Battery saving method for selective call receivers
First Claim
1. A method for controlling operation of a plurality of selective call receivers each of which comprises a receiver portion, responsive to a signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a synchronizing portion and a plurality of blocks following the synchronizing portion containing messages, the method comprising steps of:
- designating a first group of selective call receivers for receiving messages in any of the plurality of frames;
designating a second group of selective call receivers for receiving messages only in at least one particular block of each frame;
inserting a frame information indicator in the synchronizing portion for each frame;
the first and second groups of selective call receivers activating their receiver portions during the synchronizing portion for each frame; and
assigning values to said frame information indicator for indicating to the first and second groups of selective call receivers whether a message designated for their reception is contained in an associated frame and whether the first and/or second group of selective call receivers should maintain their receiver portions powered-up for at least a portion of the associated frame.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
22 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for controlling operation of a plurality of selective call receivers each of which comprises a receiver portion, responsive to a signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a synchronizing portion and a plurality of blocks following the synchronizing portion containing messages, the method comprising steps of:
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designating a first group of selective call receivers for receiving messages in any of the plurality of frames; designating a second group of selective call receivers for receiving messages only in at least one particular block of each frame; inserting a frame information indicator in the synchronizing portion for each frame; the first and second groups of selective call receivers activating their receiver portions during the synchronizing portion for each frame; and assigning values to said frame information indicator for indicating to the first and second groups of selective call receivers whether a message designated for their reception is contained in an associated frame and whether the first and/or second group of selective call receivers should maintain their receiver portions powered-up for at least a portion of the associated frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A selective call communication system comprising:
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a selective call station including a selective call terminal for receiving selective call messages and for formatting the selective call messages into a signal comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a synchronizing portion and a plurality of blocks following the synchronizing portion containing messages, a transmitter for transmitting the signal; a plurality of selective call receivers each comprising a receiver portion for receiving the signal, a first group of selective call receivers for receiving messages in any of the plurality of frames, a second group of selective call receivers for receiving messages only in at least one particular block of each frame, the first and second groups of selective call receivers activating their receiver portions during the synchronizing portion for each frame; the selective call terminal inserting a frame information indicator in the synchronizing portion for each frame and assigning values to said frame information indicator for indicating to the first and second groups of selective call receivers whether a message designated for their reception is contained in an associated frame and whether the first and/or second group of selective call receivers should maintain their receiver portions powered-up for at least a portion of the associated frame. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification