System for transmitting and receiving short message service (SMS) messages

• US 6,505,052 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2000
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Jou, Yu-Cheun
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOW, CHARLES CHIANG
• Application Number:
  US09/495,788
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/515, 455/434, 455/458, 455/455, 455/464, 455/517, 455/516, 370/95.1, 370/85, 370/312
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system for accessing broadcast SMS messages over a wireless communication system. A base station transmits SMS messages periodically and aperiodically over a broadcast channel. The base station allocates periodic slots in the broadcast channel for each of the subscriber services providing the SMS messages and transmits slot parameters to mobile units. Using the slot parameter information, the mobile units periodically wake up to scan the broadcast channel. The period for each category of broadcast SMS messages may be different and the period may apply to a single broadcast channel. Messages arriving aperiodically can be queued and transmitted in pre-scheduled broadcast channel frames. Messages with inter-arrival interval greater than the specified transmission period are simply repeated.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting and receiving Short Message Service (SMS) messages over a broadcast channel in a spread spectrum system, wherein the SMS messages originate from a plurality of subscription services, comprising the steps of:

generating a parameter message to be transmitted from a base station to a mobile unit, wherein the parameter message contains a set of SMS transmission parameters for the broadcast channel;

processing the parameter message at the mobile unit; and

setting a periodic wake up schedule for the mobile unit in accordance with the set of SMS transmission parameters, wherein the mobile unit wakes up periodically in order to detect a broadcast SMS message in one of a plurality of broadcast channel frames;

wherein the set of SMS transmission parameters comprises;

a minimum transmission period, wherein the minimum transmission period is variable;

a transmission period, wherein the transmission period has a duration that is a multiple value of the minimum transmission period, and wherein the transmission period is variable;

a minimum transmission period offset, wherein the minimum transmission period offset directs the mobile unit to demodulate a specified broadcast channel frame during the minimum transmission period; and

a transmission period offset, wherein the transmission period offset directs the mobile unit to demodulate a specified broadcast channel frame during the transmission period;

wherein the transmission period has a value greater than or equal to a SMS message arrival rate, wherein the SMS message arrival rate is the rate at which the base station receives information from at least one of the plurality of subscriber services.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of broadcast channel frames is reserved for an aperiodic SMS message.

3. A method for transmitting and receiving Short Message Service (SMS) messages over a broadcast channel in a spread spectrum system, wherein the SMS messages originate from a plurality of subscription services, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a plurality of parameter messages over the broadcast channel, wherein each of the plurality of parameter messages contains a set of SMS transmission parameters;

processing the plurality of parameter messages at the mobile unit; and

setting a periodic wake up schedule for the mobile unit in accordance with each of the sets of SMS transmission parameters, wherein the mobile unit wakes up periodically in order to detect a SMS message in one of a plurality of broadcast channel frames;

wherein each of the set of SMS transmission parameters comprises;

a minimum transmission period, wherein the minimum transmission period is variable;

a transmission period, wherein the transmission period has a duration that is a multiple value of the minimum transmission period, wherein the transmission period has a value greater than or equal to a SMS message arrival rate, wherein the SMS message arrival rate is the rate at which the base station receives information from at least one of the plurality of subscriber services, and wherein the transmission period is variable;

a minimum transmission period offset, wherein the minimum transmission period offset directs the mobile unit to demodulate a specified broadcast channel frame during the minimum transmission period; and

a transmission period offset, wherein the transmission period offset directs the mobile unit to demodulate a specified broadcast channel frame during the transmission period.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of broadcast channel frames is reserved for an aperiodic SMS message.

5. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving Short Message Service (SMS) messages over a broadcast channel in a spread spectrum system, wherein the SMS messages originate from a plurality of subscription services, comprising:

means for generating a parameter message to be transmitted from a base station to a mobile unit, wherein the parameter message contains a set of SMS transmission parameters for the broadcast channel;

means for processing the parameter message at the mobile unit; and

means for setting a periodic wake up schedule for the mobile unit in accordance with the set of SMS transmission parameters, wherein the mobile unit wakes up periodically in order to detect a broadcast SMS message in one of a plurality of broadcast channel frames;

wherein the set of SMS transmission parameters comprises;

a minimum transmission period, wherein the minimum transmission period is variable;

a transmission period, wherein the transmission period has a duration that is a multiple value of the minimum transmission period, and wherein the transmission period is variable;

a minimum transmission period offset, wherein the minimum transmission period offset directs the mobile unit to demodulate a specified broadcast channel frame during the minimum transmission period; and

a transmission period offset, wherein the transmission period offset directs the mobile unit to demodulate a specified broadcast channel frame during the transmission period;

wherein the transmission period has a value greater than or equal to a SMS message arrival rate, wherein the SMS message arrival rate is the rate at which the base station receives information from at least one of the plurality of subscriber services.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of broadcast channel frames is reserved for an aperiodic SMS message.

7. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving Short Message Service (SMS) messages over a broadcast channel in a spread spectrum system, wherein the SMS messages originate from a plurality of subscription services, comprising:

means for transmitting a plurality of parameter messages over the broadcast channel, wherein each of the plurality of parameter messages contains a set of SMS transmission parameters;

means for processing the plurality of parameter messages at the mobile unit; and

means for setting a periodic wake up schedule for the mobile unit in accordance with each of the sets of SMS transmission parameters, wherein the mobile unit wakes up periodically in order to detect a SMS message in one of a plurality of broadcast channel frames;

wherein each of the set of SMS transmission parameters comprises;

a minimum transmission period, wherein the minimum transmission period is variable;

a transmission period, wherein the transmission period has a duration that is a multiple value of the minimum transmission period, wherein the transmission period has a value greater than or equal to a SMS message arrival rate, wherein the SMS message arrival rate is the rate at which the base station receives information from at least one of the plurality of subscriber services, and wherein the transmission period is variable;

a minimum transmission period offset, wherein the minimum transmission period offset directs the mobile unit to demodulate a specified broadcast channel frame during the minimum transmission period; and

a transmission period offset, wherein the transmission period offset directs the mobile unit to demodulate a specified broadcast channel frame during the transmission period.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of broadcast channel frames is reserved for an aperiodic SMS message.