Apparatuses and methods for allocating spectrum resources in a wireless communication network

A scheduling method for allocating spectrum resources among a plurality of devices in a wireless communication network, comprising:

• determining a first estimated required number of resource blocks (NRB1) for a first device of said plurality of devices;
• determining a second estimated required number of resource blocks (NRB2) for a second device of said plurality of devices;
• calculating a first utilization weight associated with said first device based on NRB1;
• calculating a second utilization weight associated with said second device based on NRB2;
• and
• allocating spectrum resources among said first and second devices based on said first and second utilization weights, wherein determining NRB1 comprises:
• determining a number of resource blocks necessary to empty a buffer of said first device,
• determining a number of resource blocks sufficient to cause said first device to become power limited,
• determining if said number of resource blocks necessary to empty the buffer of said first device is less than said number of resource blocks sufficient to cause said first device to become power limited, and
• setting NRB1 equal to the to the product of a multiplier and said number of resource blocks sufficient to cause said first device to become power limited in response to determining that said number of resource blocks necessary to empty the buffer of said first device is not less than said number of resource blocks sufficient to cause said first device to become power limited.

A scheduling method for allocating spectrum resources among a plurality of devices in a wireless communication network, comprising:

• determining a first estimated required number of resource blocks (NRB1) for a first device of said plurality of devices;
• determining a second estimated required number of resource blocks (NRB2) for a second device of said plurality of devices;
• calculating a first utilization weight associated with said first device based on NRB1;
• calculating a second utilization weight associated with said second device based on NRB2;
• and
• allocating spectrum resources among said first and second devices based on said first and second utilization weights, wherein calculating the first utilization weight associated with said first device comprises calculating a maximum allocation size approximation for said first device, wherein said first utilization weight is based on NRB1 and said maximum allocation size approximation.

A scheduling node for allocating spectrum resources among a plurality of devices in a wireless communication network, comprising:

• a transmitter;
• and
• a processor coupled to said transmitter, wherein said processor is configured to:
• determine a first estimated required number of resource blocks (NRB1) for a first device of said plurality of devices,
• determine a second estimated required number of resource blocks (NRB2) for a second device of said plurality of devices,
• calculate a first utilization weight associated with said first device based on NRB1,
• calculate a second utilization weight associated with said second device based on said NRB2, and
• allocate spectrum resources among said first and second devices based on said first and second utilization weights,
• wherein said processor is configured to determine NRB1 by:
• calculating a number of resource blocks necessary to empty a buffer of said first device,
• calculating a number of resource blocks sufficient to cause said first device to become power limited,
• determining if said number of resource blocks necessary to empty the buffer of said first device is less than said number of resource blocks sufficient to cause said first device to become power limited, and
• setting NRB1 equal to said number of resource blocks necessary to empty the buffer of said first device in response to a determination that said number of resource blocks necessary to empty the buffer of said first device is less than said number of resource blocks sufficient to cause said first device to become power limited.

A scheduling node for allocating spectrum resources among a plurality of devices in a wireless communication network, comprising:

• a transmitter;
• and
• a processor coupled to said transmitter, wherein said processor is configured to:
• determine a first estimated required number of resource blocks (NRB1) for a first device of said plurality of devices,
• determine a second estimated required number of resource blocks (NRB2) for a second device of said plurality of devices,
• calculate a first utilization weight associated with said first device based on NRB1,
• calculate a second utilization weight associated with said second device based on said NRB2, and
• allocate spectrum resources among said first and second devices based on said first and second utilization weights,
• wherein said processor is configured to determine NRB1 by:
• calculating a number of resource blocks necessary to empty a buffer of said first device,
• calculating a number of resource blocks sufficient to cause said first device to become power limited,
• determining if said number of resource blocks necessary to empty the buffer of said first device is less than said number of resource blocks sufficient to cause said first device to become power limited, and
• setting NRB1 equal to the product of a multiplier and said number of resource blocks sufficient to cause said first device to become power limited in response to a determination that said number of resource blocks necessary to empty the buffer of said first device is not less than said number of resource blocks sufficient to cause said first device to become power limited.

A scheduling node for allocating spectrum resources among a plurality of devices in a wireless communication network, comprising:

• a transmitter;
• and
• a processor coupled to said transmitter, wherein said processor is configured to:
• determine a first estimated required number of resource blocks (NRB1) for a first device of said plurality of devices;
• determine a second estimated required number of resource blocks (NRB2) for a second device of said plurality of devices;
• calculate a maximum allocation size approximation for said first device;
• and
• calculate a first utilization weight associated with said first device based on NRB1 and said maximum allocation size approximation,
• calculate a second utilization weight associated with said second device based on said NRB2, and
• allocate spectrum resources among said first and second devices based on said first and second utilization weights.