PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8797836-B2
Application Number: US-66531005-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Communication resource allocation systems and methods

Abstract:
A channel descriptor management message is transmitted on a broadcast connection to a mobile terminal. The channel descriptor management message provides a format for a frame. The frame includes a resource space. The channel descriptor management message defines a plurality of channels within the resource space and allocates at least one of the channels to a plurality of users. Subsequent resource allocation messages may refer to a location within a channel rather than a location within the entire resource space.

Claims:
We claim: 
     
       1. A method for allocating a downlink OFDM resource space, the method comprising:
 transmitting a channel descriptor management message, the channel descriptor management message providing a format for a transmission unit, the transmission unit including an OFDM resource space, said channel descriptor management message providing a definition for a plurality of sub-resource spaces within the OFDM resource space, each sub-resource space having an associated sub-resource space identifier and being individually allocatable; and 
 transmitting a transmission unit, the transmission unit comprising:
 for each of at least one receiver, a respective sub-burst within at least one of the plurality of sub-resource spaces within the OFDM resource space; and 
 a downlink mapping component that includes information for each receiver indicating where the respective sub-burst for the receiver is located in the OFDM resource space, wherein the information for each receiver associates the sub-resource space identifier that is associated with the sub-resource space in which the receiver&#39;s sub-burst is located with a connection identifier that the receiver looks for. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the information for each receiver is provided in an information element containing the identifier of the sub-resource space in which the receiver&#39;s sub-burst is located, and the connection identifier associated with the receiver. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 for each sub-burst, signaling a DIUC (downlink interval usage code) as part of the downlink map information element. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein transmitting the channel descriptor management message comprises:
 transmitting the channel descriptor management message on a broadcast connection. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 measuring traffic statistics; and 
 basing said definition for said plurality of sub-resource spaces on said traffic statistics. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4  wherein the sub-resource space definitions comprises an indication of a symbol offset, an indication of a sub-channel offset, an indication of a number of symbols and an indication of a number of sub-channels. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 transmitting information containing an update to said definition of said plurality of sub-resource spaces. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 4  wherein said downlink mapping component includes an allocation element adapted to allocate a given sub-resource space to a grouping of receivers where said given sub-resource space contains a broadcast message. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  wherein said grouping of receivers includes mobile receivers in a Sleep mode. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8  wherein said grouping of receivers includes mobile receivers in an Idle mode. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8  wherein said allocation element includes a multicast identifier to identify said grouping of receivers. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8  wherein said allocation element includes an allocation code to identify said grouping of receivers. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1  wherein the downlink mapping component includes an information element that references a further mapping component. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13  wherein said further mapping component includes an allocation element adapted to allocate a given sub-resource space to a grouping of receivers. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  wherein said grouping of receivers includes 802.16e mobile receivers in a Normal mode. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13  wherein said downlink mapping component includes an information element that allows a mobile receiver to disregard an additional information element in said downlink mapping component. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13  wherein said plurality of sub-resource spaces comprises a plurality of sub-resource spaces that are defined to occupy contiguous sub-resource spaces. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1  wherein the channel descriptor management message includes a definition of a plurality of portions of said OFDM resource space; and the definitions of the plurality of sub-resource spaces within the OFDM resource space comprises:
 a definition of a first sub-resource space in a first layer of a hierarchy of layers of a first portion of said plurality of portions of said OFDM resource space; 
 a definition of a second sub-resource space in a second layer of said hierarchy of layers, where said second sub-resource space is positioned within said first sub-resource space; and 
 a definition of a plurality of time-frequency contiguous sub-resource spaces within a second portion of said plurality of portions of said OFDM resource space. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1  wherein the channel descriptor management message includes a definition of a plurality of portions of said OFDM resource space; and the definitions of the plurality of sub-resource spaces within the OFDM resource space comprises:
 a definition of a first sub-resource space in a first layer of a first hierarchy of layers of sub-resource spaces of a first portion of said plurality of portions of said OFDM resource space; 
 a definition of a second sub-resource space in a second layer of said first hierarchy of layers, where said second sub-resource space is positioned within said first sub-resource space, said first hierarchy of layers having a first minimum resource unit; 
 a definition of a third sub-resource space in a first layer of a second hierarchy of layers of sub-resource spaces of a second portion of said plurality of portions of said OFDM resource space; and 
 a definition of a fourth sub-resource space in a second layer of said second hierarchy of layers, where said fourth sub-resource space is positioned within said third sub-resource space, said second hierarchy of layers having a second minimum resource unit. 
 
     
     
       20. A method of transmitting using an OFDM resource space comprising:
 broadcasting a resource allocation map, the resource allocation map comprising a root map, the root map comprising pointers to locations of a plurality of downlink sub-maps, each pointer being associated with a connection identifier or allocation code that specifies a group of mobile terminals to which the respective downlink sub-map is applicable; 
 transmitting the plurality of downlink sub-maps in the locations pointed to by the pointers in the root map, each downlink sub-map containing information allowing a determination of a respective location in the OFDM resource space where each of at least one sub-burst is located; 
 transmitting each sub-burst in the respective location in the OFDM resource space. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20  wherein the information allowing a determination of a respective location in the OFDM resource space where each of at least one sub-burst is located comprises:
 at least one connection identifier; 
 for each connection identifier, information allowing a determination of a respective location in the OFDM resource space where a sub-burst associated with that connection identifier is located. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20  wherein the information allowing a determination of a respective location in the OFDM resource space where a sub-burst is located comprises a sub-resource space identifier indicating a sub-resource space within the OFDM resource space within which the sub-burst is located. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 20  wherein the information allowing a determination of a respective location in the OFDM resource space where a sub-burst is located comprises:
 transmitting an indication of a symbol offset, an indication of a sub-channel offset, an indication of a number of symbols and an indication of a number of sub-channels. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 20  wherein the resource allocation map is immediately followed by the sub-maps, and the sub-maps are immediately followed by the OFDM resource space. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 20  wherein the resource allocation map further comprises:
 for at least one sub-burst, information allowing a determination of a respective location in the OFDM resource space where a sub-burst is located. 
 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25  further comprising:
 a respective connection identifier for each of said at least one sub-burst. 
 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 25  wherein transmitting information allowing a determination of a respective location in the OFDM resource space where a sub-burst is located comprises:
 transmitting a sub-resource space identifier indicating a sub-resource space within the OFDM resource space within which the sub-burst is located. 
 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 21  wherein transmitting information allowing a determination of a respective location in the OFDM resource space where a sub-burst is located comprises:
 transmitting an indication of a symbol offset, an indication of a sub-channel offset, an indication of a number of symbols and an indication of a number of sub-channels. 
 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 20  further comprising:
 signaling for each sub-burst, a respective DIUC (downlink interval usage code). 
 
     
     
       30. A method of allocating an OFDM resource space comprising:
 broadcasting a resource allocation map comprising a root map that, for each of at least one MAC state comprising at least one of sleep mode and idle mode, includes a pointer that points to a respective location in the OFDM resource space where broadcast information for receivers in the MAC state is located, the pointer being associated with a connection identifier or allocation code that receivers in the MAC state look for; and 
 for each of the at least one MAC state: 
 for receivers in the MAC state, transmitting the broadcast information in the respective location in the OFDM resource space. 
 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 30  further comprising:
 for each of at least one other MAC state: 
 for each of a plurality of receivers in the MAC state, transmitting respective unicast information in a location in the OFDM resource space; 
 wherein the root map includes a pointer that points to an additional downlink map region that includes information indicating for each receiver where the respective unicast information in the OFDM resource space is located, the information for each receiver being associated with a connection identifier associated with the receiver that only that receiver looks for. 
 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 1  wherein the definition of the plurality of sub-resource spaces within the OFDM resource space comprises a definition of a first sub-resource space in a first layer of a hierarchy of layers of said OFDM resource space and a definition of a second sub-resource space in a second layer of said hierarchy of layers, where said second sub-resource space is positioned within said first sub-resource space.

Description:
This application is the National Phase of International Application No. PCT/CA2005/001588 filed on Oct. 17, 2005, and claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional application No. 60/619,461 filed on Oct. 15, 2004. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to wireless communication and, in particular, to methods of allocating a communication resource among multiple users. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In communication transmission interfaces using dynamic resource sharing, it is common for a resource management entity to schedule resource usage among one or more end-users at each of a sequence of scheduling intervals. The resource being shared may be, for example, time, codes, frequency, antennae to name a few, or combinations thereof (multiple dimensional resource). To allocate a multiple dimensional resource, the allocation of resources for each dimension is indicated. 
     In situations where the resource space is large, for example, broadband systems including multiple antennas wherein a relatively small resource granularity is to be accommodated, the assignment of resources is known to incur significant overhead. Exemplary such multiple-antenna systems are known as Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) systems. 
     In addition to dividing data to be transmitted among frequencies, data may also be divided in time in a scheme called Time Division Multiplexing. Organizing data in frequency and time can be facilitated through the definition of a transmission unit, i.e., a frame. 
     As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, wireless broadband access systems using OFDM may be used to enable high speed data services. In particular, Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) based broadband access air interfaces are known to allocate a two-dimensional resource (subchannel and OFDM symbol) in each frame in order to optimize frequency-time domain diversity. In addition, a sufficiently small resource granularity for accommodating small amounts of traffic per frame is employed, to support voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) data, for example. Unfortunately, such OFDMA-based systems are known to incur significant resource allocation signaling overhead. That is, often a significant amount of resource allocation signaling bits are required to indicate, to the receiver of a frame, the location in the frame at which data relevant to the receiver may be found. 
     A need exists, therefore, for an improved method for allocating communication resources. 
     SUMMARY 
     Since significant resources are required to indicate the location of relevant data in a vast resource space, the resource space may be logically divided into sub-resource spaces, or “channels”. When allocating downlink or uplink resources to a terminal, a location for the resource may be identified first by the channel and then by a location within the channel, thereby saving allocation resources. A channel descriptor management message may be transmitted to define a plurality of channels within a given resource space. A subsequent resource allocation message may then allocate resources within at least one of the channels to a plurality of users. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of reducing resource allocation overhead. The method includes transmitting a channel descriptor management message on a broadcast connection to a mobile terminal, the channel descriptor management message providing a format for a transmission unit, the transmission unit including a resource space and the channel descriptor management message providing a definition for a plurality of sub-resource spaces within the resource space. In another aspect of the invention, a system is provided for carrying out the method. 
     Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the figures which illustrate example embodiments of this invention: 
         FIG. 1  is a block representation of a cellular communication system; 
         FIG. 2  is a block representation of a base station according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a block representation of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a logical breakdown of an OFDM transmitter architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a logical breakdown of an OFDM receiver architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a pattern of sub-carriers for carrying pilot symbols in a typical OFDM environment; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of an OFDM frame for use with embodiments provided by the invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates exemplary allocations of sub-bursts to regions within the OFDM frame of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary grouping of sub-bursts in a region within the OFDM frame of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a frame of channels defined using a hierarchical channel definition scheme according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates allocation of resources to hierarchically defined channels according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates allocation of resources to hierarchically defined channels according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a frame of channels defined using a non-hierarchical channel definition scheme according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a frame of channels defined using a first option of a hybrid hierarchical/non-hierarchically channel definition scheme according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a frame of channels defined using a second option of a hybrid hierarchical/non-hierarchically channel definition scheme according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a plurality of channels and DL access information elements according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a plurality of channels and DL access information elements according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a downlink resource allocation scheme shown in  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 19  presents a hierarchical mapping component structure in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 20  presents further detail of the hierarchical mapping component structure of  FIG. 19  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purposes of providing context for embodiments of the invention for use in a communication system,  FIG. 1  shows a base station controller (BSC)  10  which controls wireless communications within multiple cells  12 , which cells  12  are served by corresponding base stations (BS)  14 . In general, each base station  14  facilitates communications using OFDM with Mobile Subscriber Stations (MSS), also called mobile and/or wireless terminals  16 , which are within the cell  12  associated with the corresponding base station  14 . The movement of the mobile terminals  16  in relation to the base stations  14  is known to result in significant fluctuation in channel conditions. As illustrated, the base stations  14  and mobile terminals  16  may include multiple antennas to provide spatial diversity for communications. 
     A high level overview of the mobile terminals  16  and base stations  14  upon which aspects of the present invention are implemented is provided prior to delving into the structural and functional details of the preferred embodiments. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , a base station  14  is illustrated. The base station  14  generally includes a control system  20 , a baseband processor  22 , transmit circuitry  24 , receive circuitry  26 , multiple antennas  28  and a network interface  30 . The receive circuitry  26  receives radio frequency signals bearing information from one or more remote transmitters provided by the mobile terminals  16  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). Preferably, a low noise amplifier and a filter (not shown) cooperate to amplify and remove broadband interference from the signal for processing. Downconversion and digitization circuitry (not shown) then downconvert the filtered, received signal to an intermediate or baseband frequency signal, which is then digitized into one or more digital streams. 
     The baseband processor  22  processes the digitized received signal to extract the information or data bits conveyed in the received signal. This processing typically comprises demodulation, decoding and error correction operations. As such, the baseband processor  22  is generally implemented in one or more digital signal processors (DSPs) or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). The received information is then sent across a wireless network via the network interface  30  or transmitted to another mobile terminal  16  serviced by the base station  14 . 
     On the transmit side, the baseband processor  22  receives digitized data, which may represent voice, data or control information, from the network interface  30  under the control of control system  20  and encodes the data for transmission. The encoded data is output to the transmit circuitry  24 , where the encoded data is modulated by a carrier signal having a desired transmit frequency or frequencies. A power amplifier (not shown) amplifies the modulated carrier signal to a level appropriate for transmission and delivers the modulated carrier signal to the antennas  28  through a matching network (not shown). Modulation and processing details are described in greater detail below. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , a mobile terminal  16 , configured according to one embodiment of the present invention, is illustrated. The mobile terminal  16  may be configured, in a manner similar to base station  14 , to include a control system  32 , a baseband processor  34 , transmit circuitry  36 , receive circuitry  38 , multiple antennas  40  and user interface circuitry  42 . The receive circuitry  38  receives radio frequency signals bearing information from one or more base stations  14 . Preferably, a low noise amplifier and a filter (not shown) cooperate to amplify and remove broadband interference from the signal for processing. Downconversion and digitization circuitry (not shown) will then downconvert the filtered, received signal to an intermediate or baseband frequency signal, which is then digitized into one or more digital streams. 
     The baseband processor  34  processes the digitized received signal to extract the information or data bits conveyed in the received signal. This processing typically comprises demodulation, decoding and error correction operations. The baseband processor  34  is generally implemented in one or more DSPs and ASICs. 
     For transmission, the baseband processor  34  receives digitized data, which may represent voice, data or control information, from the control system  32 . The baseband processor  34  may then encode the digitized data for transmission. The encoded data is output to the transmit circuitry  36 , where the encoded data is used by a modulator to modulate a carrier signal that is at a desired transmit frequency or frequencies. A power amplifier (not shown) amplifies the modulated carrier signal to a level appropriate for transmission and delivers the modulated carrier signal to the antennas  40  through a matching network (not shown). Various modulation and processing techniques available to those skilled in the art are used for signal transmission between the mobile terminal  16  and the base station  14 . 
     In OFDM modulation, the transmission band is divided into multiple, orthogonal carrier waves. Each carrier wave is modulated according to the digital data to be transmitted. Because OFDM divides the transmission band into multiple carriers, the bandwidth per carrier decreases and the modulation time per carrier increases. Since the multiple carriers are transmitted in parallel, the transmission rate for the digital data, or symbols, on any given carrier is lower than when a single carrier is used. 
     OFDM modulation utilizes the performance of an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) on the information to be transmitted. For demodulation, the performance of a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on the received signal recovers the transmitted information. In practice, the IFFT and FFT are provided by digital signal processing carrying out an Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform (IDFT) and Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT), respectively. Accordingly, the characterizing feature of OFDM modulation is that orthogonal carrier waves are generated for multiple bands within a transmission channel. The modulated signals are digital signals that have a relatively low transmission rate and are capable of staying within their respective bands. The individual carrier waves are not modulated directly by the digital signals. Instead, all carrier waves are modulated at once by IFFT processing. 
     In operation, OFDM is preferably used for at least downlink transmission from the base stations  14  to the mobile terminals  16 . Each base station  14  is equipped with “n” transmit antennas  28  and each mobile terminal  16  is equipped with “m” receive antennas  40 . Notably, the respective antennas can be used for reception and transmission using appropriate duplexers or switches and are so labeled only for clarity. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a logical OFDM transmission architecture will be described. Initially, the base station controller  10  (see  FIG. 1 ) will send data, which is to be transmitted to various mobile terminals  16 , to the base station  14 . The base station  14  may use channel quality indicators (CQIs) associated with the mobile terminals  16  to schedule the data for transmission as well as to select appropriate coding and modulation for transmitting the scheduled data. The CQIs may be received directly from the mobile terminals  16  or determined at the base station  14  based on information provided by the mobile terminals  16 . In either case, the CQI for each mobile terminal  16  is a function of the degree to which the channel amplitude (or response) varies across the OFDM frequency band. 
     Scheduled data  44 , which is a stream of bits, is scrambled in a manner reducing the peak-to-average power ratio associated with the data using data scrambling logic  46 . A cyclic redundancy check (CRC) for the scrambled data is determined and appended to the scrambled data using CRC adding logic  48 . Next, channel coding is performed using channel encoder logic  50  to effectively add redundancy to the data to facilitate recovery and error correction at the mobile terminal  16 . Again, the channel coding for a particular mobile terminal  16  is based on the CQI associated with the particular mobile terminal  16 . In some implementations, the channel encoder logic  50  uses known Turbo encoding techniques. The encoded data is then processed by rate matching logic  52  to compensate for the data expansion associated with encoding. 
     Bit interleaver logic  54  systematically reorders the bits in the encoded data to minimize the loss of consecutive data bits. The resultant data bits are systematically mapped into corresponding symbols depending on the chosen baseband modulation by mapping logic  56 . Preferably, Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) or Quadrature Phase Shift Key (QPSK) modulation is used. The degree of modulation is preferably chosen based on the CQI for the particular mobile terminal  16 . The symbols may be systematically reordered, to further bolster the immunity of the transmitted signal to periodic data loss caused by frequency selective fading, using symbol interleaver logic  58 . 
     At this point, groups of bits have been mapped into symbols representing locations in an amplitude and phase constellation. When spatial diversity is desired, blocks of symbols are then processed by space-time block code (STC) encoder logic  60 , which modifies the symbols in a fashion making the transmitted signals more resistant to interference and more readily decoded at a mobile terminal  16 . The STC encoder logic  60  will process the incoming symbols and provide “n” outputs corresponding to the number of transmit antennas  28  for the base station  14 . The control system  20  and/or baseband processor  22 , as described above with respect to  FIG. 2 , will provide a mapping control signal to control STC encoding. At this point, it may be assumed that the symbols for the “n” outputs are representative of the data to be transmitted and capable of being recovered by the mobile terminal  16 . 
     For the present example, assume the base station  14  has two antennas  28  (n=2) and the STC encoder logic  60  provides two output streams of symbols. Accordingly, each of the symbol streams output by the STC encoder logic  60  is sent to a corresponding IFFT processor  62 , illustrated separately for ease of understanding. Those skilled in the art will recognize that one or more processors may be used to provide such digital signal processing, alone or in combination with other processing described herein. The IFFT processors  62  will preferably operate on the respective symbols to provide an inverse Fourier Transform. The output of the IFFT processors  62  provides symbols in the time domain. The time domain symbols are grouped into frames, which are associated with a prefix by prefix insertion logic  64 . Each of the resultant signals is up-converted in the digital domain to an intermediate frequency and converted to an analog signal via the corresponding digital up-conversion (DUC) and digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion circuitry  66 . The resultant (analog) signals are then simultaneously modulated at the desired RF frequency, amplified and transmitted via the RF circuitry  68  and antennas  28 . Notably, pilot signals known by the intended mobile terminal  16  to be scattered among a plurality of sub-carriers. The mobile terminal  16 , whose operation is discussed in detail below, may measure the pilot signals for channel estimation. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 5  to illustrate reception of the transmitted signals by a mobile terminal  16 . Upon arrival of the transmitted signals at each of the antennas  40  of the mobile terminal  16 , the respective signals are demodulated and amplified by corresponding RF circuitry  70 . For the sake of conciseness and clarity, only one of the two receive paths are described and illustrated in detail. Analog-to-digital (A/D) converter and down-conversion circuitry  72  digitizes and downconverts the analog signal for digital processing. The resultant digitized signal may be used by automatic gain control circuitry (AGC)  74  to control the gain of the amplifiers in the RF circuitry  70  based on the received signal level. 
     Initially, the digitized signal is provided to synchronization logic  76 , which includes coarse synchronization logic  78 , which buffers several OFDM symbols and calculates an auto-correlation between the two successive OFDM symbols. A resultant time index corresponding to the maximum of the correlation result determines a fine synchronization search window, which is used by fine synchronization logic  80  to determine a precise framing starting position based on the headers. The output of the fine synchronization logic  80  facilitates frame acquisition by frame alignment logic  84 . Proper framing alignment is important so that subsequent FFT processing provides an accurate conversion from the time domain to the frequency domain. The fine synchronization algorithm is based on the correlation between the received pilot signals carried by the headers and a local copy of the known pilot data. Once frame alignment acquisition occurs, the prefix of the OFDM symbol is removed with prefix removal logic  86  and resultant samples are sent to frequency offset correction logic  88 , which compensates for the system frequency offset caused by the unmatched local oscillators in the transmitter and the receiver. Preferably, the synchronization logic  76  includes frequency offset and clock estimation logic  82 , which is based on the headers to help estimate such effects on the transmitted signal and provide those estimations to the correction logic  88  to properly process OFDM symbols. 
     At this point, the OFDM symbols in the time domain are ready for conversion to the frequency domain using FFT processing logic  90 . The results are frequency domain symbols, which are sent to processing logic  92 . The processing logic  92  extracts the scattered pilot signal using scattered pilot extraction logic  94 , determines a channel estimate based on the extracted pilot signal using channel estimation logic  96  and provides channel responses for all sub-carriers using channel reconstruction logic  98 . In order to determine a channel response for each of the sub-carriers, the pilot signal is essentially multiple pilot symbols that are scattered among the data symbols throughout the OFDM sub-carriers in a known pattern in both time and frequency.  FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary scattering of pilot symbols among available sub-carriers over a given time and frequency plot in an OFDM environment. 
     Continuing with  FIG. 5 , the processing logic  92  compares the received pilot symbols with the pilot symbols that are expected in certain sub-carriers at certain times to determine a channel response for the sub-carriers in which the pilot symbols were transmitted. The results are interpolated to estimate a channel response for most, if not all, of the remaining sub-carriers for which pilot symbols were not provided. The actual and interpolated channel responses are used to estimate an overall channel response, which includes the channel responses for most, if not all, of the sub-carriers in the OFDM channel. 
     The frequency domain symbols and channel reconstruction information, which are derived from the channel responses for each receive path are provided to an STC decoder  100 , which provides STC decoding on both received paths to recover the transmitted symbols. The channel reconstruction information provides equalization information to the STC decoder  100  sufficient to remove the effects of the transmission channel when processing the respective frequency domain symbols. 
     The recovered symbols are placed back in order using symbol de-interleaver logic  102 , which corresponds to the symbol interleaver logic  58  of the transmitter. The de-interleaved symbols are then demodulated or de-mapped to a corresponding bitstream using de-mapping logic  104 . The bits are then de-interleaved using bit de-interleaver logic  106 , which corresponds to the bit interleaver logic  54  of the transmitter architecture. The de-interleaved bits are then processed by rate de-matching logic  108  and presented to channel decoder logic  110  to recover the initially scrambled data and the CRC checksum. Accordingly, CRC logic  112  removes the CRC checksum, checks the scrambled data in traditional fashion and provides it to the de-scrambling logic  114  for de-scrambling using the known base station de-scrambling code to recover the originally transmitted data  116 . 
     In parallel to recovering the data  116 , a CQI, or at least information sufficient to create a CQI at the base station  14 , is determined and transmitted to the base station  14 . As noted above, the CQI may be a function of the carrier-to-interference ratio (C/I), as well as the degree to which the channel response varies across the various sub-carriers in the OFDM frequency band. The channel gain for each sub-carrier in the OFDM frequency band being used to transmit information may be compared relative to one another to determine the degree to which the channel gain varies across the OFDM frequency band. Although numerous techniques are available to measure the degree of variation, one technique is to calculate the standard deviation of the channel gain for each sub-carrier throughout the OFDM frequency band being used to transmit data. 
       FIGS. 1 to 5  provide one specific example of a communication system that could be used to implement embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that embodiments of the invention can be implemented with communications systems having architectures that are different than the specific example, but that operate in a manner consistent with the implementation of the embodiments as described herein. 
     The known Media Access Control (MAC) layer is used to enable features in the physical (PHY) layer in an OFDMA air interface framework. Frames are a format used to transmit “bursts” of data over the air interface between the base station  14  and the mobile terminal  16 . The mobile terminal  16  is, for example, any known wireless device such as a cellular telephone, a computer with a wireless modem or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). Various types of information elements (IE) are included in the frame to provide a structure within the frame for defining where downlink information and uplink information are located within the frame. Each IE defines a rectangle in the (time, sub-channels) grid used to carry a specific sub-burst. 
     In overview, in accordance with embodiments of the invention, schemes for allocating resources in an OFDMA-based wireless network are provided, which OFDMA-based wireless network operates in accordance with the IEEE Broadband Metropolitan Area Networks Standard (IEEE P802.16e/D5a-2004). One of skill in the art will appreciate, however, that the broader embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard but are equally applicable to other wireless technologies, including Multi-carrier CDMA (C-CDMA) and, even, to Wireline technology. It should further be appreciated that embodiments of the invention are as applicable to uplink communications as they are to downlink communications. 
       FIG. 7  shows a schematic diagram of an example frame used in conjunction with embodiments of the invention. Details are shown for a frame labeled “Frame N”  200  which is preceded by Frame “N−1” and followed by “Frame N+1”, all of which form part of an ongoing sequence of frames. The Frame N  200  has a two dimensional appearance which is represented in terms of a rows and columns. The rows are designated by logical subchannel numbers L, L+1, . . . , L+15 and the columns are designated by OFDM symbol numbers M, M+1, . . . , M+17. Logical subchannels are designated groupings of active sub-carriers. Active sub-carriers are any one of data sub-carriers for data transmission, pilot sub-carriers for synchronization or sub-carriers that do not involve direct transmission, but are used as transition guards between parts of the frame. 
     A base station  14  provides a structure for frames, such as the Frame N  200  of  FIG. 7 , by transmitting messages on a broadcast connection to the mobile terminals  16  that are within range. The messages are known as Downlink Channel Descriptor (DCD) MAC management messages and Uplink Channel Descriptor (UCD) MAC management messages. UCD and DCD MAC management messages contain Type/Length/Value (TLV) encoded elements. Notably, UCD MAC management messages and DCD MAC management messages may be considered to be relatively long; UCD MAC management message length may be over 280 bytes and DCD MAC management message length may be over 200 bytes. MAC management messages on broadcast, basic or initial ranging connections are known to be neither fragmented nor packed. Therefore, it is necessary to transmit a long MAC management message all at once, that is, without fragmentation. The resource allocation for a long DCD/UCD message may be considered to be a burden for a base station  14 , and the transmission of a long DCD/UCD message may be necessarily delayed if sufficient bandwidth is unavailable. Moreover, available resource in a frame may be less than that required to transmit a DCD/UCD MAC management message. As such, DCD/UCD messages are typically transmitted relatively infrequently. 
     The Frame N  200  of  FIG. 7  includes a DL subframe  202 , a transmit-receive transition guard (TTG)  204  and a UL subframe  206 . 
     The DL subframe  202 , as is typical, includes a preamble  210 , a Frame Control Header (FCH)  212 , a downlink (DL) mapping component (i.e., a DL-MAP  214 ) and an uplink (UL) mapping component (i.e., an UL-MAP  222 ). Furthermore, the DL subframe  202  includes two subsidiary DL mapping components (sub-DL-MAP 1   216  and sub-DL-MAP 2   220 ) and a subsidiary UL mapping component (sub-UL-MAP 1   218 ). As is known, information elements in the DL-MAP  214  may reference information elements in the sub DL-MAPs  216 ,  220  and information elements in the sub DL-MAPs  216 ,  220  may reference locations in the resource space of the DL subframe  202 . Similarly, information elements in the UL-MAP  222  may reference information elements in the sub-UL-MAP  218  and information elements in the sub-UL-MAP  218  may reference locations in the UL subframe  206 . 
     The UL subframe  206  contains UL information allocated to designated regions  232  of the UL subframe in which specific mobile terminals  16  may transmit data back to the base station  14 . The UL subframe  206  also includes fast feedback channels  230  that are used to allow the mobile terminals  16  to report information to the base station  14 . For example, a fast feedback channel  230  can be designated as a channel to be used to indicate the air interface channel quality between the base station  14  and the mobile terminal  16 . 
     Following the UL subframe  206  is a receive/transmit transition guard (RTG)  220 . Frames N−1 and N+1 have a similar composition. 
     The data frame of  FIG. 7  is an example of a time division duplex (TDD) data frame. It is to be understood that embodiments of the invention are also applicable to frequency division duplex (FDD) operation and OFDMA operation. 
     It is typical that much of the DL subframe  202  is a continuous resource space addressed by the DL-MAP  214 , which includes information elements that refer to locations of resource units within the resource space. However, according to an embodiment of the invention, a structure for the resource space may be determined that involves dividing the resource space into a plurality of sub-resource spaces. Determining the structure for the resource space may involve defining the sub-resource spaces, called channels herein. The division of the resource space may, for instance, be based on measured traffic statistics. 
     Conventionally, when referencing resource units in the DL-MAP, each resource units is described by a DL-MAP Information Element which includes OFDMA symbol offset (8 bits), sub-channel offset (6 bits), number of OFDMA symbols (8 bits) and number of sub-channels (6 bits). By using such a mechanism, the minimum, or basic, DL resource unit is one sub-channel (or mini-sub-channel)×one OFMDA symbol. Assuming 20 mobile terminals are assigned DL resources in each frame, 560 bits in the DL-MAP will be used for region assignments. This results in large overhead. 
     Determining a definition for a given sub-resource space, or channel, may involve, in part, assigning a Channel InDex (CHID) to a region of the resource space of the DL subframe  202 . Determining a given channel definition may also involve determining the geometry of the region of the DL subframe to be occupied by the given channel. Channel definitions, once determined, may then be broadcast in a DCD MAC management message. 
     Notably, while channel definitions can be updated and declared slowly through infrequent system configuration broadcast messages (e.g., DCD MAC management messages) channel definitions may also be updated and declared dynamically through resource allocation signaling (e.g., DL-MAP) on a per-frame basis or a few frame basis. 
     The DL subframe  202 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , contains DL data in channels  224  of the DL subframe  202  to be transmitted to one or more mobile terminals  14 . The channels  224  of the DL subframe  202  are identified as channel  0   224 - 0 , channel  1   224 - 1 , channel  2   224 - 2 , channel  3   224 - 3 , channel  4   224 - 4 , channel  5   224 - 5 , channel  6   224 - 6  and channel  7   224 - 7 . 
     The resource space, and, consequently, the channels  224  of the DL subframe  202 , is known to contain protocol data units (PDU). PDUs are known to include some or all of the following: a MAC header, MAC sub-headers and a MAC payload. 
     Information elements included in the DL-MAP  214  or SUB-DL-MAP  216 ,  220  may be employed to indicate an allocation of a set of sub-channels and OFDM symbols, within a channel, for a particular sub-burst destined for a particular mobile terminal  16 . Exemplary such allocations are illustrated in  FIG. 8  for channel  4   224 - 4  and channel  5   224 - 5 . Channel  4   224 - 4  includes sub-bursts  812 ,  814 ,  816 ,  818 ,  820  and  822 . Channel  5   224 - 5  includes sub-bursts  822 ,  824  and  826 . Both channel  4   224 - 4  and channel  5   224 - 5  include some 802.16D DL traffic  830 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , each channel may include multiple sub-bursts and each sub-burst may be mapped into to the channel following the known frequency-first-one-dimension mapping rule. If some part of a channel is partially occupied (for example by MAPs and 802.16D DL traffic or any other assignment using a regular IE), the frequency-first-one-dimension mapping rule is still valid. 
     It is proposed herein that a PHY PDU associated with a mobile terminal  16  may be mapped to more than one channel. An example is illustrated in  FIG. 8  wherein insufficient room is left in channel  4   224 - 4  to schedule an entire PDU. The final sub-burst  822  of channel  4   224 - 4  may be mapped to channel  5   224 - 5 . 
     It is also proposed herein to allow a PHY PDU associated with a mobile terminal  16  to be non-consecutively mapped. For example, some slots may be reserved for certain transmissions, including retransmissions. An example is illustrated in  FIG. 8  wherein an intervening sub-burst  826  is allocated to slots among slots that are allocated to a long sub-burst  824 . 
     It is further proposed that a mobile terminal  16  may prevent unnecessary MAP processing by introducing a “done” bit. 
     It is proposed herein to allow each sub-burst (or layer in MIMO) to use distinct Downlink Interval Usage Code (DIUC), repetition and boosting. The related overhead can be reduced by introducing a transmission control group. A transmission control group may, for example, include all sub-bursts that use the same DIUC, boosting and repetition to use one DIUC/boosting/repetition transmission code for the entire transmission control group of sub-bursts. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary grouping. A first group  901  includes Normal mode sub-bursts, a second group  902  includes Chase sub-bursts and a third group  903  includes Chase Combining-Incremental Redundancy (CC-IR) sub-bursts. 
     Advantages of the above embodiments of the invention include a reduction of overhead. As discussed above, each region assignment, that is, assignment of a location for a sub-burst in the DL subframe  202 , in a resource space that has not been divided into channels, may require 28 bits. In contrast, region assignment for the DL subframe  202  in a resource space that has been divided into channels may be shown to require fewer than 6 bits. Furthermore, the possibility of un-utilized resource at the end of a channel is minimized through the allowance of mapping a PDU across a channel boundary. 
     The above embodiments may be implemented through the use of the following exemplary enhanced format for a DL assignment DL MAP information element. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Size 
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 (bits) 
                 Note 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Enhanced DL Assignment DL MAP IE { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Extended DIUC 
                 4 
                 Set to 0x1 
               
