User equipment fixed frame period for frame-based equipment mode in unlicensed spectrum

Abstract

Various aspects of the disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) can determine a fixed frame period (FFP) configured for the UE in a frame-based equipment mode. The FFP configured for the UE includes one or more idle periods and a channel occupancy time that is offset from the FFP configured for a base station communicating with the UE on an unlicensed channel. The UE can refrain from transmitting on the unlicensed channel during the one or more idle periods. The one or more idle periods can at least partially overlap with a period of time in which the base station refrains from transmitting on the unlicensed channel. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This patent application claims priority to the following applications: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 706,179, filed August 4, 2020, entitled “USEREQUIPMENT FIXED FRAME PERIOD FOR FRAME BASED EQUIPMENT MODE IN UNLICENSED SPECTRUM”; and U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 302,006, filed April 21, 2021, entitled “USEREQUIPMENT FIXED FRAME PERIOD FOR FRAME BASED EQUIPMENT MODE IN UNLICENSED SPECTRUM”, which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] In summary, various aspects of this disclosure relate to wireless communications and to techniques and apparatus for providing fixed frame periods (FFPs) for user equipment (UE) in frame-based device (FBE) mode in unlicensed spectrum. Background Technology

[0004] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide a variety of telecommunications services such as telephone, video, data, messaging, and broadcasting. Typical wireless communication systems employ multiple access technologies that enable communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., bandwidth, transmit power, etc.). Examples of such multiple access technologies include Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) systems, Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) systems, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) systems, Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) systems, Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) systems, and Long Term Evolution (LTE). LTE / Improved LTE is an enhanced set of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mobile standard released by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

[0005] A wireless network may include multiple base stations (BSs) capable of supporting communication for multiple user equipments (UEs). UEs can communicate with the BS via downlinks and uplinks. A "downlink" (or "forward link") refers to the communication link from the BS to the UE, while an "uplink" (or "reverse link") refers to the communication link from the UE to the BS. As will be described in more detail herein, a BS may be referred to as a Node B, gNB, Access Point (AP), Radio Headend, Transmit / Receive Point (TRP), New Radio (NR) BS, 5G Node B, etc.

[0006] The above multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunications standards to provide a common protocol that enables different user equipment to communicate at the city, country, region, and even global levels. NR (which can also be referred to as 5G) is an enhancement set of the LTE mobile standard released by 3GPP. NR is designed to better integrate with other open standards by improving spectrum efficiency, reducing costs, improving service, utilizing new spectrum, and using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) with Cyclic Prefix (CP) (CP-OFDM) on the downlink (DL) and CP-OFDM and / or SC-FDM (e.g., also known as Discrete Fourier Transform Extended OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM)) on the uplink (UL), thereby better supporting mobile broadband internet access, as well as beamforming, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technologies, and carrier aggregation. As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to grow, further improvements to LTE, NR, and other radio access technologies remain useful. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In some aspects, a method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE) includes: determining a fixed frame period (FFP) configured for the UE in a frame-based device (FBE) mode, wherein the FFP configured for the UE includes one or more idle periods and a channel occupancy time, the channel occupancy time being offset from an FFP configured for a base station communicating with the UE on an unlicensed channel; and avoiding transmission on the unlicensed channel during the one or more idle periods, wherein the one or more idle periods at least partially overlap with the time period during which the base station avoids transmission on the unlicensed channel.

[0008] In some aspects, a UE for wireless communication includes: a memory; and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory, the memory and the one or more processors being configured to: determine an FFP configured for the UE in FBE mode, wherein the FFP configured for the UE includes one or more idle periods and a channel occupancy time, the channel occupancy time being offset from an FFP configured for a base station communicating with the UE on an unlicensed channel; and avoid transmitting on the unlicensed channel during the one or more idle periods, wherein the one or more idle periods at least partially overlap with the time periods during which the base station avoids transmitting on the unlicensed channel.

[0009] In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions for wireless communication includes: one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a UE, cause the UE to: determine an FFP configured for the UE in FBE mode, wherein the FFP configured for the UE includes one or more idle periods and a channel occupancy time, the channel occupancy time being offset from an FFP configured for a base station communicating with the UE on an unlicensed channel; and avoid transmitting on the unlicensed channel during the one or more idle periods, wherein the one or more idle periods at least partially overlap with the time period during which the base station avoids transmitting on the unlicensed channel.

[0010] In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication includes: a unit for determining an FFP configured for the apparatus in an FBE mode, wherein the FFP configured for the apparatus includes one or more idle periods and a channel occupancy time, the channel occupancy time being offset from an FFP configured for a base station communicating with the apparatus on an unlicensed channel; and a unit for avoiding transmission on the unlicensed channel during the one or more idle periods, wherein the one or more idle periods at least partially overlap with the time periods during which the base station avoids transmission on the unlicensed channel.

[0011] In general, the aspects include methods, apparatus, systems, computer program products, non-transitory computer-readable media, user equipment, base stations, wireless communication equipment and / or processing systems as fully described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings and description and as shown by the accompanying drawings and description.

[0012] The foregoing has provided a fairly broad overview of the features and technical advantages of examples according to this disclosure in order to better understand the following detailed description. Additional features and advantages will be described below. The disclosed concepts and specific examples can be readily used as the basis for modifying or designing other structures for achieving the same purpose as this disclosure. Such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the appended claims. The characteristics of the concepts disclosed herein (both their organization and manner of operation) and their associated advantages will be better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, based on the following description. Each drawing in the accompanying drawings is provided for illustrative and descriptive purposes and is not intended to define a limitation of the claims.

[0013] While aspects are described herein by way of example, those skilled in the art will understand that such aspects can be implemented in many different arrangements and scenarios. The innovations described herein can be implemented using different platform types, devices, systems, shapes, sizes, and / or package arrangements. For example, aspects can be implemented via integrated chip embodiments and other devices based on non-modular components (e.g., end-user devices, vehicles, communication devices, computing devices, industrial equipment, retail / purchasing devices, medical devices, or AI-enabled devices). Aspects can be implemented in chip-level components, modular components, non-modular components, non-chip-level components, device-level components, or system-level components. Devices incorporating the described aspects and features may include additional components and features for the implementation and enforcement of the claimed and described aspects. For example, the transmission and reception of wireless signals may include multiple components for analog and digital purposes (e.g., hardware components including antennas, RF chains, power amplifiers, modulators, buffers, processors, interleavers, adders, or summers). The aspects described herein are intended to be implemented in a variety of devices, components, systems, distributed arrangements, or end-user devices with different sizes, shapes, and configurations. Attached Figure Description

[0014] To gain a full understanding of the foregoing features of this disclosure, a more specific description of the invention, briefly summarized above, can be obtained by referring to various aspects, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, it should be noted that the drawings illustrate only certain typical aspects of this disclosure and are therefore not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, as other equally valid aspects are permissible under this description. The same reference numerals in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.

[0015] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless network according to this disclosure.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating an example of communication between a base station and a UE in a wireless network according to this disclosure.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating an example of an unlicensed radio frequency band according to this disclosure.

[0018] Figures 4A-4C This is a diagram illustrating an example of a fixed frame period (FFP) including channel occupancy time according to the present disclosure, during which one or more devices may transmit on an unlicensed channel.

[0019] Figures 5A-5FThis is a diagram illustrating an example of a UE FFP associated with a frame-based device (FBE) mode provided for use in unlicensed spectrum, in accordance with this disclosure.

[0020] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating an example process associated with a UE FFP provided for FBE mode in unlicensed spectrum, according to this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The various aspects of this disclosure are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to any particular structure or function presented throughout this disclosure. Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. Based on the teachings herein, those skilled in the art will understand that the scope of this disclosure is intended to cover any aspect of this disclosure disclosed herein, whether implemented independently of or in combination with any other aspect of this disclosure. For example, an apparatus or a method may be implemented using any number of the aspects set forth herein. Furthermore, the scope of this disclosure is intended to cover such apparatuses or methods implemented using structures, functions, or structures and functions other than or different from the aspects of this disclosure set forth herein. It should be understood that any aspect of this disclosure disclosed herein may be embodied by one or more elements of the claims.

[0022] Several aspects of a telecommunications system will now be described with reference to various devices and techniques. These devices and techniques will be described in detail below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, through various frames, modules, components, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as “elements”). These elements can be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Whether such an element is implemented as hardware or software depends on the specific application and the design constraints imposed on the entire system.

[0023] It should be noted that while this document may use terms commonly associated with 5G or NR radio access technology (RAT) to describe aspects, aspects of this disclosure may be applied to other RATs, such as 3G RAT, 4G RAT and / or RATs after 5G (e.g., 6G).

[0024] Figure 1This is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless network 100 according to this disclosure. Wireless network 100 may be or may include elements of a 5G (NR) network and / or an LTE network, as well as other examples. Wireless network 100 may include multiple base stations 110 (shown as BS 110a, BS 110b, BS 110c, and BS 110d) and other network entities. A base station (BS) is an entity that communicates with a user equipment (UE) and may also be referred to as an NR BS, Node B, gNB, 5G Node B (NB), access point, Transmit / Receive Point (TRP), etc. Each BS can provide communication coverage for a specific geographic area. In 3GPP, the term "cell" may refer to the coverage area of ​​a BS and / or the BS subsystem serving that coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used.

