WO2023050242A1

WO2023050242A1 - Methods, devices and computer storage media for communication

Info

Publication number: WO2023050242A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/121978
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gang Wang; Yukai GAO
Original assignee: Nec Corporation
Priority date: 2021-09-29
Filing date: 2021-09-29
Publication date: 2023-04-06

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, devices and computer storage media for communication. The method comprises in accordance with a determination that one or more Downlink Control Information, DCI, are detected, performing a switching to respective one or more monitoring modes for at least one control channel associated with one or more Transmission Configuration Indicator, TCI, states. In this way, a mechanism of PDCCH monitoring modes for both single-DCI and multi-DCI multi-TRP case can be proposed to achieve flexible and effective PDCCH monitoring.

Description

METHODS, DEVICES AND COMPUTER STORAGE MEDIA FOR COMMUNICATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication, and in particular, to methods, devices and computer storage media for Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) monitoring.

BACKGROUND

In general, there are two multi-Transceiver Point (multi-TRP) downlink transmission schemes: 1. single-DCI multi-TRP (where single PDSCH with different layers transmitted by different TRPs scheduled by a single DCI, namely different layers per TRP) ; 2. multi-DCI multi-TRP (two PDSCHs transmitted by different TRPs scheduled by separate DCI per TRP, namely different TBs per TRP.

SUMMARY

In general, example embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices and computer storage media for PDCCH monitoring.

In a first aspect, there is provided a method. The method comprises in accordance with a determination that one or more DCI are detected, performing a switching to respective one or more monitoring modes for at least one control channel associated with one or more TCI states.

In a second aspect, there is provided a first device. The first device comprises a processor and a memory. The memory is coupled to the processor and stores instructions thereon. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the first device to perform the method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

In a third aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon. The instructions, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform the method according to the first aspect.

It is to be understood that the summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Through the more detailed description of some embodiments of the present disclosure in the accompanying drawings, the above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an example communication network in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;

FIG. 2A to 2E shows a diagram of an example of PDCCH monitoring mode switching in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A to 3D shows a diagram of an example of PDCCH monitoring mode switching in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A to 4F shows a diagram of an example of PDCCH monitoring mode switching in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5A to 5H shows a diagram of an example of PDCCH monitoring mode switching in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of an example method of PDCCH monitoring in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Principle of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. The disclosure described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment, ” “an embodiment, ” “an example embodiment, ” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an example embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

It shall be understood that although the terms “first” and “second” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish functionalities of various elements. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a” , “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” , “comprising” , “has” , “having” , “includes” and/or “including” , when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and/or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and/or combinations thereof.

As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as fifth generation (5G) systems, Long Term Evolution (LTE) , LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) , Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) , High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) , Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) and so on. Furthermore, the embodiments of the present disclosure may be performed according to any generation communication protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Examples of the communication protocols include, but not limited to, the first generation (1G) , the second generation (2G) , 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G) , the fourth generation (4G) , 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G) communication protocols, 5.5G, 5G-Advanced networks, or the sixth generation (6G) networks and/or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a device which is capable of providing or hosting a cell or coverage where terminal devices can communicate. Examples of a network device include, but not limited to, a Node B (NodeB or NB) , an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB) , a next generation NodeB (gNB) , a transmission reception point (TRP) , a remote radio unit (RRU) , a radio head (RH) , a remote radio head (RRH) , an IAB node, a low power node such as a femto node, a pico node, a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) , and the like.

As used herein, the term ‘terminal device’ refers to any device having wireless or wired communication capabilities. Examples of the terminal device include, but not limited to, user equipment (UE) , personal computers, desktops, mobile phones, cellular phones, smart phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) , portable computers, tablets, wearable devices, internet of things (IoT) devices, Ultra-reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC) devices, Internet of Everything (IoE) devices, machine type communication (MTC) devices, device on vehicle for V2X communication where X means pedestrian, vehicle, or infrastructure/network, devices for Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) , Space borne vehicles or Air borne vehicles in Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) including Satellites and High Altitude Platforms (HAPs) encompassing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) , eXtended Reality (XR) devices including different types of realities such as Augmented Reality (AR) , Mixed Reality (MR) and Virtual Reality (VR) , the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) commonly known as a drone which is an aircraft without any human pilot, devices on high speed train (HST) , or image capture devices such as digital cameras, sensors, gaming devices, music storage and playback appliances, or Internet appliances enabling wireless or wired Internet access and browsing and the like. The ‘terminal device’ can further has ‘multicast/broadcast’ feature, to support public safety and mission critical, V2X applications, transparent IPv4/IPv6 multicast delivery, IPTV, smart TV, radio services, software delivery over wireless, group communications and IoT applications. It may also incorporated one or multiple Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) as known as Multi-SIM. The term “terminal device” can be used interchangeably with a UE, a mobile station, a subscriber station, a mobile terminal, a user terminal or a wireless device.

The terminal device or the network device may have Artificial intelligence (AI) or Machine learning capability. It generally includes a model which has been trained from numerous collected data for a specific function and can be used to predict some information.

The terminal or the network device may work on several frequency ranges, e.g., FR1 (410 MHz –7125 MHz) , FR2 (24.25GHz to 71GHz) , frequency band larger than 100GHz as well as Tera Hertz (THz) . It can further work on licensed/unlicensed/shared spectrum. The terminal device may have more than one connections with the network devices under Multi-Radio Dual Connectivity (MR-DC) application scenario. The terminal device or the network device can work on full duplex, flexible duplex and cross division duplex modes.

The embodiments of the present disclosure may be performed in test equipment, e.g., signal generator, signal analyzer, spectrum analyzer, network analyzer, test terminal device, test network device, channel emulator

Although functionalities described herein can be performed, in various example embodiments, in a fixed and/or a wireless network node, in other example embodiments, functionalities may be implemented in a user equipment apparatus (such as a cell phone or tablet computer or laptop computer or desktop computer or mobile IoT device or fixed IoT device) . This user equipment apparatus can, for example, be furnished with corresponding capabilities as described in connection with the fixed and/or the wireless network node (s) , as appropriate. The user equipment apparatus may be the user equipment and/or or a control device, such as a chipset or processor, configured to control the user equipment when installed therein. Examples of such functionalities include the bootstrapping server function and/or the home subscriber server, which may be implemented in the user equipment apparatus by providing the user equipment apparatus with software configured to cause the user equipment apparatus to perform from the point of view of these functions/nodes.

The term “circuitry” used herein may refer to hardware circuits and/or combinations of hardware circuits and software. For example, the circuitry may be a combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuits with software/firmware. As a further example, the circuitry may be any portions of hardware processors with software including digital signal processor (s) , software, and memory (memories) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a terminal device or a network device, to perform various functions. In a still further example, the circuitry may be hardware circuits and or processors, such as a microprocessor or a portion of a microprocessor, that requires software/firmware for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation. As used herein, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (s) or a portion of a hardware circuit or processor (s) and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware.

FIG. 1 shows an example communication network 100 in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. The network 100 includes a terminal device 110 and TRPs 120-1 and 120-2. The terminal device 110 may communicate with both TRPs 120-1 and 120-2 in their serving areas. Hereinafter, the terminal device 110 may also be referred to as “UE 110” , “first device 110” , the TRP 120-1 may also be referred to as “first TRP 120-1” or “TRP1” and the TRP 120-2 may also be referred to as “second TRP 120-1” or “TRP2” .

It is to be understood that the number of network devices and terminal devices is only for the purpose of illustration without suggesting any limitations. The communication network 100 may include any suitable number of network devices and terminal devices adapted for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure.

As described above, for multi-Physical Downlink Shared Channels (PDSCHs) scheduling for multi-Transceiver Points (TRPs) , support a single Downlink Control Information (DCI) field ‘Transmission Configuration Indication (TCI) ’a s in Rel-16 TCI state indication mechanism for multi-TRPs. In this case, a single DCI field ‘Transmission Configuration Indication’ may indicate one or two TCI states associated with a code point for single DCI based multi-TRP mechanism. Alternatively, a single DCI field ‘Transmission Configuration Indication’ indicates only one TCI state associated with a code point for multi-DCI based multi-TRP mechanism.

Furthermore, the support of multi-DCI for multi-TCI states has been discussed. For example, in the communication network 100 as shown in FIG. 1, two PDSCHs transmitted by TRPs 120-1 and 120-2 may be scheduled by separate DCI per TRP.

When a UE is provided with “searchSpaceGroupIdList” , the UE may reset PDCCH monitoring according to search space sets with group index 0, if provided by “searchSpaceGroupIdList” .

A UE can be provided by “searchSpaceSwitchDelay” a number of symbols P_switch where a minimum value of P_switch is provided for UE processing capability 1 and UE processing capability 2 and Subcarrier Space (SCS) configuration μ. UE processing capability 1 for SCS configuration μ applies unless the UE indicates support for UE processing capability 2.

If a UE is provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger-r16” a location of a search space set group switching flag field for a serving cell in a DCI format 2_0, if the UE detects a DCI format 2_0 and a value of the search space set group (SSSG) switching flag field in the DCI format 2_0 is 1, the UE starts monitoring PDCCH according to search space sets with group index 1, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to search space sets with group index 0 (SSSG0) , for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0, and the UE sets the timer value to the value provided by “searchSpaceSwitchTimer-r16” . Furthermore, if the UE detects a DCI format 2_0 and a value of the search space set group switching flag field in the DCI format 2_0 is 1 (SSSG1) , the UE starts monitoring PDCCH according to search space sets with group index 1, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to search space sets with group index 0, for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0, and the UE sets the timer value to the value provided by “searchSpaceSwitchTimer-r16” .

Moreover, as known, the equipment that initiates transmission shall perform the Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) check using "energy detect" . The Operating Channel shall be considered occupied for a slot time of 5μs if the energy level in the channel exceeds the threshold corresponding to the given power level. It shall observe the Operating Channel (s) for the duration of the CCA observation time measured by multiple slot times.

It has been defined that different types may be used for multi-channel channel access, namely Type A and Type B. In Type A, independent enhanced Clear Channel Assessment (eCCA) may be performed for each channel, while in Type B, a primary channel can be identified and eCCA can be performed on the primary channel, while Category 2 (Cat 2) Listen Before Talk (LBT) for other channels in the last observation slot can be performed.

In the present disclosure, for the multi-TRP operation in regions where LBT is mandated on mmWave shared spectrum, considering maximum re-use of the existing channel access methods in New Radio Unlicensed (NR-U) to simplify the UE’s PDCCH monitoring inside COT and guarantee PDCCH detection before channel occupancy indication is obtained by UE, discusses the switching criterion and corresponding behavior for UE’s PDCCH monitoring and detecting according to different search space sets group indication on multiple TRPs/TCI states/beams.

For the multi-TRP operation in regions where LBT is mandated on mmWave shared spectrum, the definition of channel access procedure and consequent eCCA outcome indications such as Channel Occupancy Time (COT) length indication, is necessary to the completeness of specification for NR supporting 60GHz frequency.

Furthermore, for both single-DCI and multi-DCI multi-TRP case, reusing the search space set group switching mechanism is reasonable and feasible way to simply the UE’s DCI monitoring and detecting procedure at least for 120kHz SCS, as well as the case in NR-U wherein UE may monitor PDCCH according to different search space configurations based on UE’s awareness of channel occupancy initiated by a gNB or other conditions. Therefore, it is to be discussed that how to design a mechanism for UE with downlink multi-TRPs operation to monitor PDCCH according to different search space sets group indications and multi-channel channel access methods.

In the solution of the present disclosure, if the UE detects one or more DCI, the UE may perform a switching to respective one or more monitoring modes for at least one PDCCH associated with one or more TCI states/beams. It is to be understood that the term “one or more TCI states” used herein may also be referred to as “one or more TRPs” or “one or more beams” .

In this way, a mechanism of PDCCH monitoring modes for both single-DCI and multi-DCI multi-TRP case can be proposed to achieve flexible and effective PDCCH monitoring.

Principle and implementations of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to FIGs. 2A-5H.

An eNB/gNB may access multiple channels on which transmission (s) are performed, according to one of the Type A or Type B channel access procedures.

For both single-DCI multi-TRP and multi-DCI multi-TRP operation, an eNB/gNB may perform transmission (s) through one or multiple beams/TRPs, the transmission on each beam/TRP should be based on corresponding eCCA procedure. So, for the multi-TRP channel access operation on shared spectrum, it can be treated as the channel access procedure for transmission (s) on multiple channels.

Based on existing configuration for DCI 2_0 in R16 NR-U, DCI 2_0 can be further augmented with multiple COT indications and search space sets group switching indications and other indications carried in a single PDCCH transmitted to a certain UE through a beam corresponding to a TCI state (TRP) for single-DCI multi-TRP cased or carried in each PDCCH transmitted to a certain UE through each beam corresponding to each TCI state (TRP) for multi-DCI multi-TRP case.

Corresponding to each TCI state (TRP/beam) , separate search space sets groups indexed by k (k=0, …, K-1, where K is the number of search space sets groups for each TCI state (TRP/beam) may be predefined as RRC semi-static configuration or be dynamically indicated based on all search space sets, according to the same or different method on the same or different Control Resource Set (CORESET) (independent, partly overlapped or overlapped) . For a search space sets groups related to certain TCI state i (TRP i) (i=1, …, M, where M is the number of TCI states (TRPs) ) , it may be tagged by k-i. For example, search space sets groups tag 0-1 refers to the search space sets with group index 0 for TCI state 1 (TRP 1/beam 1) . For all cases in the embodiments in the present disclosure, K=2 can be taken as an example unless stated otherwise in the present disclosure.

In general, different search space sets groups may correspond to different search space sets configuration granularity in time domain (and maybe also in frequency domain at the same time) , and normally means different behavior, strategy and payload for a UE to monitor PDCCH.

An enhancement for the search space sets group switching delay can be defined as below for high frequency (counted in symbol with corresponding SCS) :

Table 1: search space sets group switching delay

For the channel occupancy initiated by gNB/UE for DL/UL transmission with eCCA/LBT procedure, at least the following procedures may be performed, namely the Cat 4 LBT procedure may be similar to the Type 1 UL/DL channel access procedure or the Cat 2 LBT procedure may be similar to the Type 2/2A/2B/2C UL/DL channel access procedures.

In some embodiments, for the single-DCI multi-TRP case with Type A multi-channel channel access procedure, based on eCCAs outcomes on multi-TRP and enhanced single-DCI information, a search space sets group switching method and corresponding UE behavior for monitoring PDCCH (s) on multi-TRP according to different search space sets group indications can be proposed.

For the single-DCI multi-TRP case with Type A multi-channel channel access, firstly gNB shall perform independent eCCAs on all beams directions corresponding to intended PDCCH transmissions for every TCI states (TRPs/beams) with separate procedures and transmit the DC which is subject to the outcomes of eCCAs.

If the eCCA procedure for an intended PDCCH transmission corresponding to TCI state (TRP) i among M TCI states (TRPs) is completed firstly, the gNB can transmit a single DCI through a beam corresponding to this TCI state (TRP) i; else if the eCCA procedures for multiple TCI states (TRPs) or all TCI states (TRPs) are completed at the same time, the gNB shall randomly select a TCI state (TRP) i among these multiple or all TCI states (TRPs) and transmit the DCI through a beam corresponding to this TCI state (TRP) i. The search space set group switching flag i in a DCI format 2_0 corresponding to TCI state i is set to 1 and the other flag (s) corresponding to other state (s) is set to 0.

In some embodiments, if a UE is provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” , an allocation of search space set group switching flags field for a serving cell in a DCI format 2_0, if the UE detects a DCI format 2_0 and all M values of the search space set group switching flags field in the DCI format 2_0 are 0 corresponding to the all TCI states, the UE starts monitoring PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to all TCI states, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to any TCI state, for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0 corresponding to a TCI state i.

In some embodiments, if a UE is provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” , an allocation of search space set group switching flags field for a serving cell in a DCI format 2_0, if the UE detects a DCI format 2_0 and M values of the search space set group switching flags field in the DCI format 2_0 are one 1 corresponding to one TCI state i and M-1 0 corresponding to the other M-1 TCI states, the UE starts monitoring PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to TCI state i, for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0, and the UE sets the value of timer corresponding to TCI state i to value provided by “searchSpaceSwitchTimer” , and stops monitoring PDCCHs corresponding to the other TCI states except TCI state i after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0.

In some embodiments, if a UE is provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” , an allocation of search space set group switching flags field for a serving cell in a DCI format 2_0, if the UE monitors PDCCH for a serving cell according to search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, the UE starts monitoring PDCCH for the serving cell according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to TCI state i, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, and starts monitoring other PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to the other TCI states except state i respectively, for the serving cell at the beginning of the first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after a slot where the monitoring mode switching timer corresponding to TCI state i expires or after a last symbol of a remaining channel occupancy duration for the serving cell that is indicated by DCI format 2_0 corresponding to TCI state i.

It is to be understood that the terms “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” used herein may also be referred to as a monitoring mode switching trigger for monitoring at least one PDCCH.

In some embodiments, if a UE is not provided “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” for a serving cell, if the UE detects a DCI format by monitoring PDCCH according to a search space set with group index 0 corresponding to TCI state i, the UE starts monitoring PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to TCI state i, for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format, the UE sets the value of the monitoring mode switching timer corresponding to TCI state i to the value provided by “searchSpaceSwitchingTimer” if the UE detects a DCI format by monitoring PDCCH in any search space set corresponding to TCI state i (TRP i) , and stops monitoring PDCCH corresponding to the other TCI states except TCI state i after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format.

In some embodiments, if a UE is not provided “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” for a serving cell, if the UE monitors PDCCH on a serving cell according to search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, the UE starts monitoring PDCCH on the serving cell according to search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to TCI state i, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, and starts monitoring other PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to the other TCI states except state i respectively, for the serving cell at the beginning of the first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after a slot where the monitoring mode switching timer corresponding to TCI state i expires or, if the UE is provided a search space set group to monitor PDCCH for detecting a DCI format 2_0 corresponding to TCI state i, after a last symbol of a remaining channel occupancy duration for the serving cell that is indicated by DCI format 2_0 corresponding to TCI state i.

In some embodiments, if the sensing/transmission beam corresponding to TCI state i for PDCCH with single DCI scheduling multiple PDSCH is QCLed with all sensing/transmission beams for PDSCHs corresponding to multiple TCI states/TRPs, or covers all sensing/transmission beams for PDSCHs corresponding to multiple TCI states/TRPs, COT duration indications with same parameters for the transmissions corresponding to multiple TCI states may be indicated by DCI format 2_0 through transmission beam corresponding to TCI state i.

Now the reference is made to FIGs. 2A-2E, which show a diagram of an example of PDCCH monitoring mode switching in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, in a case where Type A multi-channels channel access is performed for acquiring the COT and one or more DCI can be detected on a single PDCCH, if the UE 110 determines DCI indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH associated with TRP1 is detected and the DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first PDCCH, a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be switched to a second monitoring mode, the second monitoring mode may have a different monitoring granularity from the first monitoring mode.

As shown in FIG. 2A, if the UE 110 detects DCI 201 indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH associated with TCI state1 (TRP1) and a monitoring mode switching trigger (for example Flag 1 for the first PDCCH=1 as shown) associated with the first PDCCH is obtained from the DCI 201, a monitoring mode switching timer can be set. The UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the second monitoring mode from the first monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 203 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 202 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a slot 205 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH.

In some embodiments, the UE 110 may stop monitoring the second PDCCH associated with TRP2 which is currently monitored according to the search space sets with group index 0 204 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) .

Alternatively, if the eCCA procedure for an intended PDCCH transmission corresponding to TCI state (TRP) i among M TCI states (TRPs) is completed firstly, the gNB can transmit a single DCI through a beam corresponding to this TCI state (TRP) i; else if the eCCA procedures for multiple TCI states (TRPs) or all TCI states (TRPs) are completed at the same time, the gNB shall randomly select a TCI state (TRP) i among these multiple or all TCI states (TRPs) and transmit the DCI through a beam corresponding to this TCI state (TRP) i. The search space set group switching flag i in a DCI format 2_0 corresponding to TCI state i is set to 1 and the other flag (s) corresponding to other state (s) is set to 2.

In this case, if a UE is provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” , an allocation of search space set group switching flags field for a serving cell in a DCI format 2_0, if the UE detects a DCI format 2_0 and all M values of the search space set group switching flags field in the DCI format 2_0 are 0 or 2 corresponding to the all TCI states, the UE starts monitoring PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to all TCI states, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to the search space sets with

group index

1 or 2 corresponding to any TCI state, for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0 corresponding to TCI state i.

If the UE detects a DCI format 2_0 and M values of the search space set group switching flags field in the DCI format 2_0 are one 1 corresponding to one TCI state i and M-1 0 2 corresponding to the other M-1 TCI states, the UE starts monitoring PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to TCI state i, for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0, and the UE sets the value of monitoring mode switching timer corresponding to TCI state i (TRP i) to the value provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” , and stops monitoring PDCCHs corresponding to the other TCI states except TCI state i after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0.

As shown in FIG. 2B, if the UE 110 detects DCI 201 indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH associated with TRP1 and a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first PDCCH (for example Flag 1 for the first PDCCH=1 as shown) is obtained from the DCI 201, a monitoring mode switching timer can be set. The UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the second monitoring mode from the first monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 203 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 202 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 205 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0 corresponding to TCI state 1..

In some embodiments, the UE 110 may monitor the second PDCCH by switching to the fourth monitoring mode from the third monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 2 206 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) instead of monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 204 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) .

It is to be understood that the search space sets with group index 2 206 can be considered as an empty set.

In some embodiments, in a case where Type A multi-channels channel access is performed for acquiring the COT and one or more DCI can be detected on a single PDCCH, if the UE 110 determines DCI indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH associated with TCI state 1 (TRP1) is detected, a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be switched to a second monitoring mode, the second monitoring mode may have a different monitoring granularity from the first monitoring mode.

As shown in FIG. 2C, if the UE 110 detects DCI 201 transmitted from TRP1, a monitoring mode switching timer can be set. The UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the second monitoring mode from the first monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 203 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 202 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 205 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0 corresponding to TCI state 1.

In some embodiments, in a case where one DCI is detected on a single PDCCH, if the DCI comprising a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with a first PDCCH is detected within a COT on the first PDCCH, a second monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be replaced by a first monitoring mode, the second monitoring mode may have a different monitoring granularity from the first monitoring mode.

As shown in FIG. 2D, if the UE 110 detects DCI 211 comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with a first PDCCH, the UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 202 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 203 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 215 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0 corresponding to a TCI state 1.

In some embodiments, the monitoring on the second PDCCH can also be resumed at a first slot 215 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH . That is, the UE 110 may start monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 204 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) .

In some embodiments, if the monitoring mode switching trigger fails to be detected and a monitoring mode switching timer for the first control channel expires, a second monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be switched to a first monitoring mode, the second monitoring mode may have a different monitoring granularity from the first monitoring mode.

As shown in FIG. 2E, if the monitoring mode switching trigger fails to be detected within the COT acquired on the first PDCCH, the UE may perform the monitoring mode switching when a monitoring mode switching timer for the first control channel expires, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 202 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 203 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 215 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH with the DCI corresponding to a TCI state 1.

In some embodiments, the monitoring on the second PDCCH can also be resumed at a first slot 215 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH with the DCI. That is, the UE 110 may start monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 204 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) .

In some embodiments, if the monitoring mode switching trigger fails to be detected and the COT on the first PDCCH ends, a second monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be switched to a first monitoring mode, the second monitoring mode may have a different monitoring granularity from the first monitoring mode.

As shown in FIG. 2E, if the monitoring mode switching trigger fails to be detected within the COT acquired on the first PDCCH, the UE may perform the monitoring mode switching when the COT acquired on the first PDCCH ends, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 202 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 203 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process after a last symbol of a remaining channel occupancy duration for the serving cell that is indicated by DCI format 2_0.

In some embodiments, the monitoring on the second PDCCH can also be resumed at a first slot 215 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH. That is, the UE 110 may start monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 204 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) .

In some embodiments, for the single-DCI multi-TRP case with Type B multi-channel channel access procedure, based on eCCAs outcomes on multi-TRP and enhanced single-DCI information, a search space sets group switching method and corresponding UE behavior for monitoring PDCCH on multi-TRP according to different search space sets group indications can be proposed.

