CA2064894A1 - Paging message interface and missed message retrieval method - Google Patents
Paging message interface and missed message retrieval methodInfo
- Publication number
- CA2064894A1 CA2064894A1 CA2064894A CA2064894A CA2064894A1 CA 2064894 A1 CA2064894 A1 CA 2064894A1 CA 2064894 A CA2064894 A CA 2064894A CA 2064894 A CA2064894 A CA 2064894A CA 2064894 A1 CA2064894 A1 CA 2064894A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- message
- messages
- paging
- subscriber
- input
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
- H04W88/18—Service support devices; Network management devices
- H04W88/185—Selective call encoders for paging networks, e.g. paging centre devices
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B5/00—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied
- G08B5/22—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
- G08B5/222—Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems
- G08B5/223—Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems using wireless transmission
- G08B5/224—Paging receivers with visible signalling details
- G08B5/229—Paging receivers with visible signalling details with other provisions not elsewhere provided for
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M11/00—Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
- H04M11/02—Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems with bell or annunciator systems
- H04M11/022—Paging systems
Abstract
2064894 9101604 PCTABS00003 A paging message interface and missed message retrieval system and method enables a user of a display pager (20) to determine whether any message out of a series of transmitted messages has been missed. The messages are numbered sequentially and are stored for retrieval at an originating clearinghouse (34, 36) in association with the user number and message number. The message numbers are encoded in the message itself and are displayed to the user with the messages. If a numbered message is missing from the sequence, the user can telephone at the clearinghouse (34, 36) and retrieve the missed message. A telephonic caller can back up a voice response sequence to correct message input errors and to rehear instructions or messages. The system also enables the messages to be flagged with status indicators displayed in a multistate field (21) on the pager. Caller input codes allow incoming messages to be screened and are programmable so that the subscriber can determine how incoming messages are processed and which status flags to use.
Description
:: :
WO91/01604 ~ 8~ ~ PCTlUS~o/04019 3 RELATED APPLICATlON DATA
WO91/01604 ~ 8~ ~ PCTlUS~o/04019 3 RELATED APPLICATlON DATA
4 This application is related to commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser~ No. 802,844, filed November 6 27, 1985, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,808, and copending 7 division(s~ thereof, Ser. No. , filed ~ -BACKGROUND OF THE INV~NTION
11 This invention relates to wide area one-way paging 1~ systems and low-power portable paging receivers and, more 13 particularly, to user interface aspects of input, readout 14 and use of such paging systems.
Commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,808, 16 incorporated by reference herein, discloses a wide area 17 paging system that~ enables one-way paging of a user at a 18 very distant location. This system inclu~es a paging 19 recei~er that accepts, decodes and stores digitally transmitted messages for user-actuated recall and 21 display. Pagers of this type are also known ~s display 22 pagers.
23 ~ Brlefly, the system of U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,808 24 accepts and sends paging messages via a series o~
communications modes, including telephone input, computer Z6 message processing, data packet transmission to a local 27 a~rea transmitter,~and local FM-sideband broadcast of the ~ -: ,~ -,.';
~ . . ' WO~l/01604 - PCT/US90/04019 2 ~ ~ L~
1 message. A method of system operation and a digital data 2 protocol are provided to facilitate routing of a message 3 input from a source telephone or modem via one or more 4 clearinghouse computers to a local area transmitter in an area where the user of the paging receiver is known by 6 the computer to be located. This protocol further 7 enables each paging receiver to discriminate broadcast 8 messages intended for it from those intended for other 9 receivers of the same type in the same area.
The paging system includes a subscriber 11 clearingh~use which has a computer programmed f~r 12 receiving telephoned messayes intended for local area 13 subscribers, encoding them for digital transmission with 14 addr~ss information associated with the inten~ed recipient, and broadcasting them locally or sending them 16 to another area where the recipient is located for 17 broadcast. The messages for a particular user are 18 braadcast in a predetermined time slot corresponding to 19 that user's address. The receiver, preferably in the form of a wristwatch pager, includes digital logic and 21 memory for identifying messages inten~ed for it from -the 22 time slot data, decoding any messages thus identified, 23 and storing the message data for display of the messages 24 when the user is able to return them. This arrangement permits a number of messages to accumulate before they 26 are read out by the user.
27 Prior patents address a number of problems that 28 arise in connection with the use of display pagers. Such : .
. :. . ~ ... : - . .. .. . , . . :. - .
WO9~/016~4 ~ O ~ PCT/US90/04019 l pagers use a first-in first~out memory or shi~t register.
2 The oldest message is lost when a new message is input, 3 and all messages are saved until they are replaced by new 4 messages. The user may, on one hand, neglect to return messages before they are lost from memory and, on the 6 other, may forget that a message, still retained in 7 memory, has already been returnedO Known pagers include 8 means for counting the number of messages recei~ed since 9 the last time the user read out messages and ~or keeping track of stored messages that have already been read.
ll A problem remains, however, if a message is missed 12 altogether by the paging receiver. A message can be sent 13 several times to improve the likelihood of reception but 14 messages may still be missed. If the user is outside the paging area, any messages will likely be missed. The 16 user o~ prior pagers has no way to know that a message 17 was missed when readinq out the stored message~.
18 Commonly-as~igned U.S. Pat. Na. 4,713,808 proposes a lg message protocol which includes a data field for message numbexing. No ~ay is disclosed, however, to make use of 21 the information thus made available to-provide the missed 22 messages to the user. Apart from the field of paging, 23 numbering o~ messages is used in the Telex system.
24 Most prior systems effectively treat all messages . .
with equal urgency. Nondisplay pagers announce each 26 message by an audible beep. If having such a pager beep 27 is inconvenient, such as at a play, the user may turn off 28 the audible signal but then no messages will be signalled -'' "'~
.' ' .,:
W~1/01604 ` ~ PCTIUS90/04019 2 ~
1 to the user. Display pagers are known which have an 2 audible signalling capability to indicate an urgent 3 message without an audible signal, but are not known to 4 provide any alternative message status information.
Prior paging systems have been automated to use a 6 voice response unit to prompt a caller to input message 7 data followlng a programmed script. Without a human 8 operator, however, the system can be difficult to use.
9 If the caller does not understand an instruction or makes a mistake entering a response, it may be necessary to 11 repeat the entire message sequence to recover. A more 12 human-like automatic voice communications protocol would 13 be preferable.
14 Another desirable user interface feature is the ability for a subscriber to screen incoming messages and 16 to determine how different classesi of messages will be 17 handled by the system dependant upon the originator of a 18 messageO This capability is not provided in the prior 19 art.
~ Accordingly, a need remains for an improved wide 21 area paging system.
24 One object of the invention is to improve wide area paging systems and, more particularlyj the user interface . .
26 and in~ormation that can be provided to a user by ~uch 27 systems.
.
WO91/0160~ 2 ~ 6 ~ PCT/~S90/04019 1 Another object is to signal subscribers of one-way 2 paging systems when their paging receivers have missed a 3 transmitted message.
