EP0819288B1 - Portable one-way radio pager including an electronic directory - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to portable receivers one-way paging, including a Phonebook.

• reconnaítre des messages radio spécifiques, dits messages de téléchargement, incluant au moins des données afférentes à des correspondants et destinées à être stockées dans le répertoire,
• et stocker le contenu de ces messages de téléchargement dans le répertoire de la mémoire.

More particularly, the invention relates to a portable unidirectional paging receiver, comprising reception means for receiving radio messages, a memory for storing these messages, a simplified keyboard comprising less than ten keys, and an electronic central unit, the memory comprising a directory which includes telephone numbers relating to correspondents, and the central unit being provided for:

• recognize specific radio messages, known as download messages, including at least data relating to correspondents and intended to be stored in the directory,
• and store the contents of these download messages in the memory directory.

US-5,212,721 describes an example of a receiver of this type, which simplifies messages paging transmitted to the receiver. Indeed, these messages are usually limited to a code representative of a memory address of the receiver: receiving each message, the receiver user may trigger an audible signal from automatic numbering representative of the number of phone stored in its directory at the memory address received in the paging message.

However, the receiver disclosed in this document allows only to recall a telephone number determined upon receipt of each message, without even knowing who is the called party.

In addition, the receiver user remains obliged to use a telephone directory separate from said receiver, which helps to clutter it.

The object of the present invention is in particular to overcome these drawbacks.

en ce que ledit récepteur comporte un écran, l'unité centrale étant prévue pour afficher sur l'écran au moins certains des messages reçus par le récepteur,

en ce que le répertoire inclut, pour chaque correspondant, un nom de correspondant en langage courant compréhensible par un utilisateur humain,

   et en ce que l'unité centrale est prévue pour :

• mémoriser dans le répertoire de la mémoire, à partir des messages de téléchargement, des noms de correspondants en langage courant compréhensible par un opérateur humain et des données afférentes à ces correspondants, les messages de téléchargement incluant ces noms de correspondants,
• et afficher sur l'écran des données contenues dans le répertoire, dont au moins un nom de correspondant en langage courant compréhensible par un utilisateur humain, en fonction de commandes reçues d'un utilisateur au moyen du clavier.

To this end, according to the invention, a portable unidirectional paging receiver of the kind in question is characterized:

in that said receiver includes a screen, the central unit being designed to display on the screen at least some of the messages received by the receiver,

in that the directory includes, for each correspondent, a name of correspondent in everyday language understandable by a human user,

and in that the central unit is provided for:

• memorize in the memory directory, from the download messages, names of correspondents in everyday language understandable by a human operator and data relating to these correspondents, the download messages including these names of correspondents,
• and display on the screen data contained in the directory, including at least one correspondent name in everyday language understandable by a human user, as a function of commands received from a user by means of the keyboard.

Thanks to these provisions, it is possible integrate a real telephone directory into the portable paging receiver, although the keyboard simplified of this receiver does not allow in practice direct data entry, including names of correspondents and telephone numbers in the directory.

So, on the one hand, the receiver carrier is always sure to have his repertoire with him which allows him to react optimally to messages received, and on the other hand the receiver carrier Avoid getting cluttered with an additional object, whether either a notebook or an electronic box.

Note that entering data into the directory is very easy for a user, and does not requires no complex manipulation.

Indeed, it suffices for this user to telephone to a human operator of a radio station paging of the network to which the receiver belongs. As is already common practice for messages usual, the operator then sends the radio message desired, which in this case contains data to store in the directory of the own receiver of the user.

• le répertoire est prévu pour inclure également une adresse affectée respectivement à chaque correspondant ;
• le répertoire est prévu pour inclure également un numéro de téléphone supplémentaire affecté respectivement à chaque correspondant, ce numéro de téléphone supplémentaire étant celui d'un télécopieur appartenant au correspondant ;
• le répertoire est prévu pour inclure également un numéro personnel de radiomessagerie affecté respectivement à chaque correspondant ;
• le clavier ne comporte pas de touche alphanumérique ;
• le récepteur portatif comporte en outre un émetteur de signaux sonores, l'unité centrale étant prévue pour permettre à un utilisateur de sélectionner un numéro contenu dans le répertoire, au moyen du clavier, et pour faire émettre par l'émetteur de signaux sonores une suite de signaux sonores élémentaires qui correspondent respectivement, dans un système de numérotation dit "en fréquence vocale", aux différents chiffres du numéro sélectionné ; ce numéro peut être notamment un numéro de téléphone proprement dit, un numéro de télécopie, ou un numéro personnel de radiomessagerie propre à un correspondant lorsque la composition de ce numéro sur un clavier de téléphone entraíne un appel téléphonique vers un opérateur d'une station d'émission de radiomessagerie en vue d'émettre un message radio vers le récepteur de radiomessagerie dudit correspondant ;
• le récepteur portatif comporte en outre un connecteur qui est relié à l'unité centrale et qui permet la connexion d'une imprimante externe, l'unité centrale étant prévue pour faire imprimer par cette imprimante des données stockées dans le répertoire.

In preferred embodiments of this portable paging receiver, use is also made of one and / or the other of the following provisions: the central unit is designed to recognize at least one predetermined character sequence which is included in each download message, so as to recognize said download message;

• the directory is designed to also include an address assigned respectively to each correspondent;
• the directory is provided to also include an additional telephone number assigned respectively to each correspondent, this additional telephone number being that of a fax machine belonging to the correspondent;
• the directory is intended to also include a personal paging number assigned respectively to each correspondent;
• the keyboard does not have an alphanumeric key;
• the portable receiver furthermore comprises a sound signal transmitter, the central unit being provided to allow a user to select a number contained in the directory, by means of the keyboard, and to cause the sound signal transmitter to transmit a series elementary sound signals which correspond respectively, in a numbering system called "voice frequency", to the different digits of the selected number; this number can be in particular a telephone number proper, a fax number, or a personal paging number specific to a correspondent when the dialing of this number on a telephone keypad causes a telephone call to an operator of a radio station. transmitting paging in order to transmit a radio message to the paging receiver of said correspondent;
• the portable receiver further comprises a connector which is connected to the central unit and which allows the connection of an external printer, the central unit being provided for printing by this printer of data stored in the directory.

a) transmettre à la station d'émission des données à stocker dans le répertoire du récepteur de radiomessagerie, ces données comprenant, pour chaque correspondant, au moins un nom de correspondant en langage courant compréhensible par un opérateur humain et un numéro de téléphone de ce correspondant,

b) et faire émettre par la station d'émission un message radio de téléchargement destiné à alimenter le répertoire de ce récepteur de radiomessagerie.

The invention also relates to a method for storing data in the directory of a portable paging receiver as defined above which receives radio messages from at least one transmitting station, this method comprising the following steps:

a) transmit to the transmitting station data to be stored in the directory of the paging receiver, this data comprising, for each correspondent, at least one correspondent name in everyday language understandable by a human operator and a telephone number of this corresponding,

b) and cause the transmitting station to transmit a radio download message intended to supply the directory of this paging receiver.

• la station d'émission est commandée au moins partiellement par un opérateur humain, l'étape a) consistant à téléphoner à cet opérateur humain pour lui indiquer l'identification du récepteur dans le répertoire duquel on souhaite stocker des données, ainsi que les données à stocker dans ce répertoire : de cette façon, la création ou la modification du répertoire ne présente aucune difficulté pour l'utilisateur du récepteur ;
• le message de téléchargement comporte au moins une suite de caractères prédéterminée reconnaissable par l'unité centrale du récepteur ;
• le message de téléchargement est intégré dans un message destiné à être affiché sur l'écran du récepteur portatif, ce qui peut éventuellement permettre un enrichissement progressif du répertoire au fur et à mesure des messages reçus de divers correspondants lorsque ces messages incluent des messages de téléchargement qui contiennent des données relatives à ces correspondants.

In preferred embodiments of this method, use is also made of one and / or the other of the following arrangements:

• the transmitting station is at least partially controlled by a human operator, step a) consisting of telephoning this human operator to indicate the identification of the receiver in the directory from which it is desired to store data, as well as the data to be stored. store in this directory: in this way, creating or modifying the directory presents no difficulty for the user of the receiver;
• the download message comprises at least one predetermined series of characters recognizable by the central unit of the receiver;
• the download message is integrated into a message intended to be displayed on the screen of the portable receiver, which can possibly allow a progressive enrichment of the directory as and when messages received from various correspondents when these messages include download messages which contain data relating to these correspondents.

Other features and benefits of the invention will appear during the description following detailed of one of its embodiments, given by way of nonlimiting example, with regard to attached drawings.

• la figure 1 est une vue d'un exemple de récepteur portatif de radiomessagerie selon l'invention,
• et la figure 2 est un exemple de schéma fonctionnel du récepteur de la figure 1, dans son environnement.

In the drawings:

• FIG. 1 is a view of an example of a portable paging receiver according to the invention,
• and FIG. 2 is an example of a functional diagram of the receiver of FIG. 1, in its environment.

