Uplink (UL) to downlink (DL) channel occupation time (COT) sharing with scheduled UL in New Radio Unlicensed (NR-U)

Abstract

A wireless communication system and method are provided for sharing a channel occupancy time (COT) associated with a scheduled UL transmission in a spectrum shared by multiple network operation entities. A first wireless communication device communicates a first uplink (UL) scheduling grant with a second wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device communicates a first UL communication signal with the second wireless communication device based on the first UL scheduling grant during a first COT, the first COT being based on an extended clear channel assessment (eCCA) associated with the first UL communication signal. The first wireless communication device communicates a downlink (DL) communication signal with the second wireless communication device based on COT sharing information associated with the first COT during the first COT.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 16 / 804,581, filed on February 28, 2020, and Indian Provisional Patent Application No. 201941012460, filed on March 29, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth below and for all applicable purposes. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to wireless communication systems, and more particularly to sharing channel occupancy time (COT) associated with scheduled UL transmissions in a spectrum shared by multiple network operating entities.

[0004] introduction

[0005] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content, such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, etc. These systems may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). A wireless multiple-access communication system may include several base stations (BSs), each of which simultaneously supports communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise referred to as user equipment (UE).

[0006] In order to meet the growing demand for extended mobile broadband connectivity, wireless communication technology is developing from long-term evolution (LTE) technology to next-generation new radio (NR) technology. For example, NR is designed to provide lower latency, higher bandwidth or higher throughput, and higher reliability compared to LTE. NR is designed to operate over a wide range of frequency bands, such as low-frequency bands below about 1 gigahertz (GHz) and medium-frequency bands from about 1 GHz to about 6 GHz, to high-frequency bands, such as millimeter wave (mmWave) bands. NR is also designed to operate across different spectrum types from licensed spectrum to unlicensed and shared spectrum. Spectrum sharing enables operators to opportunistically aggregate spectrum to dynamically support high-bandwidth services. Spectrum sharing can extend the benefits of NR technology to operating entities that may not have access to licensed spectrum.

[0007] One way to avoid conflicts when communicating in a shared spectrum or an unlicensed spectrum is to use a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure to ensure that the shared channel is clear before transmitting signals in the shared channel. The operation or deployment of NR in an unlicensed spectrum is referred to as NR-U. In NR-U, a transmitting node (e.g., a BS or a UE) may perform Category 1 (CAT1) LBT (e.g., no LBT measurement), Category 2 (CAT2) LBT, or Category 4 (CAT4) LBT before transmitting a communication signal in an unlicensed band. For example, a BS may capture a COT in an unlicensed band by performing CAT4 LBT. A BS may schedule one or more UEs for UL and / or DL ​​communications within the COT of the BS. In addition, a BS may schedule one or more UEs for UL communications outside the COT of the BS. A UE with UL scheduling within the COT of the BS may perform CAT2 LBT before scheduled UL transmissions. A UE with UL scheduling outside the COT of the BS may perform CAT4 LBT before scheduled UL transmissions.

[0008] A brief overview of some examples

[0009] The following summarizes some aspects of the present disclosure to provide a basic understanding of the technology discussed. This summary is not an exhaustive overview of all conceived features of the present disclosure, and is neither intended to identify the key or decisive elements of all aspects of the present disclosure nor to attempt to define the scope of any or all aspects of the present disclosure. Its only purpose is to give some concepts of one or more aspects of the present disclosure in an overview form as a prelude to a more detailed description given later.

[0010] For example, in one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of wireless communication includes: communicating a first uplink (UL) scheduling grant by a first wireless communication device with a second wireless communication device; communicating a first UL communication signal by the first wireless communication device with the second wireless communication device based on the first UL scheduling grant during a first channel occupation time (COT), the first COT being based on an extended clear channel assessment (eCCA) associated with the first UL communication signal; and communicating a downlink (DL) communication signal by the first wireless communication device with the second wireless communication device during the first COT based on COT shared information associated with the first COT.

[0011] In an additional aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus includes: a device for communicating a first uplink (UL) scheduling grant with a wireless communication device; a device for communicating a first UL communication signal with the wireless communication device based on the first UL scheduling grant during a first channel occupation time (COT), the first COT being based on an extended clear channel assessment (eCCA) associated with the first UL communication signal; and a device for communicating a downlink (DL) communication signal with the wireless communication device during the first COT based on COT shared information associated with the first COT.

[0012] In an additional aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon is disclosed, the program code including: code for causing a first wireless communication device to communicate a first uplink (UL) scheduling grant with a second wireless communication device; code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate a first UL communication signal with the second wireless communication device based on the first UL scheduling grant during a first channel occupation time (COT), the first COT being based on an extended clear channel assessment (eCCA) associated with the first UL communication signal; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate a downlink (DL) communication signal with the second wireless communication device during the first COT based on COT shared information associated with the first COT.

[0013] After studying the description of the specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, other aspects, features and embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Although features of the present invention may be discussed below with respect to certain embodiments and accompanying drawings, all embodiments of the present invention may include one or more advantageous features discussed herein. In other words, although one or more embodiments may be discussed to have certain advantageous features, one or more such features may also be used according to the various embodiments of the present invention discussed herein. In a similar manner, although exemplary embodiments may be discussed below as device, system or method embodiments, it should be appreciated that such exemplary embodiments may be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 A wireless communication network is illustrated in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0016] Figure 2 is a timing diagram illustrating a communication scheme according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 3 is a block diagram of a user equipment (UE) according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary base station (BS) according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 5 is a timing diagram illustrating a scheme for sharing channel occupancy time (COT) associated with scheduled UL transmissions according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0020] Figure 6 is a timing diagram illustrating a scheme for sharing a COT associated with a scheduled UL transmission according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 7 is a timing diagram illustrating a scheme for sharing a COT associated with a scheduled UL transmission according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 8 is a timing diagram illustrating a scheme for sharing a COT associated with a scheduled UL transmission according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0023] Fig. 9 UL transmission components according to some embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated.

[0024] Fig.10 is a timing diagram illustrating a scheme for sharing a COT associated with a scheduled UL transmission according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0025] Fig.11 is a timing diagram illustrating a scheme for sharing a COT associated with a scheduled UL transmission according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0026] Fig.12 is a flow chart of a communication method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0027] Detailed Description

[0028] The detailed description set forth below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. This detailed description includes specific details in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring such concepts.

[0029] The present disclosure generally relates to wireless communication systems (also referred to as wireless communication networks). In various embodiments, various techniques and equipment may be used for wireless communication networks, such as code division multiple access (CDMA) networks, time division multiple access (TDMA) networks, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) networks, orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) networks, single carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) networks, LTE networks, global mobile communication systems (GSM) networks, fifth generation (5G) or new radio (NR) networks, and other communication networks. As described herein, the terms "network" and "system" may be used interchangeably.

[0030] OFDMA network can realize radio technology, such as Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11, IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.20, flash-OFDM, etc. UTRA, E-UTRA and GSM are part of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). Specifically, Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a UMTS version using E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, GSM, UMTS and LTE are described in documents provided by an organization named "3rd Generation Partnership Project" (3GPP), while cdma2000 is described in documents from an organization named "3rd Generation Partnership Project 2" (3GPP2). These various radio technologies and standards are known or under development. For example, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is a collaboration between various telecommunications association groups, which aims to define a globally applicable third generation (3G) mobile phone specification. 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a 3GPP project aimed at improving the UMTS mobile phone standard. 3GPP may define specifications for next generation mobile networks, mobile systems, and mobile devices. The present disclosure focuses on the evolution of wireless technologies from LTE, 4G, 5G, NR and beyond with shared access to wireless spectrum between networks using a set of new and different radio access technologies or radio air interfaces.

[0031] Specifically, 5G networks envision diverse deployments, diverse spectrum, and diverse services and devices that can be implemented using a unified OFDM-based air interface. To achieve these goals, in addition to developing new radio technologies for 5G NR networks, further enhancements to LTE and LTE-A are also considered. 5G NR will be able to scale to provide coverage for: (1) ultra-high density (e.g., about 1M nodes / km) 2), ultra-low complexity (e.g., about tens of bits / second), ultra-low energy (e.g., about 10+ years of battery life), and deep coverage capable of reaching challenging locations; (2) including mission-critical control with strong security (to protect sensitive personal, financial, or confidential information), ultra-high reliability (e.g., about 99.9999% reliability), ultra-low latency (e.g., about 1 ms), and users with a wide range of mobility or lack of mobility; and (3) with enhanced mobile broadband, including extremely high capacity (e.g., about 10 Tbps / km 2 ), extreme data rates (e.g., multi-Gbps rates, 100+Mbps user experience rates), and deep cognition with advanced discovery and optimization.

[0032] 5G NR can be implemented to: use an optimized OFDM-based waveform with scalable parameter sets and transmission time intervals (TTIs); have a common, flexible framework to efficiently multiplex services and features using dynamic, low-latency time time division duplex (TDD) / frequency division duplex (FDD) designs; and have advanced wireless technologies such as massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), robust millimeter wave (mmWave) transmission, advanced channel coding, and device-centric mobility. The scalability of the parameter set in 5G NR (and the scaling of the subcarrier spacing) can efficiently address the operation of diverse services across diverse spectrums and diverse deployments. For example, in various outdoor and macro coverage deployments less than 3GHz FDD / TDD implementations, the subcarrier spacing can occur at 15kHz, such as on bandwidths (BW) such as 5, 10, 20MHz. For other various outdoor and small cell coverage deployments of TDD greater than 3GHz, the subcarrier spacing can occur at 30kHz on 80 / 100MHz BW. For various other indoor broadband implementations, subcarrier spacing may occur at 60kHz over 160MHz BW using TDD over the unlicensed portion of the 5GHz band. Finally, for various deployments transmitting using the mmWave component with TDD at 28GHz, subcarrier spacing may occur at 120kHz over 500MHz BW.

[0033] 5G NR's scalable parameter set facilitates scalable TTI to meet diverse latency and quality of service (QoS) requirements. For example, shorter TTIs can be used for low latency and high reliability, while longer TTIs can be used for higher spectral efficiency. Efficient multiplexing of long TTIs and short TTIs allows transmissions to start on symbol boundaries. 5G NR also contemplates a self-contained integrated subframe design with uplink / downlink scheduling information, data, and acknowledgment in the same subframe. Self-contained integrated subframes support communications in unlicensed or contention-based shared spectrum, supporting adaptive uplink / downlink that can be flexibly configured on a per-cell basis to dynamically switch between uplink and downlink to meet current traffic needs.

[0034] Various other aspects and features of the present disclosure are further described below. It should be apparent that the teachings herein can be embodied in a variety of forms, and any specific structure, function, or both disclosed herein are representative and non-restrictive. Based on the teachings herein, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the aspects disclosed herein can be implemented independently of any other aspects and two or more of these aspects can be combined in various ways. For example, any number of aspects set forth herein can be used to implement a device or practice a method. In addition, other structures, functionality, or structures and functionality that are supplementary to or different from one or more aspects set forth herein can be used to implement such a device or practice such a method. For example, the method can be implemented as a part of a system, device, device, and / or as an instruction stored on a computer-readable medium for execution on a processor or computer. Not only that, an aspect can include at least one element of a claim.

