Systems, Apparatus and Methods for Facilitating Frequency Reuse for Downlink Control Channels

Abstract

Systems and methods for frequency reuse on downlink control channels (DLCCs) are provided. One method can include determining a first number of symbols to support transmission of control information on a DLCC, and configuring a second number of symbols for transmission of the control information on the DLCC, wherein the second number of symbols is greater than the first number of symbols. The method can also include assigning a number of DLCCs based on the second number of symbols, and transmitting control information over an assigned number of DLCCs to achieve an effective reuse factor less than one. Another method can include identifying fractions of bandwidth in a system having cells, and allocating at least one of the cells to at least one of the fractions of bandwidth in a system. Resource element groups allocated to the fractions of bandwidth can be coordinated across cells to provide frequency reuse.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for facilitating frequency reuse on downlink control channels in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
 identifying a plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system, wherein the system includes a plurality of cells; and   allocating at least one of the plurality of cells to at least one of the plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system, wherein resource element groups allocated to the plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system are coordinated across the plurality of cells to provide frequency reuse of bandwidth in the system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting control information on a downlink control channel allocated to one or more of the resource element groups. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the downlink control channel is at least one of a physical downlink control channel, a physical control format indicator channel or a physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the physical downlink control channel is allocated to at least nine of the one or more of the resource element groups, wherein the physical control format indicator channel is allocated to at least four of the one or more of the resource element groups or wherein the physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel is allocated to at least three of the one or more of the resource element groups. 
     
     
         5 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer-readable medium, comprising:
 a first set of codes for causing a computer to identify a plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system, wherein the system includes a plurality of cells; and 
 a second set of codes for causing the computer to allocate at least one of the plurality of cells to at least one of the plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system, wherein resource element groups allocated to the plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system are coordinated across the plurality of cells to provide frequency reuse of bandwidth in the system. 
   
     
     
         6 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , further comprising a third set of codes for causing the computer to transmit control information on a downlink control channel allocated to one or more of the resource element groups. 
     
     
         7 . The computer program product of  claim 6 , wherein the downlink control channel is at least one of a physical downlink control channel, a physical control format indicator channel or a physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel. 
     
     
         8 . The computer program product of  claim 7 , wherein the physical downlink control channel is allocated to at least nine of the one or more of the resource element groups, wherein the physical control format indicator channel is allocated to at least four of the one or more of the resource element groups or wherein the physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel is allocated to at least three of the one or more of the resource element groups. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus, comprising:
 means for identifying a plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system, wherein the system includes a plurality of cells; and   means for allocating at least one of the plurality of cells to at least one of the plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system, wherein resource element groups allocated to the plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system are coordinated across the plurality of cells to provide frequency reuse of bandwidth in the system.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising means for transmitting control information on a downlink control channel allocated to one or more of the resource element groups. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the downlink control channel is at least one of a physical downlink control channel, a physical control format indicator channel or a physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the physical downlink control channel is allocated to at least nine of the one or more of the resource element groups, wherein the physical control format indicator channel is allocated to at least four of the one or more of the resource element groups or wherein the physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel is allocated to at least three of the one or more of the resource element groups. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a resource allocation module configured to:
 identify a plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system, wherein the system includes a plurality of cells; and 
 allocate at least one of the plurality of cells to at least one of the plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system, wherein resource element groups allocated to the plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system are coordinated across the plurality of cells to provide frequency reuse of bandwidth in the system. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit control information on a downlink control channel allocated to one or more of the resource element groups. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the downlink control channel is at least one of a physical downlink control channel, a physical control format indicator channel or a physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the physical downlink control channel is allocated to at least nine of the one or more of the resource element groups, wherein the physical control format indicator channel is allocated to at least four of the one or more of the resource element groups or wherein the physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel is allocated to at least three of the one or more of the resource element groups. 
     
     
         17 . A method for facilitating frequency reuse on downlink control channels in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
 receiving, by user equipment in a cell of a plurality of cells, information indicative of an allocation of the cell of the plurality of cells to at least one of a plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system, wherein resource element groups allocated to the plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system are coordinated across the plurality of cells to provide frequency reuse of bandwidth in the system.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising receiving control information on a downlink control channel allocated to one or more of the resource element groups. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the downlink control channel is at least one of a physical downlink control channel, a physical control format indicator channel or a physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the physical downlink control channel is allocated to at least nine of the one or more of the resource element groups, wherein the physical control format indicator channel is allocated to at least four of the one or more of the resource element groups or wherein the physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel is allocated to at least three of the one or more of the resource element groups. 
     
     
         21 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer-readable medium, comprising:
 a first set of codes for causing a computer to receive, by user equipment including the computer and in a cell of a plurality of cells, information indicative of an allocation of the cell of the plurality of cells to at least one of a plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system, wherein resource element groups allocated to the plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system are coordinated across the plurality of cells to provide frequency reuse of bandwidth in the system. 
   
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , further comprising a second set of codes for causing the user equipment including the computer to receive control information on a downlink control channel allocated to one or more of the resource element groups. 
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 22 , wherein the downlink control channel is at least one of a physical downlink control channel, a physical control format indicator channel or a physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel. 
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein the physical downlink control channel is allocated to at least nine of the one or more of the resource element groups, wherein the physical control format indicator channel is allocated to at least four of the one or more of the resource element groups or wherein the physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel is allocated to at least three of the one or more of the resource element groups. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus, comprising:
 means for receiving, by the apparatus in a cell of a plurality of cells, information indicative of an allocation of the cell of the plurality of cells to at least one of a plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system, wherein resource element groups allocated to the plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system are coordinated across the plurality of cells to provide frequency reuse of bandwidth in the system.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising means for receiving control information on a downlink control channel allocated to one or more of the resource element groups. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the downlink control channel is at least one of a physical downlink control channel, a physical control format indicator channel or a physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the physical downlink control channel is allocated to at least nine of the one or more of the resource element groups, wherein the physical control format indicator channel is allocated to at least four of the one or more of the resource element groups or wherein the physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel is allocated to at least three of the one or more of the resource element groups. 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a user equipment resource allocation module in a cell of a plurality of cells and configured to:
 receive information indicative of an allocation of the cell of the plurality of cells to at least one of a plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system, wherein resource element groups allocated to the plurality of fractions of bandwidth in a system are coordinated across the plurality of cells to provide frequency reuse of bandwidth in the system. 
   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the user equipment resource allocation module in a cell of a plurality of cells is further configured to receive control information on a downlink control channel allocated to one or more of the resource element groups. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the downlink control channel is at least one of a physical downlink control channel, a physical control format indicator channel or a physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the physical downlink control channel is allocated to at least nine of the one or more of the resource element groups, wherein the physical control format indicator channel is allocated to at least four of the one or more of the resource element groups or wherein the physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel is allocated to at least three of the one or more of the resource element groups.