Localized and distributed transmission

Abstract

The available transmission resources on a downlink-shared channel are divided into resource blocks, each resource block comprising a predetermined number of sub-carriers during a predetermined time period. The resource blocks are subdivided into localized resource blocks and distributed resource blocks. A user requiring sufficient resources can be allocated a plurality of said localized resource blocks. A user who would require only a small number of said localized resource blocks can instead be allocated subunits of a plurality of said distributed resource blocks.

1 . A method of allocating resources amongst users on a downlink-shared channel of a telecommunication system, the method comprising:
 dividing the available resources into a plurality of resource blocks, each resource block comprising a predetermined number of sub-carriers during a predetermined time period;   subdividing the resource blocks into localized resource blocks and distributed resource blocks; and   for at least one user, allocating subunits of a plurality of said distributed resource blocks.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising allocating subunits of each of said distributed resource blocks to a plurality of respective users. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising, for at least one other user, allocating a plurality of said localized resource blocks. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising, for at least one user:
 determining the amount of resources required by said user;   if the amount of resources is less than a predetermined threshold, allocating to said user subunits of a plurality of said distributed resource blocks; and   if the amount of resources is greater than a predetermined threshold, allocating to said user a plurality of said localized resource blocks.   
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each resource block contains the same number of sub-carriers. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each resource block comprises a predetermined number of consecutive sub-carriers. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the distributed resource blocks are located at intervals amongst said resource blocks. 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the distributed resource blocks are located at substantially regular intervals amongst said resource blocks. 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 for a first user, allocating a first subunit of each of a plurality of said distributed resource blocks; and 
 for a second user, allocating a second subunit of each of said plurality of said distributed resource blocks. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said each of said first and second subunits comprise similar numbers of sub-carriers during a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising:
 determining in a network node how many of said resource blocks should be allocated as localized resource blocks and how many of said resource blocks should be allocated as distributed resource blocks; and   transmitting information to a user indicating how many of said resource blocks should be allocated as distributed resource blocks, such that said user can determine which of said resource blocks are to be allocated as distributed resource blocks.   
     
     
         12 . A network node, adapted to allocate resources amongst users on a downlink-shared channel of a telecommunication system, wherein said node comprises a controller, said controller being adapted to:
 divide the available resources into a plurality of resource blocks, each resource block comprising a predetermined number of sub-carriers during a predetermined time period;   subdivide the resource blocks into localized resource blocks and distributed resource blocks; and   for at least one user, allocate subunits of a plurality of said distributed resource blocks.   
     
     
         13 . A network node as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said controller is further adapted to:
 determine how many of said resource blocks should be allocated as localized resource blocks and how many of said resource blocks should be allocated as distributed resource blocks; and   transmit information to a user indicating how many of said resource blocks should be allocated as distributed resource blocks, such that said user can determine which of said resource blocks are to be allocated as distributed resource blocks.   
     
     
         14 . A network node as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the network node is a Node B of a cellular communications system. 
     
     
         15 . A user equipment, for use in a telecommunication system, wherein the user equipment is adapted to receive transmissions from a network node on a downlink-shared channel, said channel comprising resources divided into a plurality of resource blocks, each resource block comprising a predetermined number of sub-carriers during a predetermined time period, and wherein the user equipment comprises a controller, said controller being adapted to: receive information from the network node, in order to determine how many of said resource blocks should be allocated as distributed resource blocks, and to determine which of said resource blocks are to be allocated as distributed resource blocks. 
     
     
         16 . A method for achieving frequency diversity for scheduled transmissions of resource blocks on a downlink-shared channel of a telecommunication system, comprising:
 subdividing resource blocks into localized and distributed virtual resource blocks,   mapping the localized resource blocks one-to-one to the set of physical resources that are assigned for localized transmission,   mapping the distributed resource blocks to all of the remaining physical resource blocks assigned for distributed transmission.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , whereby the mapping of a distributed resource block is done by splitting the distributed resource block into a number of parts, and mapping said parts to the physical resource blocks. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said number of parts corresponds to the number of physical resource blocks assigned for distributed transmission. 
     
     
         19 . An arrangement in a network node of a telecommunication system, comprising means for performing the method according to  claim 17 .