Method and network node for allocating network resources to user equipment

Abstract

Embodiments of present disclosure provide network node (104) and method (300) for allocating one or more network resources to UE (108a) in wireless communication network (106). The method (300) configures resource allocation control parameter for a UE (108a) of the plurality of UEs (108). The method (300) arranges the plurality of UEs (108) in one or more groups of UEs (110) based on the configured resource allocation control parameter. The method (300) allocates the one or more network resources to at least one group of UEs (110a) from the one or more groups of UEs (110), wherein the one or more network resources are allocated over the resource channel.

Description

[0001] METHOD AND NETWORK NODE FOR ALLOCATING NETWORK RESOURCES TO USER EQUIPMENT

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a method for allocating one or more network resources to a User Equipment, a network node for allocating one or more network resources to a User Equipment, and corresponding computer program product.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] In telecommunication networks, Multiuser-Multi Input Multi Output, MU-MIMO, is a wireless communication technology that uses multiple antennas to improve communication by creating multiple connections to same devices at the same time. The MU-MIMO uses the multiple antennas to transmit data to multiple UEs in the same frequency at the same time. Thus, by using the MU-MIMO technology for transmitting data, capacity of the multiple antennas is increased as the same time / frequency resources can carry the data to several UEs. Sending different data at the same time and using the same frequency resource is often called as spatial multiplexing.

[0006] The spatial multiplexing is feasible if a transmitter has multiple antennas. The multiple antennas can adjust amplitude and phases of individual transmit antennas of the transmitter for each individual transmission. Thus, by adjusting the amplitude and phase of the transmit antennas, wanted signals, i.e., data for a particular UE can be interfered constructively, while non-wanted signals, i.e., the data for other UEs can be interfered destructively at each receiving antenna. The spatial multiplexing generally requires high accuracy channel state information at the transmitter. The spatial multiplexing also requires performing processing to solve an optimization problem of the multiple antennas. The optimization problem refers to how to select the phase and the amplitude of each individual transmit antenna to maximize signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio, SINR at each receiving antenna. These provided sets of phases and amplitudes are referred to as beamforming weights.

[0007] Further, in the telecommunication networks, New Radio, NR uses shared channels, which allows for a flexible and dynamic spectrum usage. The spectrum relates to radio frequency resources allocated for communication in the telecommunication network. In order to transmit data in a downlink direction, a transmitting node, i.e., generation Node B, gNB, needs to first communicate transmission parameters to a receiving node, i.e., User Equipment, UE. The communication of the transmission parameters is performed using a downlink assignment which is sent over a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH to the UE. The downlink assignment is a message comprising parameters for the data transmission along with parameters for a subsequent uplink transmission. Thereafter, the data transmission is performed using Physical Downlink Shared Channel, PDSCH, and the feedback is sent on Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH. Further, allocation of the shared channels, i.e., the PDCCH, PDSCH, and PUCCH, is typically carried out for each transmission of a packet / data.

[0008] Further, as mentioned above, the PDCCH is a shared channel, and one of the possible ways for the UE to know about the transmissions on the PDCCH is to continuously monitor the PDCCH and decode using the transmission parameter. However, to make this feasible, the set of transmission parameters for a certain UE in a certain slot is limited. The set of transmission parameters for a UE in a slot is called search space set and each member of the search space set is called a candidate. The candidate may be alternatively referred as a PDCCH candidate.

[0009] The transmission parameters of the candidate include the frequency range within which the transmission can take place. Further, to prevent / avoid rendering a portion of the frequency unusable, various UEs are assigned different search space sets. Furthermore, to prevent systematic bias, the search space set is different for each UE in each slot according to a pseudo random sequence. The resource allocation complexity created by the search spaces makes the PDCCH a challenging channel to allocate efficiently.

[0010] Further, one of a significant difference of the PDCCH compared to the PDSCH is that messages of the PDCCH have a fixed size and modulation is always Quadrature Phase Shift Keying, QPSK. Therefore, the only way to perform link adaption is to either adjust transmission power or select how many resources are to be used for the transmission. The link adaption determines signals modulation order and coding scheme that is to be used in the transmission. Due to blind decoding limitations, the number of resources allocated to a single candidate in the search space set is characteristically limited to 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 Control Channel Elements, CCEs, where each CCE is a set of 72 resource elements. The number of CCEs is called aggregation level. Further, contrary to Long-Term Evolution, LTE, the NR allows for UE specific configuration of high-level parameters that are related to the PDCCH search spaces sets. The UE specific configuration of the high-level parameters comprises Control Resource Set, CORESET configuration and Search Space, SS configuration. The Control Resource Set, CORESET configuration describes which part of the frequency should be monitored and the Search Space, SS configuration describes when in time each CORESET should be monitored and the allocation of candidates.

[0011] Reference is made to 3GPP TS 38.331 version 17.2.0 Release 17: Radio Resource Control (RRC), section 6.3.2 Control Resource Set; Protocol specification and 3GPP TS 38.213 version 17.2.0 Release 17: Physical layer procedures for control, section 7.3.2 Physical downlink control channel, section 7.3.2.2 Control Resource Set.

[0012] SUMMARY

[0013] In present networks, the MU-MIMO technology is only applied to the PDSCH channel.

[0014] Further, both the PDCCH and PUCCH channel are allocated so that UEs obtain nonoverlapping time and frequency resources for the communication. Typical mobile broadband traffic is characterized by a large number of sessions, during each of which a small amount of data is transmitted. Further, due to this large number of sessions transmitting limited amounts of data, the PDCCH channel experiences more limitations than the PDSCH channel. Due to this, the capacity benefits from using the MU-MIMO technology are small relative to the cost for using this technology for the PDCCH channel.

[0015] One traditional / conventional method for applying the MU-MIMO technology to the PDCCH channel is to perform a similar type of strategy as is performed for the PDSCH channel. That is, if two or more UEs happen to have overlapping search space sets and have channels that are compatible for the spatial multiplexing, then the beamforming weights are computed and the beamforming weights are put on top of each other.

[0016] However, apart from the problem of having to do the complex beamforming calculations for both the PDCCH and the PDSCH channel, there is an additional challenge in the PDCCH compared to the PDSCH. In the PDCCH, if a new SINR requires adjustment of the transmission format to reduce a risk of decoding failure to an acceptable level after completion of the beamforming calculations, then there is no guarantee that PDCCH candidates are overlapping in frequency. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the PDCCH candidates, which overlap, are spatially orthogonal. The PDCCH candidates are members of the search space set. In an example, the term "spatially orthogonal" means that the PDCCH candidates are orthogonal in the frequency domain. This ensures that the PDCCH candidates do not interfere with each other.

[0017] Further, generally, the set of UEs, which needs the PDCCH, is larger than the set of UEs, which can be spatially multiplexed. In particular, the set is often a mix of requests for both Uplink, UL grants and Downlink, DL assignments.

[0018] Further one more problem / challenge arises due to the conflict of interests between selecting the UEs that are suitable for the spatial multiplexing and selecting UEs based on Quality of Service, QoS considerations when PDCCH is the bottleneck / limiting factor.

[0019] Thus, there is a need for providing an improved method and network node to overcome one or more limitations of existing / traditional methods.

[0020] It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide allocation of one or more network resources to User Equipment, UE, in a wireless communication network, wherein all or at least some of the above-discussed drawbacks of presently known solutions are mitigated, alleviated, or eliminated.

[0021] This and other objects are achieved by means of a network node, and a method defined in the appended claims.

[0022] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method implemented in a network node for allocating one or more network resources to a User Equipment, UE in a wireless communication network is provided. The method comprises configuring a resource allocation control parameter for a UE of a plurality of UEs. The method comprises arranging the plurality of UEs in one or more groups of UEs based on the configured resource allocation control parameter. The method comprises allocating the one or more network resources to at least one group of UEs from the one or more groups of UEs, wherein the one or more network resources are allocated over a resource channel. Optionally, wherein the allocation of the one or more network resources over the resource channel is of use for communicating data in a multi-user multiple input, multiple output, MU MIMO arrangement in the wireless communication network.

[0023] Optionally, the resource allocation control parameter comprises at least one of a Control resource set, CORESET and a Search Space, SS.

[0024] Optionally, the step of configuring the resource allocation control parameter comprises configuring at least one of the CORESET and the SS and including a number of Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH candidates in the configured SS to provide a maximum number of collisions amongst the number of PDCCH candidates.

[0025] Optionally, the step of configuring the resource allocation control parameter comprises: configuring the Control resource set, CORESET, by reducing a cell bandwidth of at least one of the UE of the plurality of UEs, wherein the cell bandwidth is reduced to fit a desired number of the Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH, candidates in the cell bandwidth of the at least one of the UE, wherein the cell bandwidth is reduced at a desired time and at a desired frequency.

[0026] Optionally, the desired number of the PDCCH candidates is for an aggregation level of one or more aggregation levels of the CORESET, and wherein the one or more aggregation levels are of use for configuring the CORESET for allocation of the one or more network resources.

[0027] Optionally, the configured CORESET having the desired number of the PDCCH are candidates overlapping with each other in a frequency range having a common SS forthe plurality of UEs.

[0028] Optionally, the step of configuring the resource allocation control parameter comprises configuring the common SS as the resource allocation control parameter for each UE in the at least one group of UEs from the one or more groups of UEs. The common SS is configured with at least one of an existing CORESET or the configured CORESET.

[0029] Optionally, the step of configuring the resource allocation control parameter comprises configuring of the common SS as the resource allocation control parameter, comprises: including a number of PDCCH candidates while allocating the one or more network resources over the resource channel to keep the configured SS common for the at least one group of UEs from the one or more groups UEs. Optionally, the step of configuring the resource allocation control parameter comprises configuring the CORESET according to a tuning parameter. The tuning parameter comprises at least one of: the number of PDCCH candidates to be configured for the aggregation level and a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH, signal to interference plus noise ratio.

[0030] Optionally, the step of allocating the one or more network resources comprises scheduling at least one Physical Downlink Shared Channel, PDSCH, Downlink, DL MU -Ml MO allocation for the UE from the UEs in the at least one group of UEs, wherein a size of the at least one group of UEs is smaller than a total number of PDSCH layers in the PDSCH DL MU-MIMO allocation.

[0031] Optionally, the step of allocating the one or more network resources comprises scheduling at least one Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH Downlink, DL MU-MIMO allocation for the UE from the UEs in the at least one group of UEs.

[0032] Optionally, each UE in the at least one group of UEs from the one or more groups of UEs is spatially compatible if each of the UE is spatially orthogonal to each other UE of the plurality of UEs.

[0033] Optionally, the spatially compatible UEs of the at least one group of UEs use a common PDCCH.

[0034] Optionally, the method comprises monitoring for each UE in the at least one group of UEs, a requirement of the one or more network resources to be allocated to each UE in the at least one group of UEs. The method comprises identifying the UE from the UEs in the at least one group of UEs having a high priority requirement of the one or more network resources to be allocated to the said UE. The method comprises allocating the one or more network resources to the UE with the high priority requirement of the one or more network resources.

[0035] Optionally, the step of configuring the resource allocation control parameter comprises: configuring at least one of the CORESET and the SS and including a number of PDCCH candidates in the configured SS to provide a minimum number of collisions amongst the number of PDCCH candidates for allocating the one or more network resources to the at least one group of UEs, wherein the allocation of the one or more network resources is of use for communicating data in a non-multi-user multiple input, multiple output, non-MU MIMO arrangement in the wireless communication network. According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a network node for allocating one or more network resources to a User Equipment, UE, in a wireless communication network is provided. The network node comprises a processing circuitry arranged to configure a resource allocation control parameter for a UE of a plurality of UEs. The processing circuitry arranges the plurality of UEs in one or more groups of UEs based on the configured resource allocation control parameter. The processing circuit is arranged to allocate the one or more network resources to at least one group of UEs from the one or more groups of UEs, wherein the one or more network resources are allocated over a resource channel.

[0036] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium, having thereon a computer program comprising program instructions. The computer program is loadable into a data processing unit and configured to cause execution of the method according to the first and second aspects when the computer program is run by the data processing unit.

[0037] Some embodiments disclosed herein have one or more of the following advantages:

[0038] • The proposed method and network node allow for reusing beamforming weights between the Physical Downlink Shared Channel, PDSCH and the Physical Downlink Control Channel PDCCH;

[0039] • The proposed method and network node allow for reusing the PDCCH allocation for each UE member in the at least one group of UEs. Thereby the need to incur costs for computing beamforming weights and resolving the PDCCH allocation challenge is eliminated;

[0040] • The proposed method and network node allow packing / grouping of all spatially compatible UEs to free up the rest of the PDCCH for UEs, which are not spatially compatible. For example, some of the UEs are not spatially compatible with each other because they are not orthogonal or there are no network resources to compute the beamforming weights for the UEs;

[0041] • The proposed method and network node mitigate a conflict of interest between capacity gains from spatial multiplexing and Quality of Service, QoS by ensuring that all the spatially multiplexed users utilize the common PDCCH resource. Thereby the UEs are prevented from taking resources from higher QoS UEs; • The proposed network node and method allow both the physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH and the PDCCH allocation where both beamforming weights and resource allocations are reused between UEs.

[0042] Other advantages may be readily apparent to one having skill in the art. Certain embodiments may have none, some, or all of the recited advantages.

[0043] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of the example embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the example embodiments.

[0045] FIG. 1 discloses an example of a wireless communication system;

[0046] FIG. 2 discloses a schematic block diagram illustrating an example network node arranged in a wireless communication system according to some embodiments;

[0047] FIG. 3A-3J illustrate flowcharts showing example steps for a method for allocating one or more network resources to a UE in the wireless communication network according to some embodiments;

[0048] FIG. 4 discloses a schematic diagram of a New Radio system illustrating data communication between a base station and the User Equipment in the wireless communication network according to some embodiments;

[0049] FIG. 5 discloses a schematic diagram of a slot for allocating one or more network resources to the UE in the wireless communication network according to some embodiments;

[0050] FIG. 6 discloses a schematic diagram illustrating an example when spatial multiplexing is not performed according to some embodiments;

[0051] FIG. 7 discloses a schematic diagram illustrating an example when spatial multiplexing is performed according to some embodiments;

[0052] FIG. 8 discloses a flowchart illustrating allocation of one or more network resources to UE in the wireless communication network according to some embodiments; and FIG. 9 discloses an example computing environment according to some embodiments.

[0053] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] Aspects of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The apparatus and methods disclosed herein can, however, be realized in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the aspects set forth herein. Like numbers in the drawings refer to like elements throughout.

[0055] The terminology used herein is for describing particular aspects of the disclosure only and is not intended to limit the invention. It should be emphasized that the term "comprises / comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0056] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described and exemplified more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The solutions disclosed herein can, however, be realized in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0057] It will be appreciated that when the present disclosure is described in terms of a platform and a method, it may also be embodied in one or more processors and one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the one or more memories store one or more programs that perform the steps, services and functions disclosed herein when executed by the one or more processors. FIG. 1 discloses an example wireless communication system 100. Although the subject matter described herein may be implemented in any appropriate type of system using any suitable components, the examples disclosed herein are described in relation to a wireless communication system / wireless network, such as the example wireless communication system 100 described in relation to FIG. 1.

[0058] The wireless communication system 100 may comprise and / or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, and / or radio network or other similar type of system. The wireless communication system 100 may be configured to operate according to specific standards or other types of predefined rules of procedures. Thus, the wireless communication system 100 may implement communication standards, such as, but not limited to, global system for mobile communications, GSM, universal mobile telecommunications system, UMTS, long term evolution, LTE, and / or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G standards, wireless local area network, WLAN, standards such as, IEEE 802.11 standards, and / or any other appropriate wireless communication standards, such as, worldwide interoperability for microwave access, WiMax, Bluetooth, Z-Wave and / or ZigBee standards.

[0059] For simplicity, as depicted in FIG. 1, the wireless communication system 100 comprises a network node / base station 104, a plurality of UEs 108, and a wireless communication network 106. The network node 104 and the plurality of UEs 108 operate together in order to provide wireless connections in the wireless communication system 100. The wireless communication network 106 may comprise one or more backhaul networks, core networks, IP networks, public switched telephone networks, PSTNs, packet data networks, optical networks, wide- area networks, WANs, local area networks, LANs, wireless local area networks, WLANs, wired networks, wireless networks, metropolitan area networks, and other networks to enable communication between devices (for example, wireless devices and a network node).

[0060] The network node 104 may refer to equipment capable, configured, arranged, and / or operable to and / or with other network nodes or equipment in the wireless communication system 100 to enable and / or provide wireless access and / or to perform other functions (for example, administration) in the wireless communication system 100. Examples of the network node 104 include, but are not limited to, access points, APs (for example, radio access points), base stations, BSs (for example, radio base stations, nodeBs, evolved NodeBs, eNBs, new radio, NR, nodes (gNBs), or the like). The BSs may be categorized based on an amount of coverage the BSs provide (or, stated different, their transmit power level) and may then be referred to as femto BSs, pico BSs, micro-BSs, macro-BSs. The BS may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay.

[0061] A UE 108 may refer to a device capable, configured, arranged and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with the network node 104 and / or other wireless devices.

[0062] In some examples, the wireless devices may include one or more of: computing devices, ultralow power wireless devices, Internet of Things, loT, devices, and so on. Examples of the computing devices may include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a cell phone, a voice over Internet Protocol, IP, VoIP, phone, a wireless local loop phone, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant, PDA, a wireless camera, a gaming console or device, a wearable terminal device, a wireless endpoint, a mobile station, a tablet, a laptop, a laptop-embedded equipment, LEE, a laptop-mounted equipment, LME, a smart device, a wireless customer-premise equipment, CPE, a vehicle-mounted wireless terminal device, and so on.

[0063] It should be understood that the plurality of UEs 108 may not be limited to the abovedescribed wireless devices. The plurality of UEs 108 may be extended to other wireless devices of different classes or categories providing different services while supporting, for example, Enhanced Mobile Broadband, eMBB, massive Machine-Type Communication, MTC, Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communication, URLLC, Time Sensitive Networking, TSN, or the like.

[0064] In the wireless communication system 100, the network node 104 and the plurality of UEs 108 are connected to 3GPP 5G core network, where specific network services and operations are provided through software components called network functions, NFs. The wireless communication system 100 hosts large-scale applications.

[0065] One traditional / conventional method for applying the MU-MIMO technology to the PDCCH channel is to perform a similar type of strategy as is characteristically performed for the PDSCH channel. That is, if two or more UEs happen to have overlapping search space sets and have channels that are compatible forthe spatial multiplexing, then the beamforming weights are computed and the beamforming weights are put on top of each other.

[0066] However, apart from the problem of having to do the complex beamforming calculations for both the PDCCH and the PDSCH channel, there is an additional challenge in the PDCCH compared to the PDSCH. In the PDCCH, if a new SINR requires adjustment of the transmission format to reduce a risk of decoding failure to an acceptable level after completion of the beamforming calculations, then there is no guarantee that the PDCCH candidates are still overlapping in frequency. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the PDCCH candidates, which overlap, are spatially orthogonal. The PDCCH candidates for a UE are members of the search space set for the UE. Thus, the present disclosure presents the wireless communication network 100, the network node 104, and the plurality of UEs 108, wherein the network node 104 is adapted for allocating one or more network resources to a UE 108a in the wireless communication network 106 for use in communicating data in a Multi-user Multiple input, multiple output MU MIMO arrangement and resolving the PDCCH allocation challenge.

[0067] FIG. 2 discloses a schematic block diagram illustrating an example network node 104 arranged in the wireless communication system 100 for allocating the one or more network resources to the plurality of UEs 108.

[0068] In FIG. 2, the example network node 104 is illustrated comprising one or more modules. The one or more modules may comprise a memory 1004, a processor 1006, a controlling circuitry 1008, and a driver 1010. The controlling circuitry 1008 may be adapted to control the other modules. In an example, the controlling circuitry 1008 may be alternatively referred to as processing circuitry 1008.

[0069] The memory 1004, the processor 1006 and the driver 1010 as well as the processing circuitry 1008, may be operatively connected to each other.

[0070] The memory 1004 may be adapted to store the resource allocation control parameter relating to a communication attempt from the network node 104.

[0071] The processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted to control the steps as executed by the network node 104. For example, the processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted to configure a resource allocation control parameterfor a UE 108a of the plurality of UEs 108. The processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted to arrange the plurality of UEs 108 in one or more groups of UEs 110 based on the configured resource allocation control parameter. The processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted to allocate the one or more network resources to at least one group of UEs 110a from the one or more groups of UEs 110. The one or more network resources are allocated over the resource channel. In an example, the one or more network resources may include, but are not limited to, frequency, time, phase and amplitude.

[0072] Optionally, the allocation of the one or more network resources over the resource channel is of use for communicating data in a multi-user multiple input, multiple output, MU MIMO arrangement in the wireless communication network 106. Optionally, the resource allocation control parameter comprises at least one of a Control resource set, CORESET and a Search Space, SS. In an example, the CORESET may refer to a set of time-frequency resources on a New Radio, NR downlink resource grid where the PDCCH may be transmitted. In another example, the CORESET may refer to a specific area on the NR downlink resource grid for carrying the PDCCH or Downlink Control Information, DCL

[0073] In an example, the SS may refer to an area within the CORESET that the UE 108a should monitor to detect the specific PDCCH / DCL

[0074] Optionally, the processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted for configuring at least one of the CORESET and the SS as the resource allocation control parameter. The processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted to include the number of PDCCH candidates in the configured SS to provide the maximum number of collisions amongst the number of PDCCH candidates.

[0075] Optionally, the processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted to configure the Control resource set, CORESET, by reducing the cell bandwidth of at least one of the UE 108a of the plurality of UEs 108. The cell bandwidth is reduced to fit the desired number of the Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH candidates in the cell bandwidth of the at least one of the UE 108a. The cell bandwidth is reduced at the desired time and the desired frequency.

[0076] Optionally, the desired number of the PDCCH candidates is associated with an aggregation level of one or more aggregation levels of the CORESET. The one or more aggregation levels are of use for configuring the CORESET for allocation of the one or more network resources. In an example, the desired number of the PDCCH candidates refers to number of PDCCH candidates that are required based on the aggregation level. For example, if the aggregation level is 2, the desired number of PDCCH candidates are 2 and the like. In an example, the one or more aggregation levels may be defined as the number of Control Channel Elements, CCEs, that may be required for Downlink Control Information, DCI transmission. In an example, the number of CCEs is called aggregation level.

[0077] Optionally, the configured CORESET having the desired number of the PDCCH are candidates overlapping with each other in a frequency range having a common SS for the plurality of UEs

[0078] 108. Optionally, the processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted to configure the common SS as the resource allocation control parameter for each UE 108a in the at least one group of UEs 110a from the one or more groups of UEs 110, wherein the common SS is configured with at least one of an existing CORESET or the configured CORESET. In an example, the existing CORESET may be a CORESETO. The CORESETO is referred to as Type 0 CORESET because it is the first CORESET that is configured to the UE 108a.

[0079] Optionally, the processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted for configuring of the common SS as the resource allocation control parameter. The processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted for including the number of PDCCH candidates while allocating the one or more network resources over the resource channel to keep the configured SS common for the at least one group of UEs 110a from the one or more groups of UEs 110.

[0080] Optionally, the processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted for configuring the CORESET according to a tuning parameter. The tuning parameter comprises at least one of

[0081] - the number of the PDCCH candidates to be configured for the aggregation level and

[0082] - the Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH signal to interference plus noise ratio.

[0083] In an example, the tuning parameter may refer to criteria according to which the CORESET is configured. The criteria may for example be the number of PDCCH candidates to be configured for the aggregation level and the PDCCH signal to interference plus noise ratio. A person skilled in the art may understand that the tuning parameters may include other criteria and not be limited to the above-mentioned examples.

[0084] Optionally, the processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted for scheduling at least one Physical Downlink Shared Channel, PDSCH Downlink, DL MU -Ml MO allocation for the UE 108a from the UEs 108a, 108b in the at least one group of UEs 110a, wherein the size of the at least one group of UE 110a is smaller than a total number of PDSCH layers in the PDSCH DL MU-MIMO allocation.

[0085] Optionally, the processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted for scheduling at least one Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH Downlink, DL MU-MIMO allocation for the UE 108a from the UEs 108a, 108b in the at least one group of UEs 110a. Optionally, each UE 108a in the at least one group of UEs 110a from the one or more groups of UEs 110 is spatially compatible if each of the UE 108a is spatially orthogonal to each other UE of the plurality of UEs 108.

[0086] In an example, each UE 108a is considered spatially compatible with other UE, if each UE 108a has similar beamforming weights as the other UE. The beamforming weights include the set of phases and the amplitude. If each UE 108a has similar beamforming weights as other UE, each UE 108a may be grouped with the other UE.

[0087] In an example, the term "spatially orthogonal" may refer to that the PDCCH candidates are orthogonal in the frequency domain. This in turn ensures that the PDCCH candidates do not interfere with each other. In another example, if each UE 108a is spatially orthogonal to each other UE of the plurality of UEs 108, i.e., not interfering with each other, then each of the UE 108a is spatially compatible. Optionally, the spatially compatible UEs of the at least one group of UEs 110a use the common PDCCH.

[0088] Optionally, the processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted to monitor for each UE 108a in the at least one group of UEs 110a, a requirement of the one or more network resources to be allocated to each UE 108a in the at least one group of UEs 110a. The processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted to identify a UE 108a from the UEs 108a, 108b in the at least one group of UEs 110a having a high priority requirement of the one or more network resources to be allocated to the said UE 108a. The processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted to allocate the one or more network resources to the UE 108a with the high priority requirement of the one or more network resources. In an example, the requirement of the one or more network resources refers to the one or more network resources which are required for communicating data in the wireless communication network 106. In an example, the one or more network resources may include, but are not limited to, frequency, time, phase and amplitude.

[0089] Optionally, the processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted for configuring at least one of the CORESET and the SS as the resource allocation control parameter. The processing circuitry 1008 may be adapted for including the number of PDCCH candidates in the configured SS to provide the minimum number of collisions amongst the number of PDCCH candidates for allocating the one or more network resources to the at least one group of UEs 110a. The allocation of the one or more network resources is of use for communicating data in a non- multi-user multiple input, multiple output, non-MU MIMO arrangement in the wireless communication network 106.

[0090] FIG. 3A is a flowchart illustrating example steps for a method for allocating the one or more network resources to the UE 108a in the wireless communication network 106. The method 300 is performed for allocating the one or more network resources to the UE 108a for use in communicating data in the wireless communication network 106.

[0091] At step 302, the method 300 comprises configuring the resource allocation control parameter for a UE 108a of the plurality of UEs 108.

[0092] At step 304, the method 300 comprises arranging the plurality of UEs 108 in the one or more groups of UEs 110 based on the configured resource allocation control parameter.

[0093] At step 306, the method 300 comprises allocating, the one or more network resources to the at least one group of UEs 110a from the one or more groups of UEs 110. The one or more network resources are allocated over the resource channel.

[0094] In an example, the allocation of the one or more network resources to the UEs 108 may be performed in a group wise. For example, the one or more network resources may be allocated for the group of UEs 110a, then group of UEs 110b and so on.

[0095] Optionally, the allocation of the one or more network resources over the resource channel is of use for communicating data in the MU MIMO arrangement in the wireless communication network 106.

[0096] Optionally, the resource allocation control parameter comprises at least one of the Control resource set, CORESET and the Search Space, SS.

[0097] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 3B, at step 308 the method 300 provides configuring the at least one of the CORESET and the SS as the resource allocation control parameter. At step 310, the method 300 provides including the number of PDCCH candidates in the configured SS to provide the maximum number of collisions amongst the number of PDCCH candidates.

[0098] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 3D, at step 314 the method 300 provides configuring the resource allocation control parameter by configuring the Control resource set, CORESET, by reducing the cell bandwidth of at least one of the UE 108a of the plurality of UEs 108. The cell bandwidth is reduced to fit the desired number of the Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH candidates in the cell bandwidth of the at least one of the UE 108a. The cell bandwidth is reduced at the desired time and at the desired frequency.

[0099] Optionally, the desired number of the PDCCH candidates is associated with the aggregation level of the one or more aggregation levels of the CORESET. The one or more aggregation levels are of use for configuring the CORESET for allocation of the one or more network resources.

[0100] Optionally, the configured CORESET having the desired number of the PDCCH candidates are overlapping with each other in a frequency range having the common SS for the plurality of UEs 108.

[0101] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 3E, at step 316 the method 300 provides configuring the resource allocation control parameter by configuring the common SS as the resource allocation control parameter for each UE 108a in the at least one group of UEs 110a from the one or more groups of UEs 110, wherein the common SS is configured with at least one of the existing CORESET or the configured CORESET.

[0102] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 3F, at step 320 the method 300 provides configuring the resource allocation control parameter by configuring of the common SS as the resource allocation control parameter. At step 322, the method 300 includes the number of PDCCH candidates while allocating the one or more network resources over the resource channel to keep the configured SS common for the at least one group of UEs 110a from the one or more groups of UEs 110.

[0103] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 3G, at step 324 the method 300 provides configuring the CORESET according to the tuning parameter. The tuning parameter comprises at least one of

[0104] - the number of the PDCCH candidates to be configured for the aggregation level and

[0105] - the Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH signal to interference plus noise ratio.

[0106] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 3H, at step 326 the method 300 provides scheduling at least one Physical Downlink Shared Channel, PDSCH Downlink, DL MU -Ml MO allocation for the UE 108a from the UEs 108a, 108b in the at least one group of UEs 110a, wherein a size of the at least one group of UEs 110a is smaller than a total number of PDSCH layers in the PDSCH DL MU- MIMO allocation.

[0107] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 31, at step 328 the method 300 provides scheduling at least one Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH Downlink, DL MU -Ml MO allocation for the UE 108a from the UEs 108a, 108b in the at least one group of UEs 110a.

[0108] Optionally, each UE 108a in the at least one group of UEs 110a from the one or more groups of UEs 110 is spatially compatible if each of the UE 108a is spatially orthogonal to each other UE of the plurality of UEs 108.

[0109] Optionally, the spatially compatible UEs of the at least one group of UEs 110a use the common PDCCH.

[0110] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 3J, at step 330 the method 300 provides monitoring for each UE 108a in the at least one group of UEs 110a, the requirement of the one or more network resources to be allocated to each UE 108a in the at least one group of UEs 110a. At step 332 the method 300 provides identifying the UE 108a from the UEs 108a, 108b in the at least one group of UEs 110a having a high priority requirement of the one or more network resources to be allocated to the said UE 108a. At step 334 the method 300 provides allocating the one or more network resources to the UE 108a with the high priority requirement of the one or more network resources.

[0111] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 3C, at step 312 the method 300 provides configuring the at least one of the CORESET and the SS as the resource allocation control parameter by including the number of PDCCH candidates in the configured SS to provide the minimum number of collisions amongst the number of PDCCH candidates for allocating the one or more network resources to the at least one group of UEs llOa.The allocation of the one or more network resources is used for communicating data in the non-multi-user multiple input, multiple output, non-MU MIMO arrangement in the wireless communication network 106.

[0112] In an example, the example method 300 is based on using the Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH Control Resource Set, CORESET and the Search Space, SS configuration which includes one or more PDCCH candidates constructed in such a way that the search space within the CORESET remains common for all User Equipment, UEs 108a, 108b in the at least one group of UEs 110a of the one or more groups of UEs 110. The one or more PDCCH candidates refer to a possible location of the PDCCH in the search space. In an example, the CORESET may refer to as a set of time-frequency resources on a New Radio, NR downlink resource grid where the PDCCH may be transmitted. In another example, the CORESET may be a specific area on the NR downlink resource grid for carrying the PDCCH or Downlink Control Information, DCL

[0113] In an example, the SS may refer to as an area within the CORESET that the UE 108a should monitor to detect the specific PDCCH / DCL

[0114] In an example, the method 300 is applicable to the Physical Uplink Shared Channel, PUSCH and the PDCCH since beamforming weights are valid for both uplink, UL and downlink, DL transmission.

[0115] In an example, in a normal mode of operation of the PDCCH, collisions are avoided. This is in contrast to the procedure when using the MU -Ml MO arrangement in the PDCCH. The example method 300 may perform configuration of one CORESET / Search Space with the number of PDCCH candidates optimized for having a minimum number of collisions amongst the number of PDCCH candidates for allocating the one or more network resources using the non-MU MIMO arrangement in the wireless communication network 106.

[0116] In another example, the method 300 may perform configuration of at least one more CORESET / Search Space with few number of PDCCH candidates optimized for having maximum number of collisions amongst the number of PDCCH candidates for allocating the one or more network resources using the MU MIMO arrangement in the wireless communication network 106.

[0117] In an example, the PDCCH candidates consist of consecutive Control Channel Elements, CCEs. In another example, the PDCCH candidates may be a specific allocation of the CCEs within the SS that may carry control information for the UE 108a.

[0118] FIG. 4 shows an example of a New Radio, NR system, where a Next generation Node B, gNB 402 is an implementation of the network node 104. The gNB 402 is arranged to transmit data in a downlink direction using the PDCCH and the PDSCH to the UE 108a of at least one group of UEs 110a. Further, the UE 108a of the at least one group of UEs 110a sends an acknowledgement in an uplink direction on the Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH.

[0119] FIG. 5 shows an example of the PDCCH configuration. FIG. 5 shows the resource allocation control parameter / information element. The resource allocation control parameter comprises the Control Resource Set, CORESET and Search Space, SS. FIG. 5 shows the Control Resource Set, CORESET or the Search space, SS configuration A 502. The CORESET / SS config A 502 is designed for having a minimum risk of colliding allocations, which is similar to a legacy / traditional method.

[0120] Further, FIG. 5 shows another CORESET / SS config B 504, which is designed for having the maximum number of colliding allocations.

[0121] FIG. 5 also shows two UEs, such as UE 0 and UE 1. Both the UEs, UE 0 and UE 1 have two candidates and the two candidates are always in the exact time and frequency position.

[0122] The example network node 104 and example method 300 as illustrated herein may utilize the below first and second methods to achieve the properties of CORESET / SS config B 504 as shown in FIG. 5.

[0123] 1. The proposed network node 104 and method 300 configure the common SS as the resource allocation control parameter for each UE 108a in the at least one group of UEs 110a for at least one of an existing CORESET or the configured CORESET. Thus, by doing this, the proposed network node 104 and method 300 will disable a pseudo random search space set. In an example, configuring the common SS provides an advantage of not needing any new CORESET as the common SS may reuse an existing CORESET. Thus, configuring the common ss does not allow the CORESETs to be non-overlapping. That is, the CORESETs may be overlapping because of the common SS for the plurality of UEs 108. That is, the CORESETs having the desired number of PDCCH candidates are overlapping with each other because of the common SS for the plurality of UEs 108. In an example, overlapping may be referred to as sharing the same network resources.

[0124] 2. The proposed network node 104 and the method 300 configure the CORESET by reducing the cell bandwidth of at least one of the UE 108a-108n of the plurality of UEs 108. The cell bandwidth is reduced to fit exactly N which is a desired number of the PDCCH candidates at a desired time and at a desired frequency. The N / desired number of the PDCCH candidates is for the aggregation level of the one or more aggregation levels of the CORESET. The one or more aggregation levels are of use for configuring the CORESET for allocation of the one or more network resources. Thus, by doing this, the result of pseudo random search space set algorithm will always be common for all the UEs 108 in the at least one group of UEs 110a and for all slots in the UEs 108. Further, in an example, the CORESET configuration is influenced by the limitation of UE capabilities.

[0125] In an example, the at least one of the UE 108a-108n may be selected for reducing the cell bandwidth for configuring the CORESET. For example, either one UE 108a or the plurality of the UEs 108 may be selected for reducing the cell bandwidth for configuring the CORESET.

[0126] In an example, the one or more aggregation levels may be defined as the number of Control Channel Elements, CCEs, that may be required for Downlink Control Information, DCI transmission. In an example, the one or more aggregation levels may be 1, 2, 4 or 8. A person skilled in the art may understand that the examples of the aggregation levels are not limited to the above-mentioned numbers, i.e., 1, 2, 4 or 8.

[0127] In an example, the configuration of the SS is performed according to the tuning parameter. The tuning parameter comprises firstly, the number of PDCCH candidates to be configured for the aggregation level and the PDCCH signal to interference plus noise ratio.

[0128] In an example, selecting large aggregation level has an advantage that is, it can make the PDCCH allocation less complex as the gNB 402 no longer needs to check / verify if the SINR meets the acceptable error probability or not.

[0129] In an example, the proposed network node 104 and method 300 use a few comparatively large aggregation levels and do not check PDCCH SINR. In another example, the proposed network node 104 and method 300 uses many comparatively small aggregation levels and separates PDCCH allocations of the UEs 108 in case when the PDCCH SINR is insufficient / low. In an example, the latter example does not strictly require that beamforming weights are recalculated although recalculating the beamforming weights might result in a lower error probability. In an example, using more than one PDCCH candidate in the search space allows for resource separation in case quality of the resource channel is not good enough. Further, using more than one PDCCH candidate in the search space allows for more than one group of UEs 110a from the one or more groups of UEs 110 of spatially multiplexed users / UEs to use the common CORESET / SS configuration.

[0130] Furthermore, the CORESETs may be overlapping in frequency or may not be overlapping in frequency. FIG. 5 shows an example where the CORESETs are non-overlapping in frequency. In an example, one of the advantages of non-overlapping CORESETs is that the candidates for Multiuser, MU-scheduling are automatically protected against other allocations. In another example, the drawback of the non-overlapping CORESET configurations is that there is a higher risk of collisions in config A 502.

[0131] FIG. 6 shows example allocations of the one or more network resources to the UE 0 and the UE 1 without using the spatial multiplexing.

[0132] FIG. 7 shows example allocations of the one or more network resources to the UE 0 and the UE 1 when using spatial multiplexing. In an example, the PDSCH allocations do not need to be overlapping. In an example, the decision between employing spatial multiplexing or not can be made dynamically in each slot, as the UEs listen / monitors for the PDCCH in both config A 502 and config B 504.

[0133] In another example, a PDSCH scheduler (not shown in FIGs) is configured to schedule one DL MU-MIMO allocation to completely cover the frequency allocations of the said CORESET / SS config B 504. With this configuration, a frequency specific MU-MIMO precoder computation which is performed for the PDSCH can be directly reused for the frequency resources of CORESET / SS config B 504.

[0134] In another example, the proposed network node 104 and method 300 cover the case / scenario when the size of the set of scheduled UEs / at least one group of UEs 110a in the CORESET / SS config B 504 is smaller than the total number of PDSCH layers in the associated PDSCH MU-MIMO allocation. For instance, one or more UEs 108a in the at least one group of UEs 110a may have more than one PDSCH layer each, or the scheduler may select a subset of the PDSCH MU-MIMO UEs for CORESET / SS config B 504, due to low predicted SINR. In an example, the SINR is predicted by the network node 104. In such cases, one option is to utilize a subset of precoder weight vectors from the PDSCH as corresponding PDCCH precoder weight vectors. The total transmission power of the selected subset of the PDCCH precoder may be adjusted correspondingly to ensure full power utilization.

[0135] In another example, the proposed network node 104 and method 300 may utilize the MU- MIMO technology on the PDCCH when a corresponding PDSCH MU -Ml MO transmission is not being scheduled in a slot of the UE 108a of the at least one group of UEs 110a. For instance, the beamforming computation may have been performed as preparation for a specific MU MIMO scheduling scenario that was not utilized in the slot, or when the beamforming computation was performed for an earlier slot with a matching set of UEs. In both these cases, it may be necessary to remove weight vectors for UEs that are not part of the PDCCH transmission.

[0136] In another example, the proposed network node 104 and method 300 are applied when allocating the network resources to grant PUSCH transmission where the beamforming weights of the Physical Uplink Shared Channel, PUSCH are used for the PDCCH. This is useful when the resource channel is reciprocal, i.e., the resource channel is the same in both directions, which is typically the case in time-division duplexing, TDD. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart for allocation of the one or more network resources using the network node 104. The network node 104 may alternatively be referred to as a resource allocator (not shown in FIG. 8) which implements the proposed method 300. In an example, the critical step is the right part of the flowchart where a single PDCCH allocation is done for all users / UEs 108a in the at least one group of UEs 110a. In an example, the proposed network node 104 and method 300 also check the PDCCH SINR and reallocates PDCCH if SINR is too low (not shown in FIG. 8). In an example, the labels "SU config" and "MU config" represents CORESET / SS configurations like config A 502 and config B 504. The "SU config" is for Single User and "MU config" is for Multiuser. In an example, the MU-MIMO on PDSCH is possible even if "PDCCH allocation in MU config" is not successful.

[0137] In an example, at step 802, the proposed method 300 monitors for each UE 108a in the at least one group of UEs 110a, a requirement of the one or more network resources to be allocated to the UE 108a in the at least one group of UEs 110a. If UE 108a has no requirement of the one or more network resources (i.e., the UE 108a does not require the one or more network resources for communicating data), then at step 816, the proposed method 300 stops the allocation of the one or more network resources for the slot of the UE 108a. If the UE has requirement of the one or more network resources, then at step 804, the proposed method 300 identifies / selects the UE 108a having a high priority requirement of the one or more network resources to be allocated to the UE 108a. In an example, the high priority requirement may be based on one or more criteria such as urgency of the requirement of the one or more network resources, impact of the requirement of the one or more network resources, time-sensitive requirement of the one or more network resources and so on. A person skilled in the art may understand that the high priority requirement may be based on other criteria and is not limited to the above-mentioned examples. At step 806, the proposed method 300 checks if the UE 108a wants to use the MU MIMO arrangement or not. If the UE 108a does not have the requirement to use the MU MIMO arrangement, then at step 808, the proposed method 300 checks if the PDCCH allocation in the SU configuration is successful or not. If the PDCCH allocation in the SU configuration is successful, then at step 810, the proposed method 300 allocates the one or more network resources in the PDSCH / PUCCH to the UE 108a. In an example, the requirement of the one or more network resources refers to the one or more network resources which are required for communicating data in the wireless communication network 106. In an example, the one or more network resources may include, but are not limited to, frequency, time, phase and amplitude.

[0138] However, if the UE 108a has the requirement to use the MU MIMO arrangement, then at step 812, the proposed method 300 checks if the PDCCH allocation in the MU configuration is successful or not. If the PDCCH allocation in the MU configuration is not successful, then the proposed method 300 performs the step 808. If the PDCCH allocation in the MU configuration is successful, then at step 814, the proposed method 300 allocates the one or more network resources in the PDSCH / PUCCH to all the spatially compatible UEs in the at least one group of UEs 110a.

[0139] FIG. 9 illustrates an example computing environment 900 implementing a network node 104 and a method 300 as shown in FIGS. 2, and 3A-3J for allocating network resources to UE 108a for use in communicating data in the wireless communication network 106. As depicted in FIG. 9, the computing environment 900 comprises at least one data processing module 906 that is equipped with a control module 902 and an Arithmetic Logic Unit, ALU 904, a plurality of networking devices 908 and a plurality Input output, I / O devices 910, a memory 912, a storage 914. The data processing module 906 may be responsible for implementing the platform and method described in FIGS. 2 and 3A-3J respectively. For example, the data processing module 906 in some embodiments is equivalent to the controlling circuitry of the platform described above in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3A-3J. The data processing module 906 is capable of executing software instructions stored in memory 912. The data processing module 906 receives commands from the control module 902 in order to perform its processing. Further, any logical and arithmetic operations involved in the execution of the instructions are computed with the help of the ALU 904.

[0140] The computer program is loadable into the data processing module 906, which may, for example, be comprised in an electronic apparatus, such as the platform. When loaded into the data processing module 906, the computer program may be stored in the memory 912 associated with or comprised in the data processing module 906. According to some embodiments, the computer program may, when loaded into and run by the data processing module 906, cause execution of method steps according to, for example, any of the methods illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3A-3J, or otherwise described herein.

[0141] The overall computing environment 900 may be composed of multiple homogeneous and / or heterogeneous cores, multiple CPUs of different kinds, special media, and other accelerators. Further, the plurality of data processing modules 906 may be located on a single chip or over multiple chips.

[0142] The algorithm comprising of instructions and codes required for the implementation are stored in either the memory 912 or the storage 914 or both. At the time of execution, the instructions may be fetched from the corresponding memory 912 and / or storage 914 and executed by the data processing module 906.

[0143] In case of any hardware implementations various networking devices 908 or external I / O devices 910 may be connected to the computing environment to support the implementation through the networking devices 908 and the I / O devices 910.

[0144] The embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented through at least one software program running on at least one hardware device and performing network management functions to control the elements. The elements shown in FIG. 9 include blocks which can be at least one of a hardware device, or a combination of hardware device and software module.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method (300) implemented in a network node (104) for allocating one or more network resources to a User Equipment, UE (108a) in a wireless communication network (106), the method (300) comprising: configuring (302) a resource allocation control parameter for a UE (108a) of a plurality of UEs (108); arranging (304) the plurality of UEs (108) in one or more groups of UEs (110) based on the configured resource allocation control parameter; and allocating (306) the one or more network resources to at least one group of UEs (110a) from the one or more groups of UEs (110), wherein the one or more network resources are allocated over a resource channel.

2. The method (300) according to claim 1, wherein the allocation of the one or more network resources over the resource channel is of use for communicating data in a multi-user multiple input, multiple output, MU MIMO, arrangement in the wireless communication network (106).

3. The method (300) according to any of the claims 1 - 2, wherein the resource allocation control parameter comprises at least one of: a Control resource set, CORESET and a Search Space, SS.

4. The method (300) according to any of the claims 1-3, wherein configuring the resource allocation control parameter comprises: configuring (308) at least one of the CORESET and the SS; and including (310) a number of Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH candidates in the configured SS to provide a maximum number of collisions amongst the number of PDCCH candidates.

5. The method (300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein configuring the resource allocation control parameter comprises: configuring (314) the Control resource set, CORESET comprising:reducing a cell bandwidth of at least one of the UE (108a) of the plurality of UEs (108), wherein the cell bandwidth is reduced to fit a desired number of the Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH, candidates in the cell bandwidth of the at least one of the UE (108a), wherein the cell bandwidth is reduced at a desired time and at a desired frequency.

6. The method (300) according to claim 5, wherein the desired number of the PDCCH candidates is for an aggregation level of one or more aggregation levels of the CORESET, and wherein the one or more aggregation levels are of use for configuring the CORESET for allocation of the one or more network resources.

7. The method (300) according to any one of the claims 4 to 6, wherein the configured CORESET having the desired number of the PDCCH candidates are overlapping with each other in a frequency range having a common SS for the plurality of UEs (108).

8. The method (300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein configuring (302) the resource allocation control parameter comprises: configuring (316) a common Search Space, SS as the resource allocation control parameter for each UE (108a) in at least one group of UEs (110a) from the one or more groups of UEs (110), wherein the common SS is configured with at least one of an existing CORESET or the configured CORESET.

9. The method (300) according to claim 8, wherein configuring the resource allocation control parameter comprises: configuring (320) of the common SS as the resource allocation control parameter, comprises: including (322) a number of Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH candidates while allocating the one or more network resources over the resource channel to keep the configured SS common for at least one group of UEs (110a) from the one or more groups of UEs (110).

10. The method (300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein configuring the resource allocation control parameter comprises: configuring (324) the CORESET according to a tuning parameter, wherein the tuning parameter comprises at least one of: the number of PDCCH candidates to be configured for the aggregation level; and a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH signal to interference plus noise ratio.

