METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING RESOURCE ASSIGNMENT FOR MULTIPLE SYSTEM BANDWIDTHS

• US 20110255485A1
• Filed: 10/14/2010
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Montojo, Juan, Chen, Wanshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,949,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0037 Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0094 Indication of how sub-channels of the path are allocated
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA

Abstract

Techniques for supporting communication with user equipment (UEs) of different types on a plurality of system bandwidths are described. UEs of each type may operate on one or more available system bandwidths. Resources assigned to a UE may be conveyed by a resource allocation field of a control message sent to the UE. The resource allocation field may have different configurations (e.g., different sizes and/or interpretations) for different system bandwidths. In one design, the resource allocation field and the control message sent to the UE have different sizes for the plurality of system bandwidths. A base station may determine the size of the resource allocation field based on a system bandwidth selected for the UE. In another design, the resource allocation field may have a same size but different interpretations (e.g., different resource mappings) for the plurality of system bandwidths.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

generating a control message for a user equipment (UE);

setting a resource allocation field of the control message based on a system bandwidth selected for the UE from among a plurality of system bandwidths, the resource allocation field comprising an indication of resources assigned to the UE for the selected system bandwidth;

sending the control message to the UE; and

communicating with the UE on the resources assigned to the UE.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths comprises a first system bandwidth and a second system bandwidth, the second system bandwidth comprising at least part of the first system bandwidth and an additional bandwidth.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths corresponds to different frequency ranges of a single carrier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths is associated with at least two different configurations of the resource allocation field for a particular format of the control message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths is associated with different sizes of the resource allocation field for a particular format of the control message.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a size of the resource allocation field based on the selected system bandwidth.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the setting the resource allocation field comprises:

setting a first size of the resource allocation field if the assigned resources are for the first system bandwidth, the first size being determined based on the first system bandwidth, and

setting a second size of the resource allocation field if the assigned resources are for the second system bandwidth, the second size being determined based on the second system bandwidth.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths is associated with a same size but different interpretations of the resource allocation field for a particular format of the control message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths is associated with different resource mappings for the resource allocation field, the resource mapping for each system bandwidth defining different assigned resources for a plurality of settings of the resource allocation field.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the setting the resource allocation field comprises:

setting the resource allocation field based on a first resource mapping if the assigned resources are for the first system bandwidth, the first resource mapping defining different assigned resources in the first system bandwidth for a first plurality of settings of the resource allocation field, and

setting the resource allocation field based on a second resource mapping if the assigned resources are for the second system bandwidth, the second resource mapping defining different assigned resources in the second system bandwidth for a second plurality of settings of the resource allocation field.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the setting the resource allocation field comprises:

setting the resource allocation field based on the first system bandwidth if the control message is sent in a common search space for a plurality of UEs, and

setting the resource allocation field based on the second system bandwidth if the control message is sent in a UE-specific search space for the UE.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the setting the resource allocation field comprises:

setting the resource allocation field based on the first system bandwidth if the control message is sent as a broadcast message to a plurality of UEs, and

setting the resource allocation field based on the second system bandwidth if the control message is sent as a unicast message to the UE.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating the control message comprises generating the control message based on a downlink control information (DCI) format selected from a set of DCI formats.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein each system bandwidth is associated with a set of DCI formats, and wherein the plurality of system bandwidths is associated with at least two different sets of DCI formats.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining whether the selected DCI format is associated with a common configuration of the resource allocation field for the plurality of system bandwidths or different configurations of the resource allocation field for the plurality of system bandwidths.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting the resource allocation field comprises setting the resource allocation field based on a type of subframe in which the control message is sent, and wherein a plurality of types of subframe is associated with at least two different configurations of the resource allocation field.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting the resource allocation field comprises setting the resource allocation field based on a resource allocation type for the resources assigned to the UE, and wherein a plurality of resource allocation types is associated with at least two different configurations of the resource allocation field.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein the sending the control message comprises sending the control message within the first system bandwidth regardless of whether the assigned resources are for the first system bandwidth or the second system bandwidth.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the UE to operate on the selected system bandwidth.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigned resources are for data transmission on downlink, and wherein the communicating with the UE comprises sending a data transmission to the UE on the assigned resources.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigned resources are for data transmission on uplink, and wherein the communicating with the UE comprises receiving a data transmission sent on the assigned resources by the UE.

22. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for generating a control message for a user equipment (UE);

means for setting a resource allocation field of the control message based on a system bandwidth selected for the UE from among a plurality of system bandwidths, the resource allocation field comprising an indication of resources assigned to the UE for the selected system bandwidth;

means for sending the control message to the UE; and

means for communicating with the UE on the resources assigned to the UE.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths is associated with at least two different configurations of the resource allocation field for a particular format of the control message.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths is associated with different sizes of the resource allocation field for a particular format of the control message.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths is associated with a same size but different interpretations of the resource allocation field for a particular format of the control message.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths is associated with different resource mappings for the resource allocation field, the resource mapping for each system bandwidth defining different assigned resources for a plurality of settings of the resource allocation field.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the means for setting the resource allocation field comprises:

means for setting the resource allocation field based on a first system bandwidth if the control message is sent in a common search space for a plurality of UEs, and

means for setting the resource allocation field based on a second system bandwidth if the control message is sent in a UE-specific search space for the UE.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the means for setting the resource allocation field comprises:

means for setting the resource allocation field based on a first system bandwidth if the control message is sent as a broadcast message to a plurality of UEs, and

means for setting the resource allocation field based on a second system bandwidth if the control message is sent as a unicast message to the UE.

29. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

generate a control message for a user equipment (UE),

set a resource allocation field of the control message based on a system bandwidth selected for the UE from among a plurality of system bandwidths, the resource allocation field comprising an indication of resources assigned to the UE for the selected system bandwidth,

send the control message to the UE, and

communicate with the UE on the resources assigned to the UE.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths is associated with at least two different configurations of the resource allocation field for a particular format of the control message.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths is associated with different sizes of the resource allocation field for a particular format of the control message.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths is associated with a same size but different interpretations of the resource allocation field for a particular format of the control message.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths is associated with different resource mappings for the resource allocation field, the resource mapping for each system bandwidth defining different assigned resources for a plurality of settings of the resource allocation field.

34. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

set the resource allocation field based on a first system bandwidth if the control message is sent in a common search space for a plurality of UEs, and

set the resource allocation field based on a second system bandwidth if the control message is sent in a UE-specific search space for the UE.

35. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

set the resource allocation field based on a first system bandwidth if the control message is sent as a broadcast message to a plurality of UEs, and

set the resource allocation field based on a second system bandwidth if the control message is sent as a unicast message to the UE.

36. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to generate a control message for a user equipment (UE),

code for causing the at least one computer to set a resource allocation field of the control message based on a system bandwidth selected for the UE from among a plurality of system bandwidths, the resource allocation field comprising an indication of resources assigned to the UE for the selected system bandwidth,

code for causing the at least one computer to send the control message to the UE, and

code for causing the at least one computer to communicate with the UE on the resources assigned to the UE.

37. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

receiving a control message by a user equipment (UE);

determining resources assigned to the UE based on a resource allocation field of the control message, the resource allocation field comprising an indication of the resources assigned to the UE for a system bandwidth selected for the UE from among a plurality of system bandwidths; and

communicating on the assigned resources by the UE.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths comprises a first system bandwidth and a second system bandwidth, the second system bandwidth comprising at least part of the first system bandwidth and an additional bandwidth.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths comprises different frequency ranges of a single carrier, and wherein the system bandwidth selected for the UE comprises a frequency range of the single carrier available for data transmission to the UE.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising determining a size of the resource allocation field based on the selected system bandwidth.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the determining the resources assigned to the UE comprises:

determining the resources assigned to the UE based on a first size of the resource allocation field if the assigned resources are for the first system bandwidth, and

determining the resources assigned to the UE based on a second size of the resource allocation field if the assigned resources are for the second system bandwidth.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths is associated with different resource mappings for the resource allocation field, the resource mapping for each system bandwidth defining different assigned resources for a plurality of settings of the resource allocation field.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the determining the resources assigned to the UE comprises:

determining the resources assigned to the UE based on a first resource mapping for the resource allocation field if the assigned resources are for the first system bandwidth, the first resource mapping defining different assigned resources in the first system bandwidth for a first plurality of settings of the resource allocation field, and

determining the resources assigned to the UE based on a second resource mapping for the resource allocation field if the assigned resources are for the second system bandwidth, the second resource mapping defining different assigned resources in the second system bandwidth for a second plurality of settings of the resource allocation field.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein the determining the resources assigned to the UE comprises:

determining the resources assigned to the UE based on the first system bandwidth for the resource allocation field if the control message is received in a common search space for a plurality of UEs, and

determining the resources assigned to the UE based on the second system bandwidth for the resource allocation field if the control message is received in a UE-specific search space for the UE.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein the determining the resources assigned to the UE comprises:

determining the resources assigned to the UE based on the first system bandwidth for the resource allocation field if the control message is sent as a broadcast message to a plurality of UEs, and

determining the resources assigned to the UE based on the second system bandwidth for the resource allocation field if the control message is sent as a unicast message to the UE.

46. The method of claim 37, wherein the determining the resources assigned to the UE comprises determining the resources assigned to the UE based on the resource allocation field and in accordance with a downlink control information (DCI) format among a set of DCI formats.

47. The method of claim 37, wherein the assigned resources are for data transmission on downlink, and wherein the communicating on the assigned resources comprises receiving a data transmission sent to the UE on the assigned resources.

48. The method of claim 37, wherein the assigned resources are for data transmission on uplink, and wherein the communicating on the assigned resources comprises sending a data transmission on the assigned resources by the UE.

49. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving a control message by a user equipment (UE);

means for determining resources assigned to the UE based on a resource allocation field of the control message, the resource allocation field comprising an indication of the resources assigned to the UE for a system bandwidth selected for the UE from among a plurality of system bandwidths; and

means for communicating on the assigned resources by the UE.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising:

means for determining a size of the resource allocation field based on the selected system bandwidth.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths is associated with different resource mappings for the resource allocation field, the resource mapping for each system bandwidth defining different assigned resources for a plurality of settings of the resource allocation field.

52. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the means for determining the resources assigned to the UE comprises:

means for determining the resources assigned to the UE based on a first system bandwidth for the resource allocation field if the control message is received in a common search space for a plurality of UEs, and

means for determining the resources assigned to the UE based on a second system bandwidth for the resource allocation field if the control message is received in a UE-specific search space for the UE.

53. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the means for determining the resources assigned to the UE comprises:

means for determining the resources assigned to the UE based on a first system bandwidth for the resource allocation field if the control message is sent as a broadcast message to a plurality of UEs, and

means for determining the resources assigned to the UE based on a second system bandwidth for the resource allocation field if the control message is sent as a unicast message to the UE.

54. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a control message by a user equipment (UE),

determine resources assigned to the UE based on a resource allocation field of the control message, the resource allocation field comprising an indication of the resources assigned to the UE for a system bandwidth selected for the UE from among a plurality of system bandwidths, and

communicate on the assigned resources by the UE.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a size of the resource allocation field based on the selected system bandwidth.

56. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the plurality of system bandwidths is associated with different resource mappings for the resource allocation field, the resource mapping for each system bandwidth defining different assigned resources for a plurality of settings of the resource allocation field.

57. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the resources assigned to the UE based on a first system bandwidth for the resource allocation field if the control message is received in a common search space for a plurality of UEs, and to determine the resources assigned to the UE based on a second system bandwidth for the resource allocation field if the control message is received in a UE-specific search space for the UE.

58. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the resources assigned to the UE based on a first system bandwidth for the resource allocation field based if the control message is sent as a broadcast message to a plurality of UEs, and to determine the resources assigned to the UE based on a second system bandwidth for the resource allocation field if the control message is sent as a unicast message to the UE.

59. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive a control message by a user equipment (UE),

code for causing the at least one computer to determine resources assigned to the UE based on a resource allocation field of the control message, the resource allocation field comprising an indication of the resources assigned to the UE for a system bandwidth selected for the UE from among a plurality of system bandwidths, and

code for causing the at least one computer to communicate on the assigned resources by the UE.