Referring to FIG. 11, PRBs 1110 and 1112 always exist for distributed EPDCCH transmissions and may include REs conveying an EPCFICH. Higher layers configure a set of PRBs 1120, 1122, 1124, and 1126 to the UE for localized EPDCCH transmissions and configure an additional set of PRBs 1114 and 1116 to the UE for distributed EPDCCH transmissions. Whether a UE should assume that these additional configured PRBs are used for EPDCCH transmissions in a subframe is indicated by the EPCFICH value. Upon decoding the EPCFICH, a UE can determine whether additional PRBs are used for distributed or localized EPDCCH transmissions in a subframe. Assuming an EPCFICH conveying a value consisting of 2 bits, when the EPCFICH value is ‘10’ 1130, the PRBs 1120, 1122, 1124, and 1126 are also indicated for UEs to assume that they are used for localized EPDCCH transmissions in the respective subframe. The PRBs 1114 and 1116 are indicated as not being used for distributed EPDCCH transmissions, and a UE can assume they are used for PDSCH transmissions 1140.
