Method and apparatus for receiving and transmitting information in a wireless communication system

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a 5G or 6G communication system for supporting a higher data transmission rate. The disclosure provides a method performed by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system and a corresponding UE. The method includes receiving a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carrying first downlink control information (DCI); determining a resource of the second PDCCH carrying second DCI based on the first DCI, and determining a modulation order of the second PDCCH based on the first PDCCH.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING AND TRANSMITTING INFORMATION IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of wireless communication, and more specifically, to a method and apparatus for receiving and transmitting information in a wireless communication system.

[0002] 5G mobile communication technologies define broad frequency bands such that high transmission rates and new services are possible, and can be implemented not only in “Sub 6GHz” bands such as 3.5GHz, but also in “Above 6GHz” bands referred to as mmWave including 28GHz and 39GHz. In addition, it has been considered to implement 6G mobile communication technologies (referred to as Beyond 5G systems) in terahertz (THz) bands (for example, 95GHz to 3THz bands) in order to accomplish transmission rates fifty times faster than 5G mobile communication technologies and ultra-low latencies one-tenth of 5G mobile communication technologies.

[0003] At the beginning of the development of 5G mobile communication technologies, in order to support services and to satisfy performance requirements in connection with enhanced Mobile BroadBand (eMBB), Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC), and massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC), there has been ongoing standardization regarding beamforming and massive MIMO for mitigating radio-wave path loss and increasing radio-wave transmission distances in mmWave, supporting numerologies (for example, operating multiple subcarrier spacings) for efficiently utilizing mmWave resources and dynamic operation of slot formats, initial access technologies for supporting multi-beam transmission and broadbands, definition and operation of BWP (BandWidth Part), new channel coding methods such as a LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) code for large amount of data transmission and a polar code for highly reliable transmission of control information, L2 pre-processing, and network slicing for providing a dedicated network specialized to a specific service.

[0004] Currently, there are ongoing discussions regarding improvement and performance enhancement of initial 5G mobile communication technologies in view of services to be supported by 5G mobile communication technologies, and there has been physical layer standardization regarding technologies such as V2X (Vehicle-to-everything) for aiding driving determination by autonomous vehicles based on information regarding positions and states of vehicles transmitted by the vehicles and for enhancing user convenience, NR-U (New Radio Unlicensed) aimed at system operations conforming to various regulation-related requirements in unlicensed bands, NR UE Power Saving, Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) which is UE-satellite direct communication for providing coverage in an area in which communication with terrestrial networks is unavailable, and positioning.

[0005] Moreover, there has been ongoing standardization in air interface architecture / protocol regarding technologies such as Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) for supporting new services through interworking and convergence with other industries, IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul) for providing a node for network service area expansion by supporting a wireless backhaul link and an access link in an integrated manner, mobility enhancement including conditional handover and DAPS (Dual Active Protocol Stack) handover, and two-step random access for simplifying random access procedures (2-step RACH for NR). There also has been ongoing standardization in system architecture / service regarding a 5G baseline architecture (for example, service based architecture or service based interface) for combining Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) and Software-Defined Networking (SDN) technologies, and Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) for receiving services based on UE positions.

[0006] As 5G mobile communication systems are commercialized, connected devices that have been exponentially increasing will be connected to communication networks, and it is accordingly expected that enhanced functions and performances of 5G mobile communication systems and integrated operations of connected devices will be necessary. To this end, new research is scheduled in connection with eXtended Reality (XR) for efficiently supporting AR (Augmented Reality), VR (Virtual Reality), MR (Mixed Reality) and the like, 5G performance improvement and complexity reduction by utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), AI service support, metaverse service support, and drone communication.

[0007] Furthermore, such development of 5G mobile communication systems will serve as a basis for developing not only new waveforms for providing coverage in terahertz bands of 6G mobile communication technologies, multi-antenna transmission technologies such as Full Dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antennas and large-scale antennas, metamaterial-based lenses and antennas for improving coverage of terahertz band signals, high-dimensional space multiplexing technology using OAM (Orbital Angular Momentum), and RIS (Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface), but also full-duplex technology for increasing frequency efficiency of 6G mobile communication technologies and improving system networks, AI-based communication technology for implementing system optimization by utilizing satellites and AI (Artificial Intelligence) from the design stage and internalizing end-to-end AI support functions, and next-generation distributed computing technology for implementing services at levels of complexity exceeding the limit of UE operation capability by utilizing ultra-high-performance communication and computing resources.

[0008] The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication systems and, more specifically, the present disclosure is related to method and apparatus for receiving and transmitting information in a wireless communication system.

[0009] According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a communication method in a wireless communication system.

[0010] Aspects of the present disclosure provide efficient communication methods in a wireless communication system.

[0011] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates an overall structure of an example wireless communication network according to various embodiments of the disclosure;

[0013] FIGs. 2a and 2b illustrate a transmission path 200 and a reception path 250, respectively, in a wireless communication network according to various embodiments of the disclosure;

[0014] FIGs. 3a and 3b illustrate structures of a user equipment (UE) and a base station, respectively, in a wireless communication network according to various embodiments of the disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 performed by a user equipment (UE) according to various embodiments of the disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 performed by a user equipment (UE) according to various embodiments of the disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 performed by a base station according to various embodiments of the disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates a method 700 performed by a base station according to various embodiments of the disclosure

[0019] FIG. 8 illustrates a structure 800 of a user equipment according to various embodiments of the disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 9 illustrates a structure 900 of a base station according to various embodiments of the disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a terminal or user equipment (UE) according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a base station (BS) according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a network entity according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0024] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the various embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0025] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the disclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0026] It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.

[0027] The term “include” or “may include” refers to the existence of a corresponding disclosed function, operation or component which can be used in various embodiments of the disclosure and does not limit one or more additional functions, operations, or components. The terms such as “include” and / or “have” may be construed to denote a certain characteristic, number, step, operation, constituent element, component or a combination thereof, but may not be construed to exclude the existence of or a possibility of addition of one or more other characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, constituent elements, components or combinations thereof.

[0028] The term “or” used in various embodiments of the disclosure includes any or all of combinations of listed words. For example, the expression “A or B” may include A, may include B, or may include both A and B.

[0029] Unless defined differently, all terms used herein, which include technical terminologies or scientific terminologies, have the same meaning as that understood by a person skilled in the art to which the disclosure belongs. Such terms as those defined in a generally used dictionary are to be interpreted to have the meanings equal to the contextual meanings in the relevant field of art, and are not to be interpreted to have ideal or excessively formal meanings unless clearly defined in the disclosure.

[0030] The various embodiments of the disclosure can be applied to various communication systems, such as: global system for mobile communications (GSM) system, code division multiple access (CDMA) system, broadband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system, general packet radio service (GPRS), long term evolution (LTE) system Frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, time division duplex (TDD) systems, universal mobile telecommunications systems (UMTS), global interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication systems, fifth generation (5G) systems or new wireless (NR) systems, etc. In addition, the various embodiments of the disclosure can be applied to future oriented communication technologies.

[0031] In order to meet the increasing demand for wireless data communication services since the deployment of 4G communication systems, efforts have been made to develop improved 5G or pre-5G communication systems. Therefore, 5G or pre-5G communication systems are also called “Beyond 4G networks” or “Post-LTE systems”.

[0032] In order to achieve a higher data rate, 5G communication systems are implemented in higher frequency (millimeter, mmWave) bands, e.g., 60 GHz bands. In order to reduce propagation loss of radio waves and increase a transmission distance, technologies such as beamforming, massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), full-dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beamforming and large-scale antenna are discussed in 5G communication systems.

[0033] In addition, in 5G communication systems, developments of system network improvement are underway based on advanced small cell, cloud radio access network (RAN), ultra-dense network, device-to-device (D2D) communication, wireless backhaul, mobile network, cooperative communication, coordinated multi-points (CoMP), reception-end interference cancellation, etc.

[0034] In 5G systems, hybrid FSK and QAM modulation (FQAM) and sliding window superposition coding (SWSC) as advanced coding modulation (ACM), and filter bank multicarrier (FBMC), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) and sparse code multiple access (SCMA) as advanced access technologies have been developed.

[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network 100 according to various embodiments of the disclosure. The embodiment of the wireless network 100 shown in FIG. 1 is for illustration only. Other embodiments of the wireless network 100 can be used without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0036] The wireless network 100 includes a gNodeB (gNB) 101, a gNB 102, and a gNB 103. gNB 101 communicates with gNB 102 and gNB 103. gNB 101 also communicates with at least one Internet Protocol (IP) network 130, such as the Internet, a private IP network, or other data networks.

[0037] Depending on a type of the network, other well-known terms such as “base station” or “access point” can be used instead of “gNodeB” or “gNB”. For convenience, the terms “gNodeB” and “gNB” are used in this patent document to refer to network infrastructure components that provide wireless access for remote terminals. And, depending on the type of the network, other well-known terms such as “mobile station”, “user station”, “remote terminal”, “wireless terminal” or “user apparatus” can be used instead of “user equipment” or “UE”. For convenience, the terms “user equipment” and “UE” are used in this patent document to refer to remote wireless devices that wirelessly access the gNB, no matter whether the UE is a mobile device (such as a mobile phone or a smart phone) or a fixed device (such as a desktop computer or a vending machine).

[0038] gNB 102 provides wireless broadband access to the network 130 for a first plurality of User Equipments (UEs) within a coverage area 120 of gNB 102. The first plurality of UEs include a UE 111, which may be located in a Small Business (SB); a UE 112, which may be located in an enterprise (E); a UE 113, which may be located in a WiFi Hotspot (HS); a UE 114, which may be located in a first residence (R); a UE 115, which may be located in a second residence (R); a UE 116, which may be a mobile device (M), such as a cellular phone, a wireless laptop computer, a wireless PDA, etc. GNB 103 provides wireless broadband access to network 130 for a second plurality of UEs within a coverage area 125 of gNB 103. The second plurality of UEs include a UE 115 and a UE 116. In some embodiments, one or more of gNBs 101-103 can communicate with each other and with UEs 111-116 using 5G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-A, WiMAX or other advanced wireless communication technologies.

[0039] The dashed lines show approximate ranges of the coverage areas 120 and 125, and the ranges are shown as approximate circles merely for illustration and explanation purposes. It should be clearly understood that the coverage areas associated with the gNBs, such as the coverage areas 120 and 125, may have other shapes, including irregular shapes, depending on configurations of the gNBs and changes in the radio environment associated with natural obstacles and man-made obstacles.

[0040] As will be described in more detail below, one or more of gNB 101, gNB 102, and gNB 103 include a 2D antenna array as described in embodiments of the disclosure. In some embodiments, one or more of gNB 101, gNB 102, and gNB 103 support codebook designs and structures for systems with 2D antenna arrays.

[0041] Although FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the wireless network 100, various changes can be made to FIG. 1. The wireless network 100 can include any number of gNBs and any number of UEs in any suitable arrangement, for example. Furthermore, gNB 101 can directly communicate with any number of UEs and provide wireless broadband access to the network 130 for those UEs. Similarly, each gNB 102-103 can directly communicate with the network 130 and provide direct wireless broadband access to the network 130 for the UEs. In addition, gNB 101, 102 and / or 103 can provide access to other or additional external networks, such as external telephone networks or other types of data networks.

[0042] FIGs. 2a and 2b illustrate example wireless transmission and reception paths according to the disclosure. In the following description, the transmission path 200 can be described as being implemented in a gNB, such as gNB 102, and the reception path 250 can be described as being implemented in a UE, such as UE 116. However, it should be understood that the reception path 250 can be implemented in a gNB and the transmission path 200 can be implemented in a UE. In some embodiments, the reception path 250 is configured to support codebook designs and structures for systems with 2D antenna arrays as described in embodiments of the disclosure.

[0043] The transmission path 200 includes a channel coding and modulation block 205, a Serial-to-Parallel (S-to-P) block 210, a size N Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) block 215, a Parallel-to-Serial (P-to-S) block 220, a cyclic prefix addition block 225, and an up-converter (UC) 230. The reception path 250 includes a down-converter (DC) 255, a cyclic prefix removal block 260, a Serial-to-Parallel (S-to-P) block 265, a size N Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) block 270, a Parallel-to-Serial (P-to-S) block 275, and a channel decoding and demodulation block 280.

[0044] In the transmission path 200, the channel coding and modulation block 205 receives a set of information bits, applies coding (such as Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) coding), and modulates the input bits (such as using Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) or Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM)) to generate a sequence of frequency domain modulated symbols. The Serial-to-Parallel (S-to-P) block 210 converts (such as demultiplexes) serial modulated symbols into parallel data to generate N parallel symbol streams, where N is a size of the IFFT / FFT used in gNB 102 and UE 116. The size N IFFT block 215 performs IFFT operations on the N parallel symbol streams to generate a time domain output signal. The Parallel-to-Serial block 220 converts (such as multiplexes) parallel time domain output symbols from the Size N IFFT block 215 to generate a serial time domain signal. The cyclic prefix addition block 225 inserts a cyclic prefix into the time domain signal. The up-converter 230 modulates (such as up-converts) the output of the cyclic prefix addition block 225 to an RF frequency for transmission via a wireless channel. The signal can also be filtered at a baseband before switching to the RF frequency.

[0045] The RF signal transmitted from gNB 102 arrives at UE 116 after passing through the wireless channel, and operations in reverse to those at gNB 102 are performed at UE 116. The down-converter 255 down-converts the received signal to a baseband frequency, and the cyclic prefix removal block 260 removes the cyclic prefix to generate a serial time domain baseband signal. The Serial-to-Parallel block 265 converts the time domain baseband signal into a parallel time domain signal. The Size N FFT block 270 performs an FFT algorithm to generate N parallel frequency domain signals. The Parallel-to-Serial block 275 converts the parallel frequency domain signal into a sequence of modulated data symbols. The channel decoding and demodulation block 280 demodulates and decodes the modulated symbols to recover the original input data stream.

[0046] Each of gNBs 101-103 may implement a transmission path 200 similar to that for transmitting to UEs 111-116 in the downlink, and may implement a reception path 250 similar to that for receiving from UEs 111-116 in the uplink. Similarly, each of UEs 111-116 may implement a transmission path 200 for transmitting to gNBs 101-103 in the uplink, and may implement a reception path 250 for receiving from gNBs 101-103 in the downlink.

[0047] Each of the components in FIGs. 2a and 2b can be implemented using only hardware, or using a combination of hardware and software / firmware. As a specific example, at least some of the components in FIGs. 2a and 2b may be implemented in software, while other components may be implemented in configurable hardware or a combination of software and configurable hardware. For example, the FFT block 270 and IFFT block 215 may be implemented as configurable software algorithms, in which the value of the size N may be modified according to the implementation.

[0048] Furthermore, although described as using FFT and IFFT, this is only illustrative and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the disclosure. Other types of transforms can be used, such as Discrete Fourier transform (DFT) and Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform (IDFT) functions. It should be understood that for DFT and IDFT functions, the value of variable N may be any integer (such as 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), while for FFT and IFFT functions, the value of variable N may be any integer which is a power of 2 (such as 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, etc.).

[0049] Although FIGs. 2a and 2b illustrate examples of wireless transmission and reception paths, various changes may be made to FIGs. 2a and 2b. For example, various components in FIGs. 2a and 2b can be combined, further subdivided or omitted, and additional components can be added according to specific requirements. Furthermore, FIGs. 2a and 2b are intended to illustrate examples of types of transmission and reception paths that can be used in a wireless network. Any other suitable architecture can be used to support wireless communication in a wireless network.

