CN108605230B

CN108605230B - Idle channel assessment method and terminal

Info

Publication number: CN108605230B
Application number: CN201680081120.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 郑娟; 官磊
Original assignee: Zhuji Yuanchang Information Technology Consulting Service Department
Current assignee: Zhuji Yuanchang information technology consulting service department
Priority date: 2016-02-05
Filing date: 2016-02-05
Publication date: 2020-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 2036-02-05
Also published as: CN108605230A; WO2017133008A1

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention discloses an idle channel assessment method, which comprises the following steps: evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle based on first channel evaluation criteria within a first preset time period; if the second channel is idle, the second channel assessment standard is accurately set as a channel assessment standard for assessing whether the license-free spectrum resources are idle; or if not, determining a third channel evaluation criterion as a channel evaluation criterion for evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free, wherein the second channel evaluation criterion is easier to evaluate whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free than the first channel evaluation criterion, and the third channel evaluation criterion is harder to evaluate whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free than the first channel evaluation criterion; and evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle according to the determined channel evaluation standard, and sending uplink data to the network equipment through the unlicensed spectrum resources when the idle of the unlicensed spectrum resources is evaluated. By adopting the method, the license-free frequency spectrum resource can be used more reasonably.

Description

Idle channel assessment method and terminal

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and a terminal for idle channel estimation.

Background

A device in long term Evolution (L ong-term Evolution, L TE) may use a Carrier in a licensed band as a Primary Component Carrier (PCC) or a Primary Cell (PCell) by Carrier Aggregation (CA), and use a Carrier in an unlicensed band as a Secondary Component Carrier (SCC) or a Secondary Cell (SCell) to improve communication efficiency of the device in L TE, whether a base station in L TE uses an unlicensed spectrum resource (i.e., a Carrier in the unlicensed band) to transmit downlink data or a terminal (e.g., a User Equipment (UE)) uses the unlicensed spectrum resource to transmit uplink data, it needs to evaluate whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle by a listen-before-talk (listen-before-talk, L BT) mechanism, and if so, the device may obtain the unlicensed spectrum resource in a specific time.

The base station can send downlink data based on the license-free spectrum resource when evaluating the license-free spectrum resource is idle, the terminal also sends uplink data according to the uplink scheduling of the source base station when evaluating the license-free spectrum resource is idle, and the terminal needs to preempt the license-free spectrum resource in time at the time of the uplink scheduling when sending the uplink data when reaching the time indicated by the uplink scheduling; in the prior art, a terminal is provided with a channel evaluation standard which is easier to evaluate the free licensed spectrum resource, so that the terminal can be ensured to timely occupy the free licensed spectrum resource. This also results in that the unlicensed spectrum resources cannot be used fairly between the terminal and the base Station, Wireless Access Point (AP), Station (STA), and other devices.

The prior art is disadvantageous in that the terminal does not make reasonable use of the channel assessment criteria, resulting in unreasonable use of the unlicensed spectrum resources.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the invention discloses an idle channel assessment method and a terminal, which can reasonably use license-free spectrum resources.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for idle channel assessment, where the method includes:

the terminal evaluates whether the license-free spectrum resources are idle or not based on a first channel evaluation standard within a first preset time period; specifically, a network device (e.g., a base station) providing a scheduling service for the terminal is that no device uses the unlicensed spectrum resource within a listening range of the base station at a transmission time when the terminal is instructed to transmit uplink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource by uplink scheduling signaling.

If the terminal is idle, the terminal determines a second channel assessment standard as a channel assessment standard for assessing whether the license-free spectrum resource is idle; or if the terminal is not idle, the terminal determines a third channel assessment criterion as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, wherein the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be idle based on the second channel assessment criterion is not less than the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be idle based on the first channel assessment criterion, and the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be idle based on the third channel assessment criterion is less than the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be idle based on the first channel assessment criterion; specifically, if the terminal is not idle, there is a high possibility that other devices (such as a wireless access point and other devices) which are not served by the network device use the unlicensed spectrum resource, and thus the usage of the unlicensed spectrum resource by the terminal and the other devices is not fair, then the channel assessment criterion may be adjusted to make the usage of the unlicensed spectrum resource by the terminal and the other devices as fair as possible; if the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, indicating that no other device using the unlicensed spectrum resource exists within the listening range of the base station and the terminal, the channel assessment criteria may be adjusted to provide the terminal with efficiency for the unlicensed spectrum resource.

And the terminal evaluates whether the license-free spectrum resource is idle according to the determined channel evaluation standard, and sends uplink data to network equipment through the license-free spectrum resource when the license-free spectrum resource is evaluated to be idle.

By executing the steps, the subsequent channel evaluation standard is determined according to the result of the evaluation of the first channel evaluation standard, and whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle or not is evaluated according to the newly determined channel evaluation standard, so that the use of the unlicensed spectrum resource is more reasonable.

With reference to the first aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, before the terminal evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle based on the first channel evaluation criterion within a first preset time period, the method further includes:

the terminal receives an indication message sent by the network device, where the indication message includes information of the license-free spectrum resource and information of a first preset time period, and the first preset time period is within a maximum channel occupation time MCOT of the network device using the license-free spectrum resource to send downlink data.

Specifically, the first preset time period is limited to the MCOT used by the network device during downlink transmission, so that the result estimated based on the first channel estimation standard has a reference value for determining the subsequent channel estimation standard.

With reference to the first aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the evaluating, by the terminal, whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle by using the determined channel assessment criterion includes:

and the terminal evaluates whether the license-exempt spectrum resources are idle or not through the determined channel evaluation standard in the first preset time period.

Specifically, whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle or not is evaluated in time through the newly determined channel evaluation criterion, so that the evaluation result is more accurate.

With reference to the first aspect, or the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or the second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the evaluating, by the terminal, whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle based on the first channel evaluation criterion within a first preset time period includes:

the terminal evaluates whether the license-exempt spectrum resources are idle on a scheduled first transmission time unit based on a first channel evaluation standard within a first preset time period;

the terminal evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle according to the determined channel evaluation standard, and when the unlicensed spectrum resource is evaluated to be idle, the terminal sends uplink data to the network device through the unlicensed spectrum resource includes:

the terminal evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle in a scheduled second transmission time unit based on the determined channel evaluation criterion within the first preset time period, and sends uplink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource in the second transmission time unit when the idle of the unlicensed spectrum resource is evaluated, wherein the second transmission time unit is after the first transmission time unit.

With reference to the first aspect, or the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or the second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or the third possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the evaluating, by the terminal, whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle based on the first channel evaluation criterion within a first preset time period includes:

the terminal performs the step of evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free based on the first channel evaluation criterion at least once within a first preset time period.

Specifically, the final evaluation result is determined based on the result of evaluation using the first channel evaluation criterion a plurality of times, reducing the error of the evaluation result.

