Configuration of resource elements in demodulation reference signals for channel estimation and data transmission

A wireless communication device comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• receive, via a receiver from a wireless communication node, downlink control information (DCI) indicating whether at least one set of a plurality of sets of resource elements of at least one demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbol, is to be used for transmission that excludes DMRS,
• wherein each of the plurality of sets includes at least one code division multiplex (CDM) group, each of the at least one CDM group including resource elements on which corresponding DMRS ports are multiplexed, and
• when the DCI indicates that an N-th set of the plurality of sets is to be used for the transmission of DMRS, determine that one or more sets preceding the N-th set are to be used for transmission that excludes data.

A wireless communication node, comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• send, via a transmitter to a wireless communication device, downlink control information (DCI) indicating whether at least one set of a plurality of sets of resource elements of at least one demodulation reference signal (DMRS) symbol, is to be used for transmission that excludes DMRS,
• wherein each of the plurality of sets includes at least one code division multiplex (CDM) group, each of the at least one CDM group including resource elements on which corresponding DMRS ports are multiplexed, and
• if the DCI indicates that an N-th set of the plurality of sets is to be used for the transmission of DMRS, the wireless communication device determines that one or more sets preceding the N-th set are to be used for transmission that excludes data.