Method and apparatus for controlling a TDM communication device

Claim 1

A method for controlling a remote communication device to transmit voice or data signals preambled by a data signal in a time division multiplex communication system having at least one primary station and a plurality of remote units, comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting an activation code to the primary station if the primary station is determined to be inactive; (b) synchronizing to a signal received from the primary station; (c) enabling a vo-coding analyzer to vo-code a voice signal at a selected coding rate, V, to provide an information signal; (d) buffering said information signal to provide a buffered signal; (e) transmitting said buffered signal preambled by a data signal over a communication channel having a predetermined maximum data rate, C, in accordance with a time division multiplex protocol defining N time slots, where N is a positive integer less than or equal to C/V, where V comprises said selected coding rate, said buffered signal preambled by said data signal being transmitted in at least one of said N time slots at a rate exceeding 2 V.

Claim 2

A method for controlling a remote communication device to transmit voice or data signals preambled by a data signal in a time division multiplex communication system having at least one primary station and a plurality of remote units, comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting an activation code to the primary station if the primary station is determined to be inactive; (b) synchronizing to a signal received from the primary station; (c) enabling a vo-coding analyzer to vo-code a voice signal at a selected coding rate, V, to provide an information signal; (d) buffering said information signal to provide a buffered signal; (e) transmitting said buffered signal preambled by a data signal over a communication channel having a predetermined maximum data rate, C, in accordance with a time division multiplex protocol defining N time slots, where N is a positive integer less than or equal to C/V, where V comprises said selected coding rate, said buffered signal preambled by said data signal being transmitted in at least one of said N time slots at a rate exceeding 2 V.

Claim 6

A method for controlling a remote communication device to receive an information signal including at least data or vo-coded voice signals preambled by a data signal, said remote unit operating in a time division multiplex communication system having at least one primary station and a plurality of remote units, said method comprising the steps of: (a) synchronizing to a signal received from the primary station; (b) receiving the information signal during at least one time slot from a communication channel having a predetermined maximum data rate, C, in accordance with a time division multiplex protocol defining N time slots, where N is a positive integer less than or equal to C/V, where V comprises a selected coding rate, said information signal being received at a rate exceeding 2 V to provide a received information signal; (c) buffering said received information signal to provide a buffered signal; (d) synthesizing a recovered voice signal from said buffered signal at said selected coding rate.

Claim 7

A method for controlling a remote communication device to receive an information signal including at least data or vo-coded voice signals preambled by a data signal, said remote unit operating in a time division multiplex communication system having at least one primary station and a plurality of remote units, said method comprising the steps of: (a) synchronizing to a signal received from the primary station; (b) receiving the information signal during at least one time slot from a communication channel having a predetermined maximum data rate, C, in accordance with a time division multiplex protocol defining N time slots, where N is a positive integer less than or equal to C/V, where V comprises a selected coding rate, said information signal being received at a rate exceeding 2 V to provide a received information signal; (c) buffering said received information signal to provide a buffered signal; (d) synthesizing a recovered voice signal from said buffered signal at said selected coding rate.

Claim 13

A method for controlling a primary station to operate in a time division multiplex communication system having a plurality of remote units, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving an activation code from at least one of the plurality of remote units; (b) transmitting a data signal containing at least a synchronization portion and slot assignment information to at least one remote station; (c) receiving an information signal from a remote unit, including a preambled data signal, during at least one time slot from a communication channel having a predetermined maximum data rate, C, in accordance with a time division multiplex protocol defining N time slots, where N is a positive integer less than or equal to C/V, where V comprises a selected coding rate, said information signal being received at a rate exceeding 2 V to provide a received information signal; (d) repeating said received information signal preambled by a data signal in at least one of said N time slots at said rate exceeding 2 V; (e) operating, thereafter, continuously until it is determined that none of the plurality of remote units have transmitted information for a time interval, after which, the primary station automatically deactivates.

Claim 14

A method for controlling a primary station to operate in a time division multiplex communication system having a plurality of remote units, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving an activation code from at least one of the plurality of remote units; (b) transmitting a data signal containing at least a synchronization portion and slot assignment information to at least one remote station; (c) receiving an information signal from a remote unit, including a preambled data signal, during at least one time slot from a communication channel having a predetermined maximum data rate, C, in accordance with a time division multiplex protocol defining N time slots, where N is a positive integer less than or equal to C/V, where V comprises a selected coding rate, said information signal being received at a rate exceeding 2 V to provide a received information signal; (d) repeating said received information signal preambled by a data signal in at least one of said N time slots at said rate exceeding 2 V; (e) operating, thereafter, continuously until it is determined that none of the plurality of remote units have transmitted information for a time interval, after which, the primary station automatically deactivates.

Claim 17

A method for communicating information between a first time division multiplex communication device and a plurality of remote time division multiplex communication devices via a time division multiplex repeater, comprising the steps of: (a) at a first communication device: (1) transmitting an activation code to the repeater if the repeater is determined to be inactive; (2) transmitting an information signal to the repeater in a first time slot over a communication channel having a predetermined maximum data rate, C, in accordance with a time division multiplex protocol defining N time slots, where N is a positive integer less than or equal to C/V, where V comprises a selected coding rate, said information signal being transmitted at a rate exceeding 2 V; (b) at the repeater: (1) receiving said activation code; (2) transmitting a synchronization signal to the plurality of remote communication devices; (3) receiving said information signal from said communication channel during said first time slot; (4) repeating said information signal in a second time slot preambled by a data signal; (5) operating, thereafter, continuously until it is determined that none of the plurality of remote units have transmitted information for a time interval, after which, the repeater automatically deactivates. (c) at the remaining plurality of remote communication devices or a portion thereof: (1) synchronizing to said synchronization signal; (2) receiving said repeated information signal in an assigned time slot.

Claim 18

A method for communicating information between a first time division multiplex communication device and a plurality of remote time division multiplex communication devices via a time division multiplex repeater, comprising the steps of: (a) at a first communication device: (1) transmitting an activation code to the repeater if the repeater is determined to be inactive; (2) transmitting an information signal to the repeater in a first time slot over a communication channel having a predetermined maximum data rate, C, in accordance with a time division multiplex protocol defining N time slots, where N is a positive integer less than or equal to C/V, where V comprises a selected coding rate, said information signal being transmitted at a rate exceeding 2 V; (b) at the repeater: (1) receiving said activation code; (2) transmitting a synchronization signal to the plurality of remote communication devices; (3) receiving said information signal from said communication channel during said first time slot; (4) repeating said information signal in a second time slot preambled by a data signal; (5) operating, thereafter, continuously until it is determined that none of the plurality of remote units have transmitted information for a time interval, after which, the repeater automatically deactivates. (c) at the remaining plurality of remote communication devices or a portion thereof: (1) synchronizing to said synchronization signal; (2) receiving said repeated information signal in an assigned time slot.