Base station, terminal, and communication method using indication pattern determined based on configuration regarding feedback for retransmission process

A terminal, comprising:

• reception circuitry, which, in operation, receives an indication pattern determined based on a configuration regarding feedback for a retransmission process, in a signal indicating a number of assignments of data in the retransmission process;
• and
• control circuitry, which, in operation, controls reception of the data based on the indication pattern, wherein
• a predetermined pattern among a plurality of patterns associated with a first candidate value for a value related to the number of assignments of data in a retransmission process in which the feedback is enabled is associated with a second candidate value different from the first candidate value;
• the control circuitry, when the indication pattern included in control information on a retransmission process in which the feedback is disabled indicates the predetermined pattern, determines, based on the control information on the retransmission process in which the feedback is enabled, the value related to the number of assignments of data indicated by the predetermined pattern;
• the signal is a signal indicating a downlink assignment indicator (DAI);
• the plurality of patterns corresponding to a number of bits used for indication of the DAI are respectively associated with a plurality of the first candidate values;
• and
• the at least one of the plurality of patterns is associated with both one of the plurality of first candidate values and the second candidate value.

A communication method, comprising:

• determining, by a base station, an indication pattern based on a configuration regarding feedback for a retransmission process;
• configuring, by the base station, the indication pattern in a signal indicating a number of assignments of data in the retransmission process;
• transmitting, by the base station, the indication pattern in the signal;
• associating, by the base station, at least one of a plurality of patterns associated with a first candidate value for a value related to the number of assignments of data in a retransmission process in which the feedback is enabled, with a second candidate value different from the first candidate value;
• and
• determining, by the base station when indicating that the value related to the number of assignments of data in a retransmission process in which the feedback is disabled is the second candidate value, the at least one of the plurality of patterns is the indication pattern;
• wherein
• the signal is a signal indicating a downlink assignment indicator (DAI);
• the plurality of patterns corresponding to a number of bits used for indication of the DAI are respectively associated with a plurality of the first candidate values;
• and
• the at least one of the plurality of patterns is associated with both one of the plurality of first candidate values and the second candidate value.

A communication method, comprising:

• receiving, by a terminal, an indication pattern determined based on a configuration regarding feedback for a retransmission process in a signal indicating a number of assignments of data in the retransmission process;
• controlling, by the terminal, reception of the data based on the indication pattern;
• associating, by the terminal, a predetermined pattern of a plurality of patterns associated with a first candidate value for a value related to the number of assignments of data in a retransmission process in which the feedback is enabled, with a second candidate value different from the first candidate value;
• and
• when the indication pattern included in control information on a retransmission process in which the feedback is disabled indicates the predetermined pattern, determining, by the terminal, based on the control information on the retransmission process in which the feedback is enabled, the value related to the number of assignments of data indicated by the predetermined pattern;
• wherein
• the signal is a signal indicating a downlink assignment indicator (DAI);
• the plurality of patterns corresponding to a number of bits used for indication of the DAI are respectively associated with a plurality of the first candidate values;
• and
• the at least one of the plurality of patterns is associated with both one of the plurality of first candidate values and the second candidate value.