Unlicensed-Band Channel Sensing With Antenna-Gain Thresholds

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Solution Overview

Problem

The NR system lacks a scheme to accurately determine the energy detection threshold for channel sensing due to directionality in the spatial domain and introduction of Band Width Part (BWP), leading to lower sensing accuracy in unlicensed bands shared with technologies like WiFi and radar.

Innovation Solution

Determine the energy detection threshold in spatial-domain transmission directions by considering antenna gains, including antenna transmission and reception gains, and adjust initial thresholds based on these gains to achieve accurate channel sensing across multiple directions and BWPs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a fixed energy detection threshold is used for channel sensing, then the channel access rule is simple, but the sensing accuracy decreases in multi-directional spatial domain transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel access rule simplicityVSAvoidchannel sensing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the energy detection threshold adjustable rather than fixed. The threshold is dynamically determined based on antenna gain information in different spatial domain transmission directions, allowing the system to adapt to varying channel conditions and directional characteristics, thereby improving sensing accuracy while maintaining operational simplicity through automated threshold selection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by establishing different energy detection thresholds for different spatial domain transmission directions. Each direction receives a customized threshold based on its specific antenna gain characteristics, ensuring that channel sensing accuracy is optimized locally for each transmission direction rather than using a uniform threshold across all directions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If the energy detection threshold does not consider antenna gain, then the threshold setting is simple, but the channel sensing accuracy is low in unlicensed bands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethreshold setting complexityVSAvoidchannel sensing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by incorporating antenna gain as a variable parameter in the energy detection threshold determination process. The threshold is calculated based on the relationship between received power, antenna gain, and reference power levels, allowing the system to adapt to different antenna configurations and spatial directions, thereby improving sensing accuracy without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses antenna gain information as an intermediary parameter to bridge the relationship between transmission characteristics and threshold setting. By introducing antenna gain as a mediating factor, the system can indirectly account for directional transmission effects and spatial domain characteristics, improving sensing accuracy while maintaining a manageable threshold determination process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a single threshold is used for all bandwidth parts, then the configuration is simple, but the sensing accuracy decreases for different BWP bandwidths

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethreshold configuration complexityVSAvoidsensing accuracy for different BWPs
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the threshold configuration into separate settings for different bandwidth parts (BWPs). Each BWP receives a customized energy detection threshold based on its specific bandwidth characteristics and associated antenna gain, allowing the system to optimize sensing accuracy for each frequency segment rather than using a blanket threshold across all BWPs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3731556B1Method for channel monitoring, and communication device
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD
  • EP3731556B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3731556B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3731556B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A channel sensing method and a communication device are provided. The method is applied to a communication device operating in an unlicensed band. The method includes: determining an energy detection threshold in a spatial-domain transmission direction according to an antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction; wherein the antenna gain includes at least one of an antenna transmission gain and an antenna reception gain.