Patent Description:
A new radio (New Radio, NR) system in the Fifth-Generation (<NUM>) mobile communication has advantages of high reliability, a low latency, a large bandwidth and a wide coverage, which is an evolution direction of mobile communications system in the future. In the NR system, an unlicensed band may be used as a supplement to a licensed band to assist an operator in expanding a communication service of the operator.

Since the unlicensed band is shared by a variety of technologies such as a WiFi, a radar, a LTE-LAA, etc, it is necessary to sense a channel firstly when the unlicensed band is to be used and a rule of listening before talk (listen before talk, LBT) is required to be satisfied, so as to ensure all devices may use a resource of the unlicensed band fairly. Specifically, the energy detection threshold for sensing the channel is set; in a channel sensing process, if a received power is greater than or equal to the energy detection threshold, then the channel is considered to be busy; if the received power is less than the energy detection threshold, then the channel is considered to be idle. Information can only be transmitted when the channel is idle.

However, in the NR system, due to directionality of transmission in a spatial domain and introduction of a Band Width Part (BWP), there is still no corresponding scheme to accurately determine the energy detection threshold for sensing a channel. Document "<CIT>" discusses a method and apparatus for determining a channel sensing threshold in uplink channel detection of licensed-assisted access. The method comprises determining one or more parameters associated with the user equipment; and determining a channel sensing threshold for the user equipment based on at least one of the one or more parameters. The threshold determination method may realize suitable threshold determination, flexible channel access, and balance of channel access opportunity among a plurality of radio access points. Document "<CIT>" discusses techniques for contention-based wireless communications channel access that may improve the likelihood that a contention procedure will pass and allow a device to transmit an uplink or downlink transmission using the contention-based channel. Various disclosed techniques may determine a transmit power for a subsequent transmission based on channel characteristics during one or more clear channel assessment (CCA) time durations. The transmit power may be selected to provide a CCA threshold that may increase the likelihood that a device will win contention for the channel during the CCA procedure. Document "<CIT>" discusses a method by a radio node (<NUM>, <NUM>) operating in multiple modes for power detection includes operating in a first mode. While operating in the first mode power levels of transmissions on a channel are compared to a first threshold to determine whether the channel is free. While operating the radio node (<NUM>, <NUM>) in the first mode, power levels within a specified range are detected during a first time period. In response to detecting the power levels within the specified range during the first time period, the radio node (<NUM>, <NUM>) is switched to a second mode that is a duty-cycle mode. Document "R1-<NUM>" discusses BWP procedures from the perspective of NR unlicensed spectrum operation, and each part only covers a few points under the discussion. The followings are the summaries based on our view points.

The scope of the present invention is determined only by the scope of the appended claims.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a channel sensing method according to claim <NUM> and further detailed in the dependent claims referring back to this claim. A corresponding communication device is provided in claim <NUM>.

In order to more clearly explain technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, accompany drawings to be used in description of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be briefly described below. It will be apparent that, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present disclosure, and other drawings may be obtained from these drawings without paying creative labor by those of ordinary skill in the art.

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic figure of a network architecture provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the network architecture includes a user terminal <NUM> and a base station <NUM>, wherein the user terminal <NUM> may be a UE (User Equipment), for example, a terminal-side device such as a mobile phone, a tablet personal computer (Tablet Personal Computer) , a laptop computer (Laptop Computer) , a personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant, PDA for short), a mobile internet device (Mobile Internet Device, MID) or a wearable device. It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present disclosure, a specific type of the user terminal <NUM> is not limited. The above base station <NUM> may be a <NUM> base station (e.g., gNB, <NUM> NR NB) or a later version of a base station, or a base station in other communication systems, or referred to as a Node B. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, only the <NUM> base station is taken as an example, but the specific type of base station <NUM> is not limited.

It should be noted that specific functions of the user terminal <NUM> and the base station <NUM> described above will be described in detail by the following embodiments.

It should be understood that in the following embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication device may be a user terminal, may be a base station, may be another communication device configured with a plurality of spatial-domain transmission directions, or may also be other communication devices configured with multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs), which are not specifically limited herein.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a channel sensing method provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. The method is applied to a communication device operating in an unlicensed band, the method includes a Step S210.

Step S210: determining an energy detection threshold in a spatial-domain transmission direction, according to an antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

The antenna gain includes at least one of following: an antenna transmission gain and an antenna reception gain.

In practical application, the communication device may be configured with at least one spatial-domain transmission direction, and antenna gains in different spatial-domain transmission directions are different or partially different. In order to avoid a problem that accuracy of sensing a channel using the same energy detection threshold in different spatial-domain transmission directions results in a lower sensing accuracy, when the energy detection threshold in a certain spatial-domain transmission direction is to be determined, the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction needs to be considered.

Manners of determining the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction include, but are not limited to: following two ways.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, determining the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction, according to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction includes: determining the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction, according to an initial energy detection threshold and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, wherein the initial energy detection threshold is less than or equal to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device.

In particular, determining the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction, according to an initial energy detection threshold and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, includes: correcting the initial energy detection threshold, according to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain a first energy detection threshold after the correction; and determining the first energy detection threshold as the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

The communication device sets the maximum energy detection threshold XTrhresh_max of the communication device, according to a maximum transmission power of the communication device or a transmission bandwidth supported by the communication device, and further, sets an energy detection threshold XThresh less than or equal to the maximum energy threshold XThresh_max of the communication device as the initial energy detection threshold, and the initial energy detection threshold takes the same value in different spatial-domain transmission directions.

In each spatial-domain transmission direction, the initial energy detection threshold XThresh is corrected according to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, so as to obtain the first energy detection threshold after the correction, and further the first energy detection threshold is determined as the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

For example, the initial energy detection threshold XThresh is corrected according to an antenna transmission gain ATx(θ) and an antenna reception gain ARx(θ) in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, so as to obtain the first energy detection threshold XThresh(θ) after the correction, the first energy detection threshold XThresh(θ) after the correction is a function XThresh(θ)=f(XThresh,ATx(θ),ARx(θ)) of the initial energy detection threshold XThresh, the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), and further the first energy detection threshold XThresh(θ) is determined to be the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ.

It should be noted that the function f(XThresh,ATx(θ),ARx(θ)) with respect to the initial energy detection threshold XThresh, the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ) may be a linear function or a non-linear function, which is not specifically limited here.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, correcting the initial energy detection threshold according to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain a first energy detection threshold after the correction, includes: determining a linear superposition result of functions related to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction and the initial energy detection threshold as the first energy detection threshold.

For example, the initial energy detection threshold XThresh is corrected according to the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ) and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ) in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, so as to obtain the first energy detection threshold XThresh(θ) after the correction. The first energy detection threshold XThresh(θ) after the correction is a linear superposition result of the functions related to the initial energy detection threshold XThresh, the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), as shown in Formula <NUM> below:
<MAT>.

gTx(ATx(θ)) represents a function related to the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), gRx(ARx(θ)) represents a function related to the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), and the first energy detection threshold XThresh(θ) is the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ.

After the communication device determines the energy detection threshold XThresh(θ) in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, the communication device may perform channel-sensing in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ according to the energy detection threshold XThresh(θ).

The communication device sets an initial energy detection threshold according to the maximum energy detection threshold, and then corrects the initial energy detection threshold according to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, and determines the energy detection threshold obtained after the correction as the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, thereby achieving more accurate determination of energy detection thresholds for channel-sensing in multiple spatial-domain transmission directions.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, determining the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction, according to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction includes: determining a maximum energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction, according to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction; determining an energy detection threshold smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction, as the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

In particular, determining the maximum energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, includes: correcting the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device according to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain a second energy detection threshold after the correction; and determining the second energy detection threshold as the maximum energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

The communication device sets the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device according to a maximum transmission power of the communication device or a transmission bandwidth supported by the communication device, and corrects the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max according to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain the second energy detection threshold after the correction, and further determines the second energy detection threshold as the maximum energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

In each spatial-domain transmission direction, after the maximum energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction is determined, an energy detection threshold smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction is set as the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

For example, the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max is corrected according to an antenna transmission gain ATx(θ) and an antenna reception gain ARx(θ) in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, so as to obtain the second energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ) after the correction, the second energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ) is a function of the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device, the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), shown as a Formula <NUM>.

Further, the second energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ) is determined as the maximum energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ.

It should be noted that the function f(XThresh_max, ATx(θ), ARx(θ)) with respect to the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device, the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ) may be a linear function or a non-linear function, which is not specifically limited here.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, correcting the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device according to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain the second energy detection threshold after the correction, includes: determining a linear superposition result of functions related to the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction as the second energy detection threshold.

For example, the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max is corrected according to the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ) and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ) in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, so as to obtain the second energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ) after the correction. The second energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ) is a linear superposition result of the functions related to the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device, the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), as shown in Formula <NUM> below:
<MAT>.

gTx(ATx(θ)) represents a function related to the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), gRx(ARx(θ)) represents a function related to the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), and the second energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ) is the maximum energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ.

After determining the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ) in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, an energy detection threshold XThresh smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ) in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ is determined as the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ.

After the communication device determines the energy detection threshold XThresh in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, the communication device may perform channel-sensing in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ according to the energy detection threshold XThresh.

The communication device sets a maximum energy detection threshold, and corrects the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device according to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, and determines the energy detection threshold obtained after the correction as the maximum energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, and further determines an energy detection threshold smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ as the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, thereby achieving more accurate determination of energy detection thresholds for channel-sensing in multiple spatial-domain transmission directions.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the communication device is configured with at least one bandwidth part (BWP); determining the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction, according to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, includes: determining the energy detection threshold of each BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction, according to a bandwidth of each BWP of the at least one BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

The communication device may be configured with at least one spatial-domain transmission direction, and at least one BWP. The antenna gains in different spatial-domain transmission directions are not the same, and bandwidths of different BWPs are also not the same. In order to avoid a problem that accuracy of sensing a channel using the same energy detection threshold of different BWPs in different spatial-domain transmission directions results in a lower sensing accuracy, when the energy detection threshold of a certain BWP in a certain spatial-domain transmission direction is to be determined, the bandwidth of the BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction needs to be considered.

Ways of determining the energy detection threshold of each BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to the bandwidth of each BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction include, but are not limited to, following two ways.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, determining the energy detection threshold of each BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to the bandwidth of each BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction includes: determining the energy detection threshold of each BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to an initial energy detection threshold, a bandwidth of the each BWP, and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, wherein the initial energy detection threshold is less than or equal to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device.

In particular, determining the energy detection threshold of each BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to the initial energy detection threshold, the bandwidth of the each BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, includes: correcting the initial energy detection threshold according to the bandwidth of the each BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain a third energy detection threshold after the correction; and determining the third energy detection threshold as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the each BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

The communication device sets the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device according to a maximum transmission power of the communication device or a transmission bandwidth supported by the communication device, and further, sets an energy detection threshold less than or equal to the maximum energy threshold XThresh_max of the communication device as the initial energy detection threshold XThresh, and the initial energy detection threshold XThresh takes the same value on different BWPs in different spatial-domain transmission directions.

The initial energy detection threshold XThresh is corrected according to the bandwidth of a certain BWP and the antenna gain in a certain spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain the third energy detection threshold after the correction; and the third energy detection threshold is determined as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

For example, the communication device is configured with N BWPs, wherein a bandwidth of an i-th BWP is Bi,bwp, i= <NUM>,. , N, N is a positive integer larger than or equal to <NUM>. The initial energy detection threshold XThresh is corrected according to the bandwidth Bi,bwp, of the i-th BWP, an antenna transmission gain ATx(θ) and an antenna reception gain ARx(θ) in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, so as to obtain the third energy detection threshold XThresh(θ, Bi,bwp) after the correction, the third energy detection threshold XThresh(θ, Bi,bwp) after the correction is a function of the initial energy detection threshold XThresh, the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), shown in Formula <NUM> as follows.

The third energy detection threshold XThresh(θ,Bi,bwp) is further determined as the energy detection threshold of the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

It should be noted that the function f(XThresh,ATx(θ),ARx(θ),Bi,bwp) with respect to the initial energy detection threshold XThresh, the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ) may be a linear function or a non-linear function, which is not specifically limited here.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, correcting the initial energy detection threshold according to the bandwidth of the each BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain the third energy detection threshold after the correction, includes: determining a linear superposition result of functions related to the initial energy detection threshold and the bandwidth of the BWP and a function related to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction as the third energy detection threshold.

For example, the communication device is configured with N BWPs, wherein a bandwidth of the i-th BWP is Bi,bwp, i= <NUM>,. , N, N is a positive integer larger than or equal to <NUM>. The initial energy detection threshold XThresh is corrected according to the bandwidth Bi,bwp, of the i-th BWP, the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ) and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ) in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, so as to obtain the third energy detection threshold XThresh(θ,Bi,bwp) after the correction. The third energy detection threshold XThresh(θ,Bi,bwp) after the correction is a linear superposition result of functions related to the initial energy detection threshold XThresh, the bandwidth Bi,bwp, of the i-th BWP, and the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), and a function of the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), as shown in Formula <NUM> as follows.

gbwp(Bi,bwp) represents a function related to the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, gTx(ATx(θ)) represents a function related to the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), gRx(ARx(θ)) represents a function related to the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), and the third energy detection threshold XThresh(θ,Bi,bwp) is the energy detection threshold of the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ.

After the communication device determines the energy detection threshold XThresh(θ,Bi,bwp) on the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, the communication device may perform channel-sensing on the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ according to the energy detection threshold XThresh(θ,Bi,bwp).

The communication device sets an initial energy detection threshold according to the maximum energy detection threshold, and then corrects the initial energy detection threshold according to the bandwidth of the i-th BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, and determines the energy detection threshold obtained after the correction as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, thereby achieving more accurate determination of energy detection thresholds for channel-sensing on multiple BWPs in multiple spatial-domain transmission directions.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, determining the energy detection threshold of each BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to the bandwidth of each BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction includes: determining a maximum energy detection threshold of the each BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device, the bandwidth of the each BWP, and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction; determining an energy detection threshold smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold of the each BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction, as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the each BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

Specifically, determining the maximum energy detection threshold of the each BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device, the bandwidth of the each BWP, and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, includes: correcting the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device according to the bandwidth of the each BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain a fourth energy detection threshold after the correction; and determining the fourth energy detection threshold as the maximum energy detection threshold corresponding to the each BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

The communication device sets the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device according to a maximum transmission power of the communication device or a transmission bandwidth supported by the communication device, and corrects the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max according to a bandwidth of a certain BWP and the antenna gain in a certain spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain the fourth energy detection threshold after the correction, and further determines the fourth energy detection threshold as the maximum energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction. After the maximum energy detection threshold of the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction is determined, an energy detection threshold smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold of the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction is set as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

For example, the communication device is configured with N BWPs, wherein a bandwidth of the i-th BWP is Bi,bwp, i= <NUM>,. , N, N is a positive integer larger than or equal to <NUM>. The maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device is corrected according to the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP and an antenna transmission gain ATx(θ) and an antenna reception gain ARx(θ) in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, so as to obtain the fourth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ, Bi,bwp) after the correction. The fourth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ,Bi,bwp) is a function of the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device, the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), shown in Formula <NUM> as follows.

The fourth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ,Bi,bwp) is further determined as the maximum energy detection threshold corresponding to the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ.

It should be noted that the function f(XThresh_max,ATx(θ),ARx(θ),Bi,bwp) with respect to the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device, the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ) may be a linear function or a non-linear function, which is not specifically limited here.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, correcting the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device according to the bandwidth of the each BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain the fourth energy detection threshold after the correction, includes: determining a linear superposition result of a function related to the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device and the bandwidth of the BWP and a function related to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction as the fourth energy detection threshold.

For example, the communication device is configured with N BWPs, wherein a bandwidth of the i-th BWP is Bi,bwp, i= <NUM>,. , N, N is a positive integer larger than or equal to <NUM>. The maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device is corrected according to the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP and the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ) and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ) in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, to obtain the fourth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ,Bi,bwp) after the correction. The fourth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ,Bi,bwp) is a linear superposition result of the functions related to the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device and the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, a function related to the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), and a function related to the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), as shown in Formula <NUM> below.

gbwp(Bi,bwp) represents a function related to the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, gTx(ATx(θ)) represents a function related to the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), gRx(ARx(θ)) represents a function related to the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), and the fourth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ,Bi,bwp) is the maximum energy detection threshold of the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ.

After the communication device determines the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ,Bi,bwp) on the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, an energy detection threshold XThresh smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ,Bi,bwp) on the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ is determined as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ.

After the communication device determines the energy detection threshold XThresh on the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, the communication device may perform channel-sensing on the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ according to the energy detection threshold XThresh.

The communication device sets a maximum energy detection threshold, and corrects the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device according to the bandwidth of the i-th BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, and determines the energy detection threshold obtained after the correction as the maximum energy detection threshold corresponding to the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, and further determines an energy detection threshold smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold of the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, thereby achieving more accurate determination of energy detection thresholds for channel-sensing on multiple BWPs in multiple spatial-domain transmission directions.

In the technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the energy detection threshold in a spatial-domain transmission direction is determined according to an antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction for a communication operating in an unlicensed band, wherein the antenna gain includes at least one of following: an antenna transmission gain and an antenna reception gain, so that it is possible to achieve more accurate determination of energy detection thresholds for channel-sensing in multiple spatial-domain transmission directions.

<FIG> is a flowchart of another channel sensing method provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiment does not form part of the present invention but is an example useful for the understanding of the invention. The method is applied to a communication device operating in an unlicensed band, the method includes a step <NUM>.

Step <NUM>: determining an energy detection threshold of a Bandwidth Part (BWP) according to a bandwidth of the BWP.

In practical applications, the communication device may be configured with at least one BWP, and bandwidths of different BWPs may not be the same. In order to avoid a problem that accuracy of sensing a channel using the same energy detection threshold of different BWPs results in a lower sensing accuracy, it is necessary to consider the bandwidth of a certain BWP in determining the energy detection threshold of the BWP.

Ways of determining the energy detection threshold of a BWP according to the bandwidth of the BWP include, but are not limited to, following two ways.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, determining the energy detection threshold of a BWP according to the bandwidth of the BWP includes: determining the energy detection threshold of the BWP according to an initial energy detection threshold and the bandwidth of the BWP, wherein the initial energy detection threshold is less than or equal to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device.

Specifically, determining the energy detection threshold of the BWP according to the initial energy detection threshold and the bandwidth of the BWP, includes: correcting the initial energy detection threshold according to the bandwidth of the BWP, to obtain a fifth energy detection threshold after the correction; and determining the fifth energy detection threshold as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP.

The communication device sets the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device according to a maximum transmission power of the communication device or a transmission bandwidth supported by the communication device, and further, sets an energy detection threshold XThresh less than or equal to the maximum energy threshold XThresh_max of the communication device as the initial energy detection threshold, and the initial energy detection threshold XThresh takes the same value on different BWPs.

The initial energy detection threshold XThresh is corrected for each BWP according to the bandwidth of the BWP, to obtain the fifth energy detection threshold after the correction, and the fifth energy detection threshold is determined as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP.

For example, the communication device is configured with N BWPs, wherein a bandwidth of an i-th BWP is Bi,bwp, i= <NUM>,. , N, N is a positive integer larger than or equal to <NUM>. The initial energy detection threshold XThresh is corrected according to the bandwidth Bi,bwp, of the i-th BWP, , so as to obtain the fifth energy detection threshold XThresh(Bi,bwp) after the correction, the fifth energy detection threshold XThresh(Bi,bwp) after the correction is a function of the initial energy detection threshold XThresh and the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, shown in Formula <NUM> as follows.

The fifth energy detection threshold XThresh(θ,Bi,bwp) is further determined as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the i-th BWP.

It should be noted that the function f(XThresh,Bi,bwp) with respect to the initial energy detection threshold XThresh and the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP may be a linear function or a non-linear function, which is not specifically limited here.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, correcting the initial energy detection threshold according to the bandwidth of the BWP to obtain the fifth energy detection threshold after the correction, includes: determining a linear superposition result of functions related to the initial energy detection threshold and the bandwidth of the BWP as the fifth energy detection threshold.

For example, the communication device is configured with N BWPs, wherein a bandwidth of the i-th BWP is Bi,bwp, i= <NUM>,. , N, N is a positive integer larger than or equal to <NUM>. The initial energy detection threshold XThresh is corrected according to the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, so as to obtain the fifth energy detection threshold XThresh(Bi,bwp) after the correction. The fifth energy detection threshold XThresh(Bi,bwp) after the correction is a linear superposition result of functions related to the initial energy detection threshold XThresh and the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, as shown in Formula <NUM> as follows.

gbwp(Bi,bwp) represents a function related to the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, and the fifth energy detection threshold XThresh(Bi,bwp) is the energy detection threshold of the i-th BWP.

After the communication device determines the energy detection threshold XThresh(Bi,bwp) on the i-th BWP, the communication device may perform channel-sensing on the i-th BWP according to the energy detection threshold XThresh(Bi,bwp).

The communication device sets an initial energy detection threshold according to the maximum energy detection threshold, and then corrects the initial energy detection threshold according to the bandwidth of the i-th BWP, and determines the energy detection threshold obtained after the correction as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the i-th BWP, thereby achieving more accurate determination of energy detection thresholds for channel-sensing on multiple BWPs.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, determining the energy detection threshold of a BWP according to the bandwidth of the BWP includes: determining a maximum energy detection threshold of the BWP according to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device and the bandwidth of the BWP; determining an energy detection threshold smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold of the BWP as the energy detection threshold corresponding to corresponding to the BWP.

Specifically, determining the maximum energy detection threshold of the BWP according to the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device, the bandwidth of the BWP, includes: correcting the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device according to the bandwidth of the BWP, to obtain a sixth energy detection threshold after the correction; and determining the sixth energy detection threshold as the maximum energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP.

The communication device sets the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device according to a maximum transmission power of the communication device or a transmission bandwidth supported by the communication device, and corrects the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max according to a bandwidth of a BWP, to obtain the sixth energy detection threshold after the correction, and further determines the sixth energy detection threshold as the maximum energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP.

After the maximum energy detection threshold of the BWP is determined, an energy detection threshold smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold of the BWP is set as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP.

