Apparatus and method for sending data messages at an optimum time
First Claim
1. A method of sending a data message from a subscriber unit comprising the steps of:
- receiving updates from a communication system at said subscriber unit, said updates including an optimum time for transmission of data messages;
reading said data message and a set of personal preferences from a memory in said subscriber unit, said set of personal preferences indicating whether to transmit said data message at a pre-scheduled time or at said optimum time; and
transmitting by said subscriber unit, said data message during said pre-scheduled time or said optimum time depending on said set of personal preferences.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Subscriber units (26) in a satellite communication system (10) send and receive data messages at optimum times. Each subscriber unit (26) has a pre-programmed database that includes a collection of messages (302), such as data (314), fax (316), pre-recorded voice (318), pager (320), or video files (322). Pre-programmed times include low traffic times (404) and/or most economical times (406) at the point of origination and/or destination. Low traffic time information (404) and most economical time information (406) are stored in the subscriber unit (26) and may be updated by the communication system (10). The subscriber unit (26) sends and receives messages at either a pre-programmed or low traffic time (404) or most economical time (406). The satellite communication system (10) calculates message delivery time when different from a user'"'"'s time zone. A user is notified when a message is sent and received. The subscriber unit (26) stores the messages for future access. The message storage system (55) is reusable in other communication system equipment.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of sending a data message from a subscriber unit comprising the steps of:
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receiving updates from a communication system at said subscriber unit, said updates including an optimum time for transmission of data messages; reading said data message and a set of personal preferences from a memory in said subscriber unit, said set of personal preferences indicating whether to transmit said data message at a pre-scheduled time or at said optimum time; and transmitting by said subscriber unit, said data message during said pre-scheduled time or said optimum time depending on said set of personal preferences. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of sending a data message using a subscriber unit comprising the steps of:
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reading a schedule and a set of personal preferences, said schedule including said data message, said set of personal preferences indicating a subscriber preferred send time for said data message, said subscriber preferred send time indicating whether to transmit said data message at a pre-scheduled time, a most economical time, or a low traffic time; organizing said schedule by the subscriber preferred send time; transmitting said message at said subscriber preferred send time; receiving updates from a communication system, said updates including either low traffic times or economical times for transmission of said data message using said communication system; and storing said updates within said subscriber unit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A subscriber unit that sends a data message comprising:
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a transceiver for receiving updates from a communication system, said updates including an optimum time for transmission of data messages; a memory for storing said data message and a set of personal preferences that indicate whether to transmit said data message at a pre-scheduled time or at said optimum time; and a processor for reading said data message and a set of personal preferences from said memory, wherein said transceiver transmits said data message during said pre-scheduled time or said optimum time depending on said set of personal preferences. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A subscriber unit that sends data messages comprising:
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a user interface that includes a keypad and display; a memory for storing operational instructions, said data messages and a set of personal preferences; a processor for reading said operational instructions from said memory and transferring data to process in conjunction with said user interface for reading a schedule and organizing said data messages by subscriber preferred send times; and a transceiver for receiving updates from a communication system, said updates including low traffic times and most economical times for transmission of said data messages, and transmitting said data messages at one of either said low traffic times, said most economical times, or said subscriber preferred send times depending on said set of personal preferences.
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Specification