[go: up one dir, main page]

WO2024016132A1 - Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communications - Google Patents

Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communications Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2024016132A1
WO2024016132A1 PCT/CN2022/106329 CN2022106329W WO2024016132A1 WO 2024016132 A1 WO2024016132 A1 WO 2024016132A1 CN 2022106329 W CN2022106329 W CN 2022106329W WO 2024016132 A1 WO2024016132 A1 WO 2024016132A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sidelink
resource
shared channel
channel resource
resources
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/CN2022/106329
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jin Yang
Zhaobang MIAO
Gang Wang
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
NEC Corp
Original Assignee
NEC Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by NEC Corp filed Critical NEC Corp
Priority to PCT/CN2022/106329 priority Critical patent/WO2024016132A1/en
Publication of WO2024016132A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024016132A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W72/00—Local resource management
    • H04W72/40—Resource management for direct mode communication, e.g. D2D or sidelink
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L5/00—Arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path
    • H04L5/003—Arrangements for allocating sub-channels of the transmission path
    • H04L5/0044—Allocation of payload; Allocation of data channels, e.g. PDSCH or PUSCH
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L5/00—Arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path
    • H04L5/003—Arrangements for allocating sub-channels of the transmission path
    • H04L5/0053—Allocation of signalling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L5/00—Arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path
    • H04L5/003—Arrangements for allocating sub-channels of the transmission path
    • H04L5/0058—Allocation criteria
    • H04L5/0062—Avoidance of ingress interference, e.g. ham radio channels
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W72/00—Local resource management
    • H04W72/04—Wireless resource allocation
    • H04W72/044—Wireless resource allocation based on the type of the allocated resource

Definitions

  • Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication, and in particular, to a method, device and computer readable media for sidelink communications.
  • LTE Long Term Evolution
  • NR New Radio
  • the co-existence of the two radio access technologies (RATs) may be based on LTE sidelink and NR sidelink framework.
  • RATs radio access technologies
  • an NR sidelink terminal device may transmit a sidelink signal on the overlapping resources. Transmissions of the sidelink signal on the overlapping resources shall minimize potential impact on LTE sidelink terminal devices.
  • example embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices and computer readable media for sidelink communications.
  • a method for sidelink communications comprises: determining, at a terminal device, third sidelink control information (SCI) indicating at least one sidelink shared channel resource, wherein each of the at least one sidelink shared channel resource is within a first type of sidelink resources or sidelink resources of a second sidelink, and the first type of sidelink resources can be used for both a first sidelink associated with a first RAT and the second sidelink associated with a second RAT; and transmitting the third SCI on a sidelink control channel resource.
  • SCI sidelink control information
  • a terminal device comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions.
  • the memory and the instructions are configured, with the processor, to cause the terminal device to perform the method according to the first aspect.
  • a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon.
  • the instructions when executed on at least one processor of a device, cause the device to perform the method according to the first aspect.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates an example communication network in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented
  • Fig. 2 illustrates an example of a timing resource allocation in a sidelink resource pool in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure
  • Fig. 3 illustrates an example of a symbol allocation in a sidelink slot in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure
  • Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a frequency resource allocation in a sidelink resource pool in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure
  • Fig. 5 illustrates an example of sidelink channels in time domain in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure
  • Fig. 6 illustrates an example of a symbol allocation in a sidelink subframe in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure
  • Figs. 7A and 7B illustrate an example of a frequency resource allocation in a sidelink resource pool in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively;
  • Fig. 8 illustrates a flowchart of an example method in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure
  • Fig. 9 illustrates a signaling chart illustrating a process 900 for sidelink communications in accordance with some implementations of the present disclosure
  • Figs. 10A to 10C illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 0 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively;
  • Fig. 11 illustrates three examples of the third SCI indicating no retransmission in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure
  • Figs. 12A to 12C illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively;
  • Figs. 13A and 13B illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively;
  • Figs. 14A and 14B illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively;
  • Figs. 15A to 15E illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively.
  • Fig. 16 is a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • terminal device refers to any device having wireless or wired communication capabilities.
  • the terminal device include, but not limited to, user equipment (UE) , personal computers, desktops, mobile phones, cellular phones, smart phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) , portable computers, tablets, wearable devices, internet of things (IoT) devices, Ultra-reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC) devices, Internet of Everything (IoE) devices, machine type communication (MTC) devices, device on vehicle for V2X communication where X means pedestrian, vehicle, or infrastructure/network, devices for Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) , Small Data Transmission (SDT) , mobility, Multicast and Broadcast Services (MBS) , positioning, dynamic/flexible duplex in commercial networks, reduced capability (RedCap) , Space borne vehicles or Air borne vehicles in Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) including Satellites and High Altitude Platforms (HAPs) encompassing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) , eX
  • UE user equipment
  • the ‘terminal device’ can further has ‘multicast/broadcast’ feature, to support public safety and mission critical, V2X applications, transparent IPv4/IPv6 multicast delivery, IPTV, smart TV, radio services, software delivery over wireless, group communications and IoT applications. It may also incorporate one or multiple Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) as known as Multi-SIM.
  • SIM Subscriber Identity Module
  • the term “terminal device” can be used interchangeably with a UE, a mobile station, a subscriber station, a mobile terminal, a user terminal or a wireless device.
  • network device refers to a device which is capable of providing or hosting a cell or coverage where terminal devices can communicate.
  • a network device include, but not limited to, a Node B (NodeB or NB) , an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB) , a next generation NodeB (gNB) , a transmission reception point (TRP) , a remote radio unit (RRU) , a radio head (RH) , a remote radio head (RRH) , an IAB node, a low power node such as a femto node, a pico node, a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) , Network-controlled Repeaters, and the like.
  • NodeB Node B
  • eNodeB or eNB evolved NodeB
  • gNB next generation NodeB
  • TRP transmission reception point
  • RRU remote radio unit
  • RH radio head
  • RRH remote radio head
  • IAB node a low power node such
  • the terminal device or the network device may have Artificial intelligence (AI) or Machine learning capability. It generally includes a model which has been trained from numerous collected data for a specific function, and can be used to predict some information.
  • AI Artificial intelligence
  • Machine learning capability it generally includes a model which has been trained from numerous collected data for a specific function, and can be used to predict some information.
  • the terminal or the network device may work on several frequency ranges, e.g. FR1 (410 MHz –7125 MHz) , FR2 (24.25GHz to 71GHz) , frequency band larger than 100GHz as well as Tera Hertz (THz) . It can further work on licensed/unlicensed/shared spectrum.
  • the terminal device may have more than one connection with the network devices under Multi-Radio Dual Connectivity (MR-DC) application scenario.
  • MR-DC Multi-Radio Dual Connectivity
  • the terminal device or the network device can work on full duplex, flexible duplex and cross division duplex modes.
  • the network device may have the function of network energy saving, Self-Organizing Networks (SON) /Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT) .
  • the terminal may have the function of power saving.
  • test equipment e.g. signal generator, signal analyzer, spectrum analyzer, network analyzer, test terminal device, test network device, channel emulator.
  • the embodiments of the present disclosure may be performed according to any generation communication protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future.
  • Examples of the communication protocols include, but not limited to, the first generation (1G) , the second generation (2G) , 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G) , the fourth generation (4G) , 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G) communication protocols, 5.5G, 5G-Advanced networks, or the sixth generation (6G) networks.
  • the singular forms ‘a’ , ‘an’ and ‘the’ are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
  • the term ‘includes’ and its variants are to be read as open terms that mean ‘includes, but is not limited to. ’
  • the term ‘based on’ is to be read as ‘at least in part based on. ’
  • the term ‘some embodiments’ and ‘an embodiment’ are to be read as ‘at least some embodiments. ’
  • the term ‘another embodiment’ is to be read as ‘at least one other embodiment. ’
  • the terms ‘first, ’ ‘second, ’ and the like may refer to different or same objects. Other definitions, explicit and implicit, may be included below.
  • values, procedures, or apparatus are referred to as ‘best, ’ ‘lowest, ’ ‘highest, ’ ‘minimum, ’ ‘maximum, ’ or the like. It will be appreciated that such descriptions are intended to indicate that a selection among many used functional alternatives can be made, and such selections need not be better, smaller, higher, or otherwise preferable to other selections.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example communication network 100 in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented.
  • the communication network 100 may include a terminal device 110, a terminal device 120, a terminal device 130, network devices 140 and 150.
  • the network devices 140 and 150 may communicate with the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 and the terminal device 130 via respective wireless communication channels.
  • each of the terminal devices 110, 120 and 130 as well as the network devices 140 and 150 may use a first radio access technology (RAT) or a second RAT.
  • RAT radio access technology
  • the first RAT may be Long Term Evolution (LTE)
  • the second RAT may be NR.
  • the terminal devices 110, 120 and 130 as well as the network devices 140 and 150 use LTE
  • the terminal devices 110, 120 and 130 may be referred to as LTE terminal devices 110, 120 and 130
  • the network devices 140 and 150 may be referred to as gNBs.
  • the terminal devices 110, 120 and 130 as well as the network devices 140 and 150 use NR
  • the terminal devices 110, 120 and 130 may be referred to as NR terminal devices 110, 120 and 130
  • the network devices 140 and 150 may be referred to as eNBs.
  • the communication network 100 may include any suitable number of network devices and/or terminal devices adapted for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • the communications in the communication network 100 may conform to any suitable standards including, but not limited to, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) , LTE, LTE-Evolution, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) , Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) , Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) , GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN) , Machine Type Communication (MTC) and the like.
  • GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
  • LTE LTE
  • LTE-Evolution LTE-Advanced
  • WCDMA Wideband Code Division Multiple Access
  • CDMA Code Division Multiple Access
  • GERAN GSM EDGE Radio Access Network
  • MTC Machine Type Communication
  • the communications may be performed according to any generation communication protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Examples of the communication protocols include, but not limited to, the first generation (1G) , the second generation (2G) , 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G) , the fourth generation (4G) , 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G)
  • the communications in the communication network 100 may comprise sidelink communication.
  • Sidelink communication is a wireless radio communication directly between two or more terminal devices, such as two or more terminal devices among the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 and the terminal device 130.
  • the two or more terminal devices that are geographically proximate to each other can directly communicate without going through the network device 140 or 150 or through a core network.
  • Data transmission in sidelink communication is thus different from typical cellular network communications, in which a terminal device transmits data to the network device 140 or 150 (i.e., uplink transmissions) or receives data from the network device 140 or 150 (i.e., downlink transmissions) .
  • data is transmitted directly from a source terminal device (such as the terminal device 110) to a target terminal device (such as the terminal device 120) through the Unified Air Interface, e.g., PC5 interface, (i.e., sidelink transmissions) , as shown in Fig. 1.
  • Unified Air Interface e.g., PC5 interface
  • Sidelink communication can provide several advantages, including reducing data transmission load on a core network, system resource consumption, transmission power consumption, and network operation costs, saving wireless spectrum resources, and increasing spectrum efficiency of a cellular wireless communication system.
  • a sidelink communication manner includes but is not limited to device to device (D2D) communication, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication, etc.
  • D2D device to device
  • V2X Vehicle-to-Everything
  • V2X communication enables vehicles to communicate with other vehicles (i.e. Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication) , with infrastructure (i.e. Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) , with wireless networks (i.e. Vehicle-to-Network (V2N) communication) , with pedestrians (i.e. Vehicle-to-Pedestrian (V2P) communication) , and even with the owner's home (i.e. Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) ) .
  • infrastructure include roadside units such as traffic lights, toll gates and the like.
  • V2X communication can be used in a wide range of scenarios, including in accident prevention and safety, convenience, traffic efficiency and clean driving, and ultimately in relation to autonomous or self-driving vehicles.
  • a terminal device uses resources in sidelink resource pools to transmit or receive signals.
  • the sidelink resource pools include resources in time domain and frequency domain, which are dedicated resources of the sidelink communication, or shared by the sidelink communication and a cellular link.
  • two modes of resource assignment may be used for sidelink, including network device schedules sidelink resources for terminal devices to perform sidelink signal transmission, named as mode 1 resource scheme in NR sidelink or mode 3 resource scheme in LTE sidelink, and terminal device selects sidelink resources by itself to perform sidelink signal transmission, named as mode 2 resource scheme in NR sidelink or mode 4 resource scheme in LTE sidelink.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates an example of a timing resource allocation in a sidelink resource pool in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • the sidelink resource pool may comprise an NR sidelink resource pool.
  • the sidelink resource pool may be defined within a sidelink bandwidth part (BWP) .
  • BWP sidelink bandwidth part
  • the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 and the terminal device 130 may use uplink (UL) resources for sidelink communications. More than one sidelink resource pools may be configured for one of the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 and the terminal device 130.
  • a dedicated resource pool may be used for mode 1 resource scheme or mode 2 resource scheme, short for mode 1 resource pool or mode 2 resource pool.
  • a dedicated resource pool may be used for mode 3 resource scheme or mode 4 resource scheme, short for mode 3 resource pool or mode 4 resource pool.
  • Resources within the sidelink resource pool may comprise Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH) resources, Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH) resources and physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) resources.
  • PSCCH Physical Sidelink Control Channel
  • PSSCH Physical Sidelink Shared Channel
  • PSFCH physical sidelink feedback channel
  • a bitmap may be used to indicate which UL slots are configured as sidelink slots.
  • a length of the bitmap may be in a range of 10 to 160.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates an example of a symbol allocation in a sidelink slot in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • the sidelink resource pool which may contain multiple slots and resource blocks (RBs) , and all or part of the symbols in a slot can be used for sidelink transmission.
  • the first symbol i.e., the start symbol
  • the last symbol used as a guard period (GP) symbol.
  • AGC symbols and GP symbols can be considered as fixed overheads in sidelink resource.
  • AGC symbols and GP symbols are included in the sidelink symbols which are indicated by the sidelink channel resource configuration, and AGC symbols carry redundancy sidelink information while GP symbols are not used for carrying sidelink information, as shown in Fig. 3.
  • the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 and the terminal device 130 may use sidelink channels to transmit sidelink signaling or information.
  • the sidelink channels include at least one of the following: a PSCCH resource which is used for carrying sidelink control information (SCI) , a PSSCH resource which is used for carrying sidelink data service information, a PSFCH resource which is used for carrying sidelink Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback information, a physical sidelink broadcast channel (PSBCH) resource which is used for carrying sidelink broadcast information, and a physical sidelink discovery channel (PSDCH) resource which is used for carrying a sidelink discovery signal.
  • SCI sidelink control information
  • PSSCH which is used for carrying sidelink data service information
  • PSFCH resource which is used for carrying sidelink Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback information
  • HARQ Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request
  • PSBCH physical sidelink broadcast channel
  • PSDCH physical sidelink discovery channel
  • Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a frequency resource allocation in a sidelink resource pool in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • the sidelink resource pool may be an NR sidelink resource pool.
  • the sidelink resource pool may be configured within a SL Bandwidth Part (Sidelink BWP) .
  • a resource pool configuration may comprise sl-StartRB-Subchannel and sl-RB-Number.
  • the sl-StartRB-Subchannel may indicate the lowest Resource Block (RB) of the resource pool.
  • the lowest RB is also referred to as a start RB.
  • the sl-RB-Number may indicate the total number of RBs of the resource pool.
  • RBs in the resource pool may be divided into consecutive sub-channels.
  • Sub-channel is a frequency resource unit of PSSCH. Each sub-channel contains consecutive RBs.
  • the terminal devices 110, 120 and 130 may use one or more consecutive sub-channels as a PSSCH resource to transmit sidelink data.
  • a sub-channel configuration of the resource pool may comprise sl-SubchannelSize which indicates the number of RBs contained in one sub-channel.
  • the SubchannelSize may be equal to 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75 or 100.
  • Fig. 5 illustrates an example of sidelink channels in time domain in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • the sidelink channels comprise PSCCH and PSSCH.
  • PSCCH may carry SCI format 1.
  • One PSCCH may be defined within each sub-channel.
  • PSSCH may carry SCI format 2A/2B and sidelink data PSSCH uses sub-channel as a frequency unit.
  • the terminal devices 110, 120 and 130 may use one or more consecutive sub-channels as a PSSCH resource to transmit sidelink data.
  • the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 or the terminal device 130 may use uplink (UL) resources for sidelink communications. More than one sidelink resource pools may be configured for the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 or the terminal device 130.
  • Resources within the LTE sidelink resource pool may comprise a PSCCH resource pool and a PSSCH resource pool.
  • a bitmap may be used to indicate which UL subframes are configured as sidelink subframes.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates an example of a symbol allocation in a sidelink subframe in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • sidelink subframes in Fig. 6 may be LTE sidelink subframes.
  • all symbols in a subframe are used as sidelink resource.
  • the first symbol is used as AGC and the last symbol is used as GP.
  • LTE sidelink channels may comprise PSCCH and PSSCH.
  • PSCCH may carry SCI format 1.
  • One PSCCH is associated with one sub-channel.
  • Each PSCCH resource has a fixed size.
  • each PSCCH resource may comprise two consecutive PRBs and all symbols in a sidelink subframe.
  • PSSCH may carry sidelink data and use sub-channel as frequency unit.
  • the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 or the terminal device 130 may use one or more consecutive sub-channels as PSSCH resource to transmit sidelink data. Relationship between PSCCH and sub-channel may be one-to-one mapping.
  • Figs. 7A and 7B illustrate an example of a frequency resource allocation in a sidelink resource pool in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively.
  • the frequency resource allocations in Figs. 7A and 7B may be for LTE sidelink.
  • the sidelink resource pool may be configured such that PSCCH is adjacent to PSSCH.
  • the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 or the terminal device 130 may transmit PSCCH and the corresponding PSSCH in adjacent resource blocks in a subframe.
  • the sidelink resource pool may be configured such that PSCCH is not adjacent to PSSCH. In such a non-adjacent configuration, the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 or the terminal device 130 may transmit PSCCH and the corresponding PSSCH in non-adjacent resource blocks in a subframe.
  • an NR sidelink terminal device may transmit a sidelink signal on the overlapping resources. Transmissions of the sidelink signal on the overlapping resources shall minimize potential impact on LTE sidelink terminal devices. In order to avoid resource conflict, the NR sidelink terminal device may provide necessary information for LTE sidelink terminal devices.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution for sidelink communications so as to solve the above problems and one or more of other potential problems.
  • a first terminal device determines third SCI indicating at least one sidelink shared channel resource.
  • Each of the at least one sidelink shared channel resource is within a first type of sidelink resources or sidelink resources of a second sidelink.
  • the first type of sidelink resources can be used for both a first sidelink associated with a first RAT and the second sidelink associated with a second RAT.
  • first terminal device transmits the third SCI on a sidelink control channel resource.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates a flowchart of an example method in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • the method 800 can be implemented at a terminal device, such as one of the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 and the terminal device 130 as shown in Fig. 1.
  • a terminal device such as one of the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 and the terminal device 130 as shown in Fig. 1.
  • the method 800 will be described with reference to Fig. 1 as performed by the terminal device 110 without loss of generality.
  • the terminal device 110 determines third SCI indicating at least one sidelink shared channel resource.
  • Each of the at least one sidelink shared channel resource is within a first type of sidelink resources or sidelink resources of a second sidelink.
  • the first type of sidelink resources can be used for both a first sidelink associated with a first RAT and the second sidelink associated with a second RAT.
  • the terminal device 110 transmits the third SCI on a sidelink control channel resource.
  • the first type of sidelink resources may be overlapping resources of a first sidelink resource pool for the first sidelink and a second sidelink resource pool for the second sidelink.
  • the first type of sidelink resources may be shared resources between the first sidelink resource pool and the second sidelink resource pool.
  • overlapping and shared may be used interchangeably.
  • dedicated resources may be used for the first sidelink or the second sidelink and may be non-overlapping with each other.
  • non-overlapping and dedicated may be used interchangeably.
  • the sidelink resources of the second sidelink may be dedicated resources for the second sidelink.
  • the sidelink resources of the second sidelink may be referred to as dedicated or non-overlapping resources.
  • the first RAT may be LTE and the second RAT may be NR.
  • the first sidelink may be a sidelink associated with LTE (also referred to as LTE sidelink)
  • the second sidelink may be a sidelink associated with NR (also referred to as NR sidelink)
  • a first sidelink resource pool may be a sidelink resource pool associated with LTE (also referred to as LTE sidelink resource pool)
  • a second sidelink resource pool may be a sidelink resource pool associated with NR (also referred to as NR sidelink resource pool) .
  • a first sidelink control channel resource of the first sidelink may be an LTE PSCCH resource
  • a first sidelink shared channel resource of the first sidelink may be an LTE PSSCH resource
  • a sub-channel of the first sidelink or a sub-channel in the first sidelink resource pool may be an LTE sub-channel.
  • a second sidelink control channel resource of the second sidelink may be an NR PSCCH resource and a second sidelink shared channel resource of the second sidelink may be an NR PSSCH resource.
  • a sub-channel of the second sidelink or a sub-channel in the second sidelink resource pool may be an NR sub-channel.
  • LTE sidelink and NR sidelink for example. It shall be understood that the solution of the present disclosure may be applied to other RATs than LTE and NR.
  • the at least one sidelink shared channel resource may comprise at least one of a third sidelink shared channel resource, a fourth sidelink shared channel resource and a fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
  • the sidelink control channel resource carrying the third SCI may comprise at least one of a third sidelink control channel resource, a fourth sidelink control channel resource and a fifth sidelink control channel resource.
  • the third sidelink shared channel resource is associated with the third sidelink control channel resource.
  • the third sidelink control channel resource is associated with a start sub-channel of the third sidelink shared channel resource.
  • the fourth sidelink shared channel resource is associated with a fourth sidelink control channel resource.
  • the fourth sidelink control channel resource is associated with a start sub-channel of the fourth sidelink shared channel resource.
  • the fifth sidelink control channel resource is associated with a fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
  • the fifth sidelink control channel resource is associated with a start sub-channel of the fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
  • the third sidelink control channel resource is on a slot or subframe which comprises the third sidelink shared channel resource.
  • the fourth sidelink control channel resource is on a slot or subframe which comprises the fourth sidelink shared channel resource.
  • the fifth sidelink control channel resource is on a slot or subframe which comprises the fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
  • the third sidelink shared channel resource and the third sidelink control channel resource may be used for an initial transmission of sidelink data.
  • the fourth and the fifth sidelink shared channel resources as well as the fourth and the fifth sidelink control channel resources may be used for retransmissions of the sidelink data.
  • the fourth sidelink shared channel resource and the fourth sidelink control channel resources may be used for the first retransmission of the sidelink data
  • the fifth sidelink shared channel resource and the fifth sidelink control channel resources may be used for the second retransmission of the sidelink data. The second retransmission is subsequent to the first retransmission.
  • the sidelink data may be transmitted periodically.
  • each of the third, the fourth and the fifth sidelink shared channel resources as well as the third, the fourth and the fifth sidelink control channel resources may be used for initial transmissions of the sidelink data.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the third SCI based on at least one of the following:
  • a higher layer of the terminal device 110 may provide the sidelink grant to a physical layer of the terminal device 110.
  • the sidelink grant may comprise at least one of the following: an assignment of the at least one sidelink shared channel resource, an assignment of the at least one of the third, fourth and fifth sidelink control channel resources, or a first resource reservation period.
  • the configuration or pre-configuration of the first sidelink resource pool may comprise at least one of the following:
  • the configuration or pre-configuration of the second sidelink resource pool may comprise at least one of the following:
  • the configuration or pre-configuration of the first type of sidelink resources may comprise at least one of the following:
  • the third SCI may comprise at least one of the following:
  • MCS modulation and coding scheme
  • the frequency resource indicator may indicates at least one of the following:
  • the time gap is at least one of the following:
  • the time gap is at least one of the following:
  • ⁇ a logical subframe or slot gap within the first type of sidelink resources.
  • overhead of the priority may be 3 bits.
  • the priority may be determined according to the priority of sidelink data to be transmitted on the sidelink shared channel resource associated with the sidelink control channel resource.
  • the sidelink control channel resource carrying the third SCI may comprise symbols and RBs comprised in a first sidelink control channel resource in the first sidelink resource pool of the first sidelink.
  • the first sidelink control channel resource is determined based on a configuration or pre-configuration of the first sidelink resource pool.
  • the sidelink control channel resource may be considered as an LTE PSCCH resource by an LTE sidelink terminal device.
  • the third SCI may be transmitted by an NR sidelink terminal device on the LTE PSCCH resource.
  • the third SCI may be transmitted by the NR sidelink terminal device using an NR SCI format 0. With the NR SCI format 0, the NR sidelink terminal device may indicate LTE sidelink terminal devices the resources used and/or reserved by the NR sidelink terminal device. In this way, potential resource conflicts may be avoided and resource efficiency may be increased.
  • the NR SCI format 0 may be the same format as an LTE SCI format 1.
  • the NR SCI format 0 may comprise the same indication fields as the LTE SCI format 1 and overhead of each of the indication fields may be the same as that of the LTE SCI format 1.
  • the NR SCI format 0 may be decoded by LTE sidelink terminal devices as a normal LTE SCI format 1.
  • the NR SCI format 0 may use the same physical process of LTE SCI format 1, such as the same demodulation reference signal (DMRS) , coding, modulation scheme, and so on.
  • DMRS demodulation reference signal
  • the sidelink control channel resource carrying the third SCI may comprise symbols and RBs comprised in a second sidelink control channel resource in the second sidelink resource pool of the second sidelink.
  • the second sidelink control channel resource is determined based on a configuration or pre-configuration of the second sidelink resource pool.
  • the sidelink control channel resource may be considered as an NR PSCCH resource by an NR sidelink terminal device.
  • the third SCI may be transmitted by an NR sidelink terminal device on the NR PSCCH resource.
  • the third SCI may be transmitted by the NR sidelink terminal device using an NR SCI format 1-X (for example, an NR SCI format 1-B) .
  • the NR SCI format 1-B and the legacy NR SCI format 1-A may be referred to as an NR SCI format 1.
  • the NR SCI format 1 may be used as a common term for all the NR SCI format 1-X.
  • the NR PSCCH resource may be determined according to one of the following: a legacy NR PSCCH resource, a LTE PSCCH resource, or a new definition.
  • the terminal device 110 may transmit both the NR SCI format 0 and NR SCI format 1 on different PSCCH resources for the same PSSCH transmission. This will be described with reference to Fig. 9.
  • Fig. 9 illustrates a signaling chart illustrating a process 900 for sidelink communications in accordance with some implementations of the present disclosure.
  • the process 900 will be described with reference to Fig. 1.
  • the process 900 may involve the terminal devices 110, 120 and 130 as illustrated in Fig. 1.
  • the process 900 will be described in the communication network 100 of Fig. 1, this process may be likewise applied to other communication scenarios.
  • each of the terminal devices 110 and 130 may be NR terminal devices, and the terminal device 120 may be an LTE terminal device.
  • the terminal device 110 obtains 910 a sidelink grant which uses shared sidelink resources.
  • the sidelink grant may be for mode 1 scheduling or mode 2 selected resources.
  • the sidelink grant may comprise at least one LTE PSCCH resource within the shared resources and PSSCH resources associated with the LTE PSCCH resource.
  • the terminal device 110 transmits 920 an NR SCI format 0 on a LTE PSCCH resource. If the sidelink grant comprises more than one LTE PSCCH resources, the terminal device 110 may transmit the NR SCI format 0 on the PSCCH with a lowest RB.
  • the terminal device 120 blindly detects 930 on the LTE PSCCH resource.
  • the terminal device 120 decodes 940 the NR SCI format 0 on the PSCCH resource, and obtain the indication of the terminal device 110.
  • the indication may be identified as from an LTE terminal device.
  • the terminal device 110 may transmit 950 an NR SCI format 1 and sidelink data on assigned PSSCH resource. Accordingly, the terminal device 130 blindly detects 960 on the NR PSCCH resource. In turn, the terminal device 130 decodes 970 the NR SCI format 1 on the PSCCH resource, and obtain the indication of the terminal device 110. Then, the terminal device 130 receives the sidelink data on the PSSCH resource.
  • NR SCI format 0 and NR SCI format 1 for example. It shall be understood that the solution of the present disclosure may be applied to other SCI formats than NR SCI format 0 and NR SCI format 1.
  • overhead of the resource reservation period may be 4 bits, and overhead of the time gap may be 4 bits.
  • Overhead of the MCS may be 5 bits, overhead of the retransmission index may be 1 bit, and overhead of the transmission format may be 1 bit.
  • the MCS may be set to any available values defined in an LTE MCS table, or “padding” .
  • the retransmission index may reuse legacy definition in LTE SCI format 1, or “padding” .
  • the transmission format may reuse legacy definition in LTE SCI format 1 or may be “padding” .
  • the field with “padding” means that the indication in this field can be set as any value or a default value, as it is used for decoding PSSCH which may be non-available for LTE terminal devices.
  • the third sidelink shared channel resource is within the first type of sidelink resources.
  • the fourth sidelink shared channel resource is within the first type of sidelink resources.
  • the fifth sidelink shared channel resource is within the first type of sidelink resources.
  • the third sidelink shared channel resource is within dedicated resources for the second sidelink.
  • the fourth sidelink shared channel resource is within dedicated resources for the second sidelink.
  • the fifth sidelink shared channel resource is within dedicated resources for the second sidelink.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the frequency resource indicator based on at least one of the following:
  • the frequency resource indicator may indicate at least one of the following:
  • ⁇ a first number of sub-channels in the first sidelink resource pool used for at least one of the third sidelink shared channel resource, the fourth sidelink shared channel resource or the fifth sidelink shared channel resource,
  • the third sidelink control channel resource may be associated with the start sub-channel of the third sidelink shared channel resource. In some embodiments, the third sidelink control channel resource comprises RBs start from a lowest RB of the start sub-channel of the third sidelink shared channel resource.
  • the fourth sidelink control channel resource may be associated with the start sub-channel of the fourth sidelink shared channel resource. In some embodiments, the fourth sidelink control channel resource comprises RBs start from a lowest RB of the start sub-channel of the fourth sidelink shared channel resource.
  • the fifth sidelink control channel resource may be associated with the start sub-channel of the fifth sidelink shared channel resource. In some embodiments, the fifth sidelink control channel resource comprises RBs start from a lowest RB of the start sub-channel of the fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
  • overhead of the third SCI is the same as that of legacy LTE SCI format 1.
  • the overhead of the third SCI may be equal to where represents the number of sub-channels in the LTE PSSCH resource pool.
  • Figs. 10A to 10C illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 0 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively.
  • the third sidelink shared channel resource and the third sidelink control channel resource may be used for an initial transmission of NR sidelink data.
  • the fourth sidelink shared channel resource and the fourth sidelink control channel resource may be used for retransmission of the NR sidelink data.
  • the frequency resource indicator indicates a first number of sub-channels in an LTE PSSCH resource pool used for the third sidelink shared channel resource or the fourth sidelink shared channel resource.
  • the first number may be represented by L subCH .
  • the frequency resource indicator indicates a first index of a start sub-channel of the third sidelink shared channel resource in the LTE PSSCH resource pool or a second index of a start sub-channel of the fourth sidelink shared channel resources in the LTE PSSCH resource pool.
  • the first index and the second index may be represented by
  • the NR sidelink uses the same sub-channel allocation as that in the LTE PSSCH resource pool on the shared resources. Because the same sub-channel allocation is used for NR sidelink, the frequency resource indicator may be simply determined according to the sub-channels used by NR UE, which is similar to the scheme for determination of LTE SCI format 1. To provide simple and compatible indication, no extra resource is wasted.
  • the first terminal device 110 (also referred to as NR UE A) transmits an NR SCI format 0 on PSCCH #0 within the first sidelink resource pool (also referred to as LTE sidelink resource pool) .
  • the NR SCI format 0 indicates the first number L subCH of sub-channels in the LTE PSSCH resource pool used for an initial transmission of NR sidelink data.
  • the first number L subCH is equal to 2, i.e., sub-channels #0 and #1 in the LTE PSCCH resource pool are used for the initial transmission, as sub-channel #0 is associated with PSCCH #0.
  • the NR SCI format 0 also indicates the first index of the start sub-channel of the fourth sidelink shared channel resource in the LTE PSSCH resource pool.
  • the first index is equal to any index or a default value as the retransmission is not assigned in the sidelink grant.
  • the NR sidelink uses sub-channels on shared resources which are aligned with sub-channels in the LTE PSSCH resource pool.
  • the NR sub-channel size is an integer multiple of LTE sub-channel size, here, the sub-channel size is the number of RBs of a sub-channel.
  • the boundary of an NR sub-channel is aligned with the boundary of an LTE sub-channel on the shared resources.
  • the first number L subCH of sub-channels in the LTE PSSCH resource pool used for an initial transmission or retransmission of NR sidelink data is determined based on the LTE sub-channel size.
  • the first index of the start sub-channel for the initial transmission and the second index of the start sub-channel for the retransmission transmission are defined in the LTE PSSCH resource pool.
  • the NR sub-channel size 2*LTE sub-channel size
  • the first terminal device 110 also referred to as NR UE A
  • the first terminal device 110 transmits an NR SCI format 0 on PSCCH #2 associated with the start sub-channel #2 in the first resource pool. That is, the first index of the start sub-channel for the initial transmission is equal to 2.
  • the first number L subCH of sub-channels in the LTE PSSCH resource pool used for the initial transmission or retransmission is equal to 2, which is determined based on the LTE sub-channel size.
  • the retransmission is assigned in the sidelink grant and the second index of the start sub-channel for the retransmission is equal to 0, i.e., using LTE sub-channels #0 and #1 as PSSCH resource for retransmission.
  • the NR sidelink uses sub-channels on shared resources which are not aligned with sub-channels in the LTE PSSCH resource pool.
  • the boundary of an NR sub-channel is not aligned with the boundary of an LTE sub-channel on the shared resources.
  • Different sub-channel sizes are used for the NR sidelink and the LTE sidelink.
  • different start RBs may be used for sub-channels of the NR sidelink and the LTE sidelink.
  • the first number L subCH of sub-channels for a sidelink transmission is determined as sub-channels in the LTE PSSCH resource pool which overlap with a second number of sub-channels in the NR resource pool.
  • the second number of sub-channels in the NR resource pool are used for at least one of the third sidelink shared channel resource, the fourth sidelink shared channel resource, or the fifth sidelink shared channel resources.
  • the second number of sub-channels are determined based on the assignment for at least one of the third sidelink shared channel resource, the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource, or the assignment for the fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
  • NR sub-channel size 12 RBs
  • LTE sub-channel size 10 RBs.
  • the first terminal device 110 (also referred to as NR UE A) uses NR sub-channels #2 and #3 for the transmission of the NR sidelink data.
  • the NR sub-channels #2 and #3 overlap with LTE sub-channels #0, #1, #2 with boundary being not aligned.
  • the first number L subCH of sub-channels in the LTE PSSCH resource pool used for the transmission is equal to 3, i.e., sub-channels #0, #1 and #2.
  • the first terminal device 110 transmits the NR SCI format 0 on PSCCH #0 which is associated with sub-channel #0 in the LTE PSCCH resource pool.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine at least one of the time gap, the retransmission index and the resource reservation period based on at least one of the following: a first SCS of the first sidelink, a subframe set comprised in the first sidelink resource pool of the first sidelink, or the sidelink grant.
  • the value of the higher layer parameter sl-MaxNumPerReserve is configured to be 2, and the time gap may be the first time gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fourth sidelink shared channel resource.
  • the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource may be absent from the sidelink grant.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap (represented by SF gap ) to be zero or determine the retransmission index to be zero.
  • the sidelink grant may comprise the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the third SCI to be transmitted on the third sidelink control channel resource.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the NR SCI format 0 associated with the initial transmission.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap to be a first logical subframe gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource for the initial transmission and the fourth sidelink shared channel resource for the retransmission within the first sidelink resource pool.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the retransmission index to be zero.