[0025] A BS can provide communication coverage for macrocells, picocells, femtocells, and / or another type of cell. A macrocell can cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., a radius of several kilometers) and can allow unrestricted access by UEs with service subscriptions. A picocell can cover a relatively small geographic area and can allow unrestricted access by UEs with service subscriptions. A femtocell can cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a residential area) and can allow restricted access by UEs associated with that femtocell (e.g., UEs in a Closed User Group (CSG)). A BS used for macrocells can be referred to as a macro BS. A BS used for picocells can be referred to as a pico BS. A BS used for femtocells can be referred to as a femtocell BS or a home BS. Figure 1 In the examples shown, BS 110a can be a macro BS for macro cell 102a, BS 110b can be a pico BS for pico cell 102b, and BS 110c can be a femto BS for femto cell 102c. A BS can support one or more (e.g., three) cells. The terms “eNB,” “base station,” “NR BS,” “gNB,” “TRP,” “AP,” “Node B,” “5G NB,” and “cell” are used interchangeably herein.

[0026] In some respects, the cell may not be stationary, and the geographical area of ​​the cell may move depending on the location of the mobile BS. In some respects, BSs may be interconnected with each other and / or with one or more other BSs or network nodes (not shown) in the wireless network 100 using any suitable transport network via various types of backhaul interfaces (such as direct physical connections or virtual networks).

[0027] The wireless network 100 may also include a relay station. A relay station is an entity that can receive data transmissions from an upstream station (e.g., a BS or a UE) and transmit the data transmissions to a downstream station (e.g., a UE or a BS). A relay station can also be a UE capable of relaying transmissions for other UEs. Figure 1 In the example shown, relay BS 110d can communicate with macro BS 110a and UE 120d to facilitate communication between BS 110a and UE 120d. A relay BS can also be referred to as a relay station, relay base station, repeater, etc.

[0028] Wireless network 100 can be a heterogeneous network comprising different types of Base Stations (BSs) such as macro BSs, pico BSs, femto BSs, relay BSs, etc. These different types of BSs can have different transmit power levels, different coverage areas, and different effects on interference in wireless network 100. For example, macro BSs can have high transmit power levels (e.g., 5 to 40 watts), while pico BSs, femto BSs, and relay BSs can have lower transmit power levels (e.g., 0.1 to 2 watts).

[0029] Network controller 130 can be coupled to a group of base stations (BSs) and can provide coordination and control for these BSs. Network controller 130 can communicate with the BSs via backhaul. BSs can also communicate with each other directly or indirectly via wireless or wired backhaul.

[0030] UE 120 (e.g., 120a, 120b, 120c) may be distributed throughout the wireless network 100, and each UE may be stationary or mobile. UE may also be referred to as an access terminal, terminal, mobile station, subscriber unit, station, etc. UE may be a cellular phone (e.g., a smartphone), personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless modem, wireless communication device, handheld device, laptop computer, cordless phone, wireless local loop (WLL) station, tablet device, camera, gaming device, netbook, smartbook, ultrabook, medical device or apparatus, biometric sensor / device, wearable device (smartwatch, smart clothing, smart glasses, smart wristband, smart jewelry (e.g., smart ring, smart bracelet, etc.)), entertainment device (e.g., music or video device, or satellite radio unit, etc.), vehicle component or sensor, smart meter / sensor, industrial manufacturing equipment, GPS device, or any other suitable device configured to communicate via wireless or wired media.

[0031] Some UEs can be considered Machine-Type Communication (MTC) or Evolved or Enhanced Machine-Type Communication (eMTC) UEs. MTC and eMTC UEs include, for example, robots, drones, remote devices, sensors, meters, monitors, and / or location tags, which can communicate with a base station, another device (e.g., a remote device), or some other entity. Wireless nodes can provide connectivity to or to a network (e.g., a wide area network such as the Internet or cellular networks) via wired or wireless communication links, for example. Some UEs can be considered Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and / or can be implemented as NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things) devices. Some UEs can be considered Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). UE 120 can be included within a housing housing the components of UE 120, such as processor components and / or memory components. In some aspects, the processor components and memory components can be coupled together. For example, the processor components (e.g., one or more processors) and memory components (e.g., memory) can be operatively coupled, communicatively coupled, electronically coupled, and / or electrically coupled.

[0032] Typically, any number of wireless networks can be deployed in a given geographical area. Each wireless network can support a specific RAT and can operate on one or more frequencies. A RAT can also be referred to as a radio technology, air interface, etc. A frequency can also be referred to as a carrier, frequency channel, etc. Each frequency can support a single RAT in a given geographical area to avoid interference between wireless networks using different RATs. In some cases, NR or 5G RAT networks can be deployed.

[0033] In some respects, two or more UEs 120 (e.g., shown as UE 120a and UE 120e) may communicate directly using one or more sidelink channels (e.g., without using base station 110 as an intermediary for communication with each other). For example, UEs 120 may communicate using peer-to-peer (P2P) communication, device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) protocols (e.g., which may include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) protocols, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) protocols, etc.) and / or mesh networks. In this case, UEs 120 may perform scheduling operations, resource selection operations, and / or other operations described elsewhere herein as being performed by base station 110.

[0034] Alternatively or concurrently, wireless network 100 may include one or more WLAN access points 140 and one or more WLAN stations 150. Referring to the WLAN of wireless network 100, WLAN access point 140 may wirelessly communicate with WLAN station 150 via one or more WLAN access point antennas over one or more communication links. In some aspects, WLAN access point 140 may communicate with WLAN station 150 using one or more Wi-Fi communication standards, such as IEEE standard 802.11 (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11n, or IEEE 802.11ac)). In some aspects, WLAN access point 140 and base station 110 may be the same device or may be co-located. Alternatively or concurrently, WLAN station 150 and UE 120 may be the same device or may be co-located.

[0035] Devices in the wireless network 100 can communicate using the electromagnetic spectrum, which can be subdivided into various categories, bands, channels, etc., based on frequency or wavelength. For example, devices in the wireless network 100 can communicate using an operating band with a first frequency range (FR1) (which can span from 410 MHz to 7.125 GHz), and / or can communicate using an operating band with a second frequency range (FR2) (which can span from 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz). The frequencies between FR1 and FR2 are sometimes referred to as intermediate frequency (IF) bands. Although a portion of FR1 is greater than 6 GHz, FR1 is generally referred to as the "below 6 GHz" band. Similarly, FR2 is generally referred to as the "millimeter wave" band, although it is different from the extremely high frequency (EHF) band (30 GHz–300 GHz) designated as the "millimeter wave" band by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Therefore, unless otherwise explicitly stated, it should be understood that the terms "below 6 GHz" and the like (if used herein) can broadly refer to frequencies below 6 GHz, frequencies within FR1, and / or intermediate frequency band frequencies (e.g., above 7.125 GHz). Similarly, unless otherwise explicitly stated, it should be understood that the terms "millimeter wave" and the like (if used herein) can broadly refer to frequencies within the EHF band, frequencies within FR2, and / or intermediate frequency band frequencies (e.g., below 24.25 GHz). It is anticipated that the frequencies included in FR1 and FR2 may be modified, and the techniques described herein are applicable to those modified frequency ranges.

[0036] In some aspects, devices of wireless network 100 may communicate with each other using licensed and / or unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands. For example, base station 110 and UE 120 may communicate using RATs such as Licensed Assisted Access (LAA), Enhanced LAA (eLAA), Further Enhanced LAA (feLAA), and NR Unlicensed (NR-U). In some aspects, WLAN access point 140 and WLAN station 150 may communicate with each other using only unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands (instead of licensed radio frequency spectrum bands). Therefore, base station 110, UE 120, WLAN access point 140, WLAN station 150, etc., may share unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands. Because devices operating under different protocols (e.g., different RATs) may share unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands, transmitting devices may need to compete for access to the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands before transmission.

[0037] As pointed out above, Figure 1 This is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from the one provided. Figure 1 The example described.

[0038] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating an example of communication between a base station 110 and a UE 120 in a wireless network 100 according to the present disclosure. The base station 110 may be equipped with T antennas 234a to 234t, and the UE 120 may be equipped with R antennas 252a to 252r, wherein generally, T ≥ 1 and R ≥ 1.

[0039] At base station 110, transmitting processor 220 can receive data for one or more UEs from data source 212, select one or more modulation and coding schemes (MCS) for each UE based at least in part on channel quality indicators (CQI) received from each UE, process (e.g., code and modulate) the data for each UE based at least in part on the MCS selected for each UE, and provide data symbols for all UEs. Transmitting processor 220 can also process system information (e.g., semi-static resource allocation information (SRPI)) and control information (e.g., CQI requests, permission, and / or upper-layer signaling), and provide overhead symbols and control symbols. Transmitting processor 220 can also generate reference symbols for reference signals (e.g., cell-specific reference signals (CRS) or demodulation reference signals (DMRS)) and synchronization signals (e.g., primary synchronization signal (PSS) or secondary synchronization signal (SSS)). The transmit (TX) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processor 230 can perform spatial processing (e.g., precoding, if applicable) on data symbols, control symbols, overhead symbols, and / or reference symbols, and can provide T output symbol streams to T modulators (MODs) 232a to 232t. Each modulator 232 can (e.g., for OFDM) process its corresponding output symbol stream to obtain an output sample stream. Each modulator 232 can further process (e.g., convert to analog, amplify, filter, and up-convert) the output sample stream to obtain a downlink signal. The T downlink signals from modulators 232a to 232t can be transmitted via T antennas 234a to 234t respectively.

[0040] At UE 120, antennas 252a to 252r can receive downlink signals from base station 110 and / or other base stations, and can provide the received signals to demodulators (DEMODs) 254a to 254r respectively. Each demodulator 254 can adjust (e.g., filter, amplify, down-convert, and digitize) the received signal to obtain an input sample. Each demodulator 254 can further process the input sample (e.g., for OFDM) to obtain a received symbol. MIMO detector 256 can obtain the received symbols from all R demodulators 254a to 254r, perform MIMO detection on the received symbols (if applicable), and provide the detected symbols. Receive processor 258 can process (e.g., demodulate and decode) the detected symbols, provide decoded data for UE 120 to data sink 260, and provide decoded control information and system information to controller / processor 280. The term "controller / processor" can refer to one or more controllers, one or more processors, or a combination thereof. The channel processor can determine the Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) parameter, the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) parameter, the Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) parameter, and / or the Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) parameter, as well as other examples. In some aspects, one or more components of the UE 120 may be included in the housing 284.

[0041] Network controller 130 may include communication unit 294, controller / processor 290, and memory 292. Network controller 130 may include one or more devices, such as those in a core network. Network controller 130 may communicate with base station 110 via communication unit 294.

[0042] Antennas (e.g., antennas 234a to 234t and / or antennas 252a to 252r) may include or be included within the following: one or more antenna panels, antenna groups, antenna element sets, and / or antenna arrays, and other examples. Antenna panels, antenna groups, antenna element sets, and / or antenna arrays may include one or more antenna elements. Antenna panels, antenna groups, antenna element sets, and / or antenna arrays may include coplanar antenna element sets and / or non-coplanar antenna element sets. Antenna panels, antenna groups, antenna element sets, and / or antenna arrays may include antenna elements within a single housing and / or multiple antenna elements within housings. Antenna panels, antenna groups, antenna element sets, and / or antenna arrays may include antenna elements coupled to one or more transmitting and / or receiving components (such as...) Figure 2 One or more antenna elements (one or more components in the process).

[0043] On the uplink, at UE 120, the transmitting processor 264 can receive and process data from data source 262 and control information from controller / processor 280 (e.g., for reporting RSRP, RSSI, RSRQ, and / or CQI). The transmitting processor 264 can also generate reference symbols for one or more reference signals. Symbols from the transmitting processor 264 can be pre-coded (if applicable) by TX MIMO processor 266, further processed by modulators 254a to 254r (e.g., for DFT-s-OFDM or CP-OFDM), and transmitted to base station 110. In some aspects, the modulator and demodulator (e.g., MOD / DEMOD 254) of UE 120 can be included in the modem of UE 120. In some aspects, UE 120 includes a transceiver. The transceiver may include any combination of antenna 252, modulator and / or demodulator 254, MIMO detector 256, receive processor 258, transmit processor 264 and / or TXMIMO processor 266. The transceiver may be used by a processor (e.g., controller / processor 280) and memory 282 to perform aspects of any of the methods described herein (e.g., as referenced). Figures 5A-5F and / or Figure 6 (Described).

[0044] At base station 110, uplink signals from UE 120 and other UEs can be received by antenna 234, processed by demodulator 232, detected by MIMO detector 236 (if applicable), and further processed by receiver processor 238 to obtain decoded data and control information transmitted by UE 120. Receiver processor 238 can provide decoded data to data sink 239 and decoded control information to controller / processor 240. Base station 110 may include communication unit 244 and communicate with network controller 130 via communication unit 244. Base station 110 may include scheduler 246 to schedule UE 120 for downlink and / or uplink communication. In some aspects, modulators and demodulators (e.g., MOD / DEMOD 232) of base station 110 may be included in the modem of base station 110. In some aspects, base station 110 includes a transceiver. The transceiver may include any combination of antenna 234, modulator and / or demodulator 232, MIMO detector 236, receive processor 238, transmit processor 220, and / or TX MIMO processor 230. The transceiver may be used by a processor (e.g., controller / processor 240) and memory 242 to perform aspects of any of the methods described herein (e.g., as referenced). Figures 5A-5F and / or Figure 6 (Described).

[0045] The controller / processor 240 of base station 110, the controller / processor 280 of UE 120 and / or Figure 2 Any other components may perform one or more techniques associated with UE fixed frame periods (FFP) in frame-based device (FBE) mode for use in unlicensed spectrum, as described in more detail elsewhere herein. For example, the controller / processor 240 of base station 110, the controller / processor 280 of UE 120, and / or Figure 2 Any other component can perform or direct, for example Figure 6 The operation of process 600 and / or other processes as described herein. Memory 242 and 282 may store data and program code for base station 110 and UE 120, respectively. In some aspects, memory 242 and / or memory 282 may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions (e.g., code and / or program code) for wireless communication. For example, one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors of base station 110 and / or UE 120 (e.g., directly, or after compilation, translation, and / or interpretation), may cause one or more processors, UE 120, and / or base station 110 to perform or direct, for example... Figure 6 The operation of process 600 and / or other processes as described herein. In some aspects, execution instructions may include run instructions, transformation instructions, compilation instructions and / or interpretation instructions, and other examples.

[0046] In some aspects, UE 120 may include: a unit for determining an FFP configured for UE 120 in FBE mode, wherein the FFP configured for UE 120 includes one or more idle periods and a channel occupancy time, the channel occupancy time being offset from an FFP configured for base station 110 to communicate with UE 120 on an unlicensed channel; a unit for avoiding transmission on the unlicensed channel during one or more idle periods, wherein the one or more idle periods at least partially overlap with the time period during which base station 110 avoids transmission on the unlicensed channel; and so on. In some aspects, such a unit may include a combination of Figure 2 One or more components of the described UE 120, such as controller / processor 280, transmit processor 264, TX MIMO processor 266, MOD 254, antenna 252, DEMOD 254, MIMO detector 256, receive processor 258, etc.

[0047] Although Figure 2The boxes in the diagram are shown as different components, but the functions described above with respect to these boxes can be implemented in a single hardware, software, or combined component, or in various combinations of components. For example, the functions described with respect to transmit processor 264, receive processor 258, and / or TX MIMO processor 266 can be performed by or under the control of controller / processor 280.

[0048] As pointed out above, Figure 2 This is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from the one provided. Figure 2 The example described.

[0049] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating example 300 of an unlicensed radio frequency band according to this disclosure.

[0050] To meet the growing demands of the business, various efforts have been made to improve the spectrum efficiency in wireless networks, thereby increasing network capacity (e.g., through the use of higher-order modulation, advanced MIMO antenna technology, multi-cell coordination techniques, etc.). Another potential way to increase network capacity is to expand system bandwidth. However, the available spectrum in lower frequency bands that have traditionally been licensed or otherwise allocated to mobile network operators has become very scarce. Therefore, various technologies have been developed to enable Cellular Radio Access Technologies (RATs) to operate in unlicensed or other shared spectrum. For example, Licensed Assisted Access (LAA) uses carrier aggregation on the downlink to combine LTE in licensed frequency bands with LTE in unlicensed frequency bands (e.g., the 2.4 and / or 5 GHz bands already occupied by wireless local area networks (WLANs) or “Wi-Fi” devices). In other examples, enhanced LAA (eLAA) and further enhanced LAA (feLAA) technologies implement both uplink and downlink LTE operations in unlicensed spectrum, MulteFire is an LTE-based technology that operates in standalone mode in both unlicensed and shared spectrum, NR-U implements NR operations in unlicensed spectrum, and so on.

[0051] For example, as in Figure 3As shown by reference numeral 305, unlicensed radio frequency (RF) bands (such as a 6 GHz unlicensed RF band) can span a frequency range and can utilize frequency division duplex (FDD). In an FDD system, a first band (e.g., a first sub-band of an unlicensed RF band) can be used for downlink communication, as shown by reference numeral 310, and a second band (e.g., a second sub-band of an unlicensed RF band) can be used for uplink communication, as shown by reference numeral 315. Downlink communication can refer to communication from a control node to a node (e.g., controlled, configured, and / or scheduled by the control node), such as from base station 110 to UE 120, from WLAN access point 140 to WLAN station 150, etc. Uplink communication can refer to communication from a node to a control node, such as from UE 120 to base station 110, from WLAN station 150 to WLAN access point 140, etc.

[0052] As in Figure 3 Furthermore, as shown by reference numeral 320, the downlink frequency band can be divided into multiple downlink channels, sometimes referred to as downlink frequency channels. Similarly, as shown by reference numeral 325, the uplink frequency band can be divided into multiple uplink channels, sometimes referred to as uplink frequency channels. As shown by reference numeral 330, each downlink channel can correspond to a single uplink channel. This can be referred to as channel pairing, where a downlink channel is paired with an uplink channel. In this configuration, control nodes and nodes can use a specific downlink channel for downlink communication and can use a specific uplink channel paired with or corresponding to that specific downlink channel for uplink communication. In Example 300, downlink channel 1 is paired with uplink channel 1, downlink channel 2 is paired with uplink channel 2, downlink channel 3 is paired with uplink channel 3, and so on.