For example, the communication device is configured with N BWPs, wherein a bandwidth of the i-th BWP is Bi,bwp, i= <NUM>,. , N, N is a positive integer larger than or equal to <NUM>. The maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device is corrected according to the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, so as to obtain the sixth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(Bi,bwp) after the correction. The sixth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(Bi,bwp) is a function of the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device and the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, shown in Formula <NUM> as follows.

The sixth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(Bi,bwp) is further determined as the maximum energy detection threshold corresponding to the i-th BWP.

It should be noted that the function f(XThresh_max,Bi,bwp) with respect to the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device and the bandwidth Bi,bwp, of the i-th BWP may be a linear function or a non-linear function, which is not specifically limited here.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, correcting the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device according to the bandwidth of the BWP, to obtain the sixth energy detection threshold after the correction, includes: determining a linear superposition result of a function related to the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device and the bandwidth of the BWP as the sixth energy detection threshold.

For example, the communication device is configured with N BWPs, wherein a bandwidth of the i-th BWP is Bi,bwp, i= <NUM>,. , N, N is a positive integer larger than or equal to <NUM>. The maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device is corrected according to the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, to obtain the sixth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(Bi,bwp) after the correction. The sixth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(Bi,bwp) is a linear superposition result of the functions related to the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device and the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, as shown in Formula <NUM> below.

gbwp(Bi,bwp) represents a function related to the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, and the sixth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(Bi,bwp) is the maximum energy detection threshold of the i-th BWP.

After the communication device determines the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max(Bi,bwp) on the i-th BWP, an energy detection threshold XThresh smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max(Bi,bwp) on the i-th BWP is determined as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the i-th BWP.

After the communication device determines the energy detection threshold XThresh on the i-th BWP, the communication device may perform channel-sensing on the i-th BWP according to the energy detection threshold XThresh.

The communication device sets a maximum energy detection threshold, and corrects the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device according to the bandwidth of the i-th BWP, and determines the energy detection threshold obtained after the correction as the maximum energy detection threshold corresponding to the i-th BWP, and further determines an energy detection threshold smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold of the i-th BWP as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the i-th BWP, thereby achieving more accurate determination of energy detection thresholds for channel-sensing on multiple BWPs.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the communication device is configured with at least one spatial-domain transmission direction; determining the energy detection threshold of a BWP according to the bandwidth of the BWP, includes: determining an energy detection threshold of the BWP in each spatial-domain transmission direction of the at least one spatial-domain transmission direction according to a bandwidth of the BWP and an antenna gain in the each spatial-domain transmission direction, wherein the antenna gain in each spatial-domain transmission direction includes at least one of following: an antenna transmission gain and an antenna reception gain.

Ways of determining an energy detection threshold of a BWP in each spatial-domain transmission direction according to the bandwidth of the BWP and an antenna gain in the each spatial-domain transmission direction include, but are not limited to, following two ways.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, determining the energy detection threshold of a BWP in a spatial-domain transmission direction according to the bandwidth of the BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction includes: determining the energy detection threshold of the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to an initial energy detection threshold, a bandwidth of the BWP, and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, wherein the initial energy detection threshold is less than or equal to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device.

In particular, determining the energy detection threshold of the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to the initial energy detection threshold, the bandwidth of the BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, includes: correcting the initial energy detection threshold according to the bandwidth of the BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain a seventh energy detection threshold after the correction; and determining the seventh energy detection threshold as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

The communication device sets the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device according to a maximum transmission power of the communication device or a transmission bandwidth supported by the communication device, and further, sets an energy detection threshold XThresh less than or equal to the maximum energy threshold XThresh_max of the communication device as the initial energy detection threshold, and the initial energy detection threshold XThresh takes the same value on different BWPs in different spatial-domain transmission directions.

The initial energy detection threshold XThresh is corrected according to the bandwidth of a certain BWP and the antenna gain in a certain spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain the seventh energy detection threshold after the correction; and the seventh energy detection threshold is determined as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

For example, the communication device is configured with N BWPs, wherein a bandwidth of an i-th BWP is Bi,bwp, i= <NUM>,. , N, N is a positive integer larger than or equal to <NUM>. The initial energy detection threshold XThresh is corrected according to the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, an antenna transmission gain ATx(θ) and an antenna reception gain ARx(θ) in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, so as to obtain the seventh energy detection threshold XThresh(θ,Bi,bwp) after the correction, the seventh energy detection threshold XThresh(θ,Bi,bwp) after the correction is a function of the initial energy detection threshold XThresh, the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), shown in Formula <NUM> as follows.

The seventh energy detection threshold XThresh(θ,Bi,bwp) is further determined as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, correcting the initial energy detection threshold according to the bandwidth of the BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain the seventh energy detection threshold after the correction, includes: determining a linear superposition result of functions related to the initial energy detection threshold and the bandwidth of the BWP and a function related to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction as the seventh energy detection threshold.

For example, the communication device is configured with N BWPs, wherein a bandwidth of the i-th BWP is Bi,bwp, i= <NUM>,. , N, N is a positive integer larger than or equal to <NUM>. The initial energy detection threshold XThresh is corrected according to the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ) and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ) in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, so as to obtain the seventh energy detection threshold XThresh(θ,Bi,bwp) after the correction. The seventh energy detection threshold XThresh(θ,Bi,bwp) after the correction is a linear superposition result of functions related to the initial energy detection threshold XThresh, the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, and the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), and a function of the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), as shown in Formula <NUM> as follows.

gbwp(Bi,bwp) represents a function related to the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, gTx(ATx(θ)) represents a function related to the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), gRx(ARx(θ)) represents a function related to the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), and the seventh energy detection threshold XThresh(θ,Bi,bwp) is the energy detection threshold of the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, determining the energy detection threshold of a BWP in each spatial-domain transmission direction according to the bandwidth of the BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction includes: determining a maximum energy detection threshold of the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device, the bandwidth of the BWP, and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction; determining an energy detection threshold smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold of the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction, as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

Specifically, determining the maximum energy detection threshold of the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device, the bandwidth of the BWP, and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, includes: correcting the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device according to the bandwidth of the BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain an eighth energy detection threshold after the correction; and determining the eighth energy detection threshold as the maximum energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

The communication device sets the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device according to a maximum transmission power of the communication device or a transmission bandwidth supported by the communication device.

The communication device corrects the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max according to a bandwidth of a certain BWP and the antenna gain in a certain spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain the eighth energy detection threshold after the correction, and further determines the eighth energy detection threshold as the maximum energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction. After the maximum energy detection threshold of the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction is determined, an energy detection threshold smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold of the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction is set as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

For example, the communication device is configured with N BWPs, wherein a bandwidth of the i-th BWP is Bi,bwp, i= <NUM>,. , N, N is a positive integer larger than or equal to <NUM>. The maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device is corrected according to the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP and an antenna transmission gain ATx(θ) and an antenna reception gain ARx(θ) in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, so as to obtain the eighth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ,Bi,bwp) after the correction. The eighth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ,Bi,bwp) is a function of the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device, the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), shown in Formula <NUM> as follows.

The eighth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ,Bi,bwp) is further determined as the maximum energy detection threshold corresponding to the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, correcting the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device according to the bandwidth of the BWP and the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain the eighth energy detection threshold after the correction, includes: determining a linear superposition result of a function related to the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device and the bandwidth of the BWP and a function related to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction as the eighth energy detection threshold.

For example, the communication device is configured with N BWPs, wherein a bandwidth of the i-th BWP is Bi,bwp, i= <NUM>,. , N, N is a positive integer larger than or equal to <NUM>. The maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device is corrected according to the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP and the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ) and the antenna reception gain ARx(θ) in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ, to obtain the eighth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ,Bi,bwp) after the correction. The eighth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ,Bi,bwp) is a linear superposition result of the functions related to the maximum energy detection threshold XThresh_max of the communication device and the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, a function related to the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), and a function related to the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), as shown in Formula <NUM> below.

gbwp(Bi,bwp) represents a function related to the bandwidth Bi,bwp of the i-th BWP, gTx(ATx(θ)) represents a function related to the antenna transmission gain ATx(θ), gRx(ARx(θ)) represents a function related to the antenna reception gain ARx(θ), and the eighth energy detection threshold XThresh_max(θ,Bi,bwp) is the maximum energy detection threshold of the i-th BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction θ.

In the technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the energy detection threshold of a BWP is determined according to a bandwidth of the BWP for a communication operating in an unlicensed band, so that it is possible to achieve more accurate determination of energy detection thresholds for channel-sensing on multiple BWPs.

It should be noted that, in the above-described different embodiments, specific function expressions of the function gTx(ATx(θ)) related to the ATx(θ) may or may not be the same; specific function expressions of the function gRx(ARx(θ)) related to the ARx(θ) may or may not be the same; specific function expressions of the function gbwp(Bi,bwp) related to the Bi,bwp, may or may not be the same; specific function expressions of the function f(XThresh,ATx(θ),ARx(θ),Bi,bwp) related to the XThresh, the ATx(θ), the ARx(θ), the Bi,bwp may or may not be the same; specific function expressions of the function f(XThresh_max,ATx(θ),ARx(θ),Bi,bwp) related to the XThresh_max, the ATx(θ), the ARx(θ), the Bi,bwp may or may not be the same, all of the above are not specifically defined herein.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. The communication device <NUM> shown in <FIG> is applied to a communication device operating in an unlicensed band, and the terminal device <NUM> includes a determining module <NUM>.

The determining module <NUM> is used for determining an energy detection threshold in a spatial-domain transmission direction according to an antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction; wherein the antenna gain includes at least one of following: an antenna transmission gain and an antenna reception gain.

Optionally, the determining module <NUM> further includes: a first determining unit, used for determining the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to an initial energy detection threshold and the antenna gain, wherein the initial energy detection threshold is less than or equal to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device <NUM>.

Optionally, the first determining unit further includes: a first correcting subunit, used for correcting the initial energy detection threshold according to the antenna gain, to obtain a first energy detection threshold after the correction; and a first determining subunit, used for determining the first energy detection threshold as the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

Optionally, the determining module <NUM> further includes: a second determining unit, used for determining a maximum energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device <NUM> and the antenna gain; a third determining unit, used for determining an energy detection threshold smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction, as the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

Optionally, the second determining unit further includes: a second correcting subunit, used for correcting the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device <NUM> according to the antenna gain, to obtain a second energy detection threshold after the correction; a second determining subunit, used for determining the second energy detection threshold as the maximum energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

Optionally, the communication device <NUM> is configured with at least one bandwidth part (BWP). The determining module <NUM> is further used for: determining the energy detection threshold of each BWP of the at least one BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to a bandwidth of the BWP and the antenna gain.

Optionally, the determining module <NUM> further includes a fourth determining unit, used for determining the energy detection threshold of the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to the initial energy detection threshold, a bandwidth of the BWP, and the antenna gain, wherein the initial energy detection threshold is less than or equal to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device <NUM>.

