Method and apparatus for providing broadcast messages in a communications network

Claim 1

An apparatus for receiving broadcast messages from a transmitter in a communication network, said network having multiple paging channels, wherein each of said multiple paging channels is divided into predetermined slot cycles, wherein each of said predetermined slot cycles is divided into time slots, said network further containing multiple receivers, wherein each of said multiple receivers monitors an assigned paging channel of said multiple paging channels and an assigned time slot within each slot cycle, said apparatus comprising: page receive controller means for providing a timing signal indicative of said assigned time slot within each of said slot cycles; receiver means for monitoring said assigned paging channel in a single time slot of said slot cycle in accordance with said timing signal and for receiving said broadcast message during said single time slot; and decoder means for decoding said broadcast message and for selectively processing said broadcast message in accordance with a predetermined set of user preferences.

Claim 2

An apparatus for receiving broadcast messages from a transmitter in a communication network, said network having multiple paging channels, wherein each of said multiple paging channels is divided into predetermined slot cycles, wherein each of said predetermined slot cycles is divided into time slots, said network further containing multiple receivers, wherein each of said multiple receivers monitors an assigned paging channel of said multiple paging channels and an assigned time slot within each slot cycle, said apparatus comprising: page receive controller means for providing a timing signal indicative of said assigned time slot within each of said slot cycles; receiver means for monitoring said assigned paging channel in a single time slot of said slot cycle in accordance with said timing signal and for receiving said broadcast message during said single time slot; and decoder means for decoding said broadcast message and for selectively processing said broadcast message in accordance with a predetermined set of user preferences.

Claim 3

An apparatus for transmitting broadcast messages to a plurality of receivers in a communication network, said network having multiple paging channels, wherein each of said multiple paging channels is divided into predetermined slot cycles, wherein each of said predetermined slot cycles is divided into time slots, said network further containing multiple receivers, wherein each of said multiple receivers monitors an assigned one of said multiple paging channels at a first assigned one of said time slots within a first slot cycle for receiving traffic pages and a second one of said time slots within said first slot cycle, said second one of said time slots designated as a broadcast page time slot, and wherein said broadcast message is received on said assigned one of said paging channels at a third time slot within a second slot cycle, said apparatus comprising: page transmit controller means for providing a page timing signal indicative of said broadcast page time slot within said first slot cycle and for providing a broadcast message timing signal indicative of said third time slot within said second slot cycle; broadcast page buffer means for providing a broadcast page in accordance with said page timing signal; message buffer means for providing said broadcast message in accordance with said broadcast message timing signal; modulator means for providing said broadcast page on each of said multiple paging channels and for providing said broadcast message on each of said multiple paging channels; and transmitter means for transmitting said broadcast page and said broadcast message.

Claim 4

An apparatus for transmitting broadcast messages to a plurality of receivers in a communication network, said network having multiple paging channels, wherein each of said multiple paging channels is divided into predetermined slot cycles, wherein each of said predetermined slot cycles is divided into time slots, said network further containing multiple receivers, wherein each of said multiple receivers monitors an assigned one of said multiple paging channels at a first assigned one of said time slots within a first slot cycle for receiving traffic pages and a second one of said time slots within said first slot cycle, said second one of said time slots designated as a broadcast page time slot, and wherein said broadcast message is received on said assigned one of said paging channels at a third time slot within a second slot cycle, said apparatus comprising: page transmit controller means for providing a page timing signal indicative of said broadcast page time slot within said first slot cycle and for providing a broadcast message timing signal indicative of said third time slot within said second slot cycle; broadcast page buffer means for providing a broadcast page in accordance with said page timing signal; message buffer means for providing said broadcast message in accordance with said broadcast message timing signal; modulator means for providing said broadcast page on each of said multiple paging channels and for providing said broadcast message on each of said multiple paging channels; and transmitter means for transmitting said broadcast page and said broadcast message.

Claim 6

An apparatus for receiving broadcast messages from a transmitter in a communication network, said network having multiple paging channels, wherein each of said multiple paging channels is divided into predetermined slot cycles, wherein each of said predetermined slot cycles is divided into time slots, said network further containing multiple receivers, wherein each of said multiple receivers monitors an assigned one of said multiple paging channels at a first assigned one of said time slots within a first slot cycle for receiving traffic pages and a second one of said time slots within said first slot cycle, said second one of said time slots designated as a broadcast page time slot, and wherein said broadcast message is received on said assigned one of said paging channels at a third time slot within a second slot cycle, said apparatus comprising: page receive controller means for providing a page timing signal indicative of said broadcast page time slot within each slot cycle and for determining in which time slot a broadcast message may be received; receiver means for monitoring said assigned one of said multiple paging channels in accordance with said page timing signal and for receiving a broadcast page, wherein said broadcast page specifies said third time slot within said second slot cycle; decoder means for decoding said broadcast page and for providing said decoded broadcast page to said page receive controller, wherein said page receive controller is further for determining in accordance with a predetermined set of user preferences, whether to receive said broadcast message; broadcast message controller means for providing a broadcast message timing signal indicative of said third time slot within said second slot cycle; and broadcast message receiver means for receiving said broadcast message in accordance with said broadcast message timing signal.

Claim 7

An apparatus for receiving broadcast messages from a transmitter in a communication network, said network having multiple paging channels, wherein each of said multiple paging channels is divided into predetermined slot cycles, wherein each of said predetermined slot cycles is divided into time slots, said network further containing multiple receivers, wherein each of said multiple receivers monitors an assigned one of said multiple paging channels at a first assigned one of said time slots within a first slot cycle for receiving traffic pages and a second one of said time slots within said first slot cycle, said second one of said time slots designated as a broadcast page time slot, and wherein said broadcast message is received on said assigned one of said paging channels at a third time slot within a second slot cycle, said apparatus comprising: page receive controller means for providing a page timing signal indicative of said broadcast page time slot within each slot cycle and for determining in which time slot a broadcast message may be received; receiver means for monitoring said assigned one of said multiple paging channels in accordance with said page timing signal and for receiving a broadcast page, wherein said broadcast page specifies said third time slot within said second slot cycle; decoder means for decoding said broadcast page and for providing said decoded broadcast page to said page receive controller, wherein said page receive controller is further for determining in accordance with a predetermined set of user preferences, whether to receive said broadcast message; broadcast message controller means for providing a broadcast message timing signal indicative of said third time slot within said second slot cycle; and broadcast message receiver means for receiving said broadcast message in accordance with said broadcast message timing signal.

Claim 9

An apparatus for transmitting broadcast messages to a plurality of receivers in a communications network, said network having multiple paging channels, wherein each of said multiple paging channels is divided into predetermined slot cycles, wherein each of said predetermined slot cycles is divided into time slots, said network further containing multiple receivers, wherein each of said multiple receivers monitors an assigned one of said multiple paging channels at a first assigned one of said time slots within a first slot cycle for receiving traffic pages and a second paging channel, designated as a broadcast message paging channel where broadcast pages and said broadcast messages are transmitted on, at a second one of said time slots within a second slot cycle, and wherein said broadcast message is received on said broadcast message paging channel at a third time slot within said second slot cycle, said apparatus comprising: page transmit controller means for providing a page timing signal indicative of said second time slot within said second slot cycle and for providing a broadcast message timing signal indicative of said third time slot within said second slot cycle; broadcast page buffer means for providing a broadcast page in accordance with said page timing signal, wherein said broadcast page specifies said third time slot within said second slot cycle; broadcast message buffer means for providing said broadcast message in accordance with said broadcast message timing signal; modulator means for providing said broadcast page upon said broadcast message paging channel and for providing said broadcast message on said broadcast message paging channel; and transmitter means for transmitting said broadcast page and said broadcast message.

Claim 10

An apparatus for transmitting broadcast messages to a plurality of receivers in a communications network, said network having multiple paging channels, wherein each of said multiple paging channels is divided into predetermined slot cycles, wherein each of said predetermined slot cycles is divided into time slots, said network further containing multiple receivers, wherein each of said multiple receivers monitors an assigned one of said multiple paging channels at a first assigned one of said time slots within a first slot cycle for receiving traffic pages and a second paging channel, designated as a broadcast message paging channel where broadcast pages and said broadcast messages are transmitted on, at a second one of said time slots within a second slot cycle, and wherein said broadcast message is received on said broadcast message paging channel at a third time slot within said second slot cycle, said apparatus comprising: page transmit controller means for providing a page timing signal indicative of said second time slot within said second slot cycle and for providing a broadcast message timing signal indicative of said third time slot within said second slot cycle; broadcast page buffer means for providing a broadcast page in accordance with said page timing signal, wherein said broadcast page specifies said third time slot within said second slot cycle; broadcast message buffer means for providing said broadcast message in accordance with said broadcast message timing signal; modulator means for providing said broadcast page upon said broadcast message paging channel and for providing said broadcast message on said broadcast message paging channel; and transmitter means for transmitting said broadcast page and said broadcast message.

