Techniques for performing a distributed channel availability check in a shared radio frequency spectrum band

1. A method for wireless communication at a wireless device, comprising:

providing an indication that the wireless device supports distributed channel availability check (CAC) and is within a geographic coverage area comprising one or more small cell radii;

receiving an assignment of a first portion of the distributed CAC based at least in part on the indication;

determining an availability of a sub-band of a shared radio frequency spectrum band during the first portion of the distributed CAC based at least in part on the assignment;

receiving at least one indication that the sub-band is available during remaining portions of the distributed CAC; and

communicating over the sub-band based at least in part on determining the sub-band is available during the first portion of the distributed CAC and the at least one indication that the sub-band is available during remaining portions of the distributed CAC.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring an energy level of the sub-band for a period of time corresponding to the first portion of the distributed CAC; and

determining the availability of the sub-band based at least in part on the monitoring.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining the sub-band is unavailable during the first portion of the distributed CAC; and

discontinuing the monitoring based at least in part on the determining the sub-band is unavailable.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an indication the sub-band is determined available during at least a second portion of the distributed CAC.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the indication the sub-band is determined available during at least the second portion of the distributed CAC is received from a network access device.

6. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

identifying a plurality of wireless devices within a geographic coverage area comprising one or more small cell radii;

determining a subset of the plurality of wireless devices capable of performing a distributed channel availability check (CAC);

assigning a first portion of the CAC to a first wireless device of the subset of the plurality of wireless devices based at least in part on the subset satisfying a threshold, the distributed CAC associated with a sub-band of a shared radio frequency spectrum band;

communicating the assignment of the first portion of the distributed CAC to the first wireless device; and

communicating over the sub-band based at least in part on receiving an indication the sub-band is determined available during the first portion of the distributed CAC and determining the sub-band is available during remaining portions of the distributed CAC.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

determining a duration of the first portion of the distributed CAC based at least in part on: a first number of wireless devices in the plurality of wireless devices, or a second number of wireless devices in the plurality of wireless devices capable of performing a portion of the distributed CAC, or a maximum number of wireless devices for performing the distributed CAC.

8. The method of claim 6 ; further comprising:

receiving an indication the sub-band is unavailable during a portion of the distributed CAC; and

flagging the sub-band unavailable for a period of time.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

assigning the first portion of the distributed CAC to the first wireless device based at least in part on a utilization characteristic of the first wireless device.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

assigning a second portion of the distributed CAC to a second wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices based at least in part on a utilization characteristic of the second wireless device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second portion of the distributed CAC overlaps the first portion of the distributed CAC in time.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second portion of the distributed CAC is contiguous with the first portion of the distributed CAC in time.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

communicating the assignment of the second portion of the distributed CAC to the second wireless device after communicating the assignment of the first portion of the distributed CAC to the first wireless device.

14. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

identifying the plurality of wireless devices within a geographic area based at least in part on location-based metrics for the plurality of wireless devices.

15. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

performing a second portion of the distributed CAC.

16. The method of claim 6 , wherein the assignment of the first portion of the distributed CAC is communicated to the first wireless device over a dedicated radio frequency spectrum band.

17. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first portion of the distributed CAC and the remaining portions of the distributed CAC are associated with one of:

a same duration, or at least two different durations.

18. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a processor; and

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

the processor and the memory configured to:

provide an indication that the wireless device supports distributed channel availability check (CAC) and is within a geographic coverage area comprising one or more small cell radii;

receive an assignment of a first portion of the distributed CAC based at least in part on the indication;

determine an availability of a sub-band of a shared radio frequency spectrum band during the first portion of the distributed CAC based at least in part on the assignment;

receive at least one indication that the sub-band is available during remaining portions of the distributed CAC; and

communicate over the sub-band based at least in part on determining the sub-band is available during the first portion of the distributed CAC and the at least one indication that the sub-band is available during remaining portions of the distributed CAC.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the processor and the memory are configured to:

monitor an energy level of the sub-band for a period of time corresponding to the first portion of the distributed CAC; and

determine the availability of the sub-band based at least n part on the monitoring.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the processor and the memory are configured to:

determine the sub-band is unavailable during the first portion of the distributed CAC; and

discontinue the monitoring based at least in part on the determining the sub-band is unavailable.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the processor and the memory are configured to:

receive an indication the sub-band is determined available during at least a second portion of the distributed CAC.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the indication the sub-band is determined available during at least the second portion of the distributed CAC is received from a network access device.

23. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a processor; and

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

the processor and the memory configured to:

identify a plurality of wireless devices within a geographic coverage area comprising one or more small cell radii;

determine a subset of the plurality of wireless devices capable of performing a distributed channel availability check (CAC);

assign a first portion of the CAC to a first wireless device of the subset of the plurality of wireless devices based at least in part on the subset satisfying a threshold, the distributed CAC associated with a sub-band of a shared radio frequency spectrum band;

communicate the assignment of the first portion of the distributed CAC to the first wireless device; and

communicate over the sub-band based at least in part on receiving an indication the sub-band is determined available during the first portion of the distributed CAC and determining the sub-band is available during remaining portions of the distributed CAC.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the processor and the memory are configured to:

determine a duration of the first portion of the distributed CAC based at least in part on: a first number of wireless devices in the plurality of wireless devices, or a second number of wireless devices in the plurality of wireless devices capable of performing a portion of the distributed CAC, or a maximum number of wireless devices for performing the distributed CAC.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the processor and the memory are configured to:

receive an indication the sub-band is unavailable during a portion of the distributed CAC; and

flag the sub-band unavailable for a period of time.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the processor and the memory are configured to:

assign the first portion of the distributed CAC to the first wireless device sed at least in part on a utilization characteristic of the first wireless device.

27. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the processor and the memory are configured to:

assign a second portion of the distributed CAC to a second wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices based at least in part on a utilization characteristic of the second wireless device.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the second portion of the distributed CAC overlaps the first portion of the distributed CAC in time.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the second portion of the distributed CAC overlaps the first portion of the distributed CAC in time.

30. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the processor and the memory are configured to:

communicate the assignment of the second portion of the distributed CAC to the second wireless device after communicating the assignment of the first portion of the distributed CAC to the first wireless device.