TECHNIQUES FOR NORMALIZING NARROW BEAM CHANNEL ACCESS PARAMETERS BASED ON BANDWIDTH IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

Aspects described herein relate to adapting one of a parameter for transmitting a signal as a narrow beam in a wireless network or a corresponding threshold based on an operating bandwidth. A node can determine whether a condition is met for narrow beam channel access based on the bandwidth-adjusted (or bandwidth-specific) parameter or threshold.

BACKGROUND

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to narrow beam directional channel access.

These multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless devices to communicate on a municipal, national, regional, and even global level. For example, a fifth generation (5G) wireless communications technology (which can be referred to as 5G new radio (5G NR)) is envisaged to expand and support diverse usage scenarios and applications with respect to current mobile network generations. In an aspect, 5G communications technology can include: enhanced mobile broadband addressing human-centric use cases for access to multimedia content, services and data; ultra-reliable-low latency communications (URLLC) with certain specifications for latency and reliability; and massive machine type communications, which can allow a very large number of connected devices and transmission of a relatively low volume of non-delay-sensitive information.

In some wireless communication technologies, such as 5G NR, millimeter wave (mmWave) and sub-terra hertz (sub-THz) frequencies offer an abundance of unlicensed spectrum bands. Transmission and reception over these bands can be directional, resulting in interference-limited wireless environment. Depending on the operating scenario, performing Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) and/or Long-Term (LT) sensing may not be required before transmission, such as in cases where a narrow beam is used to transmit over the band.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect, an apparatus for wireless communication is provided that includes a processor, memory coupled with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions are operable, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to adapt one of a parameter for transmitting a signal as a narrow beam in a wireless network or a corresponding threshold based on an operating bandwidth, and based on comparing the parameter with the corresponding threshold, one of perform a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure to acquire a channel before transmitting the signal as the narrow beam, or transmit the signal as the narrow beam without performing the LBT procedure.

In another aspect, a method for wireless communication is provided that includes adapting one of a parameter for transmitting a signal as a narrow beam in a wireless network or a corresponding threshold based on an operating bandwidth, and based on comparing the parameter with the corresponding threshold, one of performing a LBT procedure to acquire a channel before transmitting the signal as the narrow beam, or transmitting the signal as the narrow beam without performing the LBT procedure.

In another aspect, an apparatus for wireless communication is provided that includes means for adapting one of a parameter for transmitting a signal as a narrow beam in a wireless network or a corresponding threshold based on an operating bandwidth, and means for comparing the parameter with the corresponding threshold, and based on the comparing, one of performing a LBT procedure to acquire a channel before transmitting the signal as the narrow beam, or transmitting the signal as the narrow beam without performing the LBT procedure.

In another aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium including code executable by one or more processors for wireless communication is provided. The code comprising code for adapting one of a parameter for transmitting a signal as a narrow beam in a wireless network or a corresponding threshold based on an operating bandwidth, and comparing the parameter with the corresponding threshold, and based on the comparing, one of performing a LBT procedure to acquire a channel before transmitting the signal as the narrow beam, or transmitting the signal as the narrow beam without performing the LBT procedure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The described features generally relate to normalizing conditions and/or metrics for narrow beam-based channel access based on bandwidth. For example, millimeter wave (mmWave) and sub-terra hertz (sub-THz) frequencies can provide an abundance of unlicensed spectrum bands that can be used for wireless communications. Where a narrow beam is used to transmit signals, listen-before-talk (LBT), long-term (LT) sensing, or other clear channel assessment (CCA) procedures may not need to be performed to acquire a channel for transmission. Rather, the narrow beam may be narrow enough to not cause substantial interference to other communications, and as such communications between different devices may coexist where the beam is narrow enough. In an example, the narrowness of the beam can be measured and determined to satisfy one or more narrow beam conditions in order to be used for such communications. The narrow beam properties, however, may be impacted by bandwidth of the transmission, and as such, aspects described herein relate to normalizing narrow beam conditions or metrics based on bandwidth in determining whether a narrow beam can or should be used for channel access.

