Paging receiver capable of preventing unauthorized access to message meant therefor

• US 5,151,694 A
• Filed: 06/30/1989
• Issued: 09/29/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yamasaki, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US07/374,020
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.48, 340/825.3, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/311.1, 235/380, 235/382, 379/56, 379/57, 379/62, 379/95
• US Class Current: 340/7.55
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/229 with other provisions not elsewhere provided for

Abstract

A paging receiver comprises an ID memory storing an ID number assigned to the receiver. If the ID number stored in the ID memory is coincident with an ID number stored in an ID card which is to be attached to the receiver, a received or stored message is displayed. If they are not coincident with each other, the received or stored message is prevented from being displayed. Thus, unauthorized access to the message can be prevented.

Claims

1. A paging receiver comprising:

first storing means for storing a paging number;

means for receiving a paging number followed by a message;

first comparing means for comparing the stored paging number and received paging number and producing a coincidence signal when they are identical;

means responsive to said coincidence signal for receiving said message;

means for displaying the received message;

second storing means for storing a first identification number;

third storing means for storing a second identification number;

means for reading said second identification number out of said third storing means;

means for comparing said first identification number and the read-out second identification number; and

means for preventing said displaying means from displaying said message if said first and second identification numbers are not identical.

2. A paging receiver as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means responsive to said coincidence signal for generating an alert signal.

3. A paging receiver as claimed in claim 1, further comprising fourth storing means for storing said received message, said fourth storing means being powered by a back-up battery.

4. A paging receiver as claimed in claim 3, further comprising means for generating a message read-out signal;

means responsive to said message read-out signal for reading the stored message out of said fourth storing means; and

means for displaying the read-out message.

5. A paging receiver comprising:

power switch means for turning on and off said receiver;

receiver means for receiving and demodulating a paging signal including a paging number and a message following said paging number to produce a demodulated paging number and message;

paging number storing means for storing a paging number;

paging number detector means for comparing said demodulated paging number with the stored paging number and producing a coincidence signal when they are identical with each other;

message memory means responsive to said coincidence signal for storing said demodulated message;

back-up battery means for supplying power to said message memory means irrespective of the condition of said power switch means;

ID memory means for storing a first ID number;

ID card means for storing a second ID number;

ID reader means for reading said second ID number from said ID card means;

ID comparator means for comparing said first ID number and said second ID number and producing a non-coincidence signal if they are not coincident with each other;

display means for displaying the demodulated or stored message thereon; and

means responsive to said non-coincidence signal for preventing said display means from displaying said message thereon.

6. A paging receiver as claimed in claim 5, further comprising means for generating an alert signal in response to said coincidence signal.

7. A paging receiver as claimed in claim 5, further comprising means for manually generating a message read-out signal and means responsive to said message read-out signal for reading said message out of said message memory means and supplying the read-out to said display means.

8. A receiver comprising:

paging number memory means for storing a paging number;

means for receiving a paging number followed by a message;

paging number comparator means for comparing the stored paging number and received paging number and producing a coincidence signal when they are identical;

means responsive to said coincidence signal for receiving said message;

display mans for displaying the received message;

ID memory means for storing a first ID number;

ID card means for storing a second ID number;

ID reader means for reading said second ID number from said ID card;

ID comparator means for comparing said first ID and read-out ID numbers and producing a non-coincidence signal when said ID numbers are not identical with each other; and

means responsive to said non-coincidence signal for preventing said display means from displaying said message.

9. A receiver as claimed in claim 8, wherein said receiver further comprises casing means for accommodating said receiver therein, said casing means comprising a plurality of through-holes, and wherein said ID card means comprises coded holes representative of said second ID number, said coded holes being aligned with said through-holes.

10. A receiver as claimed in claim 9, wherein said ID reader means comprises a plurality of phototransistors which are aligned with said through-holes respectively, and whose emitters are grounded;

a plurality of resistors connected between a battery and the collectors of said phototransistors, respectively; and

wherein said ID memory means comprises a plurality of output terminals whose levels represent said first ID number, and wherein said ID comparator means comprises a plurality of invertors whose inputs are connected with the collectors of said phototransistors, respectively;

a plurality of two-input AND gates one inputs of which are connected with the outputs of said invertors, respectively, and the other inputs of which are connected with the output terminals of said ID memory means, respectively; and

multi-input AND gate means whose inputs are connected with the outputs of said two-input AND gates, respectively, for producing said non-coincidence signal when the inputs to said multi-input AND gate means are not all coincident.

