Method and apparatus for distributing processing load for decoding paging messages in a radio communication system

A method for receiving a paging communication at a first radio operable on a mobile radio communication system, the method comprising:

• sharing identification information with other radios of a local group of radios;
• receiving information about a paging communication intended for the first radio from a second radio assigned by the local group for receiving paging communications for all radios of the local group from a base station, wherein the information comprises a message formatted by the second radio and transmitted by the second radio using a local radio communication protocol among the local group;
• and
• directly communicating with the base station to receive the paging communication.

A portable electronic device comprising:

• radio means for receiving radio communication;
• and
• control means coupled with the radio means for detecting at least one of paging communication information received by the radio means from a remote radio and intended for a member of a local group of radios including the portable electronic device, and
• a local radio communication received by the radio means from another member of the local group and conveying information about received paging communication information received by the other member,
• wherein the control means is configured to
• communicate respective identification information for the local group of radios to an assigned radio communication device of the local group of radios,
• receive an alert communication from a base station only at the assigned radio communication device, and
• if the alert communication is associated with another radio communication device of the local group of radios, communicating information about the alert communication from the assigned radio communication device to the another radio communication device,
• wherein the step of communicating information about the alert communication comprises
• formatting a message, and
• transmitting the message using a local radio communication protocol among the local group of radios.

A method for receiving an alert communication from a base station at a radio communication device, the method comprising:

• communicating respective identification information for a plurality of radio communication devices to an assigned radio communication device of the plurality of radio communication devices;
• receiving the alert communication only at the assigned radio communication device;
• and
• if the alert communication is associated with another radio communication device of the plurality of radio communication devices, communicating information about the alert communication from the assigned radio communication device to the another radio communication device to prompt the another radio communication device to directly communicate with the base station,
• wherein the step of receiving comprises:
• detecting radio frequency (RF) signals;
• demodulating the RF signals to produce received data;
• and
• decoding the received data to extract the alert communication.

A method for receiving an alert communication from a base station at a radio communication device, the method comprising:

• communicating respective identification information for a plurality of radio communication devices to an assigned radio communication device of the plurality of radio communication devices;
• receiving the alert communication only at the assigned radio communication device;
• at the radio communication device, comparing intended recipient information of the alert communication with identification information for respective radio communication devices of the plurality of communication devices;
• and
• if the alert communication is associated with another radio communication device of the plurality of radio communication devices, communicating information about the alert communication from the assigned radio communication device to the another radio communication device to prompt the another radio communication device to directly communicate with the base station;
• wherein the step of receiving the alert communication comprises:
• receiving a paging message from a base station of a radio communication system,
• decoding the paging message to identify an intended recipient,
• comparing the intended recipient and the respective identification information for the plurality of radio communication devices, and
• based on the comparison, determining if the paging message includes the alert communication associated with any radio communication device of the plurality of radio communication devices.