Extending physical downlink control channels

An apparatus for monitoring a downlink control channel in order to enable communication over a plurality of cells in a communication system, the apparatus comprising:

• a transceiver;
• and
• a controller coupled with the transceiver and configured to:
• receive, from a base station via the transceiver, control channel resource information through broadcast signaling, the control channel resource information indicating an orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) symbol and a resource block for the downlink control channel,
• acquire a cell index for a cell, the cell index being defined based on radio resource control (RRC) signaling, and
• monitor the downlink control channel on a common search space based on the OFDM symbol and the resource block defined by the control channel information,
• wherein the control channel resource information is associated with the common search space, and
• wherein the common search space is located on a primary cell among the plurality of cells.

A method for transmitting downlink control information to one user equipment (UE) in order to enable communication over a plurality of cells in a communication system, the method comprising:

• transmitting control channel resource information through broadcast signaling, the control channel resource information indicating an orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) symbol and a resource block for a downlink control channel;
• transmitting a cell index for a cell through radio resource control (RRC) signaling, and
• transmitting the downlink control information on a common search space corresponding to the OFDM symbol and the resource block,
• wherein the control channel resource information is associated with the common search space, and
• wherein the common search space is located on a primary cell among the plurality of cells.

An apparatus for transmitting downlink control information to one user equipment (UE) in order to enable communication over a plurality of cells in a communication system, the apparatus comprising:

• a transceiver;
• and
• a controller coupled with the transceiver and configured to:
• transmit, via the transceiver, control channel resource information through broadcast signaling, the control channel resource information indicating an orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) symbol and a resource block for a downlink control channel;
• transmit a cell index for a cell through radio resource control (RRC) signaling, and
• transmit, via the transceiver, the downlink control information on a common search space corresponding to the OFDM symbol and the resource block,
• wherein the control channel resource information is associated with the common search space, and
• wherein the common search space is located on a primary cell among the plurality of cells.