Patent Description:
These systems may employ technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), or discrete Fourier transform-spread-OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM).

Base stations and UEs in wireless multiple-access communications systems may allocate wireless resources to different UEs, which may be used for subsequent wireless transmissions. In some cases, base stations may transmit an indication of allocated wireless resources to a UE in control channel transmissions that may include downlink control information with an indication of allocated resources. A UE may monitor for the control channel transmissions, decode the downlink control information, and determine wireless resources that are allocated to the UE for data or shared channel transmissions. In some cases, a UE may monitor control channel resources by blindly decoding potential control channel transmissions according to a set of decoding hypotheses and determine that a certain control channel transmission applies to the UE based on successfully decoding a transmission. In some cases it may be desirable to reduce the number of blind decodes that a UE is to perform, which may enhance reliability, reduce latency, and reduce power consumption at a UE.

<CIT> discloses a UE which includes a higher layer processor configured to acquire a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message (also referred to as higher layer signaling) for configuration of a first serving cell and an RRC message for configuration of a second serving cell as a scheduling cell for the first serving cell. The UE also includes a physical downlink control channel receiver configured to monitor a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) with a first DCI format on the first serving cell, the PDCCH with the first DCI format scheduling a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) in the first serving cell. The physical downlink control channel receiver is also configured to monitor a PDCCH with a second DCI format on the second serving cell, the PDCCH with the second DCI format scheduling a PDSCH in the first serving cell.

<CIT> discloses a method can comprise receiving, by a device comprising a processor, a first downlink control information related to scheduling a first uplink data transmission via a first transmission time interval. The method can also comprise receiving, by the device, a second downlink control information related to scheduling a second uplink data transmission via a second transmission time interval, wherein the second uplink data transmission overlaps at least a symbol with the first uplink data transmission. The method can also transmitting, by the device, the first uplink data transmission or the second uplink data transmission based on prioritization determined based on a first length of the first transmission time interval and a second length of the second transmission time interval.

The described techniques relate to improved methods, systems, devices. or apparatuses that support techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications. Generally, the described techniques provide for a location indicator transmission that may provide a location of control channel resources that are to be monitored by a user equipment (UE) for control channel transmissions. A UE may receive the location indicator, and monitor the indicated control channel resources to receive downlink control information with an allocation of shared channel resources for the UE. In some cases, the location indicator may include one or more parameters that allow a UE to receive the control channel transmissions according to a single decoding hypothesis, which may enhance efficiency at the UE. In some cases, the location indicator may be provided to the UE in a physical location indicator channel (PLICH) transmission. In some cases, the location indicator may include one or more of a valid period of the location of the control channel transmissions, an interval at which control channel transmissions may be transmitted, an aggregation level used for the control channel transmissions, an index that identifies a first control channel element of the control channel transmissions, or any combination thereof.

Various aspects of the present disclosure provide for transmission of a location indicator that may provide a location of control channel resources that are to be monitored by a user equipment (UE) for control channel transmissions. A UE may receive the location indicator, and monitor the indicated control channel resources to receive downlink control information with an allocation of shared channel resources for the UE. In some cases, the location indicator may be provided for control channel transmissions of a relatively low latency service that may allow the UE to decode the control channel transmissions for the low latency service using a single decoding hypothesis. In some cases, the UE may also be configured to transmit and receive transmissions of a relatively higher latency service, and control channel transmissions for the higher latency service may use multiple decoding hypotheses at the UE. In some cases, the lower latency service may be an ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC) service and the higher latency service may be an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) service.

In cases where relatively lower latency services (e.g., URLLC services) are used for communications, UEs and base stations may have relatively stringent block error rate (BLER) target, and well as a relatively short latency between a time of reception of a transmission and feedback indicating successful or unsuccessful reception of the transmission. For example, in some cases, URLLC communications may have a BLER target of less than or equal to <NUM>-<NUM>, and a latency target of <NUM> for both uplink transmissions and downlink transmissions. In cases where relatively higher latency services (e.g., eMBB services) are used for communications, more relaxed BLER and latency targets may be used. Such BLER and latency targets may apply to both shared channel transmission and control channel transmissions. In cases where a UE may perform blind decoding for control channel transmissions, a relatively large number of blind decode hypotheses may consume processing resources at the UE and in some cases a UE may not be able to perform the processing within timelines to achieve latency targets of low latency communications.

For example, an eMBB service, similarly as legacy long term evolution (LTE) communications, may provide a control channel search space that a UE may search by performing blind decodes using up to <NUM> potential blind decoding hypotheses. As mentioned such blind decodes consume processing resources, consume power, and require time for a UE to complete. Furthermore, a false alarm rate (FAR) of blind decoding may be high enough that reliability targets of lower latency communications may not be met.

