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: In order to allocate frequency channels to transmitter units, the transmitter units are grouped in zones, each zone having one or more transmitter units (10, 20, 30) therein. A system controller (40) calculates a zone priority value which is a function of the zone's message traffic level and message latency. The zone priority value determines the order in which a zone is assigned a frequency channel. A channel priority value is calculated for each channel or sub-channel that can be accessed by the transmitter units (10, 20, 30) in the zone based on a probability of success and a mean quality margin value wherein the priority value of a channel determines the order in which an available channel is considered for assignment to a zone. A proposed channel is assigned to a given zone only if the proposed channel passes a channel quality check. The channel quality check may be based on co-channel and adjacent channel interference values.

Abstract: A selective call receiving device (10) such as a pager is controlled to dynamically change a base frame assigned to the device and subsequent control frames derived therefrom. The time that the device is operative to look for its address in a received signal can thus be dynamically changed to improve the efficiencies of a mixed systems environment without substantially reducing the battery life of the selective call receiving device (10). In two embodiments of the invention a new base frame for the device is derived from an originally assigned base frame that is stored in the selective call receiving device. In another embodiment, a new base frame for the device is derived from the device's address along with frame management information that is received by the selective call receiving device.

Abstract: In order to allocate frequency channels to transmitter units, the transmitter units are grouped in zones, each zone having one or more transmitter units (10, 20, 30) therein. A system controller (40) calculates a zone priority value which is a function of the zone's message traffic level and message latency. The zone priority value determines the order in which a zone is assigned a frequency channel. A channel priority value is calculated for each channel or sub-channel that can be accessed by the transmitter units (10, 20, 30) in the zone based on a probability of success and a mean quality margin value wherein the priority value of a channel determines the order in which an available channel is considered for assignment to a zone. A proposed channel is assigned to a given zone only if the proposed channel passes a channel quality check. The channel quality check may be based on co-channel and adjacent channel interference values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus allocates a first predetermined plurality of frame time slots (102) to a first protocol, and allocates a second predetermined plurality of frame time slots (102) to a second protocol having a base frame management capability. The base frame management capability is applied such that portable selective call receiving devices (10) utilizing the second protocol normally perform battery saving throughout the first predetermined plurality of frame time slots (102).

Abstract: In order to allocate frequency channels to transmitter units, the transmitter units are grouped in zones, each zone having one or more transmitter units (10, 20, 30) therein. A system controller (40) calculates a zone priority value which is a function of the zone's message traffic level and message latency. The zone priority value determines the order in which a zone is assigned a frequency channel. A channel priority value is calculated for each channel or subchannel that can be accessed by the transmitter units (10, 20, 10) in the zone based on a probability of success and a mean quality margin value wherein the priority value of a channel determines the order in which an available channel is considered for assignment to a zone. A proposed channel is assigned to a given zone only if the proposed channel passes a channel quality check. The channel quality check may be based on co-channel and adjacent channel interference values.

Abstract: A non-real time messaging system (200) for targeting messages to a subscriber unit (222) comprises a synchronized profile of where a subscriber unit should be located (a predetermined base transmission area for transmission of messages to the subscriber unit) maintained between a controller (212) and the subscriber unit. The subscriber unit detects when the subscriber unit is not within the receiving range of a predetermined base transmission area, informs the controller and the controller directs subsequent transmissions to an area identified by the subscriber unit and otherwise transmits subsequent messages to the predetermined base transmission area. The system further includes a plurality of base receivers (217) coupled to the controller for receiving transmissions from the subscriber units and allowing the controller to detect when the subscriber unit is not within the receiving range of a predetermined base transmission area.

Abstract: A communication system is used for transmitting error-tolerant messages to a selective call receiver (122). The communication system includes a transmitter circuit and a controller (112). The controller (112) applies an error-correction algorithm to an original message and repeats the application step to the by-product therefrom until a message has been generated that is sufficiently error-tolerant (506, 508). The error-tolerant message is transmitted to the selective call receiver (122), which receives the error-tolerant message using a receiver circuit. A processor (310) of the selective call receiver (122) applies an inverse error-correction algorithm to the error-tolerant message, and repeats the application step to the by-product therefrom until the original message has been reconstructed (604, 606).

Abstract: A system and method are shown for registering a subscriber unit (10) in an integrated communication system having a number of subsystems (30, 50) that are capable of operating independently. The subscriber unit (10) stores in a memory (77) a list of outbound subsystems ordered according to the subscriber unit's preference for using the subsystem as a outbound home subsystem to which the subscriber unit registers. An inbound preferred home subsystem list is also stored in the memory (77). In order to register to the integrated system, the subscriber unit identifies the most preferred outbound subsystem that covers the current location of the subscriber unit as its outbound home subsystem. If the outbound home subsystem is a two-way subsystem having an inbound channel accessible by the subscriber unit, the subscriber unit uses the inbound channel of the outbound home subsystem to communicate the registration information to the integrated system.

Abstract: In order to allocate frequency channels to transmitter units, the transmitter units are grouped in zones, each zone having one or more transmitter units (10, 20, 30) therein. A system controller (40) calculates a zone priority value which is a function of the zone's message traffic level and message latency. The zone priority value determines the order in which a zone is assigned a frequency channel. A channel priority value is calculated for each channel or sub-channel that can be accessed by the transmitter units (10, 20, 10) in the zone based on a probability of success and a mean quality margin value wherein the priority value of a channel determines the order in which an available channel is considered for assignment to a zone. A proposed channel is assigned to a given zone only if the proposed channel passes a channel quality check. The channel quality check may be based on co-channel and adjacent channel interference values.

Abstract: A system and method are shown for selecting an outbound subsystem and an inbound subsystem to be used to communicate between a subscriber unit (10) and an integrated communication system having a number of subsystems (30, 50) that are capable of operating independently. The subscriber unit (10) stores in a memory (77) for each of the different types of messages that the subscriber unit (10) can handle, a list of the subsystems that can be used to communicate the message type wherein each list is ordered according to the subscriber unit's preference for using a subsystem for outbound messages of the particular type. When the subscriber unit receives control information from the integrated system identifying a particular type of message that the system expects to communicate to the subscriber unit, the subscriber unit identifies at least one outbound subsystem in the list stored for the received message type covering the area in which the subscriber unit is located.

Abstract: A system and method are shown for providing a fully synchronized two-way communication network having a number of transmission stations (10) and selective call receiving devices (27). Each transmission station (10) stores station identifying information and an updatable synchronization priority indicator. Periodically, each station (10) transmits a timing message that includes the station's identifying information, priority indicator, and information relating to the timing of the station's frame clock (45). When a given station receives a timing message transmitted from another station, it determines whether the other station is a direct upstream station thereof. The given station is responsive to a timing message from its direct upstream station for adjusting its frame clock (45) based upon the timing information contained in the message received from the direct upstream station. The given station thereby synchronizes itself with its direct upstream station.

Abstract: In a system controller (102) for scheduling message traffic for transmission to a plurality of selective-call radios (106) in a radio communication system (100), a set of interference coefficients is determined in which an interference coefficient is a measure of transmission interference at a first transmission unit (202) of a pair of transmission units (202) from a second transmission unit (202) of the pair of transmission units (202). A set of transmission unit assignments is modified to establish an assignment of a proposed transmission unit (202). The assignment is determined from the set of interference coefficients.

Abstract: A two-way messaging system (100) having a plurality of message subscriber units (500) and a base station (220) in each of a plurality of cells (210). The base station has a transmitter (224) for transmitting messages in an associated cell (210) and a receiver (228) associated therewith for receiving response signals from message subscriber units in a cell. A system controller (300) is coupled to each base station (220) and has a memory (320) for storing the customer paging area data for each message subscriber unit. The system controller (300) receives message requests and automatically updates the customer paging area data for each message subscriber unit (500) by tracking the mobility pattern of each message subscriber unit (500) in the messaging system coverage area (200).

