Sidelink Transmission Technology

By dynamically adjusting detection and resource selection windows based on transmission requirements, sidelink transmissions in 3GPP NR SL effectively meet latency constraints, improving reliability and performance for power-limited devices and advanced V2X services.

JP7762734B2Active Publication Date: 2025-10-30TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2023571521
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2021-05-19
Filing Date
2022-05-19
Publication Date
2025-10-30
Estimated Expiration
2042-05-19

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing sidelink transmission techniques in 3GPP NR SL face challenges in meeting varying transmission requirements due to fixed detection window sizes, which can lead to delayed transmissions that violate latency constraints.

Method used

Adaptive adjustment of detection and resource selection windows based on transmission requirements such as packet delay budget (PDB) and priority, allowing for flexible resource allocation to meet stringent latency and reliability needs.

Benefits of technology

Ensures timely and reliable sidelink transmissions by aligning detection and resource selection windows with the specific requirements of data packets, enhancing the performance of power-limited UEs and supporting advanced V2X services.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

Techniques are described for performing transmissions on a sidelink SL from a transmitting wireless device to one or more receiving wireless devices. For the method aspect of the present technology, a channel of the SL is detected during a detection window (420) to detect arrival of data for transmission on the SL. The duration (422) of the detection window (420) depends on a transmission requirement (440) associated with the data. Based on the result of the detection of the channel during the detection window (420), resources of the channel are selected in a resource selection window (430) for transmission of the data.
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to techniques for sidelink transmission. More specifically, but not exclusively, methods and devices are provided for performing transmissions on a sidelink from a transmitting wireless device to one or more receiving wireless devices. [Background technology]

[0002] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specified Proximity Services (ProSe) for radio access technologies (RATs) such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) in Releases 12 and 13, targeting public safety use cases (e.g., first responders) as well as a small subset of commercial use cases (e.g., discovery). ProSe involves device-to-device (D2D) communications using a sidelink (SL) interface between wireless devices, referred to as user equipment (UE) in the 3GPP RAT.

[0003] For LTE Releases 14 and 15, 3GPP introduced major changes to the SL framework with the purpose of supporting vehicular communications, also known as V2X communications, where V2X (as an abbreviation for vehicle-to-everything or vehicle-to-anything) collectively refers to communications between a vehicle and any other endpoint (e.g., vehicle, pedestrian, etc.). Releases 14 and 15 enabled basic V2X use cases such as Day-1 safety.

[0004] In Release 16, 3GPP specified the SL interface for the fifth generation (5G) New Radio (NR). NR Release 16 SL enables advanced V2X services, which can be categorized into four use case groups: vehicle platooning, extended sensors, advanced driving, and remote driving. Advanced V2X services require SL that meets stringent requirements in terms of latency and reliability. NR SL is designed to provide higher system capacity and better coverage, and to allow easy expansion to support future development of advanced V2X services and other related services.

[0005] Considering target V2X services using NR SL, it is generally recognized that groupcast or multicast and unicast transmissions are desirable, where the intended receiver(s) of a message are only a subset of UEs (e.g., vehicles) in proximity to the transmitter, i.e., groupcast, or a single UE (e.g., vehicle), i.e., unicast. For example, in platooning services, there are certain messages that are of interest only to platoon members, making platoon members a natural groupcast. In another example, see-through use cases primarily involve a pair of vehicles, for which unicast transmissions are a natural fit. Thus, NR SL not only supports broadcast, as LTE SL supports, but also supports groupcast and unicast transmissions.

[0006] Like the LTE SL, the NR SL is designed to allow SL operation with or without radio access network (RAN) coverage and with varying degrees of interaction between the UE and the RAN, including support for standalone and networkless operation.

[0007] In Release 17, 3GPP is working on multiple extensions for SL with the aim of extending support for V2X and covering other use cases such as public safety (e.g., as described in 3GPP document RP-193231). Among these, improving performance for power-limited UEs (e.g., pedestrian UEs, first responder UEs, etc.) and using resource coordination to improve performance are considered important.

[0008] Detection-based resource selection is one of the means for improving performance through resource coordination. In existing detection operations, the detection window has a fixed size. However, the transmission requirements of the transmitted packets vary depending on the latency requirements. If the detection window size is fixed, it may not be possible to perform packet transmission that meets the transmission requirements. For example, a small packet delay budget may lead to a situation where the resource selection window following the detection window is not large enough for a given packet, resulting in a later delayed transmission violating the transmission requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Therefore, there is a need for more flexible sidelink transmission techniques. An alternative or more specific objective is to meet different transmission requirements of traffic transmitted on the sidelink.

[0010] Regarding a method aspect, a method for performing transmission on a sidelink (SL) from a transmitting wireless device to one or more receiving wireless devices is provided. The method includes, or starts, upon arrival of data for transmission on the SL, detecting a channel of the SL during a detection window. The duration of the detection window depends on transmission requirements associated with the data. The method further includes, or starts, selecting resources of the channel in a resource selection window for transmission of the data based on results of the channel detection during the detection window.

[0011] The method aspects may be practiced alone or in combination with any one of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0012] By varying the duration of the detection window for detection-based resource selection depending on the transmission requirement, data (e.g., data packets or data traffic) associated with a more stringent transmission requirement may be transmitted on a resource selected after a detection window that may be shorter compared to a (e.g., full) detection window used before transmitting data associated with a less stringent transmission requirement (e.g., when meeting latency requirements as an example of a transmission requirement).

[0013] The resources of the channel can be selected in the resource selection window when meeting the transmission requirements.

[0014] The transmission requirement associated with the data may be a packet delay budget (PDB).

[0015] Alternatively or additionally, a method for performing transmission over a SL from a transmitting wireless device to one or more receiving wireless devices is provided. The method includes, or starts, upon arrival of data for transmission over the SL, detecting a channel of the SL during a detection window. The duration of the detection window depends on the data and / or parameters associated with the transmission of the data (e.g., transmission requirements). Example parameters may include a packet delay budget (e.g., associated with the data, the transmitting wireless device, and / or the transmission of the data) and / or a priority (e.g., associated with the data, the transmitting wireless device, and / or the transmission of the data). The method further includes, or starts, selecting resources of the channel in a resource selection window before expiration of the PDB for the transmission of the data based on a result of the channel detection during the detection window.

[0016] Alternatively or additionally, a method for performing transmission over a SL from a transmitting wireless device to one or more receiving wireless devices is provided, the method including or commencing, upon arrival of data for transmission over the SL, a step of detecting a channel of the SL during a detection window, the duration of the detection window depending on a packet delay budget (PDB) associated with the data, and the method further including or commencing, based on a result of the channel detection during the detection window, a step of selecting a resource of the channel in a resource selection window before expiration of the PDB for transmission of the data.

[0017] The channel may be a wireless channel or an optical channel. Alternatively or additionally, the channel may be a broadcast channel.

[0018] The detection window and the resource selection window may be separate, i.e., non-overlapping.

[0019] The resource selection window can end at or before the expiration of the PDB.

[0020] Detecting the channel may include receiving transmissions from one or more wireless devices other than the transmitting wireless device and / or from one or more receiving wireless devices. The transmissions received from one or more other wireless devices within the detection window may indicate further transmissions of the respective one or more other wireless devices. For example, the transmissions received from the one or more other wireless devices may include a reservation message. The reservation message may indicate further radio resources (e.g., planned, scheduled, or reserved) for further transmissions of the respective one or more other wireless devices within, for example, a resource selection window.

[0021] The results of the channel detection may indicate one or more slots (eg, within a resource selection window) that are at least one of idle, available, and available for transmission.

[0022] The transmission requirements may include or may indicate at least one of a packet delay budget (PDB) associated with the data and a priority associated with the data.

[0023] The duration of the detection window may depend on at least one of the PDB and the priority.

[0024] Resources for the channel may be selected in the resource selection window before the PDB expires for transmission of data.

