Paging transceivers and methods for selectively retrieving messages

• US 7,843,314 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Helferich Patent Licensing LLC
• Original Assignee: Wireless Science LLC
• Inventors: Helferich, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Nam V
• Application Number:
  US11/635,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20070155437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 340/7.21, 340/7.52, 340/825.37, 455/458, 455/466, 455/550.1, 455/100, 455/90, 455/95, 455/414.1, 455/421.1
• US Class Current: 340/7.21
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/025 with acknowledge back capability

Abstract

A paging transceiver and method for selectively paging provides a page to a paging transceiver but does not automatically provide an associated message. The paging transceiver receives the page and alerts the user that a message is waiting and preferably provides a short description of the message. The user can then download or otherwise act on the message at a time and at a place convenient to the user. The user can therefore place the paging transceiver in a location where it can easily receive and reply to the message. The paging system conserves air time and the paging transceiver conserves memory by not automatically receiving the associated messages. The user can determine the time at which the paging transceiver receives transmissions, such as during off-peak hours. The messages stored by the systems and delivered to the paging transceiver may be of different types, such as voice, text, audio, or even video. In addition to messages, the paging system can store other information for the user, such as songs or video clips that the user can sample or updates on weather or stock rates.

Claims

1. A paging transceiver, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a selective call signal having an information identifier signal identifying remote information available to the paging transceiver;

a processor for receiving the information identifier signal and for generating an alert signal after receiving the information identifier signal;

a user interface for receiving the alert signal and for generating an alert to inform a user that the information identifier signal has been received, the user interface also for receiving input from the user designating a desired action on the available information;

the processor for detecting the input at the user interface and for generating a request signal indicating the desired function, the request signal including at least part of the information identifier signal; and

a transmitter for transmitting the request signal to a system so that the desired function may be performed on the information identified by the information identifier signal.