Apparatus, methods, and computer program products providing a dynamic header structure for signaling resource allocations

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by an apparatus, a message comprising a resource allocation map, wherein the resource allocation map comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is indicative of a first mapping scheme or a second mapping scheme, wherein the indicated first mapping scheme or second mapping scheme is applicable to the second portion, wherein under the first mapping scheme the second portion consists of resource allocation information that indicates at least one group of physical resource blocks that is allocated to the apparatus, wherein under the second mapping scheme the second portion comprises a third portion and a fourth portion, wherein the third portion is indicative of at least one aspect relating to the fourth portion, wherein the fourth portion comprises resource allocation information for resource blocks that are allocated to the apparatus;

utilizing, by the apparatus, the first portion to determine the indicated mapping scheme to be used for the second portion; and

obtaining, by the apparatus based on the determined mapping scheme, the resource allocation information from the second portion.

2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises a one-bit field.

3. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises a bitmap for a downlink resource allocation.

4. A method as in claim 3 , wherein the downlink resource allocation is for resource blocks or physical resource blocks.

5. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the message is received via a physical downlink control channel.

6. A non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, said operations comprising:

receiving a message comprising a resource allocation map, wherein the resource allocation map comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is indicative of a first mapping scheme or a second mapping scheme, wherein the indicated first mapping scheme or second mapping scheme is applicable to the second portion, wherein under the first mapping scheme the second portion consists of resource allocation information that indicates at least one group of physical resource blocks that is allocated to the apparatus, wherein under the second mapping scheme the second portion comprises a third portion and a fourth portion, wherein the third portion is indicative of at least one aspect relating to the fourth portion, wherein the fourth portion comprises resource allocation information for resource blocks that are allocated to the apparatus;

utilizing the first portion to determine the indicated mapping scheme to be used for the second portion; and

obtaining, based on the determined mapping scheme, the resource allocation information from the second portion.

7. A program storage device as in claim 6 , wherein the first portion comprises a one-bit field.

8. A program storage device as in claim 6 , wherein the second portion comprises a bitmap for a downlink resource allocation.

9. A program storage device as in claim 8 , wherein the downlink resource allocation is for resource blocks or physical resource blocks.

10. A program storage device as in claim 6 , wherein the message is received via a physical downlink control channel.

11. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program instructions, the at least one memory and the computer program instructions being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:

receive a message comprising a resource allocation map, wherein the resource allocation map comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is indicative of a first mapping scheme or a second mapping scheme, wherein the indicated first mapping scheme or second mapping scheme is applicable to the second portion, wherein under the first mapping scheme the second portion consists of resource allocation information that indicates at least one group of physical resource blocks that is allocated to the apparatus, wherein under the second mapping scheme the second portion comprises a third portion and a fourth portion, wherein the third portion is indicative of at least one aspect relating to the fourth portion, wherein the fourth portion comprises resource allocation information for resource blocks that are allocated to the apparatus;

utilize the first portion of the received message to determine the indicated mapping scheme to be used for the second portion, and

obtain, based on the determined mapping scheme, the resource allocation information from the second portion.

12. An apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the first portion comprises a one-bit field.

13. An apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the second portion comprises a bitmap for a downlink resource allocation.

14. An apparatus as in claim 13 , wherein the downlink resource allocation is for resource blocks or physical resource blocks.

15. An apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the message is received by the receiver via a physical downlink control channel.

16. An apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile station.

17. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a message comprising a resource allocation map, wherein the resource allocation map comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is indicative of a first mapping scheme or a second mapping scheme, wherein the indicated first mapping scheme or second mapping scheme is applicable to the second portion, wherein under the first mapping scheme the second portion consists of resource allocation information that indicates at least one group of physical resource blocks that is allocated to the apparatus, wherein under the second mapping scheme the second portion comprises a third portion and a fourth portion, wherein the third portion is indicative of at least one aspect relating to the fourth portion, wherein the fourth portion comprises resource allocation information for resource blocks that are allocated to the apparatus;

means for utilizing the first portion to determine the indicated mapping scheme to be used for the second portion; and

means for obtaining, based on the determined mapping scheme, the resource allocation information from the second portion.

18. An apparatus as in claim 17 , wherein the first portion comprises a one-bit field.

19. An apparatus as in claim 17 , wherein the second portion comprises a bitmap for a downlink resource allocation.

20. An apparatus as in claim 19 , wherein the downlink resource allocation is for resource blocks or physical resource blocks.

21. An apparatus as in claim 17 , wherein the message is received by the means for receiving via a physical downlink control channel.

22. An apparatus as in claim 17 , wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile station.

23. A method comprising:

generating, by a first apparatus, a message comprising a resource allocation map, wherein the resource allocation map comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is indicative of a first mapping scheme or a second mapping scheme, wherein the indicated first mapping scheme or second mapping scheme is applicable to the second portion, wherein under the first mapping scheme the second portion consists of resource allocation information that indicates at least one group of physical resource blocks that is allocated to a second apparatus, wherein under the second mapping scheme the second portion comprises a third portion and a fourth portion, wherein the third portion is indicative of at least one aspect relating to the fourth portion, wherein the fourth portion comprises resource allocation information for resource blocks that are allocated to the second apparatus; and

transmitting, the first apparatus, the generated message towards a second apparatus.

24. A method as in claim 23 , wherein the first portion comprises a one-bit field.

25. A method as in claim 23 , wherein the second portion comprises a bitmap for a downlink resource allocation.

26. A method as in claim 25 , wherein the downlink resource allocation is for resource blocks or physical resource blocks.

27. A method as in claim 23 , wherein the message is transmitted via a physical downlink control channel.

28. A non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, said operations comprising:

generating a message comprising a resource allocation map, wherein the resource allocation map comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is indicative of a first mapping scheme or a second mapping scheme, wherein the indicated first mapping scheme or second mapping scheme is applicable to the second portion, wherein under the first mapping scheme the second portion consists of resource allocation information that indicates at least one group of physical resource blocks that is allocated to an apparatus, wherein under the second mapping scheme the second portion comprises a third portion and a fourth portion, wherein the third portion is indicative of at least one aspect relating to the fourth portion, wherein the fourth portion comprises resource allocation information for resource blocks that are allocated to the apparatus; and

transmitting the generated message towards the apparatus.

29. A program storage device as in claim 28 , wherein the first portion comprises a one-bit field.

30. A program storage device as in claim 28 , wherein the second portion comprises a bitmap for a downlink resource allocation.

31. A program storage device as in claim 30 , wherein the downlink resource allocation is for resource blocks or physical resource blocks.

32. A program storage device as in claim 28 , wherein the message is transmitted via a physical downlink control channel.

33. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program instructions, the at least one memory and the computer program instructions being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:

generate a message comprising a resource allocation map, wherein the resource allocation map comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is indicative of a first mapping scheme or a second mapping scheme, wherein the indicated first mapping scheme or second mapping scheme is applicable to the second portion, wherein under the first mapping scheme the second portion consists of resource allocation information that indicates at least one group of physical resource blocks that is allocated to another apparatus, wherein under the second mapping scheme the second portion comprises a third portion and a fourth portion, wherein the third portion is indicative of at least one aspect relating to the fourth portion, wherein the fourth portion comprises resource allocation information for resource blocks that are allocated to the other apparatus, and

transmit the generated message towards the other apparatus.

34. An apparatus as in claim 33 , wherein the first portion comprises a one-bit field.

35. An apparatus as in claim 33 , wherein the second portion comprises a bitmap for a downlink resource allocation.

36. An apparatus as in claim 35 , wherein the downlink resource allocation is for resource blocks or physical resource blocks.

37. An apparatus as in claim 33 , wherein the generated message is transmitted by the transmitter via a physical downlink control channel.

38. An apparatus as in claim 33 , wherein the apparatus comprises a base station or an access node.

39. An apparatus comprising:

means for generating a message comprising a resource allocation map, wherein the resource allocation map comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is indicative of a first mapping scheme or a second mapping scheme, wherein the indicated first mapping scheme or second mapping scheme is applicable to the second portion, wherein under the first mapping scheme the second portion consists of resource allocation information that indicates at least one group of physical resource blocks that is allocated to another apparatus, wherein under the second mapping scheme the second portion comprises a third portion and a fourth portion, wherein the third portion is indicative of at least one aspect relating to the fourth portion, wherein the fourth portion comprises resource allocation information for resource blocks that are allocated to the other apparatus; and

means for transmitting the generated message towards the other apparatus.

40. An apparatus as in claim 39 , wherein the first portion comprises a one-bit field.

41. An apparatus as in claim 39 , wherein the second portion comprises a bitmap for a downlink resource allocation.

42. An apparatus as in claim 41 , wherein the downlink resource allocation is for resource blocks or physical resource blocks.

43. An apparatus as in claim 39 , wherein the generated message is transmitted by the means for transmitting physical downlink control channel.

44. An apparatus as in claim 39 , wherein the apparatus comprises a base station or an access node.

45. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a data structure, said data structure comprising:

a first portion of a resource allocation map; and

a second portion of the resource allocation map,

wherein the first portion is indicative of a first mapping scheme or a second mapping scheme, wherein the indicated first mapping scheme or second mapping scheme is applicable to the second portion, wherein under the first mapping scheme the second portion consists of resource allocation information that indicates at least one group of physical resource blocks that is allocated to a user equipment, wherein under the second mapping scheme the second portion comprises a third portion and a fourth portion, wherein the third portion is indicative of at least one aspect relating to the fourth portion, wherein the fourth portion comprises resource allocation information for resource blocks that are allocated to the user equipment, wherein the data structure is configured to enable the user equipment to utilize the first portion to determine the indicated mapping scheme for the second portion and to obtain, based on the determined mapping scheme, the resource allocation information from the second portion.

46. A computer-readable medium as in claim 45 , wherein the first portion comprises a one-bit field.

47. A computer-readable medium as in claim 45 , wherein the second portion comprises a bitmap for a downlink resource allocation.

48. A computer-readable medium as in claim 47 , wherein the downlink resource allocation is for resource blocks or physical resource blocks.

49. A computer-readable medium as in claim 45 , wherein the computer-readable medium is embodied in a base station, wherein the data structure is transmitted via a physical downlink control channel from the base station to a mobile station within a wireless communication network.

50. A computer-readable medium as in claim 45 , wherein the computer-readable medium is embodied in a base station, an access node or a mobile station.

51. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the third portion comprises a field for use when a non-equidistant sampling of a physical resource block vector is utilized.

52. An apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the third portion comprises a field for use when a non-equidistant sampling of a physical resource block vector is utilized.

53. A method as in claim 23 , wherein the third portion comprises a field for use when a non-equidistant sampling of a physical resource block vector is utilized.

54. An apparatus as in claim 33 , wherein the third portion comprises a field for use when a non-equidistant sampling of a physical resource block vector is utilized.