Abstract: A scheduling component associated with a data channel configures initial reserved bandwidth allocations for each agency permitted access to a shared data channel. When sufficient bandwidth is available on the shared data channel to meet all bandwidth requests, the scheduling component schedules access to available random access slots on the shared data channel. When an agency accesses a scheduled random access slot, the agency is able to reserve additional reserved slots on the shared data channel for data transmission on an on-demand basis. The scheduling component enables bandwidth management controls when one or more requests for the additional reserved slots on the shared data channel cannot be fulfilled due to insufficient available additional reserved slots on the shared data channel and controls access to the shared data channel by distributing limited access permissions for future available random access slots to agencies permitted access to the shared data channel.

Abstract: A scheduling component associated with a data channel configures initial reserved bandwidth allocations for each agency permitted access to a shared data channel. When sufficient bandwidth is available on the shared data channel to meet all bandwidth requests, the scheduling component schedules access to available random access slots on the shared data channel. When an agency accesses a scheduled random access slot, the agency is able to reserve additional reserved slots on the shared data channel for data transmission on an on-demand basis. The scheduling component enables bandwidth management controls when one or more requests for the additional reserved slots on the shared data channel cannot be fulfilled due to insufficient available additional reserved slots on the shared data channel and controls access to the shared data channel by distributing limited access permissions for future available random access slots to agencies permitted access to the shared data channel.

Abstract: A dispatch controller (103) located logically external to an existing telephone network (101) is coupled to the existing telephone network. When an originating communication device (e.g., 111) desires to initiate a dispatch call, the originating device transmits a call request to the existing telephone network, wherein the call request includes an identification (ID) of the originating device and a target address associated with the dispatch controller. The existing telephone network provides the call request to the dispatch controller. Upon receiving the call request, the dispatch controller retrieves dispatch-related information from a database (105) coupled to the dispatch controller based on the originating device's ID. Based on the retrieved dispatch-related information, the dispatch controller identifies a group of target communication devices (e.g., 107-110) for the dispatch call.

Abstract: A dispatch controller (103) located logically external to an existing telephone network (101) is coupled to the existing telephone network. When an originating communication device (e.g., 111) desires to initiate a dispatch call, the originating device transmits a call request to the existing telephone network, wherein the call request includes an identification (ID) of the originating device and a target address associated with the dispatch controller. The existing telephone network provides the call request to the dispatch controller. Upon receiving the call request, the dispatch controller retrieves dispatch-related information from a database (105) coupled to the dispatch controller based on the originating device's ID. Based on the retrieved dispatch-related information, the dispatch controller identifies a group of target communication devices (e.g., 107-110) for the dispatch call.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of handing-off a remote unit (113) from a first base station (101) to a second base station (102). The remote unit (113) communicates with the first base station (101) and establishes communication with a second base station (102). It is then determined, preferably by the remote unit (113), that the remote unit (113) should hand-off to the second base station (102). An overhead information start time is then determined. The remote unit (102) may determine when the overhead information will be broadcast by the second bast station (102), thereby establishing an overhead information start time. The overhead information start time is the time when overhead information will be transmitted from the second base station (102). The first base station (101) and the second base station (102) may be synchronized to transmit the overhead information at approximately the same time.

Abstract: Remote units (113) that require locating are managed by a queue controller (180) such that the number and location of remote units (113) that are transmitting at increased power at any given time is limited. In particular, a queue controller (180) places identification information for remote units (113) requiring location onto queues (203) associated with base stations supplying reference pilots to the remote units (113). Additionally, identification (ID) information for the remote units (113) requiring location is placed onto queues (203) associated with base stations neighboring the base stations supplying the reference pilot to the remote units (113). The queues (203) operate on a first-in-first-out (FIFO) basis, that output remote unit ID at periodic intervals. Once all queues (203) have been emptied of the ID of a particular remote unit (113), location takes place for that remote unit (113).

Abstract: The location of a remote unit (113) within a wireless communication system (100) is determined by all base stations (101) within the wireless communication system (100) initiating a first page (wide-area location page) that is broadcast to the remote unit (113) over a paging channel. The serving and neighbor base stations are determined from the remote unit's (113) response to the wide-area location page, and those base stations are instructed to tune receiving elements to obtain data that will be transmitted by the remote unit (113) during location. A second message (Location Page Message) is then broadcast to the remote unit (113) via the serving base station (101). The Location Page Message instructs the remote unit (113) to periodically transmit a known Remote Unit Location Message (RULM) with increasing power levels for a predetermined number of times so that the remote unit's (113) location can be achieved.

Abstract: A window operating system includes a motor control circuit for controlling the operation of direct current permanent magnet motors mounted on window operators associated with each window. Each of the motors on each of the windows is connected to the control circuit only by a pair of wires which both power the motor and provide information to the control circuit as to the status of motor operation. The status of motor operation is determined by monitoring the back electromagnetic force expressed by the motors. To help differentiate back electromagnetic force from supply voltage supplied to the motors, the motors are supplied with full rectified alternating current power, rather than simple direct current, so that the presence or absence of zero voltage between half waves of the voltage expressed across the motors can be monitored to determine the absence or presence of back electromotive force during those time periods.