Patent Description:
Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) New Radio (NR) uses Cyclic Prefix Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (CP-OFDM) in both downlink (i.e., from a network node, NR base station (gNB), or base station, to a User Equipment (UE)) and uplink (i.e., from UE to gNB). Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) spread Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is also supported in the uplink. In the time domain, NR downlink and uplink are organized into equally-sized subframes of <NUM> millisecond (ms) each. A subframe is further divided into multiple slots of equal duration. The slot length depends on subcarrier spacing. For subcarrier spacing of Δf = <NUM>, there is only one slot per subframe and each slot consists of fourteen (<NUM>) OFDM symbols.

Data scheduling in NR is typically on a slot basis. An example is shown in <FIG> with a <NUM>-symbol slot, where the first two symbols contain Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) and the rest contains physical shared data channel, either Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) or Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH).

Different subcarrier spacing values are supported in NR. The supported subcarrier spacing values (also referred to as different numerologies) are given by Δf = (<NUM> × <NUM>µ)kHz where ∈ <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>. Δf = <NUM> is the basic subcarrier spacing. The slot durations at different subcarrier spacings is given by <MAT>.

In the frequency domain, a system bandwidth is divided into Resource Blocks (RBs), each corresponding to twelve (<NUM>) contiguous subcarriers. The RBs are numbered starting with zero (<NUM>) from one end of the system bandwidth. The basic NR physical time-frequency resource grid is illustrated in <FIG>, where only one resource block (RB) within a <NUM>-symbol slot is shown. One OFDM subcarrier during one OFDM symbol interval forms one resource element (RE).

Downlink transmissions are dynamically scheduled, i.e., in each slot the gNB transmits Downlink Control Information (DCI) over Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) about which UE data is to be transmitted to and which RBs in the current downlink slot the data is transmitted on. The UE data are carried on PDSCH.

There are three DCI formats defined for scheduling PDSCH in NR, i.e., DCI formats 1_0 ,1_1, and 1_2. DCI format 1_0 has a smaller size than DCI 1_1 and can be used when a UE is not fully connected to the network while DCI format 1_1 can be used for scheduling Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) transmissions with two Transport Blocks (TBs). DCI format 1_2 is further introduced in NR Release <NUM> for scheduling PDSCH with different priorities, in which a priority indicator is included.

Several signals can be transmitted from different antenna ports of a same base station. These signals can have the same large-scale properties such as Doppler shift/spread, average delay spread, or average delay. These antenna ports are then said to be Quasi Co-Located (QCL).

If the UE knows that two antenna ports are QCL with respect to a certain parameter (e.g., Doppler spread), the UE can estimate that parameter based on one of the antenna ports and apply that estimate for receiving signal on the other antenna port. Typically, the first antenna port is represented by a measurement reference signal such as Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) or Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) (known as source Reference Signal (RS)) and the second antenna port is a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) (known as target RS).

For instance, if antenna ports A and B are QCL with respect to average delay, the UE can estimate the average delay from the signal received from antenna port A and assume that the signal received from antenna port B has the same average delay. This is useful for demodulation since the UE can know beforehand the properties of the channel, which for instance helps the UE in selecting an appropriate channel estimation filter.

Information about what assumptions can be made regarding QCL is signaled to the UE from the network. In NR, four types of QCL relations between a transmitted source RS and transmitted target RS were defined:.

QCL type D was introduced to facilitate beam management with analog beamforming and is known as spatial QCL. There is currently no strict definition of spatial QCL, but the understanding is that if two transmitted antenna ports are spatially QCL, the UE can use the same Rx beam to receive them.

For dynamic beam and Transmission/Reception Point (TRP) selection, a UE can be configured through Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling with up to <NUM> Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states for PDSCH in Frequency Range <NUM> (FR2) and up to <NUM> TCI states in Frequency Range <NUM> (FR1), depending on UE capability.

Each TCI state contains QCL information, i.e. one or two source downlink (DL) RSs, each source RS associated with a QCL type. For example, a TCI state contains a pair of reference signals, each associated with a QCL type, e.g. two different CSI-RSs {CSI-RS1, CSI-RS2} is configured in the TCI state as {qcl-Type1,qcl-Type2} = {Type A, Type D}. This means the UE can derive Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, delay spread from CSI-RS1 and Spatial Rx parameter (i.e., the RX beam to use) from CSI-RS2.

The list of TCI states can be interpreted as a list of possible beams transmitted from the network or a list of possible TRPs used by the network to communicate with the UE.

For PDSCH transmission, up to <NUM> TCI states or pairs of TCI states may be activated by a Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), and a UE may be dynamically indicated by a TCI codepoint in DCI one or two of the activated TCI states for PDSCH reception. The UE uses the TCI-State according to the value of the 'Transmission Configuration Indication' field in the detected PDCCH with DCI for determining PDSCH antenna port quasi co-location.

If each of all the TCI codepoints is mapped to a single TCI state by a MAC CE and the offset between the reception of a DL DCI and the corresponding PDSCH is less than a threshold timeDurationForQCLconfigured by higher layers, the UE may assume that the DM-RS ports of PDSCH of a serving cell are quasi co-located with the RS(s) with respect to the QCL parameter(s) used for PDCCH quasi co-location indication of the CORESET associated with a monitored search space with the lowest CORESET-ID in the latest slot in which one or more CORESETs within the active bandwidth part (BWP) of the serving cell are monitored by the UE.

If the offset between the reception of the DL DCI and the corresponding PDSCH is less than the threshold timeDurationForQCL and at least one configured TCI states for the serving cell of scheduled PDSCH contains the 'QCL-TypeD', and at least one TCI codepoint indicates two TCI states, the UE may assume that the DM-RS ports of PDSCH of a serving cell are quasi co-located with the RS(s) with respect to the QCL parameter(s) associated with the TCI states corresponding to the lowest codepoint among the TCI codepoints containing two different TCI states.

A UE monitors a set of PDCCH candidates in one or more Control Resource Sets (CORESETs) on an active DL BWP on each activated serving cell configured with PDCCH monitoring according to corresponding search space sets, where monitoring implies decoding each PDCCH candidate according to the monitored DCI formats. A PDCCH candidate can occupy one or more Control-Channel Elements (CCEs), also referred to Aggregation Levels (ALs), as indicated in Table <NUM> below. A CCE consists of six (<NUM>) Resource-Element Groups (REGs), where a REG equals one RB during one OFDM symbol.

A set of PDCCH candidates for a UE to monitor is defined in terms of PDCCH search space sets. A search space set can be a Common Search Space (CSS) set or a UE Specific Search Space (USS) set. A UE can be configured with up to ten (<NUM>) sets of search spaces per BWP for monitoring PDCCH candidates.

