Systems and methods for signaling start symbols in multiple PDSCH transmission occasions

Abstract

Systems and methods related to indicating start symbols for multiple transmission opportunities in a cellular communication system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication device includes receiving an indication of a transmission opportunity for a corresponding downlink transmission to the wireless communication device, where at least two of the downlink transmissions are associated with different transmission configuration indication states. The method further includes: receiving an indication of a start symbol and a length of a first transmission opportunity among the transmission opportunities, and receiving an indication of a specific offset value that will be applied to determine a start symbol of a second transmission opportunity among the transmission opportunities. The method further includes determining the start symbol of the second transmission opportunity based on the start symbol of the first transmission opportunity, the length of the first transmission opportunity, and the specific offset value.

Description

[0001] Related Applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 915,463, filed Oct. 15, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure relates to cellular communication networks, and more particularly, to slot-based and mini-slot-based time multiplexing schemes for multi-transmission / reception point (TRP) transmissions in cellular communication systems. Background Art

[0004] The new generation or next generation mobile radio communication system (5G) or new radio (NR) supports a range of different use cases and a range of different deployment scenarios. NR uses cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CP-OFDM) in the downlink and both CP-OFDM and discrete Fourier transform (DFT) spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM) in the uplink. In the time domain, the NR downlink and uplink physical resources are organized into subframes of equal size of 1 millisecond (ms) each. The subframes are further divided into a plurality of time slots of equal duration. The slot length depends on the subcarrier spacing. For a subcarrier spacing of Δf = 15 kilohertz (kHz), there is only one time slot per subframe, and each time slot typically consists of 14 orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, independent of the subcarrier spacing.

[0005] Typical data scheduling in NR is on a per time slot basis. For a 15 kHz subcarrier spacing, an example is shown in Figure 1 where the first two symbols contain the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and the remaining twelve symbols contain the physical data channel (PDCH) (physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)).

[0006] In NR, different subcarrier spacing (SCS) values are supported. The supported SCS values (which are also referred to as different numerologies) are given by Δf = (15 × 2 α ) kHz, where α ∈ (0, 1, 2, 4, 8). Δf = 15 kHz is the basic SCS also used in Long Term Evolution (LTE), where the corresponding time slot duration is 1 ms. For a given SCS, the corresponding time slot duration is ms.

[0007] In the definition of physical resources in the frequency domain, the system bandwidth is divided into resource blocks (RBs), each resource block corresponding to twelve (12) consecutive subcarriers.Figure 2 Figure 1 shows a basic NR physical time-frequency resource grid, where only one RB within a 14-symbol time slot is shown. One OFDM subcarrier during one OFDM symbol interval forms one resource element (RE).

[0008] Downlink transmissions can be scheduled dynamically. That is, in each time slot, the NR base station (gNB) transmits downlink control information (DCI) on the PDCCH. The downlink control information (DCI) indicates which user equipment (UE) the data is to be transmitted to and on which RBs and OFDM symbols in the current downlink time slot the data is to be transmitted. When only a few OFDM symbols are used for PDSCH transmission, the term "mini-slot" is sometimes used. However, a mini-slot can be any number of OFDM symbols from 1 to the number of OFDM symbols in a time slot, but preferably less than a full time slot. In NR, the PDCCH is typically transmitted in the first one or two OFDM symbols in each time slot. UE data is carried on the PDSCH. The UE first detects and decodes the PDCCH, and if the decoding is successful, it decodes the corresponding PDSCH based on the decoded control information in the PDCCH.

[0009] The PDCCH can also be used to schedule uplink data transmissions dynamically. Similar to the downlink, the UE first decodes the uplink grant in the PDCCH and then transmits data via the PUSCH based on the decoded control information in the uplink grant. The decoded control information in the uplink grant includes information such as modulation order, coding rate, uplink resource allocation, etc.

[0010] In NR Release 15, both downlink transmissions and uplink transmissions support slot aggregation, which is beneficial for enhancing coverage and improving reliability. In this case, when configuring radio resource control (RRC) parameters for slot aggregation, PDSCH transmissions and PUSCH transmissions can be repeated over multiple time slots. For PDSCH, grant-based PUSCH, and grant-free PUSCH, the corresponding RRC parameters are referred to as pdsch-AggregationFactor, pusch-AggregationFactor, and repK respectively. The following lists the relevant information elements (IEs) from 3GPP technical specification TS 38.331 to illustrate the usage of these parameters.

[0011]

[0012] When a UE is scheduled for PDSCH transmission in a given time slot via downlink (DL) assignment or DL semi-persistent scheduling (SPS), if the aggregation factor is configured with a value greater than 1, the signaled resource allocation for the PDSCH is used for multiple consecutive time slots. In this case, the PDSCH is repeated in those time slots used to transmit the corresponding transport block (TB) with different redundancy versions. The same process is applied to the uplink (UL), where the UE is scheduled via UL assignment or unlicensed in a time slot for PUSCH transmission and is configured for time slot aggregation. In this case, the UE uses the signaled resource allocation in the number of time slots given by the aggregation factor with different redundancy versions to transmit the corresponding TB. The redundancy version to be applied to the nth transmission occasion of the TB is determined according to the following table, where rv id is the RV identification number.

[0013] Table 5.1.2.1-2: Redundancy versions applied when there is pdsch-AggregationFactor

[0014]

[0015] In NR Release 16, proposals for indicating the repetition count in DCI are currently under discussion. Some of the proposals in NR Release 16 include indicating the repetition count in a newly introduced DCI field. Some other proposals in NR Release 16 include using an existing DCI field (such as the time domain resource allocation (TDRA) field) to indicate the repetition count.

[0016] In NR Release 15, the TDRA information for PDSCH transmission in a time slot includes information that enables the UE to determine the time slot in which the PDSCH is expected to be received (i.e., K0), the starting symbol in the time slot for PDSCH reception, and the length or duration of PDSCH reception (i.e., the start and length indicator value (SLIV)). The UE is also provided with a mapping type for determining the demodulation reference signal (DMRS) position. In NR, a TDRA table consisting of different combinations of K0, SLIV, etc. is specified. The index to a row in the table can be signaled to the UE, and this index provides information about K0 and SLIV to be used for reception.

[0017] A similar process applies to PUSCH transmission, where the time slot intended for PUSCH transmission is obtained from a field in the UL assignment, given by K2. SLIV information is provided in a similar way as the mapping type and DL reception are provided via UL assignment and / or configuration.

[0018] TDRA is the time-domain resource allocation for the first moment of PDSCH reception or PUSCH transmission. As described above, if the UE is configured with an aggregation factor, the transmission in the time slot is repeated in multiple time slots based on this aggregation factor.

[0019] The relevant IEs from 3GPP TS 38.331 are listed below to illustrate the usage of these parameters.

[0020]

[0021] Several signals can be transmitted from the same base station antenna from different antenna ports. These signals can have the same large-scale characteristics, such as in terms of Doppler frequency shift / spread, average delay spread, or average delay. Thus, these antenna ports are said to be quasi co-located (QCL).

[0022] Then, the network can signal to the UE that two antenna ports are QCL. If the UE knows that two antenna ports are QCL with respect to a certain parameter (e.g., Doppler spread), the UE can estimate the parameter based on one of the antenna ports and use the estimate when receiving the other antenna port. Generally, the first antenna port is represented by a measurement reference signal such as a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) (referred to as the source RS), and the second antenna port is the DMRS (referred to as the target RS).

[0023] For example, if antenna ports A and B are QCL with respect to average delay, then the UE can estimate the average delay based on the signal received from antenna port A (referred to as the source reference signal (RS)) and assume that the signal received from antenna port B (target RS) has the same average delay. This is useful for demodulation because when trying to measure the channel using the DMRS, the UE can know the characteristics of the channel in advance.

[0024] The network signals to the UE the information about what assumptions can be made regarding QCL. In NR, four types of QCL relationships between the transmitted source RS and the transmitted target RS are defined:

[0025] • Type A: {Doppler frequency shift, Doppler spread, average delay, delay spread}

[0026] • Type B: {Doppler frequency shift, Doppler spread}

[0027] • Type C: {Average delay, Doppler frequency shift}

[0028] • Type D: {Spatial Rx parameter}

[0029] QCL type D was introduced to facilitate beam management using analog beamforming and is referred to as spatial QCL. Currently, there is no strict definition of spatial QCL, but the understanding is that if two transmitted antenna ports are QCL in space, then the UE can use the same Rx beam to receive them. Note that for beam management, this discussion mainly focuses on QCL type D, but it is also necessary to convey the type A QCL relationship of the RS to the UE so that the UE can estimate all relevant large-scale parameters.

[0030] Typically, this is achieved by configuring the UE with CSI-RS for tracking (TRS) for time / frequency offset estimation. To be able to use any QCL reference, the UE will have to receive it with a sufficient signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR). In many cases, this means that the TRS must be transmitted to a particular UE in a suitable beam.

[0031] To introduce dynamics in beam and transmission / reception point (TRP) selection, the UE can be configured via RRC signaling with N transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states, where, depending on the UE capabilities, N is up to 128 in frequency range 2 (FR2) and up to 8 in FR1. Each TCI state contains QCL information, i.e., one or two source DL RSs, each source RS associated with a QCL type. For example, a TCI state contains a pair of reference signals, each reference signal associated with a QCL type, e.g., two different CSI-RSs {CSI-RS1, CSI-RS2} configured in the TCI state as {qcl-type1, qcl-type2} = {type A, type D}. This means that the UE can derive the Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, delay spread from CSI-RS1 and the spatial Rx parameters (i.e., the Rx beam to be used) from CSI-RS2. In cases where type D (spatial information) is not applicable (such as in low-band or mid-band operation), then the TCI state contains only a single source RS. Each of the N states in the TCI state list can be interpreted as a list of N possible beams transmitted from the network or N possible TRPs used by the network to communicate with the UE.

[0032] Configure a first list of available TCI states for PDSCH, and a second list for PDCCH contains pointers to a subset of the TCI states configured for PDSCH, called TCI state IDs. Then, the network activates one TCI state for PDCCH (i.e., provides TCI for PDCCH), and activates up to M active TCI states for PDSCH. The number M of active TCI states that the UE can support is the UE capability, but the maximum value in NR Rel-15 is 8. Each configured TCI state contains parameters for the quasi-co-location association between the source reference signal (CSI-RS or SS / PBCH) and the target reference signal (e.g., PDSCH / PDCCH DMRS ports). TCI states are also used to convey QCL information for receiving CSI-RS.

[0033] Assume that the UE is configured with four active TCI states from a list of a total of sixty-four (64) configured TCI states. Thus, sixty (60) TCI states are inactive, and the UE does not need to be ready with the large-scale parameters estimated for these TCI states. However, the UE continuously tracks and updates the large-scale parameters of the four active TCI states by measuring and analyzing the source RS indicated by each TCI state.

[0034] In NR Release 15, when scheduling PDSCH for the UE, the DCI contains a pointer to one active TCI. Then, the UE knows which large-scale parameter estimate to use when performing PDSCH DMRS channel estimation and thus PDSCH demodulation.

[0035] DMRS is used for coherent demodulation of the physical layer data channels PDSCH (DL) and PUSCH (UL) and for coherent demodulation of PDCCH. DMRS is restricted to the resource blocks carrying the associated physical layer channel and is mapped onto the allocated resource elements of the OFDM time-frequency grid such that the receiver can efficiently handle time / frequency selective fading radio channels.

[0036] The mapping of DMRS to resource elements can be configured in both the frequency domain and the time domain. Two mapping types in the frequency domain (configuration type 1 or type 2) and two mapping types in the time domain (mapping type A or type B) define the symbol position of the first DMRS within the transmission interval. The DMRS mapping in the time domain can further be single-symbol based or double-symbol based, where the latter means that the DMRS is mapped in two adjacent symbol pairs. Additionally, the UE can be configured with one, two, three, or four single-symbol DMRSs and one or two double-symbol DMRSs. In a scenario with low Doppler, configuring only the preamble DMRS (i.e., one single-symbol DMRS or one double-symbol DMRS) may be sufficient, while in a scenario with high Doppler, additional DMRSs will be required.

[0037] Figure 3 The mapping of the preamble DMRS for configuration types 1 and 2 with single-symbol and double-symbol DMRSs and for mapping type A with the first DMRS in the third symbol of a 14-symbol transmission interval is shown. We observe from this figure that types 1 and 2 are different in both the mapping structure and the number of supported DMRS code division multiplexing (CDM) groups, where type 1 supports 2 CDM groups and type 2 supports 3 CDM groups.

[0038] The DMRS antenna ports are mapped only to the resource elements within one CDM group. For single-symbol DMRS, two antenna ports can be mapped to each CDM group, while for double-symbol DMRS, four antenna ports can be mapped to each CDM group. Therefore, for type 1, the maximum number of DMRS ports is four or eight, and for type 2, the maximum number of DMRS ports is six or twelve. Orthogonal cover codes (OCCs) of length 2 ([+1, +1], [+1, -1]) are used to separate the antenna ports mapped to the same resource elements within the CDM group. When double-symbol DM-RS is configured, OCC is applied in both the frequency domain and the time domain.

[0039] In NR Release 16, there are ongoing specification enhancements for ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC) with a packet error rate as low as 10^-5. For these services, alternative modulation and coding scheme (MCS) tables can be configured for PDSCH or PUSCH scheduling, which gives a more robust reception of the data payload.

[0040] In NR Release 16, there is an ongoing discussion on the support for PDSCH with multiple TRPs. One mechanism being considered in NR Release 16 is for a single PDCCH to schedule one or more PDSCHs from different TRPs. A single PDCCH is received from one of the TRPs. Figure 4Shows an example where the UE receives two PDSCHs scheduled by DCI in the PDCCH from TRP1. The first PDSCH (PDSCH1) is received from TRP1, and the second PDSCH (PDSCH2) is received from TRP2. Alternatively, a single PDCCH schedules a single PDSCH, where the PDSCH layer is divided into two groups, and layer group 1 is received from TRP1 and layer group 2 is received from TRP2. In this case, each PDSCH or layer group transmitted from different TRPs has a different TCI state associated with it. In Figure 4 the example, PDSCH 1 is associated with TCI state p, and PDSCH 2 is associated with TCI state q.

[0041] At the RAN1 Ad Hoc meeting in January 2019, the following agreement was reached:

[0042]

[0043] According to the above agreement, each code point in the DCI transmission configuration indication field can be mapped to 1 or 2 TCI states. This can be interpreted as follows:

[0044] • "The DCI in the PDCCH schedules 1 or 2 PDSCHs (or, if it is a single PDSCH, schedules 1 or 2 layer groups), where each PDSCH or layer group is associated with a different TCI state; the code point of the transmission configuration indication field in the DCI indicates 1 or 2 TCI states associated with the 1 - 2 PDSCHs or layer groups scheduled." In this case, the two DMRSs of the two PDSCHs or two layer groups are not respectively mapped to the same DMRS CDM group.

[0045] It should be noted that in FR2 operation, a single PDCCH received by the UE using one TCI state with QCL type D (e.g., a single PDCCH received using one receive beam) can indicate one or more PDSCHs (e.g., one of the PDSCHs received using another receive beam) associated with another TCI state with QCL type D. In this case, the UE needs to switch the beam from the point of the last symbol of receiving the single PDCCH to the point of the first symbol of receiving the PDSCH. This beam switching delay is counted in terms of the number of OFDM symbols. For example, at a 60 kHz sub - carrier spacing, the beam switching delay can be 7 symbols; at a 120 kHz sub - carrier spacing, the beam switching delay can be 14 symbols.

[0046] For multi-TRP based PDSCH transmission, different schemes were considered in NR Release 16. One of the agreed-upon schemes involves time-division multiplexing (TDM) of different PDSCHs transmitted from multiple TRPs on a slot basis. Figure 5 An example of NR Release 16 slot-based TDM PDSCH from two TRPs is shown in Figure 5 , where each PDSCH is associated with a different TCI state. In this example, the PDCCH indicates two different PDSCHs, where PDSCH1 associated with TCI state p is transmitted from TRP 1, and PDSCH 2 associated with TCI state q is transmitted from TRP2. Since PDSCH 1 and 2 are time-division multiplexed in different slots, the DMRSs corresponding to the two PDSCHs are transmitted in non-overlapping resources (i.e., different slots). Therefore, the DMRSs of the two PDSCHs can use the same CDM group or even the exact same antenna port in each slot. In the example of

[0047] , CDM group 0 is used to transmit the DMRS of PDSCH 1 in slot n, while CDM group 0 is used to transmit the DM-RS of PDSCH 2 in slot n+1. In NR Release 16, the scheme of slot-based TDM PDSCH associated with different TCI states is useful for URLLC. Figure 6 Another agreed-upon scheme involves time-division multiplexing (TDM) of different PDSCHs transmitted from multiple TRPs on a mini-slot basis (which is also referred to as PDSCH type B scheduling in the NR specification). An example of NR Release 16 mini-slot-based TDM PDSCH from two TRPs is shown in Figure 6 , where each PDSCH is associated with a different TCI state. In this example, the PDCCH indicates two different PDSCHs, where PDSCH 1 associated with TCI state p is transmitted from TRP 1, and PDSCH 2 associated with TCI state q is transmitted from TRP2. Since PDSCH 1 and 2 are time-division multiplexed in different mini-slots, the DMRSs corresponding to the two PDSCHs are transmitted in non-overlapping resources (i.e., different mini-slots). Therefore, the DMRSs of the two PDSCHs can use the same CDM group or even the same antenna port in each mini-slot. In the example of

[0048] Note that Figure 5 and Figure 6The PDSCHs transmitted from two TRPs using time-division multiplexing schemes based on time slots and mini-slots can correspond to the same or different redundant versions (i.e., repetitions) of the same TB. Therefore, the UE can perform soft combining on the two PDSCHs transmitted from the two TRPs to achieve more reliable reception. Although Figure 5 and Figure 6 The examples in show two repetitions on two TRPs, but the time-division multiplexing schemes based on time slots and mini-slots are also applicable to the case of having N > 2 repetitions on M > 1 TRPs. Throughout this disclosure, the terms "PDSCH transmission occasion" and "PDSCH repetition" have the same meaning.

[0049] There are currently some challenges. Even though the time-division multiplexing schemes based on time slots and mini-slots are agreed to be used for multi-TRP, the signaling details for indicating the start symbols of multiple PDSCH transmission occasions (i.e., repetitions) are still open issues, especially for the time-division multiplexing scheme based on mini-slots (i.e., transmitting multiple transmission occasions corresponding to multiple TCI states). Without knowing the start symbols of the multiple PDSCH transmission occasions, the UE will not know the time-domain resource allocation for the multiple transmission occasions. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0050] Systems and methods related to indicating start symbols of multiple transmission occasions in a cellular communication system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication device includes receiving an indication of multiple transmission occasions for respective multiple downlink transmissions to the wireless communication device, where at least two of the multiple downlink transmissions are associated with different transmission configuration indication states. The method further includes: receiving an indication of a start symbol and a length of a first transmission occasion among the multiple transmission occasions, and receiving an indication of a specific offset value that will be applied to determine a start symbol of a second transmission occasion among the multiple transmission occasions. The method further includes determining the start symbol of the second transmission occasion based on the start symbol of the first transmission occasion, the length of the first transmission occasion, and the specific offset value. In this way, an efficient way of signaling start symbols of multiple transmission occasions is provided.

[0051] In one embodiment, determining the start symbol of the second transmission occasion includes determining that the start symbol of the second transmission occasion is S + L + K, where S is the start symbol of the first transmission occasion, L is the length of the first transmission occasion, and K is the specific offset value.

[0052] In one embodiment, the plurality of transmission opportunities are a plurality of Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) transmission opportunities, and the plurality of downlink transmissions are multiple repetitions of the same data transmission or different layers of a single data transmission.

[0053] In one embodiment, the plurality of transmission opportunities are in a single time slot.

[0054] In one embodiment, the first transmission opportunity is the first in time among the plurality of transmission opportunities, and the second transmission opportunity is the second in time among the plurality of transmission opportunities.

[0055] In one embodiment, receiving the indication of the specific offset value includes receiving the indication of the specific offset value via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling. In one embodiment, the indication of the specific offset value is an indication of an offset value from a set of predefined candidate offset values.

[0056] In one embodiment, the method further includes receiving an indication of a set of possible offset values, wherein receiving the indication of the specific offset value includes receiving one offset value from the set of possible offset values as the indication of the specific offset value. In one embodiment, receiving the indication of the set of possible offset values includes receiving the indication of the set of possible offset values via higher layer signaling. In one embodiment, receiving one offset value from the set of possible offset values as the indication of the specific offset value includes receiving the indication of one offset value from the set of possible offset values via Downlink Control Information (DCI) scheduling the plurality of downlink transmissions.

[0057] In one embodiment, receiving the indication of the start and the length of the first transmission opportunity includes receiving the indication of the start and the length of the first transmission opportunity via a Time Domain Resource Allocation (TDRA) field in the DCI scheduling the plurality of downlink transmissions. In one embodiment, receiving the indication of the specific offset value includes receiving the indication of the specific offset value (1006) via a field in the DCI scheduling the plurality of downlink transmissions.

[0058] In one embodiment, receiving the indication of the plurality of transmission opportunities includes receiving the indication of the plurality of transmission opportunities via a Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) field in the DCI scheduling the plurality of downlink transmissions, the TCI field indicating a code point that indicates more than one TCI state and thus indicates more than one transmission opportunity.

[0059] In one embodiment, receiving the indication of the specific offset value includes receiving the indication of the specific offset value via a field in a DCI that schedules the plurality of downlink transmissions.

[0060] In one embodiment, receiving the indication of the plurality of transmission opportunities includes receiving a DCI that schedules the plurality of downlink transmissions among the plurality of transmission opportunities in the same time slot, where the DCI includes the indication of the plurality of transmission opportunities. In one embodiment, the indication of the start symbol and the length of the first transmission opportunity is further included in the DCI. In one embodiment, the indication of the specific offset value is further included in the DCI.

[0061] In one embodiment, the method further includes receiving the plurality of downlink transmissions among the plurality of transmission opportunities, where receiving the plurality of downlink transmissions among the plurality of transmission opportunities includes receiving a second downlink transmission in the second transmission opportunity based on the determined start symbol of the second transmission opportunity.

[0062] Corresponding embodiments of a wireless communication device are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless communication device is adapted to receive an indication of a plurality of transmission opportunities for a respective plurality of downlink transmissions to the wireless communication device, where at least two of the plurality of downlink transmissions are associated with different transmission configuration indication states. The wireless communication device is further adapted to receive an indication of a start symbol and a length of a first transmission opportunity among the plurality of transmission opportunities, and to receive an indication of a specific offset value that is to be applied to determine a start symbol of a second transmission opportunity among the plurality of transmission opportunities. The wireless communication device is further adapted to determine the start symbol of the second transmission opportunity based on the start symbol of the first transmission opportunity, the length of the first transmission opportunity, and the specific offset value.

[0063] In one embodiment, a wireless communication device includes one or more transmitters, one or more receivers, and processing circuitry associated with the one or more transmitters and the one or more receivers. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the wireless communication device to receive indications of a plurality of transmission opportunities for a respective plurality of downlink transmissions to the wireless communication device, at least two of the plurality of downlink transmissions being associated with different transmission configuration indication states. The processing circuitry is further configured to cause the wireless communication device to receive an indication of a start symbol and a length of a first transmission opportunity of the plurality of transmission opportunities, and to receive an indication of a specific offset value that is to be applied to determine a start symbol of a second transmission opportunity of the plurality of transmission opportunities. The processing circuitry is further configured to cause the wireless communication device to determine the start symbol of the second transmission opportunity based on the start symbol of the first transmission opportunity, the length of the first transmission opportunity, and the specific offset value.

[0064] In another embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication device includes receiving downlink control information (DCI) scheduling a plurality of transmission opportunities in a single time slot for respective plurality of downlink transmissions to the wireless communication device. The DCI includes information indicating that at least two of the plurality of downlink transmissions are associated with different transmission configuration indication states and information indicating a start symbol and a length of a first transmission opportunity of the plurality of transmission opportunities. The method further includes determining a start symbol of a second transmission opportunity of the plurality of transmission opportunities based on the start symbol of the first transmission opportunity, the length of the first transmission opportunity, and a specific offset value. The specific offset value is: the value indicated to the wireless communication device if the wireless communication device has received an indication of the specific offset value; and a predefined value if the wireless communication device has not received an indication of the specific offset value.

[0065] In one embodiment, the predefined value of the specific offset value is zero.

[0066] In one embodiment, the specific offset value is: the value indicated to the wireless communication device if the wireless communication device has received an indication of the specific offset value via radio resource control (RRC) signaling; and the predefined value if the wireless communication device has not received an indication of the specific offset value via RRC signaling.

[0067] In one embodiment, the method further includes receiving the plurality of downlink transmissions in the plurality of transmission opportunities according to the DCI, wherein receiving the plurality of downlink transmissions in the plurality of transmission opportunities includes receiving a second downlink transmission in the second transmission opportunity based on a determined start symbol of the second transmission opportunity.

[0068] Corresponding embodiments of a wireless communication device are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless communication device is adapted to receive DCI scheduling a plurality of transmission opportunities in a single time slot, the plurality of transmission opportunities for respective plurality of downlink transmissions to the wireless communication device. The DCI includes information indicating that at least two of the plurality of downlink transmissions are associated with different transmission configuration indication states and information indicating a start symbol and a length of a first transmission opportunity among the plurality of transmission opportunities. The wireless communication device is further adapted to determine a start symbol of a second transmission opportunity among the plurality of transmission opportunities based on the start symbol of the first transmission opportunity, the length of the first transmission opportunity, and a specific offset value. The specific offset value: is a value indicated to the wireless communication device if the wireless communication device has received an indication of the specific offset value; and is a predefined value if the wireless communication device has not received an indication of the specific offset value.

[0069] In one embodiment, a wireless communication device includes one or more transmitters, one or more receivers, and processing circuitry associated with the one or more transmitters and the one or more receivers. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the wireless communication device to receive DCI scheduling a plurality of transmission opportunities in a single time slot, the plurality of transmission opportunities for respective plurality of downlink transmissions to the wireless communication device. The DCI includes information indicating that at least two of the plurality of downlink transmissions are associated with different transmission configuration indication states and information indicating a start symbol and a length of a first transmission opportunity among the plurality of transmission opportunities. The processing circuitry is further configured to cause the wireless communication device to determine a start symbol of a second transmission opportunity among the plurality of transmission opportunities based on the start symbol of the first transmission opportunity, the length of the first transmission opportunity, and a specific offset value. The specific offset value: is a value indicated to the wireless communication device if the wireless communication device has received an indication of the specific offset value; and is a predefined value if the wireless communication device has not received an indication of the specific offset value.

[0070] Embodiments of a method performed by a base station are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for signaling the start symbol of multiple transmission opportunities performed by a base station includes sending an indication of the existence of multiple transmission opportunities to a wireless communication device, and sending an indication of the start symbol S and length L of a first transmission opportunity to the wireless communication device. The method further includes sending an indication of a specific offset value K that will be applied to determine the start symbol of a second transmission opportunity to the wireless communication device.

[0071] In one embodiment, the start symbol of the second transmission opportunity is S + L + K.

[0072] In one embodiment, the multiple transmission opportunities are multiple PDSCH transmission opportunities.

[0073] In one embodiment, the multiple transmission opportunities are in the same time slot.

[0074] In one embodiment, the first transmission opportunity is the first transmission opportunity among the multiple transmission opportunities. In one embodiment, the second transmission opportunity is the second transmission opportunity among the multiple transmission opportunities.

[0075] In one embodiment, the method further includes sending an indication of a set of possible offset values to the wireless communication device, wherein sending the indication of the specific offset value K includes sending one offset value from the set of possible offset values as the indication of the specific offset value K. In one embodiment, sending the indication of the set of possible offset values includes sending the indication of the set of possible offset values via higher layer signaling.

[0076] In one embodiment, sending the indication of the existence of multiple transmission opportunities includes sending the indication of the existence of multiple transmission opportunities via the TCI field in DCI, and when the code point in the TCI field indicates more than 1 TCI state, the TCI field indicates two transmission opportunities.

[0077] In one embodiment, sending the indication of the start S and the length L of the first transmission opportunity includes sending the indication of the start S and the length L of the first transmission opportunity via the TDRA field in DCI.

[0078] In one embodiment, sending the indication of the specific offset value K includes sending the indication of the specific offset value K via a field in DCI.

[0079] In one embodiment, the method further includes sending a DCI message to the wireless communication device, the DCI message scheduling the plurality of transmission opportunities in the same time slot, wherein the DCI message includes the indication that there are a plurality of transmission opportunities and the indication of the start symbol S and the length L of the first transmission opportunity. In one embodiment, the DCI message further includes the indication of the specific offset value k.

[0080] Corresponding embodiments of the base station are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a base station for signaling the start symbol of a plurality of transmission opportunities is adapted to send an indication that there are a plurality of transmission opportunities to a wireless communication device, and to send an indication of the start symbol S and the length L of the first transmission opportunity to the wireless communication device. The base station is further adapted to send an indication of a specific offset value K to the wireless communication device that will be applied to determine the start symbol of the second transmission opportunity.

[0081] In one embodiment, a base station for signaling the start symbol of a plurality of transmission opportunities includes processing circuitry configured to cause the base station to send an indication that there are a plurality of transmission opportunities to a wireless communication device, and to send an indication of the start symbol S and the length L of the first transmission opportunity to the wireless communication device. The processing circuitry is further configured to cause the base station to send an indication of a specific offset value K to the wireless communication device that will be applied to determine the start symbol of the second transmission opportunity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0082] The drawings incorporated in and forming a part of this specification illustrate several aspects of the present disclosure and, together with the description, are used to explain the principles of the present disclosure.

[0083] Figure 1 Shows an example of typical data scheduling in a new radio (NR) per time slot;

[0084] Figure 2 Shows the basic NR physical time-frequency resource grid;

[0085] Figure 3 Shows the mapping of precoded demodulation reference signals (DMRS) for configuration types 1 and 2 with single-symbol and double-symbol DMRS and for mapping type A with the first DMRS in the third symbol of a fourteen-symbol transmission interval;

[0086] Figure 4 Shows an example in which downlink control information (DCI) received by a user equipment (UE) from a first transmission / reception point (TRP) in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) schedules two physical downlink shared channels (PDSCHs), one from the first TRP and the other from a second TRP;

[0087] Figure 5 Shows an example of NR Release 16 slot-based time-multiplexed PDSCH from two TRPs, where each PDSCH is associated with a different transmission configuration indication (TCI) state;

[0088] Figure 6 Shows an example of NR Release 16 mini-slot-based time-multiplexed PDSCH from two TRPs, where each PDSCH is associated with a different TCI state;

[0089] Figure 7 Shows an example of a cellular communication system in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;

[0090] Figure 8 Shows an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure, where there are two PDSCH transmission opportunities within one slot, and the start symbol of the second PDSCH transmission opportunity and the subsequent PDSCH transmission opportunity (if configured) is signaled by a parameter K configured by a higher layer;

[0091] Figure 9 Shows the operations of a wireless communication device (WCD) and a base station according to at least some aspects of the embodiments described herein;

[0092] Figure 10 Shows the operations of a WCD and a base station according to at least some aspects of the embodiments described herein;

[0093] Figures 11 to 13 Is a schematic block diagram of an example embodiment of a radio access node;

[0094] Figure 14 and 15 Is a schematic block diagram of an example embodiment of a wireless communication device or;

[0095] Figure 16 Shows an example embodiment of a communication system in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;

[0096] Figure 17 Shows Figure 16 Example embodiments of a host computer, a base station, and a UE; and

[0097] Figures 18 to 21 Is a flowchart showing an example embodiment of a method implemented in a communication system such as Figure 16 The communication system. Detailed Description

[0098] The embodiments described below represent information that enables a person skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and show the best mode of practicing the embodiments. When reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, a person skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the present disclosure and will recognize the applications of these concepts that are not specifically addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0099] In general, all terms used herein will be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless clearly given and / or implied a different meaning from the context in which it is used. Unless otherwise explicitly stated, all references to elements, devices, components, parts, steps, etc. should be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the said element, device, component, part, step, etc. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not necessarily have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless the steps are explicitly described as after or before another step and / or in a situation where it is implied that a step must be after or before another step. In a suitable case, any feature of any embodiment disclosed herein can be applied to any other embodiment. Similarly, any advantage of any embodiment can be applied to any other embodiment, and vice versa. Other objects, features, and advantages of the appended embodiments will be apparent from the following description.

[0100] Radio node: As used herein, a "radio node" is a radio access node or a wireless communication device.

[0101] Radio access node: As used herein, a "radio access node" or "radio network node" or "radio access network node" is any node in the radio access network of a cellular communication network that operates to wirelessly transmit and / or receive signals. Some examples of radio access nodes include, but are not limited to, base stations (e.g., NR base stations (gNBs) in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5th Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) network or enhanced or evolved Node Bs (eNBs) in the 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) network), high-power or macro base stations, low-power base stations (e.g., micro base stations, pico base stations, home eNBs, or the like), relay nodes, network nodes that implement part of the functionality of a base station (e.g., a network node that implements the gNB central unit (gNB-CU) or a network node that implements the gNB distributed unit (gNB-DU)), or network nodes that implement part of the functionality of some other type of radio access node.

[0102] Core network node: As used herein, a "core network node" is any type of node in a core network or any node that implements core network functions. Some examples of core network nodes include, for example, a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW), a Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF), a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), etc. Some other examples of core network nodes include nodes that implement Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), UPF, Session Management Function (SMF), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF), Network Exposure Function (NEF), Network Function (NF) Repository Function (NRF), Policy Control Function (PCF), Unified Data Management (UDM), etc.

[0103] Communication device: As used herein, a "communication device" is any type of device that has access to an access network. Some examples of communication devices include, but are not limited to: mobile phones, smartphones, sensor devices, meters, vehicles, home appliances, medical devices, media players, cameras, or any type of consumer electronic device (e.g., but not limited to, a television, a radio device, a lighting device, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a Personal Computer (PC)). A communication device can be a portable, handheld, computer-including, or vehicle-mounted mobile device that is enabled to transmit voice and / or data via a wireless or wired connection.

[0104] Wireless communication device: One type of communication device is a wireless communication device, which can be any type of wireless device that has access to a wireless network (e.g., a cellular network) (i.e., is served by it). Some examples of wireless communication devices include, but are not limited to: User Equipment devices (UEs) in a 3GPP network, Machine Type Communication (MTC) devices, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Such wireless communication devices can be or can be integrated into mobile phones, smartphones, sensor devices, meters, vehicles, home appliances, medical devices, media players, cameras, or any type of consumer electronic device (e.g., but not limited to, a television, a radio device, a lighting device, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a PC). A wireless communication device can be a portable, handheld, computer-including, or vehicle-mounted mobile device that is enabled to transmit voice and / or data via a wireless connection.

[0105] Network node: As used herein, a "network node" is any node that is part of a core network or a radio access network of a cellular communication network / system.

[0106] Transmission / Reception Point (TRP): In some embodiments, the TRP may be a network node, a radio head, a spatial relation, or a Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state. In some embodiments, the TRP may be represented by a spatial relation or a TCI state. In some embodiments, the TRP may be using multiple TCI states.

[0107] Note that the description given herein focuses on 3GPP cellular communication systems and, as such, often uses 3GPP terminology or terminology similar to 3GPP terminology. However, the concepts disclosed herein are not limited to 3GPP systems.

[0108] Note that in the description herein, reference may be made to the term "cell"; however, particularly with respect to 5G NR concepts, beams may be used instead of cells, and thus it is important to note that the concepts described herein are equally applicable to both cells and beams.

[0109] As described above, there are currently certain challenges regarding time-division multiplexing schemes based on slots and mini-slots for multi-TRP transmission in cellular communication systems (such as, for example, 3GPP NR systems). Even though time-division multiplexing schemes based on slots and mini-slots have been agreed upon for multi-TRP in NR, the signaling details for indicating the start symbol of multiple Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) transmission opportunities (i.e., repetitions) remain an open issue, particularly for time-division multiplexing schemes based on mini-slots (i.e., transmitting multiple transmission opportunities corresponding to multiple Transmission Configuration Indications (TCI) states). Without knowing the start symbol of multiple PDSCH transmission opportunities, the UE will not know the time-domain resource allocation for multiple transmission opportunities.

[0110] Certain aspects of the present disclosure and its embodiments may provide solutions to the foregoing or other challenges. Some example embodiments of the present disclosure are as follows. In a first example embodiment, a method for determining the start symbol of multiple transmission opportunities (e.g., PDSCH transmission opportunities, e.g., in the same slot) performed by a wireless communication device (e.g., a UE) includes one or more of the following steps:

[0111] a) (Optional) Receive an indication of a set of possible K values (e.g., from a radio access node, e.g., a base station), where the K value is an offset value;

[0112] b) Receive an indication (e.g., from a radio access node, e.g., a base station) that there are multiple transmission opportunities (e.g., in the same slot);

[0113] c) Receive an indication (e.g., from a radio access node, e.g., a base station) of the start symbol S and length L of a first transmission opportunity (e.g., the first transmission opportunity from among multiple transmission opportunities in the same slot);

[0114] d) Receive an indication of a specific K value (e.g., if (a) is performed, and optionally, if the set of possible K values includes more than one possible K value, an indication of one K value from the set of possible K values), and this indication will be applied to determine the starting symbol of the second transmission occasion (e.g., the second transmission occasion among multiple transmission occasions in the same time slot);

[0115] e) Determine the starting symbol of the second transmission occasion (e.g., as S + L + K).

