI includes a list of one or more group IDs for additional UE groups for inter-group sharing of the inter-group sharable resources, the second UE may transmit a sidelink transmission on a sidelink channel using one or more resources from the inter-group sharable resources based on the second UE being part of one of the additional UE groups.

[0110]

[0119] It should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of the blocks in the disclosed processes / flowcharts is an example of an exemplary approach. Based on design preferences, it should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of the blocks in the processes / flowcharts may be rearranged. Further, some blocks may be combined or omitted. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various blocks in an exemplary order and are not limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

[0111]

[0120] The foregoing description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Accordingly, the claims are not limited to the aspects set forth herein but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the claim language, wherein reference to an element in the singular does not mean "one and only one," unless so expressly stated, but rather means "one or more." Terms such as "if," "when," and "while" should be interpreted to mean "under" rather than implying an immediate time relationship or reaction. That is, these phrases, e.g., "when," do not imply immediate action in response to or during the occurrence of an action, but merely imply that if a condition is met, an action occurs, but does not require a specific or immediate time constraint for the action to occur. The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any aspect described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the term "some" refers to one or more. Combinations such as "at least one of A, B, or C," "one or more of A, B, or C," "at least one of A, B, and C," "one or more of A, B, and C," and "A, B, C, or any combination thereof" include any combination of A, B, and / or C, and may include multiple As, multiple Bs, or multiple Cs.In particular, combinations such as "at least one of A, B, or C," "one or more of A, B, or C," "at least one of A, B, and C," "one or more of A, B, and C," and "A, B, C, or any combination thereof" may be A only, B only, C only, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C, where any such combination may contain one or more members of A, B, or C. All structural and functional equivalents of the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later become known to those skilled in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is made available to the public, regardless of whether such disclosure is expressly recited in the claims. The words "module," "mechanism," "element," "device," and the like may not be substitutes for the word "means." Therefore, no claim element should be construed as a means-plus-function unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase "means for."

[0112]

[0121] The following examples are illustrative only and may be combined with, but not limited to, other embodiments or aspects of the teachings described herein.

[0113]

[0122] Aspect 1 is a method of wireless communication for a UE, the method including: determining that a sidelink channel is available for data transmission; and, in response to determining that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission, transmitting sidelink control information (SCI) reserving a channel occupation time (COT) on the sidelink channel, the COT including a first set of resources reserved for the UE for sidelink data transmission on the sidelink channel, a second set of resources for sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel that can be shared by a UE group including the UE, and a third set of resources for sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel that can be shared by one or more UEs outside the UE group.

[0114]

[0123] Example 2 is the method of example 1, wherein a third set of resources is reserved for sharing with one or more UEs outside the UE group.

[0115]

[0124] Aspect 3 is the method of any of aspects 1 and 2, wherein the SCI indicates a third set of resources of the COT on the sidelink channel that can be shared by one or more UEs outside the UE group.

[0116]

[0125] Aspect 4 is the method of any of aspects 1 and 2, wherein the SCI indicates a first set of resources and a second set of resources of the COT on the sidelink channel, and wherein a third set of resources includes the remaining resources of the COT.

[0117]

[0126] Example 5 is the method of any of Examples 1 to 4, wherein the third set of resources overlap in time with the first set of resources.

[0118]

[0127] Example 6 is the method of any of Examples 1 to 5, wherein the third set of resources includes resources that do not overlap in time with the first set of resources.

[0119]

[0128] Example 7 is the method of any of Examples 1 to 6, wherein the UE determines that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission based on a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure.

[0120]

[0129] Example 8 is the method of example 7, wherein the UE determines that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission by performing a CAT4 LBT procedure.

[0121]

[0130] Aspect 9 is the method of any of aspects 1 to 8, wherein a first UE in the UE group contends for a second set of resources based on a first type of LBT procedure, and a second UE outside the UE group contends for the second set of resources based on a second type of LBT procedure.

[0122]

[0131] Example 10 is the method of example 9, wherein the first type of LBT procedure comprises a CAT1 or CAT2 LBT procedure, and the second type of LBT procedure comprises a CAT4 LBT procedure.

[0123]

[0132] Example 11 is the method of any of Examples 1 to 10, wherein the SCI indicates a priority threshold for use of the third set of resources by one or more UEs outside the UE group.

