Method and apparatus sharing a slot descriptor block between multiple users

An Integrated Digital Enhanced Network system ( 1 ) includes a base radio ( 104 ) interconnected to a plurality of transcoders ( 4 ) located at central offices ( 2 ). The base radio ( 104 ) time division multiplexes voice packets from the plurality of transcoders ( 4 ) into a time division multiplexed signal frame ( 20 ). Each signal frame ( 20 ) includes a plurality of sequential frames ( 204 ). Each sequential frame ( 204 ) includes a predetermined number of slots ( 202 ) based upon a channel interleave. Each of the slots ( 202 ) includes a slot descriptor block ( 2024 ), and a plurality of subslots (e.g., 2026, 2028 ). The slot descriptor block ( 2024 ) alternatively contains overhead information for the plurality of subslots (e.g., 2026, 2028 ). The subscriber device ( 30 ) demultiplexes each sequential frame ( 204 ) and receives a specific slot ( 202 ) and a specific subslot of the specific slot based upon an assigned slot offset. The subscriber device ( 30 ) executes a handover process ( 600 ) for determining a timing for jumping to a time division signal frame ( 21 ) generated by a new base radio.