EP0485416B1 - Rufempfänger mit durch den benutzer steuerbarer nachrichtenwiedergabe - Google Patents

Rufempfänger mit durch den benutzer steuerbarer nachrichtenwiedergabe Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0485416B1
EP0485416B1 EP90911189A EP90911189A EP0485416B1 EP 0485416 B1 EP0485416 B1 EP 0485416B1 EP 90911189 A EP90911189 A EP 90911189A EP 90911189 A EP90911189 A EP 90911189A EP 0485416 B1 EP0485416 B1 EP 0485416B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
message
playback
digital signals
retrieval
analog voice
Prior art date
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EP90911189A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0485416A1 (de
EP0485416A4 (en
Inventor
Kenneth David Fisch
James Gregory Mittel
Winfield James Brown, Jr.
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Motorola Solutions Inc
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Motorola Inc
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Publication of EP0485416A4 publication Critical patent/EP0485416A4/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B3/00—Audible signalling systems; Audible personal calling systems
    • G08B3/10—Audible signalling systems; Audible personal calling systems using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
    • G08B3/1008—Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems
    • G08B3/1016—Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems using wireless transmission
    • G08B3/1025—Paging receivers with audible signalling details
    • G08B3/1033—Paging receivers with audible signalling details with voice message alert
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B3/00—Audible signalling systems; Audible personal calling systems
    • G08B3/10—Audible signalling systems; Audible personal calling systems using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
    • G08B3/1008—Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems
    • G08B3/1016—Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems using wireless transmission
    • G08B3/1025—Paging receivers with audible signalling details
    • G08B3/105—Paging receivers with audible signalling details with call or message storage means

Definitions

  • This invention relates to communication receivers having voice storage capability, and more particularly to a paging receiver providing user controllable message retrieval.
  • Communication receivers which provide the capability for digitizing and storing voice messages have become available with the availability of large, low cost semiconductor memories.
  • One such receiver having voice storage capability can store one sixteen second, or two eight second digitized voice messages utilizing a 256 kilobit CMOS dynamic random access memory (DRAM), or one sixty-four second, or four sixteen second digitized voice messages with a one megabit CMOS DRAM.
  • Digitized voice messages which have been stored were recalled from memory by the user by depressing a "play" button, which initiated the playback of the most recently received message. To review any other stored voice messages, the user was required to repeatedly depress the "play" button while the previous message was being replayed.
  • each stored voice message was recalled from memory in the reverse order of the sequence in which the messages were received, i.e. the most recently received message was always replayed first followed in order by the other stored voice messages.
  • the entire sequence of stepping through the messages had to be repeated by the user until the desired message was selected. While the operational sequence described had been suitable for reviewing up to four stored voice messages, there is a need to provide better methods for accessing and retrieving stored voice messages as the number of voice messages stored is increased and as the length of the stored voice messages is increased. In addition, in most instances, only a portion of the stored voice message may contain the information which is required by the user to be replayed at a later time.
  • Communication receivers which have provided the capability to digitize and store voice messages have, in one instance, utilized a memory which was divided into a plurality of fixed storage areas for storage of the digitized voice messages. When the digitized voice message did not fill the fixed storage area, a predetermined bit pattern was automatically loaded into the fixed storage area following the digitized voice message, the predetermined bit pattern being detected as silence on playback.
  • Other communication receivers such as those utilizing a microprocessor, were able to eliminate memories having fixed storage areas, thereby increasing the memory available to store digitized voice messages. Such a system is known from US-A-4 873 520.
  • Still other analog to digital data storage systems have digitized the voice message prior to transmission, and the transmitted the digitized voice message at a data bit rate higher then the rate at which the voice message was digitized, thus reducing the message transmission time.
  • the audio message was replayed by retrieving the digitized voice message the data bit rate at which the voice message was digitized, thereby providing a normal voice message playback.
  • Such a system is known from US-A-4 905 003.
  • a selective call receiver includes a receiver for receiving analog voice messages, and a converter for converting the analog voice message received into digital signals which are representative of a replica of the analog voice message, and also for converting the digital signals into analog voice signals.
  • the selective call receiver further includes message storage for storing the digital signals, a retrieval circuit for retrieving and converting the digital signals into analog voice signals at a plurality of playback rates equal to or greater than the normal voiced playback rate and a analog voice message delivery circuit for delivering the analog voice signals as analog voice messages delivered at the plurality of playback rates.
  • Figure 1 is an functional block diagram for a hardware embodiment of a digitized stored voice receiver providing user controllable message retrieval.
