PHYSICAL DOWNLINK CONTROL CHANNEL MONITORING CAPABILITY REPORTING METHOD AND SYSTEM THEREOF

Abstract

To provide improved system and method for reporting the physical downlink control channel monitoring capabilities of a user device.SOLUTION: A network receives physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capability from a user device and generates a first monitoring occasion pattern in response to the PDCCH monitoring capability. The PDCCH monitoring capability includes a span pattern requirement that specifies one or more limits on length and separation, and minimum time separation requirement that specifies minimum time separation between a plurality of pieces of downlink control information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to 5G communications, and in particular to Downlink Control Information (DCI) transmission scheduling in 5G connections. [Background technology]

[0002] In a 5G connection between a network and a User Equipment, the User Equipment can communicate with the network regarding the User Equipment's Physical Downlink Control Channel monitoring capability under Feature Group (3-5a) or Feature Group (3-5b), and the network then transmits to the User Equipment one or more downlink control information conforming to the scan pattern and communication capability.

[0003] However, such configurations may cause the network and user equipment to fail to achieve the level of performance possible and may not fully utilize the capabilities of the user equipment. Therefore, a need exists for an improved system and method for user equipment physical downlink control channel monitoring capability reporting. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2012-521697 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems in the conventional networks and user equipment described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an improved system and method for reporting physical downlink control channel monitoring capabilities of a user equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a physical downlink control channel monitoring capability reporting method according to the present invention includes the steps of: receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capability from a user equipment (UE) by a network; and generating a first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern by the network in response to the PDCCH monitoring capability, the PDCCH monitoring capability including a span pattern requirement specifying one or more restrictions on length and separation, and a minimum time separation requirement specifying a minimum time separation between a plurality of downlink control informations. transmitting, by the network, to the user device, the first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that complies with the span pattern requirement; and transmitting, by the network, to the user device, a first downlink control information (DCI) and a second downlink control information (DCI) separated from the first downlink control information (DCI) by less than the minimum time separation. It is characterized by:

[0007] before Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of transmitting, by the network, to the user equipment, a second monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that does not comply with the span pattern requirement, and transmitting, by the network, to the user equipment, third downlink control information and fourth downlink control information separated from the third downlink control information by less than the minimum time separation. Preferably, the method further includes the steps of transmitting, by the network, to the user equipment, the first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that does not comply with the span pattern requirement, and transmitting, by the network, a first downlink control information (DCI) to the user equipment, and a second downlink control information (DCI) separated from the first downlink control information (DCI) by more than the minimum time separation.

[0008] Preferably, the minimum time separation requirement further comprises a step of specifying an absence of downlink control information (DCI) in a symbol immediately following a symbol having downlink control information (DCI), such that no downlink control information (DCI) can be received by the user equipment during a symbol immediately following the first downlink control information (DCI). Preferably, the method further includes the steps of: transmitting, by the network, to the user device, the first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that complies with the span pattern requirement; and transmitting, by the network, to the user device, a first downlink control information (DCI) and a second downlink control information (DCI) separated from the first downlink control information (DCI) by more than the minimum time separation. Preferably, the minimum time separation requirement further comprises the steps of specifying an absence of downlink control information (DCI) in a symbol immediately following a symbol having downlink control information (DCI) and transmitting, by the network, a notification to the user equipment that the network complies with the minimum time separation requirement, and preventing the user equipment from receiving downlink control information (DCI) during a symbol immediately following the first downlink control information (DCI).

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, a physical downlink control channel monitoring capability reporting method according to the present invention includes the steps of: receiving a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capability from a first user equipment by a network; receiving the first PDCCH monitoring capability from a second user equipment by the network; and generating a first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern by the network in response to the first PDCCH monitoring capability, wherein the first PDCCH monitoring capability includes a span pattern requirement specifying one or more restrictions on length and separation, and a minimum time separation requirement specifying a minimum time separation between a plurality of downlink control information (DCIs). transmitting, by the network, to the first user device, the first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that complies with the span pattern requirement; and transmitting, by the network, to the first user device, a first downlink control information (DCI) and a second downlink control information (DCI) separated from the first downlink control information (DCI) by less than the minimum time separation. It is characterized by:

[0010] before Preferably, the method further includes the steps of transmitting, by the network, a second monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that does not comply with the span pattern requirement to the second user device, and transmitting, by the network, a third downlink control information (DCI) to the second user device, and a fourth downlink control information (DCI) separated from the third downlink control information (DCI) by more than the minimum time separation. Preferably, the method further includes the steps of: transmitting, by the network, to the first user device, the first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that does not comply with the span pattern requirement; and transmitting, by the network, to the first user device, a first downlink control information (DCI) and a second downlink control information (DCI) separated from the first downlink control information (DCI) by more than the minimum time separation.

