Flexible Sidelink Transmission Starts for Shared-Spectrum Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently utilizing shared spectrum channels for sidelink transmissions, particularly in scenarios requiring flexible starting locations and non-contiguous sub-channel resource pools to meet regulatory requirements for unlicensed spectrum operations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a user equipment (UE) with a processor configured to determine a set of OFDM symbols and perform channel access procedures, allowing sidelink transmissions to start from any symbol within the set upon successful access, and utilizing a non-contiguous sub-channel based resource pool to satisfy channel access regulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sidelink transmissions use fixed starting locations in slots, then resource allocation is simple and deterministic, but spectrum utilization efficiency decreases and flexibility to meet channel access regulations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic starting locations for sidelink transmissions by allowing the transmission to begin at any OFDM symbol within a configured set of multiple symbols, rather than at a fixed position. This dynamic approach enables the system to adapt to channel access outcomes and meet regulatory requirements while maintaining manageable complexity through pre-configured symbol sets and standardized procedures.
2Reliability
If channel access procedure is performed before each transmission, then spectrum sharing compliance is improved, but transmission delay and loss of time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing the channel access procedure in advance before the actual sidelink transmission begins. The UE executes the channel access procedure prior to the scheduled transmission time, and if successful, can immediately transmit at the determined starting symbol within the same slot. This advance preparation reduces last-minute delays while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the transmission timing based on channel access outcomes. When channel access succeeds before the scheduled transmission, the actual transmission starts at the determined OFDM symbol rather than the originally scheduled time, optimizing the balance between compliance and timing efficiency.
3Productivity
If contiguous sub-channels are used for resource pools, then resource allocation is straightforward, but bandwidth utilization efficiency decreases for unlicensed spectrum operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency spectrum into non-contiguous sub-channels for the resource pool, allowing the UE to utilize scattered frequency resources rather than requiring a single contiguous block. This segmentation approach improves bandwidth utilization efficiency by enabling the system to use available spectrum fragments while managing complexity through standardized sub-channel definitions and allocation procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for use of flexible starting locations for SL transmissions in a wireless communication system. A method of user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system operating with a shared spectrum channel access includes determining a set of multiple orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols in a slot and performing a channel access procedure over a channel. The method further includes transmitting a sidelink transmission over the channel, starting from an OFDM symbol within the set of multiple OFDM symbols in the slot, upon successfully performing the channel access procedure before the OFDM symbol. The set of multiple OFDM symbols in the slot may be determined based on a higher layer configuration or pre-configurations.