  • Figure 2 is an electrical block diagram for a second embodiment of a digital stored voice receiver having a microcomputer decoder.
  • Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method for fast forwarding and fast reversing stored voice messages utilizing bit rate modification.
  • Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for fast forwarding and fast reversing stored voice messages utilizing memory address modification.
  • Figures 5A and 5B are flow charts illustrating a method for accessing stored voice messages utilizing user selectable memory access methods.
  • Figure 6 is a memory map illustrating the memory arrangement for the storage of digitized analog voice messages.
  • a communication receiver such as a paging receiver, capable of receiving, decoding and storing transmitted analog information such as voice messages. While the present invention is described hereinafter with particular reference to a paging receiver, it is to be understood at the outset of the description which follows it is contemplated that the apparatus and methods, in accordance with the present invention, may be used with numerous other communication receiving systems.
  • FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram applicable to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • the paging receiver 10 of the present invention includes a receiving means 12, a decoding-controlling means (decoder) 14, a memory means 50, an audio amplifier, an input switch module 42, an energy conservation means 20, a converting means 38, and an audio producing module 64.
  • An antenna 24 receives paging information in the form of selective call signals and analog information comprised of speech signals representative of a voice message.
  • the antenna 24 is coupled to receiving means 12 that is subject to the control of decoder 14.
  • the decoder 14 not only controls receiving means 12, but may also operate receiving means 12 on an intermittent basis to extend the life of battery 16 through energy conservation means 20.
  • the receiving means 12 detects the presence of electromagnetic energy representing the paging information and applies the information to the converting means such as coder-decoder 38.
  • the coder-decoder 38 converts the received analog signals, such as a real time audio speech signals, to a stream of binary bits and reconverts the stored binary bits to a replica of the original received analog signals, such as synthesized audio speech signals.
  • the coder-decoder 38 (hereinafter referred to as CODEC) provides for the digitial-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversion of speech signals.
  • the CODEC 38 such as an adaptive delta modulator, converts or encodes an audio input signal (line 44) to a digital data stream (line 46) for storage, and reconverts or decodes a digital data stream (line 48) to reconstruct an audio signal (line 21).
  • the CODEC 38 monitors the real time audio signal on line 44 and compares it to a past value that it has reconstructed and generates a digital bit (sign) that indicates whether the reconstructed signal's voltage level is higher or lower than the present input value.
  • the CODEC 38 then tries to adapt the reconstructed signal voltage to mirror the present value at the audio input by varying or modulating a current.
  • the current charges or discharges a capacitor (not shown) which changes the reconstructed signal's voltage.
  • the digital output on line 46 is the sign bit which indicates whether the reconstructed signal is behind the input or lower in voltage (logic "0") or ahead of the input or higher in voltage (logic "1").
  • the CODEC's digital output is stored in memory 50 and retrieved on line 48 to reconstruct a synthesized audio signal on line 21, thus closely replicating the real time audio signal in both amplitude and frequency.
  • One example of such a coder-decoder is disclosed by N.S.
  • the CODEC 38 is designed to operate at different sampling rates (bit or clock rates) supplied by timing means 32.
  • the sampling rates include, but are not limited to, 16 KHz, 25 KHz, and 32 KHz in the present invention.
  • the obvious implication of these rates is that for slower clock rates, longer messages can be stored in a fixed amount of memory at the expense of a lower signal to noise (S/N) ratio.
  • S/N signal to noise
  • Table 1 illustrates the number of messages that can be stored in the paging receiver using particular configurations of the memory when the CODEC is operating at a specific bit rate. Even through the table lists specific memories, it is to be understood that numerous other memories can be used in the practice of the present invention.
  • Table 1 illustrates that 20 seconds of voice information can be stored in one message slot.
  • the CODEC operates in a plurality of operating rates such as 16 KBPS per second, 25 KBPS per second, and 32 KBPS per second.
  • the operating rates can be selected by any of a number of methods, such as jumper connections within the paging receiver, by switches external to the paging receiver, or by code plug programmable options.
  • various allocated fixed storage areas can be selected by the pager user. For example, using the 1 megabit. CMOS DRAM, 4 messages can be stored in memory, each message having a fixed length of 16 seconds at 16 KBPS.
  • CMOS DRAM 4 messages can be stored in memory, each message having a fixed length of 16 seconds at 16 KBPS.
  • the output buffers and control logic are always on since it may be necessary to monitor the channel or provide an alert tone when there are no messages stored. Keeping the buffers and control logic on also eliminates the need for additional current source controls to handle the switching of an additional current source.
