Message communication system with message storage

• US 4,383,257 A
• Filed: 12/12/1980
• Issued: 05/10/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1979
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ACF Industries Holding Corporation (Icahn Associates Holding LLC), Millicom, Inc. (Millicom International Cellular SA)
• Original Assignee: Millicom, Inc. (Millicom International Cellular SA)
• Inventors: Holcombe, Wayne T., Tracey, Don M., Giallanza, Frank V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Application Number:
  US06/215,921
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.45, 340/825.47, 340/825.71, 340/825.72, 340/825.48, 371/49-51, 371/58, 455/31, 455/32, 455/38, 455/68, 455/70, 179/2 EC
• US Class Current: 340/7.46
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1091 Group calling
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/223 using wireless transmission
• 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 in a number of storage locations determined by the message length signal 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 preceding 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 synch signals, a selected number of address signals immediately following said first control signal, 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 having information of a total character count of said plurality of characters; and

a plurality of personal receivers, each of said 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 message portion is intended defining an addressed personal receiver, said address means having first addressable means responsive to a particular one of said address signals for uniquely identifying a different one of said personal receivers and second addressable means responsive to other of said address signals for commonly identifying selected ones of said personal receivers and being programmable by said message portion, and message means for receiving and storing in said addressed 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 storage locations in said addressed personal receiver commensurate with said total character count.

2. A message communication system in accordance with claim 1 in which said second addressable means is responsive to a first selected address signal commonly identifying a first selected group of personal receivers.

3. A message communication system in accordance with claim 2 in which said second addressable means is responsive to further selected address signals, each of said further selected address signals commonly identifying a corresponding further selected group of personal receivers.

4. A message communication system in accordance with claim 1 in which said header further includes a message type signal containing selected instructions for said addressed personal receiver relative to the utilization of said message portion, and in which said personal receiver further includes message type means responsive to said message type signal and operative to utilize said message portion in accordance with the instructions set forth in said message type signal.

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

6. A message communication system in accordance with claim 4 in which one of said instructions contained in said message type signal is to program said second addressable means and in which said message type means, in response to said one of said instructions, makes said second addressable means responsive to a selected address signal commonly identifying a selected group of personal receivers.

7. A message communication system in accordance with claim 4 in which one of said instructions contained in said message type signal is to program said second addressable means and in which said message type means, in response to said instruction, makes said second addressable means nonresponsive to said selected address signal.

8. A message communication system in accordance with claim 4 in which said message type signal is disposed immediately preceding said message length signal.

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 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 synch signals, a selected number of address signals immediately following said first control signal, 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 having information of a total character count of said plurality of characters; and

a plurality of personal receivers, each of said personal receivers including reception duty cycle means for sequentially activating each of said personal receivers for a first time period and deactivating each of said personal receivers for a second time period defining a duty cycle, said plurality of 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 said personal receiver 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 having first addressable means responsive to a particular one of said personal receivers and second addressable means responsive to other of said address signals for commonly identifying selected ones of said personal receivers and being programmable by said message portion, and message means for receiving and storing in said addressed personal receiver said message portion and selectively displaying said message portion in alphanumeric characters, said message means in response to said message length signal further being for reserving a selected number of characters storage locations in said addressed personal receiver commensurate with said total character count.

10. A message communication system 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 reception of an acceptable data train is verified.

12. A message communication system in accordance with claim 10 in which said drift signal is disposed immediately following said message length signal.

13. A message communication system in accordance with claim 10 in which said control means is further responsive to said synch signals and operative to extend said first time period as long as said personal receiver receives synch signals for the reception of at least said first control signal.

14. A message communication system in accordance with claim 13 in which said control means is further responsive to said first control signal and operative to extend said first time period for the reception of said selected number of address signals.

15. A message communication system in accordance with claim 14 in which said first time period is extended for reception of said drift signal in the event said address means is nonresponsive to said selected number of address signals.

16. A message communication system in accordance with claim 15 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.

17. A message communication system in accordance with claim 14 in which said first time period is extended for reception of at least said message portion in the event said address means is responsive to one of said selected number of address signals.

18. A message communication system in accordance with claim 17 in which said control means is further responsive to said message length signal and operative to terminate said first time period after reception of said message portion.

