Method and apparatus for sharing a common bandwidth between two protocols in a radio communication system

A radio communication system for sharing a common bandwidth between first and second protocols that can support up to N subchannels and M subchannels, respectively, within the common bandwidth, N and M being predetermined positive integer values, wherein the first and second protocols utilize transmission frames having first and second frame durations that are integer multiples of one another, the radio communication system comprising:

• a fixed portion, comprising:
• a controller, comprising:
• a processing system for controlling the radio communication system;
• an input interface coupled to the processing system for receiving messages intended for a portable portion;
• and
• a transmitter interface coupled to the processing system for controlling a plurality of transmitters to send the messages to the portable portion,
• wherein the processing system is programmed for synchronizing the transmission frames of the first protocol with those of the second protocol, and
• wherein the processing system is further programmed for determining a sharing plan for the subchannels utilized by the first and second protocols within the common bandwidth, the sharing plan applicable to a subsequent group of simultaneous transmission frames, and
• wherein the processing system is further programmed for vectoring a receiver of the portable portion that has a message to be received in one of the first and second protocols, the vectoring done in accordance with the sharing plan and prior to a transmission of said subsequent group of simultaneous transmission frames, and
• wherein the fixed portion further comprises
• a plurality of transmitters coupled to the transmitter interface for sending an address, a vector, and the message to the receiver, and
• wherein the radio communication system further comprises:
• the portable portion, comprising:
• first receivers coupled to the fixed portion by a radio signal operating on the first protocol;
• and
• second receivers coupled to the fixed portion by a radio signal operating on the second protocol, and
• wherein the fixed portion and the portable portion share the common bandwidth between the first and second protocols in accordance with the sharing plan during the transmission of said subsequent group of simultaneous transmission frames.

A controller in a radio communication system for sharing a common bandwidth between first and second protocols that can support up to N subchannels and M subchannels, respectively, within the common bandwidth, N and M being predetermined positive integer values, wherein the first and second protocols utilize transmission frames having first and second frame durations that are integer multiples of one another, the controller comprising:

• a processing system for controlling the radio communication system;
• an input interface coupled to the processing system for receiving messages intended for a portable portion;
• and
• a transmitter interface coupled to the processing system for controlling a plurality of transmitters to send the messages to the portable portion,
• wherein the processing system is programmed for synchronizing the transmission frames of the first protocol with those of the second protocol, and
• wherein the processing system is further programmed for determining a sharing plan for the subchannels utilized by the first and second protocols within the common bandwidth, the sharing plan applicable to a subsequent group of simultaneous transmission frames, and
• wherein the processing system is further programmed for vectoring a receiver of the portable portion that has a message to be received in one of the first and second protocols, the vectoring done in accordance with the sharing plan and prior to a transmission of said subsequent group of simultaneous transmission frames, and
• wherein the controller controls the radio communication system to share the common bandwidth between the first and second protocols in accordance with the sharing plan during the transmission of said subsequent group of simultaneous transmission frames.