The location indication provided according to various aspects of the present disclosure may allow for relatively lower latency service control charnel transmissions that may be decoded at a UE with reduced latency and higher reliability. In some cases, the location indicator may be provided to the UE in a physical location indicator channel (PLICH) transmission, and the UE may perform a reduced amount of blind decoding within a limited location indicator search space. In some cases, the location indicator may include one or more of a valid period of the location of the control channel transmissions, an interval at which control channel transmissions may be transmitted, an aggregation level used for the control channel transmissions, an index that identifies a first control channel element of the control channel transmissions, or any combination thereof. Such parameters may allow a UE to use a single decoding hypothesis, thus providing latency and complexity reduction, FAR reduction, and power savings that result from reduced processing resources consumed by blind decodes and from monitoring only resources that are indicated to include control channel transmissions. In some cases, the location indicator may also support a relatively large list size for CRC-aided successive cancellation list (CA-SCL) decoding without FAR increasing, by the reduction of times for blind detection.

Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the context of a wireless communications system. Various examples of wireless resources having associated location and control channel resources are also described. Aspects of the disclosure are further illustrated by and described with reference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts that relate to techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a wireless communications system <NUM> in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system <NUM> includes base stations <NUM>, UEs <NUM>, and a core network <NUM>. In some examples, the wireless communications system <NUM> may be a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network, an LTE-A Pro network, or a New Radio (NR) network. In some cases, wireless communications system <NUM> may support enhanced broadband communications, ultra-reliable (e.g., mission critical or URLLC) communications, low latency communications, or communications with low-cost and low-complexity devices. In some cases, UΣs <NUM> and base stations <NUM> may support two or more services, such as a URLLC service and an eMBB service, and one or more services may use a location indicator transmission to provide a location of associated control channel transmissions.

The SHF region includes bands such as the <NUM> GHmultiplez industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) bands, which may be used opportunistically by devices that can tolerate interference from other users.

As indicated above, control channel transmissions (e.g., physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmissions) may include downlink control information (DCI) that may include an allocation of shared channel resources (e.g., physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) resources) that are allocated for downlink data transmissions to a UE <NUM>. In various aspects of the present disclosure, a base station <NUM> may configure location indicator transmissions that may be transmitted to a UE <NUM> to provide an indication of a location of control channel transmissions. A UE <NUM> may receive the location indicator, and monitor the indicated control channel resources to receive downlink control information. In some cases, the location indicator may allow the UE <NUM> to decode the control channel transmissions using a single decoding hypothesis. In some cases, the location indicator may be provided to the UE <NUM> in a PLICH transmission, and the UE <NUM> may perform a reduced amount of blind decoding within a limited location indicator search space. In some cases, the location indicator may include one or more of a valid period of the location of the control channel transmissions, an interval at which control channel transmissions may be transmitted, an aggregation level used for the control channel transmissions, an index that identifies a first control channel element of the control channel transmissions, or any combination thereof.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a portion of a wireless communication system <NUM> that supports techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, wireless communication system <NUM> may implement aspects of wireless communication system <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the wireless communication system <NUM> may include abase station <NUM>-a, which may be an example of a base station <NUM> of <FIG>. The wireless communication system <NUM> may also include a UE <NUM>-a, which may be an example of a UE <NUM> of <FIG>, that is located within coverage area <NUM>-a of the base station <NUM>-a.

In the example of <FIG>, the base station <NUM>-a and the UE <NUM>-a may establish a connection <NUM>. In some cases, the connection <NUM> may support transmissions of a low latency service, such as a URLLC service. In some cases, the connection <NUM> may support transmissions to two or more services, such as a low latency URLLC service and a higher latency eMBB service. In some cases, the base station <NUM>-a may configure location indicator transmissions that may be used to provide the UE <NUM>-a with location information for control channel transmissions that are to be monitored by the UE <NUM>-a. In some cases, the location information may be transmitted using PLICH transmissions <NUM> that may be configured by the base station <NUM>-a. The PLICH transmissions <NUM> may include information that the UE <NUM>-a may use to monitor and decode PDCCH transmissions <NUM>.

According to various techniques provided herein, the UE <NUM>-a may receive the PLICH transmissions <NUM>, and monitor the indicated PDCCH resources for PDCCH transmissions <NUM> to receive downlink control information with an allocation of shared channel resources for the UE. In some cases, the PLICH transmissions <NUM> may allow the UE <NUM>-a to decode the PDCCH transmissions <NUM> using a single decoding hypothesis. In some cases, the base station <NUM>-a may configure PLICH transmissions <NUM> for a low latency service, and control channel transmissions for a higher latency service may be decoded at the UE <NUM>-a according to techniques for blind decoding as discussed above. In some cases, the PLICH transmissions <NUM> may include one or more parameters that the UE <NUM>-a may use to determine locations for PDCCH transmissions <NUM>, such as a valid period (VP) of the location of the control channel transmissions, an interval between frames (IBF) that may indicate particular radio frames, slots, or TTIs that may include PDCCH transmissions <NUM>, an aggregation level (AL) used for the PDCCH transmissions <NUM>, an index of a first control channel element (IFC) that identifies a first control channel element (CCE) of the PDCCH transmissions <NUM>. Such parameters may allow the UE <NUM>-a to use a single decoding hypothesis for the PDCCH transmissions <NUM>, thus providing latency and complexity reduction, FAR reduction, and power savings that result from reduced processing resources consumed by blind decodes and from monitoring only resources that are indicated to include control channel transmissions. In some cases, the PLICH transmissions <NUM> may also support a relatively large list size for CA-SCL decoding without an increase in FAR, through the reduction of times for blind detection. <FIG> provide some examples of resources that may be used for PLICH transmissions <NUM>, PDCCH transmissions <NUM>, and associated PDSCH transmissions.

<FIG> illustrates an example of wireless resources <NUM> that support techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, wireless resources <NUM> may be used to implement aspects of wireless communication system <NUM> or <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, a time period <NUM> corresponding to a valid period (VP) of a PLICH transmission includes a number of frames, namely a first frame <NUM>, a second frame <NUM>, a third frame <NUM>, and a last frame <NUM> of the VP.

In the example of <FIG>, the first frame <NUM> includes a PLICH transmission <NUM>-a that a UE (e.g., a UE <NUM> of <FIG> or <FIG>) may use to determine a location of subsequent PDCCH transmissions <NUM>. In some examples, as indicated above, the PLICH transmission <NUM>-a may include a number of parameters that a UE may use to form a single decoding hypothesis for subsequent PDCCH transmissions <NUM>, which may include resource allocations for associated PDSCH transmissions <NUM>. In some cases, resources used for PLICH transmissions <NUM> may be a subset of control channel resources that are configured for control channel transmissions of a higher latency service (e.g., the PLICH transmissions <NUM> of a URLLC service may use a subset of eMBB PDCCH resources), and a UE may perform blind detection within a subset of the control channel resources to identify PLICH transmission <NUM>-a. In some cases, the payload size of PLICH transmissions <NUM> is relatively small, and a size of a common space and UE specific space for PLICH transmissions <NUM> may be a relatively small search space within the control channel resources, as will be discussed in more detail below with respect to <FIG>. The relatively small search space for PLICH transmissions <NUM> may provide relatively few blind detection hypotheses and may allow detection of PLICH transmissions <NUM> in a relatively short amount of time relative to blind detections across all of the control channel resources. Furthermore, in some cases PLICH transmissions <NUM> may be transmitted using a preconfigured aggregation level which may further reduce the number of blind decoding hypotheses.

As indicated above, in some cases the PLICH transmissions <NUM> may include a number of parameters that indicate a location for PDCCH transmissions <NUM>. In some cases, the parameters may include a VP, an IBF, an AL, and an TFC. The VP, in some cases, may be a positive integer value that indicates a number of frame intervals in which the location indication is valid, which in some examples may start from the frame in which the PLICH transmission <NUM> is transmitted. A specific example of PLICH parameters is discussed below with respect to <FIG>. The IBF, in some cases, may be a positive integer value that indicates an interval between two adjacent indicated frames (e.g., an IBF of <NUM> indicates PDCCH transmissions <NUM> are to be monitored in every frame <NUM> through <NUM>, and an IBF of <NUM> indicates PDCCH transmissions <NUM> are to be monitored in odd (or even) numbered frames <NUM> through <NUM> during the VP). The AL may indicate an aggregation level at which die corresponding PDCCH transmissions <NUM> are transmitted (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>,. , up to a maximum supported AL). The AL may be selected based on channel conditions and reliability targets, for example. The IFC may include an index of the first CCE of the PDCCH transmissions <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>,. , up to a maximum index of a CCE that may be a first CCE for a PDCCH transmission <NUM>).

Accordingly, the PLICH transmission <NUM>-a of the first frame <NUM> may be valid from the first frame <NUM> (frame i) through last frame <NUM> (frame i + VP-<NUM>). Further, the IFC value and the aggregation level is fixed during the VP, and thus only a single hypothesis is needed to attempt to decode PDCCH transmissions <NUM>. In some cases, the base station may not transmit a PDCCH transmission in a frame, and the UE may monitor the PDCCH resources and, upon not detecting a PDCCH transmission, may not monitor for associated PDSCH transmissions <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the first frame <NUM> may include a first PDCCH transmission <NUM>-a that indicates resources for a first PDSCH transmission <NUM>-a. Similarly, the second frame <NUM> may include a second PDCCH transmission <NUM>-b that indicates resources for a second PDSCH transmission <NUM>-b. Because the second frame <NUM> is within the VP, the second frame <NUM> does not include a PLICH transmission <NUM>. In this example, the third frame <NUM> may not include a PDCCH transmission <NUM>, and the UE may monitor the location for the PDCCH transmission and upon not detecting a transmission may wait and attempt to receive a next PDCCH transmission <NUM> in a subsequent frame according to die value of IBF. In this example, in the last frame <NUM> of the VP, a third PDCCH transmission <NUM>-c may be received that indicates resources for a third PDSCH transmission <NUM>-c. Thus, a UE configured to receive PLICH transmissions <NUM> may monitor for PDCCH transmissions <NUM> without blind decoding of multiple blind decoding hypotheses, which may enhance reliability and latency at the UE.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a location indicator search spaces <NUM> that support techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, location indicator search spaces <NUM> may be used to implement aspects of wireless communication system <NUM> or <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, a first frame <NUM> may include a PLICH transmission, and a second frame <NUM> may not include a PLICH transmission. In some cases, a UE may search for PLICH transmissions in a first frame following an expiration of a VP, or upon being configured to search for a PLICH transmission when a service that uses PLICH transmissions is activated at the UE.

