The present application relates to the field of wireless communication systems or networks, more specifically to approaches for a wireless communication among entities of a wireless communication system using a wideband operation. Embodiments concern NR-U wideband enhancements.

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an example of a terrestrial wireless network 100 including, as is shown in Fig. 1(a), a core network 102 and one or more radio access networks RANi, RAN2, ... RANN. Fig. 1 (b) is a schematic representation of an example of a radio access network RANn that may include one or more base stations gNBi to gNBs, each serving a specific area surrounding the base station schematically represented by respective cells 106i to 106s. The base stations are provided to serve users within a cell. The term base station, BS, refers to a gNB in 5G networks, an eNB in UMTS/LTE/LTE-A/ LTE-A Pro, or just a BS in other mobile communication standards. A user may be a stationary device or a mobile device. The wireless communication system may also be accessed by mobile or stationary loT devices which connect to a base station or to a user. The mobile devices or the loT devices may include physical devices, ground based vehicles, such as robots or cars, aerial vehicles, such as manned or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the latter also referred to as drones, buildings and other items or devices having embedded therein electronics, software, sensors, actuators, or the like as well as network connectivity that enables these devices to collect and exchange data across an existing network infrastructure. Fig. 1 (b) shows an exemplary view of five cells, however, the RANn may include more or less such cells, and RANn may also include only one base station. Fig. 1(b) shows two users UEi and UE2, also referred to as user equipment, UE, that are in cell IO62 and that are served by base station gNB2. Another user UE3 is shown in cell I O64 which is served by base station gNB4. The arrows IO81, IO82 and IO83 schematically represent uplink/downlink connections for transmitting data from a user UEi, UE2 and LIE3 to the base stations gNB2, gNB4 or for transmitting data from the base stations gNB2, gNB4 to the users UEi, UE2, UE3. Further, Fig. 1 (b) shows two loT devices 110i and 1102 in cell 1064, which may be stationary or mobile devices. The loT device 110i accesses the wireless communication system via the base station gNB4 to receive and transmit data as schematically represented by arrow 112i. The loT device 1102 accesses the wireless

communication system via the user UEa as is schematically represented by arrow 1122. The respective base station gNBi to gNBs may be connected to the core network 102, e.g. via the S1 interface, via respective backhaul links 1 14i to 1 14s, which are schematically represented in Fig. 1 (b) by the arrows pointing to“core”. The core network 102 may be connected to one or more external networks. Further, some or all of the respective base station gNBi to gNB5 may connected, e.g. via the S1 or X2 interface or the XN interface in NR, with each other via respective backhaul links 116i to 1165, which are schematically represented in Fig. 1 (b) by the arrows pointing to“gNBs”.

For data transmission a physical resource grid may be used. The physical resource grid may comprise a set of resource elements to which various physical channels and physical signals are mapped. For example, the physical channels may include the physical downlink, uplink and sidelink shared channels (PDSCH, PUSCH, PSSCH) carrying user specific data, also referred to as downlink, uplink and sidelink payload data, the physical broadcast channel (PBCH) carrying for example a master information block (MIB) and a system information block (SIB), the physical downlink, uplink and sidelink control channels (PDCCH, PUCCH, PSSCH) carrying for example the downlink control information (DCl), the uplink control information (UCI) and the sidelink control information (SCI). For the uplink, the physical channels may further include the physical random access channel (PRACH or RACH) used by UEs for accessing the network once a UE synchronized and obtained the MIB and SIB. The physical signals may comprise reference signals or symbols (RS), synchronization signals and the like. The resource grid may comprise a frame or radio frame having a certain duration in the time domain and having a given bandwidth in the frequency domain. The frame may have a certain number of subframes of a predefined length, e.g. 1 ms. Each subframe may include one or more slots of 12 or 14 OFDM symbols depending on the cyclic prefix (CP) length. A frame may also consist of a smaller number of OFDM symbols, e.g. when utilizing shortened transmission time intervals (sTTl) or a mini-slot/nonslot-based frame structure comprising just a few OFDM symbols.

The wireless communication system may be any single-tone or multicarrier system using frequency-division multiplexing, like the orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) system, the orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) system, or any other IFFT-based signal with or without CP, e.g. DFT-s-OFDM. Other waveforms, like non-orthogonal waveforms for multiple access, e.g. filter-bank multicarrier (FBMC), generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM) or universal filtered multi carrier (UFMC), may be

used. The wireless communication system may operate, e.g., in accordance with the LTE-Advanced pro standard or the 5G or NR, New Radio, standard.

The wireless network or communication system depicted in Fig. 1 may by a heterogeneous network having distinct overlaid networks, e.g., a network of macro cells with each macro cell including a macro base station, like base station gNEJi to gNBs, and a network of smalt cell base stations (not shown in Fig. 1), like femto or pico base stations.

In addition to the above described terrestrial wireless network also non-terrestrial wireless communication networks exist including spaceborne transceivers, like satellites, and/or airborne transceivers, like unmanned aircraft systems. The non-terrestrial wireless communication network or system may operate in a similar way as the terrestrial system described above with reference to Fig. 1 , for example in accordance with the LTE-Advanced Pro standard or the 5G or NR, new radio, standard.

In mobile communication systems or networks, like those described above with reference to Fig. 1 , for example in a LTE or 5G/NR network, the respective entities may communicate using a wideband operation. In a wideband operation, for example, the base station, gNB, and/or the user device, UE, may transmit on multiple subbands. The subbands may have different bandwidths or the same bandwidth, like 20 MHz. The gNB and UE, for the wideband operation, perform listen-before-talk, LBT, separately per subband which may lead to a situation that one or more of the subbands to be used for the wideband operation, also referred to as a subset of the subbands, is busy or occupied due to a transmission or interference by one or more other public land mobile networks, PLMNs, or by one or more other communication systems coexisting on the same frequency band, for example systems operating in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 specification.

It is noted that the information in the above section is only for enhancing the understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Starting from a prior art as described above, there may be a need for improvements in the wireless communication among entities of a wireless communication system using a wideband operation.

Embodiments of the present invention are now described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an example of a wireless communication system;

Fig. 2 Fig. 2 illustrates the distributed coordination function, as used in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 specification;

Fig. 3 Fig. 3 illustrates an LBT based spectrum sharing mechanism based on the CCA mode;

Fig. 4 Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a wideband operation for NR-U, wherein Fig. 4(a) illustrates a downlink wideband transmission, for example, by a gNB, and Fig. 4(b) shows an embodiment for transmitting in the uplink, for example by a UE;

Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a wireless communication system including a transmitter, like a base station, and one or more receivers, like user devices, UEs;

Fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention in which a transmitter, like a gNB, is to perform a wideband operation over a set of scheduled resources;

Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment in which a regained subband has its own, new COT that is independent of the initial COTs for the initially used subbands;

Fig. 8 illustrates a situation similar to Fig. 6 in which a newly gained subband is aligned with an initial COT, however, the signaling of the availability of the new, no longer occupied subband occurs at different times on the different initial subbands;

Fig. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention illustrating the reservation signaling at the beginning of a newly gained subband;

Fig. 10 illustrates embodiments of a second aspect of the present invention for reporting the LBT outcome in an uplink signaling;

Fig. 1 1 illustrates an embodiment of a third aspect of the present invention, more specifically a wideband configuration in RRC and the corresponding DCI signaling or indication;

Fig. 12 illustrates an embodiment in which a UE prepares three different PUSCHs sizes and chooses one based on the LBT outcome;

Fig. 13 illustrates embodiments for appending punctured parts of a transmission to one or more initially won subbands;

Fig. 14 illustrates embodiments of a seventh aspect in accordance with an operation for quickly transmitting, responsive to receiving a transmission, information on a single subband that may be shared among different communication systems; and

Fig. 15 illustrates an example of a computer system on which units or modules as well as the steps of the methods described in accordance with the inventive approach may execute.

Embodiments of the present invention are now described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the same or similar elements have the same reference signs assigned.

