FR2775852A1 - One way message receiver system - Google Patents

Abstract

The message receiver is set in active state whilst messages are received and is otherwise in a standby mode.

Description

Paging receiver to inform users of a network of

  public transit on wait times

at the stops of this network.

  The present invention relates to paging receivers for informing users of a public transport network regarding waiting times.

at the stops of this network.

  More particularly, the invention relates to a re-

  portable unilateral paging receiver including

  nant: - a radio reception device to receive

  messages coded according to a certain radiomes protocol-

  unilateral sagerie, at least some of these messages,

  said update messages, comprising at least data

  to know the waiting times for vehicles

  public transport at stops in the network, these update messages being received regularly by the paging receiver for given periods, called update periods, - an electronic central unit suitable for

  operate according to said unified paging protocol

  side to listen to and process said messages, - an interface for interrogating the unit

  central to inform users about waiting times

  public transport tent,

  - and a power supply device at-

  tonome to power the receiver electrically.

  Document W0-A-94/02923 describes an example of a

  such as a paging receiver, which gives full satisfaction

faction in terms of its reliability.

  But experience shows that the electric battery

  powering this type of receiver can wear out very quickly-

  ment, especially if said receiver is used to inform

  sea users of important public transport networks

  tants, which involve relatively long communication times to regularly transmit update data to the receiver, making it possible to know the waiting times at stops for the entire transport network.

in common.

  The object of the present invention is in particular to pal-

link this drawback.

  To this end, according to the invention, a paging receiver of the kind in question is essentially characterized in that the central unit is adapted to selectively put the radio reception device either in an activated state o this radio reception device

  is listening to radio messages, either in a dis-

  activated o said radio reception device does not work

  does not, in that the central unit is adapted for: - knowing said update periods,

  - maintain the receiving device normally

  tion in its disabled state most of the time

  (apart from possible short listening periods

  matic o the receiving device is activated), - return the receiving device to its activated state when said central unit receives at least one predetermined signal, called on signal, generated by

  voluntary action external to the pager

  gallery (reception of a personal message intended for reception

  teur, identified for example during a listening period sys-

  test, or interrogation of the receiver by a user

),

  and in that, as long as the central unit does not receive the-

  Said on signal, this central unit is adapted to operate according to two different modes, namely: - a standby mode, in which the central unit puts the reception device in its activated state in at least one update period from a non-zero whole number or successive update periods,

  - and a sleep mode, in which the unit cen-

  trale puts the reception device in its activated state during at most one update period among a number n2 of successive update periods, n2 being at least equal to 2 times ni,

  the central unit operating in standby mode during

  in at least one standby time slot representing a first total daily duration, and according to the sleep mode during the rest of the time, that is to say during

  a second daily duration greater than 5 times the first

1st day duration.

  Thanks to these provisions, the operating time

  of the receiving device is greatly reduced, which increases the service life of the

receiver battery.

  In preferred embodiments of the invention

  In addition, one and / or the other of the following provisions may optionally be used:

  - the unilateral paging protocol

  poses certain repetitive periods, called periods of

  ception, during which the receiving device

  receives radio messages, this protocol providing that each

  that reception period begins with a period known as systematic listening in which are transmitted at least

  identification codes indicating the nature of the resources

  radio signals transmitted in said reception period, the

  so-called systematic listening period having a shorter duration

  lower than the twentieth of the reception period, the central unit being adapted for, when it is operating in standby mode: * return the reception device to its activated state during each period of systematic listening, and take into account the identification codes transmitted during this systematic listening period, * if one of these identification codes indicates that a next update message will be transmitted

  during the current reception period, if the unit cen-

  trale has not received a run signal, and if nl-1 Dério-

  updates have not elapsed since the last

  deny update message listened to by the central unit, immediately return the receiving device to its deactivated state, if one of said identification codes indicates that a next update message will be transmitted during the reception period in progress and if this next update message is the nth since the last

  update message listened to by the central unit, main-

  keep the reception device in its activated state at least during the transmission of said next update message,

  and the central unit being adapted for,

  that it operates in sleep mode: return the receiving device to its activated state during each period of systematic listening, and take into account the identification codes transmitted during this period of systematic listening, if one of these identification codes indicates that a next update message will be transmitted during the current reception period, if the central unit has not received a run signal, and at least as long as n2 -1 update periods have not passed since the last update message listened to by the

  receiving device, immediately return the device

  listening device in its deactivated state; - when the central unit is operating in sleep mode, this central unit is suitable for: if one of the identification codes received during the systematic listening period of the current reception period indicates that a next message of update will be transmitted during said current reception period and

  if this next update message is the n2 th de-

  then the last update message heard by the central unit, keep the receiving device in its

  state activated at least during the transmission of said pro-

  chain update message; - the running signal, which causes the

  activated state of the receiving device by the central unit

  trale, is generated by the reception, during a systematic listening period, of an identification code which is specific to the receiver and which indicates that a personal message intended for this receiver will be transmitted during the current reception period , the central unit being adapted to then maintain the receiving device in its state

  activated at least during the reception of said personal message

  nel; - n2 is at least equal to 4 times ni; - the running signal, which causes the

  activated state of the receiving device by the central unit

  trale, is generated at least by an action of a user on the interface of the paging receiver; - Said action of the user on the interface of the paging receiver comprises a interrogation of the central unit to know the waiting times of the public transport vehicles; the central unit is adapted to maintain the reception device in an activated state at least during the reception of each update message, during the entire time that the user interrogates said central unit

  to find out the waiting times for trans-

common port;

  - when a user queries the central unit

  trale to find out the waiting times of public transport vehicles while said central unit is operating in its sleep mode and the last update message listened to by this central unit is older than a certain predetermined duration, then the central unit is adapted to display on a screen belonging to the interface of the receiver: a warning message indicating that the updating

  update of data allowing to know the waiting times

  public transport tent is old,

  and the time left to wait before a pro-

  chain update message can be taken into account by said central unit; the central unit is adapted to operate according to the standby mode for two daily standby periods each having a duration of between and 60 minutes; - the standby period is fixed; the central unit is adapted to recognize certain particular radio messages containing data relating to the standby period, and to update said standby period as a function of this data; the central unit is adapted to modify the

  standby period depending on the times at which the user

  reader has interviewed said CPU in the past

  to find out the waiting times for trans-

common port.

  Other features and benefits of

  the invention will appear during the following description

  boasts of one of its embodiments, given as

  non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the drawings: - Figure 1 is a partial schematic view

  a bus or other public transportation network

mun,

  - Figure 2 is a schematic view of a sys-

  information topic to inform users of the

  bus network for waiting times at ar-

  of this network, - and Figure 3 is a block diagram of a

  paging receiver according to one embodiment

  tion of the invention, belonging to the information system

shown in figure 2.

  In the different figures, the same references

  denote identical or similar elements.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows a line 1 of buses belonging to an urban network (comprising in

  general several lines). This line includes two di-

  sections A and B of opposite directions, which each have different stops 3 and which are traversed by buses 2, represented here by arrows oriented in the direction of their progression. As explained in more detail in the document

  WO-A-94/02923, and as shown in Figure 2, the po-

  the actual position of each bus 2 is determined at

  Regular time intervals by a location system 4, which receives position data relating to each bus 2 by any known means, and preferably by radio. The position data in question can be sent for example by the buses themselves from an on-board positioning device, in particular from

"GPS" type, or others.

  The location system 4 transmits regular-

  the positions of the buses at a central computer station

tick 5.

  From the data received from the localization system

  station 4, the central computer station 5 generates inter-

  regular time intervals, for example between 20 and seconds, messages including the identification of

  each bus 2, as well as a position of this bus.

  The position in question could for example include

  take, for each bus 2 of the network: - the indication of the line and the route A or B followed by this bus, - the indication of the next station 3 which will

  be reached by this bus, or to which it is

  j to this bus, - and the distance d separating this bus from said

next station.

  The messages in question are sent by post

  data center 5 to at least one radio transmitter 6

  unilateral dio-messaging which works for example se-

  according to the ERMES standard. This transmitter 6 transmits said messages

  to electronic information devices which

  advantageously consist at least in part of

  10-side portable paging receivers

specially programmed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, each receiver can conventionally include:

  - An antenna 11, associated with a tracking device

  ception 12 of radio messages which includes in particular an am-

  planner, a decoder 13 for decoding these messages, a microprocessor 14 for receiving and processing these messages, this microprocessor being connected to a memory containing the topology of the public transport network and at least the last known positions of the buses 2,

  to a clock 16, to a battery 17 or other power supply

  autonomous electrical ment supplying the whole of the

  receiver, to a screen 18 or other display device, to

  a keyboard 19 with keys or other interrogation device

  tion, as well as an electronic bell 20 and / or a

vibrator 21.

  As explained in document WO-A-94/02923, the microprocessor 14 of each receiver 10 is programmed to: - develop, from radio messages received from the central computer station 5, relative information

  at the waiting time of the next bus (s) 2 at an ar-

  stop given 3 on a given route of the bus network, according to the interrogations carried out by a user by means of the keyboard 19, - and display this information on the screen 18. More specifically, the paging protocol

  used, for example the ERMES protocol, imposes

  successive predetermined riodes, which we will call

  reception periods, where the receiver 10 receives

wise radio.

  These reception periods may present a

  constant duration, for example around 12 seconds.

  The microprocessor 14, which synchronizes per-

  manence with received messages, is therefore capable of anything

  instant to predict the start of the next period of re-

  ception. Thus, the microprocessor 14 can control the

  minus the amplifier 12 and advantageously the demodula-

  tor 13 to maintain these circuits most of the time in a deactivated state where they do not consume energy, then return said circuits to the activated state for a short period of systematic listening at the start

of each reception period.

  During this systematic listening period, which generally lasts less than 0.1 seconds,

  for example a duration of around 80 milliseconds, half

  croprocessor 14 therefore receives, through the am-

  plitiator 12 and demodulator 13, radio messages

  from the paging transmitter 6.

  The signals broadcast during each systematic listening period generally include a synchronization frame, as well as the addresses of the paging receivers which are affected by the personal messages which will be broadcast during the current reception period, or codes identifying the

  presence of update messages containing information

  relative to the positions of the buses 2. At the end of this systematic listening period, if the microprocessor 14 has recognized the address of the paging receiver 10 to which it belongs, then said

  microprocessor maintains amplifier 12 and the

  Deur 13 in the activated state at least until receipt of the message

  personal sage for receiver 10, or if applicable

  until the end of the current reception period. The mid-

  croprocessor 14 then stores in memory 15, the mes-

  personal sage for the receiver 10, and activates the buzzer 20 and / or the vibrator 21 to warn the user

  of the receiver that he has a message to consult.

  If, during the same reception period, the

  receiver 10 receives a position update message

  bus 2, this message can be taken into account

  to update the positions of the 2 memorized buses

stored in memory 15.

  On the other hand, when the signals received during the systematic listening period include neither the address of the receiver 10, nor the code announcing a message for updating the positions of the buses, then the microprocessor

  14 deactivates the amplifier 12 again and the demodula-

  13, until the next systematic listening period

than.

  Finally, if during the systematic listening period,

  tick, the microprocessor 14 does not receive the address of the receiver 10, but only the code announcing a message for updating the position data of the buses, then the microprocessor 14 reacts differently depending on whether one is in a so-called time slot on standby or in a so-called sleep time range of receiver 10, and following

  if said receiver 10 is at rest or being inactive

  questioned by a user. More precisely, if the user is manipulating the keyboard 19, and in particular if said user is interrogating the receiver 10 by means of said keyboard to know the waiting times for buses 2

  at network stops 3, then microprocessor 14 main-

  keeps the amplifier 12 and the demodulator 13 activated at least until complete reception of the bus position data update message, or if necessary, until the end of the current reception period:

  bus wait time estimates, which are cal-

  microprocessor 14, can thus be founded

  on the freshest possible position data.

  If the microprocessor 14 has not received the address of the receiver 10 during the period of systematic listening, but only the code indicating the arrival of a message

  update bus positions, and that the user

  sator is not interrogating receiver 10, then:

  - if you are in a standby period, mid-

  croprocessor 14 immediately deactivates the amplifier 12 and the demodulator 13 at the end of the systematic listening period and increments a counter in the memory 15

  as long as nl-1 number of data update message

  bus positioning data has not been received since

  the last update message listened to by the micropro-

  stopper, nl being for example equal to 2,

  - always when the microprocessor 14 operates

  operates in standby mode, the microprocessor 14 listens to the bus position data update message

  when this message is the n th since the last mes-

  update wise listened to, and said microprocessor then resets the counter contained in the memory 15 to zero, when the microprocessor 15 is in

  sleep it works similarly, but listening

  as long as l / n2 bus position data update messages, n2 being at least two

  times ni, for example equal to 4 or 8.

