Method and apparatus for control channel operation in GERAN

A method for use in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising:

• receiving a signal in a multiframe, wherein the multiframe includes a plurality of frames, and wherein each of the plurality of frames includes at least one time division multiple access (TDMA) time slot comprising a first orthogonal sub-channel (OSC) and a second OSC, thereby enabling multiplexing of the WTRU and a second WTRU in a single one of the at least one TDMA timeslot,
• wherein the WTRU receives first data in the first OSC while the second WTRU also receives second data in at least one of the frames of the multiframe,
• wherein the WTRU receives, in a single frame of the multiframe, nothing in the first OSC while the second WTRU receives control information in the second OSC, and
• wherein the WTRU receives, in the single frame of the multiframe, control information in the first OSC while the second WTRU receives nothing in the second OSC;
• and
• decoding the control information in the first OSC.

A base station comprising:

• a transmitter configured to transmit a signal in a multiframe, wherein the multiframe includes a plurality of frames, and wherein each of the plurality of frames includes at least one time division multiple access (TDMA) time slot comprising a first orthogonal sub-channel (OSC) and a second OSC, thereby enabling multiplexing of a first wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and a second WTRU in the at least one TDMA timeslot,
• wherein the base station transmits first data for the first WTRU in the first OSC and second data for the second WTRU in at least one of the frames of the multiframe,
• wherein the base station transmits, in a single frame of the multiframe, nothing for the first WTRU in the first OSC and control information in the second OSC, and
• wherein the base station transmits, in the single frame of the multiframe, control information for the first WTRU in the first OSC and nothing in the second OSC.

A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a first signal in a first time slot of a first frame of a multiframe, wherein the first signal comprises a first orthogonal sub-channel (OSC) and a second OSC to enable multiplexing of the WTRU and a second WTRU in the first time slot;
• wherein the first OSC of the first signal includes information associated with an idle period for the first WTRU while the second OSC of the first signal contains control information for the second WTRU, and
• wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a second signal in a second time slot of a second frame of the multiframe, and the first OSC of the second signal contains control information for the first WTRU while the second OSC of the second signal contains information associated with an idle period for the second WTRU;
• and
• a processor configured to decode the control information in the first OSC of the second signal.