Mobile communications network, communications device and methods
A communications device transmits and receives data via a wireless access interface in a mobile communications network. First resource allocation messages are received by communications devices to allocate one or more of plural communications resource elements of a host frequency range of a host carrier. Second resource allocation messages are received by reduced capability devices to allocate one or more of a first section of the communications resources within the first frequency range for preferable allocation to the reduced capability devices of a first virtual carrier, the first resource allocation messages identifying one or more of the communications resource of the host carrier allocated to the communications devices with reference to a first reference frequency and the second resource allocation messages identifying one or more communications resources of the first virtual carrier allocated to the reduced capability devices with reference to a second reference frequency within the first virtual carrier.
1. An infrastructure equipment for forming part of a mobile communications network for transmitting data to or receiving data from communications devices, the infrastructure equipment comprising:
a transmitter configured to transmit signals representing the data to the communications devices via a wireless interface,
a receiver configured to receive signals representing the data from the communications devices via the wireless access interface, and
a controller configured to control the transmitter and the receiver to form the wireless access interface, the wireless access interface providing a plurality of communications resource elements across a host frequency range of a host carrier, and providing a first part of the communications resources within a first frequency range for preferable allocation to reduced capability devices forming a first virtual carrier and the first frequency range being within the host frequency range, and the wireless access interface includes:
a plurality of time divided sub-frames, and
at least one of the sub-frames includes a control channel in a part of the sub-frame for communicating signaling messages to the communications devices and the reduced capability devices, wherein
the controller is configured, in combination with the transmitter, to
transmit first resource allocation messages to the communications devices to allocate one or more of the plurality of communications resource elements of the host frequency range of the host carrier, and
transmit second resource allocation messages to the reduced capability devices to allocate one or more of the first part of the communication resources within the first frequency range for allocation to the reduced capability devices of the first virtual carrier, the first resource allocation messages identifying one or more of the communications resource of the host carrier allocated to the communications devices with reference to a first reference frequency of the host frequency band and the second resource allocation messages identifying the one or more communications resources of the first virtual carrier allocated to the reduced capability devices with reference to a second reference frequency within the first virtual carrier.
2. The infrastructure equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the second resource allocation messages comprise a smaller amount of data than the first resource allocation messages.
3. The infrastructure equipment according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first or second resource allocation messages include bit maps of the communications resources allocated.
4. The infrastructure equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured, in combination with the transmitter, to transmit an indication of the frequency range of the first virtual carrier, which conveys the first reference frequency within the first virtual carrier with respect to which the second resource allocations messages identify the communications resources allocated to the reduce capability devices.
5. The infrastructure equipment according to claim 4 , wherein the second frequency range is within the host frequency range and includes at least some communications resources that are different from those of the first virtual carrier.
6. The infrastructure equipment according to claim 5 , wherein the second resource allocation messages identify one or more communications resources of the second virtual carrier allocated to the reduced capability devices with reference to a reference frequency within the second virtual carrier.
7. The infrastructure equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured, in combination with the transmitter, to transmit an indication of the reference frequency within the first virtual carrier with respect to which the second resource allocation messages identify the communications resources which are allocated to the reduced capability devices.
8. The infrastructure equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless access interface provides a second section of the communications resources within a second frequency range for allocation to the reduced capability devices forming a second virtual carrier.
9. The infrastructure equipment according to claim 8 , wherein the second frequency range is within the host frequency range and includes at least some communications resources that are different from those of the first virtual carrier.
10. The infrastructure equipment according to claim 9 , wherein the second resource allocation messages identify one or more communications resources of the second virtual carrier allocated to the reduced capability devices with reference to a reference frequency within the second virtual carrier.
11. Circuitry for an infrastructure equipment for forming part of a mobile communications network for transmitting data to or receiving data from communications devices, the circuitry comprising:
a transmitter configured to transmit signals representing the data to the communications devices via a wireless interface,
a receiver configured to receive signals representing the data from the communications devices via the wireless access interface, and
a controller configured to control the transmitter and the receiver to form the wireless access interface, the wireless access interface providing a plurality of communications resource elements across a host frequency range of a host carrier, and providing a first part of the communications resources within a first frequency range for preferable allocation to reduced capability devices forming a first virtual carrier and the first frequency range being within the host frequency range, and the wireless access interface includes:
a plurality of time divided sub-frames, and
at least one of the sub-frames includes a control channel in a part of the sub-frame for communicating signaling messages to the communications devices and the reduced capability devices, wherein
the controller is configured, in combination with the transmitter, to
transmit first resource allocation messages to the communications devices to allocate one or more of the plurality of communications resource elements of the host frequency range of the host carrier, and
transmit second resource allocation messages to the reduced capability devices to allocate one or more of the first part of the communication resources within the first frequency range for allocation to the reduced capability devices of the first virtual carrier, the first resource allocation messages identifying one or more of the communications resource of the host carrier allocated to the communications devices with reference to a first reference frequency of the host frequency band and the second resource allocation messages identifying the one or more communications resources of the first virtual carrier allocated to the reduced capability devices with reference to a second reference frequency within the first virtual carrier.
12. The circuitry for the infrastructure equipment according to claim 11 , wherein the second resource allocation messages comprise a smaller amount of data than the first resource allocation messages.
13. The circuitry for the infrastructure equipment according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first or second resource allocation messages include bit maps of the communications resources allocated.
14. The circuitry for the infrastructure equipment according to claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured, in combination with the transmitter, to transmit an indication of the frequency range of the first virtual carrier, which conveys the first reference frequency within the first virtual carrier with respect to which the second resource allocations messages identify the communications resources allocated to the reduce capability devices.
15. The circuitry for the infrastructure equipment according to claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured, in combination with the transmitter, to transmit an indication of the reference frequency within the first virtual carrier with respect to which the second resource allocation messages identify the communications resources which are allocated to the reduced capability devices.
16. The circuitry for the infrastructure equipment according to claim 11 , wherein the wireless access interface provides a second section of the communications resources within a second frequency range for allocation to the reduced capability devices forming a second virtual carrier.
17. A method for an infrastructure equipment for forming part of a mobile communications network for transmitting data to or receiving data from communications devices, the method comprising:
transmitting, with a transmitter, signals representing the data to the communications devices via a wireless interface;
receiving, with a receiver, signals representing the data from the communications devices via the wireless access interface; and
controlling, with a controller, the transmitter and the receiver to form the wireless access interface, the wireless access interface providing a plurality of communications resource elements across a host frequency range of a host carrier, and providing a first part of the communications resources within a first frequency range for preferable allocation to reduced capability devices forming a first virtual carrier and the first frequency range being within the host frequency range, and the wireless access interface includes:
a plurality of time divided sub-frames, and
at least one of the sub-frames includes a control channel in a part of the sub-frame for communicating signaling messages to the communications devices and the reduced capability devices, wherein the method further includes
transmitting first resource allocation messages to the communications devices to allocate one or more of the plurality of communications resource elements of the host frequency range of the host carrier, and
transmitting second resource allocation messages to the reduced capability devices to allocate one or more of the first part of the communication resources within the first frequency range for allocation to the reduced capability devices of the first virtual carrier, the first resource allocation messages identifying one or more of the communications resource of the host carrier allocated to the communications devices with reference to a first reference frequency of the host frequency band and the second resource allocation messages identifying the one or more communications resources of the first virtual carrier allocated to the reduced capability devices with reference to a second reference frequency within the first virtual carrier.