AU685036B1 - Method for managing acknowledge messages in bi-directional pager - Google Patents

Description

METHOD FOR MANAGING ACKNOWLEDGE MESSAGES IN BI- DIRECTIONAL PAGER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to a bi-directional pager, and more particularly to a method for setting an acknowledge message associated with incoming data, and transmitting the set acknowledge message while storing and managing the acknowledge message after the transmission.

2. Description of the Related Art oo Typically, a uni-directional pager stores an incoming message received at its address while informing the user of the receiving of the message through an alarm and displaying the incoming message. As mentioned above, the incoming message is stored in an internal memory of the uni-directional pager so that the user can identify the message, if desired. On the other hand, a bi-directional pager has a function of transmitting an acknowledge message or other data selected by the user in response to an incoming message received at its address.

When such a bi-directional pager receives an incoming message at its address, it allows the user to read the incoming message while transmitting an acknowledge message selected by the user at the request for an acknowledgement based on the incoming message. Where such a bi-directional pager is used, the user may often fail to remember all transmitted acknowledge messages. In particular, where the transmission of an acknowledge message has failed, the user should select again the acknowledge message to be transmitted. However, this is troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a method for managing acknowledge messages in a bi-directional pager, which is capable of storing an acknowledge message transmitted in association with incoming data in an S'outgoing/incoming data management table, along with information about the acknowledge message, and displaying those data.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for managing .15 acknowledge messages in a bi-directional pager, which is capable of managing acknowledge messages so that when a transmission of data has failed, the data can be transmitted again by a single key manipulation.

In accordance with the present invention, these objects are accomplished by providing a method for managing acknowledge messages in a bi-directional pager, comprising the steps of: setting the pager to an acknowledge message select mode when incoming data requesting an acknowledgement is received by the pager, thereby selecting an acknowledge message associated with the incoming data from acknowledge messages stored in the pager; storing the selected acknowledge message along with the incoming data in an associated area of an outgoing/incoming data management table included in the pager, and displaying the stored acknowledge message and incoming data after transmitting them; and sequentially displaying all incoming data and associated acknowledge messages stored in the outgoing/incoming data management table in accordance with a repeated'execution of the above steps, when the pager is set to an outgoing/incoming data read mode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a bi-directional pager to which the present invention is applied; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a memory map for a variety of stored acknowledge messages in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method for managing acknowledge messages in the bi-directional pager of FIG. 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a memory map for an outgoing/incoming. data management table which stores information bout acknowledge messages associated with incoming data in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

-3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) The term "outgoing/incoming data management table" used herein means a memory having memory areas in which a number of incoming data, acknowledge messages associated with the incoming data, and information about the acknowledge messages are stored, respectively. The term "acknowledge message" means a message acknowledging an incoming message and including.

at least one message previously set.

*o FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a bi-directional pager to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the bi- 10 directional pager includes a radio frequency (RF) receiving unit 112 for receiving radio call information via an antenna 111, and performing a frequency modulation, demodulation and shaping for the received radio call information.

The RF receiving unit 112 outputs the radio call information converted into .:i digital data. The output from the RF receiving unit 112 is ipplied to a decoder unit 113. The decoder unit 113 has a power controller and is adapted to decode the digitally-coded data received from the RF receiving unit 112. The decoder unit 113 decodes coded data (typically, BCH-coded data) into original data. In an idle mode, the decoder unit 113 periodically controls the supply of operating power to detect preamble data. In a batch mode, the decoder unit 113 serves to detect word sink data and frame data previously set.

The bi-directional pager also includes a microprocessor 114 which receives the decoded data output from the decoder unit 113. The bi-directional pager further includes a RAM 115, an EEPROM 116, and a liquid display unit -4- 117 all being coupled to the microprocessor 114. The RAM 115 serves to temporarily store data generated during the execution of a desired program. The EEPROM 116 stores information about the bi-directional pager along with acknowledge messages. The EEPROM 116 also stores a program associated with the operation of the bi-directional pager and a program according to the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, the RAM 115 is provided with an outgoing/incoming data management table adapted to store incoming data, acknowledge messages and associated information. The liquid crystal display unit .117 displays incoming data and outgoing data. A key array 118 is also coupled to the microprocessor 114. The key array 118 includes a plurality of keys for generating various key signals associated with the execution of various operations. The keys may be an incoming data read mode key, an outgoing/incoming data read mode key, an acknowledge message select mode key, an acknowledge message select determination key, an acknowledge message re-select key signal and a re-display key signal, etc. The bi-directional pager .0 further includes an alarming unit 121 which generates an alarm signal, such as a tone signal or vibration signal, informing of an incoming call, based on an 000000 alarming control signal applied thereto from the microprocessor 114.

The microprocessor 114 receives decoded data output from the decoder unit 113 and processes the received data, thereby executing a control operation for the alarming function. In order to control the alarming unit 121, the microprocessor 114 generates the above-mentioned alarming signal. The' microprocessor 114 sets desired operation modes of the bi-directional pager, based on various key signals applied thereto from the key array 118. The liquid crystal display unit 117 is also controlled by the microprocessor 114 to display the incoming data and outgoing data. Furthermore, the microprocessor 114 serves to store acknowledge messages associated with respective incoming data requiring an acknowledgement along with associated information in areas of the outgoing/incoming data management table in the RAM 115, respectively.

The bi-directional pager further includes an RF transmitting unit 119 which modulates and amplifies an outgoing message under the control of the microprocessor 114. The transmitting message is output from the RF transmitting unit 119 via a transmitting antenna 120.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a memory map for a variety of acknowledge messages. This memory map is provided in the EEPROM 116.

In order for the user to select an appropriate acknowledge message associated with incoming data, a variety of predetermined acknowledge messages are stored in the EEPROM 116 of the bi-directional pager. Such acknowledge messages are set during the manufacture of the bi-directional pager. The acknowledge, messages may include messages such as "Message Received", "Going Now", and "Will Arrive After 10 Minutes".

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method for managing acknowledge messages in the bi-directional pager having the above-mentioned configuration in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a memory map for the outgoing/incoming data management table which stores information about acknowledge messages associated with incoming data in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. Now, the present invention will be described in conjunction with -6- FIGS. 1 to 4.

In accordance with the present invention, when the microprocessor 114 receives an output signal, indicative of externally received data, from the decoder unit 113, it generates an alarming control signal and sends it to the alarming unit 121. In response to the alarming control signal, the alarming unit 121 generates an alarm signal in order to inform the user of an incoming call. In this case, the user may manipulate the key array 118 to generate a read mode key signal, thereby identifying the incoming call. When the microprocessor 114 receives.

0 such a read mode key signal at step 311, it checks whether the received read mode key signal corresponds to an incoming data read mode or an e0o 9outgoing/incoming data read mode at step 312. Where it is determined at step 312 thai the received read mde key signal corresponds to the receiving read mode, the microprocessor 114 is set to the receiving read mode, At step 313, the microprocessor 114 then controls the liquid crystal display unit 117 to display 15 the incoming data. Accordingly, the user can identify whether or not the incoming data corresponds to a message requiring an acknowledgement. The following Table 1' illustrates an example of incoming data, requiring an acknowledge message, displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 117. On the other hand, the following Table 2 illustrates an example of incoming data, requiring no acknowledgement message, displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 117.

TABLE 1 -7- TABLE 2 5 NO-ACK 222-3333 2:20 PM 3/15/96 When the message of Table 1 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 117, the user touches an acknowledge message select mode key on the key array 118 to set a select mode. On the other hand, when the message of Table 2 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 117, the user touches a read mode release key on the key array 118 to release the set read mode. Where the microprocessor 114 does not receive the acknowledge message select mode key signal, but receives the read mode release key signal at step 314, it releases the read mode and completes a control associated with the read mode. On the other hand, when the microprocessor 114 receives the acknowledge message select mode key signal at step 314, it sets an acknowledge message select mode. In the acknowledge message select mode, the microprocessor 114 selects an appropriate acknowledge message from a plurality of acknowledge messages stored in the -8- EEPROM 116 and executes an operation associated with the selected message.

Now, the procedure for selecting an appropriate acknowledge message will be described in detail. When the microprocessor 114 receives the acknowledge message select mode key signal, it first displays the message "Message Received" (FIG. 2) stored in the first area of the EEPROM 116 on the liquid crystal display unit 117. When the microprocessor 114 receives an acknowledge message select determination key signal generated by the manipulation of the user under this condition, it selects the message "Message SReceived" as an acknowledge message to be transmitted and then transmits the 10 selected message. When the microprocessor 114 subsequently receives an Ooo6 acknowledge message re-select key signal, it displays the message "Going Now" (FIG. 2) stored in the second area of the EEPROM 116 on the liquid crystal *0.

display unit 117. Under this condition, the displayed message may be selected as an acknowledge.message to be transmitted, when the acknowledge message 15 select determination key signal is generated. In such a manner, the user can select an appropriate acknowledge message displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 117. The selection of an appropriate acknowledge message may be achieved a using another method. That is, the microprocessor 114 first displays all acknowledge messages stored in the EEPROM 116 when the select mode key signal is input. In the case shown in FIG, 2, the messages respectively stored in the first area to the M-th area of the EEPROM 116 are displayed in accordance with the acknowledge message select determination key. Then, an appropriate acknowledge message is designated from the displayed messages using a bar-shaped select indication. The acknowledge message designated by the bar-shaped select indication is then selected as an acknowledge message to -9be transmitted, when the acknowledge message select determination key signal is generated.

After an appropriate acknowledge message is selected in the abovementioned manner at step 316, the microprocessor 114 releases the acknowledge message select mode at step 317. When the microprocessor 114 subsequently receives a transmission request key signal generated by a manipulation of the user at step 318, the procedure proceeds from step 319 to step 319. At step 319, the microprocessor 114 sends the selected acknowledge message to the RF transmitting unit 119 which, in turn, transmits the received message via the transmitting antenna 120. Thereafter, the microprocessor 114 releases the OV9 acknowledge message transmission mode at step 320. At step 321, the microprocessor 114 then stores the incoming data, transmitted acknowledge message and information associated with the acknowledge message in the outgoing/incoming data management table shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the outgoing/incoming data management table includes a plurality of areas (in the illustrated case, N areas) each consisting of an incoming-data domain adapted to store incoming data, an acknowledgement status information domain adapted to store information indicative of whether or not the incoming data contains a request for acknowledgement, an acknowledge message domain adapted to store an acknowledge message transmitted in, association with the incoming data, and an acknowledge time domain adapted to store the transmission time and date of the acknowledge message. The outgoing/incoming data management table sequentially stores a variety of sequentially-received incoming data and associated acknowledge messages from I I its first area. Where a new message is to be stored in the outgoing/incoming data management table under the condition in which all the areas of the table are filled with messages, the microprocessor 114 erases the data first stored in the first area of the table and stores the new message in the empty area.

At step 322, the microprocessor 114 then displays outgoing/incoming data on the liquid crystal display unit 117. The following Table 3 illustrates an example of outgoing/incoming data.

TABLE 3

S*

5 S 0*

S

S

*o S

S

ACK-REQ

Please Call Going Now 2:24 PM 3/15/96 The outgoing/incoming data shown in Table 3 corresponds to the case in which the data is normally transmitted via the transmitting antenna 120. On the other hand, the following Table 4 illustrates an example of outgoing/incoming data which failed in its transmission.

TABLE 4 11 (1

FAIL

Please Call Going Now 2:24 PM 3/15/96 Such a transmission-failed message as shown in Table 4 is generated when the message-transmitting pager is asynchronous with the base station or when the transmission power of the RF transmitting unit 119 is insufficient. Where the user touches a re-transmission request key on the key array 118 at step 323 in order to request a re-transmission of transmission-failed data after he identifies the failure of the data transmission, the procedure proceeds from step 323 to step 324, At step 324, the microprocessor 114 sends the transmission-failed acknowledge message to the RF transmitting unit 119. Thus, a re-transmis of the acknowledge message is carried out. On the other hand, when no re- 10 transmission request key signal is input at step 323 as the outgoing/incoming data shown in Table 3 is displayed, the microprocessor 114 checks, at step 325, "whether or not a read mode release key signal is input. When the user touches 0 the read mode release key after he identifies the completion of the data transmission, a read mode release key signal is input at step 325. Based on the read mode release key signal, the microprocessor 114 releases the read mode at step 332.

Where it is determined at step 312 that the received read mode key signal does not correspond to the receiving read mode, it is determined at step 326 whether or not the received read mode key signal corresponds to the 12outgoing/incoming read mode. When the received read mode key signal.

corresponds to the outgoing/incoming read mode, the microprocessor 114 executes steps 327 and 328. That is, the microprocessor 114 displays the incoming data, acknowledge message and associated information stored in the first area of the outgoing/incoming data management table, on the liquid crystal display unit 117. The following Table 5 illustrates an example of the displayed data.