[0124]

[0133] Example 12 is the method of any of Examples 1 to 11, wherein the SCI indicates a packet delay budget (PDB) threshold for use of a third set of resources by one or more UEs outside the UE group.

[0125]

[0134] Example 13 is the method of any of Examples 1 to 12, wherein the SCI includes a group identifier (ID) that identifies a UE group.

[0126]

[0135] Example 14 is the method of any of Examples 1 to 13, wherein the SCI includes a field indicating whether cross-group sharing is enabled.

[0127]

[0136] Example 15 is the method of any of Examples 1 to 14, wherein the SCI includes a list of one or more group IDs for additional UE groups for inter-group sharing of the third set of resources.

[0128]

[0137]

[0033] Aspect 16 is the method of any of aspects 1 to 15, further comprising: monitoring sidelink transmissions in a second set of resources of the COT; calculating a utilization rate of resources among the second set of resources reserved for the UE group on the sidelink channel; and adjusting a size of the second set of resources in the additional COT based on the utilization rate.

[0129]

[0138] Example 17 is the method of example 16, wherein adjusting the size of the second set of resources includes increasing the size of the second set of resources in response to the calculated utilization being greater than or equal to a utilization threshold.

[0130]

[0139] Example 18 is the method of any of Examples 16 and 17, wherein adjusting the size of the second set of resources includes decreasing the size of the second set of resources in response to the calculated utilization being less than a utilization threshold.

[0131]

[0140] Aspect 19 is an apparatus for wireless communication including at least one processor, coupled to a memory, configured to implement a method according to any of aspects 1 to 18.

[0132]

[0141] Aspect 20 is an apparatus for wireless communication, comprising means for implementing the method of any of aspects 1-18.

[0133]

[0142] Aspect 21 is a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to implement a method according to any of aspects 1 to 18.

[0134]

[0143] Aspect 22 is a method of wireless communication for a UE, the method including: receiving, from a second UE, an SCI reserving a COT on a sidelink channel; and transmitting a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more resources of a second set of resources, the COT including a first set of resources that can be shared by a UE group that includes the second UE and does not include the first UE, and a second set of resources that can be shared by UEs outside the UE group, for sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel.

[0135]

[0144] Example 23 is the method of example 22, wherein the SCI indicates a second set of COT resources on the sidelink channel that can be shared with UEs outside the group.

[0136]

[0145] Example 24 is the method of any of Examples 22 and 23, wherein the second set of resources overlaps in time with the first set of resources.

[0137]

[0146]

[0047] Example 25 is the method of any of Examples 22 to 24, further comprising: performing an LBT procedure prior to transmitting a sidelink transmission on a sidelink channel using one or more resources from the first set of resources or the second set of resources.

[0138]

[0147] Aspect 26 is the method of aspect 25, wherein a first UE outside the UE group competes for the first set of resources based on a different type of LBT procedure than the one used by the UE group to compete for the first set of resources.

[0139]

[0148] Aspect 27 is a method according to any of aspects 25 and 26, in which a first UE outside the UE group competes for a second set of resources based on the same type of LBT procedure that the UE group uses to compete for the first set of resources.

[0140]

[0149] Example 28 is the method of any of Examples 22 to 27, wherein the SCI indicates a priority threshold, and the first UE transmits a sidelink transmission on a sidelink channel using one or more resources from the second set of resources based on a priority of the sidelink transmission satisfying the priority threshold.

[0141]

[0150] Example 29 is the method of any of Examples 22 to 28, wherein the SCI indicates a PDB threshold, and the first UE transmits a sidelink transmission on a sidelink channel using one or more resources of the second set of resources based on the PDB at the first UE satisfying the PDB threshold.

[0142]

[0151] Example 30 is the method of any of Examples 22 to 29, wherein the SCI includes a group ID that identifies a UE group.

[0143]

[0152] Example 31 is the method of any of Examples 22 to 30, wherein the SCI includes a field indicating whether cross-group sharing is enabled.

[0144]

[0153]

[0033] Aspect 32 is the method of any of aspects 22 to 31, wherein the SCI includes a list of one or more group IDs for additional UE groups for inter-group sharing of the second set of resources, and wherein the first UE transmits a sidelink transmission on a sidelink channel using one or more resources of the second set of resources based on the first UE being part of one of the additional UE groups.

[0145]

[0154] Aspect 33 is an apparatus for wireless communication including at least one processor, coupled to a memory, configured to implement a method according to any of aspects 22 to 32.

[0146]

[0155] Aspect 34 is an apparatus for wireless communication, comprising means for implementing the method of any of aspects 22 to 32.

[0147]

[0156] Aspect 35 is a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to implement a method according to any of aspects 22 to 32. The inventions described in the claims of the present application as originally filed are set forth below. [C1] 1. A method of wireless communication for a user equipment (UE), comprising: determining that a sidelink channel is available for data transmission; and transmitting sidelink control information (SCI) reserving a channel occupation time (COT) on the sidelink channel in response to determining that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission; and the COT is a first set of resources reserved for the UE for sidelink data transmission on the sidelink channel; and a second set of resources for sidelink transmissions on the sidelink channel that can be shared by a group of UEs including the UE; and and a third set of resources for the sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel that can be shared by one or more UEs outside the UE group. A method comprising: [C2] The method of C1, wherein the third set of resources is reserved for sharing with the one or more UEs outside the UE group. [C3] The method of C1, wherein the SCI indicates the third set of resources of the COT on the sidelink channel that can be shared by the one or more UEs outside the UE group. [C4] 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the SCI indicates the first set of resources and the second set of resources of the COT on the sidelink channel, and wherein the third set of resources comprises the remaining resources of the COT. [C5] The method of C1, wherein the third set of resources overlaps in time with the first set of resources. [C6] The method of C1, wherein the third set of resources comprises resources that do not overlap in time with the first set of resources. [C7] The method of claim 1, wherein the UE determines that the sidelink channel is available for the data transmission based on a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure. [C8] The method of claim 7, wherein the UE determines that the sidelink channel is available for the data transmission by performing a Category (CAT) 4 LBT procedure. [C9] The method of claim 1, wherein a first UE in the UE group competes for the second set of resources based on a first type of listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure, and a second UE outside the UE group competes for the second set of resources based on a second type of LBT procedure. [C10] The method of C9, wherein the first type of LBT procedure comprises a CAT1 or CAT2 LBT procedure, and the second type of LBT procedure comprises a CAT4 LBT procedure. [C11] The method of C1, wherein the SCI indicates a priority threshold for use of the third set of resources by the one or more UEs outside the UE group. [C12] The method of C1, wherein the SCI indicates a packet delay budget (PDB) threshold for use of the third set of resources by the one or more UEs outside the UE group. [C13] The method of C1, wherein the SCI includes a group identifier (ID) that identifies the UE group. [C14] The method of C1, wherein the SCI includes a field indicating whether cross-group sharing is enabled. [C15] The method of C1, wherein the SCI includes a list of one or more group identifiers (IDs) for additional UE groups for inter-group sharing of the third set of resources. [C16] monitoring sidelink transmissions on the second set of resources of the COT; and calculating a utilization rate of resources among the second set of resources reserved for the group of UEs on the sidelink channel; and adjusting the size of the second set of resources in the additional COT based on the utilization rate; The method of C1, further comprising: [C17] Adjusting the size of the second set of resources comprises: increasing the size of the second set of resources in response to the calculated utilization being greater than or equal to a utilization threshold. The method according to C16, comprising: [C18] Adjusting the size of the second set of resources comprises: decreasing the size of the second set of resources in response to the calculated utilization being less than a utilization threshold. The method according to C16, comprising: [C19] 1. An apparatus for wireless communication of a user equipment (UE), comprising: Memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory; wherein the at least one processor: determining that a sidelink channel is available for data transmission; and transmitting sidelink control information (SCI) reserving a channel occupation time (COT) on the sidelink channel in response to determining that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission; and the COT is a first set of resources reserved for the UE for sidelink data transmission on the sidelink channel; and a second set of resources for sidelink transmissions on the sidelink channel that can be shared by a group of UEs including the UE; and and a third set of resources for the sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel that can be shared by one or more UEs outside the UE group. 1. An apparatus for wireless communication configured to: [C20] The apparatus for wireless communication of C19, wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform a method according to any one of C2 to C18. [C21] 1. An apparatus for wireless communication of a user equipment (UE), comprising: means for determining that a sidelink channel is available for data transmission; and means for transmitting sidelink control information (SCI) in response to determining that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission, the SCI reserving a channel occupation time (COT) on the sidelink channel, the COT comprising: a first set of resources reserved for the UE for sidelink data transmission on the sidelink channel; and a second set of resources for sidelink transmissions on the sidelink channel that can be shared by a group of UEs including the UE; and and a third set of resources for the sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel that can be shared by one or more UEs outside the UE group. 