Configuration in a network

Abstract

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus configured to search for downlink control information (DCI) elements in at least one search space, determine whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI, responsive to determining the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI, use the first DCI element as a received DCI in communication with a network, and responsive to determining the first DCI element is comprised in a two-part DCI, combine the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain the received DCI and use the received DCI in communication with a network.

Description

CONFIGURATION IN A NETWORKFIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to transmitting and receiving configuration information in a network, such as a wireless cellular network.BACKGROUND

[0002] Wireless communication networks may be configured to operate under the direction of the network, with user equipment, UE, devices acting in response to instructions received from the network, for example from base stations comprised in the network.

[0003] There are several ways in which the network may deliver different kinds of instructions to UEs, some of which will be explored herein in more detail.SUMMARY

[0004] According to some aspects, there is provided the subject-matter of the independent claims. Some embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. The scope of protection sought for various embodiments of the invention is set out by the independent claims. The embodiments, examples and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the invention.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements in at least one search space, determine whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a completeone-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI, responsive to determining the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI, use the first DCI element as a received DCI in communication with a network, and responsive to determining the first DCI element is comprised in a two-part DCI, combine the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain the received DCI and use the received DCI in communication with a network.

[0006] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to configure a user equipment to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of one-part and two-part DCIs in at least one search space, transmit to the user equipment, using the at least one search space, a first DCI element as a first part of a two- part DCI and transmit a second DCI element as a second part of the two-part DCI, and provide at least one implicit or explicit indication to the user equipment that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI and that the second DCI element is the second part of the two-part DCI.

[0007] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising searching for downlink control information, DCI, elements in at least one search space, determining whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI, responsive to determining the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI, using the first DCI element as a received DCI in communication with a network, and responsive to determining the first DCI element is comprised in a two-part DCI, combining the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain the received DCI and using the received DCI in communication with a network.

[0008] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising configuring a user equipment to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of one-part and two-part DCIs in at least one search space, transmitting to the user equipment, using the at least one search space, a first DCI element as a first part of a two-part DCI and transmit a second DCI element as a second part of the two-part DCI, and providing at least one implicit or explicit indication to the user equipmentthat the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI and that the second DCI element is the second part of the two-part DCI.

[0009] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a non- transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least search for downlink control information, DCI, elements in at least one search space, determine whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI, responsive to determining the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI, use the first DCI element as a received DCI in communication with a network, and responsive to determining the first DCI element is comprised in a two-part DCI, combine the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain the received DCI and use the received DCI in communication with a network.

[0010] According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a non- transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least configure a user equipment to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of one-part and two-part DCIs in at least one search space, transmit to the user equipment, using the at least one search space, a first DCI element as a first part of a two-part DCI and transmit a second DCI element as a second part of the two-part DCI, and provide at least one implicit or explicit indication to the user equipment that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI and that the second DCI element is the second part of the two-part DCI.

[0011] According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for searching for downlink control information, DCI, elements in at least one search space, determining whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI, responsive to determining the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI, using the first DCI element as a received DCI in communication with a network, and responsive to determining the first DCI element is comprised in a two-part DCI, combining the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain the received DCI and using the received DCI in communication with a network.

[0012] According to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for configuring a user equipment to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of one-part and two-part DCIs in at least one search space, transmitting to the user equipment, using the at least one search space, a first DCI element as a first part of a two-part DCI and transmit a second DCI element as a second part of the two-part DCI, and providing at least one implicit or explicit indication to the user equipment that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI and that the second DCI element is the second part of the two-part DCI.

[0013] According to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of at least one two-part DCI in at least one search space, determine whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a first or second part of a two-part DCI from among the at least one two-part DCI, and combine the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain a received DCI and use the received DCI in communication with a network.

[0014] According to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to configure a user equipment to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of at least one two-part DCIs in at least one search space, transmit to the user equipment, using the at least one search space, a first DCI element as a first part of a two- part DCI from among the at least one two-part DCI and transmit to the user equipment a second DCI element as a second part of the two-part DCI, and provide at least one implicit or explicit indication to the user equipment that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI and that the second DCI element is the second part of the two-part DCI.

[0015] According to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method, comprising searching for downlink control information, DCI, elements of at least one two-part DCI in at least one search space, determining whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a first or second part of a two-part DCI from among the at least one two-part DCI, and combining the first DCI element with a second DCI elementfound in the at least one search space to obtain a received DCI and using the received DCI in communication with a network.

[0016] According to a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method, comprising configuring a user equipment to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of at least one two-part DCIs in at least one search space, transmitting to the user equipment, using the at least one search space, a first DCI element as a first part of a two-part DCI from among the at least one two-part DCI and transmitting to the user equipment a second DCI element as a second part of the two-part DCI, and providing at least one implicit or explicit indication to the user equipment that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI and that the second DCI element is the second part of the two-part DCI.

[0017] According to a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of at least one two-part DCI in at least one search space, determine whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a first or second part of a two-part DCI from among the at least one two-part DCI, and combine the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain a received DCI and use the received DCI in communication with a network.

[0018] According to a fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least configure a user equipment to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of at least one two-part DCIs in at least one search space, transmit to the user equipment, using the at least one search space, a first DCI element as a first part of a two-part DCI from among the at least one two-part DCI and transmit to the user equipment a second DCI element as a second part of the two-part DCI, and provide at least one implicit or explicit indication to the user equipment that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI and that the second DCI element is the second part of the two-part DCI.

[0019] According to a fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for searching for downlink control information, DCI, elementsof at least one two-part DCI in at least one search space, determining whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a first or second part of a two-part DCI from among the at least one two-part DCI, and combining the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain a received DCI and using the received DCI in communication with a network.