  During a day, the microprocessor 14 operates most of the time in sleep mode,

  except during one or more time slots where it operates

  operating in standby mode, the operating time in

  sleep mode being for example at least 5 times higher

  shorter than the operating time in standby mode. In this way, the energy saving achieved thanks to the sleep mode is significant, which makes it possible to increase the duration

life of receiver battery 17.

  More particularly, the time periods during which the microprocessor 14 operates in the

  standby can be fixed ranges, stored in the mete

  moire 15, these time slots being able to be chosen by

  the user of the receiver 10 as a function of the hours

  which he uses the public transport network the most

  mun. The time slots in question, which may be for example two in number and which may have

  each lasting between 15 and 60 minutes, for example

  nutes, can either be entered into receiver 10 at

  by means of the keyboard 19, either downloaded by a ra-

  dio transmitted by the paging transmitter 6, for example according to the wishes expressed by the user

  of the receiver 10 during its subscription.

  Furthermore, the central unit 14 can advantageously

  be planned to adapt the standby time slots according to the times at which the user has

  consulted bus wait times in the past.

  For example, if the standby time slots are two in number, the central unit 14 can store in the memory 15 the hours of the last consultations of the waiting times of the buses by the user of the receiver, and calculate two different hours , preferably one

  in the morning and one in the evening, at which the frequency of

  waiting times are maximum.

  The microprocessor 14 can then center the two

  standby time slots over the two hours in which these

  consultation quences are maximum.

  In this way, when the receiver user can consult the waiting times of the buses on his paging receiver, there is a good chance that this consultation takes place during a standby time slot, in which case the position data of the bus

  used to estimate wait times will be data

  born fresh, allowing to calculate pre-

cises.

  On the other hand, if the user of the receiver 10 wants to consult the waiting times of the buses while the microprocessor 14 is operating in sleep mode, the position data of the buses, available in the memory 15, may be older. that a certain predetermined duration, for example 1 minute. In this case, the microprocessor 14 is adapted to display on the screen 18: - a warning message indicating that the updating of the data making it possible to know the waiting times of the buses is old,

* - and the time remaining before a pro-

  chain update message can be taken into account by microprocessor 14, said microprocessor being able to calculate this time by knowing both the moment of reception of the last update message of position data of the buses, and the periodicity of receipt of

  update messages (for example, periodicity al-

24 and 36 seconds).

  The user can therefore wait until received

  next message to update data for

  sition of buses, so as to have an estimate

  reliable and precise information on bus waiting times.

Claims (13)

