System and method for adjusting monitoring of timeslots during data transmission

1. A method for coordinating communications between a user equipment and a base station using a dual carrier communications protocol, the method comprising:

receiving a first dual carrier assignment that identifies a first set of timeslots for uplink and downlink communications between the user equipment and the base station for a first channel and a second channel;

determining, at the user equipment, a usage metric defining a threshold for a communication activity between the user equipment and the base station on the first channel;

monitoring the first set of timeslots;

tracking, at the user equipment, usage of the first set of timeslots for uplink and downlink communications between the user equipment and the base station on at least the first channel;

after detecting, at the user equipment, that the communication activity between the user equipment and the base station on the first channel has reached the threshold:

reducing, at the user equipment and without an input from the base station, a number of timeslots monitored by the user equipment on the first channel to identify a reduced set of timeslots on the first channel, and

communicating with the base station using at least one timeslot in the reduced set of timeslots;

receiving a second dual carrier assignment that modifies a time slot assignment on the second channel; and

after receiving the second dual carrier assignment, continuing to monitor only the reduced set of timeslots on the first channel.

2. The method of claim 1 , including, after reducing the number of timeslots monitored by the user equipment, transmitting a control block to the base station, the control block identifying one or more timeslots being monitored by the user equipment.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying a first set of timeslots for uplink and downlink communications between the user equipment and the base station includes receiving an assignment message from the base station.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining, at the user equipment, a usage metric includes at least one of receiving the usage metric encoded in an assignment message and receiving the usage metric using packet data protocol (PDP) context establishment procedures.

5. A user equipment for use with a communications network including a base station, comprising:

a processor configured to:

receive a first dual carrier assignment that identifies a first set of timeslots for uplink and downlink communications between the user equipment and the base station for a first channel and a second channel;

monitor the first set of timeslots;

determine, at the user equipment, a usage metric defining a threshold for a communication activity between the user equipment and the base station on the first channel;

track usage of the first set of timeslots for uplink and downlink communications between the user equipment and the base station on at least the first channel;

after detecting, at the user equipment, that the communication activity between the user equipment and the base station on the first channel has reached the threshold:

reduce, at the user equipment and without an input from the base station, a number of timeslots monitored by the user equipment on the first channel to identify a reduced set of timeslots on the first channel, and

communicate with the base station using at least one timeslot in the reduced set of timeslots;

receive a second dual carrier assignment that modifies a time slot assignment on the second channel; and

after receiving the second dual carrier assignment, continue to monitor only the reduced set of timeslots on the first channel.