Systems and methods for hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement enhancements for multi-slot physical downlink shared channel scheduling with single downlink control information based multi-cell scheduling

HARQ-ACK bundling and interleaving strategies optimize HARQ-ACK feedback for multi-cell multi-slot scheduling, addressing inefficiencies in existing systems and enhancing performance in high-frequency bands.

WO2026072244A1PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2026-04-02APPLE INC
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-08-29
Publication Date
2026-04-02

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing HARQ-ACK feedback for multi-cell multi-slot scheduling, particularly in terms of HARQ-ACK bit ordering and overhead, especially in high-frequency bands like FR2, where UEs may not be capable of reporting out-of-order feedback and interleaved PDSCH scheduling occurs.

Method used

Implementing HARQ-ACK bundling and interleaving strategies for HARQ-ACK bits, where HARQ-ACK bits are grouped or bundled based on cell scheduling order or interleaving behavior, reducing the number of bits required for feedback and optimizing reporting.

Benefits of technology

Enhances HARQ-ACK feedback efficiency by reducing the number of bits needed, improving system performance in multi-cell multi-slot scheduling scenarios, especially in high-frequency bands like FR2.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

Systems and methods for hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) enhancements for multi-slot physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) scheduling with single downlink control information (DCI) based multi-cell scheduling are discussed herein. A UE receives, from a base station, a multi-cell multi-slot DCI that schedules a plurality of PDSCHs for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs and, in response to receiving the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, attempts to receive the plurality of PDSCHs and to send HARQ-ACK feedback corresponding to the plurality of PDSCHs. Various embodiments for the ordering of HARQ-ACK bits in the HARQ-ACK feedback are discussed. Various embodiments for the use of HARQ-ACK bundling corresponding to HARQ-ACK bits of the HARQ-ACK feedback is discussed. Corresponding base station procedures station are discussed.
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Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HYBRID AUTOMATIC REPEAT REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ENHANCEMENTS FOR MULTI-SLOT PHYSICAL DOWNLINK SHARED CHANNEL SCHEDULING WITH SINGLE DOWNLINK CONTROL INFORMATION BASED MULTI-CELL SCHEDULINGTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This application relates generally to wireless communication systems, including wireless communication systems using multi-slot physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) scheduling with single downlink control information (DCI) based multi-cell scheduling.BACKGROUND

[0002] Wireless mobile communication technology uses various standards and protocols to transmit data between a base station and a wireless communication device. Wireless communication system standards and protocols can include, for example, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE) (e.g., 4G), 3GPP New Radio (NR) (e.g., 5G), and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) (commonly known to industry groups as Wi-Fi®).

[0003] As contemplated by the 3GPP, different wireless communication systems’ standards and protocols can use various radio access networks (RANs) for communicating between a base station of the RAN (which may also sometimes be referred to generally as a RAN node, a network node, or simply a node) and a wireless communication device known as a user equipment (UE). 3GPP RANs can include, for example, Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) RAN (GERAN), Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), and / or Next-Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN).

[0004] Each RAN may use one or more radio access technologies (RATs) to perform communication between the base station and the UE. For example, the GERAN implements GSM and / or EDGE RAT, the UTRAN implements Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) RAT or other 3GPP RAT, the E-UTRAN implements LTE RAT (sometimes simply referred to as LTE), and NG-RAN implements1P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092MNR RAT (sometimes referred to herein as 5G RAT, 5G NR RAT, or simply NR). In certain deployments, the E-UTRAN may also implement NR RAT. In certain deployments, NG-RAN may also implement LTE RAT.

[0005] A base station used by a RAN may correspond to that RAN. One example of an E-UTRAN base station is an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E- UTRAN) Node B (also commonly denoted as evolved Node B, enhanced Node B, eNodeB, or eNB). One example of an NG-RAN base station is a next generation Node B (also sometimes referred to as a g Node B or gNB).

[0006] A RAN provides its communication services with external entities through its connection to a core network (CN). For example, E-UTRAN may utilize an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) while NG-RAN may utilize a 5G Core Network (5GC).

[0007] Frequency bands for 5G NR may be separated into two or more different frequency ranges. For example, Frequency Range 1 (FR1) may include frequency bands operating in sub-6 gigahertz (GHz) frequencies, some of which are bands that may be used by previous standards, and may potentially be extended to cover new spectrum offerings from 410 megahertz (MHz) to 7125 MHz. Frequency Range 2 (FR2) may include frequency bands from 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz. Note that in some systems, FR2 may also include frequency bands from 52.6 GHz to 71 GHz (or beyond). Bands in the millimeter wave (mmWave) range of FR2 may have smaller coverage but potentially higher available bandwidth than bands in FR1. Skilled persons will recognize these frequency ranges, which are provided by way of example, may change from time to time or from region to region.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced.

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a visualized schedule for PDSCHs that have been scheduled in a multi-cell multi-slot scheduling way by a multi-cell multi-slot DCI, according to embodiments herein.

[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a visualized schedule for PDSCHs that have been scheduled in a multi-cell multi-slot scheduling way by a multi-cell multi-slot DCI, according to embodiments herein.2P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092M

[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates a visualized schedule for PDSCHs that have been scheduled in a multi-cell multi-slot scheduling way by a multi-cell multi-slot DCI, according to embodiments discussed herein.

[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates a visualized schedule for PDSCHs that have been scheduled in a multi-cell multi-slot scheduling way by a multi-cell multi-slot DCI, according to embodiments discussed herein.

[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates a visualized schedule for PDSCHs that have been scheduled in a multi-cell multi-slot scheduling way by a multi-cell multi-slot DCI, according to embodiments discussed herein.

[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates a method of a UE, according to embodiments discussed herein.

[0015] FIG. 7 illustrates a method of a base station, according to embodiments discussed herein.

[0016] FIG. 8 illustrates a method of a UE, according to embodiments discussed herein.

[0017] FIG. 9 illustrates a method of a base station, according to embodiments discussed herein.

[0018] FIG. 10 illustrates a method of a UE, according to embodiments discussed herein.

[0019] FIG. 11 illustrates a method of a base station, according to embodiments discussed herein.

[0020] FIG. 12 illustrates a method of a UE, according to embodiments discussed herein.

[0021] FIG. 13 illustrates a method of a base station, according to embodiments discussed herein.

[0022] FIG. 14 illustrates a routine of a UE, according to embodiments discussed herein.

[0023] FIG. 15 illustrates a method of a base station, according to embodiments discussed herein.

[0024] FIG. 16 illustrates an example architecture of a wireless communication system, according to embodiments disclosed herein.

[0025] FIG. 17 illustrates a system for performing signaling between a wireless device and a network device, according to embodiments disclosed herein.3P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092MDETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Various embodiments are described with regard to a UE. However, reference to a UE is merely provided for illustrative purposes. The example embodiments may be utilized with any electronic component that may establish a connection to a network and is configured with the hardware, software, and / or firmware to exchange information and data with the network. Therefore, the UE as described herein is used to represent any appropriate electronic component.

[0027] For various wireless communication systems, the use of multi-cell scheduling in conjunction with multi-slot scheduling is contemplated. Herein, “multi-cell scheduling” refers to the use of a single downlink control information (DCI) to schedule the use of multiple physical channels (e.g., multiple physical downlink shared channels (PDSCHs) and / or multiple physical uplink shared channels (PUSCHs)) across more than one cell of the network. Further, “multi-slot scheduling” refers to the use of a single DCI to schedule multiple physical channels on a same cell.

[0028] Accordingly, “multi-cell multi-slot scheduling” refers to the use of a single DCI that schedules the use of multiple physical channels across more than one cell of the network, and where more than one of the scheduled physical channels is scheduled on a same one of the cells (and note that this may be the case for one cell, multiple cells, or even all of the cells being scheduled by the DCI). A DCI that performs multi-cell multislot scheduling at a UE is referred to herein as a “multi-cell multi-slot DCI.” The multiple cells being scheduled by such a multi-cell multi-slot DCI are referred to herein as “co-scheduled cells.”

[0029] In various embodiments herein, reference is made to “consecutive” physical channels. Consecutive physical channels are one or more physical channels that (in the case of multiple physical channels) directly follow one another in time according to the schedule set by the multi-cell multi-slot DCI (without any intervening / interrupting physical channel(s) in-between any two of these physical channels).

[0030] As used herein, physical channels can be “consecutive” to each other without any particular regard to the cell(s) on which they have been scheduled. In other words, consecutive physical channels can be physical channels scheduled on a same cell or physical channels scheduled on two (or more) different cells.4P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092U

[0031] For purposes of facilitating this discussion, a single physical channel is “consecutive” at least with respect to itself (e.g., is consecutive within the set of physical channels that includes only that single physical channel).

[0032] Further, for purposes of facilitating this discussion, physical channels that are scheduled at a same time but on different cells are “consecutive.”

[0033] In various embodiments herein, reference is made to “interleaving” of physical channels. Interleaving physical channels are one or more physical channels on a cell that interrupt or prevent multiple physical channels scheduled on another single cell from being consecutive (as that term is used herein).

[0034] For example, it may be that a first physical channel is scheduled on a first cell at a first time that is prior to a second time of a second physical channel scheduled on a second cell, and that the second time for the second physical channel is prior to a third time for a third physical channel that is scheduled on (again) the first cell. In such a case, the second physical channel on the second cell is considered “interleaved” with the first physical channel and the third physical channel on the first cell. Note that more than one physical channel (on one or more than one other cell) may be understood to interleave two physical channels of a cell in question in this manner.

[0035] Note that the use of multi-cell multi-slot scheduling is more advanced than the use of embodiments for multi-cell scheduling where only a single PDSCH or PUSCH is scheduled per cell (e.g., as may be scheduled using DCI format 1 3 / 0 3 in some wireless communication systems).

[0036] One benefit of the use of multi-cell multi-slot scheduling is that a corresponding frequency at which physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) need to be monitored can be relatively reduced as compared to cases where neither or even only one of multicell scheduling or multi-slot scheduling is used. This benefit may be particularly relevant in FR2 cases, where relatively high subcarrier spacings (SCSs) may be used.

[0037] Embodiments discussed herein provide solutions with respect to various aspects of multi-cell multi-slot scheduling. In particular, embodiments discussed herein relate to enhancements for hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) design for HARQ-ACK bits that provide the network with feedback about PDSCHs that have been scheduled in a multi-cell multi-slot way. Each bit may deliver such feedback in the form of an acknowledgement (ACK) (e.g., a ‘ 1’ bit) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK) (e.g., a ‘0’ bit).5P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092M

[0038] Various aspects disclosed herein include solutions for handling HARQ-ACK bit ordering across multiple HARQ-ACK sets corresponding to multi-cell multi-slot scheduled PDSCHs. Various aspects disclosed herein include solutions for handling HARQ-ACK feedback overhead corresponding to the use of various methods / mechanisms for HARQ-ACK bundling in cases of multi-cell multi-slot scheduled PDSCHs.

[0039] Note also that bits of HARQ-ACK feedback for physical channels that are PDSCHs can exhibit corresponding interleaving characteristics to the interleaving of the PDSCHs, as is discussed in further detail herein.

[0040] In some cases, a UE may not be expected to be capable of reporting on / providing HARQ-ACK feedback for various PDSCHs scheduled across multiple serving cells in an out-of-order fashion. In other words, it may be that, for a plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled in a multi-cell multi-slot way, corresponding HARQ-ACK reporting bits are reported sequentially according to the order of PDSCH occurrence (according to scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs). As a result, the HARQ-ACK bits may potentially be mixed with respect to the multiple co-scheduled cells of a multicell multi-slot DCI that they represent.

[0041] In some cases, the HARQ-ACK bit reporting may correspond to an interleaving of one or more first PDSCHs that interleave a pair of second PDSCHs on one of the cells (provided that interleaved PDSCH scheduling across multiple co-scheduled cells is indeed supported by UE).

[0042] In some wireless communication systems, it may be that all UEs operable within the system (or at least all UEs operable within the system and that are capable of using multi-cell multi-slot scheduling) have the capability to generate this type of HARQ-ACK reporting.

[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates a visualized schedule 100 for PDSCHs that have been scheduled in a multi-cell multi-slot scheduling way by a multi-cell multi-slot DCI, according to embodiments discussed herein. An ordering of PDSCH occurrence may be understood according to the visualized schedule 100, where it will be seen that a first PDSCH 102 is scheduled on a fourth cell 120, then a second PDSCH 104 is scheduled on a first cell 214, then a third PDSCH 106 is scheduled on the fourth cell 120, then a fourth PDSCH 108 is scheduled on a second cell 116, then a fifth PDSCH 110 is scheduled on a third cell 118, and then a sixth PDSCH 112 is scheduled on the second cell 116.6P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092M

[0044] The visualized schedule 100 represents multi-cell multi-slot scheduling because PDSCHs are scheduled by the DCI across multiple cells (the first cell 114, the second cell 116, the third cell 118, and the fourth cell 120) and because multiple PDSCHs are scheduled by the DCI on at least one of the cells (in this case, the second cell 116).

[0045] FIG. 1 illustrates a case of HARQ-ACK feedback corresponding to an order of PDSCH occurrence (according to scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs). As illustrated, the order of HARQ-ACK feedback in HARQ-ACK reporting is a first HARQ- ACK bit 122 for the first PDSCH 102, then a second HARQ-ACK bit 124 for the second PDSCH 104, then a third HARQ-ACK bit 126 for the third PDSCH 106, then a fourth HARQ-ACK bit 128 for the fourth PDSCH 108, then a fifth HARQ-ACK bit 130 for the fifth PDSCH 110, then a sixth HARQ-ACK bit 132 for the sixth PDSCH 112. Each of these HARQ-ACK bits is used to indicate whether or not its corresponding PDSCH was successfully received.

[0046] In some cases, a UE may support the use of interleaved PDSCH scheduling across multiple co-scheduled cells. In other words, the UE may be able to use multiple scheduled PDSCHs on a first cell even in cases where one or more other PDSCHs on one or more other cells is / are scheduled in-between pair(s) of the multiple scheduled PDSCHs on the first cell.

[0047] In some cases, the UE may report its support for such interleaved PDSCH scheduling across multiple co-scheduled cells to the network.

[0048] Corresponding to such cases, it may be that out-of-order (OOO) HARQ-ACK reporting across the multiple co-scheduled cells is supported. In such cases, it may be that no OOO HARQ-ACK reporting across multiple PDSCHs of a same cell is used. Accordingly, the HARQ-ACK bits are ultimately grouped together within the HARQ- ACK reporting according to PDSCHs on ones of the plurality of cells on which their corresponding PDSCHs were scheduled.

[0049] In some such cases, the cell-wise groupings may be arranged according to an ordering of first-in-time PDSCHs on each of the cells, as will now be illustrated.

[0050] FIG. 2 illustrates a visualized schedule 200 for PDSCHs that have been scheduled in a multi-cell multi-slot scheduling way by a multi-cell multi-slot DCI, according to embodiments discussed herein. An ordering of PDSCH occurrence may be understood according to the visualized schedule 200, where it will be seen that a first PDSCH 202 is scheduled on a fourth cell 220, then a second PDSCH 204 is scheduled on7P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Ma first cell 214, then a third PDSCH 206 is scheduled on the fourth cell 220, then a fourth PDSCH 208 is scheduled on a second cell 216, then a fifth PDSCH 210 is scheduled on a third cell 218, and then a sixth PDSCH 212 is scheduled on the second cell 216.

[0051] The visualized schedule 200 represents multi-cell multi-slot scheduling because PDSCHs are scheduled by the DCI across multiple cells (the first cell 214, the second cell 216, the third cell 218, and the fourth cell 220) and because multiple PDSCHs are scheduled by the DCI on at least one of the cells (in this case, the second cell 216).

[0052] FIG. 2 illustrates a case of HARQ-ACK feedback corresponding to groupings of ones of the plurality of cells on which their corresponding PDSCHs were sent. As illustrated, the order of HARQ-ACK feedback in HARQ-ACK reporting is a first HARQ- ACK bit 222 for the first PDSCH 202, then a second HARQ-ACK bit 224 for the third PDSCH 206, then a third HARQ-ACK bit 226 for the second PDSCH 204, then a fourth HARQ-ACK bit 228 for the fourth PDSCH 208, then a fifth HARQ-ACK bit 230 for the sixth PDSCH 212, then a sixth HARQ-ACK bit 232 for the fifth PDSCH 210. Each of these HARQ-ACK bits is used to indicate whether or not its corresponding PDSCH was successfully received.

[0053] Various embodiments herein relate to the use of HARQ-ACK bundling as part of HARQ-ACK reporting. Under HARQ-ACK bundling, each HARQ-ACK bit in a HARQ-ACK report may be understood to report an ACK or a NACK for a “HARQ-ACK bundle” that is made up of one or more than one PDSCH(s). In other words, a HARQ- ACK bit may report information about a state of one or more PDSCHs that are included in a HARQ-ACK bundle that corresponds to the HARQ-ACK bit.

[0054] Accordingly, as any given reported-on HARQ-ACK bundle may include more than one PDSCH, when HARQ-ACK bundling is used corresponding of multi-cell multislot scheduling as discussed herein, there may be fewer HARQ-ACK bits in HARQ-ACK reporting that is sent back to the base station than the number of PDSCHs scheduled by a multi-cell multi-slot DCI.