In some cases, a base station may configure a UE. with a PLICH common search space <NUM> that may be within a PDCCH common search space <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, a base station may also configure a PLICH UE specific search space <NUM> as a subset of a PDCCH UE specific search space <NUM>. A UE may perform a blind detection procedure for detection of PLICH transmissions according to established blind decoding techniques used for decoding control channel transmissions. In some cases, the detection time may be reduced for PLICH detection based on a smaller search space, a smaller set of available aggregation levels, and a configured set of resources that may be searched (e.g., the base station may configure a specified subset of control channel resources for PLICH search spaces <NUM> and <NUM>).

<FIG> illustrates an example of wireless resources <NUM> that support techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, wireless resources <NUM> may be used to implement aspects of wireless communication system <NUM> or <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, a time period corresponding to a VP <NUM> of a PLICH transmission includes four radio frames (VP=<NUM>), namely a first frame <NUM>, a second frame <NUM>, a third frame <NUM>, and a fourth frame <NUM> of the VP <NUM>. In this example, a fifth frame <NUM> of a subsequent VP is illustrated.

In the example of <FIG>, the first frame <NUM> includes a PLICH transmission <NUM>-a that a UE (e.g., a UE <NUM> of <FIG> or <FIG>) may use to determine a location of subsequent PDCCH transmissions <NUM>. In this example, the PLICH transmission <NUM>-a may include a VP parameter that is equal to four, an IBF of one, an AL of two, and an IFC of <NUM>. Such parameters may uniquely identify a decoding hypothesis for each of the frames <NUM> through <NUM> within the VP <NUM>. As discussed above, in some cases resources used for PLICH transmissions <NUM> may be a subset of control channel resources that are configured for control channel transmissions of a higher latency service (e.g., the PLICH transmissions <NUM> of a URLLC service may use a subset of eMBB PDCCH resources that are configured at a UE), and a UE may perform blind detection within a subset of the control channel resources of a first frame after a VP expires (e.g., the first frame <NUM> to identify the first PLICH transmission <NUM>-a and the fifth frame <NUM> to identify a second PLICH transmission <NUM>-b of a second VP). Accordingly, the PLICH transmission <NUM>-a of the first frame <NUM> may be valid from the first frame <NUM> (frame i) through the fourth frame <NUM> (frame i + <NUM>), following which the UE may search for a subsequent PLICH transmission <NUM>. In die example of <FIG>, the third frame <NUM> may not include a PLICH transmission <NUM> or a PDCCH transmission <NUM> and the UE, upon not detecting a PDCCH transmission, may not monitor for an associated PDSCH transmission until a subsequent frame in which a PLICH transmission <NUM> is detected.

In the example of <FIG>, the first frame <NUM> may include a first PDCCH transmission <NUM>-a that indicates resources for a first PDSCH transmission <NUM>-a. Similarly, the second frame <NUM> may include a second PDCCH transmission <NUM>-b that indicates resources for a second PDSCH transmission <NUM>-b, and the fourth frame <NUM> may include a third PDCCH transmission <NUM>-c that indicates resources for a third PDSCH transmission <NUM>-c.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a process flow <NUM> that supports techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, process flow <NUM> may implement aspects of wireless communication system <NUM> or <NUM>. The base station <NUM>-b may be an example of a base station <NUM> of <FIG> or <FIG>, and the UE <NUM><NUM><NUM>-b may be an example of a UE <NUM> of <FIG> or <FIG>.

Initially, the base station <NUM>-b and UE <NUM>-b may establish a connection <NUM>. Such a connection establishment may be performed using established connection establishment techniques. In some cases, the connection may support two or more services that may be active between the base station <NUM>-a and the UE <NUM><NUM>-a, such as a URLLC service and an eMBB service for example. In some cases, as part of the connection establishment, or in signaling (e.g., radio resource control (RRC) signaling) after the connection establishment, the base station <NUM>-b may configure resources that may be used to provide a location indicator transmission (e.g., a subset of a set of configured control channel resources).

