Abstract: The generic activation method of a selective call receiver apparatus (122) operating within a messaging system (100) includes providing a selective call receiver (122) having a group address (251) and a unique receiver identification (242) stored in a memory (218). The selective call receiver (122) receives a message addressed to the group address (251) containing the unique receiver identification (242) and programming information (249), and upon receiving the group address (251) and unique receiver identification (242), the method applies the programming information (249) to program the selective call receiver (122).

Abstract: A communication system in which a user device (10) generates authentication information (32) unique to the user device and provides a data packet (35) including this authentication information to an infrastructure part which is a gateway (14) or a host (16). The packet also contains a host identifier (36) or time dependent information (202). This is used at the gateway (14) or the host (16) to authenticate the packet.

Abstract: In a data communication network a network management station (NMS) (102) constructs a device Management Information Base (MIB) for interfacing with a device (104) to be managed. The device provides an agent (110) that includes a management structure MIB (114) including data describing a device MIB structure supported by the device. The NMS is programmed with an application (108) that can interpret the data of the management structure MIB in order to construct the device MIB. The NMS detects (502) that the device is present on the network, and, in response, accesses (508, 510, 512, 514) the management structure MIB to obtain the data describing the device MIB structure, when the device MIB is not known to the NMS. The NMS application interprets the data describing the device MIB structure, and constructs (516) the device MIB from the interpreted data.

Abstract: A controller (112) performs at least one of (a) alternating (700) first and second SCI frames in a subzone, and (b) identifying (800) private data channels. In alternating the first and second SCI frames, the controller transmits (704), in the first SCI frame, on a plurality of frequencies, a first predetermined number of control channel identifiers and corresponding frequency identifiers; and sends (706), in the second SCI frame, on the plurality of frequencies, a second predetermined number of control channel identifiers and corresponding frequency identifiers, the first and second predetermined numbers different from one another. In identifying private data channels, the controller conveys (804), in the subzone in an SCI frame on ones of a plurality of control channels, a channel identifier and frequency of at least one data-only channel corresponding to the ones of the plurality of control channels. At least some data-only channels corresponding to different control channels occupy different frequencies.

Abstract: A method and selective messaging unit arranged for acquiring an operating channel (123), that is divided into frames including a signal frame. The selective messaging unit after losing the operating channel provides a clock accuracy (421) based upon an elapsed time counter (243) and a known accuracy or stability of a clock (241). The clock accuracy is compared to a thresholds and the results of this comparison(s) is used to control the frequency and location of scanning in search of an operating channel.

Abstract: A portable subscriber unit (PSU) (222) operating in a plurality of messaging systems selects (605) a first messaging system to monitor for messages. The PSU then initiates (610) background scanning according to a scan list (326), including a plurality of system parameters ranked by appropriateness for the PSU, at a rate not slower than the rate established by a predetermined set of rules known to a controller (212) which sends the messages to the portable subscriber unit, in an attempt to find a system identifier identifying a second messaging system more appropriate for the PSU than the first messaging system. The PSU concurrently monitors (618) the first messaging system for receiving messages until identifying the second messaging system.

Abstract: A wireless communication system receives (402) a communication specifying a portable subscriber unit (122) for which the communication is intended, and further indicating an originator location at which an originator of the communication is positioned. The system determines (404) a recipient location at which the portable subscriber unit is positioned. The system then calculates (406) a distance between the originator location and the recipient location, and routes (412) the communication to the portable subscriber unit when the distance meets a distance criterion.

Abstract: A portable subscriber unit (122) and a controller (112) cooperate to maintain (402) a table (226, 326) identifying operations that utilize location information, and corresponding resolutions preferred for the location information when performing ones of the operations. When a request to perform an operation is received (404), the portable subscriber unit and the controller cooperate to select (408) a resolution preferred for the operation, in response to the request; and then to determine (414) and report (418) the location information at the resolution preferred for the operation.

Abstract: Sub-areas (506) within a coverage area of a wireless communication system are defined (702), and transmitters (502, 504) are positioned within the sub-areas. A memory (212, 314), in at least one of a subscriber unit (122) and a controller (112) of the system, is programmed (706) with unique transmitter identifiers (414) and corresponding transmitter locations; and a locator signal (406) is periodically transmitted (708) from the sub-areas during time slots (408) coordinated such that, within a sub-area, no more than one transmitter transmits during each time slot. The locator signal includes one of the unique transmitter identifiers for identifying the transmitter sending the locator signal.

Abstract: A location is determined (402) at which a subscriber unit (122, 300) communicating with a first wireless system is positioned. A distance between the location and a second wireless system preferred by the subscriber unit is calculated (404), and, based upon the distance, it is decided (408) whether the subscriber unit will scan for a signal from the second wireless system.

