Personal location and message system and unit

• US 5,729,196 A
• Filed: 10/17/1996
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telematics Wireless, Ltd (Singapore Technologies Engineering Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tadiran, Ltd.
• Inventors: Livni, Zohar, Aljadeff, Daniel, Azani, Zohar, Tsruya, Shalom
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/733,122
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/531, 340/825.44, 340/825.47, 340/311.1, 340/504, 455/11.1, 455/53.1, 455/54.1, 455/89, 455/56.1, 455/38.2, 455/66, 379/37, 379/38, 379/49, 379/56, 375/1, 375/7
• US Class Current: 340/505
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/185 Selective call encoders for paging networks, e.g. paging centre devices

Abstract

A portable receiving/transmitting unit is adapted to communicate with a master station, the master station being associated with a plurality of base stations, a plurality of pagers and a plurality of individual receiving/transmitting units. The portable receiving/transmitting unit includes, integrated into one unit, structure for receiving a data string encoding a personal message which is broadcasted by the master station together with a unit identifying code through a plurality of pagers; structure for conveying the broadcasted message to the operator of the receiving unit identified by the identifying code; and structure for generating a message and for transmitting it from the portable unit to the receiving base stations together with a unit identifying code.

Claims

1. A portable receiving/transmitting unit adapted for cooperation with a Master Station, a plurality of Base Stations, and a plurality of Pagers, said Master Station being capable of broadcasting through the Pagers an identifying signal for identifying an addressee, and first messages appended to said signal, and the Base Stations being capable of receiving an answer-back signal from said addressee and second messages appended thereto and transmitting the answer-back signal and second messages to the Master Station, said portable receiving/transmitting unit comprising:

means for receiving and recognizing the identifying signal identifying the portable receiving/transmitting unit as the addressed and for receiving the first messages appended thereto;

means for conveying said first messages to an operator of the receiving/transmitting unit;

means for the operator to generate said second messages; and

means for transmitting the second messages to the Base Stations, together with the answer-back signal;

wherein said means for receiving and recognizing, said means for conveying, said means for the operator to generate, and said means for transmitting are integrated into said portable receiving/transmitting unit.

2. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the first messages are vocal messages and the means for conveying comprise a loudspeaker.

3. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the first messages are written messages and the means for conveying comprise a display.

4. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the means for the operator to generate comprise a microphone.

5. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the means for the operator to generate comprise a keyboard.

6. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the means for the operator to generate comprise memory means comprising a memory bank in which pre-prepared messages are stored, and key means to select the desired pre-prepared message from the said memory bank, and to transmit the desired pre-prepared message.

7. A unit according to claim 1, wherein operation of the receiving/transmitting unit is performed through actuation of predetermined function keys.

8. A unit according to claim 1, further comprising power supply means for supplying power.

9. A unit according to claim 1, wherein:

said means for receiving and recognizing the identifying signal and said means for transmitting the second message to the Base Stations comprise a communication board;

said means for conveying said first messages to an operator of the receiving/transmitting unit and means for the operator to generate said second messages comprise a computer board including electronic components; and

said communication board is connected to said computer board by way of standard communication interface means, wherein said electronic components in said computer board control the operation of said communication board.

10. A portable unit according to claim 9, wherein the communication interface means is a PCMCIA interface.

11. A portable unit according to claim 9, wherein the communication board comprises a transmitter, a receiver, an antenna, data processing means and interface means to communicate with the processing means of the portable computer and to process data sent therefrom or received through the said antenna.

12. A personal location and message unit, for use with a Vehicle Location System, comprising:

a housing;

autonomous power supply means for supplying power to electronic components in the housing;

receiving means for receiving first messages and signals broadcasted by a plurality of pagers;

means for an operator of the unit to generate second messages for transmission to a plurality of Base Stations;

transmission means for broadcasting said second messages and answer-back signals to said Base Stations;

means for conveying received second messages to the operator of the unit; and

computer means for recognizing a unit identifying code, and for elaborating received and transmitted signals;

said computer means also for controlling;

(i) said means for an operator to generate;

(ii) said receiving means;

(iii) said transmission means; and

(iv) said means for conveying.

13. A vehicle and person location and communication system, comprising a combination of:

(a) a master station associated with a plurality of base stations and a plurality of pagers, said master station being capable of broadcasting through the pagers a first message and an identifying signal, and said base stations being capable of receiving an answer-back signal and a second message and transmitting the answer-back signal and second message to said master station; and

(b) a portable receiving/transmitting unit including,

(i) means for recognizing the identifying signal associated with the portable receiving/transmitting unit and for receiving the identifying signal and first message;

(ii) means for conveying said first message to an operator of the receiving/transmitting unit identified by said identifying signal; and

(iii) means for the operator to generate the second message; and

(iv) means for transmitting the second message from said receiving/transmitting unit to said base stations together with the answer-back signal;

wherein said means for recognizing, said means for conveying, said means for the operator to generate, and said means for transmitting are integrated into said portable receiving/transmitting unit.