Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
  • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
  • H04H20/28—Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
  • H04H20/33—Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information by plural channels
  • H04H20/34—Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information by plural channels using an out-of-band subcarrier signal
• • 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
  • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
  • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
  • H04H60/35—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users
  • H04H60/37—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
  • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
  • H04H60/09—Arrangements for device control with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time; Arrangements for control of broadcast-related services
  • H04H60/14—Arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services
  • H04H60/15—Arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services on receiving information
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
  • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
  • H04H60/35—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users
  • H04H60/46—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for recognising users' preferences
• • 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
  • H04W88/02—Terminal devices
  • H04W88/022—Selective call receivers
  • H04W88/023—Selective call receivers with message or information receiving capability

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to communication systems, and particularly to delivery of information services on demand to a remote personal information terminal.
• FM radio stations can simultaneously transmit both a main audio signal and a subcarrier signal.
• the main audio signal carries the traditional voice and music presentation and the subcarrier signal can carry for example a data signal for a paging system.
• Normal FM radios receive the main signal and paging devices such as the devices shown in U.S. Patent Number 4,713,808 entitled WATCH PAGER SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL and issued December 15, 1987, receive paging messages transmitted on the subcarrier.
• One type of information delivery system is by radio signal broadcast to remote radio signal receiving devices.
• the communication link is a one-way link, there being no radio signal transmission capability in the remote personal information terminal.
• Information service delivery has been incorporated into existing paging systems.
• Users of the paging system devices subscribe to information services as represented in a subscription arrangement previously established and maintained by the paging system.
• Such information subscription arrangements are established by the paging system operator causing certain information service paging messages to be directed to a given paging device.
• a user sometimes wants to only obtain a certain information service item
• a different frequency or set of frequencies carry information addressed to receiving devices normally located in that distant area.
• the user could contact the paging system operator to direct certain information services to its
• multiple-frequency paging systems i.e., systems employing a plurality of transmission facilities to provide paging messages to frequency-agile receivers, all information services are provided on all transmission frequencies. Redundancy in
• paging system transmission better ensures reception of vital information, i.e., paging information, by paging devices. Since some information services consume significant information delivery bandwidth. It is not feasible to incorporate a broad
• a one-way communication system e.g., in a paging system
• an ability to provide on demand information services without requiring the user to interact with the paging system by way of an alternate channel of communication, e.g., by telephoning the paging system to modify information service paging messages directed thereto.
• the user would like
• the subject matter of the present invention provides information services on demand by user whereby the user need not interact directly by alternate communication channel with the paging system to receive selected information
• the present invention provides in an information delivery system a receiver receiving both a main FM station audio transmission and a subcarrier transmission.
• the receiver receives information services on user demand by way of the subcarrier signal.
• the user selectively receives one or both of an audio signal and paging system data including information services on
• a method of information service delivery under the present invention includes reception of a set of information service items in a plurality of information categories.
• a first subset of information service items are broadcast in a first transmission channel and a second subset of information service items are broadcast in a second
• Each transmission channel providing information service items also includes indicia of information category found therein.
• Remote information terminals respond to a user demand for a given information category by seeking indicia corresponding to the demanded information category in at least one of the first and second transmission channels.
• a system delivering information services to remote information terminals under the present invention includes a radio signal transmission portion providing
• a transmission control portion receives information items in a plurality of information service categories and broadcasts such information items by way of the radio signal transmission portion in at least two of the transmission channels.
• transmission includes indicia therein corresponding to at least one information category available therein.
• At least one of the remote information terminals includes a user-interface allowing a user to demand information in a selected information service category. The terminal then seeks to user demanded information service
• FIG. 1 illustrates a personal information terminal receiving both conventional audio radio signal and data signal transmissions from FM radio stations.
• FIG. 2 illustrates in block diagram the personal information terminal of FIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 illustrates generally information services on demand by user system encompassing three distinct geographic areas.
• FIG. 4 illustrates in more detail signal transmission facilities of the system of FIG. 3.
• FIG. 5 illustrates a data packet transmission protocol employing multiple frequency transmission wherein each transmission references similar but relatively offset time frames in a time-division multiplexed transmission protocol.
• FIG. 6 illustrates a second form of a personal information terminal receiving selected information service items on user demand in accordance with the present
• FIG. 7 illustrates generally programming in the paging system receiving information service data and distributing subsets of information service data among
• FIG. 8 illustrates programming for information terminals showing normal paging message reception and also showing information service reception
• FIG. 9 illustrates personal information terminal programming further detailing on demand information service reception in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a personal information terminal 106 operating in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 2 illustrates terminal 106 in block diagram.
• terminal 106 is a combined audio and data FM radio signal receiving device.
• each terminal 106 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) 301 for presentation of FM radio tuning information and, as explained more fully hereafter, and a LCD 300 for presentation of paging messages and information sen/ices provided on demand in accordance with the present invention.
• Terminal 106 includes an AM/FM switch 180 as well as a volume dial 182 and tuner dial 184 to receive and present to the user a conventional audio signal.
• LCD liquid crystal display
• each terminal 106 includes an antenna 186 coupled to receivers 188a and 188b.
• Receivers 188a and 188b produce baseband composite signals 190a and 190b applied to bandpass filters 191 and 192, respectively.
• Bandpass filter 199 monitors a subcarrier signal for application to a data decoder 193.
• Bandpass filter 192 extracts a main audio channel for application to a stereo decoder 194.
• Stereo decoder 194 applies right and left audio channels to a stereo amplifier 195, which in turn drives right and left speakers 196 according to volume control 182.
• Data decoder 193 drives a data presentation and storage block 197.
• Each of receivers 188a and 188b may be selectively tuned to a given broadcast frequency whereby a selected main audio signal and selected data transmission are received concurrently from one or more FM radio stations.
• a single frequency agile receiver may be employed to receive audio signal transmissions, but during brief, e.g., 35 millisecond, intervals receive paging message data packets on the same or a different broadcast frequency. While such
• the audio signal would be generally comprehensible.
• the present embodiment will be shown with two separate receivers 188a and 188b, each individually tunable to a selected FM station to receive audio and data transmissions, respectively.
• a programmable controller 170 orchestrates generally operation of terminal 106 including monitoring buttons 302, 304, and 306 and FM radio controls 180 and 184. Controller 170 activates and tunes receivers 188a and 188b and dictates operation of data presentation and storage block 197 and of data decoder 193. Thus, each terminal 106 monitors both selected audio and selected data
• FIG. 3 illustrates generally an information service on demand by user system encompassing three distinct geographic areas 100a, 100b, and 100c, in the
• Each city or area 100 includes a plurality of radio signal transmission stations 102 each broadcasting, at separate frequencies and according to a given transmission protocol, a broadcast signal 104 to a plurality of personal information terminals (T) 106. Users of personal information terminals 106 travel within a given city or area 100, or may travel
• Each personal information terminal 106 is a frequency-agile device capable of tuning to selected frequencies, and thereby receiving information from a selected one of stations 102, e.g., data and audio signals taken from different stations 102.
• Data transmission and reception within the information services system of FIG. 3 operates according to a given broadcast protocol.
• the illustrated system operates generally in the fashion of a paging system, or incorporated within a paging system protocol.
• the present invention will be illustrated with reference to a particular paging system protocol, but the invention is not limited to the particular paging system and transmission protocol selected herein for illustration of the present invention.
• the local area clearinghouse in each area stores resident subscriber data including current location and receiver serial number. This data is used to transfer messages over a data network to the correct clearinghouse.
• the system uses a TDM data
• the data is encoded and transmitted at a very high rate (e.g., 19,000 baud) in short packets (256 bits/13 milliseconds) via stereo FM sidebands.
• Receivers are assigned to receive sequentially numbered time slots matching a portion of their address.
• the addresses of intended receivers are included in the
• Receivers can be deactivated between packets and reactivated in accordance with the sequential time slot number scheme to receive an incoming packet. Messages longer than a packet are segmented and transmitted in two or more packets, linked together by data contained in the packets.
• a watch pager used in the system employs a wristband antenna which electromagnetically couples to the user's body. The watch pager displays time, telephone numbers and icons
• FIG. 4 illustrates generally the transmission stations 102 of FIG. 3 as well as delivery of information to stations 102 and coordinated information delivery among the regions 100.
• a plurality of stations 102 each providing a separate broadcast signal 104, each include a subcarrier generator 120.
• Subcarrier generators 120 receive a data stream 122 from a paging system clearinghouse 124.
• Subcarrier generators 120 produce a subcarrier signal incorporated into the normal audio signal transmission, e.g., an FM signal transmission provided by a commercial
• FM radio station comprising one of stations 102.
• Such protocol includes not only formatting and addressing
• Clearinghouse 124 interacts through a public switch telephone network (PSTN) 126
• PSTN public switch telephone network
• Telephones 128 allow callers to submit paging messages to clearinghouse 124 for
• Clearinghouse 124 also receives by way of telephone network 126
• sources 130 submit information in a variety of categories to clearinghouse 124.
• the paging system makes available information services in distinct
• Clearinghouse 124 further includes an
• intercity link 132 coupling clearinghouse 124 in a given area 100 with a
• FIG. 5 illustrates generally the time-division multiplexed protocol dictating operation of stations 102 and personal information terminals 106. Each personal
• Each time frame 202 corresponds to one of stations 102, with a unique offset associated with
• Each station 102 Each time frame 202 includes a fixed number of time slots 200 each of fixed duration.
• Information terminals 106 interpret the leading three time slots, designated 200a, 200b, and 200c in FIG. 2, as control time slots.
• the remaining time slots 200 in each time frame 202 carry data packets directed to one or more members of the local population of personal information terminals 106.
• Personal information terminals 106 tune to a selected station 102 and synchronize relative to the time frame 202 associated with that station 102.
• an information terminal 106 stores therein a station list representing a set of stations 102 available in a given area 100.
• an information terminal obtains frequency values and relative time frame 202 offset values to selectively tune to stations 102 in a given area 100, and thereby selectively obtain paging data and information services from a given station 102 and time slot 200.
• Each personal information terminal 106 is associated with at least one of the remaining time slots 200 in each time frame 202. More typically, however, each terminal 106 is associated with a set of time slots 200 within each time frame 202. Terminals 106 each have a unique serial or identification number a portion of this number provides a mask identifying a set of time slots 200 within each time frame 202. Each terminal 106 thereby identifies a set of time slots 200 assigned thereto.
• Each personal information terminal 106 is associated with at least one of the remaining time slots 200 in each time frame 202. More typically, however, each terminal 106 is associated with a set of time slots 200 within each time frame 202. Terminals 106 each have a unique serial or identification number a portion of this number provides a mask identifying a set of time slots 200 within each time frame 202. Each terminal 106 thereby identifies a set of time slots 200 assigned thereto.
• Each personal information terminal 106 is associated with at least one of the remaining time slots 200 in each time frame 202. More typically, however,
• Each station 102 broadcasts message data packets with reference to one of repeating time frames 202, but time frames 202 are not in aligned synchronization.
• Time frames 202 are offset relative to one another. This relative offset allows a terminal 106 to switch frequencies, i.e., tune in a different station 102, and receive more quickly a data packet during its assigned time slot.
• the terminal 106 need not wait for the next assigned time slot in the original time frame 202. For example, if a given terminal 106 finds corrupted data in a data packet provided during its assigned time slot, it could wait until a next occurrence of an assigned time slot in the current time frame 202.
• Relative offset among time frames 202 allows a terminal
• Radio stations 102 are, therefore, distinguished not only by distinct broadcast 104 frequencies of transmission, but also according to a given relative offset of each repeating time frame 202.
• Each time frame 202 begins with control time slots 200a, 200b, and 200c.
• Data packets transmitted by a given station 102 during control time slots 200a-200c provide a variety of configuration and system information.
• Time slot 200a provides a data packet including a system flag 208.
• the system flag in the illustrated example comprising a 20 bit sequence "11110001111000110010", identifies to the
• terminal 106 the paging system source of information provided in the broadcast signal 104.
• Terminals 106 differentiate among one or more paging systems employing similar transmission protocol by reference to the system flag 208 leading each time frame 202.
• variation in the system flag available during control time slot 200a of each time frame 202 indicates a sub-system within a given information system.
• sub-systems may be designated for carrying particular categories of information, i.e., particular
• Data transmitted during control time slot 200b includes a variety of configuration information, including one or more information service codes 210.
• Each code 210 indicates an information service available in the associated broadcast signal 104.
• a set of information codes designate one or more of the following information services: weather, basketball scores, football scores, hockey scores, Dow Jones index, transportation index, airline index, and mutual funds index.
• Terminals 106 seek particular information services in response to user demand by monitoring stations 102 and receiving information service codes 210, and comparing received codes 210 to demanded codes 210. For example, a terminal 106 seeks basketball scores by sequentially tuning to stations 102, monitoring the information codes 210 broadcast during a time slot 200b, and, upon
• terminals 106 seek particular information services in response to user demand by monitoring broadcast 104 seeking a particular system flag 208, i.e., a system flag
• Information terminals 106 need not have information subscription messages specifically directed thereto to receive selected information services.
• the terminals 106 respond to user demand by seeking information services according to the content of signal broadcasts 104, i.e., by looking for particular service codes or particular system flags.
• each terminal 106 includes a set of control buttons. Activation of time button 302 causes presentation of a current time and date on display 300. The user activates button 304 to display stored or just-received paging
• buttons 306 in the illustrated embodiment individually designated 306a, 306b, 306c, and 306d, cause terminal 106 to deviate from normal operation and seek information reflected in a user information service demand initiated by user activation of one of buttons 306.
• buttons 306a-306d correspond to weather, stock, football, and basketball information services.
• Button 306 assignments, i.e., association with a particular information service category may be fixed as illustrated in FIG. 1 , or programmable according to a given design or product criteria.
• a user of a terminal 106 receives specific information services on demand without establishing such information through a prearranged subscription established by direct interaction with the paging system operator.
• buttons 306 a variety of alternate button and user-interface configurations may be employed to implement user demand for or reference to any desired number of information categories.
• FIG. 6 illustrates a watch-form terminal 106'.
• an LCD In FIG. 6, an LCD
• buttons 322 and 324 are buttons 322 and 324. More particularly, in a normal mode of operation, button 322, when activated by the user, causes presentation of time and date information on display 320 and button 324, when activated, causes presentation of paging messages on display 320. By entering an information services demand mode, however, the watch-form terminal 106' makes alternate use of buttons 322 and 324. For example, by pressing both buttons 322
• terminal 106' enters an information services demand mode wherein button 322 sequentially presents information service categories on display 320.
• button 324 When the user displays a desired information service on display 320, the user activates button 324 to select or demand information in that category.
• the watch-form terminal 106' thereby allows the user to "scroll and select" among available information categories. Reference to a given information category causes the device to seek information within that category in accordance with the present invention.
• buttons 306 in the terminal 106 of FIG. 1 substitutes operation of buttons 306 in the terminal 106 of FIG. 1.
• Each terminal 106 monitors user activation of buttons 306 and seeks information services by switching to one or more stations 102 and by seeking an
• Each device 106 seeks a selected information service code 210 or a system flag 208 to satisfy the user-requested demand for a given information service.
• Station 102 tuning under normal multiple-frequency broadcast systems supports improved signal reception by tuning to a better-received station 102.
• Station 102 selection under the present invention is not for correcting bad reception, but rather to seek certain information services on demand without use of an alternate channel of communication, i.e., without calling the paging system operator.
• FIG. 7 illustrates generally processing within the paging system directed to reception of information service data and distribution among transmission channels.
• the paging system receives in block 400 information service data from a variety of information sources.
