Time multiplexed additional carrier for LTE carrier aggregation and machine-type communication (MTC)

摘要

A telecommunications system comprises one or more transmitters operable to transmit a first carrier C1 over a first frequency bandwidth and a second carrier C2 over a second frequency bandwidth. During a first time period T1 data receivable by a first class of terminal (a machine-type communication (MTC) terminal) is transmitted on the first carrier and data receivable by a second class of terminal (a Long Term Evolution (LTE) type terminal) is transmitted on the second carrier. During periods outside T1 data is transmitted to the second class of terminal on both the first and second carriers in combination, i.e. the carriers are aggregated. During the first time period control data is transmitted on the first carrier to enable the second class of terminal to maintain synchronisation with the first carrier. In this way the invention allows the first carrier to be time multiplexed between the transmission of LTE data using carrier aggregation and the transmission of MTC data.