Abstract: A method and apparatus prioritize communications in a two-way communication system (102, 104) serving portable subscriber units (122) in a coverage area (500). A fixed portion (102) of the two-way communication system (102, 104) requests (904) location information (824, 224, 826) from a subset of the portable subscriber units (122) in response to having a need to communicate therewith, and then receives (906) the location information (824, 224, 826) from the subset of the portable subscriber units (122). The location information (824, 224, 826) includes mobility index values (826) determined by the subset of the portable subscriber units (122) for indicating mobility of each portable subscriber unit (122). The fixed portion (102) then prioritizes (908) the communications based upon the mobility index values (826).

Abstract: A communication system (100) for reallocating frame assignments of a receiver (140). A message receiver (108) receives messages designating the receiver (140) and a transmitter (120) transmits a signal to the plurality of receivers (140). The signal has a plurality of frames (200), each has a frame identifier (402), an owner identifier (404), a frame lending offset (406) and a frame borrowing offset (408). A queue controller (132) measures a parameter indicating a traffic on each frame (200) to determine a lending threshold and a borrowing threshold. A processor (109) identifies a frame (603) with traffic below the lending threshold and another frame (605) with traffic exceeding the borrowing threshold and calculates the frame lending and borrowing offsets. A message formatter (114) encodes the frame identifier (402), the owner identifier (404), the frame lending and borrowing offset (406, 408) in the signal and a message allocator (134) distributes the messages.

Abstract: A communication system has a hierarchical system of nodes organized into multiple node trees (800-806, 820-826, and 835), the communication system for completing calls between various ports (810, 812, 826) for interfacing to various transceivers (840). The method used in the hierarchical system is capable of tracking the location of the transceiver as it moves between ports and trees of the system while substantially reducing the size and modification of a data base for tracking the location of the transceiver. The communication system provides a method of linking root nodes (800, 820, 835) of various trees while providing for the advantages of a reduced amount of memory necessary for tracking transceiver movement through the system. The method allows establishment and growth of node trees in various geographic locations while providing for links between the root nodes of the trees.

Abstract: A handset (24, 25) in a radio communication system (20) determines the quality of a channel (500 and 502) in response to an RSSI signal generated by a receiver (174) in combination with either an eye closure measurement (510) or a bit error rate detected by a CRC codeword in received digital information (502). The battery operated handset is also capable of conserving scanning power while operating in an area having high channel quality (520, 560, 566). The handset also has a method for determining the amount of handovers between base stations (21, 22, 23) by use of dual channel quality thresholds (582, 590) which require a higher quality threshold for establishing communication with a base station and a reduction in channel quality before a handover to a new base station.

Abstract: An etiquette controller (112) in a transmitter (14) in a first radio frequency (RF) communications system (10) enables radio frequency communications in a frequency bandwidth shared with heterogeneous RF communication systems (15). The etiquette controller (112) monitors the first RF signals in an isochronous frequency channel in a sub-band of the shared frequency bandwidth to determine whether (124) a frequency channel is free or whether (130, 136) the frequency channel comprises a communication channel which is free. In addition, the etiquette controller (112) causes the RF transceiver (102) to transmit (148) a channel relinquishment signal, monitors (150) the isochronous frequency channel for a predetermined monitoring time, and determines (152) whether the isochronous frequency channel is then free for the channel access.

Abstract: A base station (21, 22, 23) in a radio communication system (20) comprises a channel allocator (62) for allocating communication channels in accordance with a fully distributed dynamic channel allocation method. The channel allocator accesses a Preferred Channel List (PCL) (64) to allocate the communication channels. The PCL ranks channels (116) in accordance with the occurrence of prior events on the channels (112), such as interrupted calls (122), blocked call setup requests (118), and calls successfully completed (106) and in regards to the mean quality margin (110) and the current channel quality (114). The channel allocator (62) allocates (140) the first available channel (128) in the PCL having a free timeslot (132) and with good current channel quality (136). Alternatively, the channel allocator (62) allocates communication channels in accordance with an optimal dynamic channel allocation method.