[0020] According to a sixteenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for configuring a user equipment to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of at least one two-part DCIs in at least one search space, transmitting to the user equipment, using the at least one search space, a first DCI element as a first part of a two-part DCI from among the at least one two-part DCI and transmitting to the user equipment a second DCI element as a second part of the two-part DCI, and providing at least one implicit or explicit indication to the user equipment that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI and that the second DCI element is the second part of the two-part DCI.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIGURE 1 illustrates an example system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0022] FIGURE 2A is an example process in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0023] FIGURE 2B is an example DCI element in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0024] FIGURE 2C is an example process in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0025] FIGURE 2D is an example DCI element in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0026] FIGURE 3 illustrates an example apparatus capable of supporting at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0027] FIGURE 4 illustrates signalling in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0028] FIGURE 5 is a flow graph of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention, and

[0029] FIGURE 6 is a flow graph of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention.EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Methods are herein described which facilitate timely and dependable delivery of configuration information, such as downlink control information, DCI, from a base station to a user equipment, UE. To enable delivering, in various embodiments, the configuration information of various sizes, it may be delivered as a single transmission, one-part message or separated into two transmissions, in which case it is a two-part message, such as a two- part DCI. A two-part message, such as DCI, may be transmitted such that the first and second parts reach the UE in any order, and the UE can determine which one is the first part, and which one is the second part, to correctly combine the parts into a complete message and act on contents of the complete message. Thus a beneficial effect is obtained in that a two-part message may be transmitted faster than in case the two parts would be required to be sent in a specific order. This is so, since the network may opportunistically use free resources without being constrained by the specific order.

[0031] FIGURE 1 illustrates an example system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. This system includes base stations 130, 135 in communication with UEs, such as UE 110. A radio link connects base station 130 with UE 110. The radio link may be bidirectional, comprising an uplink, UL, to convey information from UE 110 toward base station 130, and a downlink, DL, to convey information from the base station 130 toward UE 110. A cellular communication system may comprise hundreds or thousands of base stations, of which only two are illustrated in FIGURE 1 for the sake of clarity of the illustration. The base stations may be distributed in that they comprise a centralized unit, CU, and one or more distributed unit, DU. A base station is an example of a base node.

[0032] Base station 130 is further coupled communicatively with core network node 140, which may comprise, for example, a mobility management entity, MME, home subscriber server, HSS, unified data repository, UDR, call session control function, CSCF, or access and mobility management function, AMF. The core network node 140 may be coupled with further core network nodes, and with a network 150, which may comprise the Internet or a corporate network, for example. The system may communicate with further networks via network 150. Examples of the further core network nodes, which are not illustrated in FIGURE 1 for the sake of clarity, include gateways and subscriber information repositories. Core network nodes may be virtualized in the sense that they may run as software modules on computing substrates, such that more than one virtualized network node may run on a same computing substrate. The network may be configured to function in accordance with a suitable cellular standard such as long term evolution, LTE, fifth generation, 5G, which is also known as New Radio, NR, or sixth generation, 6G standards as defined by the 3rdgeneration partnership project, 3GPP. To obtain interoperation, UEs attaching to the network are configured to support a same standard as the network.

[0033] Base station 130 controls, in the example of FIGURE 1 cells 130A and 130B, of which UE 110 is in the situation illustrated in FIGURE 1 attached with cell 130A, and base station 135 controls, in the example of FIGURE 1, cells 135A and 135B. The number of cells, or beams, may be in excess of what is illustrated in FIGURE 1. It is also possible that a base station has a single cell or beam. While illustrated as sector-shaped, cells of a same base station may be omnidirectional and operate on different frequencies, for example. A mobility event may comprise a switch from one beam to another beam of the same cell, or a switch from one cell to another cell. To support mobility procedures, UEs, including UE 110, are configured to conduct mobility measurements to measure signal strengths of adjacent beams and / or cells, and report results of these measurements to the network, which may then take a decision concerning a mobility event, such as a beam change or a cell switch.

[0034] Base stations, such as base stations 130 and 135, are configured to transmit various kinds of information to UEs. In addition to payload, such as the content of voice and video calls, application data and transferred user files, base stations transmit various kinds of configuration information. Some of this configuration information is provided in broadcasted system information blocks to assist UEs in deciding whether to attach to cells of the base stations, and other configuration information, such as DCI, is provided directly to individual UEs or to a group of UEs to assist in their operation.

[0035] DCI may comprise, for example, information the UE is configured to use in power control, hybrid automatic repeat request, HARQ, processing, identifying physical resources to use in uplink and / or downlink transmissions and performing transmission or reception based on these identified physical resources. These physical resources may be time slices, such as a number of symbol durations, of frequency resources, such as resource blocks of 12 subcarriers, or resource block groups. In some systems, the physical resources may be time slices of spreading codes.

[0036] The network may be configured to provide DCIs in different formats according to the situation and the need to provide specific kinds of information. One format of DCI may be used to schedule one or more physical uplink shared channels, PUSCHs in one or more cells, a second format of DCI may be used to schedule one or more physical downlink shared channels, PDSCHs in one or more cells, a third format of DCI may be used to notify one or more UEs of a slot format, a fourth format of DCI may be used to notify one or more UEs of physical resource blocks, PRBs, and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, OFDM, symbol(s) where UE may assume there will be no transmission intended for this UE, a fifth format of DCI may be used to transmit power control commands for PUCCH and PUSCH. A sixth format of DCI may be used to transmit a group of power control commands for sounding reference signal, SRS, transmissions by one or more UE. A seventh format of DCI may be used to notify the PRBs and OFDM symbols where a UE is to cancel a transmission from the UE. An eighth format of DCI may be used to notify of availability of soft resources, by which it is meant resources which a relay node may use for access on its child link provided that they can be used without impacting the relay node’s backhaul, parent, link operation. Further DCI formats may be used to notify UE of power saving information outside of discontinuous reception, DRX, active time and / or to schedule NR- based or LTE-based sidelink communications. Further formats, or alternative formats, may be used for further purposes or combinations of purposes, for example.

[0037] A DCI may be transmitted scrambled with a radio network temporary identifier, RNTI. A UE may in these cases determine the DCI is intended for it by checking that the RNTI masking the DCI is an RNTI assigned to this UE. In some embodiments, the DCI may comprise the RNTI without being scrambled with this RNTI. Either way, the RNTI is an RNTI of the DCI.

