Efficient control signaling using common search space
There is disclosed a method of operating a network node in a radio access network, the method includes transmitting a resource allocation message comprising a bit field, the resource allocation message being transmitted for reception in a common search space to which a first bandwidth part with a first unit size of resource allocation is associated. The bit field allocates resources in a second bandwidth part with a second unit size of resource allocation. The disclosure also pertains to related devices and methods.
1. A method of operating a network node in a radio access network, the method comprising:
transmitting a resource allocation message comprising a bit field, the resource allocation message being transmitted for reception in a common search space in a first bandwidth part with a first unit size of resource allocation, the bit field mapping to resources to be allocated in a second bandwidth part with a second unit size of resource allocation.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first unit size is different from the second unit size.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a unit size is represented in size of a Physical Resource Block Group having N Physical Resource Blocks.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bit field indicates one of:
a bit map mapped to Physical Resource Block Groups beginning at a reference Physical Resource Block Group; and
a range of Physical Resource Block Groups.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein it is indicated that the bit field allocates resources based on the second unit size.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least the first and second bandwidth parts are associated to the same carrier.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bit field allocated resources for a specific channel.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the resource allocation message is addressed to a plurality of user equipments.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the bit field allocates resources in a third bandwidth part with a third unit size of resource allocation.
10. A network node for a radio access network, the network node comprising processing circuitry configured to cause the network node to:
transmit a resource allocation message comprising a bit field, the resource allocation message being transmitted for reception in a common search space in a first bandwidth part with a first unit size of resource allocation, the bit field mapping to resources to be allocated in a second bandwidth part with a second unit size of resource allocation.
11. A method of operating a user equipment in a radio access network, the method comprising:
receiving a resource allocation message, the resource allocation message comprising a bit field, the resource allocation message being received in a common search space in a first bandwidth part with a first unit size of resource allocation, the bit field mapping to resources to be allocated in a second bandwidth part with a second unit size of resource allocation; and
communicating on the second bandwidth part utilizing the second unit size based on the bit field.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the first unit size is different from the second unit size.
13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein a unit size is represented in size of a Physical Resource Block Group having N Physical Resource Blocks.
14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the bit field indicates one of:
a bit map mapped to Physical Resource Block Groups beginning at a reference Physical Resource Block Group; and
a range of Physical Resource Block Groups.
15. The method according to claim 11 , wherein it is indicated that the bit field allocates resources based on the second unit size.
16. The method according to claim 11 , wherein at least the first and second bandwidth parts are associated to the same carrier.
17. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the bit field allocated resources for a specific channel.
18. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the resource allocation message is addressed to a plurality of user equipments.
19. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the bit field allocates resources in a third bandwidth part with a third unit size of resource allocation.
20. A user equipment for a radio access network, the user equipment comprising processing circuitry configured to cause the user equipment to:
receive a resource allocation message, the resource allocation message comprising a bit field, the resource allocation message being received in a common search space in a first bandwidth part with a first unit size of resource allocation, the bit field mapping to resources to be allocated in a second bandwidth part with a second unit size of resource allocation; and
communicate on the second bandwidth part utilizing the second unit size based on the bit field.