US 5,859,595 A · System for providing paging receivers with accurate time of day information

Abstract

A system is described for providing one or more remote paging receivers with accurate time of day information utilizing a paging provider which encodes page messages into RF signals corresponding to baseband signals for transmission via a paging channel to the receivers. The system includes the receivers and a controller. The controller sends a first page message, which defines an on-time point, to the paging provider for transmission via the paging channel to the receivers, and then sends a second page message to the paging provider for transmission via the paging channel to the receivers. Further, the controller detects the transmission of the first page message in the paging channel and determines a time of day when the on-time point of the first page message was transmitted by the paging provider in the paging channel. The second page message sent by the controller comprises data defining this determined time of day. The receivers each detect the first and second page messages in the paging channel, and have a clock for maintaining the time of day. Each of the receivers updates its clock to an accurate time of day responsive to the time of day of the clock when the on-time point of the first page message was received and the time of day defined by the data of the detected second page message. Thus, the receivers are provided with accurate time of day information for maintaining the accuracy of their clocks. In addition, such receivers may output periodically the time of day from their clocks to provide a source for accurate time of day information to other systems.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A system for providing one or more remote receivers with accurate time of day information utilizing a paging provider which encodes page messages into signals for transmission via a paging channel to said receivers, said system comprising:

said receivers and a controller;
said controller comprising means for sending a first page message which defines an on-time point to said paging provider for transmission via said paging channel to said receivers and for sending a second page message to said paging provider for transmission via said paging channel to said receivers, means for detecting the transmission of said first page message in said paging channel, and means responsive to said detecting means of said controller for determining a time of day when the on-time point of said first page message was transmitted by said paging provider in said paging channel, wherein said second page message comprises data defining said time of day from said determining means;
and
said receivers each comprising means for detecting said first and second page messages in said paging channel, a clock for measuring the time of day, means responsive to said detecting means of said receiver and said clock for determining a time of day when said on-time point of said first page message was received from said paging provider in said paging channel, and means for updating said clock to an accurate time of day responsive to the determined time of day when said on-time point of said first page message was received and the time of day defined by said data of the detected second page message.

1 more element

A method for providing one or more remote receivers with accurate time of day information utilizing a paging provider which encodes page messages into signals for transmission via a paging channel to said receivers, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) sending a first page message having data defining an on-time point to said paging provider for transmission via said paging channel to said receiver;
(b) detecting the transmission of said first page message in said paging channel;
(c) determining, responsive to step (b), a time of day when the on-time point of said first page message was transmitted by said paging provider;
(d) sending a second page message having data defining said determined time of day from step (c) to said paging provider for transmission via said paging channel to said receiver;
(e) detecting at said receiver said first page message in said paging channel;
(f) determining at said receiver a time of day when said on-time point of said first page message was detected responsive to a clock at said receiver;
(g) detecting at said receiver said second page message in said paging channel;
and
(h) updating at said receiver said clock to an accurate time of day responsive to said determined time of day when said on-time point of said first page message was detected at the receiver and the time of day defined by said data of said detected second page message.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for providing paging receivers with accurate time of day information

Life of this patent

System for providing paging receivers with accurate time of day information

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims35