Providing idle periods in an otherwise continuous transmission to monitor signal quality in alternate communications channels

1. A method of controlling a communication system in which a communication signal is established between first and second stations and using a channel configuration comprising sequential time segments with the channel defining a substantially continuous transmission, comprising:

dividing each time segment of the channel from the first to the second station into a predetermined number of sub-segments;

for a first set of time segments, repeating the communication signal data for the respective time segment in all sub-segments; and

for a second set of time segments, providing in one or more of the sub-segments null periods during which the communication signal from the first station to the second station is interrupted, and

transmitting the conrnunication signal data during the remaining sub-segments of the second set such that said first set of time segments are transmitted at a first power and said second set of time segments are transmitted at a second power, said second power being greater than said first power, said transmitting further includes spreading said communication signal by a code sequence wherein a spreading factor is applied to time segments having sub-segments with null periods as well as to time segments not having sub-segments with null periods.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the null periods are also provided in the channel from the second to the first station, and at least some of which are synchronized with the null periods in the channel from the first to the second station.

3. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2 , wherein the null periods are provided in different sub-segments for different time segments in the second set.

4. A method as claimed in any one of the claims 1 or 2 , wherein the second station is operated to survey alternative communication channels during the null periods.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the second station generates a handover request in response to the survey, if an appropriate channel is identified during the survey.

6. A telecommunication system employing a method as claimed in claim 1 .

7. A telecommunication station for transmitting a signal over an allocated channel which is divided into time segments, comprising transmitting means, timing means for dividing the time segments into sub-segments, repeating means for allocating communication signal data to a plurality of sub-segments, and interrupting means for arranging one or more sub-segments as null periods during which transmission is interrupted, wherein for a first set of time segments the repeating means allocates the communication signal data to all sub-segments for transmission at a first power, and wherein for a second set of time segments the interrupting means arranges one or more sub segments of each time segment as a null period and the repeating means allocates the communication signal data to the remaining sub-segments of the second set for transmission at a second power which is greater than the first power, and wherein the signal for transmission is spread by a code sequence, and wherein the same spreading factor is applied to time segments having sub-segments arranged as null periods as to time segments in which no sub-segments are arranged as null periods.

8. A telecommunication station for receiving a signal from a transmitting station over an allocated channel which is divided into time segments with the time segments divided into a predetermined number of sub-segments, comprising receiving means, means for interrupting operation of the receiving means during sub-segments arranged as null periods, means for combining data in sub-segments arranged as repeated data of individual time segments, and means for operating the receiving means to survey other communication channels during the null periods, and further comprising de-spreading means which utilizes the same spreading factor for time segments having sub-segments arranged as null periods as for time segments in which no sub-segments are arranged as null periods.

9. A telecommunication station for transmitting a signal over an allocated channel wherein said is divided into time segments, said telecommunication station comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting said signal;

a timing element for dividing the time segments into sub-segments;

a repeater for allocating communication signal data to a plurality of sub-segments; and

an interrupt element for arranging one or more sub-segments into null periods during which transmission is interrupted; wherein for a first set of time segments the repeater allocates the communication signal data to the sub-segments for transmission at a first power, and wherein for a second set of time segments, the interrupter arranges one or more sub-segments of each time segment as a null period, said repeater further allocates the communication signal data to the remaining sub-segments of the second set of time segments for transmission at a second power, said signal for transmission is spread by a code sequence such that the same spreading factor is applied to both time segments having sub-segments arranged into null periods and to time segments having no sub-segments arranged as null periods.