Abstract: Aligned listen before talk (LBT) gaps for single operator frame-based equipment (FBE) mode new radio (NR) shared spectrum (NR-SS) is disclosed. Within the FBE mode network, the base station determines a plurality of potential transmission bursts within a fixed frame period. The base station may then reserve a plurality of LBT gaps prior to the starting position of each such transmission burst. The base station communicates the location of each of the LBT gaps to all neighboring network entities and contends for access to the fixed frame period at the beginning of the frame regardless of whether it has data for transmission during the frame. Each neighboring base station that receives the LBT gaps locations will use the same locations in order to align the LBT gaps over the FBE mode network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may identify that the UE is configured to use a two-step random access channel (RACH) procedure. The two-step RACH procedure may include an uplink request message and a downlink response. The UE may transmit the uplink request message as part of the two-step RACH procedure, and the uplink request message may include a preamble portion that is one of a set of predefined sequences and a payload portion that includes a physical uplink shared channel waveform. The UE may receive the downlink response as part of the two-step RACH procedure and in response to the uplink request message.

Abstract: Techniques are described for wireless communication. A first method includes generating uplink control information at a wireless device, and transmitting the uplink control information over an interlace of a component carrier of an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band. The interlace includes a plurality of non-contiguous concurrent resource blocks in the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band, and at least two resource blocks in the interlace include different portions of the uplink control information. A second method includes generating uplink control information at a wireless device, and transmitting the uplink control information over an uplink control channel of an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band. Resources of the uplink control channel are divided into a plurality of discrete dimensions and the uplink control information of the wireless device is transmitted over a number of the discrete dimensions allocated to the uplink control information of the wireless device.

Abstract: Techniques for transmitting and receiving wireless communications over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band are disclosed, including techniques for transmitting and receiving system information blocks over the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band, techniques for gaining access to the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band by performing extended clear channel assessments (ECCAs), techniques for transmitting and receiving synchronization signals and reference signals over the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band, techniques for identifying starting times of downlink transmissions over the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band, techniques for transmitting and receiving clear channel assessment (CCA)-exempt transmissions over the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band, techniques for performing random access over the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band, and techniques for dynamically modifying a transmission mode over the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band.

Abstract: Autonomous uplink (AUL) for wideband new radio (NR) unlicensed (NR-U) operations is disclosed. For user equipments (UEs) that have been configured for AUL transmissions and have received an activation signal to activate the AUL capabilities, further indications may be used to enable AUL transmissions on AUL transmission opportunities (TxOPs) that overlap the timing of a current TxOP reserved by a serving base station, but that are allocated outside of the resources reserved for the current TxOP. A UE that identifies a desired, next AUL TxOP that overlaps the current base station-initiated TxOP duration, but is allocated for resources outside of the current TxOP resources determines whether it has obtained an enablement indication either directly from the serving base station or implicitly, based on current conditions at the UE. When the UE determines that it has obtained an enabling indication, it may then perform AUL transmissions via the overlapping AUL TxOP.

Abstract: New radio (NR) transmission opportunity (TxOP) structure having flexible starting points are disclosed for wireless communications. When a typical listen before talk (LBT) procedure is performed, the transmitting node will not know ahead of time when the LBT will pass and, thus, when data transmissions can start. NR systems may include a mini-slot design for accommodating transmission units smaller than a slot. Aspects of the present disclosure provide for flexibly increasing the number of potential starting transmission boundaries depending on when the LBT pass is detected. Alternative aspects of the present disclosure determine the potential starting transmission points using a mini-slot based design, a floating slot based design, or a punctured slot based design with a code block group (CBG) level retransmission mechanism.

Abstract: Aspects directed towards a frame-based equipment (FBE) design for a multi-operator New Radio shared spectrum (NR-SS) are disclosed. In one example, at least one contention slot is monitored within a fixed frame period of an unlicensed spectrum, and a determination is performed of whether a channel reservation signal associated with a higher priority node has been detected within the at least one contention slot. For this example, the at least one contention slot is associated with a resource of a subsequent fixed frame period of the unlicensed spectrum. A determination is then made of whether to transmit communication via the resource. Here, the communication is transmitted via the resource, if the channel reservation signal is not detected, and the communication is not transmitted via the resource, if the channel reservation signal is detected.

Abstract: Two-phase floating-instant coordinated multipoint (CoMP) operation is disclosed. The CoMP operation may be initiated by the network via a CoMP cluster of network nodes or by user equipments (UEs) configured for uplink CoMP transmissions. The first phase is initiated after a first node to conduct a successful full listen before talk (LBT) procedure signals the other participating nodes to perform an abbreviated LBT procedure and identifies the beginning of the second phase. After success of the full and abbreviated LBT procedures, each associated node will initiate a first transmission in the first phase. The leading node determines how many of the other nodes are available for transmission and decides, based on that amount and the rules of the network, whether to continue with the CoMP operations. If enough of the other nodes are available, the participating nodes will conduct the CoMP transmissions at the identified beginning of the second phase.

Abstract: New radio (NR) unlicensed (NR-U) operations are discussed with channel occupancy time (COT) multiple downlink-uplink switching opportunities supported by an active channel indication. A network node that initiates a COT for transmissions may identify a within-channel occupancy time (COT) scheduled downlink-uplink switching configuration. After beginning transmissions on the COT, the node receives an active channel indication from one or more additional network nodes. In response to the active channel indication, the node may then perform communications with the node from which the active channel indication is received according to the within-COT scheduled downlink-uplink switching configuration for the current COT on a shared communication channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods providing an enhanced new carrier type (eNCT) operable to adapt cells of a wireless communication network for opportunistic behavior that adapts to the geo-temporal traffic distribution are disclosed. Embodiments of eNCT operation provide for transmission of downlink common channels by cells employing eNCT techniques only when needed. Base stations implementing eNCT techniques herein may transition between two or more operational states, such as an active state wherein full base station functionality is performed and a dormant state wherein limited base station functionality is performed, based upon geo-temporal traffic distribution within the network. Thus, when a base station is not actively serving a user equipment (UE), the downlink transmission by the base station, and resulting interference, may be reduced or even eliminated.