At <NUM>, the base station <NUM>-b may allocate control channel resources for the UE <NUM>-b. In some cases, the control channel resources may be PDCCH resources that the UE <NUM>-a is to monitor for downlink control information. In some cases, the base station <NUM>-b may allocate control channel resources for the UE <NUM>-a based on data that is to be transmitted to or from the UE <NUM>-a (e.g., based on a buffer status for data that is to be transmitted). In some cases, the control channel resources may be allocated for a low latency service that may be a subset of control channel resources that may be allocated for a higher latency service.

At <NUM>, the base station <NUM>-b may format an location indicatortransmission, such as a PLICH indication. In some cases, the location indicator may include a number of parameters that may allow the UE <NUM>-b to identify a location and coding for control information that is to be transmitted to the UE <NUM>-b. In some cases, the parameters may include a VP indication, an IBF indication, an AL indication, an IFC indication, or any combination thereof. The base station <NUM>-a may transmit the location indicator, such as in PLICH indication <NUM> to the UE <NUM>-b.

At <NUM>, the UE <NUM><NUM>-b may identify location indicator resources, such as PLICH resources, that are to be monitored for a location indicator transmission. In some cases, the resources to be monitored may include a set of resources in a location indicator search space, and the UE <NUM>-b may be configured for blind decoding different decoding hypotheses within the location indicator search space to identify the location indicator transmission.

At <NUM>, the UE <NUM>-b may receive the location indicator, such as a PLICH indication of control channel resources. In some cases, as indicated above, the UE <NUM>-b may perform blind decoding over a configured PLICH search space and determine the location indicator based on a successful blind decode of a blind decoding hypothesis performed on the search space.

At <NUM>, the UE <NUM>-b may determine PDCCH resources for a PDCCH transmission. In some cases, the location indicator may include parameters that indicate a starting CCE for the PDCCH transmission, an aggregation level for the PDCCH transmission, and an indication of one or more slots, frames, or TTIs that are to be monitored for the PDCCH transmission. In some cases, the location indication may also include a valid period during which control channel transmissions will be transmitted according to the parameters.

At <NUM>, the base station <NUM>-b may allocate PDCCH resources for a control channel transmission to the UE <NUM><NUM>-b. The PDCCH resources may be allocated according to resources indicated in the PLICH indication <NUM> during a valid period of the PLICH indication, for example.

At <NUM>, the base station <NUM>-b may identify downlink control information (DCI) to be transmitted to the UE <NUM>-b in the control channel resources. The DCI may include, for example, an allocation of PDSCH resources that have been allocated to the UE <NUM>-b.

At <NUM>, the base station <NUM>-b may format the DCI into the allocated PDCCH resources. In some cases, the base station may format the DCI to start at the indicated first CCE within the PDCCH resources, and may encode the DCI according to an aggregation level and coding scheme that was identified for the control channel transmission in the location indicator. The base station <NUM>-b may transmit the PDCCH transmission <NUM> to the UE. <NUM><NUM>-b according to the identified coding and using the PDCCH resources configured in the location indicator.

At <NUM>, the UE <NUM><NUM>-b may receive the DCI in the PDCCH transmission. In some cases, the UE <NUM>-b may receive the DCI based on the location indicator provided by the base station <NUM>-b. At <NUM>, the UE <NUM>-b may identify PDSCH resources for a PDSCH transmission. In some cases, the PDSCH resources may be identified based on DCI included in die PDCCH transmission. The base station <NUM>-b may format PDSCH data in PDSCH resources at <NUM>, and transmit the PDSCH transmission <NUM>, which may be received by the UE <NUM>-b at <NUM>. In some cases, the PLICH indication <NUM>, the PDCCH transmission <NUM>, and the PDSCH transmission <NUM> may each be transmitted in a same radio frame, slot, or TTI. In some cases, the PLICH indication <NUM> may be valid for a plurality of frames, slots, or TTIs, and one or more additional PDCCH transmissions <NUM> may be transmitted that indicate corresponding PDSCH transmissions <NUM> in a same frame, slot, or TTI.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a wireless device <NUM> that supports techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Wireless device <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a user equipment (UE) <NUM> as described herein. Wireless device <NUM> may include receiver <NUM>, UE communications manager <NUM>, and transmitter <NUM>. Wireless device <NUM> may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

Receiver <NUM> may receive information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications, etc.). Information may be passed on to other components of the device. The receiver <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the transceiver <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>. The receiver <NUM> may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas. Receiver <NUM> may receive the shared channel transmissions via downlink shared channel resources, receive control channel transmissions via downlink control channel resources, and receive location indicator transmissions via location indicator channel transmissions.

UE communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the UE communications manager <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>. UE communications manager <NUM> and/or at least some of its various sub-components may be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software executed by a processor, the functions of the UE communications manager <NUM> and/or at least some of its various sub-components may be executed by a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described in the present disclosure. The UE communications manager <NUM> and/or at least some of its various sub-components may be physically located at various positions, including being distributed such that portions of functions are implemented at different physical locations by one or more physical devices. In some examples, UE communications manager <NUM> and/or at least some of its various sub-components may be a separate and distinct component in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In other examples, UE communications manager <NUM> and/or at least some of its various sub-components may be combined with one or more other hardware components, including but not limited to an I/O component, a transceiver, a network server, another computing device, one or more other components described in the present disclosure, or a combination thereof in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

UE communications manager <NUM> may receive, from a base station, a location indicator transmission having a location indicator that identifies downlink control channel resources that are to be monitored by the UE for downlink control information transmissions, monitor the downlink control channel resources based on the received location indicator, receive downlink control channel information on the downlink control channel resources based on the monitoring, and identify, based on the downlink control channel information, downlink shared channel resources that have been allocated for shared channel transmissions to the UE.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a wireless device <NUM> that supports techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Wireless device <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a wireless device <NUM> or a UE <NUM> as described with reference to <FIG>. Wireless device <NUM> may include receiver <NUM>, UE communications manager <NUM>, and transmitter <NUM>. Wireless device <NUM> may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

Receiver <NUM> may receive information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications, etc.). Information may be passed on to other components of the device. The receiver <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the transceiver <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>. The receiver <NUM> may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

UE communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the UE communications manager <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>. UE communications manager <NUM> may also include downlink control information (DCI) manager <NUM>, decoding component <NUM>, control channel resource manager <NUM>, and shared channel resource manager <NUM>.

DCI manager <NUM> may receive, from the base station, a location indicator transmission having a location indicator that identifies downlink control channel resources that are to be monitored by the UE for downlink control information transmissions. In some cases, the shared channel transmissions are transmissions of a first service that has a lower latency than a second service, and where the search space corresponds to a subset of a control channel search space associated with the second service. In some cases, the first service is an ultra-reliable low latency (URLLC) service and the second service is an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) service. In some cases, a coding rate of the location indicator transmission is lower than a coding rate of control channel transmissions of the second service that are transmitted in the control channel search space associated with the second service.

Decoding component <NUM> may monitor the downlink control channel resources based on the received location indicator and decode transmissions received on the monitored downlink control channel resources.

Control channel resource manager <NUM> may receive downlink control channel information on the downlink control channel resources based on the monitoring. In some cases, a same set of downlink control channel resources may be monitored for a period of time that may be indicated by a valid period indicator in a location indicator transmission.

Shared channel resource manager <NUM> may identify, based on the downlink control channel information, downlink shared channel resources that have been allocated for shared channel transmissions to the UE.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a UE communications manager <NUM> that supports techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The UE communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a UE communications manager <NUM>, a UE communications manager <NUM>, or a UE communications manager <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. The UE communications manager <NUM> may include DCI manager <NUM>, decoding component <NUM>, control channel resource manager <NUM>, shared channel resource manager <NUM>, PLICFI monitor <NUM>, search space identification component <NUM>, and blind decode component <NUM>. Each of these modules may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

PLICH monitor <NUM> may monitor PLICH resources for a location indicator transmission. In some cases, the receiving die location indicator transmission includes receiving a PLICH transmission that includes the location indicator. In some cases, the PLICH transmission and a first instance of the downlink control channel resources to be monitored are in a same radio frame. In some cases, the location indicator includes one or more of a valid period for the location indicator, an interval at which the downlink control channel resources are to be monitored, an aggregation level of the downlink control information transmitted using the downlink control channel resources, an index of a first control channel element of the downlink control channel resources, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the valid period corresponds to a number of radio frame intervals during which the UE is to monitor the identified downlink control channel resources, and where the UE monitors for a second PLICH transmission responsive to an expiration of the valid period.

Search space identification component <NUM> may identify a search space of downlink transmission resources that are configured for transmission of the location indicator transmission. In some cases, the search space includes a common search space for multiple UEs and a UE-specific search space.

Blind decode component <NUM> may search the search space for the location indicator transmission and decode the location indicator transmission responsive to the searching. In some cases, die searching includes blindly decoding a set of decoding hypotheses within the search space.

<FIG> shows a diagram of a system <NUM> including a device <NUM> that supports techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Device <NUM> may be an example of or include the components of wireless device <NUM>, wireless device <NUM>, or a UE <NUM> as described above, e.g., with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. Device <NUM> may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, including UE communications manager <NUM>, processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, software <NUM>, transceiver <NUM>, antenna <NUM>, and I/O controller <NUM>. These components may be in electronic communication via one or more buses (e.g., bus <NUM>). Device <NUM> may communicate wirelessly with one or more base stations <NUM>.

Processor <NUM> may include an intelligent hardware device, (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, processor <NUM> may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into processor <NUM>. Processor <NUM> may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications).

Software <NUM> may include code to implement aspects of the present disclosure, including code to support techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications. Software <NUM> may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as system memory or other memory. In some cases, the software <NUM> may not be directly executable by the processor but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform functions described herein.

