Patent Description:
Certain abbreviations that may be found in the description and/or in the Figures are herewith defined as follows:.

A contention-based transmission uses a contention based protocol (CBP) is a communications protocol for operating wireless telecommunication equipment that allows many users to use the same radio channel without pre-coordination. 3GPP LTE uses a contention free uplink data transmission. When a UE has data available in the logic buffer that is ready for UL transmission, it needs to request uplink resources for data transmission by typically sending a scheduling request (SR) to an eNB. Then after the eNB successfully detects the SR, the eNB would send a UL grant to the UE to allocate certain PUSCH resources for UE to send buffer status report (BSR). The UE would then send the BSR (i.e., the amount of data available in its logical buffer) after detecting this UL grant. Then the eNB allocates corresponding UL resources by means of another UL grant to the UE for data transmission, taking the uplink radio condition between UE and eNB into account.

It can be observed that this kind of process not only results in high latency for eNB-UE handshaking etc. (as a calculation, typically <NUM> is needed before any data transmission), but also requires much DL/UL control channel overhead. This is not efficient especially for many UL small packet transmissions, which is the typical case in low rate MTC communication, smartphone applications, real-time remote control, VoIP, gaming, feedback information of a communication protocol e.g., TCP ACK, etc..

The example embodiments of the invention work to improve the latency performance and reduce the overhead of contention based operations at least as described above.

<CIT> aims for an efficient multiplexing method when the two uplink transmission schemes, BS scheduling-based transmission and contention-based transmission, are used. The document paragraphs <NUM>-<NUM> describe that the method for contention-based transmission includes configuring and determining a resource region for the transmission, actually transmitting in the resource region wherein the resource region is hopped on a physical resource, eg. , a time resource, a frequency resource, a code resource, a spatial resource.

<CIT> abstract describes a method and apparatus for transmitting uplink data, where transmitting includes a scheduling request to a base station and uplink data wherein the uplink data is transmitted through contention-based physical uplink shared channel resource block without an uplink grant of the base station and both are transmitted in identical subframe.

In an example aspect of the disclosure, there is a method according to claim <NUM>.

In an example aspect of the disclosure, there is an apparatus according to claim <NUM>.

A communication system comprising the network side apparatus and the user equipment side apparatus performing operations as described above.

In this invention, we propose flexible resource allocation and selection for contention based (CB) transmission to improve uplink (UL) throughput, and to enable Hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process identification (ID) indication for CB transmission to reduce the collision probability.

<FIG> illustrates a typical 3GPP LTE contention free data transmission process as described above. As shown in <FIG>, the UE <NUM>, due to an event or periodic trigger <NUM>, sends a scheduling request (SR) <NUM> to the LTE eNB <NUM>. Then the eNB <NUM> returns an uplink (UL) grant for buffer status report (BSR) transmission <NUM>. The UE <NUM> performs at step <NUM> a BSR on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). At step <NUM> the eNB <NUM> performs the uplink (UL) scheduling for the UE <NUM>. The UL grant is sent to the UE <NUM> at step <NUM>. Then the UE <NUM> performs the UL data transmission at step <NUM>. It can be observed that this kind of process not only includes high latency, but also much DL/UL control channel overhead.

In contention based uplink transmission, multiple UEs would be allocated with the same certain amount of time frequency resources, herein called a resource pool. A resource pool further contains multiple resource units, each of which can contain at least one physical resource block. With such kind of allocation, UE needs to know the resource units within the allocated resource pool for UL data transmission. It is desirable to have different UEs have different starting resource unit in the resource pool as much as possible so that the collision probability can be reduced. Besides, it would also be desirable to enable an eNB to adaptively allocate an appropriate transmission granularity e.g., in terms of certain number of resource units, to a UE taking the number of contention based UEs into consideration. Typically, the lower the number of contention based UEs, the larger the granularity the eNB can allocate. From UE point of view, it is desirable to have multiple resource allocation granularities so that UE can select one according to the packet size or TB size (TBS).

UE can determine a TBS for each resource allocation granularity according to the amount of resources (e.g., in terms of number of physical resource blocks) and the configured modulation and coding scheme (MCS). Then according to the incoming packet size, UE can select the most appropriate granularity for transmission. For example, if the incoming packet is smaller than the highest granularity, UE will select one granularity based on the equation below, <MAT> Where.

The example embodiments of the invention work to address at least these issues associated with contention based operations.

For contention based UL data transmission, the eNB allocates the UL resources for data transmission to a UE without knowing the amount of data and the actual time when data transmission happens. Since there are less UL resources than number of UE, the same UL resources are shared by/allocated to several UE which may start to use the same UL resources at the same time independent from each other. UL resources are based on "timeslots" and/or frequencies. Collision probability should be reduced/minimized to improve UL throughput.

Furthermore, if one data packet that is transmitted by multiple TBs and multiple associated HARQ processes, it is desirable to enable the eNB to know the ID for each HARQ process so that eNB can perform soft information combining at the eNB to improve the UL throughput.

Before describing the example embodiments of the invention in details, reference is made to <FIG> for illustrating a simplified block diagram of various electronic devices that are suitable for use in practicing the example embodiments of this invention. In <FIG> a wireless access network <NUM> is adapted for communication between a user equipment UE <NUM> and a network node NN <NUM> or other access node of an access network. In accordance with the example embodiments the NN <NUM> can be any network device e.g., a base station that is part of or separate from the network <NUM>. The network <NUM> may include or may use a higher controlling node (not shown, by non-limiting example a gateway GW, a user plane entity UPE, a mobility management entity MME, or a system architecture evolution gateway SAE-GW) for operations in accordance with the example embodiments. Such a higher controlling node may be accessible via any communication link, including the antenna 10E and/or 12E, and/or via Internet <NUM>.

The UE <NUM> includes a data processor (DP) 10A, a memory (MEM) 10B that stores a program (PROG) 10C, and a suitable radio frequency (RF) transmitter and receiver 10D coupled to one or more antennas 10E for bidirectional wireless communications over a data link <NUM> with the NN <NUM>. The NN <NUM> also includes a DP 12A, a MEM 12B that stores a PROG 12C, and a suitable RF transmitter and receiver 12D coupled to one or more antennas 12E. The NN <NUM> may be coupled via a data link <NUM> to the internet or other broader communication network. Also at the UE <NUM> and the NN <NUM> there are resource processors 10F, 12F, respectively, for defining and configuring resource sets in accordance with the example embodiments of the invention as described herein. At least one of the PROGs 10C and 12C is assumed to include program instructions that, when executed by the associated DP, enable the electronic device to operate in accordance with the example embodiments of this invention as described in detail below.

In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention there is an apparatus (such as the NN <NUM> of <FIG>) comprising: means for configuring (DP 12A, DP 12F, PROG 12C, and/or MEM 12B of <FIG>) a resource pool for a plurality of user equipment configured with contention based transmission; means for configuring (DP 12A, DP 12F, PROG 12C, and MEM 12B of <FIG>) a resource allocation within the resource pool for a contention based transmission by user equipment of the plurality of user equipment configured for contention based transmissions, wherein the resource allocation is configured with more than one predefined or preconfigured sets of resource allocation granularities; and means for sending (Antenna 12E, transmitter/receiver 12D of <FIG>) information comprising the resource allocation towards the user equipment, wherein the information comprises an indication of a set of the predefined or preconfigured sets of the resource allocation granularities that the user equipment is to use for the contention based transmission.

In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention there is an apparatus (such as the UE <NUM> of <FIG>) comprising: means for receiving (Antenna 10E, transmitter/receiver 10D of <FIG>) from a network device information of resources allocated for a contention based transmission by the apparatus, wherein the resource allocation is configured with more than one predefined or preconfigured sets of resource allocation granularities, and wherein the information comprises an indication of a set of the predefined or preconfigured sets of the resource allocation granularities that the apparatus is to use for the contention based transmission; means, based on the information, for identifying (DP 10A, DP 10F, PROG 10C, and/or MEM 10B of <FIG>) the set of the predefined or preconfigured sets of the resource allocation granularities that the apparatus is to use for the contention based transmission; and means for performing (Antenna 10E, transmitter/receiver 10D, DP 10A, DP 10F, PROG 10C, and MEM 10B of <FIG>) the contention based transmission using the identified set of the resource allocation granularities.

In general, the example embodiments of this invention may be implemented by computer software executable by the DP 10A of the UE <NUM> and by the DP12A of the NN <NUM>, or other DPs, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and/or firmware and hardware. The interactions between the major logical elements should be obvious to those skilled in the art for the level of detail needed to gain an understanding of the broader aspects of the invention beyond only the specific examples herein. It should be noted that the invention may be implemented with an application specific integrated circuit ASIC, a field programmable gated array FPGA, a digital signal processor or other suitable processor to carry out the intended function of the invention, including a central processor, a random access memory RAM, read only memory ROM, and communication ports for communicating between the NN <NUM> and the UE <NUM> as detailed above.

Further, it is noted that the various embodiments of the UE <NUM> can include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) having wireless communication capabilities, portable computers having wireless communication capabilities, image capture devices such as digital cameras having wireless communication capabilities, gaming devices having wireless communication capabilities, music storage and playback appliances having wireless communication capabilities, Internet appliances permitting wireless Internet access and browsing, as well as portable units or terminals that incorporate combinations of such functions.

The MEMs 10B and 12B may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. The DPs 10A and 12A may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and may include one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on a multi-core processor architecture, as non-limiting examples.

At least one of the memories is assumed to tangibly embody software program instructions that, when executed by the associated processor, enable the electronic device to operate in accordance with the example embodiments of this invention, as detailed by example above. As such, the example embodiments of this invention may be implemented at least in part by computer software executable by the controller/DP of the UE <NUM> or the NN <NUM> by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware.

Based on the foregoing it should be apparent that the example embodiments of this invention provide a method for performing the example embodiments of the invention.

In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention there is enabling flexible resource allocations by defining multiple sets of CB-PUSCH transmission granularities for the resource allocations. These types of operations can be performed by both or either of the UE <NUM> and the NN <NUM> as in <FIG>. Further, it is noted that any reference to operations performed by an eNB or a UE are none limiting to the example embodiments, and these operations can be performed by any similarly equipped device, whether mobile or stationary.

The operations in accordance with the example embodiments include:.

It is noted that the Hybrid automatic repeat request (hybrid ARQ or HARQ) is a combination of high-rate forward error-correcting coding and ARQ error-control. In standard ARQ, redundant bits are added to data to be transmitted using an error-detecting (ED) code such as a cyclic redundancy check (CRC). Receivers detecting a corrupted message will request a new message from the sender. As similarly stated above, for one packet that is transmitted by multiple TBs and multiple HARQ processes, it is desirable to have eNB know the HARQ process ID in order to do soft information combining. The HARQ process ID can be of course explicitly indicated but this requires more UL overhead and even new UL channel to carry such indication. Further, as similarly stated above, it is desirable to have different UEs have different starting position as much as possible so that the collision probability can be reduced.

In accordance with the example embodiments of the invention a CB-PUSCH starting RU for a HARQ process can be determined from CB-PUSCH transmission granularities information, e.g., dependent on maximum granularity.

In accordance with the example embodiments there are multiple sets of CB-PUSCH transmission granularities defined for resource allocations. Each of the granularities contain at least one predefined number of RU so a network node, such as an eNB, would configure one set of granularities to CB UEs that are allocated with same set of resources. The configuration of the granularities can be based on e.g., the number of CB UEs on the indicated resources. Typically, if there are limited number of CB UEs allocated with certain resources, the configured granularities can be much higher. In that sense, the configured granularities could be common for all CB UEs, and the configuration can be transmitted through broadcast signaling.

As one non-limiting example, there could be three predefined sets of granularities such as shown below,.

