PDCCH Control Information for 5G NR Wideband Spectrum Sharing

The patent segments the wideband frequency spectrum into multiple bandwidth units (BWUs), each independently monitored for channel availability. Instead of treating the entire spectrum as one unit, the gNB performs LBT separately for each BWU and provides individual availability status to the UE through DCI signaling. This segmentation allows the UE to focus monitoring efforts only on available BWUs, reducing overall complexity while maintaining thorough assessment.

The patent implements partial monitoring by allowing UEs to skip monitoring of unavailable bandwidth units. When the gNB determines that certain BWUs are occupied or unavailable (through LBT failure), it signals this information to the UE, which then performs monitoring only on the subset of available BWUs. This partial action approach reduces UE complexity and power consumption while still providing comprehensive channel availability assessment across the entire spectrum.

The patent enables partial monitoring where UEs continuously monitor only the bandwidth units that are currently available, rather than all configured bandwidth units. The gNB provides availability information for each BWU through DCI signaling, and the UE adjusts its monitoring activity accordingly. This approach maintains accurate channel availability detection for active BWUs while significantly reducing power consumption by avoiding monitoring of unavailable BWUs.

The system implements self-service monitoring where the gNB autonomously performs LBT assessments across all bandwidth units and provides the availability status to the UE. The UE then uses this information to self-adjust its monitoring behavior, consuming power only when necessary for available BWUs. This self-service mechanism ensures accurate detection while optimizing power efficiency.