[0025] The resource selection window may close before the expiration of the PDB. Alternatively or additionally, the selected resource may occur before the expiration of the PDB.

[0026] The duration of the detection window may be reduced relative to the total duration of the full detection window. The reduction in the duration of the detection window relative to the total duration of the full detection window may depend on the PDB and / or priority.

[0027] The resource selection window may start before the end of the full detection window, depending on the transmission requirements.

[0028] The resource selection window may overlap with the full detection window.

[0029] If the transmission requirement indicates a first priority, the duration of the detection window may be shortened relative to the full duration of the full detection window. Optionally, if the transmission requirement indicates a second priority lower than the first priority, the channel may be detected during the full duration.

[0030] The duration of the detection window may depend on the time remaining until the expiration of the PDB.

[0031] Alternatively or additionally, the transmitting wireless device may determine the duration of the detection window to be equal to or greater than a minimum duration depending on the transmission requirements.

[0032] The minimum duration may be reduced when the transmission requirement indicates a first priority compared to the minimum duration when the transmission requirement indicates a second priority that is lower than the first priority.

[0033] Alternatively or additionally, the transmitting wireless device may determine the duration of the detection window to be equal to or greater than a minimum duration that depends on the PDB. Optionally, the minimum duration of the detection window may depend on the remaining period until the expiration of the PDB.

[0034] Alternatively or additionally, the transmitting wireless device may determine the duration of the detection window to be less than or equal to a maximum duration that depends on the transmission requirements, where the maximum duration may be reduced when the transmission requirements indicate a first priority compared to the maximum duration when the transmission requirements indicate a second priority that is lower than the first priority.

[0035] Alternatively or additionally, the transmitting wireless device may determine the duration of the detection window to be less than or equal to a maximum duration that depends on the PDB. Optionally, the maximum duration of the detection window may depend on the remaining time until the expiration of the PDB.

[0036] Alternatively or additionally, the duration of the resource selection window may depend on the transmission requirements.

[0037] The duration of the resource selection window may be reduced relative to the total duration of all resource selection windows. Optionally, the reduction may depend on the PDB and / or priority.

[0038] Alternatively or additionally, the duration of the resource selection window may depend on the PDB. Optionally, the duration may depend on the time remaining until the expiration of the PDB.

[0039] The transmitting wireless device may determine the duration of the resource selection window to be equal to or greater than a minimum duration that depends on the PDB. Optionally, the minimum duration may depend on the remaining time until the expiration of the PDB. Alternatively or additionally, the transmitting wireless device may determine the duration of the resource selection window to be equal to or less than a maximum duration that depends on the PDB. Optionally, the maximum duration may depend on the remaining time until the expiration of the PDB.

[0040] The resource selection window duration and / or the minimum duration of the resource selection window duration may include a period for retransmission of data to one or more receiving wireless devices. Alternatively or additionally, the resource selection window duration and / or the minimum duration of the resource selection window duration may include a period for at least one of receiving a negative acknowledgment (NACK) from one or more receiving wireless devices and retransmitting data to one or more receiving wireless devices.

[0041] The duration of the detection window plus the duration of the resource selection window may be less than or equal to the remaining time until the expiration of the PDB.

[0042] Alternatively or additionally, the duration of the detection window may be less than or equal to the remaining period until the expiration of the PDB minus the duration of at least one of selecting a resource in the resource selection window and transmitting data on the selected resource.

[0043] The duration of the detection window may correspond to the remaining period until the expiration of the PDB minus the duration of at least one of the selection of a resource in the resource selection window, the transmission of data on the selected resource, the reception of a NACK for the transmitted data, and (e.g., possible) retransmission of the data (e.g., in response to the received NACK).

[0044] Alternatively or additionally, the method may further include or commence with the step of allowing data to arrive for transmission and / or transmitting the data within the selected resource.

[0045] Data may arrive (eg, be received) at a layer of a protocol stack for communication or transmission over a channel from, for example, a layer higher than the layer for communication or transmission over a channel.

[0046] The method may be performed by a transmitting wireless device.

[0047] The method may further include or begin by receiving a control message at the transmitting wireless device. The control message may indicate a transmission requirement.

[0048] The control message may be received from a network node of a Radio Access Network (RAN) serving the transmitting wireless device. Alternatively or additionally, the control message may be received from one or more of the receiving wireless devices.

[0049] Transmission requirements (e.g., QoS) associated with the data may be exchanged as part of a SL discovery procedure. For example, control messages may enable a transmitting wireless device to discover one or more receiving wireless devices that can provide the desired QoS when receiving or relaying the data. Alternatively or additionally, the desired QoS may be exchanged during connection establishment (i.e., by control messages).

[0050] A control message transmitted from the transmitting wireless device to one or more receiving wireless devices may optionally indicate a transmission requirement (e.g., QoS of the data) to be used in accordance with the QCI. Alternatively or additionally, a control message transmitted from one or more receiving wireless devices to the transmitting wireless device may indicate a transmission request (e.g., QoS of the data), optionally overriding the QCI of an EPS bearer, for example by requesting an additional EPS bearer.

[0051] The duration of the detection window may be determined according to the transmission requirements such that at least a minimum duration of the resource selection window required to perform resource selection is achieved.

[0052] Alternatively or additionally, the transmission requirements may include or indicate a reevaluation or preemption operation.

[0053] Alternatively or additionally, the transmission requirements may include or indicate at least one of a priority of the data, a latency requirement of the data, a PDB of the data, a time remaining until the expiration of the PDB, a duration of a resource selection window, and a minimum value of the duration of the resource selection window required by the transmitting wireless device to perform the selecting step. Optionally, the minimum value of the duration of the resource selection window required by the transmitting wireless device to perform the selecting step may depend on the priority of the data.

[0054] Alternatively or additionally, the transmission requirements may include or indicate parameters related to at least one of the data, the transmission of the data, and a channel of the SL.

[0055] Alternatively or additionally, if the transmission requirement indicates a first latency requirement or a first PDB, the duration of the detection window may be shorter than if the transmission requirement indicates a second latency requirement or a second PDB that is greater than the first latency requirement or the first PDB.

[0056] Alternatively or additionally, if the transmission requirements indicate a first priority for the data, the duration of the detection window may be longer compared to if the transmission requirements indicate a first latency requirement or a second priority for the data that is lower than the first PDB.

[0057] Examples of transmission requirements include latency requirements, packet delay budget (PDB), quality of service (QoS), QoS class identifier (QCI), 5G QoS identifier (5QI), priority (e.g., priority of the transmitting wireless device, priority of the data, or priority of the service underlying the data), channel congestion metric, reselection behavior, preemption behavior, capabilities of at least one or each of the transmitting wireless device and / or one or more receiving wireless devices, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) status of the data, HARQ-based retransmission, and blind retransmission.

[0058] At least some embodiments may determine (e.g., select, control, and / or adjust) the duration of the detection window based on transmission requirements. The transmission requirements may include one or more transmission parameters for transmitting data over the SL. As an example of a transmission requirement, the same or further embodiments may determine the duration of the detection window to ensure that the data is given appropriate QoS treatment (e.g., QoS of the data).

[0059] For example, but not by way of limitation, in 3GPP implementations, any "wireless device" may be a user equipment (UE). SL may be implemented using proximity services (ProSe), for example, in accordance with 3GPP specifications.

[0060] The technique can be implemented as a method of resource allocation. Alternatively or additionally, the technique may be implemented using a partial detection mechanism or as an extension of a partial detection mechanism.

[0061] The SL can be implemented using any type of wireless device-to-device (D2D) communication. This technology can be applied in the context of 3GPP New Radio (NR). The SL may be an NR SL. The SL according to 3GPP NR differs from the SL according to 3GPP LTE and may provide a wide range of QoS levels as an example of transmission requirements. Thus, at least some embodiments of the technology can ensure that a transmitting wireless device transmits data in accordance with a QoS associated with the data.

