MULTIPLE STARTING AND ENDING POSITIONS FOR SCHEDULED DOWNLINK TRANSMISSION ON UNLICENSED SPECTRUM

摘要

Systems and methods are disclosed herein that relate to multiple candidate starting points for a transmit burst in unlicensed spectrum. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a radio access node for performing a transmit burst in an unlicensed spectrum comprises transmitting a transmit burst in an unlicensed spectrum, wherein the transmit burst spans multiple subframes/slots and the transmitting of the transmit burst starts at one of a plurality of candidate starting points defined in at least a first subframe/slot of the transmit burst that occurs after successful completion of a Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) procedure for the transmit burst. In this manner, a radio access node (e.g., an enhanced or evolved Node B (eNB) in Long Term Evolution (LTE)) has flexibility to transmit a downlink transmit burst starting at different starting positions based on LBT outcome.