Enhanced Scheduling Information Transmission

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory storing a computer program;
• wherein the at least one processor is configured with the at least one memory and the computer program to cause the apparatus to at least:
• use explicit signaling in a downlink control message to select whether scheduling information is to be transmitted by a user equipment with a data payload or without a data payload;
• and
• if the selection is that scheduling information is to be transmitted with a data payload, use the downlink control message for the user equipment to select a transport format combination for transmission of the scheduling information with the data payload;
• else if the selection is that scheduling information is to be transmitted without a data payload, use the downlink control message for the user equipment to select transmit power for the transmission of the scheduling information without the data payload.

A computer readable memory storing a computer program that is executable by at least one processor, wherein the computer program comprises:

• code for using explicit signaling in a downlink control message to select whether scheduling information is to be transmitted by a user equipment with a data payload or without a data payload;
• code, whose execution is contingent on the selection being that scheduling information is to be transmitted with a data payload, for using the downlink control message for the user equipment to select a transport format combination for transmission of the scheduling information with the data payload;
• and
• code, whose execution is contingent on the selection being that scheduling information is to be transmitted without a data payload, for using the downlink control message for the user equipment to select transmit power for the transmission of the scheduling information without the data payload.