MXPA97007660A - Method and apparatus for transmitting information of global phenomena in a ra communications system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a technique for the communication of global information in a radio communication system (100) in which a radio (106) is in the receiving state during a first predetermined period of each of the number of cycles of transmission (320) includes decoding a global phenomenon indicator (344) in a system information part (331) of the first predetermined period of a first transmission cycle (320), placing the radio (106) in the receiving state during a second predetermined period of a second transmission cycle (320), receiving the second predetermined period, decoding global phenomenon information in the second predetermined period and processing the global phenomenon information. The second transmission cycle (320) follows the first transmission cycle (32

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING PHENOMENA INFORMATION AND GLOBAL PHENOMENA IN A RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM Field of the Invention This invention relates in general to the transmission of information in a radio communication system and in particular to the transmission of global phenomena information efficiently to active radios in a radio communication system in which the I • radios active states have intermittent active reception states at different times.

Background of the Invention In a system in which messages are transmitted from a fixed transmission network to a number of individual base radios, for example a paging system, it is sometimes desirable to send a common message or a common command to all active radios in the moment within the system. The situation is called here a global phenomenon. Examples of these global phenomena are an information information message of all calls (eg a time update or a new software download) and an order that tells all radios to alter a synchronous acknowledgment mode to not synchronous. In some radio communication systems, such as paging systems, the number of radios are each in a receiver mode at unique predetermined times during a defined radio transmission cycle. One use of unique predetermined times is to provide battery life in a selective calling radio communications system, allowing each radio to be in low power mode for a prolonged percentage of time, except when one or more messages are on hold for its transmission to the radio. Another use of unique predetermined times I is to send different information in successive periods different to each radio or group of radios having non-selective radio addresses. In such systems, a known means of transmitting a global phenomenon is to send the global phenomenon at all single predetermined times or successive periods. However, this approach involves sending global phenomenon information repeatedly, and consequently reduces the performance of the system. The reduction can be very significant in systems that have unique predetermined time numbers or successive periods.

A technique is described in Japanese Patent Application 3-170755, published April 16, 1993, which is used in radio systems of the Postal Code Standardization Advisory Commission (POCSAG). The technique uses a special sequence of batches that allows the transmission of control information, beginning with a sequence of Notification In. The notification sequence begins with the transmission of the system identification as the first address code word of each eight-frame batch frame. Since the identification of the system is a reserved address code word, only the national pagers respond to the identification of the system. After identification of the system, a notification address code word is transmitted as the second code word in each frame of the notification sequence. The address code word notification is also a code word reserved as the system identification. Once all the national pagers have been notified that control information has to be transmitted to the next batch, all the national pagers, no matter which frame they were assigned, begin to receive the general data starting in the first frame of the batch. Next message. The general data provides information related to the system that is used to improve the sweeping efficiency of the national pager ^ The technique, although useful for sending control information to all the national paging agents active in a paging system, is less efficient than desirable for other systems because all words in a batch are used to transmit the notification and the technique is restrictive because only national pagers can be notified. Thus, an improved technique is needed to efficiently communicate a global phenomenon to all radios active in a radio communication system in I I in which the active radios are in the receiving state during a predetermined part of a transmission cycle.

Synthesis of the invention Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention, a method is used in a system controller to efficiently transmit global information to a number of radios in a radio communication system in which each of the number of radios is in the receiving state during a synchronization part of one or more predetermined periods of a number of cycles r of the transmission and in which each of the number of radios is not necessarily in the receiving state during (a first predetermined period of each One step is to determine a global phenomenon and information associated with the global phenomenon.The global phenomenon information is to be transmitted to the number of radios.Another step is to include a global phenomenon indicator in the I synchronization part of each of the period amount r- including the one or more predetermined periods nados, which are for transmission in a first cycle of transition. The global indicator indicates that the number of radios has to be adjusted in the reception state during the first predetermine period of the second transmission cycle. Another step is to transmit the number of periods- during the first transmission cycle. Another step is to include the global phenomenon information in the first predetermined period that is for transmission in? a second transmission cycle that is subsequent to the first transmission CJLCIO. Another step is to transmit the first predetermined period in the second transmission cycle.

In a second aspect of the invention, a method (in I a radio for receiving global information in a radio communication system in which the radio is in the receiving state during a period of synchronization of a first period of an amount) is used. of transmissions cycles and is not necessarily in the receiving state during a second predetermined period of each of the number of transmission cycles The method includes six steps One step is to receive the first predetermined period of a first transmission cycle. Another step is to decode the indicator t of i global phenomena in the synchronization part of the first predetermined period.Another step is to adjust the radio to the reception state during the second predetermined period of a second transmission cycle in response to the global indicator. The second transmission cycle is after the first transmission, Another step is to receive the second predetermined period. Another step is to decode the global phenomena information in I the second predetermined period. Another step is to process1 the information of global phenomena.

In a third aspect of the invention, a controller _ the system is for efficiently communicating global information to a number of radios in a radio communication system in which each of the number I of radios is in the receiving state during a synchronization part of one or more predetermined periods of an I number of transmission cycles and in which each of the number of radios is not necessarily in the receiving state I during a first predetermined period of each of the number of transmission cycles-. The system controller I includes an element of global phenomena, an indicator element of global phenomena, an element of information of global phenomena and a controller of cell site i. The element of global phenomena determines an occurrence of global phenomena and information of phenomena global associated with the occurrence of global phenomena. The information of global phenomena is for its communication to the number of radios. The indicator element of global phenomena, which is connected to the element of global phenomena, includes an indicator of global Q phenomena in the synchronization part of each of the number of periods, including the one or more predetermined periods, which are for transmission in a first transmission cycle. The global indicator indicates that the number of_ radios has to be adjusted in the reception state during the first predetermined period of the second transmission cycle. The information element of I global phenomena, which is connected to the element of global phenomena, is to include the information, of global phenomena in the first predetermined period that Q is for- the transmission in a second cycle that follows the first transmission cycle . The cell site controller, which is connected to the global phenomena indicating element and the global phenomena information element, is for sending the first transmission cycle and the second transmission cycle to the transmitter / receiver for the transmission. radio transmission.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, a radio is for receiving global information in a radio communication system in. what_ the The radio is in the receiving state during a synchronization part of a first predetermiperiod of each of the number of transmission cycles and is not necessarily in the receiving state for one. second predetermiperiod of each of the number of transmission cycles. The radio includes a receiver, - an indicator element of global phenomena, an I reception status controller, an information decoder, and a. information processor. The receiver is I to receive the first predetermiperiod of a first transmission cycle. The global phenomena indicating element, which is connected to the receiver, is * to decode an indicator of global phenomena in the synchronization part i of the first predetermiperiod. The receiving state controller, which is connected to the receiver and the global phenomena indicating element, is for adjusting the radio in the receiving state during I the second predetermiperiod of a second transmission cycle. The second transmission cycle follows the first transmission cycle. The receiver is also to receive the second predetermiperiod. The information decoder, which is connected to the receiver, is for decoding information of global phenomena in the second predetermiperiod. The information processor, which is connected to the information decoder, is for processing the information of global phenomena.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an electrical block diagram of a radio communication system, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig ..- 2 is_ a. electrical block diagram of a system controller used in the radio communications system, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The Eig_s ^ 3,4 ^ 5_ are temporary diagrams of frames included in a radio signal transmitted by a transmitter in the radio communication system, (in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention) Fig. 6 is a diagram - electric blocks of a selective calling radio used in the radio communication system, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. -7 is a flow diagram of a method used in the! system controller, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig.8 is a flowchart of a method used in radio-selective calling, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention With reference to Fig. 1, a diagram in i electric blocks of a 1Q.Q radio communication system is shown. according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The radio communication system 100 comprises a message input device, such as a conventional telephone 101 connected through a conventional telephone-switched network (PSTN) 108 by connection to conventional telephone networks 110 with a system controller 1-0- 2. The system controller 102 monitors the operation of at least one radio frequency transmitter / receiver 1Q3 and at least one fixed system receiver 107, through one or more communication connections 116, which are generally telephone pair cables. twisted, and may also include radiofrequency connections, my croondas, u. other high quality sound communication connections. The system controller 102 encodes and decodes incoming and outgoing telephone addresses in formats that are compatible with landline message switching computers. The system controller 102 also functions to digitally code and program outgoing messages, which may include information such as digitized sound messages., alphanumeric messages and response commands, for transmission by radiofrequency transmitters / receivers 103 to a number of selective call radios of. Multiple channels 106. The system controller 102 also functions to decode incoming messages, including messages, not requested and responsive, received by the radiofrequency transmitters / receivers 103 and the radio receivers. fixed system 107 from the number of selective call radios 1.06. I Examples of response messages are acknowledgments and designated response messages. The designated response messages are communicated on the incoming channel in parts called data units. An acknowledgment is a response to an outgoing message initiated at, the system controller 102. An example of an outgoing alphanumeric message intended for a selective calling radio 106 is a call message entered from the telephone 10L- El_. Acknowledgment indicates receipt of the second outgoing message successfully. A designated response message is a message sent from a selective call radio in response to an order included in an outgoing message from the system controller 102. An example of a designated response message is a message initiated by a selective call radio 106 but that is not transmitted until a response command is received from the system contractor 102. The response command, in turn, is sent by the system controller 102 after an incoming message requesting permission to I transmitting the designated response message is transmitted from the radio of., selective calls 106 to the system controller 102. The response messages are preferably transmitted at a designated time within the incoming message or response order, but may alternatively be transmitted to the controller. ti GSP using an unprogrammed protocol, such as the I ALOHA or segmented ALOHA protocol, which are known to a normal art connoisseur.

An unsolicited message is an incoming message transmitted by a selective calling radio 106 without having received an incoming message that requires a response. An example of an unsolicited message is an incoming message from a selective call radio 106 which notifies the radio communications system 100 that the selective calling radio 106 is within range of the radio communications system 100. An unsolicited message may include a request for transmission of a designated response and may include data such as alphanumeric, fax or digitized voice data. - Unsolicited messages are transmitted I using an ALOHA or segmented ALOHA protocol. The outgoing messages are included in outgoing radio signals I transmitted from a conventional antenna 104 connected to the radio transmitter / receiver 103. Incoming messages are included in incoming radio signals received by the conventional antenna 104 I connected to the radiofrequency transmitter / receiver 103 and the conventional antenna 109 connected to the fixed system receiver 107.

Note that the system controller 102 is capable of operating in a distributed transmission control environment that allows to mix conventional cellular coverage schemes, simultaneous transmission, master / slave or other coverage schemes involving a number of transmitters. radio frequency receivers 103, conventional antennas 104r10-9 and fixed system receivers 107, to provide reliable radio signals within a geographical area as extensive as a national network.

Also, as will be recognized by an ordinary art connoisseur, the functions of the telephone radio and selective call communication system may reside in separate system controllers 102 operating independently or in the form of a network.

Note also that the radio transmitter / receiver 103 may comprise the fixed system receiver 107 placed with a conventional radio frequency transmitter.

It will be appreciated that. other selective calling devices (not shown in FIG. 1), such as one- and two-way pagers, conventional mobile cell phones, mobile radio data terminals, mobile cell phones that have data terminals mounted, radios mobile (linked or unlinked) that have data terminals mounted and that have single-channel or multi-channel receiving capability can also be used in. the radio communication system 100. In the following description, the term "selective calling radio" will be used to refer to the personal radiotelephone, portable transmitting / receiving device 106, a mobile cellular telephone, a mobile radio data terminal, a mobile cellular telephone having a mobile terminal mounted thereon. data, - or a mobile radio (conventional or linked) that has a data terminal mounted and has multi-channel capability. Each of the selective call radios assigned for use in the radio communication system 100 has an address assigned to it which is a unique selective call address. The address allows the transmission of a message from the system controller 102 only to the selective calling radio, and identifies messages and responses received in the system controller 102 from the selective calling radio. Even more, each of one or more radios, selective calls also has a unique telephone number - signed to it, the telephone number is unique within i of PSTN 108. A list of assigned selective calling addresses and telephone numbers c the Intended for selective calling radios is stored in system controller 102 in the form of a subscriber database.

Referring to Fig. 2, an electrical block diagram of the system controller 102 is shown, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system controller 102 comprises a cell site controller 202, a message handler 204, a outgoing message memory 208, a subscriber database 220, a telephone interface 206, a home channel identification element 230, a I channel organizing element 236, a control channel indicator element 238, a global phenomena information element 240 and a global phenomena indicating element 242. The cell site controller 202 is connected to the radio frequency transmitters / receivers 103 (Fig.l) and fixed system receivers i 107 (Fig.l) by the connections 116. The cell site controller 2Q2 connects the outgoing messages including selective call directions with the transmitters / receivers 103 and controls the transmitters / receivers 103 for transmitting transmission cycles that include standalone messages. The cell site controller 202 also i processes incoming messages from selective call radios 106. The incoming messages are received by the transmitters / receivers 103 and the fixed system receivers 1Q7 and are connected to the cell site controller 202. The message handler 204, which routes and processes messages, - is connected to the telephone interface 206, the subscriber database 220, and the outgoing message memory 208. The telephone interface 206 handles the physical connection of the switched telephone network 108 (PSTN) (Fig.l), which connects and disconnects telephone calls on telephone connections 110 and routes sound signals between telephone connections, 110 i and message handler 204.

