Compact specification of data allocations

Abstract

The subject matter disclosed herein provides a mechanism for numbering OFDMA symbols in data regions of OFDMA frames. The method may include assigning, based on a pattern vector, one or more numbers to one or more symbols of a time diversity interval. Moreover, the one or more numbered symbols may be assigned to one or more segments. The pattern vector is then provided to a client station to enable the client station to access, based on the numbered one or more symbols, at least one of the segments. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a client station, a pattern vector;   determining, based on the pattern vector, a symbol number indicating a start of a segment; and   receiving the segment based on the determined symbol number, the segment including a group of numbered orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) symbols carrying a stream of packets.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 using, as the pattern vector, one or more values defining one or more widths of one or more multicast and broadcast service regions of a time diversity interval, the one or more multicast and broadcast service regions transmitted from a plurality of base stations using macrodiversity. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the symbol number indicating the start of the segment further comprises:
 determining an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame including the symbol number; and   determining a location of the symbol number within the determined OFDMA frame, the determined OFDMA frame included within a time diversity interval comprising a plurality of OFDMA frames.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the segment further comprises:
 receiving the segment within one or more multicast and broadcast service regions transmitted from a plurality of base stations using macrodiversity.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining, based on a period of the pattern vector, another symbol number indicating another start of another segment located within the same time diversity as the segment.