Battery saving method for portable communications receivers

Claim 3

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

Claim 4

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

Claim 7

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

Claim 8

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

Claim 9

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.

Claim 10

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.

Claim 11

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.

Claim 12

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

Claim 13

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.

Claim 14

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.

Claim 15

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

Claim 16

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

Claim 17

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.

Claim 18

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.

Claim 19

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

Claim 20

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