The subscriber database 220 stores information for each subscriber, including a correlation between a selective call address assigned to each selective calling radio 106 and the telephone number used within the P TR 108 to route messages and telephone calls to each radio of selective calls 106, as well as other specific subscriber preferences, such as hours during which the transmission of messages to the selective calling radio 106 has to be stopped. The outgoing message memory I is for storing a series of messages waiting to be received. expect to be transmitted to (at least one of the number of selective call radios 10 &r where each message in the waiting message series is associated with a selective call address, also - stored in the outgoing message memory 208, of one of the number of selective call radios 106, to which each message is destined The manipulator, of I messages 2 04 program outgoing messages and selective call addresses- associated with them within, a transmission cycle. The message handler 204 also determines responsive messages for messages, which minimize the containment of messages in transmitters / receivers 103 and fixed system receivers 10-7 and includes temporary response information in incoming messages so that call radios 10-6 selective surveys are supported according to the response program. The message handler 204 identifies an incoming message as a reply message associated with one of the selective call radios in the subscriber database 220, identifies the reply message as associated with one, of the outgoing messages in the memory of the subscriber. Outgoing messages 20- & The message handler 204 then processes the outgoing and response messages according to their content again. The cell site controller 202, the message handler 204, the outgoing message memory 208? the subscriber database 220 and the telephone interface 206 are conventional elements of the system controller 102. I As an example of operation of the system controller 102, the transmission of a outgoing message stored in the outgoing message memory 208 is completed when the outgoing message has been communicated to the destination selective calling radio 106, the message is presented in a screen of the selective calling radio 106 by means of a user action, a message response is communicated back to the system controller-102 from the selective calling radio 106 and the message response is identified by the message handler 204 as a user reGaGe aGuse generated by the selective call radio 106 specifically for the outgoing message.- In this example, the message handler 204 generates another message which is sent to the originator of the outgoing message to notify the originator that the call radio Selective 106 has acknowledged receipt of the message. The unique functions of the system controller 102 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention are included in the home channel identifier element 230, the channel organizing element 236, the control channel identifier element 238, the element (of global phenomena information 240 and the global phenomena indicating element 242. According to the preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention, the radio communication system 100 uses a number of outgoing radio channels for the communication of outgoing messages. cycles (of transmission in the number of radio channels are preferably synchronized such that, protocol divisions of the trans-cycles of each of the number of outgoing radio channels are produced simultaneously, towards the shortest division , which is - - data symbol The selective calling radios 106 are multi-channel radios, each capable of e to receive on any one of the outgoing radio channels. The system controller 102 organizes the system and message information for transmission within the number of outgoing radio channels, using an outgoing signaling protocol based on Motorola's known FLEX ™ protocol. As described more fully below, the outgoing signaling protocol includes control boxes and data frames. The selective call direction information may be communicated in control boxes but not in boxes of_Hats. Radio channels that are used exclusively for control panels, or for control panels and data frames, are called control channels. Each selective calling radio 106 is normally assigned to one of the control channels, called the home control channel, by the system controller 102. The radio channels used as control channels form a set of control channels that include the less one outgoing radio channel, and they can be used up to all of the outgoing radio channels, while the remaining channels, which include only data frames, are data channels. The number of radio channels used for control channels is altered according to the statuses of message traffic within the system. For example, if a large percentage of messages are short messages and the total amount of message information requires most of the available capacity in all outgoing radio channels, then most or all of the outgoing radio channels will be use as control channels. It will be appreciated that one benefit of having less control channels is that the cell site controller 202 can pack information from longer messages more efficiently into data channels. Each selective call radio 106 in the radio communications system 100 is equipped with a battery saving element that normally prevents the selective calling radio 106 from receiving radio radio signals for a predetermined period of the transmission cycle. For example, - in the protocol described below, there are 128 frames in each transmission cycle. Each selective call radio 106 in the system is generally assigned to receive during only one of the frames, or periods, - so that the message traffic generated for all selective call radios 106 in the system is distributed in a substantially uniform manner . One method used for that distribution is to use the eight least significant bits of the selective call-address to define the frame number of the frame which is the predetermined period, but other methods can be used.

For example, a number may be programmed into the selective calling radio 106 which explicitly determines a predetermined frame number. The channel organizer element 236 is connected to the outgoing message memory 208, to determine a number of control channels that form a set of control channels. An example is when the radio system has been, operating with a number of control channels (for example, two) and changes the traffic statistics of messages that requires an additional control channel for optimal handling. As you will see from, of. More detailed descriptions below, control channels handle shorter messages more optimally than channels without control, so that a shift in message length statistics can be a reason for an increase or decrease in the number of channels of control. The channel organizing element 236 is also connected to an input 235 from the operator console that allows a manual input that changes the number of control channels, for example, in response to the new channel equipment that has been aggregated throughout the radio communications system 100. The channel organizing element 236 is connected to the channel identifier element of. home 230, the control channel indicator element 238 and the global event indicator element 242. When there is a change in the number of control channels, the phenomenon is connected to the global event indicator element 242, while the new number of control channels is connected to the home channel identifier element 230 and to the control channel indicator element 238. The change in the number of control channels is defined as a global phenomenon because it produces information to be communicated to all selective call radios 106. The indicator, channel, control element 238 encodes the number of channels in a part of a code word, which is connected and stored in the information element, of global phenomena 240. In The new number of channels encoded constitutes the information of global phenomena associated with the global phenomenon The global indicator element 242 connects a signal with the co cell site controller 202 which includes in each frame of the next complete transmission cycle within each outgoing radio channel an indicator of global phenomena, which is decoded by each selective calling radio 106 when each selective calling radio 106 decodes the default box- that is assigned according to the battery saving function described above. The deeodification of the global phenomena indicator (more fully described below) Each selective calling radio 106 is thus alerted to decode the zero frame of the next transmission cycle to that in which the global event indicator is sent. repeatedly, to decode the information of global phenomena, which in this case is the new number of control channels.The element, of I global phenomena information 240 connects the i nfnpnar.i ón of global phenomena with the site controller of cell 202 for inclusion in wax tables of the transmission cycles which are within each of the set of control channels and which follow that in which the global phenomenon indicator is sent. Selective 106 decodes the new number of control channels in the zero box, each selective call radio 106 then determines a new control channel. Home role and adjust your receiver to the new home channel to receive any new information- destined for the selective call radio ip6. Due to the importance and brevity of the home control channel information, it is also included in the zero chart of all the transmission cycles within the control channels., - for use by any radio, of selective calls 106 which, for example, is arriving at the communication system of. radio 100 for the first time, or that receives the wrong control channel information and must reacquire a home control channel. Other information of global phenomenon, like text message of all prolonged call, - would not be repeated in additional cycles. The home channel identifier element 230 uses the new number of control channels determined by, the channel organizing element 236 and a predetermined control channel logical number which is stored in the subscriber database 220 associated with the address of the selective call radio 106 and which is also stored in the selective calling radio 106, to determine a new home control channel for the selective calling radio 106. The new home control channel is connected and stored. in the subscriber database 220, together with the transmission cycle in which the new home control channel is effective. The new home control channel i replaces the current home control channel stored in the subscriber database 220 associated with the selective calling radio 106 when the following messages are sent to the selective calling radio 106, after which the number of new channels has been sent as -global phenomenon information in the identified zero frame of a transmission cycle (ie, when the selective call-radio 10-6- has switched to the new home control channel).

