Abstract: A paging terminal for transmitting address and variable length message signals to a plurality of remotely located acknowledge back and non-acknowledge back pagers, each having a unique address, includes an input for accepting variable length messages to be sent to a group of M pagers within the plurality of pagers, wherein M is an integer number. A controller orders the acknowledge back pager addresses for transmisison prior to the transmission of addresses for the non-acknowledge back pagers. A transmitter sequentially transmits the ordered addresses corresponding to the group of M pagers as an address batch during a first time period, and sequentially transmits the variable length messages for the group of pagers in a message batch including end of message markers delimiting an associated variable length message during a second time period subsequent to the first time period.

Abstract: A system for transmitting long text messages includes a plurality of transmission cells defining different geographical areas, each having a transmitter for simulcast address transmission at a first data bit rate and for transmitting the address and a message at a second data bit rate higher than the first data bit rate. A paging transceiver generates and transmits an acknowledgment signal in response to receiving a transmitted address at the first data bit rate. Receivers located within each of the transmission cells receive the transmitted acknowledgment signal. An apparatus responsive to the received acknowledgment signal identifies the transmission cell in which the paging transceiver is located effecting the selection of the transmitter in the transmission cell in which the paging transceiver is located to transmit the address and message at the second data bit rate higher than the first data bit rate.