Current narrow beam conditions or metrics may be defined in a wireless communication technology standard, such as fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) and/or for certain operating modes (e.g., 60 gigahertz (GHz) channel access). European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) currently defines a 60 GHz operation mode 303 753 (known as “C2”) that can be applicable to mobile and fixed communications and can allow for skipping LBT at either side with minimum antenna gain requirements (but may require some mitigation technique in absence of sufficient antenna gain). Nodes of the wireless network can change operating bandwidth over time, and in some cases resulting interference when operating with wide beam but larger bandwidth may become more tolerable (e.g., as bandwidth increases and/or beam widens). As such, aspects described herein relate to adapting, based on an operating bandwidth, a parameter or corresponding threshold for transmitting a signal as a narrow beam, and then based on comparing the parameter value to the threshold, performing LBT or refraining from performing LBT before transmitting the signal or otherwise determining whether the narrowband beam condition is met. Considering operating bandwidth, in this regard, can allow for accepting more conditions for using beam-based channel access, which can improve communication throughput for multiple nodes in a wireless network.

The described features will be presented in more detail below with reference toFIGS.1-6.

FIG.1is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communications system and an access network100. The wireless communications system (also referred to as a wireless wide area network (WWAN)) can include base stations102, UEs104, an Evolved Packet Core (EPC)160, and/or a 5G Core (5GC)190. The base stations102may include macro cells (high power cellular base station) and/or small cells (low power cellular base station). The macro cells can include base stations. The small cells can include femtocells, picocells, and microcells. In an example, the base stations102may also include gNBs180, as described further herein. In one example, some nodes of the wireless communication system, such as a UE104, base station102, or other nodes, may have a modem240and communicating component242for adapting, based on operating bandwidth, conditions or parameters for narrow beam channel access, in accordance with aspects described herein. Though a UE104and base station102are shown as having the modem240and communicating component242, this is one illustrative example, and substantially any node or type of node may include a modem240and communicating component242for providing corresponding functionalities described herein.

The 5GC190may include a Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF)192, other AMFs193, a Session Management Function (SMF)194, and a User Plane Function (UPF)195. The AMF192may be in communication with a Unified Data Management (UDM)196. The AMF192can be a control node that processes the signaling between the UEs104and the 5GC190. Generally, the AMF192can provide QoS flow and session management. User Internet protocol (IP) packets (e.g., from one or more UEs104) can be transferred through the UPF195. The UPF195can provide UE IP address allocation for one or more UEs, as well as other functions. The UPF195is connected to the IP Services197. The IP Services197may include the Internet, an intranet, an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), a PS Streaming Service, and/or other IP services.

The base station may also be referred to as a gNB, Node B, evolved Node B (eNB), an access point, a base transceiver station, a radio base station, a radio transceiver, a transceiver function, a basic service set (BSS), an extended service set (ESS), a transmit reception point (TRP), or some other suitable terminology. The base station102provides an access point to the EPC160or 5GC190for a UE104. Examples of UEs104include a cellular phone, a smart phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a laptop, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a satellite radio, a global positioning system, a multimedia device, a video device, a digital audio player (e.g., MP3 player), a camera, a game console, a tablet, a smart device, a wearable device, a vehicle, an electric meter, a gas pump, a large or small kitchen appliance, a healthcare device, an implant, a sensor/actuator, a display, or any other similar functioning device. Some of the UEs104may be referred to as IoT devices (e.g., parking meter, gas pump, toaster, vehicles, heart monitor, etc.). IoT UEs may include machine type communication (MTC)/enhanced MTC (eMTC, also referred to as category (CAT)-M, Cat M1) UEs, NB-IoT (also referred to as CAT NB1) UEs, as well as other types of UEs. In the present disclosure, eMTC and NB-IoT may refer to future technologies that may evolve from or may be based on these technologies. For example, eMTC may include FeMTC (further eMTC), eFeMTC (enhanced further eMTC), mMTC (massive MTC), etc., and NB-IoT may include eNB-IoT (enhanced NB-IoT), FeNB-IoT (further enhanced NB-IoT), etc. The UE104may also be referred to as a station, a mobile station, a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communications device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or some other suitable terminology.