With reference to the first aspect, or the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or the second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or the third possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or the fourth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner of the first aspect:

the terminal determines the second channel assessment criterion as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, and the channel assessment criterion includes:

the terminal accurately determines a second channel evaluation standard as a channel evaluation standard for evaluating whether the license-free spectrum resource is idle within a second preset time period;

the terminal determines the third channel assessment criterion as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, including:

and the terminal accurately specifies the third channel evaluation standard as a channel evaluation standard for evaluating whether the license-free spectrum resources are idle within a third preset time period.

Specifically, the validity period is set for the newly determined channel evaluation criterion, so that the situation that the terminal is too easy to seize the unlicensed spectrum resources for a long time or is too difficult to seize the unlicensed spectrum resources for a long time so that the unlicensed spectrum resources are unreasonably used is avoided.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a terminal, where the terminal includes:

the device comprises a first evaluation unit, a second evaluation unit and a control unit, wherein the first evaluation unit is used for evaluating whether the license-free spectrum resources are idle or not based on first channel evaluation criteria in a first preset time period;

a determining unit, configured to determine, when the result of the evaluation by the first evaluation unit is idle, a second channel evaluation criterion as a channel evaluation criterion for evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle; or, the terminal is configured to calibrate a third channel assessment as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle when the result of the assessment by the first assessment unit is idle, where a probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be idle based on the second channel assessment criterion is not less than a probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be idle based on the first channel assessment criterion, and a probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be idle based on the third channel assessment criterion is less than a probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be idle based on the first channel assessment criterion;

and a second evaluation unit, configured to evaluate whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle according to the channel evaluation criterion determined by the determination unit, and send uplink data to a network device through the unlicensed spectrum resource when it is evaluated that the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle.

By operating the above units, the subsequent channel evaluation criterion is determined according to the result evaluated by the first channel evaluation criterion, and whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free is evaluated according to the newly determined channel evaluation criterion, so that the usage of the unlicensed spectrum resource is more reasonable.

With reference to the second aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the terminal further includes:

a receiving unit, configured to receive an indication message sent by the network device before the first evaluation unit evaluates whether an unlicensed spectrum resource is idle based on a first channel evaluation criterion within a first preset time period, where the indication message includes information of the unlicensed spectrum resource and information of the first preset time period, and the first preset time period is within a maximum channel occupation time MCOT during which the network device uses the unlicensed spectrum resource to send downlink data.

With reference to the second aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the evaluating, by the second evaluating unit, whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle according to the channel evaluation criterion determined by the determining unit specifically includes:

the second evaluation unit evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free through the determined channel evaluation criterion within the first preset time period.

With reference to the second aspect, or the first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, or the second possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the second aspect:

the first evaluation unit is specifically configured to evaluate, within a first preset time period, whether an unlicensed spectrum resource is idle in a scheduled first transmission time unit based on a first channel evaluation criterion;

the second evaluating unit is specifically configured to evaluate, within the first preset time period, whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle in a scheduled second transmission time unit based on the determined channel evaluation criterion, and send uplink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource in the second transmission time unit when it is evaluated that the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, where the second transmission time unit is subsequent to the first transmission time unit.

With reference to the second aspect, or the first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, or the second possible implementation manner of the second aspect, or the third possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the first evaluation unit is specifically configured to perform the step of evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle based on the first channel evaluation criterion at least once within a first preset time period.

With reference to the second aspect, or the first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, or the second possible implementation manner of the second aspect, or the third possible implementation manner of the second aspect, or the fourth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner of the second aspect:

the determining unit determines the second channel assessment criterion as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free, including:

the determining unit is used for accurately determining a second channel evaluation standard as a channel evaluation standard for evaluating whether the license-free spectrum resources are idle within a second preset time period;

the determining unit determines the third channel assessment criterion as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free, including:

the determining unit determines a third channel assessment criterion as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free within a third preset time period.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a terminal, where the terminal includes an output device, a memory, and a processor, where the processor invokes a free channel assessment program in the memory, to perform the following operations:

evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle based on first channel evaluation criteria within a first preset time period;

if the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle, determining a second channel assessment standard as a channel assessment standard for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle; or, if not, defining a third channel assessment criterion as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free, wherein the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be free based on the second channel assessment criterion is not less than the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be free based on the first channel assessment criterion, and the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be free based on the third channel assessment criterion is less than the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be free based on the first channel assessment criterion;

and evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free or not according to the determined channel evaluation standard, and sending uplink data to network equipment through the unlicensed spectrum resources by the output device when the unlicensed spectrum resources are evaluated to be free.

By operating the program, the terminal determines the subsequent channel evaluation standard according to the result evaluated by the first channel evaluation standard, and evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle or not according to the newly determined channel evaluation standard, so that the use of the unlicensed spectrum resource is more reasonable.

With reference to the third aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the terminal further includes an input device; the processor is further configured to receive, through the input device, an indication message sent by the network device before evaluating whether an unlicensed spectrum resource is idle based on a first channel evaluation criterion within a first preset time period, where the indication message includes information of the unlicensed spectrum resource and information of the first preset time period, and the first preset time period is within a maximum channel occupation time MCOT during which the network device uses the unlicensed spectrum resource to send downlink data.

With reference to the third aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the evaluating, by the processor, whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle through the determined channel assessment criterion specifically includes:

the processor evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free by the determined channel assessment criteria for the first preset time period.

With reference to the third aspect, or the first possible implementation manner of the third aspect, or the second possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the evaluating, by the processor, whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle based on the first channel evaluation criterion within the first preset time period specifically includes:

the processor evaluates whether an unlicensed spectrum resource is idle on a scheduled first transmission time unit based on first channel assessment criteria for a first preset time period;

the processor, through the determined channel assessment criterion, assesses whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, and when it is assessed that the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, sends uplink data to the network device through the unlicensed spectrum resource through the output device specifically includes:

the processor evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free in a scheduled second transmission time unit based on the determined channel evaluation criterion within the first preset time period, and transmits uplink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource by the output device on the second transmission time unit when the unlicensed spectrum resource is evaluated to be free, the second transmission time unit being subsequent to the first transmission time unit.

With reference to the third aspect, or the first possible implementation manner of the third aspect, or the second possible implementation manner of the third aspect, or the third possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the evaluating, by the processor, whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle based on the first channel evaluation criterion within a first preset time period specifically includes:

the processor performs the step of assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free based on first channel assessment criteria at least once within a first preset time period.

With reference to the third aspect, or the first possible implementation manner of the third aspect, or the second possible implementation manner of the third aspect, or the third possible implementation manner of the third aspect, or the fourth possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner of the third aspect:

the processor determines the second channel assessment criterion as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, specifically:

the processor accurately determines a second channel assessment standard as a channel assessment standard for assessing whether the license-exempt spectrum resources are idle within a second preset time period;

the processor determines the third channel assessment criterion as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, specifically:

the processor determines a third channel assessment criterion as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free within a third preset time period.

In some implementations of the first, second and third aspects, a duration of the first preset time period is less than or equal to a maximum channel occupancy duration MCOT.

Specifically, the duration of the first preset time period is limited to the MCOT, so that the result evaluated based on the first channel evaluation criterion is more valuable for determining the subsequent channel evaluation criterion.

