Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses an operating method of User Equipment (UE) related to a sidelink used for device-to-device communication in a wireless communication system. The method performed by first UE includes receiving first control information related to a sidelink from an eNB through a first control channel, transmitting second control information, including resource information related to the transmission and reception of sidelink data, to second UE through a second control channel based on the received first control information, and transmitting the sidelink data to the second UE.

According to various radio access technologies (RATs), two or more user equipment (UE) may directly communicate with one another. Direct communication between the two or more UEs may be known as sidelink communication, and may occur on one or more sidelink channels.

In order to communicate on the one or more sidelink channels, however, various parameters may first be established, e.g., in order for a receiving UE to successfully receive and decode data and/or control information on the one or more sidelink channels. Examples of these various parameters may include a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for communication on a sidelink data channel, information associated with a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process for the sidelink data channel, a set of resources allocated on the sidelink data channel, and/or an index associated with a beam for the communication on the sidelink data channel.

In some existing approaches, direct communication between two or more UEs may be controlled by a base station. Specifically, the base station may configure the various parameters for communication on the one or more sidelink channels. However, the various parameters for communication on the one or more sidelink channels may be irrelevant to the base station, as the sidelink communication is directly between the two or more UEs and does not pass through the base station. Therefore, a need exists to improve the performance and/or efficiency of sidelink communication.

The present invention provides a solution as defined in the independent claims.

The present disclosure may present techniques and approaches to address the performance and/or efficiency of sidelink communication. For example, the present disclosure may describe a centralized approach to sidelink scheduling. According to this centralized approach, a subset of the set of information associated with sidelink communication between at least two UEs may be reassigned from the base station to one UE participating in the sidelink communication with at least one other UE. In so doing, over-the-air signaling from the base station may be reduced, which may reduce the computational load on the base station. Further, latency in sidelink communication may be reduced because a subset of the information associated with the sidelink communication may be directly communicated between UEs, instead of following a path through the base station.

In a first aspect of the disclosure, a first method is provided as defined in claim <NUM>.

In a second aspect of the disclosure, a second method is provided, as defined in claim <NUM>.

In a third aspect of the disclosure, corresponding apparatuses and a computer program are provided, as defined in claim <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM>, respectively.

Several aspects of telecommunications systems will now be presented with reference to various apparatus and methods.

The base stations <NUM> configured for <NUM> LTE (collectively referred to as Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN)) may interface with the EPC <NUM> through backhaul links <NUM> (e.g., S1 interface). The base stations <NUM> configured for <NUM> NR (collectively referred to as Next Generation RAN (NG-RAN)) may interface with core network <NUM> through backhaul links <NUM>. The base stations <NUM> may communicate directly or indirectly (e.g., through the EPC <NUM> or core network <NUM>) with each other over backhaul links <NUM> (e.g., X2 interface).

Although the present disclosure may reference <NUM> New Radio (NR), the present disclosure may be applicable to other similar areas, such as LTE, LTE-A, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), and/or other wireless/radio access technologies.

Referring again to <FIG>, in certain aspects, at least two UEs <NUM>, <NUM>' may directly communicate on one or more sidelink channels. For example, when the two UEs <NUM>, <NUM>' communicate data on a sidelink data channel, the transmitting UE <NUM> may send the data directly to the receiving UE <NUM>' on the sidelink data channel such that the data does not traverse a base station <NUM>/<NUM>, EPC <NUM>, and/or other core network <NUM>. According to various aspects, the direct communication may include D2D communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, infrastructure-to-everything (I2X) communication, and the like.

While data directly communicated between the UEs <NUM>, <NUM>' may not traverse the base station <NUM>/<NUM>, the sidelink communication between the UEs <NUM>, <NUM>' may be scheduled in a centralized manner. Accordingly, the base station <NUM>/<NUM> may facilitate the sidelink communication, for example, in order to reduce scheduling conflicts between the UEs <NUM>, <NUM>', reduce interference experienced in a coverage area <NUM>/<NUM>' of the base station <NUM>/<NUM> when the two UEs <NUM>, <NUM>' directly communicate, and so forth.

Thus, the base station <NUM>/<NUM> may allocate a set of resources associated with the sidelink communication between the transmitting UE <NUM> and the receiving UE <NUM>'. For example, the base station <NUM>/<NUM> may allocate a set of resources on a sidelink control channel for the two UEs <NUM>, <NUM>'.

The base station <NUM>/<NUM> may send information indicating the allocated set of resources on the sidelink control channel to each of the UEs <NUM>, <NUM>'. The base station <NUM>/<NUM> may send this information indicating the allocated set of resources on a downlink control channel. However, the base station <NUM>/<NUM> may send the information indicating the allocated set of resources on the same downlink control channel (e.g., the same set of resources at a same aggregation level) for both UEs <NUM>/<NUM>'.

In order to send information to both UEs <NUM>, <NUM>' on the same downlink control channel, the base station <NUM>/<NUM> may identify both UEs <NUM>, <NUM>' when assigning the downlink control channel to both UEs <NUM>, <NUM>'. Therefore, the base station <NUM>/<NUM> may send, on a downlink control channel, information indicating a first identifier (ID) of the transmitting UE <NUM>, information indicating a second ID of the receiving UE <NUM>', and information indicating the allocated set of resources on the sidelink control channel (<NUM>).

Each of the transmitting UE <NUM> and the receiving UE <NUM>' may receive the information on the downlink control channel. Each of the transmitting UE <NUM> and the receiving UE <NUM>' may respectively detect the ID of the transmitting UE <NUM> and the ID of the receiving UE <NUM>' in the information received from the base station <NUM>/<NUM>. In so doing, the transmitting and receiving UEs <NUM>, <NUM>' may determine that the downlink control channel includes information applicable to the transmitting and receiving UEs <NUM>, <NUM>' based on the detected respective IDs the transmitting and receiving UEs <NUM>, <NUM>'.

To engage in direct communication, the transmitting UE <NUM> may schedule data on a sidelink data channel. In scheduling data on the sidelink data channel, the transmitting UE <NUM> may determine a set of parameters associated with the sidelink communication. The set of parameters may include information that enables the receiving UE <NUM>' to successfully detect and decode the data sent on the sidelink data channel. Examples of one or more of the set of parameters include a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for communication on a sidelink data channel, information associated with a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process for the sidelink data channel, a set of resources allocated on the sidelink data channel, an index associated with a beam for the communication on the sidelink data channel, and/or other scheduling information.

Based on the received information indicating the set of resources allocated for the sidelink control channel, the transmitting UE <NUM> may send the set of parameters to the receiving UE <NUM>. That is, the transmitting UE <NUM> may send the set of parameters to the receiving UE <NUM>' on one or more time/frequency resources indicated by the base station <NUM>/<NUM> in the information on the downlink control channel.

Because the receiving UE <NUM>' received the same information on the downlink control channel from the base station <NUM>/<NUM>, the receiving UE <NUM>' may successfully detect and decode the set of parameters sent by the transmitting UE <NUM> on the sidelink control channel. The receiving UE <NUM>' may use the received set of parameters to detect and decode data on the sidelink data channel.

The transmitting UE <NUM> may subsequently send data to the receiving UE <NUM>' on the sidelink data channel based on the set of parameters. The receiving UE <NUM>' may successfully detect and decode the data on the sidelink data channel based on the received set of parameters. Accordingly, the transmitting and receiving UEs <NUM>/<NUM>' may communicate sidelink control information on the sidelink control channel and communicate sidelink data on the sidelink data channel based on the sidelink control information (<NUM>).

The subcarrier spacing is <NUM> and symbol duration is approximately <NUM>.

According to some aspects, at least one of the TX processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and the controller/processor <NUM> may be configured to perform aspects in connection with (<NUM>) of <FIG>.

According to some other aspects, at least one of the TX processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and the controller/processor <NUM> may be configured to perform aspects in connection with (<NUM>) and/or (<NUM>) of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, as described, supra, two or more UEs may directly communicate with one another on one or more sidelink channels. In order to communicate on the one or more sidelink channels various parameters may first be established, e.g., in order for a receiving UE to successfully receive and decode data and/or control information on the one or more sidelink channels. Examples of these various parameters may include an MCS for communication on a sidelink data channel, information associated with a HARQ process for the sidelink data channel, a set of resources allocated on the sidelink data channel, and/or an index associated with a beam for the communication on the sidelink data channel.

<FIG> present techniques and approaches to address the performance and/or efficiency of sidelink communication. For example, <FIG> describe a centralized approach to sidelink scheduling. According to this centralized approach, a subset of the set of information associated with sidelink communication between at least two UEs may be reassigned from the base station to one UE participating in the sidelink communication with at least one other UE. In so doing, over-the-air signaling from the base station may be reduced, which may reduce the computational load on the base station. Further, latency in sidelink communication may be reduced because a subset of the information associated with the sidelink communication may be directly communicated between UEs, instead of following a path through the base station.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a call flow <NUM> for centralized scheduling of sidelink communication. According to the call flow <NUM>, a base station <NUM> may facilitate the centralized scheduling of the sidelink communication between the at least two UEs 404a, 404b. In the context of <FIG>, the base station <NUM> may be implemented as the base station <NUM>/<NUM>, the first UE 404a may be implemented as the transmitting UE <NUM>, and the second UE 404b may be implemented as the receiving UE <NUM>'. In the context of <FIG>, the base station <NUM> may be implemented as the base station <NUM>, and each of the UEs 404a, 404b may be implemented as the UE <NUM>.

Each of the UEs 404a, 404b may communicate with the base station <NUM>. For example, each of the UEs 404a, 404b may be synchronized with the base station <NUM> following a respective random access channel (RACH) procedure respectively performed by each of the UEs 404a, 404b. When one of the UEs 404a, 404b communicates with the base station, the communication may occur on an access link. Examples of such an access link may include the Uu interfaces defined for LTE and/or <NUM> NR.

Communication on the access link between the base station <NUM> and at least one of the UEs 404a, 404b may be carried on at least one physical channel, such as a PUCCH for uplink or a PDCCH for downlink. For example, control information on the access link from the base station <NUM> to each of the UEs 404a, 404b may be carried on a downlink control channel <NUM>, which may be implemented as the PDCCH.

In addition to communicating with the base station <NUM>, each of the UEs 404a, 404b may directly communicate with another one of the UEs 404a, 404b. The direct communication between the UEs 404a, 404b may include D2D communication, V2X communication, I2X communication, or another similar communication protocol in which data directly communicated between the UEs 404a, 404b traverses neither the base station <NUM> nor the EPC (or other core network).

For sidelink communication, the UEs 404a, 404b may directly communicate with one another over a sidelink. Examples of such a sidelink may include the PC5 interfaces defined for V2X in LTE and/or <NUM> NR. Like the access link, communication on the sidelink may be carried on at least one physical channel.

On the sidelink, control information may be carried on a sidelink control channel 410a, such as the PSCCH. Data on the sidelink, however, may be carried on a sidelink data channel 410b, which may also be referred to as a sidelink shared channel. An example of the sidelink data channel 410b may include the PSSCH.

To directly receive data on the sidelink data channel 410b, the data may be scheduled on a set of resources on the sidelink data channel 410b. Scheduling information for the data on the sidelink data channel 410b may be carried on the sidelink control channel 410a.

Additional information for successfully receiving and decoding the data on the sidelink data channel 410b may also be carried on the sidelink control channel 410a. For example, the sidelink control channel 410a may carry at least one of an MCS for communication on the sidelink data channel 410b, information associated with a HARQ process for the sidelink data channel 410b, a set of resources allocated on the sidelink data channel 410b, and/or a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state associated with the sidelink data channel 410b (e.g., the TCI state may indicate an index associated with a beam of the transmitting UE, such as an active beam of the beams 406a of the first UE 404a).

According to various aspects, the sidelink communication may occur in a mmW spectrum and/or near-mmW spectrum. For example, one or more 3GPP standards for <NUM> NR may define communication in mmW and/or near-mmW frequencies. Thus, each of the UEs 404a, 404b may communicate on the sidelink using beamforming in order to train the respective directional beams 406a, 406b of the UEs 404a, 404b. In connection therewith, the UEs 404a, 404b may perform a beam training process in order to identify the best TX/RX beam pairs between the UEs 404a, 404b.

The beam training process between the UEs 404a, 404b may occur during a discovery phase (e.g., a phase prior to communicating control information and data on the sidelink control channel 410a and the sidelink data channel 410b, respectively). The discovery phase may occur on the PSDCH, instead of the sidelink control and data channels 410a, 410b.

During the beam training process, one of the UEs 404a, 404b may sweep through a plurality of TX directions and send at least one reference signal in each of the plurality of TX directions. Correspondingly, the other of the UEs 404a, 404b may sweep through a plurality of RX directions and detect each reference signal sent in each of the plurality of TX directions.

The other of the UEs 404a, 404b may identify a "best" RX beam in each of the RX directions, and the best RX beam in each of the RX directions may correspond to the RX beam on which a reference signal is received having a highest measured quality (e.g., highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), highest reference signal receive power (RSRP), etc.).

In each of the RX directions, the other of the UEs 404a, 404b may determine a beam pair for receiving in an RX direction by correlating the best RX beam in a respective direction with the TX beam on which the reference signal is transmitted. The other of the UEs 404a, 404b may identify the TX beam to correlate with the best RX beam to form the beam pair based on the respective reference signal received in that RX direction and/or based on at least one resource on which the respective reference signal is received, at least one of which may indicate an index of the TX beam on which the respective reference signal is sent by the one of the UEs 404a, 404b.

After the one of the UEs 404a, 404b first acts as the transmitter and the other of the UEs 404a, 404b acts as the receiver when sweeping through the plurality of TX/RX directions, the UEs 404a, 404b may switch functions. Thus, the other of the UEs 404a, 404b may sweep through each of the plurality of TX directions and, in each of the plurality of TX directions, the other of the UEs 404a, 404b may send a respective reference signal on a respective TX beam.

Correspondingly, the one of the UEs 404a, 404b may sweep through a plurality of RX directions and detect each reference signal sent in each of the plurality of TX directions by the other of the UEs 404a, 404b. The one of the UEs 404a, 404b may therefore identify a beam pair for each TX/RX direction, as described supra.

The UEs 404a, 404b may determine that the UEs 404a, 404b wish to engage in direct communication based on the discovery phase, such as by determining a service provided by one of the UEs 404a, 404b that the other of the UEs 404a, 404b wishes to receive. The direct communication between the UEs 404a, 404b may be scheduled according to a centralized approach, which may be enabled by the base station <NUM>. Thus, the base station <NUM> may allocate a set of resources for the UEs 404a, 404b on the sidelink control channel 410a.

The set of resources allocated by the base station <NUM> may include a set of PRBs for resource sharing on the sidelink. According to one aspect, the base station <NUM> may reserve a plurality of resources for sidelink communication, e.g., in a cell provided by the base station <NUM>.

When the base station <NUM> receives at least one of the requests 420a, 420b identifying the UEs 404a, 404b that wish to communicate on the sidelink, the base station <NUM> may allocate the set of resources for the UEs 404a, 404b on the sidelink control channel 410a from the plurality of resources reserved for sidelink communication (that is, the set of resources for the UEs 404a, 404b on the sidelink control channel 410a may be a subset of the plurality of resources reserved for sidelink communication in the cell provided by the base station <NUM>).

In some aspects, when the UEs 404a, 404b wish to engage in sidelink communication, at least one of the UEs 404a, 404b may request that the base station <NUM> configure at least a portion of the sidelink communication. For example, the first UE 404a may wish to directly communicate on the sidelink with the second UE 404b and, therefore, the first UE 404a may send a first request 420a for sidelink communication with the second UE 404b to the base station <NUM> and the second UE 404b may similarly send a second request 420b for sidelink communication with the first UE 404a to the base station <NUM>. Both the first and second requests 420a, 420b may include a first ID of the first UE 404a and/or may include a second ID of the second UE 404b.

The base station <NUM> may receive the first and second requests 420a, 420b. The base station <NUM> may allocate the set of resources for the UEs 404a, 404b on the sidelink control channel based on at least one of the requests 420a, 420b. For example, the base station <NUM> may identify the UEs 404a, 404b that wish to communicate on the sidelink based on the IDs of the UEs 404a, 404b included in at least one of the requests 420a, 420b.

In order to indicate the set of resources allocated for the UEs 404a, 404b on the sidelink control channel 410a, the base station <NUM> may send information indicating the allocated set of resources on the access link to each of the UEs 404a, 404b. For example, the base station <NUM> may send information <NUM> indicating the set of resources allocated on the sidelink control channel 410a as control information on the downlink control channel <NUM>.

According to some existing approaches, control information for a specific UE may be sent in a UE-specific search space of the PDCCH. For example, the first UE 404a is to receive DCI for the first UE 404a, the base station <NUM> may send such DCI in a search space of the PDCCH specific to the first UE 404a, and that search space may not identify the second UE 404b and/or may not be decodable by the second UE 404b.

However, the information <NUM> indicating the set of resources allocated on the sidelink control channel 410a may be applicable to both the first and second UEs 404a, 404b. Thus, in some aspects, the base station <NUM> may assign the downlink control channel <NUM> to both the first UE 404a and the second UE 404b. In so doing, the base station <NUM> may indicate IDs of both the first UE 404a and the second UE 404b on the same downlink control channel <NUM>. Accordingly, the base station <NUM> may send, on the downlink control channel <NUM>, information indicating IDs of both the first UE 404a and the second UE 404b and, further, information <NUM> indicating the set of resources allocated on the sidelink control channel 410a for the first UE 404a and the second UE 404b.

The first UE 404a and the second UE 404b may each receive and decode information carried on the downlink control channel <NUM>. Specifically, the first UE 404a and the second UE 404b may receive and decode information indicating the IDs of the UEs 404a, 404b on the downlink control channel <NUM>, which may indicate that the information <NUM> on the downlink control channel <NUM> is intended for the UEs 404a, 404b. When the UEs 404a, 404b find their respective IDs on the downlink control channel <NUM>, the UEs 404a, 404b may receive and decode the information <NUM> indicating the set of resources allocated on the sidelink control channel 410a for the UEs 404a, 404b.

For the sidelink communication, the first UE 404a may act as a transmitter and the second UE 404b may act as a receiver. Which of the UEs 404a, 404b is to act as the transmitter and which is to act as the receiver may be resolved during the discovery phase.