[0062] The techniques may be implemented in accordance with 3GPP specifications, for example, for 3GPP Release 17. The techniques may be implemented for 3GPP LTE or 3GPP NR in accordance with 3GPP document TS 23.303, version 16.0.0, amendment, or for 3GPP NR in accordance with 3GPP document TS 33.303, version 16.0.0, amendment.

[0063] SL can optionally use a PC5 interface to enable direct wireless communication between proximal wireless devices, e.g., a transmitting wireless device and one or more receiving wireless devices. Services provided using the SL or PC5 interface may be referred to as proximity services (ProSe). Any wireless device (e.g., a transmitting wireless device and / or one or more receiving wireless devices) that supports SL may be referred to as a ProSe-enabled wireless device.

[0064] The transmitting wireless device may act as a relay wireless device between the RAN and one or more receiving wireless devices. For data unicast or groupcast in the downlink (DL) from the RAN to one or more receiving wireless devices, the transmitting wireless device may map the QoS class identifier (QCI) of the EPS bearer to a per-ProSe packet priority value to be applied as a transmission request (e.g., as an SL and / or for DL ​​relay unicast packets via interface PC5 according to 3GPP document TS 23.303, version 16.0.0, section 5.4.6.2). Mapping rules can be provisioned in the transmitting wireless device.

[0065] In any radio access technology (RAT), the technique may be implemented to relay data from a transmitting wireless device as a remote wireless device to a RAN via one or more receiving wireless devices as one or more relay wireless devices. Alternatively or additionally, the technique may be implemented to relay data from the RAN via the transmitting wireless device as a relay wireless device to one or more receiving wireless devices as one or more remote wireless devices. The relay wireless device and the RAN may be wirelessly connected in an uplink (UL) and / or downlink (DL) via a Uu interface.

[0066] Any wireless device may be a user equipment (UE), for example, according to 3GPP specifications. A transmitting wireless device may also be referred to as a transmitting UE (or simply, a transmitter). Alternatively or additionally, one or more receiving wireless devices may also be referred to as one or more receiving UEs (or simply, a receiver).

[0067] The transmitting wireless device and / or one or more receiving wireless devices and / or RAN may form or be part of a wireless network, e.g., according to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) or the standard family IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi). Method aspects may be performed by one or more embodiments of the transmitting wireless device.

[0068] The RAN may include one or more network nodes (e.g., base stations). Alternatively or additionally, the wireless network may be a vehicular, ad hoc, and / or mesh network including two or more wireless devices, e.g., functioning as a transmitting wireless device and / or one or more receiving wireless devices.

[0069] Any of the wireless devices may be a 3GPP user equipment (UE) or a Wi-Fi station (STA). Any of the wireless devices may be a mobile station or a portable station, a device for machine-type communications (MTC), a device for narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), or a combination thereof. Examples of UEs and mobile stations include mobile phones, tablet computers, and autonomous vehicles. Examples of portable stations include laptop computers and television sets. Examples of MTC or NB-IoT devices include robots, sensors, and / or actuators in, for example, manufacturing, automotive communications, and home automation. MTC or NB-IoT devices may be implemented in manufacturing plants, household appliances, and consumer electronics.

[0070] Whenever a RAN is referenced, the RAN may be implemented by one or more network nodes (e.g., base stations). A base station may encompass any station configured to provide wireless access to either transmitting and / or receiving wireless devices. A base station may also be referred to as a cell, a transmit / receive point (TRP), a wireless access node, or an access point (AP). A base station and / or a relay wireless device may provide user data to a remote wireless device or provide a data link to a host computer that collects user data from a remote wireless device. Examples of base stations may include 3G base stations or Node Bs (NBs), 4G base stations or eNode Bs (eNBs), 5G base stations or gNode Bs (gNBs), Wi-Fi APs, and network controllers (e.g., according to Bluetooth, ZigBee, or Z-Wave).

[0071] The RAN and / or SL may be implemented in accordance with 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) and / or 3GPP New Radio (NR).

[0072] Any aspect of the present technology may be implemented in a physical layer (PHY), a medium access control (MAC) layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, and / or a radio resource control (RRC) layer of a protocol stack for wireless communication.

[0073] In this specification, a reference to a protocol of a layer may also refer to the corresponding layer in a protocol stack, and vice versa; a reference to a layer of a protocol stack may also refer to the corresponding protocol of the layer. Any protocol may be implemented by a corresponding method.

[0074] In another aspect, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product comprises program code portions for performing any one of the steps of the method aspects disclosed herein when the computer program product is executed by one or more computing devices. The computer program product may be stored on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer program product may also be provided for downloading, for example, via a wireless network, a RAN, the Internet, and / or a host computer. Alternatively or additionally, the method may be coded in a field programmable gate array (FPGA) and / or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or functionality may be provided for downloading using a hardware description language.

[0075] Regarding a device aspect, a device for performing sidelink (SL) transmissions from a transmitting wireless device to one or more receiving wireless devices is provided. The wireless device includes a memory operable to store instructions and a processing circuit operable to execute the instructions, such that the wireless device is operable to detect a channel of the SL during a detection window upon arrival of data for transmission on the SL. The duration of the detection window depends on transmission requirements associated with the data. The wireless device is further operable to select resources of the channel in a resource selection window for transmission of the data based on results of the channel detection during the detection window.

[0076] The wireless device may be further operable to perform any of the steps of the method aspects.

[0077]

[0010] Regarding a further device aspect, a wireless device for performing sidelink (SL) transmissions from a transmitting wireless device to one or more receiving wireless devices is provided. The wireless device is configured to detect a channel of the SL during a detection window upon arrival of data for transmission on the SL. The duration of the detection window depends on a transmission requirement associated with the data. The wireless device is further configured to select resources of the channel within a resource selection window for transmission of the data based on results of the channel detection during the detection window.

[0078] The wireless device may be further configured to perform any of the steps of the method aspects.

[0079]

[0010] In accordance with yet a further device aspect, a user equipment (UE) configured to communicate with a network node or with a wireless device functioning as a gateway is provided. The UE includes a radio interface and processing circuitry configured to detect a channel of a SL during a detection window upon arrival of data for transmission on the SL. The duration of the detection window depends on transmission requirements associated with the data. The processing circuitry is further configured to select resources of the channel in a resource selection window for transmission of the data based on results of the detection of the channel during the detection window.

[0080] The processing circuitry may be further configured to perform any step of the method aspects.

[0081] In any device aspect, the device may be configured to perform any one of the steps of the method aspect. Alternatively or additionally, the device may include processing circuitry (e.g., at least one processor and memory). The memory includes instructions executable by the at least one processor, whereby the device operates to perform any one of the steps of the first method aspect.

[0082] In accordance with a further aspect, a communication system is provided that includes a host computer. The host computer includes processing circuitry configured to provide user data, e.g., for inclusion in data for transmission. The host computer further includes a communications interface configured to transfer data to a cellular network (e.g., a RAN and / or base station) for transmission to a UE (e.g., a transmitting wireless device). The UE includes a wireless interface and processing circuitry configured to perform any one of the steps of the method aspects.

[0083] The communication system may further include a UE. Alternatively or additionally, the cellular network may further include one or more base stations configured for wireless communication with the UE and / or to provide a data link between the UE and a host computer using method aspects.

[0084] The processing circuitry of the host computer may be configured to execute a host application, thereby providing data and / or any host computer functionality described herein. Alternatively, or in addition, the processing circuitry of the UE may be configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

[0085] Any one of a device, a transmitting wireless device, a UE, a base station, a communication system, or any node or station for embodying the present technology may further include any feature disclosed in the context of a method aspect, and vice versa. In particular, any one of the units and modules disclosed herein may be configured to perform or initiate one or more of the steps of the method aspect.

[0086] Further details of embodiments of the technique are described with reference to the enclosed drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0087] [Figure 1]1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a device for performing transmissions over SL from a transmitting wireless device to one or more receiving wireless devices. [Figure 2] 1 illustrates a flowchart of a method for performing a transmission over SL from a transmitting wireless device to one or more receiving wireless devices, which method may be implementable by the device of FIG. 1. [Figure 2.1] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method for performing transmission over SL from a transmitting wireless device to one or more receiving wireless devices, which may be a variation of the method of FIG. 2 and / or which may be implementable by the device of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a wireless network including one or more embodiments of the device of FIG. 1 for performing the method of FIG. 2 or FIG. 2.1. [Figure 4] 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams illustrating first example detection and resource selection windows that may be used by an embodiment of the device of FIG. 1 in at least some circumstances. [Figure 5] 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams illustrating second example detection and resource selection windows that may be used by an embodiment of the device of FIG. 1 in at least some circumstances. [Figure 6] 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a third example of a detection window and a resource selection window that may be used by an embodiment of the device of FIG. 1 in at least some circumstances. [Figure 7] 2 is a schematic block diagram of a transmitting wireless device embodying the device of FIG. 1; [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary communication network connected to a host computer through an intermediate network. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a generalized block diagram of a host computer communicating with user equipment over a partial wireless connection through a base station or transmitting wireless device acting as a gateway. [Figure 10]FIG. 1 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station or transmitting wireless device acting as a gateway, and user equipment. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station or transmitting wireless device acting as a gateway, and user equipment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0088] In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth, such as a particular network environment, to provide a thorough understanding of the techniques disclosed herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the techniques may be practiced in other embodiments that deviate from these specific details. Furthermore, while the following embodiments are primarily described with respect to New Radio (NR) or 5G implementations, it will be readily apparent that the techniques described herein may also be implemented with respect to any other wireless communication technology, including wireless local area network (WLAN) implementations with the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, 3GPP LTE (e.g., associated radio access technologies such as LTE-Advanced or MultiFire), for Bluetooth, particularly Bluetooth Low Energy, Bluetooth Mesh Networking, and Bluetooth Broadcast by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), Z-Wave by the Z-Wave Alliance, or ZigBee based on IEEE 802.15.4.

[0089] Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the functions, steps, units, and modules described herein may be implemented using software operating in conjunction with a programmed microprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), or a general-purpose computer, including, for example, an advanced RISC machine (ARM). Also, while the following embodiments are described primarily in the context of involving methods and devices, it will be understood that the present invention may also be embodied in a computer program product, as well as in a system comprising at least one computer processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory encoded with one or more programs that may perform the functions and steps or realize the units and modules disclosed herein.

[0090] 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a device for performing transmissions over SL from a transmitting wireless device to one or more receiving wireless devices, the device being generally referred to by the reference numeral 100.

[0091] The device 100 includes a detection module 104 that detects a channel of the SL according to method aspects. The device 100 further includes a selection module 106 that selects resources of the channel for transmission of data in a resource selection window according to method aspects.

[0092] Any of the modules of device 100 may be implemented by a unit configured to provide the corresponding functionality.

[0093] The device 100 may also be referred to as or embodied by a transmitting wireless device 100-T (or simply, a transmitter). The transmitting wireless device 100-T and one or more receiving wireless devices may communicate directly wirelessly, for example, to transmit data on at least SL channels from the transmitting wireless device 100 to one or more receiving wireless devices. The one or more receiving wireless devices are referred to by the reference numeral 100-R. Any of the wireless devices may function as both a receiving wireless device and a transmitting wireless device, for example, in a bidirectional communication of data.

[0094] 2 shows an example flowchart of a method 200 for performing transmission over a SL from a transmitting wireless device to one or more receiving wireless devices. In step 204, upon arrival of data for transmission over the SL, the channel of the SL is detected during a detection window. The duration of the detection window depends on the transmission requirements associated with the data. Alternatively or additionally, the method 200 includes or begins step 204 of detecting the channel of the SL during a detection window upon arrival of data for transmission over the SL, the duration of the detection window depending on, for example, a packet delay budget (PDB) associated with the data, as shown in FIG. 2.1.

[0095] In step 206 of method 200, resources for the channel are selected in a resource selection window for transmitting data based on the results of detecting the channel during the detection window 204. Alternatively or additionally, method 200 includes or starts step 206 of selecting resources for the channel in a resource selection window before the expiration of the PDB for transmitting data based on the results of detecting the channel during the detection window, for example as shown in Figure 2.1.

[0096] Optionally, the data arrives at step 202 of method 200 (e.g., at device 100-T). Alternatively or additionally, the data is transmitted at step 208 of method 200 using selected resources (e.g., slots in the time domain of the channel).

[0097] Method 200 may be performed by device 100-T. For example, modules 104 and 106 may perform steps 204 and 206, respectively.

[0098] This technique can be applied to direct communication between wireless devices, e.g., device-to-device (D2D) communication, which is an example of transmission over a SL. The SL may be independent of the RAN. Alternatively or additionally, the SL can extend an uplink (UL) from a transmitting wireless device to the RAN via one or more receiving wireless devices functioning as relay wireless devices, and / or the SL can extend a downlink (DL) from the RAN to one or more receiving wireless devices via the transmitting wireless devices functioning as relay wireless devices.

[0099] Each of the transmitting wireless device 100-T and the receiving wireless device 100-R may be a wireless device. In this specification, any wireless device may be a mobile or portable station and / or any wireless device capable of wirelessly connecting to a base station or a RAN or to another wireless device. For example, the wireless device may be a user equipment (UE), a device for machine-type communication (MTC), or a device for the (e.g., narrowband) Internet of Things (IoT). The transmitting and receiving wireless devices may be configured to wirelessly connect to each other, for example, in an ad-hoc wireless network or via a 3GPP SL connection. Furthermore, any base station may be a station that provides wireless access, may be part of a radio access network (RAN), and / or may be a node connected to the RAN to control wireless access. For example, the base station may be an access point, for example, a Wi-Fi access point.

[0100] In this specification, whenever noise or signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is mentioned, the corresponding steps, features or effects are also disclosed for noise and / or interference or signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR).

[0101] 3 illustrates schematically an example of a wireless network 300. The wireless network 300 may or may not include a radio access network including one or more network nodes 302. If so, each network node 302 (e.g., a base station) may provide wireless access to any of the transmitting or receiving wireless devices 100-T and / or 100-R in one or more cells 304. The wireless interface 310 between the network node 302 and the wireless device 100-T or 100-R may be a 3GPP Uu interface (as shown in FIG. 3).

[0102] Alternatively or additionally, the wireless network 300 includes one or more embodiments of a device 100-T for performing the method 200. The wireless interface 110 between the transmitting wireless device 100-T and one or more receiving wireless devices 100-R may be an SL 110.

[0103] Optionally, the transmitting wireless device 100-T may use one of the one or more receiving wireless devices 100-R as a relay wireless device to transmit data to the network node 302. Alternatively or additionally, the network node 302 may use an embodiment of the transmitting wireless device 100-T in the cell 304 of the network node 302 as a relay wireless device to transmit data to any one of the one or more receiving wireless devices 100-R.

[0104] For purposes of specificity and not limitation, embodiments of the technology will be described with reference to wireless devices as UEs or SL UEs.

[0105] The resources on the channel for the SL may be an allocation for the SL transmission, which is called resource allocation. As with the LTE SL, there are two modes of resource allocation for the NR SL.

[0106] The first mode involves network-based resource allocation, where the network (e.g., network node 302) selects (e.g., controls) the resources and / or other transmission parameters used by the SL UEs 100-T and 100-R. In some cases, the network may control every single transmission parameter. In other cases, the network may select the resources used for transmission, but may give the transmitter 100-T freedom to select some of the transmission parameters, perhaps with some restrictions. In the context of NR SL, 3GPP refers to this resource allocation mode as Mode 1.

[0107] A second mode involves autonomous resource allocation, in which the UE 100-T and / or 100-R autonomously selects resources and / or other transmission parameters. This mode may involve no network intervention (e.g., out of coverage, unlicensed carriers with no network deployment, etc.) or minimal network intervention (e.g., configuration of a pool of resources, etc.). In the context of NR SL, 3GPP refers to this resource allocation mode as Mode 2 (also referred to as Transmission Mode 2).

[0108] This technique may be particularly implemented by device 100-T, operation, and method 200 using resource allocation mode 2 or any other mode in which UE 100-T and / or one or more UEs 100-R perform (i.e., resource allocation) detection 204 and resource selection 206.

[0109] Steps 204 and / or 206 may be performed using mode 2 of the SL 110 (also referred to as SL transmission mode 2) according to 3GPP NR.

[0110] In transmission mode 2 of SL 110, distributed resource selection 206 is employed, i.e., there is no central node 302 for scheduling, and / or UEs 100-T and / or 100-R can play the same (e.g., equal) role in autonomous resource selection 206. Transmission mode 2 is based on two functions: future resource reservation (e.g., performed by one or more UEs 100-R) and detection-based resource allocation (e.g., performed by UE 100-T in steps 204 and 206).

[0111] The reservation of future resources is performed so that a UE (which may be one of the UEs 100-R) transmitting data (e.g., a message) also notifies a receiver (which may include the UE 100-T) of its intention to transmit using a particular time-frequency resource at a later time. For example, a UE transmitting at time T notifies a receiver that it will transmit using the same frequency resource at time T+100 ms. Resource reservation allows the UE 100-T to predict future radio resource utilization. That is, by listening to the current transmission of another UE (e.g., one or more UEs 100-R) in step 204, the UE 100-T also obtains information about potential future transmissions.

[0112] This information may be used by UE 100-T to avoid collisions when selecting its resources in step 206. Optionally, UE 100-T predicts future utilization of radio resources by reading reservation messages received as an example of detection in step 204, and then schedules its current transmissions to avoid using the same resources as an example of selection in step 206. Steps 204 and 206 are also referred to as detection-based resource selection.

[0113] These steps may use or extend the discovery-based resource selection scheme specified in 3GPP Release 16 (for NR). The discovery-based resource selection scheme may be implemented (e.g., at a general functional level) using at least one of the following allocation steps and / or may be specified in specification TS38.214, version 16.1.0:

[0114] In a first allocation step (e.g., step 204), the UE 100-T senses the channel (i.e., the transmission medium of the SL 110) during the interval [na, nb] in step 204, where n is a time reference and a>b≧0 defines the duration of a detection window 420 (generally referred to by reference numeral 422), different examples of which are shown in each of Figures 4, 5, and 6. Conventionally, the length of the detection window 422-F may be configurable or pre-configurable. In step 204, the duration 422 can be shortened depending on the transmission requirements.

[0115] In a second allocation step (e.g., step 204 and / or 206), the UE 100-T predicts future utilization of the channel (e.g., transmission medium) in a future time interval [n+T1, n+T2], where T2>T1≧0, based on the results of the detection 204 (also referred to as the detection result). The interval [n+T1, n+T2] is a resource selection window (collectively indicated by reference numeral 430).

[0116] In a third allocation step (e.g., step 206), UE100-T selects one or more time-frequency resources from among resources within the selection window [n+T1, n+T2] that are predicted and / or determined to be selectable (e.g., idle, usable, available, etc.).

[0117] Detection-based resource selection 204 and 206 may be implemented in accordance with Release 16 3GPP specifications related to resource selection in NR mode 2. Alternatively or additionally, detection-based resource selection 204 and 206 may be performed using at least one of the steps of the specifications in the boxes below related to detection window 420 and / or selection window 430. For example, detection window 420 may be defined according to step 2 in the box below. Alternatively or additionally, resource selection window 430 may correspond to the time interval [n+T1, n+T2], as described in step 1 of the box below. TIFF0007762734000001.tif255170TIFF0007762734000002.tif235170

[0118] Alternatively or additionally, device 100-T and / or method 200 may use partial detection in step 204 and / or step 206, for example, a partial detection mechanism in LTE or NR.

[0119] For SL 110 in LTE, Release 15 introduced two procedures for reduced power consumption resource selection (e.g., in transmission mode 4) for pedestrian UEs: partial detection and random selection. In partial detection, the pedestrian UE 100-T uses a reduced selection window 420, which is a subset of the selection window 420-F used during normal detection. Using this mechanism, only a subset of subframes are detected (i.e., monitored) during the detection window, i.e., one second in LTE, resulting in reduced power consumption due to the shorter duration of detection 204. In this way, partial detection allows for reduced power consumption at the expense of an increased resource collision probability in step 206. The increased resource collision probability results from the fact that the UE 100-T is unable to collect complete channel occupancy information as a result of detection 204 due to the reduced detection window 420.

[0120] FIG. 4 illustrates schematically an example of a partial detection mechanism, for example in LTE.

[0121] If partial detection is configured or pre-configured for the resource pool, the UE 100-T may perform reduced detection in step 204 depending on the transmission requirements, i.e., on limited detection opportunities within the full detection window 420-F, which may be 1 second in LTE as described above. An example of operation in LTE is shown in FIG. 4. The detection opportunity (i.e., reduced detection window 420) is determined taking into account the periodic nature of data traffic. For example, detection 204 may be performed within t y-200 and t y-100 These times at which partial detection operations (e.g., the beginning of each detection window 420 is reduced depending on transmission requirements) are performed are time t y from (i.e., time t y (relative to time t) y is the slot or subframe selected by the UE 100-T in step 206. It may be up to the implementation of the UE as long as it is within the resource selection window.

[0122] For each transmission pool, the resource selection mechanism allowed for use within this pool (i.e., random selection, partial detection-based selection, or random and partial detection-based selection) is also configured. If the UE is configured to use either random selection or partial detection-based selection for a transmission pool, it is up to the UE implementation to select the specific resource selection mechanism. If the UE is configured to use only partial detection-based selection, the UE shall use partial detection-based selection within the pool. The UE shall not perform random selection in pools where only partial detection is allowed. If the eNB does not provide a random selection pool, UEs that only support random selection cannot perform sidelink transmissions. In exception pools, the UE shall use random selection. The UE may send an SL UE Information message indicating that it requests a resource pool for P2X-related V2X sidelink communication transmissions, as specified in 3GPP document TS36.331, version 16.4.0.

[0123] FIG. 5 shows an example of steps 204 and 206 using a resource allocation procedure with a limited resource selection window.

[0124] In existing (e.g., contiguous) partial detection operations, the detection window 420-F is defined as a fixed size, but the packet delay budget (PDB) of the transmitted packet varies depending on transmission requirements, e.g., latency requirements. Given a fixed-size detection window 420-F, it may be impossible to perform packet transmission within the PDB (e.g., the end of the PDB at reference numeral 440). For example, if the PDB is small, it may result in a situation where the (e.g., remaining or residual) resource selection window 430 is not large enough for a given packet priority (e.g., before the PDB expires), as shown schematically at reference numeral 430 in FIG. 5.

[0125] In Figure 5, [n+TA , n+T B The detection window 420, defined as [time, n, s], covers most of the time between the time n when the transmission is triggered (e.g., upon arrival of data) and the maximum delay for the transmission defined by the PDB 440. Thus, the duration 432 “S” of the resource selection window 430 is not large enough for the UE 100-T to find suitable resources for transmission 208 before the expiration 440 of the PDB budget.

[0126] As one embodiment of device 100-T performing method 200, optionally in a combination or extension of the features described above (e.g., see FIG. 4 or FIG. 5), duration 422 of detection window 420 (i.e., detection window size) may be adjusted based on a transmission requirement associated with the data, e.g., a delay budget (i.e., PDB) of the associated transmission, to allow UE 100-T sufficient time, i.e., a minimum size (i.e., minimum duration) of resource selection window 430, to perform resource selection 206 to satisfy the transmission requirement, e.g., before PDB 440 is met (i.e., expires). Duration 432 of resource selection window 430 (e.g., minimum duration of resource selection window 430) may include time for one or more potential retransmissions of the data.

[0127] The duration 422 (i.e., size) of the detection window 420, together with, for example, (e.g., the sum of) the minimum required duration 432 (i.e., size) of the resource selection window 430, can be specified depending on, i.e., as a function of, the transmission requirements. The transmission requirements can include different parameters related to the transmission, such as, for example, the PDB of the transmission, the priority of the transmission, etc.

[0128] Alternatively or additionally, the detection window size 422 may be defined and / or adjusted in step 204 depending on the transmission requirements, for example based on different parameters associated with the associated SL transmission 208 .

[0129] Any embodiment of the present technology may be implemented as a mechanism for determining the duration 422 (i.e., size) of the detection window 420. The detection 204 may include or relate to detection related to (e.g., potential) reevaluation or preemption operations, for example, associated with the SL transmission 208. That is, the transmission requirements may include reevaluation or preemption operations. By determining the duration 422 of the detection window 420 according to the transmission requirements (e.g., in the case of reevaluation or preemption operations), at least a minimum duration 432 (i.e., size) of the resource selection window 430 required to perform the resource selection 206 is achieved. The duration 422 of the detection window 420 and / or the duration 432 of the resource selection window 430 may be specified based on one or more transmission parameters associated with the transmission requirements, e.g., PDB, priority, etc., associated with the SL transmission 208.

[0130] In any embodiment, UE 100-T may trigger detecting step 204 (i.e., its detection operation) upon receiving a data packet from an upper layer at time n (as an example of data arrival). Thus, for example, without loss of generality, detection window 420 may be [n+T A , n+T B ], and T A may relate to the processing time required to initiate the detection operation 204, and / or T B is the end time of the detection window 420.

[0131] After performing detection operation 204, UE 100-T performs a selecting step 206 (i.e., its resource selection operation). The selected resource or resources (e.g., for initial transmission and / or potential retransmission) are selected within a window [n+T B, n+PDB], where PDB is the (e.g., remaining) packet delay budget, i.e., the maximum time that the UE 100-T can take to perform resource selection 206 and / or transmission 208.

[0132] Here, the expired n+PDB of the PDB is also referred to as 440 .

[0133] 6 illustrates an example resource allocation according to steps 204 and 206, including a detection window 420 and a resource selection window 430. In some cases or situations, it may not be desirable to extend the selection window 206 to the end of the PDB 440 (e.g., depending on transmission requirements), and therefore an earlier end may be selected.

[0134] One of the aspects to be considered is that the UE 100-T needs sufficient time, i.e., the duration 432 of the resource selection window 430, to select resources for performing the SL transmission 208. Therefore, to obtain a feasible resource allocation procedure 206, it is necessary to determine (e.g., adjust and / or adjust) the duration 432 of the detection window 420 according to the transmission requirements, e.g., based on the duration 422 of the resource selection window 430 and / or other parameters. That is, a balance between both windows 420, 430 is required.

[0135] Under some conditions, the duration 422 of the detection window 420 may be zero, i.e., there is (e.g., effectively) no detection operation 204. Alternatively or additionally, the resource selection window 430 must have a minimum length in order for the UE 100-T to perform resource selection 206.

[0136] In a detailed embodiment, the duration 422 of the detection window, i.e., [n+T A , n+T B] can be adjusted using at least one of the following formulations or functional dependencies: Duration 422 of the detection window 420 =f(sending requirements)

[0137] More specifically, Duration 422 of the detection window 420 =f(PDB, duration 432 of resource selection window 430, [other parameters]). or Duration 422 of the detection window 420 = f(PDB, minimum duration of resource selection window 430, [other parameters]).

[0138] The transmission requirements may include the PDB (e.g., the time remaining until the PDB expires), the duration 432 of the resource selection window 430, a minimum value for the duration 432 of the resource selection window 430, and / or other parameters related to the data and / or transmission 208 and / or channel of the SL 110.

[0139] For example, the transmission requirements may include or indicate at least one of the following parameters:

[0140] The transmission requirements may include or may indicate a PDB, which is the packet delay budget for transmission 208 (or the remaining PDB during execution of method 200). Based on the PDB, the detection window 420 can be made shorter, i.e., for low-latency transmissions, or longer, i.e., for non-latency-critical transmissions, to accommodate the selection window while still obtaining sufficient detection results.

[0141] The transmission requirements may include or indicate a resource selection window 430 or a duration 432 of the resource selection window 430. There may be a minimum duration required to allow the UE 100-T to perform the resource selection procedure 206. The minimum size required for the UE for resource selection may depend on the priority of the data packet to be transmitted, for example, according to 3GPP Release 16 procedures.

[0142] The transmission requirements may include or indicate one or more other parameters. The one or more other parameters may include at least one of the following parameters:

[0143] The first parameter includes a priority of the data. Based on the priority of the data (e.g., data packet) being transmitted, the detection window 420 can be, for example, longer for a high-priority transmission or shorter for a low-priority data packet being transmitted.

[0144] The second parameter includes a channel congestion metric (e.g., a channel busy ratio, CBR). Based on the channel congestion, the detection window may be longer for high congestion (i.e., a high CBR) or shorter when the congestion is low (i.e., a low CBR).

[0145] The third parameter includes a reselection and / or preemption operation. After the UE 100-T performs the detection operation 204 (or without a detection operation) and the resource selection operation 206, the UE 100-T may be triggered or triggered by signaling, for example, based on a coordination message from the peer UE 100-R, to perform additional detection, i.e., re-evaluation, which may limit the duration 432 of the resource selection window 430.

[0146] The fourth parameter includes UE capabilities. The duration 422 may be based on a procedure time of the UE 100-T to initiate and / or perform the detection operation 204 or the resource selection operation 206.

[0147] The fifth parameter includes HARQ-based retransmissions and / or blind retransmissions. If the transmission is HARQ-enabled, the detection window 420 may be determined (e.g., adjusted or reduced) to accommodate concurrently reserved retransmissions.

[0148] The techniques are described and disclosed with respect to determining the detection window 420 (or its parameters, e.g., size 422, its endpoints, etc.) as a function of transmission requirements, e.g., the selection window 430 (or its parameters, e.g., size 430, its endpoints, etc.), the PDB 440, and / or other parameters. Furthermore, the techniques may also be implemented and / or applied to determine the selection window 430 (or its parameters) as a function of the detection window 420 (or its parameters), the PDB 440, and other parameters.

[0149] The present technology can be realized by any of the following exemplary embodiments, alone or in combination with any of the above embodiments and / or any embodiment from the list of embodiments.

[0150] In a first exemplary embodiment, the duration 422 of the detection window 420 is based on a minimum required resource selection window 430 .

[0151] In a second exemplary embodiment, the duration 422 of the detection window 420 is based on the PDB of the data (eg, data packet) being transmitted.

[0152] In a third exemplary embodiment, the duration 422 of the detection window 420 is based on one or more parameters of the data (e.g., data packet) to be transmitted, e.g., the priority of the transmission or HARQ retransmission or blind retransmission.

[0153] In the fourth exemplary embodiment, the duration 422 of the detection window 420 refers to the number of slots within the detection window 420. The detection window 420 is divided into successive intervals [n+T A , n+T B Alternatively or additionally, the detection window 420 may, for example, not necessarily be contiguous, but may, for example, consist of a set of spaced apart slots.

[0154] In a fifth exemplary embodiment, the duration 422 of the detection window 420 is based on one or more other parameters of the channel of the UE 100-T and / or the SL 110, such as UE processing time or channel congestion (e.g., measured as CBR, etc.).