[0050] FIG. 3a illustrates an example UE 116 according to the disclosure. The embodiment of UE 116 shown in FIG. 3a is for illustration only, and UEs 111-115 of FIG. 1 can have the same or similar configuration. However, a UE has various configurations, and FIG. 3a does not limit the scope of the disclosure to any specific implementation of the UE.

[0051] UE 116 includes an antenna 301, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver 302, a transmission (TX) processing circuit 303, a microphone 304, and a reception (RX) processing circuit 305. UE 116 also includes a speaker 306, a controller / processor 307, an input / output (I / O) interface 308, an input device(s) 309, a display 310, and a memory 311. The memory 311 includes an operating system (OS) 312 and one or more applications 313.

[0052] The RF transceiver 302 receives an incoming RF signal transmitted by a gNB of the wireless network 100 from the antenna 301. The RF transceiver 302 down-converts the incoming RF signal to generate an intermediate frequency (IF) or baseband signal. The IF or baseband signal is transmitted to the RX processing circuit 305, where the RX processing circuit 305 generates a processed baseband signal by filtering, decoding and / or digitizing the baseband or IF signal. The RX processing circuit 305 transmits the processed baseband signal to speaker 306 (such as for voice data) or to controller / processor 307 for further processing (such as for web browsing data).

[0053] The TX processing circuit 303 receives analog or digital voice data from microphone 304 or other outgoing baseband data (such as network data, email or interactive video game data) from controller / processor 307. The TX processing circuit 303 encodes, multiplexes, and / or digitizes the outgoing baseband data to generate a processed baseband or IF signal. The RF transceiver 302 receives the outgoing processed baseband or IF signal from the TX processing circuit 303 and up-converts the baseband or IF signal into an RF signal transmitted via the antenna 301.

[0054] The controller / processor 307 can include one or more processors or other processing devices and execute an OS 312 stored in the memory 311 in order to control the overall operation of UE 116. For example, the controller / processor 307 can control the reception of forward channel signals and the transmission of backward channel signals through the RF transceiver 302, the RX processing circuit 305 and the TX processing circuit 303 according to well-known principles. In some embodiments, the controller / processor 307 includes at least one microprocessor or microcontroller.

[0055] The controller / processor 307 is also capable of executing other processes and programs residing in the memory 311, such as operations for channel quality measurement and reporting for systems with 2D antenna arrays as described in embodiments of the disclosure. The controller / processor 307 can move data into or out of the memory 311 as required by an execution process. In some embodiments, the controller / processor 307 is configured to execute the application 313 based on the OS 312 or in response to signals received from the gNB or the operator. The controller / processor 307 is also coupled to an I / O interface 308, where the I / O interface 308 provides UE 116 with the ability to connect to other devices such as laptop computers and handheld computers. I / O interface 308 is a communication path between these accessories and the controller / processor 307.

[0056] The controller / processor 307 is also coupled to the input device(s) 309 and the display 310. An operator of UE 116 can input data into UE 116 using the input device(s) 309. The display 310 may be a liquid crystal display or other display capable of presenting text and / or at least limited graphics (such as from a website). The memory 311 is coupled to the controller / processor 307. A part of the memory 311 can include a random access memory (RAM), while another part of the memory 311 can include a flash memory or other read-only memory (ROM).

[0057] Although FIG. 3a illustrates an example of UE 116, various changes can be made to FIG. 3a. For example, various components in FIG. 3a can be combined, further subdivided or omitted, and additional components can be added according to specific requirements. As a specific example, the controller / processor 307 can be divided into a plurality of processors, such as one or more central processing units (CPUs) and one or more graphics processing units (GPUs). Furthermore, although FIG. 3a illustrates that the UE 116 is configured as a mobile phone or a smart phone, UEs can be configured to operate as other types of mobile or fixed devices.

[0058] FIG. 3b illustrates an example gNB 102 according to the disclosure. The embodiment of gNB 102 shown in FIG. 3b is for illustration only, and other gNBs of FIG. 1 can have the same or similar configuration. However, a gNB has various configurations, and FIG. 3b does not limit the scope of the disclosure to any specific implementation of a gNB. It should be noted that gNB 101 and gNB 103 can include the same or similar structures as gNB 102.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 3b, gNB 102 includes a plurality of antennas 370a-370n, a plurality of RF transceivers 372a-372n, a transmission (TX) processing circuit 374, and a reception (RX) processing circuit 376. In certain embodiments, one or more of the plurality of antennas 370a-370n include a 2D antenna array. gNB 102 also includes a controller / processor 378, a memory 380, and a backhaul or network interface 382.

[0060] RF transceivers 372a-372n receive an incoming RF signal from antennas 370a-370n, such as a signal transmitted by UEs or other gNBs. RF transceivers 372a-372n down-convert the incoming RF signal to generate an IF or baseband signal. The IF or baseband signal is transmitted to the RX processing circuit 376, where the RX processing circuit 376 generates a processed baseband signal by filtering, decoding and / or digitizing the baseband or IF signal. RX processing circuit 376 transmits the processed baseband signal to controller / processor 378 for further processing.

[0061] The TX processing circuit 374 receives analog or digital data (such as voice data, network data, email or interactive video game data) from the controller / processor 378. TX processing circuit 374 encodes, multiplexes and / or digitizes outgoing baseband data to generate a processed baseband or IF signal. RF transceivers 372a-372n receive the outgoing processed baseband or IF signal from TX processing circuit 374 and up-convert the baseband or IF signal into an RF signal transmitted via antennas 370a-370n.

[0062] The controller / processor 378 can include one or more processors or other processing devices that control the overall operation of gNB 102. For example, the controller / processor 378 can control the reception of forward channel signals and the transmission of backward channel signals through the RF transceivers 372a-372n, the RX processing circuit 376 and the TX processing circuit 374 according to well-known principles. The controller / processor 378 can also support additional functions, such as higher-level wireless communication functions. For example, the controller / processor 378 can perform a Blind Interference Sensing (BIS) process such as that performed through a BIS algorithm, and decode a received signal from which an interference signal is subtracted. A controller / processor 378 may support any of a variety of other functions in gNB 102. In some embodiments, the controller / processor 378 includes at least one microprocessor or microcontroller.

[0063] The controller / processor 378 is also capable of executing programs and other processes residing in the memory 380, such as a basic OS. The controller / processor 378 can also support channel quality measurement and reporting for systems with 2D antenna arrays as described in embodiments of the disclosure. In some embodiments, the controller / processor 378 supports communication between entities such as web RTCs. The controller / processor 378 can move data into or out of the memory 380 as required by an execution process.

[0064] The controller / processor 378 is also coupled to the backhaul or network interface 382. The backhaul or network interface 382 allows gNB 102 to communicate with other devices or systems through a backhaul connection or through a network. The backhaul or network interface 382 can support communication over any suitable wired or wireless connection(s). For example, when gNB 102 is implemented as a part of a cellular communication system, such as a cellular communication system supporting 5G or new radio access technology or NR, LTE or LTE-A, the backhaul or network interface 382 can allow gNB 102 to communicate with other gNBs through wired or wireless backhaul connections. When gNB 102 is implemented as an access point, the backhaul or network interface 382 can allow gNB 102 to communicate with a larger network, such as the Internet, through a wired or wireless local area network or through a wired or wireless connection. The backhaul or network interface 382 includes any suitable structure that supports communication through a wired or wireless connection, such as an Ethernet or an RF transceiver.

[0065] The memory 380 is coupled to the controller / processor 378. A part of the memory 380 can include an RAM, while another part of the memory 380 can include a flash memory or other ROMs. In certain embodiments, a plurality of instructions, such as the BIS algorithm, are stored in the memory. The plurality of instructions are configured to cause the controller / processor 378 to execute the BIS process and decode the received signal after subtracting at least one interference signal determined by the BIS algorithm.

[0066] As will be described in more detail below, the transmission and reception paths of gNB 102 (implemented using RF transceivers 372a-372n, TX processing circuit 374 and / or RX processing circuit 376) support aggregated communication with FDD cells and TDD cells.

[0067] Although FIG. 3b illustrates an example of gNB 102, various changes may be made to FIG. 3b. For example, gNB 102 can include any number of each component shown in FIG. 3a. As a specific example, the access point can include many backhaul or network interfaces 382, and the controller / processor 378 can support routing functions to route data between different network addresses. As another specific example, although shown as including a single instance of the TX processing circuit 374 and a single instance of the RX processing circuit 376, gNB 102 can include multiple instances of each (such as one for each RF transceiver).

[0068] In the disclosure, the term “channel state information (CSI)” may be used interchangeably with the terms “CSI parameter” or “CSI quantity”.

[0069] In the disclosure, CSI may include at least one of: CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) resource indicator (CRI), rank indicator (RI), precoding matrix indicator (PMI), channel quality indicator (CQI), layer indicator (LI), synchronization signal (SS) / physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block resource indicator (SSBRI), layer 1-reference signal received power (L1-RSRP), layer 1-single to interference noise ratio (L1-SINR), CapabilityIndex.

[0070] In the disclosure, the term “CSI reporting configuration” may be used interchangeably with the terms “CSI reporting configuration information” or “information for CSI reporting configuration” or “information for configuring CSI report”.

[0071] In the disclosure, the CSI may be the CSI reported by the UE in a report, or in a report instance.

[0072] In the disclosure, the term “reference signal” may be used interchangeably with the term “reference signal resource”.

[0073] In the disclosure, the reference signal may include at least one of: a reference signal for synchronization, a reference signal for demodulation (e.g., a demodulation reference signal (DM-RS), a reference signal for obtaining of the channel state, a reference signal for phase tracking, a reference signal for mobility, a reference signal for positioning, a reference signal for channel measurement, a reference signal for interference measurement, a reference signal for sounding. Optionally, the reference signal for synchronization includes at least one of: a primary synchronization signal, a secondary synchronization signal. Optionally, the reference signal for synchronization may include: a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block (SS / PBCH block, SSB). Optionally, the reference signal for demodulation may include at least one of: a reference signal for data channel demodulation and a reference signal for control channel demodulation. Optionally, the data channel may include at least one of: a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). Optionally, the control channel may include at least one of: a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH). Optionally, the reference signal for obtaining of the channel state may include at least one of: a reference signal for tracking, a reference signal for CSI acquisition, and a reference signal for beam management. Optionally, the reference signal for beam management includes at least one of: a reference signal for obtaining L1-RSRP, a reference signal for obtaining L1-SINR. Optionally, obtaining L1-RSRP may be computing L1-RSRP. Optionally, obtaining L1-SINR may be computing L1-SINR. Herein, the “reference signal for sounding” may be referred as a sounding reference signal (SRS).

[0074] In the disclosure, the term “beam” may include at least one of: “quasi co-location (QCL) parameter”, “transmission configuration indication (TCI) state”, “spatial domain filter”, “antenna port”, “transmission and reception point (TRP)”, “reference signal”, “beam information”, “beam index”. Optionally, a beam and another beam being the same may be a beam and another beam being quasi co-located.

[0075] In the disclosure, an antenna port can be defined such that the channel over which a symbol on the antenna port is conveyed can be inferred from the channel over which another symbol on the same antenna port is conveyed.

[0076] In the disclosure, two antenna ports are said to be quasi co-located if the large-scale properties of the channel over which a symbol on one antenna port is conveyed can be inferred from the channel over which a symbol on the other antenna port is conveyed. Optionally, the large-scale properties include one or more of delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift, average gain, average delay, and spatial Rx parameters.

[0077] In the disclosure, the term “QCL parameter” may be used interchangeably with the terms “QCL information”, “QCL assumption”, “QCL configuration”, “QCL configuration and / or QCL type”. Optionally, the QCL parameter may include / represent at least one of: Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, delay spread, spatial reception parameter. The spatial reception parameter may be a parameter for spatial reception. Optionally, the QCL parameter may include a combination of different types of parameters. For example, the QCL parameter may include: Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay and delay spread, and such QCL parameter may be referred as QCL parameter type A. For example, the QCL parameter may include: Doppler shift and Doppler spread, and such QCL parameter may be referred as QCL parameter type B. For example, the QCL parameter may include: Doppler shift and average delay, and such QCL parameter may be referred as QCL parameter type C. For example, the QCL parameter may include: spatial reception parameter, and such QCL parameter may be referred as QCL parameter type D. For example, two antenna ports are said to be quasi co-located if the large-scale properties of the channel over which a symbol on one antenna port is conveyed can be inferred from the channel over which a symbol on the other antenna port is conveyed. Optionally, the large-scale properties include one or more of delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift, average gain, average delay, and spatial Rx parameters. For example, two antenna ports are said to be quasi co-located subject to QCL parameter type D if spatial Rx parameters of the channel over which a symbol on one antenna port is conveyed can be inferred from the channel over which a symbol on the other antenna port is conveyed.

[0078] In the disclosure, the term “TCI state” may be used interchangeably with the terms “TCI state configuration” or “TCI state configuration information” or “information for configuring the TCI state” or “information for indicating the TCI state”. Optionally, the TCI state may be a unified TCI state. Optionally, the TCI state may be at least one of an uplink TCI state (UL TCI state), a downlink TCI state (DL TCI state), a joint TCI state. Optionally, the unified TCI state may be an uplink TCI state (UL TCI state) and a downlink TCI state (DL TCI state), or a joint TCI state.

[0079] Optionally, a TCI state may include parameters configuring quasi co-location relation, these parameters configure the relation between the reference signal (e.g., one or two reference signals, or one or two downlink reference signals) and at least one of: a demodulation reference signal (DM-RS) port of the PDSCH, a DM-RS port of the PDCCH, a CSI-RS port of a CSI-RS resource. Optionally, a quasi co-location relation is configured by a higher-layer parameter (e.g., qcl-Type1) for the first downlink reference signal. Optionally, a quasi co-location relation is configured by a higher-layer parameter (e.g., qcl-Type2) for the second downlink reference signal. In the case of two downlink reference signals, the QCL types are not the same, regardless of whether the references are to the same DL RS or different DL RSs.

[0080] In the disclosure, the term “spatial domain filter” may be used interchangeably with the terms “spatial filter” or “uplink transmission spatial domain filter” or “spatial domain filter for uplink transmission” or “spatial domain filter for downlink reception”.

[0081] In the disclosure, the term “UE capability” may be used interchangeably with the terms “UE feature” or “UE feature group” or “UE capability parameter” or “reported UE capability” or “UE capability signaling” or “reported UE capability parameter”.

[0082] In the disclosure, a time domain unit may be one of: a frame, a subframe, a slot, a sub-slot, a symbol. Optionally, the sub-slot may be a subset of a slot in time domain. For example, symbols included in the sub-slot are a subset of symbols included in the slot. Optionally, in the disclosure, the time domain unit may be one of: a second, a millisecond, a microsecond, a nanosecond, and a sample.

[0083] In the disclosure, a frequency domain unit may be one of: a band, a subband, a component carrier (CC), a bandwidth part (BWP), a resource block, a resource block group (RBG), a subcarrier. The resource block may be a physical resource block (PRB) or a common resource block (CRB).

[0084] In the disclosure, a time-frequency unit may be one of: a resource element (RE), a resource element group (REG). The resource element group may include one or more resource elements. For example, the resource element group may include 6 or 12 resource elements.

[0085] In the disclosure, the starting time domain position of a channel or signal or resource is an earlier position in time domain, and the ending time domain position of a channel or signal or resource is a later position in time domain.