[0055] In some embodiments, the size of HARQ-ACK bundling (the maximum number of PDSCHs that may be grouped into a single HARQ-ACK bundle) may be configured to the UE. In other cases, the size of HARQ-ACK bundling may be fixed (e.g., per a specification for the wireless communication system).

[0056] Various options for meanings for the HARQ-ACK bits that represent HARQ- ACK bundles are contemplated. In a first option, an exclusive or (XOR) operation with8P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mrespect to the PDSCHs in a HARQ-ACK bundle may control the state of the HARQ- ACK bit for that HARQ-ACK bundle. According to the XOR operation, the HARQ-ACK bit representing a HARQ-ACK bundle of one or more PDSCHs may indicate ACK when an odd number of the one or more PDSCHs is successfully received, and NACK otherwise (or vice versa).

[0057] In a second option, an exclusive and (XAND) operation with respect to the PDSCHs in a HARQ-ACK bundle may control the state of the HARQ-ACK bit for that HARQ-ACK bundle. According to the XAND operation, the HARQ-ACK bit representing a HARQ-ACK bundle of one or more PDSCHs may indicate ACK when each of the one or more PDSCHs of the HARQ-ACK bundle is successfully received, and NACK otherwise.

[0058] In a third option, an ACK may be reported for a HARQ-ACK bundle when at least some threshold percentage (e.g., 50%) of the PDSCHs of the HARQ-ACK bundle are successfully received. Otherwise, NACK is reported.

[0059] In a fourth option, an ACK may be reported for a HARQ-ACK bundle when at least some threshold number of the PDSCHs of the HARQ-ACK bundle are successfully received. Otherwise, NACK is reported.

[0060] In some embodiments corresponding to the operation of multi-cell multi-slot scheduling as discussed herein, HARQ-ACK bundling is performed across PDSCHs scheduled on a same cell, but not for PDSCHs scheduled across different cells. In other words, a HARQ-ACK bundle may include one or more PDSCHs scheduled on a same cell, but no PDSCHs from any other co-scheduled cell.

[0061] FIG. 3 illustrates a visualized schedule 300 for PDSCHs that have been scheduled in a multi-cell multi-slot scheduling way by a multi-cell multi-slot DCI, according to embodiments discussed herein. An ordering of PDSCH occurrence may be understood according to the visualized schedule 300, where it will be seen that a first PDSCH 302 is scheduled on a fourth cell 322, then a second PDSCH 304 is scheduled on the fourth cell 322, then a third PDSCH 306 is scheduled on a first cell 316, then a fourth PDSCH 308 is scheduled on the first cell 316, then a fifth PDSCH 310 is scheduled on a second cell 318, then a sixth PDSCH 312 is scheduled on a third cell 320, and then a seventh PDSCH 314 is scheduled on the third cell 320.

[0062] The visualized schedule 300 represents multi-cell multi-slot scheduling because PDSCHs are scheduled by the DCI across multiple cells (the first cell 316, the second9P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mcell 318, the third cell 320, and the fourth cell 322) and because multiple PDSCHs are scheduled by the DCI on at least one of the cells (in this case, the first cell 316, the third cell 320, and the fourth cell 322).

[0063] FIG. 3 illustrates the use of HARQ-ACK bundles that include only one or more PDSCHs that are scheduled on a same cell of the plurality of cells. As illustrated, a first HARQ-ACK bundle 324 includes the first PDSCH 302 and the second PDSCH 304 on the fourth cell 322, a second HARQ-ACK bundle 326 includes the third PDSCH 306 and the fourth PDSCH 308 on the first cell 316, the third HARQ-ACK bundle 328 includes the fifth PDSCH 310 on the second cell 318, and the fourth HARQ-ACK bundle 330 includes the sixth PDSCH 312 and the seventh PDSCH 314 on the third cell 320. Note that the sizes of these HARQ-ACK bundles may be understood to be controlled by a HARQ-ACK bundling size, as described elsewhere herein (e.g., corresponding to the example of FIG. 3, the controlling HARQ-ACK bundling size is at least two).

[0064] According to the arrangement of these HARQ-ACK bundles, HARQ-ACK feedback in HARQ-ACK reporting will include a first HARQ-ACK bit for the first HARQ-ACK bundle 324, a second HARQ-ACK bit for the second HARQ-ACK bundle 326, a third HARQ-ACK bit for the third HARQ-ACK bundle 328, and a fourth HARQ- ACK bit for the fourth HARQ-ACK bundle 330. These HARQ-ACK bits may have states corresponding to characteristics of the PDSCH(s) of the HARQ-ACK bundles that they represent, as discussed elsewhere herein.

[0065] In some embodiments for cases where the PDSCHs scheduled by a multi-cell multi-slot DCI exhibit interleaving behavior, it may be that correspondingly interleaved HARQ-ACK bundling may be applied. In such cases, each HARQ-ACK bundle includes only one or more consecutive PDSCHs that are scheduled on a same cell. If there is any PDSCH interleaving by PDSCH(s) of other co-scheduled cell(s) between any two PDSCHs of that cell, those two PDSCHs of that same cell are placed in different HARQ- ACK bundles.

[0066] In such cases, an applicable HARQ-ACK bundling size may be applied according to consecutive PDSCHs on a same cell without any other interleaved PDSCH from another co-scheduled cell.

[0067] In some such cases, the HARQ-ACK bundling size may be based on a total number of the co-scheduled cells that are scheduled by the multi-cell multi-slot DCI.10P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092M

[0068] FIG. 4 illustrates a visualized schedule 400 for PDSCHs that have been scheduled in a multi-cell multi-slot scheduling way by a multi-cell multi-slot DCI, according to embodiments discussed herein. An ordering of PDSCH occurrence may be understood according to the visualized schedule 400, where it will be seen that a first PDSCH 402 is scheduled on a fourth cell 428, then a second PDSCH 404 is scheduled on the fourth cell 428, then a third PDSCH 406 is scheduled on a first cell 422, then a fourth PDSCH 408 is scheduled on the first cell 422, then a fifth PDSCH 410 is scheduled on the fourth cell 428, then a sixth PDSCH 412 is scheduled on the fourth cell 428, then a seventh PDSCH 414 is scheduled on a second cell 424, then an eighth PDSCH 416 is scheduled on a third cell 426, then a ninth PDSCH 418 is scheduled on a second cell 424, and then a tenth PDSCH 420 is scheduled on the second cell 424.

[0069] The visualized schedule 400 represents multi-cell multi-slot scheduling because PDSCHs are scheduled by the DCI across multiple cells (the first cell 422, the second cell 424, the third cell 426, and the fourth cell 428) and because multiple PDSCHs are scheduled by the DCI on at least one of the cells (in this case, each of the first cell 422, the second cell 424, and the fourth cell 428).

[0070] FIG. 4 illustrates the use of HARQ-ACK bundles that include only one or more PDSCHs that are scheduled on a same cell of the plurality of cells, where the HARQ- ACK bundles are themselves interleaved corresponding to an interleaving of individual underlying PDSCHs. As illustrated, a first HARQ-ACK bundle 430 includes the first PDSCH 402 and the second PDSCH 404 on the fourth cell 428, a second HARQ-ACK bundle 432 includes the third PDSCH 406 and the fourth PDSCH 408 on the first cell 422, a third HARQ-ACK bundle 434 includes the fifth PDSCH 410 and the sixth PDSCH 412 on the fourth cell 428, a fourth HARQ-ACK bundle 436 includes the seventh PDSCH 414 on the second cell 424, a fifth HARQ-ACK bundle 438 includes the eighth PDSCH 416 on the third cell 426, and the sixth HARQ-ACK bundle 440 includes the ninth PDSCH 418 and the tenth PDSCH 420 on the second cell 424. Note that the sizes of these HARQ-ACK bundles may be understood to be controlled by a HARQ-ACK bundling size, as described elsewhere herein (e.g., corresponding to the example of FIG. 4, the controlling HARQ-ACK bundling size is at least two).

[0071] According to the arrangement of these HARQ-ACK bundles, HARQ-ACK feedback in HARQ-ACK reporting will include a first HARQ-ACK bit for the first HARQ-ACK bundle 430, a second HARQ-ACK bit for the second HARQ-ACK bundle11P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092M432, a third HARQ-ACK bit for the third HARQ-ACK bundle 434, a fourth HARQ-ACK bit for the fourth HARQ-ACK bundle 436, a fifth HARQ-ACK bit for the fifth HARQ- ACK bundle 438, and a sixth HARQ-ACK bit for the sixth HARQ-ACK bundle 440. These HARQ-ACK bits may have states corresponding to characteristics of the PDSCH(s) of the HARQ-ACK bundles that they represent, as discussed elsewhere herein.

[0072] As illustrated, note that because the second PDSCH 404 and the fifth PDSCH 410 on the fourth cell 428 are interleaved by the third PDSCH 406 and the fourth PDSCH 408 on the first cell 422, they are members of separate HARQ-ACK bundles corresponding to the fourth cell 428 (the first HARQ-ACK bundle 430 and the third HARQ-ACK bundle 434).

[0073] Further, note that because the seventh PDSCH 414 and the ninth PDSCH 418 on the second cell 424 are interleaved by the eighth PDSCH 416 on the third cell 426, they are members of separate HARQ-ACK bundles corresponding to the second cell 424 (the fourth HARQ-ACK bundle 436 and the sixth HARQ-ACK bundle 440).

[0074] In some embodiments, in cases where PDSCHs exhibit interleaving across multiple co-scheduled cells, HARQ-ACK bundling within consecutive PDSCHs across any / all co-scheduled cells may be performed.

[0075] For example, in cases where a pair of PDSCHs scheduled by a multi-cell multislot DCI on a first cell are interleaved by another PDSCH of another cell scheduled by the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, then HARQ-ACK bundling across all of these PDSCHs may be performed.

[0076] Or, as another example, in cases where three PDSCHs scheduled by a multi-cell multi-slot DCI on corresponding three different cells are consecutive, all of these PDSCHs may be part of a same HARQ-ACK bundle.

[0077] FIG. 5 illustrates a visualized schedule 500 for PDSCHs that have been scheduled in a multi-cell multi-slot scheduling way by a multi-cell multi-slot DCI, according to embodiments discussed herein. An ordering of PDSCH occurrence may be understood according to the visualized schedule 500, where it will be seen that a first PDSCH 502 is scheduled on a fourth cell 524, then a second PDSCH 504 is scheduled a first cell 518, then a third PDSCH 506 is scheduled on the first cell 518, then a fourth PDSCH 508 is scheduled on the fourth cell 524, then a fifth PDSCH 510 is scheduled on a second cell 520, then a sixth PDSCH 512 is scheduled on a third cell 522, then a12P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mseventh PDSCH 514 is scheduled on the second cell 520, and then an eighth PDSCH 516 is scheduled on the second cell 520.

[0078] The visualized schedule 500 represents multi-cell multi-slot scheduling because PDSCHs are scheduled by the DCI across multiple cells (the first cell 518, the second cell 520, the third cell 522, and the fourth cell 524) and because multiple PDSCHs are scheduled by the DCI on at least one of the cells (in this case, each of the first cell 518, the second cell 520, and the fourth cell 524).

[0079] FIG. 5 illustrates the use of HARQ-ACK bundles that are allowed (but not required) to include multiple PDSCHs scheduled on different ones of the plurality of cells. For example, as illustrated, a first HARQ-ACK bundle 526 includes the first PDSCH 502 on the fourth cell 524 and the second PDSCH 504 on the first cell 518, a second HARQ-ACK bundle 528 includes the third PDSCH 506 on the first cell 518 and the fourth PDSCH 508 on the fourth cell 524, and a third HARQ-ACK bundle 530 includes the fifth PDSCH 510 on the second cell 520 and the sixth PDSCH 512 on the third cell 522. The visualized schedule 500 further illustrates a fourth HARQ-ACK bundle 532 includes the seventh PDSCH 514 and the eighth PDSCH 516 on the second cell 520.

[0080] According to the arrangement of these HARQ-ACK bundles, HARQ-ACK feedback in HARQ-ACK reporting will include a first HARQ-ACK bit for the first HARQ-ACK bundle 526, a second HARQ-ACK bit for the second HARQ-ACK bundle 528, a third HARQ-ACK bit for the third HARQ-ACK bundle 530, and a fourth HARQ- ACK bit for the fourth HARQ-ACK bundle 532. These HARQ-ACK bits may have states corresponding to characteristics of the PDSCHs of the HARQ-ACK bundles that they represent, as discussed elsewhere herein.

[0081] Note that corresponding to the various embodiments discussed herein, in cases the ordering of two or more HARQ-ACK bits is ambiguous (e.g., in cases where two or more PDSCHs / HARQ-ACK bundles represented by the HARQ-ACK bits are scheduled at the same time), a cell index ordinality may be secondarily used for ordering purposes among those bits within the HARQ-ACK feedback (e.g., an ascending cell index order or a descending cell index order may be applied to order those bits relative to one another).

[0082] FIG. 6 illustrates a method 600 of a UE, according to embodiments discussed herein. The method 600 includes receiving 602, from a base station, a multi-cell multislot DCI that schedules a plurality of PDSCHs for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein13P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mthe multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs. Then, the method 600 further includes, in response to receiving the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, attempting 604 to receive the plurality of PDSCHs from the plurality of cells; generating 606 a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits corresponding to the plurality of PDSCHs, wherein each HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits indicates whether or not a corresponding PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs was successfully received and the HARQ-ACK bits are ordered according to scheduled times of their corresponding PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs; and sending 608, to the base station, the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits.

[0083] In some embodiments of the method 600, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a first PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a first cell of the plurality of cells at a first time; a second HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a second PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a second cell of the plurality of cells at a second time that is later than the first time; a third HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a third PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on the first cell on a third time that is later than the second time; and the second HARQ-ACK bit is located within the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits between the first HARQ-ACK bit and the third HARQ- ACK bit.

[0084] FIG. 7 illustrates a method 700 of a base station, according to embodiments discussed herein. The method 700 includes sending 702, to a UE, a multi-cell multi-slot DCI that schedules a plurality of PDSCHs for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs. The method 700 further includes receiving 704, from the UE, in response to the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits corresponding to the plurality of PDSCHs, wherein each HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits indicates whether or not a corresponding PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs was successfully received, and the HARQ-ACK bits are ordered according to scheduled times of their corresponding PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs.

[0085] In some embodiments of the method 700, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a first PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a first cell of the plurality of cells at a first time; a second HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a second PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is14P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mscheduled on a second cell of the plurality of cells at a second time that is later than the first time; a third HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a third PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on the first cell on a third time that is later than the second time; and the second HARQ-ACK bit is located within the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits between the first HARQ-ACK bit and the third HARQ- ACK bit.

[0086] FIG. 8 illustrates a method 800 of a UE, according to embodiments discussed herein. The method 800 includes receiving 802, from a base station, a multi-cell multislot DCI that schedules a plurality of PDSCHs for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs. Then, the method 800 further includes, in response to receiving the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, attempting 804 to receive the plurality of PDSCHs from the plurality of cells. The method 800 further includes generating 806 a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits corresponding to the plurality of PDSCHs, wherein each HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits indicates whether or not a corresponding PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs was successfully received and the HARQ-ACK bits are grouped together according to ones of the plurality of cells on which their corresponding PDSCHs were sent; and sending 808, to the base station, the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits.

[0087] In some embodiments of the method 800, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a first PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a first cell of the plurality of cells at a first time; a second HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a second PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a second cell of the plurality of cells at a second time that is later than the first time; a third HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a third PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on the first cell at a third time that is later than the second time; and a first grouping of the HARQ-ACK bits for the first cell that includes the first HARQ-ACK bit and the third HARQ-ACK bit precedes a second grouping of the HARQ-ACK bits for the second cell that includes the second HARQ-ACK bit within the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits.

[0088] FIG. 9 illustrates a method 900 of a base station, according to embodiments discussed herein. The method 900 includes sending 902, to a UE, a multi-cell multi-slot DCI that schedules a plurality of PDSCHs for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the15P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mmulti-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs. The method 900 further includes receiving 904, from the UE, in response to the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits corresponding to the plurality of PDSCHs, wherein each HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits indicates whether or not a corresponding PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs was successfully received and the HARQ-ACK bits are grouped together according to ones of the plurality of cells on which their corresponding PDSCHs were sent.

[0089] In some embodiments of the method 900, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a first PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a first cell of the plurality of cells at a first time; a second HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a second PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a second cell of the plurality of cells at a second time that is later than the first time; a third HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a third PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on the first cell at a third time that is later than the second time; and a first grouping of the HARQ-ACK bits for the first cell that includes the first HARQ-ACK bit and the third HARQ-ACK bit precedes a second grouping of the HARQ-ACK bits for the second cell that includes the second HARQ-ACK bit within the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits.

[0090] FIG. 10 illustrates a method 1000 of a UE, according to embodiments discussed herein. The method 1000 includes receiving 1002, from a base station, a multi-cell multislot DCI that schedules a plurality of PDSCHs for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs. Then, the method 1000 includes, in response to receiving the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, identifying 1004 a plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles among the plurality of PDSCHs, wherein each of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles includes only one or more PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on a same cell of the plurality of cells; attempting 1006 to receive the plurality of PDSCHs from the plurality of cells as scheduled by the multi-cell multi-slot DCI; generating 1008 a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits, the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits indicating ACK / NACK of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles; and sending 1010, to the base station, the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits.16P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092M

[0091] In some embodiments of the method 1000, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs is even or odd.

[0092] In some embodiments of the method 1000, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not all of the one or more first PDSCHs were successfully received.

[0093] In some embodiments of the method 1000, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

[0094] In some embodiments of the method 1000, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a percentage of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

[0095] FIG. 11 illustrates a method 1100 of a base station, according to embodiments discussed herein. The method 1100 includes sending 1102, to a UE, a multi-cell multislot DCI that schedules a plurality of PDSCHs for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs. The method 1100 further includes receiving 1104, from the UE, in response to the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits, the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits indicating ACK / NACK of a plurality of HARQ- ACK bundles, wherein each of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles includes only one or more PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on a same cell of the plurality of cells.

[0096] In some embodiments of the method 1100, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs17P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mindicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully receivedPDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs is even or odd.

[0097] In some embodiments of the method 1100, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not all of the one or more first PDSCHs were successfully received.

[0098] In some embodiments of the method 1100, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

[0099] In some embodiments of the method 1100, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a percentage of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

[0100] FIG. 12 illustrates a method 1200 of a UE, according to embodiments discussed herein. The method 1200 includes receiving 1202, from a base station, a multi-cell multislot DCI that schedules a plurality of PDSCHs for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs. Then, the method 1200 includes, in response to receiving the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, identifying 1204 a plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles among the plurality of PDSCHs, each of the HARQ-ACK bundles including only one or more consecutive PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs according to scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on a same cell; attempting 1206 to receive the plurality of PDSCHs from the plurality of cells as scheduled by the multi-cell multi-slot DCI; generating 1208 a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits, the plurality HARQ-ACK bits indicating ACK / NACK corresponding to the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles; and sending 1210, to the base station, the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits.

[0101] In some embodiments of the method 1200, a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles includes one or more first consecutive PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on a first cell of the plurality of cells during a18P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mfirst time period; a second HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles includes one or more second consecutive PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on a second cell of the plurality of cells during a second time period that follows the first time period; and a third HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bundles includes one or more third consecutive PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on the first cell during a third time period that follows the second time period.

[0102] In some embodiments of the method 1200, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs is even or odd.

[0103] In some embodiments of the method 1200, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not all of the one or more first PDSCHs were successfully received.

[0104] In some embodiments of the method 1200, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

[0105] In some embodiments of the method 1200, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a percentage of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

[0106] FIG. 13 illustrates a method 1300 of a base station, according to embodiments discussed herein. The method 1300 includes sending 1302, to a UE, a multi-cell multislot DCI that schedules a plurality of PDSCHs for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs. The method 1300 further includes receiving 1304, from the UE, in response to the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, a plurality of HARQ-ACK19P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mbits, the plurality HARQ-ACK bits indicating ACK / NACK corresponding to a plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles, wherein each of the HARQ-ACK bundles includes only one or more consecutive PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs according to scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on a same cell.

[0107] In some embodiments of the method 1300, a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles includes one or more first consecutive PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on a first cell of the plurality of cells during a first time period; a second HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles includes one or more second consecutive PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on a second cell of the plurality of cells during a second time period that follows the first time period; and a third HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bundles includes one or more third consecutive PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on the first cell during a third time period that follows the second time period.

[0108] In some embodiments of the method 1300, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs is even or odd.

[0109] In some embodiments of the method 1300, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not all of the one or more first PDSCHs were successfully received.

[0110] In some embodiments of the method 1300, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.[OHl] In some embodiments of the method 1300, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs20P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mindicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a percentage of successfully receivedPDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

[0112] FIG. 14 illustrates a method 1400 of a UE, according to embodiments discussed herein. The method 1400 includes receiving 1402, from a base station, a multi-cell multislot DCI that schedules a plurality of PDSCHs for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs. Then, the method 1400 includes, in response to receiving the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, identifying 1404 a plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles among the plurality of PDSCHs, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles includes a first PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a first cell of the plurality of cells and a second PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a second cell of the plurality of cells, wherein the first PDSCH and the second PDSCH are consecutive according to scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs; attempting 1406 to receive the plurality of PDSCHs from the plurality of cells as scheduled by the multi-cell multi-slot DCI; generating 1408 a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits, the plurality HARQ-ACK bits indicating ACK / NACK for the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles; and sending 1410, to the base station, the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits.

[0113] In some embodiments of the method 1400, the first HARQ-ACK bundle further includes a third PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a third cell of the plurality of cells; wherein the third PDSCH is consecutive to the second PDSCH according to the scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs.

[0114] In some embodiments of the method 1400, the first HARQ-ACK bundle further includes a third PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on the first cell; wherein the third PDSCH is consecutive to the second PDSCH according to the scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs.

[0115] In some embodiments of the method 1400, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for the first HARQ-ACK bundle indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs is even or odd.

[0116] In some embodiments of the method 1400, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for the first HARQ-ACK bundle indicates21P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092MACK / NACK based on whether or not all of the one or more first PDSCHs were successfully received.

[0117] In some embodiments of the method 1400, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for the first HARQ-ACK bundle indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

[0118] In some embodiments of the method 1400, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for the first HARQ-ACK bundle indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a percentage of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

[0119] FIG. 15 illustrates a method 1500 of a base station, according to embodiments discussed herein. The method 1500 includes sending 1502, to a UE, a multi-cell multislot DCI that schedules a plurality of PDSCHs for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs. The method 1500 further includes receiving 1504, from the UE, in response to the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits, the plurality HARQ-ACK bits indicating ACK / NACK for a plurality of HARQ- ACK bundles, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles includes a first PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a first cell of the plurality of cells and a second PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a second cell of the plurality of cells, wherein the first PDSCH and the second PDSCH are consecutive according to scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs.

[0120] In some embodiments of the method 1500, the first HARQ-ACK bundle further includes a third PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a third cell of the plurality of cells; wherein the third PDSCH is consecutive to the second PDSCH according to the scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs.

[0121] In some embodiments of the method 1500, the first HARQ-ACK bundle further includes a third PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on the first cell; wherein the third PDSCH is consecutive to the second PDSCH according to the scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs.

[0122] In some embodiments of the method 1500, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for the first HARQ-ACK bundle indicates22P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092MACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs is even or odd.

[0123] In some embodiments of the method 1500, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for the first HARQ-ACK bundle indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not all of the one or more first PDSCHs were successfully received.

[0124] In some embodiments of the method 1500, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for the first HARQ-ACK bundle indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

[0125] In some embodiments of the method 1500, a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits that is for the first HARQ-ACK bundle indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a percentage of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

[0126] FIG. 16 illustrates an example architecture of a wireless communication system 1600, according to embodiments disclosed herein. The following description is provided for an example wireless communication system 1600 that operates in conjunction with the LTE system standards and / or 5G or NR system standards as provided by 3 GPP technical specifications.

[0127] As shown by FIG. 16, the wireless communication system 1600 includes UE 1602 and UE 1604 (although any number of UEs may be used). In this example, the UE 1602 and the UE 1604 are illustrated as smartphones (e.g., handheld touchscreen mobile computing devices connectable to one or more cellular networks), but may also comprise any mobile or non-mobile computing device configured for wireless communication.

[0128] The UE 1602 and UE 1604 may be configured to communicatively couple with a RAN 1606. In embodiments, the RAN 1606 may be NG-RAN, E-UTRAN, etc. The UE 1602 and UE 1604 utilize connections (or channels) (shown as connection 1608 and connection 1610, respectively) with the RAN 1606, each of which comprises a physical communications interface. The RAN 1606 can include one or more base stations (such as base station 1612 and base station 1614) that enable the connection 1608 and connection 1610.23P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092M

[0129] In this example, the connection 1608 and connection 1610 are air interfaces to enable such communicative coupling, and may be consistent with RAT(s) used by the RAN 1606, such as, for example, an LTE and / or NR.

[0130] In some embodiments, the UE 1602 and UE 1604 may also directly exchange communication data via a sidelink interface 1616. The UE 1604 is shown to be configured to access an access point (shown as AP 1618) via connection 1620. By way of example, the connection 1620 can comprise a local wireless connection, such as a connection consistent with any IEEE 802.11 protocol, wherein the AP 1618 may comprise a Wi-Fi® router. In this example, the AP 1618 may be connected to another network (for example, the Internet) without going through a CN 1624.

[0131] In embodiments, the UE 1602 and UE 1604 can be configured to communicate using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication signals with each other or with the base station 1612 and / or the base station 1614 over a multicarrier communication channel in accordance with various communication techniques, such as, but not limited to, an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) communication technique (e.g., for downlink communications) or a single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) communication technique (e.g., for uplink and ProSe or sidelink communications), although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect. The OFDM signals can comprise a plurality of orthogonal subcarriers.

