Systems and methods for enabling a user of a communication device to manage remote information

• US 20050134432A1
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Helferich Patent Licensing LLC
• Original Assignee: Richard J. Helferich
• Inventors: Helferich, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,155,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/7.210
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/025 with acknowledge back capability

Abstract

A paging transceiver and method for selectively paging provides a page to a paging transceiver but does not automatically provide an associated message. The paging transceiver receives the page and alerts the user that a message is waiting and preferably provides a short description of the message. The user can then download or otherwise act on the message at a time and at a place convenient to the user. The user can therefore place the paging transceiver in a location where it can easily receive and reply to the message. The paging system conserves air time and the paging transceiver conserves memory by not automatically receiving the associated messages. The user can determine the time at which the paging transceiver receives transmissions, such as during off-peak hours. The messages stored by the systems and delivered to the paging transceiver may be of different types, such as voice, text, audio, or even video. In addition to messages, the paging system can store other information for the user, such as songs or video clips that the user can sample or updates on weather or stock rates.

Claims

1-53. -53. (canceled)

54. A system, comprising:

a storage unit that stores information for transmission to one or more devices;

means for transmitting to the one or more devices a selective call signal comprising an information identifier identifying the information and an acknowledgment request, wherein the information is not included in the selective call signal;

means for receiving a request transmitted from any one of the one or more devices, wherein the request identifies the information and an action to be performed on the information; and

means for performing the action.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the action is to transmit the message to the transmitting and receiving device that transmitted the request.

56. The system of claim 54, wherein the action is to delete the message from the storage unit.

57. The system of claim 54, wherein the action is to forward the message to a recipient specified in the request.

58. The system of claim 54, wherein the action is to transmit a reply message to the originator of the message, the reply message being included in the request.

59. The system of claim 54, wherein the transmitting means transmits the selective call signal to a base station, which then transmits the signal to the one or more transmitting and receiving devices.

60. The system of claim 54, wherein the information comprises audio and/or video information.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the audio information comprises music.

62. The system of claim 54, further comprising means for receiving from at least one of the one or more devices an acknowledgement, wherein the acknowledgment is transmitted from the device in response to the device receiving the selective call signal.

63. The system of claim 54, wherein the device is a mobile radiotelephone.

64. The system of claim 54, wherein the device comprises a transceiver.

65. The system of claim 54, wherein the selective call signal further includes a device identifier, wherein the device identifier is associated only with one of the one or more devices.

66. The system of claim 54, wherein the message further includes a device identifier, wherein the device identifier is associated with a plurality of devices, including said one or more devices.

67. In a communications network comprising a transmitting and receiving device for transmitting data to and receiving data from a system remote from the transmitting and receiving device, a method performed by the system, comprising the steps of:

storing a message intended for the transmitting and receiving device;

transmitting to the transmitting and receiving device a selective call signal comprising an acknowledgment request and a message identifier identifying the message, wherein the message is not included in the selective call signal;

receiving a request transmitted from the transmitting and receiving device, wherein the request identifies the message and an action to be performed on the message; and

performing the action after receiving the request.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the action is to transmit the message to the transmitting and receiving device that transmitted the request.

69. The method of claim 67, wherein the action is to delete the message from the storage unit.

70. The method of claim 67, wherein the action is to forward the message to a recipient specified in the request.

71. The method of claim 67, wherein the action is to transmit a reply message to the originator of the message, the reply message being included in the request.

72. The method of claim 67, wherein the transmitting means transmits the selective call signal to a base station, which then transmits the signal to the one or more transmitting and receiving devices.

73. The method of claim 67, wherein the information comprises audio and/or video information.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the audio information comprises music.

75. The method of claim 67, further comprising receiving from the one or more devices an acknowledgement, wherein the acknowledgment is transmitted from the device in response to the device receiving the selective call signal.

76. The method of claim 67, wherein the device is a mobile radiotelephone.

77. The method of claim 67, wherein the device comprises a transceiver.

78. The method of claim 67, wherein the selective call signal further includes a device identifier, wherein the device identifier is associated only with one of the one or more devices.

79. The method of claim 67, wherein the message further includes a device identifier, wherein the device identifier is associated with a plurality of devices, including said one or more devices.

80. A system, comprising:

a storage unit that stores information for transmission to one or more devices;

a transmitter that transmits to the one or more devices a selective call signal comprising an information identifier identifying the information and an acknowledgment request, wherein the information is not included in the selective call signal;

a receiver that receives a request transmitted from any one of the one or more devices, wherein the request identifies the information and an action to be performed on the information; and

a processor that performs the action.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein the action is to transmit the message to the transmitting and receiving device that transmitted the request.

82. The system of claim 80, wherein the action is to delete the message from the storage unit.

83. The system of claim 80, wherein the action is to forward the message to a recipient specified in the request.

84. The system of claim 80, wherein the action is to transmit a reply message to the originator of the message, the reply message being included in the request.

85. The system of claim 80, wherein the transmitter transmits the selective call signal to a base station, which then transmits the signal to the one or more transmitting and receiving devices.

86. The system of claim 80, wherein the information comprises audio and/or video information.

87. The system of claim 86, wherein the audio information comprises music.

88. The system of claim 80, wherein the receiver receives from at least one of the one or more devices an acknowledgement, wherein the acknowledgment is transmitted from the device in response to the device receiving the selective call signal.

89. The system of claim 80, wherein the device is a mobile radiotelephone.

90. The system of claim 80, wherein the device comprises a transceiver.

91. The system of claim 80, wherein the selective call signal further includes a device identifier, wherein the device identifier is associated with only one of the one or more devices.

92. The system of claim 80, wherein the message further includes a device identifier, wherein the device identifier is associated with a plurality of devices, including each of said one or more devices.