[0086] In the disclosure, the starting frequency domain position of a channel or signal or resource is a lower position in frequency domain, and the ending frequency domain position of a channel or signal or resource is a higher position in frequency domain.

[0087] In the disclosure, a modulation order may refer to an order of a modulated signal in digital modulation technologies. The modulation order may be expressed as Qm. For example, Qm may be an integer between 1 and 10. For example, Qm may be one of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. A modulation scheme include: Phase Shift Keying with a phase difference of π / 2 (π / 2-BPSK), Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK), Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), 8 Phase Shift Keying (8PSK), Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (16QAM), 32QAM, 64QAM, 128QAM, 256QAM, 512QAM, 1024QAM, etc. Optionally, the modulation scheme may include the modulation order. Optionally, there may be a corresponding relation between the modulation scheme and the modulation order. For example, the modulation order of π / 2-BPSK and BPSK is 1, the modulation order of QPSK is 2, the modulation order of 8PSK is 3, the modulation order of 16QAM is 4, the modulation order of 32QAM is 5, the modulation order of 64QAM is 6, the modulation order of 128QAM is 7, the modulation order of 256QAM is 8, the modulation order of 512QAM is 9, the modulation order of 1024QAM is 10, and so on.

[0088] In the disclosure, a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) table may be a table associated with the modulation scheme and / or the coding scheme and / or spectral efficiency, or a table for representing / indicating the modulation scheme and / or the coding scheme and / or the spectral efficiency. Optionally, the term “coding scheme” may be interchanged with the term “code rate”. Optionally, the MCS table may include one or more entries, where each entry may correspond to at least one of the modulation scheme and / or the coding mode and / or the spectral efficiency.

[0089] In the disclosure, a PDCCH may be composed of one or more control channel elements (CCEs). Optionally, the one or more CCEs associated with / corresponding to the PDCCH may be one or more CCEs composing the PDCCH. An aggregation level (AL) of the PDCCH may be L, where L may be 1, 2, 4, 8, 16. If the aggregation level of a PDCCH is L, the PDCCH is composed of L CCEs, or is associated with / corresponds to L CCEs. The term “aggregation level” may be used interchangeably with the term “CCE aggregation level”.

[0090] In the disclosure, the term “modulation order” may be used interchangeably with the term “modulation scheme corresponding to modulation order”. For example, the UE receiving an indication of the modulation order of 2 may be the UE receiving an indication of QPSK.

[0091] In the disclosure, the term “PDCCH” may be used interchangeably with the terms “downlink control channel” or “control channel for downlink transmission” or “control channel for downlink”.

[0092] In the disclosure, the term “PDCCH” may be used interchangeably with the term “PDCCH candidate”.

[0093] In the disclosure, the term “PDSCH” may be used interchangeably with the terms “downlink data channel” or “data channel for downlink transmission” or “data channel for downlink”.

[0094] In the disclosure, the term “PUCCH” may be used interchangeably with the terms “uplink control channel” or “control channel for uplink transmission” or “control channel for uplink”.

[0095] In the disclosure, the term “PUSCH” may be used interchangeably with the terms “uplink data channel” or “data channel for uplink transmission” or “data channel for uplink”.

[0096] In the disclosure, the term “downlink control information (DCI)” may be used interchangeably with the terms “DCI format” or “control information for downlink”.

[0097] In the disclosure, the term “uplink control information (UCI)” may be used interchangeably with the term “control information for uplink”.

[0098] In the disclosure, detecting DCI includes: receiving and / or decoding DCI.

[0099] In the disclosure, the term “information bits of DCI / UCI” may be used interchangeably with the terms “information bits associated with DCI / UCI” or “information bits included in DCI / UCI” or “information bits corresponding to DCI / UCI”. Optionally, the information bits associated with DCI / UCI may include: information bits of the DCI / UCI and check bits (for example, cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits) corresponding to the DCI / UCI. Optionally, the information bits associated with DCI / UCI may include: information bits of the DCI / UCI and bits (for example, cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits) for checking the DCI / UCI.

[0100] In the disclosure, the term “information bits of PDSCH / PUSCH” may be used interchangeably with the term “information bits associated with PDSCH / PUSCH” or “information bits carried by PDSCH / PUSCH” or “information bits of TB included in PDSCH / PUSCH” or “information bits of TB carried by PDSCH / PUSCH”. Optionally, the information bits associated with the information bits carried by PDSCH / PUSCH may include: the information bits of TB carried by PDSCH / PUSCH and the check bits (for example, cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits) corresponding to the TB. Optionally, the information bits associated with PDSCH / PUSCH may include: information bits of PDSCH / PUSCH and bits (for example, cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits) for checking the TB carried by the PDSCH / PUSCH.

[0101] In the disclosure, the term “size of information field” may be used interchangeably with the terms “bitwidth of information field” or “number of information bits in information field”.

[0102] In the disclosure, the information bits of the DCI may be the information bits included in the DCI, or the information bits associated with the DCI, or the payload of the DCI.

[0103] In the disclosure, the existence of an information field may be that the size of the information field is greater than 0 bit. The absence of an information field may be that the size of the information field is equal to 0 bit.

[0104] In the disclosure, the value x of an information field may correspond to the (x+1)-th codepoint of the information field, x≥0. The term “value of an information field” may be used interchangeably with the term “codepoint of an information field”. The term “value x of an information field” may be used interchangeably with the term “(x+1)-th codepoint of an information field”, where x≥0.

[0105] In the disclosure, the term “control resource set (CORESET)” may be used interchangeably with the terms “control resource” or “resource for receiving control information” or “resource for monitoring PDCCH” or “resource for detecting control information”.

[0106] In the disclosure, the term “search space” may be used interchangeably with the terms “PDCCH search space” or “PDCCH search space set” or “PDCCH candidate search space” or “PDCCH candidate search space set” or “search space for searching PDCCH” or “search space for searching PDCCH candidate” or “search space set for searching PDCCH candidate” or “search space set for searching PDCCH candidate”. Optionally, the search space may be a common search space (CSS) or a UE-specific search space (USS). Optionally, the search space may be used for detecting DCI. Optionally, the search space may be used for detecting DCI format.

[0107] In the disclosure, the term “PDCCH candidate associated with search space” may be used interchangeably with the term “PDCCH candidate in search space”.

[0108] In the disclosure, the modulation scheme associated with the PDCCH candidate may be the modulation scheme used by the corresponding PDCCH candidate. The aggregation level associated with the PDCCH candidate may be the aggregation level of the corresponding PDCCH candidate.

[0109] In the disclosure, the UE may monitor the PDCCH (or monitor the PDCCH candidate) in PDCCH monitoring occasion(s). Optionally, the PDCCH monitoring occasion may be one or more (consecutive) time domain units. Optionally, the PDCCH monitoring occasion may be an occasion for monitoring the PDCCH, or an occasion for monitoring the PDCCH candidate.

[0110] In the disclosure, monitoring the PDCCH candidate may be receiving the PDCCH candidate and / or decoding according to the monitored DCI format.

[0111] In the disclosure, the DCI format may be at least one of: DCI format 0_0, DCI format 0_1, DCI format 0_2, DCI format 1_0, DCI format 1_1, and DCI format 1_2.

[0112] In the disclosure, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) information may be hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) information.

[0113] In the disclosure, the PDCCH may carry the DCI and / or the CRC corresponding to the DCI, or the DCI and / or the CRC corresponding to the DCI may be in the PDCCH. Optionally, the CRC may be scrambled in a specific manner. For example, optionally, the CRC may be scrambled based on a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI). Two PDCCHs having the same scrambling may be the two PDCCHs being scrambled by the same RNTI. Optionally, the RNTI may be one of a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI), a configured scheduling radio network temporary identifier (CS-RNTI).

[0114] In the disclosure, the term “transport block (TB) is a retransmission” may be used interchangeably with the terms “TB is not a new transmission” or “TB is a retransmission TB” or “PUSCH is a PUSCH retransmission” or “new data indicator (NDI) toggles” or “NDI = 1”. In the disclosure, the term “TB is a new transmission” may be used interchangeably with the terms “TB is not a retransmission” or “TB is a new transmission TB” or “PUSCH is a PUSCH new transmission / initial transmission” or “NDI does not toggle” or “NDI = 0”. The NDI may be NDI of TB, or NDI of HARQ process, or NDI in DCI, or NDI in DCI format. The NDI toggling may be the NDI provided in the associated HARQ information has been toggled compared to the value in the previous transmission of this TB of this HARQ process. In the disclosure, “NDI = 0” may be DCI in PDCCH with CRC scrambled by CS-RNTI with NDI=0. In the disclosure, “NDI = 1” may be DCI in PDCCH with CRC scrambled by CS-RNTI with NDI=1.

[0115] In the disclosure, the higher-layer parameter includes at least one of a radio resource control (RRC) parameter, a media access control (MAC)-control element (CE) (MAC-CE) parameter. The RRC parameter may be a parameter configured / indicated by RRC signaling. The MAC-CE parameter may be a parameter indicated / activated by MAC-CE signaling. Optionally, information being configured by a higher-layer parameter may be the information being indicated / activated by the higher-layer parameter.

[0116] In the disclosure, the higher-layer signaling includes at least one of the RRC parameter and the parameter indicated by MAC-CE. Optionally, information being configured by higher-layer signaling may be the information being indicated / activated by the higher-layer signaling.

[0117] In the disclosure, a cell includes at least one of: a serving cell, a candidate cell, a primary cell, a secondary cell, and a special cell.

[0118] In the disclosure, when the DCI schedules a channel or signal, a cell receiving or transmitting the channel or signal may be referred as a scheduled cell. A cell where the DCI is detected or a cell where the DCI is monitored / received may be referred as a scheduling cell.

[0119] In the disclosure, when the DCI schedules a channel or signal, a BWP receiving or transmitting the channel or signal may be referred as a scheduled BWP. A BWP where the DCI is detected, or a BWP where the PDCCH associated with the DCI is monitored / received may be referred as a scheduling BWP.

[0120] Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0121] The text and drawings are provided as examples only to help readers in understanding the disclosure. They are not intended, nor should they be construed, to limit the scope of the disclosure in any way. Although certain embodiments and examples have been provided, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, based upon the disclosure, that changes may be made to the embodiments and examples shown without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0122] FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 performed by a user equipment (UE) according to various embodiments of the disclosure. The method 400 includes: at 401, the UE receives PDCCH configuration information for configuring PDCCH parameters; at 402, the UE determines a search space set and a CORESET based on the PDCCH configuration information; and at 403, the UE monitors a set of PDCCH candidates in the corresponding CORESET according to the corresponding search space set. Detailed description of each operation is given below.

[0123] In some cases, the UE receives the PDCCH configuration information for configuring the PDCCH (or PDCCH parameters). Optionally, the PDCCH configuration information may be configured by higher-layer signaling. The PDCCH configuration information may include / be associated with / configure at least one of:

[0124] - Several control resource sets (CORESETs). Optionally, one / each CORESET may be configured / associated / indicated with at least one of:

[0125] -- A CORESET identification (ID). For example, the CORESET ID is configured by a higher-layer parameter. For example, the CORESET ID may be used for identifying the corresponding CORESET.

[0126] -- A frequency domain resource. For example, the frequency domain resource is configured by a higher-layer parameter. Optionally, the frequency domain resource may include one or more frequency domain units. Optionally, the frequency domain resource may include one or more consecutive or non-consecutive frequency domain units. For example, the one or more consecutive or non-consecutive frequency domain units start from the first frequency domain unit in the BWP. For example, the one or more consecutive or non-consecutive frequency domain units start from the first RBG in the BWP. Optionally, the BWP may be a BWP in a cell. Optionally, the BWP may be an active or initial BWP. Optionally, the BWP may be the BWP the PDCCH configuration information is for. For example, the higher-layer parameter includes a bitmap, where each bit corresponds to 6 RBs (or corresponds to one or more frequency domain units, or corresponds to one or more RBGs).

[0127] -- A time duration. For example, the time duration is configured by a higher-layer parameter. Optionally, the time duration may include one or more time domain units. Optionally, the time duration may include one or more consecutive or non-consecutive time domain units.

[0128] -- A modulation scheme. For example, the modulation scheme is configured by a higher-layer parameter. For example, the UE determines the modulation scheme of the PDCCH candidate in the search space (for example, USS and CSS) associated with the CORESET based on the modulation scheme. For example, the UE determines the modulation scheme of the PDCCH candidate in the USS associated with the CORESET based on the modulation scheme. When the modulation scheme is not configured, the modulation scheme of the PDCCH candidate in the search space (for example, USS and CSS) associated with the CORESET is predefined (for example, QPSK or BPSK). The configuration for the modulation scheme may define the modulation scheme of the PDCCH candidate in the associated search space, such that the UE and the base station may have the same understanding of the modulation scheme of the PDCCH when the base station flexibly uses an appropriate modulation scheme to transmit the PDCCH, thus, the UE may use the corresponding demodulation scheme to demodulate the PDCCH transmitted by the base station, improving the scheduling efficiency of the communication system. Optionally, when the corresponding CORESET ID is not 0, the modulation scheme may be configured. Optionally, when the corresponding CORESET ID is equal to 0, the modulation scheme is not configured. Optionally, when the corresponding CORESET ID is equal to 0, the modulation scheme is predefined (for example, QPSK or BPSK). CORESET#0 is usually used for transmission of the control information associated with system information, and the system information is significant to the UE. Therefore, this configuration restriction may avoid using a specific modulation scheme (for example, a higher modulation order) for the associated search space, ensuring the reliability of the communication system.

[0129] -- Whether a first information field is included in the DCI. For example, whether the DCI in the PDCCH candidate monitored in the corresponding CORESET includes the first information field. For example, whether the DCI detected in the PDCCH in the corresponding CORESET includes the first information field. Optionally, whether the first information field being included in the DCI is configured by a higher-layer parameter. The “first information field” will be described in detail below.

[0130] -- Whether a second information field is included in the DCI. For example, whether the DCI in the PDCCH candidate monitored in the corresponding CORESET includes the second information field. For example, whether the DCI detected in the PDCCH in the corresponding CORESET includes the second information field. Optionally, whether the second information field being included in the DCI is configured by a higher-layer parameter. The “second information field” will be described in detail below.

[0131] - Several search spaces. Optionally, the search space is used for determining / defining where / how to search for the PDCCH candidate. Optionally, the search space is used for detecting the DCI. Optionally, one / each search space may be associated with a CORESET. Optionally, one / each search space may be configured / associated / indicated with at least one of:

[0132] -- A search space ID. For example, the search space ID is configured by a higher-layer parameter. For example, the search space ID may be used for identifying the corresponding search space.

[0133] -- A type of the search space. For example, the type of the search space is configured by a higher-layer parameter. The type of the search space may be USS or CSS.

[0134] -- An indication of the DCI format. For example, the indication of the DCI format(s) is configured by a higher-layer parameter. Optionally, the indication of the DCI format may be used for indicating the DCI format monitored on the corresponding search space. Optionally, the UE monitors the PDCCH candidate for a specific DCI format, where the specific DCI format is determined based on the indication of the DCI format.

[0135] -- A CORESET ID. For example, the CORESET ID is configured by a higher-layer parameter. For example, the CORESET ID is used for indicating the CORESET associated with the search space, for example, the CORESET to which the search space applies. For example, one / each search space is associated with one of several CORESETs included in / associated with / configured by the PDCCH configuration information via its configured / associated / indicated CORESET ID.

[0136] -- A number of PDCCH candidates. For example, the number of the PDCCH candidates is configured by a higher-layer parameter. Optionally, the number of the PDCCH candidates refers to the number of the PDCCH candidates for each aggregation level and / or modulation scheme.

[0137] --- The number of the PDCCH candidates is configured separately for each combination of the aggregation level and the modulation scheme. For example, the higher-layer parameter indicates one or more combinations, where each combination includes an aggregation level and an associated modulation scheme, and the higher-layer parameter indicates the number of the PDCCH candidates corresponding to each combination. Optionally, the UE determines the aggregation level and modulation scheme on which the monitoring of the corresponding PDCCH candidate is based according to the aggregation level and modulation scheme in a combination.

[0138] --- The number of the PDCCH candidates is configured separately for each aggregation level. Optionally, for an aggregation level, the number of the PDCCH candidates may be configured separately for each modulation scheme. For example, the higher-layer parameter indicates one or more aggregation levels. For each aggregation level, the higher-layer parameter may indicate one or more modulation schemes. The higher-layer parameter may configure the number of the PDCCH candidates separately for each modulation scheme. If the higher-layer parameter does not indicate a corresponding modulation order for an aggregation level, the modulation scheme the number of the PDCCH candidates indicated for the aggregation level is for is predefined (for example, QPSK or BPSK).

[0139] --- The number of the PDCCH candidates is configured separately for each modulation scheme. Optionally, for a modulation scheme, the number of the PDCCH candidates may be configured separately for each aggregation level. For example, the higher-layer parameter indicates one or more modulation schemes. For each modulation scheme, the higher-layer parameter may indicate one or more aggregation levels. The high-layer parameter may configure the number of the PDCCH candidates separately for each aggregation level. If the high-layer parameter does not indicate a corresponding aggregation level for a modulation scheme, the aggregation level the number of the PDCCH candidates indicated for the modulation scheme is for is predefined (for example, aggregation level 1 or aggregation level 2). The above method defines the configuration method of the modulation scheme corresponding to the PDCCH candidate, such that the base station may flexibly transmit PDCCHs of different modulation schemes on the control resource, improving the scheduling efficiency of the communication system.

[0140] -- A PDCCH monitoring occasion. Optionally, the PDCCH monitoring occasion is determined based on at least one of a PDCCH monitoring periodicity, a PDCCH monitoring offset, and a PDCCH monitoring pattern.

[0141] -- The PDCCH monitoring periodicity and / or the PDCCH monitoring offset. For example, the PDCCH monitoring periodicity and / or PDCCH monitoring offset are configured by a higher-layer parameter. For example, the UE may determine the time domain unit for monitoring the PDCCH based on the PDCCH monitoring periodicity and / or the PDCCH monitoring offset.

[0142] -- The PDCCH monitoring pattern. For example, the PDCCH monitoring pattern may be the PDCCH monitoring pattern within one / each time domain unit. For example, the PDCCH monitoring pattern indicates the first symbol(s) of the CORESET for PDCCH monitoring within each slot where the UE monitors the PDCCH. For example, the PDCCH monitoring pattern may be a bitmap, where the bitmap indicates symbols in a slot. The UE may determine the time unit for PDCCH monitoring in conjunction with the time duration with which the associated CORESET is configured. For example, the bitmap indicates symbol #2 in a slot, and the time duration with which the CORESET is configured is two symbols, the UE performs PDCCH monitoring on symbol #2 and symbol #3 in the slot.

[0143] -- A modulation scheme. For example, the modulation scheme is configured by a higher-layer parameter. For example, the UE determines the modulation scheme of the PDCCH candidate in the corresponding search space based on the modulation scheme. For example, the UE determines the modulation scheme of the associated USS based on the modulation scheme. Optionally, when the modulation scheme is not configured, the modulation scheme of the PDCCH candidate in the corresponding search space is predefined (for example, QPSK or BPSK). The configuration for the modulation scheme may define the modulation scheme of the PDCCH candidate in the corresponding search space, such that the base station may flexibly use an appropriate modulation scheme to transmit the PDCCH, improving the scheduling efficiency of the communication system. Optionally, when the ID of the corresponding search space is not 0, the modulation scheme may be configured. Optionally, when the ID of the corresponding search space is equal to 0, the modulation scheme is not configured. Optionally, when the ID of the corresponding search space is equal to 0, the modulation scheme is predefined (for example, QPSK or BPSK). Optionally, when the corresponding search space is USS, the modulation scheme may be configured. Optionally, when the corresponding search space is CSS, the modulation scheme is not configured. Search space #0 or CSS is usually used for transmitting the control information associated with the system information, and the system information is significant to the UE. Therefore, this configuration restriction may avoid using a specific modulation scheme (for example, a higher modulation order) for the associated search space, ensuring the reliability of the communication system. Optionally, the modulation scheme may be included / configured in one of the CORESET and the search space included in / associated with / configured by the PDCCH configuration information. Optionally, the modulation scheme may be included / configured in both the CORESET and the search space included in / associated with / configured by the PDCCH configuration information, and the UE determines that the modulation scheme of one of the CORESET and the search space included in / associated with / configured by the PDCCH configuration information is used / selected based on a predefined way. For example, if a PDCCH candidate is associated with / is configured with a CORESET and a search space included in / associated with / configured by the PDCCH configuration information, and both the CORESET and the search space are configured with a modulation scheme, the UE determines the modulation scheme of the PDCCH candidate based on the modulation scheme of the search space. This method may define the determination method of the PDCCH modulation order when both the search space and the CORESET associated with a PDCCH are configured with a modulation scheme, such that the UE and the base station have the same understanding of the PDCCH modulation scheme, improving the communication system reliability.

[0144] -- Whether a first information field is included in the DCI. For example, whether the DCI in the PDCCH monitored in the corresponding search space includes the first information field. For example, whether the DCI detected in the PDCCH in the corresponding search space includes the first information field. Optionally, whether the first information field being included in the DCI is configured by a higher-layer parameter.

[0145] -- Whether a second information field is included in the DCI. For example, whether the DCI in the PDCCH monitored in the corresponding search space includes the second information field. For example, whether the DCI detected in the PDCCH in the corresponding search space includes the second information field. Optionally, whether the second information field being included in the DCI is configured by a higher-layer parameter.

[0146] Optionally, the UE determines the search space set and the CORESET based on the PDCCH configuration information. Optionally, the UE monitors a set of PDCCH candidates in one or more CORESETs according to corresponding search space sets. Optionally, the UE determines the PDCCH monitoring occasion based on the PDCCH configuration information. Optionally, the UE monitors a set of PDCCH candidates in the PDCCH monitoring occasion. For example, the UE monitors a set of PDCCH candidates in one or more CORESETs (on the active downlink BWP) according to corresponding search space sets. For example, the UE monitors a set of PDCCH candidates in one or more CORESETs on the active DL BWP on each activated serving cell configured with PDCCH monitoring according to corresponding search space sets. Optionally, the UE determines the PDCCH monitoring occasion based on at least one of the PDCCH monitoring periodicity, the PDCCH monitoring offset, and the PDCCH monitoring pattern.

[0147] For a search space s with aggregation level L and modulation order Qm, the index of a PDCCH candidate may be where Here, refers to the number of the PDCCH candidates in the search space s with the aggregation level of L and the modulation order of Qm configured for UE monitoring. Here, the search space s may be for a serving cell, or the active BWP of a serving cell, where the serving cell corresponds to a value Optionally, may be a parameter associated with the cell. The value of may be an integer greater than or equal to 0. Optionally, may be equal to the value of a carrier indicator field. Optionally, when the serving cell on which PDCCH is monitored is the same as the scheduling of the serving cell, or the serving cell on which PDCCH is monitored is the same as the scheduled cell, or scheduled cell is the same as scheduling cell, =0.

[0148] In some cases, the UE may report the UE capability associated with PDCCH monitoring. Optionally, the UE capability indicates at least one of:

[0149] - A maximum number M of the PDCCH candidates monitored within one / each time domain unit. Optionally, in a time domain unit, the UE is not required to monitor more than M PDCCH candidates. Optionally, in a time domain unit, the UE does not monitor more than M PDCCH candidates. Optionally, in a time domain unit, the UE does not expect to monitor more than M PDCCH candidates. Optionally, M is for one or more frequency domain units. For example, on one or more frequency domain units, the maximum number of the PDCCH candidates monitored within one / each time domain unit is M.

[0150] - A maximum number C of non-overlapped CCEs monitored within one / each time domain unit. Optionally, in a time domain unit, the UE is not required to monitor more than C non-overlapped CCEs. Optionally, in a time domain unit, the UE does not monitor more than C non-overlapped CCEs. Optionally, in a time domain unit, the UE does not expect to monitor more than C non-overlapped CCEs. Optionally, C is for one or more frequency domain units. For example, on one or more frequency domain units, the maximum number of the non-overlapped CCEs monitored within one / each time domain unit is C.

[0151] How to determine that the CCEs associated with the PDCCH candidates are non-overlapped is discussed below. Optionally, the UE determines the number of the non-overlapped CCEs associated with the PDCCH candidates based on modulation orders associated with / corresponding to the PDCCH candidates. Optionally, the UE determines whether the corresponding CCEs overlap based on the modulation order associated with / corresponding to the PDCCH candidates. Optionally, the UE determines whether the CCEs of more than one PDCCH candidates overlap based on the modulation orders associated with / corresponding to the more than one PDCCH candidates. The CCEs of the PDCCH candidates are non-overlapped when at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:

[0152] - The PDCCH candidates have different modulation schemes.

[0153] - The PDCCH candidates correspond to different CORESET IDs.

[0154] - The PDCCH candidates correspond to different search space IDs.

[0155] - The first symbols corresponding to the PDCCH candidates are different. For example, the first symbols for reception corresponding to the PDCCH candidates are different.

[0156] For PDCCH blind detection on CCEs, when the modulation schemes of the PDCCH candidates are different, the UE needs to use additional resources for PDCCH blind detection. Therefore, determining whether the corresponding CCEs overlap based on the modulation schemes of the PDCCH candidates may allow for the UE to occupy computation resources accordingly, avoiding the UE from being unable to perform corresponding operations and improving the reliability of the communication system.

[0157] The counting method of a PDCCH candidate is discussed below. Optionally, the UE may determine whether the PDCCH candidate is counted based on the modulation orders associated with / corresponding to the PDCCH candidates. Optionally, the UE may determine whether the PDCCH candidate is counted for PDCCH monitoring based on the modulation orders of the PDCCH candidates. For PDCCH monitoring, if the PDCCH candidate associated with a search space (e.g., search space ) and the PDCCH candidate associated with another search space (e.g., search space ) satisfy at least one of the following conditions, then the PDCCH candidate associated with search space is not counted (otherwise, the PDCCH candidate associated with search space is counted):

[0158] - Here, and are search space IDs, respectively.

[0159] - The PDCCH candidate associated with search space and the PDCCH candidate associated with search space have the same scrambling. For example, the CRCs associated with the two PDCCH candidates are scrambled by the same ID.

[0160] - The number of the information bits corresponding to the PDCCH candidate associated with search space and the number of the information bits corresponding to the PDCCH candidate associated with search space are the same. For example, the sizes of the DCI formats corresponding to the two PDCCH candidates are the same.

[0161] - The PDCCH candidate associated with search space and the PDCCH candidate associated with search space have the same aggregation level L and the corresponding L CCEs are the same.

[0162] - Cells corresponding to the PDCCH candidate associated with search space and the PDCCH candidate associated with search space are the same.

[0163] - The PDCCH candidate associated with search space and the PDCCH candidate associated with search space have the same modulation scheme.

[0164] For PDCCH monitoring, if a PDCCH candidate (e.g., PDCCH candidate n) associated with a search space and another PDCCH candidate (PDCCH candidate m) associated with the search space satisfy at least one of the following conditions, then PDCCH candidate m is not counted (otherwise, PDCCH candidate m is counted):

[0165] - n < m. Here, m and n are indexes of PDCCH candidates, respectively.

[0166] - PDCCH candidate m and PDCCH candidate n have the same scrambling. For example, the CRCs associated with the two PDCCH candidates are scrambled by the same ID.

[0167] - PDCCH candidate m and PDCCH candidate n correspond to the same number of information bits. For example, the sizes of the DCI formats corresponding to the two PDCCH candidates are the same.

[0168] - PDCCH candidate m and PDCCH candidate n have the same aggregation level L and the corresponding L CCEs are the same.

[0169] - Cells corresponding to PDCCH candidate m and PDCCH candidate are the same.

[0170] - PDCCH candidate m and PDCCH candidate n have the same modulation scheme. For example, PDCCH candidate m and PDCCH candidate n have the same modulation order.

[0171] For PDCCH blind detection on CCEs, it may be determined whether the corresponding PDCCH candidate needs to be counted in the number of blind detections based on the modulation schemes of the PDCCH candidates. This may avoid decrease in UE blind detection capability caused by repeated count of PDCCH candidates with similar features, thereby improving the efficiency of the communication system.

[0172] The determination method of the PDCCH candidates actually monitored in the USS is discussed below. Optionally, the UE determines / allocates PDCCH candidates for monitoring in USS in a time domain unit based on the modulation orders of the PDCCH candidates (e.g., the PDCCH candidates for monitoring in USS) in the USS. Optionally, in a time domain unit, the set of the PDCCH candidates is S. Optionally, the set of the modulation orders corresponding to the PDCCH candidates in S is Qs. Optionally, Qs includes Q1, Q2, ..., QM, where Qi represents (all) PDCCH candidates associated with the i-th small modulation order in Qs, and M represents the maximum modulation order corresponding to the PDCCH candidates in Qs. Optionally, the UE takes a maximum value (M') between 1 and M, where M' results in the number of the non-overlapped CCEs of the PDCCH candidates included in Q's is less than or equal to C1 and the number of the PDCCH candidates in the USS is less than or equal to M1. Here, Q's includes Q1, Q2, ..., QM'. Optionally, M1 is determined based on the UE capability. Optionally, M1 is determined based on M. For example, M1 = M-MCSS, where MCSS represents the number of the PDCCH candidates in the CSS in the time domain unit. Optionally, C1 is determined based on the UE capability. Optionally, C1 is determined based on C. For example, C1 = C-CCSS, where CCSS represents the number of CCEs associated with the PDCCH candidates in the CSS in the time domain unit. This method for determining the PDCCH candidates in the USS that need to be monitored allows the UE and the base station to have the same understanding of which PDCCH candidates the UE needs to monitor, thus improving the reliability of the communication system.

[0173] FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 performed by a user equipment (UE) according to various embodiments of the disclosure. The method 500 includes: at 501, the UE receives a first PDCCH carrying first DCI; at 502, the UE determines a time domain location and / or frequency domain location of a second PDCCH based on the received first PDCCH and / or the first DCI, and / or determines a modulation order of the second PDCCH based on the first DCI. Detailed description of each operation is given below.

[0174] In some cases, the UE detects the first DCI. Optionally, the UE detects the first DCI in the search space. Optionally, the UE detects the first DCI in the search space associated with the CORESET. Optionally, the CORESET and / or the search space are determined based on the PDCCH configuration information. Optionally, the UE detects the first DCI in the PDCCH monitoring occasion. Optionally, the first DCI is in the first PDCCH. Optionally, the first DCI is carried by the first PDCCH.