For example, die transceiver <NUM> may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a wireless device <NUM> that supports techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Wireless device <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a base station <NUM> as described herein. Wireless device <NUM> may include receiver <NUM>, base station communications manager <NUM>, and transmitter <NUM>. Wireless device <NUM> may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

Base station communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the base station communications manager <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>.

Base station communications manager <NUM> and/or at least some of its various sub-components may be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software executed by a processor, the functions of the base station communications manager <NUM> and/or at least some of its various sub-components may be executed by a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described in the present disclosure. The base station communications manager <NUM> and/or at least some of its various sub-components may be physically located at various positions, including being distributed such that portions of functions are implemented at different physical locations by one or more physical devices. In some examples, base station communications manager <NUM> and/or at least some of its various sub-components may be a separate and distinct component in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In other examples, base station communications manager <NUM> and/or at least some of its various sub-components may be combined with one or more other hardware components, including but not limited to an I/O component, a transceiver, a network server, another computing device, one or more other components described in the present disclosure, or a combination thereof in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

Base station communications manager <NUM> may transmit a location indicator transmission to a UE, the location indicator transmission including a location indicator that identifies downlink control channel resources that are to be monitored by the UE for downlink control information transmissions, transmit downlink control channel information to the UE using the identified downlink control channel resources, the downlink control channel information indicating downlink shared channel resources that have been allocated for shared channel transmissions to the UE, and transmit the shared channel transmissions to the via the downlink shared channel resources.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a wireless device <NUM> that supports techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Wireless device <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a wireless device <NUM> or a base station <NUM> as described with reference to <FIG>. Wireless device <NUM> may include receiver <NUM>, base station communications manager <NUM>, and transmitter <NUM>. Wireless device <NUM> may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

Base station communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the base station communications manager <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>. Base station communications manager <NUM> may also include DCI manager <NUM>, control channel resource manager <NUM>, and shared channel resource manager <NUM>.

DCI manager <NUM> may transmit a location indicator transmission to a UE, the location indicator transmission including a location indicator that identifies downlink control channel resources that are to be monitored by the UE for downlink control information transmissions. In some cases, the shared channel transmissions are transmissions of a first service that has a lower latency than a second service, and where the search space corresponds to a subset of a control channel search space associated with the second service. In some cases, the first service is an URLLC service and the second service is an eMBB service. In some cases, a coding rate of the location indicator transmission is lower than a coding rate of control channel transmissions of the second service that are transmitted in the control channel search space associated with the second service.

Control channel resource manager <NUM> may transmit downlink control channel information to the UE using the identified downlink control channel resources, the downlink control channel information indicating downlink shared channel resources that have been allocated for shared channel transmissions to the UE.

Shared channel resource manager <NUM> may transmit the shared channel transmissions to the via the downlink shared channel resources.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a base station communications manager <NUM> that supports techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The base station communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a base station communications manager <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. The base station communications manager <NUM> may include DCI manager <NUM>, control channel resource manager <NUM>, shared channel resource manager <NUM>, PLICH manager <NUM>, and search space configuration component <NUM>. Each of these modules may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

Shared channel resource manager <NUM> may transmit the shared channel transmissions to die via the downlink shared channel resources.

PLICH manager <NUM> may configure PLICH resources for a location indicator transmission. In some cases, the transmitting the location indicator transmission includes transmitting a PLICH transmission that includes the location indicator. In some cases, the PLICH transmission and a first instance of the downlink control channel resources that are to be monitored are in a same radio frame. In some cases, the location indicator includes one or more of a valid period for the location indicator, an interval at which the downlink control channel resources are to be monitored by the UE, an aggregation level of the downlink control information transmitted using the downlink control channel resources, an index of a first control channel element of the downlink control channel resources, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the valid period corresponds to a number of radio frame intervals during which the UE is to monitor the identified downlink control channel resources, and where the UE monitors for a second PLICH transmission responsive to an expiration of the valid period.

Search space configuration component <NUM> may establish a connection with the UE and configuring a search space of downlink transmission resources for transmission of the location indicator transmission. In some cases, the search space includes a common search space for multiple UEs and a UE-specific search space.

<FIG> shows a diagram of a system <NUM> including a device <NUM> that supports techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Device <NUM> may be an example of or include the components of base station <NUM> as described above, e.g., with reference to <FIG>. Device <NUM> may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, including base station communications manager <NUM>, processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, software <NUM>, transceiver <NUM>, antenna <NUM>, network communications manager <NUM>, and inter-station communications manager <NUM>. These components may be in electronic communication via one or more buses (e.g., bus <NUM>). Device <NUM> may communicate wirelessly with one or more UEs <NUM>.

Processor <NUM> may include an intelligent hardware device, (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, processor <NUM> may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into processor <NUM>. Processor <NUM> may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications).

For example, the transceiver <NUM>-<NUM> may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver.

