Resource allocation

Abstract

A method of signalling resource allocation data in a communication system which uses a plurality of sub-carriers arranged in a sequence of chunks. An allocation of the sub-carriers for each of a plurality of user devices is received. The received allocations are processed to determine, for each user device, data identifying a start chunk and an end chunk within the sequence of chunks, which depend upon the sub-carriers allocated to the user device. Different resource allocation data is generated for each of the user devices using the data identifying the corresponding start chunk and end chunk determined by the processing. The respective resource allocation data is signaled to each of the plurality of user devices.

1 . A method of signalling resource allocation data in a communication system which uses a plurality of sub-carriers arranged in a sequence of chunks, the method comprising:
 receiving an allocation of said sub-carriers for each of a plurality of user devices;   processing the received allocations to determine, for each user device, data identifying a start chunk and an end chunk within said sequence of chunks, which depend upon the subcarriers allocated to the user device;   generating different resource allocation data for each of said user devices using said data identifying the corresponding start chunk and end chunk determined by said processing; and   signalling the respective resource allocation data to each of said plurality of user devices.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said generating includes:
 generating a bit pattern which defines a grouping of the sequence of chunks into a sequence of groups, in dependence upon the sub-carriers allocated to each user device;   generating a resource ID for each group in dependence upon a position of the group within the sequence of groups; and   wherein said allocation data for a user device comprises said bit pattern and a respective resource ID.   
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said signalling signals said bit pattern in a signalling channel common to said user devices. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said signalling signals the resource ID for a user device in a signalling channel dedicated to that user device. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said bit pattern includes a bit associated with each of second and subsequent chunks in said sequence of chunks, whose value defines whether or not an associated chunk is a start of a new group in said sequence of groups. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein said bit pattern comprises N−1 bits, where N is a number of chunks in said sequence of chunks. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the resource ID for a group identifies the group by its position within the sequence of groups. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said generating comprises using predetermined mapping which relates the data identifying said start and end chunks for a user device to a unique value, and wherein said resource allocation data for the user device comprises said value. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the data identifying the start chunk and the end chunk comprises a start chunk number and a number of consecutive chunks between the start chunk and the end chunk, and wherein said resource allocation data comprises a unique value representing the corresponding start chunk number, and the number of consecutive chunks between the corresponding start chunk and the corresponding end chunk. 
     
     
         10 . A method performed by a user device for determining carrier frequency allocation in a communication system which uses a plurality of sub-carriers arranged in a sequence of chunks, the method comprising:
 receiving signals from a communications node, which signals include different resource allocation data for each of a plurality of user devices;   identifying the resource allocation data for the user device performing the method, which resource allocation data identifies a start chunk and an end chunk within said sequence of chunks;   holding information which relates resource allocation data to said sequence of chunks of sub-carriers; and   determining the allocated sub-carriers using the received resource allocation data and said held information.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein said receiving receives resource allocation data comprising:
 a bit pattern which defines a grouping of the sequence of chunks into a sequence of groups, in dependence upon the sub-carriers allocated to each user device; and   a resource ID for one of said groups, which resource ID depends upon a position of that group within the sequence of groups.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said receiving receives said bit pattern in a common signalling channel common of the communication system. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said receiving receives the resource ID in a dedicated signalling channel of the communication system. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said bit pattern includes a bit associated with each of the second and subsequent chunks in said sequence of chunks, whose value defines whether or not the associated chunk is a start of a new group in said sequence of groups. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein said bit pattern comprises N−1 bits, where N is a number of chunks in said sequence of chunks. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the received resource ID identifies said one of the groups by its position within the sequence of groups. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said determining uses said resource ID to identify positions of associated bits within said bit pattern and to determine said start and end chunks from the determined bit positions. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein said receiving comprises receiving resource allocation data which comprises a value which is related to data identifying said start and end chunks through a predetermined mapping, wherein said held information defines said mapping and wherein said determining determines said sub-carrier allocation using said received resource allocation data and said mapping. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the resource allocation data for a respective user device comprises a unique value which is related to data identifying a start chunk number and a number of consecutive chunks between the start chunk and an end chunk; and
 wherein said identifying identifies the resource allocation data for the user device performing the method, which resource allocation data identifies said start chunk number and said number of consecutive chunks between the start chunk and said end chunk within said sequence of chunks.   
     
     
         20 . A communication node which is operable to communicate with a plurality of user devices using a plurality of sub-carriers arranged in a sequence of chunks, the communications node comprising:
 a receiver operable to receive an allocation of said sub-carriers for each of a plurality of user devices;   a processor operable to process the received allocations to determine, for each user device, data identifying a start chunk and an end chunk within said sequence of chunks, which depend upon the sub-carriers allocated to the user device;   a generator operable to generate respective resource allocation data for each of said user devices using said data identifying the corresponding start chunk and end chunk determined by said processor; and   an output operable to output said respective resource allocation data to each of said plurality of user devices.   
     
     
         21 . A user device which is operable to communicate with a communication node which is operable to communicate with a plurality of user devices using a plurality of subcarriers arranged in a sequence of chunks, the user device comprising:
 a receiver operable to receive signals from the communications node, which signals include different resource allocation data for each of the plurality of user devices;   a controller operable to identify the resource allocation data for the user device, which resource allocation data identifies a start chunk and an end chunk within said sequence of chunks;   a memory or circuit operable to hold information relating said resource allocation data to said sequence of chunks; and   a determiner operable to determine the allocated sub-carriers using the received resource allocation data and said held information.