[0053] Although Figure 3Example 300 illustrates an unlicensed RF band utilizing FDD, but in some cases, unlicensed communication channels can utilize Time Division Duplex (TDD). For example, in an unlicensed communication channel utilizing TDD, uplink and downlink transmissions can be time-separated and performed on the same frequency channel. However, unlike TDD in licensed spectrum, subframes, time slots, symbols, etc., are not limited to being configured for uplink or downlink communication, and can be configured for downlink transmissions performed by the base station or uplink transmissions performed by the UE. Furthermore, unlicensed communication can support dynamic TDD, where uplink-downlink allocation can change over time to adapt to service conditions. For example, to implement dynamic TDD, wireless devices (e.g., base stations, UEs, etc.) can determine when to transmit and in which resources to transmit based on an indication of the channel occupancy time structure. Typically, channel occupancy time can include multiple transmission intervals (e.g., multiple time slots), and each transmission interval can include one or more downlink resources, one or more uplink resources, one or more flexible resources, etc. In this way, the channel occupancy time structure reduces power consumption, channel access delay, etc.

[0054] In unlicensed RF bands (e.g., the 6 GHz unlicensed RF band), all or part of the band can be licensed to an entity known as a fixed service incumbent. Therefore, when operating a cellular RAT (e.g., using LAA, eLAA, feLAA, MulteFire, NR-U, etc.) in unlicensed spectrum, a challenge arises in ensuring fair coexistence with incumbent devices (e.g., WLAN devices) that may be operating in the unlicensed spectrum. For example, before gaining access to an unlicensed channel and / or transmitting on it, transmitting devices (e.g., base station 110, UE 120, etc.) may need to perform a Listen-Before-Speak (LBT) procedure to compete for access to the unlicensed channel. The LBT procedure may include an Empty Channel Assessment (CCA) procedure to determine whether the unlicensed channel is available (e.g., not occupied by other transmitters). Specifically, the device performing the CCA procedure may detect the energy level on the unlicensed channel and determine whether the energy level meets (e.g., less than or equal to) a threshold (sometimes referred to as the energy detection threshold, etc.). When the energy level meets (e.g., is below) a threshold, the LBT process is considered successful, and the transmitting device can gain access to the unlicensed channel for a duration known as the channel occupancy time. During the channel occupancy time, the transmitting device can perform one or more transmissions without having to perform any additional LBT operations. However, when the energy level fails to meet (e.g., is equal to or exceeds) the energy detection threshold, the LBT process fails, and the transmitting device's contention for access to the unlicensed channel is unsuccessful.

[0055] In cases where the LBT process fails due to the CCA process determining that the unlicensed channel band is unavailable (e.g., because the energy level detected on the unlicensed channel indicates that another device is already using the channel), the CCA process can be re-executed at a later time. In environments where the transmitting device may have extremely limited access to the unlicensed channel (e.g., due to WLAN activity or transmissions by other devices), an extended CCA (eCCA) process can be employed to increase the likelihood that the transmitting device will successfully gain access to the unlicensed channel. For example, the transmitting device performing the eCCA process can execute a random number of CCA processes (from 1 to q) based on an eCCA counter. If and / or when the transmitting device senses that the channel has become idle, the transmitting device can begin a random waiting period based on the eCCA counter, and if the channel remains idle during the random waiting period, transmission begins.

[0056] As pointed out above, Figure 3 This is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from the one provided. Figure 3 The example described.

[0057] Figures 4A-4C This is a diagram illustrating an example 400 of a fixed frame period including channel occupancy time according to the present disclosure, during which one or more devices may transmit on an unlicensed channel.

[0058] In wireless networks supporting communication in unlicensed spectrum, the LBT process can be performed in either Load-Based Device (LBE) mode or Frame-Based Device (FBE) mode. In LBE mode, the transmitting device can perform channel sensing associated with the LBT process at any time and use random backoff if the unlicensed channel is found to be busy. In FBE mode, the base station can perform channel sensing associated with the LBT process at fixed time instances, and if the unlicensed channel is found to be busy, the base station waits before sensing the unlicensed channel again until the fixed time period has elapsed. Specifically, the fixed time instances in which the base station performs channel sensing can be defined according to a fixed frame period (FFP).

[0059] For example, Figure 4A An example FFP 410 base station is depicted, which can be used for communication in unlicensed spectrum. (e.g.) Figure 4A As shown, FFP 410 may include a Channel Occupancy Time (COT) 412, during which the base station may transmit one or more downlink communications. In some cases, see the following reference... Figure 4B As described, the base station can share the channel occupancy time 412 with the UE, enabling the UE to transmit one or more uplink communications during the channel occupancy time 412. For example... Figure 4A As shown, after the channel occupancy time 412, FFP 410 may also include an idle period 414 (sometimes referred to as an interval period, etc.) at the end of FFP 410. Specifically, FFP 410 includes an idle period 414 to provide time for performing the LBT procedure in the next FFP 410. The FFP 410 including the channel occupancy time 412 and the idle period 414 can have a duration of 1 millisecond (ms), 2 ms, 2.5 ms, 4 ms, 5 ms, and 10 ms, etc. The starting position of FFP 410 within every two radio frames (e.g., even-numbered radio frames) can be given by i*P, where i = {0, 1, ..., 20 / P-1}, and P is the duration of FFP 410 (in ms). For a given subcarrier spacing (SCS), idle time period 414 can be the upper limit of the minimum idle time period allowed by the regulations divided by Ts, where the minimum duration of idle time period 414 is a maximum of 100 microseconds (μs) and is 5% of the duration of FFP 410, and Ts is the symbol duration for a given SCS. Therefore, idle time period 414 can typically occupy no less than 5% of the duration of FFP 410, and channel occupancy time 412 can occupy no more than 95% of the duration of FFP 410.

[0060] The FFP configuration for FBE mode can be signaled to the UE in the system information block (e.g., SIB-1) or in UE-specific radio resource control (RRC) signaling. If the network indicates actions for backing downlink and uplink permission, for LBT category 2 (25μs), or for LBTs without random backoff or category 4, or for LBTs with random backoff and variable-size contention windows, the UE can follow a mechanism of measuring a 9μs slot (e.g., a single LBT) within a 25μs interval. If one or more downlink signals or downlink channels (e.g., Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), Synchronization Signal Block (SSB), Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH), Residual Minimum System Information (RMSI), Group Common PDCCH (GC-PDCCH), etc.) are detected within FFP 410, a UE transmission can occur within FFP 410. The same 2-bit field can be used in both LBE and FBE modes to indicate LBT type, cyclic prefix extension, channel access priority level indication, etc.

[0061] In the NR-U FBE (Unlicensed NR-U) version 16 NR mode, only the base station can act as the initiating device, and the UE can act as the responding device only. Therefore, in NR-U FBE mode, the channel access rules can be as follows: If the base station initiates a channel occupancy time 412, the Category 1 (Cat-1) LBT procedure may not apply, and the base station can execute the Category 2 (Cat-2) LBT procedure precisely during the idle period 414 prior to FFP 410. If the base station wants to send a downlink burst during the channel occupancy time 412 initiated by the base station, then: if the gap with the previous downlink or uplink burst is within 16 μs, the base station can execute the Cat-1 LBT procedure; otherwise, if the gap exceeds 16 μs, the base station can execute the Cat-2 LBT procedure. If the UE intends to transmit an uplink burst during the channel occupancy time 412 initiated by the base station, then: if the gap with the previous downlink or uplink burst is within 16 μs, the UE may perform a Cat-1 LBT procedure; otherwise, if the gap is greater than 16 μs, the UE may perform a Cat-2 LBT procedure. It is worth noting that the Cat-2 LBT procedure for FBE mode can differ from the Cat-2 LBT procedure in LBE mode (25 μs or 16 μs). In some aspects, a 9 μs measurement may be required exactly before transmission, with at least 4 μs used for measurement. As indicated by reference numeral 416, the 9 μs measurement required to begin the channel occupancy time 412 in the next FFP 410 can be referred to as a single LBT. However, neither the Cat-1 LBT procedure nor the Cat-2 LBT procedure is suitable for cases where the UE will initiate a channel occupancy time in FBE mode, because the UE cannot initiate a channel occupancy in version 16NR-U FBE mode.

[0062] Therefore, although wireless networks can be configured to use unlicensed spectrum to achieve faster data rates, provide a quicker user experience, offload services from licensed spectrum, etc., a limitation of FBE mode is that the UE cannot initiate channel occupancy time to perform uplink transmissions. In some cases, to improve access and efficiency on unlicensed channels, wireless networks can allow the base station and UE to share channel occupancy time. For example, as in... Figure 4B As shown by reference numeral 420 in the accompanying drawings, if a base station (e.g., by performing an LBT procedure) successfully competes for access to an unlicensed channel, the base station may send a COT indicator (e.g., using Group Common Downlink Control Information (DCI)) to one or more UEs, and the COT indicator from the base station may indicate that one or more UEs do not need to initiate FFP. Alternatively, one or more UEs may share a channel occupancy time acquired by the base station and transmit one or more uplink communications during the shared channel occupancy time.

[0063] In a fully controlled environment, it may be sufficient to allow only the base station to compete for access to unlicensed channels and share the channel occupancy time initiated by the base station with one or more UEs. For example, as described herein, a “fully controlled” environment can be one that is restricted or otherwise controlled such that no other RAT or operator will be operating in the coverage area. Therefore, in a fully controlled environment, the LBT process may always pass, even in FBE mode. However, in practice, a fully controlled environment can be difficult to achieve because there is a possibility that some other RAT may be operating even if the environment is cleared. For example, an employee in a factory environment that was originally cleared may carry a WLAN station sending WLAN access probes, even if no WLAN access points are deployed in the factory environment. Therefore, in a nearly fully controlled environment, the probability of the LBT process performed by the base station failing is very small, which may result in unacceptable performance for services with stringent quality of service requirements, such as Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications, etc. For example, even with an LBT failure rate as low as 10%, -3 In some cases, URLLC packets scheduled for delivery in FFP may fail to be delivered. -3 The probability is that, due to the failure of the LBT process performed by the base station at the beginning of the FFP, the base station and any UE communicating with the base station must abandon the entire FFP. -3 The failure probability may not be sufficient to meet the reliability requirements of URLLC, which typically require 10. -6 Or better reliability. Furthermore, these problems are exacerbated in uncontrolled environments where there may be numerous incumbent and / or competing devices vying for access to unlicensed channels.

