Structured resource allocation signaling

A method, comprising:

• configuring a resource allocation (RA) for one or more stations (STAs) by a network entity in an OFDMA wireless network, wherein RA information is indicated in an HE-SIG-B common field and a user specific field, and wherein the HE-SIG-B common field is of a fixed format;
• encoding an 8-bit RU allocation signal in the HE-SIG-B common field following a structured resource unit (RU) allocation rule for each 20 MHz resource block, wherein the structured RU allocation rule defines a range including between 5 to 8 users on RUs greater than or equal to 106-tone;
• and
• transmitting the 8-bit RU allocation signal for receipt by one or more STAs, and wherein two bits of the 8-bit RU allocation signal are encoded to determine a first category of RU allocation, wherein the first category is assigned to a no-large-RU category, wherein a three-bit second category identifier is used to further categorize the no-large-RU category into a second category including a 106-tone on a 1st half channel, a 106-tone on a 2nd half channel, and wherein the three-bit second category identifier includes the two bits for the first category identifier bits.

A station (STA), comprising:

• a radio frequency (RF) transceiver operable to transmit and receive wireless signals in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) wireless network;
• a resource allocation (RA) manager circuit that obtains RA information, wherein the RA information is indicated in an HE-SIG-B common field and a user specific field, and wherein the HE-SIG-B common field is of a fixed format;
• an RA decoder operable to decode an 8-bit RU allocation signal in the HE-SIG-B common field following a structured resource unit (RU) allocation rule, wherein the structured RU allocation rule defines a range including between 5 to 8 users on RUs greater than or equal to 106-tone;
• and
• an RU manager circuit operable to determine an RU allocation for the STA based on the decoded 8-bit RU allocation signal and a position of the user specific field for the STA, and wherein two bits of the 8-bit RU allocation signal are used as a first category identifier to determine a first category of the RU allocation, wherein the first category is set to the no-large-RU category, and wherein a three-bit second category identifier is used to further categorize the no-large-RU category into a second category including a 106-tone on a 1st half channel, and a 106-tone on a 2nd half channel, wherein the three-bit second category identifier includes the two bits for the first category identifier bits.