Inter-station communications manager <NUM> may manage communications with other base station <NUM>, and may include a controller or scheduler for controlling communications with UEs <NUM> in cooperation with other base stations <NUM>. In some examples, inter-station communications manager <NUM> may provide an X2 interface within an Long Term Evolution (LTE)/LTE-A wireless communication network technology to provide communication between base stations <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a flowchart illustrating a method <NUM> for techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method <NUM> may be implemented by a UE <NUM> or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of method <NUM> may be performed by a UE communications manager as described with reference to <FIG>. In some examples, a UE <NUM> may execute a set of codes to control the functional elements of the device to perform the functions described below. Additionally or alternatively, the UE <NUM> may perform aspects of the functions described below using special-purpose hardware.

At <NUM> the UE <NUM> may receive, from a base station, a location indicator transmission having a location indicator that identifies downlink control channel resources that are to be monitored by the UE for downlink control information transmissions. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a DCI manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM> the UE <NUM> may monitor the downlink control channel resources based at least in part on the received location indicator. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a decoding component as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM> the UE <NUM> may receive downlink control channel information on the downlink control channel resources based at least in part on the monitoring. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a control channel resource manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM> the UE <NUM> may identify, based at least in part on the downlink control channel information, downlink shared channel resources that have been allocated for shared channel transmissions to the UE. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a shared channel resource manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM> the UE <NUM> may receive the shared channel transmissions via the downlink shared channel resources. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a receiver as described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a flowchart illustrating a method <NUM> for techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method <NUM> may be implemented by a UE <NUM> or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of method <NUM> may be performed by a UE communications manager as described with reference to <FIG>. In some examples, a UE <NUM> may execute a set of codes to control the functional elements of the device to perform die functions described below. Additionally or alternatively, the UE <NUM> may perform aspects of the functions described below using special-purpose hardware.

At <NUM> the UE <NUM> may identify a search space of downlink transmission resources that are configured for transmission of the location indicator transmission. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a search space identification component as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM> the UE <NUM> may search the search space for the location indicator transmission. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a blind decode component as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM> the UE <NUM> may decode the location indicator transmission responsive to the searching. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a blind decode component as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM> the UE <NUM> may identify, based at least in part on the downlink control channel information, downlink shared channel resources that have been allocated for shared channel transmissions to the UE. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a shared charnel resource manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a flowchart illustrating a method <NUM> for techniques for downlink control channel location indication in wireless communications in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method <NUM> may be implemented by a base station <NUM> or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of method <NUM> may be performed by a base station communications manager as described with reference to <FIG>. In some examples, a base station <NUM> may execute a set of codes to control the functional elements of the device to perform the functions described below. Additionally or alternatively, the base station <NUM> may perform aspects of the functions described below using special-purpose hardware.

At <NUM> the base station <NUM> may transmit a location indicator transmission to a UE, the location indicator transmission including a location indicator that identifies downlink control channel resources that are to be monitored by the UE for downlink control information transmissions. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a DCI manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM> the base station <NUM> may transmit downlink control channel information to die UE using the identified downlink control channel resources, the downlink control channel information indicating downlink shared channel resources that have been allocated for shared channel transmissions to the UE. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a control channel resource manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM> the base station <NUM> may transmit the shared channel transmissions to the via the downlink shared channel resources. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a shared channel resource manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM> the base station <NUM> may establish a connection with the UE and configure a search space of downlink transmission resources for transmission of the location indicator transmission. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In certain examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a search space configuration component as described with reference to <FIG>.

It should be noted that the methods described above describe possible implementations, and that the operations and die steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible.

IS-<NUM> Releases may be commonly referred to as CDMA2000 1X, 1X, etc. IS-<NUM> (TIA-<NUM>) is commonly referred to as CDMA2000 IxEV-DO, High Rate Packet Data.

(HRPD), etc. UTRA includes Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) and other variants of CDMA.

An OFDMA system may implement a radio technology such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) <NUM> (Wi-Fi), IEEE <NUM> (WiMAX), IEEE <NUM>, Flash-OFDM, etc. UTRA and E-UTRA are part of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UNITS).

A femto cell may also cover a small geographic area (e.g., a home) and may provide restricted access by UEs <NUM> having an association with die femto cell (e.g., UEs <NUM> in a closed subscriber group (CSG), UEs <NUM> for users in the home, and the like).

The wireless communications system <NUM><NUM> or systems described herein may support synchronous or asynchronous operation.

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) for wireless communication, comprising:
receiving (<NUM>), at a user equipment, UE, from a base station, a location indicator transmission having a location indicator that identifies downlink control channel resources that are to be monitored by the UE for downlink control information transmissions;
monitoring (<NUM>) the downlink control channel resources based at least in part on the received location indicator;
receiving (<NUM>) downlink control channel information on the downlink control channel resources based at least in part on the monitoring;
identifying (<NUM>), based at least in part on the downlink control channel information, downlink shared channel resources that have been allocated for shared channel transmissions to the UE; and
receiving (<NUM>) the shared channel transmissions via the downlink shared channel resources.