As mentioned above, in wireless communication systems or networks, like those described above with reference to Fig. 1 , the respective entities may communicate using a wideband operation in which, for example, the gNB as well as the UE may transmit on multiple subbands, for example on multiple subbands having different bandwidths or the same bandwidth, tike 20 MHz. Listen-before-talk, LBT, is to be performed separately per subband and may lead to a situation in which one or more of the subbands is busy or occupied due to an interference, for example, from other communication systems coexisting on the same band, like other public land mobile networks, PLMNs or systems operating in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 specification. In such a situation, the transmiter, namely either the transmitting gNB or the transmitting UE, is only allowed to transmit on the subbands which are detected to be not busy, also referred to as subbands being free or non-occupied, as is determined by the LBT algorithm. In such a case, the receiver, e.g., a UE, may waste energy by blind decoding not only over all the free or non-occupied subbands, which may also be referred to as won subbands, but also over the busy or occupied subbands, which may be referred to in the following also as the non-won subbands.

Also the spectral efficiency may decrease, since the channel occupancy during the LBT of the transmitter, like the gNB, may only be of short duration. For example, there may be a short WiFi transmission at the time the gNB performs the LBT which only occupies a part of the transmission time allocated for this transmission, like only a portion of a frame, so that the major part of the frame is unused thereby reducing the spectral efficiency.

As an example, a situation is now considered in which a subset of the subbands is busy or occupied due to interference by systems operating according to the IEEE 802.11 specification. Fig. 2 illustrates the distributed coordination function, as used in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 specification, more specifically, the interframe spaces, the backoff window and the contention window used by the CSMA/CL algorithm of IEEE 802.11 systems, which is described in more detail in:

[1 ] https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/solutions/Enterprise/Mobilitv/emob41dQ/emob41dq- wrapper/chS QoS. html#wp 1021972,

[2] https://www.tu-ilmenau.de/fileadmin/public/iks/files/lehre/mobicom/AN-10- IEEE 802 11.pdf

As is shown in Fig. 2, data frames in accordance with the IEEE 802.1 1 specification are sent using the DCF, which is composed of the following two main components:

• interframe spaces, SIFS, PIFS and DIFS depicted in Fig. 2, and

* random backoff (contention window) DCF to manage access to RF medium.

The three interframe spaces comprise the short interframe space, SIFS, having a duration of typically 10 ps, the point coordination function, PCF, interframe space, PIFS, which is composed of the SCIFS plus 1x slot time which amounts typically to 30 ps, and the DCF interframe space, DIFS, which is composed of the SCIFS plus 2x the slot time of 10 ps so that it amounts typically to 50 ps. The interframe spaces SCIFS, PIFS and DIFS are provided to control which traffic gets first access to the channel after carrier sensing declares the channel to be free, wherein management frames and those frames not expecting contention, like a frame that is part of a sequence of frames, uses SIFS, while data frames use DIFS. In Fig. 2 a situation is illustrated in which, initially, a channel is found to be busy or occupied so that access is deferred until ti with the appropriate interframe spaces applied. For example, when a data frame using DCF is ready to be sent, a random backoff number between zero and a minimum contention window is generated, and once the channel is free for the DIFS interval the random backoff number begins to be decremented for every slot time, like 20 ps, that the channel remains free. In case the channel becomes busy during that time, for example, because another station’s random backoff number is getting to zero before the one of the current station, the decrement stops and the steps are repeated. On the other hand, in case the channel, during the decrementing of the random backoff number remains free until the number reaches zero, the frame is sent, as is indicated at the right hand side in Fig. 2.

Reference [3] (https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi en/301800 301899/301893/01.07.01 60/ en 3Q1893v010701p.pdf) describes a high performance wireless access system including radio local area network equipment which is used in wireless local area networks. Such networks provide high speed data communications in between devices connected to the wireless infrastructure, and ad-hoc networking is described to allow the devices to communicate directly with each other. In such systems load based equipment may implement an LBT based spectrum sharing mechanism based on the clear channel assessment, CAA, mode using energy detect as described in IEEE 802.11. Fig. 3 illustrates an LBT based spectrum sharing mechanism based on the CCA mode. Before a transmission or a burst of transmissions on a channel, the equipment performs a CCA check using energy detect, and the equipment observes the channel for the CCA observation time which may be not less than 20 ps. This is illustrated in the left hand part of Fig. 3 where at a time to the CCA observation time starts. The end of the CCA observation time is ti. In the depicted example, the channel is considered to be occupied or busy because the energy level detected in the channel exceeds a threshold and, accordingly, the equipment does not transmit. Since the equipment found an occupied channel, i.e., since there is not any transmission at this time, the equipment performs an extended CCA during which the channel is observed for a duration of a random factor N multiplied by the CCA observation time. N defines the number of clear idle slots resulting in total idle period that needs to be observed before initiating the transmission. The value N is stored in a counter which is decremented every time a CCA slot is considered to be free or non-occupied and once the counter reaches zero, the equipment may transmit, as indicated at h in Fig. 3.

For example, the 5G New Radio (NR) technology supports operation in unlicensed bands through a technology referred to as NR-based access to unlicensed spectrum (NR-U). The unlicensed spectrum may include bands, e.g., with potential IEEE 802.1 1 coexistence, such as the 5 GHz and the 6 GHz bands. NR-U may support bandwidths that are an integer multiple of 20 MHz, for example due to regulatory requirements. Each of the 20 MHz bandwidth channels is designed as a subband, and the splitting into the subbands is performed so as to minimize interference with coexisting systems, like IEE 802.1 1 systems, which may operate in one or more of the same bands with the same nominal bandwidth channels, like 20 MHz channels. Other examples, of coexisting systems may use frequency bands having subband sizes and nominal frequencies different from the above-described IEEE 802.1 1 systems. For example, unlicensed frequency bands may be used, for example, the 24 GHz band or the 60 GHz band. Examples of such unlicensed frequency bands include the industrial, scientific and medical, ISM, radio bands reserved internationally for the use of radio frequency energy for industrial, scientific and medical purposes other than telecommunications.

In general, during a wideband operation, for example a transmission spanning more than 20 MHz in the 5 GHz operational unlicensed band, the transmitter, like the gNB or the UE perform LBT separately on each subband, and once the LBT results are available for each subband, the devices, for example, the gNB in the downlink, DL, or the UE in the uplink, UL, are allowed to only transmit on those subbands which are determined to be free or unoccupied, i.e., to transmit on the won subband. For example, in the 5 GHz unlicensed band, the number of 20 MHz subbands used for a wideband operation may be four, so that the overall bandwidth is 80 MHz, however, the number of actually used subbands may differ.

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a wideband operation for NR-U as described above. For such a wideband operation a certain wideband configuration may be employed which specifies the overall bandwidth for the wideband operation, the number of subbands, the respective bandwidths of the subbands, the duration, like the number of symbols, of the wideband operation over time, also referred to as the channel occupancy time, COT. In the system one or more such wideband configurations may exist. In cases there are multiple wideband configurations the transmiter may select the wideband configuration to be used from the plurality of available wideband configurations.

Fig. 4(a) illustrates a downlink wideband transmission, for example, by a gNB. In accordance with the wideband configuration to be used, a bandwidth part, BWP, 200 may be scheduled, i.e., within the available resources the BWP 200 defines a number of subcarriers to be used for the wideband operation. For example, the BWP 200 may have an overall bandwidth of 80 MHz, and the respective subbands, also referred to as LBT subbands 200i to 2004 have a bandwidth of 20 MHz each. The gNB, prior to performing the transmission in the downlink, performs for each subband 200i to 2OO4 LBT so as to determine whether the respective subband is busy/occupied or free/non-occupied. In the example depicted in Fig. 4(a) the LBT performed by the gNB yields that subbands 200i, 20O3 and 20O4 are free, while subband 2002 is busy. Thus, for the wideband operation within the BWP 200 the gNB won the subbands 200i, 2OO3 and 2OO4 for the transmission, while subband 2OO2 is not won. Subband 2OO2 may not be available due to a transmission from a coexisting system, like the above-described IEEE 802.11 system. This is indicated in Fig. 4 by X indicating the LBT failure. Responsive to the LBT algorithm performed, the gNB selects subbands 200i, 2OO3 and 2OO4 for transmitting data in the downlink as is indicated by PDSCH#1 and PDSCH#2.

