Group message delivery in a time-division multiplexed paging system
First Claim
1. In a paging system delivering individual messages addressed to specific paging devices, a method of delivering a group message to a set of paging devices, the method comprising the steps:
- providing in said individual messages addressed to specific paging devices a group ring indicator field, the group ring indicator field indicating pending transmission of said group message; and
causing said set of paging devices to collect said group message in response to said group ring indicator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Group message delivery in a time multiplexed paging system is accomplished by providing in normal message packets a group ring indicator. A paging device collecting a message interrogates the group ring indicator to determine availability of a pending group message. If a group message is available, the paging device can target a dedicated time slot associated with group message transmission. In this manner, a single transmission of a group message is made available to all paging devices of the paging system. In one embodiment, the group ring indicator is a single bit indicating merely availability of a pending group message, the paging device then targeting and collecting the available group message to determine whether the paging device subscribes to that particular group message service. In a second embodiment, the group ring indicator indicates not only availability of a group message, but also the type of group message available. The paging device thereby determines based on the value of the group indicator whether the indicated available group message need be pursued.
114 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a paging system delivering individual messages addressed to specific paging devices, a method of delivering a group message to a set of paging devices, the method comprising the steps:
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providing in said individual messages addressed to specific paging devices a group ring indicator field, the group ring indicator field indicating pending transmission of said group message; and causing said set of paging devices to collect said group message in response to said group ring indicator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A paging system broadcasting individual message packets to paging devices according to a time-division multiplexed protocol wherein each of said paging devices are associated with certain time slots, a group message delivery system comprising:
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a transmission facility broadcasting said individual message packets to said paging devices, some of said individual message packets including a group ring indicator field indicating pending transmission of a group message by said transmission facility; and paging devices responsive to said group ring indicator field by targeting a group message time slot and collecting a group message during said group message time slot in response to said group ring indicator field indicating pending transmission of a group message. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a paging system transmitting individual messages to paging devices according to a time-division multiplexed protocol, a method of operating at least one of said paging devices to receive group messages, said method comprising:
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interrogating in a received individual message packet a group ring indicator field indicating pending transmission of a group message; targeting a group message time slot when said group ring indicator field indicates transmission of a group message in said targeted group message time slot; and capturing said group message during said group message time slot. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification