Methods and apparatuses for scheduling on a cell from different cells. A method for operating a UE includes receiving first information for first and second scheduling cells of a scheduled cell and second information for receptions of physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) from the first and second scheduling cells. The PDCCHs provide downlink control information (DCI) formats. The DCI formats schedule physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmissions, or physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) receptions, on the scheduled cell. The method further includes determining whether to receive the PDCCHs either only from the first scheduling cell or only from the second scheduling cell within a time unit based on the second information and receiving the PDCCHs either only from the first scheduling cell or only from the second scheduling cell within the time unit.