Rate matching for unlicensed sidelink channel access

An apparatus for wireless communication at a transmitting user equipment (UE), comprising:

• a processor;
• memory coupled with the processor;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:
• receive control information indicative of a plurality of starting symbols in a first slot, the plurality of starting symbols being within a resource pool for unlicensed sidelink communication, the plurality of starting symbols comprising at least one default starting symbol and one or more subsequent starting symbols, each of the plurality of starting symbols representing a potential starting symbol for transmission, by the transmitting UE, of a sidelink communication after the transmitting UE participates in a listen-before-talk procedure;
• perform the listen-before-talk procedure during at least the first slot;
• and
• transmit, to a receiving UE and based on performance of the listen-before-talk procedure during at least the first slot, at least an initial portion of the sidelink communication during a selected starting symbol of the plurality of starting symbols, the selected starting symbol being one of the one or more subsequent starting symbols and representing a beginning of a channel occupancy duration of the transmitting UE.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a receiving user equipment (UE), comprising:

• a processor;
• memory coupled with the processor;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:
• receive control information indicative of a plurality of starting symbols in a first slot, the plurality of starting symbols being within a resource pool for unlicensed sidelink communication, the plurality of starting symbols comprising at least one default starting symbol and one or more subsequent starting symbols, each of the plurality of starting symbols representing a potential starting symbol for monitoring, by the receiving UE, of a sidelink communication;
• and
• receive, from a transmitting UE, at least a portion of the sidelink communication during one of the one or more subsequent starting symbols, the one of the one or more subsequent starting symbols representing a beginning of a channel occupancy duration of the transmitting UE.