US5884196A — Method and apparatus of preserving power of a rem…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 115 words

A method for reducing the power consumption of a remote unit in a dispatch system comprising the steps of: transmitting from a base station a forward link broadcast signal; receiving and decoding continually said forward link broadcast signal at a first remote unit and determining whether said forward link broadcast signal comprises active signals; entering a first dormant state by said remote unit if said remote unit determines that said forward link broadcast signal comprises no active signals for a duration T 1 wherein said remote unit receives and decodes sporadically said forward link broadcast signal at said first remote unit; and reducing a power consumption of said remote unit in said first dormant state.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 115 words

A method for reducing the power consumption of a remote unit in a dispatch system comprising the steps of: transmitting from a base station a forward link broadcast signal; receiving and decoding continually said forward link broadcast signal at a first remote unit and determining whether said forward link broadcast signal comprises active signals; entering a first dormant state by said remote unit if said remote unit determines that said forward link broadcast signal comprises no active signals for a duration T 1 wherein said remote unit receives and decodes sporadically said forward link broadcast signal at said first remote unit; and reducing a power consumption of said remote unit in said first dormant state.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 128 words

A method of conserving power in a remote unit of a dispatch system comprising the steps of: entering a listen state, by a first remote unit, wherein said first remote unit continuously monitors a forward link broadcast channel and transmits requests for increased broadcast power if necessary; entering a first dormant state, by said first remote unit, if an activity level on said forward link broadcast channel falls below a predetermined activity level, wherein in said first dormant state said first remote unit monitors said forward link broadcast channel only during a first predetermined set of time slots spaced apart in time and transmits requests for increased broadcast power if necessary; and reducing an amount of power consumed by said first remote unit in said first dormant state.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 128 words

A method of conserving power in a remote unit of a dispatch system comprising the steps of: entering a listen state, by a first remote unit, wherein said first remote unit continuously monitors a forward link broadcast channel and transmits requests for increased broadcast power if necessary; entering a first dormant state, by said first remote unit, if an activity level on said forward link broadcast channel falls below a predetermined activity level, wherein in said first dormant state said first remote unit monitors said forward link broadcast channel only during a first predetermined set of time slots spaced apart in time and transmits requests for increased broadcast power if necessary; and reducing an amount of power consumed by said first remote unit in said first dormant state.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of exiting said first dormant state and entering a second dormant state wherein said first remote unit monitors said forward link broadcast channel only during a second predetermined set of time slots more greatly spaced apart in time than said first predetermined set of time slots and transmits requests for increased broadcast power if necessary.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 3 wherein said first remote unit enters said second dormant state in response to a command on said forward link broadcast channel.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of exiting said first dormant state and re-entering said listen state if a broadcast alert is transmitted on said forward link broadcast channel.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 5, wherein a base station generates said broadcast alert in response to receipt of a push-to-talk access message from a second remote unit.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of exiting said first dormant state and entering an access state in response to a push-to-talk indication generated by said first remote unit.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of re-entering said listen state from said access state in response to a release of said push-to-talk indication.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of transmitting a broadcast alert on said forward link broadcast channel in response to said push-to-talk indication, so as to cause a second remote unit to exit a second unit dormant state and enter a second unit listen state.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 2 wherein said first remote unit enters said first dormant state autonomously.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 2 wherein said first remote unit enters said first dormant state in response to a command on said forward link broadcast channel.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of dialing a net number and initializing communication by transmitting signals to a base station.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of entering an idle state if a broadcast net is not established and wherein said step of entering said listen state is performed in response to a page from said base station indicating that said broadcast net has been established.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 12 wherein said forward link broadcast channel uses code division multiple access signaling.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 2 wherein said first remote unit may be used as a point-to-point telephone as well as a push-to-talk dispatch unit.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 12 wherein said base station functions as a point-to-point base station as well as a dispatch base station.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 115 words

A system for conserving remote unit power in a dispatch system comprising: a plurality of remote units, each configured to receive a forward link broadcast channel continuously in a listen state and to monitor link activity on said forward link broadcast channel, wherein each of said plurality of remote units enters a first dormant state if said link activity falls below a predetermined threshold; and a base station configured to generate a broadcast alert on said forward link broadcast channel in response to a push-to-talk indication received from one of said plurality of remote units on an access channel, wherein said broadcast alert commands said plurality of remote units to exit said first dormant state.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 115 words

A system for conserving remote unit power in a dispatch system comprising: a plurality of remote units, each configured to receive a forward link broadcast channel continuously in a listen state and to monitor link activity on said forward link broadcast channel, wherein each of said plurality of remote units enters a first dormant state if said link activity falls below a predetermined threshold; and a base station configured to generate a broadcast alert on said forward link broadcast channel in response to a push-to-talk indication received from one of said plurality of remote units on an access channel, wherein said broadcast alert commands said plurality of remote units to exit said first dormant state.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 73 words

An apparatus for controlling a remote unit operating in a dispatch system comprising: means for continuously receiving a forward link broadcast channel; means for determining a level of activity on said forward link broadcast channel; and means for receiving said forward link broadcast channel during a first predetermined set of time slots, spaced apart in time, if said level of activity on said forward link broadcast channel falls below a predetermined activity level.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 73 words

An apparatus for controlling a remote unit operating in a dispatch system comprising: means for continuously receiving a forward link broadcast channel; means for determining a level of activity on said forward link broadcast channel; and means for receiving said forward link broadcast channel during a first predetermined set of time slots, spaced apart in time, if said level of activity on said forward link broadcast channel falls below a predetermined activity level.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 38 words

The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising means for reducing an amount of power consumed by said remote unit when said remote unit is receiving said forward link broadcast channel during said first predetermined set of time slots.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 64 words

The apparatus for control of a remote unit of claim 19 further comprising means for receiving said forward link broadcast channel during a second predetermined set of time slots which are more greatly spaced apart in time than said first predetermined set of time slots, and only if said activity level on said forward link broadcast channel falls below a second predetermined activity level.

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

Method and apparatus of preserving power of a remote unit in a dispatch system

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