11. The method (300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein allocating the one or more network resources comprises: scheduling (326), at least one Physical Downlink Shared Channel, PDSCH Downlink, DL, MU -Ml MO allocation for the UE (108a) from the UEs (108a, 108b) in the at least one group of UEs (110a), wherein a size of the at least one group of UEs (110a) is smaller than a total number of PDSCH layers in the PDSCH DL MU-MIMO allocation.

12. The method (300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein allocating the one or more network resources comprises: scheduling (328), at least one Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH Downlink, DL MU-MIMO allocation for the UE (108a) from the UEs (108a, 108b) in the at least one group of UEs (110a).

13. The method (300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each UE (108a) in the at least one group of UEs (110a) from the one or more groups of UEs (110) is spatially compatible if each of the UE (108a) is spatially orthogonal to each other UE of the plurality of UEs (108).

14. The method (300) according to claim 13, wherein the spatially compatible UEs of the at least one group of UEs (110a) use a common PDCCH.

15. The method (300) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising:monitoring (330) for each UE (108a) in the at least one group of UEs (110a), a requirement of the one or more network resources to be allocated to each UE (108a) in the at least one group of UEs (110a); identifying (332) the UE (108a) from the UEs (108a, 108b) in the at least one group of UEs (110a) having a high priority requirement of the one or more network resources to be allocated to the said UE (108a); and allocating the one or more network resources to the UE (108a) with the high priority requirement of the one or more network resources.

16. The method (300) according to claims 1 or 3, wherein configuring the resource allocation control parameter comprises: configuring (308) at least one of the CORESET and the SS; and including (312) a number of PDCCH candidates in the configured SS to provide a minimum number of collisions amongst the number of PDCCH candidates for allocating the one or more network resources to the at least one group of UEs (110a), wherein the allocation of the one or more network resources is of use for communicating data in a non-multi-user multiple input, multiple output, non-MU MIMO arrangement in the wireless communication network (106).

17. A network node (104) for allocating one or more network resources to a User Equipment, UE (108a), in a wireless communication network (106), the network node (104) comprising: a processing circuitry (1008) arranged to: configure a resource allocation control parameter for a UE (108a) of a plurality of UEs (108); arrange the plurality of UEs (108) in one or more groups of UEs (110) based on the configured resource allocation control parameter; and allocate the one or more network resources to at least one group of UEs (110a) from the one or more groups of UEs (110), wherein the one or more network resources are allocated over a resource channel.

18. The network node (104) according to claim 17, wherein the allocation of the one or more network resources over the resource channel is of use for communicating data in a multi-user multiple input, multiple output, MU MIMO arrangement in the wireless communication network (106).

19. The network node (104) according to any of the claims 17 - 18, wherein the resource allocation control parameter comprises at least one of: a Control resource set, CORESET and a Search Space, SS.

20. The network node (104) according to any of the claims 17 - 19, wherein the processing circuitry (1008) is arranged to: configure at least one of the CORESET and the SS; and include a number of Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH candidates in the configured SS to provide a maximum number of collisions amongst the number of PDCCH candidates.

21. The network node (104) according to any one of the claims 17-20, wherein processing circuitry (1008) is arranged to: configure the Control resource set, CORESET, by reducing a cell bandwidth of at least one of the UE (108a) of the plurality of UEs (108), wherein the cell bandwidth is reduced to fit a desired number of the Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH, candidates in the cell bandwidth of the at least one of the UE (108a), wherein the cell bandwidth is reduced at a desired time and a desired frequency.

22. The network node (104) according to claim 21, wherein the desired number of the PDCCH candidates is for an aggregation level of one or more aggregation levels of the CORESET, and wherein the one or more aggregation levels are of use for configuring the CORESET for allocation of the one or more network resources.

23. The network node (104) according to any one of the claims 17-22, wherein the configured CORESET having the desired number of the PDCCH candidates areoverlapping with each other in a frequency range having a common SS for the plurality of UEs (108).

24. The network node (104) according to any one of the claims 17-23, wherein processing circuitry (1008) is arranged to: configure a common Search Space, SS as the resource allocation control parameter for each UE (108a) in at least one group of UEs (110a) from the one or more groups of UEs (110), wherein the common SS is configured with at least one of an existing CORESET or the configured CORESET.

25. The network node (104) according to claim 24, wherein processing circuitry (1008) is arranged to: configure the common SS as the resource allocation control parameter, comprising: including a number of Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH candidates while allocating the one or more network resources over the resource channel to keep the configured SS common for at least one group of UEs (110a) from the one or more groups of UEs (110).

26. The network node (104) according to any one of the claims 17-25, wherein processing circuitry (1008) is arranged to: configure the CORESET according to a tuning parameter, wherein the tuning parameter comprises at least one of: the number of PDCCH candidates to be configured for the aggregation level; and a Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH signal to interference plus noise ratio.

27. The network node (104) according to any one of the claims 17-26, wherein processing circuitry (1008) is arranged to: schedule, at least one Physical Downlink Shared Channel, PDSCH Downlink, DL MU -Ml MO allocation for the UE (108a) from the UEs (108a, 108b) in the at least onegroup of UEs (110a), wherein a size of the at least one group of UEs (110a) is smaller than a total number of PDSCH layers in the PDSCH DL MU -Ml MO allocation.

28. The network node (104) according to any one of the claims 17-27, processing circuitry (1008) is arranged to: schedule, at least one Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH Downlink, DL MU-MIMO allocation for the UE (108a) from the UEs (108a, 108b) in the at least one group of UEs (110a).

29. The network node (104) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each UE (108a) in the at least one group of UEs (110a) from the one or more groups of UEs (110) is spatially compatible if each of the UE (108a) is spatially orthogonal to each other UE of the plurality of UEs (108).

30. The network node (104) according to claim 29, wherein the spatially compatible UEs of the at least one group of UEs (110a) use a common PDCCH.

31. The network node (104) according to any one of the claims 17-30, wherein the processing circuitry (1008) is arranged to: monitor for each UE (108a) in the at least one group of UEs (110a), a requirement of the one or more network resources to be allocated to each UE (108a) in the at least one group of UEs (110a); identify the UE (108a) from the UEs (108a, 108b) in the at least one group of UEs (110a) having a high priority requirement of the one or more network resources to be allocated to the said UE (108a); and allocate the one or more network resources to the UE (108a) with the high priority requirement of the one or more network resources.

32. The network node (104) according to any one of the claims 17 or 19, wherein the processing circuitry (1008) is arranged to: configure at least one of the CORESET and the SS; andinclude a number of PDCCH candidates in the configured SS to provide a minimum number of collisions amongst the number of PDCCH candidates for allocating the one or more network resources to the at least one group of UEs (110a) wherein the allocation of the one or more network resources is of use for communicating data in a non-multi-user multiple input, multiple output, non-MUMIMO arrangement in the wireless communication network (106).

33. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium, having thereon a computer program comprising program instructions, the computer program is loadable into a data processing unit and configured to cause execution of the method according to any of claims 1 through 16 when the computer program is run by the data processing unit.

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