Patent Description:
US patent application <CIT> discloses a method comprising detecting that a load associated with a set of radio resources allocated for vehicle-to-other (V2X) communication exceeds a load threshold, and upon detecting that the load exceeds the load threshold, selecting a second transport format for use in a subsequent V2X transmission by a wireless device.

US patent application <CIT> discloses a device in a shared-media communication network that determines a priority of a packet to be queued at the device, and based on the priority determines a length of time the packet is allowed to be queued before being successfully transmitted.

The present disclosure provides a method of wireless communication according to claim <NUM>, a wireless communication device according to claim <NUM>, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim <NUM>. Specific embodiments are subject of the dependent claims.

A wireless communication device, such as a user equipment (UE), a base station (BS), and/or the like, may perform device-to-device communications. For example, the wireless communication device may perform sidelink communications with another wireless communication device, where the sidelink communications include control information and/or data. The control information may include information needed to decode the data, such as information that identifies a start resource block of the data, a length of allocation of resource blocks for the data, a quantity of slots associated with the data, a modulation coding scheme (MCS) associated with the data, a link identifier, a destination identifier, and/or a source identifier for a wireless communication device associated with the data (e.g., to facilitate feedback when the data is not decoded), and/or the like.

In some D2D networks, such as vehicle-to-everything (V2X) networks or other D2D networks, the wireless communication device may use a distributed channel access mechanism (e.g., a random resource selection mechanism, a listen-before-talk (LBT)-based selection mechanism, a request-response (REQ-RESP)-based resource selection mechanism (e.g., with transmit and/or receive yielding), a long-term sensing-based resource selection mechanism, and/or the like) for time-frequency resource selection for D2D communications.

Use of distributed channel access mechanisms can cause unavoidable collisions among transmitters, such as devices using such distributed channel access mechanisms to access a channel. In some networks, resource overhead for channel contention may be based at least in part on which channel access mechanism is used. A probability of a collision (e.g., a spatial reuse of time-frequency resources) may depend on the channel access mechanism that is used. For example, using a random resource selection mechanism where multiple wireless communication devices select a set of time-frequency resources in a distributed manner may result in a highest probability of a collision relative to other channel selection mechanisms, and may not increase a resource overhead for channel contention. As another example, using an LBT-based selection mechanism, where zones of guarded time-frequency resources are generated for various transmitters and/or receivers, results in a relatively low probability of a collision (on average) compared to other channel selection mechanisms. Continuing with the previous example and when using an LBT-based selection mechanism, a wireless communication device transmits in a first symbol or a third symbol based at least in part on a generated LBT counter, or transmits after performing random selection on a fraction of time-frequency resources in a slot when contending for the time-frequency resources. While some channel access mechanisms reduce a probability of collision when distributed channel access mechanisms are used, the reduction results in high resource overhead.

Some techniques and apparatuses described herein provide for determining channel access priority for packets when wireless communication devices associated with a network are using distributed channel access mechanisms. For example, some techniques and apparatuses described herein provide for determining a manner in which to prioritize different packets in high channel load (e.g., congestion) environments. This channel access priority determination may be based at least in part on a window of candidate resources. Packets with different priorities may have differently sized windows. A packet may be assigned a channel access counter (CAC) value based at least in part on the window of the packet. Channel access for the packet may be based at least in part on incrementing the value of the CAC, so that packets with different priorities (and thus differently sized windows and different CACs) are handled differently.

This improves a use of distributed channel access mechanisms to reduce or eliminate a probability of a collision among packets from different wireless communication devices while using less resource overhead relative to other channel access mechanisms. In addition, this improves D2D communications of a wireless communication device by reducing or eliminating a probability of a collision. Further, this conserves processing resources of a wireless communication device that would otherwise be consumed as a result of a collision between packets from the wireless communication device and another wireless communication device.

The network <NUM> may be an LTE network, a <NUM> or NR network, future generation-based networks, and/or the like.

