Patent Description:
A wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations (BSs), each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE).

To meet the growing demands for expanded mobile broadband connectivity, wireless communication technologies are advancing from the LTE technology to a next generation new radio (NR) technology. An NR network may preconfigure certain resources for transmitting synchronization signals and/or reference signals to facilitate communications in the network. A BS may indicate scheduling grants and/or other information related to DL controls via a PDCCH mapped to resources in a certain region of a transmission slot. In some instances, certain preconfigured resources may overlap with PDCCH resources.

Such an overlap is addressed by the invention recited in the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are subject to the dependent claims. The following summarizes some aspects of the present disclosure to provide a basic understanding of the discussed technology. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the disclosure in summary form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

For example, in an aspect of the disclosure, a method of wireless communication, includes identifying, by a wireless communication device, a search space set including a plurality of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) candidate search spaces for a downlink control channel, wherein the search space set is within a control resource set, CORESET; determining, by the wireless communication device, that a preconfigured downlink resource overlaps with the CORESET in a transmission slot; and monitoring, by the wireless communication device, for a downlink control message over the downlink control channel by excluding monitoring for the downlink control message in the entire CORESET within the transmission slot in response to determining that the preconfigured downlink resource overlaps with the CORESET.

In an additional aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus includes means for identifying a search space set including a plurality of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) candidate search spaces for a downlink control channe, wherein the search space set is within a control resource set, CORESET; means for determining that a preconfigured downlink resource overlaps with the CORESET in a transmission slot; and means for monitoring for a downlink control message over the downlink control channel by excluding monitoring for the downlink control message in the entire CORESET within the transmission slot in response to determining that the preconfigured downlink resource overlaps with the CORESET.

This disclosure relates generally to providing or participating in authorized shared access between two or more wireless communications systems, also referred to as wireless communications networks. In various embodiments, the techniques and apparatus may be used for wireless communication networks such as code division multiple access (CDMA) networks, time division multiple access (TDMA) networks, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) networks, orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) networks, single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) networks, LTE networks, GSM networks, <NUM>th Generation (<NUM>) or new radio (NR) networks, as well as other communications networks. As described herein, the terms "networks" and "systems" may be used interchangeably.

An OFDMA network may implement a radio technology such as evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) <NUM>, IEEE <NUM>, IEEE <NUM>, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and the like. In particular, long-term evolution (LTE) is a release of UMTS that uses E-UTRA. 3GPP long-term evolution LTE is a 3GPP project which was aimed at improving the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) mobile phone standard.

In particular, <NUM> networks contemplate diverse deployments, diverse spectrum, and diverse services and devices that may be implemented using an OFDM-based unified, air interface. In order to achieve these goals, further enhancements to LTE and LTE-A are considered in addition to development of the new radio technology for <NUM> NR networks. The <NUM> NR will be capable of scaling to provide coverage (<NUM>) to a massive Internet of things (IoTs) with an ultra-high density (e.g., ~<NUM> nodes/km<NUM>), ultra-low complexity (e.g., ~<NUM> of bits/sec), ultra-low energy (e.g., ~<NUM>+ years of battery life), and deep coverage with the capability to reach challenging locations; (<NUM>) including mission-critical control with strong security to safeguard sensitive personal, financial, or classified information, ultra-high reliability (e.g., ~<NUM>% reliability), ultra-low latency (e.g., ~ <NUM>), and users with wide ranges of mobility or lack thereof; and (<NUM>) with enhanced mobile broadband including extreme high capacity (e.g., ~ <NUM> Tbps/km<NUM>), extreme data rates (e.g., multi-Gbps rate, <NUM>+ Mbps user experienced rates), and deep awareness with advanced discovery and optimizations.

The <NUM> NR may be implemented to use optimized OFDM-based waveforms with scalable numerology and transmission time interval (TTI); having a common, flexible framework to efficiently multiplex services and features with a dynamic, low-latency time division duplex (TDD)/frequency division duplex (FDD) design; and with advanced wireless technologies, such as massive multiple input, multiple output (MIMO), robust millimeter wave (mmWave) transmissions, advanced channel coding, and device-centric mobility. Scalability of the numerology in <NUM> NR, with scaling of subcarrier spacing, may efficiently address operating diverse services across diverse spectrum and diverse deployments. For example, in various outdoor and macro coverage deployments of less than <NUM> FDD/TDD implementations, subcarrier spacing may occur with <NUM>, for example over <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and the like bandwidth. For other various outdoor and small cell coverage deployments of TDD greater than <NUM>, subcarrier spacing may occur with <NUM> over <NUM>/<NUM> bandwidth. For other various indoor wideband implementations, using a TDD over the unlicensed portion of the <NUM> band, the subcarrier spacing may occur with <NUM> over a <NUM> bandwidth. Finally, for various deployments transmitting with mmWave components at a TDD of <NUM>, subcarrier spacing may occur with <NUM> over a <NUM> bandwidth.

The present application describes mechanisms for communicating in a downlink (DL) control channel when the DL control channel is mapped to resources overlapping with resources preconfigured for other signal transmissions. For example, a BS may preconfigure resources for transmitting a synchronization signal, a synchronization signal block (SSB), a reference signal, a broadcast communication signal, a PDSCH signal, a DL data channel signal, and/or any other application-specific signal. The BS may configure a set of resources for transmitting DL control messages. The DL control messages can also be referred to as DL control information (DCI), which may be carried in a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) that uses the set of resources. The set of resources may be referred to as a control resource set (CORESET). The BS may associate one or more DL control channel candidate search spaces with the CORESET. In other words, a search space corresponds to an instance of the CORESET at a particular time or a particular transmission slot. Each search space may be used to carry a DL control message. A UE may monitor for a DL control message or a PDCCH DCI in each search space. In some instances, a search space may include a resource overlapping with a preconfigured resource. To avoid collisions, the BS may consider the overlapping resource during scheduling. Similarly, the UE may consider the overlapping resource during monitoring.

In one embodiment, a BS may avoid scheduling and transmitting a DL control message in a search space that includes a resource overlapping with a preconfigured resource. In such an embodiment, a UE may exclude monitoring in a search space including an overlapping resource.

In one embodiment, a BS may avoid scheduling and transmitting a DL control message in any search space associated with a CORESET when the CORESET includes a resource overlapping with a preconfigured resource. In such an embodiment, a UE may exclude monitoring in an entire CORESET when the CORESET includes an overlapping resource.

In one embodiment, a BS may schedule and transmit a DL control message in a search space including a resource overlapping with a preconfigured resource. However, the BS may avoid transmitting in the overlapping resource. For example, the BS may encode a DL control message based on a location of the overlapping resource. In such an embodiment, a UE may monitor a search space including a resource overlapping with a preconfigured resource. Upon detecting a signal in the search space, the UE may perform decoding based on a location of the preconfigured resource. In some instances, the BS and the UE may perform rate matching based on the location of the overlapping resource. In some other instances, the BS and the UE may perform puncturing based on the location of the overlapping resources.