[0035] The present application describes a mechanism for sharing a COT associated with scheduled UL transmissions in a spectrum shared by multiple network operation entities. For example, a base station (BS) transmits an UL scheduling grant outside the COT of the BS to grant UL scheduling to a UE. Upon receiving the UL scheduling grant, the UE performs CAT4 LBT before UL scheduling. While passing LBT, the UE obtains the COT and transmits UL communication signals according to the schedule.

[0036] In one embodiment, the UE may include COT sharing information in the UL communication signal to enable the BS to share the UE's COT for DL ​​communication. The COT sharing information may indicate the start time and / or duration of a portion of the UE that can be shared by the BS in the COT. The BS may transmit DL communication to the UE during the shareable portion.

[0037] In one embodiment, the BS may indicate a traffic priority class for UL scheduling. The UE may select different traffic priority classes for UL scheduling, transmit data to the BS at the selected traffic priority, and indicate the communication priority for UL transmission in the UL communication signal. In one embodiment, the UE may perform multiple hypotheses associated with channel access and packet generation for UL transmission.

[0038] In an embodiment, the BS may determine the COT sharing information based on the UL scheduling grant and / or detection of a UL communication signal based on the UL scheduling grant.

[0039] Figure 1 A wireless communication network 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. The network 100 may be a 5G network. The network 100 includes several base stations (BSs) 105 (respectively labeled 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d, 105e, and 105f) and other network entities. The BS 105 may be a station that communicates with the UE 115, and may also be referred to as an evolved B node (eNB), a next generation eNB (gNB), an access point, and the like. Each BS 105 may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area. In 3GPP, the term "cell" may refer to the particular geographic coverage area of ​​the BS 105 and / or the BS subsystem that serves the coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used.

[0040] BS 105 may provide communication coverage for macro cells or small cells (such as pico cells or femto cells), and / or other types of cells. Macro cells generally cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by UEs that have service subscriptions with a network provider. Small cells (such as pico cells) generally cover a relatively small geographic area and may allow unrestricted access by UEs that have service subscriptions with a network provider. Small cells (such as femto cells) generally also cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a residence) and, in addition to unrestricted access, may provide restricted access to UEs associated with the femto cell (e.g., UEs in a closed subscriber group (CSG), UEs of users in the residence, etc.). A BS for a macro cell may be referred to as a macro BS. A BS for a small cell may be referred to as a small cell BS, a pico BS, a femto BS, or a home BS. In Figure 1In the example shown in , BS 105d and 105e may be conventional macro BSs, while BS 105a-105c may be macro BSs enabled with one of three-dimensional (3D), full-dimensional (FD), or massive MIMO. BS 105a-105c may utilize its higher dimensional MIMO capabilities to utilize 3D beamforming in both elevation and azimuth beamforming to increase coverage and capacity. BS 105f may be a small cell BS, which may be a home node or a portable access point. BS 105 may support one or more (e.g., two, three, four, etc.) cells.

[0041] The network 100 may support synchronous or asynchronous operation. For synchronous operation, each BS may have similar frame timing, and transmissions from different BSs may be approximately aligned in time. For asynchronous operation, each BS may have different frame timing, and transmissions from different BSs may not be aligned in time.

[0042] UE 115 is dispersed throughout the wireless network 100, and each UE 115 can be stationary or mobile. UE 115 can also be referred to as a terminal, a mobile station, a subscriber unit, a station, etc. UE 115 can be a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, etc. In one aspect, UE 115 can be a device including a universal integrated circuit card (UICC). On the other hand, UE can be a device that does not include UICC. In some aspects, UE 115 that does not include UICC can also be referred to as IoT device or Internet of Everything (IoE) device. UE 115a-115d is an example of a mobile smart phone type device that accesses the network 100. UE 115 can also be a machine specially configured for connected communication (including machine type communication (MTC), enhanced MTC (eMTC), narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), etc.). UE 115e-115h are examples of various machines configured for communication that access network 100. UE 115 may be able to communicate with any type of BS (whether a macro BS, a small cell, etc.). Figure 1 , a lightning beam (eg, a communication link) indicates a wireless transmission between the UE 115 and the serving BS 105 or an expected transmission between BSs and a backhaul transmission between BSs, the serving BS 105 being a BS designated to serve the UE 115 on a downlink and / or uplink.

[0043] In operation, BS 105a-105c may use 3D beamforming and coordinated spatial techniques such as coordinated multipoint (CoMP) or multi-connectivity to serve UEs 115a and 115b. Macro BS 105d may perform backhaul communications with BS 105a-105c, and small cell BS 105f. Macro BS 105d may also transmit multicast services that are subscribed to and received by UEs 115c and 115d. Such multicast services may include mobile TV or streaming video, or may include other services for providing community information such as weather emergencies or alerts, such as Amber Alerts or Gray Alerts.

[0044] The BS 105 may also communicate with a core network. The core network may provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. At least some of the BSs 105 (e.g., which may be examples of gNBs or access node controllers (ANCs)) may interface with the core network via a backhaul link (e.g., NG-C, NG-U, etc.) and may perform radio configuration and scheduling for communication with the UE 115. In various examples, the BSs 105 may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., through the core network) over a backhaul link (e.g., X1, X2, etc.), which may be a wired or wireless communication link.

[0045] The network 100 may also support mission-critical communications with ultra-reliable and redundant links for mission-critical devices, such as UE 115e, which may be a drone. The redundant communication links with UE 115e may include links from macro BSs 105d and 105e, and a link from a small cell BS 105f. Other machine-type devices, such as UE 115f (e.g., a thermometer), UE 115g (e.g., a smart meter), and UE 115h (e.g., a wearable device), may communicate directly with a BS, such as small cell BS 105f and macro BS 105e, through the network 100, or in a multi-hop configuration by communicating with another user device that relays its information to the network, such as UE 115f communicating temperature measurement information to smart meter UE 115g, which is then reported to the network through small cell BS 105f. The network 100 may also provide additional network efficiency through dynamic, low latency TDD / FDD communications, such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) communications between UE 115i, 115j or 115k and other UEs 115, and / or vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications between UE 115i, 115j or 115k and BS 105.

[0046] In some implementations, the network 100 communicates using an OFDM-based waveform. An OFDM-based system may divide the system BW into multiple (K) orthogonal subcarriers, which are also commonly referred to as subcarriers, frequency modulations, frequency slots, etc. Each subcarrier may be modulated with data. In some instances, the subcarrier spacing between adjacent subcarriers may be fixed, and the total number of subcarriers (K) may depend on the system BW. The system BW may also be divided into subbands. In other instances, the subcarrier spacing and / or the duration of the TTI may be scalable.

[0047] In one embodiment, BS 105 may assign or schedule transmission resources (e.g., in the form of time-frequency resource blocks (RBs)) for downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) transmissions in network 100. DL refers to the transmission direction from BS 105 to UE 115, and UL refers to the transmission direction from UE 115 to BS 105. The communication may take the form of a radio frame. A radio frame may be divided into a plurality of subframes or time slots, for example, about 10. Each time slot may be further divided into subslots. In FDD mode, simultaneous UL and DL transmissions may occur in different frequency bands. For example, each subframe includes a UL subframe in the UL frequency band and a DL subframe in the DL frequency band. In TDD mode, UL and DL transmissions occur in different time periods using the same frequency band. For example, a subset of subframes in a radio frame (e.g., DL subframes) may be used for DL ​​transmissions, and another subset of subframes in a radio frame (e.g., UL subframes) may be used for UL transmissions.

[0048] DL subframes and UL subframes may be further divided into several regions. For example, each DL or UL subframe may have a predefined region for the transmission of reference signals, control information, and data. A reference signal is a predetermined signal that facilitates communication between BS 105 and UE 115. For example, a reference signal may have a specific pilot pattern or structure, wherein the pilot tones may span an operating BW or frequency band, and each pilot tone is positioned at a predefined time and a predefined frequency. For example, BS 105 may transmit a reference signal (CRS) and / or a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) and / or a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) that varies from cell to cell to enable UE 115 to estimate a DL channel. Similarly, UE 115 may transmit a sounding reference signal (SRS) and / or DMRS to enable BS 105 to estimate an UL channel. Control information may include resource assignments and protocol controls. Data may include protocol data and / or operational data. In some embodiments, BS 105 and UE 115 may communicate using self-contained subframes. A self-contained subframe may include a portion for DL ​​communication and a portion for UL communication. A self-contained subframe may be DL-centric or UL-centric. A DL-centric subframe may include a duration for DL ​​communication that is longer than a duration for UL communication. A UL-centric subframe may include a duration for UL communication that is longer than a duration for UL communication.

[0049] In one embodiment, network 100 may be an NR network deployed on a licensed spectrum. BS 105 may transmit synchronization signals (e.g., including a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS)) in network 100 to facilitate synchronization. BS 105 may broadcast system information associated with network 100 (e.g., including MIB, remaining minimum system information (RMSI), and other system information (OSI)) to facilitate initial network access. In some instances, BS 105 may broadcast PSS, SSS, and / or MIB in the form of a synchronization signal block (SSB) on a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), and may broadcast RMSI and / or OSI on a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).

[0050] In one embodiment, a UE 115 attempting to access the network 100 may perform an initial cell search by detecting the PSS from the BS 105. The PSS may enable synchronization of period timing and may indicate a physical layer identity value. The UE 115 may then receive the SSS. The SSS may enable radio frame synchronization and may provide a cell identity value that may be combined with the physical layer identity value to identify the cell. The PSS and SSS may be located in the center portion of the carrier or at any suitable frequency within the carrier.

[0051] After receiving the PSS and SSS, the UE 115 may receive the MIB. The MIB may include system information for initial network access and scheduling information for RMSI and / or OSI. After decoding the MIB, the UE 115 may receive the RMSI and / or OSI. The RMSI and / or OSI may include radio resource control (RRC) information related to random access channel (RACH) procedures, paging, control resource sets (CORESET) for physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring, physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), power control, and SRS.

[0052] After obtaining the MIB, RMSI, and / or OSI, UE 115 may perform a random access procedure to establish a connection with BS 105. For the random access procedure, UE 115 may transmit a random access preamble, and BS 105 may respond with a random access response. Upon receiving the random access response, UE 115 may transmit a connection request to BS 105 and BS 105 may respond with a connection response (e.g., a contention resolution message).

[0053] After the connection is established, the UE 115 and the BS 105 may enter a normal operation phase, during which operation data may be exchanged. For example, the BS 105 may schedule the UE 115 for UL and / or DL ​​communications. The BS 105 may transmit an UL and / or DL ​​scheduling grant to the UE 115 via the PDCCH. The BS 105 may transmit a DL communication signal to the UE 115 via the PDSCH according to the DL scheduling grant. The UE 115 may transmit an UL communication signal to the BS 105 via the PUSCH and / or PUCCH according to the UL scheduling grant.

