Apple patents radio timing tweaks for direct device-to-device links
Apple describes a method for devices to communicate directly with each other without going through a cell tower. The system adjusts the length of a small pause, or gap, and a signal extension based on the specific frequency settings used to ensure the connection stays stable.
In the filing’s own words
A user equipment (UE), a base station, a baseband processor or other network device can operate to generate a sidelink (SL) communication by sensing an SL channel with a clear channel assessment (CCA) and configuring a gap length based on a subcarrier spacing (SCS) and a cyclic prefix extension (CPE) with a CPE length. The CPE length and the gap length can be based on one or more conditions. The SL communication can then be transmitted in response to acquiring the SL channel.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A User Equipment (UE) comprising: radio frequency (RF) circuitry; and processing circuitry, comprising a memory, the processing circuitry configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to cause the UE to: configure, for a sidelink (SL) communication within a shared channel occupancy time (COT), a cyclic prefix extension (CPE) length and a gap length based on a subcarrier spacing (SCS) for the SL communication, wherein the CPE length is dependent on the gap length, and wherein the gap length comprises one or two contiguous gap symbols; and transmit, via the RF circuitry, the SL communication based on the CPE length and the gap length.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Sidelink unlicensed (SL-U) gap symbol and cyclic prefix extension (CPE) configuration
- Patent number
- US12757248B2
- Application number
- 18597322
- Filed
- Mar 6, 2024
- Granted
- Oct 6, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04W 74/0808 Electricity & electronicsH04L 27/2607 Electricity & electronicsH04W 72/40 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Networks & wireless
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.