  • the terminal device 110 may also determine the third SCI to be transmitted on the fourth sidelink control channel resource. In other words, the terminal device 110 may determine the NR SCI format 0 associated with the retransmission. For the NR SCI format 0 associated with the retransmission, the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap to be zero or determine the retransmission index to be one.
  • the value of the higher layer parameter sl-MaxNumPerReserve is configured to be 3, and the time gap may be at least one of the following: the first time gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fourth sidelink shared channel resource, the second time gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fifth sidelink shared channel resource, or the third time gap between the fourth sidelink shared channel resource and the fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
  • the assignments for the fourth and fifth sidelink shared channel resources may be absent from the sidelink grant.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap (represented by SF gap ) to be zero or determine the retransmission index to be zero.
  • the sidelink grant may comprise the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap to be a first logical subframe gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fourth sidelink shared channel resource within the first sidelink resource pool.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the retransmission index to be zero.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap to be zero or determine the retransmission index to be one.
  • the sidelink grant may comprise the assignment for the third sidelink shared channel resource, the fourth sidelink shared channel resource and the assignment for the fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the third SCI to be transmitted on the third sidelink control channel resource in the same way as in the second example of the first embodiment.
  • the terminal device 110 may also determine the third SCI to be transmitted on the fourth sidelink control channel resource.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap to be a second logical subframe gap between the fourth sidelink shared channel resource and the fifth sidelink shared channel resource within the first sidelink resource pool.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the retransmission index to be zero.
  • the terminal device 110 may also determine the third SCI to be transmitted on the fifth sidelink control channel resource.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap to be zero and determine the retransmission index to be one, which means that it is a retransmission on the current subframe.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap to be zero, which indicates that no retransmission should be indicated in the third SCI. This will be described with reference to Fig. 11.
  • Fig. 11 illustrates three examples of the third SCI indicating no retransmission in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown, in an example a1, because absence of the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource is from the sidelink grant, the third SCI (such as NR SCI format 0) indicates no retransmission.
  • the third SCI such as NR SCI format 0
  • the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource is beyond the first type of sidelink resources.
  • the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource is within dedicated resources for the second sidelink only.
  • the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource is on a non-overlapping subframe or slot.
  • the third SCI indicates no retransmission.
  • the time gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fourth sidelink shared channel resource is greater than a threshold.
  • the threshold may be equal to 15.
  • the resource reservation period may be used for reserved resources for periodical services, and the resource reservation period represents a period of sidelink transmission.
  • the sidelink grant may indicate the first resource reservation period within a period set. Because NR sidelink supports more available periods than LTE sidelink, the period set may comprise periods which are available on the NR sidelink but unavailable on the LTE sidelink.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the resource reservation period to be different from the first resource reservation period within the period set. For example, the terminal device 110 may determine the resource reservation period to be zero. For another example, the terminal device 110 may determine the resource reservation period to be a predefined value, such as a reserved value for a resource reservation filed in LTE SCI format 1. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 may determine the resource reservation period as no periodic reservation.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the resource reservation period as shown in Table 1.
  • the terminal device 110 determines the resource reservation period to be 0, indicating no periodic reservation.
  • the terminal device 110 determines the resource reservation period to be a predefined value, such as “1101” , “1110” and “1111” indicating no periodic reservation.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the frequency resource indicator based on at least one of the following:
  • Figs. 12A to 12C illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the sidelink control channel resource (i.e., NR PSCCH) carrying the third SCI by using the same rule as the legacy NR PSCCH. Specifically, the terminal device 110 may transmit an NR SCI format 1 on PSCCH #2, indicating PSSCH transmission on sub-channels #2 and #3.
  • NR PSCCH sidelink control channel resource
  • the sidelink control channel resource (i.e., NR PSCCH) carrying the third SCI contains the same resource of a LTE PSCCH.
  • the LTE PSCCH is associated with a start sub-channel of a PSSCH.
  • the terminal device 110 may transmit NR SCI format 1 on the PSCCH overlapping with LTE PSCCH #0 because the start sub-channel of the PSSCH overlaps with LTE sub-channel #0.
  • the NR PSCCH uses a new PSCCH definition for the shared resources.
  • the terminal device 110 may transmit NR SCI format 1 on NR PSCCH #1, indicating PSSCH transmission on sub-channels #1 and #2 within NR sidelink resource pool.
  • the terminal device 110 may transmit NR SCI format 0 on LTE PSCCH #0, indicating PSSCH transmission on sub-channels #0 and #1 within LTE sidelink resource pool.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine indicators in the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 based on the first type of sidelink resources (i.e. the shared resources) only.
  • the shared resources are handled as dedicated resources, i.e., indicators in the third SCI are independent from non-overlapping resources.
  • a resource pool may be indicated as a shared resource pool. In other words, all resources in the resource pool are shared between the first sidelink and the second sidelink. In this way, impact on legacy SCI indication may be reduced and extra complexity may be avoided
  • the frequency resource indicator in the third SCI may indicate at least one of the following:
  • ⁇ a third number of sub-channels in the first type of sidelink resources used for at least one of the third sidelink shared channel resource, the fourth sidelink shared channel resource or the fifth sidelink shared channel resource,
  • the time gap in the third SCI may be at least one of the following:
  • Figs. 13A and 13B illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively.
  • the first type of sidelink resources i.e. the shared resources
  • a resource pool also referred to a shared resource pool
  • Resource indicators are determined based on a configuration of the shared resource pool.
  • the configuration of the shared resource pool may comprise at least one of the following:
  • ⁇ sub-channel index being numbered from #0, or
  • the NR SCI format 1 is transmitted in PSCCH #0 on slot #n.
  • the NR SCI format 1 indicates that PSSCH uses sub-channels #0 and #1.
  • the NR SCI format 1 also indicates no retransmission.
  • the NR SCI format 1 is transmitted in PSCCH #0 on slot #n.
  • the NR SCI format 1 indicates that PSSCH uses sub-channels #0 and #1 on slot #n.
  • the first type of sidelink resources (i.e. the shared resources) is part of the second sidelink resource pool, i.e., partial overlapping between the first sidelink resource pool and the second sidelink resource pool.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine indicators in the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 based on a configuration of the first type of sidelink resources. This will be described with reference to Fig. 14A.
  • Fig. 14A illustrates an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • a common configuration is used for the shared resources and the NR resource pool which contains the shared resources.
  • the common configuration is used for the shared resources and the NR resource pool which is adjacent to the shared resources.
  • the terminal device 110 determines indicators in the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 based on a configuration of the shared resources. Specifically, indexes of sub-channels start from #0 within the shared resources, and the time gap assigned for retransmission is determined within the shared resources.
  • the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1-A in PSCCH #0 on slot #n, indicating PSSCH using sub-channels #0 and #1 within the shared resources and no retransmission.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine indicators in the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 based on the dedicated configuration of the first type of sidelink resources. This will be described with reference to Fig. 14B.
  • Fig. 14B illustrates an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • a dedicated configuration is used for the shared resources, i.e., an independent sidelink configuration is used for the shared resources.
  • the independent sidelink configuration may be the same or different from the configuration of the NR resource pool which comprises or adjacent to the shared resources.
  • indexes of sub-channels start from #0 within the shared resources and a logical slot offset between adjacent two transmissions is determined within the shared resources.
  • the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #0 within the shared resources on slot #n.
  • the second sidelink resource pool of the second sidelink may comprise the first type of sidelink resources and a second type of sidelink resources which can be only used for the second sidelink.
  • the second type of sidelink resources may be referred to as non-overlapping resources.
  • resource indicators in the third SCI may be determined based on the shared resources and the non-overlapping resources together. The shared resources are handled as part of the second sidelink resource pool along with the non-overlapping resources. In other words, the resource indicators in the third SCI may be determined based on the whole second sidelink resource pool. In this way, a uniform SCI scheme may be provided to indicate overlapping and non-overlapping resources within a resource pool.
  • overhead of the frequency resource indicator may be determined based on the configuration of the two types of resources.
  • the overhead of frequency resource indicator may be determined as bits.
  • the overhead of frequency resource indicator may be determined as bits.
  • the frequency resource indicator may indicate at least one of the following:
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the second number of sub-channels based on at least one of the following:
  • ⁇ a maximum value of the number of sub-channels in the first type of sidelink resources, the number of sub-channels in the second type of sidelink resources, and the number of sub-channels in the second sidelink resource pool.
  • the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap based on one of the following:
  • ⁇ a slot set or subframe set comprised in the first type of sidelink resources
  • a common configuration may be used for both the shared resources and non-overlapping resources in the second sidelink resource pool.
  • a dedicated configuration may be used for the shared resources.
  • the dedicated configuration may be independent from the configuration for non-overlapping resources within the second sidelink resource pool.
  • independent configurations may be used for overlapping resources and non-overlapping resources.
  • transmissions of a transmission block may use the shared resources or non-overlapping resources. That is, using both the two types of resources for a same TB is not supported.
  • resource allocation of a TB i.e., both the two types of resources may be assigned for the same TB.
  • the third SCI may be determined based on the configurations within the resource pool.
  • the number of RBs of a sub-channel for the non-overlapping resources may be represented by L NRnov
  • sub-channel index and the number of sub-channels may be determined based on L NRnov ;
  • sub-channel index and the number of sub-channels may be determined based on L NRovr ;
  • sub-channel index and the number of sub-channels may be determined based on L NRovr and L NRnov .
  • the time gap is determined within the second sidelink resource pool.
  • the time gap is determined according to one of the following:
  • transmissions of a TB may use overlapping or non-overlapping resources, i.e. using both the two types of resources for a same TB is not supported.
  • resource allocation of a TB i.e., both the two types of resource may be assigned for the same TB.
  • Figs. 15A to 15E illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively.
  • the third SCI is determined based on a common configuration for the NR sidelink resource pool. That is, a common configuration is used for both the overlapping and non-overlapping resources in the NR sidelink resource pool.
  • the overlapping resources are part of the NR sidelink resource pool.
  • indicators in the third SCI may be determined based on the common configuration.
  • a common sub-channel size is used for both the overlapping and non-overlapping resources in the NR sidelink resource pool. That is, the number of RBs of a sub-channel for the overlapping resources is the same as that for the non-overlapping resources.
  • the number of RBs of a sub-channel for both the overlapping resources and the non-overlapping resources may be represented by L NRcom .
  • indexes of sub-channels are numbered from #0 within the NR sidelink resource pool.
  • the slot offset is determined based on the slots within the NR sidelink resource pool.
  • the third SCI may indicate PSSCH resources for transmissions of a TB using either overlapping resources or non-overlapping resources, or even with resources cross the boundary of the two types of resources.
  • the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #2 on slot #n.
  • Fig. 15B independent configurations are used for overlapping and non-overlapping resources.
  • the third SCS of the overlapping resources is the same as the second SCS of the non-overlapping resources.
  • PSCCH/PSSCH resources for initial transmission and retransmission (s) of a TB use either overlapping resources or non-overlapping resources. That is, using overlapping resources for initial transmission while non-overlapping resources for retransmission (s) , and vice versa are not supported.
  • ⁇ the number of sub-channels within the NR sidelink resource pool on the slot is equal to 5.
  • ⁇ the number of sub-channels within the NR sidelink resource pool on the slot is equal to 3.
  • the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #1 on slot #n.
  • the resource configuration is the same as that in the example of Fig. 15B.
  • Any of overlapping resources and non-overlapping resources can be used for PSCCH/PSSCH resources of a TB. That is, it may use overlapping resources for initial transmission while non-overlapping resources for retransmission (s) , and vice versa.
  • the number of RBs used for the TB for an initial transmission or retransmission should be the same, while the number of sub-channels may be different.
  • overlapping resources are used for initial transmission and non-overlapping resources are used for retransmission.
  • the terminal device 110 For initial transmission on slot #n, the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #1 on an overlapping slot #n.
  • the terminal device 110 For retransmission on slot #n+2, the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #2 on a non-overlapping slot.
  • NR SCI format 1 indicates PSSCH using sub-channel #2 and the second number of sub-channels equals to 1.
  • Fig. 15D independent configurations are used for overlapping resources and non-overlapping resources.
  • Different SCSs are used for the two types of resources.
  • the second SCS of the non-overlapping resources is equal to 30 kHz
  • the third SCS of the overlapping resources is equal to 15 kHz.
  • the time gap is determined according to a larger one of the second SCS and the third SCS. That is, the time gap is determined according to the second SCS (30 kHz) .
  • PSCCH/PSSCH resources for a TB use overlapping or non-overlapping resources.
  • overlapping resources are used for initial transmission and retransmission.
  • the terminal device 110 For initial transmission on slots #n and #n+1 (slot bounding) , the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #0.
  • the terminal device 110 For retransmission on slots #n+4 and #n+5 (referred to a subframe in LTE sidelink) , the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #0.
  • the NR SCI format 1 indicates PSSCH using sub-channels #0 and #1.
  • the resource configuration is the same as that in the example of Fig. 15D.
  • the time gap is be determined according to the current slot, i.e. the slot carrying the third SCI.
  • PSCCH/PSSCH resources for a TB use overlapping or non-overlapping resources.
  • overlapping resources are used for initial transmission and non-overlapping resources are used for retransmissions.
  • the terminal device 110 For initial transmission on slot #n (overlapping resources with 15 kHz) , the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #4.
  • K and sub-channel index are determined based on 15 kHz within the resource pool.
  • the terminal device 110 For the first retransmission on slot #n+1 (non-overlapping resources with 30 kHz) , the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #0.
  • the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #1.
  • the NR SCI format 1 indicates PSSCH using sub-channels #1.
  • Figs. 15B and 15C use partial overlapping resource in frequency domain with LTE sidelink, the same as Fig. 15A, while Figs. 15D and 15E use full overlapping resource in frequency domain with LTE sidelink, and LTE sidelink part is omitted in Figs. 15B to 15E for brevity.
  • Fig. 16 is a simplified block diagram of a device 1600 that is suitable for implementing some embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • the device 1600 can be considered as a further example embodiment of one of the terminal devices 110, 120 and 130, or one of the network devices 140 and 150 as shown in Fig. 1. Accordingly, the device 1600 can be implemented at or as at least a part of one of the terminal devices 110, 120 and 130, or one of the network devices 140 and 150.
  • the device 1600 includes a processor 1610, a memory 1620 coupled to the processor 1610, a suitable transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) 1640 coupled to the processor 1610, and a communication interface coupled to the TX/RX 1640.
  • the memory 1620 stores at least a part of a program 1630.
  • the TX/RX 1640 is for bidirectional communications.
  • the TX/RX 1640 has at least one antenna to facilitate communication, though in practice an Access Node mentioned in this application may have several ones.
  • the communication interface may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements, such as X2 interface for bidirectional communications between gNBs or eNBs, S1 interface for communication between a Mobility Management Entity (MME) /Serving Gateway (S-GW) and the gNB or eNB, Un interface for communication between the gNB or eNB and a relay node (RN) , or Uu interface for communication between the gNB or eNB and a terminal device.
  • MME Mobility Management Entity
  • S-GW Serving Gateway
  • Un interface for communication between the gNB or eNB and a relay node (RN)
  • Uu interface for communication between the gNB or eNB and a terminal device.
  • the program 1630 is assumed to include program instructions that, when executed by the associated processor 1610, enable the device 1600 to operate in accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure, as discussed herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 15.
  • the embodiments herein may be implemented by computer software executable by the processor 1610 of the device 1600, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware.
  • the processor 1610 may be configured to implement various embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • a combination of the processor 1610 and memory 1620 may form processing means 1650 adapted to implement various embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • the memory 1620 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory, as non-limiting examples. While only one memory 1620 is shown in the device 1600, there may be several physically distinct memory modules in the device 1600.
  • the processor 1610 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network, and may include one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples.
  • the device 1600 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.
  • the components included in the apparatuses and/or devices of the present disclosure may be implemented in various manners, including software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof.
  • one or more units may be implemented using software and/or firmware, for example, machine-executable instructions stored on the storage medium.
  • parts or all of the units in the apparatuses and/or devices may be implemented, at least in part, by one or more hardware logic components.
  • FPGAs Field-programmable Gate Arrays
  • ASICs Application-specific Integrated Circuits
  • ASSPs Application-specific Standard Products
  • SOCs System-on-a-chip systems
  • CPLDs Complex Programmable Logic Devices

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method, device and computer readable media for sidelink communications. A method for sidelink communications comprises determining third SCI indicating at least one sidelink shared channel resource. Each of the at least one sidelink shared channel resource is within a first type of sidelink resources or sidelink resources of a second sidelink. The first type of sidelink resources can be used for both a first sidelink associated with a first RAT and the second sidelink associated with a second RAT. The method also comprises transmitting the third SCI on a sidelink control channel resource.

Description

METHOD, DEVICE AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM FOR SIDELINK COMMUNICATIONS TECHNICAL FIELD
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication, and in particular, to a method, device and computer readable media for sidelink communications.
BACKGROUND
There may be co-existence of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) sidelink and a New Radio (NR) sidelink. The co-existence of the two radio access technologies (RATs) may be based on LTE sidelink and NR sidelink framework. For the co-existence of LTE sidelink and NR sidelink, based on overlapping resources and channel structures of the two RATs, an NR sidelink terminal device may transmit a sidelink signal on the overlapping resources. Transmissions of the sidelink signal on the overlapping resources shall minimize potential impact on LTE sidelink terminal devices.
SUMMARY
In general, example embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices and computer readable media for sidelink communications.
In a first aspect, there is provided a method for sidelink communications. The method comprises: determining, at a terminal device, third sidelink control information (SCI) indicating at least one sidelink shared channel resource, wherein each of the at least one sidelink shared channel resource is within a first type of sidelink resources or sidelink resources of a second sidelink, and the first type of sidelink resources can be used for both a first sidelink associated with a first RAT and the second sidelink associated with a second RAT; and transmitting the third SCI on a sidelink control channel resource.
In a second aspect, there is provided a terminal device. The terminal device comprises a processor and a memory storing instructions. The memory and the instructions are configured, with the processor, to cause the terminal device to perform the method according to the first aspect.
In a third aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon. The instructions, when executed on at least one processor of a device, cause  the device to perform the method according to the first aspect.
It is to be understood that the summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Through the more detailed description of some embodiments of the present disclosure in the accompanying drawings, the above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent, wherein:
Fig. 1 illustrates an example communication network in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;
Fig. 2 illustrates an example of a timing resource allocation in a sidelink resource pool in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
Fig. 3 illustrates an example of a symbol allocation in a sidelink slot in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a frequency resource allocation in a sidelink resource pool in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
Fig. 5 illustrates an example of sidelink channels in time domain in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
Fig. 6 illustrates an example of a symbol allocation in a sidelink subframe in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure;
Figs. 7A and 7B illustrate an example of a frequency resource allocation in a sidelink resource pool in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively;
Fig. 8 illustrates a flowchart of an example method in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
Fig. 9 illustrates a signaling chart illustrating a process 900 for sidelink communications in accordance with some implementations of the present disclosure;
Figs. 10A to 10C illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 0 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively;
Fig. 11 illustrates three examples of the third SCI indicating no retransmission in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
Figs. 12A to 12C illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively;
Figs. 13A and 13B illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively;
Figs. 14A and 14B illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively;
Figs. 15A to 15E illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively; and
Fig. 16 is a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure.
Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Principle of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitations as to the scope of the disclosure. The disclosure described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.
In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.
As used herein, the term “terminal device” refers to any device having wireless or wired communication capabilities. Examples of the terminal device include, but not limited to, user equipment (UE) , personal computers, desktops, mobile phones, cellular phones, smart phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) , portable computers, tablets, wearable devices, internet of things (IoT) devices, Ultra-reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC) devices, Internet of Everything (IoE) devices, machine type communication (MTC) devices, device on vehicle for V2X communication where X means pedestrian, vehicle, or infrastructure/network, devices for Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) , Small Data Transmission (SDT) , mobility, Multicast and Broadcast Services (MBS) , positioning, dynamic/flexible duplex in commercial networks, reduced capability (RedCap) , Space borne vehicles or Air borne vehicles in Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) including Satellites and High Altitude Platforms (HAPs) encompassing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) ,  eXtended Reality (XR) devices including different types of realities such as Augmented Reality (AR) , Mixed Reality (MR) and Virtual Reality (VR) , the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) commonly known as a drone which is an aircraft without any human pilot, devices on high speed train (HST) , or image capture devices such as digital cameras, sensors, gaming devices, music storage and playback appliances, or Internet appliances enabling wireless or wired Internet access and browsing and the like. The ‘terminal device’ can further has ‘multicast/broadcast’ feature, to support public safety and mission critical, V2X applications, transparent IPv4/IPv6 multicast delivery, IPTV, smart TV, radio services, software delivery over wireless, group communications and IoT applications. It may also incorporate one or multiple Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) as known as Multi-SIM. The term “terminal device” can be used interchangeably with a UE, a mobile station, a subscriber station, a mobile terminal, a user terminal or a wireless device.
The term “network device” refers to a device which is capable of providing or hosting a cell or coverage where terminal devices can communicate. Examples of a network device include, but not limited to, a Node B (NodeB or NB) , an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB) , a next generation NodeB (gNB) , a transmission reception point (TRP) , a remote radio unit (RRU) , a radio head (RH) , a remote radio head (RRH) , an IAB node, a low power node such as a femto node, a pico node, a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) , Network-controlled Repeaters, and the like.
The terminal device or the network device may have Artificial intelligence (AI) or Machine learning capability. It generally includes a model which has been trained from numerous collected data for a specific function, and can be used to predict some information.
The terminal or the network device may work on several frequency ranges, e.g. FR1 (410 MHz –7125 MHz) , FR2 (24.25GHz to 71GHz) , frequency band larger than 100GHz as well as Tera Hertz (THz) . It can further work on licensed/unlicensed/shared spectrum. The terminal device may have more than one connection with the network devices under Multi-Radio Dual Connectivity (MR-DC) application scenario. The terminal device or the network device can work on full duplex, flexible duplex and cross division duplex modes.
The network device may have the function of network energy saving, Self-Organizing Networks (SON) /Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT) . The terminal may have the function of power saving.
The embodiments of the present disclosure may be performed in test equipment, e.g. signal generator, signal analyzer, spectrum analyzer, network analyzer, test terminal device, test network device, channel emulator.
The embodiments of the present disclosure may be performed according to any generation communication protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Examples of the communication protocols include, but not limited to, the first generation (1G) , the second generation (2G) , 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G) , the fourth generation (4G) , 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G) communication protocols, 5.5G, 5G-Advanced networks, or the sixth generation (6G) networks.
As used herein, the singular forms ‘a’ , ‘an’ and ‘the’ are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term ‘includes’ and its variants are to be read as open terms that mean ‘includes, but is not limited to. ’ The term ‘based on’ is to be read as ‘at least in part based on. ’ The term ‘some embodiments’ and ‘an embodiment’ are to be read as ‘at least some embodiments. ’ The term ‘another embodiment’ is to be read as ‘at least one other embodiment. ’ The terms ‘first, ’ ‘second, ’ and the like may refer to different or same objects. Other definitions, explicit and implicit, may be included below.
In some examples, values, procedures, or apparatus are referred to as ‘best, ’ ‘lowest, ’ ‘highest, ’ ‘minimum, ’ ‘maximum, ’ or the like. It will be appreciated that such descriptions are intended to indicate that a selection among many used functional alternatives can be made, and such selections need not be better, smaller, higher, or otherwise preferable to other selections.
Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example communication network 100 in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. As shown in Fig. 1, the communication network 100 may include a terminal device 110, a terminal device 120, a terminal device 130,  network devices  140 and 150. The  network devices  140 and 150 may communicate with the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 and the terminal device 130 via respective wireless communication channels.
In some embodiments, each of the  terminal devices  110, 120 and 130 as well as the  network devices  140 and 150 may use a first radio access technology (RAT) or a second RAT.
In some embodiments, the first RAT may be Long Term Evolution (LTE) , and the second RAT may be NR.
In embodiments where the  terminal devices  110, 120 and 130 as well as the  network devices  140 and 150 use LTE, the  terminal devices  110, 120 and 130 may be referred to as  LTE terminal devices  110, 120 and 130, and the  network devices  140 and 150 may be referred to as gNBs.
In embodiments where the  terminal devices  110, 120 and 130 as well as the  network devices  140 and 150 use NR, the  terminal devices  110, 120 and 130 may be referred to as NR  terminal devices  110, 120 and 130, and the  network devices  140 and 150 may be referred to as eNBs.
It is to be understood that the number of devices in Fig. 1 is given for the purpose of illustration without suggesting any limitations to the present disclosure. The communication network 100 may include any suitable number of network devices and/or terminal devices adapted for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure.
The communications in the communication network 100 may conform to any suitable standards including, but not limited to, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) , LTE, LTE-Evolution, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) , Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) , Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) , GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN) , Machine Type Communication (MTC) and the like. Furthermore, the communications may be performed according to any generation communication protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Examples of the communication protocols include, but not limited to, the first generation (1G) , the second generation (2G) , 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G) , the fourth generation (4G) , 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G) communication protocols.
In some embodiments, the communications in the communication network 100 may comprise sidelink communication. Sidelink communication is a wireless radio communication directly between two or more terminal devices, such as two or more terminal devices among the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 and the terminal device 130. In this type of communication, the two or more terminal devices that are geographically proximate to each other can directly communicate without going through the  network device  140 or 150 or through a core network. Data transmission in sidelink communication is thus different from typical cellular network communications, in which a terminal device transmits data to the network device 140 or 150 (i.e., uplink transmissions) or receives data from the network device 140 or 150 (i.e., downlink transmissions) . In sidelink communication, data is transmitted directly from a source terminal device (such as the terminal device 110) to a target terminal device (such as the terminal device 120) through the Unified Air Interface, e.g., PC5 interface, (i.e., sidelink transmissions) , as shown in Fig. 1.
Sidelink communication can provide several advantages, including reducing data transmission load on a core network, system resource consumption, transmission power consumption, and network operation costs, saving wireless spectrum resources, and  increasing spectrum efficiency of a cellular wireless communication system.
In a sidelink communication system, the sidelink resource is used to transmit information between terminal devices. According to application scenarios, service types, etc., a sidelink communication manner includes but is not limited to device to device (D2D) communication, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication, etc.
V2X communication enables vehicles to communicate with other vehicles (i.e. Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication) , with infrastructure (i.e. Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) , with wireless networks (i.e. Vehicle-to-Network (V2N) communication) , with pedestrians (i.e. Vehicle-to-Pedestrian (V2P) communication) , and even with the owner's home (i.e. Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) ) . Examples of infrastructure include roadside units such as traffic lights, toll gates and the like. V2X communication can be used in a wide range of scenarios, including in accident prevention and safety, convenience, traffic efficiency and clean driving, and ultimately in relation to autonomous or self-driving vehicles.
For sidelink communications, a terminal device uses resources in sidelink resource pools to transmit or receive signals. The sidelink resource pools include resources in time domain and frequency domain, which are dedicated resources of the sidelink communication, or shared by the sidelink communication and a cellular link. For sidelink communications, two modes of resource assignment may be used for sidelink, including network device schedules sidelink resources for terminal devices to perform sidelink signal transmission, named as mode 1 resource scheme in NR sidelink or mode 3 resource scheme in LTE sidelink, and terminal device selects sidelink resources by itself to perform sidelink signal transmission, named as mode 2 resource scheme in NR sidelink or mode 4 resource scheme in LTE sidelink.
Fig. 2 illustrates an example of a timing resource allocation in a sidelink resource pool in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the sidelink resource pool may comprise an NR sidelink resource pool. In such embodiments, the sidelink resource pool may be defined within a sidelink bandwidth part (BWP) . The terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 and the terminal device 130 may use uplink (UL) resources for sidelink communications. More than one sidelink resource pools may be configured for one of the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 and the terminal device 130. A dedicated resource pool may be used for mode 1 resource scheme or mode 2 resource scheme, short for mode 1 resource pool or mode 2 resource pool. For LTE sidelink, a dedicated resource pool may be used for mode 3 resource scheme or mode 4 resource scheme, short for mode 3 resource pool or mode 4 resource pool. Resources within  the sidelink resource pool may comprise Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH) resources, Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH) resources and physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) resources. A bitmap may be used to indicate which UL slots are configured as sidelink slots. A length of the bitmap may be in a range of 10 to 160.
Fig. 3 illustrates an example of a symbol allocation in a sidelink slot in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the sidelink resource pool which may contain multiple slots and resource blocks (RBs) , and all or part of the symbols in a slot can be used for sidelink transmission. Within the resource pool, among all the symbols configured for sidelink in each slot, the first symbol (i.e., the start symbol) is used as the automatic gain control (AGC) symbol, and the last symbol used as a guard period (GP) symbol. AGC symbols and GP symbols can be considered as fixed overheads in sidelink resource. In the description of the following embodiments, AGC symbols and GP symbols are included in the sidelink symbols which are indicated by the sidelink channel resource configuration, and AGC symbols carry redundancy sidelink information while GP symbols are not used for carrying sidelink information, as shown in Fig. 3.
The terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 and the terminal device 130 may use sidelink channels to transmit sidelink signaling or information. The sidelink channels include at least one of the following: a PSCCH resource which is used for carrying sidelink control information (SCI) , a PSSCH resource which is used for carrying sidelink data service information, a PSFCH resource which is used for carrying sidelink Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback information, a physical sidelink broadcast channel (PSBCH) resource which is used for carrying sidelink broadcast information, and a physical sidelink discovery channel (PSDCH) resource which is used for carrying a sidelink discovery signal.
Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a frequency resource allocation in a sidelink resource pool in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the sidelink resource pool may be an NR sidelink resource pool. As shown in Fig. 4, the sidelink resource pool may be configured within a SL Bandwidth Part (Sidelink BWP) . A resource pool configuration may comprise sl-StartRB-Subchannel and sl-RB-Number. The sl-StartRB-Subchannel may indicate the lowest Resource Block (RB) of the resource pool. The lowest RB is also referred to as a start RB. The sl-RB-Number may indicate the total number of RBs of the resource pool.
RBs in the resource pool may be divided into consecutive sub-channels. Sub-channel is a frequency resource unit of PSSCH. Each sub-channel contains consecutive  RBs. The  terminal devices  110, 120 and 130 may use one or more consecutive sub-channels as a PSSCH resource to transmit sidelink data. A sub-channel configuration of the resource pool may comprise sl-SubchannelSize which indicates the number of RBs contained in one sub-channel. The SubchannelSize may be equal to 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75 or 100.
Fig. 5 illustrates an example of sidelink channels in time domain in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the example of Fig. 5, the sidelink channels comprise PSCCH and PSSCH. PSCCH may carry SCI format 1. One PSCCH may be defined within each sub-channel. Each PSCCH resource may include t consecutive symbols in time domain and k consecutive RBs in frequency domain. The t symbols start from the first symbol in the available symbols in the time domain, where t = 2 or 3. The k RBs start from the first RB in the corresponding sub-channel, where k = 10, 12, 15, 20, or 25. PSSCH may carry SCI format 2A/2B and sidelink data PSSCH uses sub-channel as a frequency unit. The  terminal devices  110, 120 and 130 may use one or more consecutive sub-channels as a PSSCH resource to transmit sidelink data.
Similar to the NR sidelink resource pool, within an LTE sidelink resource pool, the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 or the terminal device 130 may use uplink (UL) resources for sidelink communications. More than one sidelink resource pools may be configured for the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 or the terminal device 130. Resources within the LTE sidelink resource pool may comprise a PSCCH resource pool and a PSSCH resource pool. A bitmap may be used to indicate which UL subframes are configured as sidelink subframes.
Fig. 6 illustrates an example of a symbol allocation in a sidelink subframe in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, sidelink subframes in Fig. 6 may be LTE sidelink subframes. As shown in Fig. 6, all symbols in a subframe are used as sidelink resource. In a subframe, the first symbol is used as AGC and the last symbol is used as GP.
LTE sidelink channels may comprise PSCCH and PSSCH. PSCCH may carry SCI format 1. One PSCCH is associated with one sub-channel. Each PSCCH resource has a fixed size. For example, each PSCCH resource may comprise two consecutive PRBs and all symbols in a sidelink subframe. PSSCH may carry sidelink data and use sub-channel as frequency unit. The terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 or the terminal device 130 may use one or more consecutive sub-channels as PSSCH resource to transmit sidelink data. Relationship between PSCCH and sub-channel may be one-to-one mapping.
Figs. 7A and 7B illustrate an example of a frequency resource allocation in a  sidelink resource pool in accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively. In some embodiments, the frequency resource allocations in Figs. 7A and 7B may be for LTE sidelink. As shown in Fig. 7A, the sidelink resource pool may be configured such that PSCCH is adjacent to PSSCH. In such an adjacent configuration, the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 or the terminal device 130 may transmit PSCCH and the corresponding PSSCH in adjacent resource blocks in a subframe. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 7B, the sidelink resource pool may be configured such that PSCCH is not adjacent to PSSCH. In such a non-adjacent configuration, the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 or the terminal device 130 may transmit PSCCH and the corresponding PSSCH in non-adjacent resource blocks in a subframe.
As mentioned above, for the co-existence of LTE sidelink and NR sidelink, based on overlapping resources and channel structures of the two RATs, an NR sidelink terminal device may transmit a sidelink signal on the overlapping resources. Transmissions of the sidelink signal on the overlapping resources shall minimize potential impact on LTE sidelink terminal devices. In order to avoid resource conflict, the NR sidelink terminal device may provide necessary information for LTE sidelink terminal devices.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution for sidelink communications so as to solve the above problems and one or more of other potential problems. According to the solution, a first terminal device determines third SCI indicating at least one sidelink shared channel resource. Each of the at least one sidelink shared channel resource is within a first type of sidelink resources or sidelink resources of a second sidelink. The first type of sidelink resources can be used for both a first sidelink associated with a first RAT and the second sidelink associated with a second RAT. In turn, first terminal device transmits the third SCI on a sidelink control channel resource.. Hereinafter, principle of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 8 to 15.
Fig. 8 illustrates a flowchart of an example method in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the method 800 can be implemented at a terminal device, such as one of the terminal device 110, the terminal device 120 and the terminal device 130 as shown in Fig. 1. For the purpose of discussion, the method 800 will be described with reference to Fig. 1 as performed by the terminal device 110 without loss of generality.
At block 810, the terminal device 110 determines third SCI indicating at least one sidelink shared channel resource. Each of the at least one sidelink shared channel resource is within a first type of sidelink resources or sidelink resources of a second sidelink. The  first type of sidelink resources can be used for both a first sidelink associated with a first RAT and the second sidelink associated with a second RAT.
At block 820, the terminal device 110 transmits the third SCI on a sidelink control channel resource.
With the method 800, dynamic co-existence of the first sidelink and the second sidelink using overlapping resources may be achieved.
In some embodiments, the first type of sidelink resources may be overlapping resources of a first sidelink resource pool for the first sidelink and a second sidelink resource pool for the second sidelink. In other words, the first type of sidelink resources may be shared resources between the first sidelink resource pool and the second sidelink resource pool. In the present disclosure, terms “overlapping” and “shared” may be used interchangeably. On the other hand, dedicated resources may be used for the first sidelink or the second sidelink and may be non-overlapping with each other. Thus, terms “non-overlapping” and “dedicated” may be used interchangeably.
In some embodiments, the sidelink resources of the second sidelink may be dedicated resources for the second sidelink. In this regard, the sidelink resources of the second sidelink may be referred to as dedicated or non-overlapping resources.
In some embodiments, the first RAT may be LTE and the second RAT may be NR. In such embodiments, the first sidelink may be a sidelink associated with LTE (also referred to as LTE sidelink) , and the second sidelink may be a sidelink associated with NR (also referred to as NR sidelink) . In addition, a first sidelink resource pool may be a sidelink resource pool associated with LTE (also referred to as LTE sidelink resource pool) , and a second sidelink resource pool may be a sidelink resource pool associated with NR (also referred to as NR sidelink resource pool) .
In embodiments where the first sidelink is the LTE sidelink, a first sidelink control channel resource of the first sidelink may be an LTE PSCCH resource, and a first sidelink shared channel resource of the first sidelink may be an LTE PSSCH resource. In addition, a sub-channel of the first sidelink or a sub-channel in the first sidelink resource pool may be an LTE sub-channel.
In embodiments where the second sidelink is the NR sidelink, a second sidelink control channel resource of the second sidelink may be an NR PSCCH resource and a second sidelink shared channel resource of the second sidelink may be an NR PSSCH resource. In addition, a sub-channel of the second sidelink or a sub-channel in the second sidelink resource pool may be an NR sub-channel.
Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described by taking LTE sidelink and NR sidelink for example. It shall be understood that the solution of the present disclosure may be applied to other RATs than LTE and NR.
In some embodiments, the at least one sidelink shared channel resource may comprise at least one of a third sidelink shared channel resource, a fourth sidelink shared channel resource and a fifth sidelink shared channel resource. The sidelink control channel resource carrying the third SCI may comprise at least one of a third sidelink control channel resource, a fourth sidelink control channel resource and a fifth sidelink control channel resource.
In some embodiments, the third sidelink shared channel resource is associated with the third sidelink control channel resource. For example, the third sidelink control channel resource is associated with a start sub-channel of the third sidelink shared channel resource.
In some embodiments, the fourth sidelink shared channel resource is associated with a fourth sidelink control channel resource. For example, the fourth sidelink control channel resource is associated with a start sub-channel of the fourth sidelink shared channel resource.
In some embodiments, the fifth sidelink control channel resource is associated with a fifth sidelink shared channel resource. For example, the fifth sidelink control channel resource is associated with a start sub-channel of the fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
In some embodiments, the third sidelink control channel resource is on a slot or subframe which comprises the third sidelink shared channel resource.
In some embodiments, the fourth sidelink control channel resource is on a slot or subframe which comprises the fourth sidelink shared channel resource.
In some embodiments, the fifth sidelink control channel resource is on a slot or subframe which comprises the fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
In some embodiments, the third sidelink shared channel resource and the third sidelink control channel resource may be used for an initial transmission of sidelink data. In some embodiments, the fourth and the fifth sidelink shared channel resources as well as the fourth and the fifth sidelink control channel resources may be used for retransmissions of the sidelink data. For example, the fourth sidelink shared channel resource and the fourth sidelink control channel resources may be used for the first retransmission of the sidelink data, and the fifth sidelink shared channel resource and the fifth sidelink control channel resources may be used for the second retransmission of the sidelink data. The second retransmission is subsequent to the first retransmission.
In some embodiments, the sidelink data may be transmitted periodically. In such  embodiments, each of the third, the fourth and the fifth sidelink shared channel resources as well as the third, the fourth and the fifth sidelink control channel resources may be used for initial transmissions of the sidelink data.
In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may determine the third SCI based on at least one of the following:
● a configuration or pre-configuration of the first type of sidelink resources,
● a configuration or pre-configuration of a first sidelink resource pool of the first sidelink,
● a configuration or pre-configuration of a second sidelink resource pool of the second sidelink, or
● a sidelink grant.
In some embodiments, a higher layer of the terminal device 110 may provide the sidelink grant to a physical layer of the terminal device 110.
In some embodiments, the sidelink grant may comprise at least one of the following: an assignment of the at least one sidelink shared channel resource, an assignment of the at least one of the third, fourth and fifth sidelink control channel resources, or a first resource reservation period.
In some embodiments, the configuration or pre-configuration of the first sidelink resource pool may comprise at least one of the following:
● a first subcarrier space (SCS) of the first sidelink,
● a subframe set comprised in the first sidelink resource pool of the first sidelink,
● the number of symbols of a first sidelink control channel resource in the first sidelink resource pool,
● the number of symbols of a first sidelink shared channel resource in the first sidelink resource pool,
● the number of symbols of the first sidelink within a subframe,
● a start symbol of the first sidelink control channel resource,
● an end symbol of the first sidelink control channel resource,
● a start symbol of the first sidelink shared channel resource,
● an end symbol of the first sidelink shared channel resource,
● a start symbol of the first sidelink within a subframe,
● an end symbol of the first sidelink within a subframe,
● the number of resource blocks (RBs) in the first sidelink resource pool,
● an RB set comprised in the first sidelink resource pool,
● the number of RBs of the first sidelink control channel resource,
● the number of RBs of a sub-channel in the first sidelink resource pool,
● the number of sub-channels in the first sidelink resource pool,
● a start RB of the first sidelink control channel resource,
● an end RB of the first sidelink control channel resource,
● a start RB of the sub-channel in the first sidelink resource pool, or
● an end RB of the sub-channel in the first sidelink resource pool.
In some embodiments, the configuration or pre-configuration of the second sidelink resource pool may comprise at least one of the following:
● a second SCS of the second sidelink,
● a slot set comprised in the second sidelink resource pool,
● the number of symbols of a second sidelink control channel resource in the second sidelink resource pool,
● the number of symbols of a second sidelink shared channel resource in the second sidelink resource pool,
● the number of symbols of the second sidelink within a slot,
● a start symbol of the second sidelink control channel resource,
● an end symbol of the second sidelink control channel resource,
● a start symbol of the second sidelink shared channel resource,
● an end symbol of the second sidelink shared channel resource,
● a start symbol of the second sidelink within a slot,
● an end symbol of the second sidelink within a slot,
● the number of RBs of the second sidelink resource pool,
● a RB set comprised in the second sidelink resource pool,
● the number of RBs of the second sidelink control channel resource,
● the number of RBs of a sub-channel in the second sidelink resource pool,
● the number sub-channels in the second sidelink resource pool,
● a start RB of the second sidelink control channel resource,
● an end RB of the second sidelink control channel resource,
● a start RB of the sub-channel in the second sidelink resource pool, or
● an end RB of the sub-channel in the second sidelink resource pool.
In some embodiments, the configuration or pre-configuration of the first type of sidelink resources may comprise at least one of the following:
● a third SCS of the first type of sidelink resources,
● a subframe set or a slot set comprised in the first type of sidelink resources,
● the number of symbols of the third sidelink control channel resource,
● the number of symbols of the third sidelink shared channel resource,
● the number of symbols of the first type of sidelink resources within a subframe or a slot,
● a start symbol of the third sidelink control channel resource,
● an end symbol of the third sidelink control channel resource,
● a start symbol of the third sidelink shared channel resource,
● an end symbol of the third sidelink shared channel resource,
● a start symbol of the first type of sidelink resources within a subframe or a slot,
● an end symbol of the first type of sidelink resources within a subframe or a slot,
● the number of RBs of the first type of sidelink resources,
● a RB set comprised in the first type of sidelink resources,
● the number of RBs of the third sidelink control channel resource,
● the number of RBs of a sub-channel in the first type of sidelink resources,
● the number of sub-channels in the first type of sidelink resources,
● a start RB of the third sidelink control channel resource,
● an end RB of the third sidelink control channel resource,
● a start RB of the sub-channel in the first type of sidelink resources, or
● an end RB of the sub-channel in the first type of sidelink resources.
In some embodiments, the third SCI may comprise at least one of the following:
● a frequency resource indicator,
● a time gap,
● a retransmission index,
● a resource reservation period,
● a priority,
● a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) , or
● a transmission format.
In some embodiments, the frequency resource indicator may indicates at least one of the following:
● sub-channels used for the third sidelink shared channel resource,
● sub-channels used for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource, or
● sub-channels used for the fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
In some embodiments, the time gap is at least one of the following:
● a first time gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fourth sidelink shared channel resource,
● a second time gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fifth sidelink shared channel resource, or
● a third time gap between the fourth sidelink shared channel resource and the fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
In some embodiments, the time gap is at least one of the following:
● a logical subframe gap within the first sidelink resource pool,
● a logical slot gap within the second sidelink resource pool, or
● a logical subframe or slot gap within the first type of sidelink resources.
In some embodiments, overhead of the priority may be 3 bits. The priority may be determined according to the priority of sidelink data to be transmitted on the sidelink shared channel resource associated with the sidelink control channel resource.
In some embodiments, the sidelink control channel resource carrying the third SCI may comprise symbols and RBs comprised in a first sidelink control channel resource in the first sidelink resource pool of the first sidelink. The first sidelink control channel resource is determined based on a configuration or pre-configuration of the first sidelink resource pool. In such embodiments, if the first sidelink is the LTE sidelink, the sidelink control channel resource may be considered as an LTE PSCCH resource by an LTE sidelink terminal device. In such embodiments, the third SCI may be transmitted by an NR sidelink terminal device on the LTE PSCCH resource. In such embodiments, the third SCI may be transmitted by the NR sidelink terminal device using an NR SCI format 0. With the NR SCI format 0, the NR sidelink terminal device may indicate LTE sidelink terminal devices the resources used and/or reserved by the NR sidelink terminal device. In this way, potential resource conflicts may be avoided and resource efficiency may be increased.
In such embodiments, the NR SCI format 0 may be the same format as an LTE SCI format 1. Thus, the NR SCI format 0 may comprise the same indication fields as the LTE SCI format 1 and overhead of each of the indication fields may be the same as that of the LTE SCI format 1. The NR SCI format 0 may be decoded by LTE sidelink terminal devices as a normal LTE SCI format 1. The NR SCI format 0 may use the same physical process of LTE SCI format 1, such as the same demodulation reference signal (DMRS) , coding,  modulation scheme, and so on.
Alternatively, in some embodiments, the sidelink control channel resource carrying the third SCI may comprise symbols and RBs comprised in a second sidelink control channel resource in the second sidelink resource pool of the second sidelink. The second sidelink control channel resource is determined based on a configuration or pre-configuration of the second sidelink resource pool. In such embodiments, if the second sidelink is the NR sidelink, the sidelink control channel resource may be considered as an NR PSCCH resource by an NR sidelink terminal device. In such embodiments, the third SCI may be transmitted by an NR sidelink terminal device on the NR PSCCH resource. In such embodiments, the third SCI may be transmitted by the NR sidelink terminal device using an NR SCI format 1-X (for example, an NR SCI format 1-B) . The NR SCI format 1-B and the legacy NR SCI format 1-A may be referred to as an NR SCI format 1. Thus, hereinafter, the NR SCI format 1 may be used as a common term for all the NR SCI format 1-X.
In such embodiments, the NR PSCCH resource may be determined according to one of the following: a legacy NR PSCCH resource, a LTE PSCCH resource, or a new definition.
In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may transmit both the NR SCI format 0 and NR SCI format 1 on different PSCCH resources for the same PSSCH transmission. This will be described with reference to Fig. 9.
Fig. 9 illustrates a signaling chart illustrating a process 900 for sidelink communications in accordance with some implementations of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the process 900 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The process 900 may involve the  terminal devices  110, 120 and 130 as illustrated in Fig. 1. Although the process 900 will be described in the communication network 100 of Fig. 1, this process may be likewise applied to other communication scenarios.
In the process 900, each of the  terminal devices  110 and 130 may be NR terminal devices, and the terminal device 120 may be an LTE terminal device.
As shown, the terminal device 110 obtains 910 a sidelink grant which uses shared sidelink resources.
In some embodiments, the sidelink grant may be for mode 1 scheduling or mode 2 selected resources. The sidelink grant may comprise at least one LTE PSCCH resource within the shared resources and PSSCH resources associated with the LTE PSCCH resource.
The terminal device 110 transmits 920 an NR SCI format 0 on a LTE PSCCH resource. If the sidelink grant comprises more than one LTE PSCCH resources, the terminal device 110 may transmit the NR SCI format 0 on the PSCCH with a lowest RB.
Accordingly, the terminal device 120 blindly detects 930 on the LTE PSCCH resource. In turn, the terminal device 120 decodes 940 the NR SCI format 0 on the PSCCH resource, and obtain the indication of the terminal device 110. The indication may be identified as from an LTE terminal device.
Additionally or alternatively, the terminal device 110 may transmit 950 an NR SCI format 1 and sidelink data on assigned PSSCH resource. Accordingly, the terminal device 130 blindly detects 960 on the NR PSCCH resource. In turn, the terminal device 130 decodes 970 the NR SCI format 1 on the PSCCH resource, and obtain the indication of the terminal device 110. Then, the terminal device 130 receives the sidelink data on the PSSCH resource.
Hereinafter, some embodiments for determination of the third SCI will be described by taking NR SCI format 0 and NR SCI format 1 for example. It shall be understood that the solution of the present disclosure may be applied to other SCI formats than NR SCI format 0 and NR SCI format 1.
Determination of the third SCI using NR SCI format 0
In embodiments where the third SCI use the NR SCI format 0, overhead of the resource reservation period may be 4 bits, and overhead of the time gap may be 4 bits. Overhead of the MCS may be 5 bits, overhead of the retransmission index may be 1 bit, and overhead of the transmission format may be 1 bit.
In such embodiments, the MCS may be set to any available values defined in an LTE MCS table, or “padding” . The retransmission index may reuse legacy definition in LTE SCI format 1, or “padding” . The transmission format may reuse legacy definition in LTE SCI format 1 or may be “padding” . The field with “padding” means that the indication in this field can be set as any value or a default value, as it is used for decoding PSSCH which may be non-available for LTE terminal devices.
In some embodiments, the third sidelink shared channel resource is within the first type of sidelink resources. The fourth sidelink shared channel resource is within the first type of sidelink resources. The fifth sidelink shared channel resource is within the first type of sidelink resources.
In some embodiments, the third sidelink shared channel resource is within dedicated  resources for the second sidelink. The fourth sidelink shared channel resource is within dedicated resources for the second sidelink. The fifth sidelink shared channel resource is within dedicated resources for the second sidelink.
In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may determine the frequency resource indicator based on at least one of the following:
● a first SCS of the first sidelink,
● the number of RBs of a sub-channel in the first sidelink resource pool, or
● the number of sub-channels in the first sidelink resource pool.
In some embodiments, the frequency resource indicator may indicate at least one of the following:
● a first number of sub-channels in the first sidelink resource pool used for at least one of the third sidelink shared channel resource, the fourth sidelink shared channel resource or the fifth sidelink shared channel resource,
● a first index of a start sub-channel of the third sidelink shared channel resource in the first sidelink resource pool ,
● a second index of a start sub-channel of the fourth sidelink shared channel resources in the first sidelink resource pool,
● a third index of a start sub-channel of the fifth sidelink shared channel resources in the first sidelink resource pool,
● an index of one of sub-channels in the first sidelink resource pool, or
● a default value.
In some embodiments, the third sidelink control channel resource may be associated with the start sub-channel of the third sidelink shared channel resource. In some embodiments, the third sidelink control channel resource comprises RBs start from a lowest RB of the start sub-channel of the third sidelink shared channel resource.
In some embodiments, the fourth sidelink control channel resource may be associated with the start sub-channel of the fourth sidelink shared channel resource. In some embodiments, the fourth sidelink control channel resource comprises RBs start from a lowest RB of the start sub-channel of the fourth sidelink shared channel resource.
In some embodiments, the fifth sidelink control channel resource may be associated with the start sub-channel of the fifth sidelink shared channel resource. In some embodiments, the fifth sidelink control channel resource comprises RBs start from a lowest RB of the start sub-channel of the fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
In some embodiments, overhead of the third SCI is the same as that of legacy LTE  SCI format 1. For example, the overhead of the third SCI may be equal to 
Figure PCTCN2022106329-appb-000001
where
Figure PCTCN2022106329-appb-000002
represents the number of sub-channels in the LTE PSSCH resource pool.
Hereinafter, some embodiments of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 0 will be described with reference to Figs. 10A to 10C.
Figs. 10A to 10C illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 0 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively.
In examples of Figs. 10A to 10C, the third sidelink shared channel resource and the third sidelink control channel resource may be used for an initial transmission of NR sidelink data. The fourth sidelink shared channel resource and the fourth sidelink control channel resource may be used for retransmission of the NR sidelink data.
In examples of Figs. 10A to 10C, the frequency resource indicator indicates a first number of sub-channels in an LTE PSSCH resource pool used for the third sidelink shared channel resource or the fourth sidelink shared channel resource. Hereinafter, the first number may be represented by L subCH.
In addition, in examples of Figs. 10A to 10C, the frequency resource indicator indicates a first index of a start sub-channel of the third sidelink shared channel resource in the LTE PSSCH resource pool or a second index of a start sub-channel of the fourth sidelink shared channel resources in the LTE PSSCH resource pool. Hereinafter, the first index and the second index may be represented by
Figure PCTCN2022106329-appb-000003
In the example of Fig. 10A, the NR sidelink uses the same sub-channel allocation as that in the LTE PSSCH resource pool on the shared resources. Because the same sub-channel allocation is used for NR sidelink, the frequency resource indicator may be simply determined according to the sub-channels used by NR UE, which is similar to the scheme for determination of LTE SCI format 1. To provide simple and compatible indication, no extra resource is wasted.
Specifically, the first terminal device 110 (also referred to as NR UE A) transmits an NR SCI format 0 on PSCCH #0 within the first sidelink resource pool (also referred to as LTE sidelink resource pool) . The NR SCI format 0 indicates the first number L subCH of sub-channels in the LTE PSSCH resource pool used for an initial transmission of NR sidelink data. The first number L subCH is equal to 2, i.e., sub-channels #0 and #1 in the LTE PSCCH resource pool are used for the initial transmission, as sub-channel #0 is associated with PSCCH #0.
The NR SCI format 0 also indicates the first index
Figure PCTCN2022106329-appb-000004
of the start sub-channel of the fourth sidelink shared channel resource in the LTE PSSCH resource pool. The first index
Figure PCTCN2022106329-appb-000005
is equal to any index or a default value as the retransmission is not assigned in the sidelink grant.
In the example of Fig. 10B, the NR sidelink uses sub-channels on shared resources which are aligned with sub-channels in the LTE PSSCH resource pool. The NR sub-channel size is an integer multiple of LTE sub-channel size, here, the sub-channel size is the number of RBs of a sub-channel. The boundary of an NR sub-channel is aligned with the boundary of an LTE sub-channel on the shared resources. The first number L subCH of sub-channels in the LTE PSSCH resource pool used for an initial transmission or retransmission of NR sidelink data is determined based on the LTE sub-channel size.
The first index
Figure PCTCN2022106329-appb-000006
of the start sub-channel for the initial transmission and the second index
Figure PCTCN2022106329-appb-000007
of the start sub-channel for the retransmission transmission are defined in the LTE PSSCH resource pool.
Specifically, as shown in Fig. 10B, on shared resources, the NR sub-channel size =2*LTE sub-channel size, and the first terminal device 110 (also referred to as NR UE A) uses an NR sub-channel #2 which overlaps with LTE sub-channels #2 and #3 for the initial transmission.
The first terminal device 110 transmits an NR SCI format 0 on PSCCH #2 associated with the start sub-channel #2 in the first resource pool. That is, the first index of the start sub-channel for the initial transmission
Figure PCTCN2022106329-appb-000008
is equal to 2. The first number L subCH of sub-channels in the LTE PSSCH resource pool used for the initial transmission or retransmission is equal to 2, which is determined based on the LTE sub-channel size. The retransmission is assigned in the sidelink grant and the second index
Figure PCTCN2022106329-appb-000009
of the start sub-channel for the retransmission is equal to 0, i.e., using LTE sub-channels #0 and #1 as PSSCH resource for retransmission.
In the example of Fig. 10C, the NR sidelink uses sub-channels on shared resources which are not aligned with sub-channels in the LTE PSSCH resource pool. The boundary of an NR sub-channel is not aligned with the boundary of an LTE sub-channel on the shared resources. Different sub-channel sizes are used for the NR sidelink and the LTE sidelink. Alternatively, different start RBs may be used for sub-channels of the NR sidelink and the LTE sidelink.
The first number L subCH of sub-channels for a sidelink transmission is determined  as sub-channels in the LTE PSSCH resource pool which overlap with a second number of sub-channels in the NR resource pool.
In some embodiments, the second number of sub-channels in the NR resource pool are used for at least one of the third sidelink shared channel resource, the fourth sidelink shared channel resource, or the fifth sidelink shared channel resources. The second number of sub-channels are determined based on the assignment for at least one of the third sidelink shared channel resource, the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource, or the assignment for the fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
Specifically, as shown in Fig. 10C, NR sub-channel size = 12 RBs, while LTE sub-channel size = 10 RBs. The first terminal device 110 (also referred to as NR UE A) uses NR sub-channels #2 and #3 for the transmission of the NR sidelink data. The NR sub-channels #2 and #3 overlap with LTE sub-channels #0, #1, #2 with boundary being not aligned. The first number L subCH of sub-channels in the LTE PSSCH resource pool used for the transmission is equal to 3, i.e., sub-channels #0, #1 and #2. The first terminal device 110 transmits the NR SCI format 0 on PSCCH #0 which is associated with sub-channel #0 in the LTE PSCCH resource pool.
In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may determine at least one of the time gap, the retransmission index and the resource reservation period based on at least one of the following: a first SCS of the first sidelink, a subframe set comprised in the first sidelink resource pool of the first sidelink, or the sidelink grant.
Hereinafter, some examples of determination of the time gap and the retransmission index will be described.
In a first embodiment, the value of the higher layer parameter sl-MaxNumPerReserve is configured to be 2, and the time gap may be the first time gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fourth sidelink shared channel resource.
In a first example of the first embodiment, the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource may be absent from the sidelink grant. In this example, the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap (represented by SF gap) to be zero or determine the retransmission index to be zero.
In a second example of the first embodiment, the sidelink grant may comprise the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource. In this example, the terminal device 110 may determine the third SCI to be transmitted on the third sidelink control  channel resource. In other words, the terminal device 110 may determine the NR SCI format 0 associated with the initial transmission. For the NR SCI format 0 associated with the initial transmission, the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap to be a first logical subframe gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource for the initial transmission and the fourth sidelink shared channel resource for the retransmission within the first sidelink resource pool. In addition, for the NR SCI format 0 associated with the initial transmission, the terminal device 110 may determine the retransmission index to be zero.
In the second example of the first embodiment, the terminal device 110 may also determine the third SCI to be transmitted on the fourth sidelink control channel resource. In other words, the terminal device 110 may determine the NR SCI format 0 associated with the retransmission. For the NR SCI format 0 associated with the retransmission, the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap to be zero or determine the retransmission index to be one.
In a second embodiment, the value of the higher layer parameter sl-MaxNumPerReserve is configured to be 3, and the time gap may be at least one of the following: the first time gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fourth sidelink shared channel resource, the second time gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fifth sidelink shared channel resource, or the third time gap between the fourth sidelink shared channel resource and the fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
In a first example of the second embodiment, the assignments for the fourth and fifth sidelink shared channel resources may be absent from the sidelink grant. In this example, similar to the first example of the first embodiment, the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap (represented by SF gap) to be zero or determine the retransmission index to be zero.
In a second example of the second embodiment, the sidelink grant may comprise the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource. In this example, similar to the second example of the first embodiment, for the NR SCI format 0 to be transmitted on the third sidelink control channel resource, the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap to be a first logical subframe gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fourth sidelink shared channel resource within the first sidelink resource pool. In addition, for the NR SCI format 0 to be transmitted on the third sidelink control channel resource, the terminal device 110 may determine the retransmission index to be zero.
In the second example of the second embodiment, similar to the second example of the second embodiment, for the NR SCI format 0 to be transmitted on the fourth sidelink control channel resource, the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap to be zero or determine the retransmission index to be one.
In a third example of the second embodiment, the sidelink grant may comprise the assignment for the third sidelink shared channel resource, the fourth sidelink shared channel resource and the assignment for the fifth sidelink shared channel resource. The terminal device 110 may determine the third SCI to be transmitted on the third sidelink control channel resource in the same way as in the second example of the first embodiment.
In addition, in the third example, the terminal device 110 may also determine the third SCI to be transmitted on the fourth sidelink control channel resource. For the NR SCI format 0 to be transmitted on the fourth sidelink control channel resource, the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap to be a second logical subframe gap between the fourth sidelink shared channel resource and the fifth sidelink shared channel resource within the first sidelink resource pool. In addition, for the NR SCI format 0 to be transmitted on the fourth sidelink control channel resource, the terminal device 110 may determine the retransmission index to be zero.
In the third example, the terminal device 110 may also determine the third SCI to be transmitted on the fifth sidelink control channel resource. For the NR SCI format 0 to be transmitted on the fifth sidelink control channel resource, the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap to be zero and determine the retransmission index to be one, which means that it is a retransmission on the current subframe.
In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap to be zero, which indicates that no retransmission should be indicated in the third SCI. This will be described with reference to Fig. 11.
Fig. 11 illustrates three examples of the third SCI indicating no retransmission in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown, in an example a1, because absence of the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource is from the sidelink grant, the third SCI (such as NR SCI format 0) indicates no retransmission.
In an example a2, the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource is beyond the first type of sidelink resources. Alternatively, the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource is within dedicated resources for the second sidelink only. For example, the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource is on a non-overlapping subframe or slot. Thus, the third SCI indicates no retransmission.
In an example a3, the time gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fourth sidelink shared channel resource is greater than a threshold. For example, the threshold may be equal to 15.
In some embodiments, the resource reservation period may be used for reserved resources for periodical services, and the resource reservation period represents a period of sidelink transmission. The sidelink grant may indicate the first resource reservation period within a period set. Because NR sidelink supports more available periods than LTE sidelink, the period set may comprise periods which are available on the NR sidelink but unavailable on the LTE sidelink. In such embodiments, the terminal device 110 may determine the resource reservation period to be different from the first resource reservation period within the period set. For example, the terminal device 110 may determine the resource reservation period to be zero. For another example, the terminal device 110 may determine the resource reservation period to be a predefined value, such as a reserved value for a resource reservation filed in LTE SCI format 1. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 may determine the resource reservation period as no periodic reservation.
In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may determine the resource reservation period as shown in Table 1.
Table 1
Figure PCTCN2022106329-appb-000010
As shown in Table 1, the terminal device 110 determines the resource reservation period to be 0, indicating no periodic reservation. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 determines the resource reservation period to be a predefined value, such as “1101” , “1110” and “1111” indicating no periodic reservation.
Determination of the third SCI using NR SCI format 1
In embodiments where the third SCI use the NR SCI format 1, the terminal device 110 may determine the frequency resource indicator based on at least one of the following:
● a second SCS of the second sidelink,
● the number of RBs of a sub-channel in the second sidelink resource pool,
● the number of sub-channels in the second sidelink resource pool,
● a third SCS of the first type of sidelink resources,
● the number of RBs of a sub-channel in the first type of sidelink resources, or
● the number of sub-channels in the first type of sidelink resources.
Hereinafter, some embodiments of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 will be described with reference to Figs. 12A to 12C.
Figs. 12A to 12C illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively.
In an example of Fig. 12A, the terminal device 110 may determine the sidelink control channel resource (i.e., NR PSCCH) carrying the third SCI by using the same rule as the legacy NR PSCCH. Specifically, the terminal device 110 may transmit an NR SCI format 1 on PSCCH #2, indicating PSSCH transmission on sub-channels #2 and #3.
In an example of Fig. 12B, the sidelink control channel resource (i.e., NR PSCCH) carrying the third SCI contains the same resource of a LTE PSCCH. The LTE PSCCH is associated with a start sub-channel of a PSSCH. The terminal device 110 may transmit NR SCI format 1 on the PSCCH overlapping with LTE PSCCH #0 because the start sub-channel of the PSSCH overlaps with LTE sub-channel #0.
In an example of Fig. 12C, the NR PSCCH uses a new PSCCH definition for the shared resources. The terminal device 110 may transmit NR SCI format 1 on NR PSCCH #1, indicating PSSCH transmission on sub-channels #1 and #2 within NR sidelink resource pool. In addition, the terminal device 110 may transmit NR SCI format 0 on LTE PSCCH #0, indicating PSSCH transmission on sub-channels #0 and #1 within LTE sidelink resource pool.
In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may determine indicators in the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 based on the first type of sidelink resources (i.e. the shared resources) only. In such embodiments, the shared resources are handled as dedicated resources, i.e., indicators in the third SCI are independent from non-overlapping resources. In such embodiments, a resource pool may be indicated as a shared resource pool. In other  words, all resources in the resource pool are shared between the first sidelink and the second sidelink. In this way, impact on legacy SCI indication may be reduced and extra complexity may be avoided
In such embodiments, the frequency resource indicator in the third SCI may indicate at least one of the following:
● a third number of sub-channels in the first type of sidelink resources used for at least one of the third sidelink shared channel resource, the fourth sidelink shared channel resource or the fifth sidelink shared channel resource,
● a seventh index of a start sub-channel of the third sidelink shared channel resource in the first type of sidelink resources,
● an eighth index of a start sub-channel of the fourth sidelink shared channel resources in the first type of sidelink resources,
● a ninth index of a start sub-channel of the fifth sidelink shared channel resources in the first type of sidelink resources.
In such embodiments, the time gap in the third SCI may be at least one of the following:
● a first time gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fourth sidelink shared channel resource,
● a second time gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fifth sidelink shared channel resource, or
● a third time gap between the fourth sidelink shared channel resource and the fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
Hereinafter, some embodiments of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 will be described with reference to Figs. 13A and 13B.
Figs. 13A and 13B illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively. In examples of Figs. 13A and 13B, the first type of sidelink resources (i.e. the shared resources) is assigned as a resource pool (also referred to a shared resource pool) . In other words, there is full overlapping between a LTE sidelink resource pool and a NR sidelink resource pool. Resource indicators (such as the frequency resource indicator and the time gap) are determined based on a configuration of the shared resource pool.
For example, the configuration of the shared resource pool may comprise at least one of the following:
● a sub-channel size,
● the number of sub-channels,
● a start RB of a sub-channel,
● sub-channel index being numbered from #0, or
● slots comprised in the shared resource pool.
In the example of Fig. 13A, the NR SCI format 1 is transmitted in PSCCH #0 on slot #n. The NR SCI format 1 indicates that PSSCH uses sub-channels #0 and #1. The NR SCI format 1 also indicates no retransmission.
In the example of Fig. 13B, the NR SCI format 1 is transmitted in PSCCH #0 on slot #n. The NR SCI format 1 indicates that PSSCH uses sub-channels #0 and #1 on slot #n. The NR SCI format 1 also indicates that retransmission uses sub-channels #2 and #3 on slot #n+k, where k represents the logical slot offset and k = 4. K is determined based on the configuration of the shared resource pool.
In some embodiments, the first type of sidelink resources (i.e. the shared resources) is part of the second sidelink resource pool, i.e., partial overlapping between the first sidelink resource pool and the second sidelink resource pool. In such embodiments, the terminal device 110 may determine indicators in the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 based on a configuration of the first type of sidelink resources. This will be described with reference to Fig. 14A.
Fig. 14A illustrates an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the example of Fig. 14A, a common configuration is used for the shared resources and the NR resource pool which contains the shared resources. Alternatively, the common configuration is used for the shared resources and the NR resource pool which is adjacent to the shared resources.
In the example of Fig. 14A, the terminal device 110 determines indicators in the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 based on a configuration of the shared resources. Specifically, indexes of sub-channels start from #0 within the shared resources, and the time gap assigned for retransmission is determined within the shared resources. The terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1-A in PSCCH #0 on slot #n, indicating PSSCH using sub-channels #0 and #1 within the shared resources and no retransmission.
In embodiments where the shared resources are part of the second sidelink resource pool, dedicated configurations may be used for the shared resources and the non-overlapping resource respectively. In such embodiments, the terminal device 110 may determine indicators in the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 based on the dedicated configuration of the first type of sidelink resources. This will be described with reference to Fig. 14B.
Fig. 14B illustrates an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the example of Fig. 14B, a dedicated configuration is used for the shared resources, i.e., an independent sidelink configuration is used for the shared resources. The independent sidelink configuration may be the same or different from the configuration of the NR resource pool which comprises or adjacent to the shared resources.
According to the independent sidelink configuration of the shared resources, indexes of sub-channels start from #0 within the shared resources and a logical slot offset between adjacent two transmissions is determined within the shared resources. The terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #0 within the shared resources on slot #n. NR SCI format 1 indicates the following: PSSCH using sub-channels #0 and #1 within the shared resources on slot #n; retransmission using sub-channels #2 and #3 within the shared resources on slot #n+k, k is the logical slot offset between an initial transmission and retransmission within the shared slots and k = 2.
In some embodiments, the second sidelink resource pool of the second sidelink may comprise the first type of sidelink resources and a second type of sidelink resources which can be only used for the second sidelink. The second type of sidelink resources may be referred to as non-overlapping resources. In such embodiments, resource indicators in the third SCI may be determined based on the shared resources and the non-overlapping resources together. The shared resources are handled as part of the second sidelink resource pool along with the non-overlapping resources. In other words, the resource indicators in the third SCI may be determined based on the whole second sidelink resource pool. In this way, a uniform SCI scheme may be provided to indicate overlapping and non-overlapping resources within a resource pool.
In embodiments where resource indicators in the third SCI may be determined based on the shared resources and the non-overlapping resources together, overhead of the frequency resource indicator may be determined based on the configuration of the two types of resources.
For example, when sl-MaxNumPerReserve = 2, the overhead of frequency resource indicator may be determined as
Figure PCTCN2022106329-appb-000011
bits. When sl-MaxNumPerReserve = 3, the overhead of frequency resource indicator may be determined as
Figure PCTCN2022106329-appb-000012
bits. 
Figure PCTCN2022106329-appb-000013
represents the number of sub-channels in the second sidelink resource pool. In some  embodiments, 
Figure PCTCN2022106329-appb-000014
represents the sum of the number of sub-channels in the shared resources and the number of sub-channels in the non-overlapping resources for the second sidelink.
In embodiments where resource indicators in the third SCI may be determined based on the shared resources and the non-overlapping resources together, the frequency resource indicator may indicate at least one of the following:
● the second number of sub-channels in the second sidelink resource pool used for at least one of the third sidelink shared channel resource, the fourth sidelink shared channel resource or the fifth sidelink shared channel resource,
● a fourth index of a start sub-channel of the third sidelink shared channel resource in the second sidelink resource pool,
● a fifth index of a start sub-channel of the fourth sidelink shared channel resources in the second sidelink resource pool, or
● a sixth index of a start sub-channel of the fifth sidelink shared channel resources in the second sidelink resource pool.
In such embodiments, the terminal device 110 may determine the second number of sub-channels based on at least one of the following:
● a larger one of the number of sub-channels in the first type of sidelink resources and the number of sub-channels in a second type of sidelink resources which can be used for the first sidelink only or for the second sidelink only,
● a larger one of the number of sub-channels in the first type of sidelink resources and the number of sub-channels in the second sidelink resource pool, or
● a maximum value of the number of sub-channels in the first type of sidelink resources, the number of sub-channels in the second type of sidelink resources, and the number of sub-channels in the second sidelink resource pool.
In embodiments where resource indicators in the third SCI may be determined based on the shared resources and the non-overlapping resources together, the terminal device 110 may determine the time gap based on one of the following:
● a third SCS of the first type of sidelink resources,
● the second SCS,
● a larger one of the third SCS and the second SCS,
● an SCS for a third slot carrying the third SCI,
● an SCS for a fourth slot for the third sidelink shared channel resource, the fourth sidelink shared channel resource or the fifth sidelink shared channel resource,
● a slot set comprised in the second sidelink resource pool,
● a slot set or subframe set comprised in the first type of sidelink resources, or
● the sidelink grant.
In embodiments where resource indicators in the third SCI may be determined based on the shared resources and the non-overlapping resources together, a common configuration may be used for both the shared resources and non-overlapping resources in the second sidelink resource pool.
Alternatively, a dedicated configuration may be used for the shared resources. The dedicated configuration may be independent from the configuration for non-overlapping resources within the second sidelink resource pool. In other words, independent configurations may be used for overlapping resources and non-overlapping resources. In such embodiments, transmissions of a transmission block (TB) may use the shared resources or non-overlapping resources. That is, using both the two types of resources for a same TB is not supported. In addition, there is no limitation for resource allocation of a TB, i.e., both the two types of resources may be assigned for the same TB.
In embodiments where independent configurations may be used for overlapping resources and non-overlapping resources, the third SCI may be determined based on the configurations within the resource pool. Specifically, in frequency domain, the number of RBs of a sub-channel for the non-overlapping resources may be represented by L NRnov, and the number of RBs of a sub-channel for the overlapping resources may be represented by L NRovr. If L NRnov = L NRovr, sub-channel index and the number of sub-channels may be determined within the second sidelink resource pool based on L NRnov or L NRovr.
If L NRnov is different from L NRovr,
● on the slot with only non-overlapping resources, sub-channel index and the number of sub-channels may be determined based on L NRnov;
● on the slot with only overlapping resources, sub-channel index and the number of sub-channels may be determined based on L NRovr;
● on the slot with both overlapping and non-overlapping resources, sub-channel index and the number of sub-channels may be determined based on L NRovr and L NRnov.
In time domain, if a third SCS of the overlapping resources is the same as a second SCS of the non-overlapping resources, the time gap is determined within the second sidelink resource pool.
If the third SCS of the overlapping resources is different from the second SCS of the non-overlapping resources, the time gap is determined according to one of the following:
● a larger one of the third SCS and the second SCS,
● an SCS for a slot carrying the third SCI,
● an SCS for a slot for the third sidelink shared channel resource for the third sidelink shared channel resource, or
● an SCS for a slot for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource or the fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
In embodiments where independent configurations may be used for overlapping resources and non-overlapping resources, transmissions of a TB may use overlapping or non-overlapping resources, i.e. using both the two types of resources for a same TB is not supported. In addition, there is no limitation for resource allocation of a TB, i.e., both the two types of resource may be assigned for the same TB.
Hereinafter, some embodiments of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 will be described with reference to Figs. 15A to 15E.
Figs. 15A to 15E illustrate an example of the third SCI using the NR SCI format 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively. In the example of Fig. 15A, the third SCI is determined based on a common configuration for the NR sidelink resource pool. That is, a common configuration is used for both the overlapping and non-overlapping resources in the NR sidelink resource pool. The overlapping resources are part of the NR sidelink resource pool. Within the NR sidelink resource pool, indicators in the third SCI may be determined based on the common configuration.
According to the common configuration, a common sub-channel size is used for both the overlapping and non-overlapping resources in the NR sidelink resource pool. That is, the number of RBs of a sub-channel for the overlapping resources is the same as that for the non-overlapping resources. The number of RBs of a sub-channel for both the overlapping resources and the non-overlapping resources may be represented by L NRcom. Based on the common configuration, indexes of sub-channels are numbered from #0 within the NR sidelink resource pool.
In addition, according to the common configuration, there is no difference between slots with and without the overlapping resources. The slot offset is determined based on the slots within the NR sidelink resource pool.
Specifically, the third SCI may indicate PSSCH resources for transmissions of a TB using either overlapping resources or non-overlapping resources, or even with resources cross the boundary of the two types of resources. The terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #2 on slot #n. NR SCI format 1 indicates PSSCH using sub-channels #2 and #3 on slot #n and reserved retransmission PSSCH using sub-channels #1 and #2 on slot #n+k, where k = 2 within the resource pool.
In the example of Fig. 15B, independent configurations are used for overlapping and non-overlapping resources. The third SCS of the overlapping resources is the same as the second SCS of the non-overlapping resources. Different sub-channel sizes are used for the two types of resources. For example, L NRnov = 20 RB, and L NRovr = 10 RB.
PSCCH/PSSCH resources for initial transmission and retransmission (s) of a TB use either overlapping resources or non-overlapping resources. That is, using overlapping resources for initial transmission while non-overlapping resources for retransmission (s) , and vice versa are not supported.
For sub-channel index determining, on the slots with overlapping resources:
● for non-overlapping resources, sub-channel #0 comprises L NRnov = 20 RBs,
● for overlapping resources, each of sub-channels #1-#4 comprises L NRovr = 10 RBs, and
● the number of sub-channels within the NR sidelink resource pool on the slot is equal to 5.
On the slots without overlapping resources:
● each of sub-channels #0 -#2 comprises L NRnov = 20 RBs, and
● the number of sub-channels within the NR sidelink resource pool on the slot is equal to 3.
The terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #1 on slot #n. NR SCI format 1 indicates PSSCH using sub-channels #1 and #2 on slot #n, and indicates reserved retransmission resource using sub-channels #3 and #4 on slot #n+k, where k = 4 within the resource pool.
In the example of Fig. 15C, the resource configuration is the same as that in the example of Fig. 15B. Any of overlapping resources and non-overlapping resources can be used for PSCCH/PSSCH resources of a TB. That is, it may use overlapping resources for  initial transmission while non-overlapping resources for retransmission (s) , and vice versa. The number of RBs used for the TB for an initial transmission or retransmission should be the same, while the number of sub-channels may be different.
For TB #A, overlapping resources are used for initial transmission and non-overlapping resources are used for retransmission.
For initial transmission on slot #n, the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #1 on an overlapping slot #n. The NR SCI format 1 indicates PSSCH using sub-channels #1 and #2 and the second number of sub-channels equals to 2, and indicates reserved resource for retransmission using sub-channel #2 on slot #n+k (non-overlapping slot) , k = 2 within the resource pool.
For retransmission on slot #n+2, the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #2 on a non-overlapping slot. NR SCI format 1 indicates PSSCH using sub-channel #2 and the second number of sub-channels equals to 1.
In the example of Fig. 15D, independent configurations are used for overlapping resources and non-overlapping resources. L NRnov = L NRovr = 10 RBs. Different SCSs are used for the two types of resources. For example, the second SCS of the non-overlapping resources is equal to 30 kHz, and the third SCS of the overlapping resources is equal to 15 kHz. The time gap is determined according to a larger one of the second SCS and the third SCS. That is, the time gap is determined according to the second SCS (30 kHz) .
PSCCH/PSSCH resources for a TB use overlapping or non-overlapping resources.
For TB #A, overlapping resources are used for initial transmission and retransmission.
For initial transmission on slots #n and #n+1 (slot bounding) , the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #0. The NR SCI format 1 indicates PSSCH using sub-channels #4 and #5 and retransmission using sub-channels #0 and #1 on slot #n+k, where k = 4 based on 30 kHz within the resource pool.
For retransmission on slots #n+4 and #n+5 (referred to a subframe in LTE sidelink) , the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #0. The NR SCI format 1 indicates PSSCH using sub-channels #0 and #1.
In the example of Fig. 15E, the resource configuration is the same as that in the example of Fig. 15D. The time gap is be determined according to the current slot, i.e. the slot carrying the third SCI.
PSCCH/PSSCH resources for a TB use overlapping or non-overlapping resources.
For TB #A, overlapping resources are used for initial transmission and  non-overlapping resources are used for retransmissions.
For initial transmission on slot #n (overlapping resources with 15 kHz) , the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #4. The NR SCI format 1 indicates PSSCH using sub-channel #4, the first retransmission using sub-channels #0 and #1 on slot #n+k (k =1) , and the second retransmission using sub-channels #2 and #3 on slot #n+k (k = 2) . K and sub-channel index are determined based on 15 kHz within the resource pool.
For the first retransmission on slot #n+1 (non-overlapping resources with 30 kHz) , the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #0. The NR SCI format 1 indicates PSSCH using sub-channel #0 and the next retransmission using sub-channel #1 on slot #n+k, k = 2 based on 30 kHz within the resource pool.
For the second retransmission on slot #n+3 (non-overlapping) , the terminal device 110 transmits NR SCI format 1 in PSCCH #1. The NR SCI format 1 indicates PSSCH using sub-channels #1.
It should be noted that the examples of Figs. 15B and 15C use partial overlapping resource in frequency domain with LTE sidelink, the same as Fig. 15A, while Figs. 15D and 15E use full overlapping resource in frequency domain with LTE sidelink, and LTE sidelink part is omitted in Figs. 15B to 15E for brevity.
Fig. 16 is a simplified block diagram of a device 1600 that is suitable for implementing some embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 1600 can be considered as a further example embodiment of one of the  terminal devices  110, 120 and 130, or one of the  network devices  140 and 150 as shown in Fig. 1. Accordingly, the device 1600 can be implemented at or as at least a part of one of the  terminal devices  110, 120 and 130, or one of the  network devices  140 and 150.
As shown, the device 1600 includes a processor 1610, a memory 1620 coupled to the processor 1610, a suitable transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) 1640 coupled to the processor 1610, and a communication interface coupled to the TX/RX 1640. The memory 1620 stores at least a part of a program 1630. The TX/RX 1640 is for bidirectional communications. The TX/RX 1640 has at least one antenna to facilitate communication, though in practice an Access Node mentioned in this application may have several ones. The communication interface may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements, such as X2 interface for bidirectional communications between gNBs or eNBs, S1 interface for communication between a Mobility Management Entity (MME) /Serving Gateway (S-GW) and the gNB or eNB, Un  interface for communication between the gNB or eNB and a relay node (RN) , or Uu interface for communication between the gNB or eNB and a terminal device.
The program 1630 is assumed to include program instructions that, when executed by the associated processor 1610, enable the device 1600 to operate in accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure, as discussed herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 15. The embodiments herein may be implemented by computer software executable by the processor 1610 of the device 1600, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. The processor 1610 may be configured to implement various embodiments of the present disclosure. Furthermore, a combination of the processor 1610 and memory 1620 may form processing means 1650 adapted to implement various embodiments of the present disclosure.
The memory 1620 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory, as non-limiting examples. While only one memory 1620 is shown in the device 1600, there may be several physically distinct memory modules in the device 1600. The processor 1610 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network, and may include one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 1600 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.
The components included in the apparatuses and/or devices of the present disclosure may be implemented in various manners, including software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, one or more units may be implemented using software and/or firmware, for example, machine-executable instructions stored on the storage medium. In addition to or instead of machine-executable instructions, parts or all of the units in the apparatuses and/or devices may be implemented, at least in part, by one or more hardware logic components. For example, and without limitation, illustrative types of hardware logic components that can be used include Field-programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) , Application-specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) , Application-specific Standard Products (ASSPs) , System-on-a-chip systems (SOCs) , Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs) , and the like.

