Method and apparatus for control channel monitoring behavior in a wireless communication system

A method for a network node, comprising:

• transmitting downlink control information in a first control region via a first link to a user equipment (UE), wherein the first control region is associated with a first configuration;
• receiving a failure recovery request, indicative of a link failure associated with the first link, transmitted by the UE;
• responsive to receiving the failure recovery request, transmitting a response in a second control region via a second link to the UE, wherein the second control region is associated with a second configuration;
• and
• responsive to or after transmitting the response, transmitting one or more downlink transmissions in the second control region.

A communication device, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory comprising processor-executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause performance of operations, the operations comprising:
• at least one of receiving or monitoring a first control region via a first link, wherein the first control region is associated with a first configuration;
• determining a link failure associated with the first link;
• responsive to determining the link failure, transmitting a failure recovery request;
• responsive to transmitting the failure recovery request, at least one of receiving or monitoring a second control region via a second link, wherein the second control region is associated with a second configuration;
• receiving a response in the second control region;
• and
• responsive to or after receiving the response, at least one of receiving or monitoring the second control region.