System and method for entering dynamic timeslot reduction

A method for operating a network to communicate with an associated mobile station comprising:

• transmitting an assignment of first timeslots for uplink communications;
• transmitting data blocks to the mobile station;
• transmitting an instruction to enter a dynamic timeslot reduction (DTR) mode by reducing monitoring to a second set of timeslots, the second set of timeslots having a number of timeslots less than a number of timeslots to be monitored in accordance with the assignment;
• after transmitting the instruction to enter the DTR mode, determining that a subset of the previously transmitted data blocks were not successfully transmitted to the mobile station;
• and
• retransmitting the subset of previously transmitted data blocks to the mobile station using the second set of timeslots.

A mobile station, comprising:

• a processor, the processor being configured to:
• receive an assignment of first timeslots for uplink communications;
• receive, from a network, a first data block having a first block sequence number and including an instruction to enter a dynamic timeslot reduction (DTR) mode by reducing monitoring to a set of timeslots, the set of timeslots having a number of timeslots less than a number of timeslots to be monitored in accordance with the assignment;
• after receiving the first data block, determine that at least one second data block was not successfully received from the network, the second data block having a second block sequence number that is less than the first block sequence number;
• entering the DTR mode even though the at least one second data block was not successfully received from the network by reducing a number of timeslots monitored to the set of timeslots;
• and
• receive a retransmission of the at least one second data block from the network while in the DTR mode and using a timeslot in the set of timeslots.

A network component, comprising:

• a processor, the processor being configured to:
• transmit an assignment of first timeslots for uplink communications;
• transmit data blocks to a mobile station;
• transmit an instruction to enter a dynamic timeslot reduction (DTR) mode by reducing monitoring to a second set of timeslots, the second set of timeslots having a number of timeslots less than a number of timeslots to be monitored in accordance with the assignment;
• after transmitting the instruction to enter the DTR mode, determining that a subset of the previously transmitted data blocks were not successfully transmitted to the mobile station;
• and
• retransmit the subset of previously transmitted data blocks to the mobile station using the second set of timeslots.