US5884182A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for responding to channel pointers using channel bands
Assignee: BlackBerry Ltd
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Filing: 1997-05-29
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Granted: 1999-03-16
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Expires: 2017-05-29
Abstract
Abstract An improved method is claimed for responding to channel pointers in a wireless communications system, such as a cellular telephone system, operating on a communications spectrum having channel bands. The method includes storing a band search list, receiving a channel to a pointer to a pointed-to control channel, and disregarding the channel pointer if the pointed-to is in a channel band not included on the band search list. The improved method improves system response time and more efficiently utilizes system resources.
Inventors
- 👤 David James Hoover
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:18
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W48/00; H04W48/16; H04W48/08; H04W48/12; H04W8/00; H04W8/18; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; H04W88/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
In a wireless communication system operating on a communications spectrum having channel bands, a method for responding to a channel pointer comprising the steps of: a) storing a band search list; b) receiving a channel pointer to a pointed-to communications control channel; c) determining whether said pointed-to channel is in a channel band that is included on said band search list; and d) disregarding said channel pointer if said pointed-to channel is not in a channel band that is included on said band search list.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a wireless communication system operating on a communications spectrum having channel bands, a method for responding to a channel pointer comprising the steps of: a) storing a band search list; b) receiving a channel pointer to a pointed-to communications control channel; c) determining whether said pointed-to channel is in a channel band that is included on said band search list; and d) disregarding said channel pointer if said pointed-to channel is not in a channel band that is included on said band search list.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said band search list is stored local to a mobile unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said band search list is stored in semipermanent memory in said mobile unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining whether said pointed-to channel has acceptable signal strength if said pointed-to channel is in a channel band that is included on said band search list.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining whether said pointed-to channel has acceptable channel service provider information if said pointed-to channel is in a channel band that is included on said band search list.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of establishing communications on said pointed-to channel if said pointed-to channel has acceptable service provider information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a wireless communication system operating on a communications spectrum having channel bands, a method of responding to a channel pointer comprising the steps of: a) storing a band search list; b) receiving a channel pointer to a pointed-to communications control channel; c) determining whether said pointed-to channel is in a channel band that is included on said band search list; d) thereafter and only if said pointed-to channel is in a channel band that is included on said band search list, determining whether said pointed-to channel has acceptable signal strength; and e) if said pointed-to channel has acceptable signal strength, establishing control channel communications on said pointed-to channel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a wireless communication system operating on a communications spectrum having channel bands, a method of responding to a channel pointer comprising the steps of: a) storing a band search list; b) receiving a channel pointer to a pointed-to communications control channel; c) determining whether said pointed-to channel is in a channel band that is included on said band search list; d) thereafter and only if said pointed-to channel is in a channel band that is included on said band search list, determining whether said pointed-to channel has acceptable signal strength; and e) if said pointed-to channel has acceptable signal strength, establishing control channel communications on said pointed-to channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 7 further including the step of determining whether said pointed-to channel has acceptable channel service provider information before establishing control channel communications on said pointed-to channel and after determining that said pointed-to channel has acceptable signal strength.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a wireless communication system operating on a communications spectrum having channel bands, a method of responding to a channel pointer comprising the steps of: a) storing a band search list local to the mobile unit in semi-permanent memory; b) receiving a channel pointer to a pointed-to communications control channel; c) determining whether said pointed-to channel is in a channel band that is included on said band search list; d) thereafter and only if said pointed-to channel is in a channel band that is included on said band search list, determining whether said pointed-to channel has acceptable signal strength; e) determining whether said pointed-to channel has acceptable channel service provider information after determining that said pointed-to channel has acceptable signal strength; f) if said pointed-to channel has acceptable signal strength and has acceptable service provider information, establishing control channel communications on said pointed-to channel; and g) if said pointed-to channel is not in a channel band that is included on said band search list, or if the pointed-to channel does not have acceptable signal strength, or if the pointed-to channel does not have acceptable service provider information, disregarding said channel pointer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a wireless communication system operating on a communications spectrum having channel bands, a method of responding to a channel pointer comprising the steps of: a) storing a band search list local to the mobile unit in semi-permanent memory; b) receiving a channel pointer to a pointed-to communications control channel; c) determining whether said pointed-to channel is in a channel band that is included on said band search list; d) thereafter and only if said pointed-to channel is in a channel band that is included on said band search list, determining whether said pointed-to channel has acceptable signal strength; e) determining whether said pointed-to channel has acceptable channel service provider information after determining that said pointed-to channel has acceptable signal strength; f) if said pointed-to channel has acceptable signal strength and has acceptable service provider information, establishing control channel communications on said pointed-to channel; and g) if said pointed-to channel is not in a channel band that is included on said band search list, or if the pointed-to channel does not have acceptable signal strength, or if the pointed-to channel does not have acceptable service provider information, disregarding said channel pointer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a wireless communication system operating on a communications spectrum having channel bands, a method for responding to a channel pointer comprising the steps of: a) storing a band search list in semi-permanent memory of a mobile unit; b) receiving, at said mobile unit, a channel pointer to a pointed-to communications control channel; c) determining whether said pointed-to channel is in a channel band that is included on said band search list; and d) thereafter measuring the received channel signal strength of said pointed-to channel if said pointed-to channel is in a channel band that is included on said band search list or generating a channel pointer failure if said pointed-to channel is not in a channel band that is included on said band search list.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a wireless communication system operating on a communications spectrum having channel bands, a method for responding to a channel pointer comprising the steps of: a) storing a band search list in semi-permanent memory of a mobile unit; b) receiving, at said mobile unit, a channel pointer to a pointed-to communications control channel; c) determining whether said pointed-to channel is in a channel band that is included on said band search list; and d) thereafter measuring the received channel signal strength of said pointed-to channel if said pointed-to channel is in a channel band that is included on said band search list or generating a channel pointer failure if said pointed-to channel is not in a channel band that is included on said band search list.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of determining whether said pointed-to channel has acceptable channel service provider information only if said pointed-to channel is in a channel band that is included on said band search list.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of establishing communications on said pointed-to channel if said pointed-to channel has acceptable service provider information.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5586338A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-15 | 2002-09-14 | 2003-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-15 | 2006-09-14 | 2007-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-15 | 2010-09-14 | 2011-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |