For downlink control, a method receives by use of a processor, at User Equipment, a control channel with a first aggregation level in a Transmission Time Interval. The method attempts to decode the control channel. In response to the control channel being successfully decoded, the method determines a first downlink control information (DCI) with a first number of bits based on the received control channel; determines whether to decode the first DCI to determine a second DCI with a second number of bits based on the first DCI; and determines the second DCI with a second number of bits based on the decoded first DCI if determined to decode the first DCI. The method transmits data according to the second DCI if the second DCI is an uplink grant. The method receives data according to the second DCI if the second DCI is a downlink assignment.