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Title:
METHODS AND APPARATUS OF TCI INDICATION AND ACKNOWLEDGE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2022/189857
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are apparatus and methods to operate a communication device (UE) to indicate a TCI state ID or TCI state IDs in a beam. According to an aspect, the gNB can use a DCI format such as DCI format 1_1 or DCI format 1_2 to dedicatedly indicate one or more TCI states to a UE. Such a DCI format is not configured to schedule downlink PDSCH assignment but is dedicated to indicate TCI state(s). In some embodiments, the UE determines whether a received DCI format is a dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication, and transmits a HARQ-ACK information in response to successful reception of a dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication. If a UE receives a dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication correctly, the UE may apply the indicated TCI state(s) on PDCCH/PDSCH reception and/or PUSCH/PUCCH transmission.

Inventors:
GUO LI (US)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2022/000110
Publication Date:
September 15, 2022
Filing Date:
March 08, 2022
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD (CN)
International Classes:
H04W72/04
Domestic Patent References:
WO2020222604A12020-11-05
WO2021022498A12021-02-11
Other References:
LENOVO, MOTOROLA MOBILITY: "Enhancements on Multi-beam Operation", 3GPP DRAFT; R1-2100273, 3RD GENERATION PARTNERSHIP PROJECT (3GPP), MOBILE COMPETENCE CENTRE ; 650, ROUTE DES LUCIOLES ; F-06921 SOPHIA-ANTIPOLIS CEDEX ; FRANCE, vol. RAN WG1, no. e-Meeting; 20210125 - 20210205, 18 January 2021 (2021-01-18), Mobile Competence Centre ; 650, route des Lucioles ; F-06921 Sophia-Antipolis Cedex ; France , XP051970316
SAMSUNG: "Multi-beam enhancements", 3GPP DRAFT; R1-2101186, 3RD GENERATION PARTNERSHIP PROJECT (3GPP), MOBILE COMPETENCE CENTRE ; 650, ROUTE DES LUCIOLES ; F-06921 SOPHIA-ANTIPOLIS CEDEX ; FRANCE, vol. RAN WG1, no. e-Meeting; 20210125 - 20210205, 18 January 2021 (2021-01-18), Mobile Competence Centre ; 650, route des Lucioles ; F-06921 Sophia-Antipolis Cedex ; France , XP051971402
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Claims:
CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. A method of operating a wireless communication device to indicate one or more Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states of a beam, the method comprising: receiving a Downlink Control Information (DCI) format; determining whether the received DCI format is a TCI state indication configured to indicate the one or more TCI states; and upon a determination that the received DCI format is a TCI state indication, decoding the one or more TCI states from the received DCI format. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the DCI format is a DCI format 1_1 or DCI format 1_2. 3. The method any of the preceding claims, wherein the TCI state indication is a dedicated TCI state indication that is not associated with a DL assignment. 4. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the TCI state indication is not configured to schedule a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) transmission. 5. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the act of determining whether the received DCI format is a TCI state indication comprises: (A) determining whether a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the DCI format is scrambled with a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI); (B) determining whether one or more DCI fields in the DCI format have one or more values that meet a preset criteria; and (C) providing a determination the received DCI format is a TCI state indication when a result of act (A) and a result of act (B) are both positive. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein act (A) comprises: determining whether a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the DCI format is scrambled with a Configured Scheduling RNTI (CS-RNTI). 7. The method of claim 5, wherein act (A) comprises: determining whether a CRC of the DCI format is scrambled with a TCI-RNTI.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the TCI-RNTI is dedicated for TCI indication. 9. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more DCI fields in act (B) comprise one or more fields selected from the group consisting of: New data indicator, HARQ process number, Redundancy version, Modulation and coding scheme, and Frequency domain resource assignment. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein act (B) comprises: determining whether the New data indicator field is set to 0. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein act (B) further comprises: determining whether the Redundancy version field is set to all ‘1’s. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein act (B) further comprises: determining whether the Frequency domain resource assignment field is set to all ‘0’s for FDRA Type 0 or all ‘1’ for FDRA Type 1. 13. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising: applying the one or more TCI states to reception and/or transmission with the beam. 14. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising: in response to a determination that the received DCI format is a TCI state indication, transmitting an acknowledgement indicating that the TCI state indication is received correctly. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein transmitting the acknowledgement comprises transmitting an HARQ-ACK. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein transmitting the HARQ-ACK comprises: determining a time location for transmission of the HARQ-ACK based on a time location when the DCI format is received. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein determining the time location for transmission of the HARQ-ACK comprising: determining a time slot n when the last symbol of a PDCCH carrying the DCI format is received; and setting the time location of a PUCCH resource for transmission of the HARQ-ACK based on a time slot of n plus an offset N. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the offset N is indicated by a DCI field. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the DCI field is PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator. 20. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting the HARQ-ACK comprises: determining a time location for an ACK bit in a HARQ-ACK codebook of Type-1 HARQ-ACK codebook based on a virtual PDSCH. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein a time location of the virtual PDSCH is indicated by the Time domain resource assignment DCI field in the DCI format. 22. The method of claim 20, wherein a slot location of the virtual PDSCH is the same as a slot location of the DCI format. 23. The method of any of claims 20-22, wherein the slot location of the virtual PDSCH is further based on higher layer parameter pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch- TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2. 24. The method of any of claims 20-23, wherein a mapping type and startsymbolAndlength of the virtual PDSCH are indicated by the Time domain resource assignment DCI field in the DCI format. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the mapping type and startsymbolAndlength of the virtual PDSCH are further indicated by higher layer parameter pdsch- TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2.

26. The method of any of claims 20-25, wherein a mapping type and startsymbolAndlength of the virtual PDSCH are fixed and pre-specified to be a row of the higher layer parameter pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2. 27. The method of any of claims 20-26, wherein a slot location of the virtual PDSCH is fixed and pre-specified to be a row of the higher layer parameter pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2. 28. The method of any of claims 26-27, wherein the row is a first row. 29. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting the HARQ-ACK comprises: determining a time location for an ACK bit in a HARQ-ACK codebook of Type-2 HARQ-ACK codebook based on a DAI value indicated in the DCI format. 30. A communication device, comprising: a receiving unit adapted to receive a wireless signal comprising a DCI format; and a processor adapted to determine whether the received DCI format is a dedicated DCI- based TCI state indication that is configured to indicate one or more TCI states of a beam in the wireless signal. 31. The communication device of claim 30, wherein the DCI format is a DCI format 1_1 or DCI format 1_2. 32. The communication device of any of claims 30-31, wherein the dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication is not associated with a DL assignment. 33. The communication device of any of claims 30-32, wherein the dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication is not configured to schedule a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) transmission. 34. The communication device of any of claims 30-33, wherein the processor is adapted to determine whether the received DCI format is a dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication by: (A) determining whether a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the DCI format is scrambled with a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI); (B) determining whether one or more DCI fields in the DCI format have one or more values that meet a preset criteria; and (C) providing a determination the received DCI format is a dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication when a result of act (A) and a result of act (B) are both positive. 35. The communication device of claim 34, wherein act (A) comprises: determining whether a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the DCI format is scrambled with a Configured Scheduling RNTI (CS-RNTI). 36. The communication device of claim 34, wherein act (A) comprises: determining whether a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the DCI format is scrambled with a TCI-RNTI. 37. The communication device of claim 36, wherein the TCI-RNTI is dedicated for TCI indication. 38. The communication device of claim 34, wherein the one or more DCI fields in act (B) comprise one or more fields selected from the group consisting of: New data indicator, HARQ process number, Redundancy version, Modulation and coding scheme, and Frequency domain resource assignment. 39. The communication device of claim 38, wherein act (B) comprises: determining whether the New data indicator field is set to 0. 40. The communication device of claim 39, wherein act (B) further comprises: determining whether the Redundancy version field is set to all ‘1’s. 41. The communication device of claim 40, wherein act (B) further comprises: determining whether the Frequency domain resource assignment field is set to all ‘0’s for FDRA Type 0 or all ‘1’ for FDRA Type 1. 42. The communication device of any of claims 30-41, further comprising a sending unit, wherein the processor is further adapted to: in response to a determination that the received DCI format is a dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication, cause the sending unit to transmit a HARQ-ACK indicating that the TCI state indication is received correctly. 43. The communication device of claim 42, wherein the processor is further adapted to: determine a time location for transmission of the HARQ-ACK based on a time location when the DCI format is received. 44. The communication device of claim 43, wherein the processor is further adapted to: determine a time slot n when the last symbol of a PDCCH carrying the DCI format is received; and sett the time location of a PUCCH resource for transmission of the HARQ-ACK based on a time slot of n plus an offset N. 45. The communication device of claim 44, wherein the offset N is indicated by a DCI field. 46. The communication device of claim 45, wherein the DCI field is PDSCH-to- HARQ_feedback timing indicator. 47. The communication device of claim 42, wherein the processor is further adapted to: determine a time location for an ACK bit in a HARQ-ACK codebook of Type-1 HARQ- ACK codebook based on a virtual PDSCH. 48. The communication device of claim 47, wherein a time location of the virtual PDSCH is indicated by the Time domain resource assignment DCI field in the DCI format. 49. The communication device of claim 47, wherein a slot location of the virtual PDSCH is the same as a slot location of the DCI format. 50. The communication device of any of claim 47-39, wherein the slot location of the virtual PDSCH is further based on higher layer parameter pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch- TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2.

51. The communication device of any of claim 47-50, wherein a mapping type and startsymbolAndlength of the virtual PDSCH are indicated by the Time domain resource assignment DCI field in the DCI format. 52. The communication device of any of claim 51, wherein the mapping type and startsymbolAndlength of the virtual PDSCH are further indicated by higher layer parameter pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2. 53. The communication device of any of claim 47-52, wherein a mapping type and startsymbolAndlength of the virtual PDSCH are fixed and pre-specified to be a row of the higher layer parameter pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch- TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2. 54. The communication device of any of claim 47-53, wherein a slot location of the virtual PDSCH is fixed and pre-specified to be a row of the higher layer parameter pdsch- TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2. 55. The communication device of any of claim 47-54, wherein the row is a first row. 56. The communication device of claim 42, wherein the processor is further adapted to: determine a time location for an ACK bit in a HARQ-ACK codebook of Type-2 HARQ- ACK codebook based on a DAI value indicated in the DCI format. 57. A communication device, comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive wireless signals; a sending unit configured to transmit wireless signals; at least one processor; and at least one memory having instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the communication device to perform any of methods 1-29. 58. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer- executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a communication device, controls the processor to perform any of methods 1-29.

Description:
METHODS AND APPARATUS OF TCI INDICATION AND ACKNOWLEDGE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/158,198, filed March 8, 2021, entitled “Methods and Apparatus of TCI Indication,” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No.63/163,286, filed March 19, 2021, entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUS OF TCI INDICATION AND ACKNOWLEDGE,” each which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE [0002] The present application relates to the field of wireless communication. BACKGROUND [0003] In NR/5G wireless communication systems, support is provided for multi-beam operation on downlink and uplink physical channels and reference signals. The use case for supporting multi-beam operation mainly is for deployment of high-frequency band systems, where high-gain analog beamforming is used to combat large path loss. [0004] Signaling may be used to indicate the beam for UE’s transmission of physical channels and reference signals. For example, NR release 15/16 supports the functions of indicating beam used for PDCCH/PDSCH/CSI-RS/PUSCH/SRS/PUCCH through the framework of TCI-state for downlink transmission or spatial relation for uplink transmission. [0005] The following publications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. [0006] 3GPP TS 38.211 V16.1.0: "NR; Physical channels and modulation." [0007] 3GPP TS 38.212 V16.1.0: "NR; Multiplexing and channel coding." [0008] 3GPP TS 38.213 V16.1.0: "NR; Physical layer procedures for control." [0009] 3GPP TS 38.214 V16.1.0: "NR; Physical layer procedures for data." [0010] 3GPP TS 38.215 V16.1.0: "NR; Physical layer measurements." [0011] 3GPP TS 38.321 V16.1.0: "NR; Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol specification." [0012] 3GPP TS 38.331 V16.1.0: "NR; Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol specification." BRIEF SUMMARY [0013] Disclosed herein are apparatus and methods to operate a communication device (UE) to indicate a TCI state ID or TCI state IDs in a beam. According to an aspect, the gNB can use a 8211594.1 DCI format such as DCI format 1_1 or DCI format 1_2 to dedicatedly indicate one or more TCI states to a UE. Such a DCI format is not configured to schedule downlink PDSCH assignment but is dedicated to indicate TCI state(s). In some embodiments, the UE determines whether a received DCI format is a dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication, and transmits a HARQ- ACK information in response to successful reception of a dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication. If a UE receives a dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication correctly, the UE may apply the indicated TCI state(s) on PDCCH/PDSCH reception and/or PUSCH/PUCCH transmission. [0014] Some aspects are directed to a method of operating a wireless communication device to indicate one or more TCI states of a beam. The method may comprise receiving a Downlink Control Information (DCI) format; determining whether the received DCI format is a TCI state indication configured to indicate the one or more TCI states; and upon a determination that the received DCI format is a TCI state indication, decoding the one or more TCI states from the received DCI format. [0015] In some embodiments, the DCI format is a DCI format 1_1 or DCI format 1_2. In some embodiments, the TCI state indication is a dedicated TCI state indication that is not associated with a DL assignment. In some embodiments, the TCI state indication is not configured to schedule a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) transmission. [0016] In some embodiments, the act of determining whether the received DCI format is a TCI state indication comprises: (A) determining whether a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the DCI format is scrambled with a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI); (B) determining whether one or more DCI fields in the DCI format have one or more values that meet a preset criteria; and (C) providing a determination the received DCI format is a TCI state indication when a result of act (A) and a result of act (B) are both positive. [0017] In some embodiments, act (A) comprises determining whether a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the DCI format is scrambled with a Configured Scheduling RNTI (CS-RNTI), and preferably determining whether a CRC of the DCI format is scrambled with a TCI-RNTI. [0018] In some embodiments, act (B) comprise one or more fields selected from the group consisting of: New data indicator, HARQ process number, Redundancy version, Modulation and coding scheme, and Frequency domain resource assignment. [0019] In some embodiments, the method further comprises in response to a determination that the received DCI format is a TCI state indication, transmitting an acknowledgement indicating that the TCI state indication is received correctly. Transmitting the acknowledgement may comprise transmitting an HARQ-ACK, and may comprise determining a time location for transmission of the HARQ-ACK based on a time location when the DCI format is received. [0020] Some aspects are directed to a communication device comprising a receiving unit adapted to receive a wireless signal comprising a DCI format; and a processor adapted to determine whether the received DCI format is a dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication that is configured to indicate one or more TCI states of a beam in the wireless signal. Some aspects are directed to a communication device comprising a receiving unit configured to receive wireless signals; a sending unit configured to transmit wireless signals; at least one processor; and at least one memory having instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the communication device to perform any of methods disclosed herein. [0021] Some aspects are directed to at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a communication device, controls the processor to perform any of methods disclosed herein. [0022] Some aspects are directed to methods of using DCI format 1_1 and 1_2 to indicate TCI state(s). In some embodiments, the methods include determining that a DCI format 1_1 and 1_2 dedicatedly indicate TCI state(s) without scheduling DL assignment. In some embodiments, the methods may include one or more of the following: [0023] Using a special RNTI value to scramble the CRC of the DCI format. This special RNTI may be used to indicate that this DCI format is for TCI indication only. [0024] Some particular DCI fields in the DCI format 1_1 and 1_2 are set to special values. A few exemplary methods relating to this aspect are described in detail below. [0025] One DCI field in the DCI format 1_1 and 1_2 is used to indicate if the DCI format is for TCI indication. [0026] Determining the ACK bit in HARQ-ACK codebook for Type-1 HARQ-ACK codebook. [0027] Determining the ACK bit in HARQ-ACK codebook for Type-2 HARQ-ACK codebook. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0028] Various aspects and embodiments of the disclosure will be described with reference to the following figures. It should be appreciated that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Items appearing in multiple figures are indicated by the same reference number in all the figures in which they appear. In the drawings: [0029] FIG.1 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method 100 of operating a UE to communicate with a beam, in accordance with some embodiments. [0030] FIG.2 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process 204 of determining whether a received DCI format is a TCI state indication, in accordance with some embodiments. [0031] FIG.3 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process 300 of reporting an acknowledgement by the UE, in accordance with some embodiments. [0032] FIG.4 is a schematic diagram of a mobile communication system 1000 to which any of the device and method disclosed above may be applied. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0033] The following is a list of abbreviations that may be found throughout the specification and/or the drawings. 3GPP 3 rd Generation Partnership Project 5G 5 th Generation NR New Radio gNB Next generation NodeB DL Downlink UL Uplink PUSCH Physical Uplink Shared Channel PUCCH Physical Uplink Control Channel PDSCH Physical Downlink Shared Channel PDCCH Physical Downlink Control Channel SRS Sounding Reference Signal CSI Channel state information CSI-RS Channel state information reference signal CSI-IM Channel state information-interference measurement NZP CSI-RS Non-zero-power Channel state information reference signal RS Reference Signal CORESET Control Resource Set DCI Downlink control information TRP Transmission/reception point ACK Acknowledge NACK Non-Acknowledge UCI Uplink control information RRC Radio Resource Control HARQ Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request MAC Media Access Control CRC Cyclic Redundancy Check RNTI Radio Network Temporary Identity CS-RNTI Configured Scheduling-RNTI RB Resource Block PRB Physical Resource Block NW Network RSRP Reference signal received power L1-RSRP Layer 1 Reference signal received power TCI Transmission Configuration Indicator Tx Transmission Rx Receive QCL Quasi co-location SSB SS/PBCH Block PBCH Physical broadcast channel SSS Secondary synchronization signal CRI CSI-RS resource indicator SSBRI SS/PBCH block resource indicator SINR Signal to Interference Noise Ratio L1-SINR Layer 1 Signal to Interference Noise Ratio DMRS Demodulation Reference Signal Introduction [0034] As an introduction, there are several beam indication designs for indicating TCI-states to a UE using higher layer signaling. Beam indication designs may be used for common-beam mode operations to indicate beam characteristics for a single common beam that is reused by multiple channels without the need for repeated control signal signaling to tell UE which beam to assume in subsequent transmission. Beam indication may be used to indicate one or more characteristics such as TCI-states of a common beam for the UE. The common beam may be a beam for multiple uplink channels, downlink channels and reference signals. [0035] For PDCCH and PDSCH, the UE may be configured with M TCI-states in higher layer signaling as the candidate QCL configuration. For each CORESET for PDCCH transmission, the UE can be configured with one or more TCI-states semi-statically and if more than one TCI-states are configured, one MAC CE command is used to activate one of those TCI- states as the active Tx beam for PDCCH transmission. For PDSCH, one MAC CE activation command can activate up to 8 TCI-state and each TCI-state is mapped to one codepoint in the DCI scheduling PDSCH transmission. Then for each individual PDSCH transmission, the NW can dynamically indicate one of those up to 8 TCI-states through the scheduling DCI. [0036] The Tx beam information for CSI-RS transmission may be indicated through a TCI- state configured or indicated to a CSI-RS resource. For a periodic CSI-RS resource, the TCI- state is configured in RRC semi-statically. For a semi-persistent CSI-RS resource, the TCI-state can be configured in RRC semi-statically or indicated in the MAC CE message that activates the transmission of semi-persistent CSI-RS. For an aperiodic CSI-RS resource, the TCI-state is configured to the CSI-RS resource in the configuration of aperiodic CSI-RS trigger state in RRC. Then the gNB can use physical layer signaling to dynamically trigger the transmission of aperiodic CSI-RS transmission and also dynamically indicate the Tx beam information. [0037] For SRS transmission, the UE Tx beam may be configured or indicated through spatial relation info. For periodic SRS transmission, the spatial relation info is configured per SRS resource in RRC semi-statically. For aperiodic SRS transmission, the spatial relation info can be configured in RRC semi-statically in one method. As another method, the NW can use one MAC CE to update/indicate spatial relation info for a SRS resource, which thus provide more dynamic spatial relation info updating. For semi-persistent SRS transmission, the spatial relation info can be included in the MAC CE activation command that activates the transmission of semi-persistent SRS resource. [0038] For PUCCH transmission, the UE Tx beam may be configured through PUCCH spatial relation info. The UE is provided with one or more than one PUCCH spatial relation info configurations in RRCH semi-statically. Then for each PUCCH resource, the UE can be indicated with one PUCCH spatial relation info through a MAC CE activation command. [0039] In release 16, to reduce the number of MAC CE messages for indicating TCI-states for PDCCH and PDSCH, a method of using a single MAC CE message to indicate the same TCI state ID or same set of TCI state IDs for PDCCH or PDSCH in multiple CCs. [0040] The inventor has recognized that there are shortcomings associated with the current approaches of indicating beam used for PDCCH/PDSCH/CSI-RS/PUSCH/SRS/PUCCH through the framework of TCI-state for downlink transmission or spatial relation for uplink transmission. [0041] In NR release 15 and release 16, for PDCCH and PDSCH, the UE may be configured with M TCI-states in higher layer signaling as the candidate QCL configuration. For each CORESET for PDCCH transmission, the UE can be configured with one or more TCI-states semi-statically and if more than one TCI-states are configured, one MAC CE command is used to activate one of those TCI-states as the active Tx beam for PDCCH transmission. For PDSCH, one MAC CE activation command can activate up to 8 TCI-state and each TCI-state is mapped to one codepoint in the DCI scheduling PDSCH transmission. Then for each individual PDSCH transmission, the NW can dynamically indicate one of those up to 8 TCI-states through the scheduling DCI. [0042] The Tx beam information for CSI-RS transmission is indicated through a TCI-state configured or indicated to a CSI-RS resource. For a periodic CSI-RS resource, the TCI-state is configured in RRC semi-statically. For a semi-persistent CSI-RS resource, the TCI-state can be configured in RRC semi-statically or indicated in the MAC CE message that activates the transmission of semi-persistent CSI-RS. For an aperiodic CSI-RS resource, the TCI-state is configured to the CSI-RS resource in the configuration of aperiodic CSI-RS trigger state in RRC. Then the gNB can use physical layer signaling to dynamically trigger the transmission of aperiodic CSI-RS transmission and also dynamically indicate the Tx beam information. [0043] For SRS transmission, the UE Tx beam is configured or indicated through spatial relation info. For periodic SRS transmission, the spatial relation info is configured per SRS resource in RRC semi-statically. For aperiodic SRS transmission, the spatial relation info can be configured in RRC semi-statically, which is one method and another method is the NW can use one MAC CE to update/indicate spatial relation info for a SRS resource, which thus provide more dynamic spatial relation info updating. For semi-persistent SRS transmission, the spatial relation info can be included in the MAC CE activation command that activates the transmission of semi-persistent SRS resource. [0044] For PUCCH transmission, the UE Tx beam is configured through PUCCH spatial relation info. The UE is provided with one or more than one PUCCH spatial relation info configurations in RRCH semi-statically. Then for each PUCCH resource, the UE can be indicated with one PUCCH spatial relation info through a MAC CE activation command. [0045] In the specification for 5G NR Release 16, to reduce the number of MAC CE messages for indicating TCI-states for PDCCH and PDSCH, a method of using a single MAC CE message is used to indicate the same TCI state ID (identification) or a same set of TCI state IDs for PDCCH or PDSCH in multiple CCs. Overview of Dedicated DCI-Based TCI State Indication [0046] The inventor has recognized there are drawbacks to the beam indication designs using higher layer signals such as RRC or MAC CE to indicate beams for each channel or reference signals. For example, the latency and overhead of beam indication operation may be large. In a system with large number of users or high mobility users, very frequent beam switching could consume all the radio resource and thus impair the system performance. [0047] The inventor has recognized and appreciated that a physical-layer signaling based beam indication method can resolve such drawbacks due to the advantage of low signaling overhead and latency of physical layer control signaling. Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to using a dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication to indicate one or more TCI states to a UE that may provide such an advantage. [0048] According to an aspect, the gNB can use a first DCI format to dedicatedly indicate one or more TCI states of a beam to a UE. The first DCI format may be referred to as a TCI state indication. In some embodiments, the first DCI format is not associated with a DL assignment. For example, the first DCI format does not schedule any PDSCH transmission. As such, the use of a DCI format without DL assignment to indicate TCI state(s) can be referred to as using a dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication. Such a dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication may also be referred to as a dedicated TCI state indication, TCI state indication, TCI indication, unified TCI indication, indicating TCI state, etc. [0049] In some embodiments, the first DCI format used as dedicated TCI state indication may be DCI format 1_1 or DCI format 1_2. The gNB can use a first DCI format 1_1 or DCI format 1_2 to dedicatedly indicate one or more TCI states to a UE. The first DCI format 1_1 or DCI format 1_2 does not schedule any PDSCH transmission. [0050] In some embodiments, the dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication may be used to indicate a joint TCI state for both UL and DL, or multiple TCI states such as one for UL, one for DL, while other variations can also be used. [0051] One aspect relates to how the UE identifies a received DCI format as a dedicated TCI state indication. In the 5G NR specification, DCI formats such as 1_1 and 1_2 have otherwise been used for other purposes such as dynamic PDSCH scheduling, SPS scheduling activation, SPS scheduling release. Special designs in the DCI format may be provided to let UE know and verify if a DCI format is dedicated for the purpose of TCI state indication. [0052] FIG.1 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method 100 of operating a UE to communicate with a beam, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown at block 102 of FIG.1, the UE receives a DCI format and at block 104 makes a determination whether the received DCI format is a dedicated TCI state information. Upon a positive determination, the UE at block 106 then decodes one or more TCI states from the DCI format. Method 100 may be part of a common-beam mode operation with a common beam, and the common beam may be a beam for multiple uplink channels, downlink channels and reference signals. [0053] The UE may determine if a received DCI format is a dedicated TCI state indication in any number of ways. In some embodiments, the determination is made based on whether a pattern of criteria is met by the DCI format. In some embodiments, the criteria comprise scrambling of a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the DCI format with an RNTI, such as a CS- RNTI or a TCI-RNTI. In some embodiments, CS-RNTI is reused for purpose of scrambling CRC of the dedicated TCI state indication, such that TCI-RNTI remain available for other purposes. [0054] The criteria for determining if a DCI format is a dedicated TCI state indication may further comprise the existence of one or more specified bits at one or more predetermined DCI fields of the DCI format. [0055] In some embodiments, merely relying on a scrambled CRC may not be sufficient to narrow down the determination that the received DCI format is a dedicated TCI state indication, and the criteria comprises a combination of a CRC scrambled with a RNTI value, and specified bit(s) in one or more DCI fields. Because DCI fields have many existing values for various purposes, in some embodiments, a pattern of specified bit(s) from multiple DCI fields must be matched for the UE to determine the DCI format is a dedicated TCI state indication. [0056] FIG.2 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process 204 of determining whether a received DCI format is a TCI state indication, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown at block 212 of FIG.2, the UE determines whether the CRC of the received DCI format is scrambled with a RNTI value. At block 214, the UE determines if a pattern of specified bit(s) from multiple DCI fields have values that meet a preset criteria. Only when results of both blocks 212 and 214 are positive, will the process proceed to block 216 to provide a determination the received DCI format is a TCI state indication. It should be appreciated that while FIG.2 illustrates block 212 as being performed prior to block 214, it is not a requirement and the two blocks 212, 214 may be processed in any order or in parallel and that FIG.2 is merely one example of process 204 for illustrative only. [0057] The UE may make a determination that a dedicated TCI state indication is correctly received if, for example, the pattern of criteria is met in the received DCI format. Subsequent to a positive determination that such a dedicated TCI state indication is received correctly, the UE may decode the TCI state(s) from the received DCI format, and apply the indicated TCI state(s) in the DCI format on PDCCH/PDSCH reception and/or PUSCH/PUCCH transmission. [0058] Another aspect relates to how the UE reports an acknowledgement of correct receipt of a dedicated TCI state indication to the gNB. Upon a positive determination by the UE that a dedicated TCI state indication is received correctly, the UE may report a HARQ-ACK information in response to the reception of such a DCI format. FIG.3 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process 300 of reporting an acknowledgement by the UE, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in FIG.3, upon a positive determination of receipt of a TCI state indication at block 216, the UE at block 302 transmits an acknowledgement indicating that the TCI state indication is received correctly. [0059] In some embodiments, when the UE receives a DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 that is dedicated for TCI state indication and the UE decode it correctly, the UE can be requested to report HARQ-ACK to the gNB, which is used to notify the gNB that the UE receives the TCI state indication correctly. If a UE receives such a DCI format at slot n, the UE can determine the time location of the PUCCH resource for sending HARQ-ACK in response to this DCI by following one or more of the following methods: [0060] In one example, the UE can be requested to provide the HARQ-ACK in response to this DCI for TCI indication after N symbols from the last symbol of the PDCCH carrying the DCI format. The value of N can be pre-specified. The value of N can be configured by higher layer parameter. In another example, the DCI field “PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator” can be used to indicate an offset between the PDCCH carrying the DCI and the PUCCH for the UE to report HARQ-ACK. Identification of Dedicated DCI-Based TCI State Indication From DCI Format [0061] Some details examples are given below to illustrate how the UE determines if a received DCI format is a dedicated DCI-Based TCI State indication. [0062] In a first method, the UE can determine a DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 is a TCI state indication DCI format without DL PDSCH assignment if the following conditions are met: the CRC of a corresponding DCI format is scrambled with a CS-RNTI; and some of the DCI fields in the DCI format are set to some special values. [0063] The special values for the first method can be pre-specified. Some DCI fields in the DCI format 1_1 and 1_2 can be set according to one of more of the following examples. The examples may be used in any suitable combination, or not at all. a. In one example the new data indicator field is set to 0. b. In one example, the DCI field “HARQ process number ” in the DCI format is set to all ‘1’s. c. In one example, the DCI field “Redundancy version” in the DCI format is set to all ‘1’s. d. In one example, the DCI field of “Modulation and coding scheme” in the DCI format is set to all ‘0’s. e. In one example, the DCI field of “Frequency domain resource assignment” is the DCI format is set to all ‘0’s for FDRA Type 0 or for dynamicSwitch and set to all ‘1’s for FDRA Type1 [0064] In one example, the DCI fields for the DCI format are set according to the Table 1-1. In another example, the DCI fields for the DCI format are set according to the Table 1-2. Table 1-1 Table 1-2 [0065] In a second method, the UE can determine a DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 is a TCI state indication DCI format without DL PDSCH assignment if the following conditions are met: the CRC of a corresponding DCI format is scrambled with a TCI-RNTI. This TCI-RNTI can be one RNTI that is dedicated for TCI indication functions; and Some of the DCI fields in the DCI format are set to some special values. [0066] Those special values for the second method can be pre-specified. Some DCI fields in the DCI format 1_1 and 1_2 can be set according one of more of the following examples. The examples may be used in any suitable combination, or not at all. f. In one example, the DCI field “HARQ process number” in the DCI format is set to all ‘1’s. g. In one example, the DCI field “Redundancy version” in the DCI format is set to all ‘1’s. h. In one example, the DCI field of “Modulation and coding scheme” in the DCI format is set to all ‘0’s. i. In one example, the DCI field of “Frequency domain resource assignment” is the DCI format is set to all ‘0’s for FDRA Type 0 or for dynamicSwitch and set to all ‘1’s for FDRA Type1. j. In one example, the DCI fields for the DCI format are set according to the Table 1-1. k. In one example, the DCI fields for the DCI format are set according to the Table 1-2. [0067] In a third method, the UE can determine a DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 is a TCI state indication DCI format without DL PDSCH assignment if the following conditions are met: the CRC of a corresponding DCI format is scrambled with a TCI-RNTI. This TCI-RNTI can be one RNTI that is dedicated for TCI indication functions; and some of the DCI fields in the DCI format are set to some special values. [0068] Those special values for the third method can be pre-specified. Some DCI fields in the DCI format 1_1 and 1_2 can be set according one of more of the following examples. The examples may be used in any suitable combination, or not at all. l. In one example, the DCI field “HARQ process number ” in the DCI format is set to all ‘0’s. m. In one example, the DCI field “Redundancy version” in the DCI format is set to all ‘0’s. n.In one example, the DCI field of “Modulation and coding scheme” in the DCI format is set to all ‘1’s. o.In one example, the DCI field of “Frequency domain resource assignment” is the DCI format is set to all ‘0’s for FDRA Type 0 or for dynamicSwitch and set to all ‘1’s for FDRA Type1. p.In one example, the DCI fields for the DCI format are set according to the Table 1-1. q.In one example, the DCI fields for the DCI format are set according to the Table 1-2. r. In one example: the DCI fields in the DCI format are set according to the Table 2-1. s. In one example: the DCI fields in the DCI format are set according to the Table 2-2. t. In one example: the DCI fields in the DCI format are set according to the Table 2-3. u.In one example: the DCI fields in the DCI format are set according to the Table 2-4. v.In one example: the DCI fields in the DCI format are set according to the Table 2-5. Table 2-1 Table 2-2

Table 2-3 Table 2-4 Table 2-5 [0069] In a fourth method, a DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 without DL assignment can be used for beam indication (i.e., TCI state indication). Such a DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 shall satisfy: The CS-RNTI is used to scramble the CRC of the DCI format; and The following DCI fields in the DCI format are set to the following special values: w. the new data indicator field is set to 0. x. the DCI field “Redundancy version” in the DCI format is set to all ‘1’s. y. the DCI field of “Modulation and coding scheme” in the DCI format is set to all ‘1’s. z. the DCI field of “Frequency domain resource assignment” is the DCI format is set to all ‘0’s for FDRA Type 0 or for dynamicSwitch and set to all ‘1’s for FDRA Type1. [0070] In a fifth method, a DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 without DL assignment can be used for beam indication (i.e., TCI state indication). Such a DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 shall satisfy: The CS-RNTI is used to scramble the CRC of the DCI format; and The following DCI fields in the DCI format are set to special values as follows: aa. the new data indicator field is set to 0. bb. the DCI field “Redundancy version” in the DCI format is set to all ‘1’s. cc. the DCI field of “Frequency domain resource assignment” is the DCI format is set .to all ‘0’s for FDRA Type 0 or for dynamicSwitch and set to all ‘1’s for FDRA Type1. Acknowledgement of TCI Indication [0071] Some details examples are given below to illustrate how the UE reports an acknowledgement of correct receipt of a dedicated DCI-Based TCI State indication. [0072] When the UE receives a DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 that is dedicated for TCI state indication and the UE decode it correctly, the UE can be requested to report HARQ-ACK to the gNB, which is used to notify the gNB that the UE receives the TCI state indication correctly. If a UE receives such a DCI format at slot n, the UE can determine the time location of the PUCCH resource for sending HARQ-ACK in response to this DCI by following one or more of the following methods: [0073] In a first example, a UE reports HARQ-ACK information for a corresponding PDSCH reception or SPS PDSCH release or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication only in a HARQ- ACK codebook that the UE transmits in a slot indicated by a value of a PDSCH-to- HARQ_feedback timing indicator field in a corresponding DCI format. The UE reports NACK value(s) for HARQ-ACK information bit(s) in a HARQ-ACK codebook that the UE transmits in a slot not indicated by a value of a PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator field in a corresponding DCI format. [0074] In a second example, a UE is expected to provide HARQ-ACK information in response to a dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication after N symbols from the last symbol of a PDCCH providing the dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication. If processingType2Enabled of PDSCH- ServingCellConfig is set to enable for the serving cell with the PDCCH a dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication, N=5 for μ=0, N=5.5 for μ=1, and N=11 for μ=2, otherwise, N=10 for μ=0, N=12 for μ=1, N=22 for μ=2, and N=25 for μ=3, wherein μ corresponds to the smallest SCS configuration between the SCS configuration of the PDCCH providing a dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication and the SCS configuration of a PUCCH carrying the HARQ-ACK information in response to a dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication. [0075] For DCI format 1_0, the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator field values map to {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}. For a DCI format, other than DCI format 1_0, scheduling a PDSCH reception or a SPS PDSCH release or dedicated TCI state indication, the PDSCH-to- HARQ_feedback timing indicator field values, if present, map to values for a set of number of slots provided by dl-DataToUL-ACK, dl-DataToUL-ACK-r16, or dl-DataToUL- ACKForDCIFormat1_2, as defined in Table 9.2.3-1. [0076] For a SPS PDSCH reception ending in slot , the UE transmits the PUCCH in slot n+k where k is provided by the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator field, if present, in a DCI format activating the SPS PDSCH reception. [0077] If the UE detects a DCI format that does not include a PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator field and schedules a PDSCH reception or activates a SPS PDSCH reception ending in slot n, the UE provides corresponding HARQ-ACK information in a PUCCH transmission within slot n+k where k is provided by dl-DataToUL-ACK, or dl-DataToUL-ACK- r16, or dl-DataToUL-ACKForDCIFormat1_2. [0078] With reference to slots for PUCCH transmissions, if the UE detects a DCI format scheduling a PDSCH reception ending in slot n or if the UE detects a DCI format indicating a SPS PDSCH release or indicating a TCI state or indicating SCell dormancy through a PDCCH reception ending in slot n, or if the UE detects a DCI format that requests Type-3 HARQ-ACK codebook report and does not schedule a PDSCH reception through a PDCCH reception ending in slot n, as described in Clause 9.1.4, the UE provides corresponding HARQ-ACK information in a PUCCH transmission within slot n+k, where k is a number of slots and is indicated by the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator field in the DCI format, if present, or provided by dl-DataToUL-ACK, dl-DataToUL-ACK-r16, or dl-DataToUL-ACKForDCIFormat1_2. k=0 corresponds to the last slot of the PUCCH transmission that overlaps with the PDSCH reception or with the PDCCH reception in case of SPS PDSCH release or in case of dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication or in case of SCell dormancy indication or in case of the DCI format that requests Type-3 HARQ-ACK codebook report and does not schedule a PDSCH reception. [0079] In one method, when the UE receives DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 without DL PDSCH assignment but with beam indication (which can be called dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication) according to the methods described above, the UE can be requested to report HARQ NACK or ACK corresponding to the reception of the DCI format. Upon a successful reception of the beam indication DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 without DL assignment, the UE can be requested to report a HARQ ACK corresponding to the reception of the DCI. The UE can be requested to determine the location of ACK bit in the HARQ-ACK codebook of Type-1 HARQ-ACK codebook according to one or more of the followings: [0080] For the Type-1 HARQ-ACK codebook, the UE can be requested to determine the location of the ACK bit in the HARQ-ACK codebook based on a first virtual PDSCH, where the time domain location of the first virtual PDSCH is indicated by the Time domain resource assignment DCI field in that DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 and the higher layer parameter pdsch- TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2. In other word, the parameters for the first virtual PDSCH: the value of k0, mapping type and startsymbolAndlength are indicated by the Time domain resource assignment DCI field in that DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 and the higher layer parameter pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch- TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2. [0081] In a third example, for the Type-1 HARQ-ACK codebook, the UE can be requested to determine the location of the ACK bit in the HARQ-ACK codebook based on a second virtual PDSCH. The second virtual PDSCH time domain allocation is determined as follows: the slot location of the second virtual PDSCH is assumed to be in the same slot as the DCI format 1_1 or 1_2, in other word, the value of k0 is assumed to be 0. The parameters of mapping type and startsymbolAndlength of the second virtual PDSCH are according to the time resource allocation indicated by the Time domain resource assignment DCI field in that DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 and the higher layer parameter pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch- TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2. [0082] In a fourth example, for the Type-1 HARQ-ACK codebook, the UE can be requested to determine the location of the ACK bit in the HARQ-ACK codebook based on a third virtual PDSCH. The third PDSCH time domain allocation is determined as follows: the value of k0 is indicated by the Time domain resource assignment DCI field in that DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 and the higher layer parameter pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch- TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2. And The parameters of mapping type and startsymbolAndlength of the third virtual PDSCH are fixed and pre-specified to be one row of the higher layer parameter pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch- TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2. The parameters of mapping type and startsymbolAndlength of the third virtual PDSCH are pre-specified to be the first row of the higher layer parameter pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2. [0083] In a fifth example, for the Type-1 HARQ-ACK codebook, the UE can be requested to determine the location of the ACK bit in the HARQ-ACK codebook based on a fourth virtual PDSCH. The fourth PDSCH time domain allocation is determined as follows: the value of k0 the mapping type and startsymbolAndlength of the fourth virtual PDSCH are fixed and pre-specified to be one row of the higher layer parameter pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch- TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2. The parameters of k0, mapping type and startsymbolAndlength of the fourth virtual PDSCH are pre-specified to be the first row of the higher layer parameter pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch- TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2. [0084] In a sixth example, for the Type-1 HARQ-ACK codebook, the UE can be requested to determine the location of the ACK bit in the HARQ-ACK codebook based on a fifth virtual PDSCH. The fifth PDSCH time domain allocation is determined as follows: the value of k0 is fixed to a value and the parameters of the mapping type and startsymbolAndlength of the fourth virtual PDSCH are fixed and pre-specified to be one row of the higher layer parameter pdsch- TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2. The parameters of k0 is fixed to be 0 and the parameters of mapping type and startsymbolAndlength of the fifth virtual PDSCH are pre-specified to be the first row of the higher layer parameter pdsch- TimeDomainAllocationList or pdsch-TimeDomainAllocationListDCI-1-2. [0085] In a seventh example, the HARQ-ACK bit in Type1 HARQ codebook -ACK for dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication can be determined based on the following exemplary algorithm: For the set of slot timing values K 1 , the UE determines a set of M A , c occasions for candidate PDSCH receptions or SPS PDSCH releases or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication according to the following pseudo-code. A location in the Type-1 HARQ-ACK codebook for HARQ-ACK information corresponding to a single SPS PDSCH release is same as for a corresponding SPS PDSCH reception. A location in the Type-1 HARQ-ACK codebook for HARQ-ACK information corresponding to multiple SPS PDSCH releases by a single DCI format is same as for a corresponding SPS PDSCH reception with the lowest SPS configuration index among the multiple SPS PDSCH releases. A location in the Type-1 HARQ-ACK codebook for a corresponding dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication is same as for the virtual PDSCH reception corresponding to the DCI format 1_1/1_2 of the dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication. Set j= 0 - index of occasion for candidate PDSCH reception or SPS PDSCH release or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication Set B= ∅ Set M A ,c = ∅ Set C ( K 1 ) to the cardinality of set K 1 Set k =0 – index of slot timing values K 1 , k , in descending order of the slot timing values, in set K 1 for serving cell c If a UE is not provided ca-SlotOffset for any serving cell of PDSCH receptions and for the serving cell of corresponding PUCCH transmission with HARQ-ACK information while k < C (K 1 ) if mod ( n U -K 1,k +1,max ( 2 µUL - µ DL ,1 ) ) = 0 Set n D = 0 – index of a DL slot within an UL slot while n D <max (2 µDL - µ UL ,1 ) Set R to the set of rows Set C (R ) to the cardinality of R Set r= 0 – index of row in set R if slot n U starts at a same time as or after a slot for an active DL BWP change on serving cell c or an active UL BWP change on the PCell and slot ( , ) is before the slot for the active DL BWP change on serving cell c or the active UL BWP change on the PCell n D = n D + 1; else while r< C (R ) if the UE is provided tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon, or tdd-UL-DL- ConfigurationDedicated and, for each slot from slot , at least one symbol of the PDSCH time resource derived by row r is configured as UL where K 1 , k is the k-th slot timing value in set K 1 , R=R \ r ; else r= r+ 1 ; end if end while if the UE does not indicate a capability to receive more than one unicast PDSCH per slot and else Set C (R ) to the cardinality of R Set m to the smallest last OFDM symbol index, as determined by the SLIV, among all rows of R while R≠ ∅ Set r= 0 while r< C (R ) if S ≤ m for start OFDM symbol index S for row r b r,k,n D = j ; - index of occasion for candidate PDSCH reception or SPS PDSCH release or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication associated with row r R=R \ r ; B=BUb r,k ,n D ; else r= r+ 1 ; end if end while M A , c =M A , c U j ; j= j+ 1 ; Set m to the smallest last OFDM symbol index among all rows of R ; end while end if ^ ^ = ^ ^ + 1; end if end while end if k= k+ 1 ; end while else while if mod Set n D = 0 – index of a DL slot within an UL slot while n D <max (2 µDL - µ UL ,1 ) Set R to the set of rows Set C (R ) to the cardinality of R Set r= 0 – index of row in set R if slot n U starts at a same time as or after a slot for an active DL BWP change on serving cell c or an active UL BWP change on the PCell and slot is before the slot for the active DL BWP change on serving cell c or the active UL BWP change on the PCell n D = n D + 1; else while r< C (R ) if the UE is provided tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon, or tdd-UL-DL- ConfigurationDedicated and, for each slot from slot at least one symbol of the PDSCH time resource derived by row r is configured as UL where K 1 , k is the k-th slot timing value in set K 1 , R=R \ r ; else r = r+ 1 ; end if end while if the UE does not indicate a capability to receive more than one unicast PDSCH per slot and R≠ ∅ , M A,c =M A, c U j ; j= j+ 1 ; else Set C (R ) to the cardinality of R Set m to the smallest last OFDM symbol index, as determined by the SLIV, among all rows of R while R≠ ∅ Set r= 0 while r< C (R ) if S ≤ m for start OFDM symbol index S for row r b r,k,n D = j ; - index of occasion for candidate PDSCH reception or SPS PDSCH release or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication associated with row r R=R \ r ; B=BUb r,k ,n D ; else r= r+ 1 ; end if end while M A , c =M A , c U j ; j= j+ 1 ; Set m to the smallest last OFDM symbol index among all rows of R ; end while end if ^ ^ = ^ ^ + 1; end if end while end if k= k+ 1 ; end while end if If the UE indicates a capability to receive more than one PDSCH per slot, for occasions of candidate PDSCH receptions corresponding to rows of H associated with a same value of b r,k ,n D , where b r,k,n D ∈ B , the UE does not expect to receive more than one PDSCH in a same DL slot. If a UE receives a SPS PDSCH, or a SPS PDSCH release, or dedicated DCI- based TCI state indication, or a PDSCH that is scheduled by a DCI format that does not support CBG-based PDSCH receptions and if - the UE is configured with one serving cell, and - C (M A , c ) = 1 , and - PDSCH-CodeBlockGroupTransmission is provided to the UE the UE generates HARQ-ACK information only for the transport block in the PDSCH or only for the SPS PDSCH release or only for the dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication. If a UE receives a SPS PDSCH, or a SPS PDSCH release, or dedicated DCI- based TCI state indication or a PDSCH that is scheduled by a DCI format 1_0 and if - the UE is configured with more than one serving cells, or - C (M A , c ) > 1 , and - PDSCH-CodeBlockGroupTransmission is provided to the UE the UE repeats NCBG/TB, max H ARQ −ACK times the HARQ-ACK information for the transport block in the PDSCH or for the SPS PDSCH release. A UE does not expect to detect a DCI format switching a DL BWP within N 3 symbols prior to a first symbol of a PUCCH transmission where the UE multiplexes HARQ-ACK information, where N 3 is defined in Clause 9.2.3. If a UE is provided dl-DataToUL-ACK or dl-DataToUL-ACK- ForDCIFormat1_2, the UE does not expect to be indicated by DCI format 1_0 a slot timing value for transmission of HARQ-ACK information that does not belong to the intersection of the set of slot timing values {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8} and the set of slot timing values provided by ^ ^ for the active DL BWP of a corresponding serving cell. If maxNrofCodeWordsScheduledByDCI indicates reception of two transport blocks, when the UE receives a PDSCH with one transport block or a SPS PDSCH release or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication, the HARQ-ACK information is associated with the first transport block and the UE generates a NACK for the second transport block if harq-ACK-SpatialBundlingPUCCH is not provided and generates HARQ-ACK information with value of ACK for the second transport block if harq- ACK-SpatialBundlingPUCCH is provided. A UE determines HARQ-ACK information bits, for a total number of O ACK HARQ-ACK information bits, of a HARQ-ACK codebook for transmission in a PUCCH according to the following pseudo-code. In the following pseudo-code, if the UE does not receive a transport block or a CBG, due to the UE not detecting a corresponding DCI format, the UE generates a NACK value for the transport block or the CBG. The cardinality of the set M A , c defines a total number M c of occasions for PDSCH reception or SPS PDSCH release or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication for serving cell c corresponding to the HARQ-ACK information bits. Set c= 0 – serving cell index: lower indexes correspond to lower RRC indexes of corresponding cells including, when applicable, cells in the set I 0 and the set S 1 Set j HARQ-ACK information bit index Set to the number of serving cells configured by higher layers for the UE while Set m= 0 – index of occasion for candidate PDSCH reception or SPS PDSCH release or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication while m <M c if harq-ACK-SpatialBundlingPUCCH is not provided, PDSCH- CodeBlockGroupTransmission is not provided, and the UE is configured by maxNrofCodeWordsScheduledByDCI with reception of two transport blocks for the active DL BWP of serving cell c , information bit corresponding to a first transport block of this cell; j= j+ 1 ; information bit corresponding to a second transport block of this cell; j= j+ 1 ; elseif harq-ACK-SpatialBundlingPUCCH is provided, and the UE is configured by maxNrofCodeWordsScheduledByDCI with reception of two transport blocks for the active DL BWP of serving cell c , AND operation of the HARQ-ACK information bits corresponding to first and second transport blocks of this cell - if the UE receives one transport block, the UE assumes ACK for the second transport block; j= j+ 1 ; elseif PDSCH-CodeBlockGroupTransmission is provided, and CBGs are indicated by maxCodeBlockGroupsPerTransportBlock for serving cell c , Set index while information bit corresponding to CBG n CBG of the first transport block; if the UE is configured by maxNrofCodeWordsScheduledByDCI with reception of two transport blocks for the active DL BWP of serving cell c information bit corresponding to CBG n CBG of the second transport block; end if n CBG = n CBG + 1 ; end while is the value of maxNrofCodeWordsScheduledByDCI for the active DL BWP of serving cell c ; else information bit of serving cell c ; j= j+ 1 ; end if m= m+ 1 ; end while c=c+ 1 ; end while If , the UE determines a number of HARQ-ACK information bits n HARQ - ACK for obtaining a transmission power for a PUCCH, as described in Clause 7.2.1, as where - is the number of transport blocks the UE receives in PDSCH reception occasion m for serving cell c if harq-ACK-SpatialBundlingPUCCH and PDSCH-CodeBlockGroupTransmission are not provided, or the number of transport blocks the UE receives in PDSCH reception occasion m for serving cell c if PDSCH- CodeBlockGroupTransmission is provided and the PDSCH reception is scheduled by a DCI format that does not support CBG-based PDSCH receptions, or the number of PDSCH receptions if harq-ACK-SpatialBundlingPUCCH is provided or SPS PDSCH release or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication in PDSCH reception occasion m for serving cell c and the UE reports corresponding HARQ-ACK information in the PUCCH. - is the number of CBGs the UE receives in a PDSCH reception occasion m for serving cell c if PDSCH-CodeBlockGroupTransmission is provided and the PDSCH reception is scheduled by a DCI format that supports CBG-based PDSCH receptions and the UE reports corresponding HARQ-ACK information in the PUCCH. [0086] In one method, for the Type-2 HARQ-ACK codebook, the UE can be requested to determine the location of the ACK bit in the HARQ-ACK codebook for the dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication according the DAI value indicated in the DCI format 1_1 or 1_2. In one example, the HARQ-ACK bit for dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication in Type2 HARQ codebook -ACK can be determined based on the exemplary algorithm below: A UE determines monitoring occasions for PDCCH with DCI format scheduling PDSCH receptions or SPS PDSCH release or indicating SCell dormancy or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication on an active DL BWP of a serving cell J, as described in Clause 10.1, and for which the UE transmits HARQ-ACK information in a same PUCCH in slot ^ based on - PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator field values for PUCCH transmission with HARQ-ACK information in slot ^ in response to PDSCH receptions, SPS PDSCH release or SCell dormancy indication or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication. - slot offsets ^ K [6, TS 38.214] provided by time domain resource assignment field in a DCI format scheduling PDSCH receptions and by pdsch- AggregationFactor, or pdsch-AggregationFactor-r16, or repetitionNumber, when provided. The set of PDCCH monitoring occasions for a DCI format scheduling PDSCH receptions or SPS PDSCH release or indicating SCell dormancy or a dedicated DCI- based TCI state indication is defined as the union of PDCCH monitoring occasions across active DL BWPs of configured serving cells. PDCCH monitoring occasions are indexed in an ascending order of start time of the search space sets associated with a PDCCH monitoring occasion. The cardinality of the set of PDCCH monitoring occasions defines a total number L of PDCCH monitoring occasions. A value of the counter downlink assignment indicator (DAI) field in DCI formats denotes the accumulative number of {serving cell, PDCCH monitoring occasion}-pair(s) in which PDSCH reception(s), SPS PDSCH release or SCell dormancy indication or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication associated with the DCI formats is present up to the current serving cell and current PDCCH monitoring occasion, - first, if the UE indicates by type2-HARQ-ACK-Codebook support for more than one PDSCH reception on a serving cell that are scheduled from a same PDCCH monitoring occasion, in increasing order of the PDSCH reception starting time for the same {serving cell, PDCCH monitoring occasion} pair, - second in ascending order of serving cell index, and - third in ascending order of PDCCH monitoring occasion index M, where 0 ≤ M < L. If, for an active DL BWP of a serving cell, the UE is not provided coresetPoolIndex or is provided coresetPoolIndex with value 0 for one or more first CORESETs and is provided coresetPoolIndex with value 1 for one or more second CORESETs, and is provided ackNackFeedbackMode = joint, the value of the counter DAI is in the order of the first CORESETs and then the second CORESETs for a same serving cell index and a same PDCCH monitoring occasion index. The value of the total DAI, when present [5, TS 38.212], in a DCI format denotes the total number of {serving cell, PDCCH monitoring occasion}-pair(s) in which PDSCH reception(s), SPS PDSCH release or SCell dormancy indication or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication associated with DCI formats is present, up to the current PDCCH monitoring occasion M and is updated from PDCCH monitoring occasion to PDCCH monitoring occasion. If, for an active DL BWP of a serving cell, the UE is not provided coresetPoolIndex or is provided coresetPoolIndex with value 0 for one or more first CORESETs and is provided coresetPoolIndex with value 1 for one or more second CORESETs, and is provided ackNackFeedbackMode = joint, the total DAI value counts the {serving cell, PDCCH monitoring occasion}-pair(s) for both the first CORESETs and the second CORESETs. Denote by the number of bits for the counter DAI and set Denote by the value of the counter DAI in a DCI format scheduling PDSCH reception, SPS PDSCH release or SCell dormancy indication or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication on serving cell J in PDCCH monitoring occasion M according to Table 9.1.3-1 or Table 9.1.3-1A. Denote by the value of the total DAI in a DCI format in PDCCH monitoring occasion M according to Table 9.1.3-1. The UE assumes a same value of total DAI in all DCI formats that include a total DAI field in PDCCH monitoring occasion M. A UE does not expect to multiplex, in a same Type-2 HARQ- ACK codebook, HARQ-ACK information that is in response to detection of DCI formats with different number of bits for the counter DAI field. If the UE transmits HARQ-ACK information in a PUCCH in slot ^ and for any PUCCH format, the UE determines the , for a total number of information bits, according to the following pseudo-code: Set M = 0 – PDCCH with DCI format scheduling PDSCH reception, SPS PDSCH release or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication or SCell dormancy indication monitoring occasion index: lower index corresponds to earlier PDCCH monitoring occasion Set a = 0 Set S EBFC = 0 Set S EBFC1 = 0 Set Set to the number of serving cells configured by higher layers for the UE - if, for an active DL BWP of a serving cell, the UE is not provided coresetPoolIndex or is provided coresetPoolIndex with value 0 for one or more first CORESETs and is provided coresetPoolIndex with value 1 for one or more second CORESETs, and is provided ACKNackFeedbackMode = JointFeedback, the serving cell is counted two times where the first time corresponds to the first CORESETs and the second time corresponds to the second CORESETs - if the UE indicates type2-HARQ-ACK-Codebook, a serving cell is counted times where is the number of PDSCH receptions that can be scheduled for the serving cell by DCI formats in PDCCH receptions at a same PDCCH monitoring occasion based on the reported value of type2-HARQ-ACK-Codebook Set L to the number of PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) while M < L Set J = 0 – serving cell index: lower indexes correspond to lower RRC indexes of corresponding cell while if PDCCH monitoring occasion M is before an active DL BWP change on serving cell J or an active UL BWP change on the PCell and an active DL BWP change is not triggered in PDCCH monitoring occasion M J = J + 1; else if there is a PDSCH on serving cell J associated with PDCCH in PDCCH monitoring occasion M, or there is a PDCCH indicating SPS PDSCH release or SCell dormancy or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication on serving cell J if j = j + 1

if is not provided and the UE is configured by maxNrofCodeWordsScheduledByDCI with reception of two transport blocks for at least one configured DL BWP of at least one serving cell, information bit corresponding to the first transport block of this cell information bit corresponding to the second transport block of this cell elseif harq-ACK-SpatialBundlingPUCCH is provided to the UE and M is a monitoring occasion for PDCCH with a DCI format that supports PDSCH reception with two transport blocks and the UE is configured by maxNrofCodeWordsScheduledByDCI with reception of two transport blocks in at least one configured DL BWP of a serving cell, AND operation of the HARQ-ACK information bits corresponding to the first and second transport blocks of this cell else information bit of this cell

end if if harq-ACK-SpatialBundlingPUCCH is not provided to the UE and the UE is configured by maxNrofCodeWordsScheduledByDCI with reception of two transport blocks for at least one configured DL BWP of a serving cell, If a UE is configured to receive SPS PDSCH and the UE multiplexes HARQ- ACK information for one activated SPS PDSCH reception in the PUCCH in slot n, the UE generates one HARQ-ACK information bit associated with the SPS PDSCH reception and appends it to the HARQ-ACK information bits. If a UE is configured to receive SPS PDSCH and the UE multiplexes HARQ- ACK information for multiple activated SPS PDSCH receptions in the PUCCH in slot ^, the UE generates the HARQ-ACK information as described in Clause 9.1.2 and appends it to the HARQ-ACK information bits. For a PDCCH monitoring occasion with DCI format scheduling PDSCH reception or SPS PDSCH release or indicating SCell dormancy in the active DL BWP of a serving cell, when a UE receives a PDSCH with one transport block or a SPS PDSCH release or indicating SCell dormancy or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication and the value of maxNrofCodeWordsScheduledByDCI is 2, the HARQ-ACK information is associated with the first transport block and the UE generates a NACK for the second transport block if harq-ACK-SpatialBundlingPUCCH is not provided and generates HARQ-ACK information with value of ACK for the second transport block if harq- ACK-SpatialBundlingPUCCH is provided. If a UE is not provided PDSCH-CodeBlockGroupTransmission for each of the serving cells, or for PDSCH receptions scheduled by a DCI format that does not support CBG-based PDSCH receptions, or for SPS PDSCH reception, or for SPS PDSCH release, or for SCell dormancy indication, or for dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication, and if the UE determines a number of HARQ-ACK information bits for obtaining a transmission power for a PUCCH, as described in Clause 7.2.1, as where - is the value of the counter DAI in the last DCI format sched uling PDSCH reception or indicating SPS PDSCH release or indicating SCell dormancy or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication, for any serving cell J that the UE detects within the L PDCCH monitoring occasions. - - if the UE does not detect any DCI format that includes a total DAI field in a last PDCCH monitoring occasion within the L PDCCH monitoring occasions where the UE detects at least one DCI format scheduling PDSCH reception, indicating SPS PDSCH release or indicating SCell dormancy or dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication for any serving cell J, is the value of the counter DAI in a last DCI format the UE detects in the last PDCCH monitoring occasion - if the UE detects at least one DCI format that includes a total DAI field in a last PDCCH monitoring occasion within the L PDCCH monitoring occasions where the UE detects at least one DCI format scheduling PDSCH reception, indicating SPS PDSCH release or indicating SCell dormancy or indicating dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication for any serving cell J, is the value of the total DAI in the at least one DCI format that includes a total DAI field - if the UE does not detect any DCI format scheduling PDSCH reception, indicating SPS PDSCH release or indicating SCell dormancy or indicating dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication for any serving cell J in any of the L PDCCH monitoring occasions. - is the total number of a DCI format scheduling PDSCH reception, indicating SPS PDSCH release or indicating SCell dormancy that the UE detects within the L PDCCH monitoring occasions for serving cell J. if the UE does not detect any DCI format scheduling PDSCH reception, indicating SPS PDSCH release or indicating SCell dormancy or indicating dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication for serving cell J in any of the L PDCCH monitoring occasions. - if the value of maxNrofCodeWordsScheduledByDCI is 2 for any serving cell J and harq-ACK-SpatialBundlingPUCCH is not provided; otherwise, - is the number of transport blocks the UE receives in a PDSCH scheduled by a DCI format that the UE detects in PDCCH monitoring occasion M for serving cell J if harq-ACK-SpatialBundlingPUCCH is not provided, or the number of PDSCH scheduled by a DCI format that the UE detects in PDCCH monitoring occasion M for serving cell J if harq-ACK-SpatialBundlingPUCCH is provided, or the number of DCI format that the UE detects and indicate SPS PDSCH release in PDCCH monitoring occasion M for serving cell J, or the number of DCI format that the UE detects and indicate SCell dormancy in PDCCH monitoring occasion M for serving cell J, or the number of DCI format that the UE detects and indicate dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication in PDCCH monitoring occasion m for serving cell c. - is the number of SPS PDSCH receptions by the UE on serving cell J for which the UE transmits corresponding HARQ-ACK information in the same PUCCH as for HARQ-ACK information corresponding to PDSCH receptions within the L PDCCH monitoring occasions. If a UE - is provided PDSCH-CodeBlockGroupTransmission for serving cells; and - is not provided PDSCH-CodeBlockGroupTransmission, for serving cells where the UE determines the according to the previous pseudo- code with the following modifications - is used for the determination of a first HARQ-ACK sub-codebook for - SPS PDSCH release, - SPS PDSCH reception, - dedicated DCI-based TCI state indication - DCI format 1_1 indicating SCell dormancy, and - for TB-based PDSCH receptions on the serving cells and on the serving cells, - for the determination of a second HARQ- ACK sub-codebook corresponding to the serving cells for CBG-based PDSCH receptions, and - if, for an active DL BWP of a serving cell, the UE is not provided coresetPoolIndex or is provided coresetPoolIndex with value 0 for one or more first CORESETs and is provided coresetPoolIndex with value 1 for one or more second CORESETs, and is provided ackNackFeedbackMode = joint, the serving cell is counted as two times where the first time corresponds to the first CORESETs and the second time corresponds to the second CORESETs, and - instead of generating one HARQ-ACK information bit per transport block for a serving cell from the erving cells, the UE generates HARQ-ACK information bits, where is the maximum value of across all serving cells and is the value of maxNrofCodeWordsScheduledByDCI for serving cell J. If for a serving cell J it is the UE generates NACK for the last HARQ-ACK information bits for serving cell J - the pseudo-code operation when harq-ACK-SpatialBundlingPUCCH is provided is not applicable - The counter DAI value and the total DAI value apply separately for each HARQ-ACK sub-codebook - The UE generates the HARQ-ACK codebook by appending the second HARQ-ACK sub-codebook to the first HARQ-ACK sub-codebook If , the UE also determines ^ HARQ-ACK = ^ + ^ for obtaining a PUCCH transmission power, as described in Clause 7.2.1, with where - is the value of the counter DAI in the last DCI format scheduling CBG-based PDSCH reception for any serving cell J that the UE detects within the L PDCCH monitoring occasions - if is the value of the total DAI in the last DCI format scheduling CBG-based PDSCH reception for any serving cell J that the UE detects within the L PDCCH monitoring occasions - , if the UE does not detect any DCI format scheduling CBG-based PDSCH reception for any serving cell J in any of the L PDCCH monitoring occasions - is the total number of DCI formats scheduling CBG-based PDSCH receptions that the UE detects within the L PDCCH monitoring occasions for serving cell if the UE does not detect any DCI format scheduling CBG-based PDSCH reception for serving cell J in any of the L PDCCH monitoring occasions - is the number of CBGs the UE receives in a PDSCH scheduled by a DCI format that supports CBG-based PDSCH reception that the UE detects in PDCCH monitoring occasion M for serving cell J and the UE reports corresponding HARQ-ACK information in the PUCCH Table 9.1.3-1: Value of counter DAI for and of total DAI Table 9.1.3-1A: Value of counter DAI for [0087] FIG.4 is a schematic diagram of a mobile communication system 1000 to which any of the device and method disclosed above may be applied. In a mobile communication system, a UE such as a communication device may establish a link with a network element such as a cellular base station referred to as eNB for LTE, or gNB for 5G. The UE may communicate with the network element by transmitting or receiving voice, data and/or control signals. In FIG.1, mobile communication system 1000 includes UE 10 in connection 20 with network elements 30, in accordance with some embodiments. UE 10 may be fixed, or mobile, and may be referred to as a mobile communication device, a mobile device, a user terminal, a wireless device, a smartphone, or other terminologies. UE 10 has a sending unit 11, a receiving unit 12, one or more processors 14 and one or more memories 16. The at least one memory 16 are configured to store executable instructions or codes that, when executed by the at least one processors 14, cause the UE 10 to perform one or more methods as described throughout the present application. The at least one memory 16 are also configured to store data to be transmitted to or received from the network element. The network element 30 is generally a fixed station and may be a gNB, or an eNB. Network element 30 may be referred to as a base station, a cellular base station, an access point, a cell, etc. In UE 10, sending unit 11 is configured to send or transmit messages to one or more network elements 30. Receiving unit 12 is configured to receive messages from one or more network elements 30. It should be appreciated that components of UE 10 may be implemented using any suitable technology now known or future developed, as aspects of the present disclosure are not so limited. Although two network elements 30 are shown connected with the UE 10, it should be appreciated that aspects of the present application are not limited to the scenarios illustrated in FIG.1. Network element 30 may send one or more beams 22, and connection 20 may be established via the one or more beams 22. [0088] Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. [0089] Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, though advantages of the present invention are indicated, it should be appreciated that not every embodiment of the technology described herein will include every described advantage. Some embodiments may not implement any features described as advantageous herein and in some instances one or more of the described features may be implemented to achieve further embodiments. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only. [0090] Various aspects of the present invention may be used alone, in combination, or in a variety of arrangements not specifically discussed in the embodiments described in the foregoing and is therefore not limited in its application to the details and arrangement of components set forth in the foregoing description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, aspects described in one embodiment may be combined in any manner with aspects described in other embodiments. [0091] Also, the invention may be embodied as a method, of which an example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments. [0092] Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, though advantages of the present invention are indicated, it should be appreciated that not every embodiment of the invention will include every described advantage. Some embodiments may not implement any features described as advantageous herein and in some instances. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only. [0093] Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements. [0094] Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.