Claim 12

An apparatus for receiving broadcast messages from a transmitter in a communications network, said network having multiple paging channels, wherein each of said multiple paging channels is divided into predetermined slot cycles, wherein each of said predetermined slot cycles is divided into time slots, said network further containing multiple receivers, wherein each of said multiple receivers monitors an assigned one of said multiple paging channels at a first assigned one of said time slots within a first slot cycle for receiving traffic pages and a second paging channel, designated as a broadcast message paging channel where broadcast pages and said broadcast messages are transmitted on, at a second time slot within a second slot cycle, and wherein said broadcast message is received on said broadcast message paging channel at a third time slot within said second slot cycle, said apparatus comprising: page receive controller means for providing a page timing signal indicative of said second time slot within each slot cycle, and for determining in which time slot a broadcast message may be received; broadcast message controller means for providing a broadcast message timing signal indicative of said third time slot within said second slot cycle; receiver means for monitoring said broadcast message paging channel in accordance with said page timing signal, for receiving said broadcast page, for monitoring said broadcast message paging channel in accordance with said broadcast message timing signal, and for receiving said broadcast message; and decoder means for decoding said broadcast page and for providing said decoded broadcast page to said page receive controller, wherein said page receive controller is further for determining in accordance with a predetermined set of user preferences, whether to receive said broadcast message.

Claim 13

An apparatus for receiving broadcast messages from a transmitter in a communications network, said network having multiple paging channels, wherein each of said multiple paging channels is divided into predetermined slot cycles, wherein each of said predetermined slot cycles is divided into time slots, said network further containing multiple receivers, wherein each of said multiple receivers monitors an assigned one of said multiple paging channels at a first assigned one of said time slots within a first slot cycle for receiving traffic pages and a second paging channel, designated as a broadcast message paging channel where broadcast pages and said broadcast messages are transmitted on, at a second time slot within a second slot cycle, and wherein said broadcast message is received on said broadcast message paging channel at a third time slot within said second slot cycle, said apparatus comprising: page receive controller means for providing a page timing signal indicative of said second time slot within each slot cycle, and for determining in which time slot a broadcast message may be received; broadcast message controller means for providing a broadcast message timing signal indicative of said third time slot within said second slot cycle; receiver means for monitoring said broadcast message paging channel in accordance with said page timing signal, for receiving said broadcast page, for monitoring said broadcast message paging channel in accordance with said broadcast message timing signal, and for receiving said broadcast message; and decoder means for decoding said broadcast page and for providing said decoded broadcast page to said page receive controller, wherein said page receive controller is further for determining in accordance with a predetermined set of user preferences, whether to receive said broadcast message.

Claim 15

An apparatus for receiving broadcast messages from a transmitter in a communication network, said network having multiple paging channels, wherein each of said multiple paging channels is divided into predetermined slot cycles, wherein each of said predetermined slot cycles is divided into time slots, said network further containing multiple receivers, wherein each of said multiple receivers monitors a first paging channel at each time slot within a first slot cycle and a second paging channel, designated as a broadcast message paging channel where broadcast pages and said broadcast messages are received, at a second time slot within a second slot cycle, and wherein said broadcast message is received on said broadcast message paging channel at a third time slot within either said second slot cycle or a third slot cycle, said apparatus comprising: page receive controller means for providing a first page timing signal indicative of each time slot within said first slot cycle, for providing a second page timing signal indicative of said second time slot within said second slot cycle, and for providing a broadcast message timing signal indicative of said third time slot within either said second slot cycle or said third slot cycle; page receiver means for monitoring said first paging channel in accordance with said first page timing signal, for receiving a first broadcast page, for monitoring said broadcast message paging channel in accordance with said second page timing signal, for receiving a second broadcast page, for monitoring said broadcast message paging channel in accordance with said broadcast message timing signal, and for receiving a broadcast message; and decoder means for decoding said first broadcast page, for providing said decoded first broadcast page to said page receive controller, for decoding said second broadcast page, and for providing said decoded second broadcast page to said page receive controller, wherein said page receive controller is further for determining whether said second broadcast page is available to be received on said broadcast message paging channel and for determining in accordance with a predetermined set of user preferences, whether to receive said broadcast message.

