Asymmetric TDD in flexible use spectrum

A method comprising:

• sending a time division duplex (TDD) signal via an uplink portion of a TDD communication path;
• wherein the uplink portion arises over an uplink period;
• and
• receiving a TDD signal via a downlink portion of the TDD communication path;
• wherein the downlink portion arises over a downlink period;
• wherein the TDD communication path is disposed between and mutually exclusive of a broadcast communication path and an uplink FDD communication path;
• wherein the uplink portion of the TDD communication path is separated from the broadcast communication path by an uplink guard band;
• wherein each of the TDD communication path, the broadcast communication path and the uplink FDD communication path are operable over a communication time (t0-t2) spanning, in sequence, an initial time (t0), a first time (t1), and a second time (t2);
• wherein for the TDD communication path, the communication time (t0-t2) is allocated into each of a TDD receive time slot (t0-t1) and a TDD transmit time slot (t1-t2);
• wherein the TDD receive time slot begins at substantially the initial time (t0) and ends at substantially the first time (t1);
• wherein the TDD transmit time begins at substantially the first time (t1) and ends at substantially the second time (t2);
• wherein for the broadcast communication path, the communication time (t0-t2) is second allocated into a broadcast time slot (t0-t2) starting at substantially the initial time (t0) and ending substantially at the second time (t2);
• and
• wherein for the uplink FDD communication path, the communication time (t0-t2) is third allocated into an FDD uplink time slot (t0-t2) starting at substantially the initial time (t0) and ending at substantially the second time (t2).

An apparatus comprising:

• a communications device configured to:
• send a time division duplex (TDD) signal via an uplink portion of a TDD communication path;
• wherein the uplink portion arises over an uplink period;
• and
• receive a TDD signal via a downlink portion of the TDD communication path;
• wherein the downlink portion arises over a downlink period;
• wherein the TDD communication path is disposed between and mutually exclusive of a broadcast communication path and an uplink FDD communication path;
• and
• wherein the uplink portion of the TDD communication path is separated from the broadcast communication path by an uplink guard band.