Techniques for smart repeater operations in unlicensed bands

An apparatus for wireless communications at a first wireless device, comprising:

• a processor;
• memory coupled with the processor;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:
• perform a listen before talk procedure on a channel in an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band;
• transmit an indication that the first wireless device is occupying the channel based at least in part on the first wireless device passing the listen before talk procedure;
• and
• communicate with a second wireless device via a relay device based at least in part on transmitting the indication.

A method for wireless communications at a relay device, comprising:

• receiving an indication that a first wireless device or a second wireless device is occupying a channel in an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band;
• performing a listen before talk procedure on the channel based at least in part on receiving the indication;
• and
• relaying signals between the first wireless device and the second wireless device over the channel based at least in part on the relay device passing the listen before talk procedure.

A method for wireless communications at a first wireless device, comprising:

• performing a listen before talk procedure on a channel in an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band;
• transmitting an indication that the first wireless device is occupying the channel based at least in part on the first wireless device passing the listen before talk procedure;
• and
• communicating with a second wireless device via a relay device based at least in part on transmitting the indication.