Abstract: Methods, user equipment (UE), and base stations for reception or transmission of physical downlink control channels (PDCCH) associated with a master node (MN) or with a secondary node (SN) are provided. A method of operating a UE to receive PDCCHs includes receiving an indication for a first number of cells Ncells,MCGcap and for a second number of cells Ncells,SCGcap; and determining a first total number of PDCCH candidates on Ncells,MCGDL,? cells of the MN over a time period according to Ncells,MCGcap and a second total number of PDCCH candidates on Ncells,SCGDL,? cells of the SN over the time period according to Ncells,SCGcap. ? is a subcarrier spacing (SCS) configuration for an active bandwidth part (BWP) on each of the Ncells,MCGDL,? cells or Ncells,SCGDL,? cells.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for a repeated pattern over multiple slots in a wireless communication system. A method of operating a user equipment includes receiving a configuration for search space sets, determining a combination (X, Y), and determining a bitmap for a search space set from the search space sets based on the configuration. Each bit in the bitmap is associated with a slot within a group of X consecutive slots. A physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) reception occasion in a slot is present if the associated bit for the slot in the bitmap has a value of “1” and is absent if the associated bit for the slot in the bitmap has a value of “0”. Bits with a value of “1” are consecutive in the bitmap. The method further includes receiving PDCCHs in PDCCH reception occasions that are indicated as present according to the bitmap.