<FIG> illustrates a wireless communication network <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The network <NUM> may be a <NUM> network. The network <NUM> includes a number of base stations (BSs) <NUM> and other network entities. A BS <NUM> may be a station that communicates with UEs <NUM> and may also be referred to as an evolved node B (eNB), a next generation eNB (gNB), an access point, and the like. Each BS <NUM> may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area. In 3GPP, the term "cell" can refer to this particular geographic coverage area of a BS <NUM> and/or a BS subsystem serving the coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the BSs 105d and 105e may be regular macro BSs, while the BSs 105a-105c may be macro BSs enabled with one of <NUM> dimension (3D), full dimension (FD), or massive MIMO.

The UEs <NUM> are dispersed throughout the wireless network <NUM>, and each UE <NUM> may be stationary or mobile. A UE <NUM> may also be referred to as a terminal, a mobile station, a subscriber unit, a station, or the like. A UE <NUM> may be a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handheld device, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, or the like. In one aspect, a UE <NUM> may be a device that includes a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC). In another aspect, a UE may be a device that does not include a UICC. In some aspects, the UEs <NUM> that do not include UICCs may also be referred to as internet of everything (IoE) devices. The UEs 115a-115d are examples of mobile smart phone-type devices accessing network <NUM> A UE <NUM> may also be a machine specifically configured for connected communication, including machine type communication (MTC), enhanced MTC (eMTC), narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and the like. The UEs 115e-<NUM> are examples of various machines configured for communication that access the network <NUM>. A UE <NUM> may be able to communicate with any type of the BSs, whether macro BS, small cell, or the like. In <FIG>, a lightning bolt (e.g., communication links) indicates wireless transmissions between a UE <NUM> and a serving BS <NUM>, which is a BS designated to serve the UE <NUM> on the downlink and/or uplink, or desired transmission between BSs, and backhaul transmissions between BSs.

The network <NUM> may also support mission critical communications with ultra-reliable and redundant links for mission critical devices, such as the UE 115e, which may be a drone. Redundant communication links with the UE 115e may include links from the macro BSs 105d and 105e, as well as links from the small cell BS 105f. Other machine type devices, such as the UE 115f (e.g., a thermometer), the UE <NUM> (e.g., smart meter), and UE <NUM> (e.g., wearable device) may communicate through the network <NUM> either directly with BSs, such as the small cell BS 105f, and the macro BS 105e, or in multi-hop configurations by communicating with another user device which relays its information to the network, such as the UE 115f communicating temperature measurement information to the smart meter, the UE <NUM>, which is then reported to the network through the small cell BS 105f. The network <NUM> may also provide additional network efficiency through dynamic, low-latency TDD/FDD communications, such as in a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V).

In some implementations, the network <NUM> utilizes OFDM-based waveforms for communications. An OFDM-based system may partition the system bandwidth into multiple (K) orthogonal subcarriers, which are also commonly referred to as subcarriers, tones, bins, or the like. Each subcarrier may be modulated with data. In some instances, the subcarrier spacing between adjacent subcarriers may be fixed, and the total number of subcarriers (K) may be dependent on the system bandwidth. In other instances, the subcarrier spacing and/or the duration of TTIs may be scalable.

In an embodiment, the BSs <NUM> can assign or schedule transmission resources (e.g., in the form of time-frequency resource blocks (RB)) for DL and UL transmissions in the network <NUM>. DL refers to the transmission direction from a BS <NUM> to a UE <NUM>, whereas UL refers to the transmission direction from a UE <NUM> to a BS <NUM>. The communication can be in the form of radio frames. A radio frame may be divided into a plurality of subframes, for example, about <NUM>. Each subframe can be divided into slots, for example, about <NUM>. Each slot may be further divided into mini-slots. In a FDD mode, simultaneous UL and DL transmissions may occur in different frequency bands. For example, each subframe includes a UL subframe in a UL frequency band and a DL subframe in a DL frequency band. In a time-division duplexing (TDD) mode, UL and DL transmissions occur at different time periods using the same frequency band. For example, a subset of the subframes (e.g., DL subframes) in a radio frame may be used for DL transmissions and another subset of the subframes (e.g., UL subframes) in the radio frame may be used for UL transmissions.

The DL subframes and the UL subframes can be further divided into several regions. For example, each DL or UL subframe may have pre-defined regions for transmissions of reference signals, control information, and data. Reference signals are predetermined signals that facilitate the communications between the BSs <NUM> and the UEs <NUM>. For example, a reference signal can have a particular pilot pattern or structure, where pilot tones may span across an operational bandwidth or frequency band, each positioned at a pre-defined time and a pre-defined frequency. For example, a BS <NUM> may transmit cell specific reference signals (CRSs) and/or channel state information -reference signals (CSI-RSs) to enable a UE <NUM> to estimate a DL channel. Similarly, a UE <NUM> may transmit sounding reference signals (SRSs) to enable a BS <NUM> to estimate a UL channel. Control information may include resource assignments and protocol controls. Data may include protocol data and/or operational data. In some embodiments, the BSs <NUM> and the UEs <NUM> may communicate using self-contained subframes. A self-contained subframe may include a portion for DL communication and a portion for UL communication. A self-contained subframe can be DL-centric or UL-centric. A DL-centric subframe may include a longer duration for DL communication than UL communication. A UL-centric subframe may include a longer duration for UL communication than UL communication.

In an embodiment, the network <NUM> may be an NR network deployed over a licensed spectrum. The BSs <NUM> can transmit synchronization signals (e.g., including a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS)) in the network <NUM> to facilitate synchronization. The BSs <NUM> can broadcast system information associated with the network <NUM> (e.g., including a master information block (MIB), remaining minimum system information (RMSI), and other system information (OSI)) to facilitate initial network access. In some instances, the BSs <NUM> may broadcast the PSS, the SSS, the MIB, the RMSI, and/or the OSI in the form of synchronization signal blocks (SSBs).

In an embodiment, a UE <NUM> attempting to access the network <NUM> may perform an initial cell search by detecting a PSS from a BS <NUM>. The PSS may enable synchronization of period timing and may indicate a physical layer identity value. The UE <NUM> may then receive a SSS. The SSS may enable radio frame synchronization, and may provide a cell identity value, which may be combined with the physical layer identity value to identify the cell. The SSS may also enable detection of a duplexing mode and a cyclic prefix length. Some systems, such as TDD systems, may transmit an SSS but not a PSS. Both the PSS and the SSS may be located in a central portion of a carrier, respectively.

After receiving the PSS and SSS, the UE <NUM> may receive a MIB, which may be transmitted in the physical broadcast channel (PBCH). The MIB may include system information for initial network access and scheduling information for RMSI and/or OSI. After decoding the MIB, the UE <NUM> may receive RMSI and/or OSI. The RMSI and/or OSI may include radio resource control (RRC) configuration information related to random access channel (RACH) procedures, paging, physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), power control, SRS, and cell barring. After obtaining the MIB and/or the SIBs, the UE <NUM> can perform random access procedures to establish a connection with the BS <NUM>.

After establishing a connection, the UE <NUM> and the BS <NUM> can enter a normal operation stage, where operational data may be exchanged. For example, the BS <NUM> may schedule UL and/or DL transmissions by issuing UL transmission grants and/or DL transmission grants for the UE <NUM>. Subsequently, the BS <NUM> and the UE <NUM> may communicate based on the issued grants. In an embodiment, a BS <NUM> may transmit a UL grant and/or a DL grant for a UE <NUM> in a DL control region of a transmission slot. Subsequently, the BS <NUM> and the UE <NUM> may communicate with the UE <NUM> in a data region of the same transmission slot or a subsequent transmission slot based on the DL grant and/or the UL grant.