  • Table 1 Message length as a Function of Bit Rate and Memory Size One 256K CMOS DRAM Number of Messages 16 KBPS 25 KBPS 32 KBPS 1 second 16 second 10 second 8 2 second 8 second 5 second 4 Two 256K CMOS DRAMs Number of Messages 16 KBPS 25 KBPS 32 KBPS 1 second 32 second 20 second 16 2 second 16 second 10 second 8 4 second 8 second 5 second 4 One 1 Meg CMOS DRAM Number of Messages 16 KBPS 25 KBPS 32 KBPS 1 second 64 second 40 second 32 2 second 32 second 20 second 16 4 second 16 second 10 second 8
  • the receiving means 12 is further coupled by line 23 to an audio amplifier 40.
  • the real time audio signal on line 23 is applied to audio amplifier 40 which supplies the analog signals to speaker 37.
  • decoder 14 controls audio amplifier 40 via line 62 to apply either the real time audio signal on line 23 or the synthesized audio signal on line 21 to speaker 37.
  • Decoder 14 is coupled to memory means 50 which serves to include information for decoding the received information and for storing information received from CODEC 38.
  • the CODEC 38 provides the analog-to-digital conversion of speech signals on line 46 which are stored in memory 50 as digital voice messages.
  • each digital voice message is stored in an allocated fixed length (storage capacity) storage area, depending upon the conversion rate of the CODEC 38 (see Table 1).
  • a plurality of digital voice messages can be stored in memory 50.
  • the decoder 14 functions to alert the paging user, and to store, recall, and playback voice messages.
  • the paging receiver of FIG. 1 has a capacity of storing voice messages and providing them to audio amplifier 40 according to the state of a plurality of inputs, such as the state of the control switches of input module 42.
  • a switch interface 18 provides input capability for control switches 54-61 and keyboard 53.
  • control switch 54 is an on/off switch for controlling power from battery 16.
  • Control switch 56 is a play switch for playing back voice at a normal rate messages previously digitized and stored in memory 50.
  • Control switch 58 is a reset switch to reset the paging receiver system and to monitor any real time audio signals currently being received.
  • Control switch 60 is a mode switch for operating the decoder in one of three modes.
  • Control switch 61 is a fast forward/fast reverse selection switch providing a means to rapidly review a complete stored voice message, or just sections of the stored voice message. Both fast forward and fast reverse reviewing of the messages is provided as later described in FIGS. 3 and 4.
  • Keyboard 53 is a multiple switch input device which allows such user controlled message retrieval functions as random message access, partial message skip and message marking. Random message access allows the user to select a specific stored voice message, such as message number one or number two for review, as described in FIG. 5A, without having to sequence through all messages stored in the memory as in prior art receivers. Partial message skip, also described in FIG.
  • 5A allows the user to select an offset, such as a time offset, thereby allowing message retrieval at a point such as two seconds into each message. This is especially useful when long message, such as thirty-two or sixty-four seconds are stored, and the information of interest is in the last half of the message.
  • Message marking allows the user to enter a marker, or signature at the beginning and at end of a portion or segment of the stored messages, allowing important information, such as the calling party's name and phone number to be marked. Only the marked message portion is subsequently replayed, significantly speeding up message retrievals.
  • the battery 16 shown connected to decode 14 through switch interface 18.
  • Battery 16 provides power to decoder 14 through an energy conservation means 20, such as a DC to DC converter.
  • Decoder 14 is additionally connected to a code memory 22 which stores predetermined address information to which the paging receiver is responsive.
  • Code memory 50 can also store such information as the sampling rate for digitizing the received audio messages.
  • Output 62 from decoder 14 controls whether real time audio signals on line 23 from receiving means 12 or synthesized audio signals on line 21 from CODEC 38 are applied to audio speaker 37.
  • An audio producing module 64 is responsive to receiving means 12 and decoder 14.
  • An activation signal generated by receiving means 12 is fed to the audio producing module 64 via line 66.
  • the activation signal such as a carrier squelch signal, activates the audio producing module to generate a predetermined analog signal on line 68, which is coupled to the input of the CODEC 38 and line 23.
  • the predetermined analog signal is terminated in response to a reset signal generated by decoder 14 and applied as input to the audio producing module 64 as shown by line 70.
  • the reset signal is generated when the remaining capacity of the storage area is filled. For example, in the case where the activation signal is the carrier squelch signal, the predetermined analog signal is generated upon the termination of the analog voice message.
  • an aesthetically pleasing signal is produced by the audio producer module 64 and stored in the remaining capacity of the storage area.
  • This aesthetically pleasing signal may take the form of a plurality of tones varying in frequency and time such as a music melody, a single tone, or just silence. This prevents unwanted information or noise from being stored for the remaining capacity of the allocated storage area.
