Uplink Configured Grant Timing for Unlicensed Channel Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing uplink configured grant schemes for wireless communications on unlicensed frequency bands face challenges due to channel occupancy detection latency and inefficiencies in resource access, particularly in ultra-reliable and low latency communication scenarios.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves determining multiple starting positions for uplink configured grant time domain resources on an unlicensed frequency band using control information, such as bitmaps or marker bits, to improve access success rates and reduce latency, by allowing user equipment to transmit physical uplink shared channels without additional scheduling information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single starting position for uplink configured grant time domain resources is used on an unlicensed frequency band, then the resource access mechanism is simple, but the access success rate is low due to channel occupancy detection latency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess success rateVSAvoidresource configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the time domain resources by configuring multiple starting positions for uplink configured grant transmissions within a slot. Each starting position represents a separate transmission opportunity, allowing the UE to attempt access at different time points. This segmentation transforms a single access attempt into multiple independent attempts, thereby improving the access success rate while maintaining relatively simple configuration through bitmap or marker bit indicators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If channel occupancy detection is performed before using unlicensed frequency band, then channel access compliance is ensured, but transmission latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel access complianceVSAvoidtransmission latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing channel occupancy detection (LBT) in advance at multiple predetermined starting positions before actual data transmission. The UE is configured with multiple starting positions and performs LBT at each position before transmitting. This preliminary detection at multiple time points ensures compliance with unlicensed band regulations while increasing the probability of finding an available channel, thereby reducing overall transmission latency compared to single-position detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If multiple starting positions are configured for uplink configured grant, then access success rate improves, but control information overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess success rateVSAvoidcontrol information overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses local quality by employing compact bitmap or marker bit representations to indicate multiple starting positions. Instead of explicitly configuring each starting position with full time domain resource information, the system uses localized binary indicators (bitmap bits or marker bits) that efficiently encode the starting position information. This approach maintains high access success rate through multiple starting positions while minimizing control information overhead through efficient local encoding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Loss of substance

If uplink configured grant scheme is applied to unlicensed frequency band, then signaling overhead is reduced, but access efficiency decreases due to LBT latency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignaling overheadVSAvoidaccess efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamics by allowing the UE to dynamically select from multiple configured starting positions based on real-time channel conditions. The UE performs LBT at each starting position and dynamically decides whether to transmit based on channel availability. This dynamic adaptation maintains the low signaling overhead advantage of configured grant while improving access efficiency through multiple opportunities, as the UE can quickly switch to alternative starting positions when channel conditions permit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4012964B1Electronic apparatuses for wireless communications
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP4012964B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2b
  • EP4012964B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4012964B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an electronic device and a method for wireless communication, and a computer-readable storage medium. The electronic device comprises a processing circuit which is configured to acquire control information from a base station, and determine, on the basis of the control information, a plurality of initial positions of uplink configured grant time-domain resources of an unlicensed band which can be accessed by user equipment.