• subsets of information service data are assigned to appropriate transmission channels. More particularly, some information services may be assigned to dedicated paging systems, i.e., systems bearing a system flag 208 indicating broadcast of information services generally or particular information services. Further, information service data may be assigned to
• transmission channel refers to paging subsystems dedicated at least in part to information service broadcast or to particular stations 102 dedicated in whole or in part to delivery of particular information services.
• paging system broadcasts the information service data according to transmission channel assignment.
• information data is directed to an appropriate transmission channel.
• such broadcast may be intermixed with normal paging broadcasts or directed to dedicated paging subsystems or dedicated stations 102.
• the paging system receives a set of information services and directs subsets of information services received to specific transmission channels. In this manner, overall system bandwidth is maximized by placing information service data on dedicated transmission channels, thereby leaving relatively more transmission
• FIG. 8 illustrates generally operation of an information terminal 106 receiving normal paging messages, including messages generated by callers submitting requests to the paging system clearinghouse 124 or information service
• FIG. 8 illustrates response by the information terminal 106 to user activation of buttons 306 in implementation of information services on demand by user.
• terminal 106 begins scanning generally for a data transmission in
• decision block 502 determines whether a valid system flag 208 is present, i.e., the terminal 106 receives information during a control time slot 200a. If a valid system flag is not present, processing returns to block 500 for further scanning to detect data transmission. If a valid system flag is found in decision block 502, processing advances to block 504 where terminal 106 stores the system station list including frequency and relative
• time frame 202 offset values In block 506, terminal 106 tunes to a system station. Decision block 508 determines if the currently tuned system station 102 operates according to a valid offset and frequency. If not, processing returns to block 506 to tune to a next system station 102. If a valid frequency and offset are found in block 508, processing advances to block 510 where terminal 106 targets a next time slot 200 for the time frame 202 associated with the presently tuned station 102, i.e., targets its assigned next time slot 200 to activate and receive information directed to
• terminal 106 sets an interrupt for the next targeted
• terminal 106 interrogates buttons 306 to determine user activation. If a user has activated one of buttons 306, processing branches to
• block 518 represents normal message reception according to normal
• processing returns to block 510 where
• terminal 106 targets a next time slot 200 according to system protocol. If terminal
• terminal 106 employs the system station list to select a next station
• FIG. 9 illustrates programming of terminal 106 as represented in block 516 of
• FIG. 8 an information service demand procedure receives as parameters
• buttons 306 indicates to terminal 106 both a valid system flag 208 and a valid service code
• terminal 106 scans for a valid information service system flag 208, i.e., one corresponding to the system flag associated with the demanded information service.
• processing determines if a valid information service flag 208 has been obtained. If not, processing returns to block 600 for continued scanning in pursuit of a valid information service system flag 208. When a valid information service flag 208 is obtained, processing advances to block 604 where terminal 106 obtains a system
• terminal 106 tunes to a system station 102 and, in decision block 608, determines if that station 102 provides a valid information
• processing returns to block 606 where a next
• system station 102 is tuned in pursuit of an appropriate information service code
• processing advances to block 610 where terminal 106 targets an information service time slot 200 of the current time frame 202.
• terminal 106 receives the demanded information service data for storage and presentation on display 300.
• a travelling user upon entering a new area 100 and activating one of buttons 306, indicates to terminal 106 a desired information service.
• Terminal 106 seeks such information service without prior knowledge of local station 102 frequencies or prior knowledge of systems in which such information services may be obtained.
• Terminals 106 seek information services by content, i.e., system flags 208 or information service codes 210, found in broadcasts 104.
• the user merely presses a selected button 306 on its terminal 106, and need not engage an alternate communication channel, e.g., telephone the local paging system, to obtain particular information services on a limited basis and without formal subscription therefor.

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

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• 1996
  • 1996-02-29 JP JP8526939A patent/JPH11505683A/ja active Pending
  • 1996-02-29 CA CA002214716A patent/CA2214716A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1996-02-29 EP EP96906653A patent/EP0813772A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1996-02-29 WO PCT/US1996/002757 patent/WO1996027952A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1996-02-29 AU AU49978/96A patent/AU4997896A/en not_active Abandoned

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