Non-consecutive subframes in multi-TTI scheduling messages

1. A method, in a network node, for handling scheduling of a wireless device in a communications network, wherein the network node is adapted to communicate with the wireless device over a radio channel, the method comprising:

dynamically allocating a set of non-consecutive subframes in which the network node is to transmit data to the wireless device or receive data from the wireless device; and

transmitting, in a downlink control information message (DCI) on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a multi-Time Transmission Interval (TTI) scheduling message to the wireless device, which multi-TTI scheduling message comprises information indicating the dynamically allocated non-consecutive subframes;

wherein the information indicating the dynamically allocated non-consecutive subframes further indicates a multi-TTI subframe pattern corresponding to non-consecutive subframes where the network node is to receive data from the wireless device or transmit data to the wireless device such that the multi-TTI subframe pattern indicates which subframes are on and to be allocated and which subframes are off and not to be allocated;

wherein the multi-TTI scheduling message further comprises information indicating a number of subframes that are on, or information indicating a number of consecutive subframes associated with a time interval; and

transmitting, by the network node in a radio resource control (RRC) message or a medium access control (MAC) message, to the wireless device, an indication of a number of candidate multi-TTI subframe patterns, wherein the downlink control information message transmitted on the physical downlink control channel indicates which one of the candidate multi-TTI subframe patterns is the multi-TTI subframe pattern.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:

transmitting data to the wireless device in the dynamically allocated non-consecutive subframes; and

receiving data from the wireless device in the dynamically allocated non-consecutive subframes.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-TTI scheduling message is at least one of:

a multi-TTI scheduling assignment for a downlink direction; and

a multi-TTI scheduling grant for an uplink direction.

4. The method of claim 1 :

wherein a reference point of the multi-TTI subframe pattern is at a subframe in which the multi-TTI scheduling message is received at the wireless device; or

wherein the reference point of the multi-TTI subframe pattern is determined based on radio frame timing.

5. The method of claim 1 :

wherein the subframe pattern matches subframes in which the wireless device is configured to be silent; or

wherein the subframe pattern matches subframes in which communication between the network node and the wireless device is prohibited.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the wireless device is configured with a plurality of candidate subframe patterns; and

the multi-TTI scheduling message comprises an indicator to a specific subframe pattern from the plurality of candidate subframe patterns.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communications network is a Time-Division Duplexing (TDD) network or a Frequency-Division Duplexing (FDD) network.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the subframe is flexible with regards to being an uplink or downlink subframe; and

the multi-TTI scheduling message comprises information indicating an uplink state or a downlink state of a flexible subframe.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-TTI scheduling message links non-flexible subframes.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network node is a base station and the wireless device is a user equipment.

11. A method, in a wireless device, for handling scheduling of the wireless device in a communications network, wherein the wireless device is adapted to communicate with a network node over a radio channel, the method comprising:

receiving, by the wireless device in a downlink control information (DCI) message on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a multi-Time Transmission Interval (TTI) scheduling message from the network node, the multi-TTI scheduling message comprising:

information indicating a set of dynamically allocated non-consecutive subframes in which the wireless device is to transmit data to the network node or to receive data from the network node;

information indicating a multi-TTI subframe pattern corresponding to subframes in which the wireless device shall receive data from the network node or transmit data to the network node; and

the multi-TTI subframe pattern indicating which subframes are on and may be allocated and which subframes are off and not to be allocated; and

wherein the multi-TTI scheduling message further comprises information indicating a number of on subframes or information indicating a number of consecutive subframes associated with a time interval; and

receiving, by the wireless device in a radio resource control (RRC) message or a medium access control (MAC) message, from the network node, an indication of a number of candidate multi-TTI subframe patterns, wherein the downlink control information message transmitted on the physical downlink control channel indicates which one of the candidate multi-TTI subframe patterns is the multi-TTI subframe pattern.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising decoding the received multi-TTI scheduling message.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising at least one of:

receiving data from the network node in the dynamically allocated non-consecutive subframes; and

transmitting data to the network node in the dynamically allocated non-consecutive subframes.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the multi-TTI scheduling message is at least one of:

a multi-TTI scheduling assignment for a downlink direction; and

a multi-TTI scheduling grant for an uplink direction.

