Method and apparatus for RMSI reception for low cost UEs in NR

A base station (BS) comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• include configuration information for one or two search space sets in a synchronization signal/physical broadcast channel (SS/PBCH) block, and
• include scheduling information for a transmission of a first physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) based on:
• when the configuration information is for the one search space set, a first downlink control information (DCI) format associated with a first search space set from the one or two search space sets, wherein the first DCI format includes the scheduling information for the first PDSCH transmission and for a second PDSCH transmission, and
• when the configuration information is for the two search space sets, a second DCI format associated with a second search space set from the one or two search space sets, wherein the second DCI format includes the scheduling information for the first PDSCH transmission;
• and
• a transceiver operably coupled to the processor, the transceiver configured to:
• transmit the SS/PBCH block, and
• transmit the first PDSCH based on the scheduling information.

A method of a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

• receiving a synchronization signal/physical broadcast channel (SS/PBCH) block that includes configuration information for one or two search space sets;
• determining scheduling information for a reception of a first physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) based on:
• when the configuration information is for the one search space set, a first downlink control information (DCI) format associated with a first search space set from the one or two search space sets, wherein the first DCI format includes the scheduling information for the first PDSCH reception and for a second PDSCH reception, and
• when the configuration information is for the two search space sets, a second DCI format associated with a second search space set from the one or two search space sets, wherein the second DCI format includes the scheduling information for the first PDSCH reception;
• and
• receiving the first PDSCH based on the scheduling information.