Paging receiver with programmable areas of reception

• US 5,039,984 A
• Filed: 01/11/1990
• Issued: 08/13/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Flatt Morris Associates SA, Management And Investment, S.A.
• Original Assignee: Telefind Corporation
• Inventors: Campana, Thomas J. Jr., Andros, Andrew A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US07/464,340
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.47, 340/825.48, 340/311.1, 379/56, 379/57, 379/58, 379/59, 379/60, 379/63, 379/33, 379/31, 379/343, 455/70, 455/71, 455/68, 455/34, 455/53, 455/54, 455/56
• US Class Current: 340/7.25
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/105 with call or message storage means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/224 Paging receivers with visible signalling details
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5221 having cable sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/022 Selective call receivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A paging receiver is disclosed which is compatible with transmissions from analog or digital paging transmitters. The paging receiver has a command structure which permits it to be dynamically programmable to change its functionality including programming of the channels which the paging receiver is to receive. The programmability of the channels permits the paging receiver to be used for making national, regional, remote area, local area, and sublocal area pages, and pages to a group in the local area and to switch from channels which are heavily used during peak paging times to lesser used channels. The paging receiver transmits paging receiver identification code digits in an order of increasing significance which significantly lessens power consumption for all paging receivers tuned to a particular channel for determining if a page is to be received which prolongs paging receiver battery life. The paging receiver displays the place of origin of pages as either being of local origin or from other areas. The paging receiver antenna is continuously tunable to permit compensation for variation in antenna gain caused by environmental factors which can seriously degrade signal strength.

Claims

1. A method of receiving a page in a remote are when a paging receiver has been transported from a local area to the remote area in which the paging receiver has been programmed to receive pages on at least one channel while the paging receiver is located in the local area comprising:

(a) programming the paging receiver, by at least one channel programming command transmitted by an RF carrier from a transmitter located in the local area to the paging receiver while the paging receiver is located in the local area, to receive the at least one channel in the remote area;

(b) transporting the paging receiver from the local area to the remote area where a page is to be received;

(c) relaying a page from the local area to a transmitter located in the remote area and transmitting the page from the transmitter located in the remote area on the at least one programmed channel to the paging receiver; and

wherein

(d) the channel programming command comprises a command field encoding the channel programming command and channel programming information.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the channel programming information causes erasure of all channels stored in a channel memory of the paging receiver being programmed.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the channel programming information comprises:

a subcommand field defining a type of channel programming function to be executed by the paging receiver in receiving the channel programming command.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein:

the channel programming command does not contain a message field.

5. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

the channel programming command does not contain a message field.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the channel programming information causes erasure of all channels stored in the channel memory and includes at least one channel to be added to a channel memory of the paging receiver being programmed.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the channel programming information comprises:

a subcommand field defining a type of channel programming function to be executed by the paging receiver in receiving the channel programming command.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein:

the channel programming command does not contain a message field.

9. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein:

the channel programming command does not contain a message field.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the channel programming information causes the programming of at least one channel to be received in an area remote from a location identified by an area designation code of a paging receiver identification code stored by the paging receiver being programmed.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein:

the at least one channel contains a destination code which is used by the paging receiver being programmed in the remote area in receiving pages on the at least one programmed channel.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein:

the channel programming command does not contain a message field.

13. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the channel programming information comprises:

a subcommand field defining a type of channel programming function to be executed by the paging receiver in receiving the channel programming command.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein:

the channel programming command does not contain a message field.

15. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the channel programming information comprises:

a subcommand field defining a type of channel programming function to be executed by the paging receiver in receiving the channel programming command.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein:

the channel programming command does not contain a message field.

17. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein:

the channel programming command does not contain a message field.

18. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the channel programming information comprises:

a subcommand field defining a type of channel programming function to be executed by the paging receiver in receiving the channel programming command.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein

the channel programming command does not contain a message field.

20. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the channel programming command does not contain a message field.

21. A method of receiving a page in a remote area when a paging receiver has been transported from a local area to the remote area in which the paging receiver has been programmed to receive pages on at least one channel while the paging receiver is located in the local area comprising:

(a) programming the paging receiver, by at least one RF transmission transmitted by an RF carrier from a transmitter located in the local area to the paging receiver while the paging receiver is located in the local area, to receive the at least one channel in the remote area;

(b) transporting the paging receiver from the local area to the remote area where a page is to be received; and

(c) relaying a page from the local area to a transmitter located in the remote area and transmitting the page from the transmitter located in the remote area on the at least one programmed channel to the paging receiver.

22. A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein:

the page is relayed from the paging receiver at the remote area to a processing device coupled thereto.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein:

the page is transmitted with a command which commands the paging receiver to relay the page to the processing device.

24. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein:

the page is transmitted with a command which commands the paging receiver to perform a function specified by the command.

25. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein:

the command commands the paging receiver to decode alphanaumeric information encoded within the transmission of the page from the transmitter located in the remote area.

26. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein:

the command commands the paging receiver to decode numeric information encoded within the transmission of the page from the remote area.

27. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein:

the command commands the paging receiver to receive a channel specified by the information.

28. A method in accordance with claim 27 wherein:

the command comprises a command field encoding the command and a field containing channel programming information.

29. A method in accordance with claim 28 wherein:

the channel programming information causes erasure of all channels stored in a channel memory of the paging receiver being programmed.

30. A method in accordance with claim 28 wherein:

the channel programming information causes erasure of all channels stored in the channel memory and includes at least one channel to be added to a channel memory of the paging receiver being programmed.

31. A method in accordance with claim 28 wherein:

the channel programming information causes the programming of at least one channel to be received in the remote area with the local area being identified by an area designation code of a paging receiver identification code stored by the paging receiver being programmed.

32. A method in accordance with claim 28 wherein the channel programming information comprises:

a subcommand field defining a type of channel programming function to be executed by the paging receiver in receiving the command.

33. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein:

the command commands the paging receiver to process the page as a repeat of a page previously transmitted from the transmitter in the remote area.

34. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein:

the command informs the paging receiver that the page contains a new receiver identification code.

35. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein:

the command specifies an area of memory in the paging receiver wherein the page is to be stored.

36. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein:

the command specifies that the paging receiver is out of service.

37. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein a command comprises:

a first portion, beginning each RF transmission and including a paging receiver identification code which identifies a paging receiver to receive the RF transmission, a second portion following the first portion containing at least one command field with each command field encoding at least one of the commands, and a third portion following the second portion containing information to be processed by the paging receiver.

38. A method in accordance with claim 37 wherein:

the first portion does not contain a preamble or a synchronization code.

39. A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein:

the page is relayed from the paging receiver at the remote area to a printer coupled thereto.

40. A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein:

the RF transmission transmitted by an RF carrier from a transmitter located in the local area is transmitted with a command which commands the paging receiver to receive a channel specified by the information.

41. A method in accordance with claim 40 wherein:

the command comprises a command field encoding the command and a field containing channel programming information.

42. A method in accordance with claim 41 wherein:

the channel programming information causes erasure of all channels stored in a channel memory of the paging receiver being programmed.

43. A method in accordance with claim 41 wherein:

the channel programming information causes erasure of all channels stored in the channel memory and includes at least one channel to be added to a channel memory of the paging receiver being programmed.

44. A method in accordance with claim 41 wherein:

the channel programming information causes the programming of at least one channel to be received in the remote area with the local area being identified by an area designation code of a paging receiver identification code stored by the paging receiver being programmed.

45. A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein:

the transmission of information from the transmitter located in the remote area to the paging receiver is encoded with a signal protocol compatible with analog and digital FM transmitters which broadcast pages.

46. A method in accordance with claim 45 wherein:

the transmission of the page is encoded with a plurality of tones.

47. A method in accordance with claim 45 wherein:

the page contains only numerals with each numeral being encoded with a different tone.

48. A method in accordance with claim 45 wherein:

the page contains alphanumeric characters with each character being encoded with a plurality of sequentially transmitted tones.

49. A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein:

the page is transmitted with an identification code with digits of the identification code being transmitted to the paging receiver in an order from a least significant digit to a most significant digit.

50. A method of receiving a transmission of information in a remote area when a receiver has been transported from a local area to the remote area in which the receiver has been programmed to receive the transmission of information on at least one channel while the receiver is located in the local area comprising:

(a) programming the receiver, by at least one RF transmission transmitted by an RF carrier from a transmitter located in the local area to the receiver while the receiver is located in the local area, to receive the at least one channel in the remote area;

(b) transporting the receiver from the local area to the remote area where a transmission of information is to be received; and

(c) relaying the information from the local area to a transmitter located in the remote area and transmitting the transmission of information from the transmitter located in the remote area on the at least one programmed channel to the receiver.