Fig. 4(b) shows an embodiment for transmitting in the uplink, for example by a UE. According to the wideband configuration to be used a BWP 200 is scheduled for the broadband operation of the UE, for example an 80 MHz wideband operation using again the four LBT subbands 200i to 2OO4. The UE, initially, performs an LBT which yields that among the LBT subbands, the subband 2002 is busy or not free and, therefore, may not be used by the UE. In addition, it is assumed that the UE prefers to transmit in the uplink only in continuous/adjacent subbands, so that the UE in the example of Fig. 4(b) selects subbands 2003 and 2OO4 which, in accordance with the LBT algorithm, are free for transmitting in the uplink as is indicated by PUSCH#1. No transmission in the subband 200i occurs, however, in case also a non-continuous transmission is possible or desired, additional data may be transmitted in subband 200i which is also available.

As is described, for example, in RP-150271 ,“Status Report to TSG: Study on Licensed-Assisted Access to Unlicensed Spectrum," 3GPP RAN #67, March 2015), the LBT schemes in 3GPP RAN may be classified into four different categories:

• Category 1 , CAT-1 :

No LBT,

• Category 2, CAT-2:

LBT without random back-off (see Fig. 2),

• Category 3, CAT-3:

LBT with random back-off with fixed size of contention window (see Fig. 2),

• Category 4, CAT-4:

LBT with random back-off with variable size of contention window (see Fig. 2)

in Fig. 4, when performing a wideband operation within the supported or configured BWP 200 the channel occupancy time, COT, is initiated, e.g., by performing a CAT-4 LBT. Within a gNB-initiated COT (see Fig. 4(a)) the UE may use a CAT-2 LBT procedure to transmit a PUCCH or PUSCH. Similarly, for a UE initiated COT using CAT-4 LBT (see Fig. 4(b)), the gNB may use a CAT-2 LBT for transmitting within the UE-initiated COT a PDCCH or PDSCH. In either case, the gNB or the UE may indicate a maximum time the receiver may transmit within the COT9NB or COTUE.

To save energy, the receiving device, like the UE, may listen only to subbands on which the transmitter, like the gNB, actually transmits and shares the COT with the receiver, like the UE. COT sharing (introduced for FeLAA = further enhanced licensed spectrum access, LAA) is a mechanism enabled, for example, by ETSI-BRAN (see reference [3]) wherein one device acquires a COT using, for example, CAT-4-LBT and another device shares this COT using a 25 ps LBT with a gap provided the amount of transmission does not exceed the maximum COT limit for the given priority class. This mechanism allows a concession for LAA in the uplink in which a gNB may send the grant to a UE before it may transmit on the uplink and the delay between the grant and the corresponding UL transmission is at least 4 ms. The pause of 4 ms is not accounted in the COT duration. This may also be used for autonomous uplink, AUL, so that, if the gNB acquires a COT and transmits on the DL without exhausting the full COT, it may indicate to all UEs via PDCCH that further transmitting time is left so that the UEs may transmit UL transmission with just a 25 ps LBT in the configured COT period. Likewise also UE to gNB COT sharing is possible and the UE may share its COT with the gNB which then may transmit with a 25 ps gap and a 25 ps LBT performed in the gap. The gNB transmission may be limited to two OFDM symbols and may contain feedback for a AUL transmission to the UE which acquired the COT and transmitted the AUL.

To save energy, the receiver, like the UE, may disable PDCCH monitoring for non-won subbands, i.e., occupied or busy subbands as determined by the gNB so that PDCCH blind decoding is performed only on those subbands which are actually used by the transmitter. For example, for a downlink in the unlicensed band operation, the receiver, like the UE, may perform one or more of the following operations so as to detect the presence/absence of an indication of a gNB or a transmitter COT on one or more of the subbands.

1. DMRS detection:

the UE may search for a specific DMRS sequence on each of the subbands, the specific DMRS sequence being indicative of a certain gNB-COT acquired by the gNB for the transmission to the UE.

2. Blind decoding:

the UE may perform PDCCH blind decoding so as to detect an indication of a gNB- COT in the downlink control message, in case no PDCCH is detected in a subband, the UE assumes that for this subband no COT was acquired by the gNB.

3. Explicit signaling:

the gNB signals, for example, in a group common, GC, PDCCH, the actual subbands used to the UE which then only monitors those active subbands, i.e., the signaled subbands, for PDCCH monitoring occasions.

The present invention provides improvements or enhancements in the wireless communication among entities of a wireless communication system using a wideband operation, for example, NR-U wideband enhancements and several aspects are provided for enhancing such wideband operation.

Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in a wireless communication system as depicted in Fig. 1 including base stations and users, like mobile terminals or loT devices. Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a wireless communication system including a transmitter 300, like a base station, and one or more receivers 302i to 302n, like user devices, UEs. The transmitter 300 and the receivers 302 may communicate via one or more wireless communication links or channels 304a, 304b, 304c, like a radio link. The transmitter 300 may include one or more antennas ANTj or an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements, a signal processor 300a and a transceiver 300b, coupled with each other. The receivers 302 include one or more antennas ANTR or an antenna array having a plurality of antennas, a signal processor 302ai, 302an, and a transceiver 302bi, 302bn coupled with each other. The base station 300 and the UEs 302 may communicate via respective first wireless communication links 304a and 304b, like a radio link using the Uu interface, while the UEs 302 may communicate with each other via a second wireless communication link 304c, like a radio link using the PCS interface. When the UEs are not served by the base station, are not be connected to a base station, for example, they are not in an RRC connected state, or, more generally, when no SL resource allocation

configuration or assistance is provided by a base station, the UEs may communicate with each other over the sidelink. The system, the one or more UEs 302 and the base stations 300 may operate in accordance with the inventive teachings described herein.

NETWORK DEVICES, LIKE BASE STATION OR USER DEVICE

1st ASPECT - Signaling of re-gained subbands

The present invention provides (see for example claim 1) an apparatus (UE, gNB) for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein, for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, the apparatus is configured to

• perform an initial Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband one or more non- occupied subbands on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and

• during the certain transmission time (COT), transmit to and/or receive from the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands, and

wherein, during the certain transmission time (COT) and in case the initial LBT indicted that one or more of the subbands are occupied, the apparatus is configured to

• perform a further LBT for the one or more occupied subbands so as to determine one or more of the initially occupied subbands being no longer occupied, and

• transmit to and/or receive from the transceiver using, in addition to the initially non- occupied subbands, the one or more no longer occupied subbands.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 2) the apparatus is configured to transmit to and/or receive from the transceiver using the one or more no longer occupied subbands during a transmission time that is

• equal to the certain transmission time (COT), or

• longer than the certain transmission time (COT), or

• shorter than the certain transmission time (COT).

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 3) the transmission time of the one or more no longer occupied subbands is

substantially aligned with the ending of the certain transmission time (COT); or is not-aligned with the ending of the certain transmission time (COT).

