Patent Description:
NR is a set of enhancements to the long term evolution (LTE) mobile standard promulgated by 3GPP.

3GPP Draft R2-<NUM> "Some considerations about DRX on PC5" discloses discontinuous reception (DRX) on PC5 for L2 UE-to-NW Relaying. One less preferred option proposes that the Relay UE configures the PC5 DRX configuration for the Remote UE.

After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled "Detailed Description" one will understand how the features of this disclosure provide advantages that include improved sidelink control information (SCI) transmission.

The present disclosure provides a method for wireless communication by a wireless node according to claim <NUM>, a method for wireless communication by a user equipment according to claim <NUM>, a wireless node according to claim <NUM>, and a user equipment according to claim <NUM>. Specific embodiments are subject of the dependent claims.

It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only certain aspects of this disclosure and the description may admit to other equally effective aspects.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide apparatus, methods, processing systems, and computer readable mediums for coordinated power savings configurations for a wireless node with multiple sidelinks.

Power saving techniques, such as a discontinuous reception (DRX) mode, may allow a wireless node, such as a user equipment (UE) to enter a low power mode for durations in which the UE does not transmit and/or receive and to exit the low power mode for durations in which the UE monitors for transmissions and/or sends transmissions. In some cases, a UE may communicate over an access link with a base station (BS) and also over one or more sidelinks with one or more other UEs. The UE may utilize separate power saving configurations for the access link and sidelink(s). A relay UE may relay information from multiple sidelinks to a BS. Without coordination of the power saving configurations, the UE may not achieve power savings, due to the low power durations for the different configurations not being aligned/coordinated.

The techniques presented herein allow the wireless node having multiple sidelinks to coordinate power savings configurations for the sidelinks. In some examples, a relay-UE may determine the power savings configuration to be used for the sidelink. A remote-UE may provide input on a preferred power savings configuration.

The following description provides examples of coordinated sidelink power savings configurations. Changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements discussed without departing from the disclosure. In addition, the disclosure is intended to cover such an apparatus or method that is practiced using other structure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to, or other than, the various aspects of the disclosure set forth herein.

The techniques described herein may be used for various wireless networks and radio technologies me. For clarity, while aspects may be described herein using terminology commonly associated with <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or new radio (e.g., <NUM> NR) wireless technologies, aspects of the present disclosure can be applied in other generation-based communication systems including later technologies.

NR access may support various wireless communication services, such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) targeting wide bandwidth, millimeter wave (mmW) targeting high carrier frequency, massive machine type communications MTC (mMTC) targeting non-backward compatible MTC techniques, and/or mission critical targeting ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC).

The electromagnetic spectrum is often subdivided, based on frequency/wavelength, into various classes, bands, channels, etc. In <NUM> NR two initial operating bands have been identified as frequency range designations FR1 (<NUM> - <NUM>) and FR2 (<NUM> - <NUM>). Although a portion of FR1 is greater than <NUM>, FR1 is often referred to (interchangeably) as a "Sub-<NUM>" band in various documents and articles.

NR may also support beamforming and beam direction may be dynamically configured. Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmissions with precoding may also be supported.

The core network <NUM> may be in communication with one or more base station (BSs) 110a-z (each also individually referred to herein as BS <NUM> or collectively as BSs <NUM>) and/or user equipment (UE) 120a-y (each also individually referred to herein as UE <NUM> or collectively as UEs <NUM>) in the wireless communication network <NUM> via one or more interfaces.

ABS may support one or multiple cells. UEs120 (e.g., 120x, 120y, etc.) may be dispersed throughout the wireless communication network <NUM>, and each UE <NUM> may be stationary or mobile.

According to certain aspects, the UEs <NUM> may be configured for sidelink communications. As shown in <FIG>, the UE 120a includes a power savings manager 122a, the UE 120b includes a power savings manager 122b, and the BS 110a includes a power savings manager 112a. The power savings manager 122a, the power savings manager 122b, and/or the power savings manager 112a may be configured for coordinated sidelink power savings configurations, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

The network controller <NUM> may be in communication with the core network <NUM> (e.g., a <NUM> Core Network (5GC)), which provides various network functions such as Access and Mobility Management, Session Management, User Plane Function, Policy Control Function, Authentication Server Function, Unified Data Management, Application Function, Network Exposure Function, Network Repository Function, Network Slice Selection Function, etc..

