Expanding a two-way paging system for high inbound traffic from stationary sites

• US 6,128,472 A
• Filed: 06/15/1998
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Wireless Online, Inc.
• Inventors: Karmi, Yair, Harel, Haim, Zorman, Ilan, Weiss, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William G.
• Application Number:
  US09/094,922
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 455/31.2, 455/31.3, 455/412, 455/500, 455/501-503, 455/514, 455/526, 455/561, 455/9, 455/15, 455/16, 340/825.44, 340/825.47, 370/310, 370/313, 370/345, 370/442-43
• US Class Current: 340/7.21
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A system and method for expanding high inbound message traffic in a two-way pager network. The network includes a central base station which receives inbound messages from a plurality of subscriber units via a plurality of receiver base stations, and wherein a central base station controller is adapted for receiving only one inbound message from a subscriber during each inbound transmission time slot. Inbound message capacity is expanded by providing a message management system between the receivers and the central base station controller. Subscribers are selectively grouped into a multicast group for simultaneously transmitting messages to the message management system, the simultaneously transmitted messages making up a multicast message group. The message management system receives the multicast message group, directs exactly one selected message of the multicast message group to the central base station controller, and diverts the remaining messages to a multicast processor.

Claims

1. In a two-way pager network wherein a central base station receives inbound messages from a plurality of subscriber units via a plurality of receiver sites, and wherein a central base station controller is adapted for receiving only one inbound message from a selected subscriber unit during each one of a plurality of inbound transmission time slots, a method for increasing inbound message traffic to said central base station, comprising:

providing a message management system between said plurality of receiver sites and said central base station controller;

grouping selected ones of the plurality of subscriber units into a multicast group for simultaneously transmitting messages to said message management system, said simultaneously transmitted messages making up a multicast message group;

receiving, at the plurality of receiver sites coupled to the message management system, said simultaneously transmitted messages of said multicast message group;

directing exactly one selected message of said multicast message group to said central base station controller; and

diverting remaining messages of said multicast message group to a message processor.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting a group representative subscriber unit from said multicast group for requesting a transmission time slot from the central base station controller; and

allocating to each subscriber unit in said multicast group the transmission time slot.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

assigning to each subscriber unit in said multicast group a common identifier from a plurality of multicast group identifiers, said common identifier being transmitted with each simultaneously transmitted message of said multicast message group; and

storing said plurality of multicast group identifiers in the message management system.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

filtering said received multicast message group according to said stored identifiers;

diverting to a message processor all but exactly one selected message of said multicast messages group which correspond to one of said stored identifiers; and

directing any received messages not corresponding to one of said stored identifiers to the central base station controller.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of diverting to a message processor further comprises:

decoding said diverted messages for information requested by a user; and

transferring said information to the user.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining inbound message requirements from a user;

storing said inbound message requirements in the message processor; and

requesting said simultaneously transmitted messages from selected ones of said plurality of subscriber units according to said inbound message requirements.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of requesting further comprises:

sending an inbound multicast request message to the central base station controller according to said inbound message requirements; and

receiving, in response to the inbound multicast request message, the diverted messages from the message management system.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said multicast processor compares said diverted messages with said stored inbound message requirements.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

verifying that all messages are received according to said stored inbound message requirements; and

requesting said selected ones of the plurality of subscriber units to retransmit if not all messages correspond to said inbound message requirements.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said messages are transmitted in accordance with a protocol belonging to the FLEX.sub.™

family wherein a transmission cycle is divided into a plurality of frames.

11. In a two way pager network wherein a central base station receives inbound messages from a plurality of subscriber units via a plurality of receivers, and wherein a central base station controller is adapted for receiving only one message from a selected subscriber unit during each one of a plurality of inbound transmission time slots, a device for increasing message traffic to said central base station, the device being operably coupled between said plurality of receivers and said central base station controller, comprising:

a message manager including a computer coupled to said plurality of receivers and a plurality of transmitters, to group selected ones of said subscriber units into a multicast group for simultaneously transmitting messages to said central base station, to direct exactly one selected message of said multicast message group to said central base station controller, and to divert remaining messages of said multicast message group; and

at least one message processor, coupled to said message manager, to receive said remaining messages.

12. In a two-way pager network wherein a central base station receives, in accordance with a user'"'"'s requirements, inbound messages from a plurality of subscriber units via a plurality of receiver sites, and wherein a central base station controller is adapted for receiving only one inbound message from a selected subscriber unit during each one of a plurality of inbound transmission time slots, a message management system operably coupled between said plurality of receiver sites and said central base station controller for increasing inbound message traffic to said central base station, said system comprising:

a message manager to group selected ones the plurality of subscriber units into a multicast group for simultaneously transmitting messages, said simultaneously transmitting messages making up a multicast message group, said message manager further comprising;

a plurality of first communication channels to receive said multicast message group;

a second communication channel coupled to said central base station controller;

a filter to direct exactly one selected message of said multicast message group to said central base station controller via said second communication channel; and

at least one of a third communication channel for passing remaining messages of said multicast group;

a message processor coupled to each one of said third communication channels, to receive and process said remaining messages.

13. The message management system of claim 12, wherein the message processor further includes:

a user interface to receive inbound message requirements from a user;

a computer processor coupled to said user interface; and

a computer-readable medium coupled to said computer processor including;

code that stores said inbound message requirements;

code that directs said computer processor to request said multicast message group according to said inbound message requirements; and

code that directs the first processor to compare said received remaining messages with said requested multicast message group.

14. The message management system of claim 13, wherein the message manager also includes:

a second computer processor coupled to said at least one third communication channel;

a second computer-readable medium coupled to said second processor including;

code that directs said second processor to select one message of said multicast message group for passing to said central base station controller;

code that directs said second processor to filter remaining messages according to said inbound message requirements; and

code that directs said second processor to divert to said message processor remaining messages of said multicast messages.

15. The message management system of claim 12 wherein said central base station operates in accordance with a protocol belonging to the FLEX.sub.™

family, wherein a transmission cycle is divided into a plurality of frames.