QUALCOMM Incorporated
Methods and apparatuses for determining sensing beam for an LBT procure

Abstract:

For unlicensed high-frequency bands such as mmW bands as used in 5G NR communications, either by regulation or for coexistence with licensed frequency bands, there may be a need for a contention-based access procedure such as the LBT procedure. A challenge is to find a suitable sensing beam to functions as a proxy for a set of transmission beams. In an aspect of the disclosure, a method and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus is configured to determine a set of transmission beams for a transmission opportunity, determine a sensing beam for the set of transmission beams based on a set of beam sensing criteria; and initiate an LBT procedure by sensing an energy on the determined sensing beam. The apparatus may then use the LBT procedure to obtain the access to and transmit data on the determined set of transmission beams.