A search space set is defined over a CORESET. A CORESET consists of <MAT> resource blocks in the frequency domain and <MAT> consecutive OFDM symbols in the time domain. For each DL BWP configured to a UE in a serving cell, a UE can be provided by higher layer signaling with P ≤ <NUM> CORESETs. For each CORESET, a UE is configured by RRC signaling with CORESET Information Element (IE), which includes the following information:.

For each CORESET, only one TCI state is activated by Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE). For each DL BWP configured to a UE in a serving cell, the UE is provided by higher layers with S ≤ <NUM> search space sets where, for each search space set from the S search space sets, the UE is provided the following by higher layers:.

For search space set s, the UE determines that a PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) exists in a slot with slot number <MAT> in a frame with frame number nf if <MAT>. The UE monitors PDCCH for search space set s for Ts consecutive slots, starting from slot <MAT>, and does not monitor PDCCH for search space set s for the next ks - Ts consecutive slots.

A UE first detects and decodes PDCCH and, if the decoding is successful, it then decodes the corresponding PDSCH based on the decoded control information in the PDCCH.

Uplink data transmissions are also dynamically scheduled using PDCCH. Similar to downlink, a UE first decodes uplink grants in PDCCH and then transmits data over PUSCH based the decoded control information in the uplink grant such as modulation order, coding rate, uplink resource allocation, etc. There are three DCI formats defined for scheduling PUSCH in NR, i.e., DCI formats 0_0 , 0_1, and 0_2. DCI format 0_0 has a smaller size than DCI 0_1 and can be used when a UE is not fully connected to the network. DCI format 1_2 is further introduced in NR Rel-<NUM> for scheduling PUSCH with different priorities, in which a priority indicator is included.

When receiving a PDSCH in the downlink from a serving gNB at slot n, a UE feeds back a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) Acknowledgement (ACK) at slot n+k over a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) resource in the uplink to the gNB if the PDSCH is decoded successfully. Otherwise, the UE sends a HARQ Negative ACK (NACK) at slot n+k to the gNB to indicate that the PDSCH is not decoded successfully.

In NR, up to four PUCCH resource sets can be configured to a UE. A PUCCH resource set with pucch-ResourceSetId=<NUM> can have up to thirty-two (<NUM>) PUCCH resources while, for PUCCH resource sets with pucch-ResourceSetId=<NUM> to <NUM>, each set can have up to eight (<NUM>) PUCCH resources. A UE determines the PUCCH resource set in a slot based on the number of aggregated Uplink Control Information (UCI) bits to be sent in the slot. The UCI bits consist of HARQ ACK/NACK, Scheduling Request (SR), and Channel State Information (CSI) bits.

A <NUM>-bit PUCCH resource Indicator (PRI) field in DCI maps to a PUCCH resource in a set of PUCCH resources with a maximum of eight PUCCH resources. For the first set of PUCCH resources with pucch-ResourceSetld = <NUM> and when the number of PUCCH resources, RPUCCH, in the set is larger than eight, the UE determines a PUCCH resource with index rPUCCH, <NUM> ≤ rPUCCH ≤ RPUCCH - <NUM>, for carrying HARQ-ACK information in response to detecting a last DCI format 1_0 or DCI format 1_1 in a PDCCH reception, among DCI formats 1_0 or DCI formats 1_1 the UE received with a value of the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator field indicating a same slot for the PUCCH transmission, as <MAT> where NCCE,p is a number of CCEs in CORESET p of the PDCCH reception for the DCI format 1_0 or DCI format 1_1 as described in Subclause <NUM> of 3GPP TS <NUM> v15. <NUM>, nCCE,p is the index of a first CCE for the PDCCH reception, and ΔPRI is a value of the PUCCH resource indicator field in the DCI format 1_0 or DCI format 1_1.

Reliable PDSCH transmission with multiple panels or TRPs has been introduced in 3GPP for NR Release <NUM>, in which a transport block may be transmitted over multiple TRPs to achieve diversity. Reliability is achieved by transmitting different layers of an encoded codeword (CW) for the TB on the same resource over two TRPs (Scheme 1a), or different parts of a CW on different frequency resources over two TRPs (Scheme 2a), or by repeating the same TB over two TRPs in time (Schemes <NUM> and <NUM>) or frequency domain (Scheme 2b). For this purpose, two TCI states are indicated in a DCI scheduling the PDSCH.

In NR Release <NUM>, it has been proposed to further introduce PDCCH enhancement with multiple TRPs by repeating a PDCCH from different TRPs as shown in <FIG> shows an example of PDCCH transmission from multiple TRPs for increasing reliability.

Three methods were proposed in R1-<NUM>," Enhancements on multi-TRP/panel transmission", NTT DOCOMO, 3gpp RAN1#98bis, Chongqing, China, October 14th - 20th, <NUM> and R1-<NUM>," Preliminary results on PDCCH over multi-TRP for URLLC", Ericsson, 3GPP RAN1#<NUM>, Prague, Czech Republic, 26th-30th August <NUM>. These three methods are:.

It is shown in R1-<NUM> and R1that, in the presence of channel blocking or deep fading, all three multi-TRP schemes provide better Block Error Rate (BLER) performance than single TRP. In absence of channel blocking or deep fading, CCE interleaving and PDCCH repetition with soft combining provide better BLER performance than single TRP while PDCCH repetition without soft combining performs similar as single TRP.

For DCI format 1_2 for URLLC PDSCH scheduling, it has been agreed in Release <NUM> to introduce a new reference point for the time domain resource allocation of PDSCH:.

PDSCH mapping type A is not supported with the new reference. <NUM>, the reference point is the first symbol in the slot, while for this new DCI format, the reference point is instead the starting symbol of the PDCCH monitoring occasions, which can be different from the first symbol of the slot, especially for Type B scheduling, see Table <NUM>.

<CIT> describes a technique for detecting an enhanced massive mobile broadband (eMBB) PDCCH in the presence of ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) users. An eMBB wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) receives an eMBB CORESET configuration for a CORESET including a PDCCH preemption indicator. If PDCCH preemption is enabled based on the PDCCH preemption indicator, the eMBB WTRU may identify and remove preempted resource element groups (REGs) in the eMBB CORESET by comparing channel estimates for each REG bundle in the eMBB CORESET. The WTRU may perform channel estimation based on remaining REGs in the eMBB CORESET and detect the PDCCH by performing blind decoding, based on a received signal, on the remaining REGs in the eMBB CORESET.