In an example, a communicating component242of a base station102or UE104can adapt, based on an operating bandwidth, parameters or conditions for performing narrow beam channel access. For example, if the bandwidth-adapted parameters or conditions indicate that narrow beam channel access is permitted, communicating component242can transmit signals using narrow beams without first performing LBT. If bandwidth-adapted parameters or conditions indicate that narrow beam channel access is not permitted, communicating component242can perform LBT to acquire a channel before transmitting the signal (and/or can otherwise refrain from transmitting the signal, attempt to select a different beam, etc.).

Referring toFIG.2, one example of an implementation of node200for wireless communications is illustrated, which may include a base station102, a UE104, or another node, as described above. Node200may include a variety of components, some of which have already been described above and are described further herein, including components such as one or more processors212and memory216and transceiver202in communication via one or more buses244, which may operate in conjunction with modem240and/or communicating component242for adapting, based on operating bandwidth, conditions or parameters for narrow beam channel access, in accordance with aspects described herein.

In an aspect, the one or more processors212can include a modem240and/or can be part of the modem240that uses one or more modem processors. Thus, the various functions related to communicating component242may be included in modem240and/or processors212and, in an aspect, can be executed by a single processor, while in other aspects, different ones of the functions may be executed by a combination of two or more different processors. For example, in an aspect, the one or more processors212may include any one or any combination of a modem processor, or a baseband processor, or a digital signal processor, or a transmit processor, or a receiver processor, or a transceiver processor associated with transceiver202. In other aspects, some of the features of the one or more processors212and/or modem240associated with communicating component242may be performed by transceiver202.

Also, memory216may be configured to store data used herein and/or local versions of applications275or communicating component242and/or one or more of its subcomponents being executed by at least one processor212. Memory216can include any type of computer-readable medium usable by a computer or at least one processor212, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), tapes, magnetic discs, optical discs, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and any combination thereof. In an aspect, for example, memory216may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores one or more computer-executable codes defining communicating component242and/or one or more of its subcomponents, and/or data associated therewith, when node200is operating at least one processor212to execute communicating component242and/or one or more of its subcomponents.

Transceiver202may include at least one receiver206and at least one transmitter208. Receiver206may include hardware, firmware, and/or software code executable by a processor for receiving data, the code comprising instructions and being stored in a memory (e.g., computer-readable medium). Receiver206may be, for example, a radio frequency (RF) receiver. In an aspect, receiver206may receive signals transmitted by at least one base station102. Additionally, receiver206may process such received signals, and also may obtain measurements of the signals, such as, but not limited to, Ec/Io, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), reference signal received power (RSRP), received signal strength indicator (RSSI), etc. Transmitter208may include hardware, firmware, and/or software code executable by a processor for transmitting data, the code comprising instructions and being stored in a memory (e.g., computer-readable medium). A suitable example of transmitter208may including, but is not limited to, an RF transmitter.

Moreover, in an aspect, node200may include RF front end288, which may operate in communication with one or more antennas265and transceiver202for receiving and transmitting radio transmissions, for example, wireless communications transmitted by at least one base station102or wireless transmissions transmitted by node200. RF front end288may be connected to one or more antennas265and can include one or more low-noise amplifiers (LNAs)290, one or more switches292, one or more power amplifiers (PAs)298, and one or more filters296for transmitting and receiving RF signals.

