Resource allocation in cellular systems

1 . A method implemented in a network node, the method comprising:

selecting an available resource in a transmission time interval, TTI;

determining at least one set of dedicated radio bearers, DRBs, that can be co-scheduled in the selected resource; and

allocating the selected resource to at least a subset of the determined at least one set of DRBs;

wherein allocating the selected resource to the at least the subset of the at least one set of DRBs comprises:

selecting a highest priority DRB having data to transmit in the TTI;

determining at least one set of dedicated radio bearer, DRBs, that can be co-scheduled with the highest priority DRB;

partitioning the resource among the highest priority DRB and at least one DRB of the at least one set of DRBs that can be co-scheduled with the highest priority DRB; and

allocating at least a first part of the selected resource to the highest priority DRB;

wherein the partitioning the resource among the highest priority DRB and the at least one DRB of the at least one set of DRBs comprises:

dividing an available transmit power for the resource among the highest priority DRB and the at least one DRB of the set of DRBs;

wherein the dividing the available transmit power for the resource among the highest priority DRB and the at least one DRB of the at least one set of DRBs comprises:

computing a total number of transmission layers scheduled on the selected resource; and

allocating equal transmit power per each transmission layer that is scheduled to be transmitted over the resource.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein allocating the selected resource to the at least the subset of the at least one set of DRBs comprises:

selecting a highest priority DRB having data to transmit in the TTI; and

allocating at least a first part of the selected resource to the highest priority DRB.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the partitioning the resource among the highest priority DRB and the at least one DRB of the at least one set of DRBs comprises:

dividing at least one of time, frequency and power reserved for the resource among the highest priority DRB and the at least one DRB of the at least one set of DRBs.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein:

determining the at least one set of DRBs that can be co-scheduled in the selected resource comprises:

determining the at least one set of DRBs that can be co-scheduled with the highest priority DRB in the TTI; and

allocating the selected resource to the at least the subset of the at least one set of DRBs comprises:

allocating at least a second part of the selected resource to at least one DRB in the at least the subset of DRBs that can be co-scheduled with the highest priority DRB in the TTI.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein selecting the highest priority DRB having data to transmit in the TTI comprises:

sorting a plurality of DRBs that have data in a buffer for the TTI in a queue of DRBs according to a priority order; and

selecting the highest priority DRB in the queue.

6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein selecting the available resource in the TTI comprises:

selecting the available resource in the TTI for allocation to the highest priority DRB.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein selecting the available resource in the TTI for the highest priority DRB comprises:

identifying an available resource having a highest channel quality out of a plurality of available resources for allocation to the highest priority DRB.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the at least one set of DRBs that can be co-scheduled with the highest priority DRB in the TTI comprises: identifying a plurality of DRBs having data to transmit in the TTI; and evaluating a sum utility metric among the identified plurality of DRBs and the highest priority DRB.

9 . The method of claim 4 , wherein allocating the selected resource to the at least the subset of the at least one set of DRBs and the highest priority DRB comprises:

selecting the at least the subset of the at least one set of DRBs based on a maximum sum utility; and

allocating the selected resource to all DRBs in the selected at least the subset and the highest priority DRB.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the at least one set of dedicated radio bearer, DRBs, that can be co-scheduled in the selected resource further comprises:

grouping a plurality of DRBs that have data in a buffer for the TTI into multi-user multiple-input multiple-output, MU-MIMO, groups based at least in part on a spatial separation of user equipments, UEs ( 22 ), associated with each DRB of the plurality of DRBs.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: if the allocation of the selected highest priority DRB is fulfilled in the TTI, selecting a next highest priority DRB having data to transmit in the TTI; and allocating at least a third part of the selected resource to the next highest priority DRB.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

as a result of selecting the next highest priority DRB, determining a set of DRBs that can be co-scheduled with the next highest priority DRB in the TTI; and

allocating the at least the third part of the selected resource to the next highest priority DRB and at least a subset of the determined set of DRBs that can be co-scheduled with the next highest priority DRB in the TTI.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

discontinuing allocating the selected resource to the at least one set of DRBs that can be co-scheduled with the highest priority DRB that is fulfilled in the TTI.

14 . A network node comprising processing circuitry, the processing circuitry configured to:

select an available resource in a transmission time interval, TTI;

determine at least one set of dedicated radio bearer, DRBs, that can be co-scheduled in the selected resource; and

allocate the selected resource to at least a subset of the determined at least one set of DRBs;

wherein allocating the selected resource to the at least the subset of the at least one set of DRBs comprises:

selecting a highest priority DRB having data to transmit in the TTI;

determining at least one set of dedicated radio bearer, DRBs, that can be co-scheduled with the highest priority DRB;

partitioning the resource among the highest priority DRB and at least one DRB of the at least one set of DRBs that can be co-scheduled with the highest priority DRB; and

allocating at least a first part of the selected resource to the highest priority DRB;

wherein the partitioning the resource among the highest priority DRB and the at least one DRB of the at least one set of DRBs comprises:

dividing an available transmit power for the resource among the highest priority DRB and the at least one DRB of the set of DRBs;

wherein the dividing the available transmit power for the resource among the highest priority DRB and the at least one DRB of the at least one set of DRBs comprises:

computing a total number of transmission layers scheduled on the selected resource; and

computing a transmit power share per each transmission layer that is scheduled to be transmitted over the resource according to each transmission layer's user priority.

15 . The network node of claim 14 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to allocate the selected resource to the at least the subset of the at least one set of DRBs by being configured to:

select a highest priority DRB having data to transmit in the TTI; and

allocate at least a first part of the selected resource to the highest priority DRB.