Method and apparatus for adapting a channel sensing threshold

A method of a base station (BS) in a wireless communication system operating with shared spectrum channel access, the method comprising:

• determining whether an antenna configuration for channel sensing is omni-directional or directional;
• determining a channel sensing threshold, wherein the channel sensing threshold includes two parts:
• a first part of the channel sensing threshold being common for omni-directional and directional antenna configurations and a second part of the channel sensing threshold depending on the antenna configuration;
• performing a channel sensing procedure based on the antenna configuration and the channel sensing threshold;
• and
• transmitting downlink (DL) data over a channel based on the channel being sensed as idle in the channel sensing procedure.

A user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system operating with shared spectrum channel access, the UE comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• determine whether a channel sensing threshold is configured;
• determine whether an antenna configuration for channel sensing is omni-directional or directional;
• determine a default channel sensing threshold, if the channel sensing threshold is not configured, wherein the default channel sensing threshold includes two parts:
• a first part of the default channel sensing threshold being common for omni-directional and directional antenna configurations and a second part of the default channel sensing threshold depending on the antenna configuration;
• and
• perform a channel sensing procedure based on the antenna configuration and the default channel sensing threshold;
• and
• a transceiver operably connected to the processor, the transceiver configured to transmit downlink (DL) data over a channel, if the channel is sensed as idle in the channel sensing procedure.

A method of a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system operating with shared spectrum channel access, the method comprising:

• determining whether a channel sensing threshold is configured;
• determining whether an antenna configuration for channel sensing is omni-directional or directional;
• determining a default channel sensing threshold based on determining that the channel sensing threshold is not configured, wherein the default channel sensing threshold includes two parts:
• a first part of the default channel sensing threshold being common for omni-directional and directional antenna configurations and a second part of the default channel sensing threshold depending on the antenna configuration;
• performing a channel sensing procedure based on the antenna configuration and the default channel sensing threshold;
• and
• transmitting downlink (DL) data over a channel based on the channel being sensed as idle in the channel sensing procedure.