[0054] In one embodiment, the network 100 may operate on a system BW or a component carrier (CC) BW. The network 100 may divide the system BW into multiple BWPs (e.g., multiple parts). The BS 105 may dynamically assign the UE 115 to operate on a certain BWP (e.g., a certain part of the system BW). The assigned BWP may be referred to as an active BWP. The UE 115 may monitor the active BWP to find signaling information from the BS 105. The BS 105 may schedule the UE 115 to perform UL or DL ​​communication in the active BWP. In some embodiments, the BS 105 may assign a BWP pair within a CC to the UE 115 for UL and DL communication. For example, the BWP pair may include one BWP for UL communication and one BWP for DL ​​communication.

[0055] In one embodiment, the network 100 may operate on a shared channel, which may include a shared frequency band or an unlicensed frequency band. For example, the network 100 may be a NR-U network. In such embodiments, the BS 105 and the UE 115 may be operated by multiple network operation entities. In order to avoid conflicts, the BS 105 and the UE 115 may adopt a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure to monitor transmission opportunities (TXOPs) in the shared channel. For example, the BS 105 may capture or retain the TXOP or channel occupancy time (COT) in the shared channel by performing CAT4 LBT. CAT4 LBT refers to LBT with random backoff and variable contention windows. When passing through LBT, the BS 105 may schedule one or more UEs 115 to perform DL communication and / or UL communication within the captured COT, as described in more detail herein. LBT may also be referred to as clear channel assessment (CCA), in which energy detection and / or signal detection may be used to determine whether a channel is idle or busy. CAT4 LBT may be referred to as extended clear channel assessment (eCCA), where a backoff mechanism may be used with CCA.

[0056] Figure 2 2 is a timing diagram illustrating a communication scheme 200 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme 200 may be employed by a BS (such as BS 105) and a UE (such as UE 115) in a network (such as network 100). Specifically, the BS may employ the scheme 200 to schedule the UE to perform UL communications in a spectrum shared by multiple network operating entities (e.g., an unlicensed spectrum or a shared spectrum). Figure 2 In , the x-axis represents time in some arbitrary units.

[0057] In the scheme 200, a BS (e.g., Figure 11. The BS 105 in the embodiment of the present invention contends for the COT 202 by performing a CAT4 LBT 210 in a shared channel. While passing the CAT4 LBT 210, the COT 202 may begin. The BS may schedule the UE to perform UL and / or DL ​​communications during the COT 202. As shown, the BS transmits a UL scheduling grant 212 to schedule the UE to perform UL communications at a time T0 within the COT 202. The scheduling grant 212 may indicate resources (e.g., time-frequency resources) allocated for UL communications and / or transmission parameters for UL communications. Upon receiving the UL scheduling grant 212, the UE performs a CAT2 LBT 220 before the scheduled time T0. CAT2 LBT refers to an LBT without random backoff. CAT2 LBT may also be referred to as a single-shot LBT. At time T0, while passing the CAT2 LBT 220, the UE transmits a UL communication signal 222 based on the UL scheduling grant 212. The UL communication signal 222 may include UL data and / or UL control information. In one example, UL data may be carried in PUSCH and UL control information may be carried in PUCCH. UL control information may include scheduling requests, channel information (eg, CSI reports), and / or hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) acknowledgement / negative acknowledgement (ACK / NACK) feedback.

[0058] Additionally, the BS transmits a UL scheduling grant 214 to schedule the UE to perform another UL communication at a time T1 outside the COT 202. Upon receiving the UL scheduling grant 214, the UE performs a CAT4 LBT 230 before the scheduled time T0. At time T1, while passing through the CAT4 LBT 230, the UE transmits a UL communication signal 232 based on the UL scheduling grant 214. In other words, the UE obtains the COT 204 outside the COT 202 of the BS for transmission of the UL communication signal 232. The UL scheduling grant 214 and the UL communication signal 232 may be substantially similar to the scheduling grant 212 and the UL communication signal 232, respectively.

[0059] The UE may perform CAT2 LBT 220 for transmission of UL communication signal 222 based on a schedule to keep UL communication signal 222 within COT 202 of the BS. The UE may perform CAT4 LBT 230 for transmission of UL communication signal 232 based on a schedule to keep UL communication signal 232 outside COT 202 of the BS.

[0060] Based on the regulation of the spectrum in use, the COT (e.g., COT 202 and / or 204) captured from the CAT4 LBT (e.g., CAT4 LBT 210 and / or 230) may be allowed to have a specific COT duration. For example, the COT duration may depend on the contention window length (e.g., time duration) used for the CAT4 LBT. The transmitting node may perform a random backoff by drawing a random number within the contention window length range and backing off for a period of time based on the random number. The UE may set a counter using the drawn random number. If the channel remains idle for the duration of the backoff period, the transmitting node may transmit at the end of the backoff period (e.g., when the counter counts to zero). In one embodiment, Figure 2 The UE in the COT 204 may not use the entire duration of the COT 204 to transmit the UL communication signal 232. As an example, the COT 204 may have a duration of approximately 6 milliseconds (ms), but the scheduled UL communication signal 232 may span a duration of approximately 2 ms. Therefore, the remaining 4 ms may not be used.

[0061] Accordingly, the present disclosure provides techniques for obtaining a COT (eg, COT 204) by a UE outside of a COT (eg, COT 202) of a BS for UL scheduled transmissions (eg, UL communication signal 232) to share the UE's COT with the BS for DL ​​communication.

[0062] Figure 3 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary UE 300 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The UE 300 may be as described above. Figure 1 1. As shown, UE 300 may include a processor 302, a memory 304, a COT sharing module 308, a transceiver 310 including a modem subsystem 312 and a radio frequency (RF) unit 314, and one or more antennas 316. These elements may communicate with each other directly or indirectly, for example, via one or more buses.

[0063] The processor 302 may include a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a controller, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) device, another hardware device, a firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform the operations described herein. The processor 302 may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, for example, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0064] Memory 304 may include cache memory (e.g., cache memory of processor 302), random access memory (RAM), magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, solid-state memory devices, hard drives, other forms of volatile and non-volatile memory, or a combination of different types of memory. In one embodiment, memory 304 includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium. Memory 304 may store or have recorded thereon instructions 306. Instructions 306 may include instructions that, when executed by processor 302, cause processor 302 to perform various embodiments disclosed herein (e.g., Figure 2 and 5 -12 aspects), instructions for the operations described with reference to UE 115. Instructions 306 may also be referred to as program code. The program code may be used to cause the wireless communication device to perform the operations, for example, by causing one or more processors (such as processor 302) to control or command the wireless communication device to do so. The terms "instructions" and "code" should be interpreted broadly to include any type of computer-readable statements. For example, the terms "instructions" and "code" may refer to one or more programs, routines, subroutines, functions, procedures, etc. "Instructions" and "code" may include a single computer-readable statement or many computer-readable statements.

[0065] The COT sharing module 308 may be implemented via hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, the COT sharing module 308 may be implemented as a processor, circuit, and / or instructions 306 stored in the memory 304 and executed by the processor 302. The COT sharing module 308 may be used in various aspects of the present disclosure, Figure 2 and Figure 5-12 For example, the COT sharing module 308 is configured to receive from the BS (e.g., Figure 1 BS 105 in the BS receives a UL scheduling grant granting UL scheduling outside the COT of the BS, and performs CAT4 LBT to capture the COT before transmitting a UL communication signal according to the UL scheduling, determines information for sharing a portion of the COT when the CAT4 LBT 230 passes, generates a UL communication signal including the COT sharing information, and / or transmits the UL communication signal according to the UL scheduling.

[0066] In one embodiment, the COT sharing module 308 is further configured to select a traffic priority class different from the traffic priority class assigned to the UL scheduled UL transmission. In one embodiment, the COT sharing module 308 is further configured to perform multiple hypotheses associated with channel access and packet generation for the UL transmission. Mechanisms for sharing the COT of a UE captured for a scheduled UL transmission with a BS are described in more detail herein.

[0067] As shown, the transceiver 310 may include a modem subsystem 312 and an RF unit 314. The transceiver 310 may be configured to communicate bidirectionally with other devices, such as the BS 105. The modem subsystem 312 may be configured to modulate and / or encode data from the memory 304 and / or the COT sharing module 308 according to a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) (e.g., a low-density parity check (LDPC) coding scheme, a turbo coding scheme, a convolutional coding scheme, a digital beamforming scheme, etc.). The RF unit 314 may be configured to process (e.g., perform analog-to-digital conversion or digital-to-analog conversion, etc.) the modulated / encoded data from the modem subsystem 312 (on outbound transmissions) or from transmissions originating from another source, such as the UE 115 or the BS 105. The RF unit 314 may be further configured to perform analog beamforming in conjunction with digital beamforming. Although shown as integrated together in transceiver 310, modem subsystem 312 and RF unit 314 may be separate devices that are coupled together at UE 115 to enable UE 115 to communicate with other devices.

[0068] RF unit 314 may provide modulated and / or processed data, such as a data packet (or more generally, a data message that may include one or more data packets and other information), to antenna 316 for transmission to one or more other devices. Antenna 316 may further receive data messages transmitted from other devices. Antenna 316 may provide received data messages for processing and / or demodulation at transceiver 310. Antenna 316 may include multiple antennas of similar or different designs in order to maintain multiple transmission links. RF unit 314 may configure antenna 316.

[0069] In an embodiment, the UE 300 may include multiple transceivers 310 that implement different RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In an embodiment, the UE 300 may include a single transceiver 310 that implements multiple RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In an embodiment, the transceiver 310 may include various components, where different combinations of the components may implement the RATs.

[0070] Figure 44 is a block diagram of an exemplary BS 400 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. BS 400 may be as described above. Figure 1 4. As shown, BS 400 may include a processor 402, a memory 404, a COT sharing module 408, a transceiver 410 including a modem subsystem 412 and an RF unit 414, and one or more antennas 416. These elements may communicate with each other directly or indirectly, for example, via one or more buses.

[0071] The processor 402 may have various features as a special-purpose type of processor. For example, these features may include a CPU, a DSP, an ASIC, a controller, an FPGA device, another hardware device, a firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform the operations described herein. The processor 402 may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, for example, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0072] Memory 404 may include cache memory (e.g., cache memory of processor 402), RAM, MRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, solid-state memory devices, one or more hard disk drives, memristor-based arrays, other forms of volatile and nonvolatile memory, or a combination of different types of memory. In some embodiments, memory 404 may include non-transitory computer-readable media. Memory 404 may store instructions 406. Instructions 406 may include instructions that, when executed by processor 402, cause processor 402 to perform the operations described herein (e.g., Figure 2 and 5 -12 aspects) of the instructions. Instructions 406 may also be referred to as code, which may be broadly interpreted as including the above reference Figure 3 Any type of computer-readable statement in question.

[0073] The COT sharing module 408 may be implemented via hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, the COT sharing module 408 may be implemented as a processor, circuit, and / or instructions 406 stored in the memory 404 and executed by the processor 402. The COT sharing module 408 may be used in various aspects of the present disclosure, Figure 2 and Figure 5-12For example, the COT sharing module 408 is configured to transmit a UL scheduling grant granting UL scheduling outside the COT of the BS 400 to a UE (e.g., UE 115 or UE 300), receive a UL communication signal, receive the UL communication signal from the BS based on the UL scheduling, decode COT sharing information from the UL communication signal, and transmit a DL communication signal to the UE using a sharable portion of the COT of the UE indicated by the COT sharing information.

