CN117981452A

CN117981452A - Downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands

Info

Publication number: CN117981452A
Application number: CN202280063880.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: M·霍什内维桑; 张晓霞; 骆涛
Original assignee: Qualcomm Inc
Current assignee: Qualcomm Inc
Priority date: 2021-09-30
Filing date: 2022-08-30
Publication date: 2024-05-03

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described herein. A User Equipment (UE) may receive a downlink control channel command from a network device requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via two or more downlink control channel candidates associated with different Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states that are linked for repetition. In some examples, the downlink control information conveying the downlink control channel command may indicate which TCI state is to be used for the random access procedure. In some examples, the UE may select the TCI state to be used for the random access procedure, e.g., based on the channel quality of the downlink control channel candidates.

Description

Downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands

Cross reference

This patent application claims the benefit of the following applications: U.S. provisional patent application No.63/250,963, entitled "DOWNLINK CONTROL CHANNEL REPETITION FOR A DOWNLINK CONTROL CHANNEL ORDER", filed by KHOSHNEVISAN et al at 9/30 of 2021, and U.S. non-provisional patent application No.17/885,309, entitled "DOWNLINK CONTROL CHANNEL REPETITION FOR A DOWNLINK CONTROL CHANNEL ORDER", filed by KHOSHNEVISAN et al at 8/10 of 2022, each of which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and each of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The following relates to wireless communications, including downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands.

Background

Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems are able to support communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple access systems include fourth generation (4G) systems such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-advanced (LTE-a) systems, or LTE-a Pro systems, and fifth generation (5G) systems, which may be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employ techniques such as: code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), or discrete fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple-access communication system may include one or more base stations or one or more network access nodes, each of which simultaneously support communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise referred to as User Equipment (UE).

Disclosure of Invention

The described technology relates to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatus supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands. In general terms, the described techniques provide for a User Equipment (UE) to receive downlink control channel commands via two or more downlink control channel candidates that are linked for repetition. The UE may receive an indication that the first downlink control channel candidate and the second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition. In some examples, the indication may be received via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling. The first downlink control channel candidate and the second downlink control channel candidate may be associated with different Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states. The UE may receive the downlink control channel command via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate and the second downlink control channel candidate. The downlink control channel command may be transmitted by the base station and may request the UE to participate in the random access procedure. In some cases, a downlink control channel command may be transmitted in Downlink Control Information (DCI), and the DCI transmitting the downlink control channel command may indicate which TCI state is used by the UE for a Random Access Channel (RACH) procedure associated with the downlink control channel command. For example, a bit in the DCI transmitting the downlink control channel command may indicate that a TCI state associated with a downlink control channel candidate having a lower or higher control resource set (CORESET) Identifier (ID), search space ID, or TCI state ID is used. In some examples, the indication in the DCI may be based on the timing of the downlink control channel candidates, e.g., which downlink control channel candidates were received earlier.

In some cases, the UE may select a TCI state to be used for a random access procedure associated with a downlink control channel command, and the UE may transmit a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) index associated with a PRACH in a Physical RACH (PRACH) occasion that is quasi co-located with the TCI state associated with one of the downlink control channel candidates. The base station may transmit the downlink random access message using the TCI state selected by the UE, and the UE may receive the downlink random access message using the TCI state. In some examples, the UE may select the TCI state to use based on the signal quality of the downlink control channel candidate, such as by measuring the signal quality of a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) or received coded bits associated with the downlink control channel candidate.

A method for wireless communication at a UE is described. The method may include: receiving a control message indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state; receive, via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure; and performing the random access procedure using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a UE is described. The apparatus may include: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions may be executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receiving a control message indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state; receive, via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure; and performing the random access procedure using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

Another apparatus for wireless communication at a UE is described. The apparatus may include: means for receiving a control message indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state; means for receiving a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure; and means for performing the random access procedure using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a UE is described. The code may include instructions executable by a processor to: receiving a control message indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state; receive, via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure; and performing the random access procedure using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, receiving the downlink control channel command may include operations, features, elements, or instructions to: an indication is received that the first TCI state may be associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state may be associated with a first CORESET ID and the second TCI state may be associated with a second CORESET ID that may be lower than the first CORESET ID.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, receiving the downlink control channel command may include operations, features, elements, or instructions to: an indication is received that the first TCI state may be associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state may be associated with a first search space ID and the second TCI state may be associated with a second search space ID that may be lower than the first search space ID.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, receiving the downlink control channel command may include operations, features, elements, or instructions to: an indication is received that the first TCI state may be associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state may be associated with a first TCI state ID and the second TCI state may be associated with a second TCI state ID that may be lower than the first TCI state ID.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, receiving the downlink control channel command may include operations, features, elements, or instructions to: an indication is received that the first TCI state may be associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state may be associated with a first CORESET ID and the second TCI state may be associated with a second CORESET ID that may be higher than the first CORESET ID.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, receiving the downlink control channel command may include operations, features, elements, or instructions to: an indication is received that the first TCI state may be associated with the random access procedure, the first TCI state being associated with a first search space ID, and the second TCI state may be associated with a second search space ID that may be higher than the first search space ID.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, receiving the downlink control channel command may include operations, features, elements, or instructions to: an indication is received that the first TCI state may be associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state may be associated with a first TCI state ID and the second TCI state may be associated with a second TCI state ID that may be higher than the first TCI state ID.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state for the random access procedure may be based on a relative timing of the first downlink control channel candidate and the second downlink control channel candidate.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, performing the random access procedure may include operations, features, elements, or instructions for: transmitting an uplink random access message in response to the downlink control channel command; and receiving a downlink random access message in response to the uplink random access message using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, receiving the downlink random access message may include operations, features, elements, or instructions for: receiving DCI of a scheduling random access response message; and receiving the random access response message via a physical downlink shared channel.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, performing the random access procedure may include operations, features, elements, or instructions for: the downlink random access message responsive to the uplink random access message is received using the same beam used to receive the one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, which may be associated with the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the downlink control channel command requests a contention-free random access procedure on a primary cell or a primary secondary cell.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, receiving the downlink control channel command may include operations, features, elements, or instructions to: the downlink control channel command is received via a DCI, wherein the DCI indicates the one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state to be used for the random access procedure.

A method for wireless communication at a UE is described. The method may include: receiving an indication that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state; receiving a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate; and transmitting a PRACH of the random access procedure associated with the downlink control channel command using one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a UE is described. The apparatus may include: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions may be executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receiving an indication that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state; receiving a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate; and transmitting a PRACH of the random access procedure associated with the downlink control channel command using one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

Another apparatus for wireless communication at a UE is described. The apparatus may include: means for receiving an indication that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state; means for receiving a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate; and means for transmitting a PRACH of the random access procedure associated with the downlink control channel command using one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a UE is described. The code may include instructions executable by a processor to: receiving an indication that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state; receiving a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate; and transmitting a PRACH of the random access procedure associated with the downlink control channel command using one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: measuring a first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate and a second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate; and selecting one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state for transmitting the PRACH based on the measured first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate and the measured second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the transmitting the PRACH comprises: the PRACH is transmitted using the selected one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: receiving a first DMRS associated with the first downlink control channel candidate, wherein the first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate may be measured based on the first DMRS; and receiving a second DMRS associated with the second downlink control channel candidate, wherein the second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate may be measured based on the second DMRS.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, measuring the first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate and the second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate may include operations, features, units, or instructions for: a first signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR) associated with the first DMRS and a second SINR associated with the second DMRS are measured.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, measuring the first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate and the second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate may include operations, features, units, or instructions for: a first Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) associated with the first DMRS and a second RSRP associated with the second DMRS are measured.

Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: receiving a first set of coded bits via the first downlink control channel candidate, wherein the first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate may be measured based on the first set of coded bits; and receiving a second set of coded bits via the second downlink control channel candidate, wherein the second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate may be measured based on the second set of coded bits.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, measuring the first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate and the second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate may include operations, features, units, or instructions for: a first log-likelihood ratio associated with the first set of coded bits and a second log-likelihood ratio associated with the second set of coded bits are measured.

Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: a quasi co-sited assumption is applied in reception of a downlink random access message responsive to the PRACH, wherein the quasi co-sited assumption may be associated with one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the receiving the downlink random access message may include operations, features, elements, or instructions to: receiving DCI of a scheduling random access response message; and receiving the random access response message via a physical downlink shared channel.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the quasi co-sited hypothesis may be associated with an SSB, which may be associated with the PRACH.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, transmitting the PRACH may include operations, features, units, or instructions to: the PRACH is transmitted in one of a first PRACH occasion associated with the first TCI state or a second PRACH occasion associated with the second TCI state, wherein the first PRACH occasion may be associated with a first SSB and the second PRACH occasion may be associated with a second SSB.

A method is described. The method may include: transmitting a control message to the UE indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state; and send a downlink control channel command to the UE requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure.

An apparatus is described. The apparatus may include: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions may be executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: transmitting a control message to the UE indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state; and send a downlink control channel command to the UE requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure.

Another apparatus is described. The apparatus may include: means for transmitting a control message to the UE indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state; and means for sending a downlink control channel command to the UE requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing code is described. The code may include instructions executable by a processor to: transmitting a control message to the UE indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state; and send a downlink control channel command to the UE requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure.

Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: the random access procedure is performed using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, performing the random access procedure may include operations, features, elements, or instructions for: receiving an uplink random access message from the UE in response to the downlink control channel command; and sending a downlink random access message to the UE in response to the uplink random access message using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, performing the random access procedure may include operations, features, elements, or instructions for: in response to the uplink random access message, the downlink random access message is transmitted using the same beam used to transmit the one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, which may be associated with the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, transmitting the downlink control channel command may include operations, features, elements, or instructions to: an indication is sent that the first TCI state may be associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state may be associated with a first CORESET ID and the second TCI state may be associated with a second CORESET ID lower than the first CORESET ID.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, transmitting the downlink control channel command may include operations, features, elements, or instructions to: an indication is sent that the first TCI state may be associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state may be associated with a first search space ID and the second TCI state may be associated with a second search space ID that is lower than the first search space ID.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, transmitting the downlink control channel command may include operations, features, elements, or instructions to: an indication is sent that the first TCI state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state may be associated with a first TCI state ID and the second TCI state may be associated with a second TCI state ID that may be lower than the first TCI state ID.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, transmitting the downlink control channel command may include operations, features, elements, or instructions to: an indication is sent that the first TCI state may be associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state may be associated with a first CORESET ID and the second TCI state may be associated with a second CORESET ID that may be higher than the first CORESET ID.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, transmitting the downlink control channel command may include operations, features, elements, or instructions to: an indication is sent that the first TCI state may be associated with the random access procedure, the first TCI state is associated with a first search space ID, and the second TCI state may be associated with a second search space ID that may be higher than the first search space ID.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, transmitting the downlink control channel command may include operations, features, elements, or instructions to: an indication is sent that the first TCI state may be associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state may be associated with a first TCI state ID and the second TCI state may be associated with a second TCI state ID that may be higher than the first TCI state ID.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, transmitting the downlink control channel command may include operations, features, elements, or instructions to: the downlink control channel command is sent via a DCI, wherein the DCI indicates the one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state to be used for the random access procedure.

A method for wireless communication at a base station is described. The method may include: transmitting, to a UE, an indication that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state; transmitting a downlink control channel command to the UE requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate; and receiving a PRACH of the random access procedure associated with the downlink control channel command from the UE using one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a base station is described. The apparatus may include: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions may be executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: transmitting, to a UE, an indication that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state; transmitting a downlink control channel command to the UE requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate; and receiving a PRACH of the random access procedure associated with the downlink control channel command from the UE using one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

Another apparatus for wireless communication at a base station is described. The apparatus may include: means for transmitting an indication to the UE that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state; means for sending a downlink control channel command to the UE requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate; and means for receiving a PRACH of the random access procedure associated with the downlink control channel command from the UE using one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a base station is described. The code may include instructions executable by a processor to: transmitting, to a UE, an indication that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state; transmitting a downlink control channel command to the UE requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate; and receiving a PRACH of the random access procedure associated with the downlink control channel command from the UE using one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: transmitting, to the UE, a first DMRS associated with the first downlink control channel candidate; and transmitting a second DMRS associated with the second downlink control channel candidate to the UE.

Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, units, or instructions for: a quasi co-sited assumption is applied in transmission of a downlink random access message responsive to the PRACH, wherein the quasi co-sited assumption may be associated with one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, receiving the PRACH may include operations, features, units, or instructions to: the PRACH is received in one of a first PRACH occasion associated with the first TCI state or a second PRACH occasion associated with the second TCI state, wherein the first PRACH occasion may be associated with a first SSB and the second PRACH occasion may be associated with a second SSB.

Drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communication system supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 illustrates an example of a wireless communication system supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.

Fig. 3A and 3B illustrate examples of search space set configurations supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a random access timeline supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 illustrates an example of a random access timeline supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 illustrates an example of a process flow supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a process flow supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 8 and 9 illustrate block diagrams of devices supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 10 illustrates a block diagram of a communication manager supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.

Fig. 11 illustrates a schematic diagram of a system including a device supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 12 and 13 illustrate block diagrams of devices supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 14 illustrates a block diagram of a communication manager supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.

Fig. 15 illustrates a schematic diagram of a system including a device supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 16-26 illustrate flowcharts illustrating methods of supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

In some wireless communication systems, a User Equipment (UE) may be configured with one or more sets of control resources (CORESET). Each CORESET may include time and frequency resources within a bandwidth portion (BWP) of the serving cell that are allocated to carry a control channel, such as a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). CORESET may include one or more search space sets, each including one or more PDCCH candidates. Two or more PDCCH candidates may be concatenated for repetition of control information to improve decoding performance at the UE. The UE may be configured to monitor each PDCCH candidate for Downlink Control Information (DCI). In some examples, the base station may send a PDCCH order requesting the UE to participate in the random access procedure via one or more PDCCH candidates linked for PDCCH repetition. However, in some cases, two or more PDCCH candidates may be associated with different Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states, and the UE may not be able to determine which TCI state to use for the random access procedure.

In some examples, in DCI transmitting a PDCCH order, the PDCCH order may indicate which TCI state or which quasi co-located (QCL) is assumed for the UE to use for a Random Access Channel (RACH) procedure (e.g., which TCI state is to be used for a downlink random access message of the random access procedure). The DCI transmitting the PDCCH order may include a plurality of reserved bits that may be used to indicate a TCI state to be used for a random access procedure. For example, a bit in the DCI transmitting the PDCCH order may indicate whether to use a TCI state associated with a PDCCH candidate having a lower or higher CORESET Identifier (ID), search space ID, or TCI state ID. For example, bit 0 may indicate that a TCI state associated with a PDCCH candidate having a lower CORESET ID, search space ID, or TCI state ID is used, while bit 1 may indicate that a TCI state associated with a PDCCH candidate having a higher CORESET ID, search space ID, or TCI state ID is used. Other examples may be based on the timing of the PDCCH candidates, e.g., which PDCCH candidate was received earlier. The UE may perform a random access procedure based on the indicated TCI state.

In some examples, the UE may select a TCI state to be used for the random access procedure, and the UE may transmit a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) in a PRACH occasion associated with a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) index that is quasi co-located with the TCI state associated with one of the PDCCH candidates (e.g., the UE 115 may transmit the PRACH in the same spatial relationship as the TCI state associated with one of the PDCCH candidates). In some examples, the UE may select a TCI state to use based on a link or channel quality of the PDCCH candidate, such as by measuring a signal quality of a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) associated with the PDCCH candidate. For example, the UE may measure a signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR), a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), or a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) associated with the DMRS associated with the PDCCH candidate. In other cases, the UE may select the TCI state based on measuring signal quality of the coded bits received in the PDCCH candidates, such as based on Log Likelihood Ratios (LLRs) associated with the coded bits received in the PDCCH candidates. The base station may transmit the downlink random access message using the TCI state selected by the UE, and the UE may receive the downlink random access message using the TCI state.

Aspects of the present disclosure are first described in the context of a wireless communication system. Additional aspects of the present disclosure are described with reference to search space set configuration, random access timelines, and process flows. Aspects of the disclosure are further illustrated by, and described with reference to, apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts relating to downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands.

Fig. 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communication system 100 supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. The wireless communication system 100 may include one or more base stations 105, one or more UEs 115, and a core network 130. In some examples, the wireless communication system 100 may be a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, an LTE-advanced (LTE-a) network, an LTE-a Pro network, or a New Radio (NR) network. In some examples, the wireless communication system 100 may support enhanced broadband communications, ultra-reliable communications, low latency communications, communications with low cost and low complexity devices, or any combination thereof.