In some implementations of the first, second and third aspects, the first transmission time unit is a first transmission time unit for which the terminal is scheduled.

Specifically, the time for evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle is limited to be before the first transmission time unit, so that the result evaluated based on the first channel evaluation criterion is more valuable for determining the subsequent channel evaluation criterion.

In some implementations of the first, second, and third aspects, the first, second, and third channel assessment criteria each include a channel contention window length and an energy threshold value; the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resources are free is evaluated to be larger based on the included channel evaluation criterion that the channel contention window length is shorter, or the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resources are free is evaluated to be larger based on the included channel evaluation criterion that the energy threshold value is larger.

By implementing the embodiment of the invention, the terminal determines the subsequent channel evaluation standard according to the result evaluated by the first channel evaluation standard, and evaluates whether the license-free spectrum resource is idle or not according to the newly determined channel evaluation standard, so that the license-free spectrum resource is more reasonably used.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solution in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings required to be used in the embodiments will be briefly described below.

Fig. 1 is a schematic flow chart of a method for evaluating an idle channel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 1A is a schematic view of a scene of a first preset time period according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 1B is a schematic view of a scene of a first preset time period according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 1C is a schematic view of a scene of a first preset time period according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

fig. 1D is a schematic view of a scenario for transmitting uplink data according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1E is a diagram illustrating a scenario in which other devices exist according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal disclosed in the embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of another terminal disclosed in the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention are applied to a System using unlicensed spectrum resources, for example, a licensed-Assisted Access (L-Assisted-Access, L AA) -L TE System (i.e., a L TE System using a licensed band and AN unlicensed band together in a CA manner), a System using a licensed band and AN unlicensed band together in a non-CA manner, a System deployed independently on AN unlicensed band (e.g., a stand-alone L TE System (standard L TE System over licensed spectrum)), a Wireless local Area network (Wireless L Area Networks, W L AN), a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), a System using Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology, a System using Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) technology, a System using WCDMA technology, a System using Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) technology, a Mobile station (WCDMA) and other devices, and the like, and the System may be connected to a Wireless Terminal (Mobile station) and the other devices, and the System may transmit downlink data to the above-Assisted-Access, Wireless Terminal (WCDMA) and the above-mentioned Wireless Terminal may also be connected to other devices.

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 1, fig. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a channel estimation method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method includes, but is not limited to, the steps of:

step S101: and the network equipment sends indication information to the terminal to indicate the terminal to send uplink data through the license-free spectrum resource.

Specifically, the indication information includes, but is not limited to, an uplink scheduling signaling, which is described below as an uplink scheduling signaling as an example, the uplink scheduling signaling may indicate on which transmission time units the terminal transmits uplink data, where the transmission time units may be an integer number of subframes, or an integer number of half subframes (a half subframe may be regarded as one slot), or an integer number of symbols, and the like; the uplink scheduling signaling also indicates the terminal to use the unlicensed spectrum resource to transmit uplink data. Taking CA as an example, a network device may configure a plurality of serving cells for a terminal, where the serving cells include a Primary Cell (PCell) and at least one Secondary Cell (SCell), where at least one Cell transmits data using an unlicensed spectrum resource, and includes that the terminal sends uplink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource. The uplink scheduling signaling indicates the terminal to use the unlicensed spectrum resource to transmit uplink data, which can be understood as follows: and the uplink scheduling signaling indicates the terminal to transmit uplink data on a certain cell, and the working frequency band of the certain cell is the license-free frequency spectrum resource. It should be noted that, instructing the terminal to send the uplink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource does not mean that the terminal will send the uplink data on the unlicensed spectrum resource, and whether to send the uplink data needs to be determined based on the result obtained by the evaluation of the first channel evaluation criterion.

In general, at a transmission time point when a network device instructs a terminal to transmit uplink data using the unlicensed spectrum resource through instruction information, no other device uses the unlicensed spectrum resource within a signal listening range of the network device.

Step S102: and the terminal receives the indication information sent by the network equipment and evaluates whether the license-free spectrum resource indicated by the uplink scheduling signaling is idle or not based on a first channel evaluation standard in a first preset time period.

The specific process of the terminal for evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle may be to generate a random integer N from 1 to q according to a contention window length defined in a current channel evaluation criterion before uplink data is transmitted using the unlicensed spectrum resource indicated by the indication information, then detect whether energy of the unlicensed spectrum resource reaches a preset energy threshold value with a listening time slot as granularity, reduce N by 1 when energy of each time slot is lower than the energy threshold value, otherwise, N remains unchanged, and after N is reduced by 0, the unlicensed spectrum resource is indicated to be idle.

Further, the contention window length may be the random contention window length described above, e.g., N; or the maximum contention window length described above, e.g., q; for example, the maximum contention window length q of several different service types may take values of 7, 15, 63, and 1023, respectively, so the contention window length in the embodiment of the present invention may take q, or may randomly take a value between 0 and q or between 1 and q.

In an optional scheme, before the terminal preempts the unlicensed spectrum resource (i.e., evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle) to perform data transmission, the network device preempts the unlicensed spectrum resource and sends downlink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource, in a Maximum Channel Occupied Time (MCOT) when the network device uses the unlicensed spectrum resource or a Time range corresponding to MCOT, the network device may use the unlicensed spectrum resource in the MCOT or the Time range corresponding to MCOT without determining whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, for example, the network device determines whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle through a Channel evaluation standard, and if it is determined that the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, the network device may transmit data using the unlicensed spectrum resource and the Maximum of the unlicensed spectrum resource is not more than that of the unlicensed spectrum resource The length of time corresponding to MCOT is, for example, 2ms, or 3ms, or 8ms, or 10 ms. It is to be understood that the time range corresponding to the MCOT may be represented by a start point of the time range corresponding to the MCOT and a length of the time range corresponding to the MCOT, the start point of the time range corresponding to the MCOT may be a time point when the network device camps on the unlicensed spectrum resource and starts to transmit data, and the length of the time range corresponding to the MCOT may be a length corresponding to the MCOT, for example, an integer number of milliseconds. The network device may send downlink data through the MCOT or a part of time in a time range corresponding to the MCOT, and then the terminal may evaluate whether the unlicensed spectrum resource indicated by the uplink scheduling signaling is idle based on a first channel assessment criterion in the MCOT or a remaining time range in the time range corresponding to the MCOT, where a specific scenario is shown in fig. 1A, a maximum channel occupation time 111 of the unlicensed spectrum resource that the network device occupies includes a remaining time 112, and then the terminal evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle based on the first channel assessment criterion in the remaining time 112. In the embodiment of the present invention, the first preset time period may be the remaining time 112 illustrated in fig. 1A, or may be a time included in the remaining time 112 illustrated in fig. 1A.

