Linked physical downlink control channel candidate rules

An apparatus for wireless communication at a base station, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• at least one memory coupled with the one or more processors, the one or more processors configured to:
• identify, for a user equipment (UE), a plurality of physical downlink control channel candidates that are associated with each other and used to convey downlink control information, the plurality of physical downlink control channel candidates including at least a first physical downlink control channel candidate in a first transmission time period of the plurality of physical downlink control channel candidates and a last physical downlink control channel candidate in a second transmission time period of the plurality of physical downlink control channel candidates;
• identify, for the UE, a reference timing rule based at least in part on the association between the plurality of physical downlink control channel candidates, the reference timing rule indicating that a reference time is to be determined based at least in part on either the first transmission time period or the second transmission time period;
• transmit, to the UE, one or more instances of the downlink control information among the plurality of physical downlink control channel candidates;
• and
• communicate with the UE based at least in part on the reference time, the reference time being based at least in part on the reference timing rule.

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

• identifying, for a user equipment (UE), a plurality of physical downlink control channel candidates that are associated with each other and used to convey downlink control information, the plurality of physical downlink control channel candidates including at least a first physical downlink control channel candidate in a first transmission time period of the plurality of physical downlink control channel candidates and a last physical downlink control channel candidate in a second transmission time period of the plurality of physical downlink control channel candidates;
• identifying, for the UE, a reference timing rule based at least in part on the association between the plurality of physical downlink control channel candidates, the reference timing rule indicating that a reference time is to be determined based at least in part on either the first transmission time period or the second transmission time period;
• transmitting, to the UE, one or more instances of the downlink control information among the plurality of physical downlink control channel candidates;
• and
• communicating with the UE based at least in part on the reference time, the reference time being based at least in part on the reference timing rule.