The base stations 105 may be dispersed throughout a geographic area to form the wireless communication system 100 and may be devices of different forms or with different capabilities. The base station 105 and the UE 115 may communicate wirelessly via one or more communication links 125. Each base station 105 may provide a coverage area 110 within which a UE 115 and the base station 105 may establish one or more communication links 125. Coverage area 110 may be an example of a geographic area within which base stations 105 and UEs 115 may support the transmission of signals according to one or more radio access technologies.

The UEs 115 may be dispersed throughout the coverage area 110 of the wireless communication system 100, and each UE 115 may be stationary, or mobile, or both at different times. The UE 115 may be a device with different forms or with different capabilities. Some example UEs 115 are shown in fig. 1. The UEs 115 described herein are capable of communicating with various types of devices, such as other UEs 115, base stations 105, or network devices (e.g., core network nodes, relay devices, integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) nodes, or other network devices), as shown in fig. 1.

The base stations 105 may communicate with the core network 130, or with each other, or both. For example, the base station 105 may interface with the core network 130 (e.g., via S1, N2, N3, or other interfaces) through one or more backhaul links 120. The base stations 105 may communicate with each other over the backhaul link 120 directly (e.g., directly between the base stations 105) or indirectly (e.g., via the core network 130) or both (e.g., via an X2, xn, or other interface). In some examples, the backhaul link 120 may be or include one or more wireless links.

One or more of the base stations 105 described herein may include or may be referred to by those of ordinary skill in the art as a base station transceiver, a radio base station, an access point, a radio transceiver, a node B, an evolved node B (eNB), a next generation node B or a gigabit node B (any of which may be referred to as a gNB), a home node B, a home evolved node B, or other suitable terminology.

The UE 115 may include or may be referred to as a mobile device, a wireless device, a remote device, a handheld device, or a subscriber device, or some other suitable terminology, where "device" may also be referred to as a unit, station, terminal, or client, among other examples. The UE 115 may also include or may be referred to as a personal electronic device such as a cellular telephone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a personal computer. In some examples, the UE 115 may include or be referred to as a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, an internet of things (IoT) device, a internet of things (IoE) device, or a Machine Type Communication (MTC) device, among other examples, which may be implemented in various items such as appliances, or vehicles, meters, among other examples.

The UEs 115 described herein are capable of communicating with various types of devices, such as other UEs 115 that may sometimes act as relays, as well as base stations 105 and network devices including macro enbs or gnbs, small cell enbs or gnbs, or relay base stations, among other examples, as shown in fig. 1.

The UE 115 and the base station 105 may communicate wirelessly with each other over one or more carriers via one or more communication links 125. The term "carrier" may refer to a collection of radio frequency spectrum resources having a defined physical layer structure for supporting the communication link 125. For example, the carrier for the communication link 125 may include a portion (e.g., a bandwidth portion (BWP)) of a radio frequency spectrum band operating in accordance with one or more physical layer channels for a given radio access technology (e.g., LTE-A, LTE-a Pro, NR). Each physical layer channel may carry acquisition signaling (e.g., synchronization signals, system information), control signaling to coordinate operation for the carrier, user data, or other signaling. The wireless communication system 100 may support communication with the UE 115 using carrier aggregation or multi-carrier operation. According to a carrier aggregation configuration, the UE 115 may be configured with a plurality of downlink component carriers and one or more uplink component carriers. Carrier aggregation may be used with both Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) component carriers and Time Division Duplex (TDD) component carriers.

In some examples (e.g., in a carrier aggregation configuration), a carrier may also have acquisition signaling or control signaling that coordinates operations for other carriers. The carrier may be associated with a frequency channel, e.g., an evolved universal mobile telecommunications system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) absolute radio frequency channel number (EARFCN), and may be placed according to a channel grid for discovery by the UE 115. The carrier may operate in an standalone mode, where the UE 115 makes initial acquisition and connection via the carrier, or the carrier may operate in a non-standalone mode, where a connection is anchored using different carriers (e.g., of the same or different radio access technologies).

The communication link 125 shown in the wireless communication system 100 may include an uplink transmission from the UE 115 to the base station 105, or a downlink transmission from the base station 105 to the UE 115. The carrier may carry downlink or uplink communications (e.g., in FDD mode) or may be configured to carry downlink and uplink communications (e.g., in TDD mode).

The carrier may be associated with a particular bandwidth of the radio frequency spectrum, and in some examples, the carrier bandwidth may be referred to as the "system bandwidth" of the carrier or wireless communication system 100. For example, the carrier bandwidth may be one of a plurality of determined bandwidths of a carrier for a particular radio access technology (e.g., 1.4, 3,5, 10, 15, 20, 40, or 80 megahertz (MHz)). Devices of wireless communication system 100 (e.g., base station 105, UE 115, or both) may have a hardware configuration that supports communication over a particular carrier bandwidth or may be configurable to support communication over one of a set of carrier bandwidths. In some examples, wireless communication system 100 may include a base station 105 or UE 115 that supports simultaneous communication via carriers associated with multiple carrier bandwidths. In some examples, each served UE 115 may be configured to operate over part (e.g., sub-band, BWP) or all of the carrier bandwidth.

The signal waveform transmitted on the carrier may be composed of multiple subcarriers (e.g., using a multi-carrier modulation (MCM) technique such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) or discrete fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM)). In a system employing MCM techniques, a resource element may be composed of one symbol period (e.g., the duration of one modulation symbol) and one subcarrier, where the symbol period and subcarrier spacing are inversely related. The number of bits carried by each resource element may depend on the modulation scheme (e.g., the order of the modulation scheme, the coding rate of the modulation scheme, or both). Thus, the more resource elements received by UE 115 and the higher the order of the modulation scheme, the higher the data rate may be for UE 115. The wireless communication resources may refer to a combination of radio frequency spectrum resources, time resources, and spatial resources (e.g., spatial layers or beams), and the use of multiple spatial layers may further improve data rate or data integrity for communication with the UE 115.

One or more digital schemes (numerology) for the carrier may be supported, where the digital schemes may include a subcarrier spacing (Δf) and a cyclic prefix. The carrier wave may be divided into one or more BWP with the same or different digital schemes. In some examples, UE 115 may be configured with multiple BWP. In some examples, a single BWP for a carrier may be active at a given time, and communication for UE 115 may be limited to one or more active BWPs.

The time interval for the base station 105 or UE 115 may be expressed in multiples of a basic time unit, which may refer to, for example, a sampling period of T _s＝1/(Δf_max·N_f) seconds, where Δf _max may represent the maximum supported subcarrier spacing and N _f may represent the maximum supported Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) size. The time intervals of the communication resources may be organized according to radio frames each having a specified duration (e.g., 10 milliseconds (ms)). Each radio frame may be identified by a System Frame Number (SFN) (e.g., ranging from 0 to 1023).

Each frame may include a plurality of consecutively numbered subframes or slots, and each subframe or slot may have the same duration. In some examples, a frame may be divided into subframes (e.g., in the time domain), and each subframe may be further divided into multiple slots. Alternatively, each frame may include a variable number of slots, and the number of slots may depend on the subcarrier spacing. Each slot may include multiple symbol periods (e.g., depending on the length of the cyclic prefix appended to the front of each symbol period). In some wireless communication systems 100, a time slot may be further divided into a plurality of minislots containing one or more symbols. Excluding the cyclic prefix, each symbol period may contain one or more (e.g., N _f) sampling periods. The duration of the symbol period may depend on the subcarrier spacing or the frequency band of operation.

A subframe, slot, minislot, or symbol may be the smallest scheduling unit (e.g., in the time domain) of the wireless communication system 100 and may be referred to as a Transmission Time Interval (TTI). In some examples, the TTI duration (e.g., the number of symbol periods in a TTI) may be variable. Additionally or alternatively, the smallest scheduling unit of the wireless communication system 100 may be dynamically selected (e.g., in bursts of shortened TTIs (sTTI)).

The physical channels may be multiplexed on carriers according to various techniques. The physical control channels and physical data channels may be multiplexed on the downlink carrier, for example, using one or more of Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), or hybrid TDM-FDM techniques. The control region (e.g., CORESET) for the physical control channel may be defined by the number of symbol periods and may span the system bandwidth or a subset of the system bandwidth of the carrier. One or more control regions (e.g., CORESET) may be configured for the set of UEs 115. For example, one or more of UEs 115 may monitor or search for control regions for control information according to one or more sets of search spaces, and each set of search spaces may include one or more control channel candidates arranged in a cascade at one or more aggregation levels. The aggregation level for control channel candidates may refer to the number of control channel resources (e.g., control Channel Elements (CCEs)) associated with encoded information for a control information format having a given payload size. The set of search spaces may include a common set of search spaces configured to transmit control information to a plurality of UEs 115 and a UE-specific set of search spaces configured to transmit control information to a particular UE 115.

Each base station 105 may provide communication coverage via one or more cells (e.g., macro cells, small cells, hot spots, or other types of cells, or any combination thereof). The term "cell" may refer to a logical communication entity for communication (e.g., on a carrier) with the base station 105 and may be associated with an ID (e.g., physical Cell ID (PCID), virtual Cell ID (VCID), or others) for distinguishing between neighboring cells. In some examples, a cell may also refer to a geographic coverage area 110 or a portion (e.g., a sector) of geographic coverage area 110 over which a logical communication entity operates. Such cells may range from smaller areas (e.g., structures, subsets of structures) to larger areas, depending on various factors such as the capabilities of the base station 105. For example, a cell may be or include a building, a subset of buildings, or an external space between geographic coverage areas 110 or overlapping geographic coverage areas 110, among other examples.

A macro cell typically covers a relatively large geographic area (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by UEs 115 with service subscriptions with the network provider supporting the macro cell. The small cells may be associated with lower power base stations 105 than the macro cells, and may operate in the same or different (e.g., licensed, unlicensed) frequency bands as the macro cells. The small cell may provide unrestricted access to UEs 115 with service subscription with the network provider or may provide restricted access to UEs 115 with association with the small cell (e.g., UEs 115 in a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG), UEs 115 associated with users in a home or office). The base station 105 may support one or more cells and may also support communication over one or more cells using one or more component carriers.

In some examples, a carrier may support multiple cells, and different cells may be configured according to different protocol types (e.g., MTC, narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB)) that may provide access for different types of devices.

In some examples, the base station 105 may be mobile and thus provide communication coverage for a mobile geographic coverage area 110. In some examples, different geographic coverage areas 110 associated with different technologies may overlap, but different geographic coverage areas 110 may be supported by the same base station 105. In other examples, overlapping geographic coverage areas 110 associated with different technologies may be supported by different base stations 105. The wireless communication system 100 may include, for example, a heterogeneous network in which different types of base stations 105 use the same or different radio access technologies to provide coverage for various geographic coverage areas 110.

The wireless communication network 100 may support synchronous operation or asynchronous operation. For synchronous operation, the base stations 105 may have similar frame timing, and transmissions from different base stations 105 may be approximately aligned in time. For asynchronous operation, the base stations 105 may have different frame timing, and transmissions from different base stations 105 may be misaligned in time in some examples. The techniques described herein may be used for synchronous operation or asynchronous operation.

Some UEs 115, such as MTC or IoT devices, may be low cost or low complexity devices and may provide for automated communication (e.g., via machine-to-machine (M2M) communication) between machines. M2M communication or MTC may refer to a data communication technology that allows devices to communicate with each other or with the base station 105 without human intervention. In some examples, M2M communications or MTC may include communications from devices that integrate sensors or meters to measure or capture information and relay such information to a central server or application that utilizes or presents the information to a human interacting with the application. Some UEs 115 may be designed to collect information or to enable automated behavior of machines or other devices. Examples of applications for MTC devices include smart metering, inventory monitoring, water level monitoring, device monitoring, healthcare monitoring, wildlife monitoring, weather and geological event monitoring, fleet management and tracking, remote security sensing, physical access control, and transaction-based business billing.

Some UEs 115 may be configured to employ a reduced power consumption mode of operation, such as half-duplex communications (e.g., a mode that supports unidirectional communications via transmission or reception rather than simultaneous transmission and reception). In some examples, half-duplex communications may be performed at a reduced peak rate. Other power saving techniques for UE 115 include: the power saving deep sleep mode is entered when not engaged in active communications, when operating over a limited bandwidth (e.g., according to narrowband communications), or when a combination of these techniques. For example, some UEs 115 may be configured for operation using a narrowband protocol type associated with a defined portion or range (e.g., a set of subcarriers or Resource Blocks (RBs)) within a carrier, within a guard band of a carrier, or outside of a carrier.

The wireless communication system 100 may be configured to support ultra-reliable communication or low-latency communication, or various combinations thereof. For example, the wireless communication system 100 may be configured to support ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC). The UE 115 may be designed to support ultra-reliable, low latency, or critical functions. Ultra-reliable communications may include private communications or group communications, and may be supported by one or more services (such as push-to-talk, video, or data). Support for ultra-reliable low latency may include prioritization of services, and such services may be used for public safety or general commercial applications. The terms ultra-reliable, low latency, and ultra-reliable low latency are used interchangeably herein.

In some examples, the UE 115 may also be capable of communicating directly (e.g., using peer-to-peer (P2P) or D2D protocols) with other UEs 115 over a device-to-device (D2D) communication link 135. One or more UEs 115 utilizing D2D communication may be within the geographic coverage area 110 of the base station 105. Other UEs 115 in such a group may be outside of the geographic coverage area 110 of the base station 105 or otherwise unable to receive transmissions from the base station 105. In some examples, groups of UEs 115 communicating via D2D communication may utilize a one-to-many (1:M) system in which each UE 115 transmits to each other UE 115 in the group. In some examples, the base station 105 facilitates scheduling of resources for D2D communications. In other cases, D2D communication is performed between UEs 115 without involving base station 105.

In some systems, D2D communication link 135 may be an example of a communication channel (such as a side-link communication channel) between vehicles (e.g., UEs 115). In some examples, the vehicle may communicate using vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, or some combination of these. The vehicle may signal information related to traffic conditions, signal scheduling, weather, safety, emergency, or any other information related to the V2X system. In some examples, a vehicle in the V2X system may communicate with a roadside infrastructure, such as a roadside unit, or with a network via one or more network nodes (e.g., base station 105) using vehicle-to-network (V2N) communication, or both.

The core network 130 may provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. The core network 130 may be an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) or a 5G core (5 GC), which may include at least one control plane entity (e.g., a Mobility Management Entity (MME), an access and mobility management function (AMF)) that manages access and mobility, and at least one user plane entity (e.g., a serving gateway (S-GW), a Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), or a User Plane Function (UPF)) that routes packets to or interconnects to an external network. The control plane entity may manage non-access stratum (NAS) functions such as mobility, authentication, and bearer management for UEs 115 served by base stations 105 associated with the core network 130. The user IP packets may be transmitted through a user plane entity that may provide IP address assignment as well as other functions. The user plane entity may be connected to IP services 150 for one or more network operators. IP services 150 may include access to the internet, intranets, IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), or packet switched streaming services.

Some of the network devices, such as base stations 105, may include subcomponents, such as access network entity 140, which may be an example of an Access Node Controller (ANC). Each access network entity 140 may communicate with UEs 115 through one or more other access network transport entities 145, which may be referred to as radio heads, smart radio heads, or transmit/receive points (TRPs). Each access network transport entity 145 may include one or more antenna panels. In some configurations, the various functions of each access network entity 140 or base station 105 may be distributed across various network devices (e.g., radio heads and ANCs) or incorporated into a single network device (e.g., base station 105).

The wireless communication system 100 may operate using one or more frequency bands, typically in the range of 300 megahertz (MHz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz). Typically, the region from 300MHz to 3GHz is referred to as the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) region or decimeter band, because wavelengths range in length from approximately one decimeter to one meter. UHF waves may be blocked or redirected by building and environmental features, but the waves may be sufficiently transparent to the structure for a macrocell to provide service to UEs 115 located indoors. Transmission of UHF waves may be associated with smaller antennas and shorter distances (e.g., less than 100 kilometers) than transmission of smaller and longer waves using the High Frequency (HF) or Very High Frequency (VHF) portions of the spectrum below 300 MHz.

The wireless communication system 100 may also operate in the ultra-high frequency (SHF) region using a frequency band from 3GHz to 30GHz (also referred to as a centimeter frequency band) or in the extremely-high frequency (EHF) region of the spectrum (e.g., from 30GHz to 300 GHz) (also referred to as a millimeter frequency band). In some examples, wireless communication system 100 may support millimeter wave (mmW) communication between UE 115 and base station 105, and EHF antennas of respective devices may be even smaller and more closely spaced than UHF antennas. In some examples, this may facilitate the use of antenna arrays within the device. However, the propagation of EHF transmissions may suffer from even greater atmospheric attenuation and shorter distances than SHF or UHF transmissions. The techniques disclosed herein may be employed across transmissions using one or more different frequency regions, and the designated use of frequency bands across these frequency regions may vary depending on the country or regulatory agency.

The wireless communication system 100 may utilize both licensed and unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands. For example, the wireless communication system 100 may employ Licensed Assisted Access (LAA), LTE-unlicensed (LTE-U) radio access technology, or NR technology in unlicensed frequency bands, such as the 5GHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band. Devices such as base station 105 and UE 115 may employ carrier sensing for collision detection and avoidance when operating in the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band. In some examples, operation in the unlicensed band may be configured based on carrier aggregation in conjunction with component carriers operating in the licensed band (e.g., LAA). Operations in the unlicensed spectrum may include downlink transmissions, uplink transmissions, P2P transmissions, or D2D transmissions, among other examples.

Base station 105 or UE 115 may be equipped with multiple antennas that may be used to employ techniques such as transmit diversity, receive diversity, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication, or beamforming. The antennas of base station 105 or UE 115 may be located within one or more antenna arrays or antenna panels (which may support MIMO operation or transmit or receive beamforming). For example, one or more base station antennas or antenna arrays may be co-located at an antenna assembly, such as an antenna tower. In some examples, antennas or antenna arrays associated with base station 105 may be located in different geographic locations. The base station 105 may have an antenna array with multiple rows and columns of antenna ports that the base station 105 may use to support beamforming for communication with the UE 115. Also, UE 115 may have one or more antenna arrays that may support various MIMO or beamforming operations. Additionally or alternatively, the antenna panel may support radio frequency beamforming for signals transmitted via the antenna ports.

Base station 105 or UE 115 may utilize multipath signal propagation using MIMO communication and improve spectral efficiency by transmitting or receiving multiple signals via different spatial layers. Such techniques may be referred to as spatial multiplexing. For example, the transmitting device may transmit multiple signals via different antennas or different combinations of antennas. Also, the receiving device may receive multiple signals via different antennas or different combinations of antennas. Each of the plurality of signals may be referred to as a separate spatial stream and may carry bits associated with the same data stream (e.g., the same codeword) or a different data stream (e.g., a different codeword). Different spatial layers may be associated with different antenna ports for channel measurement and reporting. MIMO techniques include single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) (in which multiple spatial layers are transmitted to the same receiving device) and multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) (in which multiple spatial layers are transmitted to multiple devices).

Beamforming (which may also be referred to as spatial filtering, directional transmission or directional reception) is a signal processing technique as follows: the techniques may be used at a transmitting device or a receiving device (e.g., base station 105, UE 115) to form or steer antenna beams (e.g., transmit beams, receive beams) along a spatial path between the transmitting device and the receiving device. Beamforming may be achieved by: signals transmitted via antenna elements of the antenna array are combined such that some signals propagating in a particular direction relative to the antenna array experience constructive interference while other signals experience destructive interference. The adjusting of the signal transmitted via the antenna element may include: the transmitting device or the receiving device applies an amplitude offset, a phase offset, or both to the signal carried via the antenna element associated with the device. The adjustment associated with each of the antenna elements may be defined by a set of beamforming weights associated with a particular orientation (e.g., relative to an antenna array of the transmitting device or the receiving device, or relative to some other orientation).

As part of the beamforming operation, the base station 105 or UE 115 may use beam scanning techniques. For example, the base station 105 may use multiple antennas or antenna arrays (e.g., antenna panels) to perform beamforming operations for directional communication with the UE 115. The base station 105 may transmit some signals (e.g., synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals) multiple times in different directions. For example, the base station 105 may transmit signals according to different sets of beamforming weights associated with different transmission directions. Transmissions in different beam directions may be used (e.g., by a transmitting device (such as base station 105) or by a receiving device (such as UE 115)) to identify the beam direction for subsequent transmission or reception by base station 105.

The base station 105 may transmit some signals (e.g., data signals associated with a particular receiving device (e.g., UE 115)) in a single beam direction (e.g., a direction associated with the receiving device). In some examples, the beam direction associated with transmissions along a single beam direction may be determined based on signals transmitted in one or more beam directions. For example, the UE 115 may receive one or more of the signals transmitted by the base station 105 in different directions and may report an indication to the base station 105 of the signal received by the UE 115 with the highest signal quality or otherwise acceptable signal quality.

In some examples, transmissions by a device (e.g., by base station 105 or UE 115) may be performed using multiple beam directions, and the device may use a combination of digital precoding or radio frequency beamforming to generate a combined beam for transmission (e.g., from base station 105 to UE 115). The UE 115 may report feedback indicating precoding weights for one or more beam directions and the feedback may correspond to a configured number of beams spanning a system bandwidth or one or more subbands. The base station 105 may transmit reference signals (e.g., cell-specific reference signals (CRSs), channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS)) that may or may not be precoded. The UE 115 may provide feedback for beam selection, which may be a Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI) or codebook-based feedback (e.g., a multi-panel type codebook, a linear combination type codebook, a port selection type codebook). Although these techniques are described with reference to signals transmitted by the base station 105 in one or more directions, the UE 115 may employ similar techniques to transmit signals multiple times in different directions (e.g., to identify a beam direction for subsequent transmission or reception by the UE 115) or in a single direction (e.g., to transmit data to a receiving device).

Upon receiving various signals, such as synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals, from the base station 105, a receiving device (e.g., UE 115) may attempt multiple receive configurations (e.g., directed listening). For example, the receiving device may attempt multiple directions of reception by receiving via different antenna sub-arrays, by processing received signals according to different antenna sub-arrays, by receiving according to different sets of receive beamforming weights (e.g., different sets of directional listening weights) applied to signals received at multiple antenna elements of the antenna array, or by processing received signals according to different sets of receive beamforming weights applied to signals received at multiple antenna elements of the antenna array (any of the above operations may be referred to as "listening" according to different receive configurations or receive directions). In some examples, the receiving device may use a single receiving configuration to receive along a single beam direction (e.g., when receiving a data signal). The single receive configuration may be aligned on a beam direction determined based on listening according to different receive configuration directions (e.g., a beam direction determined to have the highest signal strength, highest SNR, or otherwise acceptable signal quality based on listening according to multiple beam directions).

The wireless communication system 100 may be a packet-based network that operates according to a layered protocol stack. In the user plane, communications at the bearer or Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer may be IP-based. The Radio Link Control (RLC) layer may perform packet segmentation and reassembly for transmission over logical channels. The Medium Access Control (MAC) layer may perform priority handling and multiplexing of logical channels to transport channels. The MAC layer may also use error detection techniques, error correction techniques, or both to support retransmissions at the MAC layer to improve link efficiency. In the control plane, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol layer may provide for the establishment, configuration, and maintenance of an RRC connection between the UE 115 and the base station 105 or core network 130, which supports radio bearers for user plane data. At the physical layer, transport channels may be mapped to physical channels.

The UE 115 and the base station 105 may support retransmission of data to increase the likelihood that the data is successfully received. Hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback is a technique for increasing the likelihood that data is received correctly over the communication link 125. HARQ may include a combination of error detection (e.g., using Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)), forward Error Correction (FEC), and retransmission (e.g., automatic repeat request (ARQ)). HARQ may improve throughput at the MAC layer under poor radio conditions (e.g., low signal and noise conditions). In some examples, a device may support the same slot HARQ feedback, where the device may provide HARQ feedback in a particular slot for data received in a previous symbol in the slot. In other cases, the device may provide HARQ feedback in a subsequent time slot or according to some other time interval.

In some cases, UE 115 may receive the downlink control channel command via two or more downlink control channel candidates (e.g., PDCCH candidates) linked for downlink control channel repetition. The UE 115 may receive an indication that the first downlink control channel candidate and the second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition. In some examples, the indication may be received via RRC signaling. The UE 115 may receive the downlink control channel command via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate and the second downlink control channel candidate. The downlink control channel commands may be sent by the base station 105 and may request the UE 115 to participate in a random access procedure.

In some cases, the downlink control channel command may indicate which TCI state or which QCL is assumed for the UE 115 to use for the RACH procedure (e.g., which TCI state is to be used for a downlink random access message for the random access procedure). For example, DCI conveying a downlink control channel command may include a plurality of reserved bits that may be used to indicate a TCI state to be used for a RACH procedure. For example, a bit in the DCI transmitting the downlink control channel command may indicate that the TCI state associated with the downlink control channel candidate having a lower or higher CORESET ID, search space ID, or TCI state ID is used. For example, bit 0 may indicate that the TCI state associated with the downlink control channel candidate having the lower CORESET ID, search space ID, or TCI state ID is used, and bit 1 may indicate that the TCI state associated with the downlink control channel candidate having the higher CORESET ID, search space ID, or TCI state ID is used. Other examples may be based on the timing of the downlink control channel candidates, e.g., which downlink control channel candidates were received earlier. For example, bit 0 may indicate that the TCI state associated with the earlier received downlink control channel candidate is used, while bit 1 may indicate that the TCI state associated with the later received downlink control channel candidate is used. The UE 115 may use the indicated TCI state to perform a random access procedure associated with the downlink control channel command (e.g., the UE 115 may use the indicated TCI state as a basis for QCL assumptions to be applied to receive one or more downlink random access messages).

In some examples, the UE 115 may select which of the different TCI states associated with the downlink control channel candidates to use for the random access procedure, and the UE 115 may transmit the PRACH in a PRACH occasion associated with an SSB that is quasi co-located with the selected TCI state (e.g., the UE 115 may transmit the PRACH in the same spatial relationship as the TCI state associated with one of the PDCCH candidates). In some examples, the UE 115 may select a TCI state to use based on the link or channel quality of the downlink control channel candidate, such as by measuring the signal quality of the DMRS associated with the downlink control channel candidate. For example, UE 115 may measure SINR, SNR, or RSRP associated with DMRS associated with a downlink control channel candidate. In some cases, UE 115 may select the TCI state based on measuring signal quality of the coded bits received in the downlink control channel candidates (such as based on LLRs associated with the coded bits received in the downlink control channel candidates). The base station 105 may transmit the downlink random access message using the TCI state selected by the UE 115, and the UE 115 may use the TCI state to receive the downlink random access message (e.g., the indicated TCI state may be used as a basis for QCL assumptions to be applied to transmit and receive one or more downlink random access messages).

Fig. 2 illustrates an example of a wireless communication system 200 that supports downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. In some examples, wireless communication system 200 may implement aspects of wireless communication system 100. For example, wireless communication system 200 may include base station 105-a and UE 115-a, which may be examples of base station 105 and UE 115 as described herein. Base station 105-a and UE 115-a may communicate within geographic coverage area 110-a via uplink communication link 205 and downlink communication link 210 (e.g., uu link). In some examples, base station 105-a may send a PDCCH order 225 to UE 115-a requesting UE 115-a to participate in a random access procedure via one or more PDCCH candidates linked for PDCCH repetition.

The UE 115-a and the base station 105-b may perform a random access procedure to synchronize the uplink communication link 205, the downlink communication link 210, or both. In some cases, the UE 115-a may send a random access request message 230 (e.g., msg 1) to initiate a random access procedure. The random access request message 230 may be sent via the PRACH during a PRACH occasion. The random access procedure may correspond to a contention-based random access (CBRA) or a contention-free random access (CFRA). During the CBRA procedure, the UE 115-a may randomly select a preamble and PRACH occasion (e.g., based on the received SSB) for transmitting the random access request message 230. During the CFRA procedure, the UE 115-a may receive a random access preamble or PRACH occasion assignment from the base station 105-a, and the UE 115-a may use the assigned preamble and send a random access request message 230 during the assigned PRACH occasion.

In some examples, base station 105-a may send PDCCH order 225 to UE 115-a to request that UE 115-a participate in a random access procedure. The UE 115-a may send a random access request message 230 in response to the PDCCH order 225. The UE 115-a may receive the PDCCH order 225 via DCI (e.g., DCI format 1_0) with a CRC scrambled by a control radio network temporary ID (C-RNTI). If each bit in the Frequency Domain Resource Allocation (FDRA) field of the DCI is set high (e.g., set to '1'), UE 115-a may determine that the DCI corresponds to PDCCH order 225.

PDCCH order 225 may indicate one or more parameters associated with a random access procedure. For example, PDCCH order 225 may include a random access preamble index (e.g., a six bit field) indicating the type of random access procedure. If the random access preamble index is zero, the PDCCH order may trigger a CBRA and the UE 115-a may ignore the remaining fields in the PDCCH order 225. During CBRA, the UE 115-a may measure one or more SSBs received from the base station 105-a and determine PRACH occasions for transmitting the random access request message 230 based on the measurement of the one or more SSBs. If the random access preamble is not zero, the PDCCH order may trigger a CFRA. If CFRA is triggered, the UE 115-a may decode one or more remaining fields to identify PRACH occasions and other parameters associated with the random access procedure.

The one or more remaining fields may include an uplink or Supplemental Uplink (SUL) indication field, an SSB index field, a PRACH mask index field, one or more other reserved fields, or any combination thereof. The uplink or SUL indication field may include a bit to indicate whether the UE 115-a may transmit the random access request message 230 via the uplink or SUL. The SSB index field may include a number of bits (e.g., six bits) for indicating an SSB index associated with the CFRA. The PRACH mask field may include a number of bits (e.g., four bits) that indicate a PRACH mask index associated with the CFRA. The UE 115-a may determine a PRACH occasion for transmitting the random access request message 230 based on the SSB index and the PRACH mask index. One or more remaining bits in the DCI transmitting PDCCH order 225 may be reserved for other parameters or applications.

The PRACH occasion indicated by the PDCCH order 225 (e.g., for CFRA) or associated with the measured SSB (e.g., for CBRA) may occur after a threshold delay period. The threshold delay period may begin after the last symbol of PDCCH order 225. That is, the first symbol of the PRACH occasion may occur at least a threshold delay period after the last symbol of the PDCCH order 225. The threshold delay period may consider Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) preparation according to the UE's capability, random access preparation, BWP handover, uplink handover, or any combination thereof.

The base station 105-a may receive the random access request message 230 during the PRACH occasion and the base station 105-a may transmit one or more other random access messages as part of the random access procedure. For example, the base station 105-a may transmit a control message (e.g., DCI) via a PDCCH, transmit a downlink Random Access Response (RAR) message via a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), or both. In some cases, UE 115-a may identify QCL hypotheses to apply to receive control messages, downlink RAR messages, or both based on a TCI state associated with PDCCH order 225 (e.g., a beam used to receive PDCCH order 225). For example, UE 115-a may use the TCI state associated with PDCCH order 225 as a basis for a QCL assumption to be applied to receive one or more downlink random access messages (e.g., UE 115-a may assume that the downlink random access message is quasi co-located with PDCCH order 225).

UE 115-a may be configured with one or more CORESET (e.g., three, four, five, or some other number CORESET in the BWP of the serving cell) for monitoring the PDCCH for PDCCH order 225 (e.g., or for other downlink control messages). The number of time and frequency resources (e.g., resource blocks in the frequency domain and OFDM symbols in the time domain) within each CORESET and the active TCI state associated with each CORESET may be RRC configured. Each CORESET may be associated with an active TCI state. Each CORESET may include one or more search space sets (e.g., up to 10 search space sets in BWP of the component carrier), and each search space set may include one or more PDCCH candidates (e.g., according to a given aggregation level). For example, PDCCH candidates having a given aggregation level and a given candidate index may be defined in a given set of search spaces. UE 115-a may perform blind decoding of PDCCH candidates within each search space set to receive DCI. That is, UE 115-a may monitor each PDCCH candidate in the search space set for DCI. UE 115-a may successfully decode one or more of the PDCCH candidates (e.g., CRC may pass) to obtain DCI. In some examples, one or more search space sets and corresponding PDCCH candidates may be linked for repetition of DCI, which may be referred to as PDCCH repetition or downlink control channel repetition. Additional aspects of the configuration for the search space set and PDCCH candidates may be further described elsewhere herein (including with reference to fig. 3A and 3B).

In some cases, base station 105-a may send PDCCH order 225 via two or more PDCCH candidates linked for PDCCH repetition. UE 115-a may receive an indication that the PDCCH candidates are linked and UE 115-a may receive PDCCH order 225 accordingly. If UE 115-a receives PDCCH order 225 via a linked PDCCH candidate, the linked PDCCH candidate may correspond to a different TCI state, and UE 115-a may not know which TCI state to use as the basis for the QCL assumption to be applied to receive downlink random access messages from base station 105-a.

