System and method for reestablishing a communication period in a rendezvous scheduled system

摘要

A system and method are provided for reestablishing communication periods in a rendezvous scheduled communication system. The method comprises: establishing a plurality of time points (TPs); initiating a new communication period at a TP; terminating the new communication period and, then, resuming a previously established communication period. The new communication period may be terminated because a link cannot be established or alternately, the new communication period ends before the occurrence of the next TP because there is no further information to exchange. The system and method effectively extends the duration of communication periods for communication links where information exchange is required. It does this by allowing unused portions of communication periods for other communication links to be used on links where information exchanged is desired.