<CIT> describes a technique for rate-matching a data transmission around resources. One method includes: receiving a downlink control channel ("DCC") transmission in a predetermined time period; determining a first DCC candidate ("DCCC") based on the downlink control channel transmission; determining whether the first DCCC belongs to a plurality of DCCCs associated with the DCC transmission, wherein the plurality of DCCCs carry the same downlink control information ("DCI"); in response to determining that the first DCCC belongs to the plurality of DCCCs: determining a second DCCC; and determining the DCI by decoding the first and the second DCCCs; in response to determining that the first DCCC does not belong to the plurality of DCCCs: determining the DCI by decoding the first DCCC; and determining downlink resources corresponding to a data transmission; and rate-matching the data transmission. <CIT> describes techniques for PDCCH with repetitions, including techniques for signaling the number of PDCCH repetitions, the hybrid automatic repeat request (HARD) timeline processing with PDCCH repetitions, and the demodulation reference signal (DMRS) structure for the repeated PDCCH. A method for wireless communications, by a UE, includes determining a number of repetitions of a PDCCH. Each of the PDCCH repetitions has a same downlink control information (DCI) payload, a same aggregation level, and/or a grant for a same data channel allocation. The method includes monitoring for the PDCCH based on the determined number of repetitions.

<CIT> describes a user terminal comprising: a receiver that receives configuration information pertaining to a search space configuration; and a controller that determines, on the basis of the configuration information, the transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state for each application level or a PDCCH candidate included in a given CORESET, which enables a PDCCH to be appropriately monitored even when utilizing multiple transmission/reception points (TRPs).

3GPP TSG RAN WG1 #98bis, R1-<NUM>, NTT DOCOMO, Inc. : "Enhancements on multi-TRP/panel transmission" discusses multi-TRP/panel enhancements for URLLC in Rel-<NUM>.

The scope of the present invention is defined in the appended independent claims. Specific embodiments of the present invention are defined in the dependent claims.

A method performed by a wireless communication device according to claim <NUM>, a corresponding wireless communication device according to independent claim <NUM>, a method performed by a network node according to independent claim <NUM> and a corresponding network node according to independent claim <NUM> are disclosed herein for improving the reliability of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmission and reception. In one embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication device for reception of PDCCH repetitions over multiple control resource sets (CORESETs) in a cellular communications system comprises receiving a configuration of a first CORESET and a second CORESET. The method further comprises receiving, from one or more network nodes, a first repetition of a PDCCH carrying downlink control information (DCI) in the first CORESET and a second repetition of the PDCCH carrying the same DCI in the second CORESET, wherein the first and second repetitions of the PDCCH have either: (a) different channel encoding or (b) a same channel encoding. The method further comprises decoding the DCI based on the first repetition of the PDCCH and/or the second repetition of the PDCCH. In this manner, a way to link resources of two or more PDCCH repetitions is provided.

The first and the second repetitions of the PDCCH are transmitted in first control channel elements (CCEs) of the first CORSET and second CCEs of the second CORESET, respectively. In one embodiment, the first and the second CCEs have a one-to-one mapping. In another embodiment, the first and the second CCEs have the same CCE indices. In another embodiment, the first and the second CCEs have different CCE indices.

In one embodiment, each of the first and the second CORESETs comprises a number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols in time domain and a number of resource blocks in frequency domain.

In one embodiment, the first and the second CORESETs are multiplexed either in time, frequency, or a combination of both time and frequency.

In one embodiment, receiving the first repetition of the PDCCH in the first CORESET and the second repetition of the PDCCH in the second CORESET comprises receiving the first repetition of the PDCCH in the first CORESET from a first network node and receiving the second repetition of the PDCCH in the second CORESET from a second network node. In one embodiment, the first CORESET is associated with a first TCI state, the second CORESET is associated with a second TCI state, and the first TCI state may be the same or different from the second TCI state. In one embodiment, the first and the second network nodes are associated with the first and the second TCI states, respectively.

In one embodiment, receiving the first repetition of the PDCCH in the first CORESET and the second repetition of the PDCCH in the second CORESET comprises receiving the first repetition of the PDCCH in the first CORESET and the second repetition of the PDCCH in the second CORESET on different beams from a single network node. In one embodiment, the first CORESET is associated with a first TCI state, the second CORESET is associated with a second TCI state, and the first TCI state may be the same or different from the second TCI state.

In one embodiment, either a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) is scheduled by the DCI. In one embodiment, the method further comprises determining a time offset between reception of the DCI and the scheduled PDSCH or PUSCH. In one embodiment, the time offset is between: (a) a last symbol in time from among all symbols of the first repetition of the PDCCH and the second repetition of the PDCCH and (b) a first symbol in time of the scheduled PDSCH or PUSCH. In one embodiment, the method further comprises determining a reference symbol from among the first repetition of the PDCCH and the second repetition of the PDCCH for the scheduled PDSCH or PUSCH. In one embodiment, the reference symbol is a first symbol of one of the first repetition of the PDCCH and the second repetition of the PDCCH that starts at a same time or later in time. In one embodiment, the reference symbol is a first symbol of one of the first repetition of the PDCCH and the second repetition of the PDCCH in one of the first and the second CORESETs having a lowest CORESET index.

In one embodiment, either a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) or a sounding reference signal (SRS) is triggered by the DCI. In one embodiment, the method further comprises determining a time offset between reception of the DCI and the triggered CSI-RS or SRS. In one embodiment, the time offset is between: (a) a last symbol in time from among all symbols of the first repetition of the PDCCH and the second repetition of the PDCCH and (b) the corresponding one of the CSI-RS or SRS.

In one embodiment, a PDSCH is scheduled by the DCI, and the method further comprises determining a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource in a PUCCH resource set for carrying a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) ACK or NACK associated with the scheduled PDSCH, wherein the PUCCH resource set has more than eight PUCCH resources. In one embodiment, determining the PUCCH resource comprises determining an index of a first CCE over which the first PDCCH or second PDCCH is transmitted and a total number of CCEs in the first CORESET or the second CORESET over which the first PDCCH or second PDCCH is transmitted.

In one embodiment, the first repetition of the PDCCH and the second repetition of the PDCCH are identical. In another embodiment, the first repetition of the PDCCH is different from the second repetition of the PDCCH.

In one embodiment, the DCI is one of one or more certain DCI formats for which PDCCH or DCI repetition is allowed to occur.

In one embodiment, a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) associated to the DCI is one of one or more certain RNTIs for which PDCCH or DCI repetition is allowed to occur.

Corresponding embodiments of a wireless communication device are also provided. In one embodiment, a wireless communication device for reception of PDCCH repetitions over multiple CORESETs in a cellular communications system is adapted to receive a configuration of a first CORESET and a second CORESET. The wireless communication device is further adapted to receive, from one or more network nodes, a first repetition of a PDCCH carrying DCI in the first CORESET and a second repetition of the PDCCH carrying the same DCI in the second CORESET, wherein the first and second repetitions of the PDCCH have either: (a) different channel encoding or (b) a same channel encoding. The wireless communication device is further adapted to decode the DCI based on the first repetition of the PDCCH and/or the second repetition of the PDCCH.

In one embodiment, a wireless communication device for reception of PDCCH repetitions over multiple CORESETs in a cellular communications system comprises one or more transmitters, one or more receivers, and processing circuitry associated with the one or more transmitters and the one or more receivers. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the wireless communication device to receive a configuration of a first CORESET and a second CORESET. The processing circuitry is further configured to cause the wireless communication device to receive, from one or more network nodes, a first repetition of a PDCCH carrying DCI in the first CORESET and a second repetition of the PDCCH carrying the same DCI in the second CORESET, wherein the first and second repetitions of the PDCCH have either: (a) different channel encoding or (b) a same channel encoding. The processing circuitry is further configured to cause the wireless communication device to decode the DCI based on the first repetition of the PDCCH and/or the second repetition of the PDCCH.

Embodiments of a method performed by a network node are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a network node for transmission of at least one of two or more PDCCH repetitions over multiple CORESETs in a cellular communications system comprises transmitting, to a wireless communication device, a configuration of a first CORESET and a second CORESET. The method further comprises transmitting, to the wireless communication device, at least one of a first repetition of a PDCCH carrying DCI in the first CORESET and a second repetition of the PDCCH carrying the same DCI in the second CORESET, wherein the first and second repetitions of the PDCCH have either: (a) different channel encoding or (b) a same channel encoding.

In one embodiment, transmitting the at least one of the first repetition of the PDCCH in the first CORESET and the second repetition of the PDCCH in the second CORESET comprises transmitting the first repetition of the PDCCH in the first CORESET, wherein the second repetition of the PDCCH is transmitted in the second CORESET by a separate network node.

In one embodiment, transmitting the at least one of the first repetition of the PDCCH in the first CORESET and the second repetition of the PDCCH in the second CORESET comprises transmitting the first repetition of the PDCCH in the first CORESET on a first beam, wherein the second repetition of the PDCCH in the second CORESET is transmitted on a second beam.

In one embodiment, the first CORESET is associated with a first transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state and the second CORESET is associated with a second TCI state, wherein the first TCI state is either the same as or different from the second TCI state. In one embodiment, the first and the second network nodes or the first or second beams are associated with the first and the second TCI states, respectively.

In one embodiment, the first and the second repetitions of the PDCCH are transmitted in first control channel elements, CCEs, of the first CORESET and second CCEs of the second CORESET, respectively. In one embodiment, the first and the second CCEs have a one-to-one mapping. In one embodiment, the first and the second CCEs have the same CCE indices. In one embodiment, the first and the second CCEs have different CCE indices.

In one embodiment, each of the first and the second CORESETs comprises a number of OFDM symbols in time domain and a number of resource blocks in frequency domain.

In one embodiment, either a PDSCH or a PUSCH is scheduled by the DCI. In one embodiment, the method further comprises determining a time offset between the DCI and the scheduled PDSCH or PUSCH. In one embodiment, the time offset is between: (a) a last symbol in time from among all symbols of the first repetition of the PDCCH and the second repetition of the PDCCH and (b) a first symbol of the scheduled PDSCH or PUSCH. In one embodiment, the method further comprises determining a reference symbol from among the first and the second repetitions of the PDCCH for the scheduled PDSCH or PUSCH. In one embodiment, the reference symbol is a first symbol in time of one of the first repetition of the PDCCH and the second repetition of the PDCCH that starts at a same time or later in time. In one embodiment, the reference symbol is a first symbol in time of one of the first repetition of the PDCCH and the second repetition of the PDCCH in one of the first and the second CORESETs having a lowest CORESET index.

In one embodiment, either a CSI-RS or a SRS is triggered by the DCI. In one embodiment, the method further comprises determining a time offset between reception of the DCI and the triggered CSI-RS or SRS. In one embodiment, the time offset is between: (a) a last symbol in time from among all symbols of the first repetition of the PDCCH and the second repetition of the PDCCH and (b) the corresponding one of the CSI-RS or SRS.

In one embodiment, a PDSCH is scheduled by the DCI, and the method further comprises determining a PUCCH resource in a PUCCH resource set for carrying a HARQ ACK or NACK associated with the scheduled PDSCH, wherein the PUCCH resource set has more than eight PUCCH resources. In one embodiment, determining the PUCCH resource comprises determining an index of a first CCE over which the first repetition of the PDCCH or second repetition of the PDCCH is transmitted and a total number of CCEs in the first CORESET or the second CORESET over which the first repetition of the PDCCH or second repetition of the PDCCH is transmitted.

In one embodiment, the first and the second PDCCHs are identical. In another embodiment, the first PDCCH is different from the second PDCCH.

In one embodiment, a RNTI associated to the DCI is one of one or more certain RNTIs for which PDCCH or DCI repetition is allowed to occur.

Corresponding embodiments of a network node are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a network node for transmission of at least one of two or more PDCCH repetitions over multiple CORESETs in a cellular communications system is adapted to transmit, to a wireless communication device, a configuration of a first CORESET and a second CORESET. The network node is further adapted to transmit, to the wireless communication device, at least one of a first repetition of a PDCCH carrying a DCI in the first CORESET and a second repetition of the PDCCH carrying the same DCI in the second CORESET, wherein the first and second repetitions of the PDCCH have either: (a) different channel encoding or (b) a same channel encoding.

In one embodiment, a network node for transmission of at least one of two or more PDCCH repetitions over multiple CORESETs in a cellular communications system comprises processing circuitry configured to cause the network node to transmit, to a wireless communication device, a configuration of a first CORESET and a second CORESET. The processing circuitry is further configured to cause the network node to transmit, to the wireless communication device, at least one of a first repetition of a PDCCH carrying a DCI in the first CORESET and a second repetition of the PDCCH carrying the same DCI in the second CORESET, wherein the first and second repetitions of the PDCCH have either: (a) different channel encoding or (b) a same channel encoding.

It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Other embodiments, however, are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein, the disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art within the scope of the appended claims.

Another example of a radio access node is a Transmission Reception Point (TRP).

Core Network Node: As used herein, a "core network node" is any type of node in a core network or any node that implements a core network function. Some examples of a core network node include, e.g., a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW), a Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF), a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), or the like. Some other examples of a core network node include a node implementing an Access and Mobility Function (AMF), a UPF, a Session Management Function (SMF), an Authentication Server Function (AUSF), a Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF), a Network Exposure Function (NEF), a Network Function (NF) Repository Function (NRF), a Policy Control Function (PCF), a Unified Data Management (UDM), or the like.

There currently exist certain challenge(s). For Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) repetition with soft combining, one issue is how a UE knows which two PDCCH candidates in two Control Resource Sets (CORESETs) carry the same Downlink Control Information (DCI) and thus can be soft combined. For PDCCH repetition with or without soft combining, since the two PDCCH transmission occasions can be in different symbols in a slot, another issue is how to define the time offset between the reception of the downlink (DL) DCI and the corresponding Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) in case of PDCCH repetition, which is defined currently in NR Release <NUM> and Release <NUM> as the number of symbols between the last PDCCH symbol and its scheduled PDSCH. The issue occurs in this case since there may now be more than one PDCCH occasion transmitted and received with the same DCI. The offset is used to compare to a threshold and, depending on whether the offset exceeds the threshold, different assumptions are made on the Transmission Configuration Indictor (TCI) state(s) to assume for the PDSCH reception. A similar ambiguity exists in time offset between a PDCCH reception and its scheduled Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), a triggered aperiodic Non-Zero Power (NZP) Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS), or a triggered Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmission.

When a DL PDSCH is scheduled by a DCI carried by a PDCCH and a PUCCH resource set with more than eight (<NUM>) PUCCH resources is selected for Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) ACK/NACK (A/N) report for the PDSCH, PUCCH Resource Indicator (PRI) in the DCI is used together with the index of a first Control Channel Element (CCE) for the PDCCH reception for identifying a PUCCH resource for sending the HARQ A/N. In case of PDCCH repetition without combining, the first CCE for each of multiple PDCCH transmission occasions would be different. Depending on which PDCCH occasion is decoded successfully, different PUCCH resources could be selected by a UE and, since gNB then does not know in which of the PDCCH occasions the PDCCH was decoded successfully (or in case of soft combining of multiple PDCCHs, how to define the PDCCH to assume for this purpose), the gNB would need to blind decode in two or more PUCCH resources. If all PDCCH occasions were decoded successfully, which PUCCH resource to use would be an issue.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to the aforementioned or other challenges. Embodiments are disclosed herein for PDCCH repetition over multiple CORESETs in a wireless network. More specifically, embodiments of a method performed by a radio access node for PDCCH repetition over multiple CORESETs and corresponding embodiments of a radio access node are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method performed by a radio access node for PDCCH repetition over multiple CORESETs comprises configuring a UE with a search space set with more than one associated CORESET (e.g., a first CORESET and a second CORESET). In some embodiments, the first symbol of each CORESET in the search space set may be individually configured or a gap between the CORESETs is configured. The method further comprises transmitting a PDCCH transmission (e.g., a DCI or "DCI message") in at least two of the CORESETs in the search space set. In some embodiments, if PDCCH repetition is configured or enabled, the PDCCH is repeated in the at least two CORESETs in the search space set on CCEs with the same indices. In some embodiments, the UE always tries to decode the PDCCH in the CCEs in the two or more CORESETs, either with or without soft combining. In some embodiments, the time offset between a PDCCH and its scheduled PDSCH or PUSCH is defined between the last symbol of the multiple PDCCH transmission occasions regardless of in which CORESET the PDCCH is successfully decoded.

Embodiments of a method performed by a UE for reception of two or more PDCCH repetitions (e.g., two or more DCI repetitions or "DCI message" repetitions) over multiple CORESETs and corresponding embodiments of a UE are also disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method performed by a UE for reception of two or more PDCCH repetitions over multiple CORESETs comprises receiving (e.g., from a radio access node) one or more configurations that configure the UE with a search space set that includes more than one associated CORESET (e.g., a first CORESET and a second CORESET). In some embodiments, the first symbol of each CORESET in the search space set may be individually configured or a gap between the CORESETs is configured. The method further comprises receiving a PDCCH transmission (e.g., a DCI or "DCI message") in at least two of the CORESETs in the search space set. In other words, the UE receives two or more repetitions of the PDCCH transmission (e.g., two or more repetitions of a DCI or "DCI message) in two or more respective CORESETs in the search space set. In some embodiments, if PDCCH repetition is configured or enabled, the PDCCH is repeated in the at least two CORESETs in the search space set on CCEs with the same indices. The method further comprises decoding the PDCCH transmission based on the received PDCCH transmissions in the at least two of the CORESETs in the search space set.

Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantage(s). Embodiments disclosed herein provide a simple way to link resources of two or more PDCCH repetitions in a search space and ensure a unique PUCCH resource allocation, e.g., in case that there are more than eight (<NUM>) resources in a PUCCH resource set. Embodiments disclosed herein may also enable a UE to determine a unique time offset between a detected PDCCH and its scheduled PDSCH or PUSCH in case of PDCCH repetition regardless of where the PDCCH is successfully decoded.

<FIG> illustrates one example of a cellular communications system <NUM> in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. In the embodiments described herein, the cellular communications system <NUM> is a <NUM> system (5GS) including a Next Generation RAN (NG-RAN) or an Evolved Packet System (EPS) including an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN). In this example, the RAN includes base stations <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, which in an NG-RAN are referred to gNBs (NR base stations) or ng-eNBs (i.e., eNBs connected to 5GC) and in E-UTRAN (i.e., LTE) are referred to as eNBs, controlling corresponding (macro) cells <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. The base stations <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are generally referred to herein collectively as base stations <NUM> and individually as base station <NUM>. Likewise, the (macro) cells <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are generally referred to herein collectively as (macro) cells <NUM> and individually as (macro) cell <NUM>. The RAN may also include a number of low power nodes <NUM>-<NUM> through <NUM>-<NUM> controlling corresponding small cells <NUM>-<NUM> through <NUM>-<NUM>. The low power nodes <NUM>-<NUM> through <NUM>-<NUM> can be small base stations (such as pico or femto base stations) or Remote Radio Heads (RRHs), or the like. Notably, while not illustrated, one or more of the small cells <NUM>-<NUM> through <NUM>-<NUM> may alternatively be provided by the base stations <NUM>. The low power nodes <NUM>-<NUM> through <NUM>-<NUM> are generally referred to herein collectively as low power nodes <NUM> and individually as low power node <NUM>. Likewise, the small cells <NUM>-<NUM> through <NUM>-<NUM> are generally referred to herein collectively as small cells <NUM> and individually as small cell <NUM>. The cellular communications system <NUM> also includes a core network <NUM>, which in the 5GS is referred to as the <NUM> core (5GC). The base stations <NUM> (and optionally the low power nodes <NUM>) are connected to the core network <NUM>.