[0074] In one embodiment, the COT sharing module 308 is further configured to obtain a traffic priority class associated with UL data carried by the UL communication signal. In one embodiment, the COT sharing module 308 is further configured to determine COT sharing information based on the UL scheduling grant and the detection of the UL communication signal according to the UL scheduling grant. The mechanism for sharing the COT of the UE captured for the scheduled UL transmission with the BS is described in more detail herein.

[0075] As shown, the transceiver 410 may include a modem subsystem 412 and an RF unit 414. The transceiver 410 may be configured to communicate bidirectionally with other devices, such as the UE 115 and / or another core network element. The modem subsystem 412 may be configured to modulate and / or encode data according to an MCS (e.g., an LDPC coding scheme, a turbo coding scheme, a convolutional coding scheme, a digital beamforming scheme, etc.). The RF unit 414 may be configured to process (e.g., perform analog-to-digital conversion or digital-to-analog conversion, etc.) modulated / encoded data from the modem subsystem 412 (on outbound transmission) or modulated / encoded data originating from a transmission of another source, such as the UE 115 or 300. The RF unit 414 may be further configured to perform analog beamforming in conjunction with digital beamforming. Although shown as being integrated together in transceiver 410, modem subsystem 412 and / or RF unit 414 may be separate devices that are coupled together at BS 105 to enable BS 105 to communicate with other devices.

[0076] The RF unit 414 may provide modulated and / or processed data, such as data packets (or more generally, data messages that may include one or more data packets and other information), to the antenna 416 for transmission to one or more other devices. This may include, for example, information transmission to complete attachment to a network and communication with a resident UE 115 or 400 in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. The antenna 416 may further receive data messages transmitted from other devices and provide the received data messages for processing and / or demodulation at the transceiver 410. The antenna 416 may include multiple antennas of similar or different designs in order to maintain multiple transmission links.

[0077] In an embodiment, the BS 400 may include multiple transceivers 410 that implement different RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In an embodiment, the BS 400 may include a single transceiver 410 that implements multiple RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In an embodiment, the transceiver 410 may include various components, where different combinations of the components may implement the RATs.

[0078] Figure 5 1 is a timing diagram illustrating a scheme 500 for sharing a COT associated with a scheduled UL transmission according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme 500 may be employed by a BS (such as BS 105) and a UE (such as UE 115) in a network (such as network 100). Specifically, the BS and the UE may employ the scheme 500 to perform UL to DL COT sharing in a spectrum (e.g., an unlicensed spectrum or a shared spectrum) shared by multiple network operating entities. Figure 5 In the scheme 500, the x-axis represents time in some arbitrary units. Figure 1 UE 115 in the example may be based on a BS (e.g., Figure 1 The BS and the UE may use the UL scheduling received by the BS 105 in the UE to initiate the COT and share the COT with the BS for DL ​​communication. Figure 2 The scheme 200 described in is basically similar to the LBT mechanism to capture COT.

[0079] As shown, the BS captures the COT 502. The BS transmits an UL scheduling grant 514 in the COT 502 to schedule the UE to perform UL transmission at a time T0 outside the COT 502 of the BS. The UE performs a CAT4 LBT 530 before the scheduled time T0. While passing through the LBT 530, the UE obtains the COT 504 and starts transmitting a UL communication signal 532 at the scheduled time T0 according to the UL scheduling grant 514. The COT 504 may include a duration longer than the transmission duration of the UL communication signal 532. For example, the COT 504 may end at a time T2 based on the contention window length used to perform the CAT4 LBT 530.

[0080] Accordingly, the UE may share the COT 504 with the BS for DL ​​communication. In an embodiment, the UE includes COT sharing information 534 in the UL communication signal 532. The COT sharing information 534 may indicate that the BS is allowed to share the COT 504 of the UE for communication. The COT sharing information 534 may indicate a shareable portion of the COT 504 of the UE, which starts at time 506 (e.g., at time T1) and has a duration 508 as shown in the dotted line box. In the 5G or NR context, the UL communication signal 532 may be a PUSCH signal and the COT sharing information 534 may be a PUCCH signal or a UL control information (UCI) message.

[0081] Upon receiving the COT sharing information 534, the BS performs CAT2 LBT 540 and transmits a DL communication signal 542 during a time period within the sharable duration 508. The DL communication signal 542 may include DL control information (e.g., DL scheduling grant) and / or DL ​​data. In an embodiment, the BS may be allowed to use the UE's COT 504 for DL ​​and / or UL communication with the UE, and may not be allowed to use the UE's COT 504 for communication with another UE (e.g., Figure 1 In one embodiment, the BS may be allowed to communicate with another UE (e.g., UE 115) using the UE's COT 504 after communicating with the UE. Figure 1 UE115) in performs DL communication.

[0082] In one embodiment, the BS may be allowed to use the UE's COT 504 to communicate a specific traffic priority. For example, the UL communication signal 532 may include UL data of a specific traffic priority. The BS may be allowed to use the UE's COT 504 to transmit DL data with a higher priority than the UL data or DL ​​data with the same priority as the UL data.

[0083] Figure 6 6 is a timing diagram illustrating a scheme 600 for sharing a COT associated with a scheduled UL transmission according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme 600 may be employed by a BS (such as BS 105) and a UE (such as UE 115) in a network (such as network 100). Specifically, the BS and the UE may employ the scheme 600 for UL to DL COT sharing in a spectrum (e.g., an unlicensed spectrum or a shared spectrum) shared by multiple network operating entities. Figure 6 , the x-axis represents time in some arbitrary units. Scheme 600 is substantially similar to scheme 500 and illustrates that a BS (e.g., Figure 1 BS 105 in the system may schedule UEs (e.g., Figure 1The BS and UE may use the same Figure 2 The scheme 200 described in is basically similar to the LBT mechanism to capture COT.

[0084] As shown, the BS acquires COT 602. The BS transmits multiple UL scheduling grants 614 (shown as 614a, 614b, and 614c) in COT 602 to schedule the UE to perform UL transmissions in consecutive time periods or transmission time slots outside the BS's COT 502. The consecutive time periods start at time T0. The UE performs CAT4 LBT 630 before the scheduled time T0. While passing through LBT 630, the UE obtains COT 604 and transmits UL communication signals 632a, 632b, and 632c (e.g., including UL data and / or UL control information) according to the UL scheduling grants 614a, 614b, and 614c, respectively.

[0085] Similar to the scheme 500, the UE may share a portion of the COT 604 after the last UL communication signal 632c. In an embodiment, the UE may include COT sharing information 634 in one of the back-to-back UL communication signals 632a, 632b, 632c. As shown, the UL communication signal 632a may include the COT sharing information 634, while the other UL communication signals 632b and 632c do not include the COT sharing information 634. The COT sharing information 634 may be substantially similar to the COT sharing information 534. For example, the COT sharing information 634 may indicate a shareable portion of the UE's COT 604 that starts at time 606 (e.g., at time T1) and has a duration 608 as shown in the dotted line box.

[0086] BS can be used with Figure 5 604. For example, the BS performs CAT2 LBT 640. While passing the CAT2 LBT 640, the BS transmits a DL communication signal 642 (eg, including DL data and / or DL ​​control information) to the UE during a period within the sharable duration 608.

[0087] In an embodiment, the BS may include a trigger or request for the COT sharing information 634 in the corresponding UL scheduling grant 614. For example, the BS may include a request for the COT sharing information 634 in the UL scheduling grant 614a and may not include a request for the COT sharing information 634 in the UL scheduling grants 614b and 614c.

[0088] In an embodiment, the BS may bundle the COT shared UCI with other UCI transmissions. For example, the BS may include a trigger for the bundled UCI in the UL scheduling grant 614a. The trigger may request the UE to transmit the COT shared information 634 and ACK / NACK feedback and / or channel information (e.g., CSI report). In some instances, the ACK / NACK feedback may be associated with a HARQ process for DL ​​data transmission and retransmission.

[0089] Figure 7 700 is a timing diagram illustrating a scheme 700 for sharing a COT associated with a scheduled UL transmission according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme 700 may be employed by a BS (such as BS 105) and a UE (such as UE 115) in a network (such as network 100). Specifically, the BS and the UE may employ the scheme 700 for UL to DL COT sharing in a spectrum (e.g., an unlicensed spectrum or a shared spectrum) shared by multiple network operating entities. Figure 7 , the x-axis represents time in some arbitrary units. Scheme 700 is substantially similar to scheme 500. However, in scheme 700, BS (e.g., Figure 1 The BS 105 in the UE may initially grant UL scheduling for transmissions outside the BS's COT, but may subsequently contend and obtain another COT before the UL scheduling, causing the UL scheduling to fall back into the BS's COT. The BS and UE may use the same Figure 2 The scheme 200 described in is basically similar to the LBT mechanism to capture COT.

[0090] As shown, the BS captures COT 702. The BS transmits an UL scheduling grant 714 in the COT 702 to schedule the UE to perform UL transmission at time T2 outside the COT 702 of the BS. Upon detecting the UL scheduling grant 714, the UE may generate an UL communication signal 732 based on the UL scheduling grant 714 and may include COT sharing information 734 in the UL communication signal 732. The UE may determine the COT sharing information 734 based on the UL scheduling grant 714. For example, if the UE passes a CAT4 LBT similar to CAT4 LBT 230, 530, and 630, the UE may determine the duration of the potential COT. The UE may use the information described above to determine the duration of the potential COT. Figure 5 The UE may determine a start time 706 (e.g., time T3) and / or duration 708 of a portion of a potential COT that may be shared with the BS (as shown by the dashed box) using a mechanism substantially similar to the scheme 500 described in . The UE may generate COT sharing information 734 based on the determined start time and determined duration of the shareable portion of the COT.

[0091] At time T0, the BS contends for another COT before the scheduled time T2 by performing a CAT4 LBT 710 similar to the CAT4 LBT 210 at time T0. At time T1, while passing the CAT4 LBT 710, the BS obtains another COT 702 (shown as 702b). Therefore, the initial UL scheduling granted by the UL scheduling grant 714 starting at time T2 is no longer outside the COT of the BS. Instead, the UL scheduling is within the COT 702b of the new BS. The UE can detect the start of the COT 702b of the BS, for example, by monitoring a reference signal (e.g., DMRS) and / or a COT structure information signal. The COT structure information signal may include the COT duration and / or slot format information of the slots within the COT.

[0092] When the start of the COT 702b of the BS is detected and the UL schedule (e.g., scheduled by the UL scheduling grant 714) is within the COT 702b of the BS, the UE may perform a CAT2 LBT 720 similar to the CAT2 LBT 220 or not perform LBT before transmitting the UL communication signal 732 at the scheduled time T2. The UE may determine whether to perform the CAT2 LBT 720 or not perform LBT based on the transmission gap between the scheduled time T2 and the last transmission in the channel. When the transmission gap is short (e.g., shorter than about 16 microseconds (μs)), the UE may not perform LBT before transmitting the UL communication signal 732, as shown at 752. When the transmission gap is long (e.g., longer than about 16 μs), the UE may perform a CAT2 LBT 720 before transmitting the UL communication signal 732, as shown at 750.

