Systems And Methods For Self-Deferral With Downlink And Uplink Transmission Opportunity Sharing

A network node for self-deferring transmissions in a multi-carrier network, the network node comprising:

• a memory for storing data;
• and
• a first processor seeking to initiate a carrier sensing procedure in a first cell operating on a first carrier, the first processor operable to:
• determine that a second cell associated with a second processor has initiated a first transmission opportunity on a second carrier that is adjacent to the first carrier;
• determine a first transmission opportunity duration associated with the first transmission opportunity initiated in the second cell;
• defer the carrier sensing procedure to be performed in the first cell, the carrier sensing procedure deferred by the first transmission opportunity duration associated with the first transmission opportunity initiated in the second cell;
• and
• initiate the carrier sensing procedure in the first cell after the first transmission opportunity duration unless instructed by the second controller.

A method by a wireless device for deferring transmissions in a multi-carrier network, the method comprising:

• initiating, by the wireless device, a carrier sensing procedure in a first cell operating on a first carrier;
• receiving, by the wireless device, a first notification from a network node that a first transmission opportunity has been initiated on a second cell operating on a second carrier that is adjacent to the first carrier;
• deferring, by the wireless device, the carrier sensing procedure in the first cell by a first transmission opportunity duration associated with the first transmission opportunity initiated in the second cell;
• and
• performing, by the wireless device, the carrier sensing procedure in the first cell after the first transmission opportunity duration unless instructed by the second controller.

A wireless device for deferring transmissions in a first cell operating on a first carrier in a multi-carrier network, the wireless device comprising:

• a transceiver for receiving signals from a network node;
• and
• a processor in communication with the transceiver, the processor operable to:
• receive a first notification from the network node that a first transmission opportunity has been initiated on a second carrier that is adjacent to the first cell;
• defer a carrier sensing procedure in the first cell for a first transmission opportunity duration associated with the first transmission opportunity initiated in the second cell;
• and
• perform the carrier sensing procedure in the first cell after the first transmission opportunity duration unless instructed by the second controller.