Physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) reliability using sidelink

A target user equipment (UE), comprising:

• at least one memory;
• at least one transceiver;
• and
• at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor configured to:
• receive, via the at least one transceiver, from a relay UE over a sidelink channel between the target UE and the relay UE, downlink control information (DCI) for a communication session between the target UE and a network entity, wherein the sidelink channel indicates search space information for a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) between the target UE and the network entity carrying the DCI;
• and
• communicate, via the at least one transceiver, with the network entity using a resource allocation granted by the DCI for a physical downlink channel, a physical uplink channel, or both between the target UE and the network entity based on the DCI and the search space information.

A network entity, comprising:

• at least one memory;
• at least one transceiver;
• and
• at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor configured to:
• transmit, via the at least one transceiver, to a relay user equipment (UE), downlink control information (DCI) for a communication session between the network entity and a target UE and search space information for a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) between the target UE and the network entity, the search space information associated with a resource allocation granted by the DCI for a physical downlink channel, a physical uplink channel, or both between the target UE and the network entity;
• and
• communicate, via the at least one transceiver, with the target UE using the resource allocation granted by the DCI for the physical downlink channel, the physical uplink channel, or both between the target UE and the network entity based on the DCI and the search space information.