EV2X mode 3 operation based on eNB tunneling

A user equipment (UE), comprising:

• a memory;
• a transceiver;
• and
• one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory and the transceiver, the one or more processors being configured to:
• establish a network connection with a first base station (BS) of a first communication network using LTE for vehicle to everything (V2X) communications;
• receive an indication from the first BS that the first BS supports communications with a second communication network that uses NR for V2X communications;
• transmit, to the first BS via the transceiver, a NR Sidelink User Equipment Information (NR-SLUEInfo) request for communication resources in the second communication network by embedding the NR-SLUEInfo request in an LTE RRC message;
• receive, via the transceiver, from the first BS of the first communication network, in response to the request, information for configuring the UE for communicating with a second UE;
• and
• transmit, directly via the transceiver, a message to the second UE using the communication resources in the second communication network in accordance with the information for configuring the first UE.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored therein that, when executed by one or more processors of a user equipment (UE), cause the one or more processors to:

• establish a network connection with a first base station (BS) of a first communication network using Long Term Evolution (LTE) for vehicle to everything (V2X) communications;
• receive an indication from the first BS that the first BS supports communications with a second communication network that uses New Radio (NR) for V2X communications;
• transmit, to the first BS, a NR Sidelink User Equipment Information (NR-SLUEInfo) request for communication resources in the second communication network by embedding the NR-SLUEinfo request in an LTE RRC message;
• receive from the first BS of the first communication network, in response to the request, information for configuring the UE for communicating with a second UE;
• and
• transmit, directly, a message to the second UE using the communication resources in the second communication network in accordance with the information for configuring the first UE.

A method of wireless tunnel communication, comprising:

• establishing, at a first base station (BS) of a first communication network that uses
• Long Term Evolution (LTE) for vehicle to everything (V2X) communications, a network connection with a user equipment (UE);
• transmitting an indication from the first BS to the UE that the first BS supports communications with a second communication network that uses New Radio (NR) for V2X communications;
• receiving from the UE an LTE RRC message, wherein a New Radio Sidelink User Equipment Information (NR-SLUEInfo) request for communication resources in the second communication network is embedded in the LTE RRC message;
• forwarding the NR-SLUEInfo request to a second BS of the second communication network;
• receiving, from the second BS, information for the UE to communicate with a second UE via the second communication network;
• and
• forwarding the information to the UE.

A base station (BS), comprising:

• a memory;
• a transceiver;
• and
• one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory and the transceiver, the one or more processors being configured to:
• establish, at the BS of a first communication network using Long Term Evolution (LTE) for vehicle to everything (V2X) communications, a network connection with a user equipment (UE);
• transmit an indication from the BS to the UE that the BS supports communications with a second communication network that uses New Radio (NR) for V2X communications;
• receive, via the transceiver, from the UE an LTE RRC message, wherein a New Radio Sidelink User Equipment Information (NR-SLUEInfo) request for communication resources in the second communication network is embedded in the LTE RRC message;
• forward the NR-SLUEInfo request to a second BS of the second communication network;
• receive from the second BS, via the transceiver, information for the UE to communicate with a second UE via the second communication network;
• and
• forward the information to the UE.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored therein that, when executed by one or more processors of a base station (BS), cause the one or more processors to:

• establish, at the BS of a first communication network using Long Term Evolution (LTE) for vehicle to everything (V2X) communications, a network connection with a user equipment (UE);
• transmit an indication from the BS to the UE that the BS supports communications with a second communication network that uses New Radio (NR) for V2X communications;
• receive from the UE an LTE RRC message, wherein a New Radio Sidelink User Equipment Information (NR-SLUEInfo) request for communication resources in the second communication network is embedded in the LTE RRC message;
• forward the NR-SLUEInfo request to a second BS of the second communication network;
• receive, from the second BS, information for the UE to communicate with a second UE via the second communication network;
• and
• forward the information to the UE.