Abstract: A message transmission system (100) and method for providing flexible roaming to a receiving device (126) which includes a code memory (422) which stores addresses of a first type (1202) to enable reception of messages within a local geographic area, and an address of a second type (1214) to enable reception of the messages within a different geographic area. The message transmission system (100) includes a transmitter (SSID1) which transmits the addresses of the first type with the messages associated therewith within the local geographic area, and a controller (204) which controls conversion of the addresses of the first type to the address of the second type, and transfer of the address of the second type with the messages associated with the addresses of the first type to a transmitter (SSID2-SSID5) which transmits the address of the second type with the messages associated therewith to the receiving device when operating within the different geographic area.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a paging message on the cellular communication system (126) includes the steps of: acquiring a paging signal as a control channel for a selective call device (120), the paging signal indicating a geographic location, receiving a control flag indicating a cellular channel to the selective call device (120), registering with the cellular communication system (126) on the cellular channel indicated by the control flag of the paging signal, sending status information from the cellular communication system (126) to the paging communication system for authenticating the selective call device (120), receiving the paging message on the control channel of the paging communication system (350), transmitting an address and a vector on the control channel to the selective call device (120) directing the selective call device to the cellular channel of the cellular communication system (126) for receiving the paging message, reading a flag in the paging signal to determine if the paging communica

Abstract: A selective call system (100) having at least two base sites (120, 122, 124) for communicating with a plurality of selective call receivers (108) wherein at least one of the plurality of selective call receivers having acknowledge-back capability. A base site (110, 122, 114) has a base site transmitter (210) for communicating with a selective call receiver (108) and a base site receiver (214) for receiving an acknowledge-back signal from the selective call receiver (108). The selective call receiver (108) has a receiver (304) for receiving a signal from the base site (110, 122, 114), a decoder/controller (306) coupled to the receiver (304) for decoding the signal received from the base site transmitter (210), a status indicator(504) coupled to the decoder/controller (306) for indicating a predetermined status of a power supply for the selective call receiver (108).

Abstract: A messaging system capable of transmitting messages to receivers which roam between coverage areas. In one configuration, a coverage area (100) is divided into a plurality of zones (110). A single simulcast system identification (SSID) number is assigned which consists of a local identification number which identifies the coverage area (100), a zone identifier which identifies a zone (110) within the coverage area, traffic splitting flags and a frequency. For larger roaming areas, a network (200) is defined as consisting of a plurality of service areas (210) and is identified by network roaming identification information (NRI). NRI information and/or SSID information is stored in a receiver according to desired coverage and like information is transmitted in the corresponding zone or service area.

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: 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: A method is provided for signalling wherein one or more of a group of selective call receivers periodically synchronize to a portion of a received signal and determine whether an indicator indicating the presence of information for any of the group of selective call receivers reside within the received signal. If so, the selective call receivers determine whether other portions of the received signal contain information designated for them. Otherwise, if the indicator is not present, the selective call receivers conserve an energy source.

Abstract: A system controller (102) is for generating a compressed facsimile message in a radio communications system (100). The system controller (102) includes an image memory (203) for storing an optical image, means for image analysis (205), means for best scan angle identification (204), an image rotator (220), and a facsimile encoder (225). The means for image analysis (205) generates a long line analysis of a portion of the stored optical image using a scan angle. The means for best scan angle identification (204) identifies a best scan angle from one or more image analyses generated by the image analysis means (205). The image rotator (220) generates an aligned optical image by using the stored optical image and the best scan angle. The facsimile encoder (225) generates the compressed facsimile message from the aligned optical image.

Abstract: A radio communication device (600) comprises a microstrip antenna (300) having a planar antenna element (302) and a ground plane (314) coupled to the planar antenna element (302). The microstrip antenna further comprises a dielectric material (304) positioned between the planar antenna element (302) and the ground plane (314), and a primary receiver element (325, 326, 328) mechanically coupled to the ground plane (314). The microstrip antenna (300) further comprises a feeder (308, 310) electrically coupled between the planar antenna element (302) and the primary receiver element (325, 326, 328) for feeding an intercepted radio signal therebetween for down conversion by the primary receiver element (325, 326, 328). The radio communication device (600) also comprises a secondary receiver element (828) coupled to the primary receiver element (325, 326, 328) for demodulating the intercepted radio signal after down conversion by the primary receiver element (325, 326, 328).

Abstract: A satellite based paging communication system includes at least one satellite that communicates paging information to at least one terrestrial receiver some of which transmit an acknowledge signal so that message reception may be verified and satellite traffic controlled.

Abstract: A radio communication system (100) has radio receivers (106) assigned to a predetermined one of a plurality of time periods (FRAME 0-127). The radio communication system (100) comprises a transmitter (104) that transmits information during the predetermined time period (FRAME 0-127) assigned to at least one radio receiver (106). A receiver (202, 206) receives information directed to said at least one radio receivers (106), the radio receivers (106) being individually assigned to receive information during at least one of a plurality of predetermined time periods (FRAME 0-127). A monitoring device (1702) monitors a level of traffic associated with each of the predetermined time periods (FRAME 0-127) and a measuring device (1704) measures a level of traffic associated with the at least one radio receiver (106) over the assigned predetermined time period (FRAME 0-127).

Abstract: A selective call receiver (111) has a first mask (134A) stored within the selective call receiver (111) indicative of a first period of reception for receiving a transmitted communication signal (99) having a plurality of packets (100). Each of the transmitted packet (100) has message information (110). An identifier (106) identifies the packet (100). The control signal (108) is representative of a second mask (134B) indicative of a second period of reception. The second mask is compared with the first mask for determining the second period of reception of the selective call receiver (111). A correspondence between the first and second masks determines whether to change the first period of reception of the selective call receiver (111) for receiving at least one additional packet.

Abstract: A selective call receiver (106) receives one or more message packets of a transmitted fragmented message, where each of the one or more message packets includes an address (1605) and message data (1610), and the message data (1610) includes an indication (1702) of whether more message packets are to be received for the fragmented message. The selective call receiver (106) receives an address of each message packet, and then correlates (2908) the address to one or more predetermined addresses. After a successful correlation (2908), the selective call receiver (106) decodes the message data (1610) of each message packet, and then successively stores (2928, 2936, 2942) the decoded message data (1610) to reconstruct the fragmented message. The selective call receiver (106) determines that the fragmented message is completely reconstructed after detection (2918) in the decoded message data (1610) an indication (1702) that no more message packets are to be received for the fragmented message.

Abstract: A satellite based paging communication system comprises a plurality of terrestrial stations capable of communicating the paging information with at least one satellite. The satellite(s), in turn, are capable of communicating the paging information to at least one terrestrial receiver or terrestrial station. Also included is at least one control station for determining where and how to deliver the paging information to one or more of a plurality of terrestrial receivers (pagers), at least some of which are capable of receiving the paging information from one or more of the satellites and one or more of the terrestrial stations.

Abstract: A paging receiver (15) for receiving secure radio frequency (RF) communications comprises a receiver circuit (102) for receiving and demodulating a signal to obtain information. A memory device (108) is coupled to the receiver circuit (102) for storing the information. A de-encrypter (110) is coupled to the memory device (108) for de-encrypting the information and a decoder (112) is coupled to the de-encrypter (110) for decoding the de-encrypted information to derive a message. User input controls (120) selectably generate a user input signal. A controller (114) is coupled to the memory device (108) and the user input controls (120) for causing the memory device (108) to provide the information stored therein to the de-encrypter (110) in response to the user input signal being equivalent to a predetermined de-encryption signal.

Abstract: A data communication terminal (102) transmits messages to a plurality of data communication receivers (106), and has an input for receiving messages and assigning the same into a plurality of transmission frames which are assigned for transmission to the plurality data communication receivers. The data communication terminal (102) comprises a first memory (210) for storing the received messages, a timer (214) for generating periodic timing signals, a controller (204) responsive to the periodic timing signals, for recovering the stored messages and queueing the same into a second memory (1910) having a predetermined transmission frame queue capacity. A monitoring circuit (1902, 1908) monitors the transmission frame queue capacity of the second memory (1910), and expected transmission frame queue capacities for one or more subsequent transmission frames.

Abstract: A satellite based paging communication system comprises a plurality of terrestrial stations capable of communicating the paging information with at least one satellite. The satellite(s), in turn, are capable of communicating the paging information to at least one terrestrial receiver or terrestrial station. Also included is at least one control station for determining where and how to deliver the paging information to one or more of a plurality of terrestrial receivers (pagers), at least some of which are capable of receiving the paging information from one or more of the satellites and one or more of the terrestrial stations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus selectively rebroadcasts information received from a first selective call network system by a second selective call network system. A selective call receiver monitors the messages broadcast by the first selective call network system and, when no messages comprising the preamble code of the selective call receiver are received, the selective call receiver will, from time to time, monitor the messages transmitted by the second selective call network, including the messages rebroadcast from the first selective call network system.

Abstract: A battery capacity indicator is described which measures the battery terminal voltage at two discharge rates, monitoring the resultant differential battery voltage at predetermined time intervals, and comparing the resultant differential battery voltage to a set of predetermined differential battery voltages which are stored within a memory within the battery powered device. Each of the predetermined differential battery voltages corresponds to one of a set of predetermined battery capacities for each type of battery used in the device. The battery capacity indicator provides to the user a continuous display of the available battery capacity.

Abstract: A satellite based simulcast paging communication system comprises a plurality of terrestrial stations capable of simulcasting the paging information with at least one satellite for reception by one or more of a plurality of terrestrial receivers (pagers). Also included is at least one control station for determining where and how to deliver the paging information to achieve simulcast transmission.