WO2024230928A1

WO2024230928A1 - User equipment for sidelink measurement reporting

Info

Publication number: WO2024230928A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/062382
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Medina; Paolo Baracca; Thomas Haaning Jacobsen; Renato Barbosa ABREU; Torsten WILDSCHEK
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2023-05-10
Filing date: 2023-05-10
Publication date: 2024-11-14

Abstract

There is provided a first user equipment comprising: means for determining, at the first user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by the first user equipment to a base station or third user equipment; means for causing a second user equipment to generate and send to the first user equipment a measurement report associated with the first transmission; means for transmitting the first transmission using the first radio resource; means for receiving the measurement report from the second user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource.

Description

USER EQUIPMENT FOR SIDELINK MEASUREMENT REPORTING

FIELD

The present application relates to a method, apparatus, and computer program. In particular, but not exclusively, the present application relates to a user equipment for sidelink measurement reporting.

BACKGROUND

A communication system can be seen as a facility that enables communication sessions between two or more entities such as user terminals, base stations and/or other nodes by providing carriers between the various entities involved in the communications path.

A user can access the communication system by means of an appropriate communication device or terminal. A communication device of a user may be referred to as user equipment (UE) or a user device.

The communication system and associated devices typically operate in accordance with a given standard or specification which sets out what the various entities associated with the system are permitted to do and how that should be achieved. Communication protocols and/or parameters which shall be used for the connection are also typically defined. One example of a communications system is UTRAN (3G radio). Other examples of communication systems are the long-term evolution (LTE) of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) radio-access technology and so-called 5G or New Radio (NR) networks. The sixth generation or 6G standard is currently under development. Cross link interference handling and remote interference management are topics that have been discussed within the standards.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect there is provided a first user equipment comprising: means for determining, at the first user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by the first user equipment to a base station or third user equipment; means for causing a second user equipment to generate and send to the first user equipment a measurement report associated with the first transmission; means for transmitting the first transmission using the first radio resource; means for receiving the measurement report from the second user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource.

According to some examples, the apparatus comprises means for determining a third radio resource to be used for a second transmission by the first user equipment to the base station or third user equipment; and means for determining, based at least on the received measurement report, whether to exclude from a candidate resource set for a third transmission to the second user equipment a candidate radio resource that overlaps in time with the third radio resource, at least based on whether the at least one received signal strength is above a threshold.

According to some examples, the determining whether to exclude the candidate radio resource is further based on a distance in frequency between the candidate radio resource and the third radio resource.

According to some examples, the determining whether to exclude the candidate radio resource is further based on a location in frequency of the candidate radio resource relative to at least one of the third radio resource and a carrier frequency of the second transmission.

According to some examples, the apparatus further comprises means for determining, based at least on the received measurement report, at least one of: a transmission power to be used for the third transmission; a transmission beam to be used for the third transmission; and a modulation and coding scheme to be used for the third transmission.

According to some examples, the apparatus further comprises means for determining, based at least on the received measurement report, at least one of: a transmission power to be used for the second transmission; a transmission beam to be used for the second transmission.

According to some examples, the apparatus further comprises means for determining, based at least on the received measurement report, a discontinuous reception configuration parameter for the second user equipment.

According to some examples, the first transmission and the third transmission comprise any one of: uplink transmissions to the base station; sidelink transmissions to the third user equipment; or sidelink broadcast transmissions.

According to some examples, there is no frequency overlap between the first radio resource and the second radio resource.

According to some examples, the first radio resource and the second radio resource are on a same carrier and adjacent in frequency.

According to some examples, the first radio resource and the second radio resource are on different carriers. According to some examples, the first radio resource and the second radio resource are on adjacent carriers.

According to some examples, the first user equipment is configured to operate as an Access Point in a sub-network.

According to some examples, the means comprises at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the apparatus.

According to a second aspect there is provided a first user equipment comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first user equipment at least to: determine, at the first user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by the first user equipment to a base station or third user equipment; cause a second user equipment to generate and send to the first user equipment a measurement report associated with the first transmission; transmit the first transmission using the first radio resource; receive the measurement report from the second user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource.

According to a third aspect there is provided a method performed by a first user equipment, the method comprising: determining, at the first user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by the first user equipment to a base station or third user equipment; causing a second user equipment to generate and send to the first user equipment a measurement report associated with the first transmission; transmitting the first transmission using the first radio resource; and receiving the measurement report from the second user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource.

According to some examples, the method comprises determining a third radio resource to be used for a second transmission by the first user equipment to the base station or third user equipment; and determining, based at least on the received measurement report, whether to exclude from a candidate resource set for a third transmission to the second user equipment a candidate radio resource that overlaps in time with the third radio resource, at least based on whether the at least one received signal strength is above a threshold. According to some examples, the determining whether to exclude the candidate radio resource is further based on a distance in frequency between the candidate radio resource and the third radio resource.

According to some examples, the method comprises determining, based at least on the received measurement report, at least one of: a transmission power to be used for the third transmission; a transmission beam to be used for the third transmission; and a modulation and coding scheme to be used for the third transmission.

According to some examples, the method comprises determining, based at least on the received measurement report, at least one of: a transmission power to be used for the second transmission; a transmission beam to be used for the second transmission.

According to some examples, the method comprises means for determining, based at least on the received measurement report, a discontinuous reception configuration parameter for the second user equipment.

According to some examples, the first radio resource and the second radio resource are on different carriers.

According to some examples, the first radio resource and the second radio resource are on adjacent carriers.

According to a fourth aspect there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a first user equipment, cause the first user equipment to perform at least the following: determining, at the first user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by the first user equipment to a base station or third user equipment; causing a second user equipment to generate and send to the first user equipment a measurement report associated with the first transmission; transmitting the first transmission using the first radio resource; and receiving the measurement report from the second user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource.

According to a fifth aspect there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by a first user equipment, cause the first user equipment to perform at least the following: determining, at the first user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by the first user equipment to a base station or third user equipment; causing a second user equipment to generate and send to the first user equipment a measurement report associated with the first transmission; transmitting the first transmission using the first radio resource; and receiving the measurement report from the second user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource.

According to a sixth aspect there is provided a second user equipment comprising: means for determining, at the second user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by a first user equipment; means for generating and sending a measurement report to the first user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one of: at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource; a preferred resource set for a third transmission from the first user equipment to the second user equipment, the preferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength; a non-preferred resource set for the third transmission, the non-preferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength.

According to some examples, the apparatus further comprises means for determining a third radio resource to be used for a second transmission by the first user equipment; and wherein determining the preferred resource set for the third transmission comprises determining whether to exclude from a candidate resource set for the third transmission a candidate radio resource that overlaps in time with the third radio resource at least based on whether the at least one received signal strength is above a threshold.

According to some examples, the apparatus further comprises means for determining a third radio resource to be used for a second transmission by the first user equipment; and wherein determining the non-preferred resource set for the third transmission comprises determining whether to include in the non-preferred resource set a candidate radio resource from a candidate resource set for the third transmission at least based on whether the candidate radio resource overlaps in time with the third radio resource and the at least one received signal strength is above a threshold.

According to some examples, the determining whether to include the candidate radio resource in the non-preferred resource set is further based on a distance in frequency between the candidate radio resource and the third radio resource.

According to some examples, the determining whether to include the candidate radio resource in the non-preferred resource set is further based on a location in frequency of the candidate radio resource relative to at least one of the third radio resource and a carrier frequency of the second transmission.

According to some examples, the first transmission and the third transmission comprise any one of: uplink transmissions to a base station; sidelink transmissions to a third user equipment; or sidelink broadcast transmissions.

According to some examples, the second user equipment comprises an ancillary device to the first user equipment, the first user equipment acting as an Access Point.

According to some examples the means comprises at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the apparatus.

According to a seventh aspect there is provided a second user equipment comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second user equipment at least to: determine, at the second user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by a first user equipment; generate and send a measurement report to the first user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one of: at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource; a preferred resource set for a third transmission from the first user equipment to the second user equipment, the preferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength; a non-preferred resource set for the third transmission, the non-preferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength.

According to an eighth aspect there is provided a method performed by a second user equipment, the method comprising: determining, at the second user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by a first user equipment; generating and sending a measurement report to the first user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one of: at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource; a preferred resource set for a third transmission from the first user equipment to the second user equipment, the preferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength; a nonpreferred resource set for the third transmission, the non-preferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength. According to some examples, the method comprises determining a third radio resource to be used for a second transmission by the first user equipment; and wherein determining the preferred resource set for the third transmission comprises determining whether to exclude from a candidate resource set for the third transmission a candidate radio resource that overlaps in time with the third radio resource at least based on whether the at least one received signal strength is above a threshold.

According to some examples, the method comprises determining a third radio resource to be used for a second transmission by the first user equipment; and wherein determining the non-preferred resource set for the third transmission comprises determining whether to include in the non-preferred resource set a candidate radio resource from a candidate resource set for the third transmission at least based on whether the candidate radio resource overlaps in time with the third radio resource and the at least one received signal strength is above a threshold.

According to some examples, the first radio resource and the second radio resource are on a same carrier and adjacent in frequency. According to some examples, the first radio resource and the second radio resource are on different carriers.

According to a ninth aspect there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by the second user equipment, cause the second user equipment to perform at least the following: determining, at the second user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by a first user equipment; generating and sending a measurement report to the first user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one of: at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource; a preferred resource set for a third transmission from the first user equipment to the second user equipment, the preferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength; a non-preferred resource set for the third transmission, the nonpreferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength.

According to a tenth aspect there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by a second user equipment, cause the second user equipment to perform at least the following: determining, at the second user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by a first user equipment; generating and sending a measurement report to the first user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one of: at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource; a preferred resource set for a third transmission from the first user equipment to the second user equipment, the preferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength; a non-preferred resource set for the third transmission, the non-preferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength. DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows an example of UE to UE cross-link interference;

Figure 2 schematically shows an example of UE to UE cross-link interference;

Figure 3 schematically shows an example of UE to UE cross-link interference;

Figure 4 schematically shows a signalling diagram according to some examples;

Figure 5 schematically shows an example table of radio resources;

Figure 6 schematically shows a signalling diagram according to some examples;

Figure 7 schematically shows a representation of a user equipment or user device according to some example embodiments;

Figure 8 schematically shows a representation of a control apparatus according to some example embodiments;

Figure 9 schematically shows a flow chart according to an example;

Figure 10 schematically shows a flow chart according to an example;

Figure 11 shows a schematic representation of non-volatile memory media.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, certain embodiments are explained with reference to mobile communication devices capable of communication via a wireless cellular system and mobile communication systems serving such mobile communication devices.

The present disclosure relates to Cross Link Interference (CLI) and management thereof. CLI may be co-channel (within the same network), or adjacent channel (different networks operating on adjacent carriers in the same band). More information on CLI can be found, for example, in 3GPP TR 38.828. In some examples, the present disclosure relates more particularly to CLI in the context of 6G sub-networks.

Error! Reference source not found, illustrates an example 6G sub-network 100 comprising a first UE, UE (A) referenced 100. UE (A) 102 may be, for example, a smartphone. The sub-network 100 also comprises a second UE, UE (B) 104. UE (B) 104 may be, for example, an ancillary device. For example, UE (B) 104 may be VR glasses, or headphones, or the like. A base station or gNB is shown at 106. A PSSCH (Physical Sidelink Shared Channel) beam is schematically shown at 108, between UE (A) 102 and UE (B) 104. A PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel) beam is schematically shown at 110, between UE (A) 102 and gNB 106. UE (A) 102 may act as a centralized access point (AP) and scheduler within the sub-network, transmitting and receiving user data from one or more devices, such as UE (B) 104, within close proximity. For example, UE (B) 104 may be within a metre of UE (A) 102. In this example, such intra-sub-network communication may take place on the PC5 interface, i.e. , sidelink (SL) communication using PSSCH resources allocated by the AP (UE (A) 102 in this case). Each device (such as UE (B) 104) within the sub-network may be assumed to have established a PC5 unicast connection with the AP (UE (A) 102). At the same time, the AP (UE (A) 102), when in coverage, may be RRC_CONNECTED and may communicate with a network entity (e.g. gNB 106) in the uplink (UL) using PUSCH resources allocated by the network entity (gNB 106) (e.g., to relay user data to the network for further processing). In general, the PUSCH and PSSCH resources may be in the same or different carriers, for example adjacent carriers within the same band. The present disclosure identifies that it may be desirable to reduce interference in sidelink communication.

Due to the proximity among devices and AP within a sub-network, the AP (UE (A) 102) may transmit PSSCH at very low power (e.g., -10dBm). On the other hand, the PUSCH transmission by the AP (UE (A) 102) may require high transmit power (e.g., 23dBm) to overcome a potentially high path loss between the AP (UE (A) 102) and the gNB 106. Thus it will be understood that transmissions from UE(A) to UE(B) may be at a lower power than transmissions from UE(A) to the gNB or UE(C). In some examples, UE(C) may be considered a third UE. As a result of the different transmit powers used for PUSCH and PSSCH, the UL transmission may cause excessive interference at UE (B) 104, disrupting PSSCH reception from UE (A) 102. This may be the case even if the UL and SL use different carriers (within the same band), e.g., due to adjacent channel leakage. The interference caused at UE (B) 104 may also depend on whether transmit beamforming is used for PUSCH and/or PSSCH, e.g., in FR2 (Frequency Range 2), and if so, on whether the PUSCH TX beam and the PSSCH TX beam overlap, as shown for example in Error! Reference source not found..

In the sub-network 200 of Figure 2, features corresponding to features of Figure 1 are given a corresponding reference numeral, but 100 series higher (for example UE (A) 202 corresponds to UE (A) 102, and so on). In Figure 2, it can be seen how PSSCH beam 208 and PUSCH beam 210 overlap.

In the context of Figures 1 and 2, UE (A) 102 and 202 transmitting in the UL may be regarded as an “aggressor UE”, whereas UE (B) 104 and 204 receiving in the SL may be regarded as a “victim UE”. However, it is to be noted that in the examples of Figures 1 and 2 the transmission that the “victim UE” (UE (B)) intends to receive is actually from the “aggressor UE” (UE (A)) itself.

As shown in Figure 3, a similar situation may occur in case of simultaneous PSSCH transmission within and across sub-networks. In this example, UE (A) 302 (e.g., acting as AP for sub-network 1 320) may transmit PSSCH 309 with high TX power (and/or high TX gain) to UE (C) 312 (e.g., acting as AP for sub-network 2 330) while transmitting PSSCH 308 with low TX power (and/or low TX gain) to UE (B) 304. Such high-power inter-sub-network SL communication (e.g., for inter-AP coordination) may interfere with low-power intra-sub- network SL communication, if they occur at the same time.

As will be described in more detail below, the present disclosure proposes an enhancement to the CLI framework introduced in Rel-16 NR for handling UE-to-UE CLI. Some examples of the present disclosure relate to scenarios where a UE needs to transmit at the same time at least toward two receivers with different or very different power levels. The two receivers could be, for example, two UEs, or one UE and one gNB, with different power levels, as described above.