As shown in <FIG>, the UE <NUM> may include a communication manager <NUM>. As described in more detail elsewhere herein, the communication manager <NUM> may iterate a value of a channel access counter (CAC) based at least in part on a configured value of the CAC, may determine that the value of the CAC satisfies a trigger value, may utilize a channel access mechanism to select a set of time-frequency resources for a transmission of a packet based at least in part on the value of the CAC satisfying the trigger value, and may transmit the packet to a second wireless communication device via the selected set of time-frequency resources based at least in part on utilizing the channel access mechanism to select the set of time-frequency resources for the transmission. Additionally, or alternatively, the communication manager <NUM> may perform one or more other operations described herein.

Similarly, the base station <NUM> may include a communication manager <NUM>. As described in more detail elsewhere herein, the communication manager <NUM> may iterate a value of a CAC based at least in part on a configured value of the CAC, may determine that the value of the CAC satisfies a trigger value, may utilize a channel access mechanism to select a set of time-frequency resources for a transmission of a packet based at least in part on the value of the CAC satisfying the trigger value, and may transmit the packet to a second wireless communication device via the selected set of time-frequency resources based at least in part on utilizing the channel access mechanism to select the set of time-frequency resources for the transmission. Additionally, or alternatively, the communication manager <NUM> may perform one or more other operations described herein.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, BS <NUM> may iterate a value of a CAC based at least in part on a configured value of the CAC, may determine that the value of the CAC satisfies a trigger value, may utilize a channel access mechanism to select a set of time-frequency resources for a transmission of a packet based at least in part on the value of the CAC satisfying the trigger value, and may transmit the packet to a second wireless communication device via the selected set of time-frequency resources based at least in part on utilizing the channel access mechanism to select the set of time-frequency resources for the transmission, as described elsewhere herein. For example, BS <NUM> may perform these operations for congestion control and priority handling in D2D communications.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, UE <NUM> may iterate a value of a CAC based at least in part on a configured value of the CAC, may determine that the value of the CAC satisfies a trigger value, may utilize a channel access mechanism to select a set of time-frequency resources for a transmission of a packet based at least in part on the value of the CAC satisfying the trigger value, and may transmit the packet to a second wireless communication device via the selected set of time-frequency resources based at least in part on utilizing the channel access mechanism to select the set of time-frequency resources for the transmission, as described elsewhere herein. For example, UE <NUM> may perform these operations for congestion control and priority handling in D2D communications.

Controller/processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, and/or any other component(s) of <FIG> may perform one or more techniques associated with congestion control and priority handling in D2D communications, as described in more detail elsewhere herein. For example, controller/processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, and/or any other component(s) of <FIG> may perform or direct operations of, for example, process <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or other processes as described herein. Memories <NUM> and <NUM> may store data and program codes for base station <NUM> and UE <NUM>, respectively.

In some aspects, and as shown by reference number <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may include means for iterating a value of a CAC based at least in part on a configured value of the CAC, means for determining that the value of the CAC satisfies a trigger value, means for utilizing a channel access mechanism to select a set of time-frequency resources for a transmission of a packet based at least in part on the value of the CAC satisfying the trigger value, means for transmitting the packet to a second wireless communication device via the selected set of time-frequency resources based at least in part on utilizing the channel access mechanism to select the set of time-frequency resources for the transmission, means for configuring the value of the CAC for the packet prior to iterating the value of the CAC, means for determining, prior to iterating the value of the CAC, a quantity of candidate resources that is available in a slot, wherein a candidate resource has a size equal to a quantity of time-frequency resources to be used for the transmission of the packet, means for determining that the packet is ready to be transmitted prior to iterating the value of the CAC, means for determining, based at least in part on determining that the packet is ready to be transmitted, a transmission window for the transmission of the packet, means for utilizing the channel access mechanism to select the set of time-frequency resources for the transmission of the packet based at least in part on iterating the value of the CAC to the trigger value, means for iterating the value of the CAC by a fractional value of a quantity of time-frequency resources available in a slot, means for iterating the value of the CAC by a multiple of a fractional value of a quantity of time-frequency resources available in a slot, and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE <NUM> may include means for performing one or more other operations described herein. In some aspects, such means may include the communication manager <NUM>. Additionally, or alternatively, such means may include one or more components of the UE <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>.

