Message communication system with message storage

• US 4,369,443 A
• Filed: 12/26/1979
• Issued: 01/18/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Millicom, Inc. (Millicom International Cellular SA)
• Original Assignee: META Systems (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Holcombe, Wayne T., Tracey, Don M., Giallanza, Frank V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Application Number:
  US06/106,713
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 340/311, 340/168 R, 340/168 B, 340/171 R, 340/825.44, 340/825.45, 340/825.47, 340/825.71, 340/825.72, 455/38, 455/31, 455/32, 455/68, 455/70, 371/49-51, 371/58, 179/2 EC
• US Class Current: 340/7.46
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1091 Group calling
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/227 with call or message storage means
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/023 with message or information receiving capability

Abstract

A transmission system develops a binary encoded data train having a message and a header preceding the message. The data train is applied to a carrier frequency to modulate the carrier using FSK techniques. The header includes synch signals, one or more address signals, a message length signal and control signals separating the above signals. One or more personal receivers receive the message if responsive to one of the address signals in the header. An address signal may address a unique personal receiver, a selected group of or all such personal receivers. Each receiver is sequentially activated and deactivated, being activated to detect a synch signal. If synch signals are detected, the receiver remains activated to determine if an address signal identifies such receiver to receive the message. A received message is stored digitally and may be selectively displayed in alphanumeric characters when convenient for the recipient.

Claims

1. A message communication system with message storage comprising:

transmitting means for developing and transmitting a binary encoded data train which has a message portion and a header preceeding said message portion, said message portion including a plurality of characters, said header including, in the order stated, a plurality of synch signals, a first control signal following said synch signals to mark the end of said plurality of said synch signals, a selected number of address signals, said first control signal being further interposed between each of said selected number of address signals in the event said header includes more than one of said selected number of address signals, a second control signal to mark the end of said selected number of address signals, and a message length signal which includes information of a total character count of said plurality of characters; and

a plurality of personal receivers, each of said personal receivers including synch means responsive to said synch signals and operative to prepare each of said personal receivers for reception of said data train, address means responsive to said address signals for addressing one or more of said personal receivers for which said message portion is intended defining an addressed personal receiver, said address means including first address means responsive to a universal address signal common to all of said personal receivers, second address means responsive to an individual address signal unique to a different one of each of said personal receivers, and third address means responsive to a selected address signal common to a selected group of said personal receivers, and message means for receiving and storing in said address personal receiver said message portion and selectively displaying said message portion in alphanumeric characters, said message means including a plurality of character storage locations, said message means in response to said message length signal further being for reserving a selected number of said character stored locations in said address personal receiver commensurate with said total character of said plurality of characters.

2. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 1 in which said third address means is programmable by said message portion.

3. A message communication system with message stored in accordance with claim 2 in which said header further includes a command signal containing selected instructions for said addressed personal receiver relative to the utilization of said message portion, and in which each of said personal receivers further includes command means responsive to said command signal and operative to utilize said message portion in accordance with said selected instructions set forth in said command signal.

4. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 3 in which one of said instructions contained in said command signal is to store said message portion and in which said command means, in response to said one of said instructions, stores said message portion in said message means.

5. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 3 in which one of said instructions in said command signal is to delete an address corresponding to a selected one of said address signals from a selected one of said address means, and in which said command means, in response to such instructions, makes said selected one of said address means nonresponsive to said selected one of said address signals.

6. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 3 in which one of said instructions in said command signal is to write an address corresponding to a selected one of said address signals into a selected one of said address means, and in which said command means, in response to such instructions, makes said selected one of said address means responsive to said selected one of said address signals.

7. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 4 in which said command signal is disposed prior to said message length signal.

8. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 5 in which the address from all address means other than said first address means is deletable.

9. A message communication system with message storage comprising:

transmitting means for developing and transmitting a binary encoded data train which has a message portion and a header preceding said message portion, said header including, in the order stated, a plurality of synch signals, a first control signal following said synch signals to mark the end of said plurality of synch signals, a selected number of address signals, said first control signal being further interposed between each of said selected number of address signals in the event such header includes more than one of said select number of address signals, a second control signal to mark the end of said selected number of address signals, and a message length signal which includes information of a total character count of said message portion; and

a plurality of personal receivers, each of said personal receivers including reception duty cycle means for sequentially activating each of said receivers for a first time period and deactivating each of said receivers for a second time period, each sequential occurrence of said first and said second time period defining a duty cycle, said plurality of said synch signals extending for a time period which is in excess of said second time period, synch means responsive to said synch signals and operative to prepare each of said personal receivers for reception of said data train, address means responsive to said address signals for addressing one or more of said personal receivers for which said message portion is intended defining an addressed personal receiver, said address means including first address means responsive to a universal address signal common to all of said personal receivers and second address means responsive to an individual address signal unique to a different one of each of said personal receivers, and message means for receiving and storing in said address personal receiver said message portion and selectively displaying said message portion in alphanumeric characters, said first time period being variably extended after reception of said synch signals.

10. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 9 in which said header further includes a drift signal containing information of the time remaining until the end of said data train and, in the event of the repeated transmission of said data train, the end of the last data train, and in which said receiver further includes control means responsive to said drift signal and operative to change the time period of at least one of said first time period and said second time period.

11. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 10 in which said first time period is extended in accordance with said drift signal until receipt of an acceptable data train is verified.

12. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 11 in which said drift signal is disposed following said message length signal.

13. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 10 in which said header further includes a command signal containing selected instructions for the addressed personal receiver relative to the utilization of the message portion, and in which said personal receiver further includes a command means responsive to said command signal and operative to utilize said message portion in accordance with the instructions set forth in said command signal.

14. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 13 in which one of said instructions contained in said command signal is to change the duration of said time periods, and in which said command means, in response to such instructions, changes a selected time period in accordance with such instructions.

15. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 14 in which said command signal is disposed prior to said message length signal.

16. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 13 in which said control means is further responsive to said synch signals and operative to extend said first time period as long as it receives synch signals for the reception of at least said first control signal.

17. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 16 in which said control means is further responsive to said first control signal and operative to extend said first time period at least until it either receives an address signal to which an address means is responsive or said second control signal.

18. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 17 in which said first time period is extended for reception of the drift signals in said header in the event of an absence of an address signal to which an address means is responsive.

19. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 18 in which said control means is further responsive to said drift signal and operative to terminate said first time period and extend said second time period for a time commensurate with said drift signal.

20. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 17 in which said first time period is extended for reception of at least the message portion in response to the reception of an address signal to which an address means is responsive.

21. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 20 in which said control means is further responsive to said message length signal and operative to terminate said first time period after reception of the message portion.

22. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 13 further including a parity check signal disposed at the end of the message portion of said data train, said parity check signal including information for determining the absence or presence of errors in the message portion as received by an address personal receiver.

23. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 22 in which said control means is responsive to said parity check signal and operative to modify the time periods in accordance with the information derived from said parity check signal.

24. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 23 in which said first time period is terminated in response to a parity check signal indicating the reception of an error free message portion.

25. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 24 in which said second time period is extended in the event the information contained in said drift signal indicates time remaining until the end of said data train, and in the event of said repeated transmission of said data train, the end of said last data train.

26. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 23 in which said first time period is extended in response to a parity check signal indicating the reception of an error containing message portion.

27. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 26 in which said first time period is extended in the event the information contained in said drift signal indicates time remaining until the end of said data train, and in the event of said repeated transmission of said data train, the end of said last data train.

28. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 13 in which said message length signal further includes information concerning the presence of an immediately following data train, and in which said control means is further responsive to said message length signal and operative to extend said first time period to assure reception of said immediately following data train.

29. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 13 in which each of said personal receivers further includes out of range warning means for developing and displaying a warning message in one of said personal receivers when said one of said personal receivers is out of the range of said transmitting means, said out of range warning means including a timer which is decremented once during each occurrence of said duty cycle from an initial value, said initial value being restored only in the event of the reception of said plurality of synch signals, said warning message being developed and displayed when said timer is decremented to a predetermined value.

30. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 29 in which said out of range warning means is responsive to said synch signals and operative to increment said timer to said initial value.

31. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claims 30 in which one of said instructions contained in said command signal is to change the value of said timer in accordance with the message portion of said data train, and in which said command means is responsive to such instructions and operative to change the value of said timer in accordance with such instructions.

32. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 9 in which each of said personal receiver further includes third address means responsive to a selected address signal common to a selected group of said personal receivers, said third address means being programmable by said message portion.

33. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 32 in which said header further includes a command signal containing selected instructions for said addressed personal receiver relative to the utilization of said message portion, and in which each of said personal receivers further includes command means responsive to said command signal and operative to utilize said message portion in accordance with said selected instruction set forth in said command signal.

34. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 15 in which said command signal is disposed prior to said message length signal.

35. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 32 in which said header further includes a drift signal containing information of the time remaining until the end of said data train and, in the event of the repeated transmission of said data train, the end of the last data train, and in which said receiver further includes control means responsive to said drift signal and operative to change the time period of at least one of said first time period and said second time period.

36. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 35 in which said drift signal is disposed following said message length signal.

37. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 35 in which said header further includes a length of remaining header signal containing information of further signals preceeding said message portion, and in which said personal receiver further includes control means responsive to said length of remaining header signal and operative to modify the time periods in accordance with the information derived from said length of remaining header signal.

38. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 37 in which said length of remaining header signal is disposed following said message length signal.

39. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 32 in which said header further includes a format signal containing information on selected prestored messages contained in each of said personal receivers, and in which each of said personal receivers further includes formating means responsive to said format signal and operative to develop and display said prestored messages accompanying said message portion received in said addressed personal receiver.

40. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 39 in which said format signal is disposed following said message length signal.

41. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 32 in which said header further includes a command signal for performing one or more selected functions in the addressed personal receiver, said command signal disposed between said second control signal and said message length signal, a drift signal which includes information of the time remaining until the end of said data train and, in the event of the repeated transmission of said data trains, the end of the last data train, said drift signal disposed following said message length signal, a length of remaining header signal for providing information of further signals preceding the start of said message portion, said length of remaining header signal disposed following said drift signal, and a format signal containing information on selected parts of said message portion, said format signal disposed following said length of remaining header signal.

42. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 41 in which all signals of said header have a length of one or more bytes.

43. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 42 in which each byte is divided into a correction portion nibble and information portion nibble.

44. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 43 in which said address signals have a plurality of bytes.

45. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 44 in which said address signals have at least eight bytes.

46. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 43 in which said drift signal has a plurality of bytes.

47. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 46 in which said drift signal has at least three bytes.

48. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 43 in which said second control signal has a plurality of bytes.

49. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 48 in which said second control signal has at least two bytes.

50. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 43 in which said message length signal has a plurality of bytes.

51. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 50 in which said message length signal has at least three bytes.