51. A method in accordance with claim 50 wherein:

the information is relayed form the receiver at the remote area to a processing device coupled thereto.

52. A method in accordance with claim 51 wherein:

the information is transmitted with a command which commands the receiver to relay the information to the processing device.

53. A method in accordance with claim 51 wherein:

the information is transmitted with a command which commands the receiver to perform a function specified by the command.

54. A method in accordance with claim 53 wherein:

the command commands the receiver to decode alphanumeric information encoded within the transmission from the transmitter located in the remote area.

55. A method in accordance with claim 53 wherein:

the command commands the receiver to decode numeric information encoded within the transmission from the remote area.

56. A method in accordance with claim 53 wherein:

the command commands the receiver to receive a channel specified by the information.

57. A method in accordance with claim 56 wherein:

the command comprises a command field encoding the command and a field containing channel programming information.

58. A method in accordance with claim 57 wherein:

the channel programming information causes erasure of all channels stored in a channel memory of the receiver being programmed.

59. A method in accordance with claim 57 wherein:

the channel programming information causes erasure of all channels stored in the channel memory and includes at least one channel to be added to a channel memory of the receiver being programmed.

60. A method in accordance with claim 57 wherein:

the channel programming information causes the programming of at least one channel to be received in the remote area with the local area being identified by an area designation code of a receiver identification code stored by the receiver being programmed.

61. A method in accordance with claim 57 wherein the channel programming information comprises:

a subcommand field defining a type of channel programming function to be executed by the receiver in response to receiving the channel programming command.

62. A method in accordance with claim 53 wherein:

the command commands the receiver to process the information as a repeat of information previously transmitted from the transmitter in the remote area.

63. A method in accordance with claim 53 wherein:

the command informs the receiver that the information contains a new receiver identification code.

64. A method in accordance with claim 53 wherein:

the command specifies an area of memory in the receiver where the information is to be stored.

65. A method in accordance with claim 53 wherein:

the command specifies that the receiver is out of service.

66. A method in accordance with claim 53 wherein a command comprises:

a first portion, beginning each RF transmission and including an identification code which identifies a receiver to receive the RF transmission, a second portion following the first portion containing at least one command field with each command field encoding at least one command, and a third portion following the second portion containing information to be processed by the receiver.

67. A method in accordance with claim 66 wherein:

the first portion does not contain a preamble or a synchronization code.

68. A method in accordance with claim 50 wherein:

the information is relayed from the receiver at the remote area to a printer coupled thereto.

69. A method in accordance with claim 50 wherein:

the RF transmission transmitted by an RF carrier from a transmitter located in the local area is transmitted with a command which commands the receiver to receive a channel specified by the information.

70. A method in accordance with claim 69 wherein:

the command comprises a command field encoding the command and a field containing channel programming information.

71. A method in accordance with claim 70 wherein:

the channel programming information causes erasure of all channels stored in a channel memory of the paging receiver being programmed.

72. A method in accordance with claim 70 wherein:

the channel programming information causes erasure of all channels stored in the channel memory and includes at least one channel to be added to a channel memory of the receiver being programmed.

73. A method in accordance with claim 70 wherein:

the channel programming information causes the programming of at least one channel to be received in the remote area with the local area being identified by an area designation code of a receiver identification code stored by the receiver being programmed.

74. A method in accordance with claim 50 wherein:

the transmission of information from the transmitter located in the remote area to the receiver is encoded with a signal protocol compatible with analog and digital FM transmitters.

75. A method in accordance with claim 74 wherein:

the transmission of information is encoded with a plurality of tones.

76. A method in accordance with claim 75 wherein:

the information contains alphanumeric characters with each character being encoded with a plurality of sequentially transmitted tones.

77. A method in accordance with claim 74 wherein:

the information contains only numerals with each numeral being encoded with a different tone.

78. A method in accordance with claim 50 wherein:

the transmission of information is transmitted with an identification code with digits of the identification code being transmitted to the receiver in an order from a least significant digit to a most significant digit.