Utilization of Unused Long-Term UL Assignments

An evolved Node B (eNB) adapted for granting uplink (UL) transmission resources to one or a plurality of user equipments (UEs), the eNB comprising:

• processing circuitry coupled to the one or more interfaces for signal exchange;
• and
• memory operatively coupled to the processing circuitry and containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the eNB is operative to:
• allocate an uplink transmission resource over a transmission time interval (TTI) to a first UE;
• and
• grant an uplink transmission resource of a fraction of a certain TTI to a second UE, in response to a detection indicating that the uplink resource is not used for uplink transmission in the certain TTI by the first UE.

A method, in a first User Equipment (UE), for supporting an evolved Node B (eNB) to grant for uplink (UL) resource to a second UE, the method comprising:

• receiving an allocation of an uplink resource over one or a plurality of transmission time intervals (TTIs);
• detecting that the uplink resource with respect to a certain TTIs is or will not be used for uplink transmission by the first UE;
• and
• sending, to the eNB and in response to the detection, information indicative that the uplink resource of the certain TTIs is not used.

A method, in a second User Equipment (UE), for using an uplink resource that has been allocated to a first UE, the method comprising:

• receiving, from an evolved Node B (eNB), a conditional grant for an uplink resource of one or a plurality of short transmission time intervals (TTIs) of a certain TTI;
• performing a detection, if the first UE is using the UL resource with respect to the certain TTI;
• and
• using the conditional grant for an uplink transmission only if the detection reveals that the first UE is not using the UL resource with respect to the certain TTI.

A User Equipment (UE) adapted for supporting an evolved Node B (eNB) to grant for uplink (UL) resource to a further UE, the UE comprising:

• processing circuitry;
• memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the UE is operative to:
• receive an allocation of an uplink resource over one or a plurality of transmission time intervals (TTIs);
• detect that the uplink resource with respect to a certain TTI is or will not be used for uplink transmission by the UE;
• and
• send, to the eNB and in response to the detection, information indicative that the uplink resource of the certain TTI is not used.

A User Equipment (UE) adapted for using an uplink resource that has been allocated to a further UE, the UE comprising:

• processing circuitry;
• memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the UE is operative to:
• receive, from an evolved Node B (eNB), a conditional grant for an uplink resource of one or a plurality of short transmission time intervals (TTIs) of a certain TTI;
• perform a detection of whether the further UE is using the UL resource with respect to the certain TTI;
• and
• use the conditional grant for an uplink transmission only if the detection reveals that the further UE is not using the UL resource with respect to the certain TI.