Wireless terminals, nodes of wireless communication networks, and methods of operating the same

A method of operating a wireless terminal in communication with a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

• configuring a group of individual component carriers for a communication link between the wireless terminal and the communication network;
• and
• communicating first and second messages, wherein the first message includes a first bit map with bits of the first bit map corresponding to respective individual component carriers of a first sub-set of a group of individual component carriers, and wherein the second message includes a second bit map with bits of the second bit map corresponding to respective individual component carriers of a second sub-set of the group of individual component carriers, wherein the first bit map size of the first bit map is different than the second bit map size of the second bit map;
• wherein the group of component carriers is a first group of individual component carriers;
• and
• configuring a second group of individual component carriers for a communication link between the wireless terminal and the communication network, wherein the second group of individual component carriers is different than the first group of individual component carriers.