Abstract: Methods, user equipment (UE), and base stations for reception or transmission of physical downlink control channels (PDCCH) associated with a master node (MN) or with a secondary node (SN) are provided. A method of operating a UE to receive PDCCHs includes receiving an indication for a first number of cells Ncells,MCGcap and for a second number of cells Ncells,SCGcap; and determining a first total number of PDCCH candidates on Ncells,MCGDL,? cells of the MN over a time period according to Ncells,MCGcap and a second total number of PDCCH candidates on Ncells,SCGDL,? cells of the SN over the time period according to Ncells,SCGcap. ? is a subcarrier spacing (SCS) configuration for an active bandwidth part (BWP) on each of the Ncells,MCGDL,? cells or Ncells,SCGDL,? cells.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for multi-cell scheduling with reduced control overhead. A method for receiving physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) includes receiving information for a first group of N1 cells and for a second group of N2 cells, determining a total number of PDCCH receptions in a slot on a scheduling cell based on N1 and on a ratio of N2 over M, and receiving a number of PDCCHs in the slot on the scheduling cell that is not larger than the total number. A PDCCH provides a downlink control information (DCI) format. The DCI format schedules one of: a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) reception, or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission, on one cell from the first group of N1 cells, or PDSCH receptions, or PUSCH transmissions, on a number of cells up to a maximum of M cells from the second group of N2 cells.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) reliability enhancements. A method includes receiving first information for a number of N>1 search space sets. For each of the N search space sets, the first information includes: an index, wherein search space sets are indexed in an ascending order of respective indexes, a periodicity, wherein the periodicity is same for all of the N search space sets, and an indication that the N search space sets are linked for receptions of PDCCHs, wherein the PDCCHs provide identical information. The method further includes determining a number of N PDCCH reception occasions in M?1 slots within a period according to the periodicity. A n-th PDCCH reception occasion from the NPDCCH reception occasions is according to a n-th search space set from the N search space sets. The method further includes receiving N PDCCHs in the N PDCCH reception occasions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for switching of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capabilities in a wireless communication system. A method for operating a user equipment includes receiving information to skip reception of a number of PDCCHs over a number of slots; determining an instruction to receive first PDCCHs in first slots from the number of slots based on a transmission of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) that provides a positive scheduling request (SR) in a first slot that is before the first slots, or skip the reception of the number of PDCCHs in the number of slots based on an absence of transmission of the PUCCH in the first slot; and based on the instruction, receiving the first PDCCHs in the first slots or skipping the reception of the first PDCCHs in the number of slots.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for uplink (UL) channel sounding between bandwidth parts (BWPs). A method for operating a user equipment (UE) includes receiving first information for a set of UL BWPs of a serving cell, wherein the set of UL BWPs includes more than one UL BWP and receiving second information, for each UL BWP from the set of UL BWPs, for sounding reference signal (SRS) resource sets. The method further includes determining, for each UL BWP from the set of UL BWPs, corresponding first SRS resources from the SRS resource sets and transmitting a SRS, in each UL BWP from the set of UL BWPs, using the corresponding first SRS resources.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for cross-carrier scheduling across different discontinuous reception (DRX) groups. A method includes receiving first information for a first and second sets of values for a first set of DRX timers associated with first and second DRX cell groups, respectively; receiving second information, from a first cell, for scheduling on a second cell; and receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on the first cell. The first and second DRX cell groups do not have a common cell. The first and second cells are from the first and second DRX cell groups, respectively. The method further includes determining a first DRX Active time for the first DRX cell group based on the first set of values and the PDCCH reception and determining a second DRX Active time for the second DRX cell group based on the second set of values and the PDCCH reception.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for switching of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring capabilities in a wireless communication system. A method for operating a user equipment includes receiving information to skip reception of a number of PDCCHs over a number of slots; determining an instruction to receive first PDCCHs in first slots from the number of slots based on a transmission of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) that provides a positive scheduling request (SR) in a first slot that is before the first slots, or skip the reception of the number of PDCCHs in the number of slots based on an absence of transmission of the PUCCH in the first slot; and based on the instruction, receiving the first PDCCHs in the first slots or skipping the reception of the first PDCCHs in the number of slots.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) reliability enhancements. A method includes receiving first information for a number of N>1 search space sets. For each of the N search space sets, the first information includes: an index, wherein search space sets are indexed in an ascending order of respective indexes, a periodicity, wherein the periodicity is same for all of the N search space sets, and an indication that the N search space sets are linked for receptions of PDCCHs, wherein the PDCCHs provide identical information. The method further includes determining a number of N PDCCH reception occasions in M?1 slots within a period according to the periodicity. A n-th PDCCH reception occasion from the N PDCCH reception occasions is according to a n-th search space set from the N search space sets. The method further includes receiving N PDCCHs in the N PDCCH reception occasions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for physical downlink data channel (PDCCH) and reference signal (RS) based paging in a wireless communication system. A method includes receiving: a first configuration for a search space set in common search space (CSS), wherein the search space set is for a downlink control information (DCI) format that includes a tracking RS (TRS) availability indication field, wherein the TRS availability indication field in the DCI format provides a bitmap; and a second configuration for a number of TRS resources sets. The method further includes determining a TRS resources set from the number of TRS resources sets associated with a bit from the bitmap, wherein TRS resources from the TRS resources set are present for a time duration based on an associated bit for the TRS resources set in the bitmap; and receiving TRS resources from the number of TRS resources sets that are present.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE), a base station, and a method for receiving physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs). The UE includes a receiver and a processor and is configured to receive a configuration for one or more search space sets (SSS) for reception of PDCCHs. The UE is configured to determine a PDCCH reception occasion according to the configuration of the one or more search space sets. The PDCCH reception occasion is prior to an ON duration of a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle after a second DRX cycle. The UE is also configured to determine an indication to either receive the PDCCHs when the PDCCH reception occasion does not overlap with an extended Active Time of the second DRX cycle or to suspend reception of the PDCCHs when the PDCCH reception occasion overlaps with the extended Active Time of the second DRX cycle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) in RRC_IDLE/INACTIVE state. A method for operating a user equipment (UE) includes receiving a first configuration for CSI-RS/tracking reference signal (TRS) reception occasions for idle/inactive UEs. A CSI-RS/TRS reception occasion includes one or more CSI-RS resources, and each of the one or more CSI-RS resources is associated with a spatial reception parameter. The method further includes receiving a second configuration for a paging occasion (PO). The PO includes a number of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) reception occasions The method further includes receiving an availability indication for one or more CSI-RS/TRS reception occasions from the CSI-RS reception occasions, receiving the one or more CSI-RS/TRS reception occasions in time before the PO; and determining a time or frequency offset based on the one or more CSI-RS/TRS reception occasions.

Abstract: A user equipment, a base station, and a method for determining search space sets for PDCCH monitoring. The UE includes a receiver and a processor and is configured to receive a configuration for search space sets. The configuration includes a first group of search space sets, a second group of search space sets, a first group index for the first group of search space sets, and a second group index for the second group of search space sets. The UE is also configured to determine an indication corresponding to either the first group index or the second group index, and to receive, based on the indication, physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) according to either the first group of search space sets or the second group of search space sets.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for reduced physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring in a wireless communication system. A method for operating a user equipment includes receiving a configuration for one or more search space sets. The one or more search space sets provide parameters for one or more candidate PDCCH receptions. The method includes determining a first number of candidate PDCCH receptions for a first number of more than one consecutive slots. A candidate PDCCH reception is over a number of control channel elements (CCEs). The first number of candidate PDCCH receptions over a corresponding number of CCEs does not exceed a capability corresponding to the first number of more than one consecutive slots for a maximum number of candidate PDCCH receptions over a corresponding maximum number of non-overlapped CCEs. The method further includes receiving the first number of candidate PDCCH receptions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a wireless communication system supporting a semi-static shared spectrum channel access is provided. The method and apparatus comprises: receiving system information carried by downlink channels; identifying a duration of idle period, a fixed frame period, a number of observation slots, and an index; determining a first phase based on a first time period between a starting instance of the idle period and an ending instance of the at least one observation slot, a second phase based on a second time period between the ending instance of the at least one observation slot and an ending instance of the idle period, and a third phase based on a third time period between the ending instance of the idle period and an ending instance of the fixed frame period; and identifying the downlink channels as an idle state in the at least one observation slot.

Abstract: A method for operating a user equipment (UE) includes receiving a configuration for a set of search space sets and receiving a PDCCH that provides a downlink control information (DCI) format. A search space set provides parameters for physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) receptions. The parameters include time-frequency resources of a control resource set (CORESET) for the PDCCH receptions and a group index for the CORESET. The DCI format includes a field providing an indication of a CORESET group index. The method further includes determining based on the indication, a group of search space sets and receiving PDCCHs according to the group of search space sets. The group of search space sets includes each search space set from the set of search space sets that is associated with a CORESET having the CORESET group index.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE), a base station (BS), and a method for managing UE operation in C-DRX. The UE includes a transceiver configured to receive configurations for a drx-onDurationTimer, search space sets for reception of a PDCCH, a first set of CSI-RS resources, SS/PBCH blocks, and a PUCCH resources; and the PDCCH that provides a DCI format including a field indicating whether or not to start the drx-onDurationTimer. A processor is configured to determine an indication by the field to not start the drx-onDurationTimer, and determine reception occasions for the first set of CSI-RS resources during the ON duration. The transceiver is configured to receive the first set of CSI-RS resources or the SS/PBCH blocks during at least one of the reception occasions. The processor is also configured to determine a CSI report based on a reception occasion, which can be transmitted using the PUCCH resource during the ON duration.

Abstract: A UE includes a receiver configured to receive a first configuration for a first CORESET, a second configuration for a reception of a first CSI-RS, and the first CSI-RS. The first configuration includes a first TCI state. The TCI state for a CORESET indicates a set of quasi co-location properties for a PDCCH reception in the CORESET. A PDCCH includes a DCI format. The second configuration includes a first set of REs and the first TCI state. The UE also includes a processor operably connected to the receiver. The processor is configured to compute a first CQI value, based on the first CSI-RS, for a first PDCCH reception in the first CORESET and at least one CQI value based on the first CQI value. The UE further includes a transmitter operably connected to the processor, the transmitter configured to transmit a channel that includes the at least one CQI value.

Abstract: A method of a user equipment (UE) for power saving is provided. The method comprises receiving, from a serving cell, a set of configurations, receiving a power saving signal (PoSS) from a first downlink channel based on the received set of configurations, acquiring a first part of information for power saving from the PoSS, receiving, based on the received set of configurations, a second downlink channel that is a control channel, and acquiring a second part of information for the power saving from the received second downlink channel.