11. A receiver as claimed in claim 8, wherein said receiver further comprises casing means for accommodating the circuitry of said receiver therein, and wherein said ID card means comprises a combination of edges and recesses, said combination representing said second ID number.

12. A receiver as claimed in claim 11, wherein said ID reader means comprises;

a plurality of switches which are aligned with said combination, one ends of said switches being grounded, a plurality of resistors connected between a battery and the other ends of said switches, respectively, and wherein said ID memory means comprises a plurality of output terminals whose levels represent said first ID number, and wherein said ID comparator means comprises a plurality of invertors whose inputs are connected with the other ends of said switches, respectively;

a plurality of two-input AND gates one inputs of which are connected with the outputs of said invertors, respectively, and the other inputs of which are connected with the output terminals of said ID memory means, respectively; and

multi-input AND gate means whose inputs are connected with the outputs of said two-input AND gates, respectively, for producing said non-coincidence signal when the inputs to said AND gate means are not all coincident.

13. A receiver as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of said switches comprises a mechanical switch.

14. A radio paging receiver having a display function, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a first signal indicative of a paging number and a subsequent message information signal;

first detection means for detecting said first signal among outputs of said receiving means with its own paging number and outputting a first coincidence detection signal when a coincidence therebetween is detected;

first means responsive to said coincidence detection signal for receiving and processing said message information signal and for memorizing or displaying said message information signal;

second detection means for detecting an ID number coded on an ID card with its own ID number and outputting a non-coincidence detection signal when these ID numbers are not coincident; and

second means responsive to said non-coincidence detection signal for prohibiting said display.

15. A paging receiver comprising:

means for detecting a paging number meant for said receiver;

message memory means for storing a message following said paging number;

means for generating a message read-out signal;

means responsive to said message read-out signal for checking if a message is stored in said message memory;

means for displaying a first pattern if no message is stored in said message memory;

means for reading a message out of said message memory if a message is stored in said message memory;

ID source means for producing an ID number assigned to said receiver;

mean responsive to the output of said ID source means for detecting said ID number;

means for displaying a second pattern in response to no detection of said ID number; and

means for displaying the read-out message in response to the detection of said ID number.

16. A receiver as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

means for generating an alert signal in response to the detection of said paging number; and

means for terminating the display of said first pattern, second pattern or read-out message in response to the elapse of a predetermined period of time.

17. A receiver as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first pattern includes NO MESSAGE and wherein said second pattern includes ID ERROR.

18. A method of controlling display of a paging receiver, comprising the following steps of:

storing a paging number;

receiving a paging number followed by a message;

comparing the stored paging number and the received paging number and producing a coincidence signal when they are identical;

responsive to said coincidence signal, receiving said message;

displaying the received message;

storing a first identification number;

storing a second identification number;

reading out the stored second identification number;

comparing said first identification number and said read-out second identification number; and

preventing said step of displaying the received message if said first and second identification numbers are not identical.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of:

responsive to said coincidence signal, generating an alert signal.

20. A method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of storing said received message in a message memory powered by a back-up battery.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

generating a message read-out signal;

responsive to said message read-out signal, reading out the stored message; and

displaying the read-out message.

22. A method of controlling display of a paging receiver, comprising the following steps of:

detecting a paging number meant for said receiver;

storing a message following said paging number;

generating a message read-out signal;

responsive to said message read-out signal checking if a message is stored;

reading out the stored message if a message is stored;

detecting an ID number assigned to said receiver;

displaying the read-out message in response to the detection of said ID number; and

prohibiting the display of the read-out message in response to no detection of said ID number.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising the steps of displaying a first pattern if a message is stored and displaying a second pattern in response to no detection of said ID number.

24. A method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising the steps of;

generating an alert signal in response to the detection of said paging number; and

terminating the display of said read-out message in response to the elapse of a predetermined period of time.

25. A receiver comprising:

means for storing a paging number;

means for receiving a paging number followed by a message;

means for comparing the stored and received paging numbers and producing a coincidence signal when they are identical;

means responsive to said coincidence signal for receiving said message;

means for storing the received message;

display means for displaying the stored message;

ID source means for producing an ID number assigned to said receiver;

means responsive to the output of said ID source means for detecting said ID number; and

means responsive to no detection of said ID number for prohibiting said display means from displaying the stored message.

26. A receiver as claimed in claim 25, wherein said ID source means comprises:

ID memory means for storing said ID number; and

wherein said detecting means comprises;

ID card means for storing an ID member;

means for reading said ID number from said ID memory and card means; and

means for comparing the read ID number with each other and supplying the comparison resultant to said prohibiting means.