Enhanced DL control information operations

Abstract

Systems and methods for enhanced DCI operations can include a UE receiving, from a network node device, a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information, and receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information. The UE can determine that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part, and receive, from the network node, at least one retransmission of the second downlink control information part

Description

ENHANCED DL CONTROL INFORMATION OPERATIONSTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The example and non-limiting embodiments relate generally to enhancing downlink control information (DCI) operations and, more particularly, to enhancing reliability of DO operations.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR DEVELOPMENTS

[0002] Downlink Control Information (DCI) carries information to schedule transmission, of downlink data and / or uplink data. In particular, the DCI carries information to allocate physical resources to downlink channels, such as the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), and / or physical resources for uplink channels, such as the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). The DCI can carry information to adjust uplink power, such as power of an physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and / or power of the PUSCH.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The following summary is merely intended to be an example. The summary is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

[0004] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus can comprise: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform: receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining at least one uplink resource based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first downlink control information part or the second downlink control information part; and transmitting, using the at least one uplink resource, an indication indicative of a receiving state of the second downlink control information part.

[0005] In accordance with another aspect, a method can comprise: receiving, by a user device, a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; receiving, by the user device, a second downlink control information part of the downlink controlinformation; determining, by the user device, at least one uplink resource based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first downlink control information part or the second downlink control information part; and transmitting, by the user device, using the at least one uplink resource, an indication indicative of a receiving state of the second downlink control information part.

[0006] In accordance with another aspect, an apparatus can comprise: means for receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; means for receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; means for determining at least one uplink resource based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first downlink control information part or the second downlink control information part; and means for transmitting using the at least one uplink resource, an indication indicative of a receiving state of the second downlink control information part.

[0007] In accordance with another aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium can include program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to: receive a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; receive a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determine at least one uplink resource based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first downlink control information part or the second downlink control information part; and transmit, using the at least one uplink resource, an indication indicative of a receiving state of the second downlink control information part.

[0008] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus can comprise: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform: transmitting a first downlink control information part; transmitting a second downlink control information part; and receiving, from a user device, over an at least one uplink resource, an indication of a receiving state of the second downlink control information part, wherein the at least one uplink resource can be determined based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first downlink control information part or the second downlink control information part.

[0009] In accordance with another aspect, a method can comprise: transmitting, by a network node device, a first downlink control information part; transmitting, by the networknode device, a second downlink control information part; and receiving, by the network node device, from a user device, over an at least one uplink resource, an indication of a receiving state of the second downlink control information part, wherein the at least one uplink resource can be determined based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first downlink control information part or the second downlink control information part.

[0010] In accordance with another aspect, an apparatus can comprise: means for transmitting a first downlink control information part; means for transmitting a second downlink control information part; and means for receiving, from a user device, over an at least one uplink resource, an indication of a receiving state of the second downlink control information part, wherein the at least one uplink resource can be determined based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first downlink control information part or the second downlink control information part.

[0011] In accordance with another aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium can include program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to: transmit a first downlink control information part; transmit a second downlink control information part; and receive, from a user device, over an at least one uplink resource, an indication of a receiving state of the second downlink control information part, wherein the at least one uplink resource can be determined based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first downlink control information part or the second downlink control information part.

[0012] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus can comprise: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform: receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and receiving at least one retransmission of the second downlink control information part.

[0013] In accordance with another aspect, a method can comprise: receiving, by a user device, a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; receiving, by the user device, a second downlink control information part of the downlinkcontrol information; determining, by the user device, that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and receiving, by the user device, at least one retransmission of the second downlink control information part.

[0014] In accordance with another aspect, an apparatus can comprise: means for receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; means for receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; means for determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and means for receiving at least one retransmission of the second downlink control information part.

[0015] In accordance with another aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium can include program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to: receive a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; receive a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determine that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and receive at least one retransmission of the second downlink control information part.

[0016] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus can comprise: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform: transmitting a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; transmitting a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and transmitting at least one repetition of the second downlink control information part.

[0017] In accordance with another aspect, a method can comprise: transmitting, by a network node device, a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; transmitting, by the network node device, a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining, by the network node device, that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and transmitting, by the network node device, at least one repetition of the second downlink control information part.

[0018] In accordance with another aspect, an apparatus can comprise: means for transmitting a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; means for transmitting a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; means for determining, by the network node device, that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and means for transmitting, by the network node device, at least one repetition of the second downlink control information part.

[0019] In accordance with another aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium can include program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to: transmit a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; transmit a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determine that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and transmit at least one repetition of the second downlink control information part.

[0020] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus can comprise: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform: receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information, wherein the first downlink control information part can include a first set of information and a second set of information, and wherein separate encoding can be applied to the first and second sets of information; and receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information.

[0021] In accordance with another aspect, a method can comprise: receiving, by a user device, a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information, wherein the first downlink control information part can include a first set of information and a second set of information, and wherein separate encoding can be applied to the first and second sets of information; and receiving, by the user device, a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information.

[0022] In accordance with another aspect, an apparatus can comprise: means for receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information, wherein the first downlink control information part can include a first set of information and a second set of information, and wherein separate encoding can be applied to the first and second sets ofinformation; and means for receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information.

[0023] In accordance with another aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium can include program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to: receive a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information, wherein the first downlink control information part can include a first set of information and a second set of information, and wherein separate encoding can be applied to the first and second sets of information; and receive a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information.

[0024] In accordance with one aspect, an apparatus can comprise: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform: transmitting a first downlink control information part of downlink control information, wherein the first downlink control information part can include a first set of information and a second set of information, and separate encoding can be applied to the first and second sets of information; and transmitting a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information.

[0025] In accordance with another aspect, a method can comprise: transmitting a first downlink control information part of downlink control information, wherein the first downlink control information part can include a first set of information and a second set of information, and separate encoding can be applied to the first and second sets of information; and transmitting a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information.

[0026] In accordance with another aspect, an apparatus can comprise: means for transmitting a first downlink control information part of downlink control information, wherein the first downlink control information part can include a first set of information and a second set of information, and separate encoding can be applied to the first and second sets of information; and means for transmitting a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information.

[0027] In accordance with another aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium can include program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to: transmit a first downlink control information part of downlink control information, wherein the first downlink control information part can include a first set of information and a second set of information, and separate encoding can be applied to the first and second sets of information; and transmit a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information.

[0028] According to some aspects, there is provided the subject matter of the independent claims. Some further aspects are provided in subject matter of the dependent claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] The foregoing aspects and other features are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one possible and non-limiting example system in which the example embodiments may be practiced;

[0031] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for a two-stage DCI, according to an example embodiment of the current disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method for a two-stage DCI from the perspective of a network node, according to an example embodiment of the current disclosure;

[0033] FIGS. 4 A and 4B show two diagrams depicting two different schemes for configuring or determining an UL resource, according to example embodiments of the current disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 5 is a signaling diagram representing an example implementation of the methods of FIGS. 2 and 3, according to an example embodiment of the current disclosure;

[0035] FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting a method for supporting transmission repetition for a DCI part, according to an example embodiment of the current disclosure;

[0036] FIG. 7 is a flow chart depicting another method for supporting transmission repetition for a DCI part from the perspective of a network node, according to an example embodiment of the current disclosure;

[0037] FIG. 8 is a signaling diagram representing an example implementation of the methods of FIGS. 6 and 7, according to an example embodiment of the current disclosure;

[0038] FIG. 9 is a flow chart depicting a method for reception of two-stage (or multi-stage) DCI, according to example embodiment of the current disclosure; and

[0039] FIG. 10 is a flow chart depicting a method for transmission of two-stage (or multistage) DCI, according to example embodiment of the current disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The following abbreviations that may be found in the specification and / or the drawing figures are defined as follows:3GPP third generation partnership project5G fifth generation5GC 5G core networkAl artificial intelligenceAI / ML artificial intelligence / machine learningAMF access and mobility management functionCE control elementCU central unitDL downlinkDU distributed unit eNB (or eNodeB) evolved Node B (e.g., an LTE base station)EN-DC E-UTRA-NR dual connectivity en-gNB or En-gNB node providing NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and acting as secondary node in EN-DCE-UTRA evolved universal terrestrial radio access, i.e., the LTE radio access technologyFG feature group gNB (or gNodeB) base station for 5G / NR, i.e., a node providing NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and connected via the NG interface to the 5GCGNSS global navigation satellite systemI / F interfaceIlot industrial internet of thingsLCM latent consistency modelLMF location management functionLOS line of sightLTE long term evolutionMAC medium access controlML machine learningMME mobility management entity ng or NG new generation ng-eNB or NG-eNB new generation eNBNR new radioN / W or NW networkOTT over the topPDCP packet data convergence protocolPHY physical layerProp propagationPRS position reference signalPRU position reference unitRAN radio access networkRel releaseRel-17 release 17RLC radio link controlRRH remote radio headRRC radio resource controlRSTD reference signal time differenceRTT round trip timeRU radio unitRx receiverSDAP service data adaptation protocolSGW serving gatewaySMF session management functionSRS sounding reference signalTDoA time difference of arrivalTD time delayTE timing errorTEG timing error groupTOA time of arrivalTRP transmission and reception pointTS technical specificationTx transmitterUE user equipment (e.g., a wireless, typically mobile device)UL uplinkUPF user plane functionWI work item

[0041] Turning to FIG. 1, this figure shows a block diagram of one possible and non-limiting example in which the examples may be practiced. A user equipment (UE) 110, radio access network (RAN) node 170, and network element(s) 190 are illustrated. Examples of network equipment, network device, or a network entity might be understood to include, at least part of, a transmission reception point or a cell or a gNB or node for example. In the example of FIG. 1, the user equipment (UE) 110 is in wireless communication with a wireless network 100. A UE is a wireless device that can access the wireless network 100. The UE 110 includes one or more processors 120, one or more memories 125, and one or more transceivers 130 interconnected through one or more buses 127. Each of the one or more transceivers 130 includes a receiver, Rx, 132 and a transmitter, Tx, 133. The one or more buses 127 may be address, data, or control buses, and may include any interconnection mechanism, such as aseries of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, fiber optics or other optical communication equipment, and the like. The one or more transceivers 130 are connected to one or more antennas 128. The one or more memories 125 include computer program code 123. The UE 110 includes a module 140, comprising one of or both parts 140-1 and / or 140-2, which may be implemented in a number of ways. The module 140 may be implemented in hardware as module 140-1, such as being implemented as part of the one or more processors 120. The module 140-1 may be implemented also as an integrated circuit or through other hardware such as a programmable gate array. In another example, the module 140 may be implemented as module 140-2, which is implemented as computer program code 123 and is executed by the one or more processors 120. For instance, the one or more memories 125 and the computer program code 123 may be configured to, with the one or more processors 120, cause the user equipment 110 to perform one or more of the operations as described herein. The UE 110 communicates with RAN node 170 via a wireless link 111.

[0042] The RAN node 170 in this example is a base station that provides access by wireless devices such as the UE 110 to the wireless network 100. The RAN node 170 may be, for example, a base station for 5G, also called New Radio (NR). In 5G, the RAN node 170 may be a NG-RAN node, which is defined as either a gNB or a ng-eNB. A gNB is a node providing NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and connected via the NG interface to a 5GC (such as, for example, the network element(s) 190). The ng-eNB is a node providing E-UTRA user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and connected via the NG interface to the 5GC. The NG-RAN node may include multiple gNBs, which may also include a central unit (CU) (gNB-CU) 196 and distributed unit(s) (DUs) (gNB-DUs), of which DU 195 is shown. Note that the DU may include or be coupled to and control a radio unit (RU). The gNB-CU is a logical node hosting RRC, SDAP and PDCP protocols of the gNB or RRC and PDCP protocols of the en-gNB that controls the operation of one or more gNB-DUs. The gNB-CU terminates the Fl interface connected with the gNB-DU. The Fl interface is illustrated as reference 198, although reference 198 also illustrates a link between remote elements of the RAN node 170 and centralized elements of the RAN node 170, such as between the gNB-CU 196 and the gNB-DU 195. The gNB-DU is a logical node hosting RLC, MAC and PHY layers of the gNB or en-gNB, and its operation is partly controlled by gNB-CU. One gNB-CU supports one or multiple cells. One cell is supported by only one gNB-DU. The gNB-DU terminates the Fl interface 198 connected with the gNB-CU. Note that the DU 195 is considered to include the transceiver 160, e.g., as part of a RU, but some examples of this may have the transceiver 160 as part of a separate RU, e.g., under control of and connected to the DU 195. The RAN node 170 may also be an eNB (evolved NodeB) base station, for LTE (long term evolution), or any other suitable base station or node.

[0043] The RAN node 170 includes one or more processors 152, one or more memories 155, one or more network interfaces (N / W I / F(s)) 161, and one or more transceivers 160 interconnected through one or more buses 157. Each of the one or more transceivers 160 includes a receiver, Rx, 162 and a transmitter, Tx, 163. The one or more transceivers 160 are connected to one or more antennas 158. The one or more memories 155 include computer program code 153. The CU 196 may include the processor(s) 152, memories 155, and network interfaces 161. Note that the DU 195 may also contain its own memory / memories and processor(s), and / or other hardware, but these are not shown.

[0044] The RAN node 170 includes a module 150, comprising one of or both parts 150-1 and / or 150-2, which may be implemented in a number of ways. The module 150 may be implemented in hardware as module 150-1, such as being implemented as part of the one or more processors 152. The module 150-1 may be implemented also as an integrated circuit or through other hardware such as a programmable gate array. In another example, the module 150 may be implemented as module 150-2, which is implemented as computer program code 153 and is executed by the one or more processors 152. For instance, the one or more memories 155 and the computer program code 153 are configured to, with the one or more processors 152, cause the RAN node 170 to perform one or more of the operations as described herein. Note that the functionality of the module 150 may be distributed, such as being distributed between the DU 195 and the CU 196, or be implemented solely in the DU 195.

[0045] The one or more network interfaces 161 communicate over a network such as via the links 176 and 131. Two or more gNBs 170 may communicate using, e.g., link 176. The link 176 may be wired or wireless or both and may implement, for example, an Xn interface for 5G, an X2 interface for LTE, or other suitable interface for other standards.

[0046] The one or more buses 157 may be address, data, or control buses, and may include any interconnection mechanism, such as a series of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit,fiber optics or other optical communication equipment, wireless channels, and the like. For example, the one or more transceivers 160 may be implemented as a remote radio head (RRH) 195 for LTE or a distributed unit (DU) 195 for gNB implementation for 5G, with the other elements of the RAN node 170 possibly being physically in a different location from the RRH / DU, and the one or more buses 157 could be implemented in part as, for example, fiber optic cable or other suitable network connection to connect the other elements (e.g., a central unit (CU), gNB-CU) of the RAN node 170 to the RRH / DU 195. Reference 198 also indicates those suitable network link(s).

[0047] It is noted that description herein indicates that “cells” perform functions, but it should be clear that equipment which forms the cell will perform the functions. The cell makes up part of a base station. That is, there can be multiple cells per base station. For example, there could be three cells for a single carrier frequency and associated bandwidth, each cell covering one- third of a 360 degree area so that the single base station’ s coverage area covers an approximate oval or circle. Furthermore, each cell can correspond to a single carrier and a base station may use multiple carriers. So if there are three 120 degree cells per carrier and two carriers, then the base station has a total of 6 cells.

[0048] The wireless network 100 may include a network element or elements 190 that may include core network functionality, and which provides connectivity via a link or links 181 with a further network, such as a telephone network and / or a data communications network (e.g., the Internet). Such core network functionality for 5G may include access and mobility management function(s) (AMF(S)) and / or user plane functions (UPF(s)) and / or session management function(s) (SMF(s)). Such core network functionality for LTE may include MME (Mobility Management Entity ) / SGW (Serving Gateway) functionality. These are merely exemplary functions that may be supported by the network element(s) 190, and note that both 5G and LTE functions might be supported. The RAN node 170 is coupled via a link 131 to a network element 190. The link 131 may be implemented as, e.g., an NG interface for 5G, or an SI interface for LTE, or other suitable interface for other standards. The network element 190 includes one or more processors 175, one or more memories 171, and one or more network interfaces (N / W I / F(s)) 180, interconnected through one or more buses 185. The one or more memories 171 include computer program code 173. The one or more memories 171 and thecomputer program code 173 are configured to, with the one or more processors 175, cause the network element 190 to perform one or more operations.

[0049] The wireless network 100 may implement network virtualization, which is the process of combining hardware and software network resources and network functionality into a single, software-based administrative entity, a virtual network. Network virtualization involves platform virtualization, often combined with resource virtualization. Network virtualization is categorized as either external, combining many networks, or parts of networks, into a virtual unit, or internal, providing network-like functionality to software containers on a single system. Note that the virtualized entities that result from the network virtualization are still implemented, at some level, using hardware such as processors 152 or 175 and memories 155 and 171, and also such virtualized entities create technical effects.

[0050] The computer readable memories 125, 155, and 171 may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor based memory devices, flash memory, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. The computer readable memories 125, 155, and 171 may be means for performing storage functions. The processors 120, 152, and 175 may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and may include one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on a multi-core processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The processors 120, 152, and 175 may be means for performing functions, such as controlling the UE 110, RAN node 170, and other functions as described herein.

[0051] In general, the various embodiments of the user equipment 110 can include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones such as smart phones, tablets, personal digital assistants (PDAs) having wireless communication capabilities, portable computers having wireless communication capabilities, image capture devices such as digital cameras having wireless communication capabilities, gaming devices having wireless communication capabilities, music storage and playback appliances having wireless communication capabilities, Internet appliances permitting wireless Internet access and browsing, tablets with wirelesscommunication capabilities, as well as portable units or terminals that incorporate combinations of such functions.

[0052] In 5G NR, polar code, which is used for downlink control information (DCI) on PDCCH, supports a maximum DCI size of 164 bits due to interleaver design. This means that without CRC, the DCI maximum payload size is limited to 140 bits in 5G.

[0053] The DCI payload size in 5G is reaching its limits, and it is expected that 6G will need to enable larger DCI payloads. For example, 3GPP Rel-18 was specifying new 5G DCI formats where a single DCI can schedule multiple cells. Such DCI design may not be easily scalable because the 140-bit limit may be easily exceeded. In addition, multi-cell scheduling may be applied in combination with multi-slot scheduling (which is a feature introduced in Rel-16 and Rel-17 for NR). There can be also other reasons to increase DCI size further, e.g., due to enhancements in multi-input multi-output (MIMO), increase in bandwidths, support for multiple parallel PxSCHs (e.g., PUSCH, PDSCH) in a cell, or the like.

[0054] One approach for multi-cell scheduling could be to divide the overall DCI to two stages, which would scale better for even larger payloads, e.g., if more cells (and / or slots) would be specified. One of the motivations behind two-stage (or multi-stage) DCI is to support a larger overall DCI payload size than 140 bits as described above. Furthermore, the information content of the first stage (or first DCI part) can be carried in the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), whereas the second stage DCI (or second DCI part) information could be carried on PDCCH or also carried in or piggy-backed on a PDSCH (physical downlink shared channel).

[0055] Generally speaking, the potential advantages for using two-stage DCI approach include support of larger DCI sizes, reduced blind decoding needs, reduced blocking probability, and / or control overhead offloading (if the second stage is carried by PDSCH).

[0056] The principle of two-stage DCI, where both stages are to be transmitted on PDCCH. The total payload size can be split in two parts with one payload part associated with the first stage and the other payload part with the second stage of DCI. The two payloads can be separately encoded and then mapped as such on PDCCH.

[0057] Radio network temporal identifier (RNTI) is the CRC mask that is used to decode DCI. RNTI is used to identify one specific radio channel from other radio channels and one user from another user. Each DCI message (more precisely the CRC bits of each DCI) is scrambled by a specific RNTI Value. In one embodiment, the first stage and the second stage can use the same RNTI for CRC (e.g. following the principle used currently for 1-stage DCI). Alternatively, RNTI for the second stage DCI may use a different RNTI, which may be derived, e.g., from the RNTI used for 1-stage DCI.

[0058] The location of the first stage and the second stage of the DCI can be be directly linked in order for the UE to locate the second stage DCI with respect to the first stage.

[0059] In embodiments described herein, the UE can be configured / indicated to operate with DCI conveyed through or comprising at least two DCI parts (or stages). However, one issue with the two-stage DCI approach is the reliability of at least the second DCI part. In addition, the gNB would not have timely knowledge regarding whether at least the second DCI part has been received / decode correctly or not.

[0060] Similar observations can be made for the first DCI part, while noting that first DCI part to be potentially less challenging from reliability perspective compared to the second DCI part as the first DCI part would have lower / small size. In one design, the first DCI part carry few bits, e.g. small payload, to have more reliable performance. For small DCI, low spectral efficiency can be applied without new PDCCH resources needed (Time or frequency resources), to ensure UE always decodes first DCI part.

[0061] Embodiments described herein provide ways / solutions to address the reliability issue of at least the second DCI part in a rather reactive manner as well as in a rather proactive manner.

[0062] First Approach: Reporting Receiving State of Second DCI Part

[0063] Referring now to FIG. 2, a flowchart illustrating a method 200 for a two-stage DCI is shown, according to an example embodiment of the current disclosure. The method 200 is implemented by a user device, such as UE 110. In brief overview, the method 200 can include the UE 110 receiving a first DCI part of a DCI (STEP 202), receiving a second DCI part of theDCI (STEP 204), determining at least one uplink (UL) resource based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first DCI part or the second DCI part (STEP 206), and transmitting, using the at least one UL resource, an indication indicative of a receiving state of the second DCI (STEP 208).

[0064] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method 300 for a two-stage DCI from the perspective of a network node, such as radio access node 170, according to an example embodiment of the current disclosure. In brief overview, the method 300 can include the RAN node 170 transmitting a first DCI part of a DCI (STEP 302), transmitting a second DCI part of the DCI (STEP 304), and receiving, using at least one UL resource, an indication indicative of a receiving state of the second DCI (STEP 306). The at least one uplink (UL) resource can be defined, signaled and / or determined based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first DCI part or the second DCI.

[0065] In some implementations, the UE 110 be can configured or informed (e.g., via an indication) to operate with DCI conveyed through or comprising at least two DCI parts (or two DCI stages). For instance, the wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can broadcast or transmit, and the UE 110 can receive, configuration information and / or one or more indications to indicate that one or more DCIs are to be conveyed through, or comprise, at least two DCI parts.

[0066] The base station 170 or the network 100 can determine that the DCI includes at least two DCI parts, e.g., at least the first DCI part and the second DCI part, and / or determine that the DCI is to be conveyed, transmitted or broadcast in at least two separate DCI parts, e.g., including at least the first DCI part and the second DCI part. For example, the network 100 can determine that the DCI includes at least two DCI parts and / or determine that the DCI is to be conveyed, broadcast or transmitted in at least two separate DCI parts based on at least one of a predefined rule, policy or condition, or a size of the DCI (e.g., number of bits).

[0067] The UE 110 can determine, e.g., based on configuration information or one or more received indications, that the DCI includes at least two DCI parts, e.g., at least the first DCI part and the second DCI part, and / or that the DCI is to be received in at least two separate DCI parts, e.g., at least the first DCI part and the second DCI part. In some implementations, the UE 110 can determine or infer that the DCI includes at least two DCI parts and / or that the DCIis to be received in at least two separate DCI parts, based on one or more other factors or parameters, such as a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part, a bandwidth part group, at least one transmission point, a reference signal, a physical cell identifier or any combination thereof.

[0068] In some implementations, the UE 110 can be configured or informed, by the base station 170 or the wireless network 100, with information indicative of where each DCI part is to be transmitted / received. For instance, the base station 170 or the wireless network 100 can indicate to the UE 110 the downlink channel(s) for receiving at least one of the first DCI part or the second DCI part.

[0069] The method 300 can include the base station 170 transmitting the first and the second DCI part (STEPS 302 and 304), and the UE 110 receiving the first and second DCI parts STEPS 202 and 204). In some implementations the first DCI part and the second DCI part can transmitted by the base station 170 and received by the UE 110 over separate physical downlink channels. For instance, the first DCI part can be transmitted / received in a second physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and the second DCI part can be transmitted / received in a second PDCCH, e.g., distinct from the first PDCCH, in a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), or in a physical downlink channel of another type.

[0070] In some implementations, the first DCI part and the second DCI part can carry at least partially different information. In other words, the information carried by the first DCI part and the information carried by the second DCI part can be at least partially different from each other. In some implementations, the second DCI part can be associated with the first DCI part. For instance, the first DCI part can include at least one scheduling information of (or to schedule) the second DCI part, or information for receiving the second downlink control information part. For example, the first DCI part can include an indication of one or more resources, e.g., time resource(s), frequency resource(s) and / or time / frequency resource(s), for receiving the second DCI part.

[0071] Referring back to FIG. 2, the method 200 can include the UE determining at least one uplink (UL) resource based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first DCI part or the second DCI part (STEP 206). In some implementations, the UE 110 candetermine the reference time point based on at least one of a start of a monitoring window of the first downlink control information part, an end of the monitoring window of the first downlink control information part, a start of a reception of the second downlink control information part, an end of the reception of the second downlink control information part, or some other time point associated with the first DCI part or the second DCI part. In some implementations, the reference time point can be indicated to the UE 110, e.g. by the base station 170 or the wireless network 100, using semi-static configuration, e.g., radio resource control (RRC) signaling, or using one or more indications carried in the first DCI part. For example, an RRC or the first DCI part can include an indication of the reference time point, e.g., in as a time point associated with at least one of the first DCI part or the second DCI part.

[0072] In some implementations, the UE 110 can determine the at least one UL resource based on a time offset relative to the reference time point. For instance, the wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can configure the at least one UL resource to start a time offset after the reference time point, or at least at least a time offset after the reference time point. In some implementations, the base station 170 or the wireless network 100 can signal, and the UE 110 can determine, the time offset using (or based on) at least one of an indication carried in the first downlink control information part, an indication carried in the second downlink control information part, an indication received in an RRC signaling or an indication received in a medium access control control element (MAC CE).

[0073] In some implementations, the reference time point and / or the time offset can be defined (e.g., by the wireless network 100 or the base station 170) or determined (e.g., by the UE 110) using or based on a physical downlink channel (e.g., a first PDCCH) carrying the first DCI part or a physical downlink channel (e.g., a second PDCCH or a PDSCH) carrying the second DCI part. For example, the reference time point can be configured (e.g., by the wireless network 100 or the base station 170) or determined (e.g., by the UE 110) based on a specific symbol, e.g., first or last symbol, of the physical downlink channel carrying the first DCI part or a specific symbol, e.g., first or last symbol, of the physical downlink channel carrying the second DCI part. The at least one UL resource can be configured or determined to start at least a time offset after the specific symbol of the physical downlink channel carrying the first DCI part or the specific symbol of the physical downlink channel carrying the second DCI part.

[0074] In some implementations , the wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can defined, schedule or configure, and the UE 110 can determine, the at least one UL resource based on (or using) at least one of a physical downlink channel (e.g., PDCCH) carrying the first DO part or a physical downlink channel (e.g., PDCCH or PDSCH) carrying the second DCI part. For example, the at least one UL resource can be defined or determined based on (or using) at least one of a search space set (e.g., used for reception of the physical downlink channel carrying the first DCI or reception of the physical downlink channel carrying the second DCI), a control resource set (CORESET) (e.g., used for transmission of the physical downlink channel carrying the first DCI or transmission of the physical downlink channel carrying the second DCI), an aggregation level (e.g., for the physical downlink channel carrying the first DCI or the physical downlink channel carrying the second DCI), a configuration (e.g., for the physical downlink channel carrying the first DCI or the physical downlink channel carrying the second DCI), a cell, a serving component carrier, or a carrier bandwidth part of at least one of the physical downlink channel carrying the first DCI part or the physical downlink channel carrying the second DCI part.

[0075] Referring back to FIGS 2 and 3, the UE 110 can transmit, using the at least one UL resource, the indication indicative of the receiving state of the second DCI (STEP 208), and the base station 170 can receive, using at least one UL resource, and the indication indicative of the receiving state of the second DCI (STEP 306). The UE 110 can determine whether the second DCI part has been successfully received and / or correctly decoded, and transmit an indication of the receiving state of the second DCI part in the at least one UL resource. The receiving state can be indicative of whether the second DCI part has been successfully received and / or correctly decoded.

[0076] In at least some embodiments, the UE 110 can be specified, configured or indicated (e.g., by the wireless network 100 or the base station 170) to report / send the receiving state(s), or to include at least one bit corresponding to the receiving state(s) in a feedback codebook, only if the second DCI part(s) (and / or the first DCI part(s)) has not been received correctly. In at least some embodiments, the UE 110 can be specified, configured or indicated (e.g., by the wireless network 100 or the base station 170) to report / send the receiving state(s), or to include at least one bit corresponding to the receiving state(s) in feedback codebook, only if the second DCI part(s) (and / or the first DCI part(s)) has been received or decoded correctly.

[0077] In some implementations, the UE 110 can transmit the indication of the receiving state of the second DCI in a preconfigured physical uplink channel, such as a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). For example, the at least one UL resource can be arranged or configured within a PUCCH or a PUSCH. The UL resource can be, or may not be, defined or configured based on a reference time point. For instance, the UU resource can be configured or preconfigured to include certain time frequency resource(s).

[0078] In some implementations, the UE 110 can be configured or informed (e.g., via an indication) with information indicating whether to report the receiving state of the second DCI part. The wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can broadcast or transmit configuration information and / or one or more indications to indicate to the UE 110 whether to report the receiving state of the second DCI part.

[0079] In some implementations, the indication of whether to report the receiving state of the second DCI part can be configured / conveyed (e.g., configured / indicated by the network 100 or the base station 170 to the UE 110) using at least one of a format of the DCI, a format of the first DCI part, a format of the second DCI part, a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) scrambling (or used to scramble) the first DCI part, one or more bits of the first DCI part, a CORESET of the physical downlink channel (e.g., PDCCH) carrying the first DCI part, or a search space set of the physical downlink channel (e.g., PDCCH) carrying the first DCI part.

[0080] For example, the UE 110 can determine to report (or not to report) the receiving state of the second DCI responsive to determining that the DCI (or the first DCI part or the second DCI part) has a specific format. The UE 110 can determine to report (or not to report) the receiving state of the second DCI based on the RNTI used to scramble the first DCI part. The wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can use a 1 -bit signal or flag in the first DCI part to indicate to the UE 110 whether to report the receiving state of the second DCI part. For example, if the 1-bit signal or flag is equal to 1, the UE 110 will determine to report the receiving state of the second DCI, otherwise the UE 110 will determine not to report the receiving state of the second DCI part.

[0081] In some implementations, the UE 110 can be configured or informed, e.g., through RRC, MAC CE and / or DCI (including first DCI part), to determine whether to report thereceiving state of the second DCI part to the wireless network 100 based on (or per) one or more parameters or factors. For instance, the UE 110 can determine whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part using or per at least one of at least one DCI format (e.g., DCI format or format of first DCI part), at least one search space set (e.g., based on the index / ID or type of the search space set of physical downlink channel carrying the first DCI part), at least one CORESET (e.g., based on CORESET ID or CORESET group ID of CORESET carrying the PDCCH carrying the first DCI part), at least one aggregation level (e.g., the aggregation level of the physical channel carrying the first DCI part), a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part, a bandwidth part group, at least one transmission point, a control resource set pool index, a reference signal (such as SSB, CSI-RS, TRS, SRS) set (comprising one or more reference signals), or a physical cell identifier, among others. For example, reporting of the receiving state of the second DCI part can be enabled (or disabled) for one or more DCI formats, a specific search space type, one or more defined CORESET IDs, one or more aggregation levels, one or more CORESET pool indices, one or more carriers, or one or more carrier groups, one or more cells, one or more serving cells, one or more cell groups, or one or more serving cell groups, among others.

[0082] For example, the transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state, which can include a source reference signal, such as SSB, CSI-RS etc., and can be applicable to PDCCH and / or PDSCH, can be used for determining whether to report the receiving state based on the reference signal set. In other words, the UE 110 can use a TCI state for the reception of the PDCCH / PDSCH. An association of the PDCCH / PDSCH or DCI part to a reference signal or reference signal set can be used to determine whether to report the receiving state of the second (or first) DCI part.

[0083] In some implementations, the UE 110 can determine that the second DCI part was not successfully received and / or correctly decoded over a first channel occasion, and receive a retransmission (or a retransmitted instance) of the second DCI part over a second channel occasion.

[0084] The UE can be specified, configured or indicated (e.g., by the wireless network 100 or the base station 170 through RRC or MAC CE or DCI), in case the second DCI part is notcorrectly received / decoded in one physical downlink channel (e.g., PDCCH, or PDSCH) occasion, to monitor for a retransmission of the second DCI part in at least one other physical downlink channel occasion. The wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can configure transmission repetition of the second DCI part per at least one of at least one DCI format (e.g., DCI format or format of first DCI part), at least one search space set (e.g., based on the type of the search space set of physical downlink channel carrying the first DCI part), at least one CORESET (e.g., based on CORESET ID or CORESET group ID of CORESET carrying the PDCCH carrying the first DCI part), at least one aggregation level (e.g., the aggregation level of the physical channel carrying the first DCI part), a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part, a bandwidth part group, at least one transmission point, a control resource set pool index, a reference signal (such as SSB, CSI-RS, SRS) set, or a physical cell identifier, among others.

[0085] In some implementations, the retransmission of the second DCI part can be a time offset after the last or first symbol of the physical downlink channel (e.g., PDCCH, PDSCH) carrying the initial or previous transmission of the second DCI part. In some implementations, the retransmission of the second DCI part can be a time offset after the first or last symbol of the physical downlink channel (e.g., PDCCH) carrying the first DCI part. The wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can configure transmission repletion of the second DCI according to a reference time point and a corresponding time offset. The wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can configure the time offset per at least one of: at least one DCI format (e.g., DCI format or format of first DCI part), at least one search space set (e.g., based on the index / ID or type of the search space set of physical downlink channel carrying the first DCI part), at least one CORESET (e.g., based on CORESET ID or CORESET group ID of CORESET carrying the PDCCH carrying the first DCI part), at least one aggregation level (e.g., the aggregation level of the physical channel carrying the first DCI part), a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part, a bandwidth part group, at least one transmission point, a control resource set pool index, a reference signal (such as SSB, CSI-RS, TRS, SRS) set (comprising one or more reference signals), or a physical cell identifier, among others.

[0086] In some implementations, the UE may be configured or indicated (e.g., by the wireless network 100 or the base station 170 through RRC or MAC CE or DCI) to monitor for transmission repetition of the second DCI part for a number of times or within a time period / window. The number of times or time period can be configured / indicated through RRC or MAC CE or DCI. The number of times and / or the time period / window can be configured per at least one of at least one DCI format (e.g., DCI format or format of first DCI part), at least one search space set (e.g., based on the index / ID or type of the search space set of physical downlink channel carrying the first DCI part), at least one CORESET (e.g., based on CORESET ID or CORESET group ID of CORESET carrying the PDCCH carrying the first DCI part), at least one aggregation level (e.g., the aggregation level of the physical channel carrying the first DCI part), a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part, a bandwidth part group, at least one transmission point, a control resource set pool index, a reference signal (such as SSB, CSI-RS, TRS, SRS) set (comprising one or more reference signals), or a physical cell identifier, among others.

[0087] In some implementations, the wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can configure, or indicate to, the UE 110 to report at least one of a receiving state of the first DCI part or the receiving state of the second DCI part. The receiving state of the first DCI part can be indicative of whether the first DCI part has been received / decoded successfully or correctly. In general, the UE 110 can be configured, informed or instructed to report the receiving state of one of the DCI parts or the receiving states of both DCI parts. In some implementations, the wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can configure at least one second UL resource (e.g., PUCCH resource(s)), e.g., with respect to a monitoring window of the first DCI or with respect the PDCCH occasion / candidate where the first DCI part is expected or monitored. The at least one second UL resource is to be used by the UE 110 to report the receiving state of the first DCI part. The at least one second UL resource can be configured or scheduled according to a reference time point and a corresponding time offset. The at least one second UL resource can be configured based on one or more factors or parameters, e.g., as discussed above with regard to the UL resource(s) used to report the receiving state of the second DCI part.

[0088] In some implementations, the UE 110 can be specified, configured or indicated (e.g., by the wireless network 100 or the base station 170 through RRC or MAC CE or DCI) tomonitor for the second DCI part only if the first DCI part has not been correctly received / decoded and / or in case the UE 110 sends information indicating that the first DCI part is not correctly received / decoded. For instance, the UE 110 may not monitor for the second DCI part if the first DCI part has been correctly received / decoded.

[0089] In some implementations, the UE 110 can be indicated, e.g., via the PDCCH carrying the first DCI part (e.g., through the search space set or CORESET over which the PDCCH carrying the first DCI part is transmitted) whether to report the information indicative of the receiving state of the first DCI part.

[0090] In some implementations, the PUCCH (or some other physical uplink channel) can be carry one bit corresponding to the receiving state of the first DCI part, to indicate whether the first DCI part has been received / decoded correctly, and one bit corresponding to the receiving state of the second DCI part, to indicate whether the second DCI part has been received / decoded correctly. In some implementations, one bit can used for the receiving states of both the first and second DCI parts, e.g., to indicate if the first and second DCI parts have been received / decoded correctly. The information indicative of the receiving states of the first and second DCI parts can be at least one bit indicating positive or negative acknowledgement with regard to the correct / incorrect reception or decoding of the first and / or second DCI parts.

[0091] In some implementations, the UE 110 can be configured or instructed (e.g., by the wireless network 110 or the bases station 170) to report / send / provide the receiving state(s) of the second (or first) DCI part(s) only if the UE 110 has not correctly received the second (or first) DCI part(s) for a number of consecutive times or occasions. The wireless network 110 or the bases station 170 can configure such number (number of times or occasions) or provide an indication thereof for the UE. The configuration of the number of times or occasions may be per at least one of: at least one DCI format (e.g., DCI format or format of first DCI part), at least one search space set (e.g., based on the index / ID or type of the search space set of physical downlink channel carrying the first DCI part), at least one CORESET (e.g., based on CORESET ID or CORESET group ID of CORESET carrying the PDCCH carrying the first DCI part), at least one aggregation level (e.g., the aggregation level of the physical channel carrying the first DCI part), a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part, a bandwidthpart group, at least one transmission point, a control resource set pool index, a reference signal (such as SSB, CSI-RS, TRS, SRS) set (comprising one or more reference signals), or a physical cell identifier, among others.

[0092] In some implementations, the UE 110 can be configured or indicated (e.g., by the wireless network 100 or the bases station 170) to compress or combine, e.g., through AND or OR logical operation, receiving states of multiple second (or first) DCI parts across at least one of multiple CORESETs, search space sets, DCI formats, aggregation levels, component carriers, or cells, bandwidth parts, or time periods corresponding to multiple second DCI parts (or multiple first DCI parts or DCIs).

[0093] In some implementations, the UE 110 can be configured or indicated (e.g., by the wireless network 100 or the base station 170) to aggregate, in the same at least one uplink resource, receiving states of multiple second (or first) DCI parts for at least one of multiple control resource sets or search space sets or formats or aggregation levels or component carriers or cells or bandwidth parts or time periods corresponding to multiple first DCI parts or second DCI parts or DCIs. For instance, the UE 110 can aggregate and transmit receiving states of a plurality of second (or first) DCI parts in a single UL resource (or in the same at least one UL resource) for at least one of multiple control resource sets or search space sets or formats or aggregation levels or component carriers or cells or bandwidth parts or time periods, and the base station 170 or the wireless network 100 can receive the receiving states in the same UL resource (or same at least one UL resource.

[0094] In some implementations, the UE 110 can be configured or indicated (e.g., by the wireless network 100 or the base station 170) to drop or not to send the receiving state of the second (or first) DCI part when the physical downlink channel carrying the second DCI part (or the physical downlink channel carrying the first DCI) is dropped or overlaps with at least one of: at least one uplink slot or symbol, or at least one inactive period of cell discontinuous transmission.

[0095] Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, two diagrams depicting two different schemes 400A and 400B for configuring or determining an UL resource are shown, according to example embodiments of the current disclosure. In the scheme 400A, the reference time point is defined or set, e.g., by the wireless network 100 or the bases station 170, to be at the end ofa monitoring window of the first DCI part. The wireless network 100 or the bases station 170 can transmit or broadcast configuration information or one or more indications indicative of the reference time point and the time offset (or time offset value). The UE 110 can determine the reference time point and the time offset based on configuration information and / or received indication(s). The UE 110 can determine the UL resource based on the reference point and the time offset, and transmit the receiving state of the second (r first) DCI part in the UL resource.

[0096] In the scheme 400B, the reference time point is equal to an end (e.g., a last symbol) of a physical downlink channel, e.g., PDCCH or PDSCH, carrying the second DCI part. The time offset value represent a time offset from the end of the physical downlink channel carrying the second DCI part.

[0097] Referring now to FIG. 5, a signaling diagram 500 representing an example implementation of the methods 200 and 300 of FIGS. 2 and 3 is shown, according to an example embodiment of the current disclosure. The wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can configure, or indicate to, the UE 110 to operate with DCI conveyed through, or including, at least two DCI parts. The wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can configure, or indicate to, the UE 110 to report a receiving state of the second DCI part to the network 100 or the base station 170. The wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can broadcast or transmit the first DCI part, and broadcast or transmit the second DCI part. The UE 110 can determine the receiving state of the second DCI part, e.g., whether the second DCI part has been accurately received / decoded. The UE 110 can determine an UL resource, e.g., based on a PDCCH carrying the first DCI part, and transmit an indication of the receiving state of the second DCI part in the UL resource to the wireless network 100 or the base station 170.

[0098] In some implementations, the UE 110 can be configured or indicated to aggregate, in a same at least one uplink resource, receiving states of multiple second (or first) DCI parts for at least one of multiple control resource sets or search space sets or formats or aggregation levels or component carriers or cells or bandwidth parts or time periods corresponding to multiple DCIs / PDCCHs.

[0099] In some implementations, the UE 110 can be configured or indicated to compress or combine receiving states for at least one DCI / PDCCH and at least one DCI part (of a DCI).The UE 110 can be configured or indicated to aggregate, in a same UL resource, receiving states for at least one DCI / PDCCH and at least one DCI part (of a DCI).

[0100] In some implementations, a receiving state for a DCI part (in the embodiments described herein) can correspond to a receiving state for a PDCCH or a PDSCH or a codeblock or a codeblock group or at least one transmission layer or frequency allocation or time allocation carrying or corresponding to the DCI part.

[0101] In some implementations, embodiments described herein can be applicable or valid for single DCI stage where the second DCI part (or first DCI part) is replaced with DCI or PDCCH. Examples of such implementations are described below for illustrative purposes.

[0102] According to a first example, the UE 110 can be configured or instructed to provide indication indicative of the receiving state only if the UE 110 has not correctly received DCI / PDCCH a number of (consecutive) times. The number can be configured or indicated for the UE 110. The configuration of the number can be per at least one of: at least one CORESET, at least one SS set, at least one format, at least one aggregation level, at least one cell, at least one component carrier, at least one bandwidth part.

[0103] In another example, the UE 110 can be configured or indicated to compress or combine (e.g. through AND or OR logical operation) receiving states of multiple DCIs / PDCCHs across at least one of multiple control resource sets or search space sets or formats or aggregation levels or component carriers or cells or bandwidth parts or time periods corresponding to multiple DCIs / PDCCHs.

[0104] In another example, the UE 110 can drop or does not send the receiving state if the physical downlink channel carrying DCI is dropped or overlaps with at least one of: at least one uplink slot or symbol, at least one active period of cell discontinuous transmission.

[0105] It is to be noted that embodiments described herein can be valid or applicable for DCI / PDCCH in a single-stage DCI.

[0106] Second Approach: Transmission Repetition for Second DCI Part

[0107] According to aspects of the current disclosure, DCI reliability can be enhanced by enabling transmission repetition for the second DCI part. For a UE 110 configured / indicated to operate with DCI conveyed through or comprising at least two DCI parts (or stages), comprising a first DCI part and a second DCI part, the UE 110 can obtain information indicative of transmission repetition of the second DCI part through at least one repetition. The UE 110 can monitor for and / or receive the at least one repetition of the second DCI part according to the obtained configuration information.

[0108] Referring now to FIG. 6, a flow chart depicting a method 600 for supporting transmission repetition for a DCI part is shown, according to an example embodiment of the current disclosure. The method 600 can be implemented by the UE 110. The method 600 can include the UE 110 receiving a first DCI part of a DCI (STEP 602), and receiving a second DCI part of the DCI (STEP 604). The method 600 can include the UE 110 determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second DCI part (STEP 606), and receiving at least one retransmission (retransmitted instance) of the second DCI part (STEP 608).

[0109] Referring now to FIG. 7, a flow chart depicting another method 700 for supporting transmission repetition for a DCI part is shown, according to an example embodiment of the current disclosure. The method 700 can be implemented by the wireless network 100 or the base station 170. The method 700 can include the wireless network 100 or the base station 170 transmitting a first DCI part of a DCI (STEP 702), and transmitting a second DCI part of the DCI (STEP 704). The method 700 can include the wireless network 100 or the base station 170 determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second DCI part (STEP 706), and transmitting at least one retransmission (retransmitted instance) of the second DCI part (STEP 708).

[0110] In some implementations, the wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can transmit, and the UE 110 can receive, the first and second DCI parts over separate physical downlink channels.

[0111] In some implementations, the wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can determine, e.g., based on some policy, rule and / or condition that the DCI includes at least two DCI parts (e.g., including at least the first DCI part and the second DCI part), and / or that the DCI is to be transmitted in separate parts including at least the first DCI part and the secondDCI part. The UE 110 can make a similar determination, e.g., based on a configuration and / or indication from the wireless network 100 or the base station 170.

[0112] In some implementations, the wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can transmit or broadcast an indication indicating that the transmission repetition is applicable to the second DCI part. The UE 110 can receive the indication indicating that the transmission repetition is applicable to the second DCI part, and determine that transmission repetition is applicable to the second DCI part based on the received indication. The wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can transmit, and the UE 110 can receive, the indication in the first DCI part, via a MAC CE or via RRC signaling.

[0113] In some implementations, the indication can include at least one of a time offset between two consecutive transmissions of the second downlink control information part, or a frequency offset between two transmissions of the second downlink control information part. In some implementations, the indication can be based on (or using) at least one of a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, an aggregation level for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, a physical downlink control channel configuration for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, a cell of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, a component carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, a carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0114] In some implementations, the indication can be based on (or using) at least one of a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part, a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part, an aggregation level for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part, a configuration of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink controlinformation part, a cell of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part, a component carrier for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part, a carrier for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part, or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0115] In some implementations, the indication can be based on (or using) at least one of a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, or one or more bits of the first downlink control information part.

[0116] In some implementations, the he transmission repetition is applied to the second DO part in at least one of a frequency domain, a time domain, a spatial domain, or a code domain.

[0117] Referring now to FIG. 8, a signaling diagram 800 representing an example implementation of the methods 600 and 700 of FIGS. 6 and 7 is shown, according to an example embodiment of the current disclosure. The wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can configure, or indicate to, the UE 110 to operate with DCI conveyed through, or including, at least two DCI parts. The wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can broadcast or transmit the first DCI part. The wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can provide or transmit an indication (e.g., within first DCI part) or configuration information indicative of transmission repetition of the second DCI part through at least one repetition. In some implementation the indication or configuration information can include timing and / or frequency information of the at least one repetition. For example, the indication or the configuration information can include a repletion period or a time offset between two consecutive transmissions of the second DCI part.

[0118] The wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can transmit or broadcast, and the UE 110 can receive, the second DCI part. The UE 110 can determine a time and / or frequency for a next retransmission of the second DCI part. The UE 110 can determine the second DCI part has not been correctly received or decoded, and in response, the UE 110 can monitor for reception of retransmission (or retransmitted instance) of the second DCI part. The UE 110 can receive the retransmission (or retransmitted instance) of the second DCI part. If theretransmission (or retransmitted instance) is not correctly received and / or decoded, the UE 110 can monitor for and receive a next retransmission of the second DCI part.

[0119] Third Approach: Separate Encoding to Separate Sets of Information

[0120] According to some aspects of the current disclosure, enhanced DCI reliability can be achieved by using separate coding for separate pieces or sets of information with a DCI part. When using separate coding, if one set of information is corrupted, the other set of information may still be correctly received and / or decoded.

[0121] Referring now to FIG. 9, a flow chart depicting a method 900 for reception of two- stage (or multi-stage) DCI is shown, according to example embodiment of the current disclosure. The method 900 can be implemented by the UE 110. The method 900 an include the UE 110 receiving a first DCI part including a first set of information and a second set of information (STEP 902). Separate encoding can be applied to the first set of information and the second set of information. The method 900 can include the UE receiving the second DCI part (STEP 904).

[0122] Referring now to FIG. 10, a flow chart depicting a method 1000 for transmission of two-stage (or multi-stage) DCI is shown, according to example embodiment of the current disclosure. The method 1000 can be implemented by the wireless network 100 or the base station 170. The method 1000 can include the wireless network 100 or the base station 170 transmitting a first DCI part including a first set of information and a second set of information (STEP 1002). The wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can apply separate encoding to the first set of information and the second set of information. The method 1000 can include the wireless network 100 or the base station 170 transmitting the second DCI part (STEP 1004).

[0123] In some implementations, the wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can encode the first set of information and the second set of information separately. The first set of information and the second set of information can be encoded in separate code blocks. In some implementations, a sequence-based transmission can be applied to the first set of information.

[0124] In some implementations, the first set of information can include at least one of scheduling information for a physical shared channel not associated with the second downlinkcontrol channel part, scheduling information of a primary serving cell, scheduling information of at least one secondary serving cell, or information not associated with the second downlink control channel part. In some implementations, the second set of information can include at least one of scheduling information of the second downlink control information part, information used to receive the second downlink control information part, or scheduling information of a secondary serving cell.

[0125] In some implementations, the wireless network 100 or the base station 170 can transmit or broadcast, and the UE 110 can receive, an indication or configuration information indicating that the first DCI part includes the first set of information and the second set of information. The indication or configuration information can be based on at least one of a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, an aggregation level for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, a physical downlink control channel configuration for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, a cell of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, a component carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, a carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0126] In some implementations, the indication or the configuration information can be based on at least of a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, or one or more bits of the first downlink control information part.

[0127] In some implementations, the first DCI part and the second DCI part can be transmitted / received over separate physical downlink channels.

[0128] Summary of First Approach:

[0129] According to one aspect, an apparatus can comprise: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform: receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining at least one uplink resource based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first downlink control information part or the second downlink control information part; and transmitting, using the at least one uplink resource, an indication indicative of a receiving state of the second downlink control information part.

[0130] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be received over separate physical downlink channels.

[0131] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may carry at least partially different information.

[0132] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform at least one of: determining that the downlink control information includes at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part; or determining that the downlink control information is to be received in separate parts including at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part.

[0133] The apparatus, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on a first time offset relative to the reference time point.

[0134] The apparatus, wherein the first time offset may be determined based on at least one of: an indication in the first downlink control information part, an indication in the second downlink control information part, an indication received in a radio resource control signaling, oran indication received in a medium access control control element.

[0135] The apparatus, wherein the reference time point may be determined based on at least one of: a start of a monitoring window of the first downlink control information part, an end of the monitoring window of the first downlink control information part, a start of a reception of the second downlink control information part, or an end of the reception of the second downlink control information part.

[0136] The apparatus, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on at least one of: a physical downlink channel carrying the first downlink control information part, or a physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0137] The apparatus, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on at least one of: a search space set, a control resource set, an aggregation level, a configuration, a cell, a serving component carrier, or a carrier bandwidth part of at least one of the physical downlink channel carrying the first downlink control information part or the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0138] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part may include at least one of: scheduling information of the second downlink control information part, or information for receiving the second downlink control information part.

[0139] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to receive an indication of whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part.

[0140] The apparatus, wherein the indication of whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part may be conveyed using at least one of: a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, one or more bits of the first downlink control information part, a control resource set of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, or a search space set of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0141] The apparatus can be configured to determine whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part using or per at least one of: at least one downlink control information format, at least one search space set, at least one control resource set, at least one aggregation level, a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part, a bandwidth part group, at least one transmission point, a control resource set pool index, a reference signal set, ora physical cell identifier.

[0142] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: determining that the second downlink control information part has not been correctly received over a first downlink channel occasion; and receiving a retransmission of the second downlink control information part.

[0143] The apparatus, wherein the retransmission of the second downlink control information part may be received at a second time offset after a previous unsuccessful reception of the second downlink control information part.

[0144] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part based on determining that the second downlink control information part has not been correctly received or decoded over a number of downlink channel occasions.

[0145] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to determine the number of downlink channel occasions using or per at least one of: at least one downlink control information format, at least one search space set, at least one control resource set, at least one aggregation level, a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part,a bandwidth part group, at least one transmission point, a control resource set pool index, a reference signal set, or a physical cell identifier.

[0146] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to combine receiving states for a plurality of second downlink control information parts across at least one of: a plurality of control resource sets; a plurality of search space sets; a plurality of downlink control information formats; a plurality of aggregation levels; a plurality of component carriers; a plurality of cells; a plurality of bandwidth parts; or a plurality of time periods.

[0147] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to aggregate in a single uplink resource receiving states for a plurality of second downlink control information parts for at least one of: a plurality of control resource sets; a plurality of search space sets; a plurality of downlink control information formats; a plurality of aggregation levels; a plurality of component carriers; a plurality of cells; a plurality of bandwidth parts; or a plurality of time periods.

[0148] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus not to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part when the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlinkcontrol information part is dropped or when the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part overlaps with at least one of: at least one uplink slot or symbol, at least one inactive period of cell discontinuous transmission.

[0149] According to one aspect, a method can comprise: receiving, by a user device, a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; receiving, by the user device, a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining, by the user device, at least one uplink resource based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first downlink control information part or the second downlink control information part; and transmitting, by the user device, using the at least one uplink resource, an indication indicative of a receiving state of the second downlink control information part.

[0150] The method, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be received over separate physical downlink channels.

[0151] The method, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may carry at least partially different information.

[0152] The method can comprise at least one of: determining, by the user device, that the downlink control information includes at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part; or determining, by the user device, that the downlink control information is to be received in separate parts including at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part.

[0153] The method, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on a first time offset relative to the reference time point.

[0154] The method, wherein the first time offset may be determined based on at least one of: an indication in the first downlink control information part,an indication in the second downlink control information part, an indication received in a radio resource control signaling, or an indication received in a medium access control control element.

[0155] The method, wherein the reference time point may be determined based on at least one of: a start of a monitoring window of the first downlink control information part, an end of the monitoring window of the first downlink control information part, a start of a reception of the second downlink control information part, or an end of the reception of the second downlink control information part.

[0156] The method, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on at least one of: a physical downlink channel carrying the first downlink control information part, or a physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0157] The method, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on at least one of: a search space set, a control resource set, an aggregation level, a configuration, a cell, a serving component carrier, or a carrier bandwidth part of at least one of the physical downlink channel carrying the first downlink control information part or the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0158] The method, wherein the first downlink control information part may include at least one of: scheduling information of the second downlink control information part, or information for receiving the second downlink control information part.

[0159] The method can comprise receiving, by the user device, an indication of whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part.

[0160] The method, wherein the indication of whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part may be conveyed using at least one of: a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, one or more bits of the first downlink control information part, a control resource set of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, or a search space set of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0161] The method can comprise determining whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part using or per at least one of: at least one downlink control information format, at least one search space set, at least one control resource set, at least one aggregation level, a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part, a bandwidth part group, at least one transmission point,a control resource set pool index, a reference signal set, or a physical cell identifier.

