Configurable DCI formatting indicator

A wireless device for receiving and interpreting a Downlink Control Information, DCI, message, the wireless device comprising:

• one or more receivers;
• and
• processing circuitry associated with the one or more receivers, the processing circuitry configured to cause the wireless device to:
• receive, from a base station, a configuration of a DCI formatting indicator size, wherein a size of a DCI formatting indicator is equal to the DCI formatting indicator size;
• obtain a configuration of a start time for interpreting DCI messages in accordance with the DCI formatting indicator;
• receive a DCI message from the base station;
• obtain the DCI formatting indicator for the DCI message, wherein the DCI formatting indicator is a configurably sized indicator related to a flexible-interpretation DCI format, wherein the flexible-interpretation DCI format is a DCI format for which bits are interpreted differently based on the DCI formatting indicator;
• and
• interpret the DCI message in accordance with the DCI formatting indicator;
• wherein the processing circuitry is configured to cause the wireless device to receive the DCI message, obtain the DCI formatting indicator, and interpret the DCI message after the start time.

A method performed by a base station for providing Downlink Control Information, DCI, having a flexible-interpretation, the method comprising:

• providing, to a wireless device, a configuration of a DCI formatting indicator size, wherein a size of a DCI formatting indicator is equal to the DCI formatting indicator size;
• providing, to the wireless device, a configuration of a start time for interpreting DCI messages in accordance with the DCI formatting indicator;
• transmitting a DCI message to the wireless device;
• and
• providing, to the wireless device, the DCI formatting indicator for the DCI message, wherein the DCI formatting indicator is a configurably sized indicator related to a flexible-interpretation DCI format, wherein the flexible-interpretation DCI format is a DCI format for which bits are interpreted differently based on the DCI formatting indicator.

A base station for providing Downlink Control Information, DCI, having a flexible-interpretation, the base station comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to cause the base station to:
• provide, to a wireless device, a configuration of a DCI formatting indicator size, wherein a size of a DCI formatting indicator is equal to the DCI formatting indicator size;
• provide, to the wireless device, a configuration of a start time for interpreting DCI messages in accordance with the DCI formatting indicator;
• transmit a DCI message to the wireless device;
• and
• provide, to the wireless device, the DCI formatting indicator for the DCI message, wherein the DCI formatting indicator is a configurably sized indicator related to a flexible-interpretation DCI format, wherein the flexible-interpretation DCI format is a DCI format for which bits are interpreted differently based on the DCI formatting indicator.