Abstract: An interactive method for composing an alphanumeric message by a caller using a telephone keypad includes storing (215) a lexical database (135) from which unigram probabilities, forward conditional probabilities, and backward conditional probabilities for a plurality of words can be recovered; storing a received sequence of key codes (405) representing a sequence in which keys on a telephone style keypad are keyed; generating a word trellis including candidate words (415) derived from the sequence and the lexical database; determining a most likely phrase (420) from the candidate words, the unigram probabilities, forward conditional probabilities, and backward conditional probabilities; generating a most likely message (425) from the most likely phrase and presenting the most likely message to the caller; and confirming that the most likely message is the alphanumeric message (430).

Abstract: A communication system includes a transmitter for transmitting messages to a plurality of receiving devices of the communication system, and a processing system. The processing system is adapted to convert a caller's voice message to a sequence of phonemes whereby the caller's voice message is intended for a receiving device. To accomplish the conversion, steps of Fourier transform, spectral subdivision, envelope filtering autocorrelation function determination of each subdivision, and voiceness determination for each subdivision are performed. The processing system is further adapted to generate a sequence of phoneme indexes and voice features corresponding to the sequence of phonemes, and to cause the transmitter to transmit the sequence of phoneme indexes to the receiving device for generating a voice signal representative of the caller's voice message. The voice features can include spectral features, average energy, duration, and pitch to improve the quality of the voice signal.

Abstract: An interactive method for composing an alphanumeric message by a caller using a telephone keypad includes storing (215) a lexical database (135) from which unigram probabilities, forward conditional probabilities, and backward conditional probabilities for a plurality of words can be recovered; storing a received sequence of key codes (405) representing a sequence in which keys on a telephone style keypad are keyed; generating a word trellis including candidate words (415) derived from the sequence and the lexical database; determining a most likely phrase (420) from the candidate words, the unigram probabilities, forward conditional probabilities, and backward conditional probabilities; generating a most likely message (425) from the most likely phrase and presenting the most likely message to the caller; and confirming that the most likely message is the alphanumeric message (430).

Abstract: In order to allocate frequency channels to transmitter units, the transmitter units are grouped in zones, each zone having one or more transmitter units (10, 20, 30) therein. A system controller (40) calculates a zone priority value which is a function of the zone's message traffic level and message latency. The zone priority value determines the order in which a zone is assigned a frequency channel. A channel priority value is calculated for each channel or sub-channel that can be accessed by the transmitter units (10, 20, 30) in the zone based on a probability of success and a mean quality margin value wherein the priority value of a channel determines the order in which an available channel is considered for assignment to a zone. A proposed channel is assigned to a given zone only if the proposed channel passes a channel quality check. The channel quality check may be based on co-channel and adjacent channel interference values.

Abstract: An interactive method for composing an alphanumeric message by a caller using a telephone keypad includes storing (215) a lexical database (135) from which unigram probabilities, forward conditional probabilities, and backward conditional probabilities for a plurality of words can be recovered; storing a received sequence of key codes (405) representing a sequence in which keys on a telephone style keypad are keyed; generating a word trellis including candidate words (415) derived from the sequence and the lexical database; determining a most likely phrase (420) from the candidate words, the unigram probabilities, forward conditional probabilities, and backward conditional probabilities; generating a most likely message (425) from the most likely phrase and presenting the most likely message to the caller; and confirming that the most likely message is the alphanumeric message (430).

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: In order to allocate frequency channels to transmitter units, the transmitter units are grouped in zones, each zone having one or more transmitter units (10, 20, 30) therein. A system controller (40) calculates a zone priority value which is a function of the zone's message traffic level and message latency. The zone priority value determines the order in which a zone is assigned a frequency channel. A channel priority value is calculated for each channel or sub-channel that can be accessed by the transmitter units (10, 20, 30) in the zone based on a probability of success and a mean quality margin value wherein the priority value of a channel determines the order in which an available channel is considered for assignment to a zone. A proposed channel is assigned to a given zone only if the proposed channel passes a channel quality check. The channel quality check may be based on co-channel and adjacent channel interference values.