In an aspect, LNA290can amplify a received signal at a desired output level. In an aspect, each LNA290may have a specified minimum and maximum gain values. In an aspect, RF front end288may use one or more switches292to select a particular LNA290and its specified gain value based on a desired gain value for a particular application.

Further, for example, one or more PA(s)298may be used by RF front end288to amplify a signal for an RF output at a desired output power level. In an aspect, each PA298may have specified minimum and maximum gain values. In an aspect, RF front end288may use one or more switches292to select a particular PA298and its specified gain value based on a desired gain value for a particular application.

Also, for example, one or more filters296can be used by RF front end288to filter a received signal to obtain an input RF signal. Similarly, in an aspect, for example, a respective filter296can be used to filter an output from a respective PA298to produce an output signal for transmission. In an aspect, each filter296can be connected to a specific LNA290and/or PA298. In an aspect, RF front end288can use one or more switches292to select a transmit or receive path using a specified filter296, LNA290, and/or PA298, based on a configuration as specified by transceiver202and/or processor212.

As such, transceiver202may be configured to transmit and receive wireless signals through one or more antennas265via RF front end288. In an aspect, transceiver may be tuned to operate at specified frequencies such that node200can communicate with one or more other nodes, for example, one or more base stations102or one or more cells associated with one or more base stations102, one or more UEs104, etc. In an aspect, for example, modem240can configure transceiver202to operate at a specified frequency and power level based on the configuration of the node200and the communication protocol used by modem240.

In an aspect, modem240can be a multiband-multimode modem, which can process digital data and communicate with transceiver202such that the digital data is sent and received using transceiver202. In an aspect, modem240can be multiband and be configured to support multiple frequency bands for a specific communications protocol. In an aspect, modem240can be multimode and be configured to support multiple operating networks and communications protocols. In an aspect, modem240can control one or more components of node200(e.g., RF front end288, transceiver202) to enable transmission and/or reception of signals from the network based on a specified modem configuration. In an aspect, the modem configuration can be based on the mode of the modem and the frequency band in use. In another aspect, the modem configuration can be based on configuration information associated with node200as provided by the network during cell selection and/or cell reselection.

In an aspect, communicating component242can optionally include a bandwidth adapting component252for adapting narrow beam channel access parameters or conditions, and/or a narrow beam component254for transmitting a narrow beam with or without performing LBT based on the bandwidth-adapted parameters or conditions, in accordance with aspects described herein.

In an aspect, the processor(s)212may correspond to one or more of the processors described in connection with the UE inFIG.6. Similarly, the memory216may correspond to the memory described in connection with the UE inFIG.6.

FIG.3illustrates an example of a spherical measurement test300that can be performed for a device302. For example, a measurement antenna304can be positioned to measure center and off-center beam measurements, and a link antenna306can be used for beam steering to steer beams308from the device302. Using the spherical measurement test300, for example, metrics that describe the narrowness aspect of beam can be defined based on spherical effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) measurements measured in a sphere around the device302. For example, metrics can be defined based on statistics of EIRP measurements around the device302under test.

FIG.4illustrates an example of a graph of a cumulative distribution function (CDF) of spherical measurement test results400. For example, test results400show a line representing CDF of EIRP values for three different beams, shown at lines402,404,406. For example, considering EIRP measurements minus constant b at different percentiles (e.g., k1th, k2th, k3th, where k3<k1, k2<k1) of the distribution of radiated power measured over the full sphere around the device302, while the device302is configured with beam j. In an example, Mj,1=k1th·tile({EIRPi: i∈Ej})−k2th·tile({EIRPi: i∈Ej}) where Ejis the set of EIRPs captured in spherical measurement for beam j, and Mj,2=k3th·tile({EIRPi−b: i∈Ej}) where Ejis the set of EIRPs captured in spherical measurement for beam j and b is a constant (e.g., maximum transmit power). In an example, in graph400, Mj,2can express antenna gain at the device302.