[0064] Therefore, if the LBT procedure is performed in FBE mode before transmission on an unlicensed channel, the UE may be unable to transmit uplink data if the base station fails to complete the LBT procedure and / or does not perform the LBT procedure (because the base station does not need to transmit downlink data). Therefore, in cases where the base station fails to complete the LBT procedure or otherwise does not transmit a COT indicator to share the channel occupancy time acquired by the base station (e.g., because the base station did not perform the LBT procedure due to a lack of downlink activity), the UE can be allowed to act as the initiating device to perform the LBT procedure in FBE mode. For example, as in Figure 4BFurthermore, as shown by reference numeral 422, if the UE does not detect a COT indicator from the base station, the UE can perform an LBT procedure to start FFP and initiate a COT in which it will transmit one or more uplink communications. Therefore, as further shown by reference numeral 424, if the LBT procedure succeeds, the UE can transmit one or more uplink communications on an unlicensed channel, and the detection of uplink transmissions from the UE can indicate to the base station that it can share the channel occupancy time acquired by the UE to perform downlink transmissions.

[0065] In some respects, allowing the UE to initiate channel occupancy time in FBE mode can improve access to unlicensed channels, reduce uplink latency, save power, and reduce interference. For example, when the UE initiates channel occupancy time, it can use the time to transmit the Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) for initial network access. Specifically, during initial network access, the UE may not yet be configured to monitor downlink transmissions (e.g., using downlink control information (DCI) scrambled with SI-RNTI or other known RNTIs) to determine whether the base station has obtained the System Information Radio Network Temporary Identifier (SI-RNTI) or another known RNTI for channel occupancy time. This may limit the UE's ability to transmit PRACH for initial network access, thus enabling the UE to initiate channel occupancy time before the UE is configured to monitor downlink transmissions from the base station for uplink PRACH transmission.

[0066] Furthermore, allowing the UE to initiate channel occupancy time enables the UE to transmit the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) and / or Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) earlier in the FFP associated with the base station. For example, when sharing channel occupancy time acquired by the base station, the UE must acknowledge that the base station has acquired the channel occupancy time in an earlier portion of the FFP so that transmission can be achieved in a later portion of the FFP (e.g., the UE needs to reserve time in an earlier portion of the base station's FFP to allow time for downlink transmissions from the base station, time for the UE to process downlink transmissions, etc.). Additionally, allowing the UE to initiate channel occupancy time can save power at the base station and / or reduce interference on unlicensed channels. For example, in order to share channel occupancy time and achieve uplink transmission within the shared channel occupancy time, the base station needs to actively transmit one or more downlink communications in an earlier portion of the FFP, even if the base station does not need to transmit downlink communications. This can result in additional power consumption at the base station and additional interference on unlicensed channels, which can be avoided by allowing the UE to initiate channel occupancy time. Furthermore, allowing the UE to initiate channel occupancy time instead of relying on shared channel occupancy time obtained by the base station can avoid problems that might otherwise arise in situations where downlink signal detection has reliability limitations.

[0067] While allowing UEs to initiate channel occupancy time (during which the UE can perform uplink transmissions on an unlicensed channel) can improve channel access, reduce uplink latency, save power, and reduce interference, challenges may arise when the base station and one or more UEs share channel occupancy time for the same unlicensed channel. For example, ... Figure 4C As shown, the FFP configured for a UE that allows channel occupancy time to be initiated in FBE mode typically has a start time offset from the start time of the FFP configured for the base station. Otherwise, if the FFP configured for the UE starts simultaneously with the FFP configured for the base station, the UE and the base station could each simultaneously compete for access to the unlicensed channel (e.g., by simultaneously performing the LBT procedure during the idle period before the FFP), which could result in the base station failing to detect and the UE failing to detect each other. Furthermore, since regulations require both the FFP configured for the base station and the FFP configured for the UE to have an idle period at the end of the FFP, the idle period in the FFP configured for the base station will not be aligned with the idle period in the FFP configured for the UE.

[0068] As in Figure 4C As shown by reference numeral 430 in the attached figure, when both the base station and the UE successfully acquire the channel occupancy time, the base station can transmit during the idle period of the FFP configured for the UE within the channel occupancy time of the FFP configured for the base station, and vice versa. For example, Figure 4CAn example transmission timeline (Tx) is shown, in which the base station transmits on an unlicensed channel during the channel occupancy period acquired by the base station, and then the UE may transmit on the unlicensed channel during the channel occupancy period acquired by the UE (e.g., during a gap in transmissions performed by the base station). The base station may later resume transmission during the channel occupancy period acquired by the base station (e.g., by performing a Cat-2 LBT procedure during a gap in transmissions performed by the UE), and then the base station may avoid transmission during an idle period following the channel occupancy period.

[0069] However, because the UE has already acquired the channel occupancy time, it can perform a Cat-2 LBT procedure and resume transmission during a portion of the UE's channel occupancy time that overlaps with the idle period in the base station's FFP. The base station can then acquire another channel occupancy time in the next FFP and transmit during a portion of the base station's channel occupancy time that overlaps with the idle period in the UE's FFP. In other words, due to the offset between the UE's FFP and the base station's FFP (and the resulting misaligned idle periods), the base station's channel occupancy time may overlap with the UE's idle period, and vice versa. Therefore, each node can transmit during another node's idle period without leaving a sufficiently long gap for other devices (e.g., LBE devices) to perform a Cat-4 LBT procedure and acquire unlicensed channels, leaving other devices with virtually no access to unlicensed channels.

[0070] Some aspects described herein relate to techniques and apparatus for configuring or otherwise providing a UE FFP (Flexible Page Setup) structure that can be used for communication on an unlicensed channel without preventing other devices from successfully competing for access to the unlicensed channel. Specifically, the FFP configured for the UE in FBE mode may include a channel occupancy time offset from the FFP configured for a base station communicating with the UE on the unlicensed channel (e.g., to ensure that the base station and the UE can detect each other when competing for access to the unlicensed channel). Furthermore, the FFP configured for the UE may include one or more idle periods that at least partially overlap with the periods during which the base station avoids transmitting on the unlicensed channel. In this way, the UE can avoid transmitting on the unlicensed channel during one or more idle periods, and the (at least partial) overlap between the one or more idle periods in the FFP configured for the UE and the periods during which the base station avoids transmitting on the unlicensed channel ensures that when neither the base station nor the UE is transmitting, other devices (e.g., LBE devices, such as WLAN devices) will be able to compete for access to the unlicensed channel.

[0071] As pointed out above, Figures 4A-4C This is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from the one provided. Figures 4A-4C The example described.

[0072] Figures 5A-5F This is a diagram illustrating example 500 associated with a UEFFP provided for FBE mode in unlicensed spectrum, according to this disclosure. Figures 5A-5F As shown, Example 500 includes a base station (e.g., base station 110, etc.) in a wireless network (e.g., wireless network 100, etc.) communicating with one or more UEs (e.g., UE 120, etc.). Furthermore, as described herein, the base station and UE can be configured to communicate on the uplink and downlink using one or more unlicensed channels in FBE mode. In some aspects, as described herein, the UE can be allowed to initiate an LBT procedure to acquire channel occupancy time in FBE mode, and the FFP configured for each UE can be constructed such that the start time of the UE's channel occupancy time is offset from the start time of the base station's channel occupancy time. Furthermore, as described herein, the FFP configured for the UE and the FFP configured for the base station can be configured such that communication between the base station and the UE includes one or more quiet periods that at least partially overlap (e.g., idle periods within FFPs, quiet periods between FFPs, etc.). In this way, other devices (e.g., LBE devices) can perform a Cat-4 LBT procedure during one or more quiet periods to acquire access to the unlicensed channel.

[0073] For example, as in Figure 5A As shown by reference numeral 510 in the accompanying drawings, a base station can configure additional idle periods for one or more UEs communicating with the base station on an unlicensed channel, such that the base station and all served UEs communicating with it are silent (e.g., avoid transmission) during the additional idle periods. For example, in some aspects, the base station can send information indicating the structure of the FFP configured for the base station in system information (e.g., in System Information Block Type 1 (SIB-1), in UE-specific RRC signaling for FBE secondary cell (Scell) use cases, etc.). Therefore, each UE served by the base station can know the duration of the FFP configured for the base station, the start position of the FFP, the duration of the idle period of the FFP, etc. Furthermore, in some aspects, the base station can send configuration information (e.g., in RRC signaling) to each UE to indicate the additional idle period during which the corresponding UE will be silent. Thus, as... Figure 5AAs shown, the configuration information sent by the base station can modify the structure of the FFP configured for each UE, so that the UE will avoid sending during the idle period at the end of the FFP configured for the UE, and further avoid sending during the additional idle period configured by the base station.

[0074] In some aspects, such as Figure 5A As shown, additional idle periods can be configured to span all UE alignments served by the base station to allow for a common gap during which LBE devices (or other FBE devices) can compete for access to unlicensed channels. For example, in Figure 5A In this configuration, a first UE (shown as UE1) is configured with a first FFP that begins at a first offset after the FFP configured for the base station, and a second UE (shown as UE2) is configured with a second FFP that begins at a second offset after the FFP configured for the base station. In this case, the idle period at the end of the FFP configured for the base station is not aligned with the idle period at the end of the FFP configured for both the first and second UEs, and the idle periods at the end of the FFP configured for both the first and second UEs are not aligned with each other. Therefore, the base station configures an additional idle period to be aligned across the first and second UEs (and any other UEs that can communicate with the base station on unlicensed channels) to ensure that there is a common period during which all UEs served by the base station avoid transmitting on unlicensed channels. Furthermore, in some aspects, the additional idle period can be aligned with the idle period in the FFP configured for the base station, such that the base station also avoids transmitting during the common period during which all UEs served by the base station will avoid transmitting on unlicensed channels.

[0075] Alternatively, in some aspects, the additional idle period configured to align across all served UEs may differ from the idle period in the FFP configured for the base station. For example, the additional idle period may have a different start time or a different end time than the idle period in the base station FFP. However, typically, the additional idle period may at least partially overlap with the base station's idle period to ensure that there are periods during which neither the base station nor the served UE transmits on unlicensed channels. Alternatively, where the additional idle period does not overlap with the base station's idle period, the UE may be configured to apply one or more rules to ensure that the UE avoids transmitting during the idle period, which overlaps with the period during which the base station does not transmit on unlicensed channels.

[0076] For example, if the UE detects a downlink signal from the base station during the channel occupancy period of the base station's FFP, the UE can comply with the normal idle period in the base station's FFP (e.g., the UE can avoid transmitting during the normal idle period when the base station guarantees not to transmit). Otherwise, if the UE fails to detect a downlink signal from the base station during the channel occupancy period of the base station's FFP, the UE can infer that the base station has not acquired the channel occupancy period and can comply with an additional idle period that spans all served UEs but is different from the idle period in the base station's FFP. In this case, the UE can determine that due to the lack of downlink activity, the base station is not transmitting on an unlicensed channel during the base station's channel occupancy period, and thus avoiding transmission during the additional idle period that spans all served UEs can be sufficient to ensure that neither the base station nor any of the served UEs transmits during the additional idle period.

[0077] Therefore, in Figure 5A In the example shown, the idle periods in the base station FFP and / or additional idle periods aligned across all served UEs can be used as a global idle period during which the base station and all UEs served by the base station avoid transmitting on unlicensed channels. In this way, the idle periods in the base station FFP and / or additional idle periods aligned across all served UEs can provide neighboring devices (e.g., LBE devices) with the opportunity to intervene and gain access to unlicensed channels. Furthermore, as shown and described above, even if there are multiple UEs with different FFP structures (e.g., different offsets from the base station FFP), the additional idle periods can be common among all served UEs.

[0078] However, in Figure 5A One cost of the example shown is that the FFP configured for the UE includes two idle periods, which can reduce resource utilization by decreasing the time the UE can transmit on unlicensed channels. In some cases, the reduced resource utilization may be an acceptable cost if the channel occupancy time acquired by the UE does not require extensive use. However, in other cases (e.g., when the UE has a large amount of uplink data to transmit), the additional idle periods can lead to performance degradation.

[0079] Therefore, as in Figure 5BAs shown by reference numeral 520, if the channel occupancy time initiated by the UE is not within the channel occupancy time initiated by the base station, the UE may be allowed to disregard the additional idle period configured by the base station (e.g., the UE may be allowed to transmit during the additional idle period). For example, if the base station is not contending for access to an unlicensed channel, the base station will not initiate a channel occupancy time and therefore will not transmit downlink signals (e.g., COT indicators, etc.) during the earlier portion of the base station's FFP. In such a case, the UE may determine, at least in part, that the base station is not occupying an unlicensed channel based on the absence of downlink signals from the base station. Therefore, based at least in part on the UE's determination that the base station is not transmitting during the channel occupancy time of the base station's FFP, the UE is not required to comply with the idle period in the base station's FFP, and the UE may only avoid transmitting during the idle period at the end of the UE's FFP. However, as shown by reference numeral 522, the UE may be configured to comply with an additional idle period (e.g., a base station idle period) if the channel occupancy time initiated by the UE is within the channel occupancy time initiated by the base station. In this way, resource utilization on unlicensed channels can be increased while still providing other devices with the opportunity to perform LBT procedures and obtain channel access.

[0080] Alternatively, such as in Figure 5C As shown by reference numeral 530 in the accompanying drawing, the FFP configured for the UE can be configured to have a single idle period with a start time aligned with the start time of the idle period in the base station FFP. In this case, the end time of the single idle period can be aligned with the end time of the UE FFP. In other words, in Figure 5C In the example shown, both the base station and the UE can be silent during the idle period in the base station's FFP, and aligning the end time of the idle period in the UE's FFP with the end time of the UE's FFP may result in the UE's FFP having a longer idle period than required. However, as referenced above... Figure 4A The description typically requires that the idle period be at least 5% of the total duration of the FFP, meaning that an idle period longer than the minimum required duration is allowed. In this case, because the idle period in the UE FFP has a start time aligned with the start of the base station's idle period and an end time aligned with the end time of the UE FFP, the UE can avoid (e.g., can not resume) transmitting during the channel occupancy time initiated by the UE after the idle period in the base station's FFP has passed. In this way, although in Figure 5CThe example shown may shorten the time period during which the UE is allowed to transmit on an unlicensed channel, but extended idle periods in the UE FFP can save power, reduce processing resources, and reduce interference by extending the amount of time the UE avoids transmitting, avoiding the need to perform a Cat-2 LBT procedure to resume transmission, and so on.

[0081] In another example, such as in Figure 5D As shown by reference numeral 540 in the accompanying drawing, the base station and each UE served by the base station can have their initial channel occupancy time restricted when sharing the channel occupancy time of another node. In such a case, the two nodes (e.g., the node that initiates the channel occupancy time and the node that shares the channel occupancy time) can follow the idle period of the node that shares the channel occupancy time. In other words, the idle period to be implemented between the base station and the UE can be determined based on which node acquires the channel occupancy time. For example, as described above, if the first node (e.g., the base station or the UE) initiates the first channel occupancy time and is able to transmit during the idle period of the second node (e.g., the base station or the UE) (which occurs during the first channel occupancy period initiated by the first node), the other node (e.g., an LBE device) may be severely lacking in channel access. Furthermore, in such a case, the idle period when the first node performs the Cat-2LBT procedure to initiate the channel occupancy time in the next FFP occurs during the second channel occupancy time acquired by the second node. Therefore, the channel occupancy time for each node overlaps with the idle period in the FFP of the other node, resulting in mutual overlap that prevents other devices from successfully competing for access to unlicensed channels.

[0082] Therefore, to disable or otherwise break mutual coverage, if a base station is in a channel occupancy period initiated by a UE (in which case, base stations sharing the UE's channel occupancy period can follow the idle period in the FFP configured for the UE), it can restrict the base station's competition for access to unlicensed channels (e.g., it cannot start a channel occupancy period). Similarly, if a UE is in a channel occupancy period initiated by a base station (in which case, UEs sharing the base station's channel occupancy period can follow the idle period in the base station's FFP), it can restrict the UE's competition for access to unlicensed channels (e.g., the UE cannot start a channel occupancy period). In this way, the base station and UE cannot start separate channel occupancy periods that overlap with each other, and the idle period in the FFP of nodes following the shared channel occupancy period can ensure that there is a silent period in which neither device transmits. Furthermore, when multiple UEs are allowed to start corresponding channel occupancy periods, the UEs can be configured with corresponding FFPs aligned with each other to ensure that the channel occupancy period initiated by a UE does not cover the idle period in the FFP of other UEs.

[0083] Furthermore, as indicated by reference numeral 542 in the attached figure, measures are taken to prevent an additional silence period that might occur when a node switches its role as the initiating device if it begins a channel occupancy period during a channel occupancy period shared by another node. For example, Figure 5D The transmission timeline is shown, where the UE begins a shared channel occupancy period with the base station, thus both the UE and the base station are silent during the idle period in the UEFFP. As further shown, the base station then initiates the channel occupancy period in the next FFP via an LBT procedure, thereby switching the role of the UE and the base station as the device initiating the channel occupancy period. Therefore, there is an additional silent period between the channel occupancy period initiated by the UE and the channel occupancy period initiated by the base station (e.g., UE to BS channel occupancy period handover). Furthermore, a similar silent period may exist in cases where the base station initiates an earlier channel occupancy period and the UE initiates a later channel occupancy period (e.g., BS to UE channel occupancy period handover).

[0084] Typically, the duration of the silent period when the UE and base station switch roles as the device initiating channel occupancy time can be at least partially based on the corresponding lengths of the base station FFP and the UE FFP. For example, Figure 5D The diagram shows that the base station FFP and UE FFP are transmission timelines of the same length. However, as... Figure 5E As shown, the duration of the silent period can be adjusted by changing the length of the base station FFP and / or the UE FFP. For example, as indicated by reference numeral 544, the duration of the silent period can be reduced when the UE FFP has a shorter length than the base station FFP (e.g., when the base station and UE switch roles as initiating devices, there may be a short time period between channel occupancy times).

[0085] exist Figure 5D and Figure 5E In the example shown, each node (including the base station and any UE served by the base station) is not allowed to begin its channel occupancy time within the channel occupancy time started by another node, in order to avoid mutual overlap that would allow two (or more) nodes to transmit during all idle periods. While preventing each node from beginning its channel occupancy time within another node's channel occupancy time is sufficient to break mutual overlap, it is unnecessary to do so. Instead, mutual overlap only needs to be broken from one side.

[0086] Therefore, as in Figure 5FFurthermore, as indicated by reference numeral 550, the UE is not allowed to begin channel occupancy time when sharing the channel occupancy time initiated by the base station. In this case, the UE can comply with the idle period in the base station's FFP. However, as indicated by reference numeral 552, the base station can be allowed to begin channel occupancy time within the channel occupancy time initiated by the UE. Therefore, whenever the base station successfully acquires channel occupancy time, the idle period in the base station's FFP can always be idle, and the base station can be allowed to transmit during the idle period in the UE's FFP. Additionally, as indicated by reference numeral 554, a silent period can exist when switching from the channel occupancy time initiated by the base station to the channel occupancy time initiated by the UE. In this way, the silent period between the channel occupancy time initiated by the base station and the channel occupancy time initiated by the UE provides additional time for neither device to transmit, compensating for the loss of the idle period in the UE's FFP due to the base station being allowed to transmit during the idle period in the UE's FFP. In this way, other devices can have the opportunity to attempt the LBT procedure to access the unlicensed channel.

[0087] As pointed out above, Figures 5A-5F This is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from the one provided. Figures 5A-5F The example described.

[0088] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating an example process 600 performed by a UE, for example, according to this disclosure. Example process 600 is an example in which a UE (e.g., UE 120, etc.) performs operations associated with a UE FFP for FBE mode in unlicensed spectrum.

[0089] like Figure 6 As shown, in some aspects, process 600 may include: determining an FFP configured for the UE in FBE mode, wherein the FFP configured for the UE includes one or more idle periods and channel occupancy times, the channel occupancy time being offset from an FFP configured for a base station communicating with the UE on an unlicensed channel (block 610). For example, the UE may determine (e.g., using controller / processor 280, memory 282, etc.) an FFP configured for the UE in FBE mode, wherein the FFP configured for the UE includes one or more idle periods and channel occupancy times, the channel occupancy time being offset from an FFP configured for a base station communicating with the UE on an unlicensed channel, as described above.

[0090] like Figure 6As further shown, in some aspects, process 600 may include: avoiding transmission on an unlicensed channel during one or more idle periods, wherein the one or more idle periods at least partially overlap with the period during which the base station avoids transmission on the unlicensed channel (box 620). For example, the UE may avoid transmission on an unlicensed channel during one or more idle periods (e.g., using controller / processor 280, transmit processor 264, TXMIMO processor 266, MOD 254, antenna 252, memory 282, etc.), wherein the one or more idle periods at least partially overlap with the period during which the base station avoids transmission on the unlicensed channel, as described above.

[0091] Process 600 may include additional aspects, such as any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below and / or in conjunction with one or more other process descriptions elsewhere in this document.

[0092] In the first aspect, one or more idle periods include a first idle period at the end of the FFP configured for the UE and a second idle period configured by the base station.

[0093] In the second aspect, either alone or in combination with the first aspect, the second idle period is aligned across multiple UEs communicating with the base station on an unlicensed channel.

[0094] In the third aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the second idle period is aligned with the idle period in the FFP configured for the base station.

[0095] In the fourth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to third aspects, the second idle period has a different start time or a different end time than the idle period in the FFP configured for the base station.

[0096] In the fifth aspect, avoiding transmission on an unlicensed channel during one or more idle periods, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fourth aspects, includes: avoiding transmission during a second idle period based at least in part on a determination that no downlink signal from the base station was detected during the channel occupancy period of the FFP configured for the base station; or avoiding transmission during an idle period of the FFP configured for the base station based at least in part on a determination that a downlink signal from the base station was detected during the channel occupancy period of the FFP configured for the base station.

[0097] In the sixth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fifth aspects, the UE avoids transmission only during a first idle period at the end of the FFP configured for the UE, based at least in part on the determination that no downlink signal from the base station was detected during the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the base station.

[0098] In the seventh aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to sixth aspects, one or more idle periods include a single idle period having a start time aligned with the start time of an idle period in an FFP configured for the base station and an end time aligned with the end of an FFP configured for the UE.

[0099] In the eighth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more aspects from the first to the seventh aspects, process 600 includes: initiating an LBT process to begin the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the UE.

[0100] In the ninth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to eighth aspects, the LBT process is initiated based at least in part on the determination that no downlink signal from the base station was detected during the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the base station.

[0101] In the tenth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to ninth aspects, at least in part, a UE-initiated LBT procedure is used to begin a channel occupancy period, during which the base station avoids transmission on an unlicensed channel for a period of time that is aligned with the idle period at the end of the FFP configured for the UE.

[0102] In the eleventh aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to tenth aspects, at least in part, the LBT procedure initiated by the base station to begin the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the base station is aligned with one or more idle periods in which the UE avoids transmission on unlicensed channels and at the end of the idle period in the FFP configured for the base station.

[0103] In the twelfth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to eleventh aspects, process 600 includes: avoiding transmission on an unlicensed channel during a quiet period between a first channel occupancy time initiated by the UE and a second channel occupancy time initiated by the base station.

[0104] In the thirteenth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to twelfth aspects, the first channel occupancy time starting from the UE does not overlap with the second channel occupancy time starting from the base station.

[0105] In the fourteenth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to thirteenth aspects, the duration of the silent period is based at least in part on the corresponding lengths of the FFP configured for the UE and the FFP configured for the base station.

[0106] In the fifteenth aspect, either alone or in combination with one or more of the first to fourteenth aspects, the second channel occupancy time is initiated by the base station during the first channel occupancy time initiated by the UE.

[0107] Although Figure 6 An example box of process 600 is shown, but in some aspects, process 600 may include... Figure 6 The boxes depicted in the diagram are compared to additional boxes, fewer boxes, different boxes, or boxes arranged in a different manner. Alternatively, two or more boxes in process 600 may be executed in parallel.

[0108] The following provides an overview of some aspects of this disclosure:

[0109] Aspect 1: A method for wireless communication performed by a UE, comprising: determining an FFP configured for the UE in an FBE mode, wherein the FFP configured for the UE includes one or more idle periods and a channel occupancy time, the channel occupancy time being offset from an FFP configured for a base station communicating with the UE on an unlicensed channel; and avoiding transmission on the unlicensed channel during the one or more idle periods, wherein the one or more idle periods at least partially overlap with the time periods during which the base station avoids transmission on the unlicensed channel.

[0110] Aspect 2: According to the method of aspect 1, wherein the one or more idle periods include a first idle period at the end of the FFP configured for the UE and a second idle period configured by the base station.

[0111] Aspect 3: According to the method of aspect 2, wherein the second idle period is aligned across multiple UEs communicating with the base station on the unlicensed channel.

[0112] Aspect 4: According to the method of aspect 2, wherein the second idle period is aligned with the idle period in the FFP configured for the base station.

[0113] Aspect 5: According to the method of aspect 2, wherein the second idle period has a different start time or a different end time than the idle period in the FFP configured for the base station.

[0114] Aspect 6: According to the method of aspect 5, wherein avoiding transmission on the unlicensed channel during the one or more idle periods comprises: avoiding transmission during the second idle period based at least in part on a determination that no downlink signal from the base station was detected during the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the base station; or avoiding transmission during the idle period in the FFP configured for the base station based at least in part on a determination that a downlink signal from the base station was detected during the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the base station.

[0115] Aspect 7: The method according to any one of Aspects 2-6, wherein the UE avoids transmission only during the first idle period at the end of the FFP configured for the UE, based at least in part on a determination that no downlink signal from the base station was detected during the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the base station.

[0116] Aspect 8: According to the method of aspect 1, wherein the one or more idle periods include a single idle period having a start time aligned with the start time of the idle period in the FFP configured for the base station and an end time aligned with the end of the FFP configured for the UE.

[0117] Aspect 9: The method according to any one of Aspects 1-8 further includes: initiating an LBT procedure to begin the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the UE.

[0118] Aspect 10: The method according to aspect 9, wherein the LBT process is initiated at least in part based on a determination that no downlink signal from the base station was detected during the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the base station.

[0119] Aspect 11: The method according to any one of Aspects 9-10, wherein the LBT procedure is initiated at least in part based on the UE to begin the channel occupancy time, wherein the time period in which the base station avoids transmission on the unlicensed channel is aligned with an idle period at the end of the FFP configured for the UE.

[0120] Aspect 12: The method according to any one of Aspects 1-11, wherein the LBT procedure is initiated at least in part based on the base station to begin the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the base station, wherein the one or more idle periods in which the UE avoids transmission on the unlicensed channel are aligned with the idle period at the end of the FFP configured for the base station.

[0121] Aspect 13: The method according to any one of Aspects 1-12 further includes: avoiding transmission on the unlicensed channel during a quiet period between a first channel occupancy time starting from the UE and a second channel occupancy time starting from the base station.

[0122] Aspect 14: According to the method of aspect 13, wherein the first channel occupancy time starting from the UE and the second channel occupancy time starting from the base station do not overlap.

[0123] Aspect 15: The method according to any one of Aspects 13-14, wherein the duration of the silent period is at least in part based on the corresponding lengths of the FFP configured for the UE and the FFP configured for the base station.

[0124] Aspect 16: The method according to any one of Aspects 13-15, wherein the second channel occupancy time is started by the base station during the first channel occupancy time initiated by the UE.

[0125] Aspect 17: An apparatus for wireless communication at a device, comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform a method according to any one of aspects 1-16.

[0126] Aspect 18: An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising a memory and one or more processors coupled to the memory, the memory and the one or more processors being configured to perform a method according to any one of aspects 1-16.

[0127] Aspect 19: An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising at least one unit for performing the method according to any one of aspects 1-16.

[0128] Aspect 20: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, said code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform a method according to any one of aspects 1-16.

[0129] Aspect 21: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions for wireless communication, the set of instructions comprising one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the device to perform a method according to any one of aspects 1-16.

[0130] The foregoing disclosure provides explanations and descriptions, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the aspects to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations may be made based on the foregoing disclosure, or modifications and variations may be derived from practice in the aspects.

[0131] As used herein, the term "component" is intended to be interpreted broadly as hardware and / or a combination of hardware and software. Whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or other names, "software" should be interpreted broadly as instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subroutines, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures and / or functions, and other examples. As used herein, processors are implemented using hardware and / or a combination of hardware and software. It will be apparent that the systems and / or methods described herein can be implemented using various forms of hardware and / or combinations of hardware and software. The actual specialized control hardware or software code used to implement these systems and / or methods is not a limitation in any respect. Therefore, while the operation and behavior of systems and / or methods are described herein without reference to specific software code, it is to be understood that software and hardware can be designed to implement systems and / or methods, at least in part, based on the descriptions herein.

[0132] As used in this article, depending on the context, satisfying the threshold can refer to a value greater than the threshold, greater than or equal to the threshold, less than the threshold, less than or equal to the threshold, equal to the threshold, not equal to the threshold, etc.

[0133] Even if a specific combination of features is recited in the claims and / or disclosed in the specification, such combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of the aspects. In fact, many of these features can be combined in ways that are not specifically recited in the claims and / or specifically disclosed in the specification. While each dependent claim listed below may depend directly on only one claim, the disclosure of the aspects includes combinations of each dependent claim with every other claim in the claim set. As used herein, the phrase “at least one of” in the list of items refers to any combination of those items, including a single member. For example, “at least one of a, b, or c” is intended to cover a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, and abc, as well as any combination with multiples of the same element (e.g., aa, aaa, aab, aac, abb, acc, bb, bbb, bbc, cc, and ccc, or any other ordering of a, b, and c).

[0134] None of the elements, actions, or instructions used herein should be construed as essential or necessary unless explicitly stated otherwise. Furthermore, as used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Furthermore, as used herein, the article “the” is intended to include one or more items referenced in combination with the article “the” and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Furthermore, as used herein, the terms “set” and “group” are intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, or a combination of related and unrelated items) and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is anticipated, the phrase “only one” or similar language is used. Furthermore, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” etc., are intended to be open-ended terms. Furthermore, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “at least partially based on.” Furthermore, as used herein, the term “or” is intended to be inclusive when used in a series, and may be used interchangeably with “and / or” unless otherwise expressly stated (e.g., if used in conjunction with “any” or “only one of them”).

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: Determine a fixed frame period FFP configured for the UE in frame-based device FBE mode, wherein the FFP configured for the UE includes one or more idle periods and channel occupancy times, and wherein the FFP configured for the UE is offset from the FFP configured for network nodes communicating with the UE on unlicensed channels; and Transmissions are avoided on the unlicensed channel during one or more idle periods, wherein the one or more idle periods at least partially overlap with the periods during which the network node avoids transmissions on the unlicensed channel.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The one or more idle periods include a first idle period at the end of the FFP configured for the UE and a second idle period configured by the network node.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, The second idle period is aligned across multiple UEs communicating with the network node on the unlicensed channel.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein, The second idle period is aligned with the idle period in the FFP configured for the network node.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein, The second idle period has a different start time or a different end time than the idle period in the FFP configured for the network node.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, Avoiding transmission on the unlicensed channel during one or more idle periods includes: Based at least in part on the determination that no downlink signal from the network node was detected during the channel occupancy period in the FFP configured for the network node, transmission is avoided during the second idle period, or Based at least in part on detecting downlink signals from the network node during the channel occupancy period in the FFP configured for the network node, transmission is avoided during the idle period in the FFP configured for the network node.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein, The UE avoids transmission only during the first idle period at the end of the FFP configured for the UE, based at least in part on the determination that no downlink signal from the network node was detected during the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the network node.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The one or more idle periods include a single idle period having a start time aligned with the start time of the idle period in the FFP configured for the network node and an end time aligned with the end of the FFP configured for the UE.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Initiate a Listen Before Talk (LBT) procedure to begin the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the UE.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein, The LBT process is initiated at least in part based on the determination that no downlink signal from the network node was detected during the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the network node.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein, The LBT procedure is initiated at least in part by the UE to begin the channel occupancy period, during which the network node avoids transmission on the unlicensed channel for a period of time that is aligned with the idle period at the end of the FFP configured for the UE.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The UE initiates a listen-before-speak process, at least in part, to begin the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the network node, wherein the one or more idle periods in which the UE avoids transmission on the unlicensed channel are aligned with the idle period at the end of the FFP configured for the network node.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Transmissions are avoided on the unlicensed channel during the quiet period between the first channel occupancy time starting from the UE and the second channel occupancy time starting from the network node.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein, The first channel occupancy time starting from the UE does not overlap with the second channel occupancy time starting from the network node.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein, The duration of the silent period is based, at least in part, on the corresponding lengths of the FFP configured for the UE and the FFP configured for the network node.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein, The second channel occupancy time is started by the network node within the first channel occupancy time initiated by the UE.

17. A user equipment (UE) for wireless communication, comprising: Memory; as well as One or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors being configured to: Determine a fixed frame period FFP configured for the UE in frame-based device FBE mode, wherein the FFP configured for the UE includes one or more idle periods and channel occupancy times, and wherein the FFP configured for the UE is offset from the FFP configured for network nodes communicating with the UE on unlicensed channels; and Transmissions are avoided on the unlicensed channel during one or more idle periods, wherein the one or more idle periods at least partially overlap with the periods during which the network node avoids transmissions on the unlicensed channel.

18. The UE according to claim 17, wherein, The one or more idle periods include a first idle period at the end of the FFP configured for the UE and a second idle period configured by the network node.

19. The UE according to claim 18, wherein, The second idle period is aligned across multiple UEs communicating with the network node on the unlicensed channel.

20. The UE according to claim 18, wherein, The second idle period is aligned with the idle period in the FFP configured for the network node.

21. The UE according to claim 18, wherein, The second idle period has a different start time or a different end time than the idle period in the FFP configured for the network node.

22. The UE according to claim 21, wherein, When transmissions are avoided on the unlicensed channel during the one or more idle periods, the one or more processors are configured to: Based at least in part on the determination that no downlink signal from the network node was detected during the channel occupancy period in the FFP configured for the network node, transmission is avoided during the second idle period, or Based at least in part on detecting downlink signals from the network node during the channel occupancy period in the FFP configured for the network node, transmission is avoided during the idle period in the FFP configured for the network node.

23. The UE according to claim 18, wherein, The UE avoids transmission only during the first idle period at the end of the FFP configured for the UE, based at least in part on the determination that no downlink signal from the network node was detected during the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the network node.

24. The UE according to claim 17, wherein, The one or more idle periods include a single idle period having a start time aligned with the start time of the idle period in the FFP configured for the network node and an end time aligned with the end of the FFP configured for the UE.

25. The UE according to claim 17, wherein, The one or more processors are further configured to: Initiate a Listen Before Talk (LBT) procedure to begin the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the UE.

26. The UE according to claim 25, wherein, The LBT process is initiated at least in part based on the determination that no downlink signal from the network node was detected during the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the network node.

27. The UE according to claim 25, wherein, The LBT procedure is initiated at least in part by the UE to begin the channel occupancy period, during which the network node avoids transmission on the unlicensed channel for a period of time that is aligned with the idle period at the end of the FFP configured for the UE.

28. The UE according to claim 17, wherein, The UE initiates a listen-before-speak process, at least in part, to begin the channel occupancy time in the FFP configured for the network node, wherein the one or more idle periods in which the UE avoids transmission on the unlicensed channel are aligned with the idle period at the end of the FFP configured for the network node.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing an instruction set for wireless communication, the instruction set comprising: One or more instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors of a user equipment (UE), cause the UE to perform the following operations: Determine a fixed frame period FFP configured for the UE in frame-based device FBE mode, wherein the FFP configured for the UE includes one or more idle periods and channel occupancy times, and wherein the FFP configured for the UE is offset from the FFP configured for network nodes communicating with the UE on unlicensed channels; and Transmissions are avoided on the unlicensed channel during one or more idle periods, wherein the one or more idle periods at least partially overlap with the periods during which the network node avoids transmissions on the unlicensed channel.

30. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: A unit for determining a fixed frame period FFP configured for the device in frame-based device FBE mode, wherein the FFP configured for the device includes one or more idle periods and channel occupancy times, and wherein the FFP configured for the device is offset from an FFP configured for a network node communicating with the device on an unlicensed channel; and A unit for avoiding transmission on the unlicensed channel during the one or more idle periods, wherein the one or more idle periods at least partially overlap with the time periods during which the network node avoids transmission on the unlicensed channel.

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