Abstract: A technique used in a subscriber unit (800) allows reception of personal messages transmitted by a home radio communication system (102,104) and content messages transmitted by a content radio communication system (106). The home and content radio communication systems (102,104, 106) share coverage areas. In the technique, at least one Block Information Word (BIW) of a frame is received on a home channel of the home radio communication system. The at least one BIW identifies a roaming pattern for the subscriber unit to use for periodically switching to a roaming channel of the content radio communication system. The subscriber unit dwells on the home channel for as many frames as have been defined by the roaming pattern, and dwells on the roaming channel for as many frames as have been defined by the roaming pattern.

Abstract: A communication system includes a radio communication system (102) for communicating scheduled messages to SCRs (Selective Call Radios) (122). The radio communication system is programmed to transmit to a SCR a first radio signal including an advertisement schedule detailing multiple times of arrival for a plurality of advertisement messages (402). Subsequently, a second radio signal including an advertisement message is transmitted to the SCR at a first arrival time (404). The SCR is programmed to receive the first radio signal, and store the advertisement schedule (406, 408). At or near the first arrival time, the SCR determines a likelihood that it can decode the advertisement message properly (410, 412). When the likelihood of decoding the advertisement message properly is below a predetermined expectation, the SCR disregards the second radio signal, and schedules itself to receive the advertisement message at a second arrival time defined by the advertisement schedule (416, 418).

Abstract: A wireless subscriber unit (30) includes a memory manager (46) capable of communicating with a plurality of smart cards (44). The memory manager (46) is programmed to allocate a memory segment (48) to each smart card (44) when it is operatively connected to an interface (42) of the wireless subscriber unit (30). The memory manager (46) communicates with the smart card (44) to update data (50) stored in the memory segment (48).

Abstract: A wireless subscriber unit (30) contains an advertisement manager (56). The advertisement manager (56) is programmed to assign an advertisement icon (54) to a message indicator (46) on the display (42) of the wireless subscriber unit (30). Assignment of the advertisement icon (54) to the message indicator (46) associated with a message (26) may be based on a predetermined algorithm in the advertisement manager (56), or based on a notification received from the wireless communication system (10).

Abstract: A SCR (122) is assigned to a plurality of addresses, and includes a receiver (304) and a processor (308) coupled thereto. The processor is adapted to assign a priority level to each of the plurality of addresses assigned to the SCR. At or near a predetermined time when a message with a corresponding address is to be received in a radio signal, the processor determines a likelihood that the SCR can decode the message according to a predetermined expectation (502). When the likelihood of decoding the message is below the predetermined expectation, the processor disables at least one address assigned to the SCR having a priority level below a predetermined priority level (504, 508). The processor then enables the receiver to receive the radio signal, and disregard one or more messages in the radio signal having an address matching the at least one address that was disabled (510).

Abstract: A SCR (122) capable of communicating with a communications center (102) includes a RF receiver (304), a presentation circuit (313), and a processor (308). The processor is adapted to select an advertisement source from a plurality of advertisement sources (502), select an information service from a plurality of information services (504), cause the RF receiver to receive from the communications center advertisement information and a message originating from the information service (506), and cause the presentation circuit to present information to a user of the SCR representative of the message and advertisement information, and the information service and the advertisement source selected (508-534).

Abstract: An SCR (122) that receives personal messages and corresponding advertisement messages, includes a receiver (304), memory (310), presentation circuit (313) and processor (308). The processor is adapted to cause the receiver to receive a personal message (402), to determine whether a corresponding advertisement message has been previously stored in the memory (404), and in the event the corresponding advertisement message is not found, cause (406, 410) the presentation circuit to present the personal message to a user of the SCR. Additionally, the processor causes the presentation circuit to present a warning (412) to the user that the SCR must receive the corresponding advertisement message within a predetermined time.

Abstract: A method of encouraging a user of a SCR (Selective Call receiver) (10) to read advertisements stored in the SCR (10). The user is provided with an initial level of access to a feature of the SCR that enhances the SCR's usefulness. When the user reads an advertisement, additional access to that feature is provided for a predetermined time period. Preferably, the feature is memory space, and each time the user reads an advertisement, the memory space available for storing messages is temporarily increased.

Abstract: A messaging device (100) for generating alerts indicative of message reception includes a receiver (105) for receiving a message, a memory (125, 130, 140) in which information unrelated to the alerts is stored, and an alert device (155) for generating, to announce message reception, an alert that is a function of bits of the information.