Apparatus for message re-transmission on demand

A communication system providing compressed analog message re-transmission on demand, the communication system comprising:

• a base station comprising
• means for receiving an address, a session number and a compressed analog message transmitted from a system controller,
• a memory comprising
• a first memory portion for storing the address and the session number as information in a digital format, and
• a second memory portion for storing the compressed analog message as information in an analog format,
• a cell transmitter for transmitting the address and the session number modulated in a first modulation format and the compressed analog message modulated in a second modulation format,
• at least one cell receiver for receiving a request for re-transmission of the compressed analog message, and
• a cell controller, coupled to said memory, and responsive to the request for re-transmission received for controlling a re-transmission of the compressed analog message which is stored;
• and
• a portable communication transceiver, comprising
• a receiver for receiving the address and the session number modulated in the first modulation format and the compressed analog message modulated in the second modulation format,
• a decoder, coupled to said receiver, for decoding the address and in response thereto storing the session number and the compressed analog message in a memory when the address matches a predetermined address assigned to the portable communication transceiver,
• a playback circuit for controlling playback of the compressed analog message stored in said memory for a user,
• means for manually generating the request for re-transmission of the compressed analog message when audio quality as perceived to the user is unintelligible, and
• a transmitter for transmitting the request for message re-transmission.