1. An apparatus for wireless communication comprising: [C22] The apparatus for wireless communication of C21, further comprising means for performing a method according to any one of C2 to C18. [C23] 1. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code for a user equipment (UE), the code, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to: determining that a sidelink channel is available for data transmission; and transmitting sidelink control information (SCI) reserving a channel occupation time (COT) on the sidelink channel in response to determining that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission; and the COT is a first set of resources reserved for the UE for sidelink data transmission on the sidelink channel; and a second set of resources for sidelink transmissions on the sidelink channel that can be shared by a group of UEs including the UE; and and a third set of resources for the sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel that can be shared by one or more UEs outside the UE group. A computer-readable medium for causing [C24] The computer-readable medium of C23, wherein the code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform a method according to any one of C2 to C18. [C25] 1. A method of wireless communication for a first user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving sidelink control information (SCI) from a second UE reserving a channel occupation time (COT) on a sidelink channel; and the COT comprising: a first set of resources available for sharing by a group of UEs, the group including the second UE and excluding the first UE; and a second set of resources for sidelink transmissions on the sidelink channel that can be shared by UEs outside the UE group. transmitting a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more resources of the second set of resources; and A method comprising: [C26] The method of claim 25, wherein the SCI indicates the second set of resources of the COT on the sidelink channel that can be shared with outside the UE group. [C27] The method of C25, wherein the second set of resources overlaps in time with the first set of resources. [C28] performing a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure before transmitting the sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more resources of the first set of resources or the second set of resources. The method of C25, further comprising: [C29] The method of C28, wherein the first UE outside the UE group contends for the first set of resources based on a different type of LBT procedure than that used by the UE group to contend for the first set of resources. [C30] The method of claim 28, wherein the first UE outside the UE group contends for the second set of resources based on the same type of LBT procedure that the UE group uses to compete for the first set of resources. [C31] the SCI indicates a priority threshold, and the first UE transmits the sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using the one or more resources of the second set of resources based on the priority of the sidelink transmission satisfying the priority threshold. [C32] the SCI indicates a packet delay budget (PDB) threshold, and the first UE transmits the sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using the one or more resources of the second set of resources based on the PDB at the first UE satisfying the PDB threshold. [C33] The method of C25, wherein the SCI includes a group identifier (ID) that identifies the UE group. [C34] The method of C25, wherein the SCI includes a field indicating whether cross-group sharing is enabled. [C35] 20. The method of claim 25, wherein the SCI includes a list of one or more group identifiers (IDs) for additional UE groups for inter-group sharing of the second set of resources, and wherein the first UE transmits the sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using the one or more resources of the second set of resources based on the first UE being part of one of the additional UE groups. [C36] 1. An apparatus for wireless communication of a first user equipment (UE), comprising: Memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory; wherein the at least one processor: receiving sidelink control information (SCI) from a second UE reserving a channel occupation time (COT) on a sidelink channel; and the COT comprising: a first set of resources available for sharing by a group of UEs, the group including the second UE and excluding the first UE; and a second set of resources for sidelink transmissions on the sidelink channel that can be shared by UEs outside the UE group. transmitting a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more resources of the second set of resources; and 1. An apparatus for wireless communication configured to: [C37] The apparatus for wireless communication of C36, wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform a method according to any one of C25 to C35. [C38] 1. An apparatus for wireless communication of a first user equipment (UE), comprising: means for receiving, from a second UE, sidelink control information (SCI) reserving a channel occupation time (COT) on a sidelink channel; a first set of resources available for sharing by a group of UEs, the group including the second UE and excluding the first UE; and a second set of resources for sidelink transmissions on the sidelink channel that can be shared by UEs outside the UE group. means for transmitting a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more resources of the second set of resources; 1. An apparatus for wireless communication comprising: [C39] An apparatus for wireless communication as set forth in C38, further comprising means for performing a method as set forth in any one of C25 to C35. [C40] 1. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code for a first user equipment (UE), the code, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to: receive, from a second UE, sidelink control information (SCI) reserving a channel occupation time (COT) on a sidelink channel; a first set of resources available for sharing by a group of UEs, the group including the second UE and excluding the first UE; and a second set of resources for sidelink transmissions on the sidelink channel that can be shared by UEs outside the UE group. transmitting a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more resources of the second set of resources; and A computer-readable medium for causing [C41] The computer-readable medium of C40, wherein the code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the method of any of C25 to C35.

