Unsolicited CCA Status Report for Wireless Channel Monitoring

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless communication systems lack an effective mechanism for base stations to track channel conditions of user equipment (UE) when the UE is not scheduled for communication, particularly in shared or unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands, leading to incomplete information for handover decisions and resource configuration.

Innovation Solution

The described techniques enable UE to perform an unsolicited clear channel assessment (CCA) status report to the serving base station during designated quiet portions of transmission opportunities, even when not scheduled for uplink transmissions, allowing the base station to configure resources and make timely handover decisions based on the CCA results.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the UE performs CCA procedure only when scheduled for communication, then the device complexity is reduced, but the loss of information about channel conditions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel condition informationVSAvoidUE reporting mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs CCA procedure in advance during quiet portions before actual communication is needed, so that channel condition information is available when required for handover decisions or resource configuration, eliminating the need to wait until scheduled communication time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE provides unsolicited feedback reports containing CCA results to the base station during quiet portions, enabling the base station to make informed decisions about handover and resource allocation without waiting for scheduled uplink transmissions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the UE transmits unsolicited CCA status reports during quiet portions, then the measurement precision of channel conditions is improved, but the use of energy by the UE increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel condition measurementVSAvoidUE energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs CCA procedure and transmits reports periodically during designated quiet portions rather than continuously, balancing the need for accurate channel condition measurements with energy conservation by utilizing pre-configured silent intervals

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of time

If the base station waits for scheduled UE transmissions to obtain channel condition information, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the loss of time for handover decisions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover decision timeVSAvoidbase station operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The base station receives CCA status reports in advance during quiet portions before handover decisions are needed, allowing sufficient time to process channel condition information and make informed handover decisions without delaying operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The base station receives unsolicited feedback containing CCA results, enabling proactive decision-making about handover and resource configuration based on current channel conditions rather than waiting for scheduled update opportunities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3858073B1Measurement report on user equipment clear channel assessment status
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3858073B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3858073B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3858073B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may determine that a serving base station of the UE has obtained access to a wireless channel of a shared radio frequency spectrum band during a transmission opportunity that is separate from a scheduled uplink transmission by the UE. The UE may perform, based at least in part on the determination, a clear channel assessment (CCA) procedure on the wireless channel during a designated quiet portion of the transmission opportunity. The UE may transmit an unsolicited CCA status report to the serving base station during the transmission opportunity based at least in part on the CCA procedure.