The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 24, 1987
Filed:
Sep. 14, 1984
James R Engel, Sleepy Hollow, IL (US);
Michael A Stepien, Hoffman Estates, IL (US);
Keith J Glidewell, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US);
Abstract
In a data message communication system, certain messages require a return acknowledgement signal. The present invention contemplates a method and means which are activated whenever an outbound message is received. Each portable unit which receives a message then monitors the outbound communication channel to determine if the inhibit signal is currently active. If the inhibit is not currently active, the particular unit will transmit its acknowledgement message immediately. If the inhibit signal is active, each portable unit will maintain a count of the number of outbound messages, addressed to other units requiring an acknowledgement, since that particular portable received its message. At the termination of the inhibit signal, each portable unit will pause for a period equivalent to the product of the acknowledgement message time slot multiplied by count of messages accumulated since the receipt of the particular portable units message. Each portable unit will then transmit an acknowledgement signal at the termination of its unique pause period.