In the following description, the wireless communication devices <NUM> are oftentimes UEs and as such sometimes referred to herein as UEs <NUM>, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Embodiments are disclosed herein for PDCCH repetition over multiple CORESETs in a wireless network such as, e.g., the cellular communications system <NUM> of <FIG>. Embodiments are described below for 3GPP systems and, as such, 3GPP terminology is used. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto.

In general, embodiments disclosed herein relate to linking PDCCH resources for multiple PDCCH transmission occasions.

In one embodiment, a search space set is defined to be associated with two or more CORESETs. Each CORESET is configured to be associated with an individual TCI state which allows them to be transmitted from different TRPs or different beams from the same TRP. The UE <NUM> may use the RS in the associated TCI state for time and/or frequency synchronization.

A PDCCH or a DCI (also referred to herein as a "DCI message") is repeated in the CORESETs within a slot. Repeating a DCI means that the information content is the same while the channel encoding may be the same or different for each PDCCH transmitting this DCI. Thereby if different encodings are used, some coding diversity may be achieved. Repeating PDCCH means that the information content is the same and same encoding is used for each PDCCH (gain in signal to noise ratio can be achieved).

In both cases, when a PDCCH or a DCI is repeated in two or more CORESETs within a slot, the information content is the same. In one embodiment, in order to ensure the same payload size for the DCI repeated in the two or more CORESETs with DCI format 1_1, the 'tci-PresentInDCI' field should be either present/enabled in all of the two or more CORESETs within a slot or be absent/disabled in all of the two or more CORESETs within a slot. Similarly, in order to ensure the same payload size for the DCI repeated in the two or more CORESETs with DCI format 1_2, the 'tci-PresentInDCI-ForDCIFormat1_2' field should be either present/enabled in all of the two or more CORESETs within a slot or be absent/disabled in all of the two or more CORESETs within a slot.

The decoding of the PDCCH can be with or without soft combining. Whether the UE <NUM> uses soft combining of PDCCH can be indicated from the UE <NUM> to the network by higher layer signaling, e.g. as a UE capability or feature.

In one embodiment, the PDCCH may be repeated in CCEs with the same CCE indices in different CORESETs. With such configuration, a UE <NUM> is indicated from the network that PDCCH repetition may occur in the search space set, the UE <NUM> knows exactly what resources (i.e., CCEs) of a PDCCH that may be repeated, and the UE <NUM> knows this from either signaling by higher layers or from specification. Since the same CCE indices in different CORESETs are linked in this manner, the index for a first CCE in all PDCCH repetition occasions is the same and, consequently, they all point to the same PUCCH resource for HARQ A/N transmission associated with the PDSCH scheduling.

In another embodiment, the CCEs between any two CORESETs are linked in a one-to-one mapping. The CCE#i in a first CORESET is linked to CCE#k in a second CORESET where i is not equal to k, in general. The CORESET identifier p may be the same for these two CORESETs in the CORESET set and, hence, the CCEs are mapped identically to physical resources for these two CORESETs. A mapping rule, or hashing table, is specified or signaled to the UE <NUM>, where the mapping rule links the CCEs between any two CORESETs, i.e. translates i to k. The benefit of deviating from the i=k mapping is that frequency diversity is achieved in the PDCCH transmissions from different CORESETs, especially if the two CORESETs are linked to the same TCI state and are thus transmitted from the same transmission point. In this case, it is beneficial if the two PDCCH transmitted from different CORESETs use different CCEs as they are mapped to different time and/or frequency resources. One example method to define the hashing function is to determine k= (i+L/<NUM>)mod L where L is the number of CCEs in the CORESET. In this case, the first CCE of the first CORESET is linked to the "middle numbered" CCE of the second CORESET and so on. In this case, regardless in which CORESET(s) a PDCCH is successfully decoded, the first CCE and the number of CCEs in one of the CORESETs are always used in deriving the corresponding PUCCH resource if a PDSCH is scheduled.

In one embodiment, the number of CCEs is configured by the network to be the same for all the CORESETs associated to the search space set. In another embodiment, the number of CCEs of the CORESETs may be configured to be different. In this case, the number of CCEs of one of the CORESETs may be used in deriving a PUCCH resource when an associated PUCCH resource set has more than <NUM> PUCCH resources and a PDSCH is scheduled by the DCI. In one embodiment, the CORESET with the smallest (or the largest) number of CCEs may be the selected CORESET for the purpose of PUCCH resource determination. In another embodiment, the number of CCEs of a CORESET over which a PDCCH is correctly detected is used. In yet another embodiment, the first CCE and the number of CCEs to be used are associated with either the first or the second CORESET.

In the search space set configuration, a first symbol for each of the associated CORESETs within a slot is signaled by the network to the UE, e.g. using higher layer signaling such as RRC. The CORESETs may be either time division multiplexed (TDMed) or frequency division multiplexed (FDMed) in a slot.

When a DL DCI is carried by the PDCCH, the time offset between the reception of the DL DCI and the corresponding PDSCH is defined as the number of symbols between the last symbol of the multiple PDCCH transmit occasions and the first symbol of the PDSCH. If the DL DCI schedules multiple PDSCH transmission occasions, then the time offset is defined as the number of symbols between the last symbol of the multiple PDCCH transmit occasions and the first symbol of the first PDSCH transmission occasion. The PDSCH can be within the same slot as the PDCCHs or in a different slot.

When a UL DCI is carried by the PDCCH, the time offset between the reception of the UL DCI and the corresponding PUSCH is defined as the number of symbols between the last symbol of the multiple PDCCH transmit occasions and the first symbol of the PUSCH. If the UL DCI schedules multiple PUSCH transmission occasions, then the time offset is defined as the number of symbols between the last symbol of the multiple PDCCH transmit occasions and the first symbol of the first PUSCH transmission occasion.

Similarly, when an aperiodic channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) or an aperiodic sounding reference signal (SRS) is triggered by a DCI carried by the PDCCH, the time offset between the reception of the DCI and the corresponding CSI-RS or SRS is defined as the number of symbols between the last symbol of the multiple PDCCH transmit occasions and the first symbol of the CSI-RS or SRS.

When the use of reference S<NUM> is enabled via higher layer signaling, the starting symbol for a PDSCH scheduled by DCI format 1_2 with K<NUM>=<NUM> (i.e., slot offset <NUM>) is defined with respect to S<NUM> where S<NUM> is the starting symbol of the PDCCH monitoring occasion in which the DL assignment is detected. If the PDSCH is scheduled with DCI format 1_2 via multiple PDCCH transmission occasions, then the reference S<NUM> is defined as starting symbol of the latest PDCCH transmission occasion among the multiple PDCCH transmission occasions. In an alternative embodiment, the reference S<NUM> is defined as starting symbol of the PDCCH transmission occasion corresponding to the lowest CORESET ID.

An example is shown in <FIG>, where a search space is associated with two CORESETs. In this example, the two CORESETs are TDMed and each CORESET consists of one symbol. The first symbol of CORESET <NUM> starts at symbol <NUM> and the first symbol of CORESET <NUM> starts at symbol <NUM>. A PDCCH with aggregation level <NUM> is repeated in the two CORESETs in CCEs #<NUM> to <NUM> in both CORESETs. The time offset between the reception of the DL DCI and the corresponding PDSCH is <NUM> in this example, regardless of whether soft combining is used or not and in which CORESET the DCI is actually decoded. The two CORESETs may be associated with two TRPs by activating two TCI states each associated to one TRP, and in that case, the PDCCH would be repeated over the two TRP as shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows an example of PDCCH repetition in a search space set associated with two CORESETs in an FDM manner. This could be used at lower carrier frequency (e.g., frequency range <NUM>, FR1) where a UE <NUM> can receive from multiple TRPs simultaneously or the two CORESETs are associated with a single TRP but two different panels.

In one embodiment, applying the PDCCH repetition methods is dependent on the search spaces, CORESETs, the RNTIs, or DCI formats.

In one embodiment, the PDCCH repetition can be used to activate one uplink configured grant transmission or one downlink SPS reception.

In one embodiment, the PDCCH repetition can be used to deactivate uplink configured grant transmission or downlink SPS reception.

<FIG> illustrates the operation of two TRPs (TRP1 <NUM>-<NUM> and TRP2 <NUM>-<NUM>) and a UE <NUM> in accordance with at least some aspects of the embodiments described above. Note that optional steps are represented by dashed lines/boxes. Further, any one or more of these steps may be performed in this method (i.e., not all steps are required). TRP1 <NUM>-<NUM> and TRP2 <NUM>-<NUM> may correspond to, for example, different base stations (e.g., base station <NUM>-<NUM> and base station <NUM>-<NUM> or base station <NUM>-<NUM> and low power node <NUM>-<NUM>) and the UE <NUM> may be, e.g., the wireless communication device <NUM>-<NUM>. As another example, TRP1 <NUM>-<NUM> and TRP2 <NUM>-<NUM> may correspond to different beams from the same base station (e.g., base station <NUM>-<NUM>).

As illustrated, the UE <NUM> is configured with a search space set that includes two or more CORESETs, as described above (step <NUM>). In this example, the configuration is received from TRP1 <NUM>-<NUM>, but is not limited thereto. As described above, TRP1 <NUM>-<NUM> transmits a first PDCCH or DCI repetition in a first CORESET (step <NUM>), and TRP2 <NUM>-<NUM> transmits a second PDCCH or DCI repetition in a second CORSET (step <NUM>). The first and second CORESETs are different ones of the two or more CORESETs included in the configured search space set. The details described above regarding the search space set, the PDCCH or DCI repetitions, the CORESETs, and the transmission of the PDCCH or DCI repetitions are equally applicable here.

At the UE <NUM>, the UE <NUM> receives the PDCCH or DCI repetitions in the first and second CORESETs and attempts to decode the PDCCH or DCI based on the received repetitions, as described above (step <NUM>).

In some embodiments, the PDCCH or DCI is successfully decoded and schedules an associated PDSCH or PUSCH transmission for the UE <NUM>. In this case, the UE <NUM> may determine a time offset (e.g., expressed as a number of symbols) between the received PDCCH or DCI and the scheduled PDSCH or PUSCH transmission as described above (step <NUM>). The UE <NUM> then receives/transmits the PDSCH/PUSCH in accordance with the determined time offset, as described above (step <NUM>). Note that the details described above regarding determining the time offset and receiving/transmitting the scheduled PDSCH/PUSCH are equally applicable here.

In some embodiments, the PDCCH or DCI is successfully decoded and schedules an associated PDSCH transmission for the UE <NUM>. In this case, the UE <NUM> may determine a PUCCH resource for carrying a HARQ ACK/NACK associated with the scheduled PDSCH transmission as described above (step <NUM>) and transmits a HARQ ACK/NACK for the scheduled PDSCH transmission using the determined PUCCH resource (step <NUM>). In some embodiments, the PDCCH repetitions are repeated in the first and second CORESETs in CCEs with the same CCE indices. As discussed above, since the same CCE indices the first and second CORESETs are linked in this manner, they all point to the same PUCCH resource for HARQ ACK/NACK transmission associated with the PDSCH transmission scheduled by the PDCCH/DCI. In some other embodiments, the CCEs between the first and second CORESETs are linked in a one-to-one mapping (e.g., defined by a predefined or preconfigured mapping table or a predefined or preconfigured hashing function), and the first CCE and the number of CCEs in one of the first and second CORESETs is used to derive the corresponding PUCCH resource for carrying the HARQ ACK/NACK for the scheduled PDSCH transmission. Note that the details described above regarding determining the PUCCH resource for carrying the HARQ ACK/NACK for the scheduled PDSCH are equally applicable here.

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram of a radio access node <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Optional features are represented by dashed boxes. The radio access node <NUM> may be, for example, a base station <NUM> or <NUM> or a network node that implements all or part of the functionality of the base station <NUM>, eNB, gNB, or TRP described herein. As illustrated, the radio access node <NUM> includes a control system <NUM> that includes one or more processors <NUM> (e.g., Central Processing Units (CPUs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and/or the like), memory <NUM>, and a network interface <NUM>. The one or more processors <NUM> are also referred to herein as processing circuitry. In addition, the radio access node <NUM> may include one or more radio units <NUM> that each includes one or more transmitters <NUM> and one or more receivers <NUM> coupled to one or more antennas <NUM>. The radio units <NUM> may be referred to or be part of radio interface circuitry. In some embodiments, the radio unit(s) <NUM> is external to the control system <NUM> and connected to the control system <NUM> via, e.g., a wired connection (e.g., an optical cable). However, in some other embodiments, the radio unit(s) <NUM> and potentially the antenna(s) <NUM> are integrated together with the control system <NUM>. The one or more processors <NUM> operate to provide one or more functions of a radio access node <NUM> as described herein (e.g., one or more functions of a TRP as described herein, e.g., with respect to <FIG>). In some embodiments, the function(s) are implemented in software that is stored, e.g., in the memory <NUM> and executed by the one or more processors <NUM>.

As used herein, a "virtualized" radio access node is an implementation of the radio access node <NUM> in which at least a portion of the functionality of the radio access node <NUM> is implemented as a virtual component(s) (e.g., via a virtual machine(s) executing on a physical processing node(s) in a network(s)). As illustrated, in this example, the radio access node <NUM> may include the control system <NUM> and/or the one or more radio units <NUM>, as described above. The control system <NUM> may be connected to the radio unit(s) <NUM> via, for example, an optical cable or the like. The radio access node <NUM> includes one or more processing nodes <NUM> coupled to or included as part of a network(s) <NUM>. If present, the control system <NUM> or the radio unit(s) are connected to the processing node(s) <NUM> via the network <NUM>. Each processing node <NUM> includes one or more processors <NUM> (e.g., CPUs, ASICs, FPGAs, and/or the like), memory <NUM>, and a network interface <NUM>.

In this example, functions <NUM> of the radio access node <NUM> described herein (e.g., one or more functions of a TRP as described herein, e.g., with respect to <FIG>) are implemented at the one or more processing nodes <NUM> or distributed across the one or more processing nodes <NUM> and the control system <NUM> and/or the radio unit(s) <NUM> in any desired manner. In some particular embodiments, some or all of the functions <NUM> of the radio access node <NUM> described herein are implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines implemented in a virtual environment(s) hosted by the processing node(s) <NUM>. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, additional signaling or communication between the processing node(s) <NUM> and the control system <NUM> is used in order to carry out at least some of the desired functions <NUM>. Notably, in some embodiments, the control system <NUM> may not be included, in which case the radio unit(s) <NUM> communicate directly with the processing node(s) <NUM> via an appropriate network interface(s).

In some embodiments, a computer program including instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to carry out the functionality of radio access node <NUM> or a node (e.g., a processing node <NUM>) implementing one or more of the functions <NUM> of the radio access node <NUM> in a virtual environment according to any of the embodiments described herein (e.g., one or more functions of a TRP as described herein, e.g., with respect to <FIG>) is provided.

The module(s) <NUM> provide the functionality of the radio access node <NUM> described herein (e.g., one or more functions of a TRP as described herein, e.g., with respect to <FIG>).

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communication device <NUM> according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the wireless communication device <NUM> includes one or more processors <NUM> (e.g., CPUs, ASICs, FPGAs, and/or the like), memory <NUM>, and one or more transceivers <NUM> each including one or more transmitters <NUM> and one or more receivers <NUM> coupled to one or more antennas <NUM>. The transceiver(s) <NUM> includes radio-front end circuitry connected to the antenna(s) <NUM> that is configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna(s) <NUM> and the processor(s) <NUM>, as will be appreciated by on of ordinary skill in the art. The processors <NUM> are also referred to herein as processing circuitry. The transceivers <NUM> are also referred to herein as radio circuitry. In some embodiments, the functionality of the wireless communication device <NUM> described above (e.g., one or more functions of a UE as described herein, e.g., with respect to <FIG>) may be fully or partially implemented in software that is, e.g., stored in the memory <NUM> and executed by the processor(s) <NUM>. Note that the wireless communication device <NUM> may include additional components not illustrated in <FIG> such as, e.g., one or more user interface components (e.g., an input/output interface including a display, buttons, a touch screen, a microphone, a speaker(s), and/or the like and/or any other components for allowing input of information into the wireless communication device <NUM> and/or allowing output of information from the wireless communication device <NUM>), a power supply (e.g., a battery and associated power circuitry), etc..

In some embodiments, a computer program including instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to carry out the functionality of the wireless communication device <NUM> according to any of the embodiments described herein (e.g., one or more functions of a UE as described herein, e.g., with respect to <FIG>) is provided.

The module(s) <NUM> provide the functionality of the wireless communication device <NUM> described herein (e.g., one or more functions of a UE as described herein, e.g., with respect to <FIG>).

With reference to <FIG>, in accordance with an embodiment, a communication system includes a telecommunication network <NUM>, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises an access network <NUM>, such as a RAN, and a core network <NUM>. The access network <NUM> comprises a plurality of base stations 1306A, 1306B, 1306C, such as Node Bs, eNBs, gNBs, or other types of wireless Access Points (APs), each defining a corresponding coverage area 1308A, 1308B, 1308C. Each base station 1306A, 1306B, 1306C is connectable to the core network <NUM> over a wired or wireless connection <NUM>. A first UE <NUM> located in coverage area 1308C is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding base station 1306C. A second UE <NUM> in coverage area 1308A is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station 1306A.

It is noted that the host computer <NUM>, the base station <NUM>, and the UE <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may be similar or identical to the host computer <NUM>, one of the base stations 1306A, 1306B, 1306C, and one of the UEs <NUM>, <NUM> of <FIG>, respectively.

The wireless connection <NUM> between the UE <NUM> and the base station <NUM> is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to the UE <NUM> using the OTT connection <NUM>, in which the wireless connection <NUM> forms the last segment.

Claim 1:
A method performed by a wireless communication device (<NUM>) for reception of physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, repetitions over multiple control resource sets, CORESETs, in a cellular communications system (<NUM>), the method comprising:
receiving (<NUM>) a configuration of a first CORESET and a second CORESET;
receiving (<NUM>; <NUM>), from one or more network nodes (<NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>), a first repetition of a PDCCH carrying downlink control information, DCI, in the first CORESET and a second repetition of the PDCCH carrying the same DCI in the second CORESET, wherein the first and second repetitions of the PDCCH have either: (a) different channel encoding or (b) a same channel encoding; and
decoding (<NUM>) the DCI based on the first repetition of the PDCCH and/or the second repetition of the PDCCH,
wherein the first and the second repetitions of the PDCCH are transmitted in first control channel elements, CCEs, of the first CORESET and second CCEs of the second CORESET, respectively.