1. A method performed by a source device, the method comprising: transmitting data to a plurality of destination devices in a groupcast communication; transmitting sidelink control information (SCI) to the plurality of destination devices, wherein at least one resource allocated to the plurality of destination devices for a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback associated with the data is device-specific or is common among a set of the plurality of destination devices based on the SCI; and receiving the HARQ feedback.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: in a case where the at least one resource is device-specific, the HARQ feedback includes either acknowledgement (ACK) feedback or negative acknowledgement (NACK) feedback.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the HARQ feedback is based on a number of the plurality of destination devices being below a threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of destination devices are assigned with unique indices, and a first resource for the HARQ feedback is allocated to a first destination device of the plurality of destination devices, wherein the first resource is determined based on a first unique index assigned to the first destination device, and wherein the first unique index is one of the unique indices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein: in a case where the at least one resource is common among the set of the plurality of destination devices, the HARQ feedback includes only NACK feedback.

6. A method performed by a network node, the method comprising: communicating with a source device in a groupcast communication; and allocating, to a plurality of destination devices in the groupcast communication, at least one resource for a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback associated with data transmitted from the source device to the plurality of destination devices, wherein the at least one resource is device-specific or is common among a set of the plurality of destination devices is based on a sidelink control information (SCI) transmitted from the source device to the plurality of destination devices.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein: in a case where the at least one resource is device-specific, the HARQ feedback includes either acknowledgement (ACK) feedback or negative acknowledgement (NACK) feedback.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the HARQ feedback is based on a number of the plurality of destination devices being below a threshold.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein: the plurality of destination devices are assigned with unique indices, and a first resource for the HARQ feedback is allocated to a first destination device of the plurality of destination devices, wherein the first resource is determined based on a first unique index assigned to the first destination device, and wherein the first unique index is one of the unique indices.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein: in a case where the at least one resource is common among the set of the plurality of destination devices, the HARQ feedback includes only NACK feedback.

11. A method performed by a destination device, the method comprising: receiving data from a source device in a groupcast communication; receiving, from the source device, sidelink control information (SCI); receiving, from a network device, at least one resource for a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback associated with the data; determining, based on the SCI, whether the at least one resource is device-specific or is common among a set of a plurality of destination devices; and transmitting the HARQ feedback to the source device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein: when the at least one resource is device-specific, the HARQ feedback includes either acknowledgement (ACK) feedback or negative acknowledgement (NACK) feedback.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the HARQ feedback is based on a number of the plurality of destination devices being below a threshold.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein: the plurality of destination devices are assigned with unique indices, a first resource for the HARQ feedback is allocated to a first destination device of the plurality of destination devices, wherein the first resource is determined based on a first unique index assigned to the first destination device, and wherein the first unique index is one of the unique indices.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein: in a case where the at least one resource is common among the set of the plurality of destination devices, the HARQ feedback includes only NACK feedback. Dated: 25th day of August, 2022 (RITAM NARAYAN RAWAL) IN/PA 2055 REMFRY & SAGAR ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANT[S]

Description:As Enclosed , Claims:We Claim:

1. A method performed by a source device, the method comprising:
transmitting data to a plurality of destination devices in a groupcast communication;
transmitting sidelink control information (SCI) to the plurality of destination devices, wherein at least one resource allocated to the plurality of destination devices for a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback associated with the data is device-specific or is common among a set of the plurality of destination devices based on the SCI; and
receiving the HARQ feedback.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:
in a case where the at least one resource is device-specific, the HARQ feedback includes either acknowledgement (ACK) feedback or negative acknowledgement (NACK) feedback.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the HARQ feedback is based on a number of the plurality of destination devices being below a threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the plurality of destination devices are assigned with unique indices, and
a first resource for the HARQ feedback is allocated to a first destination device of the plurality of destination devices, wherein the first resource is determined based on a first unique index assigned to the first destination device, and wherein the first unique index is one of the unique indices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:
in a case where the at least one resource is common among the set of the plurality of destination devices, the HARQ feedback includes only NACK feedback.

6. A method performed by a network node, the method comprising:
communicating with a source device in a groupcast communication; and
allocating, to a plurality of destination devices in the groupcast communication, at least one resource for a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback associated with data transmitted from the source device to the plurality of destination devices,
wherein the at least one resource is device-specific or is common among a set of the plurality of destination devices is based on a sidelink control information (SCI) transmitted from the source device to the plurality of destination devices.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:
in a case where the at least one resource is device-specific, the HARQ feedback includes either acknowledgement (ACK) feedback or negative acknowledgement (NACK) feedback.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the HARQ feedback is based on a number of the plurality of destination devices being below a threshold.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein:
the plurality of destination devices are assigned with unique indices, and
a first resource for the HARQ feedback is allocated to a first destination device of the plurality of destination devices, wherein the first resource is determined based on a first unique index assigned to the first destination device, and wherein the first unique index is one of the unique indices.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein:
in a case where the at least one resource is common among the set of the plurality of destination devices, the HARQ feedback includes only NACK feedback.

11. A method performed by a destination device, the method comprising:
receiving data from a source device in a groupcast communication;
receiving, from the source device, sidelink control information (SCI);
receiving, from a network device, at least one resource for a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback associated with the data;
determining, based on the SCI, whether the at least one resource is device-specific or is common among a set of a plurality of destination devices; and
transmitting the HARQ feedback to the source device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:
when the at least one resource is device-specific, the HARQ feedback includes either acknowledgement (ACK) feedback or negative acknowledgement (NACK) feedback.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the HARQ feedback is based on a number of the plurality of destination devices being below a threshold.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein:
the plurality of destination devices are assigned with unique indices,
a first resource for the HARQ feedback is allocated to a first destination device of the plurality of destination devices, wherein the first resource is determined based on a first unique index assigned to the first destination device, and wherein the first unique index is one of the unique indices.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein:
in a case where the at least one resource is common among the set of the plurality of destination devices, the HARQ feedback includes only NACK feedback.

Dated: 25th day of August, 2022

(RITAM NARAYAN RAWAL)
IN/PA 2055
REMFRY & SAGAR
ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANT[S]