Aggregation Level: Why Is the Maximum Value Limited to 8?

RAN
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1

In the nrofCandidates sequence, each aggregation level (aggregationLevel1, aggregationLevel2, etc.) is defined using an enumerated set with values {n0, n1, n2, n3, n4, n5, n6, n8}. A noticeable pattern is that the highest value allowed is n8, even for aggregationLevel16.

Why is n8 the maximum value, and why are higher numbers not included? Is this a specification constraint, or is there a technical limitation?

2

The parameters monitoringSymbolsWithinSlot and nrofCandidates are part of 5G NR’s PDCCH.

nrofCandidates specifies the number of PDCCH candidates per aggregation level (AL) for CORESET configuration. In most configurations (as per TS 38.213), the maximum number of candidates per AL is limited to 8 (n8).

3

Does this mean the system allows only 8 blind decodings for any aggregation level (AL)?