[0093] Since the UL schedule for transmitting the UL communication signal 732 falls back into the COT 702b of the BS, the UE may not be allowed to share the initially calculated shareable COT with the BS, as indicated by the cross. The generation of the UL communication signal 732 may take time. The UE may generate the UL communication signal 732 including the COT sharing information 734 before detecting the start of the COT 702b of the BS. Therefore, the UE may continue to transmit the generated UL communication signal 732 at the scheduled time T2. Upon receiving the UL communication signal 732 including the COT sharing information 734, the BS may ignore the COT sharing information 734 when the UL communication signal 732 is received within the duration of the COT 702b of the BS. In some instances, when the UE detects that there is a sufficient amount of time between the start of the COT 702b of the BS and the start of the UL schedule, the UE may generate another UL communication signal 732 without the COT sharing information 734, and transmit the UL communication signal 732 without the COT sharing information 734.

[0094] Figure 8 8 is a timing diagram illustrating a scheme 800 for sharing a COT associated with a scheduled UL transmission according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme 800 may be employed by a BS (such as BS 105) and a UE (such as UE 115) in a network (such as network 100). Specifically, the BS and the UE may employ the scheme 800 for UL to DL COT sharing in a spectrum (e.g., an unlicensed spectrum or a shared spectrum) shared by multiple network operating entities. Figure 8 , the x-axis represents time in some arbitrary units. Scheme 800 is substantially similar to scheme 500. However, when the UL scheduling is outside the COT of the BS, scheme 800 provides a UE (e.g., Figure 1 UE 115 in the example provides modification by the BS (e.g., Figure 1 The BS and UE can use the same Figure 2 The scheme 200 described in is basically similar to the LBT mechanism to capture COT.

[0095] As shown, the BS acquires COT 802. The BS transmits UL scheduling grant 814 in COT 802 to schedule the UE for UL transmission at time T0 outside of the BS's COT 802. In addition to resource and transmission configuration parameters, the UL scheduling grant 814 may include a traffic priority or data priority assigned for the UL transmission.

[0096] In the first scenario 840, the UE may perform CAT4 LBT 830a before the scheduled time T0. The UE may perform CAT4 LBT 830a by configuring a random backoff period based on a contention window length associated with the assigned traffic priority. While passing through CAT4 LBT 830a, the UE obtains COT 804a and begins transmitting UL communication signals 832a including UL data of the assigned traffic priority or priority class at the scheduled time T0. The UE may use the contention window length associated with the assigned traffic priority. Figure 5 A similar mechanism to the scheme 500 described in UL communication signal 832a includes COT sharing information 834a. COT sharing information 834a may indicate a shareable portion of the UE's COT 804a, which begins at time 806a (eg, at time T1) and has a duration 808a as shown by a dotted line box.

[0097] In the second scenario 842, the UE may determine to use the UL scheduling granted by the UL scheduling grant 814 to transmit UL data of another traffic priority. The UE may determine to use the granted UL scheduling for a traffic priority lower than the assigned priority. The UE performs CAT4 LBT 830b based on the contention window length associated with the determined traffic priority. The contention window length for a lower traffic priority may be longer. As shown, the UE performs CAT4 LBT 830b with a longer contention window length than CAT4 LBT 830a. While passing through CAT4 LBT 830b, the UE obtains COT 804b. Based on the longer contention window length of CAT4 LBT 830b, COT 804b has a longer duration than COT 804a. The UE may begin transmitting a UL communication signal 832b including UL data of the determined lower traffic priority at the scheduled time T0. The UE may use the contention window length associated with CAT4 LBT 830a. Figure 5 A mechanism similar to the scheme 500 described in the embodiment of the present invention includes COT sharing information 834b in the UL communication signal 832b. The COT sharing information 834b may indicate a shareable portion of the COT 804b of the UE, which starts at time 806b (e.g., at time T1) and has a duration 808b as shown in the dotted line box. The COT sharing information 834b may additionally indicate the traffic priority of the UL data included in the UL communication signal 832b and / or any other information related to the transmission of the UL communication signal 832b. The BS may decode the UL data according to the additional traffic priority and / or other transmission information.

[0098] In the third scenario 844, the BS may contend for another COT before the scheduled time T0 and may obtain another COT 802 (shown as 802b). Therefore, the UL scheduling granted by the UL scheduling grant 814 is within the COT 802b of the BS. Upon detecting the COT 802b and determining that the UL scheduling is within the COT 802b of the BS, the UE may perform a CAT2 LBT 820 and begin transmitting a UL communication signal 832c at the scheduled time T0. When the UL scheduling falls back into the COT 802b of the BS, the UE may not be allowed to change the traffic priority. Therefore, the communication signal 832c includes UL data of the assigned traffic priority. Similar to the scheme 700, when the UL scheduling falls back into the COT 802b of the BS, UL to DL COT sharing is not allowed. Therefore, the UL communication signal 832c may not include COT sharing information. In some examples, after the BS acquires the COT 802b, the BS may assign a different traffic priority to the UE than the UL scheduling previously granted by the UL Scheduling Grant 814.

[0099] Fig. 9UL transmission component 900 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. UL transmission component 900 can be used by a UE (e.g., Figure 1 UE 115 or Figure 3 UE 300 in the network (eg, network 100) for UL transmission in the network. In particular, the UL transmission component 900 may be included in Figure 3 The UL transmission component 900 includes a channel access component 910, a packet generation component 920, a BS COT detection component 930, and a selection component 940. The channel access component 910, the packet generation component 920, the BS COT detection component 930, and the selection component 940 can be implemented using a combination of hardware and / or software.

[0100] The channel access component 910 is configured to perform multiple clear channel assessments (CCAs) including LBTs of different LBT types and / or different contention window lengths. For example, the channel access component 910 is configured to perform CAT4 LBT 912 with a first contention window length, CAT4 LBT 912 with a second contention window length, and CAT2 LBT 914. In some examples, the channel access component 910 can use multiple counters to perform random backoffs for various backoff periods, as described above in Figure 2 Described in .

[0101] The packet generation component 920 is configured to generate a plurality of data packets of different priority classes (eg, traffic priority) and / or different sizes. For example, the packet generation component 920 is configured to generate a data packet 922 of a first priority class and a data packet 924 of a second priority class.

[0102] BS COT detecting component 930 is configured to detect the start and / or end of a COT of a BS (eg, COT 202, 502, 602, 702, and / or 802). BS COT detecting component 930 can detect the presence of a BS COT by monitoring a DMRS and / or any COT structure information from the BS.

[0103] In one example, when the UE receives a request for a BS (eg, Figure 1914. When the UE receives a UL scheduling grant (e.g., UL scheduling grant 214, 514, 614, 714, and / or 814) for UL transmissions outside the COT of the BS 105 in the UE, the UE can configure the channel access component 910 to perform CAT4 LBT 912 using a contention window length corresponding to a traffic priority (e.g., P1) assigned by the UL scheduling grant. The UE can configure the channel access component 910 to perform CAT4 LBT 914 using a contention window length corresponding to a traffic priority (e.g., P2) lower than the assigned traffic priority. The UE can configure the channel access component 910 to perform CAT2 LBT 916.

[0104] The UE may configure the packet generation component 920 to generate data packets 922 from data of the assigned traffic priority P1. The packet generation component 920 may determine the size of the data packet 922 based on the UL scheduling grant (e.g., the assigned MCS and the number of allocated RBs). The UE may configure the packet generation component 920 to generate data packets 924 from data of the lower traffic priority P2. The packet generation component 920 may generate data packets 924 having a larger data size than the data packets 922.

[0105] The UE may configure the BS COT detection component 930 to monitor the COT from the BS and determine whether a COT including a scheduled UL is detected from the BS.

[0106] The selection component 940 is configured to determine whether to transmit the data packet 922 or the data packet 924 based on the results of the CAT4 LBT 912, the CAT4 LBT 914, and the CAT2 LBT 916 and whether the UL schedule is within the COT of the BS.

[0107] For example, when the UL schedule is outside the COT of the BS and the CAT4 LBT 912 passes, the selection component 940 can select the data packet 922 for transmission during the scheduled time period. When the UL schedule is outside the COT of the BS and the CAT4 LBT 914 passes, the selection component 940 can select the data packet 924 for transmission during the scheduled time period. When the UL schedule falls back into the COT of the BS and the CAT4 LBT 912 passes, the selection component 940 can select the data packet 922 for transmission during the scheduled time period.

[0108] In general, the channel access component 910 can be configured to perform any suitable number of LBTs with any suitable contention window length, and the packet generation component 920 can be configured to generate any appropriate number of data packets based on certain hypotheses associated with the LBT upon receiving an UL schedule outside of the BS's COT.

[0109] Fig.10 1 is a timing diagram illustrating a scheme 1000 for sharing a COT associated with a scheduled UL transmission according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme 1000 may be employed by a BS (such as BS 105) and a UE (such as UE 115) in a network (such as network 100). Specifically, the BS and the UE may employ the scheme 1000 for UL to DL COT sharing in a spectrum (e.g., an unlicensed spectrum or a shared spectrum) shared by multiple network operating entities. Fig.10 In the scheme 1000, the x-axis represents time in some arbitrary units. Figure 1 BS 105 in the UE may determine a UE for sharing (eg, Figure 1 The BS and UE may use the COT shared information of the COT of the UE 115 in the BS instead of using the COT shared information provided by the UE. Figure 2 The scheme 200 described in is basically similar to the LBT mechanism to capture COT.

[0110] As shown, the BS captures the COT 1002. The BS transmits a UL scheduling grant 1014 in the COT 1002 to schedule the UE to perform UL transmission at a time T0 outside the BS's COT 1002. Upon detecting the UL scheduling grant 1014, the UE performs a CAT4 LBT 1030 before the scheduled time T0. While passing through the LBT 1030, the UE obtains the COT 1004 and transmits a UL communication signal according to the UL scheduling grant 1014.

[0111] Since the UL scheduling grant 1014 is determined by the BS, the BS can determine the duration of the UE's COT 1004 and the sharable portion of the UE's COT 1004 based on the UL scheduling as shown by arrow 1001. Therefore, the BS can determine when the sharable portion starts (e.g., start time T1 1006) and the duration of the sharable portion 1008. The BS can perform CAT2 LBT 1040 and transmit a DL communication signal 1042 in the sharable portion of the UE's COT 1004.

[0112] Fig.11 1 is a timing diagram illustrating a scheme 1100 for sharing a COT associated with a scheduled UL transmission according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The scheme 1100 may be employed by a BS (such as BS 105) and a UE (such as UE 115) in a network (such as network 100). Specifically, the BS and the UE may employ the scheme 1100 for UL to DL COT sharing in a spectrum (e.g., an unlicensed spectrum or a shared spectrum) shared by multiple network operating entities. Fig.11, the x-axis represents time in some arbitrary units. Scheme 1100 is substantially similar to scheme 1000 and illustrates that a BS (e.g., Figure 1 BS 105 in the BS) may schedule UEs outside the COT of the BS (e.g., Figure 1 The BS and the UE may use the same Figure 2 The scheme 200 described in is basically similar to the LBT mechanism to capture COT.

