Patent ID: 8693363
Filing Date: 2014-04-08
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for providing Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) communication in a communication system, comprising: determining, at a network node of said communication system, a channel quality of an uplink channel; selecting an integer value “K” based on a value of said channel quality, where said integer value “K” is less than or equal to a total number of frames “N” of a time slot of a TDMA signal; setting a value of a communication delay “d” equal to said integer value “K”; receiving, at said network node, first message data communicated over said uplink channel in a first time slot of an uplink signal; performing an error control process using said first message data to at least identify first error free message data; and communicating from said network node at least one of first filler data and at least a first portion of said first error free message data over a downlink channel in a last “N−K” frames of a first time slot of a downlink signal when said integer value “K” is less than “N”, where a first “K” frames of said first time slot of said downlink signal are unused; wherein said integer value “K” is dynamically selected based on anticipated temporary interruptions associated with obtaining error free data over said uplink channel while using said error control process with said channel quality as determined, and the communication delay “d” will have a duration which reduces or eliminates a gap in subsequent transmissions of data on the downlink channel which would otherwise be caused by said anticipated temporary interruptions.