Television paging system

• US 5,489,894 A
• Filed: 04/04/1994
• Issued: 02/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Murray, Bradley A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HILL, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US08/222,497
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 455/38.1, 455/66, 455/38.4, 380/10, 380/11, 380/20, 348/563, 348/564, 348/723
• US Class Current: 340/7.32
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/228 combined with other devices having a different main function, e.g. watches

Abstract

A paging system (200)is provided having at least one television subscriber unit (222) with a television identification number and at least one paging subscriber unit (236) with a pager identification number. The paging system (200)includes a paging control station (240) for processing a page. This page includes the pager identification number that is intended for the at least one paging subscriber unit (236). The paging control station (240) includes a circuit (226) for determining when the at least one paging subscriber unit (236) is not in use. The paging system (200) also includes a television transmitter (216) which is coupled to the paging control station (240) for selectively transmitting the page to the television subscriber unit (222) in response to the circuit (226) for determining when the at least one paging subscriber unit (236) is not in use.

Claims

1. A paging system having at least one television subscriber unit with a television identification number (TVID) and at least one paging subscriber unit with a pager identification number (PID), the paging system comprising:

a paging control station for processing a page having a PID and intended for the at least one paging subscriber unit, the paging control station having a decision making means for locally determining if the page is desired to reach the television subscriber unit instead of the at least one paging subscriber unit; and

a television transmitter means coupled to the paging control station for selectively transmitting the page to the television subscriber unit and preventing transmission of the page to the at least one paging subscriber unit in response to the means for determining.

2. The paging system of claim 1, further including a paging transmitter unit coupled to the paging control unit for transmitting the page to the at least one paging subscriber unit in response to the means for determining.

3. The paging system of claim 1, wherein the television subscriber unit includes means for generating an alert signal in response to the page.

4. The paging system of claim 1, further including converter means for converting the PID of the page to a corresponding TVID.

5. The paging system of claim 1, wherein the television transmitter comprises a cable television (CATV) broadcasting unit.

6. The paging system of claim 1, wherein TVID and the PID are the same number.

7. A paging system having at least one television subscriber unit with a television identification number (TVID) and at least one paging subscriber unit with a pager identification number (PID), the paging system comprising:

a paging interface unit for receiving information to be paged, the interface unit having a decision making means for determining if a page is desired to reach the television subscriber unit instead of the at least one paging subscriber unit;

means for generating a paging signal;

means for receiving a television signal;

a combiner for combining the television signal with the paging signal;

a controller coupled to the paging interface unit for coupling the paging signal to the combiner when the page is desired to reach the television subscriber unit;

a television transmitter means coupled to the combiner for subsequently transmitting the page along with the television signal to the television subscriber unit; and

whereby the television subscriber unit receives the page and the television signal and immediately displays the same.