Virtual cluster group based uplink control channel

A scheduling entity in a wireless communication network, comprising:

• a transceiver for wireless communication with a scheduled entity;
• a memory;
• and
• a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, the processor configured to:
• map a first set of uplink clusters of a plurality of uplink clusters to a first virtual cluster group (VCG) for an uplink control channel, each of the plurality of uplink clusters including one or more respective adjacent tones of a plurality of tones;
• assign the first VCG to a first scheduled entity of the set of one or more scheduled entities for use in transmitting uplink control information;
• transmit a first VCG index identifying the first VCG to the first scheduled entity;
• and
• receive the uplink control information from the first scheduled entity on the first VCG over the uplink control channel.

A scheduling entity apparatus in a wireless communication network, comprising:

• means for mapping a first set of uplink clusters of a plurality of uplink clusters to a first virtual cluster group (VCG) for an uplink control channel, each of the plurality of uplink clusters including one or more respective adjacent tones of a plurality of tones;
• means for assigning the first VCG to a first scheduled entity of a set of one or more scheduled entities for use in transmitting uplink control information;
• means for transmitting a first VCG index identifying the first VCG to the first scheduled entity;
• and
• means for receiving the uplink control information from the first scheduled entity on the first VCG over the uplink control channel.