Method and apparatus optimizing receipt of call/broadcast paging messages by self-powered wireless communications devices

A non-transitory computer-readable medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital data processor to perform operations for communicating paging messages to wireless communications devices of a wireless communications network, where the network responds to each incoming call placed to a wireless communications device by transmitting a call-paging message within a corresponding partition of a digital radio frame of prescribed format, the method including operations of:

• responsive to each occurrence of a broadcast event,
• transmitting a repeating broadcast-paging message announcing the availability of broadcast content from the network, and
• transmitting the broadcast-paging message multiple times within each digital radio frame;
• and
• responsive to each occurrence of a first broadcast event associated with a first set of one or more broadcast programs, transmitting a first repeating broadcast-paging message announcing the availability of broadcast content related to the first set of broadcast programs.

Circuitry comprising:

• multiple interconnected electrically conductive elements configured to perform operations for communicating paging messages to wireless communications devices of a wireless communications network, where the network responds to each incoming call placed to a wireless communications device by transmitting a call-paging message within a corresponding partition of a digital radio frame of prescribed format, the method including operations of:
• responsive to each occurrence of a broadcast event,
• transmitting a repeating broadcast-paging message announcing the availability of broadcast content from the network, and
• transmitting the broadcast-paging message multiple times within each digital radio frame;
• and
• responsive to each occurrence of a first broadcast event associated with a first set of one or more broadcast programs, transmitting a first repeating broadcast-paging message announcing the availability of broadcast content related to the first set of broadcast programs.

A base station apparatus for use in a wireless communications network that responds to each incoming call placed to a wireless communications device by transmitting a call-paging message within a corresponding partition of a digital radio frame of prescribed format, the base station comprising:

• one or more antennas;
• a transceiver;
• a digital data processor programmed to communicate paging messages to wireless communications devices by performing operations including:
• responsive to each occurrence of a broadcast event,
• transmitting a repeating broadcast-paging message announcing the availability of broadcast content from the network, and
• transmitting the broadcast-paging message multiple times within each digital radio frame;
• and
• responsive to each occurrence of a first broadcast event associated with a first set of one or more broadcast programs, transmitting a first repeating broadcast-paging message announcing the availability of broadcast content related to the first set of broadcast programs.

A base station apparatus for use in a wireless communications network that responds to each incoming call placed to a wireless communications device by transmitting a call-paging message within a corresponding partition of a digital radio frame of prescribed format, the base station comprising:

• antenna means for relaying signals between conductive media and air media;
• means for transceiving;
• digital data processor means for communicating paging messages to wireless communications devices by performing operations including:
• responsive to each occurrence of a broadcast event,
• transmitting a repeating broadcast-paging message announcing the availability of broadcast content from the network, and
• transmitting the broadcast-paging message multiple times within each digital radio frame;
• and
• responsive to each occurrence of a first broadcast event associated with a first set of one or more broadcast programs, transmitting a first repeating broadcast-paging message announcing the availability of broadcast content related to the first set of broadcast programs.

A wireless communications network that responds to each incoming call placed to a wireless communications device by transmitting a call-paging message within a corresponding partition of a digital radio frame of prescribed format, the network comprising:

• multiple base stations;
• wireless communications network equipment shared by multiple base stations;
• wherein at least one of the base stations and network facilities is programmed to communicate paging messages to wireless communications devices by performing operations including:
• responsive to each occurrence of a broadcast event,
• transmitting a repeating broadcast-paging message announcing the availability of broadcast content from the network, and
• transmitting the broadcast-paging message multiple times within each digital radio frame;
• and
• responsive to each occurrence of a first broadcast event associated with a first set of one or more broadcast programs, transmitting a first repeating broadcast-paging message announcing the availability of broadcast content related to the first set of broadcast programs.