RF and baseband means buffering data until after demodulating control

A multi-carrier communications system comprising:

• A. first RF and baseband means receiving a first carrier signal at a first carrier frequency for a first time period, the first carrier signal providing compatibility with a legacy communications system, the receiving a first carrier signal including receiving a multiplexed control channel with a data channel;
• B. second RF and baseband means receiving a second carrier signal at a second carrier frequency different from the first carrier frequency, the receiving a second carrier signal including receiving a control channel at a time period prior to the first time period and receiving a data channel at a time period the same as the first time period;
• C. third RF and baseband means receiving a third carrier signal at a third carrier frequency different from the first and second carrier frequencies, the receiving a third carrier signal including receiving a control channel at a time period prior to the first time period and receiving a data channel at a time period the same as the first time period;
• D. the second and third RF and baseband means filtering and demodulating the second and third received carrier signals to receive control information on a control channel;
• and
• E. the first RF and baseband means buffering the data channel of the first carrier signal until after demodulating control information in the control channel of the first carrier signal.