Shared COT Uplink Coordination Across Multiple Transmission Points

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems fail to fully utilize Channel Occupancy Time (COT) resources in unlicensed frequency bands due to UE and TRPs obtaining and using their own COTs without sharing, leading to inefficient resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device and wireless communication method that enable the COT obtained by user equipment to be shared among multiple transmission reception points, allowing for efficient uplink and downlink data transmissions across multiple TRPs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If UE and TRPs obtain and use their own COTs separately, then each device can independently perform transmission, but resource utilization efficiency of unlicensed frequency bands deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent transmission capabilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate COTs into a shared COT that can be used by multiple TRPs and the UE together. Instead of each device obtaining its own separate COT through individual LBT procedures, the system enables one device to obtain a COT that is then shared among multiple devices, combining resources to improve overall utilization efficiency while maintaining independent transmission capabilities through coordinated access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the COT a universal resource that can be shared by multiple devices (UE and multiple TRPs) rather than being dedicated to a single device. The shared COT mechanism allows the same time resource to be utilized by different devices for different transmissions, giving the COT multiple functions and improving resource utilization efficiency across the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple TRPs perform separate channel detection to access unlicensed band, then each TRP can independently access the channel, but transmission overhead and processing loads increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent channel accessVSAvoidtransmission overhead and processing loads
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate channel detection operations into a single shared channel detection result. Instead of each TRP performing its own LBT procedure independently, the system allows one device to perform channel detection and share the resulting COT with multiple TRPs, combining the detection effort and reducing redundant processing while maintaining the ability of multiple TRPs to access the channel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a mediator mechanism where one device (either UE or a designated TRP) performs channel detection and acts as an intermediary to grant shared COT access to multiple TRPs. This intermediary approach reduces the total number of channel detection operations needed while still enabling multiple TRPs to independently access the unlicensed band through the shared COT.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4175343B1Electronic devices
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP4175343B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4175343B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4175343B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Provided are an electronic device, a wireless communication method and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The electronic device comprises a processing circuit, and the processing circuit is configured: to perform a first uplink data transmission to a first transmission point within a channel occupation time after the electronic device successfully accesses an unlicensed frequency band; and to perform a second uplink data transmission to a second transmission point on the basis of an acknowledgement message from the second transmission point in the vicinity of the first transmission point within the remaining time after the first uplink data transmission is completed in the channel occupation time, wherein the acknowledgement message is transmitted to the electronic device by the second transmission point in response to an additional transmission request transmitted to the second transmission point by the first transmission point after completion of the first uplink data transmission. According to at least one aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the channel occupation time obtained by a user equipment can be shared among a plurality of transmission points, thereby improving the resource utilization rate of the unlicensed frequency band.