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 4) the apparatus is configured to signal to the one or more transceivers that the no longer occupied subbands are available.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 5) the apparatus is configured to signal to the one or more transceivers the no longer occupied subbands using one or more of the initially non-occupied subbands and/or one or more of the no longer occupied subbands, the control message indicating the no longer occupied subbands.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 6) a control message (DCI, UCI, RRC, OTT) is provided to the one or more transceivers, the control message indicating the no longer occupied subbands, wherein the control message may be provided by the apparatus using, e.g., RRC signaling or L1 signaling, or over the top, OTT, signaling, e.g., by the core network.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 7) the control message includes a subband field indicating which of the subbands of the predefined wideband are available, e.g., by setting respective bits of the subband field associated with the subbands to a first value indicating a non-occupied state or to a second value indicating an occupied state.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 8) the apparatus is a base station (gNB) of the wireless communication system and is configured to signal to one or more user devices (UE) of the wireless communication system the no longer occupied subbands in a PDCCH, the PDCCH including a DCI, or the apparatus is a user devices (UE) of the wireless communication system and is configured to signal to one or more base stations (gNB) of the wireless communication system the no longer occupied subbands in a PUCCH, the PUCCH including a UCI, or the apparatus is a user devices (UE) of the wireless communication system and is configured to signal to one or more user devices (UEs) of the wireless communication system the no longer occupied subbands in a PSCCH, the PSCCH including a SCI.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 9) the signaling indicates a frequency and/or bandwidth for a no longer occupied subband.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 10) the apparatus is configured to wait for a certain time before transmitting using the no longer occupied subbands, e.g., for preparing a transmission on the no longer occupied subbands, like performing a ratematching procedure.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 11) the apparatus comprises a timer (T), which may be a pre-configured timer or a configured timer, after which the apparatus transmits on the no longer occupied subbands, wherein the timer may start directly after an indication or a signaling indicating the existence of the no longer occupied subbands.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 12 the apparatus is configured to transmit a reservation signaling at the beginning of a transmission time associated with the no longer occupied subband so as to reserve the subband.

2nd ASPECT - LBT-outcome reporting

The present invention provides (see for example claim 13) an apparatus (UE, gNB) for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein, for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, the apparatus is configured to

• perform Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband non-occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT), and

• during the certain transmission time (COT), transmit to and/or receive from the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands, and

wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of predefined messages, each message associated with one or more certain LBT patterns, the LBT pattern indicating non- occupied and occupied subbands of the predefined wideband, and

wherein, responsive the LBT indicating a certain LBT pattern, the apparatus is configured to select from the plurality of predefined messages a message associated

with the certain LBT pattern and to signal the selected message to the one or more transceivers.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 14 the LBT pattern indicates

• only the non-occupied and the occupied subbands of the predefined wideband, or

• in addition to the non-occupied and occupied subbands of the predefined wideband also those non-occupied subbands used to transmit to and/or receive from the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands, e.g., to ensure the use of contiguous subbands in the UL, or

• solely he non-occupied actually used to transmit to and/or receive from the transceiver, e.g., to ensure the use of contiguous subbands in the UL.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 15) the apparatus is configured to transmit the selected message at the beginning of the certain transmission time in one or more of the non-occupied subbands.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 16) the predefined message comprises a short PDCCH or PUCCH or PSCCH format with a sequence-based encoding, e.g. PUCCH format 0.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 17) a predefined message indicates multiple possible LBT patterns, wherein the LBT patterns put to the same state may be chosen so as to be easily distinguishable from each other, e.g. by utilizing power sensing, blind decoding or DMRS detection.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 18) the predefined wideband comprises four subbands, wherein an LBT pattern is signaled using a plurality of bits, e.g., bits of a subband field of a control message, and wherein bits having a first value indicate a non-occupied state and bits having a second value indicate an occupied state, and

wherein, when using two bits, the LBT pattern may be signaled as follows:

or wherein, when using three bits, the LBT pattern may be signaled as follows:

3rd ASPECT - Pre-configured grant/assiqnment for wideband operation

The present invention provides (see for example claim 19) an apparatus (UE, gNB) for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein, for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (gNB, UE) of the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, the apparatus comprises a set of wideband configurations,

wherein each wideband configuration is associated with a certain Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, pattern, the LBT pattern indicating for the predefined wideband non-occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT), the LBT pattern obtained by the transceiver (gNB, UE) by performing LBT for each subband of the predefined wideband, and

wherein the apparatus is configured to

• receive from the transceiver (gNB, UE) an indication of the wideband configuration to be used during the certain transmission time (COT), and

• transmit, during the certain transmission time (COT), to the transceiver (gNB, UE) using the wideband configuration indicated by the transceiver.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 20) the indication of the wideband configuration is received from the transceiver together with a DL assignment or an UL grant or a sidelink, SL, grant.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 21) the apparatus is configured to receive from the transceiver (gNB, UE) the set of wideband configurations using, e.g., RRC or L1 signaling.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 22) the apparatus is configured to receive from the transceiver (gNB, UE) a control message, like DCI or UCI, the control message including the wideband configuration to be used.

The present invention provides (see for example claim 23) apparatus (gNB, UE) for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein, for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) of the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, the apparatus is adapted to configure the transceiver with a set of wideband configurations,

wherein each wideband configuration is associated with a certain Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, pattern, the LBT pattern indicating for the predefined wideband non-occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT), the LBT pattern obtained by the apparatus (gNB, UE) by performing LBT for each subband of the predefined wideband, and

wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit to the transceiver (gNB, UE) an indication of the wideband configuration to be used during the certain transmission time (COT).

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 24) the indication of the wideband configuration is transmitted together with a DL assignment or an UL grant or a sidelink, SL, grant.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 25) the apparatus is configured to provide the set of wideband configurations to the transceiver (UE, gNB) using, e.g., RRC or L1 signaling.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 26) the apparatus is configured to transmit to the transceiver (UE, gNB) a control message, like DCI or UCI, the control message including the wideband configuration to be used.

4th ASPECT - Transmission preparation like PUSCH or PDSCH

The present invention provides (see for example claim 27) an apparatus (UE, gNB) for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein the apparatus comprises a set of wideband configurations for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (gNB, UE) of the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, each wideband configuration indicating a number of subbands from the predefined wideband to be used for the wideband communication,

wherein, after receiving from the transceiver (gNB, UE) an implicit or explicit indication of the wideband configuration to be used and a grant for a transmission to the transceiver, the apparatus is configured to prepare a plurality of transmissions, each transmission including a different number of subbands and/or different patterns of subbands (e.g., different subband patterns distinguishing, e.g., also the frequency) from the indicated wideband configuration, and

wherein the apparatus is configured to

• perform Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, to obtain a LBT pattern, the LBT pattern indicating for the predefined wideband non-occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT), wherein the wideband configuration may be the full wideband or a configuration comprising a subset of subbands signaled by the transceiver,

• select a prepared transmission which fulfils one or more certain criteria or fits the LBT pattern best, and

• transmit, during the certain transmission time (COT), the selected transmission to the transceiver (gNB, UE).

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 28) the apparatus is configured to receive from the transceiver (gNB, UE) the set of transmissions to prepare using, e.g., RRC or L1 signaling.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 29) the one or more certain criteria comprises one or more of:

• a data rate exceeding a predefined threshold,

• the largest transport block size (TBS) fiting the LBT pattern,

• the highest number of subbands fitting the LBT pattern,

• a channel quality exceeding a predefined threshold,

a priority of the associated subband configuration.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 30) the apparatus is configured to

• prepare a transmission having a short transmission length, e.g., one subband, and send the transmission on other subbands, if available, so as to keep the other subbands busy, wherein the apparatus may indicate the number of used subbands, or

• generate multiple transmissions having different transmission lengths, e.g., different numbers of subbands, and puncture the transmission so as to have a size, number of subbands, nearest to the number of non-occupied subbands, wherein the apparatus may indicate the number of used subbands, or

• generate multiple transmissions having different transmission lengths, e.g., different numbers of subbands, and choose the transmission with the highest length smaller or equal to the number of non-occupied subbands, wherein the apparatus may indicate the number of used subbands.

5th ASPECT - Control channel monitoring enabling for not-won subbands

The present invention provides (see for example claim 31 ) an apparatus (UE, gNB) for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein, for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, the apparatus is configured to

• perform initial Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband one or more non- occupied subbands on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and

• during the certain transmission time (COT), transmit to and/or receive from the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands,

wherein, during the certain transmission time (COT) and in case the initial LBT indicated that one or more of the subbands are occupied, the apparatus is adapted to configure the transceiver to monitor the occupied subbands.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 32) the configuration uses, e.g. RRC signaling or L1 signaling, or over the top, OTT, signaling, e.g., by the core network.

The present invention provides (see for example claim 33) an apparatus (UE, gNB) for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein, for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, the apparatus is configured to

• receive from the transceiver an indication of non-occupied subbands of the predefined wideband, on which wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), the non-occupied subbands, obtained by the transceiver (gNB, UE) by performing LBT for each subband of the predefined wideband, and

• transmit, during the certain transmission time (COT), to the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands of the predefined wideband,

wherein the apparatus is configured to

• further receive from the transceiver an indication of occupied subbands of the predefined wideband, and

• monitor the occupied subbands.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 34) the apparatus is configured to monitor the subbands using, e.g., RRC signaling or L1 signaling, or over the top, OTT, signaling, e.g., by the core network.

8th ASPECT - Appending of punctured parts

The present invention provides (see for example claim 35) an apparatus (UE, gNB) for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein, for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, the apparatus is configured to

• perform an initial Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband one or more non- occupied subbands on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT) and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT),

wherein the transmission includes one or more first parts associated with one or more non-occupied subbands and one or more second parts associated with one or more occupied subbands, and

wherein the apparatus is configured to

• transmit the one or more first parts of the transmission using the one or more non- occupied subbands, and

• append the one or more second parts of the transmission to the one or more non- occupied subbands.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 36) the apparatus is configured to inform the transceiver during the certain transmission time (COT)

• that the one or more second parts are transmitted, and

• about the one or more non-occupied subbands used for transmitting the one or more second parts.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 37) the apparatus is configured to

• indicate that a puncturing occurred and that a retransmission of one or more punctured parts is performed, or

• indicate that a retransmission of one or more punctured parts is performed, thereby informing the transceiver that a puncturing occurred.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 38) the apparatus is configured to signal the puncturing/retransmission at the beginning or at the end of the original transmission.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 39) appending the one or more second parts of the transmission to the one or more non-occupied subbands comprises:

• initiating a new transmission time (COT), or

• prolonging the current transmission time (COT).

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 40) for initiating a new transmission time (COT), the apparatus is configured to

• perform a further LBT at the end of the current transmission time (COT) on one or more of the initially non-occupied subbands, e.g., by performing a CAT-4 or CAT- 2 LBT, and

• responsive to the further LBT indicating that the initially non-occupied subband is not occupied, append the one or more second parts.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 41) for prolonging the current transmission time (COT), the apparatus is configured to

• perform the initial LBT such that a transmission time (COT) is obtained which is sufficient to append at least some of the one or more second parts, e.g., by choosing a contention window size, CWS, for the LBT to obtain a maximum allowed COT duration.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 42) the possible transmission time (COT) is signaled within the original transmission using, e.g., DCI or UCI.

7th ASPECT - Separate subcarrier spacing (SCS) fast control without LBT

The present invention provides (see for example claim 43) an apparatus (UE, gNB) for a communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein, for a communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands, the apparatus is configured to

• perform an initial Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband one or more non- occupied subbands on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and

wherein during the certain transmission time (COT) one or more of the subbands includes a first part and a second part, wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit to or receive from the transceiver in the first part with a certain subcarrier spacing, and to receive from or transmit to the transceiver in the second part with a further subcarrier spacing different from the certain subcarrier spacing.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 44) the certain subcarrier spacing in the first part comprises a first subcarrier spacing for transmitting and a second subcarrier spacing for receiving, the first subcarrier spacing and the second subcarrier spacing being different.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 45)

• the further subcarrier spacing is higher than the certain subcarrier spacing,

• the first part of the subband is used for data transmission to or reception from the transceiver, and

• the second part of the subband is used for substantially immediate control transmission, like a PDCCH or a PUCCH or a PSCCH, including for example a HARQ feedback, to the transceiver without performing LBT.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 46) the second part of the subband follows the first part immediately or with a gap, the gap being less than a duration of the second part, wherein a gap time may be 16us at maximum gap time, and the further subcarrier spacing, SCS, may be 60 kHz for the SCS for short control, and wherein the second part may be shorter than the shortest LBT listening window duration.

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 47) the further subcarrier spacing is configured using, e.g., RRC, or is predefined.

GENERAL

In accordance with embodiments (see for example claim 48) the apparatus comprises a user device, UE, the UE comprising one or more of a mobile terminal, or stationary terminal, or cellular loT-UE, or vehicular UE, or vehicular group leader (GL) UE, an loT or narrowband loT, NB-loT, device, or a ground based vehicle, or an aerial vehicle, or a drone, or a moving base station, or road side unit, or a building, or any other item or device provided with network connectivity enabling the item/device to communicate using the wireless communication network, e.g., a sensor or actuator, or the apparatus comprises a base station, the base station comprising one or more of a macro cell base station, or a small cell base station, or a central unit of a base station, or a distributed unit of a base station, or a road side unit, or a UE, or a group leader (GL), or a relay, or a remote radio head, or an AMF, or an SMF, or a core network entity, or mobile edge computing entity, or a network slice as in the NR or 5G core context, or any transmission/reception point, TRP, enabling an item or a device to communicate using the wireless communication network, the item or device being provided with network connectivity to communicate using the wireless communication network.

SYSTEM

The present invention provides (see for example claim 49) a wireless communication system, comprising a plurality of the inventive apparatus.

METHODS

1st ASPECT - Signaling of re-gained subbands

The present invention provides (see for example claim 50) a method for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband,

• performing an initial Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband one or more non- occupied subbands on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and

• during the certain transmission time (COT), transmitting to and/or receiving from the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands, and

during the certain transmission time (COT) and in case the initial LBT indicted that one or more of the subbands are occupied,

• performing a further LBT for the one or more occupied subbands so as to determine one or more of the initially occupied subbands being no longer occupied, and

• transmitting to and/or receiving from the transceiver using, in addition to the initially non-occupied subbands, the one or more no longer occupied subbands.

2nd ASPECT - LBT-outcome reporting

The present invention provides (see for example claim 51) a method for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband.

• performing Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband non-occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT), and

• during the certain transmission time (COT), transmitting to and/or receiving from the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands, and

wherein a plurality of predefined messages is provided, each message associated with one or more certain LBT patterns, the LBT pattern indicating non-occupied and occupied subbands of the predefined wideband, and

responsive the LBT indicating a certain LBT pattern, selecting from the plurality of predefined messages a message associated with the certain LBT pattern and to signal the selected message to the one or more transceivers.

3rd ASPECT - Pre-confiqured grant/assignment for wideband operation

The present invention provides (see for example claim 52) a method for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (gNB, UE) of the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, a set of wideband configurations is provided,

wherein each wideband configuration is associated with a certain Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, pattern, the LBT pattern indicating for the predefined wideband non-occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT), the LBT pattern obtained by the transceiver (gNB, UE) by performing LBT for each subband of the predefined wideband, and

wherein the method comprises:

• receiving from the transceiver (gNB, UE) an indication of the wideband configuration to be used during the certain transmission time (COT), and

• transmitting, during the certain transmission time (COT), to the transceiver (gNB, UE) using the wideband configuration indicated by the transceiver.

4th ASPECT - Transmission preparation like PUSCH or PDSCH

The present invention provides (see for example claim 53) a method for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

providing a set of wideband configurations for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (gNB, UE) of the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, each wideband configuration indicating a number of subbands from the predefined wideband to be used for the wideband communication,

after receiving from the transceiver (gNB, UE) an implicit or explicit indication of the wideband configuration to be used and a grant for a transmission to the transceiver, preparing a plurality of transmissions, each transmission including a different number of subbands and/or different patterns of subbands (e.g., different subband patterns distinguishing, e.g., also the frequency) from the indicated wideband configuration, and

performing Listen-Before-T alk, LBT, to obtain a LBT pattern, the LBT pattern indicating for the predefined wideband non-occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT), wherein the wideband configuration may be the full wideband or a configuration comprising a subset of subbands signaled by the transceiver,

selecting a prepared transmission which fulfils one or more certain criteria or fits the LBT pattern best, and

transmitting, during the certain transmission time (COT), the selected transmission to the transceiver (gNB, UE).

5th ASPECT - Control channel monitoring enabling for not-won subbands

The present invention provides (see for example claim 54) a method for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband,

• performing initial Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband one or more non- occupied subbands on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and

• during the certain transmission time (COT), transmitting to and/or receiving from the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands,

during the certain transmission time (COT) and in case the initial LBT indicated that one or more of the subbands are occupied, configuring the transceiver to monitor the occupied subbands.

The present invention provides (see for example claim 55) a method for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband,

• receiving from the transceiver an indication of non-occupied subbands of the predefined wideband, on which wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), the non-occupied subbands, obtained by the transceiver (gNB, UE) by performing LBT for each subband of the predefined wideband, and

• transmitting, during the certain transmission time (COT), to the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands of the predefined wideband,

further receiving from the transceiver an indication of occupied subbands of the predefined wideband, and

monitoring the occupied subbands.

6th ASPECT - Appending of punctured parts

The present invention provides (see for example claim 56) a method for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband,

• performing an initial Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband one or more non- occupied subbands on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT) and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT),

wherein the transmission includes one or more first parts associated with one or more non-occupied subbands and one or more second parts associated with one or more occupied subbands, and

transmitting the one or more first parts of the transmission using the one or more non- occupied subbands, and

appending the one or more second parts of the transmission to the one or more non- occupied subbands.

7th ASPECT - Separate subcarrier spacing (SCS) fast control without LBT

The present invention provides (see for example claim 57) a method for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

for a communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands,

• performing an initial Listen-Before-T alk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband one or more non- occupied subbands on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and

wherein during the certain transmission time (COT) one or more of the subbands includes a first part and a second part, wherein the method comprises

• transmitting to or receiving from the transceiver in the first part with a certain subcarrier spacing, and

• receiving from or transmitting to the transceiver in the second part with a further subcarrier spacing different from the certain subcarrier spacing.

COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT

The present invention provides a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, causes the computer to carry out one or more methods in accordance with the present invention.

1st ASPECT - Signaling of re-gained subbands

In accordance with this aspect, embodiments of the present invention allow using initially busy or occupied subbands, non-won subbands, for the wideband communication in case they become available during the transmission time gained by the transmitter, like the COT. For example, a communication by another communication system on a certain subband may end during the COT so that this band is no longer occupied and may be regained for the wideband communication. If this occurs, the entity that initiated the wideband communication, for example the gNB or the UE, may signal to the respective communication partner(s), like the UE(s) or the gNB(s) or any other transceiver, that one or more initially occupied subbands are regained and that the transmission may now also occur on these regained subbands.

Fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention in which a transmitter, like a gNB, is to perform a wideband operation over a set of scheduled resources, for example, over a scheduled BWP 200 for a certain channel occupancy time, COT. In a similar way as in Fig. 4, the BWP 200 may span four subbands 200i to 2004 each having a certain bandwidth, for example 20 MHz, so that the wideband operation is over an 80 MHz band. Initially, the gNB performs on each of the subbands 200i to 2002 respective LBTs, as is indicated in Fig. 6 at the right hand side. The respective LBTs yield that, initially, i.e. , at a time to, among the subbands only subbands 200å to 2004 are free or non-occupied, i.e., may be used for the wideband transmission by the gNB. The LBT carried out for the subband 200i yields, however, that this subband at the time to is not free or is occupied, i.e., may not be used for the transmission. In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, the gNB continues performing the LBT on the non-won subband 200i, for example by performing an extended CCA check for band 200i , in a way as discussed above

with reference to Fig. 3 which, in the depicted embodiment yields that at a time h the subband 200i is no longer occupied and, therefore may be used for the wideband operation of the gNB. Responsive to detecting the availability of the subband 200i, the gNB may signal this to the receiver(s), like the UE(s) to which the wideband operation is directed, for example, by providing respective information in a downlink control message transmitted over one or more of the initially free subbands. In the embodiment of Fig. 6, in each of the initially free subbands 2002 to 2004 a PDCCH 202i to 2023 may be transmitted indicating to the receiver respective resources in the no longer occupied subband 200i at which data for the receiver is also transmitted. This pointing to the respective resources is schematically represented by the respective arrows 204i to 2043 pointing from the respective PDCCHs to the no longer occupied subband 200i.

Although Fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment in which the transmitter is a base station or gNB, it is noted that the same approach may be applied when the transmitter is a user device, like a UE transmitting, for example, to a gNB. In this case, the UE may signal to the gNB that an initially occupied subband is now available, and that data is also transmitted on the no longer occupied subband by providing respective information, for example, in a way as described in Fig. 6 in the respective subbands 2002 to 2004.

Although Fig. 6 illustrates transmitting the respective information 202i to 2023 in each of the initially non-occupied subbands, this information may be transmitted only in a subset of the initially available subbands. Moreover, instead of indicating in the initially non-occupied subbands, the resources in the no longer occupied subband now also used for the transmission, in accordance with other embodiments the control message 202i to 2023 may only indicate to the receiver to also monitor the no longer occupied subband 200i for a control message, as is indicated by PDCCH 2024 transmitted in no longer occupied subband

200i.

CLAIMS

1. An apparatus (UE, gNB) for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein, for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, the apparatus is configured to

• perform an initial Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband one or more non- occupied subbands on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and

• during the certain transmission time (COT), transmit to and/or receive from the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands, and

wherein, during the certain transmission time (COT) and in case the initial LBT indicted that one or more of the subbands are occupied, the apparatus is configured to

• perform a further LBT for the one or more occupied subbands so as to determine one or more of the initially occupied subbands being no longer occupied, and

• transmit to and/or receive from the transceiver using, in addition to the initially non- occupied subbands, the one or more no longer occupied subbands.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit to and/or receive from the transceiver using the one or more no longer occupied subbands during a transmission time that is

• equal to the certain transmission time (COT), or

• longer than the certain transmission time (COT), or

• shorter than the certain transmission time (COT).

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the transmission time of the one or more no longer occupied subbands is

• substantially aligned with the ending of the certain transmission time (COT); or

• is not-aligned with the ending of the certain transmission time (COT).

4. The apparatus of one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the apparatus is configured to signal to the one or more transceivers that the no longer occupied subbands are available.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus is configured to signal to the one or more transceivers the no longer occupied subbands using one or more of the initially non-occupied subbands and/or one or more of the no longer occupied subbands, the control message indicating the no longer occupied subbands.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 or 5, wherein a control message (DCI, UCI, RRC, OTT) is provided to the one or more transceivers, the control message indicating the no longer occupied subbands, wherein the control message may be provided by the apparatus using, e.g., RRC signaling or l1 signaling, or over the top, OTT, signaling, e.g., by the core network.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the control message includes a subband field indicating which of the subbands of the predefined wideband are available, e.g., by setting respective bits of the subband field associated with the subbands to a first value indicating a non-occupied state or to a second value indicating an occupied state.

8. The apparatus of any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein

the apparatus is a base station (gNB) of the wireless communication system and is configured to signal to one or more user devices (UE) of the wireless communication system the no longer occupied subbands in a PDCCH, the PDCCH including a DCI, or

the apparatus is a user devices (UE) of the wireless communication system and is configured to signal to one or more base stations (gNB) of the wireless communication system the no longer occupied subbands in a PUCCH, the PUCCH including a UCI, or

the apparatus is a user devices (UE) of the wireless communication system and is configured to signal to one or more user devices (UEs) of the wireless communication system the no longer occupied subbands in a PSCCH, the PSCCH including a SCI.

9. The apparatus of any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the signaling indicates a frequency and/or bandwidth for a no longer occupied subband.

10. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is configured to wait for a certain time before transmiting using the no longer occupied subbands, e.g., for preparing a transmission on the no longer occupied subbands, like performing a rate-matching procedure.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, comprising a timer (T), which may be a pre-configured timer or a configured timer, after which the apparatus transmits on the no longer occupied subbands, wherein the timer may start directly after an indication or a signaling indicating the existence of the no longer occupied subbands.

12. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit a reservation signaling at the beginning of a transmission time associated with the no longer occupied subband so as to reserve the subband.

13. An apparatus (UE, gNB) for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein, for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, the apparatus is configured to

• perform Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband non-occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT), and

• during the certain transmission time (COT), transmit to and/or receive from the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands, and

wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of predefined messages, each message associated with one or more certain LBT patterns, the LBT pattern indicating non- occupied and occupied subbands of the predefined wideband, and

wherein, responsive the LBT indicating a certain LBT pattern, the apparatus is configured to select from the plurality of predefined messages a message associated with the certain LBT pattern and to signal the selected message to the one or more transceivers.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the LBT pattern indicates

• only the non-occupied and the occupied subbands of the predefined wideband, or

• in addition to the non-occupied and occupied subbands of the predefined wideband also those non-occupied subbands used to transmit to and/or receive from the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands, e.g., to ensure the use of contiguous subbands in the UL, or

• solely he non-occupied actually used to transmit to and/or receive from the transceiver, e.g., to ensure the use of contiguous subbands in the UL.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 or 14, wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit the selected message at the beginning of the certain transmission time in one or more of the non-occupied subbands.

16. The apparatus of any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the predefined message comprises a short PDCCH or PUCCH or PSCCH format with a sequence-based encoding, e.g. PUCCH format 0.

17. The apparatus of any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein a predefined message indicates multiple possible LBT patterns, wherein the LBT patterns put to the same state may be chosen so as to be easily distinguishable from each other, e.g. by utilizing power sensing, blind decoding or DMRS detection.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the predefined wideband comprises four subbands, wherein an LBT pattern is signaled using a plurality of bits, e.g., bits of a subband field of a control message, and wherein bits having a first value indicate a non-occupied state and bits having a second value indicate an occupied state, and

wherein, when using two bits, the LBT patern may be signaled as follows:

or

or

or wherein, when using three bits, the LBT pattern may be signaled as follows:

19. An apparatus (UE, gNB) for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein, for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (gNB, UE) of the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, the apparatus comprises a set of wideband configurations,

wherein each wideband configuration is associated with a certain Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, pattern, the LBT pattern indicating for the predefined wideband non-occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT), the LBT pattern obtained by the transceiver (gNB, UE) by performing LBT for each subband of the predefined wideband, and

wherein the apparatus is configured to

• receive from the transceiver (gNB, UE) an indication of the wideband configuration to be used during the certain transmission time (COT), and

• transmit, during the certain transmission time (COT), to the transceiver (gNB, UE) using the wideband configuration indicated by the transceiver.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the indication of the wideband configuration is received from the transceiver together with a DL assignment or an UL grant or a sidelink, SL, grant.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 or 20, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive from the transceiver (gNB, UE) the set of wideband configurations using, e.g., RRC or L1 signaling.

22. The apparatus of any one of claims 19 to 21 , wherein the apparatus is configured to receive from the transceiver (gNB, UE) a control message, like DC I or UCI, the control message including the wideband configuration to be used.

23. An apparatus (gNB, UE) for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein, for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) of the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined

wideband, the apparatus is adapted to configure the transceiver with a set of wideband configurations,

wherein each wideband configuration is associated with a certain Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, pattern, the LBT pattern indicating for the predefined wideband non-occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT), the LBT pattern obtained by the apparatus (gNB, UE) by performing LBT for each subband of the predefined wideband, and

wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit to the transceiver (gNB, UE) an indication of the wideband configuration to be used during the certain transmission time (COT).

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the indication of the wideband configuration is transmitted together with a DL assignment or an UL grant or a sidelink, SL, grant.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 or 24, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide the set of wideband configurations to the transceiver (UE, gNB) using, e.g., RRC or L1 signaling.

26. The apparatus of any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit to the transceiver (UE, gNB) a control message, like DCI or UCI, the control message including the wideband configuration to be used.

27. An apparatus (UE, gNB) for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein the apparatus comprises a set of wideband configurations for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (gNB, UE) of the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, each wideband configuration indicating a number of subbands from the predefined wideband to be used for the wideband communication,

wherein, after receiving from the transceiver (gNB, UE) an implicit or explicit indication of the wideband configuration to be used and a grant for a transmission to the transceiver, the apparatus is configured to prepare a plurality of transmissions, each transmission including a different number of subbands and/or different patterns of subbands (e.g., different subband patterns distinguishing, e.g., also the frequency) from the indicated wideband configuration, and

wherein the apparatus is configured to

• perform Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, to obtain a LBT pattern, the LBT pattern indicating for the predefined wideband non-occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT), wherein the wideband configuration may be the full wideband or a configuration comprising a subset of subbands signaled by the transceiver,

• select a prepared transmission which fulfils one or more certain criteria or fits the LBT pattern best, and

• transmit, during the certain transmission time (COT), the selected transmission to the transceiver (gNB, UE).

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive from the transceiver (gNB, UE) the set of transmissions to prepare using, e.g., RRC or L1 signaling.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 or 28, wherein one or more certain criteria comprises one or more of:

• a data rate exceeding a predefined threshold,

• the largest transport block size (TBS) fitting the LBT pattern,

• the highest number of subbands fitting the LBT pattern,

• a channel quality exceeding a predefined threshold,

• a priority of the associated subband configuration.

30. The apparatus of any one of claims 27 to 29, wherein the apparatus is configured to

• prepare a transmission having a short transmission length, e.g., one subband, and send the transmission on other subbands, if available, so as to keep the other

subbands busy, wherein the apparatus may indicate the number of used subbands, or

• generate multiple transmissions having different transmission lengths, e.g., different numbers of subbands, and puncture the transmission so as to have a size, number of subbands, nearest to the number of non-occupied subbands, wherein the apparatus may indicate the number of used subbands, or

• generate multiple transmissions having different transmission lengths, e.g., different numbers of subbands, and choose the transmission with the highest length smaller or equal to the number of non-occupied subbands, wherein the apparatus may indicate the number of used subbands.

31. An apparatus (UE, gNB) for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein, for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, the apparatus is configured to

• perform initial Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband one or more non- occupied subbands on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and

• during the certain transmission time (COT), transmit to and/or receive from the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands,

wherein, during the certain transmission time (COT) and in case the initial LBT indicated that one or more of the subbands are occupied, the apparatus is adapted to configure the transceiver to monitor the occupied subbands.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the configuration uses, e.g., RRC signaling or L1 signaling, or over the top, OTT, signaling, e.g., by the core network.

33.

An apparatus (UE, gNB) for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein, for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, the apparatus is configured to

• receive from the transceiver an indication of non-occupied subbands of the predefined wideband, on which wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), the non-occupied subbands, obtained by the transceiver (gNB, UE) by performing LBT for each subband of the predefined wideband, and

• transmit, during the certain transmission time (COT), to the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands of the predefined wideband,

wherein the apparatus is configured to

• further receive from the transceiver an indication of occupied subbands of the predefined wideband, and

• monitor the occupied subbands.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the apparatus is configured to monitor the subbands using, e.g., RRC signaling or L1 signaling, or over the top, OTT, signaling, e.g., by the core network.

35. An apparatus (UE, gNB) for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein, for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, the apparatus is configured to

• perform an initial Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband one or more non- occupied subbands on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT) and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT),

wherein the transmission includes one or more first parts associated with one or more non-occupied subbands and one or more second parts associated with one or more occupied subbands, and

wherein the apparatus is configured to

• transmit the one or more first parts of the transmission using the one or more non- occupied subbands, and

• append the one or more second parts of the transmission to the one or more non- occupied subbands.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the apparatus is configured to inform the transceiver during the certain transmission time (COT)

• that the one or more second parts are transmitted, and

• about the one or more non-occupied subbands used for transmitting the one or more second parts.

37. The apparatus of claim 35 or 36, wherein the apparatus is configured to

• indicate that a puncturing occurred and that a retransmission of one or more punctured parts is performed, or

• indicate that a retransmission of one or more punctured parts is performed, thereby informing the transceiver that a puncturing occurred.