[0113] As shown, the BS captures COT 1102. The BS transmits multiple UL scheduling grants 1114 (shown as 1114a and 1114b) in COT 1102 to schedule the UE to perform UL transmission in consecutive time periods or transmission time slots outside the BS's COT 1002. For example, UL scheduling grant 1114a is for UL scheduling at time T0, and UL scheduling grant 1114b is for UL scheduling at time T1. The UE performs CAT4 LBT 1130 before the scheduled time T0. The CAT4 LBT 1130 may fail, and therefore the UE may not be able to transmit the UL communication signal 1032a scheduled by the UL scheduling grant 1114, as shown by the cross. The UE may pass the CAT4 LBT later before time T1. Therefore, as shown by the check mark, the UE starts transmitting the UL communication signal 1132b at time T1 based on the UL scheduling grant 1114b.

[0114] In a first option, the BS may determine the start of the UE's COT (e.g., COT 1104a) based on the scheduled time T0 and determine a shareable COT (e.g., starting at time T2 and lasting 1008a) from the UE's COT 1104a. The BS may transmit DL communication signals similar to DL communication signals 542, 642, and 1042 during COT 1104a. However, since the UE initially failed to pass the CAT4 LBT 1130, instead the UE obtained COT 1104b starting at time T1, the BS may potentially share a longer portion (e.g., in COT 1104b).

[0115] In the second option, the BS may determine the start of the UE COT based on detection of the DMRS from the UE and / or decoding of the UCI received from the UE. Thus, the BS may detect the DMRS and / or UCI of the UL communication signal 1032b. UCI decoding may include a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) and may therefore have low error detection. DMRS detection may have lower detection reliability than UCI decoding. Thus, the BS may determine that the UE starts the COT (e.g., COT 1004b) at time T1 and determine a shareable COT (e.g., starting at time T2) from the UE's COT 1104b.

[0116] In some instances, the UE may transmit an UL communication signal 1132a, but the BS may not be able to detect the UL communication signal 1132a. Therefore, the BS may erroneously determine that the COT of the UE starts at time T1 instead of time T0. In some embodiments, the BS may select between the first option and the second option based on the traffic priority assigned for scheduling at times T0 and T1.

[0117] Fig.12 is a flowchart of a communication method 1200 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The steps of method 1200 may be performed by a computing device (e.g., a processor, a processing circuit, and / or other suitable components) of a wireless communication device or other suitable means for performing the steps. For example, a wireless communication device (such as UE 115 or UE 300) may utilize one or more components (such as a processor 302, a memory 304, a COT sharing module 308, a transceiver 310, a modem 312, one or more antennas 316, and a UL transmission component 900) to perform the steps of method 1200. In another example, a wireless communication device (such as BS 105 or BS 400) may utilize one or more components (such as a processor 402, a memory 404, a COT sharing module 408, a transceiver 410, a modem 412, and one or more antennas 416) to perform the steps of method 1200. Method 1200 may be implemented in the same manner as described in conjunction with reference to the respective embodiments. Figure 2 , 5 , 6, 7, 8, 10 and / or 11 described in the scheme 200, 500, 600, 700, 800, 1000 and / or 11. As illustrated, method 1200 includes several enumerated steps, but various embodiments of method 1200 may include additional steps before, after and between these enumerated steps. In some embodiments, one or more of these enumerated steps may be omitted or performed in a different order.

[0118] At step 1210, method 1200 includes communicating, by the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device, a first UL scheduling grant. The first UL scheduling grant may be similar to UL scheduling grants 514, 614, 714, 814, 1014, and / or 1114.

[0119] At step 1220, the method includes communicating, by the first wireless communication device, a first UL communication signal with the second wireless communication device based on the first UL scheduling grant (e.g., UL communication signal 532, 632, 732, 832a, 832b, 1032, 1132a, and / or 1132b) during a first COT (e.g., COT 504, 604, 804, 1004, and / or 1104). The first COT is based on an eCCA associated with the first UL communication signal (e.g., CAT4 LBT 530, 630, 730, 830, 1030, and / or 1130).

[0120] At step 1230, the method includes communicating, by the first wireless communication device, a DL communication signal (eg, a DL communication signal) with the second wireless communication device during the first COT based on COT sharing information associated with the first COT.

[0121] In an embodiment, the first wireless communication device corresponds to a UE (e.g., UE 115 and / or UE 300), and the second wireless communication device corresponds to a BS (e.g., BS 105 and / or BS 400). The first wireless communication device communicates a first UL scheduling grant by receiving a first UL scheduling grant from the second wireless communication device during a COT (e.g., COT 502, 602, 702, 802, 1002, and / or 1102) of the second wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device communicates a first UL communication signal by transmitting a first UL communication signal to the second wireless communication device. The first COT is associated with the first wireless communication device and is located outside the COT of the second wireless communication device.

[0122] In one embodiment, the first wireless communication device corresponds to a BS (e.g., BS 105 and / or BS 400), and the second wireless communication device corresponds to a UE (e.g., UE 115 and / or UE 300). The first wireless communication device communicates a first UL scheduling grant by transmitting the first UL scheduling grant to the second wireless communication device during a COT of the second wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device communicates a first UL communication signal by receiving the first UL communication signal from the second wireless communication device. The first COT is associated with the second wireless communication device and is located outside the COT of the first wireless communication device.

[0123] In one embodiment, the UL communication signal includes COT sharing information (e.g., COT sharing information 534, 634, 734, and / or 834). In one embodiment, communication of the UL communication signal is performed during a first portion of the first COT and communication of the DL communication signal is performed during a shared portion of the first COT. The first portion is different from the shared portion. The COT sharing information includes at least one of a start time (e.g., start time 506, 706, 806, 1006, and / or 1106) or a duration (e.g., duration 508, 708, 808, 1008, and / or 1108) of the first COT. In one embodiment, the first UL scheduling grant indicates a first traffic priority. The UL communication signal further includes UL data associated with a second traffic priority different from the first traffic priority, and the COT sharing information indicates the second traffic priority. In one embodiment, the first wireless communication device performs eCCA based on the second traffic priority. In one embodiment, a first wireless communication device communicates with a second wireless communication device a plurality of scheduling grants (e.g., UL scheduling grants 632a, 632b, and / or 632c) for communicating a plurality of UL communication signals (e.g., UL communication signals 632a, 632b, and / or 632c) in consecutive time periods, the plurality of scheduling grants including a first UL scheduling grant. The first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device communicate a second UL communication signal among the plurality of UL communication signals based on a second UL scheduling grant among the plurality of scheduling grants during a period of consecutive time periods within a first COT. In one embodiment, the first UL scheduling grant includes a request for COT shared information, and wherein the second UL scheduling grant does not include a request for COT shared information. In one embodiment, the first UL scheduling grant includes a request for UL control information including COT shared information and at least one of ACK / NACK feedback or channel information.

[0124] In one embodiment, a first wireless communication device receives a second UL scheduling grant outside of a COT for the second wireless communication device from a second wireless communication device, the second UL scheduling grant indicating a first traffic priority. The first wireless communication device performs multiple LBTs based on different contention window lengths. The first wireless communication device generates a first UL data block based on the first traffic priority. The first wireless communication device generates a second UL data block based on a second traffic priority different from the first traffic priority. The first wireless communication device transmits the first UL data block or the second UL data block to the second wireless communication device in response to the second UL scheduling grant based on detection of at least one of the multiple CCAs or another COT of the second wireless communication device.

[0125] In one embodiment, the first wireless communication device determines the COT shared information based on the first UL scheduling grant. In one embodiment, the first wireless communication device communicates the DL communication signal by transmitting the DL communication signal to the second wireless communication device based at least in part on the determined COT shared information. In one embodiment, the communication of the DL communication signal is performed based on the detection of the first UL communication signal. In one embodiment, the detection is based on the detection of at least one of the reference signal or UL control information associated with the first UL communication signal. In one embodiment, the first wireless communication device transmits to the second wireless communication device a plurality of scheduling grants for the communication of a plurality of UL communication signals in a consecutive time period outside the COT of the first wireless communication device, the plurality of scheduling grants including the first UL scheduling grant. In one embodiment, the communication of the DL communication signal is performed based on the detection of one or more UL communication signals among the plurality of UL communication signals.

[0126] Information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different techniques and technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be mentioned throughout the above description may be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0127] The various illustrative blocks and modules described in conjunction with the disclosure herein may be implemented or executed with a general purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in an alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration).

[0128] The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software executed by a processor, each function may be stored on a computer-readable medium or transmitted therefrom as one or more instructions or codes. Other examples and implementations fall within the scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, the above functions may be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, hard wiring, or any combination thereof executed by a processor. The features that implement the functions may also be physically located in various locations, including being distributed so that the various parts of the functions are implemented at different physical locations. In addition, as used herein (including in the claims), the "or" used in the enumeration of items (e.g., enumeration of items with phrases such as "at least one of" or "one or more of") indicates an inclusive enumeration, so that, for example, the enumeration of [at least one of A, B, or C] means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C).

[0129] A further embodiment of the present disclosure includes a wireless communication method. The wireless communication method also includes communicating a first uplink (UL) scheduling grant by a first wireless communication device with a second wireless communication device. The wireless communication method also includes communicating a first UL communication signal with the second wireless communication device based on the first UL scheduling grant during a first channel occupation time (COT), the first COT being based on an extended clear channel assessment (eCCA) associated with the first UL communication signal. The wireless communication method also includes communicating a downlink (DL) communication signal with the second wireless communication device based on COT shared information associated with the first COT during the first COT.

[0130] In some aspects, communicating the first UL scheduling grant includes: receiving the first UL scheduling grant by the first wireless communication device from the second wireless communication device during a COT of the second wireless communication device, wherein the first COT is associated with the first wireless communication device and is located outside the COT of the second wireless communication device, and communicating a first UL communication signal includes transmitting the first UL communication signal by the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device. Communicating the first UL scheduling grant includes: transmitting the first UL scheduling grant by the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device during the COT of the second wireless communication device, wherein the first COT is associated with the second wireless communication device and is located outside the COT of the first wireless communication device, and communicating the first UL communication signal includes receiving the first UL communication signal by the first wireless communication device from the second wireless communication device. The UL communication signal includes COT sharing information. Communicating the first UL communication signal includes: communicating the first UL communication signal with the second wireless communication device during a first portion of the first COT, and communicating the DL communication signal includes: communicating the DL communication signal with the second wireless communication device during a shared portion of the first COT, the first portion being different from the shared portion, and the COT sharing information including at least one of a start time or a duration of the shared portion. The first UL scheduling grant indicates a first traffic priority, wherein the UL communication signal further includes UL data associated with a second traffic priority different from the first traffic priority, and wherein the COT sharing information indicates the second traffic priority. The method may include: performing eCCA by the first wireless communication device based on the second traffic priority. The method may include: communicating, by the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device, a plurality of scheduling grants for communicating a plurality of UL communication signals in consecutive time periods, the plurality of scheduling grants including the first UL scheduling grant; and communicating, by the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device, a second UL communication signal among the plurality of UL communication signals based on a second UL scheduling grant among the plurality of scheduling grants during a period of consecutive time periods within a first COT. The first UL scheduling grant includes a request for COT shared information, and wherein the second UL scheduling grant does not include a request for COT shared information. The first UL scheduling grant includes a request for UL control information including COT shared information and at least one of ACK / NACK feedback or channel information. The method may include: receiving, by the first wireless communication device, a second UL scheduling grant outside the COT for the second wireless communication device from the second wireless communication device, the second UL scheduling grant indicating a first traffic priority; performing, by the first wireless communication device, a plurality of clear channel assessments (CCAs) based on different contention window lengths.A first UL data block is generated by a first wireless communication device based on a first traffic priority; a second UL data block is generated by the first wireless communication device based on a second traffic priority different from the first traffic priority; and the first wireless communication device transmits the first UL data block or the second UL data block to the second wireless communication device in response to a second UL scheduling grant based on at least one of a plurality of CCAs or detection of another COT of the second wireless communication device. The method may include: determining the COT shared information by the first wireless communication device based on the first UL scheduling grant. Communicating the DL communication signal includes: transmitting the DL communication signal to the second wireless communication device by the first wireless communication device at least in part based on the determined COT shared information. Communicating the DL communication signal is further based on detection of the first UL communication signal. The detection is based on detection of at least one of a reference signal or UL control information associated with the first UL communication signal. The method may include: transmitting, by the first wireless communication device, to the second wireless communication device a plurality of scheduling grants for communicating a plurality of UL communication signals in consecutive time periods outside the COT of the first wireless communication device, the plurality of scheduling grants including the first UL scheduling grant. Communicating the DL communication signal is further based on detecting one or more UL communication signals of the plurality of UL communication signals.

