Terminal Channel Access Management Licensed Band

Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems operating in frequency bands higher than conventional frequencies, there is a need to determine channel access operations with and without LBT (Listen Before Talk) in licensed bands, where LBT may not always be required.

Innovation Solution

A terminal is equipped with a reception unit to receive channel access information from a base station, a control unit to determine the channel access procedure, and a communication unit to perform transmissions based on the determined procedure, supporting LBT in some cases but not assuming it is necessary in licensed bands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If LBT procedure is always configured in licensed band, then channel access reliability is improved, but communication delay increases and efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel access reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal dynamically adjusts channel access behavior based on frequency band characteristics. In licensed bands, the terminal determines that LBT is not required and skips the procedure. In unlicensed bands, the terminal performs LBT as required. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by applying different channel access strategies to different frequency bands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies different channel access quality requirements to different frequency bands. Licensed bands receive simplified channel access treatment (no LBT), while unlicensed bands receive stringent channel access treatment (LBT required). This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by matching channel access strictness to the specific characteristics of each frequency band.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If LBT procedure is always configured in licensed band, then channel access reliability is improved, but communication efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel access reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal dynamically adjusts channel access behavior based on frequency band characteristics. In licensed bands, the terminal determines that LBT is not required and skips the procedure. In unlicensed bands, the terminal performs LBT as required. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by applying different channel access strategies to different frequency bands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies different channel access quality requirements to different frequency bands. Licensed bands receive simplified channel access treatment (no LBT), while unlicensed bands receive stringent channel access treatment (LBT required). This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by matching channel access strictness to the specific characteristics of each frequency band.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If terminal supports channel access with LBT in licensed band, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel access adaptabilityVSAvoidterminal complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal changes the operational parameters of channel access based on frequency band identification. When operating in licensed bands, the terminal disables LBT functionality. When operating in unlicensed bands, the terminal enables LBT functionality. This parameter-based adaptation maintains versatility while avoiding unnecessary complexity in specific operating contexts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250113379A1Terminal and communication method

Publication Date: 2025.04.03 NTT DOCOMO INC

AI summary

A terminal includes: a reception unit configured to receive information related to a channel access procedure from a base station; a control unit configured to determine the channel access procedure, based on the information; and a communication unit configured to perform transmission to the base station, based on the determined channel access procedure, wherein the control unit supports a channel access procedure with LBT (Listen before talk), and does not assume that the LBT is to be configured in a licensed band.