[0132] In some embodiments, all or parts of the base station 1612 or base station 1614 may be implemented as one or more software entities running on server computers as part of a virtual network. In addition, or in other embodiments, the base station 1612 or base station 1614 may be configured to communicate with one another via interface 1622. In embodiments where the wireless communication system 1600 is an LTE system (e.g., when the CN 1624 is an EPC), the interface 1622 may be an X2 interface. The X2 interface may be defined between two or more base stations (e.g., two or more eNBs and the like) that connect to an EPC, and / or between two eNBs connecting to the EPC. In embodiments where the wireless communication system 1600 is an NR system (e.g., when CN 1624 is a 5GC), the interface 1622 may be an Xn interface. The Xn interface is defined between two or more base stations (e.g., two or more gNBs and the like) that connect to 5GC, between a base station 1612 (e.g., a gNB) connecting to 5GC and an eNB, and / or between two eNBs connecting to 5GC (e.g., CN 1624).24P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092M

[0133] The RAN 1606 is shown to be communicatively coupled to the CN 1624. The CN 1624 may comprise one or more network elements 1626, which are configured to offer various data and telecommunications services to customers / subscribers (e.g., users of UE 1602 and UE 1604) who are connected to the CN 1624 via the RAN 1606. The components of the CN 1624 may be implemented in one physical device or separate physical devices including components to read and execute instructions from a machine- readable or computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium).

[0134] In embodiments, the CN 1624 may be an EPC, and the RAN 1606 may be connected with the CN 1624 via an SI interface 1628. In embodiments, the SI interface 1628 may be split into two parts, an SI user plane (Sl-U) interface, which carries traffic data between the base station 1612 or base station 1614 and a serving gateway (S-GW), and the SI -MME interface, which is a signaling interface between the base station 1612 or base station 1614 and mobility management entities (MMEs).

[0135] In embodiments, the CN 1624 may be a 5GC, and the RAN 1606 may be connected with the CN 1624 via an NG interface 1628. In embodiments, the NG interface 1628 may be split into two parts, an NG user plane (NG-U) interface, which carries traffic data between the base station 1612 or base station 1614 and a user plane function (UPF), and the SI control plane (NG-C) interface, which is a signaling interface between the base station 1612 or base station 1614 and access and mobility management functions (AMFs).

[0136] Generally, an application server 1630 may be an element offering applications that use internet protocol (IP) bearer resources with the CN 1624 (e.g., packet switched data services). The application server 1630 can also be configured to support one or more communication services (e.g., VoIP sessions, group communication sessions, etc.) for the UE 1602 and UE 1604 via the CN 1624. The application server 1630 may communicate with the CN 1624 through an IP communications interface 1632.

[0137] FIG. 17 illustrates a system 1700 for performing signaling 1734 between a wireless device 1702 and a network device 1718, according to embodiments disclosed herein. The system 1700 may be a portion of a wireless communications system as herein described. The wireless device 1702 may be, for example, a UE of a wireless communication system. The network device 1718 may be, for example, a base station (e.g., an eNB or a gNB) of a wireless communication system.25P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092M

[0138] The wireless device 1702 may include one or more processor(s) 1704. The processor(s) 1704 may execute instructions such that various operations of the wireless device 1702 are performed, as described herein. The processor(s) 1704 may include one or more baseband processors implemented using, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a controller, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) device, another hardware device, a firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform the operations described herein.

[0139] The wireless device 1702 may include a memory 1706. The memory 1706 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions 1708 (which may include, for example, the instructions being executed by the processor(s) 1704). The instructions 1708 may also be referred to as program code or a computer program. The memory 1706 may also store data used by, and results computed by, the processor(s) 1704.

[0140] The wireless device 1702 may include one or more transceiver(s) 1710 that may include radio frequency (RF) transmitter circuitry and / or receiver circuitry that use the antenna(s) 1712 of the wireless device 1702 to facilitate signaling (e.g., the signaling 1734) to and / or from the wireless device 1702 with other devices (e.g., the network device 1718) according to corresponding RATs.

[0141] The wireless device 1702 may include one or more antenna(s) 1712 (e.g., one, two, four, or more). For embodiments with multiple antenna(s) 1712, the wireless device 1702 may leverage the spatial diversity of such multiple antenna(s) 1712 to send and / or receive multiple different data streams on the same time and frequency resources. This behavior may be referred to as, for example, multiple input multiple output (MIMO) behavior (referring to the multiple antennas used at each of a transmitting device and a receiving device that enable this aspect). MIMO transmissions by the wireless device 1702 may be accomplished according to precoding (or digital beamforming) that is applied at the wireless device 1702 that multiplexes the data streams across the antenna(s) 1712 according to known or assumed channel characteristics such that each data stream is received with an appropriate signal strength relative to other streams and at a desired location in the spatial domain (e.g., the location of a receiver associated with that data stream). Certain embodiments may use single user MIMO (SU-MIMO) methods (where the data streams are all directed to a single receiver) and / or multi user MIMO26P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092M(MU-MIMO) methods (where individual data streams may be directed to individual (different) receivers in different locations in the spatial domain).

[0142] In certain embodiments having multiple antennas, the wireless device 1702 may implement analog beamforming techniques, whereby phases of the signals sent by the antenna(s) 1712 are relatively adjusted such that the (joint) transmission of the antenna(s) 1712 can be directed (this is sometimes referred to as beam steering).

[0143] The wireless device 1702 may include one or more interface(s) 1714. The interface(s) 1714 may be used to provide input to or output from the wireless device 1702. For example, a wireless device 1702 that is a UE may include interface(s) 1714 such as microphones, speakers, a touchscreen, buttons, and the like in order to allow for input and / or output to the UE by a user of the UE. Other interfaces of such a UE may be made up of transmitters, receivers, and other circuitry (e.g., other than the transceiver(s) 1710 / antenna(s) 1712 already described) that allow for communication between the UE and other devices and may operate according to known protocols (e.g., Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, and the like).

[0144] The wireless device 1702 may include a multi-cell multi-slot scheduling module 1716. The multi-cell multi-slot scheduling module 1716 may be implemented via hardware, software, or combinations thereof. For example, the multi-cell multi-slot scheduling module 1716 may be implemented as a processor, circuit, and / or instructions 1708 stored in the memory 1706 and executed by the processor(s) 1704. In some examples, the multi-cell multi-slot scheduling module 1716 may be integrated within the processor(s) 1704 and / or the transceiver(s) 1710. For example, the multi-cell multi-slot scheduling module 1716 may be implemented by a combination of software components (e.g., executed by a DSP or a general processor) and hardware components (e.g., logic gates and circuitry) within the processor(s) 1704 or the transceiver(s) 1710.

[0145] The multi-cell multi-slot scheduling module 1716 may be used for various aspects of the present disclosure, for example, aspects of FIG. 6, FIG. 8, FIG. 10, FIG. 12, and / or FIG. 14. The multi-cell multi-slot scheduling module 1716 may configure the wireless device 1702 to, for example, receive, from a network device 1718 that is a base station a multi-cell multi-slot DCI that schedules a plurality of PDSCHs for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs; and to, in response to receiving the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, attempt to receive the plurality of PDSCHs and27P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mto send HARQ-ACK feedback corresponding to the plurality of PDSCHs according to one or more embodiments discussed herein.

[0146] The network device 1718 may include one or more processor(s) 1720. The processor(s) 1720 may execute instructions such that various operations of the network device 1718 are performed, as described herein. The processor(s) 1720 may include one or more baseband processors implemented using, for example, a CPU, a DSP, an ASIC, a controller, an FPGA device, another hardware device, a firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform the operations described herein.

[0147] The network device 1718 may include a memory 1722. The memory 1722 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions 1724 (which may include, for example, the instructions being executed by the processor(s) 1720). The instructions 1724 may also be referred to as program code or a computer program. The memory 1722 may also store data used by, and results computed by, the processor(s) 1720.

[0148] The network device 1718 may include one or more transceiver(s) 1726 that may include RF transmitter circuitry and / or receiver circuitry that use the antenna(s) 1728 of the network device 1718 to facilitate signaling (e.g., the signaling 1734) to and / or from the network device 1718 with other devices (e.g., the wireless device 1702) according to corresponding RATs.

[0149] The network device 1718 may include one or more antenna(s) 1728 (e.g., one, two, four, or more). In embodiments having multiple antenna(s) 1728, the network device 1718 may perform MIMO, digital beamforming, analog beamforming, beam steering, etc., as has been described.

