Paging method and apparatus

• US 5,613,212 A
• Filed: 02/29/1996
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GPNE Corp.
• Original Assignee: Digicomm, Ltd.
• Inventors: Tsui, Po S., Wong, Gabriel K. Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US08/609,978
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 455/33.1, 455/33.2, 455/33.4, 455/53.1, 455/102, 455/103, 455/56.1, 455/31.1, 455/54.1, 370/95.1, 370/95.3, 370/100.1, 370/105.5, 340/825.44, 340/311.1, 379/57, 379/60
• US Class Current: 455/507
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/002 Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/02 Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/022 One-way selective calling networks, e.g. wide area paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/025 with acknowledge back capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/022 Selective call receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/185 Selective call encoders for paging networks, e.g. paging centre devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A two-way paging system utilizes four local frequencies for transmissions between pager units (22) and a central control station (20). A first local frequency (f₁) carries a local clock; a second local frequency (f₂) carries communications packets from the central control station to paging units; a third local frequency (f₃) carries communication packets from the pager units to the central control station; and a fourth local frequency (f₄) carries a status or request signal from the paging units (22) to the central control station (20). Transmissions on the fourth local frequency (f₄) are in accordance with a time divided slot allocation among pager units accessing the central control station (20). For a two-way paging system having a plurality of central control stations (420_x) servicing a corresponding plurality of cells, a total of eight frequencies are utilized within any one cell. Four of the utilized frequencies are the local frequencies (f₁ -f₄) [which may differ from cell to cell], and four of the utilized frequencies are lower power common frequencies or switching frequencies (C₁ -C₄) which are used to switch or hand-off a pager unit (422) traveling from one cell to another.

Claims

1. A control station which communicates with a paging unit, the control station comprising:

a first transmitter for transmitting a set of local frequencies to a cell region associated with the control station;

a second transmitter for transmitting a set of switching signal frequencies to a switching region associated with the control station;

a clock unit for generating a local clock signal and a switching clock signal;

a processor for generating message information and switching information; and

wherein a first of the local frequencies is modulated to carry the local clock signal, a second of the local frequencies is modulated to carry the message information;

a first of the switching signal frequencies is modulated to carry the switching clock signal; and

a second of the switching signal frequencies is modulated to carry the switching information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first transmitter is operated at a greater power than the second transmitter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cell region has a greater geographical extent than the switching region.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first receiver which receives a station switch request signal from the paging unit, the station switch request signal including a frame of information comprising a plurality of time divided slots related to switching clock signal, one of the plurality of time slots as selected by the paging unit bearing information serving to at least temporarily associate with the paging unit with the selected time slot;

wherein the processor prepares a paging unit transmit authorization signal, the paging unit transmit authorization signal including a frame of information comprising a same plurality of time divided slots as the station switch request signal and information in a same selected one of the time slots as in the station switch request signal; and

wherein the first transmitter transmits the paging unit transmit authorization signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor of the control station generates a local frequency download message for downloading the set of local frequencies for use in further communication between the paging unit and the control station, and wherein the first transmitter transmits the local frequency download message.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second of the local frequencies is used to transmit a pager command and alphanumeric data from the central control station to the paging unit;

wherein a third of the local frequencies is used to transmit alphanumeric data from the paging unit to the central control station; and

wherein a fourth of the local frequencies is used to transmit a transmission request signal from the paging unit to the central control station;

wherein the transmission request signal is transmitted in a predetermined time slot assigned to the paging unit, the predetermined time slot being related to the local clock signal and assigned whereby the fourth of the local frequencies is utilizable by a plurality of other paging units.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein in response to the paging unit transmit authorization signal the controls station receives a paging unit identification message which includes paging unit identification information, and wherein the processor determines whether the paging unit identification information is valid.