Description

The present invention relates to the field of wireless communication systems or networks, more specifically to the design of resource pools as they may be used in sidelink communications among users of the wireless communication system, for example in V2X applications.

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an example of a terrestrial wireless network 100 including a core network 102 and a radio access network 104. The radio access network 104 may include a plurality of base stations gNBi to gNB5, each serving a specific area surrounding the base station schematically represented by respective cells 106 to 1065. The base stations are provided to serve users within a cell. The term base station, BS, refers to a gNB in 5G networks, an eNB in UMTS/LTE/LTE-A/ LTE-A Pro, or just a BS in other mobile communication standards. A user may be a stationary device or a mobile device. The wireless communication system may also be accessed by mobile or stationary loT devices which connect to a base station or to a user. The mobile devices or the loT devices may include physical devices, ground-based vehicles, such as robots or cars, aerial vehicles, such as manned or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the latter also referred to as drones, buildings and other items or devices having embedded therein electronics, software, sensors, actuators, or the like as well as network connectivity that enable these devices to collect and exchange data across an existing network infrastructure. Fig. 1 shows an exemplary view of only five cells; however, the wireless communication system may include more such cells. Fig. 1 shows two users UE-i and UE2, also referred to as user equipment, UE, that are in cell 1062 and that are served by base station gNB2. Another user UE3 is shown in cell 1064 which is served by base station gNB4. The arrows 108i, 1082 and 1083 schematically represent uplink/downlink connections for transmitting data from a user UE!, UE2 and UE3 to the base stations gNB2, gNB or for transmitting data from the base stations gNB2, gNB4 to the users UEi, UE2, UE3. Further, Fig. 1 shows two loT devices 1 10! and 1102 in cell 106 , which may be stationary or mobile devices. The loT device 110i accesses the wireless communication system via the base station gNB to receive and transmit data as schematically represented by arrow 112!. The loT device 1102 accesses the wireless communication system via the user UE3 as is schematically represented by arrow 1122. The respective base station g Bi to gNB5 may be connected to the core network 102, e.g. via the S1 or Xn interface, via respective backhaul links 1 14i to 1 145, which are schematically represented in Fig. 1 by the arrows pointing to "core". The core network 102 may be connected to one or more external networks. Further, some or all of the respective base station gNE^ to gNB5 may connected, e.g, via the S1 or X2 interface or XN interface in NR, with each other via respective backhaul links 116-t to 1 165, which are schematically represented in Fig. 1 by the arrows pointing to“gNBs".

For data transmission a physical resource grid may be used. The physical resource grid may comprise a set of resource elements to which various physical channels and physical signals are mapped. For example, the physical channels may include the physical downlink and uplink shared channels (PDSCH, PUSCH) carrying user specific data, also referred to as downlink and uplink payload data, the physical broadcast channel (PBCH) carrying for example a master information block (MIB) and a system information block (SIB), the physical downlink and uplink control channels (PDCCH, PUCCH) carrying for example the downlink control information (DCI). For the uplink, the physical channels may further include the physical random access channel (PRACH or RACH) used by UEs for accessing the network once a UE synchronized and obtained the MIB and SIB. The physical signals may comprise reference signals or symbols (RS), synchronization signals and the like. The resource grid may comprise a frame or radio frame having a certain duration in the time domain and having a given bandwidth in the frequency domain. The frame may have a certain number of subframes of a predefined length. Each subframe may include two slots of 6 or 7 OFDM symbols depending on the cyclic prefix (CP) length. A frame may also consist of a smaller number of OFDM symbols, e.g. when utilizing shortened transmission time intervals (sTTI) or a mini-slot/non-slot-based frame structure comprising just a few OFDM symbols.

The wireless communication system may be any single-tone or multicarrier system using frequency-division multiplexing, like the orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) system, the orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) system, or any other IFFT-based signal with or without CP, e.g. DFT-s-OFDM. Other waveforms, like non-orthogonal waveforms for multiple access, e.g. filter-bank multicarrier (FBMC), generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM) or universal filtered multi carrier (UFMC), may be used. The wireless communication system may operate, e.g., in accordance with the LTE-Advanced pro standard or the 5G or NR, New Radio, standard.

The wireless network or communication system depicted in Fig. 1 may by a heterogeneous network having distinct overlaid networks, e.g., a network of macro cells with each macro cell including a macro base station, like base station gNBi to gNB5, and a network of small cell base stations (not shown in Fig. 1), like femto or pico base stations.

In addition to the above described terrestrial wireless network also non-terrestrial wireless communication networks exist including spaceborne transceivers, like satellites, and/or airborne transceivers, like unmanned aircraft systems. The non-terrestrial wireless communication network or system may operate in a similar way as the terrestrial system described above with reference to Fig. 1 , for example in accordance with the LTE-Advanced Pro standard or the 5G or NR, New Radio, standard.

In mobile communication networks, for example in a network like that described above with reference to Fig. 1 , like an LTE or 5G/NR network, there may be UEs that communicate directly with each other over one or more sidelink (SL) channels, e.g., using the PCS interface. UEs that communicate directly with each other over the sidelink may include vehicles communicating directly with other vehicles (V2V communication), vehicles communicating with other entities of the wireless communication network (V2X communication), for example roadside entities, like traffic lights, traffic signs, or pedestrians. Other UEs may not be vehicular related UEs and may comprise any of the above-mentioned devices. Such devices may also communicate directly with each other (D2D communication) using the SL channels.

When considering two UEs directly communicating with each other over the sidelink, both UEs may be served by the same base station, i.e., both UEs may be within the coverage area of a base station, like one of the base stations depicted in Fig. 1. This is referred to as a "in coverage" scenario. The term «served by a BS“ in this context means, that the UE may utilize reference symbols broadcasted by the BS, e.g. synchronization signals, to indirectly synchronize to another UE, or that the BS organizes resource sets or resource pools to be used by both UEs for direct communication for transmission and reception. In accordance with other examples, both UEs that communicate over the sidelink may not be served by a base station which is referred to as an“out-of-coverage” scenario. It is noted that“out-of-coverage” does not mean that the two UEs are not within one of the cells depicted in Fig. 1 , rather, it means that these UEs are not connected to a base station, for example, they are not in a RRC connected state. Yet another scenario is called a“partial coverage” scenario, in accordance with which one of the two UEs which communicate

with each other over the sidelink, is served by a base station, while the other UE is not served by the base station.

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a situation in which two UEs directly communicating with each other are both in coverage of a base station. The base station gNB has a coverage area that is schematically represented by the circle 200 which, basically, corresponds to the cell schematically represented in Fig. 1. The UEs directly communicating with each other include a first vehicle 202 and a second vehicle 204 both in the coverage area 200 of the base station gNB. Both vehicles 202, 204 are connected to the base station gNB and, in addition, they are connected directly with each other over the PC5 interface. The scheduling and/or interference management of the V2V traffic is assisted by the gNB via control signaling over the Uu interface, which is the radio interface between the base station and the UEs. The gNB assigns the resources to be used for the V2V communication over the sidelink. This configuration is also referred to as a mode 3 configuration.

Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a situation in which the UEs are not in coverage of a base station, i.e. , the respective UEs directly communicating with each other are not connected to a base station, although they may be physically within a cell of a wireless communication network. Three vehicles 206, 208 and 210 are shown directly communicating with each other over a sidelink, e.g., using the PCS interface. The scheduling and/or interference management of the V2V traffic is based on algorithms implemented between the vehicles. This configuration is also referred to as a mode 4 configuration. As mentioned above, the scenario in Fig. 3 which is an out-of-coverage scenario does not mean that the respective mode 4 UEs are outside of the coverage 200 of a base station, rather, it means that the respective mode 4 UEs are not served by a base station or are not connected to the base station of the coverage area. Thus, there may be situations in which, within the coverage area 200 shown in Fig. 2, in addition to the mode 3 UEs 202, 204 also mode 4 UEs 206, 208, 210 are present.

For the communication among two or more UEs over respective sidelink interfaces a resource pool may be defined. The resource pool includes a plurality of resources that may be used by the UEs for respective transmissions and receptions over the sidelink. In accordance with a conventional approach, for example as defined in the LTE V2X standard, a resource pool is defined as a set of time and frequency resources in the uplink spectrum that are reserved to be used only for vehicular communications.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a resource pool which is defined across time and frequency. The top of Fig. 4 illustrates the resources in time and frequency that may be available at the base station for a communication with one or more UEs being connected to the base station. From these available resources a subset of resources is selected for defining the resource pool. As is illustrated in Fig. 4, across the time domain, the base station provides the UE with a subframe bitmap of variable lengths. The bitmap indicates whether resources at a certain time are to be used for the resource pool (indicated by a “ in the bitmap) and which resources are not to be used for the resource poo! (indicated by a“0” in the bitmap). As is indicated by the vertical dotted line in the upper part of Fig. 4, the bitmap may be repeated across the duration of the resource pool. The resource pool includes data and control sub-channels, which are defined on the basis of the subframes indicated by the bitmap and across the frequency. The data sub-channel is defined using a set of parameters that include the number of sub-channels together with a resource block, RB, index, and the size of the sub-channel in RBs. The control sub-channels are defined also on the basis of the subframes indicated in the bitmap, however, only the starting RB index is specified as the control channel extends only across two RBs in frequency. In the example of Fig. 4, one can see that from the block 310 of available resources the resource pool 312 is selected including two control sub-channels 314a and 314b as well as two data sub-channels 316a and 316b. In the example of Fig. 4, the control sub-channels are indicated by specifying the respective starting resource block in each selected subframes, namely the first and sixth RBs in each subframe with a size of 2 RBs in frequency, and the data sub-channels are described by their respective starting RBs, namely the third and eighth RBs in each subframe with a size of three RBs in frequency.

Thus, in accordance with conventional approaches, a resource pool may contain a minimum of two sub-channels, one sub-channel for control information, like the PSCCH, and one sub-channel for data, like the PSSCH. At a given transmit time interval, TTI, or subframe, a transmitting UE broadcasts a sidelink control information, SCI, in the control channel, followed by the data in the same subframe. The SCI will point to the resources within the subframe that data will be transmitted on, and a receiving UE will listen to the control sub-channel so that when it does receive an SCI it is made aware where the data is to be received.

There may be multiple resource pools in each configuration given by the BS to the UEs. Each resource pool may pertain a different purpose or situation, for example, there may be dedicated transmit resource pools, receive resource pools and so-called exceptional resource pools. When considering, for example, the case of transmit resource pools, the base station may divide its coverage area into a plurality of zones and may provide, dependent on the situations in the respective zones, different transmit resource pools for UEs located in the respective zones. For example, the base station may divide the coverage area into eight zones, and Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a cell, like a cell in the network described above with reference to Fig. 1 , in which such a division into multiple zones is applied. The cell is defined by the coverage 200 (see Fig. 3) of the base station gNB. The coverage area 200 is divided into a plurality of zones, each zone having associated therewith a respective zone!D. The coverage area 200 is subdivided into eight zones 2000 to 2007 having assigned thereto the zone identifiers zone!DO to zone!D7. It is noted that Fig. 5 is only an example of how the coverage area 200 may be separated into the respective zones, and in accordance with other examples more or less zones and zones of other shapes may be defined. The respective zones may be defined in relation to respective latitude and longitude coordinates, and the zones may also be referred to as V2X zones for V2X communications. Each of the zones has associated therewith a singular or unique transmit resource pool as is indicated, schematically, at 312. A transmit resource pool for UEs in one zone serve as one of the many receive resource pools for UEs in other zones. The singular exceptional pool is used only during handovers from one base station gNB to another base station gNB by all UEs across zones. The resource pool 312 per zone may indicate for each of the zones the resources allocated for a sidelink communication among UEs, that are located within the zone. UEs within the same zone may have assigned thereto the respective zone!D. The resource pool 312 may indicate, for example, the frequencies/times that may be used by UEs within a given zone for a sidelink communication with other UEs. In accordance with other examples, the coverage area 200 may define a single zone. In case of flying UEs, the zone concept of longitude and latitude can be extended to 3D, e.g. using a height parameter.

Resource pools may be pre-configured in every vehicular modem, and the pre-configured resource pools may be used when the UE is out-of-coverage and has not come into coverage with a base station. In case the UE comes into coverage with the base station, the pre-configuration may be updated, and depending on the status of the UE, connected state or idle state, in or out-of-coverage, a suitable resource pool configuration may be used. Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating a transmit pool selection for V2X communication.

Fig. 6 refers in the lower part to a Mode 3 UE, and a UE is said to operate in mode 3 when the base station gNB schedules the resources to be used within a given resource pool. The UE operates in this mode when being in coverage and in an RRC_CONNECTED state. The upper part of Fig. 6 refers to a Mode 4 UE, and a UE is said to operate in mode 4 when the resource allocation is carried out in a distributed manner by the UE itself. The UE may be either in or out-of-coverage, as well as in either an RRC_CONNECTED or RRCJDLE state to function in this mode.

A UE, when being in coverage and in an RRCJDLE state (see block 350), receives at block 352 the SIB21 , which contains the information element (IE) SL-V2X-ConfigCommon, which in turn defines the IE \J2X-Comm TxPoolNormalCommon. This particular IE contains the set of a maximum of 8 transmit resource pool configurations, each of which are defined by the IE SL-CommResourcePoolV2X. The UE also receives the zoneConfig IE which helps the UE in calculating its zonelD (ranges from 0 to 7), and based on the zonelD, selects the singular relevant transmission resource pool from the received set of pools. In the case where the UE does not receive the zoneConfig, it selects the first pool associated with the synchronization reference source. Similarly, when the UE moves on to the RRC_CONNECTED state (see block 354), it receives at block 356 the RRCConnectionReconfiguration message which contains the V2X-Comm TxPoolNormalDedicated IE. This IE, provided by the eNB, instructs the UE (see block 358) whether it will receive the exact resources for transmission (eNB scheduled, mode 3) or it has to select its own resources for transmission based on sensing ( UE -selected, mode 4). Depending on this selection, the UE is provided with a set of transmission resource pools.

In the scheduled case (see block 360), the UE is provided with the V2X-SchedulingPool IE, which contains the set of a maximum of 8 transmit resource pool configurations, each of which are defined by the SL-CommResourcePoo/V2X IE. Based on the zoneConfig IE which helps the UE in selecting the singular relevant transmission resource pool from the received set of pools, the UE selects the relevant transmit resource pool and then transmits based on the resources provided by the eNB (see block 362).

In the UE-selected case, the UE is provided with the V2X-Comm TxPoolNormalDedicated IE (see block 364), which then contains the set of a maximum of 8 transmit resource pool configurations, each of which are defined by the SL-CommResourcePoolV2X IE, as described above. The UE also receives the zoneConfig IE which helps the UE in selecting the singular relevant transmission resource pool from the received set of pools. The UE then transmits based on the sensed resources from the selected resource pool (see block 388).

For a UE, when being in out-of-coverage (see block 350), the resource pool is defined according to the SL- V2X-P reconfiguration (see block 368) which is used in block 366 for transmitting.

For a UE, when being in coverage but in the RRCJDLE state (see block 354), the resource pool is selected from \/2X-CommTxPoofNormalComrnon defined in the SL-V2X-ConfigCommon (see block 370) which is then used in block 366 for transmitting.

Thus, in the above example, there may be a different configuration provided to a UE, and the UE selects the appropriate transmit resource poo! based on the geographical location of the UE, when the coordinates correspond to a single zone!D and a resource pool ID.

The base station may decide whether to assist in the scheduling of resources or if a UE has to select the resources to be used for transmission. This defines the above-mentioned two operational modes of a V2X system, mode 3 and mode 4. As mentioned above, the V2X mode 3 configuration involves the scheduling and interference management of resource by the base station for vehicular UEs within the coverage of the base station so as to enable sidetink communications, like V2X or V2V communications. The control signaling is provided to the UE over the Uu interface, for example using the downlink control indicator, DCI, and resources are dynamically assigned by the base station. In the V2X mode 4 configuration for sidelink communications, the scheduling interference management is autonomously performed using distributed or de-centrafized algorithms among the UEs based on a pre-configured resource configuration.

It is noted that the information in the above section is only for enhancing the understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Starting from a prior art as described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved resource pool design, for example for resource pools to be used in sidelink communications in V2X services in view of the advantages defined by the NR 5G standard.

This object is achieved by the subject-matter as defined in the independent claims, and preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

Embodiments of the present invention are now described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an example of a wireless communication system;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a situation in which UEs directly communicating with each other are in coverage of a base station;

Fig. 3 shows a scenario in which UEs directly communicating with each other are not in coverage of a base station, i.e., are not connected to a base station;

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a resource pool which is defined across time and frequency;

Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a cell, like a cell in the network described in

Fig. 1 , which is divided into multiple zones;

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating a transmit pool selection for a V2X communication;

Fig. 7 is a schematic representation of a wireless communication system for communicating information between a transmitter and one or more receivers in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 8 illustrates schematically the resource pool definition in accordance with embodiments of the present invention including a resource pool having three separate transmit resource pools with different subcarrier spacings;

Fig. 9 schematically illustrates the concept of bandwidth parts;

Fig. 10 illustrates the activation of BWPs with different numerologies and/or different bandwidth size;

Fig. 11 illustrates an example of bandwidth parts using CORESETs containing user specific and common search spaces;

Fig. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention defining multiple resource pools using the BWP concept of NR;

Fig. 13 illustrates embodiments using a default BWP;

Fig. 14 illustrates an embodiment of multiple NR resource pools being defined within respective sidelink BWPs; and

Fig. 15 illustrates an example of a computer system on which units or modules as well as the steps of the methods described in accordance with the inventive approach may execute.

Embodiments of the present invention are now described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the same or similar elements have the same reference signs assigned.

The above-described conventional use of resource pools has been initially introduced into the vehicle-to-everything, V2X, specification in release 14 of the 3GPP standard, and the scheduling and assigning of resources are modified according to the V2X requirements while the actual device-to-device, D2D communication standard is used as a basis for the design which is one reason for the maintaining the concept of resource pools. Resource pools were initially designed for D2D communications, bearing in mind the requirements that the resources have to be shared among D2D and cellular communications. In case of V2X communications, a dedicated intelligent transport service, ITS, band is defined that does not share the band of the cellular communications, like the 5.9GHz band. With the introduction of the frequency range FR1 and FR2, where FR2 is defined up to 52.6GHz, higher subcarrier spacings or sub carrier spacings, SCSs, for different numerologies may be used. The same applies to possible future frequency ranges above 52.6GHz, e.g. 60GHz bands, which will utilize a higher SCS.

The present invention aims at improving V2X communications using the advantages provided by 5G systems. This is addressed by the present invention as described

hereinbelow in more detail, and embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in a wireless communication system as depicted in Fig. 1 , Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 including base stations and users, like mobile terminals or loT devices. Fig. 7 is a schematic representation of a wireless communication system for communicating information between a transmitter 300 and one or more receivers 302i to 302n. The transmitter 300 and the receivers 302 may communicate via a wireless communication links or channels 304a, 304b, 304c, like a radio link. The transmitter 300 may include one or more antennas ANTT or an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements, a signal processor 300a and a transceiver 300b, coupled with each other. The receivers 302 include one or more antennas ANTR or an antenna array having a plurality of antennas, a signal processor 302a-i, 302an, and a transceiver 302b!, 302bn coupled with each other.

In accordance with an embodiment, as for example also depicted in Fig. 2, the transmitter 300 may be a base station and the receivers may be UEs. The base station 300 and the UEs 302 may communicate via respective first wireless communication links 304a and 304b, like a radio link using the Uu interface, while the UEs 302 may communicate with each other via a second wireless communication link 304c, like a radio link using the PCS interface.

In accordance with an embodiment, as for example also depicted in Fig. 3, the transmitter 300 may be a first UE and the receivers may be further UEs. The first UE 300 and the further UEs 302 may communicate via respective wireless communication links 304a to 304c, like a radio link using the PCS interface.

The system, the transmitter 300 and the one or more receivers 302 may operate in accordance with the inventive teachings described herein.

MULTIPLE TX RESOURCE POOLS

The present invention provides a transceiver for a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system configuring a set of resources in the wireless communication system, the set of resources including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions to one or more second transceivers in the wireless communication system, wherein

the set of resources includes a plurality of transmit resource sets and/or receive resource sets, the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets including at least a first transmit/receive resource set and a second transmit/receive resource set, the first transmit/receive resource set having a first property, and the second transmit/receive resource set having a second property, the first property and the second property being different, and

the transceiver is configured to use resources from one or more of the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets for the communication.

In accordance with embodiments, the transceiver is configured to receive a signaling indicating an activation or deactivation of one or more of the transmit/receive resource sets, e.g., dependent on a current load of the wireless communication system or on QoS criteria, which may comprise of a load or quota and/or a delay and/or a reliability target.

In accordance with embodiments, each of the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets comprises a plurality of subcarriers in the frequency domain and a plurality of symbols in the time domain, the first property and the second property comprising a subcarrier spacing, SCS, or a symbol length, or a bandwidth.

In accordance with embodiments, each of the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets is defined by a bandwidth part, BWP, the bandwidth part being equal to or smaller than a maximal bandwidth capability supported by the transceiver.

In accordance with embodiments, the wireless communication system comprises a plurality of zones, each zone including a plurality of transmit/receive resource sets, and each zone identified by a zone ID, and

In accordance with embodiments

- a zone comprises a 2D or 3D area model to limit signaling overhead, or non- overlapping zones with a defined length and width and height,

a zone ID is reused in space,

a total number of zones corresponds to a required number resource sets.

In accordance with embodiments, the transceiver is configured to identify a zone associated with the transceiver using the zone ID of a zone, e.g., using a modulo

operation, and to identify a transmit/receive resource set from which the resources for the communication are scheduled using the zone ID, the number of zones and a SCS index.

In accordance with embodiments, the transmit resource is identified by a NR zone ID,

NR zone ID = zone ID + numZones*SCSindex where

zone ID - LTE V2X zone ID,

numZones - number of zones, and

SCSindex - subcarrier spacing indicated by numerology index m.

In accordance with embodiments, in case during an ongoing transmission the transceiver changes from a current zone to a new zone, the transceiver is configured to determine the transmit/receive resource sets for the new zone by recalculating the zone ID formula based on its new coordinates, and to request from the gNB resources to be used for transmitting the remaining amount to data, wherein the requesting may include automatically sending a buffer status report, BSR, to the gNB.

In accordance with embodiments, the transceiver is configured to transmit in the first transmit/receive resource set and to receive at the same time in the second transmit/receive resource set or transmit in a first transmit/receive resource set and to receive at a different time in a first transmit/receive resource set.

In accordance with embodiments, a control channel is defined by resources of only one of the transmit/receive resource set, the control channel including one or more pointers to data transmissions or another control channel in the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets.

In accordance with embodiments, the control channel includes an indication of an offset of subframes and/or slots in time and and/or PRBs in frequency in the respective transmit/receive resource sets.

In accordance with embodiments, the one transmit/receive resource set is selected from a plurality of resource sets having different SCSs, like 15kHz, 30kHz, 60kHz, 120kHz, and 240kHz, wherein at least one of the resource sets provides for a backward compatibility, e.g., the 15kHz SCS resource set providing backward compatibility with legacy LTE UEs.

In accordance with embodiments:

the transceiver comprises a user equipment, UE, the UE configured to operate in accordance with a first mode, for example the V2X Mode 3, for a sidelink communication with one or more other UEs, and

in the first mode scheduling of the resources for the sidelink communication with the one or more other UEs is performed by a base station, gNB, of the wireless communication system.

In accordance with embodiments, the transceiver comprise a user equipment, UE, the UE configured to operate in accordance with a second mode, for example the V2X Mode 4, for a sidelink communication with one or more other UEs, and to schedule resources from a transmit/receive resource set for the sidelink communication autonomously.

In accordance with embodiments, in case the UE is out of coverage of a gNB, the UE is configured to retain a last configuration of the resource set received from the gNB, or to revert to a default configuration of the resource set which is hardcoded into the UE or preconfigured by the gNB or configured by another UE via sidelink relaying.

In accordance with embodiments, a transceiver for a wireless communication system, the transceiver serving a plurality of user equipments, UEs, located in a coverage area of the transceiver, wherein

the transceiver configuring for the coverage area a resource set, the resource set including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions in the wireless communication system, and

a resource set includes a plurality of transmit resource sets and/or receive resource sets, the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets including at least a first transmit/receive resource set and a second transmit/receive resource set, the first transmit/receive resource set having a first property, and the second transmit/receive resource set having a second property, the first property and the second property being different.

In accordance with embodiments, the transceiver is configured to define for the coverage area of the transceiver one or more zones, each of the one or more zones having mapped thereto a resource set including a plurality of transmit resource sets and/or receive resource sets.

The present invention provides a wireless communication system, comprising:

a plurality of the transceivers configured to communicate with each other, and

a resource set in the wireless communication system, the resource set including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions in the wireless communication system, and

wherein the resource set includes a plurality of transmit resource sets and/or receive resource sets, the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets including at least a first transmit/receive resource set and a second transmit/receive resource set, the first transmit/receive resource set having a first property, and the second transmit/receive resource set having a second property, the first property and the second property being different.
CLAIMS

1. A transceiver for a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system configuring a set of resources in the wireless communication system, the set of resources including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions to one or more second transceivers in the wireless communication system, wherein

the set of resources includes a plurality of transmit resource sets and/or receive resource sets, the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets including at least a first transmit/receive resource set and a second transmit/receive resource set, the first transmit/receive resource set having a first property, and the second transmit/receive resource set having a second property, the first property and the second property being different, and

the transceiver is configured to use resources from one or more of the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets for the communication.

2. The transceiver of claim 1 or claim 1 a, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive a signaling indicating an activation or deactivation of one or more of the transmit/receive resource sets, e.g., dependent on a current load of the wireless communication system or on QoS criteria, which may comprise of a load or quota and/or a delay and/or a reliability target.

3. The transceiver of claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets comprises a plurality of subcarriers in the frequency domain and a plurality of symbols in the time domain, the first property and the second property comprising a subcarrier spacing, SCS, or a symbol length, or a bandwidth.

4. The transceiver of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets is defined by a bandwidth part, BWP, the bandwidth part being equal to or smaller than a maximal bandwidth capability supported by the transceiver.

5. The transceiver of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless communication system comprises a plurality of zones, each zone including a plurality of transmit/receive resource sets, and each zone identified by a zone ID, and

6. The transceiver of claim 5, wherein

a zone comprises a 2D or 3D area model to limit signaling overhead, or non- overlapping zones with a defined length and width and height,

a zone ID is reused in space,

- a total number of zones corresponds to a required number resource sets.

7. The transceiver of claim 5 or 6, wherein the transceiver is configured to identify a zone associated with the transceiver using the zone ID of a zone, e.g., using a modulo operation, and to identify a transmit/receive resource set from which the resources for the communication are scheduled using the zone ID, the number of zones and a SCS index.

8. The transceiver of any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the transmit resource is identified by a NR zone ID,

NR zone ID = zone ID + numZones*SCSindex where

zone ID - LTE V2X zone ID,

numZones - number of zones, and

SCSindex - subcarrier spacing indicated by numerology index m.

9. The transceiver of any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein, in case during an ongoing transmission the transceiver changes from a current zone to a new zone, the transceiver is configured to determine the transmit/receive resource sets for the new zone by recalculating the zone ID formula based on its new coordinates, and to request from the gNB resources to be used for transmitting the remaining amount to data, wherein the requesting may include automatically sending a buffer status report, BSR, to the gNB.

10 The transceiver of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit in the first transmit/receive resource set and to receive at the same time in the second transmit/receive resource set or transmit in a first transmit/receive resource set and to receive at a different time in a first transmit/receive resource set.

11. The transceiver of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a control channel is defined by resources of only one of the transmit/receive resource set, the control channel including one or more pointers to data transmissions or another control channel in the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets.

12. The transceiver of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control channel includes an indication of an offset of subframes and/or slots in time and and/or PRBs in frequency in the respective transmit/receive resource sets.

13. The transceiver of claim 11 or 12, wherein the one transmit/receive resource set is selected from a plurality of resource sets having different SCSs, like 15kHz, 30kHz, 60kHz, 120kHz, and 240kHz, wherein at least one of the resource sets provides for a backward compatibility, e.g., the 15kHz SCS resource set providing backward compatibility with legacy LTE UEs.

14. The transceiver of any one of the preceding claims, wherein

the transceiver comprises a user equipment, UE, the UE configured to operate in accordance with a first mode, for example the V2X Mode 3, for a sidelink communication with one or more other UEs, and

in the first mode scheduling of the resources for the sidelink communication with the one or more other UEs is performed by a base station, gNB, of the wireless communication system.

15. The transceiver of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the transceiver comprise a user equipment, UE, the UE configured to operate in accordance with a second mode, for example the V2X Mode 4, for a sidelink communication with one or more other UEs, and to schedule resources from a transmit/receive resource set for the sidelink communication autonomously.

