Modulation and coding scheme (mcs) correction when sharing radio resources between mtc and non-mtc

A method of sharing an air interface between an access network element of an access network and a plurality of devices, the method comprising:

• storing a sharing pattern that maps radio resources on a physical layer of the air interface between Machine-Type Communications (MTC) radio resources and non-MTC radio resources;
• identifying a resource sharing window having an MTC-On interval where MTC is allowed, and having an MTC-Off interval where MTC is prohibited;
• between a threshold time and an end of the MTC-Off interval, the method comprises:
• selecting an adjusted Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) for a legacy device of the plurality of devices that is lower than a standard MCS for the legacy device selected based on channel quality information for the legacy device;
• allocating a set of the MTC radio resources to the legacy device based on the sharing pattern;
• and
• scheduling a non-MTC transmission for the legacy device on the set of the MTC radio resources based on the adjusted MCS.

A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying programmed instructions executed by a processor, wherein the instructions direct the processor to implement:

• an access network element of an access network configured to communicate with a plurality of devices over an air interface;
• the access network element is configured to store a sharing pattern that maps radio resources on a physical layer of the air interface between Machine-Type Communications (MTC) radio resources and non-MTC radio resources;
• and
• the access network element is configured to identify a resource sharing window having an MTC-On interval where MTC is allowed, and having an MTC-Off interval where MTC is prohibited;
• between a threshold time and an end of the MTC-Off interval, the access network element is operable to select an adjusted Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) for a legacy device of the plurality of devices that is lower than a standard MCS for the legacy device selected based on channel quality information for the legacy device, to allocate a set of the MTC radio resources to the legacy device based on the sharing pattern, and to schedule a non-MTC transmission for the legacy device on the set of the MTC radio resources based on the adjusted MCS.