Direct pager access with full number dialing

• US 5,148,469 A
• Filed: 07/05/1990
• Issued: 09/15/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Protocol-ip.com, LLC, Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Corporation (Seiko Group), Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Price, Gary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Application Number:
  US07/549,212
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 379/233, 379/207, 379/221, 379/56, 379/57, 379/63, 379/201, 379/67, 340/825.44, 340/311.1
• US Class Current: 340/7.28
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/022 Paging systems personal calling arrangements or devices G08B3/1008; selective calling networks H04W84/022
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/185 Selective call encoders for paging networks, e.g. paging centre devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/903 Password

Abstract

A paging system and method utilize a trunk interface module which is capable of recognizing unique identification numbers, which comprise the telephone number which a caller dials to reach a particular paging receiver. The relative-digit-independent truck interface module is located between the telephone company central switch and the computer in the central clearing house and is capable of recognizing and relaying a set of at least seven digits, which comprise the unique receiver'"'"'s identification number, wherein the values of the digit and the identification number are completely random, i.e., the digits are not necessarily representative of telephone numbers/identification numbers, in a particular telephone exchange. The system also includes a separate inward dialing portion which does not use the interface module and which requires the manual entry of receiver identification numbers.

Claims

1. A pager access system for selectively transmitting messages from callers through a telephone company central switch to a plurality of individually addressed receivers, each of said receivers having a seven digit identification number, said central office switch having, (a) a plurality of general purpose telephone lines adapted for connection to telephone handsets, (b) means for recognizing telephone numbers dialed by handsets connected to the general purpose telephone lines, (c) a plurality of DID (direct inward dial) trunk lines, said DID trunk lines having telephone numbers associated therewith which are identical to the receiver seven digit identification numbers, and (d) a plurality of loop start trunk lines, the pager access system comprising, in combination:

a computer which assembles messages in a specific format for transmission to specific receivers;

a trunk interface module having (a) input ports connected to the DID trunk lines, (b) means operative, when a DID trunk line is activated, for obtaining from the central switch the seven digit called telephone numbers dialed by the handset, which caused the line to be activated, (c) output ports, (d) output lines, and (e) means operative when an input line is activated for activating an output line and for generating on said output line a dual-tone, multifrequency (DTMF) signal representing the called number;

a voice response unit (VRU) for generating voice prompts, accepting said DTMF input signals, and for sending signals to said computer in response to said DTMF signals, said VRU having (a) plural input ports, (b) means connecting a first plurality of said input ports to the output ports of said trunk interface module, (c) means connecting a second plurality of said input ports to said loop start trunk lines, (d) means activated when an input port is activated for generating a series of voice prompts and for accepting a series of DTMF signals representing commands, said voice prompts being given only if the associated DTMF command is not received, the first voice prompt asking for the identification number of the receiver which the caller desires to contact;

whereby said VRU transmits one set of prompts to a caller connected thereto through said trunk interface module and another set of prompts to a subscriber connected thereto through said loop start trunk lines, whereby a particular receiver can be contacted either by calling a DID telephone number or by calling a telephone number which connects to a loop start trunk line, wherein the caller is required to enter the receiver'"'"'s identification number when connected to the VRU through a loop start trunk line.

2. A direct pager access system with full number dialing for use with:

(a) a central telephone switching system having DID trunks extending to a paging system central clearing house, including a clearing house computer, and (b) portable receivers with unique identification numbers which identifications numbers are contained in a data base in the computer in the central clearing house, said pager access system comprising;

a trunk interface module having message recognition means constructed and arranged to recognize the unique receiver identification numbers associated with each receiver; and

a voice response unit for providing a connection between said trunk interface module and the clearing house computer.

3. The pager system of claim 2 wherein said message recognition means includes means for recognizing at least seven completely random digits which comprise the unique receiver identification numbers.

4. A direct pager access system for use with:

(a) a central telephone switching system having DID trunks extending to a paging system central clearing house, including a clearing house computer, and (b) portable receivers with unique identification numbers which identifications numbers are contained in a data base in the computer in the central clearing house, said pager access system comprising;

a relative-digit-independent trunk interface module for recognizing and relaying to the clearing house computer a set of at least seven digits comprising the unique receiver identification number wherein the values of the digits in the identification number are completely random.

5. A direct pager access system with full number dialing for use by a caller and by a subscriber, with a central telephone switching system having DID trunks and loop start trunks extending to a paging system central clearing house, including a clearing house computer, and portable receivers with unique identification numbers which identifications numbers are contained in a data base in the computer in the central clearing house, comprising:

a trunk interface module having message recognition means constructed and arranged to recognize the unique receiver identification numbers associated with each receiver when dialed by a caller who is transmitting a message to a subscriber over the DID trunks;

a direct dialed-number receiver for responding to a dialed number dialed by a subscriber for account management; and

a voice response unit for providing a connection between the central telephone switching system, said trunk interface module, said direct dialed-number receiver and the clearing house computer, wherein said voice response unit transmits one set of prompts to a caller connected thereto through said trunk interface module and another set of prompts to a subscriber connected thereto through the loop start trunks.

6. The pager system of claim 5 wherein said message recognition means includes means for recognizing at least seven completely random digits which comprise the unique receiver identification numbers.

7. A method of operating a paging system which includes a receiver wherein the receiver has a discreet, unique identification number having at least seven randomly assigned digits therein, comprising:

dialing, on a telephone, the unique, minimally seven digit, identification number for a select receiver;

processing the unique identification number through a telephone company central switching facility;

transmitting the processed identification number from the central switch through one of several DID trunk lines to a paging system central clearing house;

relaying the identification number through a relative-digit-independent trunk interface module to a central clearing house computer; and

comparing the received identification number to account numbers stored in the computer, and if the identification number and an account number match, providing a data/voice connection between the central switch and the computer.

8. A method of operating a paging system which includes a receiver wherein the receiver has a discreet, unique identification number having at least seven randomly assigned digits therein, wherein the system will be accessed by subscribers for system maintenance and by callers desiring to transmit messages to subscribers, comprising:

for a caller,

dialing, on a telephone, the unique, minimally seven digit, identification number for a select receiver;

processing the unique identification number through a telephone company central switching facility;

transmitting the processed identification number from the central switch through one of several DID trunk lines to a paging system central clearing house;

relaying the identification number through a relative-digit-independent trunk interface module to a central clearing house computer;

comparing the received identification number to account numbers stored in the computer, and if the identification number and an account number match, providing a data/voice connection between the central switch and the computer;

prompting the caller with a first set of voice prompts to enter appropriate codes to send a message to a subscriber associated with the unique identification number; and

for a subscriber,

dialing, on a telephone, a number for accessing the central clearing house,

prompting subscribers to enter their unique, minimally seven digit, system maintenance identification number;

transmitting the identification number to a computer in the central clearing house;

comparing the received identification number to account numbers stored in the computer, and if the identification number and an account number match, providing a data/voice connection between the central switch and the computer; and

prompting the subscriber with a second set of voice prompts to enter appropriate codes for system management.