In an embodiment, the network <NUM> may preconfigure resources in certain transmission slots for synchronization signal transmission, PDSCH transmission, broadcast communication transmission, downlink data channel transmission, and/or application-specific signal transmission. Additionally or alternatively, the preconfigured resources configured in certain transmission slots can include SSB transmission to facilitate network discovery and synchronization. An SSB may include a PSS, an SSS, and/or a PBCH. In addition, the network <NUM> may preconfigure resources in certain transmission slots for reference signal transmissions (e.g., demodulation reference signals (DMRSs) and channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS)) to facilitate signal communications and channel measurements. Further, the network <NUM> may preconfigure resources in certain transmission slots for slot format indications, where transmission slots may have various numerologies as described in greater detail herein. The preconfigured resources may overlap with certain regions within the transmission slots. For example, the preconfigured resources may overlap with a DL control channel region of a transmission slot. As such, the BSs <NUM> may account for DL control resources overlapping with preconfigured resources during DL control channel scheduling. Similarly, the UEs <NUM> may account for DL control resources overlapping with preconfigured resources during DL control channel monitoring. Mechanisms for DL control channel scheduling and DL control channel monitoring are described in greater detail herein.

<FIG> illustrates a communication frame configuration <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The configuration <NUM> may be employed by the networks <NUM>. In particular, BSs such as the BSs <NUM> and UEs such as the UEs <NUM> may communicate with each other using the configuration <NUM>. In <FIG>, the x-axes represent time in some constant units and the y-axes represent frequency in some constant units. The configuration includes a radio frame <NUM>. The radio frame <NUM> includes N plurality of subframes <NUM> spanning in time and frequency. In an embodiment, a radio frame <NUM> may span a time interval of about <NUM> milliseconds (ms). Each subframe <NUM> includes M plurality of slots <NUM>. Each slot <NUM> includes K plurality of mini-slots <NUM>. Each mini-slot <NUM> may include a variable number of symbols <NUM>. N, M, and K may be any suitable positive integers.

In some embodiments, N may be about <NUM> and M may be about <NUM>. In other words, a radio frame <NUM> may include about <NUM> subframes <NUM> and each subframe <NUM> may include about <NUM> symbols <NUM>. The BSs or the UEs may send data in units of subframes <NUM>, slots <NUM>, or mini-slots <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a communication frame configuration <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The configuration <NUM> may be employed by the networks <NUM>. In particular, BSs such as the BSs <NUM> and UEs such as the UEs <NUM> may communicate with each other using the configuration <NUM>. In <FIG>, the x-axes represent time in some constant units and the y-axes represent frequency in some constant units. The configuration <NUM> includes a transmission slot <NUM>. The transmission slot <NUM> may include any suitable number of OFDM symbols (e.g., the OFDM symbols <NUM>). In some instances, the transmission slot <NUM> may correspond to ta slot <NUM>. In some other instances, the transmission slot <NUM> may correspond to a mini-slot <NUM>. The transmission slot <NUM> may be referred to as a transmission time interval (TTI). A BS or a UE may encapsulate information data from a higher layer into a frame (e.g., a transport block (TB)) and transmit the frame in the transmission slot <NUM>.

The transmission slot <NUM> may include a DL control region <NUM>. The DL control region <NUM> may include a set of resources <NUM> spanning in time and frequency designated for DCI transmissions. For example, the set of resources <NUM> may span a number of frequency subcarriers in frequency and a number of OFDM symbols in time. In some instances, when the transmission slot <NUM> corresponds to a slot <NUM>, the DL control region <NUM> may be located at the beginning of the slot <NUM> and may include a duration of about <NUM> symbols to about <NUM> symbols. In some other instances, when the transmission slot <NUM> corresponds to a mini-slot <NUM> within a slot <NUM>, the DL control region <NUM> may be located at any symbol within the slot <NUM>. DCI may include UL scheduling grants and/or DL scheduling grants. A scheduling grant may include a modulation and coding scheme (MCS), a rank indicator (RI), a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), a resource allocation, and/or any information related to a corresponding scheduled transmission. The remaining time-frequency resources <NUM> may be allocated for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission (e.g., carrying DL data) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission (e.g., carrying UL data).

The set of resources <NUM> may be referred to as a CORESET. Accordingly, in some instances, a CORESET can include a number of RBs in the frequency domain and a number of symbols in the time domain. A plurality of DL control channel search spaces <NUM> may be mapped to the CORESET <NUM>. The search spaces <NUM> are shown as 322a, 322b, 322c, and 322d. Each DL control channel search space <NUM> may carry a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) candidate (e.g., DCI or a DL control message). In some embodiments, the search spaces <NUM> may be periodic. For example, the search space 322a may be configured for a particular slot <NUM> and repeated at every L number of slots <NUM>, where L may be any suitable integer. In other words, the search space 322a correspond to time instances of the CORESET <NUM> where a PDCCH search may be performed by a UE. Accordingly, in some instances, a set of PDCCH candidates for a UE to monitor is defined in terms of PDCCH search space sets. The UE may monitor PDCCH for each search space set (e.g., the search spaces 322a, 322b, 322c, and 322d) in a CORESET.

While <FIG> illustrates each search space <NUM> mapped to a different portion of the CORESET <NUM>, in some embodiments, two search spaces <NUM> may be partially overlapping.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an exemplary UE <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The UE <NUM> may be a UE <NUM> as discussed above. As shown, the UE <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a PDCCH monitoring and processing module <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM> including a modem subsystem <NUM> and a radio frequency (RF) unit <NUM>, and one or more antennas <NUM>. These elements may be in direct or indirect communication with each other, for example via one or more buses.

The memory <NUM> may include a cache memory (e.g., a cache memory of the processor <NUM>), random access memory (RAM), magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, solid state memory device, hard disk drives, other forms of volatile and non-volatile memory, or a combination of different types of memory. In an embodiment, the memory <NUM> includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The instructions <NUM> may include instructions that, when executed by the processor <NUM>, cause the processor <NUM> to perform the operations described herein with reference to the UEs <NUM> in connection with embodiments of the present disclosure. Instructions <NUM> may also be referred to as code. The terms "instructions" and "code" should be interpreted broadly to include any type of computer-readable statement(s). For example, the terms "instructions" and "code" may refer to one or more programs, routines, subroutines, functions, procedures, etc. "Instructions" and "code" may include a single computer-readable statement or many computer-readable statements.

The PDCCH monitoring and processing module <NUM> may be implemented via hardware, software, or combinations thereof. For example, the PDCCH monitoring and processing module <NUM> may be implemented as a processor, circuit, and/or instructions <NUM> stored in the memory <NUM> and executed by the processor <NUM>. In some examples, the PDCCH monitoring and processing module <NUM> can be can be integrated within the modem subsystem <NUM>. For example, the PDCCH monitoring and processing module <NUM> can be implemented by a combination of software components (e.g., executed by a DSP or a general processor) and hardware components (e.g., logic gates and circuitry) within the modem subsystem <NUM>. The PDCCH monitoring and processing module <NUM> may be used for various aspects of the present disclosure. For example, the PDCCH monitoring and processing module <NUM> is configured to receive configurations from a BS (e.g., the BSs <NUM>), obtain a CORESET (e.g., the CORESET <NUM>) from the configurations, obtain PDCCH candidate search spaces (e.g., the search spaces <NUM>) from the configurations, obtain preconfigured resources from the configurations, monitor for PDCCH candidates and process received PDCCH signals based on the obtained CORESET, search spaces, and/or preconfigured resources, and/or apply rate matching or puncturing around resources overlapping with preconfigured resources as described in greater detail herein. In some instances, each PDCCH candidate search space may be referred to as a PDCCH candidate, and the set of PDCCH candidates within an instance of a CORESET may be referred to as a search space set or a search space.

As shown, the transceiver <NUM> may include the modem subsystem <NUM> and the RF unit <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> can be configured to communicate bi-directionally with other devices, such as the BSs <NUM>. The modem subsystem <NUM> may be configured to modulate and/or encode the data from the memory <NUM>, and/or the PDCCH monitoring and processing module <NUM> according to a MCS, e.g., a low-density parity check (LDPC) coding scheme, a turbo coding scheme, a convolutional coding scheme, a digital beamforming scheme, etc. The RF unit <NUM> may be configured to process (e.g., perform analog to digital conversion or digital to analog conversion, etc.) modulated/encoded data from the modem subsystem <NUM> (on outbound transmissions) or of transmissions originating from another source such as a UE <NUM> or a BS <NUM>. The RF unit <NUM> may be further configured to perform analog beamforming in conjunction with the digital beamforming. Although shown as integrated together in transceiver <NUM>, the modem subsystem <NUM> and the RF unit <NUM> may be separate devices that are coupled together at the UE <NUM> to enable the UE <NUM> to communicate with other devices.

The RF unit <NUM> may provide the modulated and/or processed data, e.g. data packets (or, more generally, data messages that may contain one or more data packets and other information), to the antennas <NUM> for transmission to one or more other devices. The antennas <NUM> may further receive data messages transmitted from other devices. The antennas <NUM> may provide the received data messages for processing and/or demodulation at the transceiver <NUM>. The antennas <NUM> may include multiple antennas of similar or different designs in order to sustain multiple transmission links. The RF unit <NUM> may configure the antennas <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an exemplary BS <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The BS <NUM> may be a BS <NUM> as discussed above. A shown, the BS <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a PDCCH configuration and communication module <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM> including a modem subsystem <NUM> and a RF unit <NUM>, and one or more antennas <NUM>. These elements may be in direct or indirect communication with each other, for example via one or more buses.

The PDCCH configuration and communication module <NUM> may be implemented via hardware, software, or combinations thereof. For example, the PDCCH configuration and communication module <NUM> may be implemented as a processor, circuit, and/or instructions <NUM> stored in the memory <NUM> and executed by the processor <NUM>. In some examples, the PDCCH configuration and communication module <NUM> can be can be integrated within the modem subsystem <NUM>. For example, the PDCCH configuration and communication module <NUM> can be implemented by a combination of software components (e.g., executed by a DSP or a general processor) and hardware components (e.g., logic gates and circuitry) within the modem subsystem <NUM>. The PDCCH configuration and communication module <NUM> may be used for various aspects of the present disclosure. For example, the PDCCH configuration and communication module <NUM> is configured to transmit configurations for a CORESET (e.g., the CORESET <NUM>), PDCCH candidate search spaces (e.g., the search spaces <NUM>), and/or preconfigured resources, schedule and transmit DCI based in the search spaces, and/or apply rate matching or puncturing around resources overlapping with preconfigured resources as described in greater detail herein. In some instances, each PDCCH candidate search space may be referred to as a PDCCH candidate, and the set of PDCCH candidates within an instance of a CORESET may be referred to as a search space set or a search space.

As shown, the transceiver <NUM> may include the modem subsystem <NUM> and the RF unit <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> can be configured to communicate bi-directionally with other devices, such as the UEs <NUM> and/or another core network element. The modem subsystem <NUM> may be configured to modulate and/or encode data according to a MCS, e.g., a LDPC coding scheme, a turbo coding scheme, a convolutional coding scheme, a digital beamforming scheme, etc. The RF unit <NUM> may be configured to process (e.g., perform analog to digital conversion or digital to analog conversion, etc.) modulated/encoded data from the modem subsystem <NUM> (on outbound transmissions) or of transmissions originating from another source such as a UE <NUM> or <NUM>. The RF unit <NUM> may be further configured to perform analog beamforming in conjunction with the digital beamforming. Although shown as integrated together in transceiver <NUM>, the modem subsystem <NUM> and the RF unit <NUM> may be separate devices that are coupled together at the BS <NUM> to enable the BS <NUM> to communicate with other devices.

The RF unit <NUM> may provide the modulated and/or processed data, e.g. data packets (or, more generally, data messages that may contain one or more data packets and other information), to the antennas <NUM> for transmission to one or more other devices. This may include, for example, transmission of PDCCH signals according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The antennas <NUM> may further receive data messages transmitted from other devices and provide the received data messages for processing and/or demodulation at the transceiver <NUM>. The antennas <NUM> may include multiple antennas of similar or different designs in order to sustain multiple transmission links.

<FIG> illustrate various mechanisms that can be used for DCI communications between BSs (e.g., the BSs <NUM> and <NUM>) and UEs (e.g., the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>). In <FIG>, the x-axes represent time in some constant units and the y-axes represent frequency in some constant units.

<FIG> illustrates a DL control channel communication method <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The method <NUM> may be employed by the BSs <NUM> and <NUM> and the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>. The method <NUM> is illustrated using the frame configuration <NUM> described above with respect to <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the transmission slot <NUM> further includes a resource <NUM> preconfigured for a particular signal transmission, such as a synchronization signal transmission, a reference signal transmission, a PDSCH transmission, and/or an application-specific signal transmission. The synchronization signal may include an SSB including a PSS, an SSS, a PBCH, and/or a PBCH DMRS. The reference signal may be a DMRS or a CSI-RS. The resource <NUM> may be semi-statically or dynamically configured. A BS may pre-allocate, reserve, or pre-schedule the resource <NUM> and indicate a configuration of the resource <NUM> to a UE. For example, the BS may indicate a semi-statically configured resource <NUM> via a RRC message. Alternatively, a BS may indicate a dynamically configured resource <NUM> via DCI.

In the method <NUM>, a BS may transmit a DL control message over a search space <NUM> that do not overlap with any portions of the preconfigured resource <NUM>. Similarly, a UE may monitor for a PDCCH candidate in a search space <NUM> that do not overlap with any portions of the preconfigured resource <NUM>. As an example, at least a portion of the search spaces 322c and 322d overlap with a portion of the resource <NUM>. Thus, a BS may transmit a PDCCH candidate 620a in the search space 322a and/or a PDCCH candidate 620b in the search space 322b, but may refrain from transmitting a PDCCH candidate in any of the search spaces 322c and 322d (as shown by the cross symbols). Similarly, a UE may exclude PDCCH monitoring in the search spaces 322c and 322d. Accordingly, in some instances, when at least one resource element (RE) (e.g., a frequency subcarrier) for a PDCCH candidate (e.g., the search space 322c and 322d) overlaps with at least one RE corresponding to an SSB (e.g., in the preconfigured resource <NUM>), the UE is not required to monitor the PDCCH candidate. Additionally, the search spaces 322a-322d can be referred to as PDCCH candidate search spaces and/or a search space set. In some instances, each PDCCH candidate search space may be referred to as a PDCCH candidate, and the set of PDCCH candidates within an instance of a CORESET may be referred to as a search space set or a search space.

<FIG> illustrates a DL control channel communication method <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The method <NUM> may be employed by the BSs <NUM> and <NUM> and the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>. The method <NUM> is illustrated using the frame configuration <NUM> described above with respect to <FIG>. Similar to the method <NUM>, the transmission slot <NUM> includes a preconfigured resource <NUM> including portions overlapping with the search spaces 322c and 322d. However, in the method <NUM>, a BS may refrain from transmitting a DL control message over any search space <NUM> associated with the CORESET <NUM> (as shown by the cross symbols) when the CORESET <NUM> in the transmission slot <NUM> overlaps with the preconfigured resource <NUM>. Thus, a UE may exclude monitoring in the entire CORESET <NUM> within the transmission slot <NUM> when the CORESET <NUM> overlaps with the preconfigured resource <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the transmission slot <NUM> may include multiple CORESETs <NUM>. When one of the CORESETs <NUM> overlaps with a preconfigured resource <NUM>, search spaces <NUM> that are associated with the other CORESETs <NUM> in the transmission slot may be used for DL control message transmissions and/or monitoring.

<FIG> illustrates a DL control channel communication method <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The method <NUM> may be employed by the BSs <NUM> and <NUM> and the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>. The method <NUM> is illustrated using the frame configuration <NUM> described above with respect to <FIG>. As shown, the transmission slot <NUM> includes resources <NUM> preconfigured, scheduled, or reserved for a particular signal transmission, such as a synchronization signal transmission, a reference signal transmission, and/or a PDSCH transmission. For example, the resource 810a is within the search space 322c and the resource 810b is within the search space 322d.

In the method <NUM>, a BS may transmit a PDCCH candidate 620c in the search space 322c and/or a PDCCH candidate 620d in the search space 322d while the search spaces 322c and 322d include resources overlapping with the preconfigured resources 810a and 810b, respectively. However, the BS may refrain from transmitting in the overlapping resources 810a and 810b as shown by the cross symbols. For example, the BS may encode a DL control message by performing rate matching to account for the resource 810a. Rate matching may include a bit selection step that selects or extracts a number of encoded bits to fit into an assigned physical resource. In some embodiments, rate matching may further include sub-block interleaving and a bit collection step prior to the bit selection step similar to PDSCH rate matching. The BS may transmit the encoded DL control message (e.g., a PDCCH candidate 620c) in the search space 322c excluding the resource 810a.

Similarly, a UE may monitor all the search spaces <NUM> in the CORESET <NUM> irrespective of whether a search space <NUM> overlaps with the resource 810a or 810b. When the UE detects a PDCCH signal (e.g., the PDCCH candidate 620c) from the search space 322c overlapping with the preconfigured resource 810a, the UE may perform decoding by rate matching to account for the preconfigured resource 810a (e.g., excluding the preconfigured resource 810a).

<FIG> illustrates a DL control channel communication method <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The method <NUM> may be employed by the BSs <NUM> and <NUM> and the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>. The method <NUM> is illustrated using the frame configuration <NUM> described above with respect to <FIG>. Similar to the method <NUM>, a BS may transmit a PDCCH candidate 620c in the search space 322c and/or a PDCCH candidate 620d in the search space 322d when the search spaces 322c and 322d include portions overlapping with the preconfigured resources 810a and 810b, respectively. However, in the method <NUM>, the BS may apply puncturing to drop certain number of bits to account for the overlapping preconfigured resources 810a and/or 810b such that transmissions in the overlapping preconfigured resources 810a and/or 810b may be avoided as shown by the cross symbols.

Similarly, the UE may monitor all the search spaces <NUM> in the CORESET <NUM> irrespective of whether a search space <NUM> overlaps with the resource 810a or 810b. When the UE detects a PDCCH signal (e.g., the PDCCH candidate 620c) from the search space 322c including the preconfigured resource 810a, the UE may perform decoding by applying puncturing (e.g., dropping bits) to account for the preconfigured resource 810a.

<FIG> illustrates a resource configuration scenario <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. In <FIG>, the x-axis represents time in some constant units and the y-axis represents frequency in some constant units. The scenario <NUM> may correspond to a DL scheduling scenario in the network <NUM>. The scenario <NUM> includes two transmission slots <NUM> similar to the transmission slot <NUM>. The transmission slots <NUM> are shown as <NUM>(i) and <NUM>(i+<NUM>). Each slot <NUM> includes a search space <NUM> similar to the search spaces <NUM>. A BS (e.g., the BSs <NUM> and <NUM>) may transmit DCI <NUM> in the search space <NUM>(i) of the current transmission slot <NUM>(i), where i may be any positive integer. The DCI <NUM> may include a DL transmission grant for a UE (e.g., the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>) in a next transmission slot <NUM>(i+<NUM>) as shown by the dotted arrow. For example, the DCI <NUM> may include a DCI parameter (e.g., K0) set to a value of <NUM> to indicate a pre-schedule for the next transmission slot <NUM>(i+<NUM>). Subsequently, the BS may transmit a DL data signal (e.g., a PDSCH transmission) to the UE in the transmission slot <NUM>(i+<NUM>) based on the DCI <NUM>. The BS may configure the UE to monitor for PDCCH candidates using any of the methods <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>. Subsequently, the BS may transmit PDCCH signals based on the configuration and the UE may perform PDCCH monitoring based on the configuration. While <FIG> illustrates scheduling in advance by one transmission slot <NUM>, similar mechanisms may be employed to schedule transmissions in advance any suitable number of slots (e.g., about <NUM> or <NUM>).

<FIG> is a signaling diagram of a communication method <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The method <NUM> is implemented by a BS (e.g., the.

BSs <NUM> and <NUM>) and a UE (e.g., the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>) in a network (e.g., the network <NUM>). The method <NUM> may employ similar mechanisms as in the methods <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> and/or the scenario <NUM> described with respect to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. Steps of the method <NUM> can be executed by computing devices (e.g., a processor, processing circuit, and/or other suitable component) of the BS and the UE. As illustrated, the method <NUM> includes a number of enumerated steps, but embodiments of the method <NUM> may include additional steps before, after, and in between the enumerated steps. In some embodiments, one or more of the enumerated steps may be omitted or performed in a different order.

At step <NUM>, the BS transmits a first configuration for a CORESET (e.g., the CORESET <NUM>).