               
                  Length 
                 8 
                 Length of the IE in bytes 
               
               
                  RCID_Type 
                 2 
                 00 = Normal CID 
               
               
                   
                   
                 01 = RCID11 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10 = RCID7 
               
               
                   
                   
                 11 = CID not included 
               
               
                  CHID 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in TLV in DCD. 
               
               
                  Boosting 
                 3 
                   
               
               
                  Num_sub_burst 
                 4 
                   
               
               
                  For (j = 0; j&lt;Num_sub_burst;j++) 
                   
                   
               
               
                  { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Mode 
                 3 
                 Indicates the mode of this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub_burst 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0000 = Normal 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0001 = Chase H-ARQ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0010 = IR CC H-ARQ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0011 = OL MIMO 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0100 = OL MIMO Chase H- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ARQ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0101 = OL MIMO IR CC H- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ARQ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0110 = STC H-ARQ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0111 = Normal-CTC 
               
               
                   
                   
                 1000 = OL MIMO-CTC 
               
               
                   
                   
                 1001 = OL MIMO IR CTC H- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ARQ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 1010 = CL MIMO 
               
               
                   
                   
                 1011 = CL MIMO (CTC) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 1100 = CL MIMO Chase H- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ARQ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 1101 = CL MIMO IR CC H- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ARQ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 1110 = CL MIMO IR CTC H- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ARQ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 1111 = reserved 
               
               
                   If (Mode==0000) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    Normal Sub-Burst IE ( ) 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } else if ( Mode == 0001) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    Chase H-ARQ Sub-Burst IE ( ) 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } else if (Mode == 0010) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    IR CC H-ARQ Sub-Burst IE ( ) 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } else if (Mode == 0011) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    MIMO Sub-Burst IE ( ) 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } else if (Mode == 0100) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    MIMO Chase H-ARQ Sub-Burst IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } else if (Mode == 0101) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    MIMO IR CC H-ARQ Sub-Burst IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } else if (Mode == 0110) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    CTC H-ARQ Sub_Burst IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } else if (Mode == 0111) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    Normal-CTC Sub-Burst IE ( ) 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } else if (Mode == 1000) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    MIMO CTC Sub-Burst IE ( ) 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } else if (Mode == 1001) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    MIMO IR CTC H-ARQ Sub-Burst IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  } (end of Sub_burst loop) 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Padding 
                   
                   
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The enhanced information element format for DL assignment DL MAP references a normal sub-burst IE format (mode=0000). An exemplary normal sub-burst IE format follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Note 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Normal Sub-Burst IE { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Start_offset_indicator 
                 1 bit  
                 Set to 1 if the start offset for this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst (relative to the beginning 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of this channel) needs to be indicated; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Set to 0 if the start offset of the sub-burst 
               
               
                   
                   
                 is the end of the previous sub-burst. 
               
               
                  If ( Start_offset_indicator == 1 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Start_offset 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel Definition 
               
               
                   
                   
                 TLV in DCD management massage 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Length 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel Definition 
               
               
                   
                   
                 TLV in DCD management massage 
               
               
                  If (RCID_Type != 11) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                  Repetition 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  Done_indicator 
                 1 bit  
                 Set to 1 to indicate that there 
               
               
                   
                   
                 is no further unicast assignment 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to this mobile terminal in this frame. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 At this point, the mobile terminal 
               
               
                   
                   
                 may stop further process of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 following MAPs. 
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The enhanced information element format for DL assignment DL MAP references a Chase Hybrid Automatic Request (H-ARQ) sub-burst IE format (mode=0001). An exemplary Chase H-ARQ sub-burst IE format follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Note 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Chase H-ARQ Sub-Burst IE { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Start_offset_indicator 
                 1 bit  
                 Set to 1 if the start offset for this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst ( relative to the beginning 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of this channel) needs to be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 indicated; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Set to 0 if the start offset of the sub- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 burst is the end of the previous sub- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 burst. 
               
               
                  If ( Start_offset_indicator == 1 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Start_offset 
                 Variable 
                 In slot. As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) in DCD 
               
               
                   
                   
                 management massage 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Length 
                 Variable 
                 In slot. As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) in DCD 
               
               
                   
                   
                 management massage 
               
               
                  RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                  DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                  Repetition 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  ACID 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                  AI_SN 
                 1 bit  
                 Each change in AI_SN indicates a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 new packet transmission on the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 same H-ARQ channel identified by 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ACID 
               
               
                  Done_indicator 
                 1 bit  
                 Set to 1 to indicate that there is no 
               
               
                   
                   
                 further unicast assignment to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mobile terminal in this frame. At this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 point, the mobile terminal may stop 
               
               
                   
                   
                 further process of the following 
               
               
                   
                   
                 MAPs. 
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The enhanced information element format for DL assignment DL MAP references a Incremental Redundancy (IR) Chase Combining (CC)H-ARQ sub-burst IE format (mode=0010). An exemplary IR CC H-ARQ sub-burst IE format follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Note 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 IR CC H-ARQ Sub-Burst IE { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Start_offset_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                 Set to 1 if the start offset for this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst ( relative to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 beginning of this channel) needs to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 be indicated; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Set to 0 if the start offset of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst is the end of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 previous sub-burst. 
               
               
                  If (Start_offset_indicator == 1) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Start_offset 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) in DCD 
               
               
                   
                   
                 management massage 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Length 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) in DCD 
               
               
                   
                   
                 management massage 
               
               
                  RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                  ACID 
                  4 bits 
                   
               
               
                  AI_SN 
                 1 bit 
                 Each change in AI_SN indicates a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 new packet transmission on the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 same H-ARQ channel identified by 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ACID 
               
               
                  SPID 
                  2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  Done_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                 Set to 1 to indicate that there is no 
               
               
                   
                   
                 further unicast assignment to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mobile terminal in this frame. At 
               
               
                   
                   
                 this point, the mobile terminal may 
               
               
                   
                   
                 stop further process of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 following MAPs. 
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The enhanced information element format for DL assignment DL MAP references a MIMO sub-burst IE format (mode=0011). An exemplary MIMO sub-burst IE format follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Note 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 MIMO Sub-Burst IE { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Start_offset_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                 Set to 1 if the start offset for this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst ( relative to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 beginning of this channel) needs 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to be indicated; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Set to 0 if the start offset of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst is the end of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 previous sub-burst. 
               
               
                  If ( Start_offset_indicator == 1 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Start_offset 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 DCD management massage 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Length 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 DCD management massage 
               
               
                  Matrix_index 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  Num_MSSs 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  For (i = 0; i &lt; Num_MSSs; i++) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   If (RCID_Type 1!= 11) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Num_layer 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   For (j = 0; j &lt; Num_layer; j++) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    Layer_index 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                    DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                    Repetition Coding Indication 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Done_indicator 
                 1 bit  
                 Set to 1 to indicate that there is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 no further unicast assignment to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 this mobile terminal in this frame. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 At this point, the mobile terminal 
               
               
                   
                   
                 may stop further process 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of the following MAPs. 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The enhanced information element format for DL assignment DL MAP references a MIMO Chase H-ARQ sub-burst IE format (mode=0100). An exemplary MIMO Chase H-ARQ sub-burst IE format follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Note 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 MIMO Chase H-ARQ Sub-Burst IE { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Start_offset_indicator 
                 1 bit  
                 Set to 1 if the start offset for this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst ( relative to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 beginning of this channel) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 needs to be indicated; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Set to 0 if the start offset of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst is the end of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 previous sub-burst. 
               
               
                  If ( Start_offset_indicator == 1 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Start_offset 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 DCD management massage 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Length 
                 variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 DCD management massage 
               
               
                  Matrix_index 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  Num_MSSs 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  For (i = 0; i &lt; Num_MSSs; i++) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   Num_layer 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   For (j = 0; j &lt; Num_layer; j++) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    Layer_index 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                    DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                    Repetition Coding Indication 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                    ACID 
                   
                   
               
               
                    AI_SN 
                   
                 Each change in AI_SN indicates 
               
               
                   
                   
                 a new packet transmission on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the same H-ARQ channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 identified by ACID 
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Done_indicator 
                 1 bit  
                 Set to 1 to indicate that there is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 no further unicast assignment to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 this mobile terminal in this frame. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 At this point, the mobile terminal 
               
               
                   
                   
                 may stop further process 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of the following MAPs. 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The enhanced information element format for DL assignment DL MAP references a MIMO IR CC H-ARQ sub-burst IE format (mode=0101). An exemplary MIMO IR CC H-ARQ sub-burst IE format follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Note 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 MIMO IR CC H-ARQ Sub-Burst IE { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Start_offset_indicator 
                 1 bit  
                 Set to 1 if the start offset for this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst (relative to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 beginning of this channel) needs 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to be indicated; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Set to 0 if the start offset of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst is the end of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 previous sub-burst. 
               
               
                  If ( Start_offset_indicator == 1 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Start_offset 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 DCD management massage 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Length 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 DCD management massage 
               
               
                  Matrix_index 
                 2 bit  
                   
               
               
                  Num_MSSs 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  For (i = 0; I &lt; Num_MSSs; i++) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   Num_layer 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   For (j = 0 ; j &lt; Num_layer; j++) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    Layer_index 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                    DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                    Repetition Coding Indication 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                    ACID 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                    AI_SN 
                 1 bit  
                 Each change in AI_SN indicates a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 new packet transmission on the same 
               
               
                   
                   
                 H-ARQ channel identified by ACID 
               
               
                    SPID 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Done_indicator 
                 1 bit  
                 Set to 1 to indicate that there is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 no further unicast assignment to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 this mobile terminal in this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 frame. At this point, the mobile 
               
               
                   
                   
                 terminal may stop further 
               
               
                   
                   
                 process of the following MAPs. 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The enhanced information element format for DL assignment DL MAP references a STC H-ARQ sub-burst IE format (mode=0110). An exemplary STC H-ARQ sub-burst IE format follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Note 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 STC H-ARQ Sub-Burst IE { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Start_offset_indicator 
                 1 bit  
                 Set to 1 if the start offset for this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst (relative to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 beginning of this channel) needs to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 be indicated; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Set to 0 if the start offset of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst is the end of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 previous sub-burst. 
               
               
                  If ( Start_offset_indicator == 1 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Start_offset 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) in DCD 
               
               
                   
                   
                 management massage 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Length 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) in DCD 
               
               
                   
                   
                 management massage 
               
               
                  If (RCID_Type 1!= 11) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  ACID 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  Num_transmission 
                 2 bits 
                 00 - the first transmission 
               
               
                   
                   
                 01 - the second transmission 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10 - the third transmission 
               
               
                   
                   
                 11 - the fourth transmission 
               
               
                  If (Num_transmission == 00 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                   Repetition Coding Indication 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Done_indicator 
                 1 bit  
                 Set to 1 to indicate that there is no 
               
               
                   
                   
                 further unicast assignment to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mobile terminal in this frame. At 
               
               
                   
                   
                 this point, the mobile terminal may 
               
               
                   
                   
                 stop further process of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 following MAPs. 
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The enhanced information element format for DL assignment DL MAP references a Normal Convolution Turbo Code (CTC) sub-burst IE format (mode=0111). An exemplary Normal CTC sub-burst IE format follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Note 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Normal CTC Sub-Burst IE { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Start_offset_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                 Set to 1 if the start offset for this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst ( relative to the beginning 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of this channel) needs to be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 indicated; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Set to 0 if the start offset of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst is the end of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 previous sub-burst. 
               
               
                  If ( Start_offset_indicator == 1 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Start_offset 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) in DCD 
               
               
                   
                   
                 management massage 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  If (RCID_Type 1!= 11) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Nsch 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Nep 
                  4 bits 
                   
               
               
                  Done_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                 Set to 1 to indicate that there is no 
               
               
                   
                   
                 further unicast assignment to this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mobile terminal in this frame. At 
               
               
                   
                   
                 this point, the mobile terminal may 
               
               
                   
                   
                 stop further process of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 following MAPs. 
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The enhanced information element format for DL assignment DL MAP references a MIMO CTC sub-burst IE format (mode=1000). An exemplary MIMO CTC sub-burst IE format follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Note 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 MIMO CTC Sub-Burst IE { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Start_offset_indicator 
                 1 bit  
                 Set to 1 if the start offset for this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst ( relative to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 beginning of this channel) needs 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to be indicated; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Set to 0 if the start offset of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst is the end of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 previous sub-burst. 
               
               
                  If ( Start_offset_indicator == 1 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Start_offset 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 DCD management massage 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Nsch 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                  Matrix_index 
                 2 bit  
                   
               
               
                  Num_MSSs 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  For (i = 0; i &lt; Num_MSSs; i++) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   If (RCID_Type 1!= 11) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Num_layer 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   For (j = 0 ; j &lt; Num_layer; j++) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    Layer_index 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                    Nep 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Done_indicator 
                 1 bit  
                 Set to 1 to indicate that there is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 no further unicast assignment to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 this mobile terminal in this frame. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 At this point, the mobile terminal 
               
               
                   
                   
                 may stop further process of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 following MAPs. 
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The enhanced information element format for DL assignment DL MAP references a MIMO IR CTC H-ARQ sub-burst IE format (mode=1001). An exemplary MIMO IR CTC H-ARQ sub-burst IE format follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Note 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 MIMO IR CTC H-ARQ Sub-Burst IE { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Start_offset_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                 Set to 1 if the start offset for this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst ( relative to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 beginning of this channel) needs 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to be indicated; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Set to 0 if the start offset of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sub-burst is the end of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 previous sub-burst. 
               
               
                  If ( Start_offset_indicator == 1) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Start_offset 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 DCD management massage 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Nsch 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                  If (RCID_Type 1!= 11) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Matrix_index 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  Num_layer 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  For ( I =0;i&lt; Num_layer; i++ ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Nep 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  ACID 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  AI_SN 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                  SPID 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  Done_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                 Set to 1 to indicate that there is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 no further unicast assignment to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 this mobile terminal in this frame. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 At this point, the mobile terminal 
               
               
                   
                   
                 may stop further process of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 following MAPs. 
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The enhanced information element format for DL assignment DL MAP references a Closed Loop (CL) MIMO sub-burst IE format (mode=1010). An exemplary CL MIMO sub-burst IE format follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Note 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 CL MIMO Sub-Burst IE { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Start_offset_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                 Set to 1 if the start offset for 
               
               
                   
                   
                 this sub-burst ( relative to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 beginning of this channel) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 needs to be indicated; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Set to 0 if the start offset of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the sub-burst is the end of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 previous sub-burst. 
               
               
                  If ( Start_offset_indicator == 1 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Start_offset 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 DCD management massage 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Length 
                 variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 DCD management massage 
               
               
                  CL MIMO mode 
                 2 bits 
                 00 - Antenna selection 
               
               
                   
                   
                 01 - Antenna grouping 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10 - SVD 
               
               
                   
                   
                 11 - reserved 
               
               
                  If (CL MIMO mode == 00 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Num_MSS 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   For (i = 0; i &lt; Num_MSS; i++ ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   If (RCID_Type !=11 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Num_antenna 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   For (j = 0; j &lt; Num_antenna; j++) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    Antenna_index 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                    DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                    Repetition Coding Indication 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Done_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  } else if (CL MIMO mode == 01 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   If (RCID_Type !=11 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Antenna group matrix index 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                   For (j = 0; j &lt; Num_alayer; j++) { 
                   
                 Number of layer is implicitly 
               
               
                   
                   
                 indicated by the matrix index 
               
               
                    DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                    Repetition Coding Indication 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Done_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                  } else if ( CL MlMO mode == 10 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   If (RCID_Type !=11 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                   Repetition 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   Done_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The enhanced information element format for DL assignment DL MAP references a CL MIMO (CTC) sub-burst IE format (mode=1011). An exemplary CL MIMO (CTC) sub-burst IE format follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Note 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 CL MIMO (CTC) Sub-Burst IE { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Start_offset_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                 Set to 1 if the start offset 
               
               
                   
                   
                 for this sub-burst ( relative 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to the beginning of this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 channel) needs to be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 indicated; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Set to 0 if the start offset of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the sub-burst is the end of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the previous sub-burst. 
               
               
                  If ( Start_offset_indicator == 1 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Start_offset 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 in DCD management 
               
               
                   
                   
                 massage 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Nsch 
                 variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 in DCD management 
               
               
                   
                   
                 massage 
               
               
                  CL MIMO mode 
                 2 bits 
                 00 - Antenna selection 
               
               
                   
                   
                 01 - Antenna grouping 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10 - SVD 
               
               
                   
                   
                 11 - reserved 
               
               
                  If (CL MIMO mode == 00 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Num_MSS 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   For ( I = 0; I &lt; Num_MSS; i++ ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    If (RCID_Type !=11 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                     RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                    } 
                   
                   
               
               
                    Num_antenna 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                    For (j = 0; j &lt; Num_antenna; j++) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                     Antenna_index 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                     Nep 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                    } 
                   
                   
               
               
                    Done_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  } else if (CL MIMO mode == 01 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   If (RCID_Type !=11 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Antenna group index 
                 4 bits 
                 Definition 
               
               
                   For (j = 0; j &lt; Num_alayer; j++) { 
                   
                 Number of layer is implicitly 
               
               
                   
                   
                 indicated by the matrix 
               
               
                   
                   
                 index 
               
               
                    Nep 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Done_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  } else if ( CL MIMO mode == 10 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   If (RCID_Type !=11 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Nep 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                   Done_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The enhanced information element format for DL assignment DL MAP references a CL MIMO Chase H-ARQ sub-burst IE format (mode=1100). An exemplary CL MIMO Chase H-ARQ sub-burst IE format follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Note 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 CL MIMO Chase H-ARQ Sub-Burst IE { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Start_offset_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                 Set to 1 if the start offset 
               
               
                   
                   
                 for this sub-burst ( relative 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to the beginning of this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 channel) needs to be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 indicated; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Set to 0 if the start offset of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the sub-burst is the end of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the previous sub-burst. 
               
               
                  If ( Start_offset_indicator == 1 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Start_offset 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 in DCD management 
               
               
                   
                   
                 massage 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Length 
                 variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 in DCD management 
               
               
                   
                   
                 massage 
               
               
                  CL MIMO mode 
                 2 bits 
                 00 - Antenna selection 
               
               
                   
                   
                 01 - Antenna grouping 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10 - SVD 
               
               
                   
                   
                 11 - reserved 
               
               
                  If (CL MIMO mode == 00 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Num_MSS 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   For ( i = 0; i &lt; Num_MSS; i++ ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    If (RCID_Type !=11 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                     RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                    } 
                   
                   
               
               
                    Num_antenna 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                    For (j = 0; j &lt; Num_antenna; j++) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                     Antenna_index 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                     DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                     Repetition Coding Indication 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                     ACID 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                     AI_SN 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                    } 
                   
                   
               
               
                    Done_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  } else if (CL MIMO mode == 01 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   If (RCID_Type !=11 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Antenna group index 
                 3 bits 
                 Definition 
               
               
                   For (j = 0; j &lt; Num_alayer; j++) { 
                   
                 Number of layer is implicitly 
               
               
                   
                   
                 indicated by the matrix 
               
               
                   
                   
                 index 
               
               
                    DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                    Repetition Coding Indication 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                    ACID 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                    AI_SN 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Done_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                  } else if ( CL MIMO mode == 10 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   If (RCID_Type !=11 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                   Repetition 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   ACID 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   AI_SN 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                   Done indicator 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The enhanced information element format for DL assignment, DL MAP references a CL MIMO CC H-ARQ sub-burst IE format (mode=1101). An exemplary CL MIMO CC H-ARQ sub-burst IE format follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Note 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 CL MIMO CC H-ARQ Sub-Burst IE { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Start_offset_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                 Set to 1 if the start offset 
               
               
                   
                   
                 for this sub-burst (relative 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to the beginning of this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 channel) needs to be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 indicated; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Set to 0 if the start offset of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the sub-burst is the end of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the previous sub-burst. 
               
               
                  If ( Start_offset_indicator == 1 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Start_offset 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 in DCD management 
               
               
                   
                   
                 massage 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Length 
                 variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 in DCD management 
               
               
                   
                   
                 massage 
               
               
                  CL MIMO mode 
                 2 bits 
                 00 - Antenna selection 
               
               
                   
                   
                 01 - Antenna grouping 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10 - SVD 
               
               
                   
                   
                 11 - reserved 
               
               
                  If (CL MIMO mode == 00 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Num_MSS 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   For ( I = 0; I &lt; Num_MSS; i++ ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    If (RCID_Type !=11 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                     RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                    } 
                   
                   
               
               
                    Num_antenna 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                    For (j = 0; j &lt; Num_antenna; j++) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                     Antenna_index 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                     DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                     Repetition Coding Indication 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                     ACID 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                     AI_SN 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                     SPID 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                    } 
                   
                   
               
               
                    Done_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  } else if (CL MIMO mode == 01 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   If (RCID_Type !=11 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Antenna group index 
                 4 bits 
                 Definition 
               
               
                  For (j = 0; j &lt; Num_alayer; j++) { 
                   
                 Number of layer is implicitly 
               
               
                   
                   
                 indicated by the matrix 
               
               
                   
                   
                 index 
               
               
                   DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                   Repetition Coding Indication 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   ACID 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   AI_SN 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                   SPID 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Done_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                  } else if ( CL MIMO mode == 10 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   If (RCID_Type !=11 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                   Repetition 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   ACID 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   AI_SN 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                   SPID 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                   Done indicator 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The enhanced information element format for DL assignment DL MAP references a CL MIMO IR CTC H-ARQ sub-burst IE format (mode=1110). An exemplary CL MIMO IR CTC H-ARQ sub-burst IE format follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Note 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 CL MIMO IR CTC H-ARQ Sub-Burst IE { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Start_offset_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                 Set to 1 if the start offset 
               
               
                   
                   
                 for this sub-burst ( relative 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to the beginning of this 
               
               
                   
                   
                 channel) needs to be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 indicated; 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Set to 0 if the start offset of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the sub-burst is the end of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the previous sub-burst. 
               
