System and method for interrupting a transmitting device in a communication system

A method for interrupting a transmitting device in a communication system, the method comprising:

• a first device operating in a receiving mode and receiving a first call on a communication channel via a series of channel frames, and wherein a plurality of open channel frame periods are inserted on to the communication channel during transmission of the call by a second device selectively dropping, instead of transmitting, a corresponding predetermined plurality of the channel frames or portions of the channel frames;
• the first device mitigating the dropped corresponding predetermined plurality of the channel frames or portions of the channel frames caused by the second device's insertion of the open channel frame periods;
• the first device determining that the first call being transmitted by the second device must be interrupted;
• the first device switching from operating in the receive mode to operating in a transmit mode during one of the open channel frame periods inserted by the second device;
• the first device, while in the transmit mode and during the one of the open channel frame periods, transmitting an interrupt request to the second device;
• and
• after transmitting the interrupt request, the first device transmitting a second call on the communication channel.

A system for interrupting a transmitting device transmitting a call in a communication system comprising:

• a first device configured to:
• encode call information of a call to be transmitted into a series of channel frames;
• operate in a transmit mode and transmit a first call on a communication channel via the series of channel frames;
• insert a plurality of open channel frame periods on to the communication channel during transmission of the first call by selectively dropping, instead of transmitting, a corresponding predetermined plurality of the channel frames or portions of the channel frames;
• switch to a receive mode during at least one of the inserted plurality of open channel frame periods;
• and
• receive a call interrupt request from a second device and, as a function of the interrupt request, cease transmitting the call or pause transmitting the call for a predetermined amount of time;
• a second device configured to:
• receive the first call on the communication channel;
• mitigate the dropped corresponding predetermined plurality of the channel frames or portions of the channel frames caused by the second device's insertion of the open channel frame periods;
• determine that the first call being transmitted by the first device must be interrupted and responsively switch to a transmitting mode during one of the open channel frame periods inserted by the second device and transmit the call interrupt request to the first;
• and
• after transmitting the call interrupt request, transmit a second call on the communication channel.