When the first UE 404a has data to directly send to the second UE 404b, the first UE 404a may determine control information <NUM> associated with the sidelink data channel 410b. The control information <NUM> may enable the second UE 404b to successfully detect and decode the data on the sidelink data channel 410b from the first UE 404a. For example, the first UE 404a may determine, for the control information <NUM>, at least one of an MCS for communication on the sidelink data channel 410b, information associated with a HARQ process for the sidelink data channel 410b, a set of resources allocated on the sidelink data channel 410b to carry the data, and/or a TCI state associated with the sidelink data channel 410b (e.g., the TCI state may indicate an index associated with a beam of the first UE 404a, such as an active beam of the beams 406a of the first UE 404a).

In one aspect, the first UE 404a may determine at least a portion of the control information <NUM> based on the discovery phase with the second UE 404b. For example, the first UE 404a may determine an index corresponding to a TX beam of the beams 406a on which to send the data based on the discovery phase. The first UE 404a may then determine a TCI state based on the index corresponding to TX beam.

The first UE 404a may then send the control information <NUM> on the sidelink control channel 410a based on the information <NUM> indicating the set of resources allocated on the sidelink control channel 410a. For example, the first UE 404a may send the control information <NUM> on the allocated set of resources. According to some aspects, a first time gap may occur between the information <NUM> on the downlink control channel <NUM> and the control information <NUM> on the sidelink control channel 410a. The first time gap may be of a sufficient duration to allow the first UE 404a and the second UE 404b to process the information <NUM> received on the downlink control channel <NUM> before the first UE 404a begins sending the control information <NUM> on the sidelink control channel 410a.

According to various aspects, the base station <NUM> may refrain from sending some information associated with the sidelink communication between the UEs 404a, 404b, other than the IDs of the UEs 404a, 404b and the allocated set of resources on the sidelink control channel 410a. For example, the base station <NUM> may refrain from sending the MCS for communication on the sidelink data channel 410b, the information associated with the HARQ process for the sidelink data channel 410b, the set of resources allocated on the sidelink data channel 410b to carry the data, and/or the TCI state associated with the sidelink data channel 410b.

The base station <NUM> may refrain from sending this information because this information may be irrelevant to the base station <NUM>, as this information may only be applicable to sidelink communication between the UEs 404a, 404b. By refraining from sending this information, over-the-air signaling by the base station <NUM> and/or computational load on the base station <NUM> may be reduced. Further, latency between the UEs 404a, 404b during the sidelink communication may be reduced (e.g., because direct communication between the UEs 404a, 404b may be faster than communication through the base station <NUM>).

Because the second UE 404b receives the same information <NUM> on the downlink control channel <NUM> as the first UE 404a, the second UE 404b may monitor the same set of resources of the sidelink control channel 410a on which the first UE 404a sends the control information <NUM>. The second UE 404b may therefore successfully detect and decode the control information <NUM> on the sidelink control channel 410a.

By decoding the control information <NUM>, the second UE 404b may obtain the control information <NUM>, including the at least one of the MCS for communication on the sidelink data channel 410b, the information associated with a HARQ process for the sidelink data channel 410b, the set of resources allocated on the sidelink data channel 410b to carry the data, and/or the TCI state associated with the sidelink data channel 410b.

Subsequently, the first UE 404a may directly send data <NUM> on the sidelink data channel 410b to the second UE 404b. The first UE 404a may send the data <NUM> on the sidelink data channel 410b based on the control information <NUM>. For example, the first UE 404a may use the same MCS to send the data <NUM> on the sidelink data channel 410b as is indicated in the control information <NUM>. In another example, the first UE 404a may send the data <NUM> on the same set of resources (e.g., in one or more slots and/or subframes) of the sidelink data channel 410b as is indicated in the control information <NUM>.

Based on the control information <NUM>, the second UE 404b may successfully receive and decode the data <NUM> on the sidelink data channel 410b. For example, the second UE 404b may receive the data <NUM> using the same MCS as is indicated in the control information <NUM>. In another example, the second UE 404b may monitor for the data <NUM> on the same set of resources (e.g., in one or more slots and/or subframes) of the sidelink data channel 410b as is indicated in the control information <NUM>.

According to some aspects, the second UE 404b may determine an RX beam of the beams 406b for receiving the data <NUM> based on the control information <NUM>. For example, the control information <NUM> may indicate a TCI state, and the second UE 404b may determine an index corresponding to the TX beam of the beams 406a on which the first UE 404a is to send the data <NUM> based on the TCI state. The second UE 404b may then determine an index corresponding to an RX beam of the beams 406b based on the index corresponding to the TX beam. For example, the second UE 404b may identify the index of the RX beam that is correlated with the index of the TX beam according to a beam pair determined during the beam training process between the UEs 404a, 404b. The second UE 404b may then receive the data <NUM> on the sidelink data channel 410b on the RX beam of the beams 406b corresponding to the index of the TX beam of the beams 406a identified based on the TCI state.

According to some aspects, a second time gap may occur between the control information <NUM> on the downlink control channel <NUM> and the data <NUM> on the sidelink data channel 410b. The second time gap may be of a sufficient duration to allow the second UE 404b to process the control information <NUM> received on the sidelink control channel 410a before receiving the data <NUM> on the sidelink data channel 410b. The second time gap may be relatively shorter in duration than the first time gap.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a set of slots <NUM> associated with centralized scheduling of sidelink communication. The set of slots <NUM> may include a first slot <NUM> allocated for downlink communication and a second slot <NUM> allocated for sidelink communication. The first slot <NUM> may include a PDCCH <NUM>. The second slot <NUM> may include a PSCCH 510a and a PSSCH 510b.

The PSCCH 510a may carry control information associated with the PSSCH 510b. For example, the PSCCH 510a may carry control information indicating a schedule of the PSSCH 510b and, further, the PSCCH 510a may carry control information for decoding and/or communicating on the PSSCH 510b. Examples of the control information that may be carried on the PSCCH 510a may include an MCS associated with the PSSCH 510b, a HARQ process number associated with the PSSCH 510b, a TCI state associated with the PSSCH 510b, and/or other information associated with the PSSCH 510b.

In the context of <FIG>, the downlink control channel <NUM> may be implemented as the PDCCH <NUM>, the sidelink control channel 410a may be implemented as the PSCCH 510a, and the sidelink data channel 410b may be implemented as the PSSCH 510b. In the illustrated aspect, the PDCCH <NUM> may occupy the first two symbols (e.g., symbols <NUM>-<NUM>) of the first slot <NUM>, the PSCCH 510a may occupy the first symbol (e.g., symbol <NUM>) of the second slot <NUM>, and the PSSCH 510b may occupy a plurality of symbols (e.g., symbols <NUM>-<NUM>) of the second slot <NUM> following the PSCCH 510a (e.g., the PSSCH 510b may occupy the remaining ten symbols of the second slot <NUM>, following the first symbol occupied by the PSCCH 510a and the second symbol reserved for a second time gap <NUM>).

The base station <NUM> may allocate the second slot <NUM> for sidelink communication between the UEs 404a, 404b. In some aspects, the base station <NUM> may allocate the second slot <NUM> such that a first time gap <NUM> occurs between the first slot <NUM> and the second slot <NUM>. The base station <NUM> may then send information <NUM> on the PDCCH <NUM> indicating the set of resources allocated for the PSCCH 510a. The base station <NUM> may further indicate the IDs of the UEs 404a, 404b in the information <NUM> on the PDCCH <NUM>.

The UEs 404a, 404b may detect the PDCCH <NUM> from the base station <NUM>, and the PDCCH <NUM> may carry information indicating IDs of the UEs 404a, 404b. The PDCCH <NUM> may further carry information indicating a set of resources of the PSCCH 510a allocated for sidelink communication between the UEs 404a, 404b. For example, the PDCCH <NUM> may indicate that the PSCCH 510a occurs in the first symbol (e.g., symbol <NUM>) of the second slot <NUM> allocated for sidelink communication between the UEs 404a, 404b. The first time gap <NUM> allocated between the first and second slots <NUM>, <NUM> may allow the UEs 404a, 404b sufficient time to decode and process the information <NUM> carried on the PDCCH <NUM> so that the set of resources allocated on the PSCCH 510a may be used for communication of the control information <NUM> on the PSCCH 510a.

The first UE 404a may schedule the data <NUM> on the PSSCH 510b. In so doing, the first UE 404a may allocate a second time gap <NUM> between the PSCCH 510a and the PSSCH 510b. The second time gap <NUM> may be one symbol (e.g., symbol <NUM>) of the second slot <NUM>. The second time gap <NUM> may be optional and, therefore, the second time gap <NUM> may be absent in some other aspects.

The first UE 404a may send the control information <NUM> on the PSCCH 510a to the second UE 404b. The control information <NUM> may indicate at least one of an MCS for communication on the PSSCH 510b, information associated with a HARQ process for the PSSCH 510b, a set of resources allocated on the PSSCH 510b to carry data <NUM>, and/or an index associated with one of the beams 406a of the first UE 404a for the communication on the PSSCH 510b.

Following the control information <NUM> on the PSCCH 510a, the second time gap <NUM> allocated between the PSCCH 510a and PSSCH 510b may allow the UEs 404a, 404b sufficient time to configure communication on the PSSCH 510b. For example, the second time gap <NUM> may allow the second UE 404b sufficient time to direct an RX beam of the beams 406b toward a TX beam of the beams 406a of the first UE 404a on the set of resources allocated in the second slot <NUM> for the PSSCH 510b.

The first UE 404a may then send the data <NUM> to the second UE 404b on the PSSCH 510b based on the control information <NUM>. The second UE 404b may receive the data <NUM> on the PSSCH 510b based on the control information <NUM> carried on the PSCCH 510a.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method <NUM> of wireless communication. The method <NUM> may be performed by a first UE (e.g., the UE <NUM>, <NUM>, 404a; the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>'; the processing system <NUM>, which may include the memory <NUM> and which may be the entire UE <NUM>, <NUM>, 404a or a component of the UE <NUM>, <NUM>, 404a, such as the TX processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>). According to various aspects, one or more of the illustrated operations may be transposed, omitted, and/or contemporaneously performed.

At <NUM>, as claimed, the first UE receives, on a first control channel, information indicating a first set of resources allocated on a second control channel. In some aspects, the first control channel may be a PDCCH, and the second control channel may be a PSCCH. In some other aspects, as claimed, the information indicating the set of resources allocated on the second control channel further indicates a first ID associated with the first UE and a second ID associated with a second UE with which the first UE is to directly communicate. For example, referring to <FIG>, the first UE 404a may receive, on the downlink control channel <NUM>, the information <NUM> indicating the set of resources allocated on the sidelink control channel 410a.

At <NUM>, as claimed, the first UE sends, to the second UE based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel, information associated with communication on a data channel. In some aspects, the data channel may be a PSSCH. In some other aspects, the information associated with the communication on the data channel may indicate at least one of an MCS for communication on the data channel, information associated with a HARQ process for the data channel, a set of resources allocated on the data channel to carry data from the first UE, and/or an index associated with a beam of the first UE for the communication on the data channel. In one aspect, the index associated with the beam of the first UE may include a TCI state, and the TCI state may be based on beam training between the first UE and the second UE. For example, referring to <FIG>, the first UE 404a may send, to the second UE 404b based on the information <NUM> indicating the set of resources allocated on the sidelink control channel 410a, the control information <NUM> associated with the data <NUM> on the sidelink data channel 410b.

At <NUM>, as claimed, the first UE sends data to the second UE on the data channel based on the information associated with the communication on the data channel. For example, the first UE may send the data on a set of resources of the data channel, and the set of resources of the data channel on which the data is carried may be indicated by the first UE to the second UE in the information associated with the communication on the data channel. In another example, the first UE may send the data on the data channel according to an MCS that is indicated in the information associated with the communication on the data channel. In a further example, the first UE may send the data on the data channel on a beam having an index corresponding to the TCI state indicated in the information associated with the communication on the data channel. For example, referring to <FIG>, the first UE 404a may send, to the second UE 404b based on the control information <NUM> on the sidelink control channel 410a, the data <NUM> on the sidelink data channel 410b.

According to some aspects, a first time gap occurs between the receiving on the first control channel (<NUM>) and the sending based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel (<NUM>), and a second time gap occurs between the sending based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel (<NUM>) and the sending the data on the data channel (<NUM>). The first time gap may be longer than the second time gap.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method <NUM> of wireless communication. The method <NUM> may be performed by a second UE (e.g., the UE <NUM>', <NUM>, 404b; the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>'; the processing system <NUM>, which may include the memory <NUM> and which may be the entire UE <NUM>', <NUM>, 404b or a component of the UE <NUM>', <NUM>, 404b, such as the TX processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>). According to various aspects, one or more of the illustrated operations may be transposed, omitted, and/or contemporaneously performed.

