Concurrent Sidelink-Uplink Superposition for SNR-Mismatched Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional uplink and sidelink communication techniques in wireless systems suffer from inefficiencies due to signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) mismatches between uplink and sidelink channels, leading to suboptimal resource utilization and throughput.

Innovation Solution

A UE encodes data for sidelink communications in a base layer and uplink communications in an enhancement layer, transmitting them simultaneously in a superposition transmission, with the base layer encoded based on the weaker sidelink channel and the enhancement layer based on the stronger uplink channel, allowing for concurrent transmission in the same resource.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If separate resources are assigned for sidelink and uplink transmissions, then resource allocation is simplified, but spectral efficiency is reduced due to SNR mismatch

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation complexityVSAvoidspectral efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines sidelink and uplink transmissions into a single shared resource, allowing both types of communication to occur simultaneously in the same time-frequency resource. This merging approach eliminates the need for separate resource allocation while enabling the transmitting UE to exploit SNR mismatch between the two channels, thereby improving spectral efficiency through superposition transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If concurrent sidelink and uplink transmission is enabled, then spectral efficiency is improved, but decoding complexity increases at the receiver

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoiddecoding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the transmitted signal into two distinct layers: a base layer encoded for the weaker sidelink channel and an enhancement layer encoded for the stronger uplink channel. The receiving UE first decodes the base layer, then uses it to assist in decoding the enhancement layer. This segmentation allows the system to achieve concurrent transmission benefits while managing decoding complexity through a structured two-stage process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If base layer is encoded for weaker sidelink channel, then sidelink decoding success is improved, but uplink throughput is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesidelink decoding successVSAvoiduplink throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs different encoding parameters for the two layers adapted to their respective channel conditions. The base layer uses coding and modulation parameters optimized for the weaker sidelink channel to ensure reliable decoding. The enhancement layer uses parameters optimized for the stronger uplink channel to maximize throughput. This parameter adaptation allows each layer to be decoded successfully according to its channel quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If enhancement layer is encoded for stronger uplink channel, then uplink throughput is improved, but sidelink decoding reliability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuplink throughputVSAvoidsidelink decoding reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the transmission structure by creating layered signaling where the base layer and enhancement layer operate at different reliability dimensions. The base layer provides robust coverage for the weaker sidelink, while the enhancement layer provides high-rate transmission for the stronger uplink. This dimensional separation allows the system to simultaneously satisfy both reliability and throughput requirements without mutual interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4079066B1Concurrent sidelink and uplink transmission
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4079066B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4079066B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4079066B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may transmit concurrent messages over a sidelink channel to another UE and over an uplink channel to a base station. The UE may transmit, to a base station, a report indicating a capability of the UE to concurrently transmit over a sidelink channel and an uplink channel. The UE may receive, from the base station and based on the report, a transmission configuration scheduling a concurrent sidelink and uplink transmission within a resource shared by the sidelink channel and the uplink channel. The UE may then transmit the concurrent sidelink and uplink transmission within the resource shared by the sidelink channel and the uplink channel based on the transmission configuration. The other UE and the base station may receive the concurrent sidelink and uplink transmission and may decode different layers of the transmission.