Abstract: A communication system (10) has a plurality of selective call transceivers (30) which operate as one-way selective call receivers in one-way coverage zones (16) where no registration is required or operate as selective call transceivers in two-way coverage zones (36) where registration is required or operate in one-and-a-half way zones where registration is attempted but not required for the selective call transceiver to receive outbound messages. The system further comprises a plurality of outbound transmitters (17, 18, and 19) covering one-way coverage zones (12, 14, and 16 respectively) and a plurality of base receivers (37, 38, and 39) and transmitters (11, 13, and 15) covering two-way coverage zones (32, 34, and 36 respectively). The one-and-half-way zone is primarily a mode of operation useful in areas having "spotty" inbound coverage and is not necessarily designated by a geographic location.

Abstract: A system controller (102) generates and transmits a radio signal having long messages in data frames (370), and short and long messages in control frames (360). A set of selective call radio addresses is included at the beginning of a control frame (360), each selective call radio address including a subvector which indicates the starting position of a short message or a vector packet within the control frame (360). Vector packets indicate starting positions of long messages within the control frame (360), within other control frames (360), and within data frames (370). A selective call radio (106) receives the radio signal and recovers and processes the short and long messages, using the subvectors and vectors to identify the positions of the short and long messages.

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: A system controller (102) schedules an outbound selective call address (410) and an outbound message (430) at a position within a transmission cycle (330) of a synchronous outbound signaling protocol. The position and the outbound selective call address (410) are stored and linked to each other. The transmission cycle (330) is transmitted. A selective call transceiver (106) receives the transmission cycle (330), recovers the outbound message (430), and generates a response signal which includes an inbound address. The inbound address is determined from the position of the outbound selective call address (410) within the transmission cycle and is included in an inbound message which is transmitted.

Abstract: A system controller (102) generates and transmits a radio signal having long messages in data frames (370), and short and long messages in control frames (360). A set of selective call radio addresses is included at the beginning of a control frame (360), each selective call radio address including a subvector which indicates the starting position of a short message or a vector packet within the control frame (360). Vector packets indicate starting positions of long messages within the control frame (360), within other control frames (360), and within data frames (370). A selective call radio (106) receives the radio signal and recovers and processes the short and long messages, using the subvectors and vectors to identify the positions of the short and long messages.