4 A further object is to enable subscribers to retriev2 missed messages.
6 Yet another object is to enable a user to program 7 the system to screen or otherwise process incoming 8 messages in a plurality of ways selectable by the 9 subscriber.
An additional object is to transmit and display a 11 subscriber-programmable message status indicator.
12 The invention provides a method and apparatus for 13 signalling to a subscriber of a one-way paging service 14 that a paging message had been sent to ~ut not received by the sub~criber's assigned paging message receiver, and 16 enabling the subscriber to retrieve the missed message.
17 The inven~ion can also improve the paging system user 18 interface by enabling the subscriber to program various 19 aspects of message pxocessing and message status indication and by enabling a message originator to 21 interact more easily with the system when operated in an 2Z automatic ~oice response mode.
23 The method comprises, at a location of message 24 origination, inputting a series of messages to be sent to a selected subscriber; assigning a message number to each 26 message intended for the selected subscriber; encoding ;
27 each message and assigned message number as a packet of 28 encoded paging data; and transmitting each packet of : ' :'.' 2 ~
WO91/01604 ` PCT/US9~/04019 l encoded paging data from a transmitter to paging 2 receivers in a local area. In the paging receiver of the 3 selected subscriber, the method further includes 4 receiving some bu~ not necessarily all of the transmitted packets o~ encoded paging data; decoding the received 6 packets of encoded paging data including the assigned 7 message numbers thereof; storing the decoded paging data 8 for each received message and associated message number;
9 and displaying each message and associated message number so that the subscriber can determine from the numerical 11 se~uence of the message numbers whether all messages have 12 been received and the assigned number of any missed 13 messages. The method further includes storing each input 14 message at the message origin for voice retrieval in association with the assigned message number of the 16 message and, responsive to a telephonic request from the 17 selected subscriber inputting the number of a missed 18 message, recalling the corresponding stored message and 19 transmitting same to the requesting subscriber by voice telephone.
21 The method can further include provision for 22 inputting a code number, comparing a caller input code 23 number with prestored code numbers, selecting a 24 corresponding set of program instructiions, and processing the input message in accordance with the selected set of 26 instructions. Such processing can include refusing a 27 message, acceptlng ~ut not sending or storing the 28 msssage, storing but not sending the message, sending but W~91/01604 2 ~ PCT/US9OtO4019 1 not storing the message, a~d enabling the user to input 2 one of a predetermined, programmable set of message 3 status flags.
4 The method can allow an input message to have an assigned status, programmable by the subscriber and 6 dependant upon the code number entered by each message 7 originator. This method includes inputting the status 8 together with the massage and code number and, for 9 messages that are permitted ~o be transmitt~d, encoding and transmitting the status in a packet sf paging data.
11 In the pager, decoding and displaying the message 12 includes decoding and displaying a corresponding message 13 status indicator to the subscriber.
14 In a preferred embodiment, the encoded packet of paging data includes a transport data field for 16 transmitting message data, the transport data field 17 including two bit locations dedicated to indicating the 18 status of the message. The encoded packet of paging data 19 also includes a packet assembly field of binary data bits, the packet assembly field including a predetermined 21 number of bits being assigned as message count bits.
22 The apparatus is wide area paging system ~or sending 23 messages from a message origin to subscribers bearing 24 display-type pagers. The system comprises message input means ~or originating a paging message to be sent to a 26 selected subscriber; transmitting means for broadcasting 27 the paging messages to the subscribers; and a display 28 pager assigned to each su~scriber. The pager includes .~.
.. ' ! ', ' ' ., ~ ', . . ., , . , , ' ', : . ' , , , , ' ' . , ' , ' ~ . ' ' " ' ' ' ' WOgl/01604 2 ~ 9 ll PCT/US90/04019 1 means for receiving hroadcast paging messages uniquely 2 addressed to the particular pager, decoding means for 3 decoding received messages, memory means for storing a 4 predetermined number of the received messages and display means actuable hy the subscri~er ~or displaying the 6 stored messages. The message input means includes means 7 for sequentially numbering each message to be sent to 8 each selected subscriber and means for encoding the 9 number within the message ~or broadcast as a part thereof. The decoding means in each pager is operable to 11 decode said number and place the number in the pager 12 memory means in association with the corresponding 13 decoded message. The display means in each pager means 14 is arranged to display said number in association with the corresponding message. The subscriber, upon 16 displaying each stored message in turn, can determine 17 from a gap between the numbers of successive stored 18 messages that an intervening-numbered message had been 19 transm1tted but not received.
The system ~urther includes means coupled to the 21 message input means for storing each input message ~or 22 voice retrieval in a5socia~ion with the assigned message 23 nulnber of the message and means responsive to a 24 telephonic request from the æelected subscriber input~ing the number of a missed message for recalling the 26 corresponding stored message and transmitting same to the 27 requesting subscriber by voice telephone. The system 28 preferably has a voice response unit which handles both ,:
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WO 91~01604 PCI`/US90/04019 1 calls from the subscriber and from message originators 2 automatically, without human operator interventionO
3 The system can further include means responsive to a 4 user inputting a code number for comparing the code number with a set of security code numbers associated 6 with the selected subscriber and processing the message 7 in accordance with subscriber-programmed instructions 8 depending upon the input code. Such means can also 9 control what status inputs a message originator can enter into the system for transmitting to the subscri~er.
11 The voice response unit can be programmed, in 12 accordance with a further aspect of the invention, to 13 enable a caller to cause the automatic voice script to :
14 back up to a preceding step in a message sequence, to repeat instructions or correct prior respon~es. The 16 storage unit can be controlled to back up with the script 17 ~or repeating or overwriting a stored response, dep nding 18 on whether it is a message originator or subscriber who 19~ is using the system.
2U The foregoing and other objects, features and 21 advantages of the invention will become more readily 22 apparent ~rom the ~ollowing detailed description of a .. ....
23 pre~erred embodiment which proceeds with re~erence to the 24 accompanying drawings.
27 FIG. l is a simplified block diagram o~ a system in 28 whlch the present _nvention is lmplemented. ~ .
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s1/ol6o4 ~ 9 ~ PCT/US90/04019 1 FIG. 2 is the digital data protocol of each 2 individual encoded packet of paging data in which the 3 invention is implemented.
4 FIG. 3 is a more detailed view of the packet assembly field of FIG. 2.
6 FIG. 4 is a two-part flowchart showing operation of 7 the present invention at a message origination location 8 and at a pager.
9 FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a series of steps in an automatic voice response unit's operating sequence 11 showing provision for a caller to actuate backing up the 12 voice response script.
13 FIG. 6 is flowchart showing branching of the message 14 input routine of FIG. 4 dependant upon the security code input by a message originator.