As described herein, the DCI transmitting PDCCH order 225 may include one or more reserved bits. The one or more reserved bits may indicate a TCI state to be used as a basis for QCL assumptions to be applied for receiving one or more downlink random access messages from the base station 105-a. For example, a bit in the DCI transmitting PDCCH order 225 may indicate whether to use a TCI state associated with a PDCCH candidate having a lower or higher CORESET ID, search space ID, or TCI state ID. For example, bit 0 may indicate that a TCI state associated with a PDCCH candidate having a lower CORESET ID, search space ID, or TCI state ID is used, while bit 1 may indicate that a TCI state associated with a PDCCH candidate having a higher CORESET ID, search space ID, or TCI state ID is used. Other examples may be based on the timing of the PDCCH candidates, e.g., which PDCCH candidates are received earlier or later. For example, bit 0 may indicate that the TCI state associated with an earlier received PDCCH candidate is used, while bit 1 may indicate that the TCI state associated with a later received PDCCH candidate is used. The UE 115-a may use the indicated TCI state as a basis for QCL assumptions to be applied for receiving downlink random access messages from the base station 105-a.

If the PDCCH command 225 triggers a CBRA procedure, the UE 115-a may ignore the indication of the TCI state. The UE 115-a may instead determine QCL hypotheses based on the measured SSBs associated with the CBRA. That is, the indication of the TCI state to be used for the random access procedure in the PDCCH order may be applied to the CFRA procedure, but may not be applicable to the CBRA procedure. Additionally or alternatively, the indication of the TCI state to be used for the random access procedure in the PDCCH order may not apply to CFRA procedures performed on a secondary cell (SCell) (e.g., for the SCell, the PDCCH order may be received on the SCell, while the PDCCH order including DCI format 1_0 may be received on a primary cell (PCell) or primary SCell (PSCell), and thus QCL dependencies based on PDCCH candidates may not apply).

In some examples, the UE 115-a may select a TCI state to be used for the random access procedure (e.g., which TCI state is to be used as a basis for QCL assumptions to be applied to receive downlink random access messages from the base station 105-a), and the UE 115-a may transmit the PRACH in a PRACH occasion associated with an SSB index that is quasi co-located with the TCI state associated with one of the PDCCH candidates (e.g., the UE 115-a may transmit the PRACH in the same spatial relationship as the TCI state associated with one of the PDCCH candidates). In some examples, UE 115-a may select a TCI state to use based on the channel quality of the PDCCH candidate, such as by measuring the signal quality of the DMRS associated with the PDCCH candidate. For example, UE 115-a may measure SINR, SNR, or RSRP associated with the DMRS associated with the PDCCH candidate. In other cases, UE 115-a may select the TCI state based on measuring signal quality of the coded bits received in the PDCCH candidates (such as based on LLRs associated with the coded bits received in the PDCCH candidates). Accordingly, the UE 115-a may select a TCI state associated with a downlink control channel determined by the UE 115-a to have better link or channel quality. The base station 105-a may send the downlink random access message using the TCI state selected by the UE 115-a, and the UE 115-a may receive the downlink random access message from the base station 105-a using the TCI state.

If PDCCH order 225 triggers a CBRA procedure, UE 115-a may not select a TCI state for use in the requested random access procedure, e.g., based on the signal quality of the PDCCH candidate. The UE 115-a may instead determine QCL hypotheses based on the measured SSBs associated with the CBRA. That is, UE 115-a may select a TCI state for use in the requested CFRA procedure, but may not select a TCI state for use in the CBRA procedure. Additionally or alternatively, the TCI state for use in the CFRA procedure performed on the SCell may not be selected (e.g., for the SCell, a PDCCH order may be received on the SCell, while a PDCCH order including DCI format 1_0 may be received on the PCell or PSCell, and thus QCL dependencies based on PDCCH candidates may not apply).

Fig. 3A and 3B illustrate examples of search space set configurations 300-a and 300-B supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The search space set configurations 300-a and 300-b may implement aspects of the wireless communication system 100 or 200 or may be implemented by aspects of the wireless communication system 100 or 200. For example, search space set configurations 300-a and 300-b may illustrate example configurations for UE 115 (which may represent examples of UE 115 as described herein).

UE 115 may be configured to monitor one or more (e.g., up to five) CORESET of the BWPs of the Component Carriers (CCs). As described with reference to fig. 2, CORESET may include a number (e.g., up to 10 search space sets 305 in BWP of CC) of search space sets 305. As such, each set of search spaces 305 may correspond to a single CORESET (e.g., as well as a single corresponding TCI state). The set of search spaces 305 may be RRC configured and may include a set of time and frequency resources spanning one or more symbols 315 (e.g., OFDM symbols 315) within one or more slots 320 in the time domain and one or more subchannels in the frequency domain. The RRC configuration for each set of search spaces 305 may indicate an associated CORESET, a monitoring occasion 310 within the set of search spaces 305, a type of the set of search spaces 305 (e.g., common Search Spaces (CSSs) or UE-specific search spaces (USSs)), one or more DCI formats for monitoring by UE 115 within the set of search spaces 305, a number of PDCCH candidates for each aggregation level within the set of search spaces 305, or any combination thereof. The resources in the search space set 305 may be contiguous or non-contiguous in time and frequency. For example, the monitoring opportunities 310 within the set of search spaces may be distributed across one or more symbols 315, slots 320, subchannels, or any combination thereof.

The monitoring opportunities 310 within the search space set 305 may be configured according to the monitoring slot period, offset, and symbols 315 within the slot 320. That is, UE 115 may identify the location of each monitoring occasion 310 within search space set 305 based on the RRC configuration for search space set 305. Each monitoring occasion 310 may include one or more PDCCH candidates, which may include time and frequency resources for receiving DCI. Each PDCCH candidate may correspond to an aggregation level and may be configured with a candidate index in each search space set 305. As described with reference to fig. 2, UE 115 may perform blind decoding of each monitoring occasion 310 and corresponding PDCCH candidate to receive DCI.

In some examples, two or more search space sets 305 may be linked for PDCCH repetition. UE 115 may receive an indication of the linked set of search spaces via RRC configuration. UE 115 may identify linked monitoring occasions 310 within search space set 305 and linked PDCCH candidates within monitoring occasions 310 according to one or more rules indicated in the RRC configuration. Fig. 3A and 3B illustrate example search space set configurations 300-a and 300-B for linked search space set 305 including linked PDCCH candidates.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example search space set configuration 300-a for a first search space set 305-a and a second search space set 305-b. The search space set configuration 300-a may show a configured monitoring occasion 310-a of a first search space set and a configured monitoring occasion 310-b of a second search space set within a time slot 320-a. The monitoring occasions 310-a and 310-b may include a subset of time and frequency resources within the respective first and second sets of search spaces 305-a and 305-b.

UE 115 may receive an indication (e.g., via RRC signaling) that first search space set 305-a and second search space set 305-b are linked for PDCCH repetition. The UE 115 may determine that the monitoring occasion 310-a and the monitoring occasion 310-b are linked for PDCCH repetition based on one or more rules. For example, a rule may indicate a one-to-one mapping between monitoring opportunities 310 of different search space sets 305. For example, PDCCH candidates having the same aggregation level and the same candidate index in two linked search space sets (e.g., 305-a and 305-b) may be linked. The two linked search space sets 305-a and 305-b may be configured with the same number of PDCCH candidates for each aggregation level.

UE 115 may determine one or more pairs of linked PDCCH candidates within linked monitoring occasions 310-a and 310-b according to: aggregation level and candidate index of the corresponding PDCCH candidates. For example, each search space set 305 may be configured to include the same number of PDCCH candidates for each aggregation level. Accordingly, UE 115 may identify a first PDCCH candidate in monitoring occasion 310-a corresponding to the first aggregation level and a second PDCCH candidate in monitoring occasion 310-b also corresponding to the first aggregation level. UE 115 may determine that the first PDCCH candidate and the second PDCCH candidate are linked for PDCCH repetition based on the RRC configuration, the one-to-one mapping between monitoring occasions 310-a and 310-b, and the first aggregation level. In the example of search space set configuration 300-a, UE 115 may identify three linked sets of PDCCH candidates between monitoring occasion 310-a of first search space set 305-a and monitoring occasion 310-b of second search space set 305-b (e.g., as indicated by three arrows between monitoring occasions 310-a and 310-b). The DCI may be transmitted via one or both PDCCH candidates of each linked PDCCH candidate pair.

FIG. 3B illustrates a second example search space set configuration 300-B for a first search space set 305-a and a second search space set 305-B. In the example of the search space set configuration 300-b, a first search space set 305-a may include two monitoring occasions 310-d and 310-e in a time slot 320-b, and a second search space set 305-b may include two monitoring occasions 310-c and 310-f in the same time slot 320-b.

UE 115 may receive an indication that first set of search spaces 305-a and second set of search spaces 305-b are linked for PDCCH repetition, as described with reference to fig. 3A. UE 115 may identify a one-to-one mapping between monitoring occasions 310-c and 310-d and between monitoring occasions 310-e and 310-f within time slot 320-b.

UE 115 may determine one or more pairs of linked PDCCH candidates within each pair of linked monitoring opportunities 310 based on the aggregation level and candidate index of the respective PDCCH candidates, as described with reference to fig. 3A. For example, UE 115 may identify three linked sets of PDCCH candidates between monitoring occasion 310-d of first search space set 305-a and monitoring occasion 310-c of second search space set 305-b (e.g., as indicated by three arrows between monitoring occasions 310-c and 310-d). UE 115 may identify three linked sets of PDCCH candidates between monitoring occasion 310-e of first search space set 305-a and monitoring occasion 310-f of second search space set 305-b (e.g., as indicated by the three arrows between monitoring occasions 310-e and 310-f). The DCI may be transmitted via one or both PDCCH candidates of each linked PDCCH candidate pair.

Search space set configurations 300-a and 300-b may thus account for PDCCH repetition within a slot. In some examples, the search space set configuration 300 may be different from the search space set configurations 300-a and 300-b such that a first monitoring occasion 310 and corresponding PDCCH candidate in a first time slot 320 may be linked to a second monitoring occasion 310 and corresponding PDCCH candidate in a second time slot 320 (e.g., inter-slot PDCCH repetition).

The UE 115 configured with any of the search space set configurations 300-a and 300-b may identify the linked search space set 305, the linked monitoring occasion 310, and the linked PDCCH candidate prior to decoding the DCI received via the linked PDCCH candidate. The UE 115 may or may not perform soft combining to decode DCI received via linked PDCCH candidates. In some examples, the PDCCH order may be transmitted to the UE 115 via the linked PDCCH candidates, as described with reference to fig. 2.

If the UE 115 receives a PDCCH order via the linked PDCCH candidates, the UE 115 may not know which QCL hypothesis to use for receiving the one or more downlink random access messages.

To reduce the impact of PDCCH repetition on the random access procedure, in some examples, the TCI state to be used as a basis for QCL assumption to be used for receiving downlink random access messages may be indicated in DCI transmitting PDCCH commands, which may improve the reliability of the random access procedure, as described herein. In some examples, UE 115 may select a TCI state to be used as a basis for QCL assumption for receiving one or more downlink random access messages, e.g., based on signal quality of PDCCH candidates associated with the TCI state. The UE 115 may transmit the PRACH in a PRACH occasion associated with an SSB index that is quasi co-located with the TCI state associated with one of the PDCCH candidates. The base station 105 may transmit one or more downlink random access messages using the TCI state selected by the UE 115, and the UE 115 may receive one or more downlink random access messages using the TCI state. Selecting the TCI state based on the signal quality of the associated PDCCH candidate may improve the reliability of the random access procedure.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a random access timeline 400 supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. In the example of random access timeline 400, UE 115 may receive an indication via RRC signaling that PDCCH candidates 405-a and 405-b are linked for PDCCH repetition. For example, UE 115 may receive RRC signaling indicating two search space sets linked for PDCCH repetition. In response to receiving the RRC signaling, UE 115 may identify linked monitoring opportunities within the search space set and identify linked PDCCH candidates 405-a and 405-B within the linked monitoring opportunities according to one or more rules indicated via the RRC signaling, as described with reference to fig. 3A and 3B. UE 115 may be configured to monitor linked PDCCH candidates 405-a and 405-b for DCI. In some examples, UE 115 may perform soft combining prior to receiving DCI via both linked PDCCH candidates 405-a and 405-b. PDCCH candidates 405-a and 405-b may each include a set of PDCCH resources 435 (e.g., time and frequency resources allocated for PDCCH). The PDCCH resources 435 of the first PDCCH candidate 405-a may be contiguous or non-contiguous in time and frequency with the PDCCH resources 435 of the second PDCCH candidate 405-b. In some examples, PDCCH candidates 405 may be referred to as downlink control channel candidates.

As described herein, UE 115 may receive a PDCCH order via first PDCCH candidate 405-a, second PDCCH candidate 405-b linked with first PDCCH candidate 405-a for PDCCH repetition, or both (e.g., if UE 115 soft-combines PDCCH candidates 405). Performing the random access procedure may include: an uplink random access message (e.g., msg 1) is transmitted by the UE 115 during a PRACH occasion 410-a (e.g., a set of PRACH resources 440 allocated for transmitting the uplink random access message). The uplink random access message may be an example of the random access request message 230 described with reference to fig. 2.

The first PDCCH candidate 405-a may be associated with a first TCI state and the second PDCCH candidate 405-b may be associated with a second TCI state that is different from the first TCI state (e.g., the PDCCH candidate 405 may correspond to a different CORESET associated with a different TCI state and the PDCCH order may be received via a different beam in each of the PDCCH candidates 405-a and 405-b).

The PDCCH order received via at least one of the first PDCCH candidate 405-a or the second PDCCH candidate 405-b may include an indication of which TCI state is to be used as a basis for QCL hypotheses 425-a to be applied for receiving one or more downlink random access messages. For example, DCI transmitting a PDCCH order may include a plurality of reserved bits that may be used to indicate a TCI state. For example, a bit in the DCI transmitting the PDCCH order may indicate whether to use a TCI state associated with a PDCCH candidate having a lower or higher CORESET ID, search space ID, or TCI state ID. For example, bit 0 may indicate that a TCI state associated with a PDCCH candidate having a lower CORESET ID, search space ID, or TCI state ID is used, while bit 1 may indicate that a TCI state associated with a PDCCH candidate having a higher CORESET ID, search space ID, or TCI state ID is used. Other examples may be based on the timing of the PDCCH candidates, e.g., the TCI state associated with the PDCCH candidate is received earlier. For example, bit 0 may indicate that the TCI state associated with an earlier received PDCCH candidate is used, while bit 1 may indicate that the TCI state associated with a later received PDCCH candidate is used.

The downlink random access message may include DCI transmitted via PDCCH candidate 405-c including PDCCH resource 435, a RAR message transmitted via PDSCH resource 445 during PDSCH occasion 415-a, or both. The DCI (e.g., DCI format 1_0) may include a CRC scrambled by a random access radio network temporary ID (RA-RNTI). The DCI may schedule PDSCH occasions 415-a for transmission of the RAR message. The RAR message (e.g., a downlink RAR message) may be sent by the base station 105 in response to an uplink random access message.

In some examples, if the PDCCH order triggers a CFRA on the PCell, PSCell, or both (e.g., the random access preamble index in the PDCCH order is not zero), an indication of which TCI state to use as a basis for QCL hypotheses 425-a to be applied to receive one or more downlink random access messages may be applicable. Otherwise, the TCI state used to identify the QCL hypothesis 425-a for receiving the downlink message may not depend on the one or more TCI states associated with the PDCCH order, and the UE 115 may identify the QCL hypothesis 425-a based on the measured SSB or some other signaling.

For example, if a PDCCH order triggers a CBRA, the dependency of QCL hypothesis 425-a on the first TCI state associated with the first PDCCH candidate 405-a or the second TCI state associated with the second PDCCH candidate 405-b may not apply, and the UE 115 may identify QCL hypothesis 425-a based on the measured SSB associated with the CBRA procedure. If the PDCCH order triggers CFRA on the SCell, the PDCCH order may be received on the SCell and DCI with RA-RNTI and corresponding RAR message may be received on the PCell. Thus, the TCI state associated with the reception of PDCCH order on the SCell may not apply to the reception of DCI, RAR message, or both on the PCell.

Fig. 5 illustrates an example of a random access timeline 500 supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. The random access timeline 500 may be similar to the random access timeline 400 described with reference to fig. 4. For example, random access timeline 500 may illustrate a timeline for receiving a PDCCH order via at least one of linked PDCCH candidates 405-d and 405-e, transmitting an uplink random access message, and receiving one or more downlink random access messages according to QCL hypothesis 425-b.

