Abstract: Delay in processing an interactive application for a portable subscriber unit (216) is reduced in a two-way messaging system (200) having a distributed architecture including a plurality of intelligent control elements (202, 204, 208, 212, 214, 216). A software messaging agent (210) is shipped (408) from a first one of the plurality of intelligent control elements to a second one of the plurality of intelligent control elements, the second one requiring less communication among the plurality of intelligent control elements to process the interactive application than required by the first one. Thereafter the software messaging agent operates (410) in the second one of the plurality of intelligent control elements for autonomously processing at least a portion of the interactive application, thereby reducing processing delay resulting from communication latency.

Abstract: A control system (101) is utilized by a radio communication system for communicating with selective call transceivers (102). The control system (101) includes an input interface (114) for receiving a message from a user, a processing system (111) for processing and storing the message, and a local area network (LAN) for controlling a transmitter system (105) for transmitting the message. The LAN has an architecture providing communication redundancy. The LAN includes at least one data communication path (118) for linking data communications to and from at least one data communication device (112, 114). The LAN further includes a first and second ethernet switch (108, 109) coupled to a first and second end (120, 122) of the at least one data communication path (118) for routing the data communications thereto and therefrom. The processing system (111) is coupled to the ethernet switches (108, 109) for transmitting and receiving the data communications.

Abstract: A message sender (120, 700) and an output controller (110, 600) having an output configuration recover from a configuration error in a communication system. The output controller defines (404) a current output configuration tag (220) for identifying a current output configuration (212) in response to the output configuration being changed to the current output configuration. The message sender sends (506) to the output controller a recorded configuration tag corresponding to the output controller, in response to having a message to send to the output controller. The output controller and the message sender cooperate (512) to recover from the configuration error produced when the recorded configuration tag is different from the current configuration tag.

Abstract: A radio frequency manager (12) for choosing a selective call protocol among a plurality of selective call protocols comprises a memory (13) for storing historical data on messages previously sent, the historical data comprising for each protocol an airtime efficiency rating, a latency measurement, and a message queue profile and another memory (15) for storing pending messages, each of the pending messages having current information comprising at least an associated priority, synchronization requirement, and an allowable transmission time for sending the pending messages.

Abstract: A communication receiver (600) utilizes a band-pass sigma-delta converter (100) for receiving a radio signal. The band-pass sigma-delta converter (100) includes a comparator (106) coupled to an adder-filter (101) for making a comparison between a predetermined reference level (110) and an intermediate signal (125), and for generating a comparison result signal (114) responsive to the comparison. A storage element (108) is used for storing the comparison result signal (114) for a predetermined delay period, thereby producing a clocked output signal (118). The adder-filter (101) is coupled to an analog signal (103) and to the clocked output signal (118) for subtracting the clocked output signal (118) from the analog signal (103) to produce a difference signal (120) that is filtered by a commutating filter (400) for generating the intermediate signal (125) responsive to the difference signal (120).

Abstract: A data communication receiver (105) for detecting poor signal quality of received signals includes a receiver section (804) for receiving a first signal on a first frequency, the first signal having frames including a synchronization code that includes data symbols associated with expected signal levels. A crossing detector (250) processes absolute symbol errors for a number of data symbols included in the synchronization code of a first frame to generate an error sum value and averages the error sum value with other error sum values previously calculated for other frames to generate a quality value. When the quality value exceeds a threshold quality value, the crossing detector (250) determines that the first signal is of poor quality, and a controller (816) activates the receiver section (804) to scan other frequencies to locate a second frequency on which to receive a second signal.

Abstract: A memory (218) of a subscriber unit (122) is written (302) with a subscriber unit identification code (226) and an activation data package (228) including an activation home index (230), and at least one of a corresponding service provider name (232), service provider identification number (234), service provider operating frequency (236), and service provider contact information (238). The subscriber unit is programmed (304) to convey, to at least one of the user and the service provider, the subscriber unit identification code and selected portions of the activation data package and to make operational the activation home index, when the subscriber unit is in a service zone operated for the service provider and the service has not yet been activated.

Abstract: A phase lock loop of a synthesizer (143) is controlled by applying (506) modern optimal control techniques for a predetermined period in a computing engine (222), in response to an error being introduced into a signal of the phase lock loop, and by utilizing (510) classical control techniques for controlling the phase lock loop after the predetermined period.

Abstract: A method and apparatus transmit (502) from a controller (112) a message element (416) and an indication (418) of a signal quality threshold corresponding to the message element. A receiver (122) receives (504) the message element and the corresponding indication of the signal quality threshold, and measures (506) a received signal quality experienced while receiving the message element. The receiver completes (512, 514) a negative response to the message when the received signal quality is worse than the signal quality threshold, and a positive response to the message when the received signal quality is not worse than the signal quality threshold. The message element is defined as one of (a) the message in its entirety and (b) a portion of the message.

Abstract: Channels are assigned to a plurality of transmitters (206) in a radio communication system. First, interference constraints are defined (402) for the plurality of transmitters, and channel capacity required to handle traffic for each of the plurality of transmitters is measured (404). Then a mathematical programming technique is applied (406) to minimize the total number of channels assigned in the system, consistent with the interference constraints and the channel capacity required. The programming technique is selected from an integer programming technique (414) and a linear programming technique (408).

