Network configuration for monitoring an open spectrum

A method of operating a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a network, a configuration for monitoring an open spectrum,
• in accordance with the configuration and a discontinuous reception cycle, monitoring the open spectrum for a channel occupancy time acquisition signal from an access node of the network,
• based on said monitoring, determining whether or not at least one trigger criterion is met, and
• in accordance with said determining whether or not the at least one trigger criterion is met, switching between two or more settings of the discontinuous reception cycle,
• wherein the configuration comprises an activation duration of a given setting of the two or more settings.

A wireless communication device comprising control circuitry configured to

• receive, from a network, a configuration for monitoring an open spectrum,
• in accordance with the configuration and a discontinuous reception cycle, monitor the open spectrum for a channel occupancy time acquisition signal from an access node of the network,
• based on said monitoring, determine whether or not at least one trigger criterion is met,
• in accordance with said determining whether or not the at least one trigger criterion is met, switch between two or more settings of the discontinuous reception cycle, and
• after switching, apply the setting of the discontinuous reception cycle for two or more periods of the discontinuous reception cycles,
• wherein the configuration comprises the at least one trigger criterion for said switching between the two or more settings.