TABLE

ACKED

:10 Please Call 2:24 PM 3/15/96 Message Received 2:25 PM

S

The data stored in the first area of the outgoing/ incoming data 6"I management table is displayed as shown in Table 5. Thereafter, the microprocessor 114 checks, at step 329, whether or not a re-display key signal generated by a manipulation of the user is input. When it is determined that the re-display key signal is input, the microprocessor 114 executes step 328 to display the data stored in the second area of the outgoing/incoming data management table on the liquid crystal display unit 117. In accordance with.

such a procedure, the user can identify which acknowledge message was transmitted in association with the incoming data.

13- Where it is determined at step 329 that no re-display key signal is input, it is determined at -step 331 whether or riot a read mode release key signal is input. When the read mode release key signal is input, the read mode is released at step 332.

As apparent from the above description, in accordance with the present invention, the microprocessor 114 has a outgoing/incoming data management table stored with various acknowledge messages respectively associated with a variety of incoming data. In accordance with the present invention, when incoming data is displayed at the request of the user, an acknowledge message transmitted in association with the incoming data is also displayed along with information associated with the acknowledge message. Accordingly, the user can easily identify which acknowledge message was transmitted and when the acknowledge message was transmitted. Where a failure occurs in the transmission of an acknowledge message, the acknowledge message can be transmitted again in accordance with a re-transmission request key signal S: generated by a key manipulation of the user.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

-14-

Claims (6)

1. A method for managing acknowledge messages in a bi-directional' pager, comprising the steps of: setting the pager to an acknowledge message select mode when incoming data requesting an acknowledgement is received by the pager, thereby selecting an acknowledge message associated with the incoming data from acknowledge messages stored in the pager; storing the selected acknowledge message along with the incoming data in an associated area of an outgoing/incoming data management table included in the pager, and displaying the stored acknowledge message and incoming data after transmitting them; and' sequentially displaying all incoming data and associated acknowledge messages stored in the outgoing/incoming data management table in accordance with a repeated execution of the above steps, when the pager is set to an outgoing/incoming data read mode.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein at the step information about a message transmission time and date is also stored in the associated area of the outgoing/incoming data management table along with the associated acknowledge message and incoming data, so that it is displayed along with the associated acknowledge message and incoming data in the outgoing/incoming data read mode.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 or 2, further comprising. the step of: -16- displaying a failure message when the transmission of the selected acknowledge message at the step has failed, and transmitting again the acknowledge message.

4. A method for managing acknowledge messages in a bi-directional pager, comprising the steps of: setting the pager to an acknowledge message select mode when. incoming data requesting an acknowledgement is received by the pager; selecting an acknowledge message associated with the incoming data from acknowledge messages stored in the pager, in the acknowledge message select mode, setting the pager to an acknowledge message transmit mode, transmitting the selected acknowledge message, and storing the transmitted acknowledge message and information about a message transmission time and date along with the incoming data in an associated area of an outgoing/incoming data management table included in the pager; and 15 displaying a failure message when the transmission of the selected acknowledge message at the step has failed, and transmitting again the ;acknowledge message. S sequentially displaying all data stored in the outgoing/incoming data management table in accordance with a repeated execution of the above steps, in response to a generation of a re-display key signal, under the condition in which the pager is set to an outgoing/incoming data read mode.

The method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the selection of an acknowledge message associated With the incoming data at step comprises the steps of: -16-1 /7 sequentially displaying the acknowledge messages stored in the pager in the acknowledge message select mode in response to a generation of an acknowledge message re-select key signal; and selecting, as an acknowledge message to be transmitted, the acknowledge message displayed at the point of time when an acknowledge message select determination key signal is generated.

6. The method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the selection of an acknowledge message associated with the incoming data at step comprises the steps of: 10 displaying all the acknowledge messages stored in the pager at one time; designating an appropriate one of the displayed acknowledge messages by a select indication; and selecting the designated acknowledge message as an acknowledge message to be transmitted, in response to a generation of an acknowledge message select 15 determination key signal. DATED THIS 11TH DAY OF APRIL 1997 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. By its Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia -17-