In the different figures, the same references denote identical or similar elements.

The unidirectional paging receiver according to the invention consists of a portable housing 1 such that that shown in Figure 1, which is intended for receive coded radio messages from a station remote transmission 20 (Figure 2), message coding radio can be produced for example in accordance with the ERMES standard (EEC directives 85/374 and 92/59, ETS standard 300.133-1 to -7 decreed by the European Telecommunication Standard Institute).

This case has a reduced size, for example on the order of a few centimeters at its largest dimension, so that it can be held in one hand.

Externally, the housing 1 has a screen 2 to display all or part of the messages received by channel which are intended for said housing, and a keyboard 3 which allows in particular to control the display of these messages, erasing them, etc.

Keyboard 3 is always a simplified keyboard a few keys, the number of keys being in all cases strictly less than ten and in the majority of cases strictly less than six.

• deux touches de défilement 3a, 3b permettant notamment de déplacer un curseur dans des menus qui s'affichent sur l'écran 2,
• une touche de sélection 3c, notamment pour sélectionner une option dans un menu affiché sur l'écran 2,
• et une touche 3d pour faire apparaítre ou modifier le menu affiché à l'écran 2.

Generally, the keyboard 3 has four keys, namely:

• two scroll keys 3a, 3b making it possible in particular to move a cursor in the menus which are displayed on the screen 2,
• a selection key 3c, in particular for selecting an option from a menu displayed on screen 2,
• and a 3d key to display or modify the menu displayed on the screen 2.

• une antenne 4 pour recevoir les messages radio émis par une antenne 21 de la station d'émission 20,
• un amplificateur 5 relié à l'antenne 4 pour amplifier les signaux reçus par l'antenne 4,
• un démodulateur 6 relié à la sortie de l'amplificateur 5 pour démoduler les signaux amplifiés provenant de cet amplificateur,
• une unité centrale électronique 7, constituée en général par un microprocesseur, reliée à la sortie du démodulateur 6 pour recevoir, décoder et traiter les signaux démodulés provenant du démodulateur 6, l'unité centrale 7 étant reliée à l'écran 2 et au clavier 3,
• une mémoire 8 reliée à l'unité centrale 7, ou éventuellement intégrée à celle-ci,
• et un haut-parleur miniaturisé 9 relié à l'unité centrale 7, et prévu au moins pour émettre un signal sonore d'alerte à chaque fois que l'unité centrale 7 reçoit un message radio qui est destiné au boítier récepteur 1 considéré.

FIG. 2 shows in particular a functional diagram of the receiver box 1 which conventionally comprises:

• an antenna 4 for receiving radio messages transmitted by an antenna 21 of the transmitting station 20,
• an amplifier 5 connected to the antenna 4 to amplify the signals received by the antenna 4,
• a demodulator 6 connected to the output of the amplifier 5 to demodulate the amplified signals coming from this amplifier,
• an electronic central unit 7, generally constituted by a microprocessor, connected to the output of the demodulator 6 for receiving, decoding and processing the demodulated signals coming from the demodulator 6, the central unit 7 being connected to the screen 2 and to the keyboard 3 ,
• a memory 8 connected to the central unit 7, or possibly integrated therein,
• and a miniature loudspeaker 9 connected to the central unit 7, and provided at least for emitting an audible alert signal each time the central unit 7 receives a radio message which is intended for the receiver unit 1 considered.

Advantageously, the receiver unit 1 can in addition to having an external connector 10 which allows the connection of a printer 11 via a complementary connector 12.

The memory 8 includes a directory 8a forming a database which is in the form of a list of names of correspondents who are assigned respectively at least one phone number, and possibly one address, an additional telephone number assigned to a correspondent's fax machine, personal number of paging assigned to a paging receiver of the correspondent, etc.

The central unit 7 is programmed to recognize, among the messages which are intended for box 1 and which are received by antenna 4, specific messages, known as download messages, which include data intended to be stored in the directory 8a.

These download messages can for example be recognized by the central processing unit 7 by means of sequences of predetermined characters that are included in these messages.

By way of nonlimiting example, a download message may take the following form
"aaa bbb DUPONT ccc 83 rue d'Amsterdam 75009 PARIS ddd 40.72.20.33 eee 40.72.20.34 ***".

In this example, the central processing unit 7 would store in the directory the name "DUPONT" among the correspondents, at the address "83 rue d'Amsterdam 75009 PARIS", with the number "40.72.20.33", and with the fax number "40.72.20.34".

