Sidelink Channel Occupancy Sharing for Unlicensed Access Blocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Channel access blocking occurs in sidelink communication using unlicensed spectrum due to transmissions from other user devices, leading to delays and reduced efficiency, particularly for high-priority data and control information.

Innovation Solution

Implementing COT sharing, overbooking, multi-channel access, and network entity coordination to manage resource allocation and avoid channel access blocking by allowing UEs to share or defer channel occupancy times, modify transmissions, or probe multiple frequency bands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If UEs perform channel access procedure in unlicensed spectrum for sidelink communication, then resource utilization is improved, but channel access blocking occurs due to transmissions from other UEs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidchannel access success

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing sensing and resource reservation before actual transmission. UEs sense the channel in advance, identify available resources, and reserve them for future use, which prevents channel access blocking by ensuring resources are secured before needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through sensing mechanisms where UEs continuously monitor the channel for transmissions from other devices. This feedback information is used to adjust channel access decisions, avoid collisions, and dynamically adapt to changing channel conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If UEs reserve resources in advance for sidelink transmission, then transmission reliability is improved, but channel access blocking increases due to resource conflicts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidchannel access delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making resource reservation flexible and adaptive. Instead of fixed reservations, UEs dynamically adjust their resource usage based on real-time sensing outcomes and channel conditions, allowing them to switch between reserved and non-reserved resources as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes parameters by adjusting sensing durations, reservation periods, and transmission timing based on channel conditions. These parameter adjustments optimize the balance between maintaining reliable reservations and minimizing access delays when conflicts occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If UEs perform sensing and resource reservation, then channel access blocking is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel access successVSAvoidchannel access procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the channel access procedure into distinct phases: sensing phase, resource selection phase, and transmission phase. This segmentation simplifies the overall complexity by breaking down the complex access procedure into manageable, sequential steps with clear decision points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If UEs share COT with further UEs, then resource utilization is improved, but transmission timing coordination becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidcoordination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining multiple UEs' transmissions into a shared Channel Occupancy Time (COT). Once one UE successfully accesses the channel, other UEs can join and share the same COT for their transmissions, consolidating multiple access procedures into a single coordinated transmission window.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20260067703A1Channel access blocking reduction for a sidelink communication on resources of an unlicensed spectrum

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV

AI summary

A user device, UE, for a wireless communication network is described, which is to communicate with one or more further UEs in the wireless communication network using resources in an unlicensed spectrum. For a transmission on a first set of resources in the unlicensed spectrum, the UE is to determine whether or not one or more resources of the first set of resources are reserved by a further UE for performing a certain transmission. Responsive to determining that one or more resources of the first set of resources are reserved, the UE is to perform an action, the action comprising one or more of the following:performing COT sharing,performing COT deferral,modifying the transmission,notifying another device, e.g., a base station or RSU or another UE.