GB2219423A

GB2219423A - Pager-received data-processing

Info

Publication number: GB2219423A
Application number: GB8813010A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sean Richard Flood
Original assignee: Multitone Electronics PLC
Current assignee: Multitone Electronics PLC
Priority date: 1988-06-02
Filing date: 1988-06-02
Publication date: 1989-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-02
Also published as: GB8813010D0; GB2219423B

Abstract

A pager is arranged to receive data whose value may change periodically, such as share prices, and the pager stores a value of the received data, subsequently compares the stored value with that of newly-received data, and provides an indication, such as an acoustic alert, if the value or change in value of the data exceeds preset limits or a preset rate of change.

Description

PAGER RECEIVED DATA PROCESSING This invention relates to pager received data processing, that is,. to processing of data received by a pager or paging receiver.

An increasing variety of information is becoming available to pager users. In certain cases, the information relates to current events which are periodically changing, and in that case, the information is updated at intervals. Accordingly, pagers may include a memory facility for storing such information, and may be arranged to update the information from time to time; such pagers will also include a display facility for allowing the information to be read by the user. One example of such information is financial or trading market information. As long as the user regularly checks the pager display, it will be possible to remain aware of market trends; however, if the user is unable to do so, or omits to do so for any other reason, it is possible for significant developments to pass unnoticed.

According to the present invention there is provided a paging receiver arranged to receive data whose value may change periodically, the receiver comprising a storage means for storing a value of the received data, means for comparing values of the stored previouslyreceived data and of currently received data, and means for providing an indication if the value or change in value of the data exceeds predetermined limits or a predetermined rate of change.

Thus, in the case of financial or trading market information such as share prices, the pager can be made to respond automatically and, for example, provide an appropriate alert, if either a particular value goes below or above a set price, or if the value is changing at over a predetermined rate.

The invention will now be further described, by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic circuit block diagram of a pager according to a preferred embodiment of this invention; Figure 2 shows part of a stored received message relating to market prices; Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating the setting of limits for monitoring data values; and Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating the monitoring routines for the data values.

Referring first to Figure 1, a pager according to the preferred embodiment of the invention includes an aerial 10 connected to a receiver 12 which, in conventional manner, includes radio frequency (RF) circuitry (not shown) tuned to the transmission channel employed by the associated transmitter(s) and appropriate demodulation circuitry for detecting the received signal. The output of the receiver 12 is fed to a decoder 14 which includes an address detection facility. This is not shown but typically includes an address comparator for comparing an address portion of the received incoming signal with one or more address codes stored in one or more respective address stores. In response to a positive address comparison, the decoder 14 allows the received signal to pass to a message controller 16. A random access memory (RAM) 18 is associated with the message controller 16.Received signals processed by the message controller 16 can activate a tone generator 20 connected to a speaker 22 so as to provide a specific type of acoustic alert, and/or activate a display driver 24 to provide suitable display signals to energise a liquid crystal display (LCD) 26.

The message controller 16 is also connected to a switching means 28, such as a number of keys provided on the pager body (not shown), for entering message display, display-related and/or other commands to the pager. In this arrangement, the switching means 28 is used to set limits to the monitoring routines, as is described below.

In the case of a pager able to receive financial or trading market information such as share price information, data may be stored in the RAM 18 in the form of a message as shown in Figure 2, namely with share or financial index names on one side (with reference to the display) and share prices or index values on the other. Once this type of message has been stored in the RAM 18, the data is operated on, in a manner which will be described, in conjunction with the switching means 28 to select the numeric value to be monitored; for example the Dow Jones index may be regularly transmitted to the user.

The user may then set three parameter limits, which are high, low and rate of change. Once the limits have been set, the RAM 18 is arranged to store the limits and the position in the message of the figures to be monitored.

When new information is transmitted, this will be in the same format as the original transmission, and the new data will automatically replace the old data. A software routine then checks the numeric value against the set high and/or low limits, and if these are not exceeded, against a rate of change such as the change in value since the last transmission. If the value exceeds any of these limits, then the pager will alert the user, such as by sounding the speaker 22 by means of the tone generator 20. As an alternative, the user can input "don't care values into particular limits for which no alert is required.

One way in which the limits for the monitoring routines may be set by the user will now be described with reference to Figure 3.

Following a start step 30, the user may select the numeric value to be monitored, in a step 31, using the switching means 28, for example as a result of a series of key activations. A step 32 checks that the value is a numeric value. If not, the operation returns to the step 31; if so, the operation proceeds to a step 33 in which the selected value is indicated by the use of reverse characters, and the position of the value within the message is registered. Then, in a step 34, the user can either set the high limit or enter a "don't care" value.

Similarly, in a step 35, the user can either set the low limit or enter a "don't care" value. Finally, in a step 36, the rate of change limit can be set or a "don't care" value entered. The values of the limits are then stored for use with the monitor routine, in a step 37.

Subsequently, operation returns to normal in a step 38 and proceeds to an end step 39.

The manner in which the pager monitoring routines operate in normal use of the pager will now be described, referring to Figure 4.

Following a start step 40, the operation goes to the numeric value position in a newly-received message, in a step 41. A step 42 checks whether this is in fact a number. If not, the error is reported in a step 43. If so, in a step 44, a comparison of the value with the stored low limit is performed, and if the value is below this limit, the user is alerted in a step 45, such as by an acoustic alert. If the value is not below the low limit, the value is compared with the stored high limit in a step 46. If the high limit is exceeded, the user is again alerted in the step 45. If the value is below the high limit, the operation proceeds to a step 47 in which the difference between the present and the previous values is found, and the difference provides an indication of the rate of change. This rate of change is compared with the respective stored limit in a step 48 and, if the limit is exceeded, the user is alerted in the step 45. If the stored limit is not exceeded, the stored previous value is updated with the current value for the next rate of change calculation and comparison, in a step 49, and the operation proceeds to an end step 50. If "don't care" values have been entered for any of the limits, the corresponding limit detection will always be negative.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention allow values in data transmitted to pagers to be monitored, such that changes in value outside preset limits or preset rates of change can be brought to the attention of the user.

Claims

1. A paging receiver arranged to receive data whose value may change periodically, the receiver comprising a storage means for storing a value of the received data, means for comparing values of the stored previously-received data and of currently received data, and means for providing an indication if the value or change in value of the data exceeds predetermined limits or a predetermined rate of change.

2. A paging receiver according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined limits and/or the predetermined rate of change can be set by the user of the receiver.

3. A paging receiver according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the predetermined limits comprise a high limit and a low limit.

4. A paging receiver substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.