Pager-based communications system

• US 6,346,890 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1998
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alert Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alert Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Bellin, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/212,237
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.52, 340/825.44, 340/825.07, 340/825.27, 340/7.2, 340/3.5, 455/38.1
• US Class Current: 340/9.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/027 providing paging services

Abstract

A communications system is provided for communicating information to and from recipients scattered over wide geographic areas. A computer controlled head end communications interface adds address information to a message in accordance with who the intended recipients are. A media router directs the message through appropriate transport media in accordance with the address information. Preferably, the messages are communicated, at least in part, over existing paging systems. Additional transport media include existing power distribution networks, twisted wire pairs and fiber optics networks. Bi-directional reporting capability is provided. The system is well-suited for applications such as remote reading of utility meters, communication of emergency warnings, bi-directional alarm reporting, time synchronization, and encryption/authentication.

Claims

1. A method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients, comprising the steps of:

providing a single message which includes a base group address and a message portion;

including an arbitrarily defined subgroup address in said message portion, said single message becoming a single appended message with the incorporation of said arbitrarily defined subgroup address;

transmitting said single appended message to a plurality of the potential message recipients; and

providing a plurality of receivers which are responsive to said base group address and being further responsive to said arbitrarily defined subgroup address incorporated into said message portion, each of said plurality of receivers further being associated with members of a specific group.

2. The method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients of claim 1, wherein:

said transmitter and said plurality of receivers being a part of a paging system.

3. The method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients of claim 1, further comprising:

said arbitrarily defined subgroup address being inserted into said message portion with a head end communication interface, said head end communication sending said single appended message to said transmitter.

4. The method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients of claim 1, wherein:

said arbitrarily defined subgroup address defining geographic coordinates, said single appended message going out to every potential message recipient contained within said geographic coordinates.

5. The method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients of claim 1, wherein:

each said receiver having a rechargeable battery and a charger circuit, said charger circuit being operable from a wall socket, each said receiver being structured to plug into a wall socket.

12. The method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients of claim 1, further comprising:

said single appended message further including an informational portion, each said receiver being responsive to said informational portion by exhibiting at least one of the following responses;

activating of an audible transducer, illuminating a light emitting device, displaying a message.

6. A method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients, comprising the steps of:

providing a single message which includes a base group address and a message portion;

including an arbitrarily defined subgroup address in said message portion, said single message becoming a single appended message with the incorporation of said arbitrarily defined subgroup address;

providing a head end media interface which transmits said single appended message to a plurality of the potential message recipients; and

said head end media interface receiving messages; and

providing a plurality of transceivers which are responsive to said base group address and being further responsive to said arbitrarily defined subgroup address incorporated into said message portion, each of said plurality of transceivers further being associated with members of a specific group, each said transceiver transmitting messages to said head end media interface.

7. The method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients of claim 6, wherein:

said head end media interface and said plurality of transceivers being a part of a paging system.

8. The method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients of claim 6, further comprising:

said arbitrarily defined subgroup address being inserted into said message portion with a head end communication interface, said head end communication sending said single appended message to said transmitter.

9. The method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients of claim 6, wherein:

a plurality of head end communication interfaces, each said head end communication interface communicating with one of a plurality of transmitters.

10. The method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients of claim 6, wherein:

said arbitrarily defined subgroup address defining geographic coordinates, said single appended message going out to every potential message recipient contained within said geographic coordinates.

11. The method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients of claim 6, wherein:

each said transceiver having a rechargeable battery and a charger circuit, said charger circuit being operable from a wall socket, each said receiver being structured to plug into a wall socket.

13. A method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients, comprising the steps of:

providing a single message which includes a base group address and a message portion;

including an arbitrarily defined subgroup address in said message portion, said single message becoming a single appended message with the incorporation of said arbitrarily defined subgroup address, said arbitrarily defined subgroup address defining geographic coordinates, said single appended message going out to every potential message recipient contained within said geographic coordinates;

transmitting said single appended message to a plurality of the potential message recipients; and

providing a plurality of receivers which are responsive to said base group address and being further responsive to said arbitrarily defined subgroup address incorporated into said message portion, each of said plurality of receivers further being associated with members of a specific group.

14. The method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients of claim 13, wherein:

said transmitter and said plurality of receivers being a part of a paging system.

15. The method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients of claim 13, further comprising:

said arbitrarily defined subgroup address being inserted into said message portion with a head end communication interface, said head end communication sending said single appended message to said transmitter.

16. The method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients of claim 13, wherein:

each said receiver having a rechargeable battery and a charger circuit, said charger circuit being operable from a wall socket, each said receiver being structured to plug into a wall socket.

17. A method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients, comprising the steps of:

providing a single message which includes a base group address and a message portion;

including an arbitrarily defined subgroup address in said message portion, said single message becoming a single appended message with the incorporation of said arbitrarily defined subgroup address, said arbitrarily defined subgroup address defining geographic coordinates, said single appended message going out to every potential message recipient contained within said geographic coordinates;

providing a head end media interface which transmits said single appended message to a plurality of the potential message recipients; and

said head end media interface receiving messages; and

providing a plurality of transceivers which are responsive to said base group address and being further responsive to said arbitrarily defined subgroup address incorporated into said message portion, each of said plurality of transceivers further being associated with members of a specific group, each said transceiver transmitting messages to said head end media interface.

18. The method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients of claim 17, wherein:

said head end media interface and said plurality of transceivers being a part of a paging system.

19. The method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients of claim 17, further comprising:

said arbitrarily defined subgroup address being inserted into said message portion with a head end communication interface, said head end communication sending said single appended message to said transmitter.

20. The method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients of claim 17, wherein:

a plurality of head end communication interfaces, each said head end communication interface communicating with one of a plurality of transmitters.

21. The method for directing a single message to an arbitrarily defined subgroup within a plurality of potential message recipients of claim 17, wherein:

each said transceiver having a rechargeable battery and a charger circuit, said charger circuit being operable from a wall socket, each said receiver being structured to plug into a wall socket.