SUPPORT OF PLURAL CHIP RATES IN A CDMA SYSTEM

摘要

In a CDMA system (100), two chip rates in a TDD cell are supported by: transmitting signals in the system in a frame (400) having a plurality of timeslots; operating at least a first one (0-8) of the plurality of timeslots in the frame at a lower chip rate; and operating at least a second one (9-14) of the plurality of timeslots in the frame at a higher chip rate. This provides the following advantages: provides backwards compatibility of a network including higher chip rate functionality with existing lower chip rate user equipment; allows greater network capacity during the transition phase from a low chip rate network to a high chip rate network; and allows a network operator with a high chip rate network to provide service to roaming users from low chip rate networks.