Single-DCI Sidelink Scheduling for Multiple Unicast Messages

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication protocols require multiple downlink control information (DCI) messages to schedule multiple sidelink unicast resources, leading to increased overhead traffic and inefficiency, particularly in industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) scenarios where latency and reliability are critical.

Innovation Solution

A user equipment (UE) receives a single grant message to schedule multiple unicast messages by splitting sidelink resources into subgroups based on receive UE buffer status and channel state information, allowing efficient allocation and transmission of unicast messages without additional DCI messages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple DCI messages are used to schedule multiple sidelink unicast resources, then each unicast can be scheduled independently, but overhead traffic increases and system efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling flexibilityVSAvoidoverhead traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple DCI messages into a single DCI message that schedules multiple sidelink unicast resources. The unified DCI includes a resource allocation list containing multiple entries, each with resource allocation information for different unicast communications, thereby reducing overhead traffic while maintaining scheduling flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single DCI message serves multiple functions by simultaneously scheduling multiple sidelink unicast resources. The DCI acts as a universal control signal that can allocate resources for different unicast communications to different UEs, eliminating the need for separate DCI messages for each unicast.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple DCI messages are transmitted to schedule multiple unicast resources, then comprehensive resource allocation is achieved, but latency increases due to additional signaling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource allocation completenessVSAvoidsignaling latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By merging multiple scheduling operations into a single DCI message, the patent eliminates the sequential transmission of multiple DCI messages. The unified DCI contains all necessary resource allocation information for multiple unicast resources in one signaling event, thereby reducing signaling latency while maintaining complete resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If a single DCI message schedules multiple unicast resources, then overhead traffic is reduced and efficiency improves, but the DCI structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem efficiencyVSAvoidDCI structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the DCI structure into standardized fields including a resource allocation list with multiple entries. Each entry contains standardized parameters (resource allocation index, time resource assignment, frequency resource assignment) that can be independently configured and processed, making the complex multi-unicast scheduling manageable through modular structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4173406B1Scheduling sidelink resources for multiple unicasts by a single downlink control information message

Publication Date: 2025.10.08 QUALCOMM INC

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AI summary

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for wireless communication. In one aspect of the disclosure, a method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE) includes receiving, from a base station, a grant message indicating a set of sidelink resources. The method further includes transmitting multiple unicast messages via multiple subgroups of the set of sidelink resources.