Method, apparatus and computer program relating to listen-before-talk transmissions

Abstract

A technique comprising: logging by a user equipment one or more events indicating performance of an energy detection threshold value used by the user equipment for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions by the user equipment in a cell of a radio access network; creating a performance report based on the logging; and transmitting the performance report to the radio access network.

Description

[0001] METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM RELATING TO LISTEN- BEFORE-TALK TRANSMISSIONS

[0002] FIELD

[0003] The present application relates to a method, apparatus, system and computer program and in particularly but not exclusively to a method, apparatus, system and computer program relating to listen-before-talk transmissions.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Some cells operated by a radio access network (such as a 5G NR radio access network) may use radio resources that are not exclusive to the radio access network in the same geographical area. The procedure for a radio transmission in such a cell may comprise a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure involving the transmitting entity making detected energy measurements, and making a requested radio transmission conditional upon a detected energy measurement result below an energy detection threshold (EDT).

[0006] SUMMARY

[0007] A method comprising: logging by a user equipment one or more events indicating performance of an energy detection threshold value used by the user equipment for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions by the user equipment in a cell of a radio access network; creating a performance report based on the logging; and transmitting the performance report to the radio access network.

[0008] The method may comprise initiating the logging in response to receiving a first activation signal via the cell of the radio access network.

[0009] The method may comprise interrupting the logging in response to receiving a deactivation signal via the cell of the radio access network.

[0010] The method may comprise resuming the logging in response to a second activation signal via the cell of the radio access network. The logging may comprise one or more of: maintaining a first count of instances of listen- before-talk transmissions delayed by more than a first threshold delay; and maintaining a second count of instances of transmission errors for listen-before-talk transmissions delayed by less than a second threshold delay smaller than the first threshold delay.

[0011] The logging may comprise one or more of: maintaining a first count of instances of transmissions for which the number of listen-before-talk failures exceeded a first threshold number; or maintaining a second count of instances of transmissions for which the number of listen-before-talk failures was below a second threshold number lower than the first threshold number, and for which the user equipment makes a post-transmission determination of transmission failure.

[0012] The first count may comprise a plurality of first sub-counts, each first sub-count associated with a respective range of detected energies above the energy detection threshold value, and the second count may comprise a plurality of second sub-counts, each second subcount associated with a respective range of detected energies below the energy detection threshold value.

[0013] A method comprising: providing an analytics function instance with one or more reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used to decide about making one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in one or more cells operated by a radio access network.

[0014] The one or more cell reports may comprise one or more of: one or more cell-specific reports from one or more user equipments of logging of events indicating the performance of the one or more energy detection threshold values for uplink transmissions in a cell; or one or more reports based on cell-specific logging of events indicating the performance of the one or more energy detection threshold values for downlink transmissions in a cell.

[0015] A method comprising: based on one or more indicators of transmission activity of a radio access network in an area of one or more transmitting entities: controlling, by an access node of the radio access network, cell-specific logging at the one or more transmitting entities of one or more events indicating performance of one or more energy detection threshold values for listen-before-talk transmissions by the one or more transmitting entities in one or more cells of the radio access network. The one or more transmitting entities may comprise the access node of the radio access network.

[0016] The one or more transmitting entities may comprise one or more user equipments served by the access node, and the controlling may comprise one or more of: sending messages activating the cell-specific logging at the one or more user equipments; or sending messages interrupting the cell-specific logging at the one or more user equipments.

[0017] A method comprising: receiving, by an analytics function instance, reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in cells of a radio access network; and maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for the cells based on the received reports.

[0018] Maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for a cell may comprise: incrementing a first counter in response to an instance of a report indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too high; or incrementing a second counter in response to an instance of a report that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too low; or not incrementing either of the first and second counters in response to an instance of a report indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is neither too high nor too low.

[0019] A method comprising: receiving, by a first analytics function, cell-specific information for cells of a radio access network about the performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in the cells of the radio access network; collectively analysing the cell-specific information for the cells; and determining adjustments for one or more energy detection threshold values for one or more cells based on a result of the analysis.

[0020] The method may comprise receiving the cell-specific information from one or more instances of a second analytics function; wherein the cell-specific information for a cell comprises a first counter counting instances of reports indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too high; and a second counter counting instances of reports indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too low. A method comprising: for at least one cell of a radio access network, adjusting one or more energy detection threshold values used for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell, wherein the adjusting is based at least partly on information about listen-before-talk transmission delays in the cell or post-transmission failures of listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell.

[0021] User equipment comprising means for: logging one or more events indicating performance of an energy detection threshold value used by the user equipment for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in a cell of a radio access network; creating a performance report based on the logging; and transmitting the performance report to the radio access network.

[0022] The user equipment may comprise means for initiating the logging in response to receiving a first activation signal via the cell of the radio access network.

[0023] The user equipment may comprise means for interrupting the logging in response to receiving a deactivation signal via the cell of the radio access network.

[0024] The user equipment may comprise means for resuming the logging in response to a second activation signal via the cell of the radio access network.

[0025] The logging may comprise one or more of: maintaining a first count of instances of listen- before-talk transmissions delayed by more than a first threshold delay; and maintaining a second count of instances of transmission errors for listen-before-talk transmissions delayed by less than a second threshold delay smaller than the first threshold delay.

[0026] The logging may comprise one or more of: maintaining a first count of instances of transmissions for which the number of listen-before-talk failures exceeded a first threshold number; or maintaining a second count of instances of transmissions for which the number of listen-before-talk failures was below a second threshold number lower than the first threshold number, and for which a post-transmission determination of transmission failure is made.

[0027] The first count may comprise a plurality of first sub-counts, each first sub-count associated with a respective range of detected energies above the energy detection threshold value, and the second count may comprise a plurality of second sub-counts, each second sub- count associated with a respective range of detected energies below the energy detection threshold value.

[0028] Apparatus comprising means for providing an analytics function instance with one or more reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used to decide about making one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in one or more cells operated by a radio access network.

[0029] The one or more cell reports may comprise one or more of: one or more cell-specific reports from one or more user equipments of logging of events indicating the performance of the one or more energy detection threshold values for uplink transmissions in a cell; or one or more reports based on cell-specific logging of events indicating the performance of the one or more energy detection threshold values for downlink transmissions in a cell.

[0030] An access node of a radio access network, wherein the access node comprises means for: based on one or more indicators of transmission activity of the radio access network in an area of one or more transmitting entities: and controlling cell-specific logging at the one or more transmitting entities of one or more events indicating performance of one or more energy detection threshold values for listen-before-talk transmissions by the one or more transmitting entities in one or more cells of the radio access network.

[0031] The one or more transmitting entities may comprise the access node.

[0032] The one or more transmitting entities may comprise one or more user equipments served by the access node, and the controlling may comprise one or more of: sending messages activating the cell-specific logging at the one or more user equipments; or sending messages interrupting the cell-specific logging at the one or more user equipments.

