Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-17
2001-04-10
Bost, Dwayne (Department: 2681)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C455S511000, C455S516000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215999
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to wireless communication systems, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for identifying channels and channel frequencies used in a subzone of a wireless communication system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wireless communication systems are becoming increasingly popular, demanding increasing numbers of channels to carry the communication traffic. Some modem wireless massaging systems have utilized system configuration information (SCI) frames on one or more control channels to identify the totality of control channels, non-control channels (data-only channels), and corresponding frequencies used by the channels throughout a subzone. In a FLEX® two-way messaging system, for example, a subzone is the smallest area in the messaging system in which control information is simulcast. An invariant group of control channels and data channels are used throughout the subzone.
With the growth of wireless messaging, some systems are starting to need more channels per subzone than was anticipated a few years ago when the communication protocols were designed. The SCI frames of the FLEX® two-way messaging protocol, for example, can identify up to eight channels. Some service providers now anticipate a requirement for more than eight channels per subzone.
Thus, what is needed is a method and apparatus for enabling an identification of more than the maximum number of channel frequencies per subzone possible in prior art systems. Preferably, the method and apparatus will be backward compatible without requiring any changes in subscriber units already operating in the wireless communication systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aspect of the present invention is a method in a wireless communication system that transmits a system configuration information (SCI) frame on a control channel to identify up to a maximum number of channel frequencies employed within a subzone of the wireless communication system. The method enables an identification of more than the maximum number of channel frequencies in the subzone. The method comprises at least one of the steps of
(a) alternating first and second SCI frames in the subzone, and
(b) identifying private data channels. The step of alternating first and second SCI frames includes transmitting, in the first SCI frame, on a plurality of frequencies, a first predetermined number of control channel identifiers and corresponding frequency identifiers; and sending, in the second SCI frame, on the plurality of frequencies, a second predetermined number of control channel identifiers and corresponding frequency identifiers, the first and second predetermined numbers different from one another. The transmitting and sending steps are repeated alternately. The step of identifying private data channels includes conveying, in the subzone in an SCI frame on ones of a plurality of control channels, a channel identifier and frequency of at least one data-only channel corresponding to the ones of the plurality of control channels, wherein at least some data-only channels corresponding to different control channels occupy different frequencies.
Another aspect of the present invention is a controller in a wireless communication system that transmits a system configuration information (SCI) frame on a control channel to identify up to a maximum number of channels employed within a subzone of the wireless communication system. The controller enables an identification of more than the maximum number of channels in the subzone. The controller comprises a network interface for receiving messages, a processing system coupled to the network interface for processing the messages, and a base station interface coupled to the processing system for controlling a transmitter to send the messages. The processing system is programmed to do at least one of (a) alternating first and second SCI frames in the subzone, and (b) identifying private data channels. In alternating the first and second SCI frames in the subzone, the processing system is programmed to transmit, in the first SCI frame, on a plurality of frequencies, a first predetermined number of control channel identifiers and corresponding frequency identifiers; and to send, in the second SCI frame, on the plurality of frequencies, a second predetermined number of control channel identifiers and corresponding frequency identifiers, the first and second predetermined numbers different from one another. The processing system is further programmed to repeat the transmission of the first and second SCI frames alternately. In identifying private data channels, the processing system is programmed to convey, in the subzone in an SCI frame on ones of a plurality of control channels, a channel identifier and frequency of at least one data-only channel corresponding to the ones of the plurality of control channels, wherein at least some data-only channels corresponding to different control channels occupy different frequencies.
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Bost Dwayne
Breeden R. Louis
Gelin Jean A
Motorola Inc.
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