A method for coordinating communications between a user equipment and a base station is presented. The method includes receiving an assignment of a first set of timeslots for at least one of uplink and downlink communications between the user equipment and the base station, reducing a number of timeslots monitored by the user equipment to a reduced set of timeslots, and receiving a second assignment of a second set of timeslots for at least one of uplink and downlink communications between the user equipment and the base station. When the second assignment message assigns a number of timeslots that is less than or equal to at least one of the number of timeslots in the reduced set of timeslots and the first set of timeslots, the method includes continuing to monitor the reduced set of timeslots.