At <NUM>, the second UE may receive, on a first control channel, information indicating a first set of resources allocated on a second control channel. In some aspects, the first control channel may be a PDCCH, and the second control channel may be a PSCCH. In some other aspects, the information indicating the set of resources allocated on the second control channel further indicates a second ID associated with the second UE and indicates a first ID associated with a first UE with which the first UE is to directly communicate. For example, referring to <FIG>, the second UE 404b may receive, on the downlink control channel <NUM>, the information <NUM> indicating the set of resources allocated on the sidelink control channel 410a.

At <NUM>, the second UE may receive, from the first UE based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel, information associated with communication on a data channel. In some aspects, the data channel may be a PSSCH. In some other aspects, the information associated with the communication on the data channel may indicate at least one of an MCS for communication on the data channel, information associated with a HARQ process for the data channel, a set of resources allocated on the data channel to carry data from the first UE, and/or an index associated with a beam of the first UE for the communication on the data channel. In one aspect, the index associated with the beam of the first UE may include a TCI state, and the TCI state may be based on beam training between the first UE and the second UE. For example, referring to <FIG>, the first UE 404a may send, to the second UE 404b based on the information <NUM> indicating the set of resources allocated on the sidelink control channel 410a, the control information <NUM> associated with the data <NUM> on the sidelink data channel 410b.

At <NUM>, the second UE may determine an index of a beam of the second UE for receiving the data on the data channel based on the TCI state and based on beam training between the first UE and the second UE. For example, the second UE may identify an index of a beam of the first UE based on the TCI state. From the beam training, the second UE may correlate indexes of TX beams of the first UE with indexes of RX beams of the second UE. Based on the correlation, the second UE may identify the index of the RX beam correlated with the index of the TX beam of the first UE indicated by the TCI state. The second UE may then monitor a set of resources indicated in the information associated with the data channel using the RX beam corresponding to the identified index. For example, referring to <FIG>, the second UE 404b may determine an index of an RX beam of the beams 406b for receiving the data <NUM> on the sidelink data channel 410b based on the TCI state indicated in the control information <NUM> and based on beam training between the UEs 404a, 404b.

At <NUM>, the second UE may receive data from the first UE on the data channel based on the information associated with the communication on the data channel. For example, the second UE may receive the data on a set of resources of the data channel, and the set of resources of the data channel on which the data is carried may be indicated by the first UE to the second UE in the information associated with the communication on the data channel. In another example, the second UE may receive the data on the data channel according to an MCS that is indicated in the information associated with the communication on the data channel. In a further example, the second UE may receive the data on the data channel on an RX beam identified based on a correlation with an index of a TX beam indicated by the TCI state. For example, referring to <FIG>, the second UE 404b may receive, from the first UE 404a based on the control information <NUM> on the sidelink control channel 410a, the data <NUM> on the sidelink data channel 410b.

According to some aspects, a first time gap occurs between the receiving on the first control channel (<NUM>) and the receiving based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel (<NUM>), and a second time gap occurs between the receiving based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel (<NUM>) and the receiving the data on the data channel (<NUM>). The first time gap may be longer than the second time gap.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method <NUM> of wireless communication. The method <NUM> may be performed by a base station (e.g., the base station <NUM>/<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>; the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>'; the processing system <NUM>, which may include the memory <NUM> and which may be the entire base station <NUM>/<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or a component of the base station <NUM>/<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, such as the TX processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>). According to various aspects, one or more of the illustrated operations may be transposed, omitted, and/or contemporaneously performed.

At <NUM>, the base station may allocate a set of resources for a first UE and a second UE on a first control channel. For example, the base station may identify resources that are available to be assigned on the first control channel, such as by identifying a pool of resources associated with the first control channel. The base station may then select a set of resources to be allocated for the first and second UEs on the first control channel from the identified available resources, such as by determining which resources are unused, unassigned, empty (e.g., having little or no energy detected thereon), etc. The first control channel may be a PSCCH. In one aspect, the base station may allocate the set of resources based on at least one request for direct communication from at least one of the first UE or the second UE. For example, referring to <FIG>, the base station <NUM> may allocate a set of resources for the UEs 404a, 404b on the sidelink control channel 410a.

In some aspects, the base station may allocate at least one gap in association with the set of resources allocated for the first UE and the second UE on the first control channel. For example, the base station may allocate a sidelink gap after resources on the first control channel and before resources on a data channel on which the first and second UEs may communicate. Potentially, this sidelink gap may be of a shorter duration than another gap (e.g., a first gap) allocated between communication by the base station with the first and second UEs and communication by the first and second UEs.

At <NUM>, the base station may send, to the first UE and the second UE on a second control channel, information indicating a first ID associated with the first UE, a second ID associated with the second UE, and the set of resources. The second control channel may be a PDCCH, which may be assigned to both the first UE and the second UE. For example, referring to <FIG>, the base station <NUM> may send, on the downlink control channel <NUM>, the information <NUM> indicating the set of resources allocated on the sidelink control channel 410a. The base station <NUM> may send the IDs of the UEs 404a, 404b on the downlink control channel <NUM> to indicate that the information <NUM> on the downlink control channel <NUM> is applicable to the direct communication between both UEs 404a, 404b on the sidelink control channel 410a.

At <NUM>, the base station may refrain from sending, to the first UE and the second UE, information indicating at least one of an MCS for communication on a data channel, information associated with a HARQ process for the data channel, a set of resources allocated on the data channel to carry data from the first UE to the second UE, and/or an index associated with a beam of the first UE for the communication on the data channel. For example, referring to <FIG>, the base station <NUM> may refrain from sending, to the UEs 404a, 404b, information that is included in the control information <NUM> sent by the first UE 404a on the sidelink control channel 410a.

<FIG> is a conceptual data flow diagram illustrating the data flow <NUM> between different means/components in an example apparatus <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> may be a UE. The apparatus <NUM> may include a transmission component <NUM> that is configured to send a request associated with sidelink communication to a base station <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM> may further include a reception component <NUM> that is configured to receive, on a first control channel, information indicating a first set of resources allocated on a second control channel, e.g., as described in connection with <NUM> of <FIG>. For example, the information indicating the first set of resources allocated on a second control channel may be received from the base station <NUM>. The information indicating the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel further indicates a first identifier associated with the apparatus <NUM> and a second identifier associated with the second UE <NUM>. In some aspects, the first control channel may be a PDCCH, and the second control channel may be a PSCCH.

The apparatus <NUM> may include a scheduling component <NUM> that is configured to schedule communication with the second UE <NUM> on the second control channel and/or on a data channel. The data channel may be a PSSCH. In some aspects, the scheduling component <NUM> may schedule the communication with the second UE <NUM> based on at least one time gap. For example, the scheduling component <NUM> may schedule communication with the second UE <NUM> based on a first time gap that occurs between the receiving on the first control channel and sending based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel, and/or based on a second time gap that occurs between the sending based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel and sending data on the data channel. In some aspects, the first time gap is longer than the second time gap.

The transmission component <NUM> may be further configured to send, to the second UE <NUM> based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel, information associated with communication on the data channel, e.g., as described in connection with <NUM> of <FIG>. In some aspects, the information associated with the communication on the data channel may indicate at least one of: an MCS, information associated with a HARQ process for the data channel, a second set of resources allocated on the data channel, and/or an index associated with a beam for the communication on the data channel. For example, the index associated with the beam for the communication on the data channel may include a TCI state, and the TCI state may be based on beam training between the apparatus <NUM> and the second UE <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM> may include a beam component <NUM> that is configured to perform beam training with the second UE <NUM>, e.g., in order to identify one or more beams for communication with the second UE <NUM> on one or more channels. The beam component <NUM> may be configured to provide a TCI state (e.g., indicating a beam index to the reception component <NUM> and/or to the transmission component <NUM> for communication with the second UE <NUM>. The transmission component <NUM> may be further configured to send data to the second UE <NUM> on the data channel based on the information associated with the communication on the data channel, e.g., as described in connection with <NUM> of <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram <NUM> illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an apparatus <NUM>' employing a processing system <NUM>. The processing system <NUM> may be implemented with a bus architecture, represented generally by the bus <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific application of the processing system <NUM> and the overall design constraints. The bus <NUM> links together various circuits including one or more processors and/or hardware components, represented by the processor <NUM>, the components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may also link various other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further.

The processing system <NUM> may be coupled to a transceiver <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> is coupled to one or more antennas <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> provides a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. The transceiver <NUM> receives a signal from the one or more antennas <NUM>, extracts information from the received signal, and provides the extracted information to the processing system <NUM>, specifically the reception component <NUM>. In addition, the transceiver <NUM> receives information from the processing system <NUM>, specifically the transmission component <NUM>, and based on the received information, generates a signal to be applied to the one or more antennas <NUM>. The processing system <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> coupled to a computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is responsible for general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The software, when executed by the processor <NUM>, causes the processing system <NUM> to perform the various functions described supra for any particular apparatus. The computer-readable medium / memory <NUM> may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor <NUM> when executing software. The processing system <NUM> further includes at least one of the components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The components may be software components running in the processor <NUM>, resident/stored in the computer readable medium / memory <NUM>, one or more hardware components coupled to the processor <NUM>, or some combination thereof. The processing system <NUM> may be a component of the UE <NUM> and may include the memory <NUM> and/or at least one of the TX processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and the controller/processor <NUM>. Alternatively, the processing system <NUM> may be the entire UE (e.g., see <NUM> of <FIG>).

In one configuration, the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' for wireless communication includes means for receiving, on a first control channel, information indicating a first set of resources allocated on a second control channel; means for sending, to a second UE based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel, information associated with communication on a data channel; and means for sending data to the second UE on the data channel based on the information associated with the communication on the data channel.

The information indicating a set of resources allocated on the second control channel further indicates a first identifier associated with the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' and a second identifier associated with the second UE. In one aspect, the information associated with the communication on the data channel indicates at least one of: an MCS, information associated with a HARQ process for the data channel, a second set of resources allocated on the data channel, or an index associated with a beam for the communication on the data channel. In one aspect, the index associated with the beam for the communication on the data channel comprises a TCI state, and the TCI state may be based on beam training between the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' and the second UE. In some aspects, the first control channel may be a PDCCH, the second control channel may be a PSCCH, and the data channel may be a PSSCH. In one aspect, a first time gap occurs between the receiving on the first control channel and the sending based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel, and a second time gap occurs between the sending based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel and the sending the data on the data channel, and the first time gap may be longer than the second time gap.

The apparatus <NUM> may include a scheduling component <NUM> that is configured to schedule communication with the second UE <NUM> on the second control channel and/or on a data channel. The data channel may be a PSSCH. In some aspects, the scheduling component <NUM> may schedule the communication with the second UE <NUM> based on at least one time gap. For example, the scheduling component <NUM> may schedule communication with the second UE <NUM> based on a first time gap that occurs between the receiving on the first control channel and receiving based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel, and/or based on a second time gap that occurs between the receiving based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel and receiving data on the data channel. In some aspects, the first time gap is longer than the second time gap.

The reception component <NUM> may be further configured to receive, from the second UE <NUM> based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel, information associated with communication on the data channel, e.g., as described in connection with <NUM> of <FIG>. In some aspects, the information associated with the communication on the data channel may indicate at least one of: an MCS, information associated with a HARQ process for the data channel, a second set of resources allocated on the data channel, and/or an index associated with a beam for the communication on the data channel. For example, the index associated with the beam for the communication on the data channel may indicate a TCI state, and the TCI state may be based on beam training between the apparatus <NUM> and the second UE <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM> may include a beam component <NUM> that is configured to perform beam training with the second UE <NUM>, e.g., in order to identify one or more beams for communication with the second UE <NUM> on one or more channels. The beam component <NUM> may be configured to determine a second index of a second beam for receiving data on the data channel based on the TCI state, e.g., as described in connection with <NUM> of <FIG>. In some aspects, the beam component <NUM> may further determine the second index of the second beam based on beam training between the apparatus <NUM> and the second UE <NUM>.