15. The method of claim 11 :

wherein a reference point of the multi-TTI subframe pattern is a subframe in which the multi-TTI scheduling message is received at the wireless device; or

wherein the reference point of the multi-TTI subframe pattern is determined based on radio frame timing.

16. The method of claim 11 :

wherein the subframe pattern matches subframes in which the wireless device is configured to be silent; or

wherein the subframe pattern matches subframes in which the communication between the network node and the wireless device is prohibited.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein:

the wireless device is configured with a plurality of candidate subframe patterns; and

the multi-TTI scheduling message comprises an indicator to a specific subframe pattern of the plurality of subframe patterns.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the communications network is a Time-Division Duplexing (TDD) network or a Frequency-Division Duplexing (FDD) network.

19. The method of claim 11 :

wherein the subframe is flexible with regards to being an uplink or downlink subframe; and

wherein the multi-TTI scheduling message comprises information indicating an uplink state or downlink state of a flexible subframe.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the multi-TTI scheduling message is associated with non-flexible subframes.

21. The method of claim 11 , wherein the network node is a base station and the wireless device is a user equipment.

22. A network node for handling scheduling of a wireless device in a communications network, wherein the network node is adapted to communicate with the wireless device over a radio channel, the network node comprising:

an allocating circuit adapted to dynamically allocate a set of non-consecutive subframes, in which the network node is to transmit data to the wireless device or to receive data from the wireless device; and

a transmitter adapted to:

transmit, in a downlink control information (DCI) message on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a multi-Time Transmission Interval (TTI) scheduling message to the wireless device, the multi-TTI scheduling message comprising:

information indicating a set of dynamically allocated non-consecutive subframes in which the wireless device is to transmit data to the network node or to receive data from the network node;

information indicating a multi-TTI subframe pattern corresponding to subframes in which the wireless device shall receive data from the network node or transmit data to the network node; and

the multi-TTI subframe pattern indicating which subframes are on and may be allocated and which subframes are off and not to be allocated; and

wherein the multi-TTI scheduling message further comprises information indicating a number of on subframes, or information indicating a number of consecutive subframes associated with a time interval; and

transmit, by the network node in a radio resource control (RRC) message or a medium access control (MAC) message, to the wireless device, an indication of a number of candidate multi-TTI subframe patterns, wherein the downlink control information message transmitted on the physical downlink control channel indicates which one of the candidate multi-TTI subframe patterns is the multi-TTI subframe pattern.

23. The network node of claim 22 :

wherein the transmitter is further adapted to transmit data to the wireless device in the dynamically allocated non-consecutive subframes; and

wherein the network node further comprises a receiver adapted to receive data from the wireless device in the dynamically allocated non-consecutive subframes.

24. The network node of claim 22 , wherein the multi-TTI scheduling message is at least one of:

a multi-TTI scheduling assignment for a downlink direction; and

a multi-TTI scheduling grant for an uplink direction.

25. The network node of claim 22 :

wherein a reference point of the multi-TTI subframe pattern is at a subframe in which the multi-TTI scheduling message is received at the wireless device; or

wherein the reference point of the multi-TTI subframe pattern is determined based on radio frame timing.

26. The network node of claim 22 :

wherein the subframe pattern matches subframes in which the wireless device is configured to be silent; or

wherein the subframe pattern matches subframes in which communication between the network node and the wireless device is prohibited.

27. The network node of claim 22 , wherein:

the wireless device is configured with a plurality of candidate subframe patterns; and

the multi-TTI scheduling message comprises an indicator to a specific subframe pattern of the plurality of candidate subframe patterns.

28. The network node of claim 22 , wherein the communications network is a Time-Division Duplexing (TDD) network or a Frequency-Division Duplexing (FDD) network.

29. The network node of claim 22 , wherein:

the subframe is flexible with regards to being an uplink or downlink subframe; and

the multi-TTI scheduling message comprises information indicating an uplink state or a downlink state of a flexible subframe.

30. The network node of claim 22 , wherein the multi-TTI scheduling message is associated with non-flexible subframes.

31. The network node of claim 22 , wherein the network node is a base station and the wireless device is a user equipment.

32. A wireless device for handling scheduling of the wireless device in a communications network, wherein the wireless device is adapted to communicate with a network node over a radio channel, the wireless device comprising:

a receiver adapted to:

receive, in a downlink control information (DCI) message on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a multi-Time Transmission Interval (TTI) scheduling message from the network node, the multi-TTI scheduling message comprising:

information indicating a set of dynamically allocated non-consecutive subframes in which the wireless device is to transmit data to the network node or to receive data from the network node;

information indicating a multi-TTI subframe pattern corresponding to subframes in which the wireless device shall receive data from the network node or transmit data to the network node;

the multi-TTI subframe pattern indicating which subframes are on and may be allocated and which subframes are off and not to be allocated; and

wherein the multi-TTI scheduling message further comprises information indicating a number of on subframes or information indicating a number of consecutive subframes associated with a time interval; and

receive, in a radio resource control (RRC) message or a medium access control (MAC) message, from the network node, an indication of a number of candidate multi-TTI subframe patterns, wherein the downlink control information message transmitted on the physical downlink control channel indicates which one of the candidate multi-TTI subframe patterns is the multi-TTI subframe pattern.

33. The wireless device of claim 32 , further comprising a decoding circuit adapted to decode the received multi-TTI scheduling message.

34. The wireless device of claim 32 :

wherein the receiver is further adapted to receive data from the network node in the dynamically allocated non-consecutive subframes; and

further comprising a transmitter adapted to transmit data to the network node in the dynamically allocated non-consecutive subframes.

35. The wireless device of claim 32 , wherein the multi-TTI scheduling message is at least one of a multi-TTI scheduling assignment for a downlink direction and a multi-TTI scheduling grant for an uplink direction.

36. The wireless device of claim 32 , wherein:

a reference point of the multi-TTI subframe pattern is a subframe in which the multi-TTI scheduling message is received at the wireless device; or

the reference point of the multi-TTI subframe pattern is determined based on radio frame timing.

37. The wireless device of claim 32 :

wherein the subframe pattern matches subframes in which the wireless device is configured to be silent; or

wherein the subframe pattern matches subframes in which the communication between the network node and the wireless device is prohibited.

38. The wireless device of claim 32 :

wherein the wireless device is configured with a plurality of candidate subframe patterns; and

wherein the multi-TTI scheduling message comprises an indicator to a specific subframe pattern of said plurality of subframe patterns.

39. The wireless device of claim 32 , wherein the communications network is a Time-Division Duplexing (TDD) network or a Frequency-Division Duplexing (FDD) network.

40. The wireless device of claim 32 , wherein:

the subframe is flexible with regards to being an uplink or downlink subframe; and

the multi-TTI scheduling message comprises information indicating an uplink state or downlink state of a flexible subframe.

41. The wireless device of claim 32 , wherein the multi-TTI scheduling message is associated with non-flexible subframes.

42. The wireless device of claim 32 , wherein the network node is a base station and the wireless device is a user equipment.

43. The method of claim 1 , wherein said dynamically allocating includes dynamically allocating multiple TTIs via the set of non-consecutive subframes in which the network node is to transmit data to the wireless device or receive data from the wireless device.

44. The method of claim 1 , wherein a TTI corresponds to a length of a subframe.