Method and apparatus for adapting a channel sensing threshold

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for adapting a channel sensing threshold in a wireless communication system operating with shared spectrum channel access. A method for operating a base station (BS) includes determining whether an antenna configuration for channel sensing is omni-directional or directional and determining a channel sensing threshold. The channel sensing threshold includes two parts: a first part of the channel sensing threshold being common for omni-directional and directional antenna configurations and a second part of the channel sensing threshold depending on the antenna configuration. The method further includes performing a channel sensing procedure based on the antenna configuration and the channel sensing threshold and transmitting downlink (DL) data over a channel based on the channel being sensed as idle in the channel sensing procedure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A base station (BS) in a wireless communication system operating with shared spectrum channel access, the BS comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 determine whether an antenna configuration for channel sensing is omni-directional or directional; 
 determine a channel sensing threshold, wherein the channel sensing threshold includes two parts: a first part of the channel sensing threshold being common for omni-directional and directional antenna configurations and a second part of the channel sensing threshold depending on the antenna configuration; and 
 perform a channel sensing procedure based on the antenna configuration and the channel sensing threshold; and 
   a transceiver operably connected to the processor, the transceiver configured to transmit downlink (DL) data over a channel, if the channel is sensed as idle in the channel sensing procedure.   
     
     
         2 . The BS of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second part of the channel sensing threshold is zero, if the antenna configuration is determined to be omni-directional; and   the second part of the channel sensing threshold is greater than zero, if the antenna configuration is determined to be directional.   
     
     
         3 . The BS of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the processor is further configured to determine one or more beam directions for the antenna configuration, if the antenna configuration for channel sensing is determined to be directional, and   each beam direction is quasi-co-located (QCLed) with a reference signal.   
     
     
         4 . The BS of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more beam directions for the antenna configuration for channel sensing are aligned with one or more beam directions for DL transmissions. 
     
     
         5 . The BS of  claim 4 , wherein the channel is determined to be idle in the channel sensing procedure, if energy detection for each beam direction of the one or more beam directions is below the channel sensing threshold. 
     
     
         6 . A method of a base station (BS) in a wireless communication system operating with shared spectrum channel access, the method comprising:
 determining whether an antenna configuration for channel sensing is omni-directional or directional;   determining a channel sensing threshold, wherein the channel sensing threshold includes two parts: a first part of the channel sensing threshold being common for omni-directional and directional antenna configurations and a second part of the channel sensing threshold depending on the antenna configuration;   performing a channel sensing procedure based on the antenna configuration and the channel sensing threshold; and   transmitting downlink (DL) data over a channel based on the channel being sensed as idle in the channel sensing procedure.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the second part of the channel sensing threshold is zero, if the antenna configuration is determined to be omni-directional; and   the second part of the channel sensing threshold is greater than zero, if the antenna configuration is determined to be directional.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 determining one or more beam directions for the antenna configuration based on determining that the antenna configuration for channel sensing is directional,   wherein each beam direction is quasi-co-located (QCLed) with a reference signal.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more beam directions for the antenna configuration for channel sensing are aligned with one or more beam directions for DL transmissions. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the channel is determined to be idle in the channel sensing procedure based on energy detection for each beam direction of the one or more beam directions being below the channel sensing threshold. 
     
     
         11 . A user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system operating with shared spectrum channel access, the UE comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 determine whether a channel sensing threshold is configured; 
 determine whether an antenna configuration for channel sensing is omni-directional or directional; 
 determine a default channel sensing threshold, if the channel sensing threshold is not configured, wherein the default channel sensing threshold includes two parts: a first part of the default channel sensing threshold being common for omni-directional and directional antenna configurations and a second part of the default channel sensing threshold depending on the antenna configuration; and 
 perform a channel sensing procedure based on the antenna configuration and the default channel sensing threshold; and 
   a transceiver operably connected to the processor, the transceiver configured to transmit downlink (DL) data over a channel, if the channel is sensed as idle in the channel sensing procedure.   
     
     
         12 . The UE of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the second part of the default channel sensing threshold is zero, if the antenna configuration is determined to be omni-directional; and   the second part of the default channel sensing threshold is greater than zero, if the antenna configuration is determined to be directional.   
     
     
         13 . The UE of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the processor is further configured to determine one or more beam directions for the antenna configuration, if the antenna configuration for channel sensing is determined to be directional, and   each beam direction is quasi-co-located (QCLed) with a reference signal.   
     
     
         14 . The UE of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more beam directions for the antenna configuration for channel sensing are aligned with one or more beam directions for DL transmissions. 
     
     
         15 . The UE of  claim 14 , wherein the channel is determined to be idle in the channel sensing procedure, if energy detection for each beam direction of the one or more beam directions is below the default channel sensing threshold. 
     
     
         16 . A method of a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system operating with shared spectrum channel access, the method comprising:
 determining whether a channel sensing threshold is configured;   determining whether an antenna configuration for channel sensing is omni-directional or directional;   determining a default channel sensing threshold based on determining that the channel sensing threshold is not configured, wherein the default channel sensing threshold includes two parts: a first part of the default channel sensing threshold being common for omni-directional and directional antenna configurations and a second part of the default channel sensing threshold depending on the antenna configuration;   performing a channel sensing procedure based on the antenna configuration and the default channel sensing threshold; and   transmitting downlink (DL) data over a channel based on the channel being sensed as idle in the channel sensing procedure.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the second part of the default channel sensing threshold is zero, if the antenna configuration is determined to be omni-directional; and   the second part of the default channel sensing threshold is greater than zero, if the antenna configuration is determined to be directional.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 determining one or more beam directions for the antenna configuration based on determining that the antenna configuration for channel sensing is directional, and   each beam direction is quasi-co-located (QCLed) with a reference signal.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more beam directions for the antenna configuration for channel sensing are aligned with one or more beam directions for DL transmissions. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the channel is determined to be idle in the channel sensing procedure based on energy detection for each beam direction of the one or more beam directions being below the default channel sensing threshold.