Battery saving method for portable communications receivers

• US 4,804,954 A
• Filed: 04/30/1987
• Issued: 02/14/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Williard, David F., Macnak, Philip P.
• Primary Examiner(s): YUSKO, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US07/044,911
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 455/228, 455/343, 455/222, 370/106, 370/93
• US Class Current: 340/7.34
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1016 using wireless transmission calling systems using transmission by inductive loop H04B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/22 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/225 Display details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/229 with other provisions not elsewhere provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/023 with message or information receiving capability
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system transmitting synchronization signals and coded message signals is described. In particular, coded synchronization signals are used to indicate the transmission of coded message signals or the absence of transmission of coded message signals following the transmission of the coded synchronization signal, thereby providing a battery saving function for a personal communications receiver.

Claims

1. A method for providing an improved battery saving function for a battery powered personal communications receiver, the receiver normally being powered during a first periodically transmitted predetermined time interval for receiving synchronization signals, and during at least one of a plurality of additional predetermined time intervals to which the receiver is assigned following the synchronization signal, for receiving coded message signals, said method comprising the steps of:

generating and transmitting a first coded synchronization signal when coded message signals are to be transmitted in at least one of the plurality of additional time intervals;

generating and transmitting a second coded synchronization signal in place of the first synchronization signal when coded message signals are not to be transmitted in any of the plurality of additional time intervals;

maintaining receiver synchronization with the system when either the first or the second coded synchronization signals are received; and

suspending the supply of power to the receiver immediately following the receipt the second synchronization signal,

whereby the supply of power to the receiver is suspended during the additional time interval coded message signals are not to be transmitted.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first and second synchronization signals are coded binary information.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the second synchronization signal is the complement of the first synchronization signal.

4. A system providing an improved battery saving function for a personal communications receiver, the receiver normally being powered during a first periodically transmitted predetermined time interval for receiving synchronization signals, and during at least one of a plurality of additional predetermined time intervals to which the receiver is assigned following the synchronization signal, for receiving coded message signals, said system comprising:

sync generating means, periodically generating the synchronization signals, the synchronization signals being coded, said sync generating means generating a first coded synchronization signal when coded message signals are to be transmitted in at least one of the plurality of additional time intervals said sync generating means further generating a second coded synchronization signal in place of said first synchronization signal when coded message signals are not to be transmitted in any of the plurality of additional time intervals;

transmitter means, coupled to said sync generating means, for transmitting the coded synchronization and coded message signals;

battery powered receiver means for receiving and detecting the transmitted coded synchronization and coded message signals; and

controller means, responsive to said received coded synchronization signals for maintaining receiver synchronization, said controller means supplying power to said receiver means for the additional time interval for receiving coded message signals when the first synchronization signal is received, and suspending the supply of power to said receiver means for the additional time interval when the second synchronization signal is received.

5. The system for transmitting messages according to claim 4 wherein the first and second synchronization signals are coded binary information.

6. The system for transmitting messages according to claim 5 wherein the second synchronization signal is the complement of the first synchronization signal.

7. A personal communications receiving system comprising:

a first receiver having,

a first receiver portion for receiving and detecting coded message signals including selective call signalling and message information being transmitted on a first communication channel,

an address memory for storing predetermined address information.

a controller, coupled to said receiver portion and to said address memory, said controller generating a control signal in response to the selective call signalling matching the predetermined address information.

said controller further having sync generating means, for periodically generating first and second coded synchronization signals, said sync generating means being responsive to the control signal for generating the first coded synchronization signal, at least once, in place of the second coded synchronization signal when coded message signals are received, and

transmitter means, coupled to said controller, for transmitting the coded synchronization signals on a second communications channel, said transmitter means further transmitting the received coded message signals during an additional time interval following the transmission of the first coded synchronization signal; and

a second receiver means separate from the first receiver having,

a second receiver portion, for receiving and detecting the coded synchronization and coded message signals transmitted on the second communications channel, and

second controller means, coupled to said second receiver portion, and responsive to the detected coded synchronization signals, for supplying power to said second receiver portion in synchronism with the transmitted coded synchronization signals, said second controller means further supplying power to said second receiver portion for an additional time interval to receive the coded message signals when the first coded synchronization signal is received, and further suspending the supply of power to said second receiver means when the second coded synchronization signal is received.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising second memory means for storing address information corresponding to the predetermined address information stored in said address memory, said address information defining the coded synchronization signals.

9. The system according to claim 7 wherein said second coded synchronization signal is the complement of the first coded synchronization signal.

10. A transmitter for providing an improved battery saving function for a personal communications receiver, the receiver normally being powered during a first periodically transmitted predetermined time interval for receiving synchronization signals, and during at least one of a plurality of additional predetermined time intervals to which the receiver is assigned following the synchronization signal, for receiving coded message signals, said transmitter comprising:

sync generating means, periodically generating the synchronization signals, the synchronization signals being coded, said sync generating means generating a first coded synchronization signal when coded message signals are to be transmitted in at least one of the plurality of additional time intervals, said sync generating means further generating a second coded synchronization signal in place of said first synchronization signal when coded message signals are not to be transmitted in any of the plurality of additional time intervals; and

transmitter means, coupled to said sync generating means, for transmitting the coded synchronization and coded message signals.

11. The transmitter of claim 10 wherein the first and second coded synchronization signals are coded binary information.

12. The transmitter of claim 11 wherein the first coded synchronization signal is the complement of the second coded synchronization signal.

13. A personal communications receiver having an improved battery saving function, the receiver normally being powered during a first periodically transmitted predetermined time interval for receiving synchronization signals, and during at least one of a plurality of additional predetermined time intervals to which the receiver is assigned following the synchronization signal, for receiving coded message signals, the receiver comprising:

battery powered receiver means for receiving and detecting the transmitted coded synchronization and coded message signals; and

controller means, responsive to said received coded synchronization signals for maintaining receiver synchronization, said controller means supplying power to said receiver means for the additional time interval for receiving coded message signals when the first synchronization signal is received, and suspending the supply of power to said receiver means for the additional time interval when the second synchronization signal is received.

14. The receiver of claim 13 wherein the first and second coded synchronization signals are coded binary information.

15. The receiver of claim 14 wherein the first coded synchronization signal is the complement of the second coded synchronization signal.