Method and apparatus for dynamically grouping transmitters for message transmission in a communication system
First Claim
1. A method for dynamically selecting transmitters for message transmission in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
- sending, at a known time and carrier frequency, transmission signals from the transmitters;
calculating carrier-to-interference (C/I) values indicative of relative strengths of the transmission signals as received at the known time and carrier frequency by a portable messaging unit (PMU) included in the communication system; and
determining, prior to message delivery, a selected transmitter for transmitting a message to the PMU, the selected transmitter associated with a lowest C/I value that is chosen from the C/I values and that exceeds a C/I threshold value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system (100) for dynamically selecting transmitters (115) for message transmission includes the transmitters (115) for sending transmission signals and a portable messaging unit (105) for receiving the transmission signals, calculating signal strengths of the transmission signals, and transmitting a signal indicative of the signal strengths. A controller (110) receives the signal and determines therefrom carrier-to-interference (C/I) values indicative of relative strengths of the transmission signals received by the portable messaging unit (105). Prior to message delivery, the controller (110) determines a selected transmitter (115) for transmitting a message to the portable messaging unit (105). The selected transmitter (115) is associated with a lowest C/I value that is chosen from the C/I values and that exceeds a C/I threshold value.
104 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for dynamically selecting transmitters for message transmission in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
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sending, at a known time and carrier frequency, transmission signals from the transmitters; calculating carrier-to-interference (C/I) values indicative of relative strengths of the transmission signals as received at the known time and carrier frequency by a portable messaging unit (PMU) included in the communication system; and determining, prior to message delivery, a selected transmitter for transmitting a message to the PMU, the selected transmitter associated with a lowest C/I value that is chosen from the C/I values and that exceeds a C/I threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A communication system for dynamically selecting transmitters for message transmission, the communication system comprising:
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the transmitters for sending, at a known time and carrier frequency, transmission signals; a portable messaging unit (PMU) for receiving at the known time and carrier frequency the transmission signals, calculating signal strengths of the transmission signals, and transmitting a signal indicative of the signal strengths; and a controller for receiving the signal, determining therefrom carrier-to-interference (C/I) values indicative of relative strengths of the transmission signals received by the PMU prior to message delivery to the PMU, and determining a selected transmitter for transmitting a message to the PMU, the selected transmitter associated with a lowest C/I value that is chosen from the C/I values and that exceeds a C/I threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A portable messaging unit (PMU) for receiving signals, the PMU comprising:
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a transceiver for receiving, at a known time and carrier frequency, transmission signals transmitted by transmitters; calculating means coupled to the transceiver for calculating carrier-to-interference (C/I) values indicative of relative strengths of the transmission signals; and determining means coupled to the calculating means for determining, prior to message delivery to the PMU, a selected transmitter for transmitting a message to the PMU, the selected transmitter associated with a lowest C/I value that is chosen from the C/I values and that exceeds a C/I threshold value, wherein the transceiver transmits a signal indicative of the selected transmitter for subsequent use in transmitting the message to the PMU. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A controller for dynamically grouping transmitters for message transmission to portable messaging units (PMUs), the controller comprising:
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a receiver for receiving a first signal indicative of first signal strengths of transmission signals received by a first PMU and a second signal indicative of second signal strengths of transmission signals received by a second PMU; a calculator coupled to the receiver for computing first carrier-to-interference (C/I) values indicative of relative strengths of the transmission signals received by the first PMU and for computing second C/I values indicative of relative strengths of the transmission signals received by the second PMU; and a sender coupled to the calculator for determining, from the first C/I values and prior to message delivery to the first and second PMUs, a first selected transmitter and a first reuse factor for transmitting a first message to the first PMU, the first reuse factor included in a number of reuse factors used by the controller for grouping the transmitters for message delivery, and for determining, from the second C/I values, a second selected transmitter and a second reuse factor for transmitting a second message to the second PMU, the second reuse factor also included in the number of reuse factors. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification