Method for optimizing memory utilization of a selective call unit
First Claim
1. In a selective call unit that receives a sequence of interspersed message fragments transmitted by a messaging system, a method for optimizing memory utilization of the selective call unit, the method comprising in the selective call unit the steps of:
- receiving a message length command from the messaging system indicating a total message length of a message, said message including a plurality of interspersed message fragments, pending transmission from the messaging system;
determining whether there is sufficient memory available in the selective call unit according to the message length command;
reserving memory space equivalent to the total message length for receiving the message when the total message length is equal to or less than available memory space; and
disallowing reception of the message when the total message length is greater than available memory space.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A selective call unit (SCU) (122) is used for receiving a sequence of interspersed message fragments (FIG. 4) belonging to a plurality of messages transmitted by a messaging system. The SCU (122) receives a message length command from the messaging system indicating a total message length of a message pending transmission from the messaging system. Each message fragment includes a message portion of the plurality of messages and information indicating the length of the message fragment. The SCU (122) then determines whether there is sufficient memory available for receiving the message according to the message length command. The SCU (122) reserves memory space equivalent to the total message length when the total message length is equal to or less than available memory space, and disallows reception of the message when the total message length is greater than available memory space.
10 Citations
14 Claims
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1. In a selective call unit that receives a sequence of interspersed message fragments transmitted by a messaging system, a method for optimizing memory utilization of the selective call unit, the method comprising in the selective call unit the steps of:
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receiving a message length command from the messaging system indicating a total message length of a message, said message including a plurality of interspersed message fragments, pending transmission from the messaging system;
determining whether there is sufficient memory available in the selective call unit according to the message length command;
reserving memory space equivalent to the total message length for receiving the message when the total message length is equal to or less than available memory space; and
disallowing reception of the message when the total message length is greater than available memory space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
wherein each message stored in the selective call unit includes a message priority level originally transmitted by the messaging system; the selective call unit further including the steps of;
automatically selecting stored messages with a lower priority level than the message pending transmission, and designating selected messages to be erasable; and
determining available memory space from an amount of memory freed by stored messages designated as erasable and unused memory space.
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7. The method as set forth in claim 5, further comprising the steps of:
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receiving from a user of the selective call unit a priority level for each message stored in the selective call unit;
automatically selecting stored messages with a lower priority level than the message pending, and designating selected messages to be erasable; and
determining available memory space from an amount of memory freed by stored messages designated as erasable and unused memory space.
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8. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of alerting a user of the selective call unit to purge stored messages within a predetermined time to make room for the message pending transmission.
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9. The method as set forth in claim 1, the selective call unit further including the step of transferring stored messages in the selective call unit to a peripheral device having memory coupled to the selective call unit to make room for the message when available memory space is insufficient to store the message.
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10. In a selective call unit that receives a sequence of interspersed message fragments transmitted by a messaging system, a method for optimizing memory utilization of the selective call unit, the method comprising in the selective call unit the steps of:
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receiving a message length command from the messaging system indicative of a total message length and a priority level of a message, said message including a plurality of interspersed message fragments, pending transmission from the messaging system;
determining whether there is sufficient memory available in the selective call unit according to the total message length and according to stored messages each having a message priority level, the determining step including the steps of;
automatically selecting stored messages with a lower priority level than the message, and designating selected messages to be erasable, and determining available memory space from an amount of memory freed by stored messages designated as erasable and unused memory space;
reserving memory space equivalent to the total message length for receiving the message when the total message length is equal to or less than available memory space;
alerting a user of the selective call unit to purge stored messages within a predetermined time to make room for the message when the total message length is greater than available memory space; and
disallowing reception of the message when, after completing the steps of automatically designating stored messages erasable and the user purging stored messages, the total message length is greater than available memory space.
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11. A messaging system for transmitting to a selective call unit a sequence of interspersed message fragments, the messaging system comprising:
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a caller interface for receiving a plurality of messages from a caller communicating with the messaging system, the plurality of messages are designated for transmission to the selective call unit as directed by the caller;
a transmitter for transmitting information to the selective call unit;
a controller couple to the caller interface and coupled to the transmitter for controlling operations of the messaging system, wherein the controller is programmed to;
determine a plurality of message length commands each indicative of a message length of a corresponding one of the plurality of messages; and
cause the transmitter to transmit, to the selective call unit, the plurality of message length commands, and a predetermined number of interspersed message fragments corresponding to a portion of the plurality of messages;
the selective call unit further comprising;
a receiver for receiving a message length command, from the plurality of message length commands, indicative of the message length of a corresponding one of the plurality of messages;
a memory for storing messages received from the messaging system; and
a processor coupled to the memory and coupled to the receiver for controlling operations of the selective call unit, and for determining whether there is sufficient memory available for receiving the corresponding one of the plurality of message according to the message length command, wherein the processor is programmed to;
reserve memory space in the memory equivalent to the total message length for receiving the corresponding one of the plurality of message when the total message length is equal to or less than available memory space, and disallow reception of the message when the total message length is greater than available memory space.
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12. A messaging system for transmitting to at least one selective call unit sequence of interspersed message fragments, the messaging system comprising:
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a caller interface for receiving a plurality of messages from at least one caller communicating with the messaging system, the plurality of messages are designated for transmission to the at least one selective call unit as directed by the at least one caller;
a transmitter for transmitting information to the at least one selective call unit;
a controller couple to the caller interface and coupled to the transmitter for controlling operations of the messaging system, wherein the controller is programmed to;
determine a plurality of message length commands each indicative of a message length of a corresponding one of the plurality of messages; and
cause the transmitter to transmit, to the at least one selective call unit, the plurality of message length commands, and a predetermined number of interspersed message fragments corresponding to a portion of the plurality of messages, wherein each message length command is transmitted in a corresponding one of a plurality of message fragments, each message fragment corresponding to a first message fragment of a corresponding one of the plurality of messages, and wherein the predetermined number of interspersed message fragments comprise a subsequent set of message fragments to complete transmission of the plurality of messages.
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13. In a messaging system having a transmitter for transmitting to a selective call unit a sequence of interspersed message fragments, a method for optimizing memory utilization of the selective call unit, the method comprising in the messaging system the steps of:
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receiving a plurality of messages from a least one caller communicating with the messaging system, the plurality of messages pending transmission to the selective call unit;
determining a plurality of message length commands each indicative of a message length of a corresponding one of the plurality of messages; and
causing the transmitter to transmit, to the selective call unit, the plurality of message length commands, and a predetermined number of interspersed message fragments corresponding to a portion of the plurality of messages, wherein each message length command is transmitted in a corresponding one of plurality of message fragments, each message fragment corresponding to a first message fragment of a corresponding one of the plurality of messages, and wherein the predetermined number of interspersed message fragments comprise a subsequent set of message fragments to complete transmission of the plurality of messages.
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14. A selective call unit that receives a sequence of interspersed message fragments transmitted by a messaging system, the selective call unit comprising:
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a receiver for receiving a message length command from the messaging system indicating a total message length of a message, said message including a plurality of interspersed message fragments, pending transmission from the messaging system;
a memory for storing messages received from the messaging system; and
a processor coupled to the memory and coupled to the receiver for controlling operations of the selective call unit, and for determining whether there is sufficient memory available for receiving the message according to the message length command, wherein the processor is programmed to;
reserve memory space in the memory equivalent to the total message length for receiving the message when the total message length is equal to or less than available memory space, and disallow reception of the message when the total message length is greater than available memory space.
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Specification