A method for determining uplink resources, the method comprising: assigning index values for control channel elements on the downlink, wherein a first control channel transmission set are for localized transmissions and a second control channel transmission set are for distributed transmissions, the control channel elements being allocated to at least one of first and second control channel transmission sets, the uplink resources being based on the index values, and an uplink resource for the first control channel transmission being different than an uplink resource for the second control channel transmission; and characterized in that the assigning index values for control channel elements includes: assigning the index values for the first control channel transmission set such that the index values for the first control channel transmission set are sequential; and assigning virtual index values for the second control channel transmission set based on the index values for the first control channel transmission set, wherein the assigning virtual index values for the second control channel transmission set includes: determining a first resource element group in a first distributed control channel element; determining a position of the first resource element group in the localized control channel element; and determining the virtual index value for the first distributed control channel element based on the index value of the localized control channel element containing the nth resource element group in the first distributed control channel element, wherein the value of n is determined based on the position of the first resource element group in the localized control channel element; such that the virtual index values are unique for the second control channel transmission set and does not conflict with the index values for the first control channel transmission set. assigning index values for control channel elements on the downlink, wherein a first control channel transmission set are for localized transmissions and a second control channel transmission set are for distributed transmissions, the control channel elements being allocated to at least one of first and second control channel transmission sets, the uplink resources being based on the index values, and an uplink resource for the first control channel transmission being different than an uplink resource for the second control channel transmission; and characterized in that the assigning index values for control channel elements includes: assigning the index values for the first control channel transmission set such that the index values for the first control channel transmission set are sequential; and assigning virtual index values for the second control channel transmission set based on the index values for the first control channel transmission set, wherein the assigning virtual index values for the second control channel transmission set includes: determining a first resource element group in a first distributed control channel element; determining a position of the first resource element group in the localized control channel element; and determining the virtual index value for the first distributed control channel element based on the index value of the localized control channel element containing the nth resource element group in the first distributed control channel element, wherein the value of n is determined based on the position of the first resource element group in the localized control channel element; assigning the index values for the first control channel transmission set such that the index values for the first control channel transmission set are sequential; and assigning virtual index values for the second control channel transmission set based on the index values for the first control channel transmission set, wherein the assigning virtual index values for the second control channel transmission set includes: determining a first resource element group in a first distributed control channel element; determining a position of the first resource element group in the localized control channel element; and determining the virtual index value for the first distributed control channel element based on the index value of the localized control channel element containing the nth resource element group in the first distributed control channel element, wherein the value of n is determined based on the position of the first resource element group in the localized control channel element; determining a first resource element group in a first distributed control channel element; determining a position of the first resource element group in the localized control channel element; and determining the virtual index value for the first distributed control channel element based on the index value of the localized control channel element containing the nth resource element group in the first distributed control channel element, wherein the value of n is determined based on the position of the first resource element group in the localized control channel element; such that the virtual index values are unique for the second control channel transmission set and does not conflict with the index values for the first control channel transmission set.