Method and apparatus arranged to reduce traffic on a network channel

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention is set in a two way selective messaging system including a system controller or controller coupled to a plurality of base receivers by a network channel and further coupled to a plurality of transmitters by a forward network channel.
The selective messaging system is arranged to provide message delivery to messaging units on an outbound channel and message reception from messaging units on an inbound channel.
A preferred method embodiment and an alternative method embodiment with differing scope is directed to reducing traffic on the network channel.
The preferred method includes providing a message for delivery to a selective messaging unit, selecting an inbound schedule for a response message from the selective messaging unit where the inbound schedule is selected in accordance with an activity pattern of the plurality of base receivers thereby reducing traffic, corresponding to the response message, on the network channel, and then transmitting the message on the forward channel along with the inbound schedule.
Various approaches for selecting the inbound schedule are discussed including ones that represent managed activity patterns for the base receivers and further improvements in network traffic based on a "quality" of the message received at the base receivers.
The alternative method is discussed from the perspective of a messaging unit originating a message.
The methods are preferably practiced at a system controller or alternatively a messaging unit.
The system controller for the two way selective messaging system is discussed where the system controller is arranged to control message delivery on an outbound channel and message reception on an inbound channel so as to reduce traffic on the network channel.
The system controller includes a source port for receiving a message from a message source for delivery to a selective messaging unit, a memory for storing a data base including an activity pattern of the plurality of base receivers, a processor, coupled to the source port and the memory for selecting an inbound schedule for a response from the selective messaging unit where the inbound schedule is selected in accordance with the activity pattern of the plurality of base receivers thereby reducing the traffic on the network channel corresponding to the inbound schedule, and a transmit port for sending the message along with the inbound schedule to a transmitter