Downlink control information for multi-layer transmissions

A method of wireless communication at a base station, comprising:

• scheduling a downlink transmission to a first user equipment (UE) and at least one co-scheduled UE, the downlink transmission comprising a first layer for the first UE and at least one other layer for the at least one co-scheduled UE;
• transmitting control information associated with the downlink transmission to the first UE over a control channel, the control information comprising a downlink control information (DCI) message and a companion DCI message, wherein the DCI message comprises first scheduling information for a grant of resources to the first UE in the first layer of the downlink transmission and the companion DCI message comprises second scheduling information for the at least one other layer of the downlink transmission to be used for decoding of the downlink transmission by the first UE;
• and
• transmitting the downlink transmission to the first UE and the at least one co-scheduled UE.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a memory that stores instructions;
• and
• a processor coupled with the memory, wherein the processor and the memory are configured to:
• identify, in a control channel of a downlink transmission, a downlink control information (DCI) message that comprises first scheduling information for a grant of resources to the first UE in a first layer of the downlink transmission;
• identify a companion DCI message that comprises second scheduling information for at least one other layer of the downlink transmission;
• receive the downlink transmission based at least in part on the DCI message;
• and
• decode the downlink transmission based at least in part on the DCI message and the companion DCI message.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a memory that stores instructions;
• and
• a processor coupled with the memory, wherein the processor and the memory are configured to:
• schedule a downlink transmission to a first user equipment (UE) and at least one co-scheduled UE, the downlink transmission comprising a first layer for the first UE and at least one other layer for the at least one co-scheduled UE;
• transmit control information associated with the downlink transmission to the first UE over a control channel, the control information comprising a downlink control information (DCI) message and a companion DCI message, wherein the DCI message comprises first scheduling information for a grant of resources to the first UE in the first layer of the downlink transmission and the companion DCI message comprises second scheduling information for the at least one other layer of the downlink transmission to be used for decoding of the downlink transmission by the first UE;
• and
• transmit the downlink transmission to the first UE and the at least one co-scheduled UE.