[0175] Optionally, the UE determines the second PDCCH based on the first DCI and / or the first PDCCH. Optionally, the second DCI is in the second PDCCH. Optionally, the second DCI is carried by the second PDCCH. Optionally, the UE determines the time domain location and / or the frequency domain location of the second PDCCH based on the first DCI and / or the first PDCCH. It should be noted that the second PDCCH may not be obtained through blind detection. For example, the UE may determine the number of information bits of the DCI in the second PDCCH and / or the time domain location of the second PDCCH and / or the frequency domain location of the second PDCCH based on the first PDCCH. For example, the UE may determine the number of information bits of the DCI in the second PDCCH and / or the resource of the second PDCCH based on the first PDCCH. Optionally, the resource of the PDCCH may be the time domain resource of the PDCCH and / or the frequency domain resource of the PDCCH. Optionally, the time domain location may be the time domain location corresponding to the time domain resource. Optionally, the frequency domain location may be the frequency domain location corresponding to the frequency domain resource. In the disclosure, the term “PDCCH” may be interchangeable with the term “PDCCH resource” or “resource of PDCCH” or “resource for carrying PDCCH”. Optionally, the term “time duration” may be interchangeable with the term “time domain resource”. Optionally, the term “frequency width” may be interchangeable with the term “frequency domain resource”.

[0176] - Optionally, the UE determines the time domain unit where the second PDCCH is located based on the time domain unit where the first PDCCH is located. For example, the time domain unit where the second PDCCH is located is the same as the time domain unit where the first PDCCH is located. For example, the second PDCCH is in time domain unit n+N_offset, where time domain unit n represents the time domain unit where the first PDCCH is located, and N_offset represents the offset of the time domain unit. Optionally, N_offset may be configured by higher-layer signaling, or N_offset may be indicated by the first DCI, or N_offset may be predefined (for example, N_offset is equal to 0 or 1), or N_offset may be determined based on the UE capability.

[0177] - Optionally, the starting time domain unit of the second PDCCH is determined / indicated based on the first DCI. Optionally, the starting time domain unit of the second PDCCH is determined based on the starting time domain unit of the first PDCCH. For example, the starting time domain unit of the second PDCCH is time domain unit m+M_offset, where time domain unit m represents the starting time domain unit of the first PDCCH, and M_offset represents the offset of the time domain unit. Optionally, M_offset may be configured by higher-layer signaling, or M_offset may be indicated by the first DCI, or M_offset may be predefined (e.g., M_offset is equal to 0 or 1), or M_offset may be determined based on the UE capability.

[0178] - Optionally, the time duration of the second PDCCH is determined / indicated based on the first DCI. The time duration may be one or more (consecutive or non-consecutive) time domain units. Optionally, the time duration of the second PDCCH is determined based on the time duration of the first PDCCH. For example, the time duration of the second PDCCH is equal to the time duration of the first PDCCH. This method may enable the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH to be transmitted in frequency division multiplexing, thereby improving the usage efficiency of downlink resources of the communication system. For example, the time duration of the second PDCCH is equal to an integer (e.g., M_ratio) multiple of the time duration of the first PDCCH. Optionally, M_ratio may be configured by higher-layer signaling, or M_ratio may be indicated by the first DCI, or M_ratio may be predefined (e.g., M_ratio is equal to 1 or 2), or M_ratio may be determined based on the UE capability.

[0179] - Optionally, the time duration of the second PDCCH is determined based on the maximum code rate and the number of information bits of the second DCI. Optionally, the time duration of the second PDCCH is based on / equal to a specific time duration, where the specific time duration is the maximum time duration such that the code rate of the second PDCCH is less than or equal to the maximum code rate. For example, the UE determines a maximum time duration, where the time duration results in the code rate of the second PDCCH to be less than or equal to the maximum code rate. The UE determines the maximum time duration as the time duration of the second PDCCH. Refer below for the method of determining the code rate of the PDCCH.

[0180] - Optionally, the starting frequency domain unit of the second PDCCH is determined / indicated based on the first DCI. Optionally, the starting frequency domain unit of the second PDCCH is determined based on the starting frequency domain unit of the first PDCCH. For example, the starting frequency domain unit of the second PDCCH is the frequency domain unit p+P_offset, where frequency domain unit p represents the starting frequency domain unit of the first PDCCH, and P_offset represents the offset of the frequency domain unit. Optionally, P_offset may be configured by higher-layer signaling, or P_offset may be indicated by the first DCI, or P_offset may be predefined (for example, P_offset is equal to 0 or 1), or P_offset may be determined based on the UE capability.

[0181] - Optionally, the frequency width of the second PDCCH is determined / indicated based on the first DCI. The frequency width may be one or more (consecutive or non-consecutive) frequency domain units. Optionally, the frequency width of the second PDCCH is determined based on the frequency width of the first PDCCH. For example, the frequency width of the second PDCCH is equal to the frequency width of the first PDCCH. This method may enable the first PDCCH and the second PDCCH to be transmitted in time division multiplexing, thereby improving the usage efficiency of downlink resources of the communication system. For example, the frequency width of the second PDCCH is equal to an integer (e.g., P_ratio) multiple of the frequency width of the first PDCCH. Optionally, P_ratio may be configured by higher-layer signaling, or P_ratio may be indicated by the first DCI, or P_ratio may be predefined (for example, P_ratio is equal to 1 or 2), or P_ratio may be determined based on the UE capability.

[0182] - Optionally, the frequency width of the second PDCCH is determined based on the maximum code rate and the number of information bits of the second DCI. Optionally, the frequency width of the second PDCCH is based on / equal to a specific frequency width, where the specific frequency width is the maximum frequency width such that the code rate of the second PDCCH is less than or equal to the maximum code rate. For example, the UE determines a maximum frequency width, where the frequency width causes the code rate of the second PDCCH to be less than or equal to the maximum code rate. The UE determines the maximum frequency width as the frequency width of the second PDCCH. Refer below for the method of determining the code rate of PDCCH.

[0183] Optionally, the UE determines the DM-RS of the second PDCCH based on the first DCI. Optionally, the first DCI may indicate the type / pattern of the DM-RS of the second PDCCH.

[0184] Optionally, the UE determines the antenna port of the second PDCCH based on the first DCI. Optionally, the first DCI may indicate the antenna port (for example, the antenna port number) of the second PDCCH.

[0185] Optionally, the first DCI may indicate the TCI state of the second PDCCH. For example, the UE determines the QCL parameter of the DM-RS of the second PDCCH based on the indication of the first DCI. For example, when the first DCI includes a field for TCI indication, the UE determines the QCL parameter of the DM-RS of the second PDCCH based on the indication of the first DCI. For example, the UE assumes that the DM-RS of the first PDCCH and the DM-RS of the second PDCCH are quasi co-located. For example, the UE determines / receives the second PDCCH based on the assumption that the DM-RS of the first PDCCH and the DM-RS of the second PDCCH are quasi-co-located. For example, the UE determines the QCL parameter associated with the second PDCCH based on the QCL parameter associated with the first PDCCH. For example, when the first DCI does not include the field for TCI indication, the UE determines the QCL parameter associated with the second PDCCH based on the QCL parameter associated with the first PDCCH. The QCL parameter associated with the PDCCH may be the QCL parameter of the DM-RS of the PDCCH. This method may define the determination method of the beam of the second PDCCH, such that the base station may flexibly schedule the second PDCCH in spatial domain, improving the efficiency of the communication system.

[0186] Optionally, the second PDCCH includes / carries the second DCI. Optionally, the second DCI is carried by the second PDCCH. Optionally, the UE determines the number of information bits of the second DCI in the second PDCCH based on the first DCI. Optionally, the UE determines the number of information bits of the second DCI in the second PDCCH based on the first DCI.

[0187] Optionally, the UE determines the modulation order of the second PDCCH based on the first DCI. Optionally, the first DCI may or may not include the first information field. Optionally, the first information field is used for indicating the modulation order (of the second PDCCH). Optionally, the UE determines the modulation order of the second PDCCH based on whether the first DCI includes the first information field.

[0188] Optionally, the UE determines the modulation order of the second PDCCH based on the first information field. Optionally, when the first DCI includes the first information field, the UE determines the modulation order of the second PDCCH based on the first information field.

[0189] - Optionally, the size of the first information field may be configured by high-layer signaling from the base station. For example, the higher-layer signaling explicitly configures the size of the first information field. Optionally, the i-th codepoint in the first information field corresponds to the modulation order or (i ≥ 1). For example, when the size of the first information field is configured as 1 bit, the first codepoint of the first information field (e.g., '0') indicates the modulation order of 2, and the second codepoint of the first information field (e.g., '1') indicates the modulation order of 4. For example, when the size of the first information field is configured as 2 bits, the first codepoint of the first information field (e.g., '00') indicates the modulation order of 2; the second codepoint of the first information field (e.g., '01') indicates the modulation order of 4; the third codepoint of the first information field (e.g., '10') indicates the modulation order of 6; the fourth codepoint of the first information field (e.g., '11') indicates the modulation order of 8. Optionally, the value of the first information field may be ival,1(ival,1≥ 0), where the modulation order corresponding to / indicated by ival,1may be or

[0190] - Optionally, the higher-layer signaling configures KModmodulation orders, and the size of the first information field may be determined based on KMod. For example, the size of the first information field is or Each of the KModmodulation orders corresponds to the modulation order indicated / configured by the high-layer signaling. Optionally, the kmod-th codepoint in the first information field corresponds to the kmod-th configured modulation order among the KModmodulation orders configured by the high-layer signaling. kmod≥ 1, and / or kmod≤KMod. Optionally, the value of the first information field may be ival,1(ival,1≥ 0), where ival,1corresponds to / indicates the (kmod+1)-th configured modulation order among the KModmodulation orders configured by the high-layer signaling.

[0191] - Optionally, the size of the first information field may be determined based on a table associated with the modulation order. Optionally, each entry in the table associated with the modulation order may only include the modulation order / modulation scheme. Optionally, (each entry of) the table associated with the modulation order may include not only the modulation order / modulation scheme, but also the code rate, spectral efficiency, etc. Optionally, the table associated with the modulation order may be an MCS table. Optionally, the table associated with the modulation order may include I entries, where each entry may correspond to a modulation order. Optionally, one or more entries of the table may correspond (respectively) to “reserved”. Optionally, the table associated with the modulation order may be predefined. Optionally, the table associated with the modulation order may be determined from one or more predefined tables associated with the modulation order. For example, the UE determines the table associated with the modulation order based on an indication of the base station (for example, configuration of a high-layer parameter). Optionally, the size of the first information field may be or Optionally, the i-th codepoint of the first information field corresponds to the i-th entry of the table. Optionally, the value of the first information field may be ival,1(ival,1≥ 0), where ival,1corresponds to / indicates the ival,1+1-th entry of the table.

[0192] - Optionally, the size of the first information field is predefined. The size of the first information field may be one of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 bits.

[0193] Optionally, (when the first DCI does not include the first information field,) the UE determines the modulation order of the second PDCCH based on the number of information bits of the second DCI, and / or the frequency width and / or the time duration of the second PDCCH, and / or the maximum code rate.

[0194] - Optionally, the UE determines the modulation order of the second PDCCH based on the relation between the code rate of the second PDCCH and the maximum code rate. Optionally, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is based on / equal to a specific modulation order, where the specific modulation order is the maximum modulation order such that the code rate of the second PDCCH is less than or equal to the maximum code rate. For example, the UE determines a maximum modulation order, where the modulation order results in the code rate of the second PDCCH to be less than or equal to the maximum code rate. Optionally, the UE determines the maximum modulation order as the modulation order (e.g., Qm,2) of the second PDCCH.

[0195] - Optionally, the code rate of the PDCCH may be determined based on the number (NRE) of time-frequency units associated with the PDCCH and / or the IDCI. Optionally, IDCImay refer to the number of information bits of the DCI in the PDCCH. Optionally, IDCImay refer to the sum of the number of information bits of the DCI in the PDCCH and the number of associated CRC bits. For example, the code rate of the second PDCCH is equal to / based on IDCI / (Qm,2* NRE). Optionally, NREis determined based on the frequency width (W2) and / or the time duration (L2) of the second PDCCH and / or the number of time-frequency units occupied by the DM-RS of the second PDCCH. For example, NREis determined based on W2*L2. For example, NRE= W2*L2. For example, NREis determined based on W2*L2 - H, where H represents the number of time-frequency units occupied by the DM-RS of the second PDCCH.

[0196] - Optionally, the maximum code rate may be at least one of based on base station indication, predefined, and based on the UE capability indication. Optionally, the maximum code rate is associated with the second PDCCH / second DCI. Optionally, the maximum code rate is used for determining how to receive / detect the second PDCCH. Optionally, the maximum code rate is used for determining how to receive / detect the second DCI. Optionally, the maximum code rate is used for determining how to receive / detect the second DCI in the second PDCCH. Optionally, the predefined maximum code rate may be one of 0.5, 0.75, and 0.95. Optionally, the UE determines the code rate of the second PDCCH (or the code rate of the second DCI) based on the number of time-frequency units associated with the second PDCCH.

[0197] The above method defines the computation method of the modulation order of the second PDCCH, saves the overhead of indicating the modulation order of the PDCCH in the first DCI, and improves the efficiency of the communication system.

[0198] Optionally, (when the first DCI does not include the first information field,) the modulation order of the second PDCCH is based on / equal to the modulation order of the first PDCCH or a predefined modulation order or a modulation order indicated by the base station. Optionally, the predefined modulation order may be 1 or 2 or 4.

[0199] Optionally, (when the first DCI does not include the first information field,) the UE determines the modulation order of the second PDCCH based on at least one of:

[0200] - The search space associated with the first PDCCH. For example, the UE determines the modulation order of the second PDCCH based on the type / ID of the search space associated with the first PDCCH, or based on the PDCCH configuration information. For example, when the search space is CSS, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is the predefined modulation order. For example, when the search space is USS, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is based on the number of information bits of the second DCI, or based on the modulation order of the first PDCCH, or based on the modulation order indicated by the base station. For example, when the ID of the search space is 0, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is based on the predefined modulation order, or based on the modulation order indicated by the base station. For example, when the ID of the search space is not 0, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is based on the number of information bits of the second DCI, or based on the modulation order of the first PDCCH, or based on the modulation order indicated by the base station.

[0201] - The CORESET associated with the first PDCCH. For example, the UE determines the modulation order of the second PDCCH based on the type / ID of the CORESET associated with the first PDCCH, or based on the configuration information of the search space associated with the PDCCH. For example, when the ID of CORESET is 0, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is based on the predefined modulation order, or based on the modulation order indicated by the base station. For example, when the ID of CORESET is not 0, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is based on the number of information bits of the second DCI, or based on / equal to the modulation order of the first PDCCH, or based on / equal to the modulation order indicated / configured by the base station.

[0202] - The first DCI. For example, the UE determines the modulation order of the second PDCCH based on the first DCI (the format of the first DCI). In the disclosure, the term “DCI format” may be interchangeable with the term “DCI format corresponding to DCI”. For example, when the format of the first DCI is 0_0 or 1_0, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is based on the predefined modulation order, or based on the modulation order indicated by the base station. For example, when the format of the first DCI is 0_1 or 1_1 or 0_2 or 1_2, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is based on the number of information bits of the second DCI, or based on / equal to the modulation order of the first PDCCH, or, based on / equal to the modulation order indicated / configured by the base station.

[0203] - The DM-RS of the second PDCCH. For example, the UE determines the modulation order of the second PDCCH based on the type of the DM-RS of the second PDCCH or based on the number of ports of the DM-RS of the second PDCCH. For example, when the number of ports of the DM-RS of the second PDCCH is greater than 1, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is based on the predefined modulation order, or based on the modulation order indicated by the base station. For example, when the number of ports of the DM-RS of the second PDCCH is equal to 1, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is based on the number of information bits of the second DCI, or based on / equal to the modulation order of the first PDCCH, or based on / equal to the modulation order configured / indicated by the base station.

[0204] The above method defines the computation method of the modulation order of the second PDCCH, saves the overhead of indicating the modulation order of the PDCCH in the first DCI, and improves the efficiency of the communication system.

[0205] Optionally, the UE receives / detects / decodes the second DCI. Optionally, the second DCI schedules / indicates a PDSCH. Optionally, the first DCI and / or the second DCI schedules / indicates the PDSCH. Optionally, the UE determines the resource of the PDSCH based on the first DCI and / or the second DCI. Optionally, the UE receives the second PDCCH and / or detects / decodes the second DCI in the time domain resource and / or the frequency domain resource determined based on the first DCI. Optionally, the second DCI is carried by the second PDCCH. Optionally, the second DCI is in the second PDCCH. Optionally, the second DCI may or may not include the second information field. Optionally, the second information field may be used for indicating the modulation order. Optionally, the second information field may be used for indicating the modulation order of the PDSCH (scheduled / indicated by the DCI). Optionally, the second information field may be used for indicating the code rate and / or the spectral efficiency. Optionally, the second information field may be used for indicating the code rate and / or the spectral efficiency of the PDSCH (scheduled / indicated by the DCI).

[0206] Optionally, the first DCI or the second DCI may include an NDI field. Optionally, the UE may determine whether the TB scheduled by the DCI (e.g., the first DCI or the second DCI) is a new transmission or a retransmission according to the NDI. Optionally, the NDI field indicates whether the TB scheduled by the DCI (e.g., the first DCI or the second DCI) is a new transmission or a retransmission.

[0207] Optionally, the UE may determine the modulation order of the PDSCH based on an explicit indication. Optionally, the UE determines the modulation order of the PDSCH based on the second information field. Optionally, when the second DCI includes the second information field, the UE determines the modulation order of the second PDCCH based on the second information field.

[0208] - Optionally, the size of the second information field may be configured by high-layer signaling from the base station. Optionally, the j-th codepoint in the second information field corresponds to the modulation order or For example, when the size of the second information field is configured as 1 bit, the first codepoint of the second information field (e.g., '0') indicates the modulation order of 2, and the second codepoint of the second information field (e.g., '1') indicates the modulation order of 4. For example, when the size of the second information field is configured as 2 bits, the first codepoint of the second information field (e.g., '00') indicates the modulation order of 2; the second codepoint of the second information field (e.g., '01') indicates the modulation order of 4; the third codepoint of the second information field (e.g., '10') indicates the modulation order of 6; the fourth codepoint of the second information field (e.g., '11') indicates the modulation order of 8. Optionally, the value of the second information field may be ival,2(ival,2≥ 0), where the modulation order corresponding to / indicated by ival,2may be or

[0209] - Optionally, the size of the second information field may be determined based on a table associated with the modulation order (for example, an MCS table). Optionally, the table associated with the modulation order may include J entries, where each entry may correspond to a modulation order. Optionally, one or more entries of the table may correspond to “reserved”. Optionally, one / each entry of the table may correspond to at least one of the modulation order, the code rate, the spectral efficiency. Optionally, the table associated with the modulation order may be predefined. Optionally, the table associated with the modulation order may be determined from one or more predefined modulation tables associated with the modulation order. For example, the UE determines the table associated with the modulation order based on an indication of the base station (for example, configuration of a high-layer parameter). Optionally, the size of the second information field may be or Optionally, the j-th codepoint of the second information field corresponds to the j-th entry of the table. Optionally, the value of the second information field may be ival,2(ival,2≥ 0), where ival,2corresponds to / indicates the ival,2+1-th entry of the table. Optionally, the predefined table(s) may be at least one of Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, and Table 4 given below.

[0210] - Optionally, the size of the second information field may be predefined. Optionally, the size of the second information field may be determined based on the TB carried by the PDSCH. Optionally, the size of the second information field may be determined based on whether the TB carried by the PDSCH is a retransmission. Optionally, the UE determines the size of the second information field based on the TB carried by the PDSCH. For example, the size of the second information field is 2 bits, 3 bits, or 5 bits. Optionally, when the TB carried by the PDSCH is a retransmission, the size of the second information field may be predefined (for example, 2 bits or 3 bits). Optionally, when the TB carried by the PDSCH is not a retransmission, the size of the second information field may be predefined (for example, 5 bits).

[0211] - Optionally, the UE determines the modulation order corresponding to the codepoint of the second information field (or the value of the second information field) based on the TB carried by the PDSCH. Optionally, the modulation order corresponding to the codepoint of the second information field (the value of the second information field) is determined based on the TB carried by the PDSCH.

[0212] - Optionally, in the case where the TB carried by the PDSCH is a retransmission (and the first DCI includes the NDI field), the modulation order corresponding to the codepoint of the second information field is predefined. For example, the i-th codepoint of the second information field corresponds to the modulation order 2ior 2i-1. For example, the first codepoint of the second information field (for example, a codepoint with all bits of 0) corresponds to the modulation order 2. Optionally, the value of the second information field may be ival,2(ival,2≥0), where the modulation order corresponding to / indicated by ival,2≥0may be or

[0213] - Optionally, in the case where the TB carried by the PDSCH is a new transmission (and the first DCI includes the NDI field), the second information field is determined based on the table associated with the modulation order. Optionally, in the case where the TB carried by the PDSCH is a new transmission (and the first DCI includes the NDI field), the second information field is determined based on one of one or more entries included in the table associated with the modulation order. Optionally, the value of the second information field may be ival,2(ival,2≥0), where ival,2corresponds to / indicates the ival,2+1-th entry of the table.

[0214]

[0215]

[0216]

[0217]

[0218] Optionally, the UE may determine the modulation order of the PDSCH based on an implicit indication. Optionally, (when the second DCI does not include the second information field,) the UE determines the modulation order of the PDSCH based on at least one of:

[0219] - The first information field. For example, the modulation order of the PDSCH is based on / equal to the modulation order indicated by the first information field.

[0220] - The first PDCCH. For example, the modulation order of the PDSCH is based on / equal to the modulation order of the first PDCCH.

[0221] - The second PDCCH. For example, the modulation order of the PDSCH is based on / equal to the modulation order of the second PDCCH.

[0222] - A predefined modulation order. For example, the modulation order of the PDSCH is based on / equal to the predefined modulation order. Optionally, the predefined modulation order may be 2 or 4.

[0223] - A modulation order indicated / configured by the base station. For example, the modulation order of the PDSCH is based on / equal to the modulation order indicated / configured by the base station. Optionally, the modulation order indicated by the base station may be indicated via high-layer signaling.

[0224] In some cases, the UE needs to determine the size of the TB included in the PDSCH scheduled by the DCI (e.g., the first DCI and / or the second DCI) through at least one of the modulation order, the code rate, and spectral efficiency of the PDSCH. The modulation order of the PDSCH may be obtained implicitly or explicitly through the above methods. Methods for determining the code rate and / or the spectral efficiency of the PDSCH are discussed below. Optionally, the second DCI may or may not include a third information field. Optionally, the third information field may be used for indicating the code rate and / or the spectral efficiency of the PDSCH (scheduled by the first DCI and / or the second DCI). Optionally, the third information field may be used for indicating the MCS table (including the code rate and / or the spectral efficiency of the PDSCH). Optionally, the third information field may be used for indicating an entry in the MCS table. Optionally, the third information field may be used for indicating an entry in the MCS table. Optionally, the third information field may be the same as or different from the second information field. Optionally, when the TB included in the PDSCH is not a retransmission (or, when the TB included in the PDSCH is a new transmission), the third information field exists (for example, the size of the third information field is greater than 0 bit). When the TB included in the PDSCH is a retransmission (or, when the TB included in the PDSCH is not a new transmission), the third information field does not exist (for example, the size of the third information field is equal to 0 bit).

[0225] - Optionally, the size of the third information field is determined based on the MCS table. Optionally, when the third information field indicates the MCS table (for example, one entry in the MCS table), the size of the third information field is determined based on the MCS table. Optionally, the MCS table may be at least one of Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, and Table 4 given above. Optionally, the size of the third information field is determined based on the maximum value of the numbers of entries corresponding to each modulation order in the MCS table. Optionally, the size of the third information field is determined based on the number of entries corresponding to each modulation order in the MCS table and Optionally, the size of the third information field is determined based on the number of entries corresponding to each modulation order in the MCS table minus Optionally, the size of the third information field is determined based on the maximum value of the numbers of entries corresponding to each modulation order in the MCS table minus For example, the size of the third information field is based on / equal to or or or Here, or represents the modulation order, represents the (total) number of entries with the modulation order of represents the set of all modulation orders included in the table. Here, represents the number of entries associated with / corresponding to and associated with the TB retransmission; or represents the number of entries associated with / corresponding to and including only the modulation order; or represents the number of entries associated with / corresponding to and not including the code rate and / or the spectral efficiency. Optionally, may be predefined, for example, 1 or 2. Optionally, may be configured by higher-layer signaling or indicated by the DCI. Optionally, may be determined based on the indication of the UE capability. Optionally, for each modulation order corresponding may be the same. In this case, may be expressed asK. For example, in Table 1, the number of entries of modulation order 2 is 11, the number of entries of modulation order 4 is 8, and the number of entries of modulation order 6 is 13, then the size of the third information field is determined based on 13 (for example, the size of the third information field is 4). Here, includes modulation order 2, modulation order 4, and modulation order 6. Since in the MCS table, some entries are for the case of TB retransmission (e.g., each modulation order corresponds to entries), since there is no need to indicate the code rate and / or the spectral efficiency of the PDSCH for TB retransmission, the entry associated with TB retransmission may be excluded for each modulation order, therefore, determining the size of the third information field based on may reduce the overhead and improve the efficiency of the communication system.

[0226] - Optionally, the codepoint corresponding to the third information field (or the value corresponding to the third information field) is determined based on at least one of: the PDSCH, the first information field, the first PDCCH, and the second PDCCH. Optionally, the codepoint corresponding to the third information field (or the value corresponding to the third information field) is determined based on at least one of: the modulation order of the PDSCH, the modulation order indicated by the first information field, the modulation order of the first PDCCH, and the modulation order of the second PDCCH. The codepoint corresponding to the third information field (or the value corresponding to the third information field) being determined based on the modulation order of the PDSCH will be described as an example. Optionally, the codepoint corresponding to the third information field (or the value corresponding to the third information field) corresponds to the entry with same modulation order of the PDSCH. For example, the i-th codepoint corresponding to the third information field corresponds to the i-th entry in the MCS table with same modulation order as the modulation order of the PDSCH. Optionally, i ≥ 1. For example, when the modulation order of the PDSCH is 4, the first entry of the third information field corresponds to the 11th entry of Table 1 (with corresponding MCS index of 10), and the second entry of the third information field corresponds to the 12th entry of Table 1 (with corresponding MCS index of 11), and so on. Optionally, the value of the third information field may be ival,3(ival, 3≥ 0), where ival,3corresponds to / indicates the ival,3+1-th entry in the table with same modulation order as the modulation order of the PDSCH.

[0227] - Optionally, when the TB carried by the PDSCH is a retransmission, the UE ignores the third information field. Optionally, when the TB carried by the PDSCH is a retransmission, the third information field does not exist (for example, the size of the third information field is 0 bit). In the case of TB retransmission, since the size of the information bits of the TB has been obtained by the UE, it is only necessary to determine the modulation order corresponding to the retransmission bits during retransmission, and the UE may determine the modulation order of the PDSCH based on the implicit indication., thereby saving information bits in the third information field and improving the efficiency of the communication system.

[0228] Optionally, the second DCI may include a fourth information field. Optionally, the fourth information field may be used for indicating the modulation order. Optionally, the fourth information field may indicate the modulation order of the uplink channel triggered by the second DCI. The uplink channel triggered by the second downlink control information may be a PUCCH or a PUSCH. Optionally, the uplink channel triggered by the second downlink control information may carry HARQ information and / or CSI associated with the PDSCH. Optionally, the CSI may be determined based on measurement of the PDSCH. This method defines the determination method of the modulation order of the uplink channel triggered by the second DCI, such that the base station may flexibly use different modulation orders to transmit the uplink channel, improving the flexibility of the communication system.

[0229] FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 performed by a base station according to various embodiments of the disclosure. The method 600 includes: at 601, the base station transmits PDCCH configuration information for configuring PDCCH parameters, where the PDCCH configuration information is used for determining a search space set and a CORESET; at 602, the base station transmits a set of PDCCH candidates, the set of PDCCH candidates are monitored by the UE in the corresponding CORESET according to the corresponding search space set.

[0230] FIG. 7 illustrates a method 700 performed by a base station according to various embodiments of the disclosure. The method 700 includes: at 701, the base station transmits a first PDCCH carrying first DCI; at 702, the base station transmits a second PDCCH carrying second DCI, the time domain location and / or the frequency domain location of the second PDCCH are determined based on the first PDCCH and / or the first DCI, and / or the modulation order of the second PDCCH is determined based on the first DCI.

[0231] FIG. 8 illustrates a structure 800 of a user equipment according to various embodiments of the disclosure. As shown in FIG. 8, the user equipment 800 includes a controller 810 and a transceiver 820, wherein the controller 810 is configured to perform various methods disclosed herein performed by the user equipment, and the transceiver 820 is configured to transmit and receive a channel or a signal.

[0232] FIG. 9 illustrates a structure 900 of a base station according to various embodiments of the disclosure. As shown in FIG. 9, the network device 900 includes a controller 910 and a transceiver 920, wherein the controller 910 is configured to perform the various methods disclosed herein performed by a network device, and the transceiver 920 is configured to transmit and receive a channel or a signal.

[0233] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a terminal or user equipment (UE) 1000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Furthermore, the UE of FIG. 10 corresponds to the UE of FIG. 1, FIG. 3a, and FIG. 8.

[0234] The terminal is an electronic device capable of wireless communication, may include a User Equipment (UE), a portable phone, a smartphone, a tablet, an Internet of things (IoT) device, etc., having various form factors, and may perform wireless communication with a base station (BS) through a wireless channel.

[0235] Referring to FIG. 10, the UE 1000 may include at least one transceiver (hereinafter, referred to as simply “transceiver”) 1001, at least one processor (hereinafter, referred to as simply “processor”) 1002, and at least one memory (hereinafter, referred to as simply “memory”) 1003. According to at least one or a combination of methods corresponding to the embodiments described in the present disclosure, the transceiver 1001, the processor 1002, and the memory 1003 of the UE 1000 may operate. However, components of the UE 1000 are not limited to the exemplary components illustrated in FIG. 10. In another embodiment, the UE 1000 may further include additional components in addition to the above-mentioned components, or some components may be omitted. Further, in some embodiments, any combination of the transceiver 1001, the processor 1002, or the memory 1003 may be integrated in the form of one component.

[0236] The transceiver 1001 may be a communication circuit or communication circuitry that enables the UE 1000 to perform wireless communication with a node or an entity of a network. For example, the transceiver 1001 may enable the UE 1000 to transmit or receive a signal to or from a BS through cellular communication, or to transmit or receive a signal to or from another UE through cellular communication. For example, the transceiver 1001 may support at least one of various cellular communication technologies including 3rd generation (3G), 4th generation (4G), long term evolution (LTE), 5th generation (5G) NR, 6th generation (6G), and various cellular wireless communication technologies supported by the transceiver (1001) may include all subsequent generations of evolved wireless communications.

[0237] According to an embodiment, the UE 1000 may include a plurality of transceivers. For example, in the case of supporting evolved-universal terrestrial radio access-new radio (E-UTRA-NR) sual connectivity (EN-DC), the UE 1000 may include a first transceiver supporting the 4G LTE wireless communication and a second transceiver supporting the 5G NR wireless communication. According to another embodiment, in the case of supporting NR-dual connectivity (NR-DC), the UE 1000 may include a plurality of transceivers supporting the 5G NR wireless communication. According to still another embodiment, in the case of supporting near field wireless communication, the UE 1000 may separately include a transceiver supporting at least one standard in the group of wireless communication protocol standards as defined in the protocol standards for Bluetooth®, wireless local area network (WLAN) network (including institute of electrical and electronics engineers (IEEE) 802.11-2016 standard or its amendments, e.g., 802.11ah, 802.11ad, 802.11ay, 802.11ax, 802.11az, 802.11ba, and 802.11be, without being limited thereto).

[0238] According to an embodiment, the transceiver 1001 may include various circuit structures used to transmit or receive signals to or from a BS through a wireless channel. The signals may include control information and data. For example, the transceiver 1001 may include a radio frequency (RF) transmitter for up-converting and amplifying the frequency of a transmitted signal and an RF receiver for low-noise-amplifying a received signal and down-converting the frequency thereof. The transceiver 1001 may output a signal received through a wireless channel to the processor 1002 and may transmit, through a wireless channel, a signal output from the processor 1002.

[0239] The processor 1002 may control general operations of the UE 1000 according to embodiments of the disclosure. The processor 1002 may be implemented by one or more integrated circuit (or circuitry) (IC) chips and may execute various data processings. The processor 1002 may include at least one electric circuit, and may execute instructions (or a program, codes, data, etc.) stored in the memory 1003, individually, collectively or in any combination thereof. Further, the processor 1002 may include a single-core processor or multi-core processor, and may include a processor assembly including a plurality of processing circuits (circuitry) according to a specific implementation scheme.

[0240] The processor 1002 may be electrically, operatively, or communicatively coupled to the transceiver 1001 to control the transceiver 1001.

[0241] The processor 1002 may include at least one processor (or processing circuitry), and the at least one processor may perform the following operations individually, collectively or in any combination thereof. For example, the processor 1002 may include a communication processor (CP) configured to control communication operations and an application processor (AP) configured to control execution of an upper layer (for example, an application layer) . In a specific embodiment, at least a part of the processor 1002 may be included in one chip and the other part of the processor 1002 may be included in another chip. Otherwise, at least one processor may be included in another component, for example, the transceiver 1001 or the memory 1003.

[0242] The processor 1002 may perform or control or cause an operation of the UE 1000 for executing at least one or a combination of methods according to embodiments of the disclosure. For example, the processor 1002 may control operations of the UE 1000 for processing a downlink signal received from a BS or generating and transmitting an uplink signal to a BS. To this end, the processor 1002 may execute a computer program, codes, or instructions stored in the memory 1003, so as to control other components of the UE 1000 to enable execution of various operations.

[0243] The memory 1003 corresponds to a hardware storage device capable of temporarily or permanently storing information and may include one or more storage media. For example, the memory 1003 may include a memory assembly including one or more storage media. For example, the one or more storage media may include permanent memory, such as a hard drive, flash memory, or read-only memory (ROM), semipermanent memory, such as random access memory (RAM), cache memory, or a combination thereof.

[0244] The memory 1003 may be electrically, operatively, or communicatively coupled to the processor 1002 and may be accessed by the processor 1002.

[0245] The memory 1003 may store a computer program, codes, or instructions executable by the processor 1002. According to an embodiment, a computer program, codes, or instructions executable by the processor 1002 may be either stored in a single memory device or separated and distributedly stored in two or more memory devices. By executing the instructions stored in the memory 1003, the processor 1002 may perform various functions according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0246] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, operations of the UE 1000 may be caused to be performed based on execution of instructions (or a computer program or codes) stored in the memory 1003 by at least one processor (or processing circuitry) configured to execute the same individually, collectively, or in any combination thereof, based on processing circuitry that is not configured to execute instructions, and / or based on components of processing circuitry that is not configured to execute instructions.

[0247] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a base station (BS) 1100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Furthermore, the BS of FIG. 11 corresponds to the UE of FIG. 1, FIG. 3b, and FIG. 9.

[0248] The BS 1100 may perform wireless communication with at least one user equipment (UE) located within the area of the BS 1100 through a wireless channel.

[0249] Referring to FIG. 11, the BS 1100 may include at least one transceiver (hereinafter, referred to as simply “transceiver”) 1101, at least one processor (hereinafter, referred to as simply “processor”) 1102, and at least one memory (hereinafter, referred to as simply “memory”) 1103. According to at least one or a combination of methods corresponding to the embodiments described in the present disclosure, the transceiver 1101, the processor 1102, and the memory 1103 of the BS 1100 may operate. However, components of the BS 1100 are not limited to the exemplary components illustrated in FIG. 11. In another embodiment, the BS 1100 may further include additional components in addition to the above-mentioned components, or some components may be omitted. Further, in some embodiments, any combination of the transceiver 1101, the processor 1102, or the memory 1103 may be integrated in the form of one component.

[0250] The transceiver 1101 may be a communication circuit or communication circuitry that enables the BS 1100 to perform wireless communication with a node or an entity of a network. For example, the transceiver 1101 may enable the BS 1100 to transmit or receive a signal to or from the UE X00 through cellular communication, or to transmit or receive a signal to or from another network entity through wireless communication. For example, the transceiver 1101 may support various cellular communication technologies including 3rd generation (3G), 4th generation (4G), long term evolution (LTE), 5th generation (5G) NR, 6th generation (6G), and various cellular wireless communication technologies supported by the transceiver (1101) may include all subsequent generations of evolved wireless communications.. According to an embodiment, the transceiver 1101 may include various circuit structures used to transmit or receive signals to or from a UE through a wireless channel. The signals may include control information and data. For example, the transceiver 1101 may include a radio frequency (RF) transmitter for up-converting and amplifying the frequency of a transmitted signal and an RF receiver for low-noise-amplifying a received signal and down-converting the frequency thereof. The transceiver 1101 may output a signal received through a wireless channel to the processor 1102 and may transmit, through a wireless channel, a signal output from the processor 1102.

[0251] Meanwhile, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the BS 1100 may perform communication with a node or an entity of a network through wired or wireless communication. For example, the BS 1100 may perform wired or wireless communication with an adjacent BS, or a node or an entity of a core network through a backhaul network. Although not illustrated in FIG. 11, when the BS 1100 performs wired communication, the BS 1100 may further include a separate network interface for wired communication in addition to the transceiver 1101. The network interface may be referred to as network interface circuitry or communication interface circuitry.

[0252] The processor 1102 may control general operations of the BS 1100 according to embodiments of the disclosure. The processor 1102 may be implemented by one or more integrated circuit (or circuitry) (IC) chips and may execute various data processings. The processor 1102 may include at least one electric circuit, and may execute instructions (or a program, codes, data, etc.) stored in the memory 1103, individually, collectively or in any combination thereof. Further, the processor 1102 may include a single-core processor or multi-core processor, and may include a processor assembly including a plurality of processing circuits (circuitry) according to a specific implementation scheme.

[0253] The processor 1102 may be electrically, operatively, or communicatively coupled to the transceiver 1101 to control the transceiver 1101.

[0254] The processor 1102 may include at least one processor (or processing circuitry), and the at least one processor may perform the following operations individually, collectively or in any combination thereof. In a specific embodiment, at least a part of the processor 1102 may be included in one chip and the other part of the processor 1102 may be included in another chip. Otherwise, at least one processor may be included in another component, for example, the transceiver 1101 or the memory 1103.

[0255] The processor 1102 may perform or control or cause an operation of the BS 1100 for executing at least one or a combination of methods according to embodiments of the disclosure. For example, the processor 1102 may control operations of the BS 1100 for generating and transmitting a downlink signal to a UE or processing an uplink signal received from a UE. Otherwise, the BS 1100 may transmit or receive a signal to or from a neighboring BS, transfer a signal received from a UE to an upper node of the network, or transmit a signal transferred from an upper node of the network to a UE. To this end, the processor 1102 may execute a computer program, codes, or instructions stored in the memory 1103, so as to control other components of the BS 1100 to enable execution of various operations.

[0256] The memory 1103 corresponds to a hardware storage device capable of temporarily or permanently storing information and may include one or more storage media. For example, the memory 1103 may include a memory assembly including one or more storage media. For example, the one or more storage media may include permanent memory, such as a hard drive, flash memory, or read-only memory (ROM), semipermanent memory, such as random access memory (RAM), cache memory, or a combination thereof.

[0257] The memory 1103 may be electrically, operatively, or communicatively coupled to the processor 1102 and may be accessed by the processor 1102.

[0258] The memory 1103 may store a computer program, codes, or instructions executable by the processor 1102. According to an embodiment, a computer program, codes, or instructions executable by the processor 1102 may be either stored in a single memory device or separated and distributedly stored in two or more memory devices. By executing the instructions stored in the memory 1103, the processor 1102 may perform various functions according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0259] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, operations of the BS 1100 may be caused to be performed based on execution of instructions (or a computer program or codes) stored in the memory 1103 by at least one processor (or processing circuitry) configured to execute the same individually, collectively, or in any combination thereof, based on processing circuitry that is not configured to execute instructions, and / or based on components of processing circuitry that is not configured to execute instructions.

[0260] The UE or the base station may perform various communication procedures related to the control plane or the user plane by cooperating with one or more network entities based on wireless communication. For example, the UE may communicate with network entity such as an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) or a Session Management Function (SMF) via the base station, or the base station may perform at least one communication procedure by directly transmitting and receiving signals to / from, or relaying signals between, the network entities.

[0261] The structure of the above-described network entity will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0262] FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a network entity 1200 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Furthermore, the network entity of FIG. 12 corresponds to a network entity included in the network of FIG. 1.

[0263] The network entity 1200 may include an entity (apparatus, device, or server, etc.) that performs one or more network functions (NFs) or a part of a network function constituting a core network (e.g., a 5th generation (5G) core (5GC)) in a communication system. In this case, multiple NFs may be implemented within a single network entity, or a single NF may be distributed and implemented across a plurality of network entities. In addition, when an NF is implemented within the network entity, the NF may be implemented in the form of software, and in such a case, a program for operating the NF may be stored in memory of the network entity 1200.

[0264] A single NF may be implemented by one or more instances, which may be deployed on the same network entity or distributed across multiple network entities to operate. The instance may be a software unit that logically executes a specific network function, and may be implemented in a form that is decoupled from physical hardware resources. Further, one or more NFs may be implemented in the form of one network slice to operate to satisfy specifications required by a particular service.

[0265] The NF may include at least one of an access and mobility management function (AMF), a session management function (SMF), a local session management function (L-SMF), a user plane function (UPF), a local user plane function (L-UPF), a policy control function (PCF), a unified data management (UDM), a unified data repository (UDR), a network exposure function (NEF), a network repository function (NRF), an application function (AF), a network slice selection function (NSSF), a network data analytics function (NWDAF), a network slice admission control function (NSACF), an authentication server function (AUSF), or a data network (DN).

[0266] Referring to FIG. 12, the network entity 1200 may include at least one network interface 1201, at least one processor 1202 (hereinafter, “processor”), and at least one memory 1203 (hereinafter, “memory”). As described above, a NF may be implemented in the form of a physical device such as the network entity 1200, or may be virtualized and executed in the form of an instance. When implemented as an instance, the NF need not necessarily include physical components as illustrated in FIG. 12. In such a case, the instance may be logically represented as comprising one or more logical functional elements.

[0267] According to at least one or a combination of methods corresponding to the embodiments described in the present disclosure, the network interface 1201, the processor 1202, and the memory 1203 of the network entity 1200 may operate. However, components of the network entity 1200 are not limited to the exemplary components illustrated in FIG. 12. In another embodiment, the network entity 1200 may further include additional components in addition to the above-mentioned components, or some components may be omitted. Further, in an embodiment, the network interface 1201, the processor 1202, or the memory 1203 may be integrated in the form of one component.

[0268] The network interface 1201 is a collective term for a transmitter part of the network entity 1200 and a receiver part of the network entity 1200, and may be a communication circuit for transmitting or receiving a signal to or from a user equipment (UE), a base station (BS), or another network entity. Here, the communication circuit may include both a communication circuit for wireless communication and a communication circuit for a wired communication. For example, the network interface 1201 may include a circuit, logic, hardware, etc., configured to exchange a control plane message or a user plane message with a UE, a BS, or other core network entities through wireless communication or wired communication. The network interface 1201 may operate using various protocols (e.g., non-access stratum (NAS) protocol). The network interface 1201 may also be referred to, for convenience of description or depending on implementation, as communication circuitry, network interface circuitry, or a communication interface circuitry.

[0269] The processor 1202 may control general operations of the network entity 1200 according to embodiments of the disclosure. The processor 1202 may be implemented by one or more integrated circuit (or circuitry) (IC) chips and may execute various data processings. The processor 1202 may include at least one electric circuit, and may execute instructions (or a program, codes, data, etc.) stored in the memory 1203, individually, collectively or in any combination thereof. Further, the processor 1202 may include a single-core processor or multi-core processor, and may include a processor assembly including a plurality of processing circuits (circuitry) according to a specific implementation scheme. Further, it should be noted that, according to another embodiment, in a case where NF is implemented in the form of an instance, the network function may be not necessarily configured by physical hardware.

[0270] According to an embodiment, the processor 1202 may be electrically, operatively, or communicatively coupled to the network interface 1201 to control the network interface 1201.

[0271] The processor 1202 may include at least one processor (or processing circuitry), and the at least one processor may perform the following operations individually, collectively or in any combination thereof. In a specific embodiment, at least a part of the processor 1202 may be included in one chip and the other part of the processor 1202 may be included in another chip. Otherwise, at least one processor may be included in another component, for example, the network interface 1201 or the memory 1203.

[0272] The processor 1202 may perform or control or cause an operation of the network entity 1200 for executing at least one or a combination of methods according to embodiments of the disclosure. For example, the processor 1202 may control operations of the network entity 1200 for exchanging a control plane message or a user plane message with a UE, a BS, or other core network entities through wireless or wired communication, using various protocols (e.g., NAS protocol). To this end, the processor 1202 may execute a computer program, codes, or instructions stored in the memory 1203, so as to control other components of the network entity 1200 to enable execution of various operations.

[0273] The memory 1203 corresponds to a hardware storage device capable of temporarily or permanently storing information and may include one or more storage media. For example, the memory 1203 may include a memory assembly including one or more storage media. For example, the one or more storage media may include permanent memory, such as a hard drive, flash memory, or read-only memory (ROM), semipermanent memory, such as random access memory (RAM), cache memory, or a combination thereof.

[0274] The memory 1203 may be electrically, operatively, or communicatively coupled to the processor 1202 and may be accessed by the processor 1202.

[0275] The memory 1203 may store a computer program, codes, or instructions executable by the processor 1202. According to an embodiment, a computer program, codes, or instructions executable by the processor 1202 may be either stored in a single memory device or separated and distributedly stored in two or more memory devices. By executing the instructions stored in the memory 1203, the processor 1202 may perform various functions according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0276] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, operations of the network entity 1200 may be caused to be performed based on execution of instructions (or a computer program or codes) stored in the memory 1203 by at least one processor (or processing circuitry) configured to execute the same individually, collectively, or in any combination thereof, based on processing circuitry that is not configured to execute instructions, and / or based on components of processing circuitry that is not configured to execute instructions.