A potential scenario of this type is in 6G sub-networks, shown schematically in Figure 4. Exploiting the PC5 interface (e.g. SL), a first UE (A) 402, acting as AP within a sub-network, may request or configure a second UE (B) 404 within the sub-network. According to some examples, and as shown at S401 , configuring the UE (B) comprises sending a message that configures the UE (B) 404 to perform one or more CLI measurements. More particularly, this step configures UE (B) 404 to perform CLI measurements (e.g., CLI-RSSI, CLI SRS-RSRP, etc.) during a first radio transmission (PUSCH, SRS, PSSCH, etc.) from the first UE (A) 402 to a network entity (gNB) 406 or a third UE (C) 412.

UE (B) 404 then performs the measurements, as shown at S402.

At S403, UE (B) 404 then reports the CLI measurement result to the first UE (A) 402.

In some examples, the UE (B) 404 reports the CLI measurement result to the first UE (A) 402 directly. In some examples, the measurement report may be in the form of inter-UE coordination (IUC) information, indicating a preferred resource set or non-preferred resource set determined by the second UE (B) 404 based on the CLI measurements. For example, the second UE (B) 404 may use the CLI measurements to determine whether to exclude a candidate resource from a preferred resource set for transmission by the first UE (A) 402. Similarly, the second UE (B) 404 may use the CLI measurements to determine whether to include a candidate resource in a non-preferred resource set for transmission by the first UE (A) 402.

According to some examples, the CLI measurements may be performed within frequency resources used for the first radio transmission. Additionally or alternatively, the CLI measurements may be performed within other frequency resources (e.g., adjacent frequency resources within the same carrier, adjacent carriers, etc.).

In examples, the reported CLI measurements may then be used by the first UE (A) 402 to determine transmission resources and/or transmission parameters for a subsequent or third radio transmission (PSSCH) from the first UE (A) to the second UE (B). This is schematically shown at S404. For example, the transmission resources and/or transmission parameters may comprise one or more of: TX power; TX beam; MCS (modulation and coding scheme) etc. The third transmission to UE(B) is schematically shown at S405. Additionally or alternatively, the measurements may be used by the first UE (A) 402 to adjust transmission parameters (e.g., TX power, TX beam, etc.) of a subsequent or second radio transmission from the first UE (A) 402 to the network entity gNB 406 or third UE (C) 412. This is schematically shown at S406. The second transmission from UE(A) 402 to gNB 406 or UE(C) 412 is schematically shown at S407.

Figure 5 shows an example of radio resources (si,i , Si,2, Si ,3, 81 ,4) for CLI measurements within a sub-network, and candidate resources (S2,i , S2,2, S2.3, 82,4) that may be excluded based on such measurements. Therefore, with reference to Figure 5, it will be understood that based on CLI measurements performed at the second UE (B) 404 in resources Si ,i , Si ,2, Si ,3, Si ,4 (which could also be referred to as a second resource) during a first PUSCH transmission by the first UE (A) 402 in resource n (which could also be referred to as a first resource), the first UE (A) 402 may determine whether to exclude from a candidate resource set (SA) for PSSCH transmission to the second UE (B) 404 candidate resources S2,i , S2,2, S2.3, S2,4 that overlap in time with resource r2 (which could also be referred to as a third resource) scheduled for a second PUSCH transmission by the first UE (A) 402. In some examples, such resource exclusion may be based on a distance or difference in frequency between the radio resources (r2, S2,k). For example, if the CLI measurement in Si,2 is sufficiently strong, then CLI at UE (B) 404 on candidate PSSCH resource S2,2 due to in-band emissions (I BE) from the second PUSCH transmission in resource r2 may be significant. Thus, candidate resource S2,2 may be excluded from the candidate resource set (SA).

The signalling diagram of Figure 6 explains some of the steps and procedures of Figures 4 and 5 in more detail.

At S601 , in an initial step, the first UE (A) 602 may determine a first radio resource (n) for a first radio transmission (e.g. PUSCH, SRS, PSSCH, etc.) to a network entity (gNB) 606 or a third UE (C) 612. In some examples, the first resource (n) may be determined based on DCI received from the network entity (gNB) 606, indicating an UL or SL dynamic grant (DG). In other cases, the first resource (n) may be determined based on an UL or SL configured grant (CG) for periodic transmission. The first resource (n) may also be determined based on UE autonomous PSSCH resource selection at the first UE (A) 602, in other examples.

Prior to transmitting the first radio transmission, the first UE (A) 602 may request and/or configure (e.g., via PC5-RRC, MAC CE and/or SCI) the second UE (B) 604 to perform one or more measurements, as shown at S602. For example, the one or more measurements may comprise received signal strength(s) (e.g., CLI-RSSI, CLI SRS-RSRP, etc.) in one or more second radio resource(s) (si ,i , Si ,2, Si ,3, 81 ,4) that overlap in time with the first radio resource (n). For example, the second UE (B) 604 may be configured to measure multiple received signal strengths at different distances in frequency from the first radio resource (n), as shown in Figure 5. The one or more second radio resource(s) (si ,i , Si ,2, Si ,3, 81,4) may be in the same carrier as the first radio resource (n) or in a different carrier (such as an adjacent carrier). In some cases, as in Error! Reference source not found., there may be no explicit CLI measurement request or configuration. For example, based on SCI received from the first UE

(A) 602 reserving the first resource (n), the second UE (B) 604 may autonomously decide to perform the CLI measurement(s) in the corresponding slot.

The first UE (A) 602 may then transmit the first radio transmission using the first radio resource (n), as shown at S603.

As shown at S604, the second UE (B) 604 performs the configured CLI measurements.

In some examples, S603 and S604 may occur at the same time or at least partially overlap.

At S605, the first UE (A) 602 may receive a CLI measurement report from the second UE

(B) 604. For example, the CLI measurement report may be received via PC5-RRC or MAC CE. In some examples, the CLI measurement report may indicate one or more received signal strength(s) (e.g. CLI-RSSI, CLI SRS-RSRP, etc.). In some examples this information allows the first UE (A) 602 to take into account the CLI impact of its future transmissions (e.g. PUSCH, PSSCH, etc.) on the second UE (B) 604. In some examples the received signal strength(s) (CLI-RSSI, CLI SRS-RSRP, etc.) may be averaged by the second UE (B) 604 over multiple measurement instances at different times, before the CLI measurement report is transmitted to the first UE (A) 602.

In some examples, and as shown at S606, the first UE (A) 602 may subsequently determine a third radio resource (r2) for a second radio transmission (PUSCH, PSSCH, etc.) to the network entity (gNB) 606 or the third UE (C) 612. The third radio resource (r2) may not necessarily occupy the same frequency resources as the first radio resource (n), as shown in Figure 4. In some cases, the frequency resources may be the same, e.g., in case of an UL or SL configured grant (CG) or UE autonomous periodic PSSCH resource reservation.

In some examples, and as shown at S607, the first UE (A) 602 may also determine a candidate resource set (SA) for a radio transmission (PSSCH) to the second UE (B) 604. This radio transmission may be considered a third radio transmission. Based on the received CLI measurement report, the first UE (A) 602 may determine whether or not to exclude from the candidate resource set (SA) a candidate radio resource (S2,i , S2,2, S2.3, S2 ) that overlaps in time with the third radio resource (r2), as shown in Figure 5. For example, the first UE (A) 602 may wish to transmit the third radio transmission (PSSCH) to the second UE (B) 604 using low or very low TX power (e.g., -10dBm) (e.g., within a sub-network). If the CLI measurement performed, e.g., in resource Si,2 was sufficiently strong (e.g., OdBm), then the first UE (A) 602 may expect that CLI at the second UE (B) 604 on candidate resource S2,2 due to in-band emissions (I BE) from the second radio transmission in resource r2 may disrupt reception of the third radio transmission. Thus, candidate resource S2,2 may be excluded from the candidate resource set (SA). On the other hand, if the CLI measurement performed, e.g., in resource Si,i was sufficiently weak (e.g., -20dBm), then the first UE (A) 602 may expect that CLI at the second UE (B) 604 on candidate resource S2,i due to in-band emissions (I BE) from the second radio transmission in resource r2 may be negligible. Thus, candidate resource S2,i may not be excluded from the candidate resource set (SA).

In some examples, resource exclusion may be based on a distance or difference in frequency between the candidate radio resource (S2,i , 82,2, 82.3, 82,4) and the third radio resource (r2). For example, if a candidate resource is sufficiently separated in frequency from the third radio resource (r2), the first UE (A) 602 may assume that CLI at the second UE (B) 604 will not be significant.

In some cases, resource exclusion may be based on a location in frequency (e.g. frequency value) of the candidate radio resource (S2,i , 82,2, 82,3, 82,4) relative to the third radio resource (r2). Additionally or alternatively the resource exclusion may be based on a carrier frequency (f_c) of the second radio transmission (PUSCH, SRS, PSSCH, etc.). For example, if a candidate resource overlaps in frequency with the in-phase/quadrature (l/Q) image of the third radio resource (r2) with respect to the carrier frequency (f_c) of the second radio transmission, then the first UE (A) 602 may assume that the second radio transmission will cause too much interference in the candidate resource due to spurious emissions on the l/Q image, thus the candidate resource should be excluded. Similarly, if a candidate resource overlaps in frequency with the carrier frequency (f_c) of the second radio transmission, then the first UE (A) 602 may assume that the second radio transmission will cause too much interference in the candidate resource due to carrier leakage, and thus the candidate resource should be excluded.

In some examples, the first UE (A) 602 may take advantage of the received CLI measurement report to adjust one or more TX parameters to be applied to the third radio transmission (PSSCH). This is schematically shown at S608. Such TX parameters may include TX power, TX beam, MCS, etc. For example, if the first UE (A) 602 expects significant CLI to be experienced at the second UE (B) 604, UE (A) 602 may employ one or more of: a higher TX power; a narrower TX beam (with correspondingly higher TX gain); a more robust MCS; etc. to reduce the impact of CLI from the second radio transmission.

The third transmission to UE(B) 604 is schematically shown at S609.

In other examples, the first UE (A) 602 may use the received CLI measurement report to adjust one or more TX parameters to be applied to the second radio transmission (PUSCH, PSSCH, etc.). This is schematically shown at S610. Such TX parameters may include TX power, TX beam, etc. For example, if the first UE (A) 602 expects significant CLI to be experienced at the second UE (B) 604, UE (A) 602 may employ one or more of: a lower TX power; a narrower TX beam (e.g., to reduce the power radiated towards the second UE (B)), etc. to reduce the impact of CLI from the second radio transmission. The second transmission to gNB 606 or IIE(C) 612 is schematically shown at S611.

In some examples, the first UE (A) 602 may use information of the received CLI measurement report to determine one or more DRX configuration parameters for the second UE (B) 604. This is schematically shown at S612. For example, sub-network 1 in Error! Reference source not found, may use SL DRX to reduce power consumption within the subnetwork. If the PUSCH transmissions by the first UE (A) 602 have a predictable pattern in time (e.g., in case of a configured UL grant for periodic PUSCH transmissions), then the first UE (A) 602 may (re)configure SL DRX within the sub-network such that the SL DRX active time does not contain slots used for PUSCH transmissions.

It will be appreciated that the disclosed concepts may allow a TX UE (such as an AP within a 6G sub-network) to determine the co-channel CLI and/or adjacent-channel CLI experienced by RX UEs in its proximity (such as other devices within the 6G sub-network) as a result of its radio transmissions. This CLI information may, in some examples, be used to improve coexistence of high-power UL/SL transmissions (e.g., to APs in other sub-networks), and low- power SL transmissions (e.g., to devices within a sub-network), by enabling protection of the low-power SL transmissions (e.g., through careful PSSCH resource selection and/or TX parameter setting).

A possible wireless communication device will now be described in more detail with reference to Figure 7 showing a schematic, partially sectioned view of a communication device 700. Such a communication device is often referred to as a user equipment (UE) or terminal. An appropriate mobile communication device may be provided by any device capable of sending and receiving radio signals. Non-limiting examples comprise a mobile station (MS) or mobile device such as a mobile phone or what is known as a ’smart phone’, a computer provided with a wireless interface card or other wireless interface facility (e.g., USB dongle), personal data assistant (PDA) or a tablet provided with wireless communication capabilities, VR headset, smart-watch or any combinations of these or the like. A mobile communication device may provide, for example, communication of data for carrying communications such as voice, electronic mail (email), text message, multimedia and so on. Users may thus be offered and provided numerous services via their communication devices. Non-limiting examples of these services comprise two-way or multi-way calls, data communication or multimedia services or simply an access to a data communications network system, such as the Internet. Users may also be provided broadcast or multicast data. Non-limiting examples of the content comprise downloads, television and radio programs, videos, advertisements, various alerts and other information.

A wireless communication device may be for example a mobile device, that is, a device not fixed to a particular location, or it may be a stationary device. The wireless device may need human interaction for communication, or may not need human interaction for communication. In the present teachings the terms UE or “user” are used to refer to any type of wireless communication device.

The wireless device 700 may receive signals over an air or radio interface 707 via appropriate apparatus for receiving and may transmit signals via appropriate apparatus for transmitting radio signals. In Figure 7 transceiver apparatus is designated schematically by block 706. The transceiver apparatus 706 may be provided for example by means of a radio part and associated antenna arrangement. The antenna arrangement may be arranged internally or externally to the wireless device.

A wireless device is typically provided with at least one data processing entity 701 , at least one memory 702 and other possible components 703 for use in software and hardware aided execution of tasks it is designed to perform, including control of access to and communications with access systems and other communication devices. The data processing, storage and other relevant control apparatus can be provided on an appropriate circuit board and/or in chipsets. This feature is denoted by reference 704. The user may control the operation of the wireless device by means of a suitable user interface such as key pad 705, voice commands, touch sensitive screen or pad, combinations thereof or the like. A display 708, a speaker and a microphone can be also provided. Furthermore, a wireless communication device may comprise appropriate connectors (either wired or wireless) to other devices and/or for connecting external accessories, for example hands-free equipment, thereto.

Figure 8 shows an example of a control apparatus for a communication system, for example to be coupled to and/or for controlling a station of an access system, such as a RAN node, e.g. a base station, gNB, a central unit of a cloud architecture ora node of a core network such as an MME or S-GW, a scheduling entity such as a spectrum management entity, or a server or host. The control apparatus may be integrated with or external to a node or module of a core network or RAN. In some embodiments, base stations comprise a separate control apparatus unit or module. In other embodiments, the control apparatus can be another network element such as a radio network controller or a spectrum controller. In some embodiments, each base station may have such a control apparatus as well as a control apparatus being provided in a radio network controller. The control apparatus 800 can be arranged to provide control on communications in the service area of the system. The control apparatus 800 comprises at least one memory 801 , at least one data processing unit 802, 803 and an input/output interface 804. Via the interface the control apparatus can be coupled to a receiver and a transmitter of the base station. The receiver and/or the transmitter may be implemented as a radio front end or a remote radio head. For example the control apparatus 800 or processor 801 can be configured to execute an appropriate software code to provide the control functions. Figure 9 is a flow chart according to an example. Figure 9 is viewed from the perspective of an apparatus. For example, the apparatus may be a user equipment. For example, the flow chart of Figure 9 may be viewed from the perspective of UE (A) or the “first” user equipment, as described above.

As shown at S901 , the method comprises determining, at the first user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by the first user equipment to a base station or third user equipment.

As shown at S902, the method comprises causing a second user equipment to generate and send to the first user equipment a measurement report associated with the first transmission.

As shown at S903 the method comprises transmitting the first transmission using the first radio resource.

As shown at S904 the method comprises receiving the measurement report from the second user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource.

Figure 10 is a flow chart according to an example. Figure 10 is viewed from the perspective of an apparatus. For example, the apparatus may be a user equipment. For example, the flow chart of Figure 10 may be viewed from the perspective of UE (B) or the “second” user equipment, as described above.

At S1001 the method comprises determining, at the second user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by a first user equipment.

At S1002 the method comprises generating and sending a measurement report to the first user equipment.

The measurement report comprises at least one of the options shown in S1003 to S1005 i.e. at least one of:

As shown at S1003, at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource.

As shown at S1004, a preferred resource set for a third transmission from the first user equipment to the second user equipment, the preferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength. As shown at S1005, a non-preferred resource set for the third transmission, the non-preferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength

Figure 11 shows a schematic representation of non-volatile memory media 1100a (e.g. computer disc (CD) or digital versatile disc (DVD)) and 1100b (e.g. universal serial bus (USB) memory stick) storing instructions and/or parameters 1102 which when executed by a processor allow the processor to perform one or more of the steps of the methods of Figures 9 to 10. In general, the various embodiments may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device, although the invention is not limited thereto. While various aspects of the invention may be illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that these blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

It should be understood that the apparatuses may comprise or be coupled to other units or modules etc., such as radio parts or radio heads, used in or for transmission and/or reception. Although the apparatuses have been described as one entity, different modules and memory may be implemented in one or more physical or logical entities.

It is noted that whilst some embodiments have been described in relation to 5G networks, similar principles can be applied in relation to other networks and communication systems. Therefore, although certain embodiments were described above by way of example with reference to certain example architectures for wireless networks, technologies and standards, embodiments may be applied to any other suitable forms of communication systems than those illustrated and described herein.

It is also noted herein that while the above describes example embodiments, there are several variations and modifications which may be made to the disclosed solution without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As used herein, “at least one of the following: <a list of two or more elements>” and “at least one of <a list of two or more elements>” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

In general, the various embodiments may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuitry, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device, although the disclosure is not limited thereto. While various aspects of the disclosure may be illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that these blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:

(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry) and

(b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):

(i) a combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuit(s) with software/firmware and

(ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and

(c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.”

This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

The embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented by computer software executable by a data processor of the mobile device, such as in the processor entity, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. Computer software or program, also called program product, including software routines, applets and/or macros, may be stored in any apparatus-readable data storage medium and they comprise program instructions to perform particular tasks. A computer program product may comprise one or more computerexecutable components which, when the program is run, are configured to carry out embodiments. The one or more computer-executable components may be at least one software code or portions of it.

Further in this regard it should be noted that any blocks of the logic flow as in the Figures may represent program steps, or interconnected logic circuits, blocks and functions, or a combination of program steps and logic circuits, blocks and functions. The software may be stored on such physical media as memory chips, or memory blocks implemented within the processor, magnetic media such as hard disk or floppy disks, and optical media such as for example DVD and the data variants thereof, CD. The physical media is a non-transitory media.

The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal ) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

The memory may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. The data processors may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and may comprise one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), FPGA, gate level circuits and processors based on multi core processor architecture, as non-limiting examples.

Embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in various components such as integrated circuit modules. The design of integrated circuits is by and large a highly automated process. Complex and powerful software tools are available for converting a logic level design into a semiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on a semiconductor substrate.

The scope of protection sought for various embodiments of the disclosure is set out by the independent claims. The embodiments and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the disclosure.

The foregoing description has provided by way of non-limiting examples a full and informative description of the exemplary embodiment of this disclosure. However, various modifications and adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of this disclosure will still fall within the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims. Indeed, there is a further embodiment comprising a combination of one or more embodiments with any of the other embodiments previously discussed.

Claims

1 . A first user equipment comprising: means for determining, at the first user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by the first user equipment to a base station or third user equipment; means for causing a second user equipment to generate and send to the first user equipment a measurement report associated with the first transmission; means for transmitting the first transmission using the first radio resource; means for receiving the measurement report from the second user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource.

2. A first user equipment according to claim 1 , comprising means for determining a third radio resource to be used for a second transmission by the first user equipment to the base station or third user equipment; and means for determining, based at least on the received measurement report, whether to exclude from a candidate resource set for a third transmission to the second user equipment a candidate radio resource that overlaps in time with the third radio resource, at least based on whether the at least one received signal strength is above a threshold.

3. A first user equipment according to claim 2, wherein the determining whether to exclude the candidate radio resource is further based on a distance in frequency between the candidate radio resource and the third radio resource.

4. A first user equipment according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the determining whether to exclude the candidate radio resource is further based on a location in frequency of the candidate radio resource relative to at least one of the third radio resource and a carrier frequency of the second transmission.

5. A first user equipment according to any of claims 2 to 4, further comprising means for determining, based at least on the received measurement report, at least one of: a transmission power to be used for the third transmission; a transmission beam to be used for the third transmission; and a modulation and coding scheme to be used for the third transmission.

