Voice paging system providing deferred paging capability

• US 4,868,560 A
• Filed: 05/11/1988
• Issued: 09/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jasinski, Leon, Oliwa, Gary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pudpud, E. O.
• Application Number:
  US07/192,572
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.47, 340/825.48, 340/311.1, 379/56, 379/57, 379/58, 379/59, 379/217, 455/31, 455/54, 455/33, 455/38
• US Class Current: 340/7.22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1016 using wireless transmission calling systems using transmission by inductive loop H04B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/105 with call or message storage means
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/025 with acknowledge back capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/185 Selective call encoders for paging networks, e.g. paging centre devices

Abstract

A paging system is provided for transferring information to a paging receiver. The system includes a central controller having a paging controller, an encoder, and a first transmitter. The paging controller receives the information and data designating the paging receiver from an entry device. The encoder, in response to the data, generates a selective call paging signal designating the paging receiver. The selective call paging signal is transmitted to the paging receiver by the first transmitter. The paging receiver receives and decodes the selective call paging signal generating a control signal. A switching device is provided for selecting a normal and a deferred paging operating mode. In response to the control signal, a coded acknowledgment signal is generated indicating the selected paging receiver mode, and transmitted back to the paging controller by a second transmitter included in the paging receiver. A second receiver receives and detects the coded acknowledgment signal and in response to decoding the coded acknowledgment signal, the paging controller effects the transmission of the information to the paging receiver, which is stored in a memory when the paging receiver is in the deferred paging mode. When the coded acknowledgment signal indicates the paging receiver memory is full in the deferred paging operating mode, the information is stored in the central controller for transmission at a later time.

Claims

1. A paging system for transferring information to a paging receiver, said system comprising:

a central controller, including;

a paging controller for receiving information and data designating the paging receiver from an entry device;

an encoder responsive to the data for generating a selective call paging signal corresponding to the designated paging receiver;

a first transmitting means, being responsive to said encoder, for transmitting the selective call paging signal to the paging receiver;

the paging receiver, including;

a first receiving means for receiving the selective call paging signal;

a decoding means, being responsive to said first receiving means, for decoding the selective call paging signal and generating a control signal in response thereto;

switching means for selecting a normal and a deferred paging operating mode and generating a mode signal in response thereof;

processing means, being responsive to the control signal and to said mode signal, for generating a coded acknowledgment signal indicating the designated paging receiver operating mode;

a second transmitting means included in the paging receiver for transmitting to the central controller the coded acknowledgment signal; and

memory means, coupled to said first receiving means and responsive to said processing means, for storing the received information;

said central controller, further including;

a second receiving means for receiving the coded acknowledgment signal indicating the operating mode of the designated paging receiver;

a coded acknowledgment signal decoder, coupled to said second receiving means, for decoding the coded acknowledgment signal and for generating a message transmission control signal in response thereto, wherein said paging controller is responsive to said message transmission control signal for effecting the transmission of the information to the designated paging receiver, whereby the transmitted information is stored in said memory means when the deferred paging operating mode is selected.

2. The paging system of claim 1, wherein the coded acknowledgment signal includes a first or a second coded acknowledgment signal and wherein said paging controller is responsive to each for effecting the transmission of the information when each is decoded.

3. The paging system of claim 2, wherein said processing means generates the first coded acknowledgment signal when said normal paging operating mode is selected, and further generates the second coded acknowledgment signal when said deferred paging operating mode is selected.

4. The paging system of claim 1, wherein said memory means further includes memory utilization means, and wherein said processing means is responsive to said memory utilization means for generating a third coded acknowledgment signal in response to said memory being full.

5. The paging system of claim 4, wherein said central controller further comprising a message storage means coupled to said paging controller, wherein said paging controller is responsive to the third coded acknowledgment signal being decoded for effecting the storage of the information in said message storage means.

6. The paging system of claim 4, wherein said central controller further including timing means generating timing signals coupled to said paging controller, wherein said paging controller is responsive to said timing signals for effecting the transmission of the information to the designated paging receiver when the received coded acknowledgment signal indicates storage in said paging receiver memory means is available.

7. The paging system of claim 1 wherein the information transmitted is voice information.

8. The paging system of claim 1 wherein the information transmitted is numeric and alphanumeric data.

9. The paging system of claim 1, wherein said central controller further comprising voice prompting means, coupled to said paging controller and responsive to the received coded acknowledgment signal, for generating a voice prompt indicating the operating mode of the designated receiver to the entry device.

10. A central controller for transferring information to a paging receiver which is capable of generating a coded acknowledgement signal indicating the operating mode of the paging receiver in response to receiving a selective call paging signal, said central controller comprising:

a paging controller for receiving information data designating the paging receiver from an entry device;

an encoder responsive to the data for generating the selective call paging signal designating the paging receiver;

a transmitter, being responsive to said encoder, for transmitting the selective call paging signal to the paging receiver;

a receiver for receiving the coded acknowledgement signal indicating the operating mode of the designated paging receiver;

a coded acknowledgement signal decoder, coupled to said receiver, for decoding the coded acknowledgement signal and for generating a message transmission control signal in response thereto, wherein said paging controller is responsive to said transmission control signal for effecting the transmission of the information to the designated paging receiver; and

voice prompting means, coupled to said paging controller and responsive to the received coded acknowledgment signal, for generating a voice prompt indicating the operating mode of the designated receiver to the entry device.