[0162] The method can comprise determining that the second downlink control information part has not been correctly received over a first downlink channel occasion; and receiving a retransmission of the second downlink control information part.

[0163] The method, wherein the retransmission of the second downlink control information part may be received at a second time offset after a previous unsuccessful reception of the second downlink control information part.

[0164] The method can comprise reporting the receiving state of the second downlink control information part based on determining that the second downlink control information part has not been correctly received or decoded over a number of downlink channel occasions.

[0165] The method can comprise determining the number of downlink channel occasions using or per at least one of: at least one downlink control information format, at least one search space set, at least one control resource set, at least one aggregation level, a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part, a bandwidth part group, at least one transmission point,a control resource set pool index, a reference signal set, or a physical cell identifier.

[0166] The method can comprise combining receiving states for a plurality of second downlink control information parts across at least one of: a plurality of control resource sets; a plurality of search space sets; a plurality of downlink control information formats; a plurality of aggregation levels; a plurality of component carriers; a plurality of cells; a plurality of bandwidth parts; or a plurality of time periods.

[0167] The method can comprise aggregating in a single uplink resource receiving states for a plurality of second downlink control information parts for at least one of: a plurality of control resource sets; a plurality of search space sets; a plurality of downlink control information formats; a plurality of aggregation levels; a plurality of component carriers; a plurality of cells; a plurality of bandwidth parts; or a plurality of time periods.

[0168] The method can comprise not reporting the receiving state of the second downlink control information part when the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part is dropped or when the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part overlaps with at least one of: at least one uplink slot or symbol, at least one inactive period of cell discontinuous transmission.

[0169] According to one aspect, an apparatus can comprise:means for receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; means for receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; means for determining, by the user device at least one uplink resource based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first downlink control information part or the second downlink control information part; and means for transmitting using the at least one uplink resource, an indication indicative of a receiving state of the second downlink control information part.

[0170] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be received over separate physical downlink channels.

[0171] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may carry at least partially different information.

[0172] The apparatus can comprise at least one of: means for determining that the downlink control information includes at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part; or means for determining that the downlink control information is to be received in separate parts including at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part.

[0173] The apparatus, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on a first time offset relative to the reference time point.

[0174] The apparatus, wherein the first time offset may be determined based on at least one of: an indication in the first downlink control information part, an indication in the second downlink control information part, an indication received in a radio resource control signaling, or an indication received in a medium access control control element.

[0175] The apparatus, wherein the reference time point may be determined based on at least one of: a start of a monitoring window of the first downlink control information part, an end of the monitoring window of the first downlink control information part, a start of a reception of the second downlink control information part, or an end of the reception of the second downlink control information part.

[0176] The apparatus, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on at least one of: a physical downlink channel carrying the first downlink control information part, or a physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0177] The apparatus, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on at least one of: a search space set, a control resource set, an aggregation level, a configuration, a cell, a serving component carrier, or a carrier bandwidth part of at least one of the physical downlink channel carrying the first downlink control information part or the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0178] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part may include at least one of: scheduling information of the second downlink control information part, or information for receiving the second downlink control information part.

[0179] The apparatus can comprise means for receiving an indication of whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part.

[0180] The apparatus, wherein the indication of whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part may be conveyed using at least one of:a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, one or more bits of the first downlink control information part, a control resource set of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, or a search space set of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0181] The apparatus can comprise: means for determining whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part using or per at least one of: at least one downlink control information format, at least one search space set, at least one control resource set, at least one aggregation level, a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part, a bandwidth part group, at least one transmission point, a control resource set pool index, a reference signal set, or a physical cell identifier.

[0182] The apparatus can comprise:means for determining that the second downlink control information part has not been correctly received over a first downlink channel occasion; and means for receiving a retransmission of the second downlink control information part.

[0183] The apparatus, wherein the retransmission of the second downlink control information part may be received at a second time offset after a previous unsuccessful reception of the second downlink control information part.

[0184] The apparatus can comprise means for reporting the receiving state of the second downlink control information part based on determining that the second downlink control information part has not been correctly received or decoded over a number of downlink channel occasions.

[0185] The apparatus can comprise means for determining the number of downlink channel occasions using or per at least one of: at least one downlink control information format, at least one search space set, at least one control resource set, at least one aggregation level, a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part, a bandwidth part group, at least one transmission point, a control resource set pool index, a reference signal set, or a physical cell identifier.

[0186] The apparatus can comprise means for combining receiving states for a plurality of second downlink control information parts across at least one of: a plurality of control resource sets; a plurality of search space sets; a plurality of downlink control information formats; a plurality of aggregation levels; a plurality of component carriers; a plurality of cells; a plurality of bandwidth parts; or a plurality of time periods.

[0187] The apparatus can comprise means for aggregating in a single uplink resource receiving states for a plurality of second downlink control information parts for at least one of: a plurality of control resource sets; a plurality of search space sets; a plurality of downlink control information formats; a plurality of aggregation levels; a plurality of component carriers; a plurality of cells; a plurality of bandwidth parts; or a plurality of time periods.

[0188] The apparatus can comprise means for not reporting the receiving state of the second downlink control information part when the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part is dropped or when the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part overlaps with at least one of: at least one uplink slot or symbol, at least one inactive period of cell discontinuous transmission.

[0189] According to one aspect, an apparatus can comprise: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform: transmitting a first downlink control information part;transmitting a second downlink control information part; and receiving, from a user device, over an at least one uplink resource, an indication of a receiving state of the second downlink control information part, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first downlink control information part or the second downlink control information part.

[0190] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be transmitted over separate physical downlink channels.

[0191] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may carry at least partially different information.

[0192] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform at least one of: determining that the downlink control information includes at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part; or determining that the downlink control information is to be transmitted in separate parts including at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part.

[0193] The apparatus, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on a first time offset relative to the reference time point.

[0194] The apparatus, wherein an indication of the first time offset may include at least one of: an indication in the first downlink control information part, an indication in the second downlink control information part, an indication transmitted in a radio resource control signaling, or an indication transmitted in a medium access control control element.

[0195] The apparatus, wherein the reference time point may be determined based on at least one of: a start of a monitoring window of the first downlink control information part,an end of the monitoring window of the first downlink control information part, a start of a reception of the second downlink control information part, or an end of the reception of the second downlink control information part.

[0196] The apparatus, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on at least one of: a physical downlink channel carrying the first downlink control information part, or a physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0197] The apparatus, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on at least one of: a search space set, a control resource set, an aggregation level, a configuration, a cell, a serving component carrier, or a carrier bandwidth part of at least one of the physical downlink channel carrying the first downlink control information part or the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0198] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part may include at least one of: scheduling information of the second downlink control information part, or information for receiving the second downlink control information part.

[0199] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to transmit, to the user device, an indication of whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part.

[0200] The apparatus, wherein the indication of whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part may be conveyed using at least one of: a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part,a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, one or more bits of the first downlink control information part, a control resource set of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, or a search space set of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0201] The apparatus, wherein determination of whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part may be based on at least one of: at least one downlink control information format, at least one search space set, at least one control resource set, at least one aggregation level, a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part, a bandwidth part group, at least one transmission point, a control resource set pool index, a reference signal set, or a physical cell identifier.

[0202] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to retransmit the second downlink control information part.

[0203] The apparatus, wherein the second downlink control information part may be retransmitted at a second time offset after a previous unsuccessful reception of the second downlink control information part.

[0204] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to transmit, to the user device, to indicate that reporting of the receiving state of the second downlink control information part based on determining that the second downlink control information part has not been correctly received or decoded over a number of downlink channel occasions.

[0205] The apparatus, wherein the number of downlink channel occasions may be configured using or per at least one of: at least one downlink control information format, at least one search space set, at least one control resource set, at least one aggregation level, a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part, a bandwidth part group, at least one transmission point, a control resource set pool index, a reference signal set, or a physical cell identifier.

[0206] The apparatus, wherein receiving states for a plurality of second downlink control information parts may be combined across at least one of:a plurality of control resource sets; a plurality of search space sets; a plurality of downlink control information formats; a plurality of aggregation levels; a plurality of component carriers; a plurality of cells; a plurality of bandwidth parts; or a plurality of time periods.

[0207] The apparatus, wherein receiving states for a plurality of second downlink control information parts may be aggregated in a single uplink resource for at least one of: a plurality of control resource sets; a plurality of search space sets; a plurality of downlink control information formats; a plurality of aggregation levels; a plurality of component carriers; a plurality of cells; a plurality of bandwidth parts; or a plurality of time periods.

[0208] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to transmit an indication, to the user device, an indication indicating not to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part when the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part is dropped or when the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part overlaps with at least one of: at least one uplink slot or symbol, at least one inactive period of cell discontinuous transmission.

[0209] According to one aspect, a method can comprise: transmitting, by a radio access network node, a first downlink control information part; transmitting, by the network node radio access network node, a second downlink control information part; andreceiving, by the network node radio access network node, from a user device, over an at least one uplink resource, an indication of a receiving state of the second downlink control information part, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first downlink control information part or the second downlink control information part.

[0210] The method, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be transmitted over separate physical downlink channels.

[0211] The method, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may carry at least partially different information.

[0212] The method can comprise at least one of: determining, by the random access network node, that the downlink control information includes at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part; or determining, by the random access network node, that the downlink control information is to be transmitted in separate parts including at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part.

[0213] The method, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on a first time offset relative to the reference time point.

[0214] The method, wherein an indication of the first time offset may include at least one of: an indication in the first downlink control information part, an indication in the second downlink control information part, an indication transmitted in a radio resource control signaling, or an indication transmitted in a medium access control control element.

[0215] The method, wherein the reference time point may be determined based on at least one of: a start of a monitoring window of the first downlink control information part, an end of the monitoring window of the first downlink control information part,a start of a reception of the second downlink control information part, or an end of the reception of the second downlink control information part.

[0216] The method, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on at least one of: a physical downlink channel carrying the first downlink control information part, or a physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0217] The method, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on at least one of: a search space set, a control resource set, an aggregation level, a configuration, a cell, a serving component carrier, or a carrier bandwidth part of at least one of the physical downlink channel carrying the first downlink control information part or the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0218] The method, wherein the first downlink control information part may include at least one of: scheduling information of the second downlink control information part, or information for receiving the second downlink control information part.

[0219] The method can comprise: transmitting, by the random access network node, to the user device, an indication of whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part.

[0220] The method, wherein the indication of whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part may be conveyed using at least one of: a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part,a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, one or more bits of the first downlink control information part, a control resource set of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, or a search space set of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0221] The method, wherein determination of whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part may be based on at least one of: at least one downlink control information format, at least one search space set, at least one control resource set, at least one aggregation level, a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part, a bandwidth part group, at least one transmission point, a control resource set pool index, a reference signal set, or a physical cell identifier.

[0222] The method can comprise: retransmitting, by the random access network node, the second downlink control information part.

[0223] The method, wherein the second downlink control information part may be retransmitted at a second time offset after a previous unsuccessful reception of the second downlink control information part.

[0224] The method can comprise: transmitting, to the user device, an indication indicating that reporting the receiving state of the second downlink control information part is to be performed based on determining that the second downlink control information part has not been correctly received or decoded over a number of downlink channel occasions.

