Abstract: In an ad hoc wireless network having a plurality of members (100) a master, while communicating on a first communication channel, recognizes (202) a need for assistance in managing the network. In response to the need, the master negotiates (204) with a member of the ad hoc wireless network for the member to become a sub-master. The sub-master then assumes (206) management of a portion of the plurality of members. The sub-master and the portion then communicate (208) on a second communication channel negotiated with the master.

Abstract: A transceiver device (52 or 10) operates as a source of a data transmission in a communication system (50) capable of dynamically allocating spectrum for transmission of the data transmission between the transceiver device (52) and a second transceiver device (51). The transceiver device (10) includes a transmitter, a receiver coupled to the transmitter and a processor or controller (12) coupled to the transmitter and receiver. The transceiver device is programmed to monitor the spectrum (channels 1-13 of FIG. 3) to determine if a portion (channels 4-8 for example in time slot 8) of the spectrum is available. The transceiver determines what portion of the spectrum is desired for data transmission and then transmits (see time slots 11 and 13) the data transmission within a dynamically selected portion of the available spectrum.

Abstract: A transceiver device (52 or 10) operates as a source of a data transmission in a communication system (50) capable of dynamically allocating spectrum for transmission of the data transmission between the transceiver device (52) and a second transceiver device (51). The transceiver device (10) includes a transmitter, a receiver coupled to the transmitter and a processor or controller (12) coupled to the transmitter and receiver. The transceiver device is programmed to monitor the spectrum (channels 1-13 of FIG. 3) to determine if a portion (channels 4-8 for example in time slot 8) of the spectrum is available. The transceiver determines what portion of the spectrum is desired for data transmission and then transmits (see time slots 11 and 13) the data transmission within a dynamically selected portion of the available spectrum.

Abstract: A wireless messaging unit (122) determines (704) that a first channel (402), which utilizes a first plurality of time slots for transmission, does not have a signal suitable for acquiring synchronization; and, in response, attempts (706) to acquire an initial synchronization with a second channel (404) which periodically transmits a synchronization signal (406) in a second plurality of time slots having a predetermined timing relationship with the first plurality of time slots. After acquiring the initial synchronization, the wireless messaging unit applies (708) the predetermined timing relationship to the initial synchronization to establish a secondary synchronization with the first channel.

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 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: Sub-areas (506) within a coverage area of a wireless communication system are defined (702), and transmitters (502, 504) are positioned within the sub-areas. A memory (212, 314), in at least one of a subscriber unit (122) and a controller (112) of the system, is programmed (706) with unique transmitter identifiers (414) and corresponding transmitter locations; and a locator signal (406) is periodically transmitted (708) from the sub-areas during time slots (408) coordinated such that, within a sub-area, no more than one transmitter transmits during each time slot. The locator signal includes one of the unique transmitter identifiers for identifying the transmitter sending the locator signal.

Abstract: A location is determined (402) at which a subscriber unit (122, 300) communicating with a first wireless system is positioned. A distance between the location and a second wireless system preferred by the subscriber unit is calculated (404), and, based upon the distance, it is decided (408) whether the subscriber unit will scan for a signal from the second wireless system.

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 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 digital sync signal (502) is transmitted (702) from K transmitters (206) of a cluster (402), followed by K fine tuning signals (506) during K time slots (510), each time slot assigned to a transmitter. Each fine tuning signal comprises a pair of tones (512) separated in frequency by a predetermined amount. A portable subscriber unit (122) receives (706) the sync signal and the fine tuning signals, and makes (708) a rough estimate of the beginning of the fine tuning signals from the sync signal and from knowledge about the time slots. The portable subscriber unit computes (710) for each time slot a 2M-point Fourier transform (FT) on a received signal including M fine tuning signals received during the time slot from a transmitter of the cluster and from M-1 corresponding transmitters of adjacent clusters (404). The portable subscriber unit then fine tunes (722) the rough estimate through FT calculations.

Abstract: A selective call receiver unit (100) having a post detection filtering system optimized for both simulcast delay spread and receiver sensitivity includes a receiver (20), a detector (30) for detecting a message and providing a detected signal, a first post detection filter (40) for filtering the detected signal and further being optimized for sensitivity providing a first filtered signal, and a second post detection filter (41) for filtering the detected signal and further being optimized for simulcast delay spread providing a second filtered signal. In addition, a combiner 45 is used for selectively combining the first filtered signal with the second filtered signal.

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 method and the corresponding messaging system of selecting a transmitter for directed message delivery set is a messaging system including a plurality of transmitters arranged and constructed to operate in a simulcast or non-simulcast mode, the method including directing a first and a second transmitter to transmit in the simulcast mode, respectively, a first signal including a reference parameter and a first identification signal and a second signal including the reference parameter and a second identification signal, the first identification signal and the second identification signal distinguished from the reference parameter by, respectively, a first and a second predetermined amount, and receiving an acknowledgment signal that includes a indication of the first identification signal relative to the second identification signal or both relative to a threshold as determined at a messaging unit location, the indication corresponding to a preferred transmitter, selected from the first and the second transm

Abstract: A method and apparatus receives a symbol and subdivides (720) the symbol into a plurality of fragments. The method and apparatus perform (704) for the plurality of fragments a plurality of correlations with at least one possible symbol value, thereby producing a plurality of complex values corresponding to each fragment and further corresponding to the at least one possible symbol value. From the plurality of complex values a plurality of overall Fourier transforms are computed (706) across a frequency range, and a peak value in the plurality of overall Fourier transforms is located (708). The symbol is then determined (710) from the peak value.

Abstract: A communication system (100) for dynamically selecting transmitters (115) for message transmission includes the transmitters (115) for sending transmission signals and a portable messaging unit (105) for receiving the transmission signals, calculating signal strengths of the transmission signals, and transmitting a signal indicative of the signal strengths. A controller (110) receives the signal and determines therefrom carrier-to-interference (C/I) values indicative of relative strengths of the transmission signals received by the portable messaging unit (105). Prior to message delivery, the controller (110) determines a selected transmitter (115) for transmitting a message to the portable messaging unit (105). The selected transmitter (115) is associated with a lowest C/I value that is chosen from the C/I values and that exceeds a C/I threshold value.

Abstract: Inbound channel access is facilitated in a two-way messaging system (FIG. 1) utilizing a frequency-hopped spread-spectrum modulation technique on a set of hopping frequencies. First and second subsets of the set of hopping frequencies are defined (504), the first and second subsets being orthogonal to one another. Scheduled transmissions are communicated (514) on the first subset, and ALOHA transmissions are communicated (514) on the second subset.