For the single-DCI multi-TRP case with Type B multi-channels channel access (if specified) , firstly the gNB shall identify a primary channel/TRP corresponding to a certain TCI state i, and perform eCCA on the primary channel/TRP with sensing beam corresponding to the TCI state i, while concurrently perform Cat 2 LBT procedures for other channels/TRPs with sensing beams corresponding to TCI states j (j=1, …, M and j≠ i ) in the last observation slot of sensing duration on primary channel/TRP.

After the eCCA procedure corresponding to TCI state i on the primary channel/TRP is completed, gNB can transmit a single DCI through a beam corresponding to this TCI state (TRP) i. The search space set group switching flag in a DCI format 2_0 through transmission beam corresponding to TCI state i is set to 1, and the other search space set group switching flag (s) in this DCI format 2_0 is set to 0 corresponding to other TCI state (s) .

In some embodiments, if a UE is provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” , an allocation of a search space set group switching flags field for a serving cell in a DCI format 2_0, if the UE detects a DCI format 2_0 and all M values of the search space set group switching flags field in the DCI format 2_0 are 0 corresponding to the all TCI states, the UE starts monitoring PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to all TCI states, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to any TCI state, for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0 through transmission beam corresponding to a TCI state i.

In some embodiments, if a UE is provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” , an allocation of a search space set group switching flags field for a serving cell in a DCI format 2_0, if the UE detects a DCI format 2_0 and M values of the search space set group switching flags field in the DCI format 2_0 are one 1 corresponding to one TCI state i and M-1 0 corresponding to the other M-1 TCI states, the UE starts monitoring PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to TCI state i, for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0, and the UE sets the value of monitoring mode switching timer corresponding to TCI state ito the value provided by “searchSpaceSwitchTimer” , and stops monitoring PDCCHs corresponding to the other TCI states except TCI state i after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0.

In some embodiments, if a UE is provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” , an allocation of a search space set group switching flags field for a serving cell in a DCI format 2_0, if the UE monitors PDCCH for a serving cell according to search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, the UE starts monitoring PDCCH for the serving cell according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to TCI state i, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, and starts monitoring other PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to the other TCI states except state i respectively, for the serving cell at the beginning of the first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after a slot where the monitoring mode switching timer expires or after a last symbol of a remaining channel occupancy duration for the serving cell that is indicated by DCI format 2_0 corresponding to TCI state i .

In some embodiments, if a UE is not provided “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” for a serving cell, if the UE detects a DCI format by monitoring PDCCH according to a search space set with group index 0 corresponding to TCI state i, the UE starts monitoring PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to TCI state i, for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format, the UE sets the value of monitoring mode switching timer corresponding to TCI state ito the value provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” , if the UE detects a DCI format by monitoring PDCCH in any search space set corresponding to TCI state i (TRP) , and stops monitoring PDCCH corresponding to the other TCI states except TCI state i after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format.

In some embodiments, if a UE is not provided “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” for a serving cell, if the UE monitors PDCCH on a serving cell according to search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, the UE starts monitoring PDCCH on the serving cell according to search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to TCI state i, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, and starts monitoring other PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to the other TCI states except state i respectively, on the serving cell at the beginning of the first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after a slot where the monitoring mode switching timer expires or, if the UE is provided a search space set to monitor PDCCH for detecting a DCI format 2_0 corresponding to TCI state i, after a last symbol of a remaining channel occupancy duration for the serving cell that is indicated by DCI format 2_0 through transmission beam corresponding to TCI state i.

If the sensing beam of eCCA procedure for pending PDCCH transmission corresponding to each TCI state (TRP) is QCLed with sensing beam for the related PDSCH corresponding to a TCI state (TRP) , or covers sensing beam for related PDSCH corresponding to a TCI state (TRP) , COT duration indications with same parameters for the transmissions corresponding to multiple TCI states (TRP) may be indicated (subject to the gNB’s Cat 2 LBT allowance (s) corresponding to TCI state (s) (TRP (s) ) except TCI state i (primary channel/TRP) ) by DCI format 2_0 through transmission beam corresponding to TCI state i.

Now the reference is made to FIGs. 3A-3D, which show a diagram of an example of PDCCH monitoring mode switching in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, in a case where Type B multi-channels channel access is performed for acquiring the COT and one or more DCI can be detected on a single PDCCH, if the UE 110 determines DCI indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH associated with TRP1 is detected and the DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first PDCCH, a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be switched to a second monitoring mode, the second monitoring mode may have a different monitoring granularity from the first monitoring mode.

As shown in FIG. 3A, if the UE 110 detects DCI 301 indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH associated with TRP1 and a monitoring mode switching trigger (for example Flag 1 for the first PDCCH=1 as shown) associated with the first PDCCH is obtained from the DCI 301, the value of monitoring mode switching timer can be set to the value provided by searchSpaceSwitchTimer. The UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the second monitoring mode from the first monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 303 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 302 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 305 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH.

In some embodiments, the UE 110 may stop monitoring the second PDCCH associated with TRP2 which is currently monitored according to the search space sets with group index 0 304 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) .

In some embodiments, in a case where Type B multi-channels channel access is performed for acquiring the COT and one or more DCI can be on a single PDCCH, if the UE 110 determines DCI indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH associated with TRP1 is detected, a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be switched to a second monitoring mode, the second monitoring mode may have a different monitoring granularity from the first monitoring mode.

As shown in FIG. 3B, if the UE 110 detects DCI 301 transmitted from TRP1, the value of monitoring mode switching timer can be set to the value provided by searchSpaceSwitchTimer. The UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the second monitoring mode from the first monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 303 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 302 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 305 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0 corresponding to a TCI state 1..

In some embodiments, if the DCI comprising a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with a first PDCCH is detected within a COT on the first PDCCH, a second monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be replaced by a first monitoring mode, the second monitoring mode may have a different monitoring granularity from the first monitoring mode.

As shown in FIG. 3C, if the UE 110 detects DCI 311 comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with a first PDCCH, the UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 302 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 303 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 315 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0 corresponding to a TCI state 1..

In some embodiments, the monitoring on the second PDCCH can also be resumed at a first slot 315 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH. That is, the UE 110 may start monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 204 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) .

As shown in FIG. 3D, if the monitoring mode switching trigger fails to be detected within the COT acquired on the first PDCCH, the UE may perform the monitoring mode switching when a monitoring mode switching timer for the first control channel expires, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 302 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 303 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 315 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH.

As shown in FIG. 3D, if the monitoring mode switching trigger fails to be detected within the COT acquired on the first PDCCH, the UE may perform the monitoring mode switching when the COT acquired on the first PDCCH ends, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 302 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 303 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process after a last symbol of a remaining channel occupancy duration for the serving cell that is indicated by DCI format 2_0 corresponding to TCI state 1.

In some embodiments, the monitoring on the second PDCCH can also be resumed at a first slot 315 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH. That is, the UE 110 may start monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 304 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) .

In some embodiments, for the multi-DCI multi-TRP case with Type A multi-channel channel access procedure, based on eCCAs outcomes on multi-TRP and enhanced multi-DCI information, a search space sets group switching method and corresponding UE behavior for monitoring PDCCH on multi-TRP according to different search space sets group indications can be proposed.

For the multi-DCI multi-TRP case with Type A multi-channel channel access, firstly gNB shall perform independent eCCAs on all beams directions corresponding to intended PDCCH transmissions for every TCI states (TRPs) with separate procedures and transmit the DCI according to the outcomes of eCCAs.

If the eCCA procedure for an intended PDCCH transmission corresponding to a TCI state (TRP) i among M TCI states (TRPs) is completed, gNB can transmit a DCI through a beam corresponding to this TCI state (TRP) i, and the search space set group switching flag in a DCI format 2_0 through transmission beam corresponding to TCI state i is set to 1; otherwise, the search space set group switching flag in a DCI format 2_0 through transmission beam corresponding to TCI state i is set to 0.

In some embodiments, if a UE is provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” , an allocation of search space set group switching flags field for a serving cell in a DCI format 2_0, if the UE detects a DCI format 2_0 and m (m=1, …, M-1) out of M values of the search space set group switching flags field in the DCI format 2_0 are 0 corresponding to m TCI states (TRPs) with successful Cat 2 LBT result (s) , the UE starts monitoring PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to these m TCI states, and stops monitoring PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to these TCI states, for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the PDCCHs with the DCI format 2_0 through transmission beam corresponding to these m TCI states.

In some embodiments, if a UE is provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” , an allocation of search space set group switching flags field for a serving cell in a DCI format 2_0, if the UE detects a DCI format 2_0 and all M values of the search space set group switching flags field in the DCI format 2_0 are 0 corresponding to M TCI states (TRPs) , the UE starts monitoring PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to these M TCI states, and stops monitoring PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to these M TCI states, for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the PDCCHs with the DCI format 2_0 through transmission beam corresponding to these M TCI states.

In some embodiments, if a UE is provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” , an allocation of search space set group switching flags field for a serving cell in a DCI format 2_0, if the UE detects a DCI format 2_0 and at least one of M values of the search space set group switching flags field in the DCI format 2_0 is 1 corresponding to a TCI state (TRP) in TCI state set S1 which includes at least one element, the UE starts monitoring each PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to each TCI state (TRP) , and stops monitoring PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to any TCI state, for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0, and the UE sets the value of monitoring mode switching timer to the value provided by“SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” .

In some embodiments, if a UE is provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” , an allocation of search space set group switching flags field for a serving cell in a DCI format 2_0, if the UE monitors PDCCH for a serving cell according to search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, the UE starts monitoring PDCCH for the serving cell according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to TCI state i, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, for the serving cell at the beginning of the first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after a slot where the monitoring mode switching timer expires or after a last symbol of a remaining channel occupancy duration for the serving cell that is indicated by DCI format 2_0 through transmission beam corresponding to TCI state i.

In some embodiments, if a UE is not provided “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” for a serving cell, if the UE detects m (m=1, …, M) DCI formats by monitoring PDCCHs according to a search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to certain m TCI states (TRPs) , the UE starts monitoring PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to all M TCI states, and stops monitoring PDCCHs according to search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to all M TCI states, for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of each PDCCH with the DCI format corresponding to a TCI state (TRP) i (i=1, …, m) , the UE sets the value of monitoring mode switching timer corresponding to TCI state i to the value provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” if the UE detects a DCI format by monitoring PDCCH in any search space set corresponding to TCI state (TRP) i (i=1, …, m) .

In some embodiments, if a UE is not provided “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” for a serving cell, if the UE monitors PDCCH on a serving cell according to search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, the UE starts monitoring PDCCH on the serving cell according to search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to TCI state i, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, and starts monitoring other PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to the other TCI states except state i respectively if UE will not monitor PDCCH (s) on the serving cell according to any search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to m TCI states (TRPs) with successful Cat 4 LBT outcome (s) , for the serving cell at the beginning of the first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after a slot where the monitoring mode switching timer expires or, if the UE is provided a search space set to monitor PDCCH for detecting a DCI format 2_0 corresponding to TCI state i, after a last symbol of a remaining channel occupancy duration for the serving cell that is indicated by DCI format 2_0 through transmission beam corresponding to TCI state i.

Now the reference is made to FIGs. 4A-4F, which show a diagram of an example of PDCCH monitoring mode switching in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, in a case where Type A multi-channels channel access is performed for acquiring the COT and one or more DCI can be detected on more than one PDCCHs, if the UE 110 determines a first DCI indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH is detected and the first DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first PDCCH, and/or a second DCI indicating a COT is acquired on a second PDCCH is detected and the second DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the second PDCCH, a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be switched to a second monitoring mode, and a third monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the second PDCCH can be switched to a fourth monitoring mode, the second monitoring mode having a different monitoring granularity from the first monitoring mode, the fourth monitoring mode having a different monitoring granularity from the third monitoring mode.

As shown in FIG. 4A, if the UE 110 detects DCI 401 indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH associated with TRP1 and a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first PDCCH is obtained from the DCI 401, the value of monitoring mode switching timer corresponding to multiple TRPs can be set to the value provided by searchSpaceSwitchTimer. The UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the second monitoring mode from the first monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 403 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 402 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 405 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH. The UE 110 may also monitor the second PDCCH by switching to the fourth monitoring mode from the third monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 406 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 404 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 405 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH.

In some embodiments, in a case where Type A multi-channels channel access is performed for acquiring the COT and one or more DCI can be detected on more than one PDCCHs, if the UE 110 determines a first DCI indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH is detected, and/or a second DCI indicating a COT is acquired on a second PDCCH is detected, a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be switched to a second monitoring mode, and a third monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the second PDCCH can be switched to a fourth monitoring mode, the second monitoring mode having a different monitoring granularity from the first monitoring mode, the fourth monitoring mode having a different monitoring granularity from the third monitoring mode.

As shown in FIG. 4B, if the UE 110 detects DCI 401 indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH associated with TRP1, a monitoring mode switching timer can be set. the value of monitoring mode switching timer corresponding to multiple TRPs can be set to the value provided by searchSpaceSwitchTimer. The UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the second monitoring mode from the first monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 403 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 402 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 405 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH. The UE 110 may also monitor the second PDCCH by switching to the fourth monitoring mode from the third monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 406 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) instead of monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 404 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 405 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH corresponding to TCI state 1.

In some embodiments, if the monitoring mode switching triggers associated with both first and the second PDCCH are received, the second monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be replaced by the first monitoring mode, and the fourth monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the second PDCCH can be switched to the third monitoring mode.

As shown in FIG. 4C, if the UE 110 detects monitoring mode switching triggers associated with both first and the second PDCCH, the UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 402 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 403 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may also monitor the second PDCCH by switching to the third monitoring mode from the fourth monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 404 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) instead of monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 406 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 415 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH.

In some embodiments, if a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first PDCCH is received, the second monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be switched to the first monitoring mode.

As shown in FIG. 4D, the UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 402 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 403 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 415 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH.

In some embodiment, the UE 110 may start monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 406 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) at a first slot 415 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH..

In some embodiments, if no monitoring mode switching trigger is received, and a monitoring mode switching timer for the first PDCCH expires or a channel occupancy time acquired on the first PDCCH ends, the second monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be switched to the first monitoring mode.

In some embodiments, the fourth monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the second PDCCH can be switched to the third monitoring mode.

In some embodiments, the UE 110 may keep the fourth monitoring mode for monitoring the second PDCCH.

As shown in FIG. 4E, if no monitoring mode switching trigger is detected by the UE 110 and a monitoring mode switching timer for the first PDCCH expires or a channel occupancy time acquired on the first PDCCH ends, the UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 402 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 403 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) .

The UE 110 may also monitor the second PDCCH by switching to the third monitoring mode from the fourth monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 404 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) instead of monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 406 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) .

If the a monitoring mode switching timer for the first PDCCH expires the UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 415 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH. If the channel occupancy time acquired on the first PDCCH ends, the UE 110 may perform the switching process after a last symbol of a remaining channel occupancy duration for the serving cell that is indicated by DCI format 2_0 corresponding to TCI state 1.

As shown in FIG. 4F, if no monitoring mode switching trigger is detected by the UE 110 and a monitoring mode switching timer for the first PDCCH expires or a channel occupancy time acquired on the first PDCCH ends, the UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 402 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 403 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . If the a monitoring mode switching timer for the first PDCCH expires the UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 415 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH. If the channel occupancy time acquired on the first PDCCH ends, the UE 110 may perform the switching process after a last symbol of a remaining channel occupancy duration for the serving cell that is indicated by DCI format 2_0 corresponding to TCI state 1.

In some embodiment, the UE 110 may perform monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 406 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) .

In some embodiments, for the multi-DCI multi-TRP case with Type B multi-channel channel access procedure, based on eCCAs outcomes on multi-TRP and enhanced multi-DCI information, a search space sets group switching method and corresponding UE behavior for monitoring PDCCH on multi-TRP according to different search space sets group indications can be proposed.

For the multi-DCI multi-TRP case with Type B multi-channels channel access (if specified) , firstly gNB shall identify a primary channel/TRP corresponding to a certain TCI state i, and perform eCCA on the primary channel/TRP with sensing beam corresponding to the TCI state i, while concurrently perform Cat 2 LBT procedures for other channels/TRPs with sensing beams corresponding to TCI states j (j=1, …, M and j≠i ) in the last observation slot of sensing duration on primary channel/TRP.

After the eCCA procedure corresponding to TCI state i on the primary channel/TRP is completed, gNB can transmit a single DCI through a beam corresponding to this TCI state (TRP) i. The search space set group switching flag corresponding to TCI state i in DCI format 2_0 through each transmission beam is set to 1, and the other search space set group switching flag (s) corresponding to other TCI state (s) (TRP (s) ) in the DCI format 2_0 is set to 1 or 0 according to the Cat 2 LBT outcome (s) corresponding to this TCI state (s) (TRP (s) ) .

In some embodiments, if a UE is provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” , an allocation of a search space set group switching flags field for a serving cell in a DCI format 2_0, if the UE detects a DCI format 2_0 and m (m=1, …, M-1) out of M values of the search space set group switching flags field in the DCI format 2_0 are 0 corresponding to m TCI states (TRPs) with successful Cat 2 LBT outcome (s) , the UE starts monitoring PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to these m TCI states, and stops monitoring PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to these TCI states, for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the PDCCHs with the DCI format 2_0 through transmission beams corresponding to these m TCI states.

In some embodiments, if a UE is provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” , an allocation of a search space set group switching flags field for a serving cell in a DCI format 2_0, if the UE detects a DCI format 2_0 and all M values of the search space set group switching flags field in the DCI format 2_0 are 0 corresponding to M TCI states (TRPs) , the UE starts monitoring PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to these M TCI states, and stops monitoring PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to these M TCI states, for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the PDCCHs with the DCI format 2_0 through transmission beam corresponding to these M TCI states.

In some embodiments, if a UE is provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” , an allocation of a search space set group switching flags field for a serving cell in a DCI format 2_0, if the UE detects a DCI format 2_0 and at least one of M values of the search space set group switching flags field in the DCI format 2_0 is 1 corresponding to a TCI state (TRP) in TCI state set S1 which includes at least one element, the UE starts monitoring PDCCH (s) according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state (s) in set S1, and stops monitoring PDCCH (s) according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to TCI state (s) in set S1, for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0, and the UE sets the value of monitoring mode switching timer to the value provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” and stops monitoring PDCCHs corresponding to the other TCI states that does not belong to TCI state set S1 after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0.

In some embodiments, if a UE is provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” , if the UE monitors PDCCH for a serving cell according to search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, the UE starts monitoring PDCCH for the serving cell according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to TCI state i, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, for the serving cell at the beginning of the first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after a slot where the timer expires or, if the UE is provided a search space set to monitor PDCCH for detecting a DCI format 2_0 corresponding to TCI state i, after a last symbol of a remaining channel occupancy duration for the serving cell that is indicated by DCI format 2_0 through transmission beam corresponding to TCI state i.

In some embodiments, If a UE is not provided “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” for a serving cell, if the UE detects m (m=1, …, M) DCI formats by monitoring PDCCHs according to a search space set with group index 0 corresponding to certain m TCI states (TRPs) , the UE starts monitoring PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to m TCI states, and stops monitoring PDCCHs according to search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to m TCI states, for the serving cell at a first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of each PDCCH with the DCI format corresponding to a TCI state (TRP) i (i=1, …, m) , the UE sets the value of monitoring mode switching timer value to the value provided by “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” if the UE detects a DCI format by monitoring PDCCH in any search space set corresponding to TCI state (TRP) i (i=1, …, m) , and stops monitoring PDCCH (s) corresponding to the other TCI states except these m TCI states after the last symbol of the PDCCHs with the DCI format.

In some embodiments, If a UE is not provided “SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger” for a serving cell, if the UE monitors PDCCH on a serving cell according to search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, the UE starts monitoring PDCCH on the serving cell according to search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to TCI state i, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to search space sets with group index 1 corresponding to TCI state i, and starts monitoring other PDCCHs according to the search space sets with group index 0 corresponding to the other TCI states except state i respectively if UE will not monitor PDCCH (s) on the serving cell according to any search space sets with group index 1, for the serving cell at the beginning of the first slot that is at least P_switch symbols after a slot where the monitoring mode switching timer expires or, if the UE is provided a search space set to monitor PDCCH for detecting a DCI format 2_0 corresponding to TCI state i, after a last symbol of a remaining channel occupancy duration for the serving cell that is indicated by DCI format 2_0 through transmission beam corresponding to TCI state i.

If the sensing beam of eCCA procedure for pending PDCCH transmission corresponding to a TCI state (TRP) is QCLed with sensing beam for the related PDSCH corresponding to a TCI state (TRP) , or covers sensing beam for related PDSCH corresponding to a TCI state (TRP) , COT duration indications with same parameters for the transmissions corresponding to multiple TCI states (TRP) may be indicated (subject to the gNB’s Cat 2 LBT allowance (s) corresponding to TCI state (s) (TRP (s) ) by DCI format 2_0 through transmission beam corresponding to each TCI state.

Now the reference is made to FIGs. 5A-5H, which show a diagram of an example of PDCCH monitoring mode switching in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, in a case where Type B multi-channels channel access is performed for acquiring the COT and one or more DCI can be detected on more than one PDCCHs, if the UE 110 determines a first DCI indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH is detected and the first DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first PDCCH, and/or a second DCI indicating a COT is acquired on a second PDCCH is detected and the second DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the second PDCCH, a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be switched to a second monitoring mode, and a third monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the second PDCCH can be switched to a fourth monitoring mode, the second monitoring mode having a different monitoring granularity from the first monitoring mode, the fourth monitoring mode having a different monitoring granularity from the third monitoring mode.

As shown in FIG. 5A, if the UE 110 detects DCI 501 indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH associated with TRP1 and a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first PDCCH is obtained from the DCI 501, the values of the monitoring mode switching timer corresponding to multiple TRPs can be set to the value provided by searchSpaceSwitchTimer. The UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the second monitoring mode from the first monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 503 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 502 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 505 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH. The UE 110 may also monitor the second PDCCH by switching to the fourth monitoring mode from the third monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 506 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 504 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 505 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH.

In some embodiments, in a case where Type B multi-channels channel access is performed for acquiring the COT and one or more DCI can be detected on more than one PDCCHs, if the UE 110 determines a first DCI indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH is detected and the first DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first PDCCH and determines a COT is not acquired on a second PDCCH, a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be switched to a second monitoring mode, the second monitoring mode having a different monitoring granularity from the first monitoring mode. The UE 110 may stop monitoring the second PDCCH associated with TRP2.

As shown in FIG. 5B, if the UE 110 detects DCI 501 indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH associated with TRP1 and a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first PDCCH is obtained from the DCI 501 and determines a COT is not acquired on a second PDCCH, the value of monitoring mode switching timer corresponding to multiple TRPs can be set to the value provided by searchSpaceSwitchTimer. The UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the second monitoring mode from the first monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 503 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 502 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 505 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH.

In some embodiments, the UE 110 may stop monitoring the second PDCCH associated with TRP2 which is currently monitored according to the search space sets with group index 0 504 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) .

In some embodiments, in a case where Type B multi-channels channel access is performed for acquiring the COT and one or more DCI can be detected on more than one PDCCHs, if the UE 110 determines a first DCI indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH is detected, and/or a second DCI indicating a COT is acquired on a second PDCCH is detected, a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be switched to a second monitoring mode, and a third monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the second PDCCH can be switched to a fourth monitoring mode, the second monitoring mode having a different monitoring granularity from the first monitoring mode, the fourth monitoring mode having a different monitoring granularity from the third monitoring mode.

As shown in FIG. 5C, if the UE 110 detects DCI 501 indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH associated with TRP1, the value of monitoring mode switching timer corresponding to multiple TRPs can be set to the value provided by searchSpaceSwitchTimer.. The UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the second monitoring mode from the first monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 503 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 502 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 505 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH. The UE 110 may also monitor the second PDCCH by switching to the fourth monitoring mode from the third monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 506 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 504 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 505 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH.

In some embodiments, in a case where Type B multi-channels channel access is performed for acquiring the COT and one or more DCI can be detected on more than one PDCCHs, if the UE 110 determines a first DCI indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH is detected and determines a COT is not acquired on a second PDCCH, a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be switched to a second monitoring mode, the second monitoring mode having a different monitoring granularity from the first monitoring mode. The UE 110 may stop monitoring the second PDCCH associated with TRP2.