16. The transceiver of claim 15, wherein, in case the UE is out of coverage of a gNB, the UE is configured to retain a last configuration of the resource set received from the gNB, or to revert to a default configuration of the resource set which is hardcoded into the UE or pre-configured by the gNB or configured by another UE via sidelink relaying.

17 A transceiver for a wireless communication system, the transceiver serving a plurality of user equipments, UEs, located in a coverage area of the transceiver, wherein the transceiver configuring for the coverage area a resource set, the resource set including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions in the wireless communication system, and

a resource set includes a plurality of transmit resource sets and/or receive resource sets, the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets including at least a first transmit/receive resource set and a second transmit/receive resource set, the first transmit/receive resource set having a first property, and the second transmit/receive resource set having a second property, the first property and the second property being different.

18. The transceiver of claim 17, wherein the transceiver is configured to define for the coverage area of the transceiver one or more zones, each of the one or more zones having mapped thereto a resource set including a plurality of transmit resource sets and/or receive resource sets.

19. A wireless communication system, comprising

a plurality of the transceivers configured to communicate with each other, and

a resource set in the wireless communication system, the resource set including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions in the wireless communication system, and

wherein the resource set includes a plurality of transmit resource sets and/or receive resource sets, the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets including at least a first transmit/receive resource set and a second transmit/receive resource set, the first transmit/receive resource set having a first property, and the second transmit/receive resource set having a second property, the first property and the second property being different.

20. A transceiver for a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system providing a resource set in the wireless communication system, the resource set including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions in the wireless communication system, wherein

the resource set comprises a plurality of subcarriers in the frequency domain and a plurality of symbols in the time domain, the resource set including a plurality of bandwidth parts, the plurality of bandwidth parts including at least a first bandwidth part and a second bandwidth part, the first bandwidth part having a first bandwidth in the frequency domain, and the second bandwidth part having a second bandwidth in the frequency domain, the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth being different, and

the transceiver is configured to use resources from one or more of the plurality of bandwidth parts for the communication.

21. The transceiver of claim 20, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive a configuration message and/or configured by a stored pre-configuration in the out-of-coverage case, the configuration message and/or the stored pre-configuration defining the plurality of bandwidth parts across the resource set.

22. The transceiver of claim 20 or 21 , wherein the transceiver is configured to receive a signaling indicating an activation or deactivation of one or more of the bandwidth parts, e.g., dependent on current low latency and/or high reliability and/or a given quota requirement of the wireless communication system.

23. The transceiver of any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein, in case only a single bandwidth part is activated, the single bandwidth part includes a control resource set, CORESET, with a transceiver-specific search space, e.g. user-specific search space, USS, and/or a CORESET with a common search space, CSS, so as to allow the transceiver to handle at the same time unicast or multicast communications and broadcast communications using the single bandwidth part.

24. The transceiver of claim 23, where the location across time and frequency of the USS and/or CSS with respect to the bandwidth part is pre-configured in the UE or is signalled by the

- gNB via RRC signalling (mode3, the UE is in coverage), or

- another UE via SCI signalling (mode4, the UE is out of coverage).

25. The transceiver of any one of claims 20 to 24, wherein, in case at least a first bandwidth part and a second bandwidth part are activated, the first bandwidth part includes at least a control resource set, CORESET, with a transceiver-specific search

space, e.g. user-specific search space, USS, and the second bandwidth part includes at least a CORESET with a common search space, CSS, so as to allow the transceiver to handle at the same time unicast communications and broadcast communications using the first and second bandwidth parts.

26. The transceiver of any one of claims 20 to 25, wherein, in case at least a first bandwidth part and a second bandwidth part are activated, the first bandwidth part includes at least a control resource set, CORESET, with a transceiver-specific search space, e.g. user-specific search space, USS, and/or CORESET with a common search space, CSS, and the second BWP includes at least a control resource set, CORESET, with a transceiver-specific search space, e.g. user-specific search space, USS, and/or CORESET with a common search space, CSS, so as to allow the transceiver to handle at the same time unicast communications and broadcast communications using the first and second bandwidth parts.

27. The transceiver of any one of claims 20 to 26, wherein a control channel is defined by resources of only one of the bandwidth parts.

28. The transceiver of claim 27, wherein the one bandwidth part has a 15kHz SCS to provide backward compatibility with legacy LTE UEs.

29. The transceiver of any one of claims 20 to 28, wherein one of the bandwidth parts is a default bandwidth part where resource allocations for one or more services are send, wherein the control resources are either configured by the wireless communication system or pre-configured in the transceiver, the default bandwidth part including at least one control resource set, CORESET, with a common search space, CSS, so as to allow the transceiver to listen to the one or more services in the transceiver's vicinity.

30. The transceiver of claim 29, wherein the transceiver is configured to search for synchronisation signals in the default bandwidth part, wherein, in case no synchronisation signal is found, the transceiver is configured to start transmitting a synchronisation signal and the transceiver’s broadcast channel.

31. The transceiver of claim 29 or 30, wherein a control channel is defined by resources of the default bandwidth part, wherein transmissions in a plurality of the bandwidth parts are scheduled from the control channel in the default bandwidth part.

32. The transceiver of claim 31 , wherein the transceiver is configured to listen only to the control channel in the default bandwidth part.

33. The transceiver of any one of the claims 20 to 32, wherein the control channel in the default bandwidth part points to another control channel in another bandwidth part where an actual transmission takes place, so as to make other transceivers aware that there is another bandwidth part with specific control resources that are to be monitored and/or decoded by the transceiver.

34. The transceiver of any of the claims 20 to 33, wherein the control channel in the default bandwidth part points to another data channel in another bandwidth part, and wherein the transceiver automatically switches back to the default BWP, e.g., after the transmission of data, or a timeout in the second BWP, or responsive to a control signaling, like a control channel or a control element in one or more of the active BWPs.