[0225] The method, wherein the number of downlink channel occasions may be configured using or per at least one of: at least one downlink control information format, at least one search space set, at least one control resource set, at least one aggregation level, a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part, a bandwidth part group, at least one transmission point, a control resource set pool index, a reference signal set, or a physical cell identifier.

[0226] The method, wherein receiving states for a plurality of second downlink control information parts may be combined across at least one of: a plurality of control resource sets;a plurality of search space sets; a plurality of downlink control information formats; a plurality of aggregation levels; a plurality of component carriers; a plurality of cells; a plurality of bandwidth parts; or a plurality of time periods.

[0227] The method, wherein receiving states for a plurality of second downlink control information parts may be aggregated in a single uplink resource for at least one of: a plurality of control resource sets; a plurality of search space sets; a plurality of downlink control information formats; a plurality of aggregation levels; a plurality of component carriers; a plurality of cells; a plurality of bandwidth parts; or a plurality of time periods.

[0228] The method can comprise transmitting, to the user device, an indication indicating that the receiving state of the second downlink control information part is not to be reported when the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part is dropped or when the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part overlaps with at least one of: at least one uplink slot or symbol, at least one inactive period of cell discontinuous transmission.

[0229] According to one aspect, an apparatus can comprise: means for transmitting a first downlink control information part; means for transmitting a second downlink control information part; and means for receiving from a user device, over an at least one uplink resource, an indication of a receiving state of the second downlink control information part, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on a reference time point associated withat least one of the first downlink control information part or the second downlink control information part.

[0230] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be transmitted over separate physical downlink channels.

[0231] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may carry at least partially different information.

[0232] The apparatus can comprise at least one of: means for determining that the downlink control information includes at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part; or means for determining that the downlink control information is to be transmitted in separate parts including at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part.

[0233] The apparatus, wherein the at least one uplink resource may be determined based on a first time offset relative to the reference time point.

[0234] The apparatus, wherein an indication of the first time offset may include at least one of: an indication in the first downlink control information part, an indication in the second downlink control information part, an indication transmitted in a radio resource control signaling, or an indication transmitted in a medium access control control element.

[0235] The apparatus, wherein the reference time point may determined based on at least one of: a start of a monitoring window of the first downlink control information part, an end of the monitoring window of the first downlink control information part, a start of a reception of the second downlink control information part, or an end of the reception of the second downlink control information part.

[0236] The apparatus, wherein the at least one uplink resource may determined based on at least one of: a physical downlink channel carrying the first downlink control information part, or a physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0237] The apparatus, wherein the at least one uplink resource may determined based on at least one of: a search space set, a control resource set, an aggregation level, a configuration, a cell, a serving component carrier, or a carrier bandwidth part of at least one of the physical downlink channel carrying the first downlink control information part or the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0238] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part may include at least one of: scheduling information of the second downlink control information part, or information for receiving the second downlink control information part.

[0239] The apparatus can comprise: means for transmitting to the user device, an indication of whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part.

[0240] The apparatus, wherein the indication of whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part may be conveyed using at least one of: a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, one or more bits of the first downlink control information part,a control resource set of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part, or a search space set of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0241] The apparatus, wherein determination of whether to report the receiving state of the second downlink control information part may be based on at least one of: at least one downlink control information format, at least one search space set, at least one control resource set, at least one aggregation level, a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part, a bandwidth part group, at least one transmission point, a control resource set pool index, a reference signal set, or a physical cell identifier.

[0242] The apparatus can comprise means for retransmitting the second downlink control information part.

[0243] The apparatus, wherein the second downlink control information part may be retransmitted at a second time offset after a previous unsuccessful reception of the second downlink control information part.

[0244] The apparatus can comprise means for transmitting, to the user device, an indication indicating that reporting the receiving state of the second downlink control information part is to be performed based on determining that the second downlink control information part has not been correctly received or decoded over a number of downlink channel occasions.

[0245] The apparatus, wherein the number of downlink channel occasions may be configured using or per at least one of: at least one downlink control information format, at least one search space set, at least one control resource set, at least one aggregation level, a cell, a cell group, a serving cell, a serving cell group, a carrier, a carrier group, a component carrier, a component carrier group, a bandwidth part, a bandwidth part group, at least one transmission point, a control resource set pool index, a reference signal set, or a physical cell identifier.

[0246] The apparatus, wherein receiving states for a plurality of second downlink control information parts may be combined across at least one of: a plurality of control resource sets; a plurality of search space sets; a plurality of downlink control information formats; a plurality of aggregation levels; a plurality of component carriers;a plurality of cells; a plurality of bandwidth parts; or a plurality of time periods.

[0247] The apparatus, wherein receiving states for a plurality of second downlink control information parts may be aggregated in a single uplink resource for at least one of: a plurality of control resource sets; a plurality of search space sets; a plurality of downlink control information formats; a plurality of aggregation levels; a plurality of component carriers; a plurality of cells; a plurality of bandwidth parts; or a plurality of time periods.

[0248] The apparatus can comprise means for transmitting, to the user device, an indication indicating that the receiving state of the second downlink control information part is not to be reported when the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part is dropped or when the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part overlaps with at least one of: at least one uplink slot or symbol, at least one inactive period of cell discontinuous transmission.

[0249] According to one aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium can comprise program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, can cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining, by the user device at least one uplink resource based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first downlink control information part or the second downlink control information part; and transmitting using the at least one uplink resource, an indication indicative of a receiving state of the second downlink control information part.

[0250] According to one aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium can comprise program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, can cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: transmitting a first downlink control information part; transmitting a second downlink control information part; and receiving from a user device, over an at least one uplink resource, an indication of a receiving state of the second downlink control information part, wherein the at least one uplink resource is determined based on a reference time point associated with at least one of the first downlink control information part or the second downlink control information part.

[0251] Summary of Second Approach:

[0252] According to one aspect, an apparatus can comprise: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform: receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and receiving at least one retransmission of the second downlink control information part.

[0253] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be received over separate physical downlink channels.

[0254] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform at least one of: determining that the downlink control information includes at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part; or determining that the downlink control information is to be received in separate parts including at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part.

[0255] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform: receiving an indication indicating that the transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part based on the received indication.

[0256] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be received in the first downlink control information part, via a medium access control control element or via radio resource control signaling.

[0257] The apparatus, wherein the indication may include at least one of: a time offset between two consecutive transmissions of the second downlink control information part; or a frequency offset between two transmissions of the second downlink control information part.

[0258] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a physical downlink control channel configuration for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a cell of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; ora bandwidth part for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0259] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a configuration of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a cell of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a carrier for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0260] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, or one or more bits of the first downlink control information part.

[0261] The apparatus, wherein the transmission repetition may be applied to the second downlink control information part in at least one of a frequency domain, a time domain, a spatial domain, or a code domain.

[0262] According to one aspect, a method can comprise:receiving, by a user device, a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; receiving, by the user device, a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining, by the user device, that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and receiving, by the user device, at least one retransmission of the second downlink control information part.

[0263] The method, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be received over separate physical downlink channels.

[0264] The method can comprise at least one of: determining that the downlink control information includes at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part; or determining that the downlink control information is to be received in separate parts including at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part.

[0265] The method can comprise: receiving an indication indicating that the transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part based on the received indication.

[0266] The method, wherein the indication may be received in the first downlink control information part, via a medium access control control element or via radio resource control signaling.

[0267] The method, wherein the indication may include at least one of: a time offset between two consecutive transmissions of the second downlink control information part; or a frequency offset between two transmissions of the second downlink control information part.

[0268] The method, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a physical downlink control channel configuration for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a cell of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0269] The method, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a configuration of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a cell of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part;a carrier for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0270] The method, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, or one or more bits of the first downlink control information part.

[0271] The method, wherein the transmission repetition may be applied to the second downlink control information part in at least one of a frequency domain, a time domain, a spatial domain, or a code domain.

[0272] According to one aspect, an apparatus can comprise: means for receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; means for receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; means for determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and means for receiving at least one retransmission of the second downlink control information part.

[0273] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be received over separate physical downlink channels.

[0274] The apparatus can comprise at least one of: means for determining that the downlink control information includes at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part; ormeans for determining that the downlink control information is to be received in separate parts including at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part.

[0275] The apparatus can comprise: means for receiving an indication indicating that the transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and means for determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part based on the received indication.

[0276] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be received in the first downlink control information part, via a medium access control control element or via radio resource control signaling.

[0277] The apparatus, wherein the indication may include at least one of: a time offset between two consecutive transmissions of the second downlink control information part; or a frequency offset between two transmissions of the second downlink control information part.

[0278] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a physical downlink control channel configuration for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a cell of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part;a carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0279] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a configuration of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a cell of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a carrier for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0280] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, or one or more bits of the first downlink control information part.

[0281] The apparatus, wherein the transmission repetition may be applied to the second downlink control information part in at least one of a frequency domain, a time domain, a spatial domain, or a code domain.

[0282] According to one aspect, an apparatus can comprise: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform: transmitting a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; transmitting a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and transmitting at least one repetition of the second downlink control information part.

[0283] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be transmitted over separate physical downlink channels.

[0284] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform at least one of: determining that the downlink control information includes at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part; or determining that the downlink control information is to be transmitted in separate parts including at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part.

[0285] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform: transmitting an indication indicating that the transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part.

[0286] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be transmitted in the first downlink control information part, via a medium access control control element or via radio resource control signaling.

[0287] The apparatus, wherein the indication may include at least one of: a time offset between two consecutive transmissions of the second downlink control information part; or a frequency offset between two transmissions of the second downlink control information part.

[0288] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a physical downlink control channel configuration for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a cell of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0289] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a configuration of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part;a cell for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a carrier for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0290] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, or one or more bits of the first downlink control information part.

[0291] The apparatus, wherein the transmission repetition may be applied to the second downlink control information part in at least one of a frequency domain, a time domain, a spatial domain, or a code domain.

[0292] According to one aspect, a method can comprise: transmitting, by a network node device, a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; transmitting, by the network node device, a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining, by the network node device, that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and transmitting, by the network node device, at least one repetition of the second downlink control information part.

[0293] The method, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be transmitted over separate physical downlink channels.

[0294] The method can comprise at least one of: determining that the downlink control information includes at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part; or determining that the downlink control information is to be transmitted in separate parts including at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part.

[0295] The method can comprise: transmitting an indication indicating that the transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part.

[0296] The method, wherein the indication may be transmitted in the first downlink control information part, via a medium access control control element or via radio resource control signaling.

[0297] The method, wherein the indication may include at least one of: a time offset between two consecutive transmissions of the second downlink control information part; or a frequency offset between two transmissions of the second downlink control information part.

[0298] The method, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a physical downlink control channel configuration for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a cell of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part;a carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0299] The method, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a configuration of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a cell for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a carrier for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0300] The method, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, or one or more bits of the first downlink control information part.

[0301] The method, wherein the transmission repetition may be applied to the second downlink control information part in at least one of a frequency domain, a time domain, a spatial domain, or a code domain.

[0302] According to one aspect, an apparatus can comprise: means for transmitting a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; means for transmitting a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; means for determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and means for transmitting at least one repetition of the second downlink control information part

[0303] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be transmitted over separate physical downlink channels.

