Methods and apparatuses for signaling in dynamic time division duplex systems

A network node for enabling a user equipment served by the network node to determine a subframe in which to receive a downlink signal, the network node comprising:

• a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor whereby the network node is configured to:
• operate in a dynamic Time Division Duplex (TDD) system where at least one subframe of a plurality of subframes is a flexible subframe assigned as either a downlink subframe or an uplink;
• transmit a configuration message to the user equipment indicating of the plurality of subframes a fixed downlink subframe that comprises an explicit signaling message, wherein the explicit signaling message designates a subframe in which the user equipment should receive the downlink signal, and wherein the fixed downlink subframe is designated for downlink transmissions only;
• and
• transmit the explicit signaling message in the indicated fixed downlink subframe.

A user equipment for determining a subframe in which to receive a downlink signal, the user equipment comprising:

• a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor whereby the user equipment is configured to:
• operate in a dynamic Time Division Duplex (TDD) system where at least one subframe of a plurality of subframes is a flexible subframe assigned as either a downlink subframe or an uplink;
• receive a configuration message from the network node indicating of the plurality of subframes a fixed downlink subframe that comprises an explicit signaling message, wherein the explicit signaling message designates a subframe in which the user equipment should receive the downlink signal, and wherein the fixed downlink subframe is designated for downlink transmissions only;
• and
• receive the explicit signaling message in the designated subframe.