System for interconnecting electronic mail systems by RF communications and method of operation thereof

• US 5,479,472 A
• Filed: 05/20/1991
• Issued: 12/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NTP Incorporated
• Original Assignee: NTP Incorporated
• Inventors: Campana, Thomas J. Jr., Ponschke, Michael P., Thelen, Gary F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): OEHLING, GEORGE J
• Application Number:
  US07/702,938
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/67, 379/88, 379/93, 379/96, 379/97, 379/98, 379/57, 364/222.2, 364/222.3, 364/284, 364/284.3, 364/284.4, 364/919.2
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/022 Paging systems personal calling arrangements or devices G08B3/1008; selective calling networks H04W84/022
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A system (100) for connecting a plurality of mail systems (1-N) each transmitting information from one of a plurality of originating processors (A-N) to at least one of a plurality of destination processors (A-N) which may be transported during operation in accordance with the invention includes at least one interface switch (304), an interface switch being coupled to each of the plurality of electronic mail systems of receiving information originating from an originating processor in one of the electronic mail systems for transmission to a destination processor in another electronic mail system; and a RF information transmission network (302), coupled to the at least one interface switch, for transmitting stored information received from one of the at least one interface switch originating from an originating processor in one electronic mail system by RF transmission to at least one RF receiver which relays the information to a destination processor within the another electronic mail system.

Claims

1. A system for connecting a plurality of electronic mail systems each transmitting originated information originating from one of a plurality of originating processors to at least one of a plurality of destination processors comprising:

at least one interface switch, the at least one interface switch being coupled to each of the plurality of electronic mail systems for receiving the originated information originating from the one of the plurality of originating processors in one of the electronic mail systems for transmission to the at least one of the plurality destination processors in another of the electronic mail systems; and

a RF information transmission network, coupled to the at least one interface switch, for transmitting the originated information received from the one of the at least one interface switch by RF transmission to at least one RF receiver which transfers the originated information to the at least one of a plurality of destination processors within the another of the electronic mail systems; and

wherein

each of the plurality of electronic mail systems transmits other information from its plurality of originating processors to its plurality of destination processors through a wireline without using the RF information transmission network.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

an interface address of the at least one interface switch to receive the originated information is added at the one of the plurality of originating processors originating the originated information or by the one of the electronic mail systems to the originated information; and

a destination processor address of the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to receive the originated information in the another of the electronic mail systems is added to the originated information at the one of the plurality of originating processors originating the originated information or by the one of the plurality of electronic mail systems or the interface switch to receive the originated information.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the originated information includes electronic mail system information used by the one of the electronic mail systems during transmission of the originated information through the one of the electronic mail systems; and

the at least one interface switch receiving the originated information removes the electronic mail system information and adds to the originated information, after removal of the electronic mail system information, RF transmission network information used by the RF information transmission network during transmission of the originated information to the at least one RF receiver.

4. A system in accordance with claim 3 wherein:

the interface switch receiving the originated information further adds to the originated information after removal of the electronic mail system information encoded information used by the at least one of the plurality of destination processors in the another of the electronic mail systems to receive the originated information and the encoded information is decoded either by the at least one RF receiver or the at least one of the plurality of destination processors in the another of the electronic mail systems to receive the originated information and is processed by the at least one of the plurality of destination processors in the another of the electronic mail systems with a format of the another of the electronic mail systems.

5. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

the originated information includes electronic mail system information used by the one of the electronic mail systems containing the one of the plurality of originating processors used during transmission of the originated information through the one of the electronic mail systems; and

the at least one interface switch removes the electronic mail system information and adds to the originated information, after removal of the electronic mail system information, RF transmission network information used by the RF information transmission network during transmission of the originated information to the at least one RF receiver.

6. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein:

the interface switch receiving the originated information further adds to the originated information after removal of the electronic mail system information encoded information used by the at least one of the plurality of destination processors in the another of the electronic mail systems to receive the originated information and the encoded information is decoded either by the at least one RF receiver or the at least one of the plurality of destination processors in the another of the electronic mail systems to receive the originated information and is processed by the at least one of the plurality of destination processors in the another of the electronic mail systems with a format of the another of the electronic mail systems.

7. A system in accordance with claim 3 wherein:

the originated information includes electronic mail system information used by the one of the electronic mail systems containing the one of the plurality of originating processors used during transmission of the originated information through the one of the electronic mail systems; and

the at least one interface switch receiving the removes the electronic mail system information and adds to the originated information, after removal of the electronic mail system information, RF transmission network information used by the RF information transmission network during transmission of the originated information to the at least one RF receiver.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein:

the interface switch receiving the originated information further adds to the originated information after removal of the electronic mail system information encoded information used by the at least one of the plurality of destination processors in the another of the electronic mail systems to receive the originated information and the encoded information is decoded either by the at least one RF receiver or the at least one of the plurality of destination processors in the another of the electronic mail systems to receive the originated information and is processed by the at least one of the plurality of destination processors with a format of the another of the electronic mail systems.

9. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

the destination processor address of the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to receive the originated information in the another of the electronic mail systems is an identification number of the at least one RF receiver in the RF information transmission network; and

the interface switch receiving the originated information, stores the originated information, assembles the originated information with other originated information received from a plurality of the originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems into a packet and transmits the packet to the RF information transmission network.

10. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein the RF information transmission network comprises:

a RF information transmission network switch, the RF information transmission network switch receiving the packet from the interface switch transmits the packet and disassembles the packet into information including the originated information from the plurality of originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems; and

wherein

the RF information transmission network transmits the disassembled information including the identification number of the at least one RF receiver transferring the originated information to the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to another RF information transmission network switch in the RF information transmission network storing a file containing the identification number and any destination of the RF receiver in the RF information transmission network to which the originated information and identification number is to be transmitted by the RF information transmission network and adds any destination of the at least one RF receiver stored in the file containing the identification number to the originated information and the RF information transmission network in response to any added destination transmits the originated information and identification number to any destination of the at least one RF receiver for RF broadcast to the at least one RF receiver.

11. A system in accordance with claim 3 wherein:

the destination processor address of the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to receive the originated information in the another of the electronic mail systems is an identification number of the at least one RF receiver in the RF information transmission network; and

the interface switch receiving the originated information, stores the originated information, assembles the originated information with other originated information received from a plurality of the originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems into a packet and transmits the packet to the RF information transmission network.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the RF information transmission network comprises:

a RF information transmission network switch, the RF information transmission network switch receiving the packet from the interface switch transmits the packet and disassembles the packet into information including the originated information from the plurality of originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems; and

wherein

the RF information transmission network transmits the disassembled information including the identification number of the at least one RF receiver transferring the originated information to the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to another RF information transmission network switch in the RF information transmission network storing a file containing the identification number and any destination of the RF receiver in the RF information transmission network to which the originated information and identification number is to be transmitted by the RF information transmission network and adds any destination of the at least one RF receiver stored in the file containing the identification number to the originated information and the RF information transmission network in response to any added destination transmits the originated information and identification number to any destination of the at least one RF receiver for RF broadcast to the at least one RF receiver.

13. A system in accordance with claim 4 wherein:

the destination processor address of the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to receive the originated information in the another of the electronic mail systems is an identification number of the at least one RF receiver in the RF information transmission network; and

the interface switch receiving the originated information, stores the originated information, assembles the originated information with other originated information received from a plurality of the originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems into a packet and transmits the packet to the RF information transmission network.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein the RF information transmission network comprises:

a RF information transmission network switch, the RF information transmission network switch receiving the packet from the interface switch transmits the packet and disassembles the packet into information including the originated information from the plurality of originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems; and

wherein

the RF information transmission network transmits the disassembled information including the identification number of the at least one RF receiver transferring the originated information to the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to another RF information transmission network switch in the RF information transmission network storing a file containing the identification number and any destination of the RF receiver in the RF information transmission network to which the originated information and identification number is to be transmitted by the RF information transmission network and adds any destination of the at least one RF receiver stored in the file containing the identification number to the originated information and the RF information transmission network in response to any added destination transmits the originated information and identification number to any destination of the at least one RF receiver for RF broadcast to the at least one RF receiver.

15. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein:

the destination processor address of the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to receive the originated information in the another of the electronic mail systems is an identification number of the at least one RF receiver in the RF information transmission network; and

the interface switch receiving the originated information, stores the originated information, assembles the originated information with other originated information received from a plurality of the originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems into a packet and transmits the packet to the RF information transmission network.

16. A system in accordance with claim 15 wherein the RF information transmission network comprises:

a RF information transmission network switch, the RF information transmission network switch receiving the packet from the interface switch transmits the packet and disassembles the packet into information including the originated information from the plurality of originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems; and

wherein

the RF information transmission network transmits the disassembled information including the identification number of the at least one RF receiver transferring the originated information to the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to another RF information transmission network switch in the RF information transmission network storing a file containing the identification number and any destination of the RF receiver in the RF information transmission network to which the originated information and identification number is to be transmitted by the RF information transmission network and adds any destination of the at least one RF receiver stored in the file containing the identification number to the originated information and the RF information transmission network in response to any added destination transmits the originated information and identification number to any destination of the at least one RF receiver for RF broadcast to the at least one RF receiver.

17. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein:

the destination processor address of the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to receive the originated information in the another of the electronic mail systems is an identification number of the at least one RF receiver in the RF information transmission network; and

the interface switch receiving the originated information, stores the originated information, assembles the originated information with other originated information received from a plurality of the originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems into a packet and transmits the packet to the RF information transmission network.

18. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein the RF information transmission network comprises:

a RF information transmission network switch, the RF information transmission network switch receiving the packet from the interface switch transmits the packet and disassembles the packet into information including the originated information from the plurality of originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems; and

wherein

the RF information transmission network transmits the disassembled information including the identification number of the at least one RF receiver transferring the originated information to the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to another RF information transmission network switch in the RF information transmission network storing a file containing the identification number and any destination of the at least one RF receiver in the RF information transmission network to which the originated information and identification number is to be transmitted by the RF information transmission network and adds any destination of the at least one RF receiver stored in the file containing the identification number to the originated information and the RF information transmission network in response to any added destination transmits the originated information and identification number to any destination of the at least one RF receiver for RF broadcast to the at least one RF receiver.

19. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein:

the destination processor address of the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to receive the originated information in the another of the electronic mail systems is an identification number of the at least one RF receiver in the RF information transmission network; and

the interface switch receiving the originated information, stores the originated information, assembles the originated information with other originated information received from a plurality of the originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems into a packet and transmits the packet to the RF information transmission network.

20. A system in accordance with claim 19 wherein the RF information transmission network comprises:

a RF information transmission network switch, the RF information transmission network switch receiving the packet from the interface switch transmits the packet and disassembles the packet into information including the originated information from the plurality of originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems; and

wherein

the RF information transmission network transmits the disassembled information including the identification number of the at least one RF receiver transferring the originated information to the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to another RF information transmission network switch in the RF information transmission network storing a file containing the identification number and any destination of the RF receiver in the RF information transmission network to which the originated information and identification number is to be transmitted by the RF information transmission network and adds any destination of the at least one RF receiver stored in the file containing the identification number to the originated information and the RF information transmission network in response to any added destination transmits the originated information and identification number to any destination of the at least one RF receiver for RF broadcast to the at least one RF receiver.

21. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

the interface address is added by the one of the plurality of the originating processors originating the originated information; and

the destination processor address is added by the one of the plurality of the originating processors originating the originated information or a gateway switch of the one of the electronic mail systems.

51. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the one of the electronic mail systems comprises a private automatic branch exchange.

52. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the one of the electronic mail systems comprises a local area network.

53. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the one of the electronic mail systems comprises at least one gateway switch.

54. A system in accordance with claim 53 wherein:

the one electronic mail system further comprises a telephone network.

55. A system in accordance with claim 54 wherein:

the telephone network is a public switch telephone network.

56. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the one of the electronic mail systems comprises a host central processing unit.

57. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the another of the electronic mail systems comprises a private automatic branch exchange.

58. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the another of the electronic mail systems comprises a local area network.

59. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the another of the electronic mail systems comprises at least one gateway switch.

60. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the another of the electronic mail systems further comprises a telephone network.

61. A system in accordance with claim 60 wherein:

the telephone network is a public switch telephone network.

62. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the another of the electronic mail systems comprises a host processing unit.

22. A method for connecting a plurality of electronic mail systems each transmitting originated information originating from one of a plurality of originating processors to at least one of a plurality of destination processors comprising:

transmitting the originated information originating from one of the plurality of originating processors in one of the electronic mail systems to an interface switch;

transmitting the originated information from the interface switch to a RF information transmission network; and

transmitting the originated information with the RF information transmission network to at least one RF receiver which transfers the originated information to the at least one of a plurality of destination processors within another of the electronic mail systems; and

wherein

each of the plurality of electronic mail systems transmits other information from its plurality of originating processors to its plurality of destination processors through a wireline without using the RF information transmission network.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein:

an interface address of the interface switch is added at the one of the plurality of originating processors originating the originated information or by the one of the electronic mail systems to the originated information; and

a destination processor address of the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to receive the originated information in the another of the electronic mail systems is added to the originated information at the one of the plurality of originating processors originating the originated information or by the one of the electronic mail systems or the interface switch to receive the originated information.

24. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein:

the originated information includes electronic mail system information used by the one of the electronic systems during transmission of the originated information through the one of the electronic mail systems; and

the interface switch removes the electronic mail system information and adds to the originated information, after removal of the electronic mail system information, RF information transmission network information used by the RF information transmission network during transmission of the originated information to the at least one RF receiver.

25. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein:

the interface switch adds encoded information used by the at least one of the plurality of destination processors in the another of the electronic mail systems to the originated information and the encoded information is decoded either by the at least one RF receiver or the at least one of the plurality of destination processors in the another of the electronic mail systems and is processed by the at least one of the plurality of destination processors in the another of the electronic mail systems.

26. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein:

the originated information includes electronic mail system information used by the one of the electronic systems during transmission of the originated information through the one of the electronic mail systems; and

the interface switch removes the electronic mail system information and adds to the originated information, after removal of the electronic mail system information, RF information transmission network information used by the RF information transmission network during transmission of the originated information to the at least one RF receiver.

27. A method in accordance with claim 26 wherein:

the interface switch adds encoded information used by the at least one of the plurality of destination processors in the another of the electronic mail systems to the originated information and the encoded information is decoded either by the at least one RF receiver or the at least one of the plurality of destination processors in the another of the electronic mail systems and is processed by the at least one of the plurality of destination processors in the another of the electronic mail systems.

28. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein:

the destination processor address of the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to receive the originated information in the another of the electronic mail systems is an identification number of the at least one RF receiver in the RF information transmission network; and

the interface switch stores the originated information, assembles the originated information with other originated information from a plurality of the originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems into a packet and transmits the packet to the RF information transmission network.

29. A method in accordance with claim 28 comprising:

receiving the packet from the interface switch with a RF information transmission network switch which disassembles the packet into information including the originated information from the plurality of originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems; and

the RF information transmission network transmits the disassembled information including the identification number of the at least one RF receiver transferring the originated information to the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to another RF information transmission network switch in the RF information transmission network storing a file containing the identification number and any destination of the at least one RF receiver in the RF information transmission network to which the originated information and identification number is to be transmitted by the RF information transmission network and adds any destination of the at least one RF receiver stored in the file containing the identification number to the originated information and the RF information transmission network in response to any destination of the at least one RF receiver transmits the originated information and identification number to any destination of the at least one RF receiver for RF broadcast to the at least one RF receiver.

30. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein:

the destination processor address of the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to receive the originated information in the another of the electronic mail systems is an identification number of the at least one RF receiver in the RF information transmission network; and

the interface switch stores the originated information, assembles the originated information with other originated information from a plurality of the originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems into a packet and transmits the packet to the RF information transmission network.

31. A method in accordance with claim 30 comprising:

receiving the packet from the interface switch with a RF information transmission network switch which disassembles the packet into information including the originated information from the plurality of originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems; and

the RF information transmission network transmits the disassembled information including the identification number of the at least one RF receiver transferring the originated information to the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to another RF information transmission network switch in the RF information transmission network storing a file containing the identification number and any destination of the at least one RF receiver in the RF information transmission network to which the originated information and identification number is to be transmitted by the RF information transmission network and adds any destination of the at least one RF receiver stored in the file containing the identification number to the originated information and the RF information transmission network in response to any destination of the at least one RF receiver transmits the originated information and identification number to any destination of the at least one RF receiver for RF broadcast to the at least one RF receiver.

32. A method in accordance with claim 25 wherein:

the destination processor address of the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to receive the originated information in the another of the electronic mail systems is an identification number of the at least one RF receiver in the RF information transmission network; and

the interface switch stores the originated information, assembles the originated information with other originated information from a plurality of the originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems into a packet and transmits the packet to the RF information transmission network.

33. A method in accordance with claim 32 comprising:

receiving the packet from the interface switch with a RF information transmission network switch which disassembles the packet into information including the originated information from the plurality of originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems; and

the RF information transmission network transmits the disassembled information including the identification number of the at least one RF receiver transferring the originated information to the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to another RF information transmission network switch in the RF information transmission network storing a file containing the identification number and any destination of the at least one RF receiver in the RF information transmission network to which the originated information and identification number is to be transmitted by the RF information transmission network and adds any destination of the at least one RF receiver stored in the file containing the identification number to the originated information and the RF information transmission network in response to any destination of the at least one RF receiver transmits the originated information and identification number to any destination of the at least one RF receiver for RF broadcast to the at least one RF receiver.

34. A method in accordance with claim 26 wherein:

the destination processor address of the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to receive the originated information in the another of the electronic mail systems is an identification number of the at least one RF receiver in the RF information transmission network; and

the interface switch stores the originated information, assembles the originated information with other originated information from a plurality of the originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems into a packet and transmits the packet to the RF information transmission network.

35. A method in accordance with claim 34 comprising:

receiving the packet from the interface switch with a RF information transmission network switch which disassembles the packet into information including the originated information from the plurality of originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems; and

the RF information transmission network transmits the disassembled information including the identification number of the at least one RF receiver transferring the originated information to the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to another RF information transmission network switch in the RF information transmission network storing a file containing the identification number and any destination of the at least one RF receiver in the RF information transmission network to which the originated information and identification number is to be transmitted by the RF information transmission network and adds any destination of the at least one RF receiver stored in the file containing the identification number to the originated information and the RF information transmission network in response to any destination of the at least one RF receiver transmits the originated information and identification number to any destination of the at least one RF receiver for RF broadcast to the at least one RF receiver.

36. A method in accordance with claim 27 wherein:

the destination processor address of the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to receive the originated information in the another of the electronic mail systems is an identification number of the at least one RF receiver in the RF information transmission network; and

the interface switch stores the originated information, assembles the originated information with other originated information from a plurality of the originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems into a packet and transmits the packet to the RF information transmission network.

37. A method in accordance with claim 36 comprising:

receiving the packet from the interface switch with a RF information transmission network switch which disassembles the packet into information including the originated information from the plurality of originating processors in the one of the electronic mail systems; and

the RF information transmission network transmits the disassembled information including the identification number of the at least one RF receiver transferring the originated information to the at least one of the plurality of destination processors to another RF information transmission network switch in the RF information transmission network storing a file containing the identification number and any destination of the at least one RF receiver in the RF information transmission network to which the originated information and identification number is to be transmitted by the RF information transmission network and adds any destination of the at least one RF receiver stored in the file containing the identification number to the originated information and the RF information transmission network in response to any destination of the at least one RF receiver transmits the originated information and identification number to any destination of the at least one RF receiver for RF broadcast to the at least one RF receiver.

38. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein:

the interface address is added by the one of the plurality of the originating processors originating the originated information; and

the destination processor address is added by the one of the plurality of the originating processors originating the originated information or a gateway switch of the one of the electronic mail systems.

39. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein:

the at least one RF receiver transfers the originated information from storage to the at least one destination processor in the another of the electric mail systems at a time subsequent to reception of the originated information by the at least one receiver.

40. A method in accordance with claim 39 wherein:

the at least one RF receiver is portable.

41. A method in accordance with claim 39 wherein:

the at least one RF receiver and the at least one destination processor in the another of the electronic mail systems are portable.

42. A method in accordance with claim 39 wherein:

the transfer of the originated information occurs after the at least one RF receiver is connected to the at least one destination processor in the another of the electronic mail systems.

43. A method in accordance with claim 40 wherein:

the transfer of the originated information occurs after the at least one RF receiver is connected to the at least one destination processor in the another of the electronic mail systems.

44. A method in accordance with claim 41 wherein:

the transfer of the originated information occurs after the at least one RF receiver is connected to the at least one destination processor in the another of the electronic mail systems.

45. A method in accordance with claim 39 wherein:

the transfer occurs under control of a program stored by the at least one destination processor of the another of the electronic mail systems and makes the originated information accessible to application programs stored within the at least one destination processor of the another of the electronic mail systems.

46. A method in accordance with claim 42 wherein:

the transfer occurs under control of a program stored by the at least one destination processor of the another of the electronic mail systems and makes the originated information accessible to application programs stored within the at least one destination processor of the another of the electronic mail systems.

47. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein:

the transmission of the originated information between the one of the originating processors and the interface switch is through a host computer, a telephone network and a gateway switch.

48. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein:

the transmission of the originated information between the one of the originating processors and the interface switch is through a private automatic branch exchange, a telephone network and a gateway switch.

49. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein:

the transmission of the originated information between the one of the originating processors and the interface switch is through a local area network, a telephone network and a gateway switch.

50. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein:

the transmission of the originated information between the one of the originating processors and the interface switch is through a modem, a telephone network and a gateway switch.