UE 115 may receive an indication that first PDCCH candidate 405-d and second PDCCH candidate 405-e are linked for PDCCH repetition, and UE 115 may receive a PDCCH order via first PDCCH candidate 405-d, second PDCCH candidate 405-e, or both.

The first PDCCH candidate 405-d may be associated with a first TCI state and the second PDCCH candidate 405-d may be associated with a second TCI state that is different from the first TCI state (e.g., the PDCCH candidate 405 may correspond to a different CORESET associated with a different TCI state and the PDCCH order may be received via a different beam in each of the PDCCH candidates 405-d and 405-e).

The UE 115 may select a TCI state associated with the first PDCCH candidate 405-d or the second PDCCH candidate 405-e to use the basis for the QCL assumption 425-b to be applied for receiving one or more downlink random access messages. The UE may send an uplink random access message (e.g., PRACH) in one of a first PRACH occasion 410-b or a second PRACH occasion 410-c associated with a first SSB and a second SSB respectively, the first SSB and the second SSB being quasi co-located with a first PDCCH candidate 405-d and a second PDCCH candidate 405-e respectively. The uplink random access message is sent in the first PRACH occasion 410-b or the second PRACH occasion 410-c indicating to the base station 105 which TCI state is to be used for one or more downlink random access messages. In some examples, the SSB index indicated in the PDCCH order (e.g., indicated by 6 bits in the DCI transmitting the PDCCH order) may be ignored or may be implemented to be equal to one of the first SSB quasi co-located with the first PDCCH candidate 405-d or the second SSB quasi co-located with the second PDCCH candidate 405-e (e.g., the SSB index indicated in 6 bits in the DCI of the PDCCH order may not be used to directly determine the PRACH occasion).

In some examples, UE 115 may select a TCI state to use based on the link or channel quality of PDCCH candidates 405-d and 405-e (e.g., UE 115 may select a TCI state associated with a PDCCH candidate having a better measured channel quality). For example, UE 115 may measure signal quality of DMRS associated with PDCCH candidates 405-d and 405-e and select a TCI state based on the measured signal quality of the DMRS. For example, UE 115 may measure SINR, SNR, or RSRP associated with DMRSs associated with PDCCH candidates 405-d and 405-e. In other cases, UE 115 may select a TCI state based on measuring signal quality of the coded bits received in PDCCH candidates 405-d and 405-e (such as based on the LLRs associated with the coded bits received in PDCCH candidates 405-d and 405-e) (e.g., UE may select a TCI state associated with a PDCCH candidate having better LLRs for the received coded bits).

The downlink random access message may include DCI transmitted via PDCCH candidate 405-f including PDCCH resource 435, a RAR message transmitted via PDSCH resource 445 during PDSCH occasion 415-b, or both. The DCI (e.g., DCI format 1_0) may include a CRC scrambled by the RA-RNTI. The DCI may schedule PDSCH occasions 415-b for transmitting the RAR message. The RAR message (e.g., a downlink RAR message) may be transmitted by the base station 105 in response to an uplink random access message transmitted in the first PRACH occasion 410-b or the second PRACH occasion 410-c.

In some examples, if the PDCCH order triggers a CFRA on the PCell, PSCell, or both (e.g., the random access preamble index in the PDCCH order is not zero), the UE 115 may select which TCI state to use as a basis for the QCL assumption 425-b to be applied to receive one or more downlink random access messages. Otherwise, the TCI state used to identify the QCL hypothesis 425-b for receiving the downlink message may not depend on the one or more TCI states associated with the PDCCH order, and the UE 115 may identify the QCL hypothesis 425-b based on the measured SSB or some other signaling.

For example, if a PDCCH order triggers a CBRA, the dependency of QCL hypothesis 425-b on the first TCI state associated with the first PDCCH candidate 405-d or the second TCI state associated with the second PDCCH candidate 405-e may not apply, and the UE 115 may identify QCL hypothesis 425-b based on the measured SSB associated with the CBRA procedure. If the PDCCH order triggers CFRA on the SCell, the PDCCH order may be received on the SCell and DCI with RA-RNTI and corresponding RAR message may be received on the PCell. Thus, the TCI state associated with the reception of PDCCH order on the SCell may not apply to the reception of DCI, RAR message, or both on the PCell.

Fig. 6 illustrates an example of a process flow 600 supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. The process flow 600 may implement some aspects of the wireless communication system 100 or 200 or be implemented by some aspects of the wireless communication system 100 or 200. For example, process flow 600 may include UE 115-b and base station 105-b, which may be examples of UE 115 and base station 105 as described herein.

At 605, the base station 105-b may transmit and the UE 115-b may receive an indication of the linked downlink control channel candidates. For example, UE 115-b may receive an indication that the first downlink control channel candidate and the second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition (e.g., PDCCH repetition). The first downlink control channel candidate may be associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel may be associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state.

At 610, the base station 105-b may transmit and the UE 115-b may receive a downlink control channel command requesting the UE 115-b to participate in the random access procedure. The downlink control channel command may be transmitted and received via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate and the second downlink control channel candidate. In some examples, at 610, the base station 105-b may transmit an indication within the downlink control channel command as to which TCI state (e.g., the first TCI state or the second TCI state) to use as a basis for QCL assumptions to be applied to receive the one or more downlink random access messages, and the UE 115-b may receive the indication within the downlink control channel command. For example, the DCI conveying the downlink control channel command at 610 may include a plurality of reserved bits that may be used to indicate the TCI state. For example, a bit in the DCI transmitting the downlink control channel command may indicate that the TCI state associated with the PDCCH candidate with the lower or higher CORESET ID, search space ID, or TCI state ID is used. For example, bit 0 may indicate that the TCI state associated with a downlink control channel candidate having a lower CORESET ID, search space ID, or TCI state ID is used, while bit 1 may indicate that the TCI state associated with a downlink control channel candidate having a higher CORESET ID, search space ID, or TCI state ID is used. Other examples may be based on the timing of the downlink control channel candidates, e.g., TCI states associated with the downlink control channel candidates are received earlier.

At 615, UE 115-b and base station 105-b may perform a random access procedure associated with the downlink control channel command. In some examples, performing the random access procedure at 615 may include: an uplink random access message is sent by the UE 115-b to the base station 105-b and one or more downlink random access messages are sent by the base station 105-b to the UE 115-b using the indicated TCI state.

Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a process flow 700 supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. Process flow 700 may implement some aspects of wireless communication system 100 or 200 or be implemented by some aspects of wireless communication system 100 or 200. For example, process flow 700 may include UE 115-c and base station 105-c, which may be examples of UE 115 and base station 105 as described herein.

At 705, the base station 105-c may transmit and the UE 115-c may receive an indication of the linked downlink control channel candidates. For example, UE 115-c may receive an indication that the first downlink control channel candidate and the second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition (e.g., PDCCH repetition). The first downlink control channel candidate may be associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel may be associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state.

At 710, the base station 105-c may transmit and the UE 115-c may receive a downlink control channel command requesting the UE 115-c to participate in the random access procedure. The downlink control channel command may be transmitted and received via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate and the second downlink control channel candidate.

At 715, UE 115-c may select a TCI state associated with one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate based on the measured channel quality to use a basis for QCL assumptions to be applied to receive the one or more downlink random access messages. In some examples, the UE 115-c may select which TCI state to use for the random access procedure based on the channel quality of the first and second downlink control channel candidates (e.g., the UE 115-c may select the TCI state associated with the downlink control channel candidate having the better measured channel quality). In some examples, the UE 115-c may measure the channel quality of the first and second downlink control channel candidates by measuring the signal quality of the DMRS associated with the first and second downlink control channel candidates. For example, UE 115-c may measure SINR, SNR, or RSRP associated with DMRSs associated with the first and second downlink control channel candidates. In other cases, the UE 115-c may select the TCI state based on measuring signal quality of the coded bits received in the first and second downlink control channel candidates (such as based on LLRs associated with the coded bits received in the first and second downlink control channel candidates).

At 720, the UE 115-c and the base station 105-c may perform a random access procedure associated with the downlink control channel command. Performing the random access procedure at 720 may include: transmitting, by the UE 115-c, the PRACH to the base station 105-c in a PRACH occasion associated with an SSB co-located with the first or second downlink control channel candidate associated with the selected TCI state; and transmitting, by the base station 105-c, one or more downlink random access messages to the UE 115-c using the indicated TCI state. Transmitting, by the UE 115-c, the PRACH to the base station 105-c in a PRACH occasion associated with an SSB (the SSB being co-located with the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate associated with the selected TCI state) may indicate to the base station 105-c to use the TCI state to transmit one or more downlink random access messages to the UE 115-c.

Fig. 8 illustrates a block diagram 800 of an apparatus 805 that supports downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. The device 805 may be an example of aspects of the UE 115 as described herein. Device 805 may include a receiver 810, a transmitter 815, and a communication manager 820. The device 805 may also include a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver 810 may provide means for receiving information (such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof) associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands). Information may be passed to other components of device 805. The receiver 810 may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter 815 may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device 805. For example, the transmitter 815 may transmit information (such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof) associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands). In some examples, the transmitter 815 may be co-located with the receiver 810 in a transceiver module. The transmitter 815 may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

Communication manager 820, receiver 810, transmitter 815, or various combinations thereof, or various components thereof, may be examples of means for performing various aspects of downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands as described herein. For example, communication manager 820, receiver 810, transmitter 815, or various combinations or components thereof, may support methods for performing one or more of the functions described herein.

In some examples, communication manager 820, receiver 810, transmitter 815, or various combinations or components thereof, may be implemented in hardware (e.g., in communication management circuitry). The hardware may include processors, digital Signal Processors (DSPs), application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinations thereof, configured or otherwise supporting units for performing the functions described in the present disclosure. In some examples, a processor and memory coupled with the processor may be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., by the processor executing instructions stored in the memory).

Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, communication manager 820, receiver 810, transmitter 815, or various combinations or components thereof, may be implemented in code (e.g., as communication management software or firmware) that is executed by a processor. If implemented in code executed by a processor, the functions of communications manager 820, receiver 810, transmitter 815, or various combinations or components thereof, may be performed by a general purpose processor, DSP, central Processing Unit (CPU), ASIC, FPGA, or any combination of these or other programmable logic devices (e.g., configured or otherwise supporting units for performing the functions described in this disclosure).

In some examples, communication manager 820 may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receive, monitor, transmit) using receiver 810, transmitter 815, or both, or otherwise in cooperation with receiver 810, transmitter 815, or both. For example, communication manager 820 may receive information from receiver 810, send information to transmitter 815, or be integrated with receiver 810, transmitter 815, or a combination of both, to receive information, send information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

According to examples as disclosed herein, communication manager 820 may support wireless communication at a UE. For example, communication manager 820 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a control message indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The communication manager 820 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure. The communication manager 820 may be configured or otherwise support means for performing a random access procedure using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

Additionally or alternatively, according to examples as disclosed herein, communication manager 820 may support wireless communication at a UE. For example, communication manager 820 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving an indication that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The communication manager 820 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate. The communication manager 820 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting a PRACH of a random access procedure associated with a downlink control channel command using one of a first TCI state or a second TCI state.

By including or configuring the communication manager 820 according to examples as described herein, the device 805 (e.g., a processor that controls or is otherwise coupled to the receiver 810, the transmitter 815, the communication manager 820, or a combination thereof) can support techniques for reducing processing and more efficiently utilizing communication resources. For example, the processor of device 805 may receive and decode DCI received via linked PDCCH candidates, which may improve the reliability of the DCI, provide more efficient utilization of communication resources, and reduce processing.

Fig. 9 illustrates a block diagram 900 of an apparatus 905 supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. The device 905 may be an example of aspects of the device 805 or UE 115 as described herein. The device 905 may include a receiver 910, a transmitter 915, and a communication manager 920. The device 905 may also include a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver 910 can provide means for receiving information (such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof) associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands). Information may be passed to other components of the device 905. The receiver 910 may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter 915 may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device 905. For example, the transmitter 915 may transmit information (such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof) associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands). In some examples, the transmitter 915 may be co-located with the receiver 910 in a transceiver module. The transmitter 915 may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The apparatus 905 or various components thereof may be an example of means for performing various aspects of downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel reception as described herein. For example, communication manager 920 may include a linked PDCCH identification manager 925, PDCCH order manager 930, random access procedure manager 935, or any combination thereof. Communication manager 920 may be an example of aspects of communication manager 820 as described herein. In some examples, the communication manager 920 or various components thereof may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receive, monitor, transmit) using the receiver 910, the transmitter 915, or both, or in other manners in cooperation with the receiver 910, the transmitter 915, or both. For example, the communication manager 920 may receive information from the receiver 910, send information to the transmitter 915, or be integrated with the receiver 910, the transmitter 915, or a combination of both to receive information, send information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

According to examples as disclosed herein, the communication manager 920 may support wireless communication at the UE. The linked PDCCH identification manager 925 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a control message indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The PDCCH order manager 930 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving, via at least one of a first downlink control channel candidate or a second downlink control channel candidate, a downlink control channel order requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure, the downlink control channel order indicating that one of a first TCI state or a second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure. The random access procedure manager 935 may be configured or otherwise support means for performing a random access procedure using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

Additionally or alternatively, according to examples as disclosed herein, the communication manager 920 may support wireless communication at the UE. The linked PDCCH identification manager 925 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving an indication that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. PDCCH order manager 930 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a downlink control channel order requesting a UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of a first downlink control channel candidate or a second downlink control channel candidate. The random access procedure manager 935 may be configured or otherwise support a means for transmitting a PRACH of a random access procedure associated with a downlink control channel command using one of a first TCI state or a second TCI state.

Fig. 10 illustrates a block diagram 1000 of a communication manager 1020 supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. Communication manager 1020 may be an example of aspects of communication manager 820, communication manager 920, or both, as described herein. The communication manager 1020 or various components thereof may be an example of a means for performing various aspects of downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands as described herein. For example, communication manager 1020 may include linked PDCCH identification manager 1025, PDCCH order manager 1030, random access procedure manager 1035, TCI indicator manager 1040, uplink random access message manager 1045, downlink random access message manager 1050, PDCCH channel quality measurement manager 1055, TCI state selection manager 1060, SINR measurement manager 1065, RSRP measurement manager 1070, LLR measurement manager 1075, or any combination thereof. Each of these components may be in communication with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., via one or more buses).

According to examples as disclosed herein, the communication manager 1020 may support wireless communication at the UE. The linked PDCCH identification manager 1025 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a control message indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The PDCCH order manager 1030 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving, via at least one of a first downlink control channel candidate or a second downlink control channel candidate, a downlink control channel order requesting a UE to participate in a random access procedure, the downlink control channel order indicating that one of a first TCI state or a second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure. The random access procedure manager 1035 may be configured or otherwise support means for performing a random access procedure using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples, to support receiving downlink control channel commands, the TCI indicator manager 1040 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving an indication that a first TCI state is associated with a random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state is associated with a first CORESET ID and a second TCI state is associated with a second CORESET ID lower than the first CORESET ID.

In some examples, to support receiving downlink control channel commands, TCI indicator manager 1040 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving an indication that a first TCI state is associated with a random access procedure, where the first TCI state is associated with a first search space ID and a second TCI state is associated with a second search space ID that is lower than the first search space ID.

In some examples, to support receiving downlink control channel commands, the TCI indicator manager 1040 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving an indication that a first TCI state is associated with a random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state is associated with a first TCI state ID and the second TCI state is associated with a second TCI state ID that is lower than the first TCI state ID.

In some examples, to support receiving downlink control channel commands, the TCI indicator manager 1040 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving an indication that a first TCI state is associated with a random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state is associated with a first CORESET ID and a second TCI state is associated with a second CORESET ID that is higher than the first CORESET ID.

In some examples, to support receiving downlink control channel commands, TCI indicator manager 1040 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving an indication that a first TCI state is associated with a random access procedure, the first TCI state being associated with a first search space ID, and a second TCI state being associated with a second search space ID that is higher than the first search space ID.

In some examples, to support receiving downlink control channel commands, the TCI indicator manager 1040 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving an indication that a first TCI state is associated with a random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state is associated with a first TCI state ID and the second TCI state is associated with a second TCI state ID that is higher than the first TCI state ID.

In some examples, the indicated TCI state of the first TCI state or the second TCI state for the random access procedure is based on a relative timing of the first downlink control channel candidate and the second downlink control channel candidate.