Abstract: In a wireless communication system a first transmission (612, 614) is sent (802) over a first channel to a first receiver (122) that requires a transmission-free guard band (620) during a tuning period, and the first receiver accommodates a second transmission (616) sent concurrently with the first transmission on a second channel that overlaps with spectrum occupied by the guard band. During the tuning period, the system disallows the second transmission, and the first receiver adjusts (804) a pass band of a radio frequency (RF) filter (302) therein such that the pass band includes the guard band. Thereafter, the first receiver tunes (806) to the first channel. During a time other than the tuning period, the first receiver readjusts (810) the pass band of the RF filter such that the pass band excludes the guard band. After the tuning period, the system allows the second transmission to be sent (812).

Abstract: A modulator (102) generates a frequency-multiplexed composite signal (502) including a plurality of symbols. A processing system (108) of the modulator defines (802) a signal template (600) specifying symbol-type adjustment factors for corresponding symbol types, and then locates (804) in the composite signal a portion of the signal whose amplitude exceeds a predetermined threshold by an amplitude excess. The processing system records (806) the amplitude excess, the phase angle, and a time of the portion; and determines (808) an input symbol corresponding to the time, the input symbol being of a symbol type. The processing system adjusts (810) the input symbol in accordance with one of the plurality of symbol-type adjustment factors corresponding to the symbol type, and further in accordance with the amplitude excess and the phase angle, thereby bringing the amplitude below the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: At least two subsets (204, 208) of simulcast transmitters are defined (802) that produce differing simulcast distortion characteristics at a receiver (210), and a message is sent (806) in a simulcast transmission from one of the at least two subsets. The message is then repeated (808, 810, 806) in a simulcast transmission from another of the at least two subsets, until all of the at least two subsets have transmitted the message.

Abstract: A battery saving interval utilized for communicating with a portable subscriber unit (122) in a radio communication system is dynamically adjusted. An occurrence of a predetermined triggering event associated with the portable subscriber unit is observed (504), and the battery saving interval utilized for communicating with the portable subscriber unit is adjusted (506) in response to the predetermined triggering event, while battery saving intervals of other portable subscriber units in the system are left unchanged.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for balancing uplink and downlink signal transmissions in a code-division multiple access (CDMA) communication system (100) is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, a system level change is performed (303) and parameters related to the uplink (107) and downlink (108) transmissions are analyzed (306). The uplink (107) and downlink (108) transmissions are balanced (309) by, inter alia, increasing or decreasing the downlink transmission power at a base-station (101, 106), systematically adding loss or noise to a receiver located at a base-station (101, 106) or both.

Abstract: A multichannel polyphase filter (304, 602) includes a processing system (204, 506) for accepting and processing M input channels of data, each sampled at an input sampling rate, wherein M is a positive integer greater than unity. The processing system is programmed to provide a commutator (308, 606) for the multichannel polyphase filter, wherein the position of the commutator is decoupled from the phase of a filter impulse response selected for the position, thereby allowing the multichannel polyphase filter to be operated at a sampling rate that is a non-integer multiple of the input sampling rate. The processing system is further programmed to operate the multichannel polyphase filter at the non-integer multiple of the input sampling rate to obtain a non-integer sampling rate change.

Abstract: A pricing entity (124) periodically transmits (502) pricing information (226) including pricing of a utility commodity as a function of time. A meter apparatus (130) periodically make s a measurement (602) of consumption of the utility commodity during a predetermined interval, and determines (603) a time at which the measurement is made. The meter apparatus stores (604) the measurement and the time of the measurement in a memory (212), and receives and stores (504) the pricing information. The meter apparatus calculates (610) a billable cost incurred during the predetermined interval, from the measurement and the pricing of the utility commodity corresponding to the time of the measurement.

Abstract: A portable communication device (300) powered by a battery (210) has an external connector (202) that includes an external power node (220) and a data bus (204) having an integral power node (218). A processing system (228) of the device senses (402) whether power is available at the external power node, and controls a charging switcher (216) to charge (406) the battery from the external power node whenever power is available at the external power node. The processing system enables (412) battery charging from the integral power node when power is not available at the external power node.

Abstract: A fixed portion (102) of a two-way messaging system transmits (502) a first message (400) including a value (408) indicative of a response probability desired from a portable subscriber unit (122). The portable subscriber unit receives (602) the first message and selects (614) between responding (616) and not responding to the first message, in a manner that satisfies the response probability.

Abstract: A server (112) sends (604) selected codebooks (226) and application identifiers (228) to be associated with the codebooks, to a client (122) in preparation for communicating messages. The client receives and stores (606) the selected codebooks and application identifiers. Subsequently, the server, in response to having a message to send to the client, compresses (708) the message according to a codebook associated with an application generating the message, and transmits (710) the message and an application identifier to the client. The client, in response to receiving the message and the application identifier, identifies (714), from the application identifier, the application to receive the message and, hence, the codebook associated with the application, to use for decompressing the message. The client then decompresses (716) the message according to the codebook.