The first preset time period may be defined by any two parameters of a start time of the first preset time period, an end time of the first preset time period, and a duration of the first preset time period. The end time of the first preset time period may be an end time of the MCOT, and the start time of the first preset time period may be an end time of the network device transmitting downlink data on the unlicensed spectrum resource. The terminal can also acquire the time range corresponding to the first preset time period in a blind detection mode, a network device indication mode and/or a standard protocol specification mode. Correspondingly, the time range corresponding to the first preset time period may be defined by any two parameters of the start time of the first preset time period, the end time of the first preset time period, and the duration of the first preset time period. Optionally, the network device may send the time range corresponding to the first preset time period to the terminal through the indication information, where the sending includes sending any two parameters of the start time of the first preset time period, the end time of the first preset time period, and the duration of the first preset time period to the terminal, and the embodiments of the present invention may also be implemented in other manners, which are not specifically limited. For example, the network device sends the indication information to the terminal to indicate the end position of the MCOT, and the terminal may determine the first preset time period by combining the end time of the downlink data transmission of the unlicensed spectrum resource by the network device (the end time may also be obtained by the network device sending the indication information). Or the terminal may determine the time range of the first preset time period by determining the time range corresponding to the MCOT. The terminal can acquire the time range corresponding to the MCOT in a blind detection mode, a network device indication mode and/or a standard protocol specification mode. The time range corresponding to the MCOT can be represented by any two parameters of the start time of the time range corresponding to the MCOT, the end time of the time range corresponding to the MCOT and the duration of the time range corresponding to the MCOT. The terminal can acquire any two parameters of the start time of the time range corresponding to the MCOT, the end time of the time range corresponding to the MCOT and the duration of the time range corresponding to the MCOT in a blind detection mode, a network device indication mode and/or a standard protocol specification mode, and further determine the time range corresponding to the MCOT. For example, the terminal may determine the starting time of the network device in the data transmission of the unlicensed spectrum resource through blind detection, and according to the starting time, may determine the starting time of the time range corresponding to the MCOT, and then determine the time length corresponding to the MCOT (the duration of the time range corresponding to the MCOT) according to a network device indication and/or a standard protocol specification, so as to determine the time range corresponding to the MCOT corresponding to the data transmission of the network device on the unlicensed spectrum resource, and further determine the time range of the first preset time period. If the terminal determines that the scheduled transmission time unit is within the time range of the first preset time period or the time range corresponding to the MCOT corresponding to the data transmission of the network device on the unlicensed spectrum resource according to the uplink scheduling signaling, the terminal may evaluate whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle based on a first channel evaluation criterion, and further, after evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle based on the first channel evaluation criterion, may evaluate whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle based on a second channel evaluation criterion and/or a third channel evaluation criterion within the time range of the MCOT corresponding to the data transmission of the network device on the unlicensed spectrum resource.

In yet another optional scenario, the first preset time period is within a time range corresponding to one Transmission Opportunity (TXOP) of the network device using the unlicensed spectrum resource. Within a TXOP, a network device may send downlink data and/or receive uplink data on the unlicensed spectrum resource, and before the TXOP, the network device needs to determine whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle through a channel assessment criterion, and if the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, the network device may use the unlicensed spectrum resource. When the network device sends data through the unlicensed spectrum resource within the TXOP, the state (busy or idle) of the unlicensed spectrum resource does not need to be determined based on the channel assessment criteria. Optionally, the length of the time range corresponding to the TXOP is not greater than the length of the MCOT. The terminal may determine a range corresponding to the first preset time period by determining a time range corresponding to the TXOP. The specific implementation of the terminal determining the time range corresponding to the TXOP may refer to the terminal to determine the time range corresponding to the MCOT. For example, the terminal may obtain the time range corresponding to the TXOP by blind detection, and/or network device indication, and/or a standard protocol specification. The time range corresponding to the TXOP may be represented by any two parameters of a start time of the time range corresponding to the TXOP, an end time of the time range corresponding to the TXOP, and a duration of the time range corresponding to the TXOP. The terminal may obtain any two parameters of the start time of the time range corresponding to the TXOP, the end time of the time range corresponding to the TXOP, and the duration of the time range corresponding to the TXOP in a manner of blind detection, and/or network device indication, and/or standard protocol specification, so as to determine the time range corresponding to the TXOP. For example, the terminal may determine, through blind detection, a starting time of the network device at the data transmission start time of the unlicensed spectrum resource, and according to the starting time, may determine a starting time of a time range corresponding to the TXOP, and then determine a time length corresponding to the TXOP according to a network device indication and/or a standard protocol specification, so as to determine the time range of the TXOP corresponding to the data transmission start time of the network device at the unlicensed spectrum resource, and further determine the time range of the first preset time period. If the terminal determines, according to the uplink scheduling signaling, that the scheduled transmission time unit is in the time range of the TXOP corresponding to the data transmission on the unlicensed spectrum resource by the network device, the terminal may evaluate, based on a first channel evaluation criterion, whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, and further, after evaluating, based on the first channel evaluation criterion, whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, within the time range of the TXOP corresponding to the data transmission on the unlicensed spectrum resource by the network device, may also evaluate, based on a second channel evaluation criterion and/or a third channel evaluation criterion, whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle.

In yet another alternative, the duration of the first preset time period is equal to a maximum channel occupation duration MCOT corresponding to the terminal (MCOT defined in different devices may be different in size); the starting point of the first preset time period may be a time when the network device ends downlink data transmission on the license-exempt spectrum resource, and a specific scenario is as shown in fig. 1B, where a duration of the first preset time period 113 is equal to an MCOT in the terminal. In this case, the terminal needs to determine an end time when the network device sends downlink data on the unlicensed spectrum resource (which may be indicated by the network device), and the terminal may determine the length of the MCOT according to an indication of the network device or a standard protocol to determine the first preset time period. Or, the starting point of the first preset time period is a starting point of an nth scheduled transmission time unit after the network device finishes downlink data transmission on the unlicensed spectrum resource, where N is a natural number, and when N is 1, a specific scenario is as shown in fig. 1C. In this case, the terminal may determine, according to an indication message sent by the network device, an end time at which the network device sends downlink data on the unlicensed spectrum resource, determine, by the terminal, a position of a transmission time unit of the uplink scheduling according to the indication of the network device, then the terminal may determine, according to the end time of the downlink data transmission and the determined position of the transmission time unit of the uplink scheduling, a start point of a first preset time period, then determine, according to the indication of the network device or a standard protocol, a length of the MCOT, and then determine a transmission duration corresponding to the first preset time period. It should be noted that, in this case, the terminal may evaluate whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free based on the first channel evaluation criterion before the first transmission time unit included in the first preset time period. It should be noted that in this case, there is not necessarily uplink data transmission in the scheduled transmission time unit, which depends on the evaluation result of the channel evaluation criterion. Or the starting point of the first preset time period is the starting point of a transmission unit corresponding to the mth data transmission of the terminal after the network device finishes the downlink data transmission on the license-free spectrum resource, where M is a natural number. Here, the mth data transmission includes mth data transmitted by the terminal on the transmission time unit on the unlicensed spectrum resource; if the terminal determines that the unlicensed spectrum resource corresponding to the first transmission time unit is free in the first transmission time unit when M is 1, the terminal may send uplink data using the unlicensed spectrum resource in the first transmission time unit, where a starting point of the first transmission time unit corresponds to a starting point of a transmission unit corresponding to the mth data transmission in this example, if M is 1 in fig. 1C, if the terminal determines that data can be transmitted in subframe 1 according to the channel estimation criterion, the starting point of subframe 1 corresponds to a starting point of a transmission unit corresponding to the 1 st data transmission; if the terminal determines that data can not be transmitted in subframe 1 but data can be transmitted in subframe 2 according to the channel assessment criteria, the start of subframe 2 corresponds to the start of the transmission unit corresponding to the 1 st data transmission. The determination method is the same as that described above, and is not described herein again.

In yet another alternative, the duration of the first preset time period is equal to a duration corresponding to a transmission time unit for which the terminal is continuously scheduled. For example, if the network device continuously sends 1 or 2 pieces of indication information indicating that the terminal transmits data in two consecutive transmission time units of the unlicensed spectrum resource, the terminal may use the total duration of the consecutive transmission time units as the duration of the first preset time period. The starting point of the first preset time period may be an ending time when the network device ends downlink data transmission on the unlicensed spectrum resource or a starting point of a kth transmission time unit scheduled by the terminal, where K is a natural number.

Further, the process of the terminal evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resources indicated by the indication information are free based on the first channel assessment criterion within the first preset time period may include the following two cases:

in the first case: the terminal evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle in the scheduled first transmission time unit based on the first channel evaluation criterion in the first preset time period, that is, when the terminal transmits uplink data through the first transmission time unit according to uplink scheduling in the first preset time period, the terminal evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, the first transmission time unit is a few transmission time units in the first preset time period of the uplink scheduling, and is not limited here, preferably, the first transmission time unit is a first scheduled transmission time unit in the first preset time period.

In the second case: the terminal performs at least two steps of evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free on the scheduled different transmission time units based on the first channel evaluation criterion within the first preset time period. Specifically, a plurality of uplink scheduled transmission time units exist in the first preset time period, the terminal performs idle state evaluation on the unlicensed spectrum resource before sending uplink data in one transmission time unit, and the terminal determines whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle according to at least two evaluation results. For example, there are 3 scheduled subframes (transmission time units) in the first preset time period, and if the terminal needs to evaluate the idle state of the unlicensed spectrum resource before transmitting uplink data through the 1 st subframe, before transmitting uplink data through the 2 nd subframe, and before transmitting uplink data through the 3 rd subframe, it may be determined whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle by combining the result of the evaluation before transmitting uplink data through the subframe 1 and the result of the evaluation before transmitting uplink data through the subframe 2, and if the result of evaluating that the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle exceeds a preset ratio, it is determined that the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle. It should be noted that, combining the evaluation results corresponding to the multiple transmission time units to determine whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle is only used as a means for determining whether the subsequent channel evaluation standard is adjusted, and does not represent that whether uplink data can be transmitted in each transmission time unit is determined by using the evaluation results corresponding to the multiple transmission time units. Taking the above as an example, if there are 3 scheduled subframes in the first preset time period, if the evaluation result before transmitting uplink data through subframe 1 is that it is determined that the evaluated unlicensed spectrum resources are idle, the uplink data may be transmitted through subframe 1; if the evaluation result before the uplink data is transmitted through the subframe 2 is that the evaluated unlicensed spectrum resource is determined to be free, the uplink data can be transmitted through the subframe 2. Meanwhile, whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free or not can be considered based on the evaluation results before the uplink data is transmitted through the subframe 1 and before the uplink data is transmitted through the subframe 2.

Alternatively, when the evaluation results corresponding to a plurality of transmission time units are used, the weight of the evaluation result corresponding to each transmission time unit in the result of the comprehensive consideration may be the same or different. The terminal may determine the weight of the evaluation result corresponding to each transmission time unit according to the distance from the network device to the end time of sending the downlink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource. For example, the weight of the evaluation result corresponding to the transmission time unit closer to the end position of downlink data transmission through the unlicensed spectrum resource is larger in the integrated result, and otherwise, the weight is smaller. As shown in fig. 1D, the weight of the evaluation result in the time period 122 is higher than that in the time period 123, the weight of the evaluation result in the time period 123 is higher than that in the time period 124, and after the evaluation result in the time period 122, the evaluation result in the time period 123, and the evaluation result in the time period 124 are combined according to their respective weights, the obtained result is a final result of evaluating whether the license-exempt spectrum resource is idle.

If the license-exempt spectrum resource indicated by the indication information is evaluated to be free based on the first channel evaluation criterion within the first preset time period, executing step S103; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

if the unlicensed spectrum resource indicated by the indication information is not free based on the first channel assessment criterion within the first preset time period, step S104 is performed.

Step S103: the second channel assessment criterion is defined as a channel assessment criterion that assesses whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free.

Specifically, the terminal determines the channel assessment criterion used for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle as the second channel assessment criterion, so that the terminal can assess whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle through the second channel assessment criterion when subsequently assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle; the terminal estimates the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle through the second channel estimation criterion, and is not less than the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle through the first channel estimation criterion, and specifically, for example, when a contention window length defined in the second channel estimation criterion is shorter than a contention window length defined in the first channel estimation criterion, or when an energy threshold defined in the second channel estimation criterion is greater than an energy threshold defined in the first channel estimation criterion, the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle through the second channel estimation criterion is greater than the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is estimated through the first channel estimation criterion. When the contention window length and the energy threshold value in the first channel evaluation criterion and the second channel evaluation criterion are the same, the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle is evaluated to be the same through the second channel evaluation criterion and the first channel evaluation criterion.

It should be noted that, in the embodiments of the present invention, the probability of evaluating that the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle based on the second channel evaluation criterion is not less than the probability of evaluating that the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle based on the first channel evaluation criterion, the technical features to be expressed include that the second channel evaluation criterion includes evaluation parameter settings that are more relaxed, for example, a shorter listening duration and/or a larger energy threshold may be used, the first channel evaluation criterion includes evaluation parameter settings that are either the same as or are included in the second channel evaluation criterion, or the first channel evaluation criterion includes evaluation parameter settings that are more stringent than evaluation parameter settings included in the second channel evaluation criterion, for example, the first channel evaluation criterion includes evaluation parameters that require a longer listening duration and/or a smaller energy threshold than the second channel evaluation criterion, for example, compared to the second channel evaluation criterion, the first channel evaluation criterion includes evaluation parameters that a longer listening duration and/or a smaller energy threshold, it is understood that the probability of evaluating that the unlicensed spectrum resources based on the second channel evaluation criterion is not less than the second channel evaluation criterion, it is understood that the probability of evaluating that the unlicensed spectrum resources are not less than the second channel evaluation criterion, for example, the random backoff mechanism is that the second channel evaluation criterion includes a random backoff mechanism that the random backoff mechanism is no longer contention window evaluation criterion, the random backoff mechanism is equal to the random backoff mechanism that the random backoff mechanism is equal to the random backoff mechanism that the random backoff mechanism is equal to the random backoff mechanism that the random backoff mechanism is.

In an optional aspect, the determining the second channel assessment as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free includes: a second channel assessment standard is accurately defined as a channel assessment standard for assessing whether the license-free spectrum resources are idle within a second preset time period; that is, after determining that the second channel assessment criterion is a new channel assessment criterion, whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free may be assessed based on the second channel assessment criterion within the second preset time period, and whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free may be assessed without being based on the second channel assessment criterion outside the second preset time period. Further, the second preset time period may be determined according to actual needs, and is not limited herein. Optionally, downlink data transmission of the network device on the unlicensed spectrum resource is included between the second preset time period and the first preset time period.

It should be noted that, before the network device sends downlink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource, the idle state of the unlicensed spectrum resource is evaluated, and the downlink data is sent through the unlicensed spectrum resource only when it is evaluated that the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle (that is, no other device uses the unlicensed spectrum resource within the signal listening range of the network device), and a device that can communicate with the network device does not send data through the unlicensed spectrum resource during the process of sending downlink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource; therefore, if the terminal evaluates that the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle when the network device finishes sending downlink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource, it indicates that no device near the terminal uses the unlicensed spectrum resource, and at this time, the terminal may use the second channel evaluation criterion as a channel evaluation criterion for subsequently evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, so that the terminal may promptly occupy the unlicensed spectrum resource at the time of uplink scheduling.

Step S104: the third channel assessment criterion is defined as a channel assessment criterion that assesses whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free.

Specifically, the terminal determines the channel assessment criterion used for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle as the third channel assessment criterion, so that the terminal can assess whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle through the third channel assessment criterion when subsequently assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle; the terminal estimates the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle through the third channel estimation standard, and is smaller than the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle through the first channel estimation standard, specifically, when a contention window defined in the third channel estimation standard is longer than a contention window defined in the first channel estimation standard, or an energy threshold defined in the second channel estimation standard is smaller than an energy threshold defined in the first channel estimation standard, the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle through the third channel estimation standard is smaller than the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is estimated through the first channel estimation standard;

it should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle based on the third channel evaluation criterion is smaller than the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle based on the first channel evaluation criterion, which is expressed by a technical feature that the evaluation parameter setting in the third channel evaluation criterion is more strict, for example, a longer listening duration and/or a larger energy threshold may be used, and the evaluation parameter setting evaluated by the first channel evaluation criterion is more relaxed than the evaluation parameter setting in the third channel evaluation criterion, for example, a shorter listening duration and/or a larger energy threshold may be used than the third channel evaluation criterion, as compared with the third channel evaluation criterion, the first channel evaluation criterion requires a shorter listening duration and/or a larger energy threshold, it is understood that "the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle based on the third channel evaluation criterion is smaller than the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle based on the first channel evaluation criterion," the third channel evaluation criterion includes a listening duration greater than the first channel evaluation criterion, and/or the probability that the third channel evaluation criterion includes a random backoff mechanism L, which is a random backoff mechanism that the random backoff mechanism is a random backoff mechanism that the BT backoff mechanism is a random backoff mechanism 363954, and the third channel evaluation criterion includes a random backoff mechanism that the BT evaluation mechanism is a random backoff mechanism.

In an optional aspect, the determining the third channel assessment as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free includes: a third channel assessment standard is accurately set as a channel assessment standard for assessing whether the license-exempt spectrum resources are idle within a third preset time period; that is, after determining that the third channel assessment criterion is a new channel assessment criterion, whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free may be assessed based on the third channel assessment criterion within the third preset time period, and whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free may be assessed without being based on the third channel assessment criterion outside the third preset time period. Further, the third preset time period may be determined according to actual needs, and is not limited herein. Optionally, downlink data transmission of the network device on the unlicensed spectrum resource is included between the third preset time period and the first preset time period.

It should be noted that, before the network device sends the downlink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource, the idle state of the unlicensed spectrum resource is evaluated, and the downlink data is sent through the unlicensed spectrum resource only when the unlicensed spectrum resource is evaluated to be idle (that is, no other device uses the unlicensed spectrum resource within the signal listening range of the network device), and a device that can communicate with the network device does not send data through the unlicensed spectrum resource during the process of sending the downlink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource; therefore, if the terminal evaluates that the unlicensed spectrum resource is not free when the network device finishes transmitting downlink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource, it indicates that there is a device that is not in the signal listening range of the network device and is using the unlicensed spectrum resource near the terminal, and at this time, if the terminal also uses a channel evaluation criterion that is easier to evaluate whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free, the usage of the unlicensed spectrum resource is not fair.

Fig. 1E is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which other devices exist according to an embodiment of the present invention; here, terminal 131 is in signal sensing range 134 of base station (network device) 132 and in signal sensing range 135 of other device 133, base station 132 is not in signal sensing range of other device 133 but in signal sensing range of terminal 131, other device 133 is not in signal sensing range of base station 132 but in signal sensing range of terminal 131, when base station 132 finishes downlink data transmission through the unlicensed spectrum resource, no device will transmit data using the unlicensed spectrum resource in signal sensing range 134 of base station 132, but other device 133 may be transmitting data using the unlicensed spectrum resource. If the terminal 131 subsequently also evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free (i.e., preempts the unlicensed spectrum resources) using the first channel assessment criteria, it is unfair for the other device 133 to use the evaluation whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free. Especially, when the other device 133 and the terminal 131 are not in the same service system (i.e., there is no uplink data and downlink data transmission between the other device 131 and the terminal 131, and they are not scheduled by the same network device), the unfair use of the license-free spectrum resource is more obvious.

Based on the above reasons, when the terminal evaluates that the unlicensed spectrum resource is not idle through the first channel evaluation criterion, it is determined that the third channel evaluation criterion is a channel evaluation criterion for subsequently evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, so that the terminal and the other device use the unlicensed spectrum resource as fairly as possible.

Step S105: and the terminal evaluates whether the license-free spectrum resource is idle according to the determined channel evaluation standard, and transmits uplink data through the license-free spectrum resource when the license-free spectrum resource is evaluated to be idle.

Specifically, after newly determining a new channel evaluation criterion through step S103 or S104, if uplink data needs to be sent, the terminal evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle through the newly determined channel evaluation criterion before sending the uplink data, and if the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, sends the uplink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource. It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, sending the uplink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource includes sending the uplink data through a part of frequencies or all of frequencies in the unlicensed spectrum resource.

In an optional scheme, when the terminal needs to send uplink data in a new transmission time unit, and the new transmission time unit is within the first preset time period, before sending the uplink data in the new transmission time unit, whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle is evaluated through the newly determined channel evaluation criterion, and if the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, the uplink data is sent in the new transmission time unit through the unlicensed spectrum resource.

For example, the scheduled transmission time unit of the terminal is, in time sequence, subframe 1, subframe 2, and subframe 3, and subframe 1, subframe 2, and subframe 3 are all within the first preset time period; the terminal evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free through a first channel evaluation standard before sending the uplink data on the subframe 1, and after a second channel evaluation standard is determined according to an evaluation result, whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free can be evaluated through the second channel evaluation standard before subsequently sending the uplink data on the subframe 2 or before sending the uplink data on the subframe 3.