In this particular example, the start of the download is marked with the sequence "aaa", the end of download message is marked with the sequence "***", the beginning of the correspondent's name is marked by the sequence "bbb", the beginning of the correspondent's address is marked with the sequence "ccc", the beginning of the telephone number of the correspondent is marked by the sequence "ddd" and the beginning of the other party's fax number is marked with the "eee" sequence.

It goes without saying that all other methods of tracking and identifying download messages are possible in the context of the present invention.

Download messages arriving at receiver box 1 can relate to one or more correspondents, and they can optionally be included at inside a message to be displayed on the screen 2 of the housing.

A correspondent can thus ask the bearer of the case to recall it, at the same time as it introduces its name and phone number in the phone book directory receiver.

Using the example set out above, Mr. DUPONT will be able to send the wearer of the receiver unit the following message:
"Can you call me urgently
aaa bbb DUPONT ddd 40.72.20.33 *** "

• fait émettre un signal d'alerte par le haut parleur 9 pour signaler la réception d'un message destiné au boítier récepteur 1,
• stocke dans le répertoire 8a "DUPONT" parmi les noms de correspondants, et "40.72.20.33" comme numéro de téléphone affecté à ce correspondant,
• et affiche le message :
  "Pouvez-vous me rappeler d'urgence
  DUPONT 40.72.20.33"
  sur l'écran 2, et ce sans afficher les séquences de caractères "aaa", "bbb", "ddd" et "***" qui permettent de repérer et d'identifier le message de téléchargement et son contenu.

In this case, the central unit 7:

• sends an alert signal by the loudspeaker 9 to signal the reception of a message intended for the receiver box 1,
• stores in directory 8a "DUPONT" among the names of correspondents, and "40.72.20.33" as the telephone number assigned to this correspondent,
• and displays the message:
  "Can you call me urgently
  DUPONT 40.72.20.33 "
  on screen 2, without displaying the character sequences "aaa", "bbb", "ddd" and "***" which make it possible to locate and identify the download message and its content.

Thus, the repertoire 8a is enriched as and measures messages received from various correspondents.

• soit directement à la station d'émission 20, en connectant à cette station un micro-ordinateur 31 ou similaire par l'intermédiaire du réseau téléphonique commuté 30,
• soit indirectement en téléphonant, au moyen d'un poste téléphonique normal 32 raccordé au réseau téléphonique commuté 30, à un opérateur 22 qui dispose d'une console 23 connectée au système informatique et de la station d'émission 20 et d'un poste téléphonique 33 raccordé au réseau téléphonique commuté 30.

The transmission of download messages to the receiver unit 1, like the transmission of all other messages, can conventionally be requested:

• either directly to the transmitting station 20, by connecting a microcomputer 31 or the like to this station via the switched telephone network 30,
• either indirectly by telephoning, by means of a normal telephone set 32 connected to the switched telephone network 30, to an operator 22 which has a console 23 connected to the computer system and the transmitting station 20 and a telephone set 33 connected to the switched telephone network 30.

The contents of directory 8a can be viewed at the screen 2 by the user of the receiver box 1, by means of commands transmitted to the central unit 7 by the keyboard 3.

For example, the user can call up a menu at screen 2 by pressing the 3d button, then choose in this menu a "DIRECTORY" function by positioning a cursor on the corresponding option of this menu using the keys direction 3a and 3b, then validate this option using the 3c key, then for example scroll the names of correspondents and the data relating to these correspondents using the direction keys 3a and 3b, until you have found the desired correspondent.

This correspondent can possibly be deleted from the directory 8a by the user, for example by following the sequence indicated above then by selecting with the keyboard 3 a "DELETE" function in a menu displayed at screen 2.

• à un numéro de téléphone proprement dit,
• à un numéro de télécopieur,
• à un numéro personnel de radiomessagerie lorsque le réseau de radiomessagerie est conçu pour que la composition d'un tel numéro sur un clavier de téléphone entraíne l'appel d'un opérateur 22 d'une station d'émission 20, opérateur qui pourra envoyer un message radio vers le récepteur portant ce numéro personnel,
• à un numéro d'appel de tout autre appareil connecté au réseau téléphonique commuté.

If necessary, the central unit 7 can be programmed so that the user can select from the directory 8a, using the keypad 3, a corresponding number:

• to a telephone number proper,
• to a fax number,
• to a personal paging number when the paging network is designed so that the dialing of such a number on a telephone keypad causes the call of an operator 22 of a transmitting station 20, operator who can send a radio message to the receiver bearing this personal number,
• to a call number of any other device connected to the switched telephone network.

