Unicast sidelink access stratum level connection maintenance

A first wireless device, comprising:

• a radio;
• a processor operably coupled to the radio, wherein the first wireless device is configured to:
• establish a unicast sidelink wireless connection with a second wireless device;
• and
• perform access stratum measurements for the unicast sidelink wireless connection, wherein to perform the access stratum measurements for the unicast sidelink wireless connection, the first wireless device is further configured to:
• measure a plurality of characteristics of the unicast sidelink wireless connection, wherein the plurality of characteristics of the unicast sidelink wireless connection include at least a sidelink reference signal received power (SL RSRP);
• and
• provide a measurement report to the second wireless device based at least in part on measuring the plurality of characteristics of the unicast sidelink wireless connection;
• receive, by an access stratum layer of the first wireless device, an indication from an upper layer of the first wireless device that the unicast sidelink wireless connection with the second wireless device has been released at the upper layer of the first wireless device;
• and
• release a radio resource control connection of the unicast sidelink wireless connection with the second wireless device based at least in part on the indication from the upper layer of the first wireless device.

A method for operating a first wireless device, the method comprising:

• establishing a unicast sidelink wireless connection with a second wireless device;
• and
• performing access stratum measurements for the unicast sidelink wireless connection, wherein performing the access stratum measurements for the unicast sidelink wireless connection comprises:
• measuring a plurality of characteristics of the unicast sidelink wireless connection, wherein the plurality of characteristics of the unicast sidelink wireless connection include at least a sidelink reference signal received power (SL RSRP);
• and
• providing a measurement report to the second wireless device based at least in part on measuring the plurality of characteristics of the unicast sidelink wireless connection;
• receiving an indication from an upper layer of the first wireless device that the unicast sidelink wireless connection with the second wireless device has been released at the upper layer of the first wireless device;
• and
• releasing a radio resource control connection of the unicast sidelink wireless connection with the second wireless device based at least in part on the indication from the upper layer of the first wireless device.