  • decoder 14 may also include a predetermined digital representation of the analog signal which can be stored in memory 50. Instead of the audio producing module 64 providing the analog signal to the CODEC, the decoder 14 provides the predetermined digital pattern, such as an idle or quiet pattern, to the allocated storage area upon sensing a control signal from the receiving means 12 via line 47. Thus, the audio producing module 64 can be eliminated, however, at the expense of the real time audio producing module output.
  • the operation of the paging receiver shown in FIG. 1 is such that the receiving means 12 is capable of receiving messages in any of several message formats through antenna 24.
  • the decoder 14 responds to the received signals to analyze the data and select one of several decoding schemes for appropriately decoding the incoming information received by receiving means 12. As is well known with paging devices, the resulting decoded signal is tested for comparison with a designated pager address contained in code memory 22. On detecting correspondence between the received and decoded signal and the address in code memory 22, the decoder 14 instructs the CODEC 38 to digitize the real time analog voice signals that follows for storage in one of a plurality of message locations or storage areas in memory 50.
  • An alert output signal may be produced by the decoder 14 to generate an alert indicating to the pager user that a message has been received and stored.
  • the alert output signal from the decoder 14 is supplied to audio amplifier 40 to produce an audible signal from speaker indicative of the receipt of the message.
  • the user responds to the message alert, the user has the ability to hear the message in real time, depending upon the position of mode switch 60. Specifically, if the mode switch is on the normal mode, upon receipt of a voice message, the user hears an alert followed by the voice message. Simultaneously, the message is stored into an allocated storage area, depending upon the bit rate of the CODEC 38.
  • energy conservation means 20 functions in cooperation with decoder 14 to conserve battery 16.
  • the decoder 14 may be designated to operate in one of a plurality of possible decoding schemes. This selective function may be supplied by the code memory 22 or may be factory preset independently of the code memory 22. It may also be appreciated that code memory 22 may contain several addresses, each one corresponding to the appropriately selected decoding scheme which is determined by the decoder 14 in response to signals received by receiver 12.
  • FIG.2 a second embodiment of the present invention illustrates a microcomputer 26 functioning as the decoder 14.
  • Microcomputer 26 is shown to be further comprised of a microprocessor 28 and a read only memory (ROM) 30.
  • ROM 30 includes the necessary instructions to operate microprocessor 28 to perform the functions as described below. It is understood that microcomputer 26 has the necessary timing circuitry to operate in a manner well known in the art and has similar connections as does the hardware decoder. The replacement of the hardware decoder functions, and the resulting system functions are indistinguishable except to the paging user except as noted below.
  • microcomputer 26 uses microprocessor 28 as a software decoder for processing the received signals in real time according to predetermined software routines. After the paging receiver is selectively identified, microprocessor 28 accesses ROM 30 for determining the correct instructions contained in that memory for processing the received signals, converting the analog voice signals to digital form, storing the digital form of the voice signal, and replaying the stored voice signals.
  • FIGS. 3, 4, 5A and 5B there are shown flow charts explaining the programs or routines as stored in read only memory (ROM) 30 to operate the microprocessor implementation of the paging receiver. It is understood that other routines to operate the paging receiver in the particular paging scheme are also present in ROM 30 but are not discussed here since they are not needed for the purposed of explaining the present invention.
  • the microprocessor decoder also stores the digitized voice messages in variable length storage areas, depending upon the length of the received voice message as will be described later, thus eliminating the need for the audio producing module 64.
  • FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the method for fast forwarding and fast reversing stored voice messages utilizing data bit rate modification.
  • a stored message may be played back at a normal rate by user actuation of the playback switch, at block 300, or initiated by user actuation of the fast forward switch, at block 302, or the fast reverse switch, at step 312.
  • the controller selects an appropriate higher data bit rate for playback, at block 304.
  • the CODEC and memory are clocked at twice the normal data bit rate, at block 306.
  • voice messages originally digitized at sixteen kilobits per second are sequentially retrieved from memory, and converted by the CODEC to the audio message at thirty-two kilobits per second, which results in an analog voice message having an elevated pitch. It will be appreciated that other data bit rates can also be utilized, limited only by the extent of the intelligibility to be maintained during the fast forwarding operation.
  • the controller continues to monitor the fast forward/fast reverse switch during playback operation. If the switch is not released, at block 308, playback is continued. If the switch is released, at block 308, the playback continues, but at the normal data rate, at block 310, to allow the user to listen to that portion of the message remaining after the fast forwarding operation is terminated.
  • the paging receiver When the end of the message playback is reached, the paging receiver returns to the standby mode, at block 324. Playback continues to the end of the message, unless the reset switch is actuated, at block 322, at which time playback is terminated, and the receiver returns to the standby mode, at block 324.
  • the controller selects the appropriate higher data bit rate, at block 314, which as previously described is twice the normal data bit rate for playback.
  • CODEC and memory are clocked at twice the normal data bit rate, at block 316.
  • voice messages digitized at sixteen kilobits per second are sequentially retrieved from memory in the reverse order from which they were digitized, and converted by the CODEC to the audio message at thirty-two kilobits per second, which results in an analog voice message having an elevated pitch and which is spoken backwards.
  • the controller continues to monitor the fast forward/fast reverse switch during playback operation. If the switch is not released, at block 318, playback is continued.
  • the playback continues, but at the normal data bit rate in the forward playback direction, at block 320, to allow the user to listen to that portion of the message remaining after the fast reversing operation was terminated.
  • the paging receiver returns to the standby mode, at block 324. Playback continues to the end of the message, unless the reset switch is actuated, at block 322, at which time playback is terminated, and the receiver returns to the standby mode, at block 324.
  • the CODEC can go into saturation, resulting in a momentary pop sound being generated. In this instance normal audio output is restored when an idle pattern (a pause in speaking) is detected, resetting the CODEC for recovery of the message to follow.
  • Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for fast forwarding and fast reversing stored voice messages utilizing memory address modification.
  • the advantage of this method of fast forwarding and fast reversing is that the data bit rate remains constant, eliminating the need for the timing means to generate additional data bit rates, as described in FIG. 3.
  • the memory addressing is modified to address every 2 N th bit, such as every second bit, or every fourth bit of the digitized voice message. By retrieving every second or fourth bit, the voice message is played back at twice or four times the normal rate.
  • the intelligibility of the message is degraded compared to the normal retrieval, and degrades further as fewer bits are recovered from the stored digitized serial data to further increase the playback rate.
  • the CODEC saturates, which would result in a loss of audio output.
  • the controller forces a reset to the CODEC on line 47, thereby insuring a rapid transistion to the normal playback mode of the voice message.
  • playback can be initiated with the playback switch, at step 400, the fast/forward switch, at step 402, or the fast reverse switch, at step 412, as shown in FIG. 4.
  • the controller selects the appropriate steps at which the addresses are incremented to retrieve the message from memory, at block 404.
  • every other bit is read, providing twice the normal playback rate.
  • the CODEC is clocked and the memory is incremented at the same data bit rate, at block 406, as in normal playback.
  • voice messages digitized at sixteen kilobits per second are sequentially retrieved from memory, and converted by the CODEC to the audio message at sixteen kilobits per second.
  • the controller continues to monitor the fast forward/fast reverse switch during playback operation. If the switch is not released, at block 408, playback is continued at the higher rate.
  • the playback continues as described above at the normal address incrementing rate, at block 410, to allow the user to listen to that portion of the message remaining after the fast forwarding operation is terminated. Playback continues to the end of the message, unless the reset switch is actuated, at block 422, at which time playback is terminated, and the receiver returns to the standby mode, at block 424. When the end of the message playback is reached, the paging receiver returns to the standby operating mode, at block 424.
  • the controller selects the appropriate steps at which the addresses are decremented to retrieve the message from memory, at block 414.
  • the CODEC is clocked and the memory is decremented at the same data bit rate, at block 416, as in normal playback.
  • voice messages digitized at sixteen kilobits per second are sequentially retrieved from memory, and converted by the CODEC to the audio message at sixteen kilobits per second, which results in an analog voice message having an normal pitch being produced, which is spoken backward.
  • the controller continues to monitor the fast forward/fast reverse switch during playback operation. If the switch is not released, at block 418, playback at the higher rate is continued.
  • the playback continues as described above at the normal address incrementing rate, at block 420, to allow the user to listen to that portion of the message remaining after the fast reversing operation is terminated. Playback continues to the end of the message, unless the reset switch is actuated, at block 422, at which time playback is terminated, and the receiver returns to the standby mode, at block 424. When the end of the message playback is reached, the paging receiver returns to the standby mode, at block 424.
  • FIGS. 5A and 5B are flow charts illustrating a method for accessing stored voice messages utilizing user selectable memory access methods. Random access stored voice message retrieval is shown in FIG. 5A. Random access message retrieval would occur in much the same manner as described in FIG 4, except instead of skipping a number of bits in a message to fast forward or reverse the output, the controller jumps to the starting address of the next message. It will be appreciated such operation can be implemented during the normal playback mode, or during the fast forward/fast reverse playback modes. The description to follow with FIG 5A considers operation from the normal playback mode, although similar operation in the fast forward/fast reverse mode will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
  • Random access message retrieval is initiated by the user depressing a number key on the keyboard, corresponding to the message number retrieval is required, at step 502, of FIG. 5A.
  • the controller also checks to determine if any offset has been selected by the user which would result in a jump to an address offset from the start of the message by the amount of offset previously selected, at step 504. For ease of specifying the offset by the user, the offset entered is specified in time units, such as seconds, or fractions thereof, to avoid any confusion which may occur at different data sampling rates. If no offset is selected, at step 504, playback of the selected message beginning at the start of the message, at step 508, proceeds when the play switch is activated, at step 506. Playback continues until the message is completed, at which time the controller returns to the standby state, at step 500.
  • step 504 playback of the selected message beginning at the start of the message plus the offset amount, at step 512, proceeds when the play switch is activated, at step 510. Playback continues until the message is completed, at which time the controller returns to the standby state, at step 500.
  • the use of random access message retrieval, with and without offsets provides simplified message access, especially when long messages, such as fifteen seconds and longer are stored. While the operation described shows a two step operating sequence, playback could have been initiated by depressing only a single keyboard key, when the number of messages is ten or less (0-9), without the need for actuation of the playback switch.
  • FIG. 5B Another user selectable memory access method which is shown in FIG. 5B, allows the user to retrieve only user selected portions of the stored voice message. This is especially useful when longer voice messages, such as those having thirty or sixty seconds duration and more are being received and stored. In such messages, much of the information stored may not be relevant at a later time.
  • One such example would be where the message provided information of an immediate nature to be responded to, as well as the caller's name and phone number to be called when the assignment provided is completed, or the information requested is obtained.
  • the controller checks to see if any markers have been set for the current message, at block 552. If it is determined markers were set, at block 552, the message is played back at block 554 in a normal manner, playing back only that portion of the message that was previously selected by the user. After the playback is completed, the receiver would return to the standby mode, at block 548.
  • a description of the message markers is provided in FIG. 6.
  • the controller determines that no markers have been set for the particular message for which playback is requested, at block 552, normal playback of the complete message is initiated, at step 556 of FIG. 5B. While playback of the message proceeds, the controller monitors a predetermined switch, such as a dedicated switch not shown in FIG. 1 or 2, or a predetermined key on the keyboard, which allows the user to set a marker, at step 558. If the marker selection switch is not actuated, at block 558, playback of the stored voice message continues, until the switch is actuated, at block 558, or until the end of the message is reached, at which time the receiver returns to the standby mode, at step 548.
  • a predetermined switch such as a dedicated switch not shown in FIG. 1 or 2, or a predetermined key on the keyboard
  • the controller determines whether this is the first actuation of the marker selection switch, at block 560. If this is the first actuation of the marker selection switch, at step 558, indicating the beginning of the message portion to be replayed at a later time, the controller determines the address of the current memory position, storing this address as a starting signature address in memory, at block 562, and the message is continued to be replayed.
  • the controller determines the address of the then current memory position, storing this address as an ending signature address in memory, at block 564, and the message is continued to be replayed.
  • additional memory space may be allocated, as to be described in FIG. 6, to accommodate the identification of additional message segments. While not shown in FIG. 5B, there may be instances when it is desirable to review the entire message after being previously marked.
  • message marking as described can also be accomplished by a message originator on entering a call.
  • the message originator When the message originator reaches a point within the message which is to be marked, the message originator would pause, depress one of keypad keys, such as the asterisk, and then continue with the message.
  • the end of the message segment to be marked is marked in a similar manner.
  • the dual tone "touchtone" code is decoded, and a binary code word is inserted into the message at the appropriate location. Since most terminals provide automatic pause elimination, the transmitted message would not include the time required to make the marker selections.
  • the received analog voice message is monitored by the controller, as the message is digitized and stored.
  • the appropriate starting and finish signature addresses are stored, as previously described in FIG. 5B.
  • the paging receiver operation is modified to playback the entire message the first time, and then after the marked message segment, or segments.
  • FIG. 6 shows the memory allocation for the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • each message is identified by a start address of a particular message, defined as two bytes 600 and 602.
  • the stop address is next defined as two bytes 604 and 606.
  • variable length messages may be readily stored in memory.
  • the signature start address at bytes 608 and 610 and the signature stop address, at bytes 612 and 614 which identify a user selected segment of the stored message for retrieval at later times.
  • the memory map shown describes storing four messages, it will be appreciated additional messages can be stored by allocating additional memory area for identifying additional message locations.
  • the balance of the memory from bytes 618 through 620 is used for message storage, and variable space as required by the microprocessor. Also included in the memory area from bytes 618-620 is storage for such variables as the address start offset, (not shown) as described in FIG. 5A.
  • FIG. 6 is for example only, and that while a memory space of 64K bytes of information is shown, larger memory areas including, but not limited to 256K bytes and 1 megabyte and larger memories may also be provided.

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  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Selektivrufempfänger (10), umfassend:
    eine Empfangseinrichtung (12) zum Empfangen analoger Sprachnachrichten;
    eine Umwandlungseinrichtung (38) zum Umwandeln der empfangenen analogen Sprachnachrichten in Digitalsignale, die eine Replik einer analogen Sprachnachricht darstellen, und weiter zum Umwandeln der Digitalsignale in analoge Sprachsignale;
    eine Nachrichtenspeichereinrichtung (50) zum Speichern der Digitalsignale;
    eine Wiedergewinnungseinrichtung (14) zur Wiedergewinnung der Digitalsignale bei einer ersten Datenbitrate zum Abspielen bei einer ersten Abspielgeschwindigkeit, die gleich einer normalen stimmhaften Abspielgeschwindigkeit ist, und
    eine Einrichtung (64) zum Liefern der analogen Sprachsignale als die analoge Sprachnachricht, die zum Abspielen bei der ersten Abspielgeschwindigkeit geliefert wird,
    wobei der Selektivrufempfänger (10) weiter dadurch gekennzeichnet ist,
    daß die Wiedergewinnungseinrichtung (14) zur Wiedergewinnung der Digitalsignale weiter die Digitalsignale bei einer zweiten Datenbitrate zum Abspielen bei einer zweiten Abspielgeschwindigkeit wiedergewinnt, die größer als die normale stimmhafte Abspielgeschwindigkeit ist, und
    und die Einrichtung (64) zum Liefern der analogen Sprachsignale als die analoge Sprachnachricht weiter die analoge Sprachnachricht zum Abspielen bei der zweiten Abspielgeschwindigkeit liefert.
  2. Selektivrufempfänger (10) anch Anspruch 1, bei dem die Wiedergewinnungseinrichtung umfaßt:
    eine Steuerungseinrichtung (28), die mit der Umwandlungseinrichtung (38) und der Nachrichtenspeichereinrichtung (50) verbunden ist, zum Steuern einer Wiedergewinnung der Digitalsignale von der Nachrichtenspeichereinrichtung (50) bei der ersten Datenbitrate und weiter zum Steuern der Wiedergewinnung der Digitalsignale von der Nachrichtenspeichereinrichtung (50) bei der zweiten Datenbitrate;
    eine erste Schaltereinrichtung (56), die mit der Steuerungseinrichtung (28) verbunden ist, zum Ermöglichen einer Wiedergewinnung der Digitalsignale von der Nachrichtenspeichereinrichtung (50) bei der ersten Datenbitrate und zur Umwandlung derselben in analoge Sprachnachrichtensignale zum Abspielen bei der ersten Abspielgeschwindigkeit und
    eine zweite Schaltereinrichtung (61), die mit der Steuerungseinrichtung (28) verbunden ist, zum weiter Ermöglichen einer Wiedergewinnung der Digitalsignale von der Nachrichtenspeichereinrichtung (50) bei der zweiten Datenbitrate und zur Umwandlung derselben in analoge Sprachnachrichtensignale zum Abspielen bei der zweiten Abspielgeschwindigkeit.
  3. Selektivrufempfänger (10) nach Anspruch 2, bei dem die Digitalsignale in der Nachrichtenspeichereinrichtung (50) in einer sequentiellen Reihenfolge gespeichert werden und bei dem die zweite Schaltereinrichtung (61) eine erste Stellung zum Ermöglichen der Wiedergewinnung der Digitalsignale in einer aufsteigenden sequentiellen Reihenfolge umfaßt.
  4. Selektivrufempfänger (10) nach Anspruch 2, bei dem die Digitalsignale in der Nachrichtenspeichereinrichtung (50) in einer sequentiellen Reihenfolge gespeichert werden und bei dem die zweite Schaltereinrichtung (61) eine zweite Stellung zum Ermöglichen der Wiedergewinnung der Digitalsignale in einer absteigenden sequentiellen Reihenfolge umfaßt.