11. The central controller of claim 10, wherein the coded acknowledgment signal includes a first or a second coded acknowledgment signal and wherein said paging controller is responsive to each for effecting the transmission of the information when each is decoded.

12. The central controller of claim 10, wherein said coded acknowledgment signal further includes a third coded acknowledgment signal, and wherein the central controller further comprises a message storage means coupled to said paging controller, wherein said paging controller is responsive to the third coded acknowledgment signal being decoded for effecting the storage of the information in said message storage means.

13. The central controller of claim 10, wherein the information transmitted is voice information.

14. The central controller of claim 10, wherein the information transmitted is numeric and alphanumeric data.

15. A paging receiver for receiving a selective call paging signal and information intended for the paging receiver being transmitted from a central controller, said paging receiver comprising:

a receiving means for receiving the selective call paging signal;

a decoding means, being responsive to said receiving means, for decoding the selective call paging signal and generating a control signal in response thereto;

switching means for selecting a normal and a deferred paging operating mode and generating a mode signal in response thereof;

processing means, being responsive to the control signal and to said mode signal, for generating a coded acknowledgment signal indicating the designated paging receiver operating mode;

transmitting means included in the paging receiver for transmitting to the central controller the coded acknowledgment signal; and

memory means coupled to said receiving means and responsive to said processing means, for storing the received information when the deferred paging operating mode is selected.

16. The paging receiver of claim 15, wherein the acknowledgment signal includes a first or a second coded acknowledgment signal and wherein said paging controller is responsive for effecting the transmission of the information when each is decoded.

17. The paging receiver of claim 16, wherein said processing means generates the first coded acknowledgment signal when said normal paging receiver operating mode is selected, and further generates the second coded acknowledgment signal when said deferred paging operating mode is selected.

18. The paging receiver of claim 15, wherein the information received is voice information.

19. The paging receiver of claim 15, wherein the information received is numeric and alphanumeric data.

20. The paging receiver of claim 15, wherein said memory means is comprised of:

a codec, coupled to said receiving means and responsive to said processing means, for encoding the received voice information into a digital format for storage, said codec further for decoding the stored digitized voice message into voice information; and

a memory, coupled to said codec for storing the digitized voice information.

21. The paging receiver of claim 20, wherein said memory means further includes memory utilization means, and wherein said processing means is responsive to said memory utilization means for generating a third coded acknowledgment signal in response to said memory being full.

22. The paging receiver of claim 20, further comprising:

message playback means for effecting the recovery of the stored digitized voice information from said memory means; and

message delivery means, coupled to said memory means, for delivering the recovered voice information.

23. A paging receiver for receiving a selective call paging signal and information intended for the pagint receiver being tranmitted from a controller, said paging receiver comprising:

a receiving means for receiving the selective call paging signal;

a decoding means, being responsive to said receiving means, for decoding the selective call paging signal and generating a control signal in response thereto;

switching means for selecting a normal and a deferred paging operating mode and generating a mode signal in response thereof;

processing means, being responsive to the control signal for generating a coded acknowledgment signal indicating the designated paging receiver operating mode;

memory means, coupled to said processing means, for storing the received information when the deferred paging operating mode is selected; and

transmitting means included in the paging receiver for transmitting to the central controller the coded acknowledgment signal.

24. The paging receiver of claim 23, wherein the acknowledgment signal includes a first or a second coded acknowledgment signal and wherein said central controller is responsive for effecting the transmission of the information when each is decoded.

25. The paging receiver of claim 24, wherein said processing means generates the first coded acknowledgment signal when said normal paging receiver operating mode is selected, and further generates the second coded acknowledgment signal when said deferred paging operating mode is selected.

26. The paging receiver of claim 23, wherein the information received is voice information, and wherein said memory means is comprised of:

a codec, coupled to said receiving means and responsive to said processing means, for encoding the received voice information into a digital format for storage, said codec further for decoding the stored digitized voice message into voice information; and

a memory, coupled to said codec for storing the digitized voice information.

27. The paging receiver of claim 23, wherein the information received is numeric and alphanumeric data.

28. A method for transferring information entered from an entry device coupled to a central controller to a paging receiver having selectable normal and deferred paging operating modes and memory means for storing the information, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting, from the central controller, a selective call paging signal designating the paging receiver to which the information is intended;

generating a coded acknowledgment signal indicating the paging receiver operating mode, and the memory availability, in response to receiving and decoding the selective call paging signal;

transmitting the coded acknowledgment signal to the central controller; and

decoding the coded acknowledgment signal and processing the information in accordance thereto.

29. The method of claim 28, said method further comprising the step of transmitting the information from the central controller when said step of decoding the coded acknowledgment signal indicates the paging receiver is in the normal operating mode.

30. The method of claim 28, said method further comprising the step of transmitting the information from the central controller when said step of decoding the coded acknowledgment signal indicates the paging receiver is in the deferred paging operating mode with memory available.

31. The method of claim 28, said method further comprising the steps of:

storing the information in the central controller when said step of decoding the coded acknowledgment signal indicates the paging receiver is in the deferred paging operating mode and memory is unavailable;

periodically transmitting the selective call paging signal until a coded acknowledgment signal providing a memory available indication is received; and

transmitting the information from the central controller.