Multiple frequency message system
First Claim
1. A multiple frequency message system, comprising:
- transmitter means for transmitting coded message signals on at least two channels in a plurality of geographic areas, said coded message signals including channel identification information, said transmitter means further transmitting said channel identification information at least once during a periodic transmitter time interval; and
receiver means, capable of receiving transmitted coded message signals on said two channels, said receiver means including channel selecting means responsive to said channel identification information, said channel selecting means maintaining said receiver operation on the first channel when said channel identification information detected during a periodic receiver time interval is the same as predetermined channel identification information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In the preferred embodiment the multiple frequency receiver comprises a decoder responsive to a transmitted coded message signal having a special code for designating that the message is being sent on the local frequency and which is also responsive to the absence of the special code which indicates that the signals are being transmitted on a designated nationwide frequency. The decoder includes a microprocessor which generates an output to turn on the local frequency channel element so that the pager may receive the local frequency when the special code is detected and generates a second output to turn-on a nationwide frequency channel element so that the receiver can receive a nationwide frequency when the special code is absent. This enables the pager user to transfer from his local city to another city without having to manually adjust the pager.
177 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A multiple frequency message system, comprising:
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transmitter means for transmitting coded message signals on at least two channels in a plurality of geographic areas, said coded message signals including channel identification information, said transmitter means further transmitting said channel identification information at least once during a periodic transmitter time interval; and receiver means, capable of receiving transmitted coded message signals on said two channels, said receiver means including channel selecting means responsive to said channel identification information, said channel selecting means maintaining said receiver operation on the first channel when said channel identification information detected during a periodic receiver time interval is the same as predetermined channel identification information. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A multiple frequency transmitter for transmitting coded message signals on at least two channels in a plurality of geographic areas, comprising:
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channel identification means for generating channel identification information; message accepting means for accepting and generating a formatted message; timing means generating a periodic transmitter time interval; and coded message formatting means coupled to said channel identification means and to said message accepting means for combining said channel identification information with said formatted message to obtain said coded message signals, said coded message formatting means further coupled to and responsive to said timing means, whereby said transmitter transmits said channel identification information at least once during each of said periodic transmitter time intervals. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A receiver for receiving transmitted coded message signals on at least two channels, said coded message signals including channel identification information, comprising:
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detecting means for detecting transmitted coded message signals; decoding means responsive to said coded message signals for decoding said channel identification information; and channel selecting means responsive to said decoding means for maintaining said receiver operation on the first channel when said decoded channel identification information is the same as predetermined channel identification information, said channel selecting means further including timing means generating a periodic receiver time interval during which said channel identification information must be decoded. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for selecting the channel on which a receiver having first and second channels operates to receive transmitted coded message signals, said transmitted coded message signals including channel identification information, comprising the steps of:
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presetting said receiver to said first channel wherein said receiver can detect and decode said transmitted coded message signals including channel identification information; correlating said channel identification information to predetermined channel identification information stored within the receiver; maintaining said first channel at which said receiver will operate in accordance with the results of said step of correlating when said channel identification information received is the same as said predetermined channel identification information; selecting said second channel when said channel identification information is not the same as said predetermined channel identification information; and periodically rechecking the results of said step of correlation to determine when said selected channel should be changed.
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16. A nationwide multiple frequency, selective call message system comprising:
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multiple transmitter means for transmitting coded message signals on a plurality of channels in a plurality of geographic areas, said transmitter means including at least one common channel between said geographic areas, said coded message signals including both channel identification information and selective call messages, said transmitter means further transmitting said channel identification information at least once during a periodic transmitter time interval; and receiver means capable of receiving transmitted coded message signals on at least two channels of said plurality of channels, one of said channels being said common channel between said geographic areas, said receiver means including channel selecting means responsive to said channel identification information, said channel selecting means maintaining said receiver operation on the first channel when said channel identification information detected during a periodic receiver time interval is the same as said predetermined channel identification information. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A multiple frequency transmitter for transmitting coded message signals on a plurality of channels in a plurality of geographic areas, said transmitter including at least one common channel between said geographic areas, comprising:
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channel identification means for generating channel identification information; message accepting means for accepting and generating a formatted selective call message; timing means generating a periodic transmitter time interval; and coded message formatting means coupled to said channel identification means and to said message accepting means for combining said channel identification information with said formatted selective call message to obtain said coded message signals, said coded message formatting means further coupled to and responsive to said timing means, whereby said transmitter transmits said channel identification information at least once during each of said periodic transmitter time intervals. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A receiver for receiving transmitted coded message signals, said coded message signals including both channel identification information and selective call messages, on at least two of a plurality of channels, at least one of said two channels being the common channel between geographic areas, comprising:
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detecting means for detecting transmitted coded message signals; decoding means responsive to said coded message signals for decoding channel identification information; and channel selecting means responsive to said decoding means for maintaining receiver operation on the first channel when said decoded channel identification information is the same as predetermined channel identification information, said channel selecting means further including timing means generating a periodic receiver time interval during which said channel identification information must be decoded. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for selecting the channel on which a receiver having at least two channels selected from a plurality of channels, one of said channels including the common channel between a plurality of geographic areas, operates to receive transmitted coded message signals, said transmitted coded message signals including channel identification information and selective call messages, comprising the steps of:
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presetting said receiver to a first channel of said two channels wherein the receiver can detect and decode said transmitted coded message signals, said transmitted coded message signals including channel identification information; correlating said channel identification information with predetermined channel identification information stored within said receiver; maintaining said first channel of said two channels on which said receiver will operate in accordance with the results of said step of correlating when said channel identification information received is the same as said predetermined channel identification information; selecting said common channel of said two channels on which said receiver will operate with the results of said step of correlating when said channel identification information is not the same as said predetermined channel identification information; and periodically rechecking the reults of said step of correlation to determine when said selected channel should be changed.
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Specification