18 The system in which the present invention is 19 embodied is shown in summary fashion in FIG. 1. A more detailed description of the system and its operation are 21 set forth in commonly-assigned U.5. Pat. No. 4,713,808, 22 incorporated by reference herein, and need not be 23 repeated. Briefly, the system comprises a paging message 24 input device such as a touchtone telephone 24A, a cl~aringhouse~computer 34,36 arranged to receive 26 telephonic messages via a voice response unit (not shown) 27 and encode same into message packets, a transmitter 28 faciIity 44 for receiving the message packets and - , ,:
' ..... . . -WO91/01604 2 ~ PCT/~JS90/0~19 l modulating and broadcasting them on FM sig~als. A
2 watch-type display pager 20 receives, demodulates, 3 decodes, stores and, upon recall by the user, displays 4 the received messages.
Messages that are sent to the pagers are also 6 stored, by subscriber number and message number, for 7 later ~oice retrieval and playback. For this purpose, a 8 DTMF or other suitable signal line 60 connects a digital 9 message storage and retrieval subsystem 62 to the clearinghouse computer 34. Subsystem 62 includes a ll message input unit 64 connected to signal line 60. The 12 input unit is connected to input received messages into a 13 computerized message storage unit 66. Coupled to the 14 storage unit is a message retrieval unit 68. A voice .
r sponse unit 70, which can be remotely accessed by a 16 subscriber via touchtone telephone 24B, is controllably 17 connected to the retrieval unit. Responsive to input 18 commands from the caller, the voice response unit causes 19 the retrieval unit 68 to recall a message stored in the storage uni~ 66 and forward the recalled message in voice 21 format to ~he caller at telephone 24B. The fo~egoing 22 units are known and need not be further described. The 23 operation thereof in accordance with the invention is 24 controlled by suitable programming further described .
below with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.
26 The invention improves the utility of the paging 27 system by enabling a recipient of paging messages to tell 28 if a message has been missed by the pager and to call in .':, .' ' 2 ~ 4 WOs1/o1fiO4 pcT/usso/o4o19 l and retrieve th~ missed message. It also enables an 2 originator of a message to convey to the recipient 3 additional status information about the message. It 4 additionally enables the subscriber to control who can send messages through the system to his/her pager and to 6 program how messages from different classes of callers 7 will be handled. This includes whether messages from a 8 particular caller will be accepted, sent or not sent, 9 stored or not stored, and whether the caller can send status information and what kind each can send. It also ll enables callers to back up the voice response script and 12 storage unit at any point in a message sequencP. The 13 message originator can actuate repeat of instructions and 14 change responses. A subscriber can repeat stored messages.
16 Referring to FIG. 4, the method of paging of the 17 present inv~ntion commences when a person calls in from a 18 touchtone telephone 24A to a message center and inputs a 19 message for transmittal to a selected subscriber. The caller calls in and receives an automatic voice response, 2l which includes a series of instructions to the caller.
22 Each instruction in the sequence is followed by an 23 opportunity of the caller to input data via the numbered 24 and "#" keys of the telaphone. If the user ~nters data from ~hese ll keys, the sequence proceeds to the next 26 step.
27 As shown in FIG. 5, the user also has the 28 opportunity at each step to cause the script to back up .,' ' ' ~
WO91/01~04 ~ 3 ~ '~ PCT/US9~/04019 1 to an earlier point in the sequence. The u6er actuates 2 backup by depressing the "*" sign on the telephone a 3 number time to indicate the number of times to back up.
4 Once the system has backed up, it repeats the subsequent S instructions, requiring thP user ts reenter data in 6 response to the instructions through the point where the 7 user backed up, and then proceeds to any remaining 8 instructions. The data input by the user is sa~ed in 9 temporary memory until the message sequence has been completed. Then, usually, the data is stored for later .. .. . .
11 voice retrieval as discussed further below.
12 Returning to ~IG.~, ~he inpu~ step 26 includes a 13 request to the user to indicate a message status, by 14 pressing a designated key on the telephone, for example, to indicate whether the message is urgent (U) or normal 16 (N), or other indicators programmable by the subscxiber.
17 If a status indicator is not entered, the clearinghouse 18 computer 34 enters by default an indication (N) that the 19 messag~ status i~ normal, i.e., not urgent. The input 2~ sequence also calls for entry of a caller input code.
21 The caller input code includes a security code field for 22 the user to key in a security code which the computer 23 veri~ies ~step 28) and a subscriber-programmable ~unction 24 field for entering data which the computer further processes before formatting a message for transmission 26 and storage. This step can also be performed be~ore 27 message lnput.
~ ..
'"' ' ' WO91~01604 `~ ~ 6 ~ g ~ ~ PCT/US90/04019 l Referring to FIG. 6, the subscriber can program a 2 number of different system r~sponses dependant upon the 3 subscriber-programmable function field of the caller 4 input code number. For example, the subscriber can 5 furnish certain callers with a code number to identify 6 their message as very important. Such messages are 7 normally processed as urgent, including placing an urgent 8 (U) status indicator in their messages. The status 9 indicator is displayed on the watch pager 20 in a multistate flag field 21 as shown in FIG. l. Other ll callers may be given a code number wi~h a function field 12 code that only permits them to send '~normal" (N) status 13 flayged messages. Messages in either the urgent or 14 normal category will ordinarily be both stored and sent, with their associated status flags. Callers who fail to }6 input a caller input number, or input an unaccepted 17 number are refused entry to the system without storing or 18 sending their message. Other classes of message status 1~ which can be programmed include (1) s~ora message but do - -not transmlt, i~e., hold it until the subscriber calls in 21 for it; (2) store message for a period of time be~ore 22 transmitting it; (3) store message until the subscriber 23 calls in for it but if not called for in a specified time 24 period either transmit it or mail it, as programmed by 2S the subscriber. Callers can be given more than one 26 caller input number, or variable data to use in the 27 subscriber programmable function field, so that they can : 28 vary the status of message that they can input.
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WO91/~1604 ~ ~ 6 ~ PCT/US~0/04019 l Once the caller input code is processed, i~ the 2 message is not refused, the message is assigned a message 3 number. This number is incremented from l to 32 for each 4 successive message directed to a particular subscriber.
Then, in step 32, messaye number is stored digitally and 6 the message itself is stored in coded fo~mat in the 7 digital message storage unit 62 undar an address ~i.e., 8 telephone number and access code) known to the particular 9 suhscriber. The message, message number and status (~rgent(U), normal(N), etc.) are encoded digitally in a 11 paging message packet, as shown in step 38. Packets of 12 paging messages are sent to a transmitter 44, either 13 directly or via another clearing house 36, where the 14 messages are modulated onto an FM carrier for broadcast to pagers 20.
16 The digital message storage unit 62 can be accessed 17 by subscribers via telephone 24B. ~he subscriber enters 18 an assigned subscriber number followed by a message 19 number. Once the subscriber number is verified (step 4~i), access to the voice mail machine is granted. The 21 subscriber number and message number are then used to 22 recall a particular stored message and play it back via 23 telephone to the subscriber. As mentioned above, the 24 voice response script can be backed up as shown in FIG. 5 to repeat messages.