19. A message communication system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said message portion includes a parity check signal disposed at the end of said message portion, said parity check signal containing information for determining the presence of errors in said message portion as received by said addressed personal receiver.

20. A message communication system in accordance with claim 19 in which said control means is further responsive to said parity check signal and operative to modify said time periods in accordance with the information derived from said parity check signal.

21. A message communication system in accordance with claim 20 in which said control means is operative to terminate said first time period in response to said parity check signal indicating the reception of an error free message portion.

22. A message communication system in accordance with claim 21 in which said second time period is extended in accordance with said drift signal.

23. A message communication system in accordance with claim 16, 17, or 22 in which said message length signal further includes information concerning the presence of an immediately following data train, and in which said drift signal further includes information of the time remaining until the end of said 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 in accordance with said drift signal to assure reception of said immediately following data train.

24. A message communication system in accordance with claim 20 in which said control means is operative to extend said first time period in response to said parity check signal indicating the reception of an error containing message portion.

25. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 24 in which said first time period is extended in accordance with said drift signal.

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

27. A message communication system in accordance with claim 26 in which said message type signal is disposed immediately preceding said message length signal.

28. A message communication system in accordance with claim 26 in which said message type signal further contains information of further header signals preceding said message portion.

29. A message communication system in accordance with claim 28 in which said header further includes at least one length of remaining header signal which contains information of the character count of said further header signals immediately following said length of remaining header signal.

30. A message communication system in accordance with claim 29 in which said length of remaining header signal further contains information concerning the presence of a further length of remaining header signal immediately following said further signals.

31. A message communication system in accordance with claim 30 in which said message length signal further contains information of the total character count of all further signals immediately following each of said length of remaining header signals.

32. A message communication system in accordance with claim 29 in which all signals of said header have a length of at least one byte.

33. A message communication system in accordance with claim 32 in which each byte is divided into a correction portion nibble and an information portion nibble.

34. A message communication system in accordance with claim 33 in which said address signal has a plurality of bytes.

35. A message communication system in accordance with claim 34 in which said address signal has at least eight bytes.

36. A message communication system in accordance with claim 33 in which said second control signal has a plurality of bytes.

37. A message communication system in accordance with claim 36 in which said second control signal has at least two bytes.

38. A message communication system in accordance with claim 37 in which each byte of said second control signal is identical to said first control signal.

39. A message communication system in accordance with claim 33 in which said message length signal has a plurality of bytes.

40. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 39 in which said message length signal has at least three bytes.

41. A message communication system with message storage in accordance with claim 33 in which said drift signal has a plurality of bytes.

42. A message communication system in accordance with claim 41 in which said drift signal has at least three bytes.

43. A message communication system in accordance with claim 33 in which said length of remaining header signal has a plurality of bytes.

44. A message communication system in accordance with claim 43 in which said length of remaining header signal has at least two bytes.

45. A message communication system in accordance with claim 9 in which said transmitting means further develops and sequentially transmits a further binary encoded data train which includes said synch signals, said first control signal immediately following said synch signals, said second control signal immediately following said first control signal, a timing signal containing information of a third time period and a clocking signal containing information of the date and time of the transmission of said further data train.

46. A message communication system in accordance with claim 45 in which each of said personal receivers further includes out of range warning means for developing and displaying a warning message in the event said personal receiver is out of range of said transmitting means for a time period in excess of said third time period.

47. A message communication system in accordance with claim 46 in which said warning means includes a timer which is decremented upon said duty cycle means activating said personal receiver, said warning means being responsive to said timing signal and operative to set said timer in accordance with said timing signal.

48. A message communication system in accordance with claim 47 in which said third time period is at least as large as the total of all first and second time periods occuring between each sequential transmission of said further data train.

49. A message communication system in accordance with claim 48 in which said warning message is developed in the event said timer is decremented to a selected value.

50. A message communication system in accordance with claim 45 in which said message means is responsive to said clocking signal and operative to store said clocking signal for displaying the date and time preceding the displaying of said message portion received.

