US 5,335,357 A · Simulcast scheduler

Abstract

A selective call terminal receives selective call information from a message originator. A transmission time is scheduled for the selective call message by a selective call system controller. A plurality of simulcast schedulers coupled to the controller receive and store the selective call message and the transmission time. The simulcast schedulers have an equalization time stored therein, the equalization times for each of the simulcast schedulers calculated by the system controller using simulcast receivers for measuring signal time differences between transmitters. The simulcast schedulers provide the selective call message to corresponding transmitters at a time to transmit the selective call message, the time determined by the transmission time and the equalization time. Transmitter settings and code types defining signalling protocol, data bit rate, carrier frequency and transmitter power, for each message are varied in accordance with information received from the system controller. Each simulcast scheduler can also function as a selective call terminal for a local selective call system.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A selective call network, comprising:

terminal means for receiving selective call information and generating in response thereto a selective call message and a transmission time and for receiving simulcast delay information and calculating in response thereto a plurality of equalization times;
a plurality of transmission means for transmitting said selective call message, wherein each of said plurality of equalization times corresponds to a different transmission means included in said plurality of transmission means;
and
a plurality of scheduling means, each of which is coupled to said terminal means and coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of transmission means, each of said plurality of scheduling means comprising:
receiving means for receiving said selective call message, said transmission time, and the corresponding equalization time included in said plurality of equalization times from said terminal means;
memory means for storing at least the corresponding equalization time received from said terminal means;
and
calculating means for calculating from said transmission time and the corresponding equalization time a simulcast time to provide said selective call message to said plurality of transmission means.

5 more elements

A method for transmitting a selective call message in a selective call system comprising a terminal for receiving selective call information, a plurality of transmitters for transmitting the selective call message, and a transmitter controller for controlling the operation of the plurality of transmitters, the method comprising the steps of:

said transmitter controller receiving said selective call information from said terminal and generating therefrom said selective call message;
said transmitter controller calculating a transmission time for said selective call message;
said transmitter controller receiving simulcast delay information associated with each of said plurality of transmitters;
said transmitter controller calculating a plurality of equalization times from said simulcast delay information, wherein each of said plurality of equalization times is associated with a different transmitter included in said plurality of transmitters;
said transmitter controller transmitting said selective call message, said plurality of equalization times, and said transmission time to a plurality of schedulers, each of said plurality of schedulers coupled to a different one of said plurality of transmitters;
each of said plurality of schedulers storing said selective call message, said transmission time, and the associated equalization time corresponding to said one of said plurality of transmitters coupled thereto;
and
each of said plurality of schedulers providing said selective call message to said one of said plurality of transmitters at a simulcast time determined in response to said transmission time and the associated equalization time.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Simulcast scheduler

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Simulcast scheduler

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9