[0038] In 5G, DCI payload size may occasionally be close to its physical limit, which is set by the used polar code being limited to supporting a 140-bit payload, and in 6G systems yet larger DCI payloads may be needed. For example, in case a single DCI is used schedule multiple cells, the DCI may become larger in size than when a single cell is scheduled. Such a DCI design may not be easily usable as the 140-bit limit may be reached, and it may result in significant restrictions in possible configurations unless overcome. Further, multi-cell scheduling may be applied in combination with multi-slot scheduling which further increases DCI size. There may be yet further reasons to increase the DCI size, such as, for example, due to enhancements in multiple input multiple output, MIMO, support for multiple parallel PDSCHs or PUSCHs in a cell.

[0039] One manner of increasing DCI payload size is transmitting, instead of a unitary one-part DCI, a two-part DCI which comprises two DCI elements transmitted separately, for the UE to combine and act on. The combination of the parts is a received DCI. Thus limitations on payload size of a unitary, one-part, DCI may be overcome. When a two-part DCI is sent, the first part may be sent over PDCCH, and the second part may be sent on a PDSCH, for example so that the first part points to where and on which PDSCH the UE may retrieve the second part. In these cases, the first part must first be searched for on one or more PDCCH candidate, before retrieval of the second part may commence. Alternatively, both parts may be sent via PDCCH, either both over a same search space but different CCEs or via separate search spaces. The two parts of the two-part DCI are separately encoded. The two parts may be of a same size, or of differing sizes. It would be more beneficial, however, to enable the UE to have the first and second parts of a two-part DCI as soon as possible, as then the DCI may be used to, for example, schedule physical resources which occur sooner. The two parts may be encoded separately to enable their separate decoding.

[0040] Disclosed herein are methods which aim to deliver a two-part DCI to a UE faster than is possible using delivery where the first part of the DCI schedules the second part of the DCI. In other words, methods described herein enable a first part of a two-part DCI and a second part of the two-part DCI to be independently detected by the UE using PDCCH blind decoding in one or more search space, wherein DCI elements of a certain size are sought on multiple PDCCH candidates.

[0041] To enable this, the UE is configured to search for both the first part and the second part of the two-part DCI. These parts may be searched for in the same search space,or in distinct search spaces. In the case of different search spaces, the search spaces for one- part DCI and one or both parts of a two-part DCI may be at least partially (that is, fully or partially) overlapping or, alternatively, may not have overlapping resources. The sizes of one-part DCIs, and the first and / or second parts of two-part DCIs may be the same, or different. In other words, the one-part DCI may be the same size (or different size) as a first or second part of a two-part DCI, and the two parts of a two-part DCI may also be of the same size, or of different sizes. It is also possible that a one-part DCI and the first and second parts of a two-part DCI are all the same size.

[0042] When the first part of a two-part DCI and its respective second part are to be independently detected, the UE needs to determine, if a DCI element it receives is the first or the second part - or, indeed, if it is a unitary, one-part, DCI in case the UE is configured to search for one-part DCIs as well.

[0043] Yet further, a UE may be configured to search for more than one two-part DCI, in which case the UE is configured to determine not only whether a DCI element it has found is a first part or a second part, but also which one of the more than one two-part DCI the found DCI element is overall comprised in. Plural two-part DCIs may be used in, for example, time division duplex, TDD, networks to schedule uplink shared channel(s) in a cell. In 5G / NR, the UE may expect up to two DCIs scheduling PUSCH for a scheduled TDD cell in a PDCCH monitoring occasion. In these scenarios, a possible error event is made possible by combining first and second parts of different DCIs to arrive at an invalid complete, received DCI.

[0044] When DCI elements, such as one-part DCIs and first and second parts of two- part DCIs, are of different sizes, and / or provided over distinct search spaces, the UE may use this information to determine, if a DCI element it has found is a unitary DCI, or a first (or second) part of a two-part DCI. On the other hand, when the DCI element sizes do not enable this differentiating and also the search spaces overlap, at least partly, the UE needs to rely on different solutions. Further, the number of blind decoding attempts the UE can perform are limited, setting an additional bound on DCI signaling arrangements that are within the bounds of what is still practical.

[0045] Herein are described methods for one-part and two-part DCIs where a UE is configured to use only a single PDCCH decoding phase, which consists of searching independently for different parts of the DCI in any order, without explicitly scheduling thesecond part of a two-part DCI in the first part of this DCI. The differentiation based on search space mentioned above is not as such relied on, in other words, the search spaces the UE searches are at least partly overlapping. This overlap may comprise, for example, one of the following. Firstly, the search spaces may be the same search space, in other words the same control resource set, CORESET, with at least partially overlapping PDCCH candidates which share at least one control channel element, CCE. Secondly, the search spaces may be different search spaces and have at least partially overlapping PDCCH candidates which share at least one resource block and time domain symbol. Thirdly, the search spaces may be different but share the same monitoring occasions at least occasionally, with different CORESETs which overlap at least in one resource block. The search space itself may be expressed in terms of time, frequency, aggregation level, AL, and number of PDCCH candidates, for example.

[0046] FIGURE 2A is an example process in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. In phase 210, a UE searches for DCI elements of at least one two-part DCI, from at least one search space. When more than one search space is used here, these search spaces partly overlap.

[0047] In phase 220, the UE finds a first DCI element as a result of the search of phase 210. The search may be continued until also at least a second DCI element is found or the search space(s) is(are) exhausted, as the UE knows that it is searching for a two-part DCI or plural such DCIs. Proceeding then to phase 230, the UE determines whether the first DCI element is a first part or a second part of a two-part DCI. This may be based on various considerations, which will be described herein below in more detail. After two DCI elements are found in a search of the search space(s), the UE may proceed to determining whether the first DCI element, which may be, for example, the first one to be found, is a first part or a second part of a two-part DCI. It may also be necessary to verify the two found DCI elements are comprised in the same two-part DCI, as it may be possible that plural DCIs are transmitted by the network but the UE doesn’t find all the DCI elements of these plural DCIs.

[0048] In phase 240, the first DCI element and the second DCI element are combined to form a received two-part DCI. An error control code may be provided in the received DCI to verify the combination is correct. An example of such an error control code is cyclic redundancy check, CRC, which may be determined over both two parts. Further examples of error control codes include check bits and parity bits. Subsequently, in phase 250, the UEuses the received DCI in communication with the network, for example by receiving data over a PDSCH as instructed in the received DCI, or transmitting data over a PUSCH as instructed in the received DCI. Separate error control codes may be used in phase 220 to verify that each received DCI element is correctly received.

[0049] Concerning the determination in phase 230 whether the first DCI element is a first or second part of a two-part DCI, there are several options as to how this may be performed. Firstly, if the first and second parts are of different lengths, the UE may deduce based on the length of the first DCI element, which part it is. When the first and second parts are of equal length, the determination needs to be based on a different logic. For example, the first and / or second parts of the two-part DCI may comprise an identifier, such as a single bit in the DCI payload, which indicates which part the first DCI element is. The UE may locate the identifier in the first DCI element, or determine the absence of the identifier if the identifier is only included in the other part, and perform the determination of phase 230 based on this.

[0050] Another option is to perform the determination of phase 230 based on the PDCCH candidate where the first DCI element was found. For example, the UE may know a PDCCH candidate set which is used exclusively for the first (or second) parts of a two-part DCI, enabling a determination that a DCI element found on a PDCCH candidate comprised in the set is respectively a first (or second) part. Alternatively to PDCCH candidate sets, the network may be configured to transmit the first part on a PDCCH candidate having a lower order number than is used to convey the second part (or vice versa). In other words, the UE may perform the determination based on the order number of the PDCCH candidates used to receive the first and second DCI elements.

[0051] By lower order number of a PDCCH candidate it is meant a lower CCE index and / or a lower search space index. For example, the CCE index may be considered first, and in the case they are the same, the order number may be determined by search space index.

[0052] A yet further alternative is for the UE to be configured to perform the determination of phase 230 based on an RNTI of the first DCI element. This may be an RNTI used to scramble the first DCI element, or an RNTI merely comprised as payload in the first DCI element. In detail, the UE may be configured to determine that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI as a response to this RNTI being comprised in a set of one or more RNTI configured for use with the first part. Alternatively, RNTI may be configuredfor use with the second part, enabling the UE to determine the first DCI element is the second part.

[0053] In case the UE is configured to search for more than one two-part DCI, the UE may be configured to further determine, which one of these plural two-part DCIs the first DCI element is comprised in. This determination may be based on similar considerations, namely, the distinct two-part DCIs may be associated with DCI element sizes, they may have identifiers indicating which DCI they belong to, they may be conveyed over specific PDCCH candidates or PDCCH candidate sets, and they may comprise, or be scrambled with, separate RNTIs enabling the association of the first DCI element to the correct two-part DCI.

[0054] Overall, the base station transmitting the DCI may thus provide to the UE an explicit or implicit indication concerning whether a DCI element is a first part or a second part. Likewise in the case of plural two-part DCIs, the base station may provide an explicit or implicit indication concerning which two-part DCI the DCI element is comprised in. In detail, the identifier mentioned above is an explicit indication, whereas the sizes of the DCI elements, the used PDCCH candidates and the used RNTIs are implicit indications.

[0055] The base station may be arranged to choose whether to use a one-part DCI or a two-part DCI based on circumstances of the UE. For example, in case a UE has poor channel conditions the base station may choose to use a two-part DCI, to obtain a greater likelihood that the UE will be able to act on the transmitted DCI. Further, the base station may choose a PDCCH candidate with higher channel quality conditions to use for conveying a larger one of the two parts of a two-part DCI.

[0056] FIGURE 2B is an example DCI element in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. Here DCI element 2B1 comprises a payload 260 and identifier 270, which informs the UE whether this is a first or a second part of a two-part DCI. In the case of plural two-part DCIs, identifier 270 may also inform the UE which one of the plural two-part DCIs DCI element 2B1 is comprised in. In the latter case, identifier 270 may comprise two separate physical identifiers, or a single physical identifier mapped to both DCI identities and the roles of first and second part of the DCI element therein.

[0057] FIGURE 2C is an example process in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. In phase 2C1, a UE searches for DCI elements of aone-part DCI and a two-part DCI, from at least one search space. When more than one search space is used here, these search spaces partly overlap.

[0058] In phase 2C2, the UE finds a first DCI element as a result of the search of phase 2C1. The search may be continued until at least also a second DCI element is found or the search space(s) is(are) exhausted, as the UE knows that it may be sent the two-part DCI or plural DCIs. Proceeding then to phase 2C3, the UE determines whether the first DCI element is the complete one-part DCI, or a part of the two-part DCI.

[0059] In case the first DCI element is a part of the two-part DCI, processing advances to phase 2C4, where it is determined whether the first DCI element is a first or second part of a two-part DCI which corresponds to phase 230 of FIGURE 2A. Subsequently, the first DCI element is combined with a second DCI element, also comprised in the two-part DCI, to obtain the received DCI, in phase 2C5 which corresponds to phase 240 of FIGURE 2A, which is then used in phase 2C6 which corresponds to phase 250 in FIGURE 2A. On the other hand, if the determination in phase 2C3 reveals that the first DCI element is the complete one-part DCI, then the first DCI element is used as such as the received DCI in phase 2C6.

[0060] The determination of phase 2C3 is made in a manner which is analogous to the determination in phase 230 of FIGURE 2A. In detail, the determination may be based on the size of the first DCI element, wherein a certain size, or sizes, is (or are) associated with the one-part (or two-part) DCI.

[0061] Alternatively, the one-part DCI, and / or parts of the two-part DCI, may comprise an explicit identifier which indicates whether the element carrying the identifier is a one-part DCI, or comprised in a two-part DCI. For example, if there can be both a one-part DCI format of size A and a part of two-part DCI having this same size A, the indicator can be used to separate the two. The indicator may also convey the ordering between parts of a two-part DCI. The indicator may be included in the first part or the second part of the two- part DCI or in both the first part and the second part of the two-part DCI as well as in the one-part DCI.

