Abstract: A method and apparatus synchronize a first floating timing reference (207) of a first base station (116) with a timing reference of a second base station (116) of a communication system, without requiring an interruption of normal user traffic through the communication system. A receiver (208) of the first base station monitors (402) a user traffic transmission of the second base station, thereby generating a received signal, and a processing system (206) of the first base station derives (410) a received timing reference (308) from the received signal. The processing system independently adjusts (426, 428) the first floating timing reference according to the received timing reference, without requiring a timing adjustment instruction from a centralized synchronization controller.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging electronics (100) having improved mechanical integrity includes an energy storage apparatus (110), an electronic assembly (120) and a spacing apparatus (130). A subscriber unit (500) includes: an energy storage element (110, 550), coupled to a spacing element (130), in one form a capacitor, and in another form a battery, and an electronic assembly (120) including a radio frequency system (124) controlled by a programmable processing system (122).

Abstract: To accurately determine rate and voice activity in moderate-to-low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) to maximize voice quality, system capacity and/or battery life, parameters from a noise suppression system are used as inputs to the rate determination function. Using this method, more of the speech is extracted from the background noise and a lower number of false onsets during fluctuating noise conditions compared with conventional systems are detected. The method is beneficial for voice activity detection (VAD) as well as rate determination (RDA) and unlike other RDA/VAD implementations, is independent of the type of speech coder employed (IS-127, CDG-27, IS-96 and GSM).

Abstract: A table (328) is created (402) for mapping, for ones of a plurality of portable subscriber units (122), a plurality of message types to a corresponding plurality of locations. A message matching one of the plurality of message types is then received (404) by a controller (112), the message intended for a portable subscriber unit. In response, the controller and the portable subscriber unit cooperate to determine (406) the location of the portable subscriber unit. The controller sends (428) the message to the portable subscriber unit when the location matches one of the plurality of locations corresponding to the one of the plurality of message types.

Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus for re-establishing a communication in a wireless communication system is disclosed. A serving base-station (32) detects that a synchronization with a mobile station (38) has been lost and chooses a target base-station (34) to attempt to establish synchronization with the mobile station (38). If synchronization is established, the communication with the mobile station (38) is re-established by the target base-station (34). The method and corresponding apparatus does not require any handoff-related signaling to the mobile station (38) to essentially effect a communication handoff from the serving base-station (32) to the target base-station (34).

Abstract: A communication receiver (300) receives (404) a modulated signal, and demodulates the modulated signal to recover a timing signal (202) and a data signal (204) including data symbols. A processing system (316) of the communication receiver determines (406) a rough symbol timing from the timing signal, and forms (408) a timing-carrier search matrix by computing signal quality metrics from the data symbols as a function of predetermined trial variations of the carrier frequency about a nominal carrier frequency and as a function of predetermined trial variations of the symbol timing about the rough symbol timing. The processing system then estimates (410) the symbol timing and the carrier frequency by locating a minimum one of the plurality of signal quality metrics in the timing-carrier search matrix.

Abstract: A pack (209) is programmed (402) into a portable subscriber unit (122), the pack including a bundle of templates for formatting template data received for display on at least one page. A server (124) then transmits (404) the template data through the wireless communication system. The portable subscriber unit receives (406) the template data and displays (408) the template data in accordance with the pack.

Abstract: A subscriber unit (122) acquires (604) communications with a first network (102) of a messaging system, the first network able to communicate at a first bandwidth. Thereafter, the subscriber unit determines (606) that it momentarily needs to communicate at a second bandwidth higher than the first bandwidth. In response, the subscriber unit reacquires (612) communications with a second network (115) different from the first network and able to communicate at the second bandwidth.

Abstract: A digital sync signal (502) is transmitted (702) from K transmitters (206) of a cluster (402), followed by K fine tuning signals (506) during K time slots (510), each time slot assigned to a transmitter. Each fine tuning signal comprises a pair of tones (512) separated in frequency by a predetermined amount. A portable subscriber unit (122) receives (706) the sync signal and the fine tuning signals, and makes (708) a rough estimate of the beginning of the fine tuning signals from the sync signal and from knowledge about the time slots. The portable subscriber unit computes (710) for each time slot a 2M-point Fourier transform (FT) on a received signal including M fine tuning signals received during the time slot from a transmitter of the cluster and from M-1 corresponding transmitters of adjacent clusters (404). The portable subscriber unit then fine tunes (722) the rough estimate through FT calculations.

Abstract: A first messaging system (112, 116) schedules (502) a first store-and-forward message (406, 408) for transmission to a subscriber unit (122) on a first channel (410) and enters (504) a second store-and-forward message (404) into a second messaging system (113, 116), the second message intended for the subscriber unit and including a scheduling instruction for receiving the first message. The second messaging system communicates the second message to the subscriber unit on a second channel (412), and the subscriber unit tunes (620) to the first channel, in accordance with the scheduling instruction, after receiving the second message. The first messaging system then transmits (506) the first message on the first channel as scheduled, and the subscriber unit receives the first message on the first channel.