[0033] Apparatus comprising means for: receiving, by an analytics function instance, reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen- before-talk transmissions in cells of a radio access network; and maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for the cells based on the received reports. Maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for a cell may comprise: incrementing a first counter in response to an instance of a report indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too high; or incrementing a second counter in response to an instance of a report that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too low; or not incrementing either of the first and second counters in response to an instance of a report indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is neither too high nor too low.

[0034] Apparatus comprising means for: receiving cell-specific information for cells of a radio access network about the performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in the cells of the radio access network; collectively analysing the cell-specific information for the cells; and determining adjustments for one or more energy detection threshold values for one or more cells based on a result of the analysis.

[0035] The apparatus may comprise means for: receiving the cell-specific information from one or more instances of an analytics function; wherein the cell-specific information for a cell comprises a first counter counting instances of reports indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too high; and a second counter counting instances of reports indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too low.

[0036] Apparatus comprising means for: for at least one cell of a radio access network, adjusting one or more energy detection threshold values used for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell, wherein the adjusting is based at least partly on information about listen-before-talk transmission delays in the cell or post-transmission failures of listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell.

[0037] User equipment comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to perform: logging one or more events indicating performance of an energy detection threshold value used for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in a cell of a radio access network; creating a performance report based on the logging; and transmitting the performance report to the radio access network. The at least one memory and computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to initiate the logging in response to receiving a first activation signal via the cell of the radio access network.

[0038] The at least one memory and computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to interrupt the logging in response to receiving a deactivation signal via the cell of the radio access network.

[0039] The at least one memory and computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to resume the logging in response to a second activation signal via the cell of the radio access network.

[0040] The logging may comprise one or more of: maintaining a first count of instances of listen- before-talk transmissions delayed by more than a first threshold delay; and maintaining a second count of instances of transmission errors for listen-before-talk transmissions delayed by less than a second threshold delay smaller than the first threshold delay.

[0041] The logging may comprise one or more of: maintaining a first count of instances of transmissions for which the number of listen-before-talk failures exceeded a first threshold number; or maintaining a second count of instances of transmissions for which the number of listen-before-talk failures was below a second threshold number lower than the first threshold number, and for which a post-transmission determination of transmission failure is made.

[0042] The first count may comprise a plurality of first sub-counts, each first sub-count associated with a respective range of detected energies above the energy detection threshold value, and the second count may comprise a plurality of second sub-counts, each second subcount associated with a respective range of detected energies below the energy detection threshold value.

[0043] Apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: providing an analytics function instance with one or more reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used to decide about making one or more listen-before- talk transmissions in one or more cells operated by a radio access network. The one or more cell reports may comprise one or more of: one or more cell-specific reports from one or more user equipments of logging of events indicating the performance of the one or more energy detection threshold values for uplink transmissions in a cell; or one or more reports based on cell-specific logging of events indicating the performance of the one or more energy detection threshold values for downlink transmissions in a cell.

[0044] An access node of a radio access network, wherein the access node comprises: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the access node to perform: based on one or more indicators of transmission activity of the radio access network in an area of one or more transmitting entities: controlling cell-specific logging at the one or more transmitting entities of one or more events indicating performance of one or more energy detection threshold values for listen-before-talk transmissions by the one or more transmitting entities in one or more cells of the radio access network.

[0045] The one or more transmitting entities may comprise the access node.

[0046] The one or more transmitting entities may comprise one or more user equipments served by the access node, and the controlling may comprise one or more of: sending messages activating the cell-specific logging at the one or more user equipments; or sending messages interrupting the cell-specific logging at the one or more user equipments.

[0047] Apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: receiving reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen- before-talk transmissions in cells of a radio access network; and maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for the cells based on the received reports.

[0048] Maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for a cell may comprise: incrementing a first counter in response to an instance of a report indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too high; or incrementing a second counter in response to an instance of a report that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too low; or not incrementing either of the first and second counters in response to an instance of a report indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is neither too high nor too low.

[0049] Apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: receiving cell-specific information for cells of a radio access network about the performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in the cells of the radio access network; collectively analysing the cell-specific information for the cells; and determining adjustments for one or more energy detection threshold values for one or more cells based on a result of the analysis.

[0050] The at least one memory and computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: receive the cell-specific information from one or more instances of an analytics function; wherein the cell-specific information for a cell comprises a first counter counting instances of reports indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too high; and a second counter counting instances of reports indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too low.

[0051] Apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: for at least one cell of a radio access network, adjusting one or more energy detection threshold values used for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell, wherein the adjusting is based at least partly on information about listen-before-talk transmission delays in the cell or posttransmission failures of listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell.

[0052] User equipment comprising: logging circuitry for logging one or more events indicating performance of an energy detection threshold value used by the user equipment for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions by the user equipment in a cell of a radio access network; creating circuitry for creating a performance report based on the logging; and transmitting circuitry for transmitting the performance report to the radio access network.

[0053] Apparatus comprising: providing circuitry for providing an analytics function instance with one or more reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used to decide about making one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in one or more cells operated by a radio access network.

[0054] An access node of a radio access network comprising: controlling circuitry for, based on one or more indicators of transmission activity of the radio access network in an area of one or more transmitting entities, controlling cell-specific logging at the one or more transmitting entities of one or more events indicating performance of one or more energy detection threshold values for listen-before-talk transmissions by the one or more transmitting entities in one or more cells of the radio access network.

[0055] Apparatus comprising: receiving circuitry for receiving reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in cells of a radio access network; and maintaining circuitry for maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for the cells based on the received reports.

[0056] Apparatus comprising: receiving circuitry for receiving cell-specific information for cells of a radio access network about the performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in the cells of the radio access network; analysing circuitry for collectively analysing the cell-specific information for the cells; and determining circuitry for determining adjustments for one or more energy detection threshold values for one or more cells based on a result of the analysis.

[0057] Apparatus comprising: adjusting circuitry for, for at least one cell of a radio access network, adjusting one or more energy detection threshold values used for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell, wherein the adjusting is based at least partly on information about listen-before-talk transmission delays in the cell or post-transmission failures of listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell.

[0058] A computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: logging by a user equipment one or more events indicating performance of an energy detection threshold value used by the user equipment for one or more listen- before-talk transmissions by the user equipment in a cell of a radio access network; creating a performance report based on the logging; and transmitting the performance report to the radio access network. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: providing an analytics function instance with one or more reports of cellspecific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used to decide about making one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in one or more cells operated by a radio access network.

[0059] A computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: based on one or more indicators of transmission activity of a radio access network in an area of one or more transmitting entities: controlling, by an access node of the radio access network, cell-specific logging at the one or more transmitting entities of one or more events indicating performance of one or more energy detection threshold values for listen-before-talk transmissions by the one or more transmitting entities in one or more cells of the radio access network.

[0060] A computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: receiving, by an analytics function instance, reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in cells of a radio access network; and maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for the cells based on the received reports.

[0061] A computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: receiving, by a first analytics function, cell-specific information for cells of a radio access network about the performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in the cells of the radio access network; collectively analysing the cell-specific information for the cells; and determining adjustments for one or more energy detection threshold values for one or more cells based on a result of the analysis.

[0062] A computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: for at least one cell of a radio access network, adjusting one or more energy detection threshold values used for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell, wherein the adjusting is based at least partly on information about listen-before-talk transmission delays in the cell or post-transmission failures of listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: logging by a user equipment one or more events indicating performance of an energy detection threshold value used by the user equipment for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions by the user equipment in a cell of a radio access network; creating a performance report based on the logging; and transmitting the performance report to the radio access network.

[0063] A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: providing an analytics function instance with one or more reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used to decide about making one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in one or more cells operated by a radio access network.

[0064] A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: based on one or more indicators of transmission activity of a radio access network in an area of one or more transmitting entities: controlling, by an access node of the radio access network, cell-specific logging at the one or more transmitting entities of one or more events indicating performance of one or more energy detection threshold values for listen-before-talk transmissions by the one or more transmitting entities in one or more cells of the radio access network.

[0065] A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: receiving, by an analytics function instance, reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in cells of a radio access network; and maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for the cells based on the received reports.

[0066] A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: receiving, by a first analytics function, cell-specific information for cells of a radio access network about the performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in the cells of the radio access network; collectively analysing the cell-specific information for the cells; and determining adjustments for one or more energy detection threshold values for one or more cells based on a result of the analysis. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: for at least one cell of a radio access network, adjusting one or more energy detection threshold values used for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell, wherein the adjusting is based at least partly on information about listen-before-talk transmission delays in the cell or post-transmission failures of listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell.

[0067] A computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause a user equipment at least to: log one or more events indicating performance of an energy detection threshold value used for one or more listen- before-talk transmissions in a cell of a radio access network; create a performance report based on the logging; and transmit the performance report to the radio access network.

[0068] A computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause an apparatus at least to: provide an analytics function instance with one or more reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used to decide about making one or more listen-before- talk transmissions in one or more cells operated by a radio access network.

[0069] A computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause an access node of a radio access network at least to: based on one or more indicators of transmission activity of the radio access network in an area of one or more transmitting entities, control cell-specific logging at the one or more transmitting entities of one or more events indicating performance of one or more energy detection threshold values for listen-before-talk transmissions by the one or more transmitting entities in one or more cells of the radio access network.

[0070] A computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause an apparatus at least to: receive reports of cellspecific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen- before-talk transmissions in cells of a radio access network; and maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for the cells based on the received reports. A computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause an apparatus at least to: receive cell-specific information for cells of a radio access network about the performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in the cells of the radio access network; collectively analyse the cell-specific information for the cells; and determine adjustments for one or more energy detection threshold values for one or more cells based on a result of the analysis.

[0071] A computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause an apparatus at least to: for at least one cell of a radio access network, adjust one or more energy detection threshold values used for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell, wherein the adjusting is based at least partly on information about listen-before-talk transmission delays in the cell or posttransmission failures of listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell.

[0072] In the above, many different embodiments have been described. It should be appreciated that further embodiments may be provided by the combination of any two or more of the embodiments described above.

[0073] DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0074] Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0075] Fig. 1 shows a representation of access points of a radio access network sharing radio resources with WiFi access points in the same geographical area, according to some example embodiments;

[0076] Fig. 2 shows a representation of an apparatus for implementing a radio access network node / function according to some example embodiments;

[0077] Fig. 3 shows a representation of a user equipment according to some example embodiments;

[0078] Fig. 4 shows a representation of elements of a mobile communication system according to example embodiments;

[0079] Fig. 5 shows a representation of operations at a user equipment according to example embodiments; Fig. 6 shows a representation of operations at a user equipment according to example embodiments;

[0080] Fig. 7 shows a representation of messages between a NR-U UE and a NR-ll gNB according to example embodiments;

[0081] Fig. 8 shows a representation of operations at a NR-ll gNB according to example embodiments;

[0082] Fig. 9 shows a representation of operations at a NR-ll gNB according to example embodiments; and

[0083] Fig. 10 shows a representation of operations by one or more analytics functions of a communication system according to example embodiments.

[0084] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0085] In the following certain example embodiments are explained with reference to the example of a 5G mobile communication system (5GS), but the techniques are also applicable to other suitable communication systems.

[0086] Fig. 1 shows a representation of access points (NR-ll gNB) of a 5G New Radio radio access network (NR-RAN) sharing radio resources (unlicensed bands) in the same geographical area with one or more other access points deployed independently and uncoordinatedly from the NR-RAN, such as other RAT (e.g. WiFi) access points and / or access points of 5G radio access networks of other operators. Some access points of the NR-RAN will be relatively close to such other access points, and others will be relatively far from such other access points.

[0087] The unlicensed bands may be used by the NR-RAN for both control (CP) and user plane (UP) traffic, according to a standalone operation. The transmitting entities (NR-U UE and NR-U gNB) apply a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure for transmissions, which procedure includes a listening phase in which the transmitting entity measures the detected energy level. A channel is determined to be free for a requested transmission, when the measured energy level during the listening phase is lower than an energy detection threshold (EDT) value. The EDT value may be indicated to a NR-U UE by, for example, an information element (IE) ServingCellConfig during resource control configuration (RRC) setup of the NR-U UE. Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of a 5G system (5GS) including a NR-RAN and one or more instances of 5G core (5GC) network functions, including an access management function (AMF), a session management function (SMF), and a user plane function (UPF). For clarity, other commonly used 5GC network functions are not shown in Fig. 4.

[0088] The NR-RAN may comprise monolithic gNodeBs (gNBs) or gNodeBs being divided into a centralized unit (CU) and one or more distributed units (DU), i.e., one CU which might control several DUs. According to some example embodiments, the NR-RAN may also comprise one or more instances of an EDT analytics function, whose operation is described below. In other example embodiments, the EDT analytics function may be implemented by using in addition a central entity outside of the NR-RAN domain of the 5G communication system being fed with pre-processed data by EDT analytics function instances in the RAN domain.

[0089] Fig. 2 illustrates an example of an apparatus 200 for implementing a NR-U gNB or NR-U gNB-CU and / or one or more function instances of the NR-RAN and / or 5GC. The control apparatus may comprise at least one random access memory (RAM) 211a, at least on read only memory (ROM) 211 b, at least one processor 212, 213 and an input / output interface 214. The at least one processor 212, 213 may be coupled to the RAM 211a and the ROM 211 b. The at least one processor 212, 213 may be configured to execute an appropriate software code 215. The software code 215 may for example allow to perform one or more steps to perform one or more of the present aspects. The software code 215 may be stored in the ROM 211 b. The control apparatus 200 may be interconnected with other apparatus such as (in the case of NR-U gNB) radio parts or radio heads, or other apparatus 200 implementing one or more other function instances of the NR-RAN or the 5GC. In some embodiments, each function instance of the NR-RAN or the 5GC is implemented by a respective apparatus 200. In alternative embodiments, two or more functions of the 5GRAN or the 5GC may be implemented by the same apparatus.

[0090] Fig. 3 illustrates an example of a NR-U UE illustrated on Fig. 1. The NR-U UE 300 may be provided by any device capable of sending and receiving radio signals. Non-limiting examples comprise a mobile station (MS) or mobile device such as a mobile phone or what is known as a ’smart phone’, a computer provided with a wireless interface card or other wireless interface facility (e.g., USB dongle), a personal data assistant (PDA) or a tablet provided with wireless communication capabilities, a machine-type communications (MTC) device, an Internet of things (loT) type communication device or any combinations of these or the like. The terminal 300 may provide, for example, communication of data for carrying communications. The communications may be one or more of voice, electronic mail (email), text message, multimedia, data, machine data and so on.

[0091] The terminal 300 may receive signals over an air or radio interface 307 via appropriate apparatus for receiving and may transmit signals via appropriate apparatus for transmitting radio signals. In Fig. 3 transceiver apparatus is designated schematically by block 306. The transceiver apparatus 306 may be provided for example by means of a radio part and associated antenna arrangement. The antenna arrangement may be arranged internally or externally to the mobile device.

[0092] The terminal 300 may be provided with at least one processor 301 , at least one memory ROM 302a, at least one RAM 302b and other possible components 303 for use in software and hardware aided execution of tasks it is designed to perform, including control of access to and communications with access systems and other communication devices. The at least one processor 301 is coupled to the RAM 302b and the ROM 302a. The at least one processor 301 may be configured to execute an appropriate software code 308. The software code 308 may for example allow to perform one or more of the present aspects. The software code 308 may be stored in the ROM 302a.

[0093] The processor, storage and other relevant control apparatus can be provided on an appropriate circuit board and / or in chipsets. This feature is denoted by reference 304. The device may optionally have a user interface such as keypad 305, touch sensitive screen or pad, combinations thereof or the like. Optionally one or more of a display, a speaker and a microphone may be provided depending on the type of the device.

[0094] According to example embodiments, NR-ll UE and NR-ll gNB perform cell-specific logging of events indicating performance of the EDT value used for LBT procedure (EDT value used for listening phase before radio transmission), and create reports of cell-specific EDT performance based on the logging. Fig. 5 (discussed further below) shows a representation of an example of operations at NR-ll UE for logging such events for uplink transmissions in a cell, or at NR-U gNB for cell- / specific logging of such events for downlink transmissions, according to some example embodiments. According to example embodiments, the cell-specific event logging at NR-UE and NR-gNB is performed only for periods when the transmission activity (load) of the NR-RAN in the area of the NR-ll UE and NR-ll gNB is below a threshold value. Fig. 6 (discussed further below) shows a representation of example operations at NR-ll UE according to which the event logging at NR-U UE is controlled based on messages received at the NR-U UE in the NR-RAN cell serving the NR-U UE, which messages are based on a monitoring of the transmission activity (load) of the NR-RAN in the area of the NR-U UE. Fig. 7 (discussed further below) shows a representation of messages between a NR-U UE and the NR-U gNB controlling the cell serving the NR-U UE, according to example embodiments. Fig. 8 (discussed further below) shows a representation of example operations at a NR-U gNB according to which the cell-specific event logging at NR-U gNB is controlled based on indicators of the transmission activity (load) of the NR-RAN in the area of the NR-U gNB.

[0095] Fig. 9 (discussed further below) shows a representation of example operations at a NR-U gNB according to which the NR-U gNB (a) forwards to one or more EDT analytics function instances cell-specific EDT performance reports received from NR-U UEs, and (b) sends to one or more EDT analytics function instances reports of cell-specific logging at the NR-U gNB of events indicating EDT performance for downlink transmissions via one or more cells operated by the NR-U gNB.

[0096] Fig. 10 (discussed further below) shows a representation of example operations at one or more EDT analytics function instances according to which the cell-specific EDT performance reports for the cells are collectively analyzed, and determinations are made about adjusting the EDT value for one or more cells.

[0097] Fig. 5 shows a representation of an event logging procedure for the example of uplink transmissions by a NR-U UE in a serving cell, but the same procedure is also employed by a NR-U gNB for downlink transmissions in one or more cells operated by the NR-U gNB.

[0098] A new transmission is requested at NR-U UE (OPERATION 500). A listening (channel sensing) phase of a LBT procedure is initiated, and a physical (PHY) layer detected energy measurement is made at the NR-U UE. If the measurement result is above an energy detection threshold (EDT) value, the PHY layer reports a LBT failure to a higher layer (medium access control (MAC) layer), and the PHY layer continues the channel sensing by energy measurement after a short deferral. This process is repeated for the requested transmission until a detected energy measurement result does not exceed the EDT value, or until a maximum permitted number of attempts to access the channel for the requested transmission is made. The latter may result in a radio link failure (RLF) determination at the NR-U UE, and may also result in a RLF determination at the NR-ll gNB operating the cell serving the NR-U UE.

[0099] For the requested transmission, a monitoring operation by the MAC layer at the NR-U UE comprises counting the number of LBT failures before channel access is achieved for the transmission (OPERATION 502). The MAC layer determines whether the number of LBT failures is less than a lower threshold number (OPERATION 504). If the number of LBT failures is determined to be less than the lower threshold number, the MAC layer determines whether the transmission failed after a successful LBT (listening phase) (OPERATION 508). For example, a transmission failure event may include: no receipt by NR-U UE of an uplink scheduling grant in the case that the transmission by NR-U UE is a scheduling request (SR); or no receipt by NR-U UE of a RACH (random access channel) response in the case that the NR-U UE transmission is a RACH preamble; or receipt by NR-U UE of HARQ NACK or RLC NACK in the case that the NR-U UE transmission employed a HARQ or ARQ mechanism in the RLC layer. If the transmission is determined to have failed, the MAC layer informs the RRC layer and the RRC layer increments a UE counter (OPERATION 510) referred to here as a TRE (Too Relaxed EDT) counter for a TRE information element of a cell-specific EDT performance report to be transmitted to the NR- RAN after NR-U UE terminates its connection with the current serving cell, and establishes a new connection with the NR-RAN in a new cell. A EDT performance report from a NR-U UE identifies the cell to which the report relates, and may include other additional information as described below.

[0100] The monitoring operation by the MAC layer also comprises: if the number of LBT failures is not less than a lower threshold (OPERATION 504), the MAC layer determines whether the number of LBT failures is greater than an upper threshold number (OPERATION 506). If the number of LBT failures is greater than the upper threshold, the MAC layer informs the RRC layer, and the RRC layer increments a UE counter (OPERATION 514) referred to here as a TSE (Too Stringent EDT) counter for a TSE information element of a cell-specific EDT performance report, to be transmitted to the NR-RAN after NR-U UE terminates its connection with the current serving cell, and establishes a new connection with the NR- RAN in a new cell. A EDT performance report from a NR-U UE identifies the cell to which the report relates, and may include other additional information as described below. If (i) the number of LBT failures was less than the lower threshold number, and the transmission did not fail after channel access, or (ii) the number of LBT was not less than the lower threshold number, and not greater than the upper threshold number, the MAC layer does not provide any information to the RRC layer, and there is no incrementation of either the TSE counter or the TRE counter for the TSE and TRE information elements.

[0101] The TSE information element may comprise information details such as respective ranges of detected energy measurements above the EDT value; and / or the TRE information element may comprise information details for respective ranges of detected energy measurements below the EDT value. For example, the NR-ll UE may adopt the following structure for the report to the NR-RAN:

[0102] TSE (counts for range 1 ; counts for range 2; ... ; counts for range n)

[0103] TRE (counts for range 1 ; counts for range 2; ... ; counts for range m) wherein n and m are the number of quantization levels of the detected energies for the TSE and TRE, respectively. The quantization ranges might be defined in dB steps relative to the EDT value.

[0104] This additional energy-range information may facilitate the creation of more detailed statistics and better EDT adjustments.

[0105] The report sent from NR-ll UE to the NR-RAN may additionally include information about the location of the NR-U UE when a EDT-related performance event is logged. This location information may facilitate the creation of location-based statistics, and the determination of location-dependent EDT values for the NR-U UE.

[0106] The cell-specific report from NR-U UE to the NR-RAN may, for example, include further information for respective UE beams.

[0107] As mentioned above, cell-specific logging of events indicating EDT performance for NR-U cells in a geographical area may be restricted to periods when the transmission activity (network load) of the NR-RAN in the geographical area is below a threshold value. The NR-U gNB operating the cell serving the NR-U UE monitors the network load in the geographical area of the NR-U UE, and controls logging activity at the NR-U UE accordingly. With reference to Fig. 6: the NR-U UE receives in the serving cell one or more messages configuring the UE for logging of the kind illustrated in Fig. 5 (OPERATION 600). The NR- U UE determines whether a message has been received activating the logging (OPERATION 602). If NR-U UE determines that a message activating the logging has been received, the NR-U activates the logging at NR-U UE (OPERATION 604). If the NR-U UE determines that a message activating the logging has not been received, the NR-U UE does not activate the logging, and continues determining whether an activating message is received (OPERATION 602). After activating the logging, the NR-U UE determines whether a message has been received deactivating the logging (OPERATION 606). If the NR-U UE determines that a message deactivating the logging has not been received, the NR-U UE continues the logging (OPERATION 604). If the NR-U UE determines that a message deactivating the logging has been received, the NR-U UE interrupts the logging (OPERATION 608), and resumes determining whether a message (re-)activating the logging is received (OPERATION 602). In response to detecting a message reactivating the logging, the NR-U UE resumes the logging (OPERATION 604) with the TSE and TRE counters (for the TSE and TRE information elements) in the state in which they existed when the logging was interrupted.

[0108] Activating / interrupting / resuming the logging may comprise activating / interrupting / resuming the above-mentioned monitoring operations by the MAC layer. In this example, logging (by the RRC layer) is dependent on the above-described monitoring by the MAC layer and reporting by the MAC layer to the RRC layer.

[0109] Fig. 7 shows a representation of messaging between the NR-U UE and NR-U gNB according to example embodiments. In response to a decision to configure NR-U UE for logging of the kind illustrated in Fig. 5, the NR-U gNB transmits a message 700 configuring the UE for the logging. The message may be a RRCReconfiguration message directed to the NR-U UE, or may be a broadcast message (e.g. SIB message). In response to a decision (based on monitoring of the network load of the NR-RAN in the geographical area of the NR-U UE) to activate logging at NR-U UE, NR-U gNB transmits a message 702 activating logging at the NR-U UE. In response to receiving the activation message 702, NR-U UE starts logging (OPERATION 704) according to the configuration set-up by message 700. In response to a decision at NR-U gNB to deactivate logging at NR-U (based on monitoring of the network load of the NR-RAN in the geographical area of the NR-U UE), NR-U gNB transmits a message 706 deactivating logging at the NR-U UE. In response to receiving the deactivation message 706, NR-U UE interrupts the logging (OPERATION 708) (until if and when it next receives a message from NR-U gNB reactivating logging at NR-ll UE). The activation / de-activation messages may be RRCReconfiguration messages directed to the NR-ll UE, or may be broadcast messages (e.g. SIB messages).

[0110] As mentioned above, the EDT performance report created from the logging at NR-U UE may be sent to the NR-RAN when the NR-U UE terminates its connection with NR-RAN in the current serving cell and establishes a new connection with NR-RAN in a new serving cell. The current and new serving cells may or may not be operated by the same NR-U gNB. The report may, for example, be included in a UElnformationResponse message in reply to a UElnformationRequest message.

[0111] As mentioned, above the NR-U gNB also restricts its own logging activity to periods for which the NR-RAN load (NR-RAN transmission activity) in the geographical area of the NR- U gNB is below a threshold value. With reference to Fig. 8, NR-U gNB monitors NR-RAN load in the geographical area of the NR-U gNB, and determines whether the NR-RAN load is below a threshold value (OPERATION 800). If the NR-RAN load is determined to be below a threshold value, the NR-U gNB starts cell-specific logging (or, if logging is already in progress, continues cell-specific logging) at NR-U gNB of events indicating EDT performance for one or more cells operated by the NR-U gNB (OPERATION 802). If the result of the NR-RAN load is determined not to be below a threshold value, the NR-U gNB does not start logging (or, if logging is already in progress, interrupts logging) at NR-U gNB of events indicating EDT performance (OPERATION 804). The cell-specific logging at NR- U gNB may include: logging of the kind illustrated in Fig. 5 but for requested downlink transmissions for each cell operated by the NR-U gNB.

[0112] With reference to Fig. 9: as mentioned above, a NR-U gNB: (i) receives EDT performance reports from NR-U UEs that establish a new connection to the NR-RAN in a cell operated by the NR-U gNB after terminating a connection to the NR-RAN via another cell of the NR- RAN (OPERATION 900); and (ii) performs cell-specific logging of events indicating EDT performance for downlink transmissions in one or more NR-U RAN cells operated by the gNB (OPERATION 902). NR-U gNB forwards the UE reports to an EDT analytics function instance (OPERATION 904), and also provides, for the EDT analytics function instance, gNB reports of cell-specific EDT performance for one or more cells based on the logging at the NR-U gNB (OPERATION 906). The NR-U gNB may provide the gNB report for the EDT analytics function instance in response to the expiry of an assessment period, or based on a determination at NR-ll gNB that the EDT performance information maintained by the NR- II gNB meets one or more conditions.

[0113] With reference to Fig. 10: one or more EDT analytics function instances perform the following: receive EDT performance reports from the plurality of NR-ll gNBs of the NR- RAN (OPERATION 1000); analyze the EDT performance reports; determine adjustments to the EDT values for one or more cells of the NR-RAN (OPERATIONS 1002 and 1004); and configure one or more entities of the NR-RAN to implement the EDT adjustments. For example: for each cell, a EDT analytics function (EAF) instance may maintain a respective pair of opposing EAF counters (also referred to as TSE and TRE counters). Based on a EDT performance report received by the EDT analytics function instance for the cell, the EDT analytics function instance may determine to increment one of the two EAF counters for the cell or not increment either of the two EAF counters for the cell. Current values of the EAF counters for all cells are collectively subject to statistical analysis, and the determination of EDT adjustments for one or more cells is based on the results of this statistical analysis. The analysis of EDT performance reports from NR-ll gNBs and the maintenance of opposing EAF counters for each cell (OPERATION 1002) may be performed by one analytics function instance (e.g. in the RAN domain), and the collective statistical analysis of the EAF counters for all cells, and the adjustment decisions (OPERATION 1004) based on the analysis may be performed by another analytics function instance (e.g. in a network management (NM) domain for the 5GS).

[0114] For each cell, the analysis may be extended to a higher level of granularity, based on information in the reports from UE and gNB, such as information about EDT performance for individual beams in the cell, and / or about EDT performance for individual locations (areas) in the cell. For the same cell, there may be individual EAF analytics function instances for individual beams of the cell or individual locations in the cell.

[0115] The above-described techniques may provide a comprehensive self-organised network (SON) mechanism that automatically adapts EDT values cell-individually (or even at a higher level of granularity in a cell, such as beam-individually) to achieve deployment- adapted cell-specific EDT values to improve NR-ll performance.

[0116] It is noted that whilst some embodiments have been described in relation to 5G networks, similar principles can be applied in relation to other networks and communication systems. Therefore, although certain embodiments were described above by way of example with reference to certain example architectures for wireless networks, technologies and standards, embodiments may be applied to any other suitable forms of communication systems than those illustrated and described herein.

[0117] It is also noted herein that while the above describes example embodiments, there are several variations and modifications which may be made to the disclosed solution without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0118] As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0119] In general, the various embodiments may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuitry, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device, although the disclosure is not limited thereto. While various aspects of the disclosure may be illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that these blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0120] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:

[0121] (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and

[0122] (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):

[0123] (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and

[0124] (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and

[0125] (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.” This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0126] The embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented by computer software executable by a data processor of the mobile device, such as in the processor entity, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. Computer software or program, also called program product, including software routines, applets and / or macros, may be stored in any apparatus-readable data storage medium and they comprise program instructions to perform particular tasks. A computer program product may comprise one or more computerexecutable components which, when the program is run, are configured to carry out embodiments. The one or more computer-executable components may be at least one software code or portions of it.

[0127] Further in this regard it should be noted that any blocks of the logic flow as in the drawings may represent program steps, or interconnected logic circuits, blocks and functions, or a combination of program steps and logic circuits, blocks and functions. The software may be stored on such physical media as memory chips, or memory blocks implemented within the processor, magnetic media such as hard disk or floppy disks, and optical media such as for example DVD and the data variants thereof, CD. The physical media is a non-transitory media.

[0128] The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal ) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0129] The memory may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. The data processors may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and may comprise one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), FPGA, gate level circuits and processors based on multi core processor architecture, as non-limiting examples.

[0130] Embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in various components such as integrated circuit modules. The design of integrated circuits is by and large a highly automated process. Complex and powerful software tools are available for converting a logic level design into a semiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on a semiconductor substrate.

[0131] The scope of protection sought for various embodiments of the disclosure is set out by the independent claims. The embodiments and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the disclosure.

[0132] The foregoing description has provided by way of non-limiting examples a full and informative description of the exemplary embodiment of this disclosure. However, various modifications and adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of this disclosure will still fall within the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims. Indeed, there is a further embodiment comprising a combination of one or more embodiments with any of the other embodiments previously discussed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method comprising: logging by a user equipment one or more events indicating performance of an energy detection threshold value used by the user equipment for one or more listen- before-talk transmissions by the user equipment in a cell of a radio access network; creating a performance report based on the logging; and transmitting the performance report to the radio access network.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising initiating the logging in response to receiving a first activation signal via the cell of the radio access network.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising interrupting the logging in response to receiving a deactivation signal via the cell of the radio access network.

4. The method according to claim 3, comprising: resuming the logging in response to a second activation signal via the cell of the radio access network.

5. The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the logging comprises one or more of: maintaining a first count of instances of listen-before-talk transmissions delayed by more than a first threshold delay; and maintaining a second count of instances of transmission errors for listen-before-talk transmissions delayed by less than a second threshold delay smaller than the first threshold delay.

6. The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the logging comprises one or more of: maintaining a first count of instances of transmissions for which the number of listen-before-talk failures exceeded a first threshold number; or maintaining a second count of instances of transmissions for which the number of listen-before-talk failures was below a second threshold number lower than the first threshold number, and for which the user equipment makes a post-transmission determination of transmission failure.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first count comprises a plurality of first sub-counts, each first sub-count associated with a respective range of detected energies above the energy detection threshold value, and the second count comprises a plurality of second sub-counts, each second sub-count associated with a respective range of detected energies below the energy detection threshold value.

8. A method comprising: providing an analytics function instance with one or more reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used to decide about making one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in one or more cells operated by a radio access network.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the one or more cell reports comprise one or more of: one or more cell-specific reports from one or more user equipments of logging of events indicating the performance of the one or more energy detection threshold values for uplink transmissions in a cell; or one or more reports based on cellspecific logging of events indicating the performance of the one or more energy detection threshold values for downlink transmissions in a cell.

10. A method comprising: based on one or more indicators of transmission activity of a radio access network in an area of one or more transmitting entities: controlling, by an access node of the radio access network, cell-specific logging at the one or more transmitting entities of one or more events indicating performance of one or more energy detection threshold values for listen-before-talk transmissions by the one or more transmitting entities in one or more cells of the radio access network.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the one or more transmitting entities comprise the access node of the radio access network.

12. The method according to claim 10 or claim 11 , wherein the one or more transmitting entities comprise one or more user equipments served by the access node, and the controlling comprises one or more of: sending messages activating the cellspecific logging at the one or more user equipments; or sending messages interrupting the cell-specific logging at the one or more user equipments.

13. A method comprising: receiving, by an analytics function instance, reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in cells of a radio access network; andmaintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for the cells based on the received reports.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for a cell comprises: incrementing a first counter in response to an instance of a report indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too high; or incrementing a second counter in response to an instance of a report that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too low; or not incrementing either of the first and second counters in response to an instance of a report indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is neither too high nor too low.