Fig. 1D is a schematic view of a scenario in which a terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention transmits uplink data; after determining that the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle or occupies the unlicensed spectrum resource in the time period 121, the network device sends downlink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource; a terminal receives an uplink scheduling signaling sent by the network equipment, and then needs to send uplink data on a subframe 1, a subframe 2 and a subframe 3 according to the indication of the uplink scheduling signaling, before sending the subframe 1, the terminal evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is available in a time period 122 through the first channel evaluation standard, and when the terminal determines a second channel evaluation standard according to the evaluation result and sends the uplink data on the subframe 2, the terminal evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free through the second channel evaluation standard in a time period 123; when uplink data is transmitted on subframe 3, it may also be evaluated whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free by the second channel assessment criterion in time period 124.

In yet another alternative, when the terminal needs to send uplink data in a new transmission time unit, and the new transmission time unit is a first transmission time unit after determining a new channel estimation criterion, before sending the uplink data in the new transmission time unit, whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle is estimated through the newly determined channel estimation criterion, and if the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, the uplink data is sent in the new transmission time unit through the unlicensed spectrum resource.

For example, the scheduled transmission time unit of the terminal is subframe 1, subframe 2 and subframe 3 in sequence from time to time; the terminal evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free through a first channel evaluation standard before sending the uplink data on the subframe 1, and after a second channel evaluation standard is determined according to an evaluation result, the terminal can evaluate whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free through the second channel evaluation standard before subsequently sending the uplink data on the subframe 2. And the channel assessment criterion used to assess whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free may not be the second channel assessment criterion before transmitting uplink data on subframe 3. Referring also to fig. 1D, the determined second channel assessment criteria is used to assess whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free during time period 123, and as for the channel assessment criteria used to assess whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free during time period 124, this is not a limitation. Alternatively, the channel assessment criterion used in the time period 124 may be determined according to the assessment result of assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free in the time period 123.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, in a plurality of transmission time units included in the first preset time period, the terminal may determine, according to the channel estimation criterion corresponding to each transmission time unit, the channel estimation criterion corresponding to the transmission time unit adjacent to and subsequent to the terminal. The scheduled transmission time unit of the terminal is subframe 1, subframe 2 and subframe 3 in sequence from time to time. The terminal evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free through a first channel evaluation criterion before transmitting the uplink data on the subframe 1, and if the unlicensed spectrum resources are free, the terminal can evaluate whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free through a second channel evaluation criterion before subsequently transmitting the uplink data on the subframe 2. In an optional scheme, the second channel assessment criterion is a first channel assessment criterion, and the terminal still assesses whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle by the first channel assessment criterion before transmitting uplink data on the subframe 2, and if the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, still assesses that the first channel assessment criterion is a channel assessment criterion corresponding to a subsequent subframe (e.g., subframe 3).

It should be noted that the terminal transmitting the uplink data on a certain subframe (transmission time unit) includes transmitting the uplink data on all or part of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols of the subframe; the process of evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free before transmitting the uplink data may be set according to actual needs after a previous subframe of the subframe, or within the previous subframe, or before the previous subframe, and the specific time may be set according to actual needs, which is not limited in the present invention.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the terminal may determine the second preset time period and/or the third preset time period according to an instruction of the network device, and the terminal may also determine the second preset time period and/or the third preset time period according to a preset rule.

In the embodiment of the method shown in fig. 1, the terminal determines the subsequent channel evaluation criterion according to the result of the evaluation of the first channel evaluation criterion, and evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free according to the newly determined channel evaluation criterion, so that the usage of the unlicensed spectrum resource is more reasonable.

The method of the embodiment of the present invention is explained in detail based on fig. 1, and in order to better implement the solution of the embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to fig. 2 and 3.

Fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention; the terminal 20 comprises a first evaluation unit 201, a determination unit 202 and a second evaluation unit 203, each of which is described in detail as follows:

the first evaluation unit 201 is configured to evaluate whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle based on a first channel evaluation criterion within a first preset time period;

the determining unit 202 is configured to, when the result of the evaluation by the first evaluating unit 201 is idle, determine a second channel evaluation criterion as a channel evaluation criterion for evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle; or, the terminal is configured to calibrate a third channel assessment as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle when the result of the assessment by the first assessment unit 201 is idle, where a probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be idle based on the second channel assessment criterion is not less than a probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be idle based on the first channel assessment criterion, and a probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be idle based on the third channel assessment criterion is less than a probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be idle based on the first channel assessment criterion;

the second evaluating unit 203 is configured to evaluate whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle according to the channel evaluation criterion determined by the determining unit 202, and send uplink data to a network device through the unlicensed spectrum resource when the unlicensed spectrum resource is evaluated to be idle.

In an optional scheme, a duration of the first preset time period is less than or equal to a maximum channel occupation duration MCOT.

In another optional scheme, the terminal 20 further includes:

a receiving unit, configured to receive an indication message sent by the network device before the first evaluation unit 201 evaluates whether an unlicensed spectrum resource is idle based on a first channel evaluation criterion within a first preset time period, where the indication message includes information of the unlicensed spectrum resource and information of the first preset time period, and the first preset time period is within a maximum channel occupation time MCOT when the network device uses the unlicensed spectrum resource to send downlink data.

In yet another optional scheme, the second evaluating unit 203 evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle according to the channel evaluation criterion determined by the determining unit 202 specifically as follows:

the second evaluating unit 203 evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free through the determined channel evaluation criterion within the first preset time period.

In yet another alternative, the first evaluating unit 201 is specifically configured to evaluate, within a first preset time period, whether an unlicensed spectrum resource is idle in a scheduled first transmission time unit based on a first channel evaluation criterion;

the second evaluating unit 203 is specifically configured to evaluate, in the first preset time period, whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle in a scheduled second transmission time unit based on the determined channel evaluation criterion, and send uplink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource in the second transmission time unit when it is evaluated that the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, where the second transmission time unit is after the first transmission time unit.

In yet another alternative, the first transmission time unit is the first transmission time unit scheduled by the terminal 20.

In yet another optional scenario, the first evaluating unit 201 is specifically configured to perform the step of evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle based on the first channel evaluation criterion at least once within a first preset time period.

In yet another optional scenario, the determining unit 202 determines the second channel assessment as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free, including:

the determining unit 202 determines a second channel assessment criterion as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle within a second preset time period;

the determining unit 202 determines the third channel assessment criterion as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free, including:

the determining unit 202 determines the third channel assessment criterion as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free within a third preset time period.

In yet another alternative, the first channel assessment criterion, the second channel assessment criterion, and the third channel assessment criterion each include a channel contention window length and an energy threshold value; the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resources are free is evaluated to be larger based on the included channel evaluation criterion that the channel contention window length is shorter, or the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resources are free is evaluated to be larger based on the included channel evaluation criterion that the energy threshold value is larger.

It should be noted that the specific implementation of the terminal 20 in the embodiment shown in fig. 2 may correspond to the corresponding description of the method embodiment shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of another terminal 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention; the terminal 30 may include an output device 301, a memory 302, and a processor 303 (one or more of the processors 303 may be provided, and fig. 3 illustrates one processor as an example), where the output device 301, the memory 302, and the processor 303 are respectively connected to a bus 304, where the memory 302 stores a set of program codes for idle channel assessment, and the processor 303 is configured to call the program codes for idle channel assessment stored in the memory 302 to perform the following operations:

In yet another alternative, the terminal 30 further includes an input device; the processor 303 is further configured to receive, by the input device, an indication message sent by the network device before evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle based on a first channel evaluation criterion within a first preset time period, where the indication message includes information of the unlicensed spectrum resource and information of the first preset time period, and the first preset time period is within a maximum channel occupation time MCOT during which the network device uses the unlicensed spectrum resource to send downlink data.

In yet another optional scenario, the processor 303, through the determined channel assessment criterion, assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle specifically:

the processor 303 evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free by the determined channel assessment criteria during the first preset time period.

In another optional scenario, the evaluating, by the processor 303, whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle based on the first channel evaluation criterion within the first preset time period specifically includes:

the processor 303 evaluates whether an unlicensed spectrum resource is free on a scheduled first transmission time unit based on first channel assessment criteria for a first preset time period;

the processor 303 evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle according to the determined channel evaluation criterion, and when it is evaluated that the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, sending uplink data to a network device through the unlicensed spectrum resource by the output device 301 specifically includes:

the processor 303 evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free in a scheduled second transmission time unit based on the determined channel assessment criterion within the first preset time period, and transmits uplink data through the unlicensed spectrum resource by the output device 301 in the second transmission time unit when the unlicensed spectrum resource is evaluated to be free, the second transmission time unit being subsequent to the first transmission time unit.

In yet another alternative, the first transmission time unit is the first transmission time unit scheduled by the terminal 30.

the processor 303 performs the step of evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free based on the first channel assessment criteria at least once during a first preset time period.

In yet another optional scenario, the processor 303 determines the second channel assessment criterion as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle specifically as follows:

the processor 303 determines a second channel assessment criterion as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle within a second preset time period;

the processor 303 determines the third channel estimation criterion as a channel estimation criterion for estimating whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, specifically:

the processor 303 specifies the third channel assessment criterion as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is free within a third preset time period.

It should be noted that, the specific implementation of the terminal 30 in the embodiment shown in fig. 3 may correspond to the corresponding description of the method embodiment shown in fig. 1.

In summary, by implementing the embodiment of the present invention, the terminal determines the subsequent channel evaluation criterion according to the result evaluated by the first channel evaluation criterion, and evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle according to the newly determined channel evaluation criterion, so that the usage of the unlicensed spectrum resource is more reasonable.

Claims

1. A method for clear channel assessment, comprising:

the terminal evaluates whether the license-free spectrum resources are idle or not based on a first channel evaluation standard within a first preset time period;

if the terminal is idle, the terminal determines a second channel assessment standard as a channel assessment standard for assessing whether the license-free spectrum resource is idle; or if the terminal is not idle, the terminal determines a third channel assessment criterion as a channel assessment criterion for assessing whether the unlicensed spectrum resource is idle, wherein the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be idle based on the second channel assessment criterion is not less than the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be idle based on the first channel assessment criterion, and the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be idle based on the third channel assessment criterion is less than the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resource is assessed to be idle based on the first channel assessment criterion;

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the duration of the first preset time period is less than or equal to a maximum channel occupancy duration MCOT.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein before the terminal evaluates whether unlicensed spectrum resources are idle based on first channel assessment criteria for a first preset time period, the method further comprises:

4. The method according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the terminal evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free by the determined channel assessment criteria comprises:

5. The method according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the terminal evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free based on the first channel assessment criteria for a first preset time period comprises:

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first transmission time unit is a first transmission time unit for which the terminal is scheduled.

7. The method according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the terminal evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free based on the first channel assessment criteria for a first preset time period comprises:

8. A method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that:

9. The method of any of claims 1-3, wherein the first channel assessment criterion, the second channel assessment criterion, and the third channel assessment criterion each comprise a channel contention window length and an energy threshold value; the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resources are free is evaluated to be larger based on the included channel evaluation criterion that the channel contention window length is shorter, or the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resources are free is evaluated to be larger based on the included channel evaluation criterion that the energy threshold value is larger.

10. A terminal, comprising:

11. The terminal of claim 10, wherein the duration of the first preset time period is less than or equal to a maximum channel occupancy duration MCOT.

12. The terminal of claim 10, further comprising:

13. The terminal according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the second evaluating unit evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are idle according to the channel evaluation criteria determined by the determining unit specifically:

14. The terminal according to any of claims 10-12,

15. The terminal of claim 14, wherein the first transmission time unit is a first transmission time unit for which the terminal is scheduled.

16. The terminal according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the first evaluating unit is specifically configured to perform the step of evaluating whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free based on the first channel evaluation criterion at least once within a first preset time period.

17. A terminal according to any of claims 10-12, characterized in that:

18. The terminal according to any of claims 10-12, wherein the first channel assessment criterion, the second channel assessment criterion, and the third channel assessment criterion each comprise a channel contention window length and an energy threshold value; the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resources are free is evaluated to be larger based on the included channel evaluation criterion that the channel contention window length is shorter, or the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resources are free is evaluated to be larger based on the included channel evaluation criterion that the energy threshold value is larger.

19. A terminal comprising an output device, a memory, and a processor, the processor invoking a clear channel assessment procedure in the memory for performing the following:

20. The terminal of claim 19, wherein the duration of the first predetermined period of time is less than or equal to a maximum channel occupancy duration MCOT.

21. The terminal of claim 19, further comprising an input device; the processor is further configured to receive, through the input device, an indication message sent by the network device before evaluating whether an unlicensed spectrum resource is idle based on a first channel evaluation criterion within a first preset time period, where the indication message includes information of the unlicensed spectrum resource and information of the first preset time period, and the first preset time period is within a maximum channel occupation time MCOT during which the network device uses the unlicensed spectrum resource to send downlink data.

22. The terminal of any of claims 19-21, wherein the processor evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free by the determined channel assessment criteria by:

23. The terminal of any of claims 19-21, wherein the processor evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free based on the first channel assessment criteria for a first predetermined period of time specifically as:

24. The terminal of claim 23, wherein the first transmission time unit is a first transmission time unit for which the terminal is scheduled.

25. The terminal of any of claims 19-21, wherein the processor evaluates whether the unlicensed spectrum resources are free based on the first channel assessment criteria for a first predetermined period of time specifically as:

26. A terminal according to any of claims 19-21, characterized in that:

27. The terminal according to any of claims 19-21, wherein the first channel assessment criterion, the second channel assessment criterion, and the third channel assessment criterion each comprise a channel contention window length and an energy threshold value; the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resources are free is evaluated to be larger based on the included channel evaluation criterion that the channel contention window length is shorter, or the probability that the unlicensed spectrum resources are free is evaluated to be larger based on the included channel evaluation criterion that the energy threshold value is larger.