Claim 16

An apparatus for receiving broadcast messages from a transmitter in a communication network, said network having multiple paging channels, wherein each of said multiple paging channels is divided into predetermined slot cycles, wherein each of said predetermined slot cycles is divided into time slots, said network further containing multiple receivers, wherein each of said multiple receivers monitors a first paging channel at each time slot within a first slot cycle and a second paging channel, designated as a broadcast message paging channel where broadcast pages and said broadcast messages are received, at a second time slot within a second slot cycle, and wherein said broadcast message is received on said broadcast message paging channel at a third time slot within either said second slot cycle or a third slot cycle, said apparatus comprising: page receive controller means for providing a first page timing signal indicative of each time slot within said first slot cycle, for providing a second page timing signal indicative of said second time slot within said second slot cycle, and for providing a broadcast message timing signal indicative of said third time slot within either said second slot cycle or said third slot cycle; page receiver means for monitoring said first paging channel in accordance with said first page timing signal, for receiving a first broadcast page, for monitoring said broadcast message paging channel in accordance with said second page timing signal, for receiving a second broadcast page, for monitoring said broadcast message paging channel in accordance with said broadcast message timing signal, and for receiving a broadcast message; and decoder means for decoding said first broadcast page, for providing said decoded first broadcast page to said page receive controller, for decoding said second broadcast page, and for providing said decoded second broadcast page to said page receive controller, wherein said page receive controller is further for determining whether said second broadcast page is available to be received on said broadcast message paging channel and for determining in accordance with a predetermined set of user preferences, whether to receive said broadcast message.

Claim 17

An apparatus for transmitting broadcast messages to a plurality of receivers in a communications network, said network having multiple paging channels, wherein each of said multiple paging channels is divided into predetermined slot cycles, wherein each of said predetermined slot cycles is divided into time slots, said network further containing multiple receivers, wherein each of said multiple receivers monitors a first paging channel at each time slot within a first slot cycle and a second paging channel, designated as a broadcast message paging channel where broadcast pages and said broadcast messages are transmitted on, at a second time slot within a second slot cycle, and wherein said broadcast message is received on said broadcast message paging channel at a third time slot within either said second slot cycle or a third slot cycle, said apparatus comprising: page transmit controller means for providing a first page timing signal indicative of all time slots of said first slot cycle, for providing a second page timing signal indicative of a second time slot in a second slot cycle, and for providing a broadcast message timing signal indicative of said third time slot in either said second slot cycle or said third slot cycle; page buffer means for providing a first broadcast page in accordance with said first page timing signal, wherein said first broadcast page indicates whether or not a second broadcast page is to be transmitted on said second paging channel, and for providing a second broadcast page in accordance with said second page timing signal, wherein said second broadcast page indicates said broadcast message timing information; message buffer means for providing said broadcast message in accordance with said broadcast message timing signal; modulator means for providing said first broadcast page upon every paging channel, for providing said second broadcast page on said broadcast message paging channel, and for providing said broadcast message on said broadcast message paging channel; and transmitter means for transmitting said first broadcast page, said second broadcast page, and said broadcast message.

Claim 18

An apparatus for transmitting broadcast messages to a plurality of receivers in a communications network, said network having multiple paging channels, wherein each of said multiple paging channels is divided into predetermined slot cycles, wherein each of said predetermined slot cycles is divided into time slots, said network further containing multiple receivers, wherein each of said multiple receivers monitors a first paging channel at each time slot within a first slot cycle and a second paging channel, designated as a broadcast message paging channel where broadcast pages and said broadcast messages are transmitted on, at a second time slot within a second slot cycle, and wherein said broadcast message is received on said broadcast message paging channel at a third time slot within either said second slot cycle or a third slot cycle, said apparatus comprising: page transmit controller means for providing a first page timing signal indicative of all time slots of said first slot cycle, for providing a second page timing signal indicative of a second time slot in a second slot cycle, and for providing a broadcast message timing signal indicative of said third time slot in either said second slot cycle or said third slot cycle; page buffer means for providing a first broadcast page in accordance with said first page timing signal, wherein said first broadcast page indicates whether or not a second broadcast page is to be transmitted on said second paging channel, and for providing a second broadcast page in accordance with said second page timing signal, wherein said second broadcast page indicates said broadcast message timing information; message buffer means for providing said broadcast message in accordance with said broadcast message timing signal; modulator means for providing said first broadcast page upon every paging channel, for providing said second broadcast page on said broadcast message paging channel, and for providing said broadcast message on said broadcast message paging channel; and transmitter means for transmitting said first broadcast page, said second broadcast page, and said broadcast message.