[0062] Yet further, the determination of phase 2C3 may be performed based on the PDCCH candidate where the first DCI element was found. For example, a PDCCH candidate with a lower order number may provide the one-part DCI and PDCCH candidates with ahigher order number, beyond a threshold order number, may provide the parts of the two- part DCI. A lower search space index may be considered as a lower order number. In some embodiments, further, the parts of the two-part DCI are provided in a predetermined order in terms of the order numbers of the PDCCH candidates used for the two-part DCI, enabling also the determination which one is the first and which one is the second part based on the PDCCH candidate order number.

[0063] Yet further, it is possible to perform the determination of phase 2C3 based on the RNTI of the first DCI element, wherein the one-part DCI uses a different RNTI than the two-part DCI. In case of the two-part DCI, the RNTI may also be used to determine whether a specific DCI element is the first part of the second part based on the RNTI of this DCI element, as described herein above in connection with FIGURE 2A.

[0064] FIGURE 2D is an example DCI element in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. Here DCI element 2D1 comprises a payload 2D2, and identifier 2D3, which indicates whether DCI element 2D1 is a one-part DCI or a part of a two-part DCI. In the latter case, identifier 2D3 may further indicate, if DCI element 2D1 is the first or second part. In the case of plural two-part DCIs, identifier 2D3 may also inform the UE which one of the plural two-part DCIs DCI element 2D1 is comprised in. In such case, identifier 2D3 may comprise separate physical identifiers, or a single physical identifier mapped to the different DCI identities and the roles of first and second part of the DCI element therein.

[0065] It is of note, that the various indications described herein may be used in combination with each other. For example, in some embodiments identifier 2D3 may be used to indicate that DCI element 2D1 is comprised in a two-part DCI, and then the DCI element size, the PDCCH candidate used, the used PDCCH candidate order number or the RNTI may be used, as described herein above, to determine whether element 2D1 is the first or the second part of the 2-part DCI. Also when identifier 2D3 is used to only mark one-part DCIs, its absence indicates that DCI element 2D1 is part of a two-part DCI, and the other indications mentioned in this paragraph may be used to determine whether it is the first or the second part. Likewise if the PDCCH candidate is used to indicate one-part or two-part DCI, the other indications may be used to determine the order in the two-part DCI. Likewise if the RNTI is used to indicate one-part or two-part DCI, the other indications may be used to determine the order in the two-part DCI. Likewise if the size is used to indicate one-partor two-part DCI, the other indications may be used to determine the order in the two-part DCI.

[0066] FIGURE 3 illustrates an example apparatus capable of supporting at least some embodiments of the present invention. Illustrated is device 300, which may comprise, for example, a mobile communication device such as a UE or, in applicable parts, a base station or a centralized unit of a base station. Comprised in device 300 is processor 310, which may comprise, for example, a single- or multi-core processor wherein a single-core processor comprises one processing core and a multi-core processor comprises more than one processing core. Processor 310 may comprise, in general, a control device. Processor 310 may comprise more than one processor. When processor 310 comprises more than one processor, device 300 may be a distributed device wherein processing of tasks takes place in more than one physical unit. Processor 310 may be a control device. A processing core may comprise, for example, a Cortex-A8 processing core manufactured by ARM Holdings or a Zen processing core designed by Advanced Micro Devices Corporation. A processing core or processor may be, or may comprise, at least one qubit. Processor 310 may comprise at least one Qualcomm Snapdragon and / or Intel Atom processor. Processor 310 may comprise at least one application-specific integrated circuit, ASIC. Processor 310 may comprise at least one field-programmable gate array, FPGA. Processor 310, optionally together with memory and computer instructions, may be means for performing method steps in device 300 such as searching, determining and using, for example. Processor 310 may be configured, at least in part by computer instructions, to perform actions.

[0067] A processor may comprise circuitry, or be constituted as circuitry or circuitries, the circuitry or circuitries being configured to perform phases of methods in accordance with embodiments described herein. As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations, such as implementations in only analogue and / or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as, as applicable: (i) a combination of analogue and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a UE or base station, to perform various functions) and (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0068] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0069] Device 300 may comprise memory 320. Memory 320 may comprise randomaccess memory and / or permanent memory. Memory 320 may comprise at least one RAM chip. Memory 320 may be a computer readable medium. Memory 320 may comprise solid- state, magnetic, optical and / or holographic memory, for example. Memory 320 may be at least in part accessible to processor 310. Memory 320 may be at least in part comprised in processor 310. Memory 320 may be means for storing information. Memory 320 may comprise computer instructions that processor 310 is configured to execute. When computer instructions configured to cause processor 310 to perform certain actions are stored in memory 320, and device 300 overall is configured to run under the direction of processor 310 using computer instructions from memory 320, processor 310 and / or its at least one processing core may be considered to be configured to perform said certain actions. Memory 320 may be at least in part external to device 300 but accessible to device 300. Memory 320 may be transitory or non-transitory. The term “non-transitory”, as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (that is, tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (for example, RAM vs. ROM).

[0070] Device 300 may comprise a transmitter 330. Device 300 may comprise a receiver 340. Transmitter 330 and receiver 340 may be configured to transmit and receive, respectively, information in accordance with at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. Transmitter 330 may comprise more than one transmitter. Receiver 340 may comprise more than one receiver. Transmitter 330 and / or receiver 340 may be configured to operate in accordance with global system for mobile communication, GSM, wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA, 5G, 6G, long term evolution, LTE, IS-95, wireless local area network, WLAN, Ethernet and / or worldwide interoperability for microwave access, WiMAX, standards, for example.

[0071] Device 300 may comprise a near-field communication, NFC, transceiver 350. NFC transceiver 350 may support at least one NFC technology, such as NFC, Bluetooth, Wibree or similar technologies.

[0072] Device 300 may comprise user interface, UI, 360. UI 360 may comprise at least one of a display, a keyboard, a touchscreen, a vibrator arranged to signal to a user by causing device 300 to vibrate, a speaker or a microphone. A user may be able to operate device 300 via UI 360, for example to accept incoming telephone calls, to originate telephone calls or video calls, to browse the Internet, to manage digital files stored in memory 320 or on a cloud accessible via transmitter 330 and receiver 340, or via NFC transceiver 350, and / or to play games.

