Resource allocation methods for control channels

An apparatus, comprising:

• a transmitter;
• a receiver;
• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory comprising program code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the apparatus to:
• receive a request for allocating physical-layer (PHY) resources of a communication system for a control channel;
• determine a set of resource allocation patterns from among all available resource allocation patterns;
• select at least one resource allocation pattern from the determined set of resource allocation patterns;
• encode a plurality of indices identifying each of the at least one selected resource allocation patterns, wherein the plurality of indices comprises a first index identifying a selected resource group allocation and a second index identifying a selected resource block allocation;
• send a message comprising the plurality of indices for each of the at least one selected resource allocation patterns.

A computer readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by at least one processor comprising an apparatus, causes the apparatus to:

• receive a request for allocating physical-layer (PHY) resources of a communication system for a control channel;
• determine a set of resource allocation patterns from among all available resource allocation patterns;
• select at least one resource allocation pattern from the determined set of resource allocation patterns;
• encode a plurality of indices identifying each of the at least one selected resource allocation patterns, wherein the plurality of indices comprises a first index identifying a selected resource group allocation and a second index identifying a selected resource block allocation;
• and
• send a message comprising the plurality of indices for each of the at least one selected resource allocation patterns.