Paging receiver system for receiving a paging communication signal

• US 5,510,778 A
• Filed: 04/01/1994
• Issued: 04/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Radio Computer & Telephone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Radio Computer & Telephone Corporation
• Inventors: Meadows, Steven F., Krieter, Marcus A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MERZ, EDWARD W
• Application Number:
  US08/222,293
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 379/59, 455/38.1, 364/705.05
• US Class Current: 340/7.54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/022 Selective call receivers

Abstract

A paging receiver system is provided that can be integrated as one function of a multi-function electronic card device adapted for insertion into a portable computing device. The paging receiver system preferably includes a frequency agile receiver for receiving paging signals, a driver-less interface for communicating the received paging signals to the computing device and a platform-transparent memory for storing the received paging signals. The frequency agile receiver includes a frequency synthesizer for generating a user selectable down conversion frequency that is combined by a mixer to produce a received paging signal at a predetermined intermediate frequency. The driver-less interface multiplexes the received paging signal with the output of a data modem such that the computing device requires only a driver interface for the data modem in order to receive both modem data and paging information. The platform-transparent memory stores paging information received from the computing device in a format that is determined by the platform of the particular computing device into which the electronic card device is inserted. A paging receiver caddy is also provided which can receive the electronic card device when not inserted into the portable computing device such that the electronic card device can continue to receive paging information.

Claims

1. A paging receiver system for use in a multi-function electronic card device adapted for insertion into a computing device, the paging receiver system comprising:

(a) data modem means on the card device for communicating modem data between a first computing device and a second computing device over a first communication channel;

(b) paging receiver means, on the card device and operatively coupled to the data modem means, for receiving paging information over a second communication channel that is a radio frequency communication channel; and

(c) switching means, on the card device and operatively coupled to the data modem means, the paging receiver means, and an interface connector on the electronic card device to the first computing device, for selectably providing modem data from the data modem means or paging information from the paging receiver means to the interface connector based upon control signals between the data modem means and the paging receiver means, such that the first computing device requires only a driver interface for the data modem means in order to receive both modem data and paging information.

2. The paging receiver system of claim 1 wherein the data modem means includes a microprocessor and the switching means is incorporated into a function of the microprocessor in response to a command signal received from the paging receiver means.

3. The paging receiver system of claim 1 wherein the data modem means includes means for communicating facsimile information.

4. The paging receiver system of claim 1 further including means for generating a ring signal by the data modem means when the paging receiver means has received paging information.

5. The paging receiver system of claim 1 wherein the electronic card device is a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card in which the paging receiver is one function of a plurality of functions performed by the PCMCIA card.

6. A communication device for use in a multi-function electronic card device adapted for insertion into a computing device, the communication device comprising:

(a) data modem means, for communicating modem data between a first computing device and a second computing device over a first communication channel;

(b) transceiver means, operatively coupled to the data modem means, for communicating other information other than modem data over a second communication channel; and

(c) switching means, operatively coupled to the data modem means, the transceiver means, and an interface connector on the electronic card device to the first computing device, for selectably providing modem data from the data modem means or other information from the transceiver means to the interface connector based upon control signals between the data modem means and the transceiver means, such that the first computing device requires only a driver interface for the data modem means in order to receive both modem data from the first communication channel and other information from the second communication channel.

7. The communication device of claim 6 wherein the data modem means includes a microprocessor and the switching means is incorporated into a function of the microprocessor in response to a command signal received from the paging receiver means.

8. The communication device of claim 6 wherein the data modem means includes means for communicating facsimile information.

9. The communication device of claim 6 further including means for generating a ring signal by the data modem means when the paging receiver means has received paging information.

10. The communication device of claim 6 wherein the transceiver means is selected from the group consisting of a pager, a celluar digital data packet (CDPD) device, a celluar circuit switch data (CCSD) device, a short message service receiver, a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, a data network interface card, a voice signal receiver, and a video signal receiver.

11. The communication device of claim 6 wherein the electronic card device is a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card in which the paging receiver is one function of a plurality of functions performed by the PCMCIA card.

12. A paging receiver system for use in a multi-function electronic card device adapted for insertion into a computing device, the paging receiver system comprising:

(a) paging receiver means on the card device for receiving paging information over a radio frequency communication channel and presenting the paging information to the computing device in a first data format, the first data format being determined by a native paging format of the paging information; and

(b) memory means on the card device for receiving the paging information from the computing device in a second data format and storing the paging information in the second data format, the second data format being determined by and compatible with a native file format of an operating system program executing on the computing device.

13. The paging receiver system of claim 12 wherein the electronic card device is a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card in which the paging receiver means is one function of a plurality of functions performed by the PCMCIA card.

14. A paging receiver caddie for receiving an electronic card device, the electronic card device being adapted for insertion into a separate portable computing device, the paging receiver caddie comprising:

a hand-held body of a size slightly larger than the electronic card device and capable of being held in the palm of a single hand, including;

structure defining an aperture into which the electronic card device is inserted;

display means on a surface of the body for displaying paging information; and

connector means in the aperture for making electrical connection with the electronic card device when the electronic card device is inserted;

battery means contained within the body and connected to the connector means for providing electrical power to the electronic card device when the electronic card device is inserted; and

controller means contained within the body and operably connected to the connector means and the display means for receiving paging information from the electronic card device and for displaying the paging information on the display means,

such that paging information from the electronic card device can be accessed when the electronic card device is not inserted into the portable computing device.