38. The apparatus of claim 36 or 37, wherein the apparatus is configured to signal the puncturing/retransmission at the beginning or at the end of the original transmission.

39. The apparatus of any one of claims 35 to 38, wherein appending the one or more second parts of the transmission to the one or more non-occupied subbands comprises:

• initiating a new transmission time (COT), or

• prolonging the current transmission time (COT).

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein, for initiating a new transmission time (COT), the apparatus is configured to

• perform a further LBT at the end of the current transmission time (COT) on one or more of the initially non-occupied subbands, e.g., by performing a CAT-4 or CAT- 2 LBT, and

• responsive to the further LBT indicating that the initially non-occupied subband is not occupied, append the one or more second parts.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein, for prolonging the current transmission time (COT), the apparatus is configured to

• perform the initial LBT such that a transmission time (COT) is obtained which is sufficient to append at least some of the one or more second parts, e.g., by choosing a contention window size, CWS, for the LBT to obtain a maximum allowed COT duration.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein the possible transmission time (COT) is signaled within the original transmission using, e.g., DCI or UCl.

43. An apparatus (UE, gNB) for a communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein, for a communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands, the apparatus is configured to

• perform an initial Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband one or more non- occupied subbands on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and

wherein during the certain transmission time (COT) one or more of the subbands includes a first part and a second part, wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit to or receive from the transceiver in the first part with a certain subcarrier spacing, and to receive from or transmit to the transceiver in the second part with a further subcarrier spacing different from the certain subcarrier spacing.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the certain subcarrier spacing in the first part comprises a first subcarrier spacing for transmitting and a second subcarrier spacing for receiving, the first subcarrier spacing and the second subcarrier spacing being different.

45. The apparatus of claim 43 or 44, wherein

• the further subcarrier spacing is higher than the certain subcarrier spacing,

• the first part of the subband is used for data transmission to or reception from the transceiver, and

• the second part of the subband is used for substantially immediate control transmission, like a PDCCH or a PUCCH or a PSCCH, including for example a HARQ feedback, to the transceiver without performing LBT.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the second part of the subband follows the first part immediately or with a gap, the gap being less than a duration of the second part, wherein a gap time may be 16us at maximum gap time, and the further subcarrier spacing, SCS, may be 60 kHz for the SCS for short control, and wherein the second part may be shorter than the shortest LBT listening window duration.

47. The apparatus of any one of claims 42 to 46, wherein the further subcarrier spacing is configured using, e.g., RRC, or is predefined.

48. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims,

wherein the apparatus comprises a user device, UE, the UE comprising one or more of a mobile terminal, or stationary terminal, or cellular loT-UE, or vehicular UE, or vehicular group leader (GL) UE, an loT or narrowband loT, NB-loT, device, or a ground based vehicle, or an aerial vehicle, or a drone, or a moving base station, or road side unit, or a building, or any other item or device provided with network connectivity enabling the item/device to communicate using the wireless communication network, e.g., a sensor or actuator, or

wherein the apparatus comprises a base station, the base station comprising one or more of a macro cell base station, or a small cell base station, or a central unit of a base station, or a distributed unit of a base station, or a road side unit, or a UE, or a group leader (GL), or a relay, or a remote radio head, or an AMF, or an SMF, or a core network entity, or mobile edge computing entity, or a network slice as in the NR or 5G core context, or any transmission/reception point, TRP, enabling an item or a device to communicate using the wireless communication network, the item or device being provided with network connectivity to communicate using the wireless communication network.

49. A wireless communication system, comprising a plurality of apparatus of any one of the preceding claims.

50. A method for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband,

• performing an initial Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband one or more non- occupied subbands on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and

• during the certain transmission time (COT), transmitting to and/or receiving from the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands, and

during the certain transmission time (COT) and in case the initial LBT indicted that one or more of the subbands are occupied,

• performing a further LBT for the one or more occupied subbands so as to determine one or more of the initially occupied subbands being no longer occupied, and

• transmitting to and/or receiving from the transceiver using, in addition to the initially non-occupied subbands, the one or more no longer occupied subbands.

51. A method for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband,

• performing Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband non-occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT), and

• during the certain transmission time (COT), transmitting to and/or receiving from the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands, and

wherein a plurality of predefined messages is provided, each message associated with one or more certain LBT patterns, the LBT pattern indicating non-occupied and occupied subbands of the predefined wideband, and

responsive the LBT indicating a certain LBT pattern, selecting from the plurality of predefined messages a message associated with the certain LBT pattern and to signal the selected message to the one or more transceivers.

52. A method for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system,

wherein for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (gNB, UE) of the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, a set of wideband configurations is provided,

wherein each wideband configuration is associated with a certain Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, pattern, the LBT pattern indicating for the predefined wideband non-occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT), the LBT pattern obtained by the transceiver (gNB, UE) by performing LBT for each subband of the predefined wideband, and

wherein the method comprises:

• receiving from the transceiver (gNB, UE) an indication of the wideband configuration to be used during the certain transmission time (COT), and

• transmitting, during the certain transmission time (COT), to the transceiver (gNB, UE) using the wideband configuration indicated by the transceiver.

53. A method for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

providing a set of wideband configurations for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (gNB, UE) of the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband, each wideband configuration indicating a number of subbands from the predefined wideband to be used for the wideband communication,

after receiving from the transceiver (gNB, UE) an implicit or explicit indication of the wideband configuration to be used and a grant for a transmission to the transceiver, preparing a plurality of transmissions, each transmission including a different number of subbands and/or different patterns of subbands (e.g., different subband patterns distinguishing, e.g., also the frequency) from the indicated wideband configuration, and

performing Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, to obtain a LBT pattern, the LBT pattern indicating for the predefined wideband non-occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT), wherein the wideband configuration may be the full wideband or a configuration comprising a subset of subbands signaled by the transceiver,

selecting a prepared transmission which fulfils one or more certain criteria or fits the LBT pattern best, and

transmitting, during the certain transmission time (COT), the selected transmission to the transceiver (gNB, UE).

54. A method for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband,

• performing initial Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband one or more non- occupied subbands on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and

• during the certain transmission time (COT), transmitting to and/or receiving from the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands,

during the certain transmission time (COT) and in case the initial LBT indicated that one or more of the subbands are occupied, configuring the transceiver to monitor the occupied subbands.

55. A method for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband,

• receiving from the transceiver an indication of non-occupied subbands of the predefined wideband, on which wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), the non-occupied subbands, obtained by the transceiver (gNB, UE) by performing LBT for each subband of the predefined wideband, and

• transmitting, during the certain transmission time (COT), to the transceiver using the non-occupied subbands of the predefined wideband,

further receiving from the transceiver an indication of occupied subbands of the predefined wideband, and

monitoring the occupied subbands.

56. A method for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

for a wideband communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands of a predefined wideband,

• performing an initial Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband one or more non- occupied subbands on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT) and occupied subbands, on which the wideband communication is not allowed during the certain transmission time (COT),

wherein the transmission includes one or more first parts associated with one or more non-occupied subbands and one or more second parts associated with one or more occupied subbands, and

transmitting the one or more first parts of the transmission using the one or more non- occupied subbands, and

appending the one or more second parts of the transmission to the one or more non- occupied subbands.

57. A method for a wideband communication in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

for a communication with one or more transceivers (UE, gNB) in the wireless communication system using one or more subbands,

• performing an initial Listen-Before-Talk, LBT, for each subband of the predefined wideband so as to determine from the predefined wideband one or more non- occupied subbands on which the wideband communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT), and

wherein during the certain transmission time (COT) one or more of the subbands includes a first part and a second part, wherein the method comprises

• transmitting to or receiving from the transceiver in the first part with a certain subcarrier spacing, and

• receiving from or transmitting to the transceiver in the second part with a further subcarrier spacing different from the certain subcarrier spacing.

58. A non-transitory computer program product comprising a computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed on a computer, perform the method of any one of clams 50 to 57.