6. A first user equipment according to any of claims 1 to 5, further comprising means for determining, based at least on the received measurement report, at least one of: a transmission power to be used for the second transmission; a transmission beam to be used for the second transmission.

7. A first user equipment according to any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising means for determining, based at least on the received measurement report, a discontinuous reception configuration parameter for the second user equipment.

8. A first user equipment according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first transmission and the third transmission comprise any one of: uplink transmissions to the base station; sidelink transmissions to the third user equipment; or sidelink broadcast transmissions.

9. A first user equipment according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein there is no frequency overlap between the first radio resource and the second radio resource.

10. A first user equipment according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first radio resource and the second radio resource are on a same carrier and adjacent in frequency.

11. A first user equipment according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first radio resource and the second radio resource are on different carriers.

12. A first user equipment according to claim 11 , wherein the first radio resource and the second radio resource are on adjacent carriers.

13. A first user equipment according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first user equipment is configured to operate as an Access Point in a sub-network.

14. A second user equipment comprising: means for determining, at the second user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by a first user equipment; means for generating and sending a measurement report to the first user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one of: at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource; a preferred resource set for a third transmission from the first user equipment to the second user equipment, the preferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength; a non-preferred resource set for the third transmission, the non-preferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength.

15. A second user equipment according to claim 14, further comprising means for determining a third radio resource to be used for a second transmission by the first user equipment; and wherein determining the preferred resource set for the third transmission comprises determining whether to exclude from a candidate resource set for the third transmission a candidate radio resource that overlaps in time with the third radio resource at least based on whether the at least one received signal strength is above a threshold.

16. A second user equipment according to claim 15, wherein the determining whether to exclude the candidate radio resource is further based on a distance in frequency between the candidate radio resource and the third radio resource.

17. A second user equipment according to claim 15, wherein the determining whether to exclude the candidate radio resource is further based on a location in frequency of the candidate radio resource relative to at least one of the third radio resource and a carrier frequency of the second transmission.

18. A second user equipment according to claim 14, further comprising means for determining a third radio resource to be used for a second transmission by the first user equipment; and wherein determining the non-preferred resource set for the third transmission comprises determining whether to include in the non-preferred resource set a candidate radio resource from a candidate resource set for the third transmission at least based on whether the candidate radio resource overlaps in time with the third radio resource and the at least one received signal strength is above a threshold.

19. A second user equipment according to claim 14 or claim 18, wherein the determining whether to include the candidate radio resource in the non-preferred resource set is further based on a distance in frequency between the candidate radio resource and the third radio resource.

20. A second user equipment according to claim 14 or claim 18, wherein the determining whether to include the candidate radio resource in the non-preferred resource set is further based on a location in frequency of the candidate radio resource relative to at least one of the third radio resource and a carrier frequency of the second transmission.

21. A second user equipment according to any of claims 14 to 20, wherein the first transmission and the third transmission comprise any one of: uplink transmissions to a base station; sidelink transmissions to a third user equipment; or sidelink broadcast transmissions.

22. A second user equipment according to any of claims 14 to 21 , wherein there is no frequency overlap between the first radio resource and the second radio resource.

23. A second user equipment according to any of claims 14 to 22, wherein the first radio resource and the second radio resource are on a same carrier and adjacent in frequency.

24. A second user equipment according to any of claims 14 to 22, wherein the first radio resource and the second radio resource are on different carriers.

25. A second user equipment according to claim 24, wherein the first radio resource and the second radio resource are on adjacent carriers.

26. A second user equipment according to any of claims 14 to 25, wherein the second user equipment comprises an ancillary device to the first user equipment, the first user equipment acting as an Access Point.

27. A method performed by a first user equipment, the method comprising: determining, at the first user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by the first user equipment to a base station or third user equipment; causing a second user equipment to generate and send to the first user equipment a measurement report associated with the first transmission; transmitting the first transmission using the first radio resource; and receiving the measurement report from the second user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource.

28. A method performed by a second user equipment, the method comprising: determining, at the second user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by a first user equipment; generating and sending a measurement report to the first user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one of: at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource; a preferred resource set for a third transmission from the first user equipment to the second user equipment, the preferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength; a non-preferred resource set for the third transmission, the non-preferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength.

29. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a first user equipment, cause the first user equipment to perform at least the following: determining, at the first user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by the first user equipment to a base station or third user equipment; causing a second user equipment to generate and send to the first user equipment a measurement report associated with the first transmission; transmitting the first transmission using the first radio resource; and receiving the measurement report from the second user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource.

30. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a second user equipment, cause the second user equipment to perform at least the following: determining, at the second user equipment, a first radio resource to be used for a first transmission by a first user equipment; generating and sending a measurement report to the first user equipment, the measurement report comprising at least one of: at least one received signal strength associated with the first transmission measured at the second user equipment in a second radio resource, the second radio resource being different from the first radio resource and the second radio resource overlapping in time with the first radio resource; a preferred resource set for a third transmission from the first user equipment to the second user equipment, the preferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength; a non-preferred resource set for the third transmission, the non-preferred resource set being determined by the second user equipment based at least on the at least one received signal strength.