[0073] Device 300 may comprise or be arranged to accept a user identity module 370. User identity module 370 may comprise, for example, a subscriber identity module, SIM, card installable in device 300. A user identity module 370 may comprise information identifying a subscription of a user of device 300. A user identity module 370 may comprise cryptographic information usable to verify the identity of a user of device 300 and / or to facilitate encryption of communicated information and billing of the user of device 300 for communication effected via device 300.

[0074] Processor 310 may be furnished with a transmitter arranged to output information from processor 310, via electrical leads internal to device 300, to other devices comprised in device 300. Such a transmitter may comprise a serial bus transmitter arranged to, for example, output information via at least one electrical lead to memory 320 for storage therein. Alternatively to a serial bus, the transmitter may comprise a parallel bus transmitter. Likewise processor 310 may comprise a receiver arranged to receive information in processor 310, via electrical leads internal to device 300, from other devices comprised in device 300. Such a receiver may comprise a serial bus receiver arranged to, for example, receive information via at least one electrical lead from receiver 340 for processing in processor 310. Alternatively to a serial bus, the receiver may comprise a parallel bus receiver.

[0075] Device 300 may comprise further devices not illustrated in FIGURE 3. For example, where device 300 comprises a smartphone, it may comprise at least one digital camera. Some devices 300 may comprise a back-facing camera and a front-facing camera, wherein the back-facing camera may be intended for digital photography and the front-facing camera for video telephony. Device 300 may comprise a fingerprint sensor arranged to authenticate, at least in part, a user of device 300. In some embodiments, device 300 lacks at least one device described above. For example, some devices 300 may lack a NFC transceiver 350 and / or user identity module 370.

[0076] Processor 310, memory 320, transmitter 330, receiver 340, NFC transceiver 350, UI 360 and / or user identity module 370 may be interconnected by electrical leads internal to device 300 in a multitude of different ways. For example, each of the aforementioned devices may be separately connected to a master bus internal to device 300, to allow for the devices to exchange information. However, as the skilled person will appreciate, this is only one example and depending on the embodiment various ways of interconnecting at least two of the aforementioned devices may be selected without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0077] FIGURE 4 illustrates signalling in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. On the vertical axes are disposed, on the left, a UE and on the right, a base station BS. Time advances from the top toward the bottom.

[0078] In phase 410, the base station configures the UE to search for at least one two- part DCI, in at least one search space. In phase 420, The base station prepares a two-part DCI in the at least one search space. This step may include including the identifier described above in the first and / or second part(s) of the DCI so that UE is able to identify these parts.

[0079] Subsequently, in phase 430 the base station transmits the first and second parts, which may be sent in any order and not necessarily the first part first. In phase 440, the UE blindly decodes all PDCCH candidates in the at least one search space to search for DCI elements. In phase 450 the UE determines which one of the found DCI elements is the first part and which one is the second part. The parts are then combined, optionally controlled by an error-control code to verify the combination is correct, to obtain the received DCI before using physical resources identified in the received DCI to transmit information, phase 450, to the base station on an uplink shared channel. As noted above, examples of error-control codes include CRC, check bits and parity bits. If the UE finds only one part of a two-part DCI, the UE may responsively ignore this DCI element.

[0080] FIGURE 5 is a flow graph of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. The phases of the illustrated method may beperformed in an apparatus such as an UE, for example, or in a control device configured to control the functioning thereof, when installed therein.

[0081] Phase 510 comprises searching for downlink control information, DCI, elements in at least one search space. Phase 520 comprises determining whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI. Phase 530 comprises, responsive to determining the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI, using the first DCI element as a received DCI in communication with a network. Phase 540 comprises, responsive to determining the first DCI element is comprised in a two-part DCI, combining the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain the received DCI and using the received DCI in communication with a network. Phase 540 may further comprise determining, prior to the combining, whether the first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a first or a second part of a two-part DCI from among the at least one two-part DCI.

[0082] FIGURE 6 is a flow graph of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. The phases of the illustrated method may be performed in an apparatus such as an UE, for example, or in a control device configured to control the functioning thereof, when installed therein

[0083] Phase 610 comprises searching for downlink control information, DCI, elements of at least one two-part DCI in at least one search space. Phase 620 comprises determining whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a first or second part of a two-part DCI from among the at least one two-part DCI. Finally, phase 630 comprises combining the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain a received DCI and using the received DCI in communication with a network.

[0084] It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention disclosed are not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but are extended to equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0085] Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Where reference is made to a numerical value using a term such as, for example, about or substantially, the exact numerical value is also disclosed.

[0086] As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and / or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. In addition, various embodiments and example of the present invention may be referred to herein along with alternatives for the various components thereof. It is understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not to be construed as de facto equivalents of one another, but are to be considered as separate and autonomous representations of the present invention.

[0087] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the preceding description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

[0088] While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.

[0089] The verbs “to comprise” and “to include” are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of also un-recited features. The features recited in depending claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwiseexplicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of "a" or "an", that is, a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality.