  5. Selektivrufempfänger (10) nach Anspruch 2, bei dem die Steuerungseinrichtung (28) eine Speicheradressierungseinrichtung (p/o 28) umfaßt, die auf ein erstes Wiedergewinnungssignal anspricht, zum sequentiellen Wiedergewinnen der Digitalsignale bei der ersten Datenbitrate, wodurch die analoge Sprachnachricht bei einer normalen Tonlage hörbar geliefert wird.
  6. Selektivrufempfänger (10) nach Anspruch 2, bei dem die Steuerungseinrichtung (28) eine Speicheradressierungseinrichtung (p/o 28) umfaßt, die auf ein zweites Wiedergewinnungssignal anspricht, zum sequentiellen Wiedergewinnen der Digitalsignale bei der zweiten Datenbitrate, wodurch die analoge Sprachnachricht bei einer erhöhten Tonlage hörbar geliefert wird.
  7. Selektivrufempfänger (10) nach Anspruch 2, bei dem die zweite Schaltereinrichtung (61) mit der Steuerungseinrichtung (28) verbunden ist, um weiter eine sequentielle Wiedergewinnung jedes N-ten Bits der Digitalsignale von der Nachrichtenspeichereinrichtung (50) bei der ersten Datenbitrate zu ermöglichen, wo N größer als eins ist, und dieselben in analoge Sprachnachrichtensignale zum Abspielen bei der zweiten Abspielgeschwindigkeit umzuwandeln.
  8. Selektivrufempfänger (10) nach Anspruch 7, bei dem die zweite Schaltereinrichtung (61) eine erste Stellung zum Ermöglichen der sequentiellen Wiedergewinnung jedes N-ten Bits der Digitalsignale in einer aufsteigenden sequentiellen Reihenfolge umfaßt.
  9. Selektivrufempfänger (10) nach Anspruch 7, bei dem die zweite Schaltereinrichtung (61) eine zweite Stellung zum Ermöglichen der sequentiellen Wiedergewinnung jedes N-ten Bits der Digitalsignale in einer absteigenden sequentiellen Reihenfolge umfaßt.
EP90911189A 1989-08-02 1990-07-03 Rufempfänger mit durch den benutzer steuerbarer nachrichtenwiedergabe Expired - Lifetime EP0485416B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US38846389A 1989-08-02 1989-08-02
PCT/US1990/003733 WO1991002433A1 (en) 1989-08-02 1990-07-03 Stored voice receiver having user controllable message retrieval
US388463 1995-02-14

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0485416A1 EP0485416A1 (de) 1992-05-20
EP0485416A4 EP0485416A4 (en) 1993-03-03
EP0485416B1 true EP0485416B1 (de) 1997-05-02

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EP90911189A Expired - Lifetime EP0485416B1 (de) 1989-08-02 1990-07-03 Rufempfänger mit durch den benutzer steuerbarer nachrichtenwiedergabe

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EP (1) EP0485416B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE152569T1 (de)
DE (1) DE69030624T2 (de)
WO (1) WO1991002433A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0529729A1 (de) 1991-08-29 1993-03-03 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Unterstützungssystem für eine Primärfunktion durch Reproduktion einer Sprachnachricht bei veränderbarer Geschwindigkeit
GB2279476B (en) * 1993-06-21 1998-01-07 Nec Corp Selective calling receiver capable of providing a message by a speech sound
JP2900849B2 (ja) * 1995-07-31 1999-06-02 日本電気株式会社 音声出力型無線受信機
JP3105767B2 (ja) * 1995-08-17 2000-11-06 日本電気株式会社 音声出力形無線受信機
JP2773716B2 (ja) * 1995-11-28 1998-07-09 日本電気株式会社 音声出力型無線受信機
JP2000194399A (ja) * 1998-07-06 2000-07-14 Omnivoice Corp ペ―ジングシステムにおける音声再生方法および装置

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4769642A (en) * 1985-12-31 1988-09-06 Motorola, Inc. Paging receiver with LPC speech synthesizer
US4821021A (en) * 1987-01-13 1989-04-11 Nec Corporation Selective calling radio display pager having a message recalling algorithm which simplifies operations
US4905003A (en) * 1987-07-24 1990-02-27 Richard J. Helferich Analog/digital data storage system
US4873520A (en) * 1987-11-02 1989-10-10 Motorola, Inc. Paging receiver for storing digitized voice messages

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69030624T2 (de) 1997-11-06
EP0485416A1 (de) 1992-05-20
EP0485416A4 (en) 1993-03-03
ATE152569T1 (de) 1997-05-15
WO1991002433A1 (en) 1991-02-21
DE69030624D1 (de) 1997-06-05

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