The central unit 7 is then programmed so that, this selection being made, the user can trigger, for example by pressing the validation key 3c, the emission by the speaker 9 of a series of signals elementary sound whose frequencies correspond respectively, in a numbering system called "en voice frequency "specific to the switched telephone network 30, to the different digits of the selected number.

By the expression "numbering system in voice frequency "means a numbering system in which dialing a number on a telephone keypad causes transmission in the telephone network switched 30 of a series of electrical signals which correspond respectively to the different digits of the number compound and which have frequencies such as acoustic signals of the same frequency correspond to sound signals. In practice, the numbering system in voice frequency used will generally be the system says "DTMF" (Dual Tone Multifrequency), in which each signal elementary sound has two superimposed frequencies.

So, by approaching speaker 9 to the earpiece a telephone set 32 with the handset off the hook, then by triggering the emission of the series of signals basic sound, the user can dial automatically the phone number selected by the telephone set, by the sole transmission of signals elementary sound, as is well known per se in devices commonly known as "numberers".

Furthermore, when the receiver unit 1 has an external connector 10, it is also possible print all or part of the contents of the 8a directory using at printer 11, the triggering of this printing being controlled by means of the keyboard 3, by selection of a option in a menu that is displayed on the screen 2.

Claims (12)

1. A portable one-way radio pager comprising receiver means (4, 5, 6) for receiving radio messages, a memory (8) for storing the messages, a simplified keypad (3) comprising less than ten keys, and an electronic central processing unit (7), the memory (8) including an address book (8a) which includes phone numbers related to correspondents, and the electronic central processing unit (7) being designed to:

   recognize special "downloading" radio messages including at least data relating to correspondents for storage in the address book (8a);

   and store the contents of the downloading messages in the address book (8a) of the memory,

   characterized in that said pager includes a screen (2), the central processing unit (7) being designed to display on the screen at least some of the messages received by the pager,
   in that the address book (8a) includes, for each correspondent, a correspondent name in usual language which is understandable by a human user,
   and in that the central processing unit (7) is designed to:

   store in the address book (8a) of the memory, from the downloading messages, correspondent names in usual language which is understandable by a human operator as well as data related to the correspondents, the downloading messages including these correspondent names ; and

   display the data contained in the address book (8a) on the screen (2), including at least one correspondent name in usual language which is understandable by a human user, as a function of commands received from a user by means of the keypad (3).
2. A portable radio pager according to claim 1, in which the central processing unit (7) is designed to recognize at least one predetermined string of characters included in each downloading message, thereby enabling said downloading message to be recognized.
3. A portable radio pager according to claim 1 or 2, in which the address book (8a) is also designed to include a respective address for each name.
4. A portable radio pager according to any preceding claim, in which the address book (8a) is also designed to include an additional telephone number associated with each name respectively, said additional telephone number being that of a fax associated with that name.
5. A portable radio pager according to any preceding claim, in which the address book (8a) is also designed to include a personal radio pager number associated with each name, respectively.
6. A portable radio pager according to any preceding claim, in which the keypad (3) does not include any alphanumeric keys.
7. A portable radio pager according to any preceding claim, further including a sound signal emitter (9), the central processing unit (7) being designed to:

   enable a user to use the keypad (3) to select a number contained in the address book (8a); and

   cause the sound signal emitter to emit a run of individual sound signals respectively corresponding to the various digits of the selected number in a "voice frequency" dialing system.
8. A portable radio pager according to any preceding claim, further including a connector (10) which is connected to the central processing unit and which enables a connection to be made to an external printer (11), the central processing unit being designed to cause said printer to print data stored in the address book (8a).
9. A method of storing data in the address book (8a) of a portable radio pager (1) according to any preceding claim and which receives radio messages from at least one transmitter station (20), the method comprising the following steps:

   a) sending the data to be stored in the address book (8a) of the radio pager to the transmitter station (20), these data including at least one correspondent name in usual language which is understandable by a human operator,

   b) and causing the transmitter station (20) to transmit a downloading radio message for entering into the address book (8a) of the radio pager.
10. A method according to claim 9, in which the transmitter station (20) is controlled, at least in part, by a human operator (22), step a) consisting in telephoning the human operator to give the identity of the pager (1) whose address book (8a) is to store the data, and also the data to be stored in the address book.
11. A method according to claim 9 or 10, in which the downloading message includes at least one string of predetermined characters that is recognizable by the central processing unit (7) of the pager.
12. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, in which the downloading message is integrated in a message for displaying on the screen (2) of the portable pager.

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