CN112997552B

CN112997552B - Method and apparatus for configuring side chain channel resource units

Info

Publication number: CN112997552B
Application number: CN201880097971.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 杨瑾; 卢有雄; 邢卫民
Original assignee: ZTE Corp
Current assignee: ZTE Corp
Priority date: 2018-09-27
Filing date: 2018-09-27
Publication date: 2024-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-27
Also published as: CN112997552A; WO2020034320A1

Abstract

A method and apparatus for configuring side link channel resource units for side link communications in a wireless communication network is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication device comprises: the side link channel resource units of the side link channel are determined from at least one of: pre-configuration of side link channel resource units, subcarrier spacing (SCS), side link resource sets, number of effective Resource Elements (REs) of side link channels, and side link channel resource unit tables; and performing side-chain communication on the side-chain channel resource units, wherein the side-chain channel resource units comprise a first number of first resource units in the time domain and a second number of second resource units in the frequency domain.

Description

Method and apparatus for configuring side chain channel resource units

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communications, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for configuring side link channel resource units for side link communications in a wireless communication network.

Background

Side Link (SL) communication is wireless communication directly between two or more user equipments (hereinafter referred to as "UEs"). In this type of communication, two or more UEs that are geographically close to each other may communicate directly without going through a base station (e.g., an eNB in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system or a gNB in a new radio), or a core network. Thus, data transmission in sidelink communications is different from typical cellular network communications in which a UE sends data to or receives data from an eNB or a gNB (i.e., uplink transmissions). In side link communications, data is sent directly from a source UE to a target UE over a unified air interface (e.g., PC5 interface). Side link communications may provide various advantages such as reduced data transmission load of the core network, reduced system resource consumption, reduced transmission power consumption and network operating costs, reduced radio spectrum resources, and improved spectrum efficiency of cellular wireless communication systems.

Disclosure of Invention

The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are directed to solving problems associated with one or more problems existing in the prior art and to providing features that will become apparent further by reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. According to some embodiments, example systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that these embodiments are given by way of example and not limitation, and that various modifications of the disclosed embodiments may be made apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure while remaining within the scope of the invention.

In 5G wireless communication systems, resource granularity with finer and more flexible configurations in the time and frequency domains is utilized. Thus, a flexible resource scheduling indication method was developed. Based on the flexible resource granularity, a corresponding definition and management method of side link communication resources for side link communication is provided. In addition, the current side channel resource scheme cannot be directly applied to such a flexible resource allocation and scheduling method in the 5G wireless communication system. Therefore, the method and the device for configuring the side-link channel resource units in the disclosure can realize effective utilization of resources, improve flexibility of resource allocation, reduce signaling overhead, processing complexity and the like. As used herein, "sidelink channel resource units" refers to a set of resources in the time and frequency domains over which sidelink communication may be performed for individual sidelink channels.

In one embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication device comprises: the side link channel resource units of the side link channel are determined from at least one of: pre-configuration of side link channel resource units, subcarrier spacing (SCS), side link resource sets, a plurality of effective Resource Elements (REs) of side link channels, and a side link channel resource unit table; and performing side-chain communication on the side-chain channel resource units, wherein the side-chain channel resource units comprise a first number of first resource units in the time domain and a second number of second resource units in the frequency domain.

In another embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication node, comprises: indicating configuration information of a side link channel resource unit of a side link channel to a wireless communication device, wherein the configuration information of the side link channel resource unit comprises at least one of the following: the method comprises configuring side link channel resource units, a relationship between subcarrier spacing (SCS) and side link channel resource units, a rule for determining side link channel resource units from a side link resource set, a rule for determining side link channel resource units from a plurality of available resources of a side link channel, and a side link channel resource unit table, and wherein the side link channel resource units comprise a first number of first resource units in a time domain and a second number of second resource units in a frequency domain.

In yet another embodiment, a computing device includes at least one processor configured to perform the method and a memory coupled to the processor.

In yet another embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium has stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the method.

Drawings

Aspects of the disclosure may be best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. Note that the various features are not necessarily drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions and geometries of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for convenience of discussion.

Fig. 1A illustrates an exemplary wireless communication network showing achievable modulation as a function of distance from a BS, according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

Fig. 1B illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary wireless communication system for slot structure information indication, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2A shows a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with 15kHz subcarrier spacing (SCS) in an NR wireless communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2B shows a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with 30kHz subcarrier spacing (SCS) in an NR wireless communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2C shows a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with a 60kHz subcarrier spacing (SCS) in an NR wireless communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2D shows a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with 120kHz subcarrier spacing (SCS) in an NR wireless communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure of a side chain channel resource unit, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Figure 4A illustrates a table showing a mapping relationship between SCS in side link communication and n/k values of side link channel resource units for side link channels, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Figure 4B illustrates a table showing a mapping relationship between SCS for side link communication and n values for side link channel resource units of a side link channel, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with multiple side-chain resource pools, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with multiple side-chain resource pools, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with multiple side-chain resource pools, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 8 illustrates a side link channel pattern table indicating a plurality of configurations of at least one side link channel resource unit, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with multiple side-chain resource pools, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 10 illustrates a side link channel pattern table indicating various configurations of at least two side link channel resource units in a time slot, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Figure 11 illustrates a table showing a mapping relationship between SCS for side link communication and k values in side link channel resource units for side link channels, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 12 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure having multiple side chain channel resource units, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 13 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with multiple sets of available side link resources, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 14 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with multiple sets of available side link resources, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 15 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with multiple sets of available side link resources, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Figure 16 illustrates a table showing a mapping relationship between SCS in side link communication and N values of side link channel resource units for side link channels, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Figure 17 illustrates a table showing a mapping relationship between SCS in side link communication and N values of side link channel resource units for side link channels, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 18 illustrates a table indicating a plurality of location configurations for side link channel resource units in the time domain for 2 side link channels, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 19 illustrates a method for configuring a side link channel resource unit for side link communication in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 20 illustrates a table showing a mapping relationship between n1 and n2 in two corresponding side link channel resource units of two respective side link channels in a related side link channel combination, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 21 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with multiple side-chain resource pools, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 22 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with multiple side-chain resource pools, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 23 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with multiple side-chain resource pools, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 24 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with multiple side-chain resource pools, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 25 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with multiple side-chain resource pools, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 26 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with multiple side-chain resource pools, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 27 illustrates a table indicating a plurality of configurations of side link channel resource elements in the time and frequency domains for a PSSCH, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 28 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure with multiple side-chain resource pools, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 29 illustrates a method for configuring a side link channel resource unit for side link communication in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 30 illustrates a side link channel resource pattern table indicating various configurations of at least one side link channel resource unit in a slot, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 31 illustrates a side link channel resource pattern table indicating a plurality of configurations of at least one side link channel resource unit in a slot, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 32 illustrates a method for configuring side link channel resource units for side link communication in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. As will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, various changes or modifications may be made to the examples described herein without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments and applications described and illustrated herein. In addition, the particular order or hierarchy of steps in the methods disclosed herein is only an exemplary approach. Based on design preferences, the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods or processes disclosed may be rearranged while remaining within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the methods and techniques disclosed herein present various steps or acts in an example order and that the present disclosure is not limited to the particular order or hierarchy presented unless specifically stated otherwise.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although the same or similar parts are shown in different drawings, the same or similar parts may be denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. A detailed description of construction or process well known in the art may be omitted in order to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention. Further, in the embodiments of the present invention, terms are defined in consideration of functions of the terms, and may be changed according to intention, usage, etc. of a user or operator. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the overall contents of the present specification.

Fig. 1A illustrates an exemplary wireless communication network 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the wireless communication system, the network-side wireless communication Node may be a Node B, an E-utran Node B (also referred to as an evolved Node B, eNodeB, or eNB), a gnobb (also referred to as a gNB) in a New Radio (NR) technology, a pico station, a femto station, or the like. In some embodiments, the network-side wireless communication node may further include a Relay Node (RN), a multi-cell coordination entity (MCE), a Gateway (GW), a side-chain management/control node, a Mobility Management Entity (MME), and EUTRAN operation/administration/maintenance (OAM) devices. The terminal-side wireless communication device may be a long-range communication system such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a tablet computer, a notebook computer, or a short-range communication system such as, for example, a wearable device, a vehicle communication system, or the like. The network-side wireless communication node and the terminal-side communication device are represented by a Base Station (BS) 102 and a User Equipment (UE) 104, respectively, and in all embodiments of the disclosure hereinafter, they are generally referred to herein as "communication nodes". According to various embodiments of the invention, such communication nodes may be capable of wireless and/or wired communication. Note that all embodiments are merely preferred examples, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Thus, it should be understood that the system may include any desired combination of UEs and BSs while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring to fig. 1A, a wireless communication network 100 includes a first BS 102A, a second BS 102B, a first UE 104A, and a second UE 104B. The UE 104A may be a vehicle that moves in a first cell 101 covered by BS 102A and a second cell 110 covered by BS 102B. In some embodiments, the first cell 101 is located in the second cell 110. In some embodiments, UE 104A has direct communication channels 103-1A and 103-1B with BS 102A and BS 102B, respectively. Similarly, UE 104B may also be a vehicle moving in the same cell 110 covered by BS 102B, but may not have a direct communication channel with BS 102A, or be out of coverage of cell 101. Although UE 104B does not have a direct communication channel with BS 102A, it forms a direct communication channel 105 with its neighboring UEs (e.g., UE 104A on a Side Link (SL)). Further, UE 104B and UE 104A may be within a Side Link (SL) communication group 112. The direct communication channel between the UE 104 and the BS 102 may be through an interface such as the Uu interface, which is also referred to as UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) air interface). The direct communication channel 105 between UEs 104 may be through a PC5 interface that is introduced to address high mobile speed and high density applications such as vehicle-to-all (V2X) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications. Depending on the type of the first BS 102-1 and the second BS 102-2, the first BS 102-1 and the second BS 102-2 are connected to a Core Network (CN) 108 through external interfaces 107 (e.g., iu interface, NG interface, and S1 interface), respectively. The direct communication channel 111 between the first BS 102-1 and the second BS 102-2 is over an X2 or Xn interface.

The UE 104A obtains its synchronization reference from the corresponding BS 102A, and the BS 102A obtains its own synchronization reference from the core network 108 through an internet time service such as a common time NTP (network time protocol) server or an RNC (radio frequency emulation system network controller) server. This is known as network-based synchronization. Alternatively, BS 102-0A may also obtain a synchronization reference from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) 109 via satellite signal 106, especially for large BSs in a cell with a direct line of sight to the sky, which is referred to as satellite-based synchronization. The main advantage of satellite based synchronization is complete independence, providing reliable synchronization signals as long as the station remains locked to a minimum number of GPS (global positioning system) satellites. Each GPS satellite contains a plurality of atomic clocks that provide very accurate time data for the GPS signals. The GPS receiver at BS 102A decodes these signals to effectively synchronize the corresponding BS 102A to the atomic clock. This enables the corresponding BS 102A to determine time in one part per billion seconds (i.e., 100 nanoseconds) without the cost of having and operating an atomic clock.

Similarly, as discussed in detail above, the UE 104B may obtain synchronization references from the corresponding BS 102B, which BS 102B also obtains its own synchronization references from the core network 108 or from the GNSS 109. The UE 104A may also obtain a synchronization reference in side link communication through the UE 104B, wherein the synchronization reference of the UE 104B may be network-based or satellite-based, as described above.

Fig. 1B illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary wireless communication system 150 for transmitting and receiving downlink, uplink, and side link communication signals, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The system 150 may include components and elements configured to support known or conventional operational features that need not be described in detail herein. In one exemplary embodiment, as described above, the system 150 may be used to transmit and receive data symbols in a wireless communication environment such as the wireless communication network 100 of fig. 1A.

The system 150 generally includes a first BS 102A, a second 102B, a first UE 104A, and a second UE 104B, collectively referred to hereinafter as BS 102 and UE 104 for ease of discussion. BS 102 each includes BS transceiver module 152, BS antenna array 154, BS memory module 156, BS processor module 158, and network interface 160, each of which are coupled and interconnected to each other as needed via data communication bus 180. The UE 104 includes a UE transceiver module 162, a UE antenna 164, a UE memory module 166, a UE processor module 168, and an I/O interface 169, each coupled and interconnected to each other as needed via a data communication bus 190. BS 102 communicates with UE 104 via a communication channel 192, which communication channel 192 may be any wireless channel or other medium known in the art suitable for data transmission as described herein.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the system 150 may also include any number of modules in addition to those shown in fig. 1B. Those of skill in the art would appreciate that the various illustrative blocks, modules, circuits, and processing logic described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as hardware, computer readable software, firmware, or any practical combination thereof. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability and compatibility of hardware, firmware, and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware, firmware, or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Those familiar with the concepts described herein may implement such functionality in a manner appropriate for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present invention.

The wireless transmission from the transmit antenna of the UE 104 to the receive antenna of the BS 102 is referred to as an uplink transmission, and the wireless transmission from the transmit antenna of the BS 102 to the receive antenna of the UE 104 is referred to as a downlink transmission. According to some embodiments, the UE transceiver 162 may be referred to herein as an "uplink" transceiver 162 that includes RF transmitter and receiver circuitry that are each coupled to an antenna 164. A duplex switch (not shown) may alternatively couple the uplink transmitter or receiver to the uplink antenna in a time duplex manner. Similarly, BS transceiver 152 may be referred to herein as a "downlink" transceiver 152, which includes RF transmitter and receiver circuitry each coupled to an antenna array 154, according to some embodiments. The downlink duplex switch may alternatively couple a downlink transmitter or receiver to the downlink antenna array 154 in a time duplex manner. The operation of the two transceivers 152 and 162 are coordinated in time such that the uplink receiver is coupled to the uplink UE antenna 164 to receive transmissions over the wireless communication channel 192 while the downlink transmitter is coupled to the downlink antenna array 154. UE transceiver 162 communicates with BS 102 via wireless communication channel 192 through UE antenna 164 or with other UEs 102 via wireless communication channel 193. As described herein, the wireless communication channel 193 may be any wireless channel or other medium known in the art suitable for data sidechain transmission.

The UE transceiver 162 and BS transceiver 152 are configured to communicate via a wireless data communication channel 192 and cooperate with a suitably configured RF antenna arrangement 154/164 capable of supporting a particular wireless communication protocol and modulation scheme. In some example embodiments, the UE transceiver 162 and the BS transceiver 152 are configured to support industry standards such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) and emerging 5G standards (e.g., NR). However, it should be understood that the present invention is not necessarily limited in application to a particular standard and associated protocol. Rather, the UE transceiver 162 and BS transceiver 152 may be configured to support alternative or additional wireless data communication protocols, including future standards or variations thereof.

The processor modules 158 and 168 may be implemented or realized with general purpose processors, content addressable memory, digital signal processors, application specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays, any suitable programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. In this manner, a processor may be implemented as a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, state machine, or the like. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, a combination of multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a digital signal processor core, or any other such configuration.

Furthermore, the steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in firmware, in a software module executed by the processor modules 158 and 168, respectively, or in any practical combination thereof. Memory modules 156 and 166 may be implemented as RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. In this regard, memory modules 156 and 166 may be coupled to processor modules 158 and 168, respectively, such that processor modules 158 and 168 may read information from memory modules 156 and 166 and write information to memory modules 216 and 234, respectively. Memory modules 156 and 166 may also be integrated into their respective processor modules 158 and 168. In some embodiments, memory modules 156 and 166 may each include caches for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by processor modules 158 and 168, respectively. Memory modules 156 and 166 may also each include non-volatile memory for storing instructions to be executed by processor modules 158 and 168, respectively.

Network interface 160 generally represents the hardware, software, firmware, processing logic, and/or other components of BS102 that enable bi-directional communication between BS transceiver 152 and other network components and communication nodes configured to communicate with BS 102. For example, the network interface 160 may be configured to support internet or WiMAX services. In an exemplary, without limitation, network interface 160 provides an 802.3 ethernet interface so that BS transceiver 152 may communicate with a conventional ethernet-based computer network. In this manner, network interface 160 may include a physical interface (e.g., a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)) for connecting to a computer network. The term "configured to" or "configured to" as used herein with respect to a particular operation or function refers to a device, component, circuit, structure, machine, signal, etc. that is physically constructed, programmed and/or formatted and/or arranged to perform the specified operation or function. Network interface 160 may allow BS102 to communicate with other BSs or core networks via wired or wireless connections.

Referring again to fig. 1A, as described above, BS102 repeatedly broadcasts system information associated with BS102 to one or more UEs (e.g., 104) to allow UEs 104 to access the network within the cell (e.g., 101 for BS 102A and 110 for BS 102B) in which BS102 is located, and typically operates normally within that cell. Various information such as downlink and uplink cell bandwidths, downlink and uplink configurations, configurations for random access, etc. may be included in the system information, as will be discussed in further detail below. In general, BS102 broadcasts a first signal carrying some primary system information (e.g., configuration of cell 101) over a PBCH (physical broadcast channel). For clarity of illustration, such a broadcasted first signal is referred to herein as a "first broadcast signal". Note that BS102 may then broadcast one or more signals carrying some other system information over a corresponding channel (e.g., a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH)), which signals are referred to herein as "second broadcast signals," "third broadcast signals," and so forth.

Referring again to fig. 1B, in some embodiments, the primary system information carried by the first broadcast signal may be transmitted by BS 102 in a symbol format via a communication channel 192 (e.g., PBCH). According to some embodiments, the original form of the primary system information may be presented as one or more digital bit sequences, and the one or more digital bit sequences may be processed through a number of steps (e.g., encoding, scrambling, modulating, mapping steps, etc.), all of which may be processed by BS processor module 158 to become the first broadcast signal. Similarly, according to some embodiments, when the UE 104 receives the first broadcast signal (in symbol format) using the UE transceiver 162, the UE processor module 168 may perform a number of steps (demapping, demodulation, decoding steps, etc.) to estimate primary system information such as, for example, bit positions, numbers of bits, etc., of the primary system information. The UE processor module 168 is also coupled to an I/O interface 169, which I/O interface 169 provides the UE 104 with the ability to connect to other devices such as a computer. The I/O interface 169 is the communication path between these accessories and the UE processor module 168.

In some embodiments, the UE 104 may operate in a hybrid/heterogeneous communication network in which the UE 104 communicates with the BS 102 and other UEs (e.g., between the UE 104A and the UE 104B). As described in further detail below, the UE 104 supports sidelink communications with other UEs and downlink/uplink communications between the BS 102 and the UE 104. As described above, sidelink communications allow UEs 104A and 104B within sidelink communication group 112 to establish a direct communication link with each other or with other UEs from different cells without BS 102 relaying data between UEs.

Fig. 2A shows a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 200 with 15kHz subcarrier spacing (SCS) in an NR wireless communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that FIG. 2A is for illustration purposes and not for limitation. In some embodiments, the side link resource set 204 includes 5 time slots 202 in the time domain, 202-1, 202-2, 202-3, 202-4, and 202-5, and at least one Resource Block (RB) 206 in the frequency domain. In the illustrated embodiment, the 5 slots 202 each include 14 symbols 210 in the time domain with a normal Cyclic Prefix (CP), and one RB 206 includes 12 subcarriers 208 in the frequency domain. Each of the 12 subcarriers 208 occupies 15kHz in the frequency domain (i.e., scs=15 kilohertz (kHz)), and one RB 206 includes 180kHz in the frequency domain. In some other embodiments, the slot 202 includes 12 symbols in the time domain with an extended CP. Resource Elements (REs) 212 occupy 1 symbol in the time domain and 1 subcarrier in the frequency domain.

Fig. 2B shows a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 200 with 30kHz subcarrier spacing (SCS) in an NR wireless communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that FIG. 2B is for illustration purposes and not for limitation. In some embodiments, the set of side link resources 204 includes 5 time slots 202 in the time domain, 202-1, 202-2, 202-3, 202-4, and 202-5, and includes at least one RB 206 in the frequency domain. In the illustrated embodiment, the 5 slots 202 each include 14 symbols 210 in the time domain with a normal CP, and one RB 206 includes 12 subcarriers 208 in the frequency domain. Each of the 12 subcarriers 208 occupies 30kHz in the frequency domain (i.e., scs=30 kHz), and one RB 206 includes 360kHz in the frequency domain. In some other embodiments, slots 202 each include 12 symbols in the time domain with an extended CP.

Fig. 2C shows a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 200 with a 60kHz subcarrier spacing (SCS) in an NR wireless communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that FIG. 2C is for illustration purposes and not for limitation. In some embodiments, the set of side link resources 204 includes 5 time slots 202 in the time domain, 202-1, 202-2, 202-3, 202-4, and 202-5, and includes at least one RB 206 in the frequency domain. In the illustrated embodiment, the 5 slots 202 each include 14 symbols 210 in the time domain with a normal CP, and one RB 206 includes 12 subcarriers 208 in the frequency domain. Each of the 12 subcarriers 208 occupies 60kHz in the frequency domain (i.e., scs=60 kHz), and one RB 206 includes 720kHz in the frequency domain. In some other embodiments, slots 202 each include 12 symbols in the time domain with an extended CP.

Fig. 2D shows a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 200 with 120kHz subcarrier spacing (SCS) in an NR wireless communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that fig. 2D is for illustration purposes and not for limitation. In some embodiments, the set of side link resources 204 includes 5 time slots 202 in the time domain, 202-1, 202-2, 202-3, 202-4, and 202-5, and includes at least one RB 206 in the frequency domain. In the illustrated embodiment, the 5 slots 202 each include 14 symbols 210 in the time domain with a normal Cyclic Prefix (CP), and one RB 206 includes 12 subcarriers 208 in the frequency domain. Each of the 12 subcarriers 208 occupies 120kHz in the frequency domain (i.e., scs=120 kHz), and one RB 206 includes 1440kHz in the frequency domain. In some other embodiments, slots 202 each include 12 symbols in the time domain with an extended CP.

In some embodiments, the side link channel may be at least one of: physical side link control channel (PSCCH), physical side link shared channel (PSSCH), physical side link broadcast channel (PSBCH), and physical side link discovery channel (PSDCH). Specifically, the PSCCH resources are used to carry side link control information (SCI), wherein the SCI includes at least one of: the side link scheduling control information, side link feedback control information (e.g., ACK/NACK), and channel measurement feedback information (e.g., channel State Information (CSI)), PSSCH resources for carrying side link data, PSBCH resources for carrying side link broadcast information, and PSDCH resources for carrying side link discovery signals.

The side link channel resource units comprise a first number (n) of first resource units in the time domain and a second number (k) of second resource units in the frequency domain, where n and k are non-negative integers. In some embodiments, the first resource unit in the time domain may be one of: symbols, slots, and minislots. In some embodiments, the symbol may be one of the following: cyclic prefix-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CP-OFDM) symbols and discrete fourier transform spread (DFT-S) -OFDM symbols. In some embodiments, a small slot occupies i symbols in the slot, and wherein i is a non-negative integer and less than or equal to 7 in a slot having 14 symbols. In some embodiments, the second resource element in the frequency domain is an RB.

In some embodiments, the system may predefine n and/or k values for at least one side link channel resource element of the corresponding side link channel to the UE 104. In some embodiments, the n and/or k values are fixed. In some embodiments, the first resource unit in the time domain and the second resource unit in the frequency domain of the respective side link channel are independently defined. In some embodiments, the n and/or k values of different side-channel resource units may be the same or different for different respective side-link channels.

For example, using PSCCH as an exemplary side link channel, the n and/or k values of one PSCCH resource element are preconfigured by the system. The PSCCH resource elements each comprise n first resource elements in the time domain and k second resource elements in the frequency domain. The at least one PSCCH resource element is used by UE 104 to transmit or receive a corresponding SCI in side link communications. It should be noted that the time period and frequency range of one PSCCH resource element is determined by the subcarrier spacing (SCS), as discussed above in fig. 2A-2D.

This approach has several advantages in that at least one side link channel resource unit is configured for a corresponding side link channel with pre-configured n and/or k values. For example, it may reduce signaling overhead and complexity in side link communications; and it provides a simplified resource allocation procedure for side-link communications in various scenarios and environmental conditions.

In some embodiments, the n and/or k values for one side link channel resource element of the corresponding side link channel may be configured by BS 102. In some embodiments, the n and/or k values may be indicated directly by signaling (e.g., higher layer signaling or physical layer signaling) from BS 102. In some embodiments, the first resource unit in the time domain and the second resource unit in the frequency domain of the respective side link channel are independently defined. In some embodiments, the n and/or k values of different sidelink channel resource units may be the same or different for different respective sidelink channels.

In some embodiments, when signaling is used to indicate the configuration of at least one side link channel resource element for a corresponding side link channel, the signaling may directly indicate the n and/or k values. In some other embodiments, the signaling may also indicate an index in a configuration table, wherein the configuration table is configured or preconfigured by BS 102 and includes a plurality of indexes. The plurality of indices each correspond to an n value and/or a k value.

For example, in the configuration table, index 0 corresponds to n value 5 and k value 4; index 1 corresponds to the n value 4 and the k value 5; index 2 corresponds to the n value 8 and the k value 3; and index 3 corresponds to the n value 10 and the k value 2. For another example, in a different configuration table, index 0 corresponds to n value 5; index 1 corresponds to the value of n 4; index 2 corresponds to the value of n 8; and index 3 corresponds to the value of n 10. In this case, different methods may be used to determine the k-value of the side link channel resource units, as will be discussed in further detail below.

In some embodiments, BS 102 may indicate n and/or k values for side link channel resource elements of different side link channels. For example, BS 102 indicates the configuration of at least one PSCCH resource element and at least one PSSCH resource element. In some embodiments, the at least one PSCCH resource element each comprises n1 first resource elements in the time domain and k1 second resource elements in the frequency domain. Further, the at least one PSSCH resource unit each includes n2 first resource units in the time domain and k2 second resource units in the frequency domain, where n1, n2, k1, and k2 are non-negative integers. In some embodiments, BS 102 indicates the configuration to UE 104 via a system broadcast message. In some embodiments, BS 102 indicates to UE 104 the configuration of the first resource unit in the time domain and the second resource unit in the frequency domain. The at least one PSCCH resource is used to receive or transmit SCI and the at least one PSCCH resource element is used to receive or transmit side link data between UEs 104 in side link communications.

Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 300 of a side chain channel resource unit 304, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that FIG. 3 is for illustration purposes and not for limitation. In the illustrated embodiment, the sidelink channel resource units 304 are preconfigured by the system, comprising 1 slot in the time domain and 2 RBs in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, side link channel resource units 304 are used for side link channels. In some embodiments, side chain channel resource units 304 are used for receiving or transmitting a corresponding PSCCH of side chain control information (SCI). In some embodiments, the SCI includes one of the following: modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) and acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement (a/N) information.

In the illustrated embodiment, the radio frame structure 300 shows a set of side-chain resources (or side-chain resource pool) that may also be preconfigured by the system. Specifically, the side link resource pool includes time slots 302-1, 302-2, and 302-3, where time slot 302-1 occupies first time slot 202; slot 302-2 occupies sixth slot 202; slot 302-3 occupies seventh slot 202. Further, the side chain resource pool includes 6 RBs in each slot. Thus, side link channel resource element 304 in slot 302-1 includes 1 slot in the time domain and 2 RBs in the frequency domain. In some other embodiments, in time slots 302-2/302-3, it may include a plurality of side link channel resource units 304, according to various methods presented in the present disclosure, as will be discussed in further detail below.

This approach has several advantages in that the configuration (n and/or k values) of at least one side link channel resource element for a side link channel is indicated to the UE 104 by the BS 102. For example, it has high flexibility and adaptability; and performing effective side link resource allocation according to the actual requirements of the side link communication.

In some embodiments, the configuration of at least one side link channel resource unit for a respective side link channel may be determined by a respective side link sub-carrier spacing (SCS). In some embodiments, on the available resources for side link communication, the corresponding side link specific SCS is configured. Specifically, in the side-link resource pool, the SCS specific to the side-link can be configured. Alternatively, in some embodiments, when resources are shared between the side link communication and the cellular communication, the SCS in the cellular communication may also be configured as the SCS in the side link communication. In some other embodiments, SCS in side-link communication may also be configured in side-link specific resources or side-link specific bandwidth portions (BWP).

In some embodiments, at least one side link channel resource unit for a side link channel is each configured with a first number (n) of first resource units in the time domain and a second number (k) of second resource units in the frequency domain, wherein the first resource unit in the time domain may be one of: symbols and slots. And wherein the second resource element in the frequency domain may be a Resource Block (RB), and wherein n and k are non-negative integers. In some embodiments, the mapping between SCS in side link communication and n and/or k values for one side link channel resource unit of a side link channel may be preconfigured by the system or configured by BS 102. In some embodiments, the first resource unit in the time domain and the second resource unit in the frequency domain of the respective side link channel are independently defined. In some embodiments, the n and/or k values of different side link channel resource units may be the same or different for different respective side link channels.

Figure 4A illustrates a table 400 showing a mapping relationship between SCS in side link communication and n/k values of side link channel resource units for side link channels, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the table 400 includes 4 SCS values 402, i.e., 15kHz, 30kHz, 60kHz, and 120kHz, and a configuration of 4 sidelink channel resource elements for 4 types of sidelink channels (i.e., PSCCH 404, PSSCH 406, PSBCH 408, and PSDCH 410). Although only 4 SCS values 402 and 4 side link channels are shown in fig. 4A, it should be noted that any number of SCS values and any values for any number of side link channels may be included within the scope of the invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, at an SCS value of 15kHz, PSCCH resource elements 404 comprise 4 first resource elements in the time domain and 5 second resource elements in the frequency domain; the PSSCH resource units 406 include 8 first resource units in the time domain and 5 second resource units in the frequency domain; the PSBCH resource unit 408 includes 4 first resource units in the time domain and 20 second resource units in the frequency domain; and the PSDCH resource unit 410 includes 6 first resource units in the time domain and 5 second resource units in the frequency domain. At SCS value of 30kHz, PSCCH resource element 404 comprises 4 first resource elements in the time domain and 5 second resource elements in the frequency domain; the PSSCH resource units 406 include 8 first resource units in the time domain and 5 second resource units in the frequency domain; the PSBCH resource unit 408 includes 4 first resource units in the time domain and 20 second resource units in the frequency domain; and the PSDCH resource unit 410 includes 6 first resource units in the time domain and 5 second resource units in the frequency domain. At an SCS value of 60kHz, PSCCH resource element 404 comprises 8 first resource elements in the time domain and 3 second resource elements in the frequency domain; the PSSCH resource units 406 include 14 first resource units in the time domain and 3 second resource units in the frequency domain; the PSBCH resource unit 408 includes 6 first resource units in the time domain and 20 second resource units in the frequency domain; and the PSDCH resource unit 410 includes 6 first resource units in the time domain and 8 second resource units in the frequency domain. At SCS value of 120kHz, PSCCH resource element 404 comprises 8 first resource elements in the time domain and 3 second resource elements in the frequency domain; the PSSCH resource units 406 include 14 first resource units in the time domain and 3 second resource units in the frequency domain; the PSBCH resource unit 408 includes 6 first resource units in the time domain and 20 second resource units in the frequency domain; and the PSDCH resource unit 410 includes 6 first resource units in the time domain and 8 second resource units in the frequency domain.

In some embodiments, when transmission of the side-link signal is performed by the UE 104 on the side-link channel, the UE 104 may further determine the n/k value of the resource unit of the side-link channel from the SCS of the side-link communication using the table 400. For example, UE 104 may select PSCCH resources in a PSCCH resource pool, where a PSCCH resource element comprises 4 symbols in the time domain and 5 RBs in the frequency domain when the side link SCS is 15 kHz. In some embodiments, the UE 104 may further select at least one PSCCH resource for receiving and transmitting SCIs.

Figure 4B illustrates a table 420 showing a mapping relationship between SCS for side link communication and n values of side link channel resource units for side link channels, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, table 420 includes 2 configurations of 4 SCS values 402, i.e., 15kHz, 30kHz, 60kHz, and 120kHz, and 2 sidelink channel resource units for 2 types of sidelink channels (i.e., PSCCH 404 and PSSCH 406). Although only 4 SCS values 402 and 2 side link channels 404/406 are shown in fig. 4B, it should be noted that any number of SCS values and any values for any number of side link channels may be included within the scope of the invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, at an SCS value of 15kHz, PSCCH resource element 404 comprises 4 first resource elements in the time domain; and PSSCH resource unit 406 includes 8 first resource units in the time domain. At SCS value of 30kHz, PSCCH resource element 404 comprises 6 first resource elements in the time domain; and PSSCH resource unit 406 includes 10 first resource units in the time domain. At an SCS value of 60kHz, PSCCH resource element 404 comprises 8 first resource elements in the time domain; and PSSCH resource unit 406 includes 12 first resource units in the time domain. At SCS value of 120kHz, PSCCH resource element 404 comprises 10 first resource elements in the time domain; and PSSCH resource unit 406 includes 14 first resource units in the time domain.

In some embodiments, the mapping relationship shown in fig. 4B may be indicated by higher layer signaling from BS 102. The UE 104 may determine the value of n for the sidelink channel resource units of the sidelink channel based on the table 420. In some embodiments, the UE 104 may further determine the k value in the sidelink channel resource units of the sidelink channel and the location of the sidelink channel resource units of the sidelink channel according to methods discussed in further detail below. Once the n and/or k values and the locations of the sidelink channel resource elements of the sidelink channel are determined, the UE 104 may further receive or transmit sidelink information.

In the method, the configuration of at least one side link channel resource unit of the side link channel is determined according to different characteristics of the side link channel and environmental conditions of signal transmission. Thus, the method allows for improved channel transmission performance, increased resource utilization and information transmission reliability.

In some embodiments, the configuration of one side link channel resource unit for a side link channel may be determined from the available side link resources. In some embodiments, the available side link resources include at least one of: resources in the time domain and the frequency domain in the side link resource pool; resources on a side link specific frequency band; resources for side link communication that may also be used for cellular communications; resources configured for side link communication in BWP; at least one symbol in a slot in the time domain for side link communication; at least one RB for side link communication in the frequency domain.

In some embodiments, the mapping between the configuration of the sidelink channel resource units (e.g., n and/or k values) of the sidelink channels and the available sidelink resources may be preconfigured by the system or indicated by BS 102. In some embodiments, when the UE 104 obtains information of available side link resources, the UE 104 may determine a configuration of side link channel resource units of the corresponding side link channel according to the mapping relationship. In some embodiments, BS 102 may further indicate a location of a first resource element (e.g., symbol) in the time domain in a side link resource pool (e.g., slot) and/or a location of a second resource element (e.g., RB) in the frequency domain in a side link resource pool (e.g., BWP).

In particular, when the available side link resources (e.g., side link resource sets and side link resource pools) include N symbols in a slot in the time domain for side link communications, side link channel resource units including N first resource units in the time domain may be determined from the N value. In some embodiments, the mapping between the number of available side link resources (N) and the number of first resource units (N) in the side link channel resource units is one of: preconfigured by the system and indicated by BS 102, where 1.ltoreq.N.ltoreq.14, 1.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.N, N, N being a non-negative integer. In some embodiments, the N value may be determined from the N value and one of: n is equal to N, the mapping between N and N values, and predefined rules.

Fig. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 500 with a side chain resource pool 302, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that fig. 5 is for illustration purposes and not for limitation. The sidelink resource pool 302 may include any number of slots and RBs anywhere in the sidelink resource pool 302.

In the illustrated embodiment, in the radio frame structure 500, the sidelink resource pool 302 is used for sidelink channels such as PSCCH. In the illustrated embodiment, the side link resource pool 302 includes 3 time slots, 202-1, 202-2, and 202-5. For 3 slots in the sidelink resource pool 302, each slot may include a different or the same number of symbols for sidelink communications, as shown at 302-1, 302-2, and 302-3. In some embodiments, the UE 104 may determine the number of symbols (i.e., N) in the sidelink channel resource unit 304 based on the number of symbols (N) in the corresponding time slot within the sidelink resource pool 302, accordingly. In the illustrated embodiment, when the slot 202-1 in the side link resource pool 302 includes 4 symbols for side link communications, the first side link channel resource unit 304-1 in the slot 202-1 includes 4 symbols in the time domain; when the slot 202-2 includes 8 symbols for side link communication, the second side link channel resource unit 304-2 in the slot 202-2 includes 8 symbols in the time domain; and the third side chain channel resource element 304-3 in the slot 202-5 comprises 14 symbols in the time domain when the slot 202-5 comprises 14 symbols for side chain communication.

Furthermore, the 4 symbols of the first sidelink channel resource unit 304-1 occupy the symbol 10-13 in the first slot 202-1; the 8 symbols of the second resource unit 304-2 occupy symbol 6-13 in the second slot 202-2; the 14 symbols of the third resource element 304-3 occupy symbols 0-13 in the fifth slot 202-5. In some embodiments, the mapping relationship comprises: when N is less than or equal to 4, n=n; when 4 < n.ltoreq.6, n=4; when 6 < n.ltoreq.10, n=6; when N < 10, n=8.

In some embodiments, the location of at least one slot for side link communication used as a corresponding side link resource pool may be indicated by BS 102. The locations of the symbols in the time slots are preconfigured by the system or configured by BS 102.

Fig. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 600 with a side chain resource pool 302, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that fig. 6 is for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. The sidelink resource pool 302 may include any number of slots and RBs in any location.

In the illustrated embodiment, in the radio frame structure 600, the sidelink resource pool 302 is used for sidelink channels such as PSCCH and the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the first sidelink resource pool 302 comprises 3 timeslots 202, i.e., 202-1, 202-2 and 202-5. For 3 slots in the sidelink resource pool 302, each slot may include a different or the same number of symbols for sidelink communications, as shown at 302-1, 302-2, and 302-3. In some embodiments, the UE 104 may determine the number of symbols (i.e., N) in the sidelink channel resource unit 304 from the number of symbols (i.e., N) in the corresponding time slot within the sidelink resource pool 302 and the mapping relationship. In the illustrated embodiment, when the slot 202-1 includes 4 symbols in the time domain for side link communications, the first side link channel resource element 304-1 in the slot 202-1 includes 4 symbols in the time domain; when slot 202-2 includes 6 symbols for side link communication, the second side link channel resource unit 304-2 in slot 202-2 includes 6 symbols in the time domain; and the third side chain channel resource element 304-3 in the slot 202-5 comprises 8 symbols in the time domain when the slot 202-5 comprises 8 symbols for side chain communication.

Furthermore, the 4 symbols of the first resource unit 304-1 occupy symbols 10-13 in the first slot 202-1; the 6 symbols of the second resource unit 304-2 occupy symbols 6-11 in the second slot 202-2; and 8 symbols of the third resource element 304-3 occupy symbols 0-13 in the fifth slot 202-5. In some other embodiments, the symbols in the resource pool in the slot are contiguous. In some embodiments, the location of symbols in a resource unit in a slot may be determined according to one of the methods described in detail below.

In some embodiments, there is a minimum number (n 0) of first resource elements (e.g., symbols) in the side link channel resource elements 304 in the time domain, and n0 is preconfigured by the system or indicated by BS 102. The at least one side link channel may be partitioned in the time domain according to an available number (N) of symbols in a slot for slot communication, wherein the at least one side link channel resource units 304 each comprise a number (N0) of symbols. In a time slot, a plurality (M) of side link channel resource units 304 may be partitioned in the time domain, whereOr->M, N and n0 are non-negative integers. M-1 side link channel resource units 304 each include N0 symbols in the time domain, and 1 side link channel resource unit 304 includes [ N-N0× (M-1) in the time domain ]And a symbol. In some implementationsIn an embodiment, the location of at least one side link channel in a time slot may be determined according to one of the methods described in detail below.

Fig. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 700 with a side chain resource pool 302, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that fig. 7 is for illustration purposes and not for limitation. The sidelink resource pool 302 may include any number of slots and RBs anywhere in the sidelink resource pool 302.

In the illustrated embodiment, in the radio frame structure 700, the side link resource pool 302 includes 3 time slots, 202-1, 202-2, and 202-5. As shown at 302-1, 302-2, and 302-3, for 3 slots in the side link resource pool 302, each slot may include a different number of symbols for side link communications. In some embodiments, the UE 104 may determine the number (i.e., N) of first resource units (e.g., symbols) in the side-chain channel resource units 304 according to the number (N) of symbols in the respective resource pools 302 and predefined rules.

In the illustrated embodiment, the minimum number of symbols in the side link channel resource unit is 4, i.e., n0=4. In the illustrated embodiment, when in slot 202-1, it includes 4 symbols for side link communications, which 4 symbols may be used for the first side link channel resource element 304-1; when in slot 202-2, it includes 8 symbols for side link communications, which 8 symbols may be divided into 2 side link channel resource units 304-2/304-3, where the 2 side link channel resource units 304-2/304-3 each include 4 symbols in the time domain; and when in slot 202-5 it includes 14 symbols for side link communications, the 14 symbols may be divided into 3 side link channel resource units 304-4/304-5/304-6, wherein the first and second side link channel resource units 304-4/304-5 each include 4 symbols in the time domain, and wherein the third side link channel resource unit 304-6 includes 6 symbols in the time domain.

Furthermore, the 4 symbols of the first resource unit 304-1 occupy symbol 10-13 in the first slot 202-1; 8 symbols of resource element 304-2/304-3 occupy symbols 6-13 in the second slot 202-2; while 14 symbols of resource element 304-4/304-5/304-6 occupy symbols 0-13 in the fifth slot 202-5. In some embodiments, the relative positions of the 3 side chain channel resource units 304-4/304-5/304-6 are preconfigured by the system. In some embodiments, the location of symbols in side-channel resource elements in a slot may be determined according to one of the methods described in detail below.

The method improves the resource utilization rate, can prevent interference among different side chain channels, and improves the side chain communication efficiency. In the method, a configuration of resource units for at least one side link channel is determined according to available side link resources (e.g., available symbols in a time slot) for side link communication to allow improved channel transmission performance.

In some embodiments, the configuration of the side link channel resource units 304 for the side link channel may be determined based on the number of available Resource Elements (REs) in the corresponding side link channel resource units 304. In some embodiments, side link channel resource unit 304 includes a plurality of REs, wherein the plurality of REs includes at least one valid RE and at least one invalid RE. In some embodiments, valid REs are used to map side link information (e.g., side link control and data information), while invalid REs may be used for one of the following: for mapping Reference Signals (RS), for Automatic Gain Control (AGC), and for Guard Periods (GP). In some embodiments, since the sidelink channel resource units 304 for the respective sidelink channels (e.g., PSCCH, PSBCH, and PSDCH) require a constant amount of resources for stable information on the sidelink channels, the minimum threshold number (K0) of valid REs in each sidelink channel resource unit 304 may be fixed. In some embodiments, the number of valid REs in the plurality of REs in each side link channel resource unit 304 is K0, and the total number of REs is K, where K.gtoreq.K0, K and K0 are non-negative integers.

In some embodiments, RS, AGC, and GP may each occupy at least one symbol in the time domain. In some embodiments, the RS may be one of the following: demodulation reference signals (DMRS), phase Tracking Reference Signals (PTRS), channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS), and Sounding Reference Signals (SRS).

In some embodiments, for a side link channel resource unit, when an RE on one symbol in the time domain is used as an invalid RE, or when an RE on one subcarrier in the frequency domain is used as an invalid RE, the number of valid REs of the side link channel resource unit may be determined as a product of a first number of valid symbols in the time domain and a second number of valid subcarriers in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, the value K0 may be one of the following: preconfigured by the system and indicated by BS 102. In some embodiments, the configuration of the side link channel resource units for the corresponding side link channel may be determined according to the value K0 and the number of invalid REs.

In particular, in one embodiment, when determining the number (n) of first resource elements (e.g., symbols) in the time domain or the number (n) of valid first resource elements in the time domain according to the above described embodiments, the number (K) of second resource elements in the frequency domain may be determined by rounding up or rounding down the value of K0/(12 x n),

Or->Where k is the number of RBs, and each RB includes 12 subcarriers. Thus, when n is the number of valid resource elements (e.g., symbols) in the time domain for mapping side link control and/or data information, the total number of valid REs in each side link channel resource element is 12 xnxk.

Similarly, in another embodiment, when determining the number (K) of second resource elements (e.g., RBs) in the frequency domain, the number (n) of first resource elements (e.g., symbols) in the time domain or the number (n) of active resource elements in the time domain may be determined by rounding up or down the value of K0/(12 x K),

or->Where k is the number of RBs, and each RB includes 12 subcarriers. Thus, when n is the number of active resource elements (e.g., symbols) in the time domain used to map side link control and/or data information, the total number of symbols in each side link channel resource element 304 is equal to the sum of the number of active symbols (n) and the number of inactive symbols. Furthermore, the total number of valid REs in each of the at least one side chain channel resource units is 12 x n x k.

In some other embodiments, when the number (n) of first resource elements (e.g., symbols) in the time domain or the number of valid first resource elements in the time domain is determined according to the illustrated embodiments discussed above, and when the number of invalid REs present in a side link channel resource element is M, the number (K) of second resource elements in the frequency domain of the side link channel resource element may be determined by rounding up or down (k0+m)/(12 x n),

Or->Where k is the number of RBs, and each RB includes 12 subcarriers. Thus, when n is the number of valid resource elements (e.g., symbols) in the time domain used to map side link control and/or data information, the total number of valid REs in each side link channel resource element 304 is 12 x n x k-M.

Similarly, in some embodiments, when the number (K) of second resource elements (e.g., RBs) in the frequency domain is preconfigured by the system or indicated by BS 102, and when the number of invalid REs is M, the number (n) of first resource elements (e.g., symbols) in the time domain or the number (n) of valid first resource elements in the time domain may be determined by rounding up or down the value of (K0+M)/(Kx12),

or->Thus, when n is the number of active resource elements (e.g., symbols) in the time domain for mapping side link control and/or data information, the total number of symbols for each of the at least one side link channel resource elements is equal to the sum of the number of active symbols (n) and the number of inactive symbols. Furthermore, the total number of valid REs in each of the at least one side chain channel resource units is 12 Xn x k-M.

For example, the set of available side link resources is determined from a pre-configured side link BWP, which includes all RBs in the BWP medium frequency domain and all slots in the BWP time domain. The pattern DMRS pattern of PSCCHs in the set of available side link resources is indicated by BS 102 and the number of valid REs (i.e., K) in each respective PSCCH control channel resource element is equal to 240. When the PSCCH resource element comprises 5 symbols and one of the 5 symbols is used for a DMRS, the number (n) of valid first resource elements (e.g., symbols) in the time domain is 4. The number of RBs (K) in each PSCCH resource unit may be determined by rounding K/(n×12), resulting in a K value of 5. Similarly, when the PSCCH resource element comprises 4 RBs in the frequency domain and 2 symbols in the time domain for the DMRS. The number of useful symbols (n) in a PSCCH resource element is determined by rounding the value of K/(k×12), resulting in a value of n of 5. Since there are 2 symbols for the DRMS, at least one PSCCH resource element each comprises 7 symbols in the time domain.

In some embodiments, the configuration of the side channel resource units for at least one side channel may be determined from a configuration table. In some embodiments, the side link channel pattern table is predefined by the system or configured by BS 102. In some embodiments, the side link channel pattern table comprises a plurality of configurations, wherein the configuration of at least one side link channel resource unit each comprises in the time domain a number of first resource units in the time domain (n) and a number of second resource units in the frequency domain (k). In some embodiments, the plurality of configurations each corresponds to an index. In some embodiments, one of the plurality of side link channel pattern tables may be configured by the BS 102, the BS 102 further indicating an index in the one of the plurality of side link channel pattern tables to the UE 104 to determine a respective configuration of at least one side link channel resource element for at least one respective side link channel. In some embodiments, the same index in the side link channel pattern table may be used to indicate the configuration of different side link channels.

Fig. 8 illustrates a side chain channel pattern table 800 indicating a plurality of configurations of at least one side chain channel resource unit, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, table 800 includes 4 columns: pattern index 802, number of available resources in time domain (N) 804, number of first resource units in time domain in side link channel resource units (N) 806, number of second resource units in frequency domain in side link channel resource units (k) 808. Pattern index 802 includes 16 indices. Specifically, in table 800, when the pattern index is 0, n=4, k=5; when the pattern index is 1, n=6, n=4, k=5; when the pattern index is 2, n=6, n= 6,k =4; when the pattern index is 3, n=8, n=4, k=5; when the pattern index is 4, n=8, k=3; when the pattern index is 5, n=10, n=4, k=5; when the pattern index is 6, n=10, k=3; when the pattern index is 7, n=12, n=4, k=5; when the pattern index is 8, n=12, n=10, k=3; when the pattern index is 9, n=14, n=4, k=5; when the pattern index is 10, n=14, n=10, k=3; when the pattern index is 11, n=14, k=2; the N, n and k values may be preserved when the pattern index is 12-15.

In some embodiments, the side link channel pattern table 800 is predefined by the system. In some embodiments, the sidelink channel pattern table 800 is used for PSCCH resource elements. In some embodiments, BS 102 may further indicate the index to UE 104 through higher layer signaling and/or physical layer signaling. From the received index and side link channel pattern table, the UE 104 may further determine the number of available side link resources for side link communication and the n and/or k values of the PSCCH resource elements.

Fig. 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 900 with a side chain resource pool 302, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that fig. 9 is for illustrative purposes and is not intended to be limiting. BS 102 may indicate the number and location of side chain resource pools 302 through higher layer signaling. It should be noted that the side link resource pool 302 may include any number of side link channel resource units, where the side link channel resource units may include any number of first resource units (e.g., symbols) at any location in the time domain, and the time slot may include 12 or 14 symbols, which are within the scope of the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, in the radio frame structure 900, the sidelink resource pool 302 comprises 2 time slots, 202-1 and 202-10. Each of the 2 slots included in the sidelink resource pool 302 may include a different number of available symbols for sidelink communication. In the illustrated embodiment, the first slot 202-1 includes 4 available symbols for side link communications; and the second slot 202-10 includes 14 available symbols for side link communication.

In the illustrated embodiment, BS 102 indicates a plurality of indexes, wherein each index of the plurality of indexes corresponds to a logically chronological time slot in a side link resource pool. In some embodiments, the UE 104 may determine a plurality of configurations of PSCCHs corresponding to a plurality of indexed respective slots from the side chain channel pattern table 800. Specifically, the first slot 202-1 corresponds to an index of 0, wherein the number of available symbols in the first slot 202-1 is 4, and the first PSCCH resource element 304-1 in the first slot occupies 4 symbols in the time domain and 5 RBs in the frequency domain. Similarly, the tenth slot 202-10 corresponds to index 9 in table 800, where the number of available symbols in the tenth slot 202-10 is 14, the second PSCCH resource element 304-2 in the tenth slot 202-10 occupies 4 symbols in the time domain, and occupies 5 RBs in the frequency domain.

In the illustrated embodiment, 4 symbols of the first PSSCH resource unit 304-1 occupy symbol 10-13 in the first slot 202-1; the 4 symbols of the second PSSCH resource unit 304-2 occupy symbols 0-3 in the tenth slot 202-10. In some other embodiments, the symbols in the resource pool in the slot are contiguous. In some embodiments, the location of the available symbols in the slot and the location of the sidelink resource units 304-1/304-2 in the slot may be determined using one of the methods discussed in detail below.

Fig. 10 illustrates a side link channel pattern table 1000 indicating various configurations of at least two side link channel resource units in a time slot, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, table 1000 includes 3 columns: pattern index 1002, a first number (n 1) of first resource elements in the time domain in a first side link channel (e.g., PSCCH) resource element 1004, and a second number (k) of second resource elements in the time domain in a second side link channel (e.g., PSSCH) resource element 1006. The pattern index column 1002 includes 8 indexes. Specifically, in table 1000, when the pattern index is 0, n1=4, n2=0; when the pattern index is 1, n1=4, n2=2; when the pattern index is 2, n1=4, n2=4; when the pattern index is 3, n1=6, n2=2; when the pattern index is 4, n1=6, n2=6; when the pattern index is 5, n1=6, n2=8; when the pattern index is 6 and 7, the n1 and n2 values may be reserved. In the illustrated embodiment, the number of available symbols in a slot may also be determined by the sum of the corresponding values of n1 and n2 in the same slot. Specifically, when the pattern index is 0, n=4 in the slot; when the pattern index is 1, n=6 in the slot; when the pattern index is 2, n=8 in the slot; when the pattern index is 3, n=8 in the slot; when the pattern index is 4, n=12 in the slot; when the pattern index is 5, n=14 in the slot; when the pattern indexes are 5 and 6, N may be determined by N1 and N2 which are reserved.

In some embodiments, the sidelink channel pattern table 1000 is preconfigured by the system, wherein the sidelink channel pattern table 1000 comprises a plurality (i.e., 8) configurations of at least two sidelink channel resource units. Each of the plurality of configurations corresponds to an index that may be used to indicate to the UE 104 the configuration of at least two side-channel resource elements, the number of symbols in the time domain in the corresponding PSCCH and PSSCH resource elements (i.e., n1 and n 2). BS 102 may indicate the index to UE 104 via higher layer signaling and/or physical layer signaling.

In some embodiments, the side link channel pattern table may further indicate corresponding properties of available symbols in the slot. For example, the side chain channel pattern table may indicate that the symbol in the slot is one of: the symbol of the first resource unit in the time domain in the side link channel resource unit, the symbol for carrying the reference signal, the symbol for carrying the AGC, and the symbol for use as GP.

In some embodiments, the number (n) of first resource units in the time domain in the side link channel resource units may be preconfigured by the system, while the number (k) in the second resource units in the frequency domain in the side link channel may be determined from the SCS of the side link channel. For example, the PSCCH resource element comprises 4 symbols in the time domain (i.e., n=4), which is preconfigured by the system. The PSCCH resource element also comprises k RBs in the frequency domain, where the k value may be determined by the SCS of the PSCCH.

Fig. 11 illustrates a table 1000 showing a mapping relationship between SCS for side-link communication and k values in side-link channel resource units for side-link channels, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, table 1100 includes 4 SCS values 1102, i.e., 15kHz, 30kHz, 60kHz, and 120kHz, and 4 k values 1104, i.e., 5, 8, 10, and 10. Although only 4 SCS values 1102 and 4 k values 1104 are shown in fig. 11, it should be noted that any number of SCS values and any value for any number of side link channels may be included within the scope of the invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the PSCCH resource element comprises 5 RBs in the frequency domain at an SCS value of 15kHz when the SCS value is 15 kHz; the PSCCH resource element comprises 8 RBs in the frequency domain at an SCS value of 30kHz when the SCS value is 30 kHz; the PSCCH resource element comprises 10 RBs in the frequency domain at an SCS value of 60kHz when the SCS value is 60 kHz; at SCS value of 120kHz, PSCCH resource element comprises 10 RBs in the frequency domain.

In some embodiments, the foregoing embodiments may be combined to provide an efficient method for determining at least one side chain channel resource unit. In some embodiments, the number (k) of second resource units in the frequency domain in the side link channel resource units may be preconfigured by the system, while the number (n) in the first resource units in the time domain in the side link channel may be determined based on the number of available side link resources for side link communication. For example, the PSCCH resource element comprises 5 RBs in the frequency domain (i.e., k=5), which is preconfigured by the system. The PSCCH resource element also comprises N symbols in the time domain, where the value of N may be determined by the number of available symbols (i.e., N) within a slot used for side link communications. For example, when N equals 8, the PSCCH resource element comprises 6 symbols in the time domain according to a predefined mapping relationship. In some embodiments, the mapping relationship comprises: when N is less than or equal to 4, n=n; when 4 < n.ltoreq.6, n=4; when 6 < n.ltoreq.10, n=6; when N < 10, n=8.

In some embodiments, the side link resource pool is configured by BS 102. BS 102 also configures PSCCH resource elements that include n symbols in the time domain, and each PSCCH resource element includes a minimum number (K0) of available REs. The PSCCH resource elements each comprise symbols for a DMRS that occupy all subcarriers in the frequency domain in the PSCCH resource element. The UE 104 may also determine the number (k) of second resource elements in the frequency domain in each PSCCH resource element according to the above configuration. For example, when n=5 and k0=240 are configured by BS 102, the PSCCH resource element includes 4 valid symbols in the time domain since the PSCCH resource element also includes 1 symbol for DMRS. The value of K can be determined by rounding the value of K0/(n×12), which is equal to 5. Thus, each PSCCH resource element comprises 5 symbols in the time domain, 4 active symbols in the time domain for side link communications, and 5 RBs in the frequency domain.

In some embodiments, the position of a first resource unit (e.g., symbol) in a side link channel resource unit is determined by the position of a starting symbol (e.g., N) in the slot and the number of first resource units (N) in the side link channel resource unit, where 1N 14 or 0N 13. In some embodiments, the first resource unit of the side chain channel resource units is contiguous. In some embodiments, the location of a first resource unit (e.g., symbol) in a sidelink channel resource unit is determined by the location of a starting symbol (e.g., N) of available sidelink resources in the slot and the number (N) of first resource units in the sidelink channel resource unit, wherein 1.ltoreq.N.ltoreq.14 or 0.ltoreq.N.ltoreq.13.

In some embodiments, the N and N values may be one of the following: pre-configured by the system to the UE 104, and indicated by signaling. In some embodiments, signaling may be sent from BS 102 to UE 104 as higher layer signaling or physical layer signaling (e.g., system broadcast messages, radio Resource Control (RRC) messages, downlink Control Information (DCI), etc.). In some other embodiments, the signaling may also be sent from the UE 104 in side link communications in the form of higher layer signaling or physical layer signaling (e.g., side link broadcast messages, RRC messages, side link control information (SCI), etc.).

In some embodiments, the positions of respective start symbols in respective side link channel resource units of respective side link channels may be defined independently. In some embodiments, the locations of the respective start symbols for the different respective side link channel resource units may be the same or different. In some embodiments, the time slot is one of the time slots in the side link resource set. The side link resource pool or available side link resources are concentrated with at least one time slot. At least one symbol in the at least one slot is an available symbol for side link communication.

Fig. 12 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 1200 having a plurality of side chain channel resource units 304, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that fig. 12 is for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. In some embodiments, the number and location of the plurality of time slots 202 containing resources for side-chain communications may be preconfigured or indicated by BS 102 through higher layer signaling. It should be noted that the radio frame structure 1200 may include any number of time slots 202, the time slots 202 containing resources for any location of the side link communication, and the plurality of time slots 202 may further include any number of side link channel resource units, wherein the side link channel resource units may include any number of first resource units (e.g., symbols) at any location in the time domain, and the time slots may include 12 or 14 symbols, which are within the scope of the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the radio frame structure 1200 includes 4 sidelink channel resource units for 2 sidelink channels (e.g., PSCCH and PSSCH) in 3 respective slots 202. In some embodiments, the three slots 202 each include 14 symbols with normal CPs. In the illustrated embodiment, the first PSCCH resource element 304-1 is located in a first slot 202-1; the first PSSCH resource unit 304-2 is in the second slot 202-2; and a second PSCCH resource element 304-3 and a second PSCCH resource element 304-4 are located in a fifth slot 202-5. The 4 side-channel resource units (i.e., 304-1, 304-2, 304-3, and 304-4) may each include a different number of first resource units (symbols), which may be determined by one of the methods described above. In the illustrated embodiment, the first PSCCH resource element 304-1 comprises 7 first resource elements in the time domain; the first PSSCH resource unit 304-2 includes 4 first resource units in the time domain; the second PSCCH resource element 304-3 comprises 4 first resource elements in the time domain; while the second PSSCH resource unit 304-4 includes 10 first resource units in the time domain. In some other embodiments, the symbols in the resource pool in the slot are contiguous. In some embodiments, one of the methods discussed in detail above may be used to determine the number of symbols in the time domain in the side link channel resource unit 304.

In some embodiments, when the starting symbol of the first PSCCH resource element 304-1 in the first slot 202-1 is 7 (i.e., n=7), the first PSCCH resource element 304-1 occupies the symbol 7-13 of the first slot. When the starting symbol of the first PSSCH resource unit 304-2 in the second slot 202-2 is also 7 (i.e., N=7), the first PSSCH resource unit 304-2 occupies the symbol 7-10 of the second slot 202-2. When the starting symbol of the second PSSCH resource unit 304-3 is 0 and the starting symbol of the second PSCCH resource unit 304-4 is 4, the second PSSCH resource unit 304-3 occupies the symbol 0-3 in the fourth slot 202-4 and the second PSCCH resource unit 304-4 occupies the symbol 4-13 in the fourth slot 202-4.

Fig. 13 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 1300 with a set of available side chain resources 302, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that fig. 13 is for illustration purposes and not for limitation. In some embodiments, the number and location of the set of available side link resources 302 in the corresponding time slot 202 for side link communication may be preconfigured or indicated by the BS 102 through higher layer signaling. It should be noted that the radio frame structure 1300 may include any number of time slots 202, the time slots 202 being contained in the set of side link resources 302 available for side link communications at any location. Wherein the set of available side link resources 302 may include a plurality of time slots 202 of a plurality of side link channel resource units 304. Each sidelink channel resource unit 304 may comprise any number of first resource units (e.g., symbols) at any location in the time domain and a slot may comprise 12 or 14 symbols, which are within the scope of the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the set of available side link resources 302 in the radio frame structure 1300 includes 2 time slots, 202-1 and 202-10, and each time slot contains side link channel resource elements 304 for a side link channel (e.g., PSCCH). In some embodiments, 2 slots 202 each include 14 symbols with normal CPs. In the illustrated embodiment, the locations of the available set of side link resources 302 in the corresponding time slots are preconfigured by the system or by BS 102 through higher layer signaling. In the illustrated embodiment, symbols 7-13 in the first slot 202-1 are used for side link communications; while symbols 4-13 in the tenth slot 202-10 are available side link resources. In the first time slot 202-1, the first PSCCH resource element 304-1 starts with a third available symbol (n=2) of side-link communications within the time slot 202-1 that occupies 5 symbols (n=5) in the time domain, i.e., the first PSCCH resource element 304-1 occupies symbol 9-13 in the first time slot 202-1; the second PSCCH resource element 304-2 starts with a first available symbol (n=0) for side link communications, i.e., the second PSCCH resource element 304-2 occupies symbol 4-8 in the tenth slot 202-10, where N is the position of the starting symbol of the side link channel resource element 304 in the set of available side link resources 302. The 2 side channel resource units 304 (i.e., 304-1 and 304-2) may each include a different number of first resource units (symbols), which may be determined by one of the methods described above.

In some embodiments, a slot may include a plurality of side link channel resource units for a side link channel when the sum of the number of first resource units in the time domain of the plurality of side link channel resource units is equal to or less than the number of symbols in the slot, i.e., Σni+.14 or Σni+.12 (where i+.1 and is a positive integer). The start symbol of each of the plurality of side-channel resource units is defined by n+i×ni, where N is the position of the first symbol in the slot for side-link communication, ni is the number of first resource units in the ith side-channel resource unit, and i is a non-negative integer.

In some embodiments, the N and ni values may be one of the following: pre-configured by the system to the UE 104, and indicated by signaling. In some embodiments, signaling may be sent from BS 102 to UE 104 as higher layer signaling or physical layer signaling (e.g., system broadcast messages, radio Resource Control (RRC) messages, downlink Control Information (DCI), etc.). In some other embodiments, the signaling may also be sent from the UE 104 in side link communications in the form of higher layer signaling or physical layer signaling (e.g., side link broadcast messages, RRC messages, side link control information (SCI), etc.).

When the plurality of side link channel resource elements each comprise N first resource elements in the time domain, n0= (N0-N) mod N, where N0 is the total number of symbols in the time slot, i.e. 14 or 12, N is the position of the first symbol in the time slot for side link communication, N is the number of first resource elements in a side link channel resource element, which may comprise one side link channel resource element comprising N0 first resource elements in the time domain.

Fig. 14 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 1400 with a set of available side-link resources 302, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that fig. 14 is for illustration purposes and not for limitation. In some embodiments, BS 102 may pre-configure or indicate the number and location of the plurality of time slots 202 for side link communications through higher layer signaling. It should be noted that the radio frame structure 1400 may include any number of time slots 202, and that the time slots 202 may be contained anywhere within the set of available side-link resources 302. The plurality of time slots 202 may also include any number of side link channel resource units 304. It is within the scope of the present invention that each side link channel resource unit 304 may include any number of first resource units (e.g., symbols) at any location in the time domain, and that a slot may include 12 or 14 symbols.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 14, all symbols in the 3 slots are available symbols for side link communications, namely 302-1, 302-2, and 302-3. Each time slot 202 includes at least one sidelink channel resource unit 304.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first slot 202-1 includes 2 PSCCH resource units 304, where the first PSCCH resource unit 304-1 starts with symbol 2 occupying symbol 2-7 of the first slot 202-1, and the second PSCCH resource unit 304-2 occupies symbol 8-13 of the first slot 202-1. The second slot 202-2 includes a third PSCCH resource element 304-3 that starts at symbol 2 and occupies symbol 2-9 of the second slot 202-2. Similarly, the fifth slot 202-5 includes 3 PSCCH resource elements 304, with a fourth PSCCH resource element 304-4 starting at symbol 2 and occupying symbol 2-5; the fifth PSCCH resource element 304-5 occupies symbols 6-9; the sixth PSCCH resource element 304-6 occupies symbol 10-13 of the fifth slot 202-5.

In some embodiments, a slot may include multiple side-channel resource units for multiple respective side-channel channels when the sum of the number of first resource units in the time domain of the multiple side-channel resource units is equal to or less than the number of symbols in the slot, i.e., Σni+.14 or Σni+.12 (where i+.1 and i is a positive integer). The starting symbol for each of the plurality of side link channel resource units is defined by n+i x ni, where N is the position of the first symbol in the set of available side link resources for side link communication, ni is the number of first resource units in the ith side link channel resource unit, and i is a non-negative integer. The location of the set of available side link resources in the time slot is preconfigured by the system.

Fig. 15 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 1500 with a set of available side chain resources 302, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that fig. 15 is for illustration purposes and not for limitation. In some embodiments, BS 102 may pre-configure or indicate the number and location of the plurality of time slots 202 for side link communications through higher layer signaling. It should be noted that the radio frame structure 1500 may include any number of time slots 202, the time slots 202 being contained within the set of available side link resources 302 at any location. The plurality of time slots 202 may also include any number of side link channel resource units 304. Each sidelink channel resource unit 304 may comprise any number of first resource units (e.g., symbols) at any location in the time domain, and a slot may comprise 12 or 14 symbols, which are within the scope of the present invention.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 15, among the 3 slots, 4 symbols in the first slot 202-1, 8 symbols in the second slot 202-2, and 14 symbols in the fifth slot 202-5 are available symbols for side link communication.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first slot 202-1 includes a first PSCCH resource element 304-1, where the first PSCCH resource element 304-1 starts at symbol 10 and occupies symbol 10-13 of the first slot 202-1. The second PSCCH resource element 304-2 occupies symbol 6-9 of the second slot 202-2 and the third PSCCH resource element 304-3 occupies symbol 10-13 of the second slot 202-2. Similarly, the fifth slot 202-5 includes 3 PSCCH resource elements 304, with the fourth PSCCH resource element 304-4 occupying symbols 0-3; the fifth PSCCH resource element 304-5 occupies symbols 4-7; and, since the last 6 symbols are not divisible by 4, the sixth PSCCH resource element 304-6, which contains 6 symbols, occupies symbol 8-13 of the fifth slot 202-5.

In some embodiments, the configuration of at least one side link channel resource unit for a respective side link channel may be determined by a respective side link sub-carrier spacing (SCS). In some embodiments, on the available resources for side link communication, the corresponding side link specific SCS is configured. Specifically, in the side-link resource pool, the SCS specific to the side-link can be configured. Alternatively, in some embodiments, when resources are shared between the side link communication and the cellular communication, or when resources are used for multiple processes (e.g., multiplexing), the SCS in the cellular communication may also be configured as the SCS in the side link communication. In some other embodiments, SCS in side-link communication may also be configured on side-link specific resources or side-link specific bandwidth parts (BWP).

In some embodiments, at least one side link channel resource unit for a side link channel is each configured with a first number (n) of first resource units in the time domain and a second number (k) of second resource units in the frequency domain, wherein the first resource unit in the time domain may be one of: the symbols and slots, and wherein the second resource unit in the frequency domain may be a Resource Block (RB), and wherein n and k are non-negative integers. In some embodiments, the mapping between SCS in sidelink communication and the starting symbol of the sidelink channel resource unit in the time slot or at a location (i.e., N value) in the set of available sidelink resources for the sidelink channel may be preconfigured by the system or configured by BS 102. In some embodiments, the positions of the start symbols in at least one side link channel resource unit for different side link channels may be independently configured. In some embodiments, the N values for different respective side link channels may be the same or different. In some embodiments, the mapping between SCS values and N values may be one-to-one, i.e., multiple SCS values each correspond to 1N value, where N values may be directly used to determine the location of the corresponding side link channel resource unit. In some other embodiments, the plurality of SCS values each correspond to a plurality of N values, and the location of the corresponding side link channel resource unit may be determined according to additional conditions discussed in detail below.

Fig. 16 illustrates a table 1600 showing a mapping relationship between SCS in side link communication and N values of side link channel resource units for side link channels, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the N value is a position of a starting symbol of a side link channel resource unit in one of: time slots and available set of side link resources. In the illustrated embodiment, table 1600 includes 4 SCS values 1602 (i.e., 15kHz, 30kHz, 60kHz, and 120 kHz) and 4N values for the sidelink channel resource units of the 4 sidelink channels (i.e., PSCCH 1604, PSSCH 1606, PSBCH 1608, and PSDCH 1610). Although only 4 SCS values 1602 and 4 side-link channels are shown in fig. 16, it should be noted that any number of SCS values of any number for any number of side-link channels may be included within the scope of the invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, at an SCS value of 15kHz, PSCCH resource element 1604 starts with n=1; PSSCH resource unit 1606 starts with n=0; PSBCH resource unit 1608 starts with n=1; and PSDCH resource unit 1610 starts with n=1. At SCS value of 30kHz, PSCCH resource element 1604 starts with n=1; PSSCH resource unit 1606 starts with n=0; PSBCH resource unit 1608 starts with n=2; and PSDCH resource unit 1610 starts with n=2. At SCS value of 60kHz, PSCCH resource element 1604 starts with n=2; PSSCH resource unit 1606 starts with n=1; PSBCH resource unit 1608 starts with n=2; and PSDCH resource unit 1610 starts with n=2. At SCS value of 120kHz, PSCCH resource element 1604 starts with n=2; PSSCH resource unit 1606 starts with n=1; PSBCH resource unit 1608 starts with n=3; and PSDCH resource unit 1610 starts with n=2.

In some embodiments, when transmission of the side link signal is performed by the UE 104 on the side link channel, the UE 104 may further determine the location of the first resource unit in the time domain of the side link channel resource unit from the SCS of the side link communication using the table 1600. For example, UE 104 may determine a PSCCH resource element starting at n=1 of the slot. The number of first resource elements (symbols) in the PSCCH resource element may be determined according to one of the methods discussed in detail above. For example, based on table 400, when the side link SCS is 15khz, the PSCCH resource element comprises 4 symbols in the time domain. In some embodiments, the UE 104 selects PSCCH resource elements occupying symbols 1-4 in a slot to receive and transmit SCI. Similarly, under the same SCS set (e.g., 15 khz), the pssch resource unit starts at n=0 of the slot and occupies 8 symbols in the time domain, according to table 400, and UE 104 may receive and/or transmit side link data on slot symbols 0-7.

Figure 17 illustrates a table 1700 showing a mapping relationship between SCS in side link communication and N values of side link channel resource units for side link channels, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the N value is a position of a starting symbol of a side link channel resource unit in one of: time slots and available set of side link resources. In the illustrated embodiment, the table 1700 includes 4 indices 1702 for 2 corresponding SCS values 1704 (i.e., 15kHz and 60 kHz) and 8N values 1706 for side link channel resource units. Although only 2 SCS values 1704 and 8N values 1706 are shown in fig. 17, it should be noted that any number of SCS values of any number for any number of side link channels may be included within the scope of the invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, side chain channel resource element 1706 starts at n=0 with an index of 0 and SCS value of 15 kHz; and side link channel resource unit 1706 starts at n=1 with an index of 0 and SCS value of 60 kHz. Side chain channel resource element 1706 starts at n=1 with an index of 1 and SCS value of 15 kHz; and side link channel resource unit 1706 starts at n=2 with an index of 1 and SCS value of 60 kHz. Side chain channel resource element 1706 starts at n=2 with an index of 2 and SCS value of 15 kHz; and side link channel resource unit 1706 starts at n=2 with an index of 2 and SCS value of 60 kHz. Side chain channel resource element 1706 starts at n=4 with an index of 3 and SCS value of 15 kHz; and side link channel resource unit 1706 starts at n=6 with an index of 3 and SCS value of 60 kHz.

In some embodiments, when transmission of the sidelink signal is performed by the UE 104 on the sidelink channel, the UE 104 may further determine the location of the first resource unit in the time domain of the sidelink channel resource unit from the SCS of the sidelink communication by using the table 1700 and the index value. For example, the UE 104 receives index 0 in an RRC message from the BS 102, and based on the SCS value of 15khz, the UE 104 may determine the PSCCH resource element starting at n=0 of the set of available side link resources. The number of first resource elements (symbols) in the PSCCH resource element may be determined according to one of the methods discussed in detail above. For example, based on table 400, when the side link SCS is 15khz, the PSCCH resource element comprises 4 symbols in the time domain. In some embodiments, the UE 104 selects PSCCH resource elements occupying symbols 0-3 in the set of available side chain resources to receive or transmit SCI. Similarly, under the same SCS set (e.g., 15 kHz), when index 3 is received in the RRC message from BS 102, the pssch resource unit starts at n=4 of the set of available side link resources and occupies 8 symbols in the time domain, and UE 104 may receive or transmit side link data at symbols 3-10 of the set of available side link resources, according to table 400.

In some embodiments, the location of a second resource element (e.g., RB) in the side chain channel resource element in the frequency domain may be determined using the location of the starting RB in the side chain resource set in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, the number of RBs (i.e., k-value) is determined according to one of the methods discussed above. In some embodiments, the location of the starting RB in the set of available side link resources in the frequency domain is one of: the RB with the smallest index (hereinafter referred to as "RB index min #"), the RB with the smallest index+k (hereinafter referred to as "RB index min # +k"), and the RB with the largest index (hereinafter referred to as "RB index max #") in the available side link resource set, where K is a non-negative integer. In some embodiments, the K value may be preconfigured by the system or indicated by BS 102 through higher layer signaling. In some embodiments, the set of available side chain resources in the frequency domain includes one of: the configuration of the side link resource pool or side link resource set determines at least one RB; at least one RB in BWP for side link communication and determined by BWP configuration; at least one RB in the BWP of the system and determined by the configuration of the system.

In some embodiments, the location of the RB in the side chain channel resource element is one of: [ RB index #min+iXk, RB index #min+i×k+k-1], [ RB index #min+k+i×k, RB index #min+k+i×k+k-1], and [ RB index #max-K-i×k, RB index #max-K-i×k-k+1], wherein i is a non-negative integer. For example, when there are 100 RBs for side link communication in BWP and k=5, the BWP for side link communication includes 20 side link channel resource units, and each of the 20 side link channel resource units includes 5 RBs in the frequency domain. The first side link channel resource elements occupy RBs 0-4, the second side link channel resource elements occupy RBs 5-9, …, and the twentieth side link channel resource elements occupy RBs 95-99.

In some embodiments, the location of the side link channel resource units may be determined from a location configuration table that includes a plurality of configurations of the locations of the side link channel resource units for the respective side link channels. Specifically, the location configuration table includes information of a location of the first resource unit in the time domain and/or a location of the second resource unit in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, the plurality of configurations each corresponds to an index, and upon receiving the index from BS 102, UE 104 may further determine the location of the side chain channel resource element in the time and/or frequency domain according to the location configuration table. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of configurations may be used to determine the location of a plurality of side-link channels.

In some embodiments, the index may be indicated to the UE 104 by the BS 102 through higher layer signaling. In some embodiments, signaling may be sent from BS 102 to UE 104 as higher layer signaling or physical layer signaling (e.g., system broadcast messages, radio Resource Control (RRC) messages, downlink Control Information (DCI), etc.). In some other embodiments, signaling may also be sent from the UE 104 in side link communications in the form of higher layer signaling or physical layer signaling (e.g., side link broadcast messages, RRC messages, side link control information (SCI), etc.).

Fig. 18 illustrates a table 1800 indicating a configuration of side channel resource units 1800 for 2 side channels at multiple locations in the time domain, according to some embodiments of the disclosure. In some embodiments, the configuration of the plurality of locations each includes an N value, wherein the N value is a location of a starting symbol of the side chain channel resource unit in one of: time slots and available set of side link resources. In the illustrated embodiment, the table 1800 includes 8 indexes 1802, N values for 2 side link channels (i.e., N1 for PSCCH resource element 1804 and N2 for PSCCH resource element 1806). Although only 8 indexes and 8N values for 2 side link channels are shown in fig. 18, it should be noted that any number of SCS values of any number for any number of side link channels may be included within the scope of the invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, when the index is 0, N1 of PSCCH resource element 1804 is 0 and N2 of PSCCH resource element 1806 is 0; when the index is 1, N1 of PSCCH resource element 1804 is 0 and N2 of PSCCH resource element 1806 is 4; when the index is 2, N1 of PSCCH resource element 1804 is 2 and N2 of PSCCH resource element 1806 is 2; when the index is 3, N1 of the PSCCH resource element 1804 is 2 and N2 of the PSCCH resource element 1806 is 6; when the index is 4, only N2 is defined, and N2 of the PSSCH resource unit 1806 is 7; when the index is 5, only N1 is defined and N1 of the PSCCH resource element 1804 is 10; when the indices are 6 and 7, the N1 and N2 values are reserved.

In some embodiments, when transmission of the side chain signal is performed by the UE 104 on the side chain channel, the UE 104 may further determine the location of the first resource element in the time domain of the side chain channel resource element according to the location configuration table 1800. For example, UE 104 may determine a PSCCH resource element starting at n=0 of the slot. The number of first resource elements (symbols) in the PSCCH resource element may be determined according to one of the methods discussed in detail above. For example, based on table 1000, when UE 104 receives index 1, the PSCCH resource element comprises 4 symbols in the time domain. In some embodiments, the UE 104 selects PSCCH resource elements occupying symbols 0-3 in the slot to receive and transmit SCI. Similarly, the same index value may be used to determine the number of first resource elements (symbols) in the time domain in the PSSCH, which starts at n=4 of the slot and occupies 2 symbols in the slot, according to table 1000, and UE 104 may receive or transmit side link data at slot symbols 4-5. In some other embodiments, when the value of N in the table 1800 is the position of the starting symbol of a sidelink channel resource unit in the set of available sidelink resources, the position of the sidelink channel resource unit may be determined from the position configuration of the set of available sidelink resources in the slot.

Fig. 19 illustrates a method 1900 for configuring side link channel resource units for side link communications in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. It should be appreciated that additional operations may be provided before, during, and after the method 1900 of fig. 19, and that some operations may be omitted or reordered. The communication system in the illustrated embodiment includes a BS 102, a UE 104.

The method 1900 begins with operation 1902, in which, in accordance with some embodiments, a first message is sent from the BS 102 to the UE 104. In some embodiments, the first message includes a configuration of side chain channel resource units. In some embodiments, the configuration of side chain channel resource units includes a number of first resource units in the time domain and a number of second resource units in the frequency domain. The configuration further includes a location of the first resource unit in the time domain and/or a location of the second resource unit in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, the configuration of the number of first resource elements in the time domain and the number of second resource elements in the frequency domain may be one of: preconfigured by the system; configured by BS 102; is determined by the corresponding side link subcarrier spacing (SCS), the set of available side link resources, and the number of available side link resource elements; and by the configuration table, as discussed in detail above. In some embodiments, the configuration of the location of the first resource unit in the time domain and the location of the second resource unit in the frequency domain may be one of: the starting positions of the first and second resource units are determined by the corresponding side chain sub-carrier spacing (SCS) and by the location configuration table, as discussed in detail above. In some embodiments, the configuration of the number and location of side chain channel resource elements is sent by BS 102 to UE 104 through RRC signaling, where the RRC signaling may be one of: the system broadcasts messages and UE-specific RRC signaling.

The method 1900 continues to operation 1904, where the UE 104 determines the number and location of side-channel resource elements for the corresponding channel according to the reception configuration for side-link communication received in the RRC signaling in operation 1904.

The method 1900 continues to operation 1906 where the UE 104 performs side link communication on the determined side link channel resource units in operation 1906. In some embodiments, the configuration of side-channel resource units for different side-channel channels may be determined. In some embodiments, the side link channel may be at least one of: physical side link control channel (PSCCH), physical side link shared channel (PSSCH), physical side link broadcast channel (PSBCH), and physical side link discovery channel (PSDCH). Specifically, the PSCCH resources are used to carry side link control information (SCI), wherein the SCI comprises at least one of: the side link scheduling control information, side link feedback control information (e.g., ACK/NACK) and channel measurement feedback information (e.g., channel State Information (CSI)), PSSCH resources are used to carry side link data, PSBCH resources are used to carry side link broadcast information, and PSDCH resources are used to carry side link discovery signals.

In some embodiments, the configuration of the first sidelink channel resource units for the respective first sidelink channel may be determined based on the configuration of the second sidelink channel resource units for the respective second sidelink channel. In some embodiments, there are multiple side link channels for side link communications, and different side link channels may be associated with other side link channels. In some embodiments, any two of the plurality of side link channels may be grouped together as an associated side link channel combination, wherein the associated side link channel combination includes a first side link channel and a second side link channel. In some embodiments, the associated side link channel combinations include one of the following side link channel groups: PSCCH/PSCCH, pscsch/PSCCH, PSBCH/PSCCH, and PSDCH/PSCCH.

In some embodiments, the configuration of the first sidelink channel resource units of the first sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination may be determined based on the configuration of the second sidelink channel resource units of the second sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination. In one embodiment, the configuration (n 2 and/or k 2) of the second side link channel resource units of the second side link channel of the associated side link channel combination is determined from the configuration (n 1 and/or k 1) of the first side link channel resource units of the associated side link channel combination (i.e., n1=n2 and k1=k2). In another embodiment, the number of first resource units in the time domain in the first sidelink channel resource units of the associated sidelink channel combination (n 1) is equal to the number of first resource units in the time domain in the second sidelink channel resource units of the associated sidelink channel combination (n 2). The number (k 1) of second resource units in the frequency domain in the first side link channel resource units of the first side link channel of the associated side link channel combination may be determined according to other embodiments in the present disclosure. However, in another embodiment, the number of second resource units in the frequency domain in the first sidelink channel resource units of the associated sidelink channel combination is equal to the number of second resource units in the frequency domain in the second sidelink channel resource units of the associated sidelink channel combination (k 2). The number of first resource units in the time domain (n 1) of the first side link channel resource units of the first side link channel of the associated side link channel combination may be determined according to other embodiments in the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, the configuration (n and/or k values) of the second side link channel resource units of the second side link channel of the associated side link channel combination may be determined based on the configuration (n and/or k values) of the first side link channel resource units of the first side link channel of the associated side link channel combination and a predefined relationship. In some embodiments, the predefined relationship may be obtained from a predefined relationship table. In some embodiments, the predefined relationship table may be indicated by predefined rules. For example, when the number of available symbols in a slot for side link communication is N, n2=n—n1.

Fig. 20 illustrates a table 2000 showing a mapping relationship between n1 and n2 in two corresponding side link channel resource units for two corresponding side link channels in a related side link channel combination, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Although n1 in the first column 2002 and n2 in the second column 2004 each have 4 values in table 2000, it should be noted that n1 and n2 may include any number of values and are within the scope of the invention, wherein n1 and n2 are non-negative integers. In some embodiments, (n 1, n 2). Ltoreq.14 for time slots with normal CP, and (n 1, n 2). Ltoreq.12 for time slots with extended CP. In the embodiment shown in fig. 8, each of the four n1 values corresponds to a respective n2 value. For example, when n1=8, n2=4; when n1=10, n2=6; when n1=12, n2=8; when n1=14, n2=10.

Fig. 21 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 2100 with a side chain resource pool 302, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that fig. 21 is for illustration purposes and not for limitation. The number and location of resource pools 302 are indicated by BS 102 via higher layer signaling. The number of available symbols (N) in a slot for side link communication is also indicated by higher layer signaling. The higher layer signaling from BS 102 also indicates the associated side channel combinations, i.e., including PSCCH and PSSCH. In addition, higher layer signaling from BS 102 indicates the relationship between the configuration of PSCCH resource elements (n 2) and the configuration of PSCCH resource elements (n 1). In the illustrated embodiment, n1=n—n2. It should be noted that the radio frame structure 2100 may include a different number of first resource elements (e.g., symbols) at any location in the time domain and a slot may include 12 or 14 symbols, all of which are within the scope of the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the side link resource pool 302 includes 3 time slots, 202-1, 202-2, and 202-5. In some embodiments, each slot 202 includes 14 symbols with a normal CP. The 3 slots 202 may each include a different number of symbols for side link communications, as shown at 302-1, 302-2, and 302-3. In the illustrated embodiment, the first slot 202-1 includes 4 symbols for side link communications; the second slot 202-2 includes 8 symbols for side link communication; the fifth slot 202-5 includes 14 symbols for side link communications. Further, the PSCCH resource element comprises 4 (n 1) symbols in the time domain and 5 RBs in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, UE 104 may determine N2 based on N and N1.

In the illustrated embodiment, since the first slot 302-1 includes 4 symbols and the first PSCCH resource element 304-1 occupies 4 symbols in the time domain in the first slot 202-1, the first slot 202-1 does not include any symbols for the PSCCH (n2=0). Similarly, the second slot 302-2 includes a second PSCCH resource element 304-2 and a first PSCCH resource element 304-3, the second PSCCH resource element 304-2 including 4 symbols in the time domain in the second slot 202-2, and the first PSCCH resource element 304-3 including 4 (n2=4) symbols in the time domain; the method comprises the steps of carrying out a first treatment on the surface of the And the third slot 302-3 includes a third PSCCH resource element 304-4 and a second PSCCH resource element 304-5, the third PSCCH resource element 304-4 comprising 4 symbols in the time domain in the fifth slot 202-5 and the second PSCCH resource element 304-5 comprising 10 (n2=10) symbols in the time domain.

Furthermore, the 4 symbols of the first PSCCH resource element 304-1 occupy symbol 10-13 in the first slot 202-1; the 4 symbols of the second PSCCH resource element 304-2 and the 4 symbols of the first PSCCH resource element 304-3 occupy symbols 6-13 in the second slot 202-2; while the 4 symbols of the third PSCCH resource element 304-4 and the second psch resource element 304-5 occupy symbols 0-13 in the fifth slot 202-5. In some embodiments, the location of symbols in a resource unit in a slot may be determined by one of the methods discussed in detail below.

The method allows multiplexing of the available resources in the time domain, in which method the configuration of the first resource unit for the first side link channel is determined from the second resource unit for the second side link channel in the associated side link channel combination. This approach is particularly beneficial when the corresponding signaling needs to be sent at different times to meet the requirements in terms of transmission delay and complexity when the UE receives and processes the side chain signals.

In some embodiments, the configuration of the second sidelink channel resource units of the second sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination may be determined based on the indication on the first sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination. For example, the first side link channel carries indication information, which may be used to indicate the number of first resource elements in the time domain (n 2) and/or the number of second resource elements in the frequency domain (k 2) in the second side link channel resource elements.

In some other embodiments, the configuration of the second side link channel resource units of the second side link channel of the related side link channel combination may be determined based on the location of the resources of the first side link channel in the time and/or frequency domain according to predefined rules. For example, when the system predefines the associated sidelink channel combination, the first sidelink channel is PSSCH and the second sidelink channel is PSCCH. In some embodiments, when a first resource element (e.g., symbol) in the time domain in a psch resource element is included in the first t1 symbols in a slot, the psch resource element includes n1 first resource elements (e.g., symbols) in the time domain. In some other embodiments, when a first resource element (e.g., symbol) in the time domain of the psch is included in the last t2 symbols in a slot, the PSCCH resource element includes n2 first resource elements (e.g., symbols) in the time domain.

Fig. 22 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 2200 with side chain resource pools 302, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that fig. 22 is for illustration purposes and not for limitation. BS 102 indicates the number and location of side chain resource pools 302 through higher layer signaling. It should be noted that the radio frame structure 2200 may include a different number of first resource units (e.g., symbols) at any location in the time domain and the slot may include 12 or 14 symbols, which are within the scope of the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the side link resource pool 302 includes 3 time slots 202, 202-1, 202-2, and 202-4. The 3 slots 202 may each include a different number of symbols for side link communications, as shown at 302-1, 302-2, and 302-3. In the illustrated embodiment, the first slot 202-1 includes 8 symbols for side link communications; the second slot 202-2 includes 6 symbols for side link communication; and the fourth slot 202-4 includes 2 symbols for side link communications.

In the illustrated embodiment, based on predefined rules of the system, where n1=4 when t1=8; whereas when t2=6, n2=2, because PSCCH resource element 304-1 occupies symbol 2-5 in first slot 202-1, PSCCH resource element 304-2 comprises 4 symbols in the time domain in first slot 202-1. Because PSCCH resource unit 304-3 occupies symbol 8-13 in the second slot 202-2, PSSCH resource unit 304-4 includes 2 symbols in the time domain in the fourth slot 202-4. In some embodiments, the first and second PSCCH resource units 304-1/304-3 are used to transmit feedback information A/N of respective signals on the corresponding first and second PSSCHs 304-2/304-4.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first PSSCH resource unit 304-1 occupies symbol 2-5 in the first slot s 0; the first PSCCH resource element 304-2 occupies a symbol 10-13 in the first slot s 0; the second PSSCH resource unit 304-3 occupies the symbol 8-13 in the second slot s 1; the second PSCCH resource element 304-4 occupies a symbol 12-13 in the fourth slot s 3. In some embodiments, the locations of symbols in the resource units in the slot are preconfigured by the system or configured by BS 102.

In some embodiments, the position of the first resource unit in the second sidelink channel resource unit of the second sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination (e.g., the position of the starting symbol in the slot) may be determined based on the position of the first resource unit in the first sidelink channel resource unit of the associated sidelink channel combination in the time domain. In some embodiments, when a first sidelink channel resource unit starts at symbol N1 in a time slot and occupies N1 first resource units (e.g., symbols) in the time domain, a second sidelink channel resource unit starts at symbol n1+n1 and occupies N2 symbols in the corresponding time slot. In some embodiments, when a first sidelink channel resource unit starts at symbol N1 in a slot and occupies N1 first resource units (e.g., symbols) in the time domain, a second sidelink channel resource unit starts at symbol N1 and occupies N2 symbols in the same slot occupying a different RB. In some embodiments, the location of the second sidelink channel resource units of the second sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination may be determined based on the indication information on the first sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination. In some embodiments, the indication information may be implicit or explicit. In some embodiments, the indication information includes a position of a start symbol of the second sidelink channel resource unit in a slot and a position of the slot. For example, a first sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination comprises Sidelink Control Information (SCI), wherein the SCI comprises location information of sidelink channel resource units of a second sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination. In some embodiments, the information includes at least one of: the position of the start symbol of the side link channel resource unit of the second channel in the slot (#n) and the position of the slot.

Fig. 23 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 2300 with a side chain resource pool 302, according to some embodiments of the disclosure. It should be noted that fig. 23 is for illustration purposes and not for limitation. BS 102 indicates the number and location of side chain resource pools 302 through higher layer signaling.

In the illustrated embodiment, the side link resource pool 302 includes 3 time slots, 202-1, 202-2, and 202-5. In some embodiments, each slot 202 includes 14 symbols with normal CPs. As shown at 302-1, 302-2, and 302-3 in fig. 23, each of the 3 slots 202 may include a different number of symbols for side link communications. In the illustrated embodiment, the first slot 202-1 includes 10 symbols for side link communications; the second slot 202-2 includes 4 symbols for side link communication; the fifth slot 202-5 includes 8 symbols for side link communications.

In the illustrated embodiment, when N1 of the first sidelink channel (e.g., PSCCH) resource element 304-1 is 4, 4 symbols are occupied in the first slot 202-1, and the second sidelink channel (e.g., PSSCH) resource element 304-2 of the first correlated sidelink channel combination occupies 6 symbols in the first slot 202-1, the first PSCCH resource element 304-1 of the first correlated sidelink channel combination occupies symbol 4-7 in the slot 202-1, and the first PSSCH resource element 304-2 of the first correlated sidelink channel combination occupies symbol 8-13 in the first slot 202-1. In the illustrated embodiment, when N1 of the second PSCCH resource unit 304-3 in the second correlated side link channel combination is 0 and occupies 4 symbols in the second slot 202-2, N2 of the second PSSCH resource unit 304-4 in the second correlated side link channel combination is equal to N1 and the second PSSCH resource unit 304-4 occupies symbols 0-7 in the fifth slot 202-5. In some other embodiments, the second PSSCH resource element 304-4 in the second correlated side-link channel combination can be in the same slot (e.g., the second slot 202-2) and occupy a different RB in the frequency domain than the RB occupied by the second PSCCH resource element 304-3.

Fig. 24 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 2400 with side chain resource pools 302, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that fig. 24 is for illustration purposes and not for limitation. The number and location of resource pools 302 are indicated by BS 102 via higher layer signaling.

In some embodiments, the sidelink channel resource units of the first sidelink channel and the sidelink channel resource units of the second sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination may be on different timeslots. The time slots containing side link channel resource units for the associated side link channel combinations may be configured by the system. For example, the sidelink channel resource units of the first sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination are in time slot #s and the sidelink channel resource units of the second sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination are in time slot #s+ns, and the starting symbol is a symbol N, where N is the position of the starting symbol of the sidelink channel resource units in the time slot of the second sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination. In the illustrated embodiment, the sidelink channel resource elements of a first sidelink channel (e.g., PSSCH) of the associated sidelink channel combination occupy symbols 0-3 in the first time slot 202-1, and the sidelink channel resource elements of a second sidelink channel (e.g., PSCCH) of the associated sidelink channel combination occupy symbols 10-13 in the fifth time slot 202-5, i.e., ns=4, n=10. In some embodiments, the PSCCH resource unit 304-2 in the fifth slot 202-5 is used to send a receipt status acknowledgement after receiving the side link data of the corresponding PSSCH resource unit 304-1 received in the first slot 202-1.

In some embodiments, the location of the second resource unit in the second side link channel resource unit of the second side link channel of the associated side link channel combination may be determined from the location of the second resource unit in the first side link channel resource unit of the associated side link channel combination in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, the first and second side channel resource elements occupy the same RB. In some embodiments, the location of the starting RB of the first side link channel resource element of the first side link channel in the frequency domain (e.g., the RB with the smallest RB index) is the same as the location of the starting RB of the second side link channel resource element of the second side link channel in the frequency domain. In some embodiments, the starting position of the second side chain channel resource element in the frequency domain is the sum of the largest RB index in the first side chain channel resource element and 1, i.e., RB index #k1+1, where RB index k1 is the largest RB index in the first side chain channel resource element of the first side chain channel. In some embodiments, when determining the number of RBs using one of the methods described above, the location of the second side chain channel resource unit may be determined.

Fig. 25 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 2500 with a side chain resource pool 302, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that fig. 25 is for illustration purposes and not for limitation. The number and location of resource pools 302 are indicated by BS 102 via higher layer signaling.

In the illustrated embodiment, the side link resource pool 302 includes 2 time slots 202, 202-1 and 202-5. In the illustrated embodiment, the first slot 202-1 includes 4 symbols for side link communications; and the fifth slot 202-5 includes 4 symbols for side link communications.

In some embodiments, the first sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination is a PSCCH and the second sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination is a PSSCH. The relation of the two side-chain channel resource units in the frequency domain of the two side-chain channels is preconfigured by the system. In some embodiments, when the system is preconfigured with ns=5, PSCCH resource element 304-1 is in the first slot 202-1 (i.e., #s=0) and PSCCH resource element 304-2 is in slot #s+ns (i.e., fifth slot 202-5). In addition, PSCCH resource unit 304-1 occupies the same RB as PSSCH resource unit 304-2. In the illustrated embodiment, PSSCH resource unit 304-1 occupies symbols 0-3 in the first slot 202-1 and RB 0-1 in BWP; while PSCCH resource element 304-2 occupies symbol 10-13 in the fifth slot 202-5 and RB 0-1 in BWP.

Fig. 26 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 2600 with a side chain resource pool 302, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that fig. 26 is for illustration purposes and not for limitation. The number and location of resource pools 302 are indicated by BS 102 via higher layer signaling.

In the illustrated embodiment, the sidelink resource pool 302 comprises 1 slot 202. In some embodiments, slot 202 includes 14 symbols with normal CP. The side link resource pool 302 includes 2 side link channel resource units 304-1 and 304-2 for two different side link channels.

In some embodiments, the first sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination is a PSCCH and the second sidelink channel in the associated sidelink channel combination is a PSSCH. The relation of the two side-chain channel resource units in the frequency domain of the two side-chain channels is preconfigured by the system. In some embodiments, PSCCH resource unit 304-1 occupies symbol 2-5 in the first slot 202-1, while PSSCH resource unit 304-2 occupies symbol 6-13 in the same slot. In addition, PSCCH resource element 304-1 starts with the same RB as PSCCH resource element 304-2, i.e., k=0. In the illustrated embodiment, PSSCH resource unit 304-1 occupies symbol 2-5 in the first slot 202-1 and RB 0-1 in BWP; while PSCCH resource element 304-2 occupies symbol 6-13 in the first slot 202-1 and RB 0-3 in BWP.

Fig. 27 illustrates a table 2700, which table 2700 indicates a plurality of configurations of side link channel resource elements in time and frequency domains for a PSSCH, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of configurations includes an N value, a K value, a number (K) of second resource units in the frequency domain in one side chain channel resource unit. In some embodiments, the value of N is the position of the starting symbol of the sidelink channel resource unit in one of: time slots and a set of available side link resources; the K value is the position of the starting RB of the side link channel resource unit. In the illustrated embodiment, table 2700 includes 16 indexes 2702, 16N values 2704, 16K values 2706, and 16K values 2708. It should be noted that any number of location configurations with any N, K and k values for any number of side link channels may be included within the scope of the invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, when the index is 0, N is N1, K is K1+k1, and K is 8; when the index is 1, N is N1+n1, and K is K1, K is 8; when the index is 2, N is N1, K is K1+k1, and K is 10; when the index is 3, N is N1+N1N1+n1, and K is K1, K is 10; when the index is 4, N is 0, K is K1+k1, and K is 8; when the index is 5, N is 4, K is K1+k1, and K is 12; when the index is where N is 7,K is K1 and K is 8; when the index is 7-15, the N, K, K value is reserved, where N1 is the starting position of the first side link channel in the time domain, K1 is the starting position of the first side link channel in the frequency domain, N1 is the first number of first units of the first side link channel in the time domain, and K1 is the second number of second units of the first side link channel in the time domain.

Fig. 28 illustrates a schematic diagram of a radio frame structure 2800 with side chain resource pools 302, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that fig. 28 is for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. The number and location of resource pools 302 are indicated by BS 102 via higher layer signaling.

In the illustrated embodiment, the side link resource pool 302 includes 2 time slots 202, 202-1 and 202-5. The 2 time slots 202 each include 1 side link channel resource unit 304 for two different side link channels in the associated side link channel combination.

In some embodiments, PSCCH resource elements in the first slot 202-1 used to carry SCI occupy symbols 0-4 in the time domain (i.e., n1=0 and n1=4) and occupy RBs 5-6 in the frequency domain (i.e., k1=5). When SCI further indicates an index of 1, PSSCH resource unit 304-2 starts at symbol 4 (#n2=n1+n1) in the slot and at RB 5 (#k2=5) in the frequency domain. The PSSCH resource unit also occupies 8 RBs (k2=8) in the frequency domain and occupies a plurality (n2=5) of symbols in the time domain, wherein the number of symbols in the time domain may be preconfigured by the system. In some embodiments, when the first UE 104-a indicates to the second UE 104-B an index in the SCI on the PSCCH resource element, the second UE 104-B may determine the location of the PSCCH resource element in the time and frequency domains based on the received index, the location configuration table, and the location information of the PSCCH resource element.