               
                  If (Start_offset_indicator == 1 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Start_offset 
                 Variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 in DCD management 
               
               
                   
                   
                 massage 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Nsch 
                 variable 
                 As defined in DL Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Definition TLV (Type =19) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 in DCD management 
               
               
                   
                   
                 massage 
               
               
                  CL MIMO mode 
                 2 bits 
                 00 - Antenna selection 
               
               
                   
                   
                 01 - Antenna grouping 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10 - SVD 
               
               
                   
                   
                 11 - reserved 
               
               
                  If (CL MIMO mode == 00 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Num_MSS 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  For (i = 0; I &lt; Num_MSS; i++ ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    If (RCID_Type !=11 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                     RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                    } 
                   
                   
               
               
                    Num_antenna 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                    For (j = 0; j &lt; Num_antenna; j++) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                     Antenna_index 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                     Nep 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                     ACID 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                     AI_SN 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                     SPID 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                    } 
                   
                   
               
               
                    Done_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  } else if (CL MIMO mode == 01 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   If (RCID_Type !=11 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Antenna group index 
                 3 bits 
                 Definition 
               
               
                   For (j = 0; j &lt; Num_alayer; j++) { 
                   
                 Number of layer is implicitly 
               
               
                   
                   
                 indicated by the matrix 
               
               
                   
                   
                 index 
               
               
                    Nep 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   ACID 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                   AI_SN 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                   SPID 
                 2 bit 
                   
               
               
                   Done_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                  } else if ( CL MIMO mode == 10 ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   If (RCID_Type !=11 ) 
                   
                   
               
               
                    RCID_IE 
                 Variable 
                   
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Nep 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                   ACID 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                   AI_SN 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                   SPID 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   Done_indicator 
                 1 bit 
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In overview, using a two-step process, it may be shown that the total overhead involved in resource allocation may be reduced as compared to known resource allocation methods. In the first step, the base station  14  defines a plurality of sub-resource spaces within a communication resource space. When performing subsequent resource allocation, the base station may refer to the sub-resource space for the allocation rather than describing in full the location within the resource. In particular, while the sub-resource spaces may be defined relatively infrequently in DCD messages, the allocation of the sub-resources spaces may be updated relatively frequently in scheduling messages. 
     As discussed above, a frame may be considered to have a resource. According to an aspect of the present invention, a mapping component of the frame (e.g., a DL-MAP) may include information elements that define a plurality of channels. It has been proposed above to define the plurality of channels as occupying the resource in a contiguous manner. It is proposed in the following to define the channels as occupying the resource in a overlapping manner. To this end, the channels may be defined to be in a hierarchy of layers, where each successively defined layer has a plurality of channels with a channel size that is smaller than the channel size of the channels of the previous layer. 
     Given that the resource may be considered to be made up of resource units, the minimum size for a channel in this hierarchical scheme may be predetermined as the size of the smallest resource unit. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a frame of channels defined using a hierarchical channel definition scheme, such that the frame is organized into five depths. At depth  1 , a first channel  1000  (channel ID=00000) occupies the entirety of the available resource. At depth  2 , two channels  1001 ,  1002  (channel ID=00001, 00010) each occupy a half of the available resource. At depth  4 , four channels  1003 ,  1004 ,  1005 ,  1006  (channel ID=00011, 00100, 00101, 00110) each occupy a quarter of the available resource. At depth  8 , eight channels  1007 ,  1008 ,  1009 ,  1010 ,  1011 ,  1012 ,  1013 ,  1014  (channel ID=00111, 01000, 01001, 01010, 01011, 01100, 01101, 01110) each occupy an eighth of the available resource. At depth  16 , 16 channels  1015 ,  1016 ,  1017 ,  1018 ,  1019 ,  1020 ,  1021 ,  1022 ,  1023 ,  1024 ,  1025 ,  1026 ,  1027 ,  1028 ,  1029 ,  1030  (channel ID=01111, 10000, 10001, 10010, 10011, 10100, 10101, 10110, 10111, 11000, 11001, 11010, 11011, 11100, 11101, 11110) each occupy a sixteenth of the available resource. Notably, in this exemplary case, the smallest resource unit is a sixteenth of the available resource. Furthermore, the bit-length of the channel ID, that is, the number of bits required to uniquely identify each channel in the scheme, may be determined by adding one to the base-2 logarithm of the maximum depth. 
     The maximum depth for the hierarchical channel definition scheme in the example of  FIG. 10  is 16. The bit-length of the channel ID may, therefore, be determined as log 2 (16)+1=5 bits. 
     Although the channel definitions overlap, allocation of resources to various channels need not overlap.  FIG. 11  illustrates a scenario in which only a limited number of hierarchically defined channels are allocated. In particular, the allocated channels include: a first quarter-resource space channel (CHID=00011)  1103 ; a second quarter-resource space channel (CHID=00100)  1104 ; a third quarter-resource space channel (CHID=00101)  1105 ; a first sixteenth-resource space channel (CHID=11001)  1125 ; a second sixteenth-resource space channel (CHID=11010)  1126 ; a third sixteenth-resource space channel (CHID=11101)  1129 ; and a fourth sixteenth-resource space channel (CHID=11110)  1130 . 
     That being said, resources may also be allocated to overlapping channels, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , wherein the allocated channels in the resource space  1200  include: a first quarter-resource space channel (CHID=00011)  1203 ; a second quarter-resource space channel (CHID=00100)  1204 ; a third quarter-resource space channel (CHID=00101)  1205 ; a fourth quarter-resource space channel (CHID=00110)  1206 ; and a sixteenth-resource space channel (CHID=10100)  1220 . Notably, since the sixteenth-resource space channel  1220  overlaps the first quarter-resource space channel  1203 , the allocation of first quarter-resource space channel  1203  is understood to only relate to the region of the resource not allocated to the sixteenth-resource space channel  1220 . 
     In a non-hierarchical channel definition scheme, the available resource may be divided into multiple channels of non-uniform size. The non-uniform size of the channels may be based, for instance, on traffic statistics. Notably, the non-uniform size is not a whole number multiple of the size of a resource unit. 
     A plurality of channel defined according to a non-hierarchical channel definition scheme is illustrated in  FIG. 13 , wherein the defined channels in the resource space  1300  include: four twelfth-resource space channels  1301 ,  1302 ,  1303 ,  1304 ; six eighteenth-resource space channels  1305 ,  1306 ,  1307 ,  1308 ,  1309 ,  1310 ; and twelve thirty-sixth-resource space channels  1311 ,  1312 ,  1313 ,  1314 ,  1315 ,  1316 ,  1317 ,  1318 ,  1319 ,  1320 ,  1321 ,  1322 . 
     Alternatively, channels may be defined using a hybrid hierarchical/non-hierarchically scheme. The resource plane may be divided into N parts, where N will often be two. In a first option, a first part uses a non-hierarchical channel definition and a second part uses a hierarchical channel definition. 
     Definition of a plurality of channels defined using this first option the hybrid hierarchical/non-hierarchically channel definition scheme is illustrated in  FIG. 14 , wherein the defined channels in the first part of a resource space  1400  include: four 3/32-resource space channels  1401 ,  1402 ,  1403 ,  1404 ; and six sixteenth-resource space channels  1405 ,  1406 ,  1407 ,  1408 ,  1409 ,  1410 . The defined channels in the second part of the resource space  1400  include 16 sixty-fourth-resource space channels  1411 ,  1412 ,  1413 ,  1414 ,  1415 ,  1416 ,  1417 ,  1418 ,  1419 ,  1420 ,  1421 ,  1422 ,  1423 ,  1424 ,  1425 ,  1426 . 
     In a second option, both parts use a hierarchical channel definition, but the hierarchical channel definition of the first part uses a different maximum depth than the hierarchical channel definition of the second part. 
     Definition of a plurality of channels using this second option of the hybrid hierarchical/non-hierarchically channel definition scheme is illustrated in  FIG. 15 , wherein the defined channels of a first part of a resource space  1500  have a maximum depth of 2 and include: two quarter-resource space channels  1501 ,  1502 . The defined channels of a second part of the resource space  1500  have a maximum depth of 8 and include eight sixteenth-resource space channels  1503 ,  1504 ,  1505 ,  1506 ,  1507 ,  1508 ,  1509 ,  1510 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates a plurality of channels  1602 , a first DL access information element (DL_access_IE)  1604  and a second DL access information element  1606 . The first DL_access_IE  1604  includes a DUIC; a 1-bit Channel type=0; a 6-bit CHID=000001; and a CID. The second DL_access_IE  1606  includes a DUIC; a 1-bit Channel type=0; a 6-bit CHID=000001; a 2-bit indication of the number of channels referred to =01 (two channels); and a CID. As will be apparent to one of skill in the art, logical channels are shown in the plurality of channels  1602 . 
     Notably, in operation, a DL_access_IE is normally associated with each of the channels in the plurality of channels  1602 . It should be clear to a person of ordinary skill in the art that the first DL_access_IE  1604  and the second DL_access_IE  1606  are merely presented as exemplary DL access information elements. 
     In some scenarios without irregular assignment, the overhead of DL resource allocation can be further reduced. Initially, the base station  14  may provide a Channel ID list corresponding to the plurality of channels  1602 . Subsequently, the base station  14  may provide a plurality of DL access information elements in the same order as the channels in the Channel ID list. In such a case, the CHID field may be omitted and the overhead may be reduced further as a result. See, for example, the downlink resource allocation scheme shown in  FIG. 17 , which provides a channel definition  1702  and a plurality of corresponding DL access information elements that enable the reduced overhead, given that the channels are assigned in order. As will be apparent to one of skill in the art, logical channels are shown. 
     In  FIG. 17 , DL_access_IE information elements for type 1 channels are illustrated. The DL_access_IE information elements for the type 2 channels are as follows. DL_access_IE  1710  includes: a DUIC; a 1-bit channel type=1; a 2-bit number of type 2 channels=00 (1 channel); and a CID. DL_access_IE  1711  includes: a DUIC; a 1-bit channel type=1; a 2-bit number of type 2 channels=01 (2 channels); CID. DL_access_IE  1712  includes: a DUIC; a 1-bit channel type=1; a 2-bit number of type 2 channels=01 (2 channels); and a CID. DL_access_IE  1713  includes: a DUIC; a 1-bit channel type=1; a 2-bit number of type 2 channels=10 (3 channels); and a CID. DL_access_IE  1714  includes: a DUIC; a 1-bit channel type=1; a 2-bit number of type 2 channels=00 (1 channel); and a CID. DL_access_IE  1715  includes: a DUIC; a 1-bit channel type=1; a 2-bit number of type 2 channels=01 (2 channels); and a CID. 
       FIG. 18  provides another exemplary channel definition  1802 , wherein a DL-MAP occupies a portion of a type 1 channel with CHID=0, some resources are assigned to soft hand off (SHO) mobile terminals  16  and some mobile terminals  16  are allocated both a type 1 channel and a type 2 channel. 
     In particular, channel  0  is partially occupied by DL-MAP; the remaining portion of channel  0  is allocated to a mobile terminal  16  in a DL_access_IE  1810  that includes: a DUIC; an OFDMA symbol offset; a sub-channel offset; a number of OFDMA symbols; a number of sub-channels; and a CID. 
     Channel  1  is assigned to a mobile terminal  16  in a DL_access_IE  1811  that includes: a DUIC; a 1-bit channel type=0; a 6-bit CHID=00001; and a CID. 
     Channel  2  is assigned to a mobile terminal  16  in a DL_access_IE  1812  that includes: a DUIC; a 1-bit channel type=0; and a CID. Note that a CHID is not necessary. 
     Part of channel  3  is occupied by an irregular assignment; the remaining portion of channel  3  is assigned to a mobile terminal  16  in a DL_access_IE  1813  that includes: a DUIC; an OFDMA symbol offset; a sub-channel offset; a number of OFDMA symbols; a number of sub-channels; and a CID. 
     Channel  4  is assigned to a mobile terminal  16  in a DL_access_IE  1814  that includes: a DUIC; a 1-bit channel type=0; a 6-bit CHID=00100; and a CID. 
     Channel  5  is assigned to a mobile terminal  16  in a DL_access_IE  1815  that includes: a DUIC; a 1-bit channel type=0; and a CID. 
     Channel  6  is assigned to a mobile terminal  16  in a DL_access_IE  1816  that includes: a DUIC; a 1-bit channel type=0; and a CID. 
     Type 1 channel  7  and type 2 channel  0  are assigned to a mobile terminal  16  in a DL_access_IE  1817  that includes: a DUIC; a 1-bit channel type=0; a further 1-bit channel type=1; a 6-bit CHID=00000; a 2-bit number of type 2 channels=00; and a CID. 
     Type 2 channels  1  and  2  are assigned to a mobile terminal  16  in a DL_access_IE  1818  that includes: a DUIC; a 1-bit channel type=1; a 2-bit number of type 2 channels=01; and a CID. Note that, due to consecutive assignments, the CHID is unnecessary. 
     The following provides an “enhance” DL MAP information element in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. This information element may be used by a base station  14  to indicate the DL resource allocation by using a two step DL resource assignment method. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Notes 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Enhance_DL_MAP_IE( ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                  Extended DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                 0x09 
               
               
                  Length 
                 4 bits 
                 Length in bytes 
               
               
                  Num_Assignment 
                 4 bits 
                 Number of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 assignments in this IE 
               
               
                  For (i=0 i&lt;Num_Assignment;i++) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   CID 
                 16 bits  
                   
               
               
                   DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                   Boosting 
                 3 bits 
                   
               
               
                   Repetition Coding Indication 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   Assignment_Code 
                 3 bits 
                 See following table 
               
               
                  If (Assignment_Code == 000) 
                   
                   
               
               
                   CHID 
                 Num_bits_CHID 
                 Indicated in DCD 
               
               
                  If (Assignment_Code == 001) 
                   
                   
               
               
                  { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   CHID 
                 Num_bits_CHID 
                 Indicated in DCD 
               
               
                   Num_Channel 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  If (Assignment_Code == 010) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   CHID 
                 Num_bits_CHID 
                 Indicated in DCD 
               
               
                   CHID 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Num_channels 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  If (Assignment_Code == 011) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   OFDMA_symbol_offset 
                 8 bits 
                   
               
               
                   Subchannel_offset 
                 6 bits 
                   
               
               
                   No. OFDMA symbols 
                 8 bits 
                   
               
               
                   No. subchannels 
                 6 bits 
                   
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                  If (Assisgnment_Code = 101|110) 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Num_Channel 
                 2 bits 
                 Indicated in DCD 
               
               
                  } 
                   
                   
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Wherein: 
     Num_Assignment is Number of assignments in the IE. 
     The Assignment_code values are explained as follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Assignment_Code 
                 Explanation 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 0b000 
                 one type 1 channel assigned and explicitly indicated CHID 
               
               
                 0b001 
                 type 2 channel(s) assigned and explicitly indicated the CHID of the 
               
               
                   
                 first channel assigned 
               
               
                 0b010 
                 one type 1 channel + type 2 channel(s) assigned and explicitly 
               
               
                   
                 indicated CHIDs for the type 1 channel and the first type 2 
               
               
                   
                 channel 
               
               
                 0b011 
                 Using normal region description; When set, the resource 
               
               
                   
                 allocation shall override the channel definition 
               
               
                 0b100 
                 one type 1 channel assigned and no explicitly indicated CHID 
               
               
                   
                 (the type 1 channel shall be the channel following the channel 
               
               
                   
                 (in channel list) assigned in previous type 1 channel 
               
               
                   
                 assignment) 
               
               
                 0b101 
                 type 2 channel(s) assigned and no explicitly indicated CHID 
               
               
                   
                 (the first type 2 channel shall be the channel following the 
               
               
                   
                 channel(s) (in channel list) assigned in previous type 2 channel 
               
               
                   
                 assignment) 
               
               
                 0b110 
                 one type 1 channel + type 2 channel(s) assigned and no 
               
               
                   
                 explicitly indicated CHIDs for the type 1 channel and the type 2 
               
               
                   
                 channel (the type 1 channel shall be the channel following the 
               
               
                   
                 channel (in channel list) assigned in previous type 1 channel 
               
               
                   
                 assignment and the first type 2 channel shall be the channel 
               
               
                   
                 following the channel(s) (in channel list) assigned in previous 
               
               
                   
                 type 2 channel assignment) 
               
               
                 0b111 
                 reserved 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     CHID is channel index defined in the DCD message. 
     Num_Channels is number of type 2 channel(s) assigned. 
     The following provides DCD channel encoding in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Name 
                 Type 
                 Length 
                 Values 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 DL allocated 
                 18 
                 6 
                 This is a bitmap describing the bands 
               
               
                 subchannel 
                   
                   
                 allocated to the segment in the DL, when 
               
               
                 bitmap for 
                   
                   
                 using the optional AMC permutation. The 
               
               
                 optional 
                   
                   
                 LSB of the first byte shall correspond to 
               
               
                 AMC 
                   
                   
                 band 0. For any bit that is not set, the 
               
               
                 permutation 
                   
                   
                 corresponding band shall not be used by 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 the mobile terminal on that segment. 
               
               
                 DL channel 
                 19 
                 variable 
                 Size of CHID field (6 bits) 
               
               
                 definition 
                   
                   
                 Num_Type 1_channels (6 bits) 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 For (i = 0; i&lt;Num_type1_channel;i++) { 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                  OFDMA symbol offset (8 bits) 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                  Subchannel offset (6 bits) 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                  No. OFDMA symbols (8 bits) 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                  No. subchannels (6 bits) 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 } 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Num_Type 2_channels (6 bits) 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 For (i = 0; i&lt;Num_type2_channel;i++) { 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                  OFDMA symbol offset (8 bits) 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                  Subchannel offset (6 bits) 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                  No. OFDMA symbols (8 bits) 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                  No. subchannels (6 bits) 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 } 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 padding bits to align boundary of byte 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     It is recognized that, occasionally, irregular assignments will occur. An exemplary irregular assignment is a SHO, which requires synchronized resource assignment across all members in active set of a mobile terminal  16 . In such cases, the DL access information element is required to be explicit about the location with the resource that is to be allocated. An exemplary format for such a DL access information element follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Notes 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 DL_access_IE( ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Num_CIDs 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                   For (i = 0; i&lt;Num_CIDs; i++) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    CID 
                 16 bits  
                 Any type of CID 
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                   
               
               
                   OFDMA symbol offset 
                 8 bits 
                   
               
               
                   Subchannel offset 
                 6 bits 
                   
               
               
                   Boosting 
                 3 bits 
                   
               
               
                   No. OFDMA symbols 
                 8 bits 
                   
               
               
                   No. Subchannels 
                 8 bits 
                   
               
               
                   Repetition Coding Indication 
                 2 bits 
                   
               
               
                   Padding bits 
                 variable 
                 To align byte boundary 
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In the current 802.16e draft standard (p802.16e/D5), DL and UL resource or data burst assignment is performed by layer  2  or MAC control messages called DL/UL-MAP messages. The DL/UL-MAP messages are encapsulated in the physical layer OFDMA region called the DL/UL-MAP region. Each DL/UL-MAP region contains one DL/UL-MAP message. Within the DL/UL MAP message, there are one or more broadcast, multicast or unicast information elements that contain information for one or more Mobile Subscriber Station (MSS, mobile terminals  16 ). The information elements are used for, among other things, assigning DL/UL OFDMA regions for mobile terminals  16  to receive/transmit DL/UL traffic or MAC messages. 
     The current DL/UL-MAP designs have many shortcomings including the following. First, there is no more room to define new IEs due to the limited number of IE type indicators, called the Downlink Interval Usage Code (DIUC) and Uplink Interval Usage Code (UIUC). The DIUC/UIUC is 4 bits in length, thus allowing only up to 16 types of IEs. To alleviate the problem, one of the DIUC/UIUC values (i.e., 15) is reserved for extending the IE types. When a DIUC/UIUC is set to 15, an extended DIUC/UIUC (also 4 bits) is included to indicate up to an additional 16 new IE types. Currently, in the draft standard, all the 15 plus 16, i.e. 31 DIUC/UIUC values have been used. Therefore, new IEs cannot be introduced. Second, there is no explicit indication of whether a broadcast IE is designated to all mobile terminals  16  or only those mobile terminals  16  in certain modes of operation (Normal, Sleep or Idle). 
     As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, a mobile terminal  16  can be in Normal mode, Sleep mode or Idle Mode. A mobile terminal  16  in Normal mode continuously processes the DL/UL-MAP messages and can be assigned DL or UL resource or burst at any time. A mobile terminal  16  in sleep mode operates in cycles of a sleep interval followed by a listening interval. During the sleep interval, the mobile terminal  16  is not available to the base station  14  for DL traffic. However, the mobile terminal  16  may initiate UL traffic transmission during sleep interval. During listening interval, the mobile terminal  16  operates as in Normal mode. Sleep mode reduces the mobile terminal  16  battery consumption compared to Normal mode. For Idle mode, the mobile terminal  16  is not available for DL traffic and cannot initiate UL traffic. Furthermore, the mobile terminal  16  does not perform Hand Off. The mobile terminal  16  listens to paging signaling from the base station  14  during a designated paging interval. Idle Mode therefore provides the most power saving for the mobile terminal  16 . 
     When a mobile terminal  16  is in Sleep mode—listening interval, or Idle Mode—paging interval, the mobile terminal  16  is required to decode the DL/UL-MAP message in order to receive unicast traffic (for sleep mode) or relevant broadcast traffic (for both sleep mode and idle mode). However, when the mobile terminal  16  receives an IE with broadcast connection identifier (broadcast CID), the mobile terminal  16  has to demodulate and decode the DL OFDMA region assigned by this IE, even though the DL broadcast traffic carried in that OFDMA region is not designated to the mobile terminal  16 . 
     This is not power efficient for mobile terminals  16  in Sleep and Idle Modes since a given mobile terminal  16  has to demodulate and decode all DL broadcast traffic or messages. 
     The current DL and UL IEs are encapsulated in a DL-MAP and a separate UL-MAP. For the case of unicast burst assignment to the same mobile terminal  16  on both DL and UL, the 16-bit basic connection identifier (basic CID) of that mobile terminal  16  will appear twice, once in the DL-MAP and a second time in the UL-MAP. This may be considered to be unnecessary overhead. 
     According to the current design, a mobile terminal  16  in either Normal mode, Sleep mode—listening interval or Idle mode—paging interval is required to demodulate and decode all the DL and UL MAP regions and associated messages, even though many of the information elements contained in the MAP regions are not designated to that mobile terminal  16 . The DL-MAP region and the UL-MAP region may be long and span multiple OFDMA symbols, this is not power efficient for an mobile terminal  16  in Idle mode and Sleep mode. 
     It is proposed herein to provide hierarchical MAP structures for broadband mobile wireless metropolitan area networks. Advantageously, the hierarchical MAP structures may be shown not to impact the operation of 802.16d mobile terminals and should be transparent to the 802.16d mobile terminal. 
       FIG. 19  presents a hierarchical MAP structure  1900  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As will be apparent to one of skill in the art, the regions shown are logical regions rather than actual physical space defined by sub-channels and OFDMA symbols. The hierarchical MAP structure  1900  includes a Root Map, which contains a Frame Control Header (FCH)  1904 , which, in turn, contains a DL-MAP, as is the case in the current 802.16d standard, for the purpose of backward compatibility. 
     Since the DL-MAP may be processed by mobile terminals  16  that intend to listen to DL traffic or messages including mobile terminals  16  in Normal mode, mobile terminals  16  in Sleep mode—listening interval and mobile terminals  16  in Idle mode—Paging interval, the DL-MAP may be used as the Root MAP  1902  to: point to additional DL/UL-MAP regions  1908 , which only need to be processed by specific groups of mobile terminals  16 ; point to DL broadcast regions  1906 ; point to DL multicast-broadcast service (MBS) regions  1914 ; and contain DL IEs that are addressed to both 802.16d subscriber stations and to 802.16e Mobile Subscriber Stations, e.g., MIMO_DL_Basic_IE, etc. To target to a specific group of mobile terminals, each pointer may be associated with a multicast ID or an applicable allocation code, where the allocation code indicates a group of mobile terminals to which the message in the broadcast region is applicable. 
     The DL broadcast regions  1906  may be divided into four types: 
     regions containing broadcast messages for all 802.16d Subscriber Stations and 802.16e mobile terminals  16 , e.g., system parameter broadcast (UCD, DCD) messages; 
     regions containing broadcast messages for all 802.16e mobile terminals, e.g., neighbor base station information advertisement (MOB_NBR_ADV) messages; 
     regions containing broadcast messages for all Sleep mode mobile terminals, e.g., traffic indication (MOB_TRF_IND) messages; and 
     regions containing broadcast messages for all Idle mode mobile terminals, e.g., paging advertisement (MOB_PAG_ADV) messages. 
     In this way, a mobile terminal  16  operating in certain mode may only need to process the corresponding region and messages instead of having to process all broadcast regions and messages. 
     Additionally, a particular one of the MBS regions  1914  may be demodulated and decoded by mobile terminals  16  that are subscribed to the associated MBS. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 20  the additional MAP regions  1908  may include: 
     a MAP for UL common access for all 802.16d Subscriber Stations and 802.16e mobile stations (this MAP may processed by all 802.16d Subscriber Stations and 802.16e mobile stations that intend to perform UL access); 
     a unicast DL/UL MAP for all 802.16d Subscriber Stations (this MAP may be processed by all powered-on and registered Subscriber Stations; and 
     a unicast DL/UL MAP for all 802.16e mobile terminals in Normal mode and Sleep mode—listening interval (this MAP may be processed by all 802.16e mobile terminals) in Normal mode or in Sleep mode—listening interval. 
     In this way, a particular type of mobile terminal only needs to process the corresponding MAP IEs instead of having to process all the MAP IEs. 
     It is proposed herein to provide hierarchical MAP structures which include an Enhanced MAP message (an “EN-MAP”) that includes unicast IEs for all 802.16e mobile terminals in Normal mode or Sleep mode—listening interval. One characteristic of the EN-MAP message may be a lack of generic MAC header when the EN-MAP message is transmitted. A proposed EN-MAP format follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Notes 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Enhanced-MAP_Message_Format ( ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Length 
                 11 bits  
                 The length in bytes 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of this message. 
               
               
                   Num_IEs 
                 7 bits 
                   
               
               
                   For (i = 0;i++;I &lt; Num_IEs) 
                   
                   
               
               
                   { 
                   
                   
               
               
                    EN-MAP_IE( ) 
                 variable 
                 See EN-MAP_IE 
               
               
                   } 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Padding bits 
                 variable 
                 Ensure to align to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 boundary of byte 
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As illustrated above, an EN-MAP message may contain one or more EN-MAP information elements named EN-MAP_IE. Each EN-MAP_IE information element may contains an IE type field of 6 bits. The IE type field allows a number of types of information elements to be supported by the EN-MAP message. For each unicast resource allocation, the DL/UL resource allocations may be combined together into the same information element whenever possible to reduce MAC overhead, i.e., when the same basic CID for both DL and UL is used for the DL/UL resource allocation. An exemplary format for an EN-MAP_IE information element follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Syntax 
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                 Notes 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 EN-MAP_IE( ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   IE_Type 
                 6 bits 
               
               
                   
                   Length 
                 6 bits 
               
               
                   
                   IE specific field 
                 Variable 
               
               
                   
                 } 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The 6-bit IE_Type may be encoded according to the following. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 EN-MAP 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 type 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Type 
                 encoding 
                 En-MAP IE name 
                 Format 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 0 
                 0b 000000 
                 DL access IE 
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 0b 000001 
                 UL access IE 
                   
               
               
                 2 
                 0b 000010 
                 DL/UL access IE 
                   
               
               
                 3 
                 0b 000011 
                 DL AAS IE 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 4 
                 0b 000100 
                 DL TD_Zone IE 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 5 
                 0b 000101 
                 Channel measurement IE 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 6 
                 0b 000110 
                 Data_location_in_another_BS 
                 removing the Extended DIUC,  
               
               
                   
                   
                 IE 
                 Length and reserved fields and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 inserting CID field 
               
               
                 7 
                 0b 000111 
                 MIMO_DL_Basic IE 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 8 
                 0b 001000 
                 MIMO_DL_Enhanced IE 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 9 
                 0b 001001 
                 DL PUSC burst allocation in 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                 other segment IE 
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 10 
                 0b 001010 
                 HO active anchor DL MAP IE 
                 removing the Extended DIUC and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Length fields 
               
               
                 11 
                 0b 001011 
                 HO Active Anchor DL MAPIE 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 12 
                 0b 001100 
                 HO CID Translation IE 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 13 
                 0b 001101 
                 MIMO_in_another_BS IE 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 14 
                 0b 001110 
                 Macro_DL_Basic IE 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 15 
                 0b 001111 
                 Power control IE 
                 removing the Extended DIUC, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Length and reserved fields and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 inserting CID field 
               
               
                 16 
                 0b 010000 
                 UL AAS IE 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 17 
                 0b 010001 
                 PAPR reduction, safety zone 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and sounding zone allocation 
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                   
                   
                 IE 
                   
               
               
                 18 
                 0b 010010 
                 MIMO UL Basic IE 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 19 
                 0b 010011 
                 CQICH alloc IE 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DIUC, Length and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 reserved fields and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 inserting CID field 
               
               
                 20 
                 0b 010100 
                 UL physical Modifier IE 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 21 
                 0b 010101 
                 CQICH Enhance Allocation IE 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 22 
                 0b 010110 
                 UL PUSC Burst Allocation in 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                 other segment 
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 23 
                 0b 010111 
                 HO active anchor UL MAP IE 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 24 
                 0b 011000 
                 HO Active Anchor UL MAPIE 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 25 
                 0b 011001 
                 Fast ranging IE 
                 removing the Extended 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 DIUC and Length fields 
               
               
                 26 
                 0b 011010 
                 DL HARQ access IE 
                   
               
               
                 27 
                 0b 011011 
                 DL MIMO-HARQ access IE 
                   
               
               
                 28 
                 0b 011100 
                 UL HARQ access IE 
                   
               
               
                 29 
                 0b 011101 
                 UL MIMO-HARQ access IE 
                   
               
               
                 30 
                 0b 011110 
                 DL/UL HARQ access IE 
                   
               
               
                 31 
                 0b 011111 
                 DL/UL MIMO-HARQ IE 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     An exemplary format for a UL access information element (EN-MAP type 0b 000001) follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
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                 UL_access_IE( ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   CID 
                 16 bits 
               
               
                   UIUC 
                  4 bits 
               
               
                   Duration 
                 10 bits 
                 In OFDMA slot 
               
               
                   Repetition code 
                  2 bits 
                 0b00: no repetition coding 
               
               
                   indication 
                   
                 0b01: Repetition coding of 2 used 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0b10: Repetition coding of 4 used 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0b11: Repetition coding of 6 used 
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     An exemplary format for a DL/UL access information element (EN-MAP type=0b 000010) follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
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                 Notes 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 DL/UL_access_IE( ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   CID 
                 16 bits  
                 Basic CID if the UL resource 
               
               
                   
                   
                 allocation can be used by any 
               
               
                   
                   
                 UL connections; UL connection 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ID if the UL resource allocated 
               
               
                   
                   
                 for a specific UL connection (DL 
               
               
                   
                   
                 connection CID always appears 
               
               
                   
                   
                 in MAC header) 
               
               
                   DIUC 
               
               
                   OFDMA symbol offset 
                 8 bits 
               
               
                   Subchannel offset 
                 6 bits 
               
               
                   Boosting 
                 3 bits 
               
               
                   No. OFDMA symbols 
                 8 bits 
               
               
                   No. Subchannels 
                 8 bits 
               
               
                   Repetition Coding 
                 2 bits 
               
               
                   Indication 
               
               
                   UIUC 
                 4 bits 
               
               
                   Duration 
                 10 bits  
                 In OFDMA slot 
               
               
                   Repetition code 
                 2 bits 
                 0b00: no repetition coding 
               
               
                   indication 
                   
                 0b01: Repetition coding of 2 
               
               
                   
                   
                 used 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0b10: Repetition coding of 4 
               
               
                   
                   
                 used 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0b11: Repetition coding of 6 
               
               
                   
                   
                 used 
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The Root MAP  1902  may include an MSS-region_IE information element to point to broadcast message regions specifically for 1) all 802.16e mobile terminals or 2) all 802.16e Sleep mode mobile terminals or 3) all 802.16e Idle mode mobile terminals. The MSS_region_IE may include an Applicability Code field to indicate which type of region is pointed to by the information element. The MSS_region_IE information element may also be used to point to the region for the EN-MAP message. An exemplary format for a MSS_region_IE information element follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Notes 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 MSS_region_IE( ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   Extended DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                 S=0x0B 
               
               
                   Length 
                 4 bits 
               
               
                   DIUC 
                 4 bits 
               
               
                   Applicability code 
                 2 bits 
                 0b00: access system 
               
               
                   
                   
                 configuration types of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 messages (e.g., 
               
               
                   
                   
                 MOB_NBR_ADV) by all 
               
               
                   
                   
                 802.16e mobile terminals 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0b01: access Enhanced MAP 
               
               
                   
                   
                 message by 802.16e mobile 
               
               
                   
                   
                 terminals in Normal and Sleep 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mode 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0b10: access the Sleep mode 
               
               
                   
                   
                 specific messages (e.g., 
               
               
                   
                   
                 MOB_TRF_IND) by 802.16e 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mobile terminals in Sleep 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mode 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0b11: Access idle mode 
               
               
                   
                   
                 specific messages (e.g., 
               
               
                   
                   
                 MOB_PAG_ADV) by 802.16e 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mobile terminals in Idle mode 
               
               
                   OFDMA symbol offset 
                 8 bits 
               
               
                   Subchannel offset 
                 6 bits 
               
               
                   Boosting 
                 3 bits 
               
               
                   No. OFDMA symbols 
                 8 bits 
               
               
                   No. Subchannels 
                 8 bits 
               
               
                   Repetition Coding 
                 2 bits 
               
               
                   Indication 
               
               
                   Padding bits 
                 variable 
                 To align byte boundary 
               
               
                 } 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     A Skip_IE information element may be provided in the Root MAP, to allow an 802.16e mobile terminal to disregard, i.e., avoid processing, regions designated for 802.16d subscriber stations. The Skip_IE information element may be used to toggle the enabling and disabling of processing of regions designated by information elements following the Skip_IE information element. An exemplary Skip_IE information element format follows. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Syntax 
                 Size 
                 Notes 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 Skip_IE( ) { 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   Extended DIUC 
                 4 bits 
                 S=0x0A 
               
               
                   
                   Length 
                 4 bits 
               
               
                   
                 } 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     A 802.16e mobile terminal may sequentially process information elements and, if applicable, the associated regions designated by the information elements in the Root MAP. When the first Skip_IE information element is encountered, the mobile terminal may not process the region designated by information elements following the Skip_IE information element. When a second Skip_IE information element is encountered, the mobile terminal reverts back to processing the region designated by the information elements following the Skip_IE information element, when applicable. When the next Skip_IE information element is encountered, the mobile terminal again disables processing of regions designated by subsequent information elements. This procedure may continue until the end of the Root MAP. 
     Advantageously, by implementing aspects of the present invention, both backward compatibility with 802.16d subscriber stations and power saving and overhead reduction for 802.16e mobile terminals can be achieved. In particular, 802.16d subscriber stations may be expected to ignore any newly introduced information elements. 
     Unicast information designated for 802.16d subscriber stations may be skipped for power saving purposes by 802.16e mobile terminals  16 . Also, 802.16e mobile terminals  16  in certain modes (Normal, Sleep, Idle) may only process the relevant regions designated for the mobile terminal. 
     Advantageously, aspects of the invention reduce resource allocation signaling overhead by dividing resource space into sub-resource spaces with reasonable size, shape. Furthermore, aspects of the invention reduce power consumption of mobile terminals by enhancing allocation signaling. 
     Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the invention is defined in the claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20051017
Publication Date: 20140805
Grant Date: 20140805
Priority Date: 20041015
Inventors: ZHANG HANG
FONG MO-HAN
ZHU PEIYING
TONG WEN
MA JIANGLEI
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04W72/23", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W72/23", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L5/0092", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W72/0453", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L5/0092", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L5/0091", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W28/06", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L5/0058", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L5/0091", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W28/06", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L27/2601", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 36148020