[0131] A further embodiment of the present disclosure includes a transceiver configured to: communicate a first UL scheduling grant with a wireless communication device; communicate a first UL communication signal with the wireless communication device based on the first uplink (UL) scheduling grant during a first channel occupancy time (COT), the first COT being based on an extended clear channel assessment (eCCA) associated with the first UL communication signal; and communicate a downlink (DL) communication signal with the wireless communication device based on COT shared information associated with the first COT during the first COT.

[0132] In some aspects, the apparatus may also include, wherein the transceiver configured to communicate a first UL scheduling grant is further configured to receive the first UL scheduling grant from the wireless communication device during a COT of the wireless communication device, wherein the first COT is associated with the apparatus and is located outside the COT of the wireless communication device; and the transceiver configured to communicate a first UL communication signal is further configured to transmit the first UL communication signal to the wireless communication device. The transceiver configured to communicate a first UL scheduling grant is further configured to transmit the first UL scheduling grant to the wireless communication device during the COT of the wireless communication device, wherein the first COT is associated with the wireless communication device and is located outside the COT of the apparatus; and the transceiver configured to communicate a first UL communication signal is further configured to receive the first UL communication signal from the wireless communication device. The UL communication signal includes COT sharing information. The transceiver configured to communicate a first UL communication signal is further configured to communicate the first UL communication signal with the wireless communication device during a first portion of the first COT, and the transceiver configured to communicate a DL communication signal is further configured to communicate the DL communication signal with the wireless communication device during a shared portion of the first COT, the first portion being different from the shared portion, and the COT shared information includes at least one of a start time or a duration of the shared portion. The first UL scheduling grant indicates a first traffic priority, wherein the UL communication signal further includes UL data associated with a second traffic priority different from the first traffic priority, and wherein the COT shared information indicates the second traffic priority. The equipment may include a processor configured to perform eCCA based on the second traffic priority. The transceiver is further configured to: communicate with the wireless communication device a plurality of scheduling grants for communicating a plurality of UL communication signals in consecutive time periods, the plurality of scheduling grants including the first UL scheduling grant; and communicate with the wireless communication device a second UL communication signal among the plurality of UL communication signals based on a second UL scheduling grant among the plurality of scheduling grants during a time period in the consecutive time periods within the first COT. The first UL scheduling grant includes a request for COT shared information, and wherein the second UL scheduling grant does not include a request for COT shared information. The first UL scheduling grant includes a request for UL control information including COT shared information and at least one of acknowledgment / negative acknowledgment (ACK / NACK) feedback or channel information.The transceiver is further configured to: receive a second UL scheduling grant outside of the COT for the wireless communication device from the wireless communication device, the second UL scheduling grant indicating a first traffic priority; and the equipment further includes a processor configured to perform the following operations: perform multiple clear channel assessments (CCAs) based on different contention window lengths; generate a first UL data block based on the first traffic priority; and generate a second UL data block based on a second traffic priority different from the first traffic priority; and the transceiver is further configured to: in response to the second UL scheduling grant, transmit the first UL data block or the second UL data block to the wireless communication device based on at least one of the multiple CCAs or the detection of another COT of the wireless communication device. The equipment may include a processor configured to determine COT sharing information based on the first UL scheduling grant. The transceiver configured to communicate DL communication signals is further configured to transmit DL communication signals to the wireless communication device based at least in part on the determined COT sharing information. The transceiver configured to communicate DL communication signals is further configured to communicate DL communication signals based on the detection of the first UL communication signal. The detection is based on detection of at least one of a reference signal or UL control information associated with the first UL communication signal. The transceiver is further configured to: transmit to the wireless communication device a plurality of scheduling grants for communication of a plurality of UL communication signals in consecutive time periods outside of the COT of the equipment, the plurality of scheduling grants including the first UL scheduling grant. The transceiver configured to communicate DL communication signals is further configured to communicate DL communication signals based on detection of one or more UL communication signals in the plurality of UL communication signals.

[0133] A further embodiment of the present disclosure includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon. The non-transitory computer-readable medium also includes: code for causing a first wireless communication device to communicate a first uplink (UL) scheduling grant with a second wireless communication device. The non-transitory computer-readable medium also includes: code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate a first UL communication signal with the second wireless communication device based on the first UL scheduling grant during a first channel occupation time (COT), the first COT being based on an extended clear channel assessment (eCCA) associated with the first UL communication signal. The non-transitory computer-readable medium also includes: code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate a downlink (DL) communication signal with the second wireless communication device based on COT sharing information associated with the first COT during the first COT.

[0134] In some aspects, the non-transitory computer-readable medium may also include, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the first UL scheduling grant is further configured to: receive the first UL scheduling grant from the second wireless communication device during the COT of the second wireless communication device, wherein the first COT is associated with the first wireless communication device and is located outside the COT of the second wireless communication device; and the code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate a first UL communication signal is further configured to transmit the first UL communication signal to the second wireless communication device. The code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the first UL scheduling grant is further configured to: transmit the first UL scheduling grant to the second wireless communication device during the COT of the second wireless communication device, wherein the first COT is associated with the second wireless communication device and is located outside the COT of the first wireless communication device; and the code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the first UL communication signal is further configured to: receive the first UL communication signal from the second wireless communication device. The UL communication signal includes COT sharing information. The code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the first UL communication signal is further configured to: communicate the first UL communication signal with the second wireless communication device during a first portion of the first COT, and the code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the DL communication signal is further configured to: communicate the DL communication signal with the second wireless communication device during a shared portion of the first COT, the first portion being different from the shared portion, and the COT sharing information including at least one of a start time or a duration of the shared portion. The first UL scheduling grant indicates a first traffic priority, wherein the UL communication signal further includes UL data associated with a second traffic priority different from the first traffic priority, and wherein the COT sharing information indicates the second traffic priority. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may include: code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform eCCA based on the second traffic priority. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may include: code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate with the second wireless communication device a plurality of scheduling grants for communicating a plurality of UL communication signals in consecutive time periods, the plurality of scheduling grants including the first UL scheduling grant; and code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate with the second wireless communication device a second UL communication signal among the plurality of UL communication signals based on a second UL scheduling grant among the plurality of scheduling grants during a period of consecutive time periods within the first COT. The first UL scheduling grant includes a request for COT shared information, and wherein the second UL scheduling grant does not include a request for COT shared information. The first UL scheduling grant includes a request for UL control information including COT shared information and at least one of ACK / NACK feedback or channel information.The non-transitory computer-readable medium may include: code for causing a first wireless communication device to receive a second UL scheduling grant outside of a COT for the second wireless communication device from a second wireless communication device, the second UL scheduling grant indicating a first traffic priority; code for causing the first wireless communication device to perform multiple clear channel assessments (CCAs) based on different contention window lengths; code for causing the first wireless communication device to generate a first UL data block based on the first traffic priority; code for causing the first wireless communication device to generate a second UL data block based on a second traffic priority different from the first traffic priority; code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit the first UL data block or the second UL data block to the second wireless communication device in response to the second UL scheduling grant based on at least one of the multiple CCAs or detection of another COT of the second wireless communication device. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may include: code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine the COT shared information based on the first UL scheduling grant. The code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the DL communication signal is further configured to: transmit the DL communication signal to the second wireless communication device based at least in part on the determined COT shared information. The code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the DL communication signal is further configured to: communicate the DL communication signal based on the detection of the first UL communication signal. The detection is based on the detection of at least one of the reference signal or the UL control information associated with the first UL communication signal. The non-transitory computer-readable medium may include: code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit to the second wireless communication device a plurality of scheduling grants for communicating a plurality of UL communication signals in consecutive time periods outside the COT of the first wireless communication device, the plurality of scheduling grants including the first UL scheduling grant. The code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the DL communication signal is further configured to: communicate the DL communication signal based on the detection of one or more UL communication signals among the plurality of UL communication signals.

[0135] A further embodiment of the present disclosure includes an apparatus comprising: means for communicating a first uplink (UL) scheduling grant with a wireless communication device. The apparatus further comprises means for communicating a first UL communication signal with the wireless communication device based on the first UL scheduling grant during a first channel occupancy time (COT), the first COT being based on an extended clear channel assessment (eCCA) associated with the first UL communication signal. The apparatus further comprises means for communicating a downlink (DL) communication signal with the wireless communication device during the first COT based on COT sharing information associated with the first COT.

