NR Unlicensed LBT Beam Switching for Directional Channel Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
The directional LBT technology in NR systems operating on unlicensed spectra above 52.6 GHz improves spectrum reuse efficiency and transmission performance but is limited to specific beam directions, while omni-directional LBT is impacted by signals in all directions, necessitating a solution to maximize the benefits of both approaches.
Innovation Solution
A method involving multiple times of energy detection with adjustable multi-antenna parameters for LBT, allowing switching between different beam widths and thresholds to enhance flexibility and success probability, ensuring fair contention access on unlicensed spectra.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If directional LBT technology is used in NR systems operating on unlicensed spectra above 52.6 GHz, then spectrum reuse efficiency and transmission performance are improved, but the technology is limited to specific beam directions and cannot serve all directions simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the antenna parameters adjustable during the LBT process. The system can switch between different beam widths and thresholds dynamically based on the detection results, allowing the directional LBT to adapt to different spatial conditions and serve multiple directions effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the antenna system during operation. Specifically, it adjusts beam width and detection thresholds as parameters can be modified during the LBT process, enabling the system to transition between narrow beam (for high gain) and wide beam (for broader coverage) modes to resolve the contradiction between directional performance and multi-directional service capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If omni-directional LBT is used, then all directions can be covered, but the system is impacted by signals in all directions reducing success probability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the spatial environment subject to different detection conditions. Instead of uniform omni-directional detection, the system uses adjustable beam widths that can focus detection energy on specific directions, allowing each spatial region to be monitored with appropriate sensitivity levels, thereby reducing interference impact while maintaining coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the detection beam width based on spatial conditions. When interference is detected in certain directions, the system can narrow the beam to focus on cleaner directions, or widen it to average out interference, making the LBT process adaptable to the actual spatial interference environment and improving success probability
3Reliability
If multiple times of energy detection with adjustable multi-antenna parameters is performed, then LBT success rate is enhanced, but the complexity of the access detection process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic energy detection multiple times during the LBT process rather than a single detection. This periodic action allows the system to sample the channel at different moments, and by combining results from multiple detection instances with adjustable parameters, the system improves reliability while managing complexity through structured repeated measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from previous detection results to adjust subsequent detection parameters. The outcome of one energy detection influences the beam width and thresholds used in next detection, creating a feedback loop that optimizes the detection process adaptively, improving success rate while avoiding unnecessary complexity through intelligent parameter adjustment based on observed conditions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the success rate of LBT by adapting antenna parameters during the process, improving spectrum utilization and reducing hardware complexity across various communication scenarios, including cellular networks, wireless local area networks, and sidelink transmissions.
Implementation Method 1
Based on weighting processing performed on an antenna array, a radio frequency signal forms a relatively strong beam in a specific spatial direction
Implementation Method 2
a transmitting set (a base station or user equipment) first performs energy detection in a defer duration. If a result of the detection indicates that a channel is idle
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for a node used for wireless communication. The method includes: receiving, by a first node, a first information block, where the first information block is used to indicate a first time-frequency resource block; performing first access detection in a first sub-band, where the first access detection includes more than one time of first type monitoring; and sending a first signal in the first time-frequency resource block when a quantity of times of the first type monitoring, in the first access detection, with monitoring results indicating that a channel is idle is not less than Q1; or abstaining from sending of a first signal in the first time-frequency resource block when a quantity of times of the first type monitoring, in the first access detection, with monitoring results indicating that a channel is idle is less than Q1.