[0155] In a sixth exemplary embodiment, the detection window 420 or its duration 422 is dependent on the implementation of the UE within one or more boundaries given by the dependency on the transmission requirements. sense For example, S sense ≧S sense,min = f (transmission requirement), where function f represents the dependency on the transmission requirement. In other words, the duration 422 (S sense ) is a lower bound S where duration 422 depends on the transmission requirements (for example, according to any of the above examples of transmission requirements). sense,min Alternatively or additionally, the duration 422 (S sense ) is an upper limit value S where duration 422 depends on the transmission requirements (e.g., according to any of the above examples of transmission requirements). sense,max It may be up to the UE implementation as long as it is less than or equal to

[0156] In a seventh exemplary embodiment, the duration 422 of the detection window is: S sense =PDB-S select , where S sense is the duration 422 of the detection window 420, and S select is the duration 432 of the selection window 430.

[0157] In an eighth exemplary embodiment, the duration 422 of the detection window 420 and the duration 432 of the resource selection window 430 are jointly optimized according to the transmission requirements, e.g., according to the bounds described above. Alternatively or additionally, the duration 432 of the resource selection window 430 may be longer than the smallest possible window for a packet to be transmitted and / or retransmitted.

[0158] Any of the embodiments may be implemented in accordance with or by extending at least one of 3GPP documents TS38.213, version 16.5.0, TS38.214, version 16.5.0, and TS38.215, version 16.4.0.

[0159] 7 shows a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of device 100, e.g., transmitting wireless device 100-T. Device 100 includes processing circuitry, e.g., one or more processors 704 for performing method 200, and memory 706 coupled to processor 704. For example, memory 706 may be encoded with instructions that implement at least one of modules 204 and 206.

[0160] The one or more processors 704 may be one or more combinations of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, microcode, and / or encoded logic, either alone or in conjunction with other components of device 100, such as memory 706, operable to provide transmitter functionality. For example, the one or more processors 704 may execute instructions stored in memory 706. Such functionality may include providing various features and steps described herein, including any of the benefits disclosed herein. The phrase "a device operable to perform an action" may indicate that device 100 is configured to perform an action.

[0161] 7, device 100 may be embodied by a wireless device 700 functioning as a transmitting UE, for example. The transmitting wireless device 700 includes a wireless interface 702 coupled to device 100 for wireless communication with one or more receiving wireless devices functioning as receiving UE, for example.

[0162] 8, according to one embodiment, a communication system 800 includes a communication network 810, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, including an access network 811, such as a wireless access network, and a core network 814. The access network 811 includes multiple base stations 812a, 812b, 812c, such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs, or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area 813a, 813b, 813c. Each base station 812a, 812b, 812c can be connected to the core network 814 via a wired or wireless connection 815. A first user equipment (UE) 891 located in the coverage area 813c wirelessly connects to or is configured to be paged by the corresponding base station 812c. A second UE 892 within the coverage area 813a can wirelessly connect to the corresponding base station 812a. Although multiple UEs 891, 892 are shown in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to situations where a single UE is in the coverage area or where a single UE is connected to a corresponding base station 812.

[0163] Any of the base station 812 and the UEs 891, 892 may embody the device 100.

[0164] The communications network 810 itself is connected to a host computer 830, which may be embodied in hardware and / or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server, or as a processing resource in a server farm. The host computer 830 may be owned or controlled by a service provider, or may be operated by or on behalf of the service provider. Connections 821, 822 between the communications network 810 and the host computer 830 may extend directly from the core network 814 to the host computer 830 or may proceed through an optional intermediate network 820. The intermediate network 820 may be one of a public network, a private network, or a hosted network, or a combination of two or more of them; if present, the intermediate network 820 may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular, the intermediate network 820 may include two or more subnetworks (not shown).

[0165] The communication system 800 of FIG. 8 , as a whole, enables connectivity between one of the connected UEs 891, 892 and a host computer 830. The connectivity can be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection 850. The host computer 830 and the connected UEs 891, 892 are configured to communicate data and / or signaling via the OTT connection 850 using the access network 811, the core network 814, any intermediate networks 820, and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. The OTT connection 850 can be transparent in the sense that the involved communication devices through which the OTT connection 850 passes are unaware of the routing of the uplink and downlink communications. For example, the base station 812 does not need to be informed of the past routing of an incoming downlink communication involving data originating from the host computer 830 that is to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to the connected UE 891. Similarly, the base station 812 does not need to be aware of the future routing of outgoing uplink communications originating from the UE 891 and destined for the host computer 830 .

[0166] With method 200 being performed by any one of UE 100-T, 891, or 892, and / or initiated or controlled by any one of network nodes 304 or 812 (e.g., a base station), the performance or range of OTT connection 850 may be improved, for example, in terms of increased throughput and / or reduced latency and / or QoS. More specifically, host computer 830 may indicate the QoS of the data (i.e., data traffic) to RAN 300 or transmitting wireless device 100-T (e.g., at the application layer).

[0167] An exemplary implementation of the UE, base station, and host computer described in the previous paragraph, according to one embodiment, will now be described with reference to FIG. 9. In communication system 900, host computer 910 includes hardware 915 including communication interface 916 configured to set up and maintain wired or wireless connections with interfaces of different communication devices of communication system 900. Host computer 910 further includes processing circuitry 918, which may have storage and / or processing capabilities. In particular, processing circuitry 918 may include one or more programmable processors, application specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays, or combinations thereof (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Host computer 910 further includes software 911, which is stored on or accessible by host computer 910 and executable by processing circuitry 918. Software 911 includes host application 912. The host application 912 may be operable to provide services to a remote user, such as a UE 930, connecting via an OTT connection 950 that terminates at the UE 930 and the host computer 910. In providing services to the remote user, the host application 912 may provide user data to be transmitted using the OTT connection 950. The user data may depend on the location of the UE 930. The user data may include aiding information or precision advertisements (also advertisements) delivered to the UE 930. The location may be reported by the UE 930 to the host computer, e.g., using the OTT connection 950, and / or may be reported by the base station 920, e.g., using the connection 960.

[0168] The communications system 900 further includes a base station 920 provided within the communications system, the base station 920 including hardware 925 that enables the base station 920 to communicate with the host computer 910 and the UE 930. The hardware 925 may include a communications interface 926 for setting up and maintaining wired or wireless connections with interfaces of different communications devices of the communications system 900, as well as a wireless interface 927 for setting up and maintaining at least a wireless connection 970 with a UE 930 located within a coverage area (not shown in FIG. 9 ) served by the base station 920. The communications interface 926 may be configured to facilitate a connection 960 to the host computer 910. The connection 960 may be direct, or the connection 960 may pass through a core network of the communications system (not shown in FIG. 9 ) and / or one or more intermediate networks external to the communications system. In the embodiment shown, the hardware 925 of the base station 920 further includes processing circuitry 928, which may include one or more programmable processors, application specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays, or combinations thereof (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The base station 920 further has software 921 stored internally or accessible via an external connection.

[0169] The communication system 900 further includes the previously mentioned UE 930. The hardware 935 of the UE 930 may include a wireless interface 937 configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection 970 with a base station serving a coverage area in which the UE 930 is currently located. The hardware 935 of the UE 930 further includes processing circuitry 938, which may include one or more programmable processors, application specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays, or combinations thereof adapted to execute instructions (not shown). The UE 930 further includes software 931, which is stored on or accessible by the UE 930 and executable by the processing circuitry 938. The software 931 includes a client application 932. The client application 932, with the support of the host computer 910, may be operable to provide services to a human or non-human user via the UE 930. On the host computer 910, a running host application 912 may communicate with a running client application 932 via an OTT connection 950 that terminates at the UE 930 and the host computer 910. In providing services to a user, the client application 932 may receive request data from the host application 912 and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 950 may transfer both the request data and the user data. The client application 932 may interact with the user to generate the user data that the client application 932 provides.

[0170] It should be noted that the host computer 910, base station 920, and UE 930 shown in Figure 9 may be identical to the host computer 830, one of the base stations 812a, 812b, and 812c, and one of the UEs 891 and 892, respectively, of Figure 8. That is, the inner workings of these entities may be as shown in Figure 9, and separately, the surrounding network topology may be that of Figure 8.

