Shared Channel Occupancy Hop Counting for Interference-Limited Spectrum

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, UEs sharing channel occupancy in unlicensed spectrum may cause interference due to undetected local activity, as they skip full duration channel sensing procedures, leading to inefficient resource utilization and potential interference with other devices.

Innovation Solution

Implementing hop counting to determine whether to transmit packets based on a hop counter value associated with shared channel occupancy, limiting the spatial range of channel sharing to prevent interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If channel occupancy sharing is allowed without spatial limitation, then resource utilization improves, but interference from distant devices increases and network performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidinterference from distant devices

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the channel occupancy space by introducing a hop counter mechanism that divides the unlicensed spectrum access into discrete hops or levels. Each device can only share channel occupancy within a limited number of hops from the initiating device, creating spatial segments that prevent distant devices from causing interference while allowing close devices to utilize the channel efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If hop counter limitation is implemented, then interference is reduced, but control signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveinterferenceVSAvoidcontrol signaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the hop counter value device-specific and context-specific. Each device receives a hop counter value tailored to its particular situation (whether it's the initiating device, a receiving device, or a relay device), allowing precise control of interference on a local basis rather than applying uniform restrictions across the entire network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Area of stationary object

If channel occupancy is shared widely, then network coverage improves, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork coverageVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamics by making the channel occupancy sharing adaptive rather than static. The hop counter value can be adjusted based on channel conditions, device roles, and network state, allowing the system to dynamically optimize between coverage and resource consumption. Devices can extend or limit their sharing range depending on current network needs and interference conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12634988B2Limiting spatial range of channel occupancy sharing in unlicensed spectrum via hop counting

Publication Date: 2026.05.19 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment may receive information identifying a shared channel occupancy for a packet transmission resource and a hop counter value associated with the shared channel occupancy. The user equipment may determine whether to transmit one or more packets in the shared channel occupancy based at least in part on the hop counter value associated with the shared channel occupancy. Numerous other aspects are provided.