And apparatus for the FBE frame work for NR systems operating on unlicensed spectrum

1. A method for operating on an unlicensed spectrum, the method comprising:

performing, by an initiating device, a first Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) within one or more first symbols of a first slot within a downlink (DL) portion of a frame structure to detect transmissions within the unlicensed spectrum, the frame structure including the DL portion and an uplink (UL) portion separated by a gap;

performing, by the initiating device, a second CCA to detect the transmissions within the unlicensed spectrum in response to a duration in time after the performing the first CCA and before transmitting one or more second symbols within the DL portion exceeding a duration of the gap;

transmitting, by the initiating device to a responding device in response to the unlicensed spectrum being clear of transmissions, the one or more second symbols following the one or more first symbols of the first slot within the DL portion; and

receiving, by the initiating device from the responding device, one or more third symbols within the UL portion acknowledging the one or more second symbols.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

not transmitting, by the initiating device in response to the unlicensed spectrum not being clear of transmissions, the one or more second symbols within the DL portion.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

scheduling, by the initiating device, the transmitting of the one or more second symbols within the DL portion such that the gap is less than a predetermined gap threshold.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined gap threshold is 16 μs.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

toggling a bit within a Downlink Control Information (DCI) bit field to indicate whether the unlicensed spectrum is clear of transmissions.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gap is approximately 16 μs.

7. An initiating device for operating on an unlicensed spectrum, the initiating device comprising:

radio front end circuitry configured to perform wireless communication over the unlicensed spectrum;

processing circuitry configured to:

perform a first Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) within one or more first symbols of a first slot within a downlink (DL) portion of a frame structure to detect transmissions within the unlicensed spectrum, the frame structure including the DL portion and an uplink (UL) portion separated by a gap,

perform a second CCA to detect the transmissions within the unlicensed spectrum in response to a duration in time after the performing the first CCA and before transmitting one or more second symbols within the DL portion exceeding a duration of the gap,

transmit, using the radio front end circuitry and in response to the unlicensed spectrum being clear of transmissions, one or more second symbols following the one or more first symbols of the first slot within the DL portion, and

receive, using the radio front end circuitry, one or more third symbols within the UL portion acknowledging the one or more second symbols.

8. The initiating device of claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to not transmit, in response to the unlicensed spectrum not being clear of transmissions, the one or more second symbols within the DL portion.

9. The initiating device of claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to schedule the transmitting of the one or more second symbols within the DL portion such that the gap is less than a predetermined gap threshold.

10. The initiating device of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined gap threshold is 16 μs.

11. The initiating device of claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to toggle a bit within a Downlink Control Information (DCI) bit field to indicate whether the unlicensed spectrum is clear of transmissions.

12. The initiating device of claim 7 , wherein the gap is approximately 16 μs.

13. A system for operating on an unlicensed spectrum, the system comprising:

an initiating device configured to:

perform a first Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) within one or more first symbols of a first slot within a downlink (DL) portion of a frame structure to detect transmissions within the unlicensed spectrum, the frame structure including the DL portion and an uplink (UL) portion separated by a gap,

perform a second CCA to detect the transmissions within the unlicensed spectrum in response to a duration in time after the performing the first CCA and before transmitting one or more second symbols within the DL portion exceeding a duration of the gap, and

transmit, using the radio front end circuitry and in response to the unlicensed spectrum being clear of transmissions, one or more second symbols following the one or more first symbols of the first slot within the DL portion during a Channel Occupancy Time (COT); and

a responding device configured to transmit, without performing a third CCA, one or more third symbols within the UL portion acknowledging the one or more second symbols during the COT.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the initiating device is further configured to not transmit, in response to the unlicensed spectrum not being clear of transmissions, the one or more second symbols within the DL portion.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the initiating device is further configured schedule the transmitting of the one or more second symbols within the DL portion such that the gap is less than a predetermined gap threshold.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the predetermined gap threshold is 16 μs.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the initiating device is further configured to toggle a bit within a Downlink Control Information (DCI) bit field to indicate whether the unlicensed spectrum is clear of transmissions.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising not performing, by the initiating device, the second CCA to detect the transmissions within the unlicensed spectrum in response to the duration in time after the performing the first CCA and before the transmitting the one or more second symbols within the DL portion not exceeding the duration of the gap.

19. The initiating device of claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to not perform the second CCA to detect the transmissions within the unlicensed spectrum in response to the duration in time after the performing the first CCA and before the transmitting the one or more second symbols within the DL portion not exceeding the duration of the gap.

20. The system of claim 13 , wherein the initiating device is further configured to not perform the second CCA to detect the transmissions within the unlicensed spectrum in response to the duration in time after the performing the first CCA and before the transmitting the one or more second symbols within the DL portion not exceeding the duration of the gap.