In some aspects, and as shown by reference number <NUM>, the base station <NUM> may include means for iterating a value of a CAC based at least in part on a configured value of the CAC, means for determining that the value of the CAC satisfies a trigger value, means for utilizing a channel access mechanism to select a set of time-frequency resources for a transmission of a packet based at least in part on the value of the CAC satisfying the trigger value, means for transmitting the packet to a second wireless communication device via the selected set of time-frequency resources based at least in part on utilizing the channel access mechanism to select the set of time-frequency resources for the transmission, means for configuring the value of the CAC for the packet prior to iterating the value of the CAC, means for determining, prior to iterating the value of the CAC, a quantity of candidate resources that is available in a slot, wherein a candidate resource has a size equal to a quantity of time-frequency resources to be used for the transmission of the packet, means for determining that the packet is ready to be transmitted prior to iterating the value of the CAC, means for determining, based at least in part on determining that the packet is ready to be transmitted, a transmission window for the transmission of the packet, means for utilizing the channel access mechanism to select the set of time-frequency resources for the transmission of the packet based at least in part on iterating the value of the CAC to the trigger value, means for iterating the value of the CAC by a fractional value of a quantity of time-frequency resources available in a slot, means for iterating the value of the CAC by a multiple of a fractional value of a quantity of time-frequency resources available in a slot, and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, the base station <NUM> may include means for performing one or more other operations described herein. In some aspects, such means may include the communication manager <NUM>. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of the base station <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example <NUM> of congestion control and priority handling in D2D communications, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, example <NUM> includes a first wireless communication device (e.g., a first BS <NUM>, a first UE <NUM>, and/or the like) and a second wireless communication device (e.g., a second BS <NUM>, a second UE <NUM>, and/or the like).

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the first wireless communication device iterates a value of a channel access counter (CAC) based at least in part on configuring the value of the CAC. For example, the first wireless communication device may configure the value of the CAC (e.g., by storing a starting value for the CAC in memory resources associated with the first wireless communication device) prior to iterating the value of the CAC. As shown by reference number <NUM>, the first wireless communication device determines that the value of the CAC satisfies a trigger value. In some aspects, the trigger value may be based at least in part on a size of a transmission window for a packet. In some aspects, a starting value for the CAC may be based at least in part on a size of a transmission window for a packet, as described elsewhere herein. A size of a transmission window may refer to a quantity of time-frequency resources associated with a transmission window. In some aspects, the starting value may be zero, and the trigger value may be a value between zero and the size of the transmission window.

In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may determine that a packet is ready to be transmitted. For example, the first wireless communication device (e.g., a component of the first wireless communication device and/or an application associated with the first wireless communication device) may generate a packet and the first wireless communication device may determine that the packet is ready to be transmitted based at least in part on the first wireless communication device generating the packet. In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may determine that the packet is ready to be transmitted prior to generating the value of the CAC and/or iterating the value of the CAC.

In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may determine a quantity of candidate resources that is available in a slot. For example, the first wireless communication device may determine the quantity of candidate resources that is available prior to generating the value of the CAC, prior to iterating the value of the CAC, based at least in part on determining that the packet is ready to be transmitted, and/or the like. In some aspects, a candidate resource represents a set of time-frequency resources that is available in a slot. In some aspects, a candidate resource may have a size that is equal to a quantity of time-frequency resources to be used for a transmission of the packet. For example, if <NUM> resource blocks are to be used for a transmission of the packet, then one candidate resource may represent <NUM> available resource blocks in a slot. Continuing with the previous example, if <NUM> resources blocks are available in a slot, then the first wireless communication device may determine that two candidate resources are available in the slot.

In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may determine a transmission window for the transmission of the packet. For example, the first wireless communication device may determine the transmission window based at least in part on determining that the packet is ready to be transmitted, prior to generating the value of the CAC, prior to iterating the value of the CAC, and/or the like. In some aspects, a size of the transmission window may be based at least in part on the quantity of candidate resources that is available in the slot. For example, if the first wireless communication device determines that two candidate resources are available in the slot, then the first wireless communication device may determine a transmission window for the packet that has a size of two candidate resources. Additionally, or alternatively, a size of the transmission window may be based at least in part on a quantity of slots associated with a transmission of the packet (e.g., a quantity of slots to be used for the transmission).