Optionally, the fourth determining unit further includes: a third correcting subunit, used for correcting the initial energy detection threshold according to the bandwidth of each BWP and the antenna gain, to obtain a third energy detection threshold after the correction; a third determining subunit, used for determining the third energy detection threshold as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

Optionally, the determining module <NUM> further includes; a fifth determining unit, used for determining a maximum energy detection threshold of each BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device <NUM>, the bandwidth of the BWP, and the antenna gain; a sixth determining unit, used for determining an energy detection threshold smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold of the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction, as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

Optionally, the fifth determining unit further includes: a fourth correcting subunit, used for correcting the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device <NUM> according to the bandwidth of each BWP and the antenna gain, to obtain a fourth energy detection threshold after the correction; determining the fourth energy detection threshold as the maximum energy detection threshold corresponding to the each BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

The communication device <NUM> provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure can implement various processes implemented by the communication device in the method embodiments of <FIG>, and will not be described here again to avoid redundancy.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. The communication device <NUM> shown in <FIG> is applied to a communication device operating in an unlicensed band, and the communication device <NUM> includes: a determining module <NUM>, used for determining an energy detection threshold of a Bandwidth Part (BWP) according to a bandwidth of the BWP.

Optionally, the determining module <NUM> further includes: a first determining unit, used for determining the energy detection threshold of the BWP according to an initial energy detection threshold and the bandwidth of the BWP, wherein the initial energy detection threshold is less than or equal to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device <NUM>.

Optionally, the first determining unit further includes: a first correcting subunit, used for correcting the initial energy detection threshold according to the bandwidth of the BWP, to obtain a fifth energy detection threshold after the correction; a first determining subunit, used for determining the fifth energy detection threshold as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP.

Optionally, the determining module <NUM> further includes: a second determining unit, used for determining a maximum energy detection threshold of the BWP according to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device <NUM> and the bandwidth of the BWP; a third determining unit, used for determining an energy detection threshold smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold of the BWP as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP.

Optionally, the second determining unit further includes: a second correcting subunit, used for correcting the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device <NUM> according to the bandwidth of the BWP, to obtain a sixth energy detection threshold after the correction; a second determining subunit, used for determining the sixth energy detection threshold as the maximum energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP.

Optionally, the communication device <NUM> is configured with at least one spatial-domain transmission direction. The determining module <NUM> is further used for: determining an energy detection threshold of the BWP in each spatial-domain transmission direction of the at least one spatial-domain transmission direction according to a bandwidth of the BWP and an antenna gain in the each spatial-domain transmission direction, wherein the antenna gain in each spatial-domain transmission direction includes at least one of following: an antenna transmission gain and an antenna reception gain.

Optionally, the determining module <NUM> further includes: a fourth determining unit, used for determining the energy detection threshold of the BWP in each spatial-domain transmission direction according to an initial energy detection threshold, a bandwidth of the BWP, and an antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, wherein the initial energy detection threshold is less than or equal to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device <NUM>.

Optionally, the fourth determining unit further includes: a third correcting subunit, used for correcting the initial energy detection threshold according to the bandwidth of the BWP and the antenna gain in the each spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain a seventh energy detection threshold after the correction; and determining the seventh energy detection threshold as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP in the spatial-domain transmission direction.

Optionally, the determining module <NUM> further includes: a fifth determining unit, used for determining a maximum energy detection threshold of the BWP in each spatial-domain transmission direction according to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device <NUM>, the bandwidth of the BWP, and the antenna gain in the each spatial-domain transmission direction; a sixth determining unit, used for determining an energy detection threshold smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold of the BWP in each spatial-domain transmission direction, as the energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP in each spatial-domain transmission direction.

Optionally, the fifth determining unit further includes: a fourth correcting subunit, used for correcting the maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device <NUM> according to the bandwidth of the BWP and the antenna gain in each spatial-domain transmission direction, to obtain an eighth energy detection threshold after the correction; and determining the eighth energy detection threshold as the maximum energy detection threshold corresponding to the BWP in each spatial-domain transmission direction.

Referring to <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a network device provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure, and can realize details of the method embodiments shown in <FIG> and/or <FIG>, and achieve the same effect. As shown in <FIG>, the network device <NUM> includes a processor <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM>, a storage <NUM>, a user interface <NUM>, and a bus interface, wherein, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the network device <NUM> further includes a computer program stored on the storage <NUM> and executable by the processor <NUM>, and when the computer program is executed by the processor <NUM>, the processor <NUM> implements the following steps: determining an energy detection threshold in a spatial-domain transmission direction according to an antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, wherein the antenna gain includes at least one of an antenna transmission gain and an antenna reception gain; and/or, determining an energy detection threshold of a Bandwidth Part (BWP) according to a bandwidth of the BWP.

In <FIG>, a bus architecture may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically various circuits such as one or more processors represented by the processor <NUM> and a memory represented by the storage <NUM> are linked together. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits, such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art, and thus will not be described further herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver <NUM> may be a plurality of elements, i.e., including a transmitter and a receiver, for providing elements for communicating with various other devices over a transmission medium. For different user equipments, the user interface <NUM> may also be an interface capable of connecting externally or internally a required device which includes, but is not limited to, a keypad, a display, a microphone, a speaker, and a joystick, and the like.

The processor <NUM> is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the storage <NUM> may store data used by the processor <NUM> when performing operations.

