Apparatus and method for automatic repeat request with reduced resource allocation overhead in a wireless VOIP communication system

A mobile station comprising:

• at least one transceiver;
• at least one processor coupled to said transceiver;
• said processor configured to:
• identify, based on information received over a shared control channel, an assigned position of the mobile station within a group and an ordering pattern for allocation of resources, wherein the ordering pattern is indicated by a base station in an ordering pattern field of an assignment bitmap for each scheduling instance, the ordering pattern field designating the ordering pattern and not including the ordering pattern;
• determine a first resource allocation for a first automatic repeat request system retransmission opportunity from a shared control message based on the assigned position of the mobile station in the group and the assigned ordering pattern;
• and
• determining a subsequent resource allocation for a subsequent automatic repeat request system retransmission opportunity based on a single bit field of a subsequent shared control message.

A base station comprising:

• a transceiver;
• a processor coupled to said transceiver, said processor configured to:
• assign a set of mobile stations to a group, and control said group with a shared control channel, wherein each mobile station is assigned a group position;
• assign an ordering pattern for a set of shared resources on the shared control channel, wherein the ordering pattern is indicated by a base station in an ordering pattern field of an assignment bitmap for each scheduling instance, the ordering pattern field designating the ordering pattern and not including the ordering pattern;
• assign said group the set of shared resources based on the assigned ordering pattern, wherein each mobile station of said set of mobile stations uses its assigned group position and the ordering pattern to ascertain its resources from said set of shared resources;
• associate each said group position with an automatic repeat request system retransmission opportunity;
• and
• send control information over said shared control channel including mobile station resource assignments for mobile stations of said group requiring a first automatic repeat request system retransmission opportunity, and further including an indicator for mobile stations of said group requiring a subsequent automatic repeat request system retransmission opportunity.