System and method for fast single-DCI and multi-DCI mode switching

A non-transitory computer readable medium (NTCRM), comprising:

• program instructions, the program instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:
• receiving signaling including one or more higher layer indices for two or more control resources sets (CORESETs);
• determining whether to operate in a single DCI or multi DCI mode, wherein:
• if different higher layer indices of the one or more higher layer indices are configured for the two or more CORESETs, a multi-DCI mode is determined;
• or
• otherwise, a single-DCI mode is determined;
• and
• receiving one or more DCIs according to the determined DCI mode.

A processor configured to:

• communicate with a cellular network according to a first downlink control information (DCI) mode;
• receive first DCI from the cellular network according to the first DCI mode;
• determine whether different higher layer indices are configured for two or more control resources sets (CORESETs);
• select a second DCI mode, wherein the first DCI mode is different than the second DCI mode, based on the determination, wherein:
• if different higher layer indices are configured for two or more CORESETs, a multi-DCI mode is selected as the second DCI mode;
• or
• otherwise, a single-DCI mode is selected as the second DCI mode;
• and
• receive a DCI from the cellular network according to the second DCI mode.