[0116] The second exemplary embodiment is the same as the first exemplary embodiment, but wherein an indication of the set of possible K values is received via higher layer signaling (e.g., radio resource control (RRC) signaling).

[0117] The third exemplary embodiment is the same as the first or second embodiment, but wherein when the code point in the TCI field indicates more than one TCI state, an indication of the existence of multiple transmission occasions is received via the TCI field in the DCI indicating two transmission occasions.

[0118] The fourth exemplary embodiment is the same as the first, second, or third embodiment, but wherein the indication of the start S and length L of the first transmission occasion is via the time domain resource allocation (TDRA) field in the downlink control information (DCI).

[0119] The fifth exemplary embodiment is the same as the first, second, third, or fourth embodiment, but wherein the indication of the specific K value is via a field in the DCI.

[0120] Some embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantages. (There are better ones.) Some embodiments of the proposed solution may provide an efficient way to signal to the UE the starting symbols of multiple PDSCH transmission occasions. Using the signaling proposed in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the UE can know where the first transmission occasion starts / ends and where the next transmission occasion starts / ends.

[0121] For example, looking at the first to fifth exemplary embodiments above, in the first and second exemplary embodiments, there are several benefits for the higher layer to configure at least one offset value K in the first indication (e.g., via RRC). One solution is to always use a fixed value of K, where the fixed value of K can be predefined in the specification. However, the methods proposed in the first exemplary embodiment (including step a) and the second exemplary embodiment can provide several advantages of only fixing the value of k. The said advantages are listed below:

[0122] • In NR, some time slots may have reference signals (e.g., NR Tracking Reference Signal (TRS)) configured at a given symbol position (one or more) within the time slot. For example, consider an example where a first transmission occasion has a start symbol S = 0 and a length L = 5, and an NR reference signal is configured in symbol 5 of the time slot. In this case, the first transmission occasion occupies symbols 0 - 4. Then, a value of K = 1 can be configured such that a second transmission occasion avoids the NR reference signal in symbol 5. In the case of K = 1, the second transmission occasion starts at symbol 6 and ends at symbol 10. Now, in a second example, assume that the first transmission occasion has a start symbol S = 0 and a length L = 5, and two NR reference signals are configured in symbols 5 and 6 of the time slot. In this case, a value of K = 2 is required, so that the second transmission occasion avoids the NR reference signals in symbols 5 - 6. In the case of K = 2, the second transmission occasion starts at symbol 7 and ends at symbol 11. Thus, the methods of the first and second example embodiments allow for flexibility that is not given by a solution that always uses a fixed value of K predefined.

[0123] • In the case where there is a downlink (DL) / uplink (UL) switch within the time slot (i.e., there are multiple uplink symbols between downlink symbols within the time slot), the methods in the first and second example embodiments also provide flexibility in configuring the value of K. In this case, the flexible solutions of the methods of the first and second example embodiments allow for configuring different offset values to avoid conflicts of the second transmission occasion with different numbers of uplink symbols in the middle of the time slot.

[0124] • In the case where there is a Control Resource Set (CORESET) in the middle of the time slot (i.e., a CORESET is configured between the first and second transmission occasions), the methods in the first and second example embodiments also provide flexibility in configuring the value of K. In this case, the flexible solutions of the methods of the first and second example embodiments allow for configuring different offset values to avoid conflicts of the second transmission occasion with different numbers of symbols occupied by the CORESET in the middle of the time slot.

[0125] The method of the above third example embodiment is beneficial because it allows the offset to be applied to multi - TRP transmission (i.e., when the TCI field indicates two TCI states in the code point) rather than to single - TRP transmission (i.e., when the TCI field indicates one TCI state in the code point). Note that the scheme considered in NR version 16 is for multi - TRP Ultra - Reliable Low - Latency Communication (URLLC), and configuring such a gap for a single TRP may not be beneficial or required. Thus, the method of the above third example embodiment allows the configured offset K to be applied only to multi - TRP URLLC.

[0126] The methods of the first exemplary embodiment (including step c) and the fourth exemplary embodiment provide a reduction in downlink control overhead because only the start and length of the first transmission occasion are signaled via the TDRA field of the DCI. Another solution is to indicate the start and length of both the first transmission occasion and the second transmission occasion via the TDRA field in the DCI, but this other solution would increase the number of bits in the TDRA field. Thus, the methods proposed by the first exemplary embodiment (including step c) and the fourth exemplary embodiment are beneficial.

[0127] The methods of the above first exemplary embodiment (including step d) and the fifth exemplary embodiment allow for the configuration of multiple offset K values and indicate one of the values via the DCI. This is beneficial compared to always using the same offset K value for all time slots. For example, the first time slot may include an NR reference signal in the middle of the time slot and a value of K = 1 may be required to avoid a conflict between the NR reference signal in the first time slot and the second transmission occasion. In contrast, the second time slot may not include an NR reference signal in the middle of the time slot and a gap between the first and second transmission occasions may not be required in this second time slot. Thus, a value of K = 0 is suitable for the second transmission occasion. With the methods of the above first exemplary embodiment (including step d) and the fifth exemplary embodiment, additional flexibility in selecting different K values for different time slots is obtained.

[0128] Figure 7FIG. 700 shows an example of a cellular communication system in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. In the embodiments described herein, the cellular communication system 700 is a 5G system (5GS) including an NR RAN (also referred to as a Next Generation RAN (NG-RAN)) or an LTE RAN (i.e., an E-UTRA RAN), or an evolved packet system (EPS) including an LTE RAN. In this example, the RAN includes base stations 702-1 and 702-2 that are referred to as eNBs in LTE (when connected to the EPC) and as gNBs or ng-eNBs in 5G NR (when an LTE RAN node is connected to the 5GC), and the base stations 702-1 and 702-2 control corresponding (macro) cells 704-1 and 704-2. The base stations 702-1 and 702-2 are generally referred to herein as base stations 702 and are individually referred to as base stations 702. Similarly, the (macro) cells 704-1 and 704-2 are generally referred to herein as (macro) cells 704 and are individually referred to as (macro) cells 704. The RAN may also include a plurality of low-power nodes 706-1 to 706-4 that control corresponding small cells 708-1 to 708-4. The low-power nodes 706-1 to 706-4 may be small base stations (such as pico or femto base stations) or remote radio heads (RRHs) or the like. It is noted that, although not shown, one or more of the small cells 708-1 to 708-4 may alternatively be provided by the base stations 702. The low-power nodes 706-1 to 706-4 are generally referred to herein as low-power nodes 706 and are individually referred to as low-power nodes 706. Similarly, the small cells 708-1 to 708-4 are generally referred to herein as small cells 708 and are individually referred to as small cells 708. The cellular communication system 700 further includes a core network 710, which is referred to as a 5G core (5GC) in the 5GS. The base stations 702 (and optionally the low-power nodes 706) are connected to the core system 710.

[0129] The base stations 702 and the low-power nodes 706 provide services to wireless communication devices 712-1 to 712-5 in the corresponding cells 704 and 708. The wireless communication devices 712-1 to 712-5 are generally referred to herein as wireless communication devices 712 and are individually referred to as wireless communication devices 712. In the following description, the wireless communication device 712 is generally a UE, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0130] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, it is assumed that multiple PDSCH transmission opportunities within a time slot are scheduled by a single DCI (i.e., a single PDCCH). Only the start symbol S and the length L (in symbols) of the first PDSCH transmission opportunity are signaled in the DCI. For example, the start symbol S and the length L of the first PDSCH transmission opportunity are provided by the TDRA field in the DCI. The start symbol of the second and (if configured) subsequent PDSCH transmission opportunities is signaled by a parameter K configured by a higher layer, where the parameter K is the time distance in OFDM symbols between the start symbol of the second transmission opportunity and the last symbol of the first transmission opportunity. In Figure 8 an example is shown in which there are two PDSCH transmission opportunities within a time slot, where for the first PDSCH opportunity, L = 4 and S = 2. L and S are signaled to the UE (e.g., via the TDRA field in the DCI). The second PDSCH transmission opportunity starts at symbol 8 and ends at symbol 11. There is a gap of K = 2 symbols between the first and second transmission opportunities. For the second transmission opportunity, only K = 2 is signaled to the UE, and the UE derives the start and length of the second PDSCH opportunity based on S and L of the first PDSCH opportunity and K.

[0131] In some cases, if the K value is not configured for the UE, the UE assumes that the K value is 0. This means that the second transmission opportunity starts on the next symbol after the end of the first transmission opportunity.

[0132] In some embodiments, the candidate values of K may depend on the downlink parameter set. It may also additionally depend on the uplink digital parameter set. This is because in cases where the time slot contains both uplink symbols and downlink symbols, different gaps may be required to protect the uplink symbols. Additionally, in the case of frequency range 2 (FR2), the time required to switch from one TCI state (i.e., receiving using one beam from one TRP) to another TCI state (i.e., receiving using another beam from another TRP) may depend on the downlink parameter set. Therefore, different candidate values of K depending on the downlink and / or UL parameter sets can be configured for the UE.

[0133] Some embodiments of the present disclosure are described below under separate headings. Note that these embodiments can be used alone or in any desired combination.

[0134] Embodiment 1: Pre - define candidate K values with one of the values configured by RRC

[0135] In this embodiment, a set of predefined candidate K values is defined, and one of the values is configured for the UE via higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling). For example, the set of candidate K values may include {0, 1, 2, 3, 4}, and the UE may be configured with K = 2 via RRC configuration, for example. The RRC configuration may be based on UE capabilities. For example, if the UE switches from receiving from one TRP to another TRP using two symbols, the minimum K value that can be configured for the UE is K = 2.

[0136] Embodiment 2: List of K values configured by RRC, and one K value is dynamically selected by DCI

[0137] In some scenarios, the K value configured by a single higher layer (e.g., RRC) is not flexible enough. In another embodiment, a list of K values is configured for the UE (e.g., via higher layer signaling, such as RRC signaling), and one value from the list is dynamically indicated in the DCI. For this purpose, an existing bit field or a new bit field in the DCI can be used. This will allow the gNB to flexibly schedule the second PDSCH transmission within a time slot. If a single K value is configured by RRC, that K value is used by default.

[0138] Embodiment 3: Configure K value in each TDRA

[0139] For different start symbols and different micro-slot lengths of the first PDSCH transmission occasion, the maximum allowed K value will be different. For example, for S = 0 and L = 7, only K = 0 is possible. While for S = 2 and L = 4, K can range from 0 to 5. Therefore, in another embodiment, the K value is configured in each TDRA together with k0, PDSCH type, and SLIV. This will allow the K value to be configured according to the S and L values configured in each TDRA in the TDRA list, and the same TDRA field in the DCI can be used to indicate the K value. An example is shown below, where each TDRA represented by the higher layer parameter PDSCH-TimeDomainResourceAllocation contains the K value. The maximum possible value of K is given by the parameter maxKvalue, which can be predefined in the 3GPP specification, for example.

[0140]

[0141] In another embodiment, the K value in the TDRA is used only when signaling multiple PDSCH transmission occasions within a time slot with multiple TRPs. For example, if more than one TCI state is indicated in the DCI, multi-TRP transmission can be determined. If K is not configured in the TDRA, in the case of multiple PDSCH transmission occasions, K = 0 is assumed.

[0142] Example 4: UE Capability Signaling Regarding K Value

[0143] In this example, it may be necessary for the UE to signal to the gNB the UE's capability regarding the minimum K value it can use. This capability can only be signaled if the UE is capable of receiving multi-TRP transmissions and multi-TRP transmissions are enabled for the UE. In another example, the capability signaling for K can simply indicate whether the UE can support K = 0.

[0144] Example 5: Error Scenario

[0145] If the UE receives DCI that schedules multiple PDSCH transmissions in a time slot via multiple TRPs (i.e., multiple transmission opportunities) with such a K value that, when the K value is applied, the second PDSCH transmission opportunity will exceed the time slot, the second PDSCH opportunity is ignored by the UE. For example, if the start and length of the first transmission opportunity are S = 0 and L = 7, a K value of 2 is considered an error scenario, where the UE will ignore the second PDSCH transmission opportunity. This is because a K value of 2 would mean that the second transmission opportunity would start at symbol 8 within the time slot and end at symbol 15. Assuming the time slot only contains 14 symbols, in this case, the UE ignores the second PDSCH.

[0146] Additional Aspects / Descriptions

[0147] Figure 9 The operation of a wireless communication device (WCD) 712 (e.g., UE) and a base station 702 (e.g., gNB) is shown in accordance with at least some aspects of the above examples. Optional steps are indicated by dashed lines or dashed boxes. Note that this process is merely an example. It should also be noted that although the base station 702 (e.g., gNB) is shown as a single box or element, depending on the specific implementation, the base station 702 (e.g., gNB) can be implemented as a single network node or can be distributed across two or more network nodes. For example, the base station 702 can be implemented as two separate network nodes, i.e., a first network node that implements at least a portion of the MAC layer and the PHY, and a second network node that implements the higher layers and possibly at least a portion of the MAC layer. As a specific example, in the case of a gNB, the functionality of the gNB can be separated between a gNB central unit (gNB-CU) and one or more gNB distributed units (gNB-DU). In this regard, the steps or functions described herein as being performed by the base station 702 or gNB can be performed in a distributed manner. For example, the network node implementing the higher layer functionality can "initiate" the transmission of a particular message (e.g., by sending the message to another network node implementing (one or more) lower layers), such that the other network node implementing the lower layer functionality actually transmits the particular message.

[0148] As shown, the WCD 712 optionally sends (e.g., signals) to the base station 702 information indicating one or more capabilities of the WCD 712 related to the K values supported by the WCD 712 (step 900). This capability information can, for example, explicitly or implicitly indicate one or more K values supported by the WCD 712, the minimum K value required by the WCD 712, or whether the WCD 712 supports K = 0 (see, for example, Embodiment 4).

[0149] The base station 702 optionally configures a set of possible K values (also referred to herein as "candidate" K values) for the WCD 712 (step 902). Configuring the set of possible K values can be via higher layer signaling, such as, for example, RRC signaling. Optionally, the base station 702 configures the WCD 712 with a specific K value (step 904). As described above, in one embodiment (e.g., Embodiment 1), the configuration of the specific K value is a semi-static configuration sent via higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling). Note that step 904 is optional because the specific K value can alternatively be signaled to the WCD 712, for example, within a DCI message that schedules multiple PDSCH transmission opportunities within the same time slot (e.g., as in Embodiments 2 and 3).

[0150] The base station 702 transmits and the WCD 712 receives a DCI (sometimes referred to herein as a "DCI message") that schedules two or more PDSCH transmission opportunities within the same time slot (step 906). As described above, the DCI message includes a TDRA that includes information indicating the start S and length L of the first PDSCH transmission opportunity scheduled by the DCI message within the time slot. Depending on the particular embodiment, the start of the second PDSCH transmission opportunity within the time slot and (if present) the start of any additional PDSCH transmission opportunity(ies) within the time slot are determined based on the start (S) and length (L) of the first PDSCH transmission opportunity indicated in the DCI message and the specific value of K signaled to the WCD 712 in step 904 or in the DCI message. For example, in one embodiment (e.g., Embodiment 2), the base station 702 dynamically configures the specific K value by signaling in the DCI message an indication of one of the K values from the set of possible K values (from step 902) that will be used as the specific K value. As described above, in another embodiment (e.g., Embodiment 3), the base station 702 dynamically configures the specific K value by signaling the specific K value in the DCI message (e.g., in the TDRA included in the DCI message).

[0151] As described above, the WCD 712 determines the start of the second PDSCH transmission opportunity and the start of any additional subsequent PDSCH transmission opportunities in a time slot (step 908) based on the start (S) and length (L) of the first PDSCH transmission indicated in the DCI message and a specific value of K. As described above, the base station 702 transmits (step 910) PDSCH transmissions in two or more PDSCH transmission opportunities according to the determined start and length values for the corresponding PDSCH transmission opportunities, and the WCD 712 receives (912) the PDSCH transmissions.

[0152] Figure 10 The operation of a wireless communication device (WCD) 712 (e.g., a UE) and a base station 702 (e.g., a gNB) is shown in accordance with at least some aspects of the above-described embodiments. Optional steps are indicated by dashed lines or dashed boxes. Note that this process is merely an example. It should also be noted that although the base station 702 (e.g., a gNB) is shown as a single box or element, depending on the particular implementation, the base station 702 (e.g., a gNB) may be implemented as a single network node or may be distributed across two or more network nodes. For example, the base station 702 may be implemented as two separate network nodes, i.e., a first network node implementing at least a portion of, for example, the MAC layer and the PHY, and a second network node implementing the higher layers and possibly at least a portion of the MAC layer. As a specific example, in the case of a gNB, the functionality of the gNB may be separated between a gNB central unit (gNB-CU) and one or more gNB distributed units (gNB-DU). In this regard, the steps or functions described herein as being performed by the base station 702 or gNB may be performed in a distributed manner. For example, a network node implementing higher layer functionality may "initiate" the transmission of a particular message (e.g., by sending the message to another network node implementing (one or more) lower layers), such that the other network node implementing lower layer functionality actually transmits the particular message.

[0153] Figure 10 The process of Figure 9 is similar to

[0154] As shown, the base station 702 optionally sends an indication (step 1000) to the WCD 712 of a set of possible K values (also referred to herein as "candidate" K values) for the WCD 712. Configuring the set of possible K values may be via higher layer signaling, such as, for example, RRC signaling. The base station 702 sends an indication (step 1002) to the WCD 712 of multiple PDSCH transmission opportunities in a particular time slot. For example, the indication may be Figure 9The DCI message of step 906, but not limited thereto. Specifically, in one example, the indication is via the TCI field in the DCI. When the code point in the TCI field indicates more than 1 TCI state, the TCI field indicates two transmission opportunities. The base station 702 also sends an indication of the start S and length L of the first PDSCH transmission opportunity in a specific time slot to the WCD 712 (step 1004). For example, the indication can also be Figure 9 The DCI message of step 906 (specifically, the TDRA included in the DCI message). The base station 702 also sends an indication of a specific K value to the WCD 712 (step 1006). For example, as described above, in one embodiment (e.g., Embodiment 1), the configuration of the specific K value is a semi-static configuration sent via higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling). As another example, in one embodiment (e.g., Embodiment 2), the base station 702 dynamically configures the specific K value by signaling an indication of one K value from the set of possible K values (from step 1000) that will be used as the specific K value in the DCI message. As described above, in another embodiment (e.g., Embodiment 3), the base station 702 dynamically configures the specific K value by signaling the specific K value in the DCI message (e.g., in the TDRA included in the DCI message).

[0155] As described above, the WCD 712 determines the start of the second PDSCH transmission opportunity in the time slot and the start of any additional (one or more) subsequent PDSCH transmission opportunities based on the start (S) and length (L) of the first PDSCH transmission indicated in the DCI message and the specific value of K (step 1008). As described above, according to the determined start and length values for the corresponding PDSCH transmission opportunities, the base station 702 transmits (step 1010) the PDSCH transmission in two or more PDSCH transmission opportunities, and the WCD 712 receives (1012) the PDSCH transmission.

[0156] Figure 11is a schematic block diagram of a radio access node 1100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Optional features are represented by dashed boxes. The radio access node 1100 can be, for example, a base station 702 or 706 or a network node that implements all or part of the functionality of the base station 702 or gNB described herein. As shown, the radio access node 1100 includes a control system 1102, the control system 1102 including one or more processors 1104 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and / or the like), a memory 1106, and a network interface 1108. The one or more processors 1104 are also referred to herein as processing circuitry. Additionally, the radio access node 1100 can include one or more radio units 1110, each radio unit 1110 including one or more transmitters 1112 and one or more receivers 1114 coupled to one or more antennas 1116. The radio units 1110 can be referred to as or be part of a radio interface circuit. In some embodiments, the (one or more) radio units 1110 are external to the control system 1102 and are connected to the control system 1102 via, for example, a wired connection (e.g., an optical cable). However, in some other embodiments, the (one or more) radio units 1110 and potentially also the (one or more) antennas 1116 are integrated with the control system 1102. The one or more processors 1104 operate to provide one or more functions of the radio access node 1100 as described herein (e.g., one or more functions of a network node, a base station, or a gNB as described herein). In some embodiments, the (one or more) functions are implemented in software, such as software stored in the memory 1106 and executed by the one or more processors 1104.

[0157] Figure 12 is a schematic block diagram showing a virtualized embodiment of a radio access node 1100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. This discussion is equally applicable to other types of network nodes. Additionally, other types of network nodes can have a similar virtualized architecture. Again, optional features are represented by dashed boxes.

[0158] As used herein, a "virtualized" radio access node is an implementation of radio access node 1100, where at least a portion of the functionality of radio access node 1100 (e.g., via one or more virtual machines executed on one or more physical processing nodes in a (one or more) network) is implemented as one or more virtual components. As shown, in this example, radio access node 1100 may include a control system 1102 and / or one or more radio units 1110, as described above. Control system 1102 may be connected to one or more radio units 1110 via, for example, an optical cable or the like. Radio access node 1100 includes one or more processing nodes 1200 coupled to or included as part of a (one or more) network 1202. If present, control system 1102 or one or more radio units are connected to one or more processing nodes 1200 via network 1202. Each processing node 1200 includes one or more processors 1204 (e.g., CPU, ASIC, FPGA, and / or the like), a memory 1206, and a network interface 1208.

[0159] In this example, the functionality 1210 of radio access node 1100 described herein (e.g., one or more functions of a network node, base station, or gNB as described herein) is distributed across one or more processing nodes 1200 and control system 1102 and / or one or more radio units 1110 in any desired manner or is implemented at one or more processing nodes 1200 and control system 1102 and / or one or more radio units 1110. In some particular embodiments, some or all of the functionality 1210 of radio access node 1100 described herein is implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines implemented in one or more virtual environments hosted by one or more processing nodes 1200. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, additional signaling or communication between one or more processing nodes 1200 and control system 1102 is used to effect at least some of the desired functionality 1210. Notably, in some embodiments, control system 1102 may not be included, in which case one or more radio units 1110 communicate directly with one or more processing nodes 1200 via one or more appropriate network interfaces.

[0160] In some embodiments, a computer program comprising instructions is provided, which when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform the functionality of a node (e.g., processing node 1200) that implements the radio access node 1100 according to any of the embodiments described herein or one or more functions 1210 of the radio access node 1100 in a virtual environment (e.g., one or more functions of a network node, base station, or gNB as described herein). In some embodiments, a carrier comprising the aforementioned computer program product is provided. The carrier is one of the following: an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer-readable storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as a memory).

[0161] Figure 13 is a schematic block diagram of a radio access node 1100 according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. The radio access node 1100 includes one or more modules 1300, each of which is implemented in software. The (one or more) modules 1300 provide the functionality of the radio access node 1100 described herein (e.g., one or more functions of a network node, base station, or gNB as described herein). This discussion is equally applicable to Figure 12 the processing node 1200, where the module 1300 may be implemented at one of the processing nodes 1200, or distributed across multiple processing nodes 1200, and / or distributed across the (one or more) processing nodes 1200 and the control system 1102.

[0162] Figure 14Schematic block diagram of a wireless communication device 1400 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown, the wireless communication device 1400 includes one or more processors 1402 (e.g., CPU, ASIC, FPGA, and / or the like), a memory 1404, and one or more transceivers 1406, each transceiver 1406 including one or more transmitters 1408 and one or more receivers 1410 coupled to one or more antennas 1412. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the (one or more) transceivers 1406 include radio front-end circuitry connected to the (one or more) antennas 1412, the radio front-end circuitry being configured to condition signals transmitted between the (one or more) antennas 1412 and the (one or more) processors 1402. The processor 1402 is also referred to herein as processing circuitry. The transceiver 1406 is also referred to herein as radio circuitry. In some embodiments, the functionality of the wireless communication device 1400 described above (e.g., one or more functions of a network node, base station, or gNB as described herein) may be implemented wholly or in part in software, such as software stored in the memory 1404 and executed by the (one or more) processors 1402. Note that the wireless communication device 1400 may include Figure 14 additional components not shown, such as for example one or more user interface components (e.g., including a display, buttons, touch screen, microphone, (one or more) speakers, and / or the like input / output interfaces, and / or any other components for allowing information to be input into the wireless communication device 1400 and / or allowing information to be output from the wireless communication device 1400), a power supply (e.g., a battery and associated power circuitry), etc.

[0163] In some embodiments, a computer program including instructions is provided, which when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to implement the functionality of the wireless communication device 1400 according to any of the embodiments described herein (e.g., one or more functions of a network node, base station, or gNB as described herein). In some embodiments, a carrier including the aforementioned computer program product is provided. The carrier is one of the following: an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer-readable storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as a memory).

[0164] Figure 15FIG. is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communication device 1400 according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. The wireless communication device 1400 includes one or more modules 1500, each of which is implemented by software. The (one or more) modules 1500 provide the functionality of the wireless communication device 1400 described herein (e.g., one or more functions of a network node, a base station, or a gNB as described herein).

[0165] Reference Figure 16 , according to an embodiment, a communication system includes a telecommunication network 1600, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, the telecommunication network 1600 including an access network 1602 (such as a RAN) and a core network 1604. The access network 1602 includes a plurality of base stations 1606A, 1606B, 1606C, such as Node B, eNB, gNB, or other types of wireless access points (APs), each defining a corresponding coverage area 1608A, 1608B, 1608C. Each base station 1606A, 1606B, 1606C is connectable to the core network 1604 via a wired or wireless connection 1610. A first UE 1612 located in the coverage area 1608C is configured to wirelessly connect to or be paged by the corresponding base station 1606C. A second UE 1614 in the coverage area 1608A can wirelessly connect to the corresponding base station 1606A. Although multiple UEs 1612, 1614 are shown in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to cases where only one UE is in the coverage area or where only one UE is connected to the corresponding base station 1606.

[0166] The telecommunication network 1600 is itself connected to a host computer 1616, which can be embodied in the hardware and / or software of a stand-alone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server, or as processing resources in a server farm. The host computer 1616 can be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or can be operated by or on behalf of a service provider. The connections 1618 and 1620 between the telecommunication network 1600 and the host computer 1616 can extend directly from the core network 1604 to the host computer 1616 or can be via an optional intermediate network 1622. The intermediate network 1622 can be one of a public, private, or hosted network or a combination of more than one of a public, private, or hosted network; the intermediate network 1622 (if any) can be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular, the intermediate network 1622 can include two or more subnets (not shown).

[0167] Figure 16The communication system as a whole enables connectivity between the connected UEs 1612, 1614 and the host computer 1616. The connectivity can be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection 1624. The host computer 1616 and the connected UEs 1612, 1614 are configured to communicate data and / or signaling via the OTT connection 1624 using the access network 1602, the core network 1604, any intermediate network 1622, and possibly additional infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. The OTT connection 1624 can be transparent in the sense that the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection 1624 passes do not know the routes of the uplink and downlink communications. For example, the base station 1606 may not or need not be notified about the past route of the incoming downlink communication having data originating from the host computer 1616 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to the connected UE 1612. Similarly, the base station 1606 need not know the future route of the outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE 1612 towards the host computer 1616.

[0168] According to an embodiment, an example implementation of the UE, base station, and host computer discussed in the previous paragraphs will now be described with reference to Figure 17 In the communication system 1700, the host computer 1702 includes hardware 1704 that includes a communication interface 1706 configured to establish and maintain a wired or wireless connection to an interface of different communication devices of the communication system 1700. The host computer 1702 further includes a processing circuit 1708 that may have storage and / or processing capabilities. In particular, the processing circuit 1708 may include one or more programmable processors, ASICs, FPGAs, or combinations thereof (not shown) suitable for executing instructions. The host computer 1702 further includes software 1710 that is stored in or accessible by the host computer 1702 and executable by the processing circuit 1708. The software 1710 includes a host application 1712. The host application 1712 may be operable to provide services to a remote user, such as the UE 1714, that is connected via an OTT connection 1716 terminated at the UE 1714 and the host computer 1702. When providing services to the remote user, the host application 1712 may provide user data to be transmitted using the OTT connection 1716.

[0169] The communication system 1700 further includes a base station 1718, which is provided in a telecommunications system and includes hardware 1720 enabling it to communicate with the host computer 1702 and the UE 1714. The hardware 1720 may include a communication interface 1722 for establishing and maintaining a wired or wireless connection for interfaces with different communication devices of the communication system 1700, and a radio interface 1724 for establishing and maintaining at least a wireless connection 1726 with the UE 1714 located in a coverage area (not shown in Figure 17 ) served by the base station 1718. The communication interface 1722 may be configured to facilitate a connection 1728 to the host computer 1702. The connection 1728 may be direct or it may go through the core network of the telecommunications system (not shown in Figure 17 ) and / or through one or more intermediate networks external to the telecommunications system. In the illustrated embodiment, the hardware 1720 of the base station 1718 further includes a processing circuit 1730, which may include one or more programmable processors, ASICs, FPGAs, or a combination thereof (not shown) suitable for executing instructions. The base station 1718 further has software 1732 stored internally or accessible via an external connection.

[0170] The communication system 1700 further includes the aforementioned UE 1714. The hardware 1734 of the UE 1714 may include a radio interface 1736 configured to establish and maintain a wireless connection 1726 with the base station serving the coverage area where the UE 1714 is currently located. The hardware 1734 of the UE 1714 further includes a processing circuit 1738, which may include one or more programmable processors, ASICs, FPGAs, or a combination thereof (not shown) suitable for executing instructions. The UE 1714 further includes software 1740, which is stored in or accessible by the UE 1714 and executable by the processing circuit 1738. The software 1740 includes a client application 1742. The client application 1742 may be operable to provide a service to a human or non - human user with the support of the host computer 1702 via the UE 1714. In the host computer 1702, the executed host application 1712 may communicate with the executed client application 1742 via an OTT connection 1716 terminated at the UE 1714 and the host computer 1702. When providing a service to the user, the client application 1742 may receive request data from the host application 1712 and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 1716 may transmit both request data and user data. The client application 1742 may interact with the user to generate the user data it provides.

[0171] Note Figure 17The host computer 1702, base station 1718, and UE 1714 shown in can be similar or identical to, respectively, one of the host computer 1616, base stations 1606A, 1606B, 1606C, and one of the UEs 1612, 1614 in Figure 16 . That is, the internal workings of these entities can be as shown in Figure 17 , and, independently, the surrounding network topology can be the Figure 16 surrounding network topology.

[0172] In Figure 17 , the OTT connection 1716 has been abstractly drawn to show the communication between the host computer 1702 and the UE 1714 via the base station 1718, without explicitly mentioning any intermediate devices and the exact routing of messages via these devices. The network infrastructure can determine the routing, and it can be configured to hide the routing from the UE 1714 or from the service provider operating the host computer 1702 or from both. Although the OTT connection 1716 is active, the network infrastructure can further make a decision by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load - balancing considerations or network re - configuration).

[0173] The wireless connection 1726 between the UE 1714 and the base station 1718 is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of the OTT service provided to the UE 1714 using the OTT connection 1716, in which the wireless connection 1726 forms the final segment.

[0174] A measurement procedure can be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency, and other factors improved in one or more embodiments. Optional network functionality may further exist for reconfiguring the OTT connection 1716 between the host computer 1702 and the UE 1714 in response to changes in measurement results. The measurement procedure and / or network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 1716 can be implemented in the software 1710 and hardware 1704 of the host computer 1702 or in the software 1740 and hardware 1734 of the UE 1714 or both. In some embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or associated with the communication devices through which the OTT connection 1716 passes; the sensors can participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above or other physical quantities from which the software 1710, 1740 can calculate or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguration of the OTT connection 1716 can include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing, etc.; the reconfiguration need not affect the base station 1718, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to the base station 1718. Such procedures and functionality may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, the measurement may involve dedicated UE signaling that facilitates the measurement of throughput, propagation time, latency, etc. of the host computer 1702. The measurement can be implemented because the software 1710 and 1740 cause the use of the OTT connection 1716 to transmit messages, especially empty or "dummy" messages, when they monitor propagation time, error, etc.

[0175] Figure 18 is a flowchart showing a method implemented in a communication system according to one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station, and a UE, which may be those referred to Figure 16 and 17 described. To simplify the present disclosure, only the reference to Figure 18 will be included in this section. In step 1800, the host computer provides user data. In sub-step 1802 of step 1800 (which may be optional), the host computer provides user data by executing a host application. In step 1804, the host computer initiates the transmission of the user data to the UE. In step 1806 (which may be optional), according to the teachings of the embodiments described throughout the present disclosure, the base station transmits the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the host computer to the UE. In step 1808 (which may also be optional), the UE executes a client application associated with the host application executed by the host computer.

[0176] Figure 19 is a flowchart showing a method implemented in a communication system according to one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station, and a UE, which may be those referred to in the attached Figure 16and 17 as described. To simplify the present disclosure, only the references to the Figure 19 drawings will be included in this section. In step 1900 of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional sub-step (not shown), the host computer provides user data by executing a host application. In step 1902, the host computer initiates the transmission of the user data to the UE. According to the teachings of the embodiments described throughout the present disclosure, the transmission can be relayed via a base station. In step 1904 (which can be optional), the UE receives the user data carried in the transmission.

[0177] Figure 20 is a flowchart showing a method implemented in a communication system according to an embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station, and a UE, which may be those referred to in Figure 16 and 17 as described. To simplify the present disclosure, only the references to the Figure 20 drawings will be included in this section. In step 2000 (which can be optional), the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionally or alternatively, in step 2002, the UE provides user data. In sub-step 2004 of step 2000 (which can be optional), the UE provides user data by executing a client application. In sub-step 2006 of step 2002 (which can be optional), the UE executes a client application that provides user data in response to the received input data provided by the host computer. When providing user data, the executed client application may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data is provided, the UE initiates the transmission of the user data to the host computer in sub-step 2008 (which can be optional). In step 2010 of the method, the host computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE according to the teachings of the embodiments described throughout the present disclosure.

[0178] Figure 21 is a flowchart showing a method implemented in a communication system according to an embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station, and a UE, which may be those referred to in Figure 16 and 17 as described. To simplify the present disclosure, only the references to the Figure 21 drawings will be included in this section. In step 2100 (which can be optional), the base station receives user data from the UE according to the teachings of the embodiments described throughout the present disclosure. In step 2102 (which can be optional), the base station initiates the transmission of the received user data to the host computer. In step 2104 (which can be optional), the host computer receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the base station.

[0179] Any suitable steps, methods, features, functions, or benefits disclosed herein can be performed by one or more functional units or modules of one or more virtual devices. Each virtual device can include multiple such functional units. These functional units can be implemented via a processing circuit, which can include one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers and other digital hardware, and the other digital hardware can include a digital signal processor (DSP), dedicated digital logic, etc. The processing circuit can be configured to execute program code stored in a memory, and the memory can include one or several types of memories, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. The program code stored in the memory includes program instructions for executing one or more telecommunication and / or data communication protocols and instructions for executing one or more of the techniques described herein. In some implementations, the processing circuit can be used to cause the corresponding functional units to perform corresponding functions according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0180] Although the processes in the figures may show a specific order of operations performed by certain embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be understood that such an order is exemplary (e.g., alternative embodiments may perform operations in a different order, combine certain operations, overlap certain operations, etc.).

[0181] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure are as follows:

[0182] Group A embodiments

[0183] Embodiment 1: A method for determining start symbols of multiple transmission opportunities performed by a wireless communication device (e.g., UE), the method including one or more of the following steps: receiving (1002) an indication that there are multiple transmission opportunities; receiving (1004) an indication of the start symbol S and length L of a first transmission opportunity; receiving (1006) an indication of a specific K value that will be applied to determine the start symbol of a second transmission opportunity; determining (1008) the start symbol of the second transmission opportunity (e.g., as S + L + K).

[0184] Embodiment 2: The method according to Embodiment 1, wherein the multiple transmission opportunities are multiple PDSCH transmission opportunities.

[0185] Embodiment 3: The method according to Embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the multiple transmission opportunities are in the same time slot.

[0186] Embodiment 4: The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the first transmission opportunity is the first transmission opportunity from the multiple transmission opportunities.

[0187] Example 5: The method according to Example 4, wherein the second transmission opportunity is the second transmission opportunity from among the plurality of transmission opportunities.

[0188] Example 6: The method according to any one of Examples 1 to 5, further comprising: receiving (1000) an indication of a set of possible K values; wherein receiving (1006) the indication of the specific K value includes receiving (1006) one K value from the set of possible K values as the indication of the specific K value.

[0189] Example 7: The method according to Example 6, wherein receiving (1000) the indication of the set of possible K values includes receiving (1000) the indication of the set of possible K values via higher layer signaling.

[0190] Example 8: The method according to any one of Examples 1 to 6, wherein receiving (1002) the indication that there are multiple transmission opportunities includes receiving (1002) the indication that there are multiple transmission opportunities via a TCI field in DCI, and when the code point in the TCI field indicates that there are more than 1 TCI state, the TCI field indicates two transmission opportunities.

[0191] Example 9: The method according to any one of Examples 1 to 8, wherein receiving (1004) the indication of the start S and the length L of the first transmission opportunity includes receiving (1004) the indication of the start S and the length L of the first transmission opportunity via a TDRA field in DCI.

[0192] Example 10: The method according to any one of Examples 1 to 9, wherein receiving (1006) the indication of the specific K value includes receiving (1006) the indication of the specific K value via a field in DCI.

[0193] Example 11: The method according to any one of Examples 1 to 10, comprising receiving (906) a DCI message that schedules the multiple transmission opportunities in the same time slot, wherein the DCI message includes the indication that there are multiple transmission opportunities and the indication of the start symbol S and the length L of the first transmission opportunity.

[0194] Example 12: The method according to Example 11, wherein the DCI message further includes the indication of the specific K value.

[0195] Example 13: The method according to any one of the foregoing examples, further comprising: providing user data; and forwarding the user data to a host computer via transmission to a base station.

[0196] Group B Examples

[0197] Example 14: A method for signaling start symbols of multiple transmission opportunities performed by a base station, the method comprising one or more of the following steps: sending (1002) an indication of the existence of multiple transmission opportunities to a wireless communication device; sending (1004) an indication of the start symbol S and length L of a first transmission opportunity to the wireless communication device; and sending (1006) an indication of a specific K value to be applied to determine the start symbol of a second transmission opportunity to the wireless communication device.

[0198] Example 15: The method according to Example 14, wherein the start symbol of the second transmission opportunity is S + L + K.

[0199] Example 16: The method according to Example 14 or 15, wherein the multiple transmission opportunities are multiple PDSCH transmission opportunities.

[0200] Example 17: The method according to any one of Examples 14 to 16, wherein the multiple transmission opportunities are in the same time slot.

[0201] Example 18: The method according to any one of Examples 14 to 17, wherein the first transmission opportunity is the first transmission opportunity from the multiple transmission opportunities.

[0202] Example 19: The method according to Example 18, wherein the second transmission opportunity is the second transmission opportunity from the multiple transmission opportunities.

[0203] Example 20: The method according to any one of Examples 14 to 19, further comprising: sending (1000) an indication of a set of possible K values to the wireless communication device; wherein sending (1006) the indication of the specific K value includes sending (1006) one K value from the set of possible K values as the indication of the specific K value.

[0204] Example 21: The method according to Example 20, wherein sending (1000) the indication of the set of possible K values includes sending (1000) the indication of the set of possible K values via higher layer signaling.

[0205] Example 22: The method according to any one of Examples 14 to 21, wherein sending (1002) the indication of the existence of multiple transmission opportunities includes sending (1002) the indication of the existence of multiple transmission opportunities via the TCI field in DCI, and when the code point in the TCI field indicates the existence of more than 1 TCI state, the TCI field indicates two transmission opportunities.

[0206] Example 23: The method according to any one of Examples 14 to 22, wherein sending (1004) the indication of the start S and the length L of the first transmission occasion includes sending (1004) the indication of the start S and the length L of the first transmission occasion via the TDRA field in DCI.

[0207] Example 24: The method according to any one of Examples 14 to 23, wherein sending (1006) the indication of the specific K value includes sending (1006) the indication of the specific K value via a field in DCI.

[0208] Example 25: The method according to any one of Examples 14 to 24, including sending (906) a DCI message to the wireless communication device, the DCI message scheduling the plurality of transmission occasions in the same time slot, wherein the DCI message includes an indication of the existence of the plurality of transmission occasions and an indication of the start symbol S and the length L of the first transmission occasion.

[0209] Example 26: The method according to Example 25, wherein the DCI message further includes an indication of the specific K value.

[0210] Example 27: The method according to any one of the foregoing examples, further including: obtaining user data; and forwarding the user data to a host computer or a wireless device.

[0211] Group C Examples

[0212] Example 28. A wireless device, the wireless device including: a processing circuit configured to perform any one of the steps in any one of the Group A examples; and a power supply circuit configured to supply power to the wireless device.

[0213] Example 29. A base station, the base station including: a processing circuit configured to perform any one of the steps in any one of the Group B examples; and a power supply circuit configured to supply power to the base station.

[0214] Example 30. A user equipment UE, the UE comprising: an antenna configured to transmit and receive wireless signals; a radio front-end circuit connected to the antenna and to a processing circuit and configured to condition signals transmitted between the antenna and the processing circuit; the processing circuit configured to perform any one of the steps of any one of Group A of the embodiments; an input interface connected to the processing circuit and configured to allow information to be input into the UE for processing by the processing circuit; an output interface connected to the processing circuit and configured to output from the UE information that has been processed by the processing circuit; and a battery connected to the processing circuit and configured to supply power to the UE.

[0215] Example 31. A communication system comprising a host computer, comprising: a processing circuit configured to provide user data; and a communication interface configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to a user equipment UE; wherein the cellular network comprises a base station having a radio interface and a processing circuit, the processing circuit of the base station being configured to perform any one of the steps of any one of Group B of the embodiments.

[0216] Example 32. The communication system according to the foregoing embodiment further comprises a base station.

[0217] Example 33. The communication system according to the previous two embodiments further comprises the UE, wherein the UE is configured to communicate with the base station.

[0218] Example 34. The communication system according to the previous three embodiments, wherein: the processing circuit of the host computer is configured to execute a host application to provide the user data; and the UE comprises a processing circuit configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

[0219] Example 35. A method implemented in a communication system comprising a host computer, a base station, and a user equipment UE, the method comprising: at the host computer, providing user data; and at the host computer, initiating a transmission of the user data via a cellular network comprising the base station to the UE, wherein the base station performs any one of the steps of any one of Group B of the embodiments.

[0220] Example 36. The method according to the foregoing embodiment further comprises transmitting the user data at the base station.

[0221] Example 37. The method according to the previous two examples, wherein the user data is provided at the host computer by executing a host application, and the method further includes executing a client application associated with the host application at the UE.

[0222] Example 38. A user equipment UE configured to communicate with a base station, the UE including a radio interface and a processing circuit, the processing circuit being configured to execute the method according to the previous three examples.

[0223] Example 39. A communication system including a host computer, comprising: a processing circuit configured to provide user data; and a communication interface configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to a user equipment UE; wherein the UE includes a radio interface and a processing circuit, and the components of the UE are configured to execute any one of the steps in any one of Group A of the examples.

[0224] Example 40. The communication system according to the previous examples, wherein the cellular network further includes a base station configured to communicate with the UE.

[0225] Example 41. The communication system according to the previous two examples, wherein: the processing circuit of the host computer is configured to execute a host application to provide the user data; and the processing circuit of the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

[0226] Example 42. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station, and a user equipment UE, the method including: providing user data at the host computer; and initiating, at the host computer, a transmission of the user data to the UE via a cellular network including the base station, wherein the UE executes any one of the steps in any one of Group A of the examples.

[0227] Example 43. The method according to the previous examples, further including receiving the user data at the UE from the base station.

[0228] Example 44. A communication system including a host computer, comprising: a communication interface configured to receive user data sourced from a transmission from a user equipment UE to a base station; wherein the UE includes a radio interface and a processing circuit, and the processing circuit of the UE is configured to execute any one of the steps in any one of Group A of the examples.

[0229] Example 45. The communication system according to the previous examples, further including the UE.

[0230] Example 46. The communication system according to the previous two examples further includes the base station, where the base station includes a radio interface configured to communicate with the UE and a communication interface configured to forward the user data carried by the transmission from the UE to the base station to the host computer.

[0231] Example 47. In the communication system according to the previous three examples, where: the processing circuit of the host computer is configured to execute a host application; and the processing circuit of the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data.

[0232] Example 48. In the communication system according to the previous four examples, where: the processing circuit of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing request data; and the processing circuit of the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data in response to the request data.

[0233] Example 49. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station, and a user equipment UE, the method including: at the host computer, receiving user data transmitted from the UE to the base station, where the UE executes any one of the steps in any one of Group A of the examples.

[0234] Example 50. The method according to the previous examples further includes providing the user data from the UE to the base station.

[0235] Example 51. The method according to the previous two examples further includes: at the UE, executing a client application, thereby providing the user data to be transmitted; and at the host computer, executing a host application associated with the client application.

[0236] Example 52. The method according to the previous three examples further includes: at the UE, executing a client application; and at the UE, receiving input data for the client application, the input data being provided at the host computer by executing a host application associated with the client application; where the client application provides the user data to be transmitted in response to the input data.

[0237] Example 53. A communication system including a host computer, the host computer including a communication interface configured to receive user data sourced from a transmission from a user equipment UE to a base station, where the base station includes a radio interface and a processing circuit, and the processing circuit of the base station is configured to execute any one of the steps in any one of Group B of the examples.

[0238] Example 54. The communication system according to the foregoing example further includes the base station.

[0239] Example 55. The communication system according to the previous two examples further includes the UE, where the UE is configured to communicate with the base station.

[0240] Example 56. In the communication system according to the previous three examples, wherein: the processing circuit of the host computer is configured to execute a host application; and the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, so as to provide the user data to be received by the host computer.

[0241] Example 57. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station, and a user equipment UE, the method including: at the host computer, receiving user data originating from a transmission that the base station has received from the UE, where the UE executes any one of the steps in any one of Group A examples.

[0242] Example 58. The method according to the foregoing example further includes receiving the user data from the UE at the base station.

[0243] Example 59. The method according to the previous two examples further includes initiating transmission of the received user data to the host computer at the base station.

[0244] Group D examples

[0245] Example 60: A method for indicating start symbols of multiple PDSCH transmission opportunities, the method including one or more of the following items:

[0246] a. A first indication from the network to the UE of at least one offset value K

[0247] b. A second indication from the network to the UE of the existence of multiple PDSCH transmission opportunities

[0248] c. A third indication for indicating the start symbol S and length L of a first transmission opportunity

[0249] d. A fourth indication of which K offset value should be applied to determine the start symbol of a second transmission opportunity (in the case where more than one K offset is configured by the first indication)

[0250] e. Determining the start symbol of the second transmission opportunity as S + L + K.

[0251] Example 61: The method according to Example 60, wherein the first indication is via a higher layer (e.g., RRC).

[0252] Example 62: The method according to any one of Examples 60 - 61, wherein the second indication is via the TCI field in DCI, and when the code point in the TCI field indicates that there are more than 1 TCI states, the TCI field indicates two transmission occasions.

[0253] Example 63: The method according to any one of Examples 60 - 62, wherein the third indication is via the TDRA field in DCI.

[0254] Example 64: The method according to any one of Examples 60 - 63, wherein the fourth indication is via a field in DCI.

[0255] At least some of the following abbreviations may be used in the present disclosure. If there is an inconsistency between abbreviations, preference should be given to how it is used above. If it is listed multiple times below, the first listing should be preferred over any subsequent listing(s).

[0256] • 3GPP Third Generation Partnership Project

[0257] • 5G Fifth Generation

[0258] • 5GC Fifth Generation Core

[0259] • 5GS Fifth Generation System

[0260] • AF Application Function

[0261] • AMF Access and Mobility Management Function

[0262] • AN Access Network

[0263] • AP Access Point

[0264] • ASIC Application Specific Integrated Circuit

[0265] • AUSF Authentication Server Function

[0266] • CPU Central Processing Unit

[0267] • DN Data Network

[0268] • DSP Digital Signal Processor

[0269] • eNB Enhanced or Evolved Node B

[0270] • EPS Evolved Packet System

[0271] • Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA)

[0272] • Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)

[0273] • gNode B (gNB)

[0274] • gNode B - Distributed Unit (gNB-DU)

[0275] • Home Subscriber Server (HSS)

[0276] • Internet of Things (IoT)

[0277] • Internet Protocol (IP)

[0278] • Long-Term Evolution (LTE)

[0279] • Mobility Management Entity (MME)

[0280] • Machine-Type Communication (MTC)

[0281] • Network Exposure Function (NEF)

[0282] • Network Function (NF)

[0283] • New Radio (NR)

[0284] • Network Repository Function (NRF)

[0285] • Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF)

[0286] • Over-The-Top (OTT)

[0287] • Personal Computer (PC)

[0288] • Policy Control Function (PCF)

[0289] • Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW)

[0290] • Quality of Service (QoS)

[0291] • Random Access Memory (RAM)

[0292] • Radio Access Network (RAN)

[0293] • Read-Only Memory (ROM)

[0294] • Remote Radio Head (RRH)

[0295] • Round-Trip Time (RTT)

[0296] • Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF)

[0297] • SMF Session Management Function

[0298] • UDM Unified Data Management

[0299] • UE User Equipment

[0300] • UPF User Plane Function

[0301] Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modifications to the embodiments of the present disclosure. All such improvements and modifications are considered to be within the scope of the concepts disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method performed by a wireless communication device (712), the method comprising: Receiving (1002) indications of a plurality of transmission opportunities for a respective plurality of downlink transmissions to the wireless communication device (712), at least two of the plurality of downlink transmissions being associated with different transmission configuration indication states; Receiving (1004) an indication of a start symbol and a length of a first transmission opportunity among the plurality of transmission opportunities via a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) field in downlink control information (DCI) scheduling the plurality of downlink transmissions; Receiving (1006) an indication of a specific offset value that is to be applied to determine a start symbol of a second transmission opportunity among the plurality of transmission opportunities, wherein the indication of the specific offset value is signaled in a message separate from the indication of the start symbol and length of the first transmission opportunity, and wherein the second transmission opportunity has the same length as the first transmission opportunity; and Determining (1008) the start symbol of the second transmission opportunity based on the start symbol of the first transmission opportunity, the length of the first transmission opportunity, and the specific offset value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, Determining (1008) the start symbol of the second transmission opportunity includes determining (1008) that the start symbol of the second transmission opportunity is S + L + K, where S is the start symbol of the first transmission opportunity, L is the length of the first transmission opportunity, and K is the specific offset value.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The plurality of transmission opportunities are a plurality of physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission opportunities, and the plurality of downlink transmissions are multiple repetitions of the same data transmission or different layers of a single data transmission.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The plurality of transmission opportunities are within a single time slot.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The first transmission opportunity is the first in time among the plurality of transmission opportunities, and the second transmission opportunity is the second in time among the plurality of transmission opportunities.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein Receiving (1006) the indication of the specific offset value includes receiving (1006) the indication of the specific offset value via radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

7. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising receiving (1000) an indication of a set of possible offset values, wherein, Receiving (1000) the indication of the set of possible offset values includes receiving (1000) the indication of the set of possible offset values via higher layer signaling.

8. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein Configuring the specific offset value based on the start symbol and length of the first transmission opportunity or based on the capabilities of the wireless communication device (712).

9. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein Receiving (1002) the indication of the plurality of transmission opportunities includes receiving (1002) the indication of the plurality of transmission opportunities via a transmission configuration indication (TCI) field in DCI scheduling the plurality of downlink transmissions, the TCI field indicating a code point that indicates more than one TCI state and thus indicates more than one transmission opportunity.

10. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, Receiving (1002) the indication of the plurality of transmission opportunities includes receiving (906) DCI that schedules the plurality of downlink transmissions among the plurality of transmission opportunities in the same time slot, where the DCI includes the indication of the plurality of transmission opportunities.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The indication of the start symbol and the length of the first transmission opportunity is further included in the DCI.

12. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising receiving (1012) the plurality of downlink transmissions among the plurality of transmission opportunities, where receiving (1012) the plurality of downlink transmissions among the plurality of transmission opportunities includes receiving the second downlink transmission in the second transmission opportunity based on the determined start symbol of the second transmission opportunity.

13. A wireless communication device (712), comprising one or more modules, the one or more modules being adapted to: Receive (1002) an indication of a plurality of transmission opportunities for corresponding plurality of downlink transmissions to the wireless communication device (712), where at least two of the plurality of downlink transmissions are associated with different transmission configuration indication states; Receive (1004) an indication of the start symbol and length of a first transmission opportunity among the plurality of transmission opportunities via a time domain resource allocation TDRA field in downlink control information DCI that schedules the plurality of downlink transmissions; Receive (1006) an indication of a specific offset value that will be applied to determine the start symbol of a second transmission opportunity among the plurality of transmission opportunities, where, The indication of the specific offset value is signaled in a message separate from the indication of the start symbol and length of the first transmission opportunity, and where the second transmission opportunity has the same length as the first transmission opportunity; And Determine (1008) the start symbol of the second transmission opportunity based on the start symbol of the first transmission opportunity, the length of the first transmission opportunity, and the specific offset value.

14. The wireless communication device (712) according to claim 13, wherein, The wireless communication device (712) is further adapted to perform the method according to any one of claims 2 to 12.

15. A wireless communication device (712; 1400), comprising: One or more transmitters (1408); One or more receivers (1410); And Processing circuitry (1402) associated with the one or more transmitters (1408) and the one or more receivers (1410), the processing circuitry (1402) being configured to cause the wireless communication device (712; 1400) to: Receive (1002) an indication of a plurality of transmission opportunities for corresponding plurality of downlink transmissions to the wireless communication device (712; 1400), where at least two of the plurality of downlink transmissions are associated with different transmission configuration indication states; Receiving (1004) an indication of a start symbol and a length of a first transmission occasion among the plurality of transmission occasions via a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) field in downlink control information (DCI) scheduling the plurality of downlink transmissions; Receiving (1006) an indication of a specific offset value that will be applied to determine a start symbol of a second transmission occasion among the plurality of transmission occasions, wherein the indication of the specific offset value is signaled in a message separate from the indication of the start symbol and the length of the first transmission occasion, and wherein the second transmission occasion has the same length as the first transmission occasion; and Determining (1008) the start symbol of the second transmission occasion based on the start symbol of the first transmission occasion, the length of the first transmission occasion, and the specific offset value.

16. A method performed by a wireless communication device (712), the method comprising: · Receiving (906) downlink control information (DCI) scheduling a plurality of transmission occasions in a single time slot, the plurality of transmission occasions being for respective plurality of downlink transmissions to the wireless communication device (712), the DCI including: ○ Information indicating that at least two of the plurality of downlink transmissions are associated with different transmission configuration indication states; and ○ A time domain resource allocation (TDRA) field indicating a start symbol and a length of a first transmission occasion among the plurality of transmission occasions; and · Determining (908) a start symbol of a second transmission occasion among the plurality of transmission occasions based on the start symbol of the first transmission occasion, the length of the first transmission occasion, and a specific offset value, wherein the specific offset value is: ○ A value indicated to the wireless communication device (712) if the wireless communication device (712) has received an indication of the specific offset value; and ○ A predefined value if the wireless communication device (712) has not received an indication of the specific offset value, wherein the indication of the specific offset value is signaled in a message separate from the indication of the start symbol and the length of the first transmission occasion, and wherein the second transmission occasion has the same length as the first transmission occasion.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein, The predefined value of the specific offset value is zero.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein, The specific offset value is: A value indicated to the wireless communication device (712) if the wireless communication device (712) has received the indication of the specific offset value via radio resource control (RRC) signaling; and The predefined value if the wireless communication device (712) has not received the indication of the specific offset value via RRC signaling.

19. The method according to claim 16 or 17, further comprising receiving (912) the plurality of downlink transmissions among the plurality of transmission occasions according to the DCI, wherein receiving (912) the plurality of downlink transmissions among the plurality of transmission occasions includes receiving a second downlink transmission in the second transmission occasion based on the determined start symbol of the second transmission occasion.

20. A wireless communication device (712) includes one or more modules adapted to: · Receive (906) downlink control information DCI scheduling multiple transmission opportunities in a single time slot, the multiple transmission opportunities being for corresponding multiple downlink transmissions to the wireless communication device (712), the DCI including: ○ Information indicating that at least two of the multiple downlink transmissions are associated with different transmission configuration indication states; And ○ A time domain resource allocation TDRA field indicating a start symbol and a length of a first transmission opportunity among the multiple transmission opportunities; and · Based on the start symbol of the first transmission opportunity, the length of the first transmission opportunity, and a specific offset value, determine (908) a start symbol of a second transmission opportunity among the multiple transmission opportunities, where the specific offset value is: ○ If the wireless communication device (712) has received an indication of the specific offset value, the value indicated to the wireless communication device (712); and ○ If the wireless communication device (712) has not received an indication of the specific offset value, a predefined value, where the indication of the specific offset value is signaled in a message separate from the indication of the start symbol and length of the first transmission opportunity, and where the second transmission opportunity has the same length as the first transmission opportunity.

21. The wireless communication device (712) according to claim 20, wherein, The wireless communication device (712) is further adapted to perform the method according to any one of claims 17 to 19.

22. A wireless communication device (712; 1400) includes: One or more transmitters (1408); One or more receivers (1410); And Processing circuitry (1402) associated with the one or more transmitters (1408) and the one or more receivers (1410), the processing circuitry (1402) being configured to cause the wireless communication device (712; 1400) to: Receive (906) downlink control information DCI scheduling multiple transmission opportunities in a single time slot, the multiple transmission opportunities being for corresponding multiple downlink transmissions to the wireless communication device (712; 1400), the DCI including: Information indicating that at least two of the multiple downlink transmissions are associated with different transmission configuration indication states; and A time domain resource allocation TDRA field indicating a start symbol and a length of a first transmission opportunity among the multiple transmission opportunities; and Based on the start symbol of the first transmission opportunity, the length of the first transmission opportunity, and a specific offset value, determine (908) a start symbol of a second transmission opportunity among the multiple transmission opportunities, where the specific offset value is: If the wireless communication device (712; 1400) has received an indication of the specific offset value, the value indicated to the wireless communication device (712; 1400); and If the wireless communication device (712; 1400) has not received an indication of the specific offset value, a predefined value, Wherein, an indication of the specific offset value is signaled in a message separate from the indication of the start symbol and length of the first transmission occasion, and wherein the second transmission occasion has the same length as the first transmission occasion.

23. A method for signaling start symbols of multiple transmission occasions performed by a base station (702), the method comprising: Sending (1002) an indication of the existence of multiple transmission occasions to a wireless communication device (712), the multiple transmission occasions being for corresponding multiple downlink transmissions to the wireless communication device (712), at least two of the multiple downlink transmissions being associated with different transmission configuration indication states; Sending (1004) an indication of the start symbol S and length L of a first transmission occasion to the wireless communication device (712) via a time domain resource allocation TDRA field in downlink control information DCI scheduling the multiple downlink transmissions; and Sending (1006) an indication of a specific offset value K to be applied to determine the start symbol of a second transmission occasion to the wireless communication device (712), Wherein, an indication of the specific offset value K is signaled in a message separate from the indication of the start symbol S and length L of the first transmission occasion, and wherein the second transmission occasion has the same length as the first transmission occasion.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein The start symbol of the second transmission occasion is S + L + K.

25. The method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein The multiple transmission occasions are multiple physical downlink shared channel PDSCH transmission occasions.

26. The method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein, The multiple transmission occasions are in the same time slot.

27. The method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein The first transmission occasion is the first transmission occasion from the multiple transmission occasions.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein, The second transmission occasion is the second transmission occasion from the multiple transmission occasions.

29. The method according to claim 23 or 24, further comprising sending (1000) an indication of a set of possible offset values to the wireless communication device (712), wherein, Sending (1000) the indication of the set of possible offset values includes sending (1000) the indication of the set of possible offset values via higher layer signaling.

30. The method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein, Sending (1002) the indication of the existence of multiple transmission occasions includes sending (1002) the indication of the existence of multiple transmission occasions via a transmission configuration indication TCI field in downlink control information DCI, and when the code point in the TCI field indicates the existence of more than one TCI state, the TCI field indicates two transmission occasions.

31. The method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein, Sending (1004) the indication of the start S and the length L of the first transmission occasion includes sending (1004) the indication of the start S and the length L of the first transmission occasion via a time domain resource allocation TDRA field in downlink control information DCI.

32. The method according to claim 23 or 24, comprising sending (906) a DCI message to the wireless communication device (712), the DCI message scheduling the multiple transmission occasions in the same time slot, wherein the DCI message includes the indication of the existence of multiple transmission occasions and the indication of the start symbol S and the length L of the first transmission occasion.

33. A base station (702) for signaling start symbols of a plurality of transmission opportunities, comprising one or more modules adapted to: Send (1002) an indication of the existence of a plurality of transmission opportunities to a wireless communication device (712), the plurality of transmission opportunities being for a corresponding plurality of downlink transmissions to the wireless communication device (712), at least two of the plurality of downlink transmissions being associated with different transmission configuration indication states; Send (1004) an indication of the start symbol S and length L of a first transmission opportunity to the wireless communication device (712) via a time domain resource allocation TDRA field in downlink control information DCI scheduling the plurality of downlink transmissions; and Send (1006) an indication of a specific offset value K to be applied to determine the start symbol of a second transmission opportunity to the wireless communication device (712), Among them, Signal the indication of the specific offset value K in a message separate from the indication of the start symbol S and length L of the first transmission opportunity, and wherein the second transmission opportunity has the same length as the first transmission opportunity.

34. The base station (702) according to claim 33, wherein, The base station (702) is further adapted to perform the method according to any one of claims 24 to 32.

35. A base station (702) for signaling start symbols of a plurality of transmission opportunities, the base station (702) comprising processing circuitry (1104; 1204) configured to cause the base station (702) to: Send (1002) an indication of the existence of a plurality of transmission opportunities to a wireless communication device (712), the plurality of transmission opportunities being for a corresponding plurality of downlink transmissions to the wireless communication device (712), at least two of the plurality of downlink transmissions being associated with different transmission configuration indication states; Send (1004) an indication of the start symbol S and length L of a first transmission opportunity to the wireless communication device (712) via a time domain resource allocation TDRA field in downlink control information DCI scheduling the plurality of downlink transmissions; and Send (1006) an indication of a specific offset value K to be applied to determine the start symbol of a second transmission opportunity to the wireless communication device (712), Among them, Signal the indication of the specific offset value K in a message separate from the indication of the start symbol S and length L of the first transmission opportunity, and wherein the second transmission opportunity has the same length as the first transmission opportunity.

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