TDD time slot splitting

A controlling node for use in a cell of a cellular communications system, the controlling node comprising means to send and receive traffic in frames, with each frame comprising a plurality of subframes, said subframes available for at least either uplink or downlink traffic, the controlling node comprising means to send and receive in at least one subframe of said plurality of subframes, the at least one subframe of said plurality of subframes consisting of three parts, as follows:

• One part which is utilized for downlink traffic,
• One part which is utilized as a guard period,
• One part which is utilized for uplink traffic,
• the controlling node comprising means to schedule said guard period part between the downlink and the uplink parts such that a total sum of the duration of the downlink part, the guard period and the uplink part constitute a total subframe length, the controlling node comprising means to vary the duration of at least two of said three parts of said at least one subframe.

A terminal for use in a cell of a cellular communications system, the terminal comprising means to send and receive traffic in frames, with each frame comprising a plurality of subframes, said subframes available for at least either uplink or downlink traffic, the terminal comprising means to send and receive in at least one subframe of said plurality of subframes, the at least one subframe of said of plurality of subframes consisting of three parts, as follows:

• One part which is utilized for downlink traffic,
• One part which is utilized as a guard period,
• One part which is utilized for uplink traffic,
• the terminal further comprising means to be scheduled with said guard period part between the downlink and the uplink parts such that a total sum of the duration of the downlink part, the guard period and the uplink part constitute a total subframe length, and the terminal comprising means wherein the duration of at least two of said three parts of said at least one subframe may be varied.

A method for use in a cellular communications system, the method comprising:

• sending the traffic in frames, each frame comprising a plurality of subframes, wherein at least one subframe of said plurality of subframes is made to consist of three parts, as follows:
• One part which is utilized for downlink traffic,
• One part which is utilized as a guard period,
• One part which is utilized for uplink traffic,
• wherein a total sum of the duration of the downlink part, the guard period and the uplink part constitute a total subframe length, and wherein the duration of any of said three parts may be varied.