[0277] In order to enhance the scheduling efficiency of the wireless communication system, a base station needs to transmit control information to schedule a terminal device. However, how to further enhance the performance associated with the control information is an issue to be solved.

[0278] An aspect of the disclosure provides a method performed by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the method including: the method including: receiving a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carrying first downlink control information (DCI); determining a resource of a second PDCCH carrying second DCI based on the first DCI; and determining the modulation order of the second PDCCH based on the first PDCCH.

[0279] In an example, the method further includes: determining a number of information bits of the second DCI based on the first DCI.

[0280] In an example, determining the modulation order of the second PDCCH carrying the second DCI based on the first PDCCH includes: determining the modulation order of the second PDCCH based on a first information field indicating the modulation order of the second PDCCH included in the first DCI.

[0281] In an example, the value ival,1of the first information field corresponds to the modulation order ival,1is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

[0282] In an example, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is determined based on at least one of: a DCI format of the first DCI; a control resource set (CORESET) associated with the first PDCCH; a search space associated with the first PDCCH; a number of information bits of the second DCI; a frequency domain resource of the second PDCCH; a time domain resource of the second PDCCH; a demodulation reference signal DM-RS of the second PDCCH; a maximum code rate associated with the second DCI.

[0283] In an example, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is a maximum modulation order satisfying a code rate of the second PDCCH being less than or equal to the maximum code rate, wherein the code rate of the second PDCCH is determined based on the frequency domain resource of the second PDCCH and / or the time domain resource of the second PDCCH and / or the number of information bits of the second DCI.

[0284] In an example, if the ID of the control resource set CORESET associated with the first PDCCH is 0, and / or the ID of the search space associated with the first PDCCH is 0, and / or a number of ports of the DM-RS of the second PDCCH is equal to 1, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is the modulation order of the first PDCCH, or a predefined modulation order, or a configured modulation order.

[0285] In an example, the frequency domain resource of the second PDCCH are determined based on a maximum code rate associated with the second DCI and the number of information bits of the second DCI; and / or the time domain resource of the second PDCCH are determined based on the maximum code rate associated with the second DCI and the number of information bits of the second DCI.

[0286] In an example, the maximum code rate associated with the second DCI is configured by the base station.

[0287] In an example, the method further includes: determining the modulation order of a physical downlink shared channel PDSCH based on a second information field in the second DCI, the second information field is used for indicating the modulation order of the PDSCH scheduled by the second DCI.

[0288] In an example, the modulation order associated with the size of the second information field and / or the value of the second information field is determined based on a transport block (TB) carried by the PDSCH.

[0289] In an example, the modulation order of the PDSCH scheduled by the second DCI is determined based on at least one of: the first information field; the first PDCCH; the second PDCCH; a predefined modulation order; the modulation order indicated by the base station.

[0290] In an example, the second DCI includes a third information field indicating a code rate and / or spectral efficiency of the PDSCH.

[0291] In an example, the modulation order associated with the size of the third information field and / or the value of the third information field is determined based on a TB carried by the PDSCH.

[0292] In an example, when the TB is not a retransmission: the size of the third information field is based on a number of entries corresponding to each modulation order in the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) table, and / or a number of entries including only the modulation order among entries corresponding to each modulation order in the MCS table; and / or an entry in the MCS table associated with the value of the third information field is determined based on at least one of: the modulation order of the PDSCH; the first information field; the modulation order of the first PDCCH; the modulation order of the second PDCCH.

[0293] In an example, when the TB is a retransmission, the size of the third information field is 0.

[0294] In an example, the modulation order of the first PDCCH is determined based on the modulation order associated with a search space where the first PDCCH is located, or based on the modulation order associated with a CORESET where the first PDCCH is located.

[0295] In an example, the method further includes: receiving PDCCH configuration information, wherein the PDCCH configuration information is associated with a CORESET and a search space; monitoring PDCCH candidates on the CORESET associated with the PDCCH according to the search space, and determining whether control channel elements (CCEs) associated with the PDCCH candidates overlap based on modulation orders of the PDCCH candidates; and / or determining whether a PDCCH candidate is counted for PDCCH monitoring based on the modulation orders of the PDCCH candidates.

[0296] In an example, if the modulation order of a first PDCCH candidate associated with the first PDCCH is different from the modulation order of a second PDCCH candidate associated with the PDCCH configuration information, the CCEs associated with the first PDCCH candidate and the CCEs associated with the second PDCCH candidate are non-overlapped.

[0297] In an example, if the modulation order of a first PDCCH candidate associated with the first PDCCH is the same as the modulation order of a second PDCCH candidate associated with the PDCCH configuration information, and the first PDCCH candidate and the second PDCCH candidate have the same scrambling ID, and the cell associated with the first PDCCH candidate is the same as the cell associated with the second PDCCH candidate, and the CCEs associated with the first PDCCH candidate are the same as the CCEs associated with the second PDCCH candidate, and the aggregation level associated with the first PDCCH candidate is the same as the aggregation level associated with the second PDCCH candidate, and the ID of the first PDCCH candidate is smaller than the ID of the second PDCCH candidate, the second PDCCH candidate is not counted for PDCCH monitoring.

[0298] Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method performed by a base station in a wireless communication system, the method including: transmitting a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carrying first downlink control information (DCI); and transmitting a second PDCCH carrying second DCI, wherein the resource of the second PDCCH is determined based on the first DCI, and the modulation order of the second PDCCH is determined based on the first PDCCH.

[0299] In an example, the number of information bits of the second DCI is determined based on the first DCI.

[0300] In an example, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is determined based on the first information field included in the first DCI for indicating the modulation order of the second PDCCH.

[0301] In an example, the value ival,1of the first information field corresponds to the modulation order ival,1is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

[0302] In an example, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is determined based on at least one of: a DCI format of the first DCI; a control resource set (CORESET) associated with the first PDCCH; a search space associated with the first PDCCH; a number of information bits of the second DCI; a frequency domain resource of the second PDCCH; a time domain resource of the second PDCCH; a demodulation reference signal DM-RS of the second PDCCH; a maximum code rate associated with the second DCI.

[0303] In an example, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is a maximum modulation order satisfying a code rate of the second PDCCH being less than or equal to the maximum code rate, wherein the code rate of the second PDCCH is determined based on the frequency domain resource of the second PDCCH and / or the time domain resource of the second PDCCH and / or the number of information bits of the second DCI.

[0304] In an example, if the ID of the control resource set CORESET associated with the first PDCCH is 0, and / or the ID of the search space associated with the first PDCCH is 0, and / or a number of ports of the DM-RS of the second PDCCH is equal to 1, the modulation order of the second PDCCH is the modulation order of the first PDCCH, or a predefined modulation order, or a configured modulation order.

[0305] In an example, the frequency domain resource of the second PDCCH are determined based on a maximum code rate associated with the second DCI and the number of information bits of the second DCI; and / or the time domain resource of the second PDCCH are determined based on the maximum code rate associated with the second DCI and the number of information bits of the second DCI.

[0306] In an example, the maximum code rate associated with the second DCI is configured by the base station.

[0307] In an example, the modulation order of the physical downlink shared channel PDSCH is determined based on the second information field in the second DCI, and the second information field is used for indicating the modulation order of the PDSCH scheduled by the second DCI.

[0308] In an example, the modulation order associated with the size of the second information field and / or the value of the second information field is determined based on a transport block (TB) carried by the PDSCH.

[0309] In an example, the modulation order of the PDSCH scheduled by the second DCI is determined based on at least one of: the first information field; the first PDCCH; the second PDCCH; a predefined modulation order; the modulation order indicated by the base station.

[0310] In an example, the second DCI includes a third information field indicating a code rate and / or spectral efficiency of the PDSCH.

[0311] In an example, the modulation order associated with the size of the third information field and / or the value of the third information field is determined based on a TB carried by the PDSCH.

[0312] In an example, when the TB is not a retransmission: the size of the third information field is based on a number of entries corresponding to each modulation order in the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) table, and / or a number of entries including only the modulation order among entries corresponding to each modulation order in the MCS table; and / or an entry in the MCS table associated with the value of the third information field is determined based on at least one of: the modulation order of the PDSCH; the first information field; the modulation order of the first PDCCH; the modulation order of the second PDCCH.

[0313] In an example, when the TB is a retransmission, the size of the third information field is 0.

[0314] the modulation order of the first PDCCH is determined based on the modulation order associated with a search space where the first PDCCH is located, or based on the modulation order associated with a CORESET where the first PDCCH is located.

[0315] In an example, the method further includes: transmitting PDCCH configuration information, wherein the PDCCH configuration information is associated with a CORESET and a search space; transmitting PDCCH candidates, where the PDCCH candidates are monitored on the CORESET associated with the PDCCH according to the search space, and whether control channel elements (CCEs) associated with the PDCCH candidates overlap is determined based on the modulation orders of the PDCCH candidates; and / or whether a PDCCH candidate is counted for PDCCH monitoring is determined based on the modulation orders of the PDCCH candidates.

[0316] In an example, if the modulation order of a first PDCCH candidate associated with the first PDCCH is different from the modulation order of a second PDCCH candidate associated with the PDCCH configuration information, the CCEs associated with the first PDCCH candidate and the CCEs associated with the second PDCCH candidate are non-overlapped.

[0317] In an example, if the modulation order of a first PDCCH candidate associated with the first PDCCH is the same as the modulation order of a second PDCCH candidate associated with the PDCCH configuration information, and the first PDCCH candidate and the second PDCCH candidate have the same scrambling ID, and the cell associated with the first PDCCH candidate is the same as the cell associated with the second PDCCH candidate, and the CCEs associated with the first PDCCH candidate are the same as the CCEs associated with the second PDCCH candidate, and the aggregation level associated with the first PDCCH candidate is the same as the aggregation level associated with the second PDCCH candidate, and the ID of the first PDCCH candidate is smaller than the ID of the second PDCCH candidate, the second PDCCH candidate is not counted for PDCCH monitoring.

[0318] Another aspect of the disclosure provides a user equipment including: a transceiver; and a controller coupled with the transceiver and configured to perform the above methods which may be performed by the user equipment.

[0319] Another aspect of the disclosure provides a base station including: a transceiver; and a controller coupled with the transceiver and configured to perform the above methods which may be performed by the controller.

[0320] The method provided by the application improves the performance of the control information, thereby improving the scheduling efficiency of the communication system.

[0321] Furthermore, “at least one / at least one” described in the disclosure includes any and / or all possible combinations of the listed entries, and various embodiments and various examples of the embodiments described in the disclosure may be used in any appropriate form changes and combinations, and “ / ” described in the disclosure means “or”.

[0322] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in the disclosure may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0323] The steps of a method or algorithm described in the disclosure may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal.

[0324] In one or more exemplary designs, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

[0325] The description set forth herein, in connection with the appended drawings, describes example configurations, methods, and apparatuses and does not represent all the examples that may be implemented or that are within the scope of the claims. The term “example,” as used herein, means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred” or “advantageous over other examples”. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques. These techniques, however, may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the described examples.

[0326] While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any inventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of particular inventions. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

[0327] It is to be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods of the disclosure is an illustration of exemplary processes. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods may be rearranged to achieve the functions and effects disclosed herein. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented unless specifically recited therein. Furthermore, although elements may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. Accordingly, the disclosure is not limited to illustrated examples and any means for performing the functionality described herein are included in aspects of the disclosure.

[0328] The text and drawings are provided as examples only to help readers understand the disclosure. They are not intended and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any way. Although certain embodiments and examples have been provided, based on the content disclosed herein, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications to the illustrated embodiments and examples can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1.A method performed by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:receiving, from a base station, a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carrying first downlink control information (DCI);determining a resource of a second PDCCH carrying second DCI based on the first DCI; anddetermining a modulation order of the second PDCCH based on the first PDCCH.2.The method of claim 1, further comprising:determining a number of information bits of the second DCI based on the first DCI.3.The method of claim 1, wherein determining the modulation order of the second PDCCH carrying the second DCI based on the first PDCCH comprises:determining the modulation order of the second PDCCH based on a first information field indicating the modulation order of the second PDCCH included in the first DCI.4.The method of claim 3, wherein a value ival,1of the first information field corresponds to a modulation order ival,1is an integer greater than or equal to 0.5.The method of claim 1, wherein the modulation order of the second PDCCH is determined based on at least one of:a DCI format of the first DCI;a control resource set (CORESET) associated with the first PDCCH;a search space associated with the first PDCCH;a number of information bits of the second DCI;a frequency domain resource of the second PDCCH;a time domain resource of the second PDCCH;a demodulation reference signal DM-RS of the second PDCCH;a maximum code rate associated with the second DCI.6.The method of claim 5, wherein the modulation order of the second PDCCH is a maximum modulation order satisfying a code rate of the second PDCCH being less than or equal to the maximum code rate, wherein the code rate of the second PDCCH is determined based on the frequency domain resource of the second PDCCH and / or the time domain resource of the second PDCCH and / or the number of information bits of the second DCI.7.The method of claim 5, wherein if an ID of the control resource set CORESET associated with the first PDCCH is 0, and / or an ID of the search space associated with the first PDCCH is 0, and / or a number of ports of the DM-RS of the second PDCCH is equal to 1, then the modulation order of the second PDCCH is a modulation order of the first PDCCH, or a predefined modulation order, or a configured modulation order.8.The method of claim 2, whereinthe frequency domain resource of the second PDCCH are determined based on a maximum code rate associated with the second DCI and the number of information bits of the second DCI; and / orthe time domain resource of the second PDCCH are determined based on the maximum code rate associated with the second DCI and the number of information bits of the second DCI.9.The method of any of claim 1, the method further comprising:determining a modulation order of a physical downlink shared channel PDSCH based on a second information field in the second DCI, the second information field is used for indicating the modulation order of the PDSCH scheduled by the second DCI.10.The method of claim 9, wherein a modulation order associated with a size of the second information field and / or a value of the second information field is determined based on a transport block (TB) carried by the PDSCH.11.The method of any of claim 1, wherein the modulation order of the PDSCH scheduled by the second DCI is determined based on at least one of:the first information field;the first PDCCH;the second PDCCH;a predefined modulation order;a modulation order indicated by a base station.12.The method of claim 9, wherein the second DCI comprises a third information field indicating a code rate and / or spectral efficiency of the PDSCH.13.A method performed by a base station in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carrying first downlink control information (DCI); andtransmitting, to the UE, a second PDCCH carrying second DCI,wherein the resource of the second PDCCH is determined based on the first DCI, andwherein a modulation order of the second PDCCH is determined based on the first PDCCH.14.A user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, comprising:at least one transceiver;at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver; andat least one memory, communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, storing instructions executable by the at least one processor individually or in any combination to cause the UE to:receive, from a base station, a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carrying first downlink control information (DCI);determine a resource of a second PDCCH carrying second DCI based on the first DCI; anddetermine a modulation order of the second PDCCH based on the first PDCCH.15.A base station in a wireless communication system, comprising:at least one transceiver;at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver; andat least one memory, communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, storing instructions executable by the at least one processor individually or in any combination to cause the base station to:transmit, to a user equipment (UE), a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carrying first downlink control information (DCI); andtransmit, to the UE, a second PDCCH carrying second DCI,wherein the resource of the second PDCCH is determined based on the first DCI, andwherein a modulation order of the second PDCCH is determined based on the first PDCCH.

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