[0090] As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0091] At least some embodiments of the present invention find industrial application in communication configuration information in a network.ACRONYMS LISTCCE control channel elementCORESET control resource setDCI downlink control informationMIMO multiple input multiple output PDSCH physical downlink shared channelPUSCH physical uplink shared channelRNTI radio network temporary identifierREFERENCE SIGNS LISTTECHNICAL CLAUSESClause 1. An apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to:- search for downlink control information, DCI, elements in at least one search space;- determine whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI;- responsive to determining the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI, use the first DCI element as a received DCI in communication with a network;- responsive to determining the first DCI element is comprised in a two-part DCI, combine the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain the received DCI and use the received DCI in communication with a network.Clause 2. The apparatus according to Clause 1, configured to perform the determining whether the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI based on a size of the first DCI element, wherein at least one of: at least one DCI element size is configured for use with a one-part DCI or at least one DCI element size is configured for use in parts of a two-part DCI.Clause 3. The apparatus according to Clause 1, configured to perform the determining whether the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI based on an identifier comprised in the first DCI element.Clause 4. The apparatus according to Clause 3, wherein the identifier comprised in the first DCI element indicates whether the first DCI element is the complete one-part DCI or comprised in the two-part DCI.Clause 5. The apparatus according to Clause 1, configured to perform the determining whether the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI based on a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, candidate where the apparatus found the first DCI element.Clause 6. The apparatus according to Clause 5, wherein the apparatus is configured to determine that the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI as a response to the PDCCH candidate being comprised in a one-part DCI PDCCH candidate set.Clause 7. The apparatus according to Clause 1, configured to perform the determining whether the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI based on a radio network temporary identity, RNTI, of the first DCI element.Clause 8. The apparatus according to Clause 7, wherein the apparatus is configured to determine that the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI as a response to RNTI of the first DCI element being comprised in a set of RNTIs configured for use with one-part DCIs.Clause 9. The apparatus according to any of Clauses 1 - 8, further configured to, responsive to determining the first DCI element is comprised in a two-part DCI, determine whether the first DCI element is a first or second part of the two-part DCI.Clause 10. The apparatus according to Clause 9, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform the determining whether the first DCI element is the first or the second part of the two-part DCI based on one or more of the following: a size of the first DCI element, an identifier comprised in the first DCI element, a PDCCH candidate where the apparatus found the first DCI element or an RNTI of the first DCI element.Clause 11. The apparatus according to any of Clauses 1 - 10, wherein the apparatus is further configured to use information obtained from the received DCI in at least one of power control, hybrid automatic repeat request processing or identifying physical resources to use in uplink and / or downlink transmissions and performing transmission or reception based on the identified physical resources.Clause 12. The apparatus according to any of Clauses 1 - 11, configured to perform the searching in at least one search space, wherein the at least one search space comprises at least two search spaces, wherein the at least two search spaces partially overlap.Clause 13. An apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to:- configure a user equipment to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of one-part and two-part DCIs in at least one search space;- transmit to the user equipment, using the at least one search space, a first DCI element as a first part of a two-part DCI and transmit a second DCI element as a second part of the two-part DCI, and- provide at least one implicit or explicit indication to the user equipment that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI and that the second DCI element is the second part of the two-part DCI.Clause 14. A method comprising:- searching for downlink control information, DCI, elements in at least one search space;- determining whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI;- responsive to determining the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI, using the first DCI element as a received DCI in communication with a network;- responsive to determining the first DCI element is comprised in a two-part DCI, combining the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain the received DCI and using the received DCI in communication with a network.Clause 15. A method comprising:- configuring a user equipment to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of one-part and two-part DCIs in at least one search space;- transmitting to the user equipment, using the at least one search space, a first DCI element as a first part of a two-part DCI and transmit a second DCI element as a second part of the two-part DCI, and- providing at least one implicit or explicit indication to the user equipment that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI and that the second DCI element is the second part of the two-part DCI.Clause 16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least:- search for downlink control information, DCI, elements in at least one search space;- determine whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI;- responsive to determining the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI, use the first DCI element as a received DCI in communication with a network;- responsive to determining the first DCI element is comprised in a two-part DCI, combine the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain the received DCI and use the received DCI in communication with a network.Clause 17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least:- configure a user equipment to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of one-part and two-part DCIs in at least one search space;- transmit to the user equipment, using the at least one search space, a first DCI element as a first part of a two-part DCI and transmit a second DCI element as a second part of the two-part DCI, and- provide at least one implicit or explicit indication to the user equipment that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI and that the second DCI element is the second part of the two-part DCI.Clause 18. An apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to:- search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of at least one two-part DCI in at least one search space;- determine whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a first or second part of a two-part DCI from among the at least one two-part DCI, andcombine the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain a received DCI and use the received DCI in communication with a network.Clause 19. The apparatus according to Clause 18, configured to perform the determining whether the first DCI element is a first or second part of the two-part DCI based on a size of the first DCI element, wherein at least one of at least one DCI element size is configured for use with a first part of the two-part DCI or at least one DCI element size is configured for use with a second part of the two-part DCI.Clause 20. The apparatus according to Clause 18, configured to perform the determining whether the first DCI element is the first or the second part of the two-part DCI based on an identifier comprised in the first DCI element.Clause 21. The apparatus according to Clause 20, wherein the identifier comprised in the first DCI element indicates whether the first DCI element is the first or the second part of the two-part DCI.Clause 22. The apparatus according to Clause 18, configured to perform the determining whether the first DCI element is the first or the second part of the two-part DCI based on a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, candidate where the apparatus found the first DCI element.Clause 23. The apparatus according to Clause 22, wherein the apparatus is configured to determine that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI as a response to the PDCCH candidate being comprised in a first-part DCI PDCCH candidate set.Clause 24. The apparatus according to Clause 22 or 23, configured to perform the determination that the first DCI element is the first part based on determining that the PDCCH candidate the first DCI element was found in has a lower order number than a second PDCCH candidate where the second DCI element was found.Clause 25. The apparatus according to Clause 18, configured to perform the determining whether the first DCI element is the first or the second part of the two-part DCI based on a radio network temporary identity, RNTI, of the first DCI element.Clause 26. The apparatus according to Clause 25, wherein the apparatus is configured to determine that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI as a response to the RNTI of the first DCI element being comprised in a set of one or more RNTI configured for use with the first part.Clause 27. The apparatus according to any of Clauses 18 - 26, wherein the wherein the apparatus is configured to search for at least two of the two-part DCIs in the at least one search space and the apparatus is configured to verify using an error-control code, that the first DCI element and the second DCI element are comprised in the same two-part DCI from among the at least one two-part DCI.Clause 28. The apparatus according to any of Clauses 18 - 27, wherein the apparatus is configured to search for at least two of the two-part DCIs in the at least one search space, and the apparatus is further configured to determine which one of the at least two two-part DCIs the first DCI element is comprised in.Clause 29. The apparatus according to any of Clauses 18 - 28, wherein the apparatus is further configured to use information obtained from the received DCI in at least one of power control, hybrid automatic repeat request processing or identifying physical resources to use in uplink and / or downlink transmissions and performing transmission or reception based on the identified physical resources.Clause 30. The apparatus according to any of Clauses 18 - 29, configured to perform the searching in the at least one search space, wherein the at least one search space comprises at least two search spaces, wherein the at least two search spaces partially overlap.Clause 31. An apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to:- configure a user equipment to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of at least one two-part DCIs in at least one search space;- transmit to the user equipment, using the at least one search space, a first DCI element as a first part of a two-part DCI from among the at least one two-part DCI and transmit to the user equipment a second DCI element as a second part of the two-part DCI, and- provide at least one implicit or explicit indication to the user equipment that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI and that the second DCI element is the second part of the two-part DCI.Clause 32. A method, comprising:- searching for downlink control information, DCI, elements of at least one two-part DCI in at least one search space;- determining whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a first or second part of a two-part DCI from among the at least one two-part DCI, and- combining the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain a received DCI and using the received DCI in communication with a network.Clause 33. A method, comprising:- configuring a user equipment to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of at least one two-part DCIs in at least one search space;- transmitting to the user equipment, using the at least one search space, a first DCI element as a first part of a two-part DCI from among the at least one two-part DCI and transmitting to the user equipment a second DCI element as a second part of the two-part DCI, and- providing at least one implicit or explicit indication to the user equipment that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI and that the second DCI element is the second part of the two-part DCI.Clause 34. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least:- search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of at least one two-part DCI in at least one search space;- determine whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a first or second part of a two-part DCI from among the at least one two-part DCI;- combine the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain a received DCI and use the received DCI in communication with a network.Clause 35. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least:- configure a user equipment to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of at least one two-part DCIs in at least one search space;- transmit to the user equipment, using the at least one search space, a first DCI element as a first part of a two-part DCI from among the at least one two-part DCI and transmit to the user equipment a second DCI element as a second part of the two-part DCI, and- provide at least one implicit or explicit indication to the user equipment that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI and that the second DCI element is the second part of the two-part DCI.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to:- search for downlink control information, DCI, elements in at least one search space;- determine whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI;- responsive to determining the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI, use the first DCI element as a received DCI in communication with a network;- responsive to determining the first DCI element is comprised in a two-part DCI, combine the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain the received DCI and use the received DCI in communication with a network.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, configured to perform the determining whether the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI based on a size of the first DCI element, wherein at least one of: at least one DCI element size is configured for use with a one-part DCI or at least one DCI element size is configured for use in parts of a two-part DCI.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, configured to perform the determining whether the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI based on an identifier comprised in the first DCI element.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the identifier comprised in the first DCI element indicates whether the first DCI element is the complete one-part DCI or comprised in the two-part DCI.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, configured to perform the determining whether the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI based on aphysical downlink control channel, PDCCH, candidate where the apparatus found the first DCI element.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the apparatus is configured to determine that the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI as a response to the PDCCH candidate being comprised in a one-part DCI PDCCH candidate set.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, configured to perform the determining whether the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI based on a radio network temporary identity, RNTI, of the first DCI element.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus is configured to determine that the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI as a response to RNTI of the first DCI element being comprised in a set of RNTIs configured for use with one-part DCIs.

9. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 8, further configured to, responsive to determining the first DCI element is comprised in a two-part DCI, determine whether the first DCI element is a first or second part of the two-part DCI.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform the determining whether the first DCI element is the first or the second part of the two-part DCI based on one or more of the following: a size of the first DCI element, an identifier comprised in the first DCI element, a PDCCH candidate where the apparatus found the first DCI element or an RNTI of the first DCI element.

11. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 10, wherein the apparatus is further configured to use information obtained from the received DCI in at least one of: power control, hybrid automatic repeat request processing or identifying physical resources to use in uplink and / or downlink transmissions and performing transmission or reception based on the identified physical resources.

12. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 11, configured to perform the searching in at least one search space, wherein the at least one search space comprises at least two search spaces, wherein the at least two search spaces partially overlap.

13. An apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to:- configure a user equipment to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of one-part and two-part DCIs in at least one search space;- transmit to the user equipment, using the at least one search space, a first DCI element as a first part of a two-part DCI and transmit a second DCI element as a second part of the two-part DCI, and- provide at least one implicit or explicit indication to the user equipment that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI and that the second DCI element is the second part of the two-part DCI.

14. A method comprising:- searching for downlink control information, DCI, elements in at least one search space;- determining whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI;- responsive to determining the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI, using the first DCI element as a received DCI in communication with a network;- responsive to determining the first DCI element is comprised in a two-part DCI, combining the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain the received DCI and using the received DCI in communication with a network.

15. A method comprising:- configuring a user equipment to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of one-part and two-part DCIs in at least one search space;- transmitting to the user equipment, using the at least one search space, a first DCI element as a first part of a two-part DCI and transmit a second DCI element as a second part of the two-part DCI, andproviding at least one implicit or explicit indication to the user equipment that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI and that the second DCI element is the second part of the two-part DCI.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least:- search for downlink control information, DCI, elements in at least one search space;- determine whether a first DCI element found in the at least one search space is a complete one-part DCI or comprised in a two-part DCI;- responsive to determining the first DCI element is a complete one-part DCI, use the first DCI element as a received DCI in communication with a network;- responsive to determining the first DCI element is comprised in a two-part DCI, combine the first DCI element with a second DCI element found in the at least one search space to obtain the received DCI and use the received DCI in communication with a network.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least:- configure a user equipment to search for downlink control information, DCI, elements of one-part and two-part DCIs in at least one search space;- transmit to the user equipment, using the at least one search space, a first DCI element as a first part of a two-part DCI and transmit a second DCI element as a second part of the two-part DCI, and- provide at least one implicit or explicit indication to the user equipment that the first DCI element is the first part of the two-part DCI and that the second DCI element is the second part of the two-part DCI.

Images