IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,335,881
Granted Patent B2
US 12,335,881 · App. 17/248,335 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Power-efficient sidelink synchronization signal transmission

Inventors: Gokul Sridharan (Sunnyvale, CA); Huilin Xu (San Diego, CA); Seyedkianoush Hosseini (San Diego, CA); Karthika Paladugu (San Diego, CA); Wei Yang (San Diego, CA); Peter Pui Lok Ang (San Diego, CA); Sudhir Kumar Baghel (Hillsborough, NJ); Krishna Kiran Mukkavilli (San Diego, CA); Tingfang Ji (San Diego, CA)
H04W56/001
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,335,881
App. No.
17/248,335
Granted
Jun 17, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may detect an out-of-coverage scenario based at least in part on determining that a synchronization source associated with a wireless network is unavailable or has a signal strength that fails to satisfy a threshold. The UE may transmit, on a sidelink channel, a sidelink synchronization signal in a transmission period that includes a plurality of synchronization signal occasions based at least in part on the out-of-coverage scenario. In some aspects, the UE may transmit the sidelink synchronization signal according to a reduced duty cycle that causes the sidelink synchronization signal to be transmitted during fewer than all of the plurality of synchronization signal occasions. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Claims (74)

1. A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising:

detecting an out-of-coverage scenario based at least in part on determining that a synchronization source associated with a wireless network is unavailable or has a signal strength that fails to satisfy a threshold; and

transmitting, on a sidelink channel, a sidelink synchronization signal in a transmission period that includes a plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions based at least in part on the out-of-coverage scenario, wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted according to a reduced duty cycle that causes the sidelink synchronization signal to be transmitted only during an on duration of the transmission period, wherein the on duration comprises of the plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions, wherein the subset comprises two or more periodic synchronization signal occasions and the subset of the plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions are periodic within the on duration.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sidelink synchronization signal includes one or more of a primary sidelink synchronization signal, a secondary sidelink synchronization signal, or a physical sidelink broadcast channel.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

refraining from transmitting the sidelink synchronization signal during one or more of the plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions based at least in part on the reduced duty cycle.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, from a roaming UE, signaling to indicate that the roaming UE is relying on the sidelink synchronization signal as a synchronization source; and

suspending the reduced duty cycle based at least in part on the signaling, wherein suspending the reduced duty cycle causes the sidelink synchronization signal to be transmitted in all of the plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

starting a timer based at least in part on suspending the reduced duty cycle, wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted in all of the plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions while the timer has not expired.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

resetting the timer based at least in part on an event occurring prior to expiration of the timer, wherein the event includes one or more of:

a transmission to the roaming UE relying on the sidelink synchronization signal as asynchronization source,

reception of a signal from the roaming UE relying on the sidelink synchronization signal as a synchronization source, or

reception of signaling to indicate that one or more roaming UEs are relying on the sidelink synchronization signal as a synchronization source.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

reactivating the reduced duty cycle based at least in part on the timer expiring.

8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

identifying a set of roaming UEs that are relying on the sidelink synchronization signal as asynchronization source; and

reactivating the reduced duty cycle based at least in part on determining that the set is empty such that there are no roaming UEs relying on the sidelink synchronization signal as a synchronization source.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

removing a particular roaming UE from the set of roaming UEs that are relying on the sidelink synchronization signal as a synchronization source based at least in part on the particular roaming UE failing to signal reliance on the sidelink synchronization signal within a configured time period or the particular roaming UE signaling non-reliance on the sidelink synchronization signal.

10. A user equipment (UE) for wireless communication, comprising:

one or more memories; and

one or more processors operatively coupled to the one or more memories, the one or more memories and the one or more processors configured to:

detect an out-of-coverage scenario based at least in part on determining that a synchronization source associated with a wireless network is unavailable or has a signal strength that fails to satisfy a threshold; and

transmit, on a sidelink channel, a sidelink synchronization signal in a transmission period that includes a plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions based at least in part on the out-of-coverage scenario, wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted according to a reduced duty cycle that causes the sidelink synchronization signal to be transmitted only during an on duration of the transmission period, wherein the on duration comprises a subset of the plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions, wherein the subset comprises two or more periodic synchronization signal occasions and the subset of the plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions are periodic within the on duration.

11. The UE of claim 10 , wherein the sidelink synchronization signal includes one or more of a primary sidelink synchronization signal, a secondary sidelink synchronization signal, or a physical sidelink broadcast channel.

12. The UE of claim 10 , wherein the one or more memories and the one or more processors are further configured to:

refrain from transmitting the sidelink synchronization signal during one or more of the plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions based at least in part on the reduced duty cycle.

13. The UE of claim 10 , wherein the one or more memories and the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive, from a roaming UE, signaling to indicate that the roaming UE is relying on the sidelink synchronization signal as a synchronization source; and

suspend the reduced duty cycle based at least in part on the signaling, wherein suspending the reduced duty cycle causes the sidelink synchronization signal to be transmitted in all of the plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions.

14. The UE of claim 13 , wherein the one or more memories and the one or more processors are further configured to:

start a timer based at least in part on suspending the reduced duty cycle, wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted in all of the plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions while the timer has not expired.

15. The UE of claim 14 , wherein the one or more memories and the one or more processors are further configured to:

reset the timer based at least in part on an event occurring prior to expiration of the timer, wherein the event includes one or more of:

a transmission to the roaming UE relying on the sidelink synchronization signal as asynchronization source,

reception of a signal from the roaming UE relying on the sidelink synchronization signal as a synchronization source, or

reception of signaling to indicate that one or more roaming UEs are relying on the sidelink synchronization signal as a synchronization source.

16. The UE of claim 14 , wherein the one or more memories and the one or more processors are further configured to:

reactivate the reduced duty cycle based at least in part on the timer expiring.

17. The UE of claim 13 , wherein the one or more memories and the one or more processors are further configured to:

identify a set of roaming UEs that are relying on the sidelink synchronization signal as a synchronization source; and

reactivate the reduced duty cycle based at least in part on determining that the set is empty such that there are no roaming UEs relying on the sidelink synchronization signal as a synchronization source.

18. The UE of claim 17 , wherein the one or more memories and the one or more processors are further configured to:

remove a particular roaming UE from the set of roaming UEs that are relying on the sidelink synchronization signal as a synchronization source based at least in part on the particular roaming UE failing to signal reliance on the sidelink synchronization signal within a configured time period or the particular roaming UE signaling non-reliance on the sidelink synchronization signal.

19. A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising:

searching for a synchronization signal based at least in part on determining that a synchronization source associated with a wireless network is unavailable or has a signal strength that fails to satisfy a threshold;

detecting, on a sidelink channel, a sidelink synchronization signal transmitted by a source UE in a transmission period that includes a plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions, wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted by the source UE according to a reduced duty cycle that causes the sidelink synchronization signal to be detected only in an on duration of the transmission period, wherein the on duration comprises a subset of the plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions, wherein the subset comprises two or more periodic synchronization signal occasions and the subset of the plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions are periodic within the on duration; and

transmitting, to the source UE, signaling to indicate reliance on the sidelink synchronization signal as a synchronization source, wherein the signaling causes the source UE to suspend the reduced duty cycle such that the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted in all of the plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the sidelink synchronization signal includes one or more of a primary sidelink synchronization signal, a secondary sidelink synchronization signal, or a physical sidelink broadcast channel.

21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

transmitting, to the source UE, signaling to indicate non-reliance on the sidelink synchronization signal based at least in part on detecting a synchronization signal from a synchronization source having a higher priority than the source UE.

22. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

refraining from transmitting, to the source UE, signaling to indicate reliance on the sidelink synchronization signal based at least in part on detecting a synchronization signal from a synchronization source having a higher priority than the source UE.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the signaling to indicate reliance on the sidelink synchronization signal is periodically transmitted within a configured time period.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising

receiving, from the source UE, information indicating the configured time period.

25. A user equipment (UE) for wireless communication, comprising:

one or more memories; and

one or more processors operatively coupled to the one or more memories, the one or more memories and the one or more processors configured to:

search for a synchronization signal based at least in part on determining that a synchronization source associated with a wireless network is unavailable or has a signal strength that fails to satisfy a threshold;

detect, on a sidelink channel, a sidelink synchronization signal transmitted by a source UE in a transmission period that includes a plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions, wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted by the source UE according to a reduced duty cycle that causes the sidelink synchronization signal to be detected only in an on duration of the transmission period, wherein the on duration comprises a subset of the plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions, wherein the subset comprises two or more periodic synchronization signal occasions and the subset of the plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions are periodic within the on duration; and

transmit, to the source UE, signaling to indicate reliance on the sidelink synchronization signal as a synchronization source, wherein the signaling causes the source UE to suspend the reduced duty cycle such that the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted in all of the plurality of periodic synchronization signal occasions.

26. The UE of claim 25 , wherein the sidelink synchronization signal includes one or more of a primary sidelink synchronization signal, a secondary sidelink synchronization signal, or a physical sidelink broadcast channel.

27. The UE of claim 25 , wherein the one or more memories and the one or more processors are further configured to:

transmit, to the source UE, signaling to indicate non-reliance on the sidelink synchronization signal based at least in part on detecting a synchronization signal from a synchronization source having a higher priority than the source UE.

28. The UE of claim 25 , wherein the one or more memories and the one or more processors are further configured to:

refrain from transmitting, to the source UE, signaling to indicate reliance on the sidelink synchronization signal based at least in part on detecting a synchronization signal from a synchronization source having a higher priority than the source UE.

29. The UE of claim 25 , wherein the signaling to indicate reliance on the sidelink synchronization signal is periodically transmitted within a configured time period.

30. The UE of claim 29 , wherein the one or more memories and the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive, from the source UE, information indicating the configured time period.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2021
From: SRIDHARAN, GOKUL; XU, HUILIN; HOSSEINI, SEYEDKIANOUSH; PALADUGU, KARTHIKA; YANG, WEI; ANG, PETER PUI LOK; BAGHEL, SUDHIR KUMAR; MUKKAVILLI, KRISHNA KIRAN; JI, TINGFANG
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 056009/0797 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62963957 · Jan 21, 2020
Related Publication 20210227480A1 · Jul 22, 2021
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