[0150] The network device 1718 may include one or more interface(s) 1730. The interface(s) 1730 may be used to provide input to or output from the network device 1718. For example, a network device 1718 that is a base station may include interface(s) 1730 made up of transmitters, receivers, and other circuitry (e.g., other than the transceiver(s) 1726 / antenna(s) 1728 already described) that enables the base station to communicate with other equipment in a core network, and / or that enables the base station to communicate with external networks, computers, databases, and the like for purposes of operations, administration, and maintenance of the base station or other equipment operably connected thereto.28P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092M

[0151] The network device 1718 may include a multi-cell multi-slot scheduling module 1732. The multi-cell multi-slot scheduling module 1732 may be implemented via hardware, software, or combinations thereof. For example, the multi-cell multi-slot scheduling module 1732 may be implemented as a processor, circuit, and / or instructions 1724 stored in the memory 1722 and executed by the processor(s) 1720. In some examples, the multi-cell multi-slot scheduling module 1732 may be integrated within the processor(s) 1720 and / or the transceiver(s) 1726. For example, the multi-cell multi-slot scheduling module 1732 may be implemented by a combination of software components (e.g., executed by a DSP or a general processor) and hardware components (e.g., logic gates and circuitry) within the processor(s) 1720 or the transceiver(s) 1726.

[0152] The multi-cell multi-slot scheduling module 1732 may be used for various aspects of the present disclosure, for example, aspects of FIG. 7, FIG. 9, FIG. 11, FIG. 13, and / or FIG. 15. The multi-cell multi-slot scheduling module 1732 may configure the network device 1718 to send, to a wireless device 1702 that is a UE, a multi-cell multislot DCI that schedules a plurality of PDSCHs for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs; and to receive responsible HARQ-ACK feedback corresponding to the plurality of PDSCHs that is arranged according to one or more embodiments discussed herein.

[0153] Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising means to perform one or more elements of any of the method 600, the method 800, the method 1000, the method 1200, and / or the method 1400. This apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a UE (such as a wireless device 1702 that is a UE, as described herein).

[0154] Embodiments contemplated herein include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions to cause an electronic device, upon execution of the instructions by one or more processors of the electronic device, to perform one or more elements of any of the method 600, the method 800, the method 1000, the method 1200, and / or the method 1400. This non-transitory computer-readable media may be, for example, a memory of a UE (such as a memory 1706 of a wireless device 1702 that is a UE, as described herein).

[0155] Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising logic, modules, or circuitry to perform one or more elements of any of the method 600, the method 800, the method 1000, the method 1200, and / or the method 1400. This apparatus29P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mmay be, for example, an apparatus of a UE (such as a wireless device 1702 that is a UE, as described herein).

[0156] Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising: one or more processors and one or more computer-readable media comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform one or more elements of any of the method 600, the method 800, the method 1000, the method 1200, and / or the method 1400. This apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a UE (such as a wireless device 1702 that is a UE, as described herein).

[0157] Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal as described in or related to one or more elements of any of the method 600, the method 800, the method 1000, the method 1200, and / or the method 1400.

[0158] Embodiments contemplated herein include a computer program or computer program product comprising instructions, wherein execution of the program by a processor is to cause the processor to carry out one or more elements of any of the method 600, the method 800, the method 1000, the method 1200, and / or the method 1400. The processor may be a processor of a UE (such as a processor(s) 1704 of a wireless device 1702 that is a UE, as described herein). These instructions may be, for example, located in the processor and / or on a memory of the UE (such as a memory 1706 of a wireless device 1702 that is a UE, as described herein).

[0159] Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising means to perform one or more elements of any of the method 700, the method 900, the method 1100, the method 1300, and / or the method 1500. This apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a base station (such as a network device 1718 that is a base station, as described herein).

[0160] Embodiments contemplated herein include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions to cause an electronic device, upon execution of the instructions by one or more processors of the electronic device, to perform one or more elements of any of the method 700, the method 900, the method 1100, the method 1300, and / or the method 1500. This non-transitory computer-readable media may be, for example, a memory of a base station (such as a memory 1722 of a network device 1718 that is a base station, as described herein).

[0161] Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising logic, modules, or circuitry to perform one or more elements of any of the method 700, the30P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mmethod 900, the method 1100, the method 1300, and / or the method 1500. This apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a base station (such as a network device 1718 that is a base station, as described herein).

[0162] Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising: one or more processors and one or more computer-readable media comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform one or more elements of any of the method 700, the method 900, the method 1100, the method 1300, and / or the method 1500. This apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a base station (such as a network device 1718 that is a base station, as described herein).

[0163] Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal as described in or related to one or more elements of any of the method 700, the method 900, the method 1100, the method 1300, and / or the method 1500.

[0164] Embodiments contemplated herein include a computer program or computer program product comprising instructions, wherein execution of the program by a processing element is to cause the processing element to carry out one or more elements of any of the method 700, the method 900, the method 1100, the method 1300, and / or the method 1500. The processor may be a processor of a base station (such as a processor(s) 1720 of a network device 1718 that is a base station, as described herein). These instructions may be, for example, located in the processor and / or on a memory of the base station (such as a memory 1722 of a network device 1718 that is a base station, as described herein).

[0165] For one or more embodiments, at least one of the components set forth in one or more of the preceding figures may be configured to perform one or more operations, techniques, processes, and / or methods as set forth herein. For example, a baseband processor as described herein in connection with one or more of the preceding figures may be configured to operate in accordance with one or more of the examples set forth herein. For another example, circuitry associated with a UE, base station, network element, etc. as described above in connection with one or more of the preceding figures may be configured to operate in accordance with one or more of the examples set forth herein.

[0166] Any of the above described embodiments may be combined with any other embodiment (or combination of embodiments), unless explicitly stated otherwise. The31P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mforegoing description of one or more implementations provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of various embodiments.

[0167] Embodiments and implementations of the systems and methods described herein may include various operations, which may be embodied in machine-executable instructions to be executed by a computer system. A computer system may include one or more general-purpose or special-purpose computers (or other electronic devices). The computer system may include hardware components that include specific logic for performing the operations or may include a combination of hardware, software, and / or firmware.

[0168] It should be recognized that the systems described herein include descriptions of specific embodiments. These embodiments can be combined into single systems, partially combined into other systems, split into multiple systems or divided or combined in other ways. In addition, it is contemplated that parameters, attributes, aspects, etc. of one embodiment can be used in another embodiment. The parameters, attributes, aspects, etc. are merely described in one or more embodiments for clarity, and it is recognized that the parameters, attributes, aspects, etc. can be combined with or substituted for parameters, attributes, aspects, etc. of another embodiment unless specifically disclaimed herein.

[0169] It is well understood that the use of personally identifiable information should follow privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining the privacy of users. In particular, personally identifiable information data should be managed and handled so as to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly indicated to users.

[0170] Although the foregoing has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be made without departing from the principles thereof. It should be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing both the processes and apparatuses described herein. Accordingly, the present embodiments are to be considered illustrative and not restrictive, and the description is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims.32P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092M

Claims

1. CLAIMS1. A method of a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a base station, a multi-cell multi-slot downlink control information (DCI) that schedules a plurality of physical downlink control channels (PDSCHs) for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs; and in response to receiving the multi-cell multi-slot DCI: attempting to receive the plurality of PDSCHs from the plurality of cells; generating a plurality of HARQ- ACK bits corresponding to the plurality of PDSCHs, wherein: each HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits indicates whether or not a corresponding PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs was successfully received; and the HARQ-ACK bits are ordered according to scheduled times of their corresponding PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs; and sending, to the base station, the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a first PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a first cell of the plurality of cells at a first time; a second HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a second PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a second cell of the plurality of cells at a second time that is later than the first time; a third HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a third PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on the first cell on a third time that is later than the second time; and the second HARQ-ACK bit is located within the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits between the first HARQ-ACK bit and the third HARQ-ACK bit.

3. A method of a base station, comprising: sending, to a user equipment (UE), a multi-cell multi-slot downlink control information (DCI) that schedules a plurality of physical downlink control channels33P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092U(PDSCHs) for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs; and receiving, from the UE, in response to the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits corresponding to the plurality of PDSCHs, wherein: each HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits indicates whether or not a corresponding PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs was successfully received; and the HARQ-ACK bits are ordered according to scheduled times of their corresponding PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein: a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a first PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a first cell of the plurality of cells at a first time; a second HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a second PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a second cell of the plurality of cells at a second time that is later than the first time; a third HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a third PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on the first cell on a third time that is later than the second time; and the second HARQ-ACK bit is located within the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits between the first HARQ-ACK bit and the third HARQ-ACK bit.

