Patent Publication Number: US-2013229957-A1

Title: System and Method For Device-To-Device Communication

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a system and method for digital communications, and more particularly to a system and method for operations enabling direct mobile communications in a wireless communication system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the field of wireless communication, there has been increasing demand for direct device-to-device communication (D2D), direct mobile communication (DMC), and the like. This form of communication refers to a communication mode between two or more user equipments (UEs) that does not include or does not always include a communications controller in a communication path between or among the UEs. DMC will be used herein to denote this form of communication. Generally, DMC communications involve direct communications between multiple DMC devices (the DMC devices are commonly referred to as a UE, a mobile station, a communications device, a subscriber, a terminal, and the like). DMC communications occur as point-to-point (PTP) communications, either point-to-single-point or point-to-multipoint, without having the communications passing through and being fully controlled by a communications controller, such as an evolved NodeB (eNB), a NodeB, a base station, a controller, a communications controller, and the like. 
     A DMC link is different than a cellular link. A cellular link between UEs involves the data shared between the UEs transiting through a network infrastructure node such as an eNB, relay node, or the like. Note, however, that for a DMC link, while data is directly exchanged between the UEs, the control information for the DMC link may still transit through a network node. DMC can enable a cellular network to offload a portion of its base station traffic. In addition to offloading base-station traffic, DMC also enables proximity-based advertisement for local business entities, which can be a revenue source for such entities. DMC can also enable an end user of a user equipment to find and identify nearby friends. Ad hoc-type services can also be provided among user equipments that are physically near each other. DMC is also a key enabler of local social networking. 
     There are two main ways of implementing DMC communication, namely a device-centric arrangement and a network-centric arrangement. In the device-centric arrangement, DMC communication takes place without network oversight. However, in the network-centric arrangement the network initiates DMC communication between UEs when conditions (e.g., the proximity of UEs, overall traffic demand, the location of non-DMC UEs, etc.) are appropriate and supports the DMC communication by, for example, transmitting control information, allocating resources, and the like. The network-centric arrangement offers potential for offloading local traffic from the network, which is attractive to cellular operators. Note that while fully device-centric and fully network-centric can be used, in practice, the solution chosen for a DMC deployment may simultaneously use features of both approaches. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods of dynamically allocating resources for DMC communication. 
     In accordance with an example embodiment, a method of allocating resources to user equipments (UEs) in a Direct Mobile Communication (DMC) group. The method includes informing the UEs in the DMC group of a set of UEs outside the DMC group and assigning transmission resources for the set of UEs outside the DMC group. The method also includes assigning potential transmission resources for the DMC group and transmitting a resource allocation to the set of UEs outside the DMC group. The resource allocation indicates that the transmission resources and the potential transmission resources are the same. 
     In accordance with another example embodiment, a method of allocating resources to user equipments (UEs) in a Direct Mobile Communication (DMC) group. The method includes receiving from a base station an identification of a set of UEs outside the DMC group and receiving an allocation of transmission resources for the set of UEs outside the DMC group. The method also includes using the allocation of transmission resources for communication with other UEs in the DMC group. 
     In accordance with another example embodiment, a method of allocating resources to user equipments (UEs) in a Direct Mobile Communication (DMC) group. The method includes assigning, for the UEs in the DMC group, identifications for transmission. The method also includes informing the UEs in the DMC group of the identifications and transmitting to the UEs in the DMC group an assignment identified by the identifications assigned. The assignment includes a downlink control indicator (DCI) and the identifications informing UEs in the DMC group of a transmitting UE and a receiving UE. 
     In accordance with another example embodiment, a method of allocating resources to user equipments (UEs) in a Direct Mobile Communication (DMC) group. The method includes receiving from a base station identities of UEs in the DMC group. The method also includes receiving an assignment based on the identities of UEs in the DMC group and preparing to transmit or receive based on the assignment. The assignment includes a downlink control indicator (DCI). 
     In accordance with another example embodiment, an apparatus for allocating resources to user equipments (UEs) in a Direct Mobile Communications (DMC) group. The apparatus includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor operably coupled to the transmitter and to the receiver. The processor is configured to identify, for the UEs in the DMC group, an allocation of resources accounting for a UE outside the DMC group and to inform the UEs in the DMC group which of the resources may be used by the UEs in the DMC group to engage in DMC communication. 
     In accordance with another example embodiment, an apparatus for dynamically allocating resources to user equipments (UEs) in a Direct Mobile Communications (DMC) group. The apparatus includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor operably coupled to the transmitter and to the receiver. The processor is configured to receive an identification of an allocation of resources accounting for a UE outside the DMC group and to initiate DMC communication based on the allocation of resources. 
     In accordance with another example embodiment, a method of allocating resources to user equipments (UEs) in a Direct Mobile Communications (DMC) group. The method includes establishing a common group identification for the UEs in the DMC group and assigning a sub-identification unique to each of the UEs in the DMC group. The method also includes placing the sub-identification of one of the UEs in a field of downlink control information (DCI) to indicate that the one of the UEs is authorized to transmit and generating a cyclical redundancy check (CRC) using the DCI and masking the CRC with the common group identification. The method further includes transmitting the DCI and the masked CRC in a channel assignment that, when received and de-masked by each of the UEs in the DMC group, permits the UEs in the DMC group to determine if they have been allocated resources and, if so, identifies that the one of the UEs is authorized to transmit based on the sub-identification placed in the field of the DCI. 
     In accordance with another example embodiment, a method of dynamically allocating resources to user equipments (UEs) in a Direct Mobile Communication (DMC) group. The method includes receiving a common group identification identifying the UEs in the DMC group and receiving a sub-identification uniquely identifying each of the UEs in the DMC group. The method also includes receiving a channel assignment including downlink control information (DCI) and a masked cyclical redundancy check (CRC) and de-masking the masked CRC using the common group identification to generate a received CRC. The method further includes generating a new CRC using the DCI and comparing the received CRC with the new CRC and, if there is a match, receiving an allocation of resources and an identification of which of the UEs in the DMC group is authorized to transmit based on the sub-identification in the field of the DCI. 
     In accordance with another example embodiment, a method of allocating resources to user equipments (UEs) in a Direct Mobile Communication (DMC) group. The method includes establishing a group identification for each of the UEs in the DMC group. The group identification includes a first portion common to the DMC group and a second portion unique to each of the UEs in the DMC group. The method also includes identifying one of the UEs as authorized to transmit and generating a cyclical redundancy check (CRC) using downlink control information (DCI) and masking the CRC with the group identification for each of the UEs in the DMC group. The method further includes transmitting the DCI and the masked CRCs in channel assignments that, when received and de-masked by each of the UEs in the DMC group, permit the UEs to determine if they have been allocated resources and, if so, to identify the one of the UEs authorized to transmit based on the second portion of the group identification. 
     In accordance with another example embodiment, a method of dynamically allocating resources to user equipments (UEs) in a Direct Mobile Communication (DMC) group. The method includes receiving a group identification. The group identification includes a first portion common to the DMC group and a second portion unique to each of the UEs in the DMC group. One of the second portions identifies one of the UEs as authorized to transmit. The method also includes receiving channel assignments including downlink control information (DCI) and masked cyclical redundancy checks (CRCs) and de-masking the masked CRCs using the group identification to generate received CRCs. The method further includes generating a new CRC using the DCI and comparing the received CRCs with the new CRC and, if there is a match, receiving an allocation of resources and an identification of which of the UEs in the DMC group is authorized to transmit based on the second portion of the group identification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic illustrating a group of UEs engaging in DMC communication, a base station (e.g., an eNB), and a distant UE in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method of dynamically allocating resources of the distant UE of  FIG. 1  to the UEs in the DMC group; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of a method of dynamically allocating resources of the distant UE of  FIG. 1  to the UEs in the DMC group; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of a method of dynamically allocating resources other than those of the distant UE of  FIG. 1  to the UEs in the DMC group; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of a method of dynamically allocating resources other than those of the distant UE of  FIG. 1  to the UEs in the DMC group; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method of dynamically allocating resources to the UEs in the DMC group using a field in downlink control information (DCI) and a masking of a cyclical redundancy check (CRC); 
         FIG. 7  is a simplified schematic illustrating the process of DMC communication according to  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of a method of dynamically allocating resources to the UEs in the DMC group using the field in the DCI and the masking of the CRC; 
         FIG. 9  is a simplified schematic illustrating the process of DMC communication according to  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method of dynamically allocating resources to the UEs in the DMC group using a group identification; 
         FIG. 11  is a simplified schematic illustrating the process of DMC communication according to  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of a method of dynamically allocating resources to the UEs in the DMC group using the group identification; 
         FIG. 13  is a simplified schematic illustrating the process of DMC communication according to  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a block diagram of elements of a processing system, such as one of the UEs, that may be used to perform one or more of the methods disclosed herein; and 
         FIG. 15  is a block diagram of elements of a processing system, such as the eNB, that may be used to perform one or more of the methods disclosed herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     The making and using of the presently preferred embodiments are discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the present disclosure provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     As will be more fully explained below, several processes to dynamically allocate resources, both in time and frequency, to a group of user equipments (UEs) engaging in direct-mobile-communication (DMC) are introduced herein. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a base station  10 , a first DMC UE  12 , a second DMC UE  14 , and a cellular UE  16  are illustrated within a served area  18 . The base station  10 , which may be an evolved node B (eNB) or other network infrastructure, communicates control information with the first DMC UE  12  over uplink/downlink wireless communication link  20  and with the second DMC UE  14  over uplink/downlink wireless communication link  22 . Likewise, the base station  10  communicates control information with the cellular UE  16  over uplink/downlink wireless communication link  24 . The DMC UEs are referred to as a DMC group. A DMC group may comprise two or more DMC UEs. Cellular UE  16  communicates using the base station and, as such, is not part of the DMC group. As will be more fully explained below, when conditions are appropriate the first DMC UE  12  and the second DMC UE  14  are permitted to communicate directly with each other over DMC link  26 . 
     While only a pair of DMC UEs  12 ,  14 , which may be collectively referred to herein as the DMC group, are illustrated in  FIG. 1 , more DMC UEs may be included in the DMC group and participate in DMC communication. Indeed, DMC communication may either be a single link with only two devices communicating, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or a multi-link, with multiple devices engaged in DMC. While embodiments are discussed herein utilize single-link DMC communication, multi-link DMC communication may also be used. For instance, many users may set up a local multi-point DMC group as a local social network, for example, group-chatting within a high school, enabling the ability of several persons to play games, or exchanging files by participants in a meeting. The processes introduced herein are targeted to allocate resources for both multi-link and single-link DMC. Communication resources are allocated efficiently for multiple UEs without excluding single-link UE pairs with high performance. In the following, a DMC group is taken as an example without losing commonality. 
     In addition to the above, while a single cellular UE  16  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , more cellular UEs may be present in the served area  18 . Indeed, the processes introduced herein are able to accommodate a plurality of cellular UEs for both single-link and multi-link communication. In other words, the methods disclosed are applicable when numerous cellular UEs are found in the served area  18  and communicating with base station  10 . 
     In order to keep UE complexity low, a half frequency-division-duplex (“FDD”) communication protocol for the DMC link is assumed, such as in the uplink band of a Third Generation Partnership Program (“3GPP”) Long Term Evolution (“LTE”) system. Although FDD protocol is described, time-division-duplex (“TDD”) communication protocol can also be used for DMC. Although described with DMC using uplink spectrum, the concepts disclosed herein may also be deployed using downlink spectrum. Use of the uplink band implies that when one DMC UE is transmitting, the other DMC UEs should be prepared to receive. For the purpose of correctly transmitting and receiving a packet, the UEs involved in a DMC group (single-link or multiple-link) are informed when (e.g., the time resources), where (e.g., the frequency resources), and how (e.g., the related Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) procedure, modulation and coding scheme (“MCS”), power, and multi-input/multi-output (“MIMO”) scheme) to transmit and receive. To address, for example, the “when” and “where” aspects of DMC communication, resources may be dynamically allocated as described herein. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a method  28  of dynamically allocating resources to the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  of  FIG. 1  is illustrated. In block  30 , the cellular UE  16  of  FIG. 1 , which is outside the DMC group and will not experience interference when the user equipments in the DMC group engage in DMC communication, is identified by the base station  10  for the DMC UEs  12 ,  14 . The cellular UE  16  may not experience interference when the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  engage in DMC communication due to, for example, the distance between the cellular UE  16  and the DMC UEs  12 ,  14 . Other factors may also prevent the cellular UE  16  from experiencing an undesirable amount of interference when the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  engage in DMC communication. 
     In some embodiments, the base station  10  periodically or repeatedly identifies the UEs outside the DMC group (e.g., UE  16 ) that will not experience interference when the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  engage in DMC communication. This identification may be at least partly based on signal strength measurements. While described with the level of interference experienced by UEs outside of the group, the base station may identify the target UEs based on other criteria, such as traffic demand, location, and so forth. As such, a list of cellular UEs received or solicited by the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  is updated from time to time and is not static. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , in block  32  the base station  10  of  FIG. 1  transmits channel assignments that, among other things, allocate resources to the cellular UE  16 . Such resources may include, for example, time information pertaining to a subframe or a series of subframes, frequency information for a radio frame, etc., or some combination thereof. The channel assignments may be sent via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), an enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH), or radio resource control (RRC) signaling. In some embodiments, the channel assignments for the UEs outside the DMC group are sent in a common search space of a channel assignment. In some embodiments, the channel assignments for the user equipments outside the DMC group are sent in a single user equipment specific search space of the PDCCH or the ePDCCH. 
     In block  34 , the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  are permitted to engage in DMC communication using the resources of the cellular UE  16 , which the base station  10  identified as a UE that would not experience interference when the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  engage in DMC communication. In some embodiments, the base station  10  authorizes one of the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  to transmit using techniques such as having the DMC UEs take turns, using a predetermined order, or using techniques described in a reference of time domain allocation. In an embodiment, each UE in the DMC group may be linked to a different set of cellular UEs for the authorization of transmission. So, when a UE monitors the channel assignments for the UEs in its corresponding set, it will transmit as instructed. The UEs in the DMC group should be informed of the sets of cellular UEs of each other. Therefore, the other DMC UEs in the group expect to receive from the DMC UE authorized to transmit. 
     In some embodiments, the base station  10  transmits a common group identification to identify members of the DMC group and a sub-group identification to authorize one of the UEs in the DMC group to transmit. This way, a DMC UE is uniquely identified by its group ID and sub-group ID. The base station may allocate resources to a group of DMC UEs, and the resource allocation within the group UE may be done using the techniques described in a time resource allocation reference. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , another method  36  of dynamically allocating resources to the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  is illustrated. In block  38 , an identification of one or more cellular UEs, such as the cellular UE  16 , which is outside the DMC group and will not experience interference when the user equipments in the DMC group engage in DMC communication, is received by the DMC UEs  12 ,  14 . In block  40 , the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  listen to channel assignments by the base station  10  that allocate resources to the cellular UE  16 . 
     In block  42 , the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  engage in DMC communication using the resources of the cellular UE  16 , which the base station  10  identified as a UE that would not experience interference when the DMC UEs engage in DMC communication. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , another method  44  of dynamically allocating resources to the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  is illustrated. Unlike the methods  28 ,  36  noted above, the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  in the method  44  are informed of the cellular UEs that will be interfered with if the DMC group engages in DMC communication. Therefore, the DMC UEs in method  44  use resources other than those allocated to the cellular UE  16 . 
     In block  46 , the cellular UE  16 , which is outside the DMC group and will not experience interference when the user equipments in the DMC group engage in DMC communication, is identified for the DMC UEs  12 ,  14 . In block  48 , the base station  10  transmits channel assignments that, among other things, allocate resources to the cellular UE  16 . 
     In block  50 , the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  are permitted to engage in DMC communication using resources other than the resources allocated to the cellular UE  16 , which the base station  10  identified as a UE that would experience interference when the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  engage in DMC communication. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , another method  52  of dynamically allocating resources to the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  is illustrated. In block  54 , an identification of the cellular UE  16 , which is outside the DMC group and will experience interference when the UEs in the DMC group engage in DMC communication, is received from the base station  10  by the DMC UEs  12 ,  14 . In block  56 , the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  listen to channel assignments by the base station  10  that allocate resources to the cellular UE  16 . 
     In block  58 , the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  engage in DMC communication using resources other than the resources allocated to the cellular UE  16 , which the base station  10  identified as a UE that would experience interference when the DMC UEs  12 ,  14  engage in DMC communication. 
     For an LTE embodiment, the DMC UEs would need to monitor the ePDCCH or PDCCH to obtain the resource assignments for the corresponding cellular UEs. If they have to monitor PDCCH, the number of blind decodings would be significantly increased since the DMC UEs would need to monitor the entire search spaces of each of the cellular UEs it has to monitor. With an ePDCCH, such a problem may not exist if the UEs to monitor are assigned the same search space. In that case, by monitoring a single search space (the one common to all UEs it has to monitor), the DMC UE will get all the resource assignments. 
     Referring collectively to  FIGS. 6-7 , another method  60  of dynamically allocating resources to UEs in DMC group is provided. In block  62 , a common group identification  64  ( FIG. 7 ) is established for the UEs  66 ,  68 ,  70  in the DMC group  72  by, for example, the base station  10 . By way of example, the UEs  66 ,  68 ,  70  in the DMC group  72  of  FIG. 7  are designated as Group A. In block  74  of  FIG. 6 , a sub-identification  76  ( FIG. 7 ) unique to each of the UEs  66 ,  68 ,  70  in the DMC group  72  is assigned by, for example, the base station  10 . By way of example, the UEs  66 ,  68 ,  70  are individually designated as  1 ,  2 , and 3, respectively (e.g., UE  1 , UE  2 , UE  3 ). 
     In block  78  of  FIG. 6 , the sub-identification  76  of one of the user equipments  66 ,  68 ,  70  is placed in a field  80  ( FIG. 7 ) of downlink control information (DCI)  82  by the base station  10 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the number “1,” representing the sub-identification  76  assigned to UE  1 , is placed in the field  80  of the DCI  82  to indicate that UE  1  is the particular user equipment authorized to transmit. Because the field  80  does not include the number  2  or the number  3 , the other UEs in the DMC group  72 , namely UE  2  and UE  3 , expect to receive information from the DMC authorized to transmit, namely UE  1 . 
     In block  84  of  FIG. 6 , a cyclical redundancy check (CRC)  86  ( FIG. 7 ) is generated by, for example, the base station  10  using the DCI  82 , which includes channel assignment, MCS information, and so on. The DCI  82  and CRC  86  of  FIG. 7  generally form a portion of a PDCCH  88  or an enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH). After the CRC  86  is generated in block  84  of  FIG. 6 , the CRC  86  is masked by the common group identification  64  of Group A, as shown in  FIG. 7 , in order to form masked CRC  90 . In block  92  of  FIG. 6 , the DCI  82  and the masked CRC  90  are transmitted in a control channel (e.g., via the PDCCH or the ePDCCH). 
     As will be more fully explained below, when received and de-masked by each of the UEs  66 ,  68 ,  70  in the DMC group  72 , the DCI informs the UEs of the resources allocation, and perhaps the modulation coding scheme (MCS) if the system is configured so that the MCS determination is done by the eNB, and so on. If the CRC is correctly checked by de-masking the DMC group ID, then the UEs in the DMC group know the channel assignment is for the group; the DCI identifies UE  1  as the user equipment authorized to transmit based on the sub-identification placed in the field  80  of the DCI  82 , and in the meantime, the other UEs in the DMC group are also implicitly informed to be ready to receive. 
     Referring collectively to  FIGS. 7-9 , the corresponding receiving method  94  of UEs in a DMC group is illustrated. In block  96 , the common group identification  64  identifying the UEs  66 ,  68 ,  70  in the DMC group  72  is received by the UEs  66 ,  68 ,  70  in the DMC group  72 . In block  98 , a sub-identification uniquely identifying each of the user equipments in the DMC group  72  is received. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the UEs  66 ,  68 ,  70  are individually designated with the sub-identification of “ 1 ,” “ 2 ,” and “ 3 ,” respectively (e.g., UE  1 , UE  2 , UE  3 ). 
     In block  100  of  FIG. 8 , a control channel including the DCI  82  and the masked CRC  90  shown in  FIG. 9  are received by the UEs  66 ,  68 ,  70  in  FIG. 7 . In block  102 , the masked CRC  90  is de-masked by the UEs  66 ,  68 ,  70  using the common group identification  64  (e.g., Group A) in order to generate a received CRC  104  as shown in  FIG. 9 . In block  106  of  FIG. 8 , a new CRC  108  is generated by the UEs  66 ,  68 ,  70  using the DCI  82  as shown in  FIG. 9 . Thereafter, in block  110  of  FIG. 8 , the received CRC  104  is compared with the new CRC  108 . If there is a match, the UEs  66 ,  68 ,  70  receive an allocation of resources and an identification of which of the user equipments in the DMC group  72  is authorized to transmit based on the sub-identification in the field  80  of the DCI  82 , the other UEs should be prepared to receive according to the DCI  82 . 
     Referring collectively to  FIGS. 10-11 , another method  112  of dynamically allocating resources to UEs in a DMC group is illustrated. In block  114 , an identification  116  is established for UE  118  and an identification  120  is established for UE  122  by the base station  10 . By way of example, the identification  116  for UE  1  in  FIG. 11  is designated as “xxxxxxxx0” and the identification  120  for UE  2  is designated as “xxxxxxxx1.” 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , each of the identifications  116 ,  120  includes a first portion  124  (e.g., the “xxxxxxxx”) common to the UEs in the DMC group (e.g., UE  1  and UE  2 ). Each of the identifications  116 ,  120  also include a second portion  126  unique to each of the user equipments. In particular, the identification  116  has a second portion of “0” and the identification  120  has a second portion of “1.” As will be more fully explained below, the second portion  126  identifies which of the UEs  118 ,  122  is authorized to transmit. 
     In block  128  of  FIG. 10 , the CRC  130  of the DCI  132  is generated as shown in  FIG. 11 . Thereafter, and still referring to block  128 , the CRC  130  is masked with one of the identifications  116 ,  120  of the particular one of the UEs  118 ,  122  in the DMC group. This may form masked CRC  134  for UE  116  and masked CRC  136  for UE  122 , which depends who is assigned to transmit. For example, if UE  118  is assigned to transmit, then the CRC of the DCI will be masked with the identification  116  of the particular UE  118 . In block  138  of  FIG. 10 , the DCI  132  and the masked CRC  134  are transmitted to the UEs  118 ,  122  in a control channel (e.g., the PDCCH or the ePDCCH). 
     As will be more fully explained below, when received and de-masked by each of the UEs  118 ,  122  in the DMC group, the DCI  82  informs the UEs  118 ,  122  of the resource allocation. The identification  116  or identification  120  masked on the CRC will inform the UEs  118 ,  122  who is permitted to transmit and who should expect to receive. For example, if identification  120  is detected, then the second portion  126  of the identification  120  is a “1.” In this example, UE  122  is supposed to transmit because its identification is masked to the CRC and UE  118  is destined to receive because there is a “0” included in the second portion  126  of its identification  116 . 
     Referring collectively to  FIGS. 11-13 , another method  140  of dynamically allocating resources to UEs in a DMC group is illustrated. In block  142 , the identification  116  is received by UE  118  and identification  120  is received by UE  122 . For example, UE  118  receives the identification “xxxxxxxx0” and UE  122  receives the identification “xxxxxxxx1.” As noted above and illustrated in  FIG. 11 , each of the group identifications  116 ,  120  includes a first portion  124  (e.g., the “xxxxxxxx”) common to the UEs in the DMC group (e.g., UE  118  and UE  122 ). Each of the group identifications  116 ,  120  also includes a second portion  126  unique to each of the user equipments. In particular, UE  118  has a second portion of “0” and UE  122  has a second portion of “1.” 
     In block  144  of  FIG. 12 , a channel assignment is received by UE  118  or UE  122  of  FIG. 11 . The channel assignment includes the DCI  132  and the CRC  134  or  136  masked by identification  116  or  120  of the UEs  118  or  122 . In block  146 , new CRCs  148  are generated using the DCI  132  (and in an embodiment all other possible parts besides CRC  134  or  136 ). In block  150 , the new CRCs  148  are de-masked using each identification  116 ,  120  assigned to the DMC group until a matching identification is found or no matching identification is found. 
     Next, in block  152  of  FIG. 12 , if there is a matching identification the first portion  124  of the matched identification shows that the DCI  132  is for the UEs in the DMC group. The UE of the exact matched identification in the DMC group is authorized to transmit based on the second portion  126  of the matched identification; the other UEs should be prepared to receive according to the DCI  132 . For example, if the matched identification is  116 , then UE  118  is supposed to transmit, and UE  122  should be prepared to receive. 
     The retransmissions can be indicated in the DCI  132  also by a New Data Indicator bit. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 14 , illustrated is a block diagram of elements of a communications device  160 , such as an eNB. The communications device  160  may comprise, among other things, a processor  162  that communicates with a transmitter  164 , receiver  166 , and memory  168  over bus  170 . The transmitter  164  and the receiver  166  may be wired, wireless, or both. The memory  168  may include one or more instruction sets or modules that, when executed by the processor  162 , perform one or more of the steps or acts in the methods discussed herein. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 15 , illustrated is a block diagram of elements of a communications device  172 , such as an UE. The communications device  172  may comprise, among other things, a processor  174  that communicates with a transmitter  176 , receiver  178 , and memory  180  over bus  182 . The transmitter  176  and the receiver  178  may be wired, wireless, or both. The memory  180  may include one or more instruction sets or modules that, when executed by the processor  174 , perform one or more of the steps or acts in the methods discussed herein. The communications device  172  may also include an input/output device  184  such as, for example, a keyboard, mouse, display, and the like, permitting a user to interface with the communications device  172 . 
     Although embodiments described hereinabove operate within the specifications of a cellular communication network such as a 3GPP-LTE cellular network, other wireless communication arrangements are contemplated within the broad scope of an embodiment, including WiMAX, GSM, Wi-Fi, and other wireless communication systems. 
     It is noted that, unless indicated otherwise, functions described herein can be performed in either hardware or software, or some combination thereof, with or without human intervention. In an embodiment, the functions are performed by a processor such as a computer or an electronic data processor in accordance with code such as computer program code, software, and/or integrated circuits that are coded to perform such functions, unless indicated otherwise. 
     While the disclosure has been made with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description. It is therefore intended that the appended claims encompass any such modifications or embodiments.