Patent ID: 7639635
Filing Date: 2009-12-29
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A cellular communication system comprising: a first serving communication unit supporting a first time division duplex (TDD) mode of operation on a first frequency channel comprising a plurality of uplink first transmission resources divided into uplink timeslots and a plurality of downlink first transmission resources divided into downlink timeslots; and a second serving communication unit supporting a second time division duplex (TDD) mode of operation on a second frequency channel substantially adjacent in frequency to the first frequency channel and supporting a plurality of uplink second transmission resources divided into uplink timeslots and a plurality of downlink second transmission resources divided into downlink timeslots; wherein the first and second TDD modes of operation are dissimilar and communications on their respective channels cover overlapping geographic areas, wherein the first serving communication unit is operable to transmit a plurality of idle periods in the first TDD mode of operation arranged to encompass time periods used by the second serving communication unit for switching communication between downlink and uplink transmissions within the second TDD mode of operation, wherein at least a portion of at least one uplink timeslot of the first transmission resources corresponds in time with at least a portion of at least one uplink timeslot of the second transmission resources, and wherein at least a portion of at least one downlink timeslot of the first transmission resources corresponds in time with at least a portion of at least one downlink timeslot of the second transmission resources.