Abstract: A medium reservation framework is disclosed for coexistence of coordinated and uncoordinated wireless networks in licensed spectrum and shared spectrum. The proposed medium reservation framework organically takes into account operating regimes with different numbers of Tx/Rx antennas per node, provides flexibility in trading off medium contention aggressiveness and power saving, leverages the inherent synchronization nature of NR, and covers both coordinated and uncoordinated operation scenarios. Various aspects of the medium reservation framework may be centered on one or more combinations of some basic building blocks, such as an operation grid, synchronization signals, and reservation messages, such as a reservation request signal (RRQ) and one or more a reservation response signals (RRS).

Abstract: Aspects described herein relate to modulating control data in wireless communications. First control data for a first device can be modulated in an enhancement layer of a control data resource based at least in part on whether the control data resource includes second control data for a second device, and transmitted over the control data resource. A signal can be received from an access point comprising at least one control data resource. One of a plurality of modulation schemes utilized to modulate the at least one control data resource and an associated layer can be determined. The signal can be demodulated according to the one of the plurality of modulation schemes and the layer to obtain control data in the at least one control data resource.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for design of synchronization signals for narrowband operation and other clean-slate, OFDM based systems such as enhanced component carrier (eCC) systems. An example method is provided for operations which may be performed by a BS to generate and transmit a dual-layer PSS, and correspondingly, techniques for a UE to detect the dual-layer PSS. The PSS may be generated utilizing a binary code cover and at least one sequence applied to a number of symbols within one or more subframes of a frame.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may determine that a serving base station of the UE has obtained access to a wireless channel of a shared radio frequency spectrum band during a transmission opportunity that is separate from a scheduled uplink transmission by the UE. The UE may perform, based at least in part on the determination, a clear channel assessment (CCA) procedure on the wireless channel during a designated quiet portion of the transmission opportunity. The UE may transmit an unsolicited CCA status report to the serving base station during the transmission opportunity based at least in part on the CCA procedure.

Abstract: Uplink clear channel assessment (CCA) status is disclosed as a new uplink control message for new radio (NR) unlicensed (NR-U) operations. When an opportunity for potential uplink transmissions arises for a user equipment (UE), the UE will perform a CCA procedure on available uplink resources. The UE reports the results of the CCA procedure to a serving base station via an uplink control message, such as an uplink control information (UCI), physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), or the like. The serving base station may then use the CCA results in scheduling uplink transmissions and reserving uplink resources.

Abstract: Wireless communications systems and methods related to communications in an unlicensed spectrum with tight frequency reuse color coding are provided. A first wireless communication device communicates, with a second wireless communication device, a first reservation signal to reserve a first transmission opportunity (TXOP) in a spectrum shared by a plurality of network operating entities. The first reservation signal includes a first waveform sequence identifying at least a first network operating entity of the plurality of network operating entities associated with the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device communicates, with the second wireless communication device, a first communication signal in the spectrum during the TXOP.

Abstract: Aligned listen before talk (LBT) gaps for single operator frame-based equipment (FBE) mode new radio (NR) shared spectrum (NR-SS) is disclosed. Within the FBE mode network, the base station determines a plurality of potential transmission bursts within a fixed frame period. The base station may then reserve a plurality of LBT gaps prior to the starting position of each such transmission burst. The base station communicates the location of each of the LBT gaps to all neighboring network entities and contends for access to the fixed frame period at the beginning of the frame regardless of whether it has data for transmission during the frame. Each neighboring base station that receives the LBT gaps locations will use the same locations in order to align the LBT gaps over the FBE mode network.

Abstract: Coordination of listen before talk (LBT) structure in new radio (NR) unlicensed (NR-U) multi-channel access operations is disclosed. In one aspect, when a base station determines to access shared communication spectrum, it may transmit an LBT structure signal that identifies the current LBT structure. The base station would then attempt access to the shared spectrum according to the LBT structure. In another aspect, a coordination server is used to manage access to the shared spectrum. Each node desiring access registers with the coordination server, which provides access parameters for the accessing node to use that increases the likelihood of successful access. The accessing nodes will transmit the selected access configuration used to access the shared spectrum, wherein the access configuration is selected based on the access parameters.

Abstract: Techniques providing opportunistic frequency switching for frame based equipment (FBE), such as may be configured to minimize opportunistic frequency switching delay in FBE new radio (NR) unlicensed (NR-U) networks and/or to provide frequency diversity FBE access based on offset sequences of medium sensing occasions for the carrier frequencies are disclosed. Within the FBE mode network, a base station may configure a pattern of sensing locations in each frame for each frequency transmission unit of the plurality of frequency transmission units, wherein an inter-unit delay of sensing locations between a first frequency transmission unit and a next adjacent frequency transmission unit and between a last frequency transmission unit and the first frequency transmission unit is a fixed duration.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A base station of a first network operator (OP) may determine a priority for the first OP for a transmission opportunity of a shared or unlicensed channel. The priority may be lower than a priority of a second OP for the transmission opportunity. Base station may transmit a tentative grant to a user equipment (UE) of the first OP scheduling transmissions over resources of the transmission opportunity. The transmitting device of the first OP may monitor a contention window for reservation signals communicated by devices of the second OP. Based on the monitoring and the tentative grant, the transmitting device of the first OP may perform the transmission over the resources of the shared or unlicensed channel.