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the home channel identifier element 230 comprises a computing element 232 which determines the new home control channel, H, as a mathematical function I of the new number of control channels , N, and the predetermined control-channel logical number, L. The new home control channel, N, is connected to the subscriber database 220. The mathematical function is expressed as co or an integer value of the remainder of a division of L pair N -.- For example, when N is 3 and L is 5, then H is 2. This approach provides an almost uniform distribution of the assignments of home control channels in the number of radios of selective calls 106 when logical numbers of control channels are distributed, substantially uniformly together with selective call radios 106. Uniformity generally improves when logical control channel numbers are n assigned substantially uniformly in a range that is the least common multiple (MCM) of the possible sizes of joint control channels. For example, when the maximum number of conrol channels is 4.5, or 6, the scale is best adjusted to r respectively 12 (lowest common multiple of 1,2,3 and 4), 60 (the lowest common multiple of lr2,3,4- or) - and 60- (the least common multiple of 1,2,3,4,5 and 6).

According to a first alternative embodiment of the present invention, the channel identifier element 230 comprises a look-up table element 234 having the new number of control channels, N, and the predetermined control channel logical number, L, as inputs and the new home control channel, H, as the output. The new channel of. Home control, H, is connected to the subscriber database 220. An example is shown below in Table 1, where the values of L are row entries, the values of N are column values and the values of H_ are determined from the cell content at the intersection of the rows and columns.

N L 1 2 3 4 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 3 '3 3 1 2 1 4 4 1 1 2 1 5 1 2 3 2 6 1 1 1 3 7 1 2 2 4 8 1 1 3 1 Table 1 Therefore, when an outgoing message that has been programmed to be transmitted within a transmission cycle is connected to the site controller: cell 202 by the message handler 204, the message handler also connects the message allocation. Home control channel for selective call radio 1Q- & which is intended to receive the message, searching for the assignment of the home control channel in the subscriber database 220, using the selective call address associated and stored with the message in the outgoing message memory 208.

The system controller 102 is preferably a paging terminal model MPS2000 ® manufactured by Motorola Inc. of Schaumburg, Illinois, modified with unique firmware elements according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, described herein. The cell site controller 202, the message handler 204, the outgoing message memory 208, the subscriber database 220-r the telephone interface 206, the home channel identifier element 230, the nrgani zadnr element of channel 236, the control channel indicator element 238, the global phenomenon information element 240 and the global phenomenon indicator element 242, are preferably implemented within parts of the paging terminal model MPS2000 ® including, among others, those parts that provide program memory, a central processing unit, peripherals, input / output and random access memory. The system controller can alternatively be implemented using a paging terminal model E09PED0552 PageBridge ® - manufactured by Motorola Incorporated, of Schaumburg, Illinois. The subscriber database 220 and the outgoing message memory 208 can alternatively be implemented as magnetic or optical disk memory, which alternatively can be external to the system controller 102.

It will be appreciated that there are other types of global phenomena. An example, which is indicated in FIG. 2 with the connection of the message manipulator 204 with the global phenomena indicating element 242 and the global-phenomena information element 240, is an all-calling message. When a message (eg a text message or a voice message) is determined by the message handler 204 as intended for communication to all the selective call radios 104 active in the communication system, radio 100, It is a message all called. The all-call message is a global phenomenon, - which is connected to the elementary indicator. of global phenomena 242. The. message information (eg alphanumeric text, analog signals, compressed analog voice, or digitized voice) is connected to the global phenomena information element 240 r and is communicated to all radios of 5 selective calls 106 in the same way that the channel information described above, although the all-call message is most commonly communicated only in a zero box, - n in each. 0- It will be appreciated that the information of global phenomena can alternatively be included in a predetermined box alternatively 360 except the zero table.

It will also be appreciated that in the first example of global S phenomena described above, in which a change of home channels is communicated to the radios of multiple channels, the channel organizer 236 and the control channel overrun element acts combined as an element of global phenomenon that determines the occurrence of the global phenomenon, and provides the information of global phenomena. In the second example of global phenomena described above, in which an all-call message is communicated to the radios of multiple channels, the message manipulator 204 acts as an element of global phenomena that determines the occurrence of the global phenomenon and provides the information of the global phenomenon.

According to a second alternative embodiment of, the present invention, the global event indicator element -242 and the global phenomenon information 240, do not include in the system controller 102, and the global event information is directly connected to . the cell site controller 202 for inclusion in all the tables until all the numbered frames have been transmitted once. As in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the global event information must also be included in all subsequent zero tables if it is vital to the operation of the system. It will be appreciated that the overall information is repeated many times according to the second embodiment of the present invention, which reduces the overall performance of outgoing information in the radio communication system 100 compared to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to. The display shows a time diagram illustrating characteristics of the transmission format of a signal outgoing protocol used by the radio communication system 100 of FIG. 1 to transmit a message from the system controller 102 to the selective calling radio 106, according to the preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention. Eli protocol. Signal emission is similar to the FLEX ™ protocol, which is a protocol for outgoing-synchronous signals because both protocols have cycle, frame, block, word, symbola and bit protocol divisions that are equivalent in duration. The signal protocol is subdivided into divisions of potocolar that are one hour 310, one cycle 320, one table 330, one block 340 and one word 350. Up to fifteen cycles gives 4, minutes-exclusively identified are transmitted in each hour 310. Normally , the fifteen cycles 320 are transmitted every hour. Up to one hundred twenty-eight frames, of 1,875 seconds exclusively identified, are t-ransmi-H two in one of the cycles 320. Normally the one hundred twenty-eight frames are transmitted. A synchronization signal 33-1 that lasts one hundred fifteen milliseconds and, 11 blocks 340 of one hundred and sixty milliseconds exclusively identi fi ed are. transmitted in each of the frames 330. The synchronization signal includes a first synchronous part-3-37r a frame information word 338 and a second synchronous part 339. The information word box.338 includes.21 hi ts of information and 11 bits of parity. The information bits identify a cycle number, - a frame number and include a bit that is set to one to indicate a global phenomenon. A bit rate of 1600 bits per second (bps), 3200 bps, or 6400 bps is usable during the blocks of each frame 330. The bit rate of the blocks in each frame 330 is communicated to the selective calling radios 106 during the synchronization signal 331. When a proportion! of bits is 1600 bps, eight words 350 of thirty-two bits uniquely identified, are transmitted in each block 340. For bit rates of 3200 pbs or 6400 bps, - 16 - uniquely identified words or 32 exclusively identified words, respectively, each of which- has 3-2 uniquely identified bits, are included in each block 340. In each word, at least 11 bits are used for error detection and correction and 21 bits or less for information, in one known to a skilled artisan. In some words, 15 bits are used for detection and correction of errors and 17 bits for information, in a manner known to the person skilled in the art. the art. The bits and words 350 in each block 340 are transmitted in farm-to interleaved using techniques known to a person skilled in the art to improve the error correction capability of the protocol. The transmission cycle 1 referred to above in the description of the system controller 102 with reference to Fig.2 comprises a cycle 3.20.

A frame 330 is also defined as one of two specific types that depend on the information found within block 3.0 ^ The first, frame type 330 is a 360 control frame. The second frame type 330 is a frame of ^ os.

- The information is included in each control box 360 in fields, comprising system information in the table information word 338 and a block information field (Bl) 332, one or more selective calling addresses with subvectors in a address field (AF) 333, one or more of a set of vector packets, short message packets, and long messages in the information field (intermediate frequency) 335, and an unused field 336- which has no information useful inside. Each selective call address with subvector has - preferably two - words long. The subvector part of the selective call address is preferably eight bits long. Each packet of vectors and packet of short messages in the information field 335- of a control box 360- corresponds to I at least one of the addresses in the address field 333 of the same control box 360. Each long message in the information field 335 corresponds to at least one vector packet in the information field 335 of at least one or more of the control boxes 3.60. The limits of the fields 332, 333, 335, 336 and defined by the words-350, not by the blocks 340, and the long, of the fields 332, 333, 335, 336 are variable, according to factors such as the type and quantity of system information included in the information field of block 332, the type of 0-addresses used and the amount of information in each message. In particular, the boundary between the address field 333 and the information field 335 is referred to as the address field boundary 334. Therefore, the length of each of the fields 332, 222, 335, 336 may be longer. short or longer than a block 340. The unused field 336 may be of zero length when the total lengths of the fields 332, 333, 335 equals to 11 blocks 340, all vector packets and short messages intended for a selective call radio 106 & in particular they are preferably programmed for transmission on one or more of the predetermined frames 330 of each cycle 32Q ~ r- so as to allow the selective calling radio 106 to enter a low power mode (not receiver ^ during other frames) when There are included 5 short messages and vectors for the particular selective radio 106. The block information field 332 in this example includes two bits to indicate the number I of active round-trip channels and two bits to indicate the number of round-trip channels that are control channels. The frequencies of the active and control channels are predetermined for each possible combination. It will be appreciated that additional bits or fewer bits may be used equally well for systems that have more or fewer possible active and control channels. - The_information -se. Each field includes 370 fields, which comprise system information in the table information word 338, long messages in the information field (intermediate frequency) 335 and an unused field. 33.6. what. na_ contains useful information. A field of block information (Bl) 332 is not included in the data frames 370 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, but optionally is included in other real i zar.innps. Each long message in the information field 335 corresponds to at least one vector packet in the information field 335 of at least one or more control frames 360. The boundaries of the fields 332, 3-3-5., .- 33L6 se. defi npn with. the words 350, not with the blocks 340 and the length of the fields 332, 335, 336 are -variables, -according to factors such as the type and amount of system configuration included in the information field of block 332 (when included) ) and the amount of information in long messages.

The vectors contain information specifying the initial word of a long message, in terms of the protocol divisions described above, and in addition, radio channel information such as channel frequency, radio frequency, subchannel shift from the channel frequency of. radio and can l in phase and quadrature. The initial position and the length of a long message, a short message or a packet of vectors define the position in the protocol of the long message, the short message or the vector packet. The. position in the protocol can be in a different channel and in a different division (ie cycle, frame, block) - of the protocqlo. I When a selective calling radio 106 detects, its address in the sub-vector within a control box 360r-the selective calling radio 106 is generally directed by the sub-vector to receive one of a vector packet or a short message packet inside the control box 360 where the address is detected in the sub ector. (In a limited number of cases, the address i may include all the information that needs to be transmitted to the selective calling radio 106 in the form of a predetermined pattern of subvector bits that are not used for the position indication within the control box 360-r without © rather for a limited number of messages that have low information content 5. One example is an acknowledgment for an incoming message from the radio, selective calling 106.) When a selective calling radio 106 decodes an I 0 packet of vectors in a control box 360 which is associated with a selective call address, it is oriented to the selective calling radio 106 to receive and decode a long message in the same control box 360 or in another control box 360 or in a data box 5- 3-7T-. The block 330- in which the selective calling radio has to receive the long message is in a radio signal transmitted in a first radio channel where i the selective calling radio 106 detects its address in the sub-ector, - or in a second channel different from the channel where 0 the selective calling radio detects its address in the subvector.

With reference to-Eig.4, a time diagram illustrating the bit structure of the b-information word, of frame 338 used in frames 360, .37O (Fi g., 3). according to the preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention. The bits 342 in the information word are identified as a one-to-one bit thirty-two. The global phenomena indicator is a sixteen bit of global phenomena 344 of the frame information word in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, although it will be appreciated that either% to bit 342 can be used equally well.

Referring to FIG. 5, a time diagram is shown illustrating the bit structure of word one of information-of block 358, according to the preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention. The pe indicate the number of active outbound channels and the number of forward channels that are control channels. The bits 342 in the block information word are identified as bit nnn a_ bit thirty two. The number of active call channels is preferably indicated by bits thirty and forty 352, and the number of forward channels which are channels, control is preferably indicated by bits fifty and sixty 35.4 in .la. preferred embodiment of the present invention, although it will be appreciated that other bits 342 can be used equally well.

It will be appreciated that the overall phenomenon indicator bit 344 may alternatively be included in the block information word, but that the inclusion in the frame information word 338 has a benefit, in that a selective call signal 106 which is turned on a cold-start mode during the 4-minute cycle 320 in which a global phenomenon indicator is being sent and before having a default assigned table, or that is turned on after the default frame assigned to the selective calling radio 106 (when the predetermined frame is stored from a previous time until i the cold start) has passed, the selective calling radio 10-6- it delays another 4 minutes in the reception, of the global phenomenon information, or perhaps it totally loses the global phenomenon information (when, it is sent only once). Also, in situations where a selective calling radio 106 is driven to itself during each synchronization part of the number of frames 360r 370- during a cycle 320, for example to maintain a highly accurate automatic frequency control of a carrier frequency of receiver, the selective call radio 106 can overcome a situation in which the global phenomenon indicator is mistakenly received I during the predetermined frame 360 assigned to receive messages.

With reference to Fig. 6, an electrical block diagram of a multi-channel selective calling radio 106 capable of incoming message transmission is shown, according to the preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention. The selective calling radio 106 includes an antenna 680 for intercepting and transmitting radio signals. A first intercepted signal 625 in this example includes a control box 360 which is transmitted within the home control channel in the second protocol position (eg, block two) - predetermined for use by the selective calling radio 106 when the selective calling radio-104- is operating in its normal battery saving mode. Also in this example, a long message is included in a data frame 370 transmitted within a second outgoing channel, which is not necessarily a control channel. The long message is intended to be received by the selective calling radio 106. The data frame 50 which includes the long message is a box of data that appears after the predetermined control box 360 (frame two). The long message is, a text message intended for presentation on the screen-650 -.- Therefore, the control box 360 (figure two) includes the selective call address of the selective call radio 106, which includes a subvector indicating a position within the control box 360 (frame two) of a vector that identifies, the second output channel and the box inside the data box- 370. where the long message is located. The antenna 680 is connected to a conventional receiver 610 and a conventional transmitter 683. The receiver 610 and the transmitter 683 are connected to a controller 635. The control ador.635. is connected to a code memory 640, a display 650, an alarm 660 and a set of switches 67-0 -.- The controller 635 comprises a recovery element 646, a decoder of information words of. table 644, a global phenomena indicating element 645, a power mode controller 651, a block word decoder 632, an address decoder 631, a processor 642, a selector-of. channel 639, a control channel quality element 633, a home identifier element 634 and a lost control channel element 638. Immediately I before reception of the synchronization signal 331 from the control box.3 £ 0_ which is in the predetermined protocol position (frame two) within the cycle 320, the power mode controller 651 sets a mode, power of the selective calling radio 106 in a normal power state, - in which the receiver 610 starts to connect to receiver 610 where the intercepted signal is received, which includes filtering to remove undesirable energy at off-channel frequencies, amplifying the filtered signal, converting the frequency of signal 625 and demodulating signal 625 in the form conventional. The receiver 610 thus generates a demodulated signal 614 which is connected to the bit recovery element 646 of the controller 65.

The bit recovery element 646 recovers bits, from the data symbols received in a predetermined outgoing data rate in the demodulated signal 63-6, generating a binary signal. The binary signal includes information transmitted in the frames 360 of this example in the form of data symbols, with possibly induced errors during the radio communication of the signal. The binary signal is connected to the word decoder of the 644 box information. and the block word decoder 632. The frame information word decoder 644- performs detection decoding, and error correction of the block information words 338- in a manner known to one skilled in the art. The block word decoder 632 performs the detection and correction of errors of the I words 350 from the blocks 340, in a manner known to an expert in the art. When the frame information word 338 is sufficiently error-free, it connects it to the global phenomena indicator element 645, which determines whether the global phenomena indicator is set or not. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the global phenomena indicator is bit 16 of the frame information word 338. When the global phenomena indicator is set, the global phenomena indicator element 645 generates a global phenomenon signal that is connected to the power mpdo controller 651 and the control channel amount element 63-3.

The block word decoder 632 is connected to the control channel quantity element 633, the address decoder 631 and the message processor 642. The quantity control channel element 633 determines a number of radio channels Active Ites which are control channels from predetermined bits - in the information field of block 332, and I add the quantity to the element identifier of Hagar channel 634_ and. to the element. of lost control channel 638. When a block information field 332 is included in a block 360-, 370- and- is decoded by the block word decoder 632, the amount of control channels determined by the control element number of control channels 633 is used by the home channel identifier element 634 to determine the home channel. The home channel is generally the same as the home channel determined from a previous table, unless there are undetected errors, no block information field is included or a new home channel is determined due to a change in the number of control channels. Accordingly, when no global phenomenon signal has been connected from the global phenomena indicating element within the last cycle 320, the home channel identifier element 634 connects a new home channel with the channel selector only when the identifier element is connected. of home channel 634 has determined a new home concomitantly with, a predetermined consecutive number of block-decoded information fields, which preferably is two. When I the selective calling radio 106 does not receive block information fields for a predetermined duration, the lost control channel element 638 connects a predetermined default control channel to the channel selector. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined default control channel is a predetermined control channel defined for its use in the radio communication system when there is only one control channel. Therefore, when one. radio n. Selective call 106 is turned on after it has been turned off for some time and, for example, falls into a channel that is a control channel and has no block information field 332, the selective calling radio 1Q £ commutates channel control, determines the appropriate I home control channel and switches to it.

The home channel identifier element 634 preferably uses the calculation element 636 to determine the home channel from the number of control channels and a predetermined number stored in the selective call radio 106. The technique, determination and definition of the home channel. default number for-the_ element of. calculation 636 is identical to that described with respect to the calculation element 232 of the system controller 102. According to a third alternative embodiment of the present invention, the search table 637 can be used. wherein the determination technique and I defining the predetermined number is identical to the one described with respect to the look-up table element 234 of the system controller 102.

The controller 635 is connected to a code memory 640r in which are stored one or more addresses assigned to the selective calling radio 106, for example a local address (used in a "home" part of the radio communication system 100). ), a "roving" address (used in other parts of the radio communication system 100) and a group address (shared with other "home" selective call radios 10-6) -. The assigned address (s) are also called embedded addresses here. When the contractor 635 determines that the address field 333 of the control box 360 (frame two), which includes the selective call address, is sufficiently error-free, the controller 635 connects the address field 333 to the decoder 631 which compares each selective call direction in the control box 360 (table two) with the -addressed addresses. When none of the selective call addresses in the recovered control box 360 - (-frame two) combine with any selective call addresses embedded before the address limit 334 ^ Fig.1), the controller 635 places the selective calling radio 106 in a low power mode in which the selective calling radio 106 can not receive I radio signals, and the controller 635 stops all processing of the demodulated signal 614 to the start of next cycle 320 (insofar as the global-phenomenon bit was set in this example) or, alternatively, until a later time when a following control-frame 360 (frame two) - is transmitted to the position default that potentially includes a direce.ion-.d. selective calls for selective calling radio 106 (in case the global phenomenon bit is not placed).

When an outgoing selective call address in the recovered control box 360 (frame two) - and an embedded selective call address match, a valid address signal is connected to the message processor-642r- responding by retrieving the part of subvector of the address and determining the initial part of the vector as a number of words from the limit, from address 334. The initial position is connected from the message processor-642 to the mode, power 651 controller, which in response switches the selective calling radio 106 to the low power mode up to the initial position of the vector, at which time the power mode controller 651 switches the selective calling radio 106 to the normal power mode. The words in the control box 360 (table two) which include, the vector information are received by the receiver 610, decoded by the decoder of block words 632., and coupled with the message processor 642. The duration The vector is determined by the message processor 642 from the information within the data packet and connected to the power mode controller 651, which switches the power mode to the low power mode at the end of the data packet. During mode, low power, the processing of message information continues, but signal reception does not. The message processor 642 decodes the initial position of the long message from the vector, which includes in this example I an indication that the long message is in a position d after the same cycle 320, in a data frame that is transmitted inside. of the second output radio channel.

The message processor 642 generates a channel indicator for the long message that is connected to the channel selector 63? and - connects the initial decoded position of the long message with the power mode controller 651. The power mode comparator 651 switches the power mode of the selective calling radio 106 to the normal power mode and the channel selector 639 switches , the receiving frequency of the receiver 610 at the frequency of the second output radio Ganal at the beginning of the long message. A second intercepted signal 625 is received by the receiver 610, - decoded by the word block decoder 632 and the message processor 642 retrieves the long message during the protocol position I determined from the initial position determined from the vector y- the length of the long message. The length of the long message is determined by the message processor 642_ from da_ information in the long message in the demodulated signal i 614 and connected to the power mode controller 651 and the channel selector 639. At the end of the long message, the power mode controller 651 switches the mode of power from the selective calling radio 106 to the low power mode and the chan- nel selector 639- switches the receiving frequency of the receiver 610 to the frequency of the home control channel.

The controller 635 is connected to a set of switches 670, to which the controller 635 responds to adjust and control a number of operating modes of the selective calling radio 106. According to the operating mode of The radio gives selective calls 106, and according to the content of the long message, the controller 635 connects the information included in the long message with a display 650 for its presentation and stores information included in the long message for its subsequent presentation. Also according to the operating mode of the selective calling radio-10-6r a sensitive alarm device 660 for example, a tone alarm device or a vibration alarm device is activated in response to the alarm signal. - In this example r - after determining that the long message includes a text message, the text controller 635 connects the text message to the display 650 and generates an encoded acknowledgment message. The acknowledgment message is connected to the transmitter 683, which generates a radio frequency transmission signal 695. The radio frequency transmission signal 695 is connected to the antenna 680 and transmitted.

As a response to the global phenomenon signal from the global phenomena indicator element 645, the power mode shifter 651 adjusts the selective calling radio 106 in the normal power state at the beginning- of the zero frame 330 of the following 320 cycle . A third intercepted signal 625 is received by the receiver 610- at the frequency of the home control channel, and decoded by the block word decoder 632.

In response to the global phenomenon signal connected from the global phenomenon indicator element 645, the amount of control channel number 633 determines a channel (from home (which may be the same as the last home channel) from the channels of control and the predetermined number and connects the new home channel with the channel selector at the end of the information field of block 332, effecting so much a relatively rapid change for the new home channel as a result of the overall phenomenon. At the end of the block information field 322, the power mode controller 651 switches the power mode of the selective calling radio 106 to the low power mode.

It will be appreciated that when the global phenomenon indicator is adjusted, an additional or additionally, a global rate or a change in the number of home control channels may be indicated. For example, a text message is identified for processing by all radios, of I selective calls 106, using a selective call pattern of the ring, as defined for many information portocolos. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the all-call address, global, is indicated with all 1 pattern in 17 bit locations. re e pn nadas gives a direction of two words in address field 333 of table zero. The selective calling radio - 10-6 includes the all-call address I as one of the embedded addresses and the decoder of., Address, decodes this pattern when it is included in all the frames (when the selective calling radio 106 is in the receiving state). The subvector associated with the address gives selective calls indicates the location in the zero box in which the vector starts the vector for the text message, unless the text message is short, (eg, less than six words long), in which case the text message is usually included in the zero box and the location of the text message is indicated by the subvector.

Sa he appreciates that in the two examples of global phenomena described above, the number of control channels 633- and- the address decoder 631 each execution of the information decoding function and the element-identifier of home channel 634 and the message processor 642 executes information processing functions, respectively, p & ra, the information decoded by the channel quantity element is, da. control 633 and the address encoder 631.

The receiver 640 in the preferred embodiments, and alternative of the present invention in Fig.6 is preferably a dob1e conversion receiver of a type known to those skilled in the art, but alternatively may be of other alternative types, for example, a Single conversion receiver or zero intermediate frequency (Z-1F) -. The code memory 640 is conventional EPROM or conventional SRAM or other conventional memory that is known to those skilled in the art. The screen 650 is an LCD screen of a type known to those skilled in the art and the antenna 680, switches 670 and alarm device 660 are devices also known to the skilled artisan. Controller 635 is preferably implemented within a controller section that includes, but is not limited to, conventional hardware circuits including a microprocessor, random access memory time circuits, non-volatile memory such as EPROM, and input / output circuits. The cnvencianales functions of the element of recovery of bits 646,, the block word decoder 632, the frame information-word decoder 644 and the address decoder 631 described herein are controlled by firmware routines developed in accordance with techniques known to one skilled in the art. The unique functions of the global phenomena indicator element 645, the power mode controller 651, the block word decoder 632, the message processor 642, the channel selector 639, the number of control channels element 633, the home channel identifier element 634 and the lost control channel element 638 described herein are controlled by unique firmware routines developed in accordance with techniques known to those skilled in the art. The microprocessor is preferably one of the 68HC05 family microprocessors manufactured by Motorola Ine, of Schaumburg, Illinois. The transmitter 683 is a conventional low power transmitter of a type known by. the experts in art.

It will be appreciated that the techniques described herein for determining a home control channel and for communicating a global phenomenon are equally useful in a system in which they are. radios, multi-channel radios are not selective calls, for example a system in which each radius of multiple channels is assigned to a predetermined frame of a home control channel in which all the. Training in the table is for all those 'multi-channel radios assigned to the same frame on the same channel ^ When the number of control channels increases or decreases, the radios are distributed, respectively, into smaller or larger groups of radios that receive - en_ each frame time. When a global phenomenon indication is sent, all radios hear the zero frame described above.

It will also be appreciated that the technique described herein for communicating a global phenomenon is effective in a 1 Q radio communication system having a single outgoing radio channel, just like the multi-channel system described.

With reference to Fig.7, a fl ow diagram illustrating a method used in a system controller is shown. 102 of the radio communications system 100 for communicating information of global phenomena to all radios that are active, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In step 710, an occurrence of the global phenomenon and of global phenomenon information associated with the occurrence of the global phenomenon is determined. The global phenomenon may be a change of control channels or a message, as described above, or other information, such as a change in a number, of I active channels used for responses and acknowledgments, or a change in a proportion of bits as a default bit rate on an input channel. In step 720, the system controller 102 includes a one-bit global phenomenon indicator in a system information part of all - the 3-60 control frames included during a cycle of an outgoing signaling protocol transmitted. The outgoing signal transmission protocol has cycle protocol divisions, tables, tables, blocks, words and bits. When the radio communication system has a multiplicity of outgoing control channels, the indicator of global phenomena is preferably sent in all the control channels 360 through all the outgoing channels, although it will be appreciated that the global phenomenon can automatically be sent in a smaller number than all the control channels when the global phenomenon information is. for the selective call radios 106 in a smaller number than all the channels. The overall phenomenon indicator is preferably included in the synchronization signal 331 of the information part of the control panel system 3.60.

