Method for increasing system capacity and wireless device battery life by selection of delay gap between QPC message and page message

A method in a wireless communication system (100) dynamically updates paging gap times (314, 324) associated with a plurality of addresses (312, 322) of at least one wireless device (110) in a two phase paging system included in the wireless communication system (100). The method includes updating a first paging gap time (314) associated with a first address (312) of the at least one wireless device (110) in a two phase paging system, and updating a second paging gap time (324) associated with a second address (322) of the at least one wireless device (110), the second paging gap time (324) being different than the first paging gap time (314).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of wireless communications, and more particularly relates to a method for saving battery life on a wireless device in a wireless communication system and for increasing communication capacity in the system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many battery powered wireless devices have a sleep, or idle, mode in which they are able to conserve power by powering down components such as their receivers. In the sleep mode, a communication unit is not on a traffic channel and it conserves power by periodically checking for incoming messages. These communication units then periodically “wake up” to determine if any page messages (pages) are being selectively transmitted to them. If there are no pages that the wireless device determines are destined for reception by the wireless device, it will power down in order to conserve power and extend its battery life. For example, Code-Division Multiple-Access (CDMA) cellular communication systems, more commonly referred to as CDMA 2000, 3GPP2 UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), or Wideband CDMA systems, also known as Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), incorporate such power saving techniques. Each wireless device within a CDMA 2000 system is normally able to determine to which group of four, 20 millisecond (ms), synchronous frames on its paging channel (PCH) it is assigned. This group of frames, referred to as its “paging slot,” is used by the infrastructure to transmit page messages to the particular unit. In other technologies, this is referred to as a superframe, and a first super frame conveys the QPC, an immediately subsequent super frame conveys the corresponding paging message. This configuration of the transmission of the QPC message followed by the page message is also referred to as a short paging gap or short gap. Thus, a communication unit in so-called “slotted mode” operation periodically exits its sleep mode in order to monitor transmissions associated with its assigned paging slot. The faster a communication unit can determine that it has no page message to receive, the faster it can return to sleep mode and conserve power, further extending its battery life.

In certain communication systems, such as CDMA 2000 & 3GPP2 UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), a Quick Paging Channel (QPCH) is incorporated to reduce the time a communication unit monitors the PCH slot for a page message. A QPC message is transmitted in the QPCH earlier than the corresponding page message transmitted in the PCH slot. Certain paging indicator bits are transmitted in the QPC message that tell each wireless device whether it is being selected for reception of a page message. Either the QPC message specifically selects the wireless device or it indicates that the wireless device may be selected by a subsequent page message transmitted in the PCH slot. Because the QPC message does not employ error correction coding or interleaving as does the page message transmitted in the PCH slot, the time required for a wireless device to receive and process its QPC message is small compared to the time required to monitor the longer page message in the PCH slot. Thus, the QPC message allows wireless devices to determine whether they need to monitor the upcoming corresponding page message transmitted in the PCH slot at all. Normally, a large number of wireless devices determine, based on the QPC message, that they do not need to monitor for the page message in the upcoming corresponding PCH slot and they can rapidly/immediately re-enter a “sleep mode,” where battery power is conserved and battery life is extended.

The use of QPC message followed by a corresponding page message is an example of a two phase paging system that is included in certain wireless communication systems, such as in CDMA 2000, UMTS, and 3GPP2 UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), and in communication standards such as LTE 3GPP—(long-term evolution). During the first phase, a shorter more ambiguous message is sent to all wireless devices that are periodically monitoring for their selection by a transmitted page message. The purpose of this shorter and typically more ambiguous message (also known as a QPC message) is to quickly inform a large fraction of wireless devices that they are not the intended recipient of the page message. The remaining wireless device(s), which during the first phase is/are not sure if they are being paged, additionally monitor the information received in the second phase of the paging message. Based on the information in the second phase of the paging message, each of the remaining wireless device(s) can determine if it is being paged. The second phase of the paging message is not ambiguous. At this point, all wireless devices that are not being paged should be able to go to sleep. Wireless device that is being paged typically responds (such as by transmitting a handshake message back to the system) or performs a function dependent on the received QPC message or page message. Throughout this application, when the term QPC message is used, it is used to generally refer to the first phase of a two-phased page in any such two-phased paging system. When the term page message or PCH slot is mentioned, it is referring to the second phase of a two-phased page in any such two-phased paging system.

The time delay between the QPC message and the corresponding page message is known as the paging gap time or gap time. This gap time is a fixed time delay for all wireless devices in a communication system.

The delay time is set to allow wireless devices to conserve power by idle (power down) waiting for the time to monitor for the subsequent page message and while at the same time it allows a wireless device that determines from the QPC message that it is being selected for a page to quickly respond by, for example, transmitting a handshake message back to the system. In such a case, the system can avoid transmitting the subsequent page message because the system knows that the selected wireless device has already responded to the QPC message. Therefore, the time where the subsequent message would have been transmitted can be better used by the system to transmit other information to the wireless devices. This helps improve system capacity for more communications over the limited resource of the wireless communication channel.

Regrettably, using a fixed time delay for the gap time for all wireless devices in a communication system can result in a poor compromise that can detrimentally affect battery life for a large number of wireless devices in the system. Some wireless devices may need to have a short gap time and a short paging cycle, for example, repeatedly monitoring the wireless communication channel for page messages many times a second, because they need to respond quickly to a transmitted page. Other wireless devices that are not as time sensitive to responding to a transmitted page could have a much longer paging cycle, such as every five seconds. These wireless devices also could benefit from a longer gap time to conserve battery power while allowing one of these wireless devices to transmit the handshake message back to the system. Because all wireless devices will have to use the same short gap time that is fixed for all wireless devices in the wireless communication system, this timing constraint may result in a wireless device transmitting a handshake message back to the system after the end of the gap time. Therefore, it leaves no time for the system to avoid sending the subsequent page message resulting in wasted transmissions of the second page message. This reduces system communication efficiency and capacity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method is for dynamically updating paging gap times associated with a plurality of addresses of at least one wireless device in a two phase paging system included in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: updating a first paging gap time associated with a first address of at least one wireless device in a two phase paging system; and updating a second paging gap time associated with a second address of the at least one wireless device, the second gap time being different than the first gap time.

According to another embodiment, an information processing system dynamically updates paging gap times associated with a plurality of addresses of at least one wireless device in a two phase paging system included in a wireless communication system, the information processing system comprising: a memory; a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory; and a paging controller communicatively coupled to the memory and the processor, wherein the paging controller is adapted to: updating a first paging gap time associated with a first address of at least one wireless device in a two phase paging system; and updating a second paging gap time associated with a second address of the at least one wireless device, the second gap time being different than the first gap time.

In a third embodiment, a wireless device dynamically updates at least one paging gap time associated with at least one address of the wireless device in a two phase paging system included in a wireless communication system, the wireless device comprising: a memory; a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory; and a paging gap timing controller communicatively coupled to the memory and the processor, wherein the paging gap timing controller is adapted to: in response to the wireless device receiving an update message including rule-based paging gap timing criteria, updating at least one gap time value in the memory according to the rule-based paging gap timing criteria.

According to a fourth embodiment, a wireless device dynamically updates at least one paging gap time associated with at least one address of the wireless device in a two phase paging system included in a wireless communication system, the wireless device comprising: a memory for storing paging gap timing parameters corresponding to a plurality of addresses of the wireless device, the plurality of addresses being associated with a plurality of wireless communication functions of the wireless device, a first address of the plurality of addresses being associated with a first wireless communication function and with a first paging gap time and a second address of the plurality of addresses being associated with a second wireless communication function and with a second paging gap time; a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory; and a paging gap timing controller communicatively coupled to the memory and the processor, wherein the paging gap timing controller is adapted to: in response to the wireless device receiving at least one update message, updating at least one of the first paging gap time and the second paging gap time in the memory, the second paging gap time being different than the first paging gap time.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The terms “wireless communication device” or “wireless device” are intended to broadly cover many different types of devices that can wirelessly receive signals, and optionally can wirelessly transmit signals, and may also operate in a wireless communication system. For example, and not for any limitation, a wireless communication device can include any one or a combination of the following: a cellular telephone, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a two-way radio, a two-way pager, a wireless messaging device, a laptop/computer, automotive gateway, residential gateway, and the like.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown inFIG. 1, an example of a wireless communications system100is illustrated.FIG. 1shows a wireless communications network that connects wireless communication devices108,110,112, to each other or to one or more information processing systems102. The wireless communications network, according to the present example, comprises a mobile phone network, a mobile text messaging device network, a pager network, or the like.