Currently, for narrow beam channel access, a device can pass the narrow beam condition for beam j based on one or more of the following criteria: (1) if total transmit power is less than a predefined threshold, Y; (2) if Mj,1is greater than a predefined threshold, X; and/or (3) if Mj,1is greater than a predefined threshold, X, or Mj,2is less than a threshold, Z. As described, however, base stations and UEs are more probably to adapt and change their operating bandwidth (BW) over time. While base stations can have sharp narrow beams, base station may utilize wide beam to send broadcast messages or initial access related channels. In such a case, base station may fail narrow beam LBT-exempt condition and may conduct LBT (assuming narrow beam condition is agnostic to BW). UE's beam can be wider, and, thus, UE can fail the narrow beam LBT-exempt channel access condition. As a result, UE may conduct LBT before starting uplink transmission in order to avoid interference with other devices sharing the wireless medium (assuming narrow beam condition is BW agnostic). Although the narrow beam condition cannot be met, the resultant interference when operating with wide beam but large bandwidth can be tolerable (interference per spectrum, e.g., decibel milliwatts per hertz (dBm/Hz) is small).

One example of a collision scenario may include a first base station (BS1) sending downlink (DL) message to a first UE (UE1) and a second UE (UE2) sending uplink (UL) message to a second base station (BS2). Where UE2transmits over a larger bandwidth (e.g., 100 Mhz compared to BS1transmitting at 20 MHz), UE1receives less interference (e.g., dBm/Hz) because UE2's power per spectrum is smaller (assume UE2's power is maximum and same in both cases). As such, the nodes may benefit from normalizing parameters and condition for narrow beam channel access based on operating bandwidth.

FIG.5illustrates a flow chart of an example of a method500for adjusting, based on an operating bandwidth, a parameter or threshold or condition for narrow beam channel access, in accordance with aspects described herein. In an example, a node200can perform the functions described in method300using one or more of the components described inFIGS.1and2.

In method500, at Block502, one of a parameter for transmitting a signal as a narrow beam in a wireless network or a corresponding threshold can be adjusted based on an operating bandwidth. In an aspect, bandwidth adapting component252, e.g., in conjunction with processor(s)212, memory216, transceiver202, communicating component242, etc., can adjust, based on the operating bandwidth, one of the parameter for transmitting the signal as a narrow beam in a wireless network or the corresponding threshold. For example, bandwidth adapting component252can multiply the parameter value or threshold by the operating bandwidth to generate a bandwidth-adjusted or bandwidth-adapted parameter value or threshold. In another example, bandwidth adapting component252can select the parameter value or threshold (e.g., from a list of values or thresholds corresponding to different operating bandwidths) based on the operating bandwidth to obtain a bandwidth-specific parameter value or threshold. For example, the operating bandwidth for a UE104can be a bandwidth configured by the base station102for communicating with the base station102. The operating bandwidth for the base station102can be a bandwidth used by the base station102for transmitting certain signals (e.g., a bandwidth for dedicated signals transmitted to a UE104, a bandwidth for broadcast signals, etc.).

In method500, at Block504, it can be determined whether a condition for narrow beam channel access is met. In an aspect, narrow beam component254, e.g., in conjunction with processor(s)212, memory216, transceiver202, communicating component242, etc., can determine whether the condition for narrow beam channel access is met. For example, narrow beam component254can determine whether the condition is met based on the parameter value or threshold adjusted based on the operating bandwidth.

In one example, bandwidth adapting component252can adjust a transmit power and/or a threshold for a transmit power of the device by the operating bandwidth. For example, bandwidth adapting component252can multiply the transmit power and/or the threshold by the operating bandwidth or by some factor based on the operating bandwidth (e.g., a proportion of the operating bandwidth to a maximum possible operating bandwidth). In this example, narrow beam component254can determine that the node passes the narrow beam condition for beam j, if bandwidth-normalized transmit power is less than a predefined threshold, {tilde over (Y)}.

In another example, a narrow beam metric, as described above, may be adjusted based on the operating bandwidth. For example, bandwidth adapting component252can adjust a difference between a first percentile of a CDF for EIRP measurements for the narrow beam and a second percentile of the CDF for EIRP measurements for the narrow beam, which may include multiplying the difference by the operating bandwidth or by some factor based on the operating bandwidth (e.g., a proportion of the operating bandwidth to a maximum possible operating bandwidth). For example, {tilde over (M)}j,1=k1thpercentile({: i∈Ej})−k2thpercentile({: i∈Ej}) where Ejis the set of EIRPs captured in spherical measurement for beam j and normalized by the operating bandwidth. In this example, narrow beam component254can determine that the node passes the narrow beam condition for beam j, if {tilde over (M)}j,1*BW is greater than a predefined threshold, {tilde over (X)}, where BW is the operating bandwidth.

In another example, bandwidth adapting component252can adjust a percentile of a CDF of EIRP measurements for the narrow beam, which may include multiplying the percentile by the operating bandwidth or by some factor based on the operating bandwidth (e.g., a proportion of the operating bandwidth to a maximum possible operating bandwidth). For example, {tilde over (M)}j,2=k3thpercentile({−b: i∈Ej}) where Ejis the set of EIRPs captured in spherical measurement for beam j and normalized by the operating bandwidth, and b is a constant (e.g., maximum transmit power). In this example, narrow beam component254can determine that the node passes the narrow beam condition for beam j, if {tilde over (M)}j,1*BW is greater than a predefined threshold, {tilde over (X)}, or {tilde over (M)}j,2*BW is less than a predefined threshold, {tilde over (Z)}, where BW is the operating bandwidth.

In another example, as described, bandwidth adapting component252can adjust the threshold to which the parameter value is compared based on the operating bandwidth. For example, bandwidth adapting component252can select a bandwidth-specific threshold that corresponds to the operating bandwidth. In one example, the bandwidth-specific threshold can be a transmit power threshold, a threshold corresponding to a difference between a first percentile of a CDF for EIRP measurements specific for the operating bandwidth and a second percentile of the CDF for EIRP measurements specific for the operating bandwidth, a threshold corresponding to a single percentile of a CDF for EIRP measurements specific for the operating bandwidth, etc. In a specific example, narrow beam component254can determine that the node passes the narrow beam condition for beam j based on one or more of the following criteria: (1) if total transmit power is less than a predefined threshold, YB, where YBis specified based on operating bandwidth; (2) if Mj,1is greater than a predefined threshold, XB, where XBis specified based on operating bandwidth; and/or (3) if Mj,1is greater than a predefined threshold, XBor Mj,2is less than a threshold, ZB, where XBand ZBare specified based on operating bandwidth.

In another example, bandwidth adapting component252can adapt the narrow beam condition threshold(s) XThresh, e.g., XB, YB, and ZB, based on operating bandwidth. For example, bandwidth adapting component252can adapt one or more of the thresholds based on a constant, transmit power, maximum EIRP value (e.g., captured during a spherical coverage test), etc. In one example, bandwidth adapting component252can adapt the an XThreshvalue as:

where α is a constant, Pmaxis a maximum transmit power, EIRPmaxis a maximum EIRP value captured during spherical coverage test for the node, and BW is an operating bandwidth. In another example, bandwidth adapting component252can adapt the an XThreshvalue as:

where α1, α2, κ, and η are constants, Ptxis a transmit power, and BW is an operating bandwidth.

As described, narrow beam component254can compare the parameter values of the narrow beam, which may be adjusted for operating bandwidth, to a threshold, which may be adjusted for operating bandwidth, to determine whether the condition for narrow beam channel access is met. If the condition is met at Block504, optionally at Block506, the signal can be transmitted as a narrow beam without performing a LBT procedure. In an aspect, narrow beam component254, e.g., in conjunction with processor(s)212, memory216, transceiver202, communicating component242, etc., can transmit the signal as the narrow beam without performing the LBT procedure. For example, narrow beam component254can transmit the signal in the corresponding operating band for the node.