Fig. 29 illustrates a method 2900 for configuring side link channel resource elements for side link communications, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that additional operations may be provided before, during, and after method 2900 of fig. 29, and that some operations may be omitted or reordered. The communication system in the illustrated embodiment includes a first UE 104-a and a second UE 104-B. In the illustrated embodiment, the first UE 104-a and the second UE 104-B are located in one of at least one serving cell covered by the BS 102 (not shown).

The method 2900 begins at operation 2902, where in operation 2902, a first message is sent from a first UE 104-a to a second UE 104-B, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the first message is a side link broadcast message. In some embodiments, the first message indicates a first side link channel and a second side link channel in the associated side link channel combination. The first message also includes a relationship between the number of resource units in the time and frequency domains of the first and second side link channels in the associated side link channel combination. In some embodiments, the configuration (n and/or k values) of the second side link channel resource units of the second side link channel of the associated side link channel combination may be determined based on the configuration (n and/or k values) of the first side link channel resource units of the first side link channel of the associated side link channel combination and a predefined relationship. In some embodiments, the configuration of the second sidelink channel resource units of the second sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination may be determined based on the indication on the first sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination.

In some embodiments, the first message further includes a positional relationship between the first side link channel and the second side link channel in the associated side link channel combination, wherein the positional relationship includes one of: the first side link channel resource unit and the second side link channel resource unit occupy the same RB; the location of the starting RB in the frequency domain of the first side link channel resource element of the first side link channel (e.g., the RB with the smallest RB index) is the same as the location of the starting RB in the frequency domain of the second side link channel resource element of the second side link channel; the starting position of the second side link channel resource element in the frequency domain is the sum of the largest RB index in the first side link channel resource element and 1, i.e. RB index #k1+1, where RB index k1 is the largest RB index in the first side link channel resource element. In some embodiments, the positional relationship further comprises one of: when a first sidelink channel resource unit starts at symbol N1 in a time slot and occupies N1 first resource units (e.g., symbols) in a time domain, a second sidelink channel resource unit starts at symbol n1+n1 and occupies N2 symbols in a corresponding time slot; when a first sidelink channel resource unit starts at symbol N1 in a time slot and occupies N1 first resource units (e.g., symbols) in the time domain, a second sidelink channel resource unit starts at symbol N1 in the same time slot and occupies N2 symbols.

The method 2900 continues to operation 2904 where, in operation 2904, a second message is sent from the first UE 104-a to the second UE 104-B, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the second message is sent on a first side link channel resource unit. In some embodiments, a second message is sent to the UE 104-B to determine the configuration (e.g., number and location) of the first side link channel resource units. In some embodiments, the second message is a side link signal on the first side link channel resource unit. For example, a first sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination comprises Sidelink Control Information (SCI), wherein the SCI comprises location information of sidelink channel resource units of a second sidelink channel of the associated sidelink channel combination. In some embodiments, the information includes at least one of: the position of the start symbol of the side link channel resource unit of the second channel in the slot (#n) and the position of the slot.

The method 2900 continues to operation 2906 where, in operation 2906, the second UE 104-B determines a number and location of side link channel resource elements of the second side link channel based on the configuration of side link channel resource elements of the first side link channel in the associated side link channel combination.

The method 2900 continues to operation 2908 where, in operation 2908, the first UE 104-1 and the second UE 104-2 perform side-link communication on the determined side-link channel resource units. In some embodiments, the configuration of side-channel resource units for different side-channel channels may be determined. In some embodiments, the side link channel may be at least one of: physical side link control channel (PSCCH), physical side link shared channel (PSSCH), physical side link broadcast channel (PSBCH), and physical side link discovery channel (PSDCH). Specifically, PSCCH resources are used to carry side link control information (SCI), wherein the SCI includes at least one of: side link scheduling control information, side link feedback control information (e.g., ACK/NACK), and channel measurement feedback information (e.g., channel State Information (CSI)); PSSCH resources are used to carry side link data; PSBCH resources are used for bearing side link broadcast information; and the PSDCH resources are used to carry side link discovery signals.

In some embodiments, the configuration of at least one side link channel resource unit for at least one corresponding side link channel may be determined from a side link channel pattern table. In some other embodiments, the side link channel pattern table may also indicate the number of symbols in the time domain and the number of RBs in the frequency domain that are available for side link communication. In this case, the side link channel pattern table may also be used to indicate the configuration of the side link communication available resources.

Fig. 30 illustrates a side link channel resource pattern table 3000 indicating various configurations of at least one side link channel resource unit in a time slot, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the table 3000 includes 15 columns including a pattern index 3002, a second column 3004 to a fourteenth column 3030 representing 14 symbols having a normal CP in a slot. Further, table 3000 includes i indices corresponding to i configurations of at least one side link channel in a slot. The i configurations of the slot each include 14 symbols and their corresponding attributes, where i is a positive integer. In some embodiments, the 14 symbols in the slot include at least one of: symbols in PSCCH resource elements ("C"), symbols in PSCCH resource elements ("S"), symbols for AGC ("a"), symbols for GP ("G"), symbols for RS ("R"), and symbols for non-sidelink communications ("N").

In some embodiments, the side link channel pattern table 3000 is preconfigured by the system. Each of the plurality of configurations corresponds to an index that is operable to indicate a configuration of at least one side link channel resource element, a position of at least one side link channel resource element in a slot, an attribute of each symbol in the slot, and a configuration of symbols for DMRS and AGC. BS 102 may indicate the index to UE 104 via higher layer signaling and/or physical layer signaling.

Fig. 31 illustrates a side chain channel resource pattern table 3100 indicating various configurations of at least one side chain channel resource unit in a slot, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, table 3100 includes 15 columns including a pattern index 3102, a second column 3104 to a fourteenth column 3130 representing 14 symbols in a slot with a normal CP. Further, table 3100 includes i indices corresponding to i configurations of at least one side-link channel in a slot. The i configurations of the slot each include 14 symbols and their corresponding attributes, where i is a positive integer. In some embodiments, the 14 symbols in the slot are each one of: non-side chain symbols (N) and Sf, where Sf represents a symbol in side link channel resource unit #f, where f is a non-negative integer.

For example, when the index is 0, the first sidelink channel resource unit s0 occupies symbols 10-13 in the slot, and symbols 0-9 are symbols for non-sidelink communication; when the index is 1, the first sidelink channel resource unit s0 occupies symbols 8-13 in the slot, and symbols 0-7 are symbols for non-sidelink communication; when the index is 2, the first side link channel resource unit s0 occupies the symbols 8-10, the second side link channel resource unit occupies the symbols 11-13, and the symbols 0-7 in the slot are the symbols for non-side link communication; when the index is 3, the first side link channel resource unit s0 occupies symbols 6-8, the second side link channel resource unit occupies symbols 8-13, and the symbols 0-5 in the slot are symbols for non-side link communication; when the index is 4, the first side link channel resource unit s0 occupies symbols 5-8, the second side link channel resource unit occupies symbols 9-11, and the symbols 0-4 and 12-13 in the slot are symbols for non-side link communication; when the index is 5, the first side link channel resource unit s0 occupies symbols 4-7, the second side link channel resource unit occupies symbols 10-13, and the symbols 0-3 and 8-9 in the time slot are used for non-side link symbol communication; when the index is 6, the first side link channel resource unit s0 occupies 4-7 symbols, the second side link channel resource unit occupies 8-11 symbols, the third side link channel resource unit occupies 12-13 symbols, and the symbols 0-3 in the time slot are symbols for non-side link communication; when the index is i-2, the first side link channel resource unit s0 occupies symbols 0-3, the second side link channel resource unit occupies symbols 4-7, and the third side link channel resource unit occupies symbols 8-13 in the time slot; and when the index is i-1, all symbols are reserved.

In some embodiments, the side link channel pattern table 3100 is preconfigured by the system. Each of the plurality of configurations corresponds to an index that is operable to indicate a number of symbols in at least one side link channel resource unit, a position of the at least one side link channel resource unit in a time slot, and a number of the at least one side link channel resource unit in a time slot.

In some embodiments, the index may be indicated by BS 102 to UE 104 via DCI. For example, when the UE 104 receives index 0 from the BS 102, the UE 104 may determine a time slot of a side chain channel resource unit comprising 1 side chain channel resource unit for 4 available symbols for side chain communication. The side link channel resource elements occupying symbols 10-13 are used for side link channels. The UE 104 may also perform side-link communication according to the configured side-link channel resource units and corresponding side-link channels to transmit or receive side-link signals on symbols 10-13 in the time slot.

Fig. 32 illustrates a method 3200 for configuring the number and location of side link channel resource elements for side link communications, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that additional operations may be provided before, during, and after the method 3200 of fig. 32, and that some operations may be omitted or reordered. The communication system in the illustrated embodiment includes a BS 102, a UE 104.

The method 3200 begins with operation 3202, in which a first message is sent from the BS 102 to the UE 104, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the first message includes Downlink Control Information (DCI). In some embodiments, the first message includes at least one pattern index indicating a configuration of at least one corresponding side link channel resource unit in the time slot.

The method 3200 continues to operation 3204, where in operation 3204, the UE 104 determines at least one configuration for at least one side-link channel resource element in the time domain for the second side-link channel from the configuration for the side-link channel resource element for the at least one corresponding side-link channel.

The method 3200 continues to operation 3206 where, in operation 3206, the UE 104 performs side-channel communication over at least one side-channel resource element. In some embodiments, at least one configuration of at least one side channel resource unit for a different side channel may be determined. In some embodiments, the side link channel may be at least one of: physical side link control channel (PSCCH), physical side link shared channel (PSSCH), physical side link broadcast channel (PSBCH), and physical side link discovery channel (PSDCH). Specifically, the PSCCH resources are used to carry side link control information (SCI), wherein the SCI includes at least one of: side link scheduling control information, side link feedback control information (e.g., ACK/NACK), and channel measurement feedback information (e.g., channel State Information (CSI)); PSSCH resources are used to carry side link data; PSBCH resources are used for bearing side link broadcast information; and the PSDCH resources are used to carry side link discovery signals.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Likewise, the various figures may depict an exemplary architecture or configuration provided to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to understand the exemplary features and functionality of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited to the exemplary architectures or configurations shown, but may be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. In addition, one or more features of one embodiment may be combined with one or more features of another embodiment described herein, as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

It should also be appreciated that any reference herein to an element using a designation such as "first," "second," or the like generally does not limit the number or order of those elements. Rather, these designations may be used herein as a convenient means of distinguishing between two or more elements or instances of an element. Thus, references to first and second elements do not mean that only two elements can be employed, or that the first element must somehow precede the second element.

In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art would understand that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, and symbols that may be referenced throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof, for example.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will further appreciate that any of the several illustrative logical blocks, modules, processors, means, circuits, methods, and functions described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented by electronic hardware (e.g., digital implementations, analog implementations, or a combination of both, which may be designed using source code or some other technique), various forms of program or design code in connection with instructions (which may be referred to herein as "software" or a "software module" for convenience), or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware, firmware, or software, or a combination of such techniques, depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present disclosure.

Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, devices, components, and circuits described herein may be implemented within or performed by an Integrated Circuit (IC) that may comprise a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, or any combination thereof. The logic, modules, and circuitry may further include an antenna and/or transceiver to communicate with various components within the network or within the device. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suitable configuration for performing the functions described herein.

If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on a computer-readable medium as one or more instructions or code. Thus, the steps of a method or algorithm disclosed herein may be implemented as software stored on a computer readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that enables transmission of a computer program or code from one place to another. A storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical, magnetic disk or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer.

As used herein, the term "module" refers to software, firmware, hardware, and any combination of these elements for performing the related functions described herein. In addition, for purposes of discussion, the various modules are described as discrete modules; however, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that two or more modules may be combined to form a single module that performs the relevant functions in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

Additionally, in embodiments of the invention, memory or other memory and communication components may be employed. It will be appreciated that for clarity, the above description has described embodiments of the invention with reference to different functional units and processors. However, it will be apparent that any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional units, processing logic elements or domains may be used without detracting from the invention. For example, functions illustrated as being performed by separate processing logic elements or controllers may be performed by the same processing logic elements or controllers. Thus, references to specific functional units are only references to suitable means for providing the described functionality rather than indicative of a strict logical or physical structure or organization.

Various modifications to the embodiments described in this disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the novel features and principles as disclosed herein, as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A method performed by a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of time slots containing resources for side link communication according to high-level signaling sent by the wireless communication node;

determining a side link channel resource unit of a side link channel located in a first time slot of the plurality of time slots according to the configuration of the side link channel resource unit indicated by the wireless communication node; and

side link communication is performed on the side link channel resource units,

wherein the determining comprises: determining a first number of the side chain channel resource units in a time domain and a second number of the side chain channel resource units in a frequency domain;

wherein the first resource element in the time domain is a symbol and wherein the second resource element in the frequency domain is a resource block, RB, wherein the symbol is one of: cyclic prefix-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing CP-OFDM symbols and discrete fourier transform spread DFT-S-OFDM symbols;

Wherein the determining comprises: determining a first initial position of the side chain channel resource unit in a time domain and a second initial position in a frequency domain;

wherein the first starting position is a starting symbol of available side link resources in the first time slot.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the side link channel comprises at least one of: physical side link control channel PSCCH, physical side link shared channel PSSCH, physical side link broadcast channel PSBCH, and physical side link discovery channel PSDCH.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein in the time domain, the first starting position is determined according to one of: the pre-configuration of the first starting position in the time domain, the configuration of the first starting position in the time domain.

4. A method performed by a wireless communication node, the method comprising:

indicating to the wireless communication device a plurality of time slots containing resources for side link communication by higher layer signaling; and

indicating to the wireless communication device configuration information for the sidelink channel resource units of the sidelink channel located in a first time slot of the plurality of time slots,

wherein the configuration information of the side chain channel resource units comprises a configuration of the side chain channel resource units, and wherein the side chain channel resource units comprise a first number of first resource units in a time domain and a second number of second resource units in a frequency domain;

wherein the indication further comprises a configuration of a first starting position of the side chain channel resource unit in a time domain and a second starting position in a frequency domain;

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the side link channel comprises at least one of: physical side link control channel PSCCH, physical side link shared channel PSSCH, physical side link broadcast channel PSBCH, and physical side link discovery channel PSDCH.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the indicated configuration of the first starting location in the time domain comprises a configuration of the first starting location in the time domain.

7. A computing device comprising at least one processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the at least one processor configured to perform the method of any of claims 1-6.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing the method of any of claims 1 to 6.