Beam-Based Channel Occupancy Determination in NR Unlicensed Spectrum
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining channel occupancy in unlicensed spectrums, such as LBT, are not well applicable to New Radio (NR) technology, which uses beam-based signal reception and transmission, leading to inefficiencies in channel idle detection and potential interference.
Innovation Solution
A method where a user device determines channel occupancy information by measuring signal strength on a target beam indicated by a base station, using pre-stored correspondence relationships and sending this information back to the base station, allowing for better channel scheduling and interference avoidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If LBT method is used for channel occupancy determination, then channel idle detection can be performed in unlicensed spectrums, but the method is not well applicable to NR beam-based technology
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by performing channel occupancy determination specifically on target beams rather than omnidirectionally. The user equipment determines channel occupancy information for specific beam directions where communication is actually occurring, making the detection locally adapted to the beam-based NR technology while maintaining high reliability through directional measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the channel detection process into beam-specific measurements. Instead of a single omnidirectional LBT, the system divides the detection into multiple directional measurements corresponding to different target beams, allowing the channel occupancy to be determined separately for each beam direction, thus improving adaptability to beam-based operations
2Reliability
If omnidirectional channel detection is performed, then channel occupancy can be determined, but interference from other directions cannot be avoided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by restricting channel detection to specific target beam directions rather than performing omnidirectional detection. This allows the system to determine channel occupancy only in the directions where communication is intended, thereby avoiding interference from other directions while maintaining reliable channel occupancy determination for the relevant beams
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the channel detection function from omnidirectional space and confines it to specific target beam directions. By taking out the detection from the general omnidirectional environment and limiting it to relevant directional beams, the system achieves accurate channel occupancy determination without being affected by interference from irrelevant directions
3Object-affected harmful factors
If beam-specific channel measurement is implemented, then interference avoidance is improved, but measurement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the network equipment pre-indicate the target beams to the user equipment before channel occupancy measurement. This preliminary indication provides the user equipment with advance knowledge of which beams to measure, simplifying the measurement process while still achieving beam-specific interference avoidance. The correspondence relationship between measured objects and beams is pre-stored, further reducing real-time measurement complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for determining channel occupancy information is provided. The user device determines a measured object according to first indication information sent by a base station, determines a target beam corresponding to the measured object according to a pre-stored correspondence relationship between a plurality of measured objects and a plurality of beams, measures first strength information of a received signal on the target beam, determines the channel occupancy information according to the first strength information, and sends the channel occupancy information to the base station. The channel occupancy information is marked as being associated with the measured object.