As shown in FIG. 5D, if the UE 110 detects DCI 501 indicating a COT is acquired on a first PDCCH associated with TRP1 and determines a COT is not acquired on a second PDCCH, the value of monitoring mode switching timer corresponding to multiple TRPs can be set to the value provided by searchSpaceSwitchTimer. The UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the second monitoring mode from the first monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 503 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 502 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 505 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH.

In some embodiments, if the DCI comprising a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with a first PDCCH is detected within a COT on the first PDCCH, a second monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be switched to a first monitoring mode, the second monitoring mode may have a different monitoring granularity from the first monitoring mode.

In some embodiments, the UE 110 may keep the fourth monitoring mode for monitoring the second PDCCH or resume a third monitoring mode for monitoring the second PDCCH.

As shown in FIG. 5E, if the UE 110 detects DCI 511 comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with a first PDCCH, the UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 502 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 503 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) . The UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 515 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH.

In some embodiments, if the monitoring on the second PDCCH has been stopped, the monitoring on the second PDCCH can also be resumed at a first slot 515 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH. That is, the UE 110 may start monitoring the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 504 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) .

Alternatively, if the monitoring on the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 505 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) is performed, as shown in FIG. 5F, the UE 110 may keep monitoring on the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 505 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) .

In some embodiments, if no monitoring mode switching trigger associated with a first PDCCH is detected and a monitoring mode switching timer for the first PDCCH expires or a channel occupancy time acquired on the first PDCCH ends, the second monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first PDCCH can be switched to the first monitoring mode.

As shown in FIG. 5G, no monitoring mode switching trigger associated with a first PDCCH is detected and a monitoring mode switching timer for the first PDCCH expires or a channel occupancy time acquired on the first PDCCH ends, the UE 110 may monitor the first PDCCH by switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode, i.e., the UE 110 may start monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 502 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) instead of monitoring the first PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 1 503 corresponding to TCI state 1 (TRP1) .

If the a monitoring mode switching timer for the first PDCCH expires the UE 110 may perform the switching process at a first slot 515 that is at least P_switch symbols after the last symbol of the first PDCCH. If the channel occupancy time acquired on the first PDCCH ends, the UE 110 may perform the switching process after a last symbol of a remaining channel occupancy duration for the serving cell that is indicated by DCI format 2_0 corresponding to TCI state 1.

Alternatively, if the monitoring on the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 505 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) is performed, as shown in FIG. 5H, the UE 110 may keep monitoring on the second PDCCH according to the search space sets with group index 0 505 corresponding to TCI state 2 (TRP2) .

Now the reference is made to FIG. 6, which illustrates a flowchart of an example method 600 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The method 600 can be implemented at a first device 120 as shown in FIG. 1. It is to be understood that the method 600 may include additional blocks not shown and/or may omit some blocks as shown, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

At 610, if the UE determines that one or more DCI are detected, the UE 110 may perform a switching to respective one or more monitoring modes for at least one control channel associated with one or more TCI states.

In some embodiments, one DCI is detected on a single control channel of the at least one control channel and performing the switching comprises in accordance with a determination that DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected and the DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first control channel, performing the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel.

In some embodiments, one DCI is detected on a single control channel of the at least one control channel and performing the switching comprises in accordance with a determination that DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected performing the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises stopping monitoring a second control channel of the at least one control channel.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises performing the switching to a fourth monitoring mode from a third monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor a second control channel of the at least one control channel.

In some embodiments, one DCI is detected on a single control channel of the at least one control channel, performing the switching comprises in accordance with a determination that DCI comprising a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected within a channel occupancy time acquired on the first control channel, performing the switching to a first monitoring mode from a second monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises in accordance with a determination that DCI fails to be detected and a monitoring mode switching timer for the first control channel expires, performing the switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode for the first control channel.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises in accordance with a determination that DCI fails to be detected and the channel occupancy time on the first control channel ends, performing the switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode for the first control channel.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises resuming monitoring a second control channel of the at least one control channel.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises performing the switching to a third monitoring mode from a fourth monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor a second control channel of the at least one control channel.

In some embodiments, the one or more DCI are detected on more than one control channels of the at least one control channel, performing the switching comprises in accordance with a determination that at least one of the following: a first DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected and the first DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first control channel, or a second DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a second control channel of the at least one control channel is detected and the second DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the second control channel, performing the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel and performing the switching to a fourth monitoring mode from a third monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the second control channel.

In some embodiments, the one or more DCI are detected on more than one control channels of the at least one control channel, performing the switching comprises in accordance with a determination that at least one of the following a first DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected, or a second DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a second control channel of the at least one control channel is detected, performing the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel and to a fourth monitoring mode from a third monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the second control channel, .

In some embodiments, the method further comprises in accordance with a determination that monitoring mode switching triggers associated with both first and the second control channels are received, performing the switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode for the first control channel and to the third monitoring mode from the fourth monitoring mode for the second control channel.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises in accordance with a determination that at least one of the following: a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first control channel is received; a monitoring mode switching timer for the first control channel expires; or a channel occupancy time acquired on the first control channel ends; performing the switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode for the first control channel.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises performing the switching to the third monitoring mode from the fourth monitoring mode for the second control channel.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises keeping the fourth monitoring mode for monitoring the second control channel.

In some embodiments, the one or more DCI are detected on more than one control channels of the at least one control channel, performing the switching comprises: in accordance with a determination that a first DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected and the first DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first control channel and a second DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a second control channel of the at least one control channel fails to be detected, performing the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel.

In some embodiments, the one or more DCI are detected on more than one control channels of the at least one control channel, performing the switching comprises: in accordance with a determination that a first DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected and a second DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a second control channel of the at least one control channel fails to be detected, performing the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises stopping monitoring the second control channel.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises in accordance with a determination that at least one of the following: a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first control channel is detected within a channel occupancy time acquired on the first control channel, a monitoring mode switching timer expires; or a channel occupancy time on the first control channel end, performing the switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode for the first control channel.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises resuming monitoring the second control channel.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises in accordance with a determination that a fourth monitoring mode is switched from a third monitoring mode for the second control channel within the channel occupancy time is acquired on the first control channel, keeping the fourth monitoring mode for the second control channel.

Details for channel access in millimeter wave bands according to the present disclosure have been described with reference to FIGs. 2-9. Now an example implementation of the first device 110 will be discussed below. In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to:

In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to in accordance with a determination that one or more DCI are detected, perform a switching to respective one or more monitoring modes for at least one control channel associated with one or more TCI states.

In some embodiments, one DCI is detected on a single control channel of the at least one control channel, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to in accordance with a determination that DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected and the DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first control channel, perform the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel.

In some embodiments, one DCI is detected on a single control channel of the at least one control channel and the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to in accordance with a determination that DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected perform the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to monitor a second control channel of the at least one control channel.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to perform the switching to a fourth monitoring mode from a third monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor a second control channel of the at least one control channel.

In some embodiments, one DCI is detected on a single control channel of the at least one control channel, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to in accordance with a determination that DCI comprising a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected within a channel occupancy time acquired on the first control channel, perform the switching to a first monitoring mode from a second monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to in accordance with a determination that DCI fails to be detected and a monitoring mode switching timer for the first control channel expires, perform the switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode for the first control channel.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to in accordance with a determination that DCI fails to be detected and the channel occupancy time on the first control channel ends, perform the switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode for the first control channel.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to resume monitoring a second control channel of the at least one control channel.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to perform the switching to a third monitoring mode from a fourth monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor a second control channel of the at least one control channel.

In some embodiments, the one or more DCI are detected on more than one control channels of the at least one control channel, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to in accordance with a determination that at least one of the following: a first DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected and the first DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first control channel, or a second DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a second control channel of the at least one control channel is detected and the second DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the second control channel, perform the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel and performing the switching to a fourth monitoring mode from a third monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the second control channel.

In some embodiments, the one or more DCI are detected on more than one control channels of the at least one control channel, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to comprises in accordance with a determination that at least one of the following a first DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected, or a second DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a second control channel of the at least one control channel is detected, perform the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel and to a fourth monitoring mode from a third monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the second control channel.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to in accordance with a determination that monitoring mode switching triggers associated with both first and the second control channels are received, perform the switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode for the first control channel and to the third monitoring mode from the fourth monitoring mode for the second control channel.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to in accordance with a determination that at least one of the following: a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first control channel is received; a monitoring mode switching timer for the first control channel expires; or a channel occupancy time acquired on the first control channel ends; perform the switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode for the first control channel.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to perform the switching to the third monitoring mode from the fourth monitoring mode for the second control channel.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to keep the fourth monitoring mode for monitoring the second control channel.

In some embodiments, the one or more DCI are detected on more than one control channels of the at least one control channel, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to in accordance with a determination that a first DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected and the first DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first control channel and a second DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a second control channel of the at least one control channel fails to be detected, perform the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel.

In some embodiments, the one or more DCI are detected on more than one control channels of the at least one control channel, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to in accordance with a determination that a first DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected and a second DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a second control channel of the at least one control channel fails to be detected, perform the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to stop monitoring the second control channel.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to in accordance with a determination that at least one of the following: a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first control channel is detected within a channel occupancy time acquired on the first control channel, a monitoring mode switching timer expires; or a channel occupancy time on the first control channel end, perform the switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode for the first control channel.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to resume monitoring the second control channel.

In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises circuitry configured to in accordance with a determination that a fourth monitoring mode is switched from a third monitoring mode for the second control channel within the channel occupancy time is acquired on the first control channel, keep the fourth monitoring mode for the second control channel.

FIG. 7 is a simplified block diagram of a device 700 that is suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 700 can be considered as a further example implementation of the first device 110 as shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the device 700 can be implemented at or as at least a part of the first device 110.

As shown, the device 700 includes a processor 710, a memory 720 coupled to the processor 710, a suitable transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) 740 coupled to the processor 710, and a communication interface coupled to the TX/RX 740. The memory 710 stores at least a part of a program 730. The TX/RX 740 is for bidirectional communications. The TX/RX 740 has at least one antenna to facilitate communication, though in practice an Access Node mentioned in this application may have several ones. The communication interface may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements, such as X2 interface for bidirectional communications between eNBs, S1 interface for communication between a Mobility Management Entity (MME) /Serving Gateway (S-GW) and the eNB, Un interface for communication between the eNB and a relay node (RN) , or Uu interface for communication between the eNB and a terminal device.

The program 730 is assumed to include program instructions that, when executed by the associated processor 710, enable the device 700 to operate in accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure, as discussed herein with reference to FIGs. 2A to 6. The embodiments herein may be implemented by computer software executable by the processor 710 of the device 700, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. The processor 710 may be configured to implement various embodiments of the present disclosure. Furthermore, a combination of the processor 710 and memory 720 may form processing means 750 adapted to implement various embodiments of the present disclosure.

The memory 720 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory, as non-limiting examples. While only one memory 720 is shown in the device 700, there may be several physically distinct memory modules in the device 700. The processor 710 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network, and may include one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 700 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. While various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representation, it will be appreciated that the blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

The present disclosure also provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target real or virtual processor, to carry out the process or method as described above with reference to FIGs. 2-5. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These program codes may be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program codes, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions/operations specified in the flowcharts and/or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

The above program code may be embodied on a machine readable medium, which may be any tangible medium that may contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The machine readable medium may be a machine readable signal medium or a machine readable storage medium. A machine readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the machine readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM) , a read-only memory (ROM) , an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory) , an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) , an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Further, while operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrations operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, while several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in the context of separation embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

Although the present disclosure has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

A method comprising:

in accordance with a determination that one or more Downlink Control Information, DCI, are detected, performing a switching to respective one or more monitoring modes for at least one control channel associated with one or more Transmission Configuration Indicator, TCI, states.
The method of Claim 1, wherein one DCI is detected on a single control channel of the at least one control channel, and wherein performing the switching comprises:

in accordance with a determination that DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected and the DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first control channel, performing the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel.
The method of Claim 1, wherein one DCI is detected on a single control channel of the at least one control channel, and wherein performing the switching comprises:

in accordance with a determination that DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected performing the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel.
The method of Claim 2 or 3, further comprising:

stopping monitoring a second control channel of the at least one control channel.
The method of Claim 2 or 3, further comprising:

performing the switching to a fourth monitoring mode from a third monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor a second control channel of the at least one control channel.
The method of Claim 1, wherein one DCI is detected on a single control channel of the at least one control channel, and wherein performing the switching comprises:

in accordance with a determination that DCI comprising a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected within a channel occupancy time acquired on the first control channel, performing the switching to a first monitoring mode from a second monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel.
The method of Claim 6, further comprising:

in accordance with a determination that DCI fails to be detected and a monitoring mode switching timer for the first control channel expires, performing the switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode for the first control channel.
The method of Claim 6, further comprising:

in accordance with a determination that DCI fails to be detected and the channel occupancy time on the first control channel ends, performing the switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode for the first control channel.
The method of any of Claims 6-8, further comprising:

resuming monitoring a second control channel of the at least one control channel.
The method of any of Claims 6-8, further comprising:

performing the switching to a third monitoring mode from a fourth monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor a second control channel of the at least one control channel.
The method of Claim 1, wherein the one or more DCI are detected on more than one control channels of the at least one control channel, and wherein performing the switching comprises:

in accordance with a determination that at least one of the following

a first DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected and the first DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first control channel, or

a second DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a second control channel of the at least one control channel is detected and the second DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the second control channel, performing the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel and performing the switching to a fourth monitoring mode from a third monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the second control channel.
The method of Claim 1, wherein the one or more DCI are detected on more than one control channels of the at least one control channel, and wherein performing the switching comprises:

in accordance with a determination that at least one of the following

a first DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected, or

a second DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a second control channel of the at least one control channel is detected, performing the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel and to a fourth monitoring mode from a third monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the second control channel.
The method of Claim 11 or 12, further comprising:

in accordance with a determination that monitoring mode switching triggers associated with both first and the second control channels are received, performing the switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode for the first control channel and to the third monitoring mode from the fourth monitoring mode for the second control channel.
The method of Claim 11 or 12, further comprising:

in accordance with a determination that at least one of the following:

a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first control channel is received;

a monitoring mode switching timer for the first control channel expires; or

a channel occupancy time acquired on the first control channel ends; performing the switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode for the first control channel.
The method of claim 14, further comprising:

performing the switching to the third monitoring mode from the fourth monitoring mode for the second control channel.
The method of claim 14, further comprising:

keeping the fourth monitoring mode for monitoring the second control channel.
The method of Claim 1, wherein the one or more DCI are detected on more than one control channels of the at least one control channel, and wherein performing the switching comprises:

in accordance with a determination that a first DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected and the first DCI comprises a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first control channel and a second DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a second control channel of the at least one control channel fails to be detected, performing the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel.
The method of Claim 1, wherein the one or more DCI are detected on more than one control channels of the at least one control channel, and wherein performing the switching comprises:

in accordance with a determination that a first DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a first control channel of the at least one control channel is detected and a second DCI indicating a channel occupancy time is acquired on a second control channel of the at least one control channel fails to be detected, performing the switching to a second monitoring mode from a first monitoring mode which is currently used to monitor the first control channel.
The method of Claim 17 or 18, further comprising:

stopping monitoring the second control channel.
The method of Claim 17 or 18, further comprising:

in accordance with a determination that at least one of the following:

a monitoring mode switching trigger associated with the first control channel is detected within a channel occupancy time acquired on the first control channel;

a monitoring mode switching timer expires; or

a channel occupancy time on the first control channel end, performing the switching to the first monitoring mode from the second monitoring mode for the first control channel.
The method of Claim 20, further comprising:

resuming monitoring the second control channel.
The method of Claim 20, further comprising:

in accordance with a determination that a fourth monitoring mode is switched from a third monitoring mode for the second control channel within the channel occupancy time is acquired on the first control channel, keeping the fourth monitoring mode for the second control channel.
A first device, comprising:

a processor configured to:

in accordance with a determination that one or more Downlink Control Information, DCI, are detected, perform a switching to respective one or more monitoring modes for at least one control channel associated with one or more Transmission Configuration Indicator, TCI, states.
A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method of any of claims 1-22.