Scanner with auxiliary non-volatile memory

• US 20070232287A1
• Filed: 10/02/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Research of Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: General Research of Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Brown, N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,817,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.100
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0075 where the receiving frequencies of the stations are stored in a permanent memory, e.g. ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0091 provided with means for scanning over a band of frequencies H03J1/0058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 7/18 Automatic scanning over a band of frequencies

Abstract

A radio receiver having a plurality of features programmable by a user, the data relating to the programmable features defining a set-up configuration. The radio receiver includes a housing and an auxiliary memory disposed within the housing which stores a plurality of set-up configurations. A working memory is also disposed within the housing and is configured to store the set-up configuration in use by the radio receiver.

Claims

1. A radio receiver comprising:

a housing;

memory disposed in the housing;

a user interface which is user operable to program features of the radio receiver, thereby defining a first operating configuration, and store the first operating configuration in memory, wherein the user interface is user operable to program features of the radio receiver thereby defining a second operating configuration, and store the second operating configuration in memory, wherein the user interface is user operable to select between the first and second operating configuration, wherein each operating configuration comprises a set of radio receiver features which have been programmed by the user using the user interface, wherein the radio receiver is workable using either the first or second operating configuration, but the user interface is useable to select which of the first and second operating configurations is used by the radio receiver.

2. A radio receiver as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the operating configurations comprises a user-selected set of frequencies to be scanned by the radio receiver when that particular operating configuration is selected by the user.

3. A radio receiver as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the operating configurations comprises at least one range of frequencies to be scanned by the radio receiver when that particular operating configuration is selected by the user.

4. A radio receiver as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the operating configurations comprises memory labels which are in use when that particular operating configuration is selected by the user.

5. A radio receiver as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the operating configurations comprises talk-group identifications which are in use when that particular operating configuration is selected by the user.

6. A radio receiver as recited in claim 1, wherein the radio receiver is configured such that the user interface is useable to delete configurations from memory.

7. A radio receiver as recited in claim 1, wherein the radio receiver is configured such that the user interface is useable to move configurations in memory.

8. A radio receiver as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a microprocessor disposed within said housing and in communication with said memory, and wherein said microprocessor is configured such that the user interface is useable to manage a plurality of operating configurations stored in memory.

9. A radio receiver as recited in claim 1, wherein said memory is non-volatile.

10. A radio receiver as recited in claim 1, wherein said memory comprises an EEPROM.

11. A radio receiver as recited in claim 1, wherein said memory comprises working memory in which the selected operating configuration is stored.

12. A radio receiver as recited in claim 1, wherein said memory comprises auxiliary memory in which the selected operating configuration is stored as well as non-selected operating configurations.

13. A radio receiver as recited in claim 1, wherein said memory comprises working memory in which the selected operating configuration is stored and auxiliary memory in which the selected operating configuration is stored as well as non-selected operating configurations.

14. A radio receiver as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pointer which points at the selected operating configuration which is stored in memory.

15. A radio receiver as recited in claim 1, wherein the radio receiver is non-telephonic.

16. A radio receiver as recited in claim 1, wherein the radio receiver is configured to check radio frequencies for activity, stop on a single frequency, and receive and demodulate a radio signal on the single frequency without transmitting on any frequency.

17. A radio receiver comprising:

a housing;

memory disposed in the housing; and

a user interface which is user operable to program a plurality of configurations and store the configurations in memory, wherein the radio receiver is configured to check radio frequencies for activity, stop on a single frequency, and receive and demodulate a radio signal on the single frequency without transmitting on any frequency, wherein each configuration comprises a set of radio receiver features which have been programmed by the user using the user interface, wherein the radio receiver is workable using any of the configurations, but the user interface is useable to select which of the configurations is used by the radio receiver, wherein each configuration comprises a user-selected set of frequencies to be scanned by the radio receiver when that particular operating configuration is selected.

18. A radio receiver as recited in claim 17, wherein each of the operating configurations comprises at least one range of frequencies to be scanned by the radio receiver when that particular operating configuration is selected by the user.

19. A radio receiver as recited in claim 17, wherein each of the operating configurations comprises memory labels which are in use when that particular operating configuration is selected by the user.

20. A radio receiver as recited in claim 17, wherein each of the operating configurations comprises talk-group identifications which are in use when that particular operating configuration is selected by the user.

21. A radio receiver as recited in claim 17, wherein the radio receiver is configured such that the user interface is useable to delete configurations from memory.

22. A radio receiver as recited in claim 17, wherein the radio receiver is configured such that the user interface is useable to move configurations in memory.

23. A radio receiver as recited in claim 17, wherein said memory comprises working memory in which the selected operating configuration is stored.

24. A radio receiver as recited in claim 17, wherein said memory comprises auxiliary memory in which the selected operating configuration is stored as well as non-selected operating configurations.

25. A radio receiver as recited in claim 17, wherein said memory comprises working memory in which the selected operating configuration is stored and auxiliary memory in which the selected operating configuration is stored as well as non-selected operating configurations.

26. A radio receiver as recited in claim 17, further comprising a pointer which points at the selected operating configuration which is stored in memory.

27. A radio receiver as recited in claim 17, wherein the radio receiver is non-telephonic.

28. A method for managing a plurality of operating configurations of a radio receiver, said method comprising providing the a non-telephonic radio receiver which comprises a housing, memory disposed in the housing, a user interface which is user operable to program features of the radio receiver, thereby defining a first operating configuration, and store the first operating configuration in memory, wherein the user interface is user operable to program features of the radio receiver thereby defining a second operating configuration, and store the second operating configuration in memory, wherein the user interface is user operable to select between the first and second operating configuration, wherein each operating configuration comprises a set of radio receiver features which have been programmed by the user using the user interface, wherein the radio receiver is workable using either the first or second operating configuration, but the user interface is useable to select which of the first and second operating configurations is used by the radio receiver, said method further comprising using the user interface to store a plurality of operating configurations, each of which comprises a plurality of user programmed features;

and using the user interface to instruct the radio receiver which operating configuration to use.

29. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising using the user interface to instruct the radio receiver which set of frequencies to scan.

30. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising using the user interface to define at least one range of frequencies to be scanned by the radio receiver when a particular operating configuration is selected by the user.

31. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising using the user interface to define memory labels to be used by the radio receiver when a particular operating configuration is selected by the user.

32. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising using the user interface to define talk-group identifications to be used by the radio receiver when a particular operating configuration is selected by the user.

33. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising using the user interface to delete configurations from memory.

34. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising using the user interface to move configurations in memory.

35. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising providing that the radio receiver comprises a microprocessor disposed within said housing and in communication with said memory, and wherein said microprocessor is configured such that the user interface is useable to manage a plurality of operating configurations stored in memory.

36. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising providing that the memory is non-volatile.

37. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising providing that the memory comprises an EEPROM.

38. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising having the radio receiver store the selected operating configuration in working memory.

39. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising having the radio receiver store the selected operating configuration as well as non-selected operating configurations in auxiliary memory.

40. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising having the radio receiver store the selected operating configuration in working memory, and having the radio receiver store the selected operating configuration as well as non-selected operating configurations in auxiliary memory.

41. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising having the radio receiver use a pointer to point at the selected operating configuration which is stored in memory.

42. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising providing that the radio receiver is non-telephonic.

43. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising providing that the radio receiver is configured to check radio frequencies for activity, stop on a single frequency, and receive and demodulate a radio signal on the single frequency without transmitting on any frequency.

44. A method of operating a radio receiver comprising:

providing the radio receiver comprising a housing, memory disposed in the housing, and a user interface which is user operable to program a plurality of configurations and store the configurations in memory, wherein the radio receiver is configured to check radio frequencies for activity, stop on a single frequency, and receive and demodulate a radio signal on the single frequency without transmitting on any frequency, wherein each configuration comprises a set of radio receiver features which have been programmed by the user using the user interface, wherein the radio receiver is workable using any of the configurations, but the user interface is useable to select which of the configurations is used by the radio receiver, wherein each configuration comprises a user-selected set of frequencies to be scanned by the radio receiver when that particular operating configuration is selected, said method further comprising using the user interface to program a plurality of configurations and store the configurations in memory, and using the user interface to select which of the configurations is used by the radio receiver, wherein each configuration comprises a user-selected set of frequencies to be scanned by the radio receiver when that particular operating configuration is selected.

45. A method as recited in claim 44, further comprising providing that each of the operating configurations comprises at least one range of frequencies to be scanned by the radio receiver when that particular operating configuration is selected.

46. A method as recited in claim 44, further comprising providing that each of the operating configurations comprises memory labels which are in use when that particular operating configuration is selected.

47. A method as recited in claim 44, further comprising providing that each of the operating configurations comprises talk-group identifications which are in use when that particular operating configuration is selected by the user.

48. A method as recited in claim 44, further comprising using the user interface to delete configurations from memory.

49. A method as recited in claim 44, further comprising using the user interface to move configurations in memory.

50. A method as recited in claim 44, further comprising having the radio receiver store the selected operating configuration in working memory.

51. A method as recited in claim 44, further comprising having the radio receiver store the selected operating configuration as well as non-selected operating configurations in auxiliary memory.

52. A method as recited in claim 44, further comprising having the radio receiver store the selected operating configuration in working memory, and having the radio receiver store the selected operating configuration as well as non-selected operating configurations in auxiliary memory.

53. A method as recited in claim 44, further comprising having the radio receiver use a pointer to point at the selected operating configuration which is stored in memory.

54. A method as recited in claim 44, further comprising providing that the radio receiver is non-telephonic.

55. A radio receiver comprising memory and a user interface, said radio receiver configured such that the user interface is useable to define set up configurations each comprising a plurality of user programmed features, said radio receiver configured such that the set up configurations are storable in memory using the user interface, and said user interface is useable to select one of the set up configurations for use by the radio receiver.

56. A radio receiver as recited in claim 55, wherein each of the set up configurations comprises a user-selected set of frequencies to be scanned by the radio receiver when that particular set up configuration is selected by the user.

57. A radio receiver as recited in claim 55, wherein each of the set up configurations comprises at least one range of frequencies to be scanned by the radio receiver when that particular set up configuration is selected by the user.

58. A radio receiver as recited in claim 55, wherein each of the set up configurations comprises memory labels which are in use when that particular set up configuration is selected by the user.

59. A radio receiver as recited in claim 55, wherein each of the set up configurations comprises talk-group identifications which are in use when that particular set up configuration is selected by the user.

60. A radio receiver as recited in claim 55, wherein the radio receiver is configured such that the user interface is useable to delete configurations from memory.

61. A radio receiver as recited in claim 55, wherein the radio receiver is configured such that the user interface is useable to move configurations in memory.

62. A radio receiver as recited in claim 55, further comprising:

a microprocessor disposed within said housing and in communication with said memory, and wherein said microprocessor is configured such that the user interface is useable to manage a plurality of set up configurations stored in memory.

63. A radio receiver as recited in claim 55, wherein said memory comprises working memory in which the selected set up configuration is stored.

64. A radio receiver as recited in claim 55, wherein said memory comprises auxiliary memory in which the selected set up configuration is stored as well as non-selected set up configurations.

65. A radio receiver as recited in claim 55, wherein said memory comprises working memory in which the selected set up configuration is stored and auxiliary memory in which the selected set up configuration is stored as well as non-selected set up configurations.

66. A radio receiver as recited in claim 55, further comprising a pointer which points at the selected set up configuration which is stored in memory.

67. A radio receiver as recited in claim 55, wherein the radio receiver is non-telephonic.

68. A radio receiver as recited in claim 55, wherein the radio receiver is configured to check radio frequencies for activity, stop on a single frequency, and receive and demodulate a radio signal on the single frequency without transmitting on any frequency.