Exchanging patterns of shared resources between machine-type and human traffic

A method, in a second network node of a wireless communication system, of managing radio resource allocations to at least first and second types of wireless devices, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a first network node in the wireless communication system, a first resource pattern, the first resource pattern indicating an allocation in a first cell by the first network node of first radio resources in the time domain to the first type of wireless device and indicating an allocation in the first cell of second radio resources in the time domain to the second type of wireless device, wherein the first type of wireless device comprises wireless devices that operate in an enhanced-coverage mode and the second type of wireless device comprises wireless devices that do not support the enhanced-coverage mode;
• scheduling uplink and/or downlink transmissions for at least one wireless device of each type, based at least in part on the first resource pattern;
• and
• receiving a capability indicator from the first type of wireless device, wherein the capability indicator indicates that the first type of wireless device is capable of handling the first resource pattern indicating an allocation in the first cell by the first network node of first set of radio resources in the time domain to the first type of wireless device and indicating an allocation in the first cell of second set of radio resources in the time domain to the second type of wireless device, wherein the received capability indicator includes capability information that specifies one or more types of operations supported by the first network node thereby to support handling of the first resource pattern.

A method in a wireless device operating in a wireless communication system, wherein the wireless device is either of a first type or a second type, the method comprising:

• receiving a first resource pattern from a network node, the first resource pattern indicating an allocation in a first cell by the network node of first radio resources in the time domain to the first type of wireless device and indicating an allocation in the first cell of second radio resources in the time domain to the second type of wireless device, wherein the first type of wireless device comprises wireless devices that operate in an enhanced-coverage mode and the second type of wireless device comprises wireless devices that do not support the enhanced-coverage mode;
• performing one or more radio operations based on the first resource pattern and based on the type of the wireless device;
• and
• signaling a capability indicator to the network node, the capability indicator indicating that the first type of wireless device is capable of handling the first resource pattern that indicates an allocation in the first cell by the network node of first set of radio resources in the time domain to the first type of wireless device and that indicates an allocation in the first cell of second set of radio resources in the time domain to the second type of wireless device, wherein the signaled capability indicator includes capability information that specifies one or more types of operations supported by the network node thereby to support handling of the first resource pattern.

A first network node configured to allocate radio resources among at least first and second types of wireless devices, the first network node comprising a radio transceiver configured to communicate with wireless devices and further comprising a processing circuit configured to:

• form a first resource pattern, the first resource pattern indicating an allocation in a first cell of first radio resources in the time domain to the first type of wireless device and indicating an allocation in the first cell of second radio resources in the time domain to the second type of wireless device, wherein the first type of wireless device comprises wireless devices that operate in an enhanced-coverage mode and the second type of wireless device comprises wireless devices that do not support the enhanced-coverage mode;
• send the first resource pattern to a second network node of the wireless communication system, or to a wireless device, or to both;
• and
• receive a capability indicator from the first type of wireless device, wherein the capability indicator indicates that the first type of wireless device is configured to handle the first resource patterns allocating radio resources in the first cell by wireless device type, wherein the received capability indicator includes capability information that specifies one or more types of operations supported by the first network node thereby to support handling of the first resource pattern.

A network node of a wireless communication system, for managing radio resource allocations to at least first and second types of wireless devices, the network node comprising a radio transceiver configured to communicate with wireless devices and further comprising a processing circuit configured to:

• receive, from a first network node in the wireless communication system, a first resource pattern, the first resource pattern indicating an allocation in a first cell by the first network node of first radio resources in the time domain to the first type of wireless device and indicating an allocation in the first cell of second radio resources in the time domain to the second type of wireless device, wherein the first type of wireless device comprises wireless devices that operate in an enhanced-coverage mode and the second type of wireless device comprises wireless devices that do not support the enhanced-coverage mode;
• schedule uplink and/or downlink transmissions for at least one wireless device of each type, based at least in part on the first resource pattern;
• and
• receive a capability indicator from the first type of wireless device, wherein the capability indicator indicates that the first type of wireless device is configured to handle the first resource patterns allocating radio resources in the first cell by wireless device type, wherein the received capability indicator includes capability information that specifies one or more types of operations supported by the first network node thereby to support handling of the first resource pattern.

A wireless device configured to operate in a wireless communication network, the wireless device comprising a radio transceiver configured to communicate with a network node and further comprising a processing circuit configured to:

• receive a first resource pattern from a network node, the first resource pattern indicating an allocation in a first cell by the network node of first radio resources in the time domain to the first type of wireless device and indicating an allocation in the first cell of second radio resources in the time domain to the second type of wireless device, wherein the first type of wireless device comprises wireless devices that operate in an enhanced-coverage mode and the second type of wireless device comprises wireless devices that do not support the enhanced-coverage mode;
• adjust a discontinuous receive (DRX) cycle or discontinuous transmit (DTX) cycle, or both, based on the first resource pattern and based on the type of the wireless device;
• and
• signal a capability indicator to the network node, wherein the capability indicator indicates that the first type of wireless device is configured to handle the first resource patterns allocating radio resources in the cell by wireless device type, wherein the signaled capability indicator includes capability information that specifies one or more types of operations supported by the network node thereby to support handling of the first resource pattern.