Radio paging receiver operable on a word-scrolling basis

• US 4,660,032 A
• Filed: 08/14/1986
• Issued: 04/21/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Tsunoda, Kazuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Application Number:
  US06/896,369
• Time in Patent Office: 250 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44-825.48, 340/311.1, 340/792, 340/724, 340/726, 340/789, 434/114, 434/116, 179/2 EC
• US Class Current: 340/7.52
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/226 with alphanumeric or graphic display means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/004 to give the appearance of moving signs

Abstract

A radio paging receiver comprises a linear array of display elements, a memory having a plurality of storage locations for storing a received message code therein, and a microprocessor-based decoder. The microprocessor-based decoder is responsive to a received preamble code for detecting a match between an address code and a user'"'"'s own code to store a message codeword into the memory in response to the detection of the match. A first sequence of characters is read from predetermined storage locations of the memory and fed to the display elements. In succession, a blank which immediately follows the first sequence is detected to read a second sequence of characters from the positions immediately following the detected blank and displayed by clearing the characters of the first sequence.

Claims

1. A paging receiver adapted to receive a radio frequency paging signal containing a preamble, a subscriber address code and a message code represented by a plurality of blocks of characters and blanks between successive characters, comprising:

a linear array of display elements;

a memory having a plurality of storage locations for storing said message code therein; and

data processing means responsive to said preamble for detecting a match between the received address code and a predetermined code, storing said message code into said memory in response to the detection of said match, reading a first sequence of characters including the beginning of a word from said memory and displaying same on said display elements, sequentially detecting a blank between successive characters stored in said memory, reading a second sequence of characters including the beginning of a word from the storage positions of said memory immediately following the detected blank, and updating said display elements with the characters of the second sequence read out of the memory such that the beginning of said updated display is the start of a word;

wherein said data processing means comprises a microcomputer programmed to execute the following steps;

(a) reading a sequence of characters out of storage locations of said memory which are specified by a variable and displaying same on said display elements;

(b) introducing a first, longer pause;

(c) detecting a blank in a storage location which immediately follows said sequence;

(d) if said blank is not detected, varying a variable by one;

(e) reading a sequence of characters out of storage locations of said memory which are specified by said variable and display elements;

(f) introducing a second, shorter pause;

(g) repeating the steps (c) to (f) until said blank is detected in the step (c);

(h) varying said variable by one to repeat the steps (a) to (g).

2. A paging receiver adapted to receive a radio frequency paging signal containing a preamble, a subscriber address code and a message code represented by a plurality of blocks of characters and blanks between successive characters, comprising:

a linear array of display elements;

a memory having a plurality of storage locations for storing said message code therein; and

data processing means responsive to said preamble for detecting a match between the received address code and a predetermined code, storing said message code into said memory in response to the detection of said match, reading a first sequence of characters including the beginning of a word from said memory and displaying same on said display elements, sequentially detecting a blank between successive characters stored in said memory, reading a second sequence of characters including the beginning of a word from the storage positions of said memory immediately following the detected blank, and updating said display elements with the characters of the second sequence read out of the memory such that the beginning of said updated display is the start of a word;

wherein said data processing means comprises a microcomputer programmed to execute the following steps;

(a) resetting a first variable to zero;

(b) addressing each of said storage locations from a position specified by a total of said first variable and a second variable to detect a blank;

(c) varying said first variable by one;

(d) checking if the number of said addressed locations exceeds a predetermined number;

(e) if said predetermined number is not exceeded, varying said second variable by an amount equal to said first variable to repeat the steps (a) to (d) until said predetermined number is exceeded;

(f) reading the characters out of the storage locations as a function of said second variable and displaying same on said display elements;

(g) introducing a pause;

(h) repeating the steps (a) to (g); and

wherein said paging receiver further comprises a separate display elements located adjacent one end of said linear array, wherein said microcomputer is further programmed to execute the step (i) of displaying a mark in said separate display element in response to the step (e) to indicate that there is still a message code to be displayed.