Method for a communication unit that conserve source energy

Claim 1

In a communication system that includes a plurality of communication units, a limited number of communication resources that are transceived via a plurality of repeaters, and a communication resource allocator that allocates the limited number of communication resources among the plurality of communication units, wherein at least one of the limited number of communication resources serves as a control channel which continually transmits system information, a method for the communication system to allow a communication unit of the plurality of communication units to conserve source energy when monitoring the control channel, the method comprises the steps of: a) partitioning the control channel into a predetermined number of windows and a system window, wherein the system window and the predetermined number of windows are transmitted in a round robin manner on the control channel; b) assigning, by the communication resource allocator, the communication unit to a first window group when the communication unit registers with the communication system; c) monitoring, by the communication unit, the system window to determine whether the first window group has been assigned to a first window of the predetermined number of windows when the communication unit is not transmitting or identified as an active communication unit; d) activating the communication unit to process at least part of the system information contained in the first window when the first window is being transmitted on the control channel; and e) deactivating the communication unit when the first window is not being transmitted on the control channel and when the at least part of the system information does not require the communication unit to remain active.