Resource allocation and signalings for group scheduling in wireless communications

Abstract

Method and apparatus for resource allocation formatting, signaling, and procedures in wireless communications, the method reducing signal overhead. Wireless transmit/receive units are divided into one or more semi-static groups. Resource allocation takes place to a group and the resource sets are signaled to an individual unit needing the resources. The method is applied to resource allocation for services, including both real time and non real time services.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for allocating resources to a plurality of Wireless Transmit/Receive Units (WTRUs) comprising:
 dividing the WTRUs into one or more semi-static groups for semi-persistent scheduling;   allocating sets of resources to each group, the sets of resources being defined in a resource allocation table and identified by a resource index, the resource index is further separated into two parts of the transport format of resources being pre-defined;   partitioning the resource index table into two parts with one part as the transport format of resources being pre-defined, with the other part of the optimized resource index table;   signaling a set of resources to each WTRU needing the specified set of resources in each group.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least two groups share a resource allocation table. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resources in the resource allocation table are separated in at least two distinct levels. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first level of the resource allocation table comprises transport format indication information including at least one of the following: payload bits, code rate and modulation, etc, which is common to all WTRUs. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transport format indication information table can be standardized between the evolved (universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN)) Node B (eNB) and the WTRU. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first level of the Resource Allocation Table is signaled through a broadcast message. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first level of the Resource Allocation Table is updated and signaled through radio resource control (RRC) signaling for a group of WTRUs. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first level of the Resource Allocation Table is signaled to a specific WTRU via radio resource control (RRC) signaling. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first level of the Resource Allocation Table can be pre-defined and known to all WTRUs in standard without signaling. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a second level of the Resource Allocation Table comprises one or more resource indexes and physical resources corresponding to each resource index. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of allocating, in the second level of the Resource Allocation Table, an uplink (UL) or downlink (DL) indication corresponding to each resource index wherein, the UL and DL allocations are stored in an alternating pattern and the pattern is signaled. 
     
     
         12 . A method for allocating resources to a plurality of WTRUs in a pattern, the pattern comprising:
 allocating resource indexes in a first batch to UL and allocating resource indexes in a second batch to DL, which is pre-defined; and   a second level resource allocation table for UL and a second level resource allocation table for DL are signaled separately,   
       the signaling step comprising:
 signaling a group ID to identify the group; 
 signaling a position sequence; 
 signaling a resource index, error correction information and null resource allocation information for each WTRU in the group needing a resource index and error correction information, the resource index indicating the set of resources, each WTRU being identified according to the position sequence; and 
 
       transmitting a length indicator that sets a variable length of the error correction information. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the error correction information comprises Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a length for the resource index and HARQ information are fixed and the same for all WTRUs within the group. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein no valid resource index and HARQ information for a WTRU are signaled and the positions for both resource index and error correction information are filled with pre-defined bit pattern if there is no resource assignment for the WTRU. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein no valid resource index and error correction information for a WTRU are signaled and only one position either resource index or HARQ information is filled with pre-defined bit pattern if there is no resource assignment for the WTRU. 
     
     
         17 . A method for allocating resources to a plurality of WTRUs comprising:
 dividing the WTRUs into one or more semi-static groups for semi-persistent scheduling;   allocating sets of resources needed for a particular service to a group; and   periodically examining whether or not the service resources are being used by the WTRUs in the group.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of allocating the service resources not being used to a second service or to other WTRUs or to both. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of forming a second group containing WTRUs that are not using the service resources and that come from a plurality of said semi-static groups. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of reconfiguring the resource allocation table.