35. The transceiver of any one of the claims 20 to 34, wherein

at least one of the plurality of bandwidth parts defines a plurality of transmit resource sets within the one bandwidth part, the plurality of transmit resource sets and/or receive resource sets including at least a first transmit/receive resource set and a second transmit/receive resource set,

the one bandwidth part includes a control resource set, CORESET, for each transmit/receive resource set for handling control messages and scheduling assignment messages, the control messages pointing to data to be transmitted inside the respective transmit/receive resource set.

36. The transceiver of any one of the claims 20 to 34, wherein

the resource set includes a plurality of transmit resource sets and/or receive resource sets, the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets including at least a first transmit/receive resource set and a second transmit/receive resource set, the first transmit/receive resource set having a first subcarrier spacing, SCS, and the second transmit/receive resource set having a second SCS, the first SCS and the second SCS being different, and

each transmit/receive resource set includes one or more of the plurality of bandwidth parts.

37. The transceiver of any one of the claims 20 to 36, wherein

the transceiver comprise a user equipment, UE, the UE configured to operate in accordance with a first mode, for example the V2X Mode 3, for a sidelink communication with one or more other UEs, and

in the first mode scheduling of the resources for the sidelink communication with the one or more other UEs is performed by a base station, gNB, of the wireless communication system.

38. The transceiver of any one of the claims 30 to 36, wherein the transceiver comprise a user equipment, UE, the UE configured to operate in accordance with a second mode, for example the V2X Mode 4, for a sidelink communication with one or more other UEs, and to select resources from the transmit/receive resource set for the sidelink transmission autonomously and/or to signal respective resources on a control channel, e.g. a Physical Sidelink Control Channel PSCCH.

39. The transceiver of claim 38, wherein, in case the UE is out of coverage of a gNB, the UE is configured to retain a last configuration of the resource set received from the gNB, or to revert to a default configuration or to select on of previously retained configurations of the resource set.

40. A transceiver for a wireless communication system, the transceiver for serving a plurality of user equipments, UEs, located in a coverage area of the transceiver, wherein

the transceiver configures for the coverage area of the transceiver a resource set, the resource set including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions in the wireless communication system, and

the resource set comprises a plurality of subcarriers in the frequency domain and a plurality of symbols in the time domain, the resource set including a plurality of bandwidth parts, the plurality of bandwidth parts including at least a first bandwidth part and a second bandwidth part, the first bandwidth part having a first bandwidth in the frequency domain, and the second bandwidth part having a second bandwidth in the frequency domain, the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth being different.

41. The transceiver of claim 40, wherein the transceiver is configured to define for the coverage area of the transceiver one or more zones, each of the one or more zones having mapped thereto a resource set including a plurality of transmit resource sets and/or receive resource sets.

42. A wireless communication system, comprising

a plurality of the transceivers configured to communicate with each other, and

a resource set in the wireless communication system, the resource set including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions in the wireless communication system, and

wherein the resource set comprises a plurality of subcarriers in the frequency domain and a plurality of symbols in the time domain, the resource set including a plurality of bandwidth parts, the plurality of bandwidth parts including at least a first bandwidth part and a second bandwidth part, the first bandwidth part having a first bandwidth in the frequency domain, and the second bandwidth part having a second bandwidth in the frequency domain, the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth being different.

43. A transceiver for a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system providing a resource set in the wireless communication system, the resource set including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions in the wireless communication system, wherein

the resource set comprises a plurality of subcarriers in the frequency domain, and a plurality of symbols in the time domain, the resource set being defined by a bandwidth part, the bandwidth part being equal to or is smaller than a maximal bandwidth capability supported by the transceiver,

the bandwidth part includes a plurality of control resource sets, CORESETs, at least one of the CORESETs having both a transceiver-specific search space, e.g. user-specific search space, USS, and a common search space, CSS, and

the transceiver is configured to use resources from the bandwidth part for the communication.

44. The transceiver of claim 43, wherein the bandwidth part has a subcarrier spacing, SCS, higher than a SCS of a legacy LTE system.

45. The transceiver of claim 43 or 44, wherein the wireless communication system comprises a plurality of zones, each zone including a resource set, and each resource set being defined by a different bandwidth part, BWP, wherein the different bandwidth parts may have a different or the same SCS.

46. A transceiver for a wireless communication system, the transceiver for serving a plurality of user equipments, UEs, located in a coverage area of the transceiver, wherein

the transceiver configures for the coverage area of the transceiver a resource set, the resource set including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions in the wireless communication system,

the resource set comprises a plurality of subcarriers in the frequency domain, and a plurality of symbols in the time domain, the resource set being defined by a bandwidth part, BWP, the bandwidth part being equal to or is smaller than a maximal bandwidth capability supported by the transceiver, and

the bandwidth part includes a plurality of control resource sets, CORESETs, at least one of the CORESETs having both a transceiver-specific search space, e.g. user-specific search space, USS, and a common search space, CSS.

47. The transceiver of claim 46, wherein the transceiver is configured to define for the coverage area of the transceiver one or more zones, each of the one or more zones having mapped thereto a resource set including a plurality of transmit resource sets and/or receive resource sets.

48. A wireless communication system, comprising

a plurality of the transceivers configured to communicate with each other, and

a resource set in the wireless communication system, the resource set including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions in the wireless communication system,

wherein the resource set comprises a plurality of subcarriers in the frequency domain, and a plurality of symbols in the time domain, the resource set being defined by a bandwidth part, the bandwidth part being equal to or is smaller than a maximal bandwidth capability supported by the transceiver, and

wherein the bandwidth part includes a plurality of control resource sets, CORESETs, at least one of the CORESETs having both a transceiver-specific search space, e.g. user-specific search space, USS, and a common search space, CSS.

49. The transceiver of any one of claims 1 to 18, 20 to 41 and 43 to 46, wherein the set of resources comprises a plurality of contiguous or non-contiguous resources across a frequency domain and adjacent or non-adjacent across a time domain.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the set of resources defines a resource pool

51. The transceiver of any one of claims 1 to 16, 20 to 39 and 43 to 45, wherein the wireless communication system comprises a plurality of zones, each zone including a plurality of transmit/receive resource sets, and each zone identified by a zone ID, and

52. The transceiver of claim 51 , wherein

- a zone comprises a 2D or 3D area model to limit signaling overhead, or non- overlapping zones with a defined length and width and height,

a zone ID is reused in space,

a total number of zones corresponds to a required number resource sets.

53. The transceiver claim 51 or 52, wherein, in case during an ongoing transmission the transceiver changes from a current zone to a new zone, the transceiver is configured to determine the transmit/receive resource sets for the new zone by recalculating the zone ID formula based on its new coordinates, and to request from the gNB resources to be used for transmitting the remaining amount to data, wherein the requesting may include automatically sending a buffer status report, BSR, to the gNB.

54. A wireless communication network, comprising:

one or more base stations, BS, and one or more user equipments, UEs, a UE being served by one or more BSs or communication directly with one or more other UEs while being in connected mode or idle mode or inactive mode,

wherein a base station and/or a UE comprises the transceiver of any one of claimsl to 18, 20 to 41 and 43 to 46.

55. The wireless communication network of any one claims 19, 42, 48 and 54, wherein the set of resources comprises a plurality of contiguous or non-contiguous resources across a frequency domain and adjacent or non-adjacent across a time domain.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the set of resources defines a resource pool.

57. The wireless communication network of any one claims 19, 42, 48 and 54 to 56, wherein

the UE comprise one or more of

a mobile terminal, or

stationary terminal, or

cellular IoT-UE, or

vehicular UE, or

an loT or narrowband loT, NB-loT, device, or

a ground based vehicle, or

an aerial vehicle, or

a drone, or

a moving base station, or

road side unit, or

a building, or

any other item or device provided with network connectivity enabling the item/device to communicate using the wireless communication network, e.g., a sensor or actuator, and

the BS comprise one or more of

a macro cell base station, or

a small cell base station, or

a central unit of a base station, or

a distributed unit of a base station, or

a road side unit, or

a UE, or

a remote radio head, or

an AMF, or

an SMF, or

a core network entity, or

a network slice as in the NR or 5G core context, or

any transmission/reception point (TRP) enabling an item or a device to communicate using the wireless communication network, the item or device being provided with network connectivity to communicate using the wireless communication network.

58. A method for transmitting/receiving for a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system configuring a set of resources in the wireless communication system, the set of resources including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions to one or more second transceivers in the wireless communication system, wherein

the set of resources includes a plurality of transmit resource sets and/or receive resource sets, the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets including at least a first transmit/receive resource set and a second transmit/receive resource set, the first transmit/receive resource set having a first property, and the second transmit/receive resource set having a second property, the first property and the second property being different, and

the method comprises using resources from one or more of the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets for the communication.

59. A method for transmitting/receiving for a wireless communication system, the method serving a plurality of user equipments, UEs, located in a coverage area of a transceiver, wherein

the method comprises configuring for the coverage area a resource set, the resource set including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions in the wireless communication system, and

a resource set includes a plurality of transmit resource sets and/or receive resource sets, the plurality of transmit/receive resource sets including at least a first transmit/receive resource set and a second transmit/receive resource set, the first transmit/receive resource set having a first property, and the second transmit/receive resource set having a second property, the first property and the second property being different.

60. A method for transmitting/receiving for a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system providing a resource set in the wireless communication system, the resource set including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions in the wireless communication system, wherein

the resource set comprises a plurality of subcarriers in the frequency domain and a plurality of symbols in the time domain, the resource set including a plurality of bandwidth parts, the plurality of bandwidth parts including at least a first bandwidth part and a second bandwidth part, the first bandwidth part having a first bandwidth in the frequency domain, and the second bandwidth part having a second bandwidth in the frequency domain, the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth being different, and

the method comprises using resources from one or more of the plurality of bandwidth parts for the communication.

61 A method for transmitting/receiving for a wireless communication system, the method serving a plurality of user equipments, UEs, located in a coverage area of a transceiver, wherein

the method comprises configuring for the coverage area of the transceiver a resource set, the resource set including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions in the wireless communication system, and

the resource set comprises a plurality of subcarriers in the frequency domain and a plurality of symbols in the time domain, the resource set including a plurality of bandwidth parts, the plurality of bandwidth parts including at least a first bandwidth part and a second bandwidth part, the first bandwidth part having a first bandwidth in the frequency domain, and the second bandwidth part having a second bandwidth in the frequency domain, the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth being different.

62. A method for transmitting/receiving for a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system providing a resource set in the wireless communication system, the resource set including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions in the wireless communication system, wherein

the resource set comprises a plurality of subcarriers in the frequency domain, and a plurality of symbols in the time domain, the resource set being defined by a bandwidth part, the bandwidth part being equal to or is smaller than a maximal bandwidth capability supported by the transceiver,

the bandwidth part includes a plurality of control resource sets, CORESETs, at least one of the CORESETs having both a transceiver-specific search space, e.g. user-specific search space, USS, and a common search space, CSS, and

the method comprises using resources from the bandwidth part for the communication.

63. A method for transmitting/receiving for a wireless communication system, the method serving a plurality of user equipments, UEs, located in a coverage area of a transceiver, wherein

the method comprises configuring for the coverage area of the transceiver a resource set, the resource set including a plurality of resources to be allocated for respective transmissions in the wireless communication system,

the resource set comprises a plurality of subcarriers in the frequency domain, and a plurality of symbols in the time domain, the resource set being defined by a bandwidth part, BWP, the bandwidth part being equal to or is smaller than a maximal bandwidth capability supported by the transceiver, and

the bandwidth part includes a plurality of control resource sets, CORESETs, at least one of the CORESETs having both a transceiver-specific search space, e.g. user-specific search space, USS, and a common search space, CSS.

64. A method for operating a wireless communication system according to claim 19

65. A method for operating a wireless communication system according to claim 42.

66. A method for operating a wireless communication system according to claim 48.

67. A non-transitory computer program product comprising a computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed on a computer, perform the method of any one of claims 58-66.