Method and apparatus for selecting a receive frequency in a communication receiver
First Claim
1. A method for selecting a receive frequency in a communication receiver operating in a communication system having a plurality of coverage areas, a coverage area accommodating a transmission of messages to the communication receiver, wherein the coverage area is divided into a plurality of zones, the method comprising the steps of:
- storing in the communication receiver a primary scan list having a top and a bottom and containing coverage area identification parameters, the primary scan list initially ordered from a most frequented coverage area at the top to a least frequented coverage area at the bottom, the parameters including at least one of a coverage area identifier for identifying a coverage area and a zone identifier for identifying a zone within a corresponding coverage area, and at least one corresponding frequency identifier for identifying the receive frequency on which the communication receiver can receive message information in the corresponding coverage area;
choosing from the primary scan list a frequency identifier corresponding to the most frequented coverage area;
tuning the communication receiver to the receive frequency identified by the frequency identifier andthereafter performing baud rate detection on a signal received on the receive frequency, wherein, in response to finding a baud rate matching one of at least one predetermined baud rate, the method further comprises the steps of;
decoding, from the signal received, at least one of a received coverage area identifier and a received zone identifier in an attempt to find a coverage area match by determining that the at least one of the received coverage area identifier and the received zone identifier matches one of the corresponding coverage area identification parameters stored in the communication receiver; and
locking the communication receiver to the signal on the receive frequency in response to finding the coverage area match.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus select a receive frequency of a receiver (400) in a system having coverage areas divided into zones. A primary scan list is stored in the receiver (400) and contains coverage area identification parameters. The list is initially ordered from a most frequented coverage area at the top to a least frequented coverage area at the bottom. The parameters can include a coverage area identifier and a zone identifier, and at least one corresponding frequency identifier. A frequency identifier is chosen (604) from the top of the list and the receiver (400) is tuned to the receive frequency identified thereby. Baud rate detection is performed (608) and, in response to finding a predetermined baud rate, a received coverage area identifier and/or a received zone identifier is decoded (612). If the received identifier matches a corresponding parameter stored in the receiver, the receiver (400) is locked (904) to a signal on the receive frequency.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for selecting a receive frequency in a communication receiver operating in a communication system having a plurality of coverage areas, a coverage area accommodating a transmission of messages to the communication receiver, wherein the coverage area is divided into a plurality of zones, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing in the communication receiver a primary scan list having a top and a bottom and containing coverage area identification parameters, the primary scan list initially ordered from a most frequented coverage area at the top to a least frequented coverage area at the bottom, the parameters including at least one of a coverage area identifier for identifying a coverage area and a zone identifier for identifying a zone within a corresponding coverage area, and at least one corresponding frequency identifier for identifying the receive frequency on which the communication receiver can receive message information in the corresponding coverage area; choosing from the primary scan list a frequency identifier corresponding to the most frequented coverage area; tuning the communication receiver to the receive frequency identified by the frequency identifier and thereafter performing baud rate detection on a signal received on the receive frequency, wherein, in response to finding a baud rate matching one of at least one predetermined baud rate, the method further comprises the steps of; decoding, from the signal received, at least one of a received coverage area identifier and a received zone identifier in an attempt to find a coverage area match by determining that the at least one of the received coverage area identifier and the received zone identifier matches one of the corresponding coverage area identification parameters stored in the communication receiver; and locking the communication receiver to the signal on the receive frequency in response to finding the coverage area match. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A communication receiver operating in a communication system having a plurality of coverage areas, a coverage area accommodating a transmission of messages to the communication receiver, wherein the coverage area is divided into a plurality of zones, the communication receiver for selecting a receive frequency and comprising:
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a receiver element for receiving the messages; a processor coupled to the receiver element for controlling the communication receiver and for decoding the messages; a timer coupled to the processor for indicating time of day; a memory coupled to the processor for storing in the communication receiver a primary scan list having a top and a bottom and containing coverage area identification parameters, the primary scan list initially ordered from a most frequented coverage area at the top to a least frequented coverage area at the bottom, the parameters including at least one of a coverage area identifier for identifying a coverage area and a zone identifier for identifying a zone within a corresponding coverage area, and at least one corresponding frequency identifier for identifying the receive frequency on which the communication receiver can receive message information in the corresponding coverage area; a read only memory coupled to the processor, comprising; an initialization element for controlling said processor to perform a choosing from the primary scan list of a frequency identifier corresponding to the most frequented coverage area; a first tuner element for controlling said processor to perform a tuning of the communication receiver to the receive frequency identified by the frequency identifier; a baud rate detection element for controlling said processor to perform a baud rate detection on a signal received on the receive frequency; a parameter decoder element for controlling said processor to perform a decoding from the signal received, in response to finding a baud rate matching one of at least one predetermined baud rate, of at least one of a received coverage area identifier and a received zone identifier in an attempt to find a coverage area match by determining that the at least one of the received coverage area identifier and the received zone identifier matches one of the corresponding coverage area identification parameters stored in the communication receiver; and a first lock element for controlling said processor to perform a locking of the communication receiver to the signal on the receive frequency, in response to finding the coverage area match. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification