Digitized stored voice paging receiver

• US 5,455,579 A
• Filed: 08/07/1990
• Issued: 10/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tahernia, Omid, Lambrecht, Frank E., Spiro, Allan I., Bennett, Paul T., Willard, David F., Page, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Brian K.
• Application Number:
  US07/564,010
• Time in Patent Office: 1,883 Days
• Field of Search: 341/110, 341/112, 341/122, 341/144, 341/155, 341/157, 341/200, 381/31, 358/138, 455/38, 455/49, 455/53, 455/54, 455/68, 455/70, 307/353
• US Class Current: 341/110
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1033 with voice message alert
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/105 with call or message storage means

Abstract

A paging receiver device and method are disclosed in which analog information transmitted from an external source such as a paging transmitter are received and decoded. The analog information includes at least one voice message. The voice message is recovered, digitized, and stored in one of a plurality of message slots in a memory of the paging receiver. In response to a paging user'"'"'s request, the digitized stored message is recalled from memory, reconverted from digital information to analog information, and used to produce audible voice information being a replica of the original analog voice message.

Claims

1. A digital voice storage communication system including:

at least one transmitting station selectively addressing and transmitting a communication packet including an address code followed by a voice message;

a least two receiving stations having a corresponding predetermined stored address, each comprising;

a) a receiver circuit for receiving an incoming signal carrying said communication packet;

b) decoder circuitry responsive to said receiver circuit for emitting a record enable signal responsive to said communication packet carried by said incoming signal, including;

a comparator for comparing said predetermined stored address with said communication packet address code and automatically generating said record enable signal in response to said comparison, without reference to a separate record enable signal from said transmitter;

c) digital memory for storing said voice message of said communication packet in response to said record enable signal;

d) signal conversion circuitry for converting digital data in said digital memory into analog data for playback.

2. The digital voice storage communication system of claim 1, wherein said decoder circuitry further includes circuitry for deactivating said digital memory when said record enable signal ceases.

3. The digital voice storage communication system of claim 1, additionally comprising an edge detector responsive to said receiver circuits and sensitive to an edge of said record enable signal for automatically resetting and initiating said digital voice storage communication system to permit said digital memory to record a new voice message.

4. The digital voice storage communication system of claim 1, additionally comprising a memory address selector for storing information indicative of available memory space to protect said memory from recording over previously stored messages.

5. The digital voice storage communication system of claim 2, additionally comprising a timer, wherein said decoder is responsive to said timer to terminate said enable signal upon expiration of a preset period of time thereby enabling said digital memory to record a new voice message.

6. The digital voice storage communication system of claim 1, wherein said decoder circuitry generates said record enable signal continuously for the duration of said incoming voice message.

7. The digital voice storage communication system of claim 1, wherein said decoder circuitry is voice actuated to generate said record enable signal responsive to said incoming voice message.

8. A digital voice storage communication system as defined in claim 1, wherein said signal conversion circuitry converts said voice message of said communication packet from analog to digital format.

9. A digital voice storage communication system as defined in claim 1, wherein said communication packet additionally comprises command data and wherein said address code and said command data are followed with substantially no delay by said voice message in said communication data packet.

10. A digital voice storage communication system as defined in claim 1, wherein said communication packet includes a voice message whose length is variable.

11. A digital voice storage communication system as defined in claim 10, wherein said digital memory sequentially stores digital voice messages having different lengths.

12. A digital voice storage communication system as defined in claim 1, wherein said signal conversion circuitry operates during said record enable signal.

13. A digital voice storage communication system as defined in claim 1, additionally comprising:

an operator activated playback switch for retrieving said voice message stored in said digital memory and for activating said signal conversion circuitry.

14. A digital voice storage communication system as defined in claim 13, additionally comprising:

a switch for selection of said voice messages from said digital memory for conversion by said signal conversion circuitry.

15. A digital voice storage communication system as defined in claim 4, wherein said memory address selector generates a signal to erase the recorded voice message which has resided in said digital memory longer than any other stored message.

16. A digital voice storage communication system as defined in claim 1, wherein said digital memory records said voice messages silently.