5. A method of a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a base station, a multi-cell multi-slot downlink control information (DCI) that schedules a plurality of physical downlink control channels (PDSCHs) for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs; and in response to receiving the multi-cell multi-slot DCI: attempting to receive the plurality of PDSCHs from the plurality of cells; generating a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits corresponding to the plurality of PDSCHs, wherein:34P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Meach HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits indicates whether or not a corresponding PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs was successfully received; and the HARQ-ACK bits are grouped together according to ones of the plurality of cells on which their corresponding PDSCHs were sent; and sending, to the base station, the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein: a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a first PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a first cell of the plurality of cells at a first time; a second HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a second PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a second cell of the plurality of cells at a second time that is later than the first time; a third HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a third PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on the first cell at a third time that is later than the second time; and a first grouping of the HARQ-ACK bits for the first cell that includes the first HARQ-ACK bit and the third HARQ-ACK bit precedes a second grouping of the HARQ-ACK bits for the second cell that includes the second HARQ-ACK bit within the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits.

7. A method of a base station, comprising: sending, to a user equipment (UE), a multi-cell multi-slot downlink control information (DCI) that schedules a plurality of physical downlink control channels (PDSCHs) for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs; and receiving, from the UE, in response to the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits corresponding to the plurality of PDSCHs, wherein: each HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits indicates whether or not a corresponding PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs was successfully received; and35P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mthe HARQ-ACK bits are grouped together according to ones of the plurality of cells on which their corresponding PDSCHs were sent.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein: a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a first PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a first cell of the plurality of cells at a first time; a second HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a second PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a second cell of the plurality of cells at a second time that is later than the first time; a third HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits is for a third PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on the first cell at a third time that is later than the second time; and a first grouping of the HARQ-ACK bits for the first cell that includes the first HARQ-ACK bit and the third HARQ-ACK bit precedes a second grouping of the HARQ-ACK bits for the second cell that includes the second HARQ-ACK bit within the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits.

9. A method of a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a base station, a multi-cell multi-slot downlink control information (DCI) that schedules a plurality of physical downlink control channels (PDSCHs) for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs; and in response to receiving the multi-cell multi-slot DCI: identifying a plurality of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ-ACK) bundles among the plurality of PDSCHs, wherein each of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bundles includes only one or more PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on a same cell of the plurality of cells; attempting to receive the plurality of PDSCHs from the plurality of cells as scheduled by the multi-cell multi-slot DCI; generating a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits, the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits indicating acknowledgement (ACK) / negative acknowledgment (NACK) of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles; and36P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Msending, to the base station, the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs is even or odd.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not all of the one or more first PDSCHs were successfully received.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a percentage of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

14. A method of a base station, comprising: sending, to a user equipment (UE), a multi-cell multi-slot downlink control information (DCI) that schedules a plurality of physical downlink control channels (PDSCHs) for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs; and receiving, from the UE, in response to the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits, the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits indicating acknowledgement (ACK) / negative acknowledgment (NACK) of a plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles, wherein each of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles includes only one or more37P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092UPDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on a same cell of the plurality of cells.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs is even or odd.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not all of the one or more first PDSCHs were successfully received.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a percentage of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

19. A method of a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a base station, a multi-cell multi-slot downlink control information (DCI) that schedules a plurality of physical downlink control channels (PDSCHs) for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs; and in response to receiving the multi-cell multi-slot DCI: identifying a plurality of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ-ACK) bundles among the plurality of PDSCHs, each of the HARQ-ACK bundles38P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mincluding only one or more consecutive PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs according to scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on a same cell; attempting to receive the plurality of PDSCHs from the plurality of cells as scheduled by the multi-cell multi-slot DCI; generating a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits, the plurality HARQ-ACK bits indicating acknowledgement (ACK) / negative acknowledgment (NACK) corresponding to the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles; and sending, to the base station, the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein: a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles includes one or more first consecutive PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on a first cell of the plurality of cells during a first time period; a second HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles includes one or more second consecutive PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on a second cell of the plurality of cells during a second time period that follows the first time period; and a third HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles includes one or more third consecutive PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on the first cell during a third time period that follows the second time period.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs is even or odd.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not all of the one or more first PDSCHs were successfully received.39P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092M23. The method of claim 19, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a percentage of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

25. A method of a base station, comprising: sending, to a user equipment (UE), a multi-cell multi-slot downlink control information (DCI) that schedules a plurality of physical downlink control channels (PDSCHs) for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs; and receiving, from the UE, in response to the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits, the plurality HARQ-ACK bits indicating acknowledgement (ACK) / negative acknowledgment (NACK) corresponding to a plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles, wherein each of the HARQ-ACK bundles includes only one or more consecutive PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs according to scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on a same cell.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein: a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles includes one or more first consecutive PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on a first cell of the plurality of cells during a first time period; a second HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles includes one or more second consecutive PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on a second cell of the plurality of cells during a second time period that follows the first time period; and40P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Ma third HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles includes one or more third consecutive PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs that are scheduled on the first cell during a third time period that follows the second time period.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs is even or odd.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not all of the one or more first PDSCHs were successfully received.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles that includes one or more first PDSCHs of the plurality of PDSCHs indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a percentage of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

31. A method of a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a base station, a multi-cell multi-slot downlink control information (DCI) that schedules a plurality of physical downlink control channels (PDSCHs) for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs; and in response to receiving the multi-cell multi-slot DCI:41P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Midentifying a plurality of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ-ACK) bundles among the plurality of PDSCHs, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles includes a first PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a first cell of the plurality of cells and a second PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a second cell of the plurality of cells, wherein the first PDSCH and the second PDSCH are consecutive according to scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs; attempting to receive the plurality of PDSCHs from the plurality of cells as scheduled by the multi-cell multi-slot DCI; generating a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits, the plurality HARQ-ACK bits indicating acknowledgement (ACK) / negative acknowledgment (NACK) for the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles; and sending, to the base station, the plurality of HARQ-ACK bits.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the first HARQ-ACK bundle further includes a third PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a third cell of the plurality of cells; wherein the third PDSCH is consecutive to the second PDSCH according to the scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the first HARQ-ACK bundle further includes a third PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on the first cell; wherein the third PDSCH is consecutive to the second PDSCH according to the scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for the first HARQ-ACK bundle indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs is even or odd.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for the first HARQ-ACK bundle indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not all of the one or more first PDSCHs were successfully received.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for the first HARQ-ACK bundle indicates ACK / NACK based on42P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mwhether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for the first HARQ-ACK bundle indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a percentage of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

38. A method of base station, comprising: sending, to a user equipment (UE), a multi-cell multi-slot downlink control information (DCI) that schedules a plurality of physical downlink control channels (PDSCHs) for the UE on a plurality of cells, wherein the multi-cell multi-slot DCI schedules each of one or more of the plurality of cells with multiple of the plurality PDSCHs; and receiving, from the UE, in response to the multi-cell multi-slot DCI, a plurality of HARQ-ACK bits, the plurality HARQ-ACK bits indicating acknowledgement (ACK) / negative acknowledgment (NACK) for a plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bundle of the plurality of HARQ-ACK bundles includes a first PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a first cell of the plurality of cells and a second PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a second cell of the plurality of cells, wherein the first PDSCH and the second PDSCH are consecutive according to scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the first HARQ-ACK bundle further includes a third PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on a third cell of the plurality of cells; wherein the third PDSCH is consecutive to the second PDSCH according to the scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the first HARQ-ACK bundle further includes a third PDSCH of the plurality of PDSCHs that is scheduled on the first cell; wherein the third PDSCH is consecutive to the second PDSCH according to the scheduled times of the plurality of PDSCHs.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for the first HARQ-ACK bundle indicates ACK / NACK based on43P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092Mwhether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs is even or odd.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for the first HARQ-ACK bundle indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not all of the one or more first PDSCHs were successfully received.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for the first HARQ-ACK bundle indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a number of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein a first HARQ-ACK bit of the plurality of HARQ- ACK bits that is for the first HARQ-ACK bundle indicates ACK / NACK based on whether or not a percentage of successfully received PDSCHs of the one or more first PDSCHs meets a threshold.

45. An apparatus comprising means to perform the method of any of claim 1 to claim 44.

46. A computer-readable media comprising instructions to cause an electronic device, upon execution of the instructions by one or more processors of the electronic device, to perform the method of any of claim 1 to claim 44.

47. An apparatus comprising logic, modules, or circuitry to perform the method of any of claim 1 to claim 44.

48. A baseband processor for a user equipment (UE) that is configured to cause the UE to perform one or more elements of any one of claim 1, claim 2, claim 5, claim 6, claim 9 to claim 13, claim 19 to claim 24, and claim 31 to claim 37.

49. A baseband processor for a base station that is configured to cause the base station to perform one or more elements of any one of claim 3, claim 4, claim 7, claim 8, claim 14 to claim 18, claim 25 to claim 30, and claim 38 to claim 44.44P69612WO1 4933-3368-5092M

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