Resource allocation methods and nodes with self-adapting to different synchronizations

A network node comprising:

• a transceiver;
• at least one processor coupled to the transceiver;
• and
• at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing program code that when executed by the at least one processor causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
• granting a first resource for use by a user equipment, UE, for transmissions, the first resource being identified by a time identifier mapped to a first synchronization reference and by a frequency identifier, the time identifier and the frequency identifier being identified by a relative resource identifier;
• reserving a second resource for use by the UE for transmissions, the second resource being identified by the time identifier mapped to a second synchronization reference and by the frequency identifier, wherein the first and second synchronization references can be used by a UE for synchronization of the transmissions;
• and
• sending the relative resource identifier to the UE via the transceiver for use in controlling the UE's transmissions;
• and
• responsive to information reported by the UE indicating that the UE is using the second synchronization reference for synchronization of the transmissions, sending to the UE via the transceiver a new relative resource identifier that identifies a time identifier mapped to the second synchronization reference that corresponds to a location of the second resource and identifies the frequency.

A network node comprising:

• a transceiver;
• at least one processor coupled to the transceiver;
• and
• at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing program code that when executed by the at least one processor causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
• identifying an adapting area where user equipments, UEs, are likely to switch from using a first synchronization reference for synchronization of transmissions to using a second synchronization reference for synchronization of transmissions;
• for a transmission resource pool that will be used by a UE that is located in a zone that at least partially overlaps the adapting area, configuring resources for the transmission resource pool that are defined to correspond to both of the first synchronization reference and the second synchronization reference;
• and
• communicating the transmission resource pool to the UE.

A method of operating a user equipment, UE, communicating with a radio access network, RAN, the method comprising:

• responsive to the UE changing from using a first synchronization reference for synchronization of transmissions to using a second synchronization reference for synchronization of transmissions, determining whether the UE has an ongoing transmission and has a network node granted the UE a resource that the UE has not yet used;
• responsive to the determination being that the UE has the ongoing transmission and the network node has granted the UE the resource that the UE has not yet used, calculating a relative resource identifier of the resource using the second synchronization reference, wherein the relative resource identifier identifies a time identifier and a frequency identifier of the resource;
• and
• transmitting using the resource.

A user equipment, UE, comprising:

• a transceiver;
• at least one processor coupled to the transceiver;
• and
• at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing program code that when executed by the at least one processor causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
• responsive to the UE changing from using a first synchronization reference for synchronization of transmissions to using a second synchronization reference for synchronization of transmissions, determining whether the UE has an ongoing transmission and has a network node granted the UE a resource that the UE has not yet used;
• responsive to the determination being that the UE has the ongoing transmission and the network node has granted the UE the resource that the UE has not yet used, calculating a relative resource identifier of the resource using the second synchronization reference, wherein the relative resource identifier identifies a time identifier and a frequency identifier of the resource;
• and
• transmitting using the resource.