Method of and apparatus for pre-coded physical downlink control channel reference signal and blind decoding

A method of receiving a demodulation reference signal in a user equipment of a wireless communication network, wherein the demodulation reference signal is used for demodulating physical downlink control channel signaling, and wherein the physical downlink control channel signaling is embedded in a physical downlink shared channel, and the method comprises:

• receiving the demodulation reference signal from a base station, wherein the demodulation reference signal is included in a control channel element.

A method, in a base station of a wireless communication network, of assisting a user equipment in blind decoding, wherein the method comprises:

• providing the user equipment with blind decoding indication information, the blind decoding indication information including an indication of a search space in which the user equipment performs the blind decoding, wherein the search space comprises a control channel element of a traditional physical downlink control channel and further comprises a control channel element of a pre-coded physical downlink control channel.

A method of blind decoding in a user equipment of a wireless communication network, wherein the method comprises:

• obtaining blind decoding indication information from a base station, the blind decoding indication information including an indication of a search space in which the user equipment performs the blind decoding, wherein the search space comprises a control channel element of a traditional physical downlink control channel and further comprises a control channel element of a pre-coded physical downlink control channel;
• and
• performing the blind decoding in the search space indicated by the blind decoding indication information according to the blind decoding indication information.

A first apparatus for transmitting a demodulation reference signal in a base station of a wireless communication network, the demodulation reference signal being used for demodulating physical downlink control channel signaling, wherein the physical downlink control channel signaling is embedded in a physical downlink shared channel, and the first apparatus comprises:

• a transmitter configured to transmit the demodulation reference signal to a user equipment, wherein the demodulation reference signal is included in a control channel element.

A second apparatus for receiving a demodulation reference signal in a user equipment of a wireless communication network, wherein the demodulation reference signal is used for demodulating physical downlink control channel signaling, and wherein the physical downlink control channel signaling is embedded in a physical downlink shared channel, and the second apparatus comprises:

• a receiver configured to receive the demodulation reference signal from a base station, wherein the demodulation reference signal is included in a control channel element.

A third apparatus, in a base station of a wireless communication network, for assisting a user equipment in blind decoding, wherein the third apparatus comprises:

• a providing device configured to provide the user equipment with blind decoding indication information, the blind decoding indication information including an indication of a search space in which the user equipment performs the blind decoding, wherein the search space comprises a control channel element of a traditional physical downlink control channel and further includes a control channel element of a pre-coded physical downlink control channel.

A fourth apparatus for blind decoding in a user equipment of a wireless communication network, wherein the fourth apparatus comprises:

• an obtaining device configured to obtain blind decoding indication information from a base station, the blind decoding indication information including an indication of a search space in which the user equipment performs the blind decoding, wherein the search space comprises a control channel element of a traditional physical downlink control channel and further includes a control channel element of a pre-coded physical downlink control channel;
• and
• a blinding decoder configured to perform the blind decoding in the search space indicated by the blind decoding indication information according to the blind decoding indication information.