Abstract: In order to allocate frequency channels to transmitter units, the transmitter units are grouped in zones, each zone having one or more transmitter units (10, 20, 30) therein. A system controller (40) calculates a zone priority value which is a function of the zone's message traffic level and message latency. The zone priority value determines the order in which a zone is assigned a frequency channel. A channel priority value is calculated for each channel or subchannel that can be accessed by the transmitter units (10, 20, 10) in the zone based on a probability of success and a mean quality margin value wherein the priority value of a channel determines the order in which an available channel is considered for assignment to a zone. A proposed channel is assigned to a given zone only if the proposed channel passes a channel quality check. The channel quality check may be based on co-channel and adjacent channel interference values.

Abstract: In order to allocate frequency channels to transmitter units, the transmitter units are grouped in zones, each zone having one or more transmitter units (10, 20, 30) therein. A system controller (40) calculates a zone priority value which is a function of the zone's message traffic level and message latency. The zone priority value determines the order in which a zone is assigned a frequency channel. A channel priority value is calculated for each channel or sub-channel that can be accessed by the transmitter units (10, 20, 10) in the zone based on a probability of success and a mean quality margin value wherein the priority value of a channel determines the order in which an available channel is considered for assignment to a zone. A proposed channel is assigned to a given zone only if the proposed channel passes a channel quality check. The channel quality check may be based on co-channel and adjacent channel interference values.

Abstract: A data communication receiver (106) is assigned for receiving message signals within one or more message transmission frames (FIG. 3) transmitted in a predetermined sequence. The message signals include address (1604) and message (1608) information, and information (1710) designating one or more additional message transmission frames to which the data communication receiver (106) is responsive for receiving the message signals. The data communication receiver (106) includes a receiver (804) for receiving the message signals, a decoder (830, 816), coupled to the receiver (804), for decoding the address (1604) and designating (1608) information received during the assigned transmission frames, and a memory (850), for storing the message information received which is intended for the data communication receiver (106) during the assigned transmission frames.

Abstract: A messaging system and method capable of transmitting group messages throughout a Network (200) such that receivers which are outside of a "local" or "home" area of coverage receive such group messages, whereas receivers which are in a "local" area of coverage over ride and do not receive the group message as a result of decoding system identifiers and ignoring those messages having network roaming identification.

Abstract: A selective call receiver (111) receives a synchronous selective call signal (99) having synchronization portions (102 and 104) and a frame identification portion (106). Upon finding the signal the selective call receiver's bit and frame synchronizers (126 and 128) synchronize to a frame (100) of the signal and a frame ID decoder (130) decodes the frame ID (106). A comparator (136) compares the received frame ID (106) with an ID (142) assigned to the receiver, and optionally a first and second mask (134A and 134B) to determine the number of frames until an occurrence of a desired frame and conserves power until the occurrence of the desired frame (188).

Abstract: An apparatus and a method in a radio communication system repeatedly transmit and receive identifiers including a nearby identifier received by a radio receiver from a nearby transmitter, and distant identifiers received from more distant transmitters. The method and the apparatus distinguish in a probabilistic manner the nearby identifier from the distant identifiers by determining the identifier received most dependably over a predetermined period.

Abstract: A method and apparatus adaptively selects a communication strategy for communicating a message in a selective call radio communication system including a fixed portion (100) and a portable portion (101). The fixed portion (100) transmits (402) an alert signal to the portable portion (101), and awaits (404) an acknowledgment signal including a signal quality estimate from the portable portion (101). The portable portion (101) receives (602) the alert signal, and computes (604, 606) the signal quality estimate therefrom. The portable portion (101) then sends (608) the acknowledgment signal to the fixed portion (100). In response to the acknowledgment signal, the fixed portion (100) selects (407) a transmission strategy in accordance with the signal quality estimate. For compatibility, the transmission strategy requires a matching reception strategy in the portable portion (101).