<FIG> illustrates example components of BS 110a and UE 120a (e.g., in the wireless communication network <NUM> of <FIG>, which may be similar components in the UE 120b), which may be used to implement aspects of the present disclosure.

At the BS 110a, a transmit processor <NUM> may receive data from a data source <NUM> and control information from a controller/processor <NUM>. The control information may be for the physical broadcast channel (PBCH), physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH), physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel (PHICH), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), group common PDCCH (GC PDCCH), etc. The data may be for the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), etc. A medium access control (MAC)-control element (MAC-CE) is a MAC layer communication structure that may be used for control command exchange between wireless nodes. For example, a BS may transmit a MAC CE to a UE to put the UE into a discontinuous reception (DRX) mode to reduce the UE's power consumption. The MAC-CE may be carried in a shared channel such as a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), or a physical sidelink shared channel. A MAC-CE may also be used to communicate information that facilitates communication, such as information regarding buffer status and available power headroom.

The processor <NUM> may process (e.g., encode and symbol map) the data and control information to obtain data symbols and control symbols, respectively. The transmit processor <NUM> may also generate reference symbols, such as for the primary synchronization signal (PSS), secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS). A transmit (TX) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processor <NUM> may perform spatial processing (e.g., precoding) on the data symbols, the control symbols, and/or the reference symbols, if applicable, and may provide output symbol streams to the modulators (MODs) in transceivers 232a-232t. Each modulator may process a respective output symbol stream (e.g., for OFDM, etc.) to obtain an output sample stream. Each modulator may further process (e.g., convert to analog, amplify, filter, and upconvert) the output sample stream to obtain a downlink (DL) signal. DL signals from modulators in transceivers 232a-232t may be transmitted via the antennas 234a-234t, respectively.

At the UE 120a, the antennas 252a-252r may receive the downlink signals from the BS 110a, or sidelink signals from the UE 120b, and may provide received signals to the demodulators (DEMODs) in transceivers 254a-254r, respectively. Each demodulator may condition (e.g., filter, amplify, downconvert, and digitize) a respective received signal to obtain input samples. A MIMO detector <NUM> may obtain received symbols from all the demodulators in transceivers 254a-254r, perform MIMO detection on the received symbols if applicable, and provide detected symbols. A receive processor <NUM> may process (e.g., demodulate, deinterleave, and decode) the detected symbols, provide decoded data for the UE 120a to a data sink <NUM>, and provide decoded control information to a controller/processor <NUM>.

On the uplink (UL) and/or sidelink, at UE 120a, a transmit processor <NUM> may receive and process data (e.g., for the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)) from a data source <NUM> and control information (e.g., for the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) from the controller/processor <NUM>. The symbols from the transmit processor <NUM> may be precoded by a TX MIMO processor <NUM> if applicable, further processed by the modulators in transceivers 254a-254r (e.g., for SC-FDM, etc.), and transmitted to the BS 110a. At the BS 110a, the UL signals from the UE 120a may be received by the antennas <NUM>, processed by the demodulators in transceivers 232a-232t, detected by a MIMO detector <NUM> if applicable, and further processed by a receive processor <NUM> to obtain decoded data and control information sent by the UE 120a.

A scheduler <NUM> may schedule UEs for data transmission on the DL and/or UL.

Antennas <NUM>, processors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or controller/processor <NUM> of the UE 120a and/or antennas <NUM>, processors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be used to perform the various techniques and methods described herein. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the controller/processor <NUM> of the UE 120a has a power saving manager <NUM> and the controller/processor <NUM> of the BS 110a has a power saving manager <NUM>. The power saving manager <NUM> and/or the power saving manager <NUM> may be configured for coordinated sidelink power savings configurations for multiple sidelinks.

The transmission timeline for each of the DL and UL may be partitioned into units of radio frames. Each subframe may include a variable number of slots (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>,. slots) depending on the SCS. Each slot may include a variable number of symbol periods (e.g., <NUM> or <NUM> symbols) depending on the SCS.

