Method and apparatus for improving battery life in a portable communication receiver

Apparatus for improving battery life in a portable communication receiver for use in a communication system which transmits and retransmits identifiers and corresponding message portions, each identifier uniquely identifying a corresponding message portion, the apparatus comprising:

• receiver-decoder means for commencing reception and decoding of an identifier and a corresponding current message portion to obtain therefrom a received identifier;
• processor means coupled to the receiver-decoder means for comparing the received identifier with stored identifiers received and stored in a memory means during earlier transmissions, in an attempt to find a match between the received identifier and one of the stored identifiers corresponding to an earlier received message portion;
• the memory means coupled to the processor means for storing the received identifier, the corresponding current message portion, and a corresponding error count computed therefor by the processor means in accordance with a conventional error-detecting code utilized by the communication system, in response to failing to find the match;
• reader means coupled to the processor means for reading from the memory means a stored error count computed for the earlier received message portion in accordance with the conventional error detecting code and stored when the earlier received message portion was received, the earlier received message portion corresponding to the one of the stored identifiers that matches the received identifier, in response to successfully finding the match;
• and
• discontinuation means coupled to said reader means for discontinuing reception and decoding of the current message portion in response to the reader means indicating that the stored error count is zero, and
• means, coupled to said reader means, for continuing the reception and decoding of the current message portion in response to the reader means indicating that the stored error count is non-zero.

A portable communication receiver for use in a communication system which transmits and retransmits identifiers and corresponding message portions, each identifier uniquely identifying a corresponding message portion, the portable communication receiver comprising:

• a receiver element for receiving radio signals comprising an identifier and a corresponding current message portion to obtain therefrom a received identifier;
• a decoder coupled to said receiver element for decoding the current message portion and the received identifier;
• a battery coupled to the portable communication receiver for powering the portable communication receiver;
• and
• apparatus coupled to said battery for improving life of said battery in the portable communication receiver, said apparatus comprising:
• a processor coupled to said decoder for comparing the received identifier with stored identifiers received and stored during earlier transmissions, in an attempt to find a match between the received identifier and one of the stored identifiers corresponding to an earlier received message portion;
• a memory coupled to said processor for storing the received identifier, the corresponding current message portion, and a corresponding error count computed therefor by the processor in accordance with a conventional error-detecting code utilized by the communication system, in response to failing to find the match;
• a reader element coupled to said processor for reading from said memory a stored error count computed for the earlier received message portion by said processor in accordance with the conventional error detecting code and stored when the earlier received message portion was received, the earlier received message portion corresponding to the one of the stored identifiers that matches the received identifier, in response to successfully finding the match;
• and
• a discontinuation element coupled to said reader element for discontinuing reception and decoding of the current message portion in response to the reader element determining that the stored error count is zero;
• elements, coupled to said reader element, for continuing the reception and decoding of the current message portion in response to the reader element determining that the stored error count is non-zero.