Analog wristwatch paging receiver

• US 5,479,378 A
• Filed: 12/17/1993
• Issued: 12/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Protocol-ip.com, LLC, Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Telecommunication Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Gaskill, Garold B., Yamada, Takehide
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US08/169,032
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/11, 368/12, 368/41-44, 368/76, 368/80, 340/825.44-825.49
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/00 Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece clockwork cases for special purposes G04B37/12; clocks with magnifying glass built in the face G04B39/00; time-pieces in which parts or cases produce special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects, G04B45/00, particularly with inscriptions or pictures moved by hand G04B45/003, with specially shaped cases or parts G04B45/0069; combination of writing or drawing implements with devices for indicating time B43K29/087; combined with cameras, projectors, or photographic printing apparatus G03B29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/14 incorporating a stepping motor G04C3/02 - G04C3/12 take precedence generating timing pulses G04F5/00, G04G3/00; setting G04G5/00; synchronisation G04G7/00; generating commutating pulses in masterclocks G04C13/0463, G04C13/02; slave clocks actuated intermittently by electromechanical step advancing mechanisms G04C13/10; control circuits for stepping motors in general H02P8/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0064 in which functions not related to time can be displayed digital output to display devices of digital computers G06F3/14
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/228 combined with other devices having a different main function, e.g. watches

Abstract

A paging receiver as part of an analog wristwatch. A received paging message is displayed using an analog watch mechanism which includes hands that are independently controllable. Around the perimeter of the watch face or on the watch bezel are marks representing paging messages, such as "Call Home,", "Call Office", etc. Paging messages are displayed by using one of the hands which normally is used to indicate time to point to one of the marks or messages on the perimeter of the watch. Optional features include using the watch hands not used to point to a mark representing a received paging message to point to a predetermined location to alert the user that a message has been received and using an LED can be used to indicate that a message has been received or that a message is pending. Other analog mechanisms, such as disks, drums, and sliding bars visible through respective apertures in the watch face can be used to display information concerning paging messages. These other analog mechanisms can be moved such that a selected mark is visible through the respective aperture in response to receiving a paging message.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a paging message using an analog watch mechanism that includes a body with marks thereon and a plurality of hands for displaying time, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a paging message; and

(b) moving one of said hands to point to one of said marks to indicate a paging message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying a time of reception of a message by moving at least one of said hands to marks indicating time of day.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of displaying a time of reception of a message includes moving a plurality of said hands to marks indicating time of day.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of receiving a second message, and activating a message received indicator.

5. A method of displaying a paging message with a device that includes an analog watch mechanism which includes a plurality of hands and a disk with a plurality of marks the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a paging message;

(b) moving the disk such that a mark on said disk indicates the message received; and

(c) moving one of said hands to indicate that a message has been received.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the analog watch mechanism includes a watch face having an aperture therethrough and the disk is located behind the watch face, wherein the step of moving the disk includes moving the disk such that the mark is adjacent to the aperture.

7. A device for displaying paging messages, comprising:

(a) a paging receiver adapted to receive paging messages;

(b) a plurality of hands adapted to be independently rotated to selectable direction, where the hands can be used to display time;

(c) a mark representing a paging message located on the device in one of the selectable directions; and

(d) control means, responsive to the paging receiver, for getting paging messages from the paging receiver, and in response to the getting of a message, for rotating a first one of the hands to point to the mark representing the message.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the control means rotates a second one of the hands to display a time of reception of a received message.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the control means rotates a third one of the hands to display a time of reception of a received message.

10. The device of claim 7, further comprising a surface having a mark thereon representing a paging message, the mark being located on the surface such that the surface can be moved to move the mark on the surface to a predetermined position, and wherein the control means, in response to getting paging messages from the paging receiver, moves the surface such that the mark is in the predetermined position.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the device includes a watch face and wherein the surface is a disk arranged parallel to the watch face.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the watch face has an aperture therethrough, wherein the disk is located behind the watch face, and wherein the predetermined position is adjacent to the aperture.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the device includes a watch face and wherein the surface is a drum rotatable around its axis, where the drum arranged such that its axis of the drum is parallel to the watch face.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the watch face has an aperture therethrough, wherein the drum is located behind the watch face, and wherein the predetermined position is adjacent to the aperture.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the device includes a watch face and wherein the surface is an elongate bar moveable along its longitudinal dimension, where the bar is arranged such that its longitudinal dimension is parallel to the watch face.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the watch face has an aperture therethrough, wherein the bar is located behind the watch face, and wherein the predetermined position is adjacent to the aperture.