Downlink assignment index (DAI) updates for piggyback downlink control information (DCI)

A base station, comprising:

• a processing system configured to:
• determine counter downlink assignment indexes (cDAIs) to be included in a plurality of downlink control information (DCI) to be transmitted, each DCI of a first subset of the plurality of DCI to be transmitted on a control channel of control channels, each DCI of a second subset of the plurality of DCI to be transmitted on a data channel of data channels, each DCI of the first subset of the plurality of DCI scheduling one of the data channels,
• wherein each of the control channels and the data channels is to be transmitted on a cell of a plurality of cells, the determination of the cDAIs being based on an order of the cell, with respect to the plurality of cells, on which each of the cDAIs is to be transmitted;
• generate the control channels and the data channels in accordance with the determination;
• and
• a transmitter configured to transmit the control channels and the data channels.

A user equipment, comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a-counter downlink assignment indexes (cDAIs) to be included in a plurality of downlink control information (DCI), each DCI of a first subset of the plurality of DCI to be received on a control channel of control channels, each DCI of a second subset of the plurality of DCI to be received on a data channel of a plurality of data channels, each DCI of the first subset of the plurality of DCI scheduling one of the data channels,
• wherein each of the control channels and the data channels is to be communicated on a cell of a plurality of cells, the cDAIs being in accordance with an order of the cell, with respect to the plurality of cells, on which each of the cDAIs is to be received;
• and
• a processing system configured to process the control channels and the data channels in accordance with the cDAIs.