ApplePatent applicationNetworks & wirelessInterest 4/10

Apple patents way for devices to sync in crowded unlicensed radio bands

Patent drawing from the official filing.

Apple describes a method for devices to send synchronization signals in unlicensed radio frequencies, which are shared by many different technologies. The system adds extra data blocks to the signal to meet specific rules about how much of the channel is already being used by other devices.

Why it mattersThis could help Apple devices communicate directly with each other in crowded areas where standard cellular networks might be busy or unavailable.

In the filing’s own words

A user equipment (UE) can operate in an unlicensed network for sidelink (SL) communications to generate a sidelink (SL) synchronization signal block (S-SSB) transmission in a new radio (NR) unlicensed band, wherein at least one physical resource block (PRB) can be added to satisfy a temporary exemption of an occupied channel bandwidth (OCB). The UE can transmit the S-SSB transmission in an SL channel of the unlicensed band.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A User Equipment (UE) comprising: a memory; processing circuitry, coupled to the memory, configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the UE to: generate a sidelink synchronization signal block (S-SSB) in an unlicensed band; and transmit the S-SSB in a sidelink channel of the unlicensed band.

Facts

Company: Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title: PHYSICAL CHANNEL STRUCTURE FOR SIDELINK (SL) IN UNLICENSED SPECTRUM
Publication number: US20260333392A1
Application number: 19112290
Filed: Sep 23, 2022
Published: Oct 22, 2026
Inventors: 10
Claims: 21

Classified under

H04W 72/25 Electricity & electronicsH04B 17/328 Electricity & electronics

Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.