Patent ID: 7173920

Claim:
A method of controlling a communication system in which a communication signal is established between first and second stations and using a channel configuration comprising sequential time segments with the channel defining a substantially continuous transmission, comprising: dividing each time segment of the channel from the first to the second station into a predetermined number of sub-segments; for a first set of time segments, repeating the communication signal data for the respective time segment in all sub-segments; and for a second set of time segments, providing in one or more of the sub-segments null periods during which the communication signal from the first station to the second station is interrupted, and transmitting the conrnunication signal data during the remaining sub-segments of the second set such that said first set of time segments are transmitted at a first power and said second set of time segments are transmitted at a second power, said second power being greater than said first power, said transmitting further includes spreading said communication signal by a code sequence wherein a spreading factor is applied to time segments having sub-segments with null periods as well as to time segments not having sub-segments with null periods.