Additionally, or alternatively, and as another example, the first wireless communication device may determine a size of the transmission window based at least in part on a channel busy ratio (CBR) for a slot to be used for a transmission of the packet (e.g., a higher relative CBR may be associated with a larger sized transmission window), a quality of service (QoS) associated with the packet (e.g., a higher QoS may be associated with a smaller sized transmission window), and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, and as another example, the first wireless communication device may be pre-configured with information (e.g., via a radio resource control (RRC) configuration) that identifies a mapping between various quantities of candidate resources available and corresponding transmission window sizes.

In some aspects, a size of the transmission window may be based at least in part on a priority associated with the packet. For example, different priority packets may be associated with different sized transmission windows. Continuing with the previous example, the first wireless communication device may determine a smaller transmission window (e.g., with a smaller relative quantity of time-frequency resources) for a packet with a higher priority relative to another packet. This may increase a quantity of potential opportunities to transmit a packet relative to a larger transmission window by reducing a quantity of available time-frequency resources that need to be available to transmit a packet. In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may be configured (e.g., pre-configured) with information (e.g., via an RRC configuration) that identifies a mapping between various priorities and corresponding sizes of transmission windows.

In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may generate the CAC and/or the value of the CAC. For example, the first wireless communication device may store information identifying the CAC in memory resources, may store information identifying a starting value of the CAC, a current value of the CAC, a trigger value of the CAC, and/or the like in the memory resources. In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may generate different CACs and/or different values for different CACs for different packets, for different sets of packets, and/or the like.

In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may determine a starting value for the CAC. For example, the first wireless communication device may determine the starting value after, or in association with, configuring the value of the CAC, prior to iterating the value of the CAC, and/or the like. In some aspects, the starting value may be equal to zero (e.g., when the first wireless communication device is to iterate the value of the CAC in an increasing manner), may be equal to the quantity of candidate resources that is available in a slot (e.g., when the first wireless communication device is to iterate the value of the CAC in a decreasing manner), and/or the like. In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may determine different starting values for different CACs (e.g., associated with different packets, with different priorities, and/or the like).

In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may iterate the value of the CAC after, or based at least in part on, determining the starting value for the CAC. In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may iterate the value of the CAC by an amount equal to a quantity of elapsed candidate resources available in a slot. For example, if two available candidate resources have elapsed in a slot, then the first wireless communication device may iterate the value of the CAC by two. In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may iterate the value of the CAC by a quantity of elapsed available slots associated with a transmission window. For example, if a transmission of a packet is to use one or more slots (e.g., one or more slots are associated with a transmission window for the packet), then the first wireless communication device may iterate the value of the counter by a quantity of elapsed available slots. In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may iterate the value of the CAC based at least in part on a CBR for a slot to be used for the transmission of the packet (e.g., the first wireless communication device may iterate the value of the CAC by a lower relative value for a higher relative CBR), a priority of the packet (e.g., the first wireless communication device may iterate the value by a higher relative value for a higher relative priority), a quality of service (QoS) associated with the packet (e.g., the first wireless communication device may iterate the value of the CAC by a higher relative value for a higher relative QoS), and/or the like.

In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may iterate the value of the CAC by a fractional value of a quantity of time-frequency resources available in a slot. For example, the first wireless communication device may iterate the value of the CAC by a fractional value, rather than by an integer value. In some aspects, the fractional value may be based at least in part on a quantity of available time-frequency resources in a slot that has an amount of energy and/or power (e.g., in decibels (dBm)) that satisfies a configured threshold. For example, if <NUM> percent (e.g., <NUM>) of the time-frequency resources in a slot have an amount of energy and/or power that is less than a threshold, then the first wireless communication device may iterate the value of the CAC by <NUM> (e.g., <NUM> - <NUM>) based at least in part on <NUM>% of the time-frequency resources having an amount of energy that is greater than or equal to the threshold, rather than pausing the iterating of the value.

