Channel access framework for multi-beam operation on the unlicensed spectrum

A receive apparatus for a directional listen-before-talk (LBT) operation in a wireless communication system, the receive apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• sense a channel for an interval comprising at least one clear channel assessment (CCA) slot;
• determine whether a state of the sensed channel for the interval is an idle state based on a configurable directional energy threshold;
• and
• sense an additional number of CCA slots when the state of the sensed channel is determined as the idle state based on the configurable directional energy threshold;
• and
• a transceiver configured to receive, from a transmit apparatus, at least one of discovery signal or data signal when states of the sensed additional number of CCA slots are determined as the idle state based on the configurable directional energy threshold.

A method of a transmit apparatus for a directional listen-before-talk (LBT) operation in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• sensing a channel for an interval comprising at least one clear channel assessment (CCA) slot;
• determining whether a state of the sensed channel for the interval is an idle state based on a configurable directional energy threshold;
• sensing an additional number of CCA slots when the state of the sensed channel is determined as the idle state based on the configurable directional energy threshold;
• and
• transmitting, to a receive apparatus, at least one of discovery signal or data signal when all states of the sensed additional number of CCA slots are determined as the idle state based on the configurable directional energy threshold.