Radio Resource Pre-Reservation in Unlicensed Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems using unlicensed frequency bands, the Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) procedure adds latency, particularly for low-latency and ultra-reliable communications, as it consumes time and complicates radio resource allocation and scheduling.
Innovation Solution
A method for radio resource pre-reservation by network nodes, where an additional spectrum resource is determined and signaled to wireless devices after a successful CCA, allowing for flexible and efficient allocation, reducing the need for repeated CCA procedures and enabling quicker access to additional spectrum resources for uplink data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) procedure is performed before transmission in unlicensed bands, then channel access compliance is ensured, but transmission latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network node performs the Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) procedure in advance before the wireless device needs to transmit. By conducting the CCA procedure beforehand and caching the result, the system ensures channel access compliance is established prior to when the device needs to transmit, thereby reducing the latency that would otherwise occur when the device performs CCA at the moment of transmission need.
2Productivity
If the network node performs CCA procedure in advance, then additional spectrum resources can be prepared, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network node acts as an intermediary that performs the complex CCA procedure and resource preparation tasks on behalf of the wireless device. The network node determines additional spectrum resources based on its own CCA results and communicates these resources to the device through control signaling, thereby shielding the device from the complexity of CCA procedures while enabling faster resource availability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the wireless device requests only estimated resources, then resource allocation is simple, but additional CCA procedures are needed for bursty traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The network node performs the CCA procedure in advance and determines additional spectrum resources before the wireless device needs to transmit bursty traffic. By caching the CCA result and having additional resources ready, the system eliminates the need for the device to perform additional CCA procedures when unexpected data needs to be transmitted, thus maintaining resource allocation simplicity while reducing additional CCA time.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method, performed by a network node, for radio resource pre-reservation for communication of a first wireless device in an unlicensed channel. The method comprises determining an additional spectrum resource allocable for communication based on a successful clear channel assessment procedure conducted by the network node. The additional spectrum resource is different from a first resource used for ongoing communication with the first wireless device. The method comprises transmitting, to the first wireless device, control signalling indicative of the additional spectrum resource.