In some aspects, whether the first wireless communication device iterates the value of the CAC or pauses the iteration of the value of the CAC when a fractional amount of time-frequency resources (e.g., a fractional amount of a total quantity of time-frequency resources) associated with a candidate resource are available may be based at least in part on the fractional amount satisfying a threshold. For example, the first wireless communication device may pause the iteration of the value (e.g., may not iterate the value) if the fractional amount fails to satisfy a threshold, and may iterate the value (e.g., may not pause the iteration of the value) if the fractional amount satisfies the threshold. In some aspects, the threshold may be pre-configured to the first wireless communication device via an RRC configuration.

In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may iterate the value of the CAC by a multiple of a fractional value of a quantity of time-frequency resources available in a slot. For example, if a fractional amount of a quantity of time-frequency resources is available in a slot (e.g., associated with a candidate resource), then the first wireless communication device may iterate the value of the CAC by a multiple of the fractional value (e.g., by two times the fractional value, three times the fractional value, and/or so forth).

In some aspects, the multiple may be a fractional value or a non-fractional value. In some aspects, the multiple may be based at least in part on a priority associated with the packet. For example, different priorities may be associated with different multiples (e.g., a higher relative priority may be associated with a higher relative multiple). In some aspects, the multiple may be based at least in part on a QoS associated with the packet. For example, different QoS may be associated with different multiples (e.g., a higher relative QoS may be associated with a higher relative multiple). In some aspects, the multiple may be configured (e.g., pre-configured) to the first wireless communication device via an RRC configuration.

In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may iterate the value of the CAC by increasing the value of the CAC or by decreasing the value of the CAC. In some aspects, the first wireless communication device may iterate the value of the CAC to a trigger value. For example, satisfaction of the trigger value may cause the first wireless communication device to perform one or more actions, as described elsewhere herein.

In some aspects, if candidate resources are not available, then the first wireless communication device may pause the iterating of the value of the CAC. For example, when an unavailable candidate resource elapses, then the first wireless communication device may not iterate the value of the CAC. In some aspects, if the first wireless communication device has paused the iterating of the CAC, then the first wireless communication device may resume the iterating of the value of the CAC when candidate resources become available.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the first wireless communication device utilizes a channel access mechanism to select a set of time-frequency resources for a transmission of the packet. For example, the first wireless communication device may utilize the channel access mechanism based at least in part on iterating the value of the CAC to the trigger value or based at least in part on the value satisfying a trigger value (e.g., satisfying a threshold defined based at least in part on the trigger value). In some aspects, a channel access mechanism may include a random resource selection mechanism, an LBT-based mechanism, and/or the like.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the first wireless communication device transmits the packet to the second wireless communication device via the set of time-frequency resources. For example, the first wireless communication device may transmit the packet to the second wireless communication device based at least in part on utilizing the channel access mechanism to select the set of time-frequency resources for a transmission of the packet.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example <NUM> of congestion control and priority handling in D2D communications, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. <FIG> shows different sized transmission windows (W1 through W3) that may be used for packets associated with different priorities.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, a first sized transmission window W1 may be used for packets associated with a first priority (e.g., priority <NUM>). For example, priority <NUM> packets may have a higher priority relative to priority <NUM> packets and priority <NUM> packets described below. As such, and as further shown by reference number <NUM>, W1 may be associated with a smaller quantity of time-frequency resources than W2 (associated with priority <NUM> packets) and W3 (associated with priority <NUM> packets). In some aspects, the smaller sized transmission window W1 may result in a wireless communication device transmitting priority <NUM> packets prior to priority <NUM> packets and/or priority <NUM> packets (e.g., based on faster iteration of the value of the CAC associated with priority <NUM> packets relative to priority <NUM> packets and priority <NUM> packets).

As shown by reference number <NUM>, W2 may be used for priority <NUM> packets. For example, priority <NUM> packets may have a higher priority relative to priority <NUM> packets and may have a lower priority relative to priority <NUM> packets. As such, and as further shown by reference number <NUM>, W2 may be associated with a smaller quantity of time-frequency resources than W3, but with a larger quantity of time-frequency resources than W1. In some aspects, the smaller sized transmission window W2 may result in a wireless communication device transmitting priority <NUM> packets prior to priority <NUM> packets (e.g., based on faster iteration of the value of the CAC associated with priority <NUM> packets relative to priority <NUM> packets).

As shown by reference number <NUM>, W3 may be used for priority <NUM> packets. For example, priority <NUM> packets may have a lower priority relative to priority <NUM> packets and priority <NUM> packets. As such, and as further shown by reference number <NUM>, W3 may be associated with a smaller quantity of time-frequency resources than W1 and W2. In some aspects, the larger sized transmission window may result in a wireless communication device transmitting priority <NUM> packets after priority <NUM> packets and after priority <NUM> packets (e.g., based on slower iteration of the value of the CAC associated with the priority <NUM> packets relative to priority <NUM> packets and priority <NUM> packets).

In some aspects, and as described elsewhere herein, a size of a transmission window may be based at least in part on a CBR associated with a slot. For example, the relative sizes of the transmission windows shown in <FIG> may be based at least in part on a CBR value associated with a slot to be used for a transmission of packets (e.g., priority <NUM> packets, priority <NUM> packets, and/or priority <NUM> packets).

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a first wireless communication device, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Example process <NUM> is an example where a first wireless communication device (e.g., BS <NUM>, UE <NUM>, and/or the like) performs congestion control and priority handling in D2D communications.

As shown in <FIG>, process <NUM> includes iterating a value of a channel access counter (CAC) based at least in part on configuring the value of the CAC (block <NUM>). The first wireless communication device (e.g., using controller/processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, and/or the like) iterates a value of a channel access counter (CAC) based at least in part on configuring the value of the CAC, as described elsewhere herein.

As further shown in <FIG>, , process <NUM> includes determining that the value of the CAC satisfies a trigger value (block <NUM>). The first wireless communication device (e.g., using controller/processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, and/or the like) determines that the value of the CAC satisfies a trigger value (e.g., a threshold defined by a trigger value). In some aspects, this may be based at least in part on iterating the value of the CAC to the trigger value.

As further shown in <FIG>, process <NUM> includes utilizing a channel access mechanism to select a set of time-frequency resources for a transmission of a packet based at least in part on the value of the CAC satisfying the trigger value (block <NUM>). The first wireless communication device (e.g., using controller/processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, and/or the like) utilizes a channel access mechanism to select a set of time-frequency resources for a transmission of a packet based at least in part iterating the value of the CAC satisfying the trigger value, as described elsewhere herein.

As further shown in <FIG>, process <NUM> includes transmitting the packet to a second wireless communication device via the set of time-frequency resources based at least in part on utilizing the channel access mechanism to select the set of time-frequency resources for the transmission (block <NUM>). The first wireless communication device (e.g., using controller/processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, MOD <NUM>, antenna <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, MOD <NUM>, antenna <NUM>, and/or the like) transmits the packet to a second wireless communication device via the set of time-frequency resources based at least in part on utilizing the channel access mechanism to select the set of time-frequency resources for the transmission, as described elsewhere herein.

In a first aspect, process <NUM> includes configuring the value of the CAC for the packet prior to iterating the value of the CAC.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, process <NUM> includes determining, prior to iterating the value of the CAC, a quantity of candidate resources that is available in a slot, wherein a candidate resource has a size equal to a quantity of time-frequency resources to be used for the transmission of the packet.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, process <NUM> includes determining that the packet is ready to be transmitted prior to iterating the value of the CAC; and determining, based at least in part on determining that the packet is ready to be transmitted, a transmission window for the transmission of the packet.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects, a size of the transmission window is based at least in part on at least one of: the quantity of candidate resources that is available in the slot, a quantity of slots associated with the transmission, or a combination of the quantity of candidate resources that is available in the slot and the quantity of slots associated with the transmission.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, the size of the transmission window is based at least in part on at least one of: a priority associated with the packet, a quality of service (QoS) value associated with the packet, or a combination of the priority and the QoS value.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth aspects, the priority associated with the packet is identified in a radio resource control (RRC) configuration received from a third wireless communication device.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects, the value of the CAC has a starting value that is based at least in part on the size of the transmission window.

In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventh aspects, the trigger value is between zero and the size of the transmission window.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighth aspects, iterating the value of the CAC comprises: iterating the value of the CAC by an amount equal to at least one of: a quantity of elapsed candidate resources available in a slot, a quantity of elapsed available slots associated with a transmission window, or a combination of the quantity of elapsed candidate resources and the quantity of elapsed available slots.

In a tenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through ninth aspects, utilizing the channel access mechanism comprises: utilizing the channel access mechanism to select the set of time-frequency resources for the transmission of the packet based at least in part on iterating the value of the CAC to the trigger value.

In an eleventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through tenth aspects, the channel access mechanism includes at least one of: a random resource selection mechanism, a listen-before-talk (LBT)-based mechanism, or a combination of the random resource selection mechanism and the LBT-based mechanism.

In a twelfth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eleventh aspects, iterating the value of the CAC comprises: iterating the value of the CAC by a fractional value of a quantity of time-frequency resources available in a slot.

In a thirteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twelfth aspects, the fractional value is based at least in part on a quantity of available time-frequency resources in the slot that has an amount of energy that satisfies a configured threshold.

In a fourteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through thirteenth aspects, the configured threshold is pre-configured via a radio resource control (RRC) configuration.

In a fifteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourteenth aspects, iterating the value of the CAC comprises: iterating the value of the CAC by a multiple of a fractional value of a quantity of time-frequency resources available in a slot.

In a sixteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifteenth aspects, the multiple is a non-fractional value.

In a seventeenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixteenth aspects, the multiple is another fractional value.

In an eighteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventeenth aspects, the multiple is based at least in part on at least one of: a priority associated with the packet, a quality of service (QoS) value associated with the packet, or a combination of the priority and the QoS value.

In a nineteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighteenth aspects, the priority associated with the packet, the QoS value associated with the packet, or the multiple are pre-configured via a radio resource control (RRC) configuration.

In a twentieth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through nineteenth aspects, a size of a transmission window for transmission of the packet, or a multiple of a fractional value of a quantity of time-frequency resources available in a slot, are based at least in part on at least one of: a channel busy ratio (CBR) for the slot to be used for the transmission of the packet, a priority of the packet, a quality of service (QoS) value of the packet, or a combination of the CBR for the slot, the priority of the packet, and the QoS value of the packet.

In a twenty-first aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twentieth aspects, an amount by which the value of the CAC is iterated is based at least in part on at least one of: a channel busy ratio (CBR) for a slot to be used for the transmission of the packet, a priority of the packet, or a combination of the CBR for the slot and the priority of the packet.

Although <FIG> shows example blocks of process500, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than those depicted in <FIG>.

Claim 1:
A method of wireless communication performed by a first wireless communication device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), comprising:
iterating (<NUM>; <NUM>) a value of a channel access counter, CAC, based at least in part on a configured value of the CAC;
determining (<NUM>; <NUM>) that the value of the CAC satisfies a trigger value;
utilizing (<NUM>; <NUM>) a channel access mechanism to select a set of time-frequency resources for a transmission of a packet based at least in part on the value of the CAC satisfying the trigger value; and
transmitting (<NUM>; <NUM>) the packet to a second wireless communication device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) via the selected set of time-frequency resources;
wherein iterating (<NUM>; <NUM>) the value of the CAC comprises:
iterating the value of the CAC by an amount equal to:
a quantity of elapsed candidate resources available in a slot or
a quantity of elapsed available slots associated with a transmission window, or
a combination of the quantity of elapsed candidate resources available in a slot and the quantity of elapsed available slots; or
iterating the value of the CAC by a fractional value of a quantity of time-frequency resources available in a slot or by a multiple of the factional value.