Further, the communications standard of the wireless communications network ofFIG. 1comprises Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), IEEE 802.16 family of standards, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Wireless LAN (WLAN), WiMAX, or the like. Other applicable communications standards include those used for Public Safety Communication Networks including TErrestrial TRunked Radio (TETRA). Additionally, the wireless communications network also comprises text messaging standards, for example, Short Message Service (SMS), Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), or the like. The wireless communications network also allows for push-to-talk over cellular communications between capable wireless communications devices.

The wireless network supports any number of wireless communication devices108,110,112, which can be single mode or multi-mode devices. Multi-mode devices are capable of communicating on various access networks such as circuit services networks, packet data networks, and the like. The support of the wireless network includes, but is not limited to, support for mobile telephones, smart phones, text messaging devices, handheld computers, pagers, or the like. A smart phone is a combination of 1) a pocket PC, handheld PC, palm top PC, or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), and 2) a mobile telephone.

More generally, a smartphone can be a mobile telephone that has additional application processing capabilities. In one embodiment, wireless communications network allows for mesh networking between the wireless communication devices108,110,112. In one embodiment, the wireless network is capable of broadband wireless communications utilizing time division duplexing (“TDD”) as set forth, for example, by the IEEE 802.16e standard. The duplexing scheme TDD allows for the transmissions of signals in a downstream and upstream direction using a single frequency. Another possible duplex scheme is Frequency Division Duplex, in which downstream and upstream communications can happen at the same time, but at different frequencies.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to an 802.16e system, or more generally a TDD system. Other such standards such as 3GPP (Long Term Evolution or UMTS-TDD version), 3GPP2 evolution, 802.20, Fourth Generation (“4G”), and the like are also applicable. The present invention is applicable to any wireless communication system100that transmits, among other things, broadcast information in a non-continuous manner and implements an idle mode period for wireless devices subscribing to the system.

The wireless system100also includes one or more base stations or base sites (also known as access nodes)104,106, and that include a base station controller (“BSC”). Each base station controller in a base site, in one embodiment, includes paging components that perform various paging functions and communicate with a paging controller120at a central information processing system102.

The central information processing system102maintains and processes information for all wireless devices108,110,112, communicating in the wireless communication system100.

Additionally, the information processing system102also monitors and manages wireless device activity in the wireless network(s) included within the wireless communications system100. In another embodiment, the information processing system102includes a paging controller120. The paging controller120, in one embodiment, controls, among other things, the paging functions such as paging slot cycles and wireless device wake-up times across various access networks of a specific paging group or for the wireless communications system100. The function of the paging controller120is discussed in greater detail below. It should be noted that the paging controller120can reside at any information processing system communicatively coupled to the wireless communications network(s) of the wireless communications system100.

Referring more specifically to the example ofFIG. 1, a wireless communication system100includes an information processing system102that is communicatively coupled with a plurality of base sites104,106. Base site number1104and base site number2,106are shown in this example. Wireless communication devices, or wireless devices for short, such as wireless device1108, wireless device2110, and wireless3112, can be stationary or mobile across the various coverage areas of the base sites104,106, of the wireless communication system100. The wireless devices108,110,112, may also be referred to by other names such as mobile station, access terminal, subscriber unit, mobile phone, portable, smart phone, cellular phone, and many other names.

However, in general, these wireless communication devices,108,110,112, are equipped with wireless receivers and optionally also with wireless transmitters such that the wireless communication devices can wirelessly communicate with the various base sites104,106, in the wireless communications system100. In this example, as shown inFIG. 1, wireless device1108is in wireless communication with base site number1104. Also, the second and third wireless devices110,112, are in wireless communication with base site number2106.

The information processing system102performs various management and control functions for the wireless communication system100. The information processing system102is based upon a suitably configured processing system adapted to implement the embodiment of the present invention. For example, a personal computer, workstation, or the like, may be used.

One type of system management and control functions involves transmitting paging messages to a wireless device. Such paging messages can be used to select a particular wireless device within the wireless communication system to cause the selected wireless device to perform certain functions.

For example, a paging controller120in the information processing system102can cause a paging message to be transmitted from the information processing system102through one or more base sites,104,106, to try to locate one of the wireless devices108,110,112, which may be roaming between the various base sites104,106. The transmitted paging message is destined for reception by the selected one of the wireless devices108,110,112. The paging message includes address information that is specifically associated with the selected one of the wireless communication devices108,110,112. When a wireless device receives and decodes the paging message the wireless device compares the address information of the paging message to predefined address information that is stored in the wireless device.

If the address information matches then the wireless device knows that it has been selected for that paging message and then performs the functions associated with the paging message. In certain wireless communication systems wireless devices, or also known as mobile stations, are selected at times to start a two-way wireless communication between the selected wireless device and a caller.

For example, in a cellular communication system a cellular telephone that may be roaming between various base sites may need to be located to start a telephone call with the user of the particular cell phone. To locate the cellular telephone the information processing system102transmits a paging message and expects a hand shake message transmitted from the selected mobile station or cellular telephone to locate the mobile station in one of the full coverage areas of the wireless communication system. Once the mobile station is located the system can start the two-way wireless communication with the located mobile station to connect the telephone caller with the located cellular telephone.

In modern wireless communication systems, such as illustrated inFIG. 1, there can be large numbers of wireless devices that are operating in the wireless communication system100. Maintaining the longest possible battery life for the wireless devices or mobile stations is important. Since these wireless devices108,110,112, need to know when they are being selected by a particular paging message, each wireless device periodically turns on it's receiver to monitor for wireless transmission of a paging message.

As shown inFIG. 1, wireless device2110, illustrates some of the components of a wireless device110, as an example. A receiver132and a transmitter130are communicatively coupled to an antenna such as via a TX/RX switch134. A processor138, among other things, controls the receiver132and the transmitter130to turn on or off the respective receiver132or transmitter130. The processor138is communicatively coupled to memory140in the wireless device or mobile station110. Other typical components of the wireless device10are omitted fromFIG. 1and will not be discussed for succinctness and clarity of the discussion.

The memory140includes program memory that can store program components that provide instructions for the processor138. One such program component is shown as a gap timing controller142, which will be discussed in more detail further below.

Additionally, the memory140includes data memory with which the processor138can access data stored in the memory140. One example of such data is shown as gap timing parameters144, which will also be discussed in more detail below.

The information processing system102includes program memory that stores program components used by one or more processors or controllers of the information processing system102. In such program memory, for example, a paging controller software module120and a variable gap timing controller software module122are stored. The function of these components of the system102will be discussed in detail below.

The information processing system102also includes data memory that stores data accessible to the processor/controller of the information processing system102. In this example, a gap timing data base124is shown stored in data memory. The structure and use of such data base124will be discussed in detail below.

In certain wireless communication systems100, to help improve battery life for the wireless devices108,110,112, the system102will first transmit a shorter paging message202, such as shown inFIG. 2, to allow most of the wireless devices108,110,112, to determine that they are not the intended target of the paging message202and thereby can more quickly turn off their respective receivers132and conserve battery power.

Since wireless devices108,110,112, typically spend most of their time periodically turning on their respective receiver132to monitor for such a paging message202, it is desirable to shorten as much as possible the paging message202thereby allowing most of the unselected wireless devices to quickly turn off their receiver132.

However, where one or more of the wireless devices cannot determine whether they are being selected from the shorter paging message202(which may include only a subset of the full address of the target wireless device), then these wireless devices wait a certain predefined time interval in idle mode and then monitor again for a system transmitted paging message204that includes the complete address information, and possibly additional information, of the selected wireless device. This second page message can be more accurately and reliably received and decoded by the selected wireless device.

This timed interval between the first smaller paging message202and the second full paging message204is also called a paging gap time (or gap time)206, as shown inFIG. 2. The first short paging message202, in some systems is also called a QPC message (QUICK PAGING CHANNEL message). The gap time206serves to give time for a selected wireless device to transmit a hand shake message back to the information processing system102, and thereby the information processing system102can avoid transmitting the second paging message204.

Each wireless device is configured for a certain gap time206between the QPC message202and the subsequent second paging message204. While it is desirable to allow the gap time206to be long enough to facilitate transmission of the hand shake message from a selected wireless device to avoid transmitting the subsequent paging message204, and thereby allowing other information to be transmitted during that time, if the gap time206is too long then certain types of wireless devices may not operate properly or as intended.

For example, a PTT mobile station wants to have a relatively short gap time206and monitors the wireless communication channel very often to determine whether it is selected by a QPC message202. On the other hand, a telephony mobile station periodically monitors the wireless communication channel much less often than the PTT mobile station and can benefit from a much longer gap time206.

Unfortunately, current systems use a fixed gap time206for all wireless devices in a particular wireless communication system100. This fixed gap time206is a compromise time that can detrimentally affect the battery life of certain wireless devices. Moreover, a short gap time206may not allow enough time for a selected wireless device to transmit the hand shake message back to the system to allow the system time to avoid transmitting the subsequent paging message204. In such a case, channel throughput and system capacity are negatively impacted.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, this gap time206can be configured by the system to be a different gap time206for different addresses of the wireless devices. Each address of a wireless device can be configured by the system to optimize performance of both the particular wireless device and the wireless communication system. For those devices that need a shorter gap time206they can be configured to the shorter gap time value, while those devices that can benefit from a longer gap time206will be configured by the system to a longer gap time value.

Each wireless device includes in data memory the gap timing parameters144, such as illustrated in the example ofFIG. 3in a table data structure. For each address302a gap current value304will be stored and a paging cycle value306will also be stored. The paging cycle value306(also known as the paging interval) is the time interval for the wireless device to periodically monitor (i.e. turn on its receiver132) and look for a QPC message202. For example, for a PTT mobile station the paging cycle may be 200 ms while for a telephony mobile station the paging cycle is typically much longer, such as 5 seconds.

Additionally, the gap time setting criteria308may be optionally stored in data memory and associated with particular address information302. This gap time setting criteria308will be discussed in more detail below. As shown inFIG. 3, a first address312is associated with a first gap time value314, a first paging cycle time value316, and a first criteria1318. Similarly, a second address322is associated with a second gap time value324, a second paging cycle time value326, and a second criteria328. This particular wireless device110with the gap timing parameters144as shown inFIG. 3can be selected by a plurality of addresses, each address being specifically configured for its paging cycle time value306and gap time value304.

An example of a gap timing data base124is shown inFIG. 4, illustrated as a table where the rows represent the records stored in the data base and the columns represent the fields of the particular record. This is only an example. Each record in the data base124contains a mobile station id field402, an address field404, a paging cycle field406, a gap time setting criteria field408, and possibly more fields and information.

In this example, the mobile station id402identifies the wireless device to the wireless communication system100. The address information404identifies a particular address and function in the wireless device. The paging cycle406indicates the time delay between the times when the wireless device turns on its receiver and monitors the wireless communication channel for the QPC message. This paging cycle406can vary between different types of wireless devices as well as different types of communication functions for a particular wireless device.

For example, a telephony mobile station that receives telephone calls may utilize a paging cycle of 5 seconds. That is the telephony mobile station monitors the wireless communication channel every 5 seconds for the QPC message.

Alternatively, a PTT mobile station may use a paging cycle of 200 ms. A PTT mobile station therefore monitors the wireless communication channel 5 times per second for the QPC message.

Lastly, the gap time setting criteria408defines the gap time configuration for each address of a mobile station. In a single address mobile station, such as indicated for the first record410and the third record412, as shown inFIG. 4, the paging cycle406and the gap time408are defined for the mobile station. In the first record410, mobile station1414has single address A1416with a paging cycle PC1418and gap time criteria1420. In the third record412, mobile station3422has address1424, paging cycle1426and gap time setting criteria1428.

As indicated by the second record430, mobile station2432is associated with a first address434and a second address436, a first paging cycle1438associated with the first address434, and a second paging cycle440associated with the second address436.

Additionally, a gap time setting criteria1442is associated with the first address434and a gap time setting criteria2444is associated with the second address436. In this example, therefore, the second record430includes 2 sub-records for the mobile station2432, each sub record associating a particular address in the mobile station, a respective paging cycle406and gap time setting criteria408. The mobile station associated with the second record430, for example, can have a PTT mobile station function for address1434and a telephony mobile station function for address2436.

The gap time setting criteria408identifies how to set a gap time for a particular address in a mobile station. In one case, the gap time setting criteria defines a constant value for gap time. For example, for the second record430address1434can be mapped with a PTT function and have a gap time of 40 ms442. Also, address2436can be associated with a telephony mobile station function and it's gap time setting criteria444may be set at 100 ms.

Other types of gap time setting criteria408may be stored in the particular records associated with mobile stations. For example, the first record410may include a gap time setting criteria420defining a rule for how the mobile station1will set its gap time value. The criteria420for the first record410can define a rule that can be transmitted to the mobile station1to instruct the mobile station1to configure its gap time value based on the rule420. In similar fashion the third record412associated with mobile station3as indicated by its ID422can include a gap time setting criteria428with a rule that is transmitted to the mobile station3to instruct it to set its gap time value according to the rule428.

As indicated in the second record430, mobile station2can receive a gap time setting criteria rule442for its first address434and a criteria rule444for its second address436. The gap time setting criteria408defined as rules420,442,444,428, allow significant flexibility in a wireless communication system100to define variable gap time values for the various addresses of the mobile stations108,110,112, in the wireless communication system100.

For example, a rule can be set for all of the gap time setting criteria420,442,444, and428. This rule will be transmitted to all of the mobile stations in the system100. The rule criteria defines a first gap time value for addresses in mobile stations associated with paging cycle times that are less than 2 seconds, while defining a second gap time value for addresses in mobile stations associated with paging cycle times greater than or equal to 2 seconds. In this way, for example, PTT mobile station functions that have short paging cycles can have associated with them a short gap time value, such as 40 ms, and at the same time telephony mobile station functions, typically having paging cycle times greater than 2 seconds, can have associated with them longer gap time values, such as 100 ms. This rule criterion, as discussed above, is just one example of the flexibility of using a rule for gap time setting criteria408.

Additionally note that this rule-based criteria works with wireless communication systems where the wireless device (or mobile station) has a paging cycle (or paging interval) that automatically updates after a predetermined interval of time following an event, and without any explicit messaging with the network at the time of the paging cycle (or paging interval) change.

In other words, for example, in the case where the paging interval is initially shorter after a user of the wireless device (or mobile station)110completes a call, the paging gap time would be smaller. However, after a predetermine long interval of time where there are no calls received by the mobile station110, the mobile station110internally updates its paging interval time (paging cycle time) to be longer, and at that point, the mobile station110internally updates its gap time automatically to a larger gap time value. In similar fashion, the system102updates the appropriate record in the gap time data base124that is associated with the wireless device (or mobile station) to update the paging cycle time to be longer and the gap time to be a larger gap time, corresponding to the same values that are internally updated in the wireless device110. These updates of the gap time at the system102and at the wireless device110are done without transmitting messages at the time of the update.

Another criterion is the size of the mobile's paging area or registration distance. If the mobile is in a small registration zone (with a small registration radius, for example) then it may be less important to reduce the paging load on that mobile—in which case a short gap time may be used.

In another embodiment, for example, the mobile110always monitors for a short gap time. However, the system102uses an “infinite” gap time the first time it attempts to page the mobile110(i.e., the system102sends the QPC message to the mobile110and does not send the corresponding page message to the mobile110). If there is no response from the mobile110, then after the next paging interval, the system102uses the short gap time to transmit the QPC message to the mobile110, immediately followed by transmitting the paging message to the mobile110. This allows the system102to avoid sending the paging message, if the mobile can decode the first QPC message and is willing to send a handshake message back to the system102in response to the QPC message. Some mobiles may not respond to the QPC message, so when the system re-pages the mobile, it transmits both the QPC message and the page message with a short gap time.

In one alternative embodiment, the system102can use rule-based criteria to determine the setting of the length of the gap time. If the system102determines that the QPC message is addressing a particular large number of mobiles, then it is less likely that the selected mobile will respond to the QPC message. As a result, in this case, the system102will transmit the QPC message and the page message the first time, with a short gap, instead of an infinite gap time as described above. In contrast, if the system102detects that the QPC message is addressing a particularly small number of mobiles, such that the QPC message should be relatively unambiguous, and the selected mobile would likely respond to the QPC message, then the system102will use an infinite gap time between the QPC message and the page message on the first page attempt—as originally described above.

FIG. 5is an operational flow diagram for a mobile station, illustrating an example of how a system can configure the gap timing parameters144for the mobile station110. The mobile station110receives a configuration command and gap time setting criteria for an address of the mobile station, at steps502,504. The mobile station110then stores a received criteria in its memory140, at step506.

Then, at step508, based on the received criteria the mobile station110sets the gap time value for a particular address of the mobile station in the gap timing parameters144, and then exits the operational sequence, at step510. As has been discussed above, the criteria can indicate to the mobile station110to set a constant gap time value for a particular address of the mobile stations in the gap timing parameters144. Alternatively, the criteria can provide a flexible rule instructing the mobile station110on how to set the gap time value in the gap timing parameters144.

FIG. 6is an operational flow diagram illustrating one example of how the variable gap timing controller122in the information processing system102can operate with paging controller120and the gap timing data base124. In this example, the paging controller120selects a mobile station ID and address to page, at steps602,604.

The paging controller120then transmits the QPC message to the selected mobile station ID and address, at step606. Then, the variable gap timing controller122sets and starts the variable gap timer, at step608. The variable gap timing controller122looks up the appropriate gap timer value in the gap timing data base124. Since the variable gap timing controller122detects that the mobile station hand shake message has been received, at step610, then it exits, step612, the operational sequence.

While the variable gap timer has not timed out, at step614, the variable gap timing controller122repeatedly monitors for an indication that a mobile station hand shake message has been received, at step610. If the variable gap timer has timed out, at step614, then the variable gap timing controller122signals the paging controller120to transmit the page message to the selected mobile station ID and address, at step616, and then exits the operational sequence, at step612.

FIG. 7is an operational flow diagram illustrating the gap timing controller142in the second mobile station110monitoring for the QPC message and then possibly also monitoring for the subsequent page message. After entering the operational sequence, at step702, the processor138monitors the wireless communication channel by periodically turning on the receiver132to look for the QPC message that selects a particular address for the mobile station, at step704.

If the QPC message is received, at step704, then the processor138optionally may transmit a hand shake message back to the information processing system102and exit the operational sequence, at step706. The processor138transmits the hand shake message when it has reliably detected that it is the target mobile station for the QPC message, at step706.

However, if the processor138does not reliably determine that the QPC message is destined for reception by the mobile station110, then the processor138and the gap timing controller142set and start a variable gap timer to the configured gap time value, at step708. The gap time value is retrieved from the gap timing parameters144. The gap timing controller142then waits for the variable gap timer to time out, at step710, and then the processor138looks for the page message destined for reception by the mobile station at the particular address, at step712, and then exits the operational sequence, at step714.

In general, the routines executed to implement the embodiments of the present invention, whether implemented as part of an operating system or a specific application, component, program, module, object or sequence of instructions may be referred to herein as a “program.” The computer program typically is comprised of a multitude of instructions that will be translated by the native computer into a machine-readable format and hence executable instructions. Also, programs are comprised of variables and data structures that either reside locally to the program or are found in memory or on storage devices. In addition, various programs described herein may be identified based upon the application for which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that any particular program nomenclature used herein is used merely for convenience and to illustrate one example, and thus the invention should not be limited to use solely in any specific application identified and/or implied by such nomenclature.