Abstract: A portable subscriber unit (122) provides (402) communications for a user, and monitors (404) a parameter indicative of communication quality during the communications. The portable subscriber unit compares (406) the parameter with a predetermined threshold; and when the communication quality deteriorates (408) such that the parameter reaches the predetermined threshold, the portable subscriber unit determines (412) geographic coordinates corresponding to the location at which the communication difficulty occurred, and adds (414) a communication difficulty report identifying the parameter and the geographic coordinates to a record of communication difficulty reports stored in the portable subscriber unit. When the portable subscriber unit receives (502) a request for the record of communication difficulty reports from a fixed portion (102) of a two-way wireless communication system, the portable subscriber unit communicates (504) the record of communication difficulty reports to the fixed portion.

Abstract: A wireless communication system conducts (402) communications between a fixed portion (102) of the wireless communication system and a portable subscriber unit (122) carried by a user; and records (404) a relevant aspect of the communications, thereby producing recorded information. The system determines (405) a current time of day and a current position of the user and makes (406) a comparison of the recorded information with the current time of day and the current position of the user to determine whether an alert is necessary, and generates (412) the alert when the comparison determines the alert is necessary.

Abstract: A two-way communication system is used for performing dynamic channel control. The two-way communication system comprises a base transceiver (102) and a plurality of selective call transceivers (122). The base transceiver (102) includes a plurality of base stations (116) controlled by a controller (112). The base transceiver (102) transmits query signals to the selective call transceivers (122) to prompt communication. The selective call transceivers (122) measure the signal quality of signals transmitted by the two-way communication system and transmit in return signal quality measurement data to the base transceiver (102) for analysis. The base transceiver (102) dynamically adjusts the signal quality of signals to be received by the selective call transceivers (122) in order to substantially reduce the noise interference that the selective call transceivers (122) experience.

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: 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 two-way communication system is used for performing dynamic channel control. The two-way communication system comprises a base transceiver (102) and a plurality of selective call transceivers (122). The base transceiver (102) includes a plurality of base stations (116) controlled by a controller (112). The base transceiver (102) transmits query signals to the selective call transceivers (122) to prompt communication. The selective call transceivers (122) measure the signal quality of signals transmitted by the two-way communication system and transmit in return signal quality measurement data to the base transceiver (102) for analysis. The base transceiver (102) dynamically adjusts the signal quality of signals to be received by the selective call transceivers (122) in order to substantially reduce the noise interference that the selective call transceivers (122) experience.

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: 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 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 fixed portion (102) of a radio messaging system schedules (602) an inbound message to be transmitted at a first scheduled time on a channel from a portable subscriber unit (122). The channel is monitored (604) at the first scheduled time to receive the inbound message, utilizing a beamforming technique. In response to failing to achieve adequate reception of the inbound message at the first scheduled time, the fixed portion reschedules (608) the inbound message to be transmitted at a second scheduled time, and remonitors (610) the channel at the second scheduled time to receive the inbound message, utilizing an omnidirectional technique.

Abstract: A controller (112) that dynamically configures a number of channels within a communication system (100) having a predetermined bandwidth comprises a processor (710) and memory (714), wherein the processor is programmed to receive a channel request (50) from a subscriber unit (122) for an inbound transmission of information. The processor is further programmed to determine a type of information to be transmitted from the channel request and configure the predetermined bandwidth into a number of channels based on the type of information to be transmitted from the subscriber unit.

Abstract: A portable subscriber unit (104) monitors (602) a signal fading rate in an outbound channel from a base station (102), and transmits a message. The portable subscriber unit transmits (606) the message once on an inbound channel in response to the signal fading rate in the outbound channel being less than a predetermined value. The portable subscriber unit transmits (608) the message more than once in response to the signal fading rate in the outbound channel being greater than or equal to the predetermined value.

Abstract: A selective call transceiver (20) in a messaging system (100) having a plurality of transmitters (90, 94, 99), comprises a receiver module (26), a transmitter module (22) coupled to the receiver module and a controller (28) coupled to the receiver module and the transmitter module for controlling the operation of the selective call transceiver. Additionally the selective call transceiver comprises a GPS receiver (24) for receiving GPS information and coupled to the controller, wherein the controller uses the GPS information to assist in the control of functions selected from the group consisting of transmitter power control, site selection switching, sub-zone selection switching, forward error correction, retry transmission decisions, Doppler frequency shifting, synchronization, and frequency scanning and selection.

Abstract: A radio communication system (100) implements a frequency reuse plan by sending a message (308) simultaneously with other messages in a plurality of cell clusters (202-208) utilizing the frequency reuse plan, which provides a message carrier-to-interference ratio (C/I) sufficient for reception of the message when a receiver (104) is adjusted in accordance with a periodically transmitted pilot symbol (402-408). The C/I is smaller than preferred for reception of the pilot symbol. The pilot symbol is periodically transmitting simultaneously with other pilot symbols in a time diverse manner such that pilot symbol transmissions for adjacent ones of the plurality of cell clusters occur in non-overlapping time slots, thereby generating the larger C/I preferred for reception of the pilot symbol. The pilot symbol and the message are received by the receiver, and the receiver is adjusted in accordance with the pilot symbol to demodulate the message.

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 selective call two-way communication system having a plurality of selective call transceiver units (170) using an inbound channel overlay on an outbound selective call system, the selective call transceiver units comprising a receiver (173) for receiving a message having an address directed to and decodable by the receiver wherein the address (58) points to a vector (60) , a decoder (174) for decoding a pointer within the vector that points to a control information portion (66) within an outbound message portion (67) and for decoding another control information portion (64) for controlling inbound transmissions within an outbound message portion, and a transmitter (172) for transmitting information in accordance with the control information portions. The system further comprises a controller (114) for receiving, formatting and encoding messages having an address wherein the address points to a vector(s) which contains pointer(s) to control information portion(s) within an outbound message portion.

Abstract: A two-way selective call communication system (FIG. 1) controls transmissions in a dominant cell (504) of a plurality of cells (502, 504) utilizing a common radio frequency for sending messages (408). The dominant cell carries significantly greater traffic than any other cell of the plurality of cells. A controller (112) groups (808, 906), into a first time period (708), the transmissions of non-dominant cell messages which interfere with the transmissions of dominant cell messages. The controller then determines a subset of the dominant cell messages that require a higher signal-to-interference ratio than available in the dominant cell during the first time period. The controller then transmits (908) the subset during a second time period (710) different from the first time period.

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.