The network device <NUM> can implement various processes implemented by the communication device in the embodiments shown in <FIG> and/or <FIG>, and will not be described here again to avoid repetition.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a computer readable storage medium, wherein a computer program is stored on the computer readable storage medium. When the computer program is executed by a processor, each process in the method embodiments of <FIG> and/or <FIG> is realized, and the same technical effect can be achieved, and description thereof is omitted here to avoid repetition. The embodiment does not form part of the present invention but is an example useful for the understanding of the invention. The computer readable storage medium is, for example, a read-only memory (Read-Only Memory, ROM for short), a random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM for short), a magnetic disk or an optical disc.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure. The terminal device <NUM> shown in <FIG> includes at least one processor <NUM>, a storage <NUM>, at least one network interface <NUM>, and a user interface <NUM>. The components in the terminal device <NUM> are coupled together by a bus system <NUM>. It will be appreciated that the bus system <NUM> is used to enable connection communication among these components. The bus system <NUM> includes a data bus, a power bus, a control bus, and a status signal bus. However, for sake of clarity of illustration, various buses are labeled as the bus system <NUM> in <FIG>.

The user interface <NUM> may include a display, a keyboard, or a pointing device (e.g., a mouse, a trackball, a touchpad, a touch screen, or the like).

It will be appreciated that the storage <NUM> in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. The nonvolatile memory may be a read-only memory (Read-Only Memory, ROM), a programmable read-only memory (Programmable ROM, PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (Erasable PROM, EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (Electrically EPROM, EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), which serves as an external cache. By way of example but not limitation, many forms of RAMs are available, such as a static random access memory (Static RAM, SRAM), a dynamic random access memory (Dynamic RAM, DRAM), a synchronous dynamic random access memory (Synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), a double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (Double Data Rate SDRAM, DDRSDRAM), an enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (Enhanced SDRAM, ESDRAM), a synchlink dynamic random access memory (Synchlink DRAM, SLDRAM) and a direct rambus andom access memory (Direct Rambus RAM, DRRAM). The storage <NUM> in the system and the method described by the embodiments of the present disclosure is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memories.

In some embodiments, the storage <NUM> stores following elements, executable modules or data structures, or a subset thereof, or an extended set thereof: an operating system <NUM> and an application <NUM>.

The operating system <NUM> includes various system programs, such as a frame layer, a core library layer, a driver layer, and the like, for implementing various basic services and processing hardware-based tasks. The application <NUM> includes various types of applications, such as a Media Player, a Browser, and the like, for implementing various application services. A program implementing the method of embodiments of the present application may be included in the application <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the terminal device <NUM> further includes a computer program store on the storage <NUM> and executable on the processor <NUM>, wherein when the computer program is executed by the processor <NUM>, the processor <NUM> implements the follow steps: determining an energy detection threshold in a spatial-domain transmission direction according to an antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, wherein, the antenna gain includes at least one of following: an antenna transmission gain and an antenna reception gain; and/or determining an energy detection threshold of a Bandwidth Part (BWP) according to a bandwidth of the BWP.

The methods disclosed in the embodiments of the present disclosure described above may be applied in or implemented by the processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be an integrated circuit chip having signal processing capability. In an implementation process, the steps of the above-described method may be performed by an integrated logic circuit of hardware in the processor <NUM> or performed by instructions in a form of software. The processor <NUM> may be a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (Digital Signal Processor, DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (Application Specific Integrated Circuit, ASIC), a field programmable gate array (Field Programmable Gate Array, FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components. The methods, steps, and logical block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented or performed. The general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may also be any conventional processor or the like. The steps of the methods disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present disclosure may be embodied directly as execution by a hardware decoding processor or as execution by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. Software modules may be located in computer readable storage media mature in the art such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read only memory, a programmable read only memory, or an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, etc. The computer readable storage medium is located in the storage <NUM>, the processor <NUM> reads information in the storage <NUM>, and performs the steps of the above method in conjunction with hardware thereof. Specifically, a computer program is stored on the computer readable storage medium, and when the computer program is executed by the processor <NUM>, the steps of the method embodiment in the <FIG> and/or <FIG> are implemented.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments described herein may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, or a combination thereof. For hardware implementation, a processing unit may be implemented in one or more application specific integrated circuits (Application Specific Integrated Circuit, ASIC), a digital signal processor (Digital Signal Processor, DSP), a digital signal processor device (DSP Device, DSPD), a programmable logic device (Programmable Logic Device, PLD), a field-programmable gate array (Field-Programmable Gate Array, FPGA), a general purpose processor, a controller, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, other electronic units for performing functions described herein, or combinations thereof.

For software implementation, techniques described in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of modules (e.g., processes, functions, etc.) that perform the functions described in embodiments of the present disclosure. Software codes may be stored in a storage and executed by a processor. The storage may be implemented in the processor or external to the processor.

The terminal device <NUM> can implement various processes implemented by the communication device in the embodiments shown in <FIG> and/or <FIG>, and will not be described here again to avoid repetition.

It should also be noted that such term as "include", "comprise" or any other variant thereof is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that processes, methods, goods or devices including a series of elements include not only those elements but also other elements which are not explicitly listed, or may also include elements inherent to such processes, methods, goods, or devices. In absence of more restrictions, an element after a statement "including one. " is not excluded from coexistence of additional identical elements in a process, a method, goods, or a device that includes the element.

Claim 1:
A channel sensing method, the method performed by a communication device operating in an unlicensed band, the method comprising:
determining (<NUM>) an energy detection threshold in a spatial-domain transmission direction, according to an antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction;
performing a channel sensing in the spatial-domain transmission direction, according to energy detection threshold;
wherein the antenna gain comprises an antenna transmission gain and an antenna reception gain;
the determining (<NUM>) the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction comprises:
determining the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction, according to an initial energy detection threshold and the antenna gain, wherein the initial energy detection threshold is less than or equal to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device;
or,
the determining (<NUM>) the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction according to the antenna gain in the spatial-domain transmission direction, comprises:
determining a maximum energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction, according to a maximum energy detection threshold of the communication device and the antenna gain;
determining an energy detection threshold smaller than or equal to the maximum energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction, as the energy detection threshold in the spatial-domain transmission direction.