At step <NUM>, the BS transmits a second configuration for a plurality of search spaces (e.g., the search spaces <NUM> and <NUM>). The search spaces may be mapped to the CORESET as shown in the methods <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

At step <NUM>, the BS transmits a third configuration for preconfigured resources, for example, allocated for SSB transmissions, reference signal transmissions, and/or PDSCH transmissions. The BS may transmit the first configuration, the second configuration, and/or the third configuration via RRC messages or DCI (e.g., the PDCCH candidates <NUM> and the DCI <NUM>).

At step <NUM>, the BS may schedule a DL control channel transmission, for example, for example, in a transmission slot <NUM> or <NUM>. The BS may account for resources (e.g., the resources <NUM> and <NUM>) overlapping with the search spaces using the method <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>.

At step <NUM>, the BS may transmit a DL control message based on the schedule.

At step <NUM>, the UE may monitor for a DL control message or a PDCCH candidate using the method <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>, for example, depending on a predetermined configuration. For example, the UE and the BS may be configured to use the same method (e.g., the method <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>) to resolve conflicts in resource allocations configured or indicated via different messages.

<FIG> is a flow diagram of a DL control channel monitoring method <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Steps of the method <NUM> can be executed by a computing device (e.g., a processor, processing circuit, and/or other suitable component) of a wireless communication device or other suitable means for performing the steps. For example, a wireless communication device, such as the UE <NUM> or UE <NUM>, may utilize one or more components, such as the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the PDCCH monitoring and processing module <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, and the one or more antennas <NUM>, to execute the steps of method <NUM>. The method <NUM> may employ similar mechanisms as in the method <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> described with respect to <FIG>, <FIG>, and/or <NUM>, respectively. As illustrated, the method <NUM> includes a number of enumerated steps, but embodiments of the method <NUM> may include additional steps before, after, and in between the enumerated steps. In some embodiments, one or more of the enumerated steps may be omitted or performed in a different order.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes identifying a plurality of search spaces (e.g., the search spaces <NUM> and <NUM>) for a DL control channel (e.g., a PDCCH). In some instances, each search space of the plurality of search spaces can be referred to as a PDCCH candidate search space within a search space set. Each PDCCH candidate search space may be referred to as a PDCCH candidate or a PDCCH candidate search space. The search space set can be referred to as an instance of a CORESET.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes determining that a first resource associated with a first search space (e.g., the search spaces 322c, 322d, and <NUM>(i+<NUM>)) of the plurality of search spaces overlaps with a preconfigured resource (e.g., the resources <NUM> and <NUM>).

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes monitoring for a DL control message (e.g., the PDCCH candidates <NUM> and the DCI <NUM>) over the DL control channel by excluding monitoring in at least the first search space based on the determining.

In an embodiment, the wireless communication device can determine that resources of a second search space (e.g., the search spaces 322a and 322b) of the plurality of search spaces does not overlap with any preconfigured resources and the monitoring can include monitoring for the DL control message from the second search space, for example, as shown in the method <NUM>.

In another embodiment, the wireless communication device may further determine whether the plurality of resources is associated with a set of control resources (e.g., the CORESET <NUM>) including the first resource overlapping with the first resource. The wireless communication device may exclude monitoring in any of the plurality of search spaces when the plurality of search spaces is determined to be associated with the set of control resources, for example, as shown in the method <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the wireless communication device can receive a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal (e.g., a PDSCH signal).

<FIG> is a flow diagram of a DL control channel transmission method <NUM> according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Steps of the method <NUM> can be executed by a computing device (e.g., a processor, processing circuit, and/or other suitable component) of a wireless communication device or other suitable means for performing the steps. For example, a wireless communication device, such as the BS <NUM> or BS <NUM>, may utilize one or more components, such as the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the PDCCH configuration and communication module <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, and the one or more antennas <NUM>, to execute the steps of method <NUM>. The method <NUM> may employ similar mechanisms as in the method <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> described with respect to <FIG>, <FIG>, and/or <NUM>, respectively. As illustrated, the method <NUM> includes a number of enumerated steps, but embodiments of the method <NUM> may include additional steps before, after, and in between the enumerated steps. In some embodiments, one or more of the enumerated steps may be omitted or performed in a different order.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes configuring a plurality of search spaces (e.g., the search spaces <NUM> and <NUM>) for a DL control channel (e.g., a PDCCH). In some instances, each search space of the plurality of search spaces can be referred to as a PDCCH candidate search space within a search space set. Each PDCCH candidate search space may be referred to as a PDCCH candidate or a PDCCH candidate search space. The search space set can be referred to as an instance of a CORESET.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes transmitting a DL control message (e.g., the PDCCH candidates <NUM> and the DCI <NUM>) using resources outside of at least the first search space based on the determining.

In an embodiment, the wireless communication device may transmit the DL control message in a second search space (e.g., the search spaces 322a and 322b) of the plurality of search spaces that is non-overlapping with any preconfigured resources for example, as shown in the method <NUM>.

In another embodiment, the wireless communication device may further determine whether the plurality of resources is associated with a set of control resources (e.g., the CORESET <NUM>) including the first resource overlapping with the first resource. The wireless communication device may refrain from transmitting a DL control message in any of the plurality of search spaces when the plurality of search spaces is determined to be associated with the set of control resources, for example, as shown in the method <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the wireless communication device can transmit a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal (e.g., a PDSCH signal).

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes obtaining a plurality of search spaces (e.g., the search spaces <NUM> and <NUM>) for a DL control channel. The plurality of search spaces includes a first resource overlapping with a preconfigured resource (e.g., the resource <NUM> and <NUM>). In some instances, each search space of the plurality of search spaces can be referred to as a PDCCH candidate search space within a search space set. Each PDCCH candidate search space may be referred to as a PDCCH candidate or a PDCCH candidate search space. The search space set can be referred to as an instance of a CORESET.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes monitoring for a DL control message (e.g., the PDCCH candidates <NUM> and the DCI <NUM>) form the DL control channel in the plurality of search spaces.

In an embodiment, the wireless communication device may receive a signal from a first search space (e.g., the search spaces 322c and 322d) of the plurality of search spaces including the first resource. The wireless communication device may decode the DL control message from the signal based on a location of the preconfigured resource, for example, using rate matching as shown in the method <NUM> or puncturing as shown in the method <NUM>.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes configuring plurality of search spaces (e.g., the search spaces <NUM> and <NUM>) for a DL control channel. In some instances, each search space of the plurality of search spaces can be referred to as a PDCCH candidate search space within a search space set. Each PDCCH candidate search space may be referred to as a PDCCH candidate or a PDCCH candidate search space. The search space set can be referred to as an instance of a CORESET.

At step <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes determining that a first resource associated with a first search space of the plurality of search spaces overlaps with a preconfigured resource (e.g., the resources <NUM> and <NUM>).

At step <NUM>. The method <NUM> includes transmitting a DL control message in the first search space by excluding the preconfigured resource based on the determining.

In an embodiment, the wireless communication device may encode the DL control message based on a location of the preconfigured resource, for example, using rate matching as shown in the method <NUM> or puncturing as shown in the method <NUM>. The wireless communication device may transmit a signal including the encoded DL control message using resources in the first search space that are outside the preconfigured resource.

In an embodiment, the wireless communication device may transmit a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal (e.g., a PDSCH signal).

Further embodiments of the disclosure include a method of wireless communication, comprising identifying, by a wireless communication device, a plurality of search spaces for a downlink control channel; determining, by the wireless communication device, that a first resource associated with a first search space of the plurality of search spaces overlaps with a preconfigured resource; and monitoring, by the wireless communication device, for a downlink control message over the downlink control channel by excluding monitoring in at least the first search space based on the determining.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining, by the wireless communication device, that resources of a second search space of the plurality of search spaces does not overlap with any preconfigured resources, wherein the monitoring includes monitoring, by the wireless communication device, the downlink control message from the second search space. In some embodiments, wherein the determining includes determining, by the wireless communication device, whether the plurality of search spaces is associated with a set of control resources including the first resource overlapping with the preconfigured resource, and wherein the monitoring excludes monitoring in any of the plurality of search spaces when determining that the plurality of search spaces is associated with the set of control resources. In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, by the wireless communication device, a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal.

Further embodiments of the disclosure include a method of wireless communication, comprising configuring, by a wireless communication device, a plurality of search spaces for a downlink control channel; determining, by the wireless communication device, that a first resource associated with a first search space of the plurality of search spaces overlaps with a preconfigured resource; and transmitting, by the wireless communication device, a downlink control message using resources outside of at least the first search space based on the determining.

In some embodiments, wherein the transmitting includes transmitting, by the wireless communication device, the downlink control message in a second search space of the plurality of search spaces that is non-overlapping with any preconfigured resources. In some embodiments, wherein the determining includes determining, by the wireless communication device, whether the plurality of search spaces is associated with a set of control resources including the first resource overlapping with the preconfigured resource, and wherein the method further comprises refraining, by the wireless communication device, from transmitting a downlink control message in any of the plurality of search spaces when determining that the plurality of search spaces is associated with the set of control resources. In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, by the wireless communication device, a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal.

Further embodiments of the disclosure include a method of wireless communication, comprising obtaining, by a wireless communication device, a plurality of search spaces for a downlink control channel, the plurality of search spaces including a first resource overlapping with a preconfigured resource; and monitoring, by the wireless communication device, for a downlink control message from the downlink control channel in the plurality of search spaces.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, by the wireless communication device, a signal from a first search space of the plurality of search spaces including the first resource; and decoding, by the wireless communication device, the downlink control message from the signal based on a location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, wherein the decoding includes performing rate matching based on the location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, wherein the decoding includes puncturing one or more bits based on the location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, by the wireless communication device, a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a broadcast communication signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal.

Further embodiments of the disclosure include a method of wireless communication, comprising configuring, by a wireless communication device, a plurality of search spaces for a downlink control channel; determining, by the wireless communication device, that a first resource associated with a first search space of the plurality of search spaces overlaps with a preconfigured resource; and transmitting, by the wireless communication device, a downlink control message in the first search space by excluding the preconfigured resource based on the determining.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises encoding, by the wireless communication device, the downlink control message based on a location of the preconfigured resource, wherein the transmitting includes transmitting a signal including the encoded downlink control message in the first search space. In some embodiments, wherein the encoding includes performing rate matching based on the location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, wherein the encoding includes puncturing one or more bits based on a location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, by the wireless communication device, a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a broadcast communication signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal.

Further embodiments of the disclosure include an apparatus comprising a processor (e.g., the processor <NUM> and/or the PDCCH monitoring and processing module <NUM>) configured to identify a plurality of search spaces for a downlink control channel; determine that a first resource associated with a first search space of the plurality of search spaces overlaps with a preconfigured resource; and monitor for a downlink control message over the downlink control channel by excluding monitoring in at least the first search space based on the determination.

In some embodiments, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that resources of a second search space of the plurality of search spaces does not overlap with any preconfigured resources; and monitor for the downlink control message from the second search space. In some embodiments, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the plurality of search spaces is associated with a set of control resources including the first resource overlapping with the preconfigured resource; and exclude monitoring in any of the plurality of search spaces when the plurality of search spaces is determined to be associated with the set of control resources. In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a transceiver (e.g., the transceiver <NUM>) configured to receive a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a broadcast communication signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal.

Further embodiments of the disclosure include an apparatus comprising a processor (e.g., the processor <NUM> and/or the PDCCH configuration and communication module <NUM>) configured to configure a plurality of search spaces for a downlink control channel; and determine that a first resource associated with a first search space of the plurality of search spaces overlaps with a preconfigured resource; and a transceiver (e.g., the transceiver <NUM>) configured to transmit a downlink control message using resources outside of at least the first search space based on the determination.

In some embodiments, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit the downlink control message in a second search space of the plurality of search spaces that is non-overlapping with any preconfigured resources. In some embodiments, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the plurality of search spaces is associated with a set of control resources including the first resource overlapping with the preconfigured resource, and wherein the processor is further configured to refrain from transmitting a downlink control message in any of the plurality of search spaces when the plurality of search spaces is determined to be associated with the set of control resources. In some embodiments, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a broadcast communication signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal.

Further embodiments of the disclosure include an apparatus comprising a processor (e.g., the processor <NUM> and/or the PDCCH monitoring and processing module <NUM>) configured to obtain a plurality of search spaces for a downlink control channel, the plurality of search spaces including a first resource overlapping with a preconfigured resource; and monitor for a downlink control message from the downlink control channel in the plurality of search spaces.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a transceiver (e.g., the transceiver <NUM>) configured to receive, a signal from a first search space of the plurality of search spaces including the first resource, wherein the processor is further configured to decode the downlink control message from the signal based on a location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, wherein the processor is further configured to decode the downlink control message by performing rate matching based on the location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, wherein the processor is further configured to decode the downlink control message by puncturing one or more bits based on the location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a transceiver configured to receive a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a broadcast communication signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal.

Further embodiments of the disclosure include an apparatus comprising a processor (e.g., the processor <NUM> and/or the PDCCH configuration and communication module <NUM>) configured to configure a plurality of search spaces for a downlink control channel; and determine that a first resource associated with a first search space of the plurality of search spaces overlaps with a preconfigured resource; and a transceiver (e.g., the transceiver <NUM>) configured to transmit a downlink control message in the first search space by excluding the preconfigured resource based on the determination.

In some embodiments, wherein the processor is further configured to encode the downlink control message based on a location of the preconfigured resource, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit the downlink control message by transmitting a signal including the encoded downlink control message in the first search space. In some embodiments, wherein the processor is further configured to encode the downlink control message by performing rate matching based on the location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, wherein the processor is further configured to encode the downlink control message by puncturing one or more bits based on a location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a broadcast communication signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal.

Further embodiments of the disclosure include a computer-readable medium, for example memory <NUM> with reference to <FIG> or other computer-readable medium, having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising code for causing a wireless communication device to identify a plurality of search spaces for a downlink control channel; code for causing the wireless communication device to determine that a first resource associated with a first search space of the plurality of search spaces overlaps with a preconfigured resource; and code for causing the wireless communication device to monitor for a downlink control message over the downlink control channel by excluding monitoring in at least the first search space based on the determination.

In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the wireless communication device to determine that resources of a second search space of the plurality of search spaces does not overlap with any preconfigured resources, wherein the code for monitoring the downlink control message is further configured to monitor the downlink control message from the second search space. In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the wireless communication device to determine that the first resource overlaps with the preconfigured resource is further configured to determine whether the plurality of search spaces is associated with a set of control resources including the first resource overlapping with the preconfigured resource, and wherein the code for monitoring the downlink control message is further configured to exclude monitoring in any of the plurality of search spaces when the plurality of search spaces is determined to be associated with the set of control resources. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the wireless communication device to receive a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a broadcast communication signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal.

Further embodiments of the disclosure include a computer-readable medium, for example memory <NUM> with reference to <FIG> or other computer-readable medium, having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising code for causing a wireless communication device to configure a plurality of search spaces for a downlink control channel; code for causing the wireless communication device to determine that a first resource associated with a first search space of the plurality of search spaces overlaps with a preconfigured resource; and code for causing the wireless communication device to transmit a downlink control message using resources outside of at least the first search space based on the determination.

In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the wireless communication device to transmit the downlink control message is further configured to transmit the downlink control message in a second search space of the plurality of search spaces that is non-overlapping with any preconfigured resources. In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the wireless communication device to determine that the first resource overlaps with the preconfigured resource is further configured to determine whether the plurality of search spaces is associated with a set of control resources including the first resource overlapping with the preconfigured resource, and wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the wireless communication device to refrain from transmitting a downlink control message in any of the plurality of search spaces when the plurality of search spaces is determined to be associated with the set of control resources. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the wireless communication device to transmit a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a broadcast communication signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal.

Further embodiments of the disclosure include a computer-readable medium, for example memory <NUM> with reference to <FIG> or other computer-readable medium, having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising code for causing a wireless communication device to obtain a plurality of search spaces for a downlink control channel, the plurality of search spaces including a first resource overlapping with a preconfigured resource; and code for causing the wireless communication device to monitor for a downlink control message from the downlink control channel in the plurality of search spaces.

In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the wireless communication device to receive a signal from a first search space of the plurality of search spaces including the first resource; and code for causing the wireless communication device to decode the downlink control message from the signal based on a location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the wireless communication device to decode the downlink control message from the signal is further configured to perform rate matching based on the location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the wireless communication device to decode the downlink control message from the signal is further configured to puncture one or more bits based on the location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the wireless communication device to receive a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a broadcast communication signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal.

Further embodiments of the disclosure include a computer-readable medium, for example memory <NUM> with reference to <FIG> or other computer-readable medium, having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising code for causing a wireless communication device to configure a plurality of search spaces for a downlink control channel; code for causing the wireless communication device to determine that a first resource associated with a first search space of the plurality of search spaces overlaps with a preconfigured resource; and code for causing the wireless communication device to transmit a downlink control message in the first search space by excluding the preconfigured resource based on the determination.

In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the wireless communication device to encode the downlink control message based on a location of the preconfigured resource, wherein the code for causing the wireless communication device to transmit the downlink control message is further configured to transmit a signal including the encoded downlink control message in the first search space. In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the wireless communication device to encode the downlink control message is further configured to perform rate matching based on the location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, wherein the code for causing the wireless communication device to encode the downlink control message is further configured to puncture one or more bits based on a location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the wireless communication device to transmit a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a broadcast communication signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal.

Further embodiments of the disclosure include an apparatus comprising means for identifying a plurality of search spaces for a downlink control channel; means for determining that a first resource associated with a first search space of the plurality of search spaces overlaps with a preconfigured resource; and means for monitoring for a downlink control message over the downlink control channel by excluding monitoring in at least the first search space based on the determination.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for determining that resources of a second search space of the plurality of search spaces does not overlap with any preconfigured resources, wherein the means for monitoring for the downlink control message is further configured to monitor the downlink control message from the second search space. In some embodiments, wherein the means for determining that the first resource overlaps with the preconfigured resource is further configured to determine whether the plurality of search spaces is associated with a set of control resources including the first resource overlapping with the preconfigured resource, wherein the means for monitoring for the downlink control message is further configured to exclude monitoring in any of the plurality of search spaces when the plurality of search spaces is determined to be associated with the set of control resources. In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a broadcast communication signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal.

Further embodiments of the disclosure include an apparatus comprising means for configuring a plurality of search spaces for a downlink control channel; means for determining that a first resource associated with a first search space of the plurality of search spaces overlaps with a preconfigured resource; and means for transmitting a downlink control message using resources outside of at least the first search space based on the determination.

In some embodiments, wherein the means for transmitting the downlink control message is further configured to transmit the downlink control message in a second search space of the plurality of search spaces that is non-overlapping with any preconfigured resources. In some embodiments, wherein the means for determining that the first resource overlaps with the preconfigured resource is further configured to determine whether the plurality of search spaces is associated with a set of control resources including the first resource overlapping with the preconfigured resource, and wherein the apparatus further comprises means for refraining from transmitting a downlink control message in any of the plurality of search spaces within the slot based when the plurality of search spaces is determined to be associated with the set of control resources. In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for transmitting a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a broadcast communication signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal.

Further embodiments of the disclosure include an apparatus comprising means for obtaining a plurality of search spaces for a downlink control channel, the plurality of search spaces including a first resource overlapping with a preconfigured resource; and means for monitoring for a downlink control message from the downlink control channel in the plurality of search spaces.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving a signal from a first search space of the plurality of search spaces including the first resource; and means for decoding the downlink control message from the signal based on a location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, wherein the means for decoding the downlink control message from the signal is further configured to perform rate matching based on the location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, wherein the means for decoding the downlink control message from the signal is further configured to puncture one or more bits based on the location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, the apparatus of claim further comprises means for receiving a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a broadcast communication signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal.

Further embodiments of the disclosure include an apparatus comprising means for configuring a plurality of search spaces for a downlink control channel; means for determining that a first resource associated with a first search space of the plurality of search spaces overlaps with a preconfigured resource; and means for transmitting a downlink control message in the first search space by excluding the preconfigured resource based on the determination.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for encoding the downlink control message based on a location of the preconfigured resource, wherein the means for transmitting the downlink control message is further configured to transmit a signal including the encoded downlink control message in the first search space. In some embodiments, wherein the means for encoding the downlink control message is further configured to perform rate matching based on the location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, wherein the means for encoding the downlink control message is further configured to puncture one or more bits based on a location of the preconfigured resource. In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means for transmitting a configuration indicating the preconfigured resource allocated for a transmission of at least one of a synchronization signal, a broadcast communication signal, a reference signal, or a downlink data channel signal.

Also, as used herein, including in the claims, "or" as used in a list of items (for example, a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as "at least one of" or "one or more of") indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a list of [at least one of A, B, or C] means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C).

Claim 1:
A method, comprising:
identifying, by a wireless communication device, a search space set including a plurality of physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, candidate search spaces for a downlink control channel, wherein the search space set is within a control resource set, CORESET;
determining, by the wireless communication device, that a preconfigured downlink resource overlaps with the CORESET in a transmission slot; and
monitoring, by the wireless communication device, for a downlink control message over the downlink control channel by excluding monitoring for the downlink control message in the entire CORESET within the transmission slot in response to determining that the preconfigured downlink resource overlaps with the CORESET.