DE8903233U1 - Pager receiver for paging services - Google Patents

Description

Pager receiver for paging services

The invention relates to a call receiver for radio paging services, with an input stage, an amplifier, a decoder, a signal generator for emitting an acoustic and/or optical signal upon receipt of a call telegram assigned to the relevant receiver, and with a function keyboard.

Such call receivers, also known as pagers, are known for PTT radio paging services, for example for ilurosignal, Ortsrvf, Autoruf, and private radio paging services such as City-Call, Ms Πbs*$ystems and people search systems. Among the devices available on the market, the Haslcr-Eurosignal 300 and Hasler-Ortsruf BRP 2000 receivers from Hasler AG, Bern, are mentioned as examples. All of these known systems are one-way call systems with which the person carrying the receiver can be called but cannot call them themselves or contact facilities located at different locations.

On the other hand, it is known, especially in connection with telephone answering machines, to make remote inquiries or to switch remote control devices, which in each case requires a special code transmitter. Remote control devices in this case mean devices via which certain installations and devices, such as

for example, heating, lighting, boilers and the like can be switched on or off.

If a person wants to be reachable at all times and also wants to be able to access their telephone answering machine remotely, they have to carry two devices with them, namely a call receiver and a code transmitter. This is not only a disadvantage in terms of cost but also in terms of user-friendliness and handling.

The invention is intended to make handling significantly easier for users of pagers and code transmitters and to save costs at the same time.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the call receiver has a decoding unit for generating decoding signals for the purpose of acting as a code transmitter, a correspondingly adapted function keyboard and an acoustic coupler assigned to the decoding unit for connection to the telephone network.

By installing the stage for the decoding signals and adapting the keyboard, the call receiver according to the invention becomes a combination device that combines the functions of the call receiver and code transmitter in a single device. The acoustic coupler enables telephone connections to be easily established via a corresponding wired or wireless network.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an embodiment and the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a pager according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the front panel of the housing of the pager of Fig. 1.

The call receiver shown in Fig. 1 contains a pin input stage 1 with an antenna, the voltage of which is amplified in an amplifier 2 and limited and demodulated in a stage 3 connected to it. A phase-controlled control loop (PLL) is used for demodulation. The output signal of stage 3 is fed to a decoder 4, which, when a call telegram assigned to the relevant receiver is received, switches on an audio frequency generator 5, the voltage of which is amplified by an amplifier 6 and excites a loudspeaker 7 so that the call sounds from the relevant receiver. A receiver of this type is described in CH-PS 573 688, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

In addition to this acoustic call indication, an optical display 8, preferably a liquid crystal display, is also provided in a display field on the front panel of the receiver housing (see Fig. 2).

In addition to these known components, the pager shown also contains a decoding unit DE for generating decoding signals for switching or influencing devices that are located separately from the receiver, as well as for direct dialing if necessary in the pager.

istored telephone numbers using DTMF code, and thus becomes a combination device that combines the functions of a call receiver and code transmitter in a single device.

Decoding unit DE contains a keyboard 9 (see Fig. 2), a memory 10 connected to it and a DTMF code generator 5' connected to the memory 10, which is combined with the tone frequency generator 5 as shown. The output of the memory 10 is connected not only to the DTMF code generator ⁵¹ but also to the optical display 8. The term DTMF 1 is well known and means Dual Tone Multi Frequency. The loudspeaker 7 serves as an acoustic coupler for the DTMF code generator ¹¹ for the connection to the telephone network, so that telephone numbers stored in the memory 10 can be called by simply pressing a button.

Using the keyboard 9, a code consisting of a multi-digit number combination can be entered into the memory 10 and stored there. This code can be retrieved from the memory 10 by pressing a button if necessary in order to:

- To enter the remote access mode of a telephone answering machine, for which the code represents the personal code of the authorised user;

- to program one or more telephone numbers into a direct dialling device linked to the telephone answering machine (so-called Eurocall add-on);

- to switch the automatic dialling facility linked to the telephone answering machine on or off;

- to switch telecontrol devices.

• ···· ··» ill

In addition, it is possible to use the keypad 9*'to store a number of common telephone numbers in the memory io" which can be called up at the touch of a button if required. In addition to the connection via the telephone network mentioned above, a connection via wireless systems is also possible.

The optical display 8 connected to the memory K) shows the number combinations selected or to be selected.

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the front panel of the housing of the pager receiver of Fig. 1. This front panel essentially contains the optical display 8 and the keyboard 9 with a number of keys. According to the illustration, eight keys are provided, namely a FWOff key T1, a delete key T2, a clock key T3, an alarm key T4, two time setting keys for hours and minutes T5 and T6, a query key T7 and a rewind key T8.

The display 8 is used to show the time and to visually indicate the call, which is preferably saved with the time of the call. The call receiver contains an integrated clock, which is set using the T3 and T5/T6 buttons. The T4 and T5/T6 buttons can be used to set the time for an alarm, for example for a wake-up call. These buttons, which can be supplemented by other buttons, are familiar for call receivers.

This does not apply to the T7 and T8 keys, which are used for code transmitter functions. The query key T7 is used for remote querying of a telephone answering machine and the rewind key T8 is used for rewinding and deleting its tape containing the stored calls. Of course, other keys could also be provided for this second type of function, for example a key for switching remote control devices, a key for entering a code into the memory 10, a key for retrieving a code from the memory 10, and so on.

In order to prevent the handling and user-friendliness of the call receiver from being impaired by too many keys, it is recommended that the number of keys on the keypad 9 be designed for only one of the two functions of call receiver/code transmitter and that a function selector switch FS be provided that can be set to either of these two functions. If the keypad 9 is designed for the call receiver function, then in most cases eight keys are sufficient and eight keys are then also available for the code transmitter function. Even when set to the code transmitter function, however, it is guaranteed that every call telegram received is indicated acoustically and/or visually.

A further improvement in comfort and ease of use is to store the caller's telephone number in an additional read/write memory when an incoming radio call is received and then read this from the memory at the touch of a button to call back the caller and use it to dial the number.

• J · · * ... «Ill

Finally, the paging receiver can be technically designed to receive paging signals from both public and private paging services.

The main advantages of the combination device described are the following:

- Because only one device is required for several functions, cost savings are achieved.

- Handling is significantly simplified because the cumbersome use of different devices is no longer necessary.

- You only need to carry one device, which makes it much easier and more pleasant to take advantage of the technical possibilities offered and to actually use them.

Claims (6)

ZELLWEGER TELECOMMUNICAT^QNS .Iß,' Ca-fe^ HÖipbreÜftikon PA-2/144 Protection claims 1. Call receiver for radio call services, with an input stage, an amplifier, a decoder, a signal generator for emitting an acoustic and/or optical signal upon receipt of a call telegram assigned to the relevant receiver, and with a function block, characterized in that the call receiver has a decoding unit (DE) for generating decoder signals for the purpose of acting as a code transmitter, a correspondingly adapted function block (9) and an acoustic coupler (7) assigned to the decoding unit for connection to the telephone network, 2. Call receiver according to claim 1, characterized in that the decoding unit (DE) has a DTMF code generator (5') connected to the acoustic coupler (7), into which codes consisting of number combinations can be entered via the function keypad (9). 3. Call receiver according to claim 2, characterized in that a memory (10) is provided between the function keyboard (9) and the DTMF code generator (5 ¹ ). 4. Call receiver according to claim 3, characterized in that the output of the memory (10) is connected to an optical display (8) for displaying the number combinations selected or to be selected. 5. Pager according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that «i the function keyboard (9) for the functions pager and % Code transmitter has separate buttons {TI bvi T6; or T7, T8). 6. Call receiver according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the function keyboard (9) has common double function keys for the functions of call receiver and code transmitter, and that a function switch (FS) is provided.