Techniques for setting up traffic channels in a communications system

A mobile station comprising:

• a receiver;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to the receiver;
• wherein:
• the receiver and the processor are configured to monitor at least one control channel for a duration of less than half a time slot for information indicating a forward traffic channel assignment;
• and
• the receiver and the processor are further configured to, in response to information indicating a forward traffic channel assignment received using the at least one control channel assigned to the mobile station, receive data using a forward traffic channel based on the forward traffic channel assignment, wherein the data is received in a first time slot and a second time slot of the forward traffic channel assignment.

A base station comprising:

• a transmitter;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to the transmitter;
• wherein:
• the transmitter and the processor are configured to transmit at least one control channel transmission for a duration of less than half a time slot, the at least one control channel transmission including information indicating a forward traffic channel assignment for a mobile station;
• and
• the transmitter and the processor are further configured to, following the at least one control channel transmission including the information indicating the forward traffic channel assignment for the mobile station, transmit data using a forward traffic channel based on the forward traffic channel assignment, wherein the data is transmitted in a first time slot and a second time slot of the forward traffic channel assignment.