Transmission opportunity (TXOP) structure for new radio-unlicensed (NR-U) and new radio-synchronized sharing (NR-SS)

An apparatus comprising:

• a transceiver configured to:
• communicate, with a first wireless communication device during a reservation period, a channel reservation request for a first transmission opportunity (TXOP) in a spectrum;
• communicate, with the first wireless communication device during a response period in response to the channel reservation request, a channel reservation response;
• and
• communicate, with a second wireless communication device during a first time period between the reservation period and the response period, a first communication signal different from the channel reservation request.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer executable code recorded thereon, the computer executable code when executed by one or more processors at a first wireless communication device causes the first wireless communication device to:

• communicate, with a second wireless communication device during a reservation period, a channel reservation request for a first transmission opportunity (TXOP) in a spectrum;
• communicate, with the second wireless communication device during a response period in response to the channel reservation request, a channel reservation response;
• and
• communicate, with a third wireless communication device during a first time period between the reservation period and the response period, a first communication signal different from the channel reservation request.