Abstract: A two-way wireless selective call communication system (20) using a synchronous time division multiplex communication protocol transmits messages divided into a plurality of data units (120, 126, and 128) from a plurality of selective call transceivers (32) to a paging terminal (33) during time slots (78), the number of data units and the time slots are set by the paging terminal controller (26) based on information, including size of the message information, received in an unscheduled transmission from each of the plurality of selective call transceivers. The paging terminal transmits to a selective call transceiver a multi-bit acknowledgment message having a one-bit acknowledgment for each of the plurality of data units. A selective call transceiver re-transmits data units not recovered by the terminal based upon content of the acknowledgment message. More than one selective call transceiver transmit during a one time slot set by the terminal.

Abstract: A two-way wireless selective call communication system (20) using a synchronous time division multiplex communication protocol transmits messages divided into a plurality of data units (120, 126, and 128) from a plurality of selective call transceivers (32) to a paging terminal (33) during time slots (78), the number of data units and the time slots are set by the paging terminal controller (26) based on information, including size of the message information, received in an unscheduled transmission from each of the plurality of selective call transceivers. The paging terminal transmits to a selective call transceiver a multi-bit acknowledgment message having a one-bit acknowledgment for each of the plurality of data units. A selective call transceiver re-transmits data units not recovered by the terminal based upon content of the acknowledgment message. More than one selective call transceiver transmit during a one time slot set by the terminal.

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 selective call receiver (106) has a frequency synthesizer (708) for scanning a plurality of frequencies to determine a control channel to receive a signal and a receiver (704) for receiving the signal representative of an available frequency associated with a geographic region. The signal includes a channel identifier (404), a frequency assignment (406) and an active channel indicator (408). A processor (712) associates the channel identifier (404) with the frequency assignment (406) in response to the active channel indicator (408) indicating an available frequency of the geographic region and a memory (720) stores channel identifiers (404) associated with frequency assignments (406) designating available frequencies (408).

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 system controller (102) is used in a communication system (100) which has a set of inbound channels. The system controller (102) includes a processing system (204) for generating a first message which is transmitted to selective call devices (106). The first message includes a subset identifier which identifies an ALOHA subset of the set of inbound channels for use by a set of the selective call devices (106). A selective call device (106) includes a transmitter (708) and a processing system (710). The processing system (710) identifies the ALOHA subset of the set of inbound channels, and generates a second message and couples the second message to the transmitter (708) using an ALOHA protocol on an inbound channel which is in the ALOHA subset of the set of inbound channels when the second message is a first type. The transmitter (708) transmits the second message.

Abstract: A fixed system receiver (107), which includes a forward receiver (305), a reverse receiver (310), and a response timer (215), is for use in a radio communication system (100) having a forward radio channel and a reverse radio channel. A command is transmitted in a forward channel radio signal to a selective call transceiver. The forward receiver (305) is for receiving, demodulating, and decoding the command. The reverse receiver (310) is for receiving and demodulating the reverse channel radio signal. The response timer (215), which is coupled to the forward receiver (305) and the reverse receiver (310), is for determining a response period beginning substantially at a scheduled response time included in the command and having a duration which is substantially a designated length of the data unit included in the command, and for generating a control signal which enables the reverse receiver (310) during the response period.