Transmitting and receiving devices and methods for transmitting data to and receiving data from a communication system

• US 6,462,646 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Helferich Patent Licensing LLC
• Original Assignee: The Thompson Investment Group, LLC
• Inventors: Helferich, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/860,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20010020892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 340/7.3, 340/7.43, 340/7.21, 455/412, 455/418, 455/517
• US Class Current: 340/7.21
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/025 with acknowledge back capability

Abstract

A pager transceiver and method for selectively paging provides a page to a paging transceiver but does not automatically provide associated information. The paging transceiver receives the page and alerts the user that information is waiting and preferably provides a short description of the information. The user can then download or otherwise act on the information 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 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. The paging transceiver includes a timer so that the desired action taken on the information may be performed at a desired time. The timer may be set so that the action may occur at a certain time, for instance at an off-peak hour to lower costs to the user. The timer may be programmed by the user so that messages are delivered after a certain time delay or at any other desired time.

Claims

1. A transmitting and receiving device for transmitting data to and receiving data from a communication system, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a first selective call signal having a message identifier identifying a message, wherein the message is not included in the first selective call signal;

a user interface for receiving from a user an input specifying a function to be performed on the message;

a transmitter for sending a request signal to the communication system, wherein the request signal indicates the function; and

a processor for delaying the transmission of the request signal by the transmitter and, in response to the receiver receiving a subsequent selective call signal, no longer delaying the transmission of the request signal by the transmitter.

2. The transmitting and receiving device of claim 1, further comprising at least one antenna for receiving the first and subsequent selective call signals and for propagating the request signal.

3. The transmitting and receiving device of claim 1, wherein the receiver receives the first and subsequent selective call signals from a paging network.

4. The transmitting and receiving device of claim 1, wherein the receiver receives the first and subsequent selective call signals from a mobile radiotelephone network.

5. The transmitting and receiving device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits the request signal over a paging network.

6. The transmitting and receiving device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits the request signal over a mobile radiotelephone network.

7. A communication system, comprising:

a base station;

a system in communication with the base station; and

a transmitting and receiving device in communication with the base station, wherein the transmitting and receiving device comprises;

a receiver for receiving from the base station a first selective call signal having a message identifier identifying a message, wherein the message is not included in the first selective call signal;

a user interface for receiving from a user an input specifying a function to be performed on the message;

a transmitter for sending a request signal to the system, wherein the request signal indicates the function; and

a processor for delaying the transmitter from sending the request signal and, in response to the receiver receiving a subsequent selective call signal, no longer delaying the transmitter from sending the request signal.

8. The communication system of claim 7, wherein the transmitting and receiving device further comprises at least one antenna for receiving the first and subsequent selective call signals and for propagating the request signal.

9. The communication system of claim 7, wherein the base station is part of a paging network.

10. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the transmitter transmits the request signal to the system by transmitting the request signal to the base station, which then forwards it to the system.

11. The communication system of claim 7, wherein the base station is part of a mobile radiotelephone network.

12. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the transmitter transmits the request signal to the system by transmitting the request signal to the base station, which then forwards it to the system.

13. In a transmitting and receiving device for transmitting data to and receiving data from a communication system, a method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first selective call signal having a message identifier identifying a message, wherein the message is not included in the first selective call signal;

receiving from a user an input specifying an action to be performed on the message;

receiving a subsequent selective call signal; and

sending a request signal to the communication system in response to receiving the subsequent selective call signal, wherein the request signal indicates the action to be performed on the message.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one antenna is used for receiving the first and subsequent selective call signals and for propagating the request signal.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the transmitting and receiving device receives the first and subsequent selective call signals from a paging network.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the transmitting and receiving device receives the first and subsequent selective call signals from a mobile radiotelephone network.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the transmitting and receiving device transmits the request signal over a paging network.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the transmitting and receiving device transmits the request signal over a mobile radiotelephone network.