US 12,471,163 B2
Sidelink communications in cellular communication networks
Jan Torst Hviid, Klarup (DK); Benny Vejlgaard, Gistrup (DK); Oana-Elena Barbu, Aalborg (DK); Renato Barbosa Abreu, Aalborg (DK); Thomas Haaning Jacobsen, Nørresundby (DK); and Johannes Harrebek, Aalborg (DK)
Assigned to NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY, Espoo (FI)
Filed by NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY, Espoo (FI)
Filed on Sep. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/941,422.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/246,401, filed on Sep. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0115908 A1, Apr. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. H04W 76/15 (2018.01); H04W 56/00 (2009.01); H04W 76/14 (2018.01)
CPC H04W 76/15 (2018.02) [H04W 56/0045 (2013.01); H04W 76/14 (2018.02)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
determining, by a network node, a timing offset (TOA) of a first wireless link, wherein the first wireless link comprises a link between a wireless network node and a first sidelink device, and the timing offset (TOA) of the first wireless link is based on a calculated two-way delay of the first wireless link and a measured two-way delay of the first wireless link;
determining, by the network node, a timing offset (TOB) of a second wireless link, wherein the second wireless link comprises a link between the wireless network node and a second sidelink device, and the timing offset (TOB) of the second wireless link is based on a calculated two-way delay of the second wireless link and a measured two-way delay of the second wireless link;
determining, by the network node, a timing offset (TOC) of a third wireless link, wherein the third wireless link comprises a link between the first sidelink device and the second sidelink device and the timing offset (TOC) of the third wireless link is based on a calculated two-way delay of the third wireless link and a measured two-way delay of the third wireless link;
calculating, by the network node, a timing calibration value of the first sidelink device using the timing offset (TOA) of the first wireless link, the timing offset (TOB) of the second wireless link and the timing offset (TOC) of the third wireless link; and
transmitting, by the network node, at least the timing calibration value of the first sidelink device, wherein the network node comprises a network node in a core network, and wherein the method further comprises:
prioritizing base stations based on timing calibration values of said base stations and transmitting to sidelink devices an ordered list of said base stations for initiating a timing calibration procedure; and/or
selecting a group of base stations based on timing calibration values of said group of base stations and transmitting information about the group to sidelink devices for clock alignment.