51. In a message communication system with message storage, a method comprising steps of:

developing a binary encoded data train having a header preceeding a 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 immediately following said first control signal, said first control signal being further interposed between each of said selected number of address signals in the event that 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 having information of a total character count of a plurality of characters in said message portion;

transmitting said data train;

receiving in a plurality of personal receivers said synch signals to prepare each of said personal receivers for reception of said data train;

receiving in said plurality of personal receivers said first control signal, said selected number of address signals and said second control signal, and comparing said address signals to address codes in each of said personal receivers to determine which of one or more of said personal receivers said message portion is intended defining an addressed personal receiver said address codes having a first address code uniquely identifying a different one of said personal receivers and second address codes commonly identifying selected ones of said personal receivers and being programmable by said message portion;

receiving said message length signal in said addressed personal receiver and reserving character storage locations in said addressed personal receiver commensurate with said character count;

receiving said message portion in said addressed personal receiver and storing said message portion in said reserved character storage locations; and

selectively displaying said message portion in alphanumeric characterics.

52. A method in accordance with claim 51 wherein said developing step includes developing a message type signal containing selected instructions for said addressed personal receiver relative to the utilization of said message portion;

and

said receiving said message portion step includes utilizing said message portion in accordance with said instructions.

53. A method in accorance with claim 52 wherein said utilizing step includes adding a selected address code contained in said message portion to said second address codes.

54. A method in accordance with claim 52 in which said utilizing step includes deleting a selected address code contained in said message portion from said second address codes.

55. A method in accodance with claim 52 wherein said developing instructions step is performed immediately prior to said developing of said message length signal in said header.

56. In a message communication system with message storage, a method comprising steps of:

developing a binary encoded data train having a header preceeding a message portion, said header including, in the order stated, a plurality of synch signals, a first control signal to mark the end of said plurality of synch signals, a selected number of address signals immediately following said first control signal, 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 having information of a total character count of a plurality of characters in said message portion;

transmitting said data train;

sequentially activating a plurality of personal receivers for a first time period and deactivating said personal receivers for a second time period defining a duty cycle, said plurality of synch signals extending for a time period which is in excess of second time period;

receiving in those personal receivers which are activated synch signals to prepare each of said activated receivers for a reception of said data train;

receiving in said prepared personal receivers said first control signal, said selected number of address signals and said second control signal and comparing said address signals to address codes in each of said personal receivers to determine which of one or more of said personal receivers said message portion is intended defining an addressed personal receiver, said address codes having a first address code uniquely identifying a different one of said personal receivers and second address codes commonly identifying selected ones of said personal receivers and being programmable by said message portion;

receiving said message length signal in said addressed personal receiver and reserving character storage locations in said addressed personal receiver commensurate with said character count;

receiving said message portion in said addressed personal receiver and storing said message portion in said reserved character storage locations; and

selectively displaying said message portion in alphanumeric characterics.

57. A method in accordance with claim 56 wherein

said developing step includes developing 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

said receiving and said activated receiver step includes changing the time period of at least one of said first time period and said second time period in accordance with said drift signal.

58. A method in accordance with claim 57 wherein said receiving said message portion step includes extending said first time period in accordance with said drift signal until reception of an acceptable data train is verified.

59. A method in accordance with claim 57 in which said receiving said synch signal step further includes extending said first time period as long as said activated personal receivers receive such synch signals and for the reception of at least said first control signal.

60. A method in accordance with claim 59 wherein said extending step further includes extending said first time period for reception of said selected number of address signals after reception of said first control signal.

61. A method in accordance with claim 60 wherein said comparing step includes extending said first time period for reception of said drift signal in such of said personal receivers other than said addressed personal receiver.

62. A method in accordance with claim 61 which further includes extending said second time period for a time commensurate with said drift signal.

63. A method in accordance with claim 60 wherein said comparing step includes extending said first time period for a reception of at least said message portion in an addressed personal receiver.

64. A method in accordance with claim 63 wherein said receiving said message length signal includes terminating said first time period after reception of a number of characters of said message portion commensurate with said character count.

65. A message communication system in accordance with claim 62 or 63 wherein said developing step includes

developing a further data train immediately following said first data train;

instructing each of said activated receivers of said immediately following data train; and

extending said first time period in accordance with information in said drift signal to assure reception of said immediately following data train, said drift signal further containing information until the time remaining until said end of said further data train.