Slot Format Indication Using LBT Bandwidth Unit Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication technologies in New Radio (NR) struggle with clear slot format indication due to varying bandwidth parts (BWP) configurations, leading to inefficiencies in channel detection and data transmission reliability.

Innovation Solution

Implementing Listen Before Talk (LBT) on active bandwidth parts (BWP) to determine idle LBT bandwidth units and sending Downlink Control Information (DCI) with slot format indications (SFIs) to terminals, ensuring explicit channel status and format indications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If RRC signaling is used to configure multiple slot format combinations, then slot format flexibility is improved, but signaling overhead and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslot format flexibilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the slot format indication into two parts: RRC signaling configures multiple slot format combinations (dividing the overall configuration into manageable sets), while DCI signaling selectively indicates which combination to use (further segmenting the indication process). This segmentation reduces signaling overhead by avoiding transmission of all possible slot format details while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having DCI signaling directly indicate detailed slot formats (which would require many bits), the patent inverts the approach: RRC signaling pre-configures multiple slot format combinations, and DCI signaling only indicates which pre-configured combination to use. This inversion dramatically reduces DCI overhead while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Measurement precision

If LBT is performed on the entire active BWP, then channel detection accuracy is improved, but detection time and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the active BWP into multiple LBT bandwidth units for independent channel detection. This segmentation allows the system to detect channel status on smaller units rather than the entire BWP, reducing detection time and processing overhead while maintaining adequate accuracy through selective detection on relevant units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs LBT on selected LBT bandwidth units rather than all possible units. The base station determines which LBT BW units correspond to idle channels and sends SFIs only for those units, performing partial action that is sufficient for maintaining reliable transmission without the excessive overhead of checking all possible units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12382493B2Slot format indication method and apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.08.05 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD

AI summary

A slot format indication method and an apparatus thereof are provided. The method may include: performing Listen Before Talk (LBT) on an active bandwidth part (BWP) in a target serving cell corresponding to a terminal; determining target LBT bandwidth units (LBT BW units), corresponding channels of which are idle, from respective LBT bandwidth units included in the active BWP; and sending downlink control information (DCI) to the terminal, wherein the DCI comprises slot format indications (SFIs) of the target LBT BW units.