Sidelink Grant Starting Position Multiplexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems face challenges in managing and optimizing finite wireless channel resources due to signal attenuation and blocking in complex environments, particularly in sidelink communications, where existing channel measuring and reporting mechanisms are ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A method where a network entity transmits downlink control information (DCI) to user equipment (UE) scheduling multiple slots for sidelink shared channel transmissions, assigning different starting positions to UEs to perform channel access procedures, such as listen before talk (LBT), to prevent one UE from blocking others and improve resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single starting position is assigned to all UEs for channel access procedure, then the channel access procedure is simple to implement, but one UE may block other UEs from accessing the channel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the channel access procedure by assigning different starting positions to different UEs within the same time window. Each UE is assigned a specific starting position (first starting position, second starting position, etc.) which divides the channel access process into multiple independent segments, preventing any single UE from blocking others while maintaining overall system simplicity.
2Productivity
If multiple slots are scheduled for sidelink transmissions, then resource utilization is improved, but LBT delays accumulate and reduce transmission efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by assigning starting positions to UEs before the actual transmission occurs. The network entity determines and signals the starting positions in advance, allowing UEs to prepare their channel access procedures simultaneously without waiting for sequential turn-taking, thereby reducing cumulative LBT delays while maintaining multiple slot scheduling benefits.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing channel measuring and reporting mechanisms are used in complex environments, then the system structure is maintained, but signal attenuation and blocking render the mechanisms ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of channel access from sequential single-UE transmission to parallel multi-UE transmission with different starting positions. This parameter change enables the system to adapt to complex environments with signal attenuation and blocking by allowing multiple UEs to access the channel simultaneously at different time offsets, thereby improving measurement accuracy and system reliability in challenging radio conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for assigning one or more user equipments (UEs) at one or more corresponding starting positions of multiple slots to perform channel access procedures, such as listen before talk (LBT) procedures in New Radio unlicensed band (NR-U) sidelink communications. The network entity may indicate, to a UE, a starting position in a multi-opportunity grant (e.g., a DCI scheduling multiple slots). The network entity may multiplex different transmitter UEs with different starting positions. If the channel accessing procedure is successful, the transmitter UE with the earliest starting position than the rest may block the rest of the transmitter UEs. In some cases, starting position hopping may be used so that the multiple UEs may have different priority at different slots. In some cases, the DCI may include LBT parameters that are inherited from NR-U uplink transmission configurations.