Claims

1. 1. A method of wireless communication for a user equipment (UE), comprising: determining that a sidelink channel is available for data transmission; and transmitting sidelink control information (SCI) reserving a channel occupation time (COT) on the sidelink channel in response to determining that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission; and the COT comprises: a first set of resources reserved for the UE for sidelink data transmission on the sidelink channel; and a second set of resources for sidelink transmissions on the sidelink channel that can be shared by a UE group including the UE; and and a third set of resources for the sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel that can be shared by one or more UEs outside the UE group. A method comprising:

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third set of resources is reserved for sharing with the one or more UEs outside the UE group.

3. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the SCI indicates the third set of resources of the COT on the sidelink channel that can be shared by the one or more UEs outside the UE group.

4. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the SCI indicates the first set of resources and the second set of resources of the COT on the sidelink channel, wherein the third set of resources comprises the remaining resources of the COT.

5. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE determines that the sidelink channel is available for the data transmission based on a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure.

6. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a first UE in the UE group competes for the second set of resources based on a first type of Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) procedure, and a second UE outside the UE group competes for the second set of resources based on a second type of LBT procedure.

7. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the SCI indicates a priority threshold for use of the third set of resources by the one or more UEs outside the UE group or a packet delay budget (PDB) threshold for use of the third set of resources by the one or more UEs outside the UE group.

8. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the SCI includes a list of one or more group identifiers (IDs) for additional UE groups for inter-group sharing of the third set of resources.

9. monitoring sidelink transmissions on the second set of resources of the COT; and calculating a utilization rate of resources among the second set of resources reserved for the group of UEs on the sidelink channel; and adjusting the size of the second set of resources at an additional COT based on the utilization rate; The method of claim 1 further comprising:

10. 1. An apparatus for wireless communication of a user equipment (UE), comprising: means for determining that a sidelink channel is available for data transmission; means for transmitting sidelink control information (SCI) reserving a channel occupation time (COT) on the sidelink channel in response to determining that the sidelink channel is available for data transmission; and the COT comprising: a first set of resources reserved for the UE for sidelink data transmission on the sidelink channel; and a second set of resources for sidelink transmissions on the sidelink channel that can be shared by a UE group including the UE; and and a third set of resources for the sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel that can be shared by one or more UEs outside the UE group.

1. An apparatus for wireless communication comprising:

11. 1. A method of wireless communication for a first user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving sidelink control information (SCI) from a second UE reserving a channel occupation time (COT) on a sidelink channel; and the COT comprising: a first set of resources that can be shared by a group of UEs, the group including the second UE and excluding the first UE; and a second set of resources for sidelink transmissions on the sidelink channel that can be shared by UEs outside the UE group. transmitting a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more resources of the second set of resources; and A method comprising:

12. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the SCI indicates the second set of resources of the COT on the sidelink channel that can be shared with outside the UE group.

13. performing a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure before transmitting the sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more resources of the first set of resources or the second set of resources. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the SCI includes a group identifier (ID) that identifies the UE group or a field that indicates whether inter-group sharing is enabled.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the SCI includes a group identifier (ID) that identifies the UE group or a field that indicates whether inter-group sharing is enabled.

16. 1. An apparatus for wireless communication of a first user equipment (UE), comprising: means for receiving, from a second UE, sidelink control information (SCI) reserving a channel occupation time (COT) on a sidelink channel, the COT comprising: a first set of resources that can be shared by a group of UEs, the group including the second UE and excluding the first UE; and a second set of resources for sidelink transmissions on the sidelink channel that can be shared by UEs outside the UE group. means for transmitting a sidelink transmission on the sidelink channel using one or more resources of the second set of resources; and 1. An apparatus for wireless communication comprising:

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