Patent ID: 8792425
Filing Date: 2014-07-29
Classification: H04B,H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A signaling method for use in a multiple-access communication system, the system comprising a first communication apparatus and a plurality of second communication apparatuses, the second communication apparatuses being operable to communicate with the first communication apparatus using respective parts of a shared communication frame and each using an available service level for such communication, the method comprising: assessing service-level requests from the second communication apparatuses to determine if there is a group of the second communication apparatuses that have VoIP service-level requirements; if it is determined that such a VoIP group exists, employing a first control scheme specifying communication control information for the second communication apparatuses of the VoIP group to be transmitted in each downlink subframe of the shared communication frame; and for any second communication apparatus not part of the VoIP group, employing a further control scheme different from said first control scheme, the further control scheme specifying communication control information for that second communication apparatus, to be transmitted in each downlink subframe of the shared communication frame using a 2D allocation scheme specifying subchannel offset and symbol offset of allocated resource for that second communication apparatus, and individual control information for use by that second communication apparatus, wherein the communication control information of the first control scheme is a bitmap signaling mechanism with combined control information for use by all the second communication apparatuses of the VoIP group, the first control scheme employing fewer communication control parameters than the communication control information of the further control scheme, such that use of the first control scheme for said VoIP group of second communication apparatuses enables communication for more such second communication apparatuses to be supported in said shared communication frame than if such a further control scheme were used for said VoIP group of second communication apparatuses.