A method is provided for operating a network element in a wireless communications network. The method comprises transmitting, by a network element configured to utilize time domain measurement resource restriction, a first initial transmission under a semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) scheme, wherein retransmissions of the first initial transmission follow a first retransmission pattern. The method further comprises transmitting, by the network element, a second initial transmission under the SPS scheme, wherein retransmissions of the second initial transmission follow a second retransmission pattern, the second retransmission pattern allowing at least one retransmission of the second initial transmission to occur in a restricted subframe.