Autonomous Uplink Priority Indication via TxOP Length
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks, especially in 5G NR systems, the existing medium-sensing procedures for accessing shared radio frequency spectrum lead to communication inefficiencies and increased latency due to multiple network operating entities contending for shared resources, resulting in interference and signaling overhead.
Innovation Solution
A method where user equipment (UE) receives control signals from a serving base station indicating the transmission opportunity (TxOP) length, infers potential transmission priorities, selects the highest priority, and autonomously transmits data within a configured autonomous uplink resource, allowing for fair channel access and reduced interference by matching the priority used by the base station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple network operating entities contend for shared radio frequency spectrum resources using existing medium-sensing procedures, then spectrum sharing is enabled, but communication inefficiency and increased latency occur due to interference and signaling overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The base station acts as an intermediary that coordinates channel access between itself and the UE. Instead of both entities independently contending for the channel, the base station secures the channel first and then grants autonomous uplink transmission rights to the UE, eliminating redundant contention and reducing interference
Solution Approach 2:
The base station performs preliminary channel sensing and secures the channel before allowing the UE to transmit. This preliminary action by the base station eliminates the need for the UE to perform independent medium sensing, reducing latency and signaling overhead while maintaining fair channel access
2Ease of operation
If UEs perform independent medium sensing to access shared spectrum, then autonomous access is enabled, but interference increases due to multiple entities contending simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The base station serves as a coordinating intermediary that resolves the interference problem. It performs the channel access procedure first and then authorizes the UE to transmit autonomously within the secured channel, eliminating simultaneous contention between the base station and UE
Solution Approach 2:
The base station performs preliminary channel access and secures the channel before the UE begins autonomous transmission. This preliminary action prevents the UE from attempting channel access simultaneously, thereby eliminating the interference that would result from multiple entities contending at the same time
3Adaptability or versatility
If UEs autonomously transmit without priority coordination, then transmission flexibility is improved, but resource utilization deteriorates due to mismatched priority classes
Solution Approach 1:
The base station provides feedback to the UE about the priority class it used to secure the channel. The UE uses this feedback information to select appropriate priority classes for its autonomous transmissions, ensuring that resource allocation decisions are coordinated and optimizing overall resource utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The base station acts as an intermediary that coordinates priority class selection between itself and the UE. By communicating its priority class to the UE, the base station enables the UE to make informed transmission decisions that align with the base station's resource allocation strategy, improving resource utilization while maintaining autonomous transmission flexibility
Data Source
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AI summary
Indication of transmission priority class is disclosed for sharing a base station's maximum channel occupancy time (MCOT) for use in autonomous uplink (AUL). Aspects of the disclosure provide for implicitly sharing the MCOT by providing an indication of transmission opportunity (TxOP) length. A serving base station sends an indication of a current TxOP length in control signals to a user equipment (UE). The UE may then infer a set of potential transmission priorities used by the serving base station according to the TxOP length, as TxOP length may relate to the MCOT, which itself may be associated with a particular transmission priority class. The UE may then, conservatively, select the highest transmission priority of the set of potential transmission priorities for autonomously transmitting any uplink data having at least the selected highest transmission priority within configured AUL resource of the current TxOP.