UE Unlicensed Channel Sharing via COT Slot Format

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the 5G NR system, there is a need for a technical solution to enable User Equipment (UE) to effectively notify the base station of the unlicensed channel occupation duration, which is not efficiently addressed by existing methods, leading to inefficient unlicensed channel sharing and reduced system performance.

Innovation Solution

The proposed method involves determining and sending channel sharing information that includes slot format information of Channel Occupy Time (COT), allowing the UE to inform the base station about the unlicensed channel occupation duration, thereby enabling effective channel sharing and improving system performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the UE notifies the base station of the unlicensed channel occupation duration using existing methods, then the channel sharing can be established, but the system performance is reduced due to inefficient channel sharing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel sharing efficiencyVSAvoidsystem performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs preliminary action by notifying the base station of the COT duration and providing slot format information before the actual channel sharing begins. This allows the base station to prepare scheduling information in advance, improving channel sharing efficiency and system performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE provides feedback to the base station through channel sharing information that includes COT duration and slot format details. This feedback mechanism enables the base station to adjust its scheduling strategies, optimizing the channel sharing process and enhancing overall system performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the UE provides detailed slot format information of COT, then the channel sharing accuracy is improved, but the signaling complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel sharing accuracyVSAvoidsignaling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing detailed slot format information only for the specific COT period rather than continuous detailed signaling. The slot format information is localized to the relevant time window, maintaining accuracy while reducing overall signaling complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The UE provides partial slot format information (including start slot, end slot, and format details) rather than complete continuous scheduling information. This partial action approach achieves sufficient channel sharing accuracy without the excessive complexity of full detailed signaling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the base station waits for UE notification before scheduling, then the channel access is safe, but the time delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel access safetyVSAvoidscheduling delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs preliminary notification of COT duration and slot format information, allowing the base station to perform advance scheduling. This preliminary action eliminates the need for the base station to wait until the last moment, reducing scheduling delay while maintaining channel access safety through proper LBT mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3820187B1Unlicensed channel sharing methods and storage medium
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 BEIJING SPREADTRUM HI TECH COMM TECH CO LTD
  • EP3820187B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
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  • EP3820187B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

An unlicensed channel sharing method and device, a storage medium, a terminal and a base station, the sharing method comprising: determining channel sharing information, the channel sharing information comprising time slot specification information which may allow a network to access and occupy a channel occupation time of an unlicensed channel; and sending the channel sharing information to the network. By means of employing the technical solution of the present invention, a UE may notify a base station of an unlicensed channel occupation duration so that the UE effectively carries out channel sharing with the base station.