Abstract: A stochastic method and apparatus schedules airtime in a radio communication system having a plurality of transmission protocols. At a queue measurement time airtimes are measured (402) that are required for transmitting messages stored in queues (222) corresponding to the plurality of transmission protocols. A corresponding plurality of estimated arrival rates are determined (404) equal to estimated rates of increase of the plurality of airtimes due to arriving traffic. An objective function is structured (408) equal to a sum of penalties corresponding to the plurality of transmission protocols, the penalties dependent upon the plurality of airtimes and the plurality of estimated arrival rates, and further dependent upon an optimal airtime allocation decision. The optimal airtime allocation decision is derived (410) by minimizing the objective function, and then airtime is allocated (412) among the plurality of transmission protocols in accordance with the optimal airtime allocation decision.

Abstract: Redundancy is provided in a communication network including a plurality of nodes (114, 112, 106, 102) by a first node (114) receiving and storing (402) a message (210) in a first memory (202). The first node then transmits (404) the message to a first one of a plurality of second nodes (112), and removes (412) the message from the first memory after receiving an acknowledgment from any one of the plurality of second nodes. The first one of the plurality of second nodes receives (502) and stores (504) the message within a second memory (302) and stores (506) the message within a third memory (110) accessible to the plurality of second nodes. The first one of the plurality of second nodes transmits (508) the acknowledgment to the first node after storing the message in both the second and third memories.

Abstract: A method and apparatus detects (516) a baud rate in a digital signal (442). An N-state counter (404) counts at a rate N times the baud rate and the digital signal is sampled (504) to detect transitions of the digital signal. N tallies (202) record how many transitions occur coincident with each of the states of the counter, and a total number of transitions detected is computed (508). M groups (204-210) of the tallies are formed (510) corresponding to contiguous sequential states of the counter, and for each group a group number is calculated (512) indicating how many transitions are recorded in the tallies of the group. Each group is defined (514) transitional if the group number exceeds a percentage (413) of the total number of transitions, and the baud rate is determined present or absent based upon the groups that are defined as transitional.

Abstract: A method and apparatus assigns and utilizes sets of transmitters (206) to provide radio coverage in dynamically assigned simulcast areas for communicating simultaneously with portable transceivers (122). Transmitters are assigned (704) to the sets such that each set is assigned all transmitters dominant to at least one of the portable transceivers having a message queued therefor. A transmitter is defined to be dominant when it can affect communications with the at least one of the portable transceivers while different data transmissions are being sent from all other transmitters. A subset of the sets is determined (708), wherein no transmitter is assigned more than once in the subset. The sets of the subset are then simulcast (710) such that the transmitters assigned to each of the sets of the subset transmit the message queued for the at least one of the portable transceivers to which the transmitters of the set are dominant.

Abstract: In a radio communication system a method and apparatus enables sharing a bandwidth between two protocols that can support different maximum numbers of subchannels (510-516, 602-614) in the bandwidth. The protocols utilize transmission frames (402) having frame durations (716) that are integer multiples of one another. A fixed portion (102) of the system synchronizes (1002) the frames of the two protocols and determines (1004) a sharing plan for the subchannels utilized by each protocol. The sharing plan applies to a subsequent group of frames. The fixed portion vectors (1008) a portable receiver (122, 123) that has a message to be received in accordance with the sharing plan prior to transmission of the subsequent group of frames. Both the fixed portion and the portable receiver share (1010) the bandwidth between the two protocols in accordance with the sharing plan during transmission of the subsequent group of frames.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is used for transmitting an outbound message in a two-way messaging system having a plurality of cells employing frequency reuse. The outbound message is transmitted to a selective call transceiver (122) utilizing a first frequency reuse plan (312). The two-way messaging system awaits a positive acknowledgment (316, 318) from the selective call transceiver (122) confirming that the outbound message was received with an acceptable quality. The two-way messaging system retransmits the outbound message to the selective call transceiver (122) utilizing a second frequency reuse plan (332), in response to receiving a negative acknowledgment and also in response to failing to receive any acknowledgment within a predetermined time after transmitting the outbound message.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is used for transmitting an outbound message (408) in a two-way messaging system having a plurality of cells employing frequency reuse. The controller (112) of the two-way messaging system divides ones of the plurality of cells into a plurality of rings based on radio frequency propagation and interference environment. The controller (112) then sends to a portable selective call transceiver (122) a notification of the outbound message (408). In response, the controller (112) receives information sufficient to determine an identity of one of the plurality of rings in which the portable selective call transceiver (122) has determined itself to be located, and transmits the outbound message (408) to the portable selective call transceiver (122), utilizing a frequency reuse plan in accordance with the identity.

Abstract: A system (10) and method of communicating data utilizes an electroluminescent panel (12). The frequency of the drive signal for the electroluminescent panel (12) is modulated in accordance with data to be transmitted. The electroluminescent panel (12) is responsive to the drive signal to emit light at frequencies representing the data. A second electroluminescent panel (12') may be positioned adjacent to the first electroluminescent panel (12) to receive the data encoded light emitted therefrom. The second electroluminescent panel (12') generates a signal representing the received light, the signal being demodulated to recover the data encoded therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus at a transmitter (800) initializes (904) pseudonoise (PN) sequence generators (302, 306, 320) to predetermined initial states and thereafter generates (906) time-synchronized PN sequences. A spread spectrum signal is then transmitted (908) by utilizing the PN sequences to encode information. At a receiver (600, 700) a predetermined one of the PN sequences is acquired and tracked (1002), and one of the predetermined initial states is predicted and tracked (1004). A PN sequence generator (608, 714, 722, 730) of the receiver is adjusted (1006, 1014) to generate a selected PN sequence time-synchronized with the predetermined one, and a corresponding one of the PN sequences is despread (1008) by utilizing the selected PN sequence to decode the information.