[0011] Preferably, the minimum time separation requirement further comprises a step of specifying an absence of downlink control information (DCI) in a symbol immediately following a symbol having downlink control information (DCI), such that no downlink control information (DCI) can be received by the first user equipment during a symbol immediately following the first downlink control information (DCI). Preferably, the method further includes the steps of: transmitting, by the network, to the first user device, the first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that complies with the span pattern requirement; and transmitting, by the network, to the first user device, a first downlink control information (DCI) and a second downlink control information (DCI) separated from the first downlink control information (DCI) by more than the minimum time separation. Preferably, the minimum time separation requirement further comprises the steps of specifying an absence of downlink control information (DCI) in a symbol immediately following a symbol having downlink control information (DCI) and transmitting, by the network, a notification to the first user equipment that the network complies with the minimum time separation requirement; and preventing downlink control information (DCI) from being received by the first user equipment during a symbol immediately following the first downlink control information (DCI).

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a physical downlink control channel monitoring capability reporting system, comprising: a network including a first processing circuit; and a user device including a second processing circuit, the second processing circuit being configured to report downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capabilities to the network, the downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capabilities including a span pattern requirement specifying one or more restrictions on length and separation, and a minimum time separation requirement specifying a minimum time separation between a plurality of downlink control information (DCIs). and the first processing circuit is configured to transmit a first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that complies with the span pattern requirement to the user device, and to transmit a first downlink control information (DCI) and a second downlink control information (DCI) separated from the first downlink control information (DCI) by less than the minimum time separation to the user device. It is characterized by:

[0013] beforePreferably, the first processing circuit is configured to transmit a second monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that does not comply with the span pattern requirement to the user equipment, and transmit a third downlink control information (DCI) and a fourth downlink control information (DCI) separated from the third downlink control information (DCI) by more than the minimum time separation to the user equipment. Preferably, the first processing circuit is configured to transmit a first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that does not comply with the span pattern requirement to the user equipment, and to transmit a first downlink control information (DCI) and a second downlink control information (DCI) separated from the first downlink control information (DCI) by more than the minimum time separation to the user equipment.

[0014] Preferably, the minimum time separation requirement specifies an absence of downlink control information (DCI) in a symbol immediately following a symbol carrying downlink control information (DCI), and the second processing circuit is configured to not be able to receive downlink control information (DCI) during a symbol immediately following the first downlink control information (DCI). Preferably, the minimum time separation requirement specifies an absence of downlink control information (DCI) in a symbol immediately following a symbol bearing downlink control information (DCI), and the first processing circuit is configured to transmit a first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that complies with the span pattern requirement to the user equipment, transmit the first downlink control information (DCI) and a second downlink control information (DCI) separated from the first downlink control information (DCI) by more than the minimum time separation to the user equipment, and transmit an indication that the network complies with the minimum time separation requirement, and the second processing circuit is configured to prevent downlink control information (DCI) from being received during a symbol immediately following the first downlink control information (DCI). Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the physical downlink control channel monitoring capability reporting method and system thereof of the present invention, a network can receive a physical downlink control channel monitoring capability from a user equipment, the physical downlink control channel monitoring capability including a span pattern requirement specifying one or more restrictions on length and separation and a minimum time separation requirement specifying a minimum time separation between multiple downlink control information, and generate a first monitoring occasion pattern in response to the PDCCH monitoring capability, thereby improving the physical downlink control channel monitoring capability reporting of the user equipment. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of two components of a 5G communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2a] 4 is a symbol sequence diagram according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2b] 4 is a symbol sequence diagram according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2c] 1 is a table of configuration options according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 4 is a flowchart illustrating a physical downlink control channel monitoring capability reporting method according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Next, a specific example of an embodiment for implementing a physical downlink control channel monitoring capability reporting method and system thereof according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] As used in this specification, "a portion of something" means "at least a portion" of something, and can thus mean all or less than all of something. In this way, a "part" of something includes the whole in special cases. As used in this specification, the word "or" is inclusive, e.g., "A or B" means either one of (i) A, (ii) B, and (iii) A and B. As used in this specification, when a method (e.g., an adjustment) or a first quantity (e.g., a first variable) is referred to as being "based" on a second quantity (e.g., a second variable), the second quantity can be an input to the method or influence the first quantity; for example, the second quantity can be an input (e.g., the only input, or one of many inputs) to a function that calculates the first quantity, or the first quantity can be the same as the second quantity, or the first quantity can be the same as the second quantity (e.g., stored in the same location or in the same position in memory). Although terms such as "first," "second," and "third" are used herein to refer to various elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections, such elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections are not intended to be limiting. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section from another element, component, region, layer, or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section discussed in this specification could be referred to as a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the concept and spirit of the present invention. The terms used in this specification are intended to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the concept of the present invention. The terms "substantially", "about" and similar terms used in this specification are used as approximations rather than degrees, and account for inherent deviations in measurements or calculations that are recognizable by those of ordinary skill in the art. As used in this specification, the singular includes the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this specification, the terms "comprise" and / or "comprises" are understood to specify but not exclude the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components, and to include the addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as "at least one" preceding a list of components modify the entire list of components, but not the individual components of the list. Additionally, when describing embodiments of the present invention, the use of "may" means "one or more embodiments of the present invention." Additionally, the term "exemplary" refers to an example or illustration. As used herein, the terms "use", "in use" and "used" may be considered synonymous with the terms "useful", "effective" and "effective", respectively. When a component or layer is referred to as "on," "connected," "coupled," or "adjacent to" another component or layer, this is understood to be directly on or connected to, or coupled to, adjacent to, or adjacent to the other component or layer, and there may be one or more other intervening elements or layers present. On the other hand, when a component or layer is referred to as "directly on," "directly connected," "coupled directly," or "immediately adjacent to" another element or layer, no other intervening elements or layers are present. Any numerical range recited in this specification includes all subranges of the same precision contained within the recited range. For example, a range of "1.0 to 10.0" or "1.0 to 10.0" includes all subranges between the recited minimum value of 1.0 and the recited maximum value of 10.0 (i.e., minimums ≧1.0 and maximums ≦10.0, e.g., 2.4 to 7.6). Any maximum numerical limit recited in this specification includes all lower numerical limits subsumed within that range, and any minimum numerical limit recited in this specification includes all higher numerical limits subsumed therein. Like reference numbers indicate like components or features.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of two components of a 5G communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention. A user equipment (UE) 105 forms a connection (eg, a wireless connection) with a network 110 (eg, a base station of the network).

[0020] In a 5G communication system, the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capability of a user equipment (UE) 105 is transmitted from the user equipment (UE) 105 to a network 110 (e.g., to a base station (BS)). The network 110 then uses Downlink Control Information (DCI) for the user equipment (UE) 105 within the capabilities of the user equipment (UE) 105 . Conventionally for 5G, two user equipment feature groups (user equipment feature group (FG) "3-5a" and user equipment feature group (FG) "3-5b") define possible user equipment (UE) 105 capabilities related to downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring.

[0021] Based on Feature Group (FG) “3-5b” (in the technical specification identified as TS 38.822 published by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project), the user equipment (UE) 105 reports one of the following candidate value sets {(X,Y)}: {(7,3)}, {(4,3), (7,3)}, and {(2,2), (4,3), (7,3)}, and a downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring configuration is generated by the network 110 that is expected to comply with the reported span gap and span length restrictions.

[0022] A span consists of consecutive symbols within a slot (as specified in the RAN1 #96bis meeting of the Third Generation Partnership Project), and the span pattern within a slot is (i) Downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring occasion (Monitoring Occasion (MO)) pattern; (ii) one or more sets of ordered pairs (X,Y) identified in a report (under feature group (FG) “3-5b”) transmitted by user equipment (UE) 105 to network 110; and (iii) Determined based on the configuration of a Control Resource Set (CORESET) for the User Equipment (UE) 105.

[0023] In particular, spans within a slot have the same duration, except for the last span of the slot, which has a shorter possible duration, and the duration is determined to be max {the maximum of all control resource set (CORESET) durations, the minimum Y value reported by the user equipment unit (UE) 105 as a candidate value}. The first span of the span pattern in a slot starts with the lowest index symbol for which a monitoring occasion is configured in the user equipment (UE) 105 . The next span begins with a monitoring occasion (MO) that is not included in the first span, and the same process is applied to construct the next span.