[0171] 9, the OTT connection 950 is depicted abstractly to show communication between the host computer 910 and the UE 930 via the base station 920, without explicit reference to intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages through these devices. The network infrastructure may determine the routing, and the network infrastructure may be configured to be hidden from the UE 930, from the service provider operating the host computer 910, or both. While the OTT connection 950 is active, the network infrastructure may also make decisions to dynamically change the routing (e.g., based on network load balancing and reconfiguration).

[0172] The wireless connection 970 between the UE 930 and the base station 920 follows the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the implementation of the OTT service provided to the UE 930 using the OTT connection 950, of which the wireless connection 970 forms the final segment. More precisely, the teachings of these embodiments may reduce latency and improve data rates, thereby providing benefits such as better responsiveness and improved QoS.

[0173] Measurement procedures may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rates, latency, QoS, and other factors that one or more embodiments improve upon. There may further be optional network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 950 between the host computer 910 and the UE 930 in response to fluctuations in the measurement results. The measurement procedures and / or network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 950 may be implemented in software 911 of the host computer 910, in software 931 of the UE 930, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or associated with communication devices through which the OTT connection 950 passes, and the sensors may participate in the measurement procedures by providing values ​​of monitored quantities exemplified above or other physical quantities from which the software 911, 931 may calculate or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguration of the OTT connection 950 may include message formats, retransmission settings, preferred routing, etc.; the reconfiguration need not affect the base station 920, and the reconfiguration may be unknown or unaware to the base station 920. Such procedures and functions may be known and practiced in the art. In some embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling that facilitates the host computer 910 measuring throughput, propagation time, latency, etc. Measurements may be performed such that the software 911, 931 uses the OTT connection 950 to send messages, particularly empty or "dummy" messages, while the software 911, 931 monitors propagation times, errors, etc.

[0174] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system according to one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station, and a UE, which may be as described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. For simplicity of this disclosure, only a drawing reference to FIG. 10 is included in this paragraph. In a first step 1010 of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional sub-step 1011 of the first step 1010, the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In a second step 1020, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. In an optional third step 1030, the base station transmits the user data carried in the host computer-initiated transmission to the UE, according to the teachings of embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional fourth step 1040, the UE executes a client application associated with the host application executed by the host computer.

[0175] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system according to one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station, and a UE, which may be as described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. For simplicity of this disclosure, only a drawing reference to FIG. 11 is included in this paragraph. In a first step 1110 of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional substep (not shown), the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In a second step 1120, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. The transmission may be via a base station in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional third step 1130, the UE receives the user data carried in the transmission.

[0176] As is apparent from the above description, at least some embodiments of the present technology enable a transmitting wireless device (e.g., a UE) to perform detection 204 during a prescribed time sufficient to monitor the channel to avoid collisions for upcoming transmissions 208. The same or further embodiments of the UE ensure that the UE can perform resource selection operation 206 and / or transmission 208 of data before expiration of a packet delay budget, as an example of a transmission requirement. The same or further embodiments of the UE adjust at least one of the detection window size and the resource selection window to transmission requirements (e.g., one or more transmission parameters), such as PDB and / or priority, to obtain a more efficient resource allocation procedure.

[0177] The many advantages of the present invention will be fully appreciated from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of units and devices without departing from the scope of the invention and / or sacrificing all of its advantages. Because the invention can be varied in many ways, it will be recognized that the invention should be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A method (200) for performing a transmission (208) on a side link (SL) from a transmitting wireless device (100-T) to one or more receiving wireless devices (100-R), the method (200) comprising: detecting (204) the SL channel (110) during a detection window (420) upon arrival (202) of data for transmission on the SL, the duration (422) of the detection window (420) depending on transmission requirements associated with the data; and selecting (206) resources of the channel (110) within a resource selection window (430) for the transmission (208) of the data based on the results of the detection (204) of the channel (110) during the detection window (420); the transmission requirements include or indicate at least one of a packet delay budget (PDB) associated with the data and a priority associated with the data; The method (200) wherein the transmitting wireless device (100-T) determines the duration (432) of the resource selection window (430) to be greater than or equal to a minimum duration dependent on the PDB (440).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the duration of the detection window depends on at least one of the PDB and the priority.

3. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the resources of the channel are selected within the resource selection window prior to expiration of the PDB for the transmission of the data.

4. The method (200) of claim 3, wherein the resource selection window (430) starts before the end of the full detection window (420-F) according to the transmission requirements.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the duration of the detection window depends on the time remaining until the expiration of the PDB.

6. The method (200) of claim 1, wherein the transmitting wireless device (100-T) determines the duration (422) of the detection window (420) to be greater than or equal to a minimum duration that depends on the transmission requirements.

7. The transmitting wireless device (100-T) determines the duration (422) of the detection window (420) to be equal to or greater than a minimum duration that depends on the PDB (440), and the minimum duration of the detection window (420) depends on the remaining time until the expiration of the PDB (440), or 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting wireless device determines the duration of the detection window to be less than or equal to a maximum duration that depends on the PDB, the maximum duration of the detection window depending on the remaining time until expiration of the PDB.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the duration of the resource selection window depends on the transmission requirements.

9. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the duration of the resource selection window depends on the PDB, and the duration depends on the time remaining until the expiration of the PDB.

10. The method (200) of claim 9, wherein the transmitting wireless device (100-T) determines the duration (432) of the resource selection window (430) to be less than or equal to a maximum duration dependent on the PDB (440).

11. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sum of the duration of the detection window and the duration of the resource selection window is less than or equal to the remaining time until the expiration of the PDB.

12. The method (200) of claim 1, wherein the method (200) is performed by the transmitting wireless device (100-T).

13. receiving a control message at the transmitting wireless device (100-T), the control message indicating the transmission requirements; The method (200) of claim 1.

14. The control message is received from a network node (302) of a radio access network (RAN) (300) serving the transmitting wireless device (100-T), or The method (200) of claim 13, wherein the control message is received from one or more of the receiving wireless devices (100-R).

15. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the duration of the detection window is determined in response to the transmission requirements such that at least a minimum duration of the resource selection window is achieved that is required to perform the resource selection step.

16. 2. The method (200) of claim 1, wherein the transmission requirement includes or indicates a reevaluation or preemption operation.

17. 2. The method (200) of claim 1, wherein the transmission requirements include or indicate at least one of the priority of the data, a latency requirement of the data, a PDB (440) of the data, the time remaining until the expiration of the PDB (440), the duration (432) of the resource selection window (430), and a minimum value of the duration (432) of the resource selection window (430) required by the transmitting wireless device (100-T) to perform the selecting step (206).

18. 2. The method (200) of claim 1, wherein the transmission requirements include or indicate parameters related to at least one of the data, the transmission (208) of the data, and the channel of the SL (110).

19. 19. A computer program comprising program code portions for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 18, when said computer program is executed on one or more computing devices (704; 938).

20. A wireless device (100-T; 700; 891; 892; 930) for performing a transmission (208) on a side link (SL) from a transmitting wireless device (100-T; 700; 891; 892; 930) to one or more receiving wireless devices (100-R), the wireless device (100-T; 700; 891; 892; 930) comprising: Upon arrival of data for transmission on the SL (202), detecting the SL channel (110) during a detection window (420), the duration of the detection window (422) being dependent on transmission requirements associated with the data; and selecting (206) resources of the channel (110) within a resource selection window (430) for the transmission (208) of the data based on the results of the detection (204) of the channel (110) during the detection window (420); the transmission requirements include or indicate at least one of a packet delay budget (PDB) associated with the data and a priority associated with the data; The wireless device (100-T; 700; 891; 892; 930), wherein the transmitting wireless device determines the duration of the resource selection window to be equal to or greater than a minimum duration dependent on the PDB.

21. A wireless device (100-T; 700; 891; 892; 930) according to claim 20, further configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 2 to 18.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

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    WO2020033088A1