Granted Patent B2

US 8,824,392 · App. 13/167,969 · Granted Sep 2, 2014

Abstract

Claims (53)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

memory including computer program code,

said memory and said computer program code configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to perform at least the following:

arrange a number of sub-channels in a sequence according to an index configured to be allocated to at least one of a first user equipment, a second user equipment and a third user equipment;

receive first segment information from said first user equipment partitioning said number of sub-channels into a first user equipment-first user-defined segment and a first user equipment-second user-defined segment;

receive first segment information from said second user equipment partitioning said number of sub-channels into a second user equipment-first user-defined segment and a second user equipment-second user-defined segment;

receive first segment information from said third user equipment partitioning said number of sub-channels into a third user equipment-first user-defined segment and a third user equipment-second user-defined segment; and

allocate sub-channels dependent on said first user equipment-first user-defined segment to said first user equipment when said first segment information therefrom is lower than said first segment information from said second user equipment and said first segment information from said third user equipment, wherein the first segment information from the first user equipment, the first segment information from the second user equipment, and the first segment information from the third user equipment each comprises one or more markers that partition the number of sub-channels into consecutive segments according to a preference of the first user equipment, the second user equipment, and the third user equipment, respectively.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said memory and said computer program code are further configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to:

receive second segment information from said second user equipment to partition said number of sub-channels into said second user equipment-second user-defined segment and a second user equipment-third user-defined segment;

receive second segment information from said third user equipment to partition said number of sub-channels into said third user equipment-second user-defined segment and a third user equipment-third user-defined segment; and

allocate sub-channels dependent on said second user equipment-second user-defined segment to said second user equipment when said second segment information therefrom is lower than said second segment information from said third user equipment.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said memory and said computer program code are further configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to:

arrange a number of remaining sub-channels in the sequence according to the index configured to be allocated to at least one of said second user equipment and said third user equipment;

receive second segment information from said second user equipment to partition said number of remaining sub-channels into another second user equipment-first user-defined segment and another second user equipment-second user-defined segment;

receive second segment information from said third user equipment to partition said number of remaining sub-channels into another third user equipment-first user-defined segment and another third user equipment-second user-defined segment; and

allocate said number of remaining sub-channels dependent on said another second user equipment-first user-defined segment to said second user equipment when said second segment information therefrom is lower than said second segment information from said third user equipment.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said memory and said computer program code are further configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to remove said first user equipment-first user-defined segment from said number of sub-channels to obtain a remaining number of sub-channels.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said memory and said computer program code are further configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to remove said first user equipment-first user-defined segment from said number of sub-channels to obtain a number of remaining sub-channels and arrange said number of remaining sub-channels in the sequence according to the index.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first user equipment-first user-defined segment, said first user equipment-second user-defined segment, said second user equipment-first user-defined segment, said second user equipment-second user-defined segment, said third user equipment-first user-defined segment and said third user equipment-second user-defined segment includes a different number of sub-channels.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said memory and said computer program code are further configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to receive additional segment information to partition said number of sub-channels into at least one additional segment for said first user equipment, said second user equipment and said third user equipment, and allocate the at least one additional segment to one of said first user equipment, said second user equipment and said third user equipment.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said apparatus is embodied in a base station.

9. A method, comprising:

arranging a number of sub-channels in a sequence according to an index configured to be allocated to at least one of a first user equipment, a second user equipment and a third user equipment;

receiving first segment information from said first user equipment partitioning said number of sub-channels into a first user equipment-first user-defined segment and a first user equipment-second user-defined segment;

receiving first segment information from said second user equipment partitioning said number of sub-channels into a second user equipment-first user-defined segment and a second user equipment-second user-defined segment;

receiving first segment information from said third user equipment partitioning said number of sub-channels into a third user equipment-first user-defined segment and a third user equipment-second user-defined segment; and

allocating sub-channels dependent on said first user equipment-first user-defined segment to said first user equipment when said first segment information therefrom is lower than said first segment information from said second user equipment and said first segment information from said third user equipment, wherein the first segment information from the first user equipment, the first segment information from the second user equipment, and the first segment information from the third user equipment each comprises one or more markers that partition the number of sub-channels into consecutive segments according to a preference of the first user equipment, the second user equipment, and the third user equipment, respectively.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 , further comprising:

receiving second segment information from said second user equipment to partition said number of sub-channels into said second user equipment-second user-defined segment and a second user equipment-third user-defined segment;

receiving second segment information from said third user equipment to partition said number of sub-channels into said third user equipment-second user-defined segment and a third user equipment-third user-defined segment; and

allocating sub-channels dependent on said second user equipment-second user-defined segment to said second user equipment when said second segment information therefrom is lower than said second segment information from said third user equipment.

11. The method as recited in claim 9 , further comprising:

arranging a number of remaining sub-channels in the sequence according to the index configured to be allocated to at least one of said second user equipment and said third user equipment;

receiving second segment information from said second user equipment to partition said number of remaining sub-channels into another second user equipment-first user-defined segment and another second user equipment-second user-defined segment;

receiving second segment information from said third user equipment to partition said number of remaining sub-channels into another third user equipment-first user-defined segment and another third user equipment-second user-defined segment; and

allocating said number of remaining sub-channels dependent on said another second user equipment-first user-defined segment to said second user equipment when said second segment information therefrom is lower than said second segment information from said third user equipment.

12. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising removing said first user equipment-first user-defined segment from said number of sub-channels to obtain a remaining number of sub-channels.

13. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising removing said first user equipment-first user-defined segment from said number of sub-channels to obtain a number of remaining sub-channels and arranging said number of remaining sub-channels in the sequence according to the index.

14. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein at least one of said first user equipment-first user-defined segment, said first user equipment-second user-defined segment, said second user equipment-first user-defined segment, said second user equipment-second user-defined segment, said third user equipment-first user-defined segment and said third user equipment-second user-defined segment includes a different number of sub-channels.

15. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising receiving additional segment information to partition said number of sub-channels into at least one additional segment for said first user equipment, said second user equipment and said third user equipment, and allocating at least one additional segment to one of said first user equipment, said second user equipment and said third user equipment.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

memory including computer program code,

said memory and said computer program code configured to, with said processor, cause said apparatus to perform at least the following:

receive a number of sub-channels and segments configured to be allocated to said apparatus;

partition said number of sub-channels into a first user-defined segment and a second user-defined segment; and

provide segment information to a base station, wherein the segment information indicates said partition into said first user-defined segment and said second user-defined segment, wherein the segment information comprises one or more markers that partition the number of sub-channels into the first user-defined segment and the second user-defined segment according to a preference of the apparatus.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said apparatus is configured to partition said number of sub-channels according to a priority thereof

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said apparatus is configured to partition said number of sub-channels according to a priority thereof, said priority being a function of processed sub-channel characteristics.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said processed sub-channel characteristics include a performance indicator of said number of sub-channels.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said segment information includes an additional number of segments to partition said number of sub-channels.

Assignments (8)