Interactive pager docking system
First Claim
1. An interactive pager docking system for a pager, comprising an interactive two-way packet data pager and a docking cradle therefor;
- wherein said interactive two-way packet data pager is a two-way wireless radio communicator having a microprocessor, and being capable of executing a programmed application, and also being capable of sending, receiving, sharing, and displaying alphanumeric data;
wherein said interactive two-way packet data pager is powered by a rechargeable battery, and has a pair of externally connectible battery terminals for delivering charging power to said rechargeable battery;
wherein said interactive two-way pager has a radio modem for sending and receiving alphanumeric data in packet data format;
wherein said interactive two-way pager has a communications port for sending and receiving alphanumeric data and control signals to and from said docking cradle;
wherein said docking cradle is adapted to physically hold said pager in place when said pager is inserted into said docking cradle;
wherein said docking cradle has a pair of battery charger terminals for connecting to said externally connectible battery terminals of said pager when said pager is being physically held in place in said docking cradle;
wherein said docking cradle has a docking communications port for connecting to said communications port of said pager when said pager is being physically held in place in said docking cradle;
wherein said docking cradle is connectible to a source of power, and is adapted to provide charging power to said rechargeable battery in said pager under the control of a battery charger module in said docking cradle, when said pager is being physically held in place in said docking cradle;
wherein said docking cradle includes a communication multiplexer in series with said communications port of said docking cradle and at least two further external communications ports in series with said multiplexer for connection to external peripheral devices capable of exchanging data and control signals with said docking cradle and said pager through said further communications port;
wherein said communications ports of said pager and in said docking cradle are RS-232 ports, and wherein said interactive pager docking system further comprises a GPS receiver in communication with said docking cradle through a communications port provided in said docking cradle therefor;
wherein sensing means are provided to determine the presence of said pager in said docking cradle, and wherein said docking cradle includes a power module to provide power to said GPS receiver; and
wherein said power module includes a timer which acts to shut off power to said GPS receiver when said sensing means senses that said pager has not been in said docking cradle for a predetermined period of time.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive pager docking system includes a docking cradle which is powered by a rechargeable battery, and includes a battery charger module which monitors the status of the battery and recharges it if necessary. It also includes a plurality of external serial ports and a serial port multiplexer, so that a number of different external peripheral devices may be connected to it. A GPS receiver communicates with the pager, so that an automatic vehicle location system may be operated employing the pager. A satellite transceiver may be connected to the docking cradle, together with an external printer, bar code scanner, and/or alarm annunciator. The docking cradle is adapted to be powered by a vehicle battery, but turns off the GPS receiver after a predetermined period of time so as not to run down the vehicle battery if the pager is not in place in the docking cradle.
72 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An interactive pager docking system for a pager, comprising an interactive two-way packet data pager and a docking cradle therefor;
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wherein said interactive two-way packet data pager is a two-way wireless radio communicator having a microprocessor, and being capable of executing a programmed application, and also being capable of sending, receiving, sharing, and displaying alphanumeric data;
wherein said interactive two-way packet data pager is powered by a rechargeable battery, and has a pair of externally connectible battery terminals for delivering charging power to said rechargeable battery;
wherein said interactive two-way pager has a radio modem for sending and receiving alphanumeric data in packet data format;
wherein said interactive two-way pager has a communications port for sending and receiving alphanumeric data and control signals to and from said docking cradle;
wherein said docking cradle is adapted to physically hold said pager in place when said pager is inserted into said docking cradle;
wherein said docking cradle has a pair of battery charger terminals for connecting to said externally connectible battery terminals of said pager when said pager is being physically held in place in said docking cradle;
wherein said docking cradle has a docking communications port for connecting to said communications port of said pager when said pager is being physically held in place in said docking cradle;
wherein said docking cradle is connectible to a source of power, and is adapted to provide charging power to said rechargeable battery in said pager under the control of a battery charger module in said docking cradle, when said pager is being physically held in place in said docking cradle;
wherein said docking cradle includes a communication multiplexer in series with said communications port of said docking cradle and at least two further external communications ports in series with said multiplexer for connection to external peripheral devices capable of exchanging data and control signals with said docking cradle and said pager through said further communications port;
wherein said communications ports of said pager and in said docking cradle are RS-232 ports, and wherein said interactive pager docking system further comprises a GPS receiver in communication with said docking cradle through a communications port provided in said docking cradle therefor;
wherein sensing means are provided to determine the presence of said pager in said docking cradle, and wherein said docking cradle includes a power module to provide power to said GPS receiver; and
wherein said power module includes a timer which acts to shut off power to said GPS receiver when said sensing means senses that said pager has not been in said docking cradle for a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An interactive pager docking system for a pager, comprising an interactive two-way packet data pager and a docking cradle therefor;
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wherein said interactive two-way packet data pager is a two-way wireless radio communicator having a microprocessor, and being capable of executing a programmed application, and also being capable of sending, receiving, sharing, and displaying alphanumeric data;
wherein said interactive two-way packet data pager is powered by a rechargeable battery, and has a pair of externally connectable battery terminals for delivering charging power to said rechargeable battery;
wherein said interactive two-way pager has a radio modem for sending and receiving alphanumeric data in packet data format;
wherein said interactive two-way pager has a communications port for sending and receiving alphanumeric data and control signals to and from said docking cradle;
wherein said docking cradle is adapted to physically hold said pager in place when said pager is inserted into said docking cradle;
wherein said docking cradle has a pair of battery charger terminals for connecting to said externally connectible battery terminals of said pager when said pager is being physically held in place in said docking cradle;
wherein said docking cradle has a docking communications port for connecting to said communications port of said pager when said pager is being physically held in place in said docking cradle;
wherein said docking cradle is connectible to a source of power, and is adapted to provide charging power to said rechargeable battery in said pager under the control of a battery charger module in said docking cradle, when said pager is being physically held in place in said docking cradle;
wherein said docking cradle includes a communication multiplexer in series with said communications port of said docking cradle and at least two further external communications ports in series with said multiplexer for connection to external peripheral devices capable of exchanging data and control signals with said docking cradle and said pager through said further communications port;
wherein said docking cradle is adapted to be connected to a source of 12 volts DC power, so as to be mounted in a vehicle;
wherein said interactive pager docking system further comprises a GPS receiver in communication with said docking cradle through a communications port provided therefor;
wherein sensing means are provided to determine the presence of said pager in said docking cradle, and wherein said docking cradle includes a power module to provide power to said GPS receiver; and
wherein said power module includes a timer which acts to shut off power to said GPS receiver when said sensing means senses that said pager has not been in said docking cradle for a predetermined period of time;
whereby power is not drawn from a vehicle battery to which said interactive pager docking system is connected in the absence of said pager being inserted into said docking cradle after said predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification