Resource allocation signaling

A method of operating an allocating radio node in a Radio Access Network, the method comprising:

• transmitting a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message comprising allocation information associated with frequency resources, the DCI message having an allocation information structure containing the allocation information;
• and
• the allocation information structure comprises:
• a header containing a plurality of header bits indicating a first resource grouping type of a plurality of allocatable resource grouping types, the plurality of header bits being configurable to represent each of the plurality of allocatable resource grouping types, the plurality of allocatable resource grouping types comprising at least a resource element, a resource block and a resource block group;
• and
• a bitmap containing mapping information configured to indicate a number of groupings of the first resource grouping type and map at least one resource grouping to a bandwidth, the at least one resource grouping being of the first resource grouping type.

A radio node for a Radio Access Network, the radio node configured to:

• communicate utilizing frequency resources based on allocation information in a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message, the DCI message having an allocation information structure containing the allocation information;
• and
• the allocation information structure comprises:
• a header containing a plurality of header bits indicating a first resource grouping type of a plurality of allocatable resource grouping types, the plurality of header bits being configurable to represent each of the plurality of allocatable resource grouping types, the plurality of allocatable resource grouping types comprising at least a resource element, a resource block and a resource block group;
• and
• a bitmap containing mapping information configured to indicate a number of groupings of the first resource grouping type and map at least one resource grouping to a bandwidth, the at least one resource grouping being of the first resource grouping type.

An allocating radio node for a Radio Access Network, the allocating radio node configured to:

• transmit a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message comprising allocation information, the DCI message having an allocation information structure containing the allocation information;
• and
• the allocation information structure comprises:
• a header containing a plurality of header bits indicating a first resource grouping type of a plurality of allocatable resource grouping, the plurality of header bits being configurable to represent each of the plurality of allocatable resource grouping types, the plurality of allocatable resource grouping types comprising at least a resource element, a resource block and a resource block group;
• and
• a bitmap containing mapping information configured to indicate a number of groupings of the first resource grouping type and map at least one resource grouping to a bandwidth, the at least one resource grouping being of the first resource grouping type.