Support for Multiple Chip Rates in CDMA Systems

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.