Abstract: A processing system (210) in a fixed portion of a radio messaging system stores (302, 304) at least one of (a) a list of preferred error report formats corresponding to users of portable subscriber units (122), and (b) a record of error report formats that are likely to be preferred by message originators, a selection of a preferred format being dependent upon information available about the message originator. The processing system selects (404, 408, 412, 416) at least one format from at least one of the list and the record, based upon at least one of (c) knowledge about the error, and (d) knowledge about at least one of (e) the user, and (f) the message originator. In addition, the processing system controls a transmitter (206) to transmit (418) the at least one error report to at least one of the portable subscriber unit and the message originator in the at least one format selected.

Abstract: A method (100) for enhanced duplicate message processing at a portable subscriber unit (122) comprises the steps of receiving a first message having a first set of message data and a message sequence number associated with the first message. Then portable subscriber unit receives (402) a subsequent message having the same message sequence number (406) and a subsequent set of message data and creates error indications corresponding to errors detected in the portions of the subsequent set of message data. Then the portable subscriber unit compares (412) the first set of message data and its corresponding error indications with the subsequent set of message data and its corresponding error indications. The subsequent message is then tagged (420) if the subsequent message has less error indications (414) than the first message and if the first message was deleted by the user (418) and if the first message contained an error (426).

Abstract: A base station (214) synchronizes a data stream of a second transmitter (202) with that of a first transmitter while maintaining full user traffic through a radio communication system (200). The first and second transmitters transmit (501), during a first time interval, a first portion of the user traffic in a simulcast mode; and at least the first transmitter transmits (503), during a second time interval, a second portion of the user traffic in a non-simulcast mode. A receiver (204) proximate the second transmitter monitors (505) the second portion of the user traffic transmitted from the first transmitter to determine a time delay, and then adjusts (507) a launch time of the second transmitter in accordance with the time delay.

Abstract: A controller (112) controls (706) at least two transmitters (302) to transmit at least two simulcast signals (502, 504) during a time period. The at least two simulcast signals produce intersymbol interference at a receiver. At least one of the transmitters changes (708) its output amplitude during a portion of the time period, thereby altering the intersymbol interference during the portion of the time period.

Abstract: A device (124, 122) having application data to transmit collects (502) information concerning data transport capabilities affecting transmission timing of at least one wireless link available for transmitting the application data, and calculates (506), from the information, a maximum amount of data that can be completed through the at least one wireless link by a predetermined time. The device then determines (508), when attainable, from the application data and from a predetermined set of user-presentation formats possible for the application data, a user-presentation format that requires less than the maximum amount of data. The device then formats (514) the application data in accordance with the user-presentation format before transmitting the application data (530).

Abstract: Base transmitters (116) of a wireless messaging system are pre-programmed (802) with location identifiers (216) for identifying the positions at which the base transmitters are located. In response to an inbound message from a portable subscriber unit (122), a fixed portion (102) of the wireless messaging system makes an estimate (808) of a location at which the portable subscriber unit is positioned. A controller (112) sends (812) an outbound message (614) and the estimate to the base transmitters, and the base transmitters calculate (812) distances between themselves and the portable subscriber unit, based upon the location identifiers and the estimate. In addition, the base transmitters independently make a decision (818) whether to transmit the outbound message, based upon a comparison of a predetermined rule with the distance of the base transmitter from the portable subscriber unit.

Abstract: A subscriber unit (100) of a messaging system initiates (226) a reminder alarm action. The user generates (210) an intended message to be sent as an inbound message with a user interface (114). The processing system (106) of the subscriber unit (100) evaluates (214) a characteristic of the intended message, and initiates (226) the reminder alarm action in response to the evaluating (214) step. The processing system (106) and the coupled transmitter transmit (228, 242) the inbound message.

Abstract: In a messaging system having a plurality of simulcasting base transmitters (104), a plurality of pseudorandom sequence generators (216) are provided (402) for the plurality of base transmitters. The plurality of pseudorandom sequence generators are arranged (403) to ensure that they generate a plurality of pseudorandom sequences having sub-sequences that are different from one another during concurrent transmissions by the plurality of base transmitters. A cancellation-affecting parameter of the plurality of base transmitters is adjusted (404, 406, 408) in accordance with the plurality of pseudorandom sequences during the simulcast transmission from the plurality of base transmitters to limit intervals of carrier cancellation.

Abstract: A variable-class linear amplifier (600, 800, 900) applies a supply type of envelope modulation to an RF power amplifier operating in or near compression at highest envelope amplitudes, and transitions gradually to an envelope tracking type of operation at intermediate envelope amplitudes. The amplifier further transitions gradually to a linear class of operation with a constant supply voltage (508) at lowest envelope amplitudes.