As a further example, CB UEs can be indicated with set <NUM>, if there are plenty available resources for CB (e.g., >=50RUs) and limited number of CB UEs (e.g., <<NUM>). UE can choose either <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> RUs for CB-PUSCH transmission according to the TBS, preferably according to the most suitable RU determination.

In accordance with the example embodiments the network node or eNB can indicate a set by indicating a set index, or indicate the maximum granularity. Further, the UE can determine other granularities implicitly. For example, in situations when predefined sets of granularities are defined e.g., as discussed above, and if the UE is indicated a granularity with <NUM>, then UE can know that the set of granularities is {<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>} i.e., the set includes additionally smaller granularities, e.g., determined by dividing by <NUM> or another number.

In another example embodiment, the network node or eNB might configure different set of granularities for the initial transmission and for the retransmission.

Further, in accordance with another example embodiment on the network side, a network node or eNB can detect each possible transmission granularity through blind detection. One kind of blind detection could be for example an eNB tries one decoding for each granularity. The other example is that the eNB detects the accumulated power for each granularity.

In accordance with the example embodiments of the invention, the UE can determine a starting RU for CB-PUSCH transmission based on at least HARQ process ID and/or an UE identifier. After receiving the information identifying the available resources and the set of transmission granularities, the UE can determine the starting RU and the resources to transmit a certain TB. Other parameters for starting RU decision processes could be based on a maximum configured granularity. The starting RU could be the same for each granularity so that on eNB side blind decoding effort can be relaxed, since the soft bit information calculated for the lower granularity can be reused for decoding for higher granularity. In accordance with an example embodiment, the granularity which is used for CB-PUSCH is decided by the TBS.

In accordance with an example embodiment, the UE can determine a reference starting RU according to a higher layer configuration and decide the starting RU for each HARQ process according to a configured offset (in terms of RUs) between HARQ processes. Having a different starting RU for each HARQ process enables the eNB to know the HARQ process ID implicitly after successful decoding the CB-PUSCH.

In another example embodiment, a network node or an eNB can configure a certain number of HARQ processes to CB UEs through broadcast signaling in order to balance the collision probability and the achieved throughput.

The network node or eNB need to determine which set of granularities it should configure to each UE. This can be based on e.g., the number of CB UEs on the indicated resources. Typically if there are limited number of CB UEs with certain indicated resources, the configured granularities can be much higher.

The configurations from eNB to UE include:.

After UE got the configurations from eNB, the UE would decide the starting RU based on HARQ process ID and/or its identifier, for example C-RNTI. One function for the starting RU determination could be:.

For the UE perspective, in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention the UE can determine the starting RU for CB-PUSCH transmission based on at least HARQ process ID and/or UE-ID.

In some situations, the resource units selected by two or more different UEs are fully or partially overlapped. For example, two UEs are using the same starting RU but with different transmission granularity. In such cases, it could be based on the network node or eNB implementation on how to detect signals from different UEs. As a typical example, the eNB can use a successive interference cancellation algorithm, by which eNB firstly detects the strongly signals, and remove it from the received signals in the overlapped resources, then detects the weaker signal.

In another example embodiment, the eNB can configure a certain number of HARQ processes to CB UEs through broadcast signaling in order to balance the collision probability and the achieved throughput.

One example is illustrated in <FIG>, where the available RUs for CB-PUSCH are the ones not used for legacy PUSCH transmission. These RUs are re-numbered to generate sequential virtual RUs. In one embodiment, RU interleaving can be operated before the numbering. UE is configured with a granularity set <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>} RUs. The starting RUs for HARQ process <NUM> and HARQ process <NUM> are illustrated.

As shown in <FIG> there is shown granularity sets configured for HARQ processes in accordance with the example embodiments. As shown in <FIG>, in frequency domain "f" <NUM> or in time domain "t" <NUM>, there are a certain number of resource units allocated for legacy PUSCH and other resource units configured for CB-PUSCH, respectively. The resource units used for CB-PUSCH form a resource pool <NUM>. In accordance with the example embodiments the resource units for CB-PUSCH are renumbered to generate sequential virtual RUs in accordance with the defined granularities such that at least some of the granularities can be used for CB-PUSCH for each UE. Then the granularities are sent to a UE, such as the UE <NUM> of <FIG>. In accordance with the example embodiments the granularities are sent to UEs which are configured to use the same resource pool for their contention based signalling.

In accordance with the example embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the granularity set can include multiple resource units, based on network node or eNB configuration. As shown in <FIG>, one UL packet from a specific UE is segmented to be two transport blocks, corresponding to two HARQ processes, HARQ process <NUM> and HARQ process <NUM>, respectively. The starting RU for each HARQ process is determined by at least the HARQ process ID and/or UE ID. As a result, there is a starting RU offset <NUM> between HARQ process <NUM> and HARQ process <NUM>. As an alternative, this offset can be preconfigured by the network node or eNB. The UE is configured with a granularity set <NUM> and <NUM> for each HARQ process, which contains {<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>} resource units, as shown in <NUM>. The starting resource unit for each granularity is same, as in <NUM>. Based on the determined starting RU and the configured granularity set, the available resource units for HARQ process <NUM> and HARQ process <NUM> are shown in <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. In <FIG> UE selects <NUM> resource units out of the available resource units <NUM>, <NUM> to transmit CB-PUSCH for each HARQ process, based on the CB-PUSCH TBS. The rest of the available resource units might be used for transmitting CB-PUSCH for other UEs. In accordance with the example embodiments there is configuring a resource pool <NUM> for a plurality of user equipment configured with contention based transmission; configure a resource allocation <NUM>, <NUM> within the resource pool <NUM> for a contention based transmission by a user equipment of the plurality of user equipment configured for contention based transmissions, wherein the resource allocation <NUM>, <NUM> is configured with more than one predefined or preconfigured sets <NUM>, <NUM> of resource allocation granularities <NUM>; and send information <NUM> comprising the resource allocation <NUM>, <NUM> towards the user equipment, wherein the information comprises an indication of a set <NUM> of the predefined or preconfigured sets <NUM>, <NUM> of the resource allocation granularities <NUM> that the user equipment is to use for the contention based transmission <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates operations which may be performed by a network device such as, but not limited to, a network node NN <NUM> as in <FIG> or an eNB. As shown in step <NUM> there is configuring a resource pool for a plurality of user equipment configured with contention based transmission. Then as shown in step <NUM> there is configuring a resource allocation within the resource pool for a contention based transmission by a user equipment of the plurality of user equipment configured for contention based transmissions, wherein the resource allocation is configured with more than one predefined or preconfigured sets of resource allocation granularities. Then at step <NUM> there is sending information comprising the resource allocation towards the user equipment, wherein the information comprises an indication of a set of the predefined or preconfigured sets of the resource allocation granularities that the user equipment is to use for the contention based transmission.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, the indication of the set of the predefined or preconfigured sets of the resource allocation that the user equipment is to use comprises at least one of a set index and a maximum granularity of the set the user equipment is to use for the contention based transmission.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, the configured resource pool comprises at least one physical resource unit, and interleaving and re-numbering the physical resource units to generate sequential virtual physical resource units.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, each of the predefined or preconfigured sets of resource allocation granularities comprises a different number of physical resource units.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, each of the physical resource units contain at least one physical resource block.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, the information comprises a hybrid automatic repeat request process configuration for at least one user equipment of the plurality of user equipment, and wherein a resource unit offset is configured between the hybrid automatic repeat processes.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, the set of the predefined or preconfigured sets of the resource allocation granularities that the user equipment is to use for the contention based transmission are different for different hybrid automatic repeat processes.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, a starting physical resource unit of at least one starting physical resource unit of the configured resource pool that the user equipment is to use for contention based transmission is based on at least one of a hybrid automatic repeat request process ID and a UE identifier such as a cell-radio network temporary identifier associated with the user equipment.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, the starting physical resource unit is same for the indicated set of resource allocation granularities.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, an amount of the more than one predefined or preconfigured sets of resource allocation granularities is based on an amount of the plurality of user equipment configured for contention based transmissions.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, the configuration of the more than one predefined or preconfigured sets of resource allocation granularities may be provided to the user equipment via any kind of signaling indication e.g., the configuration is sent through broadcasting signaling, or through the user equipment specific higher layer signaling or through the group user equipment specific higher layer signaling, or through the user equipment specific physical layer signaling or through the group user equipment specific physical layer signaling. Group user specific signaling means that multiple UEs are grouped together and an eNB would send one signaling indication to all UEs in the same group. The benefit of physical layer signaling is "fast" propagation and "fast" feedback response, but has higher signaling overhead, while the benefit of higher layer signaling is lower signaling overhead, but is "slow" compared to physical layer signaling.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, the indication of the set of the predefined or preconfigured sets of the resource allocation granularities is through broadcasting signaling, or UE specific or group UE specific higher layer signaling, or UE specific or group UE specific physical layer signaling.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium (MEM 12B of <FIG>) storing program code (PROG 12C of <FIG>), the program code executed by at least one processor (DP 12A and/or DP 12F of <FIG>) to perform the operations as at least described in the paragraphs above.

In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above there is an apparatus comprising: means for configuring (DP 12A, DP 12F, PROG 12C, and MEM 12B of <FIG>) a resource pool for a plurality of user equipment configured with contention based transmission. There are means for configuring (DP 12A, DP 12F, PROG 12C, and/or MEM 12B of <FIG>) by a device [NN <NUM> of <FIG> or eNB], a resource allocation within the resource pool for a contention based transmission by a user equipment [UE <NUM> of <FIG>] of a plurality of user equipment configured for contention based transmissions, wherein the resource allocation is configured with more than one predefined or preconfigured sets of resource allocation granularities. Further, there is means for sending (Antenna 12E, transmitter/receiver 12D of <FIG>) information comprising the resource allocation towards the user equipment [UE <NUM>], wherein the information comprises an indication of a set of the predefined or preconfigured sets of the resource allocation granularities that the user equipment is to use for the contention based transmission.

In the example aspect of the invention according to the paragraph above, wherein at least the means for configuring and sending comprises a non-transitory computer readable medium [MEM 12B] encoded with a computer program [PROG 12C] executable by at least one processor [DP 12A and/or 12F].

<FIG> illustrates operations which may be performed by a device such as, but not limited to, a device (e.g., the UE <NUM> as in <FIG>). As shown in step <NUM> of <FIG>, there is receiving from a network device information of resources allocated for a contention based transmission by the apparatus, wherein the resource allocation is configured with more than one predefined or preconfigured sets of resource allocation granularities, and wherein the information comprises an indication of a set of the predefined or preconfigured sets of the resource allocation granularities that the apparatus is to use for the contention based transmission. As shown in step <NUM> of <FIG> there is, based on the information, identifying the set of the predefined or preconfigured sets of the resource allocation granularities that the apparatus is to use for the contention based transmission. Then as shown in step <NUM> the contention based transmission is performed using the identified set of the resource allocation granularities.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraph above, the indication of the set of the predefined or preconfigured sets of the resource allocation granularities that the apparatus is to use comprises at least one of a set index and a maximum granularity of the set to use for the contention based transmission.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, each of the predefined or preconfigured sets of resource allocation granularities comprises a different number of physical resource units. In accordance with an example embodiment, the UE can determine a reference starting RU according to a higher layer configuration and decide the starting RU for each HARQ process according to a configured offset (in terms of RUs) between HARQ processes.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, a starting physical resource unit of at least one starting physical resource unit of the configured resource pool that the user equipment is to use for contention based transmission is based on at least one of a hybrid automatic repeat request process ID and a UE identifier such as a cell-radio network temporary identifier associated with the user equipment e.g., as described in UE operations above.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, the starting physical resource unit is same for the indicated set of resource allocation granularities. This can relax eNB side blind decoding effort, since the soft bit information calculated for the lower granularity can be reused for decoding for higher granularity.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, the configuration of the more than one sets of resource allocation granularities is received through broadcasting signaling, or the user equipment specific or group user equipment specific higher layer signaling, or the user equipment specific or group user equipment specific physical layer signaling.

In accordance with the example embodiments as described in the paragraphs above, the indication of the set of the predefined or preconfigured sets of the resource allocation granularities is through the broadcasting signaling, or the UE specific or group UE specific higher layer signaling, or the UE specific or group UE specific physical layer signaling.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium (MEM 12B of <FIG>) storing program code (PROG 10C of <FIG>), the program code executed by at least one processor (DP 10A and/or DP 10F of <FIG>) to perform the operations as at least described in the paragraphs above.

In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention as described above there is an apparatus comprising: means for receiving (Antenna 10E, transmitter/receiver 10D of <FIG>) from a network device [NN <NUM> of <FIG> or eNB], information of resources allocated for a contention based transmission by the apparatus [e.g., UE <NUM> of <FIG>], wherein the resource allocation is configured with more than one predefined or preconfigured sets of resource allocation granularities, and wherein the information comprises an indication of a set of the predefined sets of the resource allocation granularities that the apparatus is to use for the contention based transmission. Further, there is means, based on the information, for identifying (DP 10A, DP 10F, PROG 10C, and/or MEM 10B of <FIG>) the set of the predefined sets of the resource allocation granularities that the apparatus is to use for the contention based transmission. In addition, there is means for performing (Antenna 10E, transmitter/receiver 10D, DP 10A, DP 10F, PROG 10C, and MEM 10B of <FIG>) the contention based transmission using the identified set of the resource allocation granularities.

In the example aspect of the invention according to the paragraph above, wherein at least the means for receiving, identifying, configuring, and performing comprises a non-transitory computer readable medium [MEM 10B] encoded with a computer program [PROG 10C] executable by at least one processor [DP 10A and/or 10F].

In accordance with the example embodiments the benefit of flexible resource allocation by selecting the most suitable transmission granularity from a set results in improved UL throughput. If the packet size is very small, UE will select a smallest transmission granularity; the rest of resources can be used by other UEs. Further, the benefits of the operations in accordance with the example embodiments include achieving randomized starting positions among UEs which may be determined based on UE ID, process ID, and/or the flexible resource granularity, and which can lead to a low collision probability.

In general, the various embodiments may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof.

The foregoing description has provided by way of example and non-limiting examples a full and informative description of the best method and apparatus presently contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention. However, various modifications and adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of this invention will still fall within the scope of this invention.

It should be noted that the terms "connected," "coupled," or any variant thereof, mean any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements, and may encompass the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" together. The coupling or connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. As employed herein two elements may be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" together by the use of one or more wires, cables and/or printed electrical connections, as well as by the use of electromagnetic energy, such as electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency region, the microwave region and the optical (both visible and invisible) region, as several non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples.

Claim 1:
A method performed by a network device and comprising
configuring (<NUM>) a resource pool for a plurality of user equipments configured with contention based transmission;
configuring (<NUM>) a resource allocation within the resource pool for a contention based transmission by user equipment of the plurality of user equipments configured for contention based transmissions, wherein the resource allocation is configured with more than one predefined or preconfigured sets of resource allocation granularities, wherein each of the predefined or preconfigured sets of resource allocation granularities comprises a plurality of resource allocation values, each of the plurality of resource allocation values indicating a number of physical resource units, and wherein each of the predefined or preconfigured sets of resource allocation granularities comprises a different number of resource allocation values; and
sending (<NUM>) information comprising the resource allocation towards the user equipment, wherein the information comprises an indication of a set of the predefined or preconfigured sets of the resource allocation granularities that the user equipment is to use to select one of the plurality of resource allocation values included in the indicated set for the contention based transmission.