The beam component <NUM> may provide a beam index and/or TCI state (e.g., the second beam index) to the reception component <NUM> and/or to the transmission component <NUM> for communication with the second UE <NUM>, e.g., based on the information associated with communication on the data channel received from the second UE <NUM>. The reception component <NUM> may be further configured to receive data from the second UE <NUM> on the data channel based on the information associated with the communication on the data channel, e.g., as described in connection with <NUM> of <FIG>. The reception component <NUM> may receive the data from the second UE <NUM> based on the at least one beam index and/or TCI state provided by the beam component <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram <NUM> illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an apparatus <NUM>' employing a processing system <NUM>. The processing system <NUM> may be implemented with a bus architecture, represented generally by the bus <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific application of the processing system <NUM> and the overall design constraints. The bus <NUM> links together various circuits including one or more processors and/or hardware components, represented by the processor <NUM>, the components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may also link various other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further.

In one configuration, the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' for wireless communication includes means for receiving, on a first control channel, information indicating a first set of resources allocated on a second control channel; means for receiving, from a second UE based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel, information associated with communication on a data channel; and means for receiving data from the second UE on the data channel based on the information associated with the communication on the data channel.

The information indicating a set of resources allocated on a second control channel further indicates a first identifier associated with the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' and a second identifier associated with the second UE. In one aspect, the information associated with the communication on the data channel indicates at least one of: an MCS, information associated with a HARQ process for the data channel, a second set of resources allocated on the data channel, or a first index associated with a first beam for the communication on the data channel. In one aspect, the index associated with the beam for the communication on the data channel comprises a TCI state, and the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' may further include means for determining a second index of a second beam for receiving the data on the data channel based on the TCI state and based on beam training between the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' and the second UE. In one aspect, the first control channel may be a PDCCH, the second control channel may be a PSCCH, and the data channel may be a PSSCH. In one aspect, a first time gap occurs between the receiving on the first control channel and the receiving based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel, and a second time gap occurs between the receiving based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel and the receiving the data on the data channel, and the first time gap may be longer than the second time gap.

<FIG> is a conceptual data flow diagram illustrating the data flow <NUM> between different means/components in an example apparatus <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> may be a base station. The apparatus <NUM> includes a reception component <NUM> that is configured to receive a respective request for an allocation of resources on a first control channel from each of a first UE <NUM> and a second UE <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM> may include an allocation component that is configured to allocate a set of resources for the first UE <NUM> and the second UE <NUM> on the first control channel, e.g., as described in connection with <NUM> of <FIG>.

The apparatus <NUM> may include a transmission component <NUM> that is configured to send, to the first UE <NUM> and the second UE <NUM> on a second control channel, information indicating a first identifier associated with the first UE <NUM>, a second identifier associated with the second UE <NUM>, and the allocated set of resources, e.g., as described in connection with <NUM> of <FIG>.

The apparatus <NUM> may include a sidelink management component <NUM> that is configured to determine information indicating at least one of an MCS associated with a data channel on which the first UE <NUM> and the second UE <NUM> may communicate, information associated with a HARQ process for the data channel, a second set of resources allocated on the data channel, and/or a first index associated with a first beam for communication on the data channel (e.g., a TCI state for the first UE <NUM> and/or the second UE <NUM>). In some aspects, the sidelink management component <NUM> may be configured to provide at least a portion of the foregoing information to the transmission component <NUM> for transmission to at least the first UE <NUM>. In some other aspects, the sidelink management component <NUM> may be configured to refrain from sending, to the first UE <NUM> and the second UE <NUM>, information indicating at least one of the MCS, information associated with the HARQ process for the data channel, the second set of resources allocated on the data channel, and/or the first index associated with the first beam for the communication on the data channel, e.g., as described in connection with <NUM> of <FIG>.

According to various aspects, the first control channel may be a PSCCH, the second control channel may be a PDCCH, and the data channel may be a PSSCH. In some aspects, the allocation component <NUM> may allocate a first gap and/or a second gap. For example, a first time gap may occur between the transmission on the second control channel and communication by the first UE <NUM> and the second UE <NUM> based on the set of resources allocated on the first control channel, and a second time gap may occur between communication by the first UE <NUM> and the second UE <NUM> based on the set of resources allocated on the first control channel and communication by the first UE <NUM> and the second UE <NUM> of data on the data channel. The first time gap may be longer than the second time gap.

The processing system <NUM> may be coupled to a transceiver <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> is coupled to one or more antennas <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> provides a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. The transceiver <NUM> receives a signal from the one or more antennas <NUM>, extracts information from the received signal, and provides the extracted information to the processing system <NUM>, specifically the reception component <NUM>. In addition, the transceiver <NUM> receives information from the processing system <NUM>, specifically the transmission component <NUM>, and based on the received information, generates a signal to be applied to the one or more antennas <NUM>. The processing system <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> coupled to a computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is responsible for general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The software, when executed by the processor <NUM>, causes the processing system <NUM> to perform the various functions described supra for any particular apparatus. The computer-readable medium / memory <NUM> may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor <NUM> when executing software. The processing system <NUM> further includes at least one of the components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The components may be software components running in the processor <NUM>, resident/stored in the computer readable medium / memory <NUM>, one or more hardware components coupled to the processor <NUM>, or some combination thereof. The processing system <NUM> may be a component of the base station <NUM> and may include the memory <NUM> and/or at least one of the TX processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and the controller/processor <NUM>. Alternatively, the processing system <NUM> may be the entire base station (e.g., see <NUM> of <FIG>).

The apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' for wireless communication includes means for allocating a set of resources for a first UE and a second UE on a first control channel; and means for sending, to the first UE and the second UE on a second control channel, information indicating a first identifier associated with the first UE, a second identifier associated with the second UE, and the set of resources.

In one aspect, the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' may further include means for refraining from sending, to the first UE and the second UE, information indicating at least one of: an MCS associated with a data channel, information associated with a HARQ process for the data channel, a second set of resources allocated on the data channel, or a first index associated with a first beam for the communication on the data channel. In one aspect, the first control channel may be a PSCCH, the second control channel may be a PDCCH, and the data channel may be a PSSCH.

Claim 1:
A method of wireless communication by a first user equipment, UE (404a), the method comprising:
receiving (<NUM>), by the first UE (404a) and on a first control channel, information (<NUM>) indicating a first set of resources allocated on a second control channel, and further indicating a first identifier associated with the first UE (404a) and a second identifier associated with a second UE (404b);
sending (<NUM>), by the first UE (404a), to the second UE (404b) based on the first set of resources allocated on the second control channel, information associated with communication on a data channel; and
sending (<NUM>), by the first UE (404a), data to the second UE (404b) on the data channel based on the information associated with the communication on the data channel.