[0304] The apparatus can comprise at least one of: means for determining that the downlink control information includes at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part; or means for determining that the downlink control information is to be transmitted in separate parts including at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part.

[0305] The apparatus can comprise: means for transmitting an indication indicating that the transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part.

[0306] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be transmitted in the first downlink control information part, via a medium access control control element or via radio resource control signaling.

[0307] The apparatus, wherein the indication may include at least one of:a time offset between two consecutive transmissions of the second downlink control information part; or a frequency offset between two transmissions of the second downlink control information part.

[0308] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a physical downlink control channel configuration for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a cell of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0309] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a configuration of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part;a cell for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a carrier for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

[0310] The apparatus wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, or one or more bits of the first downlink control information part.

[0311] The apparatus, wherein the transmission repetition may be applied to the second downlink control information part in at least one of a frequency domain, a time domain, a spatial domain, or a code domain.

[0312] According to one aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium can comprise program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, can cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and receiving at least one retransmission of the second downlink control information part.

[0313] According to one aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium can comprise program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, can cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:transmitting a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; transmitting a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and transmitting at least one repetition of the second downlink control information part.

[0314] Summary of Third Approach:

[0315] According to one aspect, an apparatus can comprise: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to perform: receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information, wherein the first downlink control information part can include a first set of information and a second set of information, and wherein separate encoding may be applied to the first and second sets of information; and receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information.

[0316] The apparatus, wherein the first set of information and the second set of information may be encoded separately.

[0317] The apparatus, wherein the first set of information and the second set of information may be encoded in separate code blocks.

[0318] The apparatus, wherein a sequence-based transmission may be applied to the first set of information.

[0319] The apparatus, wherein the first set of information may include at least one of: scheduling information for a physical shared channel not associated with the second downlink control channel part, scheduling information of a primary serving cell, scheduling information of at least one secondary serving cell, orinformation not associated with the second downlink control channel part.

[0320] The apparatus, wherein the second set of information may include at least one of: scheduling information of the second downlink control information part, information used to receive the second downlink control information part, or scheduling information of a secondary serving cell.

[0321] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to receive an indication indicating that the first downlink control information part includes the first set of information and the second set of information.

[0322] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a physical downlink control channel configuration for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a cell of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0323] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part,a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, or one or more bits of the first downlink control information part.

[0324] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be received over separate physical downlink channels.

[0325] According to one aspect, a method can comprise: receiving, by a user device, a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information, wherein the first downlink control information part includes a first set of information and a second set of information, and wherein separate encoding is applied to the first and second sets of information; and receiving, by the user device, a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information.

[0326] The method, wherein the first set of information and the second set of information may be encoded separately.

[0327] The method, wherein the first set of information and the second set of information may be encoded in separate code blocks.

[0328] The method, wherein a sequence-based transmission may be applied to the first set of information.

[0329] The method, wherein the first set of information may include at least one of: scheduling information for a physical shared channel not associated with the second downlink control channel part, scheduling information of a primary serving cell, scheduling information of at least one secondary serving cell, or information not associated with the second downlink control channel part.

[0330] The method, wherein the second set of information may include at least one of: scheduling information of the second downlink control information part, information used to receive the second downlink control information part, or scheduling information of a secondary serving cell.

[0331] The method can comprise receiving an indication indicating that the first downlink control information part includes the first set of information and the second set of information.

[0332] The method, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a physical downlink control channel configuration for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a cell of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0333] The method, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, or one or more bits of the first downlink control information part.

[0334] The method, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be received over separate physical downlink channels.

[0335] According to one aspect, an apparatus can comprise:means for receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information, wherein the first downlink control information part may include a first set of information and a second set of information, and wherein separate encoding may be applied to the first and second sets of information; and means for receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information.

[0336] The apparatus, wherein the first set of information and the second set of information may be encoded separately.

[0337] The apparatus, wherein the first set of information and the second set of information may be encoded in separate code blocks.

[0338] The apparatus, wherein a sequence-based transmission may be applied to the first set of information.

[0339] The apparatus, wherein the first set of information may include at least one of: scheduling information for a physical shared channel not associated with the second downlink control channel part, scheduling information of a primary serving cell, scheduling information of at least one secondary serving cell, or information not associated with the second downlink control channel part.

[0340] The apparatus, wherein the second set of information may include at least one of: scheduling information of the second downlink control information part, information used to receive the second downlink control information part, or scheduling information of a secondary serving cell.

[0341] The apparatus can comprise means for receiving an indication indicating that the first downlink control information part includes the first set of information and the second set of information.

[0342] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part;a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a physical downlink control channel configuration for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a cell of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0343] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, or one or more bits of the first downlink control information part.

[0344] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be received over separate physical downlink channels.

[0345] According to one aspect, an apparatus can comprise: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: transmitting a first downlink control information part of downlink control information, wherein the first downlink control information part may include a first set of information and a second set of information, and separate encoding may be applied to the first and second sets of information; andtransmitting a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information.

[0346] The apparatus, wherein the first set of information and the second set of information may be encoded separately.

[0347] The apparatus, wherein the first set of information and the second set of information may be encoded in separate code blocks.

[0348] The apparatus, wherein a sequence-based transmission may be applied to the first set of information.

[0349] The apparatus, wherein the first set of information may include at least one of: scheduling information for a physical shared channel not associated with the second downlink control channel part, scheduling information of a primary serving cell, scheduling information of at least one secondary serving cell, or information not associated with the second downlink control channel part.

[0350] The apparatus, wherein the second set of information may include at least one of: scheduling information of the second downlink control information part, information used to receive the second downlink control information part, or scheduling information of a secondary serving cell.

[0351] The apparatus, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, can cause the apparatus to transmit an indication indicating that the first downlink control information part includes the first set of information and the second set of information.

[0352] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part;a physical downlink control channel configuration for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a cell for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0353] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, or one or more bits of the first downlink control information part.

[0354] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be received over separate physical downlink channels.

[0355] According to one aspect, a method can comprise: transmitting a first downlink control information part of downlink control information, wherein the first downlink control information part may include a first set of information and a second set of information, and separate encoding may be applied to the first and second sets of information; and transmitting a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information.

[0356] The method, wherein the first set of information and the second set of information may be encoded separately.

[0357] The method, wherein the first set of information and the second set of information may be encoded in separate code blocks.

[0358] The method, wherein a sequence-based transmission may be applied to the first set of information.

[0359] The method, wherein the first set of information may include at least one of: scheduling information for a physical shared channel not associated with the second downlink control channel part, scheduling information of a primary serving cell, scheduling information of at least one secondary serving cell, or information not associated with the second downlink control channel part.

[0360] The method, wherein the second set of information may include at least one of: scheduling information of the second downlink control information part, information used to receive the second downlink control information part, or scheduling information of a secondary serving cell.

[0361] The method can comprise transmitting an indication indicating that the first downlink control information part includes the first set of information and the second set of information.

[0362] The method, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a physical downlink control channel configuration for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a cell for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part;a carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0363] The method, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, or one or more bits of the first downlink control information part.

[0364] The method, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be received over separate physical downlink channels.

[0365] According to one aspect, an apparatus can comprise: means for transmitting a first downlink control information part of downlink control information, wherein the first downlink control information part may include a first set of information and a second set of information, and separate encoding may be applied to the first and second sets of information; and means for transmitting a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information.

[0366] The apparatus, wherein the first set of information and the second set of information may be encoded separately.

[0367] The apparatus, wherein the first set of information and the second set of information may be encoded in separate code blocks.

[0368] The apparatus, wherein a sequence-based transmission may be applied to the first set of information.

[0369] The apparatus, wherein the first set of information may include at least one of:scheduling information for a physical shared channel not associated with the second downlink control channel part, scheduling information of a primary serving cell, scheduling information of at least one secondary serving cell, or information not associated with the second downlink control channel part.

[0370] The apparatus, wherein the second set of information may include at least one of: scheduling information of the second downlink control information part, information used to receive the second downlink control information part, or scheduling information of a secondary serving cell.

[0371] The apparatus can comprise means for transmitting an indication indicating that the first downlink control information part includes the first set of information and the second set of information.

[0372] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a physical downlink control channel configuration for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a cell for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

[0373] The apparatus, wherein the indication may be based on at least one of:a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, or one or more bits of the first downlink control information part.

[0374] The apparatus, wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part may be received over separate physical downlink channels.

[0375] According to one aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium can comprise program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, can cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information, wherein the first downlink control information part may include a first set of information and a second set of information, and wherein separate encoding may be applied to the first and second sets of information; and receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information.

[0376] According to one aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium can comprise program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, can cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: transmitting a first downlink control information part of downlink control information, wherein the first downlink control information part may include a first set of information and a second set of information, and separate encoding may be applied to the first and second sets of information; and transmitting a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information.

[0377] The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0378] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and(b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):(i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and(ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and(iii) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.”

[0379] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0380] It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art. For example, features recited in the various dependent claims could be combined with each other in any suitable combination(s). In addition, features from different embodiments described above could be selectively combined into a new embodiment. Accordingly, the description is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and receiving at least one retransmission of the second downlink control information part.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part are received over separate physical downlink channels.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least one of: determining that the downlink control information includes at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part; or determining that the downlink control information is to be received in separate parts including at least the first downlink control information part and the second downlink control information part.

4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: receiving an indication indicating that the transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; anddetermining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part based on the received indication.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the indication is received in the first downlink control information part, via a medium access control control element or via radio resource control signaling.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 or 5, wherein the indication includes at least one of: a time offset between two consecutive transmissions of the second downlink control information part; or a frequency offset between two transmissions of the second downlink control information part.

7. The apparatus of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the indication is based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a physical downlink control channel configuration for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a cell of the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; a carrier for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink control channel carrying the first downlink control information part.

8. The apparatus of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the indication is based on at least one of: a search space set used for reception of a physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a control resource set used for transmission of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; an aggregation level for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a configuration of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a cell of the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a component carrier for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; a carrier for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part; or a bandwidth part for the physical downlink channel carrying the second downlink control information part.

9. The apparatus of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the indication is based on at least one of: a format of the downlink control information, a format of the first downlink control information part, a format of the second downlink control information part, a radio network temporary identifier scrambling the first downlink control information part, or one or more bits of the first downlink control information part.

10. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the transmission repetition is applied to the second downlink control information part in at least one of a frequency domain, a time domain, a spatial domain, or a code domain.

11. A method comprising: receiving, by a user device, a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; receiving, by the user device, a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining, by the user device, that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and receiving, by the user device, at least one retransmission of the second downlink control information part.

12. An apparatus comprising: means for receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; means for receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; means for determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and means for receiving at least one retransmission of the second downlink control information part.

13. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: transmitting a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; transmitting a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; andtransmitting at least one repetition of the second downlink control information part.

14. A method comprising: transmitting, by a network node device, a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; transmitting, by the network node device, a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining, by the network node device, that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and transmitting, by the network node device, at least one repetition of the second downlink control information part.

15. An apparatus comprising: means for transmitting a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; means for transmitting a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; means for determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and means for transmitting at least one repetition of the second downlink control information part16. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; receiving a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and receiving at least one retransmission of the second downlink control information part.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: transmitting a first downlink control information part of a downlink control information; transmitting a second downlink control information part of the downlink control information; determining that transmission repetition is applicable to the second downlink control information part; and transmitting at least one repetition of the second downlink control information part.

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