In some examples, to support performing the random access procedure, uplink random access message manager 1045 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting uplink random access messages in response to downlink control channel commands. In some examples, to support performing a random access procedure, the downlink random access message manager 1050 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a downlink random access message in response to an uplink random access message using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples, to support receiving downlink random access messages, downlink random access message manager 1050 may be configured or otherwise support a unit for receiving DCI scheduling a random access response message. In some examples, to support receiving downlink random access messages, the downlink random access message manager 1050 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving random access response messages via a physical downlink shared channel.

In some examples, to support performing a random access procedure, the downlink random access message manager 1050 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a downlink random access message in response to an uplink random access message using the same beam used to receive one of a first downlink control channel candidate or a second downlink control channel candidate associated with the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples, the downlink control channel command requests a contention-free random access procedure on the primary cell or the primary secondary cell.

In some examples, to support receiving downlink control channel commands, PDCCH command manager 1030 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving downlink control channel commands via DCI, wherein the DCI indicates one of a first TCI state or a second TCI state to be used for a random access procedure.

Additionally or alternatively, according to examples as disclosed herein, the communication manager 1020 may support wireless communication at the UE. In some examples, linked PDCCH identification manager 1025 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving an indication that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. In some examples, PDCCH order manager 1030 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a downlink control channel order requesting a UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of a first downlink control channel candidate or a second downlink control channel candidate. In some examples, the random access procedure manager 1035 may be configured or otherwise support a means for transmitting a PRACH of a random access procedure associated with a downlink control channel command using one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples, PDCCH channel quality measurement manager 1055 may be configured or otherwise support a unit for measuring a first channel quality of a first downlink control channel candidate and a second channel quality of a second downlink control channel candidate. In some examples, the TCI state selection manager 1060 may be configured or otherwise support means for selecting one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state for transmitting the PRACH based on the measured first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate and the measured second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate.

In some examples, transmitting the PRACH includes transmitting the PRACH using a selected one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples, PDCCH channel quality measurement manager 1055 may be configured or otherwise support a means for receiving a first DMRS associated with a first downlink control channel candidate, wherein a first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate is measured based on the first DMRS. In some examples, PDCCH channel quality measurement manager 1055 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a second DMRS associated with a second downlink control channel candidate, wherein a second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate is measured based on the second DMRS.

In some examples, to support measuring a first channel quality of a first downlink control channel candidate and a second channel quality of a second downlink control channel candidate, SINR measurement manager 1065 may be configured or otherwise support means for measuring a first SINR associated with a first DMRS and a second SINR associated with a second DMRS.

In some examples, to support measuring a first channel quality of a first downlink control channel candidate and a second channel quality of a second downlink control channel candidate, the RSRP measurement manager 1070 may be configured or otherwise support means for measuring a first RSRP associated with a first DMRS and a second RSRP associated with a second DMRS.

In some examples, PDCCH channel quality measurement manager 1055 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a first set of coded bits via a first downlink control channel candidate, wherein a first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate is measured based on the first set of coded bits. In some examples, PDCCH channel quality measurement manager 1055 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a second set of coded bits via a second downlink control channel candidate, wherein a second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate is measured based on the second set of coded bits.

In some examples, to support measuring a first channel quality of a first downlink control channel candidate and a second channel quality of a second downlink control channel candidate, the LLR measurement manager 1075 may be configured or otherwise support means for measuring a first LLR associated with a first set of coded bits and a second LLR associated with a second set of coded bits.

In some examples, the downlink random access message manager 1050 may be configured or otherwise support means for applying a QCL assumption in reception of a downlink random access message responsive to the PRACH, wherein the QCL assumption is associated with one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples, to support reception of downlink random access messages, downlink random access message manager 1050 may be configured or otherwise support a unit for receiving DCI scheduling a random access response message. In some examples, to support reception of downlink random access messages, downlink random access message manager 1050 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving random access response messages via a physical downlink shared channel.

In some examples, the QCL is assumed to be associated with an SSB associated with the PRACH.

In some examples, to support transmitting the PRACH, the uplink random access message manager 1045 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting the PRACH in one of a first PRACH occasion associated with a first TCI state or a second PRACH occasion associated with a second TCI state, wherein the first PRACH occasion is associated with a first SSB and the second PRACH occasion is associated with a second SSB.

Fig. 11 illustrates a schematic diagram of a system 1100 that includes a device 1105 supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Device 1105 may be or include an example of or include a component of device 805, device 905, or UE 115 as described herein. The device 1105 may communicate wirelessly with one or more base stations 105, UEs 115, or any combination thereof. The device 1105 may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications, including components for sending and receiving communications, such as a communications manager 1120, an input output (I/O) controller 1110, a transceiver 1115, an antenna 1125, memory 1130, code 1135, and a processor 1140. These components may be in electronic communication or otherwise (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) coupled via one or more buses (e.g., bus 1145).

The I/O controller 1110 may manage input and output signals for the device 1105. The I/O controller 1110 may also manage peripheral devices that are not integrated into the device 1105. In some cases, I/O controller 1110 may represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral device. In some cases, I/O controller 1110 may utilize, for exampleMS-/>Such as an operating system or another known operating system. Additionally or alternatively, I/O controller 1110 may represent or interact with a modem, keyboard, mouse, touch screen, or similar device. In some cases, I/O controller 1110 may be implemented as part of a processor, such as processor 940. In some cases, a user may interact with device 1105 via I/O controller 1110 or via hardware components controlled by I/O controller 1110.

In some cases, the device 1105 may include a single antenna 1125. However, in some other cases, the device 1105 may have more than one antenna 1125 that is capable of sending or receiving multiple wireless transmissions simultaneously. The transceiver 1115 may communicate bi-directionally via one or more antennas 1125, wired or wireless links as described herein. For example, transceiver 1115 may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver 1115 may also include a modem to modulate packets, provide the modulated packets to one or more antennas 1125 for transmission, and demodulate packets received from the one or more antennas 1125. The transceiver 1115 or the transceiver 1115 and the one or more antennas 1125 may be examples of a transmitter 815, a transmitter 915, a receiver 810, a receiver 910, or any combination or component thereof, as described herein.

Memory 1130 may include Random Access Memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). The memory 1130 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code 1135, the code 1135 including instructions that, when executed by the processor 1140, cause the device 1105 to perform the various functions described herein. Code 1135 may be stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium (such as system memory or another type of memory). In some cases, code 1135 may not be directly executable by processor 1140, but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform the functions described herein. In some cases, memory 1130 may contain, among other things, a basic I/O system (BIOS) that may control basic hardware or software operations, such as interactions with peripheral components or devices.

Processor 1140 may comprise an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general purpose processor, DSP, CPU, microcontroller, ASIC, FPGA, programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic components, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof). In some cases, processor 1140 may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, the memory controller may be integrated into the processor 1140. Processor 1140 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., memory 1130) to cause device 1105 to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks to support downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands). For example, the device 1105 or components of the device 1105 may include a processor 1140 and a memory 1130 coupled to the processor 1140, the processor 1140 and the memory 1130 being configured to perform various functions described herein.

According to examples as disclosed herein, the communication manager 1120 may support wireless communication at the UE. For example, the communication manager 1120 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a control message indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The communication manager 1120 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving, via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure. The communication manager 1120 may be configured or otherwise support means for performing a random access procedure using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

Additionally or alternatively, according to examples as disclosed herein, the communication manager 1120 may support wireless communication at the UE. For example, the communication manager 1120 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving an indication that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The communication manager 1120 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate. The communication manager 1120 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting a PRACH of a random access procedure associated with a downlink control channel command using one of a first TCI state or a second TCI state.

By including or configuring the communication manager 1120 according to examples as described herein, the device 1105 may support techniques for improving communication reliability and improving coordination between devices. By receiving the PDCCH order and performing a corresponding random access procedure according to an indication in the PDCCH order or according to channel quality measurements of the PDCCH candidates, the device 1105 may accurately determine QCL hypotheses for the random access procedure, which may improve communication reliability and coordination between devices (e.g., between the UE 115 and the base station 105).

In some examples, the communication manager 1120 may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receive, monitor, transmit) using or in cooperation with the transceiver 1115, one or more antennas 1125, or any combination thereof. Although communication manager 1120 is shown as a separate component, in some examples, one or more of the functions described with reference to communication manager 1120 may be supported or performed by processor 1140, memory 1130, code 1135, or any combination thereof. For example, code 1135 may include instructions executable by processor 1140 to cause device 1105 to perform various aspects of downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands as described herein, or processor 1140 and memory 1130 may be otherwise configured to perform or support such operations.

Fig. 12 illustrates a block diagram 1200 of an apparatus 1205 supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. The device 1205 may be an example of aspects of the base station 105 as described herein. The device 1205 may include a receiver 1210, a transmitter 1215, and a communication manager 1220. The device 1205 may also include a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver 1210 can provide means for receiving information (such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof) associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands). Information may be passed to other components of the device 1205. The receiver 1210 may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter 1215 may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device 1205. For example, the transmitter 1215 may transmit information (such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof) associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands). In some examples, the transmitter 1215 may be co-located with the receiver 1210 in a transceiver module. The transmitter 1215 may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The communication manager 1220, receiver 1210, transmitter 1215, or various combinations thereof, or various components thereof, may be examples of means for performing various aspects of downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands as described herein. For example, the communication manager 1220, receiver 1210, transmitter 1215, or various combinations or components thereof, may support methods for performing one or more of the functions described herein.

In some examples, the communication manager 1220, receiver 1210, transmitter 1215, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., in communication management circuitry). The hardware may include processors, DSP, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof configured or otherwise supporting units for performing the functions described in this disclosure. In some examples, a processor and a memory coupled to the processor may be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., by the processor executing instructions stored in the memory).

Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the communication manager 1220, receiver 1210, transmitter 1215, or various combinations or components thereof, may be implemented in code (e.g., as communication management software or firmware) that is executed by a processor. If implemented in code executed by a processor, the functions of the communication manager 1220, receiver 1210, transmitter 1215, or various combinations or components thereof, may be performed by a general purpose processor, DSP, CPU, ASIC, FPGA, or any combination of these or other programmable logic devices (e.g., configured or otherwise supporting units for performing the functions described in this disclosure).

In some examples, the communication manager 1220 may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receive, monitor, transmit) using the receiver 1210, the transmitter 1215, or both, or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver 1210, the transmitter 1215, or both. For example, the communication manager 1220 can receive information from the receiver 1210, send information to the transmitter 1215, or be integrated with the receiver 1210, the transmitter 1215, or a combination of both to receive information, send information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

For example, the communication manager 1220 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting a control message to the UE indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The communication manager 1220 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting, to the UE, a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure.

Additionally or alternatively, the communication manager 1220 can support wireless communication at a base station according to examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communication manager 1220 may be configured or otherwise support means for sending an indication to the UE that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The communication manager 1220 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting a downlink control channel command to the UE requesting the UE to participate in the random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate. The communication manager 1220 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving a PRACH for a random access procedure associated with a downlink control channel command from a UE using one of a first TCI state or a second TCI state.

By including or configuring the communication manager 1220 in accordance with examples as described herein, the device 1205 (e.g., a processor controlling or otherwise coupled to the receiver 1210, the transmitter 1215, the communication manager 1220, or a combination thereof) can support techniques for reducing processing and more efficiently utilizing communication resources. For example, the processor of device 1205 may transmit DCI via linked PDCCH candidates, which may improve the reliability of the DCI, provide more efficient utilization of communication resources, and reduce processing.

Fig. 13 illustrates a block diagram 1300 of a device 1305 supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. Device 1305 may be an example of aspects of device 1205 or base station 105 as described herein. Device 1305 may include a receiver 1310, a transmitter 1315, and a communication manager 1320. Device 1305 may also include a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver 1310 may provide means for receiving information (such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof) associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands). Information may be passed to other components of device 1305. The receiver 1310 may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

Transmitter 1315 may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of device 1305. For example, the transmitter 1315 may transmit information (such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof) associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands). In some examples, the transmitter 1315 may be co-located with the receiver 1310 in a transceiver module. The transmitter 1315 may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

Device 1305 or various components thereof may be an example of a means for performing aspects of downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands as described herein. For example, communication manager 1320 may include linked PDCCH identification manager 1325, PDCCH order manager 1330, random access procedure manager 1335, or any combination thereof. The communication manager 1320 may be an example of aspects of the communication manager 1220 as described herein. In some examples, the communication manager 1320, or various components thereof, may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receive, monitor, transmit) using the receiver 1310, the transmitter 1315, or both, or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver 1310, the transmitter 1315, or both. For example, communication manager 1320 may receive information from receiver 1310, send information to transmitter 1315, or be integrated with receiver 1310, transmitter 1315, or a combination of both to receive information, send information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The linked PDCCH identification manager 1325 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting a control message to the UE indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. PDCCH order manager 1330 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting, to a UE, a downlink control channel order requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of a first downlink control channel candidate or a second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel order indicating that one of a first TCI state or a second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure.

Additionally or alternatively, the communication manager 1320 may support wireless communication at a base station according to examples as disclosed herein. The linked PDCCH identification manager 1325 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting an indication to the UE that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. PDCCH order manager 1330 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting to a UE a downlink control channel order requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of a first downlink control channel candidate or a second downlink control channel candidate. The random access procedure manager 1335 may be configured or otherwise support a unit for receiving a PRACH of a random access procedure associated with a downlink control channel command from a UE using one of a first TCI state or a second TCI state.

Fig. 14 illustrates a block diagram 1400 of a communication manager 1420 that supports downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. Communication manager 1420 may be an example of aspects of communication manager 1220, communication manager 1320, or both, as described herein. The communication manager 1420 or various components thereof may be an example of a means for performing various aspects of downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands as described herein. For example, communication manager 1420 may include a linked PDCCH recognition manager 1425, PDCCH order manager 1430, random access procedure manager 1435, TCI indicator manager 1440, DMRS manager 1445, downlink random access message manager 1450, uplink random access message manager 1455, or any combination thereof. Each of these components may be in communication with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., via one or more buses).

The linked PDCCH recognition manager 1425 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting a control message to the UE indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. PDCCH order manager 1430 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting, to the UE, a downlink control channel order requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first or second downlink control channel candidates, the downlink control channel order indicating that one of the first or second TCI states is associated with the random access procedure.

In some examples, the random access procedure manager 1435 may be configured or otherwise support means for performing a random access procedure using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples, to support performing a random access procedure, the uplink random access message manager 1455 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving an uplink random access message from a UE in response to a downlink control channel command. In some examples, to support performing a random access procedure, the downlink random access message manager 1450 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting a downlink random access message to the UE using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state in response to the uplink random access message.

In some examples, to support performing a random access procedure, the downlink random access message manager 1450 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting, in response to the uplink random access message, the downlink random access message using the same beam used to transmit one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate being associated with the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples, to support sending downlink control channel commands, the TCI indicator manager 1440 may be configured or otherwise support means for sending an indication that a first TCI state is associated with a random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state is associated with a first CORESET ID and a second TCI state is associated with a second CORESET ID lower than the first CORESET ID.

In some examples, to support sending downlink control channel commands, the TCI indicator manager 1440 may be configured or otherwise support means for sending an indication that a first TCI state is associated with a random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state is associated with a first search space ID and a second TCI state is associated with a second search space ID that is lower than the first search space ID.

In some examples, to support sending downlink control channel commands, the TCI indicator manager 1440 may be configured or otherwise support means for sending an indication that a first TCI state is associated with a random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state is associated with a first TCI state ID and the second TCI state is associated with a second TCI state ID that is lower than the first TCI state ID.

In some examples, to support sending downlink control channel commands, the TCI indicator manager 1440 may be configured or otherwise support means for sending an indication that a first TCI state is associated with a random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state is associated with a first CORESET ID and a second TCI state is associated with a second CORESET ID that is higher than the first CORESET ID.

In some examples, to support sending downlink control channel commands, the TCI indicator manager 1440 may be configured or otherwise support means for sending an indication that a first TCI state is associated with a first search space ID and a second TCI state is associated with a second search space ID that is higher than the first search space ID, associated with a random access procedure.

In some examples, to support sending downlink control channel commands, the TCI indicator manager 1440 may be configured or otherwise support means for sending an indication that a first TCI state is associated with a random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state is associated with a first TCI state ID and the second TCI state is associated with a second TCI state ID that is higher than the first TCI state ID.

In some examples, the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state for the random access procedure is based on a relative timing of the first downlink control channel candidate and the second downlink control channel candidate.

In some examples, to support transmitting downlink control channel commands, PDCCH order manager 1430 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting downlink control channel commands via DCI, wherein the DCI indicates one of a first TCI state or a second TCI state to be used for a random access procedure.

Additionally or alternatively, the communication manager 1420 may support wireless communication at a base station according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, the linked PDCCH recognition manager 1425 may be configured or otherwise support means for sending an indication to the UE that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. In some examples, PDCCH order manager 1430 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting to the UE a downlink control channel order requesting the UE to participate in the random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate. The random access procedure manager 1435 may be configured or otherwise support a means for receiving a PRACH of a random access procedure associated with a downlink control channel command from a UE using one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples, DMRS manager 1445 may be configured or otherwise enabled to transmit to the UE a first DMRS associated with a first downlink control channel candidate. In some examples, DMRS manager 1445 may be configured or otherwise enabled to transmit to the UE a second DMRS associated with a second downlink control channel candidate.

In some examples, the downlink random access message manager 1450 may be configured or otherwise support means for applying a QCL assumption in transmission of the downlink random access message responsive to the PRACH, wherein the QCL assumption is associated with one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

In some examples, to support receiving the PRACH, the random access procedure manager 1435 may be configured or otherwise support means for receiving the PRACH in one of a first PRACH occasion associated with the first TCI state or a second PRACH occasion associated with the second TCI state, wherein the first PRACH occasion is associated with the first SSB and the second PRACH occasion is associated with the second SSB.

Fig. 15 illustrates a schematic diagram of a system 1500 that includes a device 1505 that supports downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. Device 1505 may be or include examples of device 1205, device 1305, or base station 105 as described herein. Device 1505 may communicate wirelessly with one or more base stations 105, UEs 115, or any combination thereof. Device 1505 may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications, including components for sending and receiving communications, such as a communications manager 1520, a network communications manager 1510, a transceiver 1515, an antenna 1525, memory 1530, code 1535, a processor 1540, and an inter-station communications manager 1545. These components may be in electronic communication or otherwise (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) coupled via one or more buses (e.g., bus 1550).

The network communication manager 1510 may manage communications with the core network 130 (e.g., via one or more wired backhaul links). For example, the network communication manager 1510 may manage the transmission of data communications for client devices (such as one or more UEs 115).

In some cases, device 1505 may include a single antenna 1525. However, in some other cases, device 1505 may have more than one antenna 1525 capable of sending or receiving multiple wireless transmissions simultaneously. The transceiver 1515 may communicate bi-directionally via one or more antennas 1525, wired or wireless links as described herein. For example, transceiver 1515 may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver 1515 may also include a modem to modulate packets, provide modulated packets to the one or more antennas 1525 for transmission, and demodulate packets received from the one or more antennas 1525. The transceiver 1515 or the transceiver 1515 and the one or more antennas 1525 may be examples of a transmitter 1215, a transmitter 1315, a receiver 1210, a receiver 1310, or any combination or component thereof as described herein.

The memory 1530 may include RAM and ROM. Memory 1530 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code 1535, the code 1535 including instructions that when executed by processor 1540 cause device 1505 to perform the various functions described herein. Code 1535 may be stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium, such as system memory or another type of memory. In some cases, code 1535 may not be directly executable by processor 1540, but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform the functions described herein. In some cases, memory 1530 may contain, among other things, a BIOS that may control basic hardware or software operations, such as interactions with peripheral components or devices.

Processor 1540 may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general purpose processor, DSP, CPU, microcontroller, ASIC, FPGA, programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof). In some cases, processor 1540 may be configured to operate the memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, the memory controller may be integrated into the processor 1540. Processor 1540 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., memory 1530) to cause device 1505 to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks to support downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands). For example, device 1505 or components of device 1505 may include a processor 1540 and a memory 1530 coupled to processor 1540, processor 1540 and memory 1530 configured to perform the various functions described herein.

The inter-station communication manager 1545 may manage communication with other base stations 105 and may include a controller or scheduler for controlling communication with UEs 115 in cooperation with other base stations 105. For example, inter-station communication manager 1545 may coordinate scheduling of transmissions to UEs 115 to implement various interference mitigation techniques such as beamforming or joint transmission. In some examples, inter-station communication manager 1545 may provide an X2 interface within LTE/LTE-a wireless communication network technology to provide communication between base stations 105.

For example, the communication manager 1520 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting a control message to the UE indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The communication manager 1520 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting, to the UE, a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in the random access procedure via at least one of the first or second downlink control channel candidates, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first or second TCI states is associated with the random access procedure.

Additionally or alternatively, according to examples as disclosed herein, the communication manager 1520 may support wireless communication at a base station. For example, the communication manager 1520 may be configured or otherwise support means for sending an indication to the UE that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The communication manager 1520 may be configured or otherwise support means for transmitting a downlink control channel command to the UE requesting the UE to participate in the random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate. The communication manager 1520 may be configured or otherwise support a means for receiving a PRACH of a random access procedure associated with a downlink control channel command from a UE using one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state.

By including or configuring the communication manager 1520 according to examples as described herein, the device 1505 may support techniques for improving communication reliability and improving coordination between devices. For example, transmitting a PDCCH order and performing a corresponding random access procedure according to a TCI state indicated in the PDCCH order or according to channel quality measurements of PDCCH candidates may improve communication reliability and coordination between devices (e.g., between UE 115 and base station 105).

In some examples, the communication manager 1520 may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receive, monitor, transmit) using the transceiver 1515, one or more antennas 1525, or any combination thereof, or otherwise in cooperation with the transceiver 1515, one or more antennas 1525, or any combination thereof. Although the communication manager 1520 is shown as a separate component, in some examples, one or more of the functions described with reference to the communication manager 1520 may be supported or performed by the processor 1540, the memory 1530, the code 1535, or any combination thereof. For example, code 1535 may include instructions executable by processor 1540 to cause device 1505 to perform aspects of downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands as described herein, or processor 1540 and memory 1530 may be otherwise configured to perform or support such operations.

Fig. 16 shows a flow chart illustrating a method 1600 of supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method 1600 may be implemented by a UE or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of method 1600 may be performed by UE 115 as described with reference to fig. 1-11. In some examples, the UE may execute a set of instructions to control functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the UE may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the described functionality.

At 1605, the method may include: a control message is received indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The operations of 1605 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1605 may be performed by linked PDCCH identification manager 1025 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 1610, the method may include: a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in the random access procedure is received via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure. The operations of 1610 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1610 may be performed by PDCCH order manager 1030 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 1615, the method may include: the random access procedure is performed using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state. The operations of 1615 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1615 may be performed by random access procedure manager 1035 as described with reference to fig. 10.

Fig. 17 shows a flow chart illustrating a method 1700 of supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method 1700 may be implemented by a UE or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of the method 1700 may be performed by the UE 115 as described with reference to fig. 1-11. In some examples, the UE may execute a set of instructions to control functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the UE may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the described functionality.

At 1705, the method may include: a control message is received indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The operations of 1705 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1705 may be performed by linked PDCCH identification manager 1025 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 1710, the method may include: a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in the random access procedure is received via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure. Operations of 1710 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1710 may be performed by PDCCH order manager 1030 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 1715, the method may include: an indication is received that a first TCI state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state is associated with a first CORESET ID and a second TCI state is associated with a second CORESET ID lower than the first CORESET ID. The operations of 1715 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1715 may be performed by the TCI indicator manager 1040 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 1720, the method may include: the random access procedure is performed using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state. Operations of 1720 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1720 may be performed by random access procedure manager 1035 as described with reference to fig. 10.

Fig. 18 shows a flow chart illustrating a method 1800 of supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method 1800 may be implemented by a UE or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of method 1800 may be performed by UE 115 as described with reference to fig. 1-11. In some examples, the UE may execute a set of instructions to control functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the UE may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the described functionality.

At 1805, the method may include: a control message is received indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The operations of 1805 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1805 may be performed by linked PDCCH identification manager 1025 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 1810, the method may include: a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in the random access procedure is received via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure. The operations of 1810 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1810 may be performed by PDCCH order manager 1030 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 1815, the method may include: the random access procedure is performed using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state. The operations of 1815 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1815 may be performed by random access procedure manager 1035 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 1820, the method may include: the uplink random access message is transmitted in response to the downlink control channel command. Operations of 1820 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1820 may be performed by the uplink random access message manager 1045 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 1825, the method may include: a downlink random access message is received in response to the uplink random access message using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state. Operations of 1825 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1825 may be performed by the downlink random access message manager 1050 as described with reference to fig. 10.

Fig. 19 shows a flow chart illustrating a method 1900 of supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. The operations of method 1900 may be implemented by a UE or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of method 1900 may be performed by UE 115 as described with reference to fig. 1-11. In some examples, the UE may execute a set of instructions to control functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the UE may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the described functionality.

At 1905, the method may include: an indication is received that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The operations of 1905 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1905 may be performed by linked PDCCH identification manager 1025 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 1910, the method may include: a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in the random access procedure is received via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate. Operations of 1910 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1910 may be performed by PDCCH order manager 1030 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 1915, the method may include: the PRACH of the random access procedure associated with the downlink control channel command is transmitted using one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state. The operations of 1915 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 1915 may be performed by random access procedure manager 1035 as described with reference to fig. 10.

Fig. 20 shows a flow chart illustrating a method 2000 of supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method 2000 may be implemented by a UE or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of method 2000 may be performed by UE 115 as described with reference to fig. 1-11. In some examples, the UE may execute a set of instructions to control functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the UE may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the described functionality.

At 2005, the method may include: an indication is received that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The operations of 2005 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2005 may be performed by linked PDCCH identification manager 1025 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 2010, the method may include: a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in the random access procedure is received via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate. Operations of 2010 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2010 may be performed by PDCCH order manager 1030 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 2015, the method may include: a first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate and a second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate are measured. Operations of 2015 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2015 may be performed by PDCCH channel quality measurement manager 1055 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 2020, the method may include: one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state for transmitting the PRACH is selected based on the measured first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate and the measured second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate. Operations of 2020 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2020 may be performed by TCI state selection manager 1060 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 2025, the method may include: the PRACH of the random access procedure associated with the downlink control channel command is transmitted using one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state. The operations of 2025 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2025 may be performed by random access procedure manager 1035 as described with reference to fig. 10.

Fig. 21 shows a flow chart illustrating a method 2100 of supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method 2100 may be implemented by a UE or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of method 2100 may be performed by UE 115 as described with reference to fig. 1-11. In some examples, the UE may execute a set of instructions to control functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the UE may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the described functionality.

At 2105, the method may include: an indication is received that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The operations of 2105 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2105 may be performed by linked PDCCH identification manager 1025 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 2110, the method may include: a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in the random access procedure is received via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate. The operations of 2110 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2110 may be performed by PDCCH order manager 1030 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 2115, the method may include: the PRACH of the random access procedure associated with the downlink control channel command is transmitted using one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state. The operations of 2115 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2115 may be performed by random access procedure manager 1035 as described with reference to fig. 10.

At 2120, the method may include: a QCL assumption is applied in reception of a downlink random access message responsive to the PRACH, wherein the QCL assumption is associated with one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state. The operations of 2120 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2120 may be performed by downlink random access message manager 1050 as described with reference to fig. 10.

Fig. 22 shows a flow chart illustrating a method 2200 of supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method 2200 may be implemented by a base station or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of the method 2200 may be performed by the base station 105 as described with reference to fig. 1-7 and 12-15. In some examples, the base station may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the base station to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the base station may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the described functionality.

At 2205, the method may include: a control message is sent to the UE indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The operations of 2205 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2205 may be performed by linked PDCCH identification manager 1425 as described with reference to fig. 14.

At 2210, the method may include: a downlink control channel command is sent to the UE requesting the UE to participate in the random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure. Operations of 2210 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2210 may be performed by PDCCH order manager 1430 as described with reference to fig. 14.

Fig. 23 shows a flow chart illustrating a method 2300 of supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method 2300 may be implemented by a base station or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of method 2300 may be performed by base station 105 as described with reference to fig. 1-7 and 12-15. In some examples, the base station may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the base station to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the base station may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the described functionality.

At 2305, the method may include: a control message is sent to the UE indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The operations of 2305 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 2305 may be performed by linked PDCCH identification manager 1425 as described with reference to fig. 14.

At 2310, the method may include: a downlink control channel command is sent to the UE requesting the UE to participate in the random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure. Operations of 2310 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 2310 may be performed by PDCCH order manager 1430 as described with reference to fig. 14.

At 2315, the method may include: the random access procedure is performed using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state. Operations of 2315 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 2315 may be performed by the random access procedure manager 1435 as described with reference to fig. 14.

At 2320, the method may include: an uplink random access message is received from the UE in response to the downlink control channel command. The operations of 2320 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2320 may be performed by the uplink random access message manager 1455 as described with reference to fig. 14.

At 2325, the method may include: in response to the uplink random access message, the downlink random access message is sent to the UE using the indicated one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state. The operations of 2325 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2325 may be performed by downlink random access message manager 1450 as described with reference to fig. 14.

Fig. 24 shows a flow chart illustrating a method 2400 of supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method 2400 may be implemented by a base station or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of method 2400 may be performed by base station 105 as described with reference to fig. 1-7 and 12-15. In some examples, the base station may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the base station to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the base station may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the described functionality.

At 2405, the method may include: a control message is sent to the UE indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The operations of 2405 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2405 may be performed by linked PDCCH identification manager 1425 as described with reference to fig. 14.

At 2410, the method may include: a downlink control channel command is sent to the UE requesting the UE to participate in the random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is associated with the random access procedure. Operations of 2410 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2410 may be performed by PDCCH order manager 1430 as described with reference to fig. 14.

At 2415, the method may include: an indication is sent that a first TCI state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first TCI state is associated with a first CORESET ID and a second TCI state is associated with a second CORESET ID lower than the first CORESET ID. The operations of 2415 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2415 may be performed by TCI indicator manager 1440 as described with reference to fig. 14.

Fig. 25 shows a flow chart illustrating a method 2500 of supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method 2500 may be implemented by a base station or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of method 2500 may be performed by base station 105 as described with reference to fig. 1-7 and 12-15. In some examples, the base station may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the base station to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the base station may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the described functionality.

At 2505, the method may include: an indication is sent to the UE that the first downlink control channel candidate and the second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The operations of 2505 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 2505 may be performed by linked PDCCH identification manager 1425 as described with reference to fig. 14.

At 2510, the method may comprise: a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in the random access procedure is sent to the UE via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate. The operations of 2510 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2510 may be performed by PDCCH order manager 1430 as described with reference to fig. 14.

At 2515, the method may comprise: one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is used to receive a PRACH of a random access procedure associated with a downlink control channel command from the UE. The operations of 2515 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2515 may be performed by random access procedure manager 1435 as described with reference to fig. 14.

Fig. 26 shows a flow chart illustrating a method 2600 of supporting downlink control channel repetition for downlink control channel commands in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method 2600 may be implemented by a base station or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of method 2600 may be performed by base station 105 as described with reference to fig. 1-7 and 12-15. In some examples, the base station may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the base station to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the base station may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the described functionality.

At 2605, the method may include: an indication is sent to the UE that the first downlink control channel candidate and the second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first TCI state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second TCI state different from the first TCI state. The operations of 2605 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2605 may be performed by linked PDCCH recognition manager 1425 as described with reference to fig. 14.

At 2610, the method may include: a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in the random access procedure is sent to the UE via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate. Operations of 2610 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2610 may be performed by PDCCH order manager 1430 as described with reference to fig. 14.

At 2615, the method may include: one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state is used to receive a PRACH of a random access procedure associated with a downlink control channel command from the UE. Operations of 2615 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2615 may be performed by random access procedure manager 1435 as described with reference to fig. 14.

At 2620, the method may include: a QCL assumption is applied in transmission of a downlink random access message responsive to the PRACH, wherein the QCL assumption is associated with one of the first TCI state or the second TCI state. The operations of 2620 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation of 2620 may be performed by the downlink random access message manager 1450 as described with reference to fig. 14. The following provides an overview of aspects of the disclosure:

Aspect 1: a method for wireless communication at a UE, comprising: receiving a control message indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first transmission configuration indicator state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second transmission configuration indicator state different from the first transmission configuration indicator state; receiving a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure; and performing the random access procedure using the indicated one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state.

Aspect 2: the method of aspect 1, wherein receiving the downlink control channel command comprises: an indication is received that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first control resource set identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second control resource set identifier that is lower than the first control resource set identifier.

Aspect 3: the method of any of aspects 1-2, wherein receiving the downlink control channel command comprises: an indication is received that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first search space identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second search space identifier that is lower than the first search space identifier.

Aspect 4: the method of any of aspects 1-3, wherein receiving the downlink control channel command comprises: an indication is received that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first transmission configuration indicator state identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second transmission configuration indicator state identifier that is lower than the first transmission configuration indicator state identifier.