[0024] The separation (or "span gap") between the beginnings of two consecutive spans within and across a slot must satisfy the same (X,Y) constraints. Here, X denotes the minimum time separation of OFDM symbols between the beginnings of both spans, and Y denotes the maximum number of consecutive OFDM symbols for each span. The user equipment (UE) 105 can report its monitoring capabilities from three possible sets (e.g., in accordance with Release 15 of the 5G standard): {(7,3)}, {(4,3), (7,3)}, {(2,2), (4,3), (7,3)}.

[0025] There is further downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capability as described in FG “3-5a”. This includes symbol-based gaps between two downlink (DL) unicast downlink control information (DCIs), between two uplink (UL) unicast downlink control information (DCIs), or between DL and UL unicast in other monitoring occasions. Thus, under FG “3-5a”, the user equipment (UE) 105: (i) Not reporting capabilities; (ii) reporting that a “gap restriction” is required, i.e., that consecutive downlink control information (DCIs) must be separated by a certain minimum number of symbols (a required number of symbols depending on the subcarrier spacing (SCS) in the manner defined in TS 38.822) in order to be processed by the user equipment (UE) 105; or (iii) It may be reported that “gap restrictions” are not required.

[0026] When the user equipment (UE) 105 reports its downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capability in FG “3-5a”, the network 110 is expected to adhere to the reported gap restriction when transmitting downlink control information (DCI) to the user equipment (UE) 105. Similarly, when the user equipment (UE) 105 reports its downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capability in FG “3-5b”, the monitoring occasion (MO) pattern generated by the network 110 and transmitted to the user equipment (UE) 105 is expected to comply with the reported span limitation.

[0027] In some embodiments, the user equipment (UE) 105 includes: (i) the capabilities of the user equipment (UE) 105 in FG “3-5a” (minimum time separation requirements specifying the minimum time separation (or “gap”) between downlink control information (DCIs)); and (ii) Both the capabilities of the user equipment (UE) 105 (span pattern requirements specifying one or more limitations on length and separation) can be reported within FG “3-5b”. The capability reporting in FG “3-5a” used in this specification (whether the capability reporting is (i) no “gap restriction”, i.e. no minimum time separation between downlink control information (DCIs) is required, or (ii) “gap restriction”, i.e. the minimum time separation must be (a) 2 OFDM symbols for 15 kHz, (b) 4 OFDM symbols for 30 kHz, (c) 7 OFDM symbols for 60 kHz in NCP, or (d) 11 OFDM symbols for 120 kHz) is an example of reporting a minimum time separation requirement that specifies the minimum time separation between downlink information (DCIs).

[0028] Dual reporting, i.e., the capability of the user equipment (UE) 105 under FG "3-5a" and under FG "3-5b" by the user equipment (UE) 105, (i) increased flexibility in scheduling Monitoring Occasions (MOs) and Downlink Information (DCI) in the network 110; (ii) Performance improvements; and (iii) resulting in a more effective indication of the capabilities of the user equipment (UE) 105, such as, for example, the user equipment (UE) 105 reporting capabilities under FG “3-5b” with {(2,2), (4,3), (7,3)} and reporting capabilities under FG “3-5a” with a DCI gap restriction.

[0029] FIG. 2a is a symbol sequence diagram according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing a configuration in which the subcarrier spacing (SCS) is 15 kHz, frequency division duplex (FDD) is used, and the control resource set (CORESET) duration is 3 symbols. In this case, each span consists of three symbols, and the span gap between two spans is at least four symbols.

[0030] Furthermore, since the user equipment (UE) has reported a gap restriction under FG "3-5a", it is expected that the network will allow a gap of at least two symbols between any two downlink information (DCIs) (where two symbols is the gap specified according to TS 38.822 when the user equipment (UE) has reported a gap restriction under FG "3-5a" and the subcarrier spacing (SCS) is 15 kHz). As a result, the monitoring occasion (MO) configuration of FIG. 2a is valid in terms of the span limitation of FG “3-5b”, and the transmission of downlink information (DCI) is valid in terms of the downlink information (DCI) gap limitation of FG “3-5a”.

[0031] However, since transmission of DCI violates FG "3-5b", each span can only contain DCI for one downlink (DL). In other words, if the user equipment (UE) only reports downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capability under FG "3-5b" (i.e., not under FG "3-5a"), the network will not be able to transmit the downlink information (DCI) shown in Figure 2a.

[0032] In another example, FIG. 2b is a symbol sequence diagram according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing a configuration where SCS=30 kHz, frequency division duplex (FDD) is used, and the control resource set (CORESET) duration is 2 symbols. In this case, each span consists of two symbols, and the span gap between two spans is at least two symbols.

[0033] Furthermore, since the user equipment (UE) has reported a gap restriction under FG "3-5a", it is expected that the network will allow a gap of at least 4 symbols between any two DCIs (where 4 symbols is the gap specified according to TS 38.822 when the user equipment (UE) has reported a gap restriction under FG "3-5a" and the subcarrier spacing (SCS) is 30 kHz). As a result, the monitoring occasion (MO) configuration of Figure 2b is effective in terms of the span limitation aspect of FG "3-5b", and the downlink information (DCI) transmission is effective in terms of the number of downlink information (DCI) in the span based on FG "3-5b".

[0034] However, in a DCI transmission, FG '3-5a' is violated if the network is expected to provide a four symbol interval between both DCIs. In other words, if the user equipment (UE) only reports downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capability under FG “3-5a” (i.e., not under FG “3-5b”), the network will not be able to transmit the downlink information (DCI) shown in FIG. 2b.

[0035] If a user equipment (UE) reports its capabilities under both FG "3-5a" and FG "3-5b", and as discussed above the network can choose to comply with one, the other, or both, then in each of the examples of Figures 2a and 2b the network can make a selection to enable the transmissions shown in the figures. In the situation shown in Figure 2a, the network may choose to comply with the capabilities reported under FG "3-5a" and allow the transmissions shown in Figure 2a, and in the situation shown in Figure 2b, the network may choose to comply with the capabilities reported under FG "3-5b" and allow the transmissions shown in Figure 2b.

[0036] FIG. 2c is a table of configuration options according to one embodiment of the present invention. The table in Figure 2c summarizes the following: As shown in this table, a single reporting environment does not result in the transmissions shown above in Figure 2a (reporting exclusively under FG "3-5b") and Figure 2b (reporting exclusively under FG "3-5a") being allowed, but dual reporting (for the user equipment (UE) downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capability under both FG "3-5a" and FG "3-5b") can result in all of the transmissions described in Figures 2a and 2b being allowed.

[0037] In a system embodying (dual) reporting of a downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capability under both FG "3-5a" and FG "3-5b", a user equipment (UE) connects to a network, the user equipment (UE) reports capabilities under both FG "3-5a" and FG "3-5b" to the network, the network chooses not to comply with the minimum time separation requirement (FG "3-5a") while adhering to the span pattern requirement (FG "3-5b"), and the network (i) A first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that complies with the span pattern requirements; and (ii) A first case may involve transmitting two downlink information (DCIs) separated by less than a minimum time separation.

[0038] A second case occurs when a user equipment (UE) connects to a network and the network chooses to comply with the minimum time separation requirement (FG "3-5a") rather than comply with the span pattern requirement (FG "3-5b"), and the network transmits a second monitoring occasion (MO) pattern to the user equipment (UE) that does not comply with the span pattern requirement. Similarly, a case may arise when a first user equipment (UE) connects to the network and reports capabilities under both FG "3-5a" and FG "3-5b", the network chooses to comply with the span pattern requirement (FG "3-5b") but not the minimum time separation requirement (FG "3-5a"), and a second user equipment (UE) connects to the network and reports the same downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capabilities as reported by the first user equipment (UE), the network may choose to not comply with the span pattern requirement (FG "3-5b") but to comply with the minimum time separation requirement (FG "3-5a") when interacting with the second user equipment (UE).

[0039] If a user equipment (UE) reports its downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capabilities under both FG "3-5a" and FG "3-5b" to the network, it is advantageous for the user equipment (UE) to infer from the network's operation whether the network has selected to comply with FG "3-5a" or FG "3-5b". This means that (e.g., if the capability reported under FG "3-5a" is a gap restriction that writes the absence of DCI into the symbol that occurs immediately after a symbol that contains DCI), the user equipment device (UE) may potentially exclude certain symbols (e.g., any symbols that occur immediately after a symbol that contains DCI) by containing DCI, and the user equipment device (UE) may not be able to receive DCI during such symbols, e.g., to save power.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a physical downlink control channel monitoring capability reporting method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the user equipment (UE) reports its downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capability under both FG "3-5a" and FG "3-5b" (step S305) and receives a downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring configuration from the network (step S310).

[0041] The user equipment (UE) determines whether the downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring configuration complies with the capabilities reported by the user equipment (UE) under FG "3-5b" (step S315), and if not, the user equipment (UE) infers that the network has selected the downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capabilities reported by the user equipment (UE) under FG "3-5a" to be compatible, thereby detecting downlink information (DCI) (step S320). This includes deactivating downlink information (DCI) reception immediately after downlink information (DCI) is received if the user equipment (UE) downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capability under FG “3-5a” is gap-limited.

[0042] If the user equipment (UE) determines that the downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring configuration complies with the capabilities that the user equipment (UE) reported under FG "3-5b" (step S315), the user equipment (UE) may perform the following based on the downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring configuration received from the network: (i) the network has chosen to comply only with the user equipment (UE) capabilities reported under FG “3-5b”; or (ii) Unable to determine whether a network has elected to comply with capabilities under both FG “3-5a” and FG “3-5b.”

[0043] However, once the network transmits and the user equipment (UE) receives a notification of the decision informing the user equipment (UE) of which functions the network has decided to comply with (step S325), the user equipment (UE) can monitor the downlink information (DCI) to see whether the downlink information (DCI) is based on FG "3-5b" (step S330), or on both FG "3-5a" and FG "3-5b" (step S335). This decision indication may, for example, be a specific signal transmitted by the network to the user equipment (UE) or other configuration settings used by the network from which the user equipment (UE) can infer the choice made by the network.

[0044] In some embodiments, the network includes a first processing circuit (eg, one or more CPUs) and the user equipment (UE) includes a processing circuit. The processing circuitry may perform some or all of the methods described above in this specification, e.g., transmitting and receiving some of the configuration information, capability information, and downlink information (DCI) that may be external to the processing circuitry (via appropriate transmitting and receiving hardware such as radio, microwave, or millimeter wave transmitters and receivers).

[0045] The term "processing circuitry" is used herein to mean any combination of hardware, firmware, and software used to process data or digital signals. The processing circuitry hardware may include, for example, programmable logic devices such as ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), general-purpose or special-purpose CPUs (Central Processing Units), DSPs (Digital Signal Processors), GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), and FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays).

[0046] In a processing circuit, as used in this specification, each function may be performed by hardware configured to perform that function, i.e., hard-wired, or by more general hardware, such as a CPU configured to execute instructions stored on a temporary storage medium. The processing circuitry may be fabricated on a single printed circuit board (PCB) or may be distributed across several interconnected PCBs. A processing circuit may include other processing circuits. For example, one processing circuit may include two processing circuits, one FPGA and one CPU, connected together on a PCB.

[0047] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 105 User Equipment (UE) 110 Network

Claims

1. receiving, by a network, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capability from a user equipment (UE); generating, by the network, a first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern in response to the PDCCH monitoring capability; The PDCCH monitoring capability includes: Span pattern requirements specifying one or more constraints on length and separation; a minimum time separation requirement specifying a minimum time separation between multiple downlink control information; transmitting, by the network, to the user device, the first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that complies with the span pattern requirements; transmitting, by the network, a first downlink control information (DCI) to the user equipment, and a second downlink control information (DCI) separated from the first downlink control information (DCI) by less than the minimum time separation.

2. transmitting, by the network, to the user device a second monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that does not comply with the span pattern requirements; and transmitting, by the network, third downlink control information to the user equipment, and fourth downlink control information separated from the third downlink control information by less than the minimum time separation.

3. transmitting, by the network, to the user device, the first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that does not comply with the span pattern requirements; and transmitting, by the network, a first downlink control information (DCI) to the user equipment, and a second downlink control information (DCI) separated from the first downlink control information (DCI) by more than the minimum time separation.

4. the minimum time separation requirement specifies an absence of downlink control information (DCI) in a symbol immediately following a symbol bearing DCI; 4. The physical downlink control channel monitoring capability reporting method of claim 3, further comprising the step of preventing the user equipment from receiving downlink control information (DCI) during a symbol immediately following the first DCI.

5. transmitting, by the network, to the user device, the first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that complies with the span pattern requirements; and transmitting, by the network, a first downlink control information (DCI) and a second downlink control information (DCI) separated from the first downlink control information (DCI) by more than the minimum time separation to the user equipment.

6. the minimum time separation requirement specifies an absence of downlink control information (DCI) in a symbol immediately following a symbol bearing DCI; transmitting, by the network, a notification to the user device that the network complies with a minimum time separation requirement; 6. The physical downlink control channel monitoring capability reporting method of claim 5, further comprising: preventing the user equipment from receiving downlink control information (DCI) during a symbol immediately following the first DCI.

7. receiving, by a network, a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capability from a first user equipment; receiving, by the network, the first PDCCH monitoring capability from a second user equipment; generating, by the network, a first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern in response to the first PDCCH monitoring capability; The first PDCCH monitoring capability includes a span pattern requirement that specifies one or more restrictions on length and separation; a minimum time separation requirement specifying a minimum time separation between multiple downlink control information (DCIs); transmitting, by the network, to the first user device, the first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that complies with the span pattern requirements; transmitting, by the network, a first downlink control information (DCI) to the first user device, and a second downlink control information (DCI) separated from the first downlink control information (DCI) by less than the minimum time separation.

8. transmitting, by the network, to the second user device, a second monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that does not comply with the span pattern requirements; and transmitting, by the network, a third DCI to the second user equipment, and a fourth DCI separated from the third DCI by more than the minimum time separation.

9. transmitting, by the network, to the first user device, the first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that does not comply with the span pattern requirements; and transmitting, by the network, a first DCI to the first user equipment, and a second DCI separated from the first DCI by more than the minimum time separation.

10. the minimum time separation requirement specifies an absence of downlink control information (DCI) in a symbol immediately following a symbol bearing DCI; 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of preventing the first user equipment from receiving downlink control information (DCI) during a symbol immediately following the first DCI.

11. transmitting, by the network, to the first user device, the first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern that complies with the span pattern requirements; and transmitting, by the network, a first DCI to the first user equipment, and a second DCI separated from the first DCI by more than the minimum time separation.

12. the minimum time separation requirement specifies an absence of downlink control information (DCI) in a symbol immediately following a symbol bearing DCI; transmitting, by the network, a notification to the first user device that the network complies with a minimum time separation requirement; 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: preventing the first user equipment from receiving downlink control information (DCI) during a symbol immediately following the first DCI.

13. a network including a first processing circuit; a user device including a second processing circuit; the second processing circuit is configured to report a downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capability to the network; The downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capability includes a span pattern requirement that specifies one or more restrictions on length and separation; a minimum time separation requirement specifying a minimum time separation between multiple downlink control information (DCIs); the first processing circuit transmits a first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern to the user device that complies with the span pattern requirements; 1. A physical downlink control channel monitoring capability reporting system configured to transmit to the user equipment a first downlink control information (DCI) and a second downlink control information (DCI) separated from the first downlink control information (DCI) by less than the minimum time separation.

14. the first processing circuit transmits a second monitoring occasion (MO) pattern to the user device that does not comply with the span pattern requirements; 14. The physical downlink control channel monitoring capability reporting system of claim 13, further comprising: a third downlink control information (DCI) and a fourth downlink control information (DCI) separated from the third downlink control information (DCI) by more than the minimum time separation to the user equipment.

15. the first processing circuit transmits a first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern to the user device that does not comply with the span pattern requirements; 14. The physical downlink control channel monitoring capability reporting system of claim 13, configured to transmit to the user equipment a first downlink control information (DCI) and a second downlink control information (DCI) separated from the first downlink control information (DCI) by more than the minimum time separation.

16. the minimum time separation requirement specifies an absence of downlink control information (DCI) in a symbol immediately following a symbol bearing DCI; 16. The physical downlink control channel monitoring capability reporting system of claim 15, wherein the second processing circuit is configured to disable reception of downlink control information (DCI) during a symbol immediately following the first DCI.

17. the minimum time separation requirement specifies an absence of downlink control information (DCI) in a symbol immediately following a symbol bearing DCI; the first processing circuit transmits a first monitoring occasion (MO) pattern to the user device that complies with the span pattern requirements; transmitting a first downlink control information (DCI) and a second downlink control information (DCI) separated from the first downlink control information (DCI) by at least the minimum time separation to the user equipment; configured to transmit a notification that the network complies with the minimum time separation requirement; 14. The physical downlink control channel monitoring capability reporting system of claim 13, wherein the second processing circuit is configured to disable reception of downlink control information (DCI) during a symbol immediately following the first DCI.

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