[0136] In some aspects, the apparatus may also include, wherein the means for communicating the first UL scheduling grant is further configured to: receive the first UL scheduling grant from the wireless communication device during a COT of the wireless communication device, wherein the first COT is associated with the apparatus and is located outside the COT of the wireless communication device; and the means for communicating a first UL communication signal is further configured to: transmit the first UL communication signal to the wireless communication device. The means for communicating the first UL scheduling grant is further configured to: transmit the first UL scheduling grant to the wireless communication device during the COT of the wireless communication device, wherein the first COT is associated with the wireless communication device and is located outside the COT of the apparatus; and the means for communicating the first UL communication signal is further configured to: receive the first UL communication signal from the wireless communication device. The UL communication signal includes COT sharing information. The apparatus for communicating a first UL communication signal is further configured to communicate the first UL communication signal with the wireless communication device during a first portion of the first COT, and the apparatus for communicating the DL communication signal is further configured to communicate the DL communication signal with the wireless communication device during a shared portion of the first COT, the first portion being different from the shared portion, and the COT sharing information including at least one of a start time or a duration of the shared portion. The first UL scheduling grant indicates a first traffic priority, wherein the UL communication signal further includes UL data associated with a second traffic priority different from the first traffic priority, and wherein the COT sharing information indicates the second traffic priority. The equipment may include: an apparatus for performing eCCA based on the second traffic priority. The equipment may include: a device for communicating with the wireless communication device a plurality of scheduling grants for communicating a plurality of UL communication signals in consecutive time periods, the plurality of scheduling grants including the first UL scheduling grant; and a device for communicating with the wireless communication device a second UL communication signal among the plurality of UL communication signals based on a second UL scheduling grant among the plurality of scheduling grants during consecutive time periods within a first COT. The first UL scheduling grant includes a request for COT shared information, and wherein the second UL scheduling grant does not include a request for COT shared information. The first UL scheduling grant includes a request for UL control information including COT shared information and at least one of acknowledgment / negative acknowledgment (ACK / NACK) feedback or channel information.The apparatus may include: a device for receiving a second UL scheduling grant outside of a COT for the wireless communication device from the wireless communication device, the second UL scheduling grant indicating a first traffic priority; a device for performing multiple clear channel assessments (CCAs) based on different contention window lengths; a device for generating a first UL data block based on the first traffic priority; a device for generating a second UL data block based on a second traffic priority different from the first traffic priority; and a device for transmitting the first UL data block or the second UL data block to the wireless communication device based on at least one of the multiple CCAs or detection of another COT of the wireless communication device in response to the second UL scheduling grant. The apparatus may include: a device for determining the COT shared information based on the first UL scheduling grant. The device for communicating the DL communication signal is further configured to: transmit the DL communication signal to the wireless communication device based at least in part on the determined COT shared information. The device for communicating the DL communication signal is further configured to: communicate the DL communication signal based on detection of the first UL communication signal. The detection is based on detection of at least one of a reference signal or UL control information associated with the first UL communication signal. The apparatus may include means for transmitting to the wireless communication device a plurality of scheduling grants for communicating a plurality of UL communication signals in consecutive time periods outside of a COT of the apparatus, the plurality of scheduling grants including the first UL scheduling grant. The communicating of the DL communication signals is further configured to communicate the DL communication signals based on detection of one or more UL communication signals in the plurality of UL communication signals.

[0137] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and depending on the specific application at hand, many modifications, substitutions and changes may be made to the materials, devices, configurations and methods of use of the apparatus of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. In view of this, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described herein (as they are merely examples of the present disclosure), but should be fully equivalent to the appended claims and their functional equivalents.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising: communicating, by the first wireless communication device, a first uplink (UL) scheduling grant with the second wireless communication device; granting, by the first wireless communication device, communication of a first UL communication signal with the second wireless communication device based on the first UL schedule during a first channel occupancy time (COT), the first COT being based on an extended clear channel assessment (eCCA) associated with the first UL communication signal; and The first wireless communication device communicates a downlink (DL) communication signal with the second wireless communication device based on COT shared information associated with the first COT during the first COT that is later than the end of the first UL communication signal by a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: The first wireless communication device is a user equipment (UE), The second wireless communication device is a base station (BS), The communicating the first UL scheduling grant includes: receiving, by the UE, the first UL scheduling grant from the BS during a COT of the BS, wherein the first COT is associated with the UE and is outside the COT of the BS, The communicating of the first UL communication signal includes: The first UL communication signal is transmitted by the UE to the BS, and The communicating of the DL communication signal comprises: The DL communication signal is received by the UE from the BS during the first COT of the UE that is later than an end of the first UL communication signal by the LBT interval.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein: The first wireless communication device is a base station (BS), The second wireless communication device is a user equipment (UE), The communicating the first UL scheduling grant includes: transmitting, by the BS, the first UL scheduling grant to the UE during a COT of the BS, wherein the first COT is associated with the UE and is outside the COT of the BS, The communicating of the first UL communication signal includes: receiving, by the BS, the first UL communication signal from the UE, and The communicating of the DL communication signal comprises: The BS transmits the DL communication signal to the UE during the first COT of the UE that is later than an end of the first UL communication signal by the LBT interval.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein: The communicating of the first UL communication signal includes: communicating, by the first wireless communication device, the first UL communication signal with the second wireless communication device during a first portion of the first COT, and The communicating of the DL communication signal comprises: communicating, by the first wireless communication device, the DL communication signal with the second wireless communication device during a shared portion of the first COT, the first portion being different from the shared portion, and The COT sharing information includes at least one of a start time or a duration of the shared portion.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: The COT sharing information is determined by the first wireless communication device based on the first UL scheduling grant.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the DL communication signal comprises: The DL communication signal is transmitted by the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device further based on a first UL scheduling grant after the first UL communication signal.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: Whether to perform LBT before transmitting the DL communication signal is determined by the first wireless communication device based on whether a transmission gap between the first UL communication signal and the DL communication signal is 16 microseconds or longer.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: The LBT is performed by the first wireless communication device before transmitting the DL communication signal based on the determination.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the DL communication signal is further based on detecting the first UL communication signal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the detecting is based on detecting at least one of a reference signal or UL control information associated with the first UL communication signal.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: A plurality of scheduling grants for communicating a plurality of UL communication signals in consecutive time periods outside of a COT of the first wireless communication device are transmitted by the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device, the plurality of scheduling grants including the first UL scheduling grant.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: A COT shared duration for communicating the DL communication signal within the first COT is determined by the first wireless communication device based on detection of one or more of the plurality of UL communication signals.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the COT shared duration is further based on whether uplink control information (UCI) or a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) is detected from one or more UL communication signals of the plurality of UL communication signals.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising: A COT shared duration for communicating the DL communication signal within the first COT is determined by the first wireless communication device based on the earliest transmission time scheduled by the plurality of scheduling grants.

15. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: Transceiver, configured as communicating a first uplink (UL) scheduling grant with a wireless communication device; granting communication of a first UL communication signal with the wireless communication device based on the first UL schedule during a first channel occupancy time (COT), the first COT being based on an extended clear channel assessment (eCCA) associated with the first UL communication signal; and A downlink (DL) communication signal is communicated with the wireless communication device based on COT shared information associated with the first COT during the first COT that is a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap later than an end of the first UL communication signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein: The equipment is a user equipment (UE), The wireless communication device is a base station (BS), The transceiver configured to communicate the first UL scheduling grant is configured to: receiving the first UL scheduling grant from the BS during a COT of the BS, wherein the first COT is associated with the UE and is outside the COT of the BS; as well as The transceiver configured to communicate the first UL communication signal is configured to: transmitting the first UL communication signal to the BS, and The transceiver configured to communicate the DL communication signal is configured to: The DL communication signal is received from the BS during the first COT of the UE which is later than an end of the first UL communication signal by the LBT interval.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein: The equipment is a base station (BS), The wireless communication device is a user equipment (UE), The transceiver configured to communicate the first UL scheduling grant is configured to: transmitting the first UL scheduling grant to the UE during a COT of the BS, wherein the first COT is associated with the UE and is outside the COT of the BS; as well as The transceiver configured to communicate the first UL communication signal is configured to: receiving the first UL communication signal from the UE, and The transceiver configured to communicate the DL communication signal is configured to: The DL communication signal is transmitted to the UE during the first COT of the UE that is later than an end of the first UL communication signal by the LBT interval.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein: The transceiver configured to communicate the first UL communication signal is configured to: communicating the first UL communication signal with the wireless communication device during a first portion of the first COT, and The transceiver configured to communicate the DL communication signal is configured to: communicating the DL communication signal with the wireless communication device during a shared portion of the first COT, the first portion being different from the shared portion, and The COT sharing information includes at least one of a start time or a duration of the shared portion.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: A processor is configured to determine the COT sharing information based on the first UL scheduling grant.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the transceiver configured to communicate the DL communication signal is configured to: The DL communication signal is transmitted to the wireless communication device further based on a first UL scheduling grant subsequent to the first UL communication signal.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the transceiver configured to communicate the DL communication signal is further configured to: The DL communication signal is communicated with the wireless communication device based on the detection of the first UL communication signal.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein: The transceiver is further configured to transmit to the wireless communication device a plurality of scheduling grants for communication of a plurality of UL communication signals in consecutive time periods outside of the COT of the equipment, the plurality of scheduling grants including the first UL scheduling grant; and The equipment further comprises: A processor configured to determine a COT shared duration for communicating the DL communication signal within the first COT based on at least one of: detecting one or more UL communication signals among the plurality of UL communication signals; whether uplink control information (UCI) or a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) is detected from one or more UL communication signals of the plurality of UL communication signals; or The earliest transmission time scheduled by the plurality of scheduling grants.

23. A non-transitory computer readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising: code for causing a first wireless communication device to communicate a first uplink (UL) scheduling grant with a second wireless communication device; code for causing the first wireless communication device to grant communication of a first UL communication signal with the second wireless communication device based on the first UL schedule during a first channel occupancy time (COT), the first COT being based on an extended clear channel assessment (eCCA) associated with the first UL communication signal; and Code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate a downlink (DL) communication signal with the second wireless communication device based on COT shared information associated with the first COT during the first COT that is a listen-before-talk (LBT) gap later than the end of the first UL communication signal.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein: The first wireless communication device is a user equipment (UE), The second wireless communication device is a base station (BS), The code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the first UL scheduling grant is configured to: receiving the first UL scheduling grant from the BS during a COT of the BS, wherein the first COT is associated with the UE and is outside the COT of the BS; as well as The code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the first UL communication signal is configured to: transmitting the first UL communication signal to the BS, and The code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the DL communication signal is configured to: The DL communication signal is received from the BS during the first COT of the UE which is later than an end of the first UL communication signal by the LBT interval.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein: The first wireless communication device is a base station (BS), The second wireless communication device is a user equipment (UE), The code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the first UL scheduling grant is configured to: transmitting the first UL scheduling grant to the UE during a COT of the UE, wherein the first COT is associated with the UE and is outside a COT of the BS; as well as The code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the first UL communication signal is configured to: receiving the first UL communication signal from the UE, and The code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the DL communication signal is configured to: The DL communication signal is transmitted to the UE during the first COT of the UE that is later than an end of the first UL communication signal by the LBT interval.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein: The code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the first UL communication signal is configured to: communicating the first UL communication signal with the second wireless communication device during a first portion of the first COT, and The code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the DL communication signal is configured to: communicating the DL communication signal with the second wireless communication device during a shared portion of the first COT, the first portion being different from the shared portion, and The COT sharing information includes at least one of a start time or a duration of the shared portion.

27. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 23, further comprising: Code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine the COT shared information based on the first UL scheduling grant.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the DL communication signal is configured to: The DL communication signal is transmitted to the second wireless communication device further based on a first UL scheduling grant after the first UL communication signal.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the code for causing the first wireless communication device to communicate the DL communication signal is further configured to: The DL communication signal is communicated with the second wireless communication device based on the detection of the first UL communication signal.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 23, further comprising: code for causing the first wireless communication device to transmit to the second wireless communication device a plurality of scheduling grants for communication of a plurality of UL communication signals in consecutive time periods outside of a COT of the first wireless communication device, the plurality of scheduling grants including the first UL scheduling grant; as well as Code for causing the first wireless communication device to determine a COT shared duration for communicating the DL communication signal within the first COT based on at least one of: detecting one or more UL communication signals among the plurality of UL communication signals; whether uplink control information (UCI) or a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) is detected from one or more UL communication signals of the plurality of UL communication signals; or The earliest transmission time scheduled by the plurality of scheduling grants.

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