FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the field of wireless communications, and in particular to managing data transmission resources in wireless communication networks that may use sidelink (SL) data transmission.

BACKGROUND

In future wireless networks, data transmissions directly between user equipment (UEs) located in close geographic proximity are expected to become more important. One type of direct transmission between UEs is referred to as sidelink (SL) communication or SL data transmission and is part of the 3GPP standards. Sidelink transmissions are done device-to-device (D2D) (i.e., to UE to UE) in a direct manner and do not require an access node to receive data transmission from a UE and forward the data transmissions to another UE. This distinguishes SL transmission over traditional downlink and uplink data transmission between a UE and an access node.

The use of sidelink transmissions is expected to be particularly advantageous in the implementation of connected car services, self-driving, and autonomous vehicles. These applications are expected to produce better vehicular traffic flow and increased road safety, efficiency, and comfort. In these applications, vehicles may be organized into groups, herein referred to as “platoons,” and may use SL transmission to communicate between vehicles in the platoon. A user equipment group consists of at least two UEs where one of the UEs is a transmitter UE (Tx UE) and another UE is a receiving UE (Rx UE). In this case the data transmission from the Tx UE to Rx UE is a unicast transmission. Alternatively, a user equipment group can consist of one Tx UE and multiple Rx UEs. In this case the data transmission from the Tx UE to the multiple Rx UEs is a groupcast or multicast transmission.

However, managing resources for data transmissions (and in particular sidelink data transmissions) with potentially large numbers of UEs in the same communication region is technically challenging. In particular, managing resources for data transmissions in such an environment, in an effective and timely manner, appears to be a challenging problem not yet addressed in the art.

Therefore, there is a need for a method, UE, and system for resource management of resources for data transmissions that is not subject to one or more limitations of the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a method, apparatus, system and computer readable medium for managing data transmission resources in communication networks that may use SL data transmission. The use of control transmissions defined herein allows groups of user equipment to utilize, initialize, update, communicate, manage, and select data transmission information to implement SL data transmission between user equipment without requiring communication with base stations, access points, or other network devices or functions.

Embodiments of the present invention facilitate operation of UEs at least in part by allowing UEs to autonomously select which resources they will use for data transmissions. These data transmissions may include but are not necessarily limited to sidelink data transmissions. For example, in some embodiments, the present invention can be used for uplink data transmissions. Because UEs autonomously select resources for data transmissions, latency and complexity which would be required in the case where a resource manager selects resources for data transmissions and communicates the selection to UEs is mitigated. In order to coordinate resource usage among UEs, control transmissions are used to allow a UE to declare to one another and, in some embodiments, to a network manager, what resources the UE has selected for data transmissions. Other UEs and the network manager retain this information and avoid selection of overlapping data transmission resources that would cause data transmissions to interfere with each other. The information can be kept up-to-date via subsequent control transmissions. For clarity, data transmissions are generally transmissions of data made in the data plane or user plane. Control transmissions are generally transmissions of control messages made in the control plane.

Embodiments of the present invention relate in particular to SL data transmissions by apparatus, such as UEs, for example to facilitate communication between vehicles in a coordinated and co-travelling platoon. A UE, for example a leader of a team or platoon of UEs, can select a resource to use for SL data transmissions while in a particular geographic area. The UE may attempt to select the same resource in each successive one of a plurality of geographic areas. Consistently using the same resource while moving is expected to simplify communication or mitigate interruption. This is because the UEs (e.g., the team or platoon of UEs) do not have to switch resources periodically but can continue to use the same resource for data communication.

To facilitate selection of resources for SL data transmission, the UE is configured to perform control transmissions. A region is divided into geographic zones, and each geographic zone is associated with a particular set of control transmission resources. When in a particular geographic zone (e.g., upon entering the zone), the UE uses the control transmission resources for that zone to communicate that the UE (or its team) declares (proposes) to use a specified resource for SL data transmission. The communication is either directly received by other UEs, or received by other UEs via network infrastructure. Upon receipt of this communication, the other UEs may avoid usage of the specified resource while in the zone. Accordingly, the UE reserves usage of the specified resource for the zone. This reservation process can be repeated by the UE for each zone that the UE enters. In some cases, one of the other UEs, for example having a higher priority, may also prefer to use the specified resource. In this case, a contention resolution process is performed to determine which UE is granted usage of the specified resource for the zone.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method performed by an apparatus, such as by a UE. The method includes receiving an indication of a set of geographic zones and a set of control transmission wireless resource units. For each one of the geographic zones, a corresponding one or more of the control transmission wireless resource units is specified for use while in that geographic zone. The method includes, while in a first zone of the geographic zones, transmitting a control transmission reserving a first data transmission wireless resource unit for use by the apparatus for sidelink (SL) data communication while in the first zone. The control transmission is performed using one of the control transmission wireless resource units corresponding to the first zone. The first data transmission wireless resource unit is selected from a pool of data transmission wireless resource units. Each member of the pool of data transmission wireless resource units is available for use across a contiguous plurality of the set of geographic zones. Different members of the pool of data transmission wireless resource units are concurrently usable regardless of geographic zone. The method includes using the first data transmission wireless resource unit for SL data communication while in the defined geographic zone. This may be performed following determining that reservation of the first data transmission wireless resource unit in the defined geographic zone is successful.

This method may provide the technical benefit of consistently using the same resource while moving and will simplify communications or mitigate interruption of communications.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus, such as a UE, having a processor, a memory and a network interface. The apparatus is configured to receive an indication of a set of geographic zones and a set of control transmission wireless resource units. For each one of the geographic zones, a corresponding one or more of the control transmission wireless resource units is specified for use while in said one of the geographic zones. The apparatus is further configured, while in a first zone of the geographic zones, to transmit a control transmission reserving a first data transmission wireless resource unit for use by the apparatus for sidelink (SL) data communication while in the first zone. The control transmission is performed using one of the control transmission wireless resource units corresponding to the first zone. The first data transmission wireless resource unit is selected from a pool of data transmission wireless resource units. Each member of the pool of data transmission wireless resource units is available for use across a contiguous plurality of the set of geographic zones. Different members of the pool of data transmission wireless resource units are concurrently usable regardless of geographic zone. The apparatus is further configured, for example following determining that reservation of the first data transmission wireless resource unit in the defined geographic zone is successful, to use the first data transmission wireless resource unit for SL data communication while in the defined geographic zone.

This apparatus may provide the technical benefit of consistently using the same resource while moving and will simplify communications or mitigate interruption of communications.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, there is provided non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executable in a processor of an apparatus, such as a (UE). The apparatus also including a memory and a network interface. The instructions, when executed in the processor cause the apparatus to receive an indication of a set of geographic zones and a set of control transmission wireless resource units. For each one of the geographic zones, a corresponding one or more of the control transmission wireless resource units is specified for use while in said one of the geographic zones. The apparatus is further configured, while in a first zone of the geographic zones, to transmit a control transmission reserving a first data transmission wireless resource unit for use by the apparatus for sidelink (SL) data communication while in the first zone. The control transmission is performed using one of the control transmission wireless resource units corresponding to the first zone. The first data transmission wireless resource unit is selected from a pool of data transmission wireless resource units. Each member of the pool of data transmission wireless resource units is available for use across a contiguous plurality of the set of geographic zones. Different members of the pool of data transmission wireless resource units are concurrently usable regardless of geographic zone. The apparatus is further configured, for example following determining that reservation of the first data transmission wireless resource unit in the defined geographic zone is successful, to use the first data transmission wireless resource unit for SL data communication while in the defined geographic zone.

This computer readable medium may provide the technical benefit of consistently using the same resource while moving and will simplify communications or mitigate interruption of communications.

In further embodiment, a plurality of different pools of data transmission wireless resource units are defined. Where each of the plurality of different pools are assigned for use by any apparatus travelling in a specified direction. The pool is selected from the plurality of pools based on a direction of travel of the apparatus.

This may provide the technical benefit of providing a simple way for apparatus travelling in the same direction to reuse data transmission resources without interfering with each other.

In further embodiment, the first data transmission wireless resource unit is used for SL data communication with one or more other apparatus co-travelling with the apparatus.

This may provide the technical benefit of providing a simple way for apparatus travelling together in a group to reuse data transmission resources without interfering with each other.

In further embodiment, reserving the first data transmission wireless resource unit includes preferentially reserving, as the first data transmission wireless resource unit, a same data transmission wireless resource unit which was also used by the apparatus in one of the geographic zones visited by the apparatus immediately prior to visiting the first geographic zone.

This may provide the technical benefit of allowing an apparatus to reuse the same data transmission resource that it previously used.

Embodiments further include obtaining an indication of a set of data transmission wireless resource units currently prioritized to and in use by other apparatus in the first geographic zone. Furthermore, reserving the first data transmission wireless resource unit includes selecting the first data transmission wireless resource unit as a member of the pool of data transmission wireless resources outside of the set of data transmission wireless resource units currently prioritized to other apparatus in the first geographic zone.

This may provide the technical benefit of allowing for the prioritized allocation of data transmission resources.

In further embodiments, obtaining the indication of the set of data transmission wireless resource units currently prioritized to other apparatus in the first geographic zone includes one or more of receiving one or more transmissions from network infrastructure indicative of the set of data transmission wireless resource units currently in use in the first geographic zone, receiving control transmissions from said other apparatus where said control transmissions reserve members of the set of data transmission wireless resource units in the first geographic zone, and transmitting a discovery message requesting that one or more other apparatus indicate which data transmission wireless resource units are currently in use thereby in the first geographic zone and receiving responses from the one or more other apparatus to the discovery message.

This may provide multiple technical benefits by allowing the communication of the usage of data transmission resources to facilitate allocating those data transmission resources to an apparatus.

Embodiments further include maintaining an indication of usage of data transmission wireless resource units by other apparatus in each of a plurality of the geographic zones and maintaining details of said usage. Wherein said indication of the set of data transmission wireless resource units currently prioritized to other apparatus in the first geographic zone is based at least in part on said indication of usage of data transmission wireless resource units and the details of said usage.

This may provide the technical benefit of enabling an apparatus to track data transmission resources usage within a zone, enabling the more efficient allocation of data transmission resources.

In further embodiments, obtaining the indication of the set of data transmission wireless resource units currently prioritized to other apparatus in the first geographic zone includes; obtaining an indication of a set of data transmission wireless resource units currently in use by other apparatus in the first geographic zone, and obtaining an indication of whether each of said other apparatus has higher priority or lower priority than the apparatus.

This may provide the technical benefit of enabling an apparatus to allocate data transmission resources based on priority of apparatus.

In further embodiments, the other apparatus have higher priority include one or more of; other apparatus with a designated priority level higher than a designated priority level of the apparatus, other apparatus belonging to a team which is larger than a team to which the apparatus belongs, and other apparatus which require use of data transmission wireless resource units for a longer amount of time than the apparatus.

This may provide the technical benefit of determining priority based on level, membership of a team, and the amount of time a data transmission resource is required.

In further embodiments, the apparatus belongs to a plurality of co-travelling apparatus, and determining that reservation of the first data transmission wireless resource unit in the defined geographic zone is successful includes determining that all of the plurality of co-travelling apparatus accept usage of the first data transmission wireless resource unit in the defined geographic zone for use in data transmissions for coordination of the plurality of co-travelling apparatus.

This may provide the technical benefit of coordinating the use of data transmission resources within co-travelling apparatus.

Embodiments further include determining that reservation of the first data transmission wireless resource unit in the defined geographic zone is unsuccessful, and following said determining that reservation of the first data transmission wireless resource unit in the defined geographic zone is unsuccessful, transmitting a second control transmission reserving a second data transmission wireless resource unit for use by the apparatus for sidelink (SL) data communication while in the first zone.

This may provide the technical benefit of being able to obtain data transmission resources when a first request is unsuccessful.

In further embodiment, determining that reservation of the first data transmission wireless resource unit in the defined geographic zone is successful comprises determining that the apparatus, out of a plurality of other apparatus contending for the first data transmission wireless resource unit, is prioritized to use the first data transmission wireless resource unit in the defined geographic zone under predetermined prioritization rules.

This may provide the technical benefit of using a rule based approach to the allocation of data transmission resources.

In further embodiments, said transmitting the control transmission reserving the first data transmission wireless resource unit is performed immediately following said determining that reservation of the first data transmission wireless resource unit in the defined geographic zone is successful.

This may provide the technical benefit of speeding up and improving the efficiency of data transmission resource allocation.

Embodiments have been described above in conjunctions with aspects of the present invention upon which they can be implemented. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments may be implemented in conjunction with the aspect with which they are described but may also be implemented with other embodiments of that aspect. When embodiments are mutually exclusive, or are otherwise incompatible with each other, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Some embodiments may be described in relation to one aspect, but may also be applicable to other aspects, as will be apparent to those of skill in the art.

