System and method for adjusting monitoring of timeslots during data transmission

A method for coordinating communications between a mobile station and a base station, comprising:

• transmitting an assignment of a first set of timeslots for at least one of uplink and downlink communications;
• after transmitting the assignment of the first set of timeslots, determining that the mobile station has reduced a number of timeslots monitored by the mobile station to a reduced set of timeslots;
• transmitting a second assignment of a second set of timeslots for at least one of uplink and downlink communications;
• if the second assignment message allocates a number of timeslots that is less than or equal to the number of timeslots in the reduced set of timeslots, determining that the mobile station is monitoring the reduced set of timeslots;
• and
• if the second assignment message allocates a number of timeslots that is greater than the number of timeslots in the reduced set of timeslots, determining that the mobile station is monitoring a set of timeslots in accordance with the second assignment message.

A mobile station for use with a communications network including a base station, comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• receive an assignment of a first set of timeslots for at least one of uplink or downlink communications;
• after receiving the assignment of the first set of timeslots, reduce a number of timeslots monitored by the mobile station to a reduced set of timeslots having a number of timeslots less than a number of timeslots to be monitored in accordance with the assignment;
• receive a second assignment of a second set of timeslots for at least one of uplink or downlink communications;
• if the second assignment assigns a number of timeslots that is less than the number of timeslots in the first set of timeslots, continue to monitor the reduced set of timeslots;
• and
• if the second assignment assigns a number of timeslots that is greater than the number of timeslots in the first set of timeslots, monitor a set of timeslots in accordance with the second assignment.

A base station for use with a communications network including a mobile station comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• transmit an assignment of a first set of timeslots for at least one of uplink or downlink communications;
• after transmitting the assignment of the first set of timeslots, determine that the mobile station has reduced a number of timeslots monitored by the mobile station to a reduced set of timeslots having a number of timeslots less than a number of timeslots to be monitored in accordance with the assignment;
• transmit a second assignment of a second set of timeslots for at least one of uplink or downlink communications;
• if the second assignment allocates a number of timeslots that is less than the number of timeslots in the reduced set of timeslots, determine that the mobile station is monitoring the reduced set of timeslots;
• and
• if the second assignment allocates a number of timeslots that is greater than the number of timeslots in the reduced set of timeslots, determine that the mobile station is monitoring a set of timeslots in accordance with the second assignment.