| CPC H04W 74/0816 (2013.01) [H04W 16/28 (2013.01); H04W 24/10 (2013.01)] | 18 Claims |

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1. A method performed by a network node for transmitting downlink (DL) data to a user equipment (UE) in unlicensed spectrum in a wireless network, the method comprising:
responsive to DL data intended for the UE, transmitting a first short signal burst to the UE over a channel using a directional beam; and
based on detecting a first response from the UE to the first short signal burst, the first response indicating that the channel is available, transmitting at least a portion of the DL data to the UE over the channel using the directional beam, wherein transmitting the first short signal burst further comprises:
before transmitting the first short signal burst, determining whether one or more of the following conditions are met: an expected duration of a transmission of the DL data does not exceed a predetermined threshold, and the network node is in an interference-free environment; and
when it is determined that the one or more conditions are met, refraining from transmitting the first short signal burst, such that transmitting the DL data to the UE is performed independent of a first response from the UE to the first short signal burst.
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