Granted Patent B2

US 8,848,681 · App. 12/597,797 · Granted Sep 30, 2014

Abstract

Claims (74)

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory operable to store computer program code; and

wherein the at least one processor is operable to, using the computer program code, cause the apparatus at least to:

determine a type of medium access control (MAC) header to transmit in a MAC transmission;

set a value of a notification field in a resource allocation message based on the determined type of MAC header; and

transmit the resource allocation message; and wherein

the resource allocation message comprises at least one of a downlink map, an uplink map, a relay map, a relay downlink map and a relay uplink map;

the notification field is located in a common part of the resource allocation message; and,

the notification field applies to an entirety of the resource allocation message.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the MAC transmission comprises at least one MAC protocol data unit (PDU).

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one of a base station, an access point and a relay station.

4. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory operable to store computer program code; and

wherein the at least one processor is operable to, using the computer program code, cause the apparatus at least to:

determine a type of medium access control (MAC) header to transmit in a MAC transmission;

set a value of a notification field in a resource allocation message based on the determined type of MAC header; and

transmit the resource allocation message; and wherein

the resource allocation message comprises at least one of a downlink map, an uplink map, a relay map, a relay downlink map and a relay uplink map;

the notification field is located in an information element of the resource allocation message that defines a resource allocation for the MAC transmission for a single burst; and

the notification field applies to only the burst specified in the information element of the resource allocation message.

5. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a resource allocation message comprising a notification field; and using a value of the notification field to determine a type of medium access control (MAC) header for a MAC transmission; and wherein

the resource allocation message comprises at least one of a downlink map, an uplink map, a relay map, a relay downlink map and a relay uplink map;

the notification field is located in a common part of the resource allocation message; and,

the notification field applies to an entirety of the resource allocation message.

6. The program storage device of claim 5 , wherein the MAC transmission comprises at least one MAC protocol data unit (PDU).

7. The program storage device of claim 5 , wherein the resource allocation message is received via a broadcast transmission.

8. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a resource allocation message comprising a notification field; and using a value of the notification field to determine a type of medium access control (MAC) header for a MAC transmission; and wherein

the resource allocation message comprises at least one of a downlink map, an uplink map, a relay map, a relay downlink map and a relay uplink map;

the notification field is located in an information element of the resource allocation message that defines a resource allocation for the MAC transmission for a single burst; and

the notification field applies to only the burst specified in the information element of the resource allocation message.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory operable to store computer program code; and

wherein the at least one processor is operable to, using the computer program code, cause the apparatus at least to:

receive a resource allocation message comprising a notification field; and

use a value of the notification field to determine a type of medium access control (MAC) header for a MAC transmission; and wherein

the resource allocation message comprises at least one of a downlink map, an uplink map, a relay map, a relay downlink map and a relay uplink map;

the notification field is located in a common part of the resource allocation message; and,

the notification field applies to an entirety of the resource allocation message.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the MAC transmission comprises at least one MAC protocol data unit (PDU).

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the resource allocation message is received via a broadcast transmission.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile station or a relay station.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory operable to store computer program code; and

wherein the at least one processor is operable to, using the computer program code, cause the apparatus at least to:

receive a resource allocation message comprising a notification field; and

use a value of the notification field to determine a type of medium access control (MAC) header for a MAC transmission; and wherein

the resource allocation message comprises at least one of a downlink map, an uplink map, a relay map, a relay downlink map and a relay uplink map;

the notification field is located in an information element of the resource allocation message that defines a resource allocation for the MAC transmission for a single burst; and

the notification field applies to only the burst specified in the information element of the resource allocation message.

14. A method comprising:

determining a type of medium access control (MAC) header to transmit in a MAC transmission;

setting a value of a notification field in a resource allocation message based on the determined type of MAC header; and

transmitting the resource allocation message; and wherein

the resource allocation message comprises at least one of a downlink map, an uplink map, a relay map, a relay downlink map and a relay uplink map;

the notification field is located in a common part of the resource allocation message; and,

the notification field applies to an entirety of the resource allocation message.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the MAC transmission comprises at least one MAC protocol data unit (PDU).

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein transmitting the resource allocation message comprises transmitting the resource allocation message using a broadcast transmission.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the method is implemented by at least one of a base station, an access point and a relay station.

18. A method comprising:

receiving a resource allocation message comprising a notification field; and

using a value of the notification field to determine a type of medium access control (MAC) header for a MAC transmission; and wherein

the resource allocation message comprises at least one of a downlink map, an uplink map, a relay map, a relay downlink map and a relay uplink map;

the notification field is located in a common part of the resource allocation message; and,

the notification field applies to an entirety of the resource allocation message.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the MAC transmission comprises at least one MAC protocol data unit (PDU).

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein receiving the resource allocation message comprises receiving the resource allocation message using a broadcast transmission.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the method is implemented by at least one of a mobile station and a relay station.

Assignments (9)