In step 730r- a radio signal including the cycle 320 that includes the control boxes 360 including the indicator, global phenomena is transmitted from the transmitter / receiver 103. In step 740, the system controller 102 includes the information of global phenomena in a predetermined frame, preferably zero square of the cycle following the cycle in which the global phenomenon indicator is included. In step 750, the next cycle that includes the overall phenomenon information is transmitted to the transmitter / receiver 103, preferably in all control channels.

With reference to Fig. & - a flipcha diagram illustrating a method used in a call radio is shown. 1Q6 of the communications system, of radio 100 to receive information of global phenomena, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. , In step 810 the selective calling radio 106, which is synchronized with the outgoing signal transmission protocol described above in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the start of I waits for a first frame number, for example, frame 94, which is predetermined by the first number assigned to and stored with the selective calling radio. In step 830, the selective calling radio 106 operates, the reception of information by the duration of the first frame 330. (-pad 94, having the first frame number), within the selective calling radio 106, for example by switching from a low-power mode in which the receiver 610 does not receive radio signals, or for example, simply by activating a deactivated decoding function at the beginning of the first frame 330. The selective calling radio-106 decodes the synchronization signal 331 associated with the first frame 330 including the global phenomenon indicator in step 840. When the global indicator is adjusted to indicate a global phenomenon, the selective calling radio 106 deactivates the reception of information at the end of the first frame until the moment in which a control box 360 which is a second frame 30 (which has a second predetermined frame number) is transmitted by the system controller LQ2. in the case of the outgoing signal transmission protocol, unless the first frame is a control box 360 which includes information to which the selective calling radio 106 responds actively while active, during one or more frames 33Q between the first frame 330 and the second frame 360. The second predetermined number is preferably zero. In step 870, the selective calling radio 106 operates >; The second address of the second table 360. A single address in the address field 333 of the second table 340 indicates that the overall information is included in the second table 360 and is intended to all radios from. selective calls 10.6 e..i ndi ca where. is located, the beginning of the information. Once the beginning of the infarmation has been located, the selective calling radio i 106 locates and decodes the rest of the information in the pass. 880. as is. described above with reference to. -Figures 3 and 6. The information is processed according to its content, - or is described with reference to Fig.6. The selective calling radio 106 again disables the reception of information in step 892 and the process continues in step 810.

At this height it should be appreciated that a technique has been provided for communicating information of global phenomena to a number of radios that normally operate in a receiver np state except at different predetermined times during cycles. transmission. The technique substantially improves the efficiency of global information communication, particularly for global phenomena that require the use of more information to communicate the global-phenomenon, in. Comparison with sending information in group calls or individual calls commu- nicated within different predetermined times, or, as compared to prior art systems that use all the words in a cycle to indicate a global phenomenon.

Claims (9)

1. A system controller for efficiently communicating global information to a number of radios in a radio communication system in which each of the number of radios is in the receiving state during one-part synchronization of one or more predetermined periods i of a number of transmission cycles in which each one of the number of radios is not necessarily in the receiving state during a first predetermined period of each of the number of transmission cycles, the system controller comprises : an element of global phenomenon to determine an occurrence of global phenomenon and information of global phenomenon associated with the occurrence of global phenomenon, where the global phenomenon information is for communication with the - number of radios "an indicator of global phenomenon connected with the global phenomenon element to include a global phenomenon indicator in the CAD synchronization part to one of the number of periods-including the one or more predetermined periods, and where the global indicator indicates that the number of radios-is placed in a-receiving state during the first predetermined period of the second transmission cycle; a global phenomenon element connected to the global phenomenon element to include the global phenomenon information in the first predetermined period that is for transmission-in a second transmission cycle following the first transmission cycle; and a control cell site connected with the global phenomenon indicator element and with the global phenomenon information element for encoding the first transmission cycle and the second transmission cycle to a transmitter / receiver for radio transmission.

2. The system controller according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission cycle and the second transmission cycle are cycles of an i-ranstni protocol and signals and the number of periods and the first predetermined period are outgoing signal transmission protocol frames and where the synchronization part is a synchronization signal of the outgoing txan protocol = mission of signals and where the outgoing signal transmission protocol has protocol splits that include the cycles, frames, synchronization signal, blocks, words and bits and where the protocol divisions are equivalent in quantity, duration and numbering to respectively defined divisions - of a FLEX ™ protocol.

3. The system controller according to claim 2 wherein a frame number of the first predetermined period is zero.

4. The system control according to claim 1, wherein the global phenomenon indicator included by the global phenomenon indicator element is an i bit of the synchronization part.

5. The system control of claim 2, wherein the number of periods in the first step of including a global phenomenon indicator includes all periods in the first transmission cycle.

6. - A radio for receiving global information in a radio communication system I in which the radio is in reception station during a synchronization part the first period of each of the number of transmission cycles and not is necessarily in a state of reception during a second predetermined period of each of the number of transmission cycles, - comprising: a receiver for receiving the first predetermined period of a first transmission cycle; a global phenomenon indicating element connected to the receiver to decode a global phenomenon indicator in the synchronization part of the first predetermined period; a reception state controller, connected to the receiver and the global phenomenon indicating element, to place the radio in the receiving state during the second predetermined period of a second transmission cycle, where the second transmission cycle follows the first ciplo of transmission; the receiver to receive the second predetermined period; an information decoder, connected to the receiver, for decoding the global phenomenon information in, the second predetermined period; and an information processor connected to the information decoder to process the global phenomenon information-

7. The radio according to claim 6 wherein the first transmission cycle and the second cycle of 1-ransmi si? N are cycles of an output signal transmission protocol, and wherein the first predetermined period and the second predetermined period are frames of the protocol of transmission of output signals, and where the part gives synchronization as, a synchronization signal of a protocol of transmission of output signals and where the protocol of transmission- of output signals has protocol divisions that include cycles, blocks &r- the synchronization signal, blocks, words and bits, and where the protocol divisions are equivalent in quantity, - duration and numbering respectively, to defined divisions of a FLEX ™ protocol.

8-. The radio according to claim 7 wherein the second predetermined period is the table number zero.

9-. The radio according to claim 6 wherein, the global phenomena indicator decoded by the indicating element of global phenomena is a bit of the I synchronization part.