In NR, a synchronization signal block (SSB) is transmitted. In certain aspects, SSBs may be transmitted in a burst where each SSB in the burst corresponds to a different beam direction for UE-side beam management (e.g., including beam selection and/or beam refinement). The SSB includes a PSS, a SSS, and a two symbol PBCH. The SSB can be transmitted in a fixed slot location, such as the symbols <NUM>-<NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The PBCH carries some basic system information, such as downlink system bandwidth, timing information within radio frame, SS burst set periodicity, system frame number, etc. The SSBs may be organized into SS bursts to support beam sweeping. The SSB can be transmitted up to sixty-four times, for example, with up to sixty-four different beam directions for mmWave. The multiple transmissions of the SSB are referred to as a SS burst set. SSBs in an SS burst set may be transmitted in the same frequency region, while SSBs in different SS bursts sets can be transmitted at different frequency regions.

A scheduling entity (e.g., a BS <NUM>) allocates resources for communication among some or all devices and equipment within its service area or cell. BSs <NUM> are not the only entities that may function as a scheduling entity. In some examples, a UE <NUM> may function as a scheduling entity and may schedule resources for one or more subordinate entities (e.g., one or more other UEs <NUM>), and the other UEs <NUM> may utilize the resources scheduled by the UE <NUM> for wireless communication. In some examples, a UE <NUM> may function as a scheduling entity in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, and/or in a mesh network. In a mesh network example, UEs <NUM> may communicate directly with one another in addition to communicating with a scheduling entity.

In some examples, the communication between the UEs <NUM> and BSs <NUM> is referred to as the access link. The access link may be provided via a Uu interface. Communication between devices may be referred as the sidelink.

In some examples, two or more subordinate entities (e.g., UEs <NUM>) may communicate with each other using sidelink signals. Generally, a sidelink signal may refer to a signal communicated from one subordinate entity (e.g., UE 120a) to another subordinate entity (e.g., another UE <NUM>) without relaying that communication through the scheduling entity (e.g., UE <NUM> or BS <NUM>), even though the scheduling entity may be utilized for scheduling and/or control purposes. In some examples, the sidelink signals may be communicated using a licensed spectrum (unlike wireless local area networks, which may use an unlicensed spectrum). One example of sidelink communication is PC5, for example, as used in V2V, LTE, and/or NR.

Various sidelink channels may be used for sidelink communications, including a physical sidelink discovery channel (PSDCH), a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), and a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH). The PSDCH may carry discovery expressions that enable proximal devices to discover each other. The PSCCH may carry control signaling such as sidelink resource configurations and other parameters used for data transmissions, and the PSSCH may carry the data transmissions. The PSFCH may carry feedback such as CSI related to a sidelink channel quality.

Roadside units (RSUs) may be utilized. An RSU may be used for V2I communications. In some examples, an RSU may act as a forwarding node to extend coverage for a UE. In some examples, an RSU may be co-located with a BS or may be standalone. RSUs can have different classifications. For example, RSUs can be classified into UE-type RSUs and Micro NodeB-type RSUs. Micro NB-type RSUs have similar functionality as the Macro eNB/gNB. The Micro NB-type RSUs can utilize the Uu interface. UE-type RSUs can be used for meeting tight quality-of-service (QoS) requirements by minimizing collisions and improving reliability. UE-type RSUs may use centralized resource allocation mechanisms to allow for efficient resource utilization. Critical information (e.g., such as traffic conditions, weather conditions, congestion statistics, sensor data, etc.) can be broadcast to UEs in the coverage area. Relays can rebroadcasts critical information received from some UEs. UE-type RSUs may be a reliable synchronization source.

<FIG> and <FIG> show diagrammatic representations of example V2X systems, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure. For example, the vehicles shown in <FIG> and <FIG> may communicate via sidelink channels and may perform sidelink CSI reporting as described herein.

The V2X systems, provided in <FIG> and <FIG> provide two complementary transmission modes. A first transmission mode, shown by way of example in <FIG>, involves direct communications (for example, also referred to as side link communications) between participants in proximity to one another in a local area. A second transmission mode, shown by way of example in <FIG>, involves network communications through a network, which may be implemented over a Uu interface (for example, a wireless communication interface between a radio access network (RAN) and a UE).

Referring to <FIG>, a V2X system <NUM> (for example, including vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communications) is illustrated with two vehicles <NUM>, <NUM>. The first transmission mode allows for direct communication between different participants in a given geographic location. As illustrated, a vehicle can have a wireless communication link <NUM> with an individual (V2P) (for example, via a UE) through a PC5 interface. Communications between the vehicles <NUM> and <NUM> may also occur through a PC5 interface <NUM>. In a like manner, communication may occur from a vehicle <NUM> to other highway components (for example, highway component <NUM>), such as a traffic signal or sign (V2I) through a PC5 interface <NUM>. With respect to each communication link illustrated in <FIG>, two-way communication may take place between elements, therefore each element may be a transmitter and a receiver of information. The V2X system <NUM> may be a self-managed system implemented without assistance from a network entity. A self-managed system may enable improved spectral efficiency, reduced cost, and increased reliability as network service interruptions do not occur during handover operations for moving vehicles. The V2X system may be configured to operate in a licensed or unlicensed spectrum, thus any vehicle with an equipped system may access a common frequency and share information. Such harmonized/common spectrum operations allow for safe and reliable operation.

<FIG> shows a V2X system <NUM> for communication between a vehicle <NUM> and a vehicle <NUM> through a network entity <NUM>. These network communications may occur through discrete nodes, such as a BS, that sends and receives information to and from (for example, relays information between) vehicles <NUM>, <NUM>. The network communications through vehicle to network (V2N) links <NUM> and <NUM> may be used, for example, for long range communications between vehicles, such as for communicating the presence of a car accident a distance ahead along a road or highway. Other types of communications may be sent by the wireless node to vehicles, such as traffic flow conditions, road hazard warnings, environmental/weather reports, and service station availability, among other examples. Such data can be obtained from cloud-based sharing services.

As mentioned above, aspects of the present disclosure relate sidelink power savings configurations for a wireless node with multiple sidelinks.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example wireless node with access link and multiple sidelinks, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, a wireless node <NUM> may have an access link <NUM> (e.g., via the Uu interface) with a BS <NUM>. The BS <NUM> may be a gNB. In some examples, the wireless node <NUM> is a UE. The wireless node <NUM> may be referred to as a relay UE. In some examples, the wireless node <NUM> and BS <NUM> are in a <NUM> NR wireless communication network. As shown in <FIG>, the wireless node <NUM> also has multiple sidelinks <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> (e.g., via the PC5 interface(s)) with the UEs <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The wireless node <NUM> may forward transmissions from the UEs <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> to the BS <NUM>. The UEs <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be out of coverage of the BS <NUM>. The UEs <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may not have a direct connection or access link to the BS <NUM>. The UEs <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be referred to as remote UEs. Thus, the wireless node <NUM> may receive transmissions from the BS <NUM> over the access link <NUM> and from the UEs <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> over multiple sidelinks <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

Power savings configurations may be configured for the sidelink(s). A wireless device may include baseband processing components, radio frequency (RF) RX front end components (e.g., referred to as a receive (RX) chain), and RF TX front end components (e.g., referred to as a transmit (TX) chains). A power savings configuration may allow the wireless device to power off one or more of these RF components when not in use in order to save power. In some examples, a power savings configuration may use a wake-up signal. In some examples, a power savings configuration may use discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles.

When DRX is configured for a sidelink, the wireless device cycles through ON periods (e.g., ON durations) and OFF periods (e.g., OFF durations) to save power. When the wireless device is in the DRX OFF state, the wireless device stops monitoring transmissions (e.g., PSCCH on the sidelink) and, therefore, does not process any sidelink data.

<FIG> are diagrams illustrating example DRX cycles, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, a DRX cycle <NUM> may include an ON duration <NUM> and an OFF duration <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, when a PSCCH is received in an ON duration <NUM>, the wireless device may start a DRX inactivity timer that indicates a duration <NUM> the wireless device should remain ON and monitor for transmissions. If another transmission is received, the wireless device may restart the DRX inactivity timer. Once the timer expires, the wireless device may go to sleep.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating example configured long and short DRX cycles, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the long DRX cycle may include longer ON durations and OFF durations than the short DRX cycle.

Availability and knowledge of traffic information (e.g., traffic types and quality-of-service (QoS) requirements) are used to choose the DRX configuration. Thus, for a BS-UE link (e.g., the Uu interface), the DRX configuration may be chosen by the BS based on the type of traffic that the BS intends to send to the UE (and may further be based on scheduler preferences).

For the wireless node to remote-UE link (e.g., the PC5 interface), if sidelink power savings configurations are independently configured for the multiple sidelink(s) (e.g., in an uncoordinated manner), then the wake ups for the wireless node with multiple sidelinks may be inefficient (and/or incompatible). Further, the sidelink UEs (e.g., remote UEs) may be out of coverage and not under direct control of the BS. Thus, the wireless node may know very little about those remote UEs. For example, the wireless node may not be aware of the traffic patterns, scheduling, etc., of those remote UEs. Therefore, the power savings configurations for the multiple sidelinks may be uncoordinated and may not be efficient.

With uncoordinated power savings configurations, the wireless node may realize little power savings and few or no long sleep cycles. Further, powering on and powering off RF components may require a power-on and power-off time to fully turn on or off. Therefore, toggling frequently between powered-on and powered-off may be inefficient.

Further, the remote UE may not choose the sidelink power savings configuration because this may violate an implicit hierarchy between the BS, wireless node, and remote UE.

Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure provide for coordinated sidelink power savings configurations where a wireless node determines multiple sidelink power savings configuration.

According to certain aspects, a wireless node, such as a relay user equipment (UE) with multiple sidelinks for multiple remote UEs, may decide power savings configurations to be used for the multiple sidelinks and/or for the access link. Remote UEs further provide information that is used by the wireless node for determining the sidelink power savings configurations. The information may also be used for determining the access link power savings configuration. In some unclaimed illustrative examples, the wireless node may determine the sidelink power savings configuration without input from the remote UEs. In some examples, the wireless node may determine the sidelink power savings configuration with sidelink traffic information. According to the claims, the wireless node determines the sidelink power savings configuration with a proposed (e.g., suggested or preferred) power savings configuration from the remote UEs. In some examples, the power savings configuration may be a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle configuration, a wake-up signal configuration, or other power savings configuration. The sidelink power savings configuration may define periods that the wireless node monitors one or more physical sidelink control channels (PSCCH) for transmissions from the remote UEs.

According to unclaimed illustrative aspects, the wireless node may select the sidelink power savings configuration to use for a sidelink with a remote UE without input from the remote UE. The wireless node may send an explicit indication to the remote UE that the wireless node is not open to input from the remote UE. The wireless node may provide the selected sidelink power savings configuration to the remote UE and follow the sidelink power savings configuration without receiving any input from the remote UE and/or ignoring any input received from the remote UE.

In some examples, the wireless node may select its current sidelink power savings configuration. In some examples, the wireless node may send the selected sidelink power savings configuration to all remote UEs with which the wireless node has a sidelink. In some examples, the current sidelink power savings configuration may be a default sidelink power savings configuration (e.g., configured by a base station (BS)). In some examples, the current sidelink power savings configuration is a sidelink power savings configuration previously determined for another remote UE.

According to the claims, the wireless node may select the sidelink power savings configuration to use for a sidelink with a remote UE based on input from the remote UE. The wireless node receives information from the remote UE and selects the sidelink power savings configuration based on the information.

According to the claims, the information received from the remote UE is a suggested (e.g., proposed, preferred, or requested) sidelink power savings configuration from the remote UE. In this case, the wireless node may select its current/default sidelink power savings configuration to use for the sidelink, the wireless node may select the suggested sidelink power savings configuration to use for the sidelink, or the wireless node may determine a new (e.g., or adjusted) sidelink power savings configuration to use for the sidelink.

In some examples, the information received from the remote UE may include sidelink traffic information associated with the remote UE. For example, the information may include traffic patterns, target quality-of-service (QoS) parameters for the sidelink, traffic statistics, or other information that the wireless node may use to select and/or determine a sidelink power savings configuration to use for the sidelink.

In an illustrative example, a wireless node may send its current/default sidelink-DRX (SL-DRX) configuration (SL-DRX-config-<NUM>) to a remote UE. The remote-UE may receive the DRX configuration (SL-DRX-config-<NUM>) from the wireless node and, in turn, may suggest a DRX configuration for the sidelink (SL-DRX-config-<NUM>) to the wireless node. The wireless node may determine how to use the suggested DRX configuration from the remote UE. In some examples, the wireless node may adopt the suggested DRX configuration (SL-DRX-config-<NUM>). In some examples, the wireless node may determine a new DRX configuration (SL-DRX-config-<NUM>) based on the SL-DRX-config-<NUM> and the SL-DRX-config-<NUM> (e.g., by the SL-DRX-config-<NUM> and the SL-DRX-config-<NUM>) and select the new SL-DRX-config-<NUM>. In some examples, the wireless node may choose to ignore the SL-DRX-Config-<NUM> and select the SL-DRX-config-<NUM>.

The wireless node informs the remote UE of the selected sidelink power savings configuration. Accordingly, the remote UE ensures its own transmissions to the wireless node are based on the configuration chosen by the wireless node.

In some examples, the wireless node may inform all of the remote UEs, to which the wireless node has a sidelink, of the selected power savings configuration. In this case, the selected sidelink power savings configuration may become the current sidelink power savings configuration, and the process may repeat for another remote UE. Thus, the wireless node may determine sidelink power savings configurations for each of the remote UEs, and the configurations for the multiple sidelinks may be coordinated.

According to certain aspects, the wireless node may select a sidelink power savings configuration for all remote UEs having a sidelink with the wireless node. In some examples, the wireless node may reselect the sidelink power savings configuration each time a UE connects to the wireless node. The wireless node may provide the reselected sidelink power savings configuration, which may be the same as the current sidelink power savings configuration or may be a new or adjusted sidelink power savings configuration, to all of the UEs having a sidelink with the wireless node. The wireless node may monitor PSCCH from the remote UEs using the reselected (i.e., the most recent) sidelink power savings configuration. The remote UEs may transmit in accordance with the reselected sidelink power savings configuration.

In an illustrative example, a wireless node may have a sidelink with a first remote UE, and the wireless node and the first remote UE may follow a first SL-DRX configuration having a first duty cycle. When a second remote UE establishes a sidelink with the wireless node, the wireless node may reselect a SL-DRX configuration to be used. For example, the wireless node may forward the current (e.g., first) SL-DRX to the second remote UE and receive a suggested SL-DRX configuration from the second remote UE. For example, the second remote UE may suggest a SL-DRX configuration with a second duty cycle with more monitoring periods than the first SL-DRX configuration to accommodate the second remote UE. The wireless node may ignore the suggested SL-DRX configuration, adopt the suggested SL-DRX configuration, or determine a new SL-DRX based on the current and suggested SL-DRX configurations. The wireless node may then provide the final reselected SL-DRX configuration to the remote UEs. This operation may be performed each time a new remote UE establishes a sidelink with the wireless node.

Beyond scenarios where a new remote UE connects with the wireless node, reselection, by the wireless node, of the sidelink power savings mode may also occur in other scenarios. For example, the wireless may reselect the sidelink power savings configuration when the wireless node is plugged into a power source.

<FIG> is a flow diagram illustrating example operations <NUM> for wireless communication, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. The operations <NUM> may be performed, for example, by a wireless node (e.g., such as a UE 120a in the wireless communication network <NUM>). Operations <NUM> may be implemented as software components that are executed and run on one or more processors (e.g., controller/processor <NUM> of <FIG>). Further, the transmission and reception of signals by the wireless node in operations <NUM> may be enabled, for example, by one or more antennas (e.g., antennas <NUM> of <FIG>). In certain aspects, the transmission and/or reception of signals by the wireless node may be implemented via a bus interface of one or more processors (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>) obtaining and/or outputting signals.

Operations <NUM> may begin, at block <NUM>, by a wireless node (e.g., a UE with an access link with a BS) selecting a sidelink power savings configuration to use for a sidelink between the wireless node and a UE (e.g., a remote UE). The wireless node may be a relay UE. The relay UE may have an access link with a BS and multiple sidelinks with multiple remote UEs. The sidelink power savings configuration may be a DRX cycle configuration defining one or more periods for the wireless node to monitor PSCCH.

According to unclaimed aspects, the wireless node may provide an indication to the UE that the wireless node does not accept input from the UE for sidelink power savings configuration selection. The wireless node selects the sidelink power savings configuration without receiving input from the UE or ignores input from the UE.

According to the claims, the wireless node receives sidelink information from the UE and selects the sidelink power savings configuration based, at least in part, on the sidelink information from the UE. The sidelink information from the UE includes a suggested sidelink power savings configuration. For example, the wireless node sends an initial sidelink power savings configuration to the UE, and the suggested sidelink power savings configuration, received by the wireless node from the UE, is based at least in part on the initial power savings configuration for the sidelink.

In some examples, the wireless node may select the initial sidelink power savings configuration. In some examples, the wireless node may select the suggested sidelink power savings configuration. In some examples, the wireless node may select a different sidelink power savings configuration, the different sidelink power savings configuration may be based on the initial sidelink power savings configuration and the suggested sidelink power savings configuration. In some examples, the initial sidelink power savings configuration may be a configured default sidelink power savings configuration or a current power savings configuration previously selected for another UE.

In some examples, the sidelink information may include traffic statistics, traffic patterns, QoS targets, a subset of parameters for a sidelink power savings configuration, sidelink scheduling information for the UE, or a combination thereof, associated with the UE.

At block <NUM>, the wireless node provides the selected sidelink power savings configuration to the UE. According to certain aspects, the wireless node may have a plurality of sidelinks with a plurality of UEs, and the selected power savings configuration may be provided to each of the plurality of UEs.

At block <NUM>, the wireless node follows the sidelink power savings configuration for the sidelink.

According to certain aspects, the wireless node may reselect a sidelink power savings configuration to use for sidelinks between the wireless node and the plurality of UEs, such as when a sidelink is established with a new UE, as shown in <FIG> at block <NUM>. At block <NUM>, the wireless node provides the reselected sidelink power savings configuration to the plurality of UEs and the new UE. At block <NUM>, the wireless node follows the reselected sidelink power savings configuration for the sidelinks between the plurality of UEs and the new UE. In some examples, the wireless node receives a plurality of sidelink power savings configurations for the plurality of UEs, and selects the sidelink power savings configuration based on the plurality of sidelink power savings configurations.

<FIG> is a flow diagram illustrating example operations <NUM> for wireless communication, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. The operations <NUM> may be performed, for example, by a remote UE (e.g., such as a UE 120a in the wireless communication network <NUM>). Operations <NUM> may be implemented as software components that are executed and run on one or more processors (e.g., controller/processor <NUM> of <FIG>). Further, the transmission and reception of signals by the remote UE in operations <NUM> may be enabled, for example, by one or more antennas (e.g., antennas <NUM> of <FIG>). In certain aspects, the transmission and/or reception of signals by the remote UE may be implemented via a bus interface of one or more processors (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>) obtaining and/or outputting signals.

Operations <NUM> may begin, at <NUM>, by a UE receiving, from a wireless node over a sidelink, a selected sidelink power savings configuration to use for the sidelink.

In some examples, operations <NUM> may begin, at block <NUM>, by a UE sending, to a wireless node over a sidelink, sidelink information. In this case, the sidelink power savings configuration received from the wireless node is based, at least in part, on the sidelink information from the UE.

At block <NUM>, the UE receives, from the wireless node over the sidelink, a selected power savings configuration to use for the sidelink.

At block <NUM>, the UE follows the selected sidelink power savings configuration for the sidelink.

In some examples, optionally at block <NUM>, the UE receives, from the wireless node over the sidelink, a reselected sidelink power savings configuration to use for the sidelink.

According to unclaimed aspects, the UE may receive an indication from the wireless node that the wireless node does not accept input from the UE for sidelink power savings configuration selection. In this case, the UE may refrain from sending input to the wireless node for the power savings configuration selection.

According to the claims, the sidelink information sent to the wireless node includes a suggested sidelink power savings configuration. The UE receives an initial sidelink power savings configuration from the wireless node and determines the suggested sidelink power savings configuration based, at least in part, on the initial power savings configuration for the sidelink.

In some examples, the selected sidelink power savings configuration may be the initial sidelink power savings configuration, the suggested sidelink power savings configuration, or a different sidelink power savings configuration. The different sidelink power savings configuration may be based on the initial sidelink power savings configuration and the suggested sidelink power savings configuration.

In some examples, the selected sidelink power savings configuration may be a DRX cycle configuration defining one or more periods for the wireless node to monitor PSCCH. The UE may follow the selected sidelink power savings configuration by transmitting PSCCH to the wireless node during the defined one or more periods.

<FIG> illustrates a communications device <NUM> that may include various components (e.g., corresponding to means-plus-function components) configured to perform operations for the techniques disclosed herein, such as the operations illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. The communications device <NUM> includes a processing system <NUM> coupled to a transceiver <NUM> (e.g., a transmitter and/or a receiver).

The processing system <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> coupled to a computer-readable medium/memory <NUM> via a bus <NUM>. In certain aspects, the computer-readable medium/memory <NUM> is configured to store instructions (e.g., computer-executable code) that when executed by the processor <NUM>, cause the processor <NUM> to perform the operations illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, or other operations for performing the various techniques discussed herein for coordinated sidelink power savings configurations. In certain aspects, computer-readable medium/memory <NUM> stores code <NUM> for selecting or reselecting (e.g., for selecting a sidelink power savings configuration to use for a sidelink between the wireless node and a UE or for reselecting a sidelink power savings configuration to use for sidelinks between the wireless node and the plurality of UEs and the new UE); code <NUM> for providing (e.g., for providing the selected sidelink power savings configuration to the UE or for providing the reselected sidelink power savings configuration to the plurality of UEs and the new UE); and code <NUM> for following (e.g., for following the sidelink power savings configuration for the sidelink or for following the reselected sidelink power savings configuration for the sidelinks between the plurality of UEs and the new UE). In certain aspects, the processor <NUM> has circuitry configured to implement the code stored in the computer-readable medium/memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> includes circuitry <NUM> for selecting or reselecting (e.g., for selecting a sidelink power savings configuration to use for a sidelink between the wireless node and a UE or for reselecting a sidelink power savings configuration to use for sidelinks between the wireless node and the plurality of UEs and the new UE); circuitry <NUM> for providing (e.g., for providing the selected sidelink power savings configuration to the UE or for providing the reselected sidelink power savings configuration to the plurality of UEs and the new UE); and circuitry <NUM> for following (e.g., for following the sidelink power savings configuration for the sidelink or for following the reselected sidelink power savings configuration for the sidelinks between the plurality of UEs and the new UE).

The communications device <NUM> includes a processing system <NUM> coupled to a transceiver <NUM> (e.g., a transmitter and/or a receiver).

The processing system <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> coupled to a computer-readable medium/memory <NUM> via a bus <NUM>. In certain aspects, the computer-readable medium/memory <NUM> is configured to store instructions (e.g., computer-executable code) that when executed by the processor <NUM>, cause the processor <NUM> to perform the operations illustrated in <FIG>, or other operations for performing the various techniques discussed herein for coordinated sidelink power savings configurations. In certain aspects, computer-readable medium/memory <NUM> stores code <NUM> for sending (e.g., for sending to a wireless node over a sidelink, sidelink information); code <NUM> for receiving (e.g., for receiving, from a wireless node over a sidelink, a selected sidelink power savings configuration to use for the sidelink); code <NUM> for following (e.g., for following the selected sidelink power savings configuration for the sidelink); and code <NUM> for receiving (e.g., for receiving, from the wireless node over the sidelink, a reselected sidelink power savings configuration to use for the sidelink). In certain aspects, the processor <NUM> has circuitry configured to implement the code stored in the computer-readable medium/memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> includes circuitry <NUM> for sending (e.g., for sending to a wireless node over a sidelink, sidelink information); circuitry <NUM> for receiving (e.g., for receiving, from a wireless node over a sidelink, a selected sidelink power savings configuration to use for the sidelink); circuitry <NUM> for following (e.g., for following the selected sidelink power savings configuration for the sidelink); and circuitry <NUM> for receiving (e.g., for receiving, from the wireless node over the sidelink, a reselected sidelink power savings configuration to use for the sidelink).

The method steps and/or actions may be interchanged with one another. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions is specified, the order and/or use of specific steps and/or actions may be modified.

Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless specifically so stated, but rather "one or more.

Combinations of the above can also be considered as examples of computer-readable media.

For example, such a computer program product may comprise a computer-readable medium having instructions stored (and/or encoded) thereon, the instructions being executable by one or more processors to perform the operations described herein, for example, instructions for performing the operations described herein and illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and/or <FIG>.

Claim 1:
A method for wireless communication by a wireless node (120a; <NUM>; <NUM>), comprising:
sending, by the wireless node, a first sidelink power savings configuration to a first UE (120b; <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM>);
receiving, from the first UE, sidelink information comprising a suggested sidelink power savings configuration, which is based, at least in part, on the first power savings configuration;
determining (<NUM>) a second sidelink power savings configuration to use for a sidelink (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) between the wireless node and the first UE based, at least in part, on the sidelink information from the first UE;
providing (<NUM>) the second sidelink power savings configuration to the first UE; and
following (<NUM>) the second sidelink power savings configuration for the sidelink.