Abstract: A radio communication system (1600) capable of communicating on at least two radio frequencies has a receiver (202, 206) which receives information addressed to at least one of a plurality of radio receivers (106) on a first radio frequency. A transmitter (104) transmits the information having a control signal therewith to at least one of the plurality of radio receivers (106) on the first radio frequency. A generator (102) generates the control signal for temporarily directing one or more of the plurality of radio receivers to a second radio frequency to receive address and message information. The radio receiver (106) has a receiver (804) which receives information on the first frequency, the information includes the control signal for temporarily directing the radio receiver (106) to the second radio frequency.

Abstract: A paging system has a signal for transmitting a variable amount of messages to paging receivers. The signal has a synchronization signal, an address field, an information and a boundary signal indicative of the boundary between the address field and the information field. Each message has addresses which are included within the address field and may have message information which is included in the information field. The information field includes two portions, a first portion having a plurality of packets for holding a predetermined amount of information and a second portion for holding a variable amount of information. If the information associated with a message is less than the predetermined amount, the message information is stored in the first portion of the information field.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a data communication receiver (100) for diversity reception of a radio signal including a predictably repetitive, predetermined data bit pattern (304) comprises a processor (114) controlling (600) an antenna switch (106) to select between a first antenna feed (102) and a second antenna feed (104) as a momentary source of the radio signal during transmissions of the predetermined data bit pattern (304). The radio signal received from the momentary source is monitored by a data receiver (110) during the transmission of the predetermined bit pattern (304) to derive the data therefrom, and at least one bit error count is determined (604, 610) by the processor (114). After completion of the predetermined bit pattern (304), an antenna feed (102, 104) for the radio signal is selected (616, 620) in response to the at least one bit error count.

Abstract: A method and apparatus equalizes battery life among a plurality of battery-powered selective call receivers (110) in a communication system (100). The communication system (100) utilizes periodic transmissions of queuing groups (222, 224, 226, 228) of selective call addresses queued into the queuing groups (222, 224, 226, 228) for battery saving, and further queued into transmission positions (230) having a predetermined queuing order within the queuing groups (222, 224, 226, 228) for additional battery saving. The predetermined queuing order is periodically rotated (504, 512) such that each of the selective call addresses experiences a queuing delay between an initiation of a transmission of a queuing group and a transmission of the selective call address queued in the queuing group, whereby the queuing delay averaged over a plurality of queuing group transmissions approaches a single, constant value substantially applicable to each of the selective call addresses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus allows sharing first and second signaling formats (400, 708) in a communication system. The first signaling format (400) is synchronous and includes frames (401) transmitted in predetermined frame positions (402). Receivers (110) utilizing the first signaling format (400) are preprogrammed with a base frame position (324) corresponding to one of the predetermined frame positions (402). A system value (326) is transmitted (508) and stored (612) in the receivers (110) for enabling the receivers (110) to monitor(620) at least one frame position (402). The at least one monitored frame position (402)is determined from the preprogrammed base frame position (324) and the system value (326). Frames (401) of the first signaling format (400) are transmitted (508) periodically, and the second signaling format (708) is sent between the periodic transmissions of the first signaling format (400).

Abstract: An electronic information processing device (300) capable of communicating a message to a paging terminal (112) uses an input device (309) to enter the message, select a messaging subscriber and their corresponding selective call address identifier, and schedule communication of the message to the paging terminal (112) for transmission to at least one selective call receiver corresponding to the selected messaging subscriber. The device uses a micro-controller (301) including at least one electronic memory (304, 305, 306) and a processor (303), to execute a program that controls operation of the device (300), maintain a registry of messaging subscribers (400) in the memory (304, 305, 306), and implement a real-time calendar for effecting communication of a selective call address identifier and corresponding message to the paging terminal (112) via a data port (308) in response to a scheduled communication of the message.