26 When a message packet is broadcast, it is received 27 by a pager 20 to which it is directed; it is decoded in 28 step ~8. The next step 50 is to detect the message g~
1 nu~ber, the message, and the status of the message from 2 the decoded packet. The message and its number are 3 stored in digital memory in the pager ~step 52). The 4 message status is checked in step 54 and, if the status is urgent, a corresponding symhol (U) is displayed 6 visually on the face of the pager. In step 56, 7 responsive to actuation by the user of the pager, the 8 message/ its number and status are displayed, as shown in 9 FIG. 1.
The preferred implementation of the present 11 invention utilizes the message protocol shown and 12 described in the aforementioned patent. This protocol 13 includes an individual message or packet format 604 whicb 14 is shown generally in FIG. 2. This format includes a transport data field 605, which carries the digital 16 m~ssage, and a packet assembly field 612~ Field 612 is 17 shown in further detail in FIG. 3. It includes three 18 bits (SOC, EOC and EOM) which are used in chaining 19 messages together. The next ~ive bits (MSG#) are used to carr~ the message number. The remaining 16 bits are used 21 for a continuation number (8 bits), also used in 2~ chaining, and for error correction coding (ECC).
23 When the message number bits are decoded from the 24 received broadcast, they are stored in memory in ~.
25 association with the message which is stored from the -26 transport data of the same packet. When the display is~ -27 actuated to read out messages, the message number is 2~ displayed in a message number field 22 simul~aneously .
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WO91/~1604 2 ~ P~T/US90/~4019 1 with the associated message, e.g., message number 27 as 2 shown i~ FIG. l. If the previous message had a message 3 number 25, the user would know that an intervening 4 message ~number 26) was transmitted but missed~ The message status is also displayed in field 2l, based on 6 the state of at least two predetermined bits in the 7 transport data field.
B The subscriber can then call in to the voice mailbox 9 at his/her home clearinyhouse ~4 and enter his/her 10 subscriber number and missed message number. The .
ll clearinghouse computer verifies access and then, using 12 the input numbers as an address, looks up the message 13 that was previously stored for voice retrieval. The 14 message is then played back for the subscriber via telephone 24B.
16 Having illustrated and described the principles of 17 the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, it 18 should be apparent that the invention can be modified in l9 arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. We claim all modifications and variations 21 coming within the spiri~ and scope of the following .
22 ~laims. :
11 This invention relates to wide area one-way paging 1~ systems and low-power portable paging receivers and, more 13 particularly, to user interface aspects of input, readout 14 and use of such paging systems.
Commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,808, 16 incorporated by reference herein, discloses a wide area 17 paging system that~ enables one-way paging of a user at a 18 very distant location. This system inclu~es a paging 19 recei~er that accepts, decodes and stores digitally transmitted messages for user-actuated recall and 21 display. Pagers of this type are also known ~s display 22 pagers.
23 ~ Brlefly, the system of U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,808 24 accepts and sends paging messages via a series o~
communications modes, including telephone input, computer Z6 message processing, data packet transmission to a local 27 a~rea transmitter,~and local FM-sideband broadcast of the ~ -: ,~ -,.';
~ . . ' WO~l/01604 - PCT/US90/04019 2 ~ ~ L~
1 message. A method of system operation and a digital data 2 protocol are provided to facilitate routing of a message 3 input from a source telephone or modem via one or more 4 clearinghouse computers to a local area transmitter in an area where the user of the paging receiver is known by 6 the computer to be located. This protocol further 7 enables each paging receiver to discriminate broadcast 8 messages intended for it from those intended for other 9 receivers of the same type in the same area.
The paging system includes a subscriber 11 clearingh~use which has a computer programmed f~r 12 receiving telephoned messayes intended for local area 13 subscribers, encoding them for digital transmission with 14 addr~ss information associated with the inten~ed recipient, and broadcasting them locally or sending them 16 to another area where the recipient is located for 17 broadcast. The messages for a particular user are 18 braadcast in a predetermined time slot corresponding to 19 that user's address. The receiver, preferably in the form of a wristwatch pager, includes digital logic and 21 memory for identifying messages inten~ed for it from -the 22 time slot data, decoding any messages thus identified, 23 and storing the message data for display of the messages 24 when the user is able to return them. This arrangement permits a number of messages to accumulate before they 26 are read out by the user.
27 Prior patents address a number of problems that 28 arise in connection with the use of display pagers. Such : .
. :. . ~ ... : - . .. .. . , . . :. - .
WO9~/016~4 ~ O ~ PCT/US90/04019 l pagers use a first-in first~out memory or shi~t register.
2 The oldest message is lost when a new message is input, 3 and all messages are saved until they are replaced by new 4 messages. The user may, on one hand, neglect to return messages before they are lost from memory and, on the 6 other, may forget that a message, still retained in 7 memory, has already been returnedO Known pagers include 8 means for counting the number of messages recei~ed since 9 the last time the user read out messages and ~or keeping track of stored messages that have already been read.
ll A problem remains, however, if a message is missed 12 altogether by the paging receiver. A message can be sent 13 several times to improve the likelihood of reception but 14 messages may still be missed. If the user is outside the paging area, any messages will likely be missed. The 16 user o~ prior pagers has no way to know that a message 17 was missed when readinq out the stored message~.
18 Commonly-as~igned U.S. Pat. Na. 4,713,808 proposes a lg message protocol which includes a data field for message numbexing. No ~ay is disclosed, however, to make use of 21 the information thus made available to-provide the missed 22 messages to the user. Apart from the field of paging, 23 numbering o~ messages is used in the Telex system.
24 Most prior systems effectively treat all messages . .
with equal urgency. Nondisplay pagers announce each 26 message by an audible beep. If having such a pager beep 27 is inconvenient, such as at a play, the user may turn off 28 the audible signal but then no messages will be signalled -'' "'~
.' ' .,:
W~1/01604 ` ~ PCTIUS90/04019 2 ~
1 to the user. Display pagers are known which have an 2 audible signalling capability to indicate an urgent 3 message without an audible signal, but are not known to 4 provide any alternative message status information.
Prior paging systems have been automated to use a 6 voice response unit to prompt a caller to input message 7 data followlng a programmed script. Without a human 8 operator, however, the system can be difficult to use.
9 If the caller does not understand an instruction or makes a mistake entering a response, it may be necessary to 11 repeat the entire message sequence to recover. A more 12 human-like automatic voice communications protocol would 13 be preferable.
14 Another desirable user interface feature is the ability for a subscriber to screen incoming messages and 16 to determine how different classesi of messages will be 17 handled by the system dependant upon the originator of a 18 messageO This capability is not provided in the prior 19 art.
~ Accordingly, a need remains for an improved wide 21 area paging system.
24 One object of the invention is to improve wide area paging systems and, more particularlyj the user interface . .
26 and in~ormation that can be provided to a user by ~uch 27 systems.
.
WO91/0160~ 2 ~ 6 ~ PCT/~S90/04019 1 Another object is to signal subscribers of one-way 2 paging systems when their paging receivers have missed a 3 transmitted message.
4 A further object is to enable subscribers to retriev2 missed messages.
6 Yet another object is to enable a user to program 7 the system to screen or otherwise process incoming 8 messages in a plurality of ways selectable by the 9 subscriber.