15. A method comprising: receiving, by a first analytics function, cell-specific information for cells of a radio access network about the performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in the cells of the radio access network; collectively analysing the cell-specific information for the cells; and determining adjustments for one or more energy detection threshold values for one or more cells based on a result of the analysis.

16. The method according to claim 15, comprising: receiving the cell-specific information from one or more instances of a second analytics function; wherein the cell-specific information for a cell comprises a first counter counting instances of reports indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too high; and a second counter counting instances of reports indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too low.

17. A method comprising: for at least one cell of a radio access network, adjusting one or more energy detection threshold values used for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell, wherein the adjusting is based at least partly on information about listen-before-talk transmission delays in the cell or post-transmission failures of listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell.

18. User equipment comprising means for: logging one or more events indicating performance of an energy detection threshold value used by the user equipment for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in a cell of a radio access network;creating a performance report based on the logging; and transmitting the performance report to the radio access network.

19. The user equipment according to claim 18, comprising means for initiating the logging in response to receiving a first activation signal via the cell of the radio access network.

20. The user equipment according to claim 19, comprising means for interrupting the logging in response to receiving a deactivation signal via the cell of the radio access network.

21. The user equipment according to claim 20, comprising: means for resuming the logging in response to a second activation signal via the cell of the radio access network.

22. The user equipment according to any of claims 18 to 21 , wherein the logging comprises one or more of: maintaining a first count of instances of listen-before-talk transmissions delayed by more than a first threshold delay; and maintaining a second count of instances of transmission errors for listen-before-talk transmissions delayed by less than a second threshold delay smaller than the first threshold delay.

23. The user equipment according to any of claims 18 to 21 , wherein the logging comprises one or more of: maintaining a first count of instances of transmissions for which the number of listen-before-talk failures exceeded a first threshold number; or maintaining a second count of instances of transmissions for which the number of listen-before-talk failures was below a second threshold number lower than the first threshold number, and for which a post-transmission determination of transmission failure is made.

24. The user equipment according to claim 23, wherein the first count comprises a plurality of first sub-counts, each first sub-count associated with a respective range of detected energies above the energy detection threshold value, and the second count comprises a plurality of second sub-counts, each second sub-count associated with a respective range of detected energies below the energy detection threshold value.

25. Apparatus comprising means for providing an analytics function instance with one or more reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection thresholdvalues used to decide about making one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in one or more cells operated by a radio access network.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the one or more cell reports comprise one or more of: one or more cell-specific reports from one or more user equipments of logging of events indicating the performance of the one or more energy detection threshold values for uplink transmissions in a cell; or one or more reports based on cell-specific logging of events indicating the performance of the one or more energy detection threshold values for downlink transmissions in a cell.

27. An access node of a radio access network, wherein the access node comprises means for: based on one or more indicators of transmission activity of the radio access network in an area of one or more transmitting entities: and controlling cell-specific logging at the one or more transmitting entities of one or more events indicating performance of one or more energy detection threshold values for listen-before-talk transmissions by the one or more transmitting entities in one or more cells of the radio access network.

28. The access node according to claim 27, wherein the one or more transmitting entities comprise the access node.

29. The access node according to claim 27 or claim 28, wherein the one or more transmitting entities comprise one or more user equipments served by the access node, and the controlling comprises one or more of: sending messages activating the cellspecific logging at the one or more user equipments; or sending messages interrupting the cell-specific logging at the one or more user equipments.

30. Apparatus comprising means for: receiving, by an analytics function instance, reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in cells of a radio access network; and maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for the cells based on the received reports.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for a cell comprises: incrementing a first counter in response to an instance of a report indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too high; or incrementing a second counter in response to an instance of a report that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too low; or not incrementing either of the first and second counters in response to an instance of a report indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is neither too high nor too low.

32. Apparatus comprising means for: receiving cell-specific information for cells of a radio access network about the performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in the cells of the radio access network; collectively analysing the cell-specific information for the cells; and determining adjustments for one or more energy detection threshold values for one or more cells based on a result of the analysis.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, comprising means for: receiving the cell-specific information from one or more instances of an analytics function; wherein the cell-specific information for a cell comprises a first counter counting instances of reports indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too high; and a second counter counting instances of reports indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too low.

34. Apparatus comprising means for: for at least one cell of a radio access network, adjusting one or more energy detection threshold values used for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell, wherein the adjusting is based at least partly on information about listen-before-talk transmission delays in the cell or post-transmission failures of listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell.

35. User equipment comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to perform: logging one or more events indicating performance of an energy detection threshold value used for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in a cell of a radio access network;creating a performance report based on the logging; and transmitting the performance report to the radio access network.

36. The user equipment according to claim 35, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to initiate the logging in response to receiving a first activation signal via the cell of the radio access network.

37. The user equipment according to claim 36, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to interrupt the logging in response to receiving a deactivation signal via the cell of the radio access network.

38. The user equipment according to claim 37, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to resume the logging in response to a second activation signal via the cell of the radio access network.

39. The user equipment according to any of claims 35 to 38, wherein the logging comprises one or more of: maintaining a first count of instances of listen-before-talk transmissions delayed by more than a first threshold delay; and maintaining a second count of instances of transmission errors for listen-before-talk transmissions delayed by less than a second threshold delay smaller than the first threshold delay.

40. The user equipment according to any of claims 35 to 38, wherein the logging comprises one or more of: maintaining a first count of instances of transmissions for which the number of listen-before-talk failures exceeded a first threshold number; or maintaining a second count of instances of transmissions for which the number of listen-before-talk failures was below a second threshold number lower than the first threshold number, and for which a post-transmission determination of transmission failure is made.

41. The user equipment according to claim 40, wherein the first count comprises a plurality of first sub-counts, each first sub-count associated with a respective range of detected energies above the energy detection threshold value, and the second count comprises a plurality of second sub-counts, each second sub-count associated with a respective range of detected energies below the energy detection threshold value.

42. Apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: providing an analytics function instance with one or more reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used to decide about making one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in one or more cells operated by a radio access network.

43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the one or more cell reports comprise one or more of: one or more cell-specific reports from one or more user equipments of logging of events indicating the performance of the one or more energy detection threshold values for uplink transmissions in a cell; or one or more reports based on cell-specific logging of events indicating the performance of the one or more energy detection threshold values for downlink transmissions in a cell.

44. An access node of a radio access network, wherein the access node comprises: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the access node to perform: based on one or more indicators of transmission activity of the radio access network in an area of one or more transmitting entities: controlling cell-specific logging at the one or more transmitting entities of one or more events indicating performance of one or more energy detection threshold values for listen-before-talk transmissions by the one or more transmitting entities in one or more cells of the radio access network.

45. The access node according to claim 44, wherein the one or more transmitting entities comprise the access node.

46. The access node according to claim 44 or claim 45, wherein the one or more transmitting entities comprise one or more user equipments served by the access node, and the controlling comprises one or more of: sending messages activating the cellspecific logging at the one or more user equipments; or sending messages interrupting the cell-specific logging at the one or more user equipments.

47. Apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: receiving reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in cells of a radio access network; and maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for the cells based on the received reports.

48. The apparatus according to claim 47, wherein maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for a cell comprises: incrementing a first counter in response to an instance of a report indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too high; or incrementing a second counter in response to an instance of a report that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too low; or not incrementing either of the first and second counters in response to an instance of a report indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is neither too high nor too low.

49. Apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: receiving cell-specific information for cells of a radio access network about the performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in the cells of the radio access network; collectively analysing the cell-specific information for the cells; and determining adjustments for one or more energy detection threshold values for one or more cells based on a result of the analysis.

50. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the at least one memory and computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: receive the cell-specific information from one or more instances of an analytics function; wherein the cell-specific information for a cell comprises a first counter counting instances of reports indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too high; and a second counter counting instances of reports indicating that the energy detection threshold for the cell is too low.

51. Apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: for at least one cell of a radio access network, adjusting one or more energy detection threshold values used for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell, wherein the adjusting is based at least partly on information about listen-before-talk transmission delays in the cell or post-transmission failures of listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell.

52. User equipment comprising: logging circuitry for logging one or more events indicating performance of an energy detection threshold value used by the user equipment for one or more listen- before-talk transmissions by the user equipment in a cell of a radio access network; creating circuitry for creating a performance report based on the logging; and transmitting circuitry for transmitting the performance report to the radio access network.

53. Apparatus comprising: providing circuitry for providing an analytics function instance with one or more reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used to decide about making one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in one or more cells operated by a radio access network.

54. An access node of a radio access network comprising: controlling circuitry for, based on one or more indicators of transmission activity of the radio access network in an area of one or more transmitting entities, controlling cellspecific logging at the one or more transmitting entities of one or more events indicating performance of one or more energy detection threshold values for listen-before-talk transmissions by the one or more transmitting entities in one or more cells of the radio access network.

55. Apparatus comprising: receiving circuitry for receiving reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in cells of a radio access network; andmaintaining circuitry for maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for the cells based on the received reports.

56. Apparatus comprising: receiving circuitry for receiving cell-specific information for cells of a radio access network about the performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in the cells of the radio access network; analysing circuitry for collectively analysing the cell-specific information for the cells; and determining circuitry for determining adjustments for one or more energy detection threshold values for one or more cells based on a result of the analysis.

57. Apparatus comprising: adjusting circuitry for, for at least one cell of a radio access network, adjusting one or more energy detection threshold values used for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell, wherein the adjusting is based at least partly on information about listen-before-talk transmission delays in the cell or post-transmission failures of listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell.

58. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: logging by a user equipment one or more events indicating performance of an energy detection threshold value used by the user equipment for one or more listen- before-talk transmissions by the user equipment in a cell of a radio access network; creating a performance report based on the logging; and transmitting the performance report to the radio access network.

59. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: providing an analytics function instance with one or more reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used to decide about making one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in one or more cells operated by a radio access network.

60. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing:based on one or more indicators of transmission activity of a radio access network in an area of one or more transmitting entities: controlling, by an access node of the radio access network, cell-specific logging at the one or more transmitting entities of one or more events indicating performance of one or more energy detection threshold values for listen-before-talk transmissions by the one or more transmitting entities in one or more cells of the radio access network.

61. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: receiving, by an analytics function instance, reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in cells of a radio access network; and maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for the cells based on the received reports.

62. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: receiving, by a first analytics function, cell-specific information for cells of a radio access network about the performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in the cells of the radio access network; collectively analysing the cell-specific information for the cells; and determining adjustments for one or more energy detection threshold values for one or more cells based on a result of the analysis.

63. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: for at least one cell of a radio access network, adjusting one or more energy detection threshold values used for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell, wherein the adjusting is based at least partly on information about listen-before-talk transmission delays in the cell or post-transmission failures of listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell.

64. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: logging by a user equipment one or more events indicating performance of an energy detection threshold value used by the user equipment for one or more listen- before-talk transmissions by the user equipment in a cell of a radio access network; creating a performance report based on the logging; andtransmitting the performance report to the radio access network.

65. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: providing an analytics function instance with one or more reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used to decide about making one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in one or more cells operated by a radio access network.

66. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: based on one or more indicators of transmission activity of a radio access network in an area of one or more transmitting entities: controlling, by an access node of the radio access network, cell-specific logging at the one or more transmitting entities of one or more events indicating performance of one or more energy detection threshold values for listen-before-talk transmissions by the one or more transmitting entities in one or more cells of the radio access network.

67. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: receiving, by an analytics function instance, reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in cells of a radio access network; and maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for the cells based on the received reports.

68. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing: receiving, by a first analytics function, cell-specific information for cells of a radio access network about the performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in the cells of the radio access network; collectively analysing the cell-specific information for the cells; and determining adjustments for one or more energy detection threshold values for one or more cells based on a result of the analysis.

69. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing:for at least one cell of a radio access network, adjusting one or more energy detection threshold values used for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell, wherein the adjusting is based at least partly on information about listen-before-talk transmission delays in the cell or post-transmission failures of listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell.

70. A computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause a user equipment at least to: log one or more events indicating performance of an energy detection threshold value used for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in a cell of a radio access network; create a performance report based on the logging; and transmit the performance report to the radio access network.

71. A computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause an apparatus at least to: provide an analytics function instance with one or more reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used to decide about making one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in one or more cells operated by a radio access network.

72. A computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause an access node of a radio access network at least to: based on one or more indicators of transmission activity of the radio access network in an area of one or more transmitting entities, control cell-specific logging at the one or more transmitting entities of one or more events indicating performance of one or more energy detection threshold values for listen-before-talk transmissions by the one or more transmitting entities in one or more cells of the radio access network.

73. A computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause an apparatus at least to: receive reports of cell-specific performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in cells of a radio access network; and maintaining cell-specific indicators of energy detection threshold performance for the cells based on the received reports.

74. A computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause an apparatus at least to: receive cell-specific information for cells of a radio access network about the performance of one or more energy detection threshold values used for listen-before-talk transmissions in the cells of the radio access network; collectively analyse the cell-specific information for the cells; and determine adjustments for one or more energy detection threshold values for one or more cells based on a result of the analysis.

75. A computer program comprising computer executable code which when run on at least one processor is configured to cause an apparatus at least to: for at least one cell of a radio access network, adjust one or more energy detection threshold values used for one or more listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell, wherein the adjusting is based at least partly on information about listen-before-talk transmission delays in the cell or post-transmission failures of listen-before-talk transmissions in the cell.

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