  1. Portable unilateral paging receiver (10), comprising: a radio reception device (12, 13) for receiving messages coded according to a certain protocol   unilateral paging, at least some of these   wise, said update messages, comprising at least data allowing to know the waiting times of   public transport vehicles (2) at bus stops (3)   bucket, these update messages being received regularly-   through the paging receiver during   given riodes, said update periods, - an electronic central unit (14) adapted to operate according to said unilateral paging protocol for listening to and processing said messages, an interface (18, 19) making it possible to interrogate the central unit ( 14) to inform users of waiting times for public transport vehicles, - and an autonomous power supply device (17) for electrically supplying the receiver, characterized in that the central unit (14) is suitable to selectively turn on the radio receiving device   (12, 13) either in an activated state or this device for   radio reception is listening to radio messages, either in a deactivated state where said radio reception device does not operate, in that the central unit (14) is adapted to: - know said update periods,   - maintain the receiving device normally   tion (12, 13) in its deactivated state most of the time, returning the reception device to its activated state when said central unit receives at least one predetermined signal, called on signal, generated by   voluntary action external to the pager   and in that, as long as the central unit (14) does not receive said run signal, this central unit is adapted to operate according to two different modes, namely: - a standby mode, in which the central unit   puts the receiving device (12, 13) in its ac-   active in at least one update period among   non-zero whole number or successive update periods cessives,   - and a sleep mode, in which the unit cen-   trale places the reception device in its activated state during at most one update period among a number n2 of successive update periods, n2 being at least equal to 2 times nl,   the central unit operating in standby mode during   in at least one standby time slot representing a first total daily duration, and according to the sleep mode during the rest of the time, that is to say during   a second daily duration greater than 5 times the first 1st day duration.   2. The receiver of claim 1, wherein   the unilateral paging protocol does require   our repetitive periods, called reception periods,   during which the receiving device (12, 13) receives   radio messages, this protocol provides that each reception period begins with a so-called listening period   systematic in which at least co-   identification indicating the nature of the messages   dio transmitted in the said reception period, the said   systematic listening period having a duration of less than one twentieth of the reception period, the central unit (14) being adapted for, when it is operating in standby mode: - returning the reception device to its activated state during each period systematic listening, and take into account the identification codes transmitted during this systematic listening period, - if one of these identification codes indicates that a next update message will be transmitted   during the current reception period, if the unit cen-   trale has not received a walking signal, and if nl-1 peri-   updates have not elapsed since the last   deny update message heard by the central unit, immediately return the receiving device to its deactivated state, - if one of said identification codes indicates that a next update message will be transmitted during the period reception in progress and if this next update message is the nl th since the last   update message listened to by the central unit, main-   keep the reception device in its activated state at least during the transmission of said next update message,   and the central unit (14) being adapted for,   that it operates in sleep mode: - return the reception device to its activated state during each period of systematic listening, and take into account the identification codes transmitted during this period of systematic listening, - if the one of these identification codes indicates that a next update message will be transmitted during the current reception period, if the central unit has not received a run signal, and at least as long as that n2-1 update periods have not passed since the last update message heard by the   receiving device, immediately return the device   reception in its deactivated state.   3. Receiver according to claim 2, in the-   which, when the central unit (14) is operating in sleep mode, this central unit is suitable for: if one of the identification codes received during the systematic listening period of the current reception period indicates that a next update message will be transmitted during said current reception period and   if this next update message is the n2 th de-   then the last update message listened to by the central unit, maintain the reception device (12, 13) in its activated state at least during the transmission   said next update message.   4. Receiver according to any one of the claims   2 and 3, in which the running signal, which provo-   that the activated state of the receiving device (12,   13) by the central unit (14), is generated by the reception   tion, during a period of systematic listening, of a code   identification which is specific to the receiver and which   that a personal message intended for this receiver will be transmitted during the current reception period, the central unit being adapted to then maintain the device   in its activated state at least during the reception receipt of said personal message.   5. Receiver according to any one of the claims   previous tions, in which n2 is at least equal to 4 times nl.   6. Receiver according to any one of the claims   previous tions, in which the running signal, which causes the receiving device (12, 13) to be put into the activated state by the central unit (14), is generated at least by a user action on the interface (18, 19) of the pager.   7. Receiver according to claim 6, wherein said action of the user on the interface (18, 19) of the paging receiver comprises a interrogation of the central unit (14) to know the waiting times.   public transport vehicles.   8. receiver according to claim 7, wherein   the central unit (14) is adapted to maintain the availability   reception signal (12, 13) in activated state at least during   While receiving each update message,   all the time that the user interrogates said uni-   central tee to find out the waiting times for vehicles public transportation.   9. Receiver according to any one of the claims   tions 6 to 8, in which, when a user interrogates the central unit (14) to find out the waiting times of public transport vehicles while said central unit operates according to its sleep mode and the last message of update listened to by this unit   central is old for more than a certain duration predeter-   mined, then the central unit is adapted to make   expensive on a screen (18) belonging to the interface of the receiver   originator: - a warning message indicating that the updating of the data enabling the waiting times of public transport vehicles to be known is old,   - and the time remaining before a pro-   chain update message can be taken into account by said central unit.   10. Receiver according to any one of the claims   previous cations, in which the central unit (14) is adapted to operate in the standby mode for two daily standby periods each having   between 15 and 60 minutes.   11. Receiver according to any one of the claims   previous cations, in which the standby period is fixed.   12. Receiver according to any one of the claims   previous cations, in which the central unit (14) is   suitable for recognizing certain radio messages   links containing data relating to the standby period, and to update said standby period by based on this data.   13. Receiver according to any one of the claims   cations 1 to 10, in which the central unit (14) is adapted to modify the standby period as a function of the times at which the user has interrogated said central unit in the past to know the waiting times   public transport vehicles.