An additional object is to transmit and display a 11 subscriber-programmable message status indicator.
12 The invention provides a method and apparatus for 13 signalling to a subscriber of a one-way paging service 14 that a paging message had been sent to ~ut not received by the sub~criber's assigned paging message receiver, and 16 enabling the subscriber to retrieve the missed message.
17 The inven~ion can also improve the paging system user 18 interface by enabling the subscriber to program various 19 aspects of message pxocessing and message status indication and by enabling a message originator to 21 interact more easily with the system when operated in an 2Z automatic ~oice response mode.
23 The method comprises, at a location of message 24 origination, inputting a series of messages to be sent to a selected subscriber; assigning a message number to each 26 message intended for the selected subscriber; encoding ;
27 each message and assigned message number as a packet of 28 encoded paging data; and transmitting each packet of : ' :'.' 2 ~
WO91/01604 ` PCT/US9~/04019 l encoded paging data from a transmitter to paging 2 receivers in a local area. In the paging receiver of the 3 selected subscriber, the method further includes 4 receiving some bu~ not necessarily all of the transmitted packets o~ encoded paging data; decoding the received 6 packets of encoded paging data including the assigned 7 message numbers thereof; storing the decoded paging data 8 for each received message and associated message number;
9 and displaying each message and associated message number so that the subscriber can determine from the numerical 11 se~uence of the message numbers whether all messages have 12 been received and the assigned number of any missed 13 messages. The method further includes storing each input 14 message at the message origin for voice retrieval in association with the assigned message number of the 16 message and, responsive to a telephonic request from the 17 selected subscriber inputting the number of a missed 18 message, recalling the corresponding stored message and 19 transmitting same to the requesting subscriber by voice telephone.
21 The method can further include provision for 22 inputting a code number, comparing a caller input code 23 number with prestored code numbers, selecting a 24 corresponding set of program instructiions, and processing the input message in accordance with the selected set of 26 instructions. Such processing can include refusing a 27 message, acceptlng ~ut not sending or storing the 28 msssage, storing but not sending the message, sending but W~91/01604 2 ~ PCT/US9OtO4019 1 not storing the message, a~d enabling the user to input 2 one of a predetermined, programmable set of message 3 status flags.
4 The method can allow an input message to have an assigned status, programmable by the subscriber and 6 dependant upon the code number entered by each message 7 originator. This method includes inputting the status 8 together with the massage and code number and, for 9 messages that are permitted ~o be transmitt~d, encoding and transmitting the status in a packet sf paging data.
11 In the pager, decoding and displaying the message 12 includes decoding and displaying a corresponding message 13 status indicator to the subscriber.
14 In a preferred embodiment, the encoded packet of paging data includes a transport data field for 16 transmitting message data, the transport data field 17 including two bit locations dedicated to indicating the 18 status of the message. The encoded packet of paging data 19 also includes a packet assembly field of binary data bits, the packet assembly field including a predetermined 21 number of bits being assigned as message count bits.
22 The apparatus is wide area paging system ~or sending 23 messages from a message origin to subscribers bearing 24 display-type pagers. The system comprises message input means ~or originating a paging message to be sent to a 26 selected subscriber; transmitting means for broadcasting 27 the paging messages to the subscribers; and a display 28 pager assigned to each su~scriber. The pager includes .~.
.. ' ! ', ' ' ., ~ ', . . ., , . , , ' ', : . ' , , , , ' ' . , ' , ' ~ . ' ' " ' ' ' ' WOgl/01604 2 ~ 9 ll PCT/US90/04019 1 means for receiving hroadcast paging messages uniquely 2 addressed to the particular pager, decoding means for 3 decoding received messages, memory means for storing a 4 predetermined number of the received messages and display means actuable hy the subscri~er ~or displaying the 6 stored messages. The message input means includes means 7 for sequentially numbering each message to be sent to 8 each selected subscriber and means for encoding the 9 number within the message ~or broadcast as a part thereof. The decoding means in each pager is operable to 11 decode said number and place the number in the pager 12 memory means in association with the corresponding 13 decoded message. The display means in each pager means 14 is arranged to display said number in association with the corresponding message. The subscriber, upon 16 displaying each stored message in turn, can determine 17 from a gap between the numbers of successive stored 18 messages that an intervening-numbered message had been 19 transm1tted but not received.
The system ~urther includes means coupled to the 21 message input means for storing each input message ~or 22 voice retrieval in a5socia~ion with the assigned message 23 nulnber of the message and means responsive to a 24 telephonic request from the æelected subscriber input~ing the number of a missed message for recalling the 26 corresponding stored message and transmitting same to the 27 requesting subscriber by voice telephone. The system 28 preferably has a voice response unit which handles both ,:
c- r~
WO 91~01604 PCI`/US90/04019 1 calls from the subscriber and from message originators 2 automatically, without human operator interventionO
3 The system can further include means responsive to a 4 user inputting a code number for comparing the code number with a set of security code numbers associated 6 with the selected subscriber and processing the message 7 in accordance with subscriber-programmed instructions 8 depending upon the input code. Such means can also 9 control what status inputs a message originator can enter into the system for transmitting to the subscri~er.
11 The voice response unit can be programmed, in 12 accordance with a further aspect of the invention, to 13 enable a caller to cause the automatic voice script to :
14 back up to a preceding step in a message sequence, to repeat instructions or correct prior respon~es. The 16 storage unit can be controlled to back up with the script 17 ~or repeating or overwriting a stored response, dep nding 18 on whether it is a message originator or subscriber who 19~ is using the system.
2U The foregoing and other objects, features and 21 advantages of the invention will become more readily 22 apparent ~rom the ~ollowing detailed description of a .. ....
23 pre~erred embodiment which proceeds with re~erence to the 24 accompanying drawings.
27 FIG. l is a simplified block diagram o~ a system in 28 whlch the present _nvention is lmplemented. ~ .
. , '.
."
,, ' ' . ' - ; ' ~ . ' ,. ' ', ' '.' , ' ' '. . ,' . ,' ' ~, ' ";, .. , . . ! .. ', .
s1/ol6o4 ~ 9 ~ PCT/US90/04019 1 FIG. 2 is the digital data protocol of each 2 individual encoded packet of paging data in which the 3 invention is implemented.
4 FIG. 3 is a more detailed view of the packet assembly field of FIG. 2.
6 FIG. 4 is a two-part flowchart showing operation of 7 the present invention at a message origination location 8 and at a pager.
9 FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a series of steps in an automatic voice response unit's operating sequence 11 showing provision for a caller to actuate backing up the 12 voice response script.
13 FIG. 6 is flowchart showing branching of the message 14 input routine of FIG. 4 dependant upon the security code input by a message originator.
18 The system in which the present invention is 19 embodied is shown in summary fashion in FIG. 1. A more detailed description of the system and its operation are 21 set forth in commonly-assigned U.5. Pat. No. 4,713,808, 22 incorporated by reference herein, and need not be 23 repeated. Briefly, the system comprises a paging message 24 input device such as a touchtone telephone 24A, a cl~aringhouse~computer 34,36 arranged to receive 26 telephonic messages via a voice response unit (not shown) 27 and encode same into message packets, a transmitter 28 faciIity 44 for receiving the message packets and - , ,:
' ..... . . -WO91/01604 2 ~ PCT/~JS90/0~19 l modulating and broadcasting them on FM sig~als. A
2 watch-type display pager 20 receives, demodulates, 3 decodes, stores and, upon recall by the user, displays 4 the received messages.
Messages that are sent to the pagers are also 6 stored, by subscriber number and message number, for 7 later ~oice retrieval and playback. For this purpose, a 8 DTMF or other suitable signal line 60 connects a digital 9 message storage and retrieval subsystem 62 to the clearinghouse computer 34. Subsystem 62 includes a ll message input unit 64 connected to signal line 60. The 12 input unit is connected to input received messages into a 13 computerized message storage unit 66. Coupled to the 14 storage unit is a message retrieval unit 68. A voice .
r sponse unit 70, which can be remotely accessed by a 16 subscriber via touchtone telephone 24B, is controllably 17 connected to the retrieval unit. Responsive to input 18 commands from the caller, the voice response unit causes 19 the retrieval unit 68 to recall a message stored in the storage uni~ 66 and forward the recalled message in voice 21 format to ~he caller at telephone 24B. The fo~egoing 22 units are known and need not be further described. The 23 operation thereof in accordance with the invention is 24 controlled by suitable programming further described .
below with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.
26 The invention improves the utility of the paging 27 system by enabling a recipient of paging messages to tell 28 if a message has been missed by the pager and to call in .':, .' ' 2 ~ 4 WOs1/o1fiO4 pcT/usso/o4o19 l and retrieve th~ missed message. It also enables an 2 originator of a message to convey to the recipient 3 additional status information about the message. It 4 additionally enables the subscriber to control who can send messages through the system to his/her pager and to 6 program how messages from different classes of callers 7 will be handled. This includes whether messages from a 8 particular caller will be accepted, sent or not sent, 9 stored or not stored, and whether the caller can send status information and what kind each can send. It also ll enables callers to back up the voice response script and 12 storage unit at any point in a message sequencP. The 13 message originator can actuate repeat of instructions and 14 change responses. A subscriber can repeat stored messages.
16 Referring to FIG. 4, the method of paging of the 17 present inv~ntion commences when a person calls in from a 18 touchtone telephone 24A to a message center and inputs a 19 message for transmittal to a selected subscriber. The caller calls in and receives an automatic voice response, 2l which includes a series of instructions to the caller.
22 Each instruction in the sequence is followed by an 23 opportunity of the caller to input data via the numbered 24 and "#" keys of the telaphone. If the user ~nters data from ~hese ll keys, the sequence proceeds to the next 26 step.
27 As shown in FIG. 5, the user also has the 28 opportunity at each step to cause the script to back up .,' ' ' ~
WO91/01~04 ~ 3 ~ '~ PCT/US9~/04019 1 to an earlier point in the sequence. The u6er actuates 2 backup by depressing the "*" sign on the telephone a 3 number time to indicate the number of times to back up.
4 Once the system has backed up, it repeats the subsequent S instructions, requiring thP user ts reenter data in 6 response to the instructions through the point where the 7 user backed up, and then proceeds to any remaining 8 instructions. The data input by the user is sa~ed in 9 temporary memory until the message sequence has been completed. Then, usually, the data is stored for later .. .. . .
11 voice retrieval as discussed further below.
12 Returning to ~IG.~, ~he inpu~ step 26 includes a 13 request to the user to indicate a message status, by 14 pressing a designated key on the telephone, for example, to indicate whether the message is urgent (U) or normal 16 (N), or other indicators programmable by the subscxiber.
17 If a status indicator is not entered, the clearinghouse 18 computer 34 enters by default an indication (N) that the 19 messag~ status i~ normal, i.e., not urgent. The input 2~ sequence also calls for entry of a caller input code.
21 The caller input code includes a security code field for 22 the user to key in a security code which the computer 23 veri~ies ~step 28) and a subscriber-programmable ~unction 24 field for entering data which the computer further processes before formatting a message for transmission 26 and storage. This step can also be performed be~ore 27 message lnput.
~ ..
'"' ' ' WO91~01604 `~ ~ 6 ~ g ~ ~ PCT/US90/04019 l Referring to FIG. 6, the subscriber can program a 2 number of different system r~sponses dependant upon the 3 subscriber-programmable function field of the caller 4 input code number. For example, the subscriber can 5 furnish certain callers with a code number to identify 6 their message as very important. Such messages are 7 normally processed as urgent, including placing an urgent 8 (U) status indicator in their messages. The status 9 indicator is displayed on the watch pager 20 in a multistate flag field 21 as shown in FIG. l. Other ll callers may be given a code number wi~h a function field 12 code that only permits them to send '~normal" (N) status 13 flayged messages. Messages in either the urgent or 14 normal category will ordinarily be both stored and sent, with their associated status flags. Callers who fail to }6 input a caller input number, or input an unaccepted 17 number are refused entry to the system without storing or 18 sending their message. Other classes of message status 1~ which can be programmed include (1) s~ora message but do - -not transmlt, i~e., hold it until the subscriber calls in 21 for it; (2) store message for a period of time be~ore 22 transmitting it; (3) store message until the subscriber 23 calls in for it but if not called for in a specified time 24 period either transmit it or mail it, as programmed by 2S the subscriber. Callers can be given more than one 26 caller input number, or variable data to use in the 27 subscriber programmable function field, so that they can : 28 vary the status of message that they can input.
. .
" ~
''', , . : ,, , ... ~.. .. . . . , . ~ . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . .. . .. . . . ..
WO91/~1604 ~ ~ 6 ~ PCT/US~0/04019 l Once the caller input code is processed, i~ the 2 message is not refused, the message is assigned a message 3 number. This number is incremented from l to 32 for each 4 successive message directed to a particular subscriber.
Then, in step 32, messaye number is stored digitally and 6 the message itself is stored in coded fo~mat in the 7 digital message storage unit 62 undar an address ~i.e., 8 telephone number and access code) known to the particular 9 suhscriber. The message, message number and status (~rgent(U), normal(N), etc.) are encoded digitally in a 11 paging message packet, as shown in step 38. Packets of 12 paging messages are sent to a transmitter 44, either 13 directly or via another clearing house 36, where the 14 messages are modulated onto an FM carrier for broadcast to pagers 20.
16 The digital message storage unit 62 can be accessed 17 by subscribers via telephone 24B. ~he subscriber enters 18 an assigned subscriber number followed by a message 19 number. Once the subscriber number is verified (step 4~i), access to the voice mail machine is granted. The 21 subscriber number and message number are then used to 22 recall a particular stored message and play it back via 23 telephone to the subscriber. As mentioned above, the 24 voice response script can be backed up as shown in FIG. 5 to repeat messages.
26 When a message packet is broadcast, it is received 27 by a pager 20 to which it is directed; it is decoded in 28 step ~8. The next step 50 is to detect the message g~
1 nu~ber, the message, and the status of the message from 2 the decoded packet. The message and its number are 3 stored in digital memory in the pager ~step 52). The 4 message status is checked in step 54 and, if the status is urgent, a corresponding symhol (U) is displayed 6 visually on the face of the pager. In step 56, 7 responsive to actuation by the user of the pager, the 8 message/ its number and status are displayed, as shown in 9 FIG. 1.
The preferred implementation of the present 11 invention utilizes the message protocol shown and 12 described in the aforementioned patent. This protocol 13 includes an individual message or packet format 604 whicb 14 is shown generally in FIG. 2. This format includes a transport data field 605, which carries the digital 16 m~ssage, and a packet assembly field 612~ Field 612 is 17 shown in further detail in FIG. 3. It includes three 18 bits (SOC, EOC and EOM) which are used in chaining 19 messages together. The next ~ive bits (MSG#) are used to carr~ the message number. The remaining 16 bits are used 21 for a continuation number (8 bits), also used in 2~ chaining, and for error correction coding (ECC).
23 When the message number bits are decoded from the 24 received broadcast, they are stored in memory in ~.
25 association with the message which is stored from the -26 transport data of the same packet. When the display is~ -27 actuated to read out messages, the message number is 2~ displayed in a message number field 22 simul~aneously .
'.
WO91/~1604 2 ~ P~T/US90/~4019 1 with the associated message, e.g., message number 27 as 2 shown i~ FIG. l. If the previous message had a message 3 number 25, the user would know that an intervening 4 message ~number 26) was transmitted but missed~ The message status is also displayed in field 2l, based on 6 the state of at least two predetermined bits in the 7 transport data field.
B The subscriber can then call in to the voice mailbox 9 at his/her home clearinyhouse ~4 and enter his/her 10 subscriber number and missed message number. The .
ll clearinghouse computer verifies access and then, using 12 the input numbers as an address, looks up the message 13 that was previously stored for voice retrieval. The 14 message is then played back for the subscriber via telephone 24B.
16 Having illustrated and described the principles of 17 the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, it 18 should be apparent that the invention can be modified in l9 arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. We claim all modifications and variations 21 coming within the spiri~ and scope of the following .
22 ~laims. :
Claims (20)
1. A method of signalling to a subscriber of a one-way paging service that a paging message had been sent to but not received by the subscriber's assigned paging message receiver, the method comprising:
at a location of message origination, inputting a series of messages to be sent to a selected subscriber;
assigning a message number to each message intended for the selected subscriber;
encoding each message and assigned message number as a packet of encoded paging data; and transmitting each packet of encoded paging data from a transmitter to paging receivers in a local area; and in the paging receiver of the selected subscriber, receiving some but not necessarily all of the transmitted packets of encoded paging data;
decoding the received packets of encoded paging data including the assigned message numbers thereof;
storing the decoded paging data for each received message and associated message number; and displaying each message and associated message number so that the subscriber can determine from the numerical sequence of the message numbers whether all messages have been received and the assigned number of any missed messages.
at a location of message origination, inputting a series of messages to be sent to a selected subscriber;
assigning a message number to each message intended for the selected subscriber;
encoding each message and assigned message number as a packet of encoded paging data; and transmitting each packet of encoded paging data from a transmitter to paging receivers in a local area; and in the paging receiver of the selected subscriber, receiving some but not necessarily all of the transmitted packets of encoded paging data;
decoding the received packets of encoded paging data including the assigned message numbers thereof;
storing the decoded paging data for each received message and associated message number; and displaying each message and associated message number so that the subscriber can determine from the numerical sequence of the message numbers whether all messages have been received and the assigned number of any missed messages.
2. A method according to claim 1 including:
storing each input message for retrieval in association with the assigned message number of the message; and responsive to a telephonic request from the selected subscriber inputting the number of a missed message, recalling the corresponding stored message and transmitting same to the requesting subscriber by voice telephone.
storing each input message for retrieval in association with the assigned message number of the message; and responsive to a telephonic request from the selected subscriber inputting the number of a missed message, recalling the corresponding stored message and transmitting same to the requesting subscriber by voice telephone.
3. A method according to claim 1 in which an input message has a predetermined status, including:
inputting said status together with the message;
encoding and transmitting the status in the packet of paging data; and in the pager, decoding and displaying said status in a multistate status indicator field so that the subscriber, seeing same, is informed of the status or originator of a received message.
inputting said status together with the message;
encoding and transmitting the status in the packet of paging data; and in the pager, decoding and displaying said status in a multistate status indicator field so that the subscriber, seeing same, is informed of the status or originator of a received message.
4. A method according to claim 3 in which the encoded packet of paging data includes a transport data field for transmitting message data, the transport data field including at least two bit locations dedicated to indicating the status of the message.
5. A method according to claim 1 in which the encoded packet of paging data includes a packet assembly field of binary data bits, the packet assembly field including a predetermined number of bits being assigned as message count bits.
6. A method according to claim 1 in which inputting a message includes inputting a code number, comparing the code number with a set of prestored caller input code numbers associated with the selected subscriber, selecting one of a plurality of sets of prestored programmed instructions uniquely associated with each caller input code number and processing the caller's message in accordance with the selected set of programmed instructions.
7. A method according to claim 6 in which the sets of instructions include at least one instruction which sets a message status flag.
8. A method according to claim 6 in which the sets of instructions include at least one instruction which determines whether the message will be sent.
9. A method according to claim 6 in which the sets of instructions include at least one instruction which determines whether the message will be stored.
10. A method according to claim 1 in which the step of inputting messages includes, automatically via telephone voice responder, emitting a sequence of instructions to a caller; accepting responses to the instructions keyed into a telephone by the caller; and responsive to a predetermined telephone key input, repeating a number of prior instruction steps determined by said key input.
11. A wide area paging system for sending messages from a message origin to subscribers bearing display-type pagers, the system comprising:
message input means for originating a paging message to be sent to a selected subscriber;
transmitting means for broadcasting the paging messages to the subscribers;
a display pager assigned to each subscriber, including means for receiving broadcast paging messages uniquely addressed to the particular pager, decoding means for decoding received messages, memory means for storing a predetermined number of the received messages and display means actuable by the subscriber for displaying the stored messages;
the message input means including means for sequentially numbering each message to be sent to each selected subscriber and means for encoding the number within the message for broadcast as a part thereof; and the decoding means in each pager being operable to decode said number and placing the number in the pager memory means in association with the corresponding decoded message;
the display means in each pager means being arranged to display said number in association with the corresponding message so that the subscriber, upon displaying each stored message in turn, can determine from a gap between the numbers of successive stored messages that an intervening-numbered message had been transmitted but not received.
message input means for originating a paging message to be sent to a selected subscriber;
transmitting means for broadcasting the paging messages to the subscribers;
a display pager assigned to each subscriber, including means for receiving broadcast paging messages uniquely addressed to the particular pager, decoding means for decoding received messages, memory means for storing a predetermined number of the received messages and display means actuable by the subscriber for displaying the stored messages;
the message input means including means for sequentially numbering each message to be sent to each selected subscriber and means for encoding the number within the message for broadcast as a part thereof; and the decoding means in each pager being operable to decode said number and placing the number in the pager memory means in association with the corresponding decoded message;
the display means in each pager means being arranged to display said number in association with the corresponding message so that the subscriber, upon displaying each stored message in turn, can determine from a gap between the numbers of successive stored messages that an intervening-numbered message had been transmitted but not received.
12. A system according to claim 11 including:
means coupled to the message input means for storing each input message for retrieval in association with the assigned message number of the message; and means responsive to a telephonic request from the selected subscriber inputting the number of a missed message for recalling the corresponding stored message and transmitting same to the requesting subscriber by voice telephone.
means coupled to the message input means for storing each input message for retrieval in association with the assigned message number of the message; and means responsive to a telephonic request from the selected subscriber inputting the number of a missed message for recalling the corresponding stored message and transmitting same to the requesting subscriber by voice telephone.
13. A system according to claim 11 in which an input message has a predetermined status, including:
means for inputting said status together with the message;
means for encoding and transmitting the status in the packet of paging data; and in the pager, means for decoding and displaying said status.
means for inputting said status together with the message;
means for encoding and transmitting the status in the packet of paging data; and in the pager, means for decoding and displaying said status.
14. A system according to claim 13 in which the encoded packet of paging data includes a transport data field for transmitting message data, the transport data field including at least two bit locations dedicated to indicating the status of the message.
15. A system according to claim 11 in which the encoded packet of paging data includes a packet assembly field of binary data bits, the packet assembly field including a predetermined number of bits being assigned as message count bits.
16. A system according to claim 11 in which the input means includes:
means, responsive to a user inputting a code number, for comparing the code number with a set of prestored caller input code numbers associated with the selected subscriber;
means for storing a plurality of sets of programmed instructions uniquely associated with each caller input code number; and means responsive to a match between the code number input by the caller a selected one of the prestored code numbers for processing the caller's message in accordance with the set of programmed instructions associated with the prestored code number that matches the code number input by the user.
means, responsive to a user inputting a code number, for comparing the code number with a set of prestored caller input code numbers associated with the selected subscriber;
means for storing a plurality of sets of programmed instructions uniquely associated with each caller input code number; and means responsive to a match between the code number input by the caller a selected one of the prestored code numbers for processing the caller's message in accordance with the set of programmed instructions associated with the prestored code number that matches the code number input by the user.
17. A method according to claim 16 in which the sets of instructions include at least one instruction which sets a message status flag.
18. A method according to claim 16 in which the sets of instructions include at least one instruction which determines whether the message will be sent.
19. A method according to claim 16 in which the sets of instructions include at least one instruction which determines whether the message will be stored.
20. A method according to claim 11 in which the input means includes:
means including a telephone voice responder for emitting a sequence of instructions to a caller;
means for accepting responses to the instructions keyed into a telephone by the caller; and means responsive to a predetermined telephone key input for backing up in the sequence of instruction steps to repeat a number of prior instruction steps determined by said key input.
means including a telephone voice responder for emitting a sequence of instructions to a caller;
means for accepting responses to the instructions keyed into a telephone by the caller; and means responsive to a predetermined telephone key input for backing up in the sequence of instruction steps to repeat a number of prior instruction steps determined by said key input.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US38144289A | 1989-07-18 | 1989-07-18 | |
| US381,442 | 1989-07-18 | ||
| PCT/US1990/004019 WO1991001604A1 (en) | 1989-07-18 | 1990-07-17 | Paging message interface and missed message retrieval method |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2064894A1 true CA2064894A1 (en) | 1991-02-07 |
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|---|---|---|---|
| CA2064894A Abandoned CA2064894A1 (en) | 1989-07-18 | 1990-07-17 | Paging message interface and missed message retrieval method |
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|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0483262A4 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH05508749A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU6066890A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2064894A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1991001604A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0496623A2 (en) * | 1991-01-24 | 1992-07-29 | Nec Corporation | Paging system its operating method |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0749657B1 (en) * | 1992-09-30 | 2002-11-06 | Motorola, Inc. | Reliable message delivery system |
| US5418835A (en) * | 1992-10-26 | 1995-05-23 | Motorola Inc. | Method of delivering paging messages using voice mail |
| US5481597A (en) * | 1993-03-09 | 1996-01-02 | At&T Corp. | Sent message cancellation arrangement |
| US5599932A (en) * | 1993-06-30 | 1997-02-04 | Abbott Laboratories | Intercalators having affinity for DNA and methods of use |
| GB2295745A (en) * | 1994-08-17 | 1996-06-05 | Barick Chung | Paging system having data base of paging user's numbers |
| GB2299884A (en) * | 1995-04-13 | 1996-10-16 | Telsis Holdings Ltd | Communication systems |
| US5802466A (en) * | 1996-06-28 | 1998-09-01 | Mci Communications Corporation | Personal communication device voice mail notification apparatus and method |
| US8315659B2 (en) | 1997-08-15 | 2012-11-20 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Method and apparatus for providing broadcast messages in a communications network |
| CN1558308B (en) * | 2004-01-30 | 2010-10-06 | 邓小玲 | Coding communication scheme and terminal |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU541606B2 (en) * | 1979-09-29 | 1985-01-10 | Nippon Electric Co. Ltd. | Paging receiver |
| US4713808A (en) * | 1985-11-27 | 1987-12-15 | A T & E Corporation | Watch pager system and communication protocol |
| US4646346A (en) * | 1985-01-22 | 1987-02-24 | At&T Company | Integrated message service system |
| JPH0759104B2 (en) * | 1985-12-18 | 1995-06-21 | 日本電気株式会社 | Wireless selective call receiver with display |
| US4853952A (en) * | 1987-12-03 | 1989-08-01 | Dictaphone Corporation | Method and apparatus for visual indication of stored voice signals |
-
1990
- 1990-07-17 EP EP19900911685 patent/EP0483262A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1990-07-17 WO PCT/US1990/004019 patent/WO1991001604A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1990-07-17 AU AU60668/90A patent/AU6066890A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1990-07-17 CA CA2064894A patent/CA2064894A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1990-07-17 JP JP90511060A patent/JPH05508749A/en active Pending
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0496623A2 (en) * | 1991-01-24 | 1992-07-29 | Nec Corporation | Paging system its operating method |
| EP0496623B1 (en) * | 1991-01-24 | 1997-04-23 | Nec Corporation | Paging system and its operating method |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU6066890A (en) | 1991-02-22 |
| JPH05508749A (en) | 1993-12-02 |
| EP0483262A1 (en) | 1992-05-06 |
| WO1991001604A1 (en) | 1991-02-07 |
| EP0483262A4 (en) | 1993-03-03 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20011005 |