If the condition is not met at Block504, optionally at Block508, a LBT procedure can be performed to acquire a channel. In an aspect, narrow beam component254, e.g., in conjunction with processor(s)212, memory216, transceiver202, communicating component242, etc., can perform the LBT procedure to acquire the channel. For example, narrow beam component254can perform a CCA over the channel, transmit a request to send, receiving a clear to send, or other messages to determine when the channel is acquired. Once the channel is acquired, optionally at Block510, the signals can be transmitted over the acquired channel. In an aspect, narrow beam component254, e.g., in conjunction with processor(s)212, memory216, transceiver202, communicating component242, etc., can transmit the signal over the acquired channel (e.g., in the operating band).

FIG.6is a block diagram of a MIMO communication system600including a base station102and a UE104. The MIMO communication system600may illustrate aspects of the wireless communication access network100described with reference toFIG.1. The base station102may be an example of aspects of the base station102described with reference toFIG.1. The base station102may be equipped with antennas634and635, and the UE104may be equipped with antennas652and653. In the MIMO communication system600, the base station102may be able to send data over multiple communication links at the same time. Each communication link may be called a “layer” and the “rank” of the communication link may indicate the number of layers used for communication. For example, in a 2×2 MIMO communication system where base station102transmits two “layers,” the rank of the communication link between the base station102and the UE104is two.

At the base station102, a transmit (Tx) processor620may receive data from a data source. The transmit processor620may process the data. The transmit processor620may also generate control symbols or reference symbols. A transmit MIMO processor630may perform spatial processing (e.g., precoding) on data symbols, control symbols, or reference symbols, if applicable, and may provide output symbol streams to the transmit modulator/demodulators632and633. Each modulator/demodulator632through633may process a respective output symbol stream (e.g., for OFDM, etc.) to obtain an output sample stream. Each modulator/demodulator632through633may further process (e.g., convert to analog, amplify, filter, and upconvert) the output sample stream to obtain a DL signal. In one example, DL signals from modulator/demodulators632and633may be transmitted via the antennas634and635, respectively.

The UE104may be an example of aspects of the UEs104described with reference toFIGS.1-2. At the UE104, the UE antennas652and653may receive the DL signals from the base station102and may provide the received signals to the modulator/demodulators654and655, respectively. Each modulator/demodulator654through655may condition (e.g., filter, amplify, downconvert, and digitize) a respective received signal to obtain input samples. Each modulator/demodulator654through655may further process the input samples (e.g., for OFDM, etc.) to obtain received symbols. A MIMO detector656may obtain received symbols from the modulator/demodulators654and655, perform MIMO detection on the received symbols, if applicable, and provide detected symbols. A receive (Rx) processor658may process (e.g., demodulate, deinterleave, and decode) the detected symbols, providing decoded data for the UE104to a data output, and provide decoded control information to a processor680, or memory682.

The processor680may in some cases execute stored instructions to instantiate a communicating component242(see e.g.,FIGS.1and2).

On the uplink (UL), at the UE104, a transmit processor664may receive and process data from a data source. The transmit processor664may also generate reference symbols for a reference signal. The symbols from the transmit processor664may be precoded by a transmit MIMO processor666if applicable, further processed by the modulator/demodulators654and655(e.g., for SC-FDMA, etc.), and be transmitted to the base station102in accordance with the communication parameters received from the base station102. At the base station102, the UL signals from the UE104may be received by the antennas634and635, processed by the modulator/demodulators632and633, detected by a MIMO detector636if applicable, and further processed by a receive processor638. The receive processor638may provide decoded data to a data output and to the processor640or memory642.

The processor640may in some cases execute stored instructions to instantiate a communicating component242(see e.g.,FIGS.1and3).

The components of the UE104may, individually or collectively, be implemented with one or more ASICs adapted to perform some or all of the applicable functions in hardware. Each of the noted modules may be a means for performing one or more functions related to operation of the MIMO communication system600. Similarly, the components of the base station102may, individually or collectively, be implemented with one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) adapted to perform some or all of the applicable functions in hardware. Each of the noted components may be a means for performing one or more functions related to operation of the MIMO communication system600.

The following aspects are illustrative only and aspects thereof may be combined with aspects of other embodiments or teaching described herein, without limitation.

Aspect 1 is a method for wireless communication including adapting one of a parameter for transmitting a signal as a narrow beam in a wireless network or a corresponding threshold based on an operating bandwidth, and based on comparing the parameter with the corresponding threshold, one of performing a LBT procedure to acquire a channel before transmitting the signal as the narrow beam, or transmitting the signal as the narrow beam without performing the LBT procedure.

In Aspect 2, the method of Aspect 1 includes where the adapting includes computing, from the parameter and the operating bandwidth, a bandwidth-normalized parameter.

In Aspect 3, the method of Aspect 2 includes where the bandwidth-normalized parameter is a bandwidth-normalized transmit power for transmitting the signal as the narrow beam.

In Aspect 4, the method of any of Aspects 2 or 3 includes where the bandwidth-normalized parameter is a multiplication of the operating bandwidth and a difference between a first percentile of a CDF for EIRP measurements for the narrow beam and a second percentile of the CDF for EIRP measurements for the narrow beam.

In Aspect 5, the method of any of Aspects 2 to 4 includes where the bandwidth-normalized parameter is a percentile of a CDF of EIRP measurements for the narrow beam multiplied by the operating bandwidth.

In Aspect 6, the method of any of Aspects 1 to 5 includes where the adapting includes selecting, based on the operating bandwidth, the corresponding threshold as a bandwidth-specific threshold, and where comparing includes comparing the parameter with the bandwidth-specific threshold.

In Aspect 7, the method of Aspect 6 includes where the bandwidth-specific threshold corresponds to a transmit power threshold for transmitting the signal as the narrow beam.

In Aspect 8, the method of any of Aspects 6 or 7 includes where the bandwidth-specific threshold corresponds to a difference between a first percentile of a CDF for EIRP measurements for the narrow beam and a second percentile of the CDF specific for the operating bandwidth.

In Aspect 9, the method of any of Aspects 6 to 8 includes where the bandwidth-specific threshold corresponds to a percentile of a CDF of EIRP measurements for the narrow beam multiplied by a bandwidth for transmitting the signal as the narrow beam specific for the operating bandwidth.

In Aspect 10, the method of any of Aspects 1 to 9 includes where the adapting includes computing, based on the corresponding threshold and the operating bandwidth, a bandwidth-normalized threshold, and where comparing includes comparing the parameter with the bandwidth-normalized threshold.

In Aspect 11, the method of Aspect 10 includes where computing the bandwidth-normalized threshold is based on a maximum transmit power for transmitting the signal as the narrow beam and the operating bandwidth.

In Aspect 12, the method of Aspect 11 includes where computing the bandwidth-normalized threshold is further based on a maximum EIRP value.

Aspect 13 is an apparatus for wireless communication including a transceiver, a memory configured to store instructions, and one or more processors communicatively coupled with the memory and the transceiver, where the one or more processors are configured to execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to perform any of the methods of Aspects 1 to 12.

Aspect 14 is an apparatus for wireless communication including means for performing any of the methods of Aspects 1 to 12.

Aspect 15 is a computer-readable medium including code executable by one or more processors for wireless communications, the code including code for performing any of the methods of Aspects 1 to 12.

The various illustrative blocks and components described in connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with a specially programmed device, such as but not limited to a processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A specially programmed processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A specially programmed processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.