Dynamic padding field to match downlink and uplink downlink control information length

#The technology discussed below relates generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to transmissions of downlink control information (DCI). Embodiments can provide and enable techniques for transmitting/decoding DCI carrying a downlink grant or an uplink grant.

#Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various telecommunication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, and broadcasts. Typical wireless communication systems may employ multiple-access technologies capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., bandwidth, transmit power). Examples of such multiple-access technologies include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) systems.

#These multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless devices to communicate on a municipal, national, regional, and even global level. For example, fifth generation (5G) New Radio (NR) communications technology is envisaged to expand and support diverse usage scenarios and applications with respect to current mobile network generations. In an aspect, 5G communications technology includes enhanced mobile broadband addressing human-centric use cases for access to multimedia content, services and data; ultra-reliable-low latency communications (URLLC) with strict requirements, especially in terms of latency and reliability; and massive machine type communications for a very large number of connected devices and typically transmitting a relatively low volume of non-delay-sensitive information.

#FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a radio access network.

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating an example of a scheduling entity communicating with one or more scheduled entities according to some embodiments.

#FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a wireless communication system supporting MIMO.

#The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

#Aspects of the disclosure relate to communication systems, apparatus and methods which enable or support transmitting/receiving downlink control information (DCI) carrying a downlink grant or an uplink grant. In one example, a method for transmitting downlink control information (DCI) carrying a downlink grant or an uplink grant includes detecting a reference length based on an effective length of a downlink (DL) grant DCI and an effective length of an uplink (UL) grant DCI and calculating a length difference based on the effective DL grant DCI length and the effective UL grant DCI length. A length of a padding field in the DL grant DCI and/or the UL grant DCI is set equal to the calculated length difference such that the lengths of the DL grant DCI and UL grant DCI are both equal to the reference length. Padding bits are inserted in the padding field of the DL grant DCI and/or the UL grant DCI. Thereafter, the DL grant DCI and/or the UL grant DCI is encoded and transmitted to a scheduled entity.

#In another example, a method for decoding downlink control information (DCI) carrying a downlink grant or an uplink grant includes receiving the grant DCI from a scheduling entity, detecting a reference length of the grant DCI based on an effective length of a downlink (DL) grant DCI and an effective length of an uplink (UL) grant DCI, and reading a payload of the grant DCI based on the reference length to determine an identity of the grant DCI as the DL grant DCI or the UL grant DCI. The method further includes detecting if the grant DCI includes a padding field based on the identity of the grant DCI and the effective DL grant DCI length or the effective UL grant DCI length, calculating a length of the padding field if the grant DCI includes the padding field, and decoding padding bits in the padding field according to the calculated padding field length to decode the grant DCI.