Blanking Pattern Indication for Resource Utilization in Cellular Radio Communication

A method of radio communication implemented by a user equipment (UE) in a cellular network, said method comprising:

• receiving, from a first base station, an indication for defining a first pattern to be applied to first resource elements used for communication according to a first configuration;
• receiving, from the first base station, an indication for defining a second pattern to be applied the first resource elements;
• combining the first pattern and the second pattern to obtain a blanking pattern indicating at least one blanked resource element in the first resource elements that conflicts with corresponding second resource elements used for communication according to a second configuration;
• and
• disregarding the blanked resource elements of the first resource elements or corresponding ones of second resource elements used for communication according to a second configuration when communicating using the first resource elements or the second resource elements respectively.

A base station in a cellular network, said base station comprising:

• an interface for communicating with a communication device;
• and
• processing circuitry configured to:
• send, to a communication device, an indication for defining a first pattern to be applied to first resource elements used for communication according to a first configuration;
• send, to the communication device, an indication for defining a second pattern to be applied to the first resource elements;
• wherein a logical combination of the first pattern and the second pattern define a blanking pattern indicating at least one blanked resource element that conflicts with corresponding second resource elements used for communication according to a second configuration.

A communication device, comprising:

• an interface for communicating with a base station in a cellular network;
• and
• processing circuitry configured to:
• receive, from a first base station, an indication for defining a first pattern to be applied to first resource elements used for communication according to a first configuration;
• receive, from the first base station, an indication for defining a second pattern to be applied the first resource elements;
• combine the first pattern and the second pattern to obtain a blanking pattern indicating at least one blanked resource element in the first resource elements that conflicts with corresponding second resource elements used for communication according to a second configuration;
• and
• disregard the blanked resource elements of the first resource elements or corresponding ones of second resource elements used for communication according to a second configuration when communicating using the first resource elements or the second resource elements respectively.