Patent ID: 7974353

Claim:
A method for providing resource allocation in a wireless communication network, the method comprising: providing an access provider, the access provider being configured to perform orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), the access provider being configured to allocate transmission resources; providing a first plurality of terminals, the first plurality of terminals being wirelessly connected to the access provider; assigning the first plurality of terminals to a first scheduling group, the first scheduling group being associated with a first plurality of resources, the first plurality of resources including at least a first resource; providing a second plurality of terminals, the second plurality of terminals being wirelessly connected to the access provider; assigning the second plurality of terminals to a second scheduling group, the second scheduling group being associated with a second plurality of resources, the second plurality of resources including at least the first resource; providing a first message including a first bitmap and a second bitmap, the first bitmap indicating status information associated with the first scheduling group, the second bitmap including N number of bits, the N number of bits indicating a first correspondence between the first plurality of terminals and the first plurality of resources in a first of order, second bitmap including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion indicating resources allocated to the first plurality of terminals, the second portion indicating resources assigned to a first terminal, the first terminal being assigned to the second scheduling group; and providing a second message indicating a first resource allocation, the second message including a third bitmap and a fourth bitmap, the third bitmap indicating status information associated with the second scheduling group, the fourth bitmap including M number of bits, the M number of bits indicating a second correspondence between the second plurality of terminals and the second plurality of resources in a second of order, the fourth bitmap including a third portion and a fourth portion, the third portion indicating resources allocated to the second plurality of terminals, the fourth portion indicating resources assigned to a second terminal, the second terminal being assigned to the first scheduling group.