Channel occupancy time indication for nr based unlicensed operation

An apparatus comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to cause a user equipment (UE) to:
• decode downlink control information (DCI) from a base station;
• determine, from a channel occupancy time (COT) field of the downlink control information, channel occupancy time (COT) information of a COT acquired by the base station, wherein the COT information indicates a remaining duration of the COT, wherein the COT field is different from a slot format indication (SFI) field of the DCI;
• and
• communicate data with the base station based on the COT information.

A user equipment (UE) comprising:

• a radio transceiver;
• and
• processing circuity coupled to the radio transceiver, and configured to:
• decode downlink control information (DCI) from a base station;
• determine, from a channel occupancy time (COT) field of the downlink control information, channel occupancy time (COT) information of a COT acquired by the base station, wherein the COT information indicates a remaining duration of the COT, wherein the COT field is different from a slot format indication (SFI) field of the DCI;
• and
• communicate data with the base station based on the COT information.

An apparatus comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to cause a base station to:
• engage in a Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) procedure for communication with a user equipment (UE) on an unlicensed band;
• acquire a channel in the unlicensed band for a channel occupancy time (COT) based on a successful outcome of the LBT procedure;
• and
• encode, for transmission to the UE, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) having downlink control information (DCI), wherein the DCI includes a COT field and a slot format indication different from the COT field, wherein the COT field includes COT information indicating a remaining duration of the COT.