Aspect 5: the method of any of aspects 1-4, wherein receiving the downlink control channel command comprises: an indication is received that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first control resource set identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second control resource set identifier that is higher than the first control resource set identifier.

Aspect 6: the method of any of aspects 1-5, wherein receiving the downlink control channel command comprises: an indication is received that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first search space identifier, and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second search space identifier that is higher than the first search space identifier.

Aspect 7: the method of any of aspects 1-6, wherein receiving the downlink control channel command comprises: an indication is received that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first transmission configuration indicator state identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second transmission configuration indicator state identifier that is higher than the first transmission configuration indicator state identifier.

Aspect 8: the method of any one of aspects 1-7, wherein the indicated one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state for the random access procedure is based at least in part on a relative timing of the first downlink control channel candidate and the second downlink control channel candidate.

Aspect 9: the method of any one of aspects 1-8, wherein performing the random access procedure comprises: transmitting an uplink random access message in response to the downlink control channel command; and receiving a downlink random access message in response to the uplink random access message using the indicated one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state.

Aspect 10: the method of aspect 9, wherein receiving the downlink random access message comprises: receiving downlink control information of a scheduling random access response message; and receiving the random access response message via a physical downlink shared channel.

Aspect 11: the method of any of claims 9 to 10, wherein performing the random access procedure comprises: the downlink random access message responsive to the uplink random access message is received using the same beam used to receive the one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate associated with the indicated one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state.

Aspect 12: the method of any one of aspects 1 to 11, wherein the downlink control channel command requests a contention-free random access procedure on a primary cell or a primary secondary cell.

Aspect 13: the method of any of aspects 1-12, wherein receiving the downlink control channel command comprises: the downlink control channel command is received via downlink control information, wherein the downlink control information indicates the one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state to be used for the random access procedure.

Aspect 14: a method for wireless communication at a UE, comprising: receiving an indication that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first transmission configuration indicator state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second transmission configuration indicator state that is different from the first transmission configuration indicator state; receiving a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate; and transmitting a physical random access channel of the random access procedure associated with the downlink control channel command using one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state.

Aspect 15: the method of aspect 14, further comprising: measuring a first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate and a second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate; and selecting one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state for transmitting the physical random access channel based at least in part on the measured first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate and the measured second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate.

Aspect 16: the method of aspect 15, wherein the transmitting the physical random access channel comprises: the physical random access channel is transmitted using a selected one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state.

Aspect 17: the method of any one of aspects 15 to 16, further comprising: receiving a first demodulation reference signal associated with the first downlink control channel candidate, wherein the first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate is measured based at least in part on the first demodulation reference signal; and receiving a second demodulation reference signal associated with the second downlink control channel candidate, wherein the second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate is measured based at least in part on the second demodulation reference signal.

Aspect 18: the method of claim 17, wherein measuring the first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate and the second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate comprises: a first signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio associated with the first demodulation reference signal and a second signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio associated with the second demodulation reference signal are measured.

Aspect 19: the method of any of claims 17-18, wherein measuring the first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate and the second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate comprises: a first reference signal received power associated with the first demodulation reference signal and a second reference signal received power associated with the second demodulation reference signal are measured.

Aspect 20: the method of any one of aspects 15 to 19, further comprising: receiving a first set of coded bits via the first downlink control channel candidate, wherein the first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate is measured based at least in part on the first set of coded bits; and receiving a second set of coded bits via the second downlink control channel candidate, wherein the second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate is measured based at least in part on the second set of coded bits.

Aspect 21: the method of claim 20, wherein measuring the first channel quality of the first downlink control channel candidate and the second channel quality of the second downlink control channel candidate comprises: a first log-likelihood ratio associated with the first set of coded bits and a second log-likelihood ratio associated with the second set of coded bits are measured.

Aspect 22: the method of any one of aspects 14 to 21, further comprising: a quasi co-sited hypothesis is applied in the reception of a downlink random access message responsive to the physical random access channel, wherein the quasi co-sited hypothesis is associated with one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state.

Aspect 23: the method of aspect 22, wherein the receiving the downlink random access message comprises: receiving downlink control information of a scheduling random access response message; and receiving the random access response message via a physical downlink shared channel.

Aspect 24: the method of any of claims 22-23, wherein the quasi co-sited hypothesis is associated with a synchronization signal block associated with the physical random access channel.

Aspect 25: the method of any of aspects 14-24, wherein transmitting the physical random access channel comprises: the physical random access channel is transmitted in one of a first physical random access channel occasion associated with the first transmission configuration indicator state or a second physical random access channel occasion associated with the second transmission configuration indicator state, wherein the first physical random access channel occasion is associated with a first synchronization signal block and the second physical random access channel occasion is associated with a second synchronization signal block.

Aspect 26: the method of any of claims 14 to 25, wherein the downlink control channel command requests a contention-free random access procedure on a primary cell or a primary secondary cell.

Aspect 27: a method for wireless communication at a base station, comprising: transmitting a control message to the UE indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first transmission configuration indicator state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second transmission configuration indicator state different from the first transmission configuration indicator state; and send a downlink control channel command to the UE requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure.

Aspect 28: the method of aspect 27, further comprising: the random access procedure is performed using the indicated one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state.

Aspect 29: the method of aspect 28, wherein performing the random access procedure comprises: receiving an uplink random access message from the UE in response to the downlink control channel command; and sending a downlink random access message to the UE in response to the uplink random access message using the indicated one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state.

Aspect 30: the method of claim 29, wherein performing the random access procedure comprises: in response to the uplink random access message, the downlink random access message is sent using the same beam used to send the one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate associated with the indicated one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state.

Aspect 31: the method of any of aspects 27-30, wherein transmitting the downlink control channel command comprises: an indication is sent that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first control resource set identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second control resource set identifier that is lower than the first control resource set identifier.

Aspect 32: the method of any of aspects 27-31, wherein transmitting the downlink control channel command comprises: an indication is sent that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first search space identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second search space identifier that is lower than the first search space identifier.

Aspect 33: the method of any of aspects 27-32, wherein transmitting the downlink control channel command comprises: an indication is sent that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first transmission configuration indicator state identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second transmission configuration indicator state identifier that is lower than the first transmission configuration indicator state identifier.

Aspect 34: the method of any of aspects 27-33, wherein transmitting the downlink control channel command comprises: an indication is sent that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first control resource set identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second control resource set identifier that is higher than the first control resource set identifier.

Aspect 35: the method of any of aspects 27-34, wherein transmitting the downlink control channel command comprises: an indication is sent that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first search space identifier, and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second search space identifier that is higher than the first search space identifier.

Aspect 36: the method of any of aspects 27-35, wherein transmitting the downlink control channel command comprises: an indication is sent that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first transmission configuration indicator state identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second transmission configuration indicator state identifier that is higher than the first transmission configuration indicator state identifier.

Aspect 37: the method of any of claims 27-36, wherein the indicated one of the first or second transmission configuration indicator states for the random access procedure is based at least in part on relative timing of the first and second downlink control channel candidates.

Aspect 38: the method of any of aspects 27-37, wherein the downlink control channel command requests a contention-free random access procedure on a primary cell or a primary secondary cell.

Aspect 39: the method of any of aspects 27-38, wherein transmitting the downlink control channel command comprises: the downlink control channel command is sent via downlink control information, wherein the downlink control information indicates the one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state to be used for the random access procedure.

Aspect 40: a method for wireless communication at a base station, comprising: transmitting, to a UE, an indication that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first transmission configuration indicator state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second transmission configuration indicator state that is different from the first transmission configuration indicator state; transmitting a downlink control channel command to the UE requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate; and receiving a physical random access channel of the random access procedure associated with the downlink control channel command from the UE using one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state.

Aspect 41: the method of aspect 40, further comprising: transmitting a first demodulation reference signal associated with the first downlink control channel candidate to the UE; and transmitting a second demodulation reference signal associated with the second downlink control channel candidate to the UE.

Aspect 42: the method of any one of aspects 40 to 41, further comprising: a quasi co-sited hypothesis is applied in transmission of a downlink random access message responsive to the physical random access channel, wherein the quasi co-sited hypothesis is associated with one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state.

Aspect 43: the method of aspect 42, wherein the quasi co-sited hypothesis is associated with a synchronization signal block, the synchronization signal block being associated with the physical random access channel.

Aspect 44: the method of any of aspects 40-43, wherein receiving the physical random access channel comprises: the physical random access channel is received in one of a first physical random access channel occasion associated with the first transmission configuration indicator state or a second physical random access channel occasion associated with the second transmission configuration indicator state, wherein the first physical random access channel occasion is associated with a first synchronization signal block and the second physical random access channel occasion is associated with a second synchronization signal block.

Aspect 45: the method of any of aspects 40-44, wherein the downlink control channel command requests a contention-free random access procedure on a primary cell or a primary secondary cell.

Aspect 46: an apparatus for wireless communication at a UE, comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform the method according to any one of aspects 1 to 13.

Aspect 47: an apparatus for wireless communication at a UE, comprising at least one unit to perform the method of any one of aspects 1-13.

Aspect 48: a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a UE, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the method of any one of aspects 1-13.

Aspect 49: an apparatus for wireless communication at a UE, comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform the method according to any one of aspects 14 to 26.

Aspect 50: an apparatus for wireless communication at a UE, comprising at least one means for performing the method of any one of aspects 14-26.

Aspect 51: a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a UE, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the method of any one of aspects 14-26.

Aspect 52: an apparatus, comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform the method according to any one of aspects 27 to 39.

Aspect 53: an apparatus comprising at least one unit for performing the method of any one of aspects 27 to 39.

Aspect 54: a non-transitory computer readable medium storing code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform a method according to any one of aspects 27 to 39.

Aspect 55: an apparatus for wireless communication at a base station, comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform the method according to any one of aspects 40 to 45.

Aspect 56: an apparatus for wireless communication at a base station, comprising at least one unit for performing the method of any one of aspects 40-45.

Aspect 57: a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a base station, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the method of any one of aspects 40-45.

It should be noted that the methods described herein describe possible implementations, and that the operations and steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified, and that other implementations are possible. Further, aspects from two or more methods may be combined.

Although aspects of the LTE, LTE-A, LTE-a Pro or NR system may be described for purposes of example, and LTE, LTE-A, LTE-a Pro or NR terminology may be used in much of the description, the techniques described herein are applicable to areas outside of the LTE, LTE-A, LTE-a Pro or NR network. For example, the described techniques may be applicable to various other wireless communication systems such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, flash-OFDM, and other systems and radio technologies not explicitly mentioned herein.

The information and signals described herein may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

The various illustrative blocks and components described in connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, CPU, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof, designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration).

The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software for execution by a processor, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, the functions described herein may be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwired or a combination of any of these items. Features that implement the functions may also be physically located at various locations including being distributed such that each portion of the functions is implemented at a different physical location.

Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Non-transitory storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, compact Disk (CD) ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transitory medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code elements in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Further, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital Subscriber Line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of computer-readable medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes CD, laser disc, optical disc, digital Versatile Disc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media.

As used herein (including in the claims), an "or" as used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items ending with a phrase such as "at least one of" or "one or more of" indicates an inclusive list, such that a list of at least one of, for example 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). Furthermore, as used herein, the phrase "based on" should not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, example steps described as "based on condition a" may be based on both condition a and condition B without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase "based on" should be interpreted in the same manner as the phrase "based at least in part on" is interpreted.

The term "determining (determine)" or "determining (determining)" includes a wide variety of actions, and thus, "determining" may include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Further, "determining" may include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory), and so forth. Further, "determining" may include parsing, selecting, establishing, and other such similar actions.

In the drawings, similar components or features may have the same reference numerals. Furthermore, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that is used to distinguish between similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description applies to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label without regard to the second reference label or other subsequent reference labels.

The description set forth herein in connection with the appended drawings describes example configurations and is not intended to represent all examples that may be implemented or within the scope of the claims. The term "example" as used herein means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration," rather than "preferred" or "advantageous over other examples. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the described technology. However, the techniques may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the described examples.

The description herein is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication at a User Equipment (UE), comprising:

Receiving a control message indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first transmission configuration indicator state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second transmission configuration indicator state different from the first transmission configuration indicator state;

Receiving a downlink control channel command requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure; and

The random access procedure is performed using the indicated one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the downlink control channel command comprises:

An indication is received that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first control resource set identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second control resource set identifier that is lower than the first control resource set identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the downlink control channel command comprises:

An indication is received that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first search space identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second search space identifier that is lower than the first search space identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the downlink control channel command comprises:

An indication is received that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first transmission configuration indicator state identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second transmission configuration indicator state identifier that is lower than the first transmission configuration indicator state identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the downlink control channel command comprises:

An indication is received that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first control resource set identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second control resource set identifier that is higher than the first control resource set identifier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the downlink control channel command comprises:

an indication is received that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, a first search space identifier, and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second search space identifier that is higher than the first search space identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the downlink control channel command comprises:

An indication is received that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first transmission configuration indicator state identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second transmission configuration indicator state identifier that is higher than the first transmission configuration indicator state identifier.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicated one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state for the random access procedure is based at least in part on relative timing of the first downlink control channel candidate and the second downlink control channel candidate.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the random access procedure comprises:

Transmitting an uplink random access message in response to the downlink control channel command; and

A downlink random access message responsive to the uplink random access message is received using the indicated one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the downlink random access message comprises:

Receiving downlink control information of a scheduling random access response message; and

The random access response message is received via a physical downlink shared channel.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein performing the random access procedure comprises:

The downlink random access message responsive to the uplink random access message is received using the same beam used to receive the one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate associated with the indicated one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the downlink control channel command requests a contention-free random access procedure on a primary cell or a primary secondary cell.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the downlink control channel command comprises:

The downlink control channel command is received via downlink control information, wherein the downlink control information indicates the one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state to be used for the random access procedure.

14. A method for wireless communication at a network entity, comprising:

transmitting a control message to a User Equipment (UE) indicating that a first downlink control channel candidate and a second downlink control channel candidate are linked for downlink control channel repetition, wherein the first downlink control channel candidate is associated with a first transmission configuration indicator state and the second downlink control channel candidate is associated with a second transmission configuration indicator state different from the first transmission configuration indicator state; and

A downlink control channel command is sent to the UE requesting the UE to participate in a random access procedure via at least one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate, the downlink control channel command indicating that one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

16. The method of claim 15, wherein performing the random access procedure comprises:

Receiving an uplink random access message from the UE in response to the downlink control channel command; and

In response to the uplink random access message, a downlink random access message is sent to the UE using the indicated one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein performing the random access procedure comprises:

In response to the uplink random access message, the downlink random access message is sent using the same beam used to send the one of the first downlink control channel candidate or the second downlink control channel candidate associated with the indicated one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein transmitting the downlink control channel command comprises:

an indication is sent that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first control resource set identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second control resource set identifier that is lower than the first control resource set identifier.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein transmitting the downlink control channel command comprises:

An indication is sent that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first search space identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second search space identifier that is lower than the first search space identifier.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein transmitting the downlink control channel command comprises:

an indication is sent that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first transmission configuration indicator state identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second transmission configuration indicator state identifier that is lower than the first transmission configuration indicator state identifier.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein transmitting the downlink control channel command comprises:

An indication is sent that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first control resource set identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second control resource set identifier that is higher than the first control resource set identifier.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein transmitting the downlink control channel command comprises:

An indication is sent that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, a first search space identifier, and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second search space identifier that is higher than the first search space identifier.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein transmitting the downlink control channel command comprises:

An indication is sent that the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with the random access procedure, wherein the first transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a first transmission configuration indicator state identifier and the second transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a second transmission configuration indicator state identifier that is higher than the first transmission configuration indicator state identifier.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the indicated one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state for the random access procedure is based at least in part on relative timing of the first downlink control channel candidate and the second downlink control channel candidate.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the downlink control channel command requests a contention-free random access procedure on a primary cell or a primary secondary cell.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein transmitting the downlink control channel command comprises:

The downlink control channel command is sent via downlink control information, wherein the downlink control information indicates the one of the first transmission configuration indicator state or the second transmission configuration indicator state to be used for the random access procedure.

27. An apparatus for wireless communication at a User Equipment (UE), comprising:

A processor;

A memory coupled with the processor; and

Instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the instructions executable by the processor to receive the downlink control channel command comprise instructions executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

29. An apparatus for wireless communication at a network device, comprising:

A processor;

A memory coupled with the processor; and

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the instructions executable by the processor comprise instructions executable by the processor to: