Patent Description:
Future communication networks, including new radio (NR) vehicle-to-everything (V2X), aim to support different V2X applications and transmissions with various latency and reliability requirements. A transmission may have higher priority due to higher reliability and/or lower latency requirements. For instance, such a transmission may include bursty/sporadic traffic requiring high reliability in V2X, or ultra-reliable and low-latency communication (URLLC). On the other hand, other type of transmissions, such as delay tolerant transmissions and enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), may have lower priority. For an efficient spectrum usage for both high priority traffic and low priority traffic, transmissions with different priorities (including sidelink transmissions) can be scheduled on the same resources. However, multiplexing transmissions on shared resources may lead to interference, in particular interference from the low priority transmission on the high priority transmission.

eMBB and URLLC multiplexing have been considered in the uplink for intra-user equipment (UE) transmissions, and for inter-UE transmissions. In particular, two transmissions from the same UE can be multiplexed, and two transmissions from different UEs can be multiplexed as well. When multiplexing an URLLC transmission (high priority) with an eMBB transmission (low priority) on shared resources, the interference of an eMBB transmission on an URLLC transmission can be reduced via power control, i.e. by decreasing the transmit power of the eMBB transmission or by increasing the transmit power of the URLLC transmission. Interference from the eMBB transmission on the URLCC transmission can also be mitigated by preempting the eMBB transmission on indicated time-frequency resources, i.e. by pausing or canceling a scheduled eMBB transmission when an URLLC transmission occurs in overlapping time-frequency resources.

Current work on preemption-based schemes considers mainly preemption of downlink or uplink transmissions, but sidelink transmissions are not being considered. Furthermore, beam-based transmissions have not been taken into account by conventional preemption-based approaches. However, beamforming will be required in future communication networks including NR V2X, due to the propagation characteristics and corresponding path loss at higher frequencies.

Thus, an improved and enhanced preemption-based scheme, which also applies for sidelink transmissions, is desired.

<NPL> discloses mode <NUM> RA for NR sidelink, where a UE determines sidelink transmission resource(s) within the sidelink resources configured by base station/network or pre-configured sidelink resources.

<NPL> discloses pre-emption indication design details, particularly a pre-emption indication switch, indication position and indication content.

<NPL> discloses pre-emption indication in eMIMO.

In view of the above-mentioned deficiencies, embodiments of the present invention aim to provide an enhanced preemption for multiplexing of UE transmissions. An objective is in particular to propose a preemption-based scheme, in which a lower priority transmission and a higher priority transmission on shared resources can both be in the sidelink. In addition, such a scheme is also to be applied for beam-based transmissions of the lower priority link and/or receptions of the higher priority link. This should be usable for multiplexing a higher priority transmission on the same resources as a lower priority transmission, such that the interference from the lower priority transmission on the higher priority transmission is mitigated.

An objective is achieved by the embodiment provided in the enclosed independent claims. Advantageous implementations of the embodiments of the present invention are further defined in the dependent claims.

A first aspect of the invention provides a network device for supporting preemption of a transmission over a first link, the network device being configured to: provide preemption information to a first user equipment, UE, wherein the preemption information is indicative of at least one first spatial filter that is to be preempted by the first UE for the transmission over the first link, and is further indicative of at least one further spatial filter to be used by the first UE for the transmission over the first link.

Particularly, the first link may be a low priority link, where there may be another high priority link in the same network with a higher priority. The terms "high priority" and "low priority" may be relative to another, i.e. may be in fact "higher priority" and "lower priority". Alternatively, the terms may be used absolutely, i.e. "high priority" may be above a certain threshold and/or "low priority" may be below a certain threshold, respectively. To mitigate an interference from the low priority link on the high priority link, the spatial filters used in the low priority link, which may cause the interference to the receive device in the high priority link, are to be preempted. The spatial filters to be preempted correspond to the spatial filters or transmit beams from the transmit device.

A spatial filter can refer to a beam. A spatial filter at the device, e.g. UE, may be formed by any kind of beam-forming method (i.e. digital, RF or hybrid beam-forming). Different spatial filters at the device may correspond to different beam directions from a single beam-forming array, panel or antenna element on the device, or from one or more beam-forming arrays, panels or antenna elements on the device. Furthermore, in some implementations, each beam-forming array, panel or antenna element on the device, could also form a single fixed spatial filter, i.e. a single fixed beam direction. A panel may be defined as a set of co-located antenna elements.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the preemption information further indicates at least one further spatial filter to be used by the first UE for the transmission over the first link.

The preemption of a spatial filter can also be enabled by changing the spatial filter. That is, on one or more indicated time-frequency resources, the transmission with the indicated spatial filters is not performed, but it can be performed with other indicated spatial filters, e.g. transmission is switched to other transmit beams.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the preemption information comprises at least one resource indicator of the first UE, wherein each of the at least one resource indicator identifies a resource (in the time-frequency grid) corresponding to each of the at least one first spatial filter to be preempted.

In particular, a spatial filter can be identified via a resource indicator, e.g. a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource indicator in the time-frequency grid, where a CSI-RS was transmitted by a UE with a spatial filter on the indicated time-frequency resource. For instance, the preemption information comprises a resource indicator X. Based on the preemption information, the first UE shall preempt the transmission with the spatial filter corresponding to the resource indicator X.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the network device is configured to determine the preemption information based on a measurement performed by a second UE.

Optionally, the spatial filters to be preempted are determined by the network side. Particular it is determined based on measurements made at another device. The other device may be the receive device in the second link, i.e. in the high priority link, which is the potential victim of the interference.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the network device is configured to determine the at least one resource indicator of the first UE based on the measurement performed by the second UE.

While the resource indicator identifies the resource corresponding to the spatial filter to be preempted, to determine the spatial filter to be preempted, the resource indicator of the first UE should be determined.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the network device is configured to indicate the first UE to transmit a reference signal on at least one first spatial filter; and indicate the second UE to perform the measurement of the reference signal on at least one second spatial filter.

To obtain the measurement, the network device may indicate one or more UEs to perform a sounding procedure and a measurement. In particular, the sounding and measurements can be performed on the link from the first UE to the second UE. A sounding transmission of a UE refers to for example when the UE transmits reference signals, e.g. CSI-RS, with some spatial filters or transmit beams. Another UE may measure reference signals from the UE, and feed back to the network device. In particular, if the UE is configured to transmit reference signals with the spatial filters used to transmit the low priority transmission (first link), and the other UE is configured to make measurements with the spatial filters it uses for the reception of the high priority transmission (second link), a more precise determination of the potential interference impact can be achieved.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the network device is configured to indicate a second UE to transmit a reference signal on at least one second spatial filter; and indicate the first UE to perform a measurement of the reference signal on at least one first spatial filter, wherein the preemption information indicates the first UE to preempt one or more of the at least one first spatial filter based on the measurement of the reference signal transmitted on one or more of the at least one second spatial filter.

Alternatively, the sounding and measurements can be performed on the link from the second UE to the first UE as well. Particularly, the spatial filters to be preempted are determined by the first UE, i.e. based on measurements made at the first UE. In this case, the second UE, the potential victim of the interference transmits reference signals, e.g. CSI-RS, with some spatial filters or transmit beams. And the first UE, the potential aggressor of the interference, makes the measurements with some spatial filters, i.e. with some receive beams.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the at least one second spatial filter is allocated by the second UE for receiving over a second link.

That means, the second UE should transmit the reference signal or make measurements, in particular with the spatial filters used for the reception of the high priority transmission.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the at least one first spatial filter is allocated by the first UE for transmitting over the first link.

Similarly, the first UE should transmit the reference signal or make measurements, particular with the spatial filters used for the transmission of the low priority transmission.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the network device is configured to determine the one or more of the at least one second spatial filter based on a measurement performed by the first UE.

Based on the measurements at the first UE, it may identify the spatial filters (receive beams) on which it received a strong signal from the second UE, i.e. a reference signal a threshold. To avoid the network signaling the threshold, the first UE can feedback to the network the measurements of the reference signals sent by the second UE. Based on the feedback, the network determines which are the spatial filters of the second UE, i.e. the at least one second spatial filter, which are to be associated with the spatial filters of first UE to be preempted.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the network device is configured to provide to the first UE information indicative of the one or more of the at least one second spatial filter of the second UE.

After the spatial filters of the second UE, i.e. the at least one second spatial filter, which are to be associated with the spatial filters of first UE to be preempted, is determined, the network device indicates these spatial filters of the second UE to the first UE.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the preemption information comprises at least one resource indicator of the second UE.

While the resource indicator identifies the resource corresponding to the spatial filter, the resource indicator of the second UE should be provided.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a UE, for supporting preemption of a transmission over a first link, the UE being configured to obtain preemption information from a network device, wherein the preemption information is indicative of at least one first spatial filter that is to be preempted by the UE for the transmission over the first link, and is further indicative of at least one further spatial filter to be used by the first UE (<NUM>) for the transmission over the first link; to preempt the at least one first spatial filter when transmitting over the first link; and to use the at least one further spatial filter for the transmission over the first link.

Similar as the first aspect, the first link may be a low priority link. To mitigate an interference from the low priority link on the high priority link (a second link), the spatial filters used in the low priority link which may cause the interference to the receive device in the high priority link, need to be preempted.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the UE is configured to preempt the at least one first spatial filter when transmitting over the first link.

Based on the preemption information received from the network device, the spatial filter used to transmit the low priority link (which may cause the interference), should be preempted by the UE.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the preemption information comprises at least one resource indicator of the UE, wherein each of the at least one resource indicator identifies a resource corresponding to each of the at least one first spatial filter that is to be preempted.

While the resource indicator identifies the resource corresponding to the spatial filter to be preempted, the resource indicator of the UE should be provided.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the UE is configured to receive an indication from the network device, indicating to transmit a reference signal on at least one first spatial filter; and transmit the reference signal on the at least one first spatial filter.

Optionally, in order to determine the spatial filter to be preempted, the UE may be instructed to perform a sounding transmission, particular, to transmit reference signals with some spatial filters.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the UE is configured to: receive an indication from the network device to perform a measurement of a reference signal on at least one first spatial filter; receive the reference signal from another UE; and perform the measurement.

Alternatively, the UE may be instruct to perform the measurement on the reference signal from the other UE.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, wherein the at least one first spatial filter is allocated by the UE for transmitting over the first link.

In particular, the UE should transmit the reference signal or make the measurement, with the spatial filters used for the transmission of the low priority link.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, wherein the preemption information indicates the UE to preempt one or more of the at least one first spatial filter based on the measurement of the reference signal transmitted on at least one second spatial filter from the other UE.

Particularly, the spatial filters to be preempted are determined by the UE, i.e. based on measurements made at the UE.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the UE is configured to receive information, indicative of the at least one second spatial filter used by the other UE to transmit the reference signal, from the network device.

After the spatial filters of the other UE, i.e. the at least one second spatial filter, which are to be associated with the spatial filters of the UE to be preempted, is determined, the network device indicates these spatial filters of the other UE to the UE.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the UE is configured to indicate to the network device and/or to a receiving UE of the first link, information indicative of the at least one first spatial filter to be preempted.

Since the determination of the spatial filter to be preempted is performed at the UE side, the network device is not aware (yet) of the spatial filters of the UE to be preempted. Thus, after the UE has determined the spatial filters to be preempted, it signals the network device. Optionally, the UE may also signal a receiving UE of the first link, e.g. in the sidelink control information, the spatial filters which will be preempted.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the preemption information further indicates at least one further spatial filter of the UE, and the UE is configured to: switch a transmission on the at least one first spatial filter to be preempted to the at least one further spatial filter when transmitting over the first link.

Instead of using the spatial filter which may cause the interference to the high priority link, the UE is instructed to use other spatial filters to transmit on the low priority link, which does not cause any interference on the high priority link.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a method for supporting preemption of a transmission over a first link, the method comprising: providing preemption information to a first UE, wherein the preemption information is indicative of at least one first spatial filter that is to be preempted by the first UE for the transmission over the first link, and wherein the preemption information further indicates at least one further spatial filter to be used by the first UE for the transmission over the first link.

The method of the third aspect may have implementation forms that correspond to the implementation forms of the device of the first aspect. The method of the third aspect and its implementation forms provide the same advantages and effects as described above for the network device of the first aspect and its respective implementation forms.

A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a method for a UE for supporting preemption of a transmission over a first link, the method comprising: obtaining preemption information from a network device, wherein the preemption information is indicative of at least one spatial filter that is to be preempted by the UE for the transmission over the first link, and is further indicative of at least one further spatial filter to be used by the first UE (<NUM>) for the transmission over the first link; preempting the at least one first spatial filter (<NUM>) when transmitting over the first link; and using the at least one further spatial filter for the transmission over the first link.

The method of the fourth aspect may have implementation forms that correspond to the implementation forms of the device of the second aspect. The method of the fourth aspect and its implementation forms provide the same advantages and effects as described above for the UE of the second aspect and its respective implementation forms.

<FIG> shows a network device <NUM> for supporting preemption of a transmission over a first link according to an embodiment of the invention. The network device <NUM> may comprise processing circuitry (not shown) configured to perform, conduct or initiate the various operations of the network device <NUM> described herein. The processing circuitry may comprise hardware and software. The hardware may comprise analog circuitry or digital circuitry, or both analog and digital circuitry. The digital circuitry may comprise components such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or multi-purpose processors. In one embodiment, the processing circuitry comprises one or more processors and a non-transitory memory connected to the one or more processors. The non-transitory memory may carry executable program code which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the network device <NUM> to perform, conduct or initiate the operations or methods described herein.

In particular, the network device <NUM> is configured to provide preemption information <NUM> to a first UE <NUM>. The preemption information <NUM> is indicative of at least one first spatial filter <NUM> that is to be preempted by the first UE <NUM> for the transmission over the first link.

The network device <NUM> may be a transmit-receive point (TRP). Examples of the TRP include an access node, evolved NodeB (eNB), next generation NodeB (gNB), base station (BS), NodeB, master eNB (MeNB), secondary eNB (SeNB), remote radio head, access point, user equipment (UEs), master UE, mobile, mobile station, terminal, and the like. The first UE <NUM> may be a device in a coverage of the network device <NUM>. In particular, the first UE <NUM> is evolved in a first transmission link. The first link may be a low priority link. That means, the first link has a lower priority than another link, e.g. a second link, which could be a high priority link.

A spatial filter represents a spatial filter or transmit beam of a UE, i.e. a time and frequency resource. A preemption of spatial filters of the UE's transmission, in particular on a sidelink, is considered, such that the UE's transmission does not cause interference on another transmission. This allows multiplexing a high priority transmission of a UE (either in the sidelink or uplink) on resources of a low priority transmission, such that the interference from the low priority link on the high priority link is mitigated. The spatial filters to be preempted correspond for example to transmit beams from a transmit device in the low priority link, which may cause interference to a receive device in the high priority link.

The preemption of spatial filters can be enabled in two ways: data preemption, or changing the spatial filters. In particular, data preemption means that a transmission on indicated time-frequency resources is paused. Alternatively, the transmission with indicated spatial filters is not performed on indicated time-frequency resources, but it is performed with other available spatial filters. In the second scenario, the transmission may be switched to other transmit beams.

The preemption of spatial filters, via data preemption or changing spatial filters, can be performed with a fine resource granularity, e.g. code block (CB)/code block group (CBG) based preemption instead of transport block (TB) based preemption.

Optionally, the preemption information <NUM> may comprise at least one resource indicator of the first UE <NUM>. Each of the at least one resource indicator identifies a resource (in the time-frequency grid) corresponding to one of the at least one first spatial filter <NUM> to be preempted. For instance, the resource indicator may be a CSI-RS resource indicator, where a CSI-RS was transmitted by the first UE with a spatial filter on the indicated time-frequency resource.

A network scenario according to an embodiment of the invention, comprises a serving TRP, and device A, device B, device C and device D which are in coverage of the serving TRP, as depicted in <FIG>. These devices can be transmit and/or receive devices. Device C and device D are involved in a low priority link, whereas device A and device B are involved in a high priority link. For instance, device C is a UE, whereas the other devices can be a UE or a TRP (gNB). In such case, the high priority link can be a sidelink, uplink or downlink. The low priority link can be a sidelink or uplink. In the case where all the devices are UEs in coverage of a serving TRP and hence, both links are sidelinks. Device C is scheduled to transmit to device D (low priority transmission) with certain spatial filters (e.g. transmit beams) on some time-frequency resources.

According to the embodiment depicted in <FIG>, device C is configured to transmit to device D with the spatial filters corresponding to transmit beams #<NUM> and #<NUM> of device C. Device C may be the first UE <NUM> in <FIG>. The link between device C and device D is the first link. The serving TRP may be the network device <NUM> in <FIG>. The serving TRP wants to schedule a high priority transmission from device A to device B on some time-frequency resources which overlap with the time-frequency resources of the low priority transmission. To avoid potential interference from the low priority transmission (i.e. from device C), on the high priority transmission (i.e. at device B), the serving TRP (i.e. the network device <NUM>) can indicate to device C the spatial filters that should be preempted, which correspond to the spatial filters that may cause potential interference at device B.

In the embodiment as depicted in <FIG>, the spatial filter to be preempted would correspond to transmit beam #<NUM> of device C. In case of data preemption, the low priority transmission with transmit beam #<NUM> of device C should be paused on the time-frequency resources where the high priority transmission overlaps with the low priority transmission as shown in <FIG>. In case of changing the spatial filters, the low priority transmission with transmit beam #<NUM> of device C is switched to another transmit beam, e.g. to transmit beam #<NUM>, on the time-frequency resources where the high priority transmission overlaps with the low priority transmission as shown in <FIG>. It is assumed that transmit beam #<NUM> of device C can be used to reach device D and it does not cause interference on the high priority transmission.

The advantage of the proposed preemption of spatial filters according to an embodiment of the invention, is that the high priority transmission can be multiplexed with the low priority transmission, without completely pausing the low priority transmission on the overlapping resources, while also mitigating the interference from the low priority transmission on the high priority transmission.

Embodiments of the invention includes the following parts: the determination and indication to the low priority link of the spatial filters to be preempted, and the configuration of a device to make measurements on certain spatial filters. Several methods are proposed for these two points, which are discussed in the following. For ease of explanation, the setup described in <FIG> is considered, with the low priority transmission consisting of a transmission of device C (low priority transmit device) to device D (low priority receive device) and the high priority transmission consisting of a transmission of device A (high priority transmit device) to device B (high priority receive device). In particular, device C in <FIG>, which is also the first UE in <FIG>, is considered as the potential aggressor of interference. Device B is considered as the potential victim of interference.

<FIG> shows a proposed Method <NUM>, according to embodiments of this invention. For Method <NUM>, the spatial filters (Tx beams) to be preempted are determined by the network, namely the network device <NUM> in <FIG>, based on measurements made at device B (potential victim) of a sounding transmission of device C (potential aggressor) as shown in <FIG>. That means, the network device <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the invention, may be configured to determine the preemption information <NUM> based on a measurement performed by a second UE <NUM>. Device B in <FIG> may be the second UE <NUM>. In particular, as the preemption information <NUM> may comprise at least one resource indicator of the first UE <NUM>, the network device <NUM> may be further configured to determine the at least one resource indicator of the first UE <NUM> based on the measurement performed by the second UE <NUM>.

The sounding transmission of device C refers to for example when device C transmits reference signals, e.g. CSI-RS, with some spatial filters or transmit beams. The measurements can be obtained at the serving TRP, i.e. network device <NUM>, based on feedback from device B, i.e. the second UE <NUM>. The feedback can consist of the spatial filters, i.e. the reference signals sent with transmit beams, from device C on which device B measured the strongest (potentially interfering) signal from device C, along with a measure of the channel quality received with those spatial filters. As in <NUM> NR, the feedback may not include information about which receive beam or spatial filter is used by device B to receive a reference signal from device C. Thus, to get more precise information of the interference impact for determining the spatial filters of device C to be preempted, device C can be configured to transmit reference signals on specific spatial filters, i.e. transmit beams, and/or device B can be configured to make measurements on specific spatial filters, i.e. receive beams. Further, device B can be configured to make measurements on spatial filters, i.e. receive beams, used to receive a reference signal from specified spatial filters of device A (e.g. spatial filters which are quasi co-located (QCL-ed) with spatial filters of device A).

Thus, the network device <NUM> may be configured to indicate the first UE <NUM> to transmit a reference signal <NUM> on at least one first spatial filter, as shown in <FIG>. Optionally, the network device <NUM> may be configured to indicate the second UE <NUM> to perform the measurement of the reference signal <NUM> on at least one second spatial filter. It should be noted that, the at least one first spatial filter <NUM> to be preempted, which is indicated by the preemption information <NUM>, may be a subset of the at least one first spatial filter on which the first UE <NUM> transmits the reference signal <NUM>.

According to the embodiment shown in <FIG>, device B can be configured to make measurements with receive beams #<NUM> and #<NUM>, which would be used for receiving the high priority transmission from device A. This measurement configuration provides the advantage that the obtained measurements characterize better the potential interference that device B can experience when receiving a transmission from device A (high priority transmission). In addition, with this measurement configuration, device B does not need to feed back information about the receive beams used for the measurements.

Furthermore, device C can be configured to transmit a reference signal on spatial filters, i.e. transmit beams, used to transmit to device D. According to the embodiment shown in <FIG>, device C can be configured to transmit the reference signals with transmit beams #<NUM> and #<NUM>, which are used for transmitting the low priority transmission to device D. This transmission configuration provides the advantage that the obtained measurements characterize better the potential interference that device B can experience from device C, when device C is transmitting to device D (low priority transmission).

Based on the feedback of measurements of device B, the spatial filters of device C to be preempted can be determined at the network, e.g. as the spatial filters for which the measurements are above a threshold, i.e. which may cause interference at device B. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the spatial filter of device C to be preempted corresponds to transmit beam #<NUM> of device C, as the transmission with this transmit beam would cause interference at device B, when device B is receiving a transmission from device A. After the spatial filters to be preempted are determined at the network side, they are signaled to the devices in the low priority link, i.e. device C and device D in the embodiment depicted in <FIG>, such that afterwards the transmission of the low priority link on the signaled spatial filters is preempted (on indicated time-frequency resources).

The preemption of the spatial filters can be performed by data preemption or by changing the spatial filters. For both options with Method <NUM>, the spatial filters to be preempted are determined at the network side and signaled to the devices in the low priority link. In addition, for the option of changing the spatial filters, the network determines the spatial filters of device C, to which the transmission on the spatial filters of device C to be preempted, should be switched to. This can be determined for example based on previous feedback of measurements at device D from reference signals transmitted by device C. The spatial filters which should be used instead of the spatial filters to be preempted (on indicated time-frequency resources), should also be signaled to the devices in the low priority link. A flowchart summarizing Method <NUM> for both data preemption and changing the spatial filters is provided in <FIG>, where the additional steps for changing the spatial filters are indicated as optional.

<FIG> depicts an alternative Method <NUM> according to an embodiment of this invention. For Method <NUM>, the spatial filters to be preempted are determined by device C, i.e. based on measurements made at device C (potential aggressor) of a sounding transmission of device B (potential victim) as shown in <FIG>. Device C shown in <FIG> is the same device C as shown in <FIG>, namely, the first UE <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Device B shown in <FIG> is the same device B as shown in <FIG>, that is, the second UE <NUM>.

It should be noted that for Method <NUM>, the sounding transmission is performed on the reverse link of the link which is considered for Method <NUM>. In particular, device B, namely the second UE <NUM>, transmits reference signals, e.g. CSI-RS, with some spatial filters, i.e. with some spatial filters or transmit beams. And device C, namely the first UE <NUM>, makes the measurements with some spatial filters, i.e. with some receive beams. Based on the measurements at device C, device C identifies the spatial filters (i.e. receive beams) on which it received a strong signal from device B, i.e. a reference signal from device B above a threshold. The spatial filters to be preempted correspond to the spatial filters (transmit beams) which are associated with these spatial filters (receive beams), as the transmission on these spatial filters may cause interference at device B (due to reciprocity). In the embodiment depicted in <FIG>, device C identifies the spatial filters (i.e. receive beams) on which it received a signal from device B, e.g. a signal from device B above a threshold. As device C receives the strongest signal from device B with receive beam #<NUM>, the spatial filter to be preempted by device C corresponds to transmit beam #<NUM>, as the transmission on this spatial filters may cause interference at Device B (due to reciprocity). The network TRP, can assist device C by providing a threshold as well as by indicating the measurements of which spatial filters of device B are to be considered for determining the spatial filters to be preempted. The TRP is the network device <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

Hence, the network device <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, according to an embodiment of the invention, may be configured to indicate the second UE <NUM> to transmit a reference signal <NUM> on at least one second spatial filter. The network device <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the invention, may be further configured to indicate the first UE <NUM> to perform a measurement of the reference signal <NUM> on at least one first spatial filter. Optionally, the preemption information <NUM> indicates the first UE <NUM> to preempt one or more of the at least one first spatial filter <NUM> based on the measurement of the reference signal <NUM> transmitted on one or more of the at least one second spatial filter <NUM>. It should be noted that, the one or more of the at least one second spatial filter <NUM>, may be a subset of the at least one second spatial filter on which the second UE <NUM> transmits the reference signal <NUM>.

In contrast to Method <NUM>, where the spatial filters to be preempted are determined at the network device <NUM>, in Method <NUM>, the network device <NUM> indicates implicitly the spatial filters of the first UE <NUM> (device C) to be preempted based on spatial filters of the second UE <NUM> (device B).

For the determination of the spatial filters to be preempted at device C, feedback of the measurements from device C may not be required. On the other hand, to avoid the network signaling the threshold, device C can feedback to the network the measurements of the reference signals sent by device B. Based on the feedback, the network determines which are the spatial filters of device B that are to be associated with the spatial filters of device C to be preempted, i.e. the spatial filters of device B which have a measured channel quality above a threshold.

That means, the network device <NUM> may be configured to determine the one or more of the at least one second spatial filter <NUM> based on the measurement performed by the first UE <NUM>. Optionally, the network device <NUM> may be further configured to provide to the first UE <NUM> information indicative of the one or more of the at least one second spatial filter <NUM> of the second UE <NUM>.

Afterwards, the network indicates these spatial filters of device B to device C. Based on the measurements, device C then determines the spatial filters to be preempted, corresponding to the spatial filters on which device C received a reference signal (e.g. above a threshold) from the spatial filters of device B indicated by the network. The feedback of the measurements at device C from the transmission of device B provides the advantage that the network does not need to signal the threshold to device C for the determination of the spatial filters to be preempted. However, the network is not aware (yet) of the spatial filters of device C to be preempted since the determination of the spatial filter to be preempted is performed at device C. After device C has determined the spatial filters to be preempted, with or without feedback, device C signals them, e.g. in the sidelink control information, to the receive device in the low priority link, i.e. device D as shown in <FIG>. This provides the advantage that the receive device of the low priority link is aware of the spatial filters which will be preempted. The spatial filters to be preempted can also be signaled to the network device <NUM>, since the network device <NUM> is not aware of which spatial filters of device C would be preempted. Afterwards, the transmission of the low priority link on the spatial filters determined at device C is preempted (on indicated time-frequency resources).

A summary of Method <NUM>, with and without feedback, is shown in <FIG>. For Method <NUM>, to get a more precise information of the interference impact for determining the spatial filters to be preempted, device B can be configured to transmit a reference signals (sounding) on certain spatial filters, i.e. transmit beams, and/or device C can be configured to make measurements on certain spatial filters, i.e. receive beams. For example, device C can be configured to make measurements on spatial filters, i.e. receive beams, which correspond to specified spatial filters of device C, e.g. spatial filters used to transmit to device B.

For instance, as shown in <FIG>, device C can be configured to make measurements with beams #<NUM> and #<NUM>, which correspond to the spatial filters which would be used for transmitting the low priority transmission to device D. This measurement configuration provides the advantage that the obtained measurements characterize better the potential interference that device C can cause to device B, when device C is transmitting to device D (low priority transmission). Furthermore, device B can be configured to transmit a reference signal on spatial filters, i.e. transmit beams, which correspond to spatial filters used to receive a transmission from device A. Particularly, as shown in <FIG>, device B can be configured to transmit reference signals with beams #<NUM> and #<NUM>, which correspond to the beams used to receive the high priority transmission from device A. This transmission configuration provides the advantage that the measurements obtained at device C characterize better the potential interference that device B can experience when receiving a transmission from device A (high priority transmission).

The preemption of the spatial filters can be performed by data preemption or by changing the spatial filters. For both options with Method <NUM>, the spatial filters to be preempted are determined by the transmit device in the low priority link, with assistance of the network device, and signaled to the receive devices in the low priority link. In addition, for the option of changing the spatial filters, the network device determines the spatial filters of device C, to which the transmission on the spatial filters of device C to be preempted, should be switched to. These spatial filters, which should be used instead of the spatial filters to be preempted (on indicated time-frequency resources), should be signaled to the devices in the low priority link. A flowchart summarizing Method <NUM> for both data preemption and changing the spatial filters is given in <FIG>, where the additional steps for changing the spatial filters are indicated as optional. Furthermore, the use of the threshold at device C for determining the spatial filters to be preempted is also indicated as optional, in case there is no feedback from device C to the network device.

Notably, Method <NUM> is a network-based determination of spatial filters to be preempted, while Method <NUM> is a network-assisted UE-based determination of spatial filters to be preempted. Whereas Method <NUM> is based on sounding and measurements on the link from device C to device B, Method <NUM> is based on sounding and measurements on the link from device B to device C. Method <NUM> provides the advantage that the reciprocity of the links can be exploited.

In addition, for both methods, the beams of device C, namely the at least one first spatial filter of the first UE <NUM>, which is used to either transmit the reference signal or perform the measurement, is allocated by the first UE <NUM> for transmitting over the first link. Similarly, the beams of device B, i.e. the at least one second spatial filter of the second UE <NUM>, that is used to either transmit the reference signal or perform the measurement, is allocated by the second UE <NUM> for receiving over the second link. Optionally, the preemption information <NUM> may also comprise at least one resource indicator of the second UE <NUM>.

Further, it should be noted that for obtaining the measurements to enable Method <NUM> and Method <NUM>, the required sounding and measurements may already be available when performing the required sounding for setting up the beam pair links for the low priority link and for the high priority link. In particular, when a device is sounding its transmit beams (beam sweeping), other devices not involved in the given link can be configured to make measurements. For example, the measurements required for Method <NUM> can be obtained at device B, when device C is transmitting a sounding signal to device D. In addition, for Method <NUM>, device B feeds back the measurements to the network. Similarly, the measurements for Method <NUM> can be obtained at device C, when device B is sending a sounding signal to device A, i.e. on the reverse link from device A to device B, which can serve as the control (feedback) link for the link from device A to device B. In addition, for Method <NUM>, device C can feed back the measurements to the network. However, Method <NUM> can be enabled without feedback as well.

Furthermore, embodiments provided in this invention support different beamforming capabilities of the devices, e.g. all involved devices have no beamforming capabilities (omni-directional), device B has no beamforming capabilities (omni-directional), device C has no beamforming capabilities (omni-directional), or all involved devices have beamforming capabilities, etc..

The proposed methods have been discussed for multiplexing inter-UE transmissions. But it should be noted that these methods are also applicable to the case of multiplexing intra-UE transmissions. For intra-UE multiplexing, device A and device C may be on the same device, such that the high priority link is from device A/C to device B, whereas the low priority link is from device A/C to device D. Device A/C may know, whether the low priority transmission may cause interference to the high priority transmission.

In addition, embodiments of the invention also supports the case when the low priority transmission is a groupcast transmission, i.e. a device C transmitting to multiple receive devices. In this case, the spatial filters to be preempted is signaled to all the receive devices in the low priority group cast transmission. The proposed methods also support the case when the high priority transmission is a groupcast transmission, i.e. device A is transmitting to multiple receive devices.

Moreover, the proposed methods can support the case of multiplexing two or more transmissions with different priorities, such that a higher priority transmission is protected from interference from lower priority transmissions. The high priority transmission may consist of a latency-critical transmission/re-transmission, an urgent scheduling request, or an urgent acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) feedback.

The spatial filters may come from different transmit panels, different transmit ports or from the same transmit panel. The proposed approach is also applicable when device D and device Bare on the same device.

In the following embodiments, the case that the spatial filter preemption is enabled via data preemption will be discussed. Spatial filter preemption via changing spatial filters is enabled as spatial filter preemption with data preemption, along with an additional indication from the network of the spatial filters which should be used instead of the preempted spatial filters, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

As discussed before, certain spatial filters or transmit beams can be used by device C for transmitting the reference signals. And certain receive spatial filters or receive beams can be used by device B to make the measurements for Method <NUM>. Depending on which spatial filters are used for sounding by device C and which spatial filters are used at device B for making the measurements, there are different variants of Method <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

For example, in the variant Method 1a, device B sends a reference signal (sounding) with its available spatial filters, e.g. in all directions, and device C makes measurements with its available spatial filters, e.g. on all directions. However, determining the spatial filters to be preempted based on Method 1a, may lead to preempting spatial filters of device C which may not cause interference at device B, when it is receiving from device A, since the measurements are not done considering that the transmission in the low priority link and/or reception in the high priority link may be beamformed. Thus, Method 1a is conservative in terms of potential interference impact, as the spatial filters to be preempted may not cause interference. To obtain a more precise impact of the interference, the sounding of device C and the measurements at device B can be done with certain spatial filters. If device B is configured to make measurements with the spatial filters used to receive the high priority transmission, i.e. to receive the transmission from device A, then it leads to the variant Method 1b as shown in <FIG>. If device C is configured to transmit reference signals with the spatial filters it uses to transmit the low priority transmission, i.e. for the transmission to device D, then it leads to the variant Method 1c as shown in <FIG>. Method 1b and 1c provide a more precise determination of the potential interference impact compared to Method 1a. If device B is configured to make measurements with the spatial filters it uses for the reception of the transmission from Device A, and in addition, device C is configured to transmit reference signals with the spatial filters it uses to transmit to Device D, then it leads to the variant Method 1d as shown in <FIG>. Method 1d provides a more precise determination of the potential interference impact compared to Method 1a, 1b and 1c. For the variants of Method <NUM>, the spatial filters to be preempted are determined at the network based on the measurements, and afterwards the spatial filters to be preempted are signaled to the device C and device D. A signaling chart of Method 1d is depicted in <FIG>.

In a similar way, several variants of Method <NUM>, with or without feedback, can be described. Depending on which spatial filters are used for sounding by device B and which spatial filters are used at device C for making the measurements, there are different variants of Method <NUM>, some of which shown in <FIG>. For example, in the variant Method 2a, device C sounds with its available spatial filters, e.g. in all directions, and device B makes measurements with its available spatial filters, e.g. on all directions. However, determining the spatial filters to be preempted at device C based on Method 2a, may lead to preempting spatial filters of device C which may not cause interference at device B, when it is receiving from device A, since the measurements are not done considering that the transmission in the low priority link and/or reception in the high priority link may be beamformed. Thus, Method 2a is conservative in terms of potential interference impact, as the spatial filters to be preempted may not cause interference. To obtain a more precise impact of the interference, the sounding of device B and the measurements at device C can be done with certain spatial filters. If device C is configured to make measurements with the receive spatial filters (receive beams), which correspond to the spatial filters (transmit beams) used for the low priority transmission, i.e. for the transmission to Device D, then it leads to the variant Method 2b as shown in <FIG>. If device B is configured to transmit reference signals with the spatial filters it uses to receive the high priority transmission, i.e. to receive the transmission from Device A, then it leads to the variant Method 2c as shown in <FIG>. Method 2b and 2c provide a more precise determination of the potential interference impact compared to Method 2a. If device C is configured to make measurements on the spatial filters which are used for the transmission to device D, and in addition, device B is configured to transmit reference signals with the spatial filters used to receive the transmission from Device A, then it leads to the variant Method 2d as shown in <FIG>. A signaling chart of Method 2d without feedback is depicted in <FIG>. A signaling chart of Method 2d with feedback is depicted in <FIG>. Method 2d provides a more precise determination of the potential interference impact compared to Method 2a, 2b, 2c. For the variants of Method <NUM>, the spatial filters to be preempted are determined at device C based on the measurements, and afterwards the spatial filters to be preempted are signalled to device D and to the network. The variants of Method <NUM> can also be performed with feedback as shown in <FIG>, where in this case the network does not need to signal a threshold to device C.

Method 1a and Method 2a, according to embodiments of the invention, provide robustness to changes, e.g. mobility, and thus, may be more suitable for dynamic scenarios. Method 1d and Method 2d, according to other embodiments of the invention, are based on more accurate potential interference and may be more suitable for static scenarios.

<FIG> shows a UE <NUM> according to an embodiment of the invention. In order to support preemption of a transmission over a link, the UE <NUM>, may be configured to obtain preemption information <NUM> from a network device <NUM>. In particular, the UE <NUM> in <FIG> is the same first UE <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, and the network device <NUM> is the same network device <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. Accordingly, the preemption information <NUM> is indicative of at least one first spatial filter <NUM> that is to be preempted by the UE <NUM> for the transmission over the first link.

Similar as in the embodiments shown in <FIG>, the first link may be a low priority link. To mitigate an interference from the low priority link on the high priority link, the spatial filters used in the low priority link which may cause the interference to the receive device in the high priority link, should be preempted.

Accordingly, the UE <NUM> may be configured to preempt the at least one first spatial filter <NUM> when transmitting over the first link.

Optionally, the preemption information <NUM> may comprise at least one resource indicator of the UE <NUM>, wherein each of the at least one resource indicator identifies a resource corresponding to each of the at least one first spatial filter <NUM> that is to be preempted. While the resource indicator identifies the resource corresponding to the spatial filter to be preempted, the resource indicator of the UE should be provided.

Optionally, in order to determine the spatial filter to be preempted, the UE <NUM> may be instructed to perform a sounding transmission, in particular, to transmit reference signals with some spatial filters. Thus, the UE <NUM> is configured to receive an indication from the network device <NUM>, indicating to transmit a reference signal <NUM> on at least one first spatial filter. The UE <NUM> may be further configured to transmit the reference signal <NUM> on the at least one first spatial filter.

Alternatively, the UE <NUM> may be instruct to perform the measurement on reference signals from another UE. Optionally, the UE <NUM> may be configured to receive an indication from the network device <NUM> to perform a measurement of a reference signal <NUM> on at least one first spatial filter. And the UE may be further configured to receive the reference signal <NUM> from another UE <NUM>, and perform the measurement accordingly.

For both alternatives, the at least one first spatial filter may be allocated by the UE <NUM> for transmitting over the first link. That means, the UE should transmit the reference signal or make the measurement, with the spatial filters used for the transmission of the low priority link.

Further, the preemption information <NUM> may indicate the UE <NUM> to preempt one or more of the at least one first spatial filter <NUM> based on the measurement of the reference signal <NUM> transmitted on at least one second spatial filter from the other UE <NUM>.

Optionally, the UE <NUM> may be configured to receive information, indicative of the at least one second spatial filter used by the other UE <NUM> to transmit the reference signal <NUM>, from the network device <NUM>. After the spatial filters of the other UE <NUM>, i.e. the at least one second spatial filter <NUM>, which are to be associated with the spatial filters of the UE to be preempted, is determined, the network device <NUM> indicates these spatial filters of the other UE <NUM> to the UE <NUM>.

Since the determination of the spatial filter to be preempted is performed at the UE side, the network device <NUM> may have no information regarding the spatial filters of the UE <NUM> to be preempted. Thus, after the UE <NUM> has determined the spatial filters to be preempted, it signals the network device <NUM>. Optionally, the UE <NUM> may also signal a receiving UE of the first link, e.g. in the sidelink control information, the spatial filters which will be preempted. Thus, the UE <NUM> may be configured to indicate to the network device <NUM> and/or to a receiving UE of the first link, information indicative of the at least one first spatial filter <NUM> to be preempted.

Optionally, the preemption information <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the invention, may further indicate at least one further spatial filter of the UE <NUM> for the transmission over the first link, and the UE is configured to: switch a transmission on the at least one first spatial filter <NUM> to be preempted to the at least one further spatial filter when transmitting over the first link. This is to instruct the UE <NUM>, to use other spatial filters to transmit the low priority link, which does not cause any interference on the high priority link, instead of using the spatial filter which may cause the interference to the high priority link.

<FIG> shows a UE <NUM> according to an embodiment of the invention. The UE <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, may be configured to receive an indication from a network device <NUM> to perform a measurement of a reference signal <NUM> on at least one second spatial filter <NUM>, or transmit a reference signal <NUM> on at least one second spatial filter. Accordingly, the UE <NUM> may be configured to receive the reference signal <NUM> from another UE <NUM> and perform the measurement on the at least one second spatial filter. Or alternatively the UE <NUM> may be configured to transmit the reference signal <NUM> to another UE <NUM> on the at least one second spatial filter, according to the indication received from the network device <NUM>. In particular, the at least one second spatial filter is allocated by the UE <NUM> for receiving over a second link.

The UE <NUM> shown in <FIG> is the same UE as the second UE <NUM> shown in <FIG>. In particular, the other UE <NUM> in <FIG> is the first UE <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, and the network device <NUM> is the same network device <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

Similar as in the embodiments shown in <FIG>, the second link may be a high priority link. To mitigate an interference from a low priority link on the high priority link, the spatial filters used in the low priority link which may cause the interference to the receive device in the high priority link, need to be preempted.

In order to support preemption of a transmission over the first link, the UE <NUM> is instructed to perform a sounding transmission or a measurement, particularly on the resource (at least one second spatial filter) used for the reception of a high priority transmission.

If a spatial filter to be preempted is determined by the network device <NUM>, the UE <NUM> should feedback the measurements to the network device <NUM>. Optionally, the UE <NUM> is configured to send the measurement of the reference signal <NUM> to the network device <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a method <NUM> for supporting preemption of a transmission over a first link, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the method <NUM> is performed by a network device <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The network device <NUM> is also the network device <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The method <NUM> comprises: a step <NUM> of providing preemption information <NUM> to a first UE <NUM>, wherein the preemption information <NUM> is indicative of at least one first spatial filter <NUM> that is to be preempted by the first UE <NUM> for the transmission over the first link.

<FIG> shows a method <NUM> supporting preemption of a transmission over a first link, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the method <NUM> is performed by a UE <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The UE <NUM> is the first UE <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The method <NUM> comprises a step <NUM> of obtaining preemption information from a network device <NUM>, wherein the preemption information <NUM> is indicative of at least one spatial filter <NUM> that is to be preempted by the UE <NUM> for the transmission over the first link.

<FIG> shows a method <NUM> supporting preemption of a transmission over a first link, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the method <NUM> is performed by a UE <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The UE <NUM> is also the second UE <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The method <NUM> comprises a step <NUM> of receiving an indication from a network device <NUM> to: perform a measurement of a reference signal <NUM> on at least one second spatial filter, or transmit a reference signal <NUM> on at least one second spatial filter; and a step <NUM> of receiving the reference signal <NUM> from another UE <NUM> and performing the measurement on the at least one second spatial filter, or a step <NUM> of transmitting the reference signal <NUM> to another UE <NUM> on the at least one second spatial filter, according to the indication received from the network device <NUM>. In particular, the at least one second spatial filter is allocated by the UE <NUM> for receiving over a second link.

Claim 1:
User equipment, UE (<NUM>), for supporting preemption of a transmission over a first link being a sidelink of a low priority to another UE, the UE (<NUM>) being configured to:
obtain preemption information (<NUM>) from a network device (<NUM>),
wherein the preemption information (<NUM>) is indicative of at least one first spatial filter (<NUM>) that is to be preempted by the UE (<NUM>) for the transmission over the first link, and is further indicative of at least one further spatial filter to be used by the first UE (<NUM>) for the transmission over the first link;
preempt the at least one first spatial filter (<NUM>) when transmitting over the first link; and
use the at least one further spatial filter for the transmission over the first link.