Apparatus and method for resource allocation

1. A method comprising:

utilizing a structure with more than one branch in the resource allocation of physical resource blocks,

each branch comprising one or more starting positions for resource allocation,

each starting position being associated with a cluster of physical resource blocks, the number of starting positions being different on each branch, the size of the resource clusters of each branch being different,

denoting each resource cluster with a predefined index,

applying one or more clusters allocated to user equipment for uplink transmission, wherein the structure is arranged such that clusters to be allocated are not overlapping with the allocated one or more clusters,

applying a cluster with an index m to user equipment,

applying a second cluster with an index n-m, where n is the total number of clusters within a branch, and

denoting each available cluster with a predefined index before allocating further clusters to the user equipment.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

applying a cluster to user equipment for uplink transmission;

dividing the clusters of the structure in frequency domain into two sections using either the beginning or the end of the allocated cluster as the dividing frequency, wherein the structure is arranged such that clusters which belong to the section including the allocated cluster are not further allocated to the user equipment; and

denoting each available cluster with a predefined index before allocating further clusters to the user equipment.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

applying clusters having a length of a single physical resource block only from either the beginning or the end of the resource block space.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: aligning the resource allocation structure with the structure used in the allocation of a sounding reference signal.

5. A method comprising:

utilizing a structure with more than one branch in the resource allocation of physical resource blocks;

each branch comprising one or more starting positions for resource allocation;

each starting position being associated with a cluster of physical resource blocks, the number of starting positions being different on each branch, the size of the resource clusters of each branch being different;

denoting each resource cluster with a predefined index;

applying a cluster allocated to user equipment for uplink transmission, wherein the cluster being smaller than any subsequent cluster to be allocated, the structure is arranged for subsequent cluster allocation, using only clusters which are greater than the allocated cluster; and

denoting each available cluster with a predefined index before allocating further clusters to the user equipment.

6. An apparatus comprising a controller configured to:

utilize a structure with more than one branch in the resource allocation of physical resource blocks,

each branch comprising one or more starting positions for resource allocation,

each starting position being associated with a cluster of physical resource blocks, the number of starting positions being different on each branch, the size of the resource clusters of each branch being different,

denote each resource cluster with a predefined index,

apply one or more clusters to user equipment for uplink transmission, wherein the structure is arranged such that clusters to be allocated are not overlapping with the allocated one or more clusters,

applying a cluster with an index m to user equipment,

applying a second cluster with an index n-m, where n is the total number of clusters within a branch, and

denote each available cluster with a predefined index before allocating further clusters to the user equipment.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , comprising a controller further configured to

apply a cluster to user equipment for uplink transmission;

divide the clusters of the structure in frequency domain into two sections using either the beginning or the end of the allocated cluster as the dividing frequency, wherein the structure is arranged such that clusters which belong to the section including the allocated cluster are not further allocated to the user equipment; and

denote each available cluster with a predefined index before allocating further clusters to the user equipment.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , comprising a controller further configured to

apply clusters having a length of a single physical resource block only from either the beginning or the end of the resource block space.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , comprising a controller further configured to

align the resource allocation structure with the structure used in the allocation of a sounding reference signal.

10. A apparatus comprising a controller configured to

utilize a structure with more than one branch in the resource allocation of physical resource blocks;

each branch comprising one or more starting positions for resource allocation;

each starting position being associated with a cluster of physical resource blocks, the number of starting positions being different on each branch, the size of the resource clusters of each branch being different;

denote each resource cluster with a predefined index;

apply a cluster allocated to user equipment for uplink transmission, wherein the cluster being smaller than any subsequent cluster to be allocated, the structure is arranged for subsequent cluster allocation, using only clusters which are greater than the allocated cluster; and

denote each available cluster with a predefined index before allocating further clusters to the user equipment.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the sizes of clusters on the branches are based on powers of at least one given integer.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an uplink resource allocation; and

a transmitter configured to transmit using the allocated resource,

wherein the allocated resource comprises one or more clusters that are determined using a structure with more than one branch in the resource allocation of physical resource blocks,

each branch comprising one or more starting positions for resource allocation,

each starting position being associated with a cluster of physical re-source blocks, the number of starting positions being different on each branch, the size of the resource clusters of each branch being different and being based on powers of at least one given integer,

each resource cluster being denoted with a predefined index,

the structure is arranged such that clusters to be allocated are not overlapping with the allocated one or more clusters, and

each available cluster is denoted with a predefined index before allocating further clusters to the user equipment.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an uplink resource allocation; and

a transmitter configured to transmit using the allocated resource,

wherein the allocated resource comprises one or more clusters that are determined using a structure with more than one branch in the resource allocation of physical resource blocks,

each branch comprising one or more starting positions for resource allocation,

each starting position being associated with a cluster of physical resource blocks, the number of starting positions being different on each branch, the size of the resource clusters of each branch being different,

each resource cluster being denoted with a predefined index,

the structure is arranged for subsequent cluster allocation, using only clusters which are greater than the allocated cluster, and

each available cluster is denoted with a predefined index before allocating further clusters to the user equipment.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the sizes of clusters on the branches are based on powers of at least one given integer.

15. A computer program product comprising a computer readable memory embodying a program of instructions executable by a processor to perform actions directed toward resource allocation of physical resource blocks, the actions comprising:

receiving an uplink resource allocation; and

transmitting using the allocated resource,

wherein the allocated resource allocation comprises one or more clusters that are determined using a structure with more than one branch in the resource allocation of physical resource blocks,

each branch comprising one or more starting positions for resource allocation,

each starting position being associated with a cluster of physical resource blocks, the number of starting positions being different on each branch, the size of the resource clusters of each branch being different and being based on powers of at least one given integer, and

each resource cluster being denoted with a predefined index,

the structure is arranged such that clusters to be allocated are not overlapping with the allocated one or more clusters, and

each available cluster is denoted with a predefined index before allocating further clusters to the user equipment.

16. A computer program product comprising a computer readable memory embodying a program of instructions executable by a processor to perform actions directed toward resource allocation of physical resource blocks, the actions comprising:

receiving an uplink resource allocation; and

transmitting using the allocated resource,

wherein the allocated resource allocation comprises one or more clusters that are determined using a structure with more than one branch in the resource allocation of physical resource blocks,

each branch comprising one or more starting positions for resource allocation,

each starting position being associated with a cluster of physical resource blocks, the number of starting positions being different on each branch, the size of the resource clusters of each branch being different and being based on powers of at least one given integer, and

each resource cluster being denoted with a predefined index,

the structure is arranged such that clusters to be allocated are not overlapping with the allocated one or more clusters, and

each available cluster is denoted with a predefined index before allocating further clusters to the user equipment.