Method and apparatus for handling multiple sidelink communication in a wireless communication system

#This disclosure generally relates to wireless communication networks, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for handling multiple sidelink communication in a wireless communication system.

#With the rapid rise in demand for communication of large amounts of data to and from mobile communication devices, traditional mobile voice communication networks are evolving into networks that communicate with Internet Protocol (IP) data packets. Such IP data packet communication can provide users of mobile communication devices with voice over IP, multimedia, multicast and on-demand communication services.

#An exemplary network structure is an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN). The E-UTRAN system can provide high data throughput in order to realize the above-noted voice over IP and multimedia services. A new radio technology for the next generation (e.g., 5G) is currently being discussed by the 3GPP standards organization. Accordingly, changes to the current body of 3GPP standard are currently being submitted and considered to evolve and finalize the 3GPP standard.

#FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a wireless communication system according to one exemplary embodiment.

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a transmitter system (also known as access network) and a receiver system (also known as user equipment or UE) according to one exemplary embodiment.

#FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a communication system according to one exemplary embodiment.

#The exemplary wireless communication systems and devices described below employ a wireless communication system, supporting a broadcast service. Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication such as voice, data, and so on. These systems may be based on code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), 3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution) wireless access, 3GPP LTE-A or LTE-Advanced (Long Term Evolution Advanced), 3GPP2 UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), WiMax, 3GPP NR (New Radio), or some other modulation techniques.

#In particular, the exemplary wireless communication systems devices described below may be designed to support one or more standards such as the standard offered by a consortium named “3rd Generation Partnership Project” referred to herein as 3GPP, including: TS 38.213 V15.5.0, “NR; Physical layer procedures for control (Release 15)”; TS 38.300 V15.5.0, “NR; NR and NG-RAN Overall Description; Stage 2 (Release 15)”; TS 38.331 V15.6.0, “NR; Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol specification (Release 15)”; TS 36.321 V15.6.0, “Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol specification (Release 15)”; 3GPP RAN1 #96bis meeting report; 3GPP RAN2 #106 meeting report; 3GPP RAN1 #94 meeting report; TS 23.287 V1.0.0, “Architecture enhancements for 5G System (5GS) to support Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) services (Release 16)”; R1-1900885, “Physical layer procedures for HARQ operation for groupcast and unicast transmissions”, Qualcomm, RAN1 #AH1901 meeting; R2-1907658, “Discussion on RAN1 Reply LS on SL RLM RLF for NR V2X”, LG, RAN2 #106 meeting; 3GPP RAN1 #AH1901 meeting report; R1-1907755, “Feature lead summary #2 for 7.2.4.1 Physical layer structure for sidelink”, Samsung, RAN1 #97 meeting; TS 38.321 V15.6.0, “NR; Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol specification (Release 15)”; TS 36.331 V15.6.0, “Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Radio Resource Control (RRC); Protocol specification (Release 15)”; and 3GPP RAN2 #103bis meeting report. The standards and documents listed above are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.

#FIG. 1 shows a multiple access wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the invention. An access network 100 (AN) includes multiple antenna groups, one including 104 and 106, another including 108 and 110, and an additional including 112 and 114. In FIG. 1, only two antennas are shown for each antenna group, however, more or fewer antennas may be utilized for each antenna group. Access terminal 116 (AT) is in communication with antennas 112 and 114, where antennas 112 and 114 transmit information to access terminal 116 over forward link 120 and receive information from access terminal 116 over reverse link 118. Access terminal (AT) 122 is in communication with antennas 106 and 108, where antennas 106 and 108 transmit information to access terminal (AT) 122 over forward link 126 and receive information from access terminal (AT) 122 over reverse link 124. In a FDD system, communication links 118, 120, 124 and 126 may use different frequency for communication. For example, forward link 120 may use a different frequency then that used by reverse link 118.