Unlicensed 5G Frame Scheduling with Shared Channel Occupancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G mobile communication systems, there is a lack of effective solutions for configuring access periods and channel occupancy times in unlicensed frequency bands, which affects resource sharing among wireless devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for configuring a fixed frame period (FFP) that includes channel occupancy time (COT) and idle periods for terminal devices, allowing them to contend for channels based on provided configuration information, with scheduling information sent by a network device to manage resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a terminal device performs clear channel assessment (CCA) before each access period in an unlicensed frequency band, then the device can detect channel occupation status and avoid collisions, but the access delay increases and resource utilization efficiency decreases due to repeated listening periods
Solution Approach 1:
The network device performs channel assessment and channel occupancy time (COT) establishment in advance before the terminal device needs to access the channel. The network device sends COT indication information to the terminal device, allowing the terminal to skip the CCA procedure and directly transmit data during the pre-established COT period. This preliminary action by the network device eliminates the need for repeated CCA by the terminal, reducing access delay while maintaining channel access reliability.
2Productivity
If the network device configures fixed frame period (FFP) with channel occupancy time (COT) and idle period for terminal devices, then resource allocation efficiency improves and contention delays are reduced, but the system complexity increases due to additional configuration and scheduling information
Solution Approach 1:
The network device establishes a unified COT that can be shared by multiple terminal devices for their respective uplink transmissions. Instead of each terminal independently managing its own COT, the network device creates a common COT framework that serves multiple purposes: channel reservation, resource allocation, and coordination for multiple UEs. This multi-functional approach improves resource allocation efficiency while the network device manages the complexity centrally, reducing individual terminal complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple terminal devices contend for channel access in an unlicensed frequency band using traditional CCA, then each device can independently access the channel, but resource waste occurs due to repeated listening periods and access collisions
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple terminal devices merge their individual CCA procedures into a single network-device-initiated COT establishment. Instead of each terminal independently performing CCA and potentially colliding, the network device performs a unified channel assessment and establishes a shared COT that multiple terminals can utilize. This merging eliminates redundant CCA operations across multiple devices, reducing energy consumption while maintaining the ability of each terminal to independently access resources within the shared COT.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of this application provide an unlicensed frequency band-based resource configuration method and an apparatus, to resolve a problem of configuring a fixed frame period FFP for a terminal device operating in an unlicensed frequency band in a current technology. The method includes: A network device sends fixed frame period FFP configuration information to a terminal device, where the FFP configuration information indicates an FFP configuration of the terminal device, an FFP is a period used by the terminal device to transmit a signal, the FFP includes channel occupancy time COT and an idle period Idle period, the channel occupancy time COT is used by the terminal device to transmit the signal, and the idle period is used by the terminal device to perform LBT.