# US 12,004,205 B2 · Sidelink communication method, network device, and terminal device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,205 B2 - Document ID: US12004205B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/360,228 - Filed: 2021-06-28 - Published: 2021-10-21 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-29 - Assignees: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Lili Zhang; Junwei Wang; Chao Li - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004205B2 ## CPC - H04W 72/53: based on regulatory allocation policies - H04W 76/14: Direct-mode setup - H04W 72/0446: Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames - H04W 72/0466: {the resource being a scrambling code} - H04W 72/23: in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal - H04W 76/11: Allocation or use of connection identifiers - H04L 1/0025: {Transmission of mode-switching indication} - H04L 5/0053: {Allocation of signalling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals} - H04L 5/0091: {Signalling for the administration of the divided path, e.g. signalling of configuration information} - H04W 92/18: between terminal devices - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract This application provides a sidelink communication method, a terminal device, and a network device. In the sidelink communication method, a network device determines downlink control information. The downlink control information carries first indication information. The first indication information is used to indicate slot formats respectively corresponding to the terminal devices in K terminal device pairs. A terminal device pair is two terminal devices performing sidelink communication between themselves. K is a positive integer. The network device sends the downlink control information. In the technical solutions provided in this application, the network device may configure a slot format for the terminal devices in the terminal device pairs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: receiving, by a terminal device, downlink control information from a network device, wherein the downlink control information carries first indication information, the terminal device is one terminal device in K terminal device pairs, the first indication information indicates slot formats respectively corresponding to terminal devices in the K terminal device pairs, each terminal device pair comprises two terminal devices performing sidelink communication, and K is a positive integer, wherein a one-to-one correspondence between K information segments and the K terminal device pairs is either preconfigured or comprised in a second message received by the terminal device; and parsing, by the terminal device, the downlink control information. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first indication information comprises N information segments, each information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to at least one terminal device in one of the K terminal device pairs, the N information segments are in a one-to-one correspondence with N terminal devices, and N is a positive integer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein that each information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to at least one terminal device in one terminal device pair comprises: each information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to an initiating terminal device in a terminal device pair; an information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to a receiving terminal device in a terminal device pair; or an information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to an initiating terminal device and a slot format corresponding to a receiving terminal device in a terminal device pair. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein that an information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to an initiating terminal device and a slot format corresponding to a receiving terminal device in a terminal device pair comprises that the information segment comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first part indicates the slot format corresponding to the initiating terminal device, and the second part indicates the slot format corresponding to the receiving terminal device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein before the receiving, by a terminal device, downlink control information from a network device, the method further comprises: obtaining, by the terminal device, a first identifier, wherein the first identifier scrambles the downlink control information, and the first identifier is preconfigured, or the terminal device receives semi-static signaling from the network device, wherein the semi-static signaling carries the first identifier. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the downlink control information further comprises second indication information, and the second indication information identifies the K terminal device pairs. ### Claim 7 An apparatus, comprising: a memory storage comprising instructions; and one or more processors in communication with the memory storage, wherein execution of the instructions by the one or more processors causes the apparatus to: determine downlink control information, wherein the downlink control information carries first indication information, the first indication information indicates slot formats respectively corresponding to terminal devices in K terminal device pairs, a terminal device pair is two terminal devices performing sidelink communication, and K is a positive integer, wherein a one-to-one correspondence between K information segments and the K terminal device pairs is either preconfigured or comprised in a second message sent by the apparatus; and send the downlink control information. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first indication information comprises N information segments, each information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to at least one terminal device in one of the K terminal device pairs, the N information segments are in a one-to-one correspondence with N terminal devices, and N is a positive integer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein that each information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to at least one terminal device in one terminal device pair comprises: each information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to an initiating terminal device in a terminal device pair; each information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to a receiving terminal device in a terminal device pair; or each information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to an initiating terminal device and a slot format corresponding to a receiving terminal device in a terminal device pair. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein that an information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to an initiating terminal device and a slot format corresponding to a receiving terminal device in a terminal device pair comprises that the information segment comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first part indicates the slot format corresponding to the initiating terminal device, and the second part indicates the slot format corresponding to the receiving terminal device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the downlink control information further comprises second indication information, and the second indication information identifies the K terminal device pairs. ### Claim 12 An apparatus, comprising: a memory storage comprising instructions; and one or more processors in communication with the memory storage, wherein execution of the instructions by the one or more processors causes the apparatus to: receive downlink control information from a network device, wherein the downlink control information carries first indication information, the terminal device is any terminal device in K terminal device pairs, the first indication information indicates slot formats respectively corresponding to terminal devices in the K terminal device pairs, a terminal device pair is two terminal devices performing sidelink communication, and K is a positive integer, wherein a one-to-one correspondence between the K information segments and the K terminal device pairs is either preconfigured or comprised in a second message received by the apparatus; and parse the downlink control information. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first indication information comprises N information segments, an information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to at least one terminal device in one terminal device pair, the N information segments are in a one-to-one correspondence with N terminal devices, and N is a positive integer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein that each information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to at least one terminal device in one terminal device pair comprises: each information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to an initiating terminal device in a terminal device pair; each information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to a receiving terminal device in a terminal device pair; or each information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to an initiating terminal device and a slot format corresponding to a receiving terminal device in a terminal device pair. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein that an information segment indicates a slot format corresponding to an initiating terminal device and a slot format corresponding to a receiving terminal device in a terminal device pair comprises that the information segment comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first part indicates the slot format corresponding to the initiating terminal device, and the second part indicates the slot format corresponding to the receiving terminal device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein before the apparatus receives the downlink control information from the network device, the apparatus is further configured to obtain a first identifier, wherein the first identifier scrambles the downlink control information; and the first identifier is preconfigured, or the apparatus receives semi-static signaling from the network device, wherein the semi-static signaling carries the first identifier. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the downlink control information further comprises second indication information, and the second indication information identifies the K terminal device pairs.