Unlicensed Sidelink Padding Signals for COT Continuity Across S-SSB Slots
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, channel occupancy time (COT) is often terminated due to gaps in resources during sidelink synchronization signal block (S-SSB) slots, leading to increased system overhead and resource consumption.
Innovation Solution
A first UE performs a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure to identify a COT with multiple slots, including S-SSB slots, and either transmits padding signals or control signaling to maintain COT by filling gaps in S-SSB slots or scheduling S-SSB transmissions by a second UE.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If S-SSB slots are used for synchronization signal transmission, then synchronization functionality is provided, but COT is terminated due to transmission gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by transmitting padding signals during S-SSB slots to maintain continuous transmission activity. The padding signals fill the gaps that would otherwise terminate the COT, ensuring the channel remains occupied and the useful transmission action continues uninterrupted across synchronization signal slots.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses padding signals as intermediary elements that bridge the gap between data transmissions separated by S-SSB slots. These padding signals act as mediators that maintain COT continuity without interfering with the primary synchronization functionality of the S-SSB slots.
2Reliability
If COT is terminated due to S-SSB slot gaps, then S-SSB transmission is enabled, but system overhead and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
By maintaining continuous transmission through padding signals, the system avoids the overhead of repeatedly acquiring the channel via LBT procedures. This continuity eliminates the energy waste associated with frequent COT terminations and re-acquisitions, reducing overall resource consumption while preserving S-SSB transmission capability.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If padding signals are transmitted to fill S-SSB slots, then COT is maintained, but transmission resources are used for padding
Solution Approach 1:
The padding signals serve as minimal-resource intermediaries that consume only the necessary transmission resources to maintain COT continuity. By using simple padding signals rather than full data transmissions, the patent minimizes the quantity of transmission resources consumed while achieving the goal of COT maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. In some cases, a first user equipment (UE) may perform a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure to identify a channel occupancy time (COT). The COT may include some slots for transmitting a sidelink message and some sidelink synchronization signal block (S-SSB) slots for transmitting S-SSBs. In some examples, to fill a gap created by the S-SSB slots within the COT and thus maintain the COT across the S-SSB slots, the first UE or the second UE may transmit some signaling to provide transmissions in the S-SSB slots. For example, the first UE may transmit a padding signal, the second UE may transmit S-SSBs, or the UEs may use a gap control procedure. Upon filling the gap, the first UE may transmit a sidelink message to the second UE in slots of the COT excluding the S-SSB slots.