Claims (20)

  1. A method for sidelink communications, comprising:
    determining, at a terminal device, third sidelink control information (SCI) indicating at least one sidelink shared channel resource, wherein each of the at least one sidelink shared channel resource is within a first type of sidelink resources or sidelink resources of a second sidelink, and the first type of sidelink resources can be used for both a first sidelink associated with a first radio access technology (RAT) and the second sidelink associated with a second RAT; and
    transmitting the third SCI on a sidelink control channel resource.
  2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sidelink shared channel resource comprises at least one of a third sidelink shared channel resource, a fourth sidelink shared channel resource and a fifth sidelink shared channel resource; and
    the sidelink control channel resource comprises at least one of a third sidelink control channel resource, a fourth sidelink control channel resource and a fifth sidelink control channel resource;
    wherein:
    the third sidelink shared channel resource being associated with the third sidelink control channel resource,
    the fourth sidelink shared channel resource being associated with a fourth sidelink control channel resource, and
    the fifth sidelink shared channel resource being associated with a fifth sidelink control channel resource.
  3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the third SCI based on at least one of the following:
    a configuration or pre-configuration of the first type of sidelink resources,
    a configuration or pre-configuration of a first sidelink resource pool of the first sidelink,
    a configuration or pre-configuration of a second sidelink resource pool of the second sidelink, or
    a sidelink grant which comprises at least one of the following:
    an assignment of the at least one sidelink shared channel resource,
    an assignment of the at least one of the third, fourth and fifth sidelink control channel resources, or
    a first resource reservation period.
  4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the third SCI comprises:
    determining the third SCI which comprises at least one of the following:
    a frequency resource indicator which indicates at least one of the following:
    sub-channels used for the third sidelink shared channel resource,
    sub-channels used for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource, or
    sub-channels used for the fifth sidelink shared channel resource,
    a time gap which is at least one of the following:
    a first time gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fourth sidelink shared channel resource,
    a second time gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fifth sidelink shared channel resource, or
    a third time gap between the fourth sidelink shared channel resource and the fifth sidelink shared channel resource,
    a retransmission index, or
    a resource reservation period.
  5. The method of claim 4, wherein the resource reservation period is equal to the first resource reservation period.
  6. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the third SCI comprises:
    determining the frequency resource indicator based on at least one of the following:
    a first subcarrier space (SCS) of the first sidelink,
    the number of resource blocks (RBs) of a sub-channel in the first sidelink resource pool, or
    the number of sub-channels in the first sidelink resource pool.
  7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the frequency resource indicator comprises:
    determining the frequency resource indicator which indicates at least one of the following:
    a first number of sub-channels in the first sidelink resource pool used for at least one of the third sidelink shared channel resource, the fourth sidelink shared channel resource or the fifth sidelink shared channel resource,
    a first index of a start sub-channel of the third sidelink shared channel resource in the first sidelink resource pool ,
    a second index of a start sub-channel of the fourth sidelink shared channel resources in the first sidelink resource pool,
    a third index of a start sub-channel of the fifth sidelink shared channel resources in the first sidelink resource pool,
    an index of one of sub-channels in the first sidelink resource pool, or
    a default value.
  8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the frequency resource indicator comprises:
    determining the first number of sub-channels which overlap with a second number of sub-channels in the second sidelink resource pool.
  9. The method of claim 8, wherein:
    the second number of sub-channels in the second sidelink resource pool are used for at least one of the third sidelink shared channel resource, the fourth sidelink shared channel resource, or the fifth sidelink shared channel resources; or
    the second number of sub-channels in the second sidelink resource pool are determined based on the assignment for at least one of the third sidelink shared channel resource, the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource, or the assignment for the fifth sidelink shared channel resource.
  10. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the third SCI comprises:
    determining at least one of the time gap, the retransmission index and the resource reservation period based on at least one of the following:
    a first subcarrier space (SCS) of the first sidelink,
    a subframe set comprised in the first sidelink resource pool of the first sidelink, or
    the sidelink grant.
  11. The method of claim 4, wherein the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource is absent from the sidelink grant; and determining the third SCI comprises at least one of the following:
    determining the time gap comprises determining the time gap to be zero; or
    determining the retransmission index comprises determining the retransmission index to be zero.
  12. The method of claim 4, wherein the sidelink grant comprises the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource; and determining the third SCI comprises at least one of the following:
    determining the third SCI to be transmitted on the third sidelink control channel resource comprises at least one of the following:
    determining the time gap to be a first logical subframe gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fourth sidelink shared channel resource within the first sidelink resource pool; or
    determining the retransmission index to be zero; or
    determining the third SCI to be transmitted on the fourth sidelink control channel resource comprises at least one of the following:
    determining the time gap to be zero; or
    determining the retransmission index to be one.
  13. The method of claim 4, wherein the sidelink grant comprises the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource and the assignment for the fifth sidelink shared channel resource; and determining the third SCI comprises at least one of the following:
    determining the third SCI to be transmitted on the fourth sidelink control channel resource comprises at least one of the following:
    determining the time gap to be a second logical subframe gap between the fourth sidelink shared channel resource and the fifth sidelink shared channel resource within the first sidelink resource pool; or
    determining the retransmission index to be zero; or
    determining the third SCI to be transmitted on the fifth sidelink control channel resource comprises at least one of the following:
    determining the time gap to be zero; or
    determining the retransmission index to be one.
  14. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the time gap to be zero based on one of the following:
    absence of the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource from the sidelink grant;
    the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource being beyond the first type of sidelink resources,
    the assignment for the fourth sidelink shared channel resource being within a second type of sidelink resources which can be used for the first sidelink only or for the second sidelink only; or
    the time gap between the third sidelink shared channel resource and the fourth sidelink shared channel resource being greater than a threshold.
  15. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the third SCI comprises:
    determining the frequency resource indicator based on at least one of the following:
    a second subcarrier space (SCS) of the second sidelink,
    the number of resource blocks (RBs) of a sub-channel in the second sidelink resource pool,
    the number of sub-channels in the second sidelink resource pool,
    a third subcarrier space (SCS) of the first type of sidelink resources,
    the number of RBs of a sub-channel in the first type of sidelink resources, or
    the number of sub-channels in the first type of sidelink resources.
  16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the third SCI comprises:
    determining the frequency resource indicator which indicates at least one of the following:
    a second number of sub-channels in the second sidelink resource pool used for at least one of the third sidelink shared channel resource, the fourth sidelink shared channel resource or the fifth sidelink shared channel resource,
    a fourth index of a start sub-channel of the third sidelink shared channel resource in the second sidelink resource pool,
    a fifth index of a start sub-channel of the fourth sidelink shared channel resources in the second sidelink resource pool, or
    a sixth index of a start sub-channel of the fifth sidelink shared channel  resources in the second sidelink resource pool.
  17. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the third SCI comprises:
    determining the frequency resource indicator which indicates at least one of the following:
    a third number of sub-channels in the first type of sidelink resources used for at least one of the third sidelink shared channel resource, the fourth sidelink shared channel resource or the fifth sidelink shared channel resource,
    a seventh index of a start sub-channel of the third sidelink shared channel resource in the first type of sidelink resources,
    an eighth index of a start sub-channel of the fourth sidelink shared channel resources in the first type of sidelink resources, or
    a ninth index of a start sub-channel of the fifth sidelink shared channel resources in the first type of sidelink resources.
  18. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the third SCI comprises:
    determining the time gap based on one of the following:
    a third SCS of the first type of sidelink resources,
    the second SCS,
    a larger one of the third SCS and the second SCS,
    an SCS for a third slot carrying the third SCI,
    an SCS for a fourth slot for the third sidelink shared channel resource, the fourth sidelink shared channel resource or the fifth sidelink shared channel resource,
    a slot set comprised in the second sidelink resource pool, or
    a slot set or subframe set comprised in the first type of sidelink resources, or
    the sidelink grant.
  19. A terminal device, comprising:
    a processor; and
    a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions thereon, the instructions, when executed by the processor, causing the terminal device to perform the method according to any of claims 1-18.
  20. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions,  when executed on at least one processor of a device, causing the device to carry out the method according to any of claims 1-18.
PCT/CN2022/106329 2022-07-18 2022-07-18 Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communications Ceased WO2024016132A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/CN2022/106329 WO2024016132A1 (en) 2022-07-18 2022-07-18 Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communications

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/CN2022/106329 WO2024016132A1 (en) 2022-07-18 2022-07-18 Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communications

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2024016132A1 true WO2024016132A1 (en) 2024-01-25

Family

ID=89616713

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CN2022/106329 Ceased WO2024016132A1 (en) 2022-07-18 2022-07-18 Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communications

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2024016132A1 (en)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112020887A (en) * 2019-03-28 2020-12-01 联发科技股份有限公司 Method and device for transmitting by using overlapped resources
CN112235765A (en) * 2020-12-16 2021-01-15 北京大唐高鸿数据网络技术有限公司 A resource selection method, device and terminal
WO2021098483A1 (en) * 2019-11-18 2021-05-27 Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd. Resource selection and reporting in sidelink communications
US20210160820A1 (en) * 2019-11-26 2021-05-27 Qualcomm Incorporated Distributed sidelink resource allocation
WO2022065950A1 (en) * 2020-09-25 2022-03-31 엘지전자 주식회사 Operation method and device using non-activation period of sl drx configuration in nr v2x

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112020887A (en) * 2019-03-28 2020-12-01 联发科技股份有限公司 Method and device for transmitting by using overlapped resources
WO2021098483A1 (en) * 2019-11-18 2021-05-27 Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd. Resource selection and reporting in sidelink communications
US20210160820A1 (en) * 2019-11-26 2021-05-27 Qualcomm Incorporated Distributed sidelink resource allocation
CN114731722A (en) * 2019-11-26 2022-07-08 高通股份有限公司 Distributed sidelink resource allocation
WO2022065950A1 (en) * 2020-09-25 2022-03-31 엘지전자 주식회사 Operation method and device using non-activation period of sl drx configuration in nr v2x
CN112235765A (en) * 2020-12-16 2021-01-15 北京大唐高鸿数据网络技术有限公司 A resource selection method, device and terminal

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
HUAWEI, HISILICON: "Remaining details of in-device coexistence between LTE and NR sidelinks", 3GPP TSG RAN WG1 MEETING #100BIS-E, R1-2001554, 11 April 2020 (2020-04-11), XP051875145 *

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
WO2023123439A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for communications
WO2023159360A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for communications
US20240430942A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for communications
WO2024000584A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communication
US20250176016A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for communications
WO2024016132A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communications
WO2024119312A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communications
WO2024164147A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communications
WO2024040449A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communications
WO2023245677A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communications
WO2024092846A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communications
WO2024148619A1 (en) Device, method and computer readable medium for sidelink communications
WO2023240569A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communications
WO2024020905A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communications
WO2025025011A1 (en) Devices, methods and computer readable media for sidelink communication
WO2025025001A1 (en) Devices, methods and computer readable media for sidelink communication
WO2024229838A1 (en) Device, method and computer readable medium for sidelink communications
WO2024092579A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communications
WO2024060100A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for communications
WO2025030536A1 (en) Device and method for sidelink communications
WO2024259598A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communication
WO2023193249A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for communications
WO2023236178A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for sidelink communications
WO2025208641A1 (en) Terminal device, method and computer readable medium for sidelink communications
WO2023197301A1 (en) Method, device and computer readable medium for communications

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 22951411

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 22951411

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1