Method and apparatus for frequency domain resource allocation when frequency hopping is enabled in mobile communications

1. A method, comprising:

determining, by a processor of an apparatus, whether frequency hopping is enabled;

determining, by the processor, at least one of a first coarse step size corresponding to a start of a frequency domain-resource allocation (FD-RA) and a second coarse step size corresponding to a length of the FD-RA in an event that the frequency hopping is enabled;

determining, by the processor, allocated resources blocks (RBs) according to at least one of the first coarse step size and the second coarse step size; and

performing, by the processor, a transmission on the allocated RBs.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first coarse step size and the second coarse step size is greater than one.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first coarse step size and the second coarse step size fulfil a condition to avoid holes in spectrums.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second coarse step size equals to the first coarse step size multiplied by a positive integer.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining of at least one of the first coarse step size and the second coarse step size comprises determining at least one of the first coarse step size and the second coarse step size according to a number of bits used by the frequency hopping.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, a resource indication value (RIV); and

determining, by the processor, the start of the FD-RA and the length of the FD-RA according to the RIV,

wherein the RIV comprises at least one bit used to indicate the frequency hopping.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the RIV is determined according to at least one of the first coarse step size and the second coarse step size.

8. A method of claim 1 , comprising:

enabling, by a processor of an apparatus, at least one of a first coarse step size corresponding to a start of a frequency domain-resource allocation (FD-RA) and a second coarse step size corresponding to a length of the FD-RA in response to at least one of a radio resource control (RRC) configuration, a specific downlink control information (DCI) format, and a specific radio network temporary identifier (RNTI);

determining, by the processor, allocated resource blocks (RBs) according to at least one of the first course step size and the second course step size; and

performing, by the processor, a transmission on the allocated RBs.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first coarse step size and the second coarse step size are identical.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a transceiver which, during operation, wirelessly communicates with a network node of a wireless network; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver such that, during operation, the processor performs operations comprising:

determining whether frequency hopping is enabled;

determining at least one of a first coarse step size corresponding to a start of a frequency domain-resource allocation (FD-RA) and a second coarse step size corresponding to a length of the FD-RA in an event that the frequency hopping is enabled;

determining allocated resources blocks (RBs) according to at least one of the first coarse step size and the second coarse step size; and

performing, via the transceiver, a transmission on the allocated RBs.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first coarse step size and the second coarse step size is greater than one.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first coarse step size and the second coarse step size fulfil a condition to avoid holes in spectrums.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the second coarse step size equals to the first coarse step size multiplied by a positive integer.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein, in determining at least one of the first coarse step size and the second coarse step size, the processor determines at least one of the first coarse step size and the second coarse step size according to a number of bits used by the frequency hopping.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein, during operation, the processor further performs operations comprising:

receiving, via the transceiver, a resource indication value (RIV); and

determining the start of the FD-RA and the length of the FD-RA according to the RIV,

wherein the RIV comprises at least one bit used to indicate the frequency hopping.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the RIV is determined according to at least one of the first coarse step size and the second coarse step size.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a transceiver which, during operation, wirelessly communicates with a network node of a wireless network; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver such that, during operation, the processor performs operations comprising:

enabling at least one of a first coarse step size corresponding to a start of a frequency domain-resource allocation (FD-RA) and a second coarse step size corresponding to a length of the FD-RA in response to at least one of a radio resource control (RRC) configuration, a specific downlink control information (DCI) format, and a specific radio network temporary identifier (RNTI